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A friend posted this on Facebook. I like it.

NYTimes: Last Christians Ponder Leaving a Hometown in Iraq

Very sad...


From The New York Times:

Last Christians Ponder Leaving a Hometown in Iraq

By JOHN LELAND and DURAID ADNAN

A town known for its religious harmony had about 70 Christian families before the 2003 invasion by the United States. Now it is down to just one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/world/middleeast/20christian.html

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Reflections on “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand

A book must be pretty engaging to keep me up at night. Normally, when I hit the pillow I’m out in minutes. Well, it’s half-past-two in the morning, I’m on vacation, and I fired up my computer because I am compelled to record some thoughts after finishing Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (Random House, 2010), is a story that centers on the indefatigable Louie Zamperini, a youthful rogue turned Olympic runner turned WWII bombardier turned P.O.W. turned redeemer of youthful rogues. I write that Unbroken “centers” on Zamperini because, as the author alludes in her epilogue, Mr. Zamperini’s story is equally about the myriad GIs who braved incomprehensible conditions and treatment.

Zamperini’s story grabs our attention because he is the Olympic runner who, before war intervened, was about to break the four-minute-mile, but Hillenbrand’s recounting respectfully and engagingly draws us in to the lives of family, friends, colleagues, and enemies.

Unbroken is a truly wonder-full read.

Readers will laugh at the stories of Louie’s petulant childhood and at the heroic humor of he and his fellow POWs. The will marvel at the survival story. They will burn with anger at their ravenous treatment. They will read at rapt attention as Hillenbrand leads them to the threshold of the family reunion that only they believed they would ever have. Readers will cry when they see the picture of Louie embracing his mother. They may sigh the deep and soul-full sigh of brotherhood, as I did, when the author traces the post-war path that made for the book’s paradoxical title.

I hope this story is not made into a movie, at least not of the one-and-a-half hour variety. I did not see Seabiscuit, the movie based upon Hillenbrand’s previous book, but I can only imagine Unbroken’s vast and profound story being cheapened by a feature-length film. A sequence of films or a Band of Brothers type of docu-drama might reasonably render the story. It is a project that I would love to see documentary filmmaker Ken Burns tackle, not as a documentary, but as a movie-series. Now, that’s an interesting idea…

I suspect that I will reflect more on this book in the future. Perhaps I will post those reflections here. Certainly, Unbroken is very thought-provoking, one of the most worthwhile books I have purchased in some time.

NYTimes: A Tough Season for Believers

An interesting read with a conclusion that aptly summarizes the situation and challenges for American Christians...

From The New York Times:

A Tough Season for Believers

By ROSS DOUTHAT

Christmas is hard for everyone. But it's particularly hard for people who actually believe in it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/opinion/20douthat.html

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Christmas Sermon Mini-Series at St. Philip

Getting your company through a recession - Recessions - Accounting Solutions Ltd

The essay link below is from the front page of a business web site. The business is owned by a member of my congregation, but I call it to the public's attention because it is a very unusual piece of business advice. It's about the things that are most important, the things that are the foundation of any business or enterprise.

I'm particularly struck by this:

Everyone loses something in a depression. Make sure that it is something you can afford to lose. Your marriage, your health, your honor, your relationships with your family and friends... how can you replace these? Yet the inexperienced seem to sacrifice these first.

That quote has inspired a Christmas sermon mini-series at my congregation. Give this essay a shot. It's well worth your time.

Getting your company through a recession - Recessions - Accounting Solutions Ltd

Encouragement for Pastor and People in Advent and Christmas

 

I really appreciate the encouragement that the new President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod offers—to laypeople and clergy alike—in his Advent message.

Advent Blessing from President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.

NYTimes: The Changing Culture War

What does this mean for the church in general and Lutherans in particular?

From The New York Times:

The Changing Culture War

By ROSS DOUTHAT

Middle America retreats from marriage, and religion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html

-- Sent from my Palm Pre