Home. Ahhh. Unpacked and relaxed. Christmas music officially allowed on the stereo (one of the Windham Celtic Christmas CDs) and Noel is decorating/wrapping. The tree will be up tomorrow. Even though I have my two sermon/two class Lord’s Day (plus interviews) in front of me, I am excited about the first Sunday of Advent. Listened to two messages by Gregory Nichols, one of the preaching elders at Trinity Baptist in Montvale, N.J. Very searching and earnest application, the weakness of my own preaching, for obvious reasons. It is painful to put myself directly in the line of fire. Preaching tomorrow on the geneology in Matthew and the “Big Picture” that stands behind the name “God with us.”

Denise and I spent a lot of time discussing how we will want to relate to future sons/daughters in law. So important to build the right kind of relationship from the outset. Especially to let your adult children be adults, and to not treat them as children. (Where they can come for advice and encouragement, but not to act like children and escape from their own mistakes by blaming the spouse and knowing you will always believe them. )Also important to have a relationship with the prospective spouse built on the understanding of what you have invested in your children and what you want from them and for them. I want to have the kind of relationship where being Dad as authority figure, Dad as spiritual example and Dad as helper and advisor can all be together in one person. I want the prospective spouse to know that to have my blessing and my friendship will take more than just wanting to have sex with my daughter. I make a great friend, but I also can be a determined adversary and I will not sell out my commitments to accomodate someone else’s. I want to be a rock in every way that matters.

Also really felt the effects in the lives of our family of a lack of Gospel preaching. Liberals are one thing to talk about, but when you see what they do to the lives of people with their replacement of the cross with political crusades, it breaks your heart. The foundation of recovering from failed marriages and failed parenting and so much else is the honest knowledge of our own sin and the hope that comes from the Gospel of the cross. Without this, we are left to blame, and drown in our petty pride, and look to psychology- a waste of existence- for answers. The answer is who and what we are TRULY as rebels made in God’s image and what we are TRULY as people for whom Christ died and who have hope only in the Gospel. Liberalism leaves the hopeless with no hope except their own goodness, or psychology or political salvation. I truly can agree with the damnation of ministers who are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Quite moved by the new Sara Groves CD. More later.

What a topsy-turvy world we’re in.

Happy Birthday C.S. Lewis!

It’s almost 8:30 p.m. in this strange phenomenon called Central time. How do you people do it? The family is eating turkey sandwiches and I am getting ready to sermonize. I’m listening to the new delirious? cd “Touch” and waiting to listen to the new Sara Groves and new Phil Keaggy cds. I can’t wait to get in the car and go home. There are problems in the extended family over here and we are either 1) helpless spectators or 2) unwelcome examples of a family that isn’t falling apart. I miss my house and my dog. I’ll sermonize for a while since it is the first Sunday of Advent this Lord’s Day. I recall something I stole from Merton and morphed into a line in a bad unfinished novel where this monk is chanting with his fellow monks in the middle of the night, and he says that sitting here by candlelight, chanting the Psalms in that cold church was somehow the very rock bottom meaning of his existence, and maybe the meaning of life. I feel that way about any moments in the Word and especially of those moments preaching. It makes no sense. It does no visible good. I have no authority. Few people choose to come hear me. Yet this is the meaning of my life, and I know that however many heartbeats are left to me, my own brokenness and humanity is rescued by the One who comes to me in that Word. Tis mystery all…

See you all under better circumstances. Pray for our very broken, lost and desperately confused loved ones at least once.

Bah humbug. This just might be the nail in R.C.’s coffin.

What kind of school has “burnt orange” as its official color? ;-)

Hope everyone had a great Turkey day … and the required nap afterwards.

I thought a bit about the whole hate crimes statistics that came out this week. They show whites committing the majority, about 6,500. What I noticed is missing from the 2001 stats is the attack on the World Trade Center, as it would have Middle Easterners running second, instead of blacks, as perpetrators, as thousands died in the attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon.

It is also interesting to note that different figures are quoted (sometimes incidents, sometimes victims—whichever fits the slant better). This is much like quoting the numbers that voted for Pat Robertson in Palm Beach county. The numbers sounded rediculous, but the percentage fit the percentage that voted for him in the previous election. Muslim crimes up 1600% sounds ominous, but the few numbers of crimes makes it easy to have a jump, esp. when you compare incidents from 2000 to numbers of Muslims in the second. Note that the FBI report still shows both the number of incidents and number of people affected by “hate crimes” against Jews are still a lot higher than those against Muslims.

My point? None. It just goes to show how the media can make something out of nothing. The increase in population is not figured in to the comparisons, and the fact that a new standard was adopted in 2001, or that more agencies are reporting to the FBI is not taken into consideration. Plus, I think, personally, that a person should be tried for the crime committed, and there should be no special “hate crime”. When you beat someone’s head in and kill him, does it really matter if you did it because he, as an individual, ticked you off, or because he was a [put favorite racial slur here]. To the family and friends of the victim, the desire for justice is equal. The only thing I can see the “hate crime” designation adding, is making some highly visible special interest groups very happy.

Thanks for the great posts, Michael and everybody.

God is good, indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Judd

Rod Rosenblatt on some surprises waiting for us at the eschaton:

As C.S. Lewis put it, there are going to be a lot of surprises at the eschaton.

