Links to places where the gospel meets culture
In another stab at the previous administration, President Obama has overturned a policy that limits federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research. And just like that, the national debate kicked into high gear. When you're done reading the usual array of talking points from the left and the right, here's a provocative take from the folks at Slate. The article's subject line says it all: "You just won the stem-cell war; don't lose your soul."
A judge in Kansas is allowing a reporter to use Twitter to provide constant updates about a major trial. Twitter has long since been a bit creepy to me - a new-level narcissism that welcomes virtual voyeurism with open arms. I wonder: is it now providing just one more way we can quickly judge people based on rapid-fire, undercooked observations - not just in an actual courtroom, but in life in general?
Keeping with the theme of technology, here's a sobering thought: Collin Hansen thinks a person's blog is a window to their soul. I think I just heard thousands of bloggers say, "Uh-oh."
One of my favorite bloggers is Brett McCracken. If a blog is a window into one's soul, then I'd say Brett is doing all right. Solid guy. He's currently studying the Christian hipster movement for a soon-to-be-published book (which I will read as soon as it comes out). Don't know what a Christian hipster is? This will help. This is in relationship to another McCracken blog post that we linked to in the Weekly Intersections: Is Christianity Cool? And for just a little more on this important subject, here are Brett's reasons for writing a book about Christian hipsters.
After years of successfully blending Japanese culture with the Christian faith, Los Angeles' Union Church was struggling to keep its doors open. But that was before Bel Air Presbyterian swooped in with a rescue plan: "Use high-energy worship services, complete with ear-thumping Christian rock music, to help Union Church attract the young professionals who populate downtown's lofts and condos." I think I'll let you decide how you feel about this one.
Here's yet another article on how the economy is changing our spending habits. Check it out for some nice talking points and a few interesting quotes - like this one from Maxine Frankel (given while she "longingly stroked a diaphanous black shawl at a shop in [a] nearby Chicago suburb"): "I think this economy was a good way to cure my compulsive shopping habit. It's kind of funny, but I feel much more satisfied with the things money can't buy, like the well-being of my family. I'm just not seeking happiness from material things anymore."
You know the economy is bad when bar tenders are getting laid off - especially bar tenders at Cheers!
A recent survey found that 65 percent of Britons lie about what books they have read. The number one most-lied-about book is George Orwell's 1984. Which I've read. No really - I have. Twice. In case you are wondering - and I know you are - the fourth most-lied-about book is the Bible.
Here's another startling statistic: 1 in 50 U.S. kids are homeless.
And here's one that doesn't exactly fall into the "weekly intersection" category, but will be of interest to anyone who preaches (or does public speaking): Obama doesn't give a speech - even a brief announcement about, say, a Cabinet pick - without his trusty teleprompter. In other words, the most popular orator to come along in quite some time uses notes. Lots of them. All the time.
Posted by Brian Lowery at 7:41 AM on March 11, 2009
