Monday, January 31, 2005

The Dismemberment of the Body of Christ

The current trend in the Evangelical Church in America has dismembered the body of Christ. By placing a greater priority upon musical style the Church has sacrificed the essential element of diversity. Many Christians have the perception that the "old-fashioned," organ-playing, choir-singing, orchestra ensemble style of music is for the graying generations while the contemporary/alternative worship music is for those under the age of 40. Numerous mega-churches have successfully filled their directory by incorporating services, classes and small groups separated by age and preference. Does numerical success reveal the authenticity of the movement? Are believers more united or divided in a church that models this philosophy? Is diversity an essential element of the believers sanctification or do we have some liberty in this area?

In Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts, author Harold Best provides an excellent look at this subject:
"It is ironic-worse, scripturally troublesome-to see local assemblies broken into groups, each doing their niche worship, for that is all it really seems to be...The divisions are primarily about music and musical style. This being true, worship is not really about the binding power of Jesus and his gospel but about something earthly, relative and transient. If we took music out of worship, would we have the same problem and the same set of solutions? I do not think so."
I would venture to take a guess that many of the larger churches in your area have a "traditional" and a "contemporary" service. The traditional service is usually the earlier service because the church knows that the older generations want to go to church at the crack of dawn. The contemporary service might begin right around noon giving ample time for the younger and lazier generations to get up. The two services may or may not hear the same message but one thing is for certain...the style of music will suit your taste. Another likely side-effect of this set-up is the lack of interaction between the younger and older believers. Best continues:
"Traditionalists have much to answer for in their reluctance to understand that tradition does not mean stasis but change. In their reaction against contemporary styles, they fail to understand that what they have gotten used to was once contemporary and often objectionable."
At the same time, contemporary worshippers must accept their lack of diversity. In their fight for culturally relevant music, they have lost sight of the union that the body of Christ requires.
"The church desperately needs an artistic reformation that accomplishes two things at once: first, it takes music out of the limelight and puts Christ and his Word back into prominence; and second, it strives creatively for a synthesis of new, old and crosscultural styles (pgs.74-75)."
That is my desire and hope when I am in full-time ministry. I want to encourage interaction between the various age groups and see a God-honoring, Christ-glorifying merge of the two styles.

Terrible Weatherman

How would you like this guy to be your weatherman?

The Terrorists Got the Finger!


With the historic Iraqi elections that took place yesterday, I thought this cartoon would be appropriate. The Iraqi turnout is estimated to be 60-70% of the population (see update). America's recent election which was the highest in 36 years had a turnout of just under 60%. I think Iraq is sending a clear message to the world about their desire for democracy.

Update: The voter turnout refers to the number of eligible voters, not population. Thank you commenter Andy for the tip!

Thursday, January 27, 2005

The Calvin Challenge: Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God

"Indeed, our very poverty better discloses the infinitude of benefits reposing in God." (I.i.1)
We cannot grasp the richness of God until we accept our poorness. When I was younger it was explained to me that the closer I get to God the more I realize my wickedness. The analogy of a flashlight was given. If God is the flashlight, as I walk toward Him I begin to see more blemishes in my own life. His light shines on the areas of my life that were dark and covered.

Isn't it true that the longer you have been a growing Christian the more you realize your imperfections? If we attempt to come to God without acknowledging our own weakness we will fail to comprehend our need for Him to save us. We will probably have some ulterior motive for coming to God that results in greater separation rather than reconciliation.
"Thus, not only will we, in fasting and hungering, seek thence what we lack; but, in being aroused by fear, we shall learn humility." (I.i.1)
Calvin declares that when we truly know ourselves, we will see the wickedness and darkness that has been present all along. We will realize our emptiness. Emptiness will lead to fear then humility as we determine the depth of our need. Humility is the attitude God wants us to have when we come to Him (1Pet.1:5).

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

The Calvin Challenge

For a couple of years now, I have really wanted to read through The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. I first confronted Calvinism in a challenging way about 5 years ago. My understanding of soteriology, the theological doctrine of salvation, was limited to the 4 spiritual laws at that time. Whenever I spoke about the 5 points of Calvinism (aka TULIP) with a Calvinist, I usually felt woefully inadequate. I could find Bible verses few and far between with which I would challenge their conviction. Sometimes, they would stumble for a response to my interrogation, but usually it was I who did the stumbling. I was typically left out-of-words.

One day, in the Calvary Chapel Bible College coffee-shop, I sat speechless before a good friend of mine. For about a week we had been meeting, going back and forth through Hebrews discussing the doctrine of "Once Saved Always Saved," aka "Perseverance of the Saints" (the P in TULIP). We had gone over every passage in the book of Hebrews that I felt proved that a Christian could lose their salvation. He very easily responded to each verse with clear and contextual answers. During that conversation I found out that he had the entire book of Hebrews memorized. I was shocked and awed! I realized that I might not know as much as I thought I did.

It took me awhile after that day to accept that I was wrong. And it took much longer than that to accept the other 4 points of Calvinism. Once I did accept Calvinism, I was amazed at how much of God's Word was clarified. There were countless verses that I used to skim over in frustration because I couldn't understand them. I am far from a scholar on soteriology, but I have grown quite a bit in my faith over these last 5 years.

Now I'm ready to go deeper. I want to challenge myself to read through The Institutes of the Christian Religion and blog about my thought process. I have no idea how it will turn out, but at least I will have some accountability to sift through it for all its worth. I'm anxious to get started!

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Mark Wesson Jury Selection begins Tuesday

FRESNO, Calif. Jury selection begins Tuesday in the case of Marcus Wesson, a Fresno man accused of the worst mass murder in the city's history.
The 58-year old Wesson has been charged with the slaying of nine of his children last March. His children ranged in age from one to 25. He's also accused of raping several girls in the family. About 2,200 people have been summoned to appear as potential jurors. They'll be asked to complete a 20-page questionnaire and they'll be interviewed individually by prosecution and defense attorneys. Jury selection is expected to take about a month. Wesson's public defenders have been turned down several times in their efforts to have the trial moved out of Fresno.
Article source: KESQ News.

Would Wesson get a fair trial anywhere? I don't understand why the defense team even tries to transfer him to another district. The only place that wouldn't give him the death penalty is Austria, and I don't think Arnie would let him go to a bunch of "girly-men"?

