Dr. Pinhas Dannon of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine says that 10 percent of Internet surfers are afflicted with “Internet addiction disorder,” which can lead to anxiety and severe depression. Read the article here.

Colossians 3.1 tells us to “seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” What kind of people come to mind when you think of people who “seek the things above”? Spiritual professionals? Priests, pastors, spiritual leaders? Desert-wandering divines? Perhaps you picture someone who seems invulnerable to ordinary struggles because of their great piety, people who seem to have everything together, who don’t struggle with sin or even suffering.

Just this week my wife and I were chatting with some friends, old and new, in our home. She suggested that we go around the room and share a story of redemption from our lives. We all shared stories of sin, failure, and grace. Spiritual professionals, Christians who appear to have everything together, don’t share those kinds of stories, but they do have them. Stories that reveal that they are, in fact, very unprofessional and very imperfect.

I recall talking to a couple shortly after the wife had a miscarriage. Concerned about how they were handling their loss, I inquired about how they were doing. The husband cavalierly remarked, “Oh, we are doing great; it’s just because our faith is so strong. Most people can’t really handle it like that.” Spiritual professionals don’t sin and they don’t suffer.

Or perhaps you think of people who segregate themselves from society. The people who are so spiritual that they don’t watch TV or movies, avoid 6^th Street and only read Christian, Left Behind novels, wear Christian, Tommy Hell-fighter t-shirts, and only listen to Christian music? The kinds of Christians parodied in movies like Saved. Is this what it means to seek the things above? To have beaten sin and suffering and secluded yourself from society? Is God calling us to spiritual professionalism?

As the Austin City Limits music event approaches, austin360 is interviewing some of the artists that will be here. Bella Fleck (who is incredible in concert) offers his humorous responses:

Bela Fleck: Our music is a combination of many things. It has some parts that are jazz, but there are also elements from bluegrass and roots music, not to mention classical and world music influences. It is hard to describe!

How do you plan to cope with Austin summer heat, will it cramp your onstage style?

Nah, we are tough. I hope the drumitar doesn’t melt though!

What other bands are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?

Björk is a big one for me.

What’s the last CD you paid full price for?

Saxophonist Micheal Brecker’s latest and final CD. He died just afterwards from cancer.

More…

Richard Mouw is an incredibly creative thinker, at times, too creative. Nevertheless, his post on how the Incarnation is connected to the evolution of man is thought provoking. Though I have room for theistic evolution, I have not embraced that position. What is most important is that we affirm that mankind, unlike homo habilis, was created in God’s image.

Read it here.