On it goes

* Mom's Funeral Halted by Pastor Over Affectionate Photos of Two Wives -- "A Colorado pastor halted the funeral of a 33-year-old mother of two over the weekend, reportedly because a memorial slideshow featured kissing and other moments of affection between the woman, Vanessa Collier, and her wife, Christina Higley."
* Church in Lakewood stops woman's funeral because she was gay -- "...those who loved Collier, 33, picked up programs, flowers and eventually the dead woman's casket itself, moving the service to a mortuary that happened to be across the street."
* Beliefs clash at lesbian's funeral evicted from church in Lakewood -- "...Kelly said presenting pictures at the funeral that appear to condone a lifestyle worshippers at the church believe is a sin would be against Chavez's beliefs."

And on it goes. The three links above relate another story in the ongoing saga of the clash of conservative Christian standards with the newer kind worldview held by more and more Americans.

This past Saturday a scheduled funeral at New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colorado was abruptly cancelled. The service was for 33-year old Vanessa Collier, who had lived for at least 3 years with a lesbian partner. The pastor apparently discovered that the memorial slideshow included pictures of the two women kissing, as well as some other kinds of physical affection. He cancelled the funeral. It is not clear to me exactly what the timeline is, but it seems this happened very near to or in the beginning of the funeral service.

It has been incorrectly reported that the funeral service was cancelled because Vanessa Collier was a lesbian. That is not correct. Collier's partner Christian Higley clarified that idea on her Facebook page. She wrote, “Vanessa’s services were NOT refused because she is a ‘lesbian’. Her services were refused because we would not let New Hope Ministries ‘edit’ her life which was a slideshow of our family photos including our engagement and family photos of her and I with our two children!”1

Some observations
Pastor Raymond Chavez and the church had every right to deny holding funeral services for Vanessa Collier at their building. A congregation has the right to determine the uses of her building -- who can use it and for what purposes. But exercising that right at the beginning of a funeral was a bad decision. The battle was engaged at the wrong time. instead the should have chalked it up as learning a lesson for which to be prepared the next time.2

The lines of communication between family and church apparently were not open.3 Was the family honest and upfront with the situation? Perhaps they didn't think about it. They were grieving, after all, and the death was sudden. Because of the nature of the conflict, most opinions that I've seen come down on the side of the family (and full of outrage). But both sides must bear some responsibility. The family was given an option to consider. This option, if agreed to, would have allowed the services to continue. They did not agree to the offer. That was their choice. Nevertheless, I think the church and pastor must bear the most blame for the poor way in which this was handled. A grieving family is never thinking its clearest, regardless of the circumstances. The church and/or pastor, only being asked for the use of the building, was somewhat of a "disinterested" party and should have thought through things more clearly.

The church did not just lend the use of the building, but were charging for it. If I were asked, I would recommend to the church that they not only refund the charge for the use of the building (which they apparently did, though there are some conflicting reports), but also pay the cost of the family using the mortuary's chapel.

Churches need to have conversations now and have a clear understanding of how their buildings can and cannot be used. Don't wait until you're in the midst of a disagreement! (Some of the last "minute-ness" can also be attributed to a comedy of errors, including the church losing the video montage and not being able to review it until the last minute.)

Persons with liberal left-leaning worldviews should be wary of scheduling funerals and/or other services at churches with conservative right-leaning worldviews. It is a recipe for disaster. And don't put all the blame on the church. Unless you're just looking for a fight, look elsewhere for accommodations -- where your lifestyle is not disapproved.4 In fact, even if you are looking for a fight, find some other time to do it.

One source of outrage is the misconception that people have that a church ought to be whatever they think it ought to be. For example, Jeanette Arguello asked, "A church turning away a funeral. Who has ever heard of anything like that happening?" But if there is freedom of religion in our country, a church has to be able to determine its own faith and practice, even if that practice includes turning away a funeral (which in fact happens a lot more than one might think). When something like this happens, everybody and their dogs know what the teachings of Jesus are -- even if they've never read the Bible. And they certainly "know" and recite that He taught, "Judge not lest ye be judged," as they judgmentally judge the judgment of those they judge.

