parables of a prodigal world

Lotta buzz generated by the Top 10 Emergent/Missional/Post-Evangelical Blog Posts of 2008 . TSK's shout-out didn't hurt. Not too many dissenting voices out there, as far as I've heard, so I might've hit the nail on the head for once. The natural next question is, "How do I get my post listed in the Top 10 Emergent/Missional/Post-Evangelical Blog Posts of 2009 ?" Good question. Here's some pointers that I gleaned while looking at the posts that made the '08 List : 10. Give an example of the practical consequences of that which you are critiquing. (HT: Jared ) 9. Laugh intelligently at Emergent. (HT: Jonathan ) 8. Write a balanced, insightful review of a wildly popular book. (HT: BW3 ) 7. Laugh intelligently at Evangelicalism. (HT: ProdigalJon ) 6. Get deep. (HT: Kathy ) 5. Write a good post with a great title. (HT: Tom ) 4. Say something unique about something common. (HT: David ) 3. Bridge gaps. (HT: Eugene and Scot ) 2. Rant/Vent eloquently....

If you're looking for objective criteria, rhyme or reason to this list, rest assured that there is none. Some of the posts were included for their impact. Some for their humor. Some for their beauty. Some for their wisdom. Some were by Emergers. Some were about Emergers. Some were by Emergers about Emergers... In other words, there were no hard-and-fast rules. Kinda like "The Movement Formerly Known as Emergent" (See Post No. 1). So without further ado, MY list of the top 10 Emergent/Missional/Post-Evangelical blog posts of 2008. 10. Osteen-Esque Entitlement and Knowing Your Place at Gospel-Driven Church Jared Wilson's biting commentary on the Victoria Osteen / flight attendant story. A poignant parable about the real-world consequences of the prosperity gospel. 9. Top 50 Possible Reasons Why You're Not Emergent at Missio Dei Jonathan Brink's classic list of...well, the title speaks for itself. Like all good comedy, it's real-ness makes it even funnier...

Shministim means “twelfth-graders” in Hebrew. Military service is mandatory after high school for young Jewish Israelis. The Shministim are Israeli youth who refuse to serve in the army because it enforces Israel’s 40-year occupation of the Palestinians. Such a refusal means jail terms in Israeli military prisons. Terms range from 21 to 28 days; those who refuse to wear a military uniform while in jail are sent to solitary confinement for the duration of their term. After completing their sentence, they are then drafted again and if they refuse a second time, as most do, they face the same sentence. This can be a repeated process in which Shministim return home for a few days or longer and are then drafted and then imprisoned. Even through they refuse to serve, they still in a sense ‘belong’ to the military until they receive their discharge papers. A Shministi may never receive these papers, and although the Israeli military may tire of re-calling objectors into prison regularly, wit...

“As far as history goes and all of these quotes about people trying to guess what the history of the Bush administration is going to be, you know, I take great comfort in knowing that they don’t know what they're talking about, because history takes a long time for us to reach.” — George W. Bush, Fox News Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 As we approach the end of the Bush era, there will be a lot of talk about W's legacy. Let's face it, it ain't pretty. Some have suggested that he was the worst president in American history . The economy. The debt. The wars. The credibility. Hard to argue. But I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of guy. I like to look at the positives. So when I consider W's presidency, I'm thankful. I'm thankful that we Americans can now appreciate and understand the importance of intelligence , especially when it comes to those we choose to lead us. I remember eight years ago that people were well aware that this guy wasn't the sharpest tool in the...

Here are some life lessons I picked up while browsing YouTube this week. 1. When faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, think outside the box: 2. There's a bit of greatness in everyone, and it's awesome when it comes out: 3. Never let rituals stop you from having fun: 4. Music is everywhere. You just gotta listen: 5. Despite how much I dislike labeling people, some folks are just plain smart... ...and other, well, not so much: Speaking of ol' W, stop by Monday for "The Bush Legacy: Can't Get Fooled Again." Grace and Peace, Raffi