300: A FINITE NUMBER... RIGHT?

Well, intrepid blog readers. I have achieved my 300th post!!! And here it is:

I am listening to Sam Frost discuss his paper, "Full Preterism and the Problem of Infinity." In it, he challenges the ubiquitous concept of the infinity of God. I have held to this concept virtually all of my life! No, I did not comprehend it. But I did apprehend it.

Preterism, for the unwashed masses, is an eschatological viewpoint that says the prophecies which Jesus and others put forth in the Bible came to pass in 70 A.D. regarding His return and the end of the age (Old Testament or Covenant). "Full Preterism" says that Jesus returned in judgment to Jerusalem and will not be back physically.

Frost has his own show on Preterist Radio. It is called, oddly enough, "The Sam Frost Show."

Because of a conversation I had with a friend who was instrumental in persuading me to consider the claims of the Bible in light of full preterism (FP), I started reading Frost's paper and listening to his shows on this subject. Therefore, I have been contemplating this Greek concept of infinity.

"Infinity" has historically permeated the doctrines of the Christian faith. Indeed, it has always explained the unexplainable to me. But now, a challenge from Sam Frost has awoken those of us who are listening.

As a Christian, I must take infinity with a grain of salt. It means, according to Frost and others,"unbound." Of course I agree.

The controversy is over "the end of history," or "the end of time," because of its prima facie disagreement with preterism.

It is a commonly held belief that Jesus will return to earth, physically, to consummate "all things." He will, according to the majority opinion in the Church, bring an end to time and usher in the eternal reign on earth of His Heavenly Kingdom.

But in the FP (full preterist) scheme, it is an interesting concept. On the one hand, I hold to a fulfilled interpretation of Scripture. On the other hand, I see Frost's logic and have to agree with it.

Well, does this mean that Christ will return... again? Physically?

I think not. But this is a paradox (apparent contradiction) par excellence for us mere mortals. After all, He reigns... NOW!!! He is here ("I am with you always..." Matthew 28:20)

Frost makes a very credible defense, or apologetic, for his position-- which was also that of Athanasius, a church father. I feel he deserves a hearing before any of us passes final judgment on this very interesting viewpoint worthy of our consideration. Jesus will be happy to lead us to all truth.(John 16:13)

LIVE-BLOGGING WITH RC SPROUL

It has been my wont of late to listen to RC Sproul online (Ligonier.org) while blogging. This is a tolerable addiction, in my view.

For some reason, hearing "the dulcet tones" of Dr. Sproul's voice while expounding some deep theological subject is stimulating to my creative processes, in this case, for blogging.

Well, how much weirder does it get? I am glad you asked.

I also discovered a cool typing tutorial online called TypingWeb. I could say that one item on my "bucket list" is to learn typing. I can now practice the "home row keys" as of earlier today. Woo hoo!

More Internet merriment must surely follow this...

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!!!

As a public service to all of my readers who use Microsoft Outlook 2003/2007 and Hotmail (aka Windows Live Hotmail), I am pleased to post these links to my long-awaited solution to the perennial dilemma of connecting Outlook to Hotmail.

First, there is the solution: Use a Windows Live Hotmail Account in Outlook

And the fix: Outlook Hotmail Connector 32-bit

I have tried for years, but failed (not me, of course-- Windows, heh, heh!)

I am awestruck by the versatility and ability of Outlook to manipulate these static pieces of electronic communication with massive capability and pinpoint precision.

Gosh! What I was missing!

Next post: real worldview issues that matter to you... like the World Cup 2010!

BOSTON VS. LA

Between posts about worldview issues, I am watching the final agonizing minutes of Game Seven of the NBA Finals on ESPN on ABC. Agonizing because I want the Boston Celtics to win, but the LA Lakers are being annoyingly good in the clutch. Kobe Bryant is on the FTL, and... making them. Darn!

Boston (Ray Allen) misses, and LA makes it. Throw away the script. It won't help. Aaaugh.

300... ALMOST

Just a side note: I am closing in on 300 blog posts!!!

Count 'em. No, wait. Blogger does it for me...

Now on to significant stuff.

RANDOM

Okay, the moment of inspiration drove me (led me?) to this post. Now what?

I am preparing to start up new courses in my program of online study toward certification in computer usage and applications. Well, well, well.

I am also listening to RC Sproul at Ligonier.org. Some days, he has the balm of Gilead in his voice and teaching. Jesus sent us His own Spirit, "another comforter," and He does His work effectually indeed!

IT'S A RACE!

Having worked on the 2010 U.S. Census project since March, I have since modified my stance on "race" and ethnicity. I used to take it all in stride, this idea of black and white "races." Then I became reactionary through Answers in Genesis and their teaching the "human race" as the only race. Fair enough. I defended it.

Then I began thinking about the U.S. Census questionnaire and its use of the term race, which was extremely confusing to not a few respondents. Many were incensed at the questions.

To simplify things (for myself anyway), I like to call race another word for ethnicity because that is what it historically boils down to. The Israelite "race," for example, was not permitted by God to intermarry with other nations, or races, in the Old Testament. This would pollute the purity of God's people and compromise their position in His economy and kingdom. I may conclude that God was very concerned about race back then.

In the New Testament economy, God has allowed the progressive dilution of races to the point where most marriages are of necessity mixed-race marriages. Because Jesus/God gave the apostle Peter the vision of clean and unclean animals to eat (which signified Jews and Gentiles being declared equally valid and eligible for salvation in the New Testament economy), we may conclude that God has removed that restriction because in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek... (Galatians 3:28)

This begs the question: any questions?

ARE WE THE SAVAGE NATION?

The fun part about blogging is pretending that someone is actually interested in your postings. This is an incurable delusion which will be abated once a new blog entry is posted.

Now then, we must get down to brass tacks (as I am wont to say in this blog). Perhaps life experiences are what inspire me to reach higher, deeper, and longer for better blog posts. Something usually gets my creative juices flowing.

Well, enough pomposity. Have I said something here in this blog today that is profound and worth preserving in the annals of cyberhistory? Wait. Think about it...

For some strange reason, I am listening to Michael Savage's "The Savage Nation" radio program. Why? Because I feel an unusual burst of bellicose patriotism, where Mr. Savage has the temerity to speak his mind and, at the same time, inspire me to support his God-given, constitutionally-supported right to free speech.

I don't usually listen to The Savage Nation, but I hear a hopeful defiance in his broadcast, and a passionate plea for common sense. A return to fearless discourse is indeed refreshing.

A REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE

By way of a friend's website, Apocalypse Delusion, I found this article on American Vision. It is a refreshing summarization of the healthy and optimistic perspective of those Christians who hold to a dominion theology. I say that advisedly because there are serious aberrations of this doctrine which distort the true gospel (which all people should want, but unfortunately do not).

