by Denise Morris on 11/30/2007
I recently finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia and my Bible study is currently going through the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. Both have caused me to think a lot about what heaven is and looks like. While I don't necessarily agree with all that Alcorn says, his thoughts and research have caused me to be a bit more excited about actually going to heaven. That may sound weird, but it's true. My idea of heaven has always been that... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/30/2007
In "The Dreaded Company Christmas Party," Camerin Courtney ponders the moments in life that find us uncomfortably without a date. I have a confession to make: Every year starting in about August, I begin stressing out about my company's Christmas party. Yes, August. Why so early, you may ask. It's got nothing to do with the dinner and play we see every year, the what-to-wear dilemma, or even some of the silly traditions a few of our company's VPs put... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/30/2007
Any past or current Adventures in Odyssey fans out there? If so, you may have already heard that this month is AIO's 20th birthday. If you go to http://www.whitsend.org/20/ you can join in on the brithday celebration. While you're there, you can sign up for The 12 Days of Christmas iPod Giveaway, where 36 winners will receive an iPod pre-loaded with over 80 hours of Adventures in Odyssey and Radio Theatre audio dramas. I was surprised to read in an... Read more.
by Tom Neven on 11/30/2007
There were a lot of great responses to my previous post, Godless Hollywood? and as I re-read it I realize I actually raised two issues: (1) how should Christians in Hollywood behave and (2) what makes a "Christian" movie. Let me tackle the first with this post, and I'll handle the second in an entirely different post. Some asked, as did I, "How can openly Christian Denzel Washington make films like American Gangster that feature the sex and violence that... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/29/2007
I love songs about the cross of Christ. There is no greater mystery, nothing that inspires more wonder, than the crucifixion of our Lord. It was the greatest act of both love and hate ever portrayed. It's a manifestation of both the stratospheric height of God's mercy and the grimy depth of our sin. Paul boasted in but one thing: the cross. The hosts of heaven include Jesus' death in their continuous expression of praise, day and night. My sin,... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/29/2007
I watched Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with my kids last night. It's one of my favorites. In addition to the great narration by Boris Karloff, the clever rhymes and Thurl Ravenscroft's excellent "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," it's a perfect illustration of successful example evangelism. We see old Grinch sitting at the top of his mountain bemoaning all the "noise, noise, noise" that is to come Christmas morning from Whos down in Who-ville. He'd endured it... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/29/2007
Few have stood so faithfully for the life of the unborn as Congressman Henry Hyde. And now Congressman Hyde, a man full of faith, is standing before his Lord. Congressman Hyde, who died today at 83, was one of the first leaders I heard in person during my two-year stint as a staffer on Capitol Hill. It was a meeting of one of the Judiciary subcommittees in the House of Representatives and Cong. Hyde was speaking against a bill that... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/28/2007
We have a booklet here at Focus on the Family titled "Should I Get a Divorce? Things You Should Know Before You Call the Attorney." It has a lot of data proving that for most, the grass isn't greener on the other side. Couples who get divorced are generally unhappier, unhealthier and financially poorer. And the effects of divorce on their children are devastating. Today, Tim Challies posted a blog by his mother, Barbara Challies, about the "carnage of divorce"... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/28/2007
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In a decent job? Married? Maybe with a child or two? People expect us to go to college to prepare for a career. How many of us are intentional enough, though, to prepare for things that are arguably more significant than bringing home the bacon? How many of us spend time even now studying to be a good spouse and a good parent? I'm very grateful that I had opportunities to attend... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/28/2007
If a few serious students are good, wouldn't a huge classroom full of students be even better? Unlikely, says Thomas Sowell in Too Many Go to College. In a day when every 18-year-old feels entitled to a college experience, economics Professor Sowell says what's needed isn't more supply, but more demand. He writes, Wanting to be in college is not the same as wanting an education. Among the other reasons for wanting to be in college is that it is... Read more.
