Brett McCracken has a fantastic little essay on patriotism over at the “Mere Orthodoxy” blog. In short, he extols patriotism and argues that it’s an error to confuse patriotism with nationalism. He writes: Patriotism is a good thing. It’s the natural emotional connection we have with place. We’re wired to ache for this notion of “home.” It’s what the Israelites longed for in the Sinai. It’s what the Hobbits longed for (the Shire) during their Middle Earth adventures. It’s what constitutes part of C.S. Lewis’s Sehnsucht: a nostalgic longing for the “Green Hills” of his Belfast childhood, “the low line of the Castlereagh Hills which we saw from the nursery…
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B21 Panel with Mohler, Patterson, Akin, Greear, and Platt
At the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans last month, Baptist21 hosted a very helpful and constructive panel discussion with Albert Mohler, Paige Patterson, Danny Akin, J. D. Greear, and David Platt. Fred Luter made a cameo appearance as well. It was a candid discussion covering a range of topics, including Calvinism in the SBC, the conservative resurgence, the basis for cooperation in the SBC, and more. Thanks to the guys from B21 for hosting this event and now for sharing it with everyone. Well done!
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I Miss Mayberry: Andy Griffith Dies at 86
I love Andy of Mayberry. He was the best of the best, and I was sad to hear today of his passing. Though Andy Griffith became a gospel singer later in life, he is most well-known for his acting. It’s amazing that, even after all these years, his portrayal of the iconic Sheriff of Mayberry still holds up.
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Could gay marriage debate drive young Christians from church?
MSNBC.com interviews Rachel Held Evans and Matt Anderson about evangelicals and the gay marriage debate. Here’s the intro: As the battle over gay marriage heats up in this election year, one evangelical Christian writer is calling for a truce, fearing that the outspoken opposition to gay marriage among some church leaders could alienate an entire generation of religious youth. “Evangelicals have been so submitted to these culture wars for so long, so that’s hard to give up,” evangelical writer and speaker Rachel Held Evans, 31, told msnbc.com. But “the majority of young Christians really, really, really want to stop with the political emphasis.” You need to read the rest of…
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The Slavery of Student Loan Debt
Last April we learned that student loan debt in the U.S. surpassed 1 trillion dollars (source). We also learned that Americans owe more on their student loans than on their credit cards or car loans (source). Why is this? Many people assume that a college education is the key to prosperity and is therefore worth any cost. But that assumption is profoundly inaccurate. The video above breaks down the issue as clearly and as simply as I’ve ever seen it done (HT: Ad Fontes). It argues that Americans face a “Higher Education Bubble” that is just about to burst. I think it’s right. Whether you’re a parent or a student,…
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Jeremiah and Us on Trial
Jim Hamilton preached a message on Jeremiah 26 yesterday. He compares the suffering of Jeremiah to the suffering of the faithful in every age—even our own day. It’s really good, and you can download it here or listen to it below. [audio:http://kenwoodbaptistchurch.com/podcast/download.php?filename=2012-07-01_jim_hamilton_jer_26_jeremiah_on_trial__jul_1.mp3]
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Heisman Quarterback to LSU
The video above is an ad for a new video game that allows you to put your favorite Heisman winner on any NCAA team that you want. In the ad, Les Miles catches Mike the Tiger with RG3 playing for LSU. Really hilarious. Seriously, though. We could’ve used some RG3 in that BCS title game. For those of you who were wondering, NO, I’m still not over it.
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Gagnon Calls on Exodus Leader to Resign
After reading a recent interview in The Atlantic, Robert Gagnon is calling for Alan Chambers to resign the presidency of Exodus International (an evangelical ministry to homosexuals). This call to resign carries some weight as Gagnon is the author of the single most important book defending the biblical view of homosexuality. According the Gagnon, the interview reveals serious theological error that disqualifies Chambers from remaining on as President. Gagnon says that the error represents a pattern of settled conviction on Chambers’ part. Ironically, Chambers does not revise his views on the ethics of homosexuality in the interview. Chambers still affirms the union of one man and one woman in marriage…
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Why did John Roberts side with the liberals?
Astute as ever, Charles Krauthammer explains why Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberals in yesterday’s landmark ruling on Obamacare. Ironically, it is not because Roberts himself is a liberal. Krauthammer explains: Why did he do it? Because he carries two identities. Jurisprudentially, he is a constitutional conservative. Institutionally, he is chief justice and sees himself as uniquely entrusted with the custodianship of the court’s legitimacy, reputation and stature…
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Exodus Backs away from Reparative Therapy
Some big news broke this week about Exodus International, a well-known Christian ministry to homosexuals. Exodus International is backing away from the long-held view that sexual orientation can be changed through reparative therapy. Groups like Exodus have been excoriated in the mainstream press over the years for supporting such therapies, as the AP reports: