Contemplating Contemporary

Spotted in: Clearwater Beach, Florida I've often wondered about the actual value (or lack thereof) that "gimmick" and "novelty" Christian hoodies bear. I witnessed a bicycle and trolley cab in Clearwater Beach, the operator of which bore the sweater pictured above. Does it accomplish anything? My reaction, at first, I am not proud to admit, was doubt. "Is this person really a Christian, or just a man who wants to drum up more business from Christian tourists? Is it just a gimmick? " It made me feel uncertain, though as a Christian, it was also pleasing to see this representation of Christ. I was reminded, though, of one non-Christian I once spoke to who very vocally said, "There's no realistic way a person can walk on water! It's ridiculous!" That  is the question I pose: do such things make a joke out of our faith? Do we just look foolish? Certainly, our faith may seem foolish on the surface, but the very nature of the accusa...

"Something to read in your spare time?" That was the question I was asked by a young man of maybe 26 years as he held out a pamphlet to me. His movement was so sudden it startled me - I couldn't help but wonder if he had to operate under the guise of waiting for a bus or some such thing so that security wouldn't remove him from the parking lot of the Square One shopping centre in Mississauga. I looked at the pamphlet - "Common Questions About God" was the title on it, clearly some piece of literature intended to point people in the right direction, but I couldn't help but wonder if his methods were on target. Some people find themselves reading whatever happens to be in their hands at the time when they're on a long trip. Since this young man was outside the GO bus terminal at Square One, he might have had the right idea, if anyone would take the pamphlet from him. My girlfriend joked to me when I told her the title, "That's what I ha...

Yes. Today I encountered Petra for the first time (a sad statement, to be sure, as I'm sure anyone who knows them would tell me). Something I should explain: I have been a fan of classic rock and roll for many  years. So when Mark and I were discussing an assignment, and Petra came up, he was listening to it, looked at me, and said, " Shoot , man. They're good ." Naturally, I had to investigate. Petra was formed in the mid-70s, and enjoyed relative success until the early 90s, after which they began to fall off. The first Christian band to be featured in the famous Hard Rock Cafe, Petra's soaring success and influence painted a picture of a Christ who belonged in more than just churches. "You can love the rock And let Him free your soul" Naturally, their lyrics were challenging for some listeners from a Christian background. They faced heavy criticism from traditionalists, yet the charts could not lie; Petra reached incredible succes...