Author: matt b redmond

Food Is the New Legalism

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If you have not heard about the scuffle between Travel Channel bad boy, Anthony Bourdain and Food Network darling, Paula Deen then go here and here.

Bourdain takes on Paula Deen’s association with “evil corporations” and her unhealthy recipes.

I’ve been a fan of Bourdain for years and have seen almost every episode of No Reservations. Paula Deen got old very quickly for me and I have not watched an episode of hers in years, partly because we don’t cable but even when given the opportunity, we will look for something else.

But see, here is the problem…Bourdain’s show is not on public access and his show is replete with him eating lots of fatty, high calorie foods.

For Bourdain to blast evil corporations is hilarious. His show is on The Travel Channel and his publisher is an imprint of Harper Collins. Healthy food?

He is famous for his love of tubed meat.

But this is the way of legalism. And for some reason, a new legalism has begun to surround the food we eat. We now look down on others because of where they eat (local v. corporate), what they eat (organic and free range v. everything else) and even how it was prepared. And we puff ourselves up because we can afford to make the choices to eat differently.

Every legalist is a snob looking down the nose at those who know less and do less. Because the less-enlightened didn’t watch the documentary the legalist watched they are looked down on.

We all do it.

But eventually the legalist will move on to something else because it really is not about food so much as pride and control. All of us, Christians and non-Christians have these hearts that just make up rules for people to follow. It would be bad enough if we only beat ourselves up with these laws but we don’t. We are not satisfied until others are moved to take on these laws and made to be as miserable as ourselves.

Related Post: Thomas Merton and “This Cult of Foods”

Linkage

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1. The Washington Post is interested in what is going on in Sovereign Grace Ministries.

2. Beatles blogger extraordinaire, Matt Blick has been blogging his way through Abbey Road. Beatles fans, your mind will explode with information…in a good way, though. Absolutely fascinating.

3. NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo…

4. Who doesn’t like a good waking-up-from-a-coma story? Well, here’s ten of ’em.

5. I’m obsessed with the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. The tragedy Taleisin adds to the fascination..

6. OK, you convinced me. I’m going to buy a go-cart Prius now.

7. I mean why would a lawless administration care about laws?

8. Damn, Tea Party.

9. This is awesome and makes me hungry for chicken teriyaki.

10. The greatest (non-bacon) customer service story ever told.

Thursday’s Random Thoughts

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1. My wife made Carnitas last night and they were awesome. (I’m actually typing this on Wednesday but I’m pretty certain they will be awesome. Update: Awesomeness confirmed)

2. Choosing chopsticks over a fork is like choosing the telegraph over the iPhone.

3. C.S. Lewis volunteered for WWI and yet loved Jane Austen. I’ll take his manliness over the faux-manliness of the UFC-loving guys.

4. I love saying “Carnitas”.

5. I know I’m supposed to be thankful in all circumstances but does that include the circumstance of a song by Gloria Estefan?

6. I only eat free-range corn dogs.

7. I couldn’t be a pacifist if only because I like the Bourne movies and Taken too, too much. And i long for the day of conceal carry for rocket-launchers.

8. Did you know Marie Antoinette never said, “Let them eat cake”? But the real shocker is that Calvin Coolidge did say “Let them eat Bacon.”

9. I don’t trust people that don’t like Ray Charles.

10. “CARNITAS”

Tim Challies Calls It a Personal Matter Between Mahaney and Detwiler…Detwiler Calls Him On the Carpet (Updated)

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Update: An Insider’s View of the SGM Controversy

Earlier today Tim Challies wrote about what is going on in Sovereign Grace Ministries. I was at first glad to see this but then absolutely astounded. He believes this is a “personal” matter between C.J. Mahaney and Brent Detwiler, which the later has elevated to tabloid journalism and he should have just left it to the Lord to handle.

Incredible.

Detwiler has already responded briefly and states he will do so more thoroughly later but I wanted to weigh in with a few thoughts.

1. I cannot for the life of me understand how Challies could call this a personal matter after reading the documents. Indeed, I have trouble believing he did read them. The concerns which Detwiler and others (making it by definition not personal) have been going to Mahaney about for years involve many other people and the way Mahaney has lead them and the denomination. Add to this, much of Detwiler’s concerns are in regards to the SGM board – how can this be called merely personal? Sure it’s personal but not only merely personal.

2. Challies, with a wave of the hand, dismissed the blogs and refused to discuss the concerns. That’s rich. I can only assume he would not want to discuss the handling of sexual abuse cases and the hundreds if not thousands of lives represented on the blogs. By ignoring the blogs Challies is able to give the impression that this is only a personal disagreement between Mahaney and Detwiler.

3. For Challies (on his own blog by the way) to decry the public nature of it all is ridiculous. Detwiler sent his documents to other pastors in SGM, no one outside SGM. Someone else leaked them. Why would someone do this? Because Mahaney and SGM have worldwide influence and their books, songs and sermons swim into the ears of thousands upon thousands. Again, how could such problems be called merely personal.

