Bless Our Bleeding Hearts

I don't know why I just don't want to post anything.

2005-03-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

Hope my blog will stay up til I'm ready to go some more.

Praise the Lord!

2005-03-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.pcusa.org/boycott/
I'm taken aback completely!

Precious essay on NPR & Christianity

2005-03-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

http://www.therevealer.org/archives/main_story_001727.php
I know they hate us because we are beautiful, but it's just our call to love them anyway. Maybe they'll figure it out, maybe they won't, we just have to answer our call.

miracalously good daily reading

2005-03-02T05:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Lent is unusually powerful this year because so many of us have so much to repent. But, and I"m certified crazy so who really knows, I think the Republicans are finding some shame. Alan Colmes stood up to Ann Coulter - if that's not an apocolypse, then what is? Shame and repentence and remission of sins and redemption - Easter will be here soon. There will be balm in Gilead.

Another Gilead Review - I've posted other good ones as well

2005-03-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.therevealer.org/archives/main_story_001690.php
I must read this book, and I'd really like to become a Marilynne Robinson groupie.

Sure, I'm crazy - what's your point?

2005-02-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/001961.html#001961
I love this discussion - the struggle is delicious - a sweet religious buzz - like a zen buddhist koan. And look you atheists get the same kind of buzz off of it that we do. For me, the non-negotiable part of Christianity is love God and love neighbor. It's a tense struggle, and we all have to face it one way or another. I don't think any of this struggle threatens you.

kinda reminds me of

2005-02-28T02:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.arktimes.com/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=ed1b1b4e-f5ff-4fef-b62c-be7d612e4734&WeblogID=dabe8285-8214-4a72-ae7c-7ed16bb5ed5b
when Nolan Richardson told Billy Packer, "Yeah, a blind man could see that, Billy."

I'm grateful to post the psalms even if no one ever reads my blog because it's here and I read it and it's beautiful and that makes no sense.

2005-02-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

Psalm 84:1-12
1How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
Selah
5Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Selah
9Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
10For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
11For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the LORD withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12O LORD of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.

So fucking beautiful that I wish someone read my blog just so they could read this

2005-02-24T00:29:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalm 27:1-14
1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
5For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD

found this at onegoodmove

2005-02-22T02:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.thealders.net/blogs/2005/02/19/analogies-and-metaphors-found-in-high-school-essays/
I want to steal 'em all.

I pray that we do better than I think that we will

2005-02-22T01:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16128_1.html
I don't mean this to be ugly, and it's really not my place to judge, but the social conservatives sometimes seem to just not believe in the scripture that's inconvenient for them. They'll say the same thing about us progressives on homosexuality. I do not think they are right at all; our arguments are sound and our hearts are pure. But again I pray for them to do better than I think they will because poverty is important. Nothing is impossible for God.

got this from onegoodmove

2005-02-21T06:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.zefrank.com/smallworld/
I have like zero friends or readers, but maybe someday. Such a marketing whiz, aren't I?

Is this demonic? And I don't mean in the good way.

2005-02-21T06:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107989413916&call_
pageid=970599109774&col=Columnist1053686210527&DPL=JvsODSH7Aw0u%2bwoQO%2bYJDSbkFxAj%2bwoUO%2bYNDSbgFxMn%2bwkVO%2bUODSXhFxMv%2bwkYO%2bQLDS
Gary Frazier shouted at the top of his lungs: "Wake up! Wake up!" And roughly 800 heads nodded approval as he added that the left-wing, anti-Israel media — "for example, CNN" — will never tell the world the truth about Islam. According to these three and the millions of Americans they lead, Muslims intend ultimately "to impose their religion on us all."
It is frightening, I know, but fear will get us nowhere. Let's all pray for courage and grace to persevere in this evil - I mean Frazier, okay?. And oh by the way, we do need to wake up just for a whole set of different reasons. But just wake up, do not be afraid.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0215-25.htm

Dean's my guy

2005-02-21T06:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050307&c=1&s=nichols
If he leads us on a suicide march so be it - I don't want our party to stand for nothing, and Republicans aren't being honest enough to compromise with right now.

I protest therefore I believe . . . therfore I protest some more

2005-02-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.christiancentury.org/dept_faith.html

Very enlightening discussion

2005-02-19T05:02:00.000-08:00

http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/02/out_heterosexua.html
I would only add this thought: that as enlightening as these articulate posts all are, there is an additional element to real progress toward the beautiful ideal put forth, it is time. In time we will move closer to this ideal, I'm confident. I know that that reality is not fair, but we are going in the right direction. I also know that conservatives hold us back from faster progress, but please have mercy on them. When I read posts as smart as yours, I worry that you will become frustrated because reality can be unkind to a priori rigor.

Where is our memory and our outrage when we need it?

2005-02-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.therevealer.org/archives/today_001679.php
I can't believe how little discussion we've had about Negroponte and his history. I confess that sometimes I also enjoy the silly http://blessourleftwinghearts.blogspot.com/2005/02/guckert-versus-jordan-blog-smackdown.html but really we should not let that stuff distract us as much as it does.

