Stones Cry Out

From Fox News:

LANSDOWNE, Va. – Watergate figure Charles Colson, who turned to religion, died Saturday at a Northern Virginia hospital after a brief illness, according to a family spokesman. He was 80.

“This is a time of conflicting, colliding emotions for all of us,” said Jim Liske, the chief executive of the Lansdowne, Va.-based Prison Fellowship Ministries that Colson founded. “We grieve that our brother, our founder, our inspiration is no longer with us. But we rejoice that Chuck is with Jesus, we rejoice as we reflect on his life and legacy and that we could be a part of that, and we rejoice when we think of all the redeemed in heaven who will greet him and thank him for the role he played in their salvation.”

Colson was the author of numerous books his most famous being his autobiography Born Again which tells his compelling story of coming to faith in Christ prior to going to prison for his role in the Watergate scandal.

He was also a compelling speaker and boldly proclaimed Christ at every opportunity. My wife and I had the privilege of being in the audience at his acceptance of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion at the Universty of Chicago in 1993. In the midst of a highly ecumenical service with representatives of every major religion, Colson bravely and unashamedly proclaimed the gospel. Many who disagreed with him walked out during the speech. However, reading the text nearly twenty years later still gives me chills.

Chuck Colson made a tremendous impact on many believers all over the world. His story is a true story of redemption and the power of Christ to change lives.

Rest in peace, brother.

Good morning. Christ is Risen! (response:  He is Risen Indeed!)

1. On our American reticence to share our problems (and consequently the impolite nature of noticing others problems as well).
2. On further thought … perhaps it would be better if one didn’t give it further thought.
3. Global warming and some IPCC predictions.
4. While on the subject of warming, “All that’s Fit is News” isn’t that the NYTimes motto? And heck, if the news doesn’t fit stretch it.
5. Missing. Why sundering is a good thing.
6. Weaponized food.
7. How not to correct a stereotype.
8. Yet another remark on the Derby kerfuffle.
9. Shrubbery … I guess the Monty Python/Holy Grail piece wasn’t the last word. The Administration wanted to get some laughs too.
10. More Obamacare Constitutionality issues.
11. “Unworthy priest” is after all enshrined in the liturgy.
12. Our President … a good bad example for industry?

It is Good Friday for the Eastern Church (hence me). East and West are one week off this year.

1. Evidence of a horrible maths education. Uncountable? No. The set of English words is actually finite, which is not even countably infinite (like the natural numbers).
2. How to never be bored. Practice skillz.
3. So, an Obama lie? or is he unaware of his income or the contents of the bill?
4. Akin to the burning bush?
5. Probably not as damaging to ones reputation as being menaced by a rabbit while canoeing.
6. A thought experiment, kind of like the torture one I posed years ago (which was “is it torture if neither interrogator or victim remember the event”)
7. A Marine who had not been not forthcoming about his prior career to his mates (and why).
8. One more from the military front, but hey, you saw that as frontline news already on ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, &etc. Right?
9. Breaking news, cats play with their food. Oh, wait … that’s not news is it.
10. “Quite rightly went out of fashion” (hack spit) What!?
11. Texas and weather.
12. “We think it’s important” is not a limiting principle (which is still out missing apparently).
13. The Dale.
14. Search engine advice for dining.

A federal government out of control. Without any evidence, Attorney General Eric Holder took a woman to court for obstructing the entrance to an abortion clinic. The judge threw out the case and ordered the government to pay $120,000 to the woman. Yes, it’s good that the woman was compensated, but this case should have never gone to court.

I think Julian Assange has been irresponsible for dumping secret data that, in many cases, has put lives at risk or tipped our hand to enemies. Still, it’s nice to know that, in all that, George W. Bush has been vindicated in his handling of the Iraq/WMD situation.

I agree with the sentiment that the teen’s shirt said, "Jesus Is Not A Homophobe". However, I also think that the folks he thinks need that message aren’t, for the most part, homophobes either, if, by "homophobe" you mean "someone who agrees with 2000 years of Christian teaching".

