Photo above: Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the courtyard of Tegel Prison, summer 1944 ************************************** A reading from the modern classic The Cost of Discipleship (1937) by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). This is a great passage to apply to other people. We should also apply it to ourselves. Cheap grace is the mortal […]
(…continued) But as soon as one starts talking about government, things get complicated, so I’ll illustrate this with a less complex setting– the family. Let’s say little brother hits big sister. Now big sister has at least three options. Option #1 is she can just ignore it. If she
3306) What Good is Government? (2/2) Read More »
“I don’t get mad, I get even,” is what we used to say on the playground, trying to sound tough as we plotted our revenge. The Bible, however, has a different approach to the matter. “Love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you,” it says. But then it
3305) What Good is Government? (1/2) Read More »
“Inside of me there are two dogs. One is mean and evil, and the other is good; and they fight each other all the time. When asked which one wins, I answer, ‘The one I feed the most.’” ― Sitting Bull (1831-1890) Which dog do you feed the most in your life? Is it
3302) Two Dogs Fighting Read More »
The Presidential Emancipation Proclamation was very important in 1863, but it had limited Constitutional authority. It did not permanently or legally abolish slavery across the entire country. An amendment to the Constitution was needed for that. The Civil War was nearing an end. The amendment had to get through Congress before the Southern
The New Testament gives us some guidance to help us understand our duties and responsibilities as citizens of a nation. It does not give specifics, but it does set parameters. Government is to be respected, obeyed, and appreciated; but it is not to be followed blindly, nor should it be obeyed when obeying
3299) Martin Luther and Politics Read More »
If Christ is raised, nothing else matters. If Christ has not been raised, nothing matters. –Church historian Jaroslav Pelikan (1923-2006), just before his death. ——————— Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. –Often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt. ——————— There are so many things that we wish we had done
3297) Insights from Here and There Read More »
Mollie Engelhart (above) used to be a top chef and strict vegetarian. She was also an entrepreneur, owning five vegan restaurants in Los Angeles. Now she is a cattle rancher in Texas. It is a long and interesting story. You can look it up. There is much on the internet by and about her.
3296) Suffering (and Purpose) Produce Endurance Read More »
What made Abraham Lincoln the extraordinary man that he was? I believe there is an easy answer. He read the Bible. He not only read the Bible, he immersed himself in it, reading it over and over again, until his whole mentality, perspective on life, and language mirrored that of the Bible. His
3292) The Source of Abraham Lincoln’s Greatness Read More »
Abraham Lincoln’s religious beliefs have been the subject of much discussion and debate. In his early years, he was accused by political opponents of being an “infidel” and a “scoffer at religion,” and not without reason. He made no secret of his skepticism, and he often ridiculed what he saw in the backwoods,
3291) A Terrible Hater Read More »
