DHD: Supreme Court; Bice for congress; Thunder; College hoops; Avengers; Men’s Rewired

by Chris Doyle | Apr 26, 2019

Greetings!

I’m blogging from one of my favorite places in the whole world—Falls Creek. I never feel more refreshed than when I am in this blessed place in the Oklahoma Arbuckle Mountains.

I’ll mention later why I am here, but once again, here’s six timely topics for this week. Thanks for reading!

1. Supreme Court to hear sex interpretation cases

Earlier this week, reports were made that the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing three cases that challenge the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Basically, the highest court will interpret what the grounds are for the workplace in relation to employees’ sexual orientation and gender identity.

This is another conflict involving religious liberty and the sexual revolution. “If the Court deems it reasonable to use ‘sex’ as synonymous with transgenderism and homosexuality,” Joe Carter wrote, “federal agencies will be able to override the will of the American people on these issues.”

Carter, communications specialist with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, offers a great FAQ article that explains what is of issue with these three cases and how critical they are to evangelical Christians.

These Supreme Court rulings will be extremely critical.

2. Bice for Congress

Stephanie Bice, an Oklahoma state senator, announced she is planning to run in 2020 for the 5^th District Congressional Seat, which is currently held by Kendra Horn who was elected last year.

From what I have read on Bice, I would definitely support her. Horn has not been vocal on liberal causes, but she has not been demonstrating support on issues that relate to the Sanctity of Life. Horn won the election fair and square, and it appears she has been handled with kid gloves by the local media.

However, she will stand in the way for pro-life causes and other issues that relate to Christian values. Bice would be a great candidate to challenge Horn next year. Check out the Oklahoman’s article announcing Bice’s plan to run for U.S. Congress.

3. Thunder evaluation

The Oklahoma City Thunder ended its season in a disappointing fashion for the third straight year.

This is difficult for me to write, and I’ve gone back and forth whether or not I would write at all. The biggest reason is many will disagree with me on how I feel.

But here it goes… I don’t think the team needs to go through a major renovation. I don’t think they should trade key players—Westbrook, George, Adams or other rotation players. I don’t think Billy Donovan should be fired.

The reason I believe nothing major should be done to change the team is any major change would mean the Thunder are planning to rebuild and no longer intend to challenge or seriously compete. The reason that could be a mistake is it’s possible that the NBA West could be going through a change soon. Golden State may not be the dominant force it has been the last three years, which means the title may not have an outright projected favorite in the coming seasons.

As ridiculous as it may sound, doing some minor tweaks and allowing younger players to get better would be a better route for the Thunder to go than choosing an extreme overhaul.

That’s all I will say for now. Let’s see what happens in the next couple of months. The best news is the Thunder don’t have to worry about a major free agency decision this summer, which is different from the setting for the last few offseasons.

4. College game improvements

I got into a social media discussion with some friends a few weeks ago while watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The issue I had was the team foul rules implemented in the college game compared to the NBA.

Lo and behold, I found a great article that was written last year by Tim Bontemps. He gives a great assessment that would help improve the college game.

Check out Bontemps’ second proposal “Change the fouling rules to get to the penalty quicker.” This is exactly my thoughts.

5. Avengers has closure

I got to see Avengers: End Game Thursday night. I thought it was fantastically done and completed well the last 10 or so years of Marvel movies involved in the Avengers series. I told somebody the closure that was demonstrated in the movie was like the closure demonstrated in Toy Story 3 times 10.

For those who would like a great review without any spoilers, please check out Michael Foust’s review here on WordSlingers. Not only does he share a great diagnostic on the movie from a parent’s perspective, he gives great Christian insight, as well as relevant questions to ask after watching the movie.

6. Men’s Rewired

I wrote this DHD rather quickly, and I apologize if it reads like I rushed. I’m in the middle of covering the Men’s Rewired Conference at Falls Creek. This is such a great annual event that has made a major impact on many Christian men over the years. Many men have made professions of faith at Rewired, as well as made commitments to be more faithful to their families and to their churches. I look forward to what will happen to the men who are here.

Have a great weekend!

REVIEW: A spoiler-free parents’ guide to ‘Avengers: Endgame’

by Michael Foust | Apr 26, 2019

If you’re concerned about Endgame’s content but don’t want to read spoilers, then this review is for you.

When I entered the theater this week to watch Avengers: Endgame, I knew very little about the plot.

Yes, I had watched the trailer, and, yes, I had seen its predecessor Infinity War, but I hadn’t read any reviews, stories or—aghast—nuggets from rumor sites.

