Snapshot: 100 Most Powerful Women in the World

Forbes magazine offers their list of the World's Most Powerful Women. After the usual politicians, there are business leaders, philanthropists, and even Lady Gaga (who saw that coming?), but no religious leaders. Should religion = power, though?

Anyway, it's worth a scan.

Who Has More Fun: Atheists or Us?

An interesting take (rated PG-13) at RealClearReligion on whether Atheists have more fun in life than believers - and if it's worth it.

Rick Warren Storms Europe!

The Financial Times takes a look-see at the movement that is Rick Warren, and his current attempts to spread the Gospel in Europe.

It's always interesting to see a reporter who doesn't have a religious background try to find the right vocabulary to accurately describe a believer trying to make a difference. Almost always, they fall back on political language.

NAYC 2011: Videos Galore!

Check out all the NAYC 2011 video clips on YouTube!

"WE ARE . . . "

"GIANTS!"

NAYC Quotes: Paul Pamer

Barberton, OH's Paul Pamer offered these 2 gems at the mid-Friday General Session:

• "If the only thing you do is go to church then someday you won't."

• On cell phones (& technology in general): "It's time we stopped using them as toys and started using them as tools."

Youth Congress 2011

Just returned from the spectacular North American Youth Congress 2011 in Columbus, OH. While attendance probably didn't break the 15,500 mark any night (and honestly, since when is 15,000 teenagers worshiping God a negative?) there was always an overabundance of the move of the Spirit.

All 3 night speakers were spot on, but so was Music Coordinator Kristin Keller. On both Wednesday and Friday nights, she ended the evenings on amazing worship highs. She was pitch perfect in music and Spirit, and - at the risk of being accused of overstatement (or carnality) - held the crowd in her hands as masterfully as Bono. Except God received all the glory.

Didn't see the usual Youth Congress article from the local paper of record, but they did cover the North American Bible Quiz Tournament. (Make sure you read the comments at the bottom.)

While I'm sure there were disappointments and frustrations, congratulations to all who contributed. It was spectacular (again).

Creativity Magnifico!

So this artist put a gigantic statue into the middle of a Hamburg lake with amazing success. I love it!

Sadly, it'll only stay public through August 12, 2011.

Facebook Embarrassment

You don't have to have kids to ROFL at this one! AllFacebook has an inspired "10 Ways to Embarrass Your Kids on Facebook" that you can easily adapt to siblings or others.

Don't miss it.

Writing Time with Some Greats

Wow! The Festival of Faith & Writing at Calvin College will be featuring Pulitzer-Prize winner Marilynne Robinson, National Book Award winner Walter Wangerin, young turks like Tony Earley and Jonathan Safron Foer, Newberry Award winners, respected poets and so much more!

$175 registration is slated for early November, for April 19-21 Festival. Don't think you can't afford it until you've poked through their website, as it continues to get more robust.

It's not to be missed if you want to discover what's happening in the world of letters and the world of Christian letters, especially. There's a lot of brave writing around faith these days and this festival captures it all.