tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86240572024-03-12T20:10:24.800-05:00You are being redirected to JoshuaGraves.comPlease wait one moment . . .Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.comBlogger545125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-38101221399210232292009-09-03T16:21:00.002-05:002009-09-03T16:21:51.154-05:00New blog posts at JoshuaGraves.comIf you have not already, please update your RSS feeds and bookmarks to JoshuaGraves.comJosh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-86655103612489072672009-08-27T09:47:00.002-05:002009-08-27T09:55:17.904-05:00The Feast<a href="http://joshgraves.blogspot.com/2009/05/jesus-feast-introduction.html"><strong>The Feast</strong> </a>is now available on <strong>Family Christian Bookstore's</strong> website. Click <a href="http://www.familychristian.com/shop/product.asp?prodID=58820"><strong>here</strong> </a>to order. If you are an Amazon/Barnes and Noble loyalist, I'll update when it's up there. If you are not interested in the book, please forgive my passion..this has been a work in progress for two years.Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-76638455779290843042009-08-26T22:31:00.005-05:002009-08-26T22:41:04.948-05:00www.joshuagraves.comIn a few days, this site will become part of a new website (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.joshuagraves.com/">www.joshuagraves.com</a></span>). When that happens, please change your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rss</span> feeds and bookmarks. I'm late to the game but I will also begin living in Twitter land (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://twitter.com/joshgraves">http://twitter.com/joshgraves</a></span>) on a somewhat regular basis-- if you are interested. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The Feast</span> is scheduled to be available next week through <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=family+christian+locations&aq=0&oq=Family+Christian+locat&aqi=g1">Family Christian Bookstores</a></span> (in store purchases are highly appreciated). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">LifeWay</span>, Books-A-Million and some other regional stores will carry the book along with traditional avenues (Amazon, Barnes & Noble). These other carriers will have the book at some point during the next few months. I'll update the new site as that information is available.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-90373216754385006822009-08-25T10:19:00.004-05:002009-08-25T15:31:06.154-05:00MEET YOU FURTHER ON UP THE ROADSunday night, friends and family came together to "send the Graves family off Nashville style." For Michigan folks, it was pretty convincing. It was quite a scene. I told Kara, on the way to the gathering, that "there's little chance I'll cry tonight." When I walked into the room to see everyone who'd shown for the event, I made myself a liar almost instantly.<div><br /></div><div>The room consisted of cowboy hats, boots, sweet tea, great country music from Mitch Washer and Paul <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bobo</span> . . . Ashley Harrison, childhood friend, brought out tears with his remarks and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">slideshow</span>/video at the end . . . but the Barton family stole the show.<br /><br />Not known for their musical abilities, the Barton Family caught us off guard.They took classic Motown music (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Seger</span>, Motown, Madonna) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">turned them into country songs about Josh and Kara</span>. The highlight for me was John Barton's remake of a well-known Marvin Gaye song. The lyrics will give that song away.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Josh gets to preaching, we get spiritual healing . . .<br />Makes us feel so right . . . <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">eous</span><br />Helps us walk in the light<br />Spiritual healing in the body (that's Christ's Body),<br />it's something that's good for us<br />Get up . . . Get up . . . lets all go to church<br />Wake up . . . wake up . . . cause Josh's preaching works.<br /></span></div><br />A close second was Barton's re-do of a Madonna song called, "Like a Theologian" . . . here's an excerpt:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Like a theologian (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">oooohh</span>), preaching for a really long time<br />Like a theologian, quoting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Brueggemann</span> and N.T. Wright,<br />quoting Henri <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Nouwen</span>, Barbara Brown Taylor,<br />Did I mention <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Brueggemann</span>?<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br />We're heading down the road in a few days for a <a href="http://www.ottercreek.org"><span style="font-weight: bold;">new journey</span></a>. We're taking the friendships and memories from Rochester Church with us to cherish every day. Ministry is a job almost impossible to explain. Because, in most ways, it's not a job, it's your life. It's people. Stories. Difficulty. Joy. Celebration. Disaster. And in the midst of all if it you forget that as you've been giving yourself away week after week after week, others have been doing the same for you and your family.<br /><br /><br /></div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-87466914787268997952009-08-21T12:35:00.003-05:002009-08-21T13:45:06.625-05:00Mysterious WaysWhen I catch myself staring at Lucas (which happens a lot), I can't help, at times, but feel a deep sadness come over me. Don't get me wrong, I love every moment of fatherhood. Especially the ones where I'm exhausted, he's crying and then, all of a sudden, he stops, pauses, and smiles at me. Yes, he's now old enough that I can say, with full biological confidence, he's smiling (it's not just 'gas' anymore). <div><br /></div><div>The sadness comes from knowing how temporary (frail, the poet Shelley would write) life is. Lucas will be 18 before I can say "Gerber baby food." I'm going to wake up one morning and realize I am not nearly as young as I perceive myself to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>---<br /><div><br /></div><div>Some day, maybe later than sooner, Lucas is going to ask me about the mystery of the Spirit. I'm going to do three things. At least, today this is what I'd say.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, I'd talk about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jesus's</span> conversation with Nicodemus in John's gospel. What an interesting conversation. Of course, I'll save him all the academic interesting tidbits like the difference between Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic (I'm guessing he won't be interested in that in a long time). I also won't bring up the literary point about when Jesus stops talking and John (the writer) picks up. After all, John's Gospel is a series of conversations. Here's what I'll say: Lucas, do the trees move the wind or does the wind move the trees ("The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, buy you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going")?</div><div><br /></div><div>If that doesn't satisfy, I'll talk to him about U2's song <b>"Mysterious Ways."</b> If you are not familiar with this song, which I'll assume most of you are, you can click<b><a href="http://www.u2.com/discography/lyrics/lyric/song/90"> here</a></b> to read the fascinating lyrics. There are three ways this song is interpreted by U2 experts like my friend <b><a href="http://caritas2.blogspot.com/">Greg</a></b>. 