While I'm not ready to read Harry Potter for myself or recommend it to others, I'm not ready to condemn it either. It seems I'm slower to judgment than I used to be, and not as quick to lash out in angry dogmatism and call it discernment. Two thoughtful articles - Of Boggarts and What Would Jonathan Edwards Say About Harry Potter? - have further checked my initial inclination to dismiss the series out of hand. (Thanks to Aaron at The Wardrobe Door for the second link.)

Dan Edelen has drawn an interesting distinction between what he terms "NT" and "OT" Christians. I'm not sure I've heard it put exactly like this, but I know what he's getting at. Unlike him, I'm not sure it is Spiritually necessary - or even logically possible - to reconcile the two Covenants, as the one was designed to fulfill and replace the other.

What's the best argument against religion? Yep, you guessed it: religion.

(WORLD)

VOM, Kazakhstan:

On June 22, a mother and her young child were barred from their home as court executors sealed the Baptist church premises in Shymkent where they live to prevent the church from meeting. According to Forum 18 News Service, the move followed the church's refusal to abide by a court order halting its activity merely because it does not wish to undergo state registration. In Semey, Baptist Pastor Viktor Kandyba, his wife and their 12 children were threatened with the seizure of half their home after the pastor refused to pay a fine for leading unregistered worship. Pray for Christians in Kazakhstan.

An interview with Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

(A&LD)

How many U.S. Presidents can you name in 10 minutes? Give it a shot and see if you can beat my 31.

(HT: evangelical outpost)

Technology is now bringing the joys of digital reading to the offline world. This morning, I saw this portable reader from Sony, - basically a PocketPC optimized for reading - which holds 80 books and also plays music. It's an interesting concept, though for some reason I think I would miss the two page spread, not to mention the plain "bookishness" of books - their weight, binding, cover art - and don't forget that county library smell.

Still, something like this may have it's uses. I can see substantial advantages for both travel and study. Maybe I'll get one after they come down in price and feature a bit more functionality.

Greg Boyd on William Wilberforce:

In light of the recent movie on Wilberforce’s life (“Amazing Grace”) I’ve received several communications from people wondering how Wilberforce’s achievement fits into my radical distinction between the kingdom of God and politics. Some apparently think my perspective stands in conflict with the example of Wilberforce – as though I’d possibly be against what he did. This is not at all the case.

C. S. Lewis on Gender Language in the Bible:

When you turn from the New Testament to modern scholars, remember that you go among them as a sheep among wolves. Naturalistic assumptions, beggings of the question . . . will meet you on every side—even from the pens of clergymen.

Here's a very, very good post on imagination in Christian perspective. (HT: Dan Edelen) This one is worth reading - slowly - all the way through - twice.

If we are going to talk about the ‘primacy’ of anything in man’s grasping of his world, let us speak of the primacy of the imagination. The very act of perceiving our world necessarily involves the imagination. There is no such thing as mere perception.

It so happens that Peter Kreeft also has an excellent lecture on this.

Screwtape's First Letter to the Blogosphere. The phraseology is pretty faithful to the original, but it still doesn't sound quite like Lewis.

Thomas Woods has taken on an interesting question over at LVMI: Were American Indians Really Environmentalists?

The Indians often succeeded in being good stewards of the environment — but not in the way people generally suppose.

Joe at The Evangelical Outpost lists what are in his opinion the Top 100 Christian Blogs.

Trevin Wax reviews Theology of the Reformers. Haven't read it myself, so it's now on the wish list.

If you are interested in Reformation theology, but don’t have time to look through the primary source material, George’s book is where you should turn.

VOM, Columbia:

On July 5, two Pentecostal pastors were shot and killed by suspected members of the guerrilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the village of El Dorado. According to the latest reports, Pastors Humberto Mendez and Joel Garcia were taken from their homes by a group of men wearing camouflage clothing. Their bodies were found the next day. Pray God comforts and provides for these families. Ask that the Holy Spirit would convict the hearts of the persecutors and draw them to Christ. Pray for believers in Colombia.

A backpacker's reflections on a creation marred by the Fall:

What did I learn from nature? It's fallen. Instead of fruit trees, the ground grows thorns and prickly things. There is almost nothing edible in the forest, and even that which is edible is fairly lousy. Except the occasional blackberry, but even that gift comes with thorns. Even clear mountain streams can prove lethal if the water is not filtered and treated before drinking.

