Dear Bob,

I don't agree when you say "A good rule of thumb is this: blogging is journalism when it's journalism. And when it's not, it's not."

In French, it's what we call a "tautologie" (maybe tautology in English). To me, the problem is not only an issue about editorial quality or ethics, it deals with the way newspapers can use blogs: the news consumer" has a limited time to read. Sometimes, he will choose a blog instead of a regular news provider. But on which criteria? What is "newsworthy" is the real new question regarding blogs.
B. Pecquerie, World Editors Forum

I was taught in journalism school that is important for journalists to get the little details right, Mr. Pecquerie. My name is Bill, not Bob.

:-)

WOMEN: Called to be Fathers of the Gospel
A new Christian book for women!

Roger and Eileen Himes have written a special book for Christian women. In their new book, Women: Called to be Fathers of the Gospel, they’ve taken a fresh look at the New Testament and find life-changing truths that give the equality of the sexes whole new meaning. This is only a contradiction in terms if it is viewed naturally, not spiritually. In I Corinthians 2, Paul warns us against viewing things naturally. In particular, when it comes to ministering the faith, they boldly declare that “WOMEN often make better fathers  of the gospel than MEN, because of the way they think, and the relational nature of their hearts.”

They write: “Women have been given a ‘back seat’ to men in the church,and the New Testament gospel has also been given a ‘back seat’ in the church." ---- “Living in the Old Testament too often demands that a set of ‘rules’ takes precedent over living in ‘relationship’ with the loving Father of the New Testament gospel.”

While men and women are equal in the eyes of God, church leadership is still dominated by men, and far too many churches still revel in the teachings of the Old Testament.  In doing so, they fail to achieve the equality of the sexes that is expressed in the New Testament. The net effect is that this continues to keep women subservient to men.  This is an outdated model.

Roger and Eileen show that we are to be ministers of the New Testament gospel, not the Old Testament law (II Cor 3:6). When this occurs, then the ‘reformation’ of Hebrews 9:10 takes place, and women and men become equal (Gal 3:28). Until this occurs, women remain subservient to men under Old Testament religious traditions. In the gospel reformation, Paul’s words ring true: “Old things have passed away; behold, ALL things have been made new” (II Cor 5:17).

Women: Called to be Fathers of the Gospel provides new insights to the New Testament gospel and how it works practically and gracefully in our lives.  It analyzes how things are different when looked at in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament. The book takes a close look at the heart and soul of women, and their special relationship skills, and presents some new insights into how the New Testament’s gospel of Christ is at work in women’s lives. 

This book provides long overdue acknowledgement and recognition of the role and strength of women in the church. It provides solid encouragement and inspiration to women, and in many ways it is two centuries overdue. This book provides a clear vision of what Christian life can and should be, as viewed from a woman’s perspective.

WOMEN: Called to be Fathers of the Gospel
www.ThePracticalGospel.com/women.htm
by Roger & Eileen Himes
Publication date: 5/1/04, $9.95 retail, or $13.00 ppd. Softbound, 112pp,