John Hagee once called the Roman church "the great whore." He also called the Roman church "apostate." But now that he's endorsed John McCain, Hagee is retracting all the mean things he said about the Roman church. The first and greatest evangelical political commandment is this: "Use your influence to get the right man elected." And the second is like it. "If it will help, apologize for all of the offensive things you said beforehand, even if those offensive things are truths deeply held." Click here: Pastor apologizes for anti-Catholic remarks

Check out the introduction to the Gospel of Luke in the new ESV Study Bible! This should be a great tool. (Coming in October--h.t. to Justin Taylor) Click here: http://www.esvstudybible.org/images/excerpt-luke-intro.pdf.

Lee Irons has posted an amazing video of old folks getting "jiggy with it" during the liturgy at the church of "What's Happening Now."   There is liturgical dance, there are paper mache giants, and you can almost hear them chant "great is Diana of the Ephesians!"  Amazing what happens in churches which don't see any use for the gospel.  Click here: The Upper Register Blog » Blog Archive » Mainline madness

Finally, with the new Indiana Jones movie soon to be released, this news release cannot be a mere coincidence. Archaeologist Helmut Ziegert from the University of Hamburg, claims to have found the remains of the 10th century BC palace of the Queen of Sheba, complete with an altar which once held the long-lost Ark of the Covenant.   Click here: Lost ark 'discovered in Ethiopia' - Telegraph

It is bad enough that many preachers have never even heard of a distinction between the  "two kingdoms."  Now that election season is upon us, here's a group of tax-crusaders urging preachers to "preach" about politics in open defiance of current IRS policy prohibiting such things.  I hate the IRS as much as the next guy, but since I fear God rather than men, I'll preach the law and the gospel, and let God take care of his world, including who becomes the next president of the United States.  Never thought I'd side with tax-collectors . . .   Click here: Pastors Urged to Preach About Politics, in Hopes of Toppling IRS Ban - America’s Election HQ

OK, cynic that I am, my question is, "how does the Pope know this to be true?"  Click here: Pope: Sex can become 'like a drug' - CNN.com

I do like it, however, when the Roman church actually disciplines its erring members!  I wish the archbishops of New York, Washington DC, and Boston, had the guts to do this with a few politicians named Kennedy, Pelosi, and Guliani.   Click here: RNS Feature: "Archbishop tells Kansas governor not to take Communion"

Dottie Rambo has been killed in a bus crash--the gospel singer, not John Rambo's mother (or girl-friend, or wife, or whatever).  Her bus hit a freeway embankment in Missouri, probably due to the recent severe storms.  I'm not a fan by any stretch, but we sure sold a lot of her records back in the day when I owned a Christian bookstore.  Click here: Gospel Legend Dottie Rambo Dies in Bus Accident

Thanks to Nathan Pitchford, who sends along this link to a free download (pdf) of his "Categorized Scripture List" dealing with the people of God.  This list is taken from the ESV, and is very helpful for those reconsidering their dispensationalism.  Click here: http://www.monergismbooks.com/pdfs/pog_003.pdf . 

For a mere $3.95 this same material can also be purchased in an attractive booklet from our friends @ monergism.com.   Click here: What the Bible Says about THE PEOPLE OF GOD :: Booklets & Tracts :: Monergism Books.

Nathan has another very helpful list of Scriptures dealing with the doctrines of grace.  It can be found here:  Click here: What the Bible Says about THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE :: Booklets & Tracts :: Monergism Books

How about Jihad by lawsuit?  A successful business owner in the UK is being sued because she won't allow an employee in her "alternative" hair-salon to wear her Muslim headscarf.  Of course, the costs from the lawsuit will probably put her out of business.   Click here: Pajamas Media » Pig Tales, Pigtails, and Islamism

The contentless (or theologically liberal) Church of England is losing members so fast that by 2035, there will be more Muslims in the UK than Christians.  I'm surprised it will take that long.   Click here: Practising Muslims 'will outnumber Christians by 2035' - Telegraph

Finally, how would you like to have this modern day Noah living next door?  Lets just hope mated pairs of critters don't start showing up!  Click here: 'Ark' Still Awash With Unanswered Questions
 

So, even though Jeremiah Wright's political rants are offensive, I can't judge him, because he's my "brother in Christ" . . .   Wait a minute!  Wright's politics are one thing--and I for one, really don't care what his political views are.  But shouldn't I determine what he "confesses" about Christ before declaring him "my brother."  There's a step missing here somewhere.   Click here: Jeremiah Wright, Evangelicals' Brother in Christ | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Talk about the ultimate nanny state . . .  Can you imagine living in a nation ruled by Islamic clerics?  But in this case, the Islamic clerics are actually the sane(r) ones, as they pressure their apocalytpic President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to back off in his devotion to the Mahdi (the "hidden Imam") whom Ahmadinejad believes is secretly directing Iran while still hidden in a well.  Click here: Iran clerics rebuke Ahmadinejad over 'hidden imam'

