Commuting the soul...

There is a very interesting article by Nick Paumgarten in the New Yorker regarding commuting culture in America.  As we are soon moving the the New York City metro area, I found the article to be of great interest.  We will soon be ministering to people in New Jersey, some of whom will be on trains during the week.  It is one of the challenges of church planting in the area we are going as people are strapped for time and financially stretched thin.  Weekends are also sacred as the pace slows from the hours in cars and on trains.  Here is an excerpt:

“People with long journeys to and from work are systematically worse off and report significantly lower subjective well-being,” Stutzer told me. According to the economic concept of equilibrium, people will move or change jobs to make up for imbalances in compensation. Commute time should be offset by higher pay or lower living costs, or a better standard of living. It is this last category that people apparently have trouble measuring. They tend to overvalue the material fruits of their commute—money, house, prestige—and to undervalue what they’re giving up: sleep, exercise, fun.

Robert Putnam sociologist and author of the book Bowling Alone made some insightful statements about the reality of modern life:

Putnam likes to imagine that there is a triangle, its points comprising where you sleep, where you work, and where you shop. In a canonical English village, or in a university town, the sides of that triangle are very short: a five-minute walk from one point to the next. In many American cities, you can spend an hour or two travelling each side. “You live in Pasadena, work in North Hollywood, shop in the Valley,” Putnam said. “Where is your community?” The smaller the triangle, the happier the human, as long as there is social interaction to be had. In that kind of life, you have a small refrigerator, because you can get to the store quickly and often. By this logic, the bigger the refrigerator, the lonelier the soul.

Please pray for us as we move to a place that has fragmented community and very large refrigerators.  I pray that God might use the church to allow people a respite and joy for the soul as we live for the glory of God, the good of the City extending hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Growing in community will be difficult in commuterland - but it is also a deep felt human need. 

For those of you from the Atlanta area, this sprawling southern city receives some treatment as well.  It is not a land of time spent on trains, but rather a car bound people guzzling down gasoline.   Just think, for some in Atlanta -" travelling ten miles can take forty-five minutes." One final segment was of interest to me as it actually mentions the great garden state of New Jersey. In this, Putnam is comparing Bologne, Italy and its quaint, smaller feel to the land of Tony Soprano.

Putnam’s favorite city is Bologna, in Italy, which has a population of three hundred and fifty thousand; it’s just small enough to retain village-like characteristics. “It would be interesting to swap the citizens of Bologna with the population of New Jersey,” Putnam said. “Do the Bolognese become disconnected and grouchy? Is there a sudden explosion of malls in Bologna? How much of the way we live is forced on us? How much is our choice?”

It is a lenghtly article but well written and worth your time.  May God use Jacob's Well in the lives of disconnected and grouchy people.

Review - Christianity's Dangerous Idea

Alistair McGrath, Christianity’s Dangerous Idea – The Protestant Revolution from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First (New York, HarperOne, 2007) 552pp.

Introduction

History has the unique capacity to both inform and to transform the present. It is informative in that we learn the stories of our past, enjoying the narratives of peoples, places, events, failures and accomplishments of those who have traveled before us. It is transformative in that we can better understand who we are as people in light of the roads traveled to the ever present now. Additionally, the wise learn from both the mistakes and teachings left for us in the literary trails of our ancestors. Of course, when not well written, history can be a bore. I recently finished a book that was both engagingly written, informative and in some way gave great peace and understanding to my journey as a Christian convert living in the twenty first century. The book that has so helped me is Alistair McGrath’s excellent treatment of the Protestant Reformation, Christianity’s Dangerous Idea. I know this introduction colors this review a bit, but I simply loved the book…so now that I have stated this front and center…on to the review.

Summary

McGrath’s thesis in the book is that the formal principle of the Protestant reformation, that each person has the right and duty to interpret Holy Scripture for himself, was and remains a dangerous idea. It is dangerous in that it placed the Bible in the hands of all people and removed an authoritative interpretation from the magisterial control of the Roman Catholic Church. This of course is dangerous because it has and will continue to provoke all sorts of interpretations of Scripture, all claiming to be “biblical”, which has splintered the church into many small factions and denominations. It is also revolutionary in that it set free the Bible from the control of Rome so that it could speak to all people as the very Word of God.

McGrath and his publishers did a great job with the title and branding of the book. The reformation is called a revolution here and the cover design has a picture of Luther holding the book with a red tint covering the view (see above). The cover almost looks like a communist piece striking the radical nature of revolutions in the hearts of modern readers. To be honest, McGrath does an equally good job in conveying the radical nature of the European Reformations in this 550 page volume.

The book consists of three major parts or subdivisions. Part I, entitled Origination focuses on the history involved with the reformation and the origins of reform on the continent, then later in England and finally on American soils. McGrath’s approach here does have the focus on the great men and leaders but he uniquely focuses on the sociological realities in the local communities where reform movements began. His treatment of the reformation is to view it not as one monolithic movement, but rather as small reform movements which emerged in different contexts with quite differing foci, though still uniting against the common ideological opponent – the halls of Rome. Part II deals with the major realities in which the Protestant faiths express both unity and diversity. In this section, entitled Manifestations, several topic of importance to Protestantism(s) are covered. The Bible, Doctrines, ecclesiastical structures, culture and the arts are all covered in this section. Part III deals with the malleability and transformation of Protestantism(s) in the 20th century focusing heavily on the Pentecostal arrival and the rapid growth and expansion of Protestant movements in the global south.

The work is somewhat lengthy as it, but McGrath managed to keep his treatment concise. He achieved an amazing balance of rigorous treatment without overwhelming the reader with minutia or making it a one thousand page tome. There were many strengths to the book which I will touch below as well as a few obligatory drawbacks I felt while reading. To these we turn.

Strengths

Part I – Origination

In McGrath’s treatment of the continental history of Protestantism he covered the various movements and men of import. As expected, Luther, Calvin, Swingli and the latter Anabaptists are all central figures in the work. I found two particular things interesting about McGrath’s treatment of nascent Protestantism. First, he discusses the sociological settings in which each of these early reform movements emerged and how each touched a certain cultural reality in their application. Second, his focus on the commonality of these movements is expected, but I really liked his emphasis on how each of these local reformations was very different in scope and goals. His point was that there was never one monolithic, big “P” Protestantism, but rather a myriad of reform movements who each desired various degrees of change based upon their particular reading of the Bible. What united them all was a formal principle of deriving theology directly from Scripture and the constant threats from Catholic armies and princes.

