Thomas Sowell writes a good essay on how the media coverage of Iraq fails to grant soldiers the presumption of innocence with regard to unproven charges. The irony, of course, is that even citizens who do not sacrifice for the good of America enjoy the presumption of innocence. How much more ought courageous soldiers (seeking to secure the freedom of others) receive this fundamental privilege of democracy? Key quotes: "A recent study by the Media Research Center found that the three big broadcast news networks -- CBS, ABC, and NBC -- ran 99 stories in 3 and 1/2 hours about the … [Read more...] about Thomas Sowell – Coverage of Iraq War
PC(USA) Assembly and the Trinity
In an earlier post, I mentioned that some Presbyterians had been contributing to "...the degradation of the Trinity into trite platitudes such as 'Rock, Redeemer, and Friend.'" I was referring to the 217th General Assembly meeting of the PC(USA) last month in Birmingham, Alabama. Read more about the strange developments here. Excerpt: Pastor Parker T. Williamson, CEO of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, says the PC(USA) is showing contempt for historic church teaching with these substitutions. "The understanding of God as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this divine communion … [Read more...] about PC(USA) Assembly and the Trinity
Tax Cuts Put More People in Higher Tax Brackets
President Bush receives little credit for the strong US economy, yet it is indisputable that the tax cuts he instituted in 2003 have been overwhelmingly helpful. "In the nine quarters preceding that cut on dividend and capital gains rates and in marginal income-tax rates, economic growth averaged an annual 1.1%. In the 12 quarters--three full years--since the tax cut passed, growth has averaged a remarkable 4%." "In the first nine months of fiscal 2006, tax revenues have climbed by $206 billion, or nearly 13%. As the Congressional Budget Office recently noted, "That increase represents the … [Read more...] about Tax Cuts Put More People in Higher Tax Brackets
John MacArthur Books & Phil Johnson
Many of you know that John MacArthur publishes a lot of books. The man is so prolific that one wonders where to find time to read them, let alone how John writes them. He does receive assistance from an editor, Phil Johnson. Over the years, people have asked precisely how this editorial relationship works. Here is the explanation, along with a helpful introduction to MacArthur's next major book, The Truth War (due in Spring 2007). Excerpt: "The Truth War is going to be a powerful, and very controversial, book....It is without question the most provocative book John MacArthur has written … [Read more...] about John MacArthur Books & Phil Johnson
Prayer and Fasting
I recently finished reading A Hunger for God by John Piper, an older book (1997) that seems as relevant in our day as ever before. God created bread and hunger "so that we would have some idea of what the Son of God is like when he says, 'I am the bread of life' (John 6:35)." And God also made food taste good because He meant for food to be enjoyed as a gift received from His hand. We glorify God by receiving food with gratitude (I Tim 4:1-5). Eating and not-eating are not ultimately essential (Rom 14: 3-6). So why fast? As an intensification of our hunger for all the fullness of God. We … [Read more...] about Prayer and Fasting
African American Church Leadership
Thabiti Anyabwile (an African American converted to Christ out of Islam) persuasively argues that "it's well past time to reform the model of black pastoral leadership at play at the national and local church levels." Anyabwile describes the morphing of Black pastoral leadership from the days of Lemuel Haynes: "Since the earliest days of an independent Black church, Black church pastors have played the role of community leader, organizer, and public intellectual. Historically, those roles were necessarily played by pastors because the church was the one institution controlled by African … [Read more...] about African American Church Leadership