More horrific scenes from the continuing world war of the rich on the poor. A reader writes: I was thinking that 1. They need our prayer; and 2. Some of your contacts may have some tangible ways for us readers to help as well. I’m not really sure where to send money or where I sign up to take in a child (if that’s even possible) but I’m hoping that within your readership there might be that knowledge. If anybody... Read more

God save us from amateur Bible scholars and their secret Bible decoder rings: Read more

I’m in a local contest sponsored by an anti-smoking organization where five contestants have videos and the one that gets the most votes gets an iPad 2. My video features my daughter Pippa and I having a fun day in the park. Vote for it here! Read more

A reader writes: I have another 3 possible opportunities on the horizon, meaning another 3 interviews. I would like to ask for prayers not only that the interviews go well but that (at least?) one of them turn into an actual, honest-to-goodness job that pays enough to meet my financial obligations. I am also in the midst of an appeal to a major health insurance company after they (erroneously) denied my application for an insurance policy, so I also ask... Read more

A reader writes: I’m sorry to have to rely on your and your reader’s again Mark but I’m currently in dire straights. I had hoped that one day I might be a Priest and/or Religious but I’ve been told by more than one vocation director that the chances of even entering the postulency or becoming a 1st year seminarian are practically nil due to the fact that my dad left my mother 11 years ago. I’m struggling with rage against... Read more

has a new novel: “The World’s Funniest Atheist.” The book is free starting tomorrow and for the next five days. Here’s the blurb: Saul McNeil has made a successful career out of slamming Christianity because he’s found it to be easy, profitable . . . and a lot of fun. Then in an instant—and much to his horror—the self-proclaimed “World’s Funniest Atheist” knows God exists. That’s when his fervent prayer becomes “leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone!”... Read more

By the way, if you are like a lot of folk who don’t have time to read a book fear not! You can also order the whole book on CD or as an MP3 download (read by Yr. Obdt. Svt.). Here’s the link to the download (with a little sample of the book you can listen to for free). I will try to get the link for ordering the CD up on my site ASAP. Read more

…about extrabiblical references to Christ. Somebody needs to tell the “Jesus was not born in 1 AD but in 5 BC” folks that they need to straighten out the “And besides he was never born at all” people. Then they need to look at the latest research, which is inching the birth of Christ back toward 3 or 2 BC–and squaring it up rather well with St. Luke, who is actually a rather careful historian (according to ancient, not modern,... Read more

The Pope continues to defy the cramped ideological templates of the Land Where There Are Only Two Sides to Every Question. John Allen writes about the conservative-and-liberal-talking-head-asplodey remarks of the pontiff: Pope Benedict XVI today delivered his annual address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican, which is the premier occasion for popes to lay out their geopolitical agenda. In terms of issues, Benedict identified three priorities: defense of the family, religious freedom, and protection of the environment. From the get-go,... Read more

Greek Orthodox elder Paisios: – Elder, why do people today feel insecure? Because we are all insured! We insure our car, our house, and our life. Having worldly insurance, we put aside the protection and providence of God. Read more