Regarding abortion:
The Evil of the Age . . . The enormous amount of [abortion] that exists and flourishes, almost unchecked, in the city of New York, is a theme for most serious consideration. Thousands of human beings are thus murdered before they have seen the light of this world.
Give up? It was The New York Times, in the mid-1800’s.
Yes, I recognize there’s really no connection, but the irony is delicious.
I really like the chorus of this song, but I can’t stand the verses.
I hate when that happens.
Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on meEveryone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nationsSavior
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of Salvation
He rose & conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the graveSo take me as You find me
All my fears & failures
Fill my life againI give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
The chorus is God-focused and uses biblical language. The verses are trite and navel-gazing. I think they probably came up with the chorus, scribbled some stream-of-consciousness stuff for the verses, and rushed to press.
What do you think?
President Obama yesterday on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade:
While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make.
No, Mr. President. We are not united in our determination to “reduce the need for abortion.” We do not need to “reduce the need” for child molestation, rape, murder, or other crimes. There is no “need” to kill the innocent in the womb.
Nor are we “united” in our support for women and families who make “choices” to voluntarily kill their unborn children. On this, Mr. President, the most pressing moral issue of our generation, no. We are not united in the least.
Favorites Monday actually falls on a Friday this week, which is interesting.
This week’s question: who are your heroes? Three categories (you don’t have to use them all): Historical, Present-Day, and Personal (i.e. someone you know).
Heroes is a very broad category, so interpretations will vary. My general definition is “people I want to be like.” Don’t be put off by the fact that all mine are pastor/scholars– it’s only because that’s what I want to be. Put Shakira on there if you want. Or whatever. I don’t know.
My list:
Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. A few places you should visit:
40 years ago, the idea of America electing a black man President was a pipe dream. That should give us hope for this struggle.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?
I know, I know. If I were being more careful I could have combined some of this. But Jonah Goldberg has a post at National Review that pretty much says what I didn’t like about President Obama’s inaugural address. (There was plenty to like, such as the parallels with Bush’s second inaugural– see previous post– and the fact that Obama is indeed a great orator.)
There were some awfully clunky clichés in there. For example, here’s the second paragraph:
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
Gathering clouds and raging storms? Really? How did that survive the first draft? …
Also, if you’re going to use clichéd language you should at least make it track logically. According to this imagery, times of peace and times of prosperity have not coincided, unless of course rising tides can be still at the same time.
I think this is the main weakness of Obama’s speeches: he’s always trying so hard to sound stately and magnificient and grand that sometimes it doesn’t make sense. Of course, sometimes it works really, really well. Other times it leaves me feeling kind of like this:
Haven’t I heard that speech before?
(More reputable sources think so too.)
First of all, over two centuries of the peaceful transition of power. Inauguration Day always makes me proud of my country. I also like how (relatively) simple it all is. I mean, less than an hour, and the actual oath takes less than a minute. We’re a democracy, a government based (more or less) on the will of the people. Love it.
***
The booing of Bush was one last– well, probably not– reminder of how classless many of his opponents are. And his graceful exit, beginning on Election Day and continuing until the moment he got on the plane, demonstrates that he’s a better man than our country deserves.
***
There are some people being sort of tacky, if you want to know what I think, in comments about Rick Warren’s prayer. I thought it was fine– said some things I probably wouldn’t have said, but nothing that bothered me. Christians should lighten up sometimes. (Sometimes.)
***
Obama is a wonderful orator. I mean, I agree with him on very little, and I like to hear him give a speech. But although today’s speech had its moments, I don’t think it out of the park. I think political speeches today always sound like they’re trying too hard.
***
Obama joined in the classless attitude toward Bush when he acted, at several points, as though nothing has gone right for a decade, but now America is ready to be nice again. That’s an insult not primarily to President Bush, but to thousands of servicemen and intelligence workers who have given their lives to keep our country safe by fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also ignores contributions we’ve made to efforts like AIDS relief in Africa (where, as I mentioned in a comment on the previous post, Bush is viewed as a hero). Those moments in the speech suggest that Obama’s claim to be post-partisan is sheer marketing.
***
Regardless of politics, though, it was a great day to be an American. Seeing the faces especially of older African-Americans was powerful. There’s much more work to be done on racial reconciliation in our country, but today shows that we have come a long way. We have a beautiful First Family to serve as the face of our country. I hope their time in the White House is happy, and pray that Obama will govern wisely and lead our nation well.
I’m watching the Inauguration of the 44th President with our 1-year-old, who will never think that a black man can’t be the President. And that, as Orison Piper will tell you, is a big deal.
Illinois.
