01.05.09
Posted in Politics, Today at 2:47 pm by artistry
I just finished watching the debate between the candidates for the RNC Chairmanship. Here are my initial reactions (listed in the order they were seated and spoke):
Michael Steele - very smooth. Has a good stage persona, honed by his television appearances. But I didn’t feel he was passionate about anything except getting the job, although he did well in his closing statement. He is Hannity’s choice, which probably means he is also Romney’s choice.
Katon Dawson - spoke well and has a solid record. He also has some negatives which will probably keep him from the chair.
Ken Blackwell - has been gathering a lot of support and may be unstoppable. He seemed to lack passion for the task ahead (IMO) and (again, IMO) spent too much time talking about me, me, me.
Saul Anuzis - just didn’t come across well. Part of that was early problems with his microphone, but he just doesn’t seem to have the wide range of experience necessary to take on the national chair.
Chip Saltsman - seemed like the youngster in the crowd … oh, wait, he is. He didn’t talk a lot about mechanics, but did demonstrate a passion for the battle that will be necessary to field candidates and rebrand the GOP.
Mike Duncan - in a defensive battle to keep his job in light of huge losses in the states and nationally. He didn’t help himself, IMO.
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Posted in Literature, Today at 10:45 am by artistry
I just learned about a book I am looking forward to reading. Here’s a partial quote:
“True Christianity is not merely life-changing; it is world-changing.
Emphasize only the changing of individual lives and we will fail to call political systems, philosophies, and human structures to account under Jesus’ lordship.
Emphasize only political systems, philosophies, and human structures and we will compromise in our work for worldly progress while people remain dead in their sins.”
That little snippet was enough to engage my curiosity and I am looking forward to the publication of Holy Subversion: Allegiance to Christ in an Age of Rivals. Read more from the author at Kingdom People: Saturdays are for Holy Subversion
Just what I needed … another book on my wishlist! I’ve been seeing a lot of lists of top books of 2008 or just books read in 2008. It pleases me (flatters me?) that I read many of them. It frustrates me that there are so many I want to read and haven’t yet. So many books … so little time … such great pleasure in reading them.
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01.04.09
Posted in Today at 4:50 pm by artistry
We missed out on the expected big snowfall yesterday. The forecast was for 5 - 10 inches, but we only got about 3. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it started with freezing rain, which made for very slippery roads. And the further bad news is that the temperature has dropped about 20° since I left for church this morning. Winds are supposed to be picking up and they say the wind chill tonight will be in the area of -30°. But it is suppose to warm up tomorrow … to about 12°. Then it might snow again on Tuesday. 
My landlord was gone for Christmas. Of course, we got our major snow storms after he left. The plow guys have done a good job keeping my driveway clear, but didn’t do the guest parking spot and the pile in front of my front porch was getting huge. My landlord returned yesterday and today has plowed out my drive and guest parking and cleared the front porch. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this guy, especially in light of the property manager I had to deal with at the former house. 
I have a couple of projects in the works which are keeping me out of trouble, and continue to work on getting my house in order. I discovered, much to my dismay, that I need to remove everything from the closet in my study so I can put stuff in it … the stuff that actually belongs in there. Once that is done, I will have the last of the boxes out of the kitchen and living room. I will also be able to hang art, which is currently in said closet. Yay for that!
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01.02.09
Posted in Literature at 8:00 pm by artistry
For These Tough Times - reaching toward heaven for hope and healing - Max Lucado
Max Lucado introduces us to his book with lines from Psalm 11 … “When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?” It’s a question many of us have asked, although we tend to ask it in the negative, demanding to know “Where is God when …” or “How can a holy God allow suffering?” In times of trouble, we often cry out to God and ask “Why?” Throughout the eight chapters of this book, Max Lucado gently leads us to see that we are asking the wrong questions. Gaining a better understanding of God and who He is helps us to know with certainty that we can know and trust God.
Lucado starts with our question of “Where is God?” and helps us to see how we can change our focus. His chapters explain God’s great love, his holiness and his good gifts to us. Further, he explores the need for forgiveness and our human desire for revenge. Chapters 6 and 7 deal with communication with and from God … listening for him to speak to us and from us to him through prayer. Under duress, most of us call out to God and wonder why he isn’t answering. God desires to hear from us often and prayer is the method of communication. Lastly, Lucado deals with the issue of grief.
