Relevant Magazine | Evan Curry

What’s Cookin’? 03.09.09

Highlights of the Week:

Job search seems to be looking up. Three interviews this week.
This past weekend felt really long, which is a good thing. And I have a four-day weekend since I don’t have work Monday or Tuesday.
The weather is warmer so Amanda and I have been taking walks with Giselle. It’s nice to get outside, instead of watching TV or something like that.

Books I’m Reading:

Still doing my book face-off between:

(a) The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Tony Jones and (b) Why We’re Not Emergent: by Two Guys Who Should Be by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck.

(c) The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year by Kimberlee Conway Ireton. It has been extremely helpful in understanding the importance of working our lives around the church calendar. First, working around the church calendar is countercultural. Whereas our culture’s calendar is shaped around “spending” (Christmas is the most obvious example), the church’s calendar is shaped around the story of Christ and his Church. Second, in line with the season of Lent, the reason we fast from things is to “create space” for God to move in. Where we would fill ourselves with food, we fast and ask God to fill the emptiness.

Disappointed by: (a) Panera Bread. I ate lunch there after church on Sunday, and, later that night, my lunch returned. I was pretty sick, and I think it was their fault. Fortunately, I’m a Christian, and I will forgive them and may even eat there again. (b) Leatherheads featuring George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, and David de Vries. I had been looking forward to seeing this movie. So, Amanda and I rented it from Netflix — The movie was incredibly slow. The plot was poorly developed (if you could say it developed at all), and the characters were completely without nuance — I don’t recommend it at all but don’t take my word for it. Feel free to check it out yourself.

Put It on Repeat (what I’ve been listening to): Bought a new cassette-insert that actually works. The most notable thing I listened to was Relevant Magazine’s podcast from last week in February, which had me cracking up while I was driving in my car – especially about the impending Chimpocalypse

Job update: three interviews this week! A variety of positions – Starbucks (Monday), another youth pastor position (Tuesday), and non-profit position (Friday).

Seminary update: We didn’t have class last week, but we will be resuming tomorrow (Tuesday).

Looking forward to:

Continuing Lent
My other three job interviews this week
Getting a job that fits my needs, as well as my family’s needs
Giselle is to be dedicated on April 5^th, and her first birthday is coming up on April 21^st. We are just trying to figure out the celebration details right now.
Going to Toronto with Tim in March, speaking at a youth retreat in April, and going on a seminary retreat in May.
March Madness, which is the only time of the year I watch college basketball – let’s go UNC!

What’s Cookin’? 110

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) My seminary retreat. Guest speaker was Andy Crouch, who was awesome! His theme was “Live More Musically” (see notes 1, 2, 3, and 4). (2) Practiced Sabbath this past Sunday, which for me was really turning off my phone. I really enjoyed spending the time with my family without any distractions. (3) Amanda was runner-up for “Teacher of the Month,” which is voted on by students. This is actually a greater achievement than it sounds because she only teaches two grades (versus others who teach 3 or 4) and has only been there for one month. I’m proud of her.

What I’m reading: Currently, reading Relevant Magazine’s November-December issue. Reading very slowly – my friend Derek’s book So You Thinking About Going to Seminary: An Insider’s Guide and The Art of Reading Scripture edited by Ellen Davis and Richard Hays. For class, I’m reading Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature by Ernest C. Lucas and Old Testament Parallels: Laws And Stories from the Ancient Near East by Victor H. Matthews and Don C. Benjamin. I also picked up The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle.

Listenin’ and lovin’:

Podcasts: Mars Hill podcast; Speaking of Faith‘s “The Sunni-Shia Divide and the Future of Islam.” That was really helpful in developing a better understanding of the current state of Islam.
New ones that I’m trying – “Best of Mike and Mike in the Morning,” “ESPN Soccernet,” “Best of YouTube” video-cast, and “Divine Office” which gives prayers and readings for each day.
Music: Listened to Derek Webb’s The Ringing Bell. In the Christmas music mode, thanks to my wife.

What I’ve been vegetating in front of: (1) It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 3 that I just bought. (2) The Office. (3) FIFA 2009 on XBox 360.

iPhone app I’m happy about: (1) “Advent08” that will assist our family in the Advent season. It provides prayers and Scripture for each day. (2) Google app added links to Google Reader!

Something(s) that blew my mind: (1) Andy Reid benched McNabb? What? I thought I’d never see that. (2) Tim got a flat tire over the weekend. I went with him on Saturday to find a new one, but, apparently, everyone in the Valley Forge area didn’t have the tire for his Mazda 3. How do tire places not have a certain tire?

Job update: still not much progress. I’m talking to InterVarsity. I was denied an English teaching job at a local Christian school. I put my resume on youthspecialties.com and workphilly.com so maybe that will turn up something. I’m going to apply for unemployment compensation. I never wanted to be “that person,” but I’ve been humbled.

Seminary update: we have off of class this week, but our seminary retreat to Valley Forge was awesome! I had so much fun with my friends, and I really appreciated laughing, crying (yes), and talking with many of them.

Looking forward to: (1) What God has in store for me. (2) Finding a place to live on our own. (3) Observing Advent as a family. Amanda and I talked about it today, and we are going to do it. We bought candles and a wreath. We also hope to not eat any meat or junk food during Advent. On Christmas day, we’ll party! (4) So, Advent to begin. (5) Observing Sabbath again! (6) Thanksgiving!

