by Motte Brown on 11/30/2006
Today on Boundless, Matt Kaufman writes about a recent event in Texas in which a Christian owned landscaping business refused to work with a homosexual couple. It's worth reading and considering what you would do if in a similar position. As Matt notes, other believers in good conscience could have chosen differently. But I wonder how many of us would have been brave enough to send an email explaining why like Todd and Sabrina Farber. Upon learning of the relationship... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/30/2006
I've been reading David Crowder and Mike Hogan's new book, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die: Or the Eschatology of Bluegrass . Tidy little title, isn't it? The book talks a lot about what people have thought about the soul (its role, purpose, location) throughout history. It also chronicles the history of bluegrass music as a way of showing an interesting connection between the soul, death and the haunting tones of bluegrass. This book is... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/30/2006
If you've been reading our blog posts without digging into the comments, you're missing out on some real nuggets. "Dr. Ransom" (name borrowed from the C.S. Lewis book That Hideous Strength) dug up a great AiO episode to add context to the Rocky rebirth story. He found the following dialogue referencing a throwaway "Rocky" sequel-movie parody in the 1995 AiO episode "Gathering Thunder," written by Marshal Younger: MANAGER: Come on, Champ! You can't do it anymore. Boxers are younger, stronger,... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/30/2006
The posts by Suzanne and me, as well as the comments on those posts, touch on various aspects of Christian dating. An article we published on Boundless this morning called Biblical Dating aims to get to the very heart of Christian dating. I'd be interested in hearing what our readers think of the principles the author presents, and the biblical support and logic he employs to drive his argument. Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/30/2006
As an avid proponent of marrying well, I've always been leery of people who tell singles that "Jesus is all you need." It's not that our Lord can't meet our every need, but that He chose to provide human relationships to fulfill some of our longings. When Adam was lonely, God made Eve. And still today, He "sets the lonely in families." I was glad to see an article in Christianity Today that exposes the folly of this line of... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/29/2006
"No matter what, you can overcome your past. With help, if you look to God, you can overcome your past and be reborn." That's an unusual message to be coming from Sylvester Stallone, but it's a reflection of his new priorities in life and part of the message he has been sharing with the faith community about the latest installment of his Rocky movie franchise. At 60 years old, Stallone admits he's reached a point where many would say it's... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/28/2006
In 1998, when it was still considered taboo to meet someone on the Internet, I got to know Mike from Texas in a Christian college chat room. We discovered we had many things in common and soon a friendship took a romantic turn. Our letter-writing, e-mail correspondence and phone conversations allowed us to get to know one another in a communication-rich way. After a year-long relationship, in which Mike visited me in Washington and I visited him in Texas, we... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/28/2006
Have you seen those "Jesus Is a Liberal" bumper stickers? Well, given the recent data on giving, you could equate that claim with "Jesus Isn't Very Charitable." In yesterday's Wall Street Journal opinion section, Syracuse University Professor Arthur Brooks highlights three values affecting charity: religion, belief about the role of government, and family life. In short, weekly church goers are 25 percent more likely to give than people who rarely or never attend; people who want more government welfare are... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/28/2006
Singles for millenia have rightly turned to others for help in their search for a mate. Parents, matchmakers, friends, pastors and other "agencies" have been eagerly enlisted to facilitate marriages made in heaven. It's nothing new. The "agencies" currently in mode include online dating services such as eHarmony, Match.com, ChristianSingles.com, Relationships.com and others. Let me be honest. When I hear a commercial for one of these services, I bristle. I cringe because I believe they promise too much, providing a... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/28/2006
According to yesterday's "BreakPoint" commentary, a faculty panel at Harvard University has issued a report calling for a "faith and reason" requirement to be included in the school's core curriculum. Their reasoning: Knowledge about religion is integral to a good education. Discussing reactions to the decision, Chuck Colson writes: Predictably, there were those who objected to Harvard's "faith and reason" requirement. A Harvard Crimson editorial said that the requirement gives "religious ideas" a "preeminence incommensurate with their proper place in... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/27/2006
It's official: The motto "In God We Trust," which first appeared on U.S. coinage in 1864, is on the move. According to the United States Mint, the new dollar coins, scheduled for release in 2007 and featuring busts of U.S. Presidents, will include several "unique features." No, it's unfortunately still the size of a quarter. The coin's most significant new "feature": The official national motto since 1956 -- "In God We Trust" -- will be wiped from its usual spot... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/27/2006
We've never blogged on Iraq, but the recent surge in civilian deaths has me pondering its future and ours more than ever. Last week, suspected Sunni insurgents killed 215 Shiite Muslims in the slums of Sadr City, one of the deadliest assaults since the war began. The Shiites responded by attacking six Sunnis leaving prayer, burning them alive while Iraqi police stood by and watched. This surge in sectarian violence has most Americans now wondering whether toppling Saddam Hussein was... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/27/2006
