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"Hate religion; Love Jesus” video approaches 18 million views
Written by Peter Youngren on February 1st 2012This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Chances are you’ve already heard about the four minute video “Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus”, produced by 22 year old Jefferson Bethke from Tacoma, Washington. It has gone viral, approaching 18 million views on Youtube in just over three weeks. Last month I wrote about Justin Bieber’s tattoo depicting Jesus, Tim Tebow’s prayers on the football field, and Hollywood actor Gary Busey beating an Indian drum, invoking the name of Jesus during a guest appearance on ‘Celebrity Wife Swap’. My point was that Jesus keeps showing up in unlikely places, and now here we go again.
Tebow, Bieber, Celebrity Wife Swap and Jesus
Written by Peter Youngren on January 12th 2012This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Jesus seems to be popping up in the most unusual news stories. I was scrolling the television listings the other day and came by ‘Celebrity Wife Swap’, a show I’ve never watched, but the names Ted and Gayle Haggard caught my attention. Ted and Gayle are acquaintances of mine. After their ‘scandal’ broke (if you haven’t heard about it, I won’ bore you with the sordid details), when most of the church would have nothing to do with them, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours encouraging them, that God is gracious and He gives people a second chance.
Season’s Greetings or Merry Christmas?
Written by Peter Youngren on December 16th 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
It’s time for the annual Christmas discussions. Is Christmas too commercialized? The obvious answer is “yes”, but does it matter? Aren’t we all free to decide to make this season all about shopping, or to take a more balanced approach?
Another typical question: How do we know Jesus was really born on December 25th? We don’t, and in fact there is good reason to think He wasn’t, but does that change anything?
Chrislam and friendship between Christians and Muslims
Written by Peter Youngren on November 18th 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Recently, I was told by a critic that I am a “Chrislamist”. Not sure exactly what the term meant, I did a little research. First I discovered that I am not the only one so accused. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, California, recently responded to similar accusations. He pointed to Proverbs 14:15, which states, “Only a fool believes all that he hears.” Amen, to that.
Stunning Reversal in Iran’s Supreme Court; Your voice counts
Written by Peter Youngren on October 19th 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Until just a few days ago, Iranian Christian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was languishing in jail, expecting his imminent execution, having been found guilty of apostasy and numerous other crimes. This week’s stunning reversal in Iran’s Supreme Court is fresh evidence of the power of activism. For several months thousands of Christians and non-Christians have made their voices heard to their political representatives and Iranian embassies around the world, until Iran’s supreme religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini became involved, and now the Supreme Court has granted a new trial for Nadarkhani.