the blog of ben davidson
Perfect night predicted for lunar eclipse:
“The moon is to appear high in the southern sky when the Earth’s shadow begins to travel across the lunar surface from left to right at 8:42p.m. Total eclipse is to last from 10p.m. to 10:51p.m… Unlike a solar eclipse, no special eye protection is necessary to watch the event, caused when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon.”
Hurry it’s only five minutes away!
Yum. Pizza.
I have a friend who is working on the restoration Book-Cadillac Hotel in downtown Detroit. He told me that when they entered the building to begin the restoration, the basement was so full of water that it took weeks to pump all of it out. Today, I came across some picture of the Book-Cadillac taken before the restoration began at Forgotten Detroit.
According to the website,
“Detroit is known for one of the most stunning collections of pre-depression architecture in the world. The past two decades have seen several of these treasures sit vacant, waiting for economic revival”
I don’t know about the “stunning collection” part but I can personally vouch for the fact that Detroit is, “waiting for economic revival”.
(Via Jordon Cooper.)
Sex God is Rob Bell’s exploration of the connection between spirituality and sexuality. You can read the review I’ve posted our just read the seven sentence summary from Mr. Bell himself;
Sex. God. They’re connected. And they can’t be separated. Where the one is, you will always find the other. This is a book about how sexuality is the “this” and spirituality is the “that”. To make sense of the one, we will have to explore the other.
Illustrated sermon notes from my talk last night on relationships and sexuality. Thanks to The Shaping of Things to Come by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsh and Sex God by Rob Bell for much of the material.
The Forest Stewardship Council is a not-for-profit organization that exists to help establish sustainable forestry management practices. By purchasing products that are FSC certified we are ensuring that the wood used in the product was harvested in a sustainable manner. Look for there logo next time you buy something made from wood.
I’ve been following the situation in Kenya as closely as possible over the last several weeks, and thankfully the situation seems to be stabilizing. One of the great things about the age that we live in is that we have access to so many sources and voices giving eye-witness accounts of world events. I’ve read many articles and reports on the internet lately and this one stuck me as particularly poignant:
SoulPastor: “In one of the poorer areas of town we came across an unusual sight. Amongst the narrow trails between the houses there were many piles of burnt personal effects outside poor people’s houses. The paths had been cleared of the boulders but these were still strewn along the road side as though in preparation for the next wave of violence. But as we drove behind one house we saw on one pile of ash all kinds of furniture and other personal effects. You couldn’t help wondering why the things had not been burned. Did the youths run out of petrol? Or had they expended their hatred? Or did they maybe break into the wrong house?”
I’ve posted a review of The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. This book is a memoir of one year in the life of Jacobs as he tried follow the rules, commandments and regulations of the Bible as literally as possible.
I had two separate conversations today dealing with the thorny issue of two human beings trying to get along. One of the people that I spoke said that he craved order and the prospect of a new relationship was stressful because it might mess with his plan. In the other conversation, a couple of good people were struggling to get along because the rules and expectations that have been placed on them are preventing them from really engaging each other.
When we pursue a better system rather then relationship it like we are shrink wrapping our furniture. We may keep it clean, but we’re not leaving anyone with much to enjoy. This doesn’t only apply to two people, it also impacts our ability to have a relationship with God.
I came across this quote today by Dietrich Bonhoeffer while reading The Shaping of Things to Come by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch:
Discipleship means adherence to Christ and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship. An abstract theology, a doctrinal system, a general religious knowledge of the subject of grace or the forgiveness of sins, render discipleship superfluous, and in fact exclude any idea of discipleship whatsoever, and are essentially inimical to the whole conception of following Christ… Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.
Christianity is not a doctrine but a person to whom I trust myself without reserve.
It sounds so obvious but I understand the temptation to get cozy with comfortable theories rather then encounter the unpredictable person of Christ. I’ve also found recently that our need for a systematic approach to life can actually be a hinderance to all relationship, not just our relationship with God.
In this, discipleship and friendship have a lot in common. If our plans, theologies or need for order come between us and our encounter with each other or with God, we have completely missed the point.
God, may we get pass our need to control and learn your heart for the freeing, unpredictable and beautiful dance that a friendship can be.
The Shema is a traditional Jewish prayer taken from Deuteronomy 6:4. Most Jews receite this prayer at the beginning of both their morning and evening prayers. Author Scott McKnight blends some of the tradition of the Shema and the essential message of Christ into something he calls, the Jesus Creed.
Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.
As a Lenten meditation, McKnight challenges his readers to receit this creed every morning and evening for forty days, allowing the essential message of Christ to be always on our mind.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Lent this year. Specifically, about how it has not been a part of my life at all up until this point and I’ve been looking for ways to integrate it. Traditionally, Lent has been a forty day period leading up until Easter and a time for Christian’s to prepare themselves for the remembrance and celebration Christianity’s most significant event: the death and resurrection of Christ.
Growing up, my church didn’t make much mention of Lent. I’m not sure why, but I think it probably seemed too Catholic for us. We’re mostly over that now, and I’ve started really see the beauty of communal traditions like this one. There’s something about joining in with people from all different cultures and even different times for the purpose of pausing to remember what Christ did. So, reciting the Jesus Creed seems like a good place to start. As for the other traditions, I don’t think I’m quite ready to take part in Ash Wednesday, but count me in for pączki day!
For more info, see the Jesus Creed » 40 Day Challenge
