Playing with scissors
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
My daughter, Emma, took advantage of a day off of school by honing her skills as a hair stylist to her toy horses, My Little Ponies, Polly Pockets and Barbie dolls. The scene was strange and surreal, like some tiny gnome barber had been loosed upon the miniature toy creatures of Emma's room.My wife emphasized to her that the hair will likely not grow back in—at least not as long and thick as it once was. Several dolls and one ziplock bag of hair later, all of Emma’s horses and half of her dolls are looking more punk rock than the pretty little ponies and princesses they once were.
At least she didn’t go after her own hair—yet.
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May the force be with you
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Here's a new simile to ponder: The American mega-church gospel is like Star Wars Episode I-III. The gospel of the kingdom is like Star Wars Episode IV-VI.Relevant magazine just published a really nice, brief interview with LA pastor and author, Erwin McManus. I’ve noticed that he is often invited to speak at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, and have been intrigued by the titles of his books (The Barbarian Way, etc.)—definitely books to put on the Fall reading list. I like this guy.
Here’s a taste of the interview with McManus: "Unfortunately, I think the Gospel in America is like a blockbuster, $200 million, Star Wars kind of thing. The irony is that [the new] Star Wars has made more than $360 million so far, but I don’t know how many people would say it’s a truly great story. For a lot of us, people are running into our megachurches, and we’re building these massive buildings and we say, ‘Look! The Gospel’s a hit!’ What we’re not realizing is that yes, people are going to see the blockbuster, but they’re not really buying the story.”
Innovation, inspiration and exploitation
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
I’ve seen two new signs of Microsoft’s true nature emerge in the past two week. First, the new interface for Office 12 sports a brushed metal/platinum interface with aqua-fied tabs (inspired by Apple’s iLife applications and Mac OS X interface designs which date to 2000). Second, Microsoft announces that Windows Vista will have applets called Gadgets (inspired by the popularity of Mac OS X Tiger’s Dashboard and Widget applets). Add to this the Mac OS X Tiger’s Spotlight features that are promised for Vista, and you get an even better idea why the Apple banners at the January MacWorld launch of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger read, “Redmond, start your photocopiers.” At the time it struck me as pretentious. It was, in fact, downright prescient.
So of all the talk about innovation by Microsoft president Steven Balmer recently, what he really should be calling it is inspiration—or more accurately, duplication. Thankfully, the vanguard of the computing world is recognizing this more each and every day. Check out this article from PC World columnist, Stephen Manes (not a Mac apologist or booster).I really can’t see why anyone would still want to buy or use an operating system from Microsoft after reading this kind of thing. It would make me afraid and exploited. Rise up folks, and get thee to an Apple Store near you.
Cordless saw for sale, cheap
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
In giving my father a new circular saw for Christmas, I inherited his classic Black & Decker model. Recently he enhanced its value even more by converting it to a cordless model, which is much more convenient. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but I’ve been thinking about how much it would fetch on Ebay with its retro styling and cord free operation.Storms touch home
Sunday, September 25, 2005
In the space between the tragedies of Katrina and Rita, severe weather visited us here in Andover. So my blogging has slowed a bit in dealing with that after being a little ill a week before. Here is what happened to our garage door. Insurance is a good thing at a time like this. And we are so thankful to be in-tact otherwise. Others in our neighborhood had their houses torn up pretty bad.Re: my prior post. Not to be overly mystical, but I flipped on the TV set today to hear Tina Turner belting out the very song, "We don't need another hero" from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. God is wild that way!
Love beyond the Thunderdome
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
I've avoided blogging in the past two weeks as the Katrina events have unfolded. So many have written some excellent posts, while others (on and off the web) have demonstrated some awful examples of theology. I also apologize for the levity of the photo tie-in to this post. It occurred to me to find this movie poster when someone forwarded me the text of a recent sermon from pastor and writer Max Lucado. I don't want to make light of the tragedy or of the heroic efforts many have made to rescue and bring aid.The Lucado sermon resonated with me. I fully agreed with the assertion that any person, but for the grace of God, is capable of new levels of evil. And those in his congregation likely need to hear this when reacting to what they have seen and observed. And in a weird way, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome may have some small insight into that--exhibiting the positive and negative reactions to catastrophic events. There is good in us. We are the children of God. But we contend with a fallen nature and a chaotic spiritual and physical world at war. And this extends to how those in The Church pass judgment on those trapped in the conditions of the dome and convention center in NOLA. Indeed, the redeemed seem to be capable new evils in our high and dry pews, pulpits and church signs. I pray that the rule of Love wins the day in The Church and the Gulf Coast cities that are in need, something I think Lucado should have hit on much harder with his flock.
I can't agree with the perceived implication early in Lucado's sermon that Katrina (or the tsunami, 9/11, etc.) was God's providential vehicle to teach us these things (and others). He does bring good things and human instruction out of such events--but is glorified even more by doing so without having been the cause.
Sorry for my divergence into open theism. I do recommend Lucado's sermon as a mostly edifying read. I also recommend Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, if only for the 1985 kitsch.
We don't need another hero. We just need to know the way home.