Let's see - deceitful and unjust people. I wonder who that might be?

2005-02-19T04:38:00.000-08:00

Psalm 43:1-5
1Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
deliver me!
2For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3O send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
4Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.
5Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

Please forgive me, Progressive Protestant

2005-02-19T03:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.polyglut.net/index.php/archives/2005/02/18/bearing-false-witness-against-queer-christians/
I did only give Wesley Blog an "almost thoughtful" for the post. Sometimes being open-minded (or is that just empty?), I can set my standards a little low. I am greatly relieved when a conservative can talk about human sexuality without resorting to complete assault. Something that troubles me, though, is this: it's easier to get comments on sexuality than on the immorality of Bush's budget. I do recognize that looking at the big picture and keeping focus on what we can actually accomplish in life sometimes conflict. But I don't think we can change conservative minds quickly, so I like to keep looking at the big picture. In the big picture I see, the best way to change conservative minds is patient, humble faithfulness. In the long run I hope that they will catch on, but I can't control that.

Almost thoughtful post on Wesley Blog

2005-02-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.wesleyblog.com/wesleyblog/2005/02/a_closer_look_a.html
Of course I can't agree - where would the fun be in that? I think, however, we could agree that human sexuality is mysterious and humbling. And that God's grace is even more mysterious and humbling. Neither liberals or conservatives have anything to feel certain about, and we should stop demonizing each other. Finally I have great confidence that if we could be truly humble, sincere, and faithful, then we would see our way clear of conflict somehow.

Theology of eco-justice

2005-02-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.witherspoonsociety.org/2005/ncc_on_environment.htm#Sawtell
This discussion is important and serious and faithful. Compare it to what the Republicans offer us. http://blessourleftwinghearts.blogspot.com/2005/02/heres-how-post-truth-post-honesty.html What can one say when the differences are so obvious? How about this: John 3:19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

Democratic brothers and sisters do not fear scripture - it's beauty is for you.

2005-02-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

Enjoy it, drink it because you pay the price suffering under Republican power. When the light shines, your beauty is obvious and true so do not be afraid. As for the Republicans, pray for them while you turn the other cheek. And as for authority please do not worry because the truth shall set you free - I'm told and I trust.
Psalm 27:1-14
1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
5For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!

It might be about power somewhat, but it's probably more about arrogant Republicans who think they know more than they really do

2005-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16111_1.html
Let's look at what Marvin Olasky says:
Those initiatives over the past four years have faced three sets of opponents: anti-religious bigots, long-time nonprofit recipients of federal funds, and officials who trust social service professionals more than the mom-and-pop volunteers who typically make the largest difference in inner cities.
Oh no, those mean old anti-religious bigots are at it again. The courage of the religious right to stand up to these meanies is so inspiring. And all those non-profit villains with their nerve to make Republicans look bad. And those stingy officials with their silly accountability standards making things difficult for the teeming hoards of heroic moms and pops who would raise the poor up if only the bureaucrats would let them. My, oh my.
The grant-making process that has dominated social services since the War on Poverty enables Washington bureaucrats to feel both powerful and charitable. They can make or break the charities they fund with taxpayer money. It's wonderful to feel generous, especially with someone else's dollars.
Golly gee isn't it swell that the faith-based community isn't trying to feel generous (and proselytize too) with someone else's dollars?

Good old Presbyterian review of Jim Wallis book

2005-02-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.witherspoonsociety.org/2005/jim_wallis.htm
Pretty close to what I expected and hoped for.

Found this via dKos's pastordan

2005-02-16T19:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/107/13.0.html
Not all bad, I guess, but they had to stick a snide little end on it, didn't they?

I have a rude question - please forgive me

2005-02-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.therevealer.org/archives/main_story_001658.php
There's plenty of accuracy in both reports -- evangelicalism is not the monolithic movement suggested by newspaper shorthand -- but after dutifully reporting what evangelicals say they are not, little light gets shed on what they are.
But what if there is no there there? I know it's rude and mean of me to ask, but I sincerely wonder.

PCUSA Israeli divestment discussion

2005-02-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.christiancentury.org/article.php?articleid=139
Broyles' response is most impressive and persuasive to me. The divestment idea is a measured and appropriate response to an impossible reality. Lately it's really been dawning on me how the original creation of Israel was a creature of the European colonial worldview. The Palestinians whose land was taken away simply didn't register in that worldview. Certainly this line of thought is too much for a single blog post to flesh out, so I will have to think and discuss this issue in the future.

We are so wacked out of reality even Robert Samuelson notices

2005-02-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6959879/site/newsweek/page/2/
Just another delusion in the faith-based alternate reality. Now I freely confess that I also trust in a faith-based alternate reality, but it's a beautiful transcendence of justice, mercy, peace and joy. Not delusions designed to assuage my guilt about worshipping power and status - in other words I ain't a Republican.

Does CT know that its blog is sorta, kinda moderately progressive?

2005-02-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/107/21.0.html
Are they just pulling the wool over my eyes somehow? Oh well, it always feels better to think the best of someone whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Purple Finger - who knows what it will mean in the long run?

