The Lost Message of Jesus, 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.

* Archaeologists discover ancient stamps that could support existence of the Bible's David and Solomon -- "Many historians have questioned the existence of the biblical kings Solomon and David..."
* Can gunmaker be held responsible for Newtown shooting? -- "The families of nine victims of the 2012 shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., are suing the manufacturer of the Bushman AR-15 for negligence and wrongful death."
* Florida Teen Recovering From Bear Attack -- "The attack happened near dusk Sunday in Eastpoint, Franklin County, on Florida’s panhandle." 
* “Is the North really any better?”: Why the region’s race politics are so misunderstood -- "...racism in America is and always has been a nationwide affair."
* OPINION: Non-Violence and the Lost Message of Jesus -- "Today, in the 2lst century, as we the human family face increasing violence, we are challenged to admit that we are on the wrong path..."
* Reflections on Assurance -- "By 'Christian assurance', I refer to a Christian believer's confidence that he or she is already in a right standing with God..."
* The Conversation About Sexual Assault is Missing the Mark -- "From UVA to the White House, James Lorello says when it comes to sexual assault  we’re not getting to the root of the issue."
* Two Things Pro-Choice Advocates Need to Hear -- "I thought the mantra of the day was, 'I believe in science.' Science is not your friend if you are a pro-choicer."
* Weighing up the evidence for the ‘Historical Jesus’ -- "Discussions over whether the figure known as the 'Historical Jesus' actually existed primarily reflect disagreements among atheists."
* When Racism Intersects With Absurdity -- "Understanding of and appreciation for the Constitution cannot be encased on the narrow parameters of one's feelings."
* Why 1940s America wasn’t as religious as you think — the rise and fall of American religion -- "It’s common for people to believe that religion was always more vibrant in the past."

The problem of smart people

As one of the self-identified "unsmart" people, I found John Messerly's Religion’s smart-people problem: The shaky intellectual foundations of absolute faith very entertaining. I even found at least one truth on which we agree:

"The simplest answer is that people believe what they want to...not what the evidence supports."

I want to believe that is so, based on the evidence. Scientists and intellectuals embrace evolution based on the evidence they want to believe, and reject the evidence they don't want to believe. The evidence for evolution as the origin of existence is philosophically puny, logically ludicrous, and mathematically mind-blowing, yet many people believe it because they want to. Count me out.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called

Church journeys, 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.

* An Open Letter: To My Porn-Watching Dad, From Your Daughter -- "Porn didn’t just affect your life; it affected everyone around you in ways I don’t think you can ever realize."
* Church Journeys: Progressive Primitive Baptist Church, a More "Normal" Church -- "I received an invite over Twitter and the normal church I preached at was Progressive Primitive Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN."
* Does Isaiah 14 Reveal Anything About Satan’s Fall? -- "The historical context of Isaiah 14 concerns the overthrow of an arrogant king (a “man” v. 16)–the Assyrian tyrant Sennacherib."
* Five Steps for Racial Reconciliation on Sunday at 11 a.m. -- "Clearly there is a tension here—a tension between building one church that displays Christian love, and the Christian love that reaches out to people in all their diversity."
* How Many Atheists does it take to put up a Billboard -- "So the actual number of atheists, despite what some people call themselves is less than 2.4 percent."
* Remember Lot's Wife -- "From experience, I would say, that there are times we all look back on our former life with pleasure."
* The Five "I Wills" of God and Lucifer -- "Typical of a proud, arrogant sinner, the devil's eyes couldn't be satisfied and he couldn't settle for being number two."
* The Very Deep Religious Allegory in Gilligan’s Island -- "The show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz, reveals this in his book about the series."
* What Is "Arcing" and Why Is It Important? -- Arcing is a tool for following and documenting the flow of thought in the Biblical text.
* Why I Am a Primitive Baptist -- "Unlike most professing Christians, the Old Baptists believe that simplicity is preferable to complexity. "
* Why We Are Not Primitive Baptists (Part 1) -- "we sometimes will tell inquirers that compared to modern denominations or associations, we are most similar to Primitive Baptists."

