R. Albert Mohler Jr.'s Blog, page 299
October 5, 2015
The Briefing 10-05-15
1) Brokenness of world evident through tragedies, failures in Afghanistan, Syria, and beyond
Airstrike Hits Doctors Without Borders Hospital in Afghanistan, New York Times (Alissa J. Rubin)
Billions From U.S. Fail to Sustain Foreign Forces, New York Times (Eric Schmitt and Tim Arango)
Questions about leadership follow Obama, Chicago Tribune (Christi Parsons)
British Teenager Sentenced in Plot to Kill Police on Anzac Day in Australia, New York Times (Steven Erlanger)
2) Oregon shooting example of disguised and irrational nature of evil
Oregon Shooting at Umpqua College Kills 10, Sheriff Says, New York Times (Dirk Vanderhart, Kirk Johnson, and Julie Turkewitz)
Oregon Killer Described as Man of Few Words, Except on Topic of Guns, New York Times (Jack Healy and Ian Lovett)
Oregon shooter said to have singled out Christians for killing in ‘horrific act of cowardice’, Washington Post (Eli Saslow, Sarah Kaplan, and Joseph Hoyt)
Mass Murderers Fit Profile, as Do Many Others Who Don’t Kill, New York Times (N. R. Kleinfield, Russ Buettner, David W. Chen and Nikita Stewart)
3) 25th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall, a great moral scar of 21st century, passes largely unnoticed
In a United Germany, the Scars of the East-West Divide Have Faded, New York Times (Alison Smale)
October 4, 2015
October 2, 2015
The Briefing 10-02-15
1) Oregon community college shooting tragic demonstration of evil and sin
Gunman in Oregon college shooting killed; multiple fatalities reported, Washington Post (Joseph Hoyt, Mark Berman, and Jerry Markon)
Oregon shooting: Gunman dead after college rampage, CNN (Dana Ford)
2) Obama's call to combat ISIS ideologically rejected by UN intimidated by strength of Islam
Obama’s Call at U.N. to Fight ISIS With Ideas Is Largely Seen as Futile, New York Times (Gardiner Harris and Eric Schmitt)
3) Majority of Harvard freshman class secular, foreshadowing future of American elites
There are more atheists and agnostics entering Harvard than Protestants and Catholics, Washington Post (Sarah Pulliam Bailey)
Class of 2019 by the numbers, Harvard Crimson
4) In light of secular confusion, important for evangelicals to assert biblical basis of value of all living creation
It's time for evangelicals to speak up for animals, USA Today (Kirsten Powers)
Every Living Thing: An Evangelical Statement on Responsible Care for Animals, Every Living Thing
October 1, 2015
The Briefing 10-01-15
1) Planned Parenthood congressional hearing exposes limits of politics on moral issues
The GOP Is Overmatched, The Federalist (David Harsanyi)
2) Pope meeting with Kim Davis underlines quandary of Francis' desire to appeal to everyone
Pope Francis Met With Kim Davis, Kentucky County Clerk, in Washington, New York Times (Laurie Goodstein)
Pope Francis isn't a liberal. He's something more radical: a Christian humanist., The Week (Peter Weber)
Kim Davis met with Pope Francis for 10 minutes, received a rosary, CNN (Ed Payne and Daniel Burke)
What it means that Pope Francis met Kim Davis, Crux News (John L. Allen, Jr.)
Relax, Pope Francis’s meeting with Kim Davis isn’t such a big deal, Washington Post (James Martin)
How Pope Francis Undermined the Goodwill of His Trip and Proved to Be a Coward, Huffington Post (Michelangelo Signorile)
3) Pope's political messaging consequence of sacramental division of practice and doctrine
A Politicized Pope, Wall Street Journal (Daniel Henninger)
September 30, 2015
The Briefing 09-30-15
1) Planned Parenthood president finally appears before Congress
Planned Parenthood leader: Video allegations are ‘offensive’ and ‘untrue’, Washington Post (Sandhya Somashekhar)
2) Bill Nye's defense of abortion attempts to use 'science' as independent moral authority
Bill Nye Brings Down Hammer of Science on Abortion Opponents, Newsweek (Paule Mejia)
Back to Science Class for the Science Guy, National Review (Robert P. George and Patrick Lee)
3) As Chinese consume American culture, American moral messaging spreads
Chinese Embrace America’s Culture but Not Its Policies, New York Times (Chris Buckley)
September 29, 2015
The Briefing 09-29-15
1) America's future culture, politics reshaped by surging immigration trends among Asians
Asians to Surpass Hispanics as Largest Foreign-Born Group in U.S. by 2055, Wall Street Journal (Mirian Jordan)
Modern Immigration Wave Brings 59 Million to U.S., Driving Population Growth and Change Through 2065, Pew Research Center
2) Volkswagen controversy exposes moral significance of trust to economy, civilization
Free market requires moral code, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Steve Brawner)
3) Embryo legal battle between divorcees reveals lack of moral clarity in society
Embryo battles are likely to get a precedent in San Francisco couple's case, Los Angeles Times (Maura Dolan)
September 28, 2015
The Briefing 09-28-15
1) Boehner resignation from Speaker of House signals fissures within conservatives in America
John Boehner, House Speaker, Will Resign From Congress, New York Times (Jennifer Steinhauer)
John Boehner just sacrificed his career for the good of the Republican Party, Washington Post (Chris Cillizza)
2) Planned Parenthood conflict reveals life and death significance of political process
Reacting to Videos, Planned Parenthood Fights to Regain Initiative, New York Times (Jackie Calmes)
Don't shut down government over Planned Parenthood, The Tennesseean (David Plazas)
3) Pope's statements in US leave confusion, paving way of leftward trajectory for Catholicism
Pope Departs, After Showing a Deft Touch, New York Times (Jim Yardley and Laurie Goodstein)
For Finale, It's 'Francis Effect' vs. Core Catholic Doctrine, New York Times (Jason Horowitz)
4) Liberal theology's marriage to liberal politics leads to secular liberalism
Springtime for Liberal Christianity, New York Times (Ross Douthat)
September 25, 2015
Some Thoughts on the Reading of Books
I cannot really remember when I did not love to read books. I do know that I was very eager to learn to read, and that I quickly found myself immersed in the world of books and literature. It may have been a seduction of sorts, and the Christian disciples must always be on guard to guide the eyes to books worthy of a disciple’s attention—and there are so many.
