I just saw you on Anderson Cooper, regarding Ungodly Discipline. I had never heard of you before and thought what you said was rather interesting – particularly how people will say that the bible, for example, condoned slavery and Jesus never said anything about it. I’ve heard this a few times before but as I studied it out (especially being African American), I could easily see that just because the bible mentions something doesn’t mean it condones it. Just like a history book will discuss certain topics (ie war), it doesn’t mean that the book is saying it’s ok.

For example, when the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, Jesus told them Moses allowed it because the hearts of the men were hard, not because it was right or God condoned it. Now Jesus also didn’t go on a mission to stop divorce, although he clearly says there (Matthew 19) that divorce was not the way it was meant to be. That’s simply because Jesus came for a specific purpose, for a limited time and he simply could not have dealt with every single issue on the face of the planet in that time, nor was that his mission. The bible is clear what he came to do (Luke 14:18) and for the purpose of salvation for the world. So, just because the bible mentions slavery doesn’t mean it condones it. Yes, indeed, people change culturally but in the end like scripture says, there is nothing new under the sun, and proper principles are things that never change with the times. But there are always those who go too far, and take things out of context, like they don’t have good common sense. I swear, nut jobs :-)

I have a profound respect for your voice and passion for peace and stability in this region. However, you and others will become silent as the months and years go by and this will become your biggest embarassment. The revolution was about the impact of food inflation which jumped a full 25 percent since October…The average Egyptian family paid about 50 percent of their incomes for food and it went to about 75 percent. While the average Egyptian was tired of Murbarak–they will never again have the level of freedom they have experienced for the past 30 years unless they violently deal with the Islamic Mafia–The MB’s and others. Also, you and other writers must come to terms with the epistomological foundations that define the Arab world–Islam. Even Sam Harris admits there are major differences in the way Islamic popluations operate vs their non-Muslim counterparts. Unless, moderate and nominal Muslims on the street forcefully marginalized the MB’s and countless other radical groups–the change will be for the worse. Syria is the same: It is the Islamic parties that want to expel a secular dictator in the name of freedom.

Daddy Bashing has been going on for much longer. Think “The Roseanne Show”, “Home Improvement” w/ Tim Allen, even on “Family Ties” with the sensitive father, and the kids constantly back talking, fatherhood is being greatly dimished, even in the Church.

I am tired of every kids movie, and even many adult movies, where the main comedy, revolves around a boy or man getting kicked in the groin. Ultimately, men are losing their respect in the media, and everytime I am with my kids, I explain the importance of what it means to be boy and to become a man. Kicking another boy in the groin doesn’t make you a man, it’s an easy way out of a fight. Though, I also teach my kids to avoid fighting as well.

I can’t say that I am a stronger man because I had a strong father, but what I will say is that he taught me responsibilty and what it means to be a man and accept responsibility for myself and to my family.