Does Joel Osteen Not Know, or Does He Not Care?

Osteen makes another statement that evangelicals don't agree with: AlbertMohler.com – Does Joel Osteen Not Know, or Does He Not Care?:

Osteen just stated his belief that Mormons are Christians. He then expressed the thought that Mormonism “might not be the purest form of Christianity, like I grew up with,” but he affirmed Mormon statements that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is Savior.

Clarification on some rumors that have been on some blogs

I am honestly surprised it took hindsight to see this. I think there are even some bible verses about not taking to court other Christians...: Clarification on some rumors that have been on some blogs | The Mars Hill Blog:

On September 27, 2011, our legal counsel sent such a letter to these three Mars Hill churches requesting that they change their logo and name. In hindsight, we realize now that the way we went about raising our concerns, while acceptable in the business world, is not the way we should deal with fellow Christians.

Subjectivism and Evil Moral Positions

On Dawkins and Craig: dangerous idea: Subjectivism and Evil Moral Positions:

It isn't that Craig holds such a preposterous position that this proves his total irrationality. In fact, he holds a view that Dawkins himself would not consider to be false, let alone refutable.

Somewhere in England, an emperor is missing his lab coat.

Ask a (former) atheist

An atheist uni professor becomes a Christians and decides that life has meaning: Ask a (former) atheist | World On Campus:

Psychology professor Rich Suplita used to sit in the University of Georgia's Tate Plaza holding a handmade sign that read "Ask an atheist" any time a preacher came to campus to share the gospel. As the faculty sponsor of the school's atheist club, he was adept at explaining how to tackle the issues of life without God.

Why I refuse to debate with William Lane Craig

Dawkins doesn't want to debate Craig as he thinks genocide is wrong, while at the same time believing there is no design, good or evil in the world: Why I refuse to debate with William Lane Craig | Richard Dawkins | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk:

And if any of my colleagues find themselves browbeaten or inveigled into a debate with this deplorable apologist for genocide, my advice to them would be to stand up, read aloud Craig's words as quoted above, then walk out and leave him talking not just to an empty chair but, one would hope, to a rapidly emptying hall as well.

Special Hypocrisy Rates

"But while we are on the subject of [OT] sexual slavery, let me raise the question whether anything like that is happening now . . . let's talk about sexual slavery of children in places like Thailand. And let's ask who would be most likely to approve of sexual jaunts to visit the slaves there -- your average believer in the Old Testament laws you dismissively cite or people who share your opinions about the reject status of Old Testament law? Are there special airfare rates from San Francisco do you think?" (Letter from a Christian Citizen, p. 21).

Special Hypocrisy Rates

The Sin of Counting

Pragmatism is bad. So is boasting. I also had issues with the video this article linked to: The Sin of Counting:

I’ll admit to being weary, to the point of irritation, whenever I hear ministers of the gospel reporting their statistics as external evidences of success. And I know I’m not the only one. (The first minute-and-a-half of this video makes the point.)

Enough already.

Dads, Consider the Impact of Availability

Some good advice: Dads, Consider the Impact of Availability - Desiring God:

Our children need to interact with us regularly and to know that at any moment, if they ever really need us, we will be there. Nothing in this world can take our place with them. Our actions and words must demonstrate that our kids occupy a special place and access to us that no one else except our spouse has.

Relativism and Human Rights

Relativism is incompatible with an idea that many of us hold dear, the idea of inalienable human rights. If relativism is true, we are endowed by our culture, not our creator, with certain rights, and if the culture denies those rights, as in cases like slavery or female circumcision, then there is nowhere to go to justify a claim that, contrary to what the culture has decreed, our rights are being violated.

dangerous idea: Relativism and Human Rights

You Might Be a Pragmatist

Some of these points are edgy (but true): You Might Be a Pragmatist:

...here’s a quick Top 10 list you can use to evaluate yourself and your ministry for signs of pragmatism

Top 10 preaching mistakes

A nice simple list for new preachers: Top 10 preaching mistakes | HeadHeartHand Blog:

As I’ve listened over the years to students begin to preach, I’ve noticed the same mistakes arising again and again, the same mistakes that we all fall into from time to time. The ten most common are

My Take: Are evangelicals dangerous?

Mohlers take on the American media's take on evangelicals: My Take: Are evangelicals dangerous? – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs:

We’re dangerous only to those who want more secular voices to have a virtual monopoly in public life.

Dead Sea Scrolls online

Now everyone can see the scrolls online, with a mouse over translation: The Great Isaiah Scroll:

The Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsaa) is one of the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in Qumran in 1947. It is the largest (734 cm) and best preserved of all the biblical scrolls, and the only one that is almost complete. The 54 columns contain all 66 chapters of the Hebrew version of the biblical Book of Isaiah. Dating from ca. 125 BCE, it is also one of the oldest of the Dead Sea Scrolls, some one thousand years older than the oldest manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible known to us before the scrolls' discovery.

Ten Reasons Why the New NIV Bible is Bad for Women

Turns out the NIV2011 which gets some of its content from the TNIV is bad for women (this is posted on a site that strongly opposed the TNIV): CBMW » Ten Reasons Why the New NIV Bible is Bad for Women:

Notwithstanding the doctrinal imprecision and blatant politically-correct translating agenda, there are additional reasons why I dislike gender inclusive Bibles. Undoubtedly the publishers had good intentions, and genuinely wanted to help women, but in my mind, a gender-inclusive Bible is BAD for women. Really, really bad for women! I react to people reading from the new, gender-inclusive NIV the way I react to nails scratching down a chalk board. Here are ten reasons why

Tudor Protestant Political Thought 1547-1603

A friend of mines has written a book. Based off the price and topic I am not sure he is going for a general audience: Tudor Protestant Political Thought 1547-1603 | BRILL:

This book offers a study of natural law, providentialism, cosmic order, political authority, and government by consent in Protestant political thought during a transitional period in English history. It shows how the Reformation was central to the birth of modern political thought.