myopic pilgrim

haiku: childhood cancer / you have met your match, tremble; / Alex’s lemonade - Donate to Alex’s Lemonade

I have this idea for alternative to the talking-head style of sermons: two people having a conversation about a passage of Scripture. One has to be knowledgeable about the text. This would normally be the preaching pastor. The other person acts as the congregation’s representative, making clarifications and asking follow-up questions.

It’d probably be most effective as an interview style as opposed to a debate. I can see that making people uncomfortable and unsettled.

What do you think?

haiku: pear trees white with bloom / new life visits our neighbors / our gingko still bare

Generally, cover songs are never as good as the originals. And when we’re talking about a musical genius like Stevie Wonder that should always be true. But here are a few covers of Stevie Wonder songs that I think one-up the original.

The Covers
1. Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio - not exactly a cover, I know. I think Coolio does a better job realizing Wonder’s vision on this.
2. Lately by Jodeci - Didn’t know this was a cover. The original is too fast; this live version carries more emotion.
3. They Won’t Go When I Go by George Michael - He really just nails this. Do people know what a soulful singer he is?
4. Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers - There’s more power and urgency here.

The Originals by Stevie Wonder
1. Pastime Paradise
2. Lately
3. They Won’t Go When I Go
4. Higher Ground

I was listening to a Radiolab podcast about biotechnology. One story was about a woman who had two sets of DNA. The scientific name for this (I’m not making this up) is chimera. You know, like the mythical beast made up of different animals. Turns out she was a twin and didn’t know it. Two embryos merged and each one “claimed” different parts of the body. For example, one embryo developed the kidneys, liver and blood and the other developed the lungs, brain and skin.

After listening to this woman’s story, I started asking questions. These questions follow on the heel of something Kenny posted about abortion and Obama.

• If you believe that life begins at conception, what does this do to your understanding of the personhood of the unborn? Anything?
• Did the other twin simply die in the womb?
• Can we use the word “die” at all?