You will think I am lying but I am not. This isn’t the Onion or Scrappleface or IMNR. Michael Moore is going to make a Moore accusing the Bush Family of being in league with Bin Laden. ANGUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VDH is my Friday dose of truth. I love this man. Read him.

“In disgust at the hysteria, I took a drive to Washington to the National Cathedral on Sunday. Big mistake. All except one of the entrances were closed due to security concerns. I walked in under the wonderful sculptures of Frederick Hart, an authentic American genius who almost single-handedly restored classical realism to American sculpture. A small statue of a kneeling Lincoln, who sent thousands into battle to eradicate slavery, was in the corner. A plaque of quotations from Churchill, about the need for sacrifice in war, was on the wall. So I was feeling somewhat good again — until I heard the pious sermon on “shock and awe.” In pompous tones the minister was deprecating the war effort, calling down calumnies upon the administration, and alleging the immoral nature of our nation at war. Such a strange man at such a strange time, I thought. His entire congregation, by its own admission, is in danger from foreign terrorists (why else bar the gates?). His church is itself a monument to the utility of force for moral purposes. His own existence as a free-speaking, freely worshiping man of God is possible only thanks to the United States military — whose present mission he was openly deriding at the country’s national shrine. ”

If you own a copy of a recorded work or book, you have a right to that copy that includes backing it up in some form to preserve your copy. That’s what a copyright is. If you own the album, your right to the material on the album does not cease when the medium of the recording becomes damaged. You have a right to the recording, because you purchased that right when you purchased the album.

Does anybody else think it’s weird that the Beastie Boys will “Fight for Your Right to Party,” but won’t fight to overthrow a fascist?

Phillip, Phillip, Phillip…..I must instruct you in the fine art of slander, liberal SBC style. You may not be in a position to understand just what is going on here. Believe me- I am.

1) The article associates this form of aggressive Calvinism with John Piper. This is blatant lying. I can assure you, that Dr. Piper has nothing to do with the kind of obnoxious, strict RPW, mean-spirited Calvinism the article describes. Dr. Piper’s church is a healthy and diverse church that many non-Calvinists attend. None of his books or tapes advocate this. He has many statements about worship on the web. He fellowships and worships with Charismatics and non-Calvinists more than any Calvinist leader. Knox is puposely slandering Piper by association and it is indefensible.
2) Not a single Reformed distinctive or part of TULIP speaks in any way to the use of instruments in worship or the PRW or Psalm singing or the rejection of Arminian worship. In fact, those who restrict instruments or use Psalms only are a minority of a minority of a fraction among Calvinists and are almost all Presby in background. But Mr. Knox won’t let anyone know that. It doesn’t fit his purposes.
3) Knox makes it appear that Southern Baptist Calvinism is the source of these youth group raiding Calvinist Taliban. In fact, the Southern Baptist Founders movement is about as generically SBC as they come. Men like Dever, Ascol, Malone, Nettles, Ware, Shreiner and Mohler have absolutely nothing to do with the strict RPW and they frequently say that Armnians are zealous and missionary minded Christians. It is completly slanderous and purposely malicious to even imply that young Calvinistic fanatics are being fed this from the Founder’s movement in the SBC or any SBC Calvinists. Knox is not being ignorant. He is being malicious.
4) I cannot name a mainstream Calvinistic teacher of any kind- including those who teach frequently on worship- who question anyone’s Christianity based on worship. This is more garbage written to incite liberals against Al Mohler and SBTS.
5) Half of Knox’s panel are liberals who know as much about Calvinism as I do about fusion. This is a familiar tactic with these guys. They have done past articles on conservatives quoting their liberal opponents as experts. I would be utterly surprised if they have ever attended a Founder’s Conference or interviewed Ascol or Dever.
6) Knox and Wingfield previously tried to paint SBC Calvinism as anti-missionary. Now they are painting it as radical RPW, Psalm singers and rejecting Arminian worship. This is completly ridiculous. If there are college Calvinistic fanantics picking this up, they are not getting it from Piper, Macarthur, Sproul, the Founder’s Movement, Modern Reformation, New Covenant theology, ACE, James White, Al Mohler/SBTS, Ernie Resinger or even Al Martin’s Reformed Baptists. It is a typical Marv Knox and Mark Wingfield assault on a group they fear and loathe using manipulative misrepresentation to try and ignite moderate SBCers to get mad.
7) Know is painting Calvinists as Cultists and it is a shameful tactic.
8) Antecdotal stories about Calvinists harassing youth groups, discussed by a panel convened by a journalist. Anyone see something rather odd about this kind of journalism?

Phillip- I know all the people involved here. If some college kids have gone over the deep end, it has nothing to do with Calvinism or Calvinism in the SBC. Frankly, I am a very well read Calvinist and I wouldn’t know where to go to find the sort of people Knox is writing about. Some people like to argue about the RPW. This tends to make pragmatists feel they are being challenged. They are. There ought to be a scriptural defense of all that is done in worship. But such a discussion is not a rejection of Arminians or their worship as non-Christian. (For example, is the “God is my girlfriend” discussion of CCM lyrics a rejection of Arminian worship, or a real issue of Biblical principle?)

