Tim Ellsworth

George Mitchell’s report about steroids in baseball will be released today. A couple of attorneys familiar with the report say that it indicates that players and owners are both to blame for the ongoing problem.

I’m going to be out of pocket for much of the day today, so consider this the Mitchell Report topic. If someone would be so kind as to post a comment with a link to the story once the report has been released, I’d appreciate it. I’m sure there’s going to be much to discuss.

Heisman winner has priorities in order
Tulsa’s Smith wins Wuerffel Award
Campbellsville volleyball assistant coach dies
CBU to add wrestling
Brad Locke: Icons and idols

Here’s a long, but good, profile piece about Mike Huckabee in the New York Times.

In other political matters, the editors of National Review have endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

Scott Lamb reports on a developing situation in the Missouri Baptist Convention, where the Executive Board has prohibited church plants in partnership with Acts 29 from receiving any money from the MBC.

Scott writes:

Never mind the fact that Acts 29 church plants in Missouri are thriving.

I just wonder where all the church-planting police were 10-15 years ago when I resisted the siren song of Willowcreek and Saddleback, only to have it thrown up in my face by Baby-Booming pastors that I was an arrogant idiot who resisted the work of God in my generation if I didn’t buy into the seeker model.

And I do have to wonder if the MBC will be consistent and pass a reciprocal measure that says they do not want Cooperative Program dollars that come from such churches.

This polarizes the issue of Acts 29 to the point that it is hard to be able to give any critique or praise of the movement at all. To be sure, there is some of both that any movement rightfully deserves. However, a misguided motion like this just makes the battle lines get all laid down in all the wrong places.

A USA Today story reports on some of the trends in children’s Bibles, and the philosophies  behind them.

If you’re interested, see my recommendations for children’s Bibles.

Denny Burk has a good post today about Paul Janka, who was interviewed on NBC’s “Today Show” on Monday. Janka is a self-absorbed man-whore who claims more than 100 “conquests” of women.

What was remarkable about the interview, however, was the inability of anyone to make a definitive condemnation of Janka’s behavior. Meredith Vieira gave hints that she disapproved of his behavior, and a “sex addiction” therapist was brought in to show that Janka’s exploits could possibly be hurtful to women. Junka’s response was simply to say that he’s up-front with his intentions and that the women he “dates” are on board with his lechery.

Janka styled himself as living out authentic manhood, and neither Meredith Vieira nor the therapist could express an ounce of moral outrage, even though it seemed to be simmering beneath the surface. Their secularism and moral neutrality gave them no resources for doing so. In a culture that says that the only moral requirement of human sexuality is that it occur between consenting adults, there really isn’t any consistent basis for condemning Janka.

Rather than the false ideal of manhood that Janka is promoting, Burk points instead to the true image of masculinity that was embodied in Jesus Christ. Denny’s thoughts on the topic are well worth reading.

With three weeks left in the season and many teams pressing for playoff spots, we’re saddled with a Monday night game of New Orleans vs. Atlanta tonight. Could there possibly be a bigger yawner of a game?

Nice move, NFL.

It’s a question Jon Walker tackles.

In other words, God will forgive you for what you have done, but He most likely won’t remove the consequences of what you have done. God forgives fully and unconditionally, but that doesn’t mean we won’t reap what we have sown: The crisis pregnancy remains, the prosecution takes place, the job is lost, or the death occurs.

Michael Vick will serve 23 months in jail for his involvement in dogfighting.

Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, “Would an idiot do that?” And if they would, I do not do that thing.

My hotel room is confirmed. My flight is booked. Beijing, here I come.

I’m thankful for my church.

I’m thankful for faithful elders who teach the Bible, and for members who support their leaders.

I’m thankful for a warm fellowship among my fellow church members — a fellowship that is not characterized by the backbiting, griping, slander and gossip that is prevalent in too many churches.

I’m thankful for the selflessness and the spirit of service and ministry that prevails, and that a selfish hunger for power is nowhere to be found among our congregation.

I’m thankful for my church’s emphasis on holiness, and that it cares for its members enough to discipline them when they fall into sin.

I’m thankful for my church’s commitment to God-centered worship.

I’m thankful for church members who care for me and my family.

I thank God for planting my family at Cornerstone. We are so blessed to be here.

Mitt Romney addressed Mormonism, religion and the presidency in his speech today in Texas.

“I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith, nor should he be rejected because of his faith,” Romney said at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, 90 miles from Kennedy’s speaking site in Houston.

“Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin,” Romney said.

He added: “If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.”

Mike Huckabee is under fire in some quarters for his role in the release of rapist and murderer Wayne Dumond.

Oprah Winfrey will be teaching a New Age course on miracles on XM Radio beginning in January.

A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles “Workbook.”

For example, Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that “God is in everything I see.” Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation “I am the light of the world.” Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe “My salvation comes from me.”

Praise God that my salvation doesn’t come from me, because I’m too screwed up to make it happen.

Hat tip: Tyler