Korea Growing Corn in Madagascar (BBC)
Corn kernels. Ya gotta know where to grow em. If you're Korea, in (far) east Asia, how about growing your corn in a place that many Americans probably have only heard of because of the animated movie? Can you point to Madagascar on a map? Pop quiz: in what continent is Madagascar located? Did you know corn (a Native American food) can grow there? Times are strange.

Missionary Ashes in China (NYT)
Finally laid to rest at home.

Will Machines Ever Have Souls? (Ray Kurzweil)
This guy is brilliant and has a track record, so do not too quickly write off the things he says or the questions he asks.

The Dead Tell Tales in China (NYT)
The Tarim mummies have become protagonists in a political dispute over who should control the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Snubbed Are the Peacemakers (BBC)
Jimmy Carter is by any definition a peacemaker. Along with Peacemakers Kofi Annan and Graca Machel Mandela from South Africa, the trio of "Elders" were informed before they left South Africa for Zimbabwe that they would not be granted visas. The Z govt. denies barring their entry, while acknowledging they may not (yet) enter) to assess the humanitarian situation and need for food aid by about half the population within 1-2 months. Mugabe... is there a single good thing he contributes to the people he supposedly leads? If according to Jesus peacemakers are blessed, what is the status of their opposite?

A new and hopefully weekly feature.. seven speedlinks today, from seven parts of the plant, er, galaxy...

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I'm deeply interested in listening and watching for two things in these weeks to come.

One is how the U.S. population processes and settles into the implications of yesterday's historic election of an African American president. How will the wounds and polarizing rifts from the rough and tumble campaign process be healed so we can tackle the tough issues before us, which will require sacrifice and hard work? Who will be the leaders in both parties who emphasize common ground rather than digging in the heels on differences?

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Here are some of the key things that I think should inform the vote of every Christian. I realize that various people who follow Jesus might use these same criteria to vote for either leading candidate for the next U.S. President. That's a good thing - a decision between you and God, but in context with thoughtful dialog with people who agree with you and people who disagree with you.

Without preaching or steering your vote (and feel free to agree or disagree or add whatever I've missed in the comments) here are some of the top criteria, in my opinion...

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We need to be in prayer for thousands of people who are being displaced in Congo, the recent rebel advances there, and the impact on neighboring Rwanda, including many thousands of Congolese who are fleeing into Rwanda.

Congo city panics as rebels near (BBC News)
How Congo's heaven became hell (BBC News)

Explore the sidebar links for more context and history.

This is yet another chance for the God's people to do the right thing on a daily basis. And African nations and the international community need to play an appropriate role at the appropriate times. Not an after-the-fact apology after things have gone way too far; nor another "never again" promise; but also not a unilateral outsider strong-arming either.

We need firm, collaborative voice and power from the world community, including leading African nations, to call an end to the violence and disruption of people's lives in the troubled nation of Congo.

We need people and leaders who refuse to stand by and wait for some good outcome that may not be coming.

We need peace that passes all understanding.

Here's an interesting 4 minute audio segment from NPR about India's launching of the nation's first unmanned lunar probe space mission, and some discussion in this second largest nation in the world about the possibilities this might bring, but also the domestic needs and prevalent poverty in light of the costs of such ventures.

The New York Times has an interesting comparison on how people in each country spend their discretionary income.

From the NYT page: "People in Greece spend almost 13 times more money on clothing as they do on electronics. People living in Japan spend more on recreation than they do on clothing, electronics and household goods combined. Americans spend a lot of money on everything. Read the Article

Check out this world map, countries sized by discretionary spending. Do you see Africa? What other countries are missing? It's because there is virtually no discretionary spending. Next time each of us buys another pair of shoes or some music or some additional clothing, this is something to think about.

Not in order to feel guilty, but in order to make sure our choices are informed and wise, as followers of Jesus. How are we called to use our resources? How much should we share rather than use for ourselves?

Why do we have discretionary spending money that others do not? Because we lucked out and were born with different geography? Is God frowning on the poor and smiling on the rich? Is it someone's fault to be poor or someone's accomplishment to have discretionary funds?

And what curses and burdens come along with having a lot of discretionary income? What orientation does that give us toward the whole world which God has made, and what can we learn from others whom Jesus loves who live very differently from us?

I've watched parts of both political "conventions" - DNC and RNC.

I've been listening for some wisdom, even conventional wisdom would be fine.

I haven't heard it.

I've heard a lot of empty promises that even I could make if I wanted people to like or vote for me. WE will do this. WE will do that. THEY don't know this or that about nothin. Yada yada. I'm weary of the American political landscape. It's kind of embarrassing.

When was the last time you saw a political TV ad that made an intelligent point? And the not only negative but also misleading statements from both sides is disappointing.

