At least 20 people have been shot to death at Virginia Tech University. Apparently there were two gunman, shooting from two different buildings. See the WP article and pray for justice and redemption as you read. Here is a timeline of U.S. school shootings. Is it just popluation density that attracts these gunmen to schools?
Consider reading Evil and the Justice of God.
When it comes to creating cultural resistance to the gospel, Hollywood is often a player. There are many talented and upstanding actors and actresses, producers, directors, and so on…so don’t hear what I am not saying. The creativity that
whirls around L.A. is remarkable. However, Hollywood is also the face of American Christianity to the world. Places with state religions, like India and Iran, view America as a nation of state religion, though we are most certainly not. In the eyes of the Rest, the U.S. is a Christian nation.
Richard Gere’s culturally insensitive sweeping and kissing of Shilpa Shetty just throws another log on the fire of non-Western peoples perception of immoral Christianity (see article). What are we to do? Denounce all of Hollywood? Write off Richard Gere? Gere is a Buddhist, so he has no claim to Christianity, but Buddhist cultures (some are in India) also look down on public display of affection. One wonders just how Buddhist Gere is and how Christian Hollywood he is? A good question for us to ask ourselves.
How are we to respond to these issues? Do you see a wise way forward?
/fa914e45e9b005c067e704436d11d154/Wright%20(large).jpg)
It appears that Wright’s book on theodicy, “the justification of God” as it pertains to evil and suffering, is gaining more and more attention this side of the pond. Chuck Colson recently added Evil and the Justice of God to his recommended reading list to Breakpoint readers and Wilberforce followers.
R. C. Sproul just offered a review at Reformation 21. I offered a few comments on this post. What are your thoughts?
See also Carson’s helpful review.
The Shan-Dai are an unreached peoples scattered throughout Northern Thailand, Laos, Burma and Southern China. They are folk buddhist, believing in powerful spirits as well as the traditional Buddhist philosophy. Many of these people are oppresed by the Burmese government, displaced from their homeland, and are suffering from poor health and living conditions.
Several mission agencies are working to begin a churchplanting movement among the Shan-Dai,
but they need help. Check out www.surehope.net for more information. Several short-term teams will be going to Thailand this summer. Consider Going, Praying, Adopting or Sending but don’t just sit there! Make contact here.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Shan-Tai Prayer bulletin contact; maisung@bigfoot.com
