theo|digital

I surprised I’m twice mentioning a Republican candidate for governor that is the sorta considered the “Evangelical” of the bunch. But of the portions of the CNN/YouTube debate I got to see last night (after 11 hours of paper writing!) – Gov. Mike Huckabee won the thing. He’s clever and interesting, and compared to Romney and Guliani looked more calm, more likable, and more thoughtful. I’m not saying I’m voting for him yet. I’m just sayin.
The Death Penalty: What Would Jesus Do?

ps – This was not Huckabee’s only question, which was good – he actually some real policy questions. I’m tired of CNN throwing policy questions at candidates they’ve already pigeon-holed – 9/11 to Guliani, Women’s issues to Hillary, taxes to Ron Paul. eesh. And thank goodness Anderson Cooper was hosting. He wasn’t awesome, but anything is better than Mr Overdrama himself: Wolf Blitzer.

I’m not at all used to the liturgical church calendar. My theology professor asked Monday morning, “when does the church celebrate eschatology (“end-times” things)?”

His answer? The 1st Sunday of Advent is the most likely place. Advent is often seen as just “waiting for Christmas” or even Christmas already begun. But true advent focuses on, like the nation of Israel, learning to sustain hope when things appear hopeless. To be patient when God’s timing seems too slow. On how to keep our end of the covenant. And even how to be a contrasting beacon of patient hope as an example to a surrounding world.

For the first time in over three years, I got to see Over the Rhine last night, live at the Old Town School of Folk Music (the “late show”). Their quiet brand of jazz-folk-blues-americana did what it always seems to – stared into our eyes and refused to let go. One wonders why they bother with reverb on Karin Bergquist’s tender-strong voice – my friend Matt said that her smoke and ambiance seem built in, no effects needed.

They walked on stage with “I Don’t Want to Waste Your Time” (“with music you don’t need”), the self-assured opening track on their recent release The Trumpet Child. “All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue” followed, off Snow Angels (also this year!) Most of the set was pulled from the two albums, notable exceptions being Karin sneaking to the piano to sing and play the title track from Ohio (hello Ohio / the backroads / I know Ohio / like the the back of my hand), and their encore (2nd one!) song, where Linford and Karin returned to the stage to give us “Latter Days.” An old-days song from indie released Good Dog Bad Dog (1996), it was probably single-handedly responsible for hooking me in the first place. I pretty much melted.

A nice highlight was the vocal-less piano stroll “Goodbye Charlie” that Linford wrote as a tribute to Vince Guaraldi. it’s so perfect, I had thought I had selected the wrong album on when I first heard it last week.

phew.

Seriously? (actually, I think it’s not trying to be.). A note that I’m watching presidential politics pretty closely, just not posting on it much. Also – sorry for being absent. School and travel is kicking my butt. We’ll make it. Thanksgiving and Christmas on their way!

I’ve been studying Luke 10:25-37 for about the last six hours. Or possibly my whole life. It’s hard to tell – it all runs together. While I’m doing research using five major commentaries and two journal articles, I’m also doing a word study of the word “neighbor.” It’s key the whole Good Samaritan thing. Of course, there were several Hebrew words that mean neighbor… and several Greek ones… yep. Get’s a little hazy. Especially at hour 6.5. Total hours of school today: 8am -> 10pm minus 1 hour lunch.

Part of this project is due in the morning. But I think I have to sleep instead.

Every theological system has an associated sociology, such that we can fully understand the claims of a theological perspective only if we attempt to see what it would look like if those claims were fleshed out in the life of the community. Thus an examination of such a link can be used to test cautiously the adequacy of the theological position in question.

What kind of sermons would be preached? What would be the patterns of spiritual formation? How would ecclesial [church] decisions be made? How would spouses treat each other, and how would they raise their children? What would be the character of the community’s evangelism, counseling, and catechizing [training new believers]? How would the members of the community deal with the pressing problems of humankind in general?

~ Richard Mouw, in He Shines in All That’s Fair

My roommate Mark is pretty good at using his camera. This is his shot, prior to my inevitable return. It was good enough that Chicago webzine Gapers Block picked it up for their photo-o-the-day! Congrats Mark. Congrats my bedroom.

I just arrived back in Chicago from Orlando. Big switch from palm trees and 78 degrees. ELG with GCM was really good for me. More on that later. But for now, maybe I’ll just mention the five feet depth of, oh, BALLOONS in my bedroom when I returned.

Thank you Mark and Luke.

Too bad they don’t know my rather imperial history when it comes to pranks.

ps – “before:”

I’m on my way to Orlando, FL for a GCM staff conference for a couple days. Missing classes: killer make-up work. Missing classes: awesome.