Review: Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Peter Suderman speaks more positively of the film than one might expect:
“The movie is a veritable encyclopedia of vulgar euphemisms, which it catalogs and showcases with glee, but also with disarming innocence. It’s not that Smith really wants to offend his audience, it’s that he seems to take a hobbyist’s pleasure in generating new and clever combinations of filthy — and let’s be clear, it’s very, very filthy — talk. The added layer of earnestness softens the dialogue’s ultra-crude edge. Smith character’s aren’t saints, but they’re all guileless and good-hearted — you might even say sweet.”
Read “Crude and Cruder” here.
Review : Mark Galli’s Beyond Smells and Bells: The Wonder and Power of Christian Liturgy
By Trevin Wax at Kingdom People:
“Beyond Smells & Bells is a short book that appeals to two kinds of people. For those already in liturgical churches, Galli’s brief book will either explain to you for the first time how the liturgy intends to form you spiritually or it will renew your love for liturgy. For those not in liturgical churches, Galli’s book works as an apologetic for more thoughtful liturgy. Even though a posivite apologetic for liturgy is not his intention, Galli’s work accomplishes this promotion in an indirect way.”
Signs of life
… from Team Pyro: Dan Phillips reflects on Luther’s ‘95 Theses,’ and shares why he thinks Rome is still wrong …
Audio: Changes at Emergent Village
A conversation between Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, Mark Ostreicher, and Ivy Beckwith. Jones introduces the podcast thus:
“We’re making some significant changes in the structure and organization of Emergent Village. … We’re really moving toward a flattening … or making Emergent Village more of an egalitarian, social networking organization.”
See also this letter dated 10/30 from the EV board.
“What still needs reforming?”
On this Reformation Day, Gene Veith asks us to opine.
“Top 10 Wily, Wonderful, and Wicked Witches”
A list of witches from film, literature and elsewhere by Esther Kustanowitz at Idol Chatter:
“2. The Three Weird Sisters, from “Macbeth.” “Double, double, toil and trouble…fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” I memorized this scene in high school, and I still remember it. The “weird sisters,” as these witches are known, were the voice of prophecy, and they shared with Macbeth the prophecies that guide his actions and understanding of events.”
Was C. S. Lewis an evangelical?
The Christian Research Network provides this link to a pdf by John W. Robbins on the writer’s theological beliefs:
“If we mark those limits as including belief in the inerrancy of Scripture, C. S. Lewis was no Evangelical and would not have been allowed to join the Evangelical Theological Society. So why the great admiration for Lewis in Evangelical circles?”
“You cannot be a Christian and vote for Obama”
An article by Janet Porter posted at WorldNet Daily:
“To all those who name the name of Christ who plan to willfully disobey Him by voting for Obama, take warning. Not only is our nation in grave danger, according to the Word of God, so are you. …”
(HT: Brian McLaren)
On the need for city ministry
Adrian Warnock, a resident of London (pop. 7,000,000+) writes:
“If we allow the perverse trend to continue that has led to Christianity becoming largely irrelevant in the cities, then we doom the Church to an ineffective existence, with the best that we can hope for being small pockets of success surrounding those churches which are growing within a town or village.”
More on the question: ‘Is Christian blogging dead?’
John Schroeder reflects on a recent story by Ed Stetzer, who alleges that Christian blogging has affirmed believers don’t listen to one another very well:
“Blogging is not what it used to be, but is it dead? I don’t think so, “matured” is a more reasonable description. What is dead, but was really a false hope to begin with, is blogging as community. …”
Read the rest of “Blogging Gone Bad.”
Four ways to hear the Bible on your iPod
Posted by the foolish galatian:
- The Daily Audio Bible- Read through the Bible in a year with Brian using several different translations
- Daily Audio Bible Devotional- A one minute devotional with Max McLean
- Today’s Proverb- Get a proverb every day from Max McLean
- The ESV Bible Reading Schedule- Pick from several plans to listen to the Bible in a year featuring the voice of David Cochran
Steve Green sings Luther’s Mighty Fortress
Happy Reformation Day … (HT: Cal.vini.st)
Wikipedia page on this song.
New online magazine/blog
UrbanFaith.com, a new site launched by Edward Gilbreath.
“Halloween Options for Christians”
“9. Offer kids a nutritious selection of broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots. Have a camera ready to capture their reactions. (I have friends who do this every year - it’s absolutely hilarious. And yes, they do then provide candy.)”
You might also think about observing Reformation Day, by learning something about the Protestant Reformation (HT: Ligon Duncan) … or check out this Reformation Day book Special at Monergism Books.
Do we need to close our eyes when praying?
A query explored by Ekaputra Tupamahu at his blog, En Kristo:
“I am always interested in simple questions like this. Is closing eyes a ceremonial requirement when we approach God and talk to him? This question looks so simple but it has a very deep liturgical, theological, and practical implication.”