The focus on the reformers ability to adapt Scripture to context and local need emerges latter in McGrath’s touching on the Protestant ability to morph, adapt and contextualize to reach out to new generations and completely new cultures. From day one the Protestants walked into dangerous waters in putting the Scriptures in the hands of the people. It produced overreactions and misreading of that book, as in the apocalyptic flavors of the Anabaptist movement, but it also returned the church to its very source of life; the very word of God.

I found this look at the early days of Protestant faith refreshing as it makes sense of the continued fragmentary nature of the movement based on various readings of Scripture. Much of my frustration about Protestantism is I expect a unity which really never existed from the beginning. In fact, any look at church history shows that there has never been 100% lock step agreement on all things. I have found great peace in knowing that there is certainty in the Scripture about certain matters and the church has been clear on these issues. The triune nature of God, the full deity and humanity of Jesus, salvation through the cross of Christ, a call to holiness and new life, the second coming of Jesus and God’s judgment all come to mind. Understanding our history has not made me discouraged to be separated from Rome (or the Eastern communion) but rather confirmed my commitment to the basic principle that Scirpture is the proper source for our theology. It may be abused by some, but the Word of God is clear and must remain central. Even if formal, visible unity is never realized.

One note of caution. There are some who may take hermeneutical difficulties and differences and run with them towards an ideology that there is no one clear meaning in Scripture. To acknowledge our history is one thing, to abandon the view that the Scriptures can be understood is quite another. Yes, we may differ at times in our understanding of the Bible, but our duty is to hear, head and obey…even when others may disagree. We submit to the text, we do not tell it what to say. Unfortunately the latter is far too common for those who desire to stand over the Bible, not under it.

Part II -Manifestations

I found this section to be a great introduction to Protestant thinking on many theological and ecclesiological issues. I wish many evangelicals today would read Part II alone as I fear that many modern church growth evangelicals do not understand the distinct ways of thinking and methods in which Protestants have historically traveled. As I read Protestant views about the Bible, worship, the church and how Christian thinking connects to all of life, I longed for a revival of some aspects of Protestantism. Far too many of us have such a small view of the church and the reformers maintained a view of her centrality in Christian life. The comparisons between magisterial Protestantism which maintained the tight coupling of church/state with that of reform movements who were suspicious of such ties was also quite helpful. For one I am thankful for those who stood for the separation of church and magistrate. The corruption of the church by the pomp and power of the state has been evident since the time of Constantine.

I also found a few minor appreciations in chapter 13 treating the relationship between Protestantism and the arts and sciences. First, the very brief treatment of Sport and faith was a welcome sighting in the book for one who spent much of his life in athletics and sports ministry. Also, I loved the tone of the discussion of science and faith. For those unfamiliar with McGrath, he holds separate doctorates in science and theology. He was very measured in that section and spoke more like an historian than one pursuing a certain view.

Part III – Transformation

The main strength of this part was its concise and insightful history in of twentieth century movements. The fundamentalist controversies of the 1920s, the evangelical reengagement led by Carl F. Henrys seminal work Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism, liberal theological movements which were fully realized in the mainline American denominations, the rise of the non denominational movement and ecumenical reengagements by some with Roman Catholicism are all well covered. Whether or not you agree with the church growth, use market principles to expand the church type stuff, McGrath fairly covers the influence of this on recent North American Protestantism.

Overall I found the work both interesting and informative. However it did drag a bit in the center, perhaps an unavoidable weakness of a work with such ambition. To this weakness we now turn.

Weaknesses

The main drawback I find in a book like this is that some of the chapters had huge goals but could not possibly deliver. For instance, chapter 12 had the ambition to try and touch the following topics: Christ and Culture (which took a now standard Nieburian route), social engagement, church and state, economics (which is a good treatment of the history of usury/money lending), the good old Protestant work ethic, education, and women. Looking at that list and realizing that the relationship of Protestants to all these issues was covered in a mere 40 pages makes one realize that the reader will be left wanting to talk about these things more. Thank God for the footnotes and bibliography I suppose. A similar issue could be said about the chapter which dealt with the arts and sciences but it was encouraging to see these as a separate chapter instead of lumping them into the aforementioned chapter 12. Though the page count was not oppressive, it just seemed like too much.

Another weak point in the work for me was the comparison of Protestantism and Islam. The basic premise, found briefly in chapter 17, was that both were logo-centric faiths which are subject to the interpretation of a holy text. In Protestantism this has led to diversity and it is speculated that perhaps Islam might go through a similar transformation and diversification as well. I found it a bit optimistic that this would lead to a more tolerate and free version of Islam. Somehow, the content of these holy books seems to me to matter more than the mere fact that they both have one. But that seems too obvious.

Conclusion

This work helped me greatly know more of whom I am theologically and passionately re-embrace mission to take the gospel to the world. Others have done so before us and we now share the task of applying that book called the Bible to the contexts and issues of our day. With Luther we must keep our consciences chained to the Word of God and stand in the community of church and history to guard against heretical teaching.

I realized in reading this work that I both love and hate some of the realities of Protestantism. There are a bunch of goofy interpretations and spins on the Bible, but yet history teaches us that basing all authority in one sinful man’s ruling is no better path. This is why someone’s belief “ABOUT” the Bible is of great importance. You cannot even debate in council - or on a forum, if someone does not hold to the authority of the text. At least we can wrestle under the text, if the text has authority. If one does not believe in the authority of the text, one will end up saying “it is all hermeneutics, all interpretation” - that there is no definitive meaning to the text. This is why the issue of biblical authority AND hermeneutical outlook are so important for Protestants today. If someone can make up “trajectories” to speak beyond the Bible, they will eventually err far from course. As a Protestant, we have a much higher call and must remain faithful to what the words actually teach.

