Editor’s Note: As many readers originally noted how they enjoyed this article, we are reposting this piece from 2011. Let us never forget the true meaning of the season. Have a very merry Christmas! He comes to make His blessings known/Far as the curse is found. —Isaac Watts Doom and Sorrow Jesus came to a broken world—a world wracked by war and disease; a world plagued by addiction, alienation, and abuse; a world polluted by bigotry, hypocrisy, and lies. A world littered with failed marriages, broken homes, and shattered lives. It was a world and
continue reading…

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution. There was no greater issue debated during the drafting and adoption of the U.S. Constitution than what the role of a new central government would be. All the delegates to the Constitutional Convention convened with fresh
continue reading…

O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou! —William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2 Finding Heroes It’s hard to pick heroes.  They tend to have feet of clay.  New historians or biographers regularly uncover padded expense accounts, unorthodox beliefs, or children born out of wedlock.  The motives of Columbus, the faith of George Washington, and the politics of Teddy Roosevelt have all been questioned by more than one scholar.  It’s hard to know when we should concede the clay feet (and maybe the clay legs with them) and when we should fight
continue reading…

Sacrifice is commonly treated as a relic of man’s primitive past…. —Rousas J. Rushdoony (1992) The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears. —Charles Wesley (1742) The Purpose of Sacrifice Sociologists and anthropologists struggle with understanding and defining the rite of sacrifice. Is sacrifice religion or magic? Is it a bribe or a gift? It seems to function differently in every ancient culture and to work in each culture on different principles and for different ends. In the face of such confusion, Greek religious historian Marcel Detienne claims that there was no such thing as “sacrifice.” 
continue reading…

God said to Abraham, kill me a son Abe said man you must be puttin me on God said no, Abe said what God said you can do what you want Abe but Next time you see me coming you better run Bob Dylan How Big Is God? Existentialist Paul Tillich spoke of “the God
continue reading…