Just a few of my favorite things in no particular order.
1. Weekly Lord's Day Wosrship (Ok, this is at the top!)
2. Seeing my kids mature
3. Lancer's Slices (look it up!)
4. Anything Sam Adams!
5. Southern Rock (see my red neck?!)
6. eBay (philosophy = BLASH) Check my store when you get a min
7. Studying God's work in history
8. God's Word
9. Alabama Wine
10. Extended Family
11. Auburn Football
12. All things Samford University
13. English Luxury (again, look it up puff puff)
14. If the Crimson Tide Loses (been frustrated lately!)
15. Writings of Peter Leithart and Jim Jordan
16. Austrian Economics
17. Ron and Rand Paul
18. Studying and comparing causes of American Revolutionary War and War For Southern Independence
Least Favorite things in no particular order
1. Effects of the outcome of the War for Southern Independence!
2. Barak Obama
3. Mitt Romney
4. John McCain
5. John Kerry
6. Al Gore
7. George W. Bush (seeing any trends here?)
8. UAT (my daughter goes there - fine, but I still hate it!)
9. Borkim Riff Whiskey (look it up!~)
10. CNN
11. MSNBC
12. Fox News when they smear Ron Paul
13. Bill Clinton (what is the meaning of 'is'?)
14. Hilary Clinton
15. Abortion
16. The gay agenda
I could go on, but I'll stop here!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Update
Okay, I will try to get back to posting on a more regular basis after a long hiatus!
Let me update a few things.
I now have two in college, both at Samford. Both are doing well right now. Ryan, after some struggles is back on track. He took a few classes last spring and summer at Jeff St., got his grades up, took a full load at Samford in the fall and did good. He is now taking a very full load this semester. Hopefully, he is on track to graduate after next fall and spring semesters. He has continued to work some for Chic Fil A, earning their in house scholarship of $1000. He works for the Samford Athletic Department doing a myriad of jobs, including videoing contests such as football and basketball games. He also writes an opinion piece for the school newspaper – something his father is pleased with as you might imagine! If you are interested, log onto the Samford.edu site, go to the students section, under news go to the Samford Crimson section, and you can find some of his articles. He is an independent thinker, yet there is a certain amount of ‘like father like son’ going on too! In the future, he has a lot of options, and I do not know which way he will go, but the next year to year and a half will bring about a lot of changes and/or opportunities.
Elizabeth has completed one semester and started her second. Because of her love of reading and gift of language, she initially leaned toward a major in English. However, she also has a heart for the poor and is leaning toward doing something in the line of ministering to them. She may well end up majoring in Sociology or something similar. The first semester, Elizabeth made all A’s, garnering much academic attention.
Ryan is a gifted thinker who also writes; Elizabeth is a gifted writer who also thinks.
Then, there is child number three. After several years of homeschooling, then several years in a homeschool coop, Laura is now a ninth grader at a private Christian school. I’ll put it this way….the school is not the best in the world, but it is not the worst. It is affiliated with a somewhat fundamentalist Baptist Church, which definitely gives me pause for concern. However, in our very limited price range, there just aren’t a whole lot of choices around here in the supposed Bible Belt. The closest and most affordable option is so strictly fundamentalist that I as a somewhat high church Calvinist would probably be shunned and maybe even kicked out (I know this from a previous experience with them)
Laura, like Elizabeth, has a gift for language, but also a heart for the suffering. I do not know which way she will go in the future. However, I will say she is doing excellently academically so far in her new home. She has made mostly A’s with a very small smattering of B’s. She has been singled out by teachers for her achievements.
As might be imagined, Sherrie and I are proud of all of our three children!
______________________
Other things going on lately. Right before Christmas, we lost Sherrie’s Father. He had been very slowly going downhill for several years and I will not get into the details of all of his sufferings. However, because of the slowness of it, when he finally took that last turn for the worse, I think it was like it hit a lot of the family out of the blue. Sherrie herself called the emergency folks to come and get him when he went to the hospital. I think most figured it would be temporary and he would be back to the old Papa in no time. However, he never got out of the hospital from that time on. Sherrie was also present along with her Mom and a sister when he died.
Holiday deaths are always hard. Both of my Dad’s parents died on December 23 (1962 and 1999) and my mother’s mom died on January 2. Sherrie’s dad Died on December 20. It made Christmas just a little bit difficult as you may imagine. However, as Christians, it is the very fact of the holidays, the incarnation itself, which makes death bearable. He came and entered humanity and DIED that we may live.
______________
I love Auburn football. Auburn won the BCS (and virtually every other poll) national championship. There has been and continues to be a lot of speculation about the Cam Newton situation. I have no idea who may have done what and who may have known what, but I truly believe that no one officially associated with Auburn knowingly did anything wrong. That is why it would be a shame if this thing gets taken away from them. I’m not denying any wrongdoing by any ‘Auburn’ person. In fact I fear that some may be present and may come out sooner or later. But, I truly do not believe that Auburn coaches, Athletic director, or staff knowingly did anything wrong and that is why it would be so bad if they and the Auburn fan base gets punished for the wrongdoing of others on the fringe.
________________
Over two years ago I got laid off (right around Christmas – I wrote about it in an earlier blog). By the grace of God I obtained employment in a bad economy not too long after that and did not struggle near as much as could have been. I have maintained employment since then, and from what I am hearing, may soon be faced with a choice as my previous employer is hiring back again. I do prefer to go back, as they are closer to home and the job situation is more suited to me. However, the volatility of it does concern me as the one thing I do think I have going right now is job security. I would appreciate any prayers offered my way!
