pinakidion.*

The Catholic League is calling for a boycott of “The Golden Compass” this December. This is making news and spreading around various emails. I have friends, whom upon receiving this email, that have decided not to attend the movie. Many cite that they do not want to give Pullman any money for a book they wouldn’t like. A few have said that they do not want to promote an atheistic agenda. I understand how folks can feel this way, I really can. I think the question, Why show a movie like this when there are so many good movies that can be made? is a very valid one.

Having said that, here’s why I will not boycott it.

• For one, Pullman, the author of “His Dark Materials” has already received his money from New Line Cinema. Even if no one sees it, he has his undisclosed sum of cash already in pocket.
• Chris Weitz, the director, changed the Magisterium so that religious elements were removed. The Book != The Movie
• This movie will not convince someone to renounce Christianity.
• Drawing attention to it by for a ban only increase its popularity. It’s like free advertising for the movie.
• I believe that the strongest calls for a boycott are rooted in fear.
• It’s silly to think that the God of the universe can be undone by any movie or book.

I’m not saying that everyone should go see this movie. I have no interest in reading the books. Some may have interest insomuch as the books serve as a discussion point with athesits/agnostics. Not me. My atheist/agnostic acquaintances already have their own preferred framework to discuss their ideas. (Carl Sagan seems to be the favorite.)

Frankly, I don’t know how they will be able to write around the last book in which the character of god dies. The Amber Spyglass is more strongly about religion than all the others, you might get a 15 minute short if all the religiously themed content is removed.

Instead, I think a more reasoned response would look like this. The Church of Scotland has chosen to instead embrace the movie as a golden opportunity to stimulate discussion on a wide range of moral and spiritual issues. The Kirk also sees this movie as a chance to talk about human destiny, corrupt institutions, and making choices in life.

I’m not saying that danger + opportunity = crisis. (Turns out that isn’t true, anyway.) What I am saying is that in choosing how to respond to something like this makes a big difference. Choosing to respond as the Church of Scotland does show confidence and a willingness to talk. They are meeting the moment with information and openness.

I like fantastic stories, so maybe I’ll catch it on DVD. Maybe not. The Naria movie was a disappointment to me, so at least I won’t be entirely disappointed by this one.

Fire away!

Doug Jacoby, of all people, has a new forum and blogsite. Who would have thunk it?

You must register to comment.

It’s a Drupal site, like ICOC HOT NEWS. On the positive side, it looks like DisciplesToday will also move to Drupal, based on the last newsletter sent out. Free just seems better than whatever Exigo Office costs. Working properly is also better - Exigo remains the only CMS I know that shuts down the site while *one* article is being edited.

Long live Drupal!

It will take a while to get the video up on the internet. My thanks to mrtool for taping the audio and video.

In the meantime, here is the audio:
Child Dedication

It starts in the middle of our minister’s remarks, something the video will correct. The first word you hear him say is “…today”. The Matt 19:13-14 passage is his, the rest are ours. You’ll hear my wife, her father and my father. My apologizes for the ruined Hebrew.

Our son was not comfortable on stage - you will hear him throughout the entire service.

The response of the congregation was:

We will. With God’s help and love we will share our love and knowledge of God. We will listen to their hearts. We will surround them with a community of grace and truth. We will pray for them to be strengthened by God’s spirit and to enjoy fellowship with Christ.

The Omaha Church of Christ

It was a beautiful day. Next post should be about our adventures in Minnesota.

I’ll be gone for awhile. Off to see the family in Minnesota. Ufda!

Turns out that the only computer with a firewire port here has a hard drive with a busted Master Boot Record. The MBR has defied all attempts at repair. I have no laptop hard drive to swap it with except on locked behind a pair of security torx #4 screws. I have torx screwdrivers, but not torx security screwdrivers.

Thus, we are going to convert the video on my step-father’s jazzed up BSD machine, otherwise known as a Mac.

See you soon.

We just got back from the doctor and Dancing Bear’s nose is open. This is the first time we’ve gotten this news on her left nostril. Her right has stayed open for some time. Her surgery three weeks ago may very well be her last. We’ll find out in six weeks, but all signs are pointing to resolution.

Today may mark the end of the major medical journeys our family began in October 2005.

I’m having a celebratory quesadilla.

Another piece of good news is that her surgeon is excited about Hands & Voices. He would like to be on the board of directors. Normally, I would think it presumptuous to ask for such a post. However, he is Director of the Boys Town Ear, Nose & Throat Institute and the Director of the Cochlear Implant Center.

I think he’d be a good fit.

Lastly, it is snowing here. They call it flurries despite the .25 inch on the ground. It was 70 here on Monday. Today snow. Welcome to the Midwest, we have every season at least once a week.

moar funny pictures

Some time ago, I tried to talk about The Next Big Thing(TM). Now, instead of getting into endless digressions, I wanted to show an example of what I had in mind. It’s the Unconference II as noted by Kelcy on his site.

