As I mentioned, we are going to Mexico tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. In the meantime, why not listen to some www.Christcast.net Talk to you Monday morning!
Adios!
Dana
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
a new mindset
Obviously, teens that plan on shooting up their high schools are few. The news is going to jump on anything and keep it going as long as possible. With the media saturation of violence and revenge, coupled with societies’ narcissist emphasis (I wonder what kind of toilet paper Brad and Angelina use?), is it a wonder there aren’t more of these cases?
Do you want a low risk that you as a teenager will go nuts or you who are parents want low risk for your children following this path of destruction? A key remedy is serving others.
A year helping out AID’s orphans in Uganda would do wonders in the mindset of teenagers with no hope who think the whole world is against them. Maybe closer to home, volunteering weekly at the local Alzheimer’s day center or a nursing facility being a listener and friend.
My children and I are going with a church group on a four day work trip to Mexico tomorrow morning. Do you think self-absorbed attitudes can be adjusted in something like that? Of course. It is interesting how life looks far different when you are reaching out for the sake of others rather than focusing on you.
So drop whatever you are doing and spend some time thinking about what you do for those who are in need around you.
Do you want a low risk that you as a teenager will go nuts or you who are parents want low risk for your children following this path of destruction? A key remedy is serving others.
A year helping out AID’s orphans in Uganda would do wonders in the mindset of teenagers with no hope who think the whole world is against them. Maybe closer to home, volunteering weekly at the local Alzheimer’s day center or a nursing facility being a listener and friend.
My children and I are going with a church group on a four day work trip to Mexico tomorrow morning. Do you think self-absorbed attitudes can be adjusted in something like that? Of course. It is interesting how life looks far different when you are reaching out for the sake of others rather than focusing on you.
So drop whatever you are doing and spend some time thinking about what you do for those who are in need around you.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
more on teen violence
Yesterday, I started blogging about the kids in North Pole, Alaska who were going to shoot their classmates and teachers. There is also this case from last week in Columbus, Kansas and high school students doing the same thing to “celebrate” the 7th anniversary of Columbine.
My daughter, Kristina, and I did an extended podcast of this which you can access from the blog or I tunes link www.Christcast.net In it we talk about a variety of issues related to teenage violence, school shootings and such.
Two quick things you notice. In many of these school shootings or plots, it is smaller towns. So much for the violence of cities such as LA, where we live. It is especially ironic, since there has to be a lot of evidence pointing to something going on with the teens, as Columbus only has 3300 residents, and North Pole, Alaska, 1600. You can’t hide “strange-goings-on” in these settings. Indeed, at least in the Alaska case, a parent tipped off the police.
Another thing to notice is these school shootings or plots tend to be white kids. Gang activity in urban areas tends to be African American and Latino, but the teenage angst shooters are white? Violence is equal opportunity, I guess.
My daughter, Kristina, and I did an extended podcast of this which you can access from the blog or I tunes link www.Christcast.net In it we talk about a variety of issues related to teenage violence, school shootings and such.
Two quick things you notice. In many of these school shootings or plots, it is smaller towns. So much for the violence of cities such as LA, where we live. It is especially ironic, since there has to be a lot of evidence pointing to something going on with the teens, as Columbus only has 3300 residents, and North Pole, Alaska, 1600. You can’t hide “strange-goings-on” in these settings. Indeed, at least in the Alaska case, a parent tipped off the police.
Another thing to notice is these school shootings or plots tend to be white kids. Gang activity in urban areas tends to be African American and Latino, but the teenage angst shooters are white? Violence is equal opportunity, I guess.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Christcast 7
school shooting plots, teenage violence, what's going on? Dana and Kristina examine the issue.
murder and narcissism?
All right here we go again.
First, I spent the weekend with a group of about 50 high school students and worked with them on the wonders of God’s created world from a faith/science perspective. What a considerate, respectful, fun, and wild (normal) group of teens. We were in the local mountains at a church camp, and it even snowed! For southern California, actually a treat.
So no news for a weekend. Then I have to look at this. Six seventh grade students arrested for allegedly plotting a massacre at their middle school. A small town in Alaska is understandably on high alert as these kids were planning on knocking out the computer system and phone system, so they could buy time to kills students and teachers before their escape. “Why?” is the obvious question we always ask at times like this. It is always best to let the perpetrators speak for themselves.
According to the police chief, here is what they were talking about.
The seventh-graders wanted to seek revenge for being picked on by other students, Lindhag said. They also disliked staff and students, he said.
You have to be kidding. If I killed everyone who picked on me when I was in junior high, there would be a lot a bodies to recover from the streets of Racine, Wisconsin. How about you? Or even more absurd, what if we killed everyone we disliked at that age? Would there be anybody left in any town in world?
This is an outrageous example of individual and group narcissism. If I am the center of my own universe and I become a victim of alleged unfair treatment, I guess automatically my conscience just goes out the window.
From the Weimar Republic of Germany in the 30’s to the murderers of 9/11, to the hallways of North Pole Middle School in Alaska, when you see yourself as a victim, and you are your own god, then you get this. It is also the foundation of most human sin. Turning in upon yourself. St. Augustine and later, Martin Luther, called it et peccator curvatus. One metaphor for sin is this, “curving in upon oneself.”
We are all capable of being narcisstic, curavtusing peccators. Self absorbed to such an extent that we lash out at anyone who dares look at us with anything other than worship and admiration. That is a pretty typical human condition. Once we start murdering, our evil becomes Evil.
More tomorrow.
First, I spent the weekend with a group of about 50 high school students and worked with them on the wonders of God’s created world from a faith/science perspective. What a considerate, respectful, fun, and wild (normal) group of teens. We were in the local mountains at a church camp, and it even snowed! For southern California, actually a treat.
So no news for a weekend. Then I have to look at this. Six seventh grade students arrested for allegedly plotting a massacre at their middle school. A small town in Alaska is understandably on high alert as these kids were planning on knocking out the computer system and phone system, so they could buy time to kills students and teachers before their escape. “Why?” is the obvious question we always ask at times like this. It is always best to let the perpetrators speak for themselves.
According to the police chief, here is what they were talking about.
The seventh-graders wanted to seek revenge for being picked on by other students, Lindhag said. They also disliked staff and students, he said.
You have to be kidding. If I killed everyone who picked on me when I was in junior high, there would be a lot a bodies to recover from the streets of Racine, Wisconsin. How about you? Or even more absurd, what if we killed everyone we disliked at that age? Would there be anybody left in any town in world?
This is an outrageous example of individual and group narcissism. If I am the center of my own universe and I become a victim of alleged unfair treatment, I guess automatically my conscience just goes out the window.
From the Weimar Republic of Germany in the 30’s to the murderers of 9/11, to the hallways of North Pole Middle School in Alaska, when you see yourself as a victim, and you are your own god, then you get this. It is also the foundation of most human sin. Turning in upon yourself. St. Augustine and later, Martin Luther, called it et peccator curvatus. One metaphor for sin is this, “curving in upon oneself.”
We are all capable of being narcisstic, curavtusing peccators. Self absorbed to such an extent that we lash out at anyone who dares look at us with anything other than worship and admiration. That is a pretty typical human condition. Once we start murdering, our evil becomes Evil.
More tomorrow.
Friday, April 21, 2006
let's just be honest
Do you see the discrepancy from yesterday’s blog? There is much criticism of some Christians trying to “shove their religion down my throat” because of opposition to such moral issues as same-sex marriage and abortion. Whatever your thinking on these topics, there are definitely worldview implications that influence your thinking.
The logical disconnect is when people try to pretend like you can make “values neutral” decisions on something like same-sex marriage or abortion, but use your values when it comes to legislation coming to the aid of the poor and needy. If you want to try to have it both ways and be logical, it doesn’t work.
