Evangelical church roof collapse in Brazil kills at least 7, injures 50
January 19, 2009
Pastors and prayer group leaders attacked, beaten in Hyperabad, India
January 8, 2009
Great acting in Mickey Rourke’s tragic The Wrestler
January 2, 2009
‘No evidence that recession pulls people to the pews’
January 2, 2009
Daniel Burke, Religion New Service (HT: Bruce Tomaso)
How does God ‘discipline’ his children, according to the Greek of Hebrews 12:3-11?
December 23, 2008
Greek scholar Bill Mounce offers an explanation at the Koinonia blog:
“Paideuo has another meaning that is not necessarily connected to punishment. It is a standard word for child-rearing …”
“‘Great apprehension’ over Christmas season violence”
December 16, 2008
Christians in India fear that more violence may occur as the Christmas holiday approaches. Story at the Christianity Today Liveblog:
“In light of the terrorism in Mumbai and the extensive attacks in Orissa, Christians cannot presume that a) the government can protect lives; or, b) there is no group currently planning a fresh attack on churches or Christian villlages.”
Beliefnet interview with Rick Warren
December 15, 2008
Everyone seems to have an opinion about Rick Warren (even yours truly, for better or worse). Here’s a segment of an extensive interview Warren did recently with Steven Waldman, at Beliefnet, in which he discusses having doubts as a Christian.
The full interview (divided into chunks) is here.
“Why aren’t we drawn to Dong Yun Moon?”
December 11, 2008
Eugene Cho thinks it strange that so little attention has been given to the case of Dong Yun Moon, whose family was killed when an F/A-18 crashed into his home in San Diego … while stories about much more banal topics (snow in Texas) are flagged up:
“To be blunt, is it because he has slanted Asian eyes? He’s Asian which means he doens’t look like your prototypical male ‘American’ man.”
Story at Mercury News (San Jose).
Governor for Mumbai calls for Christian fortitude
December 10, 2008
At reformation21, Phil Ryken shares some quotations from the Governor of Maharashtra in India, where Mumbai is located:
“We cannot remain closeted in our prayers and our personal comforts and turn a blind eye to the persecution and the assailing of Christianity. . . At such a criticual juncture, woe is unto us if we do not preach the gospel and spread the light of holiness and righteousness in our society. . .”
Perspective …
December 3, 2008
A recent post by Timmy Brister begins:
“At a time when our attention is unnecessarily drawn the continual division over nonessentials in the SBC, I would like to remind us all of what our brothers and sisters are facing around the world. For instance, consider our brothers and sisters in Orissa, India. They don’t wake up to find what the next comment or blogpost has to say; they wake up to discover who lost their lives for the sake of Christ …”
Who’s to blame for the recession?
December 2, 2008
The Acton Institute blog links to an “interactive blame game” graphic that attempts to outline the various agents who might be blamed for the present economic slowdown.
… And Vox Day questions whether there really is a recession, given the statistics:
“Notice how the numbers dance all over the place, before being thrown out altogether …”
Thanksgiving/Weekend Walkabout, Nov. 27, 2008
November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
26 posts from the week that escaped mention (almost!):
Advent on your iPhone - Father Z
“Those of you who have an iPhone may want to know about a fun application for Advent for $0.99.”
The Blind Spot of the Spiritual Formation Movement - Craig Brian Larson
“Read books on spiritual formation and you will be hard pressed to find anyone who lists listening to the preaching of God’s Word as a first-order spiritual discipline.”
Check out free downloads from Christian music artist Josh Garrels - Joanne Brokaw
“Like other indie acts with a blatant faith message but an unconventional delivery … Garrels doesn’t quite fit the typical Christian music mold.”
The Day I Schmoozed - Amy Scott:
“Just tell her what she wants to hear.”
Evangelicals Adopting Advent - Cathy Lynn Grossman (HT: SharperIron)
“They’re giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement, and set a spiritual tone day by day.”
Faith and Politics - Doug Pagitt
“I was asked by the folks at Conservative Reformed Mafia blog to discuss my thoughts on faith and politics in light of my interest in running for the Minnesota State Legislature. I responded to questions with a video …”
Gordon Brown sells the nation’s soul to Satan - Cranmer
“As Gordon Brown has already sold the nation’s soul to the EU, all further treaties with the Devil are subject to EU scrutiny.”
Helpful Books on Justification - Mark Driscoll
It’s Time to Rethink the Issue of Homosexuality - Ken Silva
“Yes, you read that right; I do believe the time has come to rethink how we’re handling the issue of homosexuality in the Body of Christ. But maybe not like you think.”
