Just a quick reminder. I pastor Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn, Washington. In about an hour we will start our service. Depending upon how long I preach, the service will last from 10 am to 11:30 am. Our service, like most services around the country, will look nothing like what we’ve seen in the media over the past few months. No Glenn Beck stuff, no ground zero … [Read more...] about Local Church is Shockingly Normal!
Sign of the Times
In today's Slatest. The top story: AP: "US poverty on track to post record gain in 2009." The bottom story: Wall Street Journal: "At This Hotel, Even a Pooch Can Live in the Lap of Luxury." … [Read more...] about Sign of the Times
Taliban Using Children Soldiers According to U.S. Military
The devaluing of human life -- and of childhood -- is continuing in the 21st century. And one sign is a disturbing USA Today report that says the Taliban are increasing using children in many ways to fight Americans: From 3- and 4-year-olds used as human shields or to gather spent cartridges, to teenagers offered motorcycles for planting roadside bombs, children are being used … [Read more...] about Taliban Using Children Soldiers According to U.S. Military
Is Al Qaeda Getting Stronger Or Weakening?
Is Al Qaeda getting stronger or weakening.CNN's Anderson Cooper , Fareed Zakaria and Peter Bergen look at this issue: … [Read more...] about Is Al Qaeda Getting Stronger Or Weakening?
Two Issues: The War Within Islam + Israel and Islamism (Guest Voice)
Two Issues: The War Within Islam + Israel and Islamism by Barry Rubin Two readers asked me questions well worth answering. The first asked whether Islam itself isn't the enemy; the second, how these distinctions appear from an Israeli standpoint; . Regarding the first question, I would stress that "Islam" as a religion functioning in the world is not at war with anyone … [Read more...] about Two Issues: The War Within Islam + Israel and Islamism (Guest Voice)
Do Daughters Cause More Divorces?
The numbers are interesting. What could be behind it? Some thoughts HERE. … [Read more...] about Do Daughters Cause More Divorces?
Everything is Partisan Demonization These Days
Even the bedbug infestation: conservatives blame it on environmental regulation. I'm waiting for Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich to now somehow tie this into plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero. (Don't laugh. The absurd is now our reality.) … [Read more...] about Everything is Partisan Demonization These Days
Think Tank: Armed Drug Trafficking Groups Number One Source of Columbia’s Violence
As the increasingly bloody war between the Mexican government and drug cartels rages in Mexico, a Columbian think tank says armed groups of drug traffickers now are the main source of violence in Columbia. The BBC reports: Armed groups of drug-traffickers have overtaken left-wing rebels as Colombia's main source of violence, local think tank Indepaz says. The … [Read more...] about Think Tank: Armed Drug Trafficking Groups Number One Source of Columbia’s Violence
My Family And Friends Speak Volumes On Pastor Jones And The Qu’ran
This past week we saw a bewildered, confused Pastor Terry Jones of an obscure Gainesville, Fla., church back down after gaining international hysteria he would lead his flock in burning the Qur’an. Today, Sept. 12, nine years and one day after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the twin towers and Pentagon, Pastor Jones’ 15 minutes of fame mercifully is over. Time will tell … [Read more...] about My Family And Friends Speak Volumes On Pastor Jones And The Qu’ran
South African Muslims Prevent a ‘Bible Bonfire’: The Star, South Africa
South Africa's Star newspaper reports that Muslims in in the city of Johannesburg went to court to prevent an angry Muslim businessman from setting Bibles on fire in retaliation for the anticipated burning of Qurans by Pastor Terry Jones. According to the account, evidence presented by the Islamic 'Scholars of the Truth' persuaded the angry Muslim defendant that the Quran … [Read more...] about South African Muslims Prevent a ‘Bible Bonfire’: The Star, South Africa
Sunday School
The purveyors of hate on the religious right often claim that Islam is inherently a violent religion. A couple of examples here and here. And yes indeed they can find many examples of violence in the Qur'an. But have they read their own Bible? 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death … [Read more...] about Sunday School
We Don’t Need No (for-profit) Education (Guest Voice)
We don’t need no (for-profit) education by Karl Frisch With summer nearly over, the nation’s college campuses are bustling once again. For many students however, the rites of passage associated with higher education won’t be rushing a sorority, winning the big game or planning a spring break trip to Florida. No, looking back, a growing number of students will regale … [Read more...] about We Don’t Need No (for-profit) Education (Guest Voice)
Rachel Maddow, Moderate
I think it is safe to say that the state of American politics over the past couple of months has taken a turn for the strange. Some may say that this is expected in an election year, but when is it not an ‘election year’ in modern day politics? I have tried not to write anything about the anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been slowly seeping into America’s political discourse … [Read more...] about Rachel Maddow, Moderate
Four Confirmed (One Unidentified) Deaths in San Bruno
Emergency teams using search-and-rescue dogs are continuing to comb through the ruins of the San Bruno neighborhood where a gas pipeline exploded Thursday evening. Most of the area has been searched by now without having found additional bodies, and although reports I've seen are conflicting (understandably so), it appears that no residents remain unaccounted for. … [Read more...] about Four Confirmed (One Unidentified) Deaths in San Bruno
Nine Years Out—What Some of the 9/11 Widows are Saying, and Doing
In a couple of gripping pieces about the horror and continuing grief experienced by 9/11 survivors and about the recent “blather on television by various women and men about keeping the ’sanctity’ of the 9-11 bomb site,” Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, referring to all the “trout-pout commentators [who] hog the discourse” on that issue, says: Those directly affected by 9-11 … [Read more...] about Nine Years Out—What Some of the 9/11 Widows are Saying, and Doing
“The Worst Day of My Life”
The "physical rebirth" of the World Trade Center, says a New York Times editorial, "is cause for celebration on this anniversary. It is a far more fitting way to defy the hate-filled extremists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor their victims, than to wallow in the intolerance and fear that have mushroomed across the nation." When the planes hit … [Read more...] about “The Worst Day of My Life”
A Letter From the First Lady
Good morning, Nine years ago, nearly three thousand Americans lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Like many Americans, I was shocked and horrified by the attacks on our country. But I was also inspired by the heroism and selflessness of so many of my fellow Americans in the wake of this tragedy. From the brave men and women of Flight 93 who sacrificed their own … [Read more...] about A Letter From the First Lady
FL Pastor: ‘We will not burn Quran’
Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center who had threatened a 9/11 Quran burning at the church, told NBC's Today show that "we have decided to cancel the burning...God is telling us to stop." NPR: He says that his Gainesville, Fla., church's goal was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical." He tells NBC that "we … [Read more...] about FL Pastor: ‘We will not burn Quran’
New Members of TMV’s Get A Life Club
Have we sunk this low in journalism? I mean, really. THIS qualifies some members of the news media as members of TMV's Get A Life Club. In fact, we'll give them a chair. Even better, a sofa. … [Read more...] about New Members of TMV’s Get A Life Club
9/11: The Rest Should Be Silence (Guest Voice)
9/11: The Rest Should Be Silence by Michael Winship This past Sunday was beautiful, bright and warm, not unlike the sky blue day when those two airliners hit the World Trade Center in 2001, just a mile or so from where I live. That day, a Tuesday, was a bit hotter, a bit more humid, yet just as sunny and promising. But this Sunday morning’s silence was broken by the … [Read more...] about 9/11: The Rest Should Be Silence (Guest Voice)