Wichita Garbage Disposal: Shut Down

Amen.



A brilliant move by Operation Rescue has shut down one abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas. Working to change attitudes toward abortion in that state, Operation Rescue's efforts caused a sixteen percent drop in abortions state wide. This undoubtedly attributed to the Wichita clinic's financial woes, which in turn led to its falling behind on its rent. Upon learning that the building was for sale, Operation Rescue bought it through an intermediary with the stipulation that the clinic's current occupants not be "retained."

What the new owners found inside the building only underscored the abomination of abortion [for me, at least]... Carpets stained with blood, and a garbage disposal that showed signs of leaking blood.

Norma McCorvey, the "Roe" of Roe v. Wade who once ran abortion clinics but now is a pro-life activist, confirmed it once was common practice to put aborted baby remains down such disposals.

"Oh, yes!" she told Newman in a phone call. "And you can't pour enough bleach down that drain to get rid of the smell."

It's estimated that in the years this clinic was in operation 50,000 innocent children lost their lives. A good many of them undoubtedly were ground up in that disposal and washed away.

Questions to consider:

Did the water from that building ultimately find its way back to a water treatment plant where is was cleaned, purified, and sent back into circulation as, say, drinking water? How many people in Wichita drank water, bathed in water, cooked with water, that once held, in suspension, parts and pieces of dead children? Abortion clinics have been known to sell baby parts for research, and some purchasers of fetal tissue use the collagen for cosmetics and such... So how many people in this country and around the world walk about in public with dead babies on their faces?

From an Article by Mona Charen...

One day, [says "Kelly"] "a set of twins at 24 weeks gestation was brought to us in a pan. They were both alive. The doctor came back and said, 'Got you some good specimens -- twins.'

I looked at him and said: 'There's something wrong here. They are moving. I can't do this. This is not in my contract.' I told him I would not be part of taking their lives. So he took a bottle of sterile water and poured it in the pan until the fluid came up over their mouths and noses, letting them drown. I left the room because I could not watch this."

But she did go back and dissect them later.

And it's not just fetal tissue... From a Letter written by Gere B. Fulton, Ph. D., J. D. and Joshua Slocum of the Funeral Consumers Alliance to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws...

Because of the recent proliferation in the use of such tissue for both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, the financial incentives and profits have risen dramatically. This new market in products has raised serious concerns about profits derived from body parts, transparency of the system to donors, the distribution of donated tissue, and the effect that "body brokering" is having on public perception of organ, body and tissue donation.

And this from Fr. Shay Cullen, writing for the Manila Times, July 31, 2005...

The chopped up babies are cryogenically frozen and transported in vacuum flasks from the Ukraine and elsewhere in the world [Emphasis Mine]. According to the high-priced beauty salons of the elite that offer the injections, the underdeveloped and undivided stem cells are reported to bind with any tissue and have regeneration and curative powers. A late-term pregnancy is said to be most in demand because their healing ability is believed to be more effective.

The doctors and officials are in cahoots with each another in allowing the abortions even after 12 weeks, when the fetus is extracted with the placenta, cut up in to separate organs and frozen ready for sale. The cosmetic treatments using such fetuses are banned in the Ukraine and Russia, just as abortion and prostitution are banned in the Philippines. Nevertheless, the crime flourishes wherever there are customers ready to pay and officials are on the take.

Killing the unborn for so-called beauty injections and skin bleaching are abhorrent, immoral and racist. It must be stopped.

Ms. Green, in a recent post, said "It's not about choice - It's about money," and I agree-- That and a complete and utter lack of fear. One commentor bemoaned the shoestring budgets of most Planned Parenthood clinics, but bemoaning and bewailing doesn't change the fact that somewhere along the line, it IS all about the money.

And finally this concerning the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, from BlackGenocide.org, and corroborated here, here, and here.

Margaret Sanger spoke of sterilizing those she designated as "unfit," a plan she said would be the "salvation of American civilization.: And she also spike of those who were "irresponsible and reckless," among whom she included those " whose religious scruples prevent their exercising control over their numbers." She further contended that "there is no doubt in the minds of all thinking people that the procreation of this group should be stopped." That many Americans of African origin constituted a segment of Sanger considered "unfit" cannot be easily refuted.

While Planned Parenthood's current apologists try to place some distance between the eugenics and birth control movements, history definitively says otherwise. The eugenic theme figured prominently in the Birth Control Review, which Sanger founded in 1917. She published such articles as "Some Moral Aspects of Eugenics" (June 1920), "The Eugenic Conscience" (February 1921), "The purpose of Eugenics" (December 1924), "Birth Control and Positive Eugenics" (July 1925), "Birth Control: The True Eugenics" (August 1928), and many others.

These eugenic and racial origins are hardly what most people associate with the modern Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), which gave its Margaret Sanger award to the late Dr. Martin Luther King in 1966, and whose current president, Faye Wattleton, is black, a former nurse, and attractive.

Though once a social pariah group, routinely castigated by religious and government leaders, the PPFA is now an established, high-profile, well-funded organization with ample organizational and ideological support in high places of American society and government. Its statistics are accepted by major media and public health officials as "gospel"; its full-page ads appear in major newspapers; its spokespeople are called upon to give authoritative analyses of what America's family policies should be and to prescribe official answers that congressmen, state legislator and Supreme Court justiices all accept as "social orthodoxy."

Think about it honestly, and ask yourself, "What economic and social demographics are more likely to enter an abortion clinic?"

The Wichita clinic was but one of... I don't know... tens of thousands?... across the country. It's certain that Operation Rescue won't be able to buy all of them out. But if even half of the estimated deaths in that one clinic alone can find reflection in the amount of lives spared from this day forward... well, that can only be called a good thing.



UPDATE: Friday, 7:37 pm
It would seem the clinic in question was not the only one in town, and the worst of the two. Apologies to Mark for misspelling his hometown.

"...in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."
--Matthew 18:16

I'm sticking to my guns on the rest.

Here's more

The Consuming Fire

Everything has nature, and nothing can escape its nature.

Fire has nature. The nature of Fire is that it burns-- no, it consumes. Hold a dead and dry leaf in your hand, toss it into the Fire, and moments later it is gone; all that remains is ash.

The Fire has no choice but to consume the leaf, and without some form of protection the leaf has no hope of surviving the flames. It is not the Fire's fault, for the Fire cannot escape its nature. The Fire cannot say, "I will not consume this leaf, but those others over there, those I will utterly consume."

The same is true of God, "For our God is a consuming fire." --Hebrews 12:29

Sin is as dead a leaf as any leaf on any dead tree. There is protection available to every leaf of sin on every dead and fruitless tree. And that protection lies in the very blood of Fire-- for Fire cannot consume itself --which is the blood of our God. --Acts 20:28  Without that blood, every dead tree and every leaf on every dead limb will perish in the fires of God. And it is not Fire's fault. It is His nature... He cannot lie... "hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" --Numbers 23:19

Everyone who has heard the Gospel, and having heard, rejects it... Such a one will have no excuse before the consuming fire of God. And it will not be the Fire's fault.

It doesn't matter if one does not believe in Fire. Unbelief is quickly converted the moment the Fire begins to burn tender flesh. But it is then too late to decide not to test the flames, and all would choose repentance were it then possible.

Everyone will make this choice in their lifetime-- That Fire is either all-consuming, or it is not. Considering the nature of Fire, what chance has Sin of surviving such an encounter?

Here's more

Test Results -- Update

Results of my Stress Test w/Cardiolite shows no problems. Everything's normal. So it's not my heart. I had pretty much figured this out on my own. Still, it's kinda scary-- and I'm not tryin' to scare the kiddies here --when you think your heart's about to stop on you, and you're in the emergency room hooked up to all kinds of monitors, especially when they have to shave yer chest... Two weeks after the stress test and it's finally beginning to itch, and how. I've been through this before, and if memory serves me correctly, there's another 3 weeks to go.

The evidence continues to mount and its beginning to point to the GI, Gall Bladder, or Stomach, or a combination of the three. I wouldn't be surprised if the diabetes med is beginning to poison my liver-- I'm becoming increasingly naturopathic in my approach to healing the body, and I hate taking anything chemical... even aspirin.

I am taking about $200 worth of vitamins/minerals/suppliments a month, just to give my body everything it needs to heal itself. In another 2 months I'll begin trying to wean myself off the diabetes med. I've already stopped taking the high blood pressure med, with no discernable rise in blood pressure... which is great news; it gives me hope for the diabetes med.

I am waiting 3 months before weaning myself off my one remaining med while also cutting out as much white flour, overly sweet fruit, sugars, and high carb foods to give the pancreas a rest... allow it time to re-boot, if you will. The proof will be in the pudding come September.

Remember: Diabetes is NOT incurable. But it does take gobs of effort to get off medication. GOBS.

My ultimate goal is not to go back to my old eating habits and lifestyle, but rather, to be able to visit mom at Christmas and enjoy a slice of carrot cake without becoming hyperglycemic. The same for my birthday.... Mmmmm German CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!

