Ever get flustered by watching National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, or The History Channel explain away the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, Jesus’ walking on water, or the resurrection with a scientific explanation for each? I also sigh when I hear people say that the birth of their child is a “miracle,” [...]
Archive for December, 2007
C.S. Lewis on Miracles
Posted in Culture, Literature, Religion, science, tagged C.S. Lewis, miracles, science on December 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Person of the Year: Ernest Grant
Posted in Culture, Education, Politics, tagged Ernest Grant, hero, veteran, World War II on December 26, 2007 | 13 Comments »
So TIME Magazine chooses the former KGB member Vladimir Putin as man of the year. Wow. Instead of choosing someone who has uplifted, inspired, and helped to mold this country, TIME chose a snake-like, duplicitous man who has seen some of his most courageous rivals disappear. Granted, TIME says that it does not choose the person to [...]
On Good Parenting
Posted in Culture, Education, tagged children, discipline, obedience, spanking on December 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
One of the frustrations of parenting is having a child listen to you the first time. My mom recently came up with a good little song which summarizes the way we wish for our two kids to obey–”All the way, right away, with a happy heart.” Therefore, the request to pick up toys should not [...]
Mark Steyn’s Always Irreverent Take: Political Christmas Ads
Posted in Culture, Politics on December 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
As you may know, I rarely read a Mark Steyn piece without having the Diet Coke–or more recently–egg nog go up the nose in wheezing laughs and end, after recovering myself, much more educated. You almost wish that Steyn could have been your history teacher from the 8th grade through graduate school: one minute your sides [...]
Even if he loses nomination, Huckabee’s here to stay
Posted in Uncategorized on December 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Michael Medved, perhaps America’s most reasoned, conservative voice weighs in on the dynamism of Mike Huckabee’s campaign and says that Huckabee’s drive helps the GOP (and the country, too.) Medved states that:
1. HUCKABEE’S COMPETITIVE STATUS PROVES THAT MONEY ALONE CAN’T BUY A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.
2. THE HUCK-A-SURGE GIVES THE LIE TO THE CLAIM THAT THE GOP IS CONTROLLED [...]
The Reality of Christmas–Jesus, John Donne, and a Dad’s Dead Daughter
Posted in Culture, Religion, tagged Christmas, John Donne, sin, Vietnamese on December 17, 2007 | 2 Comments »
December 16, 2007
So there’s this older Vietnamese couple and my wife cut their hair in her salon and did the same for this couple’s two daughters and son. The kids went to the same high school I teach at, and the youngest daughter graduated and went off to school in the middle of Iowa. All the details [...]
Looking Backwards: The Importance of Latin
Posted in Culture, Education, tagged Education, Latin on December 16, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Got my hands on a 1927 yearbook of Central High School in Sioux City, Iowa. Looking over the pages is almost painful because it shouts everything that a school ought to be–a beautiful castle, students with decorum and respect (shirts and ties), teachers who look strict, and courses to make any academian’s mouth water: Rhetoric, [...]
What Frederick Douglass Might Say to the School Equity Departments
Posted in Education, Race, tagged Douglass, equity, Frederick, Race on December 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Everybody has asked the question. . .”What shall we do with the Negro?” I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on the tree of their own strength, if [...]
On How Our Schools Hurt Black America
Posted in Education, Race, tagged African-American, Black America, Cosby, Juan, Obama, Whitlock, Williams on December 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
It’s ironic the forces that have combined and are truly harmful to Black America. Thomas Sowell writes about the way that white liberals, a culture with few absolutes, and larger government intervention has combined in a perfect storm. The result? To be truly “black” and not be the “other,” one has to engage in the hip-hop culture, [...]
Three Reflections on Christmas: Muggeridge, Crabtree, and Wangerin
Posted in Religion on December 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
In this Christmas season, it is always good to reflect upon the purpose of our celebration with the question, “Why are we here?” After the routine of too-much food at dinner, egg nog, perhaps the customary Christmas Eve service, and of course, the presents, I’d encourage you (and need the reminder myself) to remember the [...]
