Lady Margaret Thatcher

Today was the funeral for Lady Margaret Thatcher, the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the longest-serving PM of the 20th century (1979-90). Without any question, she was a great woman. She is known well for both her domestic and international policies. Her staunch stance against Communism in general and the Soviet Union in particular earned her the title of “The Iron Lady.” Many and varied memories and emotions have been reignited at the news of her passing.

If you have the time, The Daily Telegraph has produced a multi-part documentary on the rise, the service, the policies, and various significant events in Thatcher’s political life. Below are the links. But before you skip to the links, permit me to recommend two books for your consideration.

There Is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters

Price: $12.23

4.4 out of 5 stars (46 customer reviews)

54 used & new available from $7.63

See Claire Berlinski’s interview on Uncommon Knowledge.

The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World

Price: $13.54

4.7 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)

73 used & new available from $7.13

Now for the documentary series.

Part 1: The Making of Margaret Thatcher (51 min.)

Part 2: The Falklands (27 min.)

Part 3: The World Stage (35 min.) 

Part 4: The Age of Dissent (27 min.)

Part 5: Taking on the Unions (28 min.)

Part 6: Public Image, Private Life (33 min.)

Part 7: The Fall (31 min.)

Part 8: The Legacy (29 min.)

Many experts now view pedophilia as a sexual orientation

**WARNING: The link below contains disturbing material.**

When we challenged the propaganda swirling around the alleged “gay gene,” we were called “homophobic.” When we asserted that such moves regarding human DNA would swing about in support of pedophilia, we were called “homophobic.” When we argued that such approaches naturally lead to support of incest, bestiality, and polyamory as well, we were called “homophobic.”

Well, clearly the name-calling retort is unhelpful and misleading. It is a muddling diversion that distracts from the points at hand. And now comes some public admissions in news sources of credibility to the homosexual lobby. Might this help to persuade? Not likely. But it is clarifying nonetheless.

Many experts now view pedophilia as a sexual orientation [Google+ hangout] – latimes.com.

Note the distinction between attraction and action. That is quite key, it seems to me. But such a distinction is demonized when anyone suggests its applicability those facing same-sex attraction. I suppose that is the result when something gains political leverage and subsequent social traction.

Very interesting indeed.

10 Misconceptions about the New Testament Canon (COMPLETE)

The links below provide an education in themselves. Really. Truly.

If you take the time to read even what is posted online — not to mention Dr. Kruger’s fine book — you will have a greater knowledge about the canon of the New Testament than the vast majority of seminary graduates and pastors today. Seriously. Truly. So, read on . .  .

UPDATED • 06 December 2012 

Dr. Michael J. Kruger, author of Canon Revisited, is publishing online a series discussing 10 Misconceptions about the New Testament Canon. Below are links to the posts already online. I’ll update this post as the others become available. In the meantime, there is much already here to consider and enjoy.

  1. The Term ‘Canon’ Can Only Refer to a Fixed, Closed List of Books
  2. Nothing in Early Christianity Dictated That There Would Be a Canon
  3. The New Testament Authors Did Not Think They Were Writing Scripture
  4. Books Were Not Considered As Scripture Until Around 200 A.D.
  5. Early Christian Disagreed Widely over the Books Which Made It into the Canon
  6. In the Early Stages, Apocryphal Books Were as Popular as the Canonical Books
  7. Christians Had No Basis to Distinguish Heresy from Orthodoxy until the Fourth Century
  8. Early Christianity Was an Oral Religion and Therefore Would Have Resisted Writing Things Down
  9. The Canonical Gospels Were Certainly Not Written by the Individuals Named in Their Titles
  10. Athanasius’s Festal Letter (367A.D.) Is the First Complete List of New Testament Books *NEW*

If this weren’t rich enough, there also are a few additional posts that are on topic:

In additional, here is a published essay discussing the definition of the term ‘canon’:

And please don’t overlook the audio files (MP3) of his excellent four-part lecture series on the subject:

And you’ll certainly not want to overlook Dr. Kruger’s book:

Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books

Price: $19.00

4.7 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)

54 used & new available from $18.15

We are indebted to Dr. Kruger for his fine work. So, here is to you, Dr. Kruger . . . Cheers! 

 

Joseph Smith Offended the Laws

In late-1987 I began my transition out of the Mormon Church. One of the important discoveries was my reading of the first and only edition of the Navuoo Expositor and the testimony of William and Jane Law. Here is what William later wrote about Joseph Smith.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, as we find it recorded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in which we most firmly believe, and upon which we base our hopes of eternal salvation, does not admit of murder, false swearing, lying, stealing, robbing, defrauding, polygamy, adultery, fornication, and blasphemy. And yet those evils have been introduced into the Church at Nauvoo, by Joseph Smith and others, for the purpose of accomplishing their base designs. We have always disapproved such things and opposed them both privately and publicly, and for our opposition to them, we were driven from our homes in Nauvoo.

Read more at Why William and Jane Law left the LDS Church in 1844

You may read the Navuoo Expositor here.

Unveiling Grace: Journeys from Mormonism and into the Grace of Christ Jesus

It is fast approaching 25 years since I exited the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). I remember well the hours upon hours, day after day, reading and rereading material in the library at Utah State University. My adventure began in late-1987 and continued into 1988 (and in some senses, well beyond those years).

The video below came to my attention just this last week. As I watched it, many of my own experiences and thoughts and words came flooding back. As these folks talk about reading the Bible and coming to see Jesus for who he is, and that in contrast to Mormon teaching, is so very true, so very satisfying, so very good. Indeed, take up the Bible and read it. That is a good bit of advice for everyone and especially for Mormons.

Enjoy!

 

Unveiling Grace: A Sacred Groves Film.