It grabbed my attention and succeeded at inspiring me to post another blog entry-- no small task! It appeared yesterday, but I got it today. I would call it a Christian To-Do List that will indeed change the world for the better, as it has done so admirably and permanently in the past.

I would recommend that every Christian read this article, or something equally inspiring and informative.

Dominion is the name of the game here. It is a war being fought right now all around the world. If we who are Jesus' salt and light give up the fight, we cannot expect the world to be a better place, but a far worse one. If Islam or any other false religion wins the day, and the hearts of many, then we can only expect "9/11" on a daily basis.

False religion, and false eschatology, are a deadly pair. Together, let us repent of both.

SPRING CLEANING

I just thought I would jazz up my blog a little, spruce it up, you know.

I hope you notice. It's not a big change or overhaul. But it's significant enough to warrant a warm fuzzy feeling inside (of me-- of you, I don't know). I hope it does.

It is every blogger's dream to elicit warm and fuzzy feelings inside of his or her readers. What is lacking in editorial content and literary skill is made up for in spades by the warm fuzzies. Maybe.

Well, at this point, I have to admit I lack that significant content and insight, biting wit and sarcasm in this blog post. But then, don't I always?

Not to disappoint, I conclude this venture into self-gratifying bliss (as I listen to my own widget, "Live365 Radio," available to the right of this post) by signing off unceremoniously.

;)

JUST ANOTHER CONTROVERSY

What succinctly stated tidbit of wisdom might I impart to the digital diaspora out there in the blogosphere? Assuming, again, that there exist in reality--not just in my mind-- readers of my blog, let me digress for a moment.

The issue of illegal immigration to the United States of America, and Arizona's much-maligned attempt to remedy this problem, is at the forefront of much discussion on talk radio today. Having today off from work, I have availed myself of much of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, two of my favorites (when I agree with them). And today, they did not disappoint.

I love it when the left-brained, logical, rational side of the debate eats the lunch of the right-brained, emotional, popular side. At times, it inflames me to hear the left liberals characterize those with whom I agree as racists, anti-immigrant bigots, etc. It also fuels my convictions.

Funny how their demonstrations and protests are far more violent and destructive than any of ours. They are the truly compassionate patriots, except when you disagree with them.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

You know, sometimes you just have to watch a video like this after watching multiple bad-news-videos about violence and so on around the world today. It uplifts the spirit and refreshes the soul. You be the judge.

The Lord's Prayer

ARIZONA, LEAD THE WAY!

Here we go again. The people who want absolutely nothing to be done about illegal immigration are crying foul (what else can they do?) once again. And the rest of us are relieved that some of our leaders (and most of our citizens) are for such reforms as have been advanced lately by our governor and elected representatives in Arizona. We are indeed thankful.

I am sure you have either heard, read, or seen reports about Arizona leading the charge to protect our borders because the Federal government hasn't! I was recently reminded that people who migrate back and forth in search of work are called "migrants," as opposed to "immigrants," who stay put in their new digs. The need for such drastic reform is obvious to all. Witness the recent killing of a Douglas rancher and the ongoing drug cartel war spilling across the border into our land!

I am momentarily listening to Sean Hannity on the radio, and have been encouraged by the public discourse regarding Arizona's actions of late. But I am especially encouraged by the show of support from many conservative voices whom I generally trust to defend justice and mercy (Micah 6:8).

Although my knowledge of this law is limited now, I intend to remedy that. It is, as far as I can tell, a good thing. I feel protected, although I sympathize with those immigrants who simply did whatever they could to get here and start a new and better life. God bless them. But we have to draw the line somewhere. Perhaps a compromise is in order. Let us see what happens.

I am willing to hear both sides, but I only have so much tolerance for the shrill, socialistic rants of mindless nonsense that clouds the issue. Does not a sovereign nation have the right to protect itself from clear and present danger to its citizens?

Yes. I say, "Right here, right now," to borrow a phrase from Mr. Hannity's program announcer.

A LITTLE TEXT EDITING

Well, I've done it: I've taken the plunge and, at least for this entry today, changed the font to ... Verdana!!!

I am flabbergasted at the amount of stuff you have to know in order to publish a web page, let alone edit it!

Now I will publish this post. As you can see, the program-- not I -- changed the font back to whatever it was before.

Wait! I've been ripped off! The font on the published blog did not change!!! What gives, Blogger? What gives, Google?

Ad fontes! To the source (from the Reformation)!

ENTITLEMENT

As part of our ongoing efforts to secure a prominent position in the social networking industry, we here at Worldview Window have slightly revised our overall appearance to reflect that commitment.

"We here...?" That would be me. A truly presumptuous comment to say the least. But fun.

Now, what to call this blog post. Hmmm...

BLOG OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Instead of my usual routine of visiting the news sites before blogging, ostensibly so I'll have something to say, I decided on a whim to visit my blog first.

Well, at the risk of sounding self-serving (which it may be), I felt encouraged by what I blogged recently. I even edited a recent post.

Right now I'm listening to a podcast of Preterist Radio from their archive of preterist-oriented programming, particularly 17:11 (based on Acts 17:11, where the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians because they searched the Scriptures).

I know it goes against the tide/grain/majority report/conventional wisdom/traditional doctrine of dispensational, premillennial, pretribulational rapture theory. But it's fun.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SOLO

Sometimes the best thing to do is just sit down at the ol' PC and listen to a good podcast or something, and just blog your brains out. Sometimes that's exactly what it looks like I did!

I believe social networking is the natural outgrowth from our need to connect with each other in a fast-growing world, where time and location are increasingly limited. In a time when such conditions threaten to isolate us completely from one another, the Internet and its attendant blessings save us (by the grace of God) from extended solitary confinement.

Blogging is a good way to overcome the complete sense of isolation one gets when one refers to oneself as "one."

But seriously, the natural thing to do when one is all alone in a world of solitary solo artists who spend much of their spare time alone is blog. I know that sounds redundant, but you get the idea.

It is a "crapshoot" (pardon the expression). Maybe someone is reading your blog. Maybe they aren't.

But you are. God, you, angels, and demons-- not a bad starter audience. I would count on God, angels and yourself as supporters. Anyone else is a benefit of perseverance.

How to end a post like this?

Solo.

RUNNING THE HUMAN RACE

Is that a catchy title or what?

It brings attention to the question which came up today in a piece on the KTAR website about the 2010 U.S. Census and its confusing queries about race and ethnicity.

