We’re starting a new regular posting that will share the links, books, and articles we’ve been reading and thinking about in the community. I call it the “Fire hose” because it’s the collective unedited and unrelated blast of ideas and thoughts flowing through our fellowship. We don’t necessarily agree with everything we read or watch, but we find these sources interesting and they contribute to our dinner conversations and general discussions. Hopefully, you’ll find them interesting, too.

• A couple of us went to an Acton Institute conference, Whole Life Discipleship: Integrating Faith, Economics, and Work which was very enriching.
• Speaking of the conference, I particularly enjoyed Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riano’s presentation which can be found online.
• A number of us are enjoying a book I picked up at the Acton conference, Work: The Meaning of Your Life, which has enriched our thinking about work.
• On the theology front we’ve been reading Richard Bauckham. I’m finding his book, Jesus and the God of Israel, refreshing. He has a number of sermons and essays on his website. We’ve been talking about “Some comments on wealth and poverty in the Bible” and “Surrounded by the Truth: Scripture, Community and the World.”
• I just started reading Udo Middleman’s new book, Neither Necessary Nor Inevitable. Truly embracing these ideas will radically change your approach to prayer and living.
• Roger Scruton is one my favorite philosophers. After I read his book, Beauty, we watched his documentary on the same topic. I loved his book on pessimism, too. You can watch a number of lectures by him at ISI.
• We’re planning a trip to India this winter with Charis International. We are always looking for ways to further God’s kingdom in the most needy parts of the world. Acton’s Poverty Cure has us thinking about how to do this more effectively.
• Other books we’ve been reading: Dallas Willard’s The Spirit of the Disciplines, Steven Covey’s (Jr.) The SPEED of Trust, Stanley J. Grenz’s Theology for the Community of God, Colin E. Gunton’s Promise of Trinitarian Theology, and Paul Borgman’s David, Saul, and God.
• First Things always has some great articles: Zombies Are Us is a interesting take on the pop culture fascination with zombies.
• Speaking of zombies, here’s a thoughtful article on why Halloween is so popular today.
• This article on Friendship is fascinating and complements our thinking about relationships, which Vincent Brümmer has helped us to clarify.
• We’ve been talking quite a bit about Reb Bradley’s Child Training Tips.
• If you’ve never read G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown series you should. I’m finding that I’m more and more attracted to Chesterton’s understanding and presentation of Christianity. Father Brown stories can be read or listened to for free. And, the stories were dramatized on TV starring Kenneth More and can be found on Netflix.

Well, I hope you find the Fire Hose helpful. We’ll try to post the things we’re talking about on a semi-regular basis from now on.