This struggle to remain faithful within the freedom of protest is our greatest strength and greatest challenge as Christians. McGrath seems to be optimistic about Protestants ability to adapt and flourish. History is indeed on his side and I too remain bullish on the Word of God effecting change in the world until the Lord comes. I’ll close with the concluding paragraph of the book:

Those who are anxious about the future of Protestantism often urge that radical change in its self-understanding is necessary if it is to survive, let alone prosper. Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis (“Times are changing, and we change with them” – Ovid). The historical and theological analysis presented in this book offers a rather different answer. We have seen that Protestantism possesses a unique and innate capacity for innovation, renewal, and reform based on its own internal resources. The future of Protestantism lies precisely in Protestantism being what Protestantism actually is.Christianity’s Dangerous Ideap. 478, empahsis in original..

Semper Fidelus and Semper Reformanda – Always faithful, always reforming - these will remain our call…

Hillary and Kangaroos Feeling it...

Some interesting news stories today on the web. First of all, contrary to some Republican's views, Hillary Clinton does seem to have emotions:

At a campaign event in Portsmouth, Clinton choked up and grew uncharacteristically emotional as she talked about her reasons for seeking the presidency in the November election.

I feel bad as I am listening to Barak Obama's audio book right now...the audacity!  Full story story here about the goings on in New Hampshire.  And no, this blog will not be commenting on "the elections." I'll let you pick your own sources for that.

Second, apparently some people in Australia are a bit upset about the new published guidelines for the humane killing of a Joey - also known as a baby Kangaroo.  Here are a few excerpts whose rhetoric I just found odd.

Australian animal protection groups questioned on Monday a new government guide for the humane killing of kangaroos which recommends "forcefully swinging" the heads of young animals against a vehicle tow bar.

....

"These changes are basically saying the federal government believes it's okay to blast a defenseless joey to bits with a shotgun," Pat O'Brien, President of the Wildlife Protection Association, told local newspapers.

.... 

The draft national code aims to guide people on humane disposal of orphaned joeys, which live in their mothers' pouches, after the parent has either been shot or hit by a vehicle. The code rejected sending orphaned joeys to wildlife careers.

.... 

"I think we all love kangaroos. The problem is that there are too many. What we are talking about here is responsible environmental management, because if we don't do something you won't have pastures and viable farming," an Environment Department spokesman said.

Yikes, do something...like bash the little guys and shoot em with a shot gun?  I guess the headline says it all: Kangaroo killing code draws flak from animal groups

Should we laugh or cry? I won't say which I did...poor Joeys.

What Will Bill Gates Do?

This is a funny video that Bill Gates put together to lampoon his soon departure from full time work at Microsoft.  If I find a better version of the video I'll rethink - but this one can be seen and heard pretty well:

Higher quality versions are available here - but you have to get through some of the initial keynote intro stuff. 

My non blog life

It is amazing how off line life can keep me from developing content for the blog here.  I in no way resent this, but feel the reality often.  I have had a great holiday with much "quality time" (not said cynically, but will joyful sincerity) with my wife and three kids.  It is a great delight to know and walk with my little people - even more to be known and understood by them as they get older. 

I have loved getting to know Kylene better as she rounded her four year mark last week.  She is on her way towards learning to read with her letters and most sounds under he little belt.  She loves to run back and forth in our house (yes, we let our kids run a bit in the house - bad parents!) and spend one on one time with Mom and Dad.  She is also able to ride in a booster seat now so it is fun to take her out with me places without having to take the mini-van.  Not that I have van shame or anything. 

Kayla, our six year old, has become a bit of a football buddy of mine over the holidays.  Yes, I have watched too many games and read less than I intended.  Alas, I must learn to give grace to myself.  But Kayla and I just love watching a game together.  She understands almost all the rules (not sure she gets touch backs and safeties yes) and is a pretty active fan. Some man will be blessed some day - just doing my part.  We continue to learn the 10 commandments and teach them to Kylene - fun to see how 4 and 6 year olds see the relationship between Law and Gospel.  I am also reading Nehemiah with Kayla to prepare her for our new series in "big church" - she comes with us now must Sunday mornings and was scratching out here little sermon notes today.  I did almost get teary eyed.  It is fun to have both girls exclaim loudly a cacophonous "Boooooo!" whenever we read the names Sanballat or Tobiah in Nehemiah.  Equally fun to hear them yell "Yeaaaaaa!" when we read the name of God.  Rowdy bed time Bible time - I just love it. 

As always these little girls really steal my heart away.  I took them to see a movie the other day and just watched them sitting there and prayed for godly young men for both of them some day.  I love having daughters and it is one of the greatest callings of my life.  I can't help but be thankful.  Young boys on notice - me and Tommy are watching you already - speaking of Tommy.

Little Tommy Reid has been a great treat for me this season of slowing down.  I have so enjoyed getting him up for breakfast, sitting him in a little chair and talking to him like he is a big man.  I also like the fact that he can come into the bathroom and watch me shave (fascinates him).  With little girls there are certain things you cannot share, but having the little man with me for bathroom time is really a trip.  He also has learned a new word which he says whenever he passes a television..."butball" - Yes, did I mention I have watched too many games?  I love it that he like balls, wrestling with Daddy and head butting.  Oh why did God give me a son - too rich of a grace.

Finally, I have enjoyed the times with family both in North Carolina where Kasey's parents live, a weekend with my Mom and Brother and some time with my Dad her in Tenn.  Parents are also gracious to allow me to take my bride out on a date or two while they baby sit/play with/bless/grandparent our kids.  Kasey and I are have had some laughs over the break - I have even willfully went shopping with her.  She is also encouraging me in my goals for the spring of getting in better shape and deeping my walk with Christ.  We have our moments for sure, but I still think God gave us something special in our marriage and friendship.  I hope it infects others because it is really something God given and good.

Well, I have a book review and probably a review of my new non Macintosh laptop coming here on the blog.  I travel up to a seminary class next week on monkeys and men (actually entitled Origins) and I have a myriad of to-do(s) associated with Jacob's Well and Inversion.  By the way, if you know anyone with a spare 150K to invest in church planting up north, please let me know - it would help with my schedule - smile.  We are still on track to move in the summer (God willing) and look forward to focus more on the new direction here soon. 

As 2008 began I did not list a whole bunch of books, music, or highlights from 2007 here at Power of Change - but I did want to write a bit tonight about those with whom I spent the last days of 2007.  I call them the Monaghan Home Team - and I love them deeply...much more than I love to blog...even more than football games.

