Now, I'm not going to become a raving Global Warming advocate OR rant about the impossibility of the phenomena. I am skeptical about the "environmental crisis" and not part of the Obama-mania craze which has swept the nation. I also, love the outdoors and would like to be able to climb Kilimanjaro with ICE on the mountain and hike in Austria ON the glaciers; so, the loss of our global glaciers is something I keep track of from time to time.
Irregardless, I do think this is an interesting website and a cool project. Check it out:
Showing posts with label 2 hands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 hands. Show all posts
6.05.2009
4.08.2009
Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade
I read an interesting position paper against abortion tonight that prompted this post. The full article is here and from the magazine, "Salvo".
The article is a compare/contrast discussion between the Dred Scott case in the 1800's and Roe v. Wade in the 1900's. Dred Scott was a slave who left the pro-slavery South and while living in the North sued for his freedom. His case went to the Supreme Court where they found that he was property and not able to sue for his freedom...chattel have no rights. From a modern standpoint we find that offensive and archaic logic, absurd to the nth degree. Especially in the Obama saviouresque culture we currently reside in.
But stand the same Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade next to it now. A fetus is just property, not a life. Sad when comparing these cases that this is THE highest court in our land. I hope you read the full article, it's worth the time.
Here is an excerpt:
Injudicious Decisions?
The parallels between Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade go much deeper than the judgments themselves. From start to finish, the decisions share a similar logic, rationale, and verbiage, perhaps best observed through direct comparison. Following are some brief selections from both rulings. Decide for yourself whether these two Supreme Court cases are a package deal.
On Personhood:
Dred Scott
"A negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves . . . were not intended to be included under the word «citizens' in the Constitution, and can, therefore, claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States.”
Roe v. Wade
" The word «person,' as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn. . . .The unborn have never been recognized in the law as persons in the whole sense.”
On the Right to Privacy:
Dred Scott
A slave is the property of the master, and the Constitution has "provided for the protection of private property against the encroachments of the Government.”
Roe v. Wade
"This right or privacy . . . is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.”
On Historical Precedent:
Dred Scott
" That unfortunate race . . . had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order [and] they had no right which the white man was bound to respect.”
Roe v. Wade
" Abortion was practiced in Greek times as well as in the Roman Era. . . . Greek and Roman law afforded little protection to the unborn.”
On the Benefits to the Victim:
Dred Scott
"The negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”
Roe v. Wade
"There is also the distress for all concerned, associated with the unwanted child, and there is the problem of bringing a child into a family unable, psychologically, and otherwise to care for it.”
The article is a compare/contrast discussion between the Dred Scott case in the 1800's and Roe v. Wade in the 1900's. Dred Scott was a slave who left the pro-slavery South and while living in the North sued for his freedom. His case went to the Supreme Court where they found that he was property and not able to sue for his freedom...chattel have no rights. From a modern standpoint we find that offensive and archaic logic, absurd to the nth degree. Especially in the Obama saviouresque culture we currently reside in.
But stand the same Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade next to it now. A fetus is just property, not a life. Sad when comparing these cases that this is THE highest court in our land. I hope you read the full article, it's worth the time.
Here is an excerpt:
Injudicious Decisions?
The parallels between Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade go much deeper than the judgments themselves. From start to finish, the decisions share a similar logic, rationale, and verbiage, perhaps best observed through direct comparison. Following are some brief selections from both rulings. Decide for yourself whether these two Supreme Court cases are a package deal.
On Personhood:
Dred Scott
"A negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves . . . were not intended to be included under the word «citizens' in the Constitution, and can, therefore, claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States.”
Roe v. Wade
" The word «person,' as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn. . . .The unborn have never been recognized in the law as persons in the whole sense.”
On the Right to Privacy:
Dred Scott
A slave is the property of the master, and the Constitution has "provided for the protection of private property against the encroachments of the Government.”
Roe v. Wade
"This right or privacy . . . is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.”
On Historical Precedent:
Dred Scott
" That unfortunate race . . . had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order [and] they had no right which the white man was bound to respect.”
Roe v. Wade
" Abortion was practiced in Greek times as well as in the Roman Era. . . . Greek and Roman law afforded little protection to the unborn.”
On the Benefits to the Victim:
Dred Scott
"The negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”
Roe v. Wade
"There is also the distress for all concerned, associated with the unwanted child, and there is the problem of bringing a child into a family unable, psychologically, and otherwise to care for it.”
1.15.2009
12.09.2008
advent conspiracy
Watch:
I ask that we all learn more about how to put Christ back in CHRISTmas here or on our own (through study of the Bible, through our Church, through our walk with Christ).
