Reformation Movie ‘Luther’ Engrossing

The church has rarely been what God wants it to be. In the days of Martin Luther, the Catholic church was corrupt and power hungry. The movie Luther is a well-acted (Joseph Fiennes) and engaging portrayal of the events surrounding the rebel-monk’s life. Worthwhile and memorable, it made me reconsider so much of what I consider important.

God Gets Mail, Email Possibly Next

Ever found yourself wanting to communicate with God but found prayer overly difficult? The post office has his mailing address. Well, not his real address which wouldn’t do us any good because while postal workers deliver through rain, sleet and snow, they’ve yet to perfect plane-shift transportation.

Mother Teresa Trinkets Miss the Mark

There’s something of a mad rush to get Mother Teresa “merchandise” out into the market, things like rosaries, crucifixes and key chains. It seems to me that rather than idolizing Mother Teresa, we should be looking to the God she served. Better than toting a Mother Teresa key chain, how about giving some time at the local soup kitchen. Emulation is the highest form of flattery.

From Admiral to Preacher

David Robinson is truly blessed. Not just because he was able to do something he truly loved—basketball—but to go out on top. Now he’s turning his attention to helping others. He’s joined paster and writer, Max Lucado, as a “minister at large” for the Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio. In addition, he wants to fund-raise for Carver Academy, an inner-city elementary school. Blessed? Yes, but each day he’s giving some back.

Vatican Cardinal Praises ‘Passion’

Mel Gibson’s upcoming The Passion, on the last hours of Christ’s life have been met by some with claims of being anti-semitic. A Vatican Cardinal, Dario Castrillon Hoyos, after viewing an unfinished version said “Anti-Semitism, like all forms of racism, distorts the truth in order to put a whole race of people in a bad light. This film does nothing of the sort.” It’ll be interesting to see if the controversy helps or hurts attendance.

God Is On TV

Have you seen God? He’s on TV you know. Well, at least Joan of Arcadia’s premise is that God is showing himself to Joan. This short blurb does little but whet your appetite and the show’s direction is unclear. In any event, it’s certainly an interesting concept and actress Amber Tamblyn is certainly inspired by this “golden opportunity.” America can see the premiere on Friday, September 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Bono Sees Church as AIDS Savior

The media has put a great deal of effort into AIDS awareness and research, promoting condom use over abstinence, but the epidemic wages on. Especially in Africa. Bono has a passion for the victims of this disease and wants Congress to pass the African AIDS Relief legislation. But his hope isn’t in goverments, “…if it isn’t going to happen through the church, it’s going to be so very difficult for government.” There is progress, it’s just slow arriving.

Same Message, Different Package

A publisher in Tennessee has taken the New Testament and “repackaged” it in a magazine format called Revolve. Some folks are saying it takes away from the dignity of the Word of God. What do you think?

Where Do I Find Happiness?

WebMD wants to promote the idea that happiness can be more readily found in Health & Family” rather than in Money. Well, seems straight-forward enough and honest people wouldn’t argue with it. What concerns me is the term “lasting” which, in this case, is only referring to the happiness experienced from Health & Family lasts longer than the happiness found in Money. It doesn’t mean it was last for years or even months, much less your whole life.

I don’t mean to crack The Meaning of Life in this little post, but shouldn’t part of the equation include faith? I mean, life is only a handful of decades, then we should be thinking about what comes next.

Do Liberals Really Hate the Bible?

A humorous look at 22 things about the Bible that drive the left crazy. No offense intended, so please feel free to fire back with zingers against the right. *grin*

Life Changing

“It’s not the healthy who need a doctor.” Jesus said this responding to the religious leaders accusing him of spending too much time with sinners. So what happens when dangerous men find Jesus? [via Thunderstruck]

Everyone Is Different, Everyone the Same

One girl’s story about growing up under someone else’s religion, and how that just doesn’t cut it. Knowing God is a personal thing. Sure, people can help but in the end it’s a game of 1-on-1. [via Relevant]

Is Montgomery Another Memphis?

Is Roy S. Moore like Martin Luther King Jr.? Both are holding to their religious beliefs that the U.S. government is overstepping their authority and restricting the peoples’ freedom. An effort is underway to remove religious elements from both the historical and present day realm of government. Congress can open with prayer. Courts can ask witnesses to swear on the Bible. But the 10 Commandments can not be displayed in a courtroom. It just makes you wonder how much longer the first two practices will be “tolerated.” It all stems from a misunderstanding of true meaning of Thomas Jefferson’s quote, which is actually not part of the Constitution:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.

His statement means that the government should not establish an official State religion to the exclusion of all others, as was the case in a few European countries during that time. The Founding Fathers most evidently desired the foundation of the new experiment called America to be based on Christian principals, no matter how much today’s secularists wish it weren’t so. We can all learn more by reading Original Intent by David Barton.

Inscribed in the marble of the United States Supreme Court are the Ten Commandments. At the top of the Washington Monument is a plague that says “Praise Be Unto God” in Latin. Evidence is everywhere that the America was founded on Christian principals.

We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future …upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves, according to the Ten Commandments of God. -James Madison

It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. -Patrick Henry

This doesn’t mean everyone has to be a Christian. The religion itself has as its centerpiece, the component of free will. Everyone is free to choose what they believe and accept and what they reject. So back to Judge Moore. What would happen if the anti-religion crowd got their way?

If you ban any reference to God and eliminate the embodiment of our traditional moral law, what is left?

Tests Show Astrology To Be Pointless

Dr. Geoffrey Dean, a former astrologist, and Ivan Kelly analyzed decades (40 studies, 700 astrologers) of research to show astrology as scientifically baseless. Dr. Dean said, “It has no acceptable mechanism, its principles are invalid and it has failed hundreds of tests. But no hint of these problems will be found in astrology books which, in effect, are exercises in deception.” I wonder if astrologers predicted this would happen?

Mother Teresa: A True Saint

I’m sure God had a big smile on His face when Mother Teresa was brought into his presence. Her selfless life has made her as famous as anyone who has lived this century. Last December the Vatican had her beatified with plans towards canonization. It’s a trivial thing for her as she’s now in her Saviors realm but anything that promotes the kind of life she led should be applauded.