Isn't it probable that the media reports this in the most shocking way possible to elicit the best ratings possible? Was the timing as close-cut and critical as we've been led to believe?5 Have the events been presented in an unbiased manner? Was the chaplain who preached the funeral affiliated with New Hope or not? There are variations in different news reports that will probably keep us from ever knowing the whole story. And, finally, many people on either side are going to believe what they want to believe, regardless of the facts.6

Conclusion
Lest lucidity be lost in my lecture, let me sum up succinctly:

• A church has a right to schedule and use its own facilities in the way that satisfies the church and not those outside the church who think they should be accommodated  just because.
• Verily, verily, New Hope Ministries botched their exercise of this right. After the funeral starts is too late to make up your mind.

1. It wasn't simply "family photos including our engagement and family photos of her and I with our two children" that they objected to, but of them kissing, etc.
2. Even so, someone would probably call that a precedent and berate them the next time.
3. It is possible that the Newcomer Funeral Home shares some blame in this fiasco as well. It is not clear whether the funeral home or the family contracted with New Hope Ministries to host the funeral. One source says that Collier did not attend New Hope and that the funeral home contracted with the church (which is directly across the road from it) to hold the ceremony there because the New Hope's sanctuary offered more room.
4. Last-minute cancellation seems to be a fair representation to all.
5. Another New Hope, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, found it could be flogged for cancelling the funeral a day ahead of the event.
6. Some of the protesters against New Hope ranted on about “Death with Dignity” (though they weren’t talking about the actual death, but the funeral). But…it isn't just churches and Christians that create ghastly wrangles at funerals. It may be convenient for some to believe that at the moment.

Disparity and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

* 4 Kinds of Fake Faith and How to Spot Them -- " Fake faith is a faith that has elements of the real deal but that falls woefully short, lets us down in the long run, and denies the reality of our relationship with God."
* Chinese restaurant promises free food to the beautiful -- "Beautiful people eat for free: restaurant in Zhengzhou determines customers' bill according to how attractive they are."
* Disparity in news coverage: As many as 2,000 dead in Nigeria, but France dominates front pages -- "What makes one massacre more newsworthy than another?"

* Do You Really Need To Shower Every Day? -- "In the U.S., people commonly shower once or even more per day – this can actually be harmful to skin..."

* Florida Schools Ban Bibles After Pressure from Atheists -- "...OCPS has stated it will not allow any materials to be distributed, including atheist pamphlets, Satanist coloring books -- or Bibles."

* Stranger Reunites Family With Late Mom's Ring, Lost for 20 Years -- "A beloved family heirloom was returned to a family this week, thanks to a stranger’s generosity and Facebook."

* The Thoughts Behind 'Neva/Harmony': An Interview With Olcay Bayir -- "The first thing you notice is her voice...The second thing you notice is her vision."

* Unseen CS Lewis letter defines his notion of joy -- "A letter from CS Lewis which was discovered inside a secondhand book...Believed to be previously unpublished, the letter to a “Mrs Ellis” was written by Lewis on 19 August 1945, and sees the author unpicking the concept of joy."

The Scorpion and the Frog

A scorpion, needing to get to the other side of the river, sees a frog on the bank. The 

scorpion asks, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?" 

The frog replies, "How do I know you won't sting me?" 

The scorpion says, "Because if I do you will drown and I will die too."

The frog is satisfied with the scorpion's reasoning, and they set out to cross the river. In midstream the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the pain and the onset of paralysis, and starts to sink. Knowing they both will drown, the frog gasps, "Why? Why did you do that?" 

Answers the scorpion: "It's my nature..."

The Farmer and the Viper

One winter a farmer found a snake half-dead, stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a fatal wound.  "Oh," cried the farmer with his last breath, "I am rightly served for pitying so villainous a creature."  

This old story of "The Farmer and the Viper" is attributed to Aesop's Fables. Variations crop up in other times and places. Its moral is usually given as something like: "The greatest kindness is wasted upon the evil." As such it would seem to advise against following Jesus's admonition to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you." Another lesson we might take away from it is: "Don't be surprised when things act according to their nature." Johnny Rivers captured this angle in a song that was popular when I was a kid, titled The Snake.

On the way to work one morning

down the path along side the lake

A tender hearted woman

saw a poor half-frozen snake

His pretty colored skin

had been all frosted with the dew

"Oh, well" she cried, "I'll take you in

and I'll take care of you."

