My friend Brett Kunkle (Student Impact Director at Stand to Reason) just launched a new site that will help you think clearly about Christianity. Check it out
Is Christianity true? for everyone? Here is Brett’s helpful way to begin thinking about truth. Enjoy!
The Centrality of Christ
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col 1:15-20)
Was Jesus Smart?
“Jesus is Lord can mean little to someone who has to hesitate before saying Jesus is smart.”—Dallas Willard
When it comes down to it, does Jesus actually know what he is talking about…in your and my life?
Of Superbowl Ads, Tim Tebow’s Story, and Freedom of Speech
Well the most watched TV event ever is over–106 million I think–and what have we learned? The Colts are really good. The Saints were better last night.
But what have we learned from all of the hype regarding the Pro-life Tim Tebow ad. A very important lesson in our media savvy culture. Less is more.
here are some summary thoughts and commentary…
See the Full Video of Tebow’s Story. (well worth watching!)
Tebow Super Bowl Ad Leads Viewers to ‘God Story’
“Nicely played, Focus on the Family. Having gotten the entire country to talk for weeks about the group’s antiabortion stance with this controversial Tim Tebow spot, the ad itself ends up with only the phrase “miracle baby,” a website referral and the tagline, “Celebrate family. Celebrate life,” to clue us in on the ad’s subtext.” (from CNN)
“Dr. Darrell Bock, research professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, said there is a push back on the ability of someone to tell a personal story, or the right to free speech.
“Some people use the word hate speech [to describe the ad] and they haven’t even seen it,” Bock told The Christian Post Friday. “This is particularly odd in a society where all kinds of free speech that would be uncomfortable for a lot of people [are aired]. But someone tells a personal story and they try to cut that off.”–Darrell Bock (for more)
Tim Tebow Foundation from Tim Tebow on Vimeo.
NOW is outraged….seriously? (read below)
John McCormack writes:
The LA Times reports that the president of the National Organization for Women is still outrageously outraged over the incredibly tame Focus on the Family/Tebow ad last night:
NOW president Terry O’Neill said [the Tebow ad] glorified violence against women. “I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it,” she said. “That’s what comes across to me even more strongly than the anti-abortion message. I myself am a survivor of domestic violence, and I don’t find it charming. I think CBS should be ashamed of itself.“
The “violence against women” O’Neill refers to occurs when Tim Tebow tackles his mom Pam in an attempt at slapstick.
“No word yet on whether or not NOW is equally outraged by the hyper-sexualized objectification of women in many of the other Super Bowl ads. Or whether or not they are bothered by the actual violence that is done to women who are just being born.”–Justin Taylor (HT – Between Two Worlds)
Finally, would you be able to make a powerful case for the human rights of the unborn in 5 minutes or less? You can if you read this…
Thinking well is really important
“Your intellectual life is important…for the simple reason that your very character, the kind of person you are and are becoming, is at stake. Careful oversight of our intellectual lives is imperative if we are to think well, and thinking well is an indispensable ingredient to living well.”—Jay Wood