2005-02-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050228&s=klein
Naomi Klein has an interesting reality check Nation column for us. As much as I'm disgusted by the Bushocon's arrogance in the whole matter, I recognize that we really have to hope for the best in Iraq. I also do think that the election results make things very tricky. How the heck do we avoid a timetable? Hey I know a lot of folks wish there was a timetable, so maybe one would not be such a bad thing. I just don't see what's going to hold Iraq together when we leave. I pray that all the triumphalist nonsense about a shining example of democracy in the mideast comes true, but I ain't countin' on it.

Local fella John Brummett with a mighty fine column

2005-02-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/02/15/JohnBrummett/317324.html
Sometimes I worry about how nuts things are right now in the world what with Repubs on their dishonest, crazy America Empire jihad power trip. They don't even act conservative (see budget deficit, cost of Medicare drug benefit, Iraq liberation delusions, etc.). So that leaves it up to the rest of us trying to stay sane and being both sides of the semirational discussion: progressive liberal and conservative with integrity. How can we do it, I wonder. Well, John Brummett columns on good movies help. Maybe progressives from the South just have natural advantages. We have pretty good intuition combined with real honesty. Throws everybody off, I guess. But it's the combination of intuition and integrity that allows us to catch a glimpse of what an honest discussion might look like. Too bad power has corrupted conservatives to the point that they mock everything they claim to believe in. There is so much beauty in our culture, traditions, and history, and that beauty deserves better defenders. I always want us to progress and improve on our faults like race and poverty but we're stuck negotiating reality with the dishonest and delusional (creation science, SpongeBob, Janet Jackson) while the robber barons hoard all the wealth they can get their grubby little fingers on - and that's a lot of wealth. It's never enough, though, when you are addicted to power and status.

Trying not to be hostile but . . .

2005-02-15T06:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/160/story_16092_1.html
David Kuo shooting from the heart - isn't that precious? Kuo, dude, you beat us up on a daily basis, how are we not going to be hostile? Why in the world should we trust you when the whole faith-based compassionate delusion has turned out just the way we thought it would? It's little more than a fig leaf to assuage guilt on the part of those who really know better or at least ought to. I guess I am being hostile but come on! Republican rhetoric and policy on poverty has been cynical for a long time and continues to be so now. Look at where the budget cuts in the Bush budget are. The poor are hurt so the tax cuts for the rich can be made permanent. That's compassion? You were duped and used and that's far more your fault than ours. Are we perfect? No, look at all the unfair jabs folks have thrown at Jim Wallis. But we never approach the callous cynicism of BushCo. How you blinded yourself to the ugly reality and failed to smell out the stench of all the lies, I cannot fathom. Of course that's your call. Here's how I see the bottom line: Republican victories mean harder times for the poor, and your work has aided the cause of Republicans.

Here's how the post-truth, post-honesty right wing media game works

2005-02-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/244qiuuc.asp
They use little wink-winks that folks in the movement are familiar with - like James Watt referencing the second coming of Jesus, but if outsiders try to call them on it, then they just claim they are being misunderstood. We need to shine light on every little wink-wink coded reference they make - like Bush bringing up Dredd Scott in the presidential debates. Of course we can always count on the sycophant weekly (or daily) standard to feign the misunderstood spiel, as usual. But it's nothing more than dishonest rationalization for the rich and powerful to be unaccountable to everyone else. The real tragedy is that so many folks in the movement end up being hurt by the rich and powerful. It's like they are an abused spouse who keeps going back for more.

Sister Dorothy story from Revealer

2005-02-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.therevealer.org/archives/main_story_001653.php
The story is troubling just the same way that it is troubling how abortion and birth control issues take priority with some folks over the death penalty and living wages. Janet Hardwick's comment is typical - Dorothy Stang's call was apparently not legitimate for Ms. Hardwick. I do not understand, and I do not desire to judge. But we have to stand up for the poor, and we have to answer our call the best we can. It looks like to me Dorothy Stang courageously answered her call, and that in itself makes the social cons angry. If that's all it takes to upset them, then I'll have to hope that maybe someday I can too.

Just another reason why I'm a Wallis fan

2005-02-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.calltorenewal.org/public_policy/index.cfm/action/policy/item/federal_budget2006.html
I think y'all fellow progressive liberal types who haven't trusted this guy need to check this statement out. I don't think anyone is speaking the truth any better right now.

Hooray for Dems - we got the guy we need!

2005-02-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/12/politics/12dean.html
Dr. Dean will give us the energy and backbone we need. And this opinion is from a big Bill Clinton fan, mind you. Just as Clinton was far more honest in real and important ways than the superficial Washington sorority bimbo media ever gave him credit for, so is Dean more moderate than the same bimbos claiming he is a crazy lefty (not that there is that much wrong with being a crazy lefty). We need to be feisty for the sake of the country we love. Conservatives have decided to make themselves living proof of tangible and rancid evil because they are drunk on arrogance and power. The media bimbos worship that evil power, and middle class fear and insecurity has blinded the country so that the spell of raw and naked power looks like security and safety. It's not, and we have to be brave enough to stand up and say so. Not just to win or even conquer evil. We cannot conquer evil, but we can be honest and faithful.