Michael: I dislike defending people with whom I don’t really agree, but I have to say that think I’ve encountered some of them there militant Calvinists that Baptist guy is talking about, and I don’t blame him for being bothered.

I’m not the timid sort, myself, so I don’t even mind aggressive doctrinal “discussions,” which is why I signed up here. But I’ve heard more than one conversation that seemed to center chiefly around whether or not one could truly be worshipping at all (with the unspoken assumption of calling one’s very Christianity into question) if one did not practice the RPW perfectly, and that’s bothersome.

I’m reminded of the joke about the two folks who meet on a bridge and, well, here’s the joke:

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said ‘Stop! don’t do it!’ ‘Why shouldn’t I?’ he said. I said, ‘Well, there’s so much to live for!’ He said, ‘Like what?’ I said, ‘Well…are you religious or atheist?’ He said, ‘Religious.’ I said, ‘Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?’ He said, ‘Christian.’ I said, ‘Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?’ He said, ‘Protestant.’ I said, ‘Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?’ He said, ‘Baptist!’ I said, ‘Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?’ He said, ‘Baptist Church of God!’ I said, ‘Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?’ He said, ‘Reformed Baptist Church of God!’ I said, ‘Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?’ He said, ‘Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!’ I said, ‘Die, heretic scum,’ and pushed him off.

My father has always reminded me that an “ill eagle” is a sick bird. Copyright violations, on the other hand, are against the law. Even copyright violations that seem to fall well within the USSC precedent established during the initial advent of VCRs qualify, apparently.

Since you aren’t all familiar with me enough to know when I’m being sarcastic yet, I’ll give you this pointer: I’m always being sarcastic. That applies to my previous post, of course, though strangely, not this one.

Jake: A can of worms? How so? How can anybody possibly disagree on “file sharing”? After all, everybody knows that it’s, well, what it is!

(Carefully avoiding a statement either for or against file sharing/music piracy/downloading/whatever…)

Oh, and of course there are copyright laws in hell. What else would all of the lawyers there do all day? 8^)

jake: How big an attach ment can you take?

Jake: how fast is your connection speed?

This morning, when we woke up, Linda said that she was thinking about taking the kids along with another home schooling family into Manhattan to see the DaVinci exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now, I’m under a lot of pressure at work, and it’s becoming something of a personal crisis; I felt a strong sense that she shouldn’t go in, so I asked her not to – “for the purely selfish reason that I don’t need anything else to worry about today…”

When I arrived at the office – having almost forgotten this all, as I was preoccupied with mulling over my work problems as I drove in – I heard a report on the radio that there were delays on all the NYC bridge and tunnel crossings because of “police activity.”

The author of this article is Marv Knox. The low point of the Ky Baptist state paper was the Knox regime. It was Knox who started the print crusade against conservatives at SBTS, carried on later by the Mohler-loathing Mark Wingfield who added Calvinists to the wash. These guys are typical of the journalistic saviors the liberals in the SBC love. They feed the prejudices of the anointed class. They revel in hauling in the most ignorant sources and quizzing them in some sort of NPR fantasy world. They apparently believe all conservatives are hostile, easily manipulated, brown-shirt troops of the evil empire ruling the SBC. Calvinists are- I guess- the SS or something. I have never seen these guys write anything that bothered to talk to Piper or the Founders guys or to consider Calvinism seriously. They are cowards and abusers of the power of the press. I hope the 55 churches that read ABP enjoy the slander.

Mr. Knox, if you Google into this article, I salute you for what may be the most ridiculously second hand, gossipy misrepresentation of a serious subject I have ever read. I particularly thought of two things: 1) Have you ever attended a Founder’s Conference? How could you dump men like Mark Dever and Tom Ascol and Fred Malone into the caricature of this article? 2) Talking about the obnoxious behavior of college students is amazing. How many college students are extreme liberals? Extreme anything? The threat of college Calvinists to our poor little youth groups. You paint Piper and Baptist Calvinists like a cult. Pathetic.

I know the Calvinists in the SBC. They are of a very different personality than the regular SBC conservatives. All the words used of these College students are complete slanders to the men in the SBC Founders movement. Shame on you Marv Knox.

Panel moderator Randy Hatchett, professor of Christianity and philosophy at Houston Baptist University, noted Calvinism has emerged in church youth settings in his area.
“It has a militant (GASP!!) nature, especially around the issue of worship,” Hatchett observed. “Calvinists imply non-Calvinists can’t worship as well as Calvinists.” (Could Randy later come in the bar and explain what the hxxx he is talking about?)

“There’s an aggressive (UMMMPH!) movement of Calvinism at many colleges, and it’s even reached into our youth groups and into parachurch youth groups,” said Roger Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary in Waco. “They’ve decided to take back (WHHOOOYAH!) popular folk religion. They’re reaching into youth groups, pressuring (OOOOOOO YEAAAAH!) them to adopt Calvinism,” he added. “I have nothing against garden-variety Calvinism, but aggressive Calvinism is another matter.” (I am a 7 point, lethal, scimitar carrying, sevon point Calvinist you wimpy liberal. Come over here and meet your God.)