Friday, January 4, 2008 at 01:53 PM

My friend Sandy Young sent me this in light of my post on loving cell phones :) Fun stuff.

How to know you are an impostor - you could have put someone with a Dell laptop in the circle and made the same point... 

 

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Cell Phone Usage

Al Mohler has an interesting article focusing on some research on cell phone use today.  I'm really not sure what his point is with the article other than stating the way things are today.  He does talk about parents limiting teen cell phone time but the article seems to be without a real conclusion.  Does cell phone proliferation bother him?  Does he lament the days without cell phones glued to us at all times?  I couldn't tell what point he wanted to make. To be honest, though there can be problems, I love cell phones.  Especially my little Palm Centro

I have to make sure I don't text and drive and I try not to text/e-mail while hanging with my wife or kids.  I actually saw a lady text messaging at Cracker Barell the whole time she was having breakfast with a little boy who looked like her son. I felt bad for the little guy.  Cell phones, like any tool we use in work and life must not dominate the other relationships in which we are called to invest.  E-mail, texting, twittering, blogs, facebook etc. can all be profitable and fun to use, but unplugging for silence and solitude must still remain a discipline for human beings.

I think maintaining some of the old disciplines (like writing, thinking, speaking, crafting arguments and presenting ideas) while merging them with new forms is a good thing.  Of course we can get swept into being sound byte, short text, trivial, disconnected and light person.  But this is not the work of cell phones - it is the fruit of undisciplined souls.  And we still have to deal with the "old" television demon which saps way too much of my time in BCS bowl season.

Anyway, C u ltr...

Poor Terrorists...

Today we have another guest essay from my prolific friend Tim Dees.  This one comments on a recent "analysis" done by a NY Times op ed writer.  Enjoy

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TERRORISM, THE POOR, AND JARED DIAMOND

Every now and then, I read something so shocking I have to read it twice.  Today's New York Times contained just such a statement (see here).  The statement in question was part of an article by Jared Diamond, the author of Guns, Germs, and Steel.  The article started with some neo-Malthusian musings about how people in the developed world consume about thirty-two times as many resources as people in the developing world.  He makes a good point that, for purposes of global resources, we ought to worry more about the developed countries than about the developing countries, regardless of lightning-fast growth rates in third-world countries.  At this point, it sounds like a pretty standard op-ed piece for the Times, but then it took a wrong turn in the following paragraph:

"People in the third world are aware of this difference in per capita consumption, although most of them couldn't specify that it's by a factor of 32. When they believe their chances of catching up to be hopeless, they sometimes get frustrated and angry, and some become terrorists, or tolerate or support terrorists. Since Sept. 11, 2001, it has become clear that the oceans that once protected the United States no longer do so. There will be more terrorist attacks against us and Europe, and perhaps against Japan and Australia, as long as that factorial difference of 32 in consumption rates persists."

This paragraph (which in no way relates to the rest of the article) expounds a popular idea that has absolutely no grounding in reality, research, or common sense: that terrorists become terrorists because they are jealous of our stuff.  Why on earth do people think this?

Such a belief holds out blindly against the facts.  Alan Krueger and a host of other researchers have done extensive research that shows that terrorists are less likely to be poor than non-terrorists (see this essay)When terror goes global, it's almost always funded by Saudi money - and the Saudis can consume with the best of them - and it's usually carried out by the educated upper class.  Think about it this way: if you knew Osama bin Laden's father, he would almost certainly be the richest person you've ever met.

But let's also think about the targets of these attacks.  Right now, the vast majority of terrorist attacks going on in the world are happening in Iraq, and they are usually against Sunnis or Shiites, not against Americans.  Today, the news reported a number of suicide attacks, and none of them were against Americans.  They were all the result of internecine conflicts within Iraq.  And what about Japan and Australia, for whom Diamond predicts future terrorist attacks?  Why doesn't anyone attack them?  This is a worthy question that Diamond dodges.  If terrorism is about consumption, then terrorists should attack consumption wherever it is.  But we all know that it doesn't.

Another serious problem with this statement is its failure to listen to terrorists.  Terrorists usually aren't quiet about why they attack certain countries; in fact, Osama bin Laden issues press releases with industrious regularity.  After September 11th, Osama bin Laden said that attacks would continue until "we can see it as a reality in Palestine and before all the infidel armies leave the land of Mohammed".  This was his primary demand, and in no way does he mention differences in consumption or wealth (for the full statement, see here).  In fact, bin Laden mentions Hiroshima and Nagasaki as examples of American arrogance.  If these attacks were against the developed world, why would bin Laden identify himself with a first-world nation?

With all the evidence in his face, how does Diamond (along with so many others) persist with this message that terrorism is provoked by poverty?  I think the answer to this question lies in a specific strain of thinking among the Western Left that I will call economic reductionism (ER).  In ER, everything comes back to money.  There's no such thing as good and bad, true and false, right and wrong, just rich and poor.  Teach a man to fish, and the world is healed.

It's got a beat and you can dance to it, but it just doesn't hold up.  Poverty doesn't trigger terrorism.  Osama bin Laden isn't flying planes into buildings because he's holding out for a Starbucks on every corner and a Hummer in every garage.  Jared Diamond should know better. 

Vacuous Christianity

My friend Tim Dees forwarded this article to me which refers to the "Christian message" today which has been somewhat emasculated.  The following is from an atheist guy named Brendan O'Neil.  After hearing arch bishop of Catebury Rowan Williams' Christmas Message, he felt compelled to write an essay entitled Mankind is more than the Janitor of the Planet.  It touches many subjects including environmental concern, the new atheism, and the old/new Christianity. It is a good reminder that while environmental issues are important concerns for Christian action and reflection, it is not the gospel.  I think you'll enjoy his insights.

Here is the subtitle for the article:

Mankind is more than the janitor of planet Earth
I am avowedly atheist. But listening to the bishops' drab, eco-pious Christmas sermons, I couldn’t help thinking: ‘Bring back God!’

When a convinced unbeliever mourns the loss of the substantial and radical Christian message, the church need listen.

The Truth about Celebrating Nothing

I have been thinking a bit about American holiday traditions and what we celebrate these days.  Now, I know many of you grew up thinking Christmas was about Jesus away in a manger, but I want to tell you there is a different reality for many in America.  Personally, growing up Christmas was about Santa Claus and getting stuff.  Later in life - after that horrible day when you find out that "he isn't real" you expect expensive presents from your parents.  Of course you join in the whole Santa conspiracy from the top end of the ladder enjoying the delight of the younger cousins and kids in the family.  This year after seeing that almost all the cartoons on television were about Rudolph, Frosty and Satan Claus I realized that something has really shifted in our celebrations and holidays.  In many ways, Christmas is about celebrating nothing.  What do I mean?

Some of you may very well know that our word "holiday" derives from the Old English haligdæg, from halig "holy" + dæg "day."   In other words, a holiday was a holiday set aside for observance and celebration of something.  Usually holidays are created by people for the remembering of important or sacred events. This pretty much carries throughout all cultures where people set aside time to remember important things from their histories.  We still observe this concept pretty much today, but something strange is happening with Christmas.  For all the Christians reading this post, this really will not apply.  For believers in Christ still celebrate advent and incarnation...although on the awkward day of December 25th (for a short history of this go here).  Yet for many others Christmas comes once a year to celebrate something for sure...namely, CHRISTMAS!!!

In other words, many now celebrate a holiday to celebrate the holiday.  Something has slipped out of the event somehow.  We celebrate the holiday itself rather than something sacred or of importance to remember.  So what do we really celebrate?  Well, my cynical answer would be the percentage of consumer spending and the propping of our "way of life" and economic engine.  We spend and buy and go into debt for the sake of our friends and loved ones while it keeps our economy purring along.  But that answer is too simplistic for me in light of sociological realities.  I don't want to get into taking back Christmas for Jesus arguments here - we can do this in our own families if we fight the demon in the red suit, but I do want to look at the nature of Christmas celebration without Christ's advent central.

What is celebrated?

Perhaps the easiest way to see what we celebrate is to observe the expectations, affections and movings of your soul.  What comes to mind when Christmas is looked forward to?  I would guess for many Americans it would be seeing friends, family, and giving and receiving material things. From the view of advertising and attitudes I have observed in children, I would say most are excited about "what they are getting for Christmas."  So it seems to me that celebrating Christmas is not the setting apart of a "holy day" but rather a celebration of contemporary values supplemented by exciting children's mythologies like Rudolph guiding a slay and made up magic to fill the emptiness of our souls. 

Now, most of this you will say is just plain good fun. I agree - Christmas was and is really fun for me and our family.  Yet I am just reminded of the emptying of this holiday - it is a mere rejoicing in what we already like, rather than remembering something important or sacred which defines and marks us as a people.  Of course, this may be indicative of what America is - a common set of "holy" days may be forever removed as we simply no longer have a central story of cultural cohesion.

I am thankful we still have some common holidays like July 4th, where we celebrate the creation of our republic, days set aside to remember our fallen soldiers and the freedom they secured, we even have days for presidents and civil right leaders.  I thank God for these.  But for the Christmas season most of the center is gone in public discourse but is still echoed when we sing some carols in which theology sneaks back in.  It sort of both humors me up and fills me with sorrow to hear about my daughters "winter party" in our local public school.  I thought what will be left for us to celebrate "together" as a broad public in America - maybe that it is cold, dark and it some parts snows. 

I love the diversity of God's creation, the earth and all its peoples.  We love parts of many cultures in the world in which we have participated.  Yet the great chink in the diversity movements splendor is that it offers no way of unity within the beauty of diversity.  It only separates and multiplies us out into ever smaller groups - each needing its own day during the darkest time of the year.  Perhaps we will all agree on peace of earth and good will to men - but we dare not ask or care or look into the origin of that phrase or the ontology of of that goodness.  This would lead us back towards the holy...which large segments of western culture simply do not want during our holidays. 

Merry Christmas...

Generational Perspective

We so often live in our own moments that we forget to see what wisdom would teach us if we spent time thinking about the passing of life.  This Christmas we were with my in laws in North Carolina and I experienced a few moments that have reminded me of the brevity of life.

We know Scripture exhorts us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom.  We can read how life is but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.  We can read the great philosophy of Solomon reflecting of the emptiness of life under the sun without any transcendent meaning or reference point.  People can tell us that time flies and we can see how shocked we are as the grains of time slip through the hour glasses which are our lives. 

Yet there is something helpful in being with people from many generations during our days which help us to experience the truths of Scripture.  I had a couple such interactions this week.

The first came as my wife, her father and I watched my six year old daughter swing on a little wooden swing set.  The joy of youth seemed to grip us all and it was at that moment where my Father-in-law chose to speak.  He said simply:

Now guys, you realize that one third of Kayla's time in your home has already passed and the next two thirds will seem to pass even more quickly. 

I realized a few things - I love my kids and I have very mixed emotions about them growing up.  First, I already sense an ache of loss - of times spent today which will be lost forever from our grasp.  My little girls will soon be past the age of nuzzling up into my arms.  I can still hold one on each limb and I already mourn that this will not last forever.  At the same moment I have loved watching them learn, grow and become.  I don't like it, but I rejoice in the process.  I also paused to say - yeah, she is only 4-6 years from hitting puberty.  Oh dear Jesus help out Dad.

The second moment came with my wife's grandfather Elmer Underwood.  Papaw, as Kasey calls him, is a spry 84 year old preacher who has worked as a carpenter for much of his life.  He was an encouragement to me, as he has often been, in my calling to the gospel.  This holiday was different for Elmer because 2007 marked the passing of his beloved wife Betty.  Betty went to be with Jesus and I missed her this Christmas.  I know Elmer misses her very much.  It was almost like she wasn't dead - I caught myself mentally thinking, "Where is Mamaw?" a few times when Papaw and I were together. 

Death is not a comfort nor a kind companion to humanity.  It is an enemy that comes upon us in stealth.  We ignore his coming, we feel and sense as if "today" will continue in perpetuity.  Yet there is a calling upon each of our lives where we will pass from this age into eternity.  So many of us run to and fro building piles of stuff in our homes, seeking accomplishments for ourselves and looking to advance in life.  Far too often we forget to stop and think - this is ALL soon coming to an end.  

