This calls for an early church-style triumphal procession

There was once upon a time when Christians would dawn white garments and sing triumphal psalms as they processed to the graveyard to inter the remains of the faithful. That would seem an appropriate way to mark such an occasion as this, the passing of John R. W. Stott, a life well lived.

And it will be 500 years since ...

Michelangelo completed the Sistine Chapel. That would make an interesting study, no? (Check out the coloring book!)

Next year is 1700 years since ...

Lucian of Antioch was martyred, who is often considered the founder of the Antiochene school of biblical interpretation. Considering all the excitement over Calvin's 500th birthday recently, I wonder how many will spare a thought for this early theological ancestor of Chrysostom, Calvin, et al.

It's also 1700 years since Constantine's vision of Christ that would change the course of history like few events before or since.

AD 312 was a big year!

And they were right!

Since my denomination is so committed to social justice, let me simply say, at the risk of riding another man's meme [that of Professor Reynolds of Instapundit]: They told me that if I voted for John McCain, our inner cities would see riots over Section 8 housing vouchers. And they were right!

Perhaps this is why the African-American vote is more in play than ever this election cycle, and it is just one more reason why mainline preachers should actually study the issues and the candidates thoroughly from multiple perspectives before they rush to partisan political presuppositions and use the pulpit for either so-called progressive or pseudo-patriotic grandstanding. Hey, it's just a thought for these apocalyptic times.

Other great e-books ...

... of far greater (eternal and spiritual) value than their FREE price would indicate:

The price is right ...

... for these homiletical freebies for your Kindle or other e-reader:

Don't think I'm not thinking about it ...

I know, I know. I need to go back and clean up some previous entries to make them more properly html-ish. Sorry about that.

Meanwhile, apropos of nothing, I've really been pleased with my MacBook Air, and have not felt the need to rush into the whole iPad thing. (How's that for a non sequitur?) I'm told they're great for viewing media, but not so much for generating content, and that put my mind at ease, since content, not consumption, is more where my energies and interest lie.

But, don't think I'm not tempted.

The Presidential biographical/historical work of Ronald White

I was privileged to meet and listen to Ronald C. White, Jr., former dean of San Francisco Theological Seminary and theologian-turned-presidential biographer, earlier this year when he came to the area in the pursuit of further research. A delightful and gracious man, White is uniquely attuned to the theological and scriptural dimensions in Lincoln's rhetoric that are largely lost on secular(ist/izing) historians. (His Lincoln biography was an NYT bestseller.)

A versatile organ solution for the small church

The small churches I have served have both been blessed with great organists and fine instruments. But I have also preached in many a small church that was not so blessed, or let us say, that was blessed in other (!) ways. If your church is thinking of replacing an old organ that just can't hack it anymore and you don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spend, the Nord C2 may be worth a look.