Stanley Fish, Red Sox and Personal Heroes

Posted on October 29, 2007

In today’s NY Times blog, Stanley Fish (renown Postmodern scholar) reflects on his childhood and adulthood heroes: Ted Williams and Frank Sinatra. In addition to offering interesting anecdotes, Fish comments on why Ted Williams and Frank Sinatra (at time quite unheroic in their treatment of women and violent acts) are exemplary–both were zealously committed to their art.

The science of hitting and the singing of songs by these heroes have impressed Fish and countless others. Dismissing their personal vices and virtues, he glories in their excellent craftsmanship. To be sure, Sinatra and Williams are legends of their crafts, but should we so easily dismiss character from craftsmanship?

It is arguable that both Sinatra and Williams lacked in character because they were so committed so music and baseball. In their zeal for excellence and fame, friends and family suffered. Nothing could trump the craft. Character took a backseat to vocational glory. Often, it is precisely because we are so committed to a thing, to a vocation, that our character crumbles.

Perhaps we should not follow the Fish on this one…

Revisiting the Forgotten Ways

Posted on October 29, 2007

Planting a new church, or remissionalizing an existing one, in this approach isn’t primarily about buildings, worship services, size of congregations, and pastoral care, but rather about gearing the whole community around natural discipling friendships, worship as lifestyle, and mission in the context of everyday life.

Click here for an expanded critique of Alan Hirsch’s Forgotten Ways.

Green Tips

Posted on October 26, 2007

Here are a couple Green Tips I got from Member Mission.

#1Stop junk mail before it gets to your mailbox. Each year the average US household receives about 1-112 trees’ worth of junk mail. Register with the Mail Preference Service to reduce the amount of junk mail that you get.

Cost: $1.00

 

Where to register:  www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist

 

#2 Buy locally-produced food to reduce the amount of energy used for transportation. Most items in our supermarkets have traveled an average of 1,000 miles. Fresh local food can be found almost every day in Austin. Support local business.