There are going to be people there that we just don’t imagine will be there.
There are going to be believers in Jesus who never darkened the door of a church.
There are going to be scads of Roman Catholics, people who never listened really to the theology preached by their priests, but just believed in the sufficiency of Jesus’ blood—no matter what their priest was preaching.
There are going to be call girls, there are going to be drug dealers, maybe even a couple of lawyers!
People who just believed in Jesus and His blood shed for them, for their sin.
Surprises, lots of surprises.
It bugs me to say it, but there might even be a couple of I.R.S. employees, maybe a congressman or congresswoman. (Everyone has some class of people they really don’t want to die as believers in Jesus! Those are mine!)
To put it closer to home, there might even be a theologian or two who believed in Jesus.
There might even be a despicable leftist socialist college professor or two! Academics who daily sold out the wonderful American constitution and filled their students’ heads with statist drivel and mush.
Cowards, scum, “bottom-of-the-barrel”, reprehensibles, jerks, deadbeat dads, murderers, all sorts of rabble. And they died believing in Jesus and His blood as their only hope.

Any one day that you live, my brother, there is enough mercy packed away into it to make you sing not only through that day but through the rest of your life. I have thought sometimes when I have received great mercies of God that I almost wanted to pull up, and to “rest and be thankful,” and say to him, “My blessed Lord, do not send me anything more for a little while. I really must take stock of these. Come, my good secretaries, take down notes, and keep a register of all his mercies.” Let us gratefully respond for the manifold gifts we have received, and send back our heartiest praise to God who is the giver of every good thing. But, dear me! before I could put the basketfuls away on the shelf there came wagons loaded with more mercy. What was one to do then, but to sit on the top of the pile and sing for joy of heart? Then let us lift each parcel and look at each label, and lay them up in the house and say, “Is it not full of mercy?”

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92)

Have a great Thanksgiving everybody. I’ll see you on Friday. Monk…....out…........................

A good answer to the “What Would Jesus Drive?” gang.

Operation Christmas Child- an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse- is getting a whole new paintjob in Alberta. Proselytizing is the new bad word. (Though what IS this doing in public schools?) Here’s the CT comment: “We’ve been here before. In March 2001, The New York Times inaccurately criticized Samaritan’s Purse, saying that while workers aided earthquake victims in El Salvador with government funds, they found time to “preach, pray, and seek converts among people desperate for help.” Call the hate crime police. Between this and the coverage of slain missionary Bonnie Penner Witherall, it’s clear that many people see aid and relief work motivated by Christian mission as a force for evil, not good.

A ton of abortion stories on the CT weblog today.

Wow. Islam is growing in Mexico.

I’ve seen some church league games about this bad.

JackH: Did you ever visit this cathedral?

An excellent editorial about current trends in church music: Here is a sterling excerpt: “In a curious way, then, many American Protestants are in the process of going back in liturgical history to pre-Reformation times, becoming increasingly passive in worship where their forebears had been active. This has its perils. For as Jay Rochelle, a former Lutheran professor of liturgy, now a sub-deacon in the Antiochian Orthodox Church, observed, “When Eastern Christians listen to their ancient liturgies, they identify with a great tradition spanning a millennium and a half.” But what of those who sit the soft megachurch seats, taking in soothing or exciting sounds emitted by praise bands? What will they pass on to subsequent generations—anything comparable to St. Ambrose’s powerfully inspired Te Deum? Or to Gregorian chant? Or to Luther’s stirring “Mighty fortress” and Louis Bourgeois’ wonderful doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow?” “None of that,” said Rochelle sadly, “all they’ll be left with will be wimpish, limp-wristed stuff.“

My reformed Baptist friends would say a hearty Amen.

Man, I AM hard on myself. You couldn’t be more right. My daughter is such a great kid, incredible scholar, unbelievable resume, great ACTs, etc. that we know there will be several paths for her. I don’t see her choice of Centre as being a bad one. I mean, we had a chance to consider Havard, and had a major guy willing to fly her up and give her a foot in the door. But she didn’t want to be that far from home. Same with Hillsdale and William and Mary. We decided that if she was going to go to the best school possible, then Centre made sense because it is the “Ivy League” as far as the small Southern schools are concerned. Plus- if you noted the numbers- they are an incredible deal. U.S. News has them a Top 40 best buy every year, even though they are #1 in price in Ky. They are #1 in America in per capita Alumni giving. 100% several decades in a row, which is amazing if you think about it. Plus the NYT rated them one of the top 5 schools in America in student satisfaction. We’re sold on Centre. My deal is simply that 1) Anything could happen, and a viable second choice makes sense. 2) What’s wrong with two schools offering you big bucks to come? 3) WKU will take her application in February and has already promised a full ride. So she has pocket money in that deal. 4) She doesn’t want to go to UK. As a UL fan, I will not allow such a blasphemy. (Hint: her boyfriend is applying there as one of his three schools, though I think he will be at Miami of Ohio or Ohio State.

At this point, I am not being abused too badly. Dad has to be the bad guy but it usually looks better a few days hence.

BTW, in KY if she is a public school English teacher, she will start at about 30K. If she goes the principal track- and they are desperate for principals in KY- she could be making $60-80 in 5-10 years. She says she wants to teach in the West, but I suspect she has a lot of choices in front of her. I will not be at all surprised to see her go with college teaching. She is an extremely gifted writer, and I can see her going into journalism too. The IM empire may need an heir. ;-)

Ron C: In my book the best Christian Scholar would have to be?????? The Monk – Peace

RonH: I have booked him for the BHT Christmas banquet. He’ll be right above your head.

