A few items of interest (to me at least):

Ark Encounter — Answers in Genesis is planning a $150 million Noah’s Ark tourist attraction in northern Kentucky, complete with a full-scale Noah’s Ark. Local businesses and politicians (the governor of Kentucky was at the announcement) will love this, as it will likely bring in a large amount of cash to the area. Young-Earth creationist Todd Wood commented: “What do I think? Personally, I don’t really care. I can easily think of dozens hundreds thousands of more important projects to spend $150 million on, but it’s not my money.”

King James Bible UK commemorative coin — The United Kingdom will issue a 2-pound circulating coin in 2011 commemorating the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible. The text on the coin is from John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word.” HT: World Coin News

Another date-setter to completely ignore — In regards to his future return to Earth, Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matt 24:36 ESV). Harold Camping and Family Radio, however, know better than Jesus. According to wecanknow.com, “the date of the rapture of believers will take place on May 21, 2011” and “God will destroy this world on October 21, 2011.” Camping teaches that all churches are apostate and that people should leave their churches and listen to his radio stations instead. Goofy. Cultic.

Bonhoeffer at FoxNews.com — Excerpts from two chapters of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas are available from FoxNews.com. The chapters are entitled “Nazi Theology” and “The End of Germany.”  Good reading.

EPA at 40 — The Evangelical Ecologist writes about the EPA at Middle Age – How’s Our Biggest Baby Boomer Doing?

At its worse, EPA has the potential to become the upper left hook of the socialist nanny state.

And I hope she and her successors succeed. Because when EPA’s at its best – when its rules are crafted and enforced and moderated in the open and in full dialogue with industry and our elected representatives – the Agency is an enabler for enormously positive change.

Students’ religious freedom — Montana Valedictorian Wins Religious Free Speech Case

In 2008, Butte High School officials required Renee Griffith and other outstanding students to turn in their speeches for review prior to graduation. The Court assessed Griffith’s rights were violated when school administrators told Griffith she couldn’t mention God or Jesus in her valedictorian speech.

She refused to make the changes, was prohibited from giving her speech, and was in fact barred from participating at all in her graduation ceremony.

On Nov. 29, the Montana Supreme Court confirmed Griffith had the right to mention her God under both the U.S. and Montana constitutions.

Grace and Peace