The Holdfast has MOVED

For various reasons, I have abandoned Blogger.com, and I am now hosting my blog using WordPress at my own web site. Please go to The Holdfast - new edition, and bookmark the new address and forget this one!

High-res trailers of Amazing Grace

They are starting to appear. The best one I've seen so far is at IGN. I'll update this post if better ones become available.

The Poster

I've been waiting for a high-definition trailer to be posted, but still there is only the low-quality Flash version that is on the Amazing Grace movie website. Still, here is a little piece of media for today: the movie poster. Very well done. Click on it for a large version!

Amazing Grace - the trailer is up

I'm waiting to see it in high quality, but for those who can't wait, the trailer is up now at http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/.

It looks like there is to be a bit of anachronism here, with the American tune of "Amazing Grace" being played by bagpipes! Will these movie making types never tire of changing history? But perhaps that scene is really not in the movie?

Mount Hood and God

I have been praying for the family of an old Texas Tech school mate, Kelly James, who was identified today as being found at the top of Mt Hood. I admire the way Frank James, his brother, has handled this tragedy in public for the families. How different it has been from some of the antics of other families in trouble! God is a life-changing God, and he changes everything about our lives, even how we handle tragedy and death. I would like to have as much maturity as this family has shown.

A blog for the three families is at this site.

Family tree makers

As Ricky Skaggs once sang, "It's the newest craze in town ... there's an old kind of love goin' round." I'm so happy for Eric and Jenny. You can also read a poem about it here...

The Chilling Reality of Islam

My day was bracketed with depressing news about Islam. It began during my drive to work, where NPR was featuring a story about Turkey and how its "secular" state was putting two men on trial for converting to Christianity. Hmm. Turkey is supposed to be a model for how you can have an Islamic state that is also secular and free. The charge against these two brothers is that they "insulted Turkishness."

My work day ended (late) while I was putting the finishing touches on a software fix, while listening to two episodes of the White Horse Inn on Islam. I knew Islam was a challenge, but these two radio shows brought its hideous untruth and aggression into much clearer focus. I highly recommend you download the MP3's and listen to them without delay.

When I was a kid, the fear was that worldwide Communism would take over and erase all our freedoms forever. I believe worldwide Islam is a much greater danger than Communism ever turned out to be.

Our trust is not in the United States military, but in the King of Kings who will appear personally from the clouds. Until then, the brethren must be willing to die, if necessary, preaching the gospel to Muslims and others who will want to kill us, and who will "think they offer service to God" (John 16:2).