HOW’S MY PARENTING? Tonight’s question: Was I right to have my daughter apply to another college? Here is the background. My daughter wants to be an English Teacher. Noel is settled on one school. Centre College. $25,000. Best English department in the state. Based on what we know now, we have every reason to believe the majority of her education at Centre will be paid for. However, it will be weeks before we know anything for sure. SO I insisted on at least one other school. Her choice: UK. Largest school in the state and a school that she hasn’t even looked at once much less twice. We thought it would be WKU since she spent 3 summer programs there and travelled with WKU people to Europe. But she says no way. WKU is totally paid for because she was a Governor’s scholar. Have already told her that would be the best second choice. It is the best English department of the state schools. She has reluctantly agreed to apply, but only because we sort of insisted. SO today she says again that it will be Centre or UK, but really only Centre. I said you must have a VIABLE second choice that you can live with. It’s only reasonable. So she decides on Transylvania University in Lexington, the #2 small school in the state. (Sorry Eric. Couldn’t get her to consider G-town.) All their big $$$ scholarships have to be applied for by Dec 1, so we spent the afternoon like crazy people getting recommendations, applications, transcripts all together. That is now ready to go. (BTW- Transy takes about 350 freshman and gives 25-30 of them 85-100% scholarships.) But I have been taking it on the head all day for pushing this through. She now is applied at Centre and Transy, and has a good shot a good $$ from both. And she has WKU or UK as a state university backup if there is an economic collapse, terrorist attack, etc. BTW, when I was her age, I had one school in mind and no one could even talk to me about another. I wound up transferring after one year ;-) I figure this way she has two great private schools to pick from, and two state Universities if it comes to that.

Thought you might find these number interesting if they fit on the screen. We are right at the $25,000 mark. (Noel already has $6000 Governor’s Scholar $ and $3500 KEES $ guranteed.

Centre College Financial Aid Award by Adjusted Gross Income for Class of 2005*
Adj. Gross Income/ No. of Awards/ Avg Aid Award/ Range of Aid Awards / Avg.Grant/ Avg. Loan/ Avg. Work-Study
$0-25,000 / 22/ $21,274/ $14,425-24,700/ $16,853/ $3,646/ $1,474
$25,001-50,000/ 45/ 19,179 / 10,100-24,060 / 15,157/ 3,295/ 1,458

When I became a Calvinist, I knew next to nothing about Calvinists. I came through the Founder’s movement, reading Luther in seminary, reading Spurgeon, listening to Martin, MacArthur and of course Piper. Soteriology basically. I wasn’t aware of the groups and sub groups. Sandlin is making a very astute observation, because I feel many of us actually left narrow fundamentalism and came into Calvinism for some fresh air. Its been in the Reformed faith that I found the Catholic Church as the Creed describes it. Its been in the Reformed camp that I found a ecumenism that really works, as in the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. I am not a six day creationist. I am a moderate on the RPW. I have no major issue with women elders. I admire the more intense guys but I prefer guys like Piper, whose churches are more evangelical than Calvinist. I vote with Andrew on being a CC.

Yep… there goes the ol’ bile rising to the surface. Mmm… bile…..

NUFF SAID!

Matthew J: I noticed it’s called “Through the Cracks Ministries”. As in thie guy is CRACKED.

Personally, I think this says it all…

Michael: Pastor Gas 1 and Pastor Gas 2.

Judson: Intent is a very important part of the legal system, but only in determining the severity of the crime. When a person, for example, fires off a gun, it is manslaughter if they did it because they were drunk and stupid, but first degree murder if they planned it out. Intent is not used to determine whether or not a crime was committed. In the case of the homosexual killing the 51 year old lady, I expect some “she deserved it” articles eventually, although no one will be as blatant as that.

As for the white washing, I am certain it is more an prevalent in national media than anything else. Unfortunately, people like Jackson and Sharpton put such a bad taste in our mouths that many will turn the channel when a black person comes on, or at least that is the perception the news has. Bernie Goldberg waxed over this issue in his book Bias.

While I agree with Jackson, et al, that the news whitewashes, I believe we should stop the count altogether, meaning both normal people and the news media (not a slip, I intended to indicate they are abnormal). If we stopped counting, we would probably find that most people get hired for their skills and not the amount of melanon in their skin. Yes, there are racists in this country, but most of us are not blatant racists. And, the “leaders” do very little to combat the racism, as they are spending too much time guaranteeing their power base, which is done via bashing white people as racists. It is an evil cycle.

Good News, Michael! A brand new Christian bookstore right near you!

When will someone tell Vicinte he does not have a say in what we choose to do in OUR COUNTRY? And, where did this term “undocumented worker” come from? Are we too afraid that the term illegal alien might offend illegal aliens?

I wonder if this has ever happened on the pulpit…

I am experiencing some razormouth.com withdrawal. They’ve been down for weeks.

Seriously. This guy has his own ministry?

Scott W: You can go right ahead and use my stuff, though I am stupefied (truly – and a bit gratified!) that anyone would want to use anything of mine for any useful purpose. Thanks :-)

Thanks for the input on my questions. And now, in the spirit of Deuteronomy 14, a Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I’ll think of you on my way to work :-(

Every once in a while I run into an atheist who actually has some intellegent arguments, and who’s willing to listen to intellegent responses. Right now, my manager and I are discussing the origins of the names of God, and the history of religion in the Middle East, starting with the Persians and the Babylonians. He’s still convinced that all religions are basically following the same God but different prophets, but he’s willing to discuss things intellegently at least.

The guy on the site you listed below, Mike, is not. I’ve run on his site before and, although he starts out with some interesting issues – possible contradicitons and such – he then degrades his own POV by turning it into a “Fundamentalists and Creationists and Christians all suck” mudmatch, and becomes as much of a fundamentalist as those he opposes.

Ohhh…ohhh…. The Cruel Site of the Day. Many coool things.

Many un-cool things.

Scott: Probably. Tilton. If that guy is in heaven I’m considering Buddhism.

Michael S: Is this the Tilton thing you’re talking about?

MatthewJ: When you start a church, give Angus and the Monk a call. I always knew I was more of a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist than most anything else. Actually, the theologian I am most like is Robert Tilton, because we both make great faces when we pass gas. (If you don’t know what this means someone find the video clip and post it.)

