Zombie Evangelism

Weekend Fisher:

If I were to start an evangelism campaign among the children of the Age of Apathy, I think I might start with the zombies. They are the personifications of the apathetic age.

Hat tip to Kevin Knox

Blogging is Light

Pneumatology, on the other hand, is very, very heavy. It is like a dull, throbbing pain behind one's eyesockets, pulsing Trinitarianally.

Pulse...

Pulse...

Pulse...

The second pulse is one pulse with two natures (homoousios) without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of the natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one pulse.

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNER: John Battern: A shock waved ripped through the congregation when they learned their new pastor wasn't gifted with tongues as he claimed but was simply dyslexic.

MethoBlogCon

Short of some significant financial shortfall, I will attend this event.

I Voted Today

There was only one Libertarian candidate running in any race, which is disappointing. I am surprised that in a state as weird as Florida that there isn't a much stronger Libertarian Party.

Only Republicans and Democrats had party affiliation listed. But I researched everyone running and came up with a single self-avowed libertarian (or Libertarian).

Irish Coffee Isn't What You Think

Ireland has repealed a law forbidding coffee merchants from mixing sheep manure into coffee grounds.

It's about time.

Hat tip: Mark Steyn

Zombies Tend to Vote for Democrats

Jonathan Adler:

An analysis of state-wide records by the Poughkeepsie Journal reveals that 77,000 dead people remain on election rolls in New York State, and some 2,600 may have managed to vote after they had died. The study also found that Democrats are more successful at voting after death than Republicans, by a margin of four-to-one, largely because so many dead people seem to vote in Democrat-dominated New York City.

Hat tip to Glenn Reynolds. The loss of upper brain functions in zombies, the lack of coherent communication other than groans -- it all kinda makes sense.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup # 89

Here's the week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

Allan R. Bevere wrote about textual changes in the early Church to limit the roles of women and that people aren't too busy to serve at church, they just have different priorities.

Christopher Gudger-Raines wrote about the Trek Bible study guide from the Mennonites. He also wrote about the difficulty of being a pastor that meets everyone's expectations of him.

Amy Yarnall wrote that we need to have an attitude of gratitude.

Andy Bryan wrote about social holiness from the character of Job and his understanding of God (BOOM ordination question).

Andy Stoddard lectionary blogged for October 24.

Art Ruch took the Theological Worldview test. I think that he's the only person in the Methoblogosphere who came up with 'Modern Liberal' as the top score. He also wrote about the Tennessee Senate race and Rush Limbaugh's most recent gaffe.

Bad Methodist wrote about a debate about a gay marriage referrendum in Arizona.

Beth Quick reviewed the movie The Departed and wrote about a recent convocation on clergy wellness.

Brad Smith preached on recogizing the authority of Jesus.

Brian Russell wrote about the compassion of ministry and the tension between saying that God is good and experiencing it in our own lives.

Bruce Alderman looked at the passage in Romans where Paul approves of government.

Conservative Seminarian wrote critically about Christian pacifism.

Dave Faulkner preached on why Scripture is inspired, useful, and fruitful.

Dave Camphouse is trying to get a handle on the emerging church movement.

Richard Rosenberger wrote about the use of female language to describe the Trinity.

Sally Coleman wrote about the concept of friendship in Celtic Christianity and how traditional expressions of God as male can be hurtful to women.

Steve Heyduck advised readers to take notice if God turns on their "Check Engine" lights.

Gavin Richardson wrote about the Episcopal episcopacy election in Tennessee.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps looked at human and animal parental instincts.

Daniel McLain-Hixon celebrated the feastday of St. Simon and St. Jude.

Greg Hazelrig wrote about submitting to God's control over our lives.

Greg Lee wrote about his experiences evangelizing at a farm fair and preached on living in the presence of God.

Guy Williams explored options for salvation of non-Christians (Best of the Methoblogosphere!) and theologically resolving such issues for good men like Gandhi.

Henry Neufeld wrote about being faithful to Jesus even when your opinions are unwanted, the Intelligent Design perspective that God explains that which science cannot at present, and the difference between Christian assurance and overconfidence.

Holy Pirate wrote about preparing children to take the Eucharist.

Jonathon Norman looked at the work of Candler professor Roberta Bondi.

Judy Callarman wrote about how teenagers relate to God.

Just As I Am taught that God answers prayers through us.

Lake Neuron reminded us to stay safe when popping popcorn.

Larry Hollon wrote about why he hates cats and about the miserable condition of the people of Mozambique.

Mark Winter wrote about a UMC spiritual gifts inventory and study program called Discovering God's Call.

Keith McIlwain wrote that the UMC should take a stronger stand against American wars in the Middle East (Best of the Methoblogosphere!).

Michael Daniel noticed that there are more than 10 Commandments.

Mike Voigts wrote that we are not Christians because of what we do, but because of what God does.

Jason Woolever wrote about Brian McLaren's view on Original Sin.

ReligioNews looked at the work of skeptic Richard Dawkins.

Rereason had a visit from a Kansas gubernatorial candidate to his Sunday school class.

Theresa Coleman compared pastors to different varieties of chocolate.

Richard Johnson wrote about the Christian imperative to love terrorists.

Sandpiper reviewed the devotional guide Beyond Words and wrote that God should be the center of worship, not us, and that the beatitudes are not about what God rewards us, but what we become when we follow Him, and that fear can be a stumbling block to us.

Brett Royal looked at precise definitions of the will of God, especially in the context of homosexuality.

Dale Lature looked at baseball's MVP this year, Bill O'Reilly's appearance on the Letterman show, and that Bush lacks credibility as a Christian.

Tim Sisk is getting to know his new Mac.

Wayne Cook preached about the servant heart of Jesus.

Tony Mitchell preached on Reformation Sunday about the need for another reformation.

Willie Deuel thinks that the media has been too harsh on the Dixie Chicks.

Lorna Koskela wrote about keeping your spiritual gas tank filled up and the road of spiritual maturity.

Would you like to receive the MBWR via e-mail? Leave a note in the comments or e-mail locustsandhoney2005 at yahoo dot com!

UPDATE: Bad links fixed.

UPDATE: Lorna Koskela added.

Turning Movies Into Video Games

A short list of ill-conceived ideas. My favorite --

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility: The First-Person Shooter

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Grand Theft Auto: Mayberry City Stories

2. Earnest Goes to the World of Warcraft

3. The Silence of the Super Mario Brothers

4. Toy Story Kombat: Armageddon

Create your own in the comments.