ABP has surpassed today’s edition of the NYT as a piece of worthless nonsense. I’m invigorated.

Thanks for all the nice reader mail on the Fanaticism piece. You guys make it worth it, particularly those who have come on a similar journey to my own.

I’ve got a full day tomorrow. In addition to my classes, I have prospective teachers to visit, and a musical guest for two concerts.

A funny story. Denise and I are SGA (Student Government Association) sponsors. We are at election time and that is always fun. So one student is not sure what position to run for. We have a Prez, VP, Sec-Treas, Parliamentarian and Chaplain. Noel suggested that this person run for Parliamentarian. She said “I can’t run for that job. I don’t even believe in God.”

Eric: try some Scrappleface headlines on your class:

:: Blix Says Blisters, Vomiting and Death Don’t Mean WMD
:: 1972 Dolphins to Find Mines in Gulf
:: Amber Alert Goes Out for Connie Chung
:: U.S. Offers Iraq Russian-Made Equipment

Anyone seen Road to Perdition? I just bought it, along with Signs and Bourne Identity.

Jonathan Last at WS: “Still not convinced? Consider the greatest military collapse of modern times, the infamous French fold at the start of World War II. Germany invaded France on May 10, 1940, didn’t get to Paris until June 14, and didn’t get a French surrender until June 22. Even the French—the French!—were able to hold out for 44 days. If Saddam prolongs the fighting for another 5 weeks, all he will be doing is rising to the level of military competence set by France.”

Tiger Woods: “I have great respect for the men and women fighting overseas to protect our way of life in Iraq and other parts of the world. As the son of an Army officer, I understand the strength, courage and discipline required to successfully carry out their missions in hostile environments and feel tremendous pride they are representing us.
Obviously, no one likes war. Our Congress and President tried hard to avoid the use of force, but ultimately decided it was the best course of action. I like the assertiveness shown by President Bush and think we owe it to our political and military leaders, along with our brave soldiers to be as supportive as possible during these difficult and trying times. I just wanted to take this opportunity to let our forces know that I am thinking about you and wishing you and your families the best.”

Best of the Web Today is very good as always.

If you have some great links to post from a less left leaning perspective, I would love any and all. I am currently fighting anti-war scourge in the MVP groups (internal private Microsoft), especially a particularly rabid Seattle-ite. I especially like those that come from a non-convervative source.

OK. They’ve vandalized the Statue of Liberty. What can we mark up?

Michael Moore Making Next Film: ‘Saddam and Me’
(2003-03-27)—Academy-award winning filmmaker Michael Moore said his next documentary will chronicle how Iraq’s lax gun-control laws have turned a peaceful Islamic republic into a cauldron of death and destruction.

The film, “Saddam and Me,” will capture Mr. Moore’s misadventures and witty banter as he attempts to ask the Iraqi president to ban personal ownership of firearms.

“Every nation that allows individuals to own guns will eventually wind up like Iraq,” said Mr. Moore. “The gun culture encourages violence. Most Iraqis own personal firearms, and look what’s happening over there. Children are dying. It’s just like Columbine.”

Things are tough all over. Man stabs pet pig for pork chops.

I love this. Tim Lahaye sued the producers of the “Left Behind” movies for producing movies of a “lower quality” than promised. HA!

Secrets of Life REVEALED!!! Sperm smell their way to eggs!!!!! (Angus barred from posting anything about this story.)

Jeannette hasn’t posted in a long time. Do you figure she’s really upset about the French thing?

I’ve tried several times to type something here, but everything I come up with will require too much repentance later, so I’ll just post the link and you can sin for yourselves.

Sorry Jenny. I too love the line where the kid defames Jesus. It’s so ridiculously invented as to be hilarious, and add to that the fact that so many people bought it hook, line, and sinker…too funny. To my students’ credit, several of them said, “This is made up, isn’t it?” I tried to play it off for a few minutes by reassuring them that I did not make it up, and it was from a well-known and popular online news source. They still weren’t buying it—good for them. Some of them anyway. It was great to watch the faces of the others as they got to the last paragraph, about Satan’s, um, member. It’s fun to watch a group of people’s jaws drop at different times—sort of a domino effect.

Help! My eight year-old came in while I was laughing out loud at the Onion article.

Satire is such a difficult thing to explain to kids. Then my eldest reminded me of the riot I caused in watching the Oscars a few years back with Robin Williams’ “Blame Canada” bit from South Park (she’s a big Anne Shirley lover).

Wouldn’t you know it, the one line she managed to read was the “little kid’s” line defaming Jesus. “Mommy why do you always laugh at bad things?” God help me.

I guess that I’m sort of confused about what Herr Bonhoeffer means by “religion.” In fact, every time the subject of “religion” is brought up, it seems that I discuss the matter from one definition, and everyone else discusses it with another.

