Video - Frank Caliendo

Its been awhile since I've posted anything so here goes. Frank Caliendo is hilarious! You have to wait through a commercial but it is worth it. Click Here

Quote of the Day - G.K. Chesterton

To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

Now that I am a Christian I do not have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable.

Article of the Day - The Vitter Effect

An accurate and very insightful article on Evangelicals in America. Newsweek interviews Michael Cromartie, Vice President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

No Christian and, indeed, no historian could accept the epigram which defines religion as 'what a man does with his solitude.'

Video of the Week - Paul Pots

Must see video, trust me. If you like the underdog it is always nice to see when dreams come true. My roommates were raving about this yesterday. Click here

If you liked that and want more. Here you go. Click here

Quote of the Day - Dwight D. Eisenhower

There are a number of things wrong with Washington. One of them is that everyone is too far from home.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

Books on psychology or economics or politics are as continuously metaphorical as books of poetry or devotion.

Video of the week - Con te partiro

A little Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman during lunchtime. Click Here

Quote of the Day - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst.

Quote of the Day - G.K. Chesterton

Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable.

Tim Keller - Evangelistic Worship

Today's thought comes from Tim Keller, Pastor of Church of the Redeemer in New York City. My friends have been raving about his teaching so I thought I would check it out. The following passage comes from an essay he wrote on evangelistic worship. For the complete article, click here.

Celebrate deeds of mercy and justice. We live in a time when public esteem of the church is plummeting. For many outsiders or inquirers, the deeds of the church will be far more important than words in gaining plausibility. The leaders of most towns see "word-only" churches as costs to their community, not a value. Effective churches will be so involved in deeds of mercy and justice that outsiders will say, "we cannot do without churches like this. This church is channeling so much value into our community through its services to people that if it went out of business, we'd have to raise everybody's taxes." Mercy deeds give the gospel words plausibility (Acts 4:32 followed by v.33.) Therefore, evangelistic worship services should highlight offerings for deed ministry and should celebrate through reports and testimonies and prayer what is being done. It is best that offerings for mercy ministry be separate, attached (as traditional) to the Lord's Supper. This brings before the non-Christian the impact of the gospel on people's hearts (it makes us generous) and the impact of lives poured out for the world.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance.

Quote of the Day - Dwight D. Eisenhower

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

Quote of the Day - Dwight D. Eisenhower

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.

Quote of the Day - G.K. Chesterton

The reformer is always right about what is wrong. He is generally wrong about what is right.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

From Reflections on the Psalms:

It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men.

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

"'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'"

Quote of the Day - C.S. Lewis

Mercy, detached from justice, grows unmerciful.

Quote of the Day - G.K. Chesterton

The simplification of anything is always sensational.

Election 2008 is just getting started

Some people think that Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama have sealed up the presidency. I beg to differ and think that the election cycle has not even started. Sure, some candidates have well established infrastructures and money but there are two new entries into the race.

No Senator has gone straight to the presidency since JFK and he barely got in. This election is shaping up to be different from all others in modern history but don't count out precedence just yet. Governor Bill Richardson has perhaps the most impressive resume of all of the leading democratic nominees and his trump card is that he is the only governor. He has experience as a former Congressman, Energy Secretary, Ambassador to the UN, and now Governor of New Mexico. He has just entered the race so he has nowhere near the amount of money or resources of Obama or Clinton but watch out for this guy. Senators have the luxury of changing their position on an issue without needing to be tied to it. John Kerry's statement "I voted for it before I voted against it" doomed him in 2004 and the American public has a way of spotting the strengths of somebody who has executive experience. The electorate admires somebody who has to make a decision on a policy and stick with it.

Fred Thompson is in the early stages of filing for candidacy. Right now the GOP is in disarray while candidates compete for the heart and soul of the electorate. The evangelical base that got Bush into office in 2004 has yet to get behind one candidate. Although the base may not identify with Thompson the way they did under George W. Bush, he may prove to be the least objectionable candidate. Both paries need to win some states in the south and Fred Thompson from Tennessee has the potential to capture all of it.

