Category Archives: culture

surprising “intellectual competence”

here is an interesting story on Mike Huckabee and his chances in the upcoming 2012 presidential race. John Miller pointed it out on the Corner a little while ago and I bring it up because of this interesting little window … Continue reading

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propaganda

a study in comparison and contrast first: second (doesn’t this one seem impossibly dated and silly already?):

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democracy and morality

yesterday evening Instapundit linked to Todd Zywicki at the Volokh Conspiracy which had an excerpt from a fascinating and lengthy Kenneth Minogue paper at the New Criterion. It is a thought provoking look at the relationship between democratically elected governments … Continue reading

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a great speech

Justice Scalia gave a speech this last week at his granddaughter’s high school on the occasion of her graduation from that institution. here is a brief but delicious excerpt. “[A] platitude I want discuss comes in many flavors. It can … Continue reading

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something with nothing

in another of a continuing theme on this blog, I just thought that I would point out that Mark Steyn agrees with me that you don’t replace something with nothing. Which brings me to my big philosophical difference with Ms. … Continue reading

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best city to live in for the next decade

Austin is number 1 on Kiplinger’s list of 10 best cities for the next decade to live in. Here is what they say: Source: Kiplinger we love Austin. Yesterday we went to the 11:15 service at Austin Stone. Then we … Continue reading

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joy and expertise

it is a delight to watch and learn from somebody who has great expertise in an area and great joy in working in that area. what a wonderful example of taking pleasure at work and doing it well. watch this: … Continue reading

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day off reading

here are a couple of things to read tomorrow on the day off in between grilling hot dogs and being thankful for the soldiers who have won and kept our freedom. the first is for all those people who claim … Continue reading

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something with nothing

the latest in the “you don’t replace something with nothing” series. here is the beginning: Yet it’s worth looking closely and seriously at the election-year enthusiasm of media elites and other Obamaphiles, much of which was indeed, as the wags … Continue reading

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western civilization 101

here is a wonderfully refreshing perspective on the clash of civilizations from Rodney Stark. Be sure to read it all and here is a bit to get you started: The Crusades did not arise ex nihilo, but were part of a … Continue reading

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the world is changing

the world is changing very rapidly, right in front of our eyes. From Timmy Brister who adds that churches need to be paying attention.

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the swagger wagon

as I mentioned a couple of months ago, John Piper’s son Abraham and daughter-in-law Mollie are having twins. Abraham and Mollie have decided to buy a minivan and Abraham posted a video today about Toyota Sienna. I have had a … Continue reading

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two tough takes

here are two tough to hear takes on the Christian life described in the Bible compared to the modern church in the U.S. today. from David Platt: and from Francis Chan: HT to Timmy Brister for posting both of these … Continue reading

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politics and the Christian

thoughts from Wayne Grudem Wayne Grudem on Politics and the Christian from Adrian Warnock on Vimeo. HT to Vitamin Z.

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Dr. Moore is not a pre-trib rapture guy

Dr. Russell Moore is not a pre-tribber, but loves those who are. Go listen to his lesson on the topic at the link. It is an excellent approach to a secondary topic in the church. Great lesson in how to … Continue reading

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Breaking music news

merle haggard has a new album out. That is all. (oh. and it sounds really good)

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generational hope

the pro life movement is skewing younger. be sure to read all of the linked post for the self description and the observation by Nancy Keenan from NARAL. Anyone who attends the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. can’t … Continue reading

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on killing an argument

Some things said are calculated to stop an argument. When one side delegitimizes the opposition, then the argument is over. That is why Godwin’s law matters. The first person who calls the other team nazis should be declared the losers, … Continue reading

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learning

there are some things that are just true. one is that you can’t listen when you are talking. another is that you can’t learn anything if you know everything already. Both of those things came to mind when I read … Continue reading

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democracy is an obstacle

and people are too stupid to do the right thing. So says James Lovelock. never heard of James Lovelock? Neither had I, so I checked up on him at Wikipedia. here is what Wikipedia lists as his bibliography: Lovelock, James … Continue reading

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quick hits

weekend wrap up. Here is a long, detailed and informative look at health care and the profit motive from Avik Roy. Be sure to read the whole thing. When it comes to health care, liberals and conservatives often seem to … Continue reading

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God is on the move

the latest from Seat M8. Here is Andrea telling the story of her time in Turkey. M8-Andrea from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

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Jacksonians and Tea Partiers

I think that Mead and Goldberg are talking about the same group of folks. If not exactly the same group, then a substantially overlapping one if you were looking at a Venn Diagram. here’s Walter Russell Meade: Many of the … Continue reading

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a meditation on life

take some time to read this beautiful essay about love, divorce, life, death and suffering etc. Here is how it begins: It was a quiet room in a hospice, the only sounds the muffled pumping of oxygen, and the softer … Continue reading

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Christianity v. Islam

here is an interesting article positing that the gains of Christianity in Africa are the reason that Muslims are pushing so hard. I like this description of current western religion: The word “Christian”, associated in the 19th and 20th centuries … Continue reading

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