Roots of Self-Responsibility and Optimism “All is well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Julian of Norwich I have suggested that Meister Eckhart is right when he says “Thank You” is not just one of many good and appropriate prayers, but in some way both the capstone [...]
Archive for November, 2007
November 29, 2007
2
Brief Debate Recap (Updated and Bumped)
By Matthew Lee Anderson in PoliticsTonight’s winner? I’m biased, but I think Huck did particularly well, especially at the end. He had solid answers (especially on taxes and the question about the Bible), was as likeable as expected (my wife, who had never heard him before, was impressed), and avoided making any significant blunders (qualification: I missed the first 45 [...]
November 29, 2007
0
Huckabee’s Finest Moment (So Far)
By Matthew Lee Anderson in PoliticsIn a media-driven political environment, the ability to communicate difficult and complex issues with grace and ease is essential. For all his virtues, it is a skill that our current president lacks, which has proved nearly disastrous for our current war. Last night, Mike Huckabee demonstrated his surpassing ability to communicate those difficult issues with [...]
November 29, 2007
2
V. Dependence is the Only Psychological Fact
By Keith E. D. Buhler in All Things LovelyJoy is the Only Psychological Fact “All day I think about it, then at night I say it: Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. My soul is from elsewhere, I am sure of that, and I intend to end up there. This drunkenness began [...]
November 28, 2007
2
Giuliani on Welfare: The Height of Unintentional Comedy
By Matthew Lee Anderson in HumorWhat I’ve seen of tonight’s debate is not so inspiring. But Rudy Giuliani hit a home run on the “unintentional comedy” scale with his remarks on welfare: “I moved 600,000 people off of welfare during my time as mayor, most of them to jobs.” Which begs the question: what happened to the rest of those [...]
November 28, 2007
6
The Second Half Comeback: Huckabee’s Momentum (Update)
By Matthew Lee Anderson in PoliticsClearly, if this election were a football game, Huckabee’s surge would be the equivalent of a second-half comeback. He has all the momentum on his side, and he is making huge strides in overcoming his opponents. The main question, of course, is whether he can keep the momentum long enough to propel him to victory, [...]
November 28, 2007
3
Private or Public: Marriage, History, and Stephanie Coontz
By Matthew Lee Anderson in People and RelationshipsStephanie Coontz continues to make the case for homosexual marriage, appealing to a principle that is increasingly popular among evangelicals: the state should keep its grubby hands off marriage. Coontz appeals to history for her case, arguing that the State and the Church viewed marriage as a private decision for sixteen centuries. But Coontz’s argument [...]
November 28, 2007
1
IV. Entitlement is the Only Sin
By Keith E. D. Buhler in All Things LovelyEntitlement is the only sin. “Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as especial favours. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God.” Thomas A Kempis Entitlement has many names, [...]
November 27, 2007
0
The Oxford Union and Holocaust Deniers
By Matthew Lee Anderson in Outside Articles of InterestColumbia University, one of America’s more prestigious universities, created a furor when they invited Mahmoud Ahadinejad to speak on their campus. It doesn’t make the decision any better, but at least he has the credibility of being the leader of a country. In their attempt to play catch-up with their American friends, the Oxford Union [...]
November 27, 2007
0
III. A Rough Definition of Gratitude
By Keith E. D. Buhler in All Things LovelyGratitude Is the Spontaneous Emotion of Thanksgiving and Happiness in Response to Some Unmerited Good. When someone gives you a gift you did not expect and did not deserve, you ought (and most people do) feel a spontaneous sense of gratitude. Gratitude is an openness, a rather vulnerable and tender affection, a sense of one’s [...]
November 26, 2007
10
Worse than Asparagus: Charlie Lehardy on Jazz
By Matthew Lee Anderson in All Things LovelyCharlie Lehardy thinks jazz is (gasp!) worse than asparagus: Jazz may be worse than asparagus. As a musician, I have great respect for the virtuosity of jazz artists, most of whom are masters of their instruments. I can relate to the desire to do something novel and unconventional. But deep down in the musical recesses [...]
November 25, 2007
0
I. The Divine Attitude of Divine Gratitude
By Keith E. D. Buhler in UncategorizedWhat I am going to say may sound like exaggeration. It is. But it is hyperbolic speech for hyperbolic reality. I exaggerate about grand things for to speak softly would be a lie. Follow me closely and hear what I say. I have only lived a few short years (25 this December) and the more [...]
November 25, 2007
0
II. Appropriate Emotions
By Keith E. D. Buhler in All Things LovelyAppropriate Emotions The first and foremost fact we must acquaint ourselves with is that certain emotions are appropriate given a stimulus and certain others are not. See CS Lewis for a detailed and robust argument in Abolition of Man. For now a few common sense observations will suffice. Seeing a baby and feeling happiness, tenderness, [...]