The Burr in the Burgh

Against the adamant wishes of her parents, the doctors of little 2-year-old Charlotte Wyatt want to deny her life support. And of course, as we all know, doctors know everything. They are never wrong and they never ever make mistakes. Oh, but the courts have ruled in favor of the doctors. Now that settles everything. Judges know everything. They are never wrong and they never make mistakes.

Please pray for little Charlotte. May God spare her life.

Her parents have a blog here.

HT: Michele Malkin

Sphere: Related Content

Are bald eagles more important than people? It's a crime to destroy an eagle's nest, but not to eviscerate a fetus. See here.

Sphere: Related Content

Julie's newest book for children is available now from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, etc.

See:


You can learn more about her books, religious and non, at her website juliestiegemeyer.com or her blog Jottings and Such.

Sphere: Related Content

It seems to me that there is a good deal of confusion in the church these days about the nature of the gospel. What exactly is the good news which the church proclaims?

Listen to the sermons that are preached in our churches? Do you hear - every single week - the message of Christ on the cross? Do you hear - in every single sermon - the forgiveness of sins? Justification? The atonement? If not, you ain't hearing the gospel.

In order to correctly declare the gospel, the preacher needs to understand the nature of humanity's problem. And here is where I think the error begins. What is our basic problem?

The Scriptures teach that our basic problem is that we are alienated from God by our sin. We are, apart from Christ, God's enemies and objects of wrath. Though few evangelical preachers would explicitly disagree with me, a lot of actual preaching suggests that this has been forgotten. Based on many evangelical sermons I have heard and read, I think that many preachers preach as if the main problem is that we are stressed out, burdened by busy lives, weary and over-extended. This then makes our Savior little more than a spiritual massuer, a personal coach, the giver of advice, a therapist.

The rest and comfort Christ gives is not like that which the world gives. We're not saying that Jesus is like Prozac only better; he's like two weeks at the beach, only better; he's like a day at the spa, only better. No, the rest Jesus gives is reconciliation and harmony with God.

For a good corrective:

Sphere: Related Content

Julie and I don't actually watch very much television. The news. Some documentaries here and there. Jacob likes sports and cartoons. Mostly television is just mind-rot.

However, there are exceptions. The program "24" has been around for several years now, but we'd never watched it. But then we picked up a DVD of the first episodes of the first season from the library. Now we're hooked.

Sphere: Related Content

Here is a neat site that has pictures of people who put stuff on their cats.



HT: Samantha Burns

Sphere: Related Content

A Roman Catholic bishop in Oregon has stated that it is heretical to be pro-abortion. See here. Of course, he's right. And here is why. It is impossible for a person to be both pro-choice and take the doctrine of the incarnation seriously. Jesus was conceived in the Virgin's womb by the Holy Spirit. So what was that in there? A blob of tissue? The eternal almighty Son of God became a sub-human blob of soul-less tissue? Yep, that's heresy alrighty.

Sphere: Related Content

It has often been observed that Germans lack a sense of humor. That's because there is nothing funny about being German. But as a 3/4 German American myself, I found this commercial especially humorous. Enjoy. Go here to see what I mean.

Sphere: Related Content

Here is another good article debunking the Mormon myth that Israelites emigrated to the Americas thousands of years ago. The DNA evidence does not support this foundational claim of the Book of Mormon.

Good reads:

Sphere: Related Content

As John Warwick Montgomery has said, faith must be founded on fact. If the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus did not take place historically, then our Christian faith would be less than worthless.

What if a foundational tenet of your religious faith is that the Native Americans are descended from a lost tribe of Israel and extensive DNA tests have proved that Native Americans originated in Asia, not the Middle East? This is the crisis now facing Mormonism.

See here and here.

Sphere: Related Content

In the seminary, I read some of the work of Dr. Richard Bauckham, professor at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. Then today I noticed this article which says he is giving a series of lectures in which he will defend the notion that the four Gospels were written by actual eye-witnesses of the events they describe.

Naturally, I concur with Dr. Bauckham. I don't think there'd be much point in being a Christian if the Gospel narratives were spurious in origin. I'm just glad to see that some major scholars are still unafraid to teach this publicly.