At some point in the future I will become an on-again, off-again Vegan. The idea of NEVER eating another steak, or a spicy tuna roll again is beyond my comprehension.

So. That's that. Pray for me if you will. And if you won't, that's okay too-- I won't think the worse of you.

Thanks for reading.

Here's more

Scaring the Kiddies

Eric's take on Global Warming...

The Weather Girl here at work rolls her eyes every time the words "Global Warming" are mentioned-- "There's no such thing," she says.

Last week, however, a group of smart-guy scientists announced that the Earth hasn't been this hot in 400 years. This, apparently is evidence of Global Warming. Later that evening Bob Schieffer on the CBS Evening News said, and I paraphrase, "Some scientist push that number back even father... One Thousand Years, in fact."

Just a few days later I was greeted with headlines... "Earth's Temperature Not This Hot In 2000 Years!"

So which is it? Four-hundred? A thousand? TWO-thousand? And how is this evidence of global warming?

All this really means is that 400 years ago it was as hot as it is now... With less population, less pollution, less automobiles, and less excessive CO₂ emissions.

All this really means is that 1,000 years ago it was just as hot as it is today... With much less population, even less pollution, far fewer automobiles, and less excessive CO₂ emissions.

Which means when Jesus himself was walking the earth, it was as hot as it is today. With far less population, far less pollution, not a single automobile in sight, and far far far less CO₂ emissions.

So. Global Warming? I think I'll take the weather girl's word, and simple common sense, before I take Albert's, who believes the world has less than 10 years to institute drastic measures before it is too late to save the Planet.

Is pollution a problem? Sure. So let's deal with it and stop trying to scare the kiddies. The world's scary enough as it is.

Here's more

Eric's Deconstruction of Superman

Anyone who's watched a season of Smallville or enjoys comic books knows who Superman is-- Kal-El, last son of Krypton. His only weakness is close proximity to a chunk of rock from his home world. But enough of that... To the point.

Previews for Superman Returns look awesome. The previews alone beat the pants of Christopher Reeve's Superman. But that's not the late Mr. Reeve's fault; films of the 70's and 80's weren't given the same kind of treatment they are today. Michael Keaton's Batman for example; by far the best of the original franchise, but not even close to the outright coolness of Batman Begins... Different times, different treatments.

The comics, though, invariable portray these mythic characters in equally mythic proportions; gargantuan size and muscular structure-- None of these guys could walk into a JC Penny and pick out a suit off the rack. This is where film and television get it right, especially in Superman's case.

How much can Superman lift? A building the size of, say, the Empire State Building? Is there a limit to his strength? As to that, yes... he does have limits. So how does Superman train? Does he benchpress Fort Knox every morning for an hour to work up a good sweat and get his heart rate up. Even Superman needs cardio work, right?

Herein in the flaw in our perception of Superman. Kal-El is not "super" because of his size, his musculature, his trained and honed strengths. He is Superman because the light of our sun reacts to his body differently than ours. Why? Because he is an alien... Not of this world. Christopher Reeve, who was in good phyical shape perfectly depicts what Superman should look like. The same with Tom Welling of Smallville, and Brandon Routh will be no exception.

Moving on... Clark Kent would not be able to hide who he is if his physique was that of the aforementioned gargantuan specimen male-ness-- I find it surprising he can hide himself at all in a suit and glasses, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief-- it's all in good fun. But herein is another contradiction in terms of the average superhero. Peter Parkers alter-ego is Spiderman, David Banner's alter-ego is the Hulk, Bruce Wayne's alter-ego is the Batman. But it would be incorrect to say that Clark Kent's alter-ego is Superman. It is in fact the other way around-- Superman's alter-ego is Clark Kent. Clark Kent is the costume, Kal-El is the reality.

Almost every other superhero puts on a costume-- and almost always outlandish --that tells the world around them that they are a cut above the Average Joe... they are men and women with special purpose. But not so with Clark Kent, because Clark Kent IS the costume... Clark Kent is Superman in hiding.

I intend to enjoy Superman Returns-- not because I intend to, but because it has everything that appeals to me as a movie goer. And I'll readily admit that a buff and muscular Superman is more appealing, despite the fact that in Superman's case it's completely unnecessary. Superman, after all, could be a 80lb overweight slob, and he'd still be able to jump over tall buildings in a single bound, he'd still be able to catch a plummeting jumbo jet and set it safely on the tarmac. He'd still be able to cut you in half with his heat vision.

Clark Kent is nothing more than a facade. And a poor one at that.


UPDATE: Speaking of Spiderman, I watched the new, and so far 1st trailer for Spiderman 3... Awesome. Too bad we have to wait 11 months.

Here's more

Interlude No. 3 - Love & Justice: The Hypothetical and the Reality

A young man, consumed with jealousy, attacks his ex-girlfriend. They had been separated for more than a year, and she has since moved on. At the time of the attack she was 7 months pregnant.

The young man waited in her apartment complex, just around the corner from her front door. When she put her keys in the lock he sprang from his hiding place, grabbed her by the throat in an attempt to keep her from screaming, and forced her into her apartment, where he raped her, strangled her, then proceeded to cut the unborn child from her womb.

Shortly after the attack, while he was cleaning himself up in her bathroom, he heard the cries of a man who had entered the apartment. It was the woman's boyfriend and the father of her now murdered child. The young man ran to the front room to see the boyfriend frantically trying to dial the phone. The man heard the intruder and turned to see a gun staring him right in the face, and with shock took in half a breath before the explosion tore off half his head, and he fell to the floor dead. Police investigators found enough evidence in and around the apartment that pointed to the ex-boyfriend, and he was apprehended in under 3 hours.

Almost a year to the day later, the trial is over. He has been found guilty of three counts of 1st degree murder, and the jury recommends the death penalty. As it turns out the judge in this case is the defendant's own father. During the sentencing phase, and after hearing testimony from the victims' family, as well as the defendants family, the judge asks his son if he has anything to say before his judgment is pronounced.

"Father," the young man says, "You know me better than anyone here in this room. You know I was a good boy, went to Sunday School without fail, got good grades in school, and was always willing to help anyone in need of a helping hand. Up unto the incident that brought me before you today, I was a good and upright citizen of this town, and community. I admit I did some very terrible things, for which the jury has rightly found me guilty, but I know you are a good and loving father. And because of your love for me I don't believe you could ever sentence me to death. I ask you father to please forgive me and spare my life."

Every voice in the courtroom cries out, indignant that this man could say such a thing, and many of these voices secretly in their hearts wonder if the judge is indeed a just man, who obeys the law.

The Judge sits silent for a moment and finally speaks. "You are right to call me father, for so I am. You are right to call me loving, for so I am. But you are sadly mistaken if you think I can abandon the Law simply because you think my love will outweigh my duty to the Law. Though I love you, though I will mourn the loss of my child, I have no choice under the Law but to condemn you to the death you have so thoroughly earned. Your execution must be swift, and it must be public. Though I love you with all my heart, and wish I could spare you, I am bound by my oath of office, and my oath to the Law. I cannot spare you and still remain a just judge. I have no choice but to order your execution first thing in the morning. I love you, son..... Bailiff? Take him away."



God has said. And what God has said must be... or He is NOT a just and loving God.

"For God so loved the world [and every man woman and child destined to be born and die within it], that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever ['whosoever' means 'anyone'... Including YOU] believeth in Him should not perish [for God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance], but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." --John 3:16-17 [Emphasis Added]

For anyone who neglects this free offer God has no choice but to condemn you. No choice. He is Holy, and therefore cannot let sin glory in His presense. If you stand before God without the sin covering offered freely by God Himself, you will have yourself to blame.



----

Next:
Detour, Part 8 -- Eschatology and Dispensational Truth


Previously:
Detour, Part 7 - Why God Felt the Need to Take on Mortal Flesh
Interlude No. 2
Detour, Part 6 - Types and Antitypes
Detour, Part 5 - Jesus of Nazareth and Statistical Improbabilities
In Preparation for Detour, Part 5 - Exhibit B
In Preparation for Detour, Part 5 - Exhibit A
Detour, Part 4 - Comparing Translations to Established Christian Doctrines
Interlude No.1
Detour, Part 3 - Manuscripts, Translations, and "Why the KJV?"
Detour, Part 2 - The Nature and Limits of God... and why this is important
Detour, Parenthetical - "What Will Shortly Follow"
Detour, Part 1 - "Preamble"
Warning: Detour Ahead

Here's more

Detour, Part 7 - Why God Felt the Need to Take on Mortal Flesh

I've thought long and hard for the better part of a month on this subject, and the best I've been able to come up with ["the best" meaning, what follows is the best explanation I've encountered. Better even than what I had originally planned] is a study on this very subject by Jack H, over at Forgotten Prophets. I know what I believe and why I believe it, and I could pull it all out of my head and present it here. but anything I could write would not match what Jack has written. However, I will say this...

Man is born with a seed of propensity [thanks to Adam, not Eve], that original seed of sin that embodies hatred, murder, envy, strife.... and a whole host of other evils. Every one of these sins finds its root in "Selfishness" -- The desire to have one's own will over that of God's.