Overall, if I were a pessimist, I could tell you how bad things are right now. Money is tight. Ryan just had his car mess up on him. Sherrie’s van has about 190k miles on it. My car and Elizabeth’s car have well over 130K. We hardly have a penny to spare so if any of these other cars go I do not know what we will do. My job wears me out. Sherrie’s gets to her also. Because of our jobs/schedules, we do not get as much time together as I wish. We are going in the hole with two kids at Samford. Things look bleak.
As at least a partial optimist, however, I will tell you how good things are. I love my wife. I love my kids. They love me (most of the time!) I love my church family whom I serve and who serves me also. My kids stand on the verge of being productive difference makers in the world. I’m gainfully employed. So is my wife. I have never gone hungry/cold/unsheltered/ unclothed, etc. Auburn won the BCS. Man, it just doesn’t get any better than this!
Let me update a few things.
I now have two in college, both at Samford. Both are doing well right now. Ryan, after some struggles is back on track. He took a few classes last spring and summer at Jeff St., got his grades up, took a full load at Samford in the fall and did good. He is now taking a very full load this semester. Hopefully, he is on track to graduate after next fall and spring semesters. He has continued to work some for Chic Fil A, earning their in house scholarship of $1000. He works for the Samford Athletic Department doing a myriad of jobs, including videoing contests such as football and basketball games. He also writes an opinion piece for the school newspaper – something his father is pleased with as you might imagine! If you are interested, log onto the Samford.edu site, go to the students section, under news go to the Samford Crimson section, and you can find some of his articles. He is an independent thinker, yet there is a certain amount of ‘like father like son’ going on too! In the future, he has a lot of options, and I do not know which way he will go, but the next year to year and a half will bring about a lot of changes and/or opportunities.
Elizabeth has completed one semester and started her second. Because of her love of reading and gift of language, she initially leaned toward a major in English. However, she also has a heart for the poor and is leaning toward doing something in the line of ministering to them. She may well end up majoring in Sociology or something similar. The first semester, Elizabeth made all A’s, garnering much academic attention.
Ryan is a gifted thinker who also writes; Elizabeth is a gifted writer who also thinks.
Then, there is child number three. After several years of homeschooling, then several years in a homeschool coop, Laura is now a ninth grader at a private Christian school. I’ll put it this way….the school is not the best in the world, but it is not the worst. It is affiliated with a somewhat fundamentalist Baptist Church, which definitely gives me pause for concern. However, in our very limited price range, there just aren’t a whole lot of choices around here in the supposed Bible Belt. The closest and most affordable option is so strictly fundamentalist that I as a somewhat high church Calvinist would probably be shunned and maybe even kicked out (I know this from a previous experience with them)
Laura, like Elizabeth, has a gift for language, but also a heart for the suffering. I do not know which way she will go in the future. However, I will say she is doing excellently academically so far in her new home. She has made mostly A’s with a very small smattering of B’s. She has been singled out by teachers for her achievements.
As might be imagined, Sherrie and I are proud of all of our three children!
______________________
Other things going on lately. Right before Christmas, we lost Sherrie’s Father. He had been very slowly going downhill for several years and I will not get into the details of all of his sufferings. However, because of the slowness of it, when he finally took that last turn for the worse, I think it was like it hit a lot of the family out of the blue. Sherrie herself called the emergency folks to come and get him when he went to the hospital. I think most figured it would be temporary and he would be back to the old Papa in no time. However, he never got out of the hospital from that time on. Sherrie was also present along with her Mom and a sister when he died.
Holiday deaths are always hard. Both of my Dad’s parents died on December 23 (1962 and 1999) and my mother’s mom died on January 2. Sherrie’s dad Died on December 20. It made Christmas just a little bit difficult as you may imagine. However, as Christians, it is the very fact of the holidays, the incarnation itself, which makes death bearable. He came and entered humanity and DIED that we may live.
______________
I love Auburn football. Auburn won the BCS (and virtually every other poll) national championship. There has been and continues to be a lot of speculation about the Cam Newton situation. I have no idea who may have done what and who may have known what, but I truly believe that no one officially associated with Auburn knowingly did anything wrong. That is why it would be a shame if this thing gets taken away from them. I’m not denying any wrongdoing by any ‘Auburn’ person. In fact I fear that some may be present and may come out sooner or later. But, I truly do not believe that Auburn coaches, Athletic director, or staff knowingly did anything wrong and that is why it would be so bad if they and the Auburn fan base gets punished for the wrongdoing of others on the fringe.
________________
Over two years ago I got laid off (right around Christmas – I wrote about it in an earlier blog). By the grace of God I obtained employment in a bad economy not too long after that and did not struggle near as much as could have been. I have maintained employment since then, and from what I am hearing, may soon be faced with a choice as my previous employer is hiring back again. I do prefer to go back, as they are closer to home and the job situation is more suited to me. However, the volatility of it does concern me as the one thing I do think I have going right now is job security. I would appreciate any prayers offered my way!
Overall, if I were a pessimist, I could tell you how bad things are right now. Money is tight. Ryan just had his car mess up on him. Sherrie’s van has about 190k miles on it. My car and Elizabeth’s car have well over 130K. We hardly have a penny to spare so if any of these other cars go I do not know what we will do. My job wears me out. Sherrie’s gets to her also. Because of our jobs/schedules, we do not get as much time together as I wish. We are going in the hole with two kids at Samford. Things look bleak.
