I won my first ever fantasy basketball league last week. I was sitting 2 points back in second place the day before the last games and won by 0.5 point on the last day. I never win a fantasy basketball league ever mainly because I don’t follow the game much. My winning testifies to the fact that you can actually win with some dumb luck. 

April fool stuff :

http://faith-theology.blogspot.com/2008/04/april-fools-roundup.html 

Palm Sunday Sermon (must read):

http://faith-theology.blogspot.com/2008/03/palm-sunday-sermon-lose-your-faith.html

 Inerrancy is alive and well:

http://greenbaggins.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/on-peter-enns/ 

http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/03/peter-enns-of-westminster-theological.html

http://www.digitalbrandon.com/?p=454 

the story of Gorbachev. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/19/wgorbachev119.xml

John Stackhouse on sex

http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-reality-of-sex/

East west

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/18/healthscience/18face.php

I was informed of the following distant education opportunity from University of London, Heythrop College, a Jesuit school:

http://www.trsonline.org.uk/course.php?155

http://www.heythrop.ac.uk/index.php/content/view/144/162 (courses)

http://www.heythrop.ac.uk/index.php/content/view/36/389 (staff)

http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/prospective_students/undergraduate/heythrop/divinity/structure.shtml (DB distance)

Google this latest fad: Speed mentoring, may be there is something the church can learn from it.

Spring is almost here, some words for this moment: 

From Work Without Hope by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair–
The bees are stirring–birds are on the wing–
And winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring !
And I, the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

Lots of good stuff to watch, read and listen: 

Muslim and Christian leaders seek common ground in conciliatory letters 

Old news of the passing of Thomas F. Torrance at 94 (Dec 2, 2007): Eulogy by George Hunsinger and complete bio by Elmer Colyer: http://www.tftorrance.org/bio.php 

Angel unaware: Surprise dinner with Waltke  (good advice about digging into the biblical languages) 

CBC program Tapestry, check out the past shows for interviews with Bart Ehrman (November 12, 2006), Dale Allison (January 14, 2007), Ron Rolheiser (August 13, 2006) and others. 

Ecological footprint: http://www.myfootprint.org/ 

John Webster Kantzer Lectures in Revealed Theology: http://www.henrycenter.org/kantzerlectures.php 

A rare interview given by Eugene Peterson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaaIui7cESs (don’t miss the part about Bono)

In the event you are from Mars here is Bono at White House prayer breakfast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUdrYDk8rVA  

Maggi Dawn blogged about two Archbishops : Rowan Williams (Archbishops of Canterbury) and John Sentamu (Archbishop of York) http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/blog_index.html (keep reading, there are about 7 entries) 

While on the subject of Archbishop of York, check this out: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=500842&in_page_id=1770

BBC has the interview online here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7135087.stm

Also Williams’ recent speech on sharia law in UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/07/religion.world2 (a must read)

and interview on BBC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0f_vvPUXAU 

Classic essay, you may not agree with the author but it is part of the collective consciousness now, which makes it required reading. (“The End of History” by Francis Fukuyama) http://www.wesjones.com/eoh.htm

This past Sunday was very significant. For the second week in a row I was so thrilled after worshipping that I almost spoke in tongues (just kidding). I cannot remember when the last time this happened. It was not just a fluke or a fleeting ecstasy moment. I was encouraged, I got motivation and energy to face the week and I was already anticipating for the next worship time together.  

Last week prior to the communion, our new pastor said something like,”we as Evangelicals emphasis the Word or sermon in our tradition but once a month at least we should put the focus on the communion”, those words are just music to my ear. This week, the sermon centered on challenging us to see each other as part of the body of Christ, the “weaker” parts are the reasons we are here, the non-conforming parts are the message we need to hear. (Those are my words.)  

Our church has been focusing on Lent as a time we need to journey together, inward and outward. I enjoyed the more liturgical and contemplative approach, adding devotional material in the church bulletin, quietness before the worship and slightly more subdued music. (I appreciate the huge effort by all involved) I have waited a long time for this to happen in our church. I had not spoken openly about this since I was not directly involved and I felt I do not have the right to criticize. Well, God does work while we wait and it makes things so much sweeter. Now may be we’ll use the Book of Common Prayer, and get rid of the flashing cameras during baptism then I can die happily. 

It is a departure without a promise of imminent reunion; a parting of loving engagement over many years. It saddened my spirit that there are so much more departures and so few rejoicings. Rationalization gives little comfort and neither does reminiscing. I suppose only prayer to the omnipotent and omnipresence can alleviate some of the pain. Even then we only half way to the paradise but the other half still yearn for console. I suppose only those with courage and faith will walk through this shadow of darkness and reemerge to see the light. The shade is good to hide from the burning sun sometimes. The cold winter will make the blooming in spring ever so pleasing a sight. A part of us will leave with her and a part of her will remain with us. Our consolation is that a kind and courageous soul from where the sun rises will be there to welcome a feast of friendship and love in the future. We pray that that future will be nearer than distanced. We also pray with the certainty that divine providence will be here with you and with us now and forever more. Amen. 

I chipped and sprained my wrist last Friday during another Toronto snowstorm. I was heading home but I slipped and fell on my right wrist. So I am enjoying my experience as a slightly challenges person. I was at the emergency for over four hours. It was quite alright, I got to read a good portion of Michael Green’s “I believe in the Holy Spirit” and got to help comfort a senior who can only speak Cantonese.  

Please take this Hermeneutics Quiz (courtesy of Mr. Scot Mcknight) and tell me your score: http://buildingchurchleaders.com/quiz/?id=TCTOC

I scored a 71, will try agin next week to see if I am consistent.