dCheck out this fascinating episode of NPR’s “On Point with Tom Ashbrook” that aired this morning.  It’s called “Religion, Morality and Youth,” and asks what compass or hope guides people from 18-29 in 2009.  His guests are Harvard Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein and sociologist Christian Smith.  I hope you’ll listen to the entire hour, because at about the 20 minute mark, you might hear a call from a voice you recognize. (click on “Listen to this Show” at the top of the page)

http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/10/religion-morality-and-youth

On a related note, we’re consulting with Landon Saunders and Mike Cope on a new project to get 18-29-year-olds in small groups asking the question, “What Really Matters?”  Check out their vision at heartbeatlife.org.

Anyone headed to Summit (formerly Lectureship) in Abilene next weekend? If so, make plans to drop by the class I’ll be facilitating:

Colonies of Heaven: Re-Envisioning Church at the Margins
A Different Way of Living
Tuesday, September 23, 8:30 a.m.
BSB 117

It’s a part of a three-day conversation with myself, Kent Smith, and Tod Brown. Tod and Kent will be covering “A different way of telling” and “a different way of leading,” respectively.  Should be a challenging time.

You also won’t want to miss the Abilene CD release show from The Rocketboys, of which my brother is a member. That takes place in the Bean Sprout on Wednesday at 8:30 pm, immediately following Donald Miller’s keynote talk.

Hope to see you there!

Just posted over at the God’s Politics blog:

Video: Health-Care Hermeneutics with Jon Stewart – Steve Holt – God’s Politics Blog.

As I was reading Roger Ebert’s well-worded defense of healthcare reform on his blog, I was reminded of how irrational people can be when their “principles” are affronted. Let me explain.  Ebert confronts nearly all of the prominent statements from opponents of the president’s healthcare reform plan, point by point.  Here’s an excerpt:

Many of my readers opposed the Obama plan, some of them in great detail. I will not try to simplify their arguments; you can read them for yourself. But here, in broad outline, are some of their most common statements, and my responses:

It is “socialism.” Again, yes. The word socialism, however, has lost its usefulness in this debate. It has been tainted, perhaps forever, by the malevolent Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who succeeded somehow in linking it with the godless Commies. America is the only nation in the free world in which “socialism” is generally thought of in negative terms. The only nation in which that word, in and of itself, is thought to bring the discussion to a close.

It is wrong for ideological or philosophical reasons. Readers have written about their belief in Federalism, Free Market Capitalism, strict Constitutionalism, personal liberty, Libertarianism, and so on. To one of these readers I wrote something like: “Do you think your views on federalism will be of much interest to unemployed wage-earners unable to obtain coverage for their families?” To another, I wrote: “I hope your philosophy will be of comfort if you develop a serious illness.”One reader said that the only things the Constitution guarantees us are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” and Congress should enact no laws about anything else. Actually, it’s the Declaration of independence that mentions “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” but never mind. Some might believe universal health care would be of great assistance in enjoying life and the pursuit of happiness. It is a peculiarity that some of those happiest to cite the Constitution are the least interested in its Bill of Rights.

(he lists 6 or 7 more — which I’d encourage you to read — including an appeal from the Gospel of Matthew)

First off, I enjoy his questions to “people of principle” about how they benefit those most in need, including themselves if a tragedy should occur.  As it is with many fiery debates in the public sector, it seems that those who yell the loudest many times have no direct connection to the issue at hand.  (ie, knowing someone without healthcare)  Second, I was thinking about “socialism,” and all the socialized things we enjoy in this country.  Post offices.  Schools.  Retirement. The list goes on.  I’m sure there are more.  I don’t hear healthcare critics calling for the shuttering of school houses because education is not one of the explicit “guarantees” of our founding documents.  Also not hearing stories of people mailing their social security checks back to Washington, D.C.  “I always use FedEx for sending letters and packages to friends and family … do my taxes have to go toward a ‘public option’ for mail?”  Maybe I’m just not listening hard enough or looking in the right places.

All that said, I’m not sure the plan that’s on the table is the best we can do.  But that’s not what this post is about.  It’s about thinking through our arguments for or against something, putting ourselves in the shoes of another, and doing it with civility.

