Scott Freeman

I first saw this meme a few days ago on my daily tour of the blogs. I immediately thought that if it ever got to me I would list Krister White as one of the five blogs that make me think. Right now he has me wrestling with my own “primordial theological intuition.” Heady stuff, indeed.

Much to my surprise, Krister nominated me for the thinking blogger award. I am deeply humbled by the recognition, especially since I don’t consider myself to be all that intelligent. I make up for it by reading a lot.

Per the rules of this meme, I have to pay it forward with five blogs that encourage me to go deeper.

Jeff Richardson//Run To Win–I’ve known Jeff for over 20 years and have always been a little intimidated by his intelligence and ability to develop fully developed arguments so quickly and succinctly. I went several years out of touch with Jeff but in the last 2 years of being back in touch he has helped me think through a number of issues that I wouldn’t have the avenue to otherwise.

JR Woodward//Dream Awakener–I don’t recall how I stumbled upon this blog but it is rich with depth and possesses a wide array of post on a number of topics. I’ve drawn upon it many times in recent weeks for quotable excerpts. Woodward’s posts on Virginia Tech, where he once ministered, were gut-wrenching at the same time they exuded tremendous hope.

Jonathan Moore//blogmower–This blog is more an aggregation of different things that Jonathan has read across the interwebs. However, Jonathan supplements those different writings with his own insightful comments. He has a great knack at getting to the core of the discussion.

D.W. Congdon//The Fire and the Rose–I found this blog in my study on universalism and have been blessed with a wide array of posts to chew on. Congdon is one of those heady writers that I have to read several times to truly digest what he has to say. And I often feel like my head is gonna explode. Not light reading.

JTB//Rude Truth–I first met JTB when I was on ministry staff with her folks back in the late 90s. We lost touch after her parents moved to Tennessee. However I stumbled upon a blog she was doing a couple of years back with a few other people. Although that blog is now defunct she continues on at her own site. She never fails to come at any discussion or topic from a viewpoint that otherwise I probably wouldn’t consider. Her scholarship has prompted me to go deeper in my understanding, especially in the area of gender equity.

5 great blogs that make me go deeper. The idea is that these nominees will no go forward and do the same. Woodward and Congdon have no clue who I am but the rest of you guys have no excuse

I love books, so I am excited about this particular tag from both Tracy and Jason.

Here goes:

1. One book that changed your life:
That’s tough.  Ragamuffin Gospel did a number on me.  There is so much in Lewis, Tozer and others that impacted me.  Yet, right now it has to be Lee Camp’s Mere Discipleship. It came along at just the right time in my life.  It’s the most important book I’ve read in the last 10 years.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
This list is short.  I don’t reread books usually.  Nor do I like to watch movies over and over. I’ve read Camp’s book 4 times in the last 2 years.  I’ve also read Pat Conroy’s Lords of Discipline several times.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook or this one looks really good.  Otherwise, maybe Lewis’ Narnia series.

4. One book that made you laugh: 
Little Green Men by Christopher Buckley. 

5. One book that made you cry: Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson.  More importantly We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda.

6. One book you wish had been written: 
Peace: How the Christian Church Resisted Militarism and Embraced Pacifism. 

7. One book you wish had never been written:
So many to choose from.  Pick anything from Robert Shuller and the self-love, prosperity group.

8. One book you’re currently reading:
Thy Kingdom Come :How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America: An Evangelical’s Lament by Randall Balmer.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy

10. Tag five others:
How about some readers: Matt Elliott, Jeff Richardson, Phil Wilson, Greg Kendall-Ball, and Travis Stanley

Chris tagged me. Here we go.

