Expelled vs Exposed!
Well, I dont want to steal to much of the thunder from these sites, but if you havent heard about Ben Stein’s presentation of the movie Expelled, it is creating some waves. Probably the largest reaction to it I have seen is the site Expelled Exposed, and it offers an opposing point of view regarding the material presented in Expelled. The whole issue is regarding the inclusion of intelligent design as an equal theory to the theory of evolution. Exposed claims that science operates on assumptions that can neither prove nor deny theological claims, and as such intelligent design theories have as much place in a science classroom as a geometry theorem in an Old English literature course. What are your thoughts?
An Evangelical Manifesto
Two posts in one day?!?! Can it be?!?! You bet… this is just too good not to share.
From CNN:
Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word “evangelical” has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.
The declaration encourages Christians to uphold traditional marriage, as in this Massachusetts protest.
The statement, called “An Evangelical Manifesto,” condemns Christians on the right and left for using faith to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.
“That way faith loses its independence, Christians become ‘useful idiots’ for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology,” according to the draft. Read more »
Maple’s Story
I’m sitting here at a local coffee shop, grabbing some dinner, reading my new favorite book (Tim Keller’s The Reason for God), and otherwise trying to get away from campus and have some uninterrupted time to myself, when a little girl walks up to my table and asks me, “What chapter are you on?”
That was the first of many questions.
“What do you do?”
I’m a student.
“Are you in high school?”
Weeeell… It’s after high school, and after college.
“Do they talk on a stage, for a long time?”
Yes, very often.
“What’s your name?”
Brad. What’s yours?
“Maple. When a baby is born, how do they know if it is a boy or a girl?”
Well Maple… I…. uhhh… the doctors know.
“But how do they know?”
They went to a lot of school and… they just know.
“You go to a lot of school. Do you know?”
Uhhh…. No. Do you like to read, Maple? Read more »
What’s Wrong Here?
I have done several posts on how to properly read and interpret scripture. A friend directed me to this YouTube video, and I had to laugh and cry. I am curious what everyone’s thoughts are on why exactly this guy’s interpretation, though I am sure his intentions are good, is “piss” poor.
Is Christian Music always Christian?
Don’t hear what I am not saying.
There are plenty of Christian artists out there who are great people and excellent musicians. But I happened across this video last week, and I had to laugh because I realized that sometimes the “Christian Music Industry” creates bands who exist for the sake of profit, just like the “Regular Music Industry” does. These are ridiculous distinctions, I realize that, but it’s the best I can do to make sense of reality.
Take a look at the video. Does it reflect any truth at all? Do some people lie for the sake of keeping up appearances? Is the Christian music industry really to blame? Are all of us to some degree just like the artists portrayed here? How can we battle against this tendency in “evangelical culture?”
Confessions of A Christian
2 Peter 1:3-11
“Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
This short confessional statement makes it clear that the realization that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior produces a life change. So when this confession is made, what does it mean? Most Christians hear these words so often that we can repeat them without considering their implications. As a result, I am going to attempt to define each of these loaded terms with regard to their Biblical context and describe which aspects we as a culture tend to omit or elaborate. Read more »
My Little Man
There is a little man who has captured my heart. He has blue eyes and blond hair and little peachy cheeks. He looks up to me and likes to hold my hand. Last night, we watched Toy Story and played on his drum-set while singing, “Little Bunny Fou-Fou.”
He is two-and-a-half years old.
He is my baby brother.
Last night, we shared snack time. He climbed up into his little chair and wanted two Go-Gurts. “One for you and one for me!” he said.
I look at this little man and I love him. We have the same father, and we have the same blood. We are bonded together forever in that way, because we have the same family. We are also bonded by the bonds of love. I understand this best when we spend time together, singing songs and sharing snacks.
So it is with the family of God. By Jesus’ blood, we believers are bonded together and share the same Father. We have the same blood forever. However, we don’t fully understand this joy until we spend time together as brothers and sisters enjoying this special bond and sharing our love for each other and for our Father—sometimes this involves singing songs and also sharing snacks! (Colossians 3:16, Psalm 34:8, Mark 14:21-23)
