The White Horse Inn introduced me to Todd Wilken and to Issues, Etc., a Lutheran produced radio/internet talk show with a distinctly Reformed and theologically conservative bent. This show was abruptly canceled prompting concerns that those with a different theological agenda (i.e. liberal) were behind the move. The show is returning to the internet (as well as radio, I presume)! Give it a listen on your computer or make it one of your podcasts (to go along with your Houston Lake Presbyterian podcast, of course). Click HERE for Issues, Etc.
I think these kids need a lesson in contentment and real sacrifice. Two sisters in Salt Lake City, Utah, ages 9 and 7 went on a protest walk against high gas prices. They don’t even drive, so what gives? It seems Mom had to cancel cable TV to help with the family budget as the price of gasoline hits record levels. Oh the pain, the pain! No more countless hours of “Hannah Montana”! What will these poor children do? I doubt they’ll miss a meal. I doubt they’ll have to start using candles to light the home anytime soon. Apparently, Mom and Dad thought their 60’s era protest tactics all due to the loss of a luxury were something of which to be proud.
Let the record show that I love cable TV- especially during the college football season when there are a boatload of games to view. Let the record also show, I’m frustrated too with gas prices that seem to do nothing but climb. But reading this article affirmed how blessed are here in the States. I think Mom and Dad needed to have a conversation with these two about what REAL sacrifice looks like. I think my Depression era grandparents would have had a few thoughts.
“Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.”
The ESV Blog has depictions of the New Testament and entire Bible done in this format- it has been “wordled”. Interesting to see which words get prominence. Here’s the New Testament:
We’ve been trying to make oatmeal a regular item on the breakfast menu. I need to watch the cholesterol. My wife has often remarked that when you slice bananas into your hot oatmeal it tastes like banana pudding. I reminisced at breakfast this morning about my Mother’s banana pudding. I can still picture the brown bowl in which it was served- a bowl which could safely go into the OVEN.
That’s significant because real southern banana pudding is not banana flavored jello pudding with bananas and Nilla wafers added served cold. No, no. Real southern banana pudding is BAKED with marangue on top. (The picture above is a reasonable facsimile). That’s why my wife can say hot oatmeal with banana slices comes close- but not close enough. I’m salivating like Pavlov’s dog for this southern delicacy just entering this post. I need some. I need some real “nanner puddin’” as we say in Alabama.
You never know what you’ll get on this blog on Fridays. Is it time for lunch?
I don’t know the story behind Walden Media but I like what they are doing with films. They are not only the production company behind Prince Caspian but also are behind Journey to the Center of the Earththat is to be released July 11th and will be in 3D. I haven’t seen all their films, but they all look like great stories, using quality actors, and are well made. I don’t know if there are Christians who lead this company, but they are living out a Christian world and life view when it comes to movies.
1) The same-sex marriage celebration in California. There’s been overwhelming positive press coverage of the new court ordered “right” in that state. We are getting closer and closer to an accepted popular view that if you hold to the Biblical definition of marriage being a covenant between one man and one woman then you are a bigot. The rapid change in our culture is astonishing even for a young 44 year old like me.
2) Oil/gas prices I know we still don’t pay as much for gas as they do in Europe, but Europe is much smaller and much more adept at mass transportation. If we had more of it (buses, trains, etc.), I’d use it. I rode the DART in Dallas! My wife says a big “no” to a motorcycle. Sigh. Where’s that skateboard I used to have?
Connie and I returned from Dallas on Friday afternoon after attending the PCA General Assembly (aka “GA”). This is the highest court in the denomination that met Tuesday through Thursday. I’m glad I was able to go. Here are some miscellaneous thoughts and observations on the week:
The Moderator, Paul Kooistra, did a GREAT job- Dr. Paul Kooistra is the coordinator for Mission to the World. He was elected the Moderator of the GA for this year. This is a big deal and significant honor. He had to moderate one of the largest deliberative bodies in the world utilizing parliamentary procedure (think U.S. Congress, only 2 1/2 times as big). He handled it with great humility, grace, skill, and good humor. I think a lot of Dr. Kooistra. His wife, Jan, died of cancer just four weeks ago.
The biggest issue of the Assembly was… - two Presbyteries requested that the PCA form a study committee on the issue of women serving as Deacons. There are churches that look to Romans 16:1, where Phoebe is referred to as a servant, or deacon, and to I Timothy 3:11 where the word translated for “wives” could also mean “women”, as Biblical support for the practice of Deaconesses. The proposal for such a study committee was rejected. This issue will certainly surface again in other forms. I must say the debate was very cordial and without rancor. This is a credit to the Assembly, the Overtures Committee who was tasked with giving a response to the request that was voted on by GA, and to Dr. Kooistra.
I wanted to post frequently from here in Dallas at the PCA General Assembly but have had a hard time getting connected. Finally, I think I have this figured out.
We’ve stayed busy but have enjoyed our time here. I chaired a committee of commissioners on the work of Reformed University Ministries here at the Assembly which means I’ll give a report to the Assembly tomorrow. There are over 1100 pastors and elders in attendance here. Right now, we are hearing reports of the various agencies of the PCA such as Mission to the World, MIssion to North America, Covenant College, Covenant Seminary, and Reformed University Ministries as well as others.
One cool thing is that our hotel is within walking distance from some of Dallas’ historic attractions. I can see the famous “grassy knoll” of the Kennedy assassination from our window.
Connie and I have an early flight out of Atlanta on Monday headed to Dallas, TX for the PCA General Assembly. I’ll be serving on a committee of commissioners for Reformed University Fellowship. The Assembly is the highest level gathering of the PCA held annually and it utilizes committees of commissioners to bring items of business before it as the means to conduct its work. It’s somewhat similar to the way Congress works, believe it or not.
I’ll be updating the blog from Dallas this week. Stay tuned.
