Blog - Page 267 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Life Is Beautiful

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:18-05:00May 25th, 2007|Categories: Film|

The film Life is Beautiful won so many international awards that it became a modern classic almost overnight. First filmed in 1998 it originally appeared in American theaters only in Italian, with English subscripts. This is where I first saw it. This film had the most unique distinction of being nominated for both the best feature film and the best foreign language film by the Academy. (It was also nominated for best actor.) It won the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and a special Jerusalem award for dealing with the theme of the holocaust. When I first viewed Life is Beautiful I was utterly amazed at the way Roberto Benigni, who stars in the film and directs it at the same time, was able to powerfully employ humor in telling a story of the holocaust from a uniquely Italian perspective. I would have thought such a production impossible until I saw the film for myself. Even if you cannot handle holocaust themes, and some cannot, I believe you can handle this film. It lifts the human spirit in a most remarkable way.

Life is […]

Jimmy Carter and a Little Lesson in History

By John Armstrong|2007-05-24T09:44:46-05:00May 24th, 2007|Categories: History|

Former President Jimmy Carter has recently said: "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, [the Bush] administration has been the worst in history." Read that again, "The worst in history."

Besides the issue of denying the long historic role of ex-presidents, who have never engaged a current administration in this manner, Carter reveals an amazing ignorance and bias that is almost beyond belief. Even if President Bush has made huge mistakes in Iraq, and it appears that he has made a few, there is no way anyone, especially a former president, should be saying that this administration is "the worst in history." Especially when you consider the massive international mess-ups of Carter’s four years in office. As Mark Moyar recently wrote, "As president, Mr. Carter managed to alienate nearly every major country in the world and did so without asserting American power in ways that might justify that alienation." Do you remember the Sandinista takeover in Nicaragua and the Iranian hostage crisis?

Such an evaluation should be left to the work of serious historians, […]

Why We Need Both Tax Cuts and Budget Cuts

By John Armstrong|2007-05-23T11:24:33-05:00May 23rd, 2007|Categories: Politics|

Both of our major political parties have missed what seems so obvious. One says that we need more tax cuts to strengthen the economy. This is correct. The problem is that they are not willing to also make serious budget cuts. That party has spent more than any previous administration. The other political party wants to expand federal government by spending more of our money by raising taxes. The first plan helps the economy in the short run but not in the long term. The second is an even worse disaster I think.

Look, budget deficits are not a good thing, at least not in my simplistic understanding of economics. What individual would decrease their revenue, at least for the short term, and then also increase spending, for the long term? I know, cutting tax rates generates more money in the long run and thus the government benefits. I agree with that proven principle. Ronald Reagan advanced it and to the astonishment of all his enemies it worked.

What I do not think is a proven fact is that you […]

The Jinx May Be Over

By John Armstrong|2007-05-22T23:13:05-05:00May 22nd, 2007|Categories: Baseball|

Regular readers and close friends know that I was accused, at least all of last season, of being a first-class jinx to the Chicago White Sox. Every time I was present at U. S. Cellular Field for a Sox game they seemed to find a way to lose. Some friends even urged me to stay away down the stretch part of the season. And this was a good team coming off a World Series Championship in 2005. My record was something like 5-12 last season. It got so bad that I quit counting after the first few months. My granddaughter began to call me "Grandpa Jinx."

Well, the jinx may be over. I have seen four White Sox games this season and they are 3-1. This includes tonight’s 10-4 win over the Oakland A’s. The thunder is back and the Sox are scoring runs again. If this team can score they can win since their starting pitching is pretty decent. The only loss I’ve seen came to Minnesota, the night just before a no-hitter by a Sox pitcher. I plan to see […]

More on James Dobson's Comments on "Who is a Real Christian?"

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:18-05:00May 21st, 2007|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

A few weeks ago I commented on this blog about the quotation that James Dobson made to U. S. News & World Report senior editor, Dan Gilgoff, which in effect questioned whether or not former-senator Fred Thompson is a Christian. Several reminded me that there is always context to such interviews. And there is also much the newspaper will often leave out. I know this to be true and have been burned before because I did not pay careful enough attention to this very point.

Well, in today’s issue (May 21) of the national newspaper, USA Today, there is a follow-up on this story, also written by Dan Gilgoff. I have written a much longer piece, to be published as an ACT 3 Weekly in a few weeks, on the question: "Who is a real Christian and how do we know?" Because of this I will forgo saying many things I will include in that article.

