Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Roots


I just saw this piece in the Johnson City Press. It's a nice glance at the new venture of Tom and Peggy Root as they launch Root Studios.

I've known Tom and Peggy since my Jonesborough days and I have nothing but appreciation for their art, their faith, and their kindness. May they thrive in their new venture as art teachers!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

This Week's Slideshow

We have new photographers this week, which means that you aren't having to rely on my limited camera skills. Enjoy!

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Seminary Boom

It must be the dawning of the age of Aquinas!

Time Magazine and CNN are reporting that aging Baby Boomers (what a phrase! it's as though people don't start aging until they retire) are going to seminary now that they've either stalled in their careers or have retired. The reporter speculates that some of them wanted to go to seminary when they were young, but were too saddled with their kids' tuition and their mortgages. Now, in their retirement, they have the freedom to do what they've always wanted to do.

The article's vision of the Boomers doesn't match with my own. I don't remember hearing about the great yearning of Boomers to go seminary when they were young. I seem to remember hearing more about a desire for free love than for free tuition. I remember hearing that a bunch of Boomers put off careers while they tuned in, dropped out, and some other sloganeering.

I hope the article is right, though. I hope Baby Boomers feel free to go to seminary and to serve the church. My suspicion is that the trend may be exaggerated in the article, but that's okay. We'll take all the help we can get.

The article suggests that it may be better to have older ministers than younger ones. The author wonders what a young person really knows about life, grief, deep disappointment and failure. Ironic, isn't it? The same generation that refused to trust anyone over 30 now questions the wisdom of trusting anyone under 30.

Here's to the new seminarian! I can hear their evangelistic chanting now, "Hell. No! You won't go!"

Friday, February 04, 2011

Get Ready, Grandview!

Two4Two returns on Wednesday night. Here's a preview of the slideshow and the theme.