A small discipline in Second Life spiritual life

One of the things we are confronted with in the modern world, but especially when we are online, is aggressive multitasking.

Especially when we are trying to turn our hearts and thoughts toward God in prayer, it is easy to let distractions turn us aside from what we are doing.

In "real world" communal prayer, we have others around us - so we are more likely to turn off cell phones, refrain from standing up and doing something else, etc. etc..

When we pray together online, it is all the easier to be inauthentic.

Some tips for praying online, which amount to a bit of "discipline" one can hold one's self to:

1) When I am praying with others, if I have to leave my seat, or need to tend to something else, like an instant message, e-mail, etc. etc.: I will:
- If I am kneeling, I will stand up and leave the gathering, just as I would leave if I need to run to the toilet, etc. etc., when I am in a "real life" gathering. I will inform the others present that I will be back in just a moment - like, "brb, 1 minute," "brb 5 minutes."

This is a matter of courtesy to the others, and keeps us accountable, and "really there." There are cases where it's understandable that someone wants to be doing something else during a Bible study, but leave the screen open to watch and see what is happening when one is able to. But this unfortunately can lead to the side effects of the gathering becoming less "real" - sometimes your online representation will be a real, responsive "you" - at others, it will simply be a zombie placemarker, unresponsive, with "you" being somewhere else.

For the meeting to be "real", it needs to have this dimension of reality at least: that those who represent themselves as present, are present.

If you need to be doing other things but wish to somehow have the prayer meeting "broadcasted" to you, do something to indicate that you "aren't really there." Change your screen name to Myname-AFK or your status - if you are in a three-dimensional setting, place your avatar somewhere, where it's obvious that you aren't a full participant.

If you do have something to say during the meeting, in moments you are able to turn your attention back to prayer, you can either change your status at the moments that you really are present, or occupied with prayer, back to a more "active" looking status, or you can

2) When I am praying alone [in a 3D virtual world setting, like Second Life], I will keep the discipline of only kneeling when I am actually praying, or trying to pray; if I have to answer an instant message, or get up from my seat, I will stand up and leave the chapel.

This one seems less obvious. There are no other people present that you aren't responding to.

Years ago, when I was discussing problems sleeping with a friend, my friend told me that he only lies in bed, if he really intends to sleep. He never gets in bed just to rest, or for any other purpose.

The reason was: places, and the positions we take, are very important in creating associations, and even making things possible for us. My friend found that the more he associated lying down in his bed with sleeping, the more likely he was to actually sleep, when he was lying down in his bed.

I have found something similar to be the case with prayer in Second Life. I frequently kneel. But sometimes, I kneel to begin praying, and then am distracted by something, and begin doing something else. After finishing the other task, I turn back, and there is my avatar, still kneeling, as if I had never been away.

It may be rather "nice" to think that the avatar was still there kneeling, though the "real me" was answering an instant message - and that somehow, this avatar was perhaps "praying" for me.

We should remember though that a strong part of the Second Life experience is the association of our avatars with what we are really doing, and who, in some sense, we really are. This means that if I then "dissociate" my real life activity from what my avatar is doing, in order to leave my avatar praying - I will no longer associate my real life behavior of prayer with kneeling when I am in Second Life. God cares about our "real" prayers, and not about the presence of some avatar which we imagine to be praying. Real people pray - avatars do not.

So keep kneeling in Second Life, and visiting a chapel, associated with real, genuine prayer. Dissociate it as much as you can from roleplay or fantasy. We do not serve a roleplay God or a fantasy God; and God does not want our imagined selves petitioning, praising, and serving Him, but our real selves. You will find that when you are tempted to be distracted, you will be better fit to resist the distraction if you first require of yourself that you get up from kneeling and leave the chapel.

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In order to accommodate this, it probably makes sense to set things up in an appropriate way. E.g., I've put down a couple of chairs at the back of the chapel, in case people are praying, but at one moment, someone needs to leave for a few minutes, or wishes to continue to "hear" the prayers, while doing something else. It's important that we let people do what they need to do without judging them, and allow them to gracefully leave if they need to, without having to apologize excessively.