And Jesus Said Unto Them "And Who Do You Say That I Am?"

Heh

Happy Second Blogiversary

...to Gavin Richardson.

The Church and Political Stands

As a general rule, I think that the Church (meaning both the collective Body of Christ and denominational bodies) should be cautious about taking stands on political issues. When I wrote about this yesterday, John Meunier responded:

I'm intrigued by the desire to have Christians active but the church silent.

Doesn't this run counter to all our talk of Christianity being fundamentally a communal or social religion? We talk about how tough it is to have a genuine Christianity that is private. Why does that stop when Christian conviction impinges on the political realm?

Imagine this scenario: I serve as Chairperson of the General Board of Church and Society, and that agency is filled with like-minded libertarian Christians. One day, after prayerfully examining the Scriptures and current events, we announce:

"The Social Security program is thievery, as it takes resources from people without their consent. It is therefore contrary to the commands of Christ, who never advocated theft to alleviate poverty. We condemn the criminal enterprise of Social Security and call its advocates to repent of their sin and seek the grace of God."

The next day, news sources run the headline: "United Methodist Church Demands Immediate End to Social Security." Sincere, faithful Christians who are members of the UMC but disagree with this position on Social Security face the insult of one of their church agencies denying their fidelity to Christ.

Wouldn't that bother a lot of you?

And I hope that it would bother you for more reasons than merely because you disagree with the policy analysis. Harry Browne once said of overreaching government "The problem is not the abuse of power; the problem is the power to abuse." In like manner, the problem here is not the Church taking a stand on political minutiae contrary to yours; the problem is the Church taking a stand on political minutiae.

A New, Official, Eighth Deadly Sin

At Ironic Catholic. The exegesis is plausible.

Should the Church Be Involved in Politics?

Bishop Woodie H. White at Candler says:

Of course the Church should be engaged in politics! Christians and those who profess other beliefs should certainly be office holders as well as candidates for office. There should not be, however, a religious test for office. We are a democracy, not a theocracy.

In the last six months, I have been involved in major conferences that focused on the church, politics and public policy. As a variety of public-policy issues were addressed, the basic assumption was that there was and is a place for the expression of faith in the public square. The key question is how the Church and people of faith should be engaged in the public arena.

I'm not quite as enthused about dragging the Church into the political arena. As I've mentioned before, the Church is supposed to be a prophetic witness against evil, but taking any political stand entails dividing the Church. And it had better be something worth dividing the Church over, like slavery or racial segregation, not a Federal budget. The Church should be very, very careful before proceeding with political agenda. Bishop White acknowledges this:

People of faith do not agree unanimously on political leadership or public policy. Equally faithful people can reach different conclusions. It is both perplexing and frustrating. It would be a simpler world if we all saw "truth" similarly, but we don't.

When in doubt about the essentialness of an issue, I'd prefer that Christians be involved in politics, instead of the Church; that is, denominational bodies should avoid political stances unless major, incontrovertible evils are being committed in complete contrast to Christian ethics.

The hard part is reaching a consensus on what those evils are.

Art Blogging: Fernando Botero

Fernando Botero (1932- ) is a Colombian painter and sculptor. As a boy, he studied to be a matador, but later studied the fine arts in Medellin. Botero was most heavily influenced by Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco. Later, in Madrid and Paris, he was shaped by Picasso, Gauguin, and Goya. His work can be broadly classed as Neo-Figurative, which is the application of the Expressionist Revival to figure studies. Botero is noted for painting his subjects as obese, a trend that he attributes toward the individual artist's intuitive search for a central form. He recently made headlines for an exhibit critical of Abu Ghraib.

The first Botero that I ever saw was this one: Reclining Figure at the Birmingham Museum of Art. It is the crowning piece of a marvelous sculpture garden on the roof of the first floor.




The General and His Family.








Drinking Man.

Weekend Rabbit Blogging

Caption Contest

Previous contest winners

WINNER: DannyG

The Black Monolith was just the start of the ad campaign.

Zombie-Fighting Tips

In the past few days, I've proffered advice about surviving zombie uprisings. Now I'd like to hear from you. What have you learned about fighting zombies that you would like to share?

Three Models of Christian Violence/Three Models of Church Membership

One of the top professors here at Asbury/Orlando is Dr. Hugo Magallanes -- one of those rare teachers who takes positive delight in people disagreeing with him. I used to think that he was a liberal, but now I suspect that he'll just take the opposite position of whatever you take in order to force you to defend your perspective. Anyway, I have Christian Ethics with him this semester and today we talked about homosexuality and church membership. In the UMC, this is hot issue, and the Methoblogosphere was hoppin' with it back when the Judicial Council handed down the Ed Johnson case decision.

A few class sessions ago, we discussed the three schools of Christian thought on violence and war:

1. Pacifism: there is a separation between the values of the Christian community and the values of the world; the former must never be compromised under any circumstances. Violence is utterly contrary to Christ.

2. Just War: living within the world entails certain responsibilities, such as to prevent, terminate, or deter harm to others under certain criteria.

3. Crusade: the world is divided in between the Good and the Evil (no neutrals) and evil must be totally destroyed; no rest until it is annihilated.

Today, he compared this model with three views on homosexuality and church membership that were being voiced in the classroom:

1. Pacifism: accept all people -- including unrepentant practicing homosexuals -- with unconditional love and no demands on sanctification.

2. Just War: accept all people -- including unrepentant homosexuals -- into church membership, but insist upon sanctification.

3. Crusade: reject all practicing sinners, including unrepentant homosexuals.

It's an interesting comparison.

The Church of Spock

Kinda funny. But mostly sad. It sounds like an actual cult.

Hat tip: Dale Tedder

Question of the Day

If a blogger is British, should he be called a 'bloggre'?

Life in Hell

Jack Handey of Deep Thoughts fame reports in after his first day in Hell:

It’s odd, but Hell can be a lonely place, even with so many people around. They all seem caught up in their own little worlds, running to and fro, wailing and tearing at their hair. You try to make conversation, but you can tell they’re not listening.

