Ron Paul?

I was on the Community of Faith Forum tonight and came across a "Ron Paul? Nah" thread. Below is my response:

I love Ron Paul. I love seeing him bring up the constitution in the debates. It's like bringing up Scripture when church people are debating. He has a "restoration movement" approach but with the Constitution instead of the Bible. Like Congress declaring war for instance. Anyway, I'm definitely leaning more Libertarian as the years go by. The Republican party is an ever increasing disappointment!

"Lunatic?"

"Giving libertarians a bad name?"

I think he's bright and highly consistent and he's probably creating more interest in the Libertarian party too. He has 0 chance. The sheeple will continue to elect neocons or neocoms. More government & less freedom. Two wings on the same old buzzard (IMHO). So what will we get? It looks like McCain (Bob Dull #2) & Hillary (Clinton #2). I can't vote for either of these two. I say give the people the government they want because that's what they deserve! Here's to citizenship in Heaven!

Happy re-birthday to me!

January 3oth. It was on this date way back in 1983 that I became a Christian. (Many will remember this as the day when the Redskins beat the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII). It's hard to believe it was that long ago. I can still rememebr it vividly. I walked forward during the "invitation song." I professed my faith in Christ. Then I was baptized resulting in the forgivenss of my sins and God giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amazing! There are many things for which I can be thankful but none compare to the salvation I found in Jesus Christ! I will always be eternally grateful to those who shared the gospel with me! Soemtimes i wonder what would've become of me without Christ. Scary, huh?

The Bible "Wrong Answer" Man

I recently received some publicity material from Roanoke Bible College (I'm a 1990 grad by the way) promoting "Celebrate Truth 2008" with Hank Hanegraaf. Hanegraaff is president of the Christian Research Institue and host of the Bible Answer Man radio program. Maybe it's just me, but I find a certain irony here: The "Bible answer Man" speaking about truth at RBC. Now maybe you don't see what I see yet, so let me help...

RBC is a school associated with the "Restoration Movement" (aka. christian churches & churches of Christ). One of the distinctives of this movement has been the belief that baptism is the time of pardon = when one is forgiven. Baptism is also frequently spoken of as "essential."

Hanegraaf has written about baptism: "The biblical teaching on this subject would seem to indicate that the extreme positions of baptism as absolutely essential to salvation (as taught by some in the Church of Christ) and as an outmoded ritual that need not be practiced at all (as taught by the Friends) are aberrations that should be rejected as unbiblical and divisive (though many in both those churches may be acknowledged as genuine Christians)." (emphasis mine) Additionally, I have heard Hanegraaf strongly opposing our position on baptism on his radio show. His is the usual "water regeneration" jive that most evangelicals ignorantly toss out about us.

Now it's been almost 2 decades since I was a student, but I'm pretty sure that RBC's teaching on baptism would fall into Hank's "abberation" category. I find it a little humorous that he will be speaking about "truth" at a college that believes baptism as the occasion of salvation to be a fundamental truth.

Now, I know Hank won't be addressing that (although it would quite interesting if he did!) And I support RBC's right to have anybody in they want. I'm sure he will provide some insight about currrent challenges facing the church. Maybe somebody will even share the truth about baptism with him...though I doubt it.

Rezco Photo

This was classic... This morning I'm watching the Today Show and Matt is interviewing Hillary Clinton. He then puts this picture up. This, of course, was brought about when Clinton went after Obama in a debate about his representing "slum landlord" Rezco. Bam...here's a photo of Rezco himself between the Clintons! Hillary said, "I've taken hundreds of thousands of pictures..." I'm no Hillary fan, but this isn't big deal. She's right - politicians take pictures with all sorts of folks. However, it was still a pretty funny "gotcha" moment.

Really?

I was thinking about statements that usually don't mean what they seem to say. Some actually mean the opposite of what they say. Consider these...