Robert Zoellick to World Bank

President Bush formally announced the nomination of former US Trade Representative, Robert Zoellick to the World Bank. Politically astute Hank Paulson headed the search for the new institution head which has been traditionally held by an American. The Bush Administration has made the right move to nominate an individual whose competence is not questioned while is also in good international standing. Mr. Zoellick comes with an established resume as former Dputy Scretary of Sate, US Trade Representative, head of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and senior official at Goldman Sachs. Unfortunately, it took the Bush Administration too long to understand the importance of picking people who are not only politically loyal, but also competent and widely respected. Paul Wolfowitz had a long resume that seemed perfect for the World Bank however the Bush Administration miscalculated on his ability to navigate the political sensibilities of the institution. The Bush Administration learned the hard way that the nomination of cronies like Harriet Myers to the Supreme Court, Alberto Gonzalez at Justice, and Scott McClellan as Press Secretary would come back to haunt them. The Administration has finally understood the importance of quality in its recent personnel decisions with Hank Paulson at Treasury, Robert Gates as Defense Secretary, Robert Zoellick at the World Bank, Eliot Cohen as Senior Advisor at State, and Tony Snow as White House Press Secretary. Why did it take so long?

Article of the Day - The Frayed Knot

Here is a great article on the effects of marriage and/or divorce. Hopefully you have access to the Economist.

The Frayed Knot

Proud to be a Bruin

This week, the UCLA women's water polo team clinched the National Championship. Kudos to my fellow UCLA Bruins who can celebrate our 100th national sports championship. But what does that mean? Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register looks for the answer but I think he is asking the wrong question. This national championship continues a tradition of excellence in Westwood which permeates the entire University in athletics, academics, and research. Do not forget that these are student athletes. The average GPA of incoming freshmen is 4.2. The UCLA Medical Center is widely accepted as the best hospital in the West and their graduate programs are almost always in the top 20 nationally. So you say UCLA is not a football powerhouse? Okay, but do not miss out on the big picture. The basketball team has made it to the Final Four the last two years and they are primed to be a national powerhouse for years to come under Ben Howland. That is quite a boast since under modern competition no school will ever repeat a John Wooden-like era. This commitment to excellence is UCLA's contribution to young adults that they will take with them for the rest of their lives. As a life-long Bruin and graduate of the school I say thank you. A lot of other universities may encourage excellence but at UCLA there is a reason why they only hang championship banners in Pauley Pavilion.

Article for the Day - Missionaries in Northern Virginia

Former Bush Administration speechwriter Michael Gerson is right on target in today's article. This time, we need the Africans coming to save us. (Subscription required)

Missionaries in Northern Virginia

By Michael GersonWednesday, May 16, 2007; Page A15

Article for the Day 2 - Stripped

Viva las repentence? Sin city's religious makeover

Pastor shares all in "Stripped: Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas"

Light in what you may think is the darkest of places.

Article for the Day - Latino Catholics

In U.S., Hispanics bring Catholicism to its feet

Church offers livelier services for a growing constituency of charismatics

Can you explain this?

Article for the Day - Angels

This is how you build a baseball team.

Old Rag Mountain

Waging War Through the Rearview Mirror

It is true that if we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it. In today's article we learn that we can draw the incorrect lesson from history and make matters even worse. Shankar Vedantamb applies Yuen Foong Khong's "Analogies at War" to the present situation in Iraq.

We see how the public utilizes analog analysis to try to gain an understanding of new case studies. It takes a keen eye and understanding to recognize when our politicians are doing this. The High Ground is to individually analyze a case study for what it is. If you have an opportunity to read "Analogies at War", it is essential reading for anybody in the policy arena. Click Here

Video of the Day - Sailor Comes Home

This one might make you cry. Click here

Video of the Week - Sunday's Comin'

I posted this last year but it is a favorite. It is that time of year again to remember that when it feels like Friday, it is important to know that Sunday's Comin'.