by Tom Neven on 11/28/2007
It's become a matter of faith for many that Hollywood is hopelessly lost. It's a town full of heathen who hate God in general and Christians in particular, people who are determined to make foul movies that drag our culture ever farther into the gutter. That some people hold this view may sound like an over-the-top caricature, but, trust me, this is a sincerely held view of a lot of Christians. So it's good to see that, despite the many... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/27/2007
You know that part on your resume where you claim to have "excellent interpersonal skills"? Well, you'd better be telling the truth. Because companies are going out of their way to make you prove it in the hiring process. Last week, the AP reported on the importance of the "plays well with others" factor. A resume and a brief job interview can't answer the question that matters most to a new hire's co-workers: Is this person an absolute pain? ...... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/27/2007
Last night I had dinner with my friend who's a mom. The occasion: the celebration of her 8-year-old son receiving the "challenge" spelling list this week. He'd received a perfect score on his spelling pretest and been given a harder list of words. Obviously, Ethan was pretty pumped on school. But in some places, especially poor neighborhoods, kids view school only as a burden. Newsweek looks at the measures some school districts are taking to sell education to these kids.... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/27/2007
Why do you live where you do? What drew you there and what would keep you there? City leaders ask those questions and then do what they can to keep their cities attractive for growth. One approach city leaders have taken according to an article in today's Wall Street Journal is to woo professional singles -- what the writer calls the "brew-latté-and-they-will-come approach." For much of the past decade, business recruiters, cities and urban developers have focused on the "young... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/26/2007
Today is what retailers have dubbed "Cyber Monday," and the Boston Globe reports that online spending could surpass $700 million, a record one-day total. Even Black Friday online spending was up 22 percent from last year. Some companies are even extending "cyber Monday" into "cyber week," hoping to increase sales. I know I've become a fan of online Christmas shopping. It's easy to shop around for good prices at overstock warehouses, and you don't have to deal with the crowds.... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/25/2007
In the midst of cooking, baking, decorating and cleaning, I found a few minutes to read a chapter of Edith Schaeffer's A Way of Seeing. Her perspective on harvest time was fitting for this holiday weekend. She wrote, Harvesttime is so often synonymous in our minds with Thanksgiving time. It is right that we are meant to gather crops with thankfulness and enjoy the eating of them with an understanding of all that has gone into the beauty and sufficiency... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/22/2007
It's easy in our culture to lose sight of what we're remembering -- what we're celebrating -- on Thanksgiving. In the midst of garish glitter and premature pictures of Santa; of circular charges to "give thanks for thanksgiving," for a day off, for too much food, for friendships, for new toys and stylish clothes and beautiful homes and fancy cars and strong bodies, it's easy to forget. The Light and the Glory for Children says, During the winter of 1621-22,... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/21/2007
Among our American readers celebrating Thanksgiving, who is going to be spending time with the broadest span of ages? Who will be connecting with friends and/or family on the furthest edges of young and old? In my opinion, it's those bookends that provide the most fodder for giving thanks. Celebrating Thanksgiving in a house filled with both gray hair and young children can provide a healthy balance of wisdom and promise. It can give context for: How things have gotten... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/21/2007
Last week's Boundless article from Matt Kaufman, "Dear Voter," lays the groundwork for a basic understanding of the biblical role of government and how it should affect our vote. Kaufman concedes that though the Bible doesn't necessarily provide a blueprint for governmental responsibility, Scripture is not silent on its primary purpose: protection. Kaufman begins with Paul's letter to Timothy, In 1 Timothy 2:2, Paul writes that the reason we pray for "kings and all those in authority" is "that we... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/21/2007
Switchfoot, David Crowder, Reliant K, Jeff Caylor. What do these names all have in common? The answer: Christianity Today has recognized them as having released among the best Christian albums of 2007. Jeff's album, Okay, was rated #5, ahead of the others in my paragraph 1 list. Jeff traveled with the Boundless team to the recent Godblog conference, doing some guest blogging here on The Line. We were roommates during our time there. While winding down for the night, and... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/21/2007
According to this msnbc article, those who identify themselves as moral may become the worst cheats. In the new study, detailed in the November issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, researchers find that when this line between right and wrong is ambiguous among people who think of themselves as having high moral standards, the do-gooders can become the worst of cheaters. The results recall the seeming disconnect between the words and actions of folks like televangelist and fraud convict... Read more.
