Tonight, Saturday, we went to the all –church Family Quiz Challenge –a fund-raiser for the HFM (my church) Bible Quiz Team (9 or 10 teens.) They need help to go to New York State for nationals which will be held on the Roberts Weslyan U. campus. Any team qualifies for nationals after a year of monthly quizzes in their region.
My daughter Stephanie's family was one team with Jacob, 8, and husband Bruce. Jon and I were a team and we sat my Mom, 89, between us as a team member though she didn't know ahead of time to study --and she does have dementia, so I'm not sure she could have kept up. But she enjoyed the event immensely. (One of my S.S. students was supposed to be 3rd member of my team instead of Mom, but his divorced father came to town to take out his children.)
Bruce’s sister and daughter, 8, were a team. There were 3 youth teams, mostly grades 6-9 (the official quizzers of our church) and another team of young mothers and another family team—so 8 teams altogether. Rob was a quiz master and he also made soup for the event as did Steph and a few others. Soup, salad, rolls and dessert were the menu after the quiz.
I quizzed out in one round and almost the 2nd (answering 5 questions correctly means you have to quit) –There are 15 questions per round. Jon answered a couple. I got 4 in the 2nd quiz and maybe 3? in the 3rd quiz against my grandson and his folks. I studied some by note-taking and reviewing through the 2 chapters. There were 3 rounds before the all-star quiz between the top 2 teams which were our daughter's family and our official team of 7th graders. To answer a question, you stand from your chair that has a little electric plate to sit on--when you stand up you light up a panel and answer in the order of the lights --whoever is up first answers first. Of course the young people have the art of getting off the chair in lightning speed! If you pre-jump, you have to finish the question verbatim. If you answer the pre-jump wrongly, the question goes to the other team.
(I was very glad to do so well, as I've wondered if Alzheimers was coming my way --when I can't think of words or names--when I substitute wrong words with silly effect (I meant to say "the lady with the orange apron" pointing out someone to my mother, and started to say, "the lady with the orange drapery") --and also when I'm going down the road and suddenly wonder where I am, so lost in thought I am, and my familiar road doesn't look familiar. Just a few little things like that.)
My daughter's team won –with young Jacob answering questions word for word from the scripture –as did Stephanie. Bruce used to coach quizzing –and Steph and he first knew each other as quizzers from competing churches. Bruce coached our team to state championship when he was in college. His sister followed up after him and took our church team to a national championship. The trophies tonight were laughably 2 Barbie dolls painted gold mounted on little platforms--supposed to resemble Emmies, said the quiz coach Andrew Winckles, grad student constrained by low budget.
The study chapters were Luke 21 and 22 –appropriate pre-Easter chapters –up through The Last Supper and Judas' betrayal.
When studying for quizzing you notice details you did not notice before. E.G., Luke says an angel appeared to Jesus to strengthen Him on the Mt. of Olives before his famous prayer to have this cup pass from him. I didn't remember that. It seemed new to me to read that Jesus told the disciples to sell their cloaks to buy swords --and then when they decide they have 2, he says that's enough and something about fulfilling the prophecy that he would be numbered among transgressors (sword bearers?) Of course, he was numbered among them by being crucified as a criminal. It is one of these swords which is used by a disciple (Luke does not say Peter) to cut off the ear of the chief priest's servant. The RIGHT ear, mind you.
When I quizzed as a teen in the United Brethren Church quizzes, I first REALLY read scripture for total comprehension and detail and it came alive to me as Truth, as history coming to LIFE, like never before. I can't over-recommend the experience for young people. Some think competing over Bible memory is improper --but it's actually very wholesome challenge to your own mind, quick thinking, quick comprehension of the questions coming at you, strategy, thinking on your feet --good for the experience of speaking and concentrating under pressure. Of course, the greatest benefit is the exposure to the Word of God in such a way that we "hide God's Word in [our] hearts, that [we] might not sin against thee."
IF YOU'D LIKE A CHURCH THAT HAS SUCH WHOLESOME ACTIVITY FOR TEENS, WE ARE IT: 6605 Angola Road, Holland, OH, north of Spring Meadows Mall (which is on Airport Hwy.) We also have mid-week CLC for children, K-6 and separate meetings for jr. high and high school, the latter with Timberlake Church youth at our church under the local YFC/Campus Life director for Springfield H.S. 7 PM.
We counted at least 60 people in attendance. Teams paid $20 for entry and spectators paid donations for the meal.
All you businessmen out there can get your name on the quizzers' T-shirts if you want to sponsor their trip to Nationals! Any reasonable donation will make you a sponsor!
Next month, quiz teams of teens from several Michigan churches will convene at our church for competition on the 2nd Saturday, about 10 AM to 3 PM. Hopefully, the back of our church will be finished by then. We're almost there! It's looking beautiful. Our pastor is like Jesus, being a carpenter, and he made a beautiful welcome center for the rear entrance of the church, off our main parking lot. We just need a millionaire benefactor to give us new windows on the eastern side of the old part of the church, the last remaining eyesore!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
ELEMENTARY MATH ~ WHAT IS A TRILLION??
A million dollars--$ 1,000,000 --is a thousand thousands of dollars. With today's prices, it's no wonder that the lotto winners spend through it quickly.
A billion dollars --$1,000,000,000 -- is a thousand millions of dollars --or a million thousands of dollars.
A trillion dollars --$1,000,000,000,000 -- is a thousand billions of dollars or a million millions of dollars.
Correct me if I have this wrong, Someone --I'm not a math person, but if I'm right about these figures, what Obama is doing is STAGGERING, STUNNING, ASTONISHING!
Here we are, already in national debt --10.8 trillion on Feb. 26, 2009.
So what can we do???
Oddly, hypocritically, we heard about the staggering budget deficits and national debt being all GWBush's fault --yet congress would not let him reform Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security or any other entitlement program. AS YOU CAN'T GET ELECTED BY GORING ANYONE'S OX! RIGHT? They could not cut their earmarks, reduce spending --and some of them like Daschle, couldn't even pay their taxes! Additionally, as a nation, we were generous beyond belief for all the natural disasters, rebuilding Iraq to better than pre-war infrastructure; we borrowed money to help the victims of terrorism, AIDS, war --with no idea of how we were ever going to be able to pay it back. But how do politicians who need votes ever get in power if they don't give to everyone who asks??? Consider also that those who did this disaster relief work and other labor for the gov't. have CHARGED TOP DOLLAR! Everybody wants to be a millionaire and charges a fortune for their services. INFLATION of that sort has much to do with our deficit and debt.
From Mark Knoller's Political hotsheet, CBS NEWS:
That's what perplexes me. If Bush's deficit spending and his increase in the national debt were so terrible, why are the Democrats rushing to outspend him???? BY TRILLIONS!!!!! with all the bail-outs (which I understand because we don't want our pensions, insurances, and bank savings to disappear --but they will anyway through taxes and inflation) --but not just bail-outs, but NEW programs, NEW spending by gov't hoping that higher taxes on the few wealthy Americans will pay all these people's salaries in the new make-work programs. The bite in taxes will hurt business even further, causing more lay-offs, bankruptcies.
