Rather sends regards to Orton
By Tom Kubat, Journal and Courier
After reading a story recently in the New York Times about how as a youngster Orton — who has said that someday he might like to run for office — would follow the political scene by watching the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather fired off a note to the Purdue quarterback. The note said: Dear Kyle, Just a note of support and encouragement. I was admiring and pulling for you before someone in the newspaper noted that you and your family were watchers of The CBS Evening News. As a one-time alleged pass-catching end (started in high school; rode the pine mostly in college), I, naturally, have a liking for good-throwing quarterbacks. Keep charging and know — just know — that I’m always hoping the best for you and believing in you. Strength and honor, my young friend from afar. Sometime, anytime you’re in New York, let’s have a cup of coffee and talk politics. My best to your family. Sincerely, Dan Rather

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over “religious nuts!”

One secret act of self-denial, one sacrifice of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere good thoughts, warm feelings, passionate prayers, in which idle people indulge themselves.

…John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Any single verse of the Bible, taken in isolation, may actually be dangerous to your spiritual health. Every part of it must be read in relation to the whole message.

…Louis Cassels (1922-1974)

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him what your plans are.”

I heard Kim Basinger say this on Bravo, but she did not coin the expression.

When everything we receive from him is received and prized as fruit and pledge of his covenant love, then his bounties, instead of being set up as rivals and idols to draw our heart from him, awaken us to fresh exercises of gratitude and furnish us with fresh motives of cheerful obedience every hour.

…John Newton (1725-1807)

“You must not lose confidence in God because you lost confidence in your pastor. If our confidence in God had to depend upon our confidence in any human person, we would be on shifting sand.”

…Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984)

It does not make a very great difference what side of Christ’s work attracts us and appeals to us most; doubtless Christ has many ways of drawing men to Himself. One side of Christ’s work will appeal most to one mind, another to another. The mistake that is often made by those who speak most about Christian experience is that they are so apt to insist upon everyone else’s experience—on penalty of its utter worthlessness—being exactly the same as their own. The great thing is that we should be attracted by Christ in some way, that we should come to God in that spirit of penitence which Christ taught was the one condition of acceptance with Him, and with that steady purpose of amendment which is, as he always taught, a part of true penitence.
James Hastings Rashdall (1858-1924), Principles and Precepts [1927]
There is a pride of faith, more unforgiveable and dangerous than the pride of the intellect. It reveals a split personality in which faith is “observed” and appraised, thus negating that unity born of a dying-unto-self, which is the definition of faith. To “value” faith is to turn it into a metaphysical magic, the advantages of which ought to be reserved for a spiritual elite.

…Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961), Markings [1964]

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn’t belong.