Thomas Sowell has a good column of random thoughts on NRO today.
A few good ones:
Few things are more scary than the number of people who rely on talking points, instead of weighing serious issues in a serious way.
In politics, there are few skills more richly rewarded than the ability to misstate issues in a way that will sound plausible and attractive.
“A good catchword can obscure analysis for fifty years,” said Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. If so, then we may be hearing about “diversity,” “social justice” and “a living wage” for many years to come.
Has anyone actually seen Rachael Ray measure out the ingredients she puts into her cooking, instead of using a pinch of this and a handful of that?
It’s worth going to read the whole thing.
Normally when I read a good column I’m just gonna hit the Gordita button and post it to del.icio.us, which means it’d show up here tonight in the links area. But today’s column by Thomas Sowell on NRO is worth a post of its own. Sowell gives us a column of “random thoughts”, including some very quote-worthy thoughts. Just a few:
A reader wrote: “Have you ever noticed that opinion polls ask the opinions of people who have no expertise in the subject on which they are being polled and publish these opinions as if they were gospel truth instead of group ignorance?”
Some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not God.
Too many people in positions of responsibility act as if these are just positions of opportunity — for themselves. The ones who simply steal money probably do less harm than teachers who propagandize their students, media who slant the news, or politicians who sell out their country’s interests in order to get reelected.
You should probably go read the whole thing.
It’s been a while since I’ve updated the links on my blogroll to the right. I realized today that I’m way behind in adding Rae Whitlock’s blog to my list of links. I met Rae in person for the first time last fall, and he’s one of those guys I am real proud to call a brother.
Rae recently resurrected his blog and I am happy to add a link to it today. Go check out raewhitlock.com when you get a chance. I enjoy it, maybe you will too.
My pastor and friend Richard wrote a post today entitled “The Tired Peacemaker”. It’s worth a read.
Brilliant stuff from Jonah Goldberg today on the increasing desire of government to regulate the “little stuff”. He begins by listing everything the New York City Council banned or tried to ban in 2006. It’s a long list. And he notes some other bans around the country.
Then he pulls out a penetrating comment from deToqueville:
“It must not be forgotten that it is especially dangerous to enslave men in the minor details of life. For my own part, I should be inclined to think freedom less necessary in great things than in little ones. …”
“Subjection in minor affairs breaks out every day and is felt by the whole community indiscriminately. It does not drive men to resistance, but it crosses them at every turn, till they are led to surrender the exercise of their own will.”
Then Goldberg brings it home with stunning clarity (emphasis mine):
This is a typically penetrating insight, and one with new relevance these days. This country seems to have inverted de Tocqueville’s hierarchy. On countless fronts, the natural pastures of daily liberty have become circumscribed by dull-witted but well-meaning bureaucrats slapping down the paving stones of good intentions on the road to hell.
The rule of thumb for a free society should be that it infringes liberties rarely, but when it does so it is for important reasons. Today, that thumb has been cast down, Caesar-like, pointing in the opposite direction. We have democratized the small assaults on freedom so that everyone must endure them, while we caterwaul about the tyranny of any real inconvenience that might fall “disproportionately” on the few. We ban using trans fats for millions but flinch at the idea that some kid might have to endure the Pledge of Allegiance or a moment of silence in school if it conflicts with his conscience. Everyone must surrender his shoes, his regular-sized toothpaste and shampoo at the airport, but we man the barricades to protect a few young Muslim men from being inconvenienced for an extra five minutes at the airport.
Free speech is most restricted where it is most important — in political contests near Election Day — while it is maximized to an absurd level at the fringes of culture and decency. Banning “hate speech” from everybody’s lips is a progressive priority, but electronic eavesdropping on a few terrorists is an impermissible leap down the slippery slope to the police state.
Goldberg is right, as usual. Go read the whole article.
Brilliant stuff from Jonah Goldberg today on the increasing desire of government to regulate the “little stuff”. He begins by listing everything the New York City Council banned or tried to ban in 2006. It’s a long list. And he notes some other bans around the country.
Then he pulls out a penetrating comment from deToqueville:
“It must not be forgotten that it is especially dangerous to enslave men in the minor details of life. For my own part, I should be inclined to think freedom less necessary in great things than in little ones. …”
“Subjection in minor affairs breaks out every day and is felt by the whole community indiscriminately. It does not drive men to resistance, but it crosses them at every turn, till they are led to surrender the exercise of their own will.”
Then Goldberg brings it home with stunning clarity (emphasis mine):
This is a typically penetrating insight, and one with new relevance these days. This country seems to have inverted de Tocqueville’s hierarchy. On countless fronts, the natural pastures of daily liberty have become circumscribed by dull-witted but well-meaning bureaucrats slapping down the paving stones of good intentions on the road to hell.
The rule of thumb for a free society should be that it infringes liberties rarely, but when it does so it is for important reasons. Today, that thumb has been cast down, Caesar-like, pointing in the opposite direction. We have democratized the small assaults on freedom so that everyone must endure them, while we caterwaul about the tyranny of any real inconvenience that might fall “disproportionately” on the few. We ban using trans fats for millions but flinch at the idea that some kid might have to endure the Pledge of Allegiance or a moment of silence in school if it conflicts with his conscience. Everyone must surrender his shoes, his regular-sized toothpaste and shampoo at the airport, but we man the barricades to protect a few young Muslim men from being inconvenienced for an extra five minutes at the airport.
Free speech is most restricted where it is most important — in political contests near Election Day — while it is maximized to an absurd level at the fringes of culture and decency. Banning “hate speech” from everybody’s lips is a progressive priority, but electronic eavesdropping on a few terrorists is an impermissible leap down the slippery slope to the police state.