I thank God that my father-in-law and grandfather-in-law spoke and exhibited wisdom to me this week - I am hugging my kids more, thanking God more and have my now mingled with both joy and sadness as this life continues to ebb away.  If but for this life we had hope we should be most pitied among men - an apostle once wrote these words.  Yet thanks be to Christ, the resurrected one who promises eternal life to all who believe.  Will he allow me to put my girls to bed in feety pajamas in the life to come?  I'm not sure - I kind of hope so.  But I do know I have a few more laps around that track here on earth.  I want to run well - going to nuzzle a bit tonight as we head off to bed. 

POC Tech Bundle 12.22.2007

Technology Bundle

• There is an interesting article over at Business Week as to whether Japan will drink the iPhone koolaid or not.
  
• Palminfocenter reports on Consumer Reports recent recommendation of the Palm Centro in its cell phone reviews.  I still love my little black Centro and glad it cost much less than an iPhone.
• Dell ups the resolution on its new XPS 1530 laptop.  They actually started this thing with the only option being a paltry 1280 x 800.  Now it has been kicked up a few notches with options of 1400 x 900 and 1680 x 1050.  Mind you I run my 15.4 inch Inspiron 6000 at 1920 x 1200.
• By the way...the Dell XPS M1330 and 1530 have some big discounts specials on high end models during the holiday - 799.00 off of the 1330 and 669.00 on the 1530 - see www.dell.com
  

Haiku at Christmas - and a question for you?

Yesterday I sent out a note to friends and partners of Jacob's Well.  For some odd reason I felt led to write some Haiku as we reflected on life and calling this Christmas.  For some reason I really liked learning Haiku poetry in elementary school and that has stuck with me.  For all the fellas who might mock writing poetry (or particularly Haiku) let me just say that my wife digs my poetry.  Mock all you like.  Anyway, here are the little poems

One Last Tennessee Christmas
Three Poems
By Reid S. Monaghan

Grace Abounds to Us
Tender Tennessee Christmas
Soon We Must Depart

Gospel and Mission
A Coming Day in Jersey
God Walks Before Us

A Babe Incarnate
Friends, Prayer and Partnership
New Hope Eternal

As you might observe I used the standard 5-7-5 syllable format which brings up a question that might involve regional/cultural dialects in order to answer.  So here is my question: Does the word "Prayer" have one or two syllables?  Or more accurately, in the way you say the word, does it only have one?  What do you say - one or two.  If two then my last poem is valid 5-7-5 - if only one syllable I would change it to read "Friendship, Prayer and Partnership"

Do you say Pray-er or Prarrr?

I am Legend...

Last night I jumped out to catch a film with a friend after we put our kids to bed.  Many times an experience at the movies can be shallow, trivial and a disappointment. You leave feeling - why on earth did I spend time and money on this?  Last night was not one of those occasions.  For those who have not seen the new Will Smith film, I am Legend should cease reading now if you have intentions to do so.   There will be spoilers so hope off now.  To be honest, it was one of the better films I have seen in some time.

Plot Summary

The film is based on Richard Matheson's 1954 science fiction novel of the same name.  This film adaptation takes place in a post apocalyptic Manhattan where a viral 'cure for cancer' has gone horribly wrong. Most of the human population of the world has died, a small amount were immune, another portion turned into vampire like creatures known as dark-seekers.  In this world military virologist Robert Neville (Smith's character) is alone in Manhattan seeking to find a cure for what humanity has wrought upon itself.  What follows is a thick, tense ride of man's fight and hope for survival and redemption for what is a catastrophic situation.  The ending is somewhat optimistic and seems the only portion of the movie which has received some criticism.  The film was almost unbearably tense and dealt with themes much too disturbing for any kid to take in.  In fact, it will be too much for those who are sensitive at the movies. The use of sound (use of silence without much score) and visuals was fantastic and the movie is one tense moment after another for almost the entire 1:40 run time.  Surprisingly the writers and director deal with some themes which only find their sense in a biblical worldview and the religious themes are a bit penetrating.  What follows are some of the themes which I particularly found interesting and insightful.

Hubris/Pride

The film begins with an optimistic interview of a medical researcher who has harnessed the ferocity of the virus to do man's bidding and eradicate cancer.  The clinical trials were 100% effective and the interviewer asks the scientist a point blank question: So you cured cancer? The answer is hollow and clear: Yes.  There is no time for optimism as the director makes a harsh cut directly to 3 years later into an empty Manhattan island where Neville is hunting in the midst of the overgrown and desolate city.  The pride of humanity's attempt to cure one of our most horrendous diseases by using a virus, a self-replicating system prone to unpredictability and mutation comes through loud and clear.  It gives much pause to the possibility of overconfident biotechnological reaches which have unseen outcomes.  Now I don't think we are going to turn people into rabid, zombie like vampires, but there are great risks to human life and the environment in the brave new worlds of bio and nano technology.  Pride comes before a fall...true.

Despair, Guilt and Quixotic Dedication

Smith's character carries a certain guilt and responsibility to remedy the situation as we see from well timed flash backs that he was the military scientist attempting to find a cure for this pandemic.  He was unable to find it in time and the director uses the pre-apocalypse story to build his character's fixation with finishing his work.   After everyone is gone, Neville, who has an immunity to the virus, has only his dog and his work left to keep him sane.  He is frantically trying to both stay alive and find the cure he sought before  everything unraveled.  He unrelentingly says "I have to fix it" - his sense is that he simply has to redeem humanity's mistake.  He echoes that "God didn't do this, we did" and you sense that he feels the burden of a savior though his work looks hopeless.  He has almost a quixotic quest to get the job done.  So much that he sends his family away so that he can stay at ground zero and work.  Additionally, towards the end, he again wants to stay and cure the disease rather than go northward in search of a "survivor colony" he hears about.  The director relieves this tension at the end as his work is allowed to succeed - though without him making it through to that future.  Our own kicking against our mortality is felt strongly and Smith's performance only added to this hope/despair paradox of being human.