Global Warming Update: "The number of [polar] bears along the western shore of Hudson Bay, believed to be among the most threatened bear subpopulations, stands at 1,013 and could be even higher, according to the results of an aerial survey released Wednesday by the Government of Nunavut. That’s 66 per cent higher than estimates by other researchers who forecasted the numbers would fall to as low as 610 because of warming temperatures that melt ice faster and ruin bears’ ability to hunt."

James O’Keefe is at it again. He, a white guy, to prove that voter fraud really is simple, something that Attorney General Eric Holder denies, was able to (almost) vote in the primary as Eric Holder himself, a black guy. Extremely easy.

An atheist who threatened to sue over a Nativity scene, was helped in his time of need by the very Christians he had threatened. Result: He’s now a Christian preparing to enter the  ministry.

John Stossel, libertarian and (when he was at ABC News) a contrarian in the media, describes the liberal bias at his old network.

Ever since Jimmy Carter got snookered by giving food to North Korea in exchange for an empty promise not to pursue nukes, we keep hoping that they’ll change their mind about belligerence if we bribe them well enough. It hasn’t worked, and it won’t work. A dictator that will spend who knows how many millions on a missile program while his country starves is patently not concerned about his people. Period. No amount of appealing to his better nature will change that. Now that N. Korea has test launched (what Rick Moore calls) a "three-stage artificial reef", now we’re serious. Now we mean business. Well, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Civility Watch: "Moderate Caucus" chairman, a Democrat, tweets, "Cheney deserves same final end he gave Saddam. Hope there are cell cams."

Women, interested in firearms… in California?
Yes! On March 24th the Women on Target event, held at an outdoor shooting range in southern California drew 100+ women for 100 slots. The event was designed to familiarize women with the sport of shooting – and was taught by women, with the men delegated to workhorse duties.

There is still hope for Kalifornia.

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Do as I say, not as I…
Evidently, Bill Cosby has weighed in on the Trayvon Martin case. From ABC (emphasis added),

“We’ve got to get the gun out of the hands of people who are supposed to be on neighborhood watch,” Cosby said in his first public remarks about the case, published today.

“Without a gun, I don’t see Mr. Zimmerman approaching Trayvon by himself,” Cosby added. “The power-of-the-gun mentality had him unafraid to confront someone. Even police call for backup in similar situations.

“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody.”

Yikes!

Flash back to 2005, in this New York Magazine article titled, New York’s Gun Culture (emphasis added),

Who’s Packing Heat?

Taxi Driver star Robert De Niro is one of New York’s most famous gun owners, as is his friend Harvey Keitel. Others on the list include Arthur Ochs Sulzberger (a former Marine), Don Imus, Bill Cosby, Joan Rivers, Howard Stern, Tommy Mottola, and Donald Trump (just one pistol, says his spokeswoman, who didn’t know the make).

Let’s hope that Bill doesn’t ever carry his gun.

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Of course, if we can’t trust Neighborhood Watch members to carry, then at least we can trust the police?
Only until their guns “accidentally fire”. From CBS Chicago (emphasis added),

An off-duty Chicago Police officer was wounded Thursday night when her gun accidentally fired.

Police say the female officer was in the 2100 block of East 71st Street when her gun went off around 7:20 p.m. Thursday.

Again: guns don’t “accidentally fire” nor do they “go off” all by themselves.

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Not heeding the fact that guns don’t accidentally go off can be deadly
From South Carolina,

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office has identified the man killed following an accidental shooting that occurred Monday at a North Charleston gun range.

…

According to witnesses at the gun range, Patteron was shooting on a lane when he stopped to inspect the weapon. He turned the handgun toward himself when it discharged, striking him.

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“That is what you get. If you out doing something you ain’t supposed to be doing, that is what happens”
Another homeowner protects herself by using her firearm.

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More young people are killed in Chicago than any other American city
Yet, Chicago had a ban on handgun ownership from 1982 until 2010 (and still tries to make it difficult to own a firearm).

So much for the notion that banning guns reduces crime.

The Oklahoma Skillet, from Flappy Jack’s Pancake House, in Orange, CA.

The foundation of this monster breakfast is a thick layer of fried potatoes, followed by a heapin’ helpin’ of bacon, cheese, and scrambled eggs. The best way to attack this bad boy is from the top down – that way, after you’ve filled up, and you still have lots of potatoes left, you simply take them home.