Prayers for week of June 27

Irene -- For my relationship with my friend.

Rhianwen -- For all who were at Zoe and Justin's weddoimng today and Sam and Monica's last week
That those who came for a party heard the Good News and will remember it.

Kerry -- pray that I will do what God thinks is right, not what I think in regard to this friend. And that God will give this man wisdom.

ZoeRose -- Prayers for my dad, now in his 70s and going through some tests. That he'll be healthy

Able -- For my mum that the results of medical tests she is having are positive. Secondly that God might really speak to her at the service a week tomorrow. (ie. Able's ordination.)

Joyous -- For discernment in what I should be doing when I retire.

Wilfried -- for guidance and for obedience

Ruby -- strength and faith in God; also must speak at a rather large event and is nervous.

Thanks, Joyous, for noting them down!

Prayer requests for week of June 21

Sorry they're so late, folks!

Helene: For wisdom in her new leadership responsiblities as Lay Pastor at the Cathedral. For patience and tolerance in her new role as it challenges some.

ZoeRose: I ask for prayers as I continue in my new job. I am very thankful to the Lord for this new adventure! I ask for travel mercies as I fly to Ft. Worth for the ACNA Assembly - I'll be writing about it and reporting on it.

JulieAnnRose Serenity: pray that my hubby is feeling well enough to enjoy next weekend as we celebrate our anniversary.

MingLynn Lionheart: Remaining positive amongst chaos and bleek economic times. Pray for provision.

Wilfried: Pray for the formation of the ACNA. Pray for God's will to be done.

Joyous Schism: for discernment on where I should be going next in my life, particularly whether I should be taking retirement now - what is the right way to spend my time and energy?

For Ruby as she makes decisions.

Book of James on audio

A tip from Helene: the book of James is available in audio - http://www.cwr.org.uk/store/p-603-new-testament-complete-mp3-audio-files-13gb.aspx

Prayer requests 6 May 2009

Joyous: Facing a decision regarding whether to take early retirement. That she would clearly know what she should do over the offer she had at work to retire. If she accepts it, she would also like clear guidance about what direction she should take with her life.

Ruby: Friend Joanne took an overdose early Friday morning. Pray for Ruby for strength, wisdom. She feels empty and stressed. Ruby's church is up for sale and they have an opportunity to buy the building, but they need to raise circa £30k to do so by this Wednesday

Irene: I need direction about my job. I want to do what God wants me to. I am having trouble letting go of some hurt and anger I feel at work.

Able: For good endings, closure and new beginnings all with God at the centre - and that God would restore my soul. That God might speak to this person in SL who was character assassinated in a Christian group.

Helene: I need to use the next three months well to establish a good routine, in case I am recommended to start training at theological college

JulieAnnRose Serenity: for Samantha who is a satanist - for her salvation

Rhianwen: Thank you for answered prayer re technical things and that they will keep going

Wilfried: For peace, wisdom, and obedience

Notes on James 2

Able Shepherd has provided us with some notes, questions, and discussion points for James 2:

James 1
Rollover question from last week’s study...Why does James never quote Jesus?

James 2
1. What do verses 1 to 13 say about our tendency to form cliques in church?
2. How effective are our churches in welcoming?
3. How do verses 2:1-7 engage with our own cultures approach to wealth and poverty?
4. How could these verse shape our ministry to those in congregation who are involved in business?
5. How might Matthew 25:31-46 change our understanding of this? (See also the account of the widows mite, and treasure in heaven)
6. Does James’ teaching on faith and works in James 2:14-26 conflict with Paul’s teaching on this matter?

Note
a) The issue for James is NOT ‘Can faith save?’ but ‘Can dead faith save?’
b) The issue is NOT between salvation by faith in Christ and salvation by works
c) ‘Dead faith’ (intellectual orthodoxy) cannot save (2:14), is only a verbal thing (‘if someone CLAIMS to have faith’, 2:14) and does not show love (2:15f)
d) Paul and James agree that faith and the obedience proceeding from it are not antithetical but work together. For Paul, what really matters is ‘faith WORKING (same Greek root as ‘works’ in James) through love’ (Gal 5:6)
e) Abraham was justified before God (approved) long before he was shown to be righteous by his offering of Isaac (Gen 15, Gen 22)
f) ‘Faith alone justifies, but faith that justifies is never alone’

For the geeks out there, James can be analysed from a Multiple Intelligence Theory perspective. If you want to know more, let me know!

