Wow. This leads me to respect Rick Warren and take his claims of faith seriously.He’s really come a long way since his days of bumper-sticker theology & imperialist marketing.

David, you said “imagine what that kind of money could do in Africa.” Yes. Imagine. But imagine what that money could also do here, locally. In our towns and cities, here in America. We forget that hidden behind the shadows of American affluence are homeless children dying of the disease of poverty and hopelessness, often exacerbated by American “affluenza.”

How are our inner-cities and Hip-Hop culturists any different than third world countries? Mysogyny, promiscuity and STD’s are ubiquitous as well in that culture and lifestyle? Oh yeah support. MTV and the Democrat Left-wing supporters, ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, Bravo, Vanity Fair, LA Times, NY Times et al, promote those living that life and lifestyle. Maybe Warren should try his outreach to American Liberals and Progressives. Same disease killing them and their fatherless children.

It’s not the rise of the Left. It is the growing mission field on American soil. More Americans have not heard the Gospel than in any third world country. While those countries look to Christians to feed, clothe and help them, Americans look for porn, condoms and a new lower mortgage rates. Right Donny?

Hey David, Your book is amazing! Would love to have you come speak to my youth group in Houston Texas. How do I get in touch with you regarding a speaking event?

Hey Bob – my email is davidkuo@beliefnetstaff.com Robb – totally agree that that money could be spent here as well… tragically we have a plethora of need… Tali – exactly right about the American mission field Donny – maybe your calling?

Without doubt David. Protecting Christians from the onslaught of hatred and attack from Liberals and Progessives, with their heresy and relativism is definitely my calling. The dust on my shoes has long been shaken off. It is time to defend and contend for the faith, and the people that want to follow the truth. I have the website in the making.

Apologies for slight-off topic, (though relating to Christians’ duties in caring for the sick). This is totally outside my field -I’m chief technology officer at a wireless startup. Nevertheless, I had a conversation last night with an old college friend of mine who is now a heart transplant surgeon. He mentioned in passing how the perennial problem is lack of availability of organ donors. In particular, he said something that struck me, saying that it’s a highly complex ethical and political issue, but that for example if congress were to simply pass a law that “by default”, people are assumed to want to donate their organs and can opt-out by simply checking a box or filling out a form or something, that thousands and thousands of additional hearts would be available, and that many more lives could be saved.He dismissed the thought immediately after saying it, saying the issue is so political, so ethical, and religious. (He mentioned there is no heart transplant surgery in all of Japan because Buddism prohibits ogran donation – he had a twenty-something Japanese patient flown in this year since their rules permit 5% of donor hearts to be given to foreign nationals).Anyway, it strikes me as a cause that Christian groups need to get their thinking straight on, and then lean into. If Christian pastors and theologists could be asked to publicly opine on the issue, e.g. “the soul is the soul and is sacred to God. without the soul, the body is just dust.”, it could really help people get past their discomfort and recognize the opportunity to save lives. This is an area where, I’d imagine, families of the deceased are looking for guidance about what to do to make a quick decision under difficult circumstances, and a clear communications push by Christians to their congregations could make an enormous numerical difference. Finally, once Christian thought on this issue was crystalized, the ultimate goal would be a political push to have the law modified to lean by default towards donation, of course never pushing it against a family’s will.The pastor at our church gave a sermon about your book last week, which I’ve been reading, and so the convergence of religion and politics was on my mind at the moment I had that conversation. As I said, this is a long shot and way outside my field, but something about the coincidence felt like the ‘nudge’ of the Lord, gently working His plan. I don’t have much to offer, and perhaps this is well-covered ground among your community, of which I am fully ignorant. But I thought mentioning it might interest you in writing an article about it, and/or bring to your mind some contacts you know to whom this idea could plant a seed and become a cause they take up.I can also put someone in contact with my heart surgeon friend, if they have medical questions. He is of course very busy and neither a Christian nor an activist of any kind, but I know it’s an issue that’s important to him. Best Regards, Phil Koh P.S. If you’re in DC, stop by our church, VOPC in McLean and praise with us some sunday. It’s a multicultural Asian-english speaking congregation. Our pastor’s a big fan of yours.

Donny — have you not read David’s book? More importantly, have you not read the Bible — all of it — not just your favorite passages? You, David, or I — do not have God in our hip pockets and we cannot claim that we have the whole truth. Only Jesus is the Truth — and sometimes, even he is hard to understand. By the way, in your indictment of certain media outlets, you neglected to mention the Fox network, which airs some of the most salacious and vile material around.

Philip – wow, that is totally fascinating… never thought of it as a social justice issue… hmmmm…. may take you up on the church offer, though I am such a lapsed Asian it isn’t funny. I actually bought one of those Rosetta language things to try and remember my Chinese (which, I fully realize, isn’t a requirement to attend church! – it just reminds me of my guilt!)