2 Corinthians 8:8-15 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might [...]
Father Gabriele Amorth, former chief exorcist for the Vatican, has never read any of the Harry Potter books. We know this to be true because of what he says about them: “In Harry Potter the Devil acts in a crafty and covert manner, under the guise of extraordinary powers, magic spells and curses.” He’s not [...]
The previous post is mostly a joke, and a joke mostly directed at myself. Re-reading a bit of Brother Lawrence in 25 Books Every Christian Should Read was another reminder that prayers of gratitude or intercession aren’t often my first thoughts or the first words on my lips — particularly when I’m driving. (I do [...]
“George Michael is reportedly worsening after being admitted on Monday to an Austrian hospital for the treatment of pneumonia.” Click here to view the embedded video. George Michael wrote some of the best and most enduring pop songs of the 1980s. For many people, that sentence probably cancels itself out, with the word “pop” diminishing [...]
Today is a happy day here in America, because it’s Thanksgiving Day — a day to gather with our families to enjoy a meal and spend hours talking with our relatives. Today is a stressful day here in America, because it’s Thanksgiving Day — a day to gather with our families to enjoy a meal [...]
Mainstream evangelicals generally do not identify with the tone and emphasis of the religious right. When people like me criticize the religious right, these mainstream evangelicals often complain that such criticisms overemphasize the influence of a vocal, but marginal, minority that does not represent the views of most evangelicals. That’s the complaint voiced here by [...]
Joseph Stiglitz: “To Cure the Economy“ Government plays a central role in financing the services that people want, like education and health care. And government-financed education and training, in particular, will be critical in restoring competitiveness in Europe and the US. But both have chosen fiscal austerity, all but ensuring that their economies’ transitions will [...]
Tribulation Force, pp. 429-433 Rayford found it difficult to take in the incredible change in New Babylon since the first time he had visited following the treaty signing in Israel. He had to hand it to Carpathia and his sea of money. A lavish world capital had sprung up out of the ruins, and now [...]
The Atlantic’s Molly Ball reports, “Religious Right Still Lacking a Champion in 2012 Field.” Ball attended a public discussion between Sojourners’ Jim Wallis, a standard-bearer for progressive evangelicals, and Richard Land, the conservative head of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. It’s somewhat encouraging to hear Land criticizing the Republican primary field for [...]
Charlie Pierce has lost all patience with David Brooks’ shtick. That’s an amusing rant, if you like that sort of thing (I do, and Pierce is really good at it), but I’m just going to use it as an excuse to repost part of my own David Brooks rant, explaining why his book Bobos in [...]