October 10 Summary

I am trying so very hard to avoid the current presidential race debacle but there are some articles that I really want to have available for reference. Not even sure why, but it does seem as though I may want to refer to these sometime in the next few weeks. (Still confident that the post-election situation will be without unexpected drama and trauma.)

Repudiation (I hope) by many Christian leaders

First, Russell Moore who is more and more a level head in the middle of weak witness:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/09/if-donald-trump-has-done-anything-he-has-snuffed-out-the-religious-right/?tid=pm_local_pop_b

And this from Kevin DeYoung at the Gospel Coalition:
"While our church might discipline a member for holding the positions Clinton holds or for behaving the way Trump has behaved, this does not mean we have biblical grounds for disciplining a church member who, for any number of reasons and calculations, may decide that voting for either candidate (or neither) makes the most sense. And if we wouldn’t discipline someone for a presidential vote, we should stop short of saying such a vote is sinful and shameful. 3. While it is not the role of pastors to tell their people who to vote for, it is our role to interpret Scripture and point out theological carelessness."

https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2016/10/13/seeking-clarity-in-this-confusing-election-season-ten-thoughts/

Then there is Wayne Grudem, thankfully tracking back--maybe?

http://townhall.com/columnists/waynegrudem/2016/10/09/trumps-moral-character-and-the-election-n2229846

More on Grudem:

https://bobonbooks.com/2016/10/11/endorsers-repent/

Good to see something from Tim Keller who has remained admirably above the fray:

http://www.nycreligion.info/trump-infuriates-stumps-nyc-evangelicals/?utm_content=buffere149b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

A voice from the left sharing their thoughts on what will happen to the "religious right" due to their Trump support:

https://newrepublic.com/article/137599/religious-rights-devotion-donald-trump-will-end-movement-know?utm_source=New+Republic&utm_campaign=569fbb1080-Daily_Newsletter_10_10_1610_10_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c4ad0aba7e-569fbb1080-59499965

Unfortunately, there are STILL way too many of my Christian Facebook friends who are somehow finding ways to defend the man, even when there are things like this to repudiate him:

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/10/9/13222826/donald-trump-debate-clinton-jail-dictator

On the other hand, there are still strong voices with cogent comments. Miroslav Volf is an interesting theologian and has this to say on several issues being discussed during this election cycle:

http://religionnews.com/2016/10/05/who-should-christians-vote-for-theologian-miroslav-volf-makes-a-surprising-case-for-one-candidate/

So why aren't X-Generations not listening to evangelical "boomer generation" leaders?

Among many quotable lines: "That doesn't mean we are liberal. We aren't liberals.  In fact, a lot of Gen-Xers are even more conservative than you Boomers are. But we are the sort of conservatives who aren't convinced that voting a GOP figurehead into the Oval Office will remedy what's broken about America."

"3. We don’t mind our faith influencing politics, but we don’t want politics determining our faith."

http://www.thistleandtoad.com/wwwthistleandtoadcom/writings/2016/10/14/seven-requests-from-a-right-wing-gen-xer-why-boomers-are-having-trouble-convincing-x-ers-to-vote-for-trump

Is there a "right" way for evangelicals to behave through all this? Some ideas:

http://www.redletterchristians.org/untoxic-christian-presidential-campaign/

(Note on October 15: I know that I am trying to stay away from the presidential race, both in my reading and my posting, but this one is going to be VERY hard not to share, soon!)

But back to the Republican side of the aisle...

The URL for this site says it all. Yes, it's from the conservative Wall Street Journal, but Peggy Noonan is mostly a level headed observer of the overall political scene.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-decadent-leadership-class-1476400544

And no, this is NOT the most important election ever, or at least we won't be able to decide that for some time to come.

http://christandpopculture.com/no-isnt-important-election-lifetime/?utm_content=buffere8c70&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer


Speaking of the many issues of the campaign...