I ask that we all learn more about how to put Christ back in CHRISTmas here or on our own (through study of the Bible, through our Church, through our walk with Christ).
11.05.2008
post-election views
Here is a post from Pastor Mark Driscoll's blog, The Resurgence. Below is the entry entitled "In God When Do Not Trust". Convicting words.
In God We Do Not Trust
by Mark Driscoll
In my years of pastoral ministry I have worked very hard to not be political. I believe that my job as a pastor is to preach and teach the Bible well so that my people make their decisions, including their voting decisions, out of their faith convictions.
This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God's image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.
First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.
Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.
The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it's always someone else's fault and we're always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.
Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we'll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we'll do it yet again. And, we'll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.
In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.
Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we've still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.
In God We Do Not Trust
by Mark Driscoll
In my years of pastoral ministry I have worked very hard to not be political. I believe that my job as a pastor is to preach and teach the Bible well so that my people make their decisions, including their voting decisions, out of their faith convictions.
This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God's image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.
First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.
Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.
The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it's always someone else's fault and we're always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.
Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we'll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we'll do it yet again. And, we'll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.
In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.
Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we've still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.
11.03.2008
vote (or don't)
Derek Webb in commemoration of tomorrow's election has again made his album "Mockingbird" available for free online, for one week only. This album speaks volumes regarding our social, political, and global environments and gives us a lens, as Christians, through which we should look at the problems in each realm. I highly recommend this album, specifically the songs "Rich young ruler" and "My enemies are men like me".Derek also recently wrote an article regarding voting and the upcoming election titled, "How Shall We Then Vote?", which you can find here. Enjoy the reading and album. Pay close attention to lyrics. And go out and vote, or don't.
1.27.2008
notables
This update is to let you all in on a few great blogs that I keep up with.
-The first one is called "Donde Esta Timoteo" (Where is Tim?), by a young man named Tim Dyk, a local Ellensburg boy. Tim is enrolled in a program called photogenx through an organization called YWAM. The cool part of photogenx is that you travel all around the world learning about photography and also, studying the bible, along with mission work. Tim has a lot of talent and great insight for being so young. Keep an eye on him.
-Next up is a newly hatched blog called "Bolivia Bound Backpackers", by Jen and Andrew Lyons, or "the hippies" as Rae and I affectionately call them. Jen and Andrew left this past Tuesday for Lima, Peru and they will travel from Lima over the Pan American Highway to Cochabamba, Bolivia. In Cochabamba, a fun town to say nonetheless, they'll volunteer in two orphanages for about 6 months before wandering back through Peru to fly home again in August of 2008. The Lyons have been talking about traveling/volunteering in South America longer than I've know them so it was a bittersweet goodbye this past Monday. The really cool thing is that Jen and Andrew have financed the entire trip themselves; they saved up and are going, on their own dime, to volunteer and talk about God to the people of Cochabamba. A pretty respectable endeavor, to say the least.
-Lastly, a blog called "Once Again", by David Lyons, Andrew's brother. David is a Army helicopter pilot about 50% of the way through a 16 month deployment in Iraq (at the time of this post). I've never met David, so all my David knowledge is via Andrew. It's interesting to read about the war through the eyes of a regular Christian guy, who is away from his wife, and just trying to get through this chapter in his life. This is David's second deployment, hence the tittle of his blog, and hopefully God will keep him safe and he'll be home soon.
I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I do. All the blogs that I regularly keep up on have links over on the right hand of my blog under the title, "Notables". Have a good week.
-The first one is called "Donde Esta Timoteo" (Where is Tim?), by a young man named Tim Dyk, a local Ellensburg boy. Tim is enrolled in a program called photogenx through an organization called YWAM. The cool part of photogenx is that you travel all around the world learning about photography and also, studying the bible, along with mission work. Tim has a lot of talent and great insight for being so young. Keep an eye on him.
-Next up is a newly hatched blog called "Bolivia Bound Backpackers", by Jen and Andrew Lyons, or "the hippies" as Rae and I affectionately call them. Jen and Andrew left this past Tuesday for Lima, Peru and they will travel from Lima over the Pan American Highway to Cochabamba, Bolivia. In Cochabamba, a fun town to say nonetheless, they'll volunteer in two orphanages for about 6 months before wandering back through Peru to fly home again in August of 2008. The Lyons have been talking about traveling/volunteering in South America longer than I've know them so it was a bittersweet goodbye this past Monday. The really cool thing is that Jen and Andrew have financed the entire trip themselves; they saved up and are going, on their own dime, to volunteer and talk about God to the people of Cochabamba. A pretty respectable endeavor, to say the least.
