Don't you just love a great quote?

I realized that my "recent" [if you call two weeks ago as recent] three posts have been fairly introspective about life, death and confessing sin.

Tuesday I read a quote that made me smile. Then I read it outloud to others as soon as possible, interrupting the existing conversation if necessary.

I guess those are my two criteria for a good quote.
1. Makes me laugh/smile
2. I have to tell others.

Enough of my opinion.

This quote is from the business section of Newsweek in discussion about technology and computer security.

"Passwords are like underwear: you don't let people see it, you should change it very often, and you shouldn't share it with strangers." October 19, 2009 Newsweek-Business section

Moses and Superman

I came across an interesting article yesterday at www.time.com entitled, "How Moses Shaped America." Bruce Feiler wrote a well balanced perspective on how through American history Moses has been an inspiration and example to many of our leaders.

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams proposed that the seal for the United States be of Moses leading the Israelites through the Red Sea as the water overwhelms the pharaoh. Abraham Lincoln found reason to highlight the accomplishments of Moses as he spoke at Gettysburg. Barack Obama declared his candidacy for President while referring to Moses leading people out of bondage into freedom.

I like that thinking, but came across a paragraph in the article that gave me pause.

"With the rise of secularism and the declining influence of the Bible in the 20th century, Moses might have melted away as a role model. But something curious happened. He was so identified as a hero of the American Dream that he superseded Scripture and entered the realm of popular culture, from novels to television. Superman was modeled partly on Moses. The comic-book hero's creators, two bookish Jews from Cleveland named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, drew their character's back story from the superhero of the Torah. Just as baby Moses is floated down the Nile in a basket to escape annihilation, baby Superman is launched into space in a rocket ship to avoid extinction. Just as Moses is raised in an alien world before being summoned to liberate Israel, Superman is raised in an alien environment before being called to assist humanity."

Maybe you view Moses as Charleston Heston in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments.
Personally, I see a average man who with all his foibles, faults and problems - was used by God all the while "he was more humble than any man who was on the face of the earth." [Numbers 12.3]

Confession: Good or Bad?

I just finished watching David Letterman on msn.com. During his show, David told his viewing audience that a man was wanting to write a screenplay about David Letterman's life. The man went on to say that he was going to include details about "all the bad things David had done in his life" unless the screenplay writer was given $2 million. This author did have incriminating information and proof about his lifestyle choices such as sleeping with women staff members. Eventually he was found guilty by a grand jury of extortion and was recently arrested.

What struck me was how the audience laughed, clapped and cheered when he confessed that he had slept with staff members. That seemed really weird. The audience seemed so flippant and nonchalant.

I was also surprised to hear the Today show experts question if David Letterman's confession was the right thing to do or not. Was it a good "pre-emptive strike" or was it "too much unnecessary information" that could get him in trouble. Besides, they said, he wasn't married when he slept with his employees.

Our church is doing a church wide study on the life of David. After watching and reading about David Letterman' confession, I couldn't help but think of King David's confession in Psalm 51.

I encourage you to read the Psalm yourself. Here are some excerpts from the Psalm that struck me.

v. 4 Against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.
v. 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts and teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
v. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
v. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners wiill turn back to you.
v. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Confession is to be good for the soul, not a premptive strike against public opinion.