Michael mentions that old evangelical cliche, which goes, “Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship.” I used to spout that wholesale, but as I thought long and hard about it one day, I ran across this little gem from James 1:27: Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (ASV). In other words, religion is motivated by a genuine desire to a) help those who cannot help themselves, and b) strive after purity and holiness. Of course, this religion is built upon a relationship; in fact, religion is an outward expression of that relationship. Interestingly, the word “religion” is related to the Latin word “religare,” which means “to bind.” Perhaps religion is part of the glue which holds the relationship together: the sacraments, corporate worship, prayer, etc. Religion is the way one binds himself to God in a relationship.

The reaction against religion is mostly directed at false religion: a religion that is self-seeking, self-serving and self-aggrandizing. The religion we should seek to cultivate should be what I call “the James 1:27 variety.”

it seems to me that Bonhoeffer is disgusted by those whom identify their faith via the conduit of religious stereo types and finds himself desiring a world were the Christian ideal is evident and natural through the course of everyday interaction, without a pervading need to make sure that all the appropriate jargon and commensurate stereotypical behavior has been implemented. A world where each mans introspection brings him closer to God (who is alive within him but seperate from him) than to the systems of the church.

just my two cents…
Was I even reading the same quotes as everyone else?

Michael: I’m digesting Bonhoeffer and will get back to you.
I’m about to have some fun!! I’m talking to my research class today about the pitfalls of Internet sources when doing a research paper and how to discern. So I’m going to introduce the lesson by letting them read the Onion’s infamous Harry Potter article that caused such an uproar a while back (as I predicted it would). I almost couldn’t find the sucker—the Onion seems to have removed it from their site. Then, when my class is all worked up about it, I’ll let ‘em in on the secret! Diabolical! I love it!

Here is the Bonhoeffer quote. I’d be interested in comments on it from the Tavern.

Great article, Michael. I would like to email it and the first one to a few people.

Thanks for reading Robert. Do two articles on Fanaticism make me a fanatic? Am I writing about what I most fear is true of me? May be- but some of these things have to be said. If you look at the first article, you will see that I believe we are way too patient with things that wind up being hurtful. Christianity as a message is great. But as we put it into practice, we need to look very very closely at what is happening.

Sorry Jim.
It was late and Angus was a bit cranky. Here is a site I am working on, any suggestions? it is a work in progress.

405,399 – the number of U.S lives lost in World War II. Was it worth it?

This war is going to be about the guerilla/terrorist attacks on the supply lines and the use of civilians in urban combat. Figure that out and it’s over.

Piper has an excellent Fresh Words this morning.

I am being chided for my creationism article. I wish this subject could clearly go on the list of issues that just don’t matter, but I can tell that will never happen. Creation is the foundation of almost everything else in the Gospel of redemption. The matter of the age of the universe and the nature of Genesis 1 always meets us coming in the front door. As much as I would like to move into the Gospel without saying anything about the nature of Genesis 1, it’s wishful thinking. One fellow was pleased that I said in a sermon that I believed “the universe was created in a moment.” This apparently signaled something that I didn’t mean. But doesn’t it mean everything that should matter to any of us?

Derbyshire and 10 points about the war. Pretty much everything on the table right now.

I heard a senator today say that he is briefed twice a day on the war, while a lot of the people who call and write him are watching it 16 hours a day. That- unfortunately- is me. This is why I need a real pub.

Bart, I’m not making fun of him, I’m making fun of my inability to recognize what it was a picture of. One of my co-workers saw the picture on my screen, and asked if it was some sort of initiation ritual or perhaps some sort of pre-battle “what will happen if you’re captured” training. On the other hand, the story of my own baptism is pretty funny – I nearly drowned my father and a deacon three times my size.

Kofi Annan is concerned about civilian casualties. Gee thanks for noticing. Have you heard that Mr. Hussein might have killed a few himself. The U.N. is morally useless and it is increasingly hard for me to see how any civilized nation can take it seriously.

BTW- Frontpage mag is reporting the 101st Fragger is a member of the Black Panthers and a radical Black muslim mosque, yet they won’t show his face. Something tells me if he were Tim Mcveigh we might be seeing him.

I’d like to see the retard that painted this. Probably not that great of an idea to tick off a bunch of Marines this way.

Jim –

why would you joke about someone’s baptism ? I mean, it’s not like they were doing it as the result of some cheap guilt ridden revival ceremony.

IM is updated with a new article on Religious Fanaticism. “A Slow Drive Over The Edge.”

Jake, consider that the same document that directs the government to “provide for the common defense” also “insures the blessings of liberty.” Any law restricting “objectionable” speech ultimately will come back to bite Christians. By all means, be angry, shocked and outraged at this. It’s your right as an American. But if you’re going to turn that into action, make a bigger sign and turn out for the protests rather than giving the courts more fodder for their cannons; we suffer with enough laws as it is.

On a sad note, Daniel Moynihan has died. He was among the last of the principled Democrats. I didn’t often agreed with him, but he earned my respect.

First, it was dolphins. Now every higher mammal wants to get in on the act.

I have not posted lately, but here is one that should get some ire up:

A very essential article about al-Jezeera.

“I was a Naive Fool to be a Human Shield.” Wow!!