Historical Jesus

Articles such as Weighing up the evidence for the ‘Historical Jesus’ are "hot topics" in the present semi-post-Christian atmosphere of our country. For now these "Discussions over whether the figure known as the 'Historical Jesus' actually existed" are, as Raphael Lataster identifies them, primarily "disagreements among atheists." How long this will continue the Lord only knows.

Even though these may be primarily "disagreements among atheists," the Bible will be part of the "go-to" material for the discussion. In Lataster's article I found the following item curious. He writes, “The Pauline Epistles, however, overwhelmingly support the 'celestial Jesus' theory, particularly with the passage indicating that demons killed Jesus, and would not have done so if they knew who he was (see: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10).”

The referenced text is:

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

I'm not sure whether Lataster's conclusion is a matter of misunderstanding the Bible, or deliberately misinterpreting it to fit a preconceived idea. While it is true that Satan is called the prince of this world (singular), no spiritual beings are in view in Paul's context in I Corinthians chapter 2. He speaks of the wisdom of men, the wisdom of this world and the wisdome of the princes of this world in contrast to the wisdom of God. Had the princes of the world recognized Jesus as the Son of God -- as did Peter, James & John, for example -- they would not have crucified Him.

"Humans – the murderers according to the Gospels – of course would still have killed Jesus, knowing full well that his death results in their salvation, and the defeat of the evil spirits," say Lataster. I've never heard such a novel interpretation as this in all my days. But I guess this was the best he could come up with in Paul's writings to “overwhelmingly support the 'celestial Jesus' theory.”

Don't believe it if you don't want to, but at least try to interact with what the text says.

9 Things I Wish, 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.

* 9 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About the Persecution of Christians -- "Is discrimination against Christians an acceptable form of prejudice?"
* 9 Life Lessons Everyone Can Learn from a Farmer -- "You don’t get anything you don’t work hard for."
* A United Evangelical Response: The System Failed Eric Garner -- "Who stops police when they do something bad?"
* An Incendiary Statement? -- "I’m stunned speechless by this news."
* Black and Tan: a Collection of Essays and Excursions on Slavery, Culture War, and Scripture in America -- "We are all cousins. And not only are the races connected through God’s creation of Adam, we are united (this time in harmony) in the redemption purchased by the Son of God."
* Continent-Sized Scan Reveals US Underbelly -- "...the new study...built a detailed, 3D map of the Earth's upper mantle, which is the rocky layer between the crust and core."
* Histories Of Several Cosby Accusers Cast Doubt On Tales -- "There is virtually no standard by which the media are holding Mr Cosby’s accusers."
* Russell Moore, the Gospel of the Kingdom, and Eric Garner -- "The first time the word gospel is mentioned in the New Testament it has a qualifying term accompanying it: “...the gospel of the kingdom...”"
* US Birth Rate Hits All-Time Low -- "Among women under age 30, childbearing is on the decline, whereas it continues to rise among women older than 30..."
* Year after newlywed fatally shot during home robbery, widow speaks about faith, forgiveness -- "Earlier this year, Maryann pleaded with people on WBTV's Facebook page not to hate the men accused in his death."

Something from nothing

In the beginning there was nothing. Though it's kind of hard to say there was a beginning, since there was nothing. Or to speak as if nothing were something, since it was nothing. After laying around some 20 billion years (though it is hard to tell how long since there were no years -- just nothing and nothing else) nothing decided it wanted to be something. Not sure why nothing wanted to be something or thought it could be something, since it had always been nothing. Nonetheless, nothing struggled 40 billion years and turned itself into a little something. At least it thought it was something. After 30 billion years, something that used to be nothing got tired of being something all alone. Not sure why something knew it was alone, since there had never been nothing but something that used to be nothing. Something that used to be nothing worked and worked and worked for 60 billion years and divided into two somethings -- one something that used to be nothing and one something that used to be something that used to be nothing. Well, some things went well for 50 billion years, until the two somethings decided they wanted something else. So they got together and made something. Now there was something that came from some things that used to be nothing, something that came from nothing, and something that used to be nothing.

How everything else got here, I don't know.

