“Ms. Wisteria, who holds a degree in early Christian fabric and drapery design from Emory University's Candler School of Theology, worked as a model during her student days, and she came to a conclusion: Christian women needed a lingerie line that would let them look sexy but still retain that sense of modesty required for bedtime prayers and morning quiet time. The result was her first popular cutting-edge design-- the breakaway flannel granny gown.” (“Victorious Secret: Lingerie for Overcomers”)
“Next month, a Christian take on the Guitar Hero game, called Guitar Praise, is set to hit shelves in the US.” (From the UK’s The Guardian)
More anti-Christian violence in India, inspired by Hindu nationalism . . .
. . . but the New York Times gets it all horribly, horribly wrong.
Photos that Changed the World. Amazing.
“ ‘We're pumped,’ said the Rev. Andy McQuitty, senior pastor and one of the elders who invited Mrs. Roese (pronounced ‘Reese’) to take a turn in the pulpit. "She's an eminently qualified and gifted preacher." (from the Dallas Morning News story about Irving Bible Church’s decision to have one of their female staff members bring the morning message this Sunday)
"Many people will come to see a woman get cut in half that would never set foot in a church building otherwise." (A quirky Mother Jones story about a quirky organization, The Fellowship of Christian Magicians)
How do you answer the argument that all religions are more or less true and that it’s arrogant to claim that Jesus is the only way? This lengthy article will give you a good introduction. I tend toward what he calls the “hard” exclusivist position, but he still makes excellent points, including his “five bedrock truths” that biblical Christians must affirm, and his critique of “theological pluralism” while affirming “cultural pluralism.” Take 10 minutes to read this.
“I always liked evangelical. It seemed to me different from fundamentalism and mainline. It seemed more substantial than born-again, which often was used in ways that were intentionally divisive. To me it meant people who loved Jesus and took the Bible seriously, but were not afraid to read all kinds of books and discuss all kinds of ideas, and who cared about culture and statecraft and the arts. But it may not mean that to other people. Maybe the subculture I grew up in will eventually give in to confusion and competition and irrelevance. God is always getting people to sing new songs.” (John Ortberg, “What is an Evangelical?”
“Scientists have transformed one type of fully developed adult cell directly into another inside a living animal, a startling advance that could lead to cures for a variety of illnesses and sidestep the political and ethical quagmires associated with embryonic stem cell research.” (Washington Post)
“The Art of Manliness” has begun a three-part series called “Man Killers.” First up: Money.
“[Baylor Coach Art Briles’] Baylor debut seemed to generate more of a wait-and-see attitude than much of a buzz. Only about 30,000 came to 50,000-seat Floyd Casey Stadium to watch it and many started leaving when Wake Forest took a 34-6 lead late in the third quarter.” (Rivals.com) Yep, while Baylor holds its own in most of the other Big 12 sports, we get kinda quiet in the Fall. We all hope Coach Briles will give us a reason to return to the stadium, though.
“Blogs seem to magnify an existing problem in the body of Christ: We don't do a very good job listening to and learning from one another. It seems large numbers of the Theologically Preoccupied scowl across the pages of their study Bibles at the Evangelistically Fixated and accuse them of being culturally adrift--in some cases rightfully so. Many of the Evangelistically Fixated chuckle when they see books on evangelism written by many of the Theologically Preoccupied who sometimes consider the smallness of their churches a sign of their faithfulness. Let me propose a different way: Learn from one another and take the best from one another's approaches. Theologically deep believers with a passion for those far from Christ--I want both.” (Ed Stetzer)
“Standing 6 feet 5 inches in his jailhouse blues, with a square jaw and grey stubble, Mark Curran is the inmate in cell No. 2. He is also the sheriff. He hasn't been charged with any crimes. But Curran, the sheriff of Lake County, Ill., wanted to know the feeling of being caged. So he sentenced himself to a week in lock-up, in Waukegan.” (Newsweek story here. If you can’t find a sermon illustration in this story, go back to seminary.)
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