by Tom Neven on 11/20/2007
Some of my time in Jordan was spent talking to various governmental and religious authorities on the state of religious freedom in that Middle Eastern country -- and, indirectly, in the Arab Muslim world in general. At one briefing, moderated by Senator Aqel Biltaji, a close adviser to Jordan's King Abdullah II, we were told numerous stories of how well Christians and Muslims get along in Jordan and how tolerant Muslims are toward other faiths. Much was made of both... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/20/2007
How many friends can you really have? Well that depends on what you mean by friend. Webster's 1828 American Dictionary defines friend as "One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity..." You'd be hard pressed to maintain that level of connection with hundreds of interlinked "friends" on Facebook or MySpace. Thankfully you don't... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/20/2007
In anticipation of next month's release of the film The Golden Compass, Plugged In's Adam Holz spent weeks studying author Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, the series on which the movie is based. His findings are compiled in an article published yesterday. While the author's motivations certainly include such predictable things as making money and wanting to share a creative story, his ultimate reason for writing the series is more sinister, according to Holz: These three books, along with... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/20/2007
My coworker alerted me to this story. When New York Illustrator Patrick Moberg couldn't get up the nerve to talk to the "woman of his dreams" on the Subway, he created a Web site to find her. It worked — sort of. Judging by their chemistry on this ABC News interview, I predict it won't last. What about you? Have you ever missed an opportunity to strike up a conversation and regretted it later? With the Internet has come a... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/19/2007
Anyone taking the time this week to review the historical details of the American Thanksgiving tradition will likely find the account of Squanto helping the pilgrims survive in their new world. Something I came across this morning leaves me wondering what else the natives could have taught the pilgrims. An email I get from a guy who calls himself "The Wizard of Ads" included an insight on how some natives viewed education for men. The email explains that in 1754,... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/19/2007
I'm reading the Chronicles of Narnia right now. Although it may seem nearly sacrilegious to you, I've never actually read all of them before now. Crazy! And as most of you probably already know, they're awesome. I find the stories engaging, clever and meaningful. Right now I'm reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which is pretty good so far. (Although I am kind of sad that Peter and Susan don't get to return to Narnia.) My favorite book has... Read more.
by Candice Watters on 11/19/2007
"... a stressful home environment really does impact children in many detrimental ways," said Dr. Julia Graber, in response to a study of families of 227 preschool children. The research shows a link between the home life of preschoolers and when they go through puberty. One report said, What they found was that parental support -- or lack of it -- may partially determine at what age young girls hit puberty. Specifically, young girls with families who were more supportive... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/16/2007
My coworker, Matthew, recently wrote a really great article about the balancing act between legalism and self-indulgence. It'll really make you think. In the article, Matthew points out that the church as a whole has some problems with being legalistic. And whether or not you are a legalist, research published in the book unChristian show that people recognize legalism in general as a pretty big issue: [A]uthor David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Research Group, talks about young non-Christians' perceptions... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/15/2007
I published an article today talking about my issues with being hospitable. (So many issues, so little time.) My roommates and I just moved into a new house, which has lots of room. It's great for entertaining, and we're really excited to have people over. Our spacious new place has caused me to think a lot about hospitality lately and what it means to open my house and my life to others: I realize that it's easy to be hospitable... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/15/2007
In keeping with my twice-annual blog posts about blog posts about Rob Bell, here's the final in the two-part series for this year. This one's about Pastor Justin Buzzard's blog about Rob Bell's the god's aren't angry tour stop 6 in San Francisco. Here's how Pastor Buzzard (the best name ever) begins: Rob Bell is an excellent communicator, a very likable guy, and a man whose enthusiastic love for God and others is compelling and contagious. If I were to... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/15/2007
I love to cook. For me, it's a joy to put together a good meal for my friends and family. I've got a good knife, a couple of good cutting boards, a non-stick pad and rolling pin, a stove that has two ovens in it, a deep fryer, a gas grill and a few other gadgets. But the coolest thing is that I've got a shelf full of good spices. Let's go through it together, shall we? Rubbed sage, parsley... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/15/2007
Marriage, kids, steady jobs, financial stability, self-sufficiency and other traits of adulthood are increasingly less common for twentysomethings than they were for their parents. As a result, sociologists are asking if a distinct new period of young adulthood has emerged that we should just expect instead of bemoan. Various books and articles have provided thoughts and observations on this change, but few have effectively connected this change to both spiritual and family formation (two of our favorite issues here at... Read more.
