In the recent edition of The Lookout, Dr. Charlie Starr has written an article titled How Hollywood Proves Abortion is Wrong.
When I saw the title, I was a little skeptical. After all, celebrities have not been known for being vocally pro-life. I could not even think of a handful of pro-life celebrities. I could remember only Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond, Ben Stein of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and supermodel Kathy Ireland.
However, Dr. Starr does not argue that celebrities overwhelmingly support the pro-life position. He argues that despite themselves, the people in charge of Hollywood tell stories with pro-life themes.
Dr. Starr writes, "Stories can circumvent this tendency to self-deception. They can teach truths we all know even when we don't know that we know them. Story writing happens in the heart as well as the head. When imaginatively exploring life and the human condition, a writer pens not only the truth he knows, but the truth he doesn't know--the truth his heart knows even if his head has forgotten it. In other words, common sense often speaks up despite the fact that we've trained ourselves to think against it...Based on this understanding, I can prove that abortion is wrong and most everyone thinks so--even Hollywood."
He continues, "The proof is simple: there are no happy abortion movies."
The rest of the article may be read at www.lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp?id=1901.
Showing posts with label The Lookout Magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Lookout Magazine. Show all posts
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Courage and Confidence
Since I'm at home trying to recover from a stomach virus, I have a little more time to read and write today. So I would like to share a couple of articles this morning.
First, Tim Woodroof has written an excellent piece titled A Time for Courage for the Lookout Magazine. Here is an excerpt:
"If we are not very careful, we will find a way to practice a Christianity that requires no courage. A 'get along' brand of Christianity. A Christianity that involves no boldness, no daring. It is possible to so civilize faith, domesticate it, that its characteristic trait becomes politeness rather than courage, being nice rather than being brave. Armed with such a faith, we need never say 'No' to the world or cause offense or take a stand.
"And yet we are living in times that cry out for courageous faith, for the kind of bravery that causes us to live against the culture, to value things our culture does not cherish, to stand up for matters that matter to God. God has not called us to be pleasant. He has called us to be faithful. And there are times when faithfulness demands courage of us.
"So this week, choose courage. Risk a friendship by speaking about faith. Break a rule for compassion's sake. Have the broken and hurting and neglected stand up and then stand beside them. It's what Jesus would do. Brave Jesus."
The entire article can be found at www.lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp?id=1466.
In our local newspaper, syndicated business columnist Harvey Mackay has written "Self-Doubt Can be a Motivator to Success." He demonstrates how humility and confidence work together. Here is an excerpt:
"Never confuse confidence with arrogance.
"Confidence allows you to proceed with some reason to believe you will succeed. Arrogance prevents you from examining your decisions, and is almost always a recipe for disaster."
The entire article can be found at www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20081116_46_E6_WillSm845240.
I hope you enjoy the articles.
First, Tim Woodroof has written an excellent piece titled A Time for Courage for the Lookout Magazine. Here is an excerpt:
"If we are not very careful, we will find a way to practice a Christianity that requires no courage. A 'get along' brand of Christianity. A Christianity that involves no boldness, no daring. It is possible to so civilize faith, domesticate it, that its characteristic trait becomes politeness rather than courage, being nice rather than being brave. Armed with such a faith, we need never say 'No' to the world or cause offense or take a stand.
"And yet we are living in times that cry out for courageous faith, for the kind of bravery that causes us to live against the culture, to value things our culture does not cherish, to stand up for matters that matter to God. God has not called us to be pleasant. He has called us to be faithful. And there are times when faithfulness demands courage of us.
"So this week, choose courage. Risk a friendship by speaking about faith. Break a rule for compassion's sake. Have the broken and hurting and neglected stand up and then stand beside them. It's what Jesus would do. Brave Jesus."
The entire article can be found at www.lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp?id=1466.
In our local newspaper, syndicated business columnist Harvey Mackay has written "Self-Doubt Can be a Motivator to Success." He demonstrates how humility and confidence work together. Here is an excerpt:
"Never confuse confidence with arrogance.
"Confidence allows you to proceed with some reason to believe you will succeed. Arrogance prevents you from examining your decisions, and is almost always a recipe for disaster."
The entire article can be found at www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20081116_46_E6_WillSm845240.
I hope you enjoy the articles.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
What Would You Fight For?
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 1:16).
As hard as it may be for some fellow bloggers to believe, I'm not much of a fighter. I don't go around looking for an argument. I don't even care about many of the issues that preoccupy some of my fellow Christians, much less have a firm opinion about them. I would love to get along with everyone I meet. I enjoy serving rather anonymously in the church of Jesus Christ.