I too was stumped by the separate questions, and wondered if I was both white and Hispanic-- not that there's anything wrong with that :)

Help me out here. Can we not just call ourselves part of the HUMAN RACE, and leave the question forever answered in the affirmative for all humans? I am a firm believer in this assertion, and abhor the idea that some of us are part of a different race. Let us repent of this subtle deception forever.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against recognizing ethnic origins. That's all well and good. It's in the Bible. But I feel the "race" question is already settled.

REVIVAL IS WHAT WE NEED

Just a thought: while reading (scanning) the headlines at the Arizona Republic's website, it occurred to me that all the good things that happen in the world can be attributed to God, because the Bible says:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17)

I like the way the Holman Christian Standard Bible says the first part: "Every generous act..." This is actually closer to the Greek, according to my Jay Green translation.

This gives me pause, and I wonder if God will not plant another revival seed somewhere in the world today and let us see His work in the hearts of people who desperately need Him in their lives. We will indeed see the effects of this work in our lifetime, if He chooses to do so.

May God be praised for His gracious deliverance from all evil in Jesus' Name.

CALL ME CRAZY...

Every now and then, I get the sinking feeling-- the sneaking suspicion-- that no one reads my blog.

"Call me crazy..." goes the old saying, but if anyone is reading my blog, God bless them. Perhaps a few (if any) family and friends, a sprinkling of strangers, and me. That's it. No Hugh-Hewitt-like following, that's for sure.

Well, the pity-party is over.

This is the one venue where I get to exercise my nitpicky perfectionism.

No wonder nobody reads this thing!

CLASH BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE

Today I ask you, my dear readers, what would a blog about worldview, especially a Christian one, be without a post about church persecution in our own backyard.

I hope I don't sound like I enjoy blogging about it, per se. But I enjoy it when we (the Church militant) gain a victory over oppression, albeit legally.

Witness the case in Gilbert, Arizona, as reported by FOXNews.com. I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt to the Alliance Defense Fund, who is defending the Oasis of Truth church against the town of Gilbert. The whole story can be found on ADF's website.

It shows the hypocrisy and double-standard applied to Christian churches, but not to everything else that meets regularly in homes and may cause minor traffic issues.

My money is on the church, and ADF.

THE FACE OF FRAUD

If fraud had a face, it might look something like James Sikes, the California real estate agent who has a shady financial past and a dubious reputation for such things as his latest escapade: scamming Toyota.

Witness the article on him on FOXNews.com. I was mildly angered by the apparent duplicity in his account of what happened when his Toyota Prius' gas pedal supposedly got stuck at 94 mph on a San Diego freeway.

As a veteran of reading news stories and driving, and that would describe most thinking adults, I doubt the veracity of such an incredible story because the most obvious remedy was not exercised: throw the stick shift into neutral! This was suggested by someone, and his response was, "You had to be there..."

Really? We weren't there. But you were.

"Twenty-three minutes later," according to the article, he was guided by a police officer safely to a stop. I have to wonder if this is not another scam by Mr. Sikes attempting to recover from his financial losses. I don't doubt his desperation, but I have to wait and see if this really happened.

Sorry if I'm wrong. But I have to say it sounds like a scam.

MEXICO'S SAVIOR?

Let the mariachis begin!

Carlos Slim, Mexico's son and the world's richest man has emerged amid the heap of superlative wealth to claim the title which used to belong to our own Bill Gates. His first-place showing of $53.5 billion beats Gates' $53 billion second-place position.

My question is, what can he do to help fix the broken economic and political machine that is Mexico?

ITCH TO BLOG SCRATCHED

Well, intrepid blog readers, it is once again time to post an entry in my five-plus-year-old web log. What? Oh! I meant blog. Just testing you.

Blessed is the man or woman who does his or her work and finally feels the need to blog and socially mediate! It will scratch an itch, to borrow a phrase, and renew a sense of inspiration and creativity (something new under the sun) within the heart. It is a good feeling, especially when one has faith in God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ by the power and working of the Holy Spirit.

It might even engender feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction. Blessed indeed.

ON SAFARI

Out of sheer and utter boredom, or some kind of inspired mundanity, I will post a link to Safari, Apple's web browser par excellence.

When a web browser outperforms your expectations, generally speaking, you want to recommend it to the world. That's what blogs are for.

Yet, for some odd reason, while I was composing this post and simultaneously downloading the latest versions of Safari and iTunes/QuickTime together (you know how Apple does it), my Safari browser crashed and/or closed itself before I could finish this post. How rude!

[I found out later that Windows shut down Safari due to an executable file which turned out to be harmless as far as I can tell.]

Well, not to be denied, I had to restart my download and resume posting. Fun, fun, fun...

It looks like my progress meter is showing that Safari is done downloading and iTunes/QT is in progress. Sometimes--somehow--technology and the great minds behind it redeem themselves quite admirably. Or it could be that I'm in an unusually good mood today. A combination of both is my humble assessment. Nevertheless, I credit the Holy Spirit with this one for sure.

It is a slow download, but I am in the mood to wait and learn in the meantime of other things online.

May the God of the Bible grant you deliverance from any heaviness and worry resulting from this economic nightmare we are living under. I pray for His peace and comfort in you today in His Son Jesus Christ's name, amen.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

How did 2000 years of Biblical tradition, knowledge, and scholarship get it wrong?

I must ask this question immediately after coming to grips with a view of Scripture I have never held before, namely, preterist.

I am currently investigating for myself the claims of such learned men as Don Preston, William Bell, and others on this view. It is worth looking into.

More to come...

ANOTHER FAVORITE

Q. When does a website become a favorite?

A. When one spends precious many minutes listening to podcast after short, sweet, hard-to-beat podcast, a broadcaster is sure to have entered the inner sanctum of the human heart and won some measure of closely-held confidence.

Quiz over. You win.

LewRockwell.com is the latest addition to my "Favorites" list of web sites on this blog. I woke up early today and found a new podcaster that piques my interest in things socio-political, economic, and/or religious (Biblical). "The Best-Read Libertarian Website in the World," is not your average website of this sort. Check it out.

My last favorite entry was AD70.net, which you may find in a previous post.

PRETERIST PERSUASION

The nice thing about blogging is you can post something you believe in, even if it's brand new to you (and perhaps your readers). In this case, it's preterism. AD70.net is the site for Preterist Radio Podcasts, which I have just recently begun listening to. A.D. 70 is the year Jerusalem was destroyed after a three-and-a-half year war with the Roman army.

It was such an unprecedented kind of destruction and suffering inflicted on anyone at any time on such a large scale, that the Roman army consigned one of their captives, a Jewish general named Yosef Ben Matityahu (later Titus Flavius Josephus, to chronicle the awful situation. So we have The Jewish War as a record of the "end of the world."(Matthew 28:20)

The Greek word translated "world" in the KJV is actually aion or "age." Other translations, such as the NIV, translate it that way. This is why it is good to consult other Bible versions and the original languages.