As at least a partial optimist, however, I will tell you how good things are. I love my wife. I love my kids. They love me (most of the time!) I love my church family whom I serve and who serves me also. My kids stand on the verge of being productive difference makers in the world. I’m gainfully employed. So is my wife. I have never gone hungry/cold/unsheltered/ unclothed, etc. Auburn won the BCS. Man, it just doesn’t get any better than this!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Another season nearly gone
Well, another football season is drawing to a close. I have not written any on it this year. Thought I'd put my two cents worth (and not much more) now while I have just a minute.
I am actually excited about the future prospects of Auburn football. The immediate prospects are not too great, though. They have at times this year looked quite good, especially on offense. At other times they have looked horrendous, in all three phases of the game.
Their main problem right now, and this affects all three phases, is depth. They have pretty good depth at skill positions on offense. Ben Tate, Onterio McCaleb, Mario Fannin, and Erick Smith are all pretty good running backs. However, Smith has had off the field troubles (apparently of his own doing), Fannin seems to have trouble holding on to the ball, and McCaleb has had a nagging injury since the middles of the season. I do not think it is a coincidence that Auburn's offense has tended to look much less explosive when McCaleb was unable to play. I think the one-two punch of O-Mac and Tate opens us up tremendously. Take O-Mac out, and that closes us down a bit.
Our collection of receivers is really incredible. We got a couple of real hot recruits last year, including the 21 year old freshman Deangelo Benton, as well as Emory Blake. We also had returning highly recruited junior (I believe) Tim Hawthorne. However, these three have combined for very little of our receiving. Benton did not have a catch all year until the tenth game in mop up duty against hapless Furman. What has happened is that out of nowhere youngsters Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachary have exploded to become major players. These two far and away lead the team in receptions, td receptions, and receiving yards. In addition to these, QB turned receiver Kodi Burns has a few receptions, as does H-back Fannin, and a few others.
At Tight End, senior Tommy Trott has been consistent and will be missed. However, a couple of times freshman hot shot Phil Luthtrlskdnginglskdmngh (Ok, the spelling may not be right!) has shone. I think he will be a tremendous tight end in our offense in the future.
Chris Todd at QB has looked like a Heisman contender at times, and looked like a High School non-starter at others. He is more or less the mirror of this team. Jekyl and Hyde. As Todd goes, so goes Auburn.
When we get to the O-line, we start to see some problems. We have some good players there, but virtually no depth, and little consistency. There have also been apparently some off field issues, causing some suspensions. When there is no depth, and you lose a player or to to injury or suspension, you get sacks, three and outs, etc.
On the defensive side, while there have certainly been some high points, the biggest problem is definitely depth. Throw in the fact that we have had some injuries and that problem really gets magnified. Our starting D-line is real good, but it falls off behind the starters. Eltoro Freeman has really come on as of late at LB, but has been hurt some and it really falls off from there. Neiko Thorpre at DB has tremendous athletic ability, but his technique leaves me with my doubts that he could cover even me! Seems like every long pass play against us this year has had one thing in common - number 15 trailing the open receiver. Darren Bates is a freshman safety with superstar potential.
Depth really shows on special teams. We have been non-existent in returning punts this year, and I swear if we have dropped one punt we have dropped fifty. We finally found a kick return game against UGA, returning one for a TD.
On the whole, I do not think AU right now is quite as good as they have looked when they looked their best this year. Neither do I think they were quite as bad as they have looked at their worst. They sit at 7-4 which is about what I would have thought, although the 7 and the four may have been against different teams. They now only have undefeated NC contender and hated rival Alabama to go, and the prospects do not look good.
If I had to guess, I would put Bama at least three touchdowns favored right now. This is because Bama's strenghts match up exceedingly well against Auburn. Bama has a tremendous running game, and Auburn has struggled stopping the run even against mediocre teams all year. Bama has a tremendous defense, and Auburns offense has been so up and down all year, due mainly to the lack of depth on the line and the up and down play of Todd.
I never say never and lots of stranger things have happened in football history than an Auburn victory over Alabama - so I do not completely count them out. However, in my mind to realistically make a game out of it, I think they need the following:
1. O-Mac's ankle needs to be 100%, giving Auburn the Thunder and Lightening running attack of him and Tate.
2. Freeman needs to be at 100%. AU is weak on the run defense side, but this weakness is glaring without Freeman.
3. AU needs to score or set up scores on special teams. They finally got some kick returning going las weak. If they can just learn to catch and return a punt, this will help.
4. They need to minimize the needless penalties - something they have struggled with all year.
5. They need to be on the plus side in turnover ratio. This has been another indicator in their wins and losses this year.
If they can do all of this, with a little luck, this could be a good and close game. If not, then my three touchdown prediction may still be undershooting it a bit.
Now, as for the future, I think it is getting brighter. Remember Saban's first year? 6-6. At worst Chiziks first year will be 7-5. And that coming off the disaster of the last Tuberville season, and the disaster of the last several Tuberville recruiting classes. I remember hearing before the season started about how depth would be an issue because not only had CTT not recruited as many good players as needed, but that many that he did recruit either never qualified or have since left the team. While Auburn's starting 22 may be in the upper half of the SEC, certainly their top 44 are in the bottom half, and their total depth of SEC quality players is probably in the lower portions of the bottom half. This explains the Jekyl and Hyde look of this years team. When they've clicked, they've looked good. But a little slip here, and a penalty or turnover there, etc. can knock them out in short order.
