MEXICAN HISTORY UNCLIPPED

This past Monday, while I was driving around looking for work, I was listening to the radio (I think it was KFLR or K-LOVE) and heard the announcer play this clip from "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," wherein a famous line was uttered.

The famous "We don't need no stinking badges" disclaimer was first, though differently, stated by the actor Alfonso Bedoya playing the character Gold Hat. In the movie, Humphrey Bogart asks Gold Hat if he and his men are police. Gold Hat replies with the immortalized "I don't have to show you any stinking badges."

I think because the announcer, whose name I do not know, laughed and thought it was so funny, I shared in his delight at the irreverence and defiance in the character himself.

Well, that's all the multimedia mayhem for now. More to come...

WOW! CONSTITUTIONALIST GETS TESTED BIG TIME

I don't necessarily condone doing what this Tempe, AZ pastor did to resist the totalitarian overtures of the Border Patrol at the California-Arizona border. But if their tendency toward sacrificing our liberty for safety is of any concern, then this man definitely has a case for the Court of Public Opinion--and a cause for political change.

Since we are in the Era of Change, let us hope that such instances of unwarranted brutality are few and far between. 

His demonstration of civil disobedience to the Border Patrol may or may not be justified, but it is certainly admirable that he stood his ground to test the authority to its lawful (or unlawful) limits.

Kudos to the man and shame on the BP agents, useful idiots though they may be.

GOOD NEWS

I managed to find the video I posted on Wednesday April 8 on YouTube and replace the one I originally had there because of the annoying audio. Now when you load this page it will no longer play that video automatically.

Thank God for YouTube!

MY APOLOGIES FOR THE AUDIO

Sorry, dear readers, I posted a video on Wed., April 8 that plays automatically every time the page loads!

So until the subsequent posts crowd it off of this page, it will keep playing itself through (once, thankfully).

If you want to scroll down to stop it early, you can.

Great video, lousy feature.

THE MAKEOVER CONTINUES

Visitors to this blog may have noticed changes to its appearance, especially since being unemployed lends itself tremendously to such mundane tasks as experimenting with different colors and images around my blog. It's probably just a manifestation of what seems to be a popular malady these days: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Now I'm not hip on any of the weekly TV programs whose main characters may be diagnosing themselves as having OCD for ratings' sake. But I can say that waiting for a phone call from a prospective employer lends itself to OCB (Obsessive Compulsive Blogging) very well!

After changing colors and so on, several (hundred) times, over the last (unquantifiable) amount of time, I can safely say... that's enough!

Now is the time to blog and recover some semblance of rationality and sanity in my life before I am off to the next stint of full-time employment. I shall remember and treasure these last few moments of freedom until I am able to enjoy them once again.

CAUSE FOR PAUSE

I am posting this video from LeeStrobel.com because my Bible Study group is studying Lee's materials on "The Case For a Creator." Fascinating, informative, and enlightening come to mind.

Although this video segment is not in our DVD, it is still pertinent because Dr. William Lane Craig figures prominently in the discussions. If anyone can break down the arguments for and against the existence of God, he certainly can.

In all the hubbub, I have forgotten to acknowledge the 200th post on this blog! Actually, this is number 206, but who' s counting? (Answer: Blogger.com)

THE UNVARNISHED REVISED VERSION REVISITED (AGAIN)

I had the most unfortunate thought. 

I realized that when I post these blog entries, my email recipients receive the unvarnished "Publish Post," which may suffer further revisions upon closer scrutiny from their master (me), and thus be slightly different from what is emailed.

This I know because I send the posts to my own email address as well, and thus, can see what is being sent out.

And not only that: they miss the visual experience of the Worldview Window in all its glory!

Hmmm, I said. What if I just, from now on, send out a link to the blog and hope everyone reads it after I've made subsequent changes (if needed).  

This would be an extra step, i.e., more work for me.  Oh, well. At least you won't see as many of my mistakes.

Just a thought worth implementing.

PAPAGO PARK OR BUST

This beautiful photo is courtesy of Verizon Wireless (my cell phone). Taken at Phoenix's Papago Park on a day when I was unemployed (still am, but looking) and needing to "get out," I took advantage of some scenery last Friday.

The free program Picasa from Google makes it "easy." The hard part is getting the photos from my cellphone to MyVerizon to my computer, and by way of Picasa/Blogger, to the blog.

Also, I am filling in this paragraph in order to--so that---I can accomplish the mundane task of seeing the word wrap in action.