Friendship

Being one of the last people alive is a lonely affair so how Neville copes with his isolation is an interesting facet of the film.  In this movie, man's best friend is better than a volleyball.  Neville's dog actually has survived with him and they do everything together.  Eat together, work out together, hunt together, etc.  I never bought into Tom Hank's friendship with a volleyball to keep his sanity in Castaway.  Here we have the family dog as the constant companion. This is quite believable and will certainly grab the hearts of those who love their doggies.  The tragedy of the circumstances is brought home through the dog's character as well.  It was touching and real - dog owners will cry in this movie.  Do not mock them.  There is also so goofy stuff with mannequins which seems to work pretty well especially when the zombies start messing with him.

Providence/Destiny

The film also wrestles a bit with the themes of God's providence and destiny.  Did God have anything to do with this disaster or is man alone and the victim of his sins alone.  Does the hope for the future lie in some form of providence, or is it human ingenuity which must right its own wrongs alone?  The end of the movie almost becomes cheesy when another immune human (a young woman named Anna played by Alice Braga) shows up on the scene and says "God told me to come to you."  At first it was like they were going to make this character out to be a religious wacko of sorts but it quickly moves through that feeling into an intense exchange about God's existence and involvement in their nightmare.  The scene survives the early cheesy moment to the point where it can be seen as genuine.  The movie resolves a little too nicely but at least it is nicely hopeful.  The cynical would probably prefer a different ending, but the current fare--though not great, was not that bad in my opinion.

Theological Angst

There is also much angst surrounding God in Smith's character.  The director does several things throughout the film to bring his humanity and its struggle with God to the foreground. In an early flashback his family prays together as wife and daughter board a helicopter to leave the island.  Later Neville's lines about his disbelief in God, or the fact that God had allowed this to happen come strongly to the center of his personal redemption.  There is a moment where he seems to realize that the hand of providence was indeed involved in the redemption of a broken world and this gives him courage to face the end of of his own life...which though a tad full of bravado, does have a sacrificial element to it.  The man who felt so compelled to "fix it" - eventually does...and gives his life in protecting the new found cure.  Fans of Bob Marley will certainly enjoy the placement of his music and his story in the film.  In fact, towards the end Neville seems to urge action in the world in order to "light up the darkness" - something he grabs from Marley.  There are crosses which hang from a rear view mirror, signs in the city saying "God still loves us" and even a church at the center of the new human colony featured at the end of the film.  The spiritual imagery and wrestle with God is evident throughout but not obnoxious or invasive.

Conclusion 

I personally enjoyed the film and it shook me as intensely as any--especially in the first parts of the movie.  I could not help but think of the realities of the film and how it aligns so much with my own theological vision.

• Man sins greatly - and feels his immense responsibility
  
• Yet providence deems redemption to be a worthy path which ultimately is controlled from a power greater than ourselves. 
  
• There is hope of new life and healing in a future yet to appear
  

In thinking of our quests in hope amidst a world of despair, the old poem The Gate of the Year by Minnie Haskins comes to mind.  The poem was made famous by King George VI's quotation in his 1939 Christmas address.

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God...That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

I am Legend reminded me of our constant struggle with sin, survival, hope and despair.  In the hand of God lies redemption - even amidst our greatest sins. It is one of the most thematically spiritual movies I have seen and sets these motifs firmly in the 21st century.  Highly recommended.

Here are a few reviews and links:

• The New York Times
• Hollywood Jesus
  
• Rotten Tomatoes - 62% Fresh as of 12/19/07
  
• The Boston Globe - 3/4 stars
  
• Ebert and Roeper (video review) - Two Thumbs Up
  
• MovieGuide - 4 stars, extreme caution for children and sensitive movie goers.
• Rolling Stone (video review) - 3 of 4 stars
  

Leadership from Among...

There is much made in our culture, certainly in corporate settings, about the importance and nature of leadership. There are those who advocate coalition building, those who advocate proactive decisiveness, those who still validate hierarchy, and those for flattened non hierarchical structures. Even definitions for leadership bounce all around with the the latest gurus offering their counsel. My thoughts and experience of leadership have grown over the years, but there is one principle that I keep returning to which I find both effective and biblical.

I guess someone could have a name for this but I simply call it leading from among the people. To be honest, I have found myself in leadership roles my entire life. Whether leaders are born or made, probably a little of both, I know that it has been somewhat natural for me to find myself leading others. Whether it was quarterbacking the high school football team, leading the honor society, captaining our wrestling team, my days as a teen were filled with leadership. In college it seemed that many of my college teammates and classmates would come to me for counsel and insight into life difficulties and problems. During my life, God has has consistently placed me with and among leaders in ministry. Anyway, the leaders I have found most attractive, and the kind I pray to become, are those who “lead from among the people.” 

First, i want to describe some ways of leading which are counter to this sort of leadership. Second, I want to give a few illustrations of what I mean when I say “lead among.” Two will come from Scripture, one from history/culture, and one from the Leader of Leaders and Lord of Lords.

What it means to NOT lead from among the people

• Leading from Above This is being in charge of people, telling them what to do without embracing or experiencing their  circumstances. It is leading from positional authority and calling down from on high so to speak. I like this leadership from 3 persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I do not always enjoy it from people. It is particularly troublesome if the person leading does not have trustworthy character or is not willing to personally sacrifice with or for those she leads. Having responsibility for others is good; Having authority without character is resented. 
• Leading Insincerely Some like to fake it.  Insincere leadership may act interested, concerned, even get their hands dirty with others in their leadership. The problem can be that they do not naturally feel a place among those they lead. They do things in order to produce effects without really living it authentically. Usually this sort of leadership is short lived or seen through.  People tend to have pretty high authenticity meters today and a fake usually is exposed.
• Leading for Personal Gain I know there are some who say that this is the default motivation of every heart. Personal self-interest! Please, I do not need you to spew Ayn Rand quotes at me. I just think it is brutal to be led by someone who sees others as a means to an end and not an end themselves. There are even definitions which describe management as accomplishing accomplish predetermined goals through others. This could be good or terrible. It all depends on how “through others” actually goes down.  

