I Have MOVED!!

Due to some of the idisyncricies of this blog that aggravate me, I have moved over to another blogging home. (Be sure to update your links to my blog.)

You can go there by clicking here.

Look At Me Being Serious!

'The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD’s offering to make atonement for your lives.' ~ Exodus 30:15


God’s providence is an amazing thing. Pastors Anderson and Coleman both addressed issues I had been dealing with recently in Sunday School and the worship service sermon, respectively. Jon, in our discussion on the Westminster Confession of Faith, lectured about the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s illumination to our understanding of the message(s) of Scripture while Pastor Coleman treated us to an expository treatment of predestination, with Ephesians 1:5 as the primary text.

I wrestled with both aspects of truth a great deal throughout my own long journey down the Reformed path that led me to Westminster Presbyterian Church; neither topic, though plainly stated in and/ or deduced from Scripture, are easily understood absent the work of the Holy Spirit. So, I should not be surprised (should not be) when others do not immediately embrace the doctrinal truths we see so clearly before us. Still, the remaining corruption in my flesh erupts just enough to arouse my frustration nearly every time I discuss predestination (or God’s eternal decree) with others—primarily family members for some reason or another.

Just over two weeks ago my mama and step-father came out to the friendly confines of Covenanter Ranch in Iola to visit us. Actually, to be accurate, I should admit that they came to see Gracie Mae; Ashlee and I were incidental to the trip. Near the end of the visit, we began discussing eschatology which eventually led to God’s eternal decree, providence, and predestination. I am fairly certain I performed admirably as it relates to the degree of animation I exhibited—or lack there of, really. I kept my cool (for once) and simply referred to Scripture. I admitted that I can’t understand the concepts fully; however, I explained that I believe very strongly that the Bible is the Word of God and, as it states both God’s direction of all things and man’s responsibility for his actions, it must be true.

As I mentioned above, Jon’s discussion of the WCF touched upon the work of the Holy Spirit as an integral part of understanding—and accepting—the truths of Scripture. In addition, the Confession makes it clear that some parts of scripture, no matter how long or arduously we wrestle with them, may never been clearly revealed or understood.

‘All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.’ (WCF 1.7)

Pastor Coleman’s discourse spoke directly to the arguments my mama and step-father raised regarding predestination—primarily that it doesn’t seem fair nor loving. (Rest assured, they’ll soon have their own shiny new copy of the sermon on CD as soon as it is made available to me.) Yet, for all of my protestations that God is in fact loving—especially in His act of predestination—I missed the crucial evidence in the passage I cited until Pastor Coleman pointed it out in his sermon. You need only retrace your steps backward two words from verse 5 of Ephesians 1 and the proof is right there: ‘In love…’

All of this is to say that I find the combination of the two truths discussed above quite comforting and extremely liberating. There is no need for me to get frustrated nor agitated by another’s failure (or unwillingness) to understand certain passages of Scripture or similarly ‘difficult’ doctrinal positions. God’s Word will not return to Him void nor will the effective call of the Spirit be ultimately resisted. ‘All’ I am commanded to do is share the truth.

God does all of the heavy lifting.
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Those who know me well--and those who have only met me once, really--know that I love playing practical jokes on folks. Here is an example of how you should NOT react when a joke is played on you. (Take a look at his shirt if you want to be even more embarrassed!)

Mrs. Wiggins, please put this in the 'Hyprocrisy File': 'NASA scientist James E. Hansen, who has publicly criticized the Bush administration for dragging its feet on climate change and labeled skeptics of man-made global warming as distracting "court jesters," appears in a 1971 Washington Post article that warns of an impending ice age within 50 years.'



Ron Paul 2nd in Palmetto Family Straw Poll , Columbia, SC

539 total ballots cast:

1st: 206 votes - Mike Huckabee
2nd: 179 votes - Ron Paul
3rd: 43 votes - Fred Thompson
4th: 29 votes - Sam Brownback
5th: 25 votes - Duncan Hunter
6th: 14 votes - Mitt Romney
7th: 12 votes - Daniel Gilbert
8th: 10 votes - John McCain
9th: 7 votes - Hugh Cort
10th: 5 votes - Rudy Giuliani




Beware The Sticky Revolution!!




'The income tax is bad because it has robbed you and me of the guarantee of privacy and the respect for our property that were given to us in Article IV of the Bill of Rights. This invasion is absolute and complete as far as the amount of tax that can be assessed is concerned. Please remember that under the Sixteenth Amendment, Congress can take 100% of our income anytime it wants to. As a matter of fact, right now it is imposing a tax as high as 91%. This is downright confiscation and cannot be defended on any other grounds.' ~ T. Coleman Andrews, former Commissioner of Infernal Revenue Service




'A Christian advocacy group is encouraging military families, and other concerned citizens, to write letters to the Defense Department expressing concern over the recent decision by the Pentagon that allows the sale of certain adult [sic] magazines at military exchanges.'


In reference to the article cited above, I can attest to the prevalence of pornography in the military (at least in the Army). I was exposed to more illicit and profane materials during my hitch in the Army than I ever was before or have been since. Oddly enough, the best thing that happened to protect my eyes and my spirit was being deployed during Operations Desert Shield and Storm, where the Saudi government did not allow such materials into the country. Interestingly, when we were occupying southern Iraq near the town of An-Nasiriyah, a local man named Hussein offered--unsolicited--to bring us pornography (and booze, and pills, and cigarettes) for the right price. (We declined.)



Due to the intricacies of U.S. Copyright Law, which is rivaled only by the IRS tax code, there is presently underway a tooth-and-nail fight over the rights to The Dean Martin Show. My grandmother LOVED that show; my mama said that nobody was allowed to talk during the programme at the risk of being pummeled by Nonnie. (And she would do it, too!)



As the campaign to cook up a pretense for war with Iran gathers steam, please keep in mind that you should not believe everything you read or hear.



Reason 1,094,322 that women should not be law enforcement officers.




Rather than a Just War, it seems that we have just war.

This is just too funny for words.

'Beyond its entertainment value, Baywatch has enriched and, in many cases, helped save lives. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to continue with a project which has such a significance for so many.' ~ David Hasselhoff, Actor

I'll Have the Kriegshund Burger and a Cup of Hot Fat, Please

'"But now bring me a musician." And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.' ~ II Kings 3:15

A prevalent accusation levelled against those of us in the Reformed tradition--and, more often than not, deservedly so--is that of being too cerebral or having an overemphasis on the intellectual aspects of theology and doctrine. I must admit to having a hand in perpetuating that perception and, although I could 'name names' regarding my confederates at WPC, I'll leave that up to the reader to identify those who bear the blame alongside me.

