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Friday, April 11th, 2008
The Wall Street Journal (April 11, 2008) featured an article on betrothal that featured my wife and I as well as some other couples who discuss betrothal.
The Wall Street Journal article that feautured us.
So as not to be confused with anyone else’s ideas of what betrothal is or is not, I should direct you to visit our site www.BiblicalBetrothal.com to read our articles or click on “TERMS” to see how we personally differentiate between Dating / Courthship / Betrothal.
Abortion Increases Risk for Breast Cancer
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
Recent studies by researchers in the UK, show that women who have had abortions face increased risk of breast cancer. In a nutshell, they found that the more wealth women have in England, the more likely they are to delay childbirth, have abortions or avoid children in general. They are also more likely to have breast cancer.
On the flip side, it appears that women in the UK who have children at an earlier age, have lots of babies and breastfeed them, are less likely to have breast cancer. From the research report:
Seven known risk factors were examined as an explanation for these trends:When a woman is nulliparous (has never had a child), an induced abortion has a greater carcinogenic effect because it leaves breast cells in a state of interrupted hormonal development in which they are more susceptible.
A low age at first birth is protective.
Childlessness increases the risk.
A larger number of children (higher fertility) increases protection.
Breastfeeding gives additional protection.
Hormonal contraceptives are conducive to breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is also conducive to breast cancer.
For more information:
Patrick S. Carroll, M.A., is Director of Research, Pension and Population Research Institute (PAPRI), 35 Canonbury Road, London N1 2DG, UK.
Contact: papriresearch@btconnect.com
Is Black Gospel Music Disappearing?
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007
I heard this interview and then discovered this earlier interview on National Public Radio (NPR) with Robert Darden, former gospel music editor for Billboard magazine — and now an assistant professor of English at Baylor University.
Darden is the author of the book, People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music, and is helping to head up the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University.
If you have vintage black gospel recordings that are no longer in circulation, Baylor University would like to add them to the collection of digitized music. If you loan them your albums or other early media, they will digitize the recording, and return to you a digital version along with your original.
Is traditional black gospel music becoming obsolete? You can help to preserve this part of American heritage. Has black gospel music had an impact on your life? Post a comment and let me know what you think.
The Photo of gospel legend, Mahalia Jackson, was taken by Carl Van Vechten.
Independent Film Festivals
Saturday, September 29th, 2007
One of the most important developments of our day is a resurgence in a Christian perspective on the Arts. Storytelling is an ancient traditional that was utilized by Jesus Christ himself as an effective means of translating spiritual truths.
In the past few years, there are a number of independent Christian film festivals that have given a platform for talented new filmmakers to exhibit and launch their works. One of the most notable of these is the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF) and the Jubilee Awards which is hosted by Vision Forum.
As the ministry’s founder, Doug Phillips correctly observes: “More than ever before in the recent history of our nation, we have access to the tools for waging a new form of cultural guerilla warfare against the elites who would redefine the biblical family out of existence and present a dark and nefarious vision of reality to the future. We need Christians to challenge the present culture of death, infidelity, perversion, and ethical malaise by boldly proclaiming the crown rights of Jesus Christ over every sphere of life and thought — including film.”
The Georgia Christian Film Association, founded by “Captain Bret” Smith, also conducts the Georgia Christian Film Festival which allows independent filmmakers to submit their productions for to be considered for broadcast on national satellite television.
LifeWay, a large Southern Baptist organization, has launched the Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival. This event features many industry professional including Ken Wales who you may know from the hit TV series, Christy written by Catherine Marshall, and more recently the box office faith-film, Amazing Grace on the life of William Wilberforce.
Other experts featured at the Gideon Media Arts event are Paul McCusker who is well-known for his professional touch given to Adventures in Odyssey and other Focus on the Family radio theatre productions, and Dr. Ted Baehr of MovieGuide. Many other talented experts will often be on hand to offer their expertise and provide direction and insight into film-making.
All of these organizations, and a number of others, are providing a wonderful service in helping to bring a truly Christian worldview to bear in the film industry. We should support these efforts and buy good films that promote a Biblical worldview.
Come What May
Friday, September 21st, 2007
Every now and again something happens that is truly important on many levels. Such is the case with a new film produced by the Advent Film Group entitled, “Come What May.”
“Come What May” is a film produced primarily by the homeschooling community, features Patrick Henry College (PHC is a privately-funded college in Virginia), and is a story about a moot court team who argues for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This film stars homeschooling parents Kenneth Jezek and his wife, Karen Jezek, who I enjoyed watching in a movie on Karla Faye Tucker entitled, “Forevermore.” Michael Farris also makes a starring appearance.
The story is focused on Caleb, a young man who is struggling to discover his own convictions. Caleb is torn between the values of his Christian father and his unbelieving mother who is a trial lawyer arguing in favor of abortion before the U.S. Supreme Court. Caleb is helped by his relationship with Rachel, a moot court teammate, his roommate Dave, and other friends and PHC professors to internalize his faith and stand on Biblical absolutes.