A malaise set in within a couple hours of my arriving. I thought getting a job might help. It turns out I have a lot of relatives in Hell, and, using connections, I became the assistant to a demon who pulls people’s teeth out. It wasn’t actually a job, more of an internship. But I was eager. And at first it was kind of interesting. After a while, though, you start asking yourself: Is this what I came to Hell for, to hand different kinds of pliers to a demon? I started wondering if I should even have come to Hell at all. Maybe I should have lived my life differently, and gone to Heaven instead.

And if you're into serious, heady theology, I suggest that you check out Jason Woolever. He's written about how the Early Church Fathers described Hell. Jason is a blogger to watch -- he's going places.

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNERS:

Brian Russell: Casual Friday goes bad at Buckingham.

Stephen Fife: Boogie Knights

Zombie-Fighting Tip of the Day

Zombies can't swim, but they also don't need to breathe air. You, however, do. So bodies of water may not be as effective barriers as you might hope. Plan accordingly.

Where Do You Draw the Line?

Rev. Ed, a United Brethren pastor, writes about his experience as a heretic, and getting to know other heretics:

I was just called a heretic tonight over something I wrote at my Bible study blog a few months ago. Apparently I wasn't Calvinist enough. The commenter has something like 15 blogs, all taking on one heresy or another. One was entitled, Arminian Heresy, and once I saw that I didn't worry too much about what he thought.

Not that there is no such thing as heresy. Another of his blogs was about the heresies of the Watchtower Organization. Another was about Mormonism. But it seemed that, like Emo above, he wanted every last belief to be exactly as he saw it... or else.

I think there are some essential beliefs, but there are also doctrines that really don't qualify as "dealbreakers" so far as I can see. I may believe in 5-point Calvinism or 0-point Calvinism or Calvinism by a field goal on Monday Night Football, but it seems to me that crying heresy because someone else doesn't match all five TULIP points is a bit over the top.

My denomination is one of the few that doesn't draw a lot of doctrinal lines past the basics. I really like that. I have my own opinions about baptism, but if a brother has a different belief, I'm not out to push him off a bridge, yelling, "Die, heretic scum!" For that matter, I'm not about to push a Jehovah's Witness off that bridge with the same shout either, yet I cannot consider his beliefs to be either correct or orthodox.

Can a Demon Repent and Be Saved?

I ran across an interesting passage in Thomas Oden's systematic theology:

The speculation that Christ might have died also for fallen angels in addition to humanity (or that Christ might have assumed the form of an angel to redeem lost angels) was rejected at the Second Council of Constantinople, A.D. 553. (389)

I was curious about the reasoning of the Fifth Ecumencial Council and so tracked down the relevant text. In the "Anathemas Against Origen", the Council concludes:

IF anyone shah say that Christ, of whom it is said that he appeared in the form of God, and that he was united before all time with God the Word, and humbled himself in these last days even to humanity, had (according to their expression) pity upon the divers falls which had appeared in the spirits united in the same unity (of which he himself is part), and that to restore them he passed through divers classes, had different bodies and different names, became all to all, an Angel among Angels, a Power among Powers, has clothed I himself in the different classes of reasonable beings with a form corresponding to that class, and finally has taken flesh and blood like ours and is become man for men; [if anyone says all this] and does not profess that God the Word humbled himself and became man: let him be anathema.

However, the context of the passage suggests that the Council's larger concern was Origen's Platonic cosmology, which featured a highly elaborate angelology. I am not deeply informed about this church council, so I can only speculate at this stage. But the potential salvation of fallen angels is an intriguing (if highly speculative) issue.

Zombie-Fighting Tip of the Day

Remember: if it's not a headshot, you're just wasting ammo.

Methodist Blogger Profile: The Holy Pirate

Holy Pirate
I am a 39 year old husband and the father of two homeschooled boys (take that, Jim Winkler). Trained as a lawyer at the only Big 10 university named after a compass point, I have been cranking out briefs for 14 years. Those evening and weekend hours not occupied by my duties as a member of the lay leadership team at my UM congregation are devoted to my family and my new adventure as a student in Asbury Theological Seminary’s Extended Learning Program (ExL). I am a Mac user and an Arena Football League fan. I believe there is a right way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I grew up working as an amusement park game operator. I won the spelling bee in fifth grade. I had a rabbit named Thumper. I drive a four-door family sedan, but it has a stick-shift and a wing on the back. I have 375 episodes of Fibber McGee & Molly on my iPod. I’m the world’s slowest ninja. I blog under a pseudonym because I would prefer that my current employer remain unaware of my anticipated career change.

Why do you blog?
I started blogging as a way to chronicle my journey through seminary and into ordained ministry. As Mr. Lunt says in Gideon: Tuba Warrior… “you can’t lose the memories, man.” I also enjoy the sense of community that has developed in the Methoblogosphere. I love making imaginary friends on the interwebthingy.

What has been your best blogging experience?
You never forget your first comment.

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
Since I am a novice blogger, I am entirely unqualified to give any advice. Measure twice and cut once?

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
I keep up with as much of the Methodist Blogroll as I can. Beyond that, I hit Get Religion, The Common Room, and MacRumors every day.

Who are your spiritual heroes?
My maternal grandmother, who walked and talked with God every day of her life. Oscar Carrasco, my former pastor and current Director of Connectional Ministries in the Northern Illinois Conference. My pal John, who turned his life upside down and became a Roman Catholic priest, and then did it again to become a Dominican Brother. My wife, who is a brand plucked from the burning and has become a potent force for the Kingdom.

What are you reading at the moment?
Texts for my ATS ExL classes. My favorite of the bunch is The Next Christendom by Philip Jenkins.

What is your favorite hymn and why?
I grew up Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, so I’m a sucker for “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” What boy would not love a hymn that turns “weapon” into a four-syllable word?

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?
Yes, thanks for asking. Oh, sorry. The death penalty. Used to be fer, now I’m agin.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
Hedonism.

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
Mandatory term limits.

If you could effect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church , what would it be?
Eliminate the trust clause. If you love something, set it free….

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Life becomes much less of a disappointment once you figure out that you’re not the center of the universe.

What, if anything, do you worry about?
I worry about saving enough money so that when I head off to seminary full time my wife can continue to homeschool and I can focus on my studies, without incurring any debt.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
Having seen enough science fiction TV shows to know there is a great deal of danger in messing with this sort of thing… I would like to have a chance at a “do-over” for every instance of impatience I’ve shown my sons.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
I would like to live in a small town within a 20 minute drive of a college town with a trauma center equipped hospital somewhere in the Midwest.

