CNN.com – ‘West Wing’ candidates clash in live debate – Nov 7, 2005 I really enjoy The West Wing. As a show, while they have had many episodes I think were mediocre, they have also had shining moments in which they project an image of what politics could be like, and really should be like….
Recently Rosa Parks passed away. Many people mourn her passing, and rightly so. She made a major difference in American life. But in another sense, the attention paid to her is strange–not “bad” strange, but “good” strange. We tend to notice people who do the big things, the spectacular things, the very public things. We…
Before you start reading this, let me warn you that I sometimes make weird connections between one event or word and another. Last night I attended a portion of a 24 hour praise and worship marathon. Since I like my comfort pretty well, I took along a nice, comfortable, folding, cloth chair. As I sat…
Two members of the committe that produced the current science standards in Minnesota have written a summary of the process for the Florida Citizens for Science blog. The Minnesota experience is of interest to Floridians, because Cheri Pierson Yecke has been made our K-12 Chancellor. I recommend that Floridians read this summary and ask yourselves…
I want to congratulate West Wing on NBC for providing some thoughtful coverage of the ID issue. While scientific and theological articles and books may cover the issue more thoroughly, intelligent handling in the context of a popular TV show helps get the message through the culture. Presidential candidate Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits,…
In a number of worship services that I’ve attended lately, I have been looking for a word to describe what I experience. Unfortunately, I think I have found that word–pale. (I’ll get to the “horse” thing later!) I don’t intend this as a criticism of any particular church or worship service, nor of any particular…
There’s a quote that often ends discussion of Biblical interpretation. One party to the discussion will announce: “That’s just your interpretation.” Debate is supposed to stop. Everyone is supposed to realize that their view really has no advantage over anyone else’s, and just let the discussion die. One person with whom I correspond occasionally online…
One of the ways I use to check material that is written outside of my own field of expertise is to look at how the author(s) handle material that is within my field. This can come dangerously close to ad hominem, but I believe it is a valid approach used carefully. If an author misuses…
I heard an outstanding sermon yesterday at Gonzalez United Methodist Church. I really enjoy the opportunity to report positive things from churches that I visit. This one is only about five minutes from my home. The key quote that I wrote down in my bulletin was this: The heart of any church is seen in…
I want to recommend a story from MSNBC that illustrates how many officials and private individuals managed to respond to Hurricane Katrina. The key element in their response was thinking outside the box, or to use the term I used in my previous post, they were architects of the spaces. The article is Surviving the…