parables of a prodigal world

I ran across this article from the NY Times about how Philosophy is becoming a hot new major for college students today. Here's an excerpt: "Once scoffed at as a luxury major, philosophy is being embraced at Rutgers and other universities by a new generation of college students who are drawing modern-day lessons from the age-old discipline as they try to make sense of their world, from the morality of the war in Iraq to the latest political scandal. The economic downturn has done little, if anything, to dampen this enthusiasm among students, who say that what they learn in class can translate into practical skills and careers. On many campuses, debate over modern issues like war and technology is emphasized over the study of classic ancient texts." Here's an excerpt from one of those "classic ancient texts." "Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of t...

For reasons entirely too private to disclose, God called me to a 2-day fast on Monday night. It was the first time He had done so (or the first time I heard Him, and probably that). Here are 25 things that I picked up during 48 hours on straight Aquafina (or was it Crystal Geyser?): Food isn't as important as I thought it was. Moths fascinate me; I think its how they instinctively desire the light in the darkness. I love my family, more so than I ever imagined I could. Prayer is necessary. If you claim to believe something but don't act in accordance to it, you either don't believe it or you believe something else more, namely, the belief in accordance to which you are acting. Truth + Lies = Lies "Love" is an action word. The broader your perspective, the clearer God's voice. Jesus of Nazareth was really, really smart. Sometimes, paradoxes aren't. The light that you emanate to the world is directly proportional to the level of humility in your relationship...

As I read through the latest post at one of my favorite sites, a simple story about a unexciting church conference and an ordinary vote on whether the conference should merge with a neighboring one, it got me to thinking... The more I read and study the Bible, the more I come to agree with Paul’s understanding of God’s master plan revealed and accomplished in the life of one specific Palestinian Jew, and the Church’s role within that plan, as Paul set forth most clearly in the Letter to the Ephesians: With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that ...

The great contextualization debate over at Tall Skinny Kiwi ( here and here ) and Pyromaniacs here . Personally, I think the whole issue has been taken out of context. iMonk discusses his thoughts on heaven here and here , and then does a wonderfully poignant review of N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope . Eugene Cho gets taken to task on what was supposed to be a lighthearted post, and then responds with this gem . Trevin Wax announces his second interview with N.T. Wright and seeks possible questions from his readers. QUOTE OF THE WEEK: God loves you; everyone else has a wonderful plan for your life. Grace and Peace, Raffi