 |
Speech
Manuscript: Romney at Liberty University
...All
that you have heard here at Liberty University – about trusting in God and in
His purpose for each of us--makes for more than a good sermon. It makes
for a good life. So many things compete for our attention and devotion.
That doesn’t stop as you get older. We are all prone, at various turns,
to treat the trivial things as all-important, the all-important things as trivial,
and little by little lose sight of the one thing that endures forever.
No person I have ever met, not even the most righteous or pure of heart, has gone
without those times when faith recedes in the busy-ness of life. It’s normal,
and sometimes even the smallest glimpses of the Lord’s work in our lives can reawaken
our hearts. They bring us back to ourselves – and, better still, to something
far greater than ourselves. What we have, what we wish we had – ambitions
fulfilled, ambitions disappointed … investments won, investments lost … elections
won, elections lost – these things may occupy our attention, but they do not define
us. And each of them is subject to the vagaries and serendipities of life.
Our relationship with our Maker, however, depends on none of this. It is
entirely in our control, for He is always at the door, and knocks for us.
MORE |  |
| |
Erik
Raymond: Homosexuality and Its Quest to be the New Normal
...There have been countless actors, musicians, athletes, and
politicians who have publicly spoken out in favor of Gay rights. Many from these
same spheres have themselves disclosed that they themselves are gay. It has become
commonplace to have television shows and movies with gay characters. Characters
like Oscar on The Office have helped to gradually move the meter on public opinion.
Now NBC is set to debut a new show this fall entitled The New Normal. What is
the premise? Two guys are married and of course can’t have a child of their own.
They hire a surrogate to begin their family. Christians must now...
MORE |  | CBN
News: Will Iran Strike New York City on 9/11 Scale?
New York City: It's the center of the U.S. financial system
and for many people, the capital of the world. That's why the Big Apple remains
a top terror target. From the 1993 World Trade Center bombing to 9/11, and more
recently, the Times Square bomber, terrorists have repeatedly targeted Manhattan.
Now Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terror, is reportedly taking aim.
A recent warning about the threat posed by Iran and its terror proxy, Hezbollah,
came from law- makers on Capitol Hill. "We know Hezbollah operatives are here,"
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told a House com- mittee on homeland security in
March. MORE |
| | | |
| Thursday,
May 17th, 2012 | |
| NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO CHRISTIANS | Iranian
Paper Boasts of End to U.S.-Israel Alliance, Predicts Destruction of Israel
An Iranian newspaper tied to Supreme
Leader Ali Khamenei recently boasted that the U.S. has “rejected” Israel over
the past three months. This belief could have disastrous consequences. The author
writes that the only “obstacle” remaining is the Saudi Royal Family and once it
falls, Israel can be destroyed. | Reality
TV, Religion Give Birth to Top Baby Names
Reality
TV is giving birth to some of the most popular baby names. No, not Snooki. But
Mason, as in Kourtney Kardashian's son, jumped 10 spots to become the second most
popular name for newborn boys in 2011. | Protect
Your Church's Children Against Sexual Abuse
He
looked like the ideal youth minister -- recommended by a friend of the pastor,
personable, and leading a thriving ministry to teens at a Baptist church in Miami.
