It will be interesting to see how constituents respond as Congresspersons go home during the August recess. Here is one set of three videos illustrating constituent responses. I’m sure there will be videos released by both sides trying to shape public opinion of that reception. Again one must wonder about the language of the ‘right’ to health care. What do we mean when we say that Americans have a ‘right’ to quality health care? There are, broadly speaking, two ways... Read more
NOTE: The Morning Reports have been growing too long, in my estimation, so I will offer the links with fewer comments. This will not only make the Morning Reports more manageable to read, but will leave me with more time for other blog entries. So, without further ado: 1. We have some great articles up on the Evangelical Portal at Patheos. Currently in the Featured tab: a guide to the final week of the Faith@Work Consultation, “Evolution as Witness,” “Harry... Read more
I’m beginning a new feature today: Sunday Funnies (and Inspiration). These will be cartoons or videos. I may actually post these on Saturday night, so that I can honor the Sabbath, but you can enjoy them on Sunday. Leading off, a video from The Onion, dating back to the campaign days, but relevant to us: [UPDATE: Please note there is a foul word featured on screen (not spoken aloud) toward the beginning of the video] And a second video from... Read more
A dissenting view on the “Cash for Clunkers” program. Perhaps I was overstating the case when I said that many conservatives support the program. Ed Markey writes at the Huffington Post that the “Cash for Clunkers” program shows that green economy initiatives are good for the economy. This is a bit of a stretch, I think. Cash for Clunkers is not ‘working’ (to the extent that it is) because it is green. It is working because it effectively puts money... Read more
1. Cash for Clunkers, probably the best plank in the economic recovery platform (one conservatives have favored from the start), is dissolving into chaos because far more people than anticipated have taken the government up on the deal. Senator Schumer is recommending more funds for the program. He’s right. The Chinese had a program where they gave out vouchers that would count for thousands of yuan toward the purchase of cars, and that too worked swimmingly. They work well because... Read more
It must be the least serious entry we have had here at the Evangelical Gateway blog (and by the way, we will probably be changing our name and address soon), but I wanted to report that the Harry Potter essay, warning of the grave dangers Harry Potter poses to children, goats and independent convenience stores, has moved to the main site. You can find the cleaned-up version on the main site, right here. Leave a comment! And you can find... Read more
Especially in light of the material posted today on the question of the “right to life” versus the “right of abortion”–as well as the extraordinary story of Eliot, whom many parents might have aborted–it is worth keeping an eye on the machinations in Congress over whether abortion, under the proposed government health care reform, would be paid for by our tax dollars. I would hope that even proponents of ‘abortion rights’ would understand why this is a very delicate issue. ... Read more
We have some great new material up on the Evangelical Portal at Patheos. Click on the link to go to articles on: – Evolution as a Witness to the Glory of God – The Need to Choose to be Chosen, or to Choose Your Calling – A discussion from Daniel Harrell of Park Street Church on “Why Are You An Evangelical?” – And we’re entering the final weeks of the Faith@Work Consultation. Read more
Evangelism has certainly gained a bad reputation. The very word itself is stained with negative connotations. At its worst, evangelism comes across as oppressive and belligerent, a dictation of truth and refusal to hear from the Other. At its best, however, evangelism is “one bum telling another bum where he found bread.” Evangelism was long considered the most loving thing a Christian could do, an expression of care, a sharing of oneself and one’s deepest commitments. Unfortunately, decades of poor... Read more
[If you’re looking for the Harry Potter essay, scroll down, or go here.] 1. This essay on First Things crafts a clear and helpful distinction between charity and tolerance. This is a part of what Kierkegaard gets at when he says that the Christian concept of love is quite different, and sometimes even diametrically opposed, to the worldly concept of love. The worldly concept of love is to “live and let live” (that is, tolerance). The Christian concept of love,... Read more
Philosophical Fragments
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