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. :)