My sleeping in, don’t have to go to work morning was spoiled by 2 hours of work related problems. I hate being so essential that I cannot sleep in one morning without the phone ringing off the wall. And all “turf” matters. I have handed off a responsibility I’ve had for 10 years and naturally everyone concerned is treating the new people like crap, so I have to sooth everyone’s feeling. Uggh.

Judson: If you don’t like celebrities, is that a hate crime? ;-) It is in Madonna’s mind.

This may be it: Pastor Gas: Part 1.

BTW: Lots of cool coool sound bites, parodies, songs and other things. Look at the end.

Has anyone read this? Wow. Old people are a pretty powerful group and the GOP got them. Who is going to be left to vote for the Dems in ‘04? Homosexuals and mental midgets.

Good luck on finding a “good” one. I’m 7 months from ordination in the UMC and I have to say, “good” UMCs are hard to come by.

I answered honestly (for once), the problem is that I now have to go find a good Methodist church to attend.

What’s funny is that when I answered the questions honestly I got Wesley/Luther (there was some waffling on one question). But, when I put in all the answers that I thought only an A-hole would say, I got Calvin.

Irony of ironies?

Very Angusonian. except for the part about complaining. Since Angus is into catharsis, I just get even.

The mental gymnastics of people like Rutt must be exhausting. I mean, they must have to go home and night, drink a fifth of whiskey, and sleep for 12 hours just to recover from their astounding intellectual feats. I wonder if they ever wonder why they’re so tired night after night? Don’t people realize that lies will wear you out?

Okay- so, by Soulforce’s definition, THIS IS A HATE CRIME:

I walk into a rough Vietnamese neighborhood, alone, wearing only jogging shorts and a tank top and carrying nothing. I loudly shout “KILL CHARLIE! KILL CHARLIE!” snarling at anyone who looks my way. Within 90 seconds, I am a bleeding mess on the sidewalk.

I intended to intimidate a whole class of people. So, I am prosecuted for hate crimes. “Intention” is the key here. Something is either a freakin’ crime, or it ain’t. There is no intention.

Her language really says it all. “that would be a hate crime in my mind.” Without realizing it, she brazenly admits that the entire concept of “hate crimes” exists only in the minds of liberals like her, and correlates to nothing in the real world.

It must be exhausting. I’m glad I’m not as “intellectual” as your typical liberal, otherwise I’d probably have enough brainpower just to waste my entire life in one huge rationalization.

Here’s a good one to flummox your local “gay rights” advocate who is railing about hate crimes. Refer them to www.pinkpistols.org, the gay and lesbian gunowners group. Remind them that, if they are U.S. citizens, they have the freedom to blow away anyone who threatens their life. I assure you, your typical “gay liberal’s” head will explode at the concept.

Gregory- there are many, many black people in my local news. I mean, lots. Your community may be different than mine, however. People have had to get along on my island for years, especially after the 1900 flood killed 10,000 of us. So, we’re probably more multicultural than most, out of necessity. “People who might die together, learn how to live together”.

I just don’t agree with you as completely on the “news as a product”. The cynical side of me likes this idea, but the rational side of me sees this as more of an occasional side effect of human nature rather than an insidious phenomenon.

I understand the point of your challenge “count the blacks in your local news”- but to me, this sounds exactly like something Jesse or Al would say. It’s an easy trap to fall into. I think we’ve listened to some of these people for so long that we’ve unconsciously bought into some of their philosophy. I include myself.

Homosexual-rights groups condemned Mrs. Stachowicz’s slaying but stopped short of calling it a hate crime.
“We condemn this murder, like we do all murders,” said Laura Montgomery Rutt, spokeswoman for Soulforce, a national homosexual activist group. “A hate crime needs to have an intent to intimidate a whole class of people. If in this case, it was directed at this person and intended to intimidate Christians, that would be a hate crime in my mind.”

—So, by Ms. Rutt’s own definition, the Matthew Shepard murder was not a hate crime, as they were just killing a f_g that hit on them. There was no intent shown to intimidate other homosexuals. Yet, she went to Alabama earlier this year to ask for stiffer hate crimes penalties for crimes against homosexuals. So, here is the definition:

Hate Crimes: a) Any crime against people of any type of minority status, including transgendered and homosexual people. b) A crime against a Christian in which the intent of the criminal was to intimidate all Christians. c) A double standard conveniently applied to fit your own personal views on sexuality and minority status.

Judson: Here is an interesting experiment you can do at home. Count the number of black people who stories are about in your local news. No, I do not believe it is like P. Diddy Wampa (or whatever his name is now) states, but there is a definite white washing of the news. I do not believe this is racial motivated, except to say that news is a product, and white people are buying, so they show more white people. It gets even more pronounced during sweeps weeks.

On the other side, we are very careful not to show black people engaged in criminal activity either, as it brings the wrath of Jesse. There are times it cannot be avoided (ie, the riots in Cincinnati).

As such, race is a mixed bag. Of course, P. Diddy (purposefully mispelt), et al, only see the bad side. It is like Sharpton complaining there are few black coaches, but not stating there are too many black football players. He wants to see the inequality in only one direction. The same with Jesse and all of the crew that make there living off of racial inequality (rather than trying to do anything that might actually SOLVE the problem).

The “Witnessing Murder” story in the Washington Times. The woman was Catholic, not evangelical. I agree that its unfair that this sort of thing isn’t covered like the Mathew Shepherd murder, but gosh, why do we have to make all these tragedies a cause? Its a tragedy and making it something else is as bad as the Wellstone funeral.

