The best of last week, today

A bit of an artsy theme for this week. Enjoy!

New Christ icon: “Neither”… neither male nor femaleDavid Hayward

This is the third Christ icon I’ve done so far.

My first one was “Includer”.

My second one was “Higher”.

This third one’s called “Neither”, because “in Christ there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28).

The Fiddler of AbileneBoze Herrington

There are tales they tell in Texas that’d make your blood run cold…

A spooky tale in a poem reminiscent of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

I Know Satan When I See HimCaryn Rivadeneira (via @onfaith)

I suppose after all this, this is what my love of the dark, of ghost-stories and creepiness has taught me: Evil exists. Satan and his (or her) demons do not rest. They aim to destroy, to torment, to spread hate and doubt. But they are overcome-able. As Jesus promised.

Why Do Christian Artists Need To Lie?Mark Chappelle

Billboard reports that Timothy Lambesis, lead singer of Grammy-nominated Christian metal band As I Lay Dying, now admits his band faked Christianity to sell records. Lambesis, who became agnostic while in college, says the ruse is not uncommon. “In 12 years of touring with As I Lay Dying, I would say maybe one in 10 Christian bands we toured with were actually Christian bands.”

How did no one notice?

On Dinah and the Nameless ConcubineCarmen Ibrahim

But then I read Genesis 34, titled The Defiling of Dinah, and that chapter wrecked me. It was painful to read.

I have to talk about it though. Because if I don’t, then that would be me taking the easy way out. Not questioning, not struggling in my faith, but rather coasting along, accepting the narratives that others feed me instead of thinking for myself.

Atonement, Christus Victor & AslanGreg Boyd (via @ReKnewOrg)

Lewis’ marvelous tale brilliantly illustrates how and why Jesus’ life, death and resurrection vanquished Satan and the other fallen gods who had seized God’s “Narnia.” It is based on the understanding that, while both self-sacrificial love and the law are good, they are not equally deep forms of magic. Self-sacrificial love is much older and much deeper. It is therefore the one thing that is able to set a treacherous covenant breaker free from the just condemnation of the law.

I just saw that Greg has posted a follow-up article that is well worth reading too: Who Demands a Sacrifice?

SushiCara Strickland

I allowed myself to slow down and enjoy the experience I had been craving. I let the fish linger for a moment on my tongue, savoring the flavors and the quenching of a hunger I had carried for so long.

As I feasted, I noticed a new flavor. It tasted a little like redemption.