As Solomon warned, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecc 12:12). There is no way to read everything, and not everything deserves to be read. I say that in order to confront the notion that anyone, anywhere, can master all that could be read with profit. I read a great deal, and a large portion of my waking hours are devoted to reading. Devotional reading for spiritual profit is an important part of the day, and that begins with the reading of Scripture. In terms of timing, I am somewhat unorthodox. My best time for spending time in the Word is late at night, when all is calm and quiet and I am mentally alert and awake. That is not the case when I first get up in the mornings, when I struggle to find each word on the page (or anything else, for that matter).
In the course of any given week, I will read several books. I know how much I thrive on this learning and the intellectual stimulation I get from reading. As my wife and family would be first to tell you, I can read almost anytime, anywhere, under almost any kind of conditions. I have a book with me virtually all the time, and have been known to snatch a few moments for reading at stop lights. No, I do not read while driving (though I must admit that it has been a temptation at times). I took books to high school athletic events when I played in the band. (Heap coals of scorn and nerdliness here). I remember the books; do you remember the games?
A few initial suggestions:
1. Maintain regular reading projects. I strategize my reading in six main categories: Theology, Biblical Studies, Church Life, History, Cultural Studies, and Literature. I have some project from each of these categories going at all times. I collect and gather books for each project and read them over a determined period of time. This helps to discipline my reading, and it also keeps me working across several disciplines.
2. Work through major sections of Scripture. I am just completing an expository series, preaching verse by verse through the book of Romans. I have preached and taught several books of the Bible in recent years, and I plan my reading to stay ahead. I am turning next to Matthew, so I am gathering and reading ahead—not yet planning specific messages, but reading to gain as much as possible from worthy works on the first gospel. I am constantly reading works in biblical theology as well as exegetical studies.
3. Read all the titles written by some authors. Choose carefully here, but identify some authors whose books demand your attention. Read all they have written and watch their minds at work and their thought in development. No author can complete his thoughts in one book, no matter how large.
4. Get some big sets and read them through. Yes, invest in the works of Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, and others. Set a project for yourself to read through the entire set and give yourself time. You will be surprised how far you will get in less time than you think.
5. Allow yourself some fun reading, and learn how to enjoy reading by reading enjoyable books. I like books across the fields of literature, but I really love to read historical biographies and historical works in general. In addition, I really enjoy quality fiction and worthy works of literature. As a boy, I probably discovered my love for reading in these categories of books. I allow some time each day, when possible, for such reading. It doesn’t have to be much. Stay in touch with the thrill.
6. Write in your books; mark them up and make them yours. Books are to be read and used, not collected and coddled. (Make an exception here for those rare antiquarian books that are treasured for their antiquity. Mark not thy pen on the ancient page, and highlight not upon the manuscript.) Invent your own system or borrow from another, but learn to have a conversation with the book, pen in hand.
I would write more for this post, but I must go read. More later. For now: Tolle lege!
I am always glad to hear from readers. Write me at mail@albertmohler.com. Follow regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/albertmohler.
This article was originally published at Together for the Gospel on January 25, 2006.
The Briefing 09-25-15
1) Pope's Congress address fails to mention Jesus, affirms leftward leading of Roman Church
Pope Francis Challenges Congress to Heal World’s ‘Open Wounds’, New York Times (Peter Baker and Jim Yardley)
Pope Francis Never Mentioned Jesus In His Speech To Congress, The Federalist (Federalist Staff)
Transcript: Pope Francis’s speech to Congress, Washington Post
Pope Pious: What Evangelicals Like About Francis, Christianity Today (Chris Castaldo)
A Pope for All Species, New York Times (Nicholas Kristof)
2) Abortion videos expose divide over abortion as either murder or morally insignificant
The G.O.P.’s Obsession With Planned Parenthood, New York Times (Editorial Board)
3) Pagan Pride Day reveals inherent spiritual identity and needs even in hyper-modern age
Pagan Pride Day: Earth-based religions celebrate unique identity, Religion News Service (Lauren Pond)
September 24, 2015
The Briefing 09-24-15
1) Pope's visit time for evangelicals to make clear issue with pope is theological, not personal
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Vatican
In D.C., pope weighs in on climate, poverty, immigration to start U.S. tour, Washington Post (Abby Ohlheiser, Greg Jaffe, Michael E. Ruane and Steve Hendrix )
Pope Francis Visit to D.C., New York Times
2) Nancy Pelosi example of worldview conflict between pro-choice Catholics and Catholic teaching
In Pelosi, Strong Catholic Faith and Abortion Rights Coexist, New York Times (Jennifer Steinhauer)
3) Shout Your Abortion hashtag effort to normalize abortion, claim baby part of woman's body
I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper, The Guardian (Lindy West)
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