However, though I readily admit the intellectual approach to our faith can be overemphasised, I would also assert with great confidence that it does have its place. Our intellect and capacity for critical thought are gifts from God; after all, He is the author of logic.

Yet, it has been my experience that an all too prevalent approach to our supplications focuses almost exclusively upon the emotional aspects of the faith--at least as much as it concerns those prayers in which we seek guidance or wisdom in specific circumstances, such as job searches, child-bearing or rearing, dating or marriage relationships, etc. By this I mean that the answer we seek--and I am including myself in this discussion--is one of the 'Road to Damascus' variety in which we desire God to provide His answer in some unmistakably overt manner, via anything from an immediate telephone call to His voice emanating from a pillar of smoke hovering just above our house. (Oh, that life's important decisions could always be made by the casting of lots!)

To be clear, I am not denying that God can--and does--use such methods in his Providence to direct and interact with His people to accomplish His purposes. I have often heard those who have said that God 'led' them to such and such decision or they 'felt His call' to make a certain decision. I cannot recall a time in my life in which God has so recognisably dealt with me and my petitions to Him, still, I have no method or authority to discount those types of accounts described above in the lives of others and it is not my intention to here cast doubt upon them.

My point is that I think we sell ourselves short too often when we seek God's counsel as it relates to our ability to act with wisdom. He has given us a tremendous faculty for reason, deduction, and logic. In short, He has, in varying degrees depending upon the individual, given us wisdom--which He intends for us to utilise. I am not advocating that we eschew approaching the bar of Heaven and asking for intercession or guidance; what I am advocating is that we not be so fearful in using the wisdom that God has given us, coupling it with what He has revealed to us as His will in His word, and drawing conclusions or making decisions with confidence.

I have ruminated on this subject for quite some time but my thoughts on this subject re-emerged the other day during my lunchtime men's Bible study on the Book of Judges. In our discussion about God's revelation to Sampson's parents regarding their son's purpose for Israel, it was noticed that the father, Manoah, reacted with a great deal of fear and trepidation while Sampson's mother based her reaction upon her faith--and what she could deduce about the situation based upon what she knew about God. She used the faculties God had given her to assess the situation while Manoah required supernatural authentication to validate God's message. D. M. Lloyd Jones discusses the difference in their reactions thus in 'Facing the Unexpected':

'We must consider what this woman did, and the answer is a startling and surprising one--that she just thought and reasoned. How simple! And yet how we tend to fail at this point ... There is an anti-intellectual spirit with regard to religion. ... The whole emphasis has been placed upon religion as a power which can do things for us and which can make us happy. ... Seeing and observing her husband's collapse ... she doesn't cry or shout ... she thinks, she reasons, she ponders the matter, and with magnificent logic she arrives at the only conclusion that is really valid.' [Emphasis mine.]

All of this is to say that I don't think we should have so little confidence in our God-given abilities to reason and in the wisdom He grants us. Certainly, we should prayerfully seek His guidance and direction; but rather than in a burning bush or an angel from Heaven seizing our knife-clasping hand (which God can and may use at His good pleasure), His answer can often be seen in our ordinary and deliberative attempts to weigh the benefits or deficits of our situtation based upon the gifts He has already bestowed upon us in conjuction with those heavenward petitions.

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Tabula rasa? I don’t think so. I KNEW Gracie Mae had something going on up there!

I was telling some of the folks at church last week about the book on levitation that Ashlee bought me the other day. I haven't been able to put it down.

For quite some time now I have been itchin' to start a bluegrass band. And I've got the perfect name already picked out: Treble Yell! (Can you dig it?)

Speaking of bluegrass bands, one of my old high school buddies was asked to sit in on bass with some of his fellow troops in Iraq and--poof--the Taji Mountain Boys were born.

The following statement has been issued by Michael Anthony Peroutka, the Presidential candidate of the Constitution Party in 2004. He is also co-founder, with his brother Steve, of “Institute On The Constitution.” And he is co-host, with John Lofton, of “The American View” radio show.
I endorse Rep. Ron Paul for President. And I endorse him not because he is the lesser of two evils. A Christian can never endorse any kind of evil. I endorse Rep. Paul because — from a Christian/Biblical and Constitutional perspective – he is, by far, the best candidate running for President.
— Rep. Paul believes, correctly, that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant word of God and thus it is not the role of God-ordained civil government, at any level, to feed, house, clothe or educate anybody.
— Rep. Paul takes his oath to God as a Congressman seriously and believes, correctly, that the Constitution is the highest man-made law in our land, that it severely restricts what the Federal Government can legally do, and it must be obeyed. This is why, as he states on his campaign web site, he has: never voted to raise taxes; never voted for an unbalanced budget; never voted for a Federal restriction on gun ownership; never voted to raise Congressional pay; never taken a government-paid junket; and has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
In addition, Rep. Paul has voted against: the Patriot Act; regulating the Internet; and he voted against the Iraq war. He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
— Rep. Paul, again correctly, is truly pro-life and believes that there are no circumstances under which it is OK to murder by abortion any innocent unborn babies.
(The CP is the third-largest political party in the US (366,000 members, more than the LP's 235,000), with almost all of them in California and Nevada.)



'Today, with all of the curriculum that's been developed, [homeschooling is] really quite easy. Not only is it quite easy, one of the biggest problems I have is selecting what I want to do from the wealth of resources that are available," says Shortt.



'Of course, there is a one in ten-thousand chance that, when I push this button, it will be the end of the world.' ~ Manhattan Project physicist Enrico Fermi.

Come you masters of war

You that build all the guns

You that build the death planes

You that build the big bombs

You that hide behind walls

You that hide behind desks

I just want you to know

I can see through your masks

~ Bob Dylan, Masters of War

'Ahhh. The sunshine, the flowers, the birds, the ...

... Mama, wake up!! I want to nurse NOW!!!

Bouquets, Torque Wrenches, and Mushroom Clouds

'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ... a time for war, and a time for peace.' ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8


I should begin by stating emphatically that I am not a pacifist by any understanding of the word. Although I agree that the Lord calls us to turn the other cheek in our personal dealings and not to repay evil for evil, nowhere is it stated clearer in the Word of God that there is a time for war. The Westminster Confession speaks to this issue clearly, as well: '[S]o, for that end, [the Christian magistrate] may lawfully, now under the New Testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion' (WCF 23.2). Yet again, the Divines' position is in accordance with Scripture, as evidenced by the Messiah's interaction with the Roman centurion. As one can imagine, this then raises the question: What is meant by 'just and necessary occasion'?

The historical Christian understanding of the Biblical position was delineated by Augustine in The City of God. In that work, Augustine argued that absolute pacifism is not mandated in the Word of God; still, there are certain prerequisites which must be met in order to justify waging war upon another: 1) it must be defensive, declared and carried out by the proper authority, 2) waged as a last resort, 3) proportionate to the threat, and 4) discriminate between combatants and non-combatants.

