But some popular writers simply become biography factories, churning out a new one on some well-known figure every year (or more), just in time for Christmas, often repackaging old myths and inaccuracies.

The IRS should modify forms to permit organizations, such as operators of shelters from domestic violence, to redact sensitive information from public disclosure if it would put people at risk.

I think it's true that the majority of West Point cadets are of a very conservative, Christian orientation," said senior cadet Andrew Houchin. "I don't think that's unique to West Point. But more broadly, I've never had that even be a problem with those of us who are secular."

"I give and give all week. I just want to come to church to be ministered to and fed." Perhaps you've heard a friend who works in a parachurch ministry say something like this. Perhaps you've said it yourself. Those who work for a parachurch ministry, like me, are often inclined to believe that their (Christian) vocation exempts them from meaningful involvement in a church. We must resist this temptation.

But, long before the society at large will care about our perspective on the family crisis, the church must humbly and faithfully show the world what God intended from the beginning, for his glory and for our good.

Saturday morning it was back to presbytery for a paper on 'Is it ever legitimate to rebaptise?'. Simon Arscott from Trinity York did an excellent job and is going to write up his paper. I was amazed to find out that the PCA is ok with the rebaptism of Roman Catholics.

Deep down I want to be a stand-alone store that is never threatened by extinction – It must be part of living in rebellion of my unfinished nature. Even deeper, it is a refusal to acknowledge and let go of my idols. But in this resolve, subtly and unwittingly I become incrementally distanced from Jesus, and my fresh faith is transformed into spiritual inertia.

I realize that tuning in Fox's popular Bill O'Reilly for instruction about religion is like watching the "Star Wars" movies to learn about science. But last week, O'Reilly took a position unusually unmoored from what anybody else understands as reality. O'Reilly asserted, with an apparently straight face and for two consecutive days, that Christianity is not a religion.

He refers to Prince Caspian, in Voyage of the Dawn Treader, for a perfect put-down to arguments for progress and development: “I have seen them both, in an egg. We call it ‘going bad’ in Narnia.”

Studies indicate that 1,500 - 2,000 pastors are displaced from their church each month, or 18,000 to 24,000 a year. Unlike being laid off or fired from most other positions, the exited pastor doesn't have the church to fall back on for support. The church is the source of the disappointment, anger and pain that can plague the ex-pastor and his family.