Chorus:

Take me in tender woman

Take me in for heaven's sake

Take me in tender woman

Sighed the snake.

She wrapped him up all cozy

in a comforter of silk

and then laid him by the fireside

with some honey and some milk

She hurried home from work that night

and as soon as she arrived

She found that pretty snake she'd taken in

had been revived.

Chorus

She clutched him to her bosom;

"You're so beautiful," she cried,

"but if I hadn't brought you in

by now you might have died."

Well she stroked his pretty skin again

and then kissed him really tight,

but instead of saying thanks

the snake gave her a vicious bite.

Chorus

"I saved you!" cried that woman

"and you've bitten me but why?"

"you know your bite is poisonous

and now I'm gonna die."

"Ha, ha, shut up, silly woman."

said that reptile with a grin.

"You knew darn well I was a snake

before you took me in."

Chorus

Oh, you better take me in sighed the snake.

Talmage trumpet blasts

For Christmas I received a copy of Trumpet Blasts, or Mountain-top Views of Life by Thomas De Witt Talmage. Talmage had a very unique way with words, and I want to share that here from time to time -- even in some cases posting something I don't agree with but still think he said well!

"Let us stand aloof from all books that give false pictures of human life. Life is neither a tragedy nor a farce."

"Under the nostrils of your cities there is today a fetid, reeking, unwashed literature, enough to poison all the fountains of virtue, and smite your sons and daughters as with the wings of a destroying angel."

"Debase a man's imagination and he becomes a moral carcass."

"Only in heaven shall the true hero gain full recognition for his deeds."

"Some people are always late. They were born too late, and I suppose they will die too late."

(all quotes above are by T. De Witt Talmage)

It Never Ends, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

* 10 Religions Spawned By Works Of Fiction -- "The following 10 religions are all followed—some seriously and some in jest—despite the fact that the origin of the religion can be clearly traced to a work of fiction."
* Charlie Hebdo: High stakes when satire meets globalization -- "These are dark days for those who want to believe that the pen is mightier than the sword."
* Christian History Institute -- "Our aim is to make Christian history a delight to the widest possible audience, using modern media such as video and the internet. We strive to make our output look good and communicate well while sticking to the facts."
* Customer leaves $1,000 tip for E. Texas restaurant employees -- "The gentleman asked how many we had working in the restaurant tonight."
* It Never Ends for Wendy Davis -- "The Texas Democrat's successor mocks her with cowboy boots."
* Seed libraries struggle with state laws limiting exchanges -- "Agriculture officials say they weren’t looking for a fight but must enforce laws that are intended to protect farmers..."
* Teacher Under Investigation For Handing Out ‘Bible Cookies’ -- "A high school teacher in Stockton, CA, is being investigated after an anonymous student filed a complaint against him for handing out 'Bible cookies' in class."
* The Real Reason Sugar Has No Place in Cornbread -- "...sometimes a truth is so self-evident that you can't present an impartial case for both sides. So I'm just going to say it: sugar has no business in cornbread."
* U.S. Abortion Rate Continues to Decline While Debate over Means to the End Escalates -- "The study’s authors hypothesize that improvements in contraceptive use—in particular, a shift to highly effective methods—were a main contributing factor."
* Virginia pastor defends decision to fire unwed mother -- "Apryl Kellam said ...that she was being fired from the church day care where she had worked since September because she was in violation of church policy."

Church's and employee's rights in firing

* Virginia pastor defends decision to fire unwed mother

Though this does not appear to be widely disseminated news, it is interesting to me. It fits the ongoing saga of the place (and rights) of churches in pre-post-Christian America. The Staples Mill Road Baptist Church of Glen Allen, Virginia fired employee Apryl Kellam from their day care. Apryl is not married and expecting a baby. Though no one put it clearly in anything I read, conceiving/having a baby out of wedlock appears to violate the church's policies. One would think so! (But I still live in the stone age.) It is not clear whether she lives with the father of the expected baby, but according to the couple Apryl was advised to get married in order to keep her job. She was hired in September, and according the boyfriend Coalson, she never should have been hired if the church feels that way. It is not clear just what he meant, but that seems to imply that the church knew they were living together at the time Apryl was hired. Also sounds like she was already pregnant when she was hired, though the church would not have necessarily known it (Sept-Apr is not 9 months). It is not clear whether Apryl Kellam is a member of Staples Mill Road Baptist Church.

