"I am not afraid of tomorrow"

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
- William Allen White
as quoted on QuoteFame.com.
Previously published on Kalles kyrkliga kommentarer.

Taking the USA to a very dark place

I want you to know that the fundamentalist political movement is the beginning of a cultural revolution that will take our nation to a very dark place. You have to understand that this has been methodically planned and is being carried out with the utmost vigilance. In accordance with their worldview, my old friends do not in the least care about what you think. They are against democracy, and they are seeking to end the rule of the majority in our great country.
They truly believe that if you have not been “saved,” you are living under a curse and are incapable of knowing what is best and that because of this you should be ruled over. You should also know they do not believe that even centuries-old Christian communities (Catholics, Anglicans, Greek Orthodox, etc.) are “saved,” only those who think like they do.
You might be thinking that a minority fundamentalist group of zealots can’t really take over the direction of a society. Just look at Iran, or the countless other places where people have allowed this to happen. 

Stoltenberg on showing love

If one man is able to show so much hatred, then how much love should not all of us be able to show? 

Prime minister Jens Stoltenberg
in Oslo Cathedral 24.7.11

King on head and heart

With loving regards to Norway:
One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong. Only through the bringing together of head and heart – intelligence and goodness – shall man rise to a fulfillment of his true nature.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
from Strength to Love, a collection of Dr. King's sermons,
as quoted on God's Politics

The causes of arthritis

A man who reeked of alcohol flopped on a subway seat next to a priest. The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half empty bottle of rum was sticking out of his ripped jacket pocket.
He opened his newspaper and started reading. After a few minutes, the disheveled guy turned to the priest and asked: "Say, Father, do you know what causes arthritis?"
The priest, disgusted by the man's appearance and behavior snapped: "It's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, and a contempt for your fellow man!"
"Well, I'll be," the man muttered and returned to his newspaper.
The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized, "I'm sorry to have come on so strong - I didn't mean it. How long have you been suffering from arthritis?"
"I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does."
Thanks to Nina
- and to MadPriest!

Buechner on idolatry

Idolatry is the practice of ascribing absolute value to things of relative worth. Under certain circumstances money, patriotism, sexual freedom, moral principles, family loyalty, physical health, social or intellectual preeminence, and so on are fine things to have around, but to make them the standard by which all other values are measured, to make them your masters, to look to them to justify your life and save your soul is sheerest folly.
- Frederick Buechner
in Wishful Thinking
as quoted on God's Politics

Lewis on age

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
- C.S. Lewis
as quoted on QuoteFame.com