GroshLink

Quote came to me via the daily asterisk*.  Like it ... how about you?  Expresses what I found when submitting to God and the way of the cross. ...

I would not give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.

Oliver Wendell Holmes
qtd. in The Blue Sweater

Last Thursday night's singing at Allegheny Mennonite Meetinghouse provided a unique opportunity for Amish participants.  This morning, they'll either be worshipping with other families at a farm or with their own family in their home (i.e., if it's an off week for their district).  Their several hour district gathering focuses upon preaching from the Word.* At the singing time, songs were offered/announced and then led by the leaders sitting at the table in the center of the meetinghouse (note:  rows were set-up on three sides of the table and a bench against the wall which served as the 'front.'  I'll look for a picture on meetinghouse layout). 

Typically only the first two of many verses were sung.  As there was no music for most of the songs (and no accompaniment, setting of the pitch by pipe, or 'going over the tune'), my best guess (if it wasn't a 'Gospel' tune) came during the second verse.  Some songs had a slower Amish version, similar to a Gregorian Chant.  These were requested after the first two verses.  Many times only the Amish sung these verses.  Line singing was tried several times, but didn't have much success.  More verses were sung of "popular" songs with a lead out after the given before the offering of the next song.  Sometimes particular later verses with special meaning were chosen.  Note:  Interested in samples of this style of singing? Click here.

*Note:  Interested in learning a little bit more? Visit http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Religious_Services.asp.

On Thursday, I picked up some Amish for a night of acapella Ausband singing at the Allegheny Mennonite Meetinghouse.  It was a long drive from the Oxford, PA, area, for them to be with some of their Mennonite friends [particularly from Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)], but they didn't want to miss the opportunity for this annual event.*

Sitting among and hearing the songs of these brothers and sisters in Christ brought forth a beautiful vision of the countercultural nature of the Kingdom of God.  And I really enjoyed the rich travel conversation regarding daily life and the laughter over some English-PA Dutch cross cultural encounters (including language slips).  What a way to cap off several days engaged in "Theology of the Church" (Brethren in Christ Core Class). 

Hoping for future opportunities to serve the Amish culture, maybe in relationship to the work at PSU-Hershey.  You might find of interest that I was picking up the tunes and the pronunciation -- at least that was what I was told by an "English" neighbor."  Will this inspire me to return to learning German (or PA Dutch)?   More reflections on the evening and thoughts regarding the Amish coming.

*Note:  Interested in samples of this style of singing? Click here.

This week is "Know Your Christian Hipster History" week... Throughout the week, if you re-post a FB item from Hipster Christianity (tag Hipster Christianity in your post) or tweet a link to a Hipster Christianity post (tag @brettmccracken on Twitter), you'll be entered in a drawing for a free autographed copy of the book. 5 books will be given away on Friday!

Still not convinced of and/or have the time for twitter, so hope this post places me in the running ;-) 

More seriously, a few more thoughts on Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide (Brett McCraken. Baker Books. 2010), http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/about.php to add to What's your Christian Hipster Quotient?  Note:  As with the first post, the material is an adaption of a BIC-TALK post.  This post touches upon how Hipster Christianity overlaps with fashion/looks and whether the whole thing is just a joke.  As you may guess, concerns stemming from taking the quiz, http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/quiz.php ;-)

==========

Yes, in some ways Hipster Christianity is a joke or at least a concept which deserves a ;-)  Below's part of the author profile, http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/about.php, which helpfully shares the genesis of the book.

Yes, there are some "looks" which have become more acceptable to "cool Christians" in Evangelical circles, e.g., http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10278&id=112719812101235&ref=mf, http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/anatomy.php, but I don't think it's about 'the look' as much as 'Evangelicalism's younger generation's' journey, attitude, issues, and questions in relationship to the mid-to-late-20th Century/21st Century Evangelical subculture.  I think that the issues are probably different for those born-and-raised in the Evangelical subculture versus those who entered in as 'adults'

[e.g., Some such as myself have a stronger critique of the larger American culture which we left (e.g., "American Dream," "Amusing Ourselves to Death," "Consumerism," "Cultural Relativism"/Tolerance, "The End of Education," lack of "Creation Care," etc.) and don't quite 'understand' a lot of Evangelical subculture (the pieces of 20th Century and 21st Century wider Evangelicalism with which we didn't interact with as children and have concerns regarding its purpose/direction).  The point is to embrace, be continually present in/transformed by, and share the salt, light, and leaven of Christ to the glory of God through all of one's person as a member of the people of God directed by the Word and Spirit of God]. 

As I've been rooting around the author's blog, http://stillsearching.wordpress.com/, I found a number of posts to help frame Brett McCracken's perspective.

How do you score on the Christian Hipster Quotient (CHQ), http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/quiz.php? Note:  A feature of the website for the soon to be released Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide (Brett McCraken. Baker Books. 2010), http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/about.php. Other features include profile pics, http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/anatomy.php, and a chapter download, http://www.hipsterchristianity.com/freeChapter.php.