We really are playing Robin Hood --trying to help all groups --even if they made their own messes --and the people we are penalizing and expecting to come up with these trillions, are the small business folks and above, in income. So, many more will lose their jobs and be in financial trouble.
I wonder how many of our banks' short-falls, came from those who failed to pay credit card and education debt, bought houses and cars they could ill afford. All that credit spending without paying it back is part of the banking problem. The constant building of new malls, restaurants, and homes --puts people to work --but also puts people and places out of business. Investors hoping for a windfall on a sure thing found that we don't have enough consumers who aren't already in debt up to their eyeballs to sustain all the new businesses. After all, we aren't getting married and making babies anymore! A majority of Americans have been living above their means for years --and average per capita debt is several thousand in each household.
What a mess!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
A billion dollars --$1,000,000,000 -- is a thousand millions of dollars --or a million thousands of dollars.
A trillion dollars --$1,000,000,000,000 -- is a thousand billions of dollars or a million millions of dollars.
Correct me if I have this wrong, Someone --I'm not a math person, but if I'm right about these figures, what Obama is doing is STAGGERING, STUNNING, ASTONISHING!
Here we are, already in national debt --10.8 trillion on Feb. 26, 2009.
So what can we do???
Oddly, hypocritically, we heard about the staggering budget deficits and national debt being all GWBush's fault --yet congress would not let him reform Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security or any other entitlement program. AS YOU CAN'T GET ELECTED BY GORING ANYONE'S OX! RIGHT? They could not cut their earmarks, reduce spending --and some of them like Daschle, couldn't even pay their taxes! Additionally, as a nation, we were generous beyond belief for all the natural disasters, rebuilding Iraq to better than pre-war infrastructure; we borrowed money to help the victims of terrorism, AIDS, war --with no idea of how we were ever going to be able to pay it back. But how do politicians who need votes ever get in power if they don't give to everyone who asks??? Consider also that those who did this disaster relief work and other labor for the gov't. have CHARGED TOP DOLLAR! Everybody wants to be a millionaire and charges a fortune for their services. INFLATION of that sort has much to do with our deficit and debt.
From Mark Knoller's Political hotsheet, CBS NEWS:
Tony Fratto... served President Bush as deputy press secretary and as a spokesman in the Budget Office and Treasury Department.(emphases, mine)
He calls the Obama Administration's budget "the height of audacity."
Speaking for himself, Fratto charges the current White House is trying to "mask huge spending increases under the cloak of 'fiscal responsibility.'” And he rejects the current president’s charge that the previous Administration's budgets were full of hidden numbers and omissions.
"Our budgets were honest, open, and transparent. Every dime spent was presented, debated, voted on, and counted," said Fratto in a statement e-mailed to CBS News.
And he defended the Bush White House practice of putting war spending in “supplemental” appropriations bills.
"(It) was done to avoid permanently baking those appropriations into the Defense Department's baseline budget. That's good budgeting, not a 'gimmick.’”.
Until now, Mr. Bush ran up the biggest deficits and the largest amount of National Debt in U.S. history. The National Debt increased $4.9-trillion on his watch.
The new budget plan shows the title of biggest spender will fall to Mr. Obama.
That's what perplexes me. If Bush's deficit spending and his increase in the national debt were so terrible, why are the Democrats rushing to outspend him???? BY TRILLIONS!!!!! with all the bail-outs (which I understand because we don't want our pensions, insurances, and bank savings to disappear --but they will anyway through taxes and inflation) --but not just bail-outs, but NEW programs, NEW spending by gov't hoping that higher taxes on the few wealthy Americans will pay all these people's salaries in the new make-work programs. The bite in taxes will hurt business even further, causing more lay-offs, bankruptcies.
We really are playing Robin Hood --trying to help all groups --even if they made their own messes --and the people we are penalizing and expecting to come up with these trillions, are the small business folks and above, in income. So, many more will lose their jobs and be in financial trouble.
I wonder how many of our banks' short-falls, came from those who failed to pay credit card and education debt, bought houses and cars they could ill afford. All that credit spending without paying it back is part of the banking problem. The constant building of new malls, restaurants, and homes --puts people to work --but also puts people and places out of business. Investors hoping for a windfall on a sure thing found that we don't have enough consumers who aren't already in debt up to their eyeballs to sustain all the new businesses. After all, we aren't getting married and making babies anymore! A majority of Americans have been living above their means for years --and average per capita debt is several thousand in each household.
What a mess!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Christian Life Club --a Grand Valentine Party
Actually, it was a Missions Night --"Tastes of Africa." Kathy Heisinger and her young helper, Catelyn Claytor, prepared several authentic African recipes and my 15 Trail Blazers (3rd and 4th graders) served them into 50 little cups so that all the Christian Life Club members and teachers could taste them. Kathy admonished them to not say "I don't like it --ychh!" and to say, instead, "It's different!" if they couldn't say they liked it.
I found all the dishes quite tasty, actually. And I was proud of how neatly the kids dished up the tasting cups, even carrying trays of ginger ale (they have that in Africa!) to the tables without spilling or getting tripped. Kathy told them to wash their hands, first thing, and then gave them each one plastic glove to wear. My assistant Bea laughed at the nose picking and hair smoothing she saw with the gloved hand. O well. What I don't see doesn't bother me!
The TABLES! BEAUTIFULLY adorned with Cotton fabric in bright African prints by Sue Conklin. She pulled the church's artificial plants and trees into the large foyer where she set up the tables --for an elegant African theme -with carved giraffes and elephants on the tables.
The teachers donned attire that demonstrated the different roles of our missionaries in Africa: nurses, doctors, teachers, ministers, builders, mechanics.
AFter that we retired to our classrooms where I had one half hour to help them make paper plate baskets. At each place setting I had baggies with 16 peel and stick foam hearts of different sizes and colors, and 2 red styrofoam plates, and a pre-cut sparkly ribbon. Treats were set up on a different table with a gospel booklet titled, "The Way to God." They took large red plastic cups, filled them with one each of the various kinds of candy, gum, hot chocolate packet, and a large heart lollipop. These they placed between the plates which they stapled half-way around. I punched a hole for the ribbon and they tied a handle for their paper plate gift basket, which they decorated with the pink, white and red hearts.
They were told to take these home and give them to someone and share the gospel booklet by reading it to their friend, preferably a neighbor and someone not in our church or the club. This was to fulfill two badge requirements --being kind to someone, preferably a neighbor, with a gift --and sharing Christ with them with the Gospel booklets.
Two girls brought treats to share, lollipop and cookie for each, knowing it was a Valentine Party.
