Sunday, November 28, 2010
Urgent Need - Life or Death
Please help save Sayed Mossa, an Afghani Christian who has been sentenced to death for his faith. His execution draws very near. Here is a link to an article on how to help him.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
What Travis Does at GA
Scanning the articles posted on the Aquila Report, I noticed my name mentioned in reference to a speech I gave at the last General Assembly of the PCA. The author posted a link whereby, if you advance the player, you can watch my short comment.
The comment was made in the midst of debate on the funding plan for the Administrative Committee of our denomination. I have objected for years that there is something morally wrong with taking money from the poor and giving it to denominational leaders to live in the upper middle class. There is a funding plan which would make the current voluntary system (if you like the salaries, go ahead and pay the money) involuntary (if you don't pay the money, then you don't have a voice at GA).
Ironically, I think the funding plan is actually a way to force wealthier churches to give. The problem is that they are avoiding the issues by trying to force everyone to pay and their using denominational resources to promote the plan whereby they force churches to give. And then the Stated Clerk chides opposition bloggers for speaking out against their plans. It's kind of like Hugo Chavez taking over most of the media and then threatening the remaining voices as if he's a victim of harassment.
This clip is a good example of why I don't think I should go to GA and why one of our Ruling Elders is going to try to keep me going.
Here's the link to the article, which contains the link to the video.
The comment was made in the midst of debate on the funding plan for the Administrative Committee of our denomination. I have objected for years that there is something morally wrong with taking money from the poor and giving it to denominational leaders to live in the upper middle class. There is a funding plan which would make the current voluntary system (if you like the salaries, go ahead and pay the money) involuntary (if you don't pay the money, then you don't have a voice at GA).
Ironically, I think the funding plan is actually a way to force wealthier churches to give. The problem is that they are avoiding the issues by trying to force everyone to pay and their using denominational resources to promote the plan whereby they force churches to give. And then the Stated Clerk chides opposition bloggers for speaking out against their plans. It's kind of like Hugo Chavez taking over most of the media and then threatening the remaining voices as if he's a victim of harassment.
This clip is a good example of why I don't think I should go to GA and why one of our Ruling Elders is going to try to keep me going.
Here's the link to the article, which contains the link to the video.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Asia Bibi Pardoned and Freed!
Pakistan Releases Christian Woman
Sentenced to Death for 'Blasphemy'
Washington, D.C. (November 22,2010)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that today the president of Pakistan has pardoned a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Asia Bibi was sentenced on November 8 after a court in Punjab province found her guilty of making blasphemous statements against the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to Pakistan’s blasphemy law, it is a crime punishable by death to blaspheme the Islamic prophet.
Her release came after intense international pressure by politicians and church leaders as well as coverage by several media outlets.
Asia has now been taken to an undisclosed location for her safety. In the past, Christians have been killed by vigilantes after being accused of blasphemy. On July 19, gunmen killed Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother, Sajid Emmanuel, while police were transporting them from the court in Faisalabad to jail. The gunmen also seriously wounded a policeman accompanying them.
Some Muslim lawyers and other fundamentalist Muslims are preparing to demonstrate against Asia’s release.
ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said, “We are delighted to learn about Asia’s release and we would like to commend Pakistan’s president for taking the right action. It’s high time for Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy laws that have caused so much persecution against Christians and other religious minorities.”
Reposted from International Christian Concern.
Sentenced to Death for 'Blasphemy'
Washington, D.C. (November 22,2010)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that today the president of Pakistan has pardoned a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Asia Bibi was sentenced on November 8 after a court in Punjab province found her guilty of making blasphemous statements against the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to Pakistan’s blasphemy law, it is a crime punishable by death to blaspheme the Islamic prophet.
Her release came after intense international pressure by politicians and church leaders as well as coverage by several media outlets.
Asia has now been taken to an undisclosed location for her safety. In the past, Christians have been killed by vigilantes after being accused of blasphemy. On July 19, gunmen killed Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother, Sajid Emmanuel, while police were transporting them from the court in Faisalabad to jail. The gunmen also seriously wounded a policeman accompanying them.
Some Muslim lawyers and other fundamentalist Muslims are preparing to demonstrate against Asia’s release.
ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said, “We are delighted to learn about Asia’s release and we would like to commend Pakistan’s president for taking the right action. It’s high time for Pakistan to repeal the blasphemy laws that have caused so much persecution against Christians and other religious minorities.”
Reposted from International Christian Concern.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Justin Borger's Book in the News
Kelly Kapic (Covenant College professor and author of multiple books) recently finished a new book in collaboration with Justin Borger. Justin is Bob and Jan Borger's son. The Chattanoogan has an article about the book here. Matt and Joan Vos are discussed in the book in one of the illustrations.
Highlands has the book on sale for $14.
Highlands has the book on sale for $14.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Excellent Article on the New York Evolution Case
Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm not one of those who spends a great deal of time banging the drum about biblical creationism. I'd rather talk about the cross and the kingdom of God. But that being said, the cross assumes a real historical Adam. Adam sinned for us all, as our representative, and plunged humanity into guilt and sin. Jesus, the New Adam, died for us, as our representative, so that we might be rescued from the plight of Adam. When you introduce evolution into this mix, the entire edifice begins to tremble. When you remove the historical Adam, it crumbles to the ground.
A Reformed pastor at the Pastor of Print blog has written an excellent article about the consequences of evolutionary teaching. As background, this article is about PCA pastor, Choong, who is teaching evolution in the New York Metro Presbytery. Choong was noticed by the Aquila Report a week or so ago, and gave the information to the local Presbytery. If New York Metro doesn't handle this, there will be numerous presbyteries clamoring for original jurisdiction.
Pastor of Print's excellent article can be found here.
A Reformed pastor at the Pastor of Print blog has written an excellent article about the consequences of evolutionary teaching. As background, this article is about PCA pastor, Choong, who is teaching evolution in the New York Metro Presbytery. Choong was noticed by the Aquila Report a week or so ago, and gave the information to the local Presbytery. If New York Metro doesn't handle this, there will be numerous presbyteries clamoring for original jurisdiction.
Pastor of Print's excellent article can be found here.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Evolution Case May Hit New York Metro Presbytery
The Aquila Report has a fascinating (and troubling) article about a PCA teaching elder in New York City publicly teaching theistic evolution. According to the Aquila Report, our Standing Judicial Commission has previously ruled that not only can a Teaching Elder not believe in Theistic Evolution, but neither can Ruling Elders, Deacons or Sunday School teachers. It will be interesting to see how the NY Metro Presbytery handles this. Read more here.
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