Guckert versus Jordan blog smackdown

2005-02-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.dailykos.com/section/Media
It's really too funny how much energy the blogosphere radiates due to the polarity, I guess. This latest comedy again confirms for me that I love being on the left side and I just don't get the wingers. These guys are so hung up on how the liberal media done them wrong it's warping their whole perspective on life. I mean the right wing media whore was literally . . . a whore. How perfect is that?

Gracious God, please be merciful to us lowly Democrats. Amen.

2005-02-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

Luke 18:9-14
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Dylan's lectionary is wonderful this week!

2005-02-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.sarahlaughed.net/2005/02/first-sunday-in-lent-year.html
I think I would also mention the tendency of mean-spirited, angry, fearful Christians proof-texting their positions to hurt anyone in disagreement. My observation of this reality makes me take the idea of real evil seriously, but I still trust that the faithful pilgrimage is not a crusade against evil. We have to take evil seriously - even Jesus himself is tempted in the wilderness - but it is for God to deal with - Jesus simply resists the temptation.

The absurd irony of politics and scripture

2005-02-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

is that the folks whose politics best reflect scripture fear it, and the folks who most revere scripture mock it with their politics. Please forgive me if I'm too harsh on conservatives, but they seem to dish out their fair share and then some.
Psalm 82:1-8
1God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?
Selah
3Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
4Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6I say, "You are gods,
children of the Most High, all of you;
7nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
and fall like any prince."
8Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
for all the nations belong to you!

I'm agreeable with left2right's David Velleman on letting Roe go (IV)

2005-02-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

http://left2right.typepad.com/main/2005/02/letting_roe_go_.html
I don't worry so much about figuring this out as an individual on an a priori basis. We have to function as a community listening to each other to arrive at some decisions that we can live with. We have to build trust with each other to have a chance to function well enough to proceed. On David's post itself, I tend to worry very much about the callousness that he mentions. It affects how we ignore poverty, the working poor, the death penalty, the environment, Iraqi civilian deaths, and every other vulnerable group or individual in the world. We can improve the world greatly just by being less calloused, but we have to learn how to deal with the pain in some other way that will be less alienating.

Lack of Iraq posting

2005-02-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

http://religiousliberal.blogspot.com/2005/02/i-notice-that-ecumenical-insanity-has.html
I, like religious liberal, haven't posted anything on the Iraqi elections. I am very pleased for the Iraqis and our military folks and their families. It is a real accomplishment and has taken serious human sacrifice. Of course, I'm disgusted by those that use this sacrifice to hold onto their political power. It is the human condition, I guess.

Bunch of good links from faithforward blog

2005-02-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

http://faithforward.blogspot.com/2005/02/religion-politics_04.html
But do we really need to get competitive about the size of our bibles? http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=5323
On the Lynn versus Wallis smackdown I lean towards Wallis. He seems to get some strangely unfair reactions from the left on occasion. http://blessourleftwinghearts.blogspot.com/2005/01/katha-pollitt-versus-jim-wallis.html It seems like my brothers and sisters on the left just can't trust an evangelical. Wallis is far from perfect- it's almost part of being an evangelical to be a bit imprecise with language at times. But Wallis looks awfully dang forgivable from here. Any preacher from the Bible Belt standing up against BushCo deserves some applause and trust.

must . . . get . . . on . . . list

2005-02-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.reachm.com/amstreet/archives/2005/02/04/the-unveiling/
But I can't. Too bad.

Dear Prudence advice column

2005-02-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

http://slate.msn.com/id/2112396/
She gives solid advice as usual - I'd just add that the Feeling Hassled's experience is part of the faith journey and part of being a member of a (the?) community of faith. Obviously, if there is a potential for danger, one has take that seriously, but if not then I suggest a humble sense of humor. Sarah laughed so can we.

A little something that is good for us all to remember

2005-02-04T05:47:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 55:8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

follow the links - cool story

2005-02-02T13:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.holyweblog.com/2005_02_01_blogger_archive.htm#110725110934978683

Altercation is on fire - in a good way

2005-02-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6861528/#050131
Makes me feel warm and fuzzy about our side of the blogosphere. We have backbone, nerve, a good solid sense of reality, real decency (not the sexophobic wiggy kind), and a great sense of humor. Too bad we monopolize all those things.

good post on our petty little controversies and those (UCC & Olbermann) who deal with them gracefully and those (Dobson et al) who don't

2005-02-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

http://religiousliberal.blogspot.com/2005/02/keith-olbermann-on-msnbcs-countdown.html
I also want to add as Presbyterian that I'm not ashamed of our honest struggle on the issue. We are not as cutting edge as the UCC but it's partly because we are sincerely grappling with scripture and its meaning. That's a tough issue because it goes to faithfully reading scripture - I think scripture clearly says include those who are looked down on in a culture. But I'm in a community, and not everyone agrees with me right now. So for me I have to weigh community against my confidence of my own scripture reading. It's too complicated to try to cover in a single blog posting, but for me the real bottom line is that we don't need to be beating each other up too much over this issue. But kudos to the UCC.