I just finished reading Ravi’s “Sense and Sensuality.” Another creative and rather profound little book. I am especially impressed with the way Ravi can deal with the subject of Oscar Wilde’s sexuality without being really condemning. Extremely compassionate. The “voice” of Jesus is not particularly scriptural, but I think its very well done. I think all of you would enjoy this one.

So what do you guys- honestly- think of Judge Roy Moore’s crusade to keep the Ten Commandments up in public?

Sounds like a recent convert, but still a good article on Bluegrass Music from a Christian perspective. One of the best things about living in Appalachia is having this all around you and not just on NPR.

Castration: An effective conversation starter.

Sad. Very, very sad. And basically done for $$$$$$$, IMO.

I just found out that I share a birthday with Oral Roberts, Neil Diamond, Ray Stevens, and John Belushi. I’d say that about sums me up ;-)

I can’t wait to take Benny’s class on Revelation in the Spring. It’s going to be good. I didn’t realize the world was short of people who can read Aramaic. Looks like that’s the direction I need to go.

Do celebreties not realize that I would rather eat my own poop as listen to their views on politics? Hey, all of you entertainment industry, self-important people! You are nothing but dancing monkeys whose sole purpose in life is to entertain me. Get back on the stage, start dancing and don’t stop until I tell you that you can stop. If I want your opinion, and I don’t, I will ask for it. Until then start cranking that grinder; me want to laugh.

Judson: Here is a celebrity art auction you missed. Talk about an investment that makes a difference! (From Relevant blog): “Quickie art creations by Bono and Britney Spears based on seaside themes were auctioned off in Dublin, Ireland, for ICROSS, a group that provides home care for East African orphans stricken with AIDS. Spears crafted a beach scene with paper, glitter and glue, and Bono drew a Mermaid complete with tail …” Wow.

MatthewJ: “Lexington Man...” Sounds like some anthropological discovery. How about world class ATS prof and world’s most prolific writer on the NT.

Madatory reading about the murder of a witnessing evangelical by a homosexual. A great piece of writing.

Well, first Oprah founds her own religion. Now diet guru Gwen Shamblin has her own church, complete with a rewritten, trinity-removed hymnal. No more “God in three persons.” Nosireebob. “They also sing a revised version of a hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” more in accord with Shamblin’s anti-Trinitarian theology. Rather than “God in three persons, blessed Trinity,” fellowship members sang, “God over all and blessed eternally.” Remnant Fellowship, now meeting in 90 locations. One near you.

This is getting to be something of a Disney specialty.

Here ya go Judson. Holidays with the stars. As my daddy used to say, these people think theirs don’t stink.

You gotta get to the second half of David Frum’s article on gay marriage to discover that this will be one of the big planks in Gore’s ‘04 campaign. Dxxx boy, now that is a Southern strategy I would have never thought of. You are bound to win Tennessee this time. Keep it up.

The French view of the world, particularly the “bulky” U.S. You gotta read this. One great article.

TURKEY!!!!

I am off until Next Sunday. That means you guys are in trouble. The Monk is in the house!

Judson: C’mon dude, you sound like you doubt whether Princess Di was really a saint. Or are you just sore that you aren’t invited to all those self-congratulatory awards shows where we learn how much celebrities do for charities like PETA, SDS, the Weathermen, The DNC, The Vegans, the U.N., G.L.A.A.D. etc ad nauseum. We’ll try to get you a ticket right between Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.

Hey guys! Drudge is running this: “Al Gore attacks FOX NEWS, Rush Limbaugh and the WASHINGTON TIMES… MORE… He calls them a ‘fifth column’ in the ranks of the media, and says that the RNC uses them to inject ‘daily Republican talking points’ into mainstream media coverage as a whole… ” Do the dumbaxx Democrats really think this is the way to go? Sheesh, Al, you’ve got a freakin’ 19% approval rating, compared to GWB at 65%. Dxxx boy, Gary Condit numbers. Grow back the beard and shut the heck up.

Gregory: The media does pay attention to what will sell, but I disagree that there is much of a racial dimension to news coverage, especially in the way “P. Diddy” described.

It is true that we don’t care enough about third world suffering- or, at least enough for “P. Diddy”. However, the racial claim is absolute malicious nonsense. The skin tone of the sufferer makes no difference to us as Americans.

If “P. Diddy” had any idea how much most Africans loathe the typical American black gangsta self-identification, he wouldn’t be so quick to claim “racial identity” with them. He is ignorant.

genoทcide \: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group

In general, I cannot abide rich entertainers lecturing me about philanthropy. This goes for Bono as well as for P. Diddy, regardless of how “good” either of them are, or whether either of them is a Christianฉ. The truth is, the average rich entertainer absolutely, positively, certainly spends less percentage of their income on philanthropy than I do. And they don’t do it for reasons like Matthew perfectly described. They do it for news. It disgusts me.

Yeah, being governer in Arkansas isn’t that hard. We’ve had a BAPTIST MINISTER at the helm for ten years so it can’t be that difficult (that was only directed at Michael, not RonC). “Now go away you silly kah-niggit, or I shall taunt you a second time!”

I ate myself silly last night at the first MNF party I’ve been to in quite sometime. Pizza rolls, assorted cheeses and meats, mini-keeshes, Belgian cream puffs. What the heck are mini-keeshes and cream puffs doing at a football watching party?!? Seriously. I thought those were for Mary Kay parties or wedding showers. (Yes, I know the proper spelling of “keesh”, but I refuse to do it. I can’t even say it. They’re egg pies as far as I’m concerned).

Elvis has left the building.

He’s not a moron. He’s an idiot. Thanks for clearing that up.

The cost of living in Minnesota is getting out of hand.

