Various Current Events

Will gay rights trample religious freedom? by LA Times
Yes, we will have no bananas by NY Times
Update: Gun beats bomb in bank robbery by WXYZ.com
Bottled water prices hard to swallow by LA Times
Celebrities' real names by LA Times
China approves Gospel books for Olympics by Christian Post
Boy killed for his bike by Chicago Sun Times
CA gay marriage revives religious debate by LA Times
Court: Boss can't read email or texts by LA Times
Sue OPEC by LA Times
Sue OPEC by NY Times
Will $4 gas trump a 27 year ban? by NY Times
Scandanavian tax returns made public by USA Today
Obama aide on Winnie the Pooh by Telegraph.co.uk
Religious congregations: lowest mortality rate by Christian Post
Pro-life pharmacies defend objections by Christian Post
What Boumediene means by Findlaw.com
Tie Association calls it quits by Wall Street Journal
Renting toys, the Netflix way by Christian Science Monitor

Wacky Wednesday--All Sins 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.

~When God prohibits something, He always attaches a consequence.
~Name a sin which we’re better off keeping legal.
~Sins like murder, theft, and perjury are already the benchmark for making laws.
~For most people, the only ethical guide they have is what the law says.
~How many times have you heard someone say, “Yeah, but I didn’t break any laws?”
~When things are outlawed, people do them less.
~Prohibition wasn’t a failure, even though people think it was.
~For Christians, it shouldn’t matter, and for non-Christians, it’s the only way to teach people how to behave.
~Good parents add negative consequences to bad behaviors when a child doesn’t see how bad they are on their own merits.
~With more things being decriminalized, have we seen a flourishing in morality?

Wacky Wednesday--You Can’t Legislate Morality

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.

~Legislating morality is just another way of teaching someone that might makes right. Morality is just a personal opinion, not the basis of law.
~Morality presupposes religion, and there is no official religion of these United States.
~Furthermore, people have the expressly protected freedom to choose and act upon their religious beliefs.
~Hence legislating morality entails curtailing expressly protected religious liberties in the First Amendment.
~You can’t make people good by passing laws.
~It’s wrong to impose your personal beliefs on other people.
~Goodness is a matter of internal restraint, and external restraints cannot impart internal restraints.
~Look at something like the 18th Amendment. It’s failure should show you that people can’t be made good through the use of law.

Theological Tuesday

~Bible Stories 20: David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12)
~David Oliver of Care for the Family.
~Spencer has a question about the Bible.
~Learning the books of the Bible
~What should we do with the fact that the Old Testament made homosexuality a capital offense?
~Should Wheaton College have fired a teacher for getting a divorce?

Links:
David Oliver - Loveworklivelife.com

Ethics: AA and the Twelve Steps

Alcoholics Anonmyous has been in existence since 1935, and groups now operate in 180 countries and involve approximately 2 million members. The core of their system is a pair of lists called the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions. The Twelve Steps are a series of stages for recovering from alcoholism and the Twelve Traditions govern how meetings of AA are conducted. Though AA has been around a long time, and has clearly succeeded in terms of number of participants, it has also come under a fair amount of criticism. So, we’ll discuss both the organization and also their beliefs to see how well AA fits with Christianity and also what might be learned from AA as an organization.

Post-show thoughts: I've had a few follow-up discussions with people about this, and I think my position is relatively unchanged. One thing that must be said is that your encounter with AA will depend heavily upon the particular group you are in, as is the case with any relatively autonomous small group of people. Nonetheless, there are some generalizations which seem to hold true. AA seems to help a lot of people stop drinking, which is the defined purpose of the organzation. AA is somewhat problematic in that it deliberately uses such a generic notion of God which explicitly avoids any mention of Jesus or His atonement, though many of their principles are rooted in Biblical teachings, including especially those of Jesus. Despite this, AA often winds up leading people to seek a fuller concept of God, and many become Christians. I find the twelve steps to be a marvelously beautiful ethical system which I would encourage anyone to follow, alcohol problems or not.

All that being said, probably my own major concern about AA (and keep in mind that I am a fairly strong supporter, call it 85%) is that their system is self-limiting. A major doctrinal tenet is that the alcoholic will always be an alcoholic and, more importantly, will always be defined by his alcoholism and therefore need AA. Anyone who leaves the group is considered to have reverted to drinking, which imitates the basic characteristic of any cult or cult-like group which is to define all non- or former-participants as being defective somehow. The reality is that people should be growing in Christ and eventually no longer need AA, even discovering in at many cases that they are no longer defined by their alcoholism. They still may not be free to drink at all. But though I am convinced AA (and groups like them) can be vital for getting people from point A to B, C, and D, they can become an impediment to getting them to points E, F, and G. And the reason for this limit in the second part is actually an essential element of the success at the first part.

