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Prominent PR specialist and evangelical Mark DeMoss has circulated a memo to leaders of evangelical organizations urging support for Mitt Romney. Hugh Hewitt has reprinted it over at Townhall.

When I began surveying the landscape of potential candidates I was looking for three things:

1. Someone who most closely shared my values;
2. Someone who has proven experience and competence to lead and manage large enterprises;
3. Someone who can actually win the nomination.

DeMoss makes a strong case for Romney fulfilling all three of these qualifications. Personally, I am still trying to decide between Romney and Fred Thompson.

Related posts:

• Still Leaning Towards Fred
• Mike Huckabee’s Sunday Sermon at Prestonwood
• The Cluster Approach to the GOP Nomination
• The MPR Select a Candidate Quiz
• Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
• Ravi Zacharias on Electing the Next President
• Should Christians Call Mormonism a Cult?
• Rudy, John, Mitt . . . and Fred?

The best follow-up line to last night’s Republican debate on the economy goes to . . . Harrison Scott Key at World on the Web!

In the first Republican debate that focused on the economy, TIME says Guiliani won, giving him the grade of A minus. The National Review says Rudy absolutely didn’t win, and Slate said Fred Thompson won. Did you watch? I didn’t. I read a book. And you know who won? I did.

Here are some interesting numbers related to the world of blogs:

•     3 million =  the number of new blogs started each month
•   57 million =  the number of existing blogs (as tracked by Technorati)
• 100 million =  the projected peak number of bloggers in the future
• 200 million =  the number of people who started blogging but quit

HT: Christianity Today; Information Week

A. J. Jacobs likes to take things one year at a time. First he read through the encyclopedia in a year. Then he spent one year trying to follow every rule in the Bible.

After A. J. Jacobs spent a year reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica for his book “The Know-It-All,” he figured he had the yearlong experiment thing down. How much harder could it be to follow every rule in the Bible? Much, much harder, he soon discovered, as he found himself growing his beard, struggling not to curse and asking strangers for permission to stone them for adultery. Jacobs spent the year carrying around a stapled list of the more than 700 rules and prohibitions identified in the Good Book, and also consulted with religious leaders and spent time with the Amish, Hassidic Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses. He spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Jennie Yabroff about his experience and his new book, “The Year of Living Biblically” (Simon & Schuster), which goes on sale Oct. 9.

Jacobs did this not out of religious devotion to God, but really as more of a gimmick in order to write a book about his experience. For example, when he comes to the command on stoning adulterers, he throws a few pebbles at an old man he meets on the street. Still, it is an entertaining article that raises all sorts of interesting questions on how we are to apply the Biblical rules for ancient Israel to life today. (I like his wife’s suggestion for his next book: “Eating in Every Restaurant in New York.”)

If you would like to learn more about applying commands found in the Bible, check out The Ten Commandments for Today series on this blog. And remember, although we should seek to follow God’s commands, we are saved by God’s grace in Christ and not by our own works. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:4-5)

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Rose and I went to see the remake of 3:10 to Yuma over the weekend after viewing the original 1957 version earlier in the week. The verdict? Although we enjoyed the remake, we both liked the original version better.

The remake is good. It is fast-paced with plenty of action. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale are both excellent in their characters. I was surprised how closely the remake followed the original, right down to the dialogue in some parts. But the most important place where the remake differed was in the two main characters and their motivations.

In the original film Glenn Ford played the outlaw Ben Wade, and Van Heflin played the rancher Dan Evans. Glenn Ford’s outlaw is a dangerous man who kills when he feels necessary but also seems to have a code of honor. For example, when he kills a man who tries to stop him from robbing a stagecoach, he is concerned that the man is buried in his hometown. His gang also seems to have some honor as far as outlaws go. In contrast, Russell Crowe’s outlaw is much meaner and so is his gang. They have little to no honor and kill ruthlessly.

Similarly, in the original film Van Heflin’s rancher is a man of integrity. At first he takes the job of escorting Wade to the train because he needs the money for his family, but as the story progresses, he continues with the job simply because he feels it is the right thing to do. He is a man of quiet strength and principle, and Wade helps him in the end out of respect. In contrast, Christian Bale’s rancher is much weaker. He keeps going not so much because it is the right thing to do, but because he wants to prove to his son that he is a hero. Wade continually outdoes him and seems more motivated to help him at the end out of pity than respect. (Although, I believe Wade does have genuine respect for him at the end of the film.)