This film is co-produced by Ex-Discovery and AOL executive George Escobar and my friend, Manny Edwards. Hopefully many of you have seen Manny’s first full-length film, “Mysterious Ways: It’s How God Works,” which is one of my favorite Christian films.
While the film is not scheduled to be released until Spring 2008, I have had a chance to watch the story develop and to see the trailer teaser which will be released next week in New Mexico at HSLDA’s National Conference for Christian Homeschool Leaders in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
I wanted to give you a heads up about this film and encourage you to help promote it and make it a smashing success. It is an independent Christian pro-life film, that is produced by homeschoolers and promotes a Biblical worldview. What a package! To learn more about the exciting new film, watch this promo video that explains more about AFG and their goals and vision.
Southwest Airlines Takes A Stand on Modesty
Saturday, September 15th, 2007
In an age in which we are bombarded with sexually charges images and behavior, Southwest Airlines has apparently drawn a line in the sand. In the past week, two young women (one of whom works for “Hooters,” a food establishment which flaunts its immodest waitresses) have been asked to either cover up their bodies or leave the airplane. (A decision I support.)
While this is certainly being examined as a legal issue, and I’m sure that Southwest Airlines is in close communication with its attorneys these days, there is also the question of modesty and public decency. Where did the idea come from that we should clothe our bodies? It goes all the way back to Genesis 3:21, “And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and He clothed them.”
Why was this necessary? Sin entered the world because of the original couple’s rebellion. With that sin came the corruption of sexuality, which God created to be “very good.” There is nothing sinful about the human body, and there is nothing sinful about sex, but there is something sinful in lusting after something that doesn’t belong to you.
As corporations know, “sex sells.” American Family Association recently emailed their members regarding sexually provocative TV ads by Hardees. Imagine that! Hamburgers are being sold by showing scantly dressed women seducing men (and in some cases minors). On a side note, I ate my first Hardee burger last fall on the way to a Christian book convention (against the insistent warning of my wiser younger sister) and I mean to tell you, it was anything but sexy!! Greasy…definitely! Sludgy…for sure! But marketing can only take your weekly allowance of fat and cholesterol on one sesame-seed-bun so far!
None of us are exempt from the pull of temptation. The stronger you think you are, the harder you might fall. There is something within all of our hearts (including mine) to take the forbidden fruit and want what does not belong to us. We each have our areas of weakness. For some it may be sex, for some money, for some self-glory in personal accomplishment. Whatever our propensity toward vice, we need a savior who is stronger than our flesh. Taking what does not belong to us leaves us with a leftover taste in our mouth and a sour feeling in our gut that is very similar to my Hardee burger experience.
I’m so thankful for my dear friends at Pure Life Ministries (PLM) who uncompromisingly call believers back to repentance and holiness. I know these brothers and sisters personally and they walk the talk. What a blessing they have been to so many of us! The problem in our culture is not merely sexual sin, it’s the pervasive cult of self. Our narcissistic infatuation with ourselves is at the root of many of our personal, social and moral problems. PLM constantly chops at the roots of sin issues, and doesn’t merely trim the branches.
Steve Gallagher and his wife Kathy Gallagher do most of the writing of PLM’s books, while Jeff and Rose Colon run the Live-In program and the “Overcomers At-Home” (OCAH) program. My friend Justin Carabello is doing much more speaking these days, including traveling internationally with Steve to minister in Latin American, and other, countries. There are many other wonderful counselors and other staff whom we have come to love as family. I can’t speak highly enough for this powerful ministry that God is using to truly change hearts and lives.
Even if you have been to their website in the past, you need to visit again. They have a wonderful new podcast, and tons of articles and free audio files.
The world is always going to be the world, but the Church must be different. May God bring us into a place where Christian women don’t dress to be lusted after by men, and where Christian men don’t lust after women. May we “each learn to control our body in a way that is holy and honorable.” (1 Thess. 4:4)
Korean Hostages Told Convert to Islam or Die
Friday, September 14th, 2007
The following is a news excerpt from Voice of the Martyrs:
On September 12, 2007, South Korean Christian aid workers held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks, reported being beaten and ordered at gun point to convert to Islam, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
According to the BBC, the former hostages told a press conference they were made to work like slaves while in captivity. Jae Chang-hee told reporters, “We were beaten with a tree branch or kicked around. Some kidnappers threatened us with death at gunpoint to force us to follow them in chanting their Islamic prayer for conversion. I was beaten many times. They pointed a rifle and bayonet at me and tried to force me to convert.” Jae Chang-hee added, “We lived like slaves. We had to level the ground for motorbikes, and get water and make a fire.”
BBC reported that Yu Jung-hwa said she thought she was going to die. “The most difficult moment, when I had a big fear of death, was when the Taliban shot a video. All 23 of us leaned against a wall and armed Taliban aimed their guns at us, and a pit was before me. They said they will save us if we believe in Islam. I almost fainted at the time and I still cannot look at cameras.”
On July 19, the Taliban kidnapped the 23 South Korean Christian aid workers when they were traveling by bus from Kabul to Kandahar. The group’s leader, Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, and another male hostage were killed. Twenty-one members of the group were released last month following an agreement between South Korea and the Taliban.
