Christian Carnival XCIII - A Pot Luck Dinner!

Much like Big Ben Roethlsberger stepping in for Tommy Maddox and quarterbacking the Pittsburgh Steelers to one game short of the Super Bowl in 2004, White Ribbon Warriors steps in this week as your backup QB to bring you the 93rd edition of the Christian Carnival.

I had recently contacted Dory about hosting sometime in the future, and she responded back to me that she needed someone to fill in this week. I was more than happy to step up to the plate and fill in, but I needed a good theme. While I was reading the posts that came in, the only theme I could really come up with on short notice was...a POT LUCK DINNER! You know, one of those meals where everyone just sorta brings whatever and that's what's on the menu.

So, welcome to Christian Carnival XCIII, Pot Luck style. No Fat, No Calories, and No Charge! Enjoy!

With an analogy to a train ride, CVWWarrior at Christianity is Jewish takes a hard look at where world view fits into the Christian faith and the Church of Christ with Worldview Sunday.

In a recent article, Al Mohler asserts that preaching is the heart - the central aspect - of worship. PhilThirteen posts at his blog that Al Mohler is just plain wrong and that the little biblical support offered in the article leaves more questions than answers.

Sara Horn from Faith at the Front talks about the recent successful referendum election in
"Democracy in Iraq" and her hope that spiritual freedom will continue to grow as the democratic process continues.

From Crossroads, this "best of" post comes to us, titled Best of CrossRoads-5 that takes a tounge-in-cheek look at the life of Christian singles in the church, noting that this is a decades old issue.

From Sharing Spirit, Kim offers in The Life that it might seem that life as a Christian is much harder than it was as an unbeliever but in truth, this is how it was meant to be to refine us to be like Jesus.

Dadmanly brings us from his blog part 1 of a study about Light and Darkness in which he examines and discusses the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and the context within which the light under a bushel metaphor is presented. Part One looks at Matthew.

Otho from The Pros and Cons shares with us a little about self inflicted wounds and about compassion and the responsibilities that Jesus calls us to.

Seventy-five year old Fred Phelps is known as "America's most contoversial Christian minister." His church has been called, "The church of hate." What should we do or say about a church that shows up at the funeral of fallen soldiers with signs that say, "Thank God for dead soldiers!" and "God is America's terrorist!"? N With Both Feet examines this in The Church of Hate.

Tyler from Codex Blogspot seeks to answer the question, "What is 'Kitsch'?" He attempts to define it, or more accurately, show some ways that it has been used in the discussion of Christianity & popular culture in the post Jesus Junk and Christian Kitsch, Volume 4. What is Kitsch?.

Keith at Under the Acacias, is a missionary in Burkina Faso. In the post "One faith, one baptism...two wives...? part 1' he begins to tell the story of a Muslim convert's struggle to get baptised, because he had two wives.

Sven has been listening to lectures at his college recently by NT Wright on the theme of "Life After Life After Death". At his blog he posts his reflections and, as he put it, an "almost live (ish)" outline of the Tuesday lecture about Jesus' ressurection from a histoical perspective in this post called N T Wright on why we should believe in the ressurection.

Sometimes you get so frustrated because you aren't getting your way or you imagine that things will not work out. Then, you manage to shut your mouth and move ahead and just see what God is about to do. Questions and Answers tells a story of one of those times in Fred Steele, What a Blessing.

Lisa at CrossBLogging ponders Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?, providing research links and asking the question, should Christians celebrate Halloween?

Laura from Pursuing Holiness gives us a video blog entry. Hurricane Katrina has caused a lot of destruction to the New Orleans area, but has also provided a lot of ministry opportunities and much to be grateful for. Jarred, one of the youth in my church whose home was badly damaged, has put together a great video you can download of Katrina's effect on various parts of the city, including the 17th St. Canal and London Ave. Canal breaks, that shows God's power, and reminds us of his mercy.

Rev Ed from Attention Span, after ripping on the extravagant spending of big churches in part one, turns his attention to the waste at little churches in Big Church-Little Church Blues, Part 2.

Mark Swanson at runalong with pastor mark presents Coercive Love? Another Video Blogging presentation...NOTE: Requires QuickTime.

DeputyHeadmistress at The Common Room presents Counter Cultural

The occult overtones of the murder of a prominent defense attorney's wife should serve as a brutal reminder that Paul meant "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" literally. The enemy is real, he's merciless, and he has willing human accomplices. In this post, Derek of Weapons of Mass Distraction discusses this.

J Random American at Ideas In Progress presents Freedom, Religious Faith, and The Singularity

David at All Kinds of Time offers us Standing Under Temptation as an examination of standing as the only response to temptation.