Sphere: Related Content

The commercial begins with husband and wife in the kitchen. She is at the counter and he is seated at the table.

She says, "So did you buy me that diamond necklace for Valentine's Day?"

He, "Uh, no."

She, "Oh, well then did you make reservations for a fancy dinner?"

He, "No."

She, "But you got me a dozen roses?"

He, "Actually, no."

She, "A card?"

He, "(pause) No. But I thought about it. I really did give it some thought."

She, "Awwwwwww, that's so sweet." Hugs and kisses ensue.

And then the announcer comes on and intones something like this, "Of course it's not just the thought that counts. Remember Hallmark when you care enough to send the very best."

This is actually a very profound theological observation. Thoughts and sentiments that are not backed up by actions are hollow.

John 3:16 says that God loved the world so he thought nice thoughts. Nope. It says He loved and so He gave. He gave Himself. Love acts. Am I right?

Sphere: Related Content

The sign in front of the United Church of Christ congregation in Limerick, PA read: "If only thou wilt worship me, then all will be thine" (Luke 4:7).

Sounds pious, eh? Until you notice that the person who speaks those words in the Gospel is SATAN.

Oops. Better change that sign. Blogger Justin Taylor cites this as evidence of biblical illiteracy. I think he's right. I don't think the UCC people in Limerick really want you to worship the devil. Considering that the UCC is one of the most liberal denominations in America, there's a good chance they don't even believe the devil exists.

The latest motto of the United Church of Christ is "God Still Speaks." And as Russell Moore over at Mere Comments notes, whether we believe in him or not, the devil is still talking too.

Sphere: Related Content

The PC police are slamming the new movie based on the classic children's book character, Curious George. Debbie Schlussel has some worthwhile commentary.

Sphere: Related Content

True conversion is not just giving up the bad. It means also giving up the good, in a sense. Giving up the notion that we bring our good works to God to win His favor. Good works are the natural, spontaneous and unavoidable result or fruit of being in God's favor, not the means of gaining it.

On December 16, 2005, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa preached before the pope the preeminence of faith. I don't know that he quite preached that justification is Christ's righteousness imputed or credited to unworthy sinners, but this illustration is a keeper.

Father Cantalamessa told a familiar Italian story about the shepherds near Bethlehem going to visit the newborn Jesus, each of them trying to outdo the others with the beauty of the gifts they offered.

One poor shepherd had nothing and was ashamed.

"Mary could not figure out how to accept all the gifts, since she was holding the baby in her arms," he said. "So, seeing the poor shepherd with his hands free, she handed Jesus to him."

"Having his hands free was his fortune and it should be ours as well," Father Cantalamessa said.

See the story here.

HT: Watersblogged


For further reading, see C.F.W. Walther The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel and

Robert Preus Justification and Rome

Sphere: Related Content

I love dogs and I love cats. I have one of the former and two of the latter. I'm not quite sure it's accurate to say I "own" two cats. I certainly own the dog, but I think the cats might own me. I think to them I'm just staff.

Here is how a dog thinks: "Hmmm. This man feeds me, plays with me, and cleans up after me. He must be god." A cat thinks: "Hmmm. This man feeds me, plays with me, and cleans up after me. I must be god."

Go here to see a page from a dog's diary beside a page from a cat's diary. Sums it up.

Sphere: Related Content

This man is a genius. He sells a DVD with two hours of nothing but himself sitting and drinking beer. That way you never have to drink alone. His web store says:

Rough day at work? No job? You've come to the right place. Steve has found a loophole that blurs the line between the casual drinker and the raging alcoholic! Simply pop in the video, choose how many beers you feel like having and relax with your new drinking buddy. No stupid chit chat, no crying about ex girlfriends, just you and Steve tipping a few back. Enjoy.

Sphere: Related Content

My wife, Julie, over at Jottings and Such said what I've been thinking. That happens a lot, by the way.

I'm all for rooting for the home team, but some of the signs seen in the Burgh around the Steelers big win are a bit much.


I kind of like Julie's alternative suggestion.

Sphere: Related Content