Feb
09
2010
Worth a Look 2.9.10
You really can be bored to death:
Boredom could be shaving years off your life, scientists have found.
Researchers say that people who complain of boredom are more likely to die young, and that those who experienced ‘high levels’ of tedium are more than two-and-a-half times as likely to die from heart disease or stroke than those satisfied with their lot.
Z is giving away copies of D.A. Carson’s new book, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.
Mike Wittmer is reading through Brian McLaren’s new book, A New Kind of Christianity and posting about it chapter-by-chapter. Here’s an excerpt from his thoughts about chapter one:
He does not believe that there was a Fall (or original sin or total depravity or hell) but that what we have traditionally called the Fall is actually “a coming-of age story” which—wait for it—describes “the first stage of ascent as human beings progress from the life of hunter-gatherers to the life of agriculturalists and beyond.” I have quoted him verbatim so you know I am not making this up. I asked my Old Testament colleague where Brian may be getting this from, and he said that this sounds like modern Judaism (which doesn’t believe in a Fall or original sin), except that even it wouldn’t say that Genesis 3 represents a step up.
The idea of being “covered in the dust of your rabbi”, which has become popularized by Rob Bell’s Nooma video, is not factual. Joel Willis explains:
This is powerful stuff isn’t it? Well the only problem is that it just isn’t true. Anyone who would take the time to investigate the saying would discover that the context in which it is given in Mishnah Aboth1:4 is expressly not what is assumed by those who promulgate this idea.
Yesterday, I stopped by Christianity Today’s Out of Ur blog and answered a few questions from Collin Hansen about Holy Subversion. Here are some of Collin’s questions:
- How has your experience as a pastor shaped your desire to write Holy Subversion?
- What are the key threats to the church that you believe Christians need to subvert?
- You write, “The Church often mirrors the culture in its definition of ‘success.’ ‘Successful’ churches have the most wealth, the greatest influence, the most power, and the greatest talent.” What should be our definition for a successful church?