We will return to some of the above issues again later in James.

Yours in Christ

Able

Prayer requests 16 May 2009

Joyous: guidance in a couple of decisions

Saskia: strength and wlsdom ln certaln thlngs

lrene: Please pray for my continued healing and for peace in my family.

Rhianwen: For my friend J ho was recovering well from an injury but now is unhappy and disappointed because it's getting worse again.

Wilfried: that I am free from anxiety and do all that God wants me to do - that I OBEY and Carry through !

MingLynn: Please keep and comgort my Godmother, Mary Francis Clark in her battle with breast cancer at age 84.

Able: having a meeting with the bishop - that it goes well

A visualization of James 1 by Able Shepherd

Able has created for us a verbal visualization of the first chapter of James using http://www.wordle.net - interesting for thinking back on this chapter:

James 1, second half - "Carrying through"

"Carrying through"

Before we read the passage together, I'd like you to think about this question - what do:
- shooting a gun
- taking a photograph
- what a conductor does when conducting the last few seconds of a piece of music

have in common? Hint: these have to do with the very "end" in the sense of "last part" of each of these actions - but also the "end" in the sense of "goal" or "final result", as in "the end justifies the means"

- what does vv 19-20 have to do with carrying through?

- have you had any experiences which are like this man and his mirror, in verse 23? What are the elements of this metaphor?

- type out the whole verse 25 to me in IM.

- we sometimes have a tendency to "objectify" things - what does this word mean, and can we objectify "faith"? Another word, which sounds a bit more hoity-toity - is "reify" - this means, "making a thing out of something."

Prayer requests for May 9

Helene: big decision to make regarding work need a lot of wisdom.

Saskia: lnsplratlon for my asslgnments.
wlsdom regardng a few matters

Liliana : keeping my spirits up
have an open sore from the burns on my neck that is giving me a lot of trouble.

Able:been to a meetlng at college meeting concerns a friend pray that God's will might be done, and that somehow, whatever the outcome, it might be turned to his glory.

Joyous: for my friend Chris. She had been providing care for her elderly mother, who recently died. And now she is caring for her father, with whom she has a difficult hisory.

Charlie: - for Margarita's counselling, and for our friendship.

Rhlanwen: for three firends who are enduring and ask that they be sustained by an awareness of the presence of Jesus.

Wilf: that God helps me focus on what I need to focus on in this coming week

James - An Introduction

Able Shepherd has kindly provided us with this introduction to the book of James.

James has been controversial for a number of reasons. When reading the book of James, it is a challenge to define what genre of literature it might be. It could be:
a) A letter
Yet when compared to other letters in the New Testament it omits a number of features we might typically expect:
• An introductory blessing
• Personal address / context
• Conclusion
• Doxology
• Emphasis / focus on the cross
• Mention of the Holy Spirit
• Detail about Jesus and the Lord’s supper
• A tightly defined target / receiving body of believers

b) Wisdom literature
Certainly wisdom is an important theme (James 1:5, James 3:13-18), it pervades the subject matter (teaching on themes of faith and perseverance under pressure) and its literary form. Yet there are aspects which do not sit well with wisdom literature:
• It is letter like (even if unusual)
• Usually with wisdom literature, the difference between God’s people and humanity is very slight – in James, God’s people have a distinctive.
• It features an eschatological flavour, which is unusual for wisdom literature.

c) Paraenesis (exhortation / encouragement)
With such literature, and in general:
• The author is unimportant
• The presentation lacks continuity or development
• Links are made by repetition of words rather than by means of real connection of thought (much like a stand up comic can be gifted at making what appear to be random connections)
• The situation addressed is general rather than specific


Notwithstanding this, James is perhaps the most quoted letter in the New Testament. It is popular for three reasons:
a) James introduces many vivid and compelling metaphors
b) It is intensely practical
c) It is quite radical and uncompromising


Most commentators favour either an early date (42-60 AD, if the brother of Jesus wrote it) or a late date between 80-140 AD. General consensus though would seem to favour the early date.

