Friday, October 24, 2008

Importance of Facts

"When one thinks of all the men who have put their lives on the line in battle to defend and preserve this country, it is especially painful to think that there are people living in the safety and comfort of civilian life who cannot be bothered to find out the facts about candidates before voting to put the fate of this nation, and of generations yet to come, in the hands of someone chosen because they like his words or style." --Thomas Sowell in Jewish World Review, 10/21/08.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Character Crisis, not Financial Crisis

"If more people on Wall Street and at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue adhered to Booker T.’s ideal and model of character, our country would not be having to deal with our present moral and financial crisis." These are the words of Reggie Jones taken from his October 5 blog posting "It's a Crisis of Character, not of Financial Markets" at the BOOKER T. WASHINGTON website.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Worship Preparation

"The quality of our worship is not based on our activities but on our character. Churches can mistakenly assume the better the music, the more impressive the building, and the more eloquent the preaching, the more worshipful the experience will be. Genuine worship, however, originates from within our hearts. If our relationship with God is not healthy, all these things are nothing more than religious pageantry." --Richard & Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God Day by Day

Friday, October 17, 2008

Where is Mr. Smith Now?

On this day in 1939, Frank Capra's film classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring Jimmy Stewart, premiered in Washington, D.C. (Source The Christian Almanac by Grant & Wilbur)

I believe there is a "Mr. Smith" somewhere in those halls of government today. Do you?

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Listening to See

I don't remember where I heard it recommended a few years ago, but I think it must've been on a radio program which would not come as a surprise. The suggestion was to listen to political debates and not watch and listen to debates. The idea was that it causes the listener to really focus on what is being said and not allowing body language, glitz, etc. interfere with the message.

Well, I know that body language is part of communication, but I decided to once again follow the listening suggestion. I believe I tried it about eight or twelve years ago, but not sure. Anyway, last Tuesday night I settled down in my swivel-recliner in my home "office" upstairs, turned on my Eton radio, tuned it to my local NPR radio station, 88.3 WNIN-FM, perked up my ears and began listening to the second 2008 Presidential Debate between Senators Obama and McCain, as well as feeling sorry for Mr. Brokaw whose pleas to follow the rules were virtually ignored.

Listening didn't change my mind about who I plan to vote for, but I think it did cause me to really concentrate on what the candidates were saying. It also seemed to magnify some super-repitive phrases of both candidates: Sen. Obama, "Look, ..." and Sen. McCain, "My friends, ..." Listening also helped me "hear" what they didn't talk about, like the issue of abortion (infanticide). Listening without seeing seemed to help eliminate the drama of the moment and "see" the substance or lack thereof.

One other thing I learned from the experience: I can fix a broken desk lamp while listening to a presidential debate and not miss a thing!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Source of Optimism

"You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled." --David to Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45, NKJV)

"It is impossible to stand in the presence of God and be a pessimist." --Henry & Richard Blackaby in Experiencing God Day by Day, October 4.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Godliness

"Depth always comes slowly." --John Ortberg