I am incredulous. There is no way to read these documents and think this is merely a personal matter

Tuesday’s 10: My Favorite Posts On This Blog

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1. Echoes and Stars. It’s where the name of the blog came from and it’s about the glorious early history of my wife and I

2. Go Ahead and Be Nobody Special. Whether it will be the last chapter of my book like I want, I am not sure but I love this little piece of writing.

3. Ten Lessons Learned From Eugene Peterson About Pastoral Work. I’m still learning from and thankful for this man, his ministry, his books and increasingly, his Message.

4. Going Green Eggs and Ham on “Blue Like Jazz”. I’m not a good apologizer but Don is a good forgiver.

5. 10 Things I Say To My Wife That Make Our Marriage Great. Just go read it and feel free to use these yourself.

6. A Mother’s Day Sermon…If I Had To Preach One. By far my most popular post, I still get thank you notes from all over the world in response to it.

7. Christmas Is for Haters. This one was picked up by TGC and should be somewhere on the Chrsitainty Today site in December.

8. 10 Thoughts On the Present Criticism of the American Dream. If I had one post that I think needs to be read by today’s young people, this is it.

9. The Silence of Paul on Evangelism. Sometimes the Emperor has no clothes on and you have to say something.

10. This Peace With God. Part of a series. One I hope to pick up again.

Linkage

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1. Starting on high note…who doesn’t like pictures of puppies?

2. My former professor admirably addressed Rob Bell’s book on hell.

3. Max Hastings of the UK Mail beautifully takes on the rioters in England.

4. Folks, we have a release date and tracklisting for the new release by Ryan Adams.

5. If you think Sarah Palin is dumb, you are either in the tank or you are not paying attention. Feel free to disagree but dispense with the laziness.

6. CJ Mahaney’s sons-in-law have resigned from CLC, the church CJ started and the flagship of SGM, becsuse of their disagreement over the way Josh harris and the other pastors are handling things. A couple days later a pastor from CLC reaches out to those who are hurting because as victims of sexual abuse, they were victimized.

7. Not everyone is excited about “The Help.”

8. OK hipsters, this is getting ridiculous.

9. Taking church discipline to a whole new level.

10. I’ve been listening to Ray Charles like crazy lately, so this to make you smile.

Thursday’s Random Thoughts

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1. (Standing up sheepishly and looking disheveled) “Hi, my name is Matt Redmond and I cannot remember the last time I had bacon.” (looks down ashamedly and sits down with head bowed.)

2. I’ve lost 3 4 friends on facebook in the last couple of days. I blame the Tea Party, El Nino and Tokyo Rose (Update: maybe also Joe McCarthy?).

3.  If we are after the respect of the world around us we will not take positions on justice the world does not respect.

4. I’ve got mad dishwasher filling skills.

5. I only eat buffalo wings if the buffaloes were treated kindly before being de-winged.

6. A few days after I finished Coulter’s newest book, the premise played out in England, Israel and Philadelphia.

7. My wife is hot. And you know what? She’s tired of it and ready for fall.

8. All these riots prove we are not ready for the rise of dinosaur robots with jet packs and rocket launchers.

9. I’ve got $5, I owe $50 so of course I’m gonna go buy a new car.

10. I mean I can understand why some people would want to re-elect our President, for one he’s not stupid like that stupid Sarah Palin, who stupidly wants us to have lower taxes, lower energy costs like an idiot while at the same time reducing our energy dependency on countries which hate us (which is brainless) and she stupidly wants to create jobs by creating wealth. Women are so dumb.

Tuesday’s 10: Books I Read Over and Over

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I have a tendency to read books over and over. I’ve got books I’ve read almost every year since the first time I cracked them open. In some I find comfort. In others it’s like walking to the top of a hill and being able to look out over a wonderful landscape again and again. This is a list of those books. I will actually be cheating on this list as there are more than ten books here…

1. The Harry Potter Series. Every October as it starts to turn cool outside I start these books and finish by Christmas. I don’t just think these books are entertaining. I think they are genius.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia. Every January I read all six seven. And I learn something…see something new everytime. Children’s books? Sure. And these children stories are the furniture of my mind and have been since I was a boy.

3. Surprised By Joy. This autobiography of C.S. Lewis’ early life draws me in almost yearly now. I “get this” book in a way that sets it apart for me. And it is written so darn well.

4. Pride and Prejudice. Not only is it considered Austen’s best but many consider it the greatest novel in the English language. C.S. Lewis was a fan as well as my professor, Jerram Barrs, who introduced her books to me while in Seminary. I’ve read all her books at least 5 times and P&P I’ve read at least 10 times averaging more than a read a year over the past 9 years. It is my favorite novel.

5. The Count of Monte Cristo. I picked this up so I could read it before the movie came out in 2002. I fell in love with the story, which obviously the makers of the movie thought unworthy of their “skills.” The movie was terrible and not the story written by Dumas. This work is over 1000 pages of brilliance.

6. Witness. Whittaker Chambers’ autobiography is my favorite book. Period. The fact that you do not know this book is a national tragedy. If I were the head of education in this country, I would make it required reading. Everyone I have recommended this book to has been rendered speechless – not only by the story but by the writing, which is singular.

