Recent Viewpoints

Moore’s Law turns 50 years old this week. If you are unsure of what Moore’s Law is, let me explain. Back in the early 1960s, integrated circuits were coming on the scene but were very expensive. Some commentators believed they would be of limited use because of their size and expense. A physical chemist by the name of Gordon Moore saw a much different future. In his article in Electronics Magazine he extrapolated a few data points and made a…

If a celebrity couple separates, should the couple’s frozen embryos be destroyed or put up for adoption? That is the question surrounding the actress Sofia Vergara. She is best known for her role in the TV program Modern Family or for her furniture commercials. She is now in the spotlight over a bioethics issue. She and her ex Nick Loeb have two frozen embryos that were created when they were still in a relationship. They aren’t in a relationship now,…

Atheism is on the rise in America, and it is worth understanding the trends that contribute to this. The Barna Group has spent a considerable amount of time studying the unchurched but has also published a study on the state of atheism in America. The Barna study lumps together atheism and agnosticism. An atheist would be someone who doesn’t believe that God exists. An agnostic would be someone who is not sure if God exists but might be open to…

When debate broke out last month in Indiana over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, you might remember the story of Memories Pizza. If not, here is a quick summary. A reporter for ABC57 walked into the pizza place located in Walkerton, Indiana and asked if they would cater a same-sex wedding. Although the question was hypothetical (after all, few people order pizza for a wedding reception), Crystal O’Connor answered truthfully and said they would decline the opportunity. A firestorm broke…

Earlier this month the House of Representatives voted to repeal the federal tax on estates. Republicans argue that this “death tax” should be repealed because of the negative impact it has on family farms and small businesses. Democrats call a repeal of the estate tax a giveaway to the rich. In the midst of this debate comes a book that devotes a few pages to this issue. John Tamny has written the book, Popular Economics: What the Rolling Stones, Downton…

Email is such a convenient form of communication, we sometimes forget: There’s etiquette for emailing. A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “Mind Your Email Manners” caught my eye. It draws from the advice of business etiquette expert Jacqueline Williams. Email is quick, efficient, and casual, but especially in business, Ms. Williams says we should actually “Err on the side of being more formal.” First, she says, “An email deserves a greeting,” a salutation. If you’ve never met the person…

You know a new trend in churches is taking place when CNN and the New York Times start reporting on inclusive churches. In many ways, this is not a new trend but evidence of heresy and apostasy that goes go all the way back to the first century. The so-called “new trend” is one more warning to believers to check out the theological foundations of a church before joining it. In this day and age, it is possible to be…

Earlier this month at the meeting of the International Society of Christian Apologetics there was a robust discussion of inerrancy and hermeneutics. Those are scholarly words for the belief that the Bible is without error and needs to be interpreted according to sound practices of biblical interpretation. There is a practical aspect of this debate that affects you and the way you read and interpret the Bible. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you have…

Today is Earth Day. When the first Earth Day was held in 1970, nearly 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums. Back then there were significant environmental concerns about our air and water. I participated by inviting a leader that I knew at the Sierra Club to come to my high school and speak. Many people believe this celebration launched the modern environmental movement. Looking back I have noticed two significant changes that are worth noting. First,…

Biblical illiteracy is a problem that is getting worse in America. Mark Yarborough and I were talking about this recently on my radio program as we discussed his new book, How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor. We were talking about the article by Ed Stetzer, Dumb and Dumber: How Biblical Literacy Is Killing Our Nation. Ed Stetzer reminds us about the Bible’s impact on this country. “It has shaped our laws, social systems, and even language.” Unfortunately,…

We have a problem in the medical field. More than 100,000 people who need an organ transplant cannot get one. Some deal with declining health. Many of them die waiting for a transplant. A company in California has a solution. Take the organs from aborted babies and grow them in animals until they can be transplanted into humans. If the thought of this is repugnant, you are not alone. Leslie Hanks of the Colorado Right to Life says: “This kind…