Ted Kluck is as hilarious as he is insightful. His little article “Where Rock Stars Go To Die” is a great read. It’s his commentary on worship vs. performance, skinny jeans vs. khakis, and everything in between. Among other things, he writes: The only thing that separates a “worship band” from a “rock band” is the presence of lyrics on a projection screen behind the worship band. What’s really happening is a concert. A performance. But the presence of lyrics on a screen somehow makes it “worship.” If this sounds weird/confusing to you, that’s because it is weird and confusing to me as well. To be sure, Kluck says much…
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To Sack or Not To Sack Church Staff Members
Matt Schmucker has a really helpful article in the 9Marks eJournal about when it is appropriate to fire a church staff member. Based on scripture’s stewardship principle (Matthew 25:14-30), Schmucker says that pastors should sack the following kinds of persons:
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The Moth Is Coming to Louisville
I think I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I listen regularly to “The Moth”—a non-profit organization and radio broadcast dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. It began in New York and has been dubbed “New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket.”The Moth features live storytelling without notes. Its shows are featured throughout the country on National Public Radio, but I get my weekly fix from “The Moth” podcast. If you like storytelling representing a wide-range of human experience, then The Moth is for you.
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The Day the 21st Century Began
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President Obama Reads Psalm 46 at Ground Zero
President Obama read from the New King James Version of Psalm 46 today at the 9/11 Memorial earlier today.
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Newly Released Audio from 9-11 Cockpits
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Where Were You on September 16, 2001?
This Sunday will mark the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Like every other American, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard news of the attacks. My wife and I had only been married a year, and we had just moved to Louisville, Kentucky so that I could pursue a Ph.D. I had a seminar that afternoon and was still at home when the attacks happened. My wife called me from work to tell me to turn the television on. I think both buildings had already been struck by the time I tuned in, but I was…
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Mel Gibson To Make Movie about the Maccabees
The Los Angeles Times reports that Mel Gibson will be making a movie about the Jewish hero who is memorialized every year during Hanukkah– Judas Maccabeus. Here’s a bit from the article: Gibson’s Icon Productions has closed the producing deal with Warner Bros., and Joe Eszterhas will write the screenplay. Gibson’s camp said the filmmaker will decide if he’s directing after the script is done and that he has not ruled out the possibility that he could act in the film.
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David Letterman’s First Show after 9-11
A few weeks ago, I posted video of Jon Stewart’s first show back after the 9/11 attacks. He choked back tears throughout his opening monologue, and it was a reminder of what things were like in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. The shock and grief rested heavily on the entire country. And many of the normal late night comedians simply stopped recording new shows. For some of them, it was weeks before they returned to regular programming, and nobody missed them. It was a singular moment in American pop culture. It was an ethos I had not experience before 9-11, and one I haven’t experienced since.
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Justin Taylor Answers Questions for Rachel Held Evans
Rachel Held Evans has been doing an interview series, and today’s installment is “Ask A Calvinist.” Justin Taylor does a fantastic job fielding questions from Rachel’s readers. I think his engagement is a model of gospel clarity and charity. Be sure to read this one.