Saturday, January 22, 2005

War in Iraq and the American Media

Essay courtesy of Blackfive. I wonder if FoxNews has an opening for a quality correspondent? Better yet, maybe CBS just found their replacement for Rather. I've posted the essay in it's entirety (with pictures of LTC Tim Ryan) because it would be a disservice to post any less. Please read it all.

Aiding and Abetting the Enemy: the Media in Iraq
By LTC Tim Ryan, CO, 2/12 Cav, 1st Cav Div

What if domestic news outlets continually fed American readers headlines like: "Bloody Week on U.S. Highways: Some 700 Killed," or "More Than 900 Americans Die Weekly from Obesity-Related Diseases"? Both of these headlines might be true statistically, but do they really represent accurate pictures of the situations? What if you combined all of the negatives to be found in the state of Texas and used them as an indicator of the quality of life for all Texans? Imagine the headlines: "Anti-law Enforcement Elements Spread Robbery, Rape and Murder through Texas Cities." For all intents and purposes, this statement is true for any day of any year in any state. True -- yes, accurate -- yes, but in context with the greater good taking place -- no! After a year or two of headlines like these, more than a few folks back in Texas and the rest of the U.S. probably would be ready to jump off of a building and end it all. So, imagine being an American in Iraq right now.

I just read yet another distorted and grossly exaggerated story from a major news organization about the "failures" in the war in Iraq. Print and video journalists are covering only a small fraction of the events in Iraq and more often than not, the events they cover are only the bad ones. Many of the journalists making public assessments about the progress of the war in Iraq are unqualified to do so, given their training and experience. The inaccurate picture they paint has distorted the world view of the daily realities in Iraq. The result is a further erosion of international public support for the United States' efforts there, and a strengthening of the insurgents' resolve and recruiting efforts while weakening our own. Through their incomplete, uninformed and unbalanced reporting, many members of the media covering the war in Iraq are aiding and abetting the enemy.

The fact is the Coalition is making steady progress in Iraq, but not without ups and downs. War is a terrible thing and terrible things happen during wars, even when you are winning. In war, as in any contest of wills with capable opponents, things do not always go as planned; the guys with the white hats don't always come out on top in each engagement. That doesn't mean you are losing. Sure, there are some high profile and very spectacular enemy attacks taking place in Iraq these days, but the great majority of what is happening in Iraq is positive. So why is it that no matter what events unfold, good or bad, the media highlight mostly the negative aspects of the event? The journalistic adage, "If it bleeds, it leads," still applies in Iraq, but why only when it's American blood?

As a recent example, the operation in Fallujah delivered an absolutely devastating blow to the insurgency. Though much smaller in scope, clearing Fallujah of insurgents arguably could equate to the Allies' breakout from the hedgerows in France during World War II. In both cases, our troops overcame a well-prepared and solidly entrenched enemy and began what could be the latter's last stand. In Fallujah, the enemy death toll has already exceeded 1,500 and still is climbing. Put one in the win column for the good guys, right? Wrong. As soon as there was nothing negative to report about Fallujah, the media shifted its focus to other parts of the country. Just yesterday, a major news agency's website lead read: "Suicide Bomber Kills Six in Baghdad" and "Seven Marines Die in Iraq Clashes." True, yes. Comprehensive, no. Did the author of this article bother to mention that Coalition troops killed 50 or so terrorists while incurring those seven losses? Of course not. Nor was there any mention about the substantial progress these offensive operations continue to achieve in defeating the insurgents. Unfortunately, this sort of incomplete reporting has become the norm for the media, whose poor job of presenting a complete picture of what is going on in Iraq borders on being criminal.

Much of the problem is about perspective, putting things in scale and balance. From where I sit in my command post at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, things are not all bad right now. In fact, they are going quite well. We are not under attack by the enemy; on the contrary, we are taking the fight to him daily and have him on the ropes. In the distance, I can hear the repeated impacts of heavy artillery and five hundred-pound bombs hitting their targets in the city. The occasional tank main gun report and the staccato rhythm of a Marine Corps LAV or Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle's 25-millimeter cannon provide the bass line for a symphony of destruction. Right now, as elements from all four services complete the absolute annihilation of the insurgent forces remaining in Fallujah, the area around the former stronghold is more peaceful than it has been for more than a year. The number of attacks in the greater Al Anbar Province is down by at least 70-80% from late October -- before Operation Al Fajar began. The enemy in this area is completely defeated, but not completely gone. Final eradication of the pockets of insurgents will take some time, as it always does, but the fact remains that the central geographic stronghold of the insurgents is now under friendly control. That sounds a lot like success to me. Given all of this, why don't the papers lead with "Coalition Crushes Remaining Pockets of Insurgents" or "Enemy Forces Resort to Suicide Bombings of Civilians"? This would paint a far more accurate picture of the enemy's predicament over here. Instead, headlines focus almost exclusively on our hardships.

What about the media's portrayal of the enemy? Why do these ruthless murderers, kidnappers and thieves get a pass when it comes to their actions? What did the media not show or tell us about Margaret Hassoon, the director of C.A.R.E. in Iraq and an Iraqi citizen, who was kidnapped, brutally tortured and left disemboweled in streets of Fallujah? Did anyone in the press show these images over and over to emphasize the moral failings of the enemy as they did with the soldiers at Abu Ghuraib? Did anyone show the world how this enemy had huge stockpiles of weapons in schools and mosques, or how he used these protected places as sanctuaries for planning and fighting in Fallujah and the rest of Iraq? Are people of the world getting the complete story? The answer again is no! What the world got instead were repeated images of a battle-weary Marine who made a quick decision to use lethal force and who now is being tried in the world press. Is this one act really illustrative of the overall action in Fallujah? No, but the Marine video clip was shown an average of four times each hour on just about every major TV news channel for a week. This is how the world views our efforts over here and stories like this without a counter continually serve as propaganda victories for the enemy. Al Jazeera isn't showing the film of the CARE worker, but is showing the clip of the Marine. Earlier this year, the Iraqi government banned Al Jazeera from the country for its inaccurate reporting. Wonder where they get their information now? Well, if you go to the Internet, you'll find a web link from the Al Jazeera home page to CNN's home page. Very interesting.