I'm sure that it will not surprise many that I have a Low CHQ.  But what do you think about the accuracy of the below description?

Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
68 /120

Low CHQ. You probably belong to the purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive, Hawaiian shirt-wearing Christian establishment, even though you are open to some of the "rethinking Christianity" stuff. You seem to like edginess in some measure but become uneasy when your idea of Christian orthodoxy is challenged by some renegade young visionary who claims the virgin birth isn't necessary.

I think that the quiz makes too strong a point by the questions themselves.  A number are difficult for me to answer.  I wish 'none of the above,' had been a regular option or that all the questions didn't need to be answered for the quiz to calculate its results.

Yes, I'm encouraging you to take and reflect upon the quiz.  Yes, you are more than welcome to share your results/reflections and larger meditations on the relationship of Christ - the follower of Christ - the Body of Christ - Kingdom of God - Culture :-)

 (More)

How does the handiwork of the Notre Dame Band compare to what the engineers pull off in OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version - Official? 

PS.  It's hard to confess but I think that I like the Marching Band performance one better ;-)

Teens, Cell Phones and Texting: Text Messaging Becomes Centerpiece Communication (Amanda Lenhart, Senior Research Specialist, Pew Internet & American Life Project, 4/20/2010). Has texting grown as a form of communication for you? It definately has for me. A great way to answer questions and handle tasks when I don't have WiFi or a good way to take/give a cell phone call.

OSU Price of Life begins today with Parade of Tears (4/18th, 3pm)

Event Description: In an effort to raise money to combat the growing evil of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, all are invited to an historic march along the Underground Railroad route at the Ohio State University. This event will feature special musical guest artists and a brief presentation from David Batstone from the Not for Sale Campaign. During this historic event, participants will be able to visibly demonstrate their objection to the exploitation of children through a variety of protest symbols, including being bound and gagged, chained, and silently marching to stand with those whose voice has been silenced through modern day slavery

The Human Wrong initiative to stop child slavery from World Vision Advocacy on Vimeo.

Enjoying Phil Keaggy's artistry in The Wind and the Wheat.  Trying not so much to think about or watch the incredible talent, but instead seeking to rest in and give glory to God for the gift of the new day when I have the opportunity to take Theresa out on a breakfast date, gather for prayer at PSU-Hershey, and learning about Amish CEO's.

After listening to NPR's Are Dairy Farmers A Dying Breed? (Morning Edition, July 24, 2009) and Dairy Farmers Reel As Raw Milk Prices Plunge (Morning Edition, February 5, 2009), I spent some time contemplating the loss of a way of life and it's wider ramifications. Join me in praying for friends in South Central PA who are dairy farmers.

... USDA economists project this year's average milk price paid to dairy farmers will be the lowest since 1978. ...

The dairy industry has gotten some help from Washington. The USDA has subsidized farmers with more than $5 million in aid over the past few months to make up for some of the income loss. The feds have also paid dairies cash bonuses to export powdered milk.

Back on his [California] ranch, Mendoza says if he can ride out this downturn, he'd think about reopening in a few years as a small organic dairy. He could make more money per gallon for organic milk.

Otherwise, he might try and earn a buck renting his scenic farm to dairy industry advertisers. He thinks if they can take pictures of happy cows grazing near the ocean, it might encourage consumers to drink more milk.

Not sure if I'm ready for the political satire of In the Loop. But while digging into the American introduction to Armando Iannucci,* I found this dinner conversation clip from “The Armando Iannucci Show" quite a trip. Ever wonder how some people seem to drive popular dinner conversation ;-)

*Offered by The NY Times.

We're away with the ferries: THE controversial first Sunday ferry service left Lewis for the mainland yesterday - to a mix of PROTESTS and CHEERS.

It is good to find that Sabbath-keeping reaches public conversation somewhere in 'the modern world.'  But how do followers of Christ practice and go about encouraging Sabbath-keeping?  In what manner does Sabbath-keeping extend beyond the people of God?  Some questions for the day.  Have some other tasks to attend to, hope to share reflections later.  Earlier I posted some links related to the topic at Sabbath-keeping.

How clean is the electricity you use?

Thank-you to my friend who posted this neat EPA widget that takes your zip code and electricity provider, and tells you where your electricity comes from.  Not surprisingly, the public power offered in Northern Lancaster County, PA, is a near even coal (45%) and nuclear (38%) with some oil (9%).  Three Mile Island Nuclear Power, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Plant, and Brunner Island Coal immediately come to my mind.

While I was in Pittsburgh, the power was 73% coal, and 22% nuclear. How does yours compare? Try it out at let me know.

If you're unfamiliar with Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon's (associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) research and writing on homosexuality, I would encourage you to check out What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?  This 28 minute on-line video post is part of a series of materials available through Pure Passion.

Good morning!  Who needs coffee when one has Coca-Cola? 

