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The second use of the Law

September 26, 2011 By Gene Veith

Let’s do a series on God’s Law. . . .Last time we discussed the first use of the Law, the civil use. The second is the theological use, the confrontation with God’s demands that makes us realize our sinfulness and our desperate need for the Gospel. When we read a book, we might consider how we situate ourselves as readers. That is, in the case of a novel, whom do we identify with? What side of the conflict do we… Read more

America’s decline and China’s rise?

September 26, 2011 By Gene Veith

36 Comments

Robert Kaplan sees President Obama’s refusal to sell the latest F-16s to Taiwan as a sign of America’s decline and China’s rise: By 2020, the United States will not be able to defend Taiwan from a Chinese air attack, a 2009 Rand study found, even with America’s F-22s, two carrier strike groups in the region and continued access to the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. Moreover, China is at the point of deploying anti-ship ballistic missiles that threaten U.S. surface… Read more

Breaking the speed limit

September 26, 2011 By Gene Veith

30 Comments

Scientists have found neutrinos that seem to be traveling faster than the speed of light, which, according to the laws of physics since Einstein, is supposed to be impossible: Puzzling results from Cern, home of the LHC, have confounded physicists – because it appears subatomic particles have exceeded the speed of light. Neutrinos sent through the ground from Cern toward the Gran Sasso laboratory 732km away seemed to show up a tiny fraction of a second early. The result -… Read more

The first use of the Law

September 23, 2011 By Gene Veith

68 Comments

We’ve talked about the second use of the Law (which convicts us of our sin and drives us to the Gospel) and the third use of the Law (its role in the Christian life). But we have perhaps neglected the first use of the Law, the civil use, which restrains external evil so as to make life in society possible. The civil use doesn’t save anyone, and it isn’t even religious as such, applying to all people whether they are… Read more

Last night’s debate

September 23, 2011 By Gene Veith

34 Comments

This is the place to comment on last night’s debate between the Republican presidential contenders. Are things clarifying for you? Has Perry lost some of his luster? Does Romney look better? What’s wrong with Santorum? Should Republicans reconsider Gingrich? Has Paul lost any of his sheen? Have any of you changed your mind about whom to support? Read more

Watch out for falling satellite

September 23, 2011 By Gene Veith

16 Comments

If you see this thing plummeting down on you Friday afternoon, we’ll help you account for it: Here is the forecast as of Thursday evening: While North America appears to be off the hook, scientists are scrambling to pinpoint exactly where and when a dead NASA climate satellite will plummet back to Earth on Friday. The 6-ton, bus-sized satellite is expected to break into more than a hundred pieces as it plunges through the atmosphere, most of it… Read more

Why our foreign relations are in such bad shape

September 23, 2011 By Gene Veith

58 Comments

President Obama at a meeting of world leaders at the UN: Read more

Preaching assurance vs. preaching doubt

September 22, 2011 By Gene Veith

128 Comments

I have noticed that there are two kinds of preachers, especially when addressing young people: One kind tries to assure the listeners of their salvation in Christ, underscoring His grace and mercy and His atoning work on the Cross. The other kind tries to make the listeners question whether they are “really” Christians. (“Did you REALLY give your life to the Lord? Do you show the fruit of true faith? Does your life show evidence of true conversion? Maybe you… Read more

Should Obama run for re-election?

September 22, 2011 By Gene Veith

54 Comments

Steven Chapman, editorial writer for the Chicago Tribune, calls upon President Obama not to run for re-election, to make way instead for a candidate associated with toughness and prosperity, namely, iHillary Clinton: The vultures are starting to circle. Former White House spokesman Bill Burton said that unless Obama can rally the Democratic base, which is disillusioned with him, “it’s going to be impossible for the president to win.” Democratic consultant James Carville had one word of advice for Obama: “Panic.”… Read more

Europe’s problem and our problem

September 22, 2011 By Gene Veith

16 Comments

Economics columnist Robert J. Samuelson gives a good explanation of what’s going on in the European economy: Europe’s banking crisis — and “crisis” is used advisedly — tells us how much and how little has changed since the onset of global financial turmoil in September 2008. Then, people worried about the viability of major American banks, loaded with “toxic” mortgage-backed securities whose value was difficult to determine. Now, people worry about major European banks, loaded with government (a.k.a. “sovereign”) bonds… Read more