Most people aren't willing to even say the word, much less willing to have a discussion about it. Two of our writers, Jesse L. Eubanks and Josh Hatcher, address the issues of lust, sexual immorality and ultimately whether masturbation is sin.

Young professionals (those of us in our 20s and 30s) are high maintenance. We demand autonomy, hefty salaries to support our spending habits and having our names associated with the flashy projects in our offices. We seek flexible schedules to ensure a strong work-life balance.

My grandmother lived an environmentally friendly lifestyle even before “going green” was the buzz. Grandma canned jellies, fruits and spreads in reusable jars while sealing garden-grown veggies in airtight bags to freeze for winter use. Not only did she sew and mend many of her own clothes, but she washed them by hand, and, with great care, hung the clothes up to dry. The neighbors’ chickens provided eggs for the entire neighborhood, while the milkman came weekly. Life and community were built upon this altruistic model.

They’ve recorded several multi-platinum albums, but fame seems far from the minds of San Diego band Switchfoot. On Saturday, the band hosted their fifth annual “Bro-Am,” a surfing contest and concert to benefit local chapters of StandUp For Kids, an organization which helps make a difference in the lives of at-risk and homeless teens.

There were a lot of big stories this week, from the continued tensions in Iran, to the governor of South Carolina disappearing, reappearing and having to publicly apologize, to the passing of Farrah Fawcett. Certainly, a lot of noteworthy events happened this week. The one, however, that will define culture for decades to come is the passing of pop icon Michael Jackson. As inundated with pop culture as we are, it's the kind of event that imprints itself. People will remember where they were when they heard the news. And so, we devote this week's roundup to the ever-reigning King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

In response to the growing unrest in Iran and rising protests against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime and a possibly stolen election, the Iranian government tried a time-honored move that seems to be the default position of any authoritarian regime. It banned the media. Ahmadinejad's government kicked out foreign journalists, jailed national journalists who were critical of the election results and shut down communications networks. With only Iranian state-run television and newspapers available to report (and put government spin) on the tensions, it seemed Ahmadinejad had assured himself of keeping the international community in the dark.

“We regret that we are unable to offer you admission at this time.”

“I really see our relationship as more of a friendly one. Pal.”

“There are better candidates for this job. Thank you for your interest.”

Rejection stinks. As in, it almost literally has a smell: the aroma of dashed dreams and curtailed crushes. It’s not pleasant, and it lingers. And whether you’re rich or poor, handsome or homely, fortunate or persistently unlucky, we have one thing in common: we’ve all caught a whiff.

Immigration reform is often a sticky issue, especially in the Church. Last year alone, 724,000 illegal immigrants were caught at the border. While this was the lowest since 1973, it nonetheless represents a vast number of people with a desperate desire to enter the United States. The issue of immigration is highly politicized, with opponents of legalizing those who entered the country illegally saying that the economy cannot sustain the influx of undocumented workers, while proponents say that legalization would increase the government's net revenue by $65 billion over the next decade.