A few examples of leading among

Life Reflected in Film 

One of crazy Mel Gibson’s movies demonstrated the kind of leadership with which I resonate. No it is not Passion of the Christ, but we will get to Jesus’ leadership in a moment. The movie is entitled We Were Soldiers. The 2002 film features the story of Lt. Col Hal Moore and the Battle of la Drang in during the Vietnam war. Col Moore’s leadership style was strong but very clear. I will not forget his line in the movie “Men, I will be the first one off the chopper and onto the field and I will be the last one to leave.” There was no question that he was the leader; there was no doubt he was in charge. Yet he was found with and among his men and did not bug out when things got hot. The director dramatically portrays this in the film with his boot hitting and exiting the ground of that bloody battle field. Men love to follow guys like this who lead from among.

Biblical Leadership - Old Testament

One of the most prominent example of this I find in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament Song of Deborah (Judges 5) a great battle had been won by the nation of Israel over its enemies. Deborah  sings a song of celebration after the victory where God is honored. A few things stood out to me in regards to the leaders of Israel. The song begins with stating something obvious, but the entire point of leadership:

1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:2 “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly,bless the Lord!

First, we see that the leaders actually led and did not abdicate or leave the people in confusion. Second, the people offered themselves willingly without which you have only coercion and not true leadership. These simple realities were enough case for rejoicing. Additionally the song says the following of the people in verse 9:

My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord.

It seems the Hal Moores of the world existed in our ancient past as well. The leader who leads at no cost to himself does not gain the level of respect as the one who fights along side of his men. The Old School kings would fight; new school leaders sit aside from the battle. I like the Old School.

Biblical Leadership - New Testament

In the book of 1 Peter, their is an exhortation given to local church elders; men called to give leadership in the local church. The “among them” principle is found here as well in chapter 5. 

5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Now I could spend way too many words here expounding on this but to be honest I think the words “among you”, willingly, not for shameful gain (TV preachers/fleecers?), not domineering, examples, humility…well, these words can just speak for themselves.

Finally, the incarnation which we celebrate at Christmas is the prime example of this principle.   And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. If anyone had the right and ability and position to lead from above it would be Jesus. Who being in the very nature God…took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:1-11). He took on human nature, walked with people, taught from among, exemplified from among, healed from among and died among the people. He gave his life for others, served others, and lived in full obedience to the Father. In my opinion he is the greatest leader in human history.  Here are his words on leadership.

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,44 and whoever would be first among you must be slaveof all.45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

To summarize, leading among people means living out with people the goals and callings of an organization. It does not mean that a leader has to participate in every job or have his fingers in every aspect of a group. It does mean that people experience him with them in tangible ways.  How that works out will depend on the organization, its tasks, its size, and the nature of its calling etc.  People want to be appreciated, valued, have their work validated, and to know that another human being is as interested in their life. Yes, it matters what their life accomplishes for the team, but biblical leaders will also love the people involved. Such leaders I will follow; the other kind I will ignore. I am not saying I will not submit to and respect rightful authority which is placed over me.  What I am saying is that I will pursue legitimate paths to align under different leaders and will not waste my life under men and women who neither know me nor go to battle with me. Life is too short for that.

Youth Groups and Pizza

Ed Stetzer, director of Lifeway Research, recently published reasons why young folk leave church after age 18.  Here is an excerpt from the Christianity Today snippet.

Well, Lifeway Research (Southern Baptist) says they know the reasons why 70 percent of 18-year-olds who attended church regularly in high school quit by age 23: they don't like it.

The reasons cited?

• They wanted a break (27%)
• Church is too judgmental (26%)
• They moved away to college (25%)
• Busy with work (23%)

My favorite line, which is par for the Ed Stezer course was this one:

Lifeway's Ed Stetzer blames the losses on sorry youth ministry: "Too many youth groups are holding tanks with pizza," Stetzer said. "There's no life transformation taking place. People are looking for a faith that can change them and be part of changing the world."

Down with the holding tanks with Pizza! These kids wouldn't stand for it.

You don't know JACK - the most popular names in Britain

Jack is still the most popular name in Great Britain...but not for long.  It appears that the name of the Muslim prophet will soon overtake it as the top boys name in the British Isles. 

Here is the article at the London Telegraph.

(HT - Challies) 

Peace

Though I am not an absolute pacifist in this age this movie is a great reminder that Jesus is the prince of true peace in the advent season.  Though at times perhaps necessary, war sucks - this video reminds me that Jesus teaches us a different way - blessed are the peacemakers...true peace comes through Jesus who reconciles us to God and them makes us ministers of reconciliation...

Boring Materialism

Great quote today from Kairos Journal on the moribund nature of materialistic understandings of the world.  The quote is from David Hart, an Eastern Orthodox Theologian...great stuff:

Now that the initial, delirious raptures of eighteenth and nineteenth-century atheism have long since subsided, and a sober survey of the landscape left behind by God’s departure has become possible, only the most ardently self-deluding secularist could possibly fail to see how much of the moral, imaginative, creative, and speculative glory of humanity seems to have vanished from the earth. Far from draining the world of any intrinsic meaning, as many of the critics of religion are wont to claim, faith in the divine source and end of all reality had charged every moment of time with an eternal significance, with possibilities of transcendence, with a reason for moral striving and artistry and dreams of future generations. Materialism, by contrast, when its boring mechanistic reductionism takes hold of a culture, can make even the immeasurable wonders of matter seem tedious, and life seem largely pointless.

David B. Hart , “Beyond Disbelief,” review of The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World, by Alister McGrath, The New Criterion (June 2005), 80.

Blowing away with the Wind?

CNN/Money has reported on Britain's ambitious plans to push most of its domestic energy production to off shore wind farms by 2020.  Though accessing the winds off shore of the British Isles seems to be a great idea, it for some reason provoked in me a question related to defense. Now, I am 100% for wind technology for the generation of power, but it I certainly hope they are asking some hard questions.  So here is my question:

What if they were to go to war with another nation at some point in the future.  If their power generation is hinged to off shore wind turbines, are these not a prime target for missiles, submarines or aircraft attack.  It seems to me that the Luftwaffe and the u-boats past should make the Brits think about this sort of thing.  Perhaps they have, at the least, the defense of these installations must be a high priority if that much power is coming from this sort of source.  I am sure they must have considered the terrorist issue as well.  Energy independence for every nation ought to be a top priority, but if you become dependent on a source that can be knocked out and not easily replaced or repaired, you better have some pretty substantial back up infrastructure available as well.