• Politics

    Finally, Bush Steps up to the Plate

    Photo: Charles Dharapak/Associated Press President Bush has been mute for far too long about the baseless charges being leveled at him by his political opponents. This silence has been very frustrating for those of us who have supported this president’s war policy. The silence on his part has given the appearance that everything that the critics of the war are saying is true and that there never was any legitimate basis for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Today in a speech marking Veterans Day, the President finally decided to step up to the plate and take a whack at the unfounded allegations that his critics have made against the case…

  • Personal

    Shout out to My Homie, Adam King!

    I have to give some e-props to my homie Adam King (a.k.a. “sofyst”). He is one of my students and is the one who is responsible for my really fly new blog design. I think the new digs look really dope. It is da bomb, so to speak. What can I say? When Adam’s in the hizzle, da blogs stots ta sizzle. [For the uninitiated, the paragraph above represents my “cool professor” mode of speech. It’s just an attempt to relate to my young students on a more authentic level. So I often speak to them in the hip language of the day that they understand. As you can see,…

  • Culture,  Politics,  Theology/Bible

    Another Abortion Outrage

    Today’s Washington Post reports that there is a new prenatal testing procedure that will allow doctors to determine in the first trimester whether a baby has down syndrome. The outrage consists in how this knowledge is routinely used. Screening women before the second trimester allows those who might opt to terminate a pregnancy to make that decision when doctors say an abortion is safer and less traumatic (source). Aborting babies who have defects has become a routine occurrence in our society. Yet it is a practice that almost no one wants to talk about. Ironically, the Washington Post ran one of the most compelling essays against this practice just a…

  • Culture,  Politics

    Texas Passes Ban on Gay “Marriage”

    The Associated Press reports that early election returns in Texas indicate that the amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman has passed. The good news is that the amendment also outlaws civil unions and any other arrangement that resembles marriage. Here’s how the new amendment reads: (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. (b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage (source). This amendment not only constitutionally prohibits Texas from “marrying” and conferring civil unions on homosexual couples, it also…

  • Culture,  Personal,  Politics,  Theology/Bible

    Interview for ABC News Dallas

    The interview aired last night on the 10 o’clock news (see previous post). I had been wondering how my comments would come across once they were edited to fit into the report. Having seen it, I have to say that it could have been worse. They have me reading the scripture (1 Corinthians 6:9) to the effect that the “unrighteous” will not inherit the kingdom of God. But they didn’t include the part about the Gospel being for all kinds of sinners. Nevertheless, it’s always a good thing to be able to read scripture, so I can’t complain. If you want to watch the video, click here: Watch Video. If…

  • Culture,  Personal,  Politics,  Theology/Bible

    Interview for the Gospel

    The reporter who conducted the interview was Gary Reaves (pictured right). I got called on today to represent Criswell College in an interview with a local news program (Channel 8, ABC-Dallas) about the upcoming vote on whether to amend the Texas constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. I only had about an hour or so to prepare for the interview. So I began reading stories from several different newspapers and news sources and tried to brush up on the state of the political debate. I read websites sponsored by interest groups for the amendment and others that are against the amendment. I was well-prepared to…

  • Theology/Bible

    John Piper Preaching in Dallas . . . Every Weekday!

    John Piper John Piper discipled me in my car when I attended Seminary. I used to listen to his sermon tapes as I would commute to and from work and school. Throughout my career in seminary, the Lord used John Piper to shape my thinking about God and the scriptures more than any single teacher that I ever had. I know of no preacher who combines exegetical, theological, and devotional depth like Dr. Piper. That is why I am happy to announce that my favorite preacher and mentor in absentia will be preaching right here in “Big D” every weekday! For those readers who did not know, I now teach…

  • Theology/Bible

    Mohler and Patterson To Debate Calvinism at 2006 SBC Pastor’s Conference

    Al Mohler (left), Paige Patterson (right) Tom Ascol reports that Al Mohler and Paige Patterson will debate the topic of Calvinism at the 2006 SBC Pastor’s Conference in Greensboro, N.C. this summer. Ascol writes: I am hopeful about this announced event because Drs. Mohler and Patterson are friends. I fully expect that their exchange–regardless of how formal or informal the format–will provide a model for theological dialogue. Our day has all but lost the art (and Christian responsibility) of disagreeing strongly about important matters without writing your opponent out of the kingdom. This is especially true when the subject is Calvinism and it is equally true of those on both…