Another angle of this, though, is when churches step into the role of employer they are going to come in contact with hiring laws, including those against discrimination. In most employee-employer relationships the employee usually can't be fired for getting pregnant (or can she?). How will these murky waters be waded? Only time will tell. 100 years ago most churches didn't have "employees" in the sense that would be so regarded today. 50 years ago some churches had some employees, but those employees probably had a strong sense of church doctrine and practice, and the likelihood of the church, employee and state running afoul with one another was probably relatively minor. Now we have detailed laws regarding employment, hiring and firing. Most of those were developed more with businesses in mind (as opposed to churches). Many people, even those who attend the more conservative churches, often have personal beliefs that vary widely from the church. The overall mixture in 2015 is definitely ripe for conflicts of the interests of a church and its employees and the state.

My personal solution is that churches get out of "business" -- not be an employer and have no employees. But that is only in line with my beliefs and not with those of the majority of churches. For the rest, as a religious entity a church needs to be able to hire and fire within the parameters of her doctrines and policies. Only when she steps outside of those parameters should she be found in violation of her "employer" role.

No-free-speech, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

* A New Year–A New Beginning with God -- "2 Samuel 12...illustrates five steps to a new beginning with God."
* Does God condone slavery in the Bible? -- "The specific case of slavery is more complex than first appears...there is no monolithic 'institution' of slavery in the bible..."
* Easter Island's Demise May Have Surprising New Explanation -- "...the people of Easter Island may have been struggling against natural environmental barriers to success, rather than degrading the environment themselves..."
* Eternal Reward and Punishments: A Fresh, Biblical Look at God's Love and Justice in Heaven and Hell -- "Both Luther and William Tyndale believed that 'the dead are asleep, and feel nothing at all'."
* Majority of US college campuses becoming ‘no-free-speech’ zones -- "Despite the explicit protections of the First Amendment, a majority of US institutions of higher learning enforce rules that severely restrict free speech on campus, according to a new study."
* Oral memoirs of R. Albert Mohler, Jr. -- Interviewed by Barry Hankins, 1997
* Persecution of Christians Reached Historic Levels in 2014 -- "...Curry said Muslim extremists are the primary drivers of Christian persecution worldwide."
* The 3 Arguments Against Gay Marriage That May Decide It Once and for All -- "If 2014 was the year of gay marriage momentum in American states, 2015 is shaping up to be the year of federal action."
* The $140,000-a-year welding job -- "...nearly a third of people aged 22 through 26 with a Bachelor of Arts degree either don’t have a job or are working at one that doesn’t require a university degree."
* U.S. justices indicate support for Arizona church in free speech case -- "The 2008 Gilbert ordinance has different categories, based on content, that determine the size of the sign, where it can be placed, and how long it can be displayed."
* Why Your Family Name Did Not Come From a Mistake at Ellis Island -- "...inspectors at Ellis Island 'did not create records of immigration; rather they checked the names of the people moving through Ellis Island against those recorded in the ship’s passenger list, or manifest'."

World Watch, Christian persecution

Open Doors USA describes itself as "a non-profit organization focused on serving persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries." Last week they released their * Open Doors World Watch List, Top 50, which ranks nations of the world based on the severity of persecution of Christians. An explanation of the methodology used to compile the list is available HERE. They do not rank other types of persecution.

The top ten persecutors of Christians by country are:

• North Korea
• Somalia
• Iraq
• Syria
• Afghanistan
• Sudan
• Iran
• Pakistan
• Eritrea
• Nigeria

This top 10 list provides two interesting contrasts. First, nine of the top ten are Muslim countries. David Curry, president of Open Doors, says that "Muslim extremists are the primary drivers of Christian persecution worldwide." Despite this majority of persecution, North Korea is ranked #1 and has been in that position for the last 13 years. In North Korea it is illegal to be a Christian. Juche is the political, social and economic "religious" ideology of North Korea, rooted in Marxism, which sees founder Kim Il Sung as a divine being. While there are some other underground beliefs, North Korea's concerted efforts are exerted against Christianity. This, at least in part, is due to the fear that Christianity can overcome Juche. Those discovered to be Christians are sent to labor camps or even executed.

