Non-fiction

When Do I Have Enough?

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Over the weekend, I heard an NPR interview with financial guru John Bogle about his upcoming book, Enough. I gather the book expounds on the principles in this graduation ceremony speech by the same name. The business of finances takes from society rather than contributes to it, and if no one in the money management professions has a sense of contentment, when any amount of money is enough, then we will have the types of financial crises we’re having today, financiers leeching off industry and service employees to pad their own wallets. Bogle said:

. . . no matter what career you choose, do your best to hold high its traditional professional values, now swiftly eroding, in which serving the client is always the highest priority. And don’t ignore the greater good of your community, your nation, and your world. After William Penn, “we pass through this world but once, so do now any good you can do, and show now any kindness you can show, for we shall not pass this way again.”

Enough appears to discuss the same idea as another book two years called The Number. The Number encouraged readers to decide how much they can live with and be content with it. I’m sure it would agree that the world, in Bogle’s words, “never has enough conscience, nor enough tolerance, idealism, justice, compassion, wisdom, humility, self-sacrifice for the greater good, integrity, courtesy, poetry, laughter, and generosity of substance and spirit. . . the great game of life is not about money; it is about doing your best to build the world anew.”

But can a materialist really be content? Can a consumerist ever have enough? When you define yourself by your affluence, when you seek a type of happiness in shopping, collecting, or displaying your purchases to others, how can any arbitrary limit be enough? Contentment with life must come from outside the markets (Matthew 6:25-24, Matthew 10:29-31).

Poetry

Writing Poetry for Factory Workers

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Todd Boss, a graduate of St. Olaf Collage and Twin Cities local poet, has landed a publishing deal with Norton. He sounds like my kind of guy.

“I write for farmers, factory workers, all those in my immediate circle,” he said. “I am writing about day-to-day life, the struggles of being a human being and love and all the troubadour kinds of things. I’m not writing about the Greek myths. I don’t have to impress the academy, the university professors, because I don’t work with them.”

Norton editor Carol Houck Smith said Boss’ hardcover debut is extraordinary, especially since she usually learns of first-time poets after they’ve won an award or prize. “Yellowrocket” was the first book she’s worked on that didn’t come through that route.

Music, Religion

Behold the host

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Phil asked me what my favorite Lutheran hymn is. That’s a no-brainer. “A Mighty Fortress” all the way. Oddly enough, I prefer it in a praise team arrangement, and I don’t think I can say that about any other hymn. This is a hymn you need to stand up and wail on.

My other Lutheran favorites—it will not surprise you to know—are Scandinavian hymns. Below is one I always think of as Norwegian, but in fact it’s Danish, the work of Bishop Hans Adolph Brorson. Its original title is Den Store Hvide Flok, which means “The Great White Host.” I think it’s particularly appropriate for All Saints’ Eve. Exactly the kind of hymn that wouldn’t go over in our day, as it takes it for granted that suffering is a necessary part of life.

The melody is a Norwegian folk tune arranged by THE MAN, Edvard Grieg. YouTube performance here.

BEHOLD THE HOST ARRAYED IN WHITE

Behold the host arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright,

With palms they stand—Who are this band

Before the throne of light?

These are the ransomed throng, the same That from the tribulation came

And in the flood Of Jesus’ blood

Are cleansed from guilt and shame,

And now arrayed in robes made white They God are serving day and night,

And anthems swell Where God doth dwell

‘Mid angels in the height. Continue reading Behold the host →

Religion

Fried Chick

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Joe Carter over at The Confabulum does an excellent dissection of the bad, old Chick Tracts today. (Hat tip: Southern Appeal)

I remember a counselor I used to see, years back. One day he showed me some drawings that had been done by another patient, one who was psychotic. (I think his point was to convince me that there were a lot of people around crazier than me.) One thing I noticed immediately in those ugly, violent images was that they reminded me of Chick Tracts.

Goofing

Police Hope to Suppress Shooting Rampages

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Here’s your Halloween post of horror with original reporting by me. Police across the nation are gearing up for a bizarre Halloween night this year, anticipating shooting rampaging in many neighborhoods in just about every city. No one is safe.

Blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter threads, overheard conversations, word on the street, telepathy–intelligence of every kind is leading police to conclude that thousands of parents of trick-or-treaters are planning to shoot children, neighbors, passersby, anything at any time. Deputy Mule Culwick of Huckshire Township said some parents even will have high-powered cameras capable of shooting pictures in very dim light.

Citizens are advised to avoid opening their doors tonight, especially when cute munchkins or specters of economic disaster ring the doorbell. Hurling candy at them may not be defense enough. Playing their game is out of the question. You may need to hire a ninja.

One kid: “Hey, I thought I had more candy than this?” (Ninja take from he with too much)

Two kids: “How’d we get so much candy in our bags?” (Ninja give to them with little)

Red kid: “Did we hit all the houses in this neighborhood already?” (Ninja sweep bad kids down street)

Blue kid: “Wow! I’ve got a handful of Smarties, and no one’s even opened their door to me yet!” (Ninja give candy without dangerous interaction from host. Also, Smarties official candy of Brandywine Books. Nerds also official.)

Religion

95 Theses and a Symposium

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Jared nails a few points for discussion to the door of the Thinklings chapel in Franklin, Tennessee. Here are some:

10. The aim of devotion to Scripture is our transformation, not merely our information.

11. The American Christian and the churches that train him are adherents to the syncretism of biblical values and the self-idolatry of consumer culture.

12. This syncretism is suffocating the discipleship culture of our churches, which are mostly predicated on therapeutic gospels and self-help which make do not glorify God and which make the disciple the center of Christian faith rather than Christ.

13. The American Christian is often offended by or secretive about the message of the gospel, which puts him dangerously in league with those who find the message foolish and are perishing.

14. The Christian in the American Christian ought to affirm and embrace the cost of discipleship, but the American in the American Christian hesitates to deny himself because Self is his highest value.

15. The modern disciple is currently being spiritually deformed by leaders in the Church who do not make that which is “of first importance” the most important thing.

16. The modern disciple compartmentalizes his life and does not realize that even a large compartment for “faith” or “church” or “God” is not healthy discipleship. The American Christian’s schedule and routines reflect he believes his days belong to himself and not to God.

17. The American Christian finds Jesus’ command to sacrifice and serve abhorrent.

Note also the Reformation Day symposium at Challies.com for many, many good theological notes, and I’ll keep you posted on Jared’s upcoming Diet of Worms.

Music

You Can Vote However You Like

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Watch this group a sharp looking kids in Atlanta sing: “Obama’s on the left. McCain’s on the right. We can talk politics all night, and you can vote however you like.” I should look up the lyrics; I can’t understand most of them.

Book Reviews, Creative Culture