Appreciating Life in the Face of Death
Posted on November 20th, 2007 by Evan Lenow
The Best Political Ad Ever?
Posted on November 19th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
You can find it here.
Things you wish you never said…
Posted on November 18th, 2007 by Evan Lenow
Just last week, I watched the end of the Gardner-Webb vs. Kentucky basketball game. For the sake of the Wildcats, I was hoping it was an exhibition. Unfortunately for Kentucky faithful, it was not. Gardner-Webb, technically a mid-major conference team (but not even on the list of mid-major teams that would ever concern a team like Kentucky), humiliated the Wildcats. While such a story would be big enough news, I ran across something even more profound (?) in an article about mid-major teams knocking off the big boys. This time the embarrassment seemed to be on the little guy.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram ran an article about mid-major teams. Here's an excerpt from the article.
After beating Kentucky, the school decided it was time to get with the times and establish an Internet site.
"Prior to this week, we never really had any use for a web site," said John Michael Thomas, Jr., the school's president. "Never really got that much attention, and weren't really sure that this whole 'web thing' was going to stick, anyway. So we didn't get around to it."
Before you go to mocking GWU's president as a media neophyte, let me share the rest of the story. The president of GWU (according to their website)Â is not John Michael Thomas, Jr. The school's website dates from at least 2005, but that is most likely just the current version dating back 2+ years. The athletic department website lists a copyright of 2007 but also appears to pre-date the big win over Kentucky.
For the first time in my life, I actually sent a letter (technically an email) to a reporter about a story. I am waiting to hear back for the explanation. Either way, this one will go down as something you wish you never said. If the reporter is correct, the president of GWU needs to get into the mid-1990s. If the reporter was wrong, he may go back to covering high school basketball rather that mid-major college teams.
I will update the entry when I hear from the reporter.
In somewhat related, SBC-political news, Gardner-Webb is one of 5 Baptist colleges in NC that the Baptist State Convention of NC voted to allow to sever their trustee and financial ties to the state convention.
Another One Bites the Dust…
Posted on November 16th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
In case you missed it, another Baptist institution has been lost. Tim Ellsworth reports that Belmont University and the Tennessee Baptist Convention reached an $11 million settlement, which is better than the original $5 million that was offered. I think it is sad to see another university born and raised by Baptists wind up in the hands of another.
You can find the story here.Â
Millennials, the SBC, and a Pastor’s Insight
Posted on November 12th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
Dr. Hershael York, pastor and professor, just posted an insightful piece concerning the current tensions in the SBC. A lot of it has to do, of all things, with the year SBCer's were born. Dr. York observes:Â
Last night CBC's 60 Minutes ran a fascinating piece about Millennials, the generation born between 1980 and 1995. Though geared toward their impact on corporate America, I could not help but notice parallels to the current tensions and lines that have been drawn in the SBC. Guys like me, who grew up admiring and emulating the Adrian Rogers and Jerry Vines generation, are stunned by what we often perceive as the disrespect and demands of members of a younger generation who haven't really accomplished much yet. Our jaws drop in disbelief when a guy who failed at a church plant and unabashedly advertises on his blog that he is now looking for a pastorate also feels entitled to publicly criticize successful pastors and denominational leaders and demands a place at the table of leadership. We don't get it when the very ones who are so quick to criticize are themselves so whiny–and sometimes vindictive–about accepting it. Several times I have heard megachurch pastors express shock that though they have been used of God to build great churches, they suddenly feel marginalized and irrelevant in SBC life.
Clearly, this is not your father's SBC.
You can find it here.Â
Court Protects Doctor’s Belief Concerning “Morning After Pill”
Posted on November 12th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
Good news:
Pharmacists in Washington no longer will be required to dispense "morning-after" birth control pills if they have religious objections, at least for the time being.
Check out the story here.
HT:LV
Vote 2008: How would you vote if both candidates are Pro-Choice?
Posted on November 9th, 2007 by Nathan Akin
I graduated from Murray State University several years ago with a degree in Political Science. I must admit, however, that my political zeal has waned in the past few years and even with a presidential election forthcoming I still have little interest. When attending Jonathan’s church a year ago, I heard him make a statement that I fully embraced. He said, “I will never vote for a candidate that is pro-choice.†That is a direct statement. Yet, we are at a point where we might have to put our vote (or not put our vote) where our mouth is. The presidential race might very well end up being a contest between two candidates with weak records on abortion and gay rights. CNN’s website has an article from their religion writer Roland Martin entitled, “Will evangelicals choose Giuliani over faith?†I believe this article is a necessary read for any evangelical.