It is my deeply held view that the current war in Iraq has met none of these criteria (in varying degrees). Iraq had not attacked us (in fact, Saddam was in no position to do so even had it been his intention), there was no imperative to do so, it is obvious that we used a great deal more power than necessary to meet even the purported 'threat', and there have been innumerable instances of failures to discriminate between combatants and non-combatants (admittedly, not all of them deliberate). The last has, sadly, been the most-oft broken of the parameters for Just War. Sherman's March to the Sea inaugurated the practise which was continued as a matter of course. The firebombings of Dresden and Tokyo were horrific enough even without the vaporising of thousands of women, children, and elderly in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. How would you feel if your wife or children were considered 'collateral damage'?

Why do I raise such a tinderbox issue? Is it because I hate America? Of course not! But, as a Christian, I think it is my duty to speak the truth in love when I feel we are going astray. What concerns me even more than the government's application of unjust military action is that a significant portion of the Church (apparently) unabashedly supports that action. We are called to be peacemakers; yet, what I hear increasingly echoing from the halls of our places of worship is the beating of the war drums.

At the Faith2Action 'Values Voters Debate' in South Florida Monday night, only ONE Christian candidate for President of the U.S. stood against the war as unjust--Ron Paul. When he stated his opposition and invoked the name of Jesus--as the Prince of Peace--he was soundly booed by the admittedly evangelical audience! Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas--a Baptist minister, no less--openly calls for NUKING Iran! (How exactly does one distinguish between combatants and women and children in such an action, sir?) The sponsor of the event chided Dr Paul for 'cherrypicking' the peace passages out of Scripture! The bloodlust rampant among many in the Church is horrifying to me.

Let me be clear, I know that not every Christian supports the war and I am also not accusing anyone specifically of seeking the deaths of innocent people. There are many well-meaning Christians who feel just as deeply that the war is just as I do that it is not. I am speaking in generalities merely for the sake of brevity and to form a clear and concise argument. I hope that no one feels personally insulted or attacked, that certainly is not my intention.

Again, I am not advocating that we allow ourselves to be attacked with impunity; turning the other cheek does not require that we do not protect ourselves or the weak and innocent. I would just urge Christians to search the Scriptures for guidance as to when and how we should take such serious action as making war. The Bible tells us there is a time for war. And a time for peace.
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And so it appears that wine snobs are full of cheese (as it were).


‘[The] criteria for a just war do not match what we have been doing in Iraq. Nor are they in harmony with the concept of a preemptive nuclear war against Iran. Yet the Republican presidential candidates who support the concept of preemptive nuclear war also claim to be Christians and men of faith. How can that be? Have they studied Christian just-war theory? Are they even familiar with it? Ron Paul made a very astute observation when he commented: “I have been reading from a different Bible."’” ~ Gary Benoit


Here are 25 skills every man should know. (I've only got about 12 or 13 under my belt.)


Jeffrey Tucker eulogises his father: ‘On occasion I've visited the church I grew up in. No one there today remembers my Father. But they are still singing the songs he wrote.’


'In short, Ron Paul is the only Republican whose positions on the two primary issues are different than Hillary Clinton's stance on them, and, more importantly, are more credible and more popular than Hillary Clinton's. He is the only Republican whose nomination can realistically be considered a potential impediment to what otherwise looks like a Democratic landslide.'


As Christians, we should be ever mindful of how and where we spend our money. This list, in alphabetical order, consists of companies scoring a perfect 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign's 2008 Corporate Equality Index, with policies beneficial toward homosexuals.


My youngest son came home to-day
His friends marched with him all the way
The pipes and drums beat all the time
As in his box of polished pine
Like dead meat on a butcher's tray
My youngest son came home to-day.

And this time he is home to stay...

~ Eric Bogle, My Youngest Son Came Home To-day


The Episcopal Church has fallen and it can't get up.


‘I tried to walk a fine line between acting lawfully and testifying falsely but I now recognize that I did not fully accomplish that goal.’ ~ Former President Bill Clinton

Instant Man. (Just Add Beer.)

'Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.' ~ Deuteronomy 1:13

I wrote the following poem following a conversation I had with a co-worker after she remarked about my abnormally large Robert E. Lee coffee mug. I mentioned to her that family legend suggests that I am a descendant of the great general (from his brother's line I believe). Her reply, influenced no doubt by her Yankee roots in Michigan and dripping with blue-belly cynicism, came sharply: 'Everyone in the South says they are related to him.' Hence, my inspiration to compose the following missive. I should employ the following caveat: my intent was not to be snide nor prideful. I hope y'all enjoy it.

EVERYONE'S A LEE
by R. Matthew Lee


From the Texas Hill Country to the Virginia sea
Dwell scores of relations to Robert E. Lee
Singing high in proud tones, in insistent refrains
"'Tis the General's blood that runs through our veins!"
Through mother or father, most cannot recall
But certain, they are--he's the root of them all!
'Twas their aunt who first told them (or another relation)
Though few can produce the documentation
They revel and boast of the General's fame
And attach themselves fiercely to the Patriarch's name
Should any dare question Marse Robert's reputation
They bristle and spit with high indignation
"History can boast of few men of such worth!"
Speaks one of the millions of his kinsmen by birth
Another nearby replies, "It is true!
("The Old Grey Fox is my ancestor, too!")
One cannot--one should not--accuse or lay blame
To one for desiring to lay claim to the name
Good Sons of the South all seek but to shine
By boasting aloud that they come from his line
Yet if all who lay claim to his family tree
Indeed were aright, we'd all be a Lee!

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CROC ALERT!! Your shoes could be dangerous to your health!

In a related story--they now have Crocs for Docs!

‘True Christians," [Ron Paul] said, "believe that marriage is a church function. It's not a state function. I don't think you need a license to get married.’

I couldn’t agree more. That’s why Ashlee and I did not apply for nor obtain a marriage license.

A WEENIE ROAST AT THE DABNEY FAMILY REUNION.

Check out this HILARIOUS video of an interviewer who can't stop laughing at a man’s (unexpectedly) high pitched voice. (It's in a foreign language but still very funny!)

‘The message is, "Don’t Serve Alcohol to Teens. It’s unsafe. It’s illegal. It’s irresponsible." We Don't Serve Teens is a national campaign on the part of the Federal Trade Commission.