ISLAM IS HERE

Just as a public service, by way of blogging, I would like to post the following link as a so-called Religion of Peace Update:

STUDENT KILLS PROF

I will give you three guesses as to the student's religious affiliation. No, he is not a Christian, conservative, or Republican. But he did carry out the demands of his "faith."

Welcome to the New Crusades.

LAMENTATION

It's hard to know what to post and what not to post in a blog. Supposedly, the eyes of the world and Satan are watching my every word--waiting for me to get tripped up in self-indulgent bloggery as I verbally dig my own hole and avoid godly correction. Or so I think.

I am in the Book of Lamentations in the Bible. I feel I am living in the same scenario as that painted by the prophet Jeremiah. Flapping in the breeze, hung out to dry in the sun, devoid of life-giving water, I cling to the remnant of my once-vibrant faith in God and struggle daily to maintain some semblance of godly living--whatever that looks like.

Perhaps the LORD will have mercy on me, unmerited though it is. Totally undeserved favor is what I crave most. Repentance is the call of the day. "Ichabod!" No glory.

Knowing Jesus will not leave me nor forsake me, I press on. Limp, halt, crippled by sin, I walk--no, crawl--to the cross. Calvary is my only hope, forgiveness is my prayer. Presumption and pride are my sins. God's grace is my only shelter.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
over life's tempestuous sea;
unknown waves before me roll,
hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

Hope truly comes from Jesus. Listen.

IE KUDOS

This has nothing to do with worldview, politics, religion, or anything else--but browsers! Namely, Internet Explorer and its wonderful ability to import favorites from Firefox and put them in their respective folders automatically.

I generally refrain from using IE simply because it's a pain to use, and slow. But for online classes through my community college, IE is required for optimal performance. Or so they say.

In any event, I found IE to be deficient in its selection of favorites which I've created. So I simply clicked on the File menu, chose Import and Export, and clicked which browser's favorites I wanted to import to IE. Done.

Within mere seconds, IE imported all (I suppose) of my favorites from Firefox. Having all of my stored favorites is a great comfort. It takes a very long time to save sites for future reference, as you well know.

Well, I won't bore my readers with further kudos to IE-- at not least until I find another feature which saves the day (and my sanity).

ITALY, AMERICA UNITE!

I read an article today by the American Vision organization and thought I would post it here. It is a description of the situation going on in Italy where a European court has struck down the right to display crucifixes publicly. It is a direct attack on the religious liberties which the Italian people must protect. The article reads in part:

"The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg declared the public display of crucifixes in schools in Italy illegal. This was in response to a complaint filed by a Finnish-born mother who sued the schools for displaying the crucifixes. Crucifixes in the classrooms of public schools in Italy are mandatory by law, and that law is approved by the majority of the population, whether they believe in Christ or not. But the Court in Strasbourg decided against the democratic opinion of the Italian people and declared the law illegal."

The article goes on to talk about the deficiency in American Christianity to wage the same battles it won in eras past (American Revolutionary War, abolition of slavery, civil rights, etc.), and how we must be revived by the Spirit of God--the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead and quickened our spirits to be born again.

"If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)

Revival breeds reformation, and Heaven knows we badly need it in this country. The Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ know too well the real battle that is out there. We have been spoiled by our prosperity and affluence (indeed blessed), only to compromise the gospel for social and political expediency. May God deliver His people from complacency and raise up a standard in the land for the cause of Christ.

In Jesus' Name.

VETERAN'S DAY

It is inspiring to see the military pull together in the face and wake of Islamic terrorism in its ranks. I have no doubt this psychiatrist needs to be exorcised as well as treated for his well-deserved wounds. May God grant him the grace to wake up and realize how good those brothers- and sisters-in-arms were whom he killed in cold blood and in the name of a false god.

May God have mercy on this country for allowing such enemies of the gospel, and of our nation, to attain such positions of authority and trust, only to betray their true identity and intentions.

May God bless the men and women of our military, keepers of the freedom we all need and cherish.

CALLING ALL ARMINIANS: READ THE WHOLE BIBLE!!!

In scouring YouTube for James White videos yesterday, I came across an alarming headline in the Related Videos frame: "Calling All Calvinists: A Call to Repentance." If that's not a provocative statement, I don't know what is.

Over the course of yesterday and today, I have watched all four videos in the series. Wow! How can such a talented and beautiful Christian sister be so hateful and wrong about so many things in one--let alone four--videos? She snarls, hisses, and spits her vitriol continually throughout the series at the name and adherents of "Calvinism." I put that in quotes because she has so grossly misrepresented it that I cannot equate true Calvinism with her sick caricature of it.

Her persistent, out-of-context misapplication of Scripture is indeed breath-taking. I took the time to watch and see if she could convince me of how sinful and deceived I was, but she failed. Miserably.

The one question I have is this: why is she condemning and judging John Calvin and those who dare to agree with him on many things about God, while calling "Calvinists" to stop judging and condemning? Gosh, sounds kinda hypocritical to me.

Thank God there are many sound, Biblical responses to Monica Dennington's viscious attacks on us Christians--oops, I meant Calvinists. Many of them reside in Google's search results.

Here is one of the best. This is what real Calvinism looks like!

CLARIFICATION

It seems that a common misconception of Calvinism is the belief that, for example, Abraham would never have left Ur of the Chaldees had he been a Calvinist. After all, they claim, Calvinists don't do: they just pray.

I take great offense when someone slanders me, be it ever so slightly--especially when they use Calvinism as their justification. Do I do that to them? I notice "free will" believers go out of their way to attack Calvinism. Do I do that with "free will" people? No. I defend, to the best of my ability, what I believe to be sound doctrine from the Bible, based on what I've learned over the years from reputable Bible teachers who are known for their warm, evangelistic tone and knowledge of Scripture.

Do the names RC Sproul, John MacArthur, Sinclair Ferguson, John Piper, James White, and Charles Spurgeon ring a bell with anyone? None is infallible as a pastor, teacher, and preacher. But all are excellent in rightly dividing the Word of God.

Nine times out of ten, I agree with free willers! But they must have their fun and slander Calvin. They're wrong, but that doesn't matter to them. I'm a sinner like them. I know I must endure the growth process of sanctification as they must. It is indeed a blessing to be called a child of God.

When we decided to follow Christ, it was by the grace of God alone. Our wills were remade, reborn by the Spirit of God and His Word (Scripture and Jesus). Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

I only defend Calvinism because it gives God all the credit and glory for our salvation, and because I think it is very arrogant to believe that I know better than him or any other Bible scholar what the Bible teaches. He and many others have proven themselves to have a better, bird's eye view of things in Scripture. Nothing wrong with that, right?

