This & That- Volume 1

As many of you know, a great deal of my time is spent each day on the phone, rifling through the eight newspapers I read each day, or surfing the internet for the latest comments on a given issue. Several years ago, I used to write a popular column called “This & That”. It was a collection of comments and thoughts on a variety of topics ranging from politics to current events. Recently, I was asked what happened to “This & That”. I agreed that this type of quick hit Op- Ed was missing and today, I am pleased to reintroduce This & That.

The National Association of Evangelicals has a problem- it is called an identity crisis. It was there before the Haggard debacle and was not talked about, now it is front page news. Somewhere between terrorist torture and “creation care" (a term that makes me quiver), they have gone off target. The board is feuding, members are confused and the mainstream media is picking up on a split. I have a thought- get back to the basics and leave the liberal issues for the National Council of Churches.

Dr. Falwell has invited former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, to give the commencement address at Liberty University. I applaud this move just as I applaud Mr. Gingrich’s forthright answer last week to Dr. Dobson.

I frequently get asked about the 2008 election. If you look at the polls this week, they are scary. A Giuliani/Clinton race makes me shudder. Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, recently suggested he would not vote for any president if those were his choices given the pro-choice and gay marriage agenda each of these candidates support. I am optimistic we will have some better choices before it reaches this point.

Aren’t you glad that James Cameron is out of the news this week? Since every knowledgeable Biblical scholar debunked his findings, it now seems likely that Cameron and Geraldo will setoff to find lost treasure of Al Capone in the sewers of Chicago.

I ran a poll on The Church Report.com that asked: Would you feel comfortable with a registered sex offender attending your church? The results, 60% said No, while 40% said Yes. I was a bit surprised given the recidivism rates that are reported for sex offenders. If you have a sex offender attending your church, send me an email and tell me how your church has dealt with this issue.

Don’t forget March Madness begins on Thursday. I know many people will be rooting for Oral Roberts as they open play in the tournament against Washington State.

Ron Luce brought 22,000 young Christians to San Francisco for BattleCry this past weekend. Ron and his team deserve a note of thanks despite the City of San Francisco tying them up in legal paperwork having to do with noise ordinances. Do you think those same restrictions will be in place when Barry Bonds hits homerun number 756 some time this year?