It is this seed of propensity that required a sacrifice of unparalleled magnitude... a sacrifice only God could have made. Jack H offers a compelling look into the First Adam, and the necessity of God's redemptive plan. I won't belabour the point any further, he has labored for me. Please wander over to Jack's place for the why's and wherefore's.

Here is a taste of what you'll find there...

Only Jesus could ever have made atonement, since only he is God, with infinite capacity to atone. One such righteous person, by laying down his life, could have made atonement for one sin of one fallen human, but that fallen person would still bear the damning guilt of his countless other sins. When we consider that everything not of faith is sin (Rom 14:3), that every sub-nanosecond fraction of every moment not of faith is sin, that all our righteousness is as filthy rags – then we remember that every individual's sin is orders of magnitude beyond any physical hope of atonement. No one death of any (or indeed every) mere creature however mighty can possibly ransom even a single man. But Jesus – no creature, but infinite God – died infinitely; his death was greater than all the contents of space and of time. In death, he was not infinitely annihilated, but utterly "forsaken"; God the Son separated from God the Father, and Son of Man from body of man.

God is the author and finisher of our salvation. In fact, He's the author and finisher of all creation. We aren't old enough to have seen the beginning, and as far as our present bodies are concerned, we won't be around to see Him finish it.

But we will all see it finished-- After the final resurrection, in new bodies, and after the great white throne judgment. Those of us who have accepted God's sacrifice will praise Him, and Glorify His name when it is all finally finished. Far, far more will wish they had chosen differently while they yet lived. For them it will be too late.

This is why Christians try to win converts; not simply because God expects it of us, but also because we love our Lord God, His son Jesus, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, we earnestly desire to see God's house full. Even to the rafters.

But despite all our best efforts....

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." --Luke 13:28

"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night..." --Revelation 14:11

So why did God feel it necessary to take on human flesh? To spare any willing to accept His gift the fate described in those two simple verses.


----

Next:
Interlude No. 3 - Love & Justice: The Hypothetical and the Reality

Previously:
Interlude No. 2
Detour, Part 6 - Types and Antitypes
Detour, Part 5 - Jesus of Nazareth and Statistical Improbabilities
In Preparation for Detour, Part 5 - Exhibit B
In Preparation for Detour, Part 5 - Exhibit A
Detour, Part 4 - Comparing Translations to Established Christian Doctrines
Interlude No.1
Detour, Part 3 - Manuscripts, Translations, and "Why the KJV?"
Detour, Part 2 - The Nature and Limits of God... and why this is important
Detour, Parenthetical - "What Will Shortly Follow"
Detour, Part 1 - "Preamble"
Warning: Detour Ahead

Here's more

Pocket Full of Mumbles... as an HTML Graph

Website Graphs

Thanks, Sashinka

Here's more

Talk about not casting pearls before swine.....

...what happens when the pearl is the holy city of Jerusalem, and the swine are demanding their right to march through the streets?


Rabbis Sit With Sheikhs to Deplore Gay Parade in Jerusalem
--Hillel Fendel
June 21, '06
25 Sivan 5766

Stopping the Gay Pride Parade: Rabbis and Sheikhs held a joint press conference, and Jerusalem City Councilwoman Mina Fenton gathered hundreds of signatures at the World Zionist Congress session.

Fenton, of the National Religious Party faction, has also gathered the signatures of 25 city council members on a petition opposing the holding of the week-long World Pride events in Jerusalem. Six councilmen, members of the Shinui and Meretz parties, did not sign.

The Gay Pride event actually includes a "Youth Day" at the Knesset. The World Pride internet site bills it as "Bringing Order to the Knesset: National and International Summit Meeting for Youth." To be held on Monday, Aug. 7, its promotional literature states,

"Youth on the map! After this day, it will be impossible to ignore us. Everyone will understand and remember for a long, long time that the proud [Hebrew gaieh] youth has what to be proud of... Ages 15-25 - boys, girls, lesbians, homos, trans, bi, those who are hesitating, and friends, come to take part in this exciting youth day, a joint production of the Open House and the Israeli Gay Youth Organization, which will be held in the Knesset... "

They demand we accept their aberrant lifestyle. They demand special considerations based solely on their sexual preference. They demand we accept the lie of 10%. And now they want to flaunt their wickedness in God's holy city....

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. How much longer must we wait?

Here's more

The Apostasy Plot Thickens

Episcopalians refuse affirmation of Christ

--Hans Zeiger, VirtueOnline Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org

COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/20/06)-The House of Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today overwhelmingly refused to even consider a resolution that affirmed Jesus Christ as the "only name by which any person may be saved."

[...]

Judy Mayo from the Diocese of Fort Worth also opposed discharge. "My friends, this is a church convention, and this is the very essence of our faith. This may be the most important thing we deal with at this entire convention...Surely we can say together that Jesus Christ is Lord. And if we can't, we have no reason to be here."

[...]

McDowell explained that how one lives his life is the more important issue than whether one affirms Jesus as Lord. To place a statement of belief over actions is the essence of "self-righteousness," he said. "Actions speak louder than proclamations...What Jesus calls us to do is to live our lives."

McDowell outlined his basic theology of grace: "Salvation by grace is remembering that we are the children of a living God. Grace is already there. And salvation is realizing we now live into that salvation. And sanctification is the transforming of my life from one that's me-centered to one that's God-centered."

[...]

"If we cannot affirm the unique salvific power of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer a Christian church." Switching to a sarcastic tone, Howell declared, "We have no need for a Creed. Why do again what we did in the past?"

"This clearly shows that we are of a mind that does not affirm Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And we should not be surprised that our church is dying spiritually,"

The final tally on the electronic vote was 70.5 percent for discharge (675 votes) and just 29.5 (242 votes) to consider the resolution affirming Jesus Christ as Lord.


I have nothing really to add. It pretty much speaks for itself.

Here's more

Learning Something New Every Day

"Hamas" in Hebrew means, "to do violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice."

I wonder if Hamas deliberately chose that name. Or does "Hamas" mean the same thing in Arabic?

Here's more

The State of Apostasy

Presbyterians 'Receive' Policy on Worship
--Richard N. Ostling
AP Religion Writer

BIRMINGHAM, AL. -- The divine Trinity _ "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" _ could also be known as "Mother, Child and Womb" or "Rock, Redeemer, Friend" at some Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) services under an action Monday by the church's national assembly.

Delegates to the meeting voted to "receive" a policy paper on gender- inclusive language for the Trinity, a step short of approving it. That means church officials can propose experimental liturgies with alternative phrasings for the Trinity, but congregations won't be required to use them. [Emphasis mine]



...And it only gets worse from there.

Question: How many people who attend church regularly stay where they feel uncomfortable? How may people stay anywhere they feel uncomfortable? I won't say 'none' because Jim Morrison aptly penned, "people are strange"-- aberrations exist --but I'm very comfortable with saying the number is, in all likelihood, extremely low... Miniscule even. The real test will be to see how many people stay seated in those congregations that allow such heresy.

It is undeniable that God is love. It is undeniable that God is not willing that any should perish. But it is equally undeniable that Jesus did not come to send peace, but a sword...

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Matthew 10:34-36

Wanting to be inclusive, to make the church more accessible, and welcoming to all people is admirable. It's what the Church was meant to be. But there are standards. There are truths. And there are expectations of those who accept Christ's message. None of which are mutable or flexible depending on the times, or circumstances. To follow Christ requires personal sacrifice; especially to turn away from sin. Consider how Jesus' prefaced the above statement...

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Our sacrifice is just such a confession. A man or woman who turns away from homosexuality and allows God to heal their hearts and minds does so publicly, before men. Everyone who knows what they were will see what they are becoming, and that is a powerful testimony. Such a man or woman will not find it easy to shun the old ways, and the old people who supported them in those ways. But this is what God expects. He expects holiness of His people.

But that's not to say Christians do not fall, and often; the flesh remains unchanged. If anything, it's a much harder row to hoe, this "being a Christian." Before, there was no overt struggle for the soul; it belonged to the enemy. But now, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, there is a constant struggle for that soul caught between the desires of the Flesh, and the desire of the Holy Spirit. But Christians need not fear this war being waged for their testimony-- for once saved, the soul is out of reach for the enemy. Jesus says we are to expect this, and that we shouldn't fear, for there are greater things to fear than what someone can do you to you.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? ...And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:24-25, 28

There are standards Christians must not only accept, but standards under which they must also operate. One of which is to earnestly contend for the faith...

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 3-4

And we are further warned about "other" gospels, and they that preach such...

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8-9

You walk into the kitchen one afternoon and see a roach. Just one. You manage to kill it on the counter. You then clean it up, disinfect the area and go about the business of preparing a snack. It was just one roach-- no need for anything more, and certainly no sense of urgency.

The same is true of one report of apostasy in the church... Just a smidgen of heresy... No need to worry. Or is there? For the real danger lies in the hundreds you don't see or hear scurrying around in the walls.

