Three months ago, popular Christian singer Ray Boltz (known for songs such as "Thank You" among many others) publicly announced he was gay. As Mark Moring of Christianity Today explained at the time: One reason Boltz decided to come out now might be because he's performing Sunday at Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis, and then next Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. Both congregations are a part of a denomination that embraces the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. Today, Mike Ensley, who serves in Exodus … [Read more...] about Ray Boltz’s Hunger For Community
Blog
Questions Arise Over Obama/Blagojevich Relationship
The $64MM question: To what extent, if at all, was President-Elect Obama connected to or aware of IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corrupt activities? Obama is seeking to distance himself from the Governor, but ABC Correspondent Jack Tapper recalls a November 23 appearance on Fox News Chicago in which Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod was asked whether Obama had any preferences for his Senate replacement, a decision that lies solely with the Governor of IL. Axelrod's answer: "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he … [Read more...] about Questions Arise Over Obama/Blagojevich Relationship
IL Gov. Blagojevich’s Political Corruption Crime Spree
What a disgrace for my home state. The text of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's remarks. The criminal complaint (affidavit). Erin Zorn of the Chicago Tribune summarizes Fitzgerald's remarks: "The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering. They allege that (Ill. Gov. Rod) Blagojevich put a "for sale" sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism...."Read the whole thing. … [Read more...] about IL Gov. Blagojevich’s Political Corruption Crime Spree
Outliars (Malcolm Gladwell) – New Bestseller
The best-selling author of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference has released a new book of a similar flavor: Outliers: The Story of Success. While Outliars is getting mixed reviews, it sounds like if you found The Tipping Point interesting, you won't be disappointed with this book either. I've not read The Tipping Point, but I've heard good things from various sources. In this new title, Gladwell explores interesting (and sometimes strange) patterns behind the unparalleled success of certain groups of individuals. What do Bill Gates, the Beatles and Mozart have in … [Read more...] about Outliars (Malcolm Gladwell) – New Bestseller
Pro-Life Folks to Blame for GOP Debacle?
One line of explanation for the GOP's woes is summed up by folks like Kathleen Parker. In an op-ed piece in yesterday's NY Times, Ross Douthat explains: Pro-choice Republicans, in particular, know exactly whom to blame for their party’s showing. As Christie Whitman, the former New Jersey governor and Bush administration E.P.A. chief, explained after the election, it lost because “the party was taken hostage by ‘social fundamentalists,’ the people who base their votes on such social issues as abortion.” The conservative columnist Kathleen Parker made the same point more vividly: “The … [Read more...] about Pro-Life Folks to Blame for GOP Debacle?
Finally Alive – New Book From John Piper
Christian Focus publishers is releasing a new title by John Piper in the UK sometime after Christmas, but the book is available for pre-order now. The title is Finally Alive and the topic is “Have I been born again?" Those of us who follow Piper's sermons will recall that he gave a series of messages on this topic last year. The product description: Why is the church so ineffectual and characterised by the mosaic generation as unchristian? The term born again has been devalued both in society and in the church. Recent social studies surveys have shown that those who regard themselves as … [Read more...] about Finally Alive – New Book From John Piper