Wow. This is an amazing conversion story.

(LvMark)

This is pretty funny:

(LvMark)

Now, here’s a protestant sermon I can support without reservation.

I thought this was the perfect post to link to on the eve of Halloween.

It has been interesting to observe the public debate over Barack Obama’s associations with individuals whose personal histories can only be categorized as radical.  Bill Ayers is a former terrorist.  Jeremiah Wright preaches race adversarialism.  For the most part, Obama’s friendships with these men has been water off a duck’s back for the electorate.

Imagine a different scenario.  There is an evangelical candidate.  He is the best evangelical candidate ever.  A Rhodes Scholar, a distinguished lawyer who has argued before the Supreme Court, astoundingly eloquent, you get the idea.  This candidate is a conservative, but answers all questions in such a way as to avoid making anyone uncomfortable.  He hits all the right chords.

Further imagine that the record shows this man was once heavily involved with Christian reconstructionists who believe stoning should be re-instituted for adultery.  He went to a church for two decades where a Christian reconstructionist preached each Sunday.  One of his mentors was part of a group that bombed abortion clinics.

Where would that candidate be right now?  And how different would that candidate be in terms of associations from one Barack Obama?

It has been several years since I have given a talk at Biola University in La Mirada, California. It is an institution that has a number of my friends on the faculty including Craig Hazen, John Mark Reynolds, J. P. Moreland, and Scott B. Rae. So I am very much looking forward to this Thursday, when I return to Biola as a speaker in its Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series for Christianity and Culture.

Scheduled for October 30 at 6 pm in Biola’s Calvary Chapel, I will be delivering a lecture on the topic of abortion and American politics. After the lecture I’ll be meeting for an informal Q & A at the Philosophy House of Talbot School of Theology (Biola’s seminary) with some students in the school’s M.A. program in philosophy of religion and ethics.

If you are in southern California, feel free to attend. The lecture is open to the public.

(cross-posted)

During the summer, I watched a film starring Robin Williams in a dramatic role.  Contrary to his comedian image, I’ve always thought he was better as a serious actor.  This particular film, The Final Cut, was about a future in which it is possible to have a bio-implant that essentially records every event of one’s life.  At death, it is removed and a “cutter” reviews the material (organized by the software into amazing categories) for compilation into a remembrance.

As you might imagine, the raw footage is all too honest.  The only people who ever see it are the cutters.  They know the real truth, but rarely show it.  The surviving friends and relatives don’t want that.  They want an idealized memory.

I recommend the film, but the bigger point is that it is provocative of thought.  As I watched, I kept thinking about how people would think or how they would live their lives differently if they knew they had such an implant.  What would that be like?

Then I realized that we do have an implant like that.  It’s called a soul.  And God will be the one who judges our lives in their entirety.  You think about that and you know you need a savior.  You know you need someone to make up for everything you failed to do and for every wrong decision you made.  You know you need someone to help you account for the sheer waste and lack of human sympathy in your life.

I have read Brian McLaren’s work to the profit of my own thinking.  He has many good ideas and has stimulated the church in important ways.

However, I think he has a major blind spot when it comes to politics.  McLaren recently came out in support of Barack Obama’s campaign for the presidency.

Now, before I go on, I understand how a man like McLaren could support Obama.  You say, “Look, this man will begin programs for poor people.  He will save the environment.  He will bring healing to the racial divide in this country.  Most of all, I like the way an Obama presidency feels.”

Aside from the last point, I will not even bother to rebut, though I could.  I suspect the feeling about Obama may be the most important part.  Many Christians have an averse reaction to conservative Christians in politics because they don’t like the tone.  They don’t like the style, the apparent judgmentalness, the hardness of it.  McLaren is one of those who has the averse reaction.  Though I am far more conservative than McLaren, I’ve had the reaction myself in a room with certain types of people.

Unfortunately, McLaren is making a terrible mistake.  If we agree that abortion is a terrible evil, which it is, then we must ask who is aiding that system of killing.  The answer is simple.  Obama aids it.  He praises the funders and practitioners of it.  He promises never to let it be limited or constrained.  The one place where he is certain he favors free markets and laissez faire is with regard to abortion.

One could say it is but one of many issues, but so what if the issue is properly basic?  Protecting unborn life is a yes or no answer pretty much like segregation is.  Either you affirm humanity and its most basic rights or you do not.  How would McLaren react to a candidate who supported everything he supported except that he proclaimed the question of segregation above his pay grade?  Would he support that man or woman?  I suspect not.

