On November 16, 2006, the great economist Milton Friedman died at the age of 94. On January 29, 2007, PBS will telecast a 90 minute biography of Milton and Rose Friedman called The Power of Choice: The Life and Ideas of Milton Friedman. The biography's executive producers include Bob Chitester, the same small-town TV executive who organized the PBS TV Series Free to Choose, whose transcripts Friedman later converted into a book bearing the same title. Chitester descibes his interactions with Friedman over a 30+ year span: "He was a famous Nobel Prize winning economist. I was a bearded, … [Read more...] about Biography of Milton Friedman Coming to PBS
Why Iraq is Crumbling
Charles Krauthammer argues that "the root problem lies with Iraqis and their political culture." "Americans flatter themselves that they are the root of all planetary evil. Nukes in North Korea? Poverty in Bolivia? Sectarian violence in Iraq? Breasts are beaten and fingers pointed as we try to somehow locate the root cause in America." … [Read more...] about Why Iraq is Crumbling
Amazing Grace – The William Wilberforce Story
Kathleen Parker of The Washington Post Writers Group pens an essay about the role of Christians, particularly William Wilberforce, in ending the slave trade of Africans. Wilberforce is to be the subject of a major motion picture entitled: Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story. The movie's release is being timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of slavery (February 2007). In 2002, John Piper delivered this biographical sketch of William Wilberforce. Parker mentions another forthcoming film, an independent documentary Let My People Go, which deals with … [Read more...] about Amazing Grace – The William Wilberforce Story
A Secular Faith – Darryl Hart
Dr. Darryl Hart, prolific historian of religion in America and former professor of church history at Westminster Seminary in California, has just published what sounds like a fascinating book: A Secular Faith: Why Christianity Favors the Separation of Church and State. Terry Eastland, publisher of The Weekly Standard, recently penned this excellent review (only subscribers can read it all) of Hart's book. Based on his review: Hart amplifies Jesus' statement "My Kingdom is not of this world" by noting that Christianity is "essentially a spiritual and eternal faith, one occupied with a world … [Read more...] about A Secular Faith – Darryl Hart
NBC Dateline investigates Benny Hinn
NBC journalist Bob McKeown conducts this illuminating exposé on Benny Hinn. McKeown's findings are deeply concerning, even if they may be familiar to some. Given the lavish lifestyle of Mr. Hinn ($500,000 - $1,000,000 annual salary, plus book royalties), this report might be viewed as the second mainline media study of the link between (professing) Christians and the idea that God wants us to be rich. (HT: Justin Taylor) … [Read more...] about NBC Dateline investigates Benny Hinn
John Schlitt (lead singer of Petra) Interviewed
Tim Challies gives this update on Petra: Though the band retired on December 31, 2005, John Schlitt and Bob Hartman are keeping active. Schlitt will be releasing a third solo album later this year and he and Bob have also recorded a praise and worship album called "Vertical Expressions". It will also be available later this year. John was recently a guest on LIFE Today (click here and scroll down to October 19) where he and his wife shared their testimony. Petra was a fantastic group through the 1980s and the 1990s (don't forget the Greg X Volz days!), and it was a blessing to get a bit of an … [Read more...] about John Schlitt (lead singer of Petra) Interviewed