Internship Opportunity at Locusts & Honey

I'm adding a summer intern position to the vast editorial staff of Locusts & Honey. It's a great opportunity for masochistic young college students to learn important blogging skills. Duties will include:

• Daily back massages.
• Shower-grout cleaning.
• Rabbit blogging support (cage cleaning).
• MBWR composition (time to outsource that timehog to India, anyway)
• Morning nourishment supply facilitation (cream and sugar, please)
• Ongoing cyberstalking of Shane Raynor.

Minimum requirements:

• MS Office Specialist certification
• Longing for pain and humiliation
• 3.0 GPA
• Witch's mark

To apply, e-mail your resume with $100 e-check application fee and an embarrassing photo of Dean Snyder to locustsandhoney2005 at yahoo dot com. Applications are due by June 10th.

Alternate Histories that I'd Like to See

I'm a big fan of the alternate history genre. Even mediocre authors, such as Turtledove and Harrison, can produce compelling works. I would estimate that about 50% deal with the American Civil War, which gets tired after a while. Here are a few senarios that I would like to see written:

1. June, 1945: war breaks out between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in Germany.

2. 1492: Horses came over the Bering Strait ice bridge when the Native Americans arrived thousands of years before. Consequence: Mesoamerican civilizations are very technologically advanced, on par with the late Roman Empire.

3. 1863: In the midst of the Civil War, Utah Mormons successfully fight for independence.

Creationism vs. Evolutionism vs. Intelligent Design

Sometimes the Creationist crowd gets a bit too worked up about their point of view, with ugly consequences.

Six Degrees of Beth Quick

The conspiracy is coming together now:

Beth Quick visits Chicago.

Mysteriously, after Beth arrives, a Chicago police officer was indicted for cocaine trafficking.

At a time when the US Coast Guard is seizing more cocaine than ever before.

Most of which comes from Colombia.

Where the FBI is very active right now.

Who, of course, killed President Kennedy.

Who was about to reveal the secret presence of aliens in the US government.

Weekend Rabbit Blogging

Inlehain on a warm Florida Spring day.

Better late than never.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup #15

Here's the week in review in the Methodist blogosphere:

Dave Warnock thinks that he's brilliant.

James Gibson wrote about the homosexual clergy issue in Florida Episcopal churches.

Beth Quick blogged about the ethics of food consumption, political labels of Christians, and her observations of life in Chicago.

Ken Carter wrote about dealing with suffering and change as a child of God.

Theresa Coleman blogged about the death of her mother, making soteriology personal, why Christians get so nasty (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!), and that God is a multi-tasking woman.

[Editorial note: When labeling something as 'Best of the Methodist blogosphere', it is hard to be objective. I would likely give Theresa Coleman's theology of children posts that title every time that she writes one. She is such a gifted writer.]

Jordan Cooper wrote about the General Conference of the Free Methodist Church of Canada here and here.

Donald Sensing blogged about a Marine Corps officer's criminal prosecution ending, Tennessee legislators getting arrested, and the future of the National Guard.

Joel Furhmann wrote about the filibuster-ending deal in the U.S. Senate.

Matthew Johnson wrote about what it means to abide in Christ.

At Connexions, Richard Hall blogged about what you say and what people hear (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!), the global slave trade, the American political Right, and Methodist churches acquiring liquor licenses. Joel Thomas blogged about prioritizing your interests to maximum effectiveness.

Gavin Richardson wrote against pacifism, the differences between blogs and message boards, and reading The Practicing Congregation and The Postmodern Parish. He also mentioned that John Wesley wasn't a popular preacher and described his alter ego.

Gregory Lee blogged about the life-renovation that Jesus wants you to have.

Jay Voorhees wrote that political compromise is a virtue, what makes Emergent worship services unique, and a new perspective on judgment that isn't about Heaven or Hell, but now we live our lives (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!).

Methotaku continued her bookblogging of Walter Wink's The Powers That Be.

Chris Morgan read Psalm 103 and concluded that God was really all that He promised to be.

John Wilks wrote that being a flawed human being is no excuse for not serving God's Kingdom. He also explained the Parable of the Shrewd Manager and expressed how easy it is to forget about spiritual disciplines during busy times.

Wes Magruder had some anonymous guest-blogger this week, who blogged about life and death at a Cameroon hospital.

Jonathan Norman blogged about his experiments with a form of prayer that emphasizes silence. He also wrote about worship that focuses on the mystery of God and a hidden provision in the No Child Left Behind Act which requires schools to give the names and addresses of students to military recruiters.

Dean Snyder blogged about ending world poverty, his attendance at his recent annual conference, and desegregation in the UMC.

Shane Raynor wrote about merging small UMC churches, a survey about mainline pastors praying for their denominations, criticism of modern church music here and here. He also wrote about how the theology of communion is being expressed in the UMC.

Andy Bryan blogged about sheer meanness in churches and a hypothetical centrist party.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps wrote an open letter to Senator Warner (R-Va), criticizing his decision to withdraw his support for the nuclear option.

At Bandits No More, Richard wrote about discerning truth so that one can preach truth and honesty in Christian communication.

Inside Mike's Head blogged about the reason behind Christian hypocrisy, shortcuts to God, and noted that the people of Birmingham are more focused on a local American Idol star than the poverty in their midst and that the Christian faith often calls for inconvenience and trouble. He also wrote about confronting a sinning brother in a Christian manner.

Preacher Rich asked readers what sort of church they would create.

Scott Aldridge wrote about a church sign that called for the flushing of the Koran.

Thoughts from a Clay Pot blogged about rampant historical ignorance and how he doesn't like to be alone because then, in the silence, God speaks to him.

Wheh! That only took all day on dialup!

Do you know of a blog that should be added to the MBWR? Leave a note in the comments.

Random Thoughts on Brian McLaren

Influenced by Jonathan and Gavin, I'm reading Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian.

I confess that I have a bias here: I am reflexively protective of modernity, as it has produced such marvelous things as technology, capitalism, and most importantly humanism (resulting in the idealization of freedom).

It is valuable to discern how much of modern Christianity is accurate (measured against the Bible), and how much reflects the modern worldview. That's why Fool's Gold is on my reading list, and I hope that McLaren will provide similar insight as I read through the book.