But Chizik is not sitting around thinking that quality players will come running to Auburn the way his predecessor seemed to think. Instead he is engaging, even challenging, Saban's dominance of the state. Already for this year, among other hot prospects AU has a committment from one of the consensus top three running backs in the nation. (All three in fact have shown interest in AU, one has committed, and while it is out of the question that all three would, two of the three are within reality). he also got a blue chip receiver, the top rated prep player from the state of Louisianna. He has a committment from the nation's number one kicker.
Going back to last year, it was he, not Tuberville, who brought in Deangelo Benton, Emory Blake, Phil Luhjkjhkojkgks, and QBs Tyrik Rolison and Clint Mosely. If he can just over the next couple of years shore up the O-line and the defensive side of the ball, things will turn around. I think we are on a three to four year project here. Saban actually came into a pretty talented team (which is amazing considering the years of probation and AUs dominance over Bama - AU should have been killing them in recruiting but weren't) Chizik has come into a depleted team, and it will take time to rebuild it. Say if we finish 7-5 this year and go to a bowl, then 7-6 or 8-5. I would not be really surprized if our record did not improve much next year, but our performance should. Then by the third year our record should start showing improvement. Then we go from there.
However, if after three to four years there is not significant improvement in the program, you move on. However, I feel pretty good about Chizik, as a person, in his style of coaching, in his choice of assistants (which will change as some of them will move on to bigger jobs) and especially in his zeal for recruiting and building this team. This year is not quite over yet, and I am already looking forward to next year.
War Eagle!
I am actually excited about the future prospects of Auburn football. The immediate prospects are not too great, though. They have at times this year looked quite good, especially on offense. At other times they have looked horrendous, in all three phases of the game.
Their main problem right now, and this affects all three phases, is depth. They have pretty good depth at skill positions on offense. Ben Tate, Onterio McCaleb, Mario Fannin, and Erick Smith are all pretty good running backs. However, Smith has had off the field troubles (apparently of his own doing), Fannin seems to have trouble holding on to the ball, and McCaleb has had a nagging injury since the middles of the season. I do not think it is a coincidence that Auburn's offense has tended to look much less explosive when McCaleb was unable to play. I think the one-two punch of O-Mac and Tate opens us up tremendously. Take O-Mac out, and that closes us down a bit.
Our collection of receivers is really incredible. We got a couple of real hot recruits last year, including the 21 year old freshman Deangelo Benton, as well as Emory Blake. We also had returning highly recruited junior (I believe) Tim Hawthorne. However, these three have combined for very little of our receiving. Benton did not have a catch all year until the tenth game in mop up duty against hapless Furman. What has happened is that out of nowhere youngsters Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachary have exploded to become major players. These two far and away lead the team in receptions, td receptions, and receiving yards. In addition to these, QB turned receiver Kodi Burns has a few receptions, as does H-back Fannin, and a few others.
At Tight End, senior Tommy Trott has been consistent and will be missed. However, a couple of times freshman hot shot Phil Luthtrlskdnginglskdmngh (Ok, the spelling may not be right!) has shone. I think he will be a tremendous tight end in our offense in the future.
Chris Todd at QB has looked like a Heisman contender at times, and looked like a High School non-starter at others. He is more or less the mirror of this team. Jekyl and Hyde. As Todd goes, so goes Auburn.
When we get to the O-line, we start to see some problems. We have some good players there, but virtually no depth, and little consistency. There have also been apparently some off field issues, causing some suspensions. When there is no depth, and you lose a player or to to injury or suspension, you get sacks, three and outs, etc.
On the defensive side, while there have certainly been some high points, the biggest problem is definitely depth. Throw in the fact that we have had some injuries and that problem really gets magnified. Our starting D-line is real good, but it falls off behind the starters. Eltoro Freeman has really come on as of late at LB, but has been hurt some and it really falls off from there. Neiko Thorpre at DB has tremendous athletic ability, but his technique leaves me with my doubts that he could cover even me! Seems like every long pass play against us this year has had one thing in common - number 15 trailing the open receiver. Darren Bates is a freshman safety with superstar potential.
Depth really shows on special teams. We have been non-existent in returning punts this year, and I swear if we have dropped one punt we have dropped fifty. We finally found a kick return game against UGA, returning one for a TD.
On the whole, I do not think AU right now is quite as good as they have looked when they looked their best this year. Neither do I think they were quite as bad as they have looked at their worst. They sit at 7-4 which is about what I would have thought, although the 7 and the four may have been against different teams. They now only have undefeated NC contender and hated rival Alabama to go, and the prospects do not look good.
If I had to guess, I would put Bama at least three touchdowns favored right now. This is because Bama's strenghts match up exceedingly well against Auburn. Bama has a tremendous running game, and Auburn has struggled stopping the run even against mediocre teams all year. Bama has a tremendous defense, and Auburns offense has been so up and down all year, due mainly to the lack of depth on the line and the up and down play of Todd.
I never say never and lots of stranger things have happened in football history than an Auburn victory over Alabama - so I do not completely count them out. However, in my mind to realistically make a game out of it, I think they need the following:
1. O-Mac's ankle needs to be 100%, giving Auburn the Thunder and Lightening running attack of him and Tate.
2. Freeman needs to be at 100%. AU is weak on the run defense side, but this weakness is glaring without Freeman.
3. AU needs to score or set up scores on special teams. They finally got some kick returning going las weak. If they can just learn to catch and return a punt, this will help.