Say hello to JulieAnnRose - an IMVU Bible study leader

JulieAnnRose will be joining us one of these weeks (she works every other week). She's particularly interesting since she's been holding a Bible study in IMVU. IMVU is sort of a virtual world area that mostly happens in chatboxes - you get an avatar that you can customize, and can invite people to chat with you - but you can't really walk around or build things - you can create "areas" for people to meet, but motion is limited to animations.

I had a very interesting talk with her last night together with ZoeRose. I was quite impressed with her thinking on ministry in general. JulieAnnRose sees her place in ministry as helping and nourishing others with her Bible study, and not so much evangelism - but she's connected with people who do go out and do evangelism, and she helps bring them together for encouragement and Bible study.

Unfortunately I won't be able to join her Bible study - it's at 4AM my time! But I may be able to visit once.

Strangely enough, it does seem that whole "subcultures" are building around these different virtual world platforms. At one point as I was talking with her, she was chatting with some of her IMVU friends, telling them about what was up with us in Second Life. She told me her friends ... well, didn't particularly like Second Life ... hehe, understandable enough. Though from our talk it sounds like some of things that I dislike about Second Life are also present in IMVU ...

I'm quite excited about how we'll all be able to exchange thoughts with JulieAnnRose about doing Christ's work in virtual worlds, and seeing what we can learn in comparing & contrasting what God is doing in these similar, but yet very different, places.

Ministry in Second Life

Apart from the articles intended primarily for members of our Bible study, we also have a good number tagged Second Life Ministry. These include articles specific to ministry in Second Life, but also some articles generally about use of the internet combined with Christian ministry.

an important feature missing from "Facebook for Pastors"

A while back, Chris Forbes wrote an excellent introduction to Facebook for people in ministry called Facebook for Pastors. Those who have been on Facebook for a while, or are a bit tech savvy, may have already grasped much of the potential Chris is talking about - but it's still worth a read.

Unfortunately, Chris didn't cover one of the most important features on Facebook - a feature which enables us to combat the problem of anonymity typical of Facebook - the problem, "I have too many facebook friends." This is the feature known as "friends lists."

A pastor friend of mine recently blogged that he had a few hundred friends on Facebook - but those that he considered "real friends" were just a small handful. This is a situation many of us will find ourselves in. With status updates of a large number of "friends," those that we really wish to stay in touch with more intentionally, in deeper community, are pushed down the page every moment one of the people who we have friended, but with whom we don't have the same bonds of friendship.

I have nearly 200 friends on Facebook. Obviously, I can't be praying for all 200 every day, and I don't need to know what each of them is doing every day.

Fortunately, Friends Lists helps this situation a lot. I've created a list of the Facebook friends who are in the Bible study that I lead. This appears in the left column, "Bible study" for the name of our Bible study. When I click on this link, only the status updates of these people, who I want to pray for in a more serious way than all the other friends, appears.

Just click on the upper-left "home" link to arrive at the default page of facebook, and in the left column, you'll see, under a list of links, a link for "Create." This allows you to create a list of friends. Type a name in the box where it says [new list] and then hit return (important! it's return, not "Save"). Then start typing the names of friends you'd like in that list in the box at the top right, and check them, to add them to the list. When you are done (and only once you are done), hit "save."

The name of the friends list will then appear in the column of links at the left of your default facebook page. You can add or remove friends from it later by clicking on its name - the link will turn blue with a white pencil to the right - you just click on the pencil to edit it.

I also like to keep track of what people who are in online ministry are doing - so I've created a separate friends list for them, as well.

This feature is incredibly important for keeping Facebook "sane" and directed at the people you most need to be in contact with, and the people for whom you are praying. Please pass this advice along; I do have the impression Facebook is becoming too much of a jungle for many users.

