maybe I should just go live in a cave for a bit

I just want to watch/listen to the news again without getting angry. Okay the whole unjust war thing we've got going in Iraq got me/gets me burned, but, y'know, it's what governments do...I can deal. The whole Bi-partisan congressional 9/11 investigation/circus ticked me off, but it's what politicians do. Those sucked and they made me angry, but it was a detached anger, y'know.

But this Schiavo mess...there's no detachment there. And then today, thanks to those good people at Planned Parenthood for taking this to the Supreme Court (out of the goodness of their hearts, I'm sure), Idaho's law requiring parental notification before a minor can have a life-threatening and life-changing (not to mention life-ending) operation has been rejected. Grrrrr.

Okay, I'm not going to use the old "can't get a ear pierced w/o the parent's permission" line (everyone's tired of it). I'm going to come up with the, Can't get a B without the parents being notified line. or the Can't get a tetanus shot for scratching your toe on a nail at your neighbor's home without parental notification line. I mean, come on people! Where's our perspective?!?!?! I know, I know, we're all too distracted with the riveting and vital events in the Michael Jackson case to care about this, but...ugh. Maybe on a commerical break we can think about caring?

#5 is sometimes the hardest

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Ex. 20:12

"'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Deut. 5:16

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Eph. 6:1-3

No matter how hard I stare at those I can't find the escape clause I so desperately want to find. Something like, "until your in your 30's or so, or have a wife and kids of your own...especially if your father is an unbeliever or idolater." But no...there the law stands, exposing my sin and keeping me on the path (you have no idea how many things I had following "especially if your father is..." before I decided that was the safest way to put it).

I've even tried to think well, what if I can get him on Eph. 6:4 (Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.)? Focusing on the first clause, of course. Of course the whole 2 wrongs doesn't make a right thing comes into play...(but 2 lefts do, if I remember the teachings of Steven Wright correctly)

What brings on this little escape into loophole digging, you ask? Well first of all he's been made a board member of the state's Interfaith Alliance chapter (motto: Proving J. Gresham Machen right every time we open our mouths). Which I have to admit is a pretty nice trick...I can't imagine how someone who hasn't attended church regularly in 16 or so years gets to be on the board of a religious group--and hasn't been a member of a church for 4-5 years before that! Anyway, now, as an official mouthpiece, he sends my sister and I this email called, "I couldn't have said it better!" In it, he just copies and pastes the text of this letter from the Alliance's president on Terry Schiavo. First off, it reads like he's paraphrasing the Democratic party Talking Points memo on the controversy. But then he drags his clergyman status into it, as if that makes him infallible and someone that every Christian should listen to. God's a convenient tool when you want to make an emotional point, I guess.

Now, my gut reaction is to reply with both guns blazing...but I know that would only accomplish getting my inbox filled with more tripe like his (not to mention even more awkwardness than normal when we see my folks this weekend). And if I reply with diplomatic language, he'll miss my point and assume (as he always does for some reason) that we're on the same page.

So, I sit here stymied. Unsure what to do, and trying to not get bitter. Not sure it's working.

Sounds of Silence

Looking at this color scheme, saying "Hello darkness, my old friend" seems very appropriate.

No particular reason for the almost week of silence, while I have a lot on my plate, haven't accomplished any of it. Haven't really tried. Just one of those weeks where doing anytihng seems pointless.

Found this quote today:

"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?" Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

My wife (happy birthday honey!) would testify that nothing could describe me better...

Scottish Presuppositionalism

Like any other of the great doctrines of the Word of God that of its own Inspiration was to be derived directly from the statements which we find it making on the subject. Thus it is that we reach a doctrine of the Person of Christ or of the work of the Holy Ghost or of Justification by faith. It is when the various statements of the sacred writers are carefully weighed and compared that on these subjects we come to a decision as to what on a conjunct view of the evidence should be held to be the Christian Faith. Rays of light from a variety of texts and contexts are seen to converge or to come to a common focus. This gives us the truth that is regulative for Christian thinking. The doctrine of Inspiration is in no different category. Like all the other doctrines of the Faith it can be profitably formulated only when we are sure of our ground in authority. For as a doctrine it is to be discussed as a thing possessed with authority only among the believers in the witness of the word. What the word teaches controls the faith of the Church, or at least it ought to do so. In controversy with avowed unbelievers it is not on the inspired character of Scripture but on its truth that Christians first lay stress. It is only when their opponents come to own that truth that they will accept its witness when it tells about itself. The campaign of opposition to the doctrine of the fully inspired character of Holy Writ when it is carried on within the Churches proceeds logically on a refusal to accept the truth of the claims which the Apostles made on their own behalf. In taking this line it not only aims its blow at the common faith of Catholic Christendom in regard to the inspired and consequently divinely authoritative character of Holy Writ; it strikes also at the substantial truth of the Christian archives. It is only when we set aside the witness and authority of the Apostolic word that we refuse to own Scripture as the Word of God.

The Churches of Scotland [circa mid-19th century] were but ill prepared for the day that had overtaken them. As they wavered and halted they let a tendency that was inimical to their ancestral Faith find a home in their bosom. For they lost sight of the essential simplicity of the Christian position. When John tells us that he wrote his Gospel that we might believe, with the record of his signs, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing we might have life in His name, he thought that the witness borne by his fellows and himself was ground enough for the faith of Christians to build upon. Christian faith has through the ages responded to this claim and this claim was that not only of the Apostle, but of the Holy Ghost who spoke in Him. For it is undoubtedly the mind of the Spirit that the evidence which he thus bore to the truth as it is in Jesus should suffice as a ground of faith for the Church of God to the end of time and to the ends of the earth. What was thus in the Gospel claimed by an Apostle for the witness of his writing, he and his fellows could claim for their teaching in the Epistles. They spoke not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Ghost teaches. This was what Paul could say, and we find John in the same vein adding: ‘We are of God, he that knoweth God heareth us” he that is not of God heareth not us.” Not to hear the Apostles proves that one is not of God. Now claims of this kind were in full keeping with the promises given to the eleven by their Lord in the Upper Chamber at Jerusalem.

There has been from the beginning a Holy Catholic Church—define it how we may—to whose care and keeping the New Testament books were committed, and from whose hands in successive generations its children have received them as being alike in their witness and in their teaching the crystallized and perpetuated ministry of the Apostolic band. As many as are willing to sit at the feet of the Apostles, as they thus by their written word continue to bear witness and to teach, will learn to treat the Old Testament Scriptures as it is plain the Lord and His Apostles did. They will accept both Testaments as the Word of God. Here we have the common view of Holy Writ as it has been throughout historical Christendom. It is on this view that the whole structure of Church Confession and of Christian Theology is built. To maintain the superstructure we must defend the substructure.
--John McLeod, Scottish Theology in Relation to Church History, p.311-313

Yet one More Reason

I'm proud to be a Yankee fan.

Julie, Jamie, be sure you read this :-)

(you'd never see Derek Jeter or Tino Martinez do this...)

Reads of the Day

On the serious-side, we have Nothing much to celebrate by Kathleen Parker which is a keeper.

For those who aren't keeping track (shame on you!!) 20 days 'til Opening Day (which really should be a Federal Holiday--everything save hospitals and bars should be closed) 2 good articles:

• Boone's one small step turned game upside down
  

As world-changing figures go, Aaron Boone may not be quite up there with Edison or Einstein. Or even Lennon and McCartney.

But Aaron Boone has left his mark, all right, even if he didn't mean to. He didn't mean to change what he changed: The Yankees. The Red Sox. A-Rod. The Curse. Not all of it. Not any of it.

Aaron Boone probably woudn't be an Indian today had it not been for his fateful night of hoops.
All he meant to do, on an innocent Friday night in January 2004, was play a little pickup basketball — not set off a chain of events that would one day send Curt Schilling's sock to the Hall of Fame.

• The Great Message Committee by George Will--Will gets to combine Baseball and Politics--his two passions into one column--who could ask for anything more? Two snippets

But to be fair to Waxman, he is a liberal representing Beverly Hills and Hollywood, so he is not expected to have a lick of sense regarding the limits of government, and he rarely sees a human activity that he does not think merits increased federal supervision.

Canseco says that during spring training 2001, when playing for the Angels against the Mariners and their second baseman Bret Boone, ``I hit a double, and when I got out there to second base I got a good look at Boone. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was enormous. `Oh my God,' I said to him. `What have you been doing?' `Shhh,' he said. `Don't tell anybody.''' But in five Angels-Mariners games that spring, Canseco never reached second base.