by Denise Morris on 11/15/2007
I've been paying a small bit of attention to the current writer's strike all throughout the entertainment industry. In case you haven't heard, the writers of television shows and movies are on strike in order to change what they think are unfair practices by the companies who buy their scripts. This strike will have a big affect on entertainment as a whole. The late night shows have already felt it -- no new Jay Leno jokes for awhile (is anyone... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/14/2007
I like the way Candice handles the topic of premarital kissing in her most recent Boundless Answers column, "He's a Bad Kisser." In short, she says it's not a good idea for reasons we've covered on this blog before, "Physical affection leads to more physical affection all the way to sexual fulfillment." But there's more to it. Let's consider this portion taken from the young woman's inquiry: "However, after kissing him, I started getting doubts. He is not a very... Read more.
by Tom Neven on 11/14/2007
I've been absent from these pages for the past two weeks. I was traveling in the Middle East, and I'll be sharing a few of my thoughts from that journey. While in Jordan, I visited the site where many believe Jesus was baptized by John. It's about five miles north of where the Jordan River dumps into the Dead Sea at a place called Bethany Beyond the Jordan. The archeological evidence is pretty solid for this being near where that... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/14/2007
Several years ago my brother worked for Best Buy. It was a wonderful, magical time in his life. Even though he and his wife, Anna, were newly married and not particularly wealthy, they were able to afford some fun electronics because of the discount. The thing I noticed was that as nice as their stuff was, my brother was always talking about the "next thing" he wanted to buy. I'm not much of a "toy" person, but I have my... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/13/2007
One of the tips La Shawn Barber gave at GodblogCon last week was to make your blog a safe place for civil discourse in the comments section. And as Boundless Line moderators can testify, it's not always easy to do if you want to remain a place for free expression of opinion. Would requiring commentators' real names and addresses help? Radio talk show host Dennis Prager thinks so. In a recent Townhall.com article, Prager says anonymity causes otherwise decent people... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/13/2007
I was disappointed to read this Newsweek article about trendy hotel chains replacing Gideon Bibles with...ahem, less wholesome amenities. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the inclusion of those trusty hotel Bibles is down 18 percent in the last six years. In the rooms of Manhattan's trendy Soho Grand Hotel guests can enjoy an eclectic selection of underground music, iPod docking stations, flat-screen TVs and even the living company of a complimentary goldfish. But, alas, the word of... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/13/2007
Earlier this month, Denise asked "What are Clinton's Chances?" after Hillary's poor debate performance at Drexel University in Philadelphia. And now we have the definitive answer, you are "nuts" if you think she can win. At least so said the executive producer of "24" Joel Surnow. Here's the exact quote from a question and answer session with the Young America's Foundation last Saturday as reported by The Washington Times, "I'm not even sure that Hillary is a fait accompli [to... Read more.
