Wichita Abortion Doctor Murdered

Shock.

That's my reaction to the news today that late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller was murdered this morning while serving as an usher at his church.

I am unapologetically pro-life. What Dr. Tiller did at his clinic was kill pre-born human beings. But as much as I oppose Tiller, he did not deserve this fate, nor his family the profound grieve they now feel.

Whoever committed this crime is no friend of the pro-life movement. Furthermore, they heinously failed to live out Jesus' command to "love your enemies and pray for them" (Matthew 5:44).

Tiller lived by the sword. Sadly, he died by it too.

God's Power in a World of Evil

Reflecting on Revelation 6, Bruce Metzger in his fine, concise book on Revelation, "Breaking the Code," reminds us that when the affairs of the world seem out of control, God continues to hold everything in His hands:

One of the features that distinguishes the book of Revelation from other books of the New Testament is the author's attempt to show how power fits into the divine scheme of things. John begins with the belief that all power comes from God. God is the absolute ruler of the world. But because God gave humankind free will, there is always the possibility tha we might misuse the portion of power entrusted to us. When this happens, however, it does not mean tha God is helpless and frustrated. The world is still God's world, and is still ruled in accordance with the eternal laws of right and wrong. The way that God's power is manifested in the world is that the misuse of power brings on suffering and disaster. Wars, starvation, devastation--these are the means by which it is made plain that power abused is still under God's control. These are the "judgments" of God being worked out on the plane of history.

Bad Ol' Credit Card Payer

The New Times writes about me and thousands of people who pay off their credit cards every month-- the credit card companies aren't happy and they're coming after us:

Banks are expected to look at reviving annual fees, curtailing cash-back and other rewards programs and charging interest immediately on a purchase instead of allowing a grace period of weeks, according to bank officials and trade groups.

According to David Robertson, who tracks the credit card industry, folks like me who pay off the card each month--about 50 million people or a 1/3 of all credit card holders, have been "making out like a bandit."

Bandit? Pardon me, but I think these card companies still profit by the transaction fees they charge merchants. And the rebates, points, etc.? While something is given back to me, it certainly isn't much. Chump change actually. And they should know.

Personal money expert Dave Ramsey says that even if you pay off the amount every month, people who use credit cards spend more than those who deal just with cash.

So if the credit card companies start charging me to use their card, I'll seriously consider cutting it up.

What Makes Dan Brown So Popular

Ross Douthat writes an interesting op-ed piece for the New York Times that explains why fiction writer Dan Brown is so popular:

In the Brownian worldview, all religions — even Roman Catholicism — have the potential to be wonderful, so long as we can get over the idea that any one of them might be particularly true. It’s a message perfectly tailored for 21st-century America, where the most important religious trend is neither swelling unbelief nor rising fundamentalism, but the emergence of a generalized “religiousness” detached from the claims of any specific faith tradition...

Jesus ministered in a time when plenty of options for religious worship existed--like Roman Emperor worship and gods like Zeus and Artemis. Jesus even visited one of the more popular sites of pagan worship--Caesarea Philippi, place of Panias worship. But it was there that Jesus commended Peter for his insight that Jesus was Messiah and then Jesus promised the "gates of hell" (read--other spiritual forces and alternatives) would not overcome the kingdom his represents.

Jesus never represented himself as "one more god." He made exclusive claims about himself that has consequences for our own lives. John 14:6 is where Jesus says it distinctly and clearly: "No one comes to the Father, but through me."

Douthat goes on to say though that Brown's portrayal of Jesus is historically false and unsustainable. I'm glad Douthat mentions that important piece of information.

The article is a good read to understand today's culture.

Obama at Notre Dame

So Planned Parenthood gave an honorary doctorate to the President of Operation Rescue, Troy Newman.

Oops, got that a little wrong. Notre Dame--the most prestigious Catholic university in America--gave President Barack Obama--the most radical political proponent of abortion rights--an honorary doctorate and let him speak before their graduates.

Notre Dame's stubborn insistence on inviting a president who deeply opposes core Catholic values at least shows the charity and tolerance of the institution, something we'd never see from those on the other side of the abortion debate.

What struck me most about Obama's pleasant and persuasive rhetoric was his ability to acknowledge how "the two sides were irreconcilable," yet make the debate sound like a choice between paint color on the wall--we both have reasonable opinions, we just disagree, so let's quit demonizing one another and be fair minded.

So if I say abortion is the taking of a human life and those who perform it are killing children, is that demonizing and uncivil speech? Is that not a fair minded description of this tragic procedure?

Then Obama urged, "Let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term."

Surely, Notre Dame realizes that this suggestion bumps against the Catholic Church's teaching against any form of artificial birth control. And when it comes to making adoption more available and providing support for women who do carry their child to term, I think the Church is doing far more than the Planned Parenthoods of the world.

And to see through the ruse of "let's reduce the numbers..." just imagine the debate is about slavery. Let's reduce the number of slaves, but let's never banish slavery and never call it absolutely immoral.

If anything, Obama's address at Notre Dame brought attention to the plight of the unborn. Remember Psalm 139.

Now I've Heard Everything

Check out this club re-mix of Subway's "Five Dollar Foot Long."

I secretly liked the jingle in the original commercial. Now, I like the song even more!

You decide if I'm being sincere or sarcastic.

Hubble Telescope Repair Mission

As a resident of Kansas, I've come to enjoy our big skies and the marvelous view of the stars at night. Seeing streaking stars with the naked eye is a joy, but far more amazing is viewing the incredible images of the Hubble Telescope.

For 19 years, Hubble has ushered us into the golden age of astronomy. Now, it's about to get a huge overhaul so it can remain in service for another five years--or about 8000,000,000 miles. Today NASA is sending up a crew to perform Hubble maintenance.

