James White was on Issues, Etc (a radio show) last Sunday talking about his book Scripture Alone. The first hour he mostly talked with the host about various issues and the second hour he answered calls from listeners. If you have questions or concerns about the doctrine of sola scriptura I’m sure you would find this program helpful. Part one is here and part two here. Those links take you directly to a Windows Media File (wma). You can grab the MP3s here.
One of Christian music’s best and most popular bands, PFR, has released a new album. They seem to come and go, retire and unretire, so it is difficult to track what they are doing. But this week they have released The Bookhouse Recordings, which unfortunately is available only through Family Christian Stores (of which there are exactly 0 locations in Canada). The album contains mostly re-recorded hit songs from their previous albums, but also includes three new ones. Christianity Today has an interview with the band that is worth reading if you are a fan of their music. Now I just need to figure out how I can get one of those CDs up here!
While we’re on the subject of music, Switchfoot is coming back to Toronto for the third time this year (December 8). You can rest assured that I will be there. I just can’t get too much Switchfoot…
The New York Times has an op-ed column written by Nicholas D. Kristof that is sure to cause some controversy. Consider the following quote: “The “Left Behind” series, the best-selling novels for adults in the U.S., enthusiastically depict Jesus returning to slaughter everyone who is not a born-again Christian. The world’s Hindus, Muslims, Jews and agnostics, along with many Catholics and Unitarians, are heaved into everlasting fire: “Jesus merely raised one hand a few inches and … they tumbled in, howling and screeching.”” Nice, isn’t it? Later he says “Silly me. I’d forgotten the passage in the Bible about how Jesus intends to roast everyone from the good Samaritan to Gandhi in everlasting fire, simply because they weren’t born-again Christians.” Clearly this is a man with an agenda! Of course I have no great affection for the Left Behind series, but this article is inflammatory simply for the sake of being inflammatory. You can read it here. (you will need to register)
And since it is Thanksgiving today for my neighbours to the north, I thought I would conclude with George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation:
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted’ for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.
(signed) G. Washington
