Interesting Links

If you're looking for something interesting to read over the weekend, here are a couple of things I've enjoyed reading recently.

First Off the Map has a blog about the ebay atheist they purchased. He is now visiting churches and giving his impression of them in accordance with their purchase agreement. Here is an excerpt from his post about Willow Creek:

I was surprised he had me listening so attentively. I know the sermon could very easily have been boring. After he finished, a small 4-person band sang many songs. The audience sang along. I noticed many people who had their eyes closed, which didn’t surprise me. What did surprise me was the whole “Hand up in the air as I sing for Jesus” gesture. Which was followed by the “I’m going to out-Jesufy you and put two hands up in the air as I sing for Jesus” gesture. I don’t get that. Regardless, the music was good.

Also, an interesting interview with Eugene Peterson about Bono and U2:

From what you know of U2's background, do you see anything that would indicate they were "prophets in the making"?
No, to tell you the truth, I think they started out pretty confused and were kind of just messing around. I think they must be as surprised about this -- that people like me are calling them prophets -- as maybe as I am. But doesn't that happen a lot? When we're living with any kind of authenticity, we don't know what we are doing until, suddenly, moments come of clarification -- catalytic moments -- and we see suddenly this is what I am, this is what I'm doing. But in the spiritual life, calculation doesn't work.

Why not?
Well it's because most of it is about the Holy Spirit, not our spirits, and we're in on something much, much bigger than we have any idea of. If we try to contain it, or try to work with boundaries or containers that we understand, we miss 98 percent of it.