Ron at Northern 'burbs blog offers us Redeeming Redemption, proposing that pop culture tells some nice stories about redemption, but true redemption requires a concept of sin and a savior we need to reintroduce to our society.

Jeremy Pierce at Parableman presents Rosa Parks

Kevin at technogypsy presents Not getting it

Gary Sieling at The Secret Life of Gary presents I saw Jesus in a muffin...some thoughts on communion.

Mark Olson at Pseudo-Polymath presents Close Read: Augustine’s City of God

Lyn Perry at Thought Renewal presents It's Not About the Bike. Lance Armstrong's first book, It's Not About the Bike, is not just for dedicated athletes or cancer survivors. For the race in which we find ourselves is really a metaphor for life; it is not limited in scope to sports or sickness.

Dave at Logical Meme presents Philosophy on Trial, with comments on Intelligent Design theory, the trials thereof, and the implications for philosophy.

Katy at Falliable.com offers some Before and After thoughts.

Pastor Bill of Chapelccino has gone on another trip for Katrina relief. This time he's been in Lakeshore, Mississippi, and this audio post describes his first reaction to the enormity of the destruction the hurricane left, and that is still seen almost two months later.

Donna-Jean of Liberty and Lily uses the imagery of the beauty of the fall season as a reminder of the limited period of time we have to "do good to all men, and especially those of the household of faith." at this post.

In this week's entry, Dee at In the Spirit of Grace opens your eyes to a deeper view of football, as she relates watching (and, eek, hearing) her son's last football game of the season in Monday
Night Football.

Penitens of A Pentitent Blogger offers us reflection on reality of suffering and the
perspective of grace with Reckoning.

Ales asks the question at Ales RarusCan religious experiences be considered analogous to
sensory experiences? Can they be trusted? Are they real? Let's
discuss these questions and more at An Analogical Argument for the Legitimacy of Religious Experiences

Rev Bill at his blog of the same name shows us that even the hardest of times can
draw us closer to God -- and others in his post on suffering.

Jay of Living Catholicism gives us a mediation on our role to speak the truth to those around us in Saying What Needs To Be Said

Richard at his blog asks Who is the Most Excellent Theophilus?, adding that it seems fitting that on October 18th, the feast day for Saint Luke, he identifies the person to whom he wrote his gospel.

Jay of Deo Omnis Gloria explores our role to both love our neighbors, no matter their sins, and call them to repentance in Love of Neighbor and the Homosexual Person

Barbara of Tidbits And Treasuresbrings us Christ, Christmas, And The Constitution, offering that Christ and anything pertaining to Christmas is slowly being taken out of the holiday because of people who have misinterpreted the Constitution.

Dr Bob offers us a two-part series on guilt and shame over at The Doctor Is InThe Engine of Shame - Pt 1
The Engine of Shame - Pt 2

Phil of Brandywine Books gives a review of "Think Before You Look: Avoiding the Consequences of Secret
Temptation." Short and to the point, Pastor/Author Daniel Henderson has
written a foundational book for modern Christian men looking to conquer
temptation. While it's primarily about pornography, this book could be a
good discussion starter for how to live obediently before the Lord Jesus.

Col. Jim of the Carolina Conservative It argues that the fact that Harriet Miers is an evangelical Christian is not a strong defense for her nomination and that it may in fact be counter-productive. This is a separation of church and state argument from one person's conservative Christian point of view. Read that post here

Martin of Sun and Shield muses about Elijah and Mendhelsonn's music at Musings on Elijah and Mt. Carmel

Dick from Viewpoint gives us some Theological Reflections. In a recent piece in Christianity Today J.I.Packer talks about the orthodox Christian view of salvation. It seems appropriate, strangely enough perhaps, to hope that his conclusions are wrong.

The Spunky Homeschool asks us: Are you a successful blogger? This question has been floating around different sites in the blogosphere. Spunky takes a look at this question and makes connections between blogging success and homeschool success in Successful Bloggers and Homeschoolers

Along those same technical lines, Joe of Jungle Popgives us Three lessons for bloggers giving bloggers a few tips on how to get
people reading and commenting on their blog entries. Be forewarned -
you won't be surprised!

Adam of Adam's Web tells us that Thou Shalt Not Hip-Hop, examining the influence of modern culture in faith.

Phew! 45 entries later, I trust you're stuffed from a wide selection here at our pot luck dinner. Given this is a short-notice, first time hosting effort, I hope I got everyone and did all the correct pinging, tracking, and all that good stuff. Now, who's ready for dessert?