They also got to fill a snack baggie with candies for themselves --and ended the evening with Dairy Queen ice cream bars. We got done in the nick of time ---and concluded in the chapel with the others, singing an African Christian song from the Wototo Choir kids from Uganda --who came to our church the year before to do a concert. "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," African style. "Ju ju ju ju ju" --"higher higher higher " --"Lift up Jesus HIgher!" and then "Chini chini chini chini chini" which means "lower, lower, lower--lower Satan lower."
That good old dualism! I sure do know it exists --as we see kids wrestling with temptation to do evil instead of good --to be selfish or not --to be mean or to be kind! CLC --is on the good side of The Force!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
I found all the dishes quite tasty, actually. And I was proud of how neatly the kids dished up the tasting cups, even carrying trays of ginger ale (they have that in Africa!) to the tables without spilling or getting tripped. Kathy told them to wash their hands, first thing, and then gave them each one plastic glove to wear. My assistant Bea laughed at the nose picking and hair smoothing she saw with the gloved hand. O well. What I don't see doesn't bother me!
The TABLES! BEAUTIFULLY adorned with Cotton fabric in bright African prints by Sue Conklin. She pulled the church's artificial plants and trees into the large foyer where she set up the tables --for an elegant African theme -with carved giraffes and elephants on the tables.
The teachers donned attire that demonstrated the different roles of our missionaries in Africa: nurses, doctors, teachers, ministers, builders, mechanics.
AFter that we retired to our classrooms where I had one half hour to help them make paper plate baskets. At each place setting I had baggies with 16 peel and stick foam hearts of different sizes and colors, and 2 red styrofoam plates, and a pre-cut sparkly ribbon. Treats were set up on a different table with a gospel booklet titled, "The Way to God." They took large red plastic cups, filled them with one each of the various kinds of candy, gum, hot chocolate packet, and a large heart lollipop. These they placed between the plates which they stapled half-way around. I punched a hole for the ribbon and they tied a handle for their paper plate gift basket, which they decorated with the pink, white and red hearts.
They were told to take these home and give them to someone and share the gospel booklet by reading it to their friend, preferably a neighbor and someone not in our church or the club. This was to fulfill two badge requirements --being kind to someone, preferably a neighbor, with a gift --and sharing Christ with them with the Gospel booklets.
Two girls brought treats to share, lollipop and cookie for each, knowing it was a Valentine Party.
They also got to fill a snack baggie with candies for themselves --and ended the evening with Dairy Queen ice cream bars. We got done in the nick of time ---and concluded in the chapel with the others, singing an African Christian song from the Wototo Choir kids from Uganda --who came to our church the year before to do a concert. "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," African style. "Ju ju ju ju ju" --"higher higher higher " --"Lift up Jesus HIgher!" and then "Chini chini chini chini chini" which means "lower, lower, lower--lower Satan lower."
That good old dualism! I sure do know it exists --as we see kids wrestling with temptation to do evil instead of good --to be selfish or not --to be mean or to be kind! CLC --is on the good side of The Force!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Proposed Revolution
From Mudrake's Blog, Feb. 11, 2009
Tell me this was not serious, MR. Previously you suggested detainment camps.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Up the Flag wrote:
...How many of those rural states will vote to change the composition of the Senate and therein substantiallly reduce their
influence?
February 10, 2009 9:53 AM
mud_rake said...
The answer to your question is 'none.' That's why we need a revolution to really shake up our government.
February 10, 2009 11:33 AM
uptheflag said...
And, the purpose of the revolution is? Why should citizens sacrifice their life, families, and wealth to make a revolution? How does the revolution began? What kind or type of revolution will it be?
Delacrox and 'up the flag' is definitely romantic, but how will it win the day?
February 10, 2009 3:05 PM
mud_rake said...
It will be bloodless and quick. We will round up all right-wingers and libertarians and put them in boxcars...
February 10, 2009 4:19 PM
Tell me this was not serious, MR. Previously you suggested detainment camps.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Mr. Rogers, an Authentically Good Neighbor
by Rob R.
source
Here's an article on Mr. Rogers with many fun facts. For example, he was a friend of the first college-educated gorilla. He was a tough interview because he befriended reporters. He saved the VCR and he got into television because he was disturbed by pie violence. He also started every day with hours of prayer.
source
Here's an article on Mr. Rogers with many fun facts. For example, he was a friend of the first college-educated gorilla. He was a tough interview because he befriended reporters. He saved the VCR and he got into television because he was disturbed by pie violence. He also started every day with hours of prayer.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Cannibals Have an Amazing Language
by Rob R.
source
I'm not posting this for any political or theological reason. This I thought was just something of a Ripley's Believe It or Not- style of interest.
It turns out that in this Amazon tribe which is in the news for cannibalizing a farmer, the men speak a different language from the women!
source
I'm not posting this for any political or theological reason. This I thought was just something of a Ripley's Believe It or Not- style of interest.
It turns out that in this Amazon tribe which is in the news for cannibalizing a farmer, the men speak a different language from the women!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Former KKK Member Reconciles with Black Senator
by Rob
video
Both Senator John Louis and Elwin Wilson were political activists in the early days of the civil rights movement. Elwin Wilson was a KKK member who had attacked Louis in the past during civil rights demonstrations.
Wilson sought out the Senator to apologize for his actions and when questioned why he pursued this reconciliation now, he mentioned that someone asked him where he thought he would be going after he died and he figured it would be Hell. Senator Louis noted that this meeting testified to the power of love and grace.
This is just one more example that shows that there are religious concerns that have instigated racial reconciliation.
video
Both Senator John Louis and Elwin Wilson were political activists in the early days of the civil rights movement. Elwin Wilson was a KKK member who had attacked Louis in the past during civil rights demonstrations.
Wilson sought out the Senator to apologize for his actions and when questioned why he pursued this reconciliation now, he mentioned that someone asked him where he thought he would be going after he died and he figured it would be Hell. Senator Louis noted that this meeting testified to the power of love and grace.
This is just one more example that shows that there are religious concerns that have instigated racial reconciliation.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Holocaust-Denying Bishop to look for "Proof" of Gas Chamber Executions
by Rob R
source
Seems to me that when one has already conceded to a conspiracy on such a massive scale as the Holocaust, what could possibly be construed as proof? While conceding that there were deaths in the hundreds of thousands of Jews, it's not like Bishop Williamson has the time or means to investigate the individuals of the 5-plus-million Jews murdered in the Holocaust to see if they actually existed and actually died in this period, not withstanding whether any of them died in the gas chamber.
What this highlights is that even for such "undeniable" events in history, we are dependent on others for knowledge, as the majority of mankind cannot have direct access to this event. Most of our knowledge is dependent on the greater community and thus requires a degree of faith in that community.
