randomness

I can't decide if I like posts that point to other things "out there" or hate them. However I feel about them, here we go. I have been catching up on my blog reading. Enjoy.

Atheist sells his soul on ebay this is a story worth following. Atheist guy offers a chance to covert him on ebay. Guy from off the map . org wins the auction and instead of working to convert him offers him the chance to check out churches and offer critiques. Interesting results so far.
the original article atheist guys blog about visited churches offthemap.org
via The Complex Christ

The Prince of Peace / The God of War
John Campea from The Movie Blog is working on a documentary about "The North American Christian Church and the issue of War and Pacifism in the midst of a Bush administration and Iraqi conflict. . ." Campea goes out of his way to note that the film is not about Bush and Iraq, it just sets the context. It has led to some interesting conversation in the comments section of the blog. I'll be tracking the progress.

Interesting article from Barbara Ehrenreich about the fastest growing jobs in the US. (a hint, you want fries with that?)

some 24-ness
Jack Bauer sound bites my favorite line of season 5 (so far)
Jack Bauer kill count Complete with weapon, picture, video and more.
via ysmarko

Wrestling for Jesus I have come across a couple of groups like this. This one looks like a lock-in gone horribly wrong. (edit) I can't pass this up, in the "training" section of the site is the following rule

Finally, wrestlers shall conduct themselves in a Christian manner when in and out of the ring whether they are at a show or not. We are warriors of Christ and therefore it is our duty to maintain an uplifting Christian manner to truly show the love of Christ.

via grrlmeetsworld

The Fight Club - Calvin and Hobbes connection If you liked both (the film and the comic strip), you'll enjoy this article from metaphilm.

Enough.
j

speaking of music

OK, one last music-related post for now. In questing for music, I stumbled across Pandora. What is Pandora you ask? It's your own personal online radio station geared to play the music you like and introduce you to new music that is like what you already know you like.
For instance, I am listening to my "Howie Day" radio station that plays other artists in the same vein. It's free, but a registration is required. More than worth it. Enjoy.
If you come up with a good station, email me.
j

results of the cry for new music

In the last couple of weeks I have listened and asked around about a ton of music. I've heard some great stuff and some stuff that I'm amazed anyone has ever purchased. Part of the beauty of music is the variety of both producers and consumers. Like David Spade once said - Michael Bolton sold 30 million albums, but I don't know anyone who will admit to owning one.
So what have I come up with? Some CDs that have been or will be purchased soon.
Derek Webb - Mockingbird - Derek is formerly with Caedmon's Call. I've been told for a while that this is a great CD and now I know. Most of the songs provide lyrics that stick in my head and I catch myself thinking about them outside of the context of the music. It is a "christian" CD in the best sense of the term. It's not easy or cheesy I love Jesus music, but rather an intelligent critique of where the Church is in relation to the words of Jesus. It deals with war, the Church, poverty, allegiance, and more. It's at times angry, at times hopeful, at times prophetic.

Garden State Soundtrack - I loved this movie and part of that was the music in it and the way it was used. I've meant to buy this forever, now I have. Coldplay, Simon and Garfunkel, The Shins, and a whole bunch of people I had never heard of, but really like now that I have.

The Shins - Oh, Inverted World - I got hooked by their contribution to the Garden State Soundtrack and love the rest of this CD.
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans - This is a group I have heard of forever, but hadn't heard. Now I've heard. I like.
Pedro the Lion - Achilles Heel - Thanks again Cody for the recommendation.
Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue - What can I say? I'm a fan of oddly placed violins. (See Crowder)
Coldplay - X&Y - Someone gave me a copy of this when it came out and it got buried under other stuff. I found it the other day and love it. I need to pull out the other Coldplay CD I have.

Sorry Jaci - I never got around to that group you mentioned.
This month the music budget rivals the book budget = trouble.
j

worth a watch

Did you see Tony Campolo on The Colbert Report the other night? I can't say that I agree with everything that Campolo says (although I probably agree with 98% of it), but I have to like him. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with his "red letter Christians" tag. Not that I don't think the red letters (a reference to most Bibles where the words of Jesus are printed in red) are vital, but it seems almost arrogant to claim that your "side" has a stronger claim to taking those words seriously. The "evangelical left" does take things like social justice and pacifism more seriously (and that's why I find myself there often), I just don't like creating another category. All that being said, it's nice to see a "public" face of Christianity that doesn't seem all that angry.
The clip is worth watching if for nothing other than Tony's "manure and ice cream" anaology to describe church / state.
Watch the clip (look for Tony Campolo and enjoy)
Tests are over for now. The silence will be broken.
I guess it just was.
j