Last spring I had the privilege of speaking at a conference for NFL players put on by Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO), a group which exists to unite a community of pro athletes and couples to grow as disciples of Jesus and positively impact their spheres of influence. They have a fantastic outreach to professional football and baseball athletes and their wives. I’ve seen firsthand the amazing difference they’re making. In the off-season I exchanged emails and texts with dozens of NFL players and cha..Continue reading→
Home
Thoughts
Motherhood Is a Marathon
I wanted to do great things for God. In the spring of my senior year of college, on the brink of embarking upon my own journey into adulthood, my future was undecided and that was simultaneously terrifying and thrilling. As a philosophy major, my path was narrower than I had realized, but I was sure it would take me on some grand and glorious adventure. I knew the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. “Glorify” sounds like such a grand term. It evokes images of battlefie..Continue reading→
1 Peter 5:7–8: How Not to Battle Anxiety
Anxieties attack our faith and torment our peace. The question with anxiety is not whether it will come, but rather, how can I fight it when it does? Watch NowContinue reading→
Is Love of Money Really the Root of All Evils?
Is the love of money the “root of all evils” or only the “root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10)? “All evils” is the formal English equivalent of the original Greek (pantōn tōn kakōn). It is remarkable that all older versions of the Bible translate 1 Timothy 6:10 in the more literal way: “The love of money is the root of all evils” (or all evil). This includes the Wycliffe Bible, Luther Bibel, Geneva Bible, King James Version, Douay-Rheims, Darby Bible, and Revised Standard Version. Bu..Continue reading→
Daily Verses
1 Corinthians 10:16 (10-16-16)
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?— 1 Corinthians 10:16 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... The Apostle Paul makes clear that the heart of the Gospel is found in the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The Lord's Supper, Communion or Eucharist as it is sometimes called, is a key part of our walk with Christ. It is a t..Continue reading→
Our Father Comes Alongside
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25, NKJV The Greek word for “comforter” is parakletos, which literally means one called alongside to help. This was beautifully illustrated in the 1992 Summer Olympics during a track-and-field event. As the runners in the 400-meter race flew around the oval track, one of them suddenly pulled up on the back stretch, one leg held up and dangling as he limped to a stop. He had pulled a hamstring! As the crowd stood, holding its c..Continue reading→
Psalm 19:14
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”Continue reading→
Judges 10:15 (10-15-16)
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.— Judges 10:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... When God's people realized the depth of their sin and the impending punishment by God, they repented and asked for his help. They didn't try to diminish the gravity of their sin. Instead, they threw themselves on the mercy of the LORD and his graciousness. Unfortunately to..Continue reading→
The Jewel of Creation
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10, NKJVIn the beginning, the Creator was not stingy with our environment. He filled it with life. Planet Earth was progressively transformed as every day God’s Word went forth and every day God’s Word was received. Each day’s change prepared the environment for the next day’s change until it was totally transformed. Yet it was as though it waited for something. In the same way a church sanctuary, all decora..Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Heavenly Treasure
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20, NIV Gold is one of our most precious commodities. We hoard gold, we wear gold, we invest in gold, we work hard for more gold – we love gold! We sacrifice our families, our friends, our reputations, our health – all so that we can increase our supply of earthly treasures. We want to buy more things . . . so we can dust more things so we can break more thing..Continue reading→
Joshua 24:15
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.””Continue reading→
Psalm 11:7 (11-07-16)
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.— Psalm 11:7 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Can you think of any greater promise for those who seek to be righteous and just? We will see God face to face! Incredible. What a blessing! What a future! What an incredible Father! So let's seek our Abba Father, the LORD God, with all heart and soul and mind and strength until that day that we get to see him as he is, face-to-face with God in al..Continue reading→
A Day of Rest
Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Exodus 31:15, NKJV Like a boat that would be tossed endlessly and aimlessly and dangerously on the open sea without an anchor, we need to anchor our lives as well. That anchor is devotion to God. God worked for six days during that first “week” then rested on the seventh: “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Gen. 2:3, NI..Continue reading→
Prayers
Daily Prayer for October 4
He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means "Be opened!"). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Mark 7:34–35, NIV Father in heaven, we people on earth are poor and needy. We are deaf and dumb, but you rouse us every day and call to us, "Ephphatha." We thank you for this, in gladness for all you do for our sake. Help us to become united in expectation for the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ wil..Continue reading→
No Fear in Christ
Passage: Hebrews 13:6-8 Prayer: Dear Father,Help me say with confidence: The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?I remember those who led me to Christ by speaking his word to me. Thank you for them. Bless them abundantly. Help me to imitate their faith.And most of all, thank you for Jesus Christ, who forever remains true to me. Thank you, my God, that he is the same yesterday, today, and for ever.In the name of Jesus. Amen.Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for October 3
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. Bless us, we pray. Bless us especially in days when fear tries to take hold of us. Let your help come down to us as you have promised..Continue reading→
Almighty and Everlasting God
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCPContinue reading→
Questions & Answers
What Does the Bible Say About Harvest?