The operation in Fallujah is only one of the recent examples of incomplete coverage of the events in Iraq. The battle in Najaf last August provides another. Television and newspapers spilled a continuous stream of images and stories about the destruction done to the sacred city, and of all the human suffering allegedly brought about by the hands of the big, bad Americans. These stories and the lack of anything to counter them gave more fuel to the fire of anti-Americanism that burns in this part of the world. Those on the outside saw the Coalition portrayed as invaders or oppressors, killing hapless Iraqis who, one was given to believe, simply were trying to defend their homes and their Muslim way of life.

Reality couldn't have been farther from the truth. What noticeably was missing were accounts of the atrocities committed by the Mehdi Militia -- Muqtada Al Sadr's band of henchmen. While the media was busy bashing the Coalition, Muqtada's boys were kidnapping policemen, city council members and anyone else accused of supporting the Coalition or the new government, trying them in a kangaroo court based on Islamic Shari'a law, then brutally torturing and executing them for their "crimes." What the media didn't show or write about were the two hundred-plus headless bodies found in the main mosque there, or the body that was put into a bread oven and baked. Nor did they show the world the hundreds of thousands of mortar, artillery and small arms rounds found within the "sacred" walls of the mosque. Also missing from the coverage was the huge cache of weapons found in Muqtada's "political" headquarters nearby. No, none of this made it to the screen or to print. All anyone showed were the few chipped tiles on the dome of the mosque and discussion centered on how we, the Coalition, had somehow done wrong. Score another one for the enemy's propaganda machine.

Now, compare the Najaf example to the coverage and debate ad nauseam of the Abu Ghuraib Prison affair. There certainly is no justification for what a dozen or so soldiers did there, but unbalanced reporting led the world to believe that the actions of the dozen were representative of the entire military. This has had an incredibly negative effect on Middle Easterners' already sagging opinion of the U.S. and its military. Did anyone show the world images of the 200 who were beheaded and mutilated in Muqtada's Shari'a Law court, or spend the next six months talking about how horrible all of that was? No, of course not. Most people don't know that these atrocities happened. It's little wonder that many people here want us out and would vote someone like Muqtada Al Sadr into office given the chance -- they never see the whole truth. Strange, when the enemy is the instigator the media does not flash images across the screens of televisions in the Middle East as they did with Abu Ghuraib. Is it because the beheaded bodies might offend someone? If so, then why do we continue see photos of the naked human pyramid over and over?

So, why doesn't the military get more involved in showing the media the other side of the story? The answer is they do. Although some outfits are better than others, the Army and other military organizations today understand the importance of getting out the story -- the whole story -- and trains leaders to talk to the press. There is a saying about media and the military that goes: "The only way the media is going to tell a good story is if you give them one to tell." This doesn't always work as planned. Recently, when a Coalition spokesman tried to let TV networks in on opening moves in the Fallujah operation, they misconstrued the events for something they were not and then blamed the military for their gullibility. CNN recently aired a "special report" in which the cable network accused the military of lying to it and others about the beginning of the Fallujah operation. The incident referred to took place in October when a Marine public affairs officer called media representatives and told them that an operation was about to begin. Reporters rushed to the outskirts of Fallujah to see what they assumed was going to be the beginning of the main attack on the city. As it turned out, what they saw were tactical "feints" designed to confuse the enemy about the timing of the main attack, then planned to take place weeks later.

Once the network realized that major combat operations wouldn't start for several more weeks, CNN alleged that the Marines had used them as a tool for their deception operation. Now, they say they want answers from the military and the administration on the matter. The reality appears to be that in their zeal to scoop their competition, CNN and others took the information they were given and turned it into what they wanted it to be. Did the military lie to the media: no. It is specifically against regulations to provide misinformation to the press. However, did the military planners anticipate that reporters would take the ball and run with it, adding to the overall deception plan? Possibly. Is that unprecedented or illegal? Of course not.

CNN and others say they were duped by the military in this and other cases. Yet, they never seem to be upset by the undeniable fact that the enemy manipulates them with a cunning that is almost worthy of envy. You can bet that terrorist leader Abu Musab Al Zarqarwi has his own version of a public affairs officer and it is evident that he uses him to great effect. Each time Zarquari's group executes a terrorist act such as a beheading or a car bomb, they have a prepared statement ready to post on their website and feed to the press. Over-eager reporters take the bait, hook, line and sinker, and report it just as they got it.

Did it ever occur to the media that this type of notoriety is just what the terrorists want and need? Every headline they grab is a victory for them. Those who have read the ancient Chinese military theorist and army general Sun Tsu will recall the philosophy of "Kill one, scare ten thousand" as the basic theory behind the strategy of terrorism. Through fear, the terrorist can then manipulate the behavior of the masses. The media allows the terrorist to use relatively small but spectacular events that directly affect very few, and spread them around the world to scare millions. What about the thousands of things that go right every day and are never reported? Complete a multi-million-dollar sewer project and no one wants to cover it, but let one car bomb go off and it makes headlines. With each headline, the enemy scores another point and the good-guys lose one. This method of scoring slowly is eroding domestic and international support while fueling the enemy's cause.

I believe one of the reasons for this shallow and subjective reporting is that many reporters never actually cover the events they report on. This is a point of growing concern within the Coalition. It appears many members of the media are hesitant to venture beyond the relative safety of the so-called "International Zone" in downtown Baghdad, or similar "safe havens" in other large cities. Because terrorists and other thugs wisely target western media members and others for kidnappings or attacks, the westerners stay close to their quarters. This has the effect of holding the media captive in cities and keeps them away from the broader truth that lies outside their view. With the press thus cornered, the terrorists easily feed their unwitting captives a thin gruel of anarchy, one spoonful each day. A car bomb at the entry point to the International Zone one day, a few mortars the next, maybe a kidnapping or two thrown in. All delivered to the doorsteps of those who will gladly accept it without having to leave their hotel rooms -- how convenient.

The scene is repeated all too often: an attack takes place in Baghdad and the morning sounds are punctuated by a large explosion and a rising cloud of smoke. Sirens wail in the distance and photographers dash to the scene a few miles away. Within the hour, stern-faced reporters confidently stare into the camera while standing on the balcony of their tenth-floor Baghdad hotel room, their back to the city and a distant smoke plume rising behind them. More mayhem in Gotham City they intone, and just in time for the morning news. There is a transparent reason why the majority of car bombings and other major events take place before noon Baghdad-time; any later and the event would miss the start of the morning news cycle on the U.S. east coast. These terrorists aren't stupid; they know just what to do to scare the masses and when to do it. An important key to their plan is manipulation of the news media. But, at least the reporters in Iraq are gathering information and filing their stories, regardless of whether or the stories are in perspective. Much worse are the "talking heads" who sit in studios or offices back home and pontificate about how badly things are going when they never have been to Iraq and only occasionally leave Manhattan.

