Summer Reading Ideas

Christianity Today has awarded it's 2006 book awards, including one for Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible, "a landmark volume for the church's engagement with Scripture. It will be a basic resource on the role and use of the Bible.": http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/006/16.34.html

Admitting Mistakes

An unusually frank press conference held by President Bush and Prime Minister Blair is receiving much press this morning. "President George W. Bush admitted on Thursday that his bellicose 'bring 'em on' taunt to Iraqi insurgents was a big mistake...he also cited the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal as 'the biggest mistake that's happened so far, at least from our country's involvement in Iraq" ... Blair said the effort to rid Iraq's army of members of Saddam Hussein's Baathists -- a process called 'de-Baathification' -- could have been done better."

Link: http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=12344610

Nepalese Army Allegiance

" A fierce battle is raging in [Nepalese] army headquarters and in the Palace Army Secretariat. To whom will the Nepal Army swear allegiance? Every officer in the army, like every other citizen of Nepal, is contemplating his or her future. At this moment in Nepal’s history, only the army can reverse the gains of the Andolan and only at a terrible cost in more innocent Nepali lives and only for a very brief period. Any attempted military coup will be a colossal blunder!" reports a blogger at http://www.blog.com.np/united-we-blog/2006/05/25/nepal-army-transition-and-swear-allegiance/

Back to Work after Bomb

"...about twenty minutes after the IED (improvised explosive device) exploded this morning, I was back at work as though nothing had taken place," writes this blogger in Afghanistan: http://scottalan.typepad.com/scott_a_gurley/

Advice for All Nations

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt made the following statement to Americans, but it is good advice for any nation:

"If we lose the virile, manly qualities,
and sink into a nation of mere hucksters,
putting gain over national honor,
and subordinating everything to mere ease of life,
then we shall indeed reach a condition
worse than that of the ancient civilizations
in the years of their decay."

Chaplain Court-Martialed for "Jesus" Prayer

"An evangelical Navy chaplain who attended a press conference and offered a prayer 'in Jesus’ name'” at the event while in uniform will be court-martialed for disobeying his commanding officer’s order not to do so," reports the Marine Times.

Link:http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1814225.php

Military History Buffs, Take Note

Rare Civil War photos can be found at:
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/us/0605/gallery.civil.war/frameset.exclude.html

U.S. Recruiting Goals Met

"In the last seven months, the U.S. Army has met or exceeded all of its recruiting goals," reports Strategy Page. " In that time, over 160,000 people have enlisted, or re-enlisted. The total strength of the active duty and reserve forces are 1.2 million men and women, all of them volunteers."

Link: http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20060516.aspx

Questions about Da Vinci Code?

On Friday the Da Vinci Code movie is released. Christianity Today has some great links to questions about the Code at:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/special/davincicode.html

Insurgents' Morale Slipping?

"... documents authored by an al-Qaida operative and seized by U.S. soldiers during an April 16 raid in the Yusufiyah area (12 miles south of Baghdad) offer hope to the American side that success may be closer than we think," writes Cal Thomas: http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/calthomas/2006/05/16/197438.html

Christian Fighter Pilots

Being a fighter pilot is like being in a motorcycle gang—except your mother is still proud of you! For more info, see the website http://www.christianfighterpilot.com/.

Is "Evangelical" the new "Fundamentalist"?

Last century, people who believed the term "fundamentalist" had developed too many negative connotations began using the term "evangelical". (Cynical critics have described fundamentalism as "not enough fun, too much damn, and not enough mental.")

Now some people believe that word has too many negative connotations. The editor of the British magazine Christianity is asking readers to develop a new word "that sums up our identity and commitment to following Jesus but puts distance between us and the damaging negatives. The name evangelical, which years ago may have smelled of roses, now has the aroma of the manure that fertilizes the bush."

Whether you agree with his thoughts or not, he's probably riding the wave of a language-change that will affect Christianity.

Philosophizing About the War

Norwegian philosopher Henrik Syse states: "I have a lot of respect for how the United States took moral responsibility in the two world wars. But if you choose to act alone, you risk counteracting what is morally good. This is an old problem in war. In Europe we have in many ways huge moral expectations toward the United States, not least because religious and ethical values supposedly play an important part in American politics."

Read more of his thoughts at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2006/003/7.28.html

Music for Soldiers

"...Christian artists Avalon releases For Freedom, a three-song tribute record available today through digital outlets, including iTunes, Napster, Sony Connect and Rhapsody. The Digital EP includes a brand new song, ‘For Freedom,’ ... ‘For Freedom,’ written by Matt Moran for his grandfather, who was a soldier in WWII, is considered a tribute to the courage of all soldiers past and present and to those who they have left behind."

Link: http://www.christiantoday.com/news/culture/song.dedicated.to.all.soldiers.and.loved.ones.left.behind/301.htm

Financial Peace for Military Families

Dave Ramsey offers "Financial Peace University" courses to help U.S. military families get wise about money: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/military/.

Japan Passes on Pacifism

"A report ... indicates [Japan] is emerging from its strict reliance since World War II on America for military protection." Slate sums it up at http://www.slate.com/id/2141303/.

"Please Don't Let me Die!"

Life and Death in Iraq

CNN follows U.S. medics at work in Iraq: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/10/iraq.medics/index.html

Genocide and "Just War"

"The crisis in Darfur points to the need for a new way to prevent genocide and other human-rights abuses, says commentator Joe Loconte...Loconte says that a new policy, based on the Christian "just war" tradition, should be developed to use force to prevent genocide."

Listen at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5391510

Post-Traumatic Faith

"The killing of fellow humans is a deadly necessity for a combat soldier," writes Patrick Stone, a psychology professor who works with Vietnam vets. "...The truth that does not receive enough attention is that killing in combat is the beginning of a long journey for most soldiers. At the moment of killing, a soldier may experience relief, excitement, rage, sickness, sadness, exuberance, numbness, or even satisfaction." To read more, click on http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/005/21.56.html.

Peace for Sudan?

The Sudanese government and the largest rebel faction signed a peace plan on Friday. Let's pray that it lasts.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060505/ap_on_re_af/darfur_talks

Assessing the Iraq War

General Barry McCaffrey (USA Ret.) gives his thoughts on successes and failures of the Iraq war, including this comment: "The Iraqi Army is real, growing, and willing to fight. They now have lead action of a huge and rapidly expanding area and population. The battalion level formations are in many cases excellent - most are adequate...This is simply a brilliant success story."

More info can be found at the Belmont Club: http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2006/05/mccaffrey-trip-report.html

Ugly Americans

Top 10 Cultural Faux Pas of Americans Abroad

Airman Quarterly and Defense Language Institute staff teamed up "to provide a list of common faux pas that Airmen should be aware of" when overseas. Included: nix the public displays of affection and the "OK" hand signal.

Link: http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0406/top10.shtml