'So 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds (and even 20-year-olds) are teens, correct? According to this government campaign they are. But what about this government campaign known as Selective Service? According to the Imperial Branch of government, teens are "men." Under the "Who must register?" guidelines, everywhere it mentions those who must register, they are referred to as "men." Disabled men. Hospitalized men. Men who would be classified as Conscientious Objectors. Men, men, men, men, men. Men from 18 to 25 years of age. An 18-year-old is a teen if he drinks a beer, and he is a man if he puts on the conqueror's camouflage and learns to kill for the state.
And it's apparently not irresponsible or unsafe to yank these same teens men from their homes against their will (draft anyone?) and send them off to foreign lands to conquer, be conquered, and kill the enemies of the United Imperial States.
It's irresponsible to give those same men teens a Budweiser, however.'

‘Changing the definition of what chocolate is would be a mistake.’

'I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law.' ~ David Dinkins, Former New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.

If men made clothing.

'I Study Nuclear Science, I Love My Classes; I've Got a Crazy Teacher Who Wears Dark Glasses...'

'A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.' Proverbs 13:22

I have written and spoken ad nauseum regarding the danger of debt and living beyond our means. Besides being unwise--and making us slaves to our debtors--our economic consumption (perhaps over consumption is more accurate) can send the wrong message to the world. The problem arises when our lives reflect a sense of opulance to the world rather than modesty and biblical stewardship of the resources given us by God.
With that in mind, it is important to stress that saving--while also fiscally wise--is a biblical mandate, as well. More importantly is for what--and whom--we are saving. In our house, we have two savings accounts; we have one designated as the 'General Fund' and another that we keep for our child(ren). Those who know me know that I place a great deal of importance on the wisdom of our forefathers. They utilised the accumulated the wisdom of the ages (improving upon it as necessity and experience dictated) to their and their families' advantage. In that vein, we have decided to lay aside a portion of our earnings each month so that our daughter(s) will have a dowry and our (Lord willing) sons will have seed money to assist them as they begin their families.
While we place a great deal of emphasis on self-reliance (within reason) and self-sufficiency (see I Thess. 4:11,12), we also hold dear the biblical mandate to care for the generations that follow us. Teaching our children the wisdom of biblical financial stewardship coupled with a gift upon their wedding days will, Lord willing, bless them and serve them well all of their days.
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‘British scientists are using a giant instrument - in essence an extremely powerful torch and microscope combined - to read [the Dead Sea Scroll] parchments that are too brittle to unroll or unfold.’

Ok, pencils? Check. Notepads? Check. Plutonium? Uh-oh.

Well, what would you do if a lizard jumped on you suddenly?

'In short, Ron Paul is the only Republican whose positions on the two primary issues are different than Hillary Clinton's stance on them, and, more importantly, are more credible and more popular than Hillary Clinton's. He is the only Republican whose nomination can realistically be considered a potential impediment to what otherwise looks like a Democratic landslide.'

A home schooling expert says that churches are Missing in Action in the education of our children. (He has obviously never visited Westminster Presbyterian!.)

You'd never see a kid doing this in a home school!

“Dishonest Abe invested in land in Council Bluffs, Iowa, of all places, in 1857. To this day this piece of land is known as ‘Lincoln’s Hill.’ When he became president one of his first official acts was to call a special session of Congress to begin work on the Pacific Railway Act that would shower railroad corporations with government subsidies while they built a transcontinental railroad line. When Congress finally passed the bill in 1862 it gave the president the right to decide the eastern terminus of the line. And guess what? Dishonest Abe chose Council Bluffs, Iowa. What a coincidence, and what a good example of political insider trading.”



'All you have to do is go down to the bottom of your swimming pool and hold your breath.' ~David Miller, U.S. Department of Energy spokesman, on protecting yourself from nuclear radiation.



This video of George W. Bush bloopers is especially for Marian. (But others may feel free to look, too.)

Here is a really neat web site that keeps track of mistakes and errors in movies and tv shows. It is fun getting out your 'Gladiator' DVD and looking for the camera crewman wearing a t-shirt and jeans in the big battle scene at the beginning!

Husband of the Year giving his wife and mother-in-law a ride to work:

You're Gonna Be Free and You're Gonna LIKE IT!!!

'If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.' ~ Hebrews 12:8


We had a really enjoyable and sanctifying small group meeting last evening at the Kimballs' house (along with the Ayers family). The gist of the study was regarding our tendency as sinners to justify ourselves before God by our good works or our (perceived) adherence to the Law. On the one hand, our good works cannot earn us salvation; that is a gift from God and has nothing to do our abilities (Ephesians 2:8,9). In addition, although our good works should be a response to God's grace and an demonstrative sign of our faith (see the Book of James), even they are, more often than we would like to admit, done with the improper motive, i.e., self-aggrandisement or reputation-building. Pride is an evil taskmaster.
As C. H. Spurgeon wrote, 'Had not Jesus interposed and wrought out a wealth of merit, our tears of repentance would have been so much water spilled upon the ground.'
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'Religious radicals have threatened to burn a Christian church's pastor and his family, and the church building was vandalized with a Hindu "Om" symbol, according to the Voice of the Martyrs, the worldwide ministry to persecuted Christians.'



Here is somethign for Rachel, Marian, and Hannah. Y'all should be able to get the family laundry done in no time!!

“Forget about Indiana Jones and the City of Gods or even Indiana Jones and the Destroyer of Worlds, two of the potential names registered by producers Lucasfilm Ltd. The next movie featuring the two-fisted adventurer will be called Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”




‘Democracy is not a quality that can be imposed by war. The attempt to do so has always met with failure. Democracy can spring only from within a nation itself, only from the hearts and minds of the people. It can be spread abroad by example, but never by force. The strength of a democracy lies in the satisfaction of its own people. Its influence lies in making others wish to copy our American system of government, we cannot force them to copy it by going to war …' ~ Charles Lindbergh (1941)




They say that sports are a metaphor for life. Let's hope not.




'Malaysia’s government ordered a Tamil-language daily to immediately halt publication for a month as punishment for printing an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette, an official with the newspaper said.'




Here is the video clip that had everybody laughing. Remember: Language is important!




I fully expected to see Kevin Ayers' name in this story. (Just kidding, Kev!)




'The result of [Mike] Huckabee's imprudent decision to take on Dr [Ron] Paul was as predictable as a clash between a ring bologna and a freshly sharpened slicer.' ~ William N. Grigg

When will the madness end?




'Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it.' ~ Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice President

'OK, can you pull forward just a little … wait, wait, WAIT!!'

I Imagine It's a Series of Tubes...

'A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' ~ Proverbs 18:24



The WPC Men's Ministry Pseudo-Semi-Bi-Annual-Yearly Steak & Game Night was held Friday evening and was quite the good time. We had reckoned that somewhere around 30 men would attend; in fact, we had over 50 sign up, of which a bit more than 40 showed up. Praise the Lord!Building the Men's Ministry continues to progress nicely. Our aim, with God's grace, is to build relationships between the men of the church through formal activities which then foster closer, personal relationships among the men with the result of friendship, fellowship, Christian education, mentoring/ discipleship, and accountability--all to the glory of God.