As I said yesterday, let’s be honest and admit that we do use all kinds of worldviews to influence our thinking and our government’s legislation. Same-sex marriage and abortion may be supported by legislators in spite of certain worldview implications, but let’s be totally clear that using moral/values judgments occur all the time in a wide variety of ways. Then we can come to the table of public policy on equal footing.
The logical disconnect is when people try to pretend like you can make “values neutral” decisions on something like same-sex marriage or abortion, but use your values when it comes to legislation coming to the aid of the poor and needy. If you want to try to have it both ways and be logical, it doesn’t work.
As I said yesterday, let’s be honest and admit that we do use all kinds of worldviews to influence our thinking and our government’s legislation. Same-sex marriage and abortion may be supported by legislators in spite of certain worldview implications, but let’s be totally clear that using moral/values judgments occur all the time in a wide variety of ways. Then we can come to the table of public policy on equal footing.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
shoving your religion down someone's throat?
My friend Missy is doing a paper on revitalizing downtown LA. We started talking about the homeless. As with many urban areas in the US, there are many homeless people who live down there. According to a recent court case about homelessness, the most in the country. Here are some quotes from an article about this.
In her ruling, Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw said that Los Angeles' Skid Row has the highest concentration of homeless individuals in the United States. She said that about 11,000 to 12,000 homeless people live in Skid Row, a 50-block area, bounded by Third, Seventh, Main and Alameda Streets."Because there is substantial and undisputed evidence that the number of homeless persons in Los Angeles far exceeds the number of available shelter beds at all times, including on the night" the plaintiffs were arrested or cited, "Los Angeles has encroached upon" the plaintiffs' 8th Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) protections "by criminalizing the unavoidable act of sitting, lying or sleeping at night while being involuntarily homeless," Wardlaw wrote.
For now, I am not going to talk about all the issues of homelessness. I would like to quote a friend of the plaintiff’s in this case.
Mark Rosenbaum, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, hailed the ruling "as the most significant judicial decision involving homelessness in the history of the country. The case stands for the proposition that in America homelessness is not a crime."…
"I think what community leaders need to do now is deal with the problem, not by criminalizing homelessness, but by developing shelters, mental health programs and jobs," Rosenbaum said. "That's not only humane,(emphasis mine) it is economically and socially wise. Once they do that, so many other social problems in the community, will be alleviated, including the high population in the county jail and pressure on emergency health services and foster care, he added.
What is that all about? I have no idea what the word, “humane” means from an ACLU standpoint. This is an organization that has systematically attempted to get all references to religion out of the public square. They are also the plaintiffs in many lawsuits, like Kitzmilller vs.Dover School District, that hold (my summary paraphrase) that strict Darwinian evolution can absolutely not be questioned in the classroom, because even questioning that all of life is a product of random, purposeless chance smacks of religion.
OK, say I agree. Then why are you trying to shove your religion down my throat by making a moral value judgment that it is the government’s role to help the homeless? “Humane?” What benchmark of morality are you basing that word upon?
According to one take on the Darwinian theory, the most healthy organisms reproduce and respond to the environment and random mutation through adaptation. While, “survival of the fittest” is not an accurate assessment of this process, it certainly is used by Darwinist’s in the vernacular. So, what would be in my best interest, or the interest of my little subset family of the species homo sapien sapien, to use “scarce” resources that we possess to help homeless people? Do you see where this is heading?
Helping the homeless, those in poverty, those who are at risk, these are all hugely religious actions based on religious benchmarks. Atheists do caring and compassionate things too, but there is no logical explanation using the Darwinian model that would explain their source for the moral behavior. I have read attempts (an example) by Darwinan theorists or atheists, and they are not even close.
Is helping the homeless bringing religion into a state issue? Of course it is. Let’s just be honest and admit we put our “religion” into our politics and in the public square all the time.