Article about Relevant Magazine

E-mail over at Jay Nordlinger at NRO: No, let this be the last: “Jay, today I filled my truck up at a gas station in a town I am sure you know, Saline, Mich. [Do I ever — love it.] The gentleman behind the counter who always takes my money with a smile and a ‘Thank you, my friend’ asked me what I thought about the war. I was a little unsure how to answer because this gentleman was of obvious Arab descent. I chose the truth. I told him I totally supported it for a number of reasons. WMD, terrorists, but mostly to liberate Iraq from that evil man. As it turned out, this gentleman was a Kurd. He told me of seeing firsthand family and friends being dragged from their homes and shot. Talk about pulling your heart strings. I have heard these stories numerous times on TV, but never directly. It makes you wonder what world these Hollywood people live in.”“

Quotes from our colation partners. (From the White House by way of NRO)
Here is what the Albanian prime minister said on March 20:

“We give unreserved support to the efforts by the United States, and we are proud to be alongside our allies in the fight for the liberation of the Iraqi people. . . . [Albania] is also proud to unconditionally offer our airspace, land, and ports to the United States and other countries taking part in the coalition against Iraq.”

Here is President Uribe of Colombia, holder of one of the toughest jobs on the planet:

“We are part of the coalition, along with countries such as the U.S., Spain, England. . . . Many of these peoples, like Colombians, have withstood terrorism, and, like us, they know that this scourge — terrorism — must be made to end so that we can live peacefully. . . . Fellow Colombians: To request solidarity, we have to express solidarity.”

How about plucky little Denmark, building on its reputation from World War II? Its prime minister said on March 21,

“If on every occasion we allow a ruthless dictator to go free, because we do not like war, we risk paying a very high price. . . . That is why we must move into action. We cannot simply stand by and watch as a ruthless dictator seriously and persistently violates U.N. decisions.”

Here is President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, on March 8 (before the beginning of the war, obviously). Consider the source, as we say:

“They should act when they are right to act because the Security Council can be wrong. It was wrong in Rwanda. . . . You might avoid war and have a worse situation. . . . That is why I was giving a comparison with our case. People avoided a war or doing very much and it ended up with a genocide.”

Cheer up people- this thing is going to be more costly than we want it to be, but remember these quotes and where they come from, and what liberals say about such countries.

Bart, I’m seeing that picture, and I’m thinking

“Even though Bob had no legs, he was still the breath-holding champion of the 6th brigade”

Just sent this in email.

I have a student who has been called to duty. He doesn’t know details yet, but he does know that his company has been converted from some sort of maintenance role to Infantry. He’s nervous, obviously, but ready to do his part. He’s a well-spoken, sincere guy whose writing is, although immature sometimes in terms of writing skill, articulate and thoughtful. Please pray for him. He has a wife and an infant son. Hopefully we’ll shove a missile up Saddam’s toot-hole before J. has to go.

Michael, the fact that Iraqis aren’t rising up in mass numbers to overthrow Saddam has two roots. Saddam has displayed a propensity for vengeance, and we have a history of abandoning support for such efforts. I’m encouraged by the reports out of Basra, except that now we’re hearing of British marines massing on the Iranian border.

The political landscape of the Persian Gulf is complex. At the risk of falling into the “simple solution” trap (which is where a lot of this “we’ll install a democracy in Iraq” talk is going, btw), suffice it to say that a separate Kurdish state in northern Iraq is not in anyone’s interests. The Kurds – or at least some of them – may be fighting for us today, but their political leadership has a lot of common characteristics with the Taliban. They’ve suffered tremendously at the hands of Saddam, but their own hands aren’t exactly innocent. They are particularly rough on Assyrians, and were complicit in the slaughter of Armenians in the last century (the “other holocaust” – the one without the museums.) The Turks would oppose a Kurdish state instantly, for the very practical reason that such a state would by definition make territorial claims on parts of Turkey.

Another fact to keep in mind is how complicated relations between Iran and Iraq are. There are paramilitary – and in fact, full military – groups of Iranians within Iraq with the blessing and support of Saddam’s regime. They are our enemies too, right? except that they constitute the military arm (in absentia, of course) of the Iranian opposition – who are our friends, because they oppose the Iranian regime, that is part of the “axis of evil.” And, surprise of surprises, these same groups operate sometimes in accord with … the Kurds.

The sandstorm is a metaphor for what we encounter in Iraq. We won’t have any problem asserting ourselves militarily, but the political landscape of a post-Saddam Iraq is completely unknown.

Things I don’t like:

U.S. questioning whether a stray bomb is, in fact, a bomb or an act of terrorism by the Iraqis. Good grief people. Don’t get sucked into this.
The likelihood of any uprising by the common people against Saddam in Baghdad looks less and less likely. That means- imo- the following: WIn this war. Take out Baghdad. Give the south to the Shiites and the North to the Kurds.
Idiotic questions by the international press. Sounds like we are heading for War Crimes trials because we killed someone.
The certainty of Chem weapons.
Iraqi officials coming and going as they please.
The New York Times.

Things I like:

Humanitarian Aid has arrived.
Iraqi army coming out of Baghdad. (Time for MOAB baby)
Everything I hear about the Kurds.
The increasing evidence of terrorism and barbarism in Saddam’s regime.
The certainty of victory.
Our technological superiority.
The American Spirit
Special Ops are doing a good job. No launches at Israel.
Gerafalo is not on TV.