Prayer Answered by Crosses

"Prayer Answered by Crosses," Hymn No. 295 in William Gadsby's Selection

1. I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.

2. ’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

3. I hoped that in some favoured hour,
At once he’d answer my request;
And, by his love’s constraining power,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

4. Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

5. Yea, more, with his own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

6. “Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried;
“Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.

7. “These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou mayst seek thy all in me.”

By John Newton

God's office, and other quotes

"God's office is at the end of your rope -- so let go and drop in." -- Unknown

"The difficulty of dying is correlated to how much you have died before you get there." -- Steve Brown

"The greatness of our estates is no argument of the goodness of our hearts." -- William Seeker

"We are called to live our lives in a way that realizes there is a world outside the academy. Most of the people in the economy are not economists. Most people who have made history are not historians." -- Douglas Wilson

"Bring up your children on the faith that they will be Christians rather than on the fear that they won't." -- Unknown

"If you ignore every single thing Jesus commanded you to do, you're not a Christian." -- Bill Maher

‎"Those who aren't following Jesus aren't his followers." ― Scot McKnight

"If we continue taking baby steps we eventually arrive at the goal." -- copied (Even if we don't arrive as quickly as some might like)

"Gold from Egypt is still gold." -- Augustine of Hippo

"Genius is sorrow’s child." -- John Adams

The help

The Obamas say they're still affected by everyday racism. Treated like "the help"? That might be true, but the examples they give are less than convincing.

First Lady Michelle Obama told about a trip to Target. While there another customer in the store asked for her help reaching an item (The President's wife in 5'11" tall). The customer did not recognize her as the first lady of the United States. That's not treating someone like "the help". That's just asking for help.

The President stated, "There's no black male my age, who's a professional, who hasn't come out of a restaurant and is waiting for their car and somebody didn't hand them their car keys." Surely he intended that as hyperbole! Otherwise, I can't believe it.

Trying to identify with the plight of other African-Americans in the U. S. may be hard for this couple. After all, in a sense they are the most powerful couple in the United States. These stories don't say as much to me about discrimination against the first couple as it speaks to their own place of privilege. We underlings, "the help" who perform service jobs, should not be so far beneath them that they are insulted when identified with us.

Pets in Paradise, 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 Amazing Historical Conflicts That Are Completely Forgotten -- "...history is full of thousands of fascinating conflicts that most have never heard about."

* Archaeologists reveal layout of medieval city at Old Sarum -- "A research team of students and academics carried out a geophysical survey of the ancient monument, scanning ground at the site with state-of-the-art equipment to map the remains of buried structures."

* Burning death inquiry eyes woman's last hours -- "Authorities were reviewing Jessica Chambers' cellphone records and talking to possible witnesses..."

* Colorado Professor Forces Students to Say Anti-American Pledge; University to Investigate -- "I pledge allegiance to and wrap myself in the flag of the United States Against Anything Un-American and to the Republicans for which it stands..."

* Do Pets Go to Heaven? -- "...some become so attached that they yearn to be with their pets throughout eternity."

* Gay Christians choosing celibacy emerge from the shadows -- "When Eve Tushnet converted to Catholicism in 1998, she thought she might be the world’s first celibate Catholic lesbian."
* George F. Will commentary: ‘Offensive’ speech is still protected speech in U.S. -- "The Constitution does not permit the government to decide which types of otherwise protected speech are sufficiently offensive to require protection for the unwilling listener or viewer. Rather...the burden normally falls upon the viewer to avoid further bombardment of his sensibilities simply by averting his eyes."

* Parents angry after school tells 13-year-olds they can have sex, choose gender -- “Our daughter took this course two years ago, after being provided the opportunity to opt out of the class...After completing the course, it was apparent that some of what was ‘taught’ went beyond what was represented on the opt-out form.”

* Pope Francis: Animals Go To Heaven -- "One day we will see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God’s creatures."

* Religion, polygamy at heart of Utah couple’s divorce and custody dispute -- "A Utah woman is fighting a temporary court order barring her from talking to her children about her fundamentalist Mormon beliefs, including polygamy."

