Time to put politics aside for the next few days. First, serious reflections on Good Friday (all passages from the New American Standard Bible):Matthew 27:45-46 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge … [Read more...]
Now That’s a Debate Dinesh D’Souza & Christopher Hitchens Couldn’t Win
The headline of the day comes from the Boulder Daily Camera (H/T Complete Colorado):Conservative D'Souza, atheist Hitchens to debate God at CU Go back and read that again, out loud if you must... Dinesh D'Souza and Christopher Hitchens - two very bright, educated, opinionated men - are going to debate against the Almighty? Of course, this won't be a fair fight by any remote stretch of human imagination. For example, try responding to this opening statement:Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if … [Read more...]
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...]
What I’m Thankful for #10: The Undeniable Beauty of God’s Creation
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. Living in Colorado, it may be a bit harder than most to take the natural beauty around us for granted. But it can happen. The plethora of mountain vistas practically in our backyard and the numerous days of rich blue, sunny skies would make it difficult for me ever to leave the Centennial State. I … [Read more...]
What I’m Thankful for #9: Even the Surprises God Sends My Way
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. It's only fitting that I wasn't planning to write this one at all, much less for this weekend. But then, Friday afternoon I wasn't planning for a failed fuel pump and fuel gauge to bring my car to a halt on the way home from work yesterday, nor for the mechanic's tab that followed. Not easy to be thankful … [Read more...]
What I’m Thankful For #6: A Great God Who Gives (Many) Second Chances
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. As a fallen creature bent on sinning, I deserve to be punished. God has every just right in the universe to count my sins and failures against me. The psalmist of thousands of years ago understood this well: Psalm 130:3-4 "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is … [Read more...]
Passion Week: Tuesday
On the Tuesday before His crucifixion, Christ was famously tested by questions from the religious teachers. Two of his dazzling responses that confounded his questioners (both from the New American Standard Bible): Mark 12:17 And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him. Matthew 22:37-40 And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the prophets." … [Read more...]