-Lastly, a blog called "Once Again", by David Lyons, Andrew's brother. David is a Army helicopter pilot about 50% of the way through a 16 month deployment in Iraq (at the time of this post). I've never met David, so all my David knowledge is via Andrew. It's interesting to read about the war through the eyes of a regular Christian guy, who is away from his wife, and just trying to get through this chapter in his life. This is David's second deployment, hence the tittle of his blog, and hopefully God will keep him safe and he'll be home soon.
I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I do. All the blogs that I regularly keep up on have links over on the right hand of my blog under the title, "Notables". Have a good week.
11.04.2007
janjaweed
I just finished watching a documentary on the Darfur Genocide in Sudan titled, "The Devil Came on Horseback". This film is the story of Brian Steidle, who spend 6 months as a military observer monitoring the peace process in Sudan during 2004. He collected many stories and photos of the mass killing and raping which is going on in Sudan by the Janjaweed, which interestingly, translates into "devil on a horse".
The film gives a snapshot of the genocide and sadly, a glimpse of yet, another missed opportunity for our country to have stopped genocide in Africa. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell had the courage to at least call the atrocities in Darfur the "G" word. Something the Clinton Administration and Madeline Albright were too cowardly to do during the Rwandan Genocide. Yet, the Bush Administration was to fixated on the mire of Iraq, to do anything significant in Sudan in 2004. And they have yet too...
Please watch:
Educate Yourself:
Sudan Dafur Overview
Darfur Conflict
Darfur Eyewitness: Brian Steidle
Then Act:
Save Darfur
Check your senator's & representative's voting activity regarding Darfur at Darfur Scorecard
Global Grassroots
The film gives a snapshot of the genocide and sadly, a glimpse of yet, another missed opportunity for our country to have stopped genocide in Africa. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell had the courage to at least call the atrocities in Darfur the "G" word. Something the Clinton Administration and Madeline Albright were too cowardly to do during the Rwandan Genocide. Yet, the Bush Administration was to fixated on the mire of Iraq, to do anything significant in Sudan in 2004. And they have yet too...
Please watch:
Educate Yourself:
Sudan Dafur Overview
Darfur Conflict
Darfur Eyewitness: Brian Steidle
Then Act:
Save Darfur
Check your senator's & representative's voting activity regarding Darfur at Darfur Scorecard
Global Grassroots
5.31.2007
theme song of the week
| This is a great song with great lyrics which I think we should all spend some time contemplating.... I Repent |
| words and music by derek webb |
i repent, i repent of my pursuit of america's dream i repent, i repent of parading my liberty bridge i repent, i repent of trading truth for false unity |
5.24.2007
Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007
Today I received an email from World Vision in regards to the new development in stopping children soldiers. Here's the low-down:
The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 (S.1175) would curtail U.S. military assistance to governments that fail to take steps to demobilize and stop forcing/recruiting children into the armed forces or government-supported militias. Countries that do take steps to disarm, demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers would be eligible for certain forms of assistance to help professionalize their forces and ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to finance the exploitation of children in armed conflict.
Ask your Members of Congress to support the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007. American tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers, and American weapons should not end up in the hands of children.
Please take 5 minutes to complete the forms and add your voice to stopping this sad army of children killing children.
The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 (S.1175) would curtail U.S. military assistance to governments that fail to take steps to demobilize and stop forcing/recruiting children into the armed forces or government-supported militias. Countries that do take steps to disarm, demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers would be eligible for certain forms of assistance to help professionalize their forces and ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to finance the exploitation of children in armed conflict.
Ask your Members of Congress to support the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007. American tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers, and American weapons should not end up in the hands of children.
Please take 5 minutes to complete the forms and add your voice to stopping this sad army of children killing children.
4.06.2007
good friday
It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It's Friday; but Sunday's a coming.
It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them." It's Friday; but Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. And at the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it, but Sunday's a coming.
And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.
Now it's Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn't the only thing that was shaking because now it's Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb. Yes, it's Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it's Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.
It's Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave. It's Sunday. And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it's Sunday.
- Pastor Marshall L. Shepard, Sr.
1.14.2007
mlk
On the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I thought I would post an excerpt from one of his many influential speeches. After skimming my copy of " A Call To Conscience", I settled on a highlighted section from his speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam" from April 4th 1967.Like RFK, many of Dr. King's speeches are still very poignant and valid so many years after being given. Please give time to reflect on the words of the past and help them guide us into the future.