So, it may not even be fair to ask AA to change how they do things. My concern is that some people may need to move forward from AA but be hindered by their oft-repeated belief that to leave AA can only be to move backward. As with any strict (perhaps legalistic) system, there is great benefit for the person who comes in having chaos in his life, but there can only be so much growth within a system so heavily dependent upon being a system.

As for criticisms that AA is a secret evangelizing society, this is silly. Anyone even slightly familiar with AA realizes that it is a spiritual/religious group. Whereas I might criticize AA for not being explicitly Christian enough, it's downright silly for the atheist to complain that they are dishonestly theistic. Of course they're theistic. It's right there in the Twelve Steps. (This is a criticism apparently quite important to the Orange-Papers webmaster.)

Links:
AA Home Page by Alcoholics Anonymous
AA by Wikipedia
Critique of AA (very hostile, but thorough) by Orange-Papers.org
AA alternatives by Deanesmay.com

Favorite Dad Memories and What He Taught You About God

Yesterday was Father’s Day, and I wanted to take some time just to focus on and honor the father’s in our lives by sharing our favorite memories of them. What activities did your dad do with you? Also, what did you learn about God from your father, either by teaching or by example?

Various Current Events

UCLA Study: Gay marriage good for economy by CBS News
Motorcycle emissions: The surprising facts by LA Times
Rules, religion collide in Amish cases by USA Today
2 counties halt weddings, gay or not by SFGate.com
In Europe, debate over Islam and virginity by NY Times
Spammers making money on fake drugs by LA Times
Will Obama show us his instruction manual? by Slate.com
Obama smoked cigarettes recently Blog, by ABC News
Justice Hillary Clinton? Opinion, by LA Times
SC to offer cross on car plates by NY Times
Aisle denial in Bakersfield Opinion, by LA Times
6 reasons pastors should blog by DesiringGod.org
Utah town may revise bikini ban by Findlaw.com
Judge raises constitutional issue in gay divorce by Findlaw.com
Obama advisor Johnson resigns amid criticism by LA Times
U.S. defends freedom to offend in speech by NY Times
Violence taught at Islamic school by MSNBC
Jolie "corrects" on relationship with Pitt by Fox News
Child abuse claims v. parent rights by Christian Science Monitor
DWP drops 400,000 balls into reservoir by LA Times
Transcript: Obama's Wesleyan address by WFSB.com
Man kills 7 in Tokyo by NY Times

Wacky Wednesday--Civil Disobedience Is Wrong

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 disruptive and disturbing of the peace.
~We should persuade others with our reasons, and if we can’t persuade them, that should tell us something.
~It makes people dislike you.
~It brings dishonor to the name of Christ
~It dishonors the authorities, contrary to Romans 13, which says all authority comes from God.
~You can’t universalize the notion of lawbreaking. What if everyone broke the laws they disliked?
~You should negotiate longer, especially in a democracy where other peaceful means are open to you.
~If people didn’t obey the laws they disagreed with, there could be no laws at all.
~If the offense is in fact this unjust, doesn’t that obligate us to use force, not merely civil disobedience?
~Our kingdom is not of this world
~Jesus didn’t break the actual law (of the Romans), just the local religious rules.
~The Bible tells us to be at peace with our neighbors.
~The Bible tells us to obey authority, which is ultimately from God.

Links
Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
Letter From A Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Statement by the Alabama Clergy To MLK (pdf, but small)
Civil Disobedience Objections Considered by Peter Suber
Index To Non-Violent Action at Activism.net
Civil Disobedience by Wikipedia

Wacky Wednesday--Women Should Be Pastors

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.

~Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman.
~Jesus valued women in His ministry.
~Jesus revealed Himself first to women after the resurrection. And the men didn’t believe them.
~These prohibitions were only so as to not offend those in the target ministry community who might respond adversely to female leaders.
~Women are essential in the Church. Just imagine what would happen to any given church without its women.
~The separation of the Temple courts came crashing down.
~Wasn’t Deborah a leader?
~Women can have every spiritual gift a man can have.
~Galatians 3:23 says there is no distinction between male and female.
~Discrimination is bad.
~We should err on the side of equality.
~Phoebe clearly had a position of leadership.
~Many women are named by Paul as excellent helpers.
~Phillip had four prophetess daughters.
~Jesus’s whole ministry was about including people who were marginalized.

Links:
Should women be pastors and elders? by Carm.org
Response to argument by Carm.org
Should women be pastors? by Sue Bohlin, Probe Ministries
Part 2 by Sue Bohlin
Why women should not be pastors by Brian Allison
What Bible says of women in ministry by GotQuestions.org
Should women be ordained ministers? by Dr. Lee Haines
Women pastors: Discussion site by Churchwomen.tripod.com
What does the Bible teach? by Baptist2Baptist.net

Theological Tuesday

~Bible Stories 19: Rahab, Jericho, Ai (Joshua 2, 5:13-7:26)
~What should we do with the fact that the Old Testament made homosexuality a capital offense?
~Why doesn’t the good atheist go to heaven?
~Should Wheaton College have fired a teacher for getting a divorce?
~What can we learn from reserveaspotinheaven.com?

Boy Scout Style Good Deeds

Part of the Boy Scout philosophy includes the idea that every day a scout should do a good deed or a “good turn” for someone else. Whether you think of it as being a good neighbor or just being a good person, the idea is fairly simple. But sometimes the difference between doing such little acts for other people and not doing them is simply not thinking of them. So, today I thought we would brainstorm and share some ideas for little good deeds you can do for other people, both anonymously and not. Feel free, especially, to share things that you’ve actually done for other people.

Bible References: Matt 5:13-16, Matt 22:36-40

Links:
ArkAlmighty.com
Blog: The Responsibility Project by ResponsibilityProject.com
Admirers deliver for mowing man by TampaBay.com
DoOneNiceThing.comGood Deeds by Inquiry.net

Andrew's Suggestions:
~Pay for the person behind you in line.
~Let people go ahead of you in line.
~Mowing your neighbor’s lawn.
~See the paper on the street and move it up near the garage door.
~Power washing your own house or driveway, offer it to your neighbor.
~Help someone with a flat tire. Call roadside assistance if necessary.
~Angel bags for the homeless
~Bake something and bring it to work
~Bake something for your neighbor, or just bring them some of it.
~Take someone to lunch or offer to buy someone lunch at work.
~Offer coffee when you go to get yours.
~Help a neighbor clean up the yard.
~Drop a bit of money on the ground and say to the person, you dropped this.
~Just give a total stranger a little money.
~Offering someone who comes to your door soliciting something a glass of water.
~Holding the door open for someone.
~Giving up your seat.
~Smile at people.
~Give someone a compliment on hair or clothing
~Start a conversation with someone while you’re out with the goal of making them feel good about something.
~Bring in the trash bins for your neighbors.
~Weed your neighbor’s lawn.
~Treat your server with tremendous respect. Or your checkout person.
~Thank a cleaning person for keeping everything looking so nice.
~Compliment the chef.
~Praise a teen for holding a menial summer job.
~Dump liquids on the ground rather than in the trash bag so that the person emptying it doesn’t have to lift the heavy bag and make a mess.
~Take carts back from the parking lot to the storage area.
~Always say thank you, especially to people you don’t have to, like the bus driver.
~Write a letter to a friend or relative.
~Feed an almost expired parking meter.
~Type up your notes from the sermon along with your thoughts as a way of telling the pastor someone is really taking his sermons seriously. Include anything you’ve done to change as a result of it, especially.
~Memorize a nice quick joke you can tell in the elevator.
~Become the candy fairy at work.
~Collect birthdays and be sure to do something on people’s birthdays.
~Keep your sarcastic comment to yourself one time.
~Help return stray dogs to their owners.

Caller Suggestions:
~Setephanie--Pray for friends and send them little notes (not emails) or call regularly.
~Ben--Opening doors for women.
~Glen--In checkout lines, cheering up and encouraging the cashier.
~Josh--Thanking people who work on the holidays.
~Donna--Over-tipping the waitress when you go out to eat.
~Sally--Doing anything to help the parents of small children, including babysitting.

Ethics: Omission and Commission

In ethics, we talk about committing sins of omission and sins of commission, which simply means the difference between sinning in what you neglect to do and sinning in what you actually do. Likewise, there are virtuous acts of omission and virtuous acts of commission, virtues acquired by avoiding the bad and by actively doing good. One might say that they pair up, things which are bad offer either the chance to practice sin by committing or virtue by omitting and things that are good offer the chance to practice sin by omitting or virtue by committing. But all these big words aside, which sort of thing matters more: avoiding wrong or doing right? Some people present Christian morality as if it is a series of prohibitions. Is this true? And what happens if you avoid all the “no-nos” but also don’t do any of the “yes-yesses?” Is that pleasing to God?

Free-For-All Friday

I just wanted to post this link because we talked about it on the air:
You Walk Wrong by New York Magazine

Teen Challenge of Arizona

Teen Challenge has been operating substance abuse recovery programs based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ here in Arizona for 41 years, and their success rate is an unheard of 86%. Commended by Governor Napolitano, President Bush, and many, many others, Teen Challenge is a unique and powerful program to help people get off drugs and get their lives together. If you really want to do something about the crime and devastation to families that drugs cause, Teen Challenge is organization to support. Join us today as we raise contributions for this outstanding Christian organization.

To donate during the show, call (602) 955-9600. To donate anytime, call (602) 271-4084 or visit the website by clicking here.

Various Current Events

What do you call a Terror(Jihad)ist? by NY Times
Asian values in Burma by LA Times
Proposition 13 works Opinion, by LA Times
Chavez decree tightens hold on intelligence by NY Times
Putin opponents vanish from TV by NY Times
China lists do and don'ts for foreigners by NY Times
Medal of honor awarded to solider by NY Times
Let the tax collection begin by NY Times
Great immigration panic Opinion, by NY Times
Voters will decide on gay marriage by LA Times
Violent video games: Myths & facts by Christian Science Monitor
Phoenix traffic camera changes considered by AZCentral.com
4th graders get to know day laborers by LA Daily News
CA valedictorian to be deported by Fox News
Mom fights church ban on autistic son by Christian Post
TN "Bible in schools" act awaits approval by Christian Post
French court rules on virginity by AZCentral.com

Wacky Wednesday--Gay Marriage 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.

Note on today’s topics. This will be a slightly modified version of Wacky Wednesday. Rather than actually advocating these arguments, I will be presenting them with the goal of understanding the other side properly and then seeing how we can best respond to them.

~If two people love each other and want to commit to each other, they should be allowed to formalize their relationship for all of society.
~Publicly sanctioned relationships are stable and cultivate stability in the people who engage in them.
~It is unfair to deny gays the benefits of marriage such as medical visitation and authority, inheritance, health benefits from employment, tax breaks, and child-rearing safeguards.
~You can’t argue that homosexual relationships are unstable and promiscuous and then turn around and prevent them from forming stable monogamous ones.
~If you believe in civil unions, why would you want to keep gay relationships on a second-class citizen status?
~If children are involved, it is better for them to be in a two-parent home than a one-parent home.
~Many churches support the practice.
~This is no different than allowing people of different races to marry.
~Discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation is legally suspect.
~Gays want to be a part of legitimate society.
~Privacy is a long-settled Constitutional right.
~Given that you accept divorce, it’s disingenuous to say you think that gay marriage threatens the institution of marriage.
~Given that you accept contraception and place no legal obligation to reproduce or to even demonstrate fertility on straight marriages, it’s disingenuous to say that gay marriage is illegitimate for being no-procreative.
~If you accept civil unions, a reluctance to accept gay marriage makes no sense.
~How does Ellen and Rosie getting married even affect you?
~It’s an incredibly awkward thing to have a gay relationship without an official status, both for gays and for their friends and families.
~It’s kind.
~There are substantial benefits given to spouses both in the law and in the military.

Two Excellent Resources:
The Cultural Argument Against Gay Marriage by Randy Hicks
Men and Marriage (Must-read book, buy used for almost free) by George Gilder

Wacky Wednesday--Homosexuality Is Fine

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.

Note on today’s topics. This will be a slightly modified version of Wacky Wednesday. Rather than actually advocating these arguments, I will be presenting them with the goal of understanding the other side properly and then seeing how we can best respond to them.

~It’s not a choice.
~No one would choose to be an outcast like this.
~It’s probably genetic
~Even heterosexuals acknowledge that they never really chose to be straight.
~You can’t choose who you love.
~Many people who have tried to stop it or not act on it have failed.
~You shouldn’t have to suppress your sincere and deep desires.
~Why is gay love less love than straight love?
~Sexual behavior is private, and what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms is really none of your business.
~If you’re going to accept contraception, how can you oppose this?
~Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
~The only other reason people oppose it is because they think it’s gross.
~It’s good for straight men because it reduces the number of men competing for women.
~It occurs quite naturally in all societies which suffer diminished access to females such as in jail or onboard a ship.
~It occurs in nature among primates and other species.
~The New Testament never directly condemns homosexuality, and certainly Jesus did not do so Himself.
~Jesus came to minister to and rescue the outcast. Who is that more than the gay man of today, especially the gay man with AIDS?

Theological Tuesday

~Bible Stories 18: The Twelve Spies of Israel (Numbers 13-14)
~Is Christianity about being saved or about pleasing God?
~Why doesn’t the good atheist go to heaven?
~Should Wheaton College have fired a teacher for getting a divorce?
~What can we learn from reserveaspotinheaven.com?