But looks were deceiving. | Judge
Suggests Cutting Four Commandments in Religious Display Case
A judge in the latest ACLU-generated
Ten Commandments display case has suggested that the targeted high school cull
out four commandments that refer to God in order to avoid a full-blown lawsuit. |
Chinese
Dissident's Case Exposes One-Child Horror
The
diplomatic battle between the United States and China over the case of blind Chinese
activist Chen Guangcheng has shined a new light on his country's one-child policy. |
Greece
Is On the Brink of Collapse
As
leaders in Athens accepted the need for a new general election to end a national
stalemate, the International Monetary Fund said Europe’s leaders should prepare
for the possibility of a Greek departure from the single currency. |
Unbelievable
Horrors In North Korea Coming to Light
Arguably,
the most poignant interview ever broadcast on CBC Radio’s The Curent, was the
story this week, of Shin Dong-hyuk — possibly the only person ever to escape from
a North Korean slave-labour prison camp. All stories about prisons are harsh,
but prisons, or political labour camps run by totalitarian regimes can be beyond
rational comprehension. | Chuck
Colson Remembered for His 'Heart of Gold'
Well-known
politicians mixed with leaders from the evangelical world gathered Wednesday,
to honor Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson. Colson passed away April 21 at
age 80... | Egypt's
'Brotherhood' Calls for Islamic Rule
At
a campaign rally for the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for president, a hardline
cleric and TV preacher sang Mohammed Morsi's praises before thousands massed in
the stadium of an industrial city in Egypt's Nile Delta. |
Prophecy
Expert Grant Jeffrey Dead at 64
Grant
Jeffrey, a Canadian Bible teacher known as an expert on Bible prophecies, an advocate
of dispensationalism and host of TBN's "Bible Prophecy Revealed," passed away
over the weekend after a cardiac arrest. He was 64. |
Romney
'Conflicted' About Issues Regarding Homosexuality
Traditional
values groups are disturbed that presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he's
"fine" with homosexual couples adopting children. |
New
York Suit Seeks Protection of Religious Freedom
Alliance
Defense Fund is suing the city of Buffalo, New York, contending that police violated
the constitutional rights of a Christian group. | Kuwait
Close to Okaying Death Penalty for Blasphemy Against Allah
A new blasphemy law in Kuwait is
causing concern in the United States. Earlier this month, Kuwait lawmakers approved
a measure that would mandate the death penalty in cases of blasphemy against Allah,
the prophet Mohammad, or the Koran. | When
It Comes To Energy, What Obama Refuses, China Will Gladly Take
As expected, China appears ready
to take advantage of President Barack Obama's refusal to allow a new natural gas
pipeline to be built from Canada to markets in the U.S. |
| | CULTURAL
AND RELIGIOUS EDITORIALS | Mohler:
The
Ugly American — Sex Trafficking and Our National Humiliation
...One report indicates that young
girls have been kidnapped in Eastern Europe “specifically to be sold to the American
contractors to use for sex.” Those contractors were there under the auspices of
our government to establish peace in the aftermath of the Bosnian crisis. |
Joel C. Rosenberg: Greece
on Edge of Economic Collapse and Civil War
Greece
is on the verge of economic collapse and civil war, according to top leaders inside
Greece and the European Union. Decisions made by Greek leaders and the Greek public
in the coming days and weeks could lead to catastrophic results. |
Michael Medved: Banning
Crosses Erases History
A
simmering controversy surrounding the "Ground Zero Cross" exposes the intolerance
and absolutism behind ongoing battles over religious symbols on public property.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not Christian conservatives who normally start
these bitter disputes. It's more often atheist activists who seek to alter the
long-standing status quo by scrubbing the landscape of the most visible signs
of the nation's religious heritage. | Peter
Heck: Obama's
Rebellion Deserves Pulpit Rebuttal
In
endorsing gay marriage, the President of the United States of America has called
his people to outright rebellion against the Word and will of Almighty God. Did
your minister say anything about it this week? | Robert
Knight: Obama's
Wicked Marriage Proposal
President
Obama has come out of the closet, so to speak, in support of brideless or groomless
"marriage." And he brought Jesus with him, citing Christ as his inspiration. |
Am Spectator: Mitt's
Evangelical Moment
Mitt
Romney never once used the word "Mormon" in his commencement address at Liberty
University this weekend, but he sure didn't duck the question. |
Eric C. Redmond: Obama,
Gay Marriage & the Black Church Vote
The
question of the black church's response to President's Obama's revelation of his
views on same-sex unions should have a simple and direct answer. Congregations
of the faithful might consider sending a letter... |
June Hunt: How
to Answer Arguments in Favor of Abortion
Imagine
it's your first night hosting a national call-in counseling broadcast. The program
is live, your calls aren't screened and no topic is taboo. The theme music plays
... the producer counts down the seconds ... "three, two, one, you're on!" Then,
you hear these exact words: "I was attacked two months ago, and I am pregnant
through rape." | Ken
Connor: Social
Conservatives, Get Ready to Rumble
Oh,
the irony of it all. For the past two years, the Republican establishment has
been insisting that the only effective way to beat President Obama in 2012 is
to set contentious social issues aside and focus like a laser on the economy. |
Zimmerman
Had Cuts, Black Eyes After Shooting
Court
records show George Zimmerman had a pair of black eyes, a nose fracture and two
cuts to the back of his head after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. |
Dan Delzell: Helping
Someone Escape Sin Is Not Judgmental
Do
you ever get the feeling these days that if you tried to help someone you love
escape from sin, you might be accused of judging that person? You are not alone
if you feel this way. | Cal
Thomas: Romney’s
Stellar Performance
...While
President Obama is all about coolness, Romney is the sober grown-up. Republicans
support Romney not because of his personality, but because he credibly addresses
our shared critical challenges. | Barnabas
Piper: The
Unskeptical Questioner
Skepticism
is the preferred belief system of the intellectual. Ever since the Enlightenment
brought about the emphasis on empirical evidence it has been on the rise. A general
attitude of “prove it” has pervaded among those who are, or would like to be seen
as, sharp thinkers. | | | MINISTRY
& SCRIPTURE RELATED ARTICLES AND ESSAYS |
Brian Croft: Does
His Family Have a Say In How Long a Pastor Stays at a Church?