One of my favorite seasons is fall. The weather is cooler, leaves are changing colors, and things planted in the garden have matured and are ready for harvesting. With that comes corn on the cob, apple cider, and pumpkin pie. Likewise, in most cultures it is a time when families unite to celebrate the blessings of the harvest before entering the long dark winter. In consideration of these things, what does the Bible say about harvest? Where do we get the word harvest? In not so ancient history,..Continue reading→
What Is The 7th (Seventh) Commandment In The Bible?
What is the 7th Commandment from the Bible and applications for today’s believer? The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments were never part of the Old Testament or Mosaic Laws at all. These were written by the very finger of God and in stone, indicating their permanence, unlike the Mosaic Laws which were written on parchment or animal skins. These laws were only until the time of Christ and the completed work on Calvary. These laws all pointed forward to the coming work of Christ and were only ..Continue reading→
Are some sins more wrong than others?
Many of us have a tendency to judge certain sins as worse than others. We say, “I have my struggles, but at least I don’t struggle with that.” Surely some attitudes and behaviors carry the potential for greater, far-reaching consequences than others. But that does not make one set of sins worse than another. The New Testament calls us to take all sin seriously: Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some..Continue reading→
Are doubts a sign of a weak faith?
I’m a believer—a Christian. I’m a “lifer” and an insider. I was born into a Christian home. I have Christian parents. I’ve gone to church all my life. I’m also a doubter. Over the years I’ve had many troubling questions: How do I know God exists? Can I be sure Christianity is right? How can there be an all-loving and all-powerful God when there is so much evil in the world? Can I really trust that the Bible is true? For most of my life I’ve walked in a place of doubt-plagued faith. And while ..Continue reading→
Church & Ministries
7 Tools To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving
In a few days, we’ll sit down to a Thanksgiving meal. Some will travel to see extended family while others may enjoy the celebration at home. As we prepare the turkeys, pies, and way too many side dishes, I wanted to share several tools I’m grateful we have at our disposal. These help us share the Gospel and make disciples in our communities and around the world. #1 – The ability to communicate to so many We can send mass emails out to those in our congregations, post a sermon video on our webs..Continue reading→
Vatican Explores Space-Age Technology To Preserve Its Most Ancient Documents
x To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Representatives from ESA and the Vatican Apostolic Library signed a declaration to continue collaboration, followed by a tour of the Library.Copyright ESA The Vatican has turned to space-age technology to help preserve some of the oldest and most fragile documents in the world. The Holy See is using a system called FITS, or flexible image transport system format, that was develope..Continue reading→
Finding a Rhythm and Raising the Energy Level in Your Leaders
Fun around Saddleback… Saddleback’s College Ministry Staff. “Stay Classy San Diego!” (via Facebook) The quickest way to destroy a team is to burn them out. And you don’t have to look around the field of ministry very long to realize that the ministry is filled with burned out leaders. But it’s possible to find a healthy working rhythm and ultimately increase the effective energy with which your leaders serve without causing them to burn out. Every minute of every day we are using up energy, an..Continue reading→
Pope Francis: Priests Can Forgive Women Who Have Abortions
Pope Francis has concluded his Jubilee Year of Mercy with an extraordinary grant of permission to priests to continue absolving women who have had abortions.Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Even If He Doesn’t
“Somewhere along her Christian path, some teacher or mentor had told this woman that God is good because He does what seems right to us. She had been taught that we are to name what we want and claim it territorially, as if we can instruct God on the best way to do things.” I once attended a non-denominational women’s Bible study, and each week we discussed the passage of scripture in small groups. I loved some things about it: the mix of ages, learning from other women’s life and faith experie..Continue reading→