A few criticisms are forming in my mind:

• Inherent in McLaren's understanding of changing worldviews is the postmodern epistemology that truth is unknowable. This is circular reasoning.
• McLaren does not make (so far) a convincing argument that the modern worldview is collapsing. If it is, then technology should cease to function and capitalism should cease to grow. They aren't.
• His progressive view of history does not apply to Christianity. A history of science might be an ever-expanding understanding of the natural world, but not an ever-expanding understanding of God. As the history of ancient Israel demonstrates, man's relationship with God is not a story of constant spiritual growth, but a falling away from and a return to Him.
• His understanding of the transition between Medieval and Modern worldviews is substantially inaccurate. In many aspects (exception: capitalism), Modernism was a rejection of the new ideas of Medievalism, and a return the classical thinking. Modernism was not an inherently progressive movement, but a reactionary one. Humanism: a return to the concept of the nation-state and human liberty was Roman in origin. Reformation: a return to a Biblical and early-church understanding of the Christian faith. Science: the idea that the world is knowable and testable* is Greek. McLaren's model of changing worldviews is inherently progressive, but that isn't necessarily true all of the time.

*Late Greek, and only partially.

Garrett and Asbury: Why I Applied

I applied to two Methodist seminaries, Garrett-Evangelical and Asbury. I applied to only these UMC seminaries for a reason: all others required three professor references.

I graduated from college in '98, and worked heavily with three professors. One is dead, the other has disappeared (as far as I can tell) and the third was willing to serve as a reference. Library school was a pre-professional program that did not provide for many close professor/student relationships. So I only had one professor that I could count on to remember me.

Asbury only required one professor reference. Garrett requested three, but allowed for substitutions for applicants who had been out of college for several years. All others were firm: three professor references. Period.

Now some of the UMC seminaries in the Northeast may allow for substitutions, but my wife would have freaked if I even suggested moving to New York or New England.

So I only had two options: Garrett and Asbury.

Although I can understand the desire for high academic standards, this three-professor standard would exclude most second-career seminarians. The admissions departments of UMC seminaries need to re-evaluate this policy if they're going to keep up with ministry trends.

Pro-Scientology Bill Vetoed in Florida

Via the Daytona Beach News-Journal:

Gov. Jeb. Bush vetoed a bill that some mental-health and school officials feared would keep parents from seeking help for their child when a school suspects a mental-health problem.

The bill, which was supported by the Church of Scientology and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, would have required school officials who want to refer a child for a mental-health evaluation to tell parents the evaluation could become part of the student's record.

If you're curious, read the final version of the bill and its legislative history. It's worth noting that the bill passed unanimously in both the state House and Senate.

The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Gustavo Barreiro, has a friendly relationship with the Church of Scientology, having recently spoken at the 35th anniversary of the establishment of its headquarters in Florida.

Reading over the bill, I find that it's not actually as ominous as Scientology-sponsorship might imply. Although Scientology is likely promoting the bill because it implies that psychiatry is unreliable, one could make a reasonable argument for the bill's provisions. Its advocates were not well-served by allying with Scientology.

The Associated Press adds that Gov. Bush has signed a similar bill with slightly different language:

The main thrust of the bill that the governor signed is to tighten rules on when children in foster care can be put on such psychotropic drugs. But it also includes provisions dealing with public school enrollment.

Bush's veto letter provides additional information on his position:

In his veto letter Thursday, Bush said he shares the concerns of some who think children are too frequently put on drugs and supports safeguards. But, he said, the parental notice section of the bill goes too far in trying to discourage parents from consenting to the drugs for their children.

"Ultimately, this bill could lead to a chilling effect on the evaluation and treatment of children with legitimate mental health needs, resulting in serious long-term consequences such as suicide or Baker Act intervention," Bush wrote.

The governor said the foster care legislation (SB 1090) took a more reasoned approach, in that it does not include language adding more requirements on what parents must be told by schools where medication is recommended.

I've Been Tagged

...by Richard Hall, who wants me to take an online quiz.

1. Total number of movies that I own on DVD/Video.

Lots, probably dozens quickly recorded off the TV back in 1992. That was a time when my family might move to Saudi Arabia, and we would need movies to keep ourselves entertained. So there are many VHS copies of bad, old movies in a closet somewhere.

2. Last movie that I bought.

It doesn't count as a movie, but my most recent DVD acquisition was Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law.

3. Last movie that I watched.

My mind is drawing a blank here. Maybe it was one of the Hornblower movies.

4. Five movies that mean at lot to me:

Excalibur: Brilliant exploration of the search for moral government and the struggle between good and evil.

Gladiator: Again, the good v. evil theme. It's a marvelous expression of human perseverance.

The Crossing: Gets my patriotic blood working. Washington's character is a great demonstration of leadership and determination.

Star Wars: The three original movies. I don't think that I need to justify why.

Krull: Non-stop light adventure. As a teenager, I watched this movie so many times that I had the entire script memorized.

UPDATE: I now remember that I am supposed to tag three other bloggers to take the test. Let's see: Theresa, Beth, and Jeff.

A Realistic Plan

Jonathan Wilde presents a realistic plan for a libertarian nation in our lifetimes.

Pardon the light blogging. I'm in Fort Wayne, Indiana for a wedding, and Internet access is limited.

Tsk, Tsk. Episcopalians....

Clowns.

Hat tip: LGF

Pet Peeve: Insertion of Pretentious Fake Accents

This habit of newscasters has bothered me for years:

Here’s one of my admittedly trivial crotchets: the increasingly common habit of English-speaking newscasters to pronounce Spanish and Latino proper nouns with a (usually pretend) Spanish or Latino accent.

You know what I mean. If reporter Jones of CNN or ABC is reporting on some goings-on in, say, Mexico City, he’ll not say "Meks-e-ko" (as native English speakers pronounce that country’s name); instead, he’ll say "Mea-he-ko" (the way native Spanish speakers pronounce it). If reporter Smith of NBC or CBS is on air discussing, say, recent elections in Madrid, she’ll invariably pronounce the politicians’ names as if she were speaking in Spanish to a Spanish-speaking audience.

Hat tip: Radley Balko.

The Faith of the Strong

Laurence Simon:

I wonder if I'm scarred for life, unable to eat Chinese food ever again without the thought of that Glock pointed in my face.

Not that I don't deal with a slew of Semitic neuroses on a minute-by-minute basis, but that would be, like, a total death sentence for a Jew being unable to eat Chinese food without a nervous breakdown.