What do you like doing in your spare time?
I play video games with my boys, watch old movies with my wife, and mess around on the computer when they’re all asleep.

What is your most treasured possession?
My eyeglasses.

What talent would you most like to have?
Music composition and performance.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?
Jesus, David Pogue, and Mike Hohensee.

The Next 50 Christian Bestsellers

7 from the complete list:

1. Your Best Life Now Book of Martyrs
2. I’m Totally Depraved, You’re Totally Depraved
3. 40 or so Days more-or-less of Purpose
4. Bowel Thou Art Loosed - A Christian Guide to Regularity
5. Good Morning Holy Mackerel - Spirit Filled Sport Fishing With Benny Hinn
6. Baldness , True Humility - The Saga of C.J. Mahaney’s Failed Hair Transplant
7. Prayer of Jabez Guide to Bankruptcy

FYI

It's easiest to fight zombies during the winter because they don't produce internal heat. When the temperature drops below 32 F, they freeze solid and are harmless. You can pick-axe their braincasings at your leisure.

Don't say that you never learn anything useful here at Locusts & Honey.

Controlling Church Keys

There have been many interesting comments in the two threads about church key access. It can be uncomfortable to take a key back from a long-time member, but if key ownership is being abused, it is necessary.

But it could be worse. It could be a parsonage key.

I've heard stories...

Question of the Day

The General Board of Church and Society of the UMC causes much consternation to conservative (theologically and politically) Methodists, particularly when a microphone appears near Chairperson Jim Winkler's mouth. Whether it's calling for the impeachment of President Bush or comparing Christian homeschoolers to Islamofascists, Winkler knows how to push conservative buttons. My impressions of Winkler and the GBCS's work are moderated by the presence of Methoblogger Beth Quick on that board, whose consistently pleasant and easy-going manner makes it impossible to label her as a ranting, America-hating moonbat (although her work for GBCS is questionable). She's pointed out that the GBCS engages in many other non-newsmaking activities.

If you could change anything about the General Board of Church and Society, what would it be?

Methodist Blogger Profile: Art Ruch

Art Ruch of Art's Strange World

My name is Art Ruch. My surname rhymes with ‘glue’, I don’t know why. My favorite color is blue.

So I’m not much of a poet but I am a certified Lay Speaker in the Murfreesboro (TN) District of the United Methodist Church.

Currently, I'm preaching a couple of times a month to help out a local pastor in our area. Other Sundays, I teach an adult Bible study and serve as liturgist in my home church, Harris Chapel UMC in Estill Springs Tennessee. I also sing in our Sanctuary Choir because the Choir director ordered me to.

That Choir director also happens to be my best friend in the world, my beautiful wife, Stacie. We have two children, Shelby (12) and Tad (8).

I also work full time in the business world and have been trying to complete my Bachelor's degree.

Why do you blog?
When I started, it was just an extension of my journaling. I always wrote my thoughts in little spiral notebooks that tended to get lost or clutter up the house. So I started to do that on the computer instead and then, eventually, online.

Over time, it turned into something else... I guess I blog now because it's a creative outlet for me. I have many, very different, interests and my blog can be about all of them because it's my blog. I can write posts about college football (go Vols!), philosophy, music, or politics, throw in some personal stories or reflections on my experiences and share my photographs all at the same time.

What has been your best blogging experience?
Definitely the interaction with other bloggers. The comment capability and the feedback it provides are what make blogging so great. There are a handful of bloggers that I feel like I've gotten to know although I've never met them and probably never will.

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
Read as many blogs as you possibly can. Pick a few that you really like, read them regularly, comment on them and develop a virtual relationship with other bloggers.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
I always look at my wife’s blog, SuperGirl’s Musings (http://stacieruch.blogspot.com/)... can I count the entire Methodist Blogroll as one choice? Seriously, there’s no way I could limit myself to only 3 a day. 300 a day would be more like it. I really need help!

Who are your spiritual heroes?
A bunch of radical types:) Anyone who stands up to and combats the status quo: Jesus, Socrates, Buddha, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr.

What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished “A History of the Blues” by Francis Davis and I'm now reading “Early Downhome Blues” by Jeff Todd Titon. I'm also immersed in several commentaries and analyses of Ecclesiastes because I'm leading a Bible study on Ecclesiastes.

What is your favorite hymn and why?
How Great Thou Art. No, just kidding. Too many to mention really. Probably ‘Lakeshore’ because the melody is so beautiful and I love the idea that the Lord will call my name.

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?
I grew up in an ultra-conservative, fundamentalist denomination. I've changed my mind on just about everything! Having been taught from an early age that one must adhere to a very rigid set of beliefs in order to gain salvation, I'm now almost completely at the opposite end of the spectrum from that view. I do believe that Christianity, and more specifically Methodism, is the best way, but I also believe that God extends the offer of Grace and salvation to all people regardless of their religious backgrounds and beliefs. In my current opinion, I think it is the height of arrogance to tell someone that they are eternally doomed just because, for instance, they were born in India to Hindu parents.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
The idea that we are the masters of our own fate. That idea goes along so well with our collective individualistic and selfish mindset in this country. Unfortunately it's total b.s. We are not the masters of our own fate nor the captains of our souls. We are dependent on each other and on God from the moment we are conceived until the day we die. If we, as a race of beings, do not realize that we need help, we will never help each other and the world will be the same sorry place it is now in a hundred or a 1000 years.

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
I would abolish the political party system entirely.

If you could effect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?
I would change "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." For one thing, that's a ridiculous statement because it is not always true - it all depends on who is doing the teaching. And that statement was very obviously designed to try and make both 'sides' of this debate happy (which it did not do). I would change it to something like, "United Methodist Christians disagree about the compatibility of homosexuality with Christian teaching." and leave it at that. Or better yet, just quote Jesus on what He said about the issue...

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Be happy and do good while you live.

What, if anything, do you worry about?
I worry about EVERYTHING! Mainly I worry about what kind of world my children and future generations will have to live in.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
I would do almost everything differently up to the point when I met my wife. But I would definitely have finished my four year degree in my original college career.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
Some place sunny and warm near the ocean. The Gulf Coast, between Mobile and Pensacola, sounds good!

What do you like doing in your spare time?
Reading, playing the guitar, spending time with my family.