Enjoy!

– image © 2012 A R Lopez

Good morning.

1. Some parting thoughts on the Derb kerfuffle. I’d add that the observation that “white on black” crime gets national attention but the “black on white” (and the missed “black on “black” and “white on white” crime)  gets no notice at all.
2. Illegal trade practices and eBooks.
3. “Intolerance will not be tolerated” … one wonders how people who say things like that survive the cognitive dissonance.
4. Feminist? (big house, big dog and a shotgun).
5. 3-d printing of a different sort.
6. Press reports a Romney claim as “Mostly False”, misses the “Completely True” reality.
7. Romney and a prediction regarding the “winning back” the GOP perspective.
8. Oh, please, he’s already Peter Principled.
9. Flight … or? So what power would you want?
10. A book noted.

"Everyone’s going to need healthcare, so Congress can force you to buy it", or so says President Obama in defense of the individual mandate. So my question is: what else is everyone going to need, such that he can force certain choices on you?

I’ll start:

• Everyone’s going to need food.
• Everyone’s going to need a casket.

Post yours in the comments.

Good morning.

1. A discussion of modern heresy. An interesting observation, all theological heresies recapitulate as ecclesiastical errors. That is, errors of “what is God” recapitulate as errors in “what is the Church”.
2. Who benefits? The value of disinterested parties, and euthenasia?
3. When a methodology gives blatantly stupid answers, the methodology is suspect. Unless your head his too far buried in the sand to see it. This conclusion, “Although I think I agree that the ideal number of people is zero,” is one such stupid answer.
4. A liturgical poem sung last night in the Orthodox church(es). For myself the contrast of the repentant harlot washing Jesus feet and Judas greed and betrayal one  of the more powerful connections made in Holy week. (more here)
5. Country or profession, which is more important?
6. Atheists debating epistemology.
7. Of price and principle.
8. This happens more often than not I think, ads made for one candidate work for the other. Pro-Obama ads are more effective (for example) at moving me towards a sympathetic view of his opponent than not (and vice versa for that matter).
9. I thought this interesting, in the context of the Derbyshire kerfuffle, the analogy “as the right is to racism, the left is to communism” (and why) as expressed is what I found interesting in particular.
10. ABC, women, and the Limbaugh kerfuffle.
11. AGW, NASA and a petition.
12. 7th graders acting their age.
13. OK. So all the knuckleheads supporting the notion that the high court didn’t ever rebuff economic legislation since the New Deal now can retract. Those who were lawyers can turn in their degrees.

1. City of Chicago bans handgun ownership in 1982:  Bad
2. 76 year-old Otis McDonald sues City of Chicago for 2nd Amendment right to own a handgun, in 2010:  Good
3. Supreme Court rules in favor of McDonald, in 2010:  Great
4. City of Chicago, in 2012, writes a check for $399,950 to the Second Amendment Foundation for legal fees incurred in the McDonald v. Chicago case:  PRICELESS

Link to an image of the check from Chicago (Mayor Rahm Emmanuel)

Good morning.

1. Ooh, more cost estimates of Obamacare.
2. A clearly offensive mural,  Huh?
3. A radical(?) global economic strategy suggested for America, don’t change the game-plan.
4. Five meanings of judicial activism defined, two are touted as useful three as not. Which one do you think the President was referring to in his speech? #5?
5. An ugly side of the world we have made.
6. Hiring practices and Mr Obama.
7. An artist died … Another post on that event noted that Mr Kinkade worked with animator Ralph Bakshi on some projects. I found that tidbit interesting.
8. For your country … is that enough?
9. What does “trademarked” mean in this context, legally speaking?
10. A “new” Bubba? Who was the old one, Bubba Smith?
11. Is that for Pascha/Easter or Palm Sunday I wonder?
12. Duty, honor and disaster … some statistics.
13. A primary rhetorical (fallacy) utilized so often on the left, the omnipresent ad hominem.
14. On Obama’s use of the term “social darwinism.” Let’s see the left defend that one.

What happened to Youth Ministry?
From The Gospel Coalition (emphasis added),

By the 80s the emergence of MTV and a media-driven generation meant church youth ministry became more entertainment-driven than ever. Youth pastors felt the need to feature live bands, video production, and elaborate sound and lighting in order to reach this audience…The message had been simplified and shortened to fit the entertainment-saturated youth culture. By the start of the 21st century, we discovered many youth were no longer interested in the show that we put on or the oversimplified message. Christianity was no different from the world around them. Some youth ministries intensified their effort combining massive hype with strong messages that inspired youth but did not translate to everyday life. We realized we were faced with a generation whose faith was unsustainable.

The result? Per the author, Dave Wright,

First, we moved from parachurch to church-based ministry (though the parachurch continues). In doing so, we segregated youth from the rest of the congregation. Students in many churches no longer engaged with “adult” church and had no place to go once they graduated from high school. They did not benefit from intergenerational relationships but instead were relegated to the youth room.

Second, we incorporated an attractional model that morphed into entertainment-driven ministry. In doing that we bought into the fallacy of “edu-tainment” as a legitimate means of communicating the gospel. Obscuring the gospel has communicated that we have to dress up Jesus to make him cool.

Third, we lost sight of the Great Commission, deciding instead to make converts of many and disciples of few. We concluded that strong biblical teaching and helping students embrace a robust theology was boring (or only relevant to the exceptionally keen) and proverbially shot ourselves in the foot.

Fourth, we created a consumer mentality amongst a generation that did not expect to be challenged at church in ways similar to what they face at school or on sports teams…

For my take, see Christians Need to Stop Making Converts.

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Additional nuggets of wisdom for so-called worship leaders
In You are not a Rock Star, Clint Archer offers up some sage advice. Amongst the tips,

The task of the worship leader is to get out the way of worship, and to lift our attention to God. He cannot do this if he is showing off his ability to do a lead break. Worship leaders need to be humble. They should dress modestly. Sometimes musos have a particular look they are going for in their midweek gig. But when they ascend the platform at church, their personal brand is expendable.

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October Baby ruffles some feathers, yet hits home
Movie critic Roger Moore seems to think that movies are strictly about entertainment. From his review,

It’s ironic that the studio founded by the son of Hollywood founding father Samuel Goldwyn should be the one releasing “October Baby.” Apparently, the acquisitions department never took to heart Goldwyn the elder’s most famous Goldwynism, about what movies are supposed to do:

“Pictures were made to entertain. If you want to send a message, call Western Union.”

Seriously?

I wonder what Moore thinks about Schindler’s List, To Kill a Mockingbird, Dances with Wolves, or All Quiet on the Western Front, just to name a few. Nah… no message in any of those.

Yet, despite pro-abortion bias, it’s interesting what the New York Times is reporting about the movie. From Film Inspired by ‘Abortion Survivor’ [yes – note the scare quotes around the term] is a Quiet Hit,

As mass entertainment goes, the abortion debate does not typically count as good Saturday-night date movie fare; the subject rarely makes it to the mainstream multiplex. But at a time when the issue is once again causing agitation in political circles, a small film, “October Baby,” about a woman who learns she is, as the movie puts it, a “survivor of a failed abortion,” is making a dent at theaters across the country.

Imagine that.

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Can a Christian Vote for Barack Obama?
Simple answer – Yes.

This post, at Conversant Life, seemed to be an attempt to objectively look at the issues at hand, yet fell prey to caricaturizing Republican ideology with,

Why is the party that supports the NRA, increased military spending, decreased economic regulation, and harsher immigration policy still the party most publicly associated with Christians?

Sigh. I suppose I could ask,

Why is the party that supports Planned Parenthood, decreased spending on protecting its citizens, increasing costs to consumers through governmental regulations, and the continued ignoring of existing immigration law considered a viable alternative for Christians?

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Speak with conviction!
Featured before, but worth a re-run (this time on Vimeo, with graphics instead of video) HT: Joe Carter.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

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So, are polar bears here to stay, or not?

Good morning.

