Vox Apologia II: Digital Salt

RazorsKiss has posted the results of the second Vox Apologia on the subject of “Digital Salt”. I was going to post a list of personal favorites, but they’re all so good that I couldn’t decide on just a few. Just go read them all.

Top Ten Reasons to Read Christian History

The archives of Christianity Today contain this excellent article on why it is critical for everyone to understand not just history, but also the Christian aspects of history.

Senator Rick Santorum on Evolution

Pennsylvania’s junior Senator, Rick Santorum, has written a very interesting article on the teaching of evolution in schools.

Charles Darwin wrote about his theory of evolution at a time when evidence was weak. In recent years, evidence of the complex circuits, miniature machines, sophisticated feedback loops, and digital information inside the cell has enabled scientists to poke holes in the principle evidence used to support evolution and therefore, more and more respected biologists are entering the debate as to the plausibility of evolution.

For these reasons, Darwin’s theory of evolution should not be taught as absolute fact in the science classroom. Instead, it should be taught as the leading and dominant scientific theory explaining the origin of species, but also as a theory subject to significant limitations, failed predictions and important criticisms.

(HT to The Black Kettle for the reference.)

More on Specter’s Schenanigans

According to this article, Senator Rick Santorum is now facing some fallout due to his support of Senator Spector instead of Representative Toomey in the Pennsylvania primaries. Now that Specter is once again showing his true (liberal) colors, conservatives are dissatisfied with Santorum’s support for a man who already had history of undermining conservative agendas and pushing liberal and statist agendas.

Personally, I’m not ready to throw Santorum out on his ear just over one mistake, even a whopper as big as this one. As long as he toes the line, he will still be better than any other candidates we are likely to see.

(HT to Hard Starbord for the link.)

German Attack On Homeschoolers Continues

Officials in Germany have been attempting to destroy the homeschooling movement, going so far as jailing parents and threatening to take their children away. “Germany continues targeting homeschoolers: Group of Baptist families face possible loss of children to state”

The ‘Philly 5’ Get a Win

Things seem to be looking up for the ‘Philly 5’. A judge hearing the case of the 4 adults arrested in Philadelphia for speaking out in favor of God’s laws at a pro-homosexual rally has lifted a bail restriction. Furthermore…

Besides ruling on the bail restriction, Dembe viewed the videotape of the OutFest protest and said she could not see any criminal activity being committed.

More here: “’Philly 5’ win 1 in court: Judge lifts bail restriction on Christians who protested homosexual event”

Why Practice Apologetics

Tim Challies has written yet another excellent article. This time he addresses good and bad reasons to engage in apologetics and debates. (No, my name is not Fan Boy.) There is another good reason to engage in apologetics which is not mentioned by Tim and James White: Taking the time to find answers to questions about christianity leads to personal growth. As Solomon said:

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

(Prov. 3:13-18, NIV)

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

(Prov. 18:15, NIV)

Lawyer Irony

Two founders of a group named American for Legal Reform were standing in line outside a courthouse. While they were waiting, they were amusing themselves by telling lawyer jokes. A particularly thin-skinned lawyer in the line had them arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, thus proving why lawyer jokes are so popular. Details here and here.

First Ever “Warnie” Awards Winner Announced

Adrian Warnock has posted the winner of his first ever “Warnie” blogger awards for blogs he feels are worthy of special honor. The singular honor of being the first ever winner goes to Dr. John Mark Reynolds. Congratulations to Dr. Reynolds. And more fine reading for the rest of us.

Rolling Stone Spurns Zondervan

USA Today is reporting that Rolling Stone rejected an ad from Zondervan just before it was supposed to run. According to the article:

The rejected ad shows a serious young man, apparently pondering the problems of modern life. The text touts the TNIV as a source for “real truth” in a world of “endless media noise and political spin.” A blue Bible peeks up from the corner of the ad.

“God” isn’t mentioned in any of these, only in ads for Christian media such as Relevant, a Christian monthly magazine aimed at hip twentysomethings.

But every ad carries the slogan: “Timeless truth; Today’s language”

Apparently, the cultural mavens at Rolling Stone couldn’t handle the concept that the Bible could actually be true.

Bias? What bias?

(HT to Areopagitica for noting the article.)

VW: Protecting The World From Terrorists

Wizbang! has picked up a copy of a fake VW ad which is absolutely hilarious. It shows a terrorist suicide bomber’s attempt to destroy lives, only to be foiled by VW’s excellent engineering. I get a chuckle out of it every time I watch it. If only…

Proverbs Daily

One of the interesting things about starting a blog is finding out who is linking to it. I’ve started to make it a habit to visit those sites to see if I want to add them to my regular reading. Among today’s list of new links was one from Proverbs Daily.