I'd have to convert to being a Methodist or something.

Via Glenn Reynolds.

Death Threats are Not Funny

Sorry Frank J., but even Michael Moore has a right to life.

Methodist Blogger Profile: Jay Voorhees

Jay Voorhees of Only Wonder Understands and MethoBlog.

Background

I am the pastor of the Antioch United Methodist Church, located in the southern suburbs of Nashville. Antioch UMC is a 300 member congregation that averages around 180 at Sunday morning worship. It is a traditional United Methodist congregation that is around 114 years old, which finds itself in the middle of a community that is rapidly changing.

I have a BA from Western Kentucky University and an M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Prior to entering seminary, I was on staff at United Methodist Communications and served as the Producer of the General Conference for several quadrennia.

I am married to the Rev. Kay Hereford Voorhees, who is on the staff of the West End United Methodist Church. We have two daughters.

Why do you blog?

My original impetus for blogging was to hold myself accountable for journaling. I was a lousy journal keeper (Wesley would have frowned). My thought was that having a public journal would hold me accountable for writing, something I have found to be true (especially as my readership has grown). I blog now because I am in a relationship with my readers and have things I feel led to share.

What has been your best blogging experience?

I think the best experience was when I was doing an interview on the Church of Fools with the religion editor of the New York Times. We were talking about the church and technology when all of the sudden he said: "You are the Jay Voorhees who writes the blog, right?" It turns out that he had read my blog several times, which blew my mind.

What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger?

Post regularly and don't worry about how many folks read you. If you are saying something worthwhile, folks will begin to check you out.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?

That's hard, because my Bloglines list has well over a hundred blogs I scan regularly. The three I probably read first are Jen Lemen, Jordon Cooper; and Bob Carlton. As for political blogs, I usually check out Talking Points Memo.

Who are your spiritual heroes?

Well, of course, I have to mention Jesus, don't I? John Wesley holds a big spot as well, even though he had some strange edges. Bill Lane, the late New Testament scholar was formative for me when I was in college. Brian McLaren is currently a friend, colleague, and mentor in ministry. There are a bunch of bishops as well, but I don't want to name them all.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Practicing Congregation by Diana Butler Bass (y'all need to get it).

What is your favorite hymn and why?

Amazing Grace . . . it's simple and expresses my story well.

Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind?

As a former fundamentalist Southern Baptist there are too many to name. Growth and change happen, especially with age, so I would hope that we all would be able to point to places where our understanding has grown.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?

Individualism and consumerism. These are the ethical challenges that put our society most at risk.

If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be?

Oy Vey! I can't come up with a concise policy change, but something has got to give regarding the climate of polarization in Washington. We are quickly coming to a point of no return where it will be impossible to govern, and may find ourselves bordering on a civil cold war if we aren't careful.

If you could effect one major policy change in the Methodist Church, what would it be?

I believe that it's time to limit the submission of legislation to the General Conference to allow the Conference to function more as a deliberative body rather than a legislative one. As long as we try to be church by legislation, we will be co-opted by powers and principalities.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of life will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

What, if anything, do you worry about?

My children's future.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently?

Too many things to mention (I was pretty stupid in my twenties). Yet, if I'm honest, all those mistakes led me to be who I am today, so maybe I wouldn't change a thing.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do)?

Toronto, except it's too cold. Amsterdam is pretty nice.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I'm a Methodist preacher who blogs . . . do I have any spare time?

What is your most treasured possession?

My children (well actually, I don't own them do I?). Or maybe my guitar.

What talent would you most like to have?

To play like Jimi Hendrix

If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner who would they be?

Jesus, Luther (he was a good beer drinker), and Doug Pagitt.

Profound Wisdom

From Reverend Mommy, especially applicable in the blogosphere:

You can control what you say. But you cannot control what people hear and to whom or how they repeat it. They will add their own agenda or garbage.

How to Administer a Church

Let God run it:

I had invited Dr. Benjamin Smith, pastor of Evangelistic Deliverance Church with 10,000 members, to preach for a Lenten midweek service. We were chatting and I asked him how he managed to administer a church with 10,000 members when I could hardly keep up with a church of a few hundred members. He told me that if he prayed an hour a day, his church was impossible to administer. If he prayed two hours a day, it was easier. If he prayed three hours a day it ran itself and, on top of that, just seemed to grow on its own.

Lisa Simpson: Post-Modernist

Shannon Love:

Lisa's unquestioned acceptance of Homer's right and responsibility to exercise his chance-won power reveals the post-modernist attitude towards authority and power. For the post-modernist, there is no greater good than the politics of the moment. Each individual is expected to make an assessment of what constitutes the greater good and then to act on that assessment using any means at his disposal. The post-modernists have rejected the idea of "roles" that people assume in order wield certain powers. People don't "wear different hats" and exercise power in accordance with the role defined by the respective hat. Instead, they view the hat and the role that comes with it as mere tools of power. The moral use of power depends wholly on the morality of the person wielding it. Failure to use any power one might obtain is the ultimate immorality.

When a post-modernist becomes a judge, journalist, academician or politician he does not view himself as limited by any traditional constraints on those roles. Instead he views the power granted to such individuals as a tool to be used as they, and only they, see fit. They are post-modernist leftists first and judges, journalists and academicians second (if at all). They think of themselves as secret agents adopting certain roles for power and camouflage while they pursue their own vision of what is right. They mock those that do work within traditional boundaries as either deluded or hypocrites.

Praying for Your Enemies

Glenn Reynolds notes that terrorist leader Zarqawi is wounded and asks:

Is it unChristian to pray for gas gangrene?

The answer is an unqualified yes.

A few months ago, I was in the habit of praying for Bin Laden, Saddam, Zarqawi, etc. I need to get back to that.

Mercy Used Unwisely

Mercy is a Christian virtue. Were it not for mercy from God, I would be unbelievably screwed. Were it not for mercy from other people, I would be equally screwed right now.

Douglas Kern wrote in today's TCS column (with many Lord of the Rings and Star Wars metaphors) that mercy should not be used recklessly, or the consequences can be disastrous:

1983: after defeating Darth Vader in mortal combat, Luke Skywalker walks away from his cringing foe, casting his lightsaber away to confront the Emperor with his newly-found self-righteousness, all while ignoring the screams of a small boy in the theater: "Luke, you moron, pick up your lightsaber and stab the Emperor in the face!"