Here's more

Democratic Coherency in Disarray... High Ground Lost

The Situation Room, with Wolfe Blitzer
June 14, 2006

Transcript:

BLITZER: Because that's what Murtha -- that's -- Murtha wants a redeployment over the next several months. John Kerry does.

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, doesn't. But you're saying that Democrats and you are more in line with Murtha than with Senator Clinton.

PELOSI: Well, exactly. Yes, no, I don't think they're -- in the House, there isn't very much support. I don't exactly know what Senator Clinton's position is. So, don't let me speak to that.

BLITZER: Well, she says it would be a mistake to have a timetable.

PELOSI: Yes.

Does she know anything? Are Democratic leaders even talking to each other? After this statement I think it's safe to say Ms. Pelosi has zero chance of becoming Speaker of the House, assuming Democrats retake the House, which is unlikely at this point.



From Meet The Press
June 11, 2006

Transcript:

MR. RUSSERT: [...] Karl Rove, the principal political adviser to the president, went to New Hampshire on Monday, and he talked about Democrats who voted for the war and who have now changed their opinion. Here’s what he had to say, and I’ll give you a chance to respond.

(Videotape, June 12, 2006):

MR. ROVE: Like too many Democrats, it strikes me they are ready to give the green light to go to war, but when it gets tough and when it gets difficult, they fall back on that party’s old pattern of cutting and running. They may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be there for the last tough battles. They are wrong, and profoundly wrong, in their approach.

(End of videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: Cutting and running.

REP. MURTHA: He's, he's in New Hampshire. He's making a political speech. He's sitting in his air conditioned office with his big, fat backside, saying, "Stay the course." That's not a plan. I mean, this guy-I don't know what his military experience is, but that’s a political statement. This is a policy difference between me and the White House. I disagree completely with what he's saying.

Now, let's, let's-give me, give you an example. When we went to Beirut, I, I said to President Reagan, "Get out." Now, the other day we were doing a debate, and they said, "Well, Beirut was a different situation. We cut and run." We didn't cut and run. President Reagan made the decision to change direction because he knew he couldn't win it. Even in Somalia, President Clinton made the decision, We have to, we have to change direction. Even with tax cuts. When we had a tax cut under Reagan, we then had a tax increase because he had to change direction. We need to change direction. We can't win a war like this.

This guy's sitting back there criticizing-political criticism, getting paid by the public taxpayer, and he's saying to us, "We're, we're winning this war, and they’re running." We got to change direction, that's what we have to do. You can't, you can't sit there in the air conditioned office and tell these troops they're carrying 70 pounds on their back inside these armored vessels and hit with IEDs every day, seeing their friends blown up, their buddies blown up, and he says "stay the course." Yeah, it's easy to say that from Washington, D.C.

Okay, let's compare:

Rove:                                        Murtha:
Air conditioned office        Air conditioned office
Bit, fat backside                     Big, fat backside
Paid by public taxpayer     Paid by public taxpayer
"We're winning"                      "We're losing"

Impartial Determination:

Rove:                                        Murtha:
Glass mostly full                    Glass mostly empty


Now let's talk consistency. Murtha has consistently, by his own admission advised presidents to run at the slightest provocation-- Beirut, and now Iraq. It's quite probably he advised the same about Somalia, but he didn't specifically say he advised president Clinton to run.

As for Reagan, it is all but impossible that Reagan felt "he couldn't win it." Not the President who stared down the Soviet Union, whose steadfast defiance of Communism brought down the Berlin wall, first, and the Evil Empire, second. I welcome any analysis that offers an alternative to Murtha's spurious claim.

As to Somalia, how many people out there, having seen the movie Black Hawk Down, and more importantly, paid attention to the news at the time, understands that the United States WON that battle? It was only when the body of one Marine was dragged through the streets that the President caved and decided the cost was not worth remaining in country.

And now, Murtha wants this President to do the same... Cut and Run. Just like we did in Vietnam, Just like we did in Somalia. John Murtha cannot see the superiority of America's fighting men and women. All he seems capable of seeing is blood, death, and American failure.

The fact is, we are winning. The left knows it, and it scares the dickens out of them-- How can they possibly win elections this fall if they have to campaign against American victory? They can't, and they know it. Hence, the burning need to paint America as the loser.


Final (Personal) Note--

Ann Coulter could have exercised a little more tact/diplomacy/restraint in her analysis of the Jersey Girls' political motives/fortunes/aspirations. But she isn't wrong in her larger point; namely, that Democrats and Liberals seem to delight in putting heroes and victims out in front, thinking that their actions and/or losses makes them invulnerable to counter-attack. This, of course is a false assumption. When the right strikes back, the Left expresses outrage, and it's all a sham-- feigned, deceitful outrage.

A war hero deserves every bit of respect his/er service, sacrifice, and medals have earned them, but the moment they enter the political arena and open their mouths to trash a political opponent, they open themselves to reciprocal attack. The same is true of widows, or bereaved mothers. Become a mouthpiece for any political party, Democrat or Republican, and you have lost the right to be respected solely for your loss.

If you swing a punch, it's reasonably assured one will be swung back at you. Only a fool expects to remain above the fray while swinging punches. The Left is really good at swinging punches, but they tend to cry like babies when the other guy lands a blow.

And that's all I've got to say about that.

Here's more

Time, Money, Worry... Resolutions

Test Results:

Holter Monitor               Normal
Stress Test w/Cardiolite     Normal

So Dr. Johnson was right, and my problems are not heart related. Which means it's something else, which also means my first trip to the emergency room 2 years ago was likely the result of something other than my heart. I do recall the exact same symptoms-- Discomforting flutter in the chest area, Upset stomach, Diarrhea... This also means the Heart Catheter was unnecessary. All the thousands of dollars spent on bills and tests was a waste of resources, to say nothing of effort and worry. But then, now that I think about it, it's nice to know my ticker is just fine. And it was good to know I was diabetic and hypertensive. My hypertension, however, has since been corrected.

Where to now? As in my previous posts, the next step is to look at the GI tract, and stomach, Which means more money, and more doctors. And did I mention more money?

The consolation in all this is I've learned a lot about myself in the last two years. At 2 months shy of 46, and despite my weight, I'm in fairly good health. I've discovered to problems; one of which has been fixed, and the other not far behind. And if nothing else, I've been forced to take more responsibility for my health-- An issue I all but ignored until 2 years ago.

Here's more

A Few Selections From My Life's Soundtrack

"White Hot"
--Red Rider

"I had you and my poetry to protect me, we were so much younger then..."

Which is quite apropos since it was poetry that really got me thinking about who I was and where I fit in, in the great wide world. One of the first good poems I wrote was "The Mindless Ooze"-- A farce of a free-verse poem that relied on imagery rather than rhyme. I used to get requests for this at just about every party my frat threw. This song reminds me of cruising the strip at Panama City Beach fresh out of high school, the summer I worked at the amusement park.

"Carry on Wayward Son"
--Kansas

"Carry on! You will always remember
Carry on! Nothing equals the splendor
Now your life's no longer empty
Surely heaven waits for you"

First time I heard this I was mesmerized. Not by just the lyrics, but the music as well. I had been building a record collection for 4 years when I first heard this, and I remember being a bit upset that my collection didn't contain anything that sounded really hard rock-ish. I bought "Left Overture" for this song alone, and it earned a place as one of my all-time favorites. I was living in Montgomery, Alabama at the time, and was a sophmore in high school.

I remember a movie date I had with a super attractive girl named Judy. We went to a movie that starred Henry Winkler, Sally Fields, and Harrison Ford, called "Heroes". This song played at the final scene and over the credits. Years later when I saw this movie on television, "Carry On Wayward Son" was replaced with something completely different... Someone had butchered a perfectly good memory.

"Can't Stand to See the Slaughter"
--Tower of Power

"I can't stand to see the slaughter
But still I eat the meat
I can't stand dishonest people
But still sometimes I cheat
I can't stand that air pollution
But still I drive a car
Mayber thems the reasons why
Things is like they are"

This album, "Ain't Nuthin Stoppin' Us Now", was a gift from Sharon Fowler-- a sorta house warming gift. We had just moved to Montgomery from Panama City, and Sharon's parents were friends with my parents. This didn't necessarily make Sharon and I friends, since we hung in different circles, but we were always friendly to each other.

First time I listened to this I thought, "What the hell kind of music is this!?" But it grew on me. The A Side of this LP didn't appeal to me too much then, and still doesn't, but the B Side... Oh, the B Side! What a rare and precious gem!

Years later, after first returning to Panama City, then migrating 80 miles north to Dothan, I got the news that Sharon had been dumped off at a hospital, by a so-called "friend". The only person she knew to call was my Mother, who then called her mother. Sharon was already dying of cancer, and it was very quick.

A year or two later, my "black sheep" sister called one evening crying about how lonely she felt. I remember thinking to myself, "aren't we all?"-- completely unsympathetic. But when she said, through her pain and tears, "I don't want to die like Sharon... all alone, with no one who loves me at my side...." That woke me up right quick. In that moment I understood what had been driving her all those years. And drives her still.