4. They need to minimize the needless penalties - something they have struggled with all year.
5. They need to be on the plus side in turnover ratio. This has been another indicator in their wins and losses this year.
If they can do all of this, with a little luck, this could be a good and close game. If not, then my three touchdown prediction may still be undershooting it a bit.
Now, as for the future, I think it is getting brighter. Remember Saban's first year? 6-6. At worst Chiziks first year will be 7-5. And that coming off the disaster of the last Tuberville season, and the disaster of the last several Tuberville recruiting classes. I remember hearing before the season started about how depth would be an issue because not only had CTT not recruited as many good players as needed, but that many that he did recruit either never qualified or have since left the team. While Auburn's starting 22 may be in the upper half of the SEC, certainly their top 44 are in the bottom half, and their total depth of SEC quality players is probably in the lower portions of the bottom half. This explains the Jekyl and Hyde look of this years team. When they've clicked, they've looked good. But a little slip here, and a penalty or turnover there, etc. can knock them out in short order.
But Chizik is not sitting around thinking that quality players will come running to Auburn the way his predecessor seemed to think. Instead he is engaging, even challenging, Saban's dominance of the state. Already for this year, among other hot prospects AU has a committment from one of the consensus top three running backs in the nation. (All three in fact have shown interest in AU, one has committed, and while it is out of the question that all three would, two of the three are within reality). he also got a blue chip receiver, the top rated prep player from the state of Louisianna. He has a committment from the nation's number one kicker.
Going back to last year, it was he, not Tuberville, who brought in Deangelo Benton, Emory Blake, Phil Luhjkjhkojkgks, and QBs Tyrik Rolison and Clint Mosely. If he can just over the next couple of years shore up the O-line and the defensive side of the ball, things will turn around. I think we are on a three to four year project here. Saban actually came into a pretty talented team (which is amazing considering the years of probation and AUs dominance over Bama - AU should have been killing them in recruiting but weren't) Chizik has come into a depleted team, and it will take time to rebuild it. Say if we finish 7-5 this year and go to a bowl, then 7-6 or 8-5. I would not be really surprized if our record did not improve much next year, but our performance should. Then by the third year our record should start showing improvement. Then we go from there.
However, if after three to four years there is not significant improvement in the program, you move on. However, I feel pretty good about Chizik, as a person, in his style of coaching, in his choice of assistants (which will change as some of them will move on to bigger jobs) and especially in his zeal for recruiting and building this team. This year is not quite over yet, and I am already looking forward to next year.
War Eagle!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I just don't understand some people
Some time back, I wrote a lengthy post on why I am not a Republican. I stick by that account. Not only is the historical founding and growth of the party abhorant to me, it's modern leaders are as well. Admittedly, there is at least a part of me that has a soft spot of The Gipper. And Ron Paul, who holds a congressional seat as a Republican, and ran for President in the Republican primary is a man that I admire. But, on the other hand, going back through at least Eisenhower, the policies pursued by Republican Presidents or Presidential Nominees have been very poor. Think Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Bush, Dole, Bush, McCain. No real true solid consistent constitutionalist in the bunch. In fact, quite the opposite. (Reagan, I believe was a mixed bag - and while far from perfect, was the best of the bunch)
Basically, I am a man without a party. While I am not a Republican, I do not see how any knowledgeable Christian person could ever support any of the Democratic Presidential candidates of the last several decades. It is chilling to me that many Christians are openly supporters of our current leader, Barack Obama. While I can sympathize greatly with them if they do not like many of the Republican contenders, as neither do I, I can not even see a "hold your nose and vote for Obama as the lesser of the two evils" approach as acceptable. As I wrote elsewhere, I even think a 'wasted' third party vote or even a no vote at all are more respectable than a vote for a downright evil candidate.
But, I am aware of people who profess the name of Jesus Christ and who attend Evangelical Bible Believing churches who whole heartedly support Barack Obama. I honestly do not get it. I can give at least a couple of reasons for it, but I think they would fall apart with even a cursory examination.
1. GWB got us into a war that we do not need to be in and we need a change in that direction.
The whole current war situation is way beyond my understanding and I honestly do not know if it is a 'just war' on our part or not. I am not of a settled opinion, and can actually understand if someone is of the settled opinion of it being bad. That is, I can sympathize with someone who thinks this is the wrong war, at the wrong time, fought in the wrong way, for the wrong reasons. But, after all the hoopla in the election cycle, when all is said and done Obama's timeline for troop withdrawel is virtually identical to Bush's.
2. We have used torture methods and Obama is ending that practice and shutting down Gitmo
The torture method that seems to make all the headlines is waterboarding. This is a very controlled method which produces no injury and no long term harm. Obviously while going through waterboarding, the recipient must be under more than a minor discomfort, else it would not work. But, is it 'torture'? Is it inhumane? What if it produces results which prevent a major attack on the US (which it has) What if this method, which produces no injury results in imformation which saves thousands of lives?
This interrogation process does not even hold a candle to the methods used in the past and present by other nations - many of which either permanently maim, or even kill the victims. (I don't think anyone has ever survived a decapitation)
But, no, we just need to 'love our enemies' I am told. All the while, they not only hate us, but are bent on our very destruction.
Also, as some commentators are now pointing out, for all the grand oratory about closing Gitmo, our beloved leader has no workable plan on what to do with the detainees. Hey, Obama supporters, ya'll got any ideas? Why don't you 'love' them by taking them into your own homes???
