Warning: This post contains everything Ameicans are not supposd to discuss in polite company: politics and religion. I am a fan of discussing them both.

 

Former Fox News anchor, Britt Hume, has stirred quite a controversy with his appeal to Tiger Woods to turn to Christianity seen in video below.

In one sense I was shocked and in another sense not shocked by people's reactions. Many claimed to be offended by Hume's remarks. I am not sure "Offended" is accurate. I think angry better describes them. Hume hits the nail on the head in his O'Reilly interview when he explains that the Bible addresses the issue. Many people hate Christianity. There is a growing intolerance to Christianity in the United States, largely in the academic community. I am neither dismayed nor offended by this reaction. I think it is predictable and perhaps even a healthy sign that the gospel is advancing.

The part that I do find odd, is that Americans, in particular, are so offended by proselytizing. Mark Joseph, the Huffington Post (surprisingly) addresses the issue in this blog post. I will add to Joesph's remarks that I find it surprising that Americans, who fought so hard for freedom of religion, as opposed to freedom from religion, rail against Hume's right to his freedom of religion. In sharing his perspective, Hume did not oppress, restrict, nor inhibit another from their right to freedom of religion, rather, he invited Woods to share his own religion.

It also seems clear that Hume did not share his beliefs out of hate, self-righteousness, nor condemnation. Just Taylor unpacks the background of Hume's faith and more recent devotion to his faith in this blog post. I think with the back-story, I would conclude that Hume was merely posturing himself as, "One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread." (Luther) Mark Joseph addresses this perspective as well in this blog post. I believe that Hume's reward is not to be found here in vindication, but in Heaven according to Matt 5:11, "“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt. 5:11-12)

This whole controversy is really far less about our civil rights or the notion of a growing intolerance towards Christianity, however. This controversy dates back to the foundations of time as God executed his plan of redemption: Jesus Christ came to save sinners, the race to which we all belong.

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   As if threat of the swine flu weren't bad enough, there is a killer dog flu going around that can make your favorite canine sick or even cause them to die. http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/10/14/sick-as-a-dog/

Popularity: 7% [?]

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the Russian Foreign Minister a token of peace, but instead gave him a button that instead of saying "Reset" in Russian, translated to a word that implies hostility.  Read more here: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/06/clinton-goofs-russian-translation-tells-diplomat-wants-overcharge-ties/

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Fla. doctor investigated in badly botched abortion : 24 Hour Breaking News : The Buffalo News

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jan/09013009.html

This couldn't be more disgusting. In short, a woman went to a doctor's office to have an abortion at 23 weeks and instead went into labor and delivered a baby. The umbilical cord was cut by a non-licensed part owner of the practice and the live baby was discarded into a plastic bag. The attending physician had prescribed the mother medication that began the labor but was not present at the clinic when the baby was born and killed. The case is being investigated in Florida and murder charges are possible. The clinic failed to document the birth in the mother's medical records and concealed the incident from police. The mother was sedated when the doctor arrived. the autopsy proved the baby had been born alive but the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as "extreme prematurity" versus murder.

The Thomas Moore Society has taken an interest in the case and is filing a lawsuit.

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• Another winter event featuring ice and snow is headed our way tomorrow night.  A Winter Storm advisory has already been issued.  Flash freezes are possible later this afternoon and tonight as the cold front rolls in after rain today.  Pittsburgh is sitting right on the snow-rain line in the forecasts.  I am betting on rain, unfortunately.


• Models are stilling showing cold air coming right before Christmas with precipitation coming on Christmas.  we are starting do more than dream of a white Christmas.


• Bethel Park lost a hard-fought game in OT Saturday night in Hershey. Next year is the last year of the PIAA contract with Hershey.   I think it is time for the PIAA to move on.  There were complaints about poor attendance, however, if attendance had been higher, many of us probably would have missed kick-off because traffic was terrible.  Hershey had no uniforms out managing traffic.  Between the traffic from Chocolate World, Hershey Park Christmas, the Hershey Outlets, a job fair at the Giant Center and the PIAA games, traffic was a nightmare.  It took me close to an hour to go a little over a mile.


• The turmoil in Illinois rages, though the media has apparently dropped the story.  The governor has yet to resign and the President-Elect has not been forthcoming about his aides' interactions with the governor over his former seat.


• Russia is sending warships to Cuba.


• OPEC is cutting oil supply in order to try to increase the price of oil.  The falling prices have allowed the OPEC reign on gas prices to drop out of the mainstream discussion.  OPEC has deemed $75/barrel is a fair price.  Oil has been close to $50/barrel as of recent.


• Bernard Madoff's hedge fund scheme exceeded $50 billion.  He is a major Democratic donor.  The media seems to be leaving this one alone, too.  Surprise!


• The Steel Curtain is back.  The Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) clinched the AFC North division title last night in Baltimore. If the Steelers win the next two games, they will have the home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  We have already seen some crazy weather at Heinz Field this year, we might just have another snow-bowl type of game in January.


• The Republicans in Congress are finally showing some steel and saying, "no" to another government bailout of the private sector.


• President Bush demonstrated great reflexes ducking away from two shoes thrown by an Arab reporter while in Baghdad.

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Commentary: I know what Illinois governor feels like now - CNN.com

Chuck Colson has a great commentary on the situation with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.  It is a great reminder of how easily any of us could end up in the same place as the governor.

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