I love this album. And I love that Sharon gave it to me, though I'm still not fond of the A Side. Intellectually speaking, I know CD's don't come with A and B sides, but it's very difficult for me to get past that distinction... My hand holds the CD, but my mind thinks LP.

Here's more

Christianity in the Crosshairs

Sikh bracelets, but no Christian rings at school
bans pupils from wearing 'purity rings'

--Elizabeth Day, Telegraph.co.uk
Sunday, June 18, 2006

A group of teenage Christians have been banned by a secondary school from wearing "purity rings" as a symbol of their religious belief in chastity until marriage.

At least one of the dozen pupils, who all attend the same girls' comprehensive in Horsham, West Sussex, [England] is considering legal action against the Millais School for "a breach of human rights".

Although the school allows Muslim and Sikh pupils to wear headscarves or kara bracelets as a means of religious expression, the purity ring - a small band of silver engraved with a Biblical verse and worn as a declaration of abstinence from sexual relations - is not allowed because it is considered to be jewellery.

Everyone knows that there is absolutely no concerted effort to expunge Christianity, or Christian ideals from the realm of public acceptance. Christians are free to express their faith any time they choose, accept in the workplace, in schools-- the classroom, sporting events, and graduations, on public property, on government property, in front of abortion clinics, in prisons, in malls, and anywhere else someone may find such expressions offensive. Naturally, some areas are more relaxed, and accepting than others-- My area, for instance.

The godless feel that if they can rid their environment of anything and everything that points to a Holy God and His tenets, they'll then be able to create a society devoid of division, and strife. If only God weren't in the mix, the world would be a much better place. The godless suffer from the worst form of delusion-- Denial of their basic human nature.

Sikh's are allowed to wear bracelets [jewelry], but Christians can't wear rings? Now there's a glaring double standard, bright and pretty as you please.

Here's more

A Must Read from Ms. Green

It’s not about choice. It’s about money.

Murder is a lucrative business.

Just in case you haven’t seen the latest reports on Planned Parenthood’s profits for last year, take a moment to absorb these figures.

Last year it grossed $882,000,000 (882 million), with a net profit of $63,000,000 (63 million).

Follow the link for all the gory details...


This why I added her to my blogroll. She knows how to cut to the quick.

Here's more

A Few Personal Observations on the Zarqawi Memo

"...the National Guard have succeeded in forming an enormous shield protecting the American forces..."

TRANSLATION: The U.S. is training Iraqi security forces too well.

"By undertaking a media campaign against the resistance resulting in weakening its influence inside the country and presenting its work as harmful to the population rather than being beneficial to the population."

Our PsyOps program is working. Paying Iraqis to print stories favorable to the U.S.? Why wouldn't we do this? Because it's deceitful? We did it during WW2. We've done it during every other engagement of length. Why wouldn't we use such a valuable tool in Iraq? Isn't this the same kind of war the American media is currently waging here in the U.S.? A PsyOps campaign to weaken American resolve for the War on Terror? Has the Media been successful? Absolutely... As has our military counterpart in Iraq. At least according to Zarqawi.

"...tightening the resistance's financial outlets, restricting its moral options and by confiscating its ammunition and weapons."

We're stealing their money, their weapons, and their morale... And the resolve of many a resistance fighter.

"...creating a big division among the ranks of the resistance and jeopardizing its attack operations, it has weakened its influence and internal support of its elements, thus resulting in a decline of the resistance's assaults."

They can no longer trust their own rank and file members-- especially in light of Zarqawi's betrayal --resulting in a loss of "productivity"

"...taking advantage of the resistance's mistakes and magnifying them in order to misinform."

Awwwwwww. Poor Baby! We use your captured hard drives and communiques to take down even more "resistance" members than any one initial raid should allow.

"...infiltrate the ranks of the National Guard in order to spy on them for the purpose of weakening the ranks of the National Guard when necessary, and to be able to use their modern weapons."

Our weapons are superior.

"...despite the current bleak situation."

Men will always speak the truth when they believe no one else will hear, and this is a stunning admission. The "Cut-n-Runner" crowd have lost big time on this point alone. WE. ARE. WINNING

"...to embroil America in another war against another enemy is the answer that we find to be the most appropriate."

TRANSLATION: Our only real option is to distract the great Satan. We have no hope of winning otherwise. Let's get America to start a war with Iran! Yeah, that's the ticket!

"The possibility of acquiring new weapons from the Iranian side, either after the fall of Iran or during the battles... [and] entice Iran towards helping the resistance because of its need for its help"

TRANSLATION: America will kick Iran's backside, and how! We can then sneak in and help ourselves to weapons. Maybe even get the Iranians to give us some. They're already giving us IED's!

"...advertising that Iran has chemical and nuclear weapons and is threatening the west with these weapons... By executing exploding operations in the west and accusing Iran by planting Iranian Shi'a fingerprints and evidence."

And if all else fails we'll instigate the war ourselves and blame it on Iran! Another 9-11 style attack on U.S. soil will do the trick. Americans are nothing but trigger happy cowboys anyway...


And here's the game plan boys,

"...disseminat[e] bogus messages about confessions showing that Iran is in possession of weapons of mass destruction or that there are attempts by the Iranian intelligence to undertake terrorist operations in America and the west and against western interests."

"That'll do pig... errr... loyal jihadists. That'll do"

[That last sentence was an embellishment born of sarcasm]



If I seem a bit angry here, it's only because I am. I'm also sick and tired of hearing the idiots we've elected prince's and princesses-- to paraphrase Don Henley --say America cannot win, and is in fact losing. I'm tired of idiots calling our men murderers without allowing them their due process rights, and the presumption of innocence. I'm tired of the blatant hypocrisy, and feigned concern for America's future. If these idiots cared one iota about America's future, they'd demand we stay the course until the terrorists get tired of dying, vomit at the sight of blood, and simply give up. To win against this kind of foe, America needs to be relentless, remorseless, and incapable of being turned aside. quite simply, we must be implaccable.

Having said all that, perhaps we should consider why America is not mentioned, as being a world power, in the book of Revelation. If we believe the book was inspired of God, through the Holy Spirit, the reason cannot be because John knew nothing of the New World. The question I ask then is this:

Are the likes of Murtha, Kerry, Kennedy, etcetera, et al, the reason why America falls, and mightily... And Europe rises?

Here's more

What do John Kerry, Russ Feingold, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Tom Harkin, and Ted Kennedy have in common?

1. They're all Democrats
2. They're all members of the human race
3. They all support a woman's right to choose
4. They all make more money than I do
5. None of these 6 Senators have to worry about losing their seat      this fall
     (only Byrd is facing re-election)
6. Today, they all voted to pull U.S. troops from Iraq...

...Despite good news in the form of memos found in the ruins of Abu Mu'sab al Zarqawi's "Safe" house.

The following translated memo puts to shame the Murtha's and Kerry's of the American Left... the "Cut & Run" crowd... Those who insist we are losing in Iraq, that we can't possibly win. How will Media spin this?

The situation and conditions of the resistance in Iraq have reached a point that requires a review of the events and of the work being done inside Iraq. Such a study is needed in order to show the best means to accomplish the required goals, especially that the forces of the National Guard have succeeded in forming an enormous shield protecting the American forces and have reduced substantially the losses that were solely suffered by the American forces. This is in addition to the role, played by the Shi'a (the leadership and masses) by supporting the occupation, working to defeat the resistance and by informing on its elements.

As an overall picture, time has been an element in affecting negatively the forces of the occupying countries, due to the losses they sustain economically in human lives, which are increasing with time. However, here in Iraq, time is now beginning to be of service to the American forces and harmful to the resistance for the following reasons:

1. By allowing the American forces to form the forces of the National Guard, to reinforce them and enable them to undertake military operations against the resistance.

2. By undertaking massive arrest operations, invading regions that have an impact on the resistance, and hence causing the resistance to lose many of its elements.

3. By undertaking a media campaign against the resistance resulting in weakening its influence inside the country and presenting its work as harmful to the population rather than being beneficial to the population.

4. By tightening the resistance's financial outlets, restricting its moral options and by confiscating its ammunition and weapons.

5. By creating a big division among the ranks of the resistance and jeopardizing its attack operations, it has weakened its influence and internal support of its elements, thus resulting in a decline of the resistance's assaults.

6. By allowing an increase in the number of countries and elements supporting the occupation or at least allowing to become neutral in their stand toward us in contrast to their previous stand or refusal of the occupation.

7. By taking advantage of the resistance's mistakes and magnifying them in order to misinform.

Based on the above points, it became necessary that these matters should be treated one by one:

1. To improve the image of the resistance in society, increase the number of supporters who are refusing occupation and show the clash of interest between society and the occupation and its collaborators. To use the media for spreading an effective and creative image of the resistance.

2. To assist some of the people of the resistance to infiltrate the ranks of the National Guard in order to spy on them for the purpose of weakening the ranks of the National Guard when necessary, and to be able to use their modern weapons.

3. To reorganize for recruiting new elements for the resistance.

4. To establish centers and factories to produce and manufacture and improve on weapons and to produce new ones.

5. To unify the ranks of the resistance, to prevent controversies and prejudice and to adhere to piety and follow the leadership.

