Next May we will be leading a tour of Asia Minor and a hike from Nazareth to Capernaum, and when we come up over the Mount of Beatitudes and see Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee below us. Our last day will be touring Jerusalem — the Temple mount, Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives, and the breaktaking view of Jerusalem (see after the jump). We’d love for you to consider joining us. Here are some of the details: The... Read more

At the most recent SBC annual meeting there was a dustup about the wisdom of the Sinner’s Prayer in evangelism, and David Platt was the source of the concern because he had made some disparaging remarks about the effectiveness of the Sinner’s Prayer. I stand 100% with Platt on what he said. CT has published not only his own take on the event, and how he has been misrepresented, but also his long sermon in which his remarks were found.... Read more

In the church tradition Sunday is resurrection day; every Sunday celebrates the resurrection, not just Easter. It is also a day to celebrate victory of life over the obstacles of life, and this story by Dave Moore, a regular reader and contributor to this blog, can give each of us reasons to pause and give thanks to God — for the resurrection. My Stroke of Insight When it rains, it pours.  Along with recently experiencing severe pain in all my... Read more

Unesco has granted endangered world heritage status and funding for repairs to the site seen as Jesus’s birthplace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, despite objections from the US and Israel. Israeli officials have questioned the need for Bethlehem to be registered as an endangered site and see Palestinian moves at Unesco and other UN bodies as an effort to embarrass Israel on the world stage. Thirteen out of 21 members of the world heritage committee voted in favour of... Read more

From The Guardian: What’s the solution to this? Have a medical doctor alongside the “cutter”? Jewish and Muslim leaders were united on Wednesday in their condemnation of a German court’s decision to in effect outlaw the circumcision of boys after a judge deemed that the religious practice amounted to bodily harm. Representatives of the two religious communities called the ruling insensitive and discriminatory, saying it was an attack on centuries of religious tradition. A judge at a Cologne court said... Read more

From Elizabeth Kolbert: It’s a fact. American children are not as responsible as children elsewhere, and even more not as responsible as they need to be to enter into the work force as adults. What are we doing about this? What’s the #1 suggestion for you? Ochs and Izquierdo noted, in their paper on the differences between the family lives of the Matsigenka and the Angelenos, how early the Matsigenka begin encouraging their children to be useful. Toddlers routinely heat... Read more

Exodus International has been known for rescuing gays and lesbians, healing them, and reordering their sexual lives toward heterosexuality. They have not made overly extravagant claims for success but if anyone group has this reputation it is Exodus International. Until now. I consider this news to be evidence of a colossal shift with Exodus International. No doubt, some will say they have a long way to go while others will see them caving in. Here’s the AP report by Patrick... Read more