Round-up

I leave in a few hours for a gathering in New Mexico ... but before I go ...
Alan Bean just let me know that I showed up in unlikely company here ...

My friend Todd Hunter has finally written the book many of us have been hoping for him to write for years (Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others) ... available here.

Troy Jackson offers a hopeful but realistic assessment of Evangelicalism here.

Zach Exley offers some insightful reflections on capitalism and the economic crisis here.

Got this encouraging note from the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher (More below the jump ...)

Thank you!! I know you receive a million emails a day like this and I don't know if you will actually ever get or read this but thank you!! I was raised southern baptist, my dad was a preacher and i feel like i have loved God my whole life but I have also felt a bit strange weird odd amongst my christian friends. when i read your books i realized why. for the first time i really want to read the bible and i am EXCITED about my faith instead of bored when i am with christian friends or embarrassed when around nonchristian friends who know how cold and exclusive my church is. I must say when you said in your book more ready than you realize that it makes life complicated you werent kidding. i feel like my whole life has been shaken up and turned upside down. ... Anyway I was told to read your books by my college minister who is the only christian i have ever known well that is totally inspiring and i got what she said. when i read your books i knew why she told me to read them because they say all the things she has been doing for years but i could never explain to people. ok this is long and i am terrible about punctuation and capitalization i apologize... anyways thanks.....