My Bio: I was born at an early age, married at an early age, rebellious at a late age, aging at an early age, and prefer my beef, cheese, scotch, wine and women all nicely aged. I look younger than I am, act younger than I am, and think younger than I am, but I’m way too old to still not know what I want to do when I grow up. I have a loving wife of 22 years who endures me, 4 children who adore me, and assorted small animals that depend upon me for survival. I have a college degree in Music Composition, which explains why I’ve worked in the IT industry for 18 years. I’m currently at work on my MBA, which is really just another way to continue postponing the inevitable requirement that I decide what to do with my life. In 1999, I discovered that I was Reformed and just didn’t know it up till then. I later discovered I was baptized as an infant in the Presbyterian Church. (How cool is that?) Favorite hobbies are hiking, reading, writing and pontificating. (I’m best at that last thing.) I have a passion for education that was borne out of my own miserable experience with school. I’m an unapologetic Libertarian with strong Anarcho-Capitalist leanings. The South shall rise again, but sadly – probably not till I’m rotting in my grave.

I E-mailed Michael’s article to my wife and this is the response I got:

“It made me want to cry.”

I think I just scared the crap out of her.

I’ve invaded the student computer lab for a minute before chapel. They have a high speed dedicated line in here. I could get used to this.

KenL: I think the doctrine of papal infallibillity is no big deal once you’ve bought into the basic system. It’s the primacy of the ROMAN pontiff that is the problem. Again, the church appeals to itself for authority to answer the question of authority. What about exegesis of that issue?

The whole campus smells like onion rings.

The French——didn’t they sell us like half a continent for $29.50 or something like that?

Jack and JimN: Could I talk either of you guys into a one paragraph bio to make our bio page complete?

KenL: Do the Thirty-Nine articles of the Church of England sound RCC to you?

Bill MacK: I believe that Ken identified the CE as ultra-traditionalist earlier.

Ken, I also left out the Ivory Coast, where French “peace keepers” are pulling out due to … anti-French protests.

Link Phun Thursday!!!!

What a load of crap. 8 feet high load of crap, actually. Frozen.

Breaking a window in Jamaica lands a man in jail for 29 years. But he did not shoot no deputy.

Ever wanted an electric car? Here’s one that can be yours now for a bargain $600,000. 0-60 in 12 minutes.

You know how Perdue advertizes their chickens as always being yellow, not pale? Well…

Highly scientific studies show that sleepy kids are more accident-prone, not able to concentrate, and prone to crankiness. Lead scientist: Captain Obvious, PhD.

I’m proud to be a Libertarian...

Animal rights activist steals an elephant. Police can’t find it. In unrelated news, PETA announces it has admitted it’s fattest, tallest, long-nosedest, grayest completely human member ever.

While trying to find the real killers, OJ takes time out to be an a

KenL: Good morning Ken. Is the online Catholic Encyclopedia a good source of RCC info in your opinion? I think we as Protestants owe much to the RCC especially in the early years of the church. I honestly think many of the RCC doctrines have been contrived over the years and cannot see any apostolic authority for them. Yesterday I looked up the doctrine of the Scapular. It was a confusing mess of complicated doctrines that didn’t make sense to me. I couldn’t see any links back to teachings of the early church and can only conclude that it was all made up as they went along. Big ones, little ones, black ones, brown ones, all with different functions and efficacy. Where does it all come from?

I am going to start splitting my reading time between The Pilgrim’s Regress and The History of the English Church by Bede. It is fascinating. I didn’t quite get all through it last time because partway through it seemed that all that was talked about was the miracles associated with Relics, which I am skeptical of, but Bede was the genuine article, a true and devout Christian (despite his association with the Whore of Babylon (JN)). I will now place myself under SBC discipline (JN).

I found One Man’s Life in Three Phone Calls while blog hopping. Thought it was worth passing on.

Michael S and Eric R: Great Articles. Thumbs up from the North Carolina Contingent.

JimN, I found it over at The Corner on NRO. I’m going to remove it at 11am EST so if anyone wants to copy it, you have about and hour and 3/4. It just takes too much time to load for us dial-up folks.

Michael: I take your points about Mere Christianity. What Lewis fans (and I am one of the staunchest) have to remember is that he was a philosopher and approached these matters philosophically and socraticly (is that a word?) I see Kreeft’s journy to the RCC reflected in his admiration of Lewis and following the same path of philosophy and logic. What I don’t see from Lewis (correct me if I’m wrong) is an attempt at exegesis. In fact Lewis seldom uses the scriptures in any thorough way in the writings that I am familiar with. It is ironic because he would have been eminently qualified to do so, given his expertise with languages.

I am teaching Mere Christianity to one of my classes and yesterday we reviewed the chapter, The Perfect Penitient. It’s a short read, and I wonder if anyone would like to join me in a couple of observations?

1) Lewis should have heeded his own words and not ventured into particular theories of theology.
2) Lewis doesn’t understand key Biblical concepts: Justification, righteousness, the function of the Law, sola fide, the true nature of repentance, imputation.
3) He has a good bit of RCC understanding of the Gospel here, particularly on the subject of grace.

Matthew, your google screen shot was on the mark. Was it real? For the uninitiated, let’s review. In the last century, the French:

Hello all. Yes, I read and pre-approved Michael’s latest IM article. (Just in case anybody has any doubts!) I told him that my only critique was that he didn’t go into enough detail about my sins. His anger and neglect may have caused near irrepairable damage, but my resulting hostility and coldness were the things that just about put our marriage in the grave. We know several dear friends who are now having serious problems in their relationships. I consider what God has done in our lives nothing short of a miracle. Please join me in praying that our friends and yours may experience such healing.

I am constantly awed at my wife’s empathy for the needs of others. She also blows me away with her seemingly effortless ability to cope with the demands of a full time career and a 1-year old boy, compounded by all the crises and frustrations which constantly pop up—all while I am out in the middle of the ocean, unable to help. Whenever she lets me know I’ve let her down, I usually get resentful and angry—yet she probably lets me slide 90% of the time. She is amazingly wonderful, patient, and sweet.

She also doubts Christianity and mistrusts anything which smacks of religion.

Amy is the kind of Christian I wish I were.

Of course, Denise claims 100% right to vet that statement ;-)

Michael, you have indeed removed all doubt. You are an ace mate.

Wow. Running Wounded was killer bee, as Kinky would say. This is a topic that I have great interest in, as well. There are two reasons I am still married. (And for longer than either Michael or Robert.) 1) I had the good fortune to marry the nicest person on the planet. (We have performed empirical, scientific studies on the world population to establish this fact. Just accept it.) 2) I am so dang stubborn. (And there is that whole grace-of-god thing, but that goes without saying, doesn’t it?) I wish I could say it was because I am so spiritual, but since I’m not, that really had nothing to do with it. During the hard times, when I wanted to bail, I would like to say I relied on God. The truth is, I was too stubborn to admit failure. And running is admitting failure, in my book.

Speaking of books, since I know this group loves books, I will pass on the two books that have had a greater impact on my life than any other books. The first I came across in the 70’s via a guy named Gary Smalley, who was the associate pastor at my church at the time. It is the book Discovering the Mind of a Woman by Ken Nair. This book is like an extract of some potent elixir bottled for medicinal purposes. It is the pure, undiluted stuff. Doughty men quail at its contents. I would be very interested in the viewpoints of anyone who decides to check it out.

The second I discovered in a rare trip to a “Christian” bookstore in the mid 80’s. The cover intrigued me, so I skimmed the preface and was blown away. I immediately bought the book and escaped home to read it. It is The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason. I have even posted extensive quotes from the book on my website, which I’m sure violates all kinds of copyright laws but since I’ve probably bought over 10 copies of this thing and recommended it more times than I can count, Mason should consider it advertising, not infrigement.

Robert: The Books on heaven are going to blow you away.

BTW readers and blog members- if you ever had any doubt that I was an axx xxxe, my current piece will remove all doubt.

Guys NEVER refresh with stuff in the window without copying first!! But that’s all right Jim. You’re new. You’re against the war. You’re Pentecostal. You have a Scofield Bible. And you haven’t bought everyone a drink yet. So start over ;)

The New IM is online. There’s Rigney’s piece and a very very personal piece Denise and I are sending out to ALL our married friends and to anyone who thinks their marriage is through.

Cool moment. My daughter and I are watch Hannity and Colmes and they run a teaser with a Susan Sarandon (P-tooey!) doing an anti-war ad. She comes on and says “I need proof that Iraq is a threat to the U.S…...” Noel starts laughing and says “Where were you on 9/11 lady? In a hole in the ground?” Later in the program, Ben Cohen (formerly of Ben and Jerry’s fame) the sponsor of the ad through some group called “True Majority” says to Sean that The U.S. attacking Hitler was different. To which Sean just says “In your mind. Not in mine.” When Alan asked what he would say if Powell establishes an Al-Queda, Iraq connection, he said he would have to see.

Tonight it occured to me that when we have demonstrated the Al-Queda/Iraq connection and then we take Saddam down, the next nation to get a call from one of these vermin asking for help will think twice about it. And that is how it is supposed to work. And do you realize the Democrat leadership is now to the left of France on foreign policy? While 80% of the public says take Saddam out, the Dem leaders say forget the Senate vote, forget the U.N. votes, we want MORE proof. Drop these dingbats off in Baghdad soon please. Bill Kristol said it right: GWB is driving the Dems nuts like Clinton drove the GOP nuts.

Please read this article. It’s priceless. My disdain for the French is only rivaled by my new hero, Jonah Goldberg, so you understand why I’m so giddy about this gesture from…help me out, Rummy…new Europe?

I received Kreeft’s Catholic Christianity today, so ROBERT we can both convert shortly. KenL- Will you get a prize?

An all new issue of IM is on the way, with a very personal and special essay I have been wanting and not wanting to write. But now is the time. Denise read it and approved, so it will be out tomorrow I hope. It is about marriage, and I am pretty nervous about putting it on the web. But I feel there is a ministry here and this can be used for good. So when you read it, pray for us and think of others it may help.

Also Rigney’s return to IM will be there, too. If I can get a name for the thing!

MatthewJ/Jim N: maybe she was a U of L fan.

Matthew, I loved this line:

Stephanie Means, who said that she was never told that her hysterectomy required the doctor to mark her uterus, said that she and her family now feel violated.

Scott: The more scientific evidence I see, along with the fact I now have three of my own, the more appalled I get with the whole pro-Death position. I cannot call it Pro-Choice in good conscience any more, as the only choice being pushed is death. They have fought adoption pamphlets being placed (we should have the freedom to push any agenda we want due to the First Amendment!!), as well as any form of consent, notification.

If it were truly the woman’s body, like a decision to have a cancerous tumor removed, I would support them. But, it is a life and there is a father involved, as well as a baby. I like the idea that the Georgia senator proposed. All women can continue to have an abortion whenever they want, but they have to go on record before a judge and state why the baby should die and get a death warrant. I can see the women lining up at Planned Parenthood with the death certificate that reads, “because I am a selfish bitch!” Of course, PP is dead set against this as … horrors … women might not actually abort if they were forced to the realization that they are killing babies. Lord knows we can’t give women factual information if it means they might not kill their baby.

As far as silence, the only one I am absolutely silent on is the mother who will likely die. Telling a woman she must die so her baby might live is a bit cruel for me. I know women who were raped who aborted and who did not. I have found the one’s who aborted (“I might be reminded of the rapist every time I see the child”) were just as unhappy about the decision as those who aborted for convenience. I have found that those who carried it through were suprised at the blessing that God gave to them, and, rather than see the rapist, they saw a beautiful child. In the cases I know of women who have had children with birth defects, I know of none who wish the child was never born.

Now, my view is slanted on the women I have met, as most have been church going women. The Holy Spirit has a wonderful way of renewing the mind to see things in a very logical manner and pull you from your selfish ways.

I once talked to a co-worker who had had an abortion. I did not realize it at the time; all I knew was she was arguing the Pro-Death side of the debate. I conceeded the hard luck cases and said the rest were about convenience. The conversation went like this (shortened).

Tina: What about a woman who cannot afford a baby?
Greg: It is inconvenient to have a baby right now, as I feel I cannot afford it.

Ultimately, I stated, find one case where you cannot put “it is inconvenient to have a baby because …,” to which she ultimately admitted I was correct. But, she was not a radical Planned Parenthood supporter, just someone who had made a mistake. The radical PP supporters (pee pee) will use one of the following:

“You are a misogynist” – No, I love women, I just dislike those who advocate legalized killing.
“Men don’t have the right to say a thing about abortion as they cannot experience it” – As a former fetus, I am fortunate that I did not.
“You are intolerant.” – This is the ultimate cop out. Tolerance means the realization that somebody out there does something you despise, not that you accept their point of view.

You want to get a start. Try this: I believe that women should be able to gut their baby up until they can walk on their own, as they are a parasite! Watch the roar from the people who feel it is perfectly OK to butcher a child simply because you cannot see him/her without an ultrasound. Cat and dog abortion will set many of them off (you should neuter the pet instead - my answer: perhaps we should neuter you if your answer to birth control is government santioned murder).

Michael: Gregory: We agree. One of us should leave ;) – It must be the beer. The stout collection is absolutely wonderful. Oh … tell the bouncer to sit down!!!

KenL: So let me ask you a question while we duck the flying furniture. The college of Cardinals can basically elect anyone, to be Pope, regardless of doctrine, morality, ethics, etc, and as long as he sits in the chair (is it a real chair?) he is infallible? Can you tell me the history of this doctrine and perhaps the biblical support for it?

Uh, I actually live in Kentucky?

Jonah is powerful and on target today: Here’s a quote.

Indeed, if the United States had used more “decisive action” responding to Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, it’s possible 9/11 would never have occurred. After all, we know from bin Laden’s own delicate lips that our reluctance to forcefully respond to the “Black Hawk Down” incident taught him that Uncle Sam had a glass jaw. And we know that even when Saddam Hussein attempted to assassinate the current president’s father, the America’s response would be “symbolic strikes” — i.e., euphemisms sans steel. For most other transgressions, too, dickering in the U.N. was the worst fine levied against Iraq — which is now scheduled to chair the U.N. commission on disarmament. Even if we put floppy clown shoes, an orange wig, and a giant red nose on Kofi Annan, or perhaps hung him from the rostrum by his underwear, we could not do a better job of making the U.N. look foolish than it already does itself.

May I suggest a couple of hours in the classroom of Victor Davis Hanson.

Gregory: Word.

I’ve given a lot of thought to the issue of abortion. My position has wavered all over the place, and after about 10 years of thought and prayer, I finally came to a place that I felt best. I’ve heard all the arguments, the “yes, but”s, etc. I’ve heard the politicians and the excuses. But as a Christian, my job is to stand firmly on the Word.

Abortion is evil. Period. Sometimes, it can be a necessary evil, such as with pregnancies where the mother’s life is endangered. I will not oppose it then.

Sometimes, it’s an evil used to right another evil, such as in the case of rape. Although I don’t like it, I can understand where a victim would be coming from, and would not stand against them.

Sometimes, it’s an evil used to end suffering, such as with a major birth defect. I am less hesitant to keep silent here, but I do so.

Otherwise, it’s a simple attempt to place convenience over life. It’s an evil thing, and we have done too little to stop it. I keep thinking about the sheep and the goats – where were we while the innocent were butchered?

JimN, thanks for sparing me about 20 minutes of writing. That said, I’d like to revisit the idea of America “minding our own business.” Jim W, bless you, brother, but there are a couple of points in that paragraph that have caused my BP to rise a tad. First, we would not be sending “our aircraft and precision-guided munitions to kill Muslims and destroy the places where they live” if all the terrorists we have dealt with in the past several years (save for McVeigh) were not Middle Eastern Muslim men. The idea that we will reduce our risk of another terrorist attack by appeasing them is terrible. That is what Europe would have us do because they are spineless weenies who would not know justice if it sat in their laps. I’d love to be an isolationist but the fact is when there is trouble brewing to whom does the rest of the world turn (and subsequently condemn once the battle is over)? Us. France and Germany can defend the man who has gassed, tortured, and killed his own people all they want. I want his head on a plate.

I don’t think I’ll address the supposed “border problems” with Mexico even though I wanted to. I just can’t be objective about it because I’ve worked next to migrant workers before and I’d take five Mexicans over 20 lazy “I’m too good for this kind of work” Americans any day.

Just to be straight, I’m not mad at you or hold any ill feelings towards you , Jim W. It’s the ideas and not the person.

Robert: Romans 13 is God’s word to civil government. I can’t see any reason for Christians to say the civil magistrate should not use the sword to deter the evildoer if possible. Sermon on the mount- God’s word to me as a Christian regarding what to do if I am persectuted for being a Christian.

Plus- if a bad man comes in my house to kill my family, I will shoot him. With little remorse and no guilt. It’s the right thing to do. Saddam is that man.

JimN: Best post ever.
Gregory: We agree. One of us should leave ;-)
Rob: Very funny e-mail.
Denise: You have a job? Wow! Where’s the check?

JimW: Thanks for bringing up the Monkish Habit. I have a few questions for you:

1) Did you watch the SOTU? Did you believe the President was telling the truth?
2) Do you believe the inspectors should have to hunt and find the weapons?
3) Do you agree with me or disagree with me on the paralells to Neville Chamberlain’s England?
4) Do you believe the U.N. has any authority to dictate our response to the events of 9/11?
5) Do you believe Saddam would give WMD to terrorists?
6) Do you believe the people of Iraq should be liberated by free nations?

Richard: People from the USA cannot win the Guiness jacket. That sucks!!!

All: rant on On abortion (Razormouth – posted by Scott): I have always thought of myself as pro-choice. I believe a woman has a choice of whether or not to have sex. I also believe she has the right to do what she wants with her own body, but not to butcher another body simply because it is temporarily renting space in her womb. (apologies, in advance, for the course language) – I piss a lot of baby killers off because I refuse to “come to reason” and accept that parent’s irresponsibility, inconvenience (or both) is a proper reason to give the unborn BABY a death sentence. Invariably, I am called names, which is the debate equivalent of “I don’t have any answers that make sense, so I will attack you and see if you go away.”

If pushed to the wall, I would be willing to grandfather in women who abort due to health reasons, women who abort babies that will be born with huge defects, and women who are raped or victims of incest (in that order). As these account for about 5% of all abortions performed, this would reduce the industry by 95%, which is a sensible start. In the case of rape and incest, and even sometimes birth defects, we find that the mother still finds a blessing after the child comes into the world; very few experience the “this child reminds me of my rape” syndrome that baby killing advocates claim.

I am staunchly against abortion when the child has a fighting chance of being born and surviving. The brain sucking routines on viable babies should bring tears to peoples eyes. We can look at Shoah (the Holocaust) and cry at the bodies, but we (meaning the average baby killer) will scream loudly that it is not fair to show them that an abortion yields baby parts instead of lump of tissue, like some cancer.

As my father says, “just spit it out. Tell us how you really feel.” rant off

I have just started reading the book “Constantine’s Sword,” the book that caused a group of Nashville clergy to renounce the idea that Jesus is the only way to heaven to appease the Jews. The book is rather interesting, but is more of a catharsis for the author than a historical expose.

The author feels guilty that he belonged to a club that excluded Jews when he was young, and that he made fun of black people. So, he starts at the Holocaust and states that it is the historical Christian position that Jews killed Jesus that ultimately lead to Shoah. While he credits some of the German clergy for struggling against Hitler, he condemns Pope Pius, and the majority of clergy men, for trying to negotiate with Hitler. While I agree with some of his history, the glasses he is looking at the issue through are clouded by the author’s own feelings of guilt. As the author admits this book is not a history, but a personal journey, he is not at fault for the churches using it as a historical textbook, of course.

Bill: I just want to eavesdrop and find out what the sushi chefs put in their rolls. ;->

Jude Wanniski wonders if maybe everything we know about Iraq is really true.

Mark Steyn echoes Peggy Noonan regarding abortion and Europe.

Jim [ho, boy, this is going to be fun…],

We “need to take him down” because the international community compelled the government of Iraq to certain actions and direction under the threat of violence at the end of the Gulf War, and they have not only failed to take those actions and move in that direction, but as Bliks’ report details, they do not take those threats seriously. If we’re going to call this “Gulf War II”, let’s remember that its root causes are in the failure of Iraq to comply with the terms that were set out for it after “Gulf War I.”

We “know from experience” that the Iraqi government has aspirations of conquest within its region. We have evidence that they have acquired and are working to acquire biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. We “know from experience” that the Iraqi government has shown no compunction about using such weapons, either in aggressive action against Iraq’s neighbors, or internally to put down rebellion by those Iraqis who disagree with them.

The doctrine of casus belli is based on an understanding of warfare technology that is hopelessly out of date. When technology extends the reach of an aggressor to the extent possible with so-called “weapons of mass destruction,” waiting for specific acts of aggression is foolhardy. Would the world really be better off with a full-scale conflict in the Middle East triggered by an Iraqi chemical attack on Israel, with an Israeli nuclear response? The Nuremberg reference is a red herring; the conditions put upon Iraq at the end of the first Gulf War have not been met. Consider the analogy of a paroled felon, who is prohibited from certain activities and associations as terms of his parole. If he violates these – let’s say he acquires a gun, or is seen consorting with other known felons – then the parole is violated, and the original sentence is reinstated – along with other penalties, for the specific fact of parole violation. This is the situation that Sadam Hossein is in; he effectively has been on parole, and has repeatedly violated it.

Any US future action against Iraq is authorized by the terms of the UN resolutions. If those who oppose such actions (France and Germany, notably) are serious in their opposition, why are they not actively pursuing the reversal of the resolutions? This in effect is the challenge that Bush has leveled at the UN: either prove that the threat to the Iraqi government is serious, or withdraw the threat – in which case, we (the US) will act on what we perceive to be the threat to world stability. And instability in the world is a threat to the US, since the world economy is so intertwined.

The fact that current ground and air operations in Iraqi by coalition forces are not “newsworthy” speaks more to what the news media wish to say regarding Iraq than what is actually happening. I listened to an NPR interview today with a man who had just returned from Baghdad. He went on endlessly about the effects of sanctions on all sectors of the population (even, in a truly bizarre moment, claiming that the Iraqi situation was somehow better than the US, because all classes of people were affected, while in the US the effects of widespread poverty were limited to those who actually are poor, so he claimed.) Not once did he mention – or did the NPRnik who was interviewing him question – that at least some of the blame for the condition of the Iraqi people might fall on the shoulders of a man who has 8 “presidential palaces”, kills his political enemies (even members of his own family), seems to have plenty of money to fund the development of intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and has spent a considerable effort to hide the many gallons of anthrax spores he has stockpiled during his 12-year “disarmament.”

No one likes the idea of innocents suffering. War is violent, and the vast majority of the Iraqi people probably have no desire for war. But the fact is that, in terms of political believes, social policies and military aspirations the Bathist regimes in places like Iraqi and Syria are indistinguishable from the Nazi party in Germany during World War II. Consider the furor over allegations that Austrian politicians had links to the Nazis; if the Nazis were to come to power in Germany today – even by so-called legitimate means – would we wait for a casus belli to take actions to overthrow them?

Up here in Canada our friends at the Guinness brewing company are spearheading an effort to make St. Patricks Day a national holiday

I tried to post this once already, but it didn’t “take,” as my grandmother used to say.
Michael: Actually, that article by Veith, I thought, was pretty standard. His arguments weren’t very logical: So cursing is low-class—since when is that wrong? Maybe it’s because I come from such a messed up background, but I balk at the idea of comforming ourselves to the standard of “class.” Being rude should be avoided when possible, but that is not a reason to say that cussing is wrong altogether. And cursing to insult, or to condemn to hell—those things are wrong, most certainly, and I address those in my article, but the insult/condemnation is the sin, not the words used. And as for God’s name: I agree totally, also covered in my article. But not all cussing takes the form of God’s name. And Bill is right: Veith seems to endow words with some mystical power.
About your son: Knowing him the way I do, I think he would do very well at college—if his heart was there. He has a brilliant and creative mind, but, if my impressions are correct, gets bored easily with things he’s not interested in. In that case, college may not be the right choice. I say let him decide—but not until he’s a bit older and he’s talked it over a bunch with wiser people like you, who have gone to college, and a few who didn’t (both the kind who wish they had and the kind who are glad they didn’t). Knowing Clay, no matter what he does, he’ll do it well, if his heart is in it.

Now I have a good reason to stay in the Southern Baptist Church. Oh, wait… no I don’t…

A belated bio:
I’m a lifelong Kentucky girl (except for 10 months in the third grade when we moved to Indiana, but we won’t discuss that.)
Raised Southern Baptist by wonderful parents. Always loved the church, but when Michael became the stated supply for a Presbyterian congregation I finally felt I had come home as far as worship style.
A nurse by profession, I had many great experiences (and a few bad ones, but we won’t discuss that, either) in the field before coming to OBI. Now I’m publications director and work in our school print shop. (It’s a long story.) Sometimes I miss being in a helping profession, but I get to write a lot in my job, which I also love.
Married to the distinguished Internet Monk for 24 years. Two fantastic kids, ages 17 and 14. More pets than we can take care of, including a diabetic dog. I give him insulin twice a day, so I guess I’m still nursing!
Hobbies: reading, writing (especially Biblical adaptations of plays and skits) piano, lap dulcimer and hammerette (baby hammered dulcimer.) (Judson, I think I’m about to give up on the fiddle!)
And oh, yes. I’m far healthier and happier than I deserve to be.

Scott: I’ll give you a Fred Phelps and a Robert Schuller for your Benny Hinn.

KenL: If you would cop a little attitude and use some sarcasm, it would be easier for me to have these conversations with you. As it is, you are being so gracious and likeable that I don’t have the heart to pounce on some of these topics like I want to. Try and tone it down a little would you? Make fun of Southern Baptists, or fisherman, or Yankees. Read my bio, there must be stuff there you can use. Do it as a favor to me.

Michael S: Thou shalt not post pixieland. I believe we have the next rule. Oh, and the bio rocks.

Ken L: Yeah, you have had some winners as popes. So have the Protestants. I’ll trade you a Benny Hinn and a liberal Presbyterian moderator for…. a John Paul II and a Greek nun serving in India.

Great article at RazorMouth today.

When working at the airfield, make sure to not walk into a turning propeller blade.

I’ve found my Sunday School course.

Little girl brings daddy’s crack coccaine to show and tell. Hilarity insues.

Robert: I am giving a monster quiz today over Matthew 5:1-6:18. I expect much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Blogger is cranky.

Did you guys know that my students now use the word “white” as an insult? “You’re so white.” Girls especially. Imagine reversing that one!

I think the Bio I just posted on the bio page is one of the most moving, honest and revealing paragraphs I have ever written.

There was an itinerant harper in 18th century Ireland named Rory Dall O’Cathain. He wrote a piece which endures in traditional circles to this day, entitled “Give me Your Hand”. I love the tune and play it occasionally.

To this day Amy can’t bring herself to join me on the tune. For some of the last audible words on the Challenger flight recorder were “give me your hand…”

I hadn’t thought of it in years. The other night a program was on Discovery about the man who almost managed to get the launch stopped because of his discovery of the o-ring problem. As they were showing clips of the astronauts waving in front of the upright shuttle, I started unconsciously naming each of them as I saw their face.

17 years later and I still know their names.

Hmm, that does look a little skimpy. I guess it’s because I don’t really care about those details, so I can’t imagine why anyone else would want to know them, either. OK, here goes. I promise to spend at least 15 minutes.

Bio: I was born in 1956, grew up as a PK in East Texas and went to a Baptist college. I did a lot of grunt work in high school and college and worked variously since then as high school teacher, college instructor, computer programmer, IT director, and telecommunications sales support. My current position is in product marketing for a telecommunications test equipment manufacturer in Honolulu, HI. Between TX and HI, I spent a few years in AZ. My religious background is SBC, but I have attended various churches with and without denominational affiliations and place little weight on denomination when selecting a church. I read somewhat, play guitar occasionally, have a preference for Guinness, single-malt scotch, and Cuban cigars.

Hey HEY HEY!!!!!! Watch it there buddy

Kurt: There is a paragraph in my article about “Why Do They Hate Us?” that I want to post. Don’t take it personally. It just applies in SOME cases:

Many evangelicals relate to others with an obvious- or thinly disguised- hidden agenda. In other words, those who work with us or go to school with is feel that we are always “up to” something. You mean, they know we want to convert them? Apparently. Ever been yelled at for saying “I’ll pray for you.”? Maybe there was a reason.

You know that feeling you get when a telemarketer interrupts your dinner? I get that feeling sometime when my Pentecostal/Charismatic friends are trying to persuade me into their camp. It’s not that I don’t know they are good, decent, law abiding people who like me. I just want them to quit treating me as a target or a project and start treating me as a person who is free to be myself AND different from them.

This same feeling is prevalent among those who dislike evangelical Christians. They are annoyed and sometimes angered that we are following some divine directive to get them to abandon their life choices and take up ours. They want to be loved as they are, not for what they might become if our plan succeeds.

Evangelicals have done a lot of good work on how to present the Gospel, but much of that work has operated on initial premises that are irritating and offensive. I have taken my share of evangelism courses, and there is a great blind spot on how to be an evangelist without being annoying and pushy. We somehow think that the Holy Spirit takes care of that aspect of evangelism! Thanks God for men like Francis Schaefer and Jerome Barrs who have done much to model evangelism that majors of maintaining the utmost respect towards those we evangelize.

MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

That was the gayest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Why, in the name of all that is holy, were you looking at that page again?!?!?!?

Michael
When I first went to college, it was basically the straight-outta-highschool, time for college route. I was totally unfocused, and undisciplined, and I bombed. After I met my future wife, I got more serious and got my act together (I’ll graduate in May, God willing). So, long story short, in my experience, going to college before you know why you’re going to college is a waste of time and money. So basically, I’d ask the kid what he wants to get out of a higher education and put him on the best track for that.

Ken B.
Lemme know what your impression of FAITH and its methodology is. I think I’m going to have to share my concerns about the opinion poll thing with my pastor in the near future. I don’t feel great about leading a team out into a neighborhood with a stack of “opinion polls” to complete.

Hey guys Remember Peter Pan? Pixieland.org and all that. Wellll….there’s more!!! A fashion page.

Michael’s right. Maybe you could spend at least 15 minutes this time ;-)

Daniel, here is your bio from Jan. 5th. If you want to copy it and paste it to your own post, I will delete my message.

[1/5/2003 11:58:08 PM | Daniel Whitfield]
The requisite bio. I’m a mid-40s married dude living in Honolulu, HI, working for a telecommunications test equipment manufacturer. I grew up as a PK in a Baptist church in East Texas and went to a Baptist college. I read a lot and occasionally play guitar when nobody is looking. I am currently between churches. I’m hoping to find a place with a Friday nite service. If you know of any in Honolulu, let me know.

Bill, I believe you are referring to the right hand having the thumb and first two fingers extended while the ring finger and pinky are closed. Am I right? I believe, and I hope this isn’t urban legend, that the three extended fingers (if you’re like me and refer to the thumb as a finger) represent the triunity of God while the two closed ones represent the dual nature of Christ. The Eastern Church does something similar by showing the index, middle, and pinky extended while the thumb and ring finger create a circle. I don’t know what you call such a thing so I can’t really look it up but the explanation I just gave is what I have learned.

Bio? Dang, I just posted one a few weeks ago. So, where does that stuff go when it drops off the end of the blog? Into the bit bucket? Am I gonna have to waste another perfectly good 15 minutes coming up with another one?

Judd: Does this look like fun?

GROUP: I have never had any doubt that my daughter should go to college, but I have some doubts about my son. He is a top student, but not very motivated in areas he isn’t interested in. I am often thinking that I should give more consideration to say OK to a trade/vocational school option for him (He has expressed interest in cooking or in the technical/production aspects of movies.) He’s just a freshman, but I want to have some idea of how to approach this. How do you evaluate whether college is right for a young person? How essential is it? Is it a waste to send someone into that environment who isn’t fairly focused on a goal only college can achieve? Or is the general experience of enough value I should just say “OK. You’re going.”

My friend called tonight and said things were 10x better. So thanks for any prayers and don’t stop. But I doubt this is the end of the story. When things hurt bad, a little relief seems more significant than it really is.

KenL: I must have missed the place where you messed up my name. We discussed a few RCC issues in Men’s bible study tonight. There were a few there that said they knew some Catholics that were actually born again. They are now under church discipline.

Ha! You know I’m lying. We’re Southern Baptist. We have no church discipline!!!

Listen, seriously, does anyone know why a lot of paintings of old dead church guys have them doing this funky thing with their hand? It kinda looks like a Vulcan, Live Long and Prosper kind of thing. What’s that about?

Robert/Judd: I think the answer is pretty obvious. Kreeft is a philosopher and not an exegete. An afternoon with Piper’s current book on Imputation (about 85% nose in the text exegetical stuff) and you would have to do more than say “I prefered the language that says we actually get Christ rather than just declared righteous.” Fact is, Kreeft is simply giving way to the theology of the Mass, and in my opinion, ignoring texts on forensic declarations of righteousness given to sinners who believe—period.

I too was bothered the most by Kreeft’s dissatisfaction with the forensic nature of justification. From what I can understand this is his major theological weakness. Everything I’ve ever learned about the issue leads me to believe that the forensic aspect is exactly what the biblical writers were trying to convey. I understand how someone more prone to mysticism might not entirely like this, but to me it is most precious. I think it rivets everything towards the aspect of God as judge- which is where all of humanity must start before anything else may be understood.

What I like about Kreeft is that he seems more in tune to the human imagination than many Christian thinkers. Plus he is a precise writer. Or as Michael put it, his writing has brevity in every good sense.

Born 1972 in Lubbock, Texas, USA. Raised on a cotton farm. Trusted Jesus as a child in the Southern Baptist church. Got saved again as a teenager. Went to college and became reprobate. Tried Air Force ROTC at Texas A&M University, didn’t like it. Got a B.S. in Geography, 1994. Worked for National Geographic book division, Washington D.C. for 6 months while a student. After graduation, worked a year in Geographic Information Systems, in an office, didn’t like it. Got a B.S. in Maritime Transportation at Texas A&M Galveston, 1998. Earned my first unlimited tonnage, any oceans deck license (3rd mate), same year. Discovered my true vocation as a seaman and professional merchant marine deck officer. Currently work on the world’s most advanced offshore drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico in the position of 2nd mate. Met Amy, a NASA space station EVA engineer, 1997. Married 1998. One son, Angus, born 2001. In 2000 The Holy Spirit touched me through the honest skepticism of my wife, and impressed upon me the depth of my apostacy and the riches of God’s grace. I have been a member of a United Methodist Church for one year, and plan to join a Presbyterian Church in America this year after a family move closer to NASA. I love tall ships, sailboats, archaeology and Irish traditional music. I play the 2-row button accordion, wooden flute, and tin whistle. Amy plays the fiddle and guitar. My weaknesses are lack of self-control, lack of compassion, lack of discipline, and wishy-washiness. My strengths are Jesus Christ, two loving parents, godly grandparents (most of them now asleep), Amy, and Angus.

Amy Welborn is the bomb: “Well, sure…but when you look at a Catholic high school, you have to look very carefully at how religion is expressed in the place – in the curriculum and in the school culture. Let’s put it this way: if a “Catholic” high school has a shoddy theology curriculum and does nothing to seriously combat the insult-soaked, materialistic, sexually-charged aspects of youth culture – if it turns a blind eye to parents hosting drinking parties for kids, if it lets atheletes rule the roost, if its dances appear no different than a night at a local club, if there is no emphasis on service - then you are better off putting your kids in a public school.

Scrappleface has a selection of lines for tonight’s speech President Bush tried out at a local IHOP:

Among the lines tested:
-”Frankly, my fellow Americans, we need Saddam’s oil, that is…black gold…Texas tea.”
-”Tonight I’m offering 1,000 acres of Iraqi land to any American who will clear it, drill it, and live on it.”
-”I want to extend an olive branch to the Democrats. And that’s why my new economic plan includes a big tax break for Bill Clinton. That’s right poor folks, I’m giving the money to Bill.”
-”I’m announcing tonight the appointment of former Vice President Al Gore as our new ambassador to Iraq. His Baghdad office opens tomorrow morning.”

To All: Anyone read The Final Word by O. Palmer Robertson?

Kurt: I begin FAITH training this Wednesday night. I will keep the BHT crew posted.

Bio -I am a lifelong resident of western Arkansas. My wife, Beth and I have three children, ages 10 (boy), 13 (girl), and 16 (girl). Beth and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary this June. By profession I am a certified public accountant (yawn). I work for a steel service center in Fort Smith Arkansas, and I do tax returns on-the-side.

I was raised in a Primitive Baptist church. Spent most my time in church fidgeting and playing, as church bored me. However,I was very active in sports in school, and became a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I was given the opportunity to go to a national FCA conference at the University of Arkansas the summer following my Junior year. While there I heard the gospel, and prayed for Christ to forgive me and save me.

I am a deacon in a Southern Baptist church. I teach Sunday School, and I lead the Men’s Sunday night Discipleship training class. Our men’s class is currently studying Galatians, verse by verse. We are currently in chapter 4.
Here’s a photo of the Men’s class. I am the shiny headed one in the top pic. See, I do have less hair than Michael.

I have preached, in our pastor’s absence about 6 or 7 times, usually the Sunday evening service.

I help coach my son’s little league football team. I read a lot of non-fiction, primarily theological books. I study and teach from the ESV.

Since there are now two Kens, I can go by Kenny or KB or Boyd, or Ole Shiny Headed One.

(From Obscure) Officials put an end to swim teams’ co-ed “shave downs”: Teenage boys and girls will no longer be allowed to hold co-ed “shave-downs” at the Campbell Community Center. Parents of girls on a 6- through-8-year-old swim team complained after walking in on teen boys shaving themselves and their teammates in the girls locker room. An official says one parent said his daughter, who is 8, saw one male teen “who found the event stimulating. I can’t imagine the effect that has on an 8-year-old girl.’’

Bart/Jack: I think Jack is soooooooooooooo right it’s hard to say it enough. Just want to underline, take your time and find the right place.

Ken: Here is a simple chart by Scott Clark on Calvin vs. Rome on Justification. Any comment? Also this article by R.C. says the crucial issue is IMPUTATION. Kreeft says this in his autobiography (in what is really a low point IMO):

“I was also dissatisfied with Luther’s teaching that justification was a legal fiction on God’s part rather than a real event in us; that God looks on the Christian in Christ, sees only Christ’s righteousness, and legally counts or imputes Christ’s righteousness as ours. I thought it had to be as Catholicism says, that God actually imparts Christ to us, in baptism and through faith (these two are usually together in the New Testament). Here I found the fundamentalists, especially the Baptists, more philosophically sound than the Calvinists and Lutherans. For me, their language, however sloganish and satirizable, is more accurate when they speak of “Receiving Christ as your personal Savior.”

Ken, if you were to be elected as the next pope, could we count on some sweet jobs? I’d switch in a second if you’d move me and Heather to the Vatican to do whatever it is you would want me to do. Personally, I like the idea of the pope’s hitman. You know, remove the “problem priests” like the one I saw on video talking about Buddhism and how it’s also a good way to get to heaven. Think about it.

Michael: The bios page looks great. It will come in handy. Now if we are in a heated argument with someone we can look up their bio and really hit them in their weak spot. ie: “Oh yeah…......, well at least I’m not Southern Baptist.”

Greg: Keep working on the Japanese. Then you can watch Iron Chef without subtitles.

Well, off to Men’s bible study. I’m teaching Romans 3 tonight. Good chapter. Shouldn’t be much here to make the Pastor nervous.

Robert H: Je parle un peu le Fran็ais? I am currently working on Japanese: Watashi wa Ninhongo ga skoshi wakarimas. demo mada jozu ja’arimasen. (I understand a little Japanese, but I am not good yet). I am about equal on fluency. I will get back to French once I am done with Japanese. I personally like the Pimsluer lessons (see if the library has them). You listen in the car and learn the same way children learn – parrot, experiment and then understand.

Michael: We had a theological disagreement and we are over it now … just hung over. Besides, the bill for the Tavern window was a bit steep. And, you are in trouble if Denise is staying in the Tavern for awhile; alcohol loosens lips.

Matthew: I was working on a film called “The Parent Trap II” (in college) when the shuttle blew up. I went outside to get a Panaflex gold mag and saw the strange cloud (you can see the shuttle going up from Tampa). When I got it, I found out what happened.

Bart: And you never even call!!! Since you are on double salary for a month or so, you might have to buy lunch at El Palenque some day. I am glad you waited instead of panicked, as it sounds like the Holy hand of Providence is leading you to a much better position than a short contract clicking links.

As for the SBC, I would focus on the points you can agree with (things like Jesus is Lord) and “Don’t Worry! Be Happy!” If you are encountering brash heresy, you have a duty to confront … and leave if it does no good. I was not as fond of Sutter’s (sp?) church either, but I am still in an SBC congregation.

Bill: I would be extra careful before announcing “God is telling me …” personally. As soon as I think I have God figured out, he moves me to another state! ;-> I also believe “I feel led” should have the same scriptural check as “God told me.” I am not sure it is strictly an evangelical position, but rather a statement of human condition. We naturally rebel against God, even those whom he calls His own. The closer we get to God the less we rebel, but there is still a tendency to ask “God, do you agree that I should do this?” rather than “What is God saying to me through the scripture.” (Bad example, but I think you get the gist—the focus is on self). When a person says, “I feel God is leading me,” it is normally to justify something the person is already determined to do, rather than truly a sign from God, IMHO.

Robert: Thank you! One can never have enough prayer. The roadblock comes in the form of the company not giving what I believed was promised, which is really the only way I can afford an MBA at present. While the M.Div route is of similar vein, there are ways to achieve, over a decent amount of time, without breaking the family budget.

KenL: Is the Catholic church really unified? I’m not being facetious. It doesn’t look all that unified to me, but I’m not in it.

Another question: This guy, John XII, while he was sitting in the chair, or throne, or whatever, he was infallible? Do I have that doctrine correct?

I do wish you’d convince another Catholic to join the blog. You have been extremely gracious but I feel like we are ganging up on you. You have broad shoulders? I didn’t see that in your bio.

Scott: God said “yep”? Alexander Scourby would be disappointed.

I read the reformation article at the Catholic Encyclopedia site. It is so biased as to be nearly unreadable. I hope the article Ken has is more balanced. It kind of makes me shudder to hear of the “heresy of Justification by Faith Alone”.

Read the Veith article. I am generally disgusted by profanity but this guy falls into the trap of thinking that words have power (ie: magical or spiritual powers). He’s for the right thing for the wrong reasons.

Ken: Yeah, I know. My point was that the CE didn’t buy it.