1. Civility and partisanship
John Seel wrote for the Cardus blog that for American voters bitter partisanship has led us to a “moderate moment” and that presidential candidates would do well to move to the center and embrace civility. Robert Joustra replied the next day, affirming the positive role political parties can and must still play:
Talk of civility in America may yet prove the political equivalent of a time out on the stairs. They earned it, no question, but with elections among Americans, religious folk need to relearn how to disagree better, not less. The peace of the culture wars must not be the post-apocalyptic quiet of high-minded independents’ partisan withdrawal. If we don’t like the rules on the playground, the lesson isn’t to storm off, it’s to change them.
2. Introducing Fieldnotes Magazine
A new online magazine was launched this week, and it looks really, really good. Fieldnotes aims to offer “practical wisdom for emerging leaders.” Gideon Strauss wrote a great introductory essay:
In Fieldnotes, we hope you will discover insights and stories that will change your life and your leadership, setting you free to be truly human in how you work, and equipping you to shape organizations in which others can be truly human—connecting, learning, contributing.
3. Suggestions for annotating books
James K.A. Smith recently shared some suggestions for annotating books (with photos!). It’s quite a sophisticated system he has developed for his own work in academia, but bits and pieces might prove helpful for the rest of us too as we make notes in the margins of our own books.
4. The cure for Christendom
Kyle Roberts writes in an essay for Q Ideas that we’d do well to get to know Søren Kierkegaard:
Next year (May 5, 2013, to be precise) will mark the bicentennial of Søren Kierkegaard’s birth. There will be scads of written tributes, conferences, and public lectures devoted to remembrance of this Danish thinker. I’d like to get out in front of it all and suggest that Kierkegaard’s most incisive relevance today may be as a prophetic voice for the Christian church in America.
5. CT comes to Phoenix
Last night we were at an event here in Phoenix put together by Christianity Today’s This Is Our City team, to celebrate the great things Christians from all walks of life are doing to seek the flourishing of this city. The cover story of the latest issue of CT features the story of Alfonso and the broader story of immigration. We got to have a nice chat with Alfonso, and I’m glad his story is being told.
6. Sigur Rós timelapse video
This one needs no introduction.
Sigur Rós: Dauðalogn from Sigur Rós Valtari Mystery Films on Vimeo.
Repaso is intended as a thought-provoking compilation of news and commentary from the past week related to the intersections of faith, development, justice and peace. As always, I welcome your thoughts on any of the links and ideas in this roundup!
[Photo credit: "Delegates wave signs during the opening night ceremonies of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C." (Brian van der Brug via Los Angeles Times)]