Little Reminder for Myself

"Happy is the life of that man who believes firmly, prays fervently, walks patiently, works abundantly, lives holy, dies daily, watches his heart, guides his senses, redeems his time, loves Christ, and longs for glory."
-- Lachlan Mackenzie of Lochcarron

Singing God's Praise

Because I used the "Ps" word today in my exhoration, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some complaing started. "He's going start making us sing only Psalms." Oh, if only I had that much power! (which, of course, I'd only use for good) :)Anyway, was openitng up James 5:13, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms."Here's a portion of my exposition on the 3rd clause there (in note form):


I. There are some other reasons to sing praise in return for being cheerful:

A. It identifies the Christian.

1. Rom 1:21 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened …but the opposite must be true of the Christian. “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning;” If His mercies are new every morning, so ought our thanks, true?

B. It counteracts complacency and pride

1. When things are going well in life—success in business or work, a good home life, decent health, decent money in the bank, etc. Those are what help us feel comfortable…but as we feel comfortable, as we shift our focus to these things of the earth…what kind of danger is there? Duet 6:10"So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full-- 12then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

2. The Israelites got comfortable in the land, homes, and crops the Lord provided…but look what happened to that.

C. It glorifies God

1. Psalm 50:23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."; Psalm 96:8 Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.; Psalm 34:3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.

2. Henry: We cannot make God greater or higher than he is; but if we adore him as infinitely great, and higher than the highest, he is pleased to reckon this magnifying and exalting him.

3. Each of us as individual Christians has something glorious to sing about. Our redemption from the power of sin, being freed from a particular besetting sin…or deliverance from some suffering…That is what James is talking about here, not, "Is anyone happy? Then sing!" That is the world's attitude: "Roll out the barrel," and so on. Happiness is just another occasion for singing. We can have a great time with a bunch of friends, or driving in the car, singing along with “Friends in low places”…but that fun doesn’t last much longer than the 8:56 that the song lasts (if you go by the long version on Garth’s Double Live album). But James says, "Let him sing songs of praise." A song that will bless the Lord, sing is praise, reflect his glory—it won’t just be an expression of thanks and praise, and joy…but it will increase your joy—something that will last an eternity.

4. The Christian has something to sing about, and someone whose praises he can sing. There’s nothing wrong with having fun, but it’s just a passing thing. Praising the Lord isn’t.

D. Lastly, rehearsing the glories and graces and mercies of God in song helps us to lodge them in our brains, so that when we need them for encouragement during a rough patch, or to share with someone else…they’re available.

1. For this reason I’d encourage the use of capital “P” Psalms in this—sure, you might have to start out with some work in learning them. But what better thing to sing God’s praise for deliverance or provision or health, than His own inspired Word matching just such a condition? What better words to drive into your hearts and mind for future use? Yes, a well-written and Biblically based hymn or “praise song” can do the same...but it won’t have quite the same punch in the long run. You know you see commercials on TV for CD’s of Hymns or you can subscribe to Time-Life’s praise and worship series…some of those songs sound so cliché, so trite, so yesterday. But yet I know not too long ago my friends and I were abele to close our eyes, lift our hands and get that quiver in our liver while singing that song. Doesn’t happen now with us, not because I’m a cold Calvinist (well, not just because that anyway, but they’re Pentecostals and Nazarenes, etc.)..but because time moves on, and the same sentiment can’t last forever. But Psalms are god’s living word. They don’t get old. They’re never yesterday—they’re always today.

Reading of the Law 3/13

All of us have been in some public place--a grocery store, a park, a restaurant with a child that clearly doesn’t want to be there or doesn’t want to be doing what his mother or father wants him to do. We were at Kiddie Kandids yesterday, and towards the end of our time there we got a waling serenade from one such toddler. Now, that’s annoying—sometimes VERY annoying. But that’s all. There’s nothing I can or would do about that. But if one of my children acted that way, I’d have something to say about it. And they would have to respond. If I went up to that rebel at the photographer yesterday, he’d have no reason to listen to me when I told him to pipe down. Frodo, Samwise and the Princesshave every reason to listen to me. The same is true for those in God’s family. All those who have been created by God are bound by his law, his commands. But how much more do those of us who call Him Father, who have been given that great gift, how much more do we owe him our obedience. Heart obedience is for the family of God. Not for strangers to the promise, those enemies of our Father. And we see another picture of our familial obligation her in our reading of the law today...Romans 8:5-13

Proud Moment

Sitting here at the computer watching my wife trying to entice & cajole the
Kidney Kid to come to get his bottle. "Put the book down and come get your
bottle!" (sniff, sniff)

Glad to see he's got his priorities in order at this young age.

Even a Stopped Clock...

"There's already speculation that Hillary Clinton will be the nominee for the Democrats in 2008. Well, you have to admire the dedication of the Democratic party. They just lost an election, and they're already hard at work planning to lose the next one" -- Bill Maher

Time waster...

How to Kill a Mockingbird. For my dial-up friends, this is probably too long. For my high-speed readers, it's long, but worth it. HI-larry-us.

New Star Wars Trailer

Okay, I'm cynical. I've been burned by Lucas before (n.b., one of the funniest things Kevin Smith ever did was have Randall get Lucas on the stand and demand his money back for Phantom Menace in the cartoon Clerks). I just know in my bones I'm going to be annoyed with Lucas 10 minutes after I walk out of the movie but I see that trailer...and I have hope.

A new hope, if you will.

c'mon George...show us you still got it, babe.

Preaching

From the days of the Reformation the preaching of Scotland for some generations was an echo or an exhibition of the system of truth set forth in the Reformed Confession. The system was known not only in an intellectual was as it might be learned from the Confession and Catechisms and Treatises expository and controversial. It was known as a creed, and as such it was held fast from the heart by a Gospel ministry who yearned for the salvation of the souls of their fellows. This meant that the preaching of such a pulpit was not only sound and correct, but that it was also the message of men aflame with zeal for the honour of God and the coming of His Kingdom. It was the happy lot of the Reformed Church of Scotland to have in the ranks of her ministry not a few of who what was said by David Hume when he heard John Brown of Haddington preach, might be said: "That man preaches as if Jesus Christ stood at his elbow." Preaching of this kind was to be heard not only in ordinary from week to week; it found a special centre round which it revolved in the services of a communion season.

--John McLeod, Scottish Theology in Relation to Church History, p.95-96

May God in His wonderful grace grant us this again...

Couple of Follow-Ups to Recent Posts

• Posted the British covers the other day, and here's what the American readers will be looking at (once they actually finish the book, obviously, doubt many will be taking time to look it over when there are new pages of Rowling to devour)
• My faith in the American Idol voters has been restored. Goood-bye Amanda Avila (and goood-bye leering Cowell), Janay Castine (why, oh, why did it take this long?!?!), Nikko Smith (poor Paula...) and Travis Tucker (dude. it's 2005...just thought you should know). No doubt Scott, Anthony, and Mikala are overjoyed at being spared. I think it's just a matter of time for the first two..but Mikala's got a shot. Prediction: Lindsey says goodbye next week.

Idling in America

I was going to give a run-down on American Idol tonight after the gals do their thing (and I may still). But the good people over at TVgasm have done it for me. Can't say I disagree with much there...

Giving Up the Key to a True Redemption

Speaking of the immediate fall-out of the acceptance of practical Amyrauldian in the United Secession Synods in Scotland, mid-1800’s:
New Light was coming nearer the citadel of the Faith in its disintegrating results. At this point, among a considerable section of professed Evangelicals, the key that admitted to the fortress of a true and efficacious Redemption was given up; and this had a close relation to practical methods in preaching and pressing home the Gospel message. It meant a new approach to the case of the anxious sinner when he was told that our Lord had died for him, and that he must right off receive this as the good news of salvation. This method of approach to him hid from the enquirer that when it said that the Saviour had died for him it might prove that He had died either in vain, or with no intention to effect his salvation. For the Universal Redemption which it taught was on its own showing a Redemption that did not secure life. In this respect the method of treating the anxious played with the use of deceitful terms, and did not compare well with the methods that had been formerly in use. This older method told the sinner of a Saviour Who had died to save His chosen and called ones, and Who was now calling and inviting him to make proof of His saving power by talking Himself as the Lord his Righteousness, and so sheltering under the covert of His sacrifice and the shield of His intercession. The older Calvinism did not seek to assure the sinner that Christ had died his death until he a had first, in obedience of faith, closed with Him as a Saviour in His office as Mediator. It could, as The Marrow put it, tell him that Christ, Who died the Just for the unjust, was his for the taking, and that when he took this Christ as his own, he was in doing so guilty of no presumption. Methods that were borrowed from organised, almost mechanised American Revivalism began to be so common in dealing with enquirers for salvation that they came to be looked upon as part and parcel of aggressive Gospel work.
--John McLeod, Scottish Theology in Relation to Church History, p.244.