Like most weblogs, Jeff Smith writes articles about current events. What makes Proverbs Daily unique is that he takes a verse or two from Proverbs and writes a short explanation of what it means. I am adding Proverbs Daily to my daily reading list. You may want to do the same.

(I noticed that Proverbs Daily is only 5 days older than The Greatest Pursuits. From one newbie to another: Welcome to the blogosphere, Jeff!)

Vox Apologia Results

Phil Steiger at Every Thought Captive has posted the results of the first Vox Apologia, a collection of articles by faith bloggers on a particular apologetics topic. The topic for this round was “What does apologetics mean to today’s Christian church?” It’s well worth spending the time read all the articles. (If you haven’t yet read my entry, you can find it here.) I found “How Apologetics Benefits Believers” at Wittenberg Gate, “Apologetics? What’s that?” at Brain Shavings, and “Purpose Driven Apologetics” at Revenge of Mr Dumpling especially interesting.

EO Blog Symposium Results

the evangelical outpost has posted the results of their first quarterly Blog Symposium. The topic was an article by David Gelernter which claimed that Americanism is actually a religion which has descended directly from Puritanism. He then went on to draw conclusions about Anti-Americanism based on this premise. (The original article about the symposium can be found here.) I haven’t read all the articles yet (there are 67 of them!), but the few that I have read have been fantastic; and they weren’t even the winners!

(A note for Those Who Care: Joe’s articles on blogging plus this symposium were the final catalysts to start this blog. I had intended to also write an article for the symposium. However, by the time I was able to launch The Greatest Pursuits, it was three hours until the entry deadline and I was totally fried. Thanks for the push over the edge, Joe!)

Gain Discernment in Five Easy Steps

Tim Challies has written yet another excellent article: “Gain Discernment In Five Easy Steps”

I am a subscriber to the Reformed Baptist Discussion List and yesterday a member of the list asked an interesting question. He is a pastor and a member of his congregation asked him how he could become a more critical thinker. The pastor pressed him a little and essentially the man was asking how he could gain the discernment he has seen in some other believers where they are able to know right from wrong, biblical from unbiblical at the early stages of contradicting the will of God. I thought I would provide some thoughts as response to that question.

Highly Recommended!

Blogging For Christ’s Sake

Tod Bolsinger has posted a pastor’s eye review of Hugh Hewitt’s book, Blog : Understanding the Information Reformation That’s Changing Your World. The two parts are “How Hugh’s Book Will Help You Get It: A review.” and “Blog, for Christ’s sake.” He believes that blogging is a natural extension of what a pastor already does. I’m not a pastor, so I can’t say for sure whether or not his ideas are good. They make sense to me, though!

Book Review: Total Truth

Tim Challies has posted a book review of Total Truth by Nancy Piercey. If you have haven’t signed up for the giveaway, make sure you do it now. The deadline is tomorrow.

Updates on the Philadelphia 11

If you’re not familiar with the Philadelphia 11 (sometimes called the Philadelphia 5 or Philadelphia 4), they are a group of Christians who showed up at a homosexual rally in Philadelphia to protest. They were immediately harrassed by a homosexual group known as the “Pink Angels”, hounded by the police and ultimately arrested 35 minutes after their arrival. (Video of what happened can be viewed here.) Five of them — one of them a 17 year old girl — have been charged with a number of felonies which could put each one of them in jail for 47 years!

Here are a number of articles on what is happening (most recent article first):

Hate-crimes law infringes on 1st Amendment?

Motion filed for Philadelphia protesters

‘Philadelphia 5’ arrests like ‘Christian Rodney King’

Homosexuals planned Christian harassment

17-year-old girl part of ‘Philadelphia 5’

U.S. attorneys complicit in arrest of Christians?

Philadelphia accused of ‘abuse of power’

Prosecutor: Bible is ‘fighting words’

City will prosecute Christian protesters

‘Philadelphia 11’ fighting back

11 Christians arrested at homosexual event

‘Jesus the Logician’ Main Index

The evangelical outpost has posted posted a index of entries in the ‘Jesus the Logician’ project

Blog Roll Entries

I’ve posted several links to excellent blogs and other resource sites in my Blog Roll. Be sure to check them out.

The Blogdom of God stands out for the service it provides: a listing and summary of recent entries in all the christian blogs on their list.