Wonderful resource: Lifechurch.tv lifegroups

Sometimes I meet someone in Second Life who is interested in drawing closer to God. If at all possible, I'd like to encourage them to join a good group that prays together, and reads scripture together.

Unfortunately, our Bible study isn't the right match for everyone who wants to read the Bible and pray - our digging into the Greek and Hebrew is likely to turn some off - we have some excellent Bible readers, and simply the level of response might make some feel like their own contributions won't be "up to snuff" - however much I try to assure them of the contrary.

Obviously, the thing I would most wish for such people is that the find a good "real life" Bible study, and a good "real life" church, and take part in real life fellowship, instead of the kind of fellowship we have in Second Life. However, in most cases, this isn't likely. People we meet are often distressed - or have had bad church experiences - or, for whatever reason, don't feel comfortable moving themselves into a real-life location where they will see and be seen by a real, live group of people. Or - they may be afraid of showing up at a Bible study which is boring, and disappointing the people present when they don't come back. The relatively anonymous format of Second Life - and of online Bible studies - means that many will be willing to "come taste and see" in a relatively anonymous setting. It's often only after they have been fed and strengthened considerably that they feel enabled to take that next important step: of finding a real-life community for sharing in the experience of being together in the body of Christ.

For online evangelists, it's also not very likely that someone who comes to Christ, or expresses interest in learning more about God, will immediately take the next step of finding a church. It may happen (I've seen it happen), but I think this is a rather rare occurrence. Such a person might be able to be encouraged to take part in an online group, because of the relatively low psychological threshold in doing so - especially if encouraged a few times - or if you go together. We must keep in mind the very small percentage of people who come forward at evangelism crusades that actually become active members of church communities, when no follow-up or further discipleship takes place. We must make sure that the bonds of community are created from the very beginning - and, if we ourselves aren't able to welcome them into our own faith communities, we must find ways of welcoming them personally into other communities where they are likely to take part.

At the moment there is no comprehensive list of Bible studies occurring in Second Life, or a list of Bible studies that occur online.

This is where Lifechurch.tv is such an excellent resource. They have, at the moment, nine separate Bible studies going on. Whenever you meet someone who is unlikely to take the steps of finding, and actually going to a "real life" small group, you can invite them to consider taking part in an online small group. Lifechurch, as of this writing, has nine online studies going on. You can consult the list here.

At the current moment, these studies, except one, are happening somewhere between 5AM and 7AM GMT, with the exception of one, which is at 10AM GMT. So they're all evening time in the US, but at a time that most UK people and Europeans are at their jobs. A pity for us in Europe and the UK - but a tremendous opportunity for us to help people in the US to get connected, and grow spiritually until they are ready to take that next step. There's currently only one Lifegroup inside Second Life - this meets at 4PM SLT - so also not at a time UK & Europeans are likely to join.

If you meet someone who does wish to learn more about God, or grow in faith - and can not welcome him or her into your own faith community, why not see if any of these lifegroups would be appropriate? You can even e-mail the leaders of the lifegroups, telling them about your friend, and it's more likely that that person will get in touch with them via a personal e-mail, taking the first steps of contacting them, telling them a bit about the group, and welcoming them into the group. It's not "live" face-to-face contact, but a warm, personally-written e-mail can go a very long way in establishing an initial bond of community, making your friend feel welcome, and increasing the chances that he or she will actually join the group, and take part fruitfully.

Lifechurch also has, of course, their stream-broadcasted services, which are accompanied by a chat box to the right of the service video. This of course doesn't yet approximate the deeper kind of community one experiences with sustained interaction in Bible study and prayer. But it is an opportunity for the people at Lifechurch to reach out to visitors in chat and invite them, a bit personally, to take part in one of the studies. Their page for the streamed services is here. There are also some services in the evening for European & UK people.

Remember the Lifechurch online Bible studies and don't miss out on an opportunity to connect someone, and help them in their first few steps in Christian fellowship.

A hint to Lifechurch people: this is such an excellent opportunity to connect people - but you don't show up on the first few pages for "online Bible study" in Google. Some SEO work could help you out a lot.