Recalling how Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu was led away to his death, the BBC said Han Ji-young, in tears, added, “Bae didn’t even look at us when he was leaving the room. He only said, ‘Overcome with faith.’”
Continue praying for God to touch the lives of these believers as they deal with their experience in Afghanistan. Pray God comforts the families of the two that were killed. Pray the testimony of these Christians will draw non-believers into fellowship with Him.
Kathy Griffin says, "Suck it, Jesus!" at Emmys
Thursday, September 13th, 2007
Comedian Kathy Griffin, a self-proclaimed militant atheist and a deconverted Roman Catholic, Griffin made provocative remarks about Jesus at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Her comments will be cut from a pre-taped telecast of the show, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said on Tuesday.
Griffin took the stage of the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday night to collect her Emmy for best reality program for her Bravo channel show “My Life on the D-List.”
Holding up her statuette, she declared, “A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus…Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now.”
Asked about her speech backstage a short time later, an unrepentant Griffin added, “I hope I offended some people. I didn’t want to win the Emmy for nothing.”
That is one of the most self-obvious statements I’ve heard in a while! I’m sure she has offended a number of people with her statement, especially Catholic leaders who are taking this as a direct attack on their church (for some reason).
I have to say though that I thought she made a very accurate statement (minus that personal insult at the end). Jesus has very little to do with anything regarding the Emmy Awards or network television in general. The shows represented by the Emmy Awards promote a hedonistic, atheistic, humanistic, anti-Christ worldview. I’m not sure why so many people are surprised when someone in their ranks finally let’s the cat out of the bag. She’s merely revealing something that astute Christians have known for a long time.
The Legacy of 9/11
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
September 11, 2001 has forever been etched into the consciousness of the American mind. Nearly everyone alive at that time recalls where they were and what they were doing when the twin towers of the World Trade Center were attacked.
It was a very typical day at the office for me. We get breaking news reports via email at our office and one of my co-workers interrupted my concentration by announcing, “The news says that an airplane just hit one of the World Trade Center towers.” Just that week there had been a story of a man in a hang glider that had gotten stuck and was hanging suspended from a skyscraper in Florida.
“That’s a hoax,” I announced. “That’s typical of news networks. They like to be the first with a breaking story. They’ll recall the story in a few minutes. It’s definitely not an airplane. Air traffic controllers would never allow a private pilot to be flying that close to downtown New York City, and the commercial airliners know better.”
After what seemed like just a few moments they announced again, “A second aircraft has his the other WTC tower.” At that point we were all out of our seats clamoring to turn on the office television set. We sat glued to the set, realizing that this nation, and the rest of the civilized world, would never be the same.
I believe that 9/11 has provided a sociological turning point into a new era. It was, in my opinion, the beginning of post-Postmodernism. While I don’t have space in this posting to discuss all that entails, I believe that we are on track towards the next natural and logical succession to a Postmodern culture. When a civilization is embodied by relativism and hedonism, history tells us that it falls apart from within. Francis Schaeffer told us that there are only two things that can keep a nation from sliding into the abyss of pleasure:
1. The gospel of Jesus Christ as preached by the true confessing church. The gospel exerts its restraining influence by means of the Holy Spirit working in someone’s heart to convict them of sin, empowering them to live righteously. (i.e. Self-Government)
2. The arm of a totalitarian state. We can experience the assault of totalitarianism from within or the invasion of our nation from without. Neither one is very desirable.
We can be part of the solution by believing, living and proclaiming the unchanging truth of the gospel. As Schaeffer said in his excellent book, The Great Evangelical Disaster, “There must be confrontation. Loving confrontation, but confrontation nonetheless.”
Mennonites Being Forced to Move
Monday, September 10th, 2007A group of Mennonites in Quebec are moving away from their homes because of an attempt to shut down their private Christian school. The Quebec Education Department insists that all teachers working in Quebec be certified under provincial guidelines and that they follow provincial curriculum in the classroom.
According to Ronald Goosen, one of the founders of the Mennonite community, “It boils down to intolerance to our religion.”
At the moment, the school has been closed and the families are moving to Ontario, where teacher certification standards are not as strict against private schools.
Mr. Keith Wedel said, “For us, it’s very important that we have our own teachers, of our own church and of our own faith, that are teaching our children. We think that having freedom of religion grants us the right to have our own school. Across the rest of Canada and the U.S., it’s been granted to us. So we’re hoping to receive the same thing here like we have in other provinces. If the right is granted to us to continue having our own school, then we’ll move back.
A World Net Daily article states that if these Christian parents did not subject their students to learning that evolution is a fact, then the children would be taken from their parents’ homes and placed in foster home situations. That is, understandably, something these parents couldn’t just stand by and allow to happen.
Teacher certification and control of the curriculum are methods that are often used by over-reaching governments as a way of controlling private education. In essence, you really can’t have truly private education if the teachers and the curriculum are controlled by the government. Private schools at that point become another extension of the “arm of the State.”