This is an interesting site that seems to be focused primarily on the topic of Christian response to gun policy in the US, with the reminder that "guns don't save people--only God does:

http://www.swordofthespiritministry.org/2016/10/03/the-wrong-reasons-to-own-a-gun/

On the abortion issue that so many seem to think Trump will be better at than Clinton:

www.shannondingle.com/blog//im-pro-life-and-im-voting-for-hillary-heres-why

The "governing cancer"of our time

This one is from February, but it is too timely not to save.  Where have compromise, willingness to work together for the good of all, the things that seem to have held the US together for so long, where have they gone?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/opinion/the-governing-cancer-of-our-time.html

For students off to college or graduating college

Here are some tabs I've been keeping open so as not to lose track of them; should probably have ordered some of them as gifts long ago but haven't yet. Soon, I hope.

www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/booknotes/books_for_students_heading_off/#.V63KcbI4rJ8.facebook

network.crcna.org/campus/books-campus-backpack

https://smile.amazon.com/After-College-Navigating-Transitions-Relationships/dp/0830844600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472899087&sr=8-1&keywords=after+college

Sheboygan Number 1 in something!

This is encouraging:

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-american-cities-to-live-on-40000-2016-10/#sheboygan-wisconsin-1


On too many organized sports for kids?

Another book I want to keep track of:

https://smile.amazon.com/Overplayed-Parents-Guide-Sanity-Sports/dp/0836199723/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472129170&sr=8-1&keywords=overplayed

October 1 Updates

October! A new month and a new batch of worthwhile reads.

After November 8, still a future...

A politician to watch, after whatever comes from this disastrous election?

https://world.wng.org/2016/09/ben_sasse_a_reformed_reformer

Closer to home...

This is a basic site that I need to come back to more often, for news of (positive) neighborhood activities around Rochester.

http://www.rneighbors.org/

Some good news (hopefully) about ways more of us can become more involved in city business:

http://www.themedcitybeat.com/news-blog/2016/pilot-program-diversity-city-boards

And this, on why it is so important that we do get involved:

http://www.planetizen.com/node/88483/how-community-engagement-can-restore-trust-government


Zoning and its impacts

Interesting to see zoning issues arise on a federal level.

http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/9/26/potus-zoning-sucks?utm_content=buffer9f745&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Note that this site has a lot of really good links--could lead to hours of bunny-trail reading! One of those links follows:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/images/Housing_Development_Toolkit%20f.2.pdf


More on faith and politics

This suggests the need for self-examination. Where is the center of our being, the real driving force in our lives?

http://www.missioalliance.org/jesus-politics-7-tough-questions-reveal-lord/

Yet another article in the same vein:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/4-principles-for-political-witness-in-our-american-babylon


This one is really good; the sad thing is that this pastor needs to remain anonymous due to the difficult political climate of our day, even within the church.

http://inallthings.org/evangelicals-and-trump/

In case I haven't already included this, here is yet one more on the current election and Christian response:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/09/23/heres-what-i-decided-after-several-pastors-begged-me-to-reconsider-my-nevertrump-stance/?tid=ss_fb

How affordable, really?

Interesting comments on the cost of living throughout the US including a calculator to compare costs in different metropolitan areas and across differing family sizes.

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/08/how-much-does-your-family-need-to-get-by/402352/?utm_source=SFFB

Another impact of poverty, this time lack of child care availability

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/the-childcare-gray-market/502640/?utm_source=atlfb 

A good online securitysummary

http://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/66-ways-to-protect-your-privacy-right-now/?EXTKEY=I175E000&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_source=keywee&utm_campaign=protect_privacy&utm_content=66-ways-to-protect-your-privacy-right-now&utm_keyword=desktop&kwp_0=233930&kwp_4=894074&kwp_1=435714#passwords

And, finally for now, some good lists of childrens' books to consider, and some things to do that help teach little ones history (note all the Minnesota oriented things in that  third post!)

http://club31women.com/9-books-tween-son-grow/

https://www.wired.com/2012/03/67-books-for-kids/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2016/10/6-things-ive-learned-about-teaching-history-to-6-year-olds/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=anxiousbench_100416UTC021047_daily&utm_content=&spMailingID=52454547&spUserID=MTkwNzY5MzE5MTQ0S0&spJobID=1020697144&spReportId=MTAyMDY5NzE0NAS2

https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/january-2007/what-does-it-mean-to-think-historically