Denise and I have been watching Dragnet since it started a couple of months ago. In at least a third of the shows there is a Christian character- always a nut, idiot or hypocrite. It’s not even subtle. Some woman is covering up a crime by her sister, but insists that “my husband and I have apersonal relationship with Jesus Christ.” I think a lot of Hollywood types were brought up in the church, and the slandering of Christians is a required way to show you have “moved on.”

I agree that Jesus isn’t skewered as much as drafted to everyone’s cause. It was interesting in my lecture yesterday to bring up this scripture:

Luke 22:34-38 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

Kind of hard to square with Jesus the sponsor of absolute pacifism. Or this one:

John 18:36 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Judson: Sorry to disagree with you, but Janeane was at her best in “The Truth About Cats and Dogs”. Back when she was straight.

Good movies that accurately depict Christian faith are few and far between. “Signs” is definitely a good one. There are also a few good films with what I describe as flawed messiahs: “The Green Mile”, “The Iron Giant”, and, yes, “The Matrix”.

Movies: If you have not yet seen “Frequency” with Dennis Quaid, go immediately to Blockbuster and rent it. I just saw it last night. Terrific.

Re: Movies and worldviews. Hollywood is replete with stuff like Jim described. Shawshank was an excellent movie, but was just typical in its religious outlook.

I’m not surprised at this. We probably deserve a lot of the cynicism we get. What amuses me is that the Hollywood worldview finds it easy to skewer Christianity, but I have yet to see any movie which even remotely manages to skewer Christ. The ones which even mention him are usually too busy trying to co-opt him for their purposes. But they never seem to have anything bad to say about him. That’s the kind of saviour we have. Even almighty HOLLYWOOD can’t properly lampoon him.

I actually like some of the dumb liberal actors. I enjoy Robbins and Sarandon. I liked “Bob Roberts”, even though it suffered from Al Franken disease (an exaggerated sense of how funny “liberal” parody can be.) Huducker Proxy was great. (Any Coen brothers film is great).

I also like Janeane Garafalo. “The Matchmaker” was tripe, but “Mystery Men” was funny.

BTW, her buddy Ben Stiller is hilarious. “Zoolander” was the funniest thing all last year.

The fact that I like them just goes to show that they’re good at what they do- ACTING.

Awesome description of today’s battle.

Peggy Noonan: Can America stand the sight of its own blood?

Visit the Iraqi hospital in Nassiriya, where the patients wear chem suits, have chem antidote and keep lots of machine guns and a tank on the premises. (Maybe this hospital could be named after Mr. Chirac.)

What hell is this all about?

Wonder what PETA will think of the tank of man-eating hungry sharks the navy is saving for processing high-ranking Iraqi political leaders?

On the Beachfest, I imagine a closing line like, “Our church is just like like this, except for the sand. And the thongs. But other than that, it’s just like this…

What really boggles over the librarians suing over porn is how the American Library Association has been drumming up its members to rally against “censorship” on public library Internet access terminals. Seems librarians are all for free speech, until things get …. sticky.

Internet Monk News Room (3-25-2002)... Dolphins Used For Evangelism At “Beachfest”

—-Fort Lauderdale, Florida—- Luis Palau announced today that his “Beachfest” event was using dolphins in evangelising the unreached attracted to the event. Dolphins trained to share the “Four Spiritual Laws” were placed in the ocean waters off shore from Beachfest. Early reports indicated at least 12 conversions due to dolphin evangelism.

“The dolphins are trained to share the gospel, pray with the seeker, and then lead him back to shore to a counselor.” Beachfest, a special evangelism project that uses music and beach recreation events to draw in the unchurched, has attracted over 110,000 to the beaches of Fort Lauderdale.

With the success of dolphin evangelism, plans are going forward to use Saint Bernard dogs in “Extreme Snowboard Evangelism” events later this year.

Free Speech has its limits in Cinci. This truck driver went after some anti-war protestors. In his truck. On the sidewalk.

Being a librarian ain’t what it used to be. With porn-viewing, “self-stimulating” patrons, a lawsuit is in the works. (How about the guy who has to clean up!)

Nevada brothel owner offers to pay for celebs ticket out of the country.

CT notes the exaggeration about evangelical End times fanaticism in this war. Actually- says CT- evangelicals seem pretty calm compared to 91 or Y2K.

What do you think is the actual chance that a person drawn into some kind of Christianity at Beachfest will ever wind up in any church anywhere for any reason? It’s all boring from here.

PETA on the use of dolphins by the Navy.

“Our troops deserve the best defense possible, but PETA opposes the use of dolphins, sea lions, or any other marine mammals. The project is cruel and cannot provide a reliable defense or surveillance for our troops. The Navy claims they are not putting these animals in harm’s way, but they’ve removed these animals from their homes, relocated them to foreign waters in the Persian Gulf, and are forcing them to not only inspect the waters, but to actually swim up to potential terrorists under the water, clamp a cuff on their leg, and deploy a floating marker. How can anyone say these animals are not being put in harm’s way?

