Philip Yancey writes,

“Christian historian Mark Noll remarks that the song ‘Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus’ plainly errs when it says, ‘And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.’  No, he says, the rest of the world grows clearer, not dimmer, in the light of Christ.  God created matter; in Jesus, God joined it.”

– Christianity Today, July 2009 (p. 64)

“When we are reminded on every page of our theology texts, and in every  breath of preaching, that there is no God but Father, Son, and Spirit, we can see idols for what they are — vanity and vapor.”

– Peter Leithart’s Trinity Paper for Nick (concluding statement)

Upon a life I did not live

Upon a death I did not die-

Another’s life, Another’s death

I stake my whole eternity.

As I finished browsing this post, it’s time for more laughter before I hit the bed tonight.

Seth, once upon a time, I did play the evil villain in a melodrama.

But it was tough acting.

The girls thought I was way too nice.  Too shy.  And too stupid.  And that was clear back in sixth grade in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  But sixth grade is where I met my wife in this great town.

Idaho Falls, Idaho has doubled its population tonight for the biggest fireworks extravaganza west of the Mississippi!

It is not about cosmopolitanism, tonight.  It is not about global faith or expressing concerns.  It is all about patriotism.

Who is patriotic?

Just come to Idaho Falls.  LDS Frank Vandersloot is leading the way for patriotic celebration in the West.  The banks of the Snake River are completely jammed with thousands upon thousands of people. 

Happy July 4th everyone!

As reported by World magazine (July 4, 2009):

Some of Utah’s prohibition-minded alcohol laws will be officially loosened today.  Beer lovers may celebrate the rift in the so-called “Zion Curtain” that has up until this day prohibited bars from operating normally in Utah, as establishments will be able to serve alcohol to customers without first making them join a “private club.”  The state’s traditional hard line on alcohol can be traced directly to the Mormon Church, which frowns upon alcohol consumption.

Does that mean when John Calvin’s 500th birthday arrives on July 10, more people in Utah will give a toast?

(For the readers’ curiosity, I will pass on the Calvinus Beer.)

I just finished reading one of the latest emergent missional books, ReJesus.

In the book, the authors trash on one of my favorite pictures of Jesus on pages 92-95, dubbing it “The Bearded-Lady Jesus.”  To counter their observations, I am joyfully headed to Oregon in August to pick up from my grandparent’s estate a large framed print of this picture.

But one thing I will say well about the authors of this book – they maintain biblical monotheism, preferring the term, ethical monotheism.

Here is a good quote by Paul Minear:

Monotheism is a outcome of the exclusive claim of Yahweh, rather than a conceptual hypothesis resulting from human effort to gain a unitary view of his world.

In not getting this right, religious zeal causes massive damage to a cultural landscape.

Right here.

I looked to see if I could recognize any of the names.  Any from Southeastern Idaho?  What about Bloggernacle?

What do you think of the scenery?  My sister gets to see this view every day from her living room bay window.

She doesn’t go to the church across the street.  Her husband is a Baptist minister.

Here is their missionary church in Rexburg:

Saturday setup for a chuckwagon feast

inside worship area

You all must meet my brother-in-law.  He is great.

Have you browsed his latest book, The Evolution of God  (Little, Brown and Company, 2009) and noticed what he said about Mormonism?

“It may sound cynical to explain the growth of a religion, especially a religion of love, in crass commercial terms, as though religions were mere networking services.  But such practical functions play some role in the power of religion even today.  The Mormon church, whose growth role has been compared to that of early Christianity, is a smooth conduit of commercial contact.”

(1) Wright uses Stark, who is over the top,  for LDS growth role comparison to the early Christianity.  (2)  Do many other religious scholars think that Mormonism is a commercial networking service?  (3)  Do you agree with Wright’s beliefs about the evolution of God(s)?