Flotsam and jetsam (9/24)

Okay, I tried “Morning Links” for a while, but that’s just way too boring for me. Besides, Esteban has been riding my case, and I’m afraid he might turn violent if I don’t switch back soon. So, “Flotsam and Jetsam” it is.

• iMonk continues the series on spiritual formation, this time with some advice on how to get started: start with your own tradition, help your church make it a priority, develop and practice a simple “rule of daily life”, and seek guidance from a wise pastor.
• Jason Goroncy points out an article by Stanley Hauerwas on Naming God, in which Hauerwas interacts with a quote from Robert Jenson, “God is whoever raised Jesus from the dead, having before raised Israel from Egypt.” From there, he reflects on the generic god of western society verses the named God of the Bible.
• At BioLogos, Brandon Withrow discusses Origen and the idea that Scripture is “divine baby talk” for us humans.
• Boston.com has an article arguing that taking care of our pets is what made us human. And, this isn’t intended figuratively. The argument is that caring for animals caused early hominids to develop in evolutionarily important ways. HT
• First Things offers a list of the 9 best magazine covers (1920-2010). I’ve used my favorite as the picture for this morning’s roundup.
• A doctor in Orange County is being sued for branding a woman’s name on her own uterus. The article makes it sound like this was a weird thing to do, but I’m pretty sure he was just trying to help in case she ever misplaced her uterus. Hopefully he put  her phone  number and address on it as well.
• Here’s an article with six scientists discussing the most accurate science fiction in their fields. I was pleased to see Firefly on the list. Great show. HT
• And, here’s a list of the 5 best movie villians of the last decade. HT