Tell me this isn't incredibly relevant today. This summary of the presentation from The Marrow is just perfect.

Misc. notes that You, you, you oughta know...

• Emailed a post a few days ago, hasn't shown up yet. Very odd...at this point I'm just waiting to see if/when blogger posts it.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is already the fastest-selling book in British history. Just wait 'til it's published! Check out that link for the British covers, too, btw.
• And then the latest installment in my ongoing series: Okay, I am officially old now. Jagged Little Pill will be 10 years old this July. I'm only comforted in this look into my own mortality in that she'll be releasing a new, acoustic version of the seminal album.
  

Relief

aaahhh. Just got off the phone with the State Tax Commission. I start my temp assignment with them on Monday. Perfect timing...I think I've almost walked out the door at McD's every night I've worked in the past 2 weeks. They've been over scheduling me the last few weeks, and it's killing the whole studying thing.

But now, I get to go in tonight (the manager in charge of scheduling is closing tonight, which she practically never does--talk about nice timing...it's almost like there's someone controlling things) and give them a new schedule with a lot less availability on it.

Beyond that, there are some bonuses to this new gig

• Get to sit while working
• Get to listen to my class lectures while working
• Get to work with actual GROWNUPS

More than that, for just a couple more hours a week, I'll be making a lot more money, which will hopefully take care of some big expenses headed our way.

Anyway, my text for this week contains the instruction "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." Which is exactly what I'm doing now.

late night meanderings

just put the littlest one down again, he woke up screaming for some reason, seemed pretty scared. It's pretty annoying, but when I stop and think about the way things were a year go, it's reassuring to have a dopey little old nightmare to deal with.

It was a year ago yesterday that we brought the Kidney Kid in for a follow-up at 3 days old...between this, that and the other, he was admitted to the hospital. They did some tests, and found the kidney issue. Kept him in the hospital for days. First night my wife had to just sit there and watch him in a UV bed...couldn't hold him or anything. Not sure if that was harder on her going through it, or me watching her.

As I blogged a bit last year, it was a tough few days, but the prayers of the saints and the work of the Spirit kept us standing. I remember that on Sunday, I was supposed to exhort from Ephesians 4:17-24 and try as I might, I just couldn't come up with anything to say. So I pulled up a sermon by Jeremiah Burroughs, "Christ is All in All," made a few tweaks to the language and read that. I was assured by others that it was beneficial to them, which was a nice bonus, it was about the only thing keeping me from despair.

A few things he said:

Is Christ all in all? Then if we have an interest in Him, it should satisfy and content us though we have nothing or though we are nothing. Why? Because if we have Christ we have all. Though you lack parts, friends, estates, outward comforts, know Christ is to be your all, and is He not enough? As He said, Am I not better to thee than ten sons? So Christ says to the soul, "What do you lack? You lack this comfort and the other comfort, but am I not all in all to you, and better than all?" Yea, be willing to be made nothing, for all is made up in Christ.

With what mighty intention of spirit should the heart be put forth towards Jesus Christ in all things! Though God gives you an estate and honor in the world, if you have not Christ you have nothing. You have not that which makes way for you to eternity. Therefore, do not be satisfied with anything without Christ. As Abraham said, What wilt Thou give me Lord, seeing I go childless? So you say, "Lord, You have given me a portion in this world. You have given me credit and reputation among men, but, Lord, what is all this to me if I go Christless and do not have Him that is the conveyance of grace to my soul, Him that is all in all? Oh, Lord, You have taught me this day that such is the distance and breach between You and me that, unless it is made up through a Mediator, I must eternally perish. Therefore, give me Christ, whatever else You deny me."

Do not satisfy yourselves with anything without Christ! Many hypocrites satisfy themselves with gifts. If they have gifts, then they are contented. Consider that parable in Matt.13:45-46, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Now gifts and parts and other achievements are these goodly pearls, but Christ is the Pearl of price. Therefore, whatever you have, be willing to part with it for Him. If God has revealed to you the Pearl of price, let no [earthly] pearls satisfy you. Many souls perish eternally because they are satisfied with [earthly] pearls and do not endeavor to obtain this Pearl of price. In your seeking God, be sure to take Christ along with you.

What a joy it was this morning to look out and see him in worship, squirming enough to drive his mother crazy, smiling at those around him...trying to play with them when they needed to be paying attention. And then tonight I was able to sit and listen to my fellow elder while playing with him (hopefully we didn't get too loud)--he was in a playful mood, and it helped me stay awake (not a reflection on my brother's work, but on my sleep level). As John said in his prayer tonight, already this little guy's had a ministry in the church--we've been able to see God's mercy, God's providence in getting--and keeping--him healthy, to go beyond what any one predicted, and far beyond what we all feared a mere year ago.

God has certainly been gracious in giving him life, and I pray that one day, he'll give this tyke spiritual life as well. Beyond that, no matter how I love this little one, I pray that God would remind me that it's Christ who's all in all, and it's in him alone I can find comfort, assurance, and strength.

f o c u s

just can't get my mind to stay on task at all...oodles of things I need to/want to write: this week's exhoration, a reading report for class, a review of The Forgotten Man for the blog, a blog farewell to Blue...can't study, can't write more than 3 sentences...

Commercial

Should've mentioned this earlier, will make a point to do so more often: if you need a nice, unique gift, consider some hand-painted cookiez. Or if you just want a very tasty treat yourself.

Kidney Kid Update - 3/2

Just got back from the kidney specialist (the traditional way most people celebrate a 1st birthday, eh?). The Doc is still very pleased with how things are going for him--was really impressed with his development in things like standing and whatnot (he had been going to physical therapy for awhile, but graduated recently). His blood levels were pretty much the same, so no medicine or dietary changes. 'Tho he has to keep his dairy intake low, ditto for red meat (ohh, the HUMANITY!!). All in all things are going well there.

He will be seeing his urologist in a couple of weeks and we'll likely be scheduling a surgery then. So please pray for that.

Aside from the medical issues, everything's going great, praise the Lord. He's standing for periods of time, crawling allll over the place, jabbering a lot, and will even glance my way when I tell him "no" before going ahead and doing whatever I'm telling him to stop. Sadly, during our little birthday celebration today, we discovered the he doesn't like brownies...which could be a sign of serious psychological problems :)

Again, thanks for all your prayers and interest.

Idaho Politics

Now, I knew that there were plenty of fish, cows, emus, etc in Idaho...just didn't realize there were so many RINO's...

• Our beloved governor, Dirk "Be Careful of Typos in that Name" Kempthorne gets a "C" on the Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2004 (for the grades, for the entire report)
• My former classmate John McGee made a motion in committee to effictively kill a bill to cut benefits to people in this state illegally, while that same committee passed a bill to create a new bureaucracy that will pester and plague citizens. (read this rant by Robert Vasquez...my favorite Idaho politician)
  

One thing that parents will often see in their children—or others will see in your own children—is a child acting like their parent. I don’t know how many times my wife has told me, "You know, he does that just like you." Occasionally that’s not a rebuke. But that’s how we learn as kids—we watch, we imitate…monkey see, monkey do, I think is how my mom put it. We look to our parents, our older siblings and learn how to act. And it’s the same in the Christian Life—one of the benefits (and obligations) of those who have been adopted by the Father is that we’re to watch our Father and our Elder Brother. In our reading of the Law today, Paul tells us just this—as well as giving us some examples of how that will look when seen in action:

Ephesians 5:1-7 ¹ Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ²And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. ³But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Stop the World

I wanna get off:

• Reservists do Battle in Family Court by Phyllis Schlafly includes such horror stories as:
  

Bobby Sherrill, a father of two from North Carolina, who worked for Lockheed Martin Corp. in Kuwait before being captured and held hostage by Iraq for five terrible months. The night Sherrill returned from the Persian Gulf he was arrested for failing to pay $1,425 in child support while he was held captive.

