Many of you are aware that less than a month ago (I posted about it here) - a fire deeply impacted the neighborhood which the simple way community calls home. They have posted some new ways that we can help them in this time of need. See their website and note especially the CALL OF THE DAY posted on the right margin of their web page.

May we all stand with our brothers and sisters of the simple way in these days.

The Simple Way

Here are somethings that have garnered my attention of late as I have had a chance to wander the web.

I caught this on Sunday’s broadcast of the White Horse Inn - an interview with Anne Rice (author of Interview With The Vampire) - it was very interesting and a helpful look at what brought her back to faith in Christ.

Chris Folmsbee gets honest and challenges all of us in this post, entitled “The Highly-edited Version” based on a quote from Buechner.

Monty the Nazarene writes a wonderfully reflective (not to mention somewhat humorous) post on The Jesus Prayer at his well-written blog.

Mark Riddle poses a great question worthy of thoughtful consideration in this post on youth ministry.

Bob Hyatt (a blog I visit daily) has a great personal reflection on the value of “stepping away” and the need to “Be in the moment.” A very good post… don’t miss it.

Mike King shares an overview of the curriculum (entitled The Way of Jesus) he helped present at Youthfront South’s camp - this is GREAT STUFF! Thanks Mike!

Congratulations to my good friend over at Calacirian! On July 7, 2007 (7/7/7) she celebrated two years of blogging. What a great day to have begun sharing with us her thoughts, dreams, frustrations, hopes, triumphs and fears (by the way on 7/7/7 I was grooving to the greatest rock ‘n roll band too few have heard - the 77’s!). In her 2nd year anniversary post don’t miss a great quote and her declaration to write with honesty and a desire to be authentic.

My wandering ends with a call for those who meander by to be praying for the McCoy family (from the blog Reformissionary) as Steve’s wife undergoes surgery this week. I pray that God will encircle this family with His mercy, love, peace and healing touch. Over, under, in front, behind and beside may the McCoy family know the mysterious presence of the Almighty One.

———— this just in one more great FIND!!——————-

Check out Len Evan’s new blog - Youth Ministry Interviews!! His first interview is with Mark Yaconelli… great stuff! Excellent new blog!

I have been tagged by Brian Eberly to share the 10 songs that come up on shuffle in iTunes.

I am a complete music FREAK… and this sounds like fun. So strap on your seat-belt and prepare to be amazed as you gaze in on the “musical delights” (more like musical schizophrenia) that are part of the Jones music library.

THE 10 TUNES randomly playing on Doug’s iTunes are:

10. “Best I Can” by Rush from Fly By Night

09. “Marvelous Light” by Dan Haseltine, Ginny Owens & Friends from City on a Hill - The Gathering

08. “Inside” by Pain of Salvation from One Hour By the Concrete Lake

07. “Donna Nietche And Her Super Race Of Kick Boxing Uber Parrots” by Daniel Amos from Songs Of The Heart

06. “Do Not Move” by David Crowder Band from A Collision

05. “Elijah the Prophet” by Starflyer 59 from Easy Come Easy Go

04. “This is the Healing” by L S Underground from This is the Healing

03. “The Disaster” by Home from The Alchemist

02. “Circus Brimstone” by The Flower Kings from Meet the Flower Kings

01. “Shapes of the Morning” by Glass Hammer from Chronometree

Bonus… the NEXT 5!!

05. Facelift (live) by Soft Machine from Third

04. I Can’t Get Over It (Live 8 track Demo) by The 77’s from The Seventy Sevens (Island Release)

03. Treasure of the Broken Land by Mark Heard from Satellite Sky

02. Little Dumbo by Rev. Edward Daniel Taylor from The Miracle Faith Telethon

01. While the Nations Rage by Rich Mullins from Songs

What are you listening to? Without cheating, what are the first 10 songs that will hit your ears? I’m going to tag:
Len Evans,
Dan Mayes, (don’t let me down Dan - no CCM!)
Justin Ross,
Chris Day,
& Monty the Nazarene (I am counting on some Dylan from Monty!).
Hold up this ain’t no boys club - I need to add one more… so I tag Calacirian (I am counting on some U2 and Rush)!

Just a little plug (and I guess in a sense self-promotion - YUCK!). If you receive The Journal of Student Ministries - check out this issues column entitled, “Re-culturing Youth Ministry.” I was privileged to co-write this month’s installment with Chris Folmsbee, the topic this issue was, “The Disciple as Wanderer.”

I have added a new menu item above (Downloads) - and if use that link it will allow you to download a pdf of the article I helped to author (just right click the link and you can save the document to your local machine).

Maybe in the days ahead I will come across other stuff to share up there.

If you haven’t subscribed to The Journal of Student Ministries, I would heartily encourage you to take the plunge. A great resource, with some challenging and helpful articles - don’t miss out on this publication.

Subscribe to The Journal!