There's a new blog in town

Check out my father's blog, Mercy and Truth. It is based on a weekly newsletter he sends to the parents and students of the home school consortium he administers. I've posted a few of his writings on this blog (here and here), but now he will have his own presence in the blogosphere.

Archives Lost And Found

This story caught my interest because it combines Archives and World War II. The quick summary: a collection of 700 year old manuscripts was recently returned to Poland after being found among the possessions of a deceased World War II veteran in Wisconsin. This story reminds me of a paper I wrote in graduate school on the recovery of art treasures looted by the Nazis during the war. A very interesting and fun paper. The first and third Indiana Jones films were at the very least inspired by the true story.

College Football and the Underdogs

It is that time of year again when I actually care about sports - Football is about the only sport I enjoy (soccer being another). So once again I'm playing the Silly Underdog Contest put on by the local sportstalk radio station. The object is to try and pick three underdogs each week that you think will win outright. This year, instead of posting my picks in seperate posts, I'm going to post my picks as comments to this post. If you're interested in following along, I will put a link to this post in my favorite posts on the left. Your welcome to play along or just riducule my silly picks.

p.s. Go Vols!

Tale of two songs

Two songs have been resonating within me recently. One is from 1983 by one of the Jesus Movement's leading prophets Keith Green and the other was released last month by the Lost Dogs. Both correlate well with Rob Bell's New Exodus sermon series and the Starving Jesus tour.

Open Your Eyes - Keith Green

This generation of believers that you and me are a part of, we are responsible for this generation of souls, all over the world. We're responsible for them. We're responsible to pray daily for the needs of ministries around the world, and ask God "how about me not sending my money this time, how about me going?" It's so easy to write checks, it's so easy. But God can't cash out of state checks in Heaven. He needs you!

Open your eyes to the world all around you, open your eyes, open your eyes.
This world is much more than the things that surround you.
You must arise and open your eyes.
Sometimes we're too busy to share, but Jesus wants us to care.

Open your arms to the naked and shivering, open your arms, open your arms.
We need a little less taking, a whole lot more giving.
We're so safe and warm, we can open our arms.
And love a little bit stronger and pray a little bit longer.

Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.
Jesus says, when we touch someone in His name, we're touching Him.
And we've got to show them the light, we've got to pour out our lives.

Open your hearts to the ones who are desperate, open your hearts, open your hearts.
They may never repay you, but their souls are worth it,
The life you impart when you open your heart.
Jesus loves all men the same,
So we've got to go out in His name.

Jesus says, when we touch someone in His name, we're touching Him.
Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.
Jesus says, when we feed someone in His name, we're feeding Him.
And Jesus says, when we reach someone in His name,
He feels, He says, it's all for Him.
It's all for Him

Open your eyes to the world all around you, open your eyes, open your eyes.
This world is much more than the things that surround you.
Jesus loves all men the same, so we've got to go out in His name.
Jesus says, Jesus says, Jesus says, it's Him.
Jesus says, when we love someone in His name, we're loving Him.

hat tip: Keith Green Lyrics Page
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That's Where Jesus Is - The Lost Dogs

He’s not sittin’ up in the White House
Not subject to your big debate
Keeps His hands completely off Wall Street
Don’t own stocks, bonds or Real Estate
He ain’t up droppin’ bombs on people
Or workin’ on a college degree
He tunes out all them radio blowhards
Can’t stand the networks and religious TV

Chorus:
That’s Jesus in the homeless faces
With the junkies in their livin’ hell
That’s Jesus with the drunks and in
The lonely places
The rest homes and prison cells
That’s where Jesus is
That’s where Jesus is

He don’t hug trees or kill ‘em
Or drive a particular car
Won’t help you write a big hit song
Don’t care how good lookin’ you are
And Jesus won’t be voting
He’s not your party crashin’ dog in this fight
Not a fan rootin’ for your home team
Don’t insure that your future is bright

Chorus:
That’s Jesus in the homeless faces
With the junkies in their livin’ hell
That’s Jesus with the drunks and in
The lonely places
The rest homes and prison cells
That’s where Jesus is
Where we ought to be
Here’s where Jesus works
Inside you and me
With the folks with AIDS
And the suffering kids
That’s where Jesus hangs
That’s where Jesus is

On the corner ‘round the prostitutes
Is where He’ll probably show
He gets invited to church sometimes
And sometimes He don’t go
Don’t care nuthin’ about your status
What you can or you can’t afford
Don’t care if you’re voted best actor
Not impressed with your big award

He’s not in the five star restaurant
Eating a six course meal
He’s not over on some golf course
Discussing the oil deal

He wants our voice (That’s where Jesus is)
That’s how He talks (That’s where Jesus is)
That’s how He walks (That’s where Jesus is)
And He wants our faith (That’s where Jesus is)
But there’s never enough
He wants our hearts (That’s where Jesus is)
That’s how He Loves

Chorus:
That’s where Jesus is
That’s where Jesus is
That’s where Jesus is

40 days of nothing

The fine folks at XXXchurch.com and Mars Hill Bible Church will be kicking off a national tour in hopes of waking up churches across the country and challenging them to venture out of their sanctuaries and into their communities. The website is StarvingJesus.com and the tour is called 40 days of nothing. One of the challenges they issue is to consider fasting. I'm going to fast from sweets for forty days - no cake, no cookies, no ice cream from August 5 to September 13. Check out the website to see if the tour will stop in your 'hood, read the first chapter of the forthcoming book, and pray about how you can get involved.