In her ruling, Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw said that Los Angeles' Skid Row has the highest concentration of homeless individuals in the United States. She said that about 11,000 to 12,000 homeless people live in Skid Row, a 50-block area, bounded by Third, Seventh, Main and Alameda Streets."Because there is substantial and undisputed evidence that the number of homeless persons in Los Angeles far exceeds the number of available shelter beds at all times, including on the night" the plaintiffs were arrested or cited, "Los Angeles has encroached upon" the plaintiffs' 8th Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) protections "by criminalizing the unavoidable act of sitting, lying or sleeping at night while being involuntarily homeless," Wardlaw wrote.
For now, I am not going to talk about all the issues of homelessness. I would like to quote a friend of the plaintiff’s in this case.
Mark Rosenbaum, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, hailed the ruling "as the most significant judicial decision involving homelessness in the history of the country. The case stands for the proposition that in America homelessness is not a crime."…
"I think what community leaders need to do now is deal with the problem, not by criminalizing homelessness, but by developing shelters, mental health programs and jobs," Rosenbaum said. "That's not only humane,(emphasis mine) it is economically and socially wise. Once they do that, so many other social problems in the community, will be alleviated, including the high population in the county jail and pressure on emergency health services and foster care, he added.
What is that all about? I have no idea what the word, “humane” means from an ACLU standpoint. This is an organization that has systematically attempted to get all references to religion out of the public square. They are also the plaintiffs in many lawsuits, like Kitzmilller vs.Dover School District, that hold (my summary paraphrase) that strict Darwinian evolution can absolutely not be questioned in the classroom, because even questioning that all of life is a product of random, purposeless chance smacks of religion.
OK, say I agree. Then why are you trying to shove your religion down my throat by making a moral value judgment that it is the government’s role to help the homeless? “Humane?” What benchmark of morality are you basing that word upon?
According to one take on the Darwinian theory, the most healthy organisms reproduce and respond to the environment and random mutation through adaptation. While, “survival of the fittest” is not an accurate assessment of this process, it certainly is used by Darwinist’s in the vernacular. So, what would be in my best interest, or the interest of my little subset family of the species homo sapien sapien, to use “scarce” resources that we possess to help homeless people? Do you see where this is heading?
Helping the homeless, those in poverty, those who are at risk, these are all hugely religious actions based on religious benchmarks. Atheists do caring and compassionate things too, but there is no logical explanation using the Darwinian model that would explain their source for the moral behavior. I have read attempts (an example) by Darwinan theorists or atheists, and they are not even close.
Is helping the homeless bringing religion into a state issue? Of course it is. Let’s just be honest and admit we put our “religion” into our politics and in the public square all the time.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Christcast 6
why do so many young Christians drop out of faith life by their 20's?
According to studies in America, 80-90%!! "Sex, booze, drugs, well, ya
there is that...but is it something more?
I interview a 20 year old friend, Nick, who shares his take on the
issues.
According to studies in America, 80-90%!! "Sex, booze, drugs, well, ya
there is that...but is it something more?
I interview a 20 year old friend, Nick, who shares his take on the
issues.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
6-6-06
6-6-06 I knew it was coming. It was only a matter of when. I passed an all black billboard today with this written in white.
6-6-06
The signs are all around you
I don’t know whose ad it is or for what, but it finally has arrived. Public acknowledgment that June 6, 2006, or 6-6-06 for short, has arrived. Biblical prophecy scholars, heavy metal fans, and horror movie buffs all know the number.
Revelation 13:18
18Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
“Mark of the beast, dude! 666! All right!” (in my best Spinal Tap accent)
Not that June 6th is not famous already. June 6, 1944. The invasion of Normandy. D-Day. We are not speaking German now, (not that there is anything wrong with the language/ aber es ist gut Hitler ist nichts unserer Fϋhrer), in some measure because of that day.
Yet 6-6-06 will be analyzed for other reasons. The mark of the beast, the anti-Christ, my birthday. Oops! It slipped out. Just don’t get too worked up. As of today, I have no tattoos…
6-6-06
The signs are all around you
I don’t know whose ad it is or for what, but it finally has arrived. Public acknowledgment that June 6, 2006, or 6-6-06 for short, has arrived. Biblical prophecy scholars, heavy metal fans, and horror movie buffs all know the number.
