Protesters at 2006 gay pride event. Union Square, San Francisco, United States (Photo by Eric Lin via Flickr)

The controversy surrounding Bachmann & Associates and homosexuality continued over the weekend.  In response to this issue, we looked briefly last week at the Scriptural texts regarding homosexuality, each of which makes clear the fact that homosexual acts are unbiblical.  What conclusions can we draw for those who deal personally with this issue?

First, I need to state clearly that homosexuality is not the “unpardonable sin” (Mark 3:29).  The only sin God cannot forgive is that sin which rejects his forgiveness.  To be more specific, the Holy Spirit works to convict us of our need for salvation through Christ.  If we refuse this offer of saving grace, God cannot forgive us since we have rejected the only means by which his forgiveness can be received. Read the rest of this entry »

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Michele Bachmann waves with her husband Marcus after she addressed a gathering of supporters to formally launch her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination in her childhood hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, June 27, 2011. (Credit: Reuters/Jeff Haynes)

In light of the media furor surrounding Michele and Marcus Bachmann’s counseling center and its efforts to help gay people leave homosexuality, we’re discussing a biblical response to this difficult subject.  I’m very grateful to each of you who replied to yesterday’s devotional, and look forward to your thoughts on today’s essay as well.

On Thursday we considered the Old Testament’s teaching on the issue.  What does the New Testament say about homosexuality?  It addresses the subject in three passages.  The first is found in Romans 1, where Paul describes homosexual acts as “shameful lusts” (v. 26), “indecent acts” and “perversion” (v. 27). Read the rest of this entry »

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Credit: Office of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Marcus and Michele Bachmann own Bachmann & Associates, a Christian counseling center.  As you know, the Minnesota congresswoman is running for president.  The couple has made national headlines this week after ABC’s Nightline aired a video last Monday dealing with their clinic’s efforts to help gay people leave homosexuality.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper is among the media figures who have lambasted the clinic.  According to Huffington Post, Cooper criticized specifically their “‘reparative therapy,’ which claims to be able to ‘cure’ gay people of their homosexuality.”  He attacked “this notion that this is somehow a choice, which there’s no evidence of.” Read the rest of this entry »

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New York Yankees Derek Jeter shakes hands with Christian Lopez, who caught the ball he hit for his 3000th career hit against Tampa Bay Rays in New York. (Credit: Reuters/Ray Stubblebine)

Have you heard the story of Christian Lopez?  The New York Yankees fan caught Derek Jeter’s homerun ball last Saturday.  What makes this feat so unusual?  It was Jeter’s 3,000^th career hit, making him the first Yankee and only the 28^th player in baseball history to reach this milestone.  For it to be a homerun in Yankees Stadium is the stuff of movies.  For the fan who caught the ball to return it to Jeter makes the story even more legendary.

Now for the bad news.  Lopez could have sold the ball to the highest bidder, probably receiving a payday as high as $250,000.  When he returned it to Jeter instead, he was rewarded with luxury box seats for the rest of the season, along with signed baseballs, bats and jerseys from Jeter as well.  But the Internal Revenue Service will likely view these gratuities as income.  If so, he could owe as much as $14,000 in taxes.  Since Lopez still owes more than $100,000 in student loans, this is not welcome information. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tom Stuker poses in front of the United Boeing 747-400 named in his honor for earning 10 million frequent flier miles ( Courtesy: United Airlines)

Tom Stuker lives in Chicago, barely.  Over the weekend he became the first person to reach the 10 million mile mark in United Airlines’ Mileage Plus Program.  Today’s CNN website profiles the most frequent of frequent flyers.

Stuker has flown on almost 6,000 United flights since 1982.  The airline is running out of ways to reward him.  He flies first class all the time, of course, and gets cookies and sandwiches which are made to his unique specifications.  He’s been to Hawaii 80 times and taken 60 honeymoons with “the woman of my dreams” in the past 15 years.  Now United has named a Boeing 747-400 for him, along with the first Boeing 777 they purchased. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Courtesy of Alan Garrison, U.S. Air Force)

Last Thursday night’s tragedy at Rangers’ Ballpark in Arlington continues to dominate conversation in our part of the world.  As you know, Josh Hamilton threw a foul ball into the stands during the game against the Oakland Athletics.  A fan reached out to catch it, lost his balance, and fell 20 feet to his death.

As details emerged in the days following, the story became even more sad.  The accident occurred at 7:30 p.m. when Josh threw the foul ball into section 5 of the left field lower reserved seats.  The man who died was a 39-year-old firefighter from Brownwood, Texas named Shannon Stone.  He brought his six-year-old son Cooper to the game so the boy could watch Josh Hamilton, his favorite player.  Mr. Stone bought Cooper a baseball glove to bring to the game; the two dreamed of catching a ball hit or thrown by Josh.  When the reigning American League MVP picked up the foul ball, Mr. Stone called for him to toss the ball his way. Read the rest of this entry »

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Space shuttle Atlantis STS-135 crew depart crew quarters for launch pad 39A during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, June 23, 2011. (Credit: Reuters/Scott Audette)

When the Space Shuttle program ends with Atlantis‘ return, will the 30-year initiative have been worthwhile?  It costs $450 million to launch an orbiter; total cost per mission is $1.5 billion.  Total cost for the program is estimated at $196 billion, which seems astronomical until you learn that the federal government spends that much in three weeks.

However, the Hubble Telescope and International Space Station (ISS) would have been impossible without the shuttle program.  The ISS is a permanent laboratory where medical research is currently being conducted, as well as technology development for industrial materials and communications.  Treatments for prostate cancer and muscular dystrophy were first tested on there. Read the rest of this entry »

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The space shuttle Atlantis is rolled to Launch Pad 39A for the final flight of the space shuttle program at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2011. (Credit: Reuters/Pierre Ducharme)

Imagine the scene: you’re strapped into Atlantis, America’s last space shuttle, for her final voyage into outer space.  You are one of only four astronauts on board—you and your colleagues will be required to do the work of seven.  And you don’t want to think about the reason why.

If Atlantis makes her launch tomorrow (weather could force a delay), she will be the first shuttle to enter space with no shuttle as a back-up.  After Columbia exploded eight years ago, NASA determined that the shuttle was injured during liftoff when debris struck one of its wings.  Subsequent flights have included a spacewalk to inspect the vehicle before reentering orbit.  If damage were discovered, the astronauts would proceed to the Space Station and wait for another shuttle to bring them home. Read the rest of this entry »

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“An acquittal can never be appealed.  This case is over forever.  Journalists and historians can have their verdict, but the legal system is finished with it.”  According to CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, the Casey Anthony murder trial is now closed and can never be reopened.  But was justice served?  That argument is only beginning. Read the rest of this entry »

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Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze, 1851

It was Christmas Day, 1776, and America was in peril.  British reprisal for our Declaration of Independence had been swift.  Their troops pushed General George Washington’s Continental Army out of New York and captured Manhattan.  They chased them out of New Jersey.  Washington’s army was shrinking as many of his soldiers’ enlistments expired and others deserted.  As they retreated across the Delaware River into eastern Pennsylvania, it seemed the War for Independence might end before it began. Read the rest of this entry »

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