Happy New Year?

An offering of thought provoking insights from around the Net and Blogosphere:

1) "One wonders how the world would react if Spain moved forcefully to stop Basque terrorism or if the American Christian left would bleat quite so loudly if Mexican insurgents targeted San Diego with rocket and terrorist attacks. How would Britain react to similar attacks launched by the Irish Republican Army? Why should Israel be denied the right to respond to aggression? How many rockets does it take to warrant a strong and decisive response?"

Click Here

2) "...as an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God."

3) "People who voted that way on Nov. 4, 2008 actually voted, whether they know it or not, for pro-lifers like me to begin paying for abortions through my tax dollars. Their vote was not morally neutral; in fact, their vote will help generate a boom cycle for abortion clinics."

Click Here

And Here

Happy New Year? Perhaps we should pray.
But What?

Click Here.

Just For Fun

Grumpiness first:


The morons of leftist media (MSNBC, NBC, The New York Times, and CNN topping the list) never cease to amaze and disgust me. Objective journalism is all but dead in this nation. But when you're in the back pocket of the Democratic Party, why bother being objective? But then, the same could be said for other media outlets and the Republican party. Hmm...does my dissatisfaction with both make me a Libertarian?

See Here.


Now for cheerfulness:


The Real Saint Nick
An interesting article on the history of the factual Saint Nicholas of Turkey and what he means for our virtues today.

Christmas Giveaway
T-Wax is giving away all ten of his favorite books of the year plus an ESV Study Bible. Click for details.

Redeeming Social Life Online
Click Here to check out some provoking thoughts on a Christian's approach to Facebook.
I'm not sure how I feel about all it's nuances, but it certainly is something to ponder.

Redeeming Time
Speaking of which, here is an insight into ways to redeem that which we all have a tendency to waste: time.

Redeeming Words
For those, like me, who love to read, love to buy books (even though it will be years before I get around to reading some of them) and are overwhelmed with any given bookstore (particularly Christian bookstores) on what is worth reading or perusing, consider this blog.

A Season of Thanksgiving

I said it would be coming--even if it is several days late!

There is a decent amount to be said, pro and con, for this civic holiday.

Ira Stoll in the Wall Street Journal looks back at the first Thanksgiving proclamation--not by Lincoln, but by Samuel Adams in 1777.

And David Gelernter in The Weekly Standard looks back at Lincoln's last Thanksgiving, April 11, 1865--two days after end of the Civil War and four days before the president was murdered.

Both articles explore the historical situation at those times.

Abraham Lincoln (who may or may not have been a believer)on October 3, 1863, after acknowledging the positive blessings in America despite the terrible pain of the Civil War:

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.

Read the whole thing.

But for the Christian, Thanksgiving is a spiritual "state" that is never out of season, not simply a holiday celebrated in late November because American culture deems it fitting. Indeed we are to approach the Throne of Grace in a spirit of thanksgiving--expressing gratitude at all times (even before we confess our sin!) for what God has done in our lives and most importantly through his Son, Christ Jesus.

"O go your way into His gates with thanksgiving and unto His courts with Praise!" (Psalm 100)

Finally, Consider Psalm 111. Therein is something to be thankful for!

"Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!"