Dr Paul Allen

When we read the prophets, we are often in pearl-hunting mode. The vast bulk of the prophets feels like a confusing, murky mess, but every now and then we’ll stumble across an encouraging verse such as “in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Isa. 30:15). Or perhaps we’ll come across a spectacular prophecy about Christ: “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land” (Jer. 23:5). But what if the whole of the prophets were profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness? What if every verse of the prophets was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope? Wait, those questions sound vaguely familiar . . . (see Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16). To unlock the whole of the prophets, we must grasp the pattern of judgment unto restoration. This simple three-word phrase captures t

Lady Gaga: Queen of Pop (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Lady Gaga ( Stefani Germanotta ) speaks for millions in her song “ Born This Way ,” when she declares, I’m beautiful in my way, ‘Cause God makes no mistakes I’m on the right track, baby I was born this way (Streamline/Interscope/ KonLive , 2011) The song is a hodgepodge of pluralistic affirmations, but its dominant message is unmistakably sexual, which Gaga’s music video makes explicitly clear (viewer discretion strongly advised): No matter gay, straight, or bi Lesbian, transgendered life I’m on the right track, baby I was born to survive “Born This Way” is a pop anthem of Western culture , a musical declaration of sexual independence. But it is not revolutionary, like Queen ’s “We Will Rock You” or “ We Are the Champions ” from a generation ago. Gaga (a name inspired by Queen’s “Radio Gaga”) is singing a mainstream manifesto, a dominant cultural belief about self-identity: I am my sexuality (my sexual desires and se