6. To create division and strife between American and other countries and among the elements disagreeing with it.

7. To avoid mistakes that will blemish the image of the resistance and show it as the enemy of the nation.

In general and despite the current bleak situation, we think that the best suggestions in order to get out of this crisis is to entangle the American forces into another war against another country or with another of our enemy force, that is to try and inflame the situation between American and Iraq or between America and the Shi'a in general.

Specifically the Sistani Shi'a, since most of the support that the Americans are getting is from the Sistani Shi'a, then, there is a possibility to instill differences between them and to weaken the support line between them; in addition to the losses we can inflict on both parties. Consequently, to embroil America in another war against another enemy is the answer that we find to be the most appropriate, and to have a war through a delegate has the following benefits:

1. To occupy the Americans by another front will allow the resistance freedom of movement and alleviate the pressure imposed on it.

2. To dissolve the cohesion between the Americans and the Shi'a will weaken and close this front.

3. To have a loss of trust between the Americans and the Shi'a will cause the Americans to lose many of their spies.

4. To involve both parties, the Americans and the Shi'a, in a war that will result in both parties being losers.

5. Thus, the Americans will be forced to ask the Sunni for help.

6. To take advantage of some of the Shia elements that will allow the resistance to move among them.

7. To weaken the media's side which is presenting a tarnished image of the resistance, mainly conveyed by the Shi'a.

8. To enlarge the geographical area of the resistance movement.

9. To provide popular support and cooperation by the people.

The resistance fighters have learned from the result and the great benefits they reaped, when a struggle ensued between the Americans and the Army of Al-Mahdi. However, we have to notice that this trouble or this delegated war that must be ignited can be accomplished through:

1. A war between the Shi'a and the Americans.

2. A war between the Shi'a and the secular population (such as Ayad 'Alawi and al-Jalabi.)

3. A war between the Shi'a and the Kurds.

4. A war between Ahmad al-Halabi and his people and Ayad 'Alawi and his people.

5. A war between the group of al-Hakim and the group of al-Sadr.

6. A war between the Shi'a of Iraq and the Sunni of the Arab countries in the gulf.

7. A war between the Americans and Iraq. We have noticed that the best of these wars to be ignited is the one between the Americans and Iran, because it will have many benefits in favor of the Sunni and the resistance, such as:

1. Freeing the Sunni people in Iraq, who are (30 percent) of the population and under the Shi'a Rule.

2. Drowning the Americans in another war that will engage many of their forces.

3. The possibility of acquiring new weapons from the Iranian side, either after the fall of Iran or during the battles.

4. To entice Iran towards helping the resistance because of its need for its help.

5. Weakening the Shi'a supply line.

The question remains, how to draw the Americans into fighting a war against Iran? It is not known whether American is serious in its animosity towards Iraq, because of the big support Iran is offering to America in its war in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Hence, it is necessary first to exaggerate the Iranian danger and to convince America and the west in general, of the real danger coming from Iran, and this would be done by the following:

1. By disseminating threatening messages against American interests and the American people and attribute them to a Shi'a Iranian side.

2. By executing operations of kidnapping hostages and implicating the Shi'a Iranian side.

3. By advertising that Iran has chemical and nuclear weapons and is threatening the west with these weapons.

4. By executing exploding operations in the west and accusing Iran by planting Iranian Shi'a fingerprints and evidence.

5. By declaring the existence of a relationship between Iran and terrorist groups (as termed by the Americans).

6. By disseminating bogus messages about confessions showing that Iran is in possession of weapons of mass destruction or that there are attempts by the Iranian intelligence to undertake terrorist operations in America and the west and against western interests.

Let us hope for success and for God's help.

This then is reason to pull American troops from the Iraqi theater? Why? Because Zarqawi was the next best thing to despondent? Because the official American death toll since the start of the War on Terror reached yet another milestone?

     2,500 Deaths

More people are murdered in America each year than have died since the beginning of the War on Terror.

In America, more children are aborted in a single week, than have died since the War on Terror began.

More people die in auto accidents in a single year than have died in the War on Terror.

     2,500 Deaths

Not to minimize the tragedy of even a single lost life, can anyone answer the following?

1. How many U.S. personnel died during the battle for Iwo Jima?
2. How many U.S. soldiers died training for D-Day?
3. How many U.S. personnel died in the first three years of the Vietnam war?

The fact is, we have the best trained and the most capable military in the world today. I would even venture to say we have the greatest military the world has ever known. And Americans, thanks to public education, have no historical perspective, and no love for the men and women who have secured the liberty and civil rights they enjoy... And take for granted.

I believe the bravery of our men and women in uniform equals, at the very least, that of 300 Spartans at the battle of Thermopolis. American forces cannot be defeated unless it come from within... at the hands and neglect of its own nation.

So what do Kerry, Feingold, Boxer, Byrd, Harkin, and Kennedy have in common?

They all lack faith in the American Soldier.

Here's more

"There will be peace in the Middle East when the Palestinians love their children more than they hate the Jews."

--Golda Meir

Here's more

An Exercise in Thankfulness

Allow me a moment, please, to thank all the people who had a hand in making me who I am. I'm sure I'll forget a few, indeed many, but this is simply an exercise in thankfulness and the ones I do forget will surely understand and know that I thank them as well. So, I would like to say thank-you to the following people, be they real or fictitious...

God. Mom and Dad. Grandma, Grandpa and the long line of lives that preceded them. Anna, Danielle, Uncle’s Bob, Steve, Jim, Clare. Aunt’s Simone, Martha, Gloria, Thao and Heidi's Mother. Cousins Heidi, Little Jimmy, Charlie. Teresa Troutman, Leo O'Brian, Frank Alter, Dennis Banka, Stephanie's Dean and Breeden, Gloria and both Paul's Dean. Mike "Where's-my-moon" Whats-is-name. The very blonde Debbie Schoensiegle who wrote on paper, "YKPGFYA," whose mother had me detained by M.P.'s for daring to like her daughter, the self-same daughter who encouraged all kinds of naughty. To Troop 88 and Mr. Peoples. Scott and Eric Mersnick, and survival campouts. Laura Bearnard and Apple perfume, Stacy, and Bruce Rhodes, broke arm and all. Nancy Rigdon and her brother John. Marc Marley and Lori Sutherland, the girl I was afraid to kiss. Rodney Shueman. Eddie, Kenneth, Kevin and Sharon Trainor. Vince Kasprowicz and his whirling dervish. Sweet Emily. To the woman who held me as I cried at my fathers funeral; she who was once my step-sister. Mr. Lovrikovic for teaching me that hard lesson called "Complacency." David and Peaches Skinner, for their faithfulness to God, and Northside Baptist Church, the only church I felt at home in. Delilah Dean. Les and Rebecca Grice. Mike Salow, Clint Menacof, and Jim Stoller who shared a jail cell with me on my twenty-ninth birthday and owns the first painting I sold in exile. Bradford Woods who last time I heard was somewhere in Texas enlightening the masses. Peter Paulie, one-time editor of Colorado Springs only daily newspaper, who was nothing but an encouragement to me. R.D. Golden for teaching me how not to treat a woman. James Henry Bell for teaching me how not to treat a friend. Iota Gamma for showing me what brotherhood is not. Carol Pizza for teaching me forgiveness, and Cristal Conley for teaching me endurance and steadfastness. James Pigneri, Sylvia Harrison. Spinnaker's Restaurant for teaching me how not to treat employees. Edward Eugene "Hoss" Lewis for showing me that no man is worthy of worship, and David Rabe who has shown me that all men are at times to be pitied. To Spain for my first lesson in prejudice, and to George Washington Carver High School for my second. To Kimberly Steele who liked me perhaps as much as I liked her. Mr. Jacksons Homeroom class who did NOT paint the mural of the Beatles... I did! 1st and 10th grade art contests. Mr. Early and any girl named Kelli. To band class and the trumpet my mother bought for me and my love for music. Belinda Kelly for teaching me the true meaning of fidelity and the phrase "sex-as-a-weapon." Everet Youngberg the ever-smiling. Taco, Hercules, Rufus and Dudley, and Pepe, loyal companions all. To Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Merry and Pippen and good ole' Sam Gamgee. Charlotte Norris who slapped me for kissing her, only to later kiss me goodbye. To Paula Kirker, because she liked Klaatu. Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, and Marilyn Monroe. Diana Spencer and Norma Jean. Kansas. Both the calm and stormy seas of winter I once piloted a steady course upon. When Worlds Collide. The Beatles. Enya and Loreena McKennitt. Sinead's burning of Troy. Homers burning of Troy. Ullyses and Penelope. The sinking of Atlantis and the land that is now the Mediterranian Sea. Pangea and Hyperboria. Ming the Mercilous, Flash and Dale Arden. Ornella Muti's "Aura." The Alan Parsons Project and the Turn of a Friendly Card. Ron Ely's "Tarzan." Author Gene Wolfe. Ursula K. LeGuin's "Lathe of Heaven." Ray Bradbury and his "Martian Cronicles," especially his "The Million Year Picnic." Hermann Hesse and Sidharrtha. Immanuel Velikovsky. William Golding's "Lord of the Flies." "I Am The Cheese." "Farenheit 451." Phillip K. Dick's, "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?" "Logan's Run" (The Book). "The Stand." "The Dark Tower." Robert Jordan's, "The Wheel Of Time." Robert Roy McGregar and William Wallace. The highlands of Scotland and anything with bagpipes. To "The Sun in the Stream;" that tune that echoed across the mountain top at my fathers funeral. "Cursum Perficio." Cecil B. Demille's Ten Commandments, and to Ben Hur. Sensei Richard Lordings Shorin-Ryu. To Goju-Ryu and Sanchin. Hiroaki Samura and the Blade of the Immortal. Michael J. Linsner. Darrian Ashoka and Dawn. Gary Numan and the B-52's. The Moody Blues. Yes. A Farewell to Kings and Moving Pictures. Clannad, Mary Black, Connie Dover and especially Luka Bloom. Dan Fogelberg. Stevie Nicks and Linsey Buckingham. Tears for Fears, Queen and Dixie Chicks. For finding Shawn Colvin before everyone else did. Charleton Heston in Planet of the Apes. Jaws. Jean-Luc Picard, Worf, and Data. Bram Stoker and the scariest vampire story ever. Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo and Jules Verne. Back to the Future one, two and three. Robert Adams "Return of the Horseclans" and Milo Morai. Richard Adams "Watership Down," especially Hazel, Fiver, Strawberry, Hyzenthlay, and my very own "Hrududu" parked out front, and the concept of Tharn and all it implies. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Steven Segal, all of whom are the real deal. U2 and Sting's "Fields of Gold" as well as his "Dream of the Blue Turtle." Mrs. Bell who treated me as though I were one of her own. Dan Robbins. Joby Roberts, and one night at the spa. Mr. "One toke over the line" Cliff Myers... And his sister. Lee Pizza. Suzie Durko for sharing long walks with me. Mike Gailfoil. Debra Lively. Robby Heisner. Steve Hagan. The Entire Kasprowicz Clan and that Hallowed place known to one and all as the "Oaks." David Everett. Bill Norris and his lovely bride. Catherine "Cat" Vaughan, Kim Dosier, Wendy Morris, Krishelle, Desa Dance, Dot Brown, Lisa Treadwell, and Sherif Dawson. Dawn Floyd. Brandi Holton. To Hannah and her Needle Corriandor, and Arwen. The Stoning Of Charity and the return of inspiration after three years. Sun and Flower. "The Gardens of Loveplay" and "Tales from the Amber Book". Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern for a look at both sides of the fence. To Solitude, for teaching me how to think for myself and showing me the importance of doing so. To the idea that the glass is neither half full nor half empty, but "Fully Half Empty." To Mary Angel, who was my first... And best.

