Collideoscope

Posted by: chantell

Just your friendly neighborhood book reviewer popping in with a bit of info for all you bookphiles out there: Christianity Today's 2007 Book Awards have been selected. Out of a list of 291 titles nominated by publishers, Christianity Today chose the top 22 after a vote by panel judges. Take a bit of time to peruse the list--there's plenty worth checking out!

Posted by: Denelle

Check out this powerful and moving video from last year's GC.

Posted by: David Bunch

Here's the plan for the book club. I'm going to set up a group on Yahoo Groups and do a post with instructions on how to join. Once everyone has joined, we'll be able to post comments on a bulletin board and do live chats as well.

We're going to do this on a test run basis and see how it goes. My plan is to run it from June thru August (the summer) and then make a decision on how to proceed into the future. We'll do one book per month for those months.

I hope to post instructions on joining by the end of the week. In the meantime here's two important questions: what type of books do we want to read and, based on that decision, how do we narrow down to the book of the month?

Posted by: David Bunch

Here is a group who is calling America, Israel, and any other nation who will join them to 40 days of fasting and prayer. While I believe this is a noble effort and applaud them for calling America to a time of consecration and fasting, the whole political side of this bothers me. To their credit they say that "God is neither Republican or Democrat", but at the same time they mention "God's word to the Republican Party" and the implication is that the Republican's would be God's ambassadors if they would just straighten up.

I'm going through a phase right now in which I consider myself "a-political". While I'm not completely detached from politics (I don't think you can be a functioning member of society and be totally detached), I feel jaded by both parties and view the political system as a necessary evil. I much prefer to call myself a Christian and choose political stances that line up with God's Word rather than be associated with one party or another.

All that aside, I acknowledge the good in this effort because this group is willing to call America on it's excesses and remind us that it's time to get back to the basics of seeking God for a change. I'm anxious to see what comes out of this.

Posted by: Denelle

Some creative soul has discovered a new use for all those souvenirs that you're compelled to buy while travelling the world.



Check it out . . .








a streetcar/trolley in San Francisco . . .





The Beatles on Abbey Road . . .

The photographer is travelling the world collecting these pictures for a new book. I think I need his job. You can check out many more HERE.

Posted by: kdc

I received an excited call last night, and asked the Hoovers to share the great news themselves. Here's what they said:

We are so excited about what God is doing in our

lives.  Last year at the centennial celebration of

Azusa Street revival God impressed that He was getting

ready to pour out His Spirit upon our generation, and

that He was going to use us in a new way.

Earlier this year God opened a door of opportunity

for our family to be on ABC's reality show Wife Swap.

Since the airing of that show God continues to amaze

us in how He has multiplied this for His glory.  One

neighbor watched the show, and was impacted.  We gave

her a Bible study and she was beautifully filled with

the Holy Ghost.

Soon after the show, we were contacted by an

Assembly of God pastor's wife, and we have maintained

a close (e-mail) relationship.  Their church received

a tongues-with-interpretation urging them to seek

after the infilling of the Spirit.  They asked us to

share testimony, of how God was glorified in our Wife

Swap adventures, and to speak on the infilling of the

Holy Spirit.

Tonight, Pentecost Sunday, we were able to share

our testimony, and were thankful that God poured out

his Spirit again!  Several came to us saying they had

not spoken in tongues for years, but the power of God

moved tonight and they were refilled.   

Another lady received the baptism of the Spirit for

the first time tonight. Hallelujah!

We have also been amazed at the hunger for holiness

that people have expressed since the show. 

I encourage you to be bold in the Spirit, the world

is looking for a strong witness in these last days.

God Bless!  

Kristin Hoover

Posted by: kdc

While David drums up particulars for a Collideoscope Book Club, I ran across this fascinating insight by Michael Dirda, one of the Washington Post's primary book reviewers, on fiction today. He starts off talking about the mesmerizing Haruki Murakami (start with The Wild Sheep Chase), but then veers into the big picture on today's literary choices:

"Over the past 25 years, literary fiction has increasingly disdained the strict tenets of social realism. Our finest writers are now producing what is essentially science fiction (Cormac McCarthy's The Road), alternate history (Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union) and absurdist fantasy (the short stories of George Saunders). A hot author such as Jonathan Lethem proudly introduces the work of Philip K. Dick for the Library of America. Neil Gaiman, creator of the Sandman series, has achieved rock-star status. We are living in an age when genre fiction -- whether thrillers or graphic novels, children's books or sf -- seems far more exciting and relevant than well-wrought stories of adultery in Connecticut."