Hitting Enter until you reach this line is the "key" to a great wordwrap! I could have kept on typing to fill all that white space. But then you would have thought I was just "filling white space."

And you would have been correct.

VANITY FAIR

Every now and then, I get the itch to blog. But I lack the material or substance necessary to post something worthwhile. So I invariably (a word I heard a lot in college) like to ponder the abstract and come up with something more creative than substantial. You'll see what I mean in a moment (if you haven't already).

So far, the only thing I've done is blog. That is, I have executed the mechanical action of typing: composing (thinking, writing, editing, etc.) and posting-- all while soaking my right foot in hot water and Melaleuca oil to nurse a sore ankle after playing tennis this morning. But I digress.

With this my third paragraph, I have made precious little progress in affecting positive changes for the betterment of mankind in the world today. Cyberspace is several hundred alphanumeric characters more overloaded than it was twenty-four hours ago, at the hands of my complicit keyboard.

Perhaps today, I am more prose artist than practical activist--not that there's anything wrong with that (to borrow a trademark phrase from Seinfeld).

In these moments of quiet reflection, I am pensive about being pensive, and this is not a very lucrative activity to engage in. Writing for writing's sake (and mine) is a selfish pursuit. The Book of Ecclesiastes comes to mind. Where will this post finally end?

Just for good measure, I'm throwing in a link to the Pilgrim's Progress, and to Vanity Fair, in which Christian and his companion Faithful find themselves face-to-face with one town's worldly pursuits in all of their emptiness. I highly recommend the audio drama available at SermonAudio.com.

Thusly, my blog post has ended. And on that positive note, I bid you adieu.

STATE DEPARTMENT, APPROVE THIS VISA!

Okay, one more news story for good measure.

This one is about a heroic Iraqi translator for the US military in Iraq, and his indispensible help in fighting the bad guys. It makes my blood boil that everyone but the US State Department thinks he should get a visa to this country. Read this story on FOXNews.com and see what I mean.

Visa Denial Puts Heroic Iraqi Translator in the Crosshairs

That's all for now.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE BAD

Every now and then, I have the "stomach" to read Compass Direct News, the online source for "news from the frontlines of persecution" of Christians around the world.

Today's visit finds no shortage of stories about Islamo-fascist terrorism in countries where Muslims are free to practice their "faith" and Christians are their sacrificial lambs. 

It is good for us in the West to know what goes on in other parts of our world, particularly in those countries where the Devil's Religions are practiced with a vengeance. Witness Hindus in India and Muslims in Iran, where Satan enlists his swarms of officers to temporarily counter any progress made by the Kingdom of God in Christ. 

What Satan means for evil, God means for good to His people. 

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." 

Genesis 50:20 (New International Version)

BLOGGING FOR SANITY'S SAKE

Sometimes the only sane thing to do is blog.

After several hours of wracking my brain, reading classified ads and articles about career help, researching jobs on the Internet, looking at my finances (which are not dire yet), reading books (parts of them), I've come to the point where it's time to unwind. 

Here, therefore, is a cellphone camera photo from Canyon Lake! It was taken at about 5:30 PM while traveling along the road leading out of the canyon on the way home.

YOU GUESSED IT: CANYON LAKE

Here is my first uploaded cellphone camera shot of Canyon Lake. I know you guys are tired of hearing about it. But it was a spectacular trip. The boat made it stupendous (how superlative can I go?)! The lower-right corner of the photo shows the front of the boat pushing the water. 

More to come...

WEBCAM: CANYON LAKE, AZ

Hello, folks. Just wanted to post a link to the webcam where you can see a live video feed of Canyon Lake, Arizona, where, Lord willing, I will be going later today.

ACRONYM FOR THE DAY : UI

Even though I've titled this blog "Worldview Window," I reserve the right to, every now and then, blog about something recreational. Having become recently unemployed, I have found my downsizing to be a mixed blessing, both to former employer and myself. Obviously, the f/e enjoys more room under their "salary cap," while I, the former employee, enjoy "freedom."

Because I have a retirement account set up, and the dubious benefit of unemployment insurance, I am presently able to enjoy taking my time finding a job. Although the ominous zero account balance looms on the horizon if I fail to secure gainful employment to avert such catastrophe, I shall from time to time venture away from the mundane environs of city life and join the ranks of those escapees who have ditched their surly bonds to the asphalt jungle.

I am speaking of going to Canyon Lake here in Arizona with a friend who has refurbished his boat, a miniscule two-man affair, for a short day-trip to the countryside. Too bad I don't have a digital camera. Otherwise I could chronicle the entire adventure here!