Almost on a daily basis, newspapers, periodicals and airwaves give us negative views about the premises for this war and its progress. It seems that everyone from politicians to pop stars are voicing their unqualified opinions on how things are going. Recently, I saw a Rolling Stone magazine and in bold print on the cover was, "Iraq on Fire; Dispatches from the Lost War." Now, will someone please tell me who at Rolling Stone or just about any other "news" outlet is qualified to make a determination as to when all is lost and it's time to throw in the towel? In reality, such flawed reporting serves only to misshape world opinion and bolster the enemy's position. Each enemy success splashed across the front pages and TV screens of the world not only emboldens them, but increases their ability to recruit more money and followers.
So what are the credentials of these self proclaimed "experts"? The fact is that most of those on whom we rely for complete and factual accounts have little or no experience or education in counter-insurgency operations or in nation-building to support their assessments. How would they really know if things are going well or not? War is an ugly thing with many unexpected twists and turns. Who among them is qualified to say if this one is worse than any other at this point? What would they have said in early 1942 about our chances of winning World War II? Was it a lost cause too? How much have these "experts" studied warfare and counter-insurgencies in particular? Have they ever read Roger Trinquier's treatise Modern Warfare: A French View on Counter-insurgency (1956)? He is one of the few French military guys who got it right. The Algerian insurgency of the 1950s and the Iraq insurgency have many similarities. What about Napoleon's campaigns in Sardinia in 1805-07? Again, there are a lot of similarities to this campaign. Have they studied that and contrasted the strategies? Or, have they even read Mao Zedung's theories on insurgencies, or Nygen Giap's, or maybe Che' Gueverra's? Have they seen any of Sun Zsu's work lately? Who are these guys? It's time to start studying, folks. If a journalist doesn't recognize the names on this list, he or she probably isn't qualified to assess the state of this or any other campaign's progress.

Worse yet, why in the world would they seek opinion from someone who probably knows even less than they do about the state of affairs in Iraq? It sells commercials, I suppose. But, I find it amazing that some people are more apt to listen to a movie star's or rock singer's view on how we should prosecute world affairs than to someone whose profession it is to know how these things should go. I play the guitar, but Bruce Springsteen doesn't listen to me play. Why should I be subjected to his views on the validity of the war? By profession, he's a guitar player. Someone remind me what it is that makes Sean Penn an expert on anything. It seems that anyone who has a dissenting view is first to get in front of the camera. I'm all for freedom of speech, but let's talk about things we know. Otherwise, television news soon could have about as much credibility as "The Batchelor" has for showing us truly loving couples.

Also bothersome are references by "experts" on how "long" this war is taking. I've read that in the world of manufacturing, you can have only two of the following three qualities when developing a product -- cheap, fast or good. You can produce something cheap and fast, but it won't be good; good and fast, but it won't be cheap; good and cheap, but it won't be fast. In this case, we want the result to be good and we want it at the lowest cost in human lives. Given this set of conditions, one can expect this war is to take a while, and rightfully so. Creating a democracy in Iraq not only will require a change in the political system, but the economic system as well. Study of examples of similar socio-economic changes that took place in countries like Chile, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia and other countries with oppressive Socialist dictatorships shows that it took seven to ten years to move those countries to where they are now. There are many lessons to be learned from these transformations, the most important of which is that change doesn't come easily, even without an insurgency going on. Maybe the experts should take a look at all of the work that has gone into stabilizing Bosnia-Herzegovina over the last 10 years. We are just at the eighteen-month mark in Iraq, a place far more oppressive than Bosnia ever was. If previous examples are any comparison, there will be no quick solutions here, but that should be no surprise to an analyst who has done his or her homework.

This war is not without its tragedies; none ever are. The key to the enemy's success is use of his limited assets to gain the greatest influence over the masses. The media serves as the glass through which a relatively small event can be magnified to international proportions, and the enemy is exploiting this with incredible ease. There is no good news to counteract the bad, so the enemy scores a victory almost every day. In its zeal to get to the hot spots and report the latest bombing, the media is missing the reality of a greater good going on in Iraq. We seldom are seen doing anything right or positive in the news. People believe what they see, and what people of the world see almost on a daily basis is negative. How could they see it any other way? These images and stories, out of scale and context to the greater good going on over here, are just the sort of thing the terrorists are looking for. This focus on the enemy's successes strengthens his resolve and aids and abets his cause. It's the American image abroad that suffers in the end.

Ironically, the press freedom that we have brought to this part of the world is providing support for the enemy we fight. I obviously think it's a disgrace when many on whom the world relies for news paint such an incomplete picture of what actually has happened. Much too much is ignored or omitted. I am confident that history will prove our cause right in this war, but by the time that happens, the world might be so steeped in the gloom of ignorance we won't recognize victory when we achieve it.

In a related post at Chrenkoff the numbers don't lie.

Friday, January 21, 2005

SpongeBob Squarepants to Promote Homosexuality Tolerance

Original Post: 1/7/2005

A slew of cartoon characters will soon be participating in a homosexual tolerance campaign for children. I'm not surprised that Blue's Clues is participating but not my childhood favorite Clifford!!

How does 2-4% of the population generate such support? John Piper has a good article on tolerance that he wrote back on Christmas in 1988. To be "tolerant" of homosexuality means that it cannot be taught as a sin. That contradicts God's Word. I can tolerate a homosexual person the same way that I tolerate every other sinner in the world (which is all of us) but to condone the sin is asking too much.

Update 1/21/2005: The mainstream media caught onto the story after James Dobson made a statement about the video. Here is one example. Just type in Spongebob on Google news and you can read a plethora of articles on the subject. Most are attacking the closed-minded Christians for there intolerance of tolerance issues. While it may seem like the video is just an innocent remake of "We Are Family," the whole story needs to be understood. If the video, scheduled to be delivered in March to 61,000 schools nationwide, did not come with a curriculum for teachers to speak about tolerance - there wouldn't be an issue. If the kids were seeing nothing more than happy cartoons jumping around and hugging each other, it wouldn't be an issue. Here's where the problem lies (quoted from the liberal source at MSNBC):
"The eight-page long teacher's guide that accompanies that DVD makes three passing references to same-sex parents. It contains generic advice about what teachers should do if kids ask them about atypical homes— like ones with adoptive parents, step-siblings, or grandparents. Teachers are advised to remind kids that everybody's family is different, but they're all based on love."
There is also a tolerance pledge found on the website which encourages the same idea. If tolerance held true to it's meaning, "The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others," then people are being pretty selective in who they choose to tolerate.