Goldberg is right, as usual. Go read the whole article.
Brilliant stuff from Jonah Goldberg today on the increasing desire of government to regulate the “little stuff”. He begins by listing everything the New York City Council banned or tried to ban in 2006. It’s a long list. And he notes some other bans around the country.
Then he pulls out a penetrating comment from deToqueville:
“It must not be forgotten that it is especially dangerous to enslave men in the minor details of life. For my own part, I should be inclined to think freedom less necessary in great things than in little ones. …”
“Subjection in minor affairs breaks out every day and is felt by the whole community indiscriminately. It does not drive men to resistance, but it crosses them at every turn, till they are led to surrender the exercise of their own will.”
Then Goldberg brings it home with stunning clarity (emphasis mine):
This is a typically penetrating insight, and one with new relevance these days. This country seems to have inverted de Tocqueville’s hierarchy. On countless fronts, the natural pastures of daily liberty have become circumscribed by dull-witted but well-meaning bureaucrats slapping down the paving stones of good intentions on the road to hell.
The rule of thumb for a free society should be that it infringes liberties rarely, but when it does so it is for important reasons. Today, that thumb has been cast down, Caesar-like, pointing in the opposite direction. We have democratized the small assaults on freedom so that everyone must endure them, while we caterwaul about the tyranny of any real inconvenience that might fall “disproportionately” on the few. We ban using trans fats for millions but flinch at the idea that some kid might have to endure the Pledge of Allegiance or a moment of silence in school if it conflicts with his conscience. Everyone must surrender his shoes, his regular-sized toothpaste and shampoo at the airport, but we man the barricades to protect a few young Muslim men from being inconvenienced for an extra five minutes at the airport.
Free speech is most restricted where it is most important — in political contests near Election Day — while it is maximized to an absurd level at the fringes of culture and decency. Banning “hate speech” from everybody’s lips is a progressive priority, but electronic eavesdropping on a few terrorists is an impermissible leap down the slippery slope to the police state.
Goldberg is right, as usual. Go read the whole article.
Found this wonderful little article from Will Willimon entitled “Resisting the Clutches of Consumerism”. A good read, especially this time of year.
…the “user friendly” approach to church won’t work. There is no way to entice people off the streets with hymns that are based on advertising jingles and end up with the cross-bearing, self-sacrificial, burden-bearing Jesus. Evangelism cannot be based upon our basic selfishness (“Come to Jesus and get everything you want fixed.”) and end up with anything resembling historic Christianity.
Good stuff, for sure. Go read the whole thing.
I just posted a short piece on our church website about blogging and how to get started reading blogs. If you’re reading this, you’re already reading blogs, so you don’t need the first part of the article. However, I thought I’d cross-post some of my reading list here; you have probably read some of these blogs already, but there may be a new one or two in the list. Enjoy!
Between Two Worlds – Justin Taylor is an editor at Crossway Books, and was before that a staff member at John Piper’s Desiring God Ministries. Justin is a frequent and informative blogger. This is a must-read blog.
Colossians 3:16 – This blog is written by the pastor of a church very near the town where I lived in Texas. He writes about music, theology, and has a weekly roundup that includes poetry!
Corner Table Online – This blog is written by some friends of mine. Their self-description: “We are young. We are writers. We are not satisfied with the way life is covered by the current crop of culture publications. We thought we could do better.” Worth reading.
Internet Monk – Michael Spencer is a Baptist pastor and teacher at a Baptist school in Kentucky. He is often controversial, but I have resonated more with and found more insight in his writing than in any other blogger of late.
Sacred Journey – Mark Traphagen is a forty-something seminary student in Philadelphia. He writes thoughtfully and shares from his life.
Worship Matters – Bob Kauflin is a long-time songwriter and musician. He is now the worship pastor at Sovereign Grace church outside of Washington, DC. He has good insights on doing music ministry.
Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key – OK, I have to plug my own blog here. Definitely the weakest of all that have been listed here… but you’ll find out a little more about me.
While I dont’ generate quite as much link traffic as, say, Geof does, I figure it might still be fun from time to time to give you some idea of the web links I’ve been following and reading. Then you, my intelligent, discerning, and thoughtful readers, can enjoy this Chris-approved list of goodness. 
Spiritual/Theological/Church Links
- Monday Devotions – Confession [Worship Matters]
Bob Kauflin gives us the text of a corporate confession of sin used at his church recently. It’s good. - No Fetal Positions Allowed! [The Boneman]
A reminder that the communion service should be a time of rejoicing in our salvation rather than a morose reflection on our own sin. - Quit and See What Happens [internetmonk.com]
Michael Spencer says there’s many folks that are too busy with church stuff, that should quit for a while. Boy did this hit home with me. - Answering Greg Boyd’s Openness of God Texts [The Resurgence]
John Piper deals with some of the texts most often championed by Open Theism. - Evangelistic Worship [The Resurgence]
This is the best post I’ve read on worship in a long, long time. The thoughts in here will reshape the way we think about and do worship at Noelridge.
Geeky Links
- Download of the Day: myFairTunes6 [Lifehacker]
This nifty little app will strip the DRM information from iTunes downloads. - Pop-up Potpourri: Perpetually In Beta [The Daily WTF]
Gotta love the humor of these pop-up error messages. - Hack Attack: Get More From Google Desktop [Lifehacker]
I’m still torn on Google Desktop; it’s a great tool, but I’m just a little bit leery of a Google app searching through all the documents on my computer. Still, these are some great tweaks and ideas.