Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Histrionic Grace

We’re experiencing a goodly bit of hot, hurt feelings via email and around our blogging circles about one Ms. Nancy Grace and her journalism. She said that she had been doing some “research” on the Churches of Christ and invited a Baptist minister to expound on her efforts. She baited him into characterizing the Church of Christ in broad strokes as a cult, as exclusive and theologically backward.

I’ve written elsewhere that I think she’s a sensationalist hack and that surely most mildly critical viewers would recognized the shaky pillar of her research.

Even so, I’m reminded of one of the great injuries suffered on our Lord. More than physical torture, more often than death, more often than humiliation, Jesus was misunderstood. He was misunderstood by His rivals, by His best friends, by His family and by His church ever after. As a finite writer who is often misunderstood, I fight the constant urge to explain, explain and explain to petulant readers and students and congregants with vehement agendas. We want so badly to be understood clearly, yet Jesus suffered constant, nagging, irritating, caustic and ubiquitous misunderstanding. He countered the misunderstanding without more rhetoric, but with much love and action.

I’m reminded of a quote that Michael Card attributes to one of his mentors, as he complained about the injustice of contemporary life, business, industry and chronic misunderstanding:

“Let the excellence of your work be your protest.”

If we want to convince Nancy Grace and her loyal Headline News audience that we’re not what she thinks we are, then we must show it and prove it, in love and compassion and power and strength and real grace, not just rhetoric, outrage and apology.

UPDATE! From Mike Cope:

"This afternoon I was invited to go on CNN live tonight on the Nancy Grace show. Apparently someone tore into Churches of Christ as a cult–related to the shooting of Matthew Winkler. I couldn’t work it out timewise, since CNN couldn’t arrange a satelite feed in Abilene, so I think Rubel Shelly is going to do it. That’s probably much better anyway!"

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Wednesday's Child

Scarce energy and an oil dependent economy,

Bankruptcy and a debt dependent marketplace,

Nanotechnology, Singularity and an obsolescence based inventory,

Parity and the decline of U.S. hegemony,

Polarity and religion based democracy,

Americanism and wealth based evangelism,

Wailing about the church’s inadequacy,

Generational snobbery.

Fear.

Aren't we due for another cataclysm?

There is nothing new under the sun.

Wickedness sits in the place of justice.

Act justly.

Love mercy.

Walk humbly with your God.

Friday, March 17, 2006

ORU and the Pig People

So, Mags, are you super feeling that Oral Roberts love today? The neighborhood charismatics taking on the urban G's with the full backing of a house full of Pig People?

Soooo-eeeee!

Go ORU! Make some history.

(check out Pat Forde's article on Memphis's dis on ESPN today.)
JRB

_________________________________________________________________

It's all about the Golden Eagles! Hopefully they will be speakin' in more spirit-filled tongues than the brothers from the ghetto and the Lord will look kindly upon them and smite Memphis with his mighty hand and outstretched arm! I've picked 'em by 18.

Oh, wait, did those oversized praying hands at ORU just open again? Did a mighty whirlwind burn out the prayer tower flame? Was that a 900 foot Jesus I just saw? DOH!

Go ORU!!!!!

Mag

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Methods in the Madness

What's that smell? What's that anticipation crackling through the atmosphere? Is it Dick Vitale?

IT'S MARCH! Bring on the college hoops.

I was very sad to see Lipscomb come so close to the A-Sun bid and get dropped by loathsome Belmont, but I have one more shot for glory in Nashville. The SEC tourney starts tomorrow at the GEC. Winning is Vandy's only shot for a bid, but the good news is that it's toughest comp have their bids locked up. Maybe Vandy can exploit their laziness.

Historically, I do rather poorly on the Brackets and Pools I enter. Despite reading ESPN.com everyday, watching more than a few games and sneaking around the watercooler, I still don't usually find any secret, victorious insight.

This year, I've decided to test my karma and tempt fate. I'm going to fill out my bracket just as it would look if I had my way in the universe. Vandy wins. SEC teams go as far as possible before having to beat each other as directed by my deeply ingrained, yet subtle prejudices. Then every one else gets sifted out depending on my affection for their school, city or state or region, according to their relative value in my heart. For instance, the South will always beat the East Coast. The East Coast usually will beat the West Coast, with a few exections. UNC beats Duke. Schools I'd send my kids to will beat schools to whom I will not pay money. The ACC usually will beat the Big East. The Big 12 usually will beat the Big 10. At the bottom of the barrel, Texas teams beat California teams.

This is confessional. What will be your methods? I need some help.

P.S. My SEC hierarchy of rooting interests, in descending order, in all sports:

1. Vanderbilt
2. Tennessee
3. Mississippi State
4. Alabama
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
7. Auburn
8. Georgia (sorry, Eby)
9. South Carolina
10. Kentucky
11. LSU
12. Florida