A few links

I did a theological quiz. I scored highest in the Wesleyan/Holiness category and a close second in Neo-Orthodox. Classic and Modern Liberalism brought up the rear.

Second, let the defense of Cliff Fletcher begin! Here's the first defense of his joke of a job done today. "His hands were tied from Day 1." That's exactly what everyone knew from the get go and the problem he was brought in to solve! Goodness, people...he was hired to do a job and failed; stop making excuses. The fact that he failed doesn't negate the responsibility of the organization and its previous manager(s).

My thoughts on the Leafs

This is a bit of a change, but I'd like to put this on digital paper so that it's out of my head. The Leafs are ridiculous.

First, Sundin. The guy has every right not to waive his NTC. And I have every right to be annoyed that he won't and sets the organization back years in any hope of rebuilding a quality team. And I am. All this garbage Eklund keeps talking about him being throwback is stupid. He's comfortable; he's at peace; he's exercising an option in his rights that sets the organization back.

Second, Tucker. I don't mind Tucker. I think I'd not like him if he didn't play for the Leafs, but since he does, I like him. But he has stunk this year. He should sit. If he's hurt, this would help him heal. I think he could have a rejuvenated career in Calgary, but he'll never be effective in a Leafs uniform again. I wanted to trade him last year.

Third, Kaberle. I don't see the huge desire to trade him. They will need some players and Kaberle is a good one and will play for a while.

McCabe. Too much the scapegoat. Raycroft is here, too.

Sixth, Maurice. Maurice should have been fired along with Ferguson. He's playing Toskala way too much. He's consistently getting average performances from McCabe, Kubina, Steen... He's getting jack squat from Wellwood. Why does this not reflect on the coach? Not sure why he's coaching this team.

Seventh, Cliff Fletcher. The big question: WHY? This is one where I just sit on the sidelines and point out all the ridiculousness of the situation. This guy was brought in to do what...? He's failed at getting anyone to be willing to get traded and resigned a player whose ability is diminishing with every shift to a large raise (Steen). Really, I think the move to bring Fletcher back epitomizes the Leafs: Here's a guy who did something at some point in his time with Toronto. Let's bring him back and let him fail for us. Heck, he's going to be useless for someone, he might as well be useless here!

Eighth, the next GM. Unless the hire is an absolute home run, I am cheering for the Sens.

Preaching after Nietzsche

I have been sitting in on an existentialism class at the local university. The professor is a little too taken with critiques of religion, but other than that it's a good class.

Anyway, after reading and discussing Nietzsche, I think I know why I am uncomfortable with focusing on application in preaching. Nietzsche wants to rescue the individual from the herd mentality that he sees created in Christianity. He thinks Christianity creates weak people who are then controlled by "morality," "the good," etc. He desires, instead, that the individual be regained and empowered to critique, among other things, religion.

When I focus on application in preaching, what comes to mind is the herd mentality: one person directing a group of people how to live out (on a good Sunday) a biblical text. I think this falls into the trap of following not the Spirit, but the preacher--who may be a decent person, but who certainly doesn't have the corner on the Spirit. I have been trying, instead of applications, to offer implications of the text. What questions should I bring to the Spirit with regard to my life/character/choices in light of this biblical passage and its place in the shaping of God's people?

It's easy to think that people need more direction: they need a preacher to spell it out for them; they need to be led to the edge of the water. It's likely they do, but the role of preaching is limited. Pastoring will likely include some of this more applied direction, which is why I think Nietzsche's critique must be heard, but then overcome. This post is titled "Preaching after Nietzsche," not "Pastoring after Nietzsche."

I was wrong...

...in the amount of time it would take for Warren Kinsella to be shown wrong. Instead of predicting Kinsella's error would come out in 3 months, it was revealed in one week. Whoops! This shows Stephane Dion's coming to his senses on Afghanistan. I guess the dice that Kinsella thought the Tories were throwing came up box cars.

Cool story about Joe Juneau

This is a cool story about Joe Juneau and some cool work he is doing in northern Quebec. I shook his hand once when he played for Boston. I might take some heat for highlighting a former Hab from some family, but I'm OK with that.

Kinsella is Wrong

Kinsella is wrong. I'll just point it out now and then refer back to in either 3 months where the CPC will be shown not to have "rolled the dice" or in 6-9 months when they have won another minority government.

Thoughts on Barth's Dogmatics in Outline

I am beginning to realize the irony of Paul Tillich calling his theological set "Systematic Theology." But anyway...

I think the profundity of Barth is not in what he writes, but in when he writes. That he says what he says when he says it is what makes it profound.