However, once in a while, I feel the need to get involved in an argument...not just any argument, but an argument about the essentials of Christian faith and ethics. For example, I could not remain silent when an urban ministry leader in Texas started undermining the trustworthiness of the Bible, the book that led me to faith in Christ (see http://larryjamesurbandaily.blogspot.com/2008/03/fundamentalism-very-real-problem.html). How could I call myself a follower of Jesus Christ if I were too embarrassed to stand for him when I could receive harsh criticism, ostracism, or worse? Would I rather be comfortable or faithful to my Savior? I owe Christ my life. Why should I deny my faith in him when things get a little heated?
At http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp?id=1373, Tim Woodroof has written an excellent article about the need for Christians to be willing to fight for their faith without being quarrelsome. He asked, "What would you fight for?" It's a question for every disciple to consider.
I plan on writing a couple of more posts this week about convictions and the character of Jesus Christ which will supplement this post. I hope to demonstrate the need to be faithful to Christ even when it makes us look bad.
Thanks for reading!
As hard as it may be for some fellow bloggers to believe, I'm not much of a fighter. I don't go around looking for an argument. I don't even care about many of the issues that preoccupy some of my fellow Christians, much less have a firm opinion about them. I would love to get along with everyone I meet. I enjoy serving rather anonymously in the church of Jesus Christ.
However, once in a while, I feel the need to get involved in an argument...not just any argument, but an argument about the essentials of Christian faith and ethics. For example, I could not remain silent when an urban ministry leader in Texas started undermining the trustworthiness of the Bible, the book that led me to faith in Christ (see http://larryjamesurbandaily.blogspot.com/2008/03/fundamentalism-very-real-problem.html). How could I call myself a follower of Jesus Christ if I were too embarrassed to stand for him when I could receive harsh criticism, ostracism, or worse? Would I rather be comfortable or faithful to my Savior? I owe Christ my life. Why should I deny my faith in him when things get a little heated?
At http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp?id=1373, Tim Woodroof has written an excellent article about the need for Christians to be willing to fight for their faith without being quarrelsome. He asked, "What would you fight for?" It's a question for every disciple to consider.
I plan on writing a couple of more posts this week about convictions and the character of Jesus Christ which will supplement this post. I hope to demonstrate the need to be faithful to Christ even when it makes us look bad.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, January 21, 2008
A Few Good Articles to Share
I have a few good articles to share about Martin Luther King Jr. and the pro-life perspective.
Our Daily Bread has a good devotional piece about a turning point in Dr. King's life at http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-01-21-08.shtml.
The Christian Chronicle has an interesting interview with Fred Gray, the attorney for Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, at http://www.christianchronicle.org/article901~A_Conversation_with_Fred_Gray.
The Lookout magazine has three powerful pro-life articles at
http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=434
http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=435
http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=436
I hope you had a great Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Our Daily Bread has a good devotional piece about a turning point in Dr. King's life at http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-01-21-08.shtml.
The Christian Chronicle has an interesting interview with Fred Gray, the attorney for Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, at http://www.christianchronicle.org/article901~A_Conversation_with_Fred_Gray.
The Lookout magazine has three powerful pro-life articles at
http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=434
http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=435
http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=436
I hope you had a great Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Conversion of Seth Wilson
I liked "The Conversion of Seth Wilson" by H. Lynn Gardner in this week's edition of The Lookout magazine. In the article, Seth Wilson credited the example and teaching of one of his elders for leading him to Christ. Faith, love, joy, and simple Bible teaching combined to make an impact on the young Seth Wilson. The story may be read at http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=361.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
How to Respond to Militant Atheists
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43-44, NIV).
In The Lookout magazine this week, Tim Woodroof has a good article titled Atheist Chic which describes the growing popularity of militant atheism in American culture. Mr. Woodroof also describes some good ways to respond to the trend. The article may be read at http://lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp. If his article has been replaced, scroll down and you should be able to find a link to it among the previously published articles. The Lookout is among the best Christian magazines available online.
In The Lookout magazine this week, Tim Woodroof has a good article titled Atheist Chic which describes the growing popularity of militant atheism in American culture. Mr. Woodroof also describes some good ways to respond to the trend. The article may be read at http://lookoutmag.com/articles/culture.asp. If his article has been replaced, scroll down and you should be able to find a link to it among the previously published articles. The Lookout is among the best Christian magazines available online.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