Today’s Theologians: Dr. Richard Gaffin
“My primary interest in biblical theology has always been not for its own sake but for the relationship and interface between it and systematic theology, as the former serves to provide the latter with its life-blood: sound exegesis, and for that, attention to the text within its context in the unfolding history of special revelation is essential.” As we continue our series of interviews with notable theologians, we sit down with Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. Dr. Gaffin is Emeritus Professor of Bi..Continue reading→
Ministerial Godliness: Its Value
“Paul does not mince his words. He condemns them as ‘men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain’ (1TI 6.5). The life of these ministers had become a charade. Their ‘ministry’ was nothing more than a thinly veiled mask to cover up their greed.” What matters most to us in life? There is a ‘right’ answer to that question, but then again there are many ‘real’ answers that lurk beneath the surface. No serious-minded Christian wou..Continue reading→
Our Heart Telescope
Our problem is that, like astronomers before Hubble, we are so earth-bound with this world’s concerns that the atmosphere around us distorts our view of God’s love. Our lusts for rusting treasures, our worries over life’s issues, our yearning for yet one more pleasure render us unable to comprehend love’s measure without the assistance of the Spirit of God. Like a telescope, we need God’s Spirit to take the enormity of God’s love and focus it down into our hearts so that we can grasp more of the..Continue reading→
Life & Society
Obama Administration Finalizes Rule Banning States From Defunding Planned Parenthood
Photo Credit: All Nite ImagesWASHINGTON — The Obama administration finalized a rule on Wednesday that bans states from defunding family planning organizations such as Planned Parenthood because they abort unborn children. “This rule will strengthen access to essential services like cancer screenings and contraception for some of the most vulnerable patients in this country,” Chief Medical Officer Karen Scott of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, said in a statement. “Public comme..Continue reading→
Pagan Priest Wins Right To Wear Horns In Driver’s Licence Photo
Phelan MoonSong, known as the "Priest of Pan", was initially told he could not wear the headgear. But he challenged the decision and has been given the same recognition as other religions.Continue reading→
One Million Moms Criticises Highlights Magazine for Featuring Same-Sex Couples
The Christian watchdog group One Million Moms has slammed Highlights magazine, a monthly magazine for children ages 6 to 12, for deciding to feature same-sex families and making it appear as if having two moms or two dads is a normal way of life.Continue reading→
Voicemail Threatening to ‘Drop a Bomb’ on a California Mosque Being Investigated
A California mosque received a message on their voicemail service Friday afternoon from an individual who threatened to “drop a bomb” on the mosque, community Muslim leaders said Monday. The incident at the Islamic Center of Tustin was reported to the Tustin Police Department on Sunday, said Sgt. Mike Van Cleve. “It appears there was no caller ID on the call,” he said. “We took a report and are investigating.” A spokesman for the mosque did not return phone calls Monday. The voicemail is amo..Continue reading→
Movies
Prophet Joseph — episodes forty-one and forty-two
Synopsis. Joseph and Asenath pay a visit to Zuleikha and find that she is still deep in prayer. Asenath says she isn’t jealous that Joseph will be getting a second wife soon, but she says she does covet Zuleikha’s spiritual growth. Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers split up into groups of two or three and enter Thebes by different gates, to avoid being detected — but they are spotted anyway and taken back to the palace. Joseph reveals his identity to Benjamin but tells him to keep it a secret. Joseph..Continue reading→
Pro-life film “Voiceless” gets advance screening in front of the U.S. Supreme Court
After initially denying Church on the Hill and Movie to Movement’s request to preview the groundbreaking new film “Voiceless” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on October 2, 2016, Court officials granted permission. After two weeks of communications and meetings with Court officials, in which the screening request was denied three separate times, and less than 48 hours away from filing..Continue reading→
