• Culture,  Politics,  Theology/Bible

    Unspeakable Abortion Tragedy

    I read an unspeakably tragic story today in the BBC News (click here to read it). It’s about a 16 year old girl who tried to abort her twins early in her pregnancy. Later in the pregnancy, she found out that one of them survived the procedure. Now, the surviving twin is four years old, and the mother is suing the hospital because “she suffers an impediment in her ability to obtain employment in consequence of her care for the child.” Consider these lines from the mother and weep: “I still don’t know if, or what, I am going to tell Jayde when the time comes. Maybe when she is…

  • Culture,  Music,  Politics,  Theology/Bible

    Bono’s Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

    Can a rock star preach? Apparently those who head up the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. think Bono can. Last week, he spoke at the annual event with President Bush sitting close by (for a transcript click here). I would argue, however, that although there was much to commend in Bono’s remarks, there was also much to be concerned about. We can all appreciate and affirm Bono’s desire to see the Christian church get more involved in addressing poverty and disease in Africa. We welcome the challenge that he gave to Americans to be more generous in their giving to charities that help bring relief to those who are…

  • Culture,  Politics

    Coretta Scott King’s Funeral and No-Class Politics

    At Coretta Scott King’s funeral today, some of the speakers used their eulogies as an opportunity to take cheap shots at President Bush. Indeed, it was no-class politics of the worst kind. The most notable disparagements came from former President Jimmy Carter and Reverend Joseph Lowery. Reverend Joseph Lowery protested President Bush’s Iraq war policy with a poem: “We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there/But Coretta knew and we knew that there are weapons of misdirection right down here/Millions without health insurance. Poverty abounds. For war billions more but no more for the poor” (source). President Carter drew attention to the recent wire-tapping controversy by…

  • Culture,  Personal,  Politics,  Theology/Bible

    Jerry Johnson Live

    A few weeks ago, President Jerry Johnson of the Criswell College (where I teach) began a Christian worldview radio show here in Dallas, TX. The program is called “Jerry Johnson Live” and broadcasts all over the metroplex area every weekday from 5-6pm Central Standard Time. Dr. Johnson has invited me to take part in today’s show as we analyze and discuss the President Bush’s State of the Union Speech. You can listen to the show live on the internet by clicking on the following link when the show airs today from 5-6pm: KCBI Live Stream Dr. Johnson’s show has been going great so far, and I am honored to be…

  • Culture

    NBC Cancels ‘West Wing’ After 7 Seasons

    The AP is reporting that NBC is canceling the Emmy-winning “West Wing” after 7 seasons (source). For some of you, this announcement is no big deal. But I’ve been watching the “Left Wing” since its second season. It was a good decision to cancel the show because it has been in decline ever since its creators Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme left the show. Now what am I going to do? Is there anything else on TV with a predictable liberal slant that will chafe me every time I turn it on? Oh, well. I’m sure I’ll be able to find something. 🙂

  • Culture,  Theology/Bible

    The Essence of Idolatry: Worshipping the God of My Understanding

    Larry King conducted a panel discussion on Tuesday that used the widely-acclaimed movie “Brokeback Mountain” as a catalyst for discussing the issue of the wider culture’s debate over the morality of homosexuality (transcript). The discussion focused on the question of homosexual rights and, in particular, the question of homosexual “marriage.”

  • Culture,  Theology/Bible

    David Howard on the Story behind “End of the Spear”

    David Howard of Bethel University has penned and excellent opinion piece in today’s Wall Street Journal titled “Triumph From Tragedy: Five missionaries’ murders were not the end of the story.” It’s the kind of essay that will pique interest in the faith that led these five men to die martyr’s deaths. Go read it. Tell others.

  • Culture,  Theology/Bible

    Fighting the Good Fight against Abortion

    Dr. William Cutrer is the medical director of a crisis pregnancy center that is featured in today’s New York Times. The article is titled “Some Abortion Foes Forgo Politics for Quiet Talk.” Dr. Cutrer is an OB-GYN who also serves as a Professor of Christian Ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a special friend who ministered to my wife and me while we were living in Louisville, KY. This article puts to the lie the notion that pro-life people do not care about women. A Woman’s Choice Resource Center where Dr. Cutrer works not only counsels women against abortion, but also provides material and financial resources…

  • Culture,  Politics

    Bird Flu: How Deadly Is It?

    I wrote in October that the biggest story of the year might be the possible outbreak of a flu pandemic. According to The New York Times, I and many others may have been sounding the alarm too quickly. Here’s an excerpt from the Time‘s article: Two young brothers, ages 4 and 5, who have tested positive for the dreaded A(H5N1) avian virus but shown no symptoms of the disease were being closely watched at Kecioren Hospital here on Tuesday. Doctors are unsure whether they are for the first time seeing human bird flu in its earliest stages or if they are discovering that infection with the A(H5N1) virus does not…