The greatest challenge has been to integrate the college-age men with the Old Fogies. We had a great showing of about 15 or 20 of the former last night and we all appeared to have a great time of food (Pat Wells and Uncle Norvie CAN GRILL SOME STEAK, Y'ALL!), devotional (Jon brought yet again a great message biblical application), games, and conversation. There was a slight delay with the presentation of dessert due to my inability to distinguish between directions for a convection oven vs. conventional oven on the back of the cobbler boxes, but all's well that end's well!

---------------------------------------



Apparently, the Secular Establishment in certain Indoctrination Camps--I mean universities--believe that the centuries old Christian practise of foot washing is a health hazard? Sometimes I just shake my head in wonderment at how stupid they think we are.




The Reverend R. L. Dabney wrote: 'When you elevate a bad man [to public office], you give to him a hundred-fold more power of example to corrupt your sons, and your neighbour's sons by his evil acts. Those acts are a hundred-fold more conspicuous and more weighty to attract notice and imitation than if you had left him in his deserved obscurity. When you delegate your money, influence or civic power to a bad man, you make his wicked official acts and influences your own; he is your chosen agent, and acts for you, and be assured a jealous God will not forget to visit the people for the guilt thus contracted.'


Still, Rev. Dabney's advice notwithstanding, half of those polled recently would support a God-denier for President of the United States.




Here is a story about shopping from home via computer--made in 1967!!

David vs. Goliath? NO! It's Ron vs. the Huckster!!





"When you have the [U2] music there, the church becomes more personal. It's music they like," said Edwin Morlu, 16, one of the church's members. "They can hear it while still being able to hear the message and spread it in a more fun and enjoyable way."




Patriotism--Origin, Greek patrios: of one's fathers.




"[Edward] Gamble says the major fallacy is that there is any such thing as an education that can be secular. 'Scripture doesn't know anything about any part of our lives being secular,' he states. 'Everything's sacred.'"




'[God] has not given you your children and the means to support them simply so that you may do with them as you please, or train them just to get ahead in the world. You have been earnestly commanded to raise them for God's service.' ~ Martin Luther




'What the [Texas Supreme] court said, 8-to-0, is I think true -- which is that really the state has no business, no competence, no authority to come in and try to tell churches and seminaries how to train pastors for the ministry," says Shackelford. "This is an area where the state has zero authority to intervene, and if they do so they violate the free exercise of religion."

Well, they have to be told something!!

Why Don't You Just Make 10 Louder?

'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.' ~ Ephesians 4:29



I don't know whether to be saddened or maddened by the idea of what passes for 'poverty' to-day. A recent study indicates that folks in the United States who live below the so-called 'Poverty Line' own their own homes with air conditioning, a car, cable television, and cell phone (among other luxury items)--and the vast majority report that they never worry about from where their next meal will come. I have a difficult time acknowleging that as 'poverty.'
As Brian Franklin can attest from his mission trips to Peru and especially India, there are folks who truly fit the definition of POOR in the world--if you dare look for (or at) them. During the 1930's Charles Lindbergh travelled the world--more so out of desperation to escape the American tabloid media than out of a sense of adventure, though the latter played its part--and his descriptions of what he saw would prick even the most hardened of hearts:

Calcutta struck us with the full force of the poverty of India's masses. Human life had here sunk to levels we had never seen before. Ragged, hungry people milled back and forth on filthy streets. Cripples sat on curbstones. Scabby, thin-legged children followed us with outstretched hands. At night, we stepped around stretched-out sleeping bodies on the sidewalks close to our luxurious European-style hotel. "You never know the difference," we were told, "but sometimes one of them is dead."

THAT, my friends, is poverty--poverty in body and spirit.

I pray, Lord, that my people never know such poverty; but above all, I pray that we would continually praise Your name for the blessings you have bestowed upon us--blessings we do not deserve--and that we will find joy, contentment, and thanksgiving in all circumstances, whether in plenty or in want.
---------------------------------


Ron Paul won the Fox News Debate Poll hands down!!



Oh, they tell me that He smiles on His children there,
And His smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again
In that lovely land of uncloudy day.

Oh, the land of cloudless day,
Oh, the land of an unclouded sky,
Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
Oh they tell me of an uncloudy day.
~ Willie Nelson, Uncloudy Day



“We’re kicking a** in Iraq.” ~ Our Christian President



But these go to ELEVEN!!

I TOLD you I had a giant head as a child!!

The Ladies Against Feminism offer sage advice to the men of the Church: 'Patriarchy has been dubbed a movement, primarily by opponents within the Church. I'm not sure why they object to the idea that a wife ought to submit to her husband, since the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church. The idea is not exactly a new one and Paul, being inspired, said some pretty smart stuff. Apparently they see dangers in Paul's position. Do they think God took a break from inspiration here and Paul kept right on talking?'

For the hunters out there, here are some photos of Craig Biggio's deerstand in South Texas. (He is second baseman for the Houston Astros for those who don't recognise his name.)

I don't know how he gets any hunting done in the midst of all that luxury!





'No man is fit for the care of souls, except he is deeply imbued with scriptural piety and grace. He must have a faith firm as a rock, and humble as strong, with profound submission to the divine will, which will calm him amidst all delays and all discouragements that God will bless his own word in his own chosen time. He must have that self-abnegation which will make him willing to bear the evil repute of an unfruitful ministry, if the Lord so ordains, and unblenchingly refuse to resort to any unauthorised means to escape this cross. He must have the moral courage to withstand that demand of ill-considered zeal in his brethren, parallel to the ardor purus civium juvenium in politics. He must have the unflagging diligence and love for souls which will make him persevere in preaching the gospel publicly, and from house to house, under the delay of fruit. Nothing can give these except large measures of grace and prayer.' ~ Rev. R. L. Dabney, Spurious Religious Excitements

Will you look at that 1989 Hair?

(Still, I make no apologies for the teal bowtie!)

When Our Sons Turn 18...

'Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.' ~ Psalm 140:1,2

I am continually amazed at how much personality Gracie Mae has at such a young age. Although it is still emerging and shows similarities in varying degrees with ours, her personality is distinct and intense.

Detectable--alas, all too often--are my qualities of hammy-ness (is that a word?) and a stubborn streak bigger than Dallas. Couple that with my tendency to find trouble and she's in for a tough row to hoe. From her mother she gets her tenderness and general inability to awaken without some degree of crankiness and difficult-to-shake lethargy. And let's not forget those eyes; those are DEFINATELY from her mama. (They are the first things that attracted me to her years ago.)