Given what they say, I wonder if the candidates and their campaign strategists might assume you and I are somewhat stupid, or naive, or gullible.

Compared to my understanding of truthfulness and engaging dialog, this is fairly
E M P T Y.

What does the Bible say about wisdom? A lot, but here are just a few things...

First, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalms and Proverbs)

Second, the forbidden fruit in the garden was perceived by the first human creatures as "desireable for gaining wisdom." (Genesis 3:6) The first recorded trespass -- going into territory where we shouldn't go -- was for seemingly good motives. Hm, food for thought.

Third, Solomon (in Kings and Chronicles) asked God for wisdom and God gave it, making Solomon an off-the-charts great leader. (This is the kind of wisdom I wish our political candidates would ask God for, and that God would give it to them. They way they are running the campaigns so far doesn't make it overly evident that this has already happened.)

Fourth, Jesus had wisdom that people uniquely noted, as much as they noted his miracles. (Luke and Matthew) "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people." Sometimes Jesus' wisdom offended people. In wisdom, he demonstrated a new way to lead people -- from beneath and from the side rather than top down. Love for enemies instead of hatred. Sacrifice instead of power. Servanthood instead of self-service.

Fifth, if anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5) There's nobody anywhere who should not be praying this prayer, asking God for wisdom and looking for it in the right places.

Lastly, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Show it by your good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." (James 3:13)

James is saying let there be some proof in the pudding. Wisdom is not just something you have or do not have, and it's not just discernment or judgement. It is also demonstration of doing the right thing, in humility.

That's the conventional wisdom I'd like to see a little more of these final days of the election of our next national leader. Both candidates profess to be Christians, and I'm looking for how that gets lived out in their pitch to be president.

Who knows what a "Christian" is any more? The word's too loaded with associations, so for years now, I tend not to use it.

I'm a Christ-follower. I am touched by the God who creates, initiates, communicates, wants to know me and be in a spiritual relationship with ME, a finite, tarnished, living, dynamic, complex creature that God has made.

God touches, and we attempt to respond appropriately. There's ambiguity in the relationship. This is partly why we call it faith...

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For quite a while now I have been getting the growing impression that CNN and cnn.com have turned into a pop culture magazine rather than a serious news organization. There is room for both things in the world I guess, and ready audiences for each.

But no organization should be one, while pretending to also be the other.

Our family recently suspended our satellite TV subscription for various reasons, and one of the things I thought I would miss (but as it turns out I do not) is CNN.

Today I checked cnn.com for the top news stories, and unfortunately I think it may be time to write the obituary of the news organization that once was. If it once was, CNN no longer appears to be a serious journalistic effort.

CNN has become an 800 pound tabloid in the room.

In the "Latest News" section (the top-center prime real estate of the home page) there are links to 18 stories. Here are 7 of them:

Athlete says steroids forced sex change
'Detective' asks store for free porn
TV golf in a tailspin without Tiger
Pole dancing helps strip off the pounds
Miley spills on Jonas brother romance
Bush hugs bikini-clad U.S. Olympians
Pelican stops Golden Gate traffic

Like an afterthought, the very last of the list of 18 is "Russia hits U.N. cease-fire draft". Today's important events (such as Russian troops and tanks actually invading Georgia; news about Zimbabwe's Mugabe; Jordan's king visiting Iraq for the first time; the Olympics; the U.S. presidential candidates; updates in Darfur; and MUCH more) have true significance in our world -- but on cnn.com these are buried below Miley Cyrus, which is ridiculous.

So tonight, almost HALF of the so-called Latest News top stories on the CNN home page are about juicy tabloid headlines, specific to the U.S., titillating stories which don't warrant this attention, especially to push aside all other significant news today. (Besides the ones I listed, others in the "top 18" are fringe as well.)

An incredible news organization, CNN is able to put a crew on location almost anywhere in the world within a few hours to beam live news coverage and snag interviews with top diplomats, experts, and world leaders. They've got localized CNN broadcast in many parts of the world. The international version runs in most airports around the world.

What does CNN do with all this muscle? They post (on their website but also broadcast on their 24hr cable news station) sensational sidebar stories about pole dancing and pelicans and sex and celebrities. How do you define malpractice in journalism, and does CNN belong in the same sentence?

Even Larry King, for decades a brilliant interviewer, has either lost his own way or is following orders from people who seem to have lost their journalistic compass. While important news happens elsewhere in the world, you can often find Larry interviewing someone who knows something about Anna Nicole or the like.

I do try to keep an open mind, but for now, aside from periodic health-checks of cnn.com, I'll be finding real news elsewhere. That has been the case already for many months, because I wasn't finding it at CNN, but today's CNN check was a little more blatant than usual.

"Do not let anyone lead you astray."
("Don't let anyone divert you from the truth."  / The MSG)
I John 3:7