There Goes Johnny

Johhny Hart died today. He was the creator the BC comic strip and a Christian. It is appropriate that he died just after Easter. He came under great criticism once on an Easter Sunday comic that showed the link between Judaism and Jesus. This was deemed offensive by many Jews and his comic was pulled from many newspapers. Of course, it is only offensive to connect the cross to Judaism if one doesn't believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

Paul preached the crucifixion, saying that to Greeks, it was foolishness --to Jews, a stumbling block. In other words, the cross as the way of salvation is offensive to Jews and non-Jews alike.

Johnny Hart, thanks for your work. See you later, I'm sure.

Guys, This Is Not Necessary, Really

Every year at this time, in San Pedro, Philipines, a bunch of people carry their crosses for a mile or so and then have themselves nailed to the cross to celebrate Easter. They guy in this picture has done this for the last 11 years, I think.

Why?

"to obey is better than sacrifice," says the Lord. A man can't pay for his own sins in the way Jesus did. Jesus paid the price for sin on His sinless body.

At best, this is just a very painful and dangerous wrong-headed way to worship, at worst it is ungrateful blasphemy. Ungrateful? yes. How? Jesus paid for the sins of these men when He was on the cross. They insult His sacrifice and its infinite value by mimicking it. It would be like having a loved one pay for an expensive meal for you and then going back and throwing a penny on the table and saying, "No, I'll pay."

Fred Thompson FL GOP 1998 Statesman of the Year

Here's the guy I want for president. He's gaining steam without even announcing officially. He has a great reputation.

What will happen next? Expect character assassination attempts to come soon. There will be those who will not attack his record, but his character. Politics is dirty business.

I hope he runs.

2005 PSU Highlight Video

Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, golf, they all have their little attractions. But in the long stretch from January to September, I needed a fix of the best sport ever invented. Nothing like some highlights from Penn State Football.

Won't Miss Too Many of These

If you are ever going to watch basketball on TV, try to catch the NBA playoffs when the Phoenix Suns are playing. Steve Nash is the most enjoyable athlete to watch in the Sport. Disagree? Who would you rather watch?

(BTW, for Hockey it is Sidney Crosby)

House Dramatizes Reality

The T.V. show "House," which I enjoy weekly, this week had Dr House changed when, as one who proclaimed the baby in the womb to be not valuable, the hand of a pre-born baby reaches out and grabs his finger during surgery. Great episode. Catch it if you can.

I Did It!!!

(The picture represents victory --the body looks like mine!)

I didn't see a single NCAA Men's tourney game, nor did I know what was happening! It wasn't that hard either. I have to admit, I slipped only once: While opening up the ESPN website, in a glance, last night, I saw that Ohio State and Florida were playing. But, I didn't watch the game and didn't discover the outcome till today! Yay me!

Also, I made the mistake of thinking I was successful as far as the ladies go, for I expected the ladies tournament to be over (for feminists out there, the word "ladies" used to refer to women as a way of showing respect, I mean "women's NCAA"). Boy was I wrong. So, checking to see who won, I now know that Tennessee and Rutgers will battling that out tonight. Go Rutgers. I'm not watching!

You know, for all the millions in advertising money that went into that tourney, it feels good to know I ducked the whole thing. Life feels complete.

Why Theology Matters

These Iranians are angry. They want the 15 English sailors killed. Why? It has nothing to do with where their boat was (which, by the way, the more credible sources say was in Iraqi water, not Iranian water). If it had to do with a boat being over a boundary, I'm not sure death is a reasonable response.

This isn't a reasonable response. There are many in Iran who believe that these sailors are infidels. The only proper behavior these infidels could display at this time is repentance, and repentance has nothing to do with getting on their boats and going home. It has to do with acknowledging Allah as God and Muhammed as his prophet and converting to Islam. If not, then they should die. That is why these men are this angry. The boat in the bay is not the issue.

What we beleive about God really matters in this world. We know that Jesus came as a sheep in the midst of wolves and His true followers do the same. In contrast to Allah's way, the Jesus way is to go to the lost and identify with them, sorrow with them, rejoice with them, love them, and tell them about the Savior. And, if they reject, we move on, but we are not to demand they convert or die.

The more powerful way is the Jesus way. Human anger and human might always fails.

Pray for the people in the picture if you have a moment. Jesus bore their murderous anger. He died to wash it away. They can know peace with God. And then, perhaps, they won't be so eager to kill the infidels.

Prayer for Nany Pelosi

Nancy is being used. She is going to Syria. The president has asked her not to. He has personally not dealt with Syria because they are a terrorist nation, helping people who attack our interests around the globe, especially those attacking our military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nancy shouldn't go. She is displaying dishonor to her nation and to her president. It is apparent that dishonoring Bush is a goal of hers, but she is mistaken to think any good will come of it from doing so in this fashion. They Syrians know what they are doing. They will use her visit as a way to denigrate Bush also. In this Pelosi and the Syrians are unified. This association itself should be enough to show Pelosi the impropriety of her actions --she is aligning herself with the Syrians because they have a common enemy: Bush. But one doesn't befriend a cobra, for any reason! Even if they do share animosity for a common foe.

But another aspect of human nature that Nancy is missing is that people have no respect for disloyalty. The Syrians will take advantage of Nancy's visit, but, in the long run, they will have no respect for her. Disloyal people garner no respect from those they seek to run to.

No good can come from this. It denigrates our president and makes a fool of our speaker of the House. Pray for Nancy that she will have a safe trip, and that God will bless her with wisdom and that she will consider honor, and other virtues. Pray for the health of her family also.

For the news story, click.

We Must Bless

Father in Heaven, we are all sinners, like this man. In your great kindness, please bless this man with health, safety, and a long and good life. Please also turn him from his sins and the foolishness of a religion that teaches him to hate non-Muslims. May he find You, the true and living God, and become the friend of those he wants to kill.

In the mighty name of Jesus, who changed me from Your enemy to your friend,

Amen