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 11/12/2007
An interesting article on Slate looks at the mysteries of attraction and dating...from an economist's perspective. Economists Ray Fisman and Emir Kamenica, along with psychologists, Sheena Iyengar and Itamar Simonson, conducted a speed-dating experiment near Columbia University's campus. First, Fisman establishes his core assumption: dating is rational-minded people searching for the most desirable partner who will have them. Fisman asks: What, exactly, makes someone desirable? There are, of course, the answers that get regular reinforcement: Men value looks; women value... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/09/2007
La Shawn Barber is a freelance writer, blogger, and blog consultant; so says her website/blog La Shawn Barber's Corner. Here's what else her website says, She is a columnist for the Washington Examiner, and her articles, essays, and book reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, Christian Research Journal, Christianity Today, Today’s Christian Woman, Beliefnet.com, National Review Online, Townhall.com, and other publications. So La Shawn obviously knows a little about writing. And writing well in the new media... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/09/2007
You know Rodin's* "Thinker." You may have wondered, "What is he thinking about, anyway?" This session's GodblogCon speaker, Dr. Paul Spears, is putting that question to rest. The "Thinker" is thinking about Dante's hell. The "Thinker" is actually a sculpture of Rodan himself. The "take-away"? We're to push beyond the ambiguity of thoughtlessness, or merely pondering what might be thought about, and actually do the hard and researchful work of ... thinking. And then blogging about it. And just as... Read more.
by Steve Watters on 11/09/2007
I flew in and out yesterday for the GodblogCon and the long day was worth it just to hear Dr. Al Mohler present such a broad range of scriptural guidance for Christian bloggers. It's amazing just how much direction the ancient texts of the Bible provide for emerging technologies. Ted captured some of the points Dr. Mohler made, but there was a lot to digest there. If you're interested in: 1) a solid scriptural framework for why and how Christians... Read more.
by Jeff Caylor on 11/08/2007
Hugh Hewitt, noted talk radio host, speaks to representatives of GodBlogCon and others about the effects of faith on new media. I'm going to attempt to paraphrase much of what's happening in the conversation. It's what you'll hear on your radio if you tune in too. 3:21p - Hugh is introducing the panel. Guests: Al Mohler, John Mark Reynolds, Dr. Mark D. Roberts, Michael Medved (not here yet). Hugh: In the battle of good verses evil on the internet, who's... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/08/2007
New media is accessible, inexpensive, and user friendly. Which means a lot of people are doing it. It also means that there are a lot of people doing it poorly. Christians doing new media well was a theme that ran throughout this morning's sessions. First, Dr. Mohler said that the Lord will hold us accountable for the opportunity we have. And then Dr. John Mark Reynolds, founder of the Torrey Honors Institute, reminded us that the virtual reality is ...... Read more.
by Jeff Caylor on 11/08/2007
I know this is out of the ordinary for this blog, but I have a feeling a lot of blog readers around here have blogs too. If you do, there's a good chance you're on the Wordpress platform. If so, you might be especially interested in what's going on this morning. Here are some play-by-play updates of the interview of Matt Mullenweg (Wordpress Originator) by Ed Sussman from Fast Company magazine. 8:45a Matt Mullenweg discussing how his company, Automattic, relates... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/08/2007
9:37 a.m. (Mountain Time) Al Mohler: "We are here [in Las Vegas] because we believe the Lord would hold us accountable for this new media opportunity.... We're in this place of deception to communicate the truth." Dr. Mohler is encouraging us not to be like Calvin Coolidge, but to be engaged communicators. We have a responsibility to be stewards of the gospel. 9:40 a.m. Genesis 3 explains why we have difficulty communicating with each other. "Propaganda is explained by Genesis... Read more.
by Ted Slater on 11/08/2007
As you've likely picked up, a contingent from Boundless and Focus on the Family is attending this year's Godblog Converence. Over the next day or two, you may hear from bloggers you're unfamiliar with: Lisa, Monica and Jeff (as well as Steve, Motte and myself). We're happy to share our experiences with you in as "real time" as possible. I think that'll give you a heightened sense of the events on the ground, and help you feel part of this... Read more.
by Motte Brown on 11/08/2007
I've just arrived in Las Vegas for this year's GodblogCon. The last time I was here was in 2000 for an outdoor billboard convention. I feel like Forrest Gump saying this but it's funny how you remember some things, but some things you can't. I remember New York, New York; the volcano eruption at the Mirage; the opulent Forum Shops at Ceasars; and the fun pirate show at Treasure Island. What I didn't remember was all the smut. Maybe back... Read more.
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