TheMorningFive 04/16/08
Bush Is Back in 08, Matt Lauer's Gospel Presentation and "The World's Biggest Story"
Thanks for checking out the “Morning Five”! The idea behind the blog is to give you regular updates from a variety of news, entertainment and political stories getting headlines. In each post, I’ll feature five new stories, and I’d love to hear your response. Be sure to leave comments and let us know what you think. We want you to be a part of the discussion, especially when it comes to some of the hot-button stories that are making news and effecting the lives of Christians.
First up …
1 - “W” in ‘08
Oliver Stone has begun production for his upcoming biopic of President Bush. According to Variety, No Country Old Men’s Josh Brolin will play Bush Jr., and the role of Bush 41 will go to James Cromwell (that’s right, Jack Bauer’s evil father from season six of 24!). How will the controversial filmmaker portray the polarizing president? He told the Daily Variety that he planned on making a “fair” movie. “I want a fair, true portrait of the man … I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from. It includes his belief that God personally chose him to be president of the United States …” But remember, this is the same filmmaker who has relied on conspiracy theories to sell movie tickets to JFK, and received flack for a somewhat flattering documentary on Fidel Castro. Sources including Slate, who say they have seen earlier drafts of the script, have already warned that Stone has taken certain artistic liberties in his depiction of W.
2 - Capital Punishment
Yesterday Amnesty International released its latest report that tracks capital punishment, and the findings put the U.S. in odd company—especially when it comes to human rights. Amnesty said that five countries including (in order of the most executions) China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States were responsible for 88 percent of all of the world’s executions.
The report underscores an interesting conflict among Christians in the U.S. who find themselves at odds over capital punishment. While some Christians point to Old Testament scriptures that they say justify state-practiced executions, others believe that the sanctity of life extends to even the worst criminal offenders. But looking at the United States on the same list as a so-called “Axis of Evil” nation (and several other countries often at odds with American foreign policy) shines an interesting light on the hot-button issue.
The justification of the war in Iraq remains a subject of debate here in the States (and points can be made on both sides as whether we should or shouldn’t be there), but its unpopularity around the world seems apparent. And for some Western allies, the creditability of the United States when it comes to moral issues may be strained because of it, but does Amnesty’s ranking further hurt America’s ability to speak into issues of human rights? Beyond the issue of moral justification for capital punishment among Christians (which may just be an endless circle of discussion), the another debate should be whether the U.S.’s international creditability is worth being put on the line over capital punishment.
3 - The Gospel and Matt Lauer
Recently, NBC’s The Today Show featured an interview with two families who were involved in a tragic accident about two years ago. The story of mistaken identity quickly made national headlines. A van carrying students and teachers from the Christian college Taylor University crashed, killing five people. Workers on the scene mistakenly identified one of the students who was still in critical condition with one of the students who perished. It wasn’t until weeks later when the family realized that the girl (who was almost unrecognizable because of injuries sustained in the accident) wasn’t their daughter. A new book (Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope) chronicles how the accident united two families and gives the heartbreaking account of a family learning that their daughter had died, and how one learned that theirs had lived.
The Today Show interviewed both families and the young woman who survived the accident. What made the interview even more interesting was the families’ constant references to faith and God’s will and grace. Obviously, it is an incredibly difficult interview to conduct, but both families' testimonies were powerful—especially to see on a mainstream talk show. The Today Show in particular (my wife loves the show, so it’s on most morning in our house) tends to be a little more PC than a lot of talk shows and usually stays away from overtly religious content. But the role of the family’s faith was the main point of the entire of story. Host Matt Lauer did a commendable job handling the delicate story, but you could tell his questions were more geared toward the sensational aspects to the story. But despite the unusual nature of the incident, the testimony that the families kept going back to was in almost every answer. Hearing such an open testimony of how Christ helped people through tragedy is always amazing; hearing it on NBC is groundbreaking.
4 - Where Would Jesus Shop?
The Tennessean has posted this article that looks at how Christian bookstores are “evolving” in an effort to maintain their role in the marketplace. The story tells how in some ways, Christian publishing became “a victim of its own success.” After books like Purpose Driven Life and The Prayer of Jabez went on to sell zillions of copies, big-box stores and major chains took notice, and now stores like Wal-Mart and Borders often have Christian sections. Though Christian publishers continued to sell books, Christian retailers were hurt by the competition.
In an effort stay relevant, new types of Christian stores are selling food and coffee along with Christian books to create a “destination” for customers to go to. The story describes some new stores by comparing them to Panera Bread and Borders—which begs the questions, why not just go to Panera or Borders? If Borders now carries the same Christian books, is it necessary to have a separate place for Christians to go to buy them?
I don’t want to condemn Christian retailers, because I don’t think they are bad or unnecessary—if there’s a balance. The story quoted Andy Butcher, an editor of Christian Retailing magazine, who said, "If a Christian retailer can't create community, perhaps they are in the wrong business.” I think he’s right. Like a church, it’s great to have a destination where Christians can go to meet other Christians and be on the receiving in of ministry (whether it be a good book or coffee and fellowship with a friend). But also like a church, Christian retail customers and stores shouldn’t be so inward focused that they become the only destination for Christians. After all, there might just be someone at the Borders across the street that had some questions whiling thumbing through a copy of that The Purpose Driven Life book they’ve been hearing so much about.
5 – The World’s Biggest Story
... that is according to Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute. He’s referring to a food shortage that has sparked riots and desperation in poor countries around the world. President Bush has just ordered $200 million in emergency aid to suffering countries, and President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick asked for other countries to donate to help those in need. The U.S. continues to be the world’s top provider of food aid—the government delivered more than $2.1 billion last year alone. CNN’s story contained this quote from Zoellick that puts the situation in perspective for many Westerners: "While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day."
