One Little Word Newsletter - May 9, 2022
Roe leak, upcoming Land Center event, and the surprising thing that happens to leftover hotel soap.
So quite a week, perhaps historic. I was walking out to my car with my son after his band concern on Monday evening when I got a text from a friend and then texts from a lots of friends with the breaking news story from Politico with a leak of Justice Alito’s draft opinion, overturning Roe versus Wade.
It’s hard to quantify what a bombshell this is and was. I have some real concerns about the leak. I think it undermines the credibility of the court and was designed to put maximum pressure on the justices, which we are already seeing with protestors threatening to harass them outside their homes. I wrote in World about the importance of norms and the way those who screamed the loudest during the last administration (with some valid concerns) are suddenly unconcerned.
And yet if this opinion holds, it’s cause for rejoicing and then also much more work ahead to save unborn lives. I wrote about that here:
“If Roe is indeed finally struck down, Christians should have three responses. . . First, we should rejoice at the justice handed down by the highest court in the land. . . Second, we should lament the millions of babies whose lives were snuffed out in the name of convenience, each an image-bearer of the almighty. . . Third, the pro-life movement should be prepared for the days ahead.”
I loved Peggy Noonan’s piece in WSJ summarizing the moment:
“But the end of Roe could be a historic gift for both parties, a chance to become their better selves. And if Roe is indeed overturned, God bless our country that can make such a terrible, coldhearted mistake and yet, half a century later, redress it, right it, turn it around. Only a thinking nation could do that. Only a feeling nation could do that. We’re not dead yet, there are still big things going on here.”
Speaking of life, at The Land Center, we are excited to co-host an event with ERLC on “The Image of God: What it Means to be Human in a Culture of Death” at Southwestern’s campus in May. If you’re interested in coming, registration is still open for our pre-conference colloquium and the IACE Faculty event. This is a wide-ranging event on human dignity.
The folks at Context also posted an interview I did a while back about misinformation and reading the news in the digital age. We discussed my book A Way With Words.
Ok, now on to some good reading I enjoyed recently:
I appreciated this long profile of J.D. Greear and Summit Church by Molly Werthen. Molly is a really good journalist and she was extraordinarily fair. I’m a huge fan of JD. Greear. Summit is doing amazing work, reaching people around the RDU area and planting churches around the world.
Ever wonder what happens to hotel soap after you are finished with your room? Me too. Well The Hustle has a long form on one businessman’s innovative way to help hotels get rid of their leftover soap bars, help the environment, and help people in need.
Oh and here is a story of a woman who had to be rescued from an outhouse after falling in (yes you read that right) while trying to save her phone. Guys, I like my phone a lot. But at this point I’d take the dropped phone as a sign from God that perhaps I need a new one.
More Roe stuff. Patrick Brown of the Ethics and Public Policy Center has a good piece in NYT about pro-family policy that can help sustain healthy parenting post-Roe. Worth reading.
Brian Mattson has a thought-provoking word on spiritual warfare and the fight for life.
David French walks through Alito’s draft opinion and says the justice got it right.
Oh and here is something amazing; I came across this incredibly well-written short story that has a surprise ending.
What I’m Reading
Halfway through Kelly Kapic’s fantastic, You’re Only Human. How is this for an arresting quote:
“We were created with dependency in mind, but we think maturity looks like independence. Dependent on his body and blood, all believers are united in Christ: not just spiritually, but physically. Our corporate worship time together changes us, and part of the way we are changed is through the way the church treats our physicality.”
I’m about ¾ of the way thru Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski. I’m loving it. Fun fact: when he was West Point as a player, playing for Bobby Knight, there were pickup games with Bill Parcells and Norman Swartzkopf.
The book I want to read: Matthew Continetti’s The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism. Especially after reading Senator Ben Sasse’s book review in NRO.
A few personal book updates:
My good friend Dean Inserra just released his new book, Pure: Why the Bible’s Plan for Sexuality Isn’t Outdated, Irrelevant, or Oppressive. In my endorsement, I wrote, "This offers Christians a road map to helping young people see the richness of God’s plan for a flourishing marriage and sexuality."
I was also glad to endorse David Prince’s Preaching the truth as it is in Jesus: A reader on Andrew Fuller where Prince teaches the reader through Andrew Fuller’s writing and sermons.
And don’t forget my latest, The Characters of Creation releases next month. You can preorder here.
Lastly, let me leave you with the call from the absolutely thrilling finish to the Kentucky Derby