• Florida boy accused of assault with rubber band

  Robert Gomez, a seventh-grader at Liberty Middle School, said he picked up a rubber band at school and slipped it on his wrist.
  Gomez said when his science teacher demanded the rubber band, the student said he tossed it on her desk.
  After the incident, Gomez received a 10-day suspension for threatening his teacher with what administrators say was a weapon, Local 6 News reported.
  "They said if he would have aimed it a little more and he would have gotten it closer to her face he would have hit her in the eye," mother Jenette Rojas said.
  [snip]
  ... a Level 4 offense -- the highest Level at the school. Other violations that also receive level 4 punishment include arson, assault and battery, bomb threats and explosives, according to the Code of Student Conduct.

Stone Cold

For some reason Sunday night, my VCR didn't remember everything I'd programmed into it. So at 8:47 when I glance at the VCR to see what time it is, I panic (well, semi-panic)...it's not recording! And Stone Cold has been on for 47 minutes! ACK. (note to Mrs. WhiteNoise, if you got a second job we could afford TiVo and never have to worry about this again)

But I was able to collect myself long enough to hit the record button for later viewing. And I'm very glad I did so. I've seen every episode of Spenser: For Hire that I can (think just about all), ditto for A Man Called Hawk, watched every one of the movies made for Lifetime where they butchered a Spenser novel, and every A&E Spenser movie. And now, most of Stone Cold. I can say without hesitation, that this is the best rendition of a Robert B. Parker character on the small screen.

As I say that, I should point out that only one or two of the principal actors come close to the way Parker described them (Suitcase Simpson and maybe Rita Fiore)...Molly, Jesse, Abby (not too far off, tho)...casting guys missed there. But, doesn't matter--they owned the parts. Never a Magnum fan, but I'm becoming a huge Selleck fan--he nailed Jesse in every way that Joe Mantegna was never able to nail Spenser. And whoever it was playing Molly made the character just as endearing as the novels do. Bravo.

The writers did a very able job of adapting the novel--dropping some good stuff that could afford to be dropped, tweaking some things to fit their needs better, pasting in huge amounts of Parker's dialogue, and changing the end enough to be satisfying to a TV movie audience but in a way that shouldn't tick off Parker fans.

In the end, we got a well written, nicely paced film. You saw the physical violence and the sickness behind the serial killers (portrayed very well by people I know better from sit-coms); you saw the emotional violence suffered by a rape victim, and saw a flawed, yet controlled Jesse Stone. Trying to come to grips with his life, and not letting it interfere with his work. He's a person "in progress" I guess you could say (if you wanted to sound all Oprah-ish), and Selleck and the writer's grabbed his essence perfectly.

Bravo.


Footnote: my VCR did remember to tape the big gay marriage Simpsons episode. Was rather disappointed. Not because of the acceptance message (had to know that was coming), just didn't think it was up to their standards. There were some great lines in it, however. And I wish Smithers had been around somewhere...oh, and guess it was good for some confirmation on my suspicions re: Patty.

Couple o' links

• "Technology for Country Folk"
• "What is right?" vs. "How do I feel?"
• "The Director"--a new, behind the scenes look at The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
  

Harry Knowles says

At the end, you'd think it would be titled, "THE ART DIRECTOR" as that's all we're given. We're not seeing Andrew Adamson working with the Pevensie children. We aren't shown him talking to Tilda Swinton to direct her performance as the White Witch. There's no discussion about the emotional realism, just the surface of the film. This makes me a bit wary of the project. If this is all this director is worried about... the design of the film, then we'll get a really lush and empty film, but if he's doing it right, this will be a story that really resonates and leaves a mark on us as viewers.

He might be on to something here, but I'm giving this guy credit--look at the care he showed to even minor characters in his first two movies.

The Passion Recut

Same blasphemy, but with less of the violence! Be sure to take your kids!!

Details here, here, here, here, and here.

if those orks get any closer, I'm moving to CDA

Nice, safe, strong.

Found it!

few days ago, I said something about looking for my Parson's Hebrew CD. FOund ti today, not sure how much I'll use it--some nice software came with the book that Dr. Shaw had me buy, but it doesn't cover simple things like the alphabet. Which, don't ask me why, I just cannot learn.

So I've been drilling off and on all day...my best (and most recent) score was an 83%...ugh. Frodo and Sam could probably get a 60% if they worked together (and they've spent a LOT less time staring at the screen than I have).

I've said it before, I'll say it again...the Hebrew language is proof positive that the Old Covenant was a covenant of grace through and through...any people who consider this a language can earn nothing. :)

This is the end, My only friend, the end

'tain't much, but it's a good read. Gordon Clapp's last day as Medavoy.

TX's Gov. gets it right

According to a piece in the Austin American-Statesman, Texas Governor Rick Perry's State of the State speech had some dead-on comments on public education.

But the governor again attacked public education, saying of parents, "They
deserve better than to leave their fate in the hands of a local monopoly
that is slow to change without the benefit of competition."

And, he added, "Every child is entitled to a public education, but public
education is not entitled to every child."

Way to go, Gov! Keep it up

Wow!

Not sure how many of you are sick and tired--or merely apathetic--to my obsession with Batman Begins. Frankly, I'm not sure I care. The official site updated the photo gallery recently, including this picture of Gary Oldman as Lt. Gordon. Now when I heard of the casting of that part, I wasn't exactly enthralled, but I wasn't against it either. I was enthused because I know Oldman's got more chops than most of the people in the last 2 Batman flicks, but I figured he'd make a better Sirius Black than a Jim Gordon.

And then I saw this pic, and was blown away. That is Jim Gordon. Period. End of discussion. Esp. if you've read Batman: Year One. The resemblance is uncanny.

what a typical Movie Studio would've done

with a tip o' the fedora to: Not so Fast.

See how it would've gone after a few re-writes

snuck it in before "Suicide is Painless" started

It was nine (!!!) years ago tonight that a special gal made the mistake of letting me drop by. She had no idea what she was getting into. Sometime between Final Jeopardy and the beginning of the M*A*S*H rerun, I asked her if she was doing anything for the next 60-70 years, 'cuz if not, I was hoping she'd marry me. She said yes (thankfully), first kiss, etc., etc. Cut to now: 4 kids tucked away in their beds, a lotta laughs, a few tears, too many fights, and we're just gettin' started :)

Thanks honey, love ya lots...

And yes, I've heard it a bazillion times, I should have waited another day, more romantic, blah, blah, blah. Hey, everyone proposes on Valentine's Day, forgive me for doing something different. 'Sides, it let us relax and really enjoy the shenanigans of the 14th...

I really shouldn't post this...

but some part of me finds this funny....

tip 'o the cap to: challies.com

Civic Action

Just passing this along. I threw some emphasis on the part that gets my dander up. It should get yours up as well. If it doesn’t, well either you didn’t read it carefully, or your dander is in need of adjustment. There’s an email address there for comments. Make ‘em.

The U.S. Department of Education is accepting public comment and recommendations on the regulations of the newly reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act through February 28, 2005. A readable summary of the amended IDEA is available at www.cec.sped.org/pp/IDEA_120204.pdf.

Here are some changes that might be of interest:

• Beginning transition planning at the age of 16 rather than 14 as was the case in the previous version of the act.
• Wording to discourage multidisciplinary teams from persuading parents to accept the absence of the regular classroom teacher from IEP meetings.
• A provision that if parents refuse initial evaluation of their child, the school district may begin due process at that point, i.e., pursuing a district hearing with the intent of securing permission for the evaluation regardless of parental agreement.
• Clarification of allowable alternate achievement testing methods.
• The addition of “further education” to the list of purposes for which education for students with disabilities is provided.
• A statement that educational services cannot be conditioned by the use of medication, that medication use can’t be compelled by the school under threat of withholding services in the absence of medication use.
• School districts are permitted to define learning disability, for example, using a “response to intervention” definition or the traditional ability/achievement discrepancy definition.
• The concept of “universal design” is adopted from the No Child Left Behind Act.

Comments and recommendations can be submitted to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at comment@ed.gov.

so glad I'm done with my B.A.

