The cash-strapped state of CA has decided to "borrow" a chunk of our money, without interest. Shouldn't this be illegal? Time value of money? The LA Times reports:Starting Sunday (November 1), cash-strapped California will dig deeper into the pocketbooks of wage earners -- holding back 10% more than it already does in state income taxes just as the biggest shopping season of the year kicks into gear. Technically, it's not a tax increase, even though it may feel like one when your next paycheck arrives. As part of a bundle of budget patches adopted in the summer, the state is taking more … [Read more...] about CA Borrowing Our Money Without Interest
The Marriage Index: Establishing and Tracking Leading Marriage Indicators
The Institute for American Values and the National Center on African American Marriages and Parenting have partnered to establish The Marriage Index, a metric designed to measure the health of American marriages (not unlike how the Leading Economic Index put out by The Conference Board watches economic trends. Dr. Albert Mohler explains:The Marriage Index is based on solid data and includes five major components: the percentage of adults ages 20-54 who are married, the percentage of married persons who are "very happy" with their marriage, the percentage of first marriages that are intact, … [Read more...] about The Marriage Index: Establishing and Tracking Leading Marriage Indicators
Interview – Tim Keller – The Reason For God
Michael Horton interviews pastor Tim Keller about his NY Times best selling book The Reason For God. It is a fascinating 35-minute conversation in which Keller talks about why the world is getting both more religious and less religious (depending on which group you are looking at). Keller helpfully balances the importance of doctrinal and theological seriousness and contextualization (engaging the culture, but not in a shallow, sentimental fashion). Also addressed is the first chapter of … [Read more...] about Interview – Tim Keller – The Reason For God
Planned Parenthood Director Resigns
Abby Johnson, 29, was a Planned Parenthood Director in Bryan, Texas. After witnessing an abortion while watching the baby die on an ultrasound screen, Johnson resigned her position and started volunteering for Coalition for Life, a pro-life group located just a block away from the Planned Parenthood clinic where she worked for eight years. Watch a two-minute local news report with Ms. Johnson. HT: Jennifer Masko Update: Mike Huckabee conducts an 8-minute interview with Abby Johnson. … [Read more...] about Planned Parenthood Director Resigns
LA Judge Who Refused Interracial Marriage Resigns
CNN: A Louisiana justice of the peace who drew criticism for refusing to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple has resigned, the secretary of state's office said Tuesday. Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward, was widely criticized after he refused to grant a marriage license to Beth McKay and Terence McKay, an interracial couple who ultimately got a marriage license from another justice of the peace in the same parish.Read the whole thing. … [Read more...] about LA Judge Who Refused Interracial Marriage Resigns
Nov/Dec Nine Marks eJournal: On Church Discipline
The November/December 2009 issue of the Nine Marks eJournal is out. The articles deal with the issue of church discipline, and there are a series of book reviews on ecclesiastical matters. One article in particular caught my attention: The Preemptive Resignation—A Get Out of Jail Free Card? Can church members resign their membership to avoid discipline? By Jonathan Leeman In my small amount of experience, this has happened several times: a church member does something egregious (e.g., suddenly leaves their spouse, or displays gross financial impropriety), other Christians lovingly confront … [Read more...] about Nov/Dec Nine Marks eJournal: On Church Discipline