The bottom line is that dolphins cannot provide a reliable defense. These are living beings with minds of their own, and though they are incredibly intelligent, they have no idea that lives will be lost if they fail to perform tasks properly. Yet, the military wants to rely on the actions of these animals in order to protect our troops. Our troops deserve the best defense possible and this isn’t it. The animals and our troops deserve better.”

Here’s how I have been ignoring CNN. Nice to have a project isn’t it? Not bad, for one of the few guys on here who isn’t a computer geek.

Nordlinger has this over at NRO. Take it for what ails you:

“Of all the reports to come out of Iraq thus far, the one I found the most moving appeared in the Guardian — yes, the Guardian, not exactly an organ of the Republican National Committee. It concerned the city of Safwan, where “Ajami Saadoun Khlis, whose son and brother were executed under the Saddam regime, sobbed like a child on the shoulder of [the paper’s] Egyptian translator. He mopped the tears but they kept coming. ‘You just arrived,’ he said. ‘You’re late. What took you so long? God help you become victorious. I want to say hello to Bush, to shake his hand. We came out of the grave.”

You’re late. And We came out of the grave. Why do words like that have no impact whatsoever? Again, even if I were antiwar — yet retained something like my present nature — I would rejoice over that, or at least find comfort in it.”

Some French guy on Cavuto says the French resent our power and dominance. Neal says “So it’s your own inadequacies….” HA!

We had a fight in chapel today. About two mintues before I preached. Two middle school boys just got tired of each other and one really lost it. Took about a minute to get everyone calmed down. Everyone behaved pretty well. This happens about once every couple of years. The shot of adrenalin kept everyone awake for the rest of the time!

Wow. A rapper arrested. That’s strange….

Here’s a non-war story for you. The “discoverers of DNA” are using the press attention for the anniversary of their discovery to blast religion. Washington Times has the story. Even the scientific community isn’t thrilled with their comments.

”...Mr. Watson, 74, an American, said that religious explanations are “myths from the past.” Every time you understand something, religion becomes less likely,” said Mr. Watson. “Only with the discovery of the double helix and the ensuing genetic revolution have we had grounds for thinking that the powers held traditionally to be the exclusive property of the gods might one day be ours…Mr. Watson, whose mother was a devout Roman Catholic and raised him and his sister as churchgoers, described how he gave up attending Mass at the start of the World War II. “I came to the conclusion that the church was just a bunch of fascists that supported [Spainดs General Francisco] Franco. I stopped going on Sunday mornings, and watched the birds with my father instead.”.”

But they are ARTISTS, and we need them rather than all those stupid white men (forget Powell and Rice, we really know they don’t have any stubstantial influence) who have incredible experience, advance degrees or training from the world’s best military academies.

We so very much need them.

I was about to barf each time Susan, or Dustin, or Barbara got up there. Yuck. So damn self important.

Jim N: My sense is that God’s mercy is capricious, at least in the sense that we have no way of determining where it will come from or who will be the beneficiary of it. God has absolutely no good reason for making me an object of His mercy – that seems an utterly capricious act to me. But the fact that it makes no sense to me certainly doesn’t interfere with my eager acceptance of it. I am daily reminded that I deserve nothing.

As far as the David/Ahab thing goes, I wonder if our attempts to try to figure out why God does something is not a latent attempt to learn how to pull the levers ourselves?

check it out

Michael, Tim Robbins is indistinguishable from Michael Moore, except that he’s more subtle. Someone once tried to push “Shawshank Redemption” on me as a film with a Christian message; I replied that in fact it is anti-establishment, anti-Christian propaganda. In the film, all the cons – men justly serving time for their crimes – are virtuous, while all the guards and the warden – who is perhaps the most straightforward portrayal of Hollywood’s cynicism about Christianity since “Inherit the Wind” – are corrupt. The protagonist is unjustly accused, railroaded into jail by the system, and kept there by a religious hypocrite. Of course, the story is beautifully filmed, and told in a compelling manner that lets the message slip past viewers – unlike Moore, who bludgeons us over the head with his liberalism, Robbins prefers to hide his club in feathers.

I liked Ms. Sarandon in “Dead Man Walking,” but the film had the opposite effect on me than its makers intended. I came away from it with the distinct impression that capital punishment is, in some cases, necessary because of the nature of the crime and because of the criminal’s unwillingness to own up to their actions. Can’t say I care much for anything else she’s done.

A while back I asked the question, semi-sarcastically, “why should we care what actors think about politics.” This post is part of the answer: ideas have consequences, and everyone has an agenda. If actors, directors and producers say they aren’t trying to push their views, they’re either ignorant or lying.