NCAA Tournament

You may have noticed that I have not been blogging. I have been too busy watching my UCLA Bruins' run to the Final Four. Once again Ben Howland beat a Kansas team that many considered to be far superior in talent. The Bruins did it with grit, hustle, discipline, and defense. You cannot accuse these guys of being soft. It also helped that Aaron Aflallo snapped out of his slump. Ben Howland is proving to be the best thing to happen to Westwood since the Wizard left. Hopefully we will hang on to this guy for a long time as I would not be surprised if several NBA teams come knocking on his door.

Article of the Day - Genius or the Gut?

Lou Piniella is considered one of the best managers in baseball. Today's article analyzes the intellect of great baseball managers and reveals a few secrets. Communication is more important than tactics. A sense of humor makes communication easier. Strategic gains in the long run require a willingness to accept a strong likelihood of tactical losses in the short run. Click Here

Quote of the Day - Seth Davis

SI.com: Well, we have a Final Four now. What do you think?

Seth Davis: Powerhouses, big time. You can't ask for anything more. We've been talking about Cinderellas being nice, but what we have left is nothing but the big, ugly stepsisters.

State Department hires Eliot Cohen

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice just named my old professor as her top advisor.

Article for the Day - Mike Scioscia

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia has a unique leadership and managerial style. He notes that team chemistry is important and is initiated from the top down. His methods for building team chemistry have little do with baseball. Click here.

Article of the Day - British abolition's faith-based roots

British abolition's faith-based roots

William Wilberforce relied on his deeply held religious beliefs for inspiration in fighting the slave trade.

By Joseph Loconte

Video of the Week - The Colbert Report

Steven Colbert interviewed Tony Campolo on the Colbert Report. You may or may not agree with Tony Campolo but you cannot ignore what he has to say.

Video of the Week - That's my King!

Do you know him?

Quote of the Day - Billy Graham

“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”

Billy Graham

Random Thought

I think more people care about who wins at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show than the Miss America pageant.

Video of the Week - International Justice Mission

Today's video is about the work of the International Justice Mission. Gary Haugen shows how his organization cooperates with the Cambodian government to crack down on sex slavery. I also recommend Haugen's book, The Good News About Injustice. Click Here

Quote of the Day - Vince Lombardi

Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate.

Vince Lombardi

Quote of the Day - Vince Lombardi

But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, his greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

Petraeus selects team of warrior-intellectuals

Here is the interesting article of the day. Is this the future of the military?

The U.S. military is pretty good at learning from its own mistakes. It is really bad at learning from the mistakes of others. During the early stages of the conflict in Iraq, the U.S. military performed marvelously on the tactical and operational level. Unfortunately, the United States devotes much less in resources and energy towards understanding strategic and political goals. The U.S. military and civilian leadership need to improve on selecting talented generals who understand how the operational and tactical contribute to strategic and political goals. This is was very clear as General Casey was evaluated for Chief of Staff of the Army last week.

Petraeus selects team of warrior-intellectuals
Army turning Iraq war over to its dissidents
by Thomas Ricks

Facts about the U.S. Capitol Building

U.S. Capitol Building

• Of the eight pictures on the inside walls of the Capitol Rotunda, 2 are a prayer meeting, 1 a Bible Study and 1 a Baptism.
• 1/4 of the Statues in the Capitol are Evangelical Ministers 24 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence held Seminary Degrees.
• That our Declaration of Independence states that our inalienable rights come from the creator and they are first life, then liberty and then pursuit of happiness. Without life the other two are meaningless.
• Church Services were held in the Capitol for decades soon after it opened.
• The first English-language Bible in America was printed and endorsed by the United States Congress.

Thanks to John for the tidbits

Quote of the Day - Vince Lombardi

The leader can never close the gap between himself and the group. If he does, he is no longer what he must be. He must walk a tightrope between the consent he must win and the control he must exert.

Vince Lombardi

Quote of the Day - Benjamin Franklin

“There is perhaps not one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”

Benjamin Franklin

Pride - A Leader's Greatest Problem

This one was too good not to pass on.

Pride - A Leader's Greatest Problem
By Dr. John C. Maxwell

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

William Shakespeare

The End of War as We Know It

The following book review by Eliot Cohen shows how the US military could learn from other conflicts and other generals. Cohen gives an honest appraisal of British General Rupert Smith's assessment of the US military and international conflict today.

