Category: America Written by Jim Denison

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In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo says to Gandalf, "I wish the Ring had never come to me.  I wish none of this had happened."  Gandalf replies, "So do all who live to see such times; but that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.  There are other forces at work in this world."

We live in a day when forces opposed to the gospel are at work in this world on an unprecedented level.  Spiritual awakening in America is more essential than ever before.  Unless something changes quickly, the U.S. will soon become a post-Christian nation.  The good news is that what we need to do, we can do—today.

Category: America Written by Jim Denison

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By now you may have seen the news: Newsweek's cover story is being called "one of the most irresponsible articles ever to appear in a journalistic guise."  Written by Kurt Eichenwald, "The Bible: So Misunderstood It's a Sin" begins:

They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of homosexuals.  They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school.  They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats.  They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country's salvation.

They are God's frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch.  They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify translations to prove they are honoring God's words.

Believe it or not, it gets worse.

Category: America Written by Nick Pitts

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The heat was turned up Wednesday when President Obama announced a new direction regarding Cuban policy. Unthawing the frozen relationship that started during the Cold War era, the president said he is cutting loose the shackles of the past and taking a new approach into the future. This new approach includes Cuba's immediate release of American Alan Gross and America's easing travel restrictions for US citizens, expansion of commercial sales and exports, and the possible opening of a U.S. Embassy in Havana.

The unthawing of relations caused a flood of responses in opposition. Florida Senator Marco Rubio called the move "another concession to tyranny" by the Obama administration. The possible Republican candidate for president in 2016 went on to say that the decision was "absurd and it's part of a long record of coddling dictators and tyrants." Believing the president to the "worst negotiator since Jimmy Carter," Rubio was joined in opposition by New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who claimed the move "vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government."

Category: America Written by Nick Pitts

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Over the years, Tom Cruise has taught us a number of lessons. In Risky Business, Cruise demonstrated to us the fun to be had in slipping and sliding across a wooden floor. He reminded us in Jerry Maguire that it is not all about the money, but it is important to show me the money. He taught us no mission is impossible, except if you appear on Oprah and proceed to jump up and down on a couch. Then it is impossible to regain credibility. But maybe the most interesting lesson he taught us was found in Minority Report. The movie revolves around this pivotal question:

Is it possible to predict future behavior based upon present circumstances? And if it is possible, is it right?

Category: America Written by Jim Denison

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Charlie Brown turned 50 this December.  Or at least, his Christmas show did.

A Charlie Brown Christmas nearly didn't make it to the air in 1965.  CBS executives thought the plot was too slow and didn't like the jazz music sound track.  They allowed the show to air but said "it will probably be the first and last Charlie Brown show."  It turned out, half the country watched when the show aired on December 9, 1965.  It led to four feature films (a fifth is planned for November 2015) and 45 television specials.