Teach Your Children Well

Obama's UN Unorthdox Equivocation on Intolerance

During President Barack Obama’s annual speech before the United Nations General Assembly gave a perplexing perspective on religious liberty.




Obama went on to equivocate by challenging those wishing to stop Islamic blasphemy to also condemn Holocaust Deniers and those who torch churches.  However, it is shamefully naive to think that the Arab Street will hear these later rhetorical challenges.

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Miguel Pro on Faith

Blessed Miguel Pro just before his martyrdom in 1927 in Mexico[/caption] To better understand what motivated this mild-mannered padre to be martyred, watch "For Greater Glory" (2012), a film about the Cristiada War (1926-1929) where a radically secular Mexican government tried to take away the people's religious liberty and the people rebelled.

Winston Churchill on Theology

Albert Einstein on Theology

Graphic Religious Fanatacism?

Fake It Until You Make It?

Ephesians 2:8-9 proclaims that faith is a gift from God.  While I have never felt bereft of that gift, belief in the Divine seems difficult in this culture.  

I recently saw a sign which piqued my interest.  The sign proclaimed: "I would rather live my life and die to find out there isn't than live my life as if there isn't and find out that there is."

In some ways, this sentiment is back oneself through the Pearly Gates.  But for an agnostic who is not blessed with the gift of faith, it is an exortation to "Fake it until you make it."  It also indicates that is it better to make a world which you would want to live in. 

No Offense?

Christophobia in Sitcoms--That's Not Funny

In 2004, Tyler Perry revealed he had been approached to produce a TV comedy series, but the successful actor/director and performing arts impressario turned it down because it could not be religious.   Eventually, Perry was able to strike a $200 million deal over five years to produce edgy comedies like the House of Payne and For Better or Worse, deals with moral failings and religion on the small screen, albeit on cable.

Some may argue that people just want to laugh while watching entertainment television and not be preached at.  Other analysis opines that Hollywood just looks to the bottom line and will give the people what they want.  Accepting these arguments pro arguendo, why has there been the explosion of television shows that "celebrates diversity" by prominently featuring homosexual characters and gay themes?  Based on prime-time television, one would think that 25% of the American population was involved in such an alternative lifestyle.

It is great to see some diversity on television.  However, it seems that secular humanist forces which champion same sex "marriage" are using entertainment arms to regularize their perspective.  Considering the strong support of traditional marriage in polling and at the ballot box, it is folly to claim that these executive entertainment decisions are simply giving the people what they want or not alienating significant audiences.  Yet when faithful Christians like Tyler Perry try to incorporate their world view into their art, they hit a brick wall on network broadcast television.



It would be refreshing if advocates of "diversity" included philosophical and political diversity into their spheres and did not ostracize Christian world views from the mainstream media marketplace.

Views from the Value Voters Summit, Volume 1

GOP VP Nominee Rep. Paul Ryan at Value Voters Summit 2012  [Photo: BD Matt]

The Values Voters Summit featured GOP VP nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI 1st), House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA 7th), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN 6th), actor/director Kirk Cameron et ali.

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George Carlin on Character

G.K. Chesterton on Theology

Remembering the Battle of Britain

Remembering the Battle of Britain in 1940.  The heroism is often recognized in the pilots of defended the free skies of Britain, but this Air Raid Shelter prayer also commemorates the courageous spirit of the British people in the shadows of Nazi adversity.

May we remember this divine reverence and tap into a reservoir of courage, optimism and community spirit if and when we face dark days.

 

Remembering the Heroes of 9/11

Saving Places

John Henry Newman on Life

While Waiting

Oye Vey--Fun with Political Platforms

Many political pundits dismiss platforms as tree killers which collect dust. But both the RNC and the DNC has had fun with platforms. What is telling is how Democrats tried CYA on God and Jerusalem and ignored the will of their delegates


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Speaking of Trees

Maybe we should value life as much as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax value trees. 

If it helps, we can think of unborn persons as trees.

St. Therese of Lisieux on Love

Laus Deo--Just Do It

Salvific History Sand Sculptures

Salvific History sand sculpture by Randy Hofman, Ocean City, MD 2009   [photo: BD Matt]

Randy Hofman, a 61 year old Ocean Pines, MD, has been making biblical sand sculptures to vacationers on the Delmarva shore since 1974 and Hofman has been doing it singularly since 1981. From the beginning of April to the end of October, it is Hofman's mission to bring the Christian message to the Ocean City boardwalk.  During the winter, Hofman concentrates on his paintings, but also does wood carvings and prints.

Randy Hofman works on a Sand Sculpture

Hofman estimates that it can take up to 15 hours to construct his elaborate biblical sand sculptures as he only uses a square shovel and a crab picking knife. This is remarkable for a sand canvas that can be 10 feet tall and 40 feet long.  Over the years, Hofman has done well over a thousand spiritual sand sculptures




Hofman never abandons a project and can sometimes work until dawn to complete the work.   While he does put a coating of Elmer's glue to give the sand sculpture some longevity, it is still prone to the elements and can be marred by a heavy rain or a crass carousing delinquent.

Hofman made Christian themed sand sculpting into a full time ministry in 1981. He also became an ordained minister in 1985.  He will occasionally evangelize as he works with the shifting grains of sand and will also engage with inquisitive passers-by.

 Hofman seems to revel that his handiwork prompts kids to ask their parents what it is all about.  The artist opined: ""I want it to click so that even someone who is spiritually ignorant can understand."

Divine Forgiveness by Randy Hofman (2009)   [photo: BD Matt]

Gratitude for Sacrifice on the Cross by Randy Hofman (2009)   [photo: BD Matt]

Glorified Resurrected Jesus  by Randy Hofman  (2009)   [photo: BD Matt]

See more spiritually themed sand sculptures at CalamityDC's Pinterest site
h/t: Randy Hofman