Animals feel the pain of Halal slaughter

I'm not up on Islamic practice, but this could get tricky if this article is true: Animals feel the pain of Halal slaughter - On Line Opinion - 31/5/2011:

While an inquiry has been launched by the Department of Agriculture, and progressive politicians are indeed calling for an end (or at least moratorium) to live cattle export to Indonesia, a taboo topic, which is most salient at this juncture, is being rather nonsensically ignored: These animals are slaughtered according to Islamic (Halal) tradition.

Why is it that not even the journalists of 4 Corners, with their impeccable integrity, could bring themselves to make this connection?

Algerian Christian receives five-year prison sentence for blasphemy

Yeah this is bad. Algerian Christian receives five-year prison sentence for blasphemy | Christian News on Christian Today:

The charges were brought against him after he shared his faith with a neighbour. The neighbour accused him of proselytising and making defamatory statements against the prophet Muhammad.

America Magazine In All Things

Wow I had no idea Malta made divorce illegal. I bet they are not going to be having the debate about gay marriages any time soon... America Magazine In All Things:

In a defeat for both the Catholic Church and the government, just over half of the voters of the Mediterranean island of Malta (pop. 412,000) voted Saturday to allow divorce. Malta is the last European country -- and one of the few left in the world -- where divorce is illegal.

Clinging to the Resurrection

A good quote by J. C. Ryle on the resurrection: Clinging to the Resurrection « J.C. Ryle Quotes:

There is a resurrection after death. Let this never be forgotten. The life that we live here in the flesh is not all. The visible world around us is not the only world with which we have to do. All is not over when the last breath is drawn, and men and women are carried to their long home in the grave. The trumpet shall one day sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. All that are in the graves shall hear Christ’s voice and come forth–those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation. This is one of the great foundation truths of the Christian religion. Let us cling to it firmly, and never let it go.

Annoying Things To Do If You're a False Prophet: Teach High School English

I a friend (@communic8jesus) sent me a video by these guys earlier. This is their new one. I like them. YouTube - Annoying Things To Do If You're a False Prophet: Teach High School English:

If you're one of those people who totally knows the hidden will of God but then totally gets it wrong whenever you reveal that hidden will of God to the world then totally refuses to admit that you actually got it wrong, how might you use that skill in some other vocations?

Ordo Salutis

A link to an old chart that Bunyan drew up on the logical order someone experiences salvation: Ordo Salutis | The Resurgence:

The ordo salutis describes the process by which the work of salvation, wrought in Christ, is subjectively realized in the hearts and lives of sinners. It aims at describing in their logical order, and also in their interrelations, the various movements of the Holy Spirit in the application of the work of redemption. The emphasis is not on what man does in appropriating the grace of God, but on what God does in applying it.

He's not the son of God, just the support act

Islam billboard campaign in Sydney: He's not the son of God, just the support act:

The Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, Rob Forsyth, said it was ''complete nonsense'' to say Jesus was a prophet of Islam. ''Jesus was not the prophet of a religion that came into being 600 years later.''
But the billboard was not offensive, he said.

''They've got a perfect right to say it, and I would defend their right to say it [but] … you couldn't run a Christian billboard in Saudi Arabia.''

The bishop said he would pay for billboards to counter those of MyPeace if he could afford it, and ''maybe the atheists should run their billboards as well''

Dumpster divers on a mission to stop waste

Collecting food from bins to eat or give away... Dumpster divers on a mission to stop waste - The West Australian:

He says the practice of trying to ensure there is enough for everyone is as old as the Bible, which contains passages relating to the need to leave some of what is harvested for refugees, orphans and widows.

Dumpster diving also ties in with other issues such as supporting local farmers and reducing the greenhouse effect

The Piper-Warren Interview

This looks like it could be a good discussion. Maybe after some essays I will listen/watch this...The Piper-Warren Interview – Justin Taylor:

My aim in this interview is to bring out and clarify what Rick Warren believes about these biblical doctrines. In doing this my hope is that the thousands of pastors and lay people who look to Rick for inspiration and wisdom will see the profound place that doctrine has in his mind and heart.

Do You Have Something To Say?

A good honest quote about what goes in is what comes out: Do You Have Something To Say? - TGC Reviews:

[T]he slack lifestyle that accompanies the kind of fellow who rents ten videos for one weekend is not conducive to acquiring anything worthwhile to say. If you listen to stupid music, watch stupid moves, and read stupid books . . . well, congratulations, you’re stupid.

Advice for Slow Readers

I liked this 15min tip. Not so much the getting up early or reading two books at a time. I'm not good at those...Advice for Slow Readers – The Gospel Coalition Blog:

Usually, at 10:45 a.m., I’ll stop what I’m doing and spend 15 minutes reading. After my 15 minutes is up I go back to what I was doing. I do the same at 2:45 p.m.. I can maybe get 30 pages read with both slots (I told you I was a slow reader). If I do that over every day of the week, that’s 150 pages—a small book or half of a big one.

I'm Not a Christian, But I'm Coming to Your Church This Sunday

Some good realistic tips on what a new person might think about when coming to your church: I'm Not a Christian, But I'm Coming to Your Church This Sunday | The Resurgence:

4. Don’t make a big deal of introducing me to everyone you know. I understand a couple of people, but please; don’t set up a welcoming line. I’m just there to check it out; I need a bit of space.

Sexual Intercourse, Old School

Wilson defends marriage based on biological gender and socially kept records that are enforceable: Sexual Intercourse, Old School:

A marriage requires two components or elements. The first is old school sexual intercourse and the second is a socially recognized set of vows, committing the couple to a legally recognized and protected state of marriage. If one or the other is missing, then so is the marriage.

Jeff Cook to Francis Chan

Well it does seem that Chan's book on hell may also spark a little controversy: Jeff Cook to Francis Chan | Jesus Creed:

It seems to me, the central point Chan wishes to make in the ad flows from these claims and questions and I would like to advance and defend the following three critiques outlined in bold.

N.T. Wright on Rob Bell and the Reality of Hell

Why are the most prosperous nations interested in hell? N.T. Wright on Rob Bell and the Reality of Hell : Kingdom People:

My usual counter question is: “Why are Americans so fixated on hell?” Far more Americans ask me about hell than ever happens in my own country. And I really want to know, why is it that the most prosperous affluent nation on earth is really determined to be sure that they know precisely who is going to be frying in hell and what the temperature will be and so on. There’s something quite disturbing about that, especially when your nation and mine has done quite a lot in the last decade or two to drop bombs on people elsewhere and to make a lot of other people’s lives hell. So, I think there are some quite serious issues about why people want to ask that question.