Ethics: Global Warming

E. Calvin Beisner is the founder and national spokesman for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, and I wanted to have him on to discuss his recent articles on global warming with us. He is an expert in the area, and I figure he can help answer some of your questions and explain to us just how much we should be concerned about this issue. Keep in mind that there are six interconnected but different questions in this area.

1. Is the temperature of the Earth increasing, and how far will this continue?
2. What are the likely effects of this increase, good and bad?
3. Is there anything humans have done to substantially cause this situation?
4. Is there anything humans can do to substantially alleviate this situation?
5. How do proposed solutions measure ethically against other important considerations, such as size of government, economic liberty, and private property?
6. Are there any known alternatives for the use of resources which will have a better effect on human lives and well-being than efforts to fight global temperature?

How a person answers one will not necessarily tell you how he will answer another. And when people ask whether you believe in global warming, it’s important to clarify which of these questions is being asked. Lots of links below, be sure to visit the petition project.

Links:
We Get It project
Petition Project
E. Calvin Beisner's home page
Global warming and Evangelicals (PDF) by E. Calvin Beisner
Call to Truth (PDF) by E. Calvin Beisner
CornwallAlliance.org (Browse articles on left)
Climate Change: The Deniers by National Post
Copenhagen Consensus home page
Book: Taken by Storm by Christopher Essex, Ross McKitrick
Book: A Question of Balance by William Nordhaus
Book: Climate Confusion by Roy Spencer
Evangelical Climate Initiative by ChristiansandClimate.org
New sermon: Global warming by Christian Science Monitor
Evangelical call to action by ChristiansandClimate.org

What Do You Want To Learn Next?

It has been said that every person is either growing or dying; there is no standing still. Studies have confirmed the common sense that one of the best ways to prevent the onset and progression of various deteriorating conditions of the mind is to constantly be learning and stimulating it. But just in terms of making ourselves the most complete people we can become, I wonder what new thing you are learning right now and what new thing you want to learn next. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that education stops when you get a piece of parchment, but it shouldn’t, and new skills are a source of new joys and new insights into the perspectives life has to offer. So, even if you haven’t learned a new thing in a while, what new skill or interest area do you want to begin working on?

Various Current Events

Please, is this $1 or $100? Opinion, by NY Times
Rachel Ray and Dunkin' Donuts by Michelle Malkin, Townhall.com
Dunkin' Donuts pulls ad after complaints by AZCentral.com
How to cheat, courtesy of Youtube by Minneapolis Star Tribune
Clinton apologizes for Kennedy remark by ArgusLeader.com
Clinton: Remember Bobby Kennedy (video) by Breibart.com
Congressman: Dems misled supporters by JeffEmanuel.com
NY to back same-sex unions from elsewhere by NY Times
Opposition forms against NY gay marriage by CNS News
FL and MI say see delegates halved by NY Times
Sect mothers say separation endangered children by NY Times
Windfall profit nonsense by John Stossel, Townhall.com
Guerrilla gardener movement takes root by LA Times
Obama criticized traditional black churches by CNS News
"Expelled" boosts academic freedom bills by CNS News
Boy scouts sue over eviction by CNS News
Border governors head to Mexico by CNS News
Algeria's Christians under fire by CNS News
Schools cut classes to curb gas costs by USA Today
Who's sexist now? Opinion, by LA Times
Why TX appellate court erred by Findlaw.com
Young Christians adopt "humble orthodoxy" by Christian Post
Saying "I don't" to gay marriage Opinion, by LA Times
Surpeme Court hears Giles vs. California by Findlaw.com
CA Court rules in favor of gay marriage by Findlaw.com
As gas goes up, driving goes down by CNN
Witches come to Christ though film by Christian Post
Pope affirms right to convert non-believers by Christian Post
Study: 16% of teachers are creationists by Christian Post
What CA same-sex ruling means by Findlaw.com
Did CA court overstep? by Findlaw.com
How far should a CA ballot initiative extend? by Findlaw.com
Helping China in an hour of need by Hugh Hewitt, Townhall.com
Principal to resign over gay/straight club by TheState.com
14 year-old blames "Sex and the City" by ABC News
Supreme Court upholds part of child porn law by Findlaw.com
At some schools, failure goes from 0-50 by USA Today
S.F. parking meters retooled to aid homeless by SFGate.com

Wacky Wednesday--Cosmo, Redbook, And Vogue Are Good For Girls

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’re popular.
~They teach girls how to have style.
~They emphasize beauty, which is an important feminine characteristic.
~They educate girls about useful products.
~Everyone is having sex, so this teaches you how to do so safely.
~The ideal of romantic love is emphasized.
~If more married women would take the advice to be sexually aggressive, their husbands would like it more.
~It helps women to understand what’s going on in guy’s heads.
~In order to have good ideas, you need to have a lot of ideas. And they sure have a lot of ideas.
~Sexual power is given to women for a reason, why not use it?
~They address all the things that are on the minds of girls.

