New Year's self-examination

List of great, challenging questions to ask ourselves

New Covenant vs. New Deal

Is it possible to be a Christian and engage in politics?  Yes, I think so.  But we need to be very careful where we are placing our hope and trust.  I choose Jesus over the government...even one led by the almighty Barack Obama.  This article traces our infatuation with the "hope" of politics back to the New Deal.

Story of Stuff

If you haven't watched this -- "The Story of Stuff" -- you have to.  One of the best, quick summaries I've seen of our current global economy and the strain our consumption places on creation, culture, and even our spiritual health.

Redemption at work

Awesome article by Rick Reilly about a football game played outside of Dallas a few weeks ago where, in his words, "everything about it was upside down."

The game was played between Grapevine Faith and Gainesville State School.  Gainesville is a high school that also happens to be a maximum security facility.  The love showed to these kids by the coach, players, and fans of Grapevine Faith is inpiring.  Everyday people doing the hard, joyful work of redemption.

Should the Church advertise?

We've all seen advertising from churches. It can be as simple as a church announcing its service times. Or as provocative as claiming to speak from God. There's a billboard just south of Dallas saying:

"Stop the porn and be reborn
-- God."

So I wasn't too surprised to see this article about an atheist buying advertising space on London's iconic red buses in response to "Christian" advertising on the same buses. The "Christian" ads threatened those who reject Christ with "torment in hell." The atheist's ads say, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

In a way, the atheist's ad seems to better glorify God. At least it reflects a shred of the creativity He wired into us.

It's easy for me to criticize billboards about porn or hell. But I'm not so sure any "Christian" advertising is a good idea. Advertising, by its nature, communicates to people you don't know. Should any message carrying the spiritual significance the Church intends be communicated in such an impersonal way?

*Update -- CNN report on the atheist ad campaign: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/01/07/cook.uk.athiest.bus.cnn