So, although we enjoyed both versions, we liked the characterization of the first film better and felt it did a better job of playing the two characters off against each other. Did anybody else see either or both of the films? What did you think?

Note to parents: The 2007 movie contains graphic violence and strong language. The 1957 version should be fine for children 10 and up.

Update: Click here for new post with more information on the movie.
              Click here to read some Christian endorsements of the movie.

Wow, I didn’t even know about this movie. It is coming out in theaters on Friday, October 19, 2007. The trailer looks excellent. You can find more information about the film at Epic Stories of the Bible, as well as take The Ten Commandments Challenge. (HT: Goodword Editing)

This is the first of twelve animated Epic Stories of the Bible planned by Promenade Pictures with “Noah’s Ark – The New Beginning” in pre-production and scheduled for release in 2008. (Click here to view the trailer.)

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Andy Naselli quotes D.A. Carson on boasting: “Most people go through life concerned that others will think too little of them. Paul was concerned that others would think too much of him.” (with reference to 2 Corinthians 12:6)

Brad Wright asks and answers the question, “Do Christians live longer?” “There’s a big literature on ‘why’ religion is associated with longer lives, which I may blog about some time, but for now it suffices to say that church going Christians live longer than people who don’t go to church.”

David Lambert explains why The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman have not been released on DVD. “The concepts of the original Six Million Dollar Man where based on the Martin Caidin novel Cyborg, which is where Steve Austin comes from. So Universal had to get the rights to that book in order to make the show in the first place. But licenses like that periodically come up for renewal …” (Bring back Steve Austin – yeah!)

Mark Shead questions the wisdom of parents who give their children too much. “Every parent wants to give their kids nice things and most parents try to give their kids things that they didn’t have growing up. This isn’t always a good thing … My parents provided us with the support and encouragement to work hard. No one would have described us as ‘kids who had everything’, but what my parents gave us was much more valuable.”

Rick Phillips addresses the idolatry of pornography. “I prefer to speak of the idolatry of pornography rather than the addiction of pornography. Obviously, there are addictive elements to pornography … but the issue is not a straightforward one of addiction; the issues of personal identity and significance are hugely important … A man’s love for his wife is to be an act of holy worship. Learning to love the heart of a woman and to delight in the bride of your youth is one of the highest callings of godly masculinity — and there is glory in it.”

Alan R. Bevere pleads for civil discourse in politics and interviews on cable news channels. “If politics at its best is the discussion necessary to discover the good we have in common, then we need to speak to one another. There is nothing wrong with being passionate in our convictions, and asking the tough questions is one necessary element of a good interview. But in the midst of it all, we must retain our civility. Without civility our debate is no longer a discussion; it becomes a shouting-match in which good ideas are buried under the noise coming from big-mouthed pundits, who should have the sense to know when to be quiet.”

If you enjoy listening to audiobooks, you might want to check out this deal. Each month, ChristianAudio.com offers a free audiobook download. This month’s free selection is The Life of David Brainerd (unabridged), by Jonathan Edwards (run time 9 hours, 55 minutes; normally $25.98). Use this coupon code – OCT2007 – to download the book for free this month only. Here is a description from the site:

Though he was orphaned at age fourteen, repeatedly struck with debilitating illnesses, and unfairly expelled from college, Brainerd allowed nothing to deter him from serving God wholeheartedly. He traveled thousands of miles by horseback across treacherous terrain to preach the gospel to remote Indians. His calling required a rugged man—he even slept outside in the cold without cover—yet he constantly displayed a gentle and meek love for people entirely different from himself. Their benefit ultimately brought about his early death at the age of twenty-nine. Like an invigorating shower, the listener will be rejuvenated by Brainerd’s life-giving devotional insights, refreshing clarity of purpose, and heartwarming preaching. This book offers not only a captivating story, but an uplifting buoy for those who are weary, distant, or discouraged.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the launching of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. Here is an interesting article on Sputnik from the New York Times.