Finally, though, if Barak wants to end the practice of waterboarding and even if he wants to close Gitmo, that still does not make it right for him to have released important classified documents to the world.
3. Barack (and of course all Democrats) care for the poor or otherwise underpriviledged, unlike those rich evil Republicans
This is the one that just kills me. Of course, every politician of any party if he or she is going to have any chance of getting elected, is going to claim to want to help the helpless, etc. and of course, virtually everyone falls into some sort of 'underpriviledged category. Women?? Underprivilidged. Minorities? Underpriviledged. Old People; children; overweight; addicts; The list goes on and on.
And of course every right thinking person, especially Christians, actually do want to truly help the truly underpriviledged. BUT, on what do we base the idea that the only way, or even the best way, to do so is through government coercion? I could go on and on, and won't, but I have yet to hear a single person argue effectively that government is good or successful at this. In fact, I have seen scholarly studies proving just the opposite. Also, on what do we base the very idea that this is even a legitimate function of government. Helping the needy IS a legitimate activity, and the Church should be behind it in every way. But before one more Christian ever attempts to tell me that he or she is for the 'liberal' candidate because said candidate 'cares about the poor' I insist that that person make the biblical case that this is a legitimate function of the civil government to carry out. I am also going to insist that they prove to me that if I don't share their love of government programs, that this means that I do not care about the plight of the unfortunate. I hate to harp so much on this, but I have read a few too many Christian writers state that they like Obama (or some other liberal) because he cares about the poor and of course Christians should care about the poor so why would any Christian not support Obama. Well, I care about the poor, and I think in the long run government programs to help the poor actually hurt the poor and everyone else, so why would I support a candidate that wants more and more programs?
Now, in addition to fact that the supposed reason for a Christian to be a supporter of Obama are quite weak, the reasons to not be are even stronger.
1. For over 20 years Obama attended a church that was so obviously racist and anti-American that absolutely no one can deny it. He finally dropped it when it became a politically hot issue and the media immediately dropped the issue as well. But, study up on this church and its preacher. Then exchange the black and white labels and ask yourself would a white person ever stand any chance of having any respectability at all if he attended such a place. You know the answer. It is beyond doubt. The white guy would be universally condemned and would never stand a chance in national politics. AND RIGHTLY SO. But, with Obama, we just act like it never happened. Apparently people even believe his preposterous story that even though he attended there twenty years, he never heard any of the inflamatory type remarks that were documented.
Moreover, Barack's 'religion' is not at all Orthodox Christianity. I base this not on conjecture, but on his own words that can easily be found on the internet. He believes all will go to heaven and there is no hell. He believes 'sin' is defined as 'not being true to yourself'. (Actually, we are all born sinners so sin is actually when we ARE true to ourselves!!) there are so many other things in which whatever his religious beliefs may be, they are definitely not Christian.
2. Obama has very little relavent experience
He has in his adult life been a left wing agitator (aka community organizer) a state repressentative (for a short period) and a US Senator for a short period before running for President.
3. He demonstrates on a daily basis that he does not understand (or is it does not care about?) our constitutional system of government.
The constitution spells out what the federal government as a whole can and can not do, and specifically spells out what the executive can and can not do. He daily acts as if these restraints do not exist.
4. He is driving the economy so far down the tubes that I fear it will never recover
I know I know George Bush did this. Well, he did have a lot to do with it. That is why I do not like W. He pushed the economy further and further toward the breaking point. But, here is what 98% of Americans do not understand. BO does not represent a change in direction from the Bush administration in the area of the economy. Instead, he is going in basically the same direction at a much much higher rate of speed. All this sype policy does is put off the inevitable crash that much longer, and make the inevitable crash that much more severe. Apparently Obama, like Keynes, has the opinion that it does not matter because "in the long run, we're all dead." How CHRISTIAN is it to place our kids and grandkids in the position of a nation in total economic collapse?
5. He radically supports gay 'rights' and the gay agenda
On an earlier post I put a link to a site documenting his beliefs and actions on this issue. You can go look it up
6. He is rabidly pro-abortion - more so than any President or contendor in the history of this nation
Again, that post refered to in #5 has info on this. Of course, many Christian Obama supporters will say that well, they are not 'one issue voters' but if there was ever a single issue that one could vote on, this would be it. Killing innocent unborn human life just should not be an option.
I also realize that some supporters will say that we should be more willing to help and to be understanding to women in the unfortunate position of having an unwanted pregnancy. I agree, that Christians should be on the front lines of this issue and where we are not it is to our shame. But even that is not as shameful as supporting a politician who wants no part of any limitations on abortions. And we do not need to let our care and concern about it remove us from the fact that quite often the woman is not exactly a 'victim' but was a willing accomplice. We are not showing Christian love to a person by telling them there are no consequences to their actions. Instead we show them there is forgiveness in the cross and strength in Christ to work through the situation without resorting to making a bad situation a million times worse by committing murder.
How anyone who considers themselves an evangelical Christian, who believes that humans have dignity and worth because they are created in the image of God, could turn the other way and support with great fanfare a leader who is not only complacent, but active in the destruction of millions of innocent lives, while at the same time decrying a previous leader because he allowed some people to poor water on the faces of terrorists bent on our destruction is totally beyond me.
Can anyone explain this to me please?
