Barna Research in USA: "Majority of Millenials believe in Cohabitation"

Barna Research writes:

"Cohabitation is the new norm. Shifting gender roles and expectations, the delay of marriage, and a secularizing culture are leading more American adults to believe that moving in together before tying the knot is a good idea. A recent Barna study asked Americans their views on cohabitation: the pros, cons, motivations, and effects of living together prior to marriage. Though its acceptance is widespread in American culture, there are still large pockets of resistance to this changing ethic among religious communities and those who adhere to more traditional values and premarital expectations." Read it all.

Barna Research: Bible Engagement in the New World

Barna Research identified three trends that make Biblical engagement with our society increasingly difficult: 1. increasing skepticism; 2. self-fulfillment as the new 'moral good'; and 3. explosion of digital tools at the same time as a decline in relational discipleship.

Read it all.

Christian University in Canada in Court over its Moral Convictions regarding Marriage

The law societies of Ontario and British Columbia voted not to admit lawyers trained at Trinity Western University to its ranks because the university has a code of conduct that favors marriage between one man and one woman.

The CTV article reads, "At the core of the dispute is Trinity Western's "community covenant" or code of conduct, which the Evangelical Christian institution requires all students to agree to. It includes requiring students to abstain from gossip, obscene language, prejudice, harassment, lying, cheating, stealing, pornography, drunkenness and sexual intimacy "that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman."

The university notes, however, that it does not ban admission to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students or faculty, and said its community offers "an environment in which sexual minorities are supported, loved and respected."

Read it all.

Christianity - what if it disappears from Europe? What would be lost? - The Guardian

A telling editorial in The Guardian examines changes in Britain. More and more people classify themselves as "no religion". In England and Wales the number of Christians is dropping quickly. For every person who becomes either "Catholic" or "Anglican", ten people leave those churches.

This raises the question: If Christianity disappears from Europe, what will be lost?

(Note: Attentive readers will note that the editor of The Guardian shows no clue about the growth of the Christian faith in the countries of the "south", Central and South America, Africa and Asia.)

Read it all.

32 Trillion dollars in Off Shore (mostly tax free) accounts. What to say about this?

Two years ago, amazing details began to seep out about wealthy individuals and their "off shore accounts". Recently, the "Panama Papers" provided a treasury of information about the mostly "tax free" accounts.

For every $1.00 that the West sends in aid to poor countries, $10.00 is sent to these off-shore accounts. More than $32 trillion appears to be beyond the reach of tax authorities.

The Micah Statement on the Panama Papers has this quote ... and much more.

"Compare the $50 to $80 billion a year that flows as overseas development ‘aid’ to poor countries with the $500 billion to $800 billion that the World Bank estimates is being sent illegally out of these same poor countries. For every $1 given across the table, the West has been receiving $10 back under the table ... We call on world leaders to have the political courage, the moral integrity and a genuine concern for the poor to act and stop this theft! This will require the adoption of fair policies and transparent governance practices that can be scrutinised by all. The pledge by 6 countries to at the London Summit on Corruption (12th May 2016) to use a public register of beneficial ownership is a small step in the right direction. We call on our leaders, national, regional and local, our business leaders and our church leaders, to lead by example and ensure that all citizens are treated equally before the law, not allowing the tax burden to be transferred from the richest to the poorest."

Read it all.

"A Confession of Liberal Intolerance" - and reactions against his wanting to hear all voices - NYT

On May 7, 2016, Nicholas Kristof wrote a critique of the prejudice that Liberals on universities have towards "conservative thinking".

Read it all.

What Kristof wasn't prepared for was the immense push-back received for his attempts to show the "blind spot" that exists: "I wondered aloud whether universities stigmatize conservatives and undermine intellectual diversity. The scornful reaction from my fellow liberals proved the point."

And another quote from the NYT article: "Yancey, the black sociologist, who now teaches at the University of North Texas,  conducted a survey in which up to 30 percent of academics said that they would be less likely to support a job seeker if they knew that the person was a Republican.

The discrimination becomes worse if the applicant is an evangelical Christian. According to Yancey’s study, 59 percent of anthropologists and 53 percent of English professors would be less likely to hire someone they found out was an evangelical.

“Of course there are biases against evangelicals on campuses,” notes Jonathan L. Walton, the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard. Walton, a black evangelical, adds that the condescension toward evangelicals echoes the patronizing attitude toward racial minorities: “The same arguments I hear people make about evangelicals sound so familiar to the ways people often describe folk of color, i.e. politically unsophisticated, lacking education, angry, bitter, emotional, poor.”

What is the connection between Canada's Universal Health Care system and the Evangelical church?

Perhaps people are surprised at this, but there is a close connection between Canada's Universal Health Care system and the evangelical churches of the 1930's. What kind of philosophical foundation lay beneath the rise of a medical system that is today one of the country's most fundamental values?

This is spelled out in this article: Read it all.

"The Kasich Conundrum" - Christianity Today

Christianity Today examines a real Conundrum. Of the three last Republicans running, Kasich was the one most evangelicals admired, on one poll at least, yet because of these characteristics he was left out in the cold. Why?

Here's one quote from the article. "At a time when incivility is perceived as courage, and a lack of anger equated to a lack of understanding, Kasich is the odd man out."

Read it all.

China exporting railroads to Kenya and five more countries in East Africa. Amazing.

The video that has been taken as the new Kenya Railway reaches 60% of its completion is an indication that China is winning over the hearts of East Africans at an amazing rate.

Watch the video - and be amazed.

Become an encourager for your life-long mate

Become an awesome encourager: Developing a Habit of affirming your mate.
By David and Claudia Arp

Every day we make choices either to feel threatened by or to benefit from our partner’s strengths. Do you encourage and appreciate the strengths your partner brings to your marriage partnership? If so, it will help you through the hard times. When you’re willing to affirm each other’s strengths, you may find that some of your roughest times become some of the best times in your marriage. Here are two practical tips that will help you develop the habit of affirming your spouse. Read it all.