2002: after capturing Gollum, Frodo talks Sam out of killing the miserable goblin with some newly-found rhetorical self-righteousness, all while ignoring the pleas of a man in the theater: "Frodo, I know Jackson is trying to be faithful to the book and all, but take Sting and stab Gollum in the face!"

2005: Anakin Skywalker is sliced up and fried like a filet mignon at a Japanese steakhouse, and Obi-wan Kenobi is strolling away like he's been on a particularly trying nature hike, ignoring the yelling of an irate Internet pundit: "Obi-wan, screw the Episode Four continuity, and take your lightsaber and stab Anakin in the face!"

This is the Lesson of Munich. Evil must be confronted and destroyed before it grows:

Evil can seduce the small and mighty alike. Mercy makes allowances for the weakness of will that afflicts all men. But some men embrace evil as a lover. Every police officer and prosecutor encounters a few such men: soulless abominations that delight in torment, betrayal, and wanton suffering. Such men have murdered whatever good they might have offered the world. They defile whatever mercy is given them. They deserve none.

Who can doubt that men can commit themselves to evil? If free will allows us to bind ourselves permanently to our spouses, and our children, and our nation, and to all good things, then surely we can use free will to bind ourselves permanently to the terrible and depraved things of the world.

To be sure, not every evil deed reflects an irrevocable bond to evil -- any more than every good deed reflects an irrevocable bond to the good. We may have prudent reasons to suffer the existence of the tremendously twisted, and mercy may impel us to refrain from handing down the full punishment that evil deserves.

But while we can all be forgiven, we must respect the choice to reject forgiveness -- permanently. Mercy is for seduced sinners; for those not wholly given over to darkness. When we find men who have freely bound themselves to evil with unbreakable chains of their own forging, a decent respect for justice and free will sometimes compels us to stab these monsters in the face.

Of course the flip side is the Lesson of Vietnam: not every monster will destroy you, and sometimes it's best to leave them alone. The hard part is distinguishing Vietnams from Munichs.

The Psychology of Trolling

Cory of Gutless Pacifist has a great post up about what makes people troll, both in the blogosphere and IRL:

But the internet troll and the real life troll share the same frustration. Buried deep within each of us is an overwhelming desire to be understood and to be treated fairly, to be given the benefit of the doubt especially as we try to give others that benefit, to be tolerated as we try to tolerate and to have our basic human dignity respected. Trolling - whether driving by a blog to call people stupid or driving by a bus stop to call people fags - is a tremendous and distrubing affront to this. It goes beyond a simple indignity because it is someone making an actual effort to hurt you, to be unfair and to treat you intolerably even though you did nothing to them.

One could make all sorts of psychological hypotheses to explain it. Saint Augustine attributed his own youthful indiscretions as the desire to succor his own alienation from God and others by revelling in it. One inflicts pain because one is in deep pain themselves, whether or not they realize it. I'm also reminded of the episode of The Simpsons in which Bart wins an elephant from a KBBL Radio. At the end, a park warden attempts to explain that some animals become emotionally maladjusted because of traumas suffered in their past. Others, he notes as Homer starts headbutting him, are just jerks.

I Knew That This Would Happen

I was about to read Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian but I certainly don't want this to happen to me.

As Much as I Fear North Korean Nukes...

...I really do not like the idea of a nuclear first strike to take out their atomic weapons program facilities.

It would certainly violate the Cold War principle of 'No First Strike' with nukes. That principle kept us all nicely alive for those terrifying years.

It would not be the mark of a moral nation to make the initial use of such weapons during a war.

And it would make America an international pariah on a scale never before imagined.

Even if it cost us a major American city, I don't think that the horrendous price would be worth it.

A Matter of Perspective

I say:

Why do the rabbits pee in their food dish? Rabbits are so disgusting!

My rabbits say:

Why does the human put our food in the toilet? Humans are so disgusting!

Who's Being Insulted?

Fox News' Bill O'Reilly:

I’m not a ‘Star Wars’ fan. I can’t tell a Wookiee from a Libertarian.

The Libertarian Party is upset about this remark. Whatever.

My question is, should it be Libertarians or Wookiees who feel insulted by this statement?

Hat tip: Hit and Run

UPDATE: So what if I think that deodorant is statist?

The Make Poverty Permanent Campaign

A variety of bloggers have endorsed the Make Poverty History campaign, such as Shane Raynor and Dave Warnock.

Jonathan Dingel says that the specific proposals of the campaign would likely have the opposite effect.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup #14

Here's the week in review in the Methodist blogosphere:

Dave Warnock wrote about a Christian response to spousal abuse and the church accepting injustice.

James Gibson expressed his disdain for conservative Methodists who stay within the denomination.

Beth Quick directed readers to a fascinating quiz on worldviews, a progressive approach to liturgy, and online Greek translation tools.

Ken Carter wrote a book review of Eugene Peterson's new book Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places.

Theresa Coleman blogged about waiting for change in the UMC for women, turning the other cheek, a Biblical response to spousal abuse, her automatic prayer generator, and angry God.

Jordan Cooper wrote about wealthy Christians, a fracturing coalition among Canada's Tories, the importance of courage for political leaders, and MP Belinda Stronach defecting to the Liberal Party*.

Donald Sensing discovered that Star Wars character Yoda actually speaks German. He also reviewed Revenge of the Sith, fallout from Indra Nooyi's commencement address, fallout from Linda Foley's accusations about attacks on journalists, the rhetoric of Indra Nooyi (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!), and criticized the Pentagon's handling of the Koran-flushing story.

Joel Fuhrmann blogged about the Indra Nooyi speech.

Pen of Gutless Pacifist wrote about Christian responses to Star Wars.

Matthew Johnson wrote about how meetings can impair church work and blogged about the movie Hotel Rwanda and responded to criticism of Promise Keepers.

At Connexions, Richard Hall blogged about Britain's traffic problem.

Gavin Richardson listed the bloggers who attended the Emergent convention in Nashville. He also wrote about the convention here, here, here, here, here and here.

Gregory Lee wrote about the perseverance of the saints and the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Methotaku bookblogged Walter Winks' The Powers That Be.

Jonathan Norman interviewed theologian James K.A. Smith, pacifism, the potential problems of commercialism seeping into the Emergent Movement, and the Emergent convention here and here.