The Vancouver International Film Festival 2016 — a preview
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 35th Vancouver International Film Festival (September 29 – October 14). I’ve been attending every year since 1994, when I was an editor at one of the UBC student papers, so this will be my 23rd year at VIFF. I probably won’t get to see anything this year until Friday at the earliest, but for now I figured I’d do a quick rundown of some of the films I’m interested in. Films with a religious or spiritual angle (dates they’re showing in parentheses): The Birth of..Continue reading→
The Ten Commandments celebrates its 60th anniversary
This is a year for Bible-movie anniversaries. Intolerance turned 100 last month, The Bible: In the Beginning… turns 50 on Wednesday, and The Nativity Story turns 10 in December. But the most significant Bible movie celebrating the end of yet another decade on our screens would have to be the second and most famous version of The Ten Commandments, which premiered 60 years ago in the fall of 1956. I’m not sure about the film’s exact release date right now because the film’s Wikipedia page gives bo..Continue reading→
Box office: Denzel Washington has a Magnificent weekend
Denzel Washington scored one of the biggest openings of his career this week, with a film that proved remakes of classic movies don’t have to be flops. The Magnificent Seven — based on the 1960 Western of the same name, which in turn was a remake of the 1954 Akira Kurosawa film Seven Samurai — earned an estimated $35 million between Thursday and Sunday nights. That’s a career best for director Antoine Fuqua, beating the $34.1 million that The Equalizer opened to in 2014, and it ranks third among..Continue reading→
Prophet Joseph — episodes thirty-nine and forty
Synopsis. The once-bald priests of Amon, now hairy and bearded after their stint in prison, are summoned to the court of Akhenaten. Joseph speaks to the Egyptians in the building that used to be Amon’s temple, and, seeing Rudamon in the crowd, tells the officer to stay by his side from here on. Joseph’s wife Asenath discovers who Zuleikha is and confronts Joseph with the fact that the woman who once owned him has become a beggar while he ignored her. An angel appears to Joseph and tells him he m..Continue reading→
“Hollywood’s highest-ranking Evangelical Christian” — and a key figure in the Bible-movie revival — leaves Paramount
From Darren Aronofsky’s Noah to Timur Bekmambetov’s Ben-Hur, if there was any major Hollywood studio that committed itself to the recent Bible-movie revival, it was Paramount. (Fox came a close second by producing Exodus: Gods and Kings and distributing Son of God.) And Paramount owed its interest in the genre partly to the fact that its vice chairman, Rob Moore, was an evangelical Christian. Now comes word, via Variety, that Moore is leaving the studio. The immediate cause of Moore’s departure,..Continue reading→
The Hollars producer Tom Rice on looking for Christian themes in movies that aren’t necessarily “Christian movies”
Tom Rice is a Christian. He is also a movie producer. But that doesn’t mean he makes “Christian movies”. Instead, he says, he makes movies that reflect his Christian worldview on a broader level, and to date that has meant making uplifting films like Begin Again (original title: Can a Song Save Your Life?) and The Way Way Back, as well as grittier films like the gambling-addict drama Mississippi Grind. Rice’s newest film The Hollars — which expands to three hundred theatres this week after openi..Continue reading→
Ben-Hur news round-up: Censorship woes in Malaysia
Round-ups: Jun 27 | Jul 4 | 18 | 25 | Aug 1 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 25 | Sep 1 | 8 Just one or two quick items about the new Ben-Hur, which is still rolling out overseas. The film ranked 28th at the North American box office last weekend. The Christian Examiner reports that the Jesus scenes were deleted in Malaysia: Just who ordered the deletion of the scenes featuring Jesus is somewhat of a mystery. The chairman of the country’s Film Censorship Board (LPF), Datuk Abdul Halim, said he did not..Continue reading→
Music
Steven Malcolm Announces Tracks, Producers for New Label Debut
Hip-hop artist Steven Malcolm has finally revealed the tracklisting for his upcoming self-titled album. Releasing on Feb. 17, this album will feature artists like Blanca, Hollyn, PyRexx, Andy Mineo, Joey Jewish and more. Malcolm is the first artist out of the gate for the new Word Records imprint IVAV (4 Against 5), and there has already been plenty of buzz surrounding him. Joseph Prielozny--the former longtime producer and in-house musician for Reach Records--is heading up the label. Pre-or..Continue reading→