I treat Marvel movies just like I treat Christmas presents under the tree. I don’t want to know what’s inside.

Thus, if you’re a parent who’s curious if Endgame (PG-13) is appropriate for children, then keep reading. There are no spoilers ahead. There’s even a spoiler-free examination of the worldview.

First, though, let’s set the table by recapping 2018’s Infinity War. It brought the various elements (the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe together to fight the supervillian Thanos, who was hunting for the universe’s six infinity stones in order to gain God-like powers. His goal was to wipe out half the universe’s population because, he said, there weren’t enough resources to support all of us.

Thanos did obtain that final stone at the end of Infinity War and followed through with his pledge. He also wiped out many of our beloved heroes. Among the survivors were Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow and Bruce Banner.

That’s where Endgame begins. It’s the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and also the longest, at three hours, one minute. Visit the restroom before entering … and go easy on the sodas.      

(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Moderate. Endgame has plenty of hero-on-villain fighting, as is expected from a Marvel film, but it’s not as violent or bloody as last year’s film Black Panther. Here are some generic details: A character’s arm and head are chopped off (it happens quick and semi-off screen). Two people duel with swords; one gets his throat slashed (we do see some blood) and is killed. One character undergoes mild torture. We see machine guns fired during a heist. Missiles launch. Stuff blows up. The film includes a major battle (as does every superhero film) with lots of bloodless violence.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

None. But we hear characters reference “America’s a–” twice in reference to a male character’s derriere.

Coarse Language

Moderate. Endgame has about 25 coarse words: h-ll (6), s–t (5), a– (5), OMG (3), stand-alone misuse of “God” (3), GD (2), d–n (2), p-ssed (1), SOB (1) and Jesus (1). We hear a non-human say something that sounds a lot like an f-word.

The profaning of God’s name is particularly disappointing, as is the misuse of “Jesus.” Infinity War had neither word. (If you’re curious: Hawkeye says GD once and misuses Jesus’ name. Ant Man says GD, too).

We also hear the normally straight-laced Captain America curse twice (SOB and s–t).  

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

There is no mid-credit or post-credit scene.

Worldview/Application

The Infinity War/Endgame story involves a world where magicians, sorcerers, gods, heroes, villains and aliens battle for survival. The God of the Bible is never mentioned—at least, not in a good way—but His attributes are at the center of the plot. That’s because Thanos wants to be all-powerful and all-knowing.

Thanos’ evil desire borrows a page from Scripture. Before he was the prince of evil, Satan was a heavenly being (Isa. 14:12) who was cast out because of his desire to be god. Later, Adam and Eve sinned because of their desire to be like God (Gen. 3:5).

Of course, those wicked desires exist within us, too. We want to be the master. We want the power. We want to be God. By definition, that’s what sin is. When we sin, we might as well be shouting at God: Your commandments are wrong. I’m in charge.  

That’s why we need a Savior.

Movie Partners

Endgame is a cultural event, so it’s not surprising it has a lot of partners. Among them: McDonald’s, General Mills, Coca-Cola and Geico.

Indeed, McDonald’s already is selling Endgame Happy Meals. I’m a little uncomfortable pairing a PG-13 film aimed at teens and adults with a toy-themed meal for impressionable 3-year-olds.  

Thumbs Up or Down?

Endgame—despite a few content concerns—is fun. It’s better than Infinity War and ranks near the top of my favorite Marvel films. Moviegoers in my theater applauded multiple times. I wish I could say more, but I promised a spoiler-free review, right?

Spoiler-Free Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever wished you were God?

2. What would you do if you had God’s powers?

3. If you could look into the future, would you?

4. If we had God’s powers, would we be tempted to use them for evil?

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.Endgame is rated PG-13 for violence/disturbing images and some strong language.

Thunder Thoughts

by Brian Hobbs | Apr 25, 2019

For Thunder fans, it’s all over but the crying, blaming and complaining. As a big OKC fan myself, I too was disappointed at how this season turned out.

Now I don’t know if I am back luck, but very few of the sports teams I root for have ever won a championship. I say that to say this. The Thunder let down is nothing new for me, as I have become well acquainted with dealing with losses and disappointments in sports. That is why I want to offer a few consolation thoughts for grieving Thunder fans that have helped me that may also help you.

“It’s only a game”

In the past few years, both personally and other people I know have faced real life disappointments. From deaths in the family to major health challenges to job loss, life has thrown enough challenges at us to take ballgames too seriously. The phrase, it’s only a game is true. We can remind ourselves that, right now around the world, there are people facing the horrors of terrorist attacks, famine, persecution, unjust imprisonment, slavery, abortion, human trafficking and more. In the grand scheme of life, we Christians ought to shed more tears over lost lives and souls than lost ballgames and sports series.

