ABC News: Famous Atheist Now Believes in God

ABC News: Famous Atheist Now Believes in God
Well, he is part of the way there! I admire anyone who has the courage to stand up and admit that they were wrong. Especially when it requires taking an unpopular position. And also of note, when they have held a position for so many years.

Yahoo! News - Mount St. Helens Is State's Top Polluter

Yahoo! News - Mount St. Helens Is State's Top Polluter

Kinda tough to deal with this polluter through legislation!! :-)

Stock market

I don't know how much the market has gone up since the election, but I did notice my three funds are doing quite well.

It is quite interesting to me how the market went up when it was confirmed that Bush won. Makes me wonder how far down it would have gone with the opposite result?!

Yahoo! News - 'Monday Night Football' Rankles FCC

Yahoo! News - 'Monday Night Football' Rankles FCC

I think I agree with one of the writers on MSNBC this week: they did it on purpose, they knew it would cause an uproar, and they had their apology pre-written.

I continue (though I should know better by now) to be amazed at the things the networks will do these days.

I personally am very upset that my 10 yr old son and 12 yr old daughter were exposed to this - tho' I did change the channel as quickly as I could grab the remote control!

SSSSSSHHHHH!

OpinionJournal - Peggy Noonan

Wonderful column by one of my favorite columnists.

Cat in a spin

Cat in a spin

Ever notice how many of these strange stories are from England? Are they just weirder than the rest of the world, or are they just more public about it?

MSNBC - Chiefs 45, Colts 35

MSNBC - Chiefs 45, Colts 35

Not earthshaking news - but I do enjoy the NFL. I enjoy it a lot more when the Chiefs win.

Is she kidding, or is she really that stupid?

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2004�

I actually saw this - not that I am a regular viewer of Oprah, but I was sick at home, flipping channels and there it was.

Cameron Diaz actually said this! 'IF YOU THINK RAPE SHOULD BE LEGAL, THEN DON'T VOTE'

And, maybe it is my imagination, but it seemed to me that I could see just a flicker of disbelief in Oprah's eyes and face at what she had just heard. She covered it well, though, and just let Ms. Diaz keep talking until she said something that Oprah could jump in and help her out with what she was trying to say (whatever that was). And then she went to commercial quickly!

Men & Women are Different!!!!!!!!!!!

My Way News

Who knew?

My only response to this is "Doh!"

The Economic Recovery is insured

MSNBC - Panel OKs bill extending three popular tax cuts

If these pass and the President signs them (of course he will), the economy will continue to boom for years.

It happened with the Reagan tax cuts and it will continue to happen with these.

Newsday.com: As Rather goes, so goes network news

Newsday.com: As Rather goes, so goes network news

Interesting parallel made between this situation to the Bible and the invention of the moveable type printing press.

Iraqi women try to help Americans see the country through their eyes

sacbee.com -- News -- Diana Griego Erwin: Iraqi women try to help Americans see the country through their eyes

We need to keep focused on the positive results from the war in Iraq - not just the negative.

"Let them go naked..."

Yahoo! News - Heinz Kerry Visits Hurricane Aid Center

Is this the woman we want as the wife of the President of the United States? This is just too silly to even say out loud. I'm glad she appears to care, but PLEASE! Don't take advice from her in disaster relief! :-)

Convicted Celebrity Homemaker

MSNBC - Stewart to start jail term as soon as possible

Check this quote from the box for the video story: "Convicted celebrity homemaker Martha Stewart held a press conference Wednesday"

Usually the word "convicted" is followed by the crime they were convicted of - in this case, lying about a stock sale.

I think all you homemakers out there should be greatly offended by this. Why should homemaking be a convictable (is that a word?) offense? Or maybe it is the celebrity part that is illegal. It's OK to be a celebrity, and it's OK to be a homemaker - but you celebrity homemakers better watch out! The Feds are looking for you!

The Magpie Incident

(This is a sermon I preached some years ago. The story is true, and I think, rather amusing.)

We gave the cats their usual dog food feast one Sunday AM and they are all gathered
around eating industriously (since I didn't feed them at all the day previous) and here comes a magpie (that's a big, black and white bird, son) and it is hopping around on the ground right next to the cats.
Are you following this?? Cats - a bird. What would you think might happen? Didn't
happen.
This bird is (I guess) after some food his own self, and there he is walking around a bunch of cats who are hungry and do they pay him one ounce of attention? Nope.
They were consumed with consuming that dog food.
We were in the car driving out of the driveway, and I'm yelling at the cats (like they could hear me - and if they could hear me, like they could comprehend what I was saying), "Fresh meat! There's a bird! Kill it! Eat it! What is wrong with you??"
Crazy cats. Here's six cats, here's one bird. That bird was either as stupid as the cats, or he was one tough bird -I think he had a "No Fear" t-shirt on!
Just between me and you - if I have a choice between dog food and magpie, I'm going
for the magpie!!
Now, there really isn't anything necessarily wrong with dog food - if you're a dog. But a cat should eat cat food , not dog food. Food that is made for a cat. When a tasty dishlike a big, juicy magpie comes around, certainly a cat should jump right on it! The problem was, that the cats were so involved in that dog food, that they didn't even noticethe magpie hopping around. They were so hungry (having not been fed the previous day) that they jumped right into the first thing that looked and smelled good. They didn't take into account whether it was appropriate or not. They didn't take into account whether they could do better or not. You see, if they refused to eat dog food, I would buy them cat food. In fact, there is the reason they get dog food. They wouldn't eat the cat food that I was buying for them. They will eat the dog food. It isn't like I won't give them what is good for them, what is made for them, what is best for them. Because I will — if they will accept it. It they will leave the dog food and eat the cat food - or the magpie.
Have you noticed yourself in this story yet? I sure see me. I certainly see many people in this magpie incident. Now, hold on. I'm not nuts. Stick with me.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37 AV)
First, notice that God would like to do good things for us. He loves us! He has our best interests at heart. He isn't out to do us harm. And, since He is all wise and all-knowing, and He is outside of time, so He sees the big picture that we can't, His way is the way we should be going! Go for the magpie instead the dog food.