[Note: Though from time to time we comment on issues in the U.S. that some Christians identify as "persecution", in comparison to the rest of the world nothing goes on in the U.S. that even registers on the Open Doors radar as "Sparse Persecution".]

3 stages of a God-called minister

Hoyt Sparks recorded the following as told by an Elder Wyatt to J. M. Mewborn. 

Elder Wyatt said there are three stages a true God-called gospel minister goes through:

1. First, they will IDOLIZE you. 
2. Second, they will VILIFY you. 
3. Third, they will SCANDALIZE you. 

--Posted in the Predestinarian Forum, Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Steve Harvey's advice, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

* 11 Wily Whiskers -- Slideshow
* Chaplain punished for sharing his faith in suicide prevention class -- "Chaplain Joseph Lawhorn was issued a Letter of Concern that accused him of advocating for Christianity and 'using Christian scripture and solutions' during a Nov. 20th training session held at the University of North Georgia."
* Here's how a group of boys in Italy responded when asked to hit a girl -- "Luca Lavarone, who works for “Fanpage,” conducted the social experiment with boys ranging from 6 to 11 years old in Italy."
* Residents in northwest Arkansas city vote to repeal anti-discrimination ordinance -- "On Tuesday, voters in the northwest Arkansas city voted to repeal the measure. If voters upheld the proposed city law, it would have been the first of its kind in Arkansas."
* Sorry, but it’s your fault if you’re offended all the time -- "Since when did, “I’m offended,” become an argument that trumps all facts, logic and common sense?"
* Steve Harvey on Atheists: ‘To Me, You’re An Idiot’ -- "Emmy Award-winning TV host and best-selling author Steve Harvey advises women not to date atheists..."
* The Daily Show hilariously mocks a noted atheist for threatening to sue Southern diner -- "Jordan Klepper is a self-professed atheist, but even he thinks Dan Barker is being a 'petty ***' by threatening legal action against Mary's Gourmet Diner in Winston-Salem, North Carolina." [A worthwhile story, but be(a)ware there is the strong language.]
* The new face of the GOP -- "In West Virginia, Saira Blair won a seat in House of Delegates, becoming the nation’s youngest elected state legislator."
* The Purpose Driven God -- "In 2002, Rick Warren released The Purpose Driven Life, a wildly popular book that topped numerous best seller lists...But what if there is a more basic question than that of our own purpose?"
* The rape culture that everyone ignores -- "While many are eager to put a spotlight on the problem of campus rape, fewer are concerned about a prison system that all but encourages sexual assaults."
* US Senator: Wealthy musicians, athletes, clergy exploit tax loopholes to drive up rates for rest of us -- "Not one Southern Baptist leader - not Frank Page, not Russell Moore, not any SBC president has a syllable of objection on record to the housing allowance exclusion as presently codified."

Immanuel by Spurgeon

Immanuel. 8s. 6 lines

When once I mourned a load of sin,
When conscience felt a wound within,
When all my works were thrown away,
When on my knees I knelt to pray,
Then, blissful hour, remembered well,
I learned Thy love, Immanuel !

When storms of sorrow toss my soul,
When waves of care around me roll,
When comforts sink, when joys shall flee,
When hopeless griefs shall gape for me,
One word the tempest's rage shall quell,
That word, Thy name, Immanuel !

When for the truth I suffer shame,
When foes pour scandal on my name,
When cruel taunts and jeers abound,
When "bulls of Bashan" gird me round,
Secure within my tower I'll dwell,
That tower, Thy grace, Immanuel!

When hell, enraged, lifts up her roar,
When Satan stops my path before,
When fiends rejoice, and wait my end,
When legion'd hosts their arrows send,
Fear not, my soul, but hurl at hell
Thy battle-cry, Immanuel!

When down the hill of life I go,
When o'er my feet death's waters flow,
When in the deep'ning flood I sink,
When friends stand weeping on the brink,
I'll mingle with my last farewell,
Thy lovely name, Immanuel!

When tears are banished from mine eye,
When fairer worlds than these are nigh,
When Heaven shall fill my ravish'd sight,
When I shall bathe in sweet delight,
One joy all joys shall far excel,
To see Thy face, Immanuel!