Basically, I am a man without a party. While I am not a Republican, I do not see how any knowledgeable Christian person could ever support any of the Democratic Presidential candidates of the last several decades. It is chilling to me that many Christians are openly supporters of our current leader, Barack Obama. While I can sympathize greatly with them if they do not like many of the Republican contenders, as neither do I, I can not even see a "hold your nose and vote for Obama as the lesser of the two evils" approach as acceptable. As I wrote elsewhere, I even think a 'wasted' third party vote or even a no vote at all are more respectable than a vote for a downright evil candidate.
But, I am aware of people who profess the name of Jesus Christ and who attend Evangelical Bible Believing churches who whole heartedly support Barack Obama. I honestly do not get it. I can give at least a couple of reasons for it, but I think they would fall apart with even a cursory examination.
1. GWB got us into a war that we do not need to be in and we need a change in that direction.
The whole current war situation is way beyond my understanding and I honestly do not know if it is a 'just war' on our part or not. I am not of a settled opinion, and can actually understand if someone is of the settled opinion of it being bad. That is, I can sympathize with someone who thinks this is the wrong war, at the wrong time, fought in the wrong way, for the wrong reasons. But, after all the hoopla in the election cycle, when all is said and done Obama's timeline for troop withdrawel is virtually identical to Bush's.
2. We have used torture methods and Obama is ending that practice and shutting down Gitmo
The torture method that seems to make all the headlines is waterboarding. This is a very controlled method which produces no injury and no long term harm. Obviously while going through waterboarding, the recipient must be under more than a minor discomfort, else it would not work. But, is it 'torture'? Is it inhumane? What if it produces results which prevent a major attack on the US (which it has) What if this method, which produces no injury results in imformation which saves thousands of lives?
This interrogation process does not even hold a candle to the methods used in the past and present by other nations - many of which either permanently maim, or even kill the victims. (I don't think anyone has ever survived a decapitation)
But, no, we just need to 'love our enemies' I am told. All the while, they not only hate us, but are bent on our very destruction.
Also, as some commentators are now pointing out, for all the grand oratory about closing Gitmo, our beloved leader has no workable plan on what to do with the detainees. Hey, Obama supporters, ya'll got any ideas? Why don't you 'love' them by taking them into your own homes???
Finally, though, if Barak wants to end the practice of waterboarding and even if he wants to close Gitmo, that still does not make it right for him to have released important classified documents to the world.
3. Barack (and of course all Democrats) care for the poor or otherwise underpriviledged, unlike those rich evil Republicans
This is the one that just kills me. Of course, every politician of any party if he or she is going to have any chance of getting elected, is going to claim to want to help the helpless, etc. and of course, virtually everyone falls into some sort of 'underpriviledged category. Women?? Underprivilidged. Minorities? Underpriviledged. Old People; children; overweight; addicts; The list goes on and on.
And of course every right thinking person, especially Christians, actually do want to truly help the truly underpriviledged. BUT, on what do we base the idea that the only way, or even the best way, to do so is through government coercion? I could go on and on, and won't, but I have yet to hear a single person argue effectively that government is good or successful at this. In fact, I have seen scholarly studies proving just the opposite. Also, on what do we base the very idea that this is even a legitimate function of government. Helping the needy IS a legitimate activity, and the Church should be behind it in every way. But before one more Christian ever attempts to tell me that he or she is for the 'liberal' candidate because said candidate 'cares about the poor' I insist that that person make the biblical case that this is a legitimate function of the civil government to carry out. I am also going to insist that they prove to me that if I don't share their love of government programs, that this means that I do not care about the plight of the unfortunate. I hate to harp so much on this, but I have read a few too many Christian writers state that they like Obama (or some other liberal) because he cares about the poor and of course Christians should care about the poor so why would any Christian not support Obama. Well, I care about the poor, and I think in the long run government programs to help the poor actually hurt the poor and everyone else, so why would I support a candidate that wants more and more programs?
Now, in addition to fact that the supposed reason for a Christian to be a supporter of Obama are quite weak, the reasons to not be are even stronger.
1. For over 20 years Obama attended a church that was so obviously racist and anti-American that absolutely no one can deny it. He finally dropped it when it became a politically hot issue and the media immediately dropped the issue as well. But, study up on this church and its preacher. Then exchange the black and white labels and ask yourself would a white person ever stand any chance of having any respectability at all if he attended such a place. You know the answer. It is beyond doubt. The white guy would be universally condemned and would never stand a chance in national politics. AND RIGHTLY SO. But, with Obama, we just act like it never happened. Apparently people even believe his preposterous story that even though he attended there twenty years, he never heard any of the inflamatory type remarks that were documented.
Moreover, Barack's 'religion' is not at all Orthodox Christianity. I base this not on conjecture, but on his own words that can easily be found on the internet. He believes all will go to heaven and there is no hell. He believes 'sin' is defined as 'not being true to yourself'. (Actually, we are all born sinners so sin is actually when we ARE true to ourselves!!) there are so many other things in which whatever his religious beliefs may be, they are definitely not Christian.
2. Obama has very little relavent experience
He has in his adult life been a left wing agitator (aka community organizer) a state repressentative (for a short period) and a US Senator for a short period before running for President.
3. He demonstrates on a daily basis that he does not understand (or is it does not care about?) our constitutional system of government.
The constitution spells out what the federal government as a whole can and can not do, and specifically spells out what the executive can and can not do. He daily acts as if these restraints do not exist.
