A View from the Other Side -- When you are part of a intelligent group blog like Intellectuelle, you are expected to maintain a certain degree of decorum and taste. Because of this I had to spend a significant part of my day last Friday trying to convince my co-worker Sarah Flashing to chuck all that nonsense and write a post with the title "My Butt is Big." I promised her that is she would write the post that I'd link to it and other people would read it. I'm doing my part, now help me fulfill the other part of that promise. (I would have used the title myself but, well, I have standards to uphold here at EO.)

Sex and the Solitary Person -- Sarah is not the only Intellectulle who is taking on touchy subjects. At her own blog, Bonnie takes on the true "love that dare not speak its name": autoerotism. My own view on the subject has tended to be similiar to that of James Dobson, which she finds to be "surprising and disappointing." I believe that Bonnie makes a persuasive case and one that certainly deserves prayerful consideration. My own opinion is that it is not inherently wrong or sinful (though it can easily lead to sin) and that we shouldn't, as theologian Richard Foster says, lay impossible moral burdens on people when we have no specific biblical teaching against masturbation. Even so, I will have to reconsider my position in light of one argument she uses (point #10) that I have myself used against pre-marital sex.

Purpose Driven Country -- John Coleman notices that megachurch pastor Rick Warren is now working with his global network to turn genocide-ravaged Rwanda into the world's first "Purpose-Driven Nation". John says Warren's initiative might mark something of a turning point for both Africa and the church. I agree. What is shameful is that the Live8 event, which did nothing to relieve real poverty and injustice, garnered more press and attention that Warren's efforts.