Gospel.com Blog

Jonalyn Grace Fincher, the author of Ruby Slippers, reacts to the recently released statistic that 1 in 4 teenage girls have an STD:

There is a discouraging, though not altogether unsurprising, statistic making headlines. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 4 teenage girls have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The New York Times covers the findings, “Sex Infections Found in Quarter of Teenage Girls”. My thoughts kicked into high gear when I heard that. What are my friends and sister’s friends going to be inheriting in the coming years? Infertility will continue to rise as infections from disease destroy the fine-tuned fertility micro-climate in a woman’s body.

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But I suppose the thing that bothers me the most is that STDs are infiltrating the core of a woman’s body, targeting her capacities for vulnerability in the future. You know how hard it is to raise your voice when you have a sore, inflamed throat? Or to laugh a deep, vulnerable belly guffaw when you have a cough? Well, that’s a taste of how hard it will be for these young women to be vulnerable in intimacy when the sensitive parts of her body, her reproductive capacities, her sexual pleasure and recreation has been damaged, ravaged by disease, inflamed from infection. The physical pain is just a small slice of the problem. I haven’t even touched on the psychological aspects of sex without the safety and freedom of marriage…

Vulnerability means we have places that can be touched, wounded or pleased. As I’ve written in Ruby Slippers, “Vulnerability requires that we have places that are tender, places we can be affected, touched and even destroyed. A sparrow is more vulnerable than a rock. But because a sparrow is alive, it whistles, and soars, even though it can also be caught by a cat and clawed to death.” (p 112).

You can read more of her thoughts at her blog.

If you’re familiar at all with RBC Ministries, you have probably read at least one of Mart De Haan’s popular “Been Thinking About” essays. Well, if you’ve found Mart’s insights helpful, you’re in luck: there’s also a Been Thinking About blog!

Every day at BeenThinking.org, Mart shares his thoughts on the issues of the day—from current events to the relevancy of Scripture to the challenge of responding to an ever-changing culture. The point is, well, to get you thinking about the world in a fresh and Biblical way. Stop by and take part in the discussion, or follow Mart’s thoughts via RSS.

Who doesn’t have a blog these days? I was pleasantly surprised to discover recently that Woodrow Kroll, the man behind Back to the Bible’s daily radio broadcast, now has a daily blog which features short devotional insights that expand on the day’s radio broadcast. Each post is open for comments, so you can stop by and share your thoughts. Go have a look, or grab the RSS feed!

Are you familiar with the Lausanne Movement? It’s an evangelistic coalition born over 30 years ago at a vast international gathering of thousands of Christian evangelists and visionaries. The result of that meeting was the Lausanne Covenant, a document that has shaped Christian mission work ever since.

It’s been decades since the Lausanne Movement sprang into existence, but it continues to guide and focus conversations about missions and evangelism. And this January, Lausanne Chairman Doug Birdsall started up Towards 2010, a blog at which he’ll be discussing missions, leadership, and theology. In particular, the blog will be talking about issues related to the planned Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, set for 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. The blog’s just begun, but if missions is a topic you’re interested in, this one should be well worth adding to your feed reader.

Interested in missions, but stuck at home this summer? You can participate in a mission trip vicariously through the blog of WayFM’s Mission Team, which just wrapped up short-term missionary work in Jamaica–and blogged the experience! The Jamaica Mission Team blog has photos and updates from the team as it helped local Jamaican pastors doing construction, school and church outreach, and orphanage ministry.

If you’re a regular reader of the Buzz, you know that we’re big fans of Strangely Dim and The Online Pulpit, two blogs from InterVarsity Press about faith, leadership, and all other manner of topics. It’s exciting, then, to see that IVP has added three new blogs to their blogging family:

• Andy Unedited by IVP editorial director Andrew T. Le Peau, about “how publishers do their work and how they can do it better.”
• Addenda & Errata, about the process of publishing and editing at IVP.
• Behind the Books, about issues and trends in the publishing industry that relate to what IVP is doing.

They look great so far–it’s nice to see discussions about writing, editing, and publishing in a Christian environment. Add ‘em to your bookmarks or RSS reader!

Few figures from modern history are so universally recognized as Albert Einstein, whose scientific genius shook the entire world. But what did the brilliant scientist think of God–did his love of science get in the way of belief in a Creator? GetReligion posts some interesting highlights from an NPR piece that delves into Einstein’s humble and difficult-to-pin-down thoughts about God, Jesus, atheism, and the “unattainable secrets” of the universe that science cannot always illuminate.

James Watkins turns ten today! Well, James isn’t turning ten, but his website, JamesWatkins.com, is celebrating its tenth straight year of publishing Jim’s often amusing, always insightful commentary. This week, he’s talking about the latest news and cultural developments–he offers his thoughts on the Imus scandal, on the roots of the violence currently plaguing Iraq, and the Duke Lacrosse team controversy. If you’re not acquainted with Jim’s unique take on current events, stop by and see what he has to say!

GetReligion.org has a new look! The GetReligion team has been talking about religion and the media for three years now, and in that time have made their group blog one of the top journalism blogs on the web. Recent posts have talked about journalists’ treatment of Rapture theology, efforts to reinvigorate Christian radio, and more. Stop by and check out the new design–and if the subject of the media and its treatment of religion interests you, consider giving it a place in your newsreader.

Educators and parents: looking for a place to discuss current ideas about teaching and nurturing children? Dan Beerens of Christian Schools International writes a blog, Nurturing Faith, at which he tackles concerns, issues, and ideas about raising kids today, with a focus on their personal and spiritual development as well as their academic success.

Recent posts have covered topics ranging from cultivating your students’ gifts to accelerated physiological and psychological development in young people today. If you’re an educator or a parent with a special interest in Christian education, bookmark Nurturing Faith–and add a comment or two to a post that catches your eye and makes you think!