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Home Archives for Christianity and Faith

12/2/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Blog Talk Radio Links

The following are links to odds and ends I mentioned this evening as co-host of the Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio show: Neal Gabler's ironic Los Angeles Times column on Joe McCarthy and the American conservative movement: a true "triumph of the American imagination" Historian Arthur Herman's sage insights into lessons America should take from the grim Islamist terrorist attacks last week in India Chicago Tribune editorial from 2006 justifying jeers for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's attempt to secure a pardon for corrupt former Republican Gov. George Ryan - in particular, the tragic but inspiring story of the Willis family - featured in the Tribune editorial - is worth a read And, of course, thanks to guest Todd Bensman - check … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Christianity and Faith, General, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: American conservative movement, Arthur Herman, Blog Talk Radio, Chicago Tribune, corrupt, Dick Durbin, editorial, episode, Face the State, George Ryan, historian, Illinois, India, insights, inspiring, Islamist, jeers, Joe McCarthy, kinks, lessons, Los Angeles Times, National Review, Neal Gabler, podcast, Rocky Mountain Alliance, Ryan Frazier, senator, special guest, terrorist attacks, Todd Bensman, tragic, triumph of the American imagination, Willis family

11/27/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #20: Vision

This is the last in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it, and now Thanksgiving Day is here. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced have not necessarily been in any particular order. I hope the series has been of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic has taken a swan dive. It just occurred to me now that there is a small irony to this 20th and final post in this series. The topic being Vision. 20/20. Get it? Eh? Anyhow... Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.... I think a lot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General, My Life Tagged With: 20 things, 20/20, affected, battles, bestowed, blessed, blinding handicap, computer screen, condition, Creator, desperate, distance, economic crisis, eyes, For the beauty of the earth, genetic inheritance, genetic testing, God, grandfather, gratitude, half-brother, humbly, installment, Jack Hutchings, Krista Kafer, macular degeneration, moment, perspective, physical foibles, pride, printed page, Proverbs, reads, reflect, remarkable story, remarkable vision, rich blessings, Savior, savor, small glimpses, spiritual vision, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, trivial things, vision

11/26/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is Upon Us: Let’s Forego the Ridiculous Political Correctness

Thanksgiving Day is here tomorrow: A time to count our blessings and reflect on the faith of our forefathers OR a time to engage in ridiculous, politically-correct posturing at the expense of schoolchildren (H/T Michelle Malkin)? I'll take the former, thank you very much. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General Tagged With: count our blessings, faith, Michelle Malkin, political correctness, reflect, ridiculous, schoolchildren, Thanksgiving Day

11/26/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #19: Baseball and the Legendary Ernie Harwell

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. America's pastime. Come November, the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd seem distant memories. But hope springs eternal in the heart of the baseball fan. For the 19th and penultimate edition of this thankfulness series, I want to express my gratitude for a game - yes, but not just any game. And … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: alma mater days, backyard, Baseball, baseball cards, baseball fan, baseball initiates, bat, board game, character, cheating, collecting, college, color, Colorado Rockies, column, creed, democracy, Detroit, diehard fans, disease, enjoyment, Ernie Harwell, excerpts, faith, family room, game, Game 3, gratitude, group outing, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale Daily News, hope springs eternal, local league, memorable, memories, nostalgia, November, organized, pennants, penultimate, race, radio, roar of the crowd, Rockpile, scoreboard, series, Sherco, special, special impressions, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Game for All America, Tiger Stadium, Tigers, top row, trading, World Series

11/25/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #18: My Parents Decided to Keep Me

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Two days to go until Thanksgiving, I would be remiss not to mention one of the things I'm most thankful for: my parents. It's true that you don't fully appreciate them and what they do until you have children of your own. My parents aren't perfect. I'd obviously be lying if I glossed over them as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General, My Life Tagged With: abridged version, annual tradition, appreciation, baked goods, blessings, brother, Buick Century, butterscotch bars, Chevy Astro, children, Christian, Christmas, church, dad, drivers license, easygoing, Family, few memories, football games, good discipline, good memories, grace, grateful things, hard-working, importance, keep, love, merciless teasing, molasses cookies, mom, oatmeal cakes, opportunities, outnumbered, parents, physical needs, Pontiac Silverdome, quiet, reserved, respect, sincere devotion, stable home enviroment, take for granted, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, things of God, well-deserved, wheel has turned, woodworking