That ebullient personality, replete with zany-ness (again, is that a word?), was on prominent display yesterday evening. I will sometimes, for no particular reason, pick up my guitar and play while sitting on Ashlee's cedar hope chest in our bedroom. Ashlee came in with Gracie Mae in tow and both of them sat on the bed as I played. (That may not be the best term; I was making noise, at least.) Gracie Mae will often 'dance' while I play (this usually entails holding her hands up and swaying at the hips VIOLENTLY); but when I burst into the bluegrass classic 'Rocky Top' (insert shout-out here to Pastor Coleman) she went bananas! She took to dancing like she had ants in her pants, laughing hysterically the entire time. Was it just 'Rocky Top? No--same result with 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' and 'Seven Bridges Road.' We've got a genuine hick on our hands! (And her daddy couldn't be prouder.)

We just might have to take that show on the road...

-----------------------------------------


‘There are currently 40,213 Ron Paul Meetup members while Barack Obama, the candidate with the second best Meetup organization, has [only] 5,801 members.’



All of these ‘scientific studies’ are driving me mad. Eggs good. Eggs bad. Coffee good. Coffee bad. Now they tell us that microwave popcorn can give you cancer.



‘Three dozen members of one Christian church in Iraq disappeared over the course of a week, and only one returned, according to a minister who is warning of the increase of persecution of Christians in that violence-ridden nation.’



The U.S. Constitution is an amazing document—it even protects U.S. Senators against arrest for public abominations!

'But why aren't the seekers coming? They like pop music, so we give them pop music. They like stories so we give them dramas. They like anonymity, so we let them have it. They like convenience, so we'll change their oil while they're here (this by the way is being done). The problem is that we can do none of these things as well as the world can. Why get up on a Sunday morning and drive somewhere to listen to pop music, when it’s as close as my stereo? Why settle for cheesy scripts and sets when the television does it so much better? Why spend an hour getting an oil change when the pros can do it in ten minutes?' ~ R. C. Sproul

‘If this war continues much longer, there will be people in this audience [or reading this blog] who will serve in the military, who also may be going over there (in Iraq) or to Afghanistan," McCain told the high school students.’

Hey, Laaaaaady!!

'We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.' ~ John 9:31


Another Labour Day has come and gone and with it another Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. When I was young, I remember that my grandmother would watch the telethon religiously every year, watching nearly every minute of the 24-hour long programme. Those days are long gone and I haven’t watched more than a few minutes of it total in the past 20 years or so due to other priorities coupled with the fact that most of the ‘entertainers’ on the show haven’t been popular since Carter was president. Yet, I found myself watching a few minutes of it yesterday—due in no small part to the fact that we receive only one channel on our television and it happens to be the one that carries the telethon.
Those who know me well will understand when I say that show such as that sadden me and for obvious reasons. It breaks my heart to see people suffer from debilitating diseases and my pity and sorrow is only compounded when it is children who are suffering. It is difficult for me to watch the stories without a wrenching of my heart. I thank God that Gracie Mae is healthy and I pray for those kids and their parents, that God will grant them grace, comfort, hope, and stamina as they deal with the hardships of everyday life caused by muscular dystrophy.
And I am sad for another reason. It is undeniable that Jerry Lewis has done an immense amount of good for those struggling with MD. He has given countless hours of his time and raised millions upon millions of dollars over the past 42 years in the search for a cure those stricken. In addition, his compassion and genuine care for the children is obvious; even the casual observer can immediately recognise that his love for them and his zeal for a cure is no act. It is, indeed, admirable.
Yet, all of the money he has raised and the thousands of hours he has given are as filthy rags to God. Though, to the human eye, Mr Lewis has toiled unselfishly in his work for the MDA, to God, even such actions that we would laud are wicked when done in the absence of the proper motivation: to honour God through Jesus Christ. Jerry Lewis, though well intentioned, is not a Christian and, therefore, his good works are not acceptable to our holy and righteous God.
The Westminster Confession of Faith states it better than I ever could: Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God: and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.
To be sure, there are innumerable people in the world who give enormous amounts of time and treasure in helping others. From a Christian perspective, I can certainly understand why God would reject such things—it goes against His character—and I am very thankful to Him that His common grace to all of us allows even the wicked to do us and others worldly good. But, from a human perspective, it saddens me to know that they labour in vain. And that is perhaps the primary reason I no longer watch the Jerry Lewis Telethon. It’s just too sad.
----------------------------

"Contrary to what many Christians have been led to believe, there is no such thing as a 'neutral' education," Shortt writes. "All education is religious and conveys a worldview, and there is no more important decision that we make as parents than how we educate our children."

I have a delivery for a Mr Harry Potter. Sign here please.

And the king of Israel answered, "Tell him, 'Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’” ~ I Kings 20:11

'Dear Dave, I'm the pastor of a Midwest church. Do you think it's morally OK for someone in my position to want to become a millionaire as long as the desire isn't motivated by greed?'

'Confident of victory this fall on the Hill, Bush is now moving into Phase III in his War on Terror: First, Afghanistan, then Iraq, then Iran.'

‘Well, I’m-a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona; such a fine sight to see…’

Eee-Yow, Brute!!

May his days be few; may another take his office! ~ Psalm 109:8


Last evening I taught the 10 & 11 year-olds Covenant Kids class in Mr Gustafson's stead while he was away dropping Paul off at Princeton. (As an aside, I am very impressed with Paul and wish him Godspeed in his collegiate career.) The class is somewhat small; present were Anne Michal, the Austins (Ayers and Coats), Colin Lee, and Joshua Coleman.
I cannot express enough how impressed I am with those kids. Not only were they able to recite one of the longer passages from the Westminster Shorter Catechism (What is the Second Commandment?) but they understood and, more importantly, could vocalise, the concepts behind it and the applications and implications in their lives. I was very impressed but I was also filled with a sense of hope in the future of our church body.
--------------------------


Yeah! It’s FINALLY here!!


Hello, I have a collect call from a Mr Potter. Will you accept the charges?


PRAISE THE LORD for our freed Korean Christian brothers and sisters!!


You know we're living in strange times when James Hoffa starts making sense: 'This is a conspiracy of big business. They want to erase the borders.'


‘As Christians we believe that this philosophy is false and not something we wish to encourage. Yoga is encouraging people to think that there is a way to wholeness of body and mind through human techniques - whereas the only true way to wholeness is by faith in God through Jesus Christ.’


Hey, Kiersten—at least the spiders at your house don’t do this.


Take a look at The Politically Incorrect Guide to the U.S. Constitution.


This is what happens when we don’t take the Second Commandment seriously. The result is that man reduces (if such a thing were actually possible) the Creator of the Universe to a child’s play toy. It’s very sad indeed.


