Mark Daniels on character and hope-shifting

I always look to Pastor Mark Daniels at Better Living for good thinking on a variety of subjects. Here are some things Mark blogged about this week.In "It's Character, Stupid", Mark offers an historian's perspective on what to look for in a presidential candidate: "I claim not to have ... Continue reading

Discovering character in the Amazon

In 1912, former president Theodore Roosevelt — having lost a third-party run at a third presidential term, thus making himself a pariah for throwing the election to the Democrats — felt cast aside by history at a time when he still felt destined to accomplish more.An invitation to give a series ... Continue reading

Hope and optimism

By now you've heard that John Edwards will continue his run for president, despite the difficult news that his wife's cancer has returned. Many have second-guessed the Edwards' decision. Katie Couric, whose husband Jay Monahan died of colon cancer, grilled the two on 60 Minutes and wondered why the ... Continue reading

Optimism

I'm an optimist, and according to a new AP-AOL opinion poll conducted by IPSOS, I'm in good company: Seventy-two percent of Americans feel good about what 2007 will bring for the country, and an even larger 89 percent are optimistic about the new year for themselves and their families, according to ... Continue reading

The joy of victory

It is 11:30 p.m. and the networks are predicting that the Democrats have taken back control of the House. I see a photo of a jubilant Nancy Pelosi, and no doubt a great many Democrats will be celebrating this victory long into the night with her.And they should, because this election victory ... Continue reading

A hopeful society

America is a great force for freedom and prosperity. Yet our greatness is not measured in power or luxuries, but by who we are and how we treat one another. So we strive to be a compassionate, decent, hopeful society. —George W Bush, State of the Union address, 31/Jan/2006 We strive to be a hopeful ... Continue reading

New Orleans’ other stories

Men have no pleasure (but on the contrary a great deal of grief) in keeping company where there is no power able to overawe them all. ... [W]ithout a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man. ... The ... Continue reading

(Don’t) get used to disappointment

Inigo Montoya: Who are you? Westley: No one of consequence. Inigo Montoya: I must know. Westley: Get used to disappointment. —The Princess Bride In less than 10 hours from now, the Huygens probe will plunge into the atmosphere of Titan, one of Saturn's most interesting moons. Huygens has been ... Continue reading