Doomed to be Jethro. Who would wanna be anything else? Hell man, ACCEPT YOUR FATE like the rest of us morons and idiots. Or run for Governor of Arkansas. (Continuing taunt.)

A good example of why you shouldn’t set yourself on fire over a dead dog.

“Abort Bioethicist Dan Brock,” says local blind and deaf group.

Chaos in Florida. Bus driver gives out Bibles…and no one can figure out how to open themHere’s a fight for the BHT. Fly us up there. (BTW, we are overlooking this ;)

I’m done. I am off to work for a couple of hours. When I return, I want some WITTY REPARTE’ on this d—page.

Ready for designer babies?

Michael: I think an argument could be made for Christianity being a violent religion, esp. if one was to travel back in history to the age of the Crusades or the Inquisition, which are the “proofs” often brought up by those who are against Christianity. I also agree that our focus should be Christ, as he is the only one who separates us from other religions. In fact, if an article was written “Jesus would approve of Miss World, and maybe even marry one of them,” we would most likely fight this ignorance in a non-violent manner, realizing this is God’s fight, not ours.

This whole discussion is making me nervous. (Read the following while playing “Hide the Beer, the Pastors here.”) I’m afraid the deacons are watching. I’m afraid that someone will fart during prayer and I won’t be able to laugh. I’m afraid that this whole tavern thing could lead to the corruption of the young. I’m afraid the women will hear Angus say S___. I’m afraid the church board will want to know what was really going on. I’m afraid someone will dance. I’m afraid God will punish me if I have a good time. I’m afraid I’ll get cancer. I’m afraid I’ll offend my brother. I’m afraid someone will get mad and go to another church. I’m afraid someone will tell. I’m afraid we’ve gone too far. I’m afraid we’ll all turn into Catholics. I’m afraid we’re going too liberal. I’m afraid to smell like cigarette smoke. I’m afraid Jack will get slightly drunk and sing. I’m afraid someone will get naked. (Nekkid for you folks in Arkansas.) I’m afraid we’ll all go to hell for this.

Richard: I am a thoroughly unqualified theologian, but I have not yet had an opinion-ectomy and will therefore grace you with my 40-plus years of accumulated wisdom. Or some faint facsimilie thereof. Regarding parties:

My experience of the church is that we have no clue how to really have fun with each other. Or maybe I’m just complaining about the pussification of the church – I’m not sure which. Seems like most so-called parties conducted in the name of the church are little more than glorified potluck suppers. No offense intended against potlucks, but geez… It seems our women run everything and everything is put together for their taste. That’s one of the reasons hanging here in the tavern is so much fun – by & large we we don’t worry about offending our wives & daughters. Churchianity seems to naturally mitigate against rambunctious displays, against wholehearted expressions of glee. We are a pretty uptight lot.

Perhaps we have forgotten that we really are no better than the folks partying in the bar down the street; maybe we believe our own press releases – that we really are “holier than thou”. Seems to me that if we realised we are exactly like the folks down at the bar, doomed to destruction and deserving of hell – but then remembered that God has given us the right to become His children, we couldn’t help but celebrate like crazy. Break out the champagne and the party hats. Blow the whistles and shoot off fireworks. Express with exuberance the mind-boggling fact that God has not only forgiven our sin but has cast it away as far as the east is from the west.

But be careful. Don’t drink too much. Don’t dance too much. Don’t eat too much. Don’t shout too much.

Oh.

Nevermind.

I’ll just head down to the Shady Rest Nursing Home and sing a few choruses of “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” with the inmates – er, residents – instead.

I cannot imagine my wife telling me to please be less exuberant in my expressions of delight in her. I cannot imagine asking my children to please keep it down on Christmas morning when they open that long-hoped-for gift. I cannot imagine asking Heather Mercer and Dana Curry to please be careful the day they were liberated.

We all act like our salvation is as significant as a quarter point drop in the overnight funds rate. Yippee. Pass the cheesecake.

I suspect God knew that we can get a little over-sober, and so He commanded a party day. He commanded Israel to “Remember what I have done for you. Have Fun! Eat too much! Drink too much! Talk to loudly! Dance like no is watching, sing like no one can hear!” because He knew that their ingrained legalism would prevent them from cutting loose without His explicit command to do so.

That’s one of the good reasons to be Reformed – we get to keep the Old Testament.

Party at my house on Thursday. Show up any time after 12:30! Bring food. Drinks will be provided.

RonH: Excellent post and a great idea. Reminds me of the Cinci Vineyard Servant evangelism concepts, which have a lot going for them on the relational side. And I knew there was a reason to use the KJV. That is a verse for the BHT Bible, a project someone should be working on. (Oh- some of the churches around here do a “Godstock” thing, where the whole church goes camping, has outdoor services and music. Another cool idea. Just needs booze and cigars and dancing.)

On the party: Since this isn’t a command involving worship, but a showing of gratitude and generousity by way of a “party,” I think its something for Christian families and friends to consider anytime they share fellowship. I would make sure the definition of party wasn’t supplied entirely by the culture, otherwise we will be joining the Church of Scotland in sponsoring raves at the fellowship hall. Christian celebration is so alien to so much of fundamentalism, that I have to say I am handicapped from my fundamentalist upbringing. Anytime anyone is having a good time, I’m haunted by fundamentalist guilt feelings that sin is happening somewhere. (This serves me well in my current job ;) SO I would be the disciple telling Jesus to put down that bottle and quit dancing with that hooker ;)

Scott: The wisdom of the BHT is available to world. Just buy our books and tapes.

Found out today that my daughter won’t be nominated for the Toyota Scholarship because another staff member beat us to it and nominated another very deserving kid. I’ve been in a funk about it all day. Trusting God in this matter of college money is an adventure for me. When we came to OBI and accepted voluntary poverty, we knew it would open some doors for college: state schools, Berea College. But the daughter wants to go to Centre, the most expensive school in the state. And it appears to me that this is the place for her to go, considering all that I look at in making the decision. So while we are applying at a state school, this is her heart’s desire and mine too. But lots of help will have to arrive for it to happen. That said, if any of you guys are aware of scholarships to be applied for, let me know where to go and I’ll be appreciative to you.

OK… the penny drops. I’m working on a new website – a newsletter thing with a friend of mine who’s a youth minister. Frankly, you guys have some of the best comments about scripture I have ever read in my life. Does anyone mind if I use some of these comments in my articles? Richard C – I’m looking in your direction.

Thanks for the comments on tithing but actually I think I have this one down pat. What I am most interested in are your comments on the principles and spirit of this text, namely, that our God COMMANDS his people to celebrate and to PARTY as a means of showing their reverence before him. I think most evangelicals would be very uncomfortable with this idea of God commanding his people to party (particularly since wine et al. is involved). So my question is how do you get this across to modern celebration-challenged evangelicals? Most importantly What kind of a God is it who commands such a thing? (many evengelicals would think that only a pagan deity would issue such commands!) What should our parties look like in light of such a God as this? This may all sound rather trivial (and looking back in a few months I may be embarrassed to have even asked) but I am seriously wrestling with this.

MatthewJ: Not yet, but it must start soon because its cold enough.
Richard: Glad you are back. I envy you on the marvelous opportunity to teach such a fantastic book- a book that the church needs to hear again and again. My ragged old copies of Luther’s Commentary on Galatians is one of my treasures. Bunyan called it second only to the Bible.

On Tithing: I think our friends in New Covenant Theology have this one done. It is part of the civil law, not part of the moral law or the law of Christ as they put it. We practice it as a family discipline, but also give beyond it and I do not preach tithing. I preach that Christ is Lord of all. The Tithe is, like so much in the old covenant church, a children’s sermon. The whole concept of the Lord’s portion, firstfruits, consecration of the firstborn, etc are teaching the holiness of God. Just as the old church said God is worshiped one place on one day a week, we know that the whole earth is his temple, every day is his day and we are the sanctuaries of worship. So I consider it an act of faith for pastors to quit being Jews and start being New Covenant believers, trusting God to take care of the church budget. (Truth is, many of us pastors prefer legalism because it keeps us able to throw the law at our people when they don’t WANT to do what they should. I grew up in it, and legalism is a tree with no root and no lasting good fruit.)

Gregory: This won’t surprise you at all ;-), but I think an Islamic apologist could take our scriptures and many examples from Christianity and make the same case that Christianity is violent, replete with many contemporary and historical examples. As I have said a hundred times before, Robertson and company are barking up the wrong tree. Our message is Christ, not that the Koran has violence in it or some Muslims are violent. I really don’t think there is much question that these terrorists are reading something. But so are abortion clinic bombers, theonomists and Fred Phelps. This kind of thing is a tactical error in apologetics. If I were speaking to Muslims and took this track, it would be a disaster. Besides, what is Robertson wanting us to know? That all Muslims are violent? Well, he’s an idiot if he believes that. That some Muslims read the Koran and decide to kill Jews and Christians? Well, I think we knew that already. That we can be violent because they are? Pat Robertson as a spokesman for Christianity is a depressing matter. MEDIA: IGNORE HIM PLEASE.

On the Navy Recruiter: We have no problem with the Marine guy. He sets up his table. Hands out his stuff. Tells the kids the truth. Very few sign up. The Navy guy OTOH tells our kids 1) only the rich can go to college 2) Only people with a 28 ACT ever get scholarships 3) there are no good jobs anywhere 4) I gurantee you $40,000. 5) Look at my corvette!! 6) You’ll get any job you want in exotic places and no possibility of a war. 7) The uniform attracts women. We have actually had two students go out with these guys for physicals and tests and be expelled as a result of their behavior with the recruiter! I have seen the Navy take so many kids who ought to be in college and send them down this road. It really gets me irritated.

I like the idea of a big party. Of course, I’m not too sure what I think about tithing, either. I do it, of course, but I do it for purposes of discipline and humility. I know that all I have is the Lord’s and if He wants all of it then I shan’t complain. If He wants it to throw a huge party, then I say “What kind of beer is He providing?” I don’t think the church has any good parties. N.T. Wright said during his most recent trip to Wilmore that Easter Sunday should be the one day of the year that the church breaks out the champange and celebrates the Lord’s resurrection. I’m inclined to agree.

Michael, is it snowing where you are? It just started here about 20 minutes ago. I took some digital pictures for my family so they know I’m not trying to avoid them if we can’t leave tomorrow.

I need some help from my friends at the Tavern (it’s for this week’s sermon). Looking for your insights into the practical applications of Deuteronomy 14:22-27 for believers today. It says you take your tithe and blow it on a big party. I, for one, am very comfortable with that. What say you?

Here’s the text (ESV)...

22”You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, 25then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses 26and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.

Judson: While Puff Daddy, or DIddy, or whatever his name is, waxes on profusely, the facts are that the primary reason millions die in Africa and we don’t do a huge amount about it is we don’t care. Not because they are black, but because they are the third world, and, with the exception of “we are the world, we are the children,” we have little energy to keep up the emergency with the latest about spotted owls and global warming accosting us. We also do not care about third world indigenous people, or even white people in third world countries. We only have so much time to devote to causes, and we focus, primarily, on those closer to us.