1) This is a song about a boy falling in love with a girl (and the mystery that lies within this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">roller coaster</span> ride) 2) An explicit ballad written to describe the role of the Spirit in the life of Jesus follower OR 3) A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><i>midrashic</i></span> commentary on the life and death of John the Baptist. Which one is right? The answer is probably "yes." </div><div><br /></div><div>If Lucas is still awake at this point, I'll tell him what I should have told him all along. </div><div><br /></div><div>When your mother and I were newly married, your mother had a dream. She dreamed that she was in a huge building. While walking near the top of this large sky-scraper, an enormous wall of water came crashing over the top of the building. Immediately your mom awoke and told me, in an urgent voice, of the dream.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning I woke up to the news on CNN that a large tsunami had devastated parts of Asia, leaving thousands of people dead, many more without food, water or shelter. One of the worst tragedies of my lifetime. I'm guessing hundreds of people had similar dreams that night. </div><div><br /></div><div>When you were just a baby, your mom had a dream that she was pregnant with a girl (which was not true). The nurse in this little dream was Kara's friend Sara <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Whitten</span>. Random. Totally random. She does not work in the medical profession. </div><div><br /></div><div>The day following the dream, Kara learned that Sara <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Whitten</span> had herself just learned of her unexpected pregnancy (in real life). </div><div><br /></div><div>There are other stories. Stories for other days. </div><div><br /></div><div>The wind moves the trees.</div><div>Talk about the things you can't explain.</div><div>You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it's going. </div></div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-76470497664115437272009-08-17T10:21:00.004-05:002009-08-17T10:38:21.168-05:00HOW MOVIES HELPED SAVE MY SOULI read Gareth Higgins's book <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Movies-Helped-Saved-Soul/dp/0971457697">How Movies Helped Save My Soul</a></i></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Movies-Helped-Saved-Soul/dp/0971457697"> </a>over the weekend. Fantastic work. If this interests you, I also suggest <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reel-Spirituality-Theology-Dialogue-Engaging/dp/0801031877/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250523312&sr=8-1">Reel Spirituality</a></i></b> and <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Wide-Open-Looking-Popular/dp/1587432013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250523362&sr=8-1">Eyes Wide Open</a></b></i>. <div><br /></div><div>While reading <i><b>How Movies Helped Save My Soul</b></i>, I made a list (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">without</span> too much analyzing on my part) of movies that have deeply impacted me over the last several years. In no particular order, here's my list:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Glory, Places in the Heart, O Brother, Ray, Losing Isaiah, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Shawshank</span> Redemption, Bella, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Slumdog</span> Millionaire, Field of Dreams, Cold Mountain, Freedom Writers, Malcolm X, One Flew Over the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cuckoo's</span> Nest, The Apostle, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Chocolat</span>, Life is Beautiful, Seven Pounds. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>NOTE: I am hoping to teach a class at <b><a href="http://www.ottercreek.org">Otter Creek</a></b> in January on the relationship of film and scripture. It should be fun!</div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-44262020053035403572009-08-13T08:32:00.003-05:002009-08-13T08:54:41.609-05:00Flags for JeremyI am constantly wondering how our churches can minister to military soldiers (both foreign and domestic). Mostly because both of my brothers-in-law have served in the U.S. military. My friend Andy recently shared something that happened in his neighborhood. I can't shake this story. I think you'll like it.<br /><br />Jeremy has been in the military for a few years . He's newly married (I performed the wedding incidentally) to a wonderful young woman. Military life's been hard on him. Without going into unnecessary detail, his stint serving Uncle Sam has challenged his core identity, outlook on life, and close relationships.<br /><br />Andy wanted to do something life-giving (first century Christians might call this "gospel") for Jeremy. In the midst of this burden a brilliant idea was born.<br /><br />Fresh off of a military tour in Afghanistan, Jeremy returned home to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Midvale</span> street in Rochester Hills--the house he grew up in, the same street where Andy lives. Andy got word of what was about to go down. So he got his three kids together and hatched a plan: They would hunt local dollar stores in hopes to find as many tiny American flags as they could get their hands on.<br /><br />They ended up with hundreds of flags.<br /><br />The next day, Andy and his family walked up and down the street telling neighbors about Jeremy's return from war. Every single neighbor agreed to honor him (I'm guessing . . . even some of those who oppose both the war in Iraq and Afghanistan) by placing flags in their yard.<br /><br />I walk in the tension of <span style="font-style: italic;">nationalism</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">patriotism</span>. Nationalism is blind loyalty to the country one lives in over and above all other value claims (like Christianity). This breaks my heart for I am convinced some Christians are more influenced by Rush Limbaugh than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Jesus's</span> own teachings in The Sermon on the Mount.<br /><br />Patriotism is not nationalism. Patriotism is different. Patriotism honors what is good and just about a particular country (e.g. The Allied Forces liberating Jews from Hitler's concentration camps) without handing over one's identity to said country.<br /><br />I am not a nationalist because I've given my life over to the life and teachings of a rabbi, God-ordained prophet from Israel. I am a patriot however. There are so many beautiful things to love about this country. Equally, there are so many skeletons yet to have been fully brought out of the closet. Patriots talk about the good and the bad . . . the blessings and the curses.<br /><br />Back to the flags for Jeremy.<br /><br />When he returned home for this brief visit, he pulled onto the street he knew best: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Midvale</span>. As he drove slowly he noticed hundreds of flags lined up and down the entire street on both sides. He realized, in that moment, the flags were for him. I have not talked to Jeremy but I'm willing to bet that it was the first time in a long time he felt as if his life mattered. People noticed. He was a human after all, not a mere killing machine. Jeremy knocked on Andy's door and said, in genuine gratitude, "Thanks."<br /><br />The flags for Jeremy are one way to make someone feel whole, complete. Whether you are for the current wars or against them, never let your passion for your side supersede your conviction that soldiers are often the pawns of a much larger war.<br /><br />The church stands poised to expose this truth. One flag at a time.<br /><br />If this subject interests you, this is a thread that runs throughout my book, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5sylh_I6WY"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Feast</span></a> (coming September 1).Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-62176614921561442492009-08-11T07:59:00.003-05:002009-08-11T08:16:06.552-05:00Spiritual Food in the FallIf you are looking for ways to sharpen your thinking and experience as it relates to God's work in the world, let me suggest three conferences for you coming in September and October.<br /><br />1. Abilene Christian University's <a href="http://www.acu.edu/academics/cbs/departments/ministryevents/summit/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SUMMIT</span></a>. <a href="http://www.acu.edu/academics/cbs/departments/ministryevents/summit/welcome.