Author Archives: stanwiedeman

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About stanwiedeman

Christian seeking to find a biblical perspective on culture and life

LOVER OF STRANGERS

Posted on August 27, 2012 by stanwiedeman

Only three weeks ago Sunday, a neo-Nazi white supremacist, Wade Michael Page, used a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun to kill six worshipers and wound four more inside a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. One day later, a Muslim mosque burned to the ground in Joplin, Missouri, a month after another fire at the same mosque was extinguished. Officials suspect arson, although no one has been arrested. Four days later, a neighbor to a Muslim mosque in Morton Grove, Illinois (suburb of Chicago) fired several shots from a pellet gun at the building. Muslims inside the packed facility were completing the final day of Ramadan. The incident capped a series of hostile acts towards the congregation. Continue reading →

Posted in Love | 3 Comments

FREE TO BUILD BRIDGES

Posted on August 14, 2012 by stanwiedeman

Occasionally one of my children suggests that we go to Chick-fil-A for lunch after church. Oops. Not one of the over 1,600 restaurant locations are open on Sunday. The founder, Truett Cathy, incorporated this practice as one of the chain’s values when he opened the first store in 1967 in Atlanta.

As a devout Christian, Cathy implemented other biblical principles to guide his operation of the restaurant. Those principles are applied throughout the chain as part of its corporate culture. Those who work for the company discover an environment of support and encouragement for the employee and respect and service for the customer that eludes many corporations today. Continue reading →

Posted in Civility, Homosexuality, Speech, Tolerance | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

IS GOD TO BLAME?

Posted on July 31, 2012 by stanwiedeman

“If God is good, loving and merciful, then how could he let this happen?” That question reverberates in the minds of many people in the wake of tragedy. Whether one dies or 230,000 die (2004 India Ocean earthquake and tsunami), people inevitably question the character of God. Continue reading →

Posted in Nature of Man, Sovereignty of God | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

CHEERS v TEARS

Posted on July 18, 2012 by stanwiedeman

The trial lasted only 10 days. The jury deliberated only 21 hours over two days. The sexual abuse (that was prosecuted) covered 15 years.

The jury convicted Sandusky on 45 of the 48 counts of child sexual abuse. Prosecutors identified 10 boys who were victimized by Sandusky (although many believe there were more).

Judge Freeh denounced the concealment by four top Penn State officials. The crowd outside the courtroom cheered at the announcement of the conviction. The streets and quads on Penn State campus were quiet. Victim 6 wept. Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Justice, Repentance | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

PASSING THE WHEEL

Posted on July 12, 2012 by stanwiedeman

Then there is the matter of judgment. I remember how difficult it was to judge where the right side of my yacht-like Galaxy 500 was in relationship to the road, parked cars, and bicycles. One would think that the smaller cars would be easier to size up. Not so. More than once I have reached over and nudged the wheel to the left to save the tires from the curb, or the outside mirror from a parked car. Continue reading →

Posted in Faith | 1 Comment