Tony Plank blog impressive

2005-02-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/2005/01/post-modern-presidency.html
I want to add a couple of observations supporting the postmodern thesis. First, the profound and widespread disdain on the right of science. For these folks the only potential good of science is to create new weapons technology to further their notion of American Imperial power. For them Intelligent Design is equal to evolutionary theory because it's the alternative brand - Pepsi versus Coke. Scientists aren't in the in club because they study reality they don't create reality. Second is something I'm trying to get a handle on but it's tough to really understand. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we continue to misunderestimate the movement in its intuitiveness and ruthlessness. We hold out thinking reality has to somehow matter - and I think it does - but raw and ruthless power does make a reality. My take is the usual for me - we must persevere and shine the light on their power-worshipping evil.

Maureen Dowd - pretty much at her best - which is nothing to write home about

2005-02-01T05:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/opinion/30dowd.html?incamp=article_popular_1
The Bush administration never worries about anything. But these missionaries and zealous protectors of values should be worried about the American soul.
Maureen, one reason that the Bushies never have to worry about anything is that you NYT snobs always have to throw out a phony equivalency of the parties and also prove your superiority to Clinton because after all he's just a Bubba. But you know what? The torture at Gitmo and Clinton fooling around are not morally equivalent. All of you at the Times sit on your disgusting little elite perch and look down your noses at the whole world, but what you don't realize is how much you aid the Republicans. The true believers out there filter out anything you say bad about their guy, W, and latch on to your lame Clinton bashing. You are guilty of helping create the environment where we think using torture chicks is a good idea because you don't understand the true believers, and you don't even appreciate the privileged position you occupy. You just simply aren't nearly as clever as you think you are, there are plenty of us hicks out here who can see right through you, and some of them use that knowledge to further their immoral power trips. Thanks, Maureen. They couldn't do half this stuff without folks like you.

NY Times on moral value of fighting poverty

2005-02-01T03:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/politics/30poverty.html?oref=login
Please note that I got this link from dKos's pastordan. I feel some hope but also a little trepidation. I think a real hurdle that no one's paying attention to is prosperity theology where we blame poverty on the poor. I worry greatly that when folks start talking about personal responsibility their train of thought inevitably runs to make things harder on the poor both working and unemployed to teach them all about personal responsibility. It's the old "poverty is the result of liberal welfare programs" spiel. Of course that's wrong and ugly - but it has allowed the guilty to avoid their Christian duty on many occasions. I hope Wallis and others can overcome it, my prayers and thoughts are with them, but I'm not holding my breath.

What can I add to how perfect this psalm is for the present? How about they are condemned by the scripture they claim to believe in?

2005-02-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

Psalm 12:1-8
1Help, O LORD, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4those who say, "With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?"
5"Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up," says the LORD;
"I will place them in the safety for which they long."
6The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7You, O LORD, will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation for ever.
8On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.

I'm just a dog under the table too

2005-01-31T01:13:00.000-08:00

Mark 7:24-30
24From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 28But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter." 30So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone

give 'em hell, kos

2005-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/29/151826/838
They're superhuman - they can take it. And they are so totally sick of all these liberally biased facts.

Even Paul finds acorns occasionally

2005-01-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

Galatians 3:28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Actually I'm humbly grateful for Saint Paul, but I just can't help gently jabbing conservatives. Please forgive me.

clever girl, Hillary

2005-01-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

http://slate.msn.com/id/2112712/
she has so totally been reading this blog . . . . And Wonkette has too.
Really it's not just clever or to win - well maybe for Hill it's just to win - but if we can discipline ourselves on abortion rhetoric, we can make the country a better place to live.

Katha Pollitt versus Jim Wallis

2005-01-28T15:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/24/opinion/main668896.shtml
http://religiousliberal.blogspot.com/2005/01/wesley-blog-highlights-column-by-katha.html
Kudos to http://religiousliberal.blogspot.com/ for pointing to the Katha Pollitt column. I've read the column a few times now to try to formulate a reasoned response (Jack Shafer of Slate with his little technorati secret totally recommends this approach) and maybe defend Wallis a little.
The first thing I'd say to Katha is look at the Wesley blog http://www.wesleyblog.com/wesleyblog/2005/01/cbs_news_websit.html and the mess that Wallis has to take from his so-called friends (and I'd bet it can be a lot worse than this post). We all need to take a breath and get over all the hurt feelings and suspicions of the pious on one hand and the honest secular humanists on the other. Y'all ever hear of some concepts like community, dialogue, trust, and relationships. I thought they were secular and sacred both, but maybe that's just me.
If you scroll down and read some of my other posts, you can see that I would certainly like to change some of our rhetoric on abortion. I think it is painfully inconsistent philosophically with our other important positions. How can we argue for community (as we should) on living wages and the environment and worker safety and education and wealth distribution and everything else when we turn around and argue dogmatically for absolute individual rights for abortion? I think that the community should have some say - balanced thoughtfully and respectfully against a woman's right to protect her personal integrity, moral autonomy, and self determination. But hey the point is not abortion. It's about an inclusive progressive community that ought to welcome evangelicals like Jim Wallis, mainline protestants like me, and I think a great number of insightful Catholics and orthodox believers. There's a long and inspiring history of social gospel and its ability to smooth some of the cruel edges of libertine capitalism. We might not ever beat the corporate sociopaths and the false prophets that in my eyes turn the church into their whore, but we can affect how these powerful people treat the innocent and powerless. I'll even further confess that I'm a sincere Calvinist so I imagine that we cannot succeed - only God can truly heal the broken world. But success is not important to me - perseverance is. We are more likely to persevere with an inclusive community talking to each other humbly and faithfully about our differences. I'm sorry Mr. Wallis and Ms. Pollitt if some of my fleas get on both of you. But that's just life.