Would there be an outcry if the KKK chose to use the Simpson's to portray a nuclear family reading the Bible together and encouraging others to take a stand for God? Even though the KKK claims to read the Bible and claims to love God, they obviously clash with It's teachings. Some might point out that the actual KKK video doesn't portray any racial hatred or violence, yet would that be ok? Wouldn't it be obvious to all that the video was merely a shadow of the reality the KKK teaches? Clearly, we can all agree that tolerance should have it's limits.

Though the above example is extreme compared to the "We Are Family" video, the point I am trying to make is that we all have our own set of standards and beliefs. For some, the idea that a child could be raised in a homosexual family, brings thoughts of prejudicial breakthrough. They encourage it and look forward to the day when all people will be accepted as equal and given the same rights to adoption. For others, the same idea causes a conflict of spiritual beliefs. If the Bible teaches homosexuality as a sin, then no amount of "tolerance" teaching is going to change what a conservative Christian believes. Their authority is in God's Word, not the media.

Does that mean us Christians despise homosexuals? Do we teach and encourage gay-bashing? Hardly. That would be hypocritical of us. I show love to "sinners" everyday, I too am a "sinner." I can accept someone's differing opinions and co-exist without any violence. I can understand where they are coming from and even befriend them, but I won't condone the sin. And I won't encourage public schools to condone it either.

Update 1/22/2005: Finally, a Christian Blog that defends Dobson. So many of my daily reads were attacking Dobson right along with the MSM. Hugh Hewitt does the right thing and challenges God-blogs to think twice before agreeing with the NY Times.

Imago Dei has two of the best posts on the subject that I have read in the blogosphere. Read The Intolerance of Tolerance and then check out Cartoons: Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Another great article on the ultimate threat the video poses. This article links to the Writing for Change program (which he inappropriately associates with the cartoon video) which explicitly discusses homosexuality tolerance.

Here's an example of when tolerance goes too far. Illinois has added "sexual orientation" to their discrimination law. Discrimination laws of this nature typically attach a clause that makes religious organizations exempt, however, this particular bill doesn't.

When churches are forced to hire homosexuals the govenment has overstepped it's boundaries. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Carol Ronen, D-Chicago says regarding churches, "If that is their goal, to discriminate against gay people, this law wouldn't allow them to do that."

IFI Director Peter LaBarbera says, "It's about saying that 'gay rights' are more important than religious freedoms, and we hope ultimately it will be struck down in court."

Forget About the Prom Lemoore High

Original Post 12/31/2004:
LEMOORE - Hold the shopping for that pretty dress and don't reserve the limo yet. This year's Lemoore High School junior/senior prom has been canceled.

According to LHS Principal Jim Bennett, the decision was not an easy one to make.

"I have approached students at dances, and before they occur, about this behavior for months," Bennett said. "We (school staff) have explained to students that certain types of dancing are not appropriate. I also warned them that this would happen if things didn't change."

Students, according to Bennett, are "freak dancing" - performing exceedingly sexually provocative moves that are not appropriate at school-sponsored events.
Read the rest at the Hanford Sentinel.


When I first heard about this, I laughed and called my wife, who graduated from Lemoore High School in '95. I thought it was a great idea. If the "freak" dancing doesn't stop, then NO DANCING AT ALL! I guess Principal Bennett wanted to ring in the New Year with a little bit of controversy.

After thinking more about it, I started to have a change of heart. It's not that I think kids should be allowed to "freak" each other at school, but what about all of those kids who don't participate in that dancing? I'm sure there are still students at LHS who dance like the scene from Napoleon Dynamite shown to the right. I went to 4 proms between my junior/senior years. I had no clue how to "freak" dance, nor did I want to learn how. I just enjoyed a night out with friends. High School Prom is such a part of the whole experience. Everyone remembers who they went with, what kind of dress or tux they wore, where it was at, yada, yada, yada. To take that experience away from every student due to the idiocy of a few is not fair. I'm sure he will rethink things after all of the parent letters come in. I know I would.

BTW: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Update 1/10: The story has caught on at CQ, one of the elite political blogs. Check out what the blogosphere is saying about the story.

Update 1/11/2005: When I posted this article back on New Years Eve, never did I think the attention to the story would become national. Yesterday I mentioned that Captain's Quarter's had posted about it. You can read his thoughts here. Today I discovered that MTV has even talked about the story. MTV mentions an occasion in NV where another principle canceled school dances. His car was vandalized and the dances were held by the school's parents at a local dance hall. Jim Bennett is sticking by his reasoning stating, "There will be no more dances at Lemoore until the student sponsors of the dances abide by two conditions: Number one, no freak dancing, and number two, the administrators don't have to assure number one," Bennett said. "Whether or not that will work, we'll have to see."

Update 1/20: I agree wholeheartedly that freak dancing should be squelched immediately when it occus on the dance floor of a high school gym. I have also heard since posting about this that school dances are much worse than when I was there ('96 grad). I realize that the freak dancing is much more sexual now as well. People simulating sex like a Brittany Spears concert. That being said, I completely understand Principal Bennett's concerns.

My proposal: Have an 80's dance music theme, or Disco night. If the music isn't "freak dance" material, won't the dancing become more acceptable (and talented for that matter)? As long as the DJ's are allowed to play the artists with sexually-charged lyrics, that's what the kids will learn to dance to.

You can check Lemoore High's website for updates on the status of the dances. The students in charge of dances are attempting to work out a solution.

Thursday, January 20, 2005

Amber Frey book signing in Fresno

If you are interested in meeting the witness who single-handedly took Scott Peterson down, mark your calendar for Jan. 29th. Amber Frey will be signing at Barnes & Noble across from the RiverPark shopping center.

Most people are applauding her for her critical assistance throughout this whole ordeal. She cooperated with the police, the investigators, and the prosecution team. Her life for the last two years has revolved around nothing else. Now that the trial is over, the guilty verdict with a sentence to death has been achieved, her life can slowly become normal again...yeah right.

