Beware: The Bible is About to Threaten Your Smartphone Focus (John Piper)
Are apps a threat to God-focus? Yes. But it works both ways. Fight fire with fire.
If you are reading your Bible on your computer or your smartphone or your iPad, the presence of the email app and the news apps and the Facebook app threaten every moment to drag your attention away from the word of God.
True. Fight that. If your finger offends you, cut it off. Or use any other virtuous violence (Matthew 11:12) that sets you free to rivet your soul on God.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Religious Liberty in the Arab World (Baptist Press)
"As revolution sweeps through the Arab world, a deeply troubling trend is emerging -- the absence of religious liberty as a key element in the transitioning governments and the failure of our government to publicly and vigorously defend this most fundamental of liberties. This reality is especially disturbing in Iraq and Afghanistan, nations liberated at great cost of American lives and treasure...."
"As revolution sweeps through the Arab world, a deeply troubling trend is emerging -- the absence of religious liberty as a key element in the transitioning governments and the failure of our government to publicly and vigorously defend this most fundamental of liberties. This reality is especially disturbing in Iraq and Afghanistan, nations liberated at great cost of American lives and treasure...."
Is God An Egotistical Maniac? (C Michael Patton)
"There is a popular notion among Evangelicals that I think has become part of our folklore. Indeed, it is the shibboleth (secret pass code) of my fellow Calvinists. When I call this “folklore” I don’t necessarily mean “not true” (as we will see), I simply mean that it is uncritically accepted without much thought. Many would say that God’s sole purpose, intent, and motivation for creating humanity and all of creation was for His own self-glorification. If you were to ask this question to God: “God, why did you create us?” His answer, without hesitation, would be, “Easy, to glorify myself.”..."
"There is a popular notion among Evangelicals that I think has become part of our folklore. Indeed, it is the shibboleth (secret pass code) of my fellow Calvinists. When I call this “folklore” I don’t necessarily mean “not true” (as we will see), I simply mean that it is uncritically accepted without much thought. Many would say that God’s sole purpose, intent, and motivation for creating humanity and all of creation was for His own self-glorification. If you were to ask this question to God: “God, why did you create us?” His answer, without hesitation, would be, “Easy, to glorify myself.”..."
Where Have the Good Men Gone? (Wall Street Journal)
"Not so long ago, the average American man in his 20s had achieved most of the milestones of adulthood: a high-school diploma, financial independence, marriage and children. Today, most men in their 20s hang out in a novel sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance. This "pre-adulthood" has much to recommend it, especially for the college-educated. But it's time to state what has become obvious to legions of frustrated young women: It doesn't bring out the best in men...."
"Not so long ago, the average American man in his 20s had achieved most of the milestones of adulthood: a high-school diploma, financial independence, marriage and children. Today, most men in their 20s hang out in a novel sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance. This "pre-adulthood" has much to recommend it, especially for the college-educated. But it's time to state what has become obvious to legions of frustrated young women: It doesn't bring out the best in men...."
Saturday, February 19, 2011
On Gay Rights, Keep Fighting or Adapt? (USA Today)
"You get the sense, observing the shifting cultural landscape, that we've reached a point on gay rights that is similar to that moment in a football game, or an election, or a relationship, when you know it's over even though it's not over.
It appears increasingly obvious that social acceptance of gay men and lesbians and insistence on their equal rights are inexorable. If the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" weren't enough to signal the turning point, or the classification of several gay-resisting Christian right organizations as "hate groups" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, there came news that Exodus International ..."
"You get the sense, observing the shifting cultural landscape, that we've reached a point on gay rights that is similar to that moment in a football game, or an election, or a relationship, when you know it's over even though it's not over.
It appears increasingly obvious that social acceptance of gay men and lesbians and insistence on their equal rights are inexorable. If the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" weren't enough to signal the turning point, or the classification of several gay-resisting Christian right organizations as "hate groups" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, there came news that Exodus International ..."
Effort to Choke Taxpayer Funding to Planned Parenthood (FoxNews)
"The time has come. There is a growing movement on Capitol Hill pushing to end all taxpayer funding of abortion in America. On Thursday, a contingent of pro-life representatives and organization leaders kicked off a renewed effort to choke off funding for Planned Parenthood at a packed press conference. The event came on the heels of several new pieces of legislation that are expected to move quickly under the Republican-controlled House.
Each year, the abortion industry receives millions of our tax dollars to advance its destructive agenda. And, each year, more and more Americans demand that their hard-earned paychecks not fund the killing of preborn children, the wounding of their mothers, and the advancement of a culture of death in America. Last year alone Planned Parenthood Federation of America collected $363 million in taxpayer dollars...
