Pray Without Ceasing

The violence continues to escalate in Afghanistan in response to a few US soldiers' inadvertent, but certainly ill-advised, burning of religious material. Reporting in the mainstream press has been guarded on these developments in terms of what they signify, but digging into reader comments sometimes reveals nuggets of wisdom. Such was the case with yesterday's story in the New York Times about another deadly incident of violence in response to the Koran burnings. Reader William Gill of Montgomery, Ala.wrote: "What I want to observe is this: from a purely historical perspective, it is absolutely amazing, fascinating and downright unbelievable (but true) that the ignorant actions of two or three low level servicemen (along with possibly one CO), doing a prison clean up job can (and has) completely unraveled and undone what a great power and her allies have worked at for ten years including spending somewhere around $500 to $700 Billion dollars (all borrowed), a

  Rick Santorum says he wants to run a positive campaign against Mitt Romney. “We’re out talking about what we want to do, and how we’re going to change this country, and how we’re the best person to take on Barack Obama. We’re not there making scurrilous charges,” Santorum announced to the press a couple of days ago in Idaho. Given the tone of the GOP campaign so far, is this remotely possible? Even if Santorum fails to follow through on these good intentions, though, they are a welcome reminder of a passage in 2 Timothy which we are all wise to remember, in which Paul calls on Timothy to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace." He continues, "Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servants must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness." Paul then concludes his thought: "God may perhaps grant that they will re