Music in Minneapolis

Parker Quartet
I enjoyed an evening of wonderful live performances last night. First, I caught an early show, The Parker Quartet, at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown with my son, Tyler.

I got quite a shock when we walked into the Varsity; it has been completed remodeled and redecorated à la Loring Pasta Bar. The transformation is impressive. We got some comfy seats about halfway back, but the acoustics and PA system buzz were annoying me, so we moved to seats right next to the stage.

I first heard the Parker Quartet perform at the SPCO's Music Room on the third floor of the Historic Hamm Building. They played Dvorak's string quartet in E-Flat, Op. 51, and I was blown away. They play with such energy, feeling, and precision! They played two Dvorak pieces last night as well. The second Dvorak piece was my favorite of the concert.

The PQ hail from Boston, but we've been blessed to have them in the Twin Cities for the past couple years. They have played with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and are just completing a stint as Artists in Residence for Minnesota Public Radio. I hope they will stay with us for a long time to come. I think they make the Twin Cities a better place.

Ben Rosenbush / Brighton
Later, I went over to the 331 Club where Tyler was playing a set with Ben Rosenbush / Brighton. I have listened to Ben's CD many times, but this was the first chance I've had to hear him perform live. It turned out to be a fantastic show.

Ben's songwriting and singing is absolutely fantastic. The band of players he pulled together for the night was just great. The word needs to get out about this guy! Buy his CD and go to his shows before the rooms get too packed and the tickets get too expensive.

Books: The Jesus Creed

The Jesus Creed
Scot McKnight

40 Days Living the Jesus Creed
Scot McKnight

During Lent and Easter this year I preached a series of sermons I called The Jesus Way. The whole series of sermons was based, just as McKnight's books are, upon two short passages of scripture: The Jesus Creed (Mark 12:29-31) and The Jesus Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

I encouraged people in our church to use McKnight's 40 Days of Living the Jesus Creed as a Lenten devotional guide. We also made The Jesus Creed available for purchase in our resource center.

You can only teach so much in weekly 30-40 minute sermons. That's why I frequently package my sermon series in ways that encourage people to read good books. I try to write and preach sermons that cover the same topics and themes as the books, but with a different approach. The intent is for the preaching I do and the reading I encourage to serve as good companions. I hope that my sermon series will enhance the reading of the books, and that the reading of the books will in turn help people get more from my sermon series.

Concert: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
March 21, 2010
Benson Great Hall - Bethel University
Conductor - Roberto Abbado
Violin - Dale Barltrop

Program:
Requies for Chamber Orchestra (Luciano Berio)
Violin Concerto in D Minor, WoO 23 (Robert Schumann)
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120

An amazing afternoon of music. Dale Barltrop's execution of Schumann's violin concerto was simply stunning. It was the first presentation of this piece for the SPCO, and the crowd responded with a long and loud standing ovation.

Abbado's introductory comments preceding the performance of Berio's Requis were helpful and served to make the piece more accessible. The performance of Schumann's Symphony No. 4 was flawless. I left the concert hall feeling happier and more alive than when I arrived.

Have you purchased tickets for the 2010-11 season? Now is the time. You won't be disappointed.

Poetry: A Glass Half Full

A Glass Half Full
Felix Dennis

TED Talks is one of the podcasts I enjoy. That's where I first heard Felix Dennis reading selections of his poetry. Dennis is an enigmatic character to say the least. His poetry is thoroughly 21st century in it's content, but is written with the meter and rhyme you would expect from a nineteenth century poet.

The poems range from profane to profound--from provocative to proverbial. There were more poems in the collection that I enjoyed than not. The book also comes with an audio CD of Dennis reading his poetry.
________________________

All men know themselves a fraud,
Society or hoi polloi;
Strip the polish off a lord,
You will find a frightened boy.
from The Mask, p. 45

And wise the man who will not lend,
But in the dead of night will send
A gift. And thus, will save a friend.
from "Neither a Lender...", p. 153

Book: Manhood for Amateurs

Manhood for Amateurs
by Michael Chabon

Last November, just a few days after I heard Michael Chabon interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air, I saw this book strategically blocking the entrance to the Barnes and Noble store in Apple Valley. I happened to have a gift card in hand and so made my purchase. Score another one for the book marketing machine.

Chabon is a gifted writer. These essays, all framed from the vantage point of manhood, come across as part confession, part memoir, and part social commentary. I really liked it for the most part. There were parts that disappointed and others that made me squirm, but overall I was glad to be reading. I laughed. I learned. I was moved and even inspired. My favorite essays were: The Binding of Isaac; The Wilderness of Childhood; Faking It; Sky and Telescope, and Normal Time.

