Sunspots 901

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to others*:

Christianity: Christianity Today tells us about the faith of the late Queen Elizabeth.

Computing: NPR explains why social media is likely to polarize our opinions more and more.

Finances: A Conversation writer gives some tips on evaluating charities before contributing to them.

Science: A Conversation writer discusses the ability of ants to walk straight up a wall.

*I try not to include items that require a password or fee to view.

Thanks for reading.

Sunspots 697

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Christianity Today reports on the shockingly low numbers of refugees, and refugees who have been persecuted for being Christians, that entered the US last year.

A Christianity Today author on the stress of caring for kids at home and for aging parents, at the same time.

Relevant responds to a question about whether giving to Christian charities makes it unnecessary to tithe to one's church.

Relevant also offers an essay on "Five Myths of Christian Political Engagement."


Computing: Gizmo's Freeware on an application that lets you listen to radio stations from all over the world, free.


Health: National Public Radio reports that patients with colds want doctors to prescribe antibiotics, even though such medications aren't effective against viruses, and may contribute to antibiotic resistance.

National Public Radio also reports on using apps to help you go to sleep. Some of them work!
The Scientist reports that abdominal fat can play a role in protecting us. (Too much of it is still bad for us!)

Philosophy: A Scientific American writer argues that science can never solve the mind-body problem. (Here's the Wikipedia article on that problem.)


Science: Listverse tells us about Europa, the most interesting moon of Jupiter.

Earther reports on high-flying (like about 8+ kilometers up) bacteria, and their effect on weather, and maybe on disease transmission.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, I believe, it is public domain.
Thanks for looking!

Televangelists and how much they get paid

National Public Radio reported, yesterday and on April 1st (the link is to the combined report) about how some of the largest Christian entities take in millions of dollars, often with no accountability to anyone, except a controlling board, which may consist mostly, or entirely, of the leader's family. That's shameful. Some televangelists have lavish homes, fancy autos, and lots more. (scroll down in the report to see an aerial view of a "parsonage" valued at over six million dollars!) Apparently, based on NPR's research, at least one organization of this type gives viewers the impression that it gives much of the donations they receive to various charities, when, in fact, only about 5% of such money goes to hospitals, missions, and the like.

The Internal Revenue Service and the Congress have not cracked down on such behavior, and don't seem likely to do so in the future.

There are some prominent Christian organizations that are financially transparent, for example the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization, Samaritan's Purse, and Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries. See here for a chart of 30 prominent organizations, indicating which of them file with the IRS, and which don't, on the grounds that they are a church; which organizations have regular services - not all those who claim to be a church have regular services; which organizations are members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability; and a summary of any financial information (if such is available at all).

There is information available as to which charities are transparent, and how much of what they take in is actually used for the purposes of the charity. The ECFA, above, is a good place to start. The Better Business Bureau has information on religious (and other) charities. Also, see CharityWatch.

Jesus said this:
Matthew 6:19 Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Scripture quotations from the World English Bible, public domain) Senator Grassley said, in the report, said something like "Christ came into Jerusalem on a donkey, so why do these preachers have to go places in their own luxury cars and jets?"

Some people, I hope Christians, don't seem to pay much attention to that idea. It is true that Paul said this: Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. 1:16 The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; 1:17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

1:18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

So, even if someone is making a fortune for him or herself out of preaching, Christ can be proclaimed through such a person. But I wouldn't want to be that person. It's not up to me to judge others, but it is up to me to be a wise steward of the money God has allowed me to have.

Thanks for reading. Read the NPR article.