...when to continue to sacrifice
for the sake of Christ and his church and when the sacrifice harms a pastor’s
family so much it now threatens a pastor’s qualification for the office (1 Tim.
3:4-5) or their long-term well-being. Nevertheless, here are 3 factors to
keep in mind to help you make a decision if you find yourself asking this question.... |
Sunday: Embracing
the Biblical Tension Between Family and Church Ministry
"What therefore God has joined
together, let not man separate" (Matt. 19:6b). When Jesus spoke those words, he
was referring to marriage. But in the wisdom of God, these words also apply to
the relationship between our families and our ministries. |
Ron Edmondson: When
You Don’t Want to Get Out of Bed
Do
you ever have days when you just don’t want to get out of bed?...I’m talking about
the days when you don’t want to get out of bed, because you don’t think you can
face the world outside the covers. I’m talking about days when it hurts to think
about facing life. | Marc
Cortez: Is
Learning Greek and Hebrew Really Worth It?
For
many, learning a new language is an exhausting, frustrating, and spirit-killing
endeavor... So it should come as no surprise that many wonder if it’s really worth
it. Should I really invest that much time and that many brain cells in learning
these languages? | Aaron
Armstrong: 4
Functions of Sound Doctrine
...Because
Jesus himself is the most divisive person ever to live, all doctrine that aligns
with him will necessarily cause division. But that’s not all that doctrine does.
Consider Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:6-16... |
Joe Carter: Should
Cultural Expectations Shape Christian Views of Masculinity?
Is Christianity masculine? Has
ministry become effeminate? The consideration of such questions by leaders in
the Reformed movement has initiated a debate about whether the modern resurgence
of "muscular Christianity" is scriptural and, more generally, whether cultural
expectations should shape Christian views of manhood. |
Paul Tautges: Our
Refuge and Strength in Times of Grieving
...Like
a protective mother bird, God spreads out His wings of love to guard His children
so that “No evil will befall [them]” (Ps. 91:10). However, we must receive this
protection by faith... | Cripplegate:
The
Case for Bible Translation
When
people hear that I desire to spend my life translating the Bible into languages
where there is no translation, I am usually met with this question: “Why don’t
you just teach them English?” This is sadly a question often asked to those who
have decided to do something... | Paul
Tripp: Your
Ministry Is Not Your Identity
...I
was a pastor in the process of destroying his life and ministry, and I didn’t
know it. I wish I could say that my pastoral experience is unique, but I have
come to learn in travels to hundreds of churches around the world that sadly,
it is not. | C.
Michael Patton: Seven
Marks of a Good Theologian
Are
you willing to change your position? What if the evidence was not on your side?
Are you lead purely by your emotional convictions? If you cannot change, what
gives you the right to require it of others. Theologians will always be adapting
because they know don’t have it all figured out. |
Kirk Spencer: The
Many Jesuses of Culture
...There
is much that could be said about the many jesuses that populate pop-culture.