The Jelly Bellies of Christendom - Prodigal Jon
“Super Sweaty Pastor – usually wrapped in a monogrammed handkerchief, these beans are slightly salty and super sticky from perspiration, taste like licking a Thompson Chain Reference and smell like a locker room”
Kids and Philanthropy: Teaching Your Children To Be Charitable - Beth Kanter
Logos360 Announced - The Wait Begins - ChurchCrunch
“It is, without question, simply a matter of time before we see what’ll it’ll really do to the digital landscape for Church Management Software.”
Meditations on Thanks and Giving - Carolyn McCulley
“As I prepare for Thanksgiving, one image is burned into my mind …”
National Geographic on Qeiyafa - Todd Bolen
“Much of the story reports what has been covered elsewhere, but there are some problems with the article.”
Of Crusaders and the West - Joshua Claybourn
“Our understanding of society and the individual certainly has its roots in the Crusaders.”
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863 - Abe Lincoln/Worship.com
“In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict …”
Q 2009 - Greg Atkinson
“Q is a gathering where church leaders and cultural influencers from the fields of business, politics, media, education, entertainment and the arts are exposed to the future of culture and the church’s responsibility to advance the common good in society.”
Recessions Are Good? - Rob Moll
“Recessions, before the Great Depression, were often viewed as good things.”
Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints (review) - Rebecca Writes
“I’ve reached the age where I think more and more about getting old, and I’ll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell …”
Twilight (Book Review) - Tim Challies
“Admittedly, this is my first foray into fiction written for teen girls.”
An Unwanted Detour - Suzanne Hadley:
“A week later I sat in a doctor’s office trying to hold back tears.”
Video Interviews with John Lennox - Justin Taylor
“Creator or the Multiverse?”
What is the Church Year? - Mark Daniels
“The Church Year is a human invention. Observing it won’t make us better than anybody else. Nor does keeping it ’save’ a person from sin and death. But …”
50 eXcellent Blog Footer Designs - Hongkiat.com (sorry, had to reach for this one)
“In the eye of a visitor, the footer is perhaps one of the most unnoticeable section but to a designer who knows how important user experience, navigation and designs, they are treated the same.”
You May Be a Hyper-Calvinist If … - Phil Johnson
“Within the militantly Arminian sector of the Southern Baptist Convention, it seems there are still those who insist that ‘by the definition of Phil Johnson,’ James White is a hyper-Calvinist …”
Zane Hodges (1933–2008) - Dan Wallace (I mentioned Hodges’ passing, but it means much more coming from an accomplished Greek scholar):
“Zane taught Greek and New Testament courses at Dallas Seminary from 1960 to 1987. I took him for more courses than from any other NT prof, and learned a great deal from him. His skills with the Greek text were breathtaking. I never knew a professor who could sight-read as well as Hodges (except for Johnson). And he thought through his positions well. I didn’t agree with him on everything; in fact, I would say that I disagreed with him on most of his positions. I was always a bit nervous coming into his class because I wasn’t sure what he would say that hour that might rock my world. But I enjoyed immensely how he structured the courses, how he argued his positions, and how charismatic he was in the classroom. He was a superb preacher and very persuasive. His electives always had the highest enrollment by far of any NT electives at DTS. … Zane Hodges will be dearly missed. But he now knows the joys of his Savior and is finally home.”
Praying and fasting in tough times
November 25, 2008
Jeff Krieger shares some insight at ChurchCrunch:
“Let me just say this right off. I don’t like to fast. I like food. When I walk into PF Chang’s, they yell my name a la “Norm!” on Cheers. I am not fat, mind you. I just like to eat. So, fasting … not really high on the list.
There are over 92 verses in the Bible related to and calling God’s people to fast …”
Blogging on “invisible people”
November 21, 2008
Mark Horvath has launched invisiblepeople.tv, a blog (with several short clips like the one below) about the homeless. From the site’s About page:
“On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God: ‘Why did you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it?’ For a while God said nothing. That night he replied, quite suddenly: ‘I certainly did something about it. I made you.’”
Leonard from invisible people on Vimeo.
(HT: Stacy @ Church Marketing [Stinks])
Hope in Liberia
November 12, 2008
Carolyn McCulley (Radical Womanhood) is pointing her readers to a blog authored by 25 year-old Ali Wilks, a pediatric nurse who works with Mercy Ships. Ali recently shared the story of a young Liberian woman named Marion, and her first efforts at learning to use a computer:
“I set the computer on my lap and explained the basics of typing. I showed her what a spacebar is and what it does. I demonstrated the intricacies of the shift key. I explained about punctuation. And then I sat back and let her type. One. letter. at. a. time.”
There’s much more to the story! Read the whole post.