"The time has come. There is a growing movement on Capitol Hill pushing to end all taxpayer funding of abortion in America. On Thursday, a contingent of pro-life representatives and organization leaders kicked off a renewed effort to choke off funding for Planned Parenthood at a packed press conference. The event came on the heels of several new pieces of legislation that are expected to move quickly under the Republican-controlled House.
Each year, the abortion industry receives millions of our tax dollars to advance its destructive agenda. And, each year, more and more Americans demand that their hard-earned paychecks not fund the killing of preborn children, the wounding of their mothers, and the advancement of a culture of death in America. Last year alone Planned Parenthood Federation of America collected $363 million in taxpayer dollars...
America’s Abortion Schizophrenia (Denny Burk)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--A moral schizophrenia afflicts our culture on the issue of abortion. There are inconsistencies both in our nation's laws and in people's attitudes about the moral status of the unborn. Nevertheless, too many people still seem unable to see the contradictions. A case in point appears in the Feb. 10 New York Times.
Pam Belluck reports on a new study appearing in the The New England Journal of Medicine. A rigorous clinical trial has shown that fetal surgery can help babies with spina bifida to walk and experience fewer neurological problems if operated on before being born rather than afterward. Here's a summary of the study's findings:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--A moral schizophrenia afflicts our culture on the issue of abortion. There are inconsistencies both in our nation's laws and in people's attitudes about the moral status of the unborn. Nevertheless, too many people still seem unable to see the contradictions. A case in point appears in the Feb. 10 New York Times.
Pam Belluck reports on a new study appearing in the The New England Journal of Medicine. A rigorous clinical trial has shown that fetal surgery can help babies with spina bifida to walk and experience fewer neurological problems if operated on before being born rather than afterward. Here's a summary of the study's findings:
Friday, February 18, 2011
Is Birth Control Okay?
The short answer is a qualified yes as long as the motivation is right. We know God promotes and approves of the conception and raising of children as one of the purposes of marriage (Gen. 1:22, Titus 2:3-5, I Tim. 5:14). Psalm 127:3-5 tells us that children are rewarding gifts from God and a blessing to the family. Raising a God-honoring family will influence the world around us for good and God’s glory.
The only apparent issue with God is having the wrong motivation as illustrated by Onan’s selfishness in not wanting to perpetuate Tamar’s family and inheritance (Genesis 38). Other than this, there isn’t anything in Scripture, either by precept or principle that prohibits married couples from practicing birth control for legitimate and unselfish purposes such as wanting to be spiritually or financially prepared and responsible. However, to those who desire no children only to perpetuate their own self-driven agendas, this violates one of God’s purposes (perpetuation of a godly generation) and intention for the family.
The only apparent issue with God is having the wrong motivation as illustrated by Onan’s selfishness in not wanting to perpetuate Tamar’s family and inheritance (Genesis 38). Other than this, there isn’t anything in Scripture, either by precept or principle that prohibits married couples from practicing birth control for legitimate and unselfish purposes such as wanting to be spiritually or financially prepared and responsible. However, to those who desire no children only to perpetuate their own self-driven agendas, this violates one of God’s purposes (perpetuation of a godly generation) and intention for the family.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Why We Need to Do the Right Thing: Ethical and Economic Meltdown (Chuck Colson)
For two years now I’ve been telling you that the nation’s economic collapse was the result of an ethical collapse. And now you don’t have to take my word for it. A recent report by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission called the events of 2008 and their aftermath “avoidable.” The commission wrote that the “crisis was the result of human action and inaction” and not unforeseeable events or uncontrollable forces.
For two years now I’ve been telling you that the nation’s economic collapse was the result of an ethical collapse. And now you don’t have to take my word for it. A recent report by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission called the events of 2008 and their aftermath “avoidable.” The commission wrote that the “crisis was the result of human action and inaction” and not unforeseeable events or uncontrollable forces.
God is Great, God is Good (Phil Johnson)
love Job's immediate reaction to the first wave of tragedies that rocked his life, robbed him of his possessions, and took the lives of his children, all in one single, horrific day: "He said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord'" (Job 1:21).
love Job's immediate reaction to the first wave of tragedies that rocked his life, robbed him of his possessions, and took the lives of his children, all in one single, horrific day: "He said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord'" (Job 1:21).
Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood (Dr. Robert Morey)
Our friend and colleague Frank Gaffney, President of the Center for Security Policy, posted an excellent column yesterday (see below) on the threat the Muslim Brotherhood poses in Egypt. Gaffney will be a guest on an upcoming episode of our new TV show, premiering this weekend (February 5th at 2:30 PM ET on Family Net; February 6th at 4:00 PM ET on ALN).
Our friend and colleague Frank Gaffney, President of the Center for Security Policy, posted an excellent column yesterday (see below) on the threat the Muslim Brotherhood poses in Egypt. Gaffney will be a guest on an upcoming episode of our new TV show, premiering this weekend (February 5th at 2:30 PM ET on Family Net; February 6th at 4:00 PM ET on ALN).
