DVD Preview: Rebellion of Thought

The culture has gone postmodern, denying absolutes and the existence of truth. We've heard it a thousand times. But the new documentary Rebellion of Thought: Postmodernism, the Church and the Struggle for Authentic Faith (Exploration Films) by Brad and Kent J. Williamson goes beyond announcing the shift and actually explains the tenets of postmodern thought and explores ways that Christians can respond.

The film features an array of interviews with intellectual heavyweights such as D.A. Carson and Jim Spiegel, broken by commentary from the documentary's makers. The cinematography is mind-bending, which somehow seems appropriate as you listen to philosophers opine on a world devoid of absolutes. The film has its weaknesses. The documentary is at its best when the experts do the talking and the call to action at the end is vague and has questionable validity. But the film serves as an excellent primer on postmodernism. Perhaps most important, it raises crucial questions—and hopefully will stimulate fruitful dialogue—at this critical moment in time.

DVD Release date: November 2007

Can Homosexuals Change?

The forthcoming book Ex-Gays? by psychologists Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse isn't exactly a page-turner. With the subtitle, A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation, I’m guessing it wasn’t meant to be. But it is the most scientifically rigorous study to date on a potentially explosive topic—the ability of homosexuals to become straight.

The 400-page book goes into excruciating detail about the study’s rationale and research methodology. Suffice it to say here that the study finds empirical evidence showing that changing homosexual orientation is possible.

Not exactly a shocker for us Christians, especially for those of us who have seen homosexual friends transformed by the grace of God. But the findings fly directly in the face of the American Psychological Association, which states that, not only is change impossible, but that even trying to change is dangerous.

Though the authors anticipate receiving criticism from gay activists, they defend their study as "Pro-choice"—not in reference to abortion of course, but in defending the prerogative of homosexuals to change their orientation.

When the book releases in October it’s sure to fuel debate. Christians need to spotlight studies like this to emphasize that homosexual orientation is not destiny. It’s important that we are part of this debate—not as angry culture warriors hurling denunciations at homosexuals—but as messengers of hope, assuring them that there is true freedom to be found in Christ.

Angry Atheists

If you've visited your local bookstore lately you've probably noticed a disturbing trend—an unusually high number of atheist books lining the store’s shelves. The books bear audacious titles like The God Delusion, God is not Great and The End of Faith.

Unlike the atheists of the past, who couched their denials of the divine in tangled academic prose, these new skeptics are popularizers—writers bent on leveling their arguments at the average reader. And their efforts are paying off. In the past couple of years several of their books have topped the New York Times bestseller’s list.

The movement even has a name: the “new atheists.” But title is a misnomer. There’s absolutely nothing new about what the “new atheists” are saying. They specialize in drudging up the old arguments against God’s existence and pedaling them to a credulous and undiscerning public. What’s new is the attitude. They’re confrontational. Angry. Militant. The movement's de facto leader Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) is on a crusade to stamp out religious belief by making it "too embarrassing" to believe in God. Christopher Hitchens, author of the runaway bestseller, God is Not Great, spares no believer in his assault on religion. Speaking of the late Mother Teresa he proclaimed, “I wish there was a hell for that (expletive) to go to.”

How can we respond? What do we say to a neighbor who has been influenced by these new books? First, study the arguments for God's existence and read up on the authenticity of Scripture. Visit our Web site to read a list of the arguments. To familiarize yourself with the basis for Scripture you can start with Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christ.

Knowing the arguments is crucial. We don’t want to be blindsided in a debate. But I believe it is most important to exude the love of God. The new atheists are hostile. Let’s be passionate but gentle. They’re combative. Let’s be warm and inviting. Ultimately people do not turn to God because they are cornered by a logical argument. They usually see the light when they witness the love of God reflected in our lives.

Back Up Your Data!

Men may not cry when the Red Sox lose, or when the DOW dips 10 percent, but what can really bring a man to tears is losing all the valuable data on his computer—whether it’s financial records, emails, digital photos, music or business information—and realizing that he hasn’t backed-up in months.