Wacky Wednesday--We Shouldn’t Have Speed Limits

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.

~Everyone breaks them.
~Encourages the habit of lawbreaking and cultivates the mindset that police are the enemy of normal citzens.
~They are so clearly unpopular to will of the majority (based on driving habits) that they cannot be justified.
~They cannot be enforced fairly. Every day tens of millions of people speed enough to get a ticket, but only a small fraction might actually get one.
~Even police acknowledge they are not proper since they aren’t realistic since they won’t give you one unless you’re over 10 over.
~Speed limits are really about generating revenue through tickets, not about safety.
~If people cannot judge for themselves what is a safe or an unsafe speed, should they really be driving in the first place?
~Should we really believe that people will drive recklessly simply because they can, that they care more about a ticket than they do about their own life, the lives of their families and strangers, and their cars?
~We should punish people for actually causing wrecks, not for tending to cause a wreck.
~Limits have created a whole cottage industry around avoiding getting caught, radar detectors, etc.
~It’s a whole lot safer to drive at the speed of traffic than to try to slow down to an artificially low speed amongst fast drivers. Running slower than the herd is dangerous for you and them.

Links:
Q&A: Speed limits by Insurance Institute For Highway Safety
Law enforcement by Insurance Institute For Highway Safety
Speed limits by IBiblio.org
Effects of raising and lowering by IBiblio.org
Speed limit by Wikipedia
Speed limit in the U.S. by Wikipedia
Posted speed limits by Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

Various Current Events

An Evangelical Manifesto
Op-Ed: An Evangelical Manifesto by USAReligousNews.com
An Evangelical response by Albert Mohler
A gentle plea for civility by Christianity Today
Evangelicals lament politicized faith by Christianity Today
Why some leaders won't sign manifesto by Christian Post
How one group attempts to redefine term by Findlaw.com
Sendler, 98, member of resistance saved lives by LA Times
Handwriting of candidates may speak volumes by LA Times
The myth of voter fraud Opinion, by NY Times
CA court affirms right to gay marriage by NY Times
CA court says yes to gay marriage by Christian Post
McCain on hopes for 1st term by NY Times
Bush appeasement remark sets off fray by LA Times
Bush addresses members of Knesset by WhiteHouse.gov
Berkeley staff face lawsuit over evolution bias by Christian Post
How to commit marriage by CampusReportOnline.net
Remember go outside and play? Opinion, by LA Times
Bob Barr enters race by Townhall.com
Vatican: OK to believe in aliens by Time.com

Wacky Wednesday--Books 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.

~Ask yourself why they so frequently get banned.
~The only way to know an author’s agenda is to read the book, but by the time you do that, you’ve been exposed to it.
~Fiction causes us to be dissatisfied with real life.
~Even non-fiction creates a far more orderly world than this real one.
~How many people do you know who fill their minds with books while real people are daily starving?
~Introverts love it too much, and non-readers feel guilt for not reading enough.
~Which is better, reading a new book or rereading the Bible?
~Books fill your head with unrealistic nonsense about politics, romance, history, business, science, and everything in between.
~Only 100 years ago, reading novels was considered inappropriate and even potentially dangerous behavior.
~Reading books teaches fatalism and determinism rather than free will, unless you’re reading the now-defunct Choose Your Own Adventure style books.
~Books can influence kids to have really disturbed ideas and even do awful things such as was the case with Sorrows of a Young Werther
~We seek in books a comforting alternative to our reality instead of fixing that reality.
~There’s a perfectly good reason socially speaking that avid readers are misfits in their youth and still a little bit that way as adults.
~Books render people unnecessary as experts to help us solve our problems.
~If there weren’t so many books, we would read our Bibles more.
~Books just cultivate pride and being puffed up with knowledge.

Wacky Wednesday--Children Shouldn’t Play Sports

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 only encourages competition, and competition is bad.
~How is sport compatible with loving my neighbor and compassion?
~Kids get injured a lot, and those injuries linger all through adulthood.
~Coaches are often petty tyrants.
~Parents can’t handle themselves in the stands.
~Kids are often pushed into sports against their will.
~Sports foists a premature seriousness onto life.
~Organized sports displace random play and pick-up games.
~There’s too much emphasis on winning.
~It discourages kids from inventing their own games.
~It’s expensive.
~It’s time-consuming for the parents, especially of multiple children.
~What happens when a kid isn’t very good?
~Doesn’t the Bible seem to take a fairly dim view of putting numbers on people?
~Show me where kids play soccer, football, or tee-ball in the Bible?

