Hyde Park Speaks

Where Do You Get Your News?

With all of the talk lately about newspapers being in decline, I wondered where most of us really do get our news. I guess if we're reading this blog, maybe it means we get it on the internet. Do you still read magazines? Do you still read the newspaper? If you do read the newspaper, do you actually pay for it or just pick up the free one? I must admit that when I do read a real newspaper, it's usually one of the free ones.

I do still enjoy reading magazines, books, and other printed materials, but for me it's out of convenience that I read a lot of news online. I can read multiple newspaper headlines in just a few minutes. 

I also enjoy reading other points of view on faith. The amount of blogs written by pastors and others out there makes it very accessible to do that. Whether you agree with them all or not, there is plenty to sift through.

What about you? Do you read any other blogs from United Methodists, other Christians, and maybe other perspectives on faith?  If you do, share some of your favorite sites with us. Here are the latest ones I have come across that I will visit again:

Bishop Timothy Whitaker - bishop of the Florida Conference of the UMC

Chad Holtz - a seminary student at Duke Divinity who has had some interesting posts on books by NT Wright, Will Willimon, and Rob Bell.

Theolog - the blog of the Christian Century Magazine

grace & peace,
John

More Ding-A-Lings Spotted At Publix!

The key to being a good Salvation Army bell ringer is complete professionalism. Well ... maybe.

Are You Ready To Ring The Bell?

The bell I ring
I ring the bell
The bell I ring
It's pretty swell

The clapper strikes
Its swollen shell
Sharing a solemn message
As I grab my lapel

This bell I ring
Its tones do tell
I've got attention to seize
A mission to impel

The patrons scurry by
Leading lives that excel
For the less fortunate, I've just an instant
To get this moment to gel

A look in the eye
Lasts not even a spell
Can you help today?
Can you drop something in the well?

The ringing speaks softly
There's no need to yell
It's music is gentle
A flowing chorale

They dig in their pockets
Their fingers repel
To find the spare change
For their raw feelings to quell

Some first will pass by
To buy that bottle of Prell
Grab some apples in produce
Enjoy the deli's fine smells

Then it's on their way home
Out the door they propel
Hoping to slip by
But they can't ignore the bell

This bell they hear
On their minds it must dwell
Realizing those in need
Are no mere ne'er-do-wells

So, the bell I ring
I ring the bell
The bell I ring
It's pretty swell

In the end, you realize
You can't resist the bell
So drop in your change
And just say, what the ... heck

John and Cheryl Parrish will be ringing the bell for their first time at Publix on Bayshore, Thursday, December 11 from 4-6 p.m. Shifts are still available through December 24. You can sign-up for one- or two-hour shifts Sundays in the Courtyard. Or call Fran Westbrook at (813) 259-9146.

Another Way You Can Link To God

Imagine this. You need healing, direction, discernment, wisdom ... you know, all those things we pray for to help us get through everyday living. Can you imagine the preposterous notion of posting your prayer requests online, where complete strangers can pray for you on your behalf? Can't imagine it? I guess you haven't read this New York Times article.

Merry X-mas, Jim!

Jim Harnish clears up the confusion about the term Merry Xmas on TV's Channel 10. Thanks, Jim.



You can read about it here, too.

Be Alternative This Christmas

Just a quick note today. According to Martha Chamberlain, there's a nice article about the Alternative Christmas Market in today's Tampa Tribune (Monday, 12/1/08, page 10). Or just check it out at the TBO website. If you want to know more about the Alternative Christmas Market, click here.