Vote: Mark Wahlberg for the new Pastor of America

I’m a big Mark Wahlberg fan. And, no, it’s not just because he was in Invincible, which was about a Philadelphia Eagles player, and I’m from Philadelphia and an Eagles fan. I loved his role in The Departed and Shooter. Both I don’t recommend to anyone under the age of 17 (rated R, so I don’t want kids to say, “Evan, my youth pastor, saw those movies, Mom, why can’t I?” so don’t say that!). Didn’t see The Happening (which I heard was “not happening”), and not because it was rated R – let’s not go there.

Anyway, credit to Relevant Magazine for pointing this out. Mark Wahlberg, creator of HBO’s Entourage (which I don’t watch…not because it’s rated TV MA…I just don’t have the time…anyway…), says his family and he have difficulty when going to church because people nag him about the show (what’s going to happen next? etc.) and offer him screenplay ideas and more. One person even gave him an idea for a children’s book, to which he declined, and the person got angry. He states that he just wants to go to church to worship, and he’s not happy about the things he did back-in-the-day with his “entourage,” and he is currently asking forgiveness for.

First, hold on! Hold on! You’re telling me – Mark Wahlberg goes to church? If there was a better reason to go to church then this one right here, I cannot find it. People who go to church have been called homophobic, judgemental, and hypocritical, but they’ve never been called cool, hip, and awesome movie star who with a sniper and a scope can kill anyone from 1000 feet away; at least, that I know of. “Wait, Evan, we have Mel Gibson”…Who?

Second, Mark – (I doubt you read this blog, but, if you want to be a contributor, let me know) – you must be going to the wrong church. In fact, pastors (i.e., paid leaders of churches) never experience people giving advice all the time, offering suggestions on the programs the pastors put together, and get upset when they don’t do it the person’s way. That never happened in churches that I’ve been a part of.

Oh wait…actually, all that does happen.

I have to say that I’m relieved that Mark Wahlberg has told the whole world what it’s like to be in the “spotlight” at church. Pastors have been facing this type of adversity for years, decades, centuries, and now Mark Wahlberg has finally “let the cat out the bag” – that is, people at church are really good at offering suggestions (whether, if offered, they themselves would carry them out is another topic for another day) to people in the spotlight. This isn’t directed at one person in particular (e.g., the person who wanted a children’s book version of Four Brothers or someone you may know), but I’m standing by my fellow laborers in ministry.

Therefore, I conclude that Mark Wahlberg must be proclaimed as the new “Pastor of America” (or, the world?). Step aside, Billy Graham and Rick Warren…Mark Wahlberg will now speak the truth to America. He must be heard! Hide your children! Respect the badge! Church-goers beware! (No, really beware, you don’t want to cop an attitude with the new Pastor of America…I mean, have you seen how he treated Leonardo di Caprio in The Departed – do you want to be on the other end of that?)

Mark Wahlberg – Pastor of America – who’s with me? All pastors in favor, say “Aye.”

What’s Cookin’? 105

Highlight(s) of the week: (1) The Phillies are NL Champs and are in the World Series! Go Phillies! (2) The Red Sox didn’t make it. I’m very happy about that, not for matchup-sake but because I’m tired of “the nation.” (3) Amanda, Giselle, and I spent the weekend in Lancaster with my family. It was very nice to get away for a little while. (3) New addition to the Green-side of the family: Liam Joseph Fleming was born on Friday. He’s huge – almost as long as Giselle is now at 6 months.

Book(s) I’m reading: still reading Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw and now reading The Historical Books by Richard D. Nelson (for class – but talk about a book that is almost everything against what I’ve learned growing up or even believe now – but it’s still a good read. I don’t recommend it for those who are the faint of heart, but I do recommend thus far for those who are into ‘scholarly pursuits.’)

Listenin’ and lovin’: Listen to Mars Hills podcasts every week; APM: Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett – most recently I listened to one that discussed religion in the Democratic party. I will be listening this week to her one on religion in the Republican party, too, but which is normally assumed by many. I recommend Speaking of Faith to get a broad range of thought on religion; also have been enjoying Relevant Magazine’s podcast. It is a weekly podcast with a few people having a good time together and also getting serious at times. It’s very good. Music-wise: I have to say I keep listening to Viva la Vida for whatever reason that only addiction may explain. Also I recently listened to Phil Wickham’s Cannon, and Fear Before the March of Flames’ Always Open Mouth (again, not for the faint of heart).

Something(s) that blew my mind: (1) I taught Jr. Church (1-5th graders) on Sunday morning, and they were respectful. It shows what a few rules will do to hold it together. (2) I posted three things about politics on my blog, which I swore I wouldn’t do so I named the category “Politics (Eww…)” to express my dislike for the subject, but I find it unavoidable around every four-year cycle. (3) Colin Powell is going to vote for Obama – very interesting – I hope this grows into something that will bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats.

Ministry update: last night we presented to the whole church our New Orleans missions trip from this past summer. We had a video – it was cool – thanks, Jorge! Dan and Tyler who presented the impact the trip had on their lives did exceptionally well.