Frankly, the rest of the After Dark's review is lame and rushed, but that paragraph may be the most prescient encapsulation of literature today. I tend toward the literary in my choices, but one of my continual frustrations is how few talented writers are capturing today. This is particularly galling with Christian literature - it appears to me that even the magnificent Marilynne Robinson (Gilead) is recording the eternal past, not the present.

Genre is Today's World?
Yes, there's always the fear that when a book captures the moment today, it will read like yesterday's news tomorrow. But there's an equal risk that in attempting to capture the eternal, you end up with a bland timelessness that applies to no one. Part of meeting Ezra Pound's "literature is news that stays news" criteria is in taking a chance with your story.

Perhaps genre fiction encourages a certain risk within a predetermined framework? Murakami's best stories are often "detective stories/mysteries" that careen into the unexpected corners of urban alienation, metaphysics, and the nature of commitment - all while the unnamed protagonist's life remains at stake, sometimes in pulse-pounding fashion.

Graham Greene often created (Christian) literature among gun shots, spies, private investigators, and murderous environments. When he wasn't writing literature, he would write "entertainments," lighter fare about...gun shots, spies, private investigators, and murderous environments. Perhaps his is the template for literature (not fiction) today?

That may not be such a bad situation for all of us.

Labels: books, Literature, Murakami, Robinson

Posted by: David Bunch

I am extremely pleased with the response to this week's book posts and am looking forward to chatting more about book club ideas as well as reading more from Chantell's book reviews.

In the meantime, here is an interesting story for all you would be opera fans.

La Boheme will be broadcast to 23 colleges and 2 high schools as it is performed live next fall in Washington. The plan is to get more young people on board with this art form.

"'For `La Boheme,' better known as 'Rent' for the young people ... we are bringing a production which is going to be very exciting," (Placido) Domingo said.

The performance, which will also be shown on the National Mall, will be shown Sept. 23 on campuses including Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of Virginia and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Posted by: chantell

Posted by: David Bunch

As part of the sizzling summer of books, Chantell will be checking in regularly with book reviews for all of you wonderful Collideoscope readers.

Chantell is no stranger to blogging or to 90&9 and I've been trying to get her on board here at Collideoscope for a long time. So when Kent asked her to do a regular book review here on the blog, I was most excited.

Welcome Chantell!

Posted by: David Bunch

Thanks for your feedback on the book club idea. There seems to be a decent amount of interest, plus I have some behind the scenes lobbying going on (the Brad and my wife Farrah, for example). So we might have the beginnings of a good, online book club. Right now I'm researching online book clubs to get some ideas of formats, forums, etc., but I welcome any and all ideas, feedback, criticisms...

Liz. Since you've had your face rocked off by the O'Malley series and because you seem so passionate, I'm willing to give the Dekker trilogy a try. Also, we just moved as part of our "downsizing for Ireland" and my commute just got longer, so an audio book sounds good at the moment. But my reservations on Dekker stem from having heard him speak about four years ago at a conference. He never completed a thought or made any sense. So I thought that if he wrote like he spoke, it must be pretty rough. But on your recommendation I'll give him a chance and assume he's a writer and not a speaker!

Seriously, thanks for the heads up.

Posted by: David Bunch

90&9's question of the week is "what reading are you planning to accomplish this summer"? I was already thinking of posting a blog on what I plan to read, so what a great time to do so. And be sure to go over to 90&9 and send us your list.

This summer I'm looking to do some "light reading" so I thought about the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson, which my wife loved. We were talking about it last night, though, and she indicated that there is a pretty mushy love story in there so I'm thinking...hmmm....I don't know. So instead, I'm planning to read The Testament by Grisham (about missionaries and highly recommended by my wife).

