Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 134

St. Teresa of Calcutta, saint of darkness

Mother Teresa was canonized on Sunday, officially declared to be a saint.  It isn’t necessary to be a Roman Catholic to appreciate this woman, who ministered to the poor and the dying on the streets of Calcutta. Her example and the sense of holiness she conveyed persuaded many, such as Malcolm Muggeridge, to become a [Read More...]

When TV goes literary

NBC is developing a new series based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist.  The series, called Twist, will be a “procedural”–that is, it will follow the main characters as they solve crimes.  Here is how the network describes the show:  “A sexy contemporary take on Oliver Twist with a struggling 20-something female (Twist) who [Read More...]

Where is our Calvin Coolidge?

We don’t need a president riding in on a white horse to solve our problems.  We don’t need a charismatic figure like John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan.  OK, I’d settle for a Reagan.  But what we really need is someone like Calvin Coolidge. Our newspaper, the Daily Oklahoman, printed part of a Labor Day [Read More...]

Why we have cookouts and don’t work on Vocation Day

Our efforts to turn Labor Day into a Christian feast commemorating the doctrine of Vocation may be catching on.  I am reading and hearing more and more posts and sermons that are making the connection. Moving from “labor” to “vocation” helps to explain the central question that always comes up about Labor Day.  If “labor” is [Read More...]

The “danger” in Luther’s doctrine of vocation?

A few months ago, Covenant Seminary Professor Dan Doriani wrote a post at Gospel Coalition entitled The Power—and Danger—in Luther’s Concept of Work.  It’s a good piece, and the author has a good understanding of the importance of Luther’s doctrine, including love and service to the neighbor. But at the end, he moves to what he considers [Read More...]

The purpose for work that we keep forgetting

A Labor Day post at Christianity.com offers “8 Biblical Principles of Work.”  The list, by seminary professor James Eckman, is thoughtful and instructive.  See it after the jump. But the list is all about serving oneself or serving God.  It  leaves out what Luther taught is the major purpose of all vocations:  To love and [Read More...]

My vocation trilogy

I have written three books on vocation.  I just realized that this constitutes a trilogy.  They aren’t The Lord of the Rings, but they are connected  and build into a whole. (1)  God at Work:  Your Christian Vocation in All of Life.  This sets forth the doctrine of vocation. (2)  Family Vocation:  Your Christian Callings [Read More...]

The ethical non-monogamy community

Carl Trueman reflects on an interview with a member of “the ethical non-monogamy community.”  That is, a married mother who has sex with men she isn’t married to and who argues that her promiscuity is good for her children because it makes her a better mother.  (Should this be another protected sexual identity?) She claims [Read More...]

The government funneling money to its friends

Banks being punished for their part in the mortgage bubble disaster must pay restitution to the tune of, in some cases, billions of dollars.  But the obligation may be satisfied, in part, by contributing to Democratic-leaning advocacy organizations. That money could go into the U. S. Treasury, but instead it goes to favored private agencies.   [Read More...]

Trump’s 10-point immigration plan

Donald Trump set forth his immigration plan, which features 10 points.  (See them after the jump.)  He still wants to build an “impenetrable wall” paid for by Mexico, and he still wants a “deportation task force,” which, however will concentrate first on illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.  Added to what we heard before is [Read More...]