Grocery Shopping Ninjas and the Best Things You'll Read All Week

by Ben Howard

Reads of the Week

1) In Mississippi, The Mysterious Murder of a Gay, Black Politician by Ben Terris
"It’s tempting to think Marco McMillian was killed because of his race, his sexuality, or because he was running for mayor. The truth is more elusive."

2) The Lost Shepherd and the Amoral Love of God by David R. Henson
"Because as soon as I join the flock, the shepherd is lost. Perhaps we should think of this parable in those terms, not the parable of the lost sheep, but the parable of the lost shepherd."

3) When Words Are Without God by Preston Yancey
"I was standing in a juice bar. My girlfriend — Ace, as I called her, the nickname I had given her that night on the harbour under the half-moon when I told her I loved her — stood across from me, tilting her head to the left as she watched me from across the bar, my face falling as I listened to the voice on the other end of my cellphone."

4) It's Impossible to Speak of the Gospel Apart from Power by Ed Cyzewski
"The Gospel addressed the powers of our world, but it didn’t address these powers on their own terms."

5) On Being a Locksmith by Nish Weiseth
"I told her that finding the key is hard - it's small and obscure and each key looks totally different for each kid. ​But that's not even the hardest part. The worst thing about it is after finding a key that works for a while, something inside his little brain changes the lock, then you have to go find a new key."

Honorable Mention

The Poor and the Fundamental Attribution Error by Richard Beck

[ENOUGH] Chicago's Gang Culture Remixed by Natalie Y. Moore

I Don't Want to Be a Christian Anymore by Micah Murray

Line of the Week

"ROME: New Pope to emerge shortly. If he sees his shadow, then its six more weeks of Conclave." - Xianity (@Xianity)

On Pop Theology Week in Review

Megachurches and Victor the Wrestling Bear: Lessons from the ABA by Ben Howard
What do megachurches, Julius Erving and Halter Top Night have in common?

God and Meteors by Jonathan Harrison
Do you remember when that massive rock of death fell from the sky and exploded in Russia? Jonathan does.

On Christian Superstitions by George Elerick
Black cats, As Good As It Gets, and the perverse superstitions of Christian religion.

A Tale of Two Popes: Catholics, Copts, and the Spirit That Binds Them by Sebastian Faust
In the days after the election of Pope Francis I, Sebastian reflects on the election of a different pope.

A Little Crazy Behind the Eyes: The Bachelor and How to Date 15 Churches at Once by Amanda Taylor
If you're going to be ambivalent about church, isn't it best to blame that on reality TV?

Song of the Week

"The Fold" by Ivan & Alyosha

Peace, 
Ben 

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