Instead of trying to gain some privacy again, Amber has accepted her instant-celebrity status and taken it to the next level. She has been traveling around the country talking to anyone willing to televise an interview with her. Some question her motives, and wonder if she isn't taking advantage of an unfortunate situation. I believe Amber was caught in a catch-22. It isn't appropriate to expect her to disappear. Anyone placed in her shoes would likely do the same thing with this opportunity. My question for Amber is...How much of the books proceeds will be going to the Laci Peterson Fund?

Update 1/26: Here is a good article from Slate on Amber's new book.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Re-circulation of an excellent prayer

You may have seen this prayer in a recent chain that has been re-circulating. The information in the letter is, for the most part, legitimate. Read Snopes for the whole truth. Here is Rev. Joe Wright's opening prayer before the Kansas House of Representatives back in January of 1996:
Heavenly Father, we come before you to ask your forgiveness. We seek your direction and your guidance. We know your word says, "Woe to those who call evil good." But that's what we've done.

We've lost our spiritual equilibrium. We have inverted our values. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word in the name of moral pluralism. We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.

We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.

We've exploited the poor and called it a lottery. We've neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. In the name of choice, we have killed our unborn. In the name of right to life, we have killed abortionists.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it taxes. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, oh, God, and know our hearts today. Try us. Show us any wickedness within us. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of the State of Kansas, and that they have been ordained by you to govern this great state.

Grant them your wisdom to rule. May their decisions direct us to the center of your will. And, as we continue our prayer and as we come in out of the fog, give us clear minds to accomplish our goals as we begin this Legislature. For we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Iraqis want to vote

Two-thirds of the registered voters in baghdad say they will be voting in the upcoming elections despite all of the threats of violence. Captain Ed points out that Baghdad will have a better turn-out than America did for her past election, which at 60.7% is the best turnout in 36 years.

Iraqi's living in the US are willing to travel 9 hours just to register to vote, and then repeat the same trip to actually vote 2 weeks later. That kind of dedication is what makes democracy such an attainable goal for Iraq.
"For us, right now, this is like a new birthday," said Ali Alhachem of Dearborn. "And we say thank you very much for the USA people, thank you very much for the USA government, thank you very much President Bush."
You won't be reading that quote in the mainstream media.

Unfortunately, some people will have to wait to be "recognized" for voter eligibility. Israeli Iraqi's will be refused the opportunity to vote simply because their country is not recognized. That situation sounds vaguely familiar to our own history of racial prejudice. In time...they will learn.

Update 1/22: Another poll shows that 80% of Iraqi's plan on voting.

Monday, January 17, 2005

How can the dream survive if we murder the children?

That was the question proposed by Dr. Alveda King, the neice of Martin Luther King, Jr. She will be participating in a "March for Life" on January 24th. Priests for Life will be organizing the annual march. The national director of Priests for Life, Frank Pavone, notes a sermon MLK preached on Christmas in 1967:
"The next thing we must be concerned about if we are to have peace on earth and good will toward men is the nonviolent affirmation of the sacredness of all human life."

La Shawn Barber has a great post about the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. Her concern is that the liberal elite are fighting in his name, but without the same vision, they are not honoring his name.

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Third Trimester Abortion Survivor to speak in Modesto

Gianna Jessen was not supposed to live. Her mother had chosen to abort Gianna in her third trimester, after receiving counsel from Planned Parenthood in Southern California. The saline her mother was injected with was supposed to have burned Gianna inside and out within 24 hours. Thankfully, her mother delivered Gianna at 6am inside the abortion clinic before the "doctor" arrived for his 9am shift. Gianna believes that the abortionist would have ensured her death that morning regardless of the saline's ineffectiveness. Ironically, had the abortionist been guilty of this, he could have been tried for murder.

In her testimony before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on April 22, 1996 (19 years-old) Gianna had this to say
"I am happy to be alive. I almost died. Every day I thank God for life...Today, a baby is a baby when convenient. It is tissue or otherwise when the time is not right. A baby is a baby when miscarriage takes place at two, three, four months. A baby is called a tissue or clumps of cells when an abortion takes place at two, three, four months. Why is that? I see no difference. What are you seeing? Many close there eyes..."
Gianna will be telling her story in Modesto at the Sanctity of Life Rally this Friday, 7pm at Modesto High School. If you can't make it to the event, consider purchasing her book, Gianna, and reading about the amazing story.
Read the entire article at Modbee.

Saturday, January 15, 2005

I Can't Imagine the Pain of Losing a Child

Michelle Malkin urges us to pray for Evan Parker Scott. He is a three-and-a-half-year-old who was removed from his adoptive parents custody to be reunited with the mother who birthed him. She links to an excellent article at The Boston Globe by Jeff Jacoby titled "When blood matters more than love." You can also find a video of the transfer at First Coast News.

I couldn't imagine the depth of loss that the Parker's are experiencing right now. The child they have cared for and loved was torn away from them by a very confused biological mother. But what saddens me the most is trying to understand the fear and confusion this boy will go through. In all of this, Evan is the true victim. God, have mercy on him and comfort him with the protection of Your loving arms.

Friday, January 14, 2005

Sanctification Through Trials

James encouraged his readers to “count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds” (Jam.1:2). He knew that trials were the anvil upon which our faith is sharpened. Trials draw us nearer to our Lord as we rely upon Him to sustain us. Why is it that we often take the path of least resistance in order to avoid trials? If we aspire to have a closer walk with God, we must accept our trials and persecution with Joy! It is for His glory that we endure and it is by His strength that we succeed.

As the trials come, don’t panic and turn your back on God. Instead cling all the more tighter to the promise of future grace. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Thursday, January 13, 2005

The President's $40 Million Inaugural Ball

Is this new debate an attack from the liberal media to question Bush and challenge everything he does? Is the Inaugural theme of "Celebrating Freedom, Honoring Service" a worthy response to the expense? I suppose you could ask one of the soldier's who was invited. It's one thing to question the frivolity of the Inaugural Ball when 210,000 lives have been lost and a costly war is taking place. It's another thing to completely ignore the fact that the Inaugural Ball has been going on for over 200 years and that Republicans and Democrats both participate when it's their turn. In fact, the former President Bill Clinton had two of his own. One that cost about 33 million and another that was just shy of 30 million.

