k.rex.butts@gmail.com.]]> The Branch in Farmer's Branch, Texas in September. (A YouTube video]]> Did you ever wonder who the best hockey players in Canada are? If you're like me, you've never even thought about it, and therein lies some of Gladwell's magic. He draws you into thinking and caring about topics that you may have previously been uninformed or indifferent about. The best hockey players in Canada are born in the first three months of the year. That's right. They're born in January, February, and March, and before you start to wonder whether Gladwell's on some astrological trip, he unwinds the facts with clear, focused logic.
]]> Did you ever wonder who the best hockey players in Canada are? If you're like me, you've never even thought about it, and therein lies some of Gladwell's magic. He draws you into thinking and caring about topics that you may have previously been uninformed or indifferent about. The best hockey players in Canada are born in the first three months of the year. That's right. They're born in January, February, and March, and before you start to wonder whether Gladwell's on some astrological trip, he unwinds the facts with clear, focused logic. ]]> Walking through cities and towns across America, Merchant wore a silly suit plastered with bumper stickers and icons, slogans of faith and anti-faith. He simply asked people to choose their favorite slogan or icon while the camera rolled. Some like the fish, some liked the Darwin inside the fish. Some liked the fish eating the Darwin in a fish. Most couldn't figure what Merchant wanted, was selling or stood for. But a significant amount of conversation was stimulated. The dialogue that has been captured is riveting, convicting and shameful. The shame is that as Christians it is frightening to hear what unbelievers, former believers and yet to be believers think of Christians. Not Jesus, but Christians. Jesus comes off wonderfully well in the movie. His followers don't]]> Almighty, awesome, Adonai, You are my God, my Savior and King.
Above all else, I praise Your name As I meditate on Your word.
Adoration belongs to You, for You are worthy. Holy is Your Name]]> Dear Hannah,

While we have never met, Someone we both love led me to you. I suppose I should begin with an apology. You see, I read over your story many times before I had children. However, I've only looked at it a few times since becoming a mother. To be honest I felt great anxiety when I read about you giving your little boy away. . . ]]> Christianity in the West is malnourished—in need of a feast. I am part of the problem. You are part of the problem. We, together, are invited to a table to hear and digest the stories of our faith once again. This time, reading not to defend our previously held doctrines, but reading with humility and faith that God is doing a new thing among us. Reading to help us become part of God's movement. When we feast upon the stories and life of Jesus, we are able to walk to a different cadence, for the childhood maxim of our mothers is correct: we are what we eat. When we eat and digest the words of Jesus, we will find ourselves energized to appreciate, engage, and serve God's world. Taste and see that the Lord is good, that God is moving and working in our world today]]> davesuz513@comcast.net]]> I don't agree with everything in the book. Most of it, yes, I think he's right (why I think he's right and what I don't agree with are for another day and perhaps another venue). However, I know this for sure. His challenge to American Christianity is one of the most important voices in contemporary dialog. He's a prophet of sorts, and I have a clearer picture of The Jesus Way because of his writing, teaching and, most importantly, the way in which he lives his life]]> Fred: Just what do you believe in? How does this all fit into the ultimate truth about life—death?

Hemant: I believe in the goodness of people. We all want to survive and the best way for this to happen is to live peacefully with other people and help them (I've heard religious people criticize this because it seems to go against the idea of "survival of the fittest," but any research on the benefits of altruism can explain why this is good for us.]]>