The Disapearance of the Treyvon Martin Case

I see trials on TV every now and then. Currently, Jodi Arias has been on trial for like 100 years now for the killing of her boyfriend.

And right now, the Treyvon Martin case is still going on behind the scenes, somewhere, sort of... 

And that made me wonder, why don't we hear about it anymore? It was a huge national case, and it has yet to be resolved. So why has it disappeared from the public eye?

My hypothesis: We don't hear about it anymore because it isn't at all what we were initially sold.

The Bible Isn't Always Exhaustive...

The Bible is the inspired word of God. Though I am not as dogmatic about it as some fellow-evangelicals, I do believe that the Bible is in fact inerrant, and that, though a few items require speculation as to how they can reconcile, I think it is easier and wiser to trust that there is just something we are missing than to think the Bible is flawed. I am not disparaging the inerrant word of God in any way.

What I am saying is that it is important to remember that the Bible, though accurate in everything it does say, doesn't say everything in the world that has ever been said. That may seem rather obvious, but it seems to not always be obvious in theological circles.

3-Ring Binder Will Be Here For a While After All

Hello All,

Previously, I said I would be moving the blog over to Wordpress, and I have done so in part. I basically copied and pasted everything here to there. But it turns out that Wordpress is a bit harder to use for the lay person if you really want to use it to its full potential. Since I have been a little pressed for time for a while (and will be for the next several months), I haven't gotten around to learning the ropes in-depth and I won't be able to for a while. And, since I am terribly indecisive, I am just going to post on both for now (it only takes a few extra minutes to copy and paste when I know about it ahead of time).

And, despite my lack of time, I have a lot of things to say, so expect some new material very soon :)

3-Ring Binder Is Moving!

Hello Everyone,

While working with Rethinking Hell, I have been turned on to Wordpress, so come check out the 3-Ring Binder blog at http://3ringbinder3.wordpress.com/

Enjoy!

Why the 3/5 Compromise Didn't Denigrate Blacks

In this post, I'll be going in a little bit of a different direction than I normally do. Today, I'm gonna look at U.S. History, specifically, the 3/5 Compromise, and explain why those who point to it as denigrating to African Americans have things reversed.

The 3/5 Compromise refers to Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which reads:

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to Service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other persons (Kennedy, Cohen, and Bailey A32).

In the Abortion Debate, "Extremists" Are the Only Ones with a Leg to Stand On

I try not to go into politics much, especially topics like this. But one thing does need to be said about abortion: I don't for the life of me understand how people can be all that moderate about it.

Why do I say that? I say that because of the one issue that matters, the one question that makes all the difference. When does life begin? Does it begin at conception? Does it begin at birth? Does it begin some time in between? That isn't just an important question; it is the question. I'm even tempted to say that it is the only issue that matters (although that probably isn't totally true).

America, Capitalism, and the Difference Between Intentions and Results

Intentions Vs. Results
In most things, results matter far more than intentions. I tutor kids, and if I can't help them understand the material and get better grades, I won't be kept as their tutor for very long. Even if it's not my fault and the kid is just unreachable and I won't be replaced by anyone, there is still no use in keeping me on if nothing results from it. That is true for most any job. The one exception to this rule, of course, is also the most important judgment we have: It is judgment before God.

Before God, where are hearts were when we acted are far more important than the actual deeds. As religious and pious as the Pharisees were, Jesus could only lament their hearts, quoting what God said centuries before about His people, the Israelites: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8; cf. Isaiah 29:23). Jesus condemned those who would be His killers (Matthew 21:33-46; 26:24), and yet by them doing so, we were saved. They were condemned for sin, because they did not intend for good, but for evil, and so it was held against them. God killed Jesus to save us, but they murdered who they knew to be, at the very least, an innocent man, out of malice and wickedness.

Capitalism, Economic Philosophy, and America
With the upcoming presidential election here in the US, economic issues have been central (which makes sense, given the economic collapse and snails-paced recovery since). The last 4 1/2 years have been pretty awful from an economic standpoint. Tens of millions of people out of work or woefully underemployed (like myself). Many have just given up on searching (which keeps the official unemployment rate artificially low). Being a somewhat recent college graduate myself, I'm well in the thick of things. America has had serious economic downturns, but not since the great depression have they lasted this long. The middle class is dying. Beyond that, we have the long-term problem of the national debt, which has increased by more than 50% in the last 4 years (and is more than twice what is was 10 years ago, a time when it was still sustainable). At over $16 Trillion, it is greater than the GDP of any country on earth (including our own), and with enormous projected increases in Social Security and Medicare costs, there is no end in sight.