What is your most treasured possession?
The acoustic guitar that I made from scratch.

What talent would you most like to have?
Sight reading - The ability to pick up a piece of sheet music and just play it through on any instrument.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?
Jesus, Buddha, and Koheleth.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup # 88

Here's the week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

Abi Carlisle-Wilkes wrote about theological jargon.

Allan R. Bevere has a low opinion of both parties as a result of the Mark Foley scandal and the process of forming orthodoxy in the Early Church.

Andy Bryan wrote of how the church is often a place of workloads for the laity, not Sabbaths (Best of the Methoblogosphere!).

Andy Stoddard lectionary blogged for October 16, 17, and 19.

Richard Heyduck wrote about the differences between Sunnis and Shiites and that you don't have to be a pastor under appointment to be a minister.

Beth Quick, who serves on the General Board on Church and Society, attended its Fall meeting.

Brad Smith preached on selfishness.

Brian Russell wrote about God's faithfulness in the birth of Jacob and Esau and why Esau so willingly sold his birthright.

Bruce Alderman wrote that we shouldn't read the Bible in isolation, bu in community.

Richard Hall wrote about the uncertainty principle of Biblical interpretation.

Dave Faulkner preached on lust for power and fame.

Dean Libby wrote about poor customer service at church.

Steve Heyduck wrote about being open to change.

Gavin Richardson wrote about teenagers serving on church governing committees.

Andrew Thompson wondered if modern American Christians are living to the standard of commitment that Christ demanded of the rich young ruler.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps wrote that we have to be extremists about evangelism.

Daniel McLain-Hixon wrote that successful evangelism has to capture people's imaginations.


Guy Williams rounded up the week in college football and wrote about people taking responsibility for their immoral behavior (or not).

Henry Neufeld wrote about living out "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors".

Holy Pirate examined the nature of online relationships in the context of Asbury's distance learning program andkeeping control of church keys.

Jay Voorhees wrote about the pastoral task of telling people that a loved one has died and the process that Episcopalians are engaging in to elect a new Bishop for Tennessee.

John Battern wrote about pastors staying in touch with their local communities and the general differences between liberal and conservative theological slants.

Jonathon Norman wrote about a postmodern Wesley.

Just As I Am taught on the reliability of God's promises.

Kevin Baker wrote that busyness is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

At Kindlings, Chris has discerned a Brady Bunch ecclesiology and Jan wrote about following God's recipe for a spiritual life carefully.

Lake Neuron wrote about an obscure film actor named Paryakarkus.

Larry Hollon wrote about a potential religious civil war in Ethiopia and paradigm shifts across the world.

Michael Daniel wrote about arming school teachers, liberal political ideology, and what the Bible says about false religions in reference to the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Mitchell Lewis thinks that the General Board on Church and Society is contradicting itself.

Jason Woolever pondered the nature of Hell and Bill Hybel's philosophy of church volunteering.

ReligioNews wrote about British Airways suspending an employee for wearing a cross.

Richard Johnson wrote about third party candidates in a congressional race and the Eucharistic doctrines of transubstantiation and consubstantiation.

Sandpiper wrote that in the Church, there is no 'they', but only 'we', the difficulty of asking for forgiveness, and the humanity of Jesus as a child.

Lorna Koskela wrote about teenagers serving in church leadership and building a church that is organically transformative.

Sky Lowe-McCracken compared the UMC to a beat-up, old '65 Ford Mustang (Best of the Methoblogosphere!).

Smallest Angel is depressed about Ohio Northern University's football team.

Dale Lature wrote about how blogging and similar media permit people to make connections that they otherwise wouldn't, with people that they often completely disagree with.

Tim Sisk has been seduced by the dark side and has purchased a Mac.

Tony Mitchell preached about our human desire for power and fame.

Additions? Corrections? Do you know of a blog that should be included in the MBWR? Would you like to receive the MBWR via e-mail? Leave a note in the comments or e-mail locustsandhoney2005 at yahoo dot com!

UPDATE: Bad links fixed.

The Sermon

Hat tip: Abi Carlisle-Wilkes

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNER: Jeff the Baptist:

Eventually tickling was enough for little Elmo...

Lego Cthulhu

Rather clever.

Okay, I got nothing. My brain is fried from 6 straight hours of Oden followed by 6 straight hours of Wesley.

Hat tip: Garfield Ridge

Don't Let Them Steal Your Cheesus

Ugh.

Hat tip: Andy Bryan

Why Men Hate Going to Church

Jason Woolever recently read a book with this title and has provided a summary.

Belief in God is Irrational (Please Read Post Before Screaming)

The following is the text of a paper that I wrote for a philosophy of religion class here at Asbury. It was written with a tight deadline and conforming to page and source limits, so it's a bit rough, but mostly represents my views on the subject.

I would like to emphasize that I do believe in the existence of God, and specifically, the God of the Christian Bible. He is a real, present, and true God as revealed in His infallible Word. It's just that I think that such belief is irrational. "Rational" and "true" are not synonymous and interchangeable terms. An idea can be irrational and yet true. Belief in the God of the Christian Bible is irrational, but is nonetheless true.

My understanding of the relationship between reason and faith is that of Soren Kierkegaard -- that one cannot reason a way into belief in God, but must take a leap of faith. Once we have acquired faith, reason is tremendously helpful and should be used. But we will not arrive at belief in God through rational means alone.

We should use our ability to reason, but not exclude non-rational sources of knowledge, such as faith in revelation.

Now before you start reading, please note that I do believe in the existence of God. I am a Christian theist, not a deist or whatever Spong is. I'm just completely comfortable being irrational for my Lord and my God. I kneel before the Throne of God, not the Throne of Reason. It is neither feasible nor helpful to take the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God and attempt to shove him into the confines of finite human reasoning. I believe in God. Catch that? Good. Now start reading.
_____________________________________
It is not rational to believe in the existence of God. I base this assertion on a definition of rationality as a system of thought which regards consistency, logic, testability, and simplicity as core objectives of intellectual exploration. I will test this definition against two definitions of the term “God” in order to provide a wider understanding of theistic irrationality. The first definition of God is that of a supremely powerful and knowledgeable supernatural being possessing personhood. The second definition is this being as specifically identified by Christianity, not other religions, and so is a subset of the first definition.

