Dead Chickens Walking

‘…I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.’  ~ John 17:9b

• Remember that scene in ‘Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade’ when Indy stumbled upon a book-burning rally?

 

• To-day marks the end of the line for my broilers.  Ask not for whom the bell tolls, chicken.  It tolls for thee.

 

• As with all fallible men, I do not agree with everything Mark Driscoll has to say but, conversely, a great deal of what he espouses appeals to me (his devotion to sound doctrine is to be greatly admired).  For example, I am very much in step with his call for Christian men to return to a biblical masculinity; yet, I take issue with his worship style and his ’embracing’ of culture as necessary to spreading the gospel.  To be sure, he has no dearth of critics: ‘Mark Driscoll, the chest-thumping, LA-dressing, pastor of Mars Hill Church must be feeling the heat from the current of criticism that’s warming his backside.’

 

IF IT BE HERESY, LET US MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

It’s a Wrap!

• It’s official: Michelle Malkin is now crazier than Ann Coulter.  She’s accusing Rachael Ray—yes, Rachael Ray—of being a terrorist sympathiser.  [Thanks to Eric for pointing out the correct spelling of Mrs. Ray’s name.]

 

 

 

• Sadly, the President does not appear as eager to promote the Gospel as he does to spread democracy in the Middle East. 

 

 

 

• I STILL think Clay Aiken plays for the other team. 

 

 

 

‘According to David Walker, the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, if present trends continue, by 2040, 100% of the federal budget will be consumed just by Social Security and Medicare, and even that will require annual confiscation of 40% of the private sector’s output. At that point, the government’s only option for balancing the budget would be cutting the federal budget by 60% (and defaulting on the Social Security and Medicare promises) or doubling federal taxes – meaning the government would be confiscating 80% of the private sector’s output just to fund Social Security and Medicare. And the economy would have to grow by double-digits every year until then to grow its way out of this outcome. When was the last time we had double-digit growth for even one year?’ 

 

 

 

• More evidence that John McCain is lying misspeaking. 

 

 

 

• According to a statement released earlier this month by the Sarasota City Commission, Habitat for Humanity will reportedly facilitate the opening of Planned Parenthood in the area through a $10 real estate purchase from the group.  “We are excited to have Habitat be a part of the Planned Parenthood team,” a Planned Parenthood representative reportedly said after the agreement. 

Mr Jones–It’s the Kremlin on Line Two

Q. 144: What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?  A: …speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever…  ~ Westminster Larger Catechism

 

 

• This is, like, one of my biggest pet peeves.

 

 

 

• Ron Paul gathered 24% of the vote in the Idaho primary on Tuesday!

 

 

 

‘[President Bush’s] real motivation for the war, [former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan] said, was to transform the Middle East to ensure an enduring peace in the region. But the White House effort to sell the war as necessary due to the stated threat posed by Saddam Hussein was needed because “Bush and his advisers knew that the American people would almost certainly not support a war launched primarily for the ambitious purpose of transforming the Middle East.’

 

 

 

• One of the most frustrating things I face is when I repeatedly—repeatedly—tell my daughter not to do something (for her own good, of course) and she does it anyway. When she is faced with the consequences (i.e. pain and/ or punishment) she is incredulous—even though I warned her and she knew what would occur. The numerous unheeded and ignored warnings against an unwise crazy war with Iran give me the same feeling.

 

 

 

• Russian communists are very angry with Indiana Jones. (Thanks to Lew Rockwell.)

 

 

 

• ‘Sixty-nine percent of Americans who currently attend church have attended more than one place of worship as an adult, while 31 percent say their current place of worship is the only one they have regularly attended since they became an adult.’

 

To-day’s 1980’s Moment is brought to you by: Fleetwood Mac

Scary in Seattle

This is pretty much how I feel about all chick flicks.

 

High Culture in the Bayou City

As part of our Christ-mas presents from last year, Ashlee’s parents treated us, her brothers, and their girlfriends to the Pink Martini concert in Houston this weekend.  I did not spend much time in the Downtown Arts Scene when I was growing up in Houston.  (Although, as my brother-in-law–who moved to Houston a couple of years ago–has told me, since I grew up outside the Loop, it wasn’t real Houston.)  Add to that my gross disdain for the hoity-toity lifestyle and general inability to show any ‘class’ in an upper crust setting, and we had the makings of an embarrassing evening.  However, the crowd at Jones Hall ranged from the Power Set in their $2,000 suits and trophy wives to Joe Schmo in a pair of ironed Wranglers; so, being the median, I fit right in.  (I of course had on khakis and a generous amount of Dacron in the form of my ubiquitous blue blazer.  Pure Style.)

Pink Martini was backed by the Houston Symphony Orchestra, a treat by itself.  PM’s style is difficult to classify; they consist, basically, of a hodge-podge of Ivy League eggheads from Portland, Oregon who can play the heck out of their instruments, turn a wonderful phrase, and generally enjoy having a good time.  (At times, it seemed as if they should be paying us to be there!)  I am more apt to be found drinking cheap beer to the sounds of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson than nodding my head in time with songs sung in Egyptian and Italian.  But there I was.  The part of me that is drawn to Steely Dan found a friend in Pink Martini.  In sum: it’s just great music.  And eclectic.  Very, very eclectic.

I’m feeling very cosmopolitan.

Here is a great sampling of Pink Martini.  Do yourself a favour and spend about 10 minutes of your time in audio paradise.  (Think of it as an investment.)

 

Una Notte a Napoli

 

Hey, Eugene