This week I am in Nashville attending the National Collegiate Summit for college ministers, and I just got word that Nashville has seen its first school closing due to the swine flu. Upon hearing this news, I went back to my hotel room to investigate the reason for the school closing, and apparently there are two suspected cases of swine …
Shout Out to Miss California!
This past week the Miss USA Pageant has become embroiled in controversy after Miss California gave an unpopular answer to a very tough question. Below is the clip from the pageant that sits at the center of this controversy. In response to her answer, Carrie Prejean has received an onslaught of criticism. The Miss California board has publicly denounced her position, …
Does Satan Exist?
In case you missed it, last night Pastor Mark Driscoll appeared on Nightline along with several other individuals debating the issue of whether or not Satan exists. Driscoll does a fantastic job of defending this traditional, orthodox doctrine, so I encourage you to check it out! Click here to see the video. This is what I’ll be watching for my …
The Virtuous Recession
Several years ago my dad, who has extensive professional experience working with and researching on the stock market, told me the weirdest thing: Studies have shown that modesty is cyclical in direct correlation to the economy. When the economy is doing well, the modesty of women’s fashion declines. When the economy is doing poorly, modesty arises. For the longest time …
Is Christian Music Dying?
Recently Collide Magazine published an article that considered the question, “Is Christian music dying.” It addressed what some perceive to be a growing irrelevance to the mainstream culture, as well as an increasing tendency among Christian musicians to buck the title of “Christian.” One industry insider went so far as to predict that the industry would eventually collapse altogether. This …
Christian Reality TV
Christian reality t.v. is here. (I know you’re breathing a huge sigh of relief. Finally!) I discovered this last night when Dateline did a story about it. And I don’t really know why I was surprised. Christian music and media has consistently lagged behind mainstream culture by about 10 to 20 years, so I should have been expecting this. It …
Not So Unexpected Consequences
Forty years ago Pope Paul VI released a statement on contraception that, looking back, was stunningly prophetic. The essay, entitled Humanae Vitae (“Of Human Life”), was written at a time in American history when contraceptive pills were becoming very popular. Women across the country were celebrating their newfound freedom as the history of American sexuality turned a new page. The …
Who Is Your King?
Today my heart is overcome with joy for my African-American brothers and sisters. Whether or not you agree with the policies of President-elect Barack Obama, one thing is for sure–yesterday’s election was a monumental moment in our nation’s history. It brought us one step closer to healing the wounds our nation has inflicted upon African-Americans throughout our history. And for that, …
To Vote or Not to Vote?
I really debated over whether or not to write this blog. In general, I don’t like to weigh in on political issues. It’s such a distraction from the things that really matter–namely, the Gospel. Government, politicians, and even policies that reflect Christian values–all these things can quickly become idols that supplant Christ. Even so, I decided to throw in my …
A New Kind of Feminism
With the recent nomination of Sarah Palin for Republican VP, the feminist movement has taken a very unexpected turn. On the one hand, she’s taking a giant step forward for women. She speaks of breaking the glass ceiling and she’s aspiring to hold a political position that no women has ever before attained. And in an even more …