DEFINITELY CHECK OUT THIS LINK

I am reading Dinesh D'Souza's new book, What's So Great About Christianity. It took me couple days to realize the title has no question mark. The book is an apologetic refutation to the current militant atheism of the likes of Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and company. I am impressed enough by D'Souza's approach that this book will be the text for my future Apologetics classes at Quartz Hill School of Theology.


Two endorsements swayed me to buy the book in the first place. Historian Paul Johnson, for whom I have enormous respect, said,“Those who believe in God are at present being subjected to a barrage of atheist propaganda, directed particularly at Christianity. What’s So Great About Christianity is a much-needed response to this offensive. It is wide-ranging, specific, well-researched, and dependably accurate. It will be of immense value to all those who wish to defend and uphold the Christian case." And Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, cautioned, "although non-Christians and non-theists may disagree with some of his arguments, we ignore him at our peril. D'Souza's book takes the debate to a new level. Read it."

I heartily recommend this book. It will challenge believers and unbelievers alike.

I've placed a link to Dinesh D'Souza's blog in the links section of my blog. Check it out. His site also links to a video debate with Christopher Hitchens at The Kings College, NYC.

WEEKENDS ARE FOR FUN 12

Bumper Stickers we'd like to See:

He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

A day without sunshine is like, well, night.

On the other hand, you have different fingers.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.

Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.

I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe

He's not dead, he's electro-encephalo-graphically challenged.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.

I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.

Honk if you love peace and quiet.

Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?

Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool.

It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.

Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.

It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.

You can't have everything, where would you put it?

Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population.

The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.

Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.

I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.

I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak

CHEER UP, THINGS COULD BE WORSE

Eric Miller posted some remarks about life's sufferings that are well worth reading. You can find them here. The fact that he quotes me is merely an indication of the depth of his remarks.

Here's a teaser...

"So many people in our lives, so many preachers in church and on TV, tell us that if we just believe enough or do something better our lives will be wonderful. It is very easy to feel tremendous guilt for our failures. I do it all the time. I need to stop and accept the shit in my life. I need to just trust that God loves me and is leading me in a good direction."

CHECK OUT THE NEW LINK

I've added a link to The HOT ROD Church for Sinners website. Check 'em out. These folks are having fun serving Christ in their daily lives. Since I'm an unofficial CAR GUY, this church intrigues me.

WEEKENDS ARE FOR FUN 11

From the comicstrip ROBOTMAN

THE EMERGENT RUSSIAN THREAT

Today, on Good Morning America, Chris Cumo the news reader announced a new Russian initiative. Soviet--oops, I mean RUSSIAN president Vald Putin has announced the development of a new series of nuclear weapons.

The above photos show a couple examples of Russian craftsmanship.

Gosh, I hope they don't hurt themselves.

DC AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Two summers ago, Karen and I were privileged to spend a month visiting in the Nation's capitol. The former treasurer from my church was doing time in the pentagon and we stayed with her while touring the area. We really had a great time apart from the humidity. As a nearly life-long Westerner I tire quickly of humidity and precipitation. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier an ambulance took someone away because of heat exhaustion. (doubtless a fellow low-humidifite)

Tonight, while browsing through "My Pictures," I relived our trip. We'd like to go sometime in the fall or spring just to see what all the fuss is about.

Here's a couple shots for you... the first is an inscription in the National Cathedral. The second is a painting by a former church member, hanging in the Capitol Building. The third is Karen and I sitting in George Washington's family Pew in Alexandria. And the fourth us is watching the Beach Boys on the Capitol lawn on July 4th.

I JUST SAVED A BUNCH OF MONEY ON MY CAR BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Last month I was offered a pretty sweet deal on a used car. A 2001 Taurus became available for a good price. 2001, you sniff. And a Ford Taurus? Was it free? Yeah, okay, laugh. Its not exactly the Dodge Charger I was lusting for, but as Paul Harvey used to say; wait'll you hear the rest of the story.

This '01 Ford was owned by an aged couple. By that I mean this six year old car had less than 38,000 miles on it. Plus, I was generously offered a deal considerably below Kelly Blue Book. On top of that, I could put half down and pay the rest off monthly--my schedule. Whoa, that does sound pretty sweet.

You Betsy, Ross! But the icing on the cake came this morning. I received a phone call telling me that the car had been paid off, never mind the details.

Now some of you might be thinking; "Yeah, yeah! Those preachers are always ripping off little old ladies." All I can say is, the little old lady in question has already been promoted to Glory. Technically, I was offered this car by an agent of the executor. Beside that, I have never before received such an overwhelming blessing. To paraphrase Indiana Jones, "This kind of thing doesn't happen to me every day."

