So this is a little late. Forgive us at Conversant for not posting this news sooner. We're working hard to bring you the latest faith news and culture from a variety of different perspectives at a rapid pace but we need YOUR help. If you're coming here to read blogs, awesome, but get involved in the conversation by posting news articles and videos to our "Community Submitted News Section."

 

As a fan of Donald Miller and of the emergent church, I think it's great that the author of "Blue Like Jazz" was able to offer the closing benediction at the Democratic Convention this past Monday. 

continue reading

Chatting about expectations is a political junky’s game. Looking for a fix of actual news at the Convention, you will hear many things about the Democratic National Convention (DNC) most of which will turn out to be false in retrospect. For sane voters—most of whom will watch the Biden and Obama speeches and little else—the substance and the abiding visuals of the Convention are what will matter most.

There are five things to look for at the DNC (and just after) which will tell you whether the Convention was a success.

First, follow the Clinton money after the convention.

The idiotic spin that the Convention is about unity is setting a bar so low that the DNC cannot fail. The Clinton machine cannot afford to look like they killed Senator Obama. They will back him with loud words. This will be viewed as “success.” You could get rich if a friend would give you a dollar for every time a podium speaker says “this party is united.”

continue reading

Democracy is so outdated. If we Americans can customize our laptops, our dream homes, our low rider trucks, and our pizza toppings, we can surely come up with a way to manufacture a custom-made President.

Choosing one candidate to represent the dreams, idiosyncrasies, causes, beliefs, and common sense of 300 million people doesn’t make any sense at all. I mean, doesn’t Washington realize that we have a very specific list of demands?

So I submit a new idea, inspired by those geniuses at Apple: iLeader.  It would fit beautifully with the American ethos of individuality and self-absorption. This impressive gadget—still several years away from a workable prototype—would allow us to be governed by a flawless, personalized platform of ideals. Call it anarchy without all the depressing chaos.

continue reading

...which, coincidentally, is about how many it takes for Obama to say something of substance.

"Hope in the face of difficulty, hope in the face of uncertainty, the audacity of hope: In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation, a belief in things not seen, a belief that there are better days ahead." - Democratic National Convention Keynote Address.

 

This election year, more than any since the days of Jimmy Carter, people of faith are divided and undecided regarding their vote.  The marriage between Republicans and Evangelicals has been annulled.  There are many reasons for this, including some large theological shifts in the emerging church (which I’ll hope to address later), and a sense of betrayal on the part many who feel that the promises of limited government and ‘compassionate conservatism’ turned out to be hollow words, as expansive executive powers, spiraling national debt, curtailing of health care benefits to children, and unilateral military actions became the voice that drowned out campaign promises.  

As each of us pray, ponder, and share together regarding the vitally important subject of how our faith intersects with both our politics and our nationalism, we should be wary of presumptions that any party is wholly ‘consistent’ or wholly ‘Christian’.  For now, let’s consider the consistency piece for a moment:

continue reading

...Even If You Are Not Voting For Him

The weirdest of political creatures is the sad soul who cannot fight hard, but then go have a beer with his political opponent. Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neil, then the Speaker of the House, were happy to share jokes after jousting with each other over public policy.

If Senator Obama needs my vote to win, he is in trouble. I don’t think he is qualified to be president and do not agree with him on most of the major issues, but that does not mean I have to dislike the guy. Following the Reagan-O’Neil example, here are five likable things about Senator Obama even if you are not going to vote for him.

Senator Obama is an outstanding speaker. If we have to listen to the fellow for four years, at least it will be easy to do. He speaks in paragraphs and not just sound bites. At his best he is a better orator than we have seen since Reagan.

continue reading

I really enjoyed what Rick Warren did at Saddleback Church this weekend. In case you missed it, you can get the full video and transcript here.

What struck me most was Obama's total lack of fluidity and charisma when he was off-script. The man can give a stirring speech, but when pressed to improvise answers to tough questions, I found him halting, awkward, vague, and uncompelling.

His answer on the abortion question struck me as particularly uncompelling. Here's the video. Here's the transcript:

RICK WARREN: At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?

continue reading

Russian desires in Georgia are no riddle.

There is no question that Putin desires to restore Russian hegemony over those parts of the old Russian Empire and the Soviet Union where demographics and geography makes this possible. Georgia is one such place. While Georgia is a friend of the United States and is (on the whole) more free than Russia, it cannot defend itself against a concerted Russian attack. Geographically it is a hard place for America to help.

If Russia wants Georgia, then the bear will get her, but we don’t have to be happy about it.

Our response to Georgia must be more nineteenth century than twentieth.

Russia is trying to revive the “great game” amongst the powers in one the few regions where she can still play it. The clever British and French nineteenth century strategy of condemnation, arming her foes, and coaxing her to better behavior through flattery of elements of the aristocracy that aped British and French manners is a good strategy for us to follow.

continue reading

I love a bargain. Early in my adult life, when I was a struggling actress trying to make ends meet, I was a regular at Wal-Mart. I could (and still can) buy anything there. Make-up... clothing... household goods... gardening supplies... food... hardware... furniture... electronics... you name it. I used to come out smiling, eager to get home and clip the tags off my new purchases.

However, over the past few years, as I have learned more about the ins and outs of how these low prices are possible, I have changed my mind.

continue reading

You’d think we’d be tired of it by now, all the hide-and-seek sexual storylines between powerful people and the intern/nanny/prostitute/co-worker. We know what kind of shrapnel it sprays into the media marketplace—the thousands of editorial columns, the scramble for a photo, the hiring of public relations experts, and the scripted confession.

I’ve lived through quite a few decades of it now. The couplings come in many shapes and sizes, and the media coverage is proportional to the paradox of its partners; in other words, a televangelist with a salvation message and a centerfold is irresistible. A sermonizing governor and his call girl is spellbinding. The leader of the free world risking it all for a giggling intern is astonishing.

So now we have another one. Same old story. New details. Why do we still care? Fifteen minutes of scrolling around the internet reveal that most of our reactions fall into one of four categories: moral, political, scientific, or emotional. The moralists say, Look at that—another weak leader shows us his natural depravity. I’m so glad I’m righteous. The political analysts examine the fallout: How does this impact public opinion, the party, the campaign? The scientists try to explain to us the brain circuitry that allows men to stray and women to stay. And finally, the emotional PTSD folks are reminded of their own personal scumbag stories and tell the wives to kick ‘em to the curb.

continue reading