Human Rights Abuses... all roads lead to China

Check out Hitchen's latest on China's support of vile governments.
Peace,
Chris

The African Union gets beat bad today!

So rogue rebels, needing arms and being denied them by thier own organizations, decide to raid the AU post! That's pretty humilating for the peace keepers!
Peace,
Chris

Article for the Seminarian

The Seminary paper has a new section called "Something to talk about" this is what I submitted to them. Think they'll accept it?
Peace,
Chris

Restraint
You likely remember the recent ruling about homosexuality at the ELCA General Assembly that urged leaders to “refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining” people and congregations who call qualified leaders on the professional rosters of the ELCA "who are in a mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationship." Some may also have heard that the Episcopalian church, to keep the Anglican commune from schisming has pledged to “exercise restraint” in approving gay bishops.
Both groups are urging restraint, but different kinds. The former involves restraint of an authority and a law; the latter involves restraint by an authority figure and a use of a law. Those that have moved the Episcopalians to act as they have did so because they understand law derived from canon to be immutable. Those that brought the ELCA to its decision did so because they believe law to be a means to an end, not an end in itself. One quotes Jesus, “I did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.” The other, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Yet, notice this is not necessarily a “conservative” “liberal” distinction, at least not in our narrow Red State/Blue State sense of these words. After all the Episcopalians hold a much more “liberal” position than the ELCA. Instead, the question of restraint, literally, “to restrict or limit,” becomes a question of whose power should people who try to follow Jesus limit? Do we limit the power of absolutes over humans, or try and enforce the power of absolutes in order to limit humans? There is a good case to be made for both.
We attempt to limit the power of absolutes because absolutes become idols, often masks like the Great Oz, hiding behind them the idiosyncrasies of little men. We often become so enthralled by their power that we do not hear the Spirit blowing.
We enforce the power of absolutes because we are sinners; we fall short of the mark and see only a minute fraction of reality, and will defend that little patch of “truth” to the death. If the rule of God seem strange to us the problem is likely on our end.
Is it any wonder Matthew writes about a “narrow gate”? On one side is a post made of bellybutton gazers, on the other is those who make an ideal their god. “Make straight the path.”

Wyoming is first!

So, funny stuff. Remember all that moaning about Michigan and Florida trying to jump to the head of the line... in fact Wyoming is first in the nation for primaries. The differences is people are voting for delegates, not candidates, for the RNC.
Peace,
Chris

The Episcopalian vs the ELCA version of restraint

I thought it was interesting that both groups are urging restraint, but different kinds. The ELCA is restraining punishment against clergy who come out, the Episcopalians have decided to restrain themselves from consecrating gay bishops.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OF IRAN MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD

Check out the transcript in full.
Peace,
Chris

The Sem's blog

I'm liking Obama more and more

So I'm still backing Richardson, but Obama is very compelling! Check out this latest ad.
Peace,
Chris

Where I want to do CPE

So this is where I've had my heart surgeries done. I'd like to do my clinical pastoral education summer there. Exciting isn't it?
Peace,
Chris

Wittenberg, the play!

Looks kinda cool, yes?
Peace,
Chris

Clinton's warning to rivals via Bill

"I saw female lions go after warthogs while the male just laid there and watched. Which I thought was good preparation for my future, given this campaign, you know. Just sort of lay there and watch, you know... Right in front of our vehicle this female lion caught this warthog, picked him up by the back of the neck, and went like that and broke his neck. It was pretty gory. So much for peace in our time," - Bill Clinton on Letterman.

Rove's view of the Bush years

Bottom line, if Iraq turns out to be a Vietnam, he'll have done a bad job, if it turns out to be a World War Two he'll have done well.

When Bush Comes

In Tehran this is the equivalent to "when pigs fly." Essentially all of Bush's attempts to bring democracy and reform to Iran are causing further suppression of reformers and democrats. I guess Bush could assume he's forcing the Iranian regime to be so suppressive that reformers are forced to fight back?
Peace,
Chris

The real world and the cyber world meet

Today I had the distinct pleasure of meeting The Lutheran Zephyr at the playground behind my seminary flat. We hung out briefly, talked about the Seminary, his meeting his wife there, etc. It was cool, he’s a good guy.
The visit though, was also a little weird. No, Chris doesn’t have seven eyes, or three noses, instead its simply that we knew one another only through blogging previously. Blogging is, lets face it, a rather passive form of communication. You essentially throw this and that thing onto the web and hope someone else finds it interesting. This was face to face, and you realize there is a person on the other end of this computer.
Well, at any rate bloggings pretty cool. As you might remember I met Dan in Alaska a year ago, and now Chris D here in Philly.
Peace,
Chris

What's up in Iraq

Check this blog out. It's intense, written by a guy over there.
Peace,
Chris