"A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa, and
12.11.2006
UN
In yesterday's Washington Post, Secretary General, Kofi Annan detailed his 5 lessons learned through his experience with the United Nations. Below is an excerpt dealing with what I feel is the most important lesson:
"How can states hold each other to account? Only through multilateral institutions. So my final lesson is that those institutions must be organized in a fair and democratic way, giving the poor and the weak some influence over the actions of the rich and the strong.
"How can states hold each other to account? Only through multilateral institutions. So my final lesson is that those institutions must be organized in a fair and democratic way, giving the poor and the weak some influence over the actions of the rich and the strong.
Developing countries should have a stronger voice in international financial institutions, whose decisions can mean life or death for their people. New permanent or long-term members should be added to the U.N. Security Council, whose current membership reflects the reality of 1945, not of today.
No less important, all the Security Council's members must accept the responsibility that comes with their privilege. The council is not a stage for acting out national interests. It is the management committee of our fledgling global security system.
More than ever, Americans, like the rest of humanity, need a functioning global system. Experience has shown, time and again, that the system works poorly when the United States remains aloof but it functions much better when there is farsighted U.S. leadership.
That gives American leaders of today and tomorrow a great responsibility. The American people must see that they live up to it."
This is just another, of the numerous, global observations of the United States global "war/blunder on Terror". I'm trying very hard to not be anti-administration but, each day my frustration level rises with the mire our military is stuck in both Iraq & Afghanistan. Our global spread of "democrazy" gives me flashbacks of President Johnson in the late 1960's dealing with the Vietnam conflict.Read the entire article here.
10.16.2006
justice
From the book of Micah, Chapter 6, Verse 8: He has told you, O man, 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? [from the ESV version of The Bible].
This was a reminder that drop-kicked me in service yesterday. That regardless of how daunting and frustrating it can be to see so much pain & hurt in this world, we as Christian's must continue to seek out and do justice (even in areas that our government blatantly overlooks). We must do this in a kind & merciful way; and we must continue to walk humbly. Something we Americans are lacking in......after all the Manifest Destiny we've gorged ourselves on.
This was a reminder that drop-kicked me in service yesterday. That regardless of how daunting and frustrating it can be to see so much pain & hurt in this world, we as Christian's must continue to seek out and do justice (even in areas that our government blatantly overlooks). We must do this in a kind & merciful way; and we must continue to walk humbly. Something we Americans are lacking in......after all the Manifest Destiny we've gorged ourselves on.
8.15.2006
rfk
Just been ruminating more lately about RFK. He was as articulate as his brother in his speeches; yet, his experiences connected him to humanity in a way that I don't believe his brother was. Robert Kennedy was more of a man of the people than I think his brother was. Robert's experiences with tragedy broke through the affluent upper crust mold which shaped both brothers from a young age. He became the champion of the downtrodden, oppressed, persecuted, and unrepresented. And then was taken away from them on the summit of what would of likely been his winning campaign for presidency. "Tragic" seems like such a trite, little word to describe the changes that could of came to fruition with the vision and energy of Robert Kennedy in the position of The President of the United States.
For an example of his wordmanship, if that even is a word, read the famous quote from his 06.06.1966 speech in Capetown, S. Africa (which also adorns his memorial next to his brother in Arlington Cemetery):
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
OR this quote from the speech given the night of MLK's assassination in Indianapolis, Indiana quoting the Greek poet Aeschylus:
"In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
AND I'll leave you with this exerpt from the same speech in S. Africa, that seems so fitting for our current international state of affairs:
"In a few hours, the plane that brought me to this country crossed over oceans and countries which have been a crucible of human history. In minutes we traced migrations of men over thousands of years; seconds, the briefest glimpse, and we passed battlefields on which millions of men once struggled and died. We could see no national boundaries, no vast gulfs or high walls dividing people from people; only nature and the works of man -- homes and factories and farms -- everywhere reflecting man's common effort to enrich his life. Everywhere new technology and communications brings men and nations closer together, the concerns of one inevitably become the concerns of all. And our new closeness is stripping away the false masks, the illusion of differences which is at the root of injustice and hate and war. Only earthbound man still clings to the dark and poisoning superstition that his world is bounded by the nearest hill, his universe ends at river's shore, his common humanity is enclosed in the tight circle of those who share his town or his views and the color of his skin.