For your friends who are ready to take that next step and find a real life small group - http://www.greatadventureonline.com is a Bible study locator with the largest number of studies I've been able to find on the net. Here's the big surprise: it seems to be operated by a Catholic press (it's not clear whether this is just a list of Bible studies using their materials, or Bible studies, tout court). Notice how many Bible studies there are in the great lakes region of the United States - interesting to say the least - I wonder if this has to do with how they've promoted the site, or is actually some kind of indicator of where Bible studies are happening in the U.S.. Again, for the United States only - no countries outside of the US are given.

Spring break hiatus continues

We'll be continuing on spring break - thus won't be coming together for Bible Study this Saturday evening. I do wish you all a blessed weekend.

twibe post

This post is not mainly for people involved in the Bible study (unless they're interested in thinking further about online ministry). For people in the Bible study who have a twitter prayer profile - if you add this, please add it to your non-prayer profile & not your profile intended for prayer.

There are many involved in doing some kind of online ministry, and many church media people writing about the tremendous potential - or danger - of online community - but there are relatively few who are actually doing online ministry, and also writing about the many aspects of online ministry. Those of us who are involved in online ministry have a great deal to learn from one another. I would like to encourage those who are active in online ministry to write about what they are doing, and also profit from the insights of others who are engaged in this unique type of ministry. Myself, and others involved with the Anglican Ecumenical Bible Study in Second Life, will from time to time post our thoughts and insights here.

For twitter users who regularly think about online ministry and are interested in sharing their thoughts and finds - especially pieces reflecting on the topic of online ministry - I've created a "twibe" - http://www.twibes.com/group/OnlineMinistry

Basically this is a kind of "twitter group." You know how your twitter page is flooded with people's updates about heading off to pick up the kids ... etc.. etc.. - there will be tweets you've missed about online ministry that you'd rather not have missed, just because of the flood of tweets from people you are following.

This "twibe" is basically a filter - it shows all the posts of all the people who have joined, and have added the tag #OnlineMinistry to their post. No hashtag required (so you can also just use the word OnlineMinistry, without any space). If you join, you can share your findings about online ministry by just putting the word OnlineMinistry somewhere in the post - and anyone can go to this page to see what's been posted.

Part of what we need to be doing as Christian communities is acting intentionally - helping one another focus. I hope this helps.

Please note: this is not meant for recruiting people to come to your own online ministry - like, "we have an online Bible study going on now come and join" type of tweet. For this type of tweet, if you join the OnlineMinistry twibe, please don't add the word OnlineMinistry to your tweet - otherwise the twibe will be mostly full of tweets asking people to come to online Bible studies.

Spring break this Saturday

Hi All,

This Saturday, April 25, I'm off to sing for zie Germans - concerts in Hannover and some other German city whose name I've forgotten.

Anyways, we'll have a hiatus - this week, and perhaps next week, when I'll be singing in Antwerp. I will miss you all very much!

I wish you all a good weekend.

For prayer requests, please send them to me in a FB message and I'll post them to the group.

=========================

In case you're interested in what we're singing:

We'll be singing Mendelssohn's Paulus - you can hear it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06kbhGxxMT - click on the "More from krelena2009" to hear the other parts (it's LOONG). And you can watch it without having to pay 20€ !

Notice how it begins with the theme of "Wachet auf," which we discussed a few weeks - music which goes with the parable of the 10 virgins - "Wake up, cries the watchman, high on the city walls - Wake up, o city of Jerusalem." I believe this was quite important for the reformation. Mendelssohn also wrote a "Reformation Symphony" (with the tune you'll know as A Mighty Fortress, "Ein Feste Burcht" written by Luther). In this oratorio you'll also hear some tunes that sound inspired by Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Mendelssohn is on of the most important figures in bringing Bach into popular musical taste. He perfomed the St. Matthew Passion for the first time since Bach's death.

Mendelssohn was from a family of converted Jews. His grandfather is one of the most important Englightenment philosophers and Jewish reformers - Moses Mendelssohn - while his parents were Lutheran.

