Shocked

Shocked. That's the only way I can describe my feeling after
a friend of mine called me and directed me to this item on
Christianity Today's website. I like many people have been
impacted by Ray Boltz's (right) ministry of music. From songs
like "Thank You" to "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb" to "The
Anchor Holds", Boltz sold millions of records, won many awards,
and toured the world. What's the larger lesson of his news?
Maybe it's a cautionary note that anyone can fall away. Paul's
words in I Corinthians never rang more true than tonight:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

All joking aside...

Willard public schools begins classes tomorrow. Please join us in praying for the students, staff, and teachers. Pray for a safe and successful year. Go get 'em, Tigers!

"Olympic Persecution"

While swimmer Michael Phelps continutes his assault on the record books in the Beijing Olympics, another kind of assault continues in China: the assault on religious liberty. Consider this news item from the Voice of the Martyrs:

Pastor Hua Huiqi, who was evicted from his rental apartment in Beijing on July 2, and subsequently forced to leave China’s capital, was arrested Sunday while trying to attend a service at a state-approved church. The service at the Three Self-Patriotic Movement’s Kuanjie Church was attended by U.S. President George W. Bush. According to China Aid Association, Pastor Hua was walking to the state-approved church early Sunday morning when he was detained by the Chinese police. After about six hours, Pastor Hua took an opportunity and fled. He is now at large. Pastor Hua once had his door welded shut by Chinese police to keep him inside. In another incident, a policeman used a 10-pound hammer to break the locks on his door to evict Pastor Hua and his family including his 90-year-old father. Since that incident a couple of months ago Pastor Hua has been basically homeless. Government officials have labeled Hua a trouble-maker and stated their intention was to detain Hua until after the Olympic Games.

It would be nice to say that this is just an isolated incident. It'd be nice to say that Pastor Hua is just, as the government says, "a troublemaker". It'd be nice- but it wouldn't be true.

Consider what the State Department said in its most recent report on religious liberty in China:

"During the period covered by this report, the Government's respect for freedom of religion remained poor, especially for religious groups and spiritual movements that are not registered with the Government. The Government expelled several foreign citizens on charges of conducting "illegal religious activities" by proselytizing in the spring of 2007. According to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), religious organizations, and house church groups, over one hundred were expelled. The Government also questioned house church leaders about connections with foreigners and plans to disrupt the Olympics. Some of these groups alleged that these incidents were part of a coordinated government campaign to repress religious expression. The Government also continued to emphasize the role of religion in building a "Harmonious Society," which was a positive development with regard to the Government's respect for religious freedom."

Pray for China.

Writer, host, White House spokesman Tony Snow passes away...

Above: Snow, with President Bush

It's rare in the world of politics that someone is as deep as their public persona projects. As with most other acquantices in public life, after really getting to know someone (sports or movie star), one walks away thinking, "man, that's not what I expected."

That wouldn't have been the case with Tony Snow, who died today after a long battle with cancer. Snow's most recent job was arguably the toughest one in politics- White House Press Secretary. Warm and affable, Snow enjoyed success first as a speechwriter for the first President Bush, then as a writer and first host of Fox News Sunday. Tony was also a man of deep faith which he expressed many times during his battle with cancer.

Author, journalist Tim Russert dies

Host of NBC's Meet the Press and bestselling author died today in his DC office. Having met Russert, I can tell you the Tim Russert you saw in front of the camera was the same one I met in the Iowa snow when the cameras were off. Russert gained national notoriety for his use of a plain whiteboard during election night in 2000 to explain the increasingly complicated electoral math. He also drew wide praise for his 2004 book about his father, "Big Russ and Me". Russert leaves behind a wife, son, and his father- Big Russ. Please pray for the Russert family during this time of sorrow.

Daughter of Christian music artist killed

Please keep the family of Steven Curtis Chapman in your prayers in the coming days as they mourn the loss of their little one.

From the AP:

Daughter of Christian music star killed by car
Thursday, May 22, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn.: The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of the family's home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The brother, whose name and exact age weren't available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

Several family members witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville. The girl died later at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

In a statement, Velvet Kelm, a publicist for Chapman, said Maria was the Chapmans' youngest daughter.

Chapman, who is originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria. They also have three biological children.

The singer's Web site says the couple was persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.

"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site.

"We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.'"

The 45-year-old singer also has released a book about being a father titled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess." He has won five Grammy awards and 54 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association, according to Kelm.

Blogger's note: Thoughts and messages of condolence and comfort can be sent here.

A list of Steven Curtis Chapman's studio works can be found here.