Theological Tuesday

~Bible Stories 17: The Conversion of Saul/Paul (Acts 9)
~Amitai Etzioni on “Religion and the Social Order.”
~Richard Ross on Paradise ‘08
~Is Jesus manly?
~Should Wheaton College have fired a teacher for getting a divorce?
~What can we learn from reserveaspotinheaven.com?

Bible References on the Conversion of Saul/Paul: Acts 7:57-60, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-31, Acts 22:1-22, Acts 26:1-23, Gal 1
The conversion of Saul by Bible.org

Links on Amitai Etzioni:
AmitaiEtzioni.org
Religion and Social Order - Amitai Eztioni by Hoover.org

Links on Richard Ross:
Paradise '08 event by Paradise08.com
Paradisethoughts.com

Ethics: Should We Invade Myanmar?

We’re all still reeling from the news that a cyclone hit Burma last week and has killed over 31,000 people so far, with estimates running as high as 100,000, and displacing over a million and a half people. If you want to give, Food for the Hungry has already partnered with KPXQ, and you can call them at 1-888-356-7700 or click here to donate online. But some people have been suggesting something far more drastic. With the military leaders of the country dragging their feet on allowing aid (Food for the Hungry is already there), calls have come for an invasion of Myanmar as a humanitarian cause. Given that there is no strategic importance to this country for the U.S. but a tremendous crisis to be averted in human terms, should we persuade the U.N. to invade? Should the U.S. do so on its own if the world won’t?

Links:
Myanmar by Wikipedia
Cyclone Nargis by Wikipedia
Time to invade Burma? by Time.com
Should Myanmar be invaded? by Aerospace & Defense News
Should the U.N. invade Myanmar? by Gather.com
U.N. frustration grows at aid problems by Reuters
Supplies getting through but logistics difficult by Alertnet.com
The case for invading Myanmar by Asia Times
Problem with dictators and disasters by Asia Times
1/3 of Burmese get needed relief by Bangkok Post
Aid reaches 300,000; Appeal seeks more funding by ReliefWeb
Myanmar cyclone updates by ReliefWeb

What’s Your Favorite Pie?

Since Mother’s Day was yesterday, I thought it would be fun to talk about the pies we love and, especially, the pies our moms made for us when we were growing up.

Various Current Events

Vacations with kids: "Stay-cation" by Christian Science Monitor
Myanmar allows pressure to allow aid by NY Times
Philadelphia police beating of suspects taped by NY Times
The 18-cent solution Opinion, by NY Times
Dealer says spike in gun sales due to presidency by WNCT.com
Was it easier being a mom in 1908? by Christian Science Monitor
Israel at 60 by Christian Science Monitor
Maybe dems, not reps, put more behind bars by Law.UPenn.edu
Blessed be the name of the Lord by Christianity Today
Congress looking at steel pennies and nickels by AP
Jeremiah Wright, brother in Christ by Christianity Today
Body parts for sale by ABC News
Animals: Smarter isn't always better by NY Times
No results? No research money Opinion, by NY Times
Global food riots by National Review
You Walk Wrong by NY Magazine

Wacky Wednesday--It’s Never Right To Leave Your Church

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.

~When is it right to leave your family?
~How are you going to fix something you leave? And what about all the people who are still in it who need the unique influences that you bring to the mixture of your own group?
~Where is your best mission field: in a group who thinks like you or in a group who really needs your influence?
~The vast majority of people who leave churches do so for illegitimate reasons.
~The ability to leave a church and find another one makes church discipline impossible.
~When divorce is made so easy and appealing, what happens to the willingness to make a marriage work that is having trouble?
~Church, like marriage, is designed to make you holy, not happy.
~It seems weird that Paul would encourage a slave to stay with his master but wouldn’t be bothered by a person simply leaving a church he disagreed with.
~When you have to stay, you are forced to find a way to make it work by confrontation and discussion.
~If everyone who wanted to leave the church did so, then only those people who were all so similar that there was never any disagreement would be left, which would be sad.
~How can you abandon those whom Jesus died for?
~Were they ever your family, or is it just recently that they’ve lost you?
~What level of sin doesn’t the blood of Jesus cover in your church family?

Wacky Wednesday--You Should Only Listen To Your Pastor’s Preaching

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.