First up …
1 - “W” in ‘08
Oliver Stone has begun production for his upcoming biopic of President Bush. According to Variety, No Country Old Men’s Josh Brolin will play Bush Jr., and the role of Bush 41 will go to James Cromwell (that’s right, Jack Bauer’s evil father from season six of 24!). How will the controversial filmmaker portray the polarizing president? He told the Daily Variety that he planned on making a “fair” movie. “I want a fair, true portrait of the man … I'll also cover the demons in his private life, his bouts with his dad and his conversion to Christianity, which explains a lot of where he is coming from. It includes his belief that God personally chose him to be president of the United States …” But remember, this is the same filmmaker who has relied on conspiracy theories to sell movie tickets to JFK, and received flack for a somewhat flattering documentary on Fidel Castro. Sources including Slate, who say they have seen earlier drafts of the script, have already warned that Stone has taken certain artistic liberties in his depiction of W.
2 - Capital Punishment
Yesterday Amnesty International released its latest report that tracks capital punishment, and the findings put the U.S. in odd company—especially when it comes to human rights. Amnesty said that five countries including (in order of the most executions) China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States were responsible for 88 percent of all of the world’s executions.
The report underscores an interesting conflict among Christians in the U.S. who find themselves at odds over capital punishment. While some Christians point to Old Testament scriptures that they say justify state-practiced executions, others believe that the sanctity of life extends to even the worst criminal offenders. But looking at the United States on the same list as a so-called “Axis of Evil” nation (and several other countries often at odds with American foreign policy) shines an interesting light on the hot-button issue.
The justification of the war in Iraq remains a subject of debate here in the States (and points can be made on both sides as whether we should or shouldn’t be there), but its unpopularity around the world seems apparent. And for some Western allies, the creditability of the United States when it comes to moral issues may be strained because of it, but does Amnesty’s ranking further hurt America’s ability to speak into issues of human rights? Beyond the issue of moral justification for capital punishment among Christians (which may just be an endless circle of discussion), the another debate should be whether the U.S.’s international creditability is worth being put on the line over capital punishment.
3 - The Gospel and Matt Lauer
Recently, NBC’s The Today Show featured an interview with two families who were involved in a tragic accident about two years ago. The story of mistaken identity quickly made national headlines. A van carrying students and teachers from the Christian college Taylor University crashed, killing five people. Workers on the scene mistakenly identified one of the students who was still in critical condition with one of the students who perished. It wasn’t until weeks later when the family realized that the girl (who was almost unrecognizable because of injuries sustained in the accident) wasn’t their daughter. A new book (Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope) chronicles how the accident united two families and gives the heartbreaking account of a family learning that their daughter had died, and how one learned that theirs had lived.
The Today Show interviewed both families and the young woman who survived the accident. What made the interview even more interesting was the families’ constant references to faith and God’s will and grace. Obviously, it is an incredibly difficult interview to conduct, but both families' testimonies were powerful—especially to see on a mainstream talk show. The Today Show in particular (my wife loves the show, so it’s on most morning in our house) tends to be a little more PC than a lot of talk shows and usually stays away from overtly religious content. But the role of the family’s faith was the main point of the entire of story. Host Matt Lauer did a commendable job handling the delicate story, but you could tell his questions were more geared toward the sensational aspects to the story. But despite the unusual nature of the incident, the testimony that the families kept going back to was in almost every answer. Hearing such an open testimony of how Christ helped people through tragedy is always amazing; hearing it on NBC is groundbreaking.
4 - Where Would Jesus Shop?
The Tennessean has posted this article that looks at how Christian bookstores are “evolving” in an effort to maintain their role in the marketplace. The story tells how in some ways, Christian publishing became “a victim of its own success.” After books like Purpose Driven Life and The Prayer of Jabez went on to sell zillions of copies, big-box stores and major chains took notice, and now stores like Wal-Mart and Borders often have Christian sections. Though Christian publishers continued to sell books, Christian retailers were hurt by the competition.
In an effort stay relevant, new types of Christian stores are selling food and coffee along with Christian books to create a “destination” for customers to go to. The story describes some new stores by comparing them to Panera Bread and Borders—which begs the questions, why not just go to Panera or Borders? If Borders now carries the same Christian books, is it necessary to have a separate place for Christians to go to buy them?
I don’t want to condemn Christian retailers, because I don’t think they are bad or unnecessary—if there’s a balance. The story quoted Andy Butcher, an editor of Christian Retailing magazine, who said, "If a Christian retailer can't create community, perhaps they are in the wrong business.” I think he’s right. Like a church, it’s great to have a destination where Christians can go to meet other Christians and be on the receiving in of ministry (whether it be a good book or coffee and fellowship with a friend). But also like a church, Christian retail customers and stores shouldn’t be so inward focused that they become the only destination for Christians. After all, there might just be someone at the Borders across the street that had some questions whiling thumbing through a copy of that The Purpose Driven Life book they’ve been hearing so much about.
5 – The World’s Biggest Story
... that is according to Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute. He’s referring to a food shortage that has sparked riots and desperation in poor countries around the world. President Bush has just ordered $200 million in emergency aid to suffering countries, and President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick asked for other countries to donate to help those in need. The U.S. continues to be the world’s top provider of food aid—the government delivered more than $2.1 billion last year alone. CNN’s story contained this quote from Zoellick that puts the situation in perspective for many Westerners: "While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day."