Hodge Podge

How odd!  I just realized I have no idea how to spell “hodge podge.”  I would check the dictionary but somehow I’m afraid it will be an exercise in futility.  What do you know?  It’s there and I spelled it correctly.  Alright, on to bigger and better things now.

Out of Ur has a unique piece by David Swanson up that may be worth checking out.  Swanson compares the setting and plot of Gran Torino with the situation encountered by numerous congregations across the nation as urban and suburban migration, as well as gentrification affect the populations of communities across America.  The challenge for churches is how to proclaim the gospel and minster to a changing demographic, a challenge which Swanson sees mirrored in Eastwood’s character in Gran Torino. I should also confess my original reason for reading the article was actually to find out more about Gran Torino since my roommate has expressed some interest in seeing it.  Now at least I have a slight interest in seeing it as well.

These next two links are both to book lists.  First of all, I am astounded at how much Mark Dever was able to read on his family vacation.  You can see a list of what he read during his week away here.  I was away for five days and got zero reading done.  Then again my vacation was also to my sister’s wedding so I had a few other, more important things going on than reading.  The list is also worth checking out because of the number of books on economics, current events and cultural issues.  Good encouragement to broaden my reading horizons.

Finally, Collin Hansen has ten theology books you should take with you to the beach this Summer.  Bruce Ware’s book, Big Truths for Little Hearts looks excellent.  I picked up a copy last week and hope to take a few middle school students through it this Summer.  I am also interested in Kevin DeYoung’s forthcoming book, Why We Love the Church.  In a church culture which seems obsessed with church bashing, or at least backhand slapping, a book praising it immediately catches the eye.  The other reason is the subtitle which mentions “institutions.”  An odd word to apply to the body of Christ in my mind.  I’m curious to see what he says.  Mark Noll’s new book looks excellent.  I need to get my hands on a copy of it and bumpt it to the top of reading list.  If you have not read anything by Mark Noll, go pick up one of his books and read it as soon as you are done with this post, or sooner even.  Your knowledge of church history will thank you.  So will I next time I see you.  So will Mark for that matter; royalties for books are a nice thing.    Finally, N. T. Wright’s latest book, Justification is a book I should also read before school gets back in session, lest I find myself hopelessly behind the times in theolgoical jargon, debates and current events.  Then again, maybe I’ll just go back and read a bit more Lewis, being in style is such a transient thing and it takes such effort.  Then again, my understanding of justification is important enough to warrant a few hundred pages of reading.