And of course, there is the problem that if the Bishop is willing to concede to such conspiracy theories, how can he even trust the Gospels in the slightest?
source
Seems to me that when one has already conceded to a conspiracy on such a massive scale as the Holocaust, what could possibly be construed as proof? While conceding that there were deaths in the hundreds of thousands of Jews, it's not like Bishop Williamson has the time or means to investigate the individuals of the 5-plus-million Jews murdered in the Holocaust to see if they actually existed and actually died in this period, not withstanding whether any of them died in the gas chamber.
What this highlights is that even for such "undeniable" events in history, we are dependent on others for knowledge, as the majority of mankind cannot have direct access to this event. Most of our knowledge is dependent on the greater community and thus requires a degree of faith in that community.
And of course, there is the problem that if the Bishop is willing to concede to such conspiracy theories, how can he even trust the Gospels in the slightest?
Abortion Doctor Loses license Over Murder of Fully Born Baby
Clearly abortions or at least late-term abortions aren't just bad for the baby and the mother. They apparently have a Nazification effect on the people who perform the procedure.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/06/florida.abortion/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/06/florida.abortion/index.html
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Why belief in God is Natural in Children... and Atheists as Well
by Rob R
Fans of the Scooby Doo cartoon series may recall a phrase that sleuth nerd extraordinaire, Velma, would repeat over and over again, "Science has proven a thousand times, there are no such things as Ghosts." Most fans wouldn't realize that this phrase was closely paralleled by Soviet communists who reportedly said, "Science has proven over and over, there is no God."
One might question just when and where either of these "scientific" discoveries was published. While neither claim can be substantiated, it is interesting to note that as formerly communist Russia rebounds toward the Orthodox church, the Scooby Doo franchise of recent years features "real" ghosts (as opposed to masked old cranks scheming to get some inheritance or real estate property who end up cursing "those meddlesome kids" for spoiling their plans.)
While science is ill-suited to approach most spiritual and metaphysical questions, especially with conclusive direct answers, there are scientific approaches to related issues.
New Scientist has published an article approaching the question of why religion/spirituality is believed to be hardwired in the brain.
Author Michael Brooks notes two previous suggestions about this question. First, that there is a specific area of the brain responsible for religious belief, and second, that religious belief is a result of adaptation. He sees reason for rejecting both claims, suggesting that religious belief is linked to a variety of mental functions, thus related to regions of the brain, and not just one area. He rejects the idea that these mental functions directly arose through adaptation for survival. Rather, he suggests it is an indirect result that through all these mental functions spirituality becomes natural.
Brooks cites Yale psychologist Paul Bloom who describes a "common sense dualism" that begins in infancy where babies distinguish between people and inanimate objects and later develops into a tendency to distinguish minds from bodies, noting a universal ability to think of the mind as distinct from the body and the ease with which one can even conceive of the mind as separable from the body. It is then a small step to conceiving ghosts, gods, and life after death.
One study where the mind body dualism demonstrates itself was by researcher Jesse Bering, who put on a puppet show for preschoolers in which an alligator eats a mouse. The children were then questioned about the implications of this show. They were asked if the mouse can still get sick or if it needs to eat and drink, to which the children answered no. But when asked spiritual questions such as whether the mouse still thinks and knows things, the children answered yes.
Children also demonstrate a tendency toward teleological beliefs, seeing design and purpose in the world around them. Here, the children claim for example that birds are here to make music or that rivers exist so boats will have something on which to float. This sort of thinking continues into adulthood when adults tacitly admit to a teleology, for instance, trees are here to make oxygen so we can breath.
Bloom says that we are all hard-wired for religious belief and that this programming doesn't go away with childhood. Another researcher, Olivier Petrovich, notes that even atheists possess this wiring. Bering has observed atheists who've attributed some purpose or agency behind traumatic experiences in their lives. He notes that "They don't completely exorcise the ghost of god - they just muzzle it."
Michael Brooks seems to attempt neutrality here noting that these findings conclude nothing about the existence of god, but I suspect he has more of an atheistic bent as he draws a connection with the ability to build fictive worlds. It should be noted that science depends on our ability to build fictive worlds, so this feature should not be linked with irrationality or delusion.
Of course, the atheistic approach to these findings would be, "How might it be that nature leads us toward these deceptions?" But of course, these findings fit a better unified picture where our hard-wiring assists us to see the truth that spirituality is stamped into our very flesh. After all, to view the mind as universally hardwired toward deception is the greatest paranoia one can have with bad epistemic results.
Fans of the Scooby Doo cartoon series may recall a phrase that sleuth nerd extraordinaire, Velma, would repeat over and over again, "Science has proven a thousand times, there are no such things as Ghosts." Most fans wouldn't realize that this phrase was closely paralleled by Soviet communists who reportedly said, "Science has proven over and over, there is no God."
One might question just when and where either of these "scientific" discoveries was published. While neither claim can be substantiated, it is interesting to note that as formerly communist Russia rebounds toward the Orthodox church, the Scooby Doo franchise of recent years features "real" ghosts (as opposed to masked old cranks scheming to get some inheritance or real estate property who end up cursing "those meddlesome kids" for spoiling their plans.)
While science is ill-suited to approach most spiritual and metaphysical questions, especially with conclusive direct answers, there are scientific approaches to related issues.
New Scientist has published an article approaching the question of why religion/spirituality is believed to be hardwired in the brain.
Author Michael Brooks notes two previous suggestions about this question. First, that there is a specific area of the brain responsible for religious belief, and second, that religious belief is a result of adaptation. He sees reason for rejecting both claims, suggesting that religious belief is linked to a variety of mental functions, thus related to regions of the brain, and not just one area. He rejects the idea that these mental functions directly arose through adaptation for survival. Rather, he suggests it is an indirect result that through all these mental functions spirituality becomes natural.
Brooks cites Yale psychologist Paul Bloom who describes a "common sense dualism" that begins in infancy where babies distinguish between people and inanimate objects and later develops into a tendency to distinguish minds from bodies, noting a universal ability to think of the mind as distinct from the body and the ease with which one can even conceive of the mind as separable from the body. It is then a small step to conceiving ghosts, gods, and life after death.
One study where the mind body dualism demonstrates itself was by researcher Jesse Bering, who put on a puppet show for preschoolers in which an alligator eats a mouse. The children were then questioned about the implications of this show. They were asked if the mouse can still get sick or if it needs to eat and drink, to which the children answered no. But when asked spiritual questions such as whether the mouse still thinks and knows things, the children answered yes.
Children also demonstrate a tendency toward teleological beliefs, seeing design and purpose in the world around them. Here, the children claim for example that birds are here to make music or that rivers exist so boats will have something on which to float. This sort of thinking continues into adulthood when adults tacitly admit to a teleology, for instance, trees are here to make oxygen so we can breath.
Bloom says that we are all hard-wired for religious belief and that this programming doesn't go away with childhood. Another researcher, Olivier Petrovich, notes that even atheists possess this wiring. Bering has observed atheists who've attributed some purpose or agency behind traumatic experiences in their lives. He notes that "They don't completely exorcise the ghost of god - they just muzzle it."
