What the Heck?

University of Florida employees have to pledge that they're having sex with their domestic partners before qualifying for benefits under a new health care plan at the university.

Uh yeah. Continue reading here.

Go Gators!

Freeman calls Black History Month Ridiculous

Yesterday I was on my way back to the office from a job site when I heard a little bit of the Dennis Prager show. Prager played a clip of actor Morgan Freeman in a recent 60 Minutes interview discussing Black History Month. I wish you could hear the audio, it was great, but here's some of it from MSNBC.com

NEW YORK - Morgan Freeman says the concept of a month dedicated to black history is "ridiculous."

"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" the 68-year-old actor says in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" to air Sunday (7 p.m. EST). "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."

Black History Month has roots in historian Carter G. Woodson's Negro History Week, which he designated in 1926 as the second week in February to mark the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Woodson said he hoped the week could one day be eliminated — when black history would become fundamental to American history.

Freeman notes there is no "white history month," and says the only way to get rid of racism is to "stop talking about it."

The actor says he believes the labels "black" and "white" are an obstacle to beating racism.

"I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man," Freeman says.

Thank you, Mr. Freeman.

Give that man another Oscar for Best Narration in a Penguin Movie or something!

Now unfortunately we have to contrast that with this article including MLKJr day comments from Ray Nagin (mayor of New Orleans), where he says God is mad at America, and that New Orleans will once again be a 'chocolate' city the way it should be.

Try and stomach it here.

One step forward, two steps back.

"Go For the Legs"

FoxTrot 1-17-06

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Ernie's Blog

Good evening.

I couldn't sleep last night so I decided to create a blog. I had Shaun create a great picture for me but I decided not to use it. I have attached them here for you guys. Check out the blog and let me know of any recommendations that you might have.

http://seminite.blogspot.com/

In
Him,
Ernie

Is that like Seminole!?!

The Seeker

Here's a MUST READ article from SBCLife that was pointed to at Paleoevangelical and Founders...

For almost thirty years, church growth experts, pastors, and evangelists have used the term "Seeker." Rare is the article, book, or conference that does not use "Seeker-sensitive," "Seeker-driven," or "Seeker services." But is the term biblical? And what are the ramifications of its usage?

William E. Brown, PhD, is associate professor of Evangelism and Church Planting and Nehemiah Project director at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Read the article at SBCLife here.

Tom Ascol's (Founders) comments on the article here.
Ben Wright (an SEBTS student/paleoevangelical) comments here.

The New Underground Abortion Railroad

Today's my mom's birthday. I am thankful for her. I am glad to be here. That got me thinking about this link that I've hesitated to post this for over a month. It is a grim report, but there is an evil here that is subtle and in some ways more frightening than the practice of abortion itself. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it.

Warning: there are some of you who should not read this article! You know who you are!

Abortions in New York
Right now, there are more abortions performed in New York City than anyplace in the country. And in the coming years, there will undoubtedly be more as the city once again becomes a haven for women desperate for a procedure unavailable where they live.

The New Underground Abortion Railroad: Destination NYC

Prayer Request (from Ernie)

I have a good friend, Ernie Banks, who is studying at Southern Baptist Seminary up in Louisville, KY. God has gifted him in the areas of evangelism and encouragement. He sent this email to some of us this morning and I wanted to share it because it was both encouraging and challenging to me. [I deleted the names for privacy]

Good morning brothers,

I wanted to share a brief story with you guys and ask you all to be praying. This past Friday night I was sent to another line to help load for the night. I hate being sent off because inevitably you get placed in the hardest truck for the night and get worked like a red headed step child. So I went, but with much resentment in my heart. I ended up loading with a young man named ******.

****** began to tell me of his plans for the weekend. I was able to bridge from my past experiences how dissatisfying partying was in the long run and then we quickly got into a gospel conversation. ****** really had no idea about who Jesus Christ is or the gospel itself. He thought that because God was forgiving that everybody got a free pass. Kind of the mind set that God is a benevolent grandfather who turns a blind eye to our bad deeds and only sees the good things we do.

We were able to talk for about two hours and he asked some good questions. Towards the end of our conversation he told me that his grandmother who had become a Christian just a few years ago had told him that if he worked with any guys from Southern Seminary that he should listen to them. Praise the Lord for His sweet providence. So we parted ways and I left him with an invite to our Thursday night Bible study through the book of John.

Last night I overheard my supervisor speaking with a trainer and they were discussing ******. After hearing that ****** would not be at work for the remainder of the week I asked my supervisor what the matter was and he told me that ******'s dad had died this weekend. Again praise God for His providence and please be praying for ******. I want to talk to him when he returns to work and need your prayers as to what to say and how to listen.

Also, please keep praying for our Thursday night Bible study. So far we have only met once and only ***** showed up. It is as though I see the parable of the seed unfolding before my eyes as far as **** is concerned. The good news is another guy, *****, has expressed interest in coming and has already read the first two chapters of John. Keep praying for these guys and for me.

Lastly, I wanted to challenge you guys to make an Edwards type resolution regarding the gospel. Resolved to make the gospel an issue with those who God places in my path. I understand that not all of us feel "gifted" in evangelism, but that does not mean that we should not be sharing the story of Christ with the lost. I have been amazed that many of these guys that I have talked to at UPS have not been engaged by other seminary guys with the gospel. Think about that. These men are training for the ministry and are surrounded by lost people and are not preaching the gospel to them. What does that say about what we really believe? So I exhort you all to make the gospel a priority wherever you are. I heard Piper say recently that if our Calvinism does not lead us to reach the world for Christ then it is not true Calvinism. That is a very loose quote but it holds true to what he was trying to communicate. And to that I say a hearty Amen! Go and preach the gospel to every creature. I love you guys. Thanks for letting me share my heart with you all and thanks for praying. I will keep you all updated with the events at UPS.

In Him,
Ernie

Thanks, Ernie.

'Shake it out for Jesus'

Shaun sent us some food for thought the other day...

One of the articles was about a Hip-Hop Church. In an effort to draw in a younger generation, the churches are having Hip-Hop services. Reportedly the regular services draw about 70 people a week while the HH services draw upwards to 300. One of the rationales for the inclusion was this:

"'Martin Luther did theology in taverns,' Chatman says. 'To what extent are we willing to go to reach young people today?'"

Well, how about actually doing theology?

Al Mohler Rips Ted Haggard

Ben Wright shares some comments from Al Mohler on Ted Haggard's (the so-called face of evangelicalism) recent disappointing interview with Barbara Walters. I watched the ABC special (about Heaven) a few weeks ago and I was really upset by what Haggard was saying about the way to heaven. Like Mohler, it bothered me when Haggard kept saying that "Jesus is the only guarantee." Grr!

Read Ben's blog here.

John Piper & Cancer

Pray for John Piper.

He has announced that he has prostate cancer.

You can read it here.

Winter Weather?

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That's funny, the forecast was just the opposite a few months ago.

Yes, there are ghosts in Miami

The specter of the past was reborn. The ghosts of ethereal goal posts once again haunt the city of Miami. Who you gonna call? Hey, does Janokowski have a younger brother!?! Grrr.

Well, obviously I hate that FSU lost, but who can complain about such an exciting game? Triple overtime. I never thought we’d go the distance, but oh me of little faith. That was one of the best games I've seen all year. Definitely a fight in the trenches.

With all the super-hype about the Rose Bowl, we'll see if it can match up to last night.