David Brooks: Ceding the Center.

I just finished reading an excellent article by David Brooks in the International Herald Tribune on the third (and centrist) political tendency in The United States' limited two party system. It is very much worth a read.


(Thanks to o wise one.)

Philemon 1:4-7.

Today the reading for The Journey struck a chord with me.  Part of the passage was Philemon 1:4-7:

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

This prayer challenges me very deeply. If someone remembers me in their prayer, would this be the context? Would such a person thank God for their great joy and encouragement that came from my love for them? To be honest, I doubt it. I hope on some level some people out there would. However, I'm not so sure that my faith in Christ or my love for His saints always stand out as the defining bedrock of my character. My new prayer for myself is that God would mold me into a person whom would have resonance with the above prayer from Paul. If I pop up in your mind during your own prayers and your thought isn't to thank God for my refreshing upon your life, feel free to intercede for me that in time I would be such a friend and brother in Christ. I would be eternally grateful.

Why I love Wednesdays.

Used to, there really wasn't anything that special about Wednesdays. It was merely hump day. The last month however, I have joined some of my family after work for some coffee and a snack at the nearby Corner Bakery. I know, I know. It's very Mayberry, but I really like it. What has been most enjoyable though has been spending weekly time with my aunt, whom I absolutely love being around. Conversation with Connie (the aunt) is always thoughtful, and she is one of those people that when I talk with her, or if she is asking me something, I feel that she really does care. This I have found to be both refreshing and encouraging. So, now you know where I'll be in about 30 minutes (well, if you read this real-time, anyway).

i am the pumpkin carving king.

Writing on the Wall.

Blake sent me this great article from the New York Times, written on September 30, 1999. The proximity of date is highly ironic, as the article foreshadows this week's struggling of the United States' banking system. Be sure not to miss paragraph seven.