And the list could go on and on. There are so many people and things that have contributed to who I have become, some good, some bad. Sure, I'd like to be able to go back to when I was 17, with all I know now and do it differently; who wouldn't? But then I wouldn't be who I am today... Or would I?

Well, that's a question best considered another time.

Here's more

One Year & Six-Hundred Twelve Posts Later...

Pocket Full of Mumbles, taken from the Simon and Garfunkel tune, The Boxer-- a song with significant meaning to me --began as a way to do something with all the scraps of paper that ended up on my desk at the end of the day. You see, I'm in the habit of writing things down... Things that grab my attention: a bumper sticker, the name of a song on the radio, doodles, poetry, web addresses, and all manner of clutter ended up, at the end of the day, literally littering my dresser and desk. I thought this would be a good way to get rid of the clutter in my room. It hasn't turned out that way.

The clutter you see is in my head... Hmmm, and that reminds me of another tune... I couldn't get rid of it if I tried. Or wanted.

I blogged what I thought were the more profound moments of Hurricane Dennis-- July 10, 2005. I even swore I wouldn't get political here. Ha!

Ah... The good ole days.... When I still used the "here's more" link. Nowadays, I don't use the span class="fullpost" tag anymore, though I think I may go back to it. Check out July of last year and you'll see exactly how things have changed, look and content-wise. This can only mean one of two things... I have either Evolved, or DEvolved as a blogger-- But I'm not the one to make that determination.

I've put a lot of myself into this blog. More than I should have, and not enough to truly satisfy me... My pockets are still full. More so since my focus has shifted and the posts have grown longer-- folded paper crammed into the breast pocket of a shirt makes more of a bulge than the original slips that once hid discreetly therein.

Thanks for reading.

Here's more

The Lie Islam Believes

The Al Aqsa mosque has stood on the temple mount since before Solomons day.

Who are we to believe? Jewish writings that date back more than three thousand years? Or Muslim writings that date back only sixteen hundred? If one intellectually honest muslim caretaker can admit the truth there is hope for a Jewish Temple yet.

How many people know that Jerusalem sits upon a major fault line? How strong of an earthquake would it take to collapse the Al Aqsa mosque? How soon after such a collapse would it take Israel to seal off the temple mount and refuse any rebuilding by Muslims?

Imagine the escalation in strife between Israel and Islam.

Here's more

Songs Worth Acquiring --

"Into The Fire"
--Thirteen Senses

As heard on the season premiere of "The 4400"

Here's more

Return of The 4400

Okay, I admit it, I'm a big Sci Fi freak... if it's GOOD Sci Fi, mind you. And tonight marked the return of the USA series, The 4400-- season 3. A lot of stuff going on in tonights 2 hour premiere, but don't worry, I won't bore you all with it. Besides which, I'd have to explain eveything that's been happening since season 1, and I'm not inclined to do that. If you haven't been watching this one, you're missing out. But then if you haven't been watching this one, it's unlikely you realize you're missing out.

There was one really cool song at the end.

Here's more

That Which is Offensive

So Zarqawi is dead. Yeah, I heard about it. Sitting in a doctors waiting room I was. Can't say he didn't have it coming, can't say he didn't deserve it, but neither can I say I'm overcome with joy at his passing. I wouldn't have said that a year ago, but today, I can't help but think of the verse ER mentioned in another post... "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." There's no hope for him now. There's no paradise. No virgins. Nothing but pain, and torment. I am glad his reign of terror is ended. But I am not happy that he is now lost forever. It is unlikely-- in human terms --that he ever would have come to Christ. But then, anything is possible with God... until death claims the unsaved soul.

There is something most people find offensive: the idea that someone such as Zarqawi could commit as many atrocities as he did, and still find forgiveness in Christ, and STILL be spared the punishments of hell.

Mohammed Atef, Yasser Arafat, Dahmer, Bundy, Mussolini, Hitler.... all these men could have avoided their just punishments, and found a place in heaven as one of God's children... had they only accepted Christ. And who knows for certain if they did not? Time will tell. All I can say is their fruit, their works, do not bear out that possibility... to my mind, at least. Which is why I said, 'Time will tell.'

What of the man who raped and buried Jessica Lunsford alive? All he need do is hear the call of the Gospel to repent, and though he suffer his just fate in this life, he gains forgiveness and eternal life with God.

Does that sound unfair? Especially if Jessica herself was not saved? Was she old enough to have heard the Gospel and rejected it? I don't know the anser to that. Time will tell. But the fact is, God's ways are not our ways. He is unwilling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Even John Couey, Jessica's killer.

And yes, even Abu Mus'ab al Zarqawi. A man to be pitied, but feared no more.

Here's more

Theocracy means, "Ruled by God"

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible"

--President George Washington
   September 17th, 1796

"If a nation won't be ruled by God, it will be ruled by anarchy."

--Sir Winston Churchill

I think it is evident that America is no Theocracy, and will, as long as she calls herself America, never be a Theocracy. But one day the entire world will be a Theocracy. Like it or not.

What a wonderful day that will be.

Here's more

Fifty-One Minutes & Counting

This monitor has been attached to my chest and sides for almost 24 hours. The razor wielding tech sheared a one inch path down the center of my chest, stuck 3 electrode thingies, hung a tape recording device around my neck like some ungodly albatross, and admonished me not to shower, bathe, stand in front of a microwave, or pass between a metal detector.

47 minutes & counting

I was sick to my stomach most of yesterday, and the weight of the monitor, though negligible, only added to the weight of pain I endured all day. I longingly awaited the end of my tour of duty at the station so I could just go to bed, where once asleep, the itching and discomfort would be lost in all those dreams I never remember anyway.

43 minutes & counting

I spent much of yesterday buttoned up to the neck. I felt embarrassed that I had to wear it at work. Perhaps I shouldn't have, but I felt very self-conscious of the box making my shirt push out in a decidedly boxy shape. That, and the tape clear up to my neck insuring the contacts did not come loose.

35 minutes & counting

But the time is winding down. At Eleven Oh-Five the albatross will be taken away, it's battery removed, and the tape and contacts tenderly removed. My clothes are already laid out. The shower awaits.