Interesting book reviews

2005-01-27T13:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/104/42.0.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0825424038/anncoultedoto-20/ref%3Dnosim/102-2551288-0463335
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?endeca=1&isbn=0825424003&itm=8
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/?041213crbo_books
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140137068/026-5616403-0714053
I might be misled by snobbery, but I tend to give the New Yorker review the most credit in terms of overall context to judge the books fairly. Also I'll confess that I have a very different point of view on politics and culture from Stan Guthrie, http://www.stanguthrie.com/ although he seems like he might be a very likeable guy.

Sane and civil discussion, oh my!

2005-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

http://left2right.typepad.com/main/2005/01/how_not_to_comp_1.html
Left2Right's Elizabeth Anderson writes so thoughtfully that even the conservative replies to her ideas make sense. Hey, I'm always relieved when cons who aren't out of control Confederate States of America types make points that I can consider but disagree with. I want to see where she is going, but I think it will be very sensible and very decent. I'm no economist, but it's just plain to me that unfettered capitalism can destroy human dignity and decency. I almost think that in some vague way social cons sense this as well. They just act out somewhat pathologically obsessing about sex, secularism, and science rather than seeing that it's the free market race to the bottom that is stripping us of our humanity. But I'm really off topic now.

Elie Wiesel at UN

2005-01-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/160/story_16004_1.html
Words are painfully inadequate, but read Night if you haven't. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553272535/qid=1106840310/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-2551288-0463335
I also recommend this book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395779278/102-2551288-0463335?v=glance The negative reviews are to be expected given the topic.

Blogs are still better than Crossfire

2005-01-27T01:47:00.000-08:00

http://slate.msn.com/id/2112621/
Maybe you could forgive some of the hyperbole a little if you take into account how powerless we feel otherwise. So if I put in Jack Shafer's name will the technorati site find it?http://www.technorati.com/cosmos/search.html?rank=&url=%2522jack+shafer%2522
Gosh, that makes me feel even more powerless. Okay, now I'm powerful.

Good for when Republicans have crushed your life into the ground

2005-01-27T01:30:00.000-08:00

Psalm 143:1-12
1Hear my prayer, O LORD;
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness.
2Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing my life to the ground,
making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5I remember the days of old,
I think about all your deeds,
I meditate on the works of your hands.
6I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
7Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
8Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9Save me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.
10Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.
11For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life.
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am your servant.

Evangelical self-awareness

2005-01-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
I'm a mainline protestant Presbyterian so I'm not in the evangelical group, but I'm positively impressed with this book review. It sounds like it has honesty and integrity. Honesty and integrity are not easy - I question myself constantly.

Good News for Rolling Stone (get it?)

2005-01-25T13:24:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2005-01-24-rolling-stone-bible_x.htm
Bless their hearts!

Scripture short enough for even a progressive hillbilly to read it all

2005-01-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

Micah6:8He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

And speaking of true evil . . .

2005-01-25T08:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/163xwdvu.asp
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/171cuhxa.asp
Can you imagine what these guys would be saying if it had been a Democrat to give this inaugural address? Their intellectual dishonesty makes the word "sycophant" entirely too feeble.

Must read - Stanford Prison Experiment

2005-01-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/001890.html#001890
I think this work is powerfully insightful to the human condition - that we are all capable of true evil. Conservatives used to accuse us progressive liberals of being relativists who don't believe in evil. I guess they have showed us our error in not believing in evil, haven't they?

A psalm to keep our progressive hearts steadfast while we are among the greedy lions

2005-01-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

Morning: Psalm 57:1-11
1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
2I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3He will send from heaven and save me,
he will put to shame those who trample on me.
Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
4I lie down among lions
that greedily devour human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.
5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
6They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves.
Selah
7My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
8Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
9I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the clouds.
11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.

Essentially the point I was making on the previous post

2005-01-24T07:26:00.000-08:00

http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/001885.html#001885
I'm only a pilgrimaging hillbilly so I'm a bit less eloquent and precise in language. In my defense I'd say my intuition about the repulsiveness of the Republican hypocrisy is nicely illustrated in Singer's criticism - maybe not directly but indirectly - especially from the perspective of a thoughtful Christian. And that's not always an oxymoron as much as it seems so now!

