Pride's downfall and Humility's hope

I found this sermon clip very convicting. Pride is fatal - may God make us humble, gospel-centered people.

Every Moment

Perhaps when we lose a job, fail to make the cut, get dumped, or lose someone we care about, we often hear the verse "...in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." (see Romans 8:28). This is seen as a word of comfort, and yet it can also be misunderstood and misapplied.

Let's look at the verse in its immediate context (read also the surrounding verses/chapters for a greater context): "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (verses 28 and 29)

What does it mean for God to work for the good of His children? Does it mean that everything will be easy? Or that we'll always get what we want when we want it? Or that our current problems will all be fixed according to our solutions?

Or does it mean that He will work something even better--a good even greater? For what could be more blessed than to be conformed to the image of Jesus? "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son..."

And since God is sovereign over all, we can take comfort in this. Let us seek out His work in every situation and moment, longing for the greatest good at all times: conformity to the image of Christ by God's grace and work and sovereignty.

British Health Service Promoting Sexual Activity for Teens and Seniors

In two new leaflets put out by the British National Health Service, the government advises elderly patients that it's "never too late to experiment" and tells teenagers that sex every day "keeps the doctor away."

The leaflet for teenagers, unambiguously called "Pleasure," was issued by the National Health Service in Sheffield and is available to teachers, parents and youth workers across the country.

"Health promotion experts advocate five portions of fruit and veg a day and 30 minutes physical activity three times a week," the booklet said, suggesting that some form of sexual activity "twice a week" might be healthy as well.

It's disheartening to see that sex is treated so cavalierly by the NHS. It also reflects a condition of the heart whereby sex is a tool for personal gratification and not love or service to one's husband or wife. Creation is groaning...

Now It's Time for Some Classic Far Side

Sanford's Apology Op-Ed

Thoughts? Do you think it's a sincere, godly, apology?

I have struggled with how best to convey my regret in letting so many down, and in that regard I realize this op-ed does not do justice to the process of saying “I am sorry.” A handwritten note or phone call would ultimately be more appropriate, but given the number of people I need to apologize to I write this to begin the journey of trying to get things more right with you and others.

It is true that I did wrong and failed at the largest of levels, but equally true is the fact that God can make good of our respective wrongs in life. In this vein, while none of us has the chance to attend our own funeral, in many ways I feel like I was at my own in the past weeks, and surprisingly I am thankful for the perspective it has afforded.

If you ever have the misfortune of being at this point, whether self-induced as in my case or not, it will give you an indeed amazing perspective on life and on what really matters. I read notes from someone who worked in a sandwich shop I ate at ten years ago, from 7th grade classmates, from state employees and more. While there have been lifetimes of lessons learned over the past weeks, three things most immediately come to mind.

One, forgiveness and grace really do matter. I used to believe that at an intellectual level, now it is at the level of heart. Over my life I have not given enough of either, and yet given all the ways in which my failings have come to light, I write to apologize for, in the most profound of ways, letting you and so many others down. In life it’s always the people closest to us that we hurt the most, and given my standing of public trust, I know I’ve hurt many across our state. I apologize for this, and more than anything would ask for your forgiveness going forward.

Two, life is indeed about way more than public standing or political views, it’s about recognizing that none of us are the arbiters of truth, that there are moral absolutes, and that there is a God to whom we will all report for our actions. My failure has been most glaring on this front, where no public apology can make wrong right. As a consequence, it is on this plane that I’ve grown the most over the past weeks – and where I’m committed to growing the most going forward.

I’ve been humbled and broken as never before in my life and as a consequence have given up areas of control in a way that I never have before – and it is my belief that this will make me a better father, husband, friend and advocate.

It’s in the spirit of making good from bad that I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience to both trust God in his larger work of changing me, and from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader.

In this regard I think all that has transpired will be particularly relevant in the way I deal with the legislative body and other state leaders going forward. Micah 6:8 asks us to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly, and as I begin these steps into the last 18 months of this administration, it will indeed be with a more contrite and humble spirit.

I’ve realized that as much as I have and will continue to advocate for things ranging from restructuring to responsible spending to school choice, my approach needs to be less about my will and more about looking for ways to more humbly present the greater principals and ideas at play. It needs to be less strident and more about finding ways to work with legislative leaders to advance the ideas so many of us believe in. It means less time fighting the tide - and a greater awareness of the fact that God controls it. In working with a few alterations to my approach, I think this could be a far more productive last session than the one that would have been had the tragedy that has unfolded not occurred, and in turn, people’s lives can be made better.

Finally it is at your funeral that you in many ways not only can see most clearly the things that really matter in life, but where one gets the best glimpse of who your real friends are – and how much they matter. For that reason, I want to thank so many for their kindnesses and support over the years and for their kindness in this latest chapter in our book together as South Carolinians.

Bizaare Item of the Day: U.S. Airways Flight Diverted Due to Naked Passenger

(H.T. Breitbart TV)

Senator Grassley: "People always say I have the ability to turn people on."