Reading Group

Our Sovereign Grace Pastors group is going to read Richard Sibbes book Glorious Freedom. Since I've never read it and know very little of of Sibbes this is going to be fun. In conjunction I am reading Mark Dever's Richard Sibbes: Puritanism and Calvinism in Late Elizabethan and Early Stuart England. You may find Sibbes works listed at Monergism. You can buy the books through Westminster Seminary - see the links.

C.S. Lewis & "Mere Christianity"

Professor David Skell of the University of Pennsylvania Law School has a wonderful op-ed piece in today's Wall Street Journal. He mentions various books on apologetics, including PCA pastor Tim Keller's The Reason for God (#23 this week on the NY Times bestseller list.) the article may be reached here. The professor details his reasons for believing Mere Christianity is still superior to other books, although he believes Keller comes close. The professor also has a blog at lessthantheleast.

Are You a Liberal?

John Hawkins has published "25 reasons you might be a liberal" over at Townhall. You can find it here. Like the Prager piece it is a good read and a bit more humorous.

A Good Read

I found Dennis Prager's republishing his essay "Why I Am Not a Liberal" to be compelling reading. You may find it here at the Townhall website.

Russia vs. Georgia

The great Russian Bear has roused itself and now seeks once again to dominate the Crimea and thrust a finger in the eye of the West. As one trained in history and a one time instructor of the same for high school and community college students, the lack of a speedy and definitive response by the Bush administration is appalling. W is at the Olympics and Condi is on vacation. The presidents response this afternoon was wimpy. Having spent some time recently in Ukraine and having talked with Ukrainians, this crisis must be met head on and forcefully. Bush seems a day late and a dollar short on this one - perhaps a true lame duck?

The Olympics and the persecuted church

As the Olympic games in Beijing approach there has been increased harassment of Christian leaders. I'm joining with many of my fellow Christian bloggers by asking you to pray specifically for the persecuted church in China. The Chinese government is masking the real ugliness of not only its pollution but also its treatment of our Christian brothers and sisters. A program started by Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association asks Christians to wear arm bands and pray for the church during this time. You can request an arm band by following this link.

Consider this report:

"Some well meaning Christian leaders would like you to believe that Christians are no longer persecuted in China," the promotion says. "Chinese Christians like Anna would disagree. At the young age of 11, Anna has been persecuted for her faith. She has been run out of a Christian orphanage by the Communist authorities and refused admission to public school. She currently lives in hiding and attends an illegal underground Christian school. Anna, like many persecuted Christians in China, remains strong in her faith. She recently told The Voice of the Martyrs, 'I think God must really love me. He has taken such good care of me.'"

(A tip of the hat to Michele McGinty @ Reformed Chicks Blabbing and Voice of the Martyrs)

Ukraine Trip, part 2

Well, after the trip we enjoyed 10 days in beautiful Silver Bay, NY (on Lake George). We had our second son and his family with us. Now it is back to work. Here is a link to Lake Osborne PCA where you will find a brief narrative and pictures of the trip. Rev. Larry Roff, a pastor at LOPC, was the choir tour organizer. It was a truly wonderful and moving experience. I'm ready to do it again.