"...Maybe my children will just look up and remember the weight of my hand on their shoulders as they stood beside me on a warm summer night, the rasp of my beard against their cheek, my voice soft at their ear, telling them, Look."
--from Sky and Telescope

Michael Spencer 1956-2010

Our good brother, Michael Spencer, has died. My prayers are with his wife Denise and his children, Noel and Clay.

The Internet Monk, as Michael was known to most of us, was a constant wellspring of conversation and inspiration. His website, articles, and podcasts were thought provoking, life-giving, and just plain fun.

His passing is a Kingdom loss that will be felt far and wide, but his work and words have not died. The impact he his has made, is making, and will continue to make are beyond death's grip. By faith, though dead, yet he still speaks.

In Memorium

Mourning the Passing of a Friend

Book: Stumbling on Happiness

Stumbling on Happiness
by Daniel Gilbert

This was a very enjoyable and interesting book. Gilbert is a winsome and clear teacher. I learned a lot. I hope many of his insights make a lasting impact on my ability to think and choose wisely. I'm sure I will be able to make good use of a number of his concepts and illustrations in pastoral teaching and counseling.

"If humanity is a living library of information about what it feels like to do just about anything that can be done, then why do the people with the library cards make so many bad decisions?" (p. 235)

Documentary: Herb and Dorothy

I watched this wonderful documentary last night. What an interesting couple, what a surprising and unassuming way to live, and how amazing to see the massive impact people can make in this world by choosing to simply focus and be.


Herb & Dorothy
2008
NR 87 minutes

Chronicling the story of unlikely art collectors Herb Vogel and Dorothy Vogel, filmmaker Megumi Sasaki demonstrates that it's not necessary to be wealthy in order to build a significant collection in this fascinating documentary. A postal clerk and a librarian, the Vogels share a passion for art, which they pursued over decades, becoming two of the most important collectors of minimalist and conceptual art with more than 4,000 pieces.

Cast: Dorothy Vogel, Herb Vogel, Will Barnet, Robert Barry, Lynda Benglis, Chuck Close, Robert Mangold, Sylvia Mangold, Lucio Pozzi, James Siena

Director: Megumi Sasaki

Genres: Documentary, Art & Design, Sculpture, Social & Cultural Documentaries

Sad News from Denise Spencer

Michael Spencer, affectionately known as iMonk to many of us, has been suffering with debilitating illness for some time now. Today, his wife, Denise, posted some very sad news about his condition.

"It is with a heavy heart that I bring my latest update on Michael. We have learned that his cancer is too advanced and too aggressive to expect any sort of remission. Our oncologist estimates that with continued treatment Michael most likely has somewhere between six months and a year to live. This is not really a surprise to us, though it is certainly horrible news. From the very beginning, both of us have suspected that this would prove to be an extremely bad situation. I don’t know why; perhaps God was preparing us for the worst all along by giving us that intuition." Read More

I'm very downcast about this. A cold gray rainy day in Minnesota just got a little harder to take. I have never met Michael, but have counted him a good friend and brother. His podcasts and blog have been an ongoing source of encouragement and thoughtful stimulation to me for the last couple of years.

Please join me in praying for Michael Spencer, his wife Denise, and their children Clay and Noel.

Valley Lenten Teaching and Reading

I'm currently preaching a teaching series I'm calling "The Jesus Way." While we're in this series, I'm encouraging Valley people to read Scot McKnight's book, 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed.

The book will compliment much of what I'll be preaching about. It also serves as a wonderful plan for daily devotions during the season of Lent. For a complete outline of the teaching series with a suggested Lenten schedule for reading the book, CLICK HERE.

Meaningful Differences

Yesterday I posted a link to a "conversation" between Christopher Hitchens and Marilyn Sewell that appeared in the Portland Monthly. It stirred up quite a few comments on Facebook, which, as usual, went a lot of different directions.

My main point of observation was a simple one. I agree with Hitchens that if one is to call one's self a Christian and expect that to mean anything, the word Christian must have some meaningful definition. If one refers to one's self as a "person of faith," there must be some defined object of belief.

You can't just take hold of a label--any label: atheist, republican, socialist, fundamentalist, optimist--and divorce yourself from the commonly understood definition of that label. I understand that labels are frequently misunderstood and very often need clarification and nuance. However, if you tell me you're a bicylist, but have no real interest or experience in riding bicycles, you will understand my bewildered annoyance.

