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Ecclesiastes, Songs of Songs (Holman Old Testament Commentary, Vol. 14)

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Good Christians, Good Husbands?

CHRISTIAN VERSUS CLASSICAL COMEDY

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THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING AND INSIGHTFUL THINGS I’VE READ IN A LONG, LONG TIME:
W. H. Auden once commented that a Christian society could produce comedy of “much greater breadth and depth” than could a classical society. Its comedy was greater in breadth because classical comedy is based on a division of mankind into two classes, those who have arete [heroic virtue] and those who do not, and only the second class, the fools, shameless rascals, slaves, are fit subjects for comedy. But Christian comedy is based upon the belief that all men are sinners; no one, therefore, whatever his rank or talents, can claim immunity from the comic exposure and, indeed, the more virtuous, in the Greek sense, a man is, the more he realizes that he deserves to be exposed.
The Christian society’s comedy was greater in depth because, while classical comedy believes that rascals should get the drubbing they deserve, Christian comedy believes that we are forbidden to judge others and that it is our duty to forgive each other. In classical comedy the characters are exposed and punished: when the curtain falls, the audience is laughing and those on stage are in tears. In Christian comedy the characters are exposed and forgiven: when the curtain falls, the audience and the characters are laughing together.

REVOLUTIONARY SUMMER

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Joseph Ellis writes great books.  His Pulitzer winning, Founding Brothers, is absolutely terrific.

Ellis delivers the goods in this accessible, yet scholarly book. And how many scholars can write serious books which the general reading public finds fascinating?

Like Founding Brothers, Ellis delivers another home run. Highly recommended!

MESSY BIBLES ARE BEAUTIFUL

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Grant Horner teaches Renaissance literature at the Master’s College.  He is a stellar teacher and terrific guy.   

He came to Christ from a dark past.  He was also not a good student…until becoming a Christian.  This is a page out of his Bible.  He believes, as I do (and my wife definitely does!) that it is good to get tactile with your reading including your Bible.

Here is Grant’s Bible reading program followed by him working his magic with a group of high school students:

http://jaxpastor.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/a-model-of-bible-reading-that-inspires-me/

http://vimeo.com/56441976

OBAMACARE IS AWESOME

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I IMAGINE MANY READING MY TAGLINE WILL THINK I HAVE LOST MY MIND.  PREVIOUS EVIDENCE ALREADY POINTED TO THAT POSSIBILITY, BUT I DIGRESS…

NO, I DO NOT THINK OBAMACARE IS AWESOME BECAUSE NO ONE CAN KNOW FOR SURE HOW IT WILL EXACTLY WORK.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE DEFINITIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT FUTURE REALITIES BECAUSE EVENTS BY DEFINITION OF BEING IN THE FUTURE REMAIN UNKNOWN.  AS OS GUINNESS ONCE TOLD ME, “FUTURISTS MAKE BAD HISTORIANS.”

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TEST OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO APPLY CHARITY TO THE PRESIDENT’S MOTIVE BEHIND HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS.  

HERE IS MY QUESTION: WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU A BIT (EVEN A TAD OR SMIDGE WILL DO) MORE WILLING TO CUT THE PRESIDENT SOME SLACK AS TO HIS MOTIVE IN WANTING TO PUSH THROUGH NEW HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION?

I HAVE MY OWN THOUGHTS, BUT WILL WAIT TO FIRST HEAR FROM YOU.