In the midst of New Year's resolutions and commitments to better health, Girl Scouts are selling their infernal cookies. Last night over a few episodes of The Shield, I ate an entire box of Caramel Delights (formerly Samoas). Kristie was attending Bible study during this time of gorging and gluttony.
New York Times ran this piece on Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church in Seattle. It's a fair look at both him and the New Calvinists movement. (I think I just used "New York Times" and "fair" in the same sentence!).
I do not necessarily like Driscoll and his too-cool-for-school attitude, but I appreciate how his ministry shows that people will come when a church has solid, theological teaching. Someone should tell this to feel-good Joel Osteen.
One note of correction: John Calvin did not have heretics burned at the stake.
Read the article.
Anne Hathaway spoke out against Rick Warren's selection for Inauguration Day. Of course, she's not the first Hollywood Elite-type to connect Rick Warren prayers with the end of the democratic world. She is even going to wear a bracelet to protest! That's taking it to the streets, sister!
She, along with all the others who are "offended," overlook these three points:
1. It is Obama's choice for him to come. Warren did not muscle his way into the ceremony; Barack invited him. Hathaway is against his inclusion because her older brother is gay. If you think one way about homosexuality, then anyone who think another way must be banished from participation in government affairs. Is that how it goes?
2. Rick Warren did not single-handedly pass Proposition 8. Lots and lots of Californians voted to pass that measure banning same-sex marriages. California joined many other states with similar bans. Was Rick Warren to blame for ALL of the states banning same-sex marriage, or just California's ban?
3. Barack Obama himself is against same-sex marriage. As is Rick Warren. And Hillary Clinton. And John Kerry. And, evidently, most of America.
Anne, if you really want to make a statement, boycott the Inauguration ceremony. I don't know how you got an invite, but make a stand not with your bracelet, but with your absence. Show Barack that you refuse to support his decision that way. It's the president-elect that you should be mad at, not Rick Warren, the man who simply believes differently than you do. I doubt that you or your brother thought of that as a viable option, did you?
Click for article.
We improvised and made this Christmas stool. Did you send us a
present in which to place under/on top/beside it?
For breakfast, we went to a new cafe, Cafe Caracalla, near our house.
Kristie saw a sign for pancakes, and that led her in. It's a Venice-
themed cafe.
There's a few herbal teas to choose from, and they come with a little timer to let you know when you can begin drinking. I thought that was a nice touch.
In case trouble goes down, there's a bow for your use.
On the way home, we stopped at a convenience store. A Melty Kiss sounds unsanitary to me.
The travel pack of mayonnaise is "food for ages 0-100." If you need to take mayonnaise with you on every outing, I doubt you are the kind of person that lives to be 100.
See a gallery of more of these photos that were snapped at the perfect time.
(Author: Abraham Piper)
The following is adapted from John Piper's sermon, "Proud People
Don't Say Thanks."
Proud people can't be grateful. So here are three very humbling
truths for the sake of your thankfulness.
1. Nature teaches us that an infinitely marvelous, eternally
powerful being created us and all we have. Therefore we are his
creatures. He owns us. Our life, our breath, and everything we have
is a gift. Our duty is simply to be thankful to him from our heart
and to cherish his glory.
2. All of us have fallen short of this duty. We have not
consistently prized the diamond of God's glory with an affection
anywhere near its value. Instead, we've exchanged it again and again
for the cracked marbles that in our great "wisdom" we have determined
are more valuable.
3. God, in his great mercy, sent his Son to suffer the judgment
of people who are broken and contrite in spirit and who trust in him.
Proud people don't say thanks, but people who believe these three
truths do. We are utterly dependent; we are depraved sinners; and we
are redeemed and forgiven through contrite faith.
If this penetrates our hearts today, we will be emptied of pride and
filled with thankfulness to God.
For the first time in our five Thanksgivings living overseas, Kristie
and I are not traveling. We've decided to stay around Okinawa for
both Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations. It's a sound fiduciary
decision, but we are pining a bit for adventure.
Here's a list of our past Thanksgivings:
2004: Beijing, China
2005: Saigon, Vietnam
2006: Venice, Italy
2007: Rome, Italy
2008: My couch, Okinawa
Nine minutes well spent. Can you honestly believe that there was no media bias in St. Obama's favor? Think that McCain supporters would fare the same? Perhaps you can try it yourself with these same questions.
The woman who looks like a strung-out cheerleader with lipstick-written Obama shirt is particularly annoying at mark 3:30. I doubt Sarah Palin thinks highly of you.