• It's not about the money. (Oh, yes it is!)
• We're not leaving the church (Almost always means they will be gone soon!)
• We will be there at church this Sunday (Unless a better option should come up!)
• It's not that I dislike "so & so" (Sure you don't.)
• I try to be the best Christian I can be (Hmmm...)
• I'm not trying to have it my way (Yes, you are.)
• I'm not saying I'm right and you're wrong (Admit it - that's exactly what you're saying.)
• I don't know everything (Okay, almost everything.)
• I'm not prejudiced (The requisite disclaimer for all discussions about race, gender, etc.)
• I probably shouldn't say this, BUT... (But you're going to anyway!)
• Tell me truth, I can handle it (No, you can't!)
• I really don't care what people think (Right...)

There are many more. Any suggestions?

FOX Republican Debate

I'm watching the FOX Republican debate right now. My initial reactions...

• Romney: He certainly looks presidential. I kind of feel sorry for him and I'm not sure why. He's looks to be the Republican's Howard Dean with his great fall. Ooh he just lauched a cheap shot at Paul. I don't feel sorry for him anymore.
• Thompson: My mind just wanders when he talks. He's sinking like a rock so I expect he will turn it up a couple of notches tonight and he is. He's just hammered Huckabee. Desperation I think. Fred is bouncing back with a nice "virgin" reference in the context of radical muslims potentially "attacking" a U.S. Navy vessel. Another one - a dig at the NY Times. I have to give him credit for not going down without a fight.
• McCain: Here he goes with his "straight talk." "McCain-Kennedy Bill" - 'nuff said. He looks like he could use a nap. He's getting fired up now - the surge always gets him going.
• Guliani: I'm liking his tax cut talk. He's the lefty" on this stage however. I also noticed that he apparently is required to use the term "leader" and reference Reagan in every response.
• Paul: The guy is principled and I like the way he irritates the others. He always works the Consitution into the debate. Imagine that! He also skillfully catalogs the Republicans' big slide backwards in recent years. He just got McCain pretty good and I liked it.
• Huckabee: Did he say "fair tax?" Yes he did! He's talking tough - a "gates of hell" reference. I'm sure someone will now ask if he believes in a literal hell!

Okay the debate is half over and I just lost my connection (I'm watching over the internet in my cable tv free house). So I'm out...

Coach Who?

Gibbs is out and retiring & returing to NASCAR. I'm not too disappointed. Coach Gibbs' first run was fantastic and happened during my earlier years when I was much more concerned about professional sports. His second coming wasn't nearly as stunning though there are many lining up to praise Gibbs for his leadership in returning the Redskins to strength and stability. That said, conventional wisdom says Greg Wiliams will be promoted from within. Maybe, but I'm inclined to see it differently. One thing we know about owner Daniel Snyder is that he likes to use his big $$$ to make a big splash. I can't see him doing the simple conventional thing here. I look for a "big name " coach to be brought in: Bill Cowher... Pete Carroll... Jimmy Johnson (say it isn't so)... Brian Billick (please don't!)... Maybe "Mr. Snyder" can fly up to New England and offer Bill Belichick some enormous cash (I'll keep dreaming). Mike Martz is my personal favorite (at least it would be exciting). OOPS - martz just signed as offensive Coordinator with San Fran.

Bob Dull All Over Again!

So John McCain won in New Hampshire. I said months ago that McCain was done and I hope I was right back then. I'm listening to his victory speech as I type and I'm telling you he is Bob Dole (Dull) all over again... He's old (Reagan was, but he's no Reagan). He's a war hero, but that doesn't mean he should be president. He is too scripted and his speech is sleepy. And, unlike Dole, he's no conservative. He's a neocon and a sure loser in the national election. The good folks of South Carolina will surely deal him a major setback. I hope so anyway.

I'm back

It's been a a while since I've posted anything here. I know the masses have been waitng anxiously, but 've been enjoying some time off. Hopefully I took vacation from Christmas through the new year and have really just settled back into the normal schedule. Sunday night our church worked at the Port Winter Shelter here in Newport News. I do the all night shift and it was fun hanging out and laughing all night. Most churches have one or two people work all night but not us. We had eight! You don't need that many but it makes it much more enjoyable and it's fun see how people act at the 3 AM, etc. Fortunately we had a WaWA across the street so several trips there for coffee & donuts helped us make through the night. It's always an interesting time to work with the "homeless." Some are plain pitiful and others are just working the system, but sometimes it's especially sad. There was a woman with a baby this time. I wonder how people end up in these predicamants and am all the more thankful for my family and friends and home.