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brady Bryce</span></a> has done an excellent job in putting together a conference that blends the conversations in the larger Protestant world for the college campus.<br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.zoegroup.org/page.asp?SID=1&Page=83"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ZOE Nashville</span></a>. One of <a href="www.karagraves.blogspot.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kara's</span></a> spiritual highlights, <span style="font-style: italic;">ZOE </span>Nashville promises to be nourishing this year. We have a new format and some other surprises in store. I believe this conference will bless those present. Eric Wilson, Randy Gill, Greg Taylor<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">et</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">al</span> have creatively put together an approach that will challenge and minister to people from a variety of perspectives.<br /><br />3. <a href="http://preaching.lipscomb.edu/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lipscomb's Conference on Preaching</span></a>. Pound for pound, this is one of the best conferences on preaching/teaching in the evangelical world. David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Fleer</span> has put together another <a href="http://preaching.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=205&Page=5702"><span style="font-weight: bold;">outstanding line-up</span></a> (save me)--diverse in perspectives and background, unified in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">commitment</span> to the ministry of Jesus.<br /><br />I know these conferences well and am confident they will give you more energy in your pursuit of God.Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-90902336253470983562009-08-08T20:03:00.004-05:002009-08-08T20:09:30.872-05:00Tent CityOne of the many reasons I'm excited about my new role with <b><a href="http://www.ottercreek.org">Otter Creek Church</a></b> (beginning September 1st) is their emerging passion for "invisible people." Check out this short clip in preparation for a special concert by music legend <b><a href="http://www.philkeaggy.com/">Phil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Keaggy</span></a></b>. <b><a href="http://www.ottercreek.org/ministers_sanders.php">Doug Sanders'</a></b> passion for the 'least of these' is contagious. <div><br /></div><div>Check it out.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(100, 95, 94); font-size: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><object width="400" height="230"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5991131&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5991131&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="230"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5991131">A Night for Tent City - Ministry Moment Video</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1494145">David Woodard</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Vimeo</span></a>.</p></span></div></div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-817067739675091342009-08-03T12:45:00.001-05:002009-08-03T12:50:55.896-05:00The Feast<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-5sylh_I6WY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-5sylh_I6WY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Thanks to my friend <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Woodard</span> for working on this project with me.Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-45666809687652956042009-08-01T20:07:00.003-05:002009-08-01T20:55:03.171-05:00SPORTS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HF4JXADWbmlUVHjnHowGDVm7X0BrBLm_VsCrFupK5CI-YSMAvbO_dH4E4lLSpDwhrB1bCNa5ORv8UuF2YhxRYPuENqYBvA73GX2n4-6YmL3ZorOOUGVYY92-ZUgL8C3yLQ62ug/s1600-h/Benton+Harbor+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HF4JXADWbmlUVHjnHowGDVm7X0BrBLm_VsCrFupK5CI-YSMAvbO_dH4E4lLSpDwhrB1bCNa5ORv8UuF2YhxRYPuENqYBvA73GX2n4-6YmL3ZorOOUGVYY92-ZUgL8C3yLQ62ug/s320/Benton+Harbor+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365179013401704882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4MetTjjhCYgUMy0Ny5z9sZlyoX-3_AzZJ7d2rnNTJbU-DrRPsulDcPQyysEjJksoQVod5QTjDvo63gwGLM7KlYxYC0_6WbR5iTBxXwWdqYd3EmVf-PAsaxncOGzUuNPcX71aOQ/s1600-h/Benton+Harbor+2+JPG.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4MetTjjhCYgUMy0Ny5z9sZlyoX-3_AzZJ7d2rnNTJbU-DrRPsulDcPQyysEjJksoQVod5QTjDvo63gwGLM7KlYxYC0_6WbR5iTBxXwWdqYd3EmVf-PAsaxncOGzUuNPcX71aOQ/s320/Benton+Harbor+2+JPG.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365178932027214994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Lw7FUQ-9Fi4ccK26ttgDJef4wZeSxuqjB9MIjJ-r2hDImGO_cwJASCFS9RxYSOySgqhyphenhyphenX8rtBB9zZ_JiyQEphuGQ6etQN4XijLh61G6QaR4-QhO0hAcH5MPmfs_cN3UXyGpkw/s1600-h/Benton+Harbor+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Lw7FUQ-9Fi4ccK26ttgDJef4wZeSxuqjB9MIjJ-r2hDImGO_cwJASCFS9RxYSOySgqhyphenhyphenX8rtBB9zZ_JiyQEphuGQ6etQN4XijLh61G6QaR4-QhO0hAcH5MPmfs_cN3UXyGpkw/s320/Benton+Harbor+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365178849439187778" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>After watching my twin brother complete a half IRON MAN (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) I don't feel quite as tough saying I've run a marathon. In addition, I thought about all the different sports played between me, Jason, and sister Kelly (through the years): soccer, basketball, football, tennis, golf, softball, volleyball, track, running, swimming, biking and baseball. Because our family has been so "into" sports over the years, I feel qualified in adding this editorial note: The religion with the most adherents in America is not Christianity--it's sports. <div><br /></div><div><b>Best Athletes</b></div><div><br /></div><div>1. Basketball (a 6'10" man has no business being able to dribble a basketball)</div><div>2. Football</div><div>3. Track and Field</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Toughest Performers</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>1. Rugby</div><div>2. Triathletes </div><div>3. Football/Hockey</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Most Endurance</b></div><div><br /></div><div>1. Soccer</div><div>2. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marathoners</span> </div><div>3. Hockey/Swimmer (that was for Kara)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Toughest Thing To Do in Sports</b></div><div><br /></div><div>1. Hit a 90 mph fastball.</div><div>2. Golf (if you've ever played, you know what I'm saying).</div><div>3. Catch a ball over the middle in football while a stud is about to drop you flat.</div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-42431244206068994772009-07-28T09:35:00.004-05:002009-07-28T17:15:54.881-05:00CALLING ALL BOOK WORMSHere's a list of books I've read over the last six weeks or so. Some I've mentioned before on this blog, some are new. I wish I could write a blog about each book.<br /><br />---<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Blood Done Sign My Name</strong>. Timothy Tyson’s story of growing up during the height of tension in the Civil Rights Movement. His father, a Methodist minister, stood for equality and dialog when it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wasn</span>’t popular or kosher.<br /><br /><strong>The Elements of Style</strong>. A classic on the basics of writing well. It’s stood the test of time.<br /><br /><strong>Writing to Change the World</strong>. A little bit of everything, this books dares you to imagine writing as a form of changing hearts and minds.<br /><br /><strong>How Not to Speak of God</strong>. Written by a new favorite author (Rollins)—I love the way in which he holds the world in one hand, and the story of God in the other. If you are not into philosophy, don’t touch this book.<br /><br /><strong>On Writing Well</strong>. Another classic, this is the gold standard for the basics of writing.<br /><br /><strong>Bird by Bird</strong>. This book is written by Anne <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lamott</span>, need I say more?