Can we assume Kerry would have done things differently if he were president now? I guess we can all safely answer affirmative to that. We probably wouldn't be at war in Iraq (or we would have, then we wouldn't have, then we would have but not really), Saddam would still be wreaking havoc in the lives of the Iraqi people, we would be encouraged with the scam-ridden results of the United Nations - promoting their oil-for-food plan, and ultimately the world would be worse off but Democrats could have their party...guilt free.

Still, I think the idea of throwing an extravagant party at a time like this is pretty poor taste. Not only does it give the media world more ammunition to bash Bush, but it reveals a little too obviously that rich Americans will be rich Americans regardless of the state of the world. That goes for individuals in both political parties. "The love of money is the root of all evil", and it's times like this which reveal how much we Americans abhor that verse. I say, cancel the ball and send the money to World Vision (not the UN). At the same time, the rest of the world and each individual should be looking for ways to live more frugally and give more freely.

Consumer Reports and the United Nations

Consumer Reports has made a response defending their reasoning for encouraging abortion as birth control. In their response they cite the UN.

Speaking of the UN, they have a new ad campaign that involves condoms. Meet the 3 Amigos. In one of the spots, they mock abstinence as being unrealistic and old-fashioned.

Keep digging that hole Consumer Reports. Soon you'll polarize yourself from half of America just like your buddies over at the United Nations.

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Freeze Proposed for Prop. 71 - Stem Cell Reseach

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry is calling for the suspension of the stem cell research Proposition 71. With the state not in a position to afford shelling out an additional $200 million per year ($6 billion over 30 years), the mayor of Fresno is asking for the prop. to be suspended for 5 years. I was in the 40% that didn't vote for the prop. so I would love to see the state recognize the mayor's concerns. However, since the state is painted blue everywhere but here in the central valley, I'm inclined to think he'll be ignored.

Update - Consumer Reports has been thrown into the flame with Planned Parenthood

Original Post 1/10:
In a previous post I mentioned that Planned Parenthood condoms ranked with the worst. In fact, two out of the three condoms that Consumer Reports tested from Planned Parenthood ranked dead last. Planned Parenthood has placed their spin on the results claiming that they have retested all of their condoms and received "excellent results."

Now the report itself is coming under fire as Consumer Reports praises Planned Parenthood for their work and encourages women to consider the several birth control options, including abortion. Surgical abortion is described as the sucking out of "uterine contents." The procedure is said to contain less risk than following through with the pregnancy.

Thank you Consumer Reports for overstepping your boundaries! You just went from being a respectable and trustworthy magazine to puppet in one article. That's no small feat! I especially like the way you called the growing child within my wife's womb "uterine contents." I can't wait to see what those contents will look like in about 7 months. Probably similar to my mother's "uterine contents" when I was a child. If I were at all naive I might discourage my wife from having the child as you report that delivering the child is 118 times more likely to end fatally for the mother than abortion (which coincidentally ends with 100% fatality of the "uterine contents"). You made getting an abortion sound better than an enema. If I had a subscription to cancel I would! Since I don't, I will do my best to convince others to cancel.

Update 1/12:
An interesting new discovery has been made about the CEO of Consumer Reports. WND is reporting that he once led a state branch of Planned Parenthood. Sounds like a possible conflict of interest to me...

Update - Kid Rock (Not) to perform for the youth at Bush's Inauguration

An article over at World Net Daily voices concern about choosing the vulgar rocker to headline the performance.

If Christians were largely influential in re-electing Bush to his second term, it would be extremely bad taste to allow Kid Rock to headline his inauguration. I'm not sure who organizes the events festivities but they should be fired today! Those who can afford the $750 tickets to the ball should be appalled at what their kids will be encouraged to listen to. Kid Rock may be a Bush supporter...but he is a perverted rock singer first and foremost. What is he going to sing? One of his latest sexually explicit, profanity laced ballads? He could follow one of those great hits up with "God Bless America."

Update 1/7 8:50 AM:
Despite press reports originating in the New York Times that rock-rapper Kid Rock would perform at the Bush inauguration, the Presidential Inauguration Committee now says the vulgar entertainer is "not confirmed" to appear at the celebration's youth concert.
Read the rest at World Net Daily.

Thank goodness!

Update 1/12:
A new report reveals that Kid Rock definately is not going to be playing at the inauguration. I wonder if this was another blogosphere takedown.

This is how I want to leave this earth...

Rev. Jack Arnold, a Presbyterian minister at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Orlando, died at the age of 69 in the midst of giving a sermon about Heaven. What an amazing way to go! A colleague reported his last words to be, "And when I go to heaven..." I've always thought I would like to die in my sleep, but this definately trumps that!
Article origination from My Way, via the Drudge Report.

If you like BlogExplosion, Try BlogClicker!!


I started using blogexplosion a couple of weeks ago and I have found some great blogs to read. I've also received several comments on my own blog from users of BE. Now there is a new click-exchange for blogs called BlogClicker. It works the same way so give it a shot!

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Evangelism Training from Jesus

Matthew 8:20 “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Jesus never shied away from the harsh reality that following Him required. He was always very upfront about the cost. He warned of persecution and trials that every Christian would inevitably experience. For some, that promise became the bedrock of their faithfulness. For others, it was the stumbling block that led to indifference.

Jesus’ method of sharing with others was never diluted by promises of ease. Life is difficult, and following Him does not alleviate the hardship. In fact, generally, it increases the pain. Jesus did not coddle every individual who came to Him with false hope. He laid out the cost, and waited to see conviction. If someone was coming to Jesus to escape the challenges of life, they would not be satisfied with His response.

Despite the clear method Jesus exemplified, the gospel today is often presented with opposite claims. In an attempt to attract the seeker Christ is presented to them as a cure-all. “Come to Jesus and all your troubles will disappear.” Today, the message of the gospel is littered with flowery speech that produces false converts or at best ill-prepared converts. The church should take care that we don’t forsake the truth for numerical gain.

Sunday, January 09, 2005

The Tsunami was predicted and warned about!

