Various Current Events

Stimulus tracking website (US Gov’t)

State of the Union address (White House)

Republican response by Bobby Jindal (LA Times blogs)

Senate tries to prevent Fairness Doctrine (WSJ blogs)
Obama funds health plan with wealthy tax hike (Politico)
Dogs at work (USA Today)
Mayor won’t pay debt for home buyers (Houston Chron)

New down syndrome tests raise concerns (Wash Post)
Proposed changes for Supreme Court (Wash Post)
Doctors trying to preempt online reviews (Fox News)
Iraq: good news is no news (Charles Krauthammer)

Oklahoma bans gender-based abortions (Christian Post)

Wacky Wednesday--Duels Should Be Legal

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~It represents a whole slew of very noble values such as honor, respect, equality, fair play, self-reliance, and even chivalry.
~It’s Biblical: David and Goliath.
~It’s tremendously masculine: fighter pilots, comic book heroes, martial arts movies, knights, cowboys, and swashbucklers all did it.
~If the founding fathers like Alexander Hamilton believed in it, how bad can it be?
~It’s the better, more noble version of vigilantism because at least it gives your enemy the chance to fight back.
~There must be something to it since it was legal in the US until 1839.
~There should be serious consequences for insulting people, their wives, or their families.
~The legal system is a joke when it comes to resolving such interpersonal disputes. We have a hundred sorts of ritualized dueling. It’s called sports.
~Every good action movie ends with a duel between the worst bad guy and the hero.
~We hate cheaters, which is an indirect endorsement of duelists.
~Our culture is awash in duelist mythology. Has it really served us all that poorly?
~Only the wimp goes to get his parents instead of solving the situation for himself.
~Dueling is better than ongoing feuds and gang wars of retaliation, right?

Bible References: Deut 32:35, Psalm 94, Matt 5:38-48, Luke 6:27-38, Rom 12:17-13:8, Heb 10:28-30

Links:
Dueling (Wikipedia)
A sermon on dueling (Wallbuilders)
Sermon on the death of Hamilton (1st Presbyterian Albany)

Wacky Wednesday--Ignorance Is Good

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~Ignorance is bliss. Why? Because knowing things is a burden and painful.
~Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow, because apparently we can’t control that any more than we can control our own height.
~Valuing ignorance would reduce gossiping because you wouldn’t know and you wouldn’t value knowing.
~Watching the news is a great source of knowledge, how happy does it make us?
~We shelter kids from all sorts of things because we believe knowing is harmful.
~Haven’t you ever had the impulse to shelter someone from a probably hurtful fact or insight?
~Haven’t you ever learned something that you wished you could unlearn?
~Was Solomon particularly happy and successful?
~Knowledge is power, but power corrupts. The more power, the greater the corruption, hence, the more knowledge you have, the more corrupt you become. And so, the more ignorance you retain, the more pure you remain.
~Knowledge without the power to do anything about it is the greatest pain of all. And since our personal power is so woefully limited, it’s better to know very little, only as much as you can personally act upon.
~Without knowledge, it is impossible to form despair.
~Did the Pharisees have knowledge? Yes. Did the Pharisees benefit from their knowledge? No. ~Did the Pharisees’ knowledge actually interfere with pleasing God? Yes.
~Knowledge puffs up.
~If people didn’t know so much, they would be a lot happier with the less they have. Consider how the “knowledge” brought to you by advertising actually makes you less happy

Bible References: Matt 10:16-20, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28, Luke 12:11-12, 1 Cor 2:1-2, 1 Cor 8:1-3, 1 Cor 13:1-3

Theological Tuesday

~How was Jesus able to forgive sins before dying on the Cross?
~What is the role of suffering in Christianity?
~On what basis does God dispense blessings?
~What is idolatry?
~Is prayer only about words?

Ethics: Doing Good For Those Who Can’t Reciprocate

One of the repeated ethical themes of the Bible, especially of Jesus’s ministry, is the idea that real love is best shown by doing things for people who are hopelessly incapable of ever doing anything good back for you: strangers, the poor, the outcast. To what degree should this concept be a primary objective of our behavior? One competing notion is that we should do good for people as a way of gaining influence in their lives in order to bring them to Christ. Another, very American and pragmatic model, is to invest your resources where they are likely to do you the most good. What would it look like if we took this principle seriously for ourselves? In our churches? In our domestic policies? In our foreign policy? And should we be trying to do so?

What’s Your Favorite Bible Passage?

