don’t tell me pop culture doesn’t have theological implications…

now that I’ve transitioned to the Annual Meeting of SBL (Society of Biblical Literature), I felt it appropriate to make my own contribution to the conversation.

“Pharaoh, Pharaoh, oh no, let my people go - huh! Yeh, yeh, yeh, yeh, yeh, yeh!”

or, “childhood devotional, #4,” by guest blogger, Eva Bleeker…

I lost my Bible. I was so mad.

During my college years at Kansas State, my Christian campus group met on Thursday nights in the student union. And one Thursday I left my Bible on the floor under the rows of flip-down seats,  never to be seen again. 

My parents gave me that Bible for Christmas just before I left for college. My mom had inscribed the front pages in her perfect calligraphy with my name and something encouraging. Losing the Bible was bad enough. But something else disappeared that night: one of Josh’s elementary-age devotionals. Number Four. The original autograph. Gone.

When Josh and I started dating, I discovered the devotionals in his old bedroom. I fell in love. I mean, I already loved Josh, but I flipped over the little yellow pages. I loved seeing that God had been massaging his heart for years. So I started carrying Number Four in my Bible because it endeared Josh to me.

Since I bear the responsibility for losing this precious document, I offer my best attempt at recreation.

Josh Bleeker #4

Read Job 33:28

“Brung Back”

We read that God redeems our life from the pit.

A Thought: Let’s make him not have to do it again.

so, how would she respond to the financial crisis?

(Zia Teresa by Mary Fitzgerald)

this one truly stunned me. how often do I give thanks for the Giver of good things?

what a picture of grace.

driving home from the Cedar Ridge Preserve today, Eva and I simultaneously grinned with delight and said to the other, “check that bumper sticker out.” indeed, check it out. all proceeds go to benefit a host of organizations “working to protect biodiversity and wilderness.” buy one.

ironically, within minutes of sharing this inspiration, we cruised to a halt on the edge of the city. there may have been an accident, which certainly deserves our concern, but on the other side of the mixmaster the same automotive sludge awaited us. The State Fair of Texas, Big Tex presiding.

now feeling more sarcastic than inspired, I located a few additional stickers I would point out with great glee to my passengers: