Greater Love Hath No Man Than This

Family Man McCain

In an article entitled, Getting to Know John McCain, Karl Rove writes about Cindy and John McCain’s decision to adopt a child from one of Mother Teresa’s orphanages.

“…in 1991 Cindy McCain was visiting Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Bangladesh when a dying infant was thrust into her hands. The orphanage could not provide the medical care needed to save her life, so Mrs. McCain brought the child home to America with her. She was met at the airport by her husband, who asked what all this was about.

Mrs. McCain replied that the child desperately needed surgery and years of rehabilitation. “I hope she can stay with us,” she told her husband. Mr. McCain agreed. Today that child is their teenage daughter Bridget.

I was aware of this story. What I did not know, and what I learned from Doris, is that there was a second infant Mrs. McCain brought back. She ended up being adopted by a young McCain aide and his wife.

“We were called at midnight by Cindy,” Wes Gullett remembers, and “five days later we met our new daughter Nicki at the L.A. airport wearing the only clothing Cindy could find on the trip back, a 7-Up T-shirt she bought in the Bangkok airport.” Today, Nicki is a high school sophomore. Mr. Gullett told me, “I never saw a hospital bill” for her care.”

A few things not mentioned in Karl Rove’s article about Cindy McCain is that after earning a Masters in Special Education at the University of Southern California she became a special needs teacher. She has also founded and supported many very worthy charities including American Voluntary Medical Team (AVMT) which brought emergency medical relief to countries all over the world.

Another organization she founded is the Hensley Family Foundation, which donates monies towards children’s programs in Arizona and nationally. And she has been a longtime active volunteer in an organization called Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that has been repairing child and young adult cleft palates and cleft lips in countries around the globe.

Hat Tip: Unborn Word of the Day

I’ll add that unlike President Bush, Barack Obama, or Hillary Clinton, John McCain actually has a son fighting on the ground in Iraq.  I think this speaks volumes to McCain’s understanding of the very real issues facing our national interests down to the very personal issues many military families and others deal with every day.  McCain has much more experience than just “Washington experience,” and it shows.  His adult children from his previous marriage very much admire him.

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Memorial Weekend 2008

And God shall wipe away all their tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. –Revelation 21:4

Iraq and Back: Time for a Timetable?

“Bounding a situation forces completion of the required actions–or forces the action to change.“

The linked post above is very good.  I’ve generally agreed with the notion that a timetable in Iraq just gives jihadists a reason to lie low until we leave.  But on the other hand, there is something to be said for setting benchmarks, defining goals, measuring progress, and creating timetables.  (And no one ever said the enemy has to know about them either.)  

However, I would think the ultimate political pressure should be on Iraqi leadership, not necessarily on our U.S. troops.  But the troops have done a tremendous job under the surge strategy probably because it is in itself a benchmark of sorts with the defined goal of stablizing tough areas of Iraq by not leaving them void of law enforcement and order.  The surge is creating political breathing space for the new Iraqi government which is good, but I do wonder if more political pressure on the Iraqi Parliment would better or worsen the situation.  I’m not sure there is any way to know.  But the “bounding” point is well taken.     

Now Showing in a non-Islamic Country Near You

Conservemus posted a short film for us to watch in two 7 minute parts.  It’s officially been pulled according his post, but still available to view for now.  This courageous short documentary-type piece by filmmaker and Dutch politician, Geert Wilders is called FITNA, and many Islamic people around the world are furious.  But the film is powerful because it shows the radical extremists speaking from their own mouths and acting out of the hatred spread among them.  If you are so inclined: CLICK HERE for Paul’s post.     

I was hesitant to watch the clips, but at some point we Americans must confront the ugly truth of radical Islam and jihadists.  I cannot emphasize enough McCain’s strength of leadership in dealing with the reality of what we as a nation face from Islamic extremists.  This is also a strong reminder that America is in the midst of spiritual warfare as real as any war and that Christian Americans must continue to pray for wisdom for ourselves, our nation, and our leaders in this age of global extremism.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but everlasting life.” –John 3:16