We all have our favorite parts of the Bible. Perhaps it’s a story or a passage which really helps guide your life. Perhaps it’s one that was very meaningful to you in dealing with a serious problem or tragedy. Perhaps it’s one that continually corrects you and reminds you of how much farther you still have to go toward being Christlike. Or perhaps it’s just one that you learned so early that you’ve got it stuck in your head all the time like a song you just can’t escape. Today, I’d like to hear from you about which parts of the Bible are your favorites or mean the most to you, including an explanation of why so.

Various Current Events

Christian offices vandalized over bus signs (Christian Post)

Namaste Solar, Obama’s ideal energy company? (CNN)
Pope scolds Pelosi (CNS News)
Outrage over Obama-chimp cartoon (CNN)
Men see women in bikinis as objects (CNN)
Iranian woman wants eye-for-eye justice (CNN)

Firefighters forced to ride in gay parade win suit (CNS News)
CSI vs real forensics (LA Times)
Burris’s story now changes (NY Times)
Roland Burris, Resign (Chicago Tribune)
Obama’s foreclosure plan (NY Times)
Some housing plan details (NY Times)
Late night show shake-up (NY Times)
Who’s to blame for automakers’ woes? (CS Monitor)
ICE arrests illegal immigrant during church (Houston Chron)
Prayer bill causes flap in Virginia (Wash Post)
White House opposes fairness doctrine (Fox News)
MD Gov wants to end death penalty (Wash Post)
Fed ad campaign supports marriage (USA Today)
WSJ pulls support from anti-Israeli tournament (Jerusalem Post)

NYC cracks down on idling cars (Fox News)
Arizona rancher cleared but fined (Wash Times)
Jury says rancher didn’t violate rights (Tucson Citizen)

Some TV stations went digital (Wash Post)

Why aren’t gas prices lower? (Houston Chron)

Wacky Wednesday--You Shouldn’t Do Housework

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~You know you don’t want to, possibly that’s a little slice of God’s conscience telling you this doesn’t matter.
~You don’t want to be a Martha, right?
~It’s gotta be about the least significant thing you can possibly do with your time. It’s inferior to evangelism, prayer, Bible study, spending time with the kids, build relationships, spending time with your spouse, educating yourself, and just about anything else you can name. Plus it’s extremely unfun.
~You’re only going to have to do it all over again soon anyhow.
~There’s no such thing as a household chore that can’t be put off until tomorrow. So go ahead and do something important instead.
~Where does it end?
~In cleaning your house, you create trash, which dirties up everyone’s world.
~If you like it clean, then someone else doing it just irritates you because they do it wrong.
~Much of the time, we only do housework because people are coming over, which is a form of lying anyhow.

Wacky Wednesday--Flowers Are Bad

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~They only die.
~They’re kind of a nuisance as you have to keep tending to them.
~Typically, they’re not very hardy, being easily destroyed.
~Some of them are poisonous to animals and children.
~Ever clean up a spilt and broken vase?
~They don’t do anything of practical value.
~The world is full of serious and important things you can be doing, and you bother growing flowers?
~How dare you use arable land for flowers when there are millions of starving and malnourished people in the world.
~They’re frivolous and wasteful.
~People can be allergic to them.
~They rot, and the water they’re in can collect and grow mold and bacteria
~If all the money wasted on flowers were instead donated to the poor, just think what an impact we could make on global (or even just American) poverty.

Theological Tuesday

~How can a Christian help save an unbelieving spouse?
~What applications from savinvg the spouse should we make to how the church should approach the culture?
.

How to win your unbelieving spouse (John MacArthur)

Ethics: How Should We Decide What’s Safe For Our Kids?

In Massachusetts, there is a developing movement to eliminate unsafe sledding as a result of several sled-related injuries and deaths in recent years. Some communities have banned sledding, while others have erected warning signs, and one even is moving to require helmets to be worn while sledding. At first glance, some people will surely roll their eyes and complain about the sad state of the world that it has come to such intrusions on the ordinary lives of people. “What next, no dodgeball or tag? Oops, too late.” But at the same time, the vast majority of us put our children into safety seats in our cars (required by law), make them wear helmets when riding a bicycle, and perhaps have spent countless hours installing child safety latches on our cabinets and doors. We certainly don’t let kids play outside unsupervised until they’re teenagers, even though most of us were told simply to be home by dark. And I can clearly remember taking naps on the floor of the car in the back seat when my parents took us on long trips and swimming pools without safety gates, or even gates at all. But two questions surely remain: Have we gone too far in protecting our kids? And what should be our guiding philosophy in thinking about child safety?

Favorite Movie Quotes

It’s probably not an overstatement to claim that the primary source of popular culture is movies, television, and music. As such, there are some movies which are so well-known that quoting from them is simply a matter of being able to speak the culture. But most of us have our own special movies that we like to quote from, either in general or to particular groups of people who share our quote fetishes. Do you like to quote movies? And what are your personal favorites? And is there something important about normal human psychology that we can learn from the fact that people like to quote movies?