Michael Brooks seems to attempt neutrality here noting that these findings conclude nothing about the existence of god, but I suspect he has more of an atheistic bent as he draws a connection with the ability to build fictive worlds. It should be noted that science depends on our ability to build fictive worlds, so this feature should not be linked with irrationality or delusion.
Of course, the atheistic approach to these findings would be, "How might it be that nature leads us toward these deceptions?" But of course, these findings fit a better unified picture where our hard-wiring assists us to see the truth that spirituality is stamped into our very flesh. After all, to view the mind as universally hardwired toward deception is the greatest paranoia one can have with bad epistemic results.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Hamoud Bin Saleh, Saudi Christian, 28, Arrested for His Blogger Blog --now blocked by Saudi officials (How can they do that??? )
http://www.persecutionblog.com/
GO TO THE LINK FOR THIS STORY--HOT OFF THE PRESS. HAMOUD BIN SALEH ARRESTED IN MID-JANUARY for blogging about his conversion to Christianity.
I don't see how the Saudi gov't can block a blogger website without Blogger's assistance. Of course, he wouldn't be able to have a computer in prison. He's a modern St. Paul.
Could this happen here? and if not, why not? I've already experienced tremendous desire on the part of Left-wing folks to censor Christians in the US.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
GO TO THE LINK FOR THIS STORY--HOT OFF THE PRESS. HAMOUD BIN SALEH ARRESTED IN MID-JANUARY for blogging about his conversion to Christianity.
I don't see how the Saudi gov't can block a blogger website without Blogger's assistance. Of course, he wouldn't be able to have a computer in prison. He's a modern St. Paul.
Could this happen here? and if not, why not? I've already experienced tremendous desire on the part of Left-wing folks to censor Christians in the US.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
TWO COMPETING KINGDOMS! Christians abroad are being killed. Is this a Church wake-up Call?
Christians, what do you think of the following?
Erwin Raphael McManus wrote:
I got the above from the director’s article by Tom White in the Voice of the Martyrs magazine, Feb. 09.
I have always said that, contrary to the charge that we are only railing against homosexuality and abortion, the American evangelical churches are focused on personal piety, spiritual ecstacy in worship, feeling love for all people and that we do not like to get our feathers ruffled or our feelings riled. Hence,the move by some away from political action and discussions regarding abortion and gay rights. After all, there are angry foes on the other side defending these sins as legitimate choices. The challenge for us is the same as for the wife of a polygamous cult: Staying sweet. Never showing tempers. Always feeling love and showing forgiveness –always feeling the joy of the Lord. So, many of us avoid conflict and the resulting unpopularity. Being civil in disagreement IS Christian --no name-calling or insulting of others' intelligence. But I think being so civil as to avoid controversy is to cater to the wrong kingdom.
Many such Christians are also involved in ministry to each other, to their extended families, active in church activities/ministries and givers to charity and missions. They may be prayer warriors. So, I'm not meaning to judge those who don't contend for the faith or confront the culture openly --but to challenge us to do so.
Love over hate and temper is part of the continual battle between the kingdoms ---personal spiritual well-being would include that as described by the above author. But the director of VOM cites John, author of Revelations, who goes back into the persecuted church instead of staying in exile where God gave him the Revelation of Heaven. Instead of biding His time on the Isle of Patmos, waiting for his transport to paradise, he chose to “identify with those who carried their crosses in the steps of the Savior.” This was when Emperor Domitian infamously executed Jews, Christians and his own relatives for not worshipping the emperor.
Then White tells that the VOM has a video tape they don’t show because of the horror and tragedy of it –a video of a 12-year-old girl stoned to death in Egypt because she accepted Jesus. He then calls us to be co-participants, helpmates and encouragers to those who suffer tribulation in dozens of nations.
He notes that “Muslim converts to Islam are usually very bold; such is the liberating joy that flows out of them.” He quotes a Christian convert from Islam, “If you think there is a place you will be safe when you follow Christ, you are wrong….but Islam is cracking. The crack is becoming bigger with those who want to know Christ the Lord. This is why the fundamentalists (Muslims) are angry.”
I think this is not a day in OUR nation to retreat from proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel where people hate Christians for their doctrines and their definitions of sin and the message to repent. This is a time to shine the light of truth in dark places –to be that shining city on the hill –that light on the lampstand –where all can see it. We ought not retreat from proclamation of the whole truth –including Biblical definition of sin vs. righteousness
And just because they hate us doesn’t mean our method is wrong or that we have truly behaved hatefully as charged. St. Paul proclaimed the truth about homosexuality in ROME where it was an issue. In the U.S., it is again an issue –as is abortion. No matter how you say it, liberals want to cast you as a “gaycist” –just as wrong as racists.
Yes, if people would truly convert and follow Christ, they would all agree on the social issues. The Bible is full of preaching and teaching against the sins of the day –that we may know what displeases a Holy God. We CANNOT avoid the issue of sin in our culture –we must stand against it in public square, in government, as well as in the church. The majority of those who are calling evil good are not IN the church to hear the messages –so how will they know what it is that they should repent of, if we aren’t salt and light speaking Truth to power and to our culture –even on places like blogs?
Read more about today's Christian martyrs:
http://www.persecution.com/
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Erwin Raphael McManus wrote:
“Domesticated Christians are far too willing to abdicate the battle for the soul of the world. Civility focuses our energy on all the wrong places. We spend our lives emphasizing our personal development and spiritual well-being….In contrast Jesus calls us to a different way. He tells us this is a battle of kingdoms….To see from a kingdom perspective is to know that there is a conflict of invisible kingdoms and that people’s lives are forever changed by what happens in the unseen. We are called to be warriors of light in dark places.” (The Barbarian Way, pp. 108-109.)
I got the above from the director’s article by Tom White in the Voice of the Martyrs magazine, Feb. 09.
I have always said that, contrary to the charge that we are only railing against homosexuality and abortion, the American evangelical churches are focused on personal piety, spiritual ecstacy in worship, feeling love for all people and that we do not like to get our feathers ruffled or our feelings riled. Hence,the move by some away from political action and discussions regarding abortion and gay rights. After all, there are angry foes on the other side defending these sins as legitimate choices. The challenge for us is the same as for the wife of a polygamous cult: Staying sweet. Never showing tempers. Always feeling love and showing forgiveness –always feeling the joy of the Lord. So, many of us avoid conflict and the resulting unpopularity. Being civil in disagreement IS Christian --no name-calling or insulting of others' intelligence. But I think being so civil as to avoid controversy is to cater to the wrong kingdom.
Many such Christians are also involved in ministry to each other, to their extended families, active in church activities/ministries and givers to charity and missions. They may be prayer warriors. So, I'm not meaning to judge those who don't contend for the faith or confront the culture openly --but to challenge us to do so.
