Not only is Zed posting at Education Coup...but I'm posting at my own site: jkdoyle.com

And never fear...and this is a promise to the two or three of you who still check in from time to time...liquidthinking will be back soon.

Jimmy
posted by Jimmy at 5:45 PM | |

 
It seems that some of you have been kicking around this old blog... like it is some kind of dead body or something.
posted by Stephen at 9:47 PM | |

 

posted by Jimmy at 2:49 PM | |

 
George Bailey vs. Howard Roark in the Circle of Doom
The name of the blog, "Evangelical Outpost," made me suspicious. Normally, when I see that something is from an "evangelical worldview," I anticipate something that sounds more like modern political and social conservatism equated with Christian evangelism, and I get a bit antsy.

But this entry has got to be one of the best write-ups I've seen about the subversive nature of Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life.

In fact, I think it's one of the only write ups I've seen about the subversive nature of Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. So there. Here's a quote.

But what makes George Bailey one of the most inspiring, emotionally complex characters in film is that he continually chooses the needs of his family and community over his own self-interested ambitions and desires – and suffers immensely for his efforts.

Although sentimental, Capra’s movie is not a simplistic morality play. In the end, George is saved from ruin but the rest of life remains essentially the same. By December 26 he’ll wake to find that he's still a frustrated artist scraping out a meager living in a drafty old house in a one-stoplight town. In fact, all that he has gained is recognition of the value of faith, friends, and community and that this is worth more than anything else he might achieve. Capra’s underlying message is thus radically subversive: it is by serving our fellow man, even to the point of subordinating our dreams and ambitions, that we achieve true greatness.

This theme makes Wonderful Life one of the most counter-cultural films in the history of cinema. Almost every movie about the individual in society—from Easy Rider to Happy Feet—is based on the premise that self-actualization is the primary purpose of existence. To a society that accepts radical individualism as the norm, a film about the individual subordinating his desires for the good of others sounds anti-American, if not downright communistic. Surely, the only reason the film has become a “Christmas classic” is because so few people grasp this core message.

posted by Stephen at 10:02 PM | |

 
Holiday season provokes unwarranted, random generosity

It seems that some secret Santas in Spokane, Washington have given a few people a reason to believe that humanity is still capable of some amount of good. I love stuff like this. I'd like to see an entire army of people doing stuff like this all the time.

Oh, wait, this guy is already doing it.
posted by Stephen at 1:07 PM | |

 
Flipping thru the channels this morning I found Rick Warren on Meet the Press. I thought it was a good interview overall. Recently Rick had a bunch of folks over to Saddleback for an AIDS conference. Singer Bono and Senator's Barak Obama Sam Browneback and others were there.
Here's part of the transcript from Meet the press. The part that stands out to me is the interaction at the end between conservative Browneback (and I'm guessing religious right member) and Barak Obama at the beginning of their talks.

"MR. RUSSERT: Embracing those with AIDS, even though she has strong feelings about homosexuality, you created quite a controversy last month when you invited not only Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas to your church, but Barack Obama, the senator from Illinois who’s thinking of running for president, as a Democrat. This is the Christian News Wire, when Phyllis Schlafly and some other Christian leaders wrote to you, saying this: “We oppose Rick Warren’s decision to ignore Senator Obama’s clear, pro-death stance and invite him to Saddleback Church. If Senator Obama cannot defend the most helpless citizens in our country,” speaking about abortion, “he has nothing to say to the AIDS crisis. You cannot fight one evil while justifying another. The evangelical church can provide no genuine help for those who suffer from AIDS if those involved do not first have their ethic of life firmly rooted in the Word of God.”
I want to bring you to what happened at your church. Sam Brownback first said something—Barack Obama was there—you did not rescind his invitation—and responded. Let’s watch.

(Videotape, World AIDS Day):
SEN. SAM BROWNBACK: Welcome to my house. [at the beginning of his speech, to Obama]

SEN. BARACK OBAMA: This is my house, too. This is God’s house. So I just, I just wanted to, I just wanted to be clear. I hope, I hope you don’t mind that modest correction. [at the beginning of his speech to Brownback]

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: A liberal and a conservative, both saying God’s house is my house."


thoughts?
posted by riddle at 1:03 PM | |

 
Monasticism Everywhere--or rather the New Friar Movement
Terry sent me this link on a post over at Prodigal Kiwi. Relevant Magazine also ran this article in their weekly email. I followed the link to the InterVarsity book, The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World's Poor. It looks good, I may order it and give it a read. It may be that "New Friar Movement" more accurately describes what interests me. From Terry I've understood that (in a simple definition) a Friar is a Monk who takes the vows but engages the outside culture of the world (working and serving) for the sake of Christ and others.

What attracts me to the monastic way is a community's (sometimes radical) commitment to a way of life and being. So much of Christianity has become a "do-it-yourself" religion where real community is something that we attempt to tack onto our solitary lives. What excites me about the "new monasticism" especially is the centering of that communal commitment around serving those in need outside the "monastic" community itself. I know that such commitments have been a part of certain monastic orders for centuries, but in the common knowledge monasticism tends to lead people to thoughts of seclusion and complete abandonment of the world. The model that Jesus lived (and what is desperately needed among Christians) is an abandonment of the world's values combined with a passionate love for others.

It seems that the new monastic movement is taking steps at being communities doing just that.

posted by Jimmy at 11:16 AM | |

 
Missions is the New Worship
I noticed that Wade Hodges picked up on this little line from someone. I just want it to be known (as far as I know) that statement originated with me at a church camp this past summer.

I'm thinking of trademarking the statement since it's getting around. I'd appreciate it if anyone using it would go ahead and write it this way: Missions is the New Worship™.
posted by Jimmy at 7:33 PM | |