The Telegraph says this will be NASA's most dangerous mission:

Among the greatest hazards facing Atlantis is the intense amount of space junk - such as broken satellites and dead rockets - that is cluttering the area where the shuttle will rendezvous with Hubble...

Astronaut John Grunsfeld likens the intricacy of the tasks he and his colleagues will perform to 'performing brain surgery in space.'

They will face major hurdles, such as unscrewing dozens of minute screws while wearing gloves five layers thick and removing razor-sharp circuit boards capable of piercing the $10 million spacesuits that keep them alive in the vacuum of space.

'I would consider this the climbing Mount Everest of spacewalking missions,' said Mr Grunsfeld, 51.

'The big unknowns are where we’re pushing the envelope further than its been done before in spaceflight…we’re trying some techniques that haven’t been done before.

'In training it’s been going very well…the only hesitation I have is that Hubble has a way of surprising us.'

What surprises me is that this story isn't getting a whole of press. But if something goes wrong...

Pray for the mission's success!

A Glaring Mistake

Everyone makes mistakes once in a while. Only some mistakes are seen my millions of people.

Check out this story.

The Old House on Route 4

Free Heaven (Book That Is)

Bible Study Magazine and Eternal Perspective Ministries are giving away 40 signed copies of Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven. Not only that, but they're also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Randy Alcorn page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

And BTW, if you're searching for great Bible study software, there's nothing like Logos. I absolutely love it!

Links to the Intergoogle

This blog is sorely lacking my attention lately. Church responsibilities and teaching New Testament Introduction at Sterling College is consuming all my energies at the moment. However, here are a few good morsels...

Leadership guru John Maxwell has started a blog.

In a journal article, "A Biblical Perspective on Interracial Marriage," J. Daniel Hays rightly argues, "interracial marriage is strongly affirmed in Scripture. Marrying unbelievers, on the other hand, is strongly prohibited."

Ten lessons from Great Christian minds. This you have to read. Outstanding.

Lego Jesus

It's either a very creative project to engage children, or, another silly depiction...

A Lego Jesus statue.

Really. And, it's almost six feet tall.

It's right here for you to see.

Photos of the Spot of Easter

This weekend the Church meditates on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus our Savior.

You know the story, but where in Jerusalem did it take place?

Some suggest the Garden Tomb, a place established in the late 1800's.

But the more likely place is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Check out the very nice photos by Holy Land Photos of the Holy Sepulcher Church, the Garden Tomb, and what the tomb of Jesus likely looked like.

New Sub Shop at Sterling

The business students at Sterling College, where I teach Old Testament and New Testament Introduction classes, opened up a Quiznos sub shop this week.

KSN has the story and video.

The business students will learn first hand the ins and outs and the highs and lows of running their own small business.

As the manager of School Kids Records in Athens, Ohio for many years, I can testify that running a business is filled with lots of rewards and challenges.

Government Running the Auto Industry?

With the Obama administration running out the CEO of General Motors, this quote from the Kruse Kronicle is apt commentary:

Autonomous individualism is a product of the Enlightenment. But so is the notion that a national government entity can correctly comprehend massive complexity, act with greater wisdom toward the common good than what emerges from people freely engaging one another, and that it can do so with greater moral rectitude than would otherwise be the case.

Amen to that!

When Faith Really Gets Tested

Here's the story of a woman who really had to put her faith into practice:

Of the three, Mary seemed the least troubled by the unfairness of what had happened, perhaps because she had been through a life-changing ordeal before.

In 2005, while she was teaching at William B. Travis Academy, a teacher from another school attacked her in her classroom, upset over a perceived insult against her daughter. The assault left Mary with serious injuries, and it took her months to recover. Still, she forgave that teacher, just like she has forgiven the driver.

"This may sound cheesy," Mary said from her wheelchair one afternoon. "But every night before I go to bed, I say the Lord's Prayer. There's a line in there, 'Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.'

"I thought about that line sometimes as I lay in the hospital at 2 a.m. I thought, 'Am I going to say those words, or am I going to live those words?' "

The driver should be held accountable, Mary believed, but she felt no anger toward her.

"I only have so much energy," Mary said, "and I choose to spend it on healing."

Wondering what happened? Read this inspiring story from the Dallas Morning News.

HT: Bruce Tamaso

Small, Daily Sacrifices

This is one of my favorite illustration stories:

Fred Craddock, in an address to ministers, caught the practical implications of consecration. "To give my life for Christ appears glorious," he said. "To pour myself out for others ... to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom--I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.

"We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table--'Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all.'

"But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, 'Get lost.' Go to a committee meeting. Give up a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home.

"Usually giving our life to Christ isn't glorious. It's done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it's harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul."

Taken from Leadership Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4

Links to the Intergoogle 3/13/09

Why Abraham Piper would make blogging a requirement for seminary students.

Top 5 Christian comic books.

Over 20 years old, yet very relevant today: Ronald Nash's essay, "Socialism, Capitalism, and the Bible."

What $1 Trillion looks like.

Get a masters degree studying the Beatles.

Free through March, an online look at the very fine ESV Study Bible.

Fattening, over the top food. Yum.

Uncle Al Show on WCPO

I must be getting old. Another important person from my Cincinnati childhood has died.

Albert Lewis, aka "Uncle Al" of "The Uncle Al Show" died February 28 at age 84. His funeral was today.

Uncle Al was a live children's show that aired daily on WCPO channel 9 from 1950-1985. With his wife, "Captain Windy," Al & Wanda Lewis entertained thousands of Cincinnati kids like me who grew up in the baby boom generation.

Over the years, 410,000 kids appeared on his show-- my sister being one. I'm still jealous!He was always smiling, making music, and having fun.

Uncle Al was wholesome. He was one reason you enjoyed being a kid.

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