<br /><br /><strong>This I Believe</strong>. A collection of short essays, This I Believe captures core principles people live their lives by in five hundred words or less. Excellent stuff.<br /><br /><strong>An Altar in the World</strong>. Part-mystic, part post-modern <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">description</span> of spiritual disciplines—<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BBT</span> has written another provocative book.<br /><br /><strong>Justification</strong>. N.T. Wright’s latest work in which he responds to John Piper’s critique of his overall theology. Why Piper wants to spend his last best days of ministry going after Wright, I can’t understand. Piper represents a group of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">neo</span>-Calvinists (which includes Marc <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Driscoll</span>) who want to take on the emerging church and other post-modern expressions of Christianity (as if you can do church outside of culture). Scot McKnight sums up Wright’s work in a powerful way: “Tom Wright has out-Reformed America’s newest religious zealots—the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">neo</span>-Reformed—by taking them back to Scripture and to its meaning in its historical context. Wright reveals that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">neo</span>-Reformed are more committed to tradition than to the sacred text.”<br /><br /><strong>The Unlikely Disciple</strong>. The best surprise read of the summer, this memoir chronicles an Ivy League students’ journey to Falwell’s Liberty University. Fantastic read. A must for any young adult serious about their faith. Or any person seeking to minister to the young adult demographic. There's enough in this book to offend you, no matter where you find yourself on the political spectrum of church doctrine.<br /><br /><strong>Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus</strong>. Interesting book (in a line of other books put out by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Zondervan</span>) providing rich historical background per the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Jewishness</span> of Jesus</em>. There are others, better written, but this is excellent popular level reading.Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-5416960312014328302009-07-24T19:25:00.004-05:002009-07-24T19:30:24.202-05:00Powerful PreachersOver the next four weeks I'm working on the final stages of a short film for the <b><a href="http://preaching.lipscomb.edu/">Lipscomb Preaching Conference</a></b>. I'll write more about this project later. For now, I'm curious to know from people of different "perspectives"--who has been the single most influential preacher in your life? It could be a local minister from the church you grew up in . . . or a preacher you listen to or read from long distance.<div><br /></div><div>Help me out. <b>Who rocks your spiritual world?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. You can vote for Jesus but that's not what I'm after here. </div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-2830258657123782462009-07-21T08:56:00.003-05:002009-07-21T09:00:21.145-05:00Coach Meyer, Cass ParkIf you have not seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTGSCalTjpU"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this cli</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">p</span></a>, you need to watch it. Coach Don Meyer (formerly from Lipscomb) was honored at the prestigious ESPY AWARDS Sunday night. This is vintage Coach Meyer.<br /><br />---<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Detroit News</span> did a <a href="http://detnews.com/article/20090720/METRO02/907200322/1410/METRO01/Rochester-church-aids-Detroit-homeless"><span style="font-weight: bold;">little story</span></a> on the work we've been doing in Cass Park for the last four years.Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-85903460381358461722009-07-19T08:53:00.000-05:002009-07-19T08:54:41.349-05:00Wow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KNI-fV5t3Xq9-2GCxLOPEwp1H-p59SUhr2ixF5p9ac0iNMPDeBVsPP2p9Q4KoKGTGgy7TzStuOVhIiDg1fqWu6nMDFgVQfnTSCvPuk1TdJOo5e_lBtN6W3PSJgAlAVm0IFM4Rg/s1600-h/pulpit1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KNI-fV5t3Xq9-2GCxLOPEwp1H-p59SUhr2ixF5p9ac0iNMPDeBVsPP2p9Q4KoKGTGgy7TzStuOVhIiDg1fqWu6nMDFgVQfnTSCvPuk1TdJOo5e_lBtN6W3PSJgAlAVm0IFM4Rg/s320/pulpit1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360169269541095938" /></a>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-18134212598972495572009-07-19T08:14:00.004-05:002009-07-19T08:23:04.640-05:00LET'S SAY YOU'RE IN A DITCHI'm teaching today on Luke 10:25ff--one of the most popular stories in all of Scripture: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Good Samaritan</span>.
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJgraves%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> Some who study this story say that the priest and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Levite</span> are in a bind. They are men of God, but the law of God binds them from helping lest they become “unclean” by touching a dead body. Corpses, in this interpretive framework, are as welcomed as a preacher going to Vegas on Christmas—they just don’t go together. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Out of this understanding, some believe that Jesus is challenging their love of keeping the law versus love of people.</span> <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Others who study this story say that <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Samaritan in this story represents the minority person/group in a given culture</span>. The Priest becomes the “conservative Christian” and the Samaritan becomes the “gay man some love to hate.” Or the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Levite</span> represents the “rich” and the Samaritan is the “homeless woman in </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Cass</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Park</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-family:Georgia;">.” Or, the Religious represent “angry citizens” and the Samaritan is the “illegal citizen among us.” While all of those are challenging social constructs to consider, I don’t think they finally get at what is going on in the story. <o:p></o:p>
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<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Something deeper is going on in this story. One Jewish thinker has opened up this parable in drastic ways for me. She writes, “To understand this parable in theological terms, we need to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">the image of God in everyone, not just members of our own group</span>. To hear this parable in contemporary terms, we should think of ourselves as the person in the ditch and then ask, ‘Is there anyone from any group, about whom we’d rather die than acknowledge, <i style="">She offered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hel</span></i>p or <i style="">He showed compassion</i>?’ More, <span style="font-weight: bold;">is there any group whose members might rather die than help us? If so, then we find the modern equivalent for the Samaritan</span>,” Amy Jill-Levine in <i style="">The Misunderstood Jew</i> (149). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br />Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-26881595262013594722009-07-17T14:10:00.003-05:002009-07-17T14:21:46.939-05:00Kara KaleenToday is my wedding anniversary. Kara and I have been married for five years now. I can close my eyes (which I'm happy to do right now since I'm stuck in the Atlanta airport on my way home from Columbia Seminary) and see her beautiful face walking towards me. The <i><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7tW3dqYmDo">Highland Cathedral</a></b></i> is playing in the background . . . <div><br /></div><div>The planets were <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aligned</span> just right that perfect Saturday in July five years ago. My closest friends and family were there to witness the promise Kara and I made to live with each other in times of blessing and times of want; times of excitement and times of boredom; when the doctors report comes back good and when it comes back with a devastating bite.