Monthly Archives: December 2008

"Not the same God" – Gene Robinson backs into the truth

Posted on December 29, 2008 by Rick

The uproar (among a vocal few) about President-elect Obama asking Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration has been illuminating. On the one hand conservatives who complain that Warren is somehow “endorsing” what they view as Obama’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglicanism, Media, News, Religion, Theology | Comments Off

Yes Virginia – there is a black hole at the center of our galaxy

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Rick

Not everyone knows that for most of my life I have been an astronomy buff. Was given my first telescope around age 8(?). Built a telescope (six inch Newtonian) in eighth grade. Took daily observations primarily of the sun and … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Media, News | Comments Off

Dog bites human, sun rises in east – and Presiding Bishop lies

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Rick

Oh where to start? There is plenty with which to find fault in what Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori had to say to the National Press Club on December 16. Baby Blue characterizes it as: … an amazingly sophomoric speech (which … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglicanism, Law and Justice, Media, News, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Sandlin and his tiger – giving Louisiana a bad name

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Rick

I am not sure I believe in animal “rights”. But I do believe human beings have a divinely given responsibility to care for animals. This is a theological conviction rooted in exegesis of Genesis 1-2. God created human beings to … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Hebrew Bible, Law and Justice, News, Theology | Comments Off

Jim Engster and Peter De Lorenzo on NPR dodge the U-word

Posted on December 11, 2008 by Rick

This week was listening again (why oh why) to the Jim “the Soporific One” Engster Show on local public radio station WRKF Baton Rouge. His guest was Peter DeLorenzo of Autoextremist.com and The United State of Toyota: How Detroit Squandered … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Media | Comments Off

Newsweek declares its opposition to fair, honest, balanced reporting

Posted on December 10, 2008 by Rick

The blogosphere is abuzz with the recent controversy surrounding not just a front page article in Newsweek magazine but also how the editor responded. This week Newsweek featured an article by Lisa Miller entitled “Gay Marriage: Our Mutual Joy“. Well … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Media, Religion | Comments Off

Is grace-ful parenting even possible?

Posted on December 9, 2008 by Rick

Partly because pastors need to eat as well as feed and partly because I was sick of listening to the Jim Engster Show (which often is on NPR when I drive) I made an effort to find and download sermons … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Family, Parents, Personal | Comments Off

As Chasidism so Christian witness

Posted on December 3, 2008 by Rick

The terrorist targeting of the sole Jewish center in Mumbai India has been particularly rattling. This is what human beings driven by religious fanaticism are capable of. Enough of that. Two of the five (six?) Jewish people murdered at Chabad … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Media, Missiology, News | 3 Comments

Alas – again with the inerrancy thing

Posted on December 3, 2008 by Rick

I occupy an awkward middle ground between “conservative evangelical” and “flaming liberal”. On the one hand I no longer have a place in Southern Baptist life (although I serve a congregation that contributes to the Southern Baptist Convention and frankly … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, News | 4 Comments

Dennis Prager – By their hatred of (the) Jewish people shall ye know them

Posted on December 2, 2008 by Rick

I have a soft spot for the Jewish people. (Not necessarily mean the modern state of Israel.) Many of my teachers as an undergraduate and graduate student were Jewish. One of my best friends at Cornell was Orthodox and lived … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Politics, Religion | Comments Off