Hopefully we'll sound quite a bit better than these people - our conductor puts quite some cojones into our performances.

Space and ecclesiology

This article is becoming something of a "thread" to record articles that might be significant for thinking about ministry in a setting where the "virtual" in some way is an element of the environment.

Graham Ward is one of the Radical Orthodoxy theologians, and has given a paper entitled Spirituality, Analogy and Desire.

The paper has deep implications for the notion of spatiality and Christian community.

http://returningtothechurch.org.uk/2009-conference-papers/graham-ward.html

This reminds me of an insight I had last night. Of the "traces" of the first Christian communities which are dear to us, the most prominent ones are those which were written from a distance - within Christian community, but not within physically proximal Christian community. The very distance defined and constituted the form, or genre, of these messages: a messages in epistelatory form - i.e., letters. Besides the gospels, it is only in these letters that the Holy Spirit speaks in such a way that we recognize in them the very Word of God.

Apostles of the early church could have very well transcribed sermons - or their liturgies. They could have transcribed dialogues taking place amongst members (dialogues were also a known genre - as Plato makes obvious). However it is specifically in the genre of words meant to cross a physical distance that we recognize this unique presence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

I may be using this post as something of a marker for possible interesting reads in the area of theology & online ministry.

One I hope to read soon: Leon Schults - "Religious Symbolism at the Limits of Human Engagement." Chapter for a book to be published with the International Society for Science and Religion. Deals with Peirce and Neville.

Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist, notes that people who are tempted to cheat, when the prize is money, cheat less, than the case when the prize is tokens which can be exchanged for money ... something to reflect on re. "virtuality" and how "virtuality" can encourage certain behaviors, including intentional deception, and also self-deception. http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/487

A short story that's sort of a fable about Postmodernism (in themes - duplicity, masks, fragments & mimesis ... and in literary device) - http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2009/4/14malla.html - reminds me somewhat of the closing of Foucault's Pendulum and what Umberto Eco has to say about language and the body with the cancer patient and mutating DNA sequences

There are a great number of articles about the problems of "Postmodern" society especially as influenced by the internet and the whole internet / virtual world problem. A challenge will be finding some of the best ones - best summaries pointing to primary sources, and also best new, fresh insights. I've seen/studied quite a lot of postmodern primary sources - i.e., Derrida, Foucault, Lacoue-Labarthe, Paul Deman, Lyotard, as well as their background - largely phenomenology: Husserl & Heidegger. Note: there is a lot here which Christians are likely to find rather repulsive, however careful study also reveals some things which can be used fruitfully in philosophy and theology. Especially the way they call to question certain Enlightenment (and Romantic) presuppositions which aren't particularly scriptural, and are somewhat non-rational.

Here also is a humorous piece, Internet Age Writing Syllabus and Course Overview

Also relevant re. space & ecclesiology: Tim Keller's thinking on the City - pdf notes
audio

Less related:

On church planting, Tim Keller "Why Plant Churches" - also The Missional Church, Advancing the Gospel into the 21st Century Part III: Context sensitive - all linked here

Prayer requests April 18

Liliana: About half way done with the radiation and am tolerating it well. Biggest negative I'm feeling is being tired most the time. It will go away after treatment is over. Only prayer I can think of for me is to keep hanging in and as I get treatment, receive all the blessings that God is raining down on me.

Able: Moving in circa two months with so much to do between now and then. For God to help me work through everything I need to do

Helene: For God's guidance as I continue to work on my paper about SL ministry.

Irene: For the candidates and team on Sabine Creek Tres Dias that the Lord will be glorified in everything that is said and done. Also rejoicing in the continued healing of Joe.

Rhianwen: Thanks for the continued healing of Janice. For her computers improvement.

NewCreature Writer: Prayers for his parents, they don´t know Jesus yet, i have been praying for about 11 years. Anyway, pray to God touch their hearts and minds

Wilf: Pray for a friend and his family - his wife and both of his sons are either sick or wounded

Saskia: Pray for my Job, im gettin so much grief at work from my boss, and for tuesday i have somethin i have to do but not lookin forward to it, and guidence in everything really