In a recent on-line political conversation, a friend shared the below commercial and I was wondering is this the original I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing?  If not and you know the proper link, please pass it along.  Thank-you.  Note:  At present, this is just curiosity. 

The other morning Theresa and I had a breakfast conversation regarding various election concerns including universal health care which combined private and public elements.  I must confess no silver bullet hits home for me as we muck around in the messy nature of the fallen-ness of creation, human culture, and individual/familial/societal sinfulness.  None-the-less, may God grant us as the people of God, an extension of the Kingdom of God, the grace to step forward in the blessing of others and the creative redemption/re-creation of our families, neighborhoods, towns/cities, society, culture, and world.  Join our family as we make this a focus of our prayers today.

A friend recently asked me what I knew about the faith of Rastafarians. As I pushed away the cobwebs of my mind, I remembered some conversations in Jamaica regarding the Queen of Sheeba, King Solomon, the Ark of the Covenant, Jesus Christ, and Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. After sharing some of these reflections, I pulled some links together and I'm posting them here for reference. Note: If you have suggestions regarding additional material or particular insights regarding the faith of Rastafarians to pass along to my friend, please post them here. Thank-you.

This question came up as part of an on-line discussion group AND it caught my attention as I've been reading Carlton O. Wittlinger's Quest for Piety and Obedience in preparation for the August Brethren in Christ History and Values course taught by E. Morris Sider (Note:  more from the course as I get to it).  Here's some material from Wittlinger's Quest for Piety and Obedience which I shared:

So what is the 4th of July all about as I look at the rain fall, most probably washing out a bbq/pool party today (and possibly again tomorrow)?  How about this inspirational part of the NY Times Op-Ed Looking for Liberty:

It is romantic to think that Benjamin Franklin, the greatest printer of his day, was there in Dunlap’s shop to supervise, and that Jefferson, the nervous author, was also close at hand. If so, the Declaration was not only written by the founders, but perhaps set into type and printed by them as well. In every way they could, these ink-splattered geniuses willed the document — and by extension the republic — into existence. We’ll never know for sure. But as Franklin might have appreciated: print the legend.

Of course Looking for Liberty tries to point in the direction of the ways things most probably "really" happened.  For all my historical interests, there is an intuitive, utopian longing for the rich mythology to be literally accurate and to be the first step in a long journey of holding these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  But it's just not that easy historically with regard to the publishing/printing of the Declaration of Independence, the extension of the above principles in our own nation's history, or the successful working out of similar ambitious experiments to throw off tyranny to establish self-government (whether the French Revolution or the various issues in countries throughout Africa to the present day). 

Let it rain.  Today is not all about the bbq's/pool parties, but instead a celebration of how we understand our relationship with our neighbor both local and international (and dare I say with respect to our Creator/Judge).  Take some time to explore more about the Declaration of Independence (on a related topic, Ellen enjoyed learning more about Besty Ross), Day of Independence, Fourth of July, and the history of the celebration of the Day of Independence.  

Join me in praying for justice from God the Father to rain/reign and bring peace on earth through His Son's Kingdom worked out through His people by His Spirit and through common grace, incomplete at this time but coming to full fruition.  Come quickly Lord Jesus that we might have true life, liberty and happiness, received only in submission to the Father.  

Recent developments within evangelicalism continue to fascinate me, no more so than all the press given to the evangelical political crack-up.  I wouldn't be surprised if George Marsden's chronicling of the rise of the Moral Majority for CMU's history department several years ago awakened my curiosity.  Once again Kevin finds pieces of interest, Among Evangelicals, A Transformation: They're not 'cracking up,' as some contend, or hope; they are, however changing (Peter Wehner, National Review) gives a little bit more than Breakup of the Religious Right.  Here's the section I found particularly insightful: 

Thank-you to Kevin for the forward of Stephen V. Monsma's, Research Fellow, The Henry Institute, Calvin College, response to reports of the Breakup of the Religious Right.  After having worked through the NY Times Magazine's lengthy The Evangelical Crackup (and surveyed numerous blog postings on the topic) it was good to something brief which pointed in a helpful direction. The part which I appreciate the most is given below: 

Here's an excerpt from Signs of hope in film and television. Helpful piece. Take some time in the midst of all the Christmas media, to pray for the industry as a whole to not just raise the big questions and make money off of Christian audiences, but also to be moved by the Spirit to embrace the Big Picture given to us by the Word of God.

Political issues rarely come up on our blog, but my friend Kevin has passed along several pieces which I commend to you.  The first is Joe Loconte: Mitt Romney's Step of Faith and the second is George Weigel's Church and State (Note: for a different angle on the speech see Mitt Romney Is No Jack Kennedy). Here is an excerpt near the beginning of Loconte's piece:

Brought back March of the Penguins from the library.  I think I'll watch on film instead of joining the North to South March of the Penguins to see the March of the Penguins.  Articles of interest: Cruise ship goes down off Antarctica and Misgivings Rise Along With Antarctican Tourism.