I also want to go back and re-read A Separate Peace and comb thru those books on spirituality that I mentioned last week.

Finally, I've had Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 on my list for a while now, so maybe I can finally get that one read this summer.

Posted by: David Bunch

I've been wondering how many of 90&9/Collideoscope readers are involved in a book club. You know the kind where several friends get together and choose a book to read and discuss?

If you are involved in one, how does it work? How do you come to a consensus on which book will be read? How often do you meet? Is it a big group or small group? Do you limit your discussions to one particular genre or do you explore various topics?

Finally, could such a book discussion be done online?

You see where I'm going with this. Would it be possible to hold a weekly, online, Collideoscope book discussion group?

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this!

Posted by: David Bunch

As always, 90&9 has some great stuff this week but let me take a quick moment to highlight "Lessons from the Grandchildren" in which Shirley McDonald (aka Meme) highlights spiritual lessons learned from her three grandkids.

Yes, Dawson and Kristen come from the Bunch branch of the tree. I'm quite proud of them! And Nephew Lane is as wonderful as Meme says he is. He plays his first "real" t-ball game this week!

Posted by: David Bunch

A. Jesus Freak came out over 10 years ago.

B. The Jesus Freak re-issue album came out last fall with a companion disc that from all accounts had nothing new on it.

C. I've always been a big dc Talk fan.

D. But I have to ask: why would you release a greatest hits album and companion dvd that offers absolutely nothing new and only re-hashes an already well catalogued music career?

How about something new and a reunion tour to match....?

Posted by: Denelle

Notice anything unusual about these?

I'm not one to get all fired up about boycotting gas stations to lower gas prices, etc. but I can tell you that I will NOT be using any of these coins and will demand a good old greenback if someone (ahem, Post Office) tries to give me one.

Why you ask?

Because I still trust in God.

Posted by: David Bunch

USA Today has an interesting article on 3 books that are out concerning the faith of celebrities, politicians, morticians, theologians and other recognizables.

The Life of Meaning: Reflections on Faith, Doubt, and Repairing the World by Robert Abernethy

The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People by Cathleen Falsani

Speaking of Faith by Krista Tippett

Interesting because all three authors believe that journalism is their calling, and all sound like very religious people. I'm planning to read further because it is fascinating to me to see how people feel about religion and faith in general. These books should also give insight on how to reach our culture with the message of Christ because the first step in dialoguing with people is to know from what frame of reference they come. And these books sound like they touch on a large cross section of the culture.

Posted by: David Bunch

I've been reading through a book called ideaSPOTTING by Sam Harrison about being more creative by being more observant, creating valuable networks, keeping notes of ideas, etc. The book states that a lot of artists, musicians and writers prefer to journal in Moleksines.

I didn't really know what a Moleskines was so I researched it a bit and it has a pretty fascinating history. In short, a Moleskine is a black leather journal with an expandable flap in the back for keeping notecards and articles, and a stretchy closure on the outside to keep the book shut.

For two centuries now Moleskine (mol-a-skeen'-a) has been the legendary notebook of artists, writers, intellectuals and travelers. From gifted artists Henri Matisse (1869–1954) and Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), to poet and leader of the surrealist movement André Breton (1896-1966) to Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) considered the most influential writer of the last century, to famous travel writer Bruce Chatwin (1940-1989).

Despite the extraordinary tradition of Moleskine notebooks there was a pause in production in 1986. Writer-traveler Bruce Chatwin used to buy his moleskine at a Paris stationery shop in Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, always stocking up before going on his infamous journeys. He gave his friend Luis Sepùlveda, a Chilean novelist, a precious moleskine before a trip to Patagonia. It was precious because by then the notebooks were no longer to be found, as the small family concern in Tours closed down. "Le vrai moleskine n’est plus" were the lapidary words of the stationer to Chatwin who had ordered one hundred before leaving for Australia. Now, the Moleskine tradition has been revived by Italian manufacturer Modo & Modo. It can go back to being a witness, passing from one pocket to another and continue the adventure.

You can purchase Moleskine online at Amazon. A portion of your order will go to support the ministry of 90&9!

Posted by: Denelle

Posted by: David Bunch

Don't miss 90&9 this week! There's articles on ministry, alarm clocks, more Blue Like Jazz, and even a Pullitzer Prize winner!