Love over hate and temper is part of the continual battle between the kingdoms ---personal spiritual well-being would include that as described by the above author. But the director of VOM cites John, author of Revelations, who goes back into the persecuted church instead of staying in exile where God gave him the Revelation of Heaven. Instead of biding His time on the Isle of Patmos, waiting for his transport to paradise, he chose to “identify with those who carried their crosses in the steps of the Savior.” This was when Emperor Domitian infamously executed Jews, Christians and his own relatives for not worshipping the emperor.
Then White tells that the VOM has a video tape they don’t show because of the horror and tragedy of it –a video of a 12-year-old girl stoned to death in Egypt because she accepted Jesus. He then calls us to be co-participants, helpmates and encouragers to those who suffer tribulation in dozens of nations.
He notes that “Muslim converts to Islam are usually very bold; such is the liberating joy that flows out of them.” He quotes a Christian convert from Islam, “If you think there is a place you will be safe when you follow Christ, you are wrong….but Islam is cracking. The crack is becoming bigger with those who want to know Christ the Lord. This is why the fundamentalists (Muslims) are angry.”
I think this is not a day in OUR nation to retreat from proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel where people hate Christians for their doctrines and their definitions of sin and the message to repent. This is a time to shine the light of truth in dark places –to be that shining city on the hill –that light on the lampstand –where all can see it. We ought not retreat from proclamation of the whole truth –including Biblical definition of sin vs. righteousness
And just because they hate us doesn’t mean our method is wrong or that we have truly behaved hatefully as charged. St. Paul proclaimed the truth about homosexuality in ROME where it was an issue. In the U.S., it is again an issue –as is abortion. No matter how you say it, liberals want to cast you as a “gaycist” –just as wrong as racists.
Yes, if people would truly convert and follow Christ, they would all agree on the social issues. The Bible is full of preaching and teaching against the sins of the day –that we may know what displeases a Holy God. We CANNOT avoid the issue of sin in our culture –we must stand against it in public square, in government, as well as in the church. The majority of those who are calling evil good are not IN the church to hear the messages –so how will they know what it is that they should repent of, if we aren’t salt and light speaking Truth to power and to our culture –even on places like blogs?
Read more about today's Christian martyrs:
http://www.persecution.com/
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
GIRLS PROFESSING LESBIAN ISM EXPELLED FROM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
FROM ONENEWS.COM
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
An appeals court in California ruled this week in favor of a Christian school in an anti-discrimination case.
In September 2005, California Lutheran High School in Wildomar expelled two girls after they admitted to the school principal that they had told other students they were lesbians, and that they had engaged in lesbian conduct with each other -- in direct violation of the school's code of conduct. The girls' parents then filed a lawsuit, claiming discrimination against their daughters.
Christian Legal Society attorney Tim Tracey is handling the case.
"The question before the court was whether or not private religious schools were subject to state anti-discrimination laws," he explains. "[Essentially] does it violate those laws for a private religious school to say we want our students to abide by our beliefs and to live according to rules of conduct that are consistent with those Christian beliefs?"
A lower court and now the 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside have ruled in favor of the school. It remains unclear whether this latest ruling will be appealed to the California Supreme Court, a body that has ruled in favor of special rights for homosexuals the past several years. That concerns Tracey.
"When the question before it is gay rights versus religious freedom, the California Supreme Court said 'we go with gay rights,'" says Tracey. "And this is obviously a case that I can see the California Supreme Court being very eager to take and to rule on."
The case is Doe v. California Lutheran High School Association.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Friday, January 23, 2009
CANDOR from COULTER
See Ann Coulter's article here: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30372
Excerpt:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ann Coulter is Legal Affairs Correspondent for HUMAN EVENTS and author of "High Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Slander," ""How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)," "Godless," and most recently, "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT AMERICANS ARE SAYING--IN COMMENTS TO ANN'S ARTICLE:
From the White House home page agenda (below), it looks like conservatives have their work cut out for them.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Excerpt:
"...It is a liberal trope to insult conservatives by asking them meaningless questions, such as the one repeatedly asked of Bush throughout his presidency about whether he had made any mistakes. All humans make mistakes -- what is the point of that question other than to give insult?
When will the first reporter ask President Obama to admit that he has made mistakes? Try: Never.
No, that question will disappear for the next four years. It will be replaced by the new question for conservatives on every liberal's lips these days: Do you want Obama to succeed as president?
Answer: Of course we do. We live here, too.
But merely to ask the question is to imply that the 60 million Americans who did not vote for Obama are being unpatriotic if they do not wholeheartedly endorse his liberal agenda.
I guess it depends on the meaning of "succeed." If Obama "succeeds" in pushing through big-government, terrorist-appeasing policies, he will not have "succeeded" at being a good president. If we didn't think conservative principles of small government and strong national defense weren't better for the country, we wouldn't be conservatives.
And why was that question never asked of liberals producing assassination books and movies about President Bush for the last eight years?
Say, did liberals want Pastor Rick Warren to succeed delivering a meaningful invocation at the inaugural?
The way I remember it, the Hope-and-Change crowd viciously denounced the Christian pastor, stamped their feet and demanded that Obama withdraw the invitation -- all because Rick Warren agrees with Obama's stated position on gay marriage, which also happens to be the position of a vast majority of Americans every time they have been allowed to vote on the matter.
Liberals always have to play the victim, acting as if they merely want to bring the nation together in hope and unity in the face of petulant, stick-in-the-mud conservatives. Meanwhile, they are the ones booing, heckling and publicly fantasizing about the assassination of those who disagree with them on policy matters.
Hope and unity, apparently, can only be achieved if conservatives would just go away -- and perhaps have the decency to kill themselves.
Republicans are not the ones who need to be told that "the time has come to set aside childish things" -- as Obama said of his own assumption of the presidency. Remember? We're the ones who managed to gaze upon Carter at the conclusion of his abomination of a presidency without booing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ann Coulter is Legal Affairs Correspondent for HUMAN EVENTS and author of "High Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Slander," ""How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)," "Godless," and most recently, "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT AMERICANS ARE SAYING--IN COMMENTS TO ANN'S ARTICLE:
I was amused by the coronation. Liberals act like poorly trained children; deliriously happy when they get their way, and able to throw a healthy tantrum when things are not to their liking.
Jan 21, 2009 @ 06:20 PMDLJ, Maine, USA
Great Column, Ann, and you are correct there are two standards alive and well in America one that enables and endorses every bit of venom from the left and cosigns all of their nonsense. We will never hear or read those questions and if Pelosi and Reid have their way with the Fairness Doctrine...we will be lucky to candidly assess the success or failures of any parties administration.I too wish Obama well, and am happy to be counted amongst the loyal opposition so to speak...If I agree with a position or a policy that he might have I will happily say so. However so far I am not impressed...
Jan 21, 2009 @ 06:21 PMMelody, Annville, LWRGA
If Obama wants his followers to "put aside childish things", perhaps he should publicly rebuke them for the "Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye", send-off they gave President Bush as he departed. Children will never grow up if not reprimanded.