I don't like the idea that everyone is a sinner

MIA

has anyone seen my Parson's Hebrew Tutor CD? I know I left it around here somewhere....

footnote

I should note that, sure, the Bad Boy's take on credobaptism is overly-simplistic because he was in a hurry. But from the direction it was headed, still easy to counter :)

a few shout-outs

New to the blogroll:
1. Cent's got himself a blog, and if he remembers to post more than once a month, it'll be worth reading :)
2. Reading bluewoad's blog and/or chatting with him, keeps me thinking I need to read more lit. Ahh, to be in college again. Or retired. Whichever comes first.
3. The Reformation Bad Boy's blog should be good once he gets a bit more on there...'course he's not as bad as he thinks, and his quick take of credo-only baptism is overly simplistic and easy to counter...but hey, he's cool. (anyone else remember that Huey Lewis & the News song, "Sometimes Bad is Bad"?)
4. Oh, and silly me, I nearly forgot irRational's irRamblings...or something like that.

Got an email from a reader I'd yet to meet, who said in part,

I have only "officially" been reformed for about a year and your blog has helped as I have made the transition. Becoming reformed has thrust me into the debate over theonomy, preterism, and several other -onomy's and -erisms I did not know I would encounter. I have come across some very hostile and separatist blogs, websites, emails and persons as I researched on the web. Your blog, for some reason, whether you want it to or not, has appeared to be a somewhat more broad approach that maintains integrity to the truth, without going overboard. Whether that's good or bad, I guess, remains to be seen. I'm not really well read enough yet (like some of my Reformed brothers) to start disowning whole chunks of Christians on aspects of the faith that they might not have been introduced to(as I was not for many years).

That's one of the nicest things said about me in about forever. Thanks!

Oh, yeah, and you'll get the hang of how to disown whole chunks of Christianity...there's a 5 step process on the back of the Reformed Membership Card, I'm sure yours is in the mail :)

v. in retrospect, not the wisest of ideas

that, of course, is the definition of "Giving Frodo a Dictionary."

Trying to improve his vocabulary some, I spend a some time Saturday tracking down a useful dictionary that he can use for a few years. At first, he's less than impressed. Which, while disappointing, is pretty much what I expected. A couple of hours later, he starts flipping through it. Then he starts looking around the room at different things, "ahh, Spider-Man!" and then looks up "spider." Looks again, "CDs!" and looks up "CD" (see compact disk), and so on. Goes on for at least an hour like this.

Every day since he's asked for permission to read his dictionary.

what a nerd :-) (I say while beaming with pride)

lost time

sorry for the silence lately, been down with a cold.

Not sure I'll get much out in the next week or so, workload seems daunting at best.

ohhh, man!

Why couldn't I have found this site before I e-mailed the Seminary my final?!?

(for those w/limited senses of humor, this is, of course, a joke)

Trembling for My Church

One of Thomas Jefferson’s most quoted lines is, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” All too often, I mutter that line to myself, replacing the word “country” with “church.” I tremble for the evangelical church in America. Were it not for the promises of the Gospel and the faithfulness of our gracious God, I would quake.

I just finished listening to a Christian radio program that featured an interview/debate with the author of a popular-level defense of Calvinism (names withheld to protect the guilty). The show’s host challenged the author on some points, unfortunately for him, the author was more than ready to deal with the challenges. The host could only reply by complaining that the author was going too deep with the text, the Bible wasn’t written for exegetes, but for common men—and true to form, he wouldn’t let his guest respond in a more-than-superficial manner. Discussions of the original languages, sentence structure (even in English) and development of a thought across more than one verse is apparently beyond the grasp of common man. One is reminded of Dave Hunt’s charge that discussing translation issues when in a debate is “elitist.”

Currently, the quick and easy joke on the Internet involves Dr. Dobson’s worry about Sponge-Bob’s sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter how much the people at Focus on the Family protest that such was not the point of his recent remarks, that is what people heard—it’s also what they wanted to hear and what they will hear. Most social conservatives should have learned in 1992 not to mention the name of TV characters while trying to address a serious issue, after the Dan Quayle /Murphy Brown debacle, but apparently that memo didn’t make it to Colorado Springs.

Tim LaHaye, the living embodiment of Ecclesiastes 12:12, is upset with his publisher for daring to publish someone else. Time magazine, Good Morning, America and other media outlets have reported on his tantrum over Tyndale House taking “money we made for them” to promote The Last Disciple by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer, because it comes from an opposing (yet non-heretical) point of view.

Several writers and websites have decried the “anti-religious” bigotry displayed in The Passion of The Christ not being nominated for a Best-Picture Oscar or Golden Globe award. There are few if any who have stopped to wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that it wasn’t a well made movie—they were probably too busy scanning the pages of Christianity Today for news stories about the legions of new believers pouring into churches as the result that great evangelistic tool.

Meanwhile, we live in a nation where the drive for a totally secular society grows stronger every day. Where our collective moral compass is so out of whack it can’t stop spinning. Where people are scared by the threats that seem to be around us. And we respond with the sort of silliness displayed above. It's like offering a lady pinned in by her steering wheel a PalmPilot brochure to read as she waits for the Jaws of Life. “It’s not much help, but look at all the pretty colors.”

This isn’t to say that the Church shouldn’t address social issues, or television, or Hollywood or anything like that. We are to be in the world, we are to be on Mars Hill—involved in conversation about culture and truth-claims. But we need to do so in a way that isn’t so ripe for ridicule.

In the first half of the 20^th century, the media, the government, culture in general listened to the Church. For example, when J. Gresham Machen had something to say about the proposed Department of Education, people listened. His apologetic books received reviews in mainstream press—who would also print works he wrote. His trial, founding of Westminster, and death were items of news—why? Because he was a public figure, he had a serious, thoughtful and thought-provoking message to proclaim to both the Church and society. To the best of my knowledge he never issued a press release about the length of Betty Boop’s skirts, or spoke out against the violence in Popeye.

For too many reasons to guess, that’s not the case anymore. A good deal of it has to with a cultural retreat on the part of the Church—the “don’t polish brass on a sinking ship” mentality of dispensationalism played a significant role in that. But those churches and Christians that didn’t parrot the Scofield Reference Bible shut up, too. By the time that Francis Schaeffer reminded the evangelicals that they needed to pay attention to what was going on around them, Modernism, Post-Modernity and liberalism had overtaken the public consciousness. The ship wasn’t sinking anymore, but it had drifted far off course.

Yet the Church has been given the very words of life. We have been entrusted with the oracles of God. We have the guidance our country needs—we even know what the word “is” means. But we only manage to give out what we can make fit on a bumper sticker or in the outline of a fish on the back of our cars (and who can read them anyway as we zip along at 80 mph?). The salt has all but lost its savor, maybe because it’s been kept in the shaker for too long.

Thom S. Rainer’s too-overlooked book Surprising Insights from the Unchurched gives some very interesting insights. The surveys reported show that it’s not the style of worship, the athletic facilities, the skits or any of the other gimmicks that bring people without a Church background to a particular church—and bring them back as well. It’s the doctrine, the teaching, and the teachers that do the trick. They want our message, they want our truths, our Gospel, and the standards for life that the Church is to give.

Instead of coming up with more ways to package 1 Chronicles 4:10, Christians need to apply their energies to forming well thought-out answers to contemporary issues—and then use their creativity to get those answers distributed, without pandering, dumbing-down, or talking past our audience. This will require work, it will require commitment, and it will take time for us to get it right. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, not even 40 Days of Purpose, and re-establishing credibility and the prophetic voice that the church is called to have will take years.

There are some positive signs—the Christian Schooling and Home Schooling movements are gaining some ground. The children that come from those are more culturally and politically involved than their contemporaries. Assuming the churches they move into as they establish their families and careers can direct their involvement and energies we might be on the right path.

Those of us who aren’t part of that upcoming generation will have to work a little harder; throwing off the inertia we’ve inherited from the last few decades in order to reclaim the lost heritage of centuries past. There are J. Gresham Machens, Jonathan Edwardses, John Miltons, and Billy Grahams lurking in our pews and pulpits, we need to drag them into the spotlight and not let them get distracted by the fluff around them.

The world does still look to the church for answers, for guidance—it still pays attention to what we say (otherwise, how would anyone know about Dobson and LaHaye?). We give them shrill moralism and trivial pursuits in return. The lost and dying world we find ourselves in the midst of deserves better—and our Lord has given us better. We simply must pass it along. They’re intrigued by The DaVinci Code, and yes, a dozen or so refutations of that phenomena have been published; but why not something positive along the same lines?

What about the arts? VeggieTales is inventive and clever, but it's aimed for kids, and can’t give much more than wholesome entertainment. Thomas Kinkade can churn out his paintings of light to the delight of the kitsch-starved throughout the world, but there’s not much contributed to anyone’s thinking by that. Where are the great Christian authors, producing actual literature? Larry Woiwode can’t hold up the legacy by himself.

