parables of a prodigal world

As I mentioned in yesterday's post , Dallas Willard's " The Divine Conspiracy " is one of my all-time favorite reads, and that's despite the fact that I fundamentally disagree with Willard about his treatment of the Beatitudes. I agree with Richard Foster in that, when we consider its comprehensiveness, its accessibility, its depth, and its warmth, it is one of the greatest books of this generation. My copy is scattered with highlights and underscores of various sections. Here, then, are my Top 10 (+2) favorite excerpts from the book: 12. Unlike egotism, the drive to significance is a simple extension of the creative impulse of God that gave us being...We are placed in a specific context to count in ways no one else does. That is our destiny. 11. Some years of reflection and further experience with Jesus and the kingdom enabled his people to describe him in lofty language as "the icon of the unseeable God"...But that was not yet. It was to still uncompr...

I ran across this video clip today with Bono of U2 talking about and performing a song originally written back in the 80's during the recording of Joshua Tree. Its about his experience visiting Ethiopia in 1984. Its a great song, and I love pretty much everything from U2. But what caught my attention was the retelling of the Beatitudes at the end of the song. The lyrics go like this: Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt For they shall inherit what's left of the earth Blessed are the kings who've left their thrones They are buried in this valley of dry bones Blessed all of you with an empty heart For you got nothing from which you cannot part Blessed is the ego, it's all we got this hour Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power Blessed is the sex worker who sold her body tonight She used what she got to save her children's life Blessed are you, the deaf cannot hear a scream Blessed are the stupid who can dream Blessed are the tin canned cardboard slu...