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Category Archives: Current Events
The Problem With Justice
I’m enjoying a stay-at-home vacation this week. Activities have included house cleaning, lawn care, and a 12-mile bike ride. For reading, I’m finishing Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. A key theme in the novel is the conflict between love and social convention, … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Jesus
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Pro-Life and Pro-Gay
Religion writer David Van Biema on how Psalm 139 is used by both pro-life groups who oppose abortion and pro-gay groups who want to support gays and lesbians: For decades, Psalm 139 has been a byword of the anti-abortion movement, … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
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Spiritual and Religious
Diana Butler Bass on a significant change in statistics: What is new? In my research, it’s the “ands.” Those who say they are “spiritual and religious.” In 1999, 54 percent of Americans said they were “religious but not spiritual,” while … Continue reading
The Line That Separates You From Homelessness
This is the stairwell at the homeless shelter at 4:30 this morning. Outside it was still dark on West Church St. I finished my overnight shift with SC, a nurse in our congregation. We passed the time in the volunteer … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Daily Life
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An Officeless Voice
The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin on Sarah Palin: Politico reports on the latest from Sarah Palin: “ ‘Not only do I love my freedom of not having a title and being a declared candidate — that is liberating — I know … Continue reading
The Scale Has Tipped
The Presbyterian Church USA has removed language from its constitution that prevented gay ordination. Gays and lesbians may now be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons. Amendment 10-A removes the “fidelity and chastity” language from the PC(USA) constitution. Presbyteries and … Continue reading
April Envelopes
We collect tax documents in a brown manila envelope on the back of the closet door. The second week of April I gather our materials together and run the numbers through the computer. (Praise God for tax preparation software.) Then … Continue reading
Not Following the News
I don’t spend much time with the radio, television, and the daily paper. A car without a radio is a place for contemplation. When friends object that I don’t know what is going on and am not concerned with the … Continue reading
Stott’s Secret of Success
David Neff notes books to be published in recognition of John Stott’s 90th birthday next month. He also suggests a two-fold reason for Stott’s success: Stott’s discernment and discipline. John Stott’s enormous influence on evangelicalism, in England, America, and around … Continue reading
Woman In the Fountain
Ann Althouse reflects on the woman at a mall who fell into a fountain while texting and later found herself famous on YouTube: We need to learn how to live in the world as it is. When we’re in public, … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
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Talking About Tuscon
I haven’t said anything about the terrible thing in Tuscon because (a) there hasn’t been a lack of commentary and (b) I seldom offer such commentary here. But I will make an exception and share a few thoughts that have … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Current Events
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Christmas and Human Dignity
Carson Holloway on the connection between Christmas and human dignity: I would suggest that the ethical core of Western Civilization—or at least a key principle by which it distinguished itself from what it regarded as savagery and barbarism—is respect for … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Theology
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Google and Michigan Football
Someone has filled in the names for the 50 states using suggestions from Google. Schools and sports teams predominate. My state of Michigan comes up as Michigan Football — which is a sad topic these days. I think God is … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Sports
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‘They Are Being Watched Over’
Three young boys from Morenci have been missing since Thanksgiving and are feared dead. Or in the language of the local police chief, “The information we have does not indicate that it’s going to be a positive outcome.” The boys’ … Continue reading
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Analyzing a Picture of the Pope
This news story about the Pope’s visit to Spain included this picture of the Pope from photographer Daniel Ochoa de Olza. What does the picture say about the Pope? The photo is cropped with the Pope standing on the right. … Continue reading
What Farms Can Teach Politicians
Danny Heitman, a Louisiana journalist, says now that the election is over the best thing for politicians to do is nothing, so they can rest for a while. If our political culture has come to embrace the ethic of the … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
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A Reason For Not Voting
Michael Degan, a Mennonite journalist, offers his reason for not voting: What does God really want from us in the end? Has God taken sides in the prominent political issues of our time? Is God rooting for us to make … Continue reading
