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<\/a>Beer & Wings<\/b><\/p>\nIn a way, focussing on marriage is an appropriate way to read the second half of Taylor and Smith. It takes a mere 3.24 pounds for Smith to propose and prove his thesis that it has taken about 500 years for humanity to travel from a paradigm where it was impossible to make sense of life without referring to God to our current imaginary where it is virtually impossible to make sense of life with God. Smith offers us a written explanation of Taylor with a literal short glossary of Taylor\u2019s big concepts at the end. One of my favorite dates with Lisa is when we go to a restaurant and order beer and wings. For me, reading Taylor is like eating spicy chicken wings and reading Smith is like drinking a nice smooth local IPA. Taylor makes my brain hurt, but I found I could not put him down. Like a perfect plate of wings, Taylor \u201churts so good\u201d and it makes me feel alive in ways that only a perfect plethora of hot peppers can. Smith is the perfect dining companion who knows how to not only douse the flames but also offer a way to continue the beautiful culinary torture.<\/p>\n
One of mine and Lisa\u2019s favorite recording artists is folk singer Ray LaMontagne. I was reminded of the time we went to see him tour his Supernova<\/i> album. Taylor describes the Nova effect as a compilation of \u201cthird ways\u201d for belief and meaning. LaMontagne\u2019s album is full of references to an America gone by. He refers to small towns, life as a teen and even drive-in theaters. This nostalgia for the past is also discussed by Taylor and Smith. Repeatedly, like the grief experienced by a folk singer who can\u2019t return to his youth, Taylor tells us there is no going back.<\/p>\n The concept of the Nova effect informs my research on bivocational pastors in America. It seems to me the American ideal of a one income family has become obsolete. I know historically pastors have usually been called to live simply on a humble income. However, across this country I do not know of any pastor who survives on one family income. Married pastors have their spouse contribute to their family income and many pastors supplement their income with second jobs outside of their church. In the Vineyard USA alone, approximately 50% of our 611 churches are pastored by bivocational pastors. Like the nostalgic dream of seeing a movie at a drive-in with your friends, pastoring a church and meeting all your financial obligations while your spouse stays home is of a bygone era.<\/p>\n<\/a>Zoe, you\u2019re so supernova<\/b><\/p>\n