One aspect, however, seems to stands out very clearly: They are all evolutionary
in one way or another. They change with the times. They evolve
with the world. | Barry
Creamer: Moral
Realism and God
...As
a question, the dilemma is this: “Does God command the moral because it is moral,
or is it moral because God commands it?” A skeptic may use the dilemma destructively
(or eliminatively) to doubt that God or morality actually exists. |
| | RELATIONSHIP,
MARRIAGE & FAMILY | Rick
Thomas: Are
You For Your Husband?
...Men
are needy. Your husband is not as independent and self-reliant as he may want
you or others to think. If he can get over himself and this macho image thing
he is wrapped up in, he will tell you how much he needs you-how much he desires
your affection. | Tim
Challies: A
Father's Delight
Many
a father has held an infant son in his arms, looked at that child and declared
his delight. Yet, sadly, many years later the delight has turned to disgust, the
joy to mourning. | | | GENERAL
ARTICLES AND ESSAYS | Brian
Pickings: Internal
Time
“Six
hours’ sleep for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool,” Napoleon famously
prescribed. This perceived superiority of those who can get by on less sleep isn’t
just something Napoleon shared with dictators like Hitler and Stalin, it’s an
enduring attitude... | Steve
Laube: Goodbye
to Traditional Publishing?
...If
you wish to wave goodbye to traditional publisher and go Indie (independent) I
believe the first question to ask is whether or not you want to start a small
business. Just like an entrepreneur. Those authors who are entrepreneurs
are ideally suited for the self-publishing route. The understand the energy it
takes and pitfalls ahead. | Public
Discourse: Two
Steps from Reasonable About Marriage
A
thought experiment crystalizes the reality that the connection between sex and
children is marriage’s central element, and consequently the contemporary idea
of marriage as existing for the desires of adults makes little sense. |
//////////////
| Tuesday,
May 15th, 2012 | Jonathan
Falwell: Culture Is Redefining What's Right, Wrong
Joining
pastors throughout the country in denouncing President Barack Obama's support
for same-sex marriage, Pastor Jonathan Falwell told thousands from the pulpit
that they must protect the biblical definition of marriage, even if the culture
and the president tries to redefine it. MORE |
Romney Tells Liberty Graduates to Trust in God;
Defends Traditional Marriage
Mitt
Romney was received with loud applause at Liberty University Saturday morning
as he called on graduates to let "the message of Jesus Christ" be their guide
and also as he reaffirmed the traditional definition of marriage. "Marriage is
a relationship between one man and one woman," the presumptive Republican presidential
nominee asserted, receiving a standing ovation...Romney – a Mormon – focused much
of his speech on faith, family and service. MORE |
| NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO CHRISTIANS | Imprisoned
Iranian Pastor Alive, In Good Spirits
Though
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in prison in Iran, a new letter gives reason
to believe he is still alive | Buzz
over Obama Gay Marriage Not Dying Down
The
first Sunday after President Obama's decision to back same-sex marriage had pulpits
and news programs buzzing. | Black
Pastors Speak Out on Obama's Gay Marriage Stance
Black
pastors across the country dwelt on President Barack Obama's stance during worship
services Sunday, after Obama's May 9 announcement that he supports gay marriage. |
Pollster
Rasmussen's Hope Isn't In Politics
A
Christian pollster asserts that the only way to change politics and the country
is for believers to live out their Christianity and share it with others. |
Baptist
Group Giving Up Official Status at Vanderbilt
Although
Vanderbilt University approved a campus ministry's reapplication for status, the
Baptist group has decided to decline. | Court
First, Then Church
A
worker at a major tourist attraction in the United Kingdom has won the right to
have Sundays off for church -- a victory that took two and a half years to claim. |
NY
Child Porn Decision Receives Backlash
A
recent New York State Court of Appeals decision that said viewing child porn is
legal has received backlash from the public and the legislative arena. |
Colorado
Day of Prayer Ruled Unconstitutional
A
Colorado appeals court panel recently ruled that the state's Day of Prayer is
"predominantly religious" and violates the constitutional rights of nonbelievers. |
Breakaway
Va. Church Moves on 'With Purpose'
Members
of an historic, Northern Virginia Anglican church are moving on "with purpose"
after meeting for their final service in their sanctuary Sunday. |
| | CULTURAL
AND RELIGIOUS EDITORIALS | Robert
Knight: Obama's
Wicked Marriage Proposal
President
Obama has come out of the closet, so to speak, in support of brideless or groomless
"marriage." And he brought Jesus with him, citing Christ as his inspiration. |
| | MINISTRY
& SCRIPTURE RELATED ARTICLES AND ESSAYS |
Adoniram
Judson: Endurance Personified in the Life of a Protestant Missionary
As we celebrate the 200th anniversary
of Adoniram and Ann Judson's sailing from Salem, Massachusetts to India and later
Burma, we are not merely celebrating a critical early event in the North American
Mission Movement. We celebrate the life of a devoted follower of Christ whose
life and ministry personified the long-term impact of endurance and perseverance... |
Dan Delzell: Should
Anyone Planning to Sin Be Baptized?