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!

Now look at this. The Israelites were going to Egypt for military assistance,
instead of to God! All they could see was the dog food of horses, chariots,
and horsemen. They thought that because that dog food was numerous,
and very strong, that it was the way to go and they went for it with gusto! They failed to notice the magpie hopping around beside them!

15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. (Isaiah 30:15-17 AV)

God offers them return and rest; quietness and confidence, and THEY WOULD NOT!! God offers you return and rest; quietness and confidence.

Choose the magpie, lose the dog food.

Here we are, scratching around in the dirt of the world, eating dog food,
because, maybe, we haven't properly nourished our relationship with God,
and so the first thing that comes along and looks spiritual, we jump on it.
Just like a hungry cat jumping into that dog food.
Or, maybe, because we don't trust God to take care of us, or we don't really
believe that He is powerful enough so we turn to what is popular (those
numerous horses and chariots), or we do what seems to be the most
efficient, effective, easiest, etc. (Those very strong chariots).
We've gotten so involved in the human, fleshly stuff, that we don't even notice that God is standing next to us, just waiting to supply our needs, to bless us spiritually, to show is the next step in our life, to show us the way we need to go, to give us guidance in that important decision, to comfort us when we are hurting, to be a companion when we are lonely, and so many other things that He would do for us, but we, like the citizens of Jerusalem, "would not."

My Lovely Wife

I just want to tell the world that IMHO I have the best wife available to man. She is smart, funny, beautiful, talented, and just wonderful in so many ways.

• She is an excellent gardener
• She is a good cook
• She writes humorous, very popular columns about our family in the newspaper (perhaps I will post some of her stuff here).
• She teaches Sunday School
• She runs a community Ladies' group
• She is well-liked by everyone who knows her
• etc., etc., etc.!

Badminton with the kids on Labor Day

Had a good day - rearranged the room where we keep the TV, hooked up the new DVD player.

And - spent a lot of time playing with the kids. We always played a lot of Badminton when I was growing up. I hope to spend a lot more time doing that with my kids. They are actually starting to finally get the hang of hitting the birdie with the racket ( they are ages 5, 8, 10, & 12).

Anyway, I love playing badminton.

I must have gotten too into it, though, my knee (which I hurt sledding with the kids last December) is really bothering me today. I must be getting old (40)?

Michigan appeals court orders gay marriage, gambling proposals on ballot - 09/04/04

Michigan appeals court orders gay marriage, gambling proposals on ballot - 09/04/04

It's nice to see judges upholding the law - regardless of the issue at stake. That committee that attempted to kill this was clearly avoiding doing their job under the rules they normally operate under.

The Psalms

My Bible reading schedule has me in the Psalms. Overall impression this time around (not the first time I've read them): Many, many of them start out in despair, or anger, or fear -- but they always end in hope (in God), faith (in God), and praise (to God).

No matter the situation, no matter the outcome (good or bad), a child of God can always hope, have faith, and give praise to God Almighty.

Sometimes (too often) I forget this vital truth. And if David could do it (and his problems were much bigger than mine have ever been), surely I can do it.

Article: US plans portable nuclear power plants?| New Scientist

Article: US plans portable nuclear power plants? New Scientist

Now here is a good idea! I hope it comes to fruition.

BTW, more nuclear plants here at home would make us less dependent on foreign oil - and isn't that a theme of every candidate for every office from President on down to dog catcher??

MSNBC - ID thief to the stars tells all

Such talent - could have been used for good. Too bad.

New York Daily News - Home - Rev. Bubba uses Billy pulpit to bash Bush

If a Republican did this at a conservative church, they would have their tax-exempt status pulled so fast your head would spin. But it's apparently OK for Clinton to do it. Where is the "Rev. Barry" of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State? I guess he's too busy monitoring every word out of Jerry Falwell's mouth.

The hypocrisy of the left is so stunningly ubiquitous that it's almost not even worth mentioning anymore - for fear of belaboring the obvious.

MSNBC - Surgically separatedtwins leave hospital

Cool! So many of these operations end in failure, it's nice to see one that worked.