US Down

Well, the US has been eliminated from World Cup play. This makes me sad. Like most Americans, I don't watch soccer much, not least because I don't have cable. During this tournament, however, I have really begun to appreciate the sport. I like how it commands the attention and arouses the passion of virtually the entire world. There's something very communal about this love of sport, even if, by the same token, the bitter rivaries spark violence among fans. I even don't mind that the US team is far outmatched at the moment and has to accomodate itself to the dominant styles of the likes of Italy and the Czeck Republic. My hope is that soccer will become more popular in the States and that the US team will eventually cause other countries to adjust to its prowess. For the time being, though, I'll have to rout for Italy. Which team do you want to win?

Papelbon

The Sox are on a role, as they mow down Washington to take a two game lead over the Yanks. With what looks to be a solid lefty in Jon Lester, which is just what the Sox need in the lineup, given the recent woes of David Wells, things are looking up. However, a key, if not the key, to this season's strong start has to be rookie closer, Jonathan Papelbon. This guy is incredible. Bill Simmons marvals at the kid and explores the dilemma that faces the Sox--closer or starter?--over at espn. Now if I can just afford to get tickets to a game.

Bye Bye Zar-QA-wi

For updates on the military strike leading to al-Zarqawi’s death, check out the counterterrorism blog. Bill Roggio has information up on the role of Task Force 145. Make sure you blow up the map to see the scope of the operations culminating in the eventual "termination" of al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq.

UPDATE:
Aljazeera (English net version) cites the AP report, as does the Jerusalem Post, which adds the intriguing bit of info that al-Zarqawi's wherabouts where determined in part through analysis of his last video tape.

Austin Bay tells us what this killing means in the grand scheme of things and cites a Strategy Page post examining the recent deterioration of relations between the terrorist in Iraq and al-Qaeda's top leadership. Does this raise the possibility that information on al-Zarqawi's location was offered up by those acting on the behest of Osama and company? I don't know.

Kudos to the Jordan intelligence services, renown for their operative skills, for intelligence they might have gained that led to al-Zarqawi's death.

UPDATE:
Milblogs react, a few of them also suggesting that al-Zarqawi was sold out by his own. (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Mark of the Beast

Is the mark of the beast really 666 or, rather, is it 616? See David Parker’s (of the University of Birmingham) explanation of the two choices presented us by manuscript evidence. (Hat tip: Mark Goodacre.)

Sport Beatdowns

Kevin Hench at Fox Sports has a list of the top ten beatdowns in sports. Of course I don’t condone such brutality—yuck yuck—but you should check out the article. Let me know which is your favorite. Personally, I like #8.

24 and the Divine Narrative

Mark Driscoll poses the question everybody's been thinking but is afraid to ask: Is Jack Baur a type of Christ? Beyond the superficial similarities, it is most interesting that, despite our short attention spans, we are still captivated by story, even when it involves complicated plot twists, character development, and (most difficult of all) suspense. It's certainly up for debate whether 24s popularity has more to do with its story character or merely its topical elements, which include violence and betrayal. (Hat tip: Steve McCoy, who elsewhere links to a Robert Webber article arguing for the importance of refocusing on the importance of story vis-a-vis the divine narrative.)

What I wonder, first of all, is whether a focus on story can renew within us (read: me) a sense of God-permeated existence. If it can, how can we recapture and recast the divine narrative without sacrificing (as many might fear) truthful propositional speech about God? Or is the latter even a legitimate goal?

Dead Sea Scrolls in KC

Portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls will be on exhibit in Kansas City next year.  If anyone has a chance, go see the exhibit; it’s well worth it.  (Hat tip: Jim Davila.)

I had the good fortune to see the Scrolls in Israel a few years back.  The religious fervor spawned in part by contemporary political circumstances led the Qumran communities to commit themselves to an extremely ascetic and scripturally observant lifestyle.  One might ask what circumstances or mentality would be required to spark a similar level of devotion among Christians in our time.  What would that look like?  Any thoughts?

Updating

So, I'm in the gradual process of updating the blog. My plan is to expand--and eventually categorize--links to include more biblical studies, faith-and-culture, and missional-minded blogs. I will, however, maintain and even expand my (perhaps?) idiosyncratic list of Middle East-related blogs. Beyond this, I aim to give more time and space to actual reflection, which, I hope, will lead to interaction with any out there who happen across this blog. Stay tuned.

Friday Caca

Here's a little Friday etymology for the kiddies. I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by poop--maybe it's because, seen from two different perspectives, it's alternatively ordinary and sensible or uterly disgusting--and I count myself lucky to know the history of caca. Cheers!

Reflecting on the Sox--Without Clemens

Ok, I no longer care whether Roger Clemens joins the Red Sox. I'm really starting to enjoy this current group of players and would almost hate to see it disrupted by a high profile addition. Besides, Curt Schilling provides enough drama as it is. Last night he bounced back from a few bad outings to sink the Yanks in a 6 strikeout butt kicking. I also enjoy how there is a good distribution of talent on this squad; of course Papi and Manny stand out as hitters, but Lowell, Youk, Willy Mo (gotta love the name), and others have been playing some solid ball. I know it's only the beginning of the season and a lot of things can happen, but I have to say I'm very impressed and, in a strange way, almost feel bad that the Yankees can't put up much of a fight.

