Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

Read about how the US Supreme Court agrees to review handgun ban in Washington, DC.

"In 2003, Washington resident Dick Heller, who lives in one of the city's tougher neighborhoods, lodged a suit against the local authorities saying his constitutional right to bear arms was being violated. Although his case was initially rejected, he won on appeal to a federal appeals court in March [2008]."

Read my comments (and Ray's) on a blog post about Mike Huckabee's sermon at Prestonwood Baptist on Jeremiah 29:11. (Check out the sermon transcript and video in that same post.)


Read some thoughts on praying in groups and in church prayer meetings.

"But I can’t stress this too strongly…if you really care only a tiny bit about Aunt Mildred and see her very seldom, don’t bring her up with the saints to pray about! Even your prayer requests need to encourage the saints and praying about people we don’t know and that not even the person requesting prayer cares about is absolutely discouraging."

Read as Anthony Carter of Non Nobis Domine shares "50 Things I Love about Politics." I'm not so sure I could have some up with 50. It might be easier for me to eat 5o eggs. Why'd he have to say "50" anyway?


Check out the Visual Dictionary.


Kummer at Gospel Driven Children’s Ministry shares links to free Christmas craft ideas for kids.


Read as the Arkansas Times labels Mike Huckabee as a "Flip-Flopper" on the abortion issue with regard to leaving it up to the individual states: "Mike Huckabee: For states' rights before he was against states' rights."

John Hawkins: Switching gears again, do you think we should overturn Roe v. Wade?

Mike Huckabee: It would please me because I think Roe v. Wade is based on a real stretch of Constitutional application -- that somehow there is a greater privacy issue in the abortion concern -- than there is a human life issue -- and that the federal government should be making that decision as opposed to states making that decision.

So, I've never felt that it was a legitimate manner in which to address this and, first of all, it should be left to the states, the 10th Amendment, but secondly, to somehow believe that the taking of an innocent, unborn human life is about privacy and not about that unborn life is ludicrous.

Read as Al Mohler of SBTS wonders at parental behavior in "Freak Dancing" -- When Parents Advocate Misbehavior.

"Freak dancing" is well known throughout the nation, and it involves what can only be described as "sexually charged" physical contact and movement. But many of the kids in Argyle were "disgusted" that freak dancing was banned at the homecoming dance, so they left. That might be fairly easy to understand. After all, adolescents are expected to exhibit adolescent patterns of misbehavior. What makes this story so interesting is that so many parents responded by joining their adolescents in immature response. In fact, their protest of the superintendent's policy is shocking.

Read a Primer on the Problem of Evil at Parchment and Pen.

"This problem is the single greatest apologetic issue that Christians face today. In a postmodern world, people’s questions, objections, and problems with the Christian worldview are usually connected to the reality of evil in the world and their attempts to harmonize this reality with the seemingly contradictory notion of an all-powerful, all-good God."

Read Rethinking the Five-Second Rule with regard to food dropped on the floor.

"In 2003, a then-high school science intern at the University of Illinois, Jillian Clarke, conducted a survey and found that slightly more than half of adult men and 70 percent of adult women knew about the five-second rule and many said they followed it. Clarke then conducted an experiment to find out if various food became contaminated with bacteria after just five seconds on the floor."

Read about the Aggies smoking the Longhorns like a cheap cigar ... again, as Coach Fran goes out on top. How's THAT feel, t-sips?

"It's really hard," Texas defensive back Brandon Foster said. "You never enjoy losing, but losing to the Aggies is just even worse."

Read Lionel's thoughts on Modesty and Christian Women. (See also my thoughts on modesty encompassing more than just dress.)
"We have a new fad among professing Christians today, the fad of being sexy. Now how a Christian can want to be labeled sexy from anyone other than their spouse is cause for great concern."


Read Justin Taylor's thoughts and suggestions regarding commenting on blogs.


Rank your most necessary technological gadgetry. (HT Tank) I've included my rankings in the comments section and would be curious to see yours as well.

"Technology is everywhere. Whether at home, in the office or on the go, gadgets and gizmos of every shape, size and ring tone constantly surround us. But which ones do you feel are truly needed? Rank your favorites and see how they compare with other CNN.com users."

Much to the bewilderment of Providence Church's own Mark Landers I am a book marker-upper. It probably takes me 2-3 times longer to read a book because I write in the margins and underline and circle and doodle and write notes in the front & back flaps. I know that's desecration to some of you, but ... I heartily recommend you read On Marking Books: Thoughts from Mortimer J. Adler. Incidentally, Adler's How to Read a Book is a classic and a highly suggested read as well.

"I contend, quite bluntly, that marking up a book is not an act of mutilation but of love."

I've read a fair amount about the aversion of many preachers to speak to the issue of the wrath of God (e.g.). Which brings to mind the following summary of the liberal gospel by H. Richard Niebuhr: “A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.” I also found this from Ravi Zacharias: “It is because God’s wrath is real that His mercy is relevant. Unless you have a real wrath, a real anger, the Biblical concepts of long-suffering, of mercy, and of grace are robbed of their meaning.” (HT Benji)

"Self-importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it - what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellowmen. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone."
- Carlos Castaneda