Thursday, January 23, 2003

Gregory Popcak: That said, I am sick and tired of the saccharine, namby-pamby "compassionate Christianity" crap that refuses to call a spade a spade and murder, murder. I am sick and tired of the nonsense that the worst sin a Christian could commit is to offend someone?!? Good heavens, someone is offended! Stop the presses! Alert the thought-police! Bring out the Royal PC Guard! Crucify him! Crucify him! Give me a break. Apparently Jesus didn't get your memo either. After all, calling the pharisees a "den of vipers" was not exactly a warm fuzzy. He engaged the public debate using language the people could understand. I've heard this argument used time and again by Christians who try to defend their strong words against abortion, homosexuality, and other issues to which they are opposed. The trouble is, it's not Biblical. I may be overlooking something, and please correct me if I am, but it appears that every time Jesus uses harsh language towards a group of people in the Bible, he directs it to the religious leaders of his time (including his own disciples). And why does he do it even with them? It's because of their hypocrisy in claiming to follow God but not actually doing it. In no case does he direct it towards an outside group. Jesus' response to those who do not know him is compassion. He does not judge the woman at the well, but without judgment reveals to her the life she has been living and in the process makes her a follower. He does not judge Matthew for cheating people as a tax collector, but has dinner with him (a powerful statement of acceptance in First Century Israel) and makes him a follower as well. So if Jesus used kind words to reach out to those who would be considered his "enemies" by the world (though not by himself), why should we be any different? Isn't one of the core components of Jesus' teaching compassion? So why would we NOT be "compassionate Christians"? I agree that people who follow Jesus should not shrink back from speaking the truth. But speaking the truth is not enough. We must speak the truth in love. For the truth without love only wounds. But the truth partnered with love is truly a powerful combination. If Jesus were roaming the streets "in the flesh" today, I think a lot of Christians would be surprised by who would receive his compassion and who would receive his criticism.   5:16:08 PM

Top Strategist Terms Bush a Populist About Taxes. Karl Rove, the White House's senior political strategist, said today that President Bush was a populist whose call for the elimination of taxes on stock dividends was aimed at "the little guy." In a wide-ranging session with reporters, Mr. Rove suggested that the president ranked with Theodore Roosevelt as an environmentalist and predicted a close 2004 presidential race. He said the Republican Party had been strengthened by the controversy over Senator Trent Lott, and he played down his own reputation as the most powerful behind-the-scenes White House adviser, on both policy and politics, in generations. [New York Times] Mr. Rove: "War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength." Let's break his assertions down: Assertion Evidence Dividend Tax Break is for the "little guy" "The Tax Policy Center, a research group run by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, said in a report last week that 45.8 percent of the benefits of eliminating the dividend tax would go to the top 1 percent of the nation's earners" Dubya as much of an environmentalist as Teddy Roosevelt "Earlier in the day, Senate Republicans defeated an attempt by Democrats to roll back Mr. Bush's plan to ease air quality regulations on many older power plants and factories." Republican Party stronger because of Trent Lott issue Bush's approval rating at post-Sept. 11 low Sounds like he pretty much hit the nail on the head, doesn't it?   4:17:35 PM

Why We Know Iraq Is Lying. "Many questions remain about Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and arsenal — and it is Iraq's obligation to provide answers. It is failing in spectacular fashion. By both its actions and its inactions, Iraq is proving not that it is a nation bent on disarmament, but that it is a nation with something to hide. Iraq is still treating inspections as a game. It should know that time is running out." -- Condoleezza Rice. [New York Times] It wouldn't be fair for me to criticize the Bush administration for rushing to war without giving them a chance to respond (wink, wink). There is no doubt that the circumstantial evidence points toward Iraq violating UN Resolution 1441. The question is, is circumstantial evidence enough to convict? It usually isn't in a court of law, and it shouldn't be here. Let the inspectors do their job. If they come back and say that the Iraqis are not cooperating, or that they have found a "smoking gun," then do what you have to do. But until that time, there are still cards to be played, still options we can pursue. Regardless of the eventual outcome, the time to pray is now. Let God's will be done, not our own.   3:55:58 PM

Iraq Says Scientists Refuse Interviews With U.N. Inspectors. Iraqi scientists have refused to be interviewed in private by U.N. weapons inspectors, a top Iraqi official said tonight. [New York Times] You know, Saddam, the rest of the world is trying to prevent a war, and you're not even trying! Apparently, Mr. Bush isn't the only one who wants a war. Saddam, once again, is proving that he views his people only as cannon fodder. Sadly, it appears that regardless of how much effort the world puts into finding a peaceful solution, it will not be found unless the Iraqi people can find a way to topple Mr. Hussein themselves. We can only pray that it would happen soon.   3:40:26 PM

If you claim to follow Jesus, and you are opposed to abortion, do not respond like this. And this, just makes me sad. The end does not justify the means. If your means are not pure, and they cause you to hurt others, than the end result will be evil as well. To those in the pro-life camp, I urge you: do not let your passion for your cause lead you to hurt, demean, and alienate others. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3   3:25:23 PM