Jan 21, 2009 @ 06:29 PMLeigh, USA
The 1st thing HUSSEIN does is call his muslim buddy and finance abortions for foreign countries. He is going to be more pathetic than jimmy carter.
Jan 21, 2009
From the White House home page agenda (below), it looks like conservatives have their work cut out for them.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
OBAMA'S SOCIAL ACTION AGENDA
FROM THE AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Obama acts quickly, lays out his abortion and gay agenda
TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE HOME PAGE
One of first moves pushes social issues to the top
Supporting Stem Cell Research:
President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which will allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment.
Reproductive Choice (Abortion)
Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.
Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.
Support for the (Homosexual Community)
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
.American Family Association – Tupelo, MS 38803
www.afa.net
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Thursday, January 22, 2009
SUPREME COURT WON'T PROTECT KIDS FROM PORN
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=108&sid=1581003
That's just great! I'm trying to find out which justices voted how.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
That's just great! I'm trying to find out which justices voted how.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Double Standard on Inaugural Expense --Rude Dems and other Tho'ts
The Media was all over GWBush and GOP for their expensive inaugurations --and then Obama spent 3 times as much --and that's OK.
You know, if you stayed home, you actually saw the inauguration --in comfort. NOthing could make me want to be packed like sardines with 2 million people in 18? degree weather. I was impressed that the violin/cello, ensemble number was played so beautifully outdoors --seemingly in jackets, not coats. Did they use video screens throughout the crowd, I wonder? Good news --no arrests. I hear there were boos for Bush but I did not hear them on TV. Democrats are so rude.
Someone wrote a piece in National Review, I think, on the "hissing" that democrats do in crowds and how republicans don't. I did boo Al Gore when he came, come to think of it --when he spoke of women's right to abort. Shame on me. I was younger and my booing was to make a statement that I thought was necessary in a pro-democrat crowd of 5000 down at Portside. It was the first Clinton-Gore campaign, i believe.
That's where I first saw young girls chanting at us pro-lifers with our posters, angrily, snarling, something about the church keeping its hands off their ovaries. It was a rhyming ditty. We were there to defend the unborn and remind the audience that the Clinton-Gore ticket favored abortion --as did Obama's, though one democrat caller seemed ignorant of the fact. Democrats tend to vote their Union's wishes, instead of their Church's.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
You know, if you stayed home, you actually saw the inauguration --in comfort. NOthing could make me want to be packed like sardines with 2 million people in 18? degree weather. I was impressed that the violin/cello, ensemble number was played so beautifully outdoors --seemingly in jackets, not coats. Did they use video screens throughout the crowd, I wonder? Good news --no arrests. I hear there were boos for Bush but I did not hear them on TV. Democrats are so rude.
Someone wrote a piece in National Review, I think, on the "hissing" that democrats do in crowds and how republicans don't. I did boo Al Gore when he came, come to think of it --when he spoke of women's right to abort. Shame on me. I was younger and my booing was to make a statement that I thought was necessary in a pro-democrat crowd of 5000 down at Portside. It was the first Clinton-Gore campaign, i believe.
That's where I first saw young girls chanting at us pro-lifers with our posters, angrily, snarling, something about the church keeping its hands off their ovaries. It was a rhyming ditty. We were there to defend the unborn and remind the audience that the Clinton-Gore ticket favored abortion --as did Obama's, though one democrat caller seemed ignorant of the fact. Democrats tend to vote their Union's wishes, instead of their Church's.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Rick Warren's Prayer --Great Job!
Rick Warren's prayer was the best speech of the day. He proclaimed God's love for all people --asked forgivenes for our failings and for our lack of civility to each other. Pastor Rick also closed without saying "In Jesus name" by ending with the Lord's Prayer --yet, was true to his witness, in acknowledging Christ as His Savior and the giver of the Lord's Prayer.
I did wonder if he should not have referred to Obama's election being significant because he was afr-american. Although that significance was noted by many Afr-americans themselves. But I bet obama would like to be known for something other than his race --like to have people quit focusing on that --though it is a milestone against racism in America. He'd like to think that his election was great and joyous for his attributes other than race, I'm sure!
I have to agree with Gerson (speaking on Fox News) that Obama's speech was good in content --like all innaugural speeches --but not literarily significant --no great memorable lines to go down in history--and lots of cliches. I found it rather anti-climactic in emotional tone --and noticed that people actually looked bored, not inspired.
I certainly wish him great success as a president --but he has a lot of evil forces at work on him --who want him to promote gay marriage and abortion and the atheistic and liberal agenda in general. Feinstein and Pelosi come to mind. Why was Feinstein so prominent in the event?
If Obama accomplishes reform in Social Security and health care, without breaking the bank, he will have done something necessary. I don't want national health care, per se, but I sure do think all families need jobs and insurance.
I bet Condi Rice is more qualified than Hillary to be Secretary of State.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
I did wonder if he should not have referred to Obama's election being significant because he was afr-american. Although that significance was noted by many Afr-americans themselves. But I bet obama would like to be known for something other than his race --like to have people quit focusing on that --though it is a milestone against racism in America. He'd like to think that his election was great and joyous for his attributes other than race, I'm sure!
I have to agree with Gerson (speaking on Fox News) that Obama's speech was good in content --like all innaugural speeches --but not literarily significant --no great memorable lines to go down in history--and lots of cliches. I found it rather anti-climactic in emotional tone --and noticed that people actually looked bored, not inspired.
I certainly wish him great success as a president --but he has a lot of evil forces at work on him --who want him to promote gay marriage and abortion and the atheistic and liberal agenda in general. Feinstein and Pelosi come to mind. Why was Feinstein so prominent in the event?
If Obama accomplishes reform in Social Security and health care, without breaking the bank, he will have done something necessary. I don't want national health care, per se, but I sure do think all families need jobs and insurance.
I bet Condi Rice is more qualified than Hillary to be Secretary of State.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Obama, still better than most liberal bloggers
Obama praised Bush's team for helping with a smooth transition and said part of what America is about is being able to have "disagreements politically and yet treat each other civilly.
Time after time, in the blogosphere, surely from all perspectives but more consistently from liberal bloggers, I see the America that Obama isn't talking about.
Time after time, in the blogosphere, surely from all perspectives but more consistently from liberal bloggers, I see the America that Obama isn't talking about.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
EVIL ABOUNDS --SAD TO SAY!
Somalia is a mess, overrun by evil people with no shred of human decency --or so it seems. They stoned that girl 2 months ago now. According to Joel Brinkley's article in the Blade on January 1, 2008, this girl was buried up to her neck by armed militia of their town of Kismayu in a pit in a stadium. And 50 men stoned her to death in front of a thousand people --for the crime of adultery. She was 13. They said they thought she was older. She was raped and when her family reported it to the "authorities" of their region, they blamed her --and killed her. She had been enroute to her grandmother's house.