After they arrived here, the commissary received their shipment as
well. I have plenty, so come on over for a bowl!
Sidenote: This summer, I went to Bob's Red Mill to taste how they
make theirs. I was pleased to discover that I like mine better. While
there, Bob himself came into the store/restaurant. I wanted a picture
of him because he really does look like that cartoon picture of him
on the packages.
More information at http://www.bobsredmill.com/home.php.
Chuck Colson posted this entry about the aftermath of Proposition 8's passage:
"Peace-loving" activists display their hatred toward another protester on the other side of the issue. Is it possible at all that there can be two sides, or is it only your side that matters?
Watch this live feed in Palm Springs as a news crew tries to interview a woman while the angry mob chats "Go home!" Free speech or hatred? Does free speech only matter when it's you and your issue? I don't think it should.
This whole protest issue is silly to me. Citizens in a community have an obligation and a right to pass measure that reflect how they want to be governed. Proposition 8 passed banned gay marriage last Tuesday, and now it's being protests. How can a democratic vote on a social issue be protested if it passed fair and square along with every other state who passed similar measures? Here is where is goes past just a gay marriage issue, and is an issue on voting, communities, and democracy.
Proposition 8 passed banning same-sex marriage with 52% of the vote. This isn't a minor victory. By means of comparison, Obama won 53% of the popular vote, and liberals declare that the people have decisively spoken. The percentage is similar for Californians to vote to ban gay marriage. Imagine if you can how stupid it would be for McCain supports to take to the streets and bounce on cars protesting that Obama won. Imagine what the Left's favorite son Keith Olberman would say about those people.
Just because you don't like the outcome does not mean it is wrong. You may disagree with the passing of the measure, or of the choice of president, or that your favorite senator is voted out (in my case!), but that's the beauty of democracy. We get to have a voice in stating how we should be governed, and what laws are over us.
Was the passing of Prop 8 really a surprise? States have made decisive votes all across the country to define marriage as one man-one woman. If you don't like how it turned out, do your best to try to sway people's minds. It's your right. But, don't jump on cars and pick fights with churches or old ladies. That's just being an idiot.
Gay marriage is a liberal social issue, and there are no liberal social issues passed by voting. Liberals need to run to the courts to pass such measures, which is far worse in my opinion than voting on them. California tried that in the spring and everyone was so excited. "As California goes, so goes the country" I heard often then. Putting this issue up to a vote for the people is the right and democratic thing to do.
Gay protesters can whine about Mormons, Rick Warren, Republicans, Blacks, Jews, Hispanics, and renegade Democrats who voted to pass the measure, but the bottom line is that the majority of people in California did not want gay marriage to be recognized in their state. More votes=victory. Ask Obama about that. (He is, however, noticeably silent on this current issue, but Barack, like all the presidential candidates were this year, against gay marriage).
As California goes, so goes the country.
President-elect Barack Obama received the highest honor today when Iranian President Ahmadinejad offered his praise and congratulations. Since those on the far left often weeped, "But the world hates us!" this indeed is excellent news. Now, if we can check Hugo Chavez's schedule, perhaps we can all have elevenses together and curse Bush's name.
Where were the black organizations to stand up against this depiction
of a hanging? They were more concerned about "Obama waffles" than
they are about this depiction of violence. Jesse Jackson and Al
Sharpton are silent, and for once I wished they were talking on TV.
Most importantly, where was the Obama camp to speak out against this
type of campaigning? Wouldn't that have been a bold move for him to
denouncing this type of politicking?
The fact that liberals were quick to use the "it's different than a
black man hanging" defense shows us the cruel spirit of some of these
folks. And the hypocrisy.
I have wanted to do this for a few years, and this year I'm going to
give it a try. Don't worry, you'll ALL be in it somewhere.
Check out the site, and let me know if you think you'd like to give
it a try.
More information is here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano
As we plan our Cambodia-Vietnam trip this Christmas, I reserved a driver to take us around Angkor Wat temples. This is the same tuk-tuk driver friends used and spoke highly about. I reserved him for 25-30 December. This weekend, I received an angry message from him because he thought we reserved for 25-30 October. Here's the exchange:
On Oct 27, 2008, at 12:26 AM, san borin wrote:
I am sorry about that I had read your e mail but I think this mounth, this is my foul ,I hop see you on 25 december thank you
Hello how are you ? plaese Apologiseto me this is my Mistaken , I have to keep in my mind and I hop to see you soon
GOOD LUCK FOR YOU