List 7 things to do before I die:
1. Baptize my girls
2. Give my girls away to godly young men
3. Experience the feeling of being debt-free
4. Run a Marathon
5. Preach through every book of the Bible
6. Write a book
7. Buy an RV and take Tracy on the road

List 7 things I cannot (or will not) do:
1. Hunt
2. Drink
3. Watch The Apprentice without complaining
4. Believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas must have turkey.
5. Picture a better life
6. Win my fantasy leagues this year
7. Root for any team so arrogant that they consider themselves to be “America’s Team”

List 7 things that attract me to my spouse:
1. Her commitment to Christ
2. She is the best mother I know
3. Her beauty
4. Her intelligence
5. Her laughter
6. Her ability to diagnose infections and loose belts
7. Her encouragement

List 7 things I say most often:
1. “No Roger, No Rerun, No Rent!”
2. “Cassie, Put that down”
3. “Brothers and sisters’
4. “The screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways”
5. “Get your own tots”
6. “Lost and dying world”
7. “No Woman, No Cry”

List 7 books or series that I love:
1. Ragamuffin Gospel–Manning
2. A Tale of Three Kings–Edwards
3. A Grief Observed–C.S. Lewis
4. Pursuit of Holiness–Tozer
5. Mere Discipleship–Lee Camp
6. New Testament
7. Old Testament

List 7 movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Lords of Discipline
2. Office Space
3. Casablanca
4. Monty Python & The Holy Grail
5. Jerry Maguire
6. Spinal Tap
7. St. Elmo’s Fire

List seven people I would love to join in (if they haven’t already done so):
Going with an all male theme:
George
Greg Brooks
Chris Borland
Jeff Richardson
Dan Sanders
Jason Bybee
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Are my comments turned on? Awfully quiet on my favorite stuff post.

Anyway, moving on. I don’t really get this tag but here it is:

1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence or close to it.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

“See how you do.” This is a reference to my favorite on-line game, Crickler. It’s a great take on the classic crossword. Fun stuff.

Other stuff:

• My fantasy team took a huge blow this weekend. Lost my stud running back for the year. I thought I had lost my game this weekend as well. Needed a 40 yard field goal to win. Got it with 6 seconds to go. But it’s not looking good for the rest of the year.
• Watched Coach Carter last night. Worth a look-see.
• I’m still working on my favorite protest songs of all-time. I’m up to about 48 tracks. Any suggestions?
• Some people from my tribe, the Churches of Christ, are working on an update of the classic MISSION magazine. Should be interesting. And provocative.
• Is anybody besides me sick of the propagation of fear in our society? Bird flu. Terrorist threats. Etc. Yeah, I get it. It’s a bad time to be alive.
• On my way to take Chloe to the doc. Hopefully, she will get her new cast today.

Talk to me.

I’ve been tagged for the first time. So here goes (for those who might actually be interested in reading trivial information on my life):

1. What were three of the stupidest things you have done in your life?

Getting involved in a toxic relationship years ago.
Accepting a youth minister’s position at a church I didn’t belong at instead of waiting a few weeks for a better fit.
Leaving ministry for a year and a half in 96/97

2. At the current moment, who has the most influence in your life?

Obviously God but He most used that influence through the presence of Chloe, Cassie and Shayla.

3. If you were
given a time machine that functioned, and you were allowed to only pick
up five people to dine with, who would you pick?

OK, stay with me here. The very idea of a functioning time machine means that I would have the opportunity to shape and influence the course of history.
So the first choice is Jesus. Then it would be Stalin and Hitler. Think about it, if those two faces of evil were to personally encounter the divine could it have changed two of the greater atrocities of the last century? Sure worth a shot, eh?
The last two would be the OT prophet Hosea–a man who loved and married a hooker. And he loved her anyway and took her back when she succumbed to her old life. My favorite depiction of grace in Scripture.
And finally I would have to pick up Tracy. I wouldn’t want to be a part of such a potentially history making meal without her. Besides, with the other four, we would be pretty insignificant and be able to talk to one another.

4. If you had three wishes that were not supernatural, what would they be?

That a legitimate and viable third-party would be constructed in American politics for those of us who are sick of the non-choices that currently plague our society.
That we would commit more to developmental assistance and less to making war.
That my girls will know Jesus.

5. Someone is
visiting your hometown/place where you live at the moment. Name two
things you regret your city not having, and two things people should
avoid.

Not having: A mall with a play area and cooler weather.
Avoid: The misconception that Waco is only a place that witnessed the Branch Davidian fiasco and the Baylor basketball murders. There is so much more to this town than two negative events. Also, avoid the desire to start your own church. We have enough, thank you.

6. Name one event that has changed your life.

Becoming a dad

Tag Three People:
Tracy
Chris Campbell
Jason Bybee