World Views

It's a ritual, every year around Easter and Christmas the NYT's and other high profile publications spill ink attacking Christianity. Here we go again, this time a two time Pulitzer prize winning reporter, Nicholas Kristof poses questions about the Crucifixion of Christ,the Resurrection , the Virgin Birth and what happens to you when you die. I certainly don't mind the questions being posed by someone who is a sincere inquirer, as no Christian ever should, however I doubt Mr. Kristof sincerity. Here are some of the pieces Mr. Kristof has written (note the dates):                                                                                                               

"Professor, Was Jesus Really Born to a Virgin?" (William Lane Craig)  December 21,2018

"Cardinal Tobin, Am I a Christian?" December 22, 2018

"President Carter, Am I a Christian?" April 15, 2017

 "Am I a Christian, Pastor Timothy Keller?" December 23, 2016

 "Reverend, You Say the Virgin Birth Is 'a Bizarre Claim'? (Serene Jones )  April 20, 2019

Well, he finally found someone who agrees with him. Serene Jones, a Protestant minister, President of Union Theological Seminary who has an impressive academic pedigree. A graduate of Oklahoma University, M. Div. and Phd. from Yale University. She spent 17 years at Yale as the Titus Street Professor of Theology at the Divinity School, and Chair of the University's Program in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (BIG RED FLAG). With all that education she desperately needs to go through Pastor Nate's Confirmation Class. If you make a list of essential truths of the Christian Faith and check them off as you read the interview (check if she agrees) there would be no checks on your paper. As for Mr. Kristof, I hope he finds the truth and accepts it.

Click Here For Details on the Union Theological Seminary. Not a place to go to.

Attachment: The Cross.pdf

An article from the Wall Street Journal looks at the rising suicide rates in this country that is hitting our younger generation hard. According to the CDC, for the age group of children 10 to 17, the overall suicide rate has increased 26% between the 2007-2017 time period. Dubbed, "death's of despair," this time period also coincides with the introduction of the I-Phone and the rising popularity of social media, although, not discussed in the article, this is a factor that should not be ignored. This article explores the cluster of suicide deaths in the small town of Harriman, Utah. A town of mostly Mormon believers, this was especially shocking to the townspeople and even caused them to reconsider the Mormon belief on suicide. Some common denominators amongst the victims: were the despair of not measuring up to the rigid standards of Mormonism, not fitting in with the "in crowd" at school, drug and alcohol use. So what is the take away for Christians from this article? One that comes to mind, is how important it is as parents, to establish a firm foundation in the faith for our children and pray for them always.

Click On the PDF file to read the article.

Attachment: One Teenager Killed Himself. Six More Followed. - WSJ.pdf

I, as a preschool teacher and a grandmother, am quite concerned for our little ones in this new world of screens.  In this review, Ms. Gurdon writes about the hidden magic of reading aloud to children. It is not mentioned in this article, but it is interesting to note that some of the folks who have developed our new world of screens, are intentionally sending their own children to schools without screens.  It is important that we consider what is best for the development of our children in choosing how they experience time with technology. This is especially true for preschoolers!!

 Louise O'Boyle

Click on the Link to the PDF file