Having been called out by my mom to start blogging again, I must respond. I really want to blog regularly, believe me. My dilemma is not that I have too little material, but too much. I have sensed that the content of this blog is changing, but into what I don’t know. I want it to be less “religious.” Not less spiritual, less inspirational, or less action-inducing, but less “religious.” As I persist within a post-religious culture, I become less and less satisfied with circular conversations among “insiders,” instead concerned with how those who feel far from God can feel his presence and the joy that accompanies it.

This is partly why I decided to make this a gardening blog this summer, though I haven’t done a very good job of keeping that up either.

So, I ask, what should this blog be? I’ve been doing it for about 4 years now, and I feel it changing. It’s no longer the sounding board for a deconstructionist and method-happy grad. student, a venue for connection with other people of faith during a dry season relationally, or a creative outlet for a frustrated wannabe writer.

So what is it? Does it matter? Should I hang it up and just write for multi-contributor blogs like God’s Politics and Jesus Manifesto? I really covet your opinion/s.

I am coming to believe more and more that the hope of our world is people of faith living lives of exuberant joy.

We went with some friends to a screening of a delightful documentary, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, last night in Lowell.  Our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) publicized the film because it’s about an eccentric northern Illinois farmer who is able to reverse the fate of his farm by selling shares of his harvest to Chicago residents desiring organic vegetables using the CSA model.  This is a movie about agriculture, yes, but also about forgiveness, community, abundant life, spiritual discovery, and self-expression in the face of misunderstanding.

To find out about his CSA (Angelic Organics) or purchase a DVD of the film, click here.  Check out the trailer below.

If there’s an excuse I can cite for not posting as frequently lately, it’s that the “little hater” got to me.  If you don’t know what I mean, check out this video.

We’ve also been enjoying the summer, or Boston’s excuse for one, with great visitors from out of town, farm-fresh local veggies, great neighbors, cat-naps in the afternoon, and awesome spiritual partners in the journey.

I’ve also felt the need of late to “re-center.”  I can so easily take my eyes off of what really matters in life and those practices that contribute to a flourishing life.  I’ve been working through Marjorie Thompson’s Soul Feast, which explores the deep traditions of spiritual practice in Christian history.  For me, someone who has a tendency to shelve practices I feel are outdated or irrelevant, Thompson’s book revives and redeems many of those practices, many of which have in fact lost their robustness.  The reason I picked the book back up, though, is because it culminates in the reader writing his or her Rule of Life.  Saint Benedict had his rule, a list of guidelines that he and his community lived by that can be summed up in this short phrase: “pray and work.”

I want to create Rule for myself, a list of non-negotiables meant to keep me centered on loving God and man and seeking the truly “good life.”  Part of my Rule will undoubtedly be “courage,” but not the “courage” of thrill-seekers and daredevils … I prefer the great Henri Nouwen’s definition (from two entries in his devotional book, Bread for the Journey:

A Courageous Life

“Have courage,” we often say to one another. Courage is a spiritual virtue. The word courage comes from the Latin word cor, which means “heart.” A courageous act is an act coming from the heart. A courageous word is a word arising from the heart. The heart, however, is not just the place our emotions are located. The heart is the center of our being, the center of all thoughts, feelings, passions, and decisions.

A courageous life, therefore, is a life lived from the center. It is a deeply rooted life, the opposite of a superficial life. “Have courage” therefore means “Let your center speak.”

Spiritual Courage

Courage is connected with taking risks. Jumping the Grand Canyon on a motorbike, coming over Niagara Falls in a barrel, walking on a tightrope between the towers of New York’s World Trade Center, or crossing the ocean in a rowboat are called courageous acts because people risk their lives by doing these things. But none of these daredevil acts comes from the center of our being. They all come from the desire to test our physical limits and to become famous and popular.

Spiritual courage is completely different. It is following the deepest desires of our hearts at the risk of losing fame and popularity. It asks our willingness to lose our temporal lives in order to gain eternal life.

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Had another piece of mine published over at the God’s Politics blog … it’s called “Are single moms the new widows?”  Check it out.

It’s been a while since I’ve shown some update photos of the garden. I’ve thrown in a few photos from important events in our lives over the last month or so.  Enjoy!

For more photos of our camping trip in ME (many more great photos than I can share here), click here, here, and here.