Rob Bell has a new book coming out, and there’s a trailer that has emerged in advance of its release (see above). I’m personally of the opinion that Rob Bell is no longer relevant to the larger evangelical theological conversation. Yes, his book will probably sell a lot of copies. No, evangelicals by and large won’t mistake him for one of their own like they used to. Both Carl Trueman and Owen Strachan have offered appropriately trenchant commentary on the trailer. You should read both, but here’s a slice from each.
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5 things every daughter needs to hear from her dad
Amen to this from Daniel Darling: I love having daughters. There is something about having a daughter that softens a man, adds a certain tenderness to his soul. In that spirit, I’d like to share five things every daughter needs to hear from her father: 1) You are beautiful and you are loved… 2) Your mother is beautiful and she is loved… 3) You belong to God and were created for his glory… 4) You are forgiven… 5) You are accepted… He develops further each of these five points, and you can read them here.
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Pastor confesses drug addiction and near loss of family
Many years ago, I served briefly on the staff of the man featured in the video above. I didn’t know what he was going through then, but I am so very grateful to hear his story now. Praise the Lord for this testimony of His grace and for the gospel of Jesus Christ that is mighty to save and sanctify us completely (1 Thess. 5:23). (HT: Dane Ortlund)
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The Pope’s Resignation Letter
Pope Benedict XVI has announced his resignation from the papacy. The last Pope to resign was about 700 years ago, Pope St. Celestine V, who did so in 1294. Pope Benedict’s letter of resignation is below.
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Evangelicals and the Homosexual Revolution
Albert Mohler’s article for The Washington Post is a must-read. It’s a sobering reflection on where evangelicals stand within a culture that has turned against a biblical view of human sexuality. He writes: Evangelicals cannot join the moral revolution on homosexuality, but it seems unlikely that we can stop it, either. The issue of homosexuality, by itself and in tandem with other moral issues, may well lead to the marginalization of evangelical Christians within the larger society. This is already the case in secular Europe and, increasingly, in Great Britain and Canada as well. Churches and other groups that cannot accept the full normalization of same-sex relationships will find themselves…
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Bishops reject “compromise” on abortion mandate
Cardinal Timothy Dolan has released a statement today on behalf of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Bishops have rejected the so-called “compromise” that the Obama administration proffered last week. The Bishops rightly conclude that the mandate still requires Catholic hospitals and schools to provide contraception and abortifacient drugs to their employees. Cardinal Dolan writes, The Administration’s proposal maintains its inaccurate distinction among religious ministries. It appears to offer second-class status to our first-class institutions in Catholic health care, Catholic education, and Catholic charities. HHS offers what it calls an “accommodation,” rather than accepting the fact that these ministries are integral to our Church and worthy of the…
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Marco Rubio, the Republican Savior?
The cover of the most recent Time magazine has a full-size picture of Marco Rubio and dubs him “The Republican Savior.” Senator Rubio tweeted a response today, and it is classic. He writes: There is only one savior, and it is not me. #Jesus There was once another politician who responded very differently to such acclaim, and the outcome wasn’t so good for him (Daniel 4:29-37). So this is a very good response from Senator Rubio. It’s exactly what he should have said.
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Advice for parenting young kids
Pastor Steve McCoy has some fantastic advice for parents of young kids. It’s a list of 24 practical ways in which you can raise your kids well. For example, here’s number four: Teach *First Time Obedience* | When Dad or Mom says do it, they do it. We are the parents. They are kids. Why is this important? Do you want them to obey God the first time, or to put it off? Also, if they don’t obey us there are often major consequences in the future. Sometimes if they don’t obey there are major consequences in the very near future. Example: We taught our children to *stop* when we say…
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Michael Gerson nails it on the abortion mandate
I gave my analysis last week of President Obama’s proposed revision of Obamacare’s abortion mandate. I said then that the revision is not a compromise, despite the favorable media coverage that would suggest otherwise. It’s just more of the same, and it still implicates Christian business owner’s in the killing of unborn children. The clearest analysis of the new rules that I have read, however, comes from Michael Gerson in today’s Washington Post. Here’s the bottom line:
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Confession: I DVR’d the Superbowl to watch Downton Abbey
I have a confession to make. I DVR’d the Superbowl so that I could watch Downton Abbey. I’m not much in to following television drama’s, but I have drunk the Kool-aid when it comes to the Crawley family. I’m happy to read this morning that I’m not the only one. Ted Kluck is a former professional football player and a current sportswriter. He’s also a super-fan when it comes to professional football. Yet in an article earlier today he reveals that even he tuned in to PBS during the big game. But that’s not the most interesting thing about his article. He also reveals that he has all but burned-out…