Monday, December 31, 2007

What I'm Watching...

You can't make this stuff up. "Charlie Wilson's War" tells a most unlikely, yet true story that combines earnest American idealism, silly American libertinism, ingenious American can-do spirit, and ultimately, a pertinent example of American political attention deficit disorder. Good-time Charlie (Congressman Wilson) helps the underdogs (the Afghans) defeat an Evil Empire (the Soviet Union)!

The story is told briskly in broad strokes with plenty of winks and good humor. In Christianity Today, reviewer Brandon Fibbs puts it this way, "It is drama played for laughs, reality repackaged as satire, politics filtered through farce."

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams stand out in their roles complementing Tom Hanks, who plays liberal playboy congressman Charlie Wilson with the right balance of frivolity and feeling. Julia Roberts is regal as the right-wing Texas socialite who spurred Wilson on to arm the mujahideen in Afghanistan so they could defeat the Soviet army in the 1980's.

That defeat was a key step in bringing down the U.S.S.R. and ending the Cold War. Game won. If only international relations wrapped up with a final buzzer, but life goes on. What brought down the Soviets created Osama Bin Laden and invigorated Islamic fundamentalism. And here we are today.

When Pandora opened her box, evil went forth and the box became empty, except for one thing—Hope. You've got to smile to think that folks like Charlie Wilson can get religion and give us hope! If only they didn't have to open those boxes to find it.

A Confession of Faith for New Year's Day


Immanuel, oh sweet word!
My Jesus is my shepherd,

my Jesus is my life.

My Jesus has given himself to me,

my Jesus shall evermore
hover before my eyes;
my Jesus is my joy,

my Jesus restores heart and breast.











From Christmas Oratorio, J.S. Bach, 1734
Part IV, "For the Feast of Circumcision" (New Year's Day)

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/30/07

Perfect...so far. Here in Indy, many still think the Colts can stop the Patriots' run.

Picture: New York Times, Roger Dunn

Thursday, December 27, 2007

News We're Following...

Pakistan in turmoil after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/19/07

One week until Christmas. Children, get ready!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/18/07

Dollops of icing on the evergreens.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/17/07

Another winter close-up.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/16/07

After the snow and ice storm of this weekend.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/9/07

Time for Christmas concerts and festive music of the season. Here is the jazz band from Franklin Community High School.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Sermon for Advent II

The second sermon in the current Advent series is available in PDF format. It is called, "Let Us Bless Faithful Women," and may be found here. The text is Luke 1.26-45.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Advent & Christmas Sermons

Weekly Advent and Christmas sermons are available for your encouragement.

The first, "Struggling to Believe," from Luke 1.1-25, is available in PDF format.

Friday, December 7, 2007

An Excellent Site for Advent Devotions

Check out this well done daily Advent devotional guide. Each day's devotion includes an opportunity to experience: (1) a centering time, (2) a Scripture reading, (3) a devotional thought, (4) a time of prayer, (5) a benediction.

Also, the music is provided by one of my favorite artists, Ken Medema.

Great site!

What I'm Reading...

As I am preparing to preach and blog on passages from Luke that introduce us to the Virgin Mary, I am meditating on Scot McKnight's excellent book for Protestants on her called, "The Real Mary."

A snippet from the introductory chapter...

"Why a book about Mary?

"Because while Mary's story is that of an ordinary woman, it is also the story of a woman with an extraordinary vocation (being mother to the Messiah) who learned to follow this Messiah Jesus through the ordinary struggles that humans face. In this sense, Mary represents each of us—both you and me—in our call to follow Jesus." (p.4)

More thoughts on Mary to come...

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Picture of the Day, 12/5/07


First snow of the season. On the south side of Indianapolis, the accumulation was light, but the snow was wet and heavy enough that it stayed on the trees all day like dollops of frosting. I love the way the first snow transforms the world.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Advent Blog begins today...


My ADVENT BLOG begins today, with its first entry on the credibility of the Christian Gospel, from Luke 1.1-4.

I invite you to follow day by day as we examine passages from the early chapters of Luke, and let God's Word help you prepare your heart to celebrate Christ's coming!