I was floored when I read this article. At first I thought someone was just trying to get some media hype but the man is a genious who deserves the attention. His name is Kerry Sieh and he claims that he had been trying to get the attention of officials in Asia for months prior to handing out flyers and putting up posters which warned of the tsunami. He is a professor of geology at California Institute of Technology. The school website has this to say about it:
In Sumatra: Notes From a Geologist in the Field UPDATED 1/7/05
For more than a decade, Kerry Sieh, the Robert P. Sharp Professor of Geology and a member of the Tectonic Observatory, has studied the Sumatran subduction zone. Last summer he and his colleagues distributed brochures to people living on nearby islands to explain the area's geology and suggest ways to limit future damage. Sieh recently returned to Indonesia, and in these e-mailed messages, presents his observations following the Aceh earthquake.

Kudo's to Kerry (never thought I'd be saying that...)!

So I now have trackback capabilities...

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

I got my first trackback from Sisu - Thank you very much.

I learned how to install it and begin using it but I didn't realize that all my previous comments would be deleted. That's kind of lame! It was probably in the small print somewhere at Haloscan but I'm a guy, and everyone knows that guys don't read small print.

I just want to formally apologize to the millions of commentators whose precious words have been lost forever. Now no one will believe me when I say that all of my posts had the quantity of comments that Joe Carter gets with every post he makes.

Friday, January 07, 2005

Planned Parenthood Condoms Rank with the Worst

A study done by Consumer Reports has Planned Parenthood (PP) scrambling to spin the results. Pro-life advocates have accused PP of providing poor condoms to people knowing they will fail. That in turn provides the abortion industry continued traffic. Although the study certainly doesn't prove their case, PP definately felt the sting of the news when it was leaked.

Should Evangelical leaders flex their political muscles?

James Jewell of Rooftop Blog has a great post on the subject. The post is a response to a NY Times article regarding some comments made by James Dobson. Though Focus on the Family has been very influential in the Christian as well as political realm, James Dobson, often walks a thin line between the two. As Jewell points out, it may be better for him to simply choose one or the other rather than cloud the issue, and possibly misrepresent God.

Thursday, January 06, 2005

Members of the Univ. of Oregon wrestling team were attacked in Fresno

Two members of the University of Oregon wrestling team were the victims of a brutal attack in a convenience store parking lot last weekend while the team was in Fresno, Calif., for a dual meet.

Junior Martin Mitchell and sophomore Cyle Hartzell were jumped from behind by a group of men just after midnight Sunday. One of the assailants knocked Mitchell to the ground with a blow to the back of the head, while others attempted to slice off Hartzell's left ear.

Mitchell said the attack was over in a matter of seconds, ending when both wrestlers ran back to their hotel, which was located behind the store.

Hartzell's ear was nearly cut off and clung to the side of his head only by the lobe. He immediately underwent successful surgery in Fresno to have the ear reattached.

"I don't know if they used a straight blade or a box cutter or what, but it was a clean cut," Oregon coach Chuck Kearney said. "It was just hanging there."
Read the entire article at The Register-Guard.


What a bunch of cowards. The attackers hit the UO wrestlers from behind and then ran off. How pathetic is that?

Gender Roles in the Church

...In a few years, one of the two congregations I served (it was a yoked parish) no longer had any women on its board of elders and this led to our coming under the rebuke of our denomination since we were violating the constitutional requirement that women and men hold office in equal numbers in each local congregation.

After about a year and a half of deliberation within our board of elders, we decided to leave that denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and join another denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America.

This second denomination still honors Scripture, and she is a community of believers still confessing what Scripture clearly says: that abortion, infanticide, fornication, and homosexuality are sin. Further, church discipline is still practiced within this ecclesiastical fellowship, the Bible is still honored, and only men are eligible for the offices of pastor and elder.

While I was in the process of transferring my credentials, I was examined by the local presbytery I was seeking to enter within the PCA and was asked the following question: “Do you believe in the ordination of women as pastors and elders?”

I answered, “No; in the past I have ordained women but I repent.”

Why did I (and do I) repent of ordaining women to the eldership?

Because the Bible with great clarity and simplicity forbids women to exercise authority over men.

*Luther on Loving Word of God and Conflict: Anyone who intends to love God and His Word will not have an easy time of it. It will often hit him between the eyes, and the love will often become the kind that the devil sours and embitters for him. Hence we need the ability to hold tight and to be devoted to the Word of God. -Luther's Works, Volume 21; edited by Jaroslav Pelikan; Concordia Publishing House; Saint Louis; “Sermon on Matthew 6:24,” p. 191.

The clarity and simplicity of God's commands concerning these matters is devastating to those moderns and postmoderns who try to use Scripture for their own purposes. This is why I have a certain respect for the original feminists such as the late Paul King Jewett of Fuller Theological Seminary who, in his classic work, Man as Male and Female, had the integrity simply to say that the Bible is clear and the Bible is wrong (pp. 118-119). It is also why I respect secular feminists who, having no need to honor Scripture or its Author, put it bluntly as they see it saying: “The Bible is hopelessly patriarchal,” by which they mean that because of its patriarchy we must reject Scripture.
Read the entire article at Baylyblog.


This is a great article by Tim Blayly regarding gender roles. He talks about how he initially desired to involve women in pastoral and elder positions (when he was apart of the PCUSA). He eventually left that church to go to a PCA which generally holds the historical views of the reformed church. I especially like his point that he respects feminists who are able to admit the Bible's clear teachings on the issue. It is difficult to keep quiet when people try to inappropriately apply scripture to their worldviews. In an attempt to cater to both scripture and the modern view they blaspheme God's Word. If your foundation for reasoning is based upon scripture, there is not much room for women pastors.

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

Gun Control Doesn't Work

WASHINGTON – While it is an article of faith among gun-control proponents that government restrictions on firearms reduces violence and crime, two new U.S. studies could find no evidence to support such a conclusion.

The National Academy of Sciences issued a 328-page report based on 253 journal articles, 99 books, 43 government publications, a survey of 80 different gun-control laws and some of its own independent study. In short, the panel could find no link between restrictions on gun ownership and lower rates of crime, firearms violence or even accidents with guns.

The panel was established during the Clinton administration and all but one of its members were known to favor gun control.
Read the entire article at World Net Daily


While this report doesn't come as a shocker to many of us conservatives, what is surprising is who the report comes from. Most liberals would immediately like to attack the source when a report of this magnitude is released. However, the source is a group of advocates for gun-control doing research appointed by Clinton! What an amazingly honest find! I am impressed by the reports truthfulness, yet I am not shocked by it's lack of media attention. If you don't read World Net Daily, you likely have not heard of it.

Back from Vacation in So.Cal.

I've got some pics to post...but not tonight.