Beyond the whole "I'm a liberal Christian" assertion made by Sewell, I found it equally amusing that her assertions to be in agreement with Hitchens failed similarly. She flattered and agreed and admired, but he would have nothing of it. I'd caricature much of their conversation as:

Sewell: "You're a brilliant guy, and we agree on so many things."
Hitchens: "You're a nice person, but you simply have no idea how many light years we are apart from each other. Please stop confusing yourself to be someone who agrees with me or with Christians."

If you're a christianish, atheistish sort of "person of faith," you will have to get used to neither Christians or atheists mistaking you as one of their own. You should not be surprised at their chagrin when you hijack their name.

In contrast to the Hitchens/Sewell conversation, you might want to check out Christopher Hitchens' relationship and dialogue with Douglas Wilson. These two guys know that their perspectives are in direct opposition to each other, and they both deeply appreciate the other's ability to recognize and confront their collision of ideas in honest argument.


A 'Collision' Of Beliefs: Atheist Vs. Theologian
NPR: All Things Considered - October 25, 2009

COLLISION: Christopher Hitchens vs. Douglas Wilson (DVD)

Hitchens on Christianity

In addition to debating the credibility and value of Christianity, outspoken and well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens apparently finds himself in situations where he has to explain Christianity to people who call themselves Christians.

The Portland Monthly recently invited Hitchens to participate a conversation with "a liberal believer"—the recently retired minister of the First Unitarian Church of Portland, Marilyn Sewell. Formerly a psychotherapist and teacher, Sewell has also authored a number of books.

In this exchange, Hitchens, the atheist, demonstrates a clearer understanding of orthodox Christianity than Sewell, the person who claims to be a Christian. Ouch!

Sewell: The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make and distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?

Hitchens: I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.

Sewell: Let me go someplace else. When I was in seminary I was particularly drawn to the work of theologian Paul Tillich. He shocked people by describing the traditional God—as you might as a matter of fact—as, “an invincible tyrant.” For Tillich, God is “the ground of being.” It’s his response to, say, Freud’s belief that religion is mere wish fulfillment and comes from the humans’ fear of death. What do you think of Tillich’s concept of God?”

Hitchens: I would classify that under the heading of “statements that have no meaning—at all.”

Jean Dominique - The Agronomist

The Agronomist
In the aftermath of the recent earthquake, we're hearing a lot about Haiti these days. It's unbelievable and sad that I know so little about the people, the struggles, and history (even recent history) of this nearby country.

This 2003 film, directed by Jonathan Demme, was an eye-opening experience for me. It documents the life and work of Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist Jean Leopold Dominique and his wife, journalist Michele Montas. Dominique, who was assassinated in 2003, was a huge personality with an unstoppable drive to help the common people of Haiti. He ran Radio Haiti and was a populist voice against the powers of corruption, poverty, and dehumanization that enslaved his country.

Dominique was a colorful and passionate person who dedicated his life toward making a real difference in the world. I'm glad to have finally learned a little about him through this fine documentary.

Two More Books from 2009

The Business of Heaven: Daily Readings by C. S. Lewis
My brother, Joel, gave me this book as a Christmas present in 2008. It's an anthology of excerpts from Lewis' books, letters, and essays arranged as 365 daily readings. End notes provide bibliographic information for each selection.

A little Lewis everyday in 2009 was a good thing! I was inspired and encouraged many times. I was reminded of how brilliant Lewis was, and how fun he is to read. Finally, I was delighted to discover some new Lewis books that really need to find their way into my library. 2009.12.31



True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In by James Choung
I preached a sermon series called "Trust Worthy: Is Our Christianity Worth Believing?" in the Fall of 2009. During the time I was preaching those sermons, I ran across this book by James Choung at the Intervarsity Press website. The title was so close to that of my series, that I snatched it up to see if there was anything in the book that might be useful to me.

Most of the book is a fictional story of people struggling to understand and share their faith in ways the are meaningful and credible. The story is a vehicle for introducing a new method for talking about the Gospel. In other words, the book is an illustrative narrative that demonstrates Choung's suggestions for how to share the Gospel in our contemporary, western, post-modern society.

In the last section of the book, Choung explains his goals in developing his new method. First, it needed to capture the big picture of the kingdom of God and make it relevant for everyday life. Second, it needed to be framed in the context of the whole of Scripture (Genesis - Revelation). Third, it needed to be simple to understand and short enough to draw out on a napkin. Last, it needed to be presented in a way that truly sounds like good news.

I found Choung's critique of typical evangelical approaches to presenting the Gospel to be right on. His narrative approach effectively and believably illustrated the difficulties of talking about faith and Christianity. I believe his new approach to evangelistic conversation is very useful and have already found it to be helpful in my conversations with others. 2009.10.09