Is this really happening in America? This was suppose to be a day about what the kid liked or "was about", but the school district and judges decide what that is. There has to be some pastor sermons in here somewhere, no?
The international news network CNN describes James Carville as a “prominent Democratic strategist.”
He’s largely credited with getting President Bill Clinton elected in 1992 through his key strategic planning, and is maybe best known as the former host of CNN’s “Crossfire” program and as a frequent guest on CNN’s “Situation Room” (where I once appeared in May 2007). He is also the husband of Republican strategist Mary Matalin.
Carville often pops up on political talk shows on TV. That was the case Friday in the Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees program on the 4th of September. Carville slammed creationists—mentioning our Creation Museum. Erica Hill, CNN anchor, conducted this program as Anderson Cooper was on assignment. As part of the program, Hill interviewed Carville concerning President Obama’s planned back-to-school speech
later this week. Here are excerpts from that interview where creationists and the Creation Museum are specifically referred to by Carville:
The truth of the matter is, they have got people in this country that don’t believe that Obama was born in the United States. There have got people in this country that believe that the Earth is 5,000 years old, all right? There’s nothing that you can do about that. You have to live with it. They have to go on. To the children that want to sit there, this is a man that’s sort of a testament to what education can do for somebody. His mother read to him at 4:30 in the morning. He is a highly educated person. He can talk to kids. He can talk. He might be able to connect with a lot of kids that don’t — do that, and, if you feel compelled to keep your kid out of school, I mean, it is a free country, keep your kid out of school. But you cannot run a country based on birthers and creationists. You have to run a country based on trying to inspire kids. And that’s what these guys have got to learn to do.
HILL: Tony [Blankley; a columnist with the Washington Times], in terms of keeping kids home from school, if you could give me a yes or no, do you think it is a good idea? And, if you are going to keep kids home from school, what should the lesson be that parents are giving their children that day, in terms of a civics lesson?
BLANKLEY: Look, I think every parent has to make their own decision as to—as to why they’re—what they want to do.
Keeping your kid out of school and on the first day is a big deal. On the other hand, a parent has a right to protect their children from anything they don’t want to have. And, sometimes, parents keep them from sex education and other stuff. That’s a family’s decision. It’s not mine and it’s not the government’s.
HILL: James, would it be easier—the White House has said now that it will release a copy of the speech online on Monday, so parents can review it ahead of time before school starts.
CARVILLE: Well, I think they are, yes.
HILL: No, they are.
CARVILLE: My understanding is, is that they are.
HILL: But should they have done it sooner. They are. They have confirmed that. But should they have done it sooner, say, yesterday?
CARVILLE: Well, look, in retrospect—in retrospect, you should have anticipated—again, this is a country that people believe that—these people believe Obama wasn’t born in the United States. They believe the Earth is 5,000 years old. [Actually, over 6,000 years old—KH.]
A parent has every right to take their kid to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. I don’t—that is a right. But this is something that we have got to live with in the United States. And I don’t guess the administration saw this coming. And, in hindsight, could they have done this or that? That’s fine. And people have a right to keep their children home.
But I think we would be better off if we sort of believed in what facts were and we had some kind of appreciation of what the scientific method was in this country. But, hey, you know, think what you want.
Not only is the Democratic strategist slamming people who believe in creation, but he is obviously mentioning the Creation Museum with a negative connotation. Carville is insinuating that if one is intelligent, one would not believe in creation and would not send their children to the Creation Museum.
It is ok for such secularists to tell children that children can be killed in the womb (abortion) if it’s a woman’s choice to do so. It is ok to tell children they are just animals resulting from re-arranged pond scum and therefore there is no purpose or meaning to life—but then also inconsistently condemn school violence/drugs etc.
We need to pray much for this country and for the hearts of the leaders of this nation—as well as those in the media spotlight.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying
Ken
First, work is not the same as having a job or simply putting forth effort. If that was the case, then the unemployed would lose their identity and the effort of the thief would maintain his. Work is the creating of value out of what is "formless and void" -- crops from the ground, meals from ingredients, houses from materials, learning from teaching, etcetera. And value is defined not only by the marketplace, but by God Himself, which is why no one should ever think he is called to "retire" from work -- maybe from a job, but never from work, which is an important way we honor God and increase our joy (Eccl. 5:19). Regardless of our age there is always work to be done in God's vineyard -- even if it's simply praying from a wheelchair in a nursing home.
Second, work is meant to sustain our lives and the lives of others. Before Adam fell he never had to work for his food -- it literally "grew on trees." But afterwards, the garden gave way to the field, the sustaining fruit to the harvested crops, the naming of animals to wearing them. No work, no eat (2 Thess. 3:10) -- regardless of the age, which meant that hands that became weak depended on hands that weren't -- an opportunity for ministry (Eph. 4:28) and testimony (1 Tim. 5:8).
Lastly, work is meant to attract the lost to the gospel. How a person works -- the integrity of an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, the sensitivity to not be a financial burden to others (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8-9) -- speaks to the heart of the lost working man. Every Christian, like those who are deaf, must learn to "speak with his hands" if the gospel is to be received. Wanting something for nothing not only retards gospel progress, but is an excommunicable offense to the hard-working apostle (2 Thess. 3:6-15).
When God really "rolled up His sleeves," it wasn't at creation but at the cross -- a work so great that it caused all other labors to cease -- a testimony to the hands of a man not with blisters for his efforts, but holes. A labor that will sustain lives for all eternity.
Could your internet knowledge make a difference in your local community? The Mozilla Foundation, the organization behind the Firefox web browser, has declared September 14-21 Mozilla Service Week. The idea is simple: during that week, we all look for concrete ways that internet knowledge or skills can be put to work in the service of our local communities.
Here are some of the examples they provide:
As you can see, you don’t have to be an expert coder or a seasoned computer engineer to help out.
I think this is a wonderful idea—and easily translatable into a ministry environment. Who do you know in your community who could use some internet-related help? What local ministries or organizations could you help by donating a few hours of time upgrading software or training their staff? If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you have the skills to help a person or organization in your community in some way.
I note that UrbanMinistry.org has already jumped on this—take a look at their virtual volunteer opportunities, and think about how you or your church might get involved in a virtual service project this September.
