Nathan E. Lewis

I am reading Daniel Radosh’s “Rapture Ready: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture,” published in 2008 by Simon & Shuster. Radosh describes himself on page 2 as a “liberal New York Jew in my middle-thirties. Half-way through the book, I am wondering, “how does he see the problems of the evangelical/fundamentalist movement so clearly?” I am also asking, “Why do I agree more with a liberal New York Jew in his middle-thirties, than I do with many of my evangelical, fundamentalist family and friends?” Please do not tell anyone that I am recommending that you read this book, because I am not doing so. If you are an evangelical Christian in the mainstream of Christian pop culture, then you will be disgusted, if not offended, by Radosh’s presentation of Christian pop culture. You will think that he is bitter, critical, doesn’t understand the church and is bereft of the Holy Spirit. But I am writing to tell you that part of common grace is God allowing a liberal New York Jew to yell out, “The emperor’s naked!” Here is a man who does not embrace the gospel but he knows that a large segment of the church has at least blurred the gospel and is interested and vested in that which is not the gospel. It’s chilling. Continue reading »

I have started to run again, after a four-year break (the day I suffered my stroke, I stopped running.) In these years my veins have been coursing with blood thinners and, of course, the best coffee in the world - Black Tiger from Java Nation in Beaverton - “Declare Your Independence!” (It is slightly better than Stumptown, I must admit, which is slightly better than The Coffee Cottage in Newberg, and Sluislaw from Florence, Oregon - but only slightly better and a matter of taste.) By now, I have convinced you that caffeine may be the only substance coursing through my veins as I write this update. Yesterday, I finally told Glenda that I had started to run again. She is fearful of the pounding impact and over-exertion. My doctors have dried up my joints and greatly reduced the uric acid levels in my body (but not the acid from coffee levels) and so, I have not suffered any gout flare ups for eight months! And so I have hit the trail again. (I am addicted to running.) I confided in my friend, Scott Turner, and I am sure that he has been praying for me as he runs. I have also notified Loren Wiebe, who founded the 49′rs Club back in 1982 or ‘83, when I was a college student, singing in the Biola Chorale, under his direction, and running a minimum of 49 miles monthly or paying the club members $49.00 for failing to do so. I am rejoining the club this September 1, 2008! Now I am back on track. I am asking the world to keep me accountable to run regularly and to lose 20 pounds by Christmas 2008. (The Beijing Olympics 2008 have nothing to do with my recent spurt of exercise - absolutely nothing to do with it.)

Nathan is currently writing a sequel to “The Shack,” called “The Shed,” to fill out the divine character and works a bit.

Undoubtedly I am coming lately to Free Rice. Go to this website, take the vocabulary tests, a fun game, and for each correct answer, you will not only build your vocabulary but you will also donate 20 grains of free rice towards feeding the hungry people of the world. The website makes money through sponsors advertising, enough to keep up with the millions of grains of rice earned by the players. Personally, I am not satisfied with my English vocabulary and so I am looking for ways to increase my word power and skills. This site is helpful (not as helpful as reading good literature) but nevertheless, helpful. To make matters better, I can also donate rice toward eradicating the world of malnutrition. All of this occurs without me laying out any money and through my small investment of time, whatever time I decide to dedicate to the increase of my vocabulary.

Chase Hansen, member of our church is at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, playing water polo, studying Russian, and wearing Plebe issued glasses. Keep abreast of his experiences through the blog his mother, Jodi, has set up.