GroshLink

Not a week goes by when I am not drawn into commenting on the sexualizing of American culture. Sometimes this happens in a very tender conversation over a cup of tea, listening to the tears of someone's heart as they tell a tale of hope and sorrow, of yearning and grief. Sometimes it is in a much more public place like a classroom where the intimacy is gone, but the issues are just as live and have far-reaching consequence.

If there is any one story that comes up again and again it is Tom Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons, his novel about a young woman who leaves the mountains of North Carolina for the fictional yet very prestigious Dupont University, an amalgam of Duke/Stanford/Harvard.

--So begins Steve Garber's Sex in the Society: Tom Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons as a Window into Who We Are and How We Live.

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The following posting is this week's Worship Quote of the Week, -- let me know your thoughts.

There are many reasons why some churches have a negative view of the arts. Art trades in images, and images easily lend themselves to idolatry. Artists know this from their own experience. In their work they encounter the glory at the foundation of things, and they feel its power over the heart. . . .

Ultimately this kind of art dishonors God because it is not in keeping with the truth and beauty of his character. It also undermines the church's gospel message of salvation in Christ. Art has tremendous power to shape culture and touch the human heart. Its artifacts embody the ideas and desires of the coming generation. This means that what is happening in the arts today is prophetic of what will happen in our culture tomorrow . . .

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You seem to glow with the salvation-bringing fire which our Lord came to send upon the earth. -- Gregory II to Boniface

Not every one of us has to face a great throng of pagans who curse us bitterly because we are the enemy of their gods. Even fewer of us have the opportunity (or if we would have the opportunity) take an axe to fell a "shrine of our culture" such as when Boniface demolished a huge sacred oak tree which was a shrine to Thor. But maybe our salt should be "saltier" and our light "less hidden." Boniface's biographer Willibald wrote,"When the pagans who had cursed saw this [the felling of the shrine of Thor by a axe of a mere mortal], they [stopped] cursing and, believing, blessed God." And Boniface used the oak to build a chapel, which became the center of his new monastery. Adapted from a Christianity Today post.

On Sunday morning, Hayley and Ellen were transformed after their commissioning by our local congregation to reproduce the likeness of Jesus in Tiffany Witman's 1st Grade Classroom at Donegal Springs Elementary School. And what a first day of school they gave testimony to! Although young disciples such as Hayley and Ellen are but vessels of clay, may the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ shine forth through the many new (and returning) students which pour on educational campuses the next several days. For at this stage of their pilgrim journey, they have been called to be Christ in the classroom. Please join me in prayer for . . .

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School of Christ as an individual or family this fall and find yourself looking for material? Then take some time this week to download (for free in PDF) or bookmark (to return to regularly) a piece by one of those who have gone before us in Christ, e.g., St. Augustine's The Confessions, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, G. K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy, or Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God. In addition, one can find works by the early Church fathers, hymns, and an extensive study Bible resource at the new Christian Classics Ethereal Library. May you find these writings a blessing in the coming days, weeks, months, years . . . for that matter, through eternity.

PS. Pics of getting on the bus the first day of first grade at their new school! Thanks Carl :-)

Georgetown bars ministries from campus

Georgetown University has banned outside Protestant ministries from holding on-campus events and using the school's name, prompting group leaders to question whether the prestigious Catholic school is restricting religious choice.

"All we're wanting is diversity," said Kevin Offner, a staff leader for InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship. "We're simply saying, 'Can't we worship and conduct our meetings in a way appropriate to our tradition?' And it feels like [Georgetown is] saying 'no'" . . .

Included in the email forwarded to me by a faculty friend was a note from Kevin, who stated in closing, May those of us who know Jesus Christ continue to trust Him and remain vigilant in following Him, whatever the cost.

Amen. Please join me as I set aside Tuesday as a day to focus my prayer upon our work at Georgetown.

Check it out . . . we're part of the BIC Blogs family :-)

This aggregator is designed to gather the musings, declarations, confusions, questions, photos and all other such randomness that is posted on blogs maintained by Brethren in Christ church members and attenders. This is also for ministry and/or local church blogs that are directly affiliated with the BIC denomination.

Fascinating idea and now that I've posted this, it will go to BIC Blogs. Looking forward to getting to know members over the next several days, weeks, months, years, millennia . . .

to connect w/people. Fellow Grove City College Alum Christina Garber recognized me while I was pouring over my email on AmTrak. She shared about the community of IVMF alum w/a vision for the renewal of Altoona. Looking forward to visiting later in the fall to learn more about this work and meet a Christian faculty on the PSU-Altoona campus with whom they are connected. Note: pictures from visits to Pittsburgh will be posted at 06 Ministry Tour(currently there are a few of the Horseshoe Curve along with one of Hyjunjin and Roger) . . .

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After Eden's pioneering endeavors, Theresa's dad spent an evening installing door latches in the kitchen as Theresa scoured the house inserting outlet covers. Baby-proofing will take a while and when we've done our best, we'll leave for our new house which just received the appraisal go ahead. Yeah! Is there a baby-proofing package for modular homes :-)

InterVarsity's ministry at Georgetown, where we have been asked to leave campus (along w/other 'affiliates' such as Chi Alpha) . InterVarsity has faced similar issues in past, as the new academic year begins, pray for a hedge of protection around our labors at over 560 campuses. For details on the Georgetown situation read

Campus Ministry Removes Affiliates

“As a result of our new direction for the upcoming academic year, we have decided to not renew any covenant agreements with any of the Affiliated Ministries,” Rev. Constance C. Wheeler, a university Protestant chaplain, said in a letter to affiliated officers dated Aug. 14. “While we realize this comes as a great disappointment, please know we are moving forward with this decision only after much dialogue with the Lord.”

The decision came as a surprise to many student and adult members of the affiliated groups, who defended their organizations as important members of the university’s educational and religious mission.

across Justin Barrett, author of Why Would Anyone Believe in God? He's lecturing at Franklin and Marshall College by the invitation of Philosophy Professor Michael Murray. Much of his time will be directed toward countering Daniel Dennett's recent publication Breaking the Spell and Dawkins' soon to be released The God Delusion which misuse his research (along w/others in his field) as a foundation for apologetics against God (note: Pascal Boyer is another important reseracher in this area).

Justin spent the past 5 years away from academia, leading Young Life in Lawrence, Kansas, but he is heading to the University of Oxford’s School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography to be a Senior Research Fellow for the new Centre for Cognition and Culture which will support multi-disciplinary research project on the Cognitive Science of Religion. I've ordered a copy of Why Would Anyone Believe in God? I hope to have a discussion group on F&M campus about this book (and possibly Preston Jones' Is Belief in God Good, Bad, or Irrelevant?). Anyone have interest in taking part of a discussion of either of these pieces right here at www.groshlink.net?

Just finished Jim Sire's A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics (thank-you Jim, let's make more memories!). Partway through N.T.Wright's Simply Christian (thank-you to Chris Nichols for his strong recommendation during his presentations at the Mid-Atlantic Staff Conference) and Preston Jones' Is Belief in God Good, Bad, or Irrelevant? (thank-you to IVCF-CMU undergrad staff Jason Toman for his positive review). Just placed an order for Justin Barrett's Why Would Anyone Believe in God? (thank-you to F&M Philosophy Professor Michael Murray for bringing this piece to my attention, looking forward to hearing Justin in October).

My initial thoughts . . .