The Utility of Force (by Rupert Smith)
The End of War as We Know It
A British general argues that old military habits no longer work.

Video - Porn and Pancakes

Say what? That's right. This week's video takes us to a church in Ontario, New York which is dealing with frontline issues. This issue cannot be ignored especially if your church wants to reach out to young males.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Click here for the FCA DC video

FCA DC invites you to …

THE FCA DC HOME TEAM CELEBRATION

We are going to come together and celebrate what God has done in the ministryof FCA D.C. over the past year. We want to thank our Home Team for all their efforts to impact the district for Jesus Christ through the lives of coaches and athletes. We also want to build our Home Team with new financial and ministry partners. All are welcome to attend, feel free to invite a friend but please RSVP by Feb 20th 2007 by emailing Dave Kiehn at dc@fca.org.

Contact person:
Dave Kiehn
(202)412-4743 or dc@fca.org

Date:
02/24/07

Time:
6pm

Location:
National Presbyterian Church, Stone Hall
4101 Nebraska Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20016

Speaker:
Kris Ryan, University of Pennsylvania All-Time Leading Rusher

Kris Ryan led Penn to two Ivy League titles and ended his career as Penn’s all time leading rusher with 3,181 yards on 611 carries. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry with 33 career TDs. He was a Two-Time First Team All Ivy, One Time Second -Team All Ivy Selection. He co-founded FCA while at Penn. He currently teaches and coaches football at Episcopal Academy. He resides outside of Philly with his wife, Rachel, and his three children, Gabrielle, Jacob, and Naomi.

Quote of the Day - Charles Spurgeon

Show me the business man or institution not guided by sentiment and service; by the idea that "he profits most who serves best" and I will show you a man or an outfit that is dead or dying.

Charles Spurgeon

Burns Night

Tonight is Burns Night and which celebrates Scotland's favorite son and poet, Robert Burns. I will give you a preview of tonight's dinner with a copy of my toast to the lassies:

First of all I would like to thank Marcus and the lovely Fiona for helping us to organize this occasion and enlighten us with the poetry of Scotland’s favorite son. When Fiona asked me to do the toast to the lassies the other day, I was quite in a quandary. After all, the toast was usually for women who would cook the meal. In the Jonathan House, that is obviously not the case here. In fact, it is rare to find a woman in Washington DC who can cook. After all how could one woman take the place of ten roommates, bunk beds, sleeping 4 men to a room, and occasionally seeing Matt Lahr in a toga. Most of us here are not married, myself included. Since I am not married and am no Cassanova, I therefore cannot speak with authority on the ways of a lady.


After all it was King Solomon, the wisest of men who wrote the following in Proverbs:

"There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a maiden.

So I could not help but shed light on the last of these which I too find perplexing. If I may borrow a page from another writer, for example:

- A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't want.

- A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

- A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

- Any married man should forget his mistakes - there's no use in two people remembering the same thing.

- A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

- A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337 and a man would not be able to identify most of these items.

- And finally, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and best friends and favourite foods and secret fears, and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

Why should I bother trying to understand? Sigmund Freud writes: "Despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul, I have not been able to answer... the great question that has never been answered: what does a woman want?"

I am not a particularly emotional individual and I have been accused of going overboard in my rational nature. The rationalist treasures logic and conceptual understanding but yet my logic and knowledge falls short. There is nothing like a fine lady that causes a man to lose all kinds of rational. It is very common to find a man in Jonathan House who is laboring steadfast in his chores and cooking responsibilities and as soon as a group of young ladies walk in the room he loses all sight of his tasks. George Carlin writes: "Here's all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

Tonight’s celebrated poet writes of a certain beauty that captivated his heart.

Handsome Nell

O, once I lov'd a bonnie lass,

Aye, and I love her still;

And whilst that virtue warms my breast

I'll love my handsome Nell.

As bonnie lasses I hae seen,

And mony full as braw,

But for a modest gracefu' mien

The like I never saw.

A bonnie lass, I will confess,

Is pleasant to the ee,

But without some letter qualities

She's no a lass for me.

