parables of a prodigal world

Over the last few posts, I've talked about how little the issue of electing the next president has to do with our vocation and mission as disciples of the Living Lord of the World. But I've also mentioned that I'm going to be voting for Barack Obama. I've engaged in discussion with some who are angry or confused as to how I can bring myself to support a candidate whose views on certain issues are so different from my own. Once again, the short answer is that I don't believe my support of a particular presidential candidate has much, if anything, to do with what I am called to do or not do vis-a-vis my conviction on particular issues. But I do think it is incumbent (no pun intended) upon me to explain why I am supporting a particular candidate for president, in this case Obama. And I think the best answer can be given by way of a parable. Like all parables, its not the type of answer you would give to a question like "what is 4 plus 7," but like Someone I t...

I ordinarily hate to shine the spotlight on one of the loyal visitors to this blog, as few as they are, but seeing as one of the comments to my last post was precisely germane to the point I was making, with sincere apologies and the utmost appreciation for engaging in this conversation: Michael Awbrey said... I have recently been in conversation with several people regarding one issue voting (i.e. the abortion issue) in this year's race. What are your thoughts on Obama and abortion? Why are you not a one issue voter? I was frankly sad when I read the question. I felt like N.T. Wright after a long lecture on biblical cosmology when someone in the audience invariably will ask "But what do you think Hell is like?" What are my thoughts about Obama and abortion? I like Obama, and I don't like abortion. I guess that's the short answer. For a slightly lengthier discussion about my views on abortion, I've posted once before on that issue. But the whole point of the...

I guess there've been some other things going on in the world for the past three weeks while I've been engulfed in the Surprised by Hope series. So I'll try to catch up. OK, I guess there's this whole election thing going on. Super Tuesday, Part II. I guess ST-I didn't live up to its hype. And I guess I have too much N.T. Wright on the brain to avoid saying this: Do we, as claimed disciples of the current (un-"democratically elected") Lord of the world, have a proper perspective regarding all this election hoopla? Don't get me wrong, the decision is an immensely important one, and I, for one, prefer the democratic process to the alternative. But consider these thoughts and how they relate to the massive output of energy and hope being directed on what's going on today and in the months to come. At its most general level, what we're doing is electing a leader of the current world empire. I know, its a nasty word. But let's call a spade a s...

For ease of navigation, I'm providing links to the entire Pirate Review Series of N.T. Wright's "Surprised by Hope" in one post. Day 1 (Chapter 1) Day 2 (Chapter 2) Day 3 (Chapters 3 & 4) Day 4 (Chapter 5) Day 5 (Chapter 6) Day 6 (Chapter 7) Day 7 (Chapters 8 & 9) Day 8 (Chapter 10) Day 9 (Chapter 11) Intermission Day 10 (Chapter 12) Day 11 (Chapter 13) Day 12 (Chapter 14) Day 13 (Chapter 15, Part 1) Day 14 (Chapter 15, Part 2) Epilogue: Top 10(+3) Excepts from the Book Happy navigating. Grace and Peace, Raffi