Liberals, Conservatives, and Progressives, Oh My! #3: A Third Way

My thoughts in this blogpost can be heard in an interview I did with Rev. Drew McIntyre, who blogs at Via Media Methodists. I thank him for the invitation. When I meet young pastors like Drew, I have hope for the future of United Methodism.

The interview starts somewhat after 17:00, but I encourage you to listen to the entire podcast as Drew and his compadres talk about the book, Finding Our Way: Love and Law in the United Methodist Church (they are giving away free copies-- listen for details), and also an entertaining discussion on breakfast cereal.

This latest edition of the WesleyCast can be heard here.
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NOTE: You may need to download iTunes (it's free) to listen.

Extraordinary Kingdom, Ordinary Stories: A Lectionary Reflection on Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

The proclamation of the Word depends, not only upon the preacher, but upon the hearer. There will be those who will reject the truth being proclaimed no matter how poetic the preacher and how convincing the argument. Others will receive the word gladly, only to allow the cares and frustrations of daily life to choke off the excitement.

The Methodist Blogs Weekly Links of Note

This week's noteworthy posts from the Methoblogosphere:

Dan Dick: "Antagonisn't"

Steve Heyduck: "Pest Control and Evangelism"

John Ed Mathison: "Apologies for Miscommunication"

Erik Marshall: "Do You Care About Your Vision? Then Sell It"

Andy Stoddard: "How to Endure"

Drew McIntyre: "Heroism, Martyrdom, and Suicide: Thoughts on Self-Immolation"

Ken L. Hagler: "Continuing to Open Our Eyes to Disabilities in the Church"

Scriptures and Prayer for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: Genesis 28:10-19

Epistle: Romans 8:12-25

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
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Faithful God, you care for us with compassion and firmness, urging us to grow in love for you. Through Christ, may we hear more deeply your call to be rooted in your way. Amen.

Are the Glory Days of Publishing Long Gone?

from Philip Yancey (HT: Scot McKnight):
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"The changes in publishing, especially Christian publishing, stood out sharply to me when I stopped in at the largest annual Christian book convention in June. At one time 15,000 attended that trade show, a convention so large that only a handful of cities could accommodate it. Now less than 4,000 attend, and in Atlanta it occupied a corner of the huge convention center. A couple hundred delegates attended a luncheon in which I participated on a panel with Ravi Zacharias and Ryan Dobson; ten years ago the same luncheon would have filled a thousand-seat banquet hall. Though name authors had book signings, the only lines I saw were for two stars of Duck Dynasty."

"Book publishing is going through massive changes. Almost every month bookstore sales fall below the total from last year … and the year before. Of the 5,000 Christian bookstores in the U.S. open in the 1970s, barely half that number have survived. What happened?"
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You can read what happened here.

Saturday at the Cinema: The History of the Universe in Eighteen Minutes

Truth Is Stranger than Fiction: Spray Paint and a Lighter Do Not an Insect Killer Make

Man Starts Fire Using 'Blowtorch' to Kill Spider

SEATTLE — Jul 16, 2014, 4:36 PM ET
By PHUONG LE Associated Press

A man who used a can of spray paint and a lighter as a makeshift blowtorch to kill a spider in his laundry room started a blaze that caused $60,000 worth of damage, Seattle fire officials said Wednesday.

The man and his mother got out of the house, and no injuries were reported in the fire that broke out in the West Seattle home Tuesday night, said Kyle Moore, a spokesman for the Seattle Fire Department.

Moore said the man used the spray paint and lighter as "a self-made blowtorch to kill a spider in the laundry room" of a rental house.

"I don't want to encourage people to do this, but that's what he did," Moore said Wednesday. "The spider tried to get into the wall. He sprayed flames on the wall, lit the wall on fire, and that extended up to the ceiling."

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Forty-Five Years Ago, and Forty-Five Photos

Forty-five years ago yesterday, the lunar module of the Apollo 11 landed on the moon. The Atlantic has published forty-five photos in commemoration of the mission that put the first two humans on another world.

The photos can be viewed here.

Ten Great Psychological Myths

from Real Clear Science:
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1. Subliminal Advertising Works

2. There's an Autism Epidemic

3. We Only Use 10% of Our Brain Power