Chris Morgan reminded readers that God calls Christians to love everyone, even the stupid and found an example of God loving all creatures, even little sparrows.

Scandal of Particularity reviewed Revelations.

Dean Snyder blogged about how to survive ministry.

Jay Voorhees evaluated the Emergent convention, wrote about the bloggers' luncheon at the convention, and applying family systems theory (Best of the Methodist Blogosphere!)to the church. He also blogged about the convention here and here.

Cole Wakefield blogged about struggling (metaphorically) with demons.

Shane Raynor wrote about changes in communion in the UMC, Anglicans adopting Marianism here and here, the minimum wage here and here, the church trial system, and his view of Rick Warren.

Josh Tinley reviewed Revenge of the Sith and the Koran-flushing story.

Out of the Muck and Mire blogged about trying to 'be' for Christ.

Raymond Rooney wrote about the importance of identifying your own faults.

Preacher Rich blogged about finding God in the good works of others.

Scott Aldridge wrote about the Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act.

The Country Parson wrote that the UMC has lost a sense of mission and shared his experiences with an elderly activist from the Civil Rights Movement.

Do you know of a blog that should be added to the MBWR? Leave a note in the comments.

Later this week, I will create an archive for past MBWRs on a separate web page.

*I think that this is what Jordan is saying. Sadly, I know virtually nothing about Canadian politics so I may misunderstand him. As always, this MBWR was composed in great haste in over 3 hours.

UPDATE: Jonathan has pointed out that I forgot to include his blog. Oops! That's now fixed.

Responses to Spiritual Warfare

Cole has brought up the subject of demons, albeit in a different context.

It's made me think of the way that mainline denominations treat spiritual warfare. Being a Bible-reading Christian, I believe in demons -- and yes, I do mean evil, sentient spirits aligned with Satan. The Bible is quite plain that such creatures exist. Yes, when Jesus cast out some demons, he may actually have just been curing people of diseases who didn't understand the idea of disease. But when Jesus actually speaks to a demon and it answers back (e.g. Mark 5:12, Luke 8:32, Matthew 4:6), I consider that conclusive evidence that there are real demons in the world.

When I've broached the subject at church, few people are receptive. Some consider it superstitious. Others simply prefer not to think about it. The devil's done fine work here, because he's managed to convince many Christians that he and his minions don't exist, making them a hidden and subtle threat. Good job, Satan!

Does anyone know if the UMC has an official position on spiritual warfare?

Smarter Than I (5)

The fifth edition of the Smarter Than I blog carnival will be hosted by Decorabilia.

Submissions are due by May 30th.

Weekend Rabbit Blogging

Bunny butt.

Methodist Blogger Profile: Dean Snyder

Dean Snyder of Untied Methodist.

Background

I live with my wife Jane Malone in a wonderful 155 year-old home three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC. My church is a three-mile walk away, and I try to walk between church and home more often than I drive.

I served my first church as a student pastor in 1968. I was ordained a United Methodist elder in 1972 after attending Boston University School of Theology. I have had seven appointments (including my current one) since then. I have had the most interesting and exciting appointments of anyone I know in United Methodist ministry, including 9 years of campus ministry, serving as pastor of a primarily (actually almost entirely) African-American congregation, being a conference director of communication, developing a plan to start new congregations especially among ethnic populations as an associate council director, and being the pastor of two diverse and multicultural downtown churches at two different times of my ministry. My greatest disappointment is that there are so many exciting ministries and that I can't do them all.

Why do you blog?

Two reasons:1) I came across the Wesley Blog, the Methodist blogroll, and then the weekly summaries on Locust and Honey and felt drawn to try to become part of this community, which --it seems to me-- is really attempting to speak and listen across theological and political differences without pretending the differences don’t exist. Were it not for the Methodist blog community, I am not sure I would have been moved to start a blog. 2) It is also true that writing helps me think, and that I like to try to touch and influence people by what I preach and write. Doing a blog lets me write without the trouble of sending out manuscripts to periodicals for publication. Although the number of people who read me may be less, blogging let’s people find me rather than me trying to find them..

What has been your best blogging experience?

My best experience is hearing back from folk who have read my blog. Interestingly enough, I have gotten the most direct e-mail from a sermon I posted that I had given at a retreat for clergy about when ministry gets tough. Some folk found it helpful and encouraging and let me know.

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?

I’m still a novice, of course. I think my posts are way too long. The internet is less about monologue and more about dialogue, so I would advise another novice to be shorter, less complex and more to the point than I tend to be.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?

In addition to the two blogs mentioned above that got me into this, I guess I’d read RealLivePreacher.com. I also follow Beth Quick, Christian Dissent, Southern Liberal Methodist, and andrewsullivan.com. I love the prayers that rev. mommy posts.

Who are your spiritual heroes?

Carlyle Marney, Edmund Steimle, Jeanne Audrey Powers, Johnny Ray Youngblood, Harrel Beck, Toyoko Kagawa, William Stringfellow, Nevin Snyder (my older brother), and Felton Edwin May.

What are you reading at the moment?

Peter C. Murray’s Methodists and the Crucible of Race 1930-1975; W. Astor Kirk, Desegregation of the Methodist Church Polity; Gil Rendle’s and Alice Mann’s Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice for Congregations;

What is your favorite hymn and why?

“O Thou, in Whose Presence My Soul Takes Delight.” One Lent I resolved to spend three hours a day in prayer, five days a week. I didn’t manage to do it for more than a couple of weeks. It did weird things to me. (I moved too quickly, I think, from casual spiritual disciplines --reading the Upper Room and spending a few minutes talking to God in my head-- to 15 hours a week without building up my capacity first, like trying to run a marathon without training.) But during that time I found myself praying the words of this hymn over and over. It spoke, and continues to speak, to my need to be self-sufficient and independent (and to make life more complicated and difficult than it has to be) and offers the possibility that I might surrender to grace and accept God’s majestic unmerited presence in my life.

I have come to love the questions at the end of the second verse and the beginning of the third (because they so well articulate my negative spiritual tendencies): “Say, why in the valley of death should I weep, or alone in this wilderness rove? O, why should I wander, an alien from thee, or cry in the desert for bread?”

Then comes the prayer in verse four which articulates my longing: “Restore, my dear Savior, the light of thy face, thy soul cheering comfort impart, and let the sweet tokens of pardoning grace bring joy to my desolate heart.”