These words were composed by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and was sung at the Waterbeach Baptist Chapel Jubilee services on June 26, 1853. He was about 18 years old at the time.

Je suis Charlie

I am not Charlie Hebdo, but I do sympathize with and support their right to express their views without persecution or execution. Some believe that whoever insults the prophet Mohammed should be killed. Any malignant Muslims who think they should kill those who vilify their views must be restrained from obtaining their goals. And the goal is not just killing, but also scaring and silencing.

I say I am not Charlie Hebdo not to lessen of crimes of Cherif and Said Kouachi, but simply to note that I don't endorse their method of making their point. I don't read French (even though I studied it in high school 40 years ago), but it seems their style descends into some pretty low depths. Satire is not always inappropriate, but a steady diet of its lowest forms may be debilitating. I may not agree with what they had to say, but I defend their freedom to say it. While defending their freedom to say it, I can also point to what I believe is a better way. Speak the truth in love, the most excellent way (I Cor. 12:31b; 13:1-7; Eph. 4:15). Speak the truth in love, but defend the right to speak of those who don't.

Related op-ed
* I Am Not Charlie Hebdo -- "Public reaction to the attack in Paris has revealed that there are a lot of people who are quick to lionize those who offend the views of Islamist terrorists in France but who are a lot less tolerant toward those who offend their own views at home."

The effect of the mercy of God

"Let my soul be favoured with a sweet discovery of the mercies of God; let them reach my heart, soften and subdue my spirit, then there is no cross too heavy to be taken up, no trial too hard to be endured, no path of suffering and sorrow in which we cannot patiently, if not gladly, walk. The reason why the precepts are not obeyed is because the mercies of God are not felt. Love and obedience attend each other as the shadow waits upon the sun." -- J. C. Philpot

Angry Parents, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

* 5 Areas Where Progressive Christian Culture Completely Loses Me -- "There are just far too many progressives ready to rebuke you for not being progressive enough."
* Angry Parents Say Son Was Stopped From Reading Bible in School -- "...he claims, when he was reading it to himself before the holiday break, his seventh-grade teacher at Bueker Middle School in Marshall asked him to put the book away because it wasn’t permitted in the classroom."
* Archaeologists say they've located the possible site of trial of Jesus -- "Archaeologists in Jerusalem say they may have uncovered the remains of Herod the Great's palace..."
* Atheist group wants apology from Troy University chancellor -- "A national atheist organization is calling for an apology from Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins over a video he emailed to students and staff that drew a connection between religion and democracy."
* Atlanta fire chief terminated following book controversy -- "Cochran has as much right to speak and write about his beliefs as any Atlanta politician does."
* Essential texting acronyms every parent must know -- "Sometimes it feels like parents and teens don't speak the same language."
* G. K. Chesterton: It’s Not Gay, and It’s Not Marriage -- "Chesterton was so consistently right in his pronouncements and prophecies because he understood that anything that attacked the family was bad for society."
* Solved, Why Poor States Are Red and Rich States Are Blue -- "...the way that the blue states are run isn’t conducive to good living standards for the poorer half of the population..."
* The Exact Time You Should Go To Bed -- “The average sleep cycle is 90 minutes long, and the average human has five of those sleep cycles per night.”
* The Number of Hours Keller, Piper, Driscoll (and 5 Others) Spend on Sermon Prep -- "There are various opinions on how long it should take someone to prepare their sermon for Sunday."
* The Superstition of Divorce by G. K. Chesterton -- "The advantages of their reform do not accrue to the innocent party, but to the guilty party; especially if he be sufficiently guilty."
* The Two “States” of King Jesus: Exaltation and Humiliation -- "“Exaltation in humiliation” breaks down the typical dichotomy by demonstrating that Christ is exalted supremely in his redemptive suffering, the apex of which is his death on the cross.
* What Newsweek gets wrong about evangelicals -- "...Eichenwald's argument fails before it begins."

Dust-up in Atlanta

* Atlanta Fire Chief says, "I was fired because of my Christian faith."

On Tuesday of this week, the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia fired the city Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran. This came at the end of a 30-day suspension. The cause traces back to a book Cochran wrote and published (originally for a Bible study at his church).