Natalie Grant Winds Down 2016 On Top
Natalie Grant, one of music's most celebrated voices, winds down 2016 reflecting on three strong tours The annual "Dare to Be" event tour for women, her "Be One" fall tour, and the "Celebrate Christmas" tour a nationwide tour with multiple sell outs featuring fellow artist Danny Gokey. Grant also celebrates 2 GRAMMY nominations for her chart-topping album BE ONE and single "King of the World," as well as authoring a 4-book series for tween girls titled "Glimmer Girls," and releasing the acc..Continue reading→
‘American Idol’ Finalist Chris Sligh Releases New Album
With his first new music since 2013, "American Idol" Top 10 finalist Chris Sligh releases a new CD today through iTunes. The 11-song electropop/worship project titled "Mighty Roar/Healing Flood," features music written or co-written by Sligh, who also engineered, produced, mixed and mastered the album. "The almost four year wait for new music was exactly what Chris Sligh needed to produce an album unlike any he's ever released before," according to newreleasetoday.com. "The electro-pop vib..Continue reading→
Skillet Closes 2016 Ablaze, Tops Year-End Charts
2016 has most definitely been a great year for Skillet's hit track "Feel Invincible." The track recently went to #1 on both the Active (Mediabase) and Mainstream (BDS) Rock charts, and has made history by spending 19 weeks at the top of the Christian Rock chart, the most weeks ever since the chart's inception on Billboard. RELATED Skillet's "Feel Invincible" Hits No. 1 On Mainstream Rock The video for "Feel Invincible" has been viewed over 21 million times on YouTube and stream..Continue reading→
KJ-52 Pays Homage to a CHH DJ Icon
During a recent interview when we spoke to KJ-52 about his forth coming independent album Jonah, he shared details of his relationship with DJ Official (Fish). KJ-52 said his favorite completed graffiti piece was the memorial mural he crafted in Official's hometown. RELATED DJ Official Passes Away Following Lung Transplant Complications "Way back when I started, literally almost 20 years ago, I had met this guy named Cipha Sounds," KJ said about the origin of their unique relationship. "..Continue reading→
Reba McEntire Inspires With New Album On February 3
Reba McEntire has never been one to "rest on her laurels" (Associated Press) and continues to prove that her strong work ethic couples well with passion as she prepares to release SING IT NOW SONGS OF FAITH & HOPE on February 3, 2017. For an entertainer with an illustrious career that has elicited 35 No. 1 singles, over 56 million albums sold worldwide, prestigious industry awards, lead acting roles and brand endeavors, new is a rarity yet an art form she has perfected. From the set of her fort..Continue reading→
The Letter Black Launches Kickstarter
Rock group The Letter Black has launched a kickstarter in order to release their third studio album independently in 2017. The launch of the kickstarter follows the preview of new song "Kill the Devil Inside of Me," posted to facebook earlier this month. You can hear the song teaser below. The Letter Black's core members Sarah and Mark Anthony made a video explaining to fans some of the perks available through the kickstarter campaign, as well as sharing their heart. "I just want you guy..Continue reading→
twenty one pilots and MUTEMATH Release Collaborative Project
Today alternative music icons twenty one pilots announced that they will be releasing a five song EP and a shortfilm in collaboration with MUTEMATH. All of the media will be available for free for a 30 day time period starting tonight at 600 PM EST. You can watch the official announcement below. The two bands, who have both brought their spiritually-influenced alt rock to surprising and massive stages worldwide, toured together earlier in 2016 for twenty one pilots' massively successful Em..Continue reading→
American
How to Read the Bible (RJS)
For Christians the big questions in any discussion of science and faith generally come down to Scripture. How are we to read Scripture as the word of God? In much of the church there is an assumption that this should be straightforward… just read it literally. Unfortunately, this doesn’t hold up well for many of us. It isn’t even science that is the biggest challenge to this “simple” reading, it is Scripture itself. It isn’t clear that the Bible was intended to be read in this flat, literal mann..