And finally the last verse is full of praise: “He looks! and ten thousands of angels rejoice, and myriads wait for his word. He speaks! and eternity, filled with his voice, reechoes the praise of the Lord.”

This hymn mirrors my spiritual experience. It is best, however, when sung by an African-American congregation, preferably the one I served in the late 80s!

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind?

I’ve had a hard wrestle with abortion, and used to be less pro-choice than I am now. I also used to be much more wary than I am now about stem cell research and genetic medicine. I still think there are potential ethical problems but now my concerns have less to do with the science than how capitalism will abuse the use of the science.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?

If I had to pick one, I guess I’d go with laissez-faire capitalism -- the idea that human welfare is best achieved by a free market left to its own devices; the idea that less government involvement in economic decisions such as pricing, production, labor, and distribution of goods and services improves human welfare in the long run; the idea that weak individuals should be sacrificed for the greater good. In social life, its spiritual equivalent might be called “survival of the fittest.”

If you could affect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be?

I’d institute full employment and the right to work: Everyone –including differently abled people-- should have the basic right to a job that earns them a livable wage and that fulfills their gifts and abilities. In order to achieve this, we would also need to guarantee access to quality education, decent and affordable childcare and adequate healthcare.

If you could affect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?

No one would be permitted to vote at annual conference or General Conference about any group of people or their role and status within the church and/or ministry unless he or she had met weekly for at least two years with members of that group for prayer and personal sharing.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?

Drink at least six glasses of water a day, exercise regularly, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, get help when you need it, pray, don’t let others steal your joy.

What, if anything, do you worry about?

I worry that my generation of Americans will have consumed more than we will have contributed and, thus, will have left the world a poorer, less caring, more violent place.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?

Sure. I would devote more time to self-reflection sooner. I would learn sooner to be less anxious about conflict. I would worry less about what people think about me and whether they like me.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?

I love living in the city, but if I did not live in the city I would want to live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, near the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. (See http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/). I would also like to live in Zimbabwe or Liberia.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Biking; sitting in Starbucks, sipping Earl Grey tea, and reading; walking; watching birds

What is your most treasured possession?

My bicycle

What talent would you most like to have?

I’d love to be able to sing lead tenor in a Southern-style gospel quartet.

If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner who would they be?

Martin Luther, Soren Kierkegaard, and Anna Lee

That Didn't Take Long...

Via Tom McGuire, it appears that Norman Mailer is among the bloggers at the Huffington Post. Being a member of the Reality-Based Community, Mailer has reached the conclusion that the phony Newsweek story must have been planted by the Bush Administration:

Obviously, I can offer no proof of any of the above. There still resides, however, under my aging novelist's pate a volunteer intelligence agent, sadly manque. He does suggest that the outcome was too neat. It came out too effectively for one side, one special side. At the age of eighty-two I do not wish to revive old paranoia, but Lenin did leave us one valuable notion, one, at any rate. It was "Whom?" When you cannot understand a curious matter, ask yourself, "Whom? Whom does this benefit?" Dare I suggest that our Right has just gained a good deal by way of this matter? In every covert Department of Dirty Tricks, whether official, semi-official, or off-the-wall, great pride is best obtained by going real deep into down-and-dirty-land—Yeah! Expedite the consequences. [emphasis added]

Of course, he can offer no proof. But who needs it when you live in Reality?

Now if Mailer turns out to be correct, or his opinion becomes the most popular and widespread, then his theory would not benefit the Bush Administration at all. In which case, by his logic, Bush couldn't have been responsible for the story.

Anyway, I wonder why the Bush Administration would undermind Newsweek, since we all know that the mainstream media are very biased to the Right.

Rick Warren: Chocolate Pudding or Socket Wrench?

Shane Raynor has a long post & comment thread up about Rick Warren.

The most balanced and clear post that I've ever seen on the subject of this popular and controversial preacher is by Rev. Ed:

I wanted my church to go through the 40 Days for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I felt that this was what the Lord wanted me to do. But beyond that, I wanted to encourage the people to take the process of discipleship more seriously and to begin a few small groups to make God more a part of their everyday lives. Because many in the congregation knew people who had gone through the 40 Days at another church, they were receptive to the idea and it helped many to commit to the whole process. My goal was not to make our church a "little Saddleback" since after all our congregation would likely fit in just one bathroom at Saddleback Community Church! My goal was to encourage the people in their walk with Christ.

Read the whole thing. Ed certainly makes a lot more sense that my bizarre post title.

Pearl Harbor Redux

Apparently some Chinese military officials think that by sinking an American aircraft carrier in a surprise attack, they would drive the U.S. out of a war to conquer Taiwan.

It's a remarkably similar strategy to Japan's Pearl Harbor strike, which hoped to frighten the U.S. into submission. It didn't work too well for Japan.

The difference, of course, is that America now, unlike in 1941, has a massive fifth column that roots for the other side.

Via Tom McGuire

Smarter Than I (4)

The new edition of the Smarter Than I blog carnival is up at Science and Politics.

We Have Lost Our Way

The Beth Stroud affair has made me ashamed to be a United Methodist. We squabble endlessly over homosexual clergy in church courts, annual conferences, and General Conference. And in this conflict, which tears Christian from Christian, we have forgotten the proper and Biblical (Hezekiah 6:13) method of conflict resolution: inflatable sumo suit wrestling.

Let us resolve this doctrinal conflict once and for all in the way that God ordained for us.

Methodist Blogger Profile: Cole Wakefield

Cole Wakefield of Christian Dissent

Background

I live in Nashville, TN with my partner Jason. I am originally from Arkansas and moved to Nashville in January. I work a non-retail job for a Christian retailer. I currently attend Saint Leo University.

Why do you blog?

I ask myself this everyday and the answer keeps evolving. I guess truth and love are my main motivators.

What has been your best blogging experience?

The 'discovery' of the Methodist blogosphere and the discussion that comes out of it.

What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger?

Uhhh.....Am I still a novice? I guess just blog what your hearts tells ya. And be careful who you tell about your blog.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?

Arkansas Daily Blog, to keep up with home; Weselyblog, updated daily and has some great discussion; Boing Boing, funny stuff here.

Who are your spiritual heroes?

Martin Luther King Jr, Mel White, anyone who strives to affect change through peace and love

What are you reading at the moment?