In a clever piece of satire, featuring characters from "The Office," Inner Revolution tells the tale of Scranton Community Church — a congregation that ceases meeting in favor of offering conferences and online resources. Though meant in jest, the article is not far from the truth. In his recent article, "Churchcasting Kills Community," Drew Dyck talked about his friend's potpourri style of getting "church." At first I found it tough to argue with his new mode of spirituality. As he... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/27/2006
An article recently posted by Newsweek talks about the statistic that nearly four in ten babies are born to unwed mothers. Candice blogged about this discouraging report last week. While the Newsweek report didn't necessarily present the statistic in the negative light it deserves, there were some interesting insights in the article. Sociologists, they say, think that more women are having children before marriage because the whole notion of marriage has become somewhat of a fantasy in people's eyes: Ironically,... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/27/2006
It's hard to believe, but for the younger set, Elmo has re-emerged this holiday as the IT toy. (Play Station 3 seems to be "the one" if you're over 6.) If you've ever seen -- or more importantly heard -- the falsetto talking toy, you'd probably agree with me that it's the last thing you'd want under your tree, or the tree of your nieces and nephews or anyone else you spend a lot of time with, this year. Thankfully,... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/23/2006
OK, I was going to write a post cleverly referencing the three latest articles on Boundless: "What Are We Celebrating?," "The Art of Celebration," and "Gift Upon Gift." I had also considered referencing some of our online friends by linking to Thanksgiving-related blog posts such as this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, or this one. Instead, I'd like to open up this post to our readers, and ask you the simple question:... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/22/2006
In "Go Ahead, I Dare You," Newsweek columnist Wray Herbert presents new scientific research on why teenagers do stupid things. A study by psychologists Valerie Reyna and Frank Farley published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest revealed that when asked seemingly inane questions like, "Is it a good thing to set your hair on fire?" teens actually had to mull over the question before they answered. Wray writes: It has long been assumed (and taught) that teenagers... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/22/2006
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I will be eating my turkey here in Colorado instead of at home in the frozen tundra of Minnesota. Even though I will not be spending this holiday with family, I will be with some friends out here in Colorado. When you live far away from home, you sometimes create a surrogate family through a community of people you know you can depend on. I wrote an article about community a few months ago for TrueU.org.... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/22/2006
Ted's point about the smugness of some evolutionists appears to be consistent with the strident zeal captured in the cover story of the latest issue of Wired magazine called "The New Atheists." Early on the article drops the gauntlet: The New Atheists will not let us off the hook simply because we are not doctrinaire believers. They condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it's evil. Now that the battle... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/21/2006
Out-of-wedlock births in the United States have climbed to an all-time high -- nearly four in 10 babies born last year -- government health officials reported Tuesday. "A lot of people think of teenagers and unmarried mothers synonymously, but they are not driving this," said Stephanie Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics, a co-author of the report. The rate of out-of-wedlock births is actually down among teens. So who's having all these babies? Women in their 20s. "The... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/21/2006
"Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad. V-ahavta et Adonai Elohecha b-chol l'vavcha u-v-chol naf'sh'cha u-v-chol m'odecha." "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, NIV). The Shema (translated "hear" in Hebrew) is the main prayer for Jews. It is often said twice a day -- when you wake up and when you go to bed. It... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/21/2006
I regularly debate the creationist or ID side of the creation-evolution debate, and have become accustomed to hearing evolutionists present the idea that science and God do not mix. If you've got a scientific mind, they say, it should be obvious to you that all the evidence points to Darwinism. If you disagree that "all this" came about because of evolutionary processes, then you obviously trust faith more than the scientific process. Of course, I believe both the scientific evidence... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/21/2006
Like Steve, my "one thing" this Thanksgiving is our new baby boy. And part of what makes me so thankful for him, in addition to just having him here and healthy, is the new perspective he gives me. I alluded to one change of view yesterday when I discussed my half-built career. But today another even more important insight surfaced. I was reading a review of a new book about President Lincoln's fight against slavery. This one focuses on his... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/21/2006
Fox News reports that a man who's been anonymously giving away cash for a quarter of a century has recently revealed his identity in the hopes that others will follow his example. For 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa has roamed the streets every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills. As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa has been handing out $100 bills, sometimes two... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/21/2006
