Slubgrip instructs on pop culture, politicians, and propaganda

Taking his cue from The Screwtape Letters (don’t tell me you haven’t read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis?!!), Fr. Dwight Longenecker has a senior tempter instructing junior tempters on how useful pop culture and political leaders can be. Despite himself, just like the more-candid-and-revealing-than-he-knows Screwtape, Slubgrip says a lot about the delusions that are [...]

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Driving in China

A man who lives in China has some theories on why there are so many bad drivers where he lives. And he means really bad drivers, and really quite many. He also reports on an old man who decided to teach bad drivers a lesson by throwing bricks at their cars when they endangered pedestrians. [...]

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Happy Washington’s Birthday

Alvin S. Felzenberg says It’s Not ‘Presidents Day.’ It’s Washington’s Birthday. (Well, tomorrow is, being February 22. But the ‘official’ celebration was today.) I knew that. I forgot, though. Relentless misinformation can do that to a person. I’m old enough to remember when we celebrated actual anniversaries of important dates in our history, not watered [...]

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Teen Fiction Week

Breakpoint is shining a spotlight on good books for teenagers (and up) this week.

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Sometimes we forget the ‘seed’ part

Christians, do not despise the small things, or the planting of small seeds.

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In their own words: President John Quincy Adams

From the First Annual Message of President John Quincy Adams, December 6, 1825: Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: In taking a general survey of the concerns of our beloved country, with reference to subjects interesting to the common welfare, the first sentiment which impresses itself upon the mind is [...]

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In their own words: President Franklin Pierce

From the First Annual Message (aka State of the Union address) of Franklin Pierce, Dec. 5, 1853: Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: The interest with which the people of the Republic anticipate the assembling of Congress and the fulfillment on that occasion of the duty imposed upon a new President [...]

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Book note: Unbroken

Hunter Baker reviews, and recommends, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. I like how he describes his mother in the lead-in to this post. It’s not part of the review, but it’s a nice touch.

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Costly grace…

…versus cheap grace – Regis Nicoll discusses the difference, in Lessons from Bonhoeffer, Part 1.

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Os Guinness on civility in the public square

A challenge to Christians, to be champions of civility. An excerpt: Misunderstandings surround the idea of civility; it’s frequently mistaken for squeamishness about cultural differences, false tolerance or dinner-party etiquette. Classically, civility is a republican virtue, with a small “r,” and a democratic necessity, with a small “d.” It’s the only way you can have [...]

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