Do we need to take this country back for God, or is this goal a distraction from the larger mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of Jesus? Are the two goals in conflict with one another or can they coincide? What is the relationship between God’s kingdom and the American socio-cultural landscape? Should we seek to [...]

Last night I saw the America often expressed in its ideals, but too little seen in its landscape. First, there was the results of a campaign season that was itself historic. A black man has been elected to the highest office of the land, an act that goes along way toward moving America beyond the [...]

I have read a couple of reports that said  John McCain has recieved Al Qaeda’s endorsement for president. These articles have hypothesized that Al Qaeda prefers McCain to Obama because they expect McCain to carry on Bush’s military strategy in Iraq, which gives Al Qaeda the continuing circumstances it needs to cash in on American [...]

Are Americans suspicious of intellectuals? I watched a good part of the Biden/Palin debate, and thought I had a good sense of who came out on top, but the next day my sense was undermined when I was listening to various political commentators who presented the debate as a toss up, or worse, that Palin [...]

I guess my blog is turning into a blog about the blogs I visit. The other day I visited Scot McKight’s “Jesus Creed” in which he wrote a post about Dobson’s critque of Obama’s speech regarding how to live out one’s faith in a pluralistic society. For those who don’t know, Dr. McKnight is a [...]

A few days ago, while listening to NPR, I heard a report about a Turkish journalist, of Armenian descent, Hrant Dink, who was shot and killed just outside of the newspaper office at which he worked. Ever since moving to Fresno, in my early twenties, I have become increasingly aware of the Armenian people: their [...]

I present a new dualism. Instead of Good versus Evil, I give you Good versus Taxes. It’ not that I want to construct this dualism and foist it upon the American public. Rather, this seems to be the dualism that Americans are already operating out of. During this campaign season I have heard politicians present [...]

As I am sure many astute people have already pointed out, there is an irony at work in Bush’s actions, and we Americans seem all to willing to go along with it.

Over the past few days I have been listening to the hearings for the appointment of Judge Roberts to the position of Chief Justice. Filling this position is of course a critical matter as the person who holds this office will likely have a profound influence on the shape of American culture. Thus, I am [...]