Linkarama

A flurry of links for ya:

1. A Libertarian View of Gay Marriage introduces three concepts that help us think intelligently and practically about social institutions - the marginal case, the need to first consider social institutions as historical institutions, the real, well, reality of what I'm going to call 'legitimisation creep'.                                                                                                                   "In the end, our judgment is all we have; everyone will have to rely on their judgment of whether gay marriage is, on net, a good or a bad idea. All I’m asking for is for people to think more deeply than a quick consultation of their imaginations to make that decision. I realize that this probably falls on the side of supporting the anti-gay-marriage forces, and I’m sorry, but I can’t help that. This humility is what I want from liberals when approaching market changes; now I’m asking it from my side too, in approaching social ones. I think the approach is consistent, if not exactly popular." (H/T Mikey and Alan)
2. The Pastor's Heavy, Happy Heart describes my life (except for Fridays ;)) - and I'm not even a pastor and only share some of the challenges and heartaches of that vocation. This (plus the small fact I don't think it's right) is why I could never be one and why I counsel anyone, but especially women, to think carefully before taking on the full-time ministry gig. But, gosh, it's worth it :).
3. 5 Tools Needed to Reach Today's Teens makes me glad because I was one. I love it that someone has taken the time and had the love to think about where they're at and what their world is like, and then told the rest of us.                                                                                "You may say that all people judge, lust, envy, and lie, but your teenage audience likely can justify any of those sins at the personal level, believing they have ultimate authority over morality. Consequently, those ministering to teens need a theological understanding of how sin originates from the human desire to live independently from God and to be the "god" of our own lives." (bold mine)
4. The Peacemakers Ministries site is a bright thing. A very real joy to find some specific, applied aspect of the Christian faith that hasn't in the process shed its roots. The site contains loads of freely available, eminently practical, deeply and roundly biblical informed stuff, all to do with forgiveness and reconciliation. This page has the foundational principles given us by God. And it's in Spanish too!                                                                                                                       "If a dispute is not easily resolved, you may be tempted to say, "Well, I tried all the biblical principles I know, and they just didn't work. It looks like I'll have to handle this another way (meaning, 'the world's way')." (H/T Joanne and Claudia)
5.  A Different Kind of Teacher tells the delightful tale of a new graduate who accidentally got things right and later worked out why.                                                                                  "When a student feels comfortable in the classroom, they are more open to answering questions and when they feel comfortable answering questions they'll eventually enjoy success. Success breeds more success and when you have a classroom full of kids who are suddenly doing well in a subject which they never have before, you're suddenly a favorite teacher . . . . They laugh as I rant and rave about the ancient cave-man era of Doom and Pitfall and Burger Time, and when they laugh, they are happy, and happy kids learn best . . . . They insist that the way I teach math is 'different' than other teachers when, in reality it is very much the same. Nearly every one of my kids says that math is 'just easier now.' When looked upon with even a mildly critical eye, the reason for this is simple. They understand because they're suddenly listening. They listen because I talk to them about things other than trigonometric ratios from time to time." (H/T Ian)
6.  Closure, from one of my faves, is a beautifully and truly observed piece.                        "'Close', by definition, is a neat and absolute act, but each of us is constituted—for good or bad—by the inheritance of genes and the untidy accrual of experience. We are where we’ve been, and we get to choose if we’re okay with that or not."
7. Infanticide: The Coming Battle is a plainly written post (at times a little too cynical/simplistic in describing people) that looks to an ugly, plausible future.                                                        "If infanticide ever becomes permissible it will mean the death of western culture as we know it. No longer a light in the darkness, but a greater part of the darkness. It will mean that we are ruled by Barbarians with Law degrees from Harvard." (H/T Alistair)