Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[From Victoria Advocate]

A man arrested Saturday night after a routine traffic stop in Texas told deputies that the cocaine found in his vehicle was a graduation present for his son in Houston.

Read about it here.

[From me]

What happened to just getting laundered $$?

[From Montgomery Advertiser]

Two well-known Alabama Christian groups are headed toward judgment — in Montgomery County Circuit Court. The former head of the Christian Coalition of Alabama calls the lawsuit filed against him by the current head of the organization “frivolous and baseless.” Dr. Randy Brinson, who now heads the organization, has filed suit against John Giles, who led the CCA for eight years and resigned last year. Giles was served with the complaint late Thursday.

Christian Action Alabama

Christian Coalition of Alabama

Read about it here.

[From me]

Well, I guess they didn’t read the Bible that says in I Corinthians 6:1-2

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?

How can this lawsuit glorify God? Please take the name Christian out of your name because this isn’t the way Jesus Christ would have responded. This is why politics and Jesus don’t mix.

What do you think?

Smyth & Helwys asked me to review the book For God’s Sake Shut Up! by Brian Kaylor. Since Brian is a regular on my site and I read his I jumped at the chance. I’m glad I did.

The title is right on! Brian uses humor and satire to point out that sometimes–most of the time the best thing for follower of Jesus to do is to keep quiet. He shares stories from his own life and from the mistakes of famous Christian leaders as to why silence is golden.

The book is less than 120 pages but it is packed with wisdom and humor. I laughed and felt convicted as I read this book. He says that whenever Christians do dumb things it damages the perceptions of Christ and may actually prevent unbelievers from coming to Jesus. Ouch!

He points out that even believers lie! Who would have thought? But the point he is making is what does that do to our testimony for Christ? He also emphasizes why we need to watch our metaphors because the meanings change over time. He doesn’t mean changing the Bible he is talking about the man-made metaphors that we use such as going to “war” in an argument. He suggests we change it to dancing–oops! That may not work-maybe “rhythming” (that’s what they called dancing at Samford).

I guess the reason I liked this book is because it is what I’ve been saying for years. Brian and I are more alike theologically than politically but that’s OK. I’ve grown to respect and admire his ministry.

I would highly recommend For God’s Sake Shut Up and I give it 4.7 hockey sticks out of 5.

BTW: I’m sorry it took me so long to read it I didn’t crack open a book last week while I was on a mission trip.

[From Christian Post]

Pro-gay rights attitudes have reached high points this year, according to a new poll, with more Americans expressing tolerance. Today, 57 percent of the American public believes homosexuality should be sanctioned as an acceptable alternative lifestyle – the highest the Gallup Poll has recorded since 1982.  Also indicating higher tolerance, 59 percent of Americans believe homosexual relations should be legal.

At the same time, the majority of Americans say sex between an unmarried man and woman (59 percent), divorce (65 percent), and having a baby outside or marriage (54 percent) is morally acceptable.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Did Jesus check opinion polls?

What do you think?

I was asked to read From the Heart by Robin Roberts of ABC/ESPN. When I read the preview it said this book talked about her faith so I thought it would be cool to read.

I remember watching Robin when she was a local sportscaster in Atlanta. Then I watched her on ESPN. I don’t watch Good Morning America but I recognize that Robin has been a successful person.

I didn’t realize that she was a college basketball player but I guess I should have figured it out because she is one TV sports personality that is there to talk sports intelligently.

In this book Robin talks about seven rules to live by. She was heavily influenced by her parents and especially her dad who was in the military. Robin wanted to be a tennis player but found that basketball would get her a scholarship. What I like about Robin is she is a very positive person. She doesn’t dwell on what she doesn’t have or didn’t have but how to be successful given what you have been blessed with.

She talks about her home town of Pass Christian, Mississippi and how Hurricane Katrina affected her.

However, I was disappointed in the book. If it had not been billed as “Faith” book I might not have been as disappointed. But she really didn’t talk about her “Faith” except to call it “faith.” I have no idea from reading the book if her “faith” is in Jesus Christ or some other God. I would like to think she is a believer but I think she missed out on a great opportunity to use her celebrity to point people to Christ.

For that reason I give From the Heart 3 out of 5 hockey sticks.