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Arthur & Patrick from IVCF-CMU Undergrad give a site walk-thru and receive a vision of the future. Hope to have them back for a campout and some time on the Ginder (Theresa's) Family farm just over the hill. Who will be the next visitor from 'da Burgh?

re-appraisal. Hope to wrap-up the mortgage aspect and start building by early September. In other news:

1. On Saturday, had a great time w/friends from Grove City College: passed along E.T. (to Jen and Randy), feasted on crepes (thank-you Becky), cooled off poolside w/Hawaiian shaved ice (thank-you Arlan and Marcy)

2. Continue to become part of the family of God at Elizabethtown Brethren-in-Christ as last night we partied w/the Followers Fellowship Group over homemade vanilla, peach, and ginger ice cream (29 kids w/parents in tow). We had a number of conversations regarding services/physicians in the area to address Eden's health concerns and our pioneering work among faculty in South Central PA.

3. Move to the Ginders on Monday, August 21

4. Hayley and Ellen start at Donegal Springs Elementary School on August 28.

keep your Scriptures in mind and meditate on them day and night, persevering in prayer, always on watch. We beg you, Lord, to give us real knowledge of what we read and to show us not only how to understand it but how to put it into practice and to obtain spiritual grace enlightened by the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord, whose power and glory will endure throughout all ages. Amen.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185-254), theologian, philosopher, exegete, and teacher. As quoted in The Communion of Saints: Resources from the Worldwide Church, an article by Anne E. Zaki, REFORMED WORSHIP, June 2005, No. 76. Reformed Worship

Brought to my attention by "WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK"

continues in his role as The Steelers' spiritual leader. May each of us be in constant conversation with God in our daily life. Looking forward to hearing similar stories regarding professors and students professing their faith when I visit Pittsburgh later this week.

In the afternoon, Polamalu could be seen on the field again, this time in deep conversation with Steelers defensive lineman Shaun Nua as the two kneeled there long after their teammates had left.

"Sort of what I was explaining to Shaun is that life is not about football. Football is all a part of life, so we have to face each moment and – him being a Christian – to glorify God in each situation," Polamalu said. "So we can't be overburdened with football things and Xs and Os, trying to please a coach or the media or the fans while trying to glorify God."

Richard Foster's Meditative Prayer (among several other booklets and a few copies of Hymns II) from the out-going regional director's give-away table at the Mid-Atlantic Staff Conference. Thank-you Steve!

Here's a quote he takes from fellow Quaker William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, regarding meditation send[ing] us into our ordinary world with greater perspective and balance. As we learn to listen to the Lord, we gain new practical handles on life's ordinary problems:

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Our family just returned from Camp Hebron at which our girls had a blast playing w/the other staff kids. In my spare time, when I wasn't radio-ing the kids to find out their location, shooting hoops, or caring for Eden (when Theresa caught a nasty virus which ripped through the conference), I had a number of helpful conversations w/undergrad field staff desiring to renew the whole campus. Looking forward to transformative appointments w/faculty and undergrad field staff at Elizabethtown College, Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Millersville University, and York College over the next several weeks, months, years.

Also met an IVCF staff who grew up attending the church of the pastor who lives next door to my parents dental office in Middletown. Betsy graduated Bucknell and now will be staffing Bloomsburg and 2 other staff w/artistic gifts, one of which had seen some of my sister Amanda's work in Lancaster . . . Praise God for the interconnectedness of the People of God! More to come. By-the-way, if you have faculty, pastors, or friends that we should be in touch with please drop us an email. Thanks.

Girlfriend. Men in relationships (and seeking relationships), consider this piece. As Theresa and I enjoy a decade of marriage, we return again and again to the many of the tag-lines highlighted this piece . . .

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Arlan for allowing me to borrow The Paradox of Choice, some of you might remember that I picked it up in a spring visit to D.C. along with Freakonomics. I'll be returning it to them at a pool party w/friends from the Grove on Saturday at Jen and Randy Brandt's. As a fitting conclusion to these posts and as a preparation for our coming time together

Perhaps most important, if you limit the number of choices you make and the number of options you consider, you're going to have more time available for what's important than people who are plagued by one decision after another, always in search of the best. You could use that time wisdely by getting to know more deeply your lovers, your children, your parents, your friends, your patients, your clients, your students. The real challenge in life is . . .