I wish free willers could see that I agree with them 99% of the time, except when they slander Calvin (and me) with misconceptions of Scripture that neither of us believes!

CALVINISM UNDER FIRE... AGAIN

Well, it seems the issue of "Limited Atonement" (Particular Redemption) and other points of doctrine in the theological framework of Calvinism have come under scrutiny. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I am weary of the opposition's neglecting the historical significance of probably the greatest proponent of Calvinism: namely, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Spurgeon was a staunch defender of the Faith and a very outspoken defender of Calvinism (properly understood). He was also one of the greatest evangelists who ever lived, by any measure. His works live on in print and audio form. So many superlatives can be applied to his life and ministry that it almost goes without saying. He had his share of controversy against those who would compromise the gospel and change the message to suit unbelievers-- and thus damn their souls with false teachings.

How is it that the greatest Calvinist of them all (except for John Calvin the original, and probably the greatest theologian who ever lived), Charles Spurgeon, is overlooked as the best example of applied Calvinism? Somehow, I think if he were to apply for a job as a pastor in today's churches, he would be rejected out of hand because he professed to be a Calvinist.

Well, much debate will doubtless ensue on this matter. I intend to avoid sinning by engaging in vain controversy. I'd rather trust an all-powerful God Who can save His people in spite of their spiritual deadness and raise them to new life all by Himself without their "free will" helping Him.

Thanks for attacking Calvinism. It strengthens my faith in God, not myself. I feel much safer that way.

A BRIEF DISTRACTION

It has been my wont of late to get up early and blog about the chapter in the Bible I am currently in. Today is the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 21. First, I read it in my Bible. Next, I listen to it online at BibleGateway.com. Then, I go to SermonAudio.com and pick a sermon from among many on the chapter. While the sermon is playing, I blog.

I forgot to mention I also use e-Sword (see previous post and link on side) to view commentary and dictionary usage of words and passages. One thing I noted was the spelling of King Nebuchadrezzar's name. In Hebrew, it is Neb-u-chad-rez-zar. But the common English spelling is Neb-u-chad-nez-zar, with an "n" instead of an "r." I'm going with the R this time. Sorry, traditionalists.

In any event, scouring the Internet for Biblical resources yields an abundant crop of every variety. Sad to say, many are not teaching sound doctrine, but are fattening the wallets of their professors.

Blogging can be a distraction from the business at hand. So I shall cease and desist (for now) and take up my lament (or song) later.

EARLY MORNING EDIFICATION

While listening to a sermon on Jeremiah 20 by Timothy Dane (SermonAudio.com), I am feeling the desire to blog. There are many sermons on this chapter.

I just got through reading it on my own and also in e-Sword, a free program. Many free resources are available for this desktop gem, such as Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible.

It is a shame that Passhur, a priest in the temple at Jerusalem and chief officer in the house of the LORD (v.1), treated Jeremiah, a prophet of the LORD, so, well, shamefully.

It is a reproach on the priesthood when one of their own is mistreated by their peers. Such was the lot of Jeremiah. God will judge the persecutors of His people. Hallelujah!

UNEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER THINGS

It's always a challenge, if not a waste of time, to blog about something personal--like unemployment. Even though it is good to be out of the rat race for a while, it can be discouraging to think I lack what I used to have... a job! But not just a job: a position, a sense of accomplishment and value. Ahh, whatever.

I'm enjoying the time off, but regretting it at the same time. My health has not been what it used to be either. I seem to have mostly sleepless and rough nights with bronchitis or high BP. It may be diet related. So when I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, I'll do something about it. Otherwise, I'll just go on suffering and jobless.

Sorry to hang my heart on my sleeve today. I usually reserve my sentiments here for political and religious fervor. But today, I'm being a little honest. Heh, heh.

Looking forward to learning and practicing web design as a profession. Otherwise, who knows? I can always pretend to be a blogger. Writing here is almost as much fun as figuring out how to code HTML and CSS. Other programming languages beckon the unsuspecting IT-wannabe (that would be me) to their study and practice. But the foundations must be laid before the house can be built.

HOPE FOR THE WORLD

In spite of all the rhetoric, political wrangling, and conflict of every sort, it is our only hope to look to Jesus. He is the One sent by God the Father to us on earth. It is to our own misery that we do not reckon ourselves with that truth. He is our only hope.

Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrew 12:2)

DOCTOR SCHIFF IS IN

I am a fan of Peter Schiff's, simply because he stands in the face of popular opinion and blows away any semblance of contradiction and controversy when he speaks truth. His is a refreshing perspective because it is hard medicine, realism instead of hype. The doctor has diagnosed the problem and it is up the the patient (us) to respond.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Peter Schiff
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

PRESIDENT Q

If anyone wants to view a case study in mentally incompetent world leaders who have no business standing in front of the United Nations General Assembly, witness Moammar Qaddafi:



I actually prefer "President" Obama over this nut because at least Obama is coherent. Even the translator had trouble following his "reasoning." You can hear the frustration in the poor fellow's voice.

I hope this video posts properly here. The preview of it had some layout issues. Oh, well.

A RARE MOMENT I AGREE WITH OBAMA

Well, intrepid fans of controversy, I want to post my agreement with "President" Obama (I'm still not convinced he is eligible). Let us "birthers" (those of us who are skeptical of his birth place and secrecy about his past) go down in history as either dead-wrong and irrelevant, or right-on-target and still irrelevant!

But what Barack Obama called Kanye West the other day was accurate. I won't repeat it here, but the King James Version of the Holy Bible calls the animal an "ass," and it has a first name.

I finally (serendipitously) came across the video clip of Kanye making an *** of himself. Although I did not see him acting particularly awful, the gist of his actions were rude and distasteful. But when you're rich, famous, and not afraid to do stupid things like that...

I mean, who does he (West) think he is?

Here is the embedded bit of chutzpah:

MTV Shows

I was passionate (vehemently opposed) about this enough to blog, almost as mad as I was at Perez Hilton for being a j***a** toward Carrie Prejean in the Miss America pageant. Remember that?

What an ***!

Sorry, I'm not feeling/being very evangelical at times like this. Seeing high-profile, virtuous people under attack does that to me. At least Kanye apologized in his blog.

ANN COULTER IN THE ZONE

Sometimes ya just gotta visit some good, politically charged (with conservative ions) websites like Townhall.com and see what sticks. I just feel like posting a link to "in-the-zone" Ann Coulter's column on healthcare Obama-style. You can read it here:

CRACKING ACORN

Hello again, friends. Another reminder that "wickedness in high places" is still a problem, and thank God we have a congress that is willing to take another look at a festering sore in our government: ACORN.