Re-reading "God's Politics" because Jim Wallis is coming to town.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

"They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love" this song speaks to my mission

Can you name a major moral, political or intellectual issue onwhich you've ever changed your mind?

All of them, I used to be a big conservative, but then I 'grew-up' :-)

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?

What an interesting question

If you could effect one major policy change in the governing of your country, what would it be?

Health care, I would make sure everyone has the physical and mental health care they need.

If you could effect one major policy change in the Methodist Church, what would it be?

Do you have to ask? The gay one.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?

Just remember, most of the stuff the bothers us, doesn't really matter.

What, if anything, do you worry about?

I worry about fellowship in the church

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything you'd do differently?

Nope. My life, mistakes and all, have made me who I am today, and I am happy with that.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Gaming, Blogging, Reading, Theatre

What is your most treasured possession?

My computer

What talent would you most like to have?

Singing

If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner who would they be?

Jesus, King David, and Mohammad; lets work somethings out.

The Religion of Peace

So Newsweek runs a fake story about Gitmo guards flushing a Koran down the toilet.

Muslims respond by rioting and killing people.

How many Christians would riot if someone in Pakistan flushed a Bible down the toilet?

[shhh! John -- remember, it's the Religion of Peace! -- ed.]

Oh, yes. I forgot.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup #13

Here's the week in review in the Methodist blogosphere:

Dave Warnock blogged about projection technology for pastors, a Biblical basis for ethics, cartoon resources for pastors, the misuse of the Bible by conservatives, church policymaking, the Christian Resources Exhibition, and provided an update on the utility of his new home server.

James Gibson blogged about the banality of Christian punditry.

Beth Quick wrote a review of The DaVinci Code.

Kent Carter wrote about the divisiveness of blogging.

Theresa Coleman blogged about the meaning of emergence, baptizing her cat, digital photography, the image of God as a mantling hawk, pentecost prayers, and her first hate mail.

ConXian wrote about an Iliff celebration of its history.

Jordan Cooper blogged about M. Scott Peck's divorce, the Pentagon closure of selected military bases, responded to criticism of Brian McLaren, and defended the Emergent movement.

Donald Sensing wrote about a Tennessee effort to forcibly draft parents to assist in schools, the Pentagon merging military medical centers, a study on blogging traffic, Operation Matador, famous and false predictions on the future of warfare, the and the East Waynesville Baptist Church story.

Padre Complex blogged about the struggle of mainline churches and the appointment system in the UMC.

Pen of Gutless Pacifist wrote about a new ministry organization for special forces, the modern definition of 'church', and the Christian fish-on-your-car craze (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!)

Grandma Jean blogged about the Newsweek scandal.

At Connexions, Richard Hall wrote about volunteering IT skills, world leaders responding to environmental concerns, and a Christian response to the death penalty.

Gavin Richardson blogged bout the meaning of Pentecost, the rapid change of computer technology since the movie Wargames, and BlogNashville.

Methotaku wrote about the defining characteristics of progressivism (Best of the Methodist blogosphere! -- short but insightful) and the resignation of Rev. Chan Chandler.

Chris Morgan blogged about what it means to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, the spiritual danger of loving possessions, and the value of silence.

John Wilks reminded Methodists that they are supposed to stress personal holiness, accepting that God has a right to judge right and wrong, and suggested that the Methodist blogosphere is pre-occupied with sex and the modern Christians are pre-occupied with possessions (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!).

Wes Magruder wrote about transforming missionary UMC congregations in Cameroon into self-supporting churches.

Jonathan Norman ruminated on Pentecost, finding time from the business of ministry to experience that holy day, and announced a hiatus from blogging.

Scandal of Particularity thrashed Revelations.

Dean Snyder blogged about the work of the UMC in Liberia, argued that homosexuality is not immoral, and what it really means to be pro-family.

Jay Voorhees wrote about the experience of Pentecost.

Cole Wakefield has made a series of audioposts (I'm not in a position to listen to them, so I can't tell you what's on them).

Shane Raynor blogged about ecumenicism between the UMC, ELCA, and the ECUSA, changing the appointment system (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!), the role of Scripture in formulating doctrine, tolerance as a value for conservative Christians, social action as a priority for conservative Christians, and efforts to change homosexuals into heterosexuals.

Andy Bryan presented the Blue Jeans Story (Best of the Methodist blogosphere!).

At Bandits No More, Richard wrote about a Christian response to failure in public education, the appointment system in the UMC, the Christian experience as narrative, and the role of individual, charismatic leaders in megachurch growth, and the importance of communication accuracy in debate. Steve Heyduck wrote about the image of the church organ in the minds of Baby Boomers and the positive attitude of modern deists.

Inside Mike's Head blogged about how every action that a parent takes has an impact on her child.

Josh Tinley wrote about Newsweek's rankings of high schools and the importance of personally committing to causes that one supports.

Preacher Rich defined a healthy church as one with an external focus.

Scott Aldridge blogged about the misuse of the judiciary by liberals in America and the UMC and obstacles to servanthood.

Do you know of a blog that should be added to the MBWR? Leave a note in the comments.

Alright, Jonathan!

Enough already!

Top 10 Lies Told by Graduate Students

From The Pirate's Blog:

10. It doesn't bother me at all that my college roommate is making $80,000 a year on Wall Street.

9. I'd be delighted to proofread your book/article/chapter.

8. My work has a lot of practical importance.

7. I would never date an undergraduate.

6. Your latest article was so inspiring.

5. I turned down a lot of great job offers to come here.

4. I just have to read one more book and then I'll start writing my thesis.

3. The department is giving me so much support.

2. My job prospects look really good.

1. No really, I'll be out of here in only two more years.

Via Christopher Cross. (Don't lecture me about the URL -- it has nothing to do with his blog!)

Weekend Rabbit Blogging

It is a myth that rabbits like to eat carrots. They do, however, go ape over bananas.

Happy Birthday Israel!

Doctor Horsefeathers reminds us that today is the 57th birthday of the modern state of Israel, which is, as Horsefeathers aptly puts it "a beacon of civilization still shining in a sea of barbarism."

Send your best wishes to its Ambassador to the United States.

I Wish that I Had Thought of that Blog Name!

The two greatest blog names on earth, which I wish that I had thought of first:

Occam's Toothbrush

Freeway to Serfdom

What is the cleverest blog name that you've encountered? Leave a note in the comments.

