This Week In The News... February 20th, 2014

photo © 2011 Jon S, Flickr

Here are some of the more interesting articles around the internet which have caught my eye. Most of them have to do with religion and the church, but won't always.

'Sports Chaplains' Bring The Gospel To Olympic Village

There are probably fewer American fans in Sochi than at previous Winter Games, partly because of concerns about security, and partly because of the time and expense it takes to get to the Russian resort town on the Black Sea. But Americans are represented there, with gusto, by a group of evangelical Christians who call themselves the International Sports Chaplains. Members of the group have been going to the Olympic Games since 1988.

Australian missionary reportedly detained in North Korea

 A 75-year-old Australian missionary who traveled to North Korea as part of a tour group has been detained there, his wife said. John Short had with him some Gospel tracts in Korean "which seem to be at the core of the detention," his wife said in a statement Wednesday.

84-Year-Old Nun Jailed For Breaking Into High-Security Nuclear Facility

An elderly nun who broke into what was supposed to be one of the most carefully guarded nuclear facilities in the United States was sentenced to nearly three years in prison, local media reported.

A faithful death: Why a snake handler refused treatment

The trouble at Full Gospel Tabernacle began on Saturday night, when Pastor Jamie Coots, whose serpent-handling religious rituals made him a reality TV star, died after a rattlesnake sunk its fangs into his right hand.

I Don’t Worship God by Singing. I Connect With Him Elsewhere.

I’ve a confession. I don’t connect with God by singing to Him. Not at all. I know I’m nearly alone in this but it’s true. I was finally able to admit this recently when I attended a church service that had, perhaps, the most talented worship team I’ve ever heard. I loved the music. But I loved it more for the music than the worship. As far as connecting with God goes, I wasn’t feeling much of anything.

Bill Nye Vs. Ken Ham: Who Won?

Tuesday night Bill Nye (The Science Guy) debated Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Answers In Genesis (AIG) and President of the Creation Museum. The debate was highly publicized and live streamed on CNN. It focused on the question, "Is creation a viable model of origins in today's modern, scientific era?" Unsurprisingly, many peoples opinions on who won had more to do with their beliefs before the debate than the actual debate.

That said, the debate is below for your viewing pleasure. Additionally, here are some links to articles covering the debate from both sides of the table.

This is AIG's post debate coverage: http://bit.ly/1l0SZse
Here's an article written from Bill's perspective: http://bit.ly/1fz85Sh
Here's an article that thinks both sides are wrong: http://bit.ly/1byZKP3
Here's another interesting article from a Christian with a slightly different take: http://thebea.st/1eBWPXa