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just because two people have a wedding <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">license</span> does not mean they are married. Just because you wear a ring on your finger does not mean you are husband or wife. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a daily choice. Love is much deeper than a feeling or a motive. It's a daily decision to believe that God is working in the midst of your shortcomings, her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">shortcomings</span>, and both of your differences. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been choosing Kara every day for the last five years . . . and I will for the next fifty to come. </div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-47779225375234203482009-07-13T12:11:00.001-05:002009-07-13T12:14:45.449-05:00Destruction<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Tiger Stadium sits at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull in downtown Detroit. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">It’s old.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Old as World War II, worn-down tennis shoes and my grandfather’s nylon mesh General Motors hat. In America, we know what to do with old things. At least we think we know what to do with things that pass their prime. We destroy them. We abandon them until they look shabby enough to justify our destruction.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Build a mall,” we scream.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Some condos would look nice.” “We could put a highway right there,” says another. “What this city needs is a new skyscraper.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The wrecking ball rips through the right field wall where all of baseball’s greats once stood. The ground near home-plate—where Cobb, Horton, Greenberg, Cash, Kaline, Gibson, Trammel, and Fielder planted themselves before launching little white balls to the moon— is desecrated because of a city council plan to make condos. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Something’s missing in Detroit. Life is concentrated around work and home. Mundane universes often revolve around job titles, salaries and what’s happening with a son’s third grade science project. This is not bad. Having a job that is meaningful is life-giving and increasingly rare in today’s economic climate. Focusing on one’s family is also good because it’s a core responsibility.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">But we don’t have a lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">other</i> places. Church used to be an other place. Starbucks poses as one though I doubt its longevity. Tiger Stadium is a sacred space to so many not merely because of the games won (and lost), the athletes, the drama, and the great hot dogs. Tiger Stadium is a space where, for a few moments on a warm summer afternoon, men not known for their ability to share hopes and dreams were able to hope and dream together. Something to cheer about. Something to grieve. Something to look forward to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">next </i>year. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The wrecking ball tears the walls, fences, cement, structures of Tiger Stadium. They not only tear what is visible. They also tear the things that are invisible. And, of course, it’s the invisible that is often more real than the visible. It’s the invisible that lasts beyond any of us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">I don’t know the answer. I only know that when our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">other</i> spaces go down, we are never the same. The park, the library . . . or even Tiger Stadium. When we destroy—whatever it is we destroy—we are never the same. Today, that’s what I believe. </p>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-66467342387566746972009-07-09T08:34:00.003-05:002009-07-09T08:46:03.867-05:00Humble Pie<p class="MsoNormal">Tiger Stadium. As I write this, Tiger Stadium is slowly evaporating. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I remember sitting in the right-field bleacher seats with my grandfather and twin brother when I was twelve or so. The Yankees were in town to play the beloved home team, the Tigers. Throughout the course of the game, my brother and I derided the Yankee right-fielder wearing the number twenty-one which had been stitched into the back of his jersey.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“You’re not good enough to have your name on the back of your jersey,” we repeated over and over again. Passionate we were, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">knowledgeable</span> we were not. It would be at least three more years before I learned of the Yankees tradition to omit last names on the back of jerseys as a nod to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">significance</span> of the name of the front of the jersey over and above the name of the back of the jersey. This is a lesson almost completely missing from the modern <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">professional</span> landscape in which baseball players have their names on their jerseys, gloves, and even (depending upon your status) engraved into the wristbands resting on one’s forearms. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the way home, my grandfather delivered some important news. “Boys, do you know who plays right field for the Yankees?” </p> <p class="MsoNormal">“No. All we know is that he does not have his name on his jersey so he must not be that good.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“His name is Paul O’Neil. He’s one of the best hitters in the game today.” A silence fell over the car. A silence not too different from the silence of a principal entering a classroom in which the substitute teacher has had it, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">relinquishing</span> all authority to The Principal.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Oh,” was all I remember offering in response to my grandfather. I made a mental note to myself that I would, at least when it came to sports, do my homework before I would make grandiose claims. By the way, I recently went back and looked up O’Neil’s stats from this year—he won the A.L. batting title. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Humble pie. A big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ol</span>’ slice of it. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-36477227120420606262009-07-08T13:05:00.006-05:002009-07-08T14:04:44.624-05:00The Writing LifeI have the luxury of taking a few elective courses in my doctoral program at <b><a href="http://www.ctsnet.edu/">Columbia Seminary</a></b>. I've had this class circled on my calendar since the day I got my acceptance letter into the program: <i>Pastoral Writing</i> with Barbara Brown Taylor. I am a <b><a href="http://joshgraves.blogspot.com/2009/03/lessons-learned-writing.html">student of </a></b><b><a href="http://joshgraves.blogspot.com/2009/03/lessons-learned-writing.html">good writing</a></b> because a) I love to write b) better writing makes for better speaking and better speaking makes for better preaching and c) writing is a discipline that helps me slow down when I slip into the messianic tendency that plagues many ministers/religious leaders. <div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BBT</span> (my shorthand for her) is arguably one of the more influential voices in Christian <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">spirituality</span>. Her books, which include, <b><i>The Preaching Life</i></b>, <b><i>Leaving Church</i></b>, <b><i>An Altar in the World</i></b>, find their way into virtually every nook and cranny of American culture. She is read by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Buddhists</span>, atheists, Christians, liberals, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">conservatives</span>, and everyone in between.