This is how God's grace works. Its more than you expect or deserve. In fact, if you can read the Bible--Romans in particular--and NOT say, "No God, you can't mean that! That's too much!!" I would say you do not yet understand grace.

I hope I can remember this blessing the next time I start complaining about being led into wilderness just to die.

Thank God for His marvelous Grace

WEEKENDS ARE FOR FUN 10

A THEOLOGY FOR WARRIORS

CMDR Schwartzel, this one's for you and your sailors.

In Luke 3, John the Baptist is found preaching repentance because of coming Judgment. (by the way, REPENT is a time-honored, traditional Baptist greeting.)

The response of the crowd is; "What should we do then?" The Baptist tells them to share with those in need.

Then some tax collectors come to be baptized. "Teacher," they ask, "what should we do?"
John tells them, "don't collect any more than you are required to."

Finally, some soldiers have a question for John, "And what should we do?" they ask.
John replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

1: John's exhortation to the crowd is nothing more than we would expect.

2: John's word for the tax collectors and soldiers is NOTHING that the people of that day--and I believe our own day as well--would expect.

Many good people believed that tax collectors, as quisling, Roman puppets, had lost any hope of salvation. Yet here they are seeking baptism and, therefore, repenting. And John's word to them is NOT, go to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks, or even to leave their evil profession. He simply tells them to do their job honestly.

John's response to soldiers is truly eye-opening. It makes no difference whether these were Roman soldiers or Jewish Temple police. John does not condemn their profession, either. In fact, he gives them the same word he gave the tax collectors. Do your job honestly, with integrity. Absent, I notice, is any prohibition against practicing the warrior's arts (that's intellectual talk for meting out violence and death)

So here's my point: In a fallen world it is part of God's economy for warriors of integrity to protect us from evil men.

Thus endeth the lesson.

AND I LIKED RICHARD NIXON, TOO

“According to liberals, the message of Jesus, which somehow [Mel] Gibson missed, is something along the lines of “be nice to people.”…In fact, Jesus’ distinctive “message” was: People are sinful and need to be redeemed, and this is your lucky day because I’m here to redeem you even though you don’t deserve it and I have to get the crap kicked out of me to do it. That is the reason He is called “Christ the Redeemer” rather than "Christ the Moron Driving around in a Volvo with a ‘Be Nice to People’ Bumper Sticker on It.”

Ann Coulter

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I love you, Ann; in a totally platonic, non-creepy way, of course.

DTB

WEEKENDS ARE FOR FUN 9

WARNING: BLOOD DEPRESSURIZATION IN PROGRESS 2

I saw the following quote today:

" … there’s no moral difference between a stealth bomber and a suicide bomber, both kill innocent people for political reasons.” — Tony Benn

...Nothing says agenda like willful stupidity. No moral difference? stealth bombers--and by implication ALL US military forces--do NOT purposely target innocent people. Suicide bombers do: period. They do it to terrorize the powerless. They do it to get "Peace Loving" idots to weep crocodile tears over poor victimized jerks who blow themselves up along with a bus load of school children. No moral difference! (insert derisive snort, here)

US forces have gone out of their way to develop precision guided munitions to avoid killing "innocent" people.

Benn, you are a fool.

WE'RE GOIN' IN: PART 2

Whew, what a day. When you have surgery you can't eat for twelve hours before said surgery. I'm diabetic, which means I can't take my medications until afterward, either. Because of that They usually schedule me for very early in the morning. Not yesterday. I was scheduled for 10:30 which is still kind of late. I actually went into the OR at 3:00 PM. Dr Lau said he got the nasty little bugger. He blasted it to pop rocks and actually managed to drain most of the bits out during surgery.

I woke up in recovery @ 6:00 and left the hospital at 7:00. FINALLY ate at 8:00. The good news is my fasting blood sugar next morning was 90. (a normal person's levels vary from 75-130)

No pain to speak of. A touch of residual soreness from the garden hose they had up me. Burns when I pump bilges. However, the excruciating torturous pain lessons with each event. I should be fine by tomorrow.

Appreciate all your prayers--you know who you are.

Off to resume normal schedule; defined as a couple hours of "work" followed by a long nap.

Later Duds--er, Dudes!

WE'RE GOIN' IN : PART 1

Today's the day. Laser surgery. Feeling pretty good here at home. I'll let you know how I feel this evening.