And where does Stu get those cool pictures?

Enjoy...

Posted by: Denelle

This past weekend I saw a story on GMA Weekend that caught my attention. And I think is incredibly relevant for all of us.

A church in Carlsbad, CA was set to vote Sunday on whether to accept a new member. Nothing too strange at first glance, so why all the media attention? The new potential member is a convicted sex offender. Clearly this causes major concern for the members of the congregation, the church board and on some levels, for Christians everywhere.

The man told the stunned congregation that he'd been convicted twice, that he'd served his time, and that he now wanted to join a faith community as a way of reintegrating into society.

"It ripped us apart. It was devastating," Shockley said about the impact the upcoming vote has had on his small, tight-knit congregation. "We were looking a church split right in the eye."

Parishioners with children are rightly and justifiably concerned about the safety of their children but they are also concerned with putting into practice and standing by their belief in forgiveness. Interestingly, some of the strongest proponents for allowing the man to become a member are those who were abused as children.

"To have said no to this request, for me, would have been like giving the person that abused me in my childhood power over how I could act and how I could live out my beliefs," said church member April Bird.

As part of the vote, the church is requiring that the man would be accompanied by an adult at all times and would not be allowed to have any contact with children. Is it enough? If it's not acceptable what happens when they turn him away? Every church has child members, what happens if no one will accept him? The Bible instructs us to "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together." In the midst of all the controversy, the pastor of this church has made a very wise comment surrounding all of this:

. . . the debate is a necessary one if the church is going to keep up with the times. "The reality is that sex offenders are among any population of people," he said. "We're coming to grips with the reality."

Unfortunately he is right. There are people out there who have done unspeakable things but who's sins are covered, forgiven and forgotten by the Lord. But things are not that easy for those of us who are human. You want to be forgiving, but people backslide and make mistakes and would you be willing to put your child at risk? While I am not a parent, I can't help but be leery of this situation. This man was TWICE, not once, but twice, convicted as a sex offender.

Yet we are supposed to be like Christ and if Christ forgave him then we should have no problem with forgiving him as well. And if we set a precedent of turning these people away, when they are brave enough to admit what they've done in the past, then we set ourselves up for the possibility that the next time someone with these issues wants to join a church they will do so without any mention of their crimes and that potentially leaves every body's kids at an even greater risk.

The final vote by the congregation?? They accepted him as a member.

What would you do?

Posted by: David Bunch

Stu posted a great link to an article a guy wrote detailing his experiences while going offline for one month. The article is very thought provoking. This sentence especially got me to thinking:

My first week offline was mostly spent in a state of withdrawal. I suffered from bouts of extreme boredom. I realized I hadn't been bored in years because I'd gotten in the habit of never giving myself the chance.

When we were kids the great Christian thinkers (and even some non Christians) wrote about the benefits of less television and even recommended that parents limit or abolish t.v. viewing altogether in order to allow their children to "go out and play" and discover other means of engaging their imaginations. It is said that Dr. Dobson allowed his kids to watch one 30 minute t.v. program a day (of his choosing)!

So is the internet the great time waster and intellectual de-stimulant for my kids' generation? In order to help them be productive individuals, will I have to limit their internet activity like my parents limited my television activity? Probably. Because already, when we really need to get our 14 year old's attention, the first thing we do is pull the plug on her internet privileges. I've talked to other parents who do the same.

There's a lot of truth in Elliot's article. I know I've been challenged to divide my day into "online and offline".

Posted by: David Bunch

Nightline aired a debate last night between two Christians and two atheists on the existence of God. Adding some celebrity appeal, Kirk Cameron (who is now a preacher-I did not know that) was one of the debaters on the Christian side.

You can go here to read more about it, and there are several different forums and a poll question on the website as well.

Posted by: Denelle

It is with a sad heart that I make this post.

Former First Lady of the UPCI, Jean Urshan, went home to be with the Lord this afternoon, after several months of illness.

You can get further information HERE.

Please keep the entire Urshan family in your prayers. While I'm certain they are at peace knowing that their mother is in a better place and no longer suffering, their flesh still grieves.