Each
one of us is a sinner. There is no getting around it. So what is the difference
between a sinner who has been saved by God's grace, and a sinner who is still
lost in his sins? | Ron
Edmondson: 10 Attributes of a Humble Leader
Humility
is a desired, but often neglected characteristic of good, servant leadership.
The more we promote ourselves online, the more I’m afraid humility is being forgotten.
As one who has an online presence, I consistently sense God reminding me that
I’ve been on the bottom and I can return there. Pride is a struggle for many leaders
(author included), but we must strive to bring humility to our leadership roles.
Here are 10 attributes of a humble leader... MORE |
Thom Rainer: Seven Things in
the Church That Will Not Change
I
love following church trends. I have been researching and consulting with churches
for over thirty years. It’s just what I do. Sometimes I am pretty good about projecting
current trends toward a future reality. Of course, I’ve had my share of misses
as well....This time, however, I can make a definitive statement. I can tell you
seven things in the church that will not change. In the fast pace of change in
local congregations, these seven constants are good reminders of what really matters.
MORE |
/////
| Monday,
May 14th, 2012 | |
| NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO CHRISTIANS | Plane
En Route to Christian Rally Crashes, 4 Dead
A
small airplane that crashed in southeast Kansas on Friday was carrying five people
with connections to Oral Roberts University to a Christian youth rally. |
Mother's
Day Church Attendance Ranks 3rd
Between
Easter and Christmas, Mother's Day may be the most likely day people will attend
church, according to a study by LifeWay Research. In a national poll of 1,000
Protestant pastors, LifeWay Research asked what the three highest attendance Sundays
were throughout the year. | Poll:
Obama's Gay Marriage Stance Could Cost Him Votes
A
new poll shows that President Barack Obama's decision to support gay marriage
might make many independents and even some Democrats less likely to vote for him
in November. | Kansas
County Commission Won't Reinstate Prayer
Officials
in Reno County (Kansas) are ending their tradition of mostly Christian prayer
before meetings. | Samaritan's
Purse Calls Christians to Pray for Peace in Sudan
Refugee
pastors are asking Christians to pray for peace between Sudan and South Sudan. |
Anti-Religion
Campus Policies Targeted By ADF
The
Alliance Defense Fund has launched a nationwide campaign to convince state universities
and colleges to change policies that restrict students' First Amendment rights. |
ABC
Cancels Controversial 'GCB' Series
ABC
has cancelled its freshman series with the controversial title "GCB," which some
believed mocked Christians, as it failed to attract enough viewership. |
| | CULTURAL
AND RELIGIOUS EDITORIALS | Kelly
Boggs: Gay
Marriage Misconceptions
...One
misconception is that North Carolina, along with 31 other states, has banned gay
marriage. In actuality all voters in the Tar Heel State did was to establish that
the only legally recognized marriages in their state will be those that take place
between a man and a woman. | Am
Thinker: Modern
Gnosticism and the Family as Contract
...Specifically,
there is a Gnostic impracticality in the vain pretense that children can be loved
and raised just as well under an adult-contracting arrangement as within a real,
traditional, and physical family unit. The re-packagers of marriage fail to grasp
this because they are... | Am
Thinker:: Demonizing
Conservative Thought
The
president has adopted an electoral strategy of demonizing conservative thought.
In a now-infamous speech, President Obama referred to his conservative opponents
as "stuck in the past," and as "naysayers" who "don't believe in the future."