According to the mayor, he disagrees with and is "deeply disturbed by the sentiments expressed in the paperback regarding the LGBT community" and "Chief Cochran’s book is not representative of my personal beliefs, and is inconsistent with the Administration’s work to make Atlanta a more welcoming city for all of her citizens."

City council member Alex Wan supported the mayor's termination of Cochran. He stated, "I support the administration's decision to terminate Kelvin Cochran's employment with the City of Atlanta. This sends a strong message to employees about how much we value diversity and how we adhere to a non-discriminatory environment."

Wan's statement is revealing. In the environment where diversity is valued, the diversity of a Christian who believes homosexual sex is immoral is not valued. One can believe anything as long as you don't believe anything is immoral. (If I write a book that mentions adultery is a sin, have I violated the diversity code of the workplace?)

Fire Chief Cochran said, "LGBT citizens deserve the right to express their belief regarding sexual orientation and deserve to be respected for their position without hate and discrimination, but Christians also have the right to express their beliefs as well."

The mayor was careful to steer the discussion away from freedom of religion and free speech. “This is about judgment,” he said, “This is not about religious freedom. This is not about free speech. Judgment is the basis of the problem.” The mayor has made no claim that the fire chief discriminated against anyone, but rather said that Cochran "violated the city's code of conduct." Whatever that means. Perhaps this is related to a "he said-he said" controversy in which the mayor claims his administration was not notified of the book before it was published, while the fire chief said "the director of Atlanta’s ethics office had not only given him permission to write the book, but to also mention in his biography that he was the city’s fire chief."

Ultimately, as I take it, the best the critics have to offer is not that Cochran discriminated against anyone on the basis of "sexuality" but that he merely had the potential to do so! While many profess to be deeply offended, it appears many of them have never read Cochran's book and simply take issue with the fact that (they have heard) he believes homosexuality is a sin. According to some reports homosexuality is only referenced once in the 160 page book, as a sexual sin against God. I have ordered the book and hope to report back what I find.

Poor sermon, and other quotes

"If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself." -- Augustine of Hippo

"That very church which the world likes best is sure to be that which God abhors." -- Charles Spurgeon

"It is a poor sermon that gives no offence; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher." -- George Whitefield

"How can someone scripturally exhort if he has no taught those things which form the basis of biblical exhortation?" -- Albert N. Martin

"Unless we have the spirit of the prophets resting upon us, the mantle which we wear is nothing but a rough garment to deceive." -- Charles H. Spurgeon

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." -- Aristotle

"Consistency is a virtue; but it is not the only virtue, and people who have never changed their minds may have simply stopped thinking." -- Richard S. Arnold

"Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life." -- Katharine Fullerton Gerould

"It's better to walk alone, than with a crowd going in the wrong direction." -- Lynn Connell (and it's even better to find some going in the right direction and walk with them.)

"There is no way to re-enchant our lives in a disenchanted culture except by becoming renegades from that culture and planting the seeds for a new one." -- Thomas Moore in The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life (Thanks, Will)

Thinking through Paul, and other book reviews

The posting of book reviews does not constitute endorsement of the books or book reviews that are linked.

* Book Review on Biblical Portraits of Creation: Celebrating the Maker of Heaven and Earth -- "Each chapter provides an exposition of an Old Testament biblical text relating to creation."
* Book Reviews: Come Let Us Reason Together by Baruch Maoz -- "For anyone looking for clarity on what Messianic Judaism is and a sound scriptural argument against it this book will prove to be a great resource."
* Book Reviews: Thinking Through Paul --"Longenecker and Still not only provide readers the opportunity to think about Paul, but also help them understand how to think “through Paul”."
* Book Review: Disability and the Gospel -- "Disability and The Gospel is a thought-provoking book...It is about how people should treat each other IN LIGHT OF THE FACT that humans have been created in God's Image."
* Fullerism or Calvinism? by Peter Lumpkins -- "...a brief review of Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism: A Historical and Theological Comparison of the Missiology of Andrew Fuller and John Calvin (hereafter 'Fullerism') by A. Chadwick Mauldin..."
* My Review of “Anne Steele and her Spiritual Vision” -- "Anne Steele is long gone, but her verses still speak and Mrs. Wong has represented her well."
* Preaching the Farewell Discourse: An Expository Walk-Through of John 13:31–17:26 -- "It is evident that Kellum is text-driven rather than reader-oriented in his approach."
* Review: Come, Let Us Reason Together: The Unity of Jews and Gentiles in the Church by Baruch Maoz -- "Baruch writes as a Jew who loves Jesus...He mines the New Testament, in particular Paul’s epistles, to argue against having separate “Jewish” congregations and extra-biblical forms within the worship service."
* Review: Preaching in the Holy Spirit by Albert N. Martin -- "I will seek to demonstrate that His agency (His active power) and His operations (the effects of that power) are direct and immediate in and on the preacher in the act of preaching, in contrast to those operations that come through intervening agencies."
* Review: Suffering and Sovereignty: John Flavel and the Puritans on Afflictive Providence -- "...the book is a summary of a larger scholarly work. This slimmed-down book is both readable and concise, and includes limited but informative interaction with other scholars."

