You need a license to drive. You need a license to fish, hunt or own a gun. You even need a license to get married.
Sometimes I wonder if we should require a license for procreation, because a lot of people have no clue when it comes to parenting. Examples of parents behaving badly are never hard to find, but a couple in recent weeks have caught my attention.
Here’s your chance to post a comment about any topic that’s on your mind. Have a good weekend.
On Sept. 10, I started running. I’ve tried running several times over the years on a sporadic basis, but never was able to stick with it for longer than a few weeks at most.
I had been planning to start exercising more regularly, and then I came across Joe Thorn’s blog on running — Learning to Run. Joe’s experience inspired me, so I decided to give running another shot.
I’m not the student of running Joe that is, and I haven’t run as frequently as I should have. But still, my progress has been pretty steady. My first day I ran 1.35 miles. Today, 80 days later, I topped the five-mile mark for the first time, running 5.3 miles in 49:55.
I’m not sure what my running goals are for the future. I don’t have any aspirations of running a marathon or anything like that. For now, I’d like to run three days a week, and would like to get 12-15 miles per week.
I can’t say that I love running, but I do like what I’ve been able to accomplish, and I love the way that it makes me feel physically. The upcoming winter months may pose a challenge, and I hope I’ll be able to keep running consistently in the cold. At least I don’t have to run in Chicago like Joe does. We’ll see how it goes.
Kevin Shrum has an interesting take on the controversy surrounding “The Golden Compass.” He argues that the movie is simply entertainment and that Christians shouldn’t take it so seriously.
As entertainment, a movie ought to rank low on our list of world-shaping, idea-forming influences. This may sound naïve in a culture that is entertainment driven. Entertainment is non-reality, it is meant to be a form of escapism at best. For roughly two hours the viewer suspends his disbelief and lives in another world, fantasy or otherwise. But the movie ends, the lights come up and we return to the real.
Shrum adds that he will watch the movie and will probably enjoy it.
And what about the killing of God and the atheistic tendencies of the story and the movie? Well, that’s the real entertainment. People, governments, philosophers, artisans and even some theologians have been attempting to kill God and His church for centuries but to no avail. Why? Because after the viewer suspends her belief system for a moment of cinematic entertainment the lights come up and she must walk right back into the reality that God is not dead.
I didn’t watch the Republican debate (see the transcript: part 1 and part 2) last night, but there was a question about the Bible posed to the candidates by a man via YouTube: Do you believe every word of the Bible? See the end of part 1 and the beginning of part 2 to read the responses.
In short, Rudy Giuliani said it’s the greatest book ever written, but that he doesn’t believe everything should be taken literally (such as Jonah in the belly of the fish). Mitt Romney said he believes the Bible is the word of God, but that some people might interpret it differently. Mike Huckabee said the Bible is God’s revelation to us, but added that not everything in it should be taken literally.
An interesting exchange, I guess — but as I’ve said before, I don’t think it’s necessary for someone to have a proper understanding of the Bible in order for him or her to be a capable president.
Your thoughts?
Hat tip: Brett
Pat Sajak has a great column about the meaning (or lack thereof) of celebrity endorsements:
It’s one thing to buy an ab machine because Chuck Norris recommends it (he’s in good shape, isn’t he?) or a grill because George Foreman’s name is on it (he’s a great guy, so it must be a great grill!), but the idea of choosing the Leader of the Free World based on the advice of someone who lives in the cloistered world of stardom seems a bit loony to me.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
La Russa said he had decided to plead guilty to the misdemeanor because it was in the best interest of all concerned.
“I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never occur again,” La Russa said in a statement released by his attorney, David Roth. La Russa did not appear in court to plead guilty.
As part of his plea agreement, La Russa will serve at least six months’ probation, pay a $678.50 fine, complete DUI school and any recommended treatment and complete 50 hours of community service, according to state prosecutors.
Hat tip: Steve
From the stupid criminals file:
Have you heard about the British teacher in Sudan who could face 40 lashes because she allowed her class to name a teddy bear “Mohammed”?
Yeah, Islam is a religion of peace. What a joke.
Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel has proposed a playoff system for college football that looks pretty darn good to me. Here’s what it would look like this year.
Now that would make for some interesting football. Instead of one postseason game that has meaning, you’d have 15 games that have meaning.
Hat tip: Mark G.
Gordon Cloud writes about the humiliating search to which he was subjected on a recent trip to Washington D.C.
Steve Weaver has a helpful post about the origins of Thanksgiving.
Does church discipline have a place in today’s church? It’s a question j razz asks in response to reports of a sex scandal at an Atlanta church.