"New" News: Week 7 of '09

Map of Prop 8 Supporters in Salt Lake City 

The un-civil discourse starts getting creepy.

"The website eightmaps.com uses an interactive map – similar to Google maps – to show where they all live or work. A push pin marks each spot. Zoom in and you see more pins. Click on a pin and get the details: Name of campaign donor, profession or place of business, dollar amount donated and the date of that donation." (more from ABC4 News in Salt Lake)

Defenders of Mary Make Strange Bedfellows 

After an Israeli TV show mocked Jesus' mother, Hezbollah (whose statement reviled the offense towards Christians) and the Vatican called for action.  No commentary needed.

Frank Schaeffer's Letter to President Obama

More discouraging news from the son of Francis Schaeffer.  Revealing less political gravitas than personal offense, this letter is a window into the soul of a man who hasn't quite come to peace with his beliefs. 

President Obama Beats Out Jesus As America's Hero

The silence on this discovery reveals the difference between today and a day when John Lennon's claim that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus left most people aghast.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Americans named President Obama as their No. 1 hero, followed by Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King, in a new Harris poll. (more here...)

An NPR Piece on the Hey'a (Religious Police) in Saudi Arabia

As sharia law becomes prevalent in Pakistan and the UK, this piece sheds light on the necessity of enforcement in compulsory faith.  Only the Gospel changes our affections. (Jeremiah 31:33,34)

Also on NPR, Hillary Clinton's silence on civil rights disturbs advocates.  We probably shouldn't hold our breath for a firm stance on moral issues from this administration.

Environmental News

“Obama will use as much energy in flight to CO as the museum’s solar panels can produce in 4 years.”

Don Carson on The Resurgence

A a great comprehensive review of biblical theology available in video here. 

The Soul of The Author

Self-condemnation is a bit of a recreational sport for me. This week a close friend helped me to see it for what it truly is: proud and unbelieving.  As we prayed about it, the pattern and its genesis became clearer and, in his kindness, God led me to repentance for this judgment and denial of the Cross.  

I imagined a courtroom with me as the judge and defendant and Jesus as the advocate.  Two passages flooded into my mind at the scene:

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19.30)

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8.33-35)

All I could do is weep as I imagined the judge taking off his robe and bowing before Christ. It was another reminder of my need for the Gospel. Truth is a beautiful surgical sword (Hebrews 4:12).