Now I don't purport to be an authority on ACORN (or on what "purport" means), but I know a red flag when I see one... and I see one. Lots of them. Good news: congress wants to investigate ACORN. I received an email about it from a friend. You may view the web page here.

When you see government doing the right thing, it's a good sign that God has not completely abandoned us. Take heart!

RINGER FOR ROBERT

Well, friends, I promised--er, told-- a friend that I would post a link to this story regarding the recent march on Washington DC by a very large contingent of good, patriotic, conservative, law-abiding (yes, they should go together) citizens of the USA. So here it is:

Hightailing It Out of Town

It is a column by Robert Ringer, whom I admit I very seldom come across in my daily scouring of a few websites for a general gist of news. But I figure I agree with the friend who sent me this, as well as the column itself.

So hear, hear, the few and proud, civilly obedient masses who wish to voice and demonstrate their opposition to a perceived if not very real threat to our country's ideal as we wish to preserve it. A refreshing reminder that all is not lost...

BLOGGER 911

Today's post is an attempt to rescue this blog from oblivion and obscurity. Well, maybe that's asking too much. But I felt the title of my last post was ridiculously empty-- and therefore, I had to post something... anything! Just don't leave that inane title on top!

Now that I have succeeded in getting your attention for no particular reason, I apologize for leaving you hanging without any sort of information to enlighten you (the masses). I've always said blogging is for self-centered megalomaniacs without a following. Not really. Many self-respecting individuals share a common need to communicate with the outside world in a convenient and self-contained way.

Seeing a pattern of "self-" words in the previous paragraph prompts me to initiate a salutation (I looked it up). Therefore, I am...

Out.

BLOGGER'S BLANK

Gadzooks! Has it been twelve days since I last visited this wonderful instrument for expressing religious and political views without fear of government repercussions?

Indeed. A blog neglected for that much time is surely needing some periodic attention. I occasionally read my latest posts and mull possible ideas. But it takes a full-blown inspiration from somewhere to attack the blog with both fingers (and thumbs).

Having started a third paragraph without so much as a link to FOXNews.com is a sad situation. Writer's block has permutated to Blogger's blank.

With that said, perhaps it is good to be involved with online classes to keep my mind active and working, so that I can come up with stellar blog posts like this one. I wonder at times if this endeavor is living up to all of the hype about blogging.

The ultimate Blogger's Blank is to blog about blogging. A columnless column. Maybe this is just a warm up to a bigger and better post. One thinks and hopes so.

LAUNDRY LIST OF ISSUES

I am posting a link to the exhaustive list of World Net Daily coverage of the Barak Obama eligibility issue.

http://www.wnd.com/eligibility

The way I see it, if you have "nothing to hide," and "transparency" is your policy, then you should release your long-form birth certificate. But since our crooked Liar-in-Chief is so hell-bent on taking over the world, why should he bother us truth-seekers with such irrelevant trivia?

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Today's post is a fulfillment of a class assignment for an online course I'm taking on Web development. Yes, the Web needs developing, doesn't it...

In any event, I hope to score all possible points with this "home run" of a blog post, which I hope it will be when I'm done with it. At this point, I must clue my teachers in. I have been blogging for a while, so I hope this already-existing blog will meet the requirement. 

Now the challenge of blogging is coming up with a topic that interests me (out of the myriad that interest me), and  discussing it (with myself) in a reasonably intelligent manner. This is more of a challenge than you might think. So many ideas run through my mind. Yet only a very select few pass muster and get hurled into cyberspace.

Word-smithing, another way of saying, "beating the tar out of your thoughts," is quite a craft and an art. Blogging is an ideal way to get it out there. To see your work in print is the most gratifying accomplishment, right after landing on the moon, of course!

Well, instead of taking any more bits of bandwidth, I'd like to bid you farewell. 

So I will.

OH, OH, A BIRTH CERTIFICATE BROUHAHA

Today's kudos (acclaim or praise) goes to my brother and his blog, The Machiavellian Messiah, which follows the destructive and counterproductive policies and activities of "President" Barack Obama's administration.

For those of us who have to look up "machiavellian" in the dictionary, it means, "of or relating to the political doctrine of [Niccolo] Machiavelli... an Italian political theorist" who lived from 1469-1527. He held that "craft and deceipt are justified in pursuing and maintaining political power."(The American Heritage Dictionary)

That said, here is a link (or two) for the World Net Daily stories about such things, and their eventual discovery:

BORN IN THE USA?

Is this really smoking gun of Obama's Kenyan birth?
Attorney files motion for authentication of alleged 1960s certificate from Africa


Obama: Where have all his records gone?
Footprints of president's own history either vanish or remain covered up

I hope it is not copyright infringement if I post these links exactly as formatted on the original source documents. I'll keep you posted.

I have to wonder if all of this is true! My, how far we've strayed as a country from the foundations of freedom and civility based on the Bible! Let's get back.

Stop! In the Name of Bank Policy!

A little story about a bank teller who was fired for apprehending a bank robber caught my eye on FOXNews.com today. I pondered the bank's policy prohibiting action against the perpetrator unless personal safety was at risk.

Well, duh. His personal safety was at risk!

I know, the police-- rightly so-- want witnesses to report the crime, not to be heroes who may not live to tell their side of the story.

This was another case from the Too Bad Department of crime fighting. I'm sure another bank will snatch him up faster than a running bank robber.

THE RIGHT VIEW... AGAIN

Well, I finally found someone in "high places" who agrees with me and a whole lot of other people that Professor Gates was sooooooooooooooo wrong in his disrespectful tirade against a police officer who earned every right to shut that rabble-rouser up any legal way possible. I'm sure Gates' neighbors were happy to see him taken to the station as well. That is, after all, what he wanted: more fodder for his racist documentary on being black in America.

Nothing like stirring the pot, eh, Professor?

Colin Powell weighs in on FOXNews.com:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,535223,00.html

HEALTHCARE IN PERSPECTIVE

Sean Hannity has produced a very provocative special program called, "Universal Nightmare," which aired last night. I was riveted by it. For a recap, FOXNews.com has a series of video excerpts from it here.

ANN COULTER GETS IT

...and she puts it in clear terms for dummies like me. When it comes to health care "reform," I need a good, solid, right-wing, conservative, fire-breathing woman like Coulter to use her sharp wit and biting sarcasm to clarify the issue.

Find her hilarious article, "Take Two Aspirin and Call Me When Your Cancer is At Stage Four," here at Townhall.com.

HERE'S WHAT'S IN STORE

Y'know, instead of calling this blog, "Worldview Window," I should call it, "The Kudos Heaper!" I like to read other people's blogs (OPB) occasionally and recommend them in this blog.

