Western culture

We know as Christians, on an intellectual level, that we have idols—be it family, food, football or whatever. But to see the allure of idolatry can be hard for those of us in the Western world. That’s why I appreciate the points laid out by Doug Stuart in his Exodus commentary (450-54). Stuart suggests nine reasons idolatry was attractive to the Israelites and in the cultures of the Ancient Near East. 1. It was guaranteed. If you do the right incantation, you get the right results. Just say…

The photos were taken in the countryside of Terekeka, 53 miles north of Juba, during the last two weeks of February.

Mark Maggiori, Once Upon a Time, oil, 36 x 34.

A social-science analysis of how Catholicism transformed Western culture

Photographer Victoria Stamm believes there's no such thing as a perfect photograph. But we think her winning image, Clint, from the 2015 Photo Contest comes pretty darn close. “I don’t think that there is such a thing as ‘the perfect photograph’ — only a perfect moment. But sometimes, with the combination of a perfect moment, framing, and exposure, it all falls into place. You catch your breath, your heart skips a beat, your mind stops circling, and you think, Yes! Thank you, God!”…

Following the Buffalo. Photography: Courtesy Jason Rich For all the honors his painting has brought him and has much as he loves the Western art world, it’s the family-focused Western lifestyle that Jason Rich considers the most important. For all that he has accomplished as a Western artist — the innumerable awards, prestigious shows, international recognition, and financial success — Jason Rich prefers a life that fosters the simple and lasting things. He was raised with Western values…

Walking along Exchange Avenue in the North Side Stockyards in Oct of 1948.