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Could God do that?
Written by Peter Youngren on May 2nd 2012Most people have a strong dislike for those who act and talk like they and their opinions are the center of the universe. These are the people who have a solution to every problem, and they never seem to have the time or patience to listen to an alternate point of view. We try to tactfully avoid such people, or sometimes in sheer desperation we may find ourselves exclaiming, ‘Who in the world, do you think you are?’
The exception is God.
Who Speaks for God?
Written by Peter Youngren on April 2nd 2012This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
While pondering the question in the headline, a story from a few years ago came to mind. The Niagara Freethinkers Association had invited me to debate Dan Barker from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, on the topic, “Is there a God?” During the question and answer segment a woman, rather upset, turned to me, “Why do you keep saying that God will send me to hell?” I reminded the lady that in our three-hour debate, I had not made a single reference to hell. I assured her that such matters belonged to God alone. She responded, “I’ve lived in this region for most of my life, and the born-again Christians I meet tell me that I am going to hell, and I assumed that’s what you were thinking”.
Now or never for pastor awaiting execution
Written by Peter Youngren on March 1st 2012This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
The 34 year old pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani, father of two, sits waiting in an Iranian prison. His execution could be at any moment. His crime? Apostasy against Islam.
Last Thursday, in what some are calling a miracle, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a resolution calling for Pastor Nadarkhani’s release. Both the White House and the State Department made statements earlier in the week. The World Evangelical Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada have called on the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take action. Whatever is going to be done must be done now.
"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.