Well, today brings me (and you) to Arizona Storage Inns. It is the official organ of the self-storage facility of the same name, managed by my brother. I must admit, he takes his business very seriously. But he also takes a light-hearted, humorous approach to life (and self-storage). Just read his blog and you'll see what I mean!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN CALVIN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Wow! You don't look a day over 499! But, alas, your 500th birthday will pass like an obscure holiday to a select (elect) few.

Well, I for one required a bit of encouragement and peer pressure (in Christ) to celebrate if not remember John Calvin and his theological legacy, which has fallen upon disrepute ever since he lived here on earth.

Don't get me wrong: I know he was only a man. But in terms of historical and theological importance, Calvin is second only to the Apostle Paul, perhaps.

I am listening to a lecture by Albert Mohler on Ligonier.org called, "John Calvin: Preacher and Teacher."

In this recessionary economy and amidst much political and international uproar, we Christians can "retreat" and take refuge in the historic Christian faith, trusting afresh in Christ our strong tower of refuge, our God and King.

"PRESIDENT" OBAMA, ARE YOU LISTENING?

I just had to post a link to my brother's blog, The Machiavellian Messiah. It is an excellent comment on the current brouhaha over the issue of citizenship and constitutional eligibility with our "president," Barack H. Obama. I respectfully put his title in quotes because I am now ambivalent as to whether he really is a U.S. citizen.

It's not the fact that he is or is not a citizen: it's the duplicity with which he and his campaign have virtually hidden otherwise-accessible facts about his early life and past history.

Do we not as the American people deserve to know the truth, especially about our own president?

If he is proven to be defrauding us, then may God purge this evil from among us and deliver our nation from the ramifications and effects of this "administration."

IRAN IS CRASHING THE INTERNETS!!!

Just a thought.

I wonder if all that traffic from Iran (and indeed around the world) is causing an unprecedented slowdown of Internet speeds not seen since dial-up days, and hindering at least my end of the Information Superhighway from loading web pages and connecting to them.

It is a bittersweet predicament to be in. On the one hand, I want Iranians (and everyone else!!!) to be morally free if not politically-- and the free exchange of ideas facillitated by the Internet and cellphone technology is vital to that end. On the other hand, we all have a lot of work to do to accomplish this-- and the Internet needs to be freed up as well as its users!

I know I am stating the obvious, but that's what bloggers do. I am sure that more qualified heads are being scratched at this moment to come up with a plan or course of action to rescue this wonderful resource from information overload. 

Thank God for it.

IRAN A-TWITTER

It's bad. But thank God there are people Twittering about events and developments from Tehran, Iran and around the world.

Here is the link I got from Hugh Hewitt: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23iranelection

Search, Twitter, and be moved.

ANTI-OBAMANOMICS

Well, in the interest of providing hope to a seemingly hopeless situation (the state of our economy and President Obama's socialist decapitation of it), I want to link Mises.org here.

If you have any interest (and spare time), check out any of a myriad of multimedia resources there which will educate you in short order about the ills and remedies of any economy, but particularly the remedy of Austrian Economics.

Like I said, for a free/low-cost, self-driven economics education, this is a great place to learn the right way to do economics--something "they" did not teach me in school!

BLOGGING ON THE FLY

I thought I would join the chorus of onlookers and admirers of the world who saw our disputed (or beloved) president kill a fly during a televised interview. CNBC chief Washington correspondent John Harwood was interviewing President Barack Obama when a fly interrupted the proceedings. Obama then swatted it effectively and basked in the glory of his enemy's demise.

It's all over the news and the blogosphere. Even Rush Limbaugh (of course) got in on the act. On his show today, he made hilarious comments and played a sound clip from his original TV show, during which he steps on a fly and shows it to the camera and audience.

The best soundbite from the whole exchange of audio on his show was Rush's comment:

RUSH: Later in the show, I then murder the sucker, but not with my hands like Obama. I used my shoe. And killing a fly with a shoe is a much bigger insult in the fly world than killing an insect or a fly with your hand.

I laugh out loud every time I read that last sentence.

As you may or may not know, the biggest insult you can heap on your Middle East neighbor is to pound your shoe (or throw it at him, as one Iraqi reporter did to former President Bush) in a demonstration of disgust and disdain.

I know, jokes you have to explain aren't that funny. It still strikes my funny bone.

With a shoe.

AND THE NEW PRESIDENT OF IRAN IS...

I'm going out on a limb here and posting an article from the American Thinker, from a link on Rush Limbaugh's website, wherein it is posited that Mahmoud Ahmedinejad DID NOT WIN THE ELECTION in Iran.

In the article, the author makes it abundantly clear that Iran's "elections" are shams designed by the mullahs (religious leadership) to showcase their already-selected choice for office. The popular vote is a farce wherein the nation registers its disapproval of the mullahs' selections. Here is a quote:

"The great majority of the people of Iran are disillusioned and even disgusted by the mediaeval incompetent, oppressive, and corrupt rule of the mullahs, irrespective of which mafia gang is in power. The votes, more than anything else, are protest ballots cast against the entire system, rather than indications of support for the so-called conservative-moderate coalition." [emphasis mine]

Here is the diamond I found:

"However, the turnout was massive, a near record high 85 percent of Iran's 49.2 million eligible voters. Based on the information from Mousavi's website , a group of Interior Ministry employees have leaked out the following results which seem to be closer to reality than the one released by the establishment:

Total eligible: 49.2 Million

Participated in the election: 75% to 85%
Mir Hussein Mousavi: 45%
Mehdi Karoobi: 33%
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 13%
Mohsen Rezai: 9%

Cancelled votes: 3%

The article goes on to say that in spite of the regime's brutal and oppressive ways, the people are rendering them less effective and thus scaring them to death. May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob help them to rise up peacefully and win their country back from the Enemy (Satan).

PUBLIC EDUCATION IS PUBLIC ENEMY (SOMETIMES)

Here is a story with a sad ending-- at least it looks that way for public education:

Kansas Teacher Claims Conservative Views Led To Loss of Job

Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying all public education is bad. But I have to feel sorry for those who don't "get it" when it comes to truth.

The last question in the article is asked by a former student of the teacher. She asks, "Why would they let a good teacher go?"

Because they're stupid. Read the story.

OBAMA WAS BORN IN HAWAII

In keeping with the Fairness Doctrine, I am posting this link to Snopes.com for the purpose of balancing the argument which continues regarding President Obama's birth certificate. The thing that really convinced me was the clipping of the birth announcement in the Hawaiian newspaper that day.

Is that a fake, too? The debate never ends...

I FOUND IT!!!

