I can't vouch for the veracity of this 911 call, but if it's a fake it's fooled better journalists than I.
Hardees Western Bacon Cheesburgers are better than BK's, anyway.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
He's Lucky He Isn't Married
Can't take original credit for the headline, unfortunately. That goes to James Taranto of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
The State of the Judiciary
Yesterday the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a death penalty decision because jurors discussed verses of Scripture. This new horizon in the abatement of religious freedom follows another stunning development in our judicial system: the influence of foreign law.
Related articles include an editorial from Texas Senator John Cornyn, a story describing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's public condemnation of this trend, and a fascinating video available via RealPlayer of a debate between Justices Scalia and Stephen Breyer on the topic.
The only way this problem is going to be solved is if the American people make it clear that we expect our judges to enforce the law and our Constitution based on the framers' intent. The Constitution demands that the Senate give "advice and consent" on presidential appointees. Many of our Senators are ignoring this responsibility for political purposes, and judges like Scalia are being blocked from the bench. Contact your senators and insist that all presidential judicial appointees receive a floor vote.
Related articles include an editorial from Texas Senator John Cornyn, a story describing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's public condemnation of this trend, and a fascinating video available via RealPlayer of a debate between Justices Scalia and Stephen Breyer on the topic.
The only way this problem is going to be solved is if the American people make it clear that we expect our judges to enforce the law and our Constitution based on the framers' intent. The Constitution demands that the Senate give "advice and consent" on presidential appointees. Many of our Senators are ignoring this responsibility for political purposes, and judges like Scalia are being blocked from the bench. Contact your senators and insist that all presidential judicial appointees receive a floor vote.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Scientists Who Find Darwinism Unconvincing
"I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science."
This quote from Charles Darwin headlines an advertisement in World Magazine for the "Uncommon Dissent Forum" in Greenville, SC, this August 4-6. It's a series of lectures at the Palmetto Expo Center on the latest evidence concerning Darwin's speculations. Lecturers include Michael Behe, author of Darwin's Black Box. More info at Piedmont Travel's web site.
If anyone in Greenville can attend all or part, I'd love to post a guest blog.
It's "Davey"
Maybe it's the editor in me. I just can't stand to see Dan Davey's name spelled Davies. Dan Davey is the pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA and president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary also of VB, VA.
Here are a few grammatical variants for your reference:
I do know a man named Nigel Davies, the Australian pastor who represents Positive Action For Christ in the land down under. And that is a truly lame segue into a shameless promo.
Here are a few grammatical variants for your reference:
- Possessive: Dan Davey's church
- Plural: Dan Davey and his family=the Daveys
- Plural Possessive: the car of the Davey family=the Daveys' car
I do know a man named Nigel Davies, the Australian pastor who represents Positive Action For Christ in the land down under. And that is a truly lame segue into a shameless promo.
Friday, March 25, 2005
For the Record: My Advanced Directive
This morning FoxNews ran a brief interview with George Felos, attorney for Michael Schiavo. He was making the point that it was time for the Schiavo family to stop their appeals. The lynchpin of his argument was, "Terri doesn't walk. Terri doesn't talk. She can't be rehabilitated."
Just in case any of you are around when I can't walk, talk, or have any chance of getting better, I would like the standard for killing me to be just a tad higher. By my count (correct me if I'm wrong), Walter Fremont has written three books since he has been unable to walk, talk, or have any hopes of rehabilitation from his ALS.
I'm not saying don't pull the plug on me regardless of whether I'm brain dead or persistently vegetative. I can only say that right now my personal preference under those circumstances would be to die and be with Christ. As Paul said (even in the midst of his active prison ministry), that would be "far better" (Philippians 1:23-24). But since when does what I would prefer serve as the arbiter for morality? Paul had the confidence to say that it would be beneficial for the Philippians if he were to continue his ministry. Coincidentally, Paul wrote three books--1 and 2 Timothy and Titus--after his letter to the Philippians.
Unfortunately, I lack his apostolic confidence. The simple fact is that I do not know, and cannot know, how God might intend to glorify His name even through the prolonging of my infirmity. May He give grace and wisdom should one day require it on my behalf.
Just in case any of you are around when I can't walk, talk, or have any chance of getting better, I would like the standard for killing me to be just a tad higher. By my count (correct me if I'm wrong), Walter Fremont has written three books since he has been unable to walk, talk, or have any hopes of rehabilitation from his ALS.