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, she writes from an un<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">apologetically</span> Christian perspective. She might apologize for the church (and some of its hypocrisy) but she never apologizes for the conviction that Jesus is God's embodied word in human flesh. The way she goes about doing this is pure genius.</div><div><br /></div><div>I first read Barbara Brown Taylor when I was nineteen. For many reasons, which I won't go into, she has helped me to see, God, neighbors, and myself in a way I would have never would have come to if not for her careful eye, precise pen, and ability to tell the truth, even when it hurt. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BBT's</span> writing is water to the soldier who's been wandering lost for days without drink; the arms of a mother to a crying infant in the middle of the night; the power that comes out of the mouth of a teenage Michael Jackson (Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson both agreed that Michael had sung one of Smokey's songs better than Smokey . . . and Michael wasn't even a teenager at this point).</div><div><br /></div><div>So far, in this class, we've discussed: the stages of creativity, embodied language, poetry, disciplines, and creative writing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">exercises</span> to stimulate the imagination. And this is only day three. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll leave you with one of my favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">BBT</span> lines: "Humans do no lose control, we lose the illusion that we were ever in control in the first place." I know I'm not in control of my life. I fool myself from time to time. We're just witnesses. Partners? Yes, but we are not the ones making the first move. After all, it's not our story. It is our story to live in. But it does not belong to us. </div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-63197256491854899522009-07-06T15:36:00.005-05:002009-07-07T22:27:41.692-05:00The FeastThings change. Things never stay the same. That's the one thing that you can count on. It's the one thing that stays the same. Make sense?<div><br /></div><div>I got a call from my book publisher recently, "Josh, after talking with the marketing team and evaluating the book market . . . "</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course I'm thinking, "They're about to pull the plug on my book. At least I'll get the contract money they've promised."</div><div><br /></div><div>He continued, " . . . We've decided we're going to change the cover, title, and subtitle." After a carefully reasoned explanation was offered, my hear rate went down to somewhat normal levels. I actually agreed with the editor, told him, "thanks" and became excited.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the title is no longer <i>Jesus Feast</i>. The subtitle is no longer <i><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Spirituality</span> for the Hungry</i>. The cover is different. I still have not seen the new cover, but I'm patient.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm passionate about the content more than I am the look or vibe. If they think changing the book's title to <i><b>The Feast: How to Serve Jesus in a Famished World</b></i><b> </b>will help the overall message, I'm all for it. Working with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Leafwood</span> Publishers has been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">outstanding</span> thus far. I trust them a great deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're a few weeks away from the book being printed. Release date is September 1st. Buy the book. That you read it is secondary (he wrote with a wry smile).</div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-15680087937707843502009-07-05T08:25:00.004-05:002009-07-05T08:44:04.504-05:00RootsI sat in a <a href="http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/faculty/member.htm?facid=jerry_rushford"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rushford</span></span></a> class (at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.ottercreek.org">Otter Creek</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.ottercreek.org"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Church</span></a>) recently in which he talked about the need to maintain some of the great hymns of Christian faith in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">repertoire</span> of in-and-out Sunday worship gatherings. By "great hymns" he is not referring to hymns locked into the 1950's rhythm and verbiage (though not all of those are necessarily bad). He's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">referring</span> to the hymns of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley"><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Wesley</span></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">et</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">al</span></span>. Hymns that give the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">contemporary</span> church <span style="font-style: italic;">deep roots</span>. Hymns that remind us of the many men and women who've set out to follow the teachings of Jesus for almost two thousand years now.<br /><br />During his class <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Rushford</span> traced the history (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Harvey style</span>) of well-known hymns. We followed his teaching by singing stanza's from each hymn.<br /><br />I've noticed a shift in many of our students at <a href="http://www.rc.edu/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rochester College</span></a> over the past few years. The ones who seem to be engaged on <span style="font-style: italic;">deep levels</span> with the teachings of Jesus and his mission for them in the world--they are not satisfied with simply grabbing an emotional experience on Sunday morning. They view worship as part of their lives of confession. When they sing, for instance<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">O to grace how great a debtor. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Daily I'm consigned to be!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Let thy goodness, like a fetter,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bind my wandering heart to thee.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prone to wonder, Lord I feel it,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Prone to leave the God I love;</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's my heart, O take and seal it,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Seal it for thy courts above!</span><br /><br />. . . these students are connected to all the lips who confess God's presence in the precise incarnation of these words. If the church forgets where she comes from she will be a widow in the present and an orphan in the future.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Rushford</span> ended his class with this remarkable line, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"When the church flaunts here <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">contemporaneity</span> and disavows her roots with the past, she often limps when she was called to run."</span>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-21350653095564130772009-07-01T09:04:00.005-05:002009-07-01T21:58:59.207-05:00Highlights of the WeekendKara, Lucas and I have been in Nashville recently, getting ready for our big move to Nashville to work with the <a href="http://www.ottercreek.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Otter Creek Church</span></a>. Here are some of the highlights from our recent trip.<br /><br />1. Time with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Otter Creek</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Church</span>. Between meals with staff and elders, worship on Sunday, we felt a great sense of peace about the family we are joining and the mission of being the church together. I still have important work to do in Rochester over the next six weeks, but I'm eagerly anticipating joining the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OC</span> Leadership Team. I will be writing much more about this new adventure in the coming weeks and months.