How do you go into the Thanksgiving holiday when you can't think of anything to feel thankful for? Although I'm thankful this year for a new baby boy and other blessings, there have been years when I could identify more challenges and setbacks than reasons for thanksgiving. How about you? What's this past year been like? Have you dealt with the death of someone you loved? Financial challenges? Relational disappointments? Or maybe even just the blandness of a life without... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/20/2006
I have a co-worker who doesn't like me very much. I'm unaffectedly reminded of it daily because we work in the same building. But I am affectedly reminded of it on specific occasions when a gesture of courtesy is met with indifference. Such was the case recently. There was a time in my life when such an acquaintance would have bothered me greatly; a time when I used to think I had to like everyone, or at least pretend to.... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/20/2006
It's taken me all day to actually find 20 minutes to sit at the computer and blog. And I'm only able to do it now because Steve's finally home from work and able to hold our new baby long enough for me to put these thoughts together. I read a snippet of the Wall Street Journal's feature "The 50 Women to Watch" sometime this morning and have been thinking about it off and on all day -- in between feedings,... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/20/2006
It's easy within our cultural divide to huddle with like-minded people and throw verbal grenades at those on the other side from the safety of our ideological bunkers. As a resident of Colorado Springs, I'm well aware (and all too often guilty) of this posture. Which is why I'm always blown away by stories of people making inroads in hostile territory. This morning, the Wall Street Journal spotlights just such a story on its front page -- that of Dr.... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/20/2006
Motte and Suzanne's recent posts about Christians being poor tippers is interesting in light of the following fact from the November/December issue of Relevant Magazine. Apparently we're not too great at tithing either: If Christians had given the traditional 10 percent tithe of their income to their churches in 2004, instead of the 2.56 percent that they actually gave, there would have been an additional $164 billion available, according to a report released in October called "The State of Church... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/18/2006
Speaking of heroes, in the article "The Pitfalls of Hero Worship," Matt Kaufman talks about an important lesson he learned from Professor S: While in his class, I wrote a paper on Abraham Lincoln so adulatory toward the Great Emancipator that S — himself favorably disposed toward Lincoln — had to gently chide me not to gush over my subject. "Lincoln," he wrote, "wouldn't have liked that!" I find it funny when I think back on that, because I've become... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/18/2006
I found myself last night in a conversation about some of the bad movies that are currently in the theater. In the course of the conversation, we found ourselves thankful for such ministries as PluggedIn and MovieGuide. And that got me thinking about the junk that these people expose themselves to in order to help me make wise decisions about what I watch. In a sense, they are taking the bullet for me. They watch Borat so I don't have... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/17/2006
In 1945, a famous photograph was taken at the battle of Iwo Jima. In Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley writes about his father, John Bradley, who was one of the soldiers captured in that photograph. The soldiers in that photo became instant heroes. Commenting on Bradley's story, Tim Challies considers the difference between celebrity and heroism: The irony of John Bradley's celebrity is that, during the battle of Iwo Jima he was a hero many times over. His heroism... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/17/2006
We've all heard that half of marriages end in divorce, and that the statistics for Christians aren't any different from those for non-Christians. But according to an interview with Sociologist Brad Wilcox published on Christianity Today, churchgoing Christians are much less likely to divorce than their non-churchgoing counterparts. How much less? Wilcox estimates "between 35 and 50 percent less likely than Americans who attend church just nominally, just once or twice a year, or who don't attend church at all."... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/17/2006
You can call Ted Haggard a liar, a criminal, a drug user, or a homosexual adulterer, but please don't call him a hypocrite. At least not according to Robert T. Miller at First Things. The fact that so many people think he is a hypocrite, says Miller, "shows only how sloppy our thinking about morals can be." A man is not a hypocrite because he violates a moral norm in which he sincerely believes. President Clinton, I am sure, believes... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/16/2006
Earlier today, one of the guys from our Innovations area at Focus on the Family showed our Adult Outreach team a documentary called Dear Francis. The film addresses the African AIDS crisis by focusing in on Christian intervention efforts in Swaziland -- the country with the highest rates of infection (53% of those between the ages of 15-23 are HIV positive). I've heard Bono talk about the AIDS crisis both in concert and at the Willow Creek leadership conference. I've... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/16/2006
Motte's point regarding the "church table" and bad tipping bears repeating. As Christians we are always looking for ways to evangelize, but maybe we're overlooking some of the best opportunities. My housemate is 19 and makes her living off tips. She is also in the infancy of her relationship with Christ — unsure of whether or not she can trust Him. How His people treat her means everything. I have cringed as she's told me about the poor Sunday tippers... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/16/2006
During yesterday's devotions I was reminded again how much I love the "But God" verses. Consider Ephesians 2:1-7, for example: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/15/2006