Jesus Christ once addressed a large number of people (without the benefit of a wireless mic or PowerPoint) and told them, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” The city that is the evangelical church in the United States isn’t hidden—but it’s acting like it is. We need to change that, and we need to change that now.

read this at least 3 times

This week's column is probably the best thing I've ever read by Ann Coulter. Couple of cut-you-to-the-quick zingers, great reasoning, passion...who could ask for more? Oh yeah, she's 150% right, too.

She begins on a high note:

President Bush told a pro-life rally in Washington that a "culture of life cannot be sustained solely by changing laws. We need, most of all, to change hearts."

Actually, what we need least of all is to "change hearts." Maybe it's my law background, but I think it's time we changed a few judges.

The "changing hearts" portion of the abortion debate is over. ATTENTION, PASSENGERS: We're now entering the "minds" portion of the "hearts and minds" journey on abortion. We've been talking about abortion for 32 years. All the hearts that can be changed have been changed. By some estimates, 35 million human hearts (and counting) have been "changed" by abortion.

and ends with a great call to arms:

Despite the fact that feminists cry and try to make people feel guilty about opposing a "woman's right" to abortion, men always support abortion more than women — no matter who takes the poll or how the questions are asked. Curiously, single men aged 18-34 are the cohort most dearly devoted to a woman's "right to choose."

Until Roe is overturned, telling pro-lifers they need to be "changing hearts" is like telling the New England Patriots they need to practice more –- while never, ever letting them play in the Super Bowl. We've been changing hearts for 32 years — I think we're ready for the big match now. I think Americans would support massive restrictions on abortion. And NARAL agrees with me! How about it, liberals? Prove me wrong! Let Americans vote.

study break results

The Daily Telegraph has a photo of the farm that will be used as the Kent's farm in Superman Returns. Not a great pic, but it's nice to see them working on the sets. But what cracks me up is this:

Little-known US actor Brandon Routh will don the cloak of the "man of steel" in the latest Hollywood revival of Superman.

The 25-year-old was signed to star in the reincarnation of the superhero, to hit screens in 2006, after an exhaustive search for an actor to fill the role made famous by the late Christopher Reeve.

Yyyyyyyeah. Who'd heard of Superman before Christopher Reeve? Thankfully he came along and brought some attention to the character featured in comics, T-Shirts, lunchboxes, action figures, movies, TV and cartoons since 1938!

Daily Telegraph, hear that knocking? It's the 20th century, it'd like to come in and have a chat, introduce you to itself.

Remembering Who We Are

Doing final prep for tomorrow (James 4:13-16), came across the following wise words via Geoffrey Thomas

"Every birthday you celebrate, every funeral you attend, every serious illness you suffer, and every time you sit down to plan is a potential reminder from God that your life is but a vapour, a mist, a puff of smoke. How short it is! Take the family snapshot album; look at those old slides or home movies. There's Mum and Dad whose voices are now silent. Just yesterday they spoke, laughed, kissed you....Now they smile at you from a faded photo and with the force of silent lips declare: 'Our life was a vapour, a mist - smoke!' Don't scoff, 'Emotionalism!' No, you are the one who is emotional and unrealistic if you think otherwise. You only deceive yourself when you act - or plan - as if you will live indefinitely,"

Jay Adams,A Thirst for Wholeness.

Need to stay up to meet a deadline?

Click here and you won't sleep for a week.

Quick Hits

A few of the more notable things from today's blog reads:

• McFarlane Toys Lands Simpsons Action Figure License

"Woo Hoo!" Fox Licensing & Merchandising and McFarlane Toys proudly announce a new licensing agreement bringing an all-new line of action figures based on characters from the hugely successful FOX series THE SIMPSONS to fans everywhere.
Founder and CEO Todd McFarlane will personally work with THE SIMPSONS creative team to capture their favorite, legendary and key iconic moments from THE SIMPSONS and bring to life the snapshot storytelling that McFarlane Toys is best known for with its fans.

I didn't literally yell, "Whoo Hoo!" but I could've.

• Great Quote about the 'Net and Movies, from an interview with Hugh Laurie
  

  Laurie confirmed that he will play Daily Planet Editor in Chief Perry White in the [new Superman] film, but more than that the British-born actor couldn't reveal – even if he wanted to. Warner Bros. is keeping the story so carefully guarded that he hasn't even been allowed to read the script yet. "I have to read it in a room with an armed security guard," he says. "They're terrified. These things get on the Internet."

• Today's Idiot of the Day: Richard Hatch. Hey buddy, given that just about everyone knew who one the prize (whether they wanted to or not), you have to figure that includes at least one IRS agent. Then again, how many people know that Ruben Studdard has released a CD?
• An Alternative Inaugural Address by P.J. O'Rourke

  MY FELLOW AMERICANS, I had intended to reach out to all of you and bring a divided nation together. But I changed my mind. America isn't divided by political ethos or ethnic origin. America isn't divided by region or religion. America is divided by jerks. Who wants to bring a bunch of jerks together with the rest of us? Let them stew in Berkeley, Boston, and Ann Arbor.
  
  The media say that I won the election on the strength of moral values. If the other fellow had become president, would the media have said that he won the election on the strength of immoral values? For once the media would have been right.

Chasing Rabbit Trails

Was dashing off an entry to my semblog and found myself using the cliché "on the tip of my tongue." Noticing that I used the cliché was not enough to make me change the sentence, because it wasn't that important of a post. But sitting here alone in the quietness of a Saturday morning in a house full of people who know what Saturday morning's are for (sleeping in) my mind got to wondering...where did that phrase come from?

Now granted I didn't exactly spend hours on it, but I couldn't find the source other than it's something that originated in the US (one site), yet it has a Latin equivalent (another site). So I got nowhere there.

But whilst I looked I stumbled up on a delicious quotation from Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita. For those of you who aren't familiar with the book, it's this disturbing book about a pedophile and his obsession over a 13 year old girl. It should probably never be read for pleasure, and even when forced to read it, you should only do so with a great amount of protesting. But the protesting will slow a great deal when you read his breathtaking prose. For example, the quotation that got me started on this, the opening paragraph:

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.

Doesn't that just give ya goosebumps?

Of course that one sets the stage for another immortal line from Humbert Humbert (the first person narrator and all-around scumbag):

You can always count on a murderer for a fancy prose style.

got a ticket for my destination...

not only a line from probably my favorite Simon & Garfunkel song, but a very pleasant reality.

Don't get me wrong...like the city of Greenville. Love the seminary. Was great being a student (and nothing else) for awhile. Great people here (esp. my hosts). But it ain't home.

The Mrs., Frodo, Sam, Princess, and the Kidney Kid...my books...my church...all that...I need those to be me. Can't wait to see them again. (

Please note I said nothing about that place I happen to work at...really not looking forward to going back there.

But those people I listed above...that's where home is.

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home, where my thought’s escaping
Home, where my music’s playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me

Elektra

Not bad...not Spider-Man good, but definately worth the time and money.

In case you've forgotten

Liberate Us from the Educators - by Scott McPherson, January 10, 2005
Choice quotes:

The state’s monopoly on education is perhaps the worst thing that has ever happened to children in America.

and

It is time to liberate parents and children from this system. Government officials and large segments of the population are often quick to denounce so-called monopoly business practices, yet somehow tolerate a government that has monopolized the most precious of spheres — the growth and development of the individual child. Let’s get government out of the education business and let parents and children chart their own course in the learning process.

Update from the Sloop H. C.

Slept 'til 1 on Saturday...that felt nice ('til I tried to move). Sleep schedule still way off...fell asleep during a moderately interestingsermon on the Burnt offering from Lev. 1. How embarrassing. That for the record, makes it 2 worship services attended in Greenville (different churches) and 2 that I've nodded off during. Great record...Maybe an idea for a book...a travelouge, Sleeping my way through Southern Reformed Churches.

It's now 6:40 local time, think I slept about 1.5-2 hrs, and not sure if I'm okay and ready for the day or about to drop.

"I feel so broken, I want to go home."

Arrived!

Okay, it's 12:15 MST and I'm in Greenville! Have de-planed, waited for my luggage, filed a missing luggage claim, and am now just trying to unwind a little. The plane ride was undoubtedly the roughest I've had--the last 20 minutes were very good for my prayer life, however. On the other hand, those same minutes made me regret everything I've eaten in the last three days (maybe longer).

Okay, actual content in the next post (probably)

Snowed in...