As for his media critique. I agree wholeheartedly. I believe the media is white washed. Sometimes, however, this helps the black man, as we are loath to show images of black people rioting, if there is another story to cover. The unfortunate truth is the news is seen as a product, and white sells. Many years ago, the news was the news; it is now a very profitable product.

Jim: For those unable to quit having sex, just have a baby. I guarantee you that your wife will stop advances for at least a period of time. While this is largely tongue in cheek, we all know that we do have control over our actions, whether it is gluttony, adultery and fornication, or stealing. Of course, in Bloom’s world, Winona is a victim.

In the slippery slope department! Abortion = Kill the handicapped?: Society might be better off if it prevents the birth of blind and severely disabled children, said biomedical ethicist Dan W. Brock at the University of Rhode Island’s tenth Honors Colloquium lecture last Tuesday night.

Islam: The Peaceful Religion®: The deputy governor of a largely Islamic state in northern Nigeria has called on Muslims to kill the Nigerian writer of a newspaper article about the Miss World beauty pageant that sparked deadly religious riots.

Islam’s holy book “states that whoever accuses or insults any prophet of Allah … should be killed,” Dangaladima told The Associated Press. “If she (Daniel) is Muslim, she has no option except to die. But if she is a non-Muslim, the only way out for her is to convert to Islam.”

Boy Scout to fit ouster: “If you look at anti-discrimination laws, civil rights, freedom of religion, this is pretty inconsistent with those rules,” Lambert said, vowing to pursue his case through the courts if necessary.—Sorry Lambert. The Boy Scouts are a private organization, and can establish their own rules. You have a case in the court of public appeals only.

In order to discourage any possible Navy recruits, ask the question, “Do you really want to be called ‘Seaman’?”

Mike-
don’t ask for a meeting with the recruiter, just get with the local marine recruiter, tell him about how this navy guy is dishonoring the military and that he always talks about how stupid all of the marines he knows are. That should do it. No more trouble from the horny – stupid – been given a rectal exam by his shipmates and now is having to make up for it by making himself out to be a stud – sailor boy. Also, ask him if he was in any Madonna video’s during the eighties…

My Christmas music is any of the Windham Hill “Winter Solstice” or “Celtic Christmas” series, and Bach. Lots of Bach. Even a little P.D.Q. Bach. is good.

Here’s a good one from the NY Times:

“People can’t stop eating any more than they’re able to stop having sex or grabbing money or anything else.”
DR. STEPHEN R. BLOOM,an obesity researcher.

Christmas Music?? The all time greatest is “The Messiah”. Hay Eric, remember our years of singing in the Manchester Chior? Remember us taking over, with all those old people singing. They did a great job I think. Wow, that was a long time ago. How old are we?

Denise: Sorry to hear about the finger. Batman to the rescue? I can sure call him up. Although I do have first aide training and CPR.

Mike: No, go ahead and send the “Eight Legged Freaks” DVD. Was going to go see that at the theaters, but was too cheap to buy a ticket for the woman too. Thanks.

Judd “don’t know Diddley” Heartsill accused the media on Saturday of ignoring the importance of Sean “P. Diddy, used to be Puff Daddy” Combs.

“He’s obviously a brilliant man, articulate and aware”, an indignant Heartsill told reporters. “There are millions and millions of lesser people out there who get more press, and used-to-be-Puffy is just getting shafted with this recent lack of attention”.

“I mean, this man has experience. Of all people, he certainly knows the meaning of the phrase “being an accessory”.” And the term “genocide”—absolutely! I mean, it’s kind of like, like, calling Puffy’s music “music”.

“And another thing. I’m sick and tired of all the media coverage about light-skinned people in poor countries who are undergoing famines and epidemics. Enough already! Come on, CNN, we’re tired of the images of dying whities!

Saddam’s Chamber of Horrors.

The Puritans wouldn’t like our perpetual Thanksgiving.

Rowan Williams is for gay marriage but against the Masons. I’m no fan of the Masons either, but how does this work Row-baby?

Invitationalism of a different sort.

Beware of your local Santa.

Why not try this with ACT scores?

Short on Christmas Cash? Sell the baby.

From the blog at Relevant: “When asked recently about former NFL player Esara Tuaolo’s much-publicized admission he was gay, San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst said, “Aww, hell no! I don’t want any faggots on my team. I know this might not be what people want to hear, but that’s a punk. I don’t want any faggots in this locker room.” Not surprisingly, a bunch of folks in San Fran weren’t very happy when they heard this …

In the world but not of it. Deion bears witness at the Victoria’s Secret show: Former NFL star and current sports analyst Deion Sanders is catching flak for his backstage reporting at the Victoria Secrets fashion special that aired this week on CBS. He described the models area backstage as the “honeycomb hideout,” and said “it seems as though I’m a kid in a candy store.” Despite protests from family and Christian groups, Sanders says he was just fulfilling a journalistic assignment. “I can’t separate my job of being a journalist with saying, ‘OK, I can’t do that.’ It’s my job to go in there and get the story out,” he told Charisma News Service …

Three things that I saw/heard today that annoy me:

1) Two boys drooling- and I do mean audibly freaking out- over pictures of Air Jordan Shoes. I don’t think the latest Playboy would have gotten this reaction.
2) The Navy recruiter that comes on our campus continually LIES to our kids, saying they cannot get into college without a 25+ ACT and all the money upfront and in their hand. I am on the verge of asking for a meeting with the guy in the President’s office. When he found out by future son-in-law has a 30 on the ACT he starts telling him all the Navy can do, but mostly talks about the cool car he drives and how his uniform really picks up women. I am a supporter of the military but this hacks me off.
3) Kids who do nothing in school and then ask me things like “Now if I get a 20 on the ACT I get a full scholarship, right?” and “I bet I could get into Harvard.”