Archive for the ‘In the News...’ Category
Help for the Pesinas…
April 11th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Church Stuff..., God at Work, In the News..., Prayer Requests
As I mentioned yesterday, a tornado touched down in St. Joseph last night, destroying the home of a family whose children have been attending our church. Today, my friend Jodi Brager and a number of others (including my wife Nancy) have been rallying to help them out.
It’s time to dream big, Christians. Be in prayer about this, but here’s something Jodi and I talked about tonight…
Ever seen Extreme Home Makeover? Or the work Habitat for Humanity does?
Why can’t we do this as the church? We have a need… a home for the Pesina family… we have a large number of people wanting to help… why can’t we rally to meet this family’s need and provide not just a place to live, but a home of their own? If ever there were a family in need, this is it… a husband, wife, and nine beautiful children.
Pray about it with me, Jodi, and others here in St. Joseph, and let’s see where God leads. Check back here or at Jodi’s blog for more as plans develop.
For now, here’s a few things of interest:
Donations are currently being taken to support the family. Southside Youth Outreach is coordinating this:
Southside Youth Outreach
P.O. Box 4382
St. Joseph, MO 64504
(816) 383-4315
News coverage:
- KQ2: “Family Escapes Toppled House”
- KQ2: “A Family Recovers Whatever’s Possible”
- St. Joe News Press: Strong Storms Pummel St. Joseph’s South Side
- St. Joe News Press: “Picking up the Pieces”
- (more to come later… KQ2 did a story on their 10:00 news that is not yet available online)
Raised from the Dead!
March 27th, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in » In the News...
This is a very cool news story… a South Florida man, dead for nearly an hour following a massive heart attack, was revived after his doctor felt a need to pray for his healing. Check it out here.
HT: Alan Cross.
Baptists Going Green…
March 10th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Baptist Issues, In the News...
So, Southern Baptists are going green.
This will probably make me unpopular amongst Baptist bloggers (maybe even with one of my closest friends), but suffice it to say that I think this initiative (however well-intentioned), AS WORDED, is a mistake.
I’m all for environmental stewardship, but please… let’s stay out of the global warming / climate change debate!
Why? Let’s take a couple sentences from this group’s declaration to start…
We recognize that we do not have any special revelation to guide us about whether global warming is occurring and, if it is occurring, whether people are causing it. We are looking at the same evidence unfolding over time that other people are seeing.
We recognize that we do not have special training as scientists to allow us to assess the validity of climate science. We understand that all human enterprises are fraught with pride, bias, ignorance and uncertainty.
Here’s my suggestion. If you’ve got no “special revelation”, “special training”, or the like that allows you to assess “whether global warming is occurring and, if it is occurring, whether people are causing it”… stick to the theological issues and principles that lead Christians to a position of environmental stewardship, and leave climate change out of your statements.
After all, isn’t human-influenced climate change covered by environmental stewardship?
Of course it is. So why hit the hot button issue?
Political expediency and media coverage. At least that’s what it looks like to me.
If that was your goal, I extend my congratulations… you made top story on MSNBC.com for a while, and are sure to receive plenty of publicity for the cause.
Barack, What Bible are You Reading?
March 3rd, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in » In the News...
I really don’t like to focus on politics here very often, but I had to highlight this item as it simply left me baffled.
Apparently, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama seems to think civil unions (code for same-sex marriage, of course) are justified based on Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:
“I believe in civil unions that allow a same-sex couple to visit each other in a hospital or transfer property to each other,” he said, referring to unions that grant all the legal benefits of marriage, minus the name. “I don’t think it should be called marriage, but I think that it is a legal right that they should have that is recognized by the state. If people find that controversial, then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans. That’s my view. But we can have a respectful disagreement on that.”
(Source: Baptist Press).
What Bible have you been reading, Barack?
A word of advice… don’t try to use the Bible to support something it doesn’t. A LOT of people listen to you and believe what you say (regardless of how outlandish your statements may be), and when you start giving misguided spiritual advice, you’re jeopardizing a lot more than just votes.
You did catch what that sermon you’re so fond of says about false prophets, right?
THEY DID IT!!!
February 3rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in » In the News...
THE GIANTS DID IT! THE GIANTS DID IT! HOLY COW, THE GIANTS DID IT!
I Triple Dog Dare You!
January 26th, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in » In the News..., Just For Fun...
A scene from the movie “A Christmas Story” became reality yesterday morning when not only one, but two Indiana fourth-graders got their tongues stuck to a flagpole.
It’s not clear if the local fire department was called to rescue the boys. Neither has word been forthcoming on whether whatever friends that put the two up to it have confessed to doing so. We do know, however, that those who did it know their blame, and we’re sure that the guilt they feel is far worse than any punishment that they might receive.
Save the Planet… Tax Babies
December 10th, 2007 | No Comments | Posted in » In the News...
Here’s a wonderful idea to help save the planet from the evils of global warming… let’s tax people who have kids for the “carbon footprint” their children will have! How about $5,000 up front, just for having a child, then an additional $800 a year afterwards?
Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s implement population controls to prevent further human greenhouse gas emissions. We could even give carbon credits to those who undergo sterilization procedures!
Sadly, I’m not making this stuff up, as a professor in Australia has proposed just these things. Check out the story here.
Oh the Weather Outside is…
December 6th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in » In the News..., My Life
… delightful!
Here’s looking forward to snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights, and sledding with the kids.
I’ll admit, I’m no fan of ice (driving on it, mainly), but there’s something about snow that brings out the kid in me. Just ask Nancy!
Best Political Ad Ever!
November 20th, 2007 | No Comments | Posted in » In the News...
This is, hands down, the best political ad I’ve ever seen!
It Could be a Long Season… Episode 7.
October 22nd, 2007 | No Comments | Posted in » In the News..., KC Chiefs
Back in week 3, after a much-needed win over the Minnesota Vikings, I predicted the Chiefs could be anything from 4-3 to 2-5 going into the bye week. It wasn’t much of a stretch to make that kind of prediction, of course, but I simply didn’t know enough about what the Chiefs were going to be at that point to make any kind of guess as to where they’d end up.
After yesterday’s nail-biter over the Raiders, I still don’t know, yet this morning, they’re sitting at 4-3, in first place in the AFC West.
Not a bad place to be at this point in the season.
Here’s what we know going into the bye week:
- The defense is much improved.
- Jared Allen looks like he’ll be punching a ticket to Hawaii.
- The offensive line needs work, especially in the running game.
- Larry Johnson is inconsistent.
- Damon Huard may last the season at QB, but he’s not the answer for much longer than that.
- Dave Rayner has a huge leg, but seems to miss the easy kicks. We really don’t want to have to find out if he can drill a game-winner.
- Eddie Drummond is NOT the answer for kick and punt returns.
The uncertainties?
- Will the running game improve?
- What will Priest Holmes’ return do for this team the rest of the season?
- Will the offense develop some consistency?
- Can the defense continue to carry the team?
- Is there any hope for an improved return game?
- Can the Chiefs hold serve at home in the AFC West?
This team may be able to compete for a playoff spot in their division, but at this point, it’s hard to get too excited beyond that. The Chiefs are clearly not on the level of teams like Indianapolis and New England, and unless something changes, playoff success looks to be a distant dream. Just making it there would be a huge success though, given the way Herm is trying to transform this team.