Well, make that 2 actual Chicago pizzas :)

It's about 2:15 MST* now--that's a.m.--in theory, I’m getting out of here in 5 hrs...who knows maybe I will. Airport's pretty deserted now, a few flights (to the west) have gotten out, sadly a flight to SLC started to board just after I found a group of LDS missionaries...was hoping to get into a conversation with them. Would've been something to do.

On the plus side, finished Tom Wolfe's I Am Charlotte Simmons. Great read. Haven't read a 600+ page book in a day in I can't remember when...


*will try to remember to come back and edit the times on these to make it more of a live blog for the archives.

Sweet Home Chicago....

Where are Jake and Elwood?

No idea when this will get posted, but it's currently 1:40 MST. I'm at O'Hare airport, and an hour ago, I was supposed to board a plane for Greenville, SC. And no, while I'm apt to overlook some important tasks, I'm not responsible for still being here. I'm guessing the flight was cancelled due to snow somewhere...not sure where.

I keep forgetting that I'm an Idaho hick. It doesn't take too long in LA, or San Diego, or even the Chicago airport to remind me of that. The sum total of my "knowledge" of these places comes from TV, movies and novels--'cept San Diego...who writes novels about that? The sheer numbers--and diversity--of people is fairly overwhelming.

So I'm stranded, reminded of my lack of sophistication, a tad apprehensive about my ability to be in class when it starts tomorrow a.m., but I've got 300 pages left in a really good novel and I've eaten actually Chicago-style pizza in Chicago. Yeah, sure, it was only in the airport, but hey, it's in city limits, right? Mental note: Check to see if O'Hare is in city limits... Hmmmm, maybe my next flight will get redirected to New York and I can cross their pizza off of my lift, too. :)

Happy New Year, etc.

Well, the ball has dropped, a bazillion people wished Dick Clark health and Regis once again astounded me by being considered an interesting braodcaster. Auld Lang Syne and all that.

I had the nice, but short-sighted, idea to let the kids stay up playing Nintendo 'til midnight or they fell asleep...REALLLLLLY thought they'd collapse before 10. But the Princess crashed 'round 11:30 (should've been 9:30, but she's stubborn) and the boys made it to 12...but next year, back to the regular movie-thon...that'll be sure to get 'em down early.

Happy New Year's all...see ya in a few.

Fiction binge

Since I finished classes a couple weeks ago (and honestly, during study breaks that last week) I've been reading pretty much nothing but novels (so much for my "I'm going to take this break to read up some hard-core theology stuff I've been putting off" plan...maybe in May).

Well, as part of this binge, I've reread a couple of Rex Stout's, started a reread of a Parker, knocked off 2 well-written novels I will probably never want to re-visit, and have just started a Science Fiction novel, In the Garden of Iden, as recommended by a chat pal.

In many books there's something you read that makes you say, "Okay, doesn't matter what happens in the rest of this book, I'm here to the end." I should probably have an example of this, but really can't come up with any but the one I'm talking about at the moment. Anyhow, paragraph 2 of chapter 2 in this book is this moment for me:

Also there, in the enormous cathedral, the Infanta Katherine, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, is supposed to have stopped to hear mass on her way to marry the Prince of England. Now, in this cathedral was a silver censer, big as a cauldron, that swung in stately arcs at the end of a chain; and during the Infanta's Mass the chain broke and this censer hurtled out of the church through a window and exploded like a bomb on the paving stones outside. Some people would have taken this as an omen, but not the Infanta. She went resolutely on to England and would up marrying King Henry the Eighth. This shows that one ought to pay attention to omens.

Pac Man Fever

The family got a GameCube last week. Oy. Today has been spent trying to get the older three kids to the point where they can actually do something other than push buttons madly. To say that patience is required is a radical understatement (for all of us). To say I succeeded in that would be an overstatement.

Overall, Frodo and I did okay. Sam has moments where he comes close to getting it. Daddy's Little Princess is still too little :) But they're having fun...and tonight after the kiddos are safely tucked into bed, my wife will teach me what a Quidditch player should look like (not me), and I'll show her why a Yankees fan will ultimately triumph over a Sox fan. :) And really, isn't that what the holiday season is all about? Demolishing each other on the sports field?

Anyway, thanks to value-packs at Costco (yes, even video games are in bulk), we were able to get a handful of games to get us started. Surprisingly enough, Piglet's Big Adventuree, isn't that great of a game to start kids off with. Mostly because it is really hard to see the point in anything. Mario Kart: Double Dash is bunches of fun, but until they get the whole hand-eye coordination thing down, not the best use of time. Pac-World 2, so far is their game. Simple objectives, short levels...and so far, they think it's a blast.

Oversaturation

Hollywood needs to slow down with these comic movies--they're talking 2 X-men spin-offs...there's even rumors of a Wonder Twins movie. It's just too much folks...the market will backlash....

At the same time, I can't believe that The Martian Manhunter is having such a hard time getting anything going! Who wouldn't want to watch/make a movie about him?

12 Days of Christmas Revised

Got this off a humor list...no author given

On the 12th day of Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival my significant other in a consenting, adult, monogamous, relationship gave to me:

Twelve males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming.

Eleven pipers piping (plus an 18 member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract, even though they will not be asked to play a note.)

Ten melanin deprived testosterone poisoned scions of the patriarchal ruling class system leaping.

Nine persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression.

Eight economically disadvantaged female persons stealing milk products from enslaved bovine Americans.

Seven endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands.

Six enslaved fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal products.

Five golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration. (After members of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.)

Four hours of recorded whale songs.

Three deconstructionist poets.

Two Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses, and

One Spotted owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Good Kwanzaa,, Blessed Yule, and Happy Holidays*

*unless you are suffering from seasonally affected disorder (SAD). If this is the case, please substitute this gratuitous call for celebration with the suggestion that you have a thoroughly adequate day.

Must read for the week

Christians in the crossfire - Michelle Malkin

Yes, it's maddening when politically correct bureaucrats ban nativity scenes and Christmas carols in the name of "diversity" and "tolerance." We are under attack by Secularist Grinches Gone Wild. But the war on Christmas in America is a mere skirmish.

Around the world, a bloody, repressive war on Christians rages on.

read on...

From fetus to baby

Rich Lowry:

Given that fetuses are routinely destroyed in America (and legally can be destroyed up to the point of delivery), it was odd to see such an uproar about the welfare of one.

Some good news on the baby front: the world's smallest baby.

Yessir, that's my baby...

Years ago, a certain young lady made a horrible mistake, she allowed herself to think she couldn't do better than me. And then she compounded that error by promising to spend the rest of my life with me. Somehow, she finds the strength to carry on.

Well, a couple of days ago, she once again was acknowledged as being the wonderful person I know she is. She received an award from the director of the state department that she's employed by. This is the second time in the last 2 or 3 years she's been so honored.

Way to go, honey.

Now we're cookin'!

Frodo's favorite show, believe it or not, is probably Good Eats, the food network show hosted by Alton Brown. For the record, I'vebecome somewhat of a fan...goofy and smart guy making things I never will in a very entertaining way. Anywho, today I stumbled upon his sometimes updated blog...bookmarking this for sure. It contains such gems as:

The fact that “Dr.” Phil has the number 1 cookbook on Amazon.com makes me want to end it all.

and

Here’s what it comes down to kids. Ronald McDonald doesn’t give a damn about you. Neither does that little minx Wendy or any of the other icons of drivethroughdom. And you know what, they’re not supposed to. They’re businesses doing what businesses do. They don’t love you. They are not going to laugh with you on your birthdays, or hold you when you’re sick and sad. They won’t be with you when you graduate, when your children are born or when you die. You will be with you and your family and friends will be with you. And, if you’re any kind of human being, you will be there for them. And you know what, you and your family and friends are supposed to provide you with nourishment too. That’s right folks, feeding someone is an act of caring. We will always be fed best by those that care, be it ourselves or the aforementioned friends and family.

We are fat and sick and dying because we have handed a basic, fundamental and intimate function of life over to corporations. We choose to value our nourishment so little that we entrust it to strangers. We hand our lives over to big companies and then drag them to court when the deal goes bad. This is insanity.

Feed yourselves.
Feed your loved ones.
And for God’s sake feed your children.

Don’t trust anyone else to do it…not anyone. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go out to dinner every now and then…that is after all one of the great joys of life…but it isn’t life itself and that’s what I’m talking about.

