The Weekly Town Crier
You may call it a link dump, I call it a treasure hunt. What’s the saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s blog fodder?” It think that’s right isn’t it? It ought to be. Here are some of the links that caught my eye this week as I wandered (sometimes aimlessly) through this big trash heap we know as the blogosphere.
Perhaps it sometimes needs to be said that just because I link something here does not mean I like everything here. Above all, these are simply things I found interesting or perhaps just mildly amusing. Taken together, I hope they make you think. Enjoy:
Read about the fight over Tommy Tutone’s famous telephone number: 867-5309
Read The Huffington Post’s thoughts about Amazon’s new music download store.
Read about Rothko’s “White Center” selling for $73 million.
Watch video of John Cage on I’ve Got a Secret in 1960 performing a piece including 5 radios, a water pitcher, an iron pipe, a goose call, and many other things. They call Cage the most controversial figure in the music world at the time.
Read as Al Mohler discusses several different major articles on abortion and the “culture of death.”
Read this piece which encourages people to submit “The Way I See It” comments from a Christian worldview to Starbucks.
Read as the Christian Century asks questions about Rick Warren’s relationship with media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Though Murdoch does not attend Warren’s church, Warren has claimed to be his pastor which leads to the question of why there has not been “church discipline” over Murdoch’s pornography businesses.
Read about New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson officially launching his bid for the Democrat Presidential nomination (he’s only “unofficially” been running so far).
Read about the 7,000 people who have volunteered to donate their remains to be “plastinated.”
Read Doug’s thoughts on the “Praise Me” generation.
Read Gunny’s thoughts that “mega” is not always better, especially when it comes to student/teacher ratios in Sunday School classes. The only exception seems to be when you’re chasing or being chased by sharks.
Read some of John Piper’s thoughts on Christ’s obedience.
Read about the wireless internet plans of several cities going bust.
Browse as Wikipedia compares different iPod software.
Read about the Creation-Evidence museum causing a lot of controversy.
Read Christianity Today’s interview with Derek Webb.
Read Esquire’s tips for making a perfect mix tape.
Read the Washington Times piece about “Europe’s Culture War.”
Read this piece which argues that the new immigration legislation is actually unfair to the poor.
See what I hear (my “mainstream” music).
Sign up for eMusic, find lots of DRM-free downloads and help me earn free downloads in the process. Everyone wins!
Read Matthew Hall’s thoughts on the passing of Jerry Falwell.
Read this article which notes that it’s almost cool now to be an “angry atheist.”
Read Timmy Brister’s thoughts about recent trends in Christianity.
Read about a lot of spray paint on walls. You call it graffiti, they call it art.
Read about the garbage crisis in Naples.
Visit Jeremy Casella’s new and improved website and newly relocated blog.
Read some of Richard Mouw’s thoughts on “Talking Past Each Other” when it comes to Evangelicals, Catholics and praying to the saints.
Read Tall Skinny Kiwi’s thoughts on the new “Emergent Manifesto of Hope.”
Read Sean’s open letter to Lou Dobbs.
Read Denny Burk’s thoughts about it being the end of the run for Guliani’s presidential bid.
Read about Jimmy Carter’s recent meeting with some SBC bloggers. No, I wasn’t included. I’m sure it was just an oversight (ht: Overstreet).
Read Joe Thorn’s thoughts about his church’s use of a “hacked” version of the Abstract of Prinicples.
Read Kevin Larson’s thoughts about the “new breed of evangelical.”
Browse Matt’s list of favorite blogs (even though mine’s not included).
Watch the incredible New York bucket drummer, Larry Wright and watch more here.
Read about the new venture “The Finest in Jazz,” a partnership between Ropeadope and Blue Note Records to create clothing from the vast Blue Note image catalog. I’m waiting for the Thelonious Monk shirts! In fact, I’m wearing my favorite shirt (which my wife gets tired of seeing), Blue Note Essentials, right now.
Read Pitchfork’s report that Sly Stone has begun touring again.
Browse as Slate celebrated Bob Dylan’s recent birthday with a photo tribute.
Browse the winners for Christianity Today’s 2007 book awards which include The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative by Christopher J.H. Wright and Promises Made: The Message of the Old Testament by Mark Dever.
RE: Rick Warren and Rupert Murdoch
Just a note to point out that if Rupert Murdoch isn’t a member of the congregation, church discipline isn’t an option. Pastor Rick’s relationship with Mr. Murdoch is personal, and any conversations about this topic would be handled personally — and privately.
This whole flap began with a blogger who asserted that Mr. Murdoch is “a born-again Christian and a member of Saddleback Church” - without making any effort to verify whether either of those assertions was true. Mr. Murdoch is not a member of the church, and if the blogger had any reason to believe Mr. Murdoch is a follower of Jesus Christ, he didn’t bother to present it. Some people just feel a need to inject themselves into every situation, and they don’t let the facts get in the way of creating a sensation.
Mark Kelly, Saddleback Church
Hello, Brent. Thanks for including my list of favorite blogs — and I do need to begin reading yours more faithfully. I’ve been looking over it and you have some terrific stuff here.
Pastor, thank you for that Piper link.
On a less serious note, I believe that if I had said “blog-fodder” at the dinner table, as a child, I would surely have been chastised and punished.
Mark, has there been any response to the alleged quote from Pastor Warren saying, “‘I’m Rupert’s pastor! Rupert published my book!’”
Mark, you have some explaining to do. WND has filed an update on the story documenting how the same allegation you made above, that they didn’t even attempt to contact Saddleback, was first posted by you personally on Rick Warren’s official blog. Then your post was retracted without notice and WND says it has yet to receive an apology for your false allegation.
Here is a screen capture of your original post before it was taken down.
Here’s a citation from WND’s followup on the story:
Mark, why are you repeating the allegation here when the official Rick Warren blog withdrew your original post?
These post of yours are some of the best. Thanks!