The official interview with Obama's teleprompter, affectionately known as TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States), is here:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

AN UNUSUAL BLOGGER

Just want to post this link to Barak Obama's Teleprompter's Blog:

http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/

I give credit to my brother's blog, Machiavellian Messiah, for showing me the link to BOTB. Actually, it is known as TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States), and readers of its blog are known as FOTs (Friends of TOTUS).

I encourage you to read both blogs, but especially my brother's.

IS OBAMA REALLY PRESIDENT???

You know, this story keeps coming up like a bowling pin in the ocean (I assume it will float, but I've never seen it chronicled on David Letterman's "Will It Float?" segment).

There is still sharp controversy surrounding his birth certificate, and indeed his citizenship--and therefore, his right to be president!

I'm curious what all the hubbub is about. So I go to WorldNetDaily and see a few stories still doubting his legitimacy. I order a copy of WhistleBlower magazine using my hard-earned Unemployment Insurance money and await its arrival in the mail.

The April 2009 issue, with the headline, "Your Papers, Please?" is touted by WND founder and CEO Joseph Farah as:

"...the most complete and thorough exposé of the eligibility questions surrounding Barack Obama's presidency. It is an indictment of the process that put him in the White House Jan. 20 of this year.

"Although Article II section 1 of the Constitution clearly requires that all presidents be 'natural born citizens,' the 2008 election proved, Farah points out, 'that no controlling legal authority bothered to establish' that Obama was qualified for the Oval Office. 'Everybody dropped the ball,' said Farah.

"The biggest reason interest in the Obama eligibility issue continues to mount, with ever more legal actions being filed and more Americans demanding answers, says WND Managing Editor David Kupelian, is simple: 'Barack Obama is hiding something.' "

Well, we Americans can engage in this sort of thing because after all, we are a nation of checks and balances.

BOTTOMLESS BLOG?

Well, intrepid and faithful reader friends, I have changed the setting on this blog to allow ALL my posts to appear on the same page!

Cool, huh?

Now I (and you) can scroll all the way down the page and see every post I've ever posted! Is that not cool or what?

I know. You're thinking, this bozo has had way too much ice cream! Well, you would be right.

I guess I'm amped because Kim Komando is on the radio from 5 to 7PM on Saturday instead of 12 to 2PM, the old schedule. Also, she (they) did away with the excessive use of canned audience applause and reactions to her comments during the program. At least that's the impression I'm getting from this my most recent session listening to her.

I could go on because, after all, this is THE BOTTOMLESS BLOOOOOG...

ONE RUSSIAN'S OPINION VERY PERCEPTIVE

This morning, while driving to my usual tennis venue for some exercise, I heard on the radio a talkshow host (Mike Broomhead, KFYI 550 AM) read a poignant quote from the Russian newspaper Pravda. In it, he states a (the?) Russian view of America's descent into Marxism. You can read it here.

This was an eye-opener and a wake-up call for me. Apparently, the world watches as our beloved USA descends into what our forefathers fled from: a world system which is detrimental to Christian values, ideals, and prosperity.

Will God indeed bless America if she goes astray from that which saved her in the first place, the gospel of Jesus Christ? No.

I shudder thinking of our collective freefall from our former perch atop the world's pedestal of admiration if we abandon the God who exalted us for righteousness' sake.

"RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION, BUT SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE." (Proverbs 14:34)

My hope and prayer was, and still is, that we as a people do not let that happen (or that God would give us the grace to resist the devil).

Understandably this article, written by a Russian writer for Pravda, has some grammatical and spelling errors. But his message is spot on --and inspiring (that a foreign opinion maker would duly warn us of our own downfall-in-progress in time to recognize what is happening, and to utilize the pen rather than the sword to effect a remedy sufficient to stop its deadly progression)!

Let me just quickly link a couple of blogs which support this article and inspire me to read their blogs for a different if not helpful viewpoint:

Artful Articulations

Matt Rodina

KUDOS TO MY I.T. (IDENTICAL TWIN) BROTHER

Now before all the alarmists over identity theft cry foul that I implicated (in a good way) my brother, who shall remain nameless, let me heap accolades and praise for a recent post in his most excellent blog, "The Machiavellian Messiah."

In it, he aptly lays blame for the auto industry meltdown at the feet of --who else?-- the Auto Industry and their Deliverer, Uncle Sam. I'm not implying that I have a better solution. I don't. But who can resist all the circus mayhem and commentary that goes with it?

Government Motors (see video below)? The new 2010 Grand Larceny (Unlimited Edition) from "GM?" I'll take the humorous side of life with the conservatives over the dire, command-economy death sentence from the left.

LET'S CALL IT THE EURO

Hey, government-backed readers of right-wing, homeland-security-threatening blogs like this one: just a little video humor to lighten the load for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment, compliments of FOXNews.

THE ROCK STANDS FIRM

I just wanted to post this video of Pastor Miles McPherson of the Rock Church in San Diego, CA brilliantly defending traditional (i.e., Biblical) marriage.

BUT I DIGRESS

I didn't know if I should post this, but here is a link to learn all about the "Largest Web Developer Site on the Net:" W3Schools.com

I have been studying their HTML tutorial and it has been fascinating and fun! Very thorough and informative. How many positive adjectives can I use here? Keep going!

Anyway, for those with time and desire to learn this stuff (I had both today), this is a good--if not the BEST-- place to start.

PROFESSOR PRAGER BRINGS IT HOME

Well, in scouring the Internet (because, in another sense, it needs it), I came across this video by talkshow host Dennis Prager on Townhall.com. Now keep in mind that Mr. Prager is Jewish by heritage and religious tradition, so he does not "toe the line" as closely as born-again Christians (the only kind there are). But his belief in God and moral values is admirable.

I posted this video because once in a while a high-profile political (or in this case, educational) figure says some things that are downright right. 

I would substitute "God's providence" for "luck" in one of his comments. But that's forgivable since he has not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. THAT IS SOMETHING I PRAY HAPPENS TO HIM AND TO ALL WHO READ THIS. 

PATRIOT ACT BACKFIRES

Well, I finally found something to blog about once again.

This time it's another case of government abuse of power (what, in the USA???).

I only post this story for two reasons: because it involves a home-schooled child (with whom I sympathize because my own siblings home-educated their children); and because I have a sneaking suspicion that they are Bible-believing Christians.

Here is the link to World Net Daily's article:

Mother claims teen jailed by Patriot Act

Anytime a home-schooler, who is obviously innocent of this crime (no evidence was found to substantiate the search warrant), is persecuted "legally," I can't help but think of the logical conclusion of such misapplications of authority in the form of another Nazi/Stalinist/fascist/You-Name-It regime that commits unspeakable acts of horrible atrocities against fellow human beings (witness North Korea, Sudan, Somalia, etc.).

It is short and has a video as well. Read it, watch it, and speak your minds.