David Brooks describes a culture shift that doesn’t seem to be serving us well. Click here for the NYT column.
Category Archives: shifts
Important Articles
David Brooks: “Putin and ISIS are not threats to American national security, narrowly defined. They are threats to our civilizational order.” Read more HERE
David Frum on Russia’s invasion HERE
The Economist on NATO getting its purpose back in focus. Read HERE.
Filed under culture, shifts, things Central European, Ukraine
New Russia – what Putin really wants
So the name ‘New Russia’ is back in the news as NovoCzar Vladimir the KGB agent gets ‘interviewed’ by a lake in Russia. In said interview Putin called again for Kyiv to negotiate with the terrorists and mercenaries he has facilitated in Ukraine.
This ‘New Russia’ idea is an old one dating from Czarist days (appropriate for the NovoCzar Vladimir don’t you think?). You can read about the ‘New Russia’ here, be sure to scroll down in the ‘History’ section to see the 1921 Soviet poster that proclaims “Donbass is the heart of Russia” which says a lot.
So shortly after Czar Vladimir called the area ‘New Russia’ a Kremlin spokesman back pedaled to ‘clarify’ what the Soviet Premier, oh, sorry, the Russian president said.
Meanwhile, the EU has appointed a new foreign policy chief from Italy (yes, Italy) who was originally opposed by many of the eastern EU nations because she may be soft on Russia.
Please pray for Ukraine.
Filed under culture, Eastern Europe, shifts, Ukraine
Kissinger on the world situation.
Henry Kissinger on the state of the world order today, where he states:
“History offers no respite to countries that set aside their sense of identity in favor of a seemingly less arduous course.”
Filed under culture, Eastern Europe, shifts
learning from the Driscoll saga *updated*
*updated* Yesterday, embattled Seattle mega-church pastor Mark Driscoll “stepped down” for a minimum 6 weeks. CT has a thorough summary here, be sure to watch the video at the end. Then pray for that local church, for him his family, and for the Church.
This saga – far from over- could be, if studied carefully, an incredible teaching tool for young pastors. Most look to guys like Driscoll as models for the way they do ministry. Seeing the incredible “success” of Mars Hill, they say “I can learn from this example.” Maybe.
There is no doubt that we can learn from the success of others. But we better be sure to learn from their failure too.
Driscoll is getting the counsel of a group of wise people. I wish that would include guys like J. R. Briggs who have walked through failure and been “real” about it. See my post on his book Fail back in July. At the very least someone should send Mr. Driscoll a copy.
Let us learn from this that our priorities need to include biblical accountability steeped in loving counsel which often means listening to hard voices that don’t tell us what we want to hear.
Without such, we too will increase our failure.
We should all be saddened by Driscoll’s saga. Any thoughts of “he’s getting what he deserved” should be rebuked as not from a God of grace and mercy.
Learn from this saga* that we don’t repeat it.
(the original post was titled “Driscoll sage continues” – what sort of autocorrect Freudian thing was that?)
Uh oh, e-readers beware
Some interesting research comparing books to e-readers creates big questions for education. Read the Post article here.
Filed under culture, experience, seeking understanding, shifts
kingdom travelin' 