Archive for August, 2006
McKissic’s Bombshell during Southwestern Chapel
August 29th, 2006 | 4 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues
WOW. So much for the relative peace and quiet of the SBC political scene…
Check out Art Rogers’ posts on today’s happenings at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, entitled (appropriately) “BOOOOOOM!!!” and “BOOOOM!!! Part 2″.
In short? Rev. W. Dwight McKissic, a newly elected trustee for Southwestern, preached today, revealing that while at Southwestern, he learned to speak in tongues (and still does so to this day). Further, he apparently blasted attempts at establishing policies prohibiting the private practice of such.
Even more interesting is the response of the seminary, posted here, in which they state why they have refused to post the message online, in opposition to their standard practice. (Note: does it bother anyone else that this is only available for purchase, when most messages are made freely available?)
Anyway, this is VERY interesting stuff. Fallout should be even more interesting.
I, for one, can’t wait to see how God uses this (yes, even this) for His glory.
Our Family Is Growing!
August 25th, 2006 | 12 Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
WE’RE HAVING A BABY!!!!!
(Sorry, I’ve been wanting to share this for about six weeks now, and now I can finally let it out.)
Anyway, here’s baby’s first picture (the greatest Friday Photo ever if you ask me!):
As you can imagine, we’re all very excited that God is blessing us with a new life! We’ve got a lot to do between now and early March, but preparation for a baby is joyous work!
UPDATE…
Here’s an edited image that shows what’s what for those of you with little imagination… 
(I’m kidding, of course! I know ultrasounds can be a bit confusing… it took me a bit even though this is our third child and probably our sixth or seventh ultrasound!)
One last thing… a great Scripture passage!
Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
The War for China’s Soul
August 24th, 2006 | Comments Off | Posted in » In the News..., Worth Reading
Alan Cross posted a link to this story at Time Magazine online: “The War for China’s Soul“.
Highly recommended reading about the growth and persecution of Christianity in China! I’m constantly amazed at how Jesus changes lives and gives people strength to follow Him in spite of persecution most of us can’t begin to imagine.
Over the Counter Pharmaceutical Abortion?
August 24th, 2006 | 8 Comments | Posted in » In the News...
Geez. Pharmaceutical abortion just got easier. Today, the FDA approved making the “morning-after pill” available as an over the counter drug. Check out the news story here.
Here’s an editorial supporting the move. There’s actually quite a bit more good information in this than there is the news story. The author states that the availability of this drug should reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, and hence, the number of abortions performed annually. While this may be true, the author admits that this pill is not a fail-safe way at preventing an egg from being fertilized… it works both by preventing ovulation and by making uterine conditions hostile to the implantion of the fertilized egg. Isn’t the latter case essentially a pharmaceutical abortion?
I know that pharmaceutical birth control of any sort deals with a very fine line, and this drug really differs little from “standard” medications. It seems me, though, that we ought to be looking at all of these quite carefully. If life truly begins at conception, is it right to medically impact the natural process of implantation (to effect a pharmaceutical abortion, so to speak)?
Tough questions, yes… but important ones.
Rewrite the Textbooks!
August 24th, 2006 | 2 Comments | Posted in » In the News...
Pop quiz… how many planets are there?
Nine, you say? WRONG! Well, at least as of now, you’re wrong. We had nine yesterday, but as of now we have eight.
No… the Death Star has not been testing its weapons in our solar system… the monoliths have not caused Jupiter to become a star… the International Astronomical Union has demoted Pluto from planet to “dwarf planet”. Here’s the story.
Rewrite the textbooks! Edit those educational films! Correct those standardized tests! Scientists have spoken, and now we’re all confused.
“Ethical” Embryonic Stem Cell Research?
August 23rd, 2006 | 2 Comments | Posted in » In the News...
If you follow the news at all, you’re well-aware of the furor over embryonic stem cell research.
Today’s news tells us of a new method to create embryonic stem-cell lines, which does not destroy the embryo from which the cells originate. Read about it here and here.
So, what do you think? Is this the technique that puts an end to this debate? Or does the use of embryonic stem cells “harvested” using this new method still violate the sanctity of life?
Book Tag
August 14th, 2006 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Books, Just For Fun...
Well, peer pressure strikes again! Dorcas Hawker has tagged me in the ongoing “Book Tag” game circulating through the blog world.
Anyway, here are my responses. As a reminder, rules state that “the Bible” cannot be amongst the answers.
1. One book that changed your life: “Chasing Daylight”, by Erwin McManus. A great read, and a good message about making the most out of every moment in living for Christ.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: “The Stand” (complete and uncut edition), by Stephen King. It was 1168 pages, but somehow I found plenty of time to read it three or four times during summers when I was a kid!
3. One book I’d want on a desert island: “How to Build a Satellite Phone with a Built-in Emergency Rescue Beacon from Coconuts, Palm Leaves, and Other Items Found on a Desert Island” by Angus MacGyver (okay, so I made that up).
4. One book that made me laugh: “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!”, by Mo Willems. Yes, I’ve got kids, and yes, I really do laugh when I read this book.
5. One book that made me cry: Micah’s gonna think I’m nuts (considering these are ones he wish were never written), but several books in the “Left Behind” series did that to me. There’s just something about reading about people giving their lives for Christ. Foxes Book of Martyrs probably would have an even more powerful effect on me, given that it’s actually real.
6. One book that you wish you had written: oh, why not… “The Purpose Driven Life”. Who wouldn’t like to have a #1 best-seller that has had a positive impact on thousands of lives?
7. One book you wish had never been written: tough one… how about the Koran?
8. One book that you are currently reading: sadly, I’m not reading one now. All of them are in the “meaning to read” pile.
9. One book that you’ve been meaning to read: “The Radical Reformission”, by Mark Driscoll.
As for the next victims? Well… I think I’ll be nice and spare others the pain.