He scoffed that his... | One
News Now: Our
Fascination With Saviors
The
Avengers is about a fundamentally moral battle. It evokes a truth through narrative
fiction that we can experience in real life. Christians need to be unafraid to
share about their own Avenger and Savior. | Am
Thinker:: Should
Critically Discussing Islam Be a Form of Hate Speech?
...Hedegaard
dared say that Islam should be criticized for endorsing coerced child-bride marriages.
The prosecutor never alleged that anything Hedegaard stated was untrue.
Truth under the Dutch hate speech law is largely irrelevant. |
David Cloud: Inventor
of the MRI Says Evolution is Science Fiction
...If
you take the trouble to examine the evidence supporting the Bible and contradicting
alternative theories, from my perception, the evidence is overwhelmingly in support
of the biblical record and vacates alternative thoughts such as evolution. The
evidence for evolution is non-existent. In my opinion, evolution is science fiction. |
| | MINISTRY
& SCRIPTURE RELATED ARTICLES AND ESSAYS |
Jonathan Leeman: What
Is Church Membership?
Church
membership is a formal relationship between a local church and a Christian characterized
by the church’s affirmation and oversight of a Christian’s discipleship and the
Christian’s submission to living out his or her discipleship in the care of the
church. | Jared
C. Wilson: What
is Better?
...God
did not make us to “feel good inside” (or outside) all the time this side of heaven;
he made us to share in the sufferings of Christ, that we might share in his resurrection. |
Nathan Bingham: Grief
— A Forgotten Apologetic
Whether
that’s from seeing “prosperity gospel” false teachers on television, or observing
conservative Christians leaving their homes on Sunday morning wearing their “happy
clothes” and “happy face.” Either way, we’re good at giving the world the impression
that life’s hard for the heathen and roses for the righteous. But that’s not true. |
Julie Yarbrough: Grief
is Ministry
...You
see, until my husband died in 2004, I had never experienced the death of someone
intimately close to my heart. The truth is, it is absolutely impossible to comprehend
the death of another person before the fact, however dire the circumstance. |
Jared C. Wilson: How
to Deal with Persistent Guilt
A
little-known seventeenth-century Puritan, Thomas Wilcox . . . wrote Honey Out
of the Rock, one of the most helpful essays we’ve found on dealing with persistent
guilt. We’ve updated into modern language a series of Wilcox’s instructions for
dealing with persistent guilt: | Aaron
Armstrong: Division,
Contending and Speaking the Truth in Love
...Younger
Christians (and non-Christians) struggle to understand the uproar from their conservative
forebearers. Rachel Held Evans is right to point this out. But just because homosexuality
seems “normal” to the 30 and under crowd, it doesn’t mean that our response ought
to be to throw their hands up in the air and sigh, “Can’t we all just get along?” |
Art Lindsley: Seven
Key Ideas from C. S. Lewis
I
have heard it said that many well-known thinkers have only two or three key ideas
that they develop from various angles throughout their lives. It might be asked:
What are C.S. Lewis’s key ideas? I have chosen seven to summarize in this essay |
Dave Stone: Families
Are Key to the Future of the Church
Have
you ever been asked why the church focuses so much attention on families?...churches
often provide resource upon resource for married couples and families. So, what’s
the reason for this? Why is the family so central to the church? |
Geoff Surratt: Leadership
Training That Works
...I
want to look at how Jesus developed leaders. He never held a class, he never put
out a sign-up sheet, there wasn’t even a Starbucks in Galilee. But the eleven
men he poured his life into changed the world. So here are my observations on
the Jesus Leadership Pipeline... | |
| GENERAL
ARTICLES AND ESSAYS | Art
of Manliness: Learning the Skill of Paying Attention
...You
might be surprised how much we are required to listen in the course of an average
day. Yet, unlike many of the other essential skills in our lives that we
have learned through some combination of schooling and experience, very little
time has been devoted to training us as listeners. The irony is that listening
is the most frequently used and invaluable skill we could possibly have for our
personal and professional lives. Let’s put it in perspective with some of the
aspects of... MORE |
Wired: The
Age of Microcelebrity
Microcelebrity
is the phenomenon of being extremely well known not to millions but to a small
group --- a thousand people, or maybe only a few dozen. As DIY media reach ever
deeper into our lives, it's happening to more and more of us. Gota Facebook account?