Back to Church? (Michelle Van Loon)
By Michelle Van Loon at www.MomentsAndDays.org and www.MichelleVanLoon.com I’ve been blogging for more than a decade,and I’ve written often about spiritual abuse by church leaders – sharing both my own experience and referencing the struggles of others. I’m just one voice in a large crowd: there are numerous blogs, books, and worthwhile organizations telling the stories of spiritual and/or clergy sexual abuse survivors. The internet has been a tool for good in this struggle as it has facilitated..
Planned Parenthood VP Claims “Women Will Die” Because Trump Defunded Its International Group
President Donald Trump signed a life-saving executive order this week that prohibits international groups from receiving U.S. taxpayer funding if they promote or perform abortions overseas. Planned Parenthood already is on the attack, making misleading claims that Trump’s reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy will cause women to die. As LifeNews.com reported, the pro-life policy had been in place during the entirety of the George W. Bush administration, but President Barack Obama rescinded i..
Trump Spokesman: White House Staff Will Attend the March for Life
During the March for Life in previous years, pro-abortion President Barack Obama celebrated abortion and issued a presidential statement praising Roe vs. Wade. What a difference a change in president makes. Yesterday, a spokesman for President Donald Trump indicated White House staff will attend the March for Life, where over half-a-million pro-life people from around the country will mourn the almost 60 million unborn children who have been aborted since that fateful Supreme Court decision. ..
US
More on the banned Down syndrome video
We blogged about that video showing happy Down Syndrome children that was banned by the French government on the grounds that it might “disturb the conscience” of women who have had abortions. (You can see the video at the link.) George Will, who has a Down son, weighs in on the issue, explaining the origin of the video (which was made to reassure new parents) and making the point that this is a case of extending the concept of protection from being disturbed associated with college campuses to ..
And now, the commercialization of Advent
One reason that many Christians are rediscovering Advent is that Christmas has become so commercialized. Advent is a way to keep our concentration on what the Christmas season is supposed to be about, namely, the coming of Christ. But now Advent is also becoming commercialized! Alissa Wilkinson has written a good explanation of Advent for Vox. She explains the history of the season and what it means. She includes some interesting details that I had not realized. (For example, that Lutherans inve..
In trouble for belonging to an “anti-gay” church
Chip and Joanna Gaines are the hosts of “Fixer-Upper,” a popular home remodeling show on HGTV. They are openly devout Christians. And they are now under fire. A BuzzFeed article is accusing them of being anti-gay. This is because they belong to an evangelical congregation that does not conduct gay weddings and that holds to traditional teachings about sexual morality. That means, according to the Buzzfeed author, that the church is anti-gay. And because the Gaineses belong to this church, that m..
Back in the U.S.A.!
We are back in the good old U.S. of A. after spending a month visiting our daughter and her family in Australia. We enjoyed our time down under very much. But it’s good to be back home. I can’t believe that I was able to keep this blog going as usual despite the time difference (16.5 hours, a day ahead) and our many activities. Thanks for hanging in there with me. It was strange to watch the election from the other side of the world, but sometimes a little distance (literally) is clarifying. Aft..