A Prayer for Gospel Pharisees and Scribes (Scotty Smith)
Dear Jesus, we tremble at the thought of you speaking these words to us. What could be more sobering and tragic than to hear you say, “You talk about me a whole lot, using plenty of spiritual language and Bible quotes. You’re very quick to recognize and correct false teaching. You’re even quite zealous to apply what you know to others. But your heart is very far from me.”
Dear Jesus, we tremble at the thought of you speaking these words to us. What could be more sobering and tragic than to hear you say, “You talk about me a whole lot, using plenty of spiritual language and Bible quotes. You’re very quick to recognize and correct false teaching. You’re even quite zealous to apply what you know to others. But your heart is very far from me.”
Saturday, February 5, 2011
4 Reasons to Eat Meat Just Once a Day (Trevin Wax)
I don’t do diets. And I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. But I did adopt a pseudo-diet as a pseudo-resolution for 2011. (Confused yet? I prefer to call it a lifestyle change.) I decided to eat meat at only one meal a day. Why I Made the Change
I will turn 30 this summer. Up until now, I haven’t had to worry much about my weight or my health. Friends tell me that once you get into your thirties (particularly your late thirties), your body begins to turn on you, causing you to be more conscious about exercise, food, etc....
I don’t do diets. And I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. But I did adopt a pseudo-diet as a pseudo-resolution for 2011. (Confused yet? I prefer to call it a lifestyle change.) I decided to eat meat at only one meal a day. Why I Made the Change
I will turn 30 this summer. Up until now, I haven’t had to worry much about my weight or my health. Friends tell me that once you get into your thirties (particularly your late thirties), your body begins to turn on you, causing you to be more conscious about exercise, food, etc....
Teach Kids Media Discernment (Walt Mueller)
There's been lots of talk and buzz concerning MTV's controversial teen drama, Skins. In perfect world we wouldn't be talking about Skins because it wouldn't exist. In a near-perfect world we would be able to step into our kids' lives and simply tell them to turn it off, or don't turn it on in the first place. . . and they would gladly listen knowing that we had their best interests in mind. But the fact of the matter is that we don't live a perfect world. So what do we do? That last question is my cue (given by me) to trumpet our need to teach our kids to think critically and Christianly for themselves about their media choices. . . a skill that will serve them well both now and for the rest of their lives....
There's been lots of talk and buzz concerning MTV's controversial teen drama, Skins. In perfect world we wouldn't be talking about Skins because it wouldn't exist. In a near-perfect world we would be able to step into our kids' lives and simply tell them to turn it off, or don't turn it on in the first place. . . and they would gladly listen knowing that we had their best interests in mind. But the fact of the matter is that we don't live a perfect world. So what do we do? That last question is my cue (given by me) to trumpet our need to teach our kids to think critically and Christianly for themselves about their media choices. . . a skill that will serve them well both now and for the rest of their lives....
Why Fornication is Peculiarly Evil (Phil Johnson) t the heart of all the problems in the church at Corinth was a tendency to let the values of that debauched culture seep into the church. That's something for missional Christians to consider today: cultural assimilation as a strategy for church growth in a pagan culture is fraught with serious dangers. Especially in a city filled with both temples and brothels—where fornication was literally deemed a religious rite—the worst thing the church could do would be to take a lax attitude toward sexual sin....
Gospel-Centered Accountability (Jonathan Dodson)
This chapter was adapted from material in a forthcoming book by the author to be published by Crossway in 2012.
Put ten bucks in the jar to keep from sinning.
When I recall some of the popular discipleship disciplines I advocated in college, I shudder. Did I really think that they were biblical or even helpful?
When one of my disciples caved into a particular sin he was “being held accountable for,” he had to put ten bucks in the jar. Sounds awfully close to an indulgence doesn’t it? Yet, in our aim to promote “holiness,” ten bucks was the penalty for pandering to sin. We thought this approach to accountability was especially good for fighting sexual sin. If one of the guys I discipled had a particularly lustful week (viewing inappropriate TV, reading pornographic material, or masturbating), he had to “pay the price.”....
This chapter was adapted from material in a forthcoming book by the author to be published by Crossway in 2012.
Put ten bucks in the jar to keep from sinning.
When I recall some of the popular discipleship disciplines I advocated in college, I shudder. Did I really think that they were biblical or even helpful?
When one of my disciples caved into a particular sin he was “being held accountable for,” he had to put ten bucks in the jar. Sounds awfully close to an indulgence doesn’t it? Yet, in our aim to promote “holiness,” ten bucks was the penalty for pandering to sin. We thought this approach to accountability was especially good for fighting sexual sin. If one of the guys I discipled had a particularly lustful week (viewing inappropriate TV, reading pornographic material, or masturbating), he had to “pay the price.”....
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