What struck me as more than relevant was the report issued to the media, after this original flap, by Focus on the Family. This was […]

Hunting for Justice

By John Armstrong|2007-05-20T21:41:19-05:00May 20th, 2007|Categories: Film|

Hunt for Justice is a cross between a documentary and a drama, what I suppose we have come to call a docudrama. It is the story of Canadian Judge Lois Arbour who was named Chief Prosecutor of the International War Crimes Tribunal which was charged with investigating the atrocities of “ethnic cleansing” in the Balkans. Arthur investigated the rape camps, witnessed the aftermath of the atrocities first-hand and then saw what the displacement of two million people did to families and communities in the region. She was, thankfully, a very determined lady who would not let politicians or generals hinder her from pursuing the truth. With the help of a great legal team, and a translator who was a victim of the crimes, she challenged bureaucracy, sought secret indictments and worked around NATO’s opposition to her efforts for justice. The result of her three-year struggle was the conviction of the primary war criminals responsible for the carnage, including the former Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic.

This film is gripping, even chilling in its overall message. I think anyone who cares about justice and […]

The Religion Test

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:18-05:00May 19th, 2007|Categories: Politics|

Commentators call it “The Religion Test.” What does it mean when the Constitution says there should be no religious test for holding office in the United States? Historically it has plainly meant that no candidate, be they a Quaker, a Baptist, a Pentecostal or a Mormon can be barred from office because of their religion. The question is once again on the table with the serious candidacy of Mitt Romney for the presidency. And many who are concerned about Romney’s faith are evangelicals. There is a strange joining of prejudice here as the secular left seems to agree, to some extent at least, with some in the religious right.

It is fair to ask a candidate where they stand on school vouchers and abortion questions but what about their interpretations of the Bible? Jacob Weisberg, editor of Slate, recently challenged some of Joseph Smith’s more outrageous doctrinal beliefs by suggesting that he was obviously a “con man.” Since Mitt Romney is a Mormon Weisberg wants to know if he really believes what Smith taught since if he does then Weisberg does not […]

The First Wave of Ministry System Failure

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:18-05:00May 18th, 2007|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

For about thirty years large and influential megachurch ministries have grown up all over America. Often these have been built around the strong personality of a radio or television minister. As these men age, retire and die some ministries are in for serious changes. The sad fact is that a large scale "systems failure" is likely to follow as these boomer leaders begin to fade away.

A friend recently informed me of one such ministry, with some rather valuable work going in the nation’s capitol. A group of full-time evangelists are now being laid-off because one such minister can no longer function in the way he once did. This means he cannot bring in the financial support needed to sustain this Washington work. Donations to ministries like these begin to decline when such a leader is laid aside or dies. Rarely does such a person-based ministry succeed when the leader is gone. Donors will not give to a legacy, only to a ministry being done by living people. The only exception I personally know to this is the radio ministry of the […]

Some Thoughts at Quarter Point in the Baseball Season

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:18-05:00May 17th, 2007|Categories: Baseball|

I have the distinct privilege of going to see the White Sox play the New York Yankees this afternoon, better known as "the evil empire." It is always fun to see a Yankees game. The crowd will be big and loud both. There were be lots of Yankee fans present and they will not be a bit bashful. The setting will be electric and fun. I need a day at "the old ball park" after a busy few weeks. This morning I reflected on the great game at the first quarter mark of this season.

First, I am delighted that my Atlanta Braves are at or near first place in the NL East since Day One. They look pretty good, though pitching will carry them as far as they go. Their lineup is adequate but not a killer offense in any sense. Their defense is also adequate, though not the very best. Pitching, pitching and still more pitching will make their season. The Mets will be terribly hard to dethrone in the East, having more talent for sure, at least on paper. But, […]

An Answer to Prayer

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:23:18-05:00May 16th, 2007|Categories: Personal|

I asked readers to pray on Monday for our annual ACT 3 board meeting. The three-day meeting ended at noon today as members returned to their homes in Illinois, Texas and California. A number of important things were accomplished in this meeting.

1. ACT 3 has a clearer vision for what God has called us to do than ever before. We are a bridge building missional ministry that wants to leverage my gifts, and those of others who share our vision, to expand the mission of Christ’s kingdom through publishing, teaching, preaching and the Internet. All of this is to be done in ways that stress the human elements of ministry relationally, not simply the academic side of teaching and content-driven ministry.

2. We will do this in creative ways. This includes major new Internet work and a growing commitment to expanding our work via this medium. This likely means new staff help to accomplish this goal.

3. I will attempt to write even more for print publication than previously, which means a bit less travel and speaking […]