November 20, 2012 As we prepare for life in post-Christian America, we should look to our brothers and sisters leading the way in other countries
The results of the election left many Americans almost paralyzed with disappointment, wringing their hands as they think about what the future holds. The Republican Party writ large seems to be in a tailspin, but so too are many Christians who oppose the Obama administration and its policies.
November 16, 2012 The Kingdom of God is sure and secure, no matter who won the election
Regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, John Stonestreet asserts that Christians should continue doing the work God has set before us: working for human dignity and the reformation of morals. This is not the time to sit back. It's time to get busy working in all areas of society and our culture to show Christ's lordship. This is the second of a two-part discussion on politics from The Colson Center's "2 Minute Warning."
November 15, 2012 It's never too late to say what must be said
Last Friday evening, my husband and I attended our youngest son's high school swim and dive team awards banquet. Colin's coach took particular care to speak encouraging words about the accomplishments each swimmer and diver had this season. That's what sets this coach apart. As a guidance counselor and swim coach at our local high school, he understands that words have great power. His words will be like apples of gold to those student athletes now and throughout their lives. (Proverbs 25:11)
November 13, 2012 Those who say the GOP should focus on economic issues forget they are inextricably linked to social issues
Pundits and commentators are still trying to break down all the important tidbits of last week's election. As the analysis and finger pointing continues, some advocate a drastic operation to cure what they describe as an ailing GOP: amputating pro-life and traditional family positions. It's a naïve proposition that will have clear repercussions for the economy that more and more conservatives say should get exclusive billing in the party platform.
November 9, 2012 You know you've fallen prey to the political illusion when your anxiety about a particular election is bigger than your faith
Total reliance on government intervention isn't going to help hurting communities. In this "2 Minute Warning" from The Colson Center, John Stonestreet challenges us to reconsider our unhealthy dependence on government solutions in the first of a two-part discussion on politics.
November 8, 2012 Rest assured, the future is in God's hands
Kirk Cameron, television and film actor and producer, has high hopes for his six children, ages 9 through 15. Cameron, known for his memorable roles in ABC's Growing Pains, said on Saturday that "change doesn't begin at the White House, it begins in my house."
November 7, 2012 Inform, converse, engage, but don't run!
I fell asleep last night with one hand on my iPhone, where I was simultaneously reading the Psalms, listening to Bon Iver, and scanning Facebook. As soon as Obama won, both cries of celebration and disappointed threats to move to Canada filled my screen.
November 6, 2012 Despite its many flaws, the nation's school system provides an opportunity for Christian students, teachers and administrators to be salt and light
If you've been on a Christian college campus lately or in a church with educational diversity, you've likely noticed the chasms that can exist between various Christian groups: homeschoolers, private schoolers, and public schoolers.
November 5, 2012 New study says students who use Twitter to stay in touch with professors and classmates earn better grades, but does this create a truly authentic connection?
In a new study, "Twitteracy: Tweeting as a New Literary Practice," co-author Christine Greenhow, a Michigan State professor, reports that students regularly in contact with fellow classmates and instructors on Twitter received higher grades because they were more interested in the content of the course, suggesting that one of the markers of a good course is its use of social media.
November 2, 2012 Ideas matter because they are not alone
Why do some ideas stick but others don't? In this "2 Minute Warning" from The Colson Center, John Stonestreet examines the circumstances that lead to an idea gaining traction in the last of a four-part series, "Ideas Matter." Some ideas in certain times and cultures have bigger consequences than others. The ideas that gain traction in our culture often are the ones that go unquestioned.
November 1, 2012 Do your daily tasks to bring glory to God
I'm a fan of The Pacifier, the 2005 action comedy starring Vin Diesel as Shane Wolfe, the U.S. Navy SEAL assigned to protect the children of a man killed by Serbian rebels. One of my favorite scenes shows the dim-witted high school vice principal and wrestling coach telling the family's oldest son to quit the wrestling team. He then solemnly pronounces: "Quitters, quit!"
October 30, 2012 Pro-Obama television ad shows what its creators really think of women
Forget the fact that a sitting president has his name on it. Forget the fact that the overall message lacks meaningful substance pertinent to a presidential election. Forget the fact that it comes off as complete desperation in the last days of a roller coaster election.
October 26, 2012 Live like no one else
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot be necessarily counted." - Albert Einstein
October 25, 2012 Students taught about the death of culture and Christianity should hear the other side from sociologist Bradley Wright
The production of books, articles, and movies about our imminent demise as a civilization has become a growth industry. The threats vary: global warming, the drug war, HIV/AIDS, the decline of morals or civility or democracy. But college students and sometimes younger ones are likely to hear repeatedly that American society is going to hell on a bobsled.
October 25, 2012 Use a holiday that focuses on the culture of death to point others to eternal life
Forty plus years ago this Halloween my friends and I might have dressed up as hobos, or pirates, or 1950s bobby soxers for Halloween trick-or-treating. We took stuff from our closets and made costumes that at most offered just a hint of who we were imitating. It was economical, easy, and clever--we had to use our imaginations.
October 23, 2012 We should be grateful to live in a country where elections end in handshakes, not bomb blasts
We stood and watched our boy lying in nothing but a diaper. An IV plugged into his vein, the tube taped tightly on top of his hand. Another tube ran through his mouth and into his stomach, regulating his food intake. Though he was just a few hours old, a clear plastic box separated him from his mother and me. Except for the first few moments after he was born, it was more than a day before we could touch him. During those early days, we watched his tiny frame rock up and down as his lungs churned the oxygen from the air. The skin below the base of his sternum sagged, concave, a sign of the distress below the surface. Soon he'd sport a crimped clear tube strapped over his nose, constantly blowing air in to keep his lungs inflated.
October 19, 2012 Ideas define our words and thinking
The ideas we don't think about are the most dangerous. Many people do not think through the underlying implications of an idea that they've come to accept. Always ask yourself, what's the definition I'm accepting for this particular idea. In this "2 Minute Warning" from The Colson Center, John Stonestreet illustrates this point in the third of a four-part series, "Ideas Matter."
October 19, 2012 The country, says author Charles Murray, has big problems regardless of who wins the presidential election
American Enterprise Institute scholar Charles Murray writes books that create intellectual tsunamis, from Losing Ground in 1984 (which eviscerated the U.S. welfare system) to Real Education four years ago (which proposed alternatives to bachelor's degrees; see "College crush," Feb. 14, 2009). This year's Murray blockbuster argues that the United States is Coming Apart.
October 18, 2012 Rise above contentious situations by distracting yourself with more pleasant reflections
Last weekend, I went to Albuquerque to spend time with my son, daughter-in-law, and 3-year-old granddaughter. At the crack of dawn on Saturday, we headed off to Balloon Fiesta Park to witness the Mass Ascension--a launch of hundreds of hot air balloons.The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the world's premier ballooning event. It was magnificent! Our eyes turned skyward for more than an hour as we watched the most spectacular display of the oldest aviation sport. The thought of taking a balloon ride captivated my imagination, but time ran out.
October 12, 2012 Ideas answer our biggest questions
The major difference between animals and humans is that humans think about the controlling questions of life. In this "2 Minute Warning" from The Colson Center, John Stonestreet explains what the controlling questions are and why they are so important.