Well, blogs away! I'll see you on the other side.

HTML AT WORK

Hello, friends! Humor me for a moment, please, as I experiment with HTML for different banner ads and so on...

As you can see, the above ad is courtesy of SermonAudio.com, and in no way implies compulsion on my part for you to go there. It is simply my first attempt at putting an ad in the body of the post, just for fun,  rather than alongside it. 

Okay, my next step is to publish and view this post. 

Thanks for visiting.

GOD VS. TV?

Every now and then, I meet someone who, by choice, does not watch television. This is a form of abstinence which I have not achieved for more than a few days. I have gone without watching TV for a small number of days during the week, when I was busy, tired, otherwise occupied, or on the Internet. But to go without television as a way of life is a degree of sanctification* in the Christian life that I have not reached (yet?).

I need to clarify the fact that although these people do not own TV sets, they probably watch TV elsewhere, as the opportunity presents itself. I am only speculating here, beyond what they have told me.

It is fair to assume that one's ability to focus on God is enhanced by the ability to abstain from any and all distractions. Television could certainly qualify as a distraction par excellence. I may even go so far as to say it is a perfect analogy of the WORLDVIEW WINDOW through which we all look at life.

Of course, it is a choice-- one which we make every day. It is generally wiser to not watch TV because so much of it is, in fact, garbage-- moral sewage waiting to be piped into our homes via cable or antenna. But I also believe it is probably not wise to "throw the baby out with the bath water." It has its place in culture, in society, in education, in entertainment, in preaching the gospel and ministering to people. So it is safe to say I have not, and probably will not, throw away my DTV (Distraction To Vocation).

Wait! I have an analog TV set with a converter box. Hmmm... There is a delicious moral or parable wrapped up in that configuration. 

As Christians, our spiritual eyes have been "converted" from blindness to sight. I was looking up some Bible references to "eyes" and "sight," and came across a very good passage in Habakkuk 1:13. It says:

"YOUR EYES ARE TOO PURE TO APPROVE EVIL,
AND YOU CANNOT LOOK ON WICKEDNESS WITH FAVOR.
WHY DO YOU LOOK WITH FAVOR ON THOSE WHO DEAL TREACHEROUSLY?
WHY ARE YOU SILENT WHEN THE WICKED SWALLOW UP THOSE MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN THEY?" (NASB)

*Q. 35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

A BLOG BY ANY OTHER NAME...

...would not, indeed, describe the full intent of its author the way this one does. I have embarked, however unofficially so, on a more focused direction with this blog. It is intended to be a more thematic endeavor in line with God's Law in general, offering resources available for further personal study, education, and enrichment.

Much could be said at this point. But because fatigue and bedtime are fast converging upon each other, I must consider this a finished post and leave you with Cyber Good Night and God Bless!

OBAMA ON GOOGLE VIDEO

Well, in the interest of upholding the spirit of "fairness," I would like the cyber world to know that I watched or listened to the entire Google Video of President Obama's speech this evening.

The two comments he made which stood out in my mind more than all others were:

"I get it."

"We Americans don't do what is easy. We do what is necessary to move the country forward."

 The exact context of the first comment was indeed easy to get: Americans are fed up with bankers who should not have loaned money incorrectly/unethically to otherwise unqualified people who could not repay/afford their mortgages.  

The second comment came toward the end of his speech, when he was encouraging the country to take the initiative to solve these immense economic problems.

Well, in case you missed the live speech like I did, here's the link to YouTube. 

POLITICALLY INCORRECT, BUT RIGHT, ECONOMICS

I just read a post by economist Robert Murphy, author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism," on Mises.org, in which he makes a good case for tax cuts to increase production rather than consumption. This is a reversal and correction of the premise on which our government based its decision to pass the Economic Stimulus Package: to increase consumer spending and thus "stimulate" the economy to recover from its recession.

To boot, Mr. Murphy is a Christian believer, and he has posted on his blog, Free Advice, a pretty good analysis of Jesus' use of parables to expose the willful ignorance of the masses listening to Him, and the inherent ability of believers to listen and "hear" with spiritual ears.

In his inaugural post on Free Advice, August 22, 2008, he says, "In the weeks ahead, I'll explain why I am so pessimistic about the U.S. economy for at least the next five years, but I'll also suggest options for you to protect your personal wealth during this storm."

Thank God for men like Mr. Murphy.