But Nellie's looks are blithe and sweet,

And what is best of a'

Her reputation is complete,

And fair without a flaw.

She dresses aye sae clean and neat,

Both decent and genteel;

And then there's something in her gait

Gars ony dress look weel.

A gaudy dress and gentle air

May slightly touch the heart,

But it's innocence and modesty

That polishes the dart.

'Tis this in Nelly pleases me,

'Tis this enchants my soul

For absolutely in my breast

She reigns without control

It is no secret that Burns was quite taken by members of the fairer sex and they were often the inspiration for his poetry. Lassies were a source of awe and puzzlement, possessing qualities and emotions that as men we are conscious of but rarely convey; beauty, gentleness, and love. George Sand said “Where love is absent, there can be no woman”. And Anon said “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers".

It is written in the word: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

So I resign in my effort to understand why a man woos a woman and acknowledge that this is and will probably remain a mystery while we are on this earth. However, let us come to the heart and conclusion of this matter that as we entreat the ladies in our lives we fulfill perhaps the main goal of the Jonathan House…we become more like Christ.

So Gentlemen! Charge your glasses, and join me in a toast to the lassies!

To the Lassies!

Quote of the Day - George Washington

My Mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my Mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.

George Washington

It's character, not color, that separates Smith, Dungy

Michael Smith of ESPN notes that the two coaches of the this year's super bowl should be recognized and better known for something else. Full Story

Video - Pentecostals

MSNBC takes a look at pentecostals (Internet Explorer may be required).

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Do you know the story of William Wilburforce and John Newton? If not, you should. Rally the troops for February 23 when Amazing Grace hits the movie theaters.

Quote of the Day - Winston Churchill

Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.

Winston Churchill

The Patriots have the equation for success

You may or may not be sick of the New England Patriots. Hats off to the Patriots who won a game which looked as though the San Diego Chargers squandered numerous chances. Give credit to the Pats who never gave up. Good teams win pretty games and ugly ones.

Bill Bellichick has several key elements that result in success year in and year out. This article by Michael David Smith of Fox Sports scratches the surface of why the Patriots are the team nobody wants to play. Smith points out that some writers analyze the unexplained and attribute their success to "drive", "heart", or "swagger". When Carl von Clausewitz wrote On War, his analysis of great military commanders resulted in resignation of just calling it military genius. Like obsenity, he cannot define it but he knows it when he sees it.

Smith points that the Pats have two key players, one of them being Tom Brady. With the main pieces in place, Belichick manages a 53-man roster and a large coaching staff with delegation, a coherent team philosophy, fiscal responsibility, and in-depth character analysis. To top it all off, Belichick also displays tangible evidence of perhaps the rarest quality among leaders, the ability to listen.

Most good CEO's know they can only focus on one thing at a time. Belichick's players are told to focus on one game at a time while management focuses on the long-term. Management and the coaching staff prep players with game video almost as soon as the last game is over.

You may be sick of the Patriots but if you look closer, there is something to admire.

Video - Toyota

This video was too good to pass up and conveys some valuable lessons for not only US automakers but just about any other organization. Toyota is King in the automobile world right now and american automakers are scrambling to figure out what is wrong. Is it American culture? I think not. The following video (Internet Explorer may be required) takes a tour of a Toyota plant in Kentucky with American workers. If only American automakers could embrace change and dynamism like Toyota. Why they do not do this is another story. I would rather not dwell on what is wrong and instead focus on the solution. You will have to bear through an unrelated story about a Britain-France merger in the 1950's for the first 60 seconds. The wait is worth it. Full Story

Video of the Week - L'Eglise du Bon Berger

I visited L'Eglise du Bon Berger (Church of the Good Shepherd) a few years ago that was just outside of Paris. You do not need to speak French to see the spirit moving.

Quote of the Day - Gerald Ford

Government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.

Gerald Ford

Article for the Day - The Right Has a Jailhouse Conversion

The Right Has a Jailhouse Conversion
By CHRIS SUELLENTROP

Quote of the Day - E.M. Bounds

We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God's plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God's method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.

E.M. Bounds