A while back, I decided to subscribe to the podcasts from Stephanie's pastor. I usually end up listening some time during the week while I ma walking. I did not really want to walk yesterday; I knew I would not pass my last high of 1021 feet. I hated to admit, but better 909 than nothing, right. While I was walking, I had a tangential thought about the state of the world. Dr. Piper even made some political statements. Go John! Keep in mind that his message was only the starting point; he did not say anything about what my rabbit trail message was. I love how time can compress on itself, and we can have entire, complicated, rich thoughts in between the pauses.
The alternate title to this thought is "Of Democracy and Discipleship." I think it was in The World is Flat that he talked a lot about the support system that makes for growth possible. Without an honest judicial system, fair and enforced taxation, and basic transparency in government (I don't have the book in front of me and I cannot actually remember all the points), you can't have progress regardless of the form of government. Mr. Bush, at one point, bragged to Mr. Putin about the democracy in Iraq. Yes, they had elections, but they appear to have none of the rest. Having an election does not make a true democracy (what ever that is) any more than making a decision to have one's name written in the Lamb's Book of Life makes one a viable Christian. Without the infrastructure of the faith in place, or at least in the honest process of development, a decision will not make a Christian any more than an election will make democracy.
The alternate title to this thought is "Of Democracy and Discipleship." I think it was in The World is Flat that he talked a lot about the support system that makes for growth possible. Without an honest judicial system, fair and enforced taxation, and basic transparency in government (I don't have the book in front of me and I cannot actually remember all the points), you can't have progress regardless of the form of government. Mr. Bush, at one point, bragged to Mr. Putin about the democracy in Iraq. Yes, they had elections, but they appear to have none of the rest. Having an election does not make a true democracy (what ever that is) any more than making a decision to have one's name written in the Lamb's Book of Life makes one a viable Christian. Without the infrastructure of the faith in place, or at least in the honest process of development, a decision will not make a Christian any more than an election will make democracy.
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"I did not really want to walk yesterday; I knew I would not pass my last high of 1021 feet,"
http://laughingwind.blogspot.com/2006/11/thanksgiving-take-two.html