Revelation 13:18
18Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
“Mark of the beast, dude! 666! All right!” (in my best Spinal Tap accent)
Not that June 6th is not famous already. June 6, 1944. The invasion of Normandy. D-Day. We are not speaking German now, (not that there is anything wrong with the language/ aber es ist gut Hitler ist nichts unserer Fϋhrer), in some measure because of that day.
Yet 6-6-06 will be analyzed for other reasons. The mark of the beast, the anti-Christ, my birthday. Oops! It slipped out. Just don’t get too worked up. As of today, I have no tattoos…
Monday, April 17, 2006
trials of teenage faith
trials and tribulations of trying to be a disciple as a teenager, including my kissing game story- from my Easter Vigil message
another Easter
Easter is a highlight day for Christians. We are all excited to celebrate the risen Jesus and it is a day that has faith written all over it. Unlike Christmas, our other big day, no one has figured how to take advantage of Easter from a commerce standpoint. I suppose a lot of ham is sold, and of course this is prime easter lily season, but other than that, what? Plastic eggs to be filled with candy? All right, I’ll give you that, too.
Yet, Easter remains, well, Easter. Even the media and magazines didn’t put a damper on Easter. Every year they put out something that is supposed to get us thinking that maybe the Bible isn’t accurate after all, though it was all written within 20-70 years after the time of Jesus, and there are, oh, 24,633 manuscripts of various length, from sections to the whole New Testament, all compiled within 300 years of Jesus. This is compared to number two in ancient writings, The Iliad by Homer, all 634 manuscripts. The single copy of the Gospel of Judas from 300 A.D. was proclaimed, “One of the most significant biblical finds in the past century.” First it is not a biblical find. The Dead Sea scrolls would have something to say about significant, as well. And it is such an important find, that the leading authority on such a manuscript, James Robinson, is not a key scholar consulted. Must be quite a find.
Well, actually the quote is from an ad from the National Geographic Channel, about TV show that has been shown repeatedly. I caught part of it being shown still again, yesterday. It’s been kind of like a small car crash. “All right move on, there is nothing to see here.”
This Gospel of Judas is a single manuscript probably written 130-140 years after the time of Jesus by another group of Gnostics, talking about secret stuff that only a few get to know. Body evil/ spirit good, Jewish stuff no good, seems I have heard this tune before. Yes, there are about 280 of these pseudopigrapha books around already. In my pod cast, which can be played or downloaded from www.Christcast.net, I speak with my friend Matt in a little more detail about this.
Oh well, at least they didn’t try to get me to believe Jesus didn’t really walk on water this Easter season. Wait a minute. Yes, they did!
Yet, Easter remains, well, Easter. Even the media and magazines didn’t put a damper on Easter. Every year they put out something that is supposed to get us thinking that maybe the Bible isn’t accurate after all, though it was all written within 20-70 years after the time of Jesus, and there are, oh, 24,633 manuscripts of various length, from sections to the whole New Testament, all compiled within 300 years of Jesus. This is compared to number two in ancient writings, The Iliad by Homer, all 634 manuscripts. The single copy of the Gospel of Judas from 300 A.D. was proclaimed, “One of the most significant biblical finds in the past century.” First it is not a biblical find. The Dead Sea scrolls would have something to say about significant, as well. And it is such an important find, that the leading authority on such a manuscript, James Robinson, is not a key scholar consulted. Must be quite a find.
Well, actually the quote is from an ad from the National Geographic Channel, about TV show that has been shown repeatedly. I caught part of it being shown still again, yesterday. It’s been kind of like a small car crash. “All right move on, there is nothing to see here.”
This Gospel of Judas is a single manuscript probably written 130-140 years after the time of Jesus by another group of Gnostics, talking about secret stuff that only a few get to know. Body evil/ spirit good, Jewish stuff no good, seems I have heard this tune before. Yes, there are about 280 of these pseudopigrapha books around already. In my pod cast, which can be played or downloaded from www.Christcast.net, I speak with my friend Matt in a little more detail about this.