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Along with the pervasive rise in expectations, American culture has also become more individualistic than it was, perhaps as a by-product of the desire to have control over every aspect of life. To be less individualistic -- to tie oneself tightly into networks of family, friends, and community -- is to be bound, to some degree, by the needs of amily, friends, and community. If our attachments to others are serious, we can't just do whatever we want. I think the single most difficult negotiation that faces young people who marry in today's America is the one in which the partners decide where their individual autonomy ends and marital obligation and responsibility take over.

Our heightened individualism means that, not only do we expect perfection in all things, but we expect to produce this perfection ourselves. When we (inevitably) fail, the culture of individualism biases us toward causal explanations that focus on personal rather than universal factors. That is, the culture has established a kind of socially acceptable style of causal explanation, and it is one that encourages the individual to blame himself for failure. And this is just the kind of causal explanation that promotes depression when we are faced with failure.

As a corollary,

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CMU-ers, take note. On p.79, Schwartz (in Paradox of Choice) proposed that Herb Simon's concept of satisficing was at the heart of how to fight back against the tyranny of overwhelming choices (pay attention maximizers and perfectionists). To state the concept simply,

To avoid the escalation of such burdens, we must learn to be selective in exercising our choices. We must decide, individually when choice really matters and focus our energies there, even if it means letting many other opportunities pass us by. The choice of when to be a chooser may be the most important choice we have to make (p.104).

Furthermore, the most important factor involved in happiness is

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In Shopping for Knowledge (pp.14-17) Barry Schwartz explores

1. the loss of general education requirements, in particular the capstone course which was intended to teach students how to use their college education to live a good and an ethical life, both as indiviudals and as members of society and 2. the purchasing of goods such as classes and degrees.

I cannot help but agree with his conclusion (which by the way emphasizes to me the need for parents, students, and local congregrations to walk through the preparation for and consideration of various forms of higher education),

Now students are required to make choices about education that may affect them the rest of their lives. And they are forced to make these choices at a point in their intellectual development when they may lack the resources to make them intelligently.

I'd be curious as to how this Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College would suggest an new direction for his campus, for higher education. He comments later in the book the confusion of bright Swathmore students with many opportunities for future direction and how it precipitates what another author has termed the Quarterlife Crisis. And at the end, the value of social relationships to the whole economy, but how is this imparted? Few students bring it with them to the campus.

In my view, campuses should return to the core curriculum in general, of course our alma mater Grove City College did not

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Cool Jesus was forwarded to me by an IVCF staff friend. I found this Roman Catholic angle of critique expressed much of how I would have reacted if I fallen into such a subculture:

For more than two decades Cool Jesus has been right by my side. He's got a big toothy smile, he hates my Church, and he's always telling me I've got it all wrong. But he never tells me what's right.

But, I have not and I find sermons such as the one delivered by our current local congregation, Elizabethtown Brethren-in-Christ providing the much needed structure and direction for the daily walk with The One True God. For some sermon notes which I took from Sunday are posted below . . .

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Choice: Why More is Less. How the Culture of Abundance Robs Us of Satisfaction, written by Barry Schwartz, Professor of Psychology who serves as Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action, considers

When people have no choice, life is almost unbearable. As the number of choice increases, as it has in our consumer culture, the autonomy, control, and liberation this variety brings are powerful and positive. But as the number of choices keeps growing, negative aspects of having a multitude of options begin to appear. As the number of choices grows further, the negatives escalate until we become overloaded. At this point, choice no longer liberates, but debilitates. It might even be said to tyrannize . . .

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The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South, another piece by Philip Jenkins, referenced just the other day on groshlink comes out in October. Place it on your Christmas list. Here's a quote:

the experience of the emerging churches must make us rethink the role of the Old Testament . . . Southern readings can help us exorcize the stubborn ghost of Marcion, a task that Christian churches need to repeat with some regularity.

Amen. Looking forward to more from the prolific Penn State History Scholar!