Oddly enough, I know one of the speakers. He is a young man with a great story and many things to say. He also happens to have two degrees from Reformed Theology schools. in his mid-twenties, he is more qualified to present at a conference than almost all the leaders of the ICoC, including his own minister. He is still a part of the ICoC (as this is an ICoC event), but he has much needed insight worth hearing.

Back to the topic, there are several reasons why this is a good example for The Next Big Thing (TM).

1. The cost is very low.
2. Housing is personal (in homes) as opposed to hotels.
3. The material respects an 18+ year old’s intelligence.
4. No self-promotion.

I would go to this conference if I could, despite the presence of some I may wish to avoid (not the speakers). The reason is simple, it’s a meaningful event to me that engages the mind and the soul.

Granted, some of the material may not appeal to some. Some may think it is too intellectual. Maybe so, I don’t fault anyone for thinking that. I believe the same type of thing could be for different content. A skeletong outline of how this conference was set up would be:

Find a location, cap the size to meet the location (150), charge to cover the cost of the facility, have meaningful content. How simple is that?

Since it is Facebook, here is the proposed schedule thus far:

Unconference II
Dates: Feb. 22-24, 2008
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Registration Deadline: TBA

PLEASE INVITE ALL CAMPUS STUDENTS, LEADERS, AND H.S. SENIORS IN THE MID-AMERICAN STATES THAT YOU KNOW TO JOIN THIS GROUP ON FACEBOOK

Registration Cost: $10

Registration will begin in January and will be done primarily through campus ministers.

Lodging: Will be provided free by the Milwaukee Church of Christ at no cost for the first 150 people who register

Tentative Teaching Tracks:

The Hebraic roots of the Christian Faith
Teacher: Kirk Stevens (Madison)

Resurrection and the New Creation
Teacher: Dustin Bosscher (Minneapolis)

Predestination, election, and free will
Teacher: Michael Burns (Fox Valley)

Jesus foreshadowed in the Jewish festivals
Teacher: Drew Prociuk (Milwaukee)

Homosexuality and the Bible: A Christian Response
Teacher: Kris Boyer (Minneapolis)

Class for Women Only: TBA
Teacher: MyCresha Burns (Fox Valley)

Class: TBA
Teacher: Jeff Mannel (Madison)

I confess that I am not the best historian of the Restoration Movement. I know some things, but finding God outside the RM as a child prevents me from having a great deal of interest. Some folks do, and God bless them for it. I have come to learn that Alexander Campbell was much more of a complex thinker than I previously thought.

I found this article about AC that I hope you enjoy.

As an unrelated side note: The author had a brush with Crossroads in 1978. As such, he has purchased Tom Jones’ book, In Search of a City.

The video of the ceremony should be up in a couple days. Thanks to mrtool, the audio was recorded so that it could be synchronized with the video.

I was very happy that many in both our families came. My brother and his oldest daughter was here. My father, mother, and their spouses were both here. My wife’s siblings were here as were Dancing Bear’s cousins save one. My wife’s parents were here as well. Folks came from NC, Washington DC, and Minnesota to be here. For one weekend, we really were one big family.

In lieu of the video, this is the outline for today’s ceremony. It started shortly after communion.

Opening Song: This Is My Father’s World

Torah Reading: Gen 1:26 - 31, Ex 34:6

Praise Reading: Psalm 139:13 - 14

NT Reading: John 10:11 - 16, Heb 4:14 - 16

Prayer for children:

• Names given in English and Hebrew
• Meaning of names given

Silent Wish/Blanket Ceremony begins

Kiddush

• Parents honor the children
• Parents honor each other
• Grandfathers honor the family and community

Reading of the Covenant

Blanket Ceremony ends

Closing Song: Jesus Loves the Little Children

As always, more later. Planning this is where I have been.

The minister at Southwest wrote about our joint service two weeks ago.

This past Sunday, we mention our time at Southwest during a Sermon on John 17.

This weekend, there is a youth rally at Southwest and our teens (and teen minister) will be there.

Things have been hectic here, so no real commentary on all of this except to say that I am glad to be part of a congregation pursuing real unity.

today, ugh. Just ugh. If I didn’t tell you, I won’t tell you, so do not ask. It’s not ICoC related.

Yesterday, a different topic altogether, we were surprised that Dancing Bear required yet another surgery to open her nose on the right side. She is doing great. She is happy and bouncing around and trying to stand/walk/grab Daddys drink out of his hand.

The good news is that we can travel with her. Coming to MPLS for Thanksgiving. Coming to OBX for Easter. YAY!