Links:
AFI’s top 100 movie quotes (Wikipedia)
Top 100 movie quotes (Paulo Coelho)

Various Current Events

Majority of US wants pro and con on Darwin taught (CNS News)
Stimulus bill includes health database by 2014 (CNS News)

Merchants stage anti-penny revolt (Boston Globe)
CA ordered to evict inmates for overcrowding (Fox News)
DTV switchover still on (Wash Post)
WY Scientology project raises eyebrows (Fox News)
School district eliminates grade levels (Fox News)
Why I support the stimulus (Arlen Specter)
Chase adds fee for revolving credit (USA Today)
Octuplets’ grandmother furious (Fox News)
Inmates riot over being deprived Super Bowl (Wash Post)
School district considers four-day week (Denver Post)
People stay married -- can’t pay for divorce (Wash Times)
Doctor may lose license over failed abortion (Sun-Sentinel)
Christian ads respond to atheists in Britain (Wash Post)
Favre reretires (NY Times)
Octuplets puts focus on fertility clinics (NY Times)
Nadya Suleman (Wikipedia)
Octuplets mom interviewed (Today Show)

Wacky Wednesday--Christians Should Only Read The Bible

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~If the Bible is the Word of God, why would you want to read anything else?
~Everything you need to know is contained in it.
~Everything else is corrupted by people or sin.
~If you have the Holy Spirit guiding you, you don't need other information.
~Look at how many Christians haven't even read the entire Bible once.
~Ever heard of "Sola Scriptura?"
~How seductive is every other source of information?

Wacky Wednesday--The Global Preaching Bible Is A Good Idea

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

It’s a Bible “intended to give pastors the means to a Bible-based preaching ministry, and to provide pastors everywhere the ability to preach through the entire Bible and apply rock-solid principles to their congregations” being put out by the “Second Billion Network,” featuring:
Sermons from the greatest expositors of all time
Sermons from all 1,189 chapters in the Bible
Sermon contributions from pastors worldwide to bring a vibrant multi-cultural awareness
Systematic approach for preaching through the entire Bible
Tools to build Biblically-sound messages on a weekly basis
Weekly sermon updates to help with societal transformation
Online availability worldwide
Search functions by contributor, topic and scripture reference
Ten years of expository messages in manuscript form from every chapter of the Bible
Templates of biblical exposition to help pastors for the rest of their ministry lives.

~This is nothing more than the Study Bible concept taken to the next logical level.
~Interpretational guidance is very useful.
~If you use commentaries and other people’s sermons, why is this a problem?
~Surely this is a much better idea than simply trying to put the Bible’s language into some ultra-modern context like a Living, Amplified, or Message Bible, right? At least here you have the distinction between source and interpretation.
~Exposing people to a wide variety of preaching styles is excellent preparation for finding their own voice in delivering the Word to their people.
~It’s the basic flaw of teaching preparation. You mostly have the 30-50 teachers you’ve experienced to draw on, instead of having a few hundred and excellent ones at that. What if all teachers had to sit in on a class taught by the top 100 teachers in the country? That’s pretty much what this is.
~It’s exciting because the Bible can be so difficult to comprehend, and this will put people in possession of the wisdom of many people who have spent decades seeking to better understand what the Scriptures mean.

Links:
Church network launches sermon-packed Bible (Christian Post)
Contents of the Global Preaching Bible (GivingBlood.TV)
Thoughts on the Global Preaching Bible

Theological Tuesday

Bible Story: Martha and Mary (Luke 19:38-42)
Can you be mistaken about your own salvation?

Various Current Events

Co-founder of Habitat dies (Christian Post)
Iraq voted, did democracy win? (NY Times)
Iraq’s victory, Iran’s loss (NY Times)
Teen marijuana use down (AZ Republic)
Bible includes sermon for every chapter (Christian Post)
Lawmakers want to tighten incest laws (AZ Republic)
Old Bonds sample tests positive for steroids (NY Times)
Developments in MN Senate recount (Minn Star-Tribune)
Cheap stimulus: stop ragging on economy (CS Monitor)
Stimulus better to cut taxes or spend? (CS Monitor)
Iran launches satellite (NY Times)
Both parties move to aid homeowners (NY Times)
Obama plans to cap bailout recipient exec salaries (NY Times)
How to fill a Senate seat (NY Times)
Gates releases mosquitoes at conference (Fox News)
Mexican gangs heavily armed with US weapons (Fox News)
IL sheriffs support concealed carry law (StL Post-Dispatch)
Facebook is 5 years old (BBC News)
2 million get free grand slams at Denny’s (USA Today)