“Oh well. Life goes on…”

Sure, we each had hopes that the Thunder might be able to win an NBA Championship. They didn’t. Oh well. There’s always next year, and life goes on. There will be another ballgame or cause to cheer for or jeer for. Even the best of teams ultimately come to lose at some point, some year. Let’s make our lives about something more than just sports wins and losses. To the degree we can, let’s enjoy the thrill of victory, but not let the agony of defeat get to us. As Tim Keller said, don’t let success go to our heads or failure go to our hearts.

“Grow up, be nicer”

It’s easy to get drawn into the rancor and immature discussion following a stinging sports loss. If you are a Christian, though, we ought to know better. How can we say we follow Christ, but then on social media we act hateful, spiteful and mean-spirited? If that kind of talk is coming from our mouths or keyboards, we ought to step back from it and grow up.

In the end, all Thunder fans wished for more than this. But by God’s help, each of us will realize that there’s more to this life than ballgames, more than Thunder ups and downs.

Millennial Monday: Not today Satan

by Emily Howsden | Apr 22, 2019

How do you respond when you feel like you’re being tested? Whether that is spiritually, emotionally or physically, what do you do?

Most recently I have had a handful of experiences where I felt like, for the sake of peace, I just took a figurative right hook to the chin and turned the other cheek.

You better believe I nearly bit my tongue off in these moments just trying to stay quiet until the conflicts in question died down. Did I like it? No. Did it feel good? In the moment, no. But later when I knew that I had done no wrong, yes.

This hasn’t always been my reaction. There are times in my past where I might have fired back with the first hate-filled words that came to mind in order to let the other person in the conflict know that if they were going to hurt me, I could hurt them, too.

But that isn’t what Jesus would do.

Jesus didn’t respond to hate with hate. He responded with love. I think it’s fitting that I feel a little bit under attack on the heels of Easter. Not because I think my problems are anything compared to what Jesus endured on the cross, but because His example of how to respond to adversity is fresh on people’s minds at this time.

Leading up to and during His crucifixion, He endured.

He endured incredible amounts of pain and suffering because of you and me. Because He knew that you and I would fail and fall victim to sin, He stayed on that cross. Because He knew that this was a part of the plan His Father had to save the world, he endured.

Matthew 5:38-40 says,  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.’

Thirteen chapters later, He tells us how many times we have to forgive those who wrong us:

Matthew 18:21-22 says, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

It’s easy to want to feel vindicated, to say something you know will hurt someone, or “clap back” as kids are saying these days. But, I challenge you, like our precious Jesus who died for our sins on the cross, endure.

Look Satan in the face when he provides an opportunity for you to fail or act hateful or worldly and say it with me, “NOT TODAY SATAN!”

DHD: OKC remembers; Holy Week reflections; Next Generation; Mohler-mania; BGCO Comm winners

by Chris Doyle | Apr 19, 2019

Greetings!

I hope you are having a good Good Friday. Maybe you’re singing about the Good Good Father on this good Good Friday.

Here’s six more timely topics. Thank you for reading!

1. Excellent Remembrance Ceremony

It’s interesting that, on this Good Friday, it is also the 24th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Building in downtown Oklahoma City.

In a later topic, I discuss the crucifixion of Christ, which the world remembers on Good Friday, and the estimated times of the events that happened on the day Jesus was crucified. The crucifixion itself was believed to have started at 9 a.m. The bombing of the Murrah Building happened at 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995.

Both were dreadful occurrences in history, but we know the redemption that happens on Easter.

This morning, at the Memorial, people gathered for the annual ceremony of remembering the 168 people who died in the bombing. I watched on Facebook Live and was impressed with the program. They observed 168 seconds of silence, and different people read from a podium all 168 names of those who died.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma U.S. Senator James Lankford spoke at the ceremony, and all three speeches were great. I appreciated what Holt said in signifying the number 24.

He said, for many in the world, the 24^th anniversary is not significant. But he pointed out how a day makes up 24 hours, and the day after the bombing, Oklahomans realized their lives would never be the same. Holt also said that in the following two years, or 24 months, people were preparing to build the Memorial where the ceremony took place.

I also admired Lankford’s speech, as he pointed out many still struggle with what happened 24 years ago. He said many can’t even return to the Memorial site. “We continue to walk with them,” Lankford said, “and we’ll walk with them as long as it takes.”