Collideoscope will post any further updates we receive regarding a memorial, etc.

Below is the information for Sis. Urshan's viewing and Home Going Service.

Location: Calvary Tabernacle
902 Fletcher Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46203

Viewing:
Tuesday, May 15th
4:00-8:00 p.m.

Home Going Service:
Wednesday, May 16th at 1:00 p.m.

Please continue to pray for the family as they mourn the loss of Sis. Urshan.
Anyone wishing to send a card for the family can do so at the address listed above.

Posted by: David Bunch

This week's 90&9 cover is a podcast! Check it out...

Also there was much discussion last week at Month In My Life about Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. I'm fascinated at how the book elicits passionate responses from everyone who reads it.

Finally, thank you Chantelle and Denelle for playing the guessing game on the Top Speeches of the 20th Century. From what I can tell it was Churchill who made number 1, assuming those are in a specific order.

Aren't we having fun now?!

Posted by: Denelle

We've all seen them in our inboxes, pleas from a sick child to forward their email to everyone you know so that Bill Gates will grant their dying wish, stories of cookie recepies the sender was charged $250 for and now out of revenge they're passing the secret on to the free world, or of viruses hidden on your computer that have the potential to melt your hard-drive and infect everyone in your address book if you don't delete them immediately.

Not surprisingly, most of the urgent forwards we receive are nothing more than elaborate (or just plain stupid) hoaxes.

Now you can check out a list of the Top 25 Web Hoaxes and Pranks.

My favorites are 17 and 21. I'd love to see the reaction of the Pope when he heard that Microsoft was trying to buy the Catholic Church.

Posted by: David Bunch

Kent flagged me on a cool link where the Guardian (out of London) is cataloguing the 14 greatest speeches of the 20th Century. At the website you can read the speeches, listen to the speeches, read what commentators had to say about the speeches, etc. Pretty interesting. Can you guess (without looking) which speech the Guardian picked as number 1 (it's actually not clear if they picked these in any particular order)?

More lists of notables here. Time has announced its 100 most influential people in the world. Noticeably absent is President Bush and regrettably present is Rosie (though I suppose it could be argued that she is influential; after all influence can be negative as well as positive).

What do you think about the lists?

Posted by: Denelle

I know I've been absent for the better part of the last two weeks and I want to apologize. This was glaringly obvious to me when I went to catch up on the blog yesterday and saw page after page of David posts and none with my name.

I don't have a new baby at home that I could use as an excuse (a completely valid one by the way). But I did spend a few days last week in St. Louis with my best friend and her brand new baby (9 days old when I got there) so maybe that can count. I am also in the middle of wrapping up my first semester of grad school (whoohoo! only 8 more to go!) and for whatever reason it worked out so that one class and its final were spread out over two weeks and the other class and its final were spread out over the next two weeks. Talk about stress and anxiety. Just get it overwith already. Sheesh. Thankfully it all ends this coming Monday.

In the meantime, someone forwarded me this YouTube video and it made me laugh so I thought I'd share it with you.

Posted by: Denelle

A church in Alexandria, VA has found a new and inventive way of reaching out to the local teen community.

Every Wednesday the First Baptist Church of Alexandria opens their doors to the local high school population and offers free pizza and sodas to students in exchange for their partaking in a brief bible study (and for their e-mail addresses). They call it Jesus Pizza.

Some weeks, as many as 150 students or more trek the half-mile down King Street from the school to lounge on old couches, thumb through Bibles or play pool while waiting for free slices and sodas in the church basement.

"They come in. If they want to hear what we're saying, they stay. If they don't, they can leave," said Mary Rhoades, who works with youth at the church.

There are mixed feelings among students (and parents) who feel that this is a way of "brainwashing" kids, or is a "missionary project." However, the church's youth pastor insists that the church's objectives are aimed at helping kids in the long run.

"We do not expect to have hundreds of students showing up at church on Sunday. But we want them to feel this is a friendly place," he said. "So someday, if they're at a crossroads or experiencing a difficult time, something they can't handle by themselves, they will remember there was a church on King Street that opened its doors to them."

What an excellent opportunity to reach out to the local community.