Michael: How about Dwight L. Moody? I believe his Evangelistic outreach, while not multi-media, was certainly influential.

Turkey recipe for Thanksgiving:
When I found this recipe I thought it was perfect for those people who just
are not sure how to tell when poultry is cooked thoroughly but not dried
out. Give this a try.

BAKED STUFFED TURKEY
6-7 lb. Turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing
1 cup uncooked popcorn
salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt and
pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan in the
oven. Listen for popping sounds. When the turkey’s ass blows out the oven
door and flies across the room, the turkey is done.

Hello everyone. Christmas music (in no particular order):
A John Prine Christmas (basically includes any song where he even mentioned Christmas).
Messiah. Hallelujah Chorus blasted through speakers makes for very interesting traffic light stares.
Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas album. Indian Giver is a cool track.
Muppets Christmas. I don’t have it any more :( but mom used to play the LP at Christmastime.
An Atlantic-Atco Music sampler, which has the best version of White Christmas ever, by the Drifters, featuring the inimitable Clyde McPhatter.
Anything Burl Ives sang for Christmas.
Another album my mom had when I was a youngster featured a lot of country greats at the time – Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, etc. – doing traditional Christmas. Another one I wish I had.

Michael S: I play Yamaha basses exclusively. They’re light, with a solid, plunky sound. They also have the benefit of being reasonably priced. I’ve told the story for many years that I once played a $7,000 Alembis for a few minutes, then switched to a $400 Yamaha that, I thought, sounded better. Right now, I’m playing a Yamaha RBX-350, which is a couple of models old (I think they’re up to the 370 series). To be honest, I’m not as big of a fan of the 350 (my 3rd bass) as I was my RBX-250 (my 2nd) – but both of them beat out the Fender Musicmaster (aka “The Fart Bass”) that I started with.

Musician’s Friend has a Yamaha BB404 for right at $300. They’ve also got about 1 and a half million other basses.

The Amazon site is controlled by Rush Limbaugh from a secret control room in Florida. This is why conservative books sell so well and liberal books sell so poorly. BTW, without being nasty, it does say something about the respective politcal bases of conservatives and liberals that conservative books sell like hotcakes and liberal books- with a few exceptions- fare much less well. Conservatives are more literate. And the politcal base groups of liberals contain large blocks of people who do not read at all.

Ronald: An interesting question. An obvious choice is Billy Graham, on any number of fronts. I would also say Charles Finney or C.I. Scofield, for reasons less obvious to many, but their influence is huge, though not as personalities necessarily.

Ron H: I finally got to see the extended LOTR Fellowship DVD. Much better, IMHO, in a lot of respects. While I agree the character development is the top portion, there were a couple of things that really impressed me. I liked the link of Mordor into the ring, the extended betrayal of Gandalf (by Saruman), the extended footage in both Rivendell and Lothlorien, and the better character development of Strider.

Michael: Christians endorsing cars is the very problem with partnering with a secular company for ministry business, but exactly what was hoped for when the car giant partnered with the tour.

As for unions: From my own personal experience, Unions reward mediocrity. Having worked in two different printing plants, I saw the pay scale in the Union shop was based on a) position and b) longevity (which means longevity in the union, not in the career field). The non-Union shop, on the other hand, gave pay increases to those who were the best at what they did, regardless of time.

On Al Gore’s book: Supporters of the former Vice President are calling foul, however, claiming that the Amazon web site is very confusing, and makes it difficult to purchase the book properly. These must be the same people that were too stupid to vote in Florida. Simple instructions:

1. Go to www.amazon.com
   
2. Type Al Gore or Joined at the Heart in the search box
   
3. Choose Joined at the Heart from the list
   
4. Click order
   

P.S. – The link is a tongue in cheek commentary and not a real news bit. I figured I needed to post that before someone corrected me … again!

By the way, I want to read Hillary Clinton’s book. She got an $8 million dollar advance for the book, and never wrote it. In the early 90s, Newt Gingrich was chastised for a $2 million advance on a book he wrote, as it “appeared he was in collusion” with the publishers. Hillary took the advance the day before she took office, to avoid the same ruling. But, she has never written the book. Of course, taking money the day before you take office is protection enough for the American people that there was no underhanded stuff going on here.

John S: Did you do the Peewee scream every time you heard the word of the day (on the Osbournes)?

We get out for Thanksgiving Wednesday at noon, but I only have to teach Monday and Tuesday. Denise works Wednesday and then we hit the road for time with family. Too much time in the car to suit me, but I am fortunate to only be five hours away from my family and to still have my mom around. When we return, Denise and I are going to prepare a big Thanksgiving type meal here. I have the urge to bake a turkey. The smell is required for the holidays.

ScottW or Mike B: My son wants a bass called a Shecter. Tribal bass. Devil model I think. $630. Seems to be made for heavier music than he plays. Got any recommendations on a good “second” bass? He’s playing a beginner’s Ibanez, and it sounds great, but he deserves a better instrument at some point to keep him motivated. Any good ideas?

Eric: Let me chime in really late on the tape ministry discussion. As you know we have tapes at MPC, but that is because I can use the school’s duplicator. You can get into a good small portable sound sound system new for $1000-1500, which- if things grow- will be a very good investment. The duplicator- which will run $500+- is the second component, then buying a lot (1000) of tapes so you get them cheap. Do this in steps. Of course, you need a dedicated and moderately skilled person to take care of all this. It doesn’t run itself and it can’t be done by kids. Piper’s tape ministry was run for years by one retired couple. Last thing I would say is don’t overestimate the interest. If a pastor isn’t a teacher or doing plenty of application, there won’t be much interest. Lots of good messages aren’t the kinds of things people really want to hear again.

Personally, I would invest in a book table ministry and tapes by popular reformed teachers before I went too far into tape ministry. BTW- if anyone ever wants to set up a BHT bookstore through Amazon, you have my blessing. It would be a nice addition.

Good Christmas Music: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Nothing quite like headbanging the season in…

Bond Movies may eventually go away. This one looks split between people who love it and people who hate it, which is a pretty dangerous place to be in when you’ve spent $142 million to make and $38 million to market a movie in a series that rarely grosses more than $100 million per flick. Financially, it may become less profitable to continue making movies about a Cold War relic. On the other hand… I love the series – including the crap made in the mid-to-late 70’s and 80’s (I’m not a Roger Moore fan), and Pierce B. seems to be the best Bond since Sean C.

Happy Birthday, Bush twins. Have a beer.

Denise and I have started supporting Gospel for Asia this year. Here is some extremely exciting news from their web site, and a good thing to add to your prayers this and next week. Christianity is both suffering and growing in India. As I have written and shared, I think the awakening in the Third World is the revival Christians have been praying for. I just hope we have eyes to see what the Holy Spirit is doing. BTW, if you are looking for a first class ministry to support that does the right thing all the way down the line, GFA gets my best recommendation.

Very interesting article about all the various kinds of things going on behind the scenes to bring down Saddam.

Now even I can afford a double cheeseburger.

Are the Bond movies ever going to go away?

Had an interesting conversation about revival with a volunteer yesterday morning. He had heard some reports of the “thing” that happened here in ‘95 and wanted to know what brought revival. I told him that, imo, there was no revival, just a few more people than usual raising their hands and singing CCM choruses. The criteria for revival these days is quite meager, and utterly pragmatic. People don’t even know how to talk about the work of the Spirit, Holiness, love for the Word, a sense of conviction, Gospel empowered preaching, etc. I am reading the biography of Andrew Fuller, the great Baptist theologian of the late 1700’s. Fuller went through a number of highly emotional episodes of being affected by religion and the Gospel before he was converted. He judged every one of them to be empty UNTIL he began to hate sin and love Christ and the church. Today, Fuller would have been considered a Christian on the first tear, and then a theology of “once saved always saved” would convince him that he really was a Christian, even while he lived as an enemy of Christ. (A “carnal” Christian so-called.) Or he would have been baptized ten times until he got it right. How things have changed, and obviously declined!

Judson: No danger of disappointment. If you like that sort of thing, poke around in…The Gothic Web Site.

I keep looking for Mike Birch in these pictures of Ohio State fans engaging in their own revel. So far, I can’t find him. BTW, the recent restraint in the BHT regarding football is commendable.

I booked the band for the Bush girls party tonight. A sample of what you can expect from tonight’s concert.

Lindsay was my first love
she was in my class
I would have loved to take her out
but I was too shy to ask
The fullness of my feeling
was never made clear
but I send her my love
and a bang on the ear

Nora was my girl
when I first was in a group
I can still see her to this day
stirring chicken soup
Now she’s living in Australia
working as an auctioneer
I send her my love
and a bang on the ear

Deborah broke my heart
and I the willing fool
I fell for her one summer
on the road to Liverpool
I thought it was forever
but it was over within the year
I send her my love
and a bang on the ear

The home I made with Bella
became a house of pain
We weathered it together
bound by a ball and chain
It started up in Fife
It ended up in tears
I send her my love
and a bang on the ear

Krista was a rover
from Canada she hailed
We crossed swords in San Francisco
We both lived to tell the tale
I don’t know now where she is
Oh, but if I had her here !
I’d give her my love
and a bang on the ear

So my woman of the hearth fire
harbour of my soul
I watch you lightly sleeping
I sense the dream that does unfold
You to me are treasure
You to me are dear
I’ll give you my love
and a bang on the ear

Thank you Michael! I heard some of Rutter’s work long ago and because of your recommendation, I’m ordering a copy tonight, so it’ll be at home when I get there. I can’t wait to hear it! I love the sacred music of Dvorak, Mozart, Bach, and the new stuff by Pไrt and Gorecki. The English choral stuff has a very special flavor for Christmas though. I’m positively drooling.

If any of you get the chance- look for a production which happens in many larger towns around the country called the “Christmas Revels”. It’s a real treat. Here is the program for the Boston revels- other towns (Houston, etc.) have similar programs.

And here’s the Amazon page for some of their past recorded performances:

Of course, I forgot to mention- any of the Christmas albums by Satchmo, Vaughn, Fitzgerald, Holliday, etc. And Mannheim is a lot of fun.

George Winston’s “December” is very nice candlelight/hot toddy music for the season, too. Kinda atmospheric solo piano.

Will look for the Patty Loveless album- sounds terrific!

Bart: Is that Vince Guaraldi, or Vince Gill ;-) Come to think of it, I’ll bet Vince Gill has some great Christmas music out there.. need to run by Wal-Mart :)

Invest the money. I am not kidding. This is kind of a “best of.” Turn out the lights. Light the candles. Be absolutely transported. Here it is on Amazon.

Personal fave and cool story. Rutter formed the Cambridge Singers in ‘80. They recorded a Christmas Album for Word records in 1981. I have it on cassette tape. It is wondrous and wonderful. I looked and looked for this on CD for YEARS. Always was told it had vanished. So last year, THIS comes out. I buy it and immediately recognize my cassette tape of Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. On the liner notes it says that this was their first recording, and the tapes were LOST and then found in 1996, and released in ‘01. We Three Kings is just beyond words.

Rutter is a Christian and has composed some wonderful sacred music of his own. The best selection is Gloria!

I have you all beat. I started the day after the vile satanic holiday of Halloween. I have been listening to Vince G. – Narada – Mannheim – TSO – the waverly consort – Harry Connick – all of those cheap compilations – and Bing. I have watched “it’s a wonderful life” twice, The Santa Clause twice, A Christmas story, the Santa Clause 2, and listened to the audio version of A Christmas Carol read by Patrick Stewart. I want snow !

The Bush Twins have called and asked for use of the Tavern on Monday evening. Time to restock the bar and book a band.

Some of my favorite CDs and albums.

1. Anything arrranged and conducted by John Rutter and performed by the Cambridge Singers. If you haven’t discovered this yet—-O my. What a treat awaits you. A touch of heaven on earth. If there were a fire, several of these recordings would be taken out of the house before the dog.
2. Smitty. Christmas and Christmastime contain some of the most perfect spooky Christmas music anywhere. The second recording is really awesome, with a fine mix of classical and pop. MWS can be wonderful when he is a grown-up.
3. Handel’s Messiah. Academy of St. Martin in the Fields version. Turn it up.
4. Trans Siberian Orchestra ROCKS!
5. Most anything by Manheim. The albums vary, but they understand the spooky stuff. That recording of Silent Night brings tears to my eyes every time. (Whooooooosh!)
6. GLAD, Voices of Christmas
7. Kathy Mattea, Good News
8. Patty Loveless, Bluegrass, White Snow. This is brand new and excellent. As good as Light of the Stable.
9. Rob Matthes, Christmas is Coming.
10. Dan Fogelberg, The First Christmas Morning.
11. Streisand has some great Christmas recordings.
12. Andy WIlliams too.

Ok, I can’t restrain myself. This talk about Christmas music has got me in a cheerful mood. I’m going home on Thanksgiving day, and I plan to dig out the Christmas albums a few days afterwards. Here are a few of the ones I can think of..

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”- Vince Guaraldi
“Pretty Paper”- Willie Nelson
“Light of the Stable”- Emmylou Harris
Any of the old Elvis Christmas albums
Any of the (good, unabridged) recordings of “The Nutcracker Suite”
Any of the Statler Brothers Christmas albums
“Midwinter Night’s Dream”- Boys of the Lough (Irish)

Of course, the best Christmas music is live caroling. But, aside from that, what are some of your favorite recordings?

1. Isn’t it against some stated rule to write bad things about me while I am asleep?
2. I was listening to see if it really was Christmas music. I bought it after all.
3. It’s Advent music, that’s different.
4. Santa was never mentioned.
5. 1 Corinthians 14:34 34 the women should keep silent in the [blog]. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

Explaining strange Oneida reference: Several years ago, someone donated enough Batman band-aids to last through the year 3000. All grown ups must wear them just like the kids, as a sign of submission to the powers that be. It is great fun to give these Batman band-aids to large high school boys.

Scott and John: I guess I can take back those Eight Legged Freak DVDs I bought for everyone.

(to be read aloud in a sing-song voice) Michael’s listening to Christmas music! Michael’s listening to Christmas music! After making a big deal that the kids and I were not allowed to touch the Christmas collection till after Thanksgiving. This is the first time in a long time that he’s given in to the lure of “Christmas spirit” this early. I don’t know what’s gotten into him…

John, where were you when I needed you? We had our daughter’s boyfriend and his parents over for dinner Friday night and I neatly sliced my finger open while cutting a loaf of homemade bread. I managed to keep from dripping onto the bread long enough to run for a band-aid. (Non-Batman! Can you believe that?) Fortunately a band-aid did the trick. I thought for a minute there I was going to have to tell our guests to make themselves at home while I made a hasty exit to the emergency room!

Scott: Just thought I would add this. I did finally go get the car, only after I had a friend set off a “bomb” in it, making sure any living thing inside the car was dead.

To Everyone:: Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Don’t over do it. Remember glutny,(mispelled I’m sure) is a sin. I should know better than anyone. I have a lifetime supply of TUMS if anyone needs them just give me a call. Along with “Batman” bandaides if anyone should slice a finger instead of the turkey. PEACE

Scott: I once left a car on the side of the road for 3 days because there was this black hairy spider crawling across the dash board. I think it was a spider. :) But after living in Oneida for 7 years, I have somewhat overcome my fear of these eightlegged creations of the Almighty One. I sometimes wonder why He created some of the things He did. Have a nice day.

Oh and watching Ozzy do the sign of the cross before going on stage, HUH!!!!!! What a joke.

Well, I sat through hour after hour of “The Osbournes.” Just to think, they are not actually acting. This is supposed to be the real thing right? I know this, the word of the day around the Osbourne house must be “F_ _ _ K? And those kids. His son sorta reminds me of Leif Larson. Mike and Eric should know who I am talking about.

I guess “They learned it from Bill C.” isn’t a valid excuse…

John Edwards… let’s see. How can I, the local Carolinian describe him? Slimy, smiling, slick-Willy wannabe with good-ol-Carolina-boy image machine that puts most movie marketing campaigns to shame. I’d only vote for him for President to get him out of North Carolina.

Sorry about the lack of an 8-Mile review. I just have a problem with giving my hard-earned cash to a sexist, violent market-made homophobe who thinks that threatening his mother and wife with rape and murder brings his music “respect”. Instead, I’ve been spending my hard-earned cash on a movie made by people who want our children to learn the occult, and how to fly on broomsticks and stuff. In fact, I’m flying on a broomstick right now. Either that, or the Frosted Flakes went stale… “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” gets my official “Thumbs Up” for ages 10+, with the understanding that the “PG” rating is well-earned. In other words, if you’re going to let your kids see it, see it with them. You would think that would be a no-brainer, but I worked at a theatre for 2 1/2 years, where parents left their 8-9 yr old kids to be babysat by “Scream” and “Striptease”(and then got upset when I told them they’d have to sit with their kids).

I will warn you, if you’re at all arachniphobic (I am), you may want to skip this one.

MS: Thats why I put my lap top on the desk or a table. You only get “1” of those. No transplanting that right?

John Edwards: The Monk thinks the Democrat nomination will be between Edwards, Kerry and Gore. Too early to say what will unfold, but this one will try to play as a conservative. Democrats will fight it out over how much they want to depart from their base and go after Southern Democrats who voted for Bush and Soccer moms. This may be their best bet.

MatthewJ: I couldn’t link it because its passworded, but CT’s weblog has a link to a NYT editorial TRASHING the woman for doing evangelism, and bringing this on herself, complete with quotes from apostates saying Christians shouldn’t be doing this sort of thing. Gee—tell the apostles.

Those of you with laptops might want to read this....and perhaps find yourself asking the same questions I did.

The wild weekend goes on. Play the last two nights. Late night dinner extravaganzas both nights. Today I am devoting to sermons and reading. This is likely my daughter’s last night on the stage. Her mastery of 420+ lines and the character of Jo March has made her something of a celebrity. Autographs and all.

Anyone see the Sci-Fi special “Roswell: Startling New Evidence.”? I am a hopeless UFO nut. All those years watching X-Files. I even have a theologically cool reason aliens are coming out here in the middle of nowhere to check us out. Anyway, the one thing they came up with- the “smoking gun”- was pretty darned sensational. I’ll try to find the links for you. If you don’t know much about Roswell, then it won’t mean much. Short version: The computer geeks can now read the letter in General Ramey’s hand in the famous “Weather Balloon” photo. It’s pretty stunning- or a hoax. Really, I don’t care which!

I have a rule against Christmas music before thanksgiving, but its getting tough to hold out. I’ve bought four new cds and I am dying to listen. Spooky choirs in dark cathedrals at Midnight of the first Sunday of Advent. That’s the ticket.

RE: That guy whose wife was shot in the head. Man, that dude…I don’t even know what to say. All I can think of is Piper. “Doing Missions When Dying is Gain.” That was the talk he gave at Wheaton in ‘96. I have it on mp3. There were 3 p’s and I can’t remember the first, but the second was price and the third was the prize. He said the price was suffering. Dang. I just can’t stop thinking about it.

This one will flip you out. Read a bit of it.

VDH ROCKS AGAIN!!! This guy has our soon to be victory over the Baathite thugacracy down blow by blow. If reading this doesn’t get you excited you’re numb. Very cool.

Finished one of the toughest weeks of teaching I’ve had. I have decided to make my students be students. They are going to have to take notes, read and work in my class. There are going to be some f’s and the A’s are going to achieve something. Word has reached me that “Mr. Spencer’s class isn’t fun any more.” which means I am doing the right thing.

Once again, the question emerges: What methods best achieve the result of a change of heart regarding cooperating with the United States? We had this guy for 13 days till we said we had him. Must have been exciting. Any possibilities?

The Unions want to take on Wal-mart. Those poor miserably unhappy Wal-Mart employees need organized crime to come in and save them?

This- as sad and tragic as it is- is what it will take in this mess. People willing to die and people willing to forgive.

Chevy sponsors CCM and now evangelicals- and friends- are endorsing cars. Aren’t we just using Jesus for our causes?

Gotta say this about Pizza Tom, he loves the church and wants his money to do good. I respect the guy. (We need to send him a brochure.)

Scott: Seen any good movies lately? I was counting on you for a review of 8 mile.

Bart: Why don’t you challenge this guy to a football game? The BHT could sponsor it. “The Chronic Cup” sounds good to me. Of course, coaching always gives people the opportunity to do good things with young people.

What’s with the upsurge lately of this kind of crap? Or is it just that we’re hearing about it more? Sheesh. This guy should be fried.

I work for a lady who is Canadian. I asked her about the situation and she got ticked. Her response was that “we” (Canadians) need to “brighten up” and realize that “we” can be a semi-pacifist country because the US is protecting “our backside.” She’s a resident alien and a better citizen than many Americans, in my opinion.

Remember to repeat the mantra: “Islam is a peaceful religion!”

Jesse is being sued by … black people.

Suicide bombers may end up being Time’s “Person of the Year.”

Martin Sheen surfaces in the Canadian government. “Earlier in the day, a senior Canadian official, who asked not to be identified, called Mr. Bush “a moron” because of his efforts to push the war against Iraq to the top of NATO’s agenda. The summit was to focus on expansion and moderation of the alliance, but Mr. Bush has used his clout to make Iraq the only issue at the meeting.”

Gregory: Absolutely correct. And that is what my students have to admit. Minority set asides, affirmative action, race-based scholarships are discrimination just as much as historical discrimination in the south. And as for reparations, IMO if this goes, given the atmosphere of litigation in this country, it will rip America apart and set race relations back into the dark ages. I get JJ and Al on a black satellite network and they talk about this incessantly. Frightening. Political leaders with spine- if there are any- need to speak against this, particularly presidents.

Michael: “Racism is treating a person differently because of the color of their skin or any other definition of race.” – Let’s see if I have this correct:

• Hiring a person strictly because of the color of their skin, is racism. Does it still count as racism if the government is the one enforcing it? If so, affirmative action is racist.
  
• Giving out scholarships, based on race, is racism. Then, many of the government sponsored grants and scholarships are racist.
  

The problem in the black (I have no qualms about being PC, as at least some of the true “African-Americans” (from Africa) are white and some blacks in this country are not Americans or from Africa) America is they have been sold a bit of snake oil and they bought it. Their leaders tell them they are victims, and the government, and other groups, do everything possible to placate them. But, rather than accept the aid with gratitude and achieve, many believe they are victims and never accomplish anything worthwhile. It is really sad. What is worse, however, is successful blacks, who do not toe the party line, are chastised. Look at Clarence Thomas, Condaliza Rice, Collen Powell and J.C. Watts, for example.

As long as we have the gates open, how about reparations: The idea here is two-fold. First, that companies that profited from slavery should pay. And, second, that blacks who have suffered from slavery should be the recipients of the profits (minus the large chunk taken by the lawyers, of course). The standard is basically, if you are black and poor, you are paid. Since many blacks in this country were not descended from slaves, this is racist. The standard for paying is that a company ever made a profit on anything slavery related; as most companies that profited solely on slavery are defunct, the standard is very loose on this side.

The problem here is it is very hard to prove slavery as a link for being poor. When you look at the disparity between salaries (often touted by proponents of reparations), you find that a large majority of the disparity can be explained by the differences in education. Another chunk can be explained by comparing the relative salaries of the regions where different races live (taking racial percentage times the salary and averaging across the nation). I would also imagine, due to the welfare state, et al, that years of experience might factor in.

Differences in education: As single parent families have been shown to be a major factor in all sorts of issues, including education level, it appears the breakup of the familiy, which has plagued the black community may be the culprit. But, can this be shown to be from slavery? Up until the 50s, the black community was much better at staying together than the white community. The shift happened during the 60s. I believe the creation of the marriage penalty and the welfare state helped tremendously in breaking up the family. If my theory is correct, it is likely slavery had little impact on the financial disparity.

Does racism still exist? Do some white men truly try to hold the black man down? Certainly. But, I think we should allow these folks to come out of the closet and openly hang signs that state “I hate n____rs!” I believe society will better filter out those who openly harbor such feelings than government regulations, which just serve to hide the racist feelings behind a veneer of acceptability. From a hiring standpoint, except perhaps with publicly traded companies, I think a small business should be allowed to use color as a hiring choice. I would not be one who would choose to work for that company, but I think that a black man, rather than sue, should walk away. He would not enjoy working in that environment.

We have a basic right to be a flaming racist in this country. Most of us choose not to enact this right, which is a good thing. But, whitewashing the problem by creating hate crimes legislation and enforcing politically correct speech, does not solve the problem. The problem is still there; it is just hidden. Why not bring it out in the open, where the community can determine how to handle it. And, if the community stands behind such practices, those with sensibility will move out and let them wallow in their own little hateful society.

RonH: I also miss the days of outrageously funny bits. He has gone back to that somewhat. I only get to hear Rush on breaks when we are travelling. But here it is: the man was/is the most articulate populist voice of the the movement. He’s not an egghead. He hasn’t lost touch with the average person’s concerns. Unlike the so-called conservative leaders of the past decade (Gingrich especially) he answers everyone nose to nose with common sense, high octane conservatism. Yeah, he’s changed, but then the guy is an incredible success story. I respect him. I would be a liberal democrat if it weren’t for Rush. And Daschle’s criticism of Rush is cheap, whiney, drivel.

Dave Konig is very funny today. You will laugh!

My dog has a flea on his tail that he can’t reach, so he is going in endless circles. There must be a deeper meaning to this.

Tonight the psuedo-in-laws and my pseudo son in-law are coming for a late (after the play) dinner. I will not feel well again tomorrow morning. We counted, and Clay and Noel have been in 11 and 12 plays respectively. What a blessing for my kids to grow up here.

When I discuss racial issues with students, I put a definition of racism up on the board. “Racism is treating a person differently because of the color of their skin or any other definition of race.” Then, we vote on whether that is always wrong. Then we talk about any racial issue. Try it and watch what happens.

I’ve told this story I am sure, but it bears retelling. We had three African American basketball players who were offered full scholarships to a small liberal arts college up here in the mountains. These guys were poor students, but only through laziness, not limitation. The scholarship was a private one, with instructions to be given to African-American males who played ball and could make a 17 on the ACT. Of course, why a school would administer a racist scholarship such as this is amazing to me, but they did. Our then principal took these three guys under his wing, got them through the ACT (17’s all) and enrolled in the college. Now think about what those boys had. A full ride for doing nothing in high school and offering almost nothing to the college. I wish so much for a lot of kids I know. By Christmas, all three are gone. One is now in prison for armed robbery. The other two were asked to leave for behavior. (Just not showing up to class and practice.) Now, who is the problem here? To me, this is a parable of what is going on in the African American community and until they face it and say its their fault and do something about it, they are in a mess.

I feel like I’ve been on that Disney cruise Drudge is writing about. Uggh. Too much dinner too late.

These stories of Daschle and McCain trashing Rush Limbaugh just amaze me. How much denial are the Democrats in. (I know he’s not a Democrat, but when the GOP is in the majority, he acts like one.) Talking like Rush is inciting the militia to threaten people. Does the guy listen to Rush? And McCain saying Rush is a “clown?” I wish he’d go back to being a clown sometimes. As it is, Limbaugh is so much smarter than almost anyone else in conservative circles that I am just constantly amazed. The guy is a self-taught political genius. And 20 million listeners. Are all of us sheep Mr. McCain? Any chance Rush is articulating what many of us beleive? What really annoys me is that Rush is careful to keep extremists and nut case conservatives off his show. As a target for post-election griping, Rush is a poor choice. Gripe at your own party Tom. They screwed the pooch. The unions didn’t come through. The blacks didn’t show up. Your candidates sucked. You threw the Wellstone funeral rally in our faces. And that was that. You lost because you are losers.

ScottW: A prime example of what the black community is doing to itself. I make this point to my black kids all the time. When I put you in a cotton field and make you call me massah at gunpoint, I am your problem. When you are endorsing immorality, drug use, illegitimacy, ignorance, crime and dependency, and applauding those who say you are too weak to do anything about it, you are hurting yourselves. Which is the bigger story today?

Speaking of racism, here’s a little ditty from the Chicago Sun-Times by a ball of intellegence named Mary Mitchell. According to Ms. Mitchell’s column, it was wrong of Micheal Jordan to have an affair. It was also wrong of him to pay off his mistress. But it was especially wrong… because the woman he had an affair with was white.

Ms. Mitchell goes on to explain that Jesse Jackson’s affair was well-received in the black community, and that R. Kelly having sex with a 17-year old black girl in a hotel room and videotaping it was all fine and dandy. Both were given the Mary Mitchell Stamp-O’-Approvalฎ because the mistress and child involved were of African descent. As if Mr. Jackson’s wife would say, “Jesse, you jerk – you slept around on me, took our marriage covenant and threw it in the garbage, and wiped your butt with our wedding vows… but at least it was with a black chick.”

Fortunately, I believe Ms. Mitchell represents the black community as much as Jesse J. and Louis F. are “leaders” of the black community. I have more faith in the black community than that.

Jack hasn’t been on much lately. Said he’d been “training.” Is this where he’s been? The truth is out there.

I didn’t see any deletions but I was hanging with the in laws most of the evening. All looks as it did when I checked in.

What is up? it looks like everything after 11:00am has been deleted….

Uhhh. Don’t eat at Back Yard Burger.

Yikes!!!

Michael, I would invite you but it would be redundant since I’m already in there ;-)

Is this the biggest zit you’ve ever seen?

Eric and MatthewJ: Cool subject. And I’m not being contentious. Hope I’m not coming off that way. I am never bashful to talk about race. I provoke discussions with my black students all the time, and I challenge every subject I can think of. I grew up in a black neighborhood, attended a majority black elementary school, played ball with my African-American friends, attended a high school with 35% blacks. I have classes that are majority black students. I counsel blacks, interview blacks and deal with black parents. BUT I’M NOT BLACK and I don’t know how it feels and I wouldn’t ever say that I know the black experience as a black person. So I gladly cede the insight to anyone. However….

I believe the black experience for young blacks today is only incidentally affected by white racism or even history up to 1970. The black treatment of their own race and their own issues is far more harmful to them than the impact of whites. What blacks are telling themselves is what’s creating the problem. I can’t accept that law enforcement is doing anything wrong by pulling over an African-American if the criminal profile is African-American. And if someone isn’t prepared to be turned down for a job or a promotion for any number of reason- color, gender, age, accent, weight, baldness and so on- then I’ve got to wonder how realistic that person is. When the speech about discrimination starts, I have to wonder if that is what the courageous African-Americans of the past fought to bequeath their descendents.

I am constantly confronted with the tension between cultural sensitivity and color blindness. I think both have to be dealt with, and I am the first one to say these people were brought here against their will, subjected to genocide and discriminated against for decades. All I can say is that isn’t all of the story. MLK had it right: the content of character, not the color of skin. (MatthewJ: Invite me to your class as an example of a Neanderthal ;-)

I’m thinking mainly in terms of experience. I also think the lived reality of an African American is different than mine and I want to understand it as much as I can so that one day Sunday morning will not be the most segregated time of the week in America. Never in my life have I been followed in a store the way my roommate in high-school was (and I actually could observe it) and never in my life have I been pulled over because I fit the discription of a criminal, which seems to be the excuse du jour for traffic stops on many African-Americans. I like Jesse Jackson the least of anyone in this country. If I wasn’t a Christian I would probably carry a hatred for the man, so I don’t want anyone to think that I’m going off in his direction. I’m just saying it’s easy for us to say that the playing field is level or better for minorities when we are the majority and I’m not so sure it is. I got to go to the college I dreamed of, the seminary I wanted to attend, and have never been turned down for a job so I’ve never been affected by affirmative action or whatever it’s being called these days. I’m still trying to figure out what I think in all of this. It’s a little different for me at least within my family and friends because of my relationship to my high school roommate who, to this day, is the only male other than my Dad that I’ve truly loved.

I just re-read the post in question, and I notice that I did say “their lot in life is different from yours and mine.” What I meant by that is simply the most literal interpretation: black people are different and have a different life than MatthewJ and I (and the rest of us). As do hispanics and midgets and Norwegians. What I was not saying is that should have any bearing on entitlement and victim-hood. It should not. But it is true that there are cultural differences between blacks and whites.

