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Here’s video from the Dept of Defense (with commentary) showing the launch of the missile from the USS Lake Erie and the destruction of the inoperative US spy satellite that was in a decaying orbit. Very cool. Below is a clip from BBC offering analysis and commentary.
I recently received this news story from the Wall Street Journal. The headline is Philly’s War on the Boy Scouts.
Here’s how the article starts:
As Michael Nutter was sworn in as the city’s 98th mayor last month, he called for a new wave of public service to clean up drug-infested neighborhoods. If he is serious about renewing volunteerism, he’ll start by putting an end to the city’s campaign against the Boy Scouts.
On May 31, the Cradle of Liberty Council, the local Boy Scout chapter, will be evicted from its headquarters on 22nd and Winter Streets — a space it has occupied since 1928.
The eviction isn’t for a breach of contract. It comes at the behest of the City Council, which voted 16 to one last year to kick the boy scouts out unless they reverse the national Boy Scouts of America’s ban on gays serving in the ranks or as scoutmasters or start paying “market rent” — about $200,000 a year. Local chapters can’t reverse national scouting policies. So it’s a matter of paying up or moving out.Throughout the city, there are about 56,000 Boy Scouts who spend countless hours cleaning parks, running food drives, and organizing meals for the needy. And, of course, helping young boys, many without strong male figures in their lives, develop skills that will serve them well in life.
Here’s what I have to say about it:
I believe that it is reckless and unfair of Philly’s mayor and city council to treat the Boy Scouts this way. Federal courts have upheld the rights of BSA to exclude homosexuals from being scoutmasters. The fact is that the City of Philadelphia is simply unwilling to tolerate an organization which stands firm on principles that happen to conflict with their own.
This decision is especially reckless in light of of Philadelphia’s high crime rate. As of 2007, there were over 400 murders that took place in Philadelphia, not to mention its suburb — Camden, NJ (which consistently finds itself at the top of the list for most dangerous cities in America). (more news stories here and here.
When the Boy Scouts do so much good in a city that clearly needs to keep its youth off the streets and out of trouble, why punish them this way? The mayor and city council ought to be rewarding and encouraging organizations such as the Boy Scouts instead of treating them as unwelcomed guests in the City of “Brotherly Love.”
Love is in the air! It’s Valentine’s Day and everyone (well most people) is talking about it, trying to show their love and affection through gifts, romantic acts, fancy dinners, flowers, cards, etc. My wife and I have romantic plans as well. It’s Valentine’s Day and everyone is thinking about love.
As I was contemplating love, I remember a discussion that I’ve been having with a friend of mine who is also a fellow teacher of my bible study class. He has been working on a study of John 13:34-35. These verses say:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Recently Nathan (my fellow teacher) and I were discussing the issue of this commandment’s “newness.” What exactly makes it a “new” commandment. That’s what I want to write about here today.
You see, this is not the first time that Jesus has talked about commandments that involve loving. In fact, He quotes the Greatest Commandment and the second in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10). The Greatest Commandment, Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel is “”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
These commandments are not new; in fact, they are old ones. So what is different about the new commandment Jesus gives? We were already told to love God. That commandment is not affected. The old commandment to love others as ourselves is affected by the new command.
The way we were to love before –the way of the Golden Rule — is good. This command compels us to act as the Good Samaritan acted (Luke 10), caring for others just as we would care for ourselves. Those who follow this command are truly good people. However, Jesus raises the bar. He commands His disciples not only to love others as they love themselves, but even to love others as He loves them.
Here’s the difference: I can love others as myself without too much difficulty most times. Loving others this way involves giving, being considerate, generous, kind, etc. However, under this command, if my own interests come into conflict with those of my neighbor I can still put me first. For instance, if I have a choice between providing for myself or someone else, I can come first because the standard for my love for others is based upon my own love for myself (which is assumed). The new commandment goes beyond that. Christ’s love is a love that sacrifices. He loves us enough that He gave up His own life! He now calls upon His followers to love others in the same way. This kind of love is described in John 15:13:
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
In the next few verses He goes on to say that we (His followers) are His friends. So to love like Jesus now involves sacrifice. No longer do we get to put ourselves first. Now when our interests come into conflict with those of others, they come first because the basis is Christ’s example. This means that even (or especially) when it hurts us to love others, that is what we are called to do. That’s a big calling. Don’t you think so?
