I read an article in one of the local rags that donations to CCA are down in the wake of the massive outreach for hurricane victims. CCA is one of the leading charities in north Texas, serving primarily the communities between Dallas and Denton, with most of their efforts concentrated between Lewisville, Flower Mound, and Carrollton. CCA President Ed Johnson says, “All of the merchandise that has diverted to hurricane relief leaves the 12,000 people we serve each year short—very short.” (CCA takes in unwanted items and resells them in a retail environment as one way of raising funds.)
I’m sure there is a similar charity in your own community, which may be seeing a shortfall in light of hurricane relief efforts. I urge you to not forget about the help they give year-round, and to continue to support them, with your time or donations.
Every day, non-natural explanations are pooh-poohed IN SCIENCE CLASSROOMS. It’s a rigged game. One side is getting all the calls. That’s why the ID stratagem of “teach the controversy” is ultimately going to win out in school districts and the courts. It’s simple fairness AND objectively accurate AND in keeping with the true scientific enterprise of being objective about reality. I do think it should stop there. Creationism should NOT be taught in science class. But do teach kids how to think…that’s why science class without some critical thinking skills attached is not really education. It’s “what the teacher says is true.” That’s a bit scary.
You know your little digital music player has hit the big time when a 2,000 year-old book—and the world’s bestselling book of all time—comes to play in your pond.
Zondervan and Talking Panda have announced the TNIVAudio Bible for iPod. It will be the first audio Bible sold in Apple’s retail stores, and you’ll find it on the shelves for $49.99, starting in February 2006. (Too bad they couldn’t get it out in time for the upcoming holiday season.)
What’s cool about this product is that in addition to it being an audio Bible, it will feature the Bible text and study notes from Zondervan’s Student Bible. Read, listen, or do both!
When I had a Palm handheld, I used Laridian’s Palm OS Bible software and loved having a digital, searchable Bible at my fingertips. The iPod Bible is limited in the searching department, but given the iPod is the only handheld I use now, it would be welcome.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” —Matthew 5:44
Voice of the Martyrs has set up a Pakistan Emergency Relief fund, to assist those left homeless by the massive earthquake which has taken the lives of more than 80,000. Jesus told us to love our enemies, and even as radical Islamists hold sway over the hearts and minds of many of those in Pakistan, VOM and other Christian ministries seek to aid and comfort those who would persecute them. Pray for those directly interacting in Pakistan, as well as for all those affected by the earthquake.
If you care to get Godblog posts via e-mail, now you can, thanks to Bloglet. Scroll down, and look for the Bloglet subscription box in the right-side column. Enter your e-mail address, hit the subscribe button, and that’s it. Enjoy!
James Scott Bell (hey, I just discovered his blog, okay?):
Which brings up the question: is anybody out there really listening to all this? Or is the blogosphere a big shouting match, with a few loud voices, but mostly just a lot of chattering away no one hears?
World Vision has started a relief fund for those affected by the earthquake in southwest Asia, which has claimed at least 20,000 lives in Pakistan alone.
John Papanek, the editorial director of ESPN New Media, referring to sports fans congregating together:
“There’s nothing more communal that human beings do, outside of worship — and sometimes it’s hard to tell the two apart.”
I’ve heard from more than one pastor something along the lines of, “If Christians put as much enthusiasm and effort as they do in to cheering on their favorite sports teams, what a real difference the Church could be making in this world.” Reading Papanek’s comment reminded me of that.