De-Coding Bush

2005-01-23T04:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/159/story_15968_1.html
I know some are offended by the God-talk while I'm not. What does disturb me is first, Bush's complete lack of awareness of what a failure he is at living out what he's preaching and second, how that disconnect drives more perceptive and insightful people away from divine reality. Bush is not alone in this repulsion; I feel that this dynamic is under-rated (misunderestimated?) in contributing to cultural divisions. But fellow liberal Christians take heart, we are blessed with many opportunities here. We can forgive the hypocrisy - forgiveness feels dramatically better than anger. We can pray for those who persecute us. We can even - and please understand that it's not easy for me to say this - evangelize for our liberal friends just by persevering through these strange and sometimes ugly times.

Letft2 Right's Don Herzog on Equality of Opportunity

2005-01-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

http://left2right.typepad.com/main/2005/01/equality_of_opp.html
. . . room here for more left-right alliances in improving the nation's schools.
I want to agree (okay I'll go ahead and agree then), but read the responses. How can anyone paying attention not conclude that there is just too much cultural animosity on the right in the area of education? I think it's some kind of guilty defensiveness because there is undeniable injustice. Also these folks want desperately to argue that we are already spending enough money when almost certainly we aren't. Sounds like a formula for really angry conservatives, doesn't it? I'll almost give W a modicum of credit for braving the vitriol of his supporters on the issue. In my mind the first thing we need to do is address conservative anger about education. (Well I guess that idea applies to everything else in the world as well just cut and paste where education is in the sentence.) But anyway the next problem is that we are also impatient. We're going to have to make a long term commitment to increasing money and spending it wisely. It will be a tragedy if we let frustration, anger, and impatience destroy public education.

Nation article on abortion

2005-01-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050207&s=lerner
I know that Mississippi politics look hideous to outsiders especially progressive liberals. It's a culture that is very different from other parts of the country, but to dismiss it without serious thought is a real loss. Because our own progressive ideology and rhetoric is sloppy on the issue of abortion, we have let false prophets sap the moral energy that ought to apply to poverty and the true need of a great many innocent kids in Mississippi. We all are at fault for the abomination that Mississippi is because we have not combated the false prophets and corporate sociopaths of the Republican party with the savvy that is necessary. Of course there are limits on what we should do to try to win, but if we fight wisely the innocent will fare better because the Republicans will have to make some efforts on the issue of poverty. It's not like there aren't reams of Christian scripture on our side. It's a matter of perseverance.

Gosh, I guess the Washington Post gets something right every so often

2005-01-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24581-2005Jan20.html
I've lost so much confidence in the Post that I'm pleasantly surprised whenever they get something kinda right.

Book reviews

2005-01-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310257476/102-2551288-0463335
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0502&article=050233a
I'm curious.

Important action - please check out

2005-01-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/not_an_option
Good for sojo!

Another beautiful psalm for oppressed progressives

2005-01-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

Psalm 56:1-13
1Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;
all day long foes oppress me;
2my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many fight against me.
O Most High, 3when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?
5All day long they seek to injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They stir up strife, they lurk,
they watch my steps.
As they hoped to have my life,
7so repay them for their crime;
in wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
9Then my enemies will retreat
in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
12My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

Kathleen Parker via Charlotte Hays

2005-01-21T07:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/kathleenparker/kp20050119.shtml
If he were to take his oath of office, make a few remarks and quietly retreat to the White House for dinner with friends, those who wanted anybody but Bush would find a way to spin gold into hay.
He's ashamed, look at him, they'd say. He knows he's bungled the war and knows better than to show his face beaming over a parade. What a coward.
Bush, it seems, can't win for winning.
New award - Conservative Crybaby Pathetic Hypothetical Unwarranted Self-Pity Division, Reserve Champion. If Bush had trimmed back his gala a little, it would have widely appreciated. It's another lost opportunity. Certainly there are many lost opportunities even in well-led, insightful lives, but they do count somehow.

Amen, pastordan

2005-01-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/20/162727/072

Does Michael Chrichton know about this?

2005-01-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

http://cooltech.iafrica.com/science/405443.htm

Beautifully appropriate psalm for today

2005-01-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

Psalm 36:1-12
1Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in their hearts;
there is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2For they flatter themselves in their own eyes
that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit;
they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
4They plot mischief while on their beds;
they are set on a way that is not good;
they do not reject evil.
5Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgements are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.
7How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie prostrate;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Fine coverage from Fox

2005-01-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.oliverwillis.com/node/view/1695
Wonderful! Fox will provide future historians the perfect record of our (sadly unintentional) self-parodying absurdity.

Washington insider politics

2005-01-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21942-2005Jan19.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=156238
certainly would be less disgusting for me if it were a Democrat. I just wonder how when things go wrong in the next few years - and I don't want things to go wrong - but when they do how is it that they will all be our fault - or maybe Bill Clinton's?

Michael Chrichton climate novel probably needs to be taught in the Intelligent Design curriculum

2005-01-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.theonionavclub.com/words/index.php?issue=4103&r=1
http://www.powells.com/review/2005_01_20

Free SpongeBob!

