Roundup

Roundup

10 Comments

Recent studies show that Conservatives have a better sense of humor – but you knew that, right? 

“I was surprised,” said Dan Ariely, a psychologist at Duke University, who collaborated on the study with Elisabeth Malin, a student at Mount Holyoke College. “Conservatives are supposed to be more rigid and less sophisticated, but they liked even the more complex humor.”

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Be sure to check out Duane’s Mind if you haven’t already.  He does a terrific job of defending the faith in a most friendly way, and he is working hard to challenge people to consider the merits of Christianity in Australia, which is even more hostile to religion than the U.S.

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Norm Geisler does a thorough analysis of the popular Christian fiction work, The Shack.  Other than 14 serious theological problems, he thinks it is a great book.

In the final analysis, this book is not a Pilgrim’s Progress, but doctrinally speaking The Shack is more of a Pilgrim’s Regress.

Mom Loves Being at Home had a great post on it that included the video below.  Christians should not be endorsing this book as having sound doctrine.

If you have read it and disagree with any of his points let me know what you think.  I’m thinking about reading it just to be able to converse about it. 

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Do you think people are basically good?  Not at all.  Hat tip: Theology of Omaha

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Pastor Timothy has a post with all the videos of Sarah Palin from Fox.  Gravatar You have to know she is good when the media put so much effort into discrediting her. The 18-1 bias on the Big 3 was proof of that. They realized she could swing the election and had to try and destroy her. I hope we haven’t seen the last of her.

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Will Obama fund the destruction of human embryos – Probably.  Embryonic Stem Cell Research is still a bad idea for all the reasons discussed a couple years ago.  They have had no success with private money, which is why the researchers are desparate for government help.

Remember, this isn’t about curing diseases.  The smart money would go towards adult stem cells.  This is about abortion.  Because if you can’t de-humanize embryos, it is hard to rationalize abortion.

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Baconnaise: I love bacon and I love mayonnaise, so this is quite possibly the utimate food product.  Mmmmmmm . . . Baconnaise. 

It reminds me of when my youngest daughter was about 4.  I was cooking some bacon after church and pointed out the trivia fact that Jesus wouldn’t have eaten bacon.  She replied in all seriousness, “That’s too bad, because I think He would have really liked it.”

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This would be really funny if the topic weren’t so serious and if the “global warming” folks weren’t after an unprecedented and permanent political power grab.  The data shows that the earth has been cooling, but they refer to 2008 as the “least warm” year in the past decade.

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Methodist group ordains lesbian for inclusivity’s sake – the picture of them in church is just sad.  They are going to a house of worship while shaking their fists in rebellion to God, and they are proud of what they are doing.

A retired Methodist bishop who participated in the ordination ceremony says those who stand against ordination of homosexuals are misreading scripture. “For too long, ” said Bishop Susan Morrison, “selective reading of the Bible has meant that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their supporters have been excluded and punished for their honesty when they reject the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ practices of the church.”

Misreading scripture?  Heh.  I’ll be glad to debate that Bishop anytime.  I’m familiar with all the problems with pro-gay theology and would be glad to educate this apostate Bishop.

10 thoughts on “Roundup”

  1. Neil:

    Oy vey! I certainly did not need to see this post to start my week. It serves as a stark reminder of what I am up against this Thanksgiving at my mom and (step) dad’s.
    Mom has finished The Shack, and has raved endlessly about it. Stepdad, a retired UMC Bishop is reading now.
    Same stepdad favored ordination of gays and lesbians, same sex marriage, etc.
    Both are basking in Preseident elect Barack Obama’s victory.
    As a Christian man of color, conservative in life and politics, I better have a good sense of humor this Thanksgiving! May God smile upon me and my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers!

    Best,
    Joseph

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  2. Baconnaise? The combination is not the most appealing, however I love the simple logic and faith of 4 year olds!

    Mine made up a song called God made me.

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  3. Joseph,

    You have my sympathies. Would it help if I wrote you a note excusing you from the Thanksgiving trip?

    I have the same issues at Christmas when we visit my Ohio in-laws, aka the Democratic National Committee. Actually, we’ve all gotten better over the years and avoid political discussions.

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  4. Hey Neil:

    OK, comments from the blogger who has opinions on just about anything.

    1.) Bacon is bad for you, but Mark Driscoll loves it and so does every other member of my family, so I’d be sorely outvoted on that one. It is economical, however: we save the grease and use it to fry potatoes in later, which (again) my family loves but I disdain. I’ll outlive them all, methinks.

    2.) The Shack is a theological mess and an embarrassment to Christianity, and not just because Driscoll says so. The modulist rather than Trinitarian understanding of God is becoming frighteningly popular, for the simple reason that people prefer creative fluff to doctrinal soundness. It has been endorsed by all kinds of wonderful folks, too, like Michael W. Smith, which is why I find it sort of embarrassing. The readers who are defending it online don’t seem to have even a basic grasp of the fundamental tenets of Christianity.

    3.) Gaiety in the church – last week I read this article in Newsweek while at work: http://www.newsweek.com/id/141505/output/print The level of this sincere young man’s deception nearly drove me to tears. They’re worshiping a god of their own design.

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  7. I read the Shack and was very disappointed. It should be classified as fantasy, not a Christian book.

    It was full of doctrinal errors, and that, I am sure, made the reading less enjoyable. I also took offense to working the old heresy concerning “Sophia” being God’s female persona into the equation.

    For fantasy, I’d give it a 7 out of a possible 10. For Christian reading, I’d give it a minus 1.

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  9. I read the shack last summer and wasn’t particularly impressed. However, I wouldn’t write it off entirely for the following reasons.

    1. I would seem to be a great “conversation starter” or “door opener” since it seems to be so popular. In the same sort of way the Da Vinci code could be used.

    2. I think it seems more out there than it actually is. But remember, it’s not theology.

    3. Not sure that it really goes down the modalism road.

    4. It is (IMO) a lot like the Peretti spititual warfare books a while back. I think that they both open up a view on a part of our spiritual reality that we can’t see. Not that either has any aspiration to “accurately” portray events, jut to present a scenario that may be more relatable to our experience.

    Anyway, it was certainly not the best way to spend an afternoon, but if I have an opportunity to use it I’ll be glad I did.

    Neil,

    I don’t know if you have ever heard The Survivor by Phil Keaggy, (it took me years to figure out the topic) but here is a link that is pretty cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVBDPRT5nak

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  10. Okay,

    Read the Geisler article, I think he’s correct in many ways, (although I think he’s overreaching on a couple) I would still reccommend the book if for no other reason than it can be a tool to engage culture.

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