Trumpet Blasts

"The same God who by the hand of the prophet wrote on parchment, by the hand of the storm has written on the rock...Science and revelation are the bass and the soprano of the same tune." -- T. De Witt Talmage

"The great temple of nature has two orchestras--the orchestra of Revelation and the orchestra of Science. The orchestra of Revelation has its musical instruments all strung, and it is ready for a burst of eternal accord. Science is only stringing its instruments." -- T. De Witt Talmage

8 Best Foods, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

* 8 Best Foods for Instant Detox -- "If our bodies had minds of their own, they’d have put us on notice on Thanksgiving, served us with papers by Christmas, and be off dating a vegan yogi by New Year’s Eve."
* 10 Famous Figures Who May Never Have Really Existed -- "History is full of fascinating people...However, there are notable cases where the actual existence of some of these people has been questioned and debated."
* 12 Dead in Terrorist Attack on Paris Weekly; Gunmen at Large -- "Masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a weekly newspaper that caricatured the Prophet Muhammad, methodically killing 12 people Wednesday, including the editor, before escaping in a car."
* Baptist Ministries -- Lots O' Links
* Christians, Stand Your Ground Against Homofascism -- "...10 years ago I was fired from a major fortune 100 company for writing, on my own time and on my home computer, an op-ed acknowledging the requisite binary male-female nature of authentic marriage and human sexuality."
* Court throws out firefighters' gay pride lawsuits -- "The Rhode Island Supreme Court has thrown out lawsuits brought by two Providence firefighters who said their constitutional rights were violated when they were ordered to drive a truck in a gay pride parade despite their religious objections."
* Denver Bronco’s Quarterback Peyton Manning Tracks Down His Biggest Fan -- "Next time you decide to write to your favorite sports hero, make sure to leave your contact information in the letter..."
* Election Is for Everyone -- "However we interpret the controversial doctrine, it's clear that salvation is never a human achievement."
* Planned Parenthood: We Aborted 327,653 in FY2014 -- "Planned Parenthood clinics did 327,653 abortions in its fiscal year 2014...That works out to an average of 37 abortions per hour or nearly 1 every 90 seconds."
* President Obama abandons Michael Boggs nomination -- "Boggs drew widespread opposition from Senate Democrats, including Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, for his record as a Georgia state legislator on gay marriage, abortion and the Confederate flag."
* Should Able-Bodied People Ever Use a Handicapped Bathroom Stall? -- "Everyone who uses a public restroom has a reasonable expectation that they may need to wait for a stall."
* The Ascent of Lost Man in Southern Baptist Preaching -- "Unlike the founders of the Southern Baptist Convention, some have come to view lost people as discriminating shoppers, whose failure to buy is due to our failure at marketing."
* The Point of the Southern Baptists’ Departure from the Doctrines of Calvinism -- "If these views were mainstream Southern Baptist views, how did they arrive at the point in the stream represented by the comments of Hobbs, Price, and other key figures in Southern Baptist life today?"
* There Are 7 Types of English Surnames — Which One Is Yours? -- "There are perhaps 45,000 different English surnames, but most had their origins as one of these seven types."
* Why Study Theological Anthropology? -- "Theological anthropology begins with the conviction that we cannot understand what it means to be human apart from the theological perspectives."