The opening ceremonies to the Beijing Olympics were the most spectacular human achievement I have ever witnessed. My wife and I agree; they're a must see even in this brief life of ours. Some multiple of four years ago, I watched a portion of another opening olympic ceremony, and I thought it was the silliest waste of time possible. Feel-good frippery. But this past Friday's ceremony was invested with significance for me because I have been tracking (thanks to the New York Times) China's...

Despite the truth contained in Benjamin Franklin's little witticism about his one-time ill-fated plagiarizing pastor . . . I rather approved his giving us good sermons composed by others, than bad ones of his own manufacture. . . . don't let someone else write your sermons. Honestly, I think the authors of this sourcebook would say the same thing. But I'm a little afraid to ask!

Last night my wife and I watched what little we could crib off the Internet of the Olympics opening ceremonies. The spectacle was extravagant, and we saw only the drummers. I thought as I watched, “This is like Babel.” I told my wife, “This is beautiful bravado.” We don’t want to be entirely negative. By God’s common grace, the Chinese produced something truly beautiful—again, what little of it we saw! After watching that little portion with our bird, Matt, we decided to troll around the...