1. Magic decoder ring?
2. How we have not progressed in 140 years?
3. Cinema.
4. Apparently Mr Derbyshire ruffled some feathers, here’s one sympathetic take.
5. Gas prices.
6. National debt.
7. Middle of the road-sitter, on the Zimmerman/NBC tape edit.
8. Don’t sneeze.
9. So, can private clubs choose their own membership criteria.
10. Countering the prevailing notions on education and religion.
11. An unusual choice on a “sexual orientation” multiple guess, uhm, quiz?
12. Mr Holder is blind and deaf. Why? He thinks Congress acts with “deliberate judgement.” He apparently has never seen Congress in action.
13. Two twins to confound the race theorists and racists alike.

Ahhh, Disneyland. Fun, happiness… pepper spray?
Actually, it was at Disneyland’s sister park, California Adventure. From the OC Register (with video link),

A man was arrested for assault after repeatedly attacking security guards, who pepper sprayed him, at Disney California Adventure.

…

The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. Saturday when a man attacked security guards near the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride. Guards repeatedly tried to restrain the man and pepper spayed him, but the man kept going after the guards, as seen on the YouTube video.

Several takeaways from the video:

1. Note how effective or, in this case, ineffective the pepper spray was on immediately stopping the man’s behavior. This guy was, ostensibly, an older drunk man. But what if one is faced with an attack from a large, muscular, angry man? If this example is any indication, you hitting him with pepper spray may eventually make him go away, but will most likely immediately make him angrier.

2. Also, note how effective or, in this case, ineffective the security response was. After being repeatedly pepper-sprayed, the man then attacks one of the security guards, taking him to the ground. It’s then that bystanders come in to restrain the man. Essentially, the first responders to this incident were park guests.

3. Lastly, note the nuttiness displayed by the woman shouting “Stop! There are kids here!” Yeah? So what? Did she really expect a rational response from this guy? If you’re faced with erratic behavior close by your children, I’d suggest immediately increasing the distance between yourselves and said behavior.

4. Finally, after seeing the swift takedown and restraining of this man </sarcasm>, and you’re thinking about making sure you are prepared for defending yourself and your family, when visiting a Disney park, think again. Per their FAQ page, weapons of any kind are not allowed in the park.

Feel safer?

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Remember those action movie scenes where the cop commandeers a citizen’s car?
Well if a cop (or wanna-be cop) ever comes running up to you, while you’re in your vehicle, just keep driving. From the OC Register,

How many movies have you seen where the crime-fighting hero commandeers a bystander’s car, embarks on a wild chase that leads to a shootout and the capture of the crook – along with a spectacular wreck that destroys a car or 50?

But how often do you see the part where the guy who owns the commandeered vehicle is an octogenarian trying to park peacefully at a Jack in the Box who now has to deal with the hassle of paying for a rental car, paying to store the wreckage of his old car, sorting out insurance issues, and arguing with authorities over whether he really ever gave consent to have his car appropriated for heroic purposes in the first place?

Like I said, just keep on driving.

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A $71,000 average pension for public safety workers? Sign me up!
And remember… we need to close libraries and parks.

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What if you had a School Board meeting re: a teacher’s alleged hard core p@rn career?
And NO parents showed up?

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Home Depot SUPERSTORE? 2nd largest in the country.

Have a holy Maundy Thursday for all you celebrating such (for the Eastern Christians next week is Holy week, we’re one week off this year).

1. A disappearing not-molested minority.
2. Easter egg! Grump.
3. So, this is the first account of events … are we all on the same page now? Or are other going off another account of events?
4. It’s not just the right being disgusted by fiction for ideology in the “news” media.
5. In which Mr Obama continues by pointing out that he is as often (perhaps more often) as the other side blowing smoke.
6. I wonder what part of the developer team she might be? Code design? Circuit board layout?
7. Let’s see, this is an interesting contrast. Mr Leiter thinks “conservatives are getting dumber” … why? Well, because they don’t trust the scientific academy as much as liberals. And at the same time, in another corner, a study of 53 landmark papers found 47 with falsified/non-reproducible results. So, perhaps the dumb is on the other side of the aisle.
8. Ms Palin in the Couric chair.
9. Girls playing games.
10. Tornado alley has tornadoes … as a sign of climate change. Odd that.