Is MacDonalds food bad for you? What do you think? Does that mean you shouldn’t eat it? No, it just means you shouldn’t live on it or anything else made by someone you wouldn’t hug.

Burgers don’t kill people.
People kill people.
Don’t be one of them.

I'm Done!

Sent off the last final about 1.5 hrs ago, catching a little R&R with the kids (in the form of Spider-Man 2).

Ahhhhh.

Keeping his Comments Pithy and to the Point

'course he has to, only gets XX seconds on air for them...David Asman's The Asman Observer from today gets it right.

Daddy Time

The Kidney Kid is having quite the "I need time with Daddy" kind of day.
Which is great...I 'm really enjoying the way he's bonded to me at this age
better than any kid since Frodo. BUT. I'm having quite the "I need to
finish this reading I fell asleep doing so I can take my final exam while
drinking copious amounts of coffee" kind of day. Those two don't mesh well.
Sadly for my academic life, stopping his screaming (by laying down next to
him and letting him pull on my nose and ears) is winning.

Quick Hits

• Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow. Who thought that this was a good idea?
• Future Fuel Prices Skyrocket around Thanksgiving
• Headline: Methodist church stirs controversy with statue. DUH!

When some members of Amor de Dios United Methodist Church in Little Village elected to move a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe into the sanctuary last year, the icon spawned an exodus.

Turned off by the introduction of a Roman Catholic tradition to a Protestant congregation, most of the church's 15 founding parishioners drifted away. To them, venerating the Virgin Mary and reciting the rosary did not belong in a Methodist church.

Pastors of other Hispanic Methodist congregations objected too. They said praying to the Virgin equaled idolatry.

And Roman Catholics in the neighborhood worried that the church might be selling itself as something it was not.

Welcome to Earth!

Congrats to Alex and Cassie. Hi Katrina! You know this is the first time in ages I've heard of someone in your family being early to something. Way to go girl... :)

Links of the Day

• This'd make a great stocking stuffer if I wasn't the only person I knew who'd want it.
• Nice column...We Red Staters can get offended, too
• ACLU Homeland Holiday Alert System
• Church Sign of the Month - November 2004
• And most important of all....The New Batman Begins Trailer

Updates

d'oh! Forgot to hit "Publish Post" on Saturday...and here I thought I was entertaining you all for days with my little tale o' woe...sorry

Also, got some links fixed/updated over there to the left...

My (dullish) Brush with CSI

So I'm leaving work last night/this morning/whatever and I see that my interior light is on...so naturally, I feel like a dummy. I don't remember leaving the light on...don't remember turning it on for that matter. So I start hoping there's enough juice left in the battery. Hop in, and it starts up really easily--who-hoo!

And then, as Archie Goodwin would say, I utter a word. My CD-Player, or at least the faceplate of it, is missing. So I get out, walk back and knock on the the window near the office (almost giving my manager a cardial infarction), call the cops, etc. etc. Other than being on hold for an eternity or three, that was a pleasant experience--friendly person answering the phone and the officer arrived pretty darn quick for a litle thing like this.

The Officer is very friendly, keeps reassuring me that things like the bandit's* fingerprints not showing up here or there isn't my fault, frankly nothing is my fault, and I shouldn't feel bad about touching what I did before I figured out I'd been pilfered. My wallet had been looked at, but was left with everything in it (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know..don't leave my wallet in there...).

So the Officer determines that they rapscallion entered through the sliding door, and gets his fingerprint dusting kit out of the back of the CSI SUV...I'm tempted to ask if I can just sit in there and look around while he's doing his thing. But I take the wise route. So he's putting his little purple magnetic fingerprint powerder around the door and then "Cool!" Yes, here's a fully armed (taser gun as well as something more lethal), crew cut wearing, tough looking cop, playing with a little brush, shouting "Cool!" like someone in #prosapologian talking about a new blog.

What was cool? He got a print. Most likely not mine, since I hadn't touched that door since Monday. Should take about a month to find out if there's a hit.

In the end, am missing my garage door opener and face plate to my CD Player. What an idiot. Now it's mostly a good story...

oh yeah, and I have to buy the Spider-Man Soundtrack again...never coming out of that deck...

* Frodo's word for him...

Better Poster

This is the international market version of the Batman Begins poster.

Full size is all over the place, here, for example.

Perplexed

I was looking for something else on the new PCA magazine site (I *miss* PCAnews!!) and stumbled upon the news that Ligonier has a new president. Good for Dr. Sproul...he needs to cut back. But I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that Timothy Dick's previous work as executive V.P., and he "has overseen the expansion of the ministry, which includes the recent acquisition of Soli Deo Gloria Ministries and a new product development cycle."

WHAT??? Ligonier bought SDG? Sure enough...tried to pull up their site and got this:
Welcome to Soli Deo Gloria's storefront.

Bummer II

Hot Potatoes reports:

Bad news for Shrekies: 'Shrek 3' Swamped Until 2007/E-online: Say it ain't so, Princess Fiona. I might be able to wait an extra year or two for the final "Star Wars" episode. But three years for another Shrek movie. That's cruel and inhumane punishment.

Bummer

Got this bit of news today:

Aflac, the insurance company that rose to pop-cultural heights on the wings of a waterfowl, is launching a $50 million ad campaign that partly muzzles its web-footed friend and instead seeks to better define what the company does. The move is a risky one, given the iconic status the feathered creature has reached since being introduced in January 2000.

Overheard...

Jeopardy's ratings have fallen off sharply since Ken Jennings' record winning streak ended last week. In related news, the sky is blue.

The Ever Quotable Michelle Malkin

Even in small doses she's great.

Bush=Lucy.
House GOP mavericks=Charlie Brown.
Real immigration reform=football.

Argh.

Time Off

Haven't had a lot to say the last few days...been very busy wroking on papers/projects/etc. Really fried my brain in doing so--I kept making really dumb mistakes all Friday night at work, it was like I was a trainee all over again. So I took a few days off, just to relax, enjoy life. Didn't do anything major--watched Spider-man 2 with the kids, hung out with the Mrs, re-read a Rex Stout novel. Nicely, I didn't get scheduled to come in since Saturday, too. I think I extended my vacation a day too long, honestly, now as I look at the questions I have to answer for my History of western Philosophy Final. But I don't care really :) It was nice just being a dad for a bit. More than nice, it was just what I needed.

Back to the grindstone now. 2 finals before next Friday(one open-book/long answer, and another closed book/short answer). Much to read, more to write before then.

The Poster is Up

In my continuing effort to keep my beloved readers up to date on the soon-to-be classid Batman Begins, I bring you the first poster:

The full size image is here.
This reminds me...need to share some thoughts about Spider-Man 2's DVD...maybe tomorrow. For now, need to finish watching this House episode I taped...I hope this show catches on enough that they put out a Season 1 DVD set...

Another Product Idea that just Needs a Marketer

Oreo filling without the fuss of the "cookie sandwich." Just put it in a
little 8 oz. plastic tub--3 oz. travel size, 30 oz. "Family size." Maybe
attach a couple of plastic spoons for ease...Guaranteed to make you a
millionaire...

(disclaimer: this post brought to you by a sleep-deprived person od-ing on
coffee, soda and Double Stuff Oreos)

Mr. Gates if you're reading this...

and why wouldn't you?

Could you see to it that a special King James/Authorized Version Language
Pack is developed for Windows/Word/etc.? I'm really tired of my spell check
having problems with "-eth" and so on.

Thanks.

Kidney Kid Update

Another specialist visit done. The Doc's very pleased with how things are going for him in general. His growth, etc., could be better, but he's within acceptable levels. Blood pressure's on the high end of normal, but given that we're giving him extra sodium to help with growth, it's expected. His lab work is good--the creatinine level in his blood appear to have leveled off, which means this is as good as he's going to get. Doc figures he'll stay at this point for about a year, and then start to go downhill. Personally, I'd gotten used to nothing but improvements, and this news was a blow.

But as his Great-Grandma reminded me, we've got to get through this for him to get better, which is the big goal, right? (thanks GG!) From the get-go this has been one of the three things we've been looking for to determine transplant time. Where he levels off, how long he levels off for, and how quickly he drops off from that. One down, two to go. Hopefully it'll be awhile.

He's developing quite a fun personality, has a great laugh, has the annoying tendency to grind his teeth (shudder), loves pulling CD's off their shelves and playing with electronic equipment, will be crawling all too soon. Aside from the drama, he's really the easiest baby we've had.

Again, thanks for all your prayers and interest.