Al Mohler offers an insightful article on the current state of Russia.
Reports out of Russia indicate that the recent military clash with Georgia may have represented something more like desperation than opportunism. Murray Feshbach of The Washington Post reports that, all things considered, Russia is actually close to a national collapse.
“Predictions that Russia will again become powerful, rich and influential ignore some simply devastating problems at home that block any march to power,” Feshbach reports. “Sure, Russia’s army could take tiny Georgia. But Putin’s military is still in tatters, armed with rusting weaponry and staffed with indifferent recruits. Meanwhile, a declining population is robbing the military of a new generation of soldiers. Russia’s economy is almost totally dependent on the price of oil. And, worst of all, it’s facing a public health crisis that verges on the catastrophic.”
Chuck Colson writes an insightful article on how we should process the current economic chaos.
Most of us have been badly shaken by the tumultuous events on Wall Street in recent weeks. If you have an IRA or some kind of retirement plan, no doubt you are licking your wounds. You may even be fearful. I understand. I have experienced those apprehensions myself.
But we need to remember that fear is always the enemy of faith. The financial markets are his. The world is his.
Here is something else to remember: God often uses adversity for his greatest blessings - in several ways in this case. Christians are called to do the best things in the worst of times.
Cal Thomas compares those who have take advantage of their position to reap tens of millions to the notorious bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde:
MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON’T UNDERSTAND AND CAN’T EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING ON WALL STREET AND IN WASHINGTON WITH THE PROPOSED $700 BILLION BAILOUT PACKAGE. BUT THEY DO UNDERSTAND ONE THING VERY WELL. THEY UNDERSTAND PEOPLE SWORN TO UPHOLD THE LAW, WHO AT A MINIMUM BENT IT AND MAY HAVE BROKEN IT. THEY UNDERSTAND REGULATORS CHARGED WITH REGULATING WHO DIDN’T. . .. BONNIE AND CLYDE WOUND UP DEAD AT THE HANDS OF THE LAW FOR ROBBING BANKS. THIS BUNCH WILL END UP EVEN RICHER FOR ROBBING THE PUBLIC. . . .
Crunchy Con explains why he thinks Sarah Palin has so energized the GOP.
Reading this story, I understood more than anything else I’ve read about Sarah Palin why she’s made that gut connection with so many Americans. She really is from a small town, and does not seem to have forgotten that. Think about the powerful message this sends to small-town, rural and working-class voters. Think about what it says about the place she comes from internally, and how she interprets the world. This is a woman who goes to the small-town beauty shop to trade hunting stories with her girlfriends, and to pray with them through their crises — and she didn’t stop going there when she became governor of the state.
Normally when I reference “Piper” I mean John. But, this reference is to Piper Palin making sure her little brother Trig was looking good on national television.
Click here to read what various newspapers are saying today about their governor being tapped for the GOP VP slot. This is the most I’ve learned about Alaska since they took Northern Exposure off the air.
In the mean time, Doug Wilson reflects on McCain’s choice likening Palin to the OT Deborah before pointing out that in the Old Testament, Deborah upstaged a guy named Barak (quite a connection on his part). Wilson writes:
One more thing. An issue that will be discussed among some conservative Christians is the propriety of electing a woman. Evangelical Christians are overwhelmingly hostile to feminism, and so what is with that? I have argued before from Isaiah 3:12 — “children are their oppressors, and women rule over them” — that feminism is one of the things Scripture uses as an indicator of God’s judgment on a culture. I still believe that, and also believe that we are in fact under this particular judgment in our culture. But as a biblical absolutist, and not a simple traditionalist, I also want to make room for the occasional Deborah. Life is funny, and you should remember that in the Bible Deborah was the dame who upstaged a fellow named Barak. Kinda spooky when you think about it.
CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY AUGUST 25, 2008 GREETINGS FROM DENVER AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. THE INTRIGUE HERE IS AS THICK AS FOG. “WHAT WILL THE CLINTONS DO?” IS THE QUESTION ON NEARLY EVERYONE’S MIND. BILL AND HILLARY HAVE THEIR OWN NIGHT, COMPLETE WITH INTRODUCTORY VIDEOS. CHELSEA WILL MAKE AN APPEARANCE. HILLARY STILL HASN’T TURNED LOOSE OF HER DELEGATES. WILL SHE TRY TO PULL A COUP AND GET THE SUPERDELEGATES TO SWITCH TO HER? WILL SHE ARGUE THAT OBAMA’S DECLINE IN RECENT POLLS PROVE HE CAN’T WIN? OR WILL SHE BITE HER TONGUE AND WAIT UNTIL 2012 (IN CASE MCCAIN WINS) OR 2016, IN CASE OBAMA WINS AND SERVES TWO TERMS? IT’S HARD TO TELL WITH THE CLINTONS. BUT THEY WILL GET MORE FACE TIME THAN OBAMA, WHICH SHOULD FEED BILL’S NARCISSISM. I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH FAITH PEOPLE PUT IN POLITICIANS. THEY CAN’T IMPROVE YOUR LIFE. ONLY YOU CAN DO THAT. THIS IS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, NOT GUATANTEED OUTCOME. THE ONLY GUARANTEED OUTCOME IS HEAVEN OR HELL, AND NO POLITICIAN CAN DETERMINE THAT DESTINATION. IT IS THE UNIQUE WORK OF GOD. AND POLITICIANS ARE NOT GOD, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY THINK THEY ARE. IN DENVER, I’M CAL THOMAS.
“. . . Chris Brauns has done a magnificent job in helping us understand the true nature of biblical forgiveness. Every Christian will profit from reading and applying this book.” Jerry Bridges.
“ . . . Unpacking Forgiveness is an engaging, convicting but emphatically encouraging treatment of this hugely important (and sometimes mindbogglingly challenging) part of life. Dr. Brauns writes from the standpoint of a faithful, wise, experienced and caring pastor . . .” Ligon Duncan, First Pres, Jackson, MS