‘We have asked the Justice Department to enforce the partial-birth abortion ban since the Supreme Court ruled that the law was constitutional," she explains. "But so far our requests for enforcement of that law have been met with a deafening silence by Alberto Gonzales. And so we believe if he's not willing to enforce the law of the land, he shouldn't be attorney general anyway.’


‘Julius Caesar lay dead and Brutus was talking to his co-conspirators [sic] about swords and blood when he paused and excused himself, saying "I seem to have stabbed myself."’


The world is not such a complicated place. Lew Rockwell has a Thirty-Day Plan to Fix the Country.


I know I’m near the holy ranks
Of friends and kindred dear—
I hear the waves on Jordan’s banks,
The crossing must be near.

I’ve almost reached my heav’nly home,
My spirit loudly sings;
Thy holy ones, behold, they come!
I hear the noise of wings.

Oh, come, angel band
Come and around me stand.
Oh, bear we away on your snow white wings
To my immortal home.
~ The Stanley Brothers, Angel Band


'In the next place, the distinction betwixt the doctrines of justification and sanctification turns upon the distinction betwixt pollution and guilt. Sanctification is an inward subjective change, removing the stain or filth of sin, and restoring the image of God in knowledge, righteousness and holiness. Justification is an external change, touching our relations to the law, and removes the guilt and condemnation under which we lie. Sanctification infuses habits of grace - justification cancels the necessity of punishment. Sanctification conforms us with the precept - justification delivers us form the penalty of the law. One deals with the stain - the other with the guilt of sin.' ~ Rev. James Henley Thornwell

Here's a picture of my mama when she was a year old. I think Gracie Mae bears a striking resemblance. What think thee?

Can I Give You a Reich?

'In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.' ~ I Corinthians 9:14




A buddy of mine at work told me a funny story yesterday that I thought I would share in the hopes of providing some 'chuckle time.'It seems that he asked his girlfriend to go to his house and take some fish out of the freezer to thaw and then he would grill it for them to eat when he got home from work. Now, my buddy is quite the sportsman, so I can only imagine the amount of venison and fish she had to wade through in his freezer. When she called him later at work he asked her if she had taken out the fish. She replied that she had and that she hoped she had taken out the right kind. When he asked her what she meant, she replied that she was pretty sure he didn't want her to take out the 'crappy' fish. After he stopped laughing, he told her that 'crappie' (pronounced croppy) is a type of fish--not how it tastes!
--------------------------





And now, this report from the Department of Legalism: ‘Most of the 56 owners in Berkshire E are Orthodox Jews barred for religious reasons from pushing the buttons on their elevator during the Sabbath, which runs from Friday evening to Saturday evening.’





Score one for modesty! ‘”I’m tired (of) looking at behinds,” Shreveport Councilwoman Joyce Bowman said after Tuesday’s 4-3 vote to ban fanny-flaunting trousers.’





‘Western sections of the Great Wall of China are being reduced to "mounds of dirt" by sandstorms and may disappear entirely in 20 years, a report said Wednesday.’





Well, knock me over with a feather! This sure is news to me!!--‘Ole Anthony, president of the Dallas-based Trinity Foundation, believes the Whites’ situation has “something to do with this ‘prosperity gospel,’” which he says results in many televangelists being treated like superstars and, as a result, losing their focus.’

Well, with gas prices as high as they are:

This article may make a lot of people angry. So, if you read it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

You Can't Hide Your Lion Eyes

'Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea.' ~ Job 36:30





Brian Franklin posted on his blog that he was struck by lightning yesterday! Praise the Lord he is alright and none-worse-for-the-wear. (I have often wondered why they use metal in umbrellas.) Although we understand (and have great hope in the fact) that God sovereignly controls everything, it is still somewhat rattling when something like that happens. We're glad that you're OK, Mr Franklin!! (And we're also grateful your fender-bender wasn't very serious either!)

Since he is unscathed, I don't think Brian would mind if I posted the dialogue from a scene from one of my favourite movies that relates to the topic:


Bartender: He's been struck by lightning... how many times has it been now, Reg?
Reg: S-s-s-s-s-s-s-six...
Chet: Wow! Six times?
Reg: S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-six…sixty…sixty-six times. In-n-n-n-n-n-n-In-n-n-n-n-n-n-In-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n the head!!
~ The Great Outdoors



'Drinking sweet tea is one of the oldest and most exceptional Southern traditions. As Dolly Parton's character in Steel Magnolias puts it, it's the "house wine of the South”.’



I KNEW IT--I TOLD YOU SO!! I TOLD YOU SO!!



‘But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do. I know, as you do, that our freedoms come not from man, but from God.’ ~ Ron Paul (Republican candidate for President)

Have you ever seen a liger (part lion, part tiger)?

‘It is the key that had the potential to save the Titanic.’

"It's clear what happened. CAIR pressured CBS in New York to take us off. I have always dealt with the issues of the day from a biblical worldview on my program," Keller told WND. "[The Bible] calls Islam a false religion. They took great offense. CBS caved."

‘Borders and landmarks are not merely man-made, humanistic ideas. Borders and landmarks are theological in nature and have reference to the fact that God is the sovereign owner of heaven and earth and God divides it to the nations, God divides it to the people as He wills.’ ~ Pastor John Weaver

To-day's Piece of Good Advice:

Can you be [homosexual] and Christian?

Top Ten Country Song Titles

10. How Can A Whiskey That's 6 Years Old Whup A Man That's 33?
9. Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
8. My Every Day Silver Is Plastic
7. I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life
6. How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
5. I Still Miss You, Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better
4. If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out by Now
3. She Got the Gold Mine And I Got The Shaft
2. I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here
1. You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Oft Go Awry

'Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."' ~James 4:15


I used to work with a lady at Rother's Bookstore when I was in college at A&M (as was she) and now I work with her mama (who is a volunteer at the Bush Library). When I told her that Ashlee was pregnant a couple of years ago, her reaction was greatly tempered and not nearly as joyful as I had expected. She mentioned the sleepless nights, the worrying, etc., and generally gave the impression that we were in for a tough row to hoe. I asked her about grandchildren and she mentioned that she didn't have any; her older daughter is not married and the younger (with whom I once worked) was adamant that she and her husband desired no children.

Flash forward six months.

The lady who currently volunteers at the Library approached me one morning looking shell shocked and generally disoriented. I asked her how it was going (as would anyone, I would imagine) and, in a hushed voice, she informed me that her daughter--who had sworn off children--was pregnant. With triplets. Now, I didn't say what I was thinking, which was that God has a way humbling us when we are adamant about certain things but I did give her a hearty congratulations. I knew it was going to be tough on the parents but, as the Bible tells us, children are a blessing--and they are getting to start off with a quiver full!

