Ask Shawn 2.0

Dear Shawn,

I have really be wondering, what is your favorite book on creation?

Regina T. Orange County, CA


Dear Regina,

My favorite book by far on creation is Genesis. You should check it out. Enjoy!
Shawn

The First Amendment

So, tonight I am thinking about the definition of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." There is this story that I ran across that you can read here, and its how the University of Michigan-Dearborn will be installing foot-washing tubs for Muslims to use for their daily prayers. So here is my problem in number form:

1) This first struck me as an attack on the 1st Amendment, being that it seems on the surface a government form of support for one type of religion over another.

But...

2) Then I read a bit more into it, and realized that the money for the project will come from student fees, and not tax payers wallets. This eliminates the state financially sponsoring part of the problem. Also, the school said that these tubs will also be open for non-muslims to use as well. So you cant say that these are explicitly for Muslims.

So it got me to thinking about should these be put in or not? A girl had gotten hurt earlier from trying to wash her feet in the sinks, so on the surface this seems like an ok thing, but to give preference to one religion over another, maybe its stepping over the bounds of what the 1st Amendment allows, or so I thought...

which gets me back to the original idea of what does the 1st Amendment mean? Technically, it mentions Congress, and does not refer to other areas of government. Although Jefferson and Madison later interpreted it to mean a much broader scope, it does not say it explicitly in the Amendment.

I guess this gets back into the whole issues of judicial review, and Congress's enumerated, establishment, and free exercise clauses. Where's John Marshall when we need him?!

What do you all think?

By the way...you guessed it, the ACLU is all about supporting these tubs going in. They see no issues here. Figures!

Moral Decline in America

You want to talk about moral decline in America, I'll add another to the list! I was skimming through FARK.com earlier and I came across another story about another teacher having sex with another student. You can read the story here. This time it's a 38 year-old married-with-a-kid sub and a thirteen year-old boy who had dated the sub's kid. Amazing and sick at the same time. To top it off, it wasn't in some big city metropolis, but in a small rural town of 4,000. That's about 2000 less than Ft. Meade! Yes, our country is in moral decline. If only there was a way to influence the culture in which we live. Hum?!

Instant Karma Album and Darfur

So I had heard of an album coming out that Amnesty International was making. It is suppose to be in support of the SaveDarfur campaign. And so when I was at the Rock Hall, I saw the album and I bought it. It's has some amazing artist on it: U2, the retired R.E.M., Christina Aguilera, Aerosmith, Green Day, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Black Eyed Peas, and Regina Spector, among others. It's pretty good. You can check out the campaign here.

I Can Walk!!!!!!!!!!!

So when I was in Cleveland this week, I figured out that I can take a few steps without my crutches. So when I got back, I tried out my cane for that night out eating, and I made it the entire night without falling (unlike my last attempt at it.) So it was a great day. It has been along time coming, and I still have a little bit left to go, but this is a major step, and I cant begin to explain the joy I have. "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away." Well, I'm one step closer to getting back my ability to walk without aid. It's so awesome; like the first time you went to Disney, or that one special Christmas as a kid!

I'm Back!

So the trip was great! I got to see the Indians play the Mariners (Driscoll's team.) We lost by one run in the ninth, but it was a blast anyways. And speaking of a blast, they had the biggest and best fireworks show I've ever seen after the game. Anyways, I got to see the old Federal building downtown. I met the Chief Judge, and sat in his chambers, as well as his courtroom. I also sat in an amazing courtroom that looked like it should be in Versailles. I then went to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, which was cool. Then it was off to Canton to the Pro Football Hall. Anyways we did alot of amazing stuff, and I got several pics. I'll post them here in a bit. It was a great time. Well worth it!

Ask Shawn 1.0

Every week I get inundated with emails from around the country from people who somehow found out about me, and find it a good idea to ask me questions about life and God. Sometimes its about the iPhone like this weeks emailer, or other times its about what book to read. It varies from day to day. So I've decided to start up a weekly post, every Saturday, with the best question that I received that week. No I'm not going to go back to previous weeks (sorry Debbie of Belview, Minnesota) but I will start by giving the best of this weeks. Ans so here we go:

Shawn,

Would you buy the iPhone if you were a twenty-something?

Christopher Rodman, Lakeland, FL

Dear Chris,

It just so happens that I am a 20-something, and to answer your question, I pose another question. Do geese fly? Thanks for your question. Shawn