Michelle Malkin reports about an “interesting” (my word, not hers) developing double standard in New York City.
I wonder if the folks pushing the gag see this, or if they are just a bit dim? Either option is not pleasant to think about.
What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Hot Air recently commented on a new Zogby poll that makes me want to go, “Oy.”
Sister Toldjah asks “How do we change this?”
Here’s my take: even if Zogby made some errors (debateable: see the Hot Air post), it still remains true that the public are sheep. This has pretty much always been true, but now its even more true because our culture has become a soundbite and image-based culture. Therefore, we evangelical conservatives must engage, engage, engage. We must get out and converse with people. The more the better. And not just on politics; on philosophy, spirituality, worldview issues. We can’t be intimidated by the thought of people not liking us. We shouldn’t stop with “hey, what’s your view?” and then fawning “isn’t it nice? I’m ok, you’re ok pal!” We really have to dig deep at a worldview level.
This means equipping ourselves and becoming educated (not just the “university degree” type) so we can be effective engagers.
From there: socratic questioning. Well put questions can stop someone in their tracks. Even if they keep a straight face and maintain their view in front of you, they just might think about it later on. I think engaging socratically is more effective than directly giving your argument monologue fashion.
Tony Jones, prominent Emergent Village fella, announced today that he supports “monogamous GLBTQ” folks getting married.
One prominent lack in his post: Scripture. Pretty experience-heavy.
WLS Shipwrecked has a post on the buzz about Obama’s moves out of the gate. It’s interesting, and kinda funny.
Koka Sexton has some good tips about how to be a wise manager when working with people. Check it out.
Ya, as a guy that works with people in another sphere (education) outside the business world, this stuff still applies.
I prefer a more direct approach (there’s a reason why my roommate called me “The Pugnacious Irishman.” I even got confrontational with a maintanence worker today..didn’t help.), but posts like this are good reminders to me. Sometimes, his tips can help, because you gotta ask yourself, “am I willing to die on this hill?” If not, going the indirect route–for example, sending the company email–is the more wise road.
Of course, you gotta admit, on the other hand, that sometimes the methods might backfire…the person might catch that the mass email is about them, and might resent that you just didn’t come to them first.
I guess you can’t hit a homerun every time…
Regardless, I still have much, much to learn in people skills (and much more still to apply), and this helps.
Many, many people have been affected by the Southern Cal. fires. Countless acres burned, hundreds of homes lost. The hurt is considerable.
My friend, who is also a teacher, lost some of his students due to a tragedy over the weekend. These kids had their whole lives ahead of them; they were very bright and very talented. They suddenly crossed over into eternity on Friday.
When things like this happen, a question on the minds of many is “where is God?”
When comforting a friend in the midst of tragedies like this, I usually don’t say anything theological. The best I can do is offer a shoulder to cry on. Perhaps that’s best. My life has been pretty clean of intense suffering. I have had an easy life, so I usually *try* to keep my mouth shut.
But still, that question still lurks.
A full fledged theodicy or philosophical commentary on the problem of evil would take a book. But I can bring a few truths to the forefront.
Bertrand Russell, a famous atheist of the past, once asked, “how can anyone talk about God at the bedside of a dying child?” Wow, that has the potential to be a show stopper. What say I?
I like William Craig’s response: “what would the atheist say? Bum deal? Tough luck? That’s the way it goes?”
Good one! He makes a good point: *every worldview,* not just the Christian one, has to deal with the problem of evil. Though it is thorny for Christians, it is much more a trouble for other worldviews that either explain away evil or acknowledge it but without foundation (monism and atheistic naturalism, respectively). Plus, we Christians can speak of the empty tomb. This confidence makes our present sufferings “light and momentary” troubles. What can the atheist speak of? “Dude..sucks to be you!”
Secondly, Yahweh is the intimate God. He has walked in our shoes…and then some. As Ravi Zacharias has said, “He conquered not in spite of the dark mystery of evil…He conquered through it.” This is the essence of the Cross: the Holy, all-powerful God entering into human suffering. This alone puts Jesus head and shoulders above every other self-styled guru or religious leader.
It is my hope and prayer that meditating on those two truths brings comfort and perspective to anyone undergoing suffering this fall.
Here are two resources by Greg Koukl that addresses the Christian response to evil in greater detail: 1 and 2
