Friday Fun: Transporting the Dog

So much for dogs riding in the trunk . . .

The Nation's Tamest Party Schools

eCollegeFinder, a website that helps high school students find their perfect match, released this map of the nation's tamest party schools in each state. At the very least, I don't think this should be a strong determining factor in selecting what's likely to be your defining education. Somewhat predictably, the list has a heavy portion of religious schools (including BYU) that likely have codes of conduct against alcohol use and other party antics. A few commuter schools are on the list, too.

This list shouldn't deter anyone from attending these schools, as I know some of them have some great programs. My alma mater's on the list, and I'm actually quite proud.

You can see the full map and list here.

Rich Mullins Movie

I wish I could have gotten to know the music and ministry of Rich Mullins on a deeper level. He died when I was in junior high. I bought his tribute album CD (I had saved up money from my job at the grocery store), and noticed that Michael W. Smith and dc Talk had done a few covers of his work. "Calling Out Your Name," "If I Stand," "My Deliverer," "Save Me," "I See You" and "Step By Step" became favorites that I still have mostly memorized.  

There's a biopic on Rich Mullins, that seems to tell his story in true ragamuffin style.

If you are looking for an idealized or sanitized portrait of Rich Mullins, don’t watch this movie. Here’s a chain-smoking man with salty language and a propensity toward alcohol abuse who sees himself and everyone else in desperate need of God’s mercy and grace. At the same time, here’s a man who gave away almost all of the money he earned, spent time ministering to the broken who lived on a Native American reservation, and pointed people away from himself and toward the church for spiritual nourishment.

There's more info here. HT: Trevin Wax 

Christian Colleges' Accreditation Questioned?

Peter Conn, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has asserted that religious colleges (namely using my alma mater as an example) should no longer be accredited.

Alan Jacobs, professor at Baylor, responds.

The discussion (a generous term, in many cases) about the triangular relationship between religion, government and culture continues.

HT: Thomas Kidd

Nine Things to Know About Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence

July 4, 2014 will be America's 238th Independence Day, the day Americans celebrate our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Here are nine things you should know about America's founding document and the day set aside for its commemoration.

Happy Independence Day!

HT: Joe Carter

Redefining Hate

The wordsmithing Brits behind the Oxford Dictionary define “hate” as “hostile actions motivated by intense dislike or prejudice.” But words take on new meanings as people speak them, often deriving more from the context of their usage than from their actual definitions.

Read the rest here.

HT: Jonathan Merritt and Timothy Willard

Tim Howard's Testimony

The U.S. was eliminated from World Cup contention yesterday, but I'm still finding Tim Howard's testimony inspiring.

You can read it here.

(Photo by Guy Garrard).