According to Kroll Ontrack, the world’s leading data recovery company, two gigabytes of data—equivalent to all of the songs on someone’s iPod Nano, for example—is lost every minute. And, studies have shown that the majority of people rarely, if ever, back up their personal data, yet still consider it “priceless.” To ensure you never lose your precious data consider these tips from Kroll Ontrack.

Back Up, Back Up, Back Up–Even if you have a monster hard drive, make secondary backups of your data using a DVD, external drive, flash drives, or another medium, it is recommended that you back up at least once a week to ensure that important files are up to date.

Test Backups Periodically–It is crucial to verify all your backups to make sure that your important files, photos and music are available when needed.

Virus Prevention–Computer viruses are one of the worst enemies of the computer. Make sure to run a virus scan and update it regularly. In addition, beware of spyware, a common problem brought about by Web surfing and downloads that can cause complications with your computer’s efficiency. There are several programs available on the Internet that assist with removal of these programs.

Monitor Your Computer’s Health–Don’t wait for your computer to break down to take precautions because you’ll risk losing your data. Most quality diagnostic programs can be used to both diagnose current problems and/or as part of a regular maintenance program to identify potential problems that could lead to data loss. If your computer makes a strange noise or grinding sound, there is most likely a mechanical error with your drive. Turn off the computer immediately and call an expert. Further operation may damage the hard drive beyond repair.

Be Kind to Media–Storage media is small and fragile, so keep it stored in a closed (zippered) compartment that will also protect it from bending, flexing or crushing (i.e. your back pants pocket is not a good place to hold extra storage!)

A Home for the Computer–Ensure your computer is set up/stored in a clean, dust-free environment and be careful not to have beverages close by. Placing your computer in a low-traffic area will protect your system from harmful jarring, bumping and spills–a very common way of losing data.

Transport Carefully–When laptops are docked, moved or transported, the greatest of care should be taken to prevent unnecessary shock or impact. Use a sturdy, well padded laptop bag.

Organize, Organize, Organize–Put all of your most valuable data in the same folder. This might seem like a no-brainer, but many people save different types of important documents in several different places, making it difficult to remember where everything is located. Most documents are automatically saved within the same main folder (“My Documents” in Windows or “user/desktop” on Macs) but it is best to be as detailed as possible. Put all of your most important documents in the same subfolder so they are easier to find.

Defrag Often–Regularly run the defragmenter function on your computer. This puts your files in a more recognizable chain. Consider Data Recovery. It is important to know that if something does go wrong and you experience data loss, don’t give up hope. Simply turn off your computer and let a professional deal with the problem.

A Glimpse of Your Full Potential

Think of a recent peak moment, a time when everything went as well as or better than you had hoped and you felt at your best. Maybe it was a certain evening with your wife when you really connected and felt closer than ever before. Perhaps it was last weekend on the tennis court or golf course when you were playing your “A” game. Maybe it was a super-successful day in the office when you delivered your best presentation or earned your largest check.

Occasionally, we all have these success experiences. How we process them is a valuable indicator of our self-image. If the peak moment exceeded our expectations, we will often discount the experience and assign it to good luck, fortunate timing or “The Imposter.”

You know the Imposter! He is the imaginary individual who, if you let him, hogs the credit for your best moments. Of course, it’s just another mental trick performed by a negative self-image, which results in blocking your growth. The Imposter is an inner voice that tries to persuade you that, despite evidence to the contrary, you are “playing over your head.” You don’t really have the skills or competence to handle the situation you find yourself in. The truth is that these peak moments, when you appear to be playing over your head, are actually glimpses of your full, undiluted potential with God.

Why not turn things upside down and consider that the deep connection with your wife, that day of excellence on the golf course, that big check are all a direct result of who you really are and what you are really capable of achieving?

Tommy Newberry is the author of The 4:8 Principle available from Tyndale House Publishers this September.