<br /><br />2.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lowry</span> Family</span>. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lowry</span> Family hosted us while we were in town. They truly embody the gift of hospitality. My favorite moments were the passionate times of story in the family room while we devoured ice cream. The Lowry's vision for <b><a href="http://www.lipscomb.edu">Lipscomb</a></b> is palatable and exciting. I can't wait to see what the next several years look like at DLU.<br /><br />3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://csc.lipscomb.edu/">Christian Scholars Conference</a></span>. In addition to spending time with Otter Creek and house-hunting (more in a moment), I attended and participated in the Christian Scholars Conference. I'm biased, because <a href="http://www.barbarabrowntaylor.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barbara Brown Taylor</span></a> teaches where I'm doing my doctoral work, but her presentation on "The Power of Story in an Age of Twitter" was incredible. I have a writing class with her next week at <a href="http://www.ctsnet.edu/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Columbia Seminary</span></a>. Needless to say, sending the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pre</span>-course writing assignments was the toughest e-mail I've sent in a long, long time.<br /><br />I presented on a panel tackling the topic "Theological Education as Spiritual Formation." The discussion was lively and challenging. I'm still processing the implications of what it looks like for professors, in the words of <a href="http://missions.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=62&Page=1602"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Earl Lavender</span></a>, to shift towards thinking of themselves as "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">missional</span> coaches."<br /><br />4.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.tokensshow.com/home/index.php">Tokens</a></span>. Thursday night allowed us the space to finally be a part of Lee Camp's creative genius known as Tokens. Part <span style="font-style: italic;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Prairie</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Home Companion</span> . . . part social commentary . . . set to incredible blue grass music . . . I describe Tokens as unassumingly subversive. Lee's interview with noted historian Hubert Locke was one of the highlights for me (Locke is from Detroit).<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">House Hunting</span>. Let's just say we saw 31 houses. The house we got was the 31st house we walked through. Sara Barton was our arbitrator through this process. It was exhausting but worth it.<br /><br />Soon, I'll write a blog about <a href="http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/academics/faculty/member.htm?facid=jerry_rushford"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Rushford</span></span></a>'s class at Otter Creek Church on the role of hymns in our modern church experience. Powerful material.Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-46894957032343400872009-06-22T09:20:00.009-05:002009-06-22T10:00:36.173-05:00Dear Lucas<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgsQ1wGJzx_4o9Bd2MK1jHPV_lwl3IE8_8wg8OaqFIvPNhsidV9xV02vPNzyYfK-MU09EdExWA-d5Q1D8uBUE0iS05bbnM6a1LvnwnJum0synqfudR46UzAcH01dvtuOlOr28OQ/s1600-h/Graves.Twins.Fathers.Day.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350165912075283954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgsQ1wGJzx_4o9Bd2MK1jHPV_lwl3IE8_8wg8OaqFIvPNhsidV9xV02vPNzyYfK-MU09EdExWA-d5Q1D8uBUE0iS05bbnM6a1LvnwnJum0synqfudR46UzAcH01dvtuOlOr28OQ/s320/Graves.Twins.Fathers.Day.jpeg" border="0" /></a> My twin brother (Jason) holding Lucas<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsH1OYwTh-8Isnm4jyEVXA_jrOzGmOJoIyAqwMz6MbZBW8mIejIJeVWc_eXseV00xyKT4KZ7V1vP_hzQWlf7keOUPdn_xjF5u_LcSYC61TskDnCMNmJa3XBtg0ytpT0_cOnYcCg/s1600-h/Fathers.Day.Card.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350157509454841042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsH1OYwTh-8Isnm4jyEVXA_jrOzGmOJoIyAqwMz6MbZBW8mIejIJeVWc_eXseV00xyKT4KZ7V1vP_hzQWlf7keOUPdn_xjF5u_LcSYC61TskDnCMNmJa3XBtg0ytpT0_cOnYcCg/s320/Fathers.Day.Card.jpeg" border="0" /></a> Kara's creative genius at work<br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvQL1XtT5c3oWk0RiB1EAX5UBgQ8yTmQh9MPLAkWFta1yFa7g1w_ZT6AB6YacQsinOaJ8CyQi_j3W2n_cydsbrd_FFJ3h7oEmopUN5TZ8meEaF0pdNx3XcAZTKYt7LfvSW56zmQ/s1600-h/Lucas.Fathers.Day.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350157375297424722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvQL1XtT5c3oWk0RiB1EAX5UBgQ8yTmQh9MPLAkWFta1yFa7g1w_ZT6AB6YacQsinOaJ8CyQi_j3W2n_cydsbrd_FFJ3h7oEmopUN5TZ8meEaF0pdNx3XcAZTKYt7LfvSW56zmQ/s320/Lucas.Fathers.Day.jpeg" border="0" /></a> His first Tigers hat<br /><br /><div align="left">Kara made my first Father's Day a memorable one (as you can see from the previous two images). Here's part of the sermon from yesterday (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lucas's</span> uncle Duncan held him on stage while I spoke this blessing over Lucas). </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Dear Lucas,<br /><br />You were born in a fascinating time, 2009. This is the year America swore in its first ever Black President. The Red Wings almost one another Stanley Cup and the Pistons learned how hard it is to replace a leader. North Korea is . . . well . . . being North Korea. Cold Play continues to dominate the music charts and television continues to put out better material than movies (when you are older I’ll tell you about a guy named Jack Bauer). Oprah still rules the world despite the fact that Al Gore invented the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Internet</span>. America is in the midst of two wars (Iraq and Afghanistan). Jay Leno is no longer the host of The Tonight Show. John Updike (famous writer), Chuck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Daly</span> (former coach of my favorite basketball team, the Detroit Pistons), Paul Harvey (America’s storyteller) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hellen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Suzman</span> (Civil Rights advocate from South Africa) all died in 2009. It’s been an interesting year. What a time to be born! </div><br /><div align="center">---</div><br /><br /><div align="left">Christianity on the whole continues to struggle in the U.S. while the faith flourishes in South America (Pentecostal Roman Catholicism), parts of Asia and Africa (which now has more Christians than the U.S.). By the time you turn twenty-five, there might be less than 50 million Christians in the United States. </div><br /><div align="center">---</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">I can’t wait to teach you to throw a two-seam fastball, how to defend someone who’s faster than you in basketball, the proper way to shave, the definition of a good book, the power of film, how to tell a story, and what it means to be dedicated servant. But more than all of those things, I have some specific prayers I bring to God on your behalf. These are the things that matter most to me. I hope this is a blessing to you as you grow in God’s Big World.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">---</div><br /><div align="left">I pray you will know God as your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><em>abba</em></span> father. The Psalmist tells us that you were “fearfully and wonderfully made” Lucas. The Psalmist also tells us that God knew you in your mother’s womb. God is so passionate about you he has your name, not your initials because God cares about the details of life—God has your name tattooed on the palm of your hands. “Father” is Jesus’ chief metaphor for God. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he refers to God as “father” (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><em>abba</em></span>) fifteen times. In his day, that was as scandalous as describing God as our “mother” today. The point was not so much about gender as an all-loving God who is interested in the details of our lives. There’s nothing you can do to cause me to love you more. There’s nothing you can do to cause me to love you less. No matter where you go, or what you do, I promise that I will try to be the kind of father who points you toward the Father Jesus so beautifully embodied.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">---</div><br /><div align="left">I pray you will, as a result of knowing God as father, have Sunday eyes, loving people without conditions. You are entering a world that is drunk on division. We try to divide and create tribes for any possible reason. You will be tempted to allow racism, sexism; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">classism</span>, elitism, and bias enter into your heart. Those attitudes are not from God for God has no “grandchildren” or “stepchildren”—only children created in his image. Friday eyes see people for who they are. Sunday eyes allow you to see people for who will one day become. Paul said that when we are immersed in the Jesus Story we are a new creation, therefore we see others in a completely new light. I will try to model this in front of you as I interact with others. </div><br /><div align="center">---</div><br />I pray you will be a risk-taker. If you want to be a concert pianist, be the best concert pianist you can be. If you want to build homes in Trujillo, Honduras, be the best carpenter you can be. If you want to practice medicine, do so with every ounce of energy. Whatever you do, don’t play it safe or give in to the societal pressures to “have it all” and live the “American dream.” Whatever you do, do it as if you are doing it for Jesus himself. I promise to not be the dad who lives my dreams through you . . . Even if that means I give up sports to learn the intricacies of concert pianists.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">---</div><br />I pray you will possess a deep humility. You are entering a world under siege. Evil and sin do not reside “out there” among “them.” Rather, the Bible teaches us that evil runs right through the middle of us. As you grow older, you will make mistakes. You will make choices that will hurt yourself and others. The more you own your secrets and scars the less your secrets and scars will own you. Jesus teaches us to be the same person in secret as we are in public. His brother was so moved by this teaching he told a group of Christians that “confessing sins to each other” was vital in the spiritual life (James 5:16). I promise to emulate this by sharing my own shortcomings with you.<br /><br /><div align="center">---</div><br />I bless you today with every ounce of fiber inside of me. As you grow in God’s big world may you come to know that you will only find rest when you rest in God. May you become the person God dreamed you to be when he gave you to your mother and I. God’s gift to you is your life. What you choose to do with your life is a gift back to him. I will never be the same because of your presence in my life.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">---</div><br />Peace,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dad<br /><br /><br /><br />P.S. I know the "---" are not grammatically correct but it's the only way I could format the page for blogger. If blogger no longer exists by the time you are old enough to care, I tell you more about it.<br /></div></div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624057.post-16454610833731650912009-06-20T16:05:00.005-05:002009-06-20T16:27:34.169-05:00Christian Scholars Conference at Lipscomb University<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">alma</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> maters</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.lipscomb.edu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lipscomb University</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, is hosting the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://csc.lipscomb.edu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christian Scholars' Conference</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in Nashville Thursday through Saturday. The conference's focus is "the power of narrative." Thus, the speaker line-up (Locke, Robinson, Taylor, and Collins) reads like Cabrera, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pujols</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, Fielder, and </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jeter</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for baseball fans. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.tennessean.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The largest newspaper in Tennessee</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> did a fantastic piece on the conference recently. Click </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090620/NEWS06/906200310/1018/NEWS04/Lipscomb+speaker+enlightens+as+traditional+faith+fades"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">to read the entire piece. Here's a snippet.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Those who equate religion with guilt and repression will welcome recent surveys that chart declines in traditional faith.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><p style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But religion's decline, if it happens, means other grand narratives must pick up the slack. What will emerge to infuse life and civilization with meaning if the old spirituality recedes?</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="aa" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="pp" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "></span>Society flirts now with the removal of a whole set of ancient coordinates — belief in the soul, the power of blessing, the wisdom of the past</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the mystery of an invisible God who oversees history, and a moral code that respects </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">inwardness</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, practices courtesy and condemns</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Check Spelling" border="0" class="gl_spell" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> cruelty.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="pp" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "></span>If those fade, then what? The world scrambles to find replacements — conspiracy theories, anti-</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">semitism</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, the dream of winning the lottery or becoming a high-maintenance celeb. Science becomes the new faith.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="aa" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; font-size:14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="pp" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; "></span>Writer </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Marilynne</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Robinson says that won't work.</span></span></span></span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you think this focus sounds interesting, you need to make plans to attend</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://preaching.lipscomb.edu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">another Lipscomb Conference led by David </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fleer</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in October</span></a></span><a href="http://preaching.lipscomb.edu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I'm proud that my </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">alma</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> mater is taking the task seriously to incorporate the story of God into the emerging cultural landscape.</span> </div>Josh Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185714814555806472noreply@blogger.com0