4. He is driving the economy so far down the tubes that I fear it will never recover
I know I know George Bush did this. Well, he did have a lot to do with it. That is why I do not like W. He pushed the economy further and further toward the breaking point. But, here is what 98% of Americans do not understand. BO does not represent a change in direction from the Bush administration in the area of the economy. Instead, he is going in basically the same direction at a much much higher rate of speed. All this sype policy does is put off the inevitable crash that much longer, and make the inevitable crash that much more severe. Apparently Obama, like Keynes, has the opinion that it does not matter because "in the long run, we're all dead." How CHRISTIAN is it to place our kids and grandkids in the position of a nation in total economic collapse?
5. He radically supports gay 'rights' and the gay agenda
On an earlier post I put a link to a site documenting his beliefs and actions on this issue. You can go look it up
6. He is rabidly pro-abortion - more so than any President or contendor in the history of this nation
Again, that post refered to in #5 has info on this. Of course, many Christian Obama supporters will say that well, they are not 'one issue voters' but if there was ever a single issue that one could vote on, this would be it. Killing innocent unborn human life just should not be an option.
I also realize that some supporters will say that we should be more willing to help and to be understanding to women in the unfortunate position of having an unwanted pregnancy. I agree, that Christians should be on the front lines of this issue and where we are not it is to our shame. But even that is not as shameful as supporting a politician who wants no part of any limitations on abortions. And we do not need to let our care and concern about it remove us from the fact that quite often the woman is not exactly a 'victim' but was a willing accomplice. We are not showing Christian love to a person by telling them there are no consequences to their actions. Instead we show them there is forgiveness in the cross and strength in Christ to work through the situation without resorting to making a bad situation a million times worse by committing murder.
How anyone who considers themselves an evangelical Christian, who believes that humans have dignity and worth because they are created in the image of God, could turn the other way and support with great fanfare a leader who is not only complacent, but active in the destruction of millions of innocent lives, while at the same time decrying a previous leader because he allowed some people to poor water on the faces of terrorists bent on our destruction is totally beyond me.
Can anyone explain this to me please?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Been Awhile
I have not been able to blog anything for quite some time. New job with different hours, things going on, etc. When I do have the time, I just don't really fell like it. It takes a lot of energy to write all these brilliant analyses. Maybe one day soon I will get back into it. I hope so.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The God that Runs
The Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches us that God is "a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth." As a Presbyterian, and really as a Christian, I believe every word of that is true. I believe each word used to describe God herein can easily be Biblically validated. I have no disagreements, major or minor, with this statement.
But, here is a question. Does this statement inspire you to really know this God? Yeah, maybe to a certain extent. But, does it really inspire you? While this is an absolutely accurate description, and a study of it has definite benefit for us as Christians, this is an abstract, somewhat academic, definition. I do not knock us having such a description, and think it has an important place to play in our study of theology - in a definite, systematic way.
However, when we actually get to the biblical text, we get a more solid, concrete, real, tangible, meaningful picture of God. We get this in a million places, and in a million different ways.
Just one example comes from the text our pastor used for his sermon on this past Lord's day. The passage is familiar to us all - the parable of the 'prodigal son.'
When we get to the heart of the matter in this parable, God is not just "a Spirit......." as stated here, but God is a Father who comes out to meet his wayward son while he is still afar off. He not only just comes out to see him, but he runs out to greet him. Out pastor indicated that the word means something along the lines of "races." When we repent and return to God, He races to come greet us.
Not only that, but he dresses us in the finest robes, puts sandles on our calloused feet, gives us his signet ring, hugs us, and then throws us the grandest of parties, killing the fatted calf, and also begs our troubled brother to join Him in the celebration.
This is the God I serve. I have been prodigal son and He has welcomed me back, many times, with a smile, a hug, and a party. I have been the grumpy elder (presbyterian!) brother, and he urged me to join the party. No matter my sin, he beckons me to the party.
God is "a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth" and I praise Him for it.
God is also the God who races to see me when I am still afar off.
I praise Him all the more for that.
But, here is a question. Does this statement inspire you to really know this God? Yeah, maybe to a certain extent. But, does it really inspire you? While this is an absolutely accurate description, and a study of it has definite benefit for us as Christians, this is an abstract, somewhat academic, definition. I do not knock us having such a description, and think it has an important place to play in our study of theology - in a definite, systematic way.
However, when we actually get to the biblical text, we get a more solid, concrete, real, tangible, meaningful picture of God. We get this in a million places, and in a million different ways.
Just one example comes from the text our pastor used for his sermon on this past Lord's day. The passage is familiar to us all - the parable of the 'prodigal son.'
When we get to the heart of the matter in this parable, God is not just "a Spirit......." as stated here, but God is a Father who comes out to meet his wayward son while he is still afar off. He not only just comes out to see him, but he runs out to greet him. Out pastor indicated that the word means something along the lines of "races." When we repent and return to God, He races to come greet us.
Not only that, but he dresses us in the finest robes, puts sandles on our calloused feet, gives us his signet ring, hugs us, and then throws us the grandest of parties, killing the fatted calf, and also begs our troubled brother to join Him in the celebration.
This is the God I serve. I have been prodigal son and He has welcomed me back, many times, with a smile, a hug, and a party. I have been the grumpy elder (presbyterian!) brother, and he urged me to join the party. No matter my sin, he beckons me to the party.
God is "a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth" and I praise Him for it.
God is also the God who races to see me when I am still afar off.
I praise Him all the more for that.
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