Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 162
May 10, 2016
Problems praying? Pray the Psalms
Continuing our reflections on the Psalms, Pastor Peters at Pastoral Meanderings has a great post on praying the Psalms. He shows the centrality of the Psalms for Luther and then makes a superb application: “If you are having problems praying and know that you should be praying more, try the pattern of reading a Psalm [Read More...]
Potential third-party candidates
“Never Trump” Republicans are attempting to find someone to rally behind as a third party candidate. After the jump are ten names that are reportedly being put forward. (A few more names here, as well as details about the strategies.) Do any of these strike your fancy? Which do you think might make good–or bad–candidates? [Read More...]
Both sides are too nostalgic about the ’50s
Today’s political problems come from both liberals and conservatives being too nostalgic about the 1950’s. Liberals miss the dominance of unions, job security, and good wages. Conservatives miss the strong families, social stability, and conservative values. None of that is possible anymore, and yet both sides are fixated on bringing part of that back, while still opposing [Read More...]
May 9, 2016
You can’t understand Bach apart from his Lutheranism
You can’t fully understand Bach’s music apart from its context in the Lutheran liturgy and its emotions in Lutheran piety. So says Yale music historian Markus Rathey in, of all places, the Wall Street Journal. From Markus Rathey, The Religious Heart of Bach’s Music – WSJ: Modern performances of Johann Sebastian Bach’s magnificent vocal works, [Read More...]
“Never Trump” Republicans vs. “Now I’m for Trump” Republicans
The Republican party is undergoing a civil war. Some are supporting Donald Trump as their party’s nominee; some are refusing to. See some prominent names on both sides of the divide after the jump. I can understand Trump supporters. I can understand voting for him reluctantly as the lesser of two evils. But I can’t [Read More...]
Despite what Obama says, our troops are in combat
When two Navy Seals were killed in Syria, a White House spokesman said, “the relatively small number of U.S. service members that are involved in these operations are not in combat but are in a dangerous place.” But, as Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) says, our troops in Syria and Iraq are definitely, by any definition, in [Read More...]
May 7, 2016
How mothers battle totalitarianism
“Motherhood is the first and last line of defense against totalitarianism.” So says Stella Morabito in The Federalist, where she takes up the question of why tyrants always try to undermine the family and explains how mothers are a bulwark for liberty.From Stella Morabito, A Little Mother Prevents Big Brother, The Federalist: Motherhood is the [Read More...]
May 6, 2016
Motherhood as a sacred vocation
For a good Mother’s Day meditation, read R. J. Grunewald’s piece from last year, “The Vocation of Motherhood,” quoted after the jump. I say that not because he quotes me but because motherhood really is a sacred calling. God really does work through mothers to create new immortal souls and to care for, nurture, and shape [Read More...]
The Libertarians will be on the ballot in all 50 states
Those who cannot abide either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton are looking for an alternative. But it’s hard for an independent candidate to get on state ballots. But there is a third party that will already be on the ballot in every state: The Libertarians. This party advocates smaller government, free market economics, and civil [Read More...]
The third leading cause of death: medical errors
Research has found that medical errors–doctors’ mistakes, communication mix-ups, and hospital-borne infections–are now the third leading cause of death. From Ariana Eunjung Cha, Researchers: Medical errors now third leading cause of death in United States – The Washington Post: Nightmare stories of nurses giving potent drugs meant for one patient to another and surgeons removing the wrong body [Read More...]
