3 Christian phrases there’s nothing wrong with, but I’m sick of.

1. “I struggle with…”
2. “Prayer request”
3. “Quiet time” (Actually, there might be something wrong with this one.)

Yours?

Why Mark Sanford Should Resign

1. By essentially going AWOL (nobody knowing where he was, no phone contact, etc) in order to pursue contact with his (former?) mistress, he demonstrated that his private failures are affecting his ability to do his job.
2. His deceptions, evasions, bad decisions and immoral behavior, which by all accounts are out of character for him, demonstrate that his judgment has been impaired by (at least) his attraction to his mistress.
3. Most importantly, his top priority right now should be reconciliation with his wife and children, not attempting to salvage his political career. The fact that he’s a professing Christian makes this all the more true. Thankfully, his wife has indicated she’s willing to reconcile if he continues in repentance. He can demonstrate his commitment to that process by removing himself from his very stressful– and very public– job. That would also spare his family a good deal of the publicity they’re having to suffer through.

Sanford was right to call for President Clinton’s resignation in 1998, and to applaud Bob Livingston’s resignation as Speaker of the House designate the same year. He would do well to heed his own advice, resign for the sake of his reputation and his family, and let the political chips fall where they may.

“He who guards his lips is wise.”

Did you see that big interview with President Bush this week?

No, you didn’t. Because Bush is adhering to the traditional etiquette of former presidents remaining fairly quiet after leaving office, and not slamming their successors. Don’t expect to hear from him for a while, and when you do it’ll be classy.

Not like this fool, who can’t keep his mouth shut to save his life. The contrast is very telling.

You heard it here first, sort of.

My favorite political blog, National Review’s The Corner, is doing a series on the best conservative-themed movies of the last 25 years. #12 is The Dark Knight.

In his fight against the terrorist Joker, Batman has to devise new means of surveillance, push the limits of the law, and accept the hatred of the press and public. If that sounds reminiscent of a certain former president—whose stubborn integrity kept the nation safe and turned the tide of war—don’t mention it to the mainstream media.

I said something similar in September. Although I only said it to Melissa, and then pointed that out while linking to something by this same author. So the whole thing is a little circular. Whatev.

Almost, but not quite.

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 me

Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Savior
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 grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears & failures
Fill my life again

I 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?

Enough Already with the Inaug Stuff

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:

Inauguration Thoughts

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.

A Big Deal

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.

My Favorite Theology Books of 2008

5. John Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life

4. Tom Schreiner, New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ

3. Tim Keller, The Reason for God

2. Kevin deYoung & Ted Kluck, Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys who Should Be

1. The ESV Study Bible. (I haven’t written a review yet, but here’s the short version: Get it. Sell something on Craigslist if necessary. It’s great.)

We’ve Had It Worse

Rich Lowry offers some needed sanity and historical perspective.