24 Finale

Did anyone out there see the 24 finale? Overall, I thought this season was subpar, but I have to say that the writers really pulled it together at the end (yes, I realize it was all written earlier). I won't give the ending away but suffice it to say that I'm extremely excited about next season; the twist is a good one. For those who say the final episode, what did you think?

Nasar and Terrorism in the New Century

Craig Whitlock, at MSNBC, profiles captured Al-Qaeda leader Mustafa Setmarian Nasar. His tome on jihadist techniques for the new century highlights decentralization via small cells operating across the globe. The implementation of this stategy has already begun, notes Whitlock, as evidenced by the Madrid and London attacks.

Red (and Yellow and Blue) Badge of Hostility

This is not good news. Iran, it would seem, is not an up and coming homeland for minorities. Come on, how could anyone see malicious motives behind this new requirement foisted on Jews and Christians who make Iran their home? It’s just colored cloth right? As if it were required, here’s another apt reminder of the need to pray for Iran’s peoples.

Evangelicals and Gnosticism

N.T. Wright, appearing alongside Vampire-fan-turned-Jesus-admirer, Anne Rice, makes the fascinating observation that both sides of the cultural divide in North America exhibit gnostic tendencies. (The moderator--annoying most of the time--quipped that the two sides can be neatly divided according to their literary tastes: Left Behind or The Da Vinci Code.) In this context, Wright notes that many evangelicals follow the dualistic disdain for the physical here and now, in desiring to escape to the "there" of heaven, and possess the hubris-inspired certitude so characteristic of gnosticism. Are Wright's comments apt, or do they represent a caving in to postmodern relativism? Or somewhere in between?

Note: The interview is fairly long but worth listening to--for the most part.

Red Sox Fantasy

Just heard on NECN that Clemens will likely suit up soon. The question is, with whom will he play? Curt Schilling, while not disclosing any details, said on WEEI that he feels pretty good about the situation--i.e., Clemens playing for the Sox. I can't even imagine what it would be like to Clemens, Schilling, Becket, and Wakefield in the starting rotation with Timlin, Foulke, and Papelbon coming out of the pen. One word: unbeatable. Any thoughts on whether the fantasy--Clemens closing out his career in a Sox uniform--will come true?

Tuesday Links

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I’m hoping things will calm down enough to allow for more sustained posting, but here are some offerings for this afternoon. I’m trying to track down a podcast of an interview with NT Wright and will post it when, and if, it reveals itself to me.

MSNBC has an article up that gives air to some criticisms of The Da Vinci Code. You can find it here. HT: Jim Davila.

Jim links to an article which forecasts the effect that the Hamas political victory will have on Palestinian archaeology.

Meanwhile, Mark asks for iGod’s assistance in solving the Synoptic problem.

Bronson Arroyo

I already miss Bronson Arroyo. It was dissapointing to see him traded, especially as I feel, despite some difficulties last season, that he's a very versatile pitcher. Now we see that he's an overall versatile player. Not only is he pitching extremely well with the Reds, he's also hitting for the bleachers. The Sox should've kept the guy and used him in pitch hitting situations.

Gospel of Judas

NPR had a blurb on the "recently released" Gospel of Judas. After describing the circumstances of its discovery and the process of its restoration, the narrator concludes with the thought that (and I'm paraphrasing) perhaps next Easter we will be reflecting on the sacrifice of Judas.

Anyway, Mark Goodacre, over at the NT Gateway Weblog, provides some commentary on and plenty of links about the Gospel of Judas. Check it out here.

Abdul Rahman in Perspective

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, writing in the Weekly Standard (HT: The Counterterrorism Blog), puts in broad perspective Abdul Rahman's story. He points out that the official, or unofficial (by family members or the community), slaying of former Muslim converts to Christianity is commonplace in Islamic societies. What garnered media attention and international outrage (albeit belated, nearly tragically so) at Abdul Rahman's plight was the fact that the nation preparing to execute the man is one where the Western democratic values of human life and freedom of expression are supposed to be implicit in institutional decisions (Or else for what are our soldiers dying there?).

Gartenstein-Ross makes a cogent big-picture point, though:

THE ABDUL RAHMAN CASE presents an opportunity for the West, but only if we refuse to view this as an isolated incident. When Abdul Rahman awaited trial, Representative Tom Lantos wrote a letter to Hamid Karzai stating: "In a country where soldiers from all faiths, including Christianity, are dying in defense of your government, I find it outrageous that Mr. Rahman is being prosecuted and facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity." Lantos was correct, but he did not go far enough. This is not only an outrage in countries being defended by Western soldiers. The unjustifiable punishment of apostates from Islam is an outrage wherever it occurs.

Read the whole article here.

Christian Teen Rally "Fitting"?

Other than this article, I haven't seen much news coverage of this Christian teen rally in San Francisco. (That might be because I've been holed up at home trying to get some work done.) This rally was organized to respond to the secular values marketed to teens and young adults through today's popular culture. My initial feelings are mixed, but I'm interested in hearing some other thoughts, particularly as my church community group has been considering what it means to act as God's image--his representative--in exile. Are these types of rallies an appropriate way to express our role? Are they "fitting" for the time in which we live? Thoughts?