* Science Says Couples With One Habit Stay Together Longer -- "...a decade of social science research suggests that partners who show they care about the little things activate a two-way feedback system that helps both members of a relationship feel closer and more fulfilled."

* The Ferguson Riots and the Tale of Two Americas -- "Most Americans are puzzled by the events centered on Ferguson, Mo."

So much for tolerance

"Intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy." -- Marco Rubio

* Army Punishes Chaplain For Discussing His Personal Faith During Suicide Prevention Training -- "It is outrageous that an Army chaplain would have his career threatened because he cared so much about his soldiers that he opened up to them about his personal struggles..."
* Atlanta Fire Chief Suspended Without Pay for Calling Homosexuality 'Sexual Perversion' in Book About Christian Values -- "Cochran, who first served as fire chief in 2008, began the month-long suspension this week and city officials are said to be considering further disciplinary action."
* International Human Trafficking Conference Cancelled Because Organizer is Christian Abortion Opponent -- "...three days before the beginning of the conference, the conference was cancelled because ...Mrs. Ruth Nordström...had defended a midwife in a freedom of conscience issue."
* Red Cross volunteer, 71, axed over gay marriage protest -- "The church-going pensioner received his dismissal letter after holding a one-man protest outside his local cathedral."
* Trinity Western grad 'attacked' for being Christian in job rejection -- "Bethany Paquette claims her application to work in Canada's North for Amaruk Wilderness Corp was rejected because she's Christian."

The intolerant tolerants do not tolerate any kind of discrimination except the kind of discrimination that they like to tolerate. The above are examples of the intolerant tolerant. In succumbing to the viewpoint that every viewpoint is legitimate, every viewpoint becomes legitimate except the viewpoint that will not admit that every viewpoint is legitimate.

All the above are examples linked I have noticed on the internet recently. They are posted for your viewing pleasure. That does not mean that I feel the same about each incident. For example (most of you probably won't agree, but) I believe that a private employer like Amaruk Wilderness Corporation should be able to refuse to hire someone who is Christian if they don't want to hire them for that reason. They nevertheless seem to be hypocrites who think that only their kind of viewpoint discrimination is legitimate and certainly not the views of Trinity Western College and its students. It appears that they enjoyed being extremely obnoxious about the rejection. Interestingly, they retreated to a position "solely based on the fact that she did not meet the minimum requirements" to be hired by them!

On the other hand, if government entities such as a city or the Army are going to be viewpoint neutral, that neutrality should extend to defend the views of Kelvin Cochran and Joe Lawhorn, as well as their detractors.

So much for tolerance. So, instead, how about protection of speech and viewpoints that we don't like and cannot tolerate? (For more information, please see the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.)

Know the Heretics, and other book reviews

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

* Book Review: ‘American Apocalypse’ -- "Sutton, a historian at Washington State University, argues that this form of evangelicalism, a precursor to today’s religious right, did not, as most histories have maintained, isolate itself from political affairs."
* Book Review: Come Out of Her My People by C.J. Koster -- "While "Come Out of Her My People" contains some good information and great Scripture verses, it also employs fallacious reasoning, reaching and subtle twists to come to their conclusions."
* Book Review: 'Hardball Religion' by Wade Burleson -- "...readers who are unfamiliar with the events recorded do not always receive full background or sufficient context."
* Book Review: Know the Heretics -- "Who was Pelagius and why should the members of my church bother to find out? Why should we be interested in Arius’s ideas about Jesus Christ..."
* Book Review of Distinctly Baptist: Proclaiming  Identity in a New Generation -- "This text is unique in that it is really a collection of sermon manuscripts."
* Book Reviews, A Distinctively Baptist Church: Renewing your Church in Practice -- "Based on the premise in these post-modern days that many Baptists have either forgotten or neglected what it means to be a Baptist..."
* Book Reviews: Heaven Is For Real -- "Embarking on a short tour of the afterlife is all the rage, it seems."
* Man Realizes Dream of Becoming a Doctor Despite Cerebral Palsy -- (As much or more bio as book review)
* Victory through the Lamb: A Guide to Revelation in Plain Language – Book Review -- "Mark Wilson has provided a readable and helpful survey of the Book of Revelation with accompanying stories of faithful saints and martyrs...My concerns about the book are based on what I view as questionable hermeneutics and eschatology."