   Roland Martin explains that Pat Robertson has endorsed Giuliani for president. Concerning this situation Martin critiques, “Evangelicals cursed and screamed when President Clinton had an affair in the White House, but it's clear they are willing to overlook the past marital failures of Giuliani, his fractured relationship with his children and his support for gay and abortion rights when mayor of New York. Those are not the family values they have beaten into the nation's consciousness for nearly 30 years.†Martin believes that Jerry Falwell would have supported Giuliani as well because before his death he stated that National Security was the most important issue, even above homosexuality or abortion. Martin then makes an evaluation of evangelicals that, if true, is most disheartening and appalling, “For years I have maintained that the focus of evangelicals was never really principles of the faith but the Republican Party.†This could be a major indictment against evangelicalism. Let me be clear. I have always voted for the Republican candidate, and I believe the Republican Party (traditionally) has more closely aligned with Christian principles. I do not think there is much to debate here. However, I am becoming more and more disenfranchised with politics everyday and with the Republican Party. This is not because I am shifting towards the Democratic Party, which I still oppose for its traditional outlook on the murder of babies in the womb and homosexuality. This language is harsh, but the murdering of innocent human life is a volatile issue.
   We have a real dilemma facing us as evangelicals. I write this blog partially to give my point of view, but also I want to hear from you. Do you disagree with me? Do you agree with me? How will you approach the election if it is Clinton vs. Giuliani? Do you think our integrity as evangelicals is at stake? Do you think conceding the election will send a message to the Republican Party?
   Let me make clear where I stand. I will not vote for Giuliani, and if the race is between him and Clinton, I will write in a vote for Al Mohler or Mike Huckabee. Let me say that I believe national security is important, but where do we think that our security and hope lie. The Lord told OT Israel repeatedly to not trust in chariots and horses for their defense, but to trust in Him! I would respectfully disagree with Dr. Falwell; we should never sacrifice ideals for safety if we trust in the Providence of God. I believe interaction in the political realm is important for the believer, but I do not think that means we give carte blanche to the Republicans if they reject Christian principles. I think this is a matter of integrity.
   If, as Mr. Martin asserts, evangelicalism is more concerned with the Republican Party than Christian values, then evangelicalism no longer exists. If this is evangelicalism, then I am no evangelical. I hope and pray that he is wrong. I used to hang so much of my hope on presidential elections, I remember as a teenager believing that the world was “coming to an end†when Clinton defeated Bush. I remember Bush defeating Gore and how important I thought that was and believing that all was right with the universe. Given my past mentality, I think my present disillusionment with politics might not be such a bad thing. That does not mean that I will not participate in politics, but it does mean that my hope lies elsewhere. I heard my father say years ago, “My hope is not in Capitol Hill, it is in Calvary’s Hill.†We hope in the King who died on Calvary’s Hill and rose from the dead to make all things right. We long for that day, a day when the murder of babies will not be an issue, and King Jesus will show what real power and justice looks like… and with that day drawing near this Political Scientist (if i can say that) has hope, even if Hillary Clinton is elected President.
Dr. Daniel Akin Endorses Huckabee
Posted on November 8th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
One of the SBC's most respected leaders (and one of my favorite preachers), Dr. Daniel Akin, recently endorsed Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. The brief report says that
Akin made the endorsement as a private citizen, telling The News & Observer newspaper that the former Arkansas governor's positions on issues, such his opposition to abortion rights and his support of the traditional family, closely align with his own positions.
You can check out the story here.
HT:RS
IMB Trustee Censured
Posted on November 7th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
If you weren't praying for the IMB trustees, I hope this news will get you started. Controversial IMB Trustee and pastor Wade Burleson has been censured by the other IMB trustees. Everyone involved in this needs wisdom, courage, and humility. The story can be found here. More to follow I'm sure.
Creation Museum Surpasses Expectation
Posted on November 5th, 2007 by Jedidiah Coppenger
The USA Today recently ran an article detailing the overwhelming turnout the Creation museum has seen over its short, 6 month existence. Museum officials expect about 400,000 visitors by the end of the year, which is about 150,000 more visitors than was originally projected. Not bad.
Contrary to what many of you might think, the visitors are not just coming from the backwoods of Alabama (no offense). In this past week alone, the article said, there were visitors from France, Brazil, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Of course, not everyone is pleased with these developments. Â
Lawrence Krauss, head of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Case Western Reserve University, called the attraction's popularity "embarrassing."
I guess Lawrence Krauss won't be one of those 400,000 visitors. You can read the article here.Â