Scott, I did see your answer, and was trying to formulate a thoughtful response. One thing that troubles me is that your argument about David’s child’s death being an act of mercy is only true because of the framework – based on God’s law – that placed such condemnation around illegitimacy within Israel. In other words, sure, God is sparing the line from the curse of the bastard, but that curse ultimately has its origin in God, so I would argue that He is exercising judgement rather than mercy. It’s hard for me to escape the feeling that, at least in the OT, God’s mercy is rather capricious. I feel kind of like that saint that Steve Brown often quotes: “Lord, you would have more friends if you treated the ones you have better…”

From CT: “War is the most damnably bad thing,” Oswald Chambers said shortly before his death. “Because God overrules a thing and brings good out of it does not mean that the thing itself is a good thing. . . . [However,] if the war has made me reconcile myself with the fact that there is sin in human beings, I shall no longer go with my head in the clouds, or buried in the sand like an ostrich, but I shall be wishing to face facts as they are.” And that will be a good thing, Chambers wrote, because “it is not being reconciled to the fact of sin that produces all the disasters in life.”

An excellent article about CS Lewis and Oswald Chambers on Living in Wartime is here.

Drudge has a Washington Post story this morning of Mr. Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, threatening bodily harm to the reporter who put into print that Sarandon’s mom is a conservative Republican. Geee, Tim. It’s good to know you have a sense of outrage. Ever heard of Saddam Hussein.

I’m going to preach today on “Why God Waits.” There are many interesting scriptures that tell us God is intentionally waiting, puposely patience in his dealing with human beings. It’s important to remember why, and to remember what the ultimate result of that patience is all about.

I am also teaching on Pacifism. Yesterday I taught Just War theory. One of the points I made was that the moral requirement of “porportionality” (appropriate rather than excessive force, avoiding unnecessary violence) imposes a tremendous burden on a country like the United States. In fact, many of my students thought that this was wrong, because it would ultimately be more effective to use all the force you have to accomplish your goal. (Nuke ‘em) I said that’s wrong, but I agree our current posture of trying to fight a war without killing people and breaking things is difficult.

I found it interesting that the NASCAR drivers all pay high tribute to the solders and to the cause of America in general.

Michael: Nail, head. Moore is a political nutball with a camera, an ego that couldn’t fit in Yankee stadium, and a real hatred of conservatives. You know, if he were Republican, he’d probably be called a bigot. But since he’s liberal, he’s a hero. But I also found the crowd reaction at the Oscars a bit surprising. Yes, there was a lot of applause, but there was an awful lot of of “boos” right along with it. More importantly, I think the shot of a bunch of actors, sitting in a row, politely listening and not responding tells a lot. That, and Louis Gossett, Jr. trying not to laugh out loud… that was hilarious.

JimN: Did you read my response to your questions?

Michael Moore Explodes While Docking at Lakehurst
(2003-03-24)—Michael Moore, the Academy Award-winning documentarist, exploded this morning while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, NJ.

Mr. Moore was coming in for a landing at Lakehurst after his flight from Los Angeles following last night’s Oscar ceremony.

Many witnesses said it was, at first, a thrilling sight as Mr. Moore appeared over the western horizon and approached the docking tower.

But suddenly a tongue of flame appeared. The flame spread rapidly; within a few seconds Mr. Moore exploded in a huge ball of fire. He fell, tail first, with flames shooting out the nose and crashed.

A radio announcer, broadcasting the event for the CBC, shouted: “He’s burst into flames….Get out of the way, please, oh my, this is terrible, oh my, get out of the way, please…Oh, the humanity!”

Untold numbers of people were wounded in the incident. Investigators on the scene offered no explanation for “this horrifying episode.”

I plan to journey to the State of New York on April 15th for the purpose of aquiring a firearm in this worthy cause.

A Time columnist says Shame on Michael Moore.

Nine persons in the Godhead= OK. Celtic Cross= problem.

JimN: I am also having trouble concentrating. The whole thing is shaking me up.

Eric: Great to have you back and posting. I know the world isn’t totally full of people who have no moral soul. It just seems that way.

ScottW: Did you smell the sheer EGO of Moore in that performance? If he really believes what he says, fine, but I can’t help but feel this guy is just a mega-political diva who had to have the moment. I would love to know what people say about him to each other that they would never say on camera. I sure wish he would feel the call to the battlefield so he could experience some embedding in his ample ass.

Bart: What a great speech. This lady nails it.

The UPI story on the anti-war guy who got shocked back into reality.

An excellent Atlantic piece on the history of Islam.

Anbody tired of the absolutely most overused word in English? Absolutely!

Ok, here’s a non-war thingy. There’s a chick here who is very concerned about the possible druidic influence in the Celtic cross which is used on the letterhead for our office if Community Life. I don’t understand what she’s all in a tizzy about. What I want to know is whether or not their is some connection to her uncomfortableness with the Celtic cross and her belief that “no one is closer to the Holy Spirit than Benny Hinn.”?

JimN: Sorry, buddy, I wasn’t trying to drop-kick you! It’s just stuff that’s been on my mind lately that it helped to put into words to someone besides my wife and best friend.

Our neighbor’s son has been accounted for and he is going to be okay. He was originally thought to be one of the POWs taken in yesterday’s fighting. Thanks to everyone for your prayers.

Please, folks, I wasn’t saying that you shouldn’t post what’s on your mind. I was lamenting the fact that the war drives everything else out of our – especially my – mind. I’m in a serious jam at work because I’ve been so preoccupied with everything that’s going on.

RIG:
You nailed it Brother. You nailed it.