I will begin with an examination of classical, rational arguments for the existence of God under these definitions and how they fail to be persuasive. The ontological argument, made famous by Anselm, asserts that people can imagine the greatest possible being. Anything which exists is greater than that which does not exist. So the greatest possible being which exists is greater than the greatest possible being which is imaginary. Therefore if one can conceive of said imaginary being, then there must be an existential one which is greater. And so the greatest possible being exists.

This argument is logically incoherent because it assumes that any skeptic of Anselm’s argument has necessarily misunderstood it; that any doubter of the existence of this being is necessarily referring to some other potential being. Despite Anselm’s protests, he cannot simply declare the existence of his being by fiat and insist that critics are attacking a strawman when they doubt the existence of a supreme being on the basis of properties that Anselm himself spells out. Therefore the ontological argument does not provide a rational basis for believing in God using either of my definitions.

Another common argument for the existence of God is a group of perspectives called the cosmological argument. They argue that everything in the universe has a cause. As Aquinas argued:

Everything that is moved is moved by another. That some things are in motion – for example, the sun – is evident from sense. Therefore, it is moved by something else that moves it. This mover is itself either moved or not moved. If it is not, we have reached our conclusion – namely, that we must posit some unmoved mover. This we call God.[1]

The cosmological argument is persuasive in proving that there was a First Causer or First Mover. But it does not provide evidence that this First Causer/Mover is supremely powerful, knowledgeable, or possessing personhood. And since it does not establish these qualities in the first definition, it therefore does not establish these qualities in the second definition. Belief in the existence of God is then unsupported by the cosmological argument.

The teleological argument, resurgent with the Intelligent Design movement, asserts that the universe is sufficiently complex that the likelihood that it could be formed by natural, impersonal forces (such as natural selection) is profoundly unlikely if not impossible. The physics of the universe and the subtle structures of living cells, for example, are too delicate and intricate to be explained scientifically. This argument is flawed in that it assumes that that which science cannot explain in detail now, it will never be able to explain. A basic grounding in scientific history dashes this view. The tides of Earth’s oceans, the cause of the bubonic plague, and the source of Earth’s seasons were all, once, ascribed to divine actions, as they defied human explanation. As Arthur C. Clarke said in this Third Law of Prediction “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”[2] When Native Americans first encountered European sailing vessels and firearms, they attributed to them magical powers. But a failure to understand a phenomenon is not proof of supernatural causes behind that phenomenon. At best, the teleological argument is evidence for a supremely powerful being, but neither omniscient or personal, let alone the Christian God. And with every passing year and further advances in human scientific understanding, the evidence which forms the basis for the teleological argument rolls back further.

Another argument for the existence of God is known as the moral argument. As espoused by C.S. Lewis, it argues that a sense of moral direction exists within every person, as an objective moral law. What is the source of this law?

It cannot be grounded on the factual reality observed by science, for the laws of nature tell us only what things actually do, while moral law deals with what ought to occur…The moral law must be grounded in mind, for only mind can give instructions regarding doing the right. This mind cannot be a human mind, for the moral law continues to hold despite the births and deaths of individual human persons. Hence, there must be a power or mind behind the universe, “urging me to do the right and making me feel responsible and uncomfortable when I do wrong….”[3]

Like all of these arguments in favor of the existence of God, the moral argument points to some logical consistency in the universe and labels it as “God”. But God is not evidenced here. At best, the moral argument suggests that there is an intrinsic sense of moral reasoning in humanity, but nothing more. It is not necessarily an external mind, but may be biological caused, or any of a number of potential sources for the existence of the concept of morality, but Lewis’ argument that it must be a mind because it survives human birth and death presupposes – without evidence – that moral reasoning is an external factor placed upon humanity, and not intrinsic.

Even if we were to concede that it was a mind behind this sense of morality in humanity, although this would attribute personhood to that mind, it does not establish omnipotence or omniscience – especially since what constitutes right and wrong is widely disputed. If this mind contained all three traits of Godhood in my initial definition, then even if such a being granted moral free will to humans, then humans would still possess an undisputed sense of right and wrong, even if these guidelines were disobeyed.

Thus the moral argument fails to provide evidence for the existence of God provided in my first definition. Although it is, then, unnecessary for me to prove its failure to meet the second definition, I would like to point out how the moral argument is particularly preposterous with it.

If (1) humans have a moral sense given to them by the Christian God who is (2) the morally perfect being and (3) the Bible is an accurate representation of the Christian God, then it would be mentally impossible for humans to doubt the morality of the Christian God.

Yet given the reams of paper devoted to morality of the actions of the Christian God, this conclusion is not supported experientially. The Christian God’s order of genocide against the people of Canaan during the Israelite settlement has disturbed Christians for generations. If the three suppositions listed above are true – all of which are suppositions of the moral argument – then it would not be possible to doubt the morality of God’s order to commit genocide.
However, many theistic believers have argued that evidence is not even necessary or desirable; that in an evidentially neutral universe (no proof of God’s existence, no proof of his non-existence), one should believe in God:

Why should the belief that God exists not be part of the foundation? Why should this not be one of our properly basic beliefs? The theist, after all, certainly thinks that this belief is one that she is rationally justified in holding. And if she finds (as Plantinga thinks most believers in God will find) that it is not a belief that she holds because it is justified inferentially from other beliefs, then the procedure just described will lead her to consider it a basic and indeed, a properly basic, belief. And why not? What is wrong with this possibility? Is there any reason why “God exists” cannot be a properly basic belief? And if it is properly basic, then there is no need for the theist to produce proofs or arguments for God’s existence in order to be justified in believing in God.[4]

To be logically consistent, such believers must also believe in other unproven beings, such as elves, fairies, leprechauns, and imaginary friends. To follow this argument, one’s belief should not stop with God (let alone the Christian God), but extend to every flight of fancy or speculation that the human mind can imagine. A universe which allows for the rational acceptance of an unproven God must necessarily allow for the rational acceptance for every other unproven being unless it can provide a reason for speculation on the reality of non-evidentiary beings to end with the supposition of the existence of God. Soon, one’s cosmology is filled with countless non-evidentiary beings and one is logically obligated under this system to accept the reality of every potential being. If the definition of rationality is a system of thought which regards consistency, logic, testability, and simplicity as core objectives of intellectual exploration, then this universe is no longer compatible with rationality. The burden of proof is on the theist, not the non-theist.