~A single leader creates community among those who all believe the same things.
~Different people learning different things creates chaos.
~Unity and strength come from similarity, not from diversity.
~You should be loyal to a leader for all he’s done for you.
~Other pastors might be better teachers, funnier, more charismatic, or anything else, and this makes you less appreciative of your own and wish he were more like them.
~Listening to other pastors is no different than a married man going to a strip club once in a while, at least in terms of the effect it has on your ability to be fully satisfied with your own wife.
~A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
~A teacher shouldn’t build on another man’s foundation, nor want to, and a student shouldn’t allow another man to build on the foundation laid by his teacher.
~Listening to other pastors gives you the idea that there are plenty of options available for you at other churches if you become unhappy here, which makes it that much harder to convince yourself to do what’s necessary to bless this church.
~The only reason to listen to other people is because you aren’t getting what you need at home or in your own Bible devotions. If that’s the case, it’s probably because you’ve grown used to being spoon fed but you need to learn to feed yourself, not be spoon fed by someone else.
~Does your pastor get excited at the idea of you listening to other people? Would you discuss your choice to listen to other people with your him? Why not?
~What you need is to work on your own spiritual maturity rather than getting given more freebies from someone else’s daddy.
~Most people seek other pastors because they aren’t actually living what even their own pastor preaches.
~Multiple inputs often leads to confusion and relativism.
~When you hear others challenge what your pastor preaches, you become disillusioned both with him and with truth in general.
~It’s easy to get exposed to heresy through other people.
~We don’t generally ask children what sort of food they think would be best for them to eat. And some people are clearly children, according to Hebrews 5.
~How can a pastor keep track of what his congregation knows so he can know what to teach them if they’re out listening to anyone else?
~Do you want your kids listening to other random adults without your supervision or at least consent?

Theological Tuesday

~Bible Stories 16: Noah’s Flood (Genesis 6-9)
~Is Jesus manly?
~Should we listen to other people’s pastors?
~Should Wheaton College have fired a teacher for getting a divorce?
~What can we learn from reserveaspotinheaven.com?

Ethics: Op-Ed Ethics

In America, we have a specific piece of our Constitution devoted to protecting political speech. This is a core freedom we all believe in. But we also know that freedoms carry with them certain responsibilities. So what are the responsibilities of people who write opinion-editorial pieces? And, specifically, what sort of principles should guide the conduct of those of us who write columns and are Christians? Is it fair to judge editorials by whether the spirit they are written in is likely to bring us closer to Christ? Or is that just asking too much from things that are often satirical and designed for entertainment? Have you ever read a column that you thought was immoral, not because it advocated something you disagreed with, but because of the way it did it?

Did You Have A Security Blanket or Wubby?

After recently discussed the propriety of children having dolls, I thought it would be fun to find out how many of you grew up with special toys, animals, or blankets that were your “Wubbies.” My suspicion is that almost everyone had one, but do you remember it’s name? Do you still have it in your possession? And what condition is it in after years of drool and sleep companionship?

Various Current Events

What Muslims Really Think by Dinesh D'Souza
Evangelical to split with Anglican Church by The Vancouver Sun
The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change by WSJ.com
Young Gay Rites by Nytimes
The New Face of Gay Marriage by Albert Mohler
Justices Uphold a Voter ID Law by Nytimes
The Court Fumbles on Voting Rights by Nytimes
Read the Case by Findlaw.com
Exploiting Real Fears With ‘Virtual Kidnappings’ by Nytimes
Study links smoking bans, DUI fatalities by Usatoday
Keeping Pets in Their Place by Christianitytoday.com
Ministry Fined In Gay Discrimination Case by Christianpost
Soldier Sues Army, Discrimination for Atheist Views by Christianpost
Why We're Losing Our Right to Speak Out by Chuck Colson
The Gas-Guzzler Gambit by Nytimes
Horizons: What's new in sci-tech by Csmonitor.com
Grand Theft Auto IV records 609,000 first-day sales by Timesonline
GTA 4 poised to dominate Xbox Live by Reuters
$100 million GTA IV is most expensive game ever by idg.no
Grand Theft Auto IV by Wikipedia
House to approve anti-genetic discrimination bill by Findlaw
The Rescue of Children from Compound in Texas by Findlaw
Dockworkers take May Day off by Latimes.com
Confusing God and Government by Vinepublication.com
Kennedy Links World Food Shortages to Ethanol Policy by CNSnews
Hamas Adds 'Sinister Twist' to Holocaust Denial by CNSnews
Clinton Gas-Tax Proposal Criticized by Washingtonpost
Scarborough on Obama's bowling performance by MediaMatters
Energy Independence Isn't Very Green by Hoover.org