For an example of his wordmanship, if that even is a word, read the famous quote from his 06.06.1966 speech in Capetown, S. Africa (which also adorns his memorial next to his brother in Arlington Cemetery):
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
OR this quote from the speech given the night of MLK's assassination in Indianapolis, Indiana quoting the Greek poet Aeschylus:
"In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
AND I'll leave you with this exerpt from the same speech in S. Africa, that seems so fitting for our current international state of affairs:
"In a few hours, the plane that brought me to this country crossed over oceans and countries which have been a crucible of human history. In minutes we traced migrations of men over thousands of years; seconds, the briefest glimpse, and we passed battlefields on which millions of men once struggled and died. We could see no national boundaries, no vast gulfs or high walls dividing people from people; only nature and the works of man -- homes and factories and farms -- everywhere reflecting man's common effort to enrich his life. Everywhere new technology and communications brings men and nations closer together, the concerns of one inevitably become the concerns of all. And our new closeness is stripping away the false masks, the illusion of differences which is at the root of injustice and hate and war. Only earthbound man still clings to the dark and poisoning superstition that his world is bounded by the nearest hill, his universe ends at river's shore, his common humanity is enclosed in the tight circle of those who share his town or his views and the color of his skin.
It is your job, the task of the young people in this world, to strip the last remnants of that ancient, cruel belief from the civilization of man."
8.14.2006
apologies
Just a quick post regarding apologetics, a topic which has been on my mind for a few months.
As I stare at the empty blog space I don't think I can frame my thoughts at this time. I will have to just transplant my random thoughts for now with a link to a great sermon entitled "Let's Go Fishing" from 08.06.2006. I would highly encourage you to listen to this.
I'll try to edit this post in the future. Work is going well but taking quite a bit of my time.
If you have Netflix or a Public library with a good DVD selection check out this film. Quite an eye-opener on what a tragic loss his assassination was!
As I stare at the empty blog space I don't think I can frame my thoughts at this time. I will have to just transplant my random thoughts for now with a link to a great sermon entitled "Let's Go Fishing" from 08.06.2006. I would highly encourage you to listen to this.
I'll try to edit this post in the future. Work is going well but taking quite a bit of my time.
If you have Netflix or a Public library with a good DVD selection check out this film. Quite an eye-opener on what a tragic loss his assassination was!
8.06.2006
reminder
lyrics from the song "Fight For Your Mind" from the same titled album, words from the mind of Ben Harper.
" if you're gonna live
then live it up
and if you're gonna give
then give it up
if you're gonna walk the earth
then walk it proud
and if you're gonna say the word
you got to say it loud
you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind
if you're gonna build a house
make it a home
if you're gonna pull some weight
pull your own
if you're gonna help
reach out your hand
if you're getting up
then take a stand
you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind
if you're gonna step
step on in
if you're gonna finish
you got to begin
don't you fear
what you don't know
just let that be
your room to grow
you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind"
'nuff said.
" if you're gonna live
then live it up
and if you're gonna give
then give it up
if you're gonna walk the earth
then walk it proud
and if you're gonna say the word
you got to say it loud
you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind
if you're gonna build a house
make it a home
if you're gonna pull some weight
pull your own
if you're gonna help
reach out your hand
if you're getting up
then take a stand
you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind
if you're gonna step
step on in
if you're gonna finish
you got to begin
don't you fear
what you don't know
just let that be
your room to grow
you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind"
'nuff said.
6.22.2006
truth in humor
Cynical. Disturbing. Darkly prophetic. Sadly accurate regarding our humanitarian and diplomatic insufficiency with regard to African conflicts.It seems Gen. Romeo Dallaire (retired), the U.N. commander in Rwanda, was on point in his book with the analysis that the "superpowers" will turn a blind eye to genocide & humanitarian crises if they occur in the realm of "Black Africa". While a similar or smaller incident in "White Europe", such as the Bosnian conflict, will receive exaggerated support from the U.N. and the superpowers. It's disturbing to me that there is minimal outcry in our country for more action.
Click on strip for fullsize. 'Toon is from "Get Your War On".
6.16.2006
SPEAK UP!
As Father's Day approaches, and since I will soon become a father, I have become more aware, through various recent experiences, of those without fathers. In Northern Uganda children are being kidnapped in the night to become unwilling soldiers in a fight they want nothing to do with. If they are able to escape "The Lords Resistance Army" and return to their village, most find that their families were slaughtered the same night they were taken.
So, I invite you to speak up for the fatherless. Sign the "Children Should Never Be Soldiers" declaration and support the fatherless, wherever you can. An inspiring story of these children is told in the film "War Dance". Check it out if it's in your area.
Have a great weekend.
So, I invite you to speak up for the fatherless. Sign the "Children Should Never Be Soldiers" declaration and support the fatherless, wherever you can. An inspiring story of these children is told in the film "War Dance". Check it out if it's in your area.
Have a great weekend.
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