Hawker's heart

"All my springs are in thee."—Psalm lxxxvii. 7.

"Jesus is the source, the fountain, the author, the finisher of all our mercies; for every thing of life and salvation, of grace and glory, flow from him, centre in him; and therefore in him and from him, as the source of blessedness, all our springs must flow. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily ." 

-- Robert Hawker - 1753-1827

Marriage, mostly

The posting of links and quotes does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked or the comments quoted.

"Marriage is not created by the state, nor is it created by the church. Marriage precedes both church and state, and both are responsible to recognize it wherever it happens." -- John Stonestreet

"It is not good to repent of a sickness and it is not good to treat a sin." -- Karl Menninger (To replace sin with pathology, and repentance with recovery, makes you unable to deal with sin as a spiritual problem.)

"You are only thankful when you realize it is all a gift." -- copied

"Marriage is but one of the channels God uses to enable us to taste how deeply satisfying His thirst-quenching grace can be." -- Sinclair B. Ferguson

"Common sense isn't common except to the believer." -- Steve Brown

"As God by creation made two of one, so again by marriage He made one of two." -- Thomas Adam

"I want my marriage to be like the Earth -- full of life and revolving around the Son." -- Jennifer Smith

* Americans share views on marriage, church and state roles -- "Six in 10 say the government should not define or regulate marriage."
* Arguing Against Gay Marriage -- "The vast majority of Americans no longer believe in the authority of Scripture. So how do we argue against gay marriage in a way that our neighbors can understand?"
* Christian With Christian Message Refused Service by 13 Pro-homosexual Bakers -- "It was the baker’s dozen of discrimination."
* Investing in Hope: Speaking of sin -- "Many of us find it difficult to talk about sin these days, even in church services. It’s just not in vogue in modern America."
* Marriage crisis predated gay marriage, ERLC speakers say -- "...Albert Mohler opened the event by saying the crisis regarding the biblical, traditional definition of marriage as a permanent union of a man and a woman began “with the heterosexual subversion of marriage.”
* The Inconsistent Stance of Christians on Marriage -- "Sexual immorality is sexual immorality. The Lord does not value one sin over the other. He literally hates divorce."
* The scandal of evangelical silence on divorce -- "If I asked you to name the “hot button” social issues of concern to Christians...what probably wouldn’t come to mind is the high incidence of divorce."
* To Go or Not to Go: Why We Shouldn't take 'The Marriage Pledge' Too Soon -- "...Ephraim Radner and Christopher Seitz have offered what they refer to as “The Marriage Pledge,” calling clergy of all stripes to no longer sign government documents of civil marriage."

Pay or pay

Yahoo and others are reporting this story: 21-Year-Old Sues Parents for College Tuition — and Wins.

This is a sad situation at several levels. But what are the implications of courts making the decision that parents must pay for their child's college education? Sounds positively ludicrous to me.

Philpot's Portions

"The Apostle declares, "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17). If, then, we are joined to the Lord, in other words, have a union with him, this is the closest of all unions. A man and his wife are one flesh, but Jesus and the saint are one spirit. If possessed of this we are one spirit with him; we understand what he says; we have the mind of Christ; we love what he loves, and hate what he hates. But out of this spiritual union flows communion with him, intercourse with him, communications from him, and the whole of that divine work upon the heart whereby the two spirits become one. The Spirit of Christ in his glorious Person and the Spirit of Christ in a believing heart meet together, and meeting together as two drops of rain running down a pane of glass, or two drops of oil, kiss into each other, and are no longer two but one. Now if you have been ever blest with a manifestation of Christ, your spirit has melted into his, and you have felt that sweet union and communion with him that you saw as with his eyes, heard as with his ears, felt as with his heart, and spoke as with his tongue."

-- J. C. Philpot - 1802-1869

Fish Fry and Fasola, 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.

