Dancing with the Devil
by R.C. Sproul Jr.

We may not be smart. We may not even write well. Our business sense could fit in the thimble, and still leave room for our marketing acumen. One thing we are not, however, is afraid of what people might think. And naturally we consider our shortcomings to be small potatoes, and our virtues the thing that really counts. That may explain my rage over that grad school, law school president, best-selling book writing, multi-millionaire, trinket selling "newsman" weenie, Pat Robertson. Here is the supposed leader of the conservative Christian political movement (who is head of the parent company for both the Christian Coalition and the American Center for Law and Justice), opining for the watching world that we can't really blame the communist Chinese for their policy of forced abortion. Heck, that chummy hero of the church reasoned, if they didn't do that, the next thing you know there will be too many Chinese.

Mr. Robertson is either certifiably insane, or has been outed as a wicked politico without a conviction. My guess is the latter. My guess is that we are to presume that when Pat says these things, we're not really supposed to believe him. He's winking at us, while pulling the wool over the eyes of the world. You know, just like W. He, we were supposed to believe, was really pro-life. Three months later and still babies are being birthed breech, and before the head comes all the way out, having their skulls collapsed with suction.

The good news is that we have abortion in America not because of W., not because of Pat. The bad news is that we have it because the church of Christ doesn't care. Because we believe that we will win by losing, by selling our convictions for a place at the table. Because long before Pat reasoned, "What else can they do?" we reasoned the same way. Every time we back a W., or a Dole, or a Bush, we are no longer arguing over whether there should be abortion, but over what kinds there should be.

The Sky Isn't Falling
by Laurence Windham

The staff of the Highlands Study Center often finds itself comfortably within the confines of a local diner, Chick 'n' Little. It is one more reason we believe we have found Shangri-la here in Virginia. This is the kind of place you are sometimes lucky to find while traveling. You know the place: friendly waitresses that have never met you but still call you "honey." The food smells and tastes like your mom or grandmother is back in the kitchen. And the place is always full of locals who greet each other as they come in and are busy talking about family business and local affairs as they drink coffee or sweet iced tea. This place is awesome. The burgers are hand made, the pancakes are too big and the banana pudding is to die for.

One day I stopped for lunch and was sitting at the counter before I realized that I had forgotten to stop at the bank for some cash. I told one of the waitresses that I'd just see them tomorrow and walked out. Well, I had barely gotten in my truck before another waitress ran out to tell me that Debbie (the owner) had sent her out to tell me I better get back in there and have some lunch! [Editor's note- He meant to say dinner. We have breakfast, dinner and supper.] Back at the counter, halfway through my chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy and fried okra, Debbie showed up. Looking at me with a serious smile she warned, "Don't you ever leave my restaurant hungry again." I smiled back sheepishly and said, "Yes Ma'am."

I'm telling you, we are living in our own little Shangri-La out here in Virginia. So come for a visit, come as a resident student, or stop by on your vacation. From a culinary standpoint, you will always be in a win-win situation. You will either enjoy Denise's homemade bread, Angela's lasagna, RC's home brew, my salsa, or the fine cooking of a local, locally-owned diner.

On Being Divisive
by R.C. Sproul Jr.

I recently had occasion to read some nice letters to Pastor John Wood. For those of you not hip to this story John is a PCA pastor who found himself in some hot water for having a woman preach at the very large church he pastors, and for affirming that such was legitimate. The good folks down at the PCA headquarters found him not guilty but still the church, deeply wounded no doubt, determined to leave the PCA for the friendlier confines of the EPC, a denomination to the right of the really liberal presbyterians, but to the left of everyone else. The letters to Pastor Wood were from PCA pastors arguing with him, not about his views on women, but about leaving. They kept insisting that he not confuse with the real PCA the vocal minority of divisive men who brought the charges against him. I recall in my days in the ARP being called divisive. And that puzzles me. Doesn't it take two to disagree? Why is, "Women should not preach" divisive, while, "Women may preach" is not divisive, especially when the rules say "Women may not preach."? Why is "It is wrong to send your children to government school" divisive, while, "It is not wrong" is not?

Suppose I determined that polygamy is good. Would it be divisive to argue that it is not? Oh, but that's different. Polygamy is wrong. Says who? Says God. The disagreement among men never causes division. Disagreement with God causes division. Don't be afraid of that label. Only divisive people separate the divisive people from the non-divisive people.