Wacky Wednesday--Advertising Should Be Illegal

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~Things that are truly good will develop a reputation for being so without the money wasted in this direction.
~It contributes to the uglifying of America. Look at how Scottsdale has such restrictive visual pollution ordinances. Wouldn’t it be great to drive across America and be able to actually see ~America instead of whoever wants to be a parasite on my driving?
~Too much power to influence people, who are highly prone to being influenced illegitimately by advertising.
~Most advertising relies upon idolatry of some form or another.
~Where does most of the sex, gambling, and alcohol message come from?
~Programs survive because they're popular and generate advertising, not because they are beneficial to people.
~An ad is an endorsement, but many of the products should not be endorsed.
~The airwaves are owned by the public and shouldn't be sold for mere profit.
~Advertising pollutes the entertainment industry because of the revenue model.

Wacky Wednesday--It’s Fine For Christians To Marry (And Date) Nonbelievers

Note: Before reading the following arguments, please understand that they are not what I believe. On Wednesdays, I deliberately argue for wrong ideas, challenging my listeners to call and defend the obvious right answer, which is usually far harder than one would expect. This is a summary of what Wacky Andrew will be arguing, not a representation of what real Andrew believes.

~You can’t know what the future holds for someone’s spiritual development anyhow. They might become Christians. They might fall away from the faith. They might become lukewarm in their faith. And you might change in all these ways as well.
~The heart wants what the heart wants
~Religion and religiosity are just one aspect of a person’s life, not the totality of it. If it were the totality of it, then you could marry anyone who was a Christian, but we know that’s just not the case. ~So why not recognize that many other features of a couple’s life might be in harmony even despite this one not being so.
~People who don’t share religion can still be deep best friends. And we know that being friends with your spouse is far more important than most other things.
~Lots of such marriages work perfectly well.
~The kids get exposed to a variety of viewpoints and are stronger for it.
~The religious commitments they make are much more genuine for having been freely chosen rather than inculturated by the family environment.
~Prevents too much influence and coercion by parents toward religion, which helps kids preserve a love of God instead of a resentment of Him.
~How dare some religious leader claim to tell me whom I can and whom I can’t marry!
~Whom I marry is my choice, and it’s really none of anyone else’s business.
~Not all dating leads to marriage.
~It looks downright redemptive to marry someone else.
~This is just the most sacrificial form of evangelism imaginable. Plus, you can help win that person over by your example.
~Are you against interracial marriage, too?
~What a narrow, dogmatic, judgmental thing to presume to tell people that only those who happen to share your religious beliefs are acceptable to you. Who are you to judge someone else’s devotion to God that way.

Theological Tuesday

What does it mean to say we are "the temple of the Holy Spirit?"
Spencer has a question: Why can’t we touch God?
Can you be mistaken about your own salvation?

What is the role of suffering in Christianity?
To what degree are we obliged to help the poor?
What is idolatry?
Why did God make people?
What, exactly, is a pastor?

Ethics: Should Andrew Try To Love Phoenix?

Ever since I’ve lived here, I have disliked this place. And not only don’t I like it, I look around in befuddlement at the hundreds of thousands of people who apparently like it quite well. I don’t think this comes as any great surprise to those of you who have listened to me for any length of time. Granted, I have disliked Phoenix less and less every year, but the number is still not a positive one. On the other hand, I love what I do, I love the people I work with, the pay is good, we have made many friends, and we love our church. Given that I know I’m here by God’s Will and that a change in His Will is the only thing that will move me elsewhere (in other words, I don’t know whether I’m going to be living here for 35 more years or six more months), do I have an ethical obligation to try to like it more? And of course this raises the prior question of whether it’s even possible to do anything to affect my love of a place. Can I make myself enjoy a piece of music I don’t naturally like? Can I make myself more attracted to some woman I don’t find appealing? Can I cultivate the taste for lima beans or Jack-in-the-Box? In short, how much does it really matter where you live and how much you like it, and to what degree is it possible to affect those values by deliberate choice?

Ads You Actually Remember

It’s customary in the wake of the Super Bowl to talk about which ads were the best and the worst. But the real test of memorability is not whether you can recall an ad within 24 hours of seeing it in a venue where you are predisposed to purposely pay extra attention to advertising. The real test of memorability is whether you recall an ad at a much later time, perhaps more than one year (or five years) later. Moreover, it’s not enough to merely remember the ad, but for an ad to succeed, you must be able to remember enough connected information to take action on the product or service if you wanted to at that later date. So, trying to put aside the very influential power of ads you’ve seen recently and/or frequently, which ads are memorable enough to you that you know them even years later?