These are tough times indeed, and Max Lucado’s book can help find the answers for working through them.
Max Lucado is the author of many books which are available through Thomas Nelson Publishers. He is Senior Minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas.
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01.01.09
Posted in Politics, Today, Worldview at 2:43 pm by artistry
- Michael Newdow is back in the news, having filed his quadrennial lawsuit to prevent any reference to God in the inauguration of President-Elect Obama: Lawsuit seeks to take “so help me God” out of inaugural. Newdow will be remembered as the California doctor and self taught lawyer who managed to get a California court to rule against the Pledge of Allegiance due to the words “under God”, a ruling which was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court. Interestingly, the court never ruled on the merits of the case, but dismissed it and reversed the California decision because Newdow had no prudential standing to bring it.
- In what looks to be the most expensive inaugural extravaganza ever, leaders from DC, Maryland and Virginia seek help with an expected $75 million in costs.
- Obama is raising record amounts for his inauguration although not on the level of contributions to his campaign. With a little digging, you can find the list online of individuals as well as those who are bundling contributions. It makes for interesting reading. Who knew there were so many unemployed and self employed wives with $50,000 laying around they could give for this cause?
- Meanwhile, Gaza is once again the origin of missile attacks that Israel won’t take lying down
- Cuba is marking a subdued anniversary.
- The Blagojevich scandal keeps on giving
- And Moscow turns off the heat for the Ukraine
There’s more … but how much can a person take? Happy New Year and the beat goes on!
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12.26.08
Posted in Today at 4:55 pm by artistry
I haven’t been able to find anyone who does a really good job cutting my hair for two years. The last person who did a good job quit to be a stay at home mom. While I applaud her devotion to her family, I have been frustrated at not being able to find anyone. And every time I have to do my hair, the frustration level rises. Sounds like a small thing, but an irritating one!
So my daughter-in-law got a great haircut and I have an appointment with the person who did it. I am optimistic that I will like her work since Anne and I share certain hair characteristics and we are both dependent on a good cut.
But then … I was at church for the Christmas Eve service and a lady came up to me and said “I just love the way your hair is cut and styled. I wish I could get mine to look like that.” See … it is all a matter of perspective.
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12.25.08
Posted in Today at 10:57 am by artistry
I’m wishing the blessings of this special day for all my friends and family. We’re looking forward to a visit from the family this weekend and I can’t wait!
We had an awesome celebration of the birth of our Lord last night at Pointway Church. The service was packed and we shared sweet fellowship with members and guests.
Today I am reflecting on what this day represents … the first coming of our Lord to live among us and the promise of his return.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9.6
Merry Christmas to you all!
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12.23.08
Posted in Politics, Today at 10:14 am by artistry
Democrats on the hill are busily trying to craft a stimulus package that will bring relief from the recession. Meanwhile: The Wall Street Journal reports on their efforts to lower expectations in the event of failure.
“I think people know this is a serious recession, and they don’t expect it to turn it around quickly,” Ms. Rivlin said. The Democrats “don’t have to produce a turnaround. But they have to produce action.” HA! Like they did the last two years?
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12.22.08
Posted in Today at 8:23 am by artistry
Experts tell us not to seek comfort in food … that is the way to obesity. Yet certain foods served at certain times are definitely comforting for a variety of reasons. Like:
- Float - an egg rich pudding which my grandmother always made when I was sick.
- Milk Toast - again, something we ate when sick and something I would not eat at any other time.
- Potato soup - always reminds me of my mother, who made the best potato soup ever created.
- Tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches and a glass of milk - probably the best ever cold weather meal.
I could probably list more and so could you. Last night was cold, dreary and definitely a tomato soup night. So yay! for comfort food taken in moderation.
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12.18.08
Posted in Faith, Literature, Today at 5:07 pm by artistry
There are many people commenting on what they think are the top ten books of 2008. I thought I would look at it from a different perspective and make a list of the top ten books that could be the foundation of any believer’s library.
- Basic Christianity - J. R. R. Stott. Stott clearly explains the fundamental claims of the Christian faith and explores how these beliefs impact the lives of believers.