A whackload of.... | Licorice:
The Candy That Fights Diabetes
A
new treatment for diabetes may have just been identified from the most unlikely
source: the basic ingredient of a candy. Licorice root, the raw material
for licorice candy, has now been hailed as containing substances with an anti-diabetic
effect. | /////////// |
 One
of the more interesting sections of dialog in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress
has Christian and Hopeful discussing the danger of backsliding, of falling away
from what had the appearance of spiritual life and growth. That dialog, drawn
from the tenth stage of Christian’s journey, is important and instructive. Bunyan
presupposes that such people have been awakened to their need for salvation by
some combination of the fear of God and the danger of hell, but eventually fall
back or fall away. Here are four reasons that people backslide:r
MORE |
 One
of the chief arguments that people use against God is that He allegedly hasn’t
given enough light to mankind. It is common to charge God with culpability because
millions of people today have not heard the gospel of Christ and because of those
who died in past times without having heard the gospel. The fact is that God has
zero culpability in this. He has given light and those who respond to the light
receive more light. The Bible says that God gives light to every man (John
1:9). In the epistle to the church at Rome, Paul explained that God has given
three types of light to mankind.... MORE |
 I
am trained as a journalist. And I’m trained as a preacher. You might be surprised
to learn there’s significant overlap between these callings. Both teach by distilling
complicated concepts about how the world works. Both herald news, good and bad.
You might not know about the overlap between these callings because journalists
and preachers generally don’t like each other. Journalists rank among the most
skeptical professionals. They don’t trust anyone they cover. A pastor recently
told me his church convenes meetings for Christian artists, bankers, and many
other professionals. Despite the many media outlets in this city, few journalists
ever darken the door of his church. MORE |
 The
ObamaCare contraceptive mandate has caught a lot of flack from Catholics who claim
that it violates the free exercise rights of church-affiliated employers by forcing
them to include birth control in employee health care plans. The outrage
against the mandate is justified, the narrative runs, and the case against the
Health and Human Services rule is a slam-dunk. That overconfidence evaporates
like spit on a hot tailpipe the minute we start thumbing through a few Supreme
Court opinions. The problem: the free exercise clause is the 1st Amendment's
redheaded stepchild. MORE |
 ...As
Joe Biden said, television shows such as Will & Grace, Modern Family,
and Ellen have normalized same-sex relationships. Nearly everyone knows
and loves someone who lives openly as a homosexual or fights same-sex attraction...You
won't understand the challenge facing Christians regarding homosexuality until
you see how these three points permeate our culture. On the surface, we appear
to be locked in a battle of rights we can't win. Christians declare our right
to speak out and legislate according to religious conviction in defense of traditional
institutions. Gays pursue their right to life, liberty, happiness with regard
to their sexuality. But homosexuality fronts a much bigger challenge that threatens
us all. MORE |
//////
EDITOR'S
DISCLAIMER
Please
do not assume that a link to an author or a ministry
implies our agreement with, or support of, that entity. Even
the article or item itself may not agree with the editor's views.
We trust our readers to discern the truth for
themselves. Our purpose here is to make known to Christian leaders
the issues of the day, and point to articles that may shed light on what others
are thinking about an issue or subject. You can find more about the Editor's
beliefs and views by clicking on About
This Site. | //
 Two
rare 3,000-year-old models of ancient shrines were among artifacts presented by
an Israeli archaeologist on Tuesday as finds he said offered new support for the
historical veracity of the Bible. The archaeologist, Yosef Garfinkel of Hebrew
University, is excavating a site known as Hirbet Qeiyafa, located in the Judean
hills not far from the modern-day city of Beit Shemesh. Garfinkel says the central
finds presented Tuesday at a Jerusalem press conference — two model shrines, one
of clay and one of stone — echo elements of Temple architecture as described in
the Bible and strengthen his claim that the city that stood at the site 3,000
years ago was inhabited by Israelites and was part of the kingdom ruled from Jerusalem
by the biblical King David. MORE |
 To
no one's surprise, President Obama revealed that after some "evolution"
he has "concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and
affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married." This after
the Vice-President came out last Sunday strongly in favor of gay marriage.