30 minutes & counting

I spent some time at ER's place yesterday, and the day before. I was sickened by the lack of respect toward the Marines-- and the Marine Corps in general --involved in the Haditha incident. The post, and the site itself, is a viper's pit. The commenters were all unwilling to afford the same basic rights of due process, and the presumption of innocence to these Marines. The very same vipers who would howl about the likes of William Jefferson's presumption of innocence. The very same vipers who would howl the moment a rapist or murderer were denied their due process rights. And they called me a hypocrite. I'm fine with that. I don't like it, but my only other choice is to allow these men to rent space in my head, and cause me to sin in my heart against them... Something I'm unwilling to do.

23 minutes & counting

So I pet my dog, who loves me no matter what, and I try to take my mind off the 21 minutes remaining.

Part of the deal with this monitor was a small patient diary. I was to write as much info within, as it happened, when it happened, and what symptoms I experienced at the time it happened. It's a thoroughly boring diary.

19 minutes & counting

By the way, anyone who went to see X-Men 3 and didn't stay until the last credit rolled by, missed a very COOL scene. Definite fodder for a 4th film, though I highly doubt there will be one. That final scene, all of ten seconds long, coupled with Magneto's final scene before credits, was, I believe, only to give continuity between the movies and the comics... We can't kill off or ruin all the characters, now can we?

13 minutes and counting

The numbness in my toes remains to this day. It's no longer my ankles and feet... Just the two middle toes on each foot. But my right hand and lower arm were worse yesterday. I don't know what's up with that, which is why I think this whole monitor business has been a huge waste of time. The numbness, Doctor! The NUMBNESS!!!

10 minutes and counting

Did I mention that today in Alabama we have Primary's? Judge Roy Moore, the Ten Commandments judge is on the governor's ticket, and he'll get my vote. He won't win the Republican primary, but I'm not voting for who I think will win... I'm voting for who I WANT to win. Governor Bob Riley will win the primary and, in all likelihood the General election in November.

5 minutes and counting

Performing spell check and doing adjustments...

3 minutes & counting

Watching the seconds tick by...

2 minutes & counting

Waiting... waiting...

1 minute & counting

Ding! Ding! Ding! See ya!

Here's more

Interlude No. 2

According to the road map the next stop on this detour should be "Historical and Archeological Proofs" but per the notes at the bottom of said map, "All Detours are subject to change." And it looks like this will be borne out in Part 8 of this theological detour. And I thought I'd take this time to explain why.

After a lot of thought the whole idea of presenting a list of historical and archeological proofs suddenly seemed overly daunting. The whole purpose of this particular topic was to document as many such proofs that the events and places of the Bible are in fact accurate... That they did in fact exist, or happen. I soon realized however that this would be a long undertaking and so I've chosen to not hold everything else up unnecessarily.

The "proofs" themselves are but footnotes of history anyway, and as such, I see no reason why they can't wait for the end, where they can be more aptly presented. As footnotes.


UPDATE: Wednesday, June 7 -- As far as 'Historical and Archeological Proof' goes, there's a 2-hour documentary due for release in the spring of '07 [Next year for those of you who haven't realized we're halfway through '06], titled "Exodus" Hopefully it will arrive at a local theater. If not, I'll have to wait till next summer or early fall to rent or purchase it. The write-up on this film is intriguing, and as such, worth the read. As to the validity of any evidence offered therein, I'll wait to see it before I comment on it. But it IS fodder for my footnotes.


----

Next:
Detour, Part 7 - Why God Felt the Need to Take on Mortal Flesh


Previously:
Detour, Part 6 - Types and Antitypes
Detour, Part 5 - Jesus of Nazareth and Statistical Improbabilities
In Preparation for Detour, Part 5 - Exhibit B
In Preparation for Detour, Part 5 - Exhibit A
Detour, Part 4 - Comparing Translations to Established Christian Doctrines
Interlude No.1
Detour, Part 3 - Manuscripts, Translations, and "Why the KJV?"
Detour, Part 2 - The Nature and Limits of God... and why this is important
Detour, Parenthetical - "What Will Shortly Follow"
Detour, Part 1 - "Preamble"
Warning: Detour Ahead

Here's more

To Anyone Interested

Something is not right. My blood sugar has been more than excellent the last couple of days, but something still is not right. I had planned to blow off my Dr's appt. this morning because of my morning job and my apparent lust for money, but after the night I jsut had... I don't believe it would be prudent.

At about 9:30 last night, my right arm began experiencing numbness again. By the time I got home after the Ten o'clock news it was my toes as well. Just leaning my wrist against the edge of the desk in front of my PC was enough to cause my lower arm to go numb.

Around 2:30 am I was awakened by numbness in both sets of toes, and a fluctuating numbness first in one arm then the next. My heart rate was around 90, and my blood pressure was a little low.

The same thing at 4:30 am.

It's not the diabetes... but I'm concerned there may be something wrong with my liver or kidney functions, and who knows what else. I've asked God for His help, but the rest falls to me to take care of myself... so it's off to the doctor in about ten minutes.

Thanks for reading. Prayers would be welcome.


UPDATE: 7:00 pm
After 3 hours in various rooms; waiting, examination, lab, and appointment, little was established as to cause, but a whole lot was discussed as to "where to now?"

What we DO know...

1) It is all but impossible for a man whose arteries-- surrounding and feeding the heart --were completely 100% free of blockage 14 months ago to now have a blocked arteries. In the Doctor's words, "you'd be the first."

2) Physical stress is most likely the root cause of tingling extremities. It's possible the diabetes is the culprit, but the doctor thinks not, since I've only been diabetic two years. Apparently it takes years of living with diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar-- which I have not --to get to the point of nerve damage.

Where To Now?

Remedy: Cut back on the number of days in the week I go immediately from one job to the next; instead of Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 10:45pm, on the go, Go, GO! I need to cut back to, say, Wednesday to Friday on both jobs and just the morning job on Saturday.... Which is exactly what my schedule was before last week. Most likely, the reason for all the tingling is my inability to get good quality rest; my heart is beating faster to pump blood to the farthest reaches of fingertips and toes because of stress.

After the doctors visit I drove 20 miles up the road to a delightful place called "Ozark" and visited with a nutritionist. The diet isn't rigid, though it is strict. It isn't restrictive, though it is loaded with options to assauge my rather large sweet-tooth. 1st two weeks: No white carbs... bread, crackers, pasta, sugar, etc. This is to give the pancreas a rest, and allow it an opportunity to "jump start", as it were, and begin to work more properly.

If anyone's heard of the "Dead Doctors Don't Lie" guy, Dr. Joel Wallach, I'll be taking his minerals and supplements for 90 days, after which, under my doctors supervision I will try to wean myself off of the diabetes medication. If my blood sugar begins to rise I'll just take the medication and wait another month before trying again. When the goal of getting off the diabetes med is achieved the diet becomes a maintenance plan, with restrictions still, but not as many. I will still have to be careful with my diet and supplement with vitamins, minerals, and EFA's.

A big part of my problem is my weight. The reason why it's uncomfortable to sleep on my side, is because my gut pushes against my diaphram, and so, against the lungs and heart. Hence. The. Diet. Lose 50+ pounds and this problem is eased, as will my blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

I also seem to be suffering from a stomach flu. Lot's of diarrhea (I'm sure everyone wanted to know that part), and nausea. I know of two people who could have passed a bug on to me... BJ my morning boss, and Jonathan the evening director at Job #2.

Doctor Johnson has scheduled me for a device called a Holter Monitor. It's a lot like a computers' hard drive that records twenty-four hours of heart rhythms. I'm going along with this only because it's prudent. I'll have to wear it under my clothes for 24 hours; at work, and at sleep. Perhaps I have an abnormal heart rhythm, who knows? I certainly don't, but I rather think the problem lies in my weight, which is aproximately 100 lbs over the line. Correct the weight, and I just may correct both heart and blood sugar issues. At which point I'll be able to drop both meds, and the exorbitant cost of testing strips-- $100 a month.

Oh, I'm also going to be trying an HGH precursor that stimulates the pituitary gland; 3 capsules before sleep on an empty stomach. The only side effect of this are dreams... guaranteed. The HGH somehow stimulates that part of the brain responsible for REM sleep, which in turn is responsible for deeper more therapeutic sleep sessions, which in turn should reduce my stress levels and hopefully ease the tingling, which is most likely a circulation problem... not nerve damage.

But time will tell. I do feel a lot better already. The tingles are still there, but faintly, and I still have the runs. And my blood sugar is still at fantastic all-time consistently good levels.

Tomorrow is another day. Which means two jobs. But I'm off Saturday AND Sunday, which will give me plenty of time to rest and relax, and maybe even get to finally see "X-Men 3: The final battle" all the way through.... No popcorn this time.

Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes. They are greatly appreciated.

Finally, some may question why I would post so much personal information online like this. But as I've stated in previous posts, this blog is all about me; my diary, my thought processes, my likes, loves, desires, disputes, and down-right rejections of all things I consider beneath me, and beneath the Nobler Man. That people read and respond to my posts is icing on an already generously iced cake. Opps! No sugar!!!

Again, thanks for all your prayers.

Here's more