The Bible teaches that "the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. 8:20-21). So even the beauty of nature is tainted with the corruption of the fall. I could not see God as clearly as I wished in nature because it is fallen as I am fallen. Sin permeates the natural world and obscures the glory of God.

So as I walked over the cursed land I dreamed of a day when the Creator will liberate His creation from bondage. I imagined a day with no more thorns, chiggers, mosquitoes, and ticks. Even the earth longs for the day of redemption. Together we groaned for the return of the King.

Talking sense about 9/11:

On Sept. 12, 2001, it was easy to believe that we would suffer dozens of major attacks on U.S. soil over the next six years, and almost impossible to imagine we would suffer none. Instead of being the opening blitz of a "long, global war," 9/11 was a freak event that may never be replicated.

(HT: WORLD)

The Evangelical Outpost links to a blogger responding to the Hindu prayer in the Senate:

After I watched the video my initial gut reaction was one of "go get em, take one for the team. What's that pagan doing 'praying' in our Senate", but as I sat for several minutes trying to decide how I really should feel about this incident I wonder if my initial reaction was correct. I am familiar enough with political Christian activist to understand their reasoning. They were trying to protect America from this pagan, and one part of me emphasizes with their plight. But does America need protecting from Hindu's or Mormons or JW's or Muslims etc? What I believe about false religions is all over this blog, so it goes without saying that I disagree with this man. However, doesn't our constitution give him as much right to pray to his false godsssssssssssss' as I have to pray to the real one? Honestly I am surprised this is the first time a Hindu has opened the Senate in prayer. These political Christian organizations (which may be an oxymoron, I am still working on that) shout from the rooftops that we have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Ultimately, whatever legislation is going to protect us from Hindus is also going to protect them from Christianity. As much as I disagree with Rajan Zed he has a right to pray in spite of the fact that doing so violates the 1st commandment. As well the 3 people arrested have the right to stand on the floor of the Senate and protest. That is what makes our country great.

I will add no commentary at this time, except to point out that this incident provides an interesting opportunity to think about these matters.

Tips on how to encourage a blogger, with another hat tip to Trevin Wax.

Observing the ESV's growing popularity. I've certainly been enjoying mine. (HT: Trevin Wax)

MercatorNet on happiness through virtue. This is timely, as I just finished reading some lengthy excerpts from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

In the midst of experiencing life in Kenya, Daniel shares some good thoughts on social responsibility:

When I returned from Cuba I saw I was living in excess. This happens to most all that visit people living well below the poverty line. Seeing people living on next to nothing lead me to question the lifestyle of Americans. First of all, how do you cut back but how do you give the cut back amount. The sensation that I was living richly has not hit me in Kenya. I think it is because I already learned the lesson. This statement seems cocky but read on. I do not deserve to be wealthy, go to a university, be born in America but I was. It does one no good to feel guilty because it this way. Believe me, many of them find more joy than we do. Accept this fact; everything that is your has been given to you by God. Now it is your responsibility to deal with it responsibly. So I have a couple points to live by

• Steward your blessings wisely
• Cherish blessing don't put a death grip on them
  
• Don’t look down on those with less material wealth
  
• Let your life speak louder than your money

It is okay to have fun in life and to own things that cause enjoyment but make sure you can exhibit self-control when it comes to spending money.

WORLD on stupid signs:

So I'm driving home from Starbucks a minute ago, when I see a very weird sign. It was one of those orange Men at Work-style diamonds. Except this one says:

CREW WORKING IN TREES

There's a stand of eucalyptus trees alongside the road, separated from the asphalt by a phalanx of orange cones plus a wide sidewalk. But I see the sign, right? So now I'm craning forward, looking up and right, trying to catch a rare multiple-grown-men-in-trees sighting.

And if I'm looking up in the trees, I'm not watching the road. And if I'm not watching the road, isn't that more dangerous than if, say, I wasn't aware there were men in the trees, and I just drove past, giving the orange warning cones a goodly berth like the conscientious motorist that I am?

MercatorNet on animals and personhood:

Humans are not two separate substances, but have two parts, and an ability of one part is that of forming ideas starting from what we sense, imagine, and remember; all of the latter though are functions which involve the brain. Our immaterial intelligence is thus meant to work in conjunction with our body; it is not meant to exist as an independent entity. The immaterial part of us will continue on after we die, but it is not a complete human person.