Sorry, but the church is not a family business.  We have the Osteens, the Schullers, and now the Falwells.  Come to think of it, since these are "ministries" and not churches, maybe the family business model does work.  This is what happens when a "ministry" is built on personalities, and the founder either dies, or gets too long in the tooth to continue.  Junior must step up, and take dad's place to keep the ministry going.  That's how family businesses work.  Click here: RNS Feature: "A year later, Falwell sons assume father’s mantle"

 Yup, the Vatican has gone high tech.  Now, you can get your very own text message from Pope Benedict XVI.  Click here: Pope goes digital to better connect with youth | Technology | Reuters

I wonder if John McCain would like to rethink getting chummy with John Hagee.  It is bad enough when politicians pander to preachers.  It is far worse when ministers see themselves as political power brokers.  Hagee sure does.   Click here: A Turbulent Pastor | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com

Another Bible-based theme park is going to open, this time in Tennessee.  One of the backers is a former photographer for Penthouse Magazine.   Lets hope the other backers don't let this guy design the Garden of Eden portion of the theme park.  Click here: Bible Theme Park backer photographed women for adult magazines | Nashville is Talking

Some things are just wrong.  Neil Diamond wants to be in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"?  For "Sweet Caroline?"  Yeah, and Barry Manilow belongs in there as well.   And why hasn't Grand Funk Railroad been inducted?   Click here: NEIL DIAMOND - DIAMOND WANTS HALL OF FAME ACCOLADE

Speaking of music . . .  Be careful not to have coffee or other liquids in your mouth when you scroll through this slide show--the fifty worst album covers of all time.   Posting some of these is just plain cruel.   My vote for the best album cover is ZZ Top's Tres Hombres.   How can you look at the inside of that album cover and not rush out to the local Mexican food establishment for some beans, rice, enchiladas and a cold one?  If you've seen it, and if you remember it, I'll bet you have Mexican for dinner!   Click here: Worst album cover ever? Vote for your least favorite and add some comments -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.co

From the recent discussion going on over at Augsburg 1530, it sure doesn't look like the LCMS will be bringing back Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz.  In fact, the replacement LCMS/KFUO host has been talking about a sermon series on sex (given during Lent).  Boggles the mind. 

Lets hope Todd and Jeff reappear soon with a listener-sponsored program which is no longer beholden to the LCMS/ABlaze folk.  To read all about it,  Click here: Augsburg1530

Be forewarned, the "Evangelical Manifesto" is coming next week.  According to a news release, "the declaration, scheduled to be released Wednesday in Washington, encourages Christians to be politically engaged and uphold teachings such as traditional marriage. But the drafters say evangelicals have often expressed `truth without love,' helping create a backlash against religion during a `generation of culture warring.'  `All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others,' they wrote, `while we have condoned our own sins.' They argue, `we must reform our own behavior.'"  We'll see who signs it, and whether or not it is clear about the two kingdoms.  I won't get my hopes up.  Click here: 'Evangelical Manifesto' Ponders Politics - AOL News

Here's a great review of Rev. Danny Hyde's latest book on the Belgic Confession, With Heart and Mouth.   Click here: With Heart and Mouth « Green Baggins

The URCNA finally has its own website.  Not much to look at, but sure better than nothing!  Click here: URCNA.ORG

Finally, the proprietor of this blog has been known to enjoy a good beer on occasion.  That is why I appreciate lists such as the one which can be found here.  Nothing better than a good beer.  Nothing worse than a bad one.  Click here: The world's 10 most disgusting beers - St. Petersburg Times

Everybody panic!  There's a blood moon a-coming!  Must mean that Jesus is coming back in 2015.  That year solar and lunar eclipses will occur about the same time, near the fall Jewish feast days.  That will keep all the prophecy pundits busy.  Click here: Blood moon eclipses: 2nd Coming in 2015?

Here is a very helpful (and rather long) list of biblical passages which fly in the face of dispensationalism.   Thanks to Monergism for posting this.  Too bad the list is not taken from the ESV--its KJV!  Nevetheless, this is great to give to someone re-thinking their eschatology.   Click here: DISPENSATIONALISM – CATEGORIZED SCRIPTURE LIST

National Geographic recently published a very nice pictorial book on Bible history--apparently, it is quite beautiful.  Too bad they got Genesis 22 wrong.   I didn't know that Eid al-Adha is a "biblical holiday."  You know . . .  the day when Abraham sacrificed Ishamael on Mount Moriah.  Have to add that one to the church calendar.   Click here: The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

No surprise that Muslim converts to Christianity face great pressure and are often persecuted--even in the UK.  Usually, they are not persecuted by the police called to protect them.  But in this case it was the police who called the ex-Muslim a "crusader" and then ordered him to stop calling them.  Meanwhile, the vacant house next door burned down.   Now the UN is involved.  Oh, that will fix everything!  Click here: British Muslim 'bullied' for converting to Christianity -Times Online