What's the difference between Christians and canoes? Canoes tip. Anyone who's ever waited tables at some point in their lives usually ends up being a good tipper. The same is true for me. I have no trouble leaving generous tips because I know too well the low hourly wage of waitstaff. I actually enjoy big tipping. Other Christians, however, seem to have trouble letting go of the extra dollar or two that would make for a decent gratuity. Relevant Magazine... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/14/2006
Motte and Suzanne and I had a great time attending and presenting at the New Attitude singles conference six months ago. It's a conference that has it all: engaging speakers, great music, hip location and cool attendees (though I can think of a few exceptions among the presenters). Here's a webpage where we discussed NA06 and link to some articles published on Boundless and written by Na speakers. Anyway, I just got word that they'll be opening up early registration... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/14/2006
In "Look at All the Lonely People," Christianity Today considers the decline of friendship in American society. The article begins: In Norman Rockwell's classic 1943 painting, "Freedom from Want," an extended family is gathered around the table to celebrate a holiday feast. Fast-forward 63 years to Thanksgiving 2006 and — while lack of food is still a problem for too many in this land of plenty — you are much more likely to find want of a different kind. More... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/14/2006
I met Doug Hayes at last year's New Attitude (NA) conference in Louisville, Ky. Doug is the executive director of Covenant Mercies, a non-profit organization serving the poor, the orphan, the widow, and others facing severe adversity. He wrote recently about why it's easy for Americans to "quickly brush over" the problem of orphans. Doug explains that though we care, we are like six-month-olds who have yet to develop object permanence, acting with an "'out of sight, out of mind'... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/14/2006
"The bottom line is that a heavily married society is a whole lot better off than one that's not," says David Popenoe, co-director of the National Marriage Project. In another round of discussion about this summer's Census numbers on marriage, The Cincinnati Enquirer takes a closer look at the drivers of cohabitation and marital delay. Reinforcing Popenoe's belief in the benefits of marriage in this article is Carrie Gordon Earll, from here at Focus on the Family. "Society is changing,"... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/13/2006
In the article "Holy Hollywood," Newsweek reports on the current boom of faith-based movies. Citing mainstream religious films such as "One Night With the King" and "The Nativity Story," the article says: All of this attention would seem to mean great news for the faithful — and great profits for studios. But just because the studios have decided to sell entertainment to Christians doesn't mean Christians are buying. It's hard to imagine a wider culture gap than the one between... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/13/2006
I have to disagree somewhat with what Motte said recently in regards to movie watching, and question somewhat what Denise wrote in response. Motte wrote that "there seems to be no escaping the proverbial swear word, crude sexual reference or simulated sex scene in the most seemingly benign movie." I'd have to argue that there in fact is a way to escape the vulgarity of many of today's movies: practice media discernment. One way to do this is to read... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/13/2006
Here's a career tip for the recent college grad. The next time your mom offers to go down the annual job fair at the local Sheraton, hand out your resume and talk with the recruiters, respectfully decline and go yourself, alone. That seems to be the sentiment from employers who are having to deal more and more with parents inserting themselves in their child's job search. The Associated Press released an article this weekend warning young people that "helicopter" parents... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/13/2006
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. (Psalm 10:17-18, NIV) According to the United Nations, there are 143 million orphans worldwide. My mind doesn't quite grasp that number, so it's easy for me to quickly brush over it. But I shouldn't. Imagine one child without a home, without parents to... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/11/2006
The Scandal Why is it that when a Christian messes up we respond with the love of Christ, yet when sinners mess up we talk about the quick trip to hell they'll be receiving? Jesus always did the opposite -- he held Christians to a higher level and provided grace to sinners. Wouldn't it be great if we began to show God's grace to all sinners, regardless of what they've done? Wouldn't it be great if we could all remember... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/10/2006
Motte's latest post instantly reminded me of Bob Briner's book, Roaring Lambs. The book's purpose is to talk about the way Christians should view and, most importantly, interact with culture. The book even tell us to (gasp!) influence the culture. Roaring Lambs is all about finding that balance between being in the world but not of it. I thought about this book when reading Motte's post because Briner talks specifically about movies in one chapter. Instead of constantly complaining about... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/10/2006
I try to be a careful movie viewer these days by reading Plugged In Online before heading off to the theater. However there seems to be no escaping the proverbial swear word, crude sexual reference or simulated sex scene in the most seemingly benign movie. When it happens, I often wonder what was going through the minds of the writers and directors to make them decide, "I think a good expletive would be just perfect right there." I also wonder... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/10/2006
Apparently there was an election on Tuesday. Who knew?! OK, just kidding. I totally voted. I even got a sticker to prove it. It turns out that I wasn't the only one my age out there casting a vote. According to a press release by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (longest name ever), preliminary results are showing that about 10 million young people (ages 18-29) voted in this midterm election. That number is 2... Read more.
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