Google Ads

I think that the Google ads generated by this post make it clear why I'm not signing up for that service.

Library Commies

I've written earlier about the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library's new advertising campaign, featuring Mao Zedong as an great example of how libraries can favorably impact society. The reasoning was that Mao, having worked as a librarian at one time, discovered Communism in the process, and we all know how wonderfully that idea has turned out.

I withheld judgment on Lileks' observations because I could find no corroboration. Well, now Lileks has the proof.

Absolutely appalling and inexcusable.

Beware of the Christians!

Jonah Goldberg knocks down the hysteria about a Christian Dominionist takeover of the United States:

All right, enough already. The Christians aren’t coming to get you.

I can take the somber, frightened “special reports” on National Public Radio, where you can literally hear the correspondents wringing their hands over the possibility that the “Darwin fish” affixed to their Volvos will be banned. I can even handle the dog-whistle shrieks of Paul Krugman and Maureen Dowd types about the looming Inquisition led by an alliance of the new German (wink, wink) pope and the Kansas Board of Education.

And yes, I realize the irony of posting this column while debating a Dominionist in the comments.

Book Review: Historical Dictionary of Methodism

Historical Dictionary of Methodism 2nd edition.
Charles Yrigoyen Jr. and Susan E. Warrick, eds.
Scarecrow, 2005. 416 pp.

The Historical Dictionary of Methodism is a fine reference work appropriate for large academic libraries, seminaries with Methodist students, and large Methodist church libraries. It is a thoughtfully assembled ready reference tool for the broad sweep of Methodist history. In addition to its alphabetized topical, biographical, geographical, and theological entries, the book features a timeline, a brief history of the movement, and a comprehensive and well-organized bibliography. The dictionary’s listings are well-chosen, written, and researched.

Its only failing is an over-emphasis on the United Methodist Church on some topical entries, such as those on homosexuality and war, to the neglect of other Methodist bodies.

Grade: A-

Smarter Than I (4)

The fourth edition of the Smarter Than I blog carnival will be hosted by Science and Politics. Submissions are due by May 15th.

The Bible: Your Guide to Good Government?

Over at St. Phransus, I've been debating Jonathan Norman and Postmodern Negro about how much churches should be involved in politics. My answer is as little as possible. As someone who, over the course of his life, has been all over the political map, I think that it's so easy to be wrong about politics that stating or implying something to the effect of "God supports legislation X" is simply engaging in ludicrous proof-texting from Scripture.

Jonathan and PMN rightly point out that there have been compelling political issues that churches have taken firm stands on, such as slavery and racial segregation, that I don't think that anyone of right mind can say was the wrong position. Granted. There is a fuzzy line between acceptable and unacceptable involvement in politics, and enormous room for disagreement on its location.

Still, there's something wrong with a church that makes conditions for Christian fellowship upon the opinions on political issues X, Y, and Z -- either explicitly or implicitly. And Jonah Goldberg, who isn't even a Christian, expressed it perfectly today:

In other words, while Christianity may be a complete philosophy of life, it is only at best a partial philosophy of government. When it attempts to be otherwise, it has leapt the rails into an enormous vat of category error. This is one reason why I did not like it when President Bush said his favorite political philosopher was Jesus Christ. I don't mind at all a president who has a personal relationship with Jesus. It's just that I don't think Jesus is going to have useful advice about how to fix Social Security.

Exactly! The fatal flaw in the pro-political argument is that the Bible simply doesn't have anything to say about issues like Social Security, health insurance, or monetary policy. Oh sure, you can say "Well, King Whatshisname of Judah faced a situation vaguely similar to ours, albeit in a radically different political and economic context, and he followed our plan, and God blessed him for it." That's about the extent that modern political policy can be educated by Biblical faith. All else is proof-texting (that goes for libertarians, too).

So how should a Christian educate his politics by his faith? Very carefully and completely respecting Christians who reach other conclusions in good faith.

The End of Conservativism

The Derb says that conservativism, as a political movement, is fading away into insignificance. He's right.

— Power of the state. Is the federal government more powerful, or less, than it was in January 2001? That, of course, is an ah-but question. Our country was attacked by a terrorist conspiracy well supported by, and well funded from, the wealthy and populous Muslim Middle East. All sorts of things flowed from that, including necessary expansions of government power and expenditure. (Though whether a $300 billion experiment in Wilsonian nation-building was really necessary is a question I shall leave to another time.) Even setting all that aside, though, are the federal authorities less of a presence in our lives, in areas unrelated to national security, than they were four years ago? Sure, you got an itty-bitty tax cut, paid for by dumping a slew of federal debt on your children and grandchildren. But spending? Even non-security spending? The answers are here.

— Liberty vs. equality. There has been no rollback of the tort-spawning, job-killing egalitarianism of the 1990s. Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act are still on the books. Norm Mineta is still at Transportation, so presumably your granny is still as much of a threat to air travel as any Saudi flight-school graduate. Not only are both sexes, all physiques, and all air travelers equal by government fiat, so are all kids. The No Child Left Behind Act assures us of that, and pokes the federal government's nose into every classroom.

— Patriotism. Flip on Fox News any night of the week and watch those clips of foreigners streaming across the southern desert into America by the hundreds and thousands. Doesn't patriotism imply some concern for your nation's borders? Some ideas about what people you would like to have come settle in your country — how many, and from where? Some cherishing and privileging of the notion of citizenship? Apparently not. Our president, at any rate, is perfectly insouciant — seems, in fact, to be on board with the idea put forward recently by Mexican foreign minister Luis Ernesto Derbez, that his country and ours will soon be "integrated." Let 'em come!

All of these issues worry me, but particularly the death of the reflexive anti-statism of the American mind, clearly seen in generations past and enshrined in the words of men like George Washington:

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

Or Thomas Jefferson:

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

Or Calvin Coolidge:

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery

Or Barry Goldwater:

Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.

From those fiercely anti-statist voices, we now have a nation of Americans crying out their particular entitlement to be paid for by other people, and politicians wisely sensing that electoral success is not to be found in promising to slash government programs, but to expand them.

Although we might see the thankful end of the drug war in a decade, the deep-seated distrust and fear of government -- the image of government as a predatory beast and not a helper -- has vanished from American popular thought. God save us from the consequences.