Joel is saying the UN should be sending troops --that the WORLD should rise up and go after these and other rogue nations who are torturing their citizens. (That's what Geo. Bush did, BTW, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those are the kinds of people he jailed at abu Graib and GITMO.) Somalia's pirates are also holding 14 stolen boats and their people? still. A dozen ships from around the world are going to apprehend these pirates --hopefully, but Joel felt it was a drop in the bucket of action needed. The UN secretary-general said, "Not one nation has volunteered to lead," to restore order in Somalia.
Other evidence of evil: Egyptian rich folks living lavishly in California were finally convicted of slavery --forcing a 9 year old into slavery for years, housing her in their garage. She couldn't use their laundry facility but had to wash her clothes in a bucket in the garage. She wore oversized t-shirts as her "uniform." She worked for everyone in the family and had enormous responsibilities for every detail of household cleanliness and order. The children in the family called her "stupid." She was treated as less than human. Her parents had sold her to this family in Egypt. Since then, she has been adopted, graduated from high school in the U.S., and is estranged from her parents. Her captors served a few years in jail and were deported. Reports are that the family once again has another girl who looks to be the same age serving them in Egypt--where there is no law against it??? At least no enforcement against such an arrangement.
We need to look hard at our immigration policies. We need to look at the crime rates and see if we are admitting people who are as bad as or worse than Irish Travelers and the Italian Mafia! The Mexican drug-pushers and so on. People who believe in honor killings. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SOME IMMIGRANTS DO NOT HAVE OUR NICE VALUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS LIKE THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY --AND THE TEN C'S AND THE GOLDEN RULE! And we had better start to teach those Judeo-christian values in all our schools --once again! Because those are the values that even make a Mudrake believe in tolerance, justice, human rights, freedom, equality and so on. Without that Judeo-christian base, you have a culture that can stone a girl to death, imprison a child, exploit kids for internet porn --and so on. Without Judeo-Christian values cherished in the minds of the masses, taught to them by parents and schools, you get a Somalia.
Thirdly, pornography is evil. Mona Charen wrote an excellent piece on this recently, telling of the addictive aspect --and the fact that Hugh Hefner can't even make it with 7 women in his bed. He requires porn to get excited enough to perform as a man --and I'm not sure that's with a woman instead of just the pictures and himself! I gathered it was the porn alone with whom he had his most intense sexual activity. (He is really old.) This can't be good for marriage, parenting, etc. Mona was telling of a collegiate conference where the effects of porn were reported as harmful like drugs, with a brain-changing effect.
Finally, they showed murderers and murder victims in Toledo in 2008 in the Blade this week. Almost all of them are African -american. Why? I know it's not race --but what about the black community makes it more volatile and vulnerable than the larger white community--though granted, murderers and their victims certainly come in all colors.
I think parenting is key. Teen mothers are ill equipped. Kids need fathers AND mothers who aren't druggies, drunks, thieves and prisoners. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SHORE UP THE CRUMBLING AMERICAN FAMILY!?? And help these children?
I say, we need military-like --but loving-- Christian schools where kids know they HAVE to behave respectfully or fear the paddle --and we need GODLY, loving, talented leadership for such schools --and preaching that the Holy Spirit inspires and uses to change hearts --so that kids grow up having self-control and wanting to please Jesus Christ who died for their souls.
We need a national revival if we are going to help our own nation and the larger world. We need to marry and raise children for the future. We need to find time not just for our own families but for the children of others. Men need to form healthy relationships with the fatherless.
God, help us!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Joel is saying the UN should be sending troops --that the WORLD should rise up and go after these and other rogue nations who are torturing their citizens. (That's what Geo. Bush did, BTW, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those are the kinds of people he jailed at abu Graib and GITMO.) Somalia's pirates are also holding 14 stolen boats and their people? still. A dozen ships from around the world are going to apprehend these pirates --hopefully, but Joel felt it was a drop in the bucket of action needed. The UN secretary-general said, "Not one nation has volunteered to lead," to restore order in Somalia.
Other evidence of evil: Egyptian rich folks living lavishly in California were finally convicted of slavery --forcing a 9 year old into slavery for years, housing her in their garage. She couldn't use their laundry facility but had to wash her clothes in a bucket in the garage. She wore oversized t-shirts as her "uniform." She worked for everyone in the family and had enormous responsibilities for every detail of household cleanliness and order. The children in the family called her "stupid." She was treated as less than human. Her parents had sold her to this family in Egypt. Since then, she has been adopted, graduated from high school in the U.S., and is estranged from her parents. Her captors served a few years in jail and were deported. Reports are that the family once again has another girl who looks to be the same age serving them in Egypt--where there is no law against it??? At least no enforcement against such an arrangement.
We need to look hard at our immigration policies. We need to look at the crime rates and see if we are admitting people who are as bad as or worse than Irish Travelers and the Italian Mafia! The Mexican drug-pushers and so on. People who believe in honor killings. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SOME IMMIGRANTS DO NOT HAVE OUR NICE VALUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS LIKE THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY --AND THE TEN C'S AND THE GOLDEN RULE! And we had better start to teach those Judeo-christian values in all our schools --once again! Because those are the values that even make a Mudrake believe in tolerance, justice, human rights, freedom, equality and so on. Without that Judeo-christian base, you have a culture that can stone a girl to death, imprison a child, exploit kids for internet porn --and so on. Without Judeo-Christian values cherished in the minds of the masses, taught to them by parents and schools, you get a Somalia.
Thirdly, pornography is evil. Mona Charen wrote an excellent piece on this recently, telling of the addictive aspect --and the fact that Hugh Hefner can't even make it with 7 women in his bed. He requires porn to get excited enough to perform as a man --and I'm not sure that's with a woman instead of just the pictures and himself! I gathered it was the porn alone with whom he had his most intense sexual activity. (He is really old.) This can't be good for marriage, parenting, etc. Mona was telling of a collegiate conference where the effects of porn were reported as harmful like drugs, with a brain-changing effect.
Finally, they showed murderers and murder victims in Toledo in 2008 in the Blade this week. Almost all of them are African -american. Why? I know it's not race --but what about the black community makes it more volatile and vulnerable than the larger white community--though granted, murderers and their victims certainly come in all colors.
I think parenting is key. Teen mothers are ill equipped. Kids need fathers AND mothers who aren't druggies, drunks, thieves and prisoners. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SHORE UP THE CRUMBLING AMERICAN FAMILY!?? And help these children?
I say, we need military-like --but loving-- Christian schools where kids know they HAVE to behave respectfully or fear the paddle --and we need GODLY, loving, talented leadership for such schools --and preaching that the Holy Spirit inspires and uses to change hearts --so that kids grow up having self-control and wanting to please Jesus Christ who died for their souls.
We need a national revival if we are going to help our own nation and the larger world. We need to marry and raise children for the future. We need to find time not just for our own families but for the children of others. Men need to form healthy relationships with the fatherless.
God, help us!
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)