- The Pursuit of Man – A. W. Tozer. The Pursuit of Man sets forth the biblical truth that before man can pursue God, God must first pursue man. It speaks fervently of God’s desire for man to be saved and the action He takes as He “invades” the human soul.
- The Pursuit of God – A. W. Tozer. The Pursuit of God reminds and challenges you to renew your relationship with your loving God. In each of the 10 chapters, Tozer explains one aspect of hungering for God and ends with a prayer.
- Knowing God – J. I. Packer. Knowing God has become a classic of the Christian faith. Why? While it gives us information about God with clarity and grace, it does much more—it aids us in actually knowing him, in building our relationship with him, and helps draw us closer to him in love and worship.
- Mere Christianity – C. S. Lewis. Arguably the 20th century’s most influential Christian writer, C.S. Lewis sought to explain and defend the beliefs that nearly all Christians at all times hold in common. His simple yet deeply profound classic, originally delivered as a series of radio broadcasts, is a book to be thoroughly digested by believers and generously shared with skeptics.
- Growing Your Faith – Jerry Bridges. When you’re gripped by the astonishing fact of Christ’s love for you, you desire to draw close to Him. But what can you do to deepen your relationship with Jesus? What does He expect of you, and how can you be more like Him?
- More Than A Carpenter – Josh McDowell. An excellent introduction to apologetics, this book will provide you with many answers to objections often offered against the truth of our faith.
- An Anchor for the Soul– Ray Pritchard. People have honest doubts and questions about God that deserve solid answers. How do we explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way the “man on the street” will understand?
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book – Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart. Written by two top evangelical scholars, this survey is designed to get you actually reading the Bible knowledgeably and understanding it accurately.
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Donald S. Whitney. The freedom to grow in godliness—to naturally express Christ’s character through your own personality—is in large part dependent on a deliberate cultivation of the spiritual disciplines.
One could make a good argument for including just about any book on this list, however, I set some parameters for it. This list is a recommendation for someone who is just beginning to build a library of Christian books. It is for those who want a good grounding in Christian belief and a basic understanding of apologetics (the art of defending the faith). Given those restrictions, this list represents my recommendations. Dive in … you will find much to ponder, chew on and make you hungry for more.
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Posted in Faith, Today, Worldview at 7:39 am by artistry
It’s the opening line of “A Day in the Life” from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album and is what ran through my mind as I opened the Google News page. The headlines were uniformly depressing. And then the words of 1 John 2.15 came to mind … Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
There’s not a lot to love in the news of the day. Fortunately, I went from Google News to Facebook, where I found a message from a friend that totally cheered me. And then I remembered that I wanted to read a passage from Isaiah … Isaiah 59 is rather short for an Old Testament chapter and begins rather somberly and is an indictment. Yet it ends in promise, and that is what I will take with me today.
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Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
- He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.
- He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
- According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment.
- So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.
- “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.
- “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”
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12.15.08
Posted in Politics, Today at 7:57 pm by artistry
CNN touts themselves as being fair and balanced. To that I would have to add sensationalist and misleading. Take a recent link on the front page of the CNN site: “McCain unsure if he’ll support Palin for president”. You read that and you begin to wonder why and if maybe some of the rumors reported from the campaign might be true. So then you read the story and find a different headline (McCain: I can’t promise to support Palin for president) and a story that doesn’t support either headline. What did McCain say about Palin?
“She invigorated our campaign” and “Have no doubt of my admiration and respect for her and my view of her viability, but at this stage, again … my corpse is still warm, you know?”
CNN: Thanks so much for being fair and balanced in your coverage of this story.
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Posted in Politics, Today, Worldview at 9:50 am by artistry
Chuck Colson writes on CNN that “If anyone knows how Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich feels right now, I do.”
Colson, who served seven months in prison due on Watergate related charges, talks about what motivates people to act in the manner Blagojevich is accused of acting. He cautions that we are raising our children “to become not only self-obsessed, but obsessed with personal power. Quaint-sounding virtues such as courage, honesty and prudence — historically considered the elements of character — are no match for a society in which the exaltation and gratification of self becomes the overriding goal of life.”
Read the whole article … it’s worth it.
HT: Between Two Worlds
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Posted in Literature, Today at 9:38 am by artistry
Trevin Wax is giving away books. Check the Kingdom People site to see how you might win Trevin’s Top 10 for 2008 plus an ESV Study Bible.
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