2005-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/politics/20sponge.html?adxnnl=1&oref=login&adxnnlx=1106237081-BIlg/w7Pwd624deqSrneBA

2005-01-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Free will discussion

2005-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Onegoodmove http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/001873.html#001873 on free will and the morality of the death penalty. There are centuries of thought on free will in Christian theology. http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/predest.html Now I'm only a semi-literate hillbilly so what do I know - but I feel the death penalty is immoral for many reasons including that we humans do not understand the mystery of free will. Now neuroscience is explaining brain processes better all the time, but consciousness still seems to have some mystery about it. I might have to revise my feelings about the mystery of free will at some time in the future, but I don't think that the science is quite there yet, I mean to say that there is no mystery.

An overwhelming mix of feelings

2005-01-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/19/international/middleeast/19iraq.html?oref=login
Joy for the archbishop and anguish and tears for the girl in the photo and the Chinese hostages. Please pray for just peacemaking.

I'll admit from what I'm reading so far I'm really I disappointed in Rolling Stone

2005-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2005-01-17-bible-ad_x.htm
I want to see what they say and do now, but they might be guilty of a little snobbery here.

Peter Hodgson Theology of the War on Terror

2005-01-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.witherspoonsociety.org/2005/theology_of_war_on_terror.htm
I agree passionately. I, of course, do not know what to do except scream this message at the top of my lungs! If this isn't what the Holy Spirit is telling me, then I think I must just be crazy.

Interesting Nation article on the Ukraine

2005-01-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050131&s=cohen
I'm not endorsing Nation's position by any means because I know far too little about the subject, but this article has caused me to rethink my assumptions on Ukraine especially as I have observed the incompetence of the punditry on the issues of Iraq, the economy, and oh just about everything else I can think of.

Christian Century Book Review

2005-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.christiancentury.org/book_review.html?bid=54
Sounds like some of the results might be surprising.

Rev. Debra Haffner "Abortion as a Moral Decision"

2005-01-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=293787
Rev. Haffner presents important considerations for finding the appropriate balance between a woman's right to control the integrity of her moral agency and the community's regard for the sanctity of life (well I guess I'm adding the last part because it matters to me). The issue deserves thoughtful discussion, and it's complex enough that no one single narrative completely captures every aspect. We all should spend time listening respectfully, as difficult as that is, to differing points of view.

Perhaps I missing it, but I'm not seeing a whole lot of MLK discussion here

2005-01-18T07:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.nationalreview.com/
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
These guys are so morally tone deaf they still have no appreciation for the beauty of his message. Sort of a shocking reality check to me because I could be very forgiving of their hypocrisy if they wanted to join in an appreciation of the true blessing that MLK was for all of us. They stay so busy feeling victimized by who knows what and rationalizing any and everything the Republicans do that I guess they are too busy to find any perspective.

Let's make the tent big enough

2005-01-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/103/11.0.html
We can be a community of communities where we don't have to completely agree on every issue, but we trust each other. Given the power Republicans now possess, it's a good time to realize that those who are not against us (kicking us while we are down) are for us.

Talking Points Memo on Social Security (and cheap grace)

2005-01-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_01_09.php#004452
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_01_16.php#004455
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_01_16.php#004457
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_01_16.php#004458
Josh Marshall is doing a wonderful job on the Social Security issue (and the cheap grace note too). We must show backbone here and now on Social Security. It has been an important part of our social fabric for decades, it is a model of efficiency, it is vital to some of the most vulnerable of our country, and Republicans seem to hate it blindly. It is not conservative to change anything that has worked this well for so many people in order to get higher returns. And hey, that's the only valid argument Bush has at his disposal. It's true that returns using the stock market would be higher, but they are also significantly riskier. Portfolio planners (not that I know any or have a portfolio myself) always seem to preach diversity and that as you near retirement move toward less risk. Bush's plan would dramatically increase risk at precisely the time when baby-boomers are retiring.
Please also see this column from my local pundit, John Brummett.http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2005/01/17/JohnBrummett/315141.html

Just Peacemaking

2005-01-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week820/exclusive.html
It sounds like a more realistic ethic to me than pacifism, and it also might be politically viable. Of course political viability is not determinative by itself, but it is valuable in making the right toe the line with more integrity. If Democrats look too weak, it gives Republicans the whole field, and, I think, we can all observe that that prospect does not always work out well.

more from Left2Right's David Velleman on letting Roe go

2005-01-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

http://left2right.typepad.com/main/2005/01/letting_roe_go_.html
Some good questions here. I know feminists might feel abandoned by those of us who want to reconsider our position on abortion rights. Please do not let anger drive us apart. As I have said before http://blessourleftwinghearts.blogspot.com/2005/01/sojourners-pro-life-dems.html, our libertarian (or perhaps privacy-oriented) rhetoric is the same kind of rhetoric that the powerful use in their pursuit of an unregulated free market with no laws on worker safety, the environment, minimum wage, etc. I think we have to challenge our own positions when so many things that most of us believe in are undermined by our reasoning on one issue.

Reality check for me after previous gooey post

2005-01-17T07:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0114-22.htm
Jobs should lift you out of poverty not trap you in it - that's essential for a decent society.