Flash forward two weeks.

I asked my volunteer friend how her daughter was doing carrying those triplets. I was not prepared for the answer: She's not having triplets. She's have quadruplets!
Long story short, the mama and babies all survived the birth and they have overcome a great deal. They still have a few minor health issues to tackle but they are doing well.

You may visit their web page at www.blairquads.com if you would like to take a gander at the Fearsome Foursome.
----------------------------



'Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has announced the retirement of its long-time senior pastor, Dr. D. James Kennedy. The announcement was made at the church's Sunday morning worship service.'



'Opening a conservative, Christian law school will fill a niche in the state of Louisiana, and also the nation.'



What do you call a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start. (Sorry, Chris Peterson!)



‘There's no question that there exists a measure of discrimination. People feel they have to shave before a job interview. We view ourselves as the American Civil Liberties Union for the moustache.’



With all apologies to Pastor Coleman, I believe a ‘Bless her heart’ is called for in this situation.



'The clergy are being advised to use Romans 13 to encourage parishioners to submit to the sudden and massive expansion of government control that takes place during martial law," the writer said.'



Did you know that there is actually an annual Air Guitar World Championship? I got curious and looked it up--they take it strangely seriously. What really got me laughing was a specific line in the rules: A contestant's air guitar 'can be acoustic, electric or both.' My question is: HOW DO YOU TELL?



‘Now, I ain't tryin to put down no big city
But the things they write about us is just a bore
Well, you can take a boy out of ol' Dixieland
But you'll never take ol' Dixie from a boy.’ ~ Lynyrd Skynyrd, All I Can Do Is Write About It



‘The movie September Dawn, which opened in U.S. theaters on Friday, stars Academy Award winner Jon Voight . The film gives an account of the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, which took place on September 11, 1857. The film depicts that on that day 120 men and women, who were part of a pioneer wagon train from Arkansas passing through Utah on the way to California, were brutally slaughtered by a group of Mormons.’



'It seems to me that the peculiar personality of God should have been distinctly and prominently announced. He is not only Spirit, but Personal Spirit, and not Personal barely, but Tri-personal—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. To describe Him as a Spirit subsisting in three Persons, and then as infinite, eternal, and unchageable in all the perfections which are proper to Spirit, is to make as near an approximation to an accurate definition as it is possible for our faculties to compass.' ~ Rev. James Henley Thornwell



‘While the National Socialist enthusiasm for evolution-inspired eugenics is too well known to be credibly disputed, the direct link between Darwin and communism is less well understood.’

The sweetest little cowgirl in Texas. Yee-haw!

Paging Mr Frizzell, Mr Lefty Frizzell

'Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' ~ II Corinthians 6:2b

‘Let the people assemble at the appointed time, that all being present at the beginning they may unite with one heart in all the parts of public worship. Let none unnecessarily depart until after the blessing be pronounced.’ ~ Presbyterian Church in America Book of Church Order (49-2).

I have to admit that punctuality is very important to me. My daddy raised me with the understanding that being ten minutes early is being on time and being on time is being late. In fact, it's preferable to be 20 minutes early if at all possible. Jorja likes to joke with me about this; I'm usually at least half-an-hour early to our small group meetings.

Of course, marriage and parenthood have ways of thwarting the best of my intentions. Although not what one would describe as serially tardy, Ashlee has never been one to obsess over being early. (It is a running joke that, if her family says they are leaving at a certain time, you can add 20 minutes to it.) Still, I have had to adjust my peculiarities regarding time to meet her more in the middle and, thank the Lord, it has been a pretty easy endeavour--with the result that we are usually on time. (Which, I'm told, is surprisingly agreeable to most people in our society.)

Enter Gracie Mae.

Having a child increases the chances of tardiness exponentially; still, we have managed to maintain an acceptable amount semi-punctuality, in no small part due to my phobia I am sure. I have already begun to steel myself for Covenant Children 2, 3, 4, 5 (and 6?) and the attendant time issues that I have no doubt will accompany their arrivals.

Still, when it comes to worship, I think that we should make whatever herculean efforts that may be required to arrive at church on time--by my daddy's definition, which means early. In that vein, we do our best to leave the house 45 minutes before Sunday School is scheduled to begin. Because it is usually a 35-minute drive, such provides for a 10-minute cushion in case we should (in God's Providence) run into any unforeseen circumstances.

It just seems to me that the standard in our society is to shoot for getting somewhere right on time but, should we arrive a few minutes late, it is acceptable and they'll wait for us. But, although I have failed several times recently in that regard, I don't want that for me and my family.

With God's help, I'm going to make an increased effort to get the Lees to church on time. Early.

------------------------

"Major, why did you not run when you saw your command was thus disabled?” Stonewall Jackson replied, “I was not ordered to do so. If I had been ordered to run, I should have done so. But I was directed to hold my position, and I had no right to abandon it."

‘Michael Vick made the mistake of killing and maiming dogs, and PETA in turn organized marches and protests and generally made his life miserable. However, had Vick been financing an abortion clinic, no doubt he would be a hero in the media.’


‘Here, then, is a prominent duty, if we would save our country, that we shall carry our citizenship in the kingdom of heaven everywhere, and make it dominate over every public act. We must obey the law of God rather than the unrighteous behests of party, to “choose out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such over them to be rulers,” or God will assuredly avenge Himself for our violated allegiance to him. The Christians of this country must sternly claim that wicked or reckless men shall no longer hold the helm of state; that political orthodoxy shall no longer atone for the worst offense against citizenship, a wicked life.’ ~ Rev. R. L. Dabney

‘Freedom brings us all together. We can all agree on leaving people alone to plan and live their own lives, rather than trying to force them to obey at the point of a gun, as runaway government does.’ ~ Presidential Candidate Ron Paul of Texas


'Some folks are born with star-spangled eyes

Ooh, they'll send you down to war.

But when you ask 'em, "How much should we give?"

Ooh, they only answer, "More--more--more."'

~ Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fortunate Son


Mr Potter, your table is ready.

There's no crying in the Happy Hat!!!

A Massachusetts man handcuffed and hauled to jail after he objected to a public school teaching his kindergarten-age son about homosexuality has gone to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking justice.

‘I don't want young people thinking that half-dressing is the way to go. I want them to think about their future.’


‘When we consider the possibility that God used evolutionary processes to create over millions of years, we are faced with serious consequences: the Word of God is no longer authoritative, and the character of our loving God is questioned.’

I'm a lumberjack and I'm o.k. ...

'He said the measure sought "a more fair distribution of the sunrise," which would particularly help poor children who wake up before dawn to go to school.'

Here's just a little something for the ladies!