Getting back to the significance of chimps having a lot of the same DNA people do, first, to talk about DNA is to talk about something material. However, as I argue above, those who think that this proves there is no real differences between the two species are working on the faulty assumption that humans, like apes, are purely material beings.

Owen Strachan on patience:

The mature Christian is the one whose commitment to holiness transcends the principial level and extends into the practical level. Let me be very down-to-earth here, and repeat something I've said recently on this blog (not that anyone's noticed, but I'll repeat it to myself). We who blog as young men preparing for the ministry reveal that our commitment is only principial when we blog as if we have sixty years in the pastorate behind us, or as if we possess a doctorate in Wisdom Concerning All Things. We are not truly patient when we write in this way, for we are showing that we are not willing to wait for the experience that will authenticate such words and invest them with authority. Like the runner who starts a second early, we are cheating. We're getting ahead of ourselves. We need to slow down and ease off the polemics.

VOM, Iran:

The Voice of the Martyrs’ contacts in Iran report increased persecution for Christians in Iran. Several Christians have been imprisoned, interrogated and threatened. VOM sources said, “Iranian security forces prompted by the Islamic leadership and Iranian president are trying to wipe out Christianity in Iran. They are angry many Iranian Muslims are choosing to follow Christ.” Pray God protects and sustains Christians in Iran. Ask God to use the testimonies of those being persecuted to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him

Yesterday, we received a package from one of those independent mail carriers. I was working on the porch, so the delivery driver had me sign for it. Julia was sitting in the La-z-boy in the living room, watching through the window.

I went to place the package inside and she asked me: "Does that guy not know how to write?"

N. T. Wright was the guest speaker at the 21st Anniversary celebration for the West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies. His topics were "Thinking about God in Tomorrow's World" and "Whatever did St. Paul do with the Kingdom of God?" Audio here. (HT: The Christian Mind)

Wrapping up the Ali Reza Asgari defection story. It appears he's indeed being held in the U. S. and is sharing intelligence about Iran's nuclear projects. (PJM)

Earlier roundup here.

Thinking about coed sports. Good stuff. I agree that it's nigh impossible to play hard with girls around, but at the same time it's not usually something I'm ready to make an issue out of.

Yeah, this is some pretty good ukulele.

VOM, Australia:

Pastors Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scott have settled the religious vilification case they had been fighting in Australia’s state of Victoria for the past five years. According to a press release by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Islamic Council of Victoria and Catch the Fire Ministries have agreed that citizens have the right to “robustly debate religion” and “criticize religious beliefs” within the limits of the law. The pastors have spent more than $500,000 defending their right to present their views and insights about Islam. Pray for Christians in Australia and other parts of the world to be bold witnesses for Christ despite attacks against them.

A new book is asking a not-so-new question: is democracy nothing more than a not-too-smart formalization of mob rule? Here's more analysis from WORLD and The New Yorker.

Caplan is the sort of economist (are there other sorts? there must be) who engages with the views of non-economists in the way a bulldozer would engage with a picket fence if a bulldozer could express glee.

The argument of his book is that economists and political scientists have misunderstood the problem. They think that most voters are ignorant about political issues; Caplan thinks that most voters are wrong about the issues, which is a different matter...

Here's a superb post with lots of good, crisp advice on reading widely.

An interview with Caedmon's Call:

You guys have never really cared about how you fit into the whole “CCM” aspect of the music industry. Do you see the current state of Christian music as having improved since you signed with a major record label ten years ago?

Todd Bragg: In some ways yes, but mostly no.

Garett Buell: I really think CCM could use more thinking, more creativity (not to mention the complete demolition of the name “CCM”) I think Christians in particular have a hard time being unique, and different from then next person. I don’t know why but, who said being born again meant losing your individuality? So with that said, why does everything on the radio sound like the same band with a bunch of singers?

The Iron Lake Slideshow has been updated with a few shots from Jesse.

Ravi Zacharias has a brand new audio series out entitled "Why Don't I Feel My Faith?"

When you’ve pursued all the learning, read all the books, made all the intellectual commitments to faith, you expect that somehow there will be an evoking of the emotion that will conform to what it is you claim to believe in your mind or intellect. But in truth, that feeling is often not there, or has temporarily lapsed. In a culture that operates so much by emotion, how do we take both our knowledge and our emotions and unify them into a framework of morality and information?