Yes, yes y’all (OK, so I’ve used that one before but really, it’s hard to get the hip hop vibe outta your system, especially with all the wicked beats floating around in my head and no musical talent to get them out, but that’s really not the point here is it?), it’s time for another round of what we here like to call the Weekly Town Crier. This is really nothing more than a compilation of some of the things that interested me over the past week. Some of them made me go “hmmmm,” while other made pause and they all made me think, to one degree or another. So enjoy, always remembering that linking does not equal endorsing, just thinking. Thanking you.

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For my Louisville, friends, here is the lineup for the Forecastle Festival.

Read about one of Rome’s leading bishops saying “Satanism and the occult are in fashion.”

Read about Paul Verhoeven, director of that cinematic classic Basic Instinct, saying that Jesus was “probably was the son of Mary and a Roman soldier who raped her during the Jewish uprising in Galilee.”

Read John Piper’s thoughts about what to do with the money from the “economic stimulus package.”

Read Douglas Groothius’ suggestions for how to write a letter to the editor.

Read about Alister McGrath joining King’s College.

Consider Abraham Piper’s 12 suggestions for improving your blogging.

Read as Barna examines the way churches use technology.

Read as T.M. Moore wonders if Evangelicalism is going senile.

Read about New Testament scholars questioning the story of the woman caught in adultery.

Read as Christianity Today contrasts recent “tell-all” memoirs against Scriptures commands to honor your parents.

Read about the growing trend of many companies having chaplains on staff.

Read an update on the retired John Stott, who recently celebrated his 87th birthday.

Read Al Mohler’s thoughts on “pagan” Quakers.

Read about Rowan LeCompte, whose life work has been the stained-glass windows of the National Cathedral.

Read about continuing efforts to combat human trafficking.

Read Christianity Today’s review of the new album from Telecast.

Check out the new website for For The Fame of His Name Ministries.

Visit the great new resource “Gospel Translations.”

Read about governors of all 50 states issuing proclamations for the National Day of Prayer.

Read about the “Last Church Standing in North Cyprus.”

Read about technology leaders saying that the internet is still “in its infancy.”

Read about the United Methodist church adopting full communion with the ELCA.

Read as Tony Jones offers “Seven Dispatches From the Emergent Frontier.”

Read as the Washington Post considers Twittering.

Read about the 35th birthday of the political phrase “God Bless America.”

Read about the NIV topping the list of Bibles used by Evangelical leaders.

Read about the death of Albert Hoffman, the scientist who invented LSD.

Browse as the Monolith Music Festival announces its lineup.

Browse this list of suggested children’s books that should be made into movies.

Read about the case in which “The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has reversed a lower court’s censure of a lesbian clergywoman who performed what critics called same-sex weddings for two lesbian couples in California.”

Read this piece which calls the shared set of American ideals our “civic religion.”

Read about the forum considering the “plight” of gay Muslims.

Read about the Florida state senate sinking a bill that would have required women to have an ultrasound before an abortion.

Read about the Kansas senate failing “by two votes Wednesday to override the veto of a bill aimed at strengthening late-term abortion laws.”

Read as the Christian Science Monitor asks how “inclusive” the National Day of Prayer really is.

Read about Australia’s efforts to improve gay rights.

Read about Tony Blair details the role of his faith.