* Article on Sacred Harp Composer Raymond C. Hamrick in Georgia Music News -- "In addition to his seven songs in The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition, one hundred of Hamrick’s shape-note compositions are collected in The Georgian Harmony (2010)."
* Fifth Sunday Singing -- "Minutes from alternative sources singing at Lin and Benny’s..."
* Fish Fry and Fasola: The Harrods Creek/Bob Meek Memorial Convention -- "The weekend started with our traditional Fish FRYday at Vine Street Baptist Church."
* Gathering Spaces: Shape Note Singing, the Tradition -- "In the early 1980s a group of people started getting together to sing shape note music in Madison."
* Music in African American Culture -- "A distinctive feature of shapenote singing is that the singers sing the note names—do-re-mi-a-sol-la-ti-do—before singing the words to the song."
* O Holy Night -- "A cappella rendition of “O Holy Night”"
* Performing Community: the Place of Music, Race and Gender in Producing Appalachian Space -- "Traditional, participatory music is a powerful medium through which people express and shape their ideas about identity, mobility, social relations, and belonging, and through which people are in turn shaped."
* Sacred Harp Singing Finds a Way Back to the Mainstream -- "He sat on the steps listening to the sounds that were so unique and so captivating, even at age 12, he knew it was his music."
* Shape Note: America’s Oldest Music Now Sung Around the World -- "Unbeknownst to many, the oldest form of written music in America is gaining international appeal."
* Singing Convention Attracts Thousands -- "The Macon County Singing Convention, five thousand strong, visited Lafayette Sunday."

Conversation, and other quotes

"Prejudice and mistreatment never moves away, but it does move around." -- Bart Barber

"We do not deliberate, for we have decided. To be for ever holding the truth of God, as though it might yet turn out to be a lie, were to lose all the comfort of it." -- Charles Spurgeon

"There are some things which do not need an “ongoing conversation” -- because God has already spoken." -- Mike Leake

"God has spoken. Therefore, every other conversation must be subservient to His conversation." -- Mike Leake

"Think as wise men do, but speak as the common people do." -- Aristotle

"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." – Winston Churchill

"When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear." -- Thomas Sowell

"Proud ignorance is no better than proud knowledge." -- Douglas Wilson

The New Generation (in 1929)

"The only thing recognized in matters of morals, the only standard for the definition and measure of God and things divine will be personal experience. Those who attempt to bind the conscience, direct the soul, and set before it a definite concept of God and a fixed line of conduct in respect to Him and to one another will be looked upon, not only as narrow bigots, but as intolerable tyrants, as criminal hinderers to all true knowledge. The new generation is intoxicated with the rallying cry of 'self-expression.'"

I. M. Haldeman, in Why I Am Opposed To Modernism, 1929

Not just gay issues, 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.

* CDC: Circumcision benefits outweigh risks -- "The thinking on circumcision has swung wildly over the years...By one estimate, only 25 percent of U.S. male newborns were circumcised in 1900."
* Dear Evangelicals: You’re Being Had -- "The trouble is, you’re trying to solve cultural problems with political solutions—because politicians have convinced you to do so."
* Ethiopia Destroys Evangelical Church Building; 100 Christians Forced Underground -- "The Y Semay Birihan Church, or Heaven’s Light Church, was demolished last week by Shenkore district police in the heavily Islamic city of Harar..."
* How To Stock A Probiotic Pantry -- "Your gut is teeming with trillions of bacteria that help you digest food as well as thwart intruders — and it turns out, you can give those friendly bacteria a boost by adding probiotics to your body."
* Michael Brown's stepdad investigated for comments -- "...police are trying to determine whether Brown's stepfather, Louis Head, was attempting to incite a riot on Nov. 24 when he screamed "Burn this ---- down" to a crowd of protesters..."
* Not just gay issues: Why hundreds of congregations made final break with mainline denominations -- "Departing Presbyterian leaders...concerns included claims that the denomination was overly politicized and weakening biblical authority and traditional teaching on the divinity of Jesus."
* Shocking Footage: Rick Warren Embraces Roman Catholicism -- "Rick Warren...did this truly astounding promotional video for the Vatican, discussing what Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church had in common and how we could participate in shared causes."