Proof, for the theist, is based on revelation: evidence provided directly by the divine being in the form of holy documents or mystical experiences. The latter may be persuasive in individual cases, but mystical experiences are always confined to individuals or groups and are not universal occurrences. One can accept reports of mystical experiences of others as proof, but this depends upon those reports being accurate. As few people have had such experiences, and many are self-serving or contradict other mystical experiences, belief based upon them is only as rational as the source of that information is reliable.

Likewise, holy documents are only rational as sources for belief if they are reliable. In a world filled with many such documents, most of them contradicting each other in fundamental ways, acceptance of the beliefs contained within them is, at best, a crap shoot. Successful choosing is based more on luck than reason.

Thus, having failed to provide rational proof of an omnipotent, omniscient, and personal God – or the Christian God, specifically – there is no rational basis for believing in God.

[1] Thomas Aquinas, “The Classic Cosmological Argument.” Philosophy of Religion, Michael Peterson, et al., eds. (New York: Oxford, 2001) 185.
[2] “Brilliant Careers: Arthur C. Clark” Salon (http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2000/03/07/clarke/index.html accessed 13 October 2006).
[3] C.S. Lewis, as quoted in Michael Peterson et al., Reason and Religious Belief: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (New York: Oxford, 1998) 107.
[4] Peterson, 152.

UPDATE: Serious formatting error fixed.

Control vs. Empowerment/Safety vs. Risk

There's a dreaded issue that we don't like to talk about in churches.

Who gets to have a key?

Last night as I provided some assistance to my son's Webelos den, which meets in our church's classroom space, I encountered a 15 year old boy in the hallway I'd never seen before. It turns out that one of the community groups that meets in our church building twice a week has turned over the key we gave them to this boy. He apparently lives nearby and is available to open and close the building for the group when they need it done, though he is not a participant in the group....I subsequently learned that this boy has been letting himself into the building at odd hours. He has startled a couple of our female leadership team members, who had no idea anyone else was in the building. But there's no reason to believe he's snooping through private stuff, nothing is missing, and he has not done anything remotely threatening to anyone or anything. But he's got some people a bit freaked out.

Multi-Point Charges

One of my classmates proudly boasts of appointment to "the last three-point charge in the South Georgia Conference." These multiple-congregation pastoral charges are, of course, a product of American Methodism's frontier days of circuit riding. Although they used to be the norm, multi-point charges are increasingly rare. I've heard some voices say that it's better to have a part-time local pastor in one church than a full-time local pastor (or commissioned or ordained) over several. What do you think?

Should the UMC continue to have multi-point pastoral charges?

Best Take on the North Korean Nukes

From The Onion, of course: N. Korea Detonates 40 Years of GDP

Caption Contest

Picture via Ironic Catholic

Previous contest winners

WINNER: Allan R. Bevere:

The temptation of Christ at the picnic.

Teenagers Serving on PPRC

¶ 244.2a of The Book of Discipline 2004 states (in part) concerning the makeup of a Pastor-Parish Relations Committee:

One of the members shall be a young adult and one member may be a youth.

My UMC polity professor mentioned this requirement today and said that in a previous age, having a youth on PPRC was mandatory per the BoD. This provision is, however, almost universally ignored. He said that no teenager that he's ever met would be able to contribute to the more painful PPRC meetings or fulfill the weighty responsibilities of this committee. The impact of seeing the sausage of the church being made could do great damage to a teenager's faith.

So he doesn't have one on his own PPRC, nor does any church that I've ever attended.

Should churches have teenagers serving on their Pastor-Parish Relations Committees?

Methodist Blogger Profile: Rick Mang

Rick Mang of One Peculiar Christian
I am an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, having served in the Central Texas Conference for 17 years. I am currently serving, and thriving, at FUMC in Grapevine, Texas. I am a former police officer. I've been married to my wife for 30 years, and have two grown daughters, a Texas A&M Aggie son-in-law, and a sheltie. I’ve been blogging for about a year-and-a-half.

Why do you blog?
Initially, it was at the request of our Church Communications Director. I didn’t know what a Blog was! Sometimes I actually wish I still didn’t. Then, I realized it was a calling of sorts. It provided a way for the men of our church to get to know me better.

Most times, what I write comes very hard. Sometimes it is easy. Blogging, like life, is about the different seasons we go through and our reaction to them.

Actually, I am thinking of taking a break for a while. I need a Sabbath from blogging so I can come back to it with a renewed passion.

What has been your best blogging experience?
Hearing from the wife of one of our men who said, “I made my husband read your blog!”

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
Do one blog, and do it well. If you don’t have a passion for it, then leave it alone.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
-My first choice is Mark Winter’s Blog (www.markwintersonemanshow.blogspot.com) Mark is a dear friend and ministry comrade. He is also very funny, and writes so much better than I can. He is one of the finest communicators in the UMC.

I would rotate the other two among the different blogs written by other pastors in our annual conference an elsewhere . . . Mike Voigts, Dale Schulz, Steve Heyduck, Wesley Blog, etc.

Who are your spiritual heroes?
John Wesley and Francis Asbury

What are you reading at the moment?
-The Passionate Life by Breen & Kallestaad
-Sabbath by Wayne Muller
-The New Rebellion Handbook from Nelson Publishing.

What is your favorite hymn and why?
How Great Thou Art. I always cry when it is sung very, very, very well.

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?
I am turning 50 at my next birthday. Therefore, I reserve my right to change my mind as much as I want. Perhaps the most important for me a time in my life is to debunk the cultural work ethic we are consumed with right now. How healthy is it to live in a culture where you work, work, work, work and only rest when you have a heart attack or stroke?

Please . . .

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
The Justification of Greed. It is the cause of 90% of our world’s current social, political and religious problems.

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
Impose term-limits on all public officials, especially the US Senate and House of Representatives.

If you could effect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?
Don’t get me wrong. I love our church. However, several denominations probably should quit trying not to die, and go ahead and get it over with. Our church policy and polity are what many worship instead of the risen Jesus Christ. But here is the thing . . . God will raise up the church He wants from the ashes of those that have died. It may be Wesleyan, it may not. All good things come to an end.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
1) Honor the Sabbath! This is permission from God to rest. It is right up there with “do not kill, steal, etc.” It is also something that God practices (Read Genesis again!)

2) Friendships and relationships are the currency of the Kingdom of God. I learned this late in life. Thank God I finally did. This alone has completely re-prioritized my life.

