For the last twenty years, numerous well-intentioned programs have emerged focused on preventing sex abuse within churches. While ..read more

An anagram for "Alec Guinness" is "Genuine Class". That tracks. This uber-late blog explores no longer fitting. Not because that ..read more

Don't pay the ransom, I escaped. For my patient reader (note the singular), I had a hernia operation and was laid off in June. I've been ..read more

Does your preferred Bible translation identify the Star Wars character you are most like? Don't doubt me on this; it comes from an Internet meme, so you know it's true. After all those persecution blogs, we need a palate cleanser. Rankings stolen and refined with permission from King David’s Treasury of Memes for Israelite Teens. A long time ago, in a blog far, far away... Let's start by determining what you look for in a Bible translation. Pick your single most important Bible translation characteristic. Mainlined from the source: straight, no chaser. As grammatically accurate an Englis ..read more

There are still places where Christians are persecuted, dispossessed, tortured, or killed for their faith. Here are the four last countries from 2024's Most Dangerous Countries for Christians, as ranked by the Open Doors World Watch List. Quick Note: Before taking offense at my gallows humor, know I’m not demeaning anyone, belittling their situation, or exploiting their victimhood. I’m not above that kind of writing. I'm just not doing it now.  4. Eritrea The Good Hey, I didn't expect to find anything, either. But apparently, Eritrea recognizes three Christian denominations: E ..read more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9eVThBXQWI Christianity is the world’s largest religion, but there are still places where Christians are persecuted, dispossessed, tortured, or killed for their faith. Submitted for your disapproval are three more countries from 2024's Most Dangerous Countries for Christians, as ranked by the Open Doors World Watch List. Quick Note: Before you take offense at my gallows humor, know that I’m not demeaning anyone, belittling their situation, or exploiting their victimhood. I’m not above that kind of writing –I am a blogger after all–  I'm just not doing ..read more

Please allow me to steal from some 2011 dude a bit (plagiarism is so in style these days). Sadly, I can steal almost verbatim from List Boy. "Some think Christianity’s flawed past and modern emphasis on grace and forgiveness make it an easy (perhaps deserving) target for criticism, even reverse discrimination. Scathing rhetoric is part of any healthy debate, but should it go so far as to turn a blind eye to persecution? Christianity is one of the world’s predominant religions, but there are still many places where Christians are persecuted, dispossessed, tortured, or killed for their faith. Of ..read more

The following is a recap of the problems with the devotional, Jesus Calling, and some suggestions for an alternative. (Originally published on 9/24/2018) Ah! The morning comes, the smell of coffee is in the air, and still in your pajamas you reach for your devotional to begin the day with some spiritual nourishment. Rather than reading the Bible, a friend turned you on to a popular devotional: Jesus Calling. It's a popular book, no doubt. Published by Thomas Nelson originally in 2004, Jesus Calling has sold over 15 million copies. Written by Sarah Young, the devotional captures the words ..read more

Biblical literacy lets you have more in common with other believers. This common knowledge helps Christians communicate, work, play, and live together, ultimately forming a community of individuals that can - given time - become a vibrant Christian culture. Fractious on theology maybe, but united in values, so no one has doubts about what the definition of "is" is. E.D. Hirsch makes this point (much better) on a secular level in Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. In it, he lamented the loss of common knowledge that unites us as Americans. "Unlike expert knowledge (Cultural L ..read more

"This too, shall pass". - My Best Friend's Wedding, 1997. "You SHALL NOT PASS!" - Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring, 200l. - My pre-Cal professor, 1985. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIgD4x5VnkM "This too shall pass" certainly sounds Biblical, but like my Pre-Cal answers and My Best Friend's Wedding, sounding true doesn't make something true, much less Biblical. "This too shall pass" likely came from useful but non-divine Jewish folklore. My non-true Pre-Cal answers were only useful for fertilizer. Which is why Biblical Literacy is so important. While you probably suspected from context th ..read more