Fifty years ago, before most people living today were born, the beep-beep-beep of Sputnik was heard round the world. It was the sound of wonder and foreboding. Nothing would ever be quite the same again — in geopolitics, in science and technology, in everyday life and the capacity of the human species.

The Soviet Union had launched the first artificial satellite, a new moon, on Oct. 4, 1957. Climbing out of the terrestrial gravity well, rising above the atmosphere and into orbit, Sputnik crossed the threshold into a new dimension of human experience. People could now see their kind as spacefarers . . .

A simple sphere weighing just 184 pounds and not quite two feet wide, it had a highly polished surface of aluminum, the better to reflect sunlight and be visible from Earth. Two radio transmitters with whiskery antennas issued steady signals on frequencies that scientists and ham operators could pick up, and so confirm the achievement . . .

Seven summits. Eighteen-year-old Samantha Larson recently climbed Mount Everest making her the youngest person on record to climb all seven of the world’s highest points. Larson started her climbing career at age 12 with a 19,000-foot hike up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Sunny cycle. Canadian Entrepreneur, Peter Sandler, has developed the first all solar electric bicycle, driven completely from power derived from the sun’s rays. The E-V Sunny Bicycle has light absorbing solar panels built right into the wheels, creating continual power from the sun’s rays, and maintaining a constant charge to the batteries. The bike travels at speeds of up to 18 mph (30 kilometers per hour) and costs $1,295.

Stealing scripture. A 53-year-old homeless man in White Plains, New York was arrested for stealing a Bible from a Barnes & Noble bookstore. I would have been glad to give him one. Perhaps he should have read Exodus 20:15 before he left the store?

The following is excerpted from a beautifully written article by James Russell Miller on living in such a way that “our old age, when it comes, shall be beautiful and happy.” Miller was a Presbyterian pastor who lived from 1840-1912 and who pastored churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

How can we so live that our old age, when it comes, shall be beautiful and happy? It will not do to adjourn this question until the evening shadows are upon us. It will be too late then to consider it. Consciously or unconsciously, we are every day helping to settle the question whether our old age shall be sweet and peaceful or bitter and wretched. It is worth our while, then, to think a little how to make sure of a happy old age.

1. We must live a useful life. The fruit of an idle life is never joy and peace. Years lived selfishly never become garden-spots in the field of memory. Happiness comes out of self-denial for the good of others. Sweet always are the memories of good deeds done and sacrifices made. Their incense, like heavenly perfume, comes floating up from the fields of toil and fills old age with holy fragrance. When one has lived to bless others, one has many grateful, loving friends whose affection proves a wondrous source of joy when the days of feebleness come. Bread cast upon the waters is found again after many days.
2. We must seek to make to ourselves loyal and faithful friends in the busy hours that come before. This we can do by a ministry of kindness and self-forgetfulness. This was part at least of what our Lord meant in that counsel which falls so strangely on our ears until we understand it: “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”
3. Again, we must live a pure and holy life. Sin may seem pleasant to us now, but we must not forget how it will appear when we get past it and turn to look back upon it; especially must we keep in mind how it will seem from a dying pillow. Nothing brings such pure peace and quiet joy at the close as a well-lived past. We are every day laying up the food on which we must feed in the closing years. We are hanging up pictures about the walls of our hearts that we shall have to look at when we sit in the shadows. How important that we live pure and holy lives! Even forgiven sins will mar the peace of old age, for the ugly scars will remain.

Summing all up in one word, only Christ can make any life, young or old, truly beautiful or truly happy. Only He can cure the heart’s restless fever and give quietness and calmness. Only He can purify that sinful fountain within us, our corrupt nature, and make us holy. To have a peaceful and blessed ending to life, we must live it with Christ . . . For such a life death has no terrors. The tokens of its approach are but “the land-birds lighting on the shrouds, telling the weary mariner that he is nearing the haven.” The end is but the touching of the weather-beaten keel on the shore of glory.

You can read the full article at Challies.com (By the way, if you don’t read Tim Challies, you really ought to!)

I am sure many of you are familiar with The Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Now Ben Witherington presents The Senility Prayer “for folks over 50 who are cranky”:

Grant me the senility
to forget the people I never liked anyway;
the good fortune to run into the ones I do;
and the eyesight to tell the difference.

Witherington also has a great story about prayer in the same article. “A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island . . . .”