What, if anything, do you worry about?
My ability to communicate to an ever-changing culture. I am very fluent in the “Churchese” language. Learning how to tell the Gospel story in new settings, to people who have no clue as to what I am talking about, that I worry about. I am having to learn a new language. Not an easy thing to do for me.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
I would have been a better more caring husband to my wife, father to my daughters and friend to others. I would have rested more, fished more, spent more time with friends. God has helped me save / rekindle several of those friendships. I grieve to know that many other friendships are dead, and it was my fault.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
The Texas Gulf Coast. Rockport, Fulton, Aransas Pass, or Port Aransas.

What do you like doing in your spare time?
Go for a walk at Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. Do yard work. Ride my bike. Go fishing. I would play more table tennis. That’s my first love. But my knees are shot!

What is your most treasured possession?
My Martin DC-16GTE guitar.

What talent would you most like to have?
To speak Spanish.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?
Grandpa Mang & Grandpa Brown. I’d like to show them that I’m finally getting the family and friend thing right.

I would like to visit with Martin Luther King. I have such admiration for him and his work and message. He changed a culture. I want to talk to him about having a passion for something so strong that you will give you life for it.

Caption Contest

Previous contest winners

WINNERS:

Holy Pirate: UK police have adopted a new method of interrogation known as "The Nutcracker."

Decaf Owl: I'm only asking that you dance around the facts the investigation turned up until after the election.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup # 87

Here's the week in review in the Methoblogosphere:

Abi Carlisle-Wilke wrote about the Wesleyan view of the sovereignty of God, domestic violence awareness, and breast cancer awareness.

Allen R. Bevere wrote that living a life of forgiveness means living out of control.

Andy Bryan wrote about a school of ethics which encourages increasingly lower standards of ethical behavior.

Andy Stoddard lectionary blogged for October 9, 10, 11, and 12. He also wrote about the long "dark night of the soul" in encountering God.

Art Ruch looked at the past week in college football.

Barbara Lindgren wrote about the importance of naming problems.

Beth Quick wrote about The Book of Resolutions.

Brad Smith preached on money.

Brian Russell wrote about how Jesus brokedown barriers between the woman at the well and redemption. He also wrote about how the struggles of people are not completed on their strength alone.

Joel Betow wrote about sexism in the Methoblogosphere and how Biblical inerrancy relates to orthodoxy.

Richard Hall wrote about American consumption of world natural resources.

Josh Tinley reviewed a book about the history of apocalytic predictions.

Dave Faulkner wrote about the idea that a minister is a 'professional Christian'. He also preached on Christian wealth.

Dean Libby wrote about the importance of getting church visitors to experience something that will wow them.

Richard Rosenberger looked at the possibility of a gender-inclusive Trinity from a Methodist perspective (Best of the Methoblogosphere!).

Taylor Burton-Edwards wrote about intercessory prayer.

Mark Friedeman wrote, in reference to the Mark Foley scandal, that Republicans should expect to be judged by a higher moral standard.

Steve Heyduck wrote that people put labels on everyone else, but God's only label is "mine".

Gavin Richardson plugged at UMC youth ministry survey.

Andrew Thompson wrote about churches being ready to welcome first-time visitors.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps wrote about how small churches can do large-scale evangelism and North Korea's nuclear test, as well as the possibility of a military solution to that problem.

Greg Hazelrig wrote about encouraging each other in faith and what sin is.

Greg Lee preached on applying ourselves as Christians.

Guy Williams provided mid-weekly and weekly updates in college football.

Holy Pirate applied the canons of the Second Council of Nicaea to the UMC to humorous effect (Best of the Methoblogosphere!).

Jay Voorhees wrote that the war against terrorism is a misnomer.

John Battern wrote about liberal theology.

Ken Carter preached on how Christians compete with each other.

Jan Kindle wrote about rapture theology.

Larry Hollon wrote about the international problem of child soldiers and the need for agricultural reform in Africa.

Methodist Corner is rethinking gender-inclusive theological language.

Michael Daniel wonders if a PPR committee should be able to formally state their expectations to a newly appointed pastor and what it would have been like if Fred Phelps' gang had protested the Amish funerals. He also preached on how the Amish responded to their attacker.

Michelle Hargrave wrote about the value of The Boy Scout Handbook.

Mike Voigts wrote about the difference between animal people, spiritual people, and rational people (a paradigm that he has learned of).

Mitchell Lewis wrote that despite the Amish community's response to violence, it merits substantial critique as well (Best of the Methoblogosphere!). He also preached on giving to the poor.

Neil Bishop wrote about why Jesus loves little children: because of their lowly status.

Russ Phillips is skeptical of the UMC's "State of the Church" survey.

Jason Woolever assessed Brian McLaren and wrote about worshipping the Bible. He also read Friedman's The World is Flat and wrote about the future of the UMC in relation to it.

ReligioNews blames lax ethical standards at church for teen contempt for the institution.

Richard Johnson disapproves of the death penalty, but he does approve of the political move Dave.

Sandpiper wrote that the most decisive facet of church life is prayer, that no matter what else a church may accomplish, without God, it is incomplete, about being angry at God, the experience of Jesus in his hometown.

Lorna Koskela wrote that when we don't pray, we erect a barrier between ourselves and God.
Sky Lowe-McCracken wrote about the future of mainline denominations.

Stephen Fife wrote about the UMerging Conference.

Brett Royal wrote about the appropriateness of humor in devotional life, specifically, in reference to C.S. Lewis.

Tony Mitchell preached on seeker sensitivity and applied the idea theologically.

Jim McKay compared Bush's 2000 campaign promises on military intervention with the war in Iraq.

Shane Raynor wrote about what he sees as the ecclesiological advantage of the UMC.

Scott McKay wrote that if we aren't marvelled by God anymore, we've jumped the shark.

Jonathon Norman wrote about his call to be sent into mission in the postmodern age.

Dave Warnock wrote about recumbent trikes, the book Captivating, and the importance of not letting theology get in the way of ministry.

Additions? Corrections? Do you know of a blog that should be included in the MBWR? Would you like to receive the MBWR via e-mail? Leave a note in the comments or e-mail locustsandhoney2005 at yahoo dot com!

UPDATE: Bad link fixed, and Jonathon Norman added.

SECOND UPDATE: Dave Warnock added.