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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Senator Rubio’s moment in the sun
I like Senator Marco Rubio. And I actually thought he did a fantastic job delivering the Republican response to the President’s state of the union address. Nevertheless, the substance of his speech has been eclipsed by a very human moment while delivering his remarks. It was clear about halfway through the speech that Senator Rubio’s mouth was dry. So he finally gave in and reached for a bottle of water.
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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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Q&A with D. A. Carson on Complementarianism
From The Geneva Push: “Don Carson answers questions arising from his thorough argument for the equality of men and women but their different purposes under God.” You can download the audio here or listen below. [audio:https://thegenevapush.com/images/audio/complemenatrianism-questions.mp3] (HT: Derek Brown)
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Report says Paterno innocent of covering-up child abuse
From ESPN.com: A report commissioned by Joe Paterno’s family claims the July 2012 Freeh report… is a “failure” and was loaded with errors, personal opinions, disputed allegations and bias.
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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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Not featuring enough gay animals?
This is not a joke. You really can’t make this stuff up. Here’s the report from the UK’s Independent: A university academic has criticised David Attenborough’s wildlife shows for not featuring enough gay animals. Three of the veteran broadcaster’s shows are identified in a new study as perpetuating the notion that animal relationships are predominantly heterosexual. Dr Brett Mills of the University of East Anglia says wildlife documentaries should be offering viewers a wider perspective on animal behaviour. Researchers found BBC wildlife documentaries portray animals as heterosexual families too often, even though animals can also be gay. Read the rest here. Then read Jonah 4:11. (HT: Carl Trueman)
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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…