This is a big question, and one that I have been dealing with as I teach a series to the young singles at my church. Last week we discussed the origins of dissatisfaction. We talked about Genesis 3 and how Adam and Eve had everything they could possibly need in the Garden of Eden. However, they became dissatisfied when the Serpent sells them on the notion that God is keeping something from them, and that they will be satisfied when they get it.
We know now that it was a lie. They existed in a state of satisfaction and sinlessness until that fateful day.
In the next few lessons I’m going to be discussing two critical areas where people (particularly 20-something singles) look for satisfaction. This week we’re going to talk about satisfaction in relationships (how we tend to look for “someone to complete us”). The next lesson will be about material satisfaction (how we look for satisfaction with “stuff”).
To this end I’ve been trying to cobble together a definition of satisfaction. I’d love to have whatever contributions come my way with this.
The working definition I have so far looks like this:
Satisfaction is a state of contentment where we recognize that all of our needs are fully met by God: specifically our physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational needs.
Superbowl XLII was a great game. Patriot fans’ excuses notwithstanding, both teams played well, especially on defense. That said, I was pleased that the NY Giants won. I am not a Giants fan and I live deep in the heart of Cowboy country. I have always been impressed by the Manning family, and it’s neat that Eli gets to have a ring the year after his brother wins his.
I think that the real MVP of the game should have been Giants DE Michael Strahan or someone else on the defensive side of the ball. They kept the Giants in the game.
Another thought I have is more of a question. Did Patriots coach Bill Belichick show poor sportsmanship by leaving the field with 02 seconds left on the clock? In my discussions with a Patriots fan today, he says I’m just trying to justify my dislike for New England, but I wonder. We can agree, however, that there was no love lost between the teams, their extra-rough play was more than enough evidence of that fact. I was suprised that the refs let so much go.
What do you think about the Superbowl? What about sportsmanship?
I realize I haven’t posted anything in quite some time now, so this post will be a sort of hodge-podge of thoughts that have been on my mind of late.
Politics:
I’ve been following the Presidential race fairly closely and, while I am not in love with any of the candidates, I think I like Mitt Romney the best. Since Fred Thompson, who was my favorite, dropped out Romney seems to be my second choice. Here’s the basic “why”: Ron Paul is crazy — I like that he forces the Republican pack to be more conservative in some ways, and I’ve recently decided that I like him as a congressman. We need more radical conservatives in congress, but he’s a bit too libertarian to be my choice for President. Mike Huckabee seems like a great man, but his big heart just reaches into our pockets too often. I believe that his record indicates that he would enlarge the government–and that’s not what we need. Finally, John McCain: I appreciate that he is a Vietnam vet (and former POW). He is truly an American hero, but since then he has made some really, really bad calls in the Senate. And if I hear him allude to his Vietnam service or being “a footsoldier in the Reagan Revolution” one more time I might just be sick.
SBC:
Fresh news: Wade Burleson resigns from the IMB BOT. I think this is a significant event, and frankly I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. What will the impact be? We’ll have to wait and see. Will we see major consequences to this resignation? I kinda doubt it.
Church:
This week I am starting a series in my sunday school class entitled “Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” We will be discussing what it means for young singles (in their 20’s) to find true satisfaction. This week we’ll be looking at the Fall in Genesis 3 and examining the beginnings of human dissatisfaction. We will also look at the root of dissatisfaction, which I believe stems from the belief that God is holding out on us. Our dissatisfaction as Christians ultimately comes from an inherent belief that we should have more than God has given us. In some cases, we will see that God does want more for us, but often we are dissatisfied when we want something that God has not given us, and often we try to find satisfaction by seeking these things in the wrong ways.
In this series I’ll also talk about:
Someone to Complete Me – where we’ll investigate the lie that young men and women cannot be whole until they have a spouse. The result is a frantic, and often misguided, search for the person who will give us what we want — this is not what God had in mind for our relationships.
The Right Stuff – here we’ll look at how we often try to find satisfaction by getting the “stuff” that our culture tells us we need to be happy. We’ll look at the lie that says, these clothes, or that ipod, or the certain car, or house, etc. will satisfy you. Ultimately we know that things can’t satisfy us.
And finally,
Yes, You Can Find True Satisfaction – this will be the final lesson where we will look at how the Bible tells us we can find satisfaction in any life circumstance. Ultimately our satisfaction must come from Christ.
There it is, one big post that gives an update on what’s been on my mind lately.