I totally concede your points, Michael. When I was talking about a dream deferred, I was referring specifically to the character in Go Down Moses, and how that applies to anyone who has had a similar experience (black or white). As far as opportunity—I also agree. Blacks are given far more breaks. My point is more of an existential one: it’s rough for anyone, black or white, who has so many people expecting so many things out of them because of something they have no control over. And that does happen to a lot of black people in our country: some whites expect one thing, some blacks expect another, and the person is left to think, Gee, can’t I just be? I am not implying (at all) that this is a uniquely black experience, or that it should translate over into any kind of entitlement or advantages. Anyone can (and many people do, in a million different specific examples) feel the same way, regardless of color or ethnicity, and in America, I believe every citizen should have equal opportunity, regardless of background/color/blah blah blah. Please don’t think I am placing blacks in a special role of victimhood—the human experience is hard at times, and every human is a victim to some degree. Get over it, is my philosophy, as you well know. My intent was to merely raise an existential issue and one that is frustrating to blacks (although not exclusively to blacks).

Far be it from me that I would think I could play editor to the guys at Foxnews.com, but anyone else find this little piece on Michael Jackson a bit odd? Take this quote for example: “Top shrinks last night said Jacko was a disturbed, out-of-control freak and urged authorities to step in.”

Eric and Matthew: As a guy who works with a lot of African-Americans, I have to say I do not see how the young people I work with have had any dreams taken away from them. They’ve won the lottery of history and get to live in a time and place where they get a hundred breaks my kids won’t get without doing the work and all because of something done to their ancestors. I’ve worked in inner city, but I also live in Clay County. These problems aren’t about race. They are about engrained cultural attitudes and individual behavior. Any black student of mine can achieve anything any white student of mine can achieve. In fact, probably more. He will go to Harvard quicker. He will get a government job faster. So what if some redneck calls him a name or some racist turns him down for a promotion. Big whoop. Everybody has to go some miles uphill. Asians, West Indians, Hispanics, East Europeans: They face similar issues, and don’t have the political muscle that African Americans enjoy. I am happy for them to act black. Just have the courage to bring some moral judgment to your culture, and don’t blame all those fatherless kids on the Man, or say- as one young lady said to me two years ago- that whites are holding her black. While she sat in my class with 20 white kids who made worse grades. The current black experience in America is not what it was pre-1970.

I agree with you mostly. I don’t think (and I would bet you don’t either) that their situation excuses any illicit behavior or makes them entitled to anything automatically. Like I said, I’m certainly not saying you are arguing that way, but a lot of people do. But it is certainly true that their lot in life is different from your and mine, especially when it comes to what you were referring to: implied or expressed expectations for how they are “supposed” to act because they are black—either pressure from some blacks, who expect them to be a certain way, or from some whites, who expect them to be the opposite way. That would be frustrating for any one of us!

I figured you weren’t going to be back on today. I didn’t want to look needy ;-) I wrote a paper on Rider my senior year of high-school. I really liked his character and was angered that he was treated so unjustly. I think a lot of African-Americans feel like they’ve had their dreams (or anything else) dangled in front of them. After seeing that film, I sure look at them differently because I finally understood that they have to act a part, so to speak, in a lot of their situations and only get to be black when at home or with friends. Didn’t want to start a race thing on here, but it’s been on my mind.

Hey MatthewJ: Where did your post go? I typed a response to it, and it was gone when I posted. People will think I’m participating in phantom conversations (much like they do when I wander the streets drooling and wearing only a gauze loin-cloth—but that’s another matter entirely).

Sorry to disappear—I had to go teach.
MatthewJ: Cool! I haven’t seen the film you referred to, but I certainly remember Rider from “The Pantaloon in Black” from Go Down, Moses. From what you said, I think he would have been great to bring up in response to the question raised. The plight of poor Mannie and Rider’s response is a great example of, as Langston Hughes would have said, “a dream deferred.” Great symbolic picture of the anger a person can feel when he is denied that which is dangled before him like a carrot and then jerked away the moment he reaches for it.

Jack: In the “words” of Henny Youngman’s rim-shot man: ba-dump-ching! Be nice to me, or you never know what you’ll get in the mail for Christmas…

Eric: Since no one else will help you with the tape ministry, I will put my oar in the water. Here is How to Start a Tape Ministry in 4 Easy Steps
1. Get some tape.
2. Stick it to something.
3. Observe it closely.
4. If it has any needs, minister to them.

You’re welcome.

Scott: You’ve been very helpful. Thank you so much. You too, Matthew. At least now I can talk to my pastor like I at least sort of know what I’m talking about :-)

The Baptist church I attend recently purchased a Fender Passport 250. It’s not perfect, but it can handle a room the size of a gym pretty handily, and they run under $1,000 (add about $150 for speaker stands). You may also want to look at purchasing an actual small 6-8 channel PA system. They aren’t as portable, but they may give you better sound – and you can find decent ones used. Either way, then you could hook up a tape deck of some sort (like a boom box) to the PA and tape directly off that.

If ya’ll are strapped for cash, a boom box with an external $10 mike from Radio Shack can do what you need, but it will sound like you recorded it off a $10 mike onto a boom box (think a microcassette recorder). If the people who will want the tapes don’t care about the speaker sounding like he’s talking into a can from 20 ft away, you may want to test out something like that. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper, and someone in your congregation probably has a boom box to loan.

Duplication, however, can be a little trickier. You can duplicate on a boom box or stereo that has a dual tape deck, and they’ll usually work fine, but they’ll take as long as it took to record. If you have a 90 minute tape, it’ll take 90 minutes to duplicate. Some dual tape decks have a hi-speed copy option, where you sacrifice a little quality for a little duplication speed.

You can buy expensive tape duplication equipment, but that type of equipment usually works best if you have a clean-off-the-PA recording. Since you probably won’t (even with a PA), you may want to forgo the duplication equipment until your church gets a little bigger. You can get good CD-Duplication equipment, but not everybody has CD’s, and the equipment usually requires that you have a CD Master Copy (which you probably won’t).

Another option you can look at is a professional duplication service. There’s quite a few around, and they’re usually not awfully expensive, especially if you buy the blank tapes from them. Check with them to see what they can handle and how much they’d charge, and how many they’d require for a minimum run. They’ll sometimes give churches discounts.

It wouldn’t be the highest quality sound in the world, but if you could get a mic ($15.00 at Wal Mart) close enough to the pastor’s mouth and hit record on that “boom box” of yours, you’d get a decent recording. Then just throw it into a dual tape deck for copies. It’s what my Wesley Foundation in college used to do.

MIKE:

I wonder if the kid who threatened violence would feel so Froggy if he knew that the mere threat of such an act would bring a large boulder resting on his cranium. I had many middle schoolers that were like this in the public schools, and it seemed that the only thing they understood in that situation was that i would defend my class with all the energy contained in a force 5 hurricane. if they actually thought that I would stand up to them, they were quite chilly. I know that this may seem a means of escalation, and that’s true, only if you call them out in front of their peers. they are dying for someone to set their boundries for them. of course, i could be wrong.

Scott: Right now it has nothing. We rent space in the old state police barracks in Henderson, KY, which basically involves us setting up folding chairs and a keyboard, and a podium with a fake plant in front of it. I thought about a portable PA system, but know nothing about them. What would you recommend? See, I haven’t even brought this up to the pastor yet—I wanted to have some specifics to bring up when I do.

That actually sounds like a great idea, but we don’t have a computer, as far as I know (I have one, but it’s not a laptop). Until I can accomplish that, I was looking for really basic stuff, since I know next to nothing about sound specs. For instance, could I just take my boom box (I’ve always hated that term) in and hit record? Or would that sound like crap? How about duplicating? I looked at a site and saw that their duplicating machines were probably too expensive for us right now (we have some money saved up, of course, with more coming in from members, but there’s that whole building and land thing). Can I just copy them on a stereo that has 2 tapedecks, or will that sound like crap? I know I could just experiment with all this myself, but I thought, you know, a bunch of veteran church types are on this blog, so…

Eric: Can your church afford a small, portable PA system? What does it have now?

I’ve got a better idea. Run a line from the PA into a computer (laptop in my case) and record it with some audio recording software (Magix Music is what I have). Convert the file into .mp3. Buy a bunch of the mini-discs (around 70 cents per disc at Wal-Mart) and burn the message onto those with MusicMatch or RealOne Player. That’s what I’m going to do when I graduate and get a church. If the members want the message, ask that they donate $1 to defer the CD costs and voila! Even if the people don’t want a CD you can pop the CD into a stereo and record it onto a tape.

Has NO one out there had any experience with tape ministry?
Great stuff from Piper from his sermon on Romans:
God’s Call Is not a Democratic Idea
This will not move us and fill us with the gratitude and wonder and worship that it should as long as we think the way typical American lovers of democracy think. Americans believe in government of the people, by the people and for the people. That’s probably not a bad idea for humans governing humans. But when it gets transferred to the way God governs the world, it is a very bad idea. It creates the impression that human rights and privileges are at the center of the universe, and that the only thing that should distinguish one person from another is his own effort or intelligence or courage. Otherwise we must all be treated equally and God must do for everyone what he does for anyone.

But what if the human heart is corrupt and hard and rebellious and blind and virtually dead to spiritual reality (Ephesians 4:18)? In that case, the only thing that self-reliance can produce is more death. And the only thing that can save us from our own corruption is a divine, supernatural, powerful, awakening call from God. If we say (in democratic fashion) that God must call everyone the same way he calls anyone, we do not yet understand how deeply sinful and rebellious and undeserving we are. If God calls anyone, it is grace, free and totally undeserved. And he is not obliged to call everyone if he calls anyone, because he does not call any on the basis of human merit or human distinctives. Democracy proceeds on the basis of universal human rights; but rebellious, sinful humans have absolutely no rights in relation to God. All divine condemnation is just; all divine salvation is gracious. As Romans 9:15 says, “God has mercy on whom he will have mercy.” And the fact that anyone is called from darkness to light is a wonder of grace.

Piper goes on to defend several assumptions he is making in his arguments. Great sermon, if you have time to listen or read.

So, does NO one out there have any advice for a person trying to start a fledgling tape ministry?

SARCASM MODE ON
Let’s make sure to remember how peaceful and non-violent terrorists are. If we leave them alone, they’ll leave us alone.
SARCASM MODE OFF

I used to play chess. Too bad I can’t admire Bobby Fischer anymore.

And I also have pictures of the man in action – Mel Gibson’s Passion.

It’s just a terrible and hateful thing to say. Violent. Assumes God is angrier at that sin than at my sin. I have heard this from too many Christians, or a nodding wink at this sort of thing.

Scott: Absolutely. I have heard that line said by many laughing Christians.

My take on the f____t issue. I was on a bit of a conservative protestant guilt trip at the time, but the stupidity of my original statement remains.

Michael: Conservative talk show hosts are normal targets when the Democrats are getting their butts kicked.

On the F______t issue: They are forgetting that the battle is not ours.

I think the Democrat leadership needs to go on a cruise or something. This rambling tirade by Daschle against Rush and talk radio sounds like the post-Oklahoma City stuff Clinton was dishing out. Comparing conservative talkers to terrorists. Mr. Daschle, that pain you are feeling ain’t talk radio. It’s the voting public’s boot in your arse. Why don’t you and Jim Jeffords just both quit and start a little Vermont Inn for honeymooners or something.