11/24/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #17: The Grandest Music and Musical Genius

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. I have appreciation for many different kinds of music. Today I express my thanks particularly for the grand elevating pieces of music that lift the human heart upward, hopefully in expression of praise to the Creator: from Handel's Messiah to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The chorus at the end of the latter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life Tagged With: Beethoven, Boulder, brief moment, choir, Christmas music, Colorado, composer, Creator, crescendo, Hallelujah Chorus, Handel, heart, household, Messiah, Messiah Singalong, mind, music, musical genius, musical value, Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy, orchestra, Scripture, soul, sounds of heaven, sublime moments, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, tradition

11/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Do Social Cons and Libertarians Have More in Common Politically?

Lately I feel like I've been doing a lot of refereeing and discussion about the libertarian-social conservative debate. Along those lines, I believe my readers would gain a lot of insights from this American Thinker essay by libertarian Randall Hoven:Social conservatism is taking a beating lately. Not only did it lose in the recent elections, it is being blamed for the Republican losses. If only the religious right would get off the Republican Party's back, the GOP could win like it is supposed to again. I beg to differ. I'm anything but a social conservative. In nine presidential elections, I voted Libertarian in six. I am a hard core "limited government" conservative/libertarian; I want government out of my pocket-book and out of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: American Thinker, Bible, clearer perspective, common, conclusion, conservative, debate, essay, evidence, excellent points, GOP, humility, influence, insights, libertarian, limited government, love of liberty, political alliance, Randall Hoven, religion, Religious Right, Republican Party, social conservative, wilderness

11/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #16: Faith of the Martyrs and Divine Peace

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. We have no guarantee of domestic peace and harmony for all time. I am thankful for the freedom of worship, but recognize that it may not be a permanent condition for my own lifetime. American Christians have been remarkably blessed. The level of persecution faced by the most faithful here is small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, World Events Tagged With: Apostle Paul, church history, domestic peace, early believers, faith, freedom of worship, harmony, highest price, martyrs, matchless peace, peace of God, persecution, Philippians, prayer, Roman coliseums, Stephen, Sudan, thankfulness, Thanksgiving

11/21/2008 By Ben 5 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #14: Blessings (and Responsibilities) of Children

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. There is a divide between parenthood and non-parenthood that you don't really get until after it's thrust upon you. It seems to be one of those well-known secrets of the generations that doesn't completely make sense to try to explain to the uninitiated. But I will weakly try to tag it as a unique … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Education, General, My Life Tagged With: all bets are off, blessed, burden, combination, conveniences, curious wonder, definition, effective parents, generations, glimpses, hassle, hopes, imagination, individuals, investment, learning, Mrs. Virtus, natural fallen state, newcomer, novice, our own kingdoms, parenthood, patience, plans, positive fruit, prayers, priorities, Psalm 127, reference, reminder, Scriptures, secrets, tears, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, time, tremendous responsibility, understanding, uninitiated, womb

11/20/2008 By Ben 3 Comments

Colorado GOP Should Heed Kafer and Hillman, Not Parker and Huckabee

This week's two prime examples of self-serving guns on the Right pointing inward? On the one hand, Kathleen Parker caricaturing and lambasting me and millions of evangelical Christians:To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh. Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party.... It isn't that culture doesn't matter. It does. But preaching to the choir produces no converts. And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party -- and conservatism with it -- eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: annoying, armband religion, Beltway cocktailk parties, caricaturing, Colorado, culture, demagogic, economic populism, evangelical Christians, Faux-Cons, fiscal conservative, former presidential candidate, GOP coalition, gripe, humility, influential voices, Jon Henke, Kathleen Parker, Krista Kafer, lambasting, leaders, Liberalism, libertarianism, Mark Hillman, Mike Huckabee, political action, political wilderness, preaching to the choir, privacy, publish, religious faith, Republican Party, reservation, Right, right-wing, Ron Paul, self-serving guns, shifting demographics, shut up, social conservatives, tax increase, Time magazine

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About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

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