Brother McLaren, if you can’t go Republican for various reasons, your option would not be cooperation with a program of clear wrong.  Your option would be to sit out until you can find a Democrat not actively at odds with one of the most basic tenets of the church (including the early church).

After completing my doctoral work at Baylor University in part under the supervision of SA’s Frank Beckwith, I took a job teaching and as an administrator at Houston Baptist University.  It’s been my privilege to be at the school during a time of growth in the student body and the hiring of many new faculty members.

Last weekend, HBU took a big hit from Hurricane Ike.  Every update I get, the damage estimates seem to rise.  Please consider giving to reconstruction efforts at www.hbu.edu.  You can read more from our president Robert Sloan and from the Baptist Standard.

(LvHunter)

A few years ago, I somehow came upon the fiction of Lars Walker.  I’m not sure how it happened, but it did.  I became aware that there was a Christian writing fantasy and that he was a guy to consider.  His book The Year of the Warrior touched me.  Though published almost as pulp fiction, I discovered the book contained serious reflection on the nature of faith, religious freedom, and the spread of the Christian faith to pagan cultures.  I went on to read his other books and his blog.  At his blog, he wrote quite a bit about a fellow named Andrew Klavan.

I picked up Klavan’s books and began one of the more rewarding reading experiences of my life.  In particular, I have to single out the Weiss and Bishop detective series for special praise.  Just from reading them, I began to suspect Klavan of being a Christian.

I don’t know if he was one at the time of writing those novels, but he is a Christian now.  He appeared on Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to talk about faith.  I am usually the type who would much rather read than watch short videos, but this one is an exception.

Here’s the link.

What you will see is a thoughtful man really thinking about life and offering a fascinating story of his Jewish upbringing and being bar mitzvah’d even though he’d been raised not to believe.

My 20th high school reunion was held in Pensacola this summer.  The class of ‘88 from Booker T. Washington high school met to share memories and update each other about their lives.  I wasn’t there.  I agreed to a mini-reunion a few months earlier with some of my best friends.  We went to Chicago, ate expensive steaks, walked the streets, took the train, and watched some sports.  It was a good time.  But if I could go back, I’d go to my reunion instead.

There have been a flood of pictures, facebook connections, and renewed contacts thanks to the group from our class that did make the choice to re-connect.  I realize now that my memories of that group have faded.  I wish I could have heard some of them speak, looked at the receding hairlines, observed the wrinkles, found out who achieved their promise, and who is still looking.  Maybe part of why I wish I had gone is because I am no longer a wanderer.  After obtaining four degrees, including a Ph.D. and a J.D., I have finally settled down at a university and have a book contract.  I would have been able to say something about myself rather than being a bewildered thirtysomething, which I was.

I’m burying the lead (or lede as the journalists say).  One thing that has struck me in looking at facebook pages from my high school peers is that many of them seem to remember Pensacola as a hotbed of fundamentalist Christianity.  More than one seem to define their lives in some degree as a reaction against that. (more…)

You can watch it here, and comment here.

Courtesy of First Things:

From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 14. What is sin? A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

From the Baltimore Catechism:
Q. 278. What is actual sin? A. Actual sin is any willful thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the law of God.

From Senator Obama:
Q. Do you believe in sin? OBAMA: Yes. Q. What is sin? OBAMA: Being out of alignment with my values.

Not that there is anything to the chatter about Senator Obama’s “Messiah complex,” mind you.

A must-see interview. God Bless the Chapman Family for bearing witness to the truth under the most tragic of circumstances.

(Part 1 of 6)

(more…)

What in the world ails the officials at the University of Florida?

This is a July 26 photo of me, my nephew Jordan Wiegand, and our pastor, Fr. Timothy Vaverek of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bellmead, Texas. This was taken following Jordan’s Confirmation and full reception into the Catholic Church. I was blessed to be his sponsor.

Jordan, a Navy veteran, is an engineering major and a student in Baylor’s Honors College. My wife, Frankie, and I are so proud of his accomplishments.

Jordan, the eldest son of my wife’s younger sister Lexi, is the second nephew for whom I served as a Confirmation sponsor. The first was Dean Beckwith, the eldest son of my younger brother Jim. Dean’s request that I be his sponsor for his May 13, 2007 Confirmation led to my April 29, 2007 public reception into the Catholic Church. (You can read about that here as well as in my forthcoming book, Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic). Here’s a photo of me, my wife, and our nephew Dean following his Confirmation last year:

(Cross-posted)

Another excellent post from the fine folks at “The Art of Manliness.”

Because some things are far more important than partisan politics.