7. The Prodigal God. This book meant so much to my wife and I after reading it the first time, when my friend David suggested “Keller” as a middle name for our son, we actually liked it and used it. There are not many books I’ve given away as much as this one.

8. Mystery and Manners. Flannery O’Connor is known for her short stories and two novels but this book of essays and talks is a favorite of mine. I’ve read it at least 4 times in the past 12 years. Maybe more. Great writing and helpful thoughts on faith and writing.

9. Orthodoxy. Chesterton is always interesting but this witty piece of apologetics is abnormal in it’s ability to entertain while making one think so much the mind bends to breaking only to be re-formed.

10. L’bri. The story of what the Schaeffers…of what God did in the Swiss Alps through the Schaeffers is a story I long to read every couple of years. Apart from Schaeffer, I am not sure I would have my love of art, philosophy and how our faith helps us think about these things. Schaeffer could not have dreamed what would be when he decided to move his family to Switzerland. The story of how God used them brings me to tears every time.

What about you?

Why A Eugene Peterson Resources Page?

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By the end of 2009 I was feeding off the writings of Eugene Peterson in an unprecedented way. The goal was not to advance in the Christian life. The goal was the salvation of my vocational soul and get as much sanity as I could. For years I had mined other pastors for their passion. But as 2009 was coming to a close, I looked out across the horizonless landscape of my own confusion and saw I needed to tap into wisdom. Soul-deep wisdom was the need. 

Even though I feared how my own theological tribe would view me, I started blogging about what I was learning, how I was feeling and my new ability to breath deeply. Ever since I have heard from others who have felt the same way about Peterson’s books for pastors as well as his other works. And almost every week since I’ve received at least one email, text message, etc. wanting me to recommend one of his books.

So, this page. A page to grow over time and expand as I read more and more. Hopefully it will become a little corner of sanity in an ecclesiastical world gone mad.

A brief word to young men… You could go ahead and read him now. Although you probably will not listen to him because you think you have it all together. Eventually you’ll grow to realize how much more you knew when you were young. Right now, you are where I once was, only wanting to read what was on the “Allowed Reading List.” May God give you the humility only experience could give me.

It is no secret that my series of blogposts on “The God of the Mundane”, which have turned into a book to be released later this year were inspired by all I was learning from Eugene Peterson. I makes no bones about it. His fingerprints are all over it. If anyone reads my work and thinks the words there sound like Peterson, I’ll be more than happy.

And not only as a pastor have I been helped. As a man, also, I’ve found solace. Since jumping into the deep end of Peterson’s works, I’ve been able to stop and think and take a much needed breath. I can stop, look up into the black canvas of night on which the stars sit so gladly and breath the night air contentedly. Every moment now rings with echoes of grace and mercy – the goodness of what God is doing around me…the reign of this resurrected King touching on all things.

So, the Eugene Peterson Resources Page.


I Really Should Apologize to My Old Professor, Jerram Barrs

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(This is actually a repost from my old blog. Soon all these posts on Eugene Peterson will be all in one place.)

I took a class in Seminary class called “Pastoral Theology.” Actually I remember very little about it. A number of fellow students were into it. They loved the class. Me? Not so much. It was taught by Jerram Barrs and everyone sat in awe. I wanted REAL theology. This seemed sorta truncated and secondary. In that class he assigned a Eugene Peterson book.

I remember sitting outside of Edwards Hall on a bench facing in the direction of the bookstore and the upper parking lot. The library was on my left and I remember some traffic of students in front of me. It was after lunch and I was most likely waiting for a class to begin. This Peterson book was in my hands. I was reading it…kinda. Not really. My heart was not in it. The stories were compelling but I was not into it at all. It did not feel “Reformed” to me.

Stupid Feelings.

So here I am 8, 9 years later and I am wishing I had had a whole course simply mining that one book. Eugene Peterson is refreshing; a poet and a pastor…a pastor’s poet. A poet’s pastor. And Jerram Barrs is a genius for assigning the book. Although we should have been made to read the book. Eugene Peterson’s books for pastors are saving my vocational soul right now. I just wished they would have done so sooner.

Everything that young pastors are so geeked up about these days, Peterson was talking about 20 years ago.

Peterson was talking about God-centeredness before anyone.

Peterson was talking about ‘story’ before anyone.

Peterson was talking about the glory in the ordinariness of ministry before anyone.

Peterson was talking about the trend towards silliness in our spiritual lives before anyone.

Peterson was decrying the programmed nature of contemporary churches before anyone.

Peterson beat the drum of fighting against the commercialism of spirituality before anyone.

The whole time I am reading his books — my plan is to read through them all this year — I am laughing at how refreshingly original they were but no longer are. My wife is probably getting tired of me talking about them. I keep interrupting her own reading. You are probably wondering which book it is I should have read. He has at least 4 books for pastors. Actually it just doesn’t matter. You should read all of them. And I should apologize to Professor Barrs for not reading the book like I should have.