I'm not saying don't pull the plug on me regardless of whether I'm brain dead or persistently vegetative. I can only say that right now my personal preference under those circumstances would be to die and be with Christ. As Paul said (even in the midst of his active prison ministry), that would be "far better" (Philippians 1:23-24). But since when does what I would prefer serve as the arbiter for morality? Paul had the confidence to say that it would be beneficial for the Philippians if he were to continue his ministry. Coincidentally, Paul wrote three books--1 and 2 Timothy and Titus--after his letter to the Philippians.
Unfortunately, I lack his apostolic confidence. The simple fact is that I do not know, and cannot know, how God might intend to glorify His name even through the prolonging of my infirmity. May He give grace and wisdom should one day require it on my behalf.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
The Seductiveness of Numeric Success
So, how many people has your church baptized this year? How many decisions were made at your camp last summer? How many people came forward when you preached?
These past couple days I've been reminded of all those questions and the natural impulses behind them. Those of you who blog (unless you're made of finer clay than I) know what it is like to write something and hope that someone reads it. I post a few semi-random thoughts. I give a little thought to what features I can add to the site that might be helpful. Then it hits me--I absolutely must, MUST know how many people are skidding by my little plot of cyberspace. So I go find some html code for a counter feature and sign up with some faceless entity that will no doubt spam me mercilessly despite my rejection of all "special offer" requests.
All that simply to ponder how seductive is the affirmation that people just might care enough to read what I have to say. How easily that motivation can creep so subtly into our ministries.
How long could we go on?
Now, it would be easy to make a blanket condemnation of nose-counting, but somebody was running the abacus in Acts 2:41.
Here's where I see the distinction: motivation. Perhaps that is obvious, but the balancing act is Ringlingian. Are we making ourselves big or our God big? Notice the passive voice verb in Acts 2:41 translated "there were added." My immediate suspicion that this is an arrow pointing to divine power is confirmed in the text a few verses later following a narrative of the growth of the Jerusalem church. Verse 47 concludes, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved" (ESV, emphasis mine).
For now, I'll have to fight my thirst for acclaim. I seek God's grace to instill in me a growing desire for that day when my awe for Him will be complete and I will see what John saw in Revelation 7:9-10--a great multitude of worshipers from all the peoples of the earth, and no man will be able to count them all.
And no one will try.
These past couple days I've been reminded of all those questions and the natural impulses behind them. Those of you who blog (unless you're made of finer clay than I) know what it is like to write something and hope that someone reads it. I post a few semi-random thoughts. I give a little thought to what features I can add to the site that might be helpful. Then it hits me--I absolutely must, MUST know how many people are skidding by my little plot of cyberspace. So I go find some html code for a counter feature and sign up with some faceless entity that will no doubt spam me mercilessly despite my rejection of all "special offer" requests.
All that simply to ponder how seductive is the affirmation that people just might care enough to read what I have to say. How easily that motivation can creep so subtly into our ministries.
What will people think of me if I share a testimony Sunday night? What if I admit to all my spiritual infirmity in some area? Will this sermon illustration make people think I'm funny (no matter if it makes the point of the text)? Will it make them walk the aisle? How will this decision about how we do church affect our attendance?
How long could we go on?
Now, it would be easy to make a blanket condemnation of nose-counting, but somebody was running the abacus in Acts 2:41.
Here's where I see the distinction: motivation. Perhaps that is obvious, but the balancing act is Ringlingian. Are we making ourselves big or our God big? Notice the passive voice verb in Acts 2:41 translated "there were added." My immediate suspicion that this is an arrow pointing to divine power is confirmed in the text a few verses later following a narrative of the growth of the Jerusalem church. Verse 47 concludes, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved" (ESV, emphasis mine).
For now, I'll have to fight my thirst for acclaim. I seek God's grace to instill in me a growing desire for that day when my awe for Him will be complete and I will see what John saw in Revelation 7:9-10--a great multitude of worshipers from all the peoples of the earth, and no man will be able to count them all.
And no one will try.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Reagan Audio Archives
I should have been alert enough to get this online in February in celebration of President Reagan's birthday, but now will have to do. Click here for access to a whole pile of MP3 downloads of Reagan's speeches, including the Berlin Wall speech, the Challenger disaster speech, his farewell speech at the 1992 Republican Convention, and the clip from his press conference where he talks about passing legislation outlawing Russia and starting the bombing in five minutes.
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