In the combox of a WWWtW post about my forthcoming book, Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic, someone who calls himself “Aristocles” suggested I post some excerpts from the book. I have done so at the website returntorome.com. I have also included a detailed table of contents on the site. Just click “Excerpts” or “Table of Contents” at the top of page.

I pray that many Anglican traditionalists will consider swimming the Tiber.

Fwiw, one of the smartest fellas I know highly recommends this book.

If any of y’all have read “Only a Theory,” I would be interested in hearing your take on it.

Attention all RCIA directors: Get ready for new converts.

David Brody (as usual) has the scoop. Here’s the gist of Burress’s endorsement of McCain:

For me this election is primarily about the next Supreme Court appointments, even though McCain is with us on many other issues as well. Watching him, looking at his broken body and thinking about the price he paid as a POW was overwhelming. When he reached to scratch his eyebrow he had to take his right hand to lift his left to do so. I understand the difference between respecting this man as a war veteran, and working for him as candidate for president of the United States.

But I must say that it is men like this that guarantee us our freedom. I also understand those who say they will not vote for him and I respect their principled position.

Yesterday, though, I saw and listened to a man who likewise is principled. John McCain, unlike most politicians, will not be bullied, threatened, paid off or pressured into changing his position. That was refreshing. I was once one of those people who said “no way” to Senator John McCain as President. No longer. The stakes are too high. And if Obama wins I need to able to get up on November 5th, look at myself in the mirror, and when I pray, say, “Lord, I did all that I could.”

I’ve been in Grand Rapids, Michigan attending Acton University, which is a large conference put on by the Acton Institute.  There are a few hundred participants, almost all of whom have been flown here by the institute.  Many of my fellow attendees are from Africa.

The crux of the program has to do with faith and economics.  So far, the programming I’ve seen has been impressive.  Jennifer Roback Morse’s presentation on learning to think in economic terms was brilliantly articulated.  Jay Richards talked about myths of the market and showed signs of being an emerging think tank rock star.

Acton is influencing “influencers” like graduate students, professors, and clergy and producing impeccable content.  Last night I saw their new film The Birth of Freedom, which explored the impact of Christianity on the West.  The production values were high.  The narrative and visuals were compelling.  It could easily be aired on The History Channel or PBS and expect to receive a strong rating.

The Acton Institute is The Christian Think Tank 2.0.  I expect to see them develop greater influence and budget very quickly in the years ahead.  Check out their blog here.

Feddie, you gotta link these guys!

The ultimate “I told you so!“

My brief post on the Supreme Court of California’s decision to legalize gay marriage generated some interesting comments, including the following exchange:

Rebunga: “Maybe people will learn one day that they can’t litigate their way to respect, at least not respect from me. So it doesn’t bother me overly that the State of California now nominates gay couples “married.” I certainly am well within my first amendment rights to say that they are not “married ” as far as I’m concerned.”

Grover Gardner: “[W]hat would a gay couple have to do earn your respect? Under what conditions would you be willing to grant it? And why should they await your blessing when they perceive an unfairness in the system that no amount of “respect” is going to resolve?”

In many respects, I agree with Rebunga: You cannot litigate your way to respect. But Grover also asks, as he usually does, a thoughtful question: What does a gay person have to do to earn the respect of one who opposes gay marriage or strongly disapproves of homosexual behavior?

For me, the answer is simple: nothing at all. I respect homosexuals for the same reason I respect every human being: Because they are creatures of God with inherent dignity, who I am called by the Triune God to love as I love myself.

I think opponents of gay marriage need to keep this in mind as we make our stand for traditional marriage. We need to explain our position in a thoughtful and charitable way, and let our opponents know that our concerns are genuinely for the common good and not steeped in hatred. And I say this as someone who has often fallen short in conveying a loving attitude toward my political opponents. Indeed, I consider myself, as the Apostle Paul did, “chief among sinners.” We must always, always remember that we are all sinners in need of a merciful and loving God. 

This is not to say that evil should not be called evil when necessary, but I simply do not believe that the overwhelming majority of homosexuals are motivated by malice. They seek what every person seeks: love. And while I truly believe that the behavior they are engaging in is spiritually damaging, I cannot fault them for desiring intimacy. Our goal then, must be to show homosexuals that the intimacy they seek can only be fulfilled by Jesus Christ, and to love them as Christ does.

Political disagreements can never deter us from our ultimate purpose as human beings: To love God and one another, as we love ourselves.   

Joe Carter continues to show why he is one of the best bloggers around.

This is one of the most moving, honest, and powerful posts that I’ve read in quite some time.

(LvC&EI!)