Not coincidentally, the New York Times ran an article on Tuesday about how popular
and not controversial gay television characters have become. In other words,
everyone else has grown up so why don't you? It can seem like the whole world
is having a gay old time, with conservative Christians the only ones refusing
to party. The temptation, then, is for Christians go silent and give up the marriage
fight.... MORE |
 Pastors
are instructed to be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3). The pastor can
feel a bit overwhelmed when considering the implications of that instruction.
Because of this, we can lose sight of the need to mature and grow for the sake
of our own personal sanctification, not solely because others are looking to us.
In light of this temptation, here are a few areas that pastors need to double-check
to make sure there is annual progressive growth. These revolve around the
pastor’s soul and the longevity of his ministry: MORE |
 What
would you do if someday the government made it mandatory for everyone to receive
an implantable microchip for identification purposes? Would you take it?
Such a scenario may not be as far off as you might think. In the United
States today, millions of dogs and cats have been microchipped, thousands of elderly
Americans with Alzheimer's disease have been microchipped, and the U.S. military
is developing "medical devices" that contain microchips to monitor the health
of soldiers. MORE |
 The
Rev. Jerry Falwell’s name will always be linked with the Moral Majority, the organization
he formed to galvanize conservative evangelicals into political action. Certainly,
bringing evangelicals out of the cultural wilderness and marching them into politics
changed both the political and the religious landscape in important and enduring
ways. One needs only to look at this primary season to glimpse that legacy. This
year evangelicals came out to vote in record numbers. numbers. The recent
rhetoric surrounding the Obama administration’s contraception mandate... MORE |
 It
is certainly Biblical for us to use our rights as citizens, as Paul used his Roman
citizenship in Acts, and for us to follow Christ's command to be salt and light
in our society-- never- theless, we are also? not to violate Biblical precepts
about separation, nor neglect the fact that preaching the gospel and making disciples
is the Great Commission, not simply trying to influence society. Is there
a Biblical way to preach the gospel, stand for godly government, and cry out against
the evils of our society at the same time, while maintaining Biblical separation?
Should we join hands with those who preach a false gospel to advance political
causes? What can be done to cry out for righteousness when we now have a president
who openly supports sodomite marriage, not to mention the murder of the preborn....
MORE |
 An
archaeologist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says he has discovered cultic
shrines dating back to the time of the biblical King David, which may provide
clarity to some obscure building references in the Bible. Professor Yosef
Garfinkel says his discoveries at Khirbet Qeiyafa, an ancient fortified city that
is 30 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem and is adjacent to the Valley of Elah,
have confirmed the biblical view of the region prior to the construction of Solomon's
Temple. "This is the first time that archaeologists uncovered a fortified
city in Judah from the time of King David," Garfinkel said in a press release.
MORE |
 ...Now
President Barack Obama has affirmed his support of same-sex marriage. The president's
statements should come as no surprise. His refusal to defend the Defense of Marriage
Act and his comments about "evolving" on the issue both pointed toward this event.
I Tweeted recently that I expected such a move from the president. The only remote
surprise is the timing of his announcement. I, like many others, expected this
announcement after he had won a second term in November. This announcement accelerated
the timeline of an inevitable conversation. So how do we as evangelicals respond?
MORE |
 It
may be one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Indeed, it may be an impossible
job to do in our own strength. I know. Before I was LifeWay's president
or a seminary dean, I served as pastor of four churches. I know. I have heard
from countless pastors in countless churches. Their stories are similar to mine.
So I asked the question: What specific part of being a pastor is the most difficult
for you? In the weeks ahead, I will share a more exhaustive list. For now, let's
look at five tough challenges for pastors. MORE |
 Just
when all of Israel was preparing for early elections on September 4th, Prime Minister
Netanyahu pulled off a stunning political deal this week that some are interpreting
as a prelude to war with Iran. That’s certainly what the Arab media is saying.
Rather than dissolve the Israeli parliament (Knesset) as expected, Netanyahu persuaded
his chief rival Shaul Mofaz, leader of the Kadima party, to join the government.
Mofaz will become a Deputy Prime Minister. His entire party will join as well...This
will give Netanyahu a coalitio... one of the largest national unity governments
in modern Israeli history. Even political observers who can’t stand Netanyahu
are calling it a “masterstroke.” MORE |
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