What I remember most from Lankford’s address is his opening. He said what happened on that day was meant to tear us apart, but instead, Oklahomans demonstrated unity and support for each other.

2. Reflections of Maundy Thursday

Yesterday was a significant part of Holy Week, as many observed Maundy Thursday, as “Maundy” comes from Latin to mean “commandment.” At my church last night, our pastor discussed four different ways we were to observe Maundy Thursday:

• Look back—what happened with Jesus and His disciples when they met to observe Passover or the Last Supper.
• Look forward—at that meal, Jesus said in Matt. 26:29 that He “will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” We will one day partake of this meal with Jesus in heaven.
• Look inward—search our hearts and confess any sins we may have.
• Look outward—share the Gospel of Jesus with others and demonstrate love to one another (John 13:34-35).

My pastor’s sermon reminded me of what I read earlier this week in Erik Raymond’s article “What should I think about during the Lord’s Supper?”

3. Chronology of Good Friday

There seems to be some confusion on when the events of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death occurred. I found two helpful reads that address this confusion.

First, check out Justin Taylor’s article “What hour was Jesus crucified? Resolving an apparent Bible contradiction.” The circle chart Taylor shares is insightful.

Second, Russ Ramsey offers a time breakdown in his article from two years ago titled “Good Friday in Real Time.” This was a great read for my understanding of when events happened according to the Gospel narratives. If you’re reading this on Good Friday, I hope you find it as meaningful as I did.

4. Wax on Next Generation

Not many DHDs are written without me mentioning two of my favorite writers/speakers. First, I mention Trevin Wax. I appreciate what he wrote and said about different generations:

“No generation is the greatest or last hope for Christianity, because generations aren’t where we put our hope anyway. The God of the Gospel is our hope. The resurrection power of Jesus is our hope. The indwelling of the Spirit is our hope.”

Check out Wax’s talk on “Signs of Hope for the Next Generation.”

5. Mohler-mania

Now I share about Albert Mohler and his daily podcast The Briefing. Dr. Mohler had some great episodes this week. I could probably fill up two DHDs highlighting what he discussed the past five days. There is some great content about current issues.

His Monday commentary on Julian Assange getting arrested was superb. I loved it when Mohler called Assange a “real jerk” and “a horrible guest.”

On Tuesday he covered the Notre Dame cathedral fire—again, excellent commentary—as well as Pope Benedict coming out of hiding to offer his take on the sex abuse in the Catholic Church and the liberal theology reflected by current church leadership. Mohler called Pope Benedict’s lengthy article a “blockbuster.”

Mohler takes on Planned Parenthood in his Wednesday podcast. One of my favorite lines: “…Planned Parenthood is worried about its image. We should note, it should be.”

Probably my favorite “Briefing” of the week is the Thursday edition. Mohler gives great analysis of the media reporting about Tiger Woods’ Master’s victory and calling it a redemption story. But then his next two topics are powerful.

Mohler responds to a Louisville newspaper reporter claiming that Jesus was silent on homosexuality.

“Jesus is silent on the issue, is he? Well, what becomes very clear is that Jesus, referring to the Old Testament law, including, let’s just point out, the law that says that a man shall not lay with another man as with a woman. Jesus said of that law that not one jot or one tittle would pass away until all has been fulfilled. He said, ‘I have not come to abolish the law, but that the law may be fulfilled.’ At no point did Jesus in his public ministry point to the Old Testament law and dismiss it saying, well, that was then, but this is now. Instead, he actually made it even more intense saying, it’s not enough not to kill someone. If you have murder in your heart, you already are moving towards murdering them.”

Then he takes on The Guardian attacking religious teaching on gender.

“A secular society will not be satisfied until you or your church or denomination or institution are fully, totally unquestionably secular. It’s at least healthy to understand what the secular world is really demanding.”

I’m already going long or else I’d discuss Mohler talking Mueller, as in the Mueller Report, which he covers in his Friday Briefing.

6. Congrats to BGCO Communications Group!

I conclude with celebratory remarks about my friends and coworkers in the Communications Group at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Last week, at the Baptist Communicators Association conference, awards were announced, and the BGCO took home six certificates.

Braden East won first place in Logo Design. Hannah Hanzel won first, second and third honors. She took first place in Hand-Drawn Typography and second and third place in cover design for the Baptist Messenger.

Doyle’s Half Dozen finished second to Emily Howsden’s Millennial Monday for blog series, which means two WordSlingers weekly blogs were honored this year by the BCA.

It was a good year for my BGCO buds!