In our culture we are addicted to diversion.  We have more time today and we find ourselves doing less.  Pascal said: I have often said that the sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room. Read: Pascal on Our Addiction to Distraction – Justin Taylor. #culture #rest

Kevin Deyoung has a helpful article on a definition of social justice.  The term “social justice” is used a lot today and various meaning are attached.  His main point is that we should be careful how we use it.  Notice the key differences below: In A Conflict of Visions, Thomas Sowell explains the difference between the constrained and unconstrained view of justice. In the unconstrained view justice is a result so that wherever people don’t get “their fair share” or don’t ha

The debate on torture: A good panel of discussion here: Torture and Ticking Timebombs: A Christian Ethics Symposium – Justin Taylor. #culture

Awesome post by C.J. about our response to Tiger Woods: Hunting Tiger Woods. Excerpt below: As expected, the allegations of adultery involving a public figure are attracting a media pile-on. This is a big story with a big audience and it’s a story that will not disappear soon. Tiger Woods is being hunted by the media. But let us make sure we do not join the hunt. A Christian’s response to this story should be distinctly different. We should not be entertained by the news. We

The One Skill Necessary for Thriving in a World of Excess Access : What’s Best Next. A great post on the necessity of strategic imbalance or FOCUS. #culture

We all struggle with hypocrisy in various ways.  This is a good illustration of that.  And also a great warning about Hollywood morality vs. biblical morality.  Don’t be deceived! Morality, Hollywood Style – AlbertMohler.com. A quick excerpt: Give Katha Pollitt credit, the feminist left-winger supreme was quick to denounce both Polanski and his Hollywood enablers: The widespread support for Polanski shows the liberal cultural elite at its preening, fatuous worst. They may mak

Voddie Baucham talks about the difference between David Robinson and Michael Jordan’s hall of fame acceptance speeches here: Voddie Baucham Ministries. An excerpt: David Robinson ended his speech with a moving reference to the story of the ten lepers in Luke’s gospel.  It was so refreshing not to hear the old standard, “First, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who made it all possible by making me so good” cliche.  Instead, Robinson actually referred to the Bibl

Unhelpful Assumptions « Glory & Grace. This is right on. #church #culture

Some great connection ideas with people in the community this summer: 1. Invite cards 2. A tennis ball 3.  Bring an extra… 4. Camera 5. Courage Some good thoughts in detail here: Summerbia Part 2: Connection Tools :: sub•text. #connection #culture

Tim Keller’s first message from the Gospel Coalition is online.  Go  here:  The Gospel Coalition | The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry (Acts 19:21-41). #culture #gospel

I’ve appreciated Patrick Lencioni’s business stuff.  Here’s some comments about socialism that hit home summarized by Matt Perman: Patrick Lencioni on the Two Core Problems with Socialism : What’s Best Next. #culture

Responding to the Supreme Court’s decision: This Friday the Iowa Supreme Court rescinded a law that did not allow same sex marriage. Most true believers in Jesus Christ were probably disappointed at this. I’d like, however, to move away from disappointment and try to put things in perspective. Let’s go back in time to when Christianity first started and look at that society in comparison to ours. The culture back then was heavily influenced by Greek ideas and was called Helle

Thoughts on the Supreme Court decision from Matthew Franck: Justice Cady seems not to notice that, by ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, he and his fellow judges, by his own reasoning, have placed the state in the position of endorsing those religious views that approve of same-sex marriage. But that observation only scratches the surface of an argument that is—well, come to think of it—all surface. For the unanimous Iowa court appears incapable of entertaining the most el

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The Government cannot give to anybody anything that the Government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets

Campus Baptist Church’s former pastor, Charles Alber, was excellent at helping people understand Christian liberty.  At a camp in 2007 he gave the best explanation I’ve heard.  Here he is in 5 sessions: Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 http://blogs.cbcames.org/pastorwill/Alber2.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window | Download (73.8MB) Subscribe: Android | RSS #culture #liberty

Great post during the right to life week: Why Are We Striving To Make Abortion Unthinkable? :: abortion, guest :: A Reformed, Christian Blog. #culture

A Prayer for President Obama.    Great piece. #culture

Iphones have consequences: http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=6370 A great article about the need for true learning and true authority. The question is in our society – whose authority? That is something we are turning into a pluralistic, anything goes approach which will ultimately produce what the writer is talking about. The first thing we need is to return to a sense of God’s authority (Prov. 1:7). #culture

This question is a great summary of the importance of the gospel in ministry: How do we change in order to contextualize without changing the gospel? That is the practical question in ministry. If you under-contextualize your ministry and message, no one’s life will be changed because they’ll be too confused about what you are saying. But if you over-contextualize your ministry and your message, no one’s life will be changed because you won’t really be confronting them and ca

Other Ways to Refuse the Postmodern World 1. Attend local live concerts. 2. Go to a local museum. 3. Treat your checker at the supermarket like a real human being. 4. Don’t worry about fashion in clothes. 5. Drive your car into the ground before getting another one. 6. Give a significant amount of your money to Kingdom causes. 7. Read books that are over your head. 8. Listen to music you don’t understand until you do. 9. Memorize parts of the Bible. 10. Read about Christians