Oh well, at least they didn’t try to get me to believe Jesus didn’t really walk on water this Easter season. Wait a minute. Yes, they did!
Friday, April 14, 2006
what is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion is a relay race where we hand over faith to the next generations. A message for young people celebrating their first
communion.
communion.
Good Friday
Today roughly 2/3’s of the people of the world will go about their business and not pay a moment’s notice to something going on. War? Global warming? Avian flu? No, something much more devastating and catastrophic then these.
About 2/3’s of the world’s population does not identify as “Christian,” and today they will not give thanks to their Savior for what he has done for them.
On this Good Friday, in spite of his love, in spite of his hope, in spite of the evidence that he lived, died, and was resurrected from the dead, in spite of the fact that the Holy Spirit is drawing all people to God through Jesus, in spite of all of that, billions will go about their daily lives without giving it a second thought.
What Jesus offers freely will not be accepted. This has nothing to do on Jesus’ part. It is not his way to force anyone to listen. It doesn’t matter if you live a “good” life. It doesn’t make a difference if you are a “good” person. There is not a person living who could not do better.
This has everything to do with saying, “Thank you,” to someone who has just saved your life.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.
About 2/3’s of the world’s population does not identify as “Christian,” and today they will not give thanks to their Savior for what he has done for them.
On this Good Friday, in spite of his love, in spite of his hope, in spite of the evidence that he lived, died, and was resurrected from the dead, in spite of the fact that the Holy Spirit is drawing all people to God through Jesus, in spite of all of that, billions will go about their daily lives without giving it a second thought.
What Jesus offers freely will not be accepted. This has nothing to do on Jesus’ part. It is not his way to force anyone to listen. It doesn’t matter if you live a “good” life. It doesn’t make a difference if you are a “good” person. There is not a person living who could not do better.
This has everything to do with saying, “Thank you,” to someone who has just saved your life.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
travel lightly
When I think of being a disciple of Jesus in this world I think of the phrase “travel lightly.” When Jesus sent his disciples out on a training run, he takes this literally.
9"Don't take any money with you. 10Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. 11Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy man and stay in his home until you leave for the next town.”
When you study the model of Jesus and his disciples, I don’t think we are called to be them, but rather like them. The same model of character, integrity, commitment, passion, and urgency. Not necessarily you are to go out preaching from town to town living on other people’s hospitality. Now, this may be your call, but it is not a general call for all disciples. We aren’t all called to be fishermen, either. Though trying it out can be fun.
Traveling lightly in life is a model we can follow, however. Not getting too caught up in any human cause or interest that can take away from our primary focus on Jesus and living in his Kingdom now. When you look at the big picture, you see traveling lightly is the best view of reality.
This is why prayer is so powerful. Prayer connects us to the creator and sustainer of the universe and all that exists and it connects us to the needs of the world. We wash the world with our prayers and we go about living the Kingdom life and we become an irresistible influence in a world crying out in despair. We answer with ourselves and the hope Jesus brings through us.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
astounding tolerance?
The museum of tolerance had exhibits that unwittingly showed how astoundingly tolerant Americans prove to be. When you enter the museum there is a huge picture of several current events that showed murder out of hatred for an individual or group. Two I would mention are the murder of an abortion clinic doctor and the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi.
Since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1972, how many abortion clinic murders have there been, either at the clinic or staff murdered off campus? 1000? 500? 100? How about 7. Total.
An interesting side note is the murderers were not all self-professed “Christians” either. Bombing abortion clinics is often used as evidence that there are radically violent “Christian” terrorists, of which I have no doubt there may be people who call themselves “Christian” who commit terrorism. It’s just they need better PR because we are not hearing about it.
After the September 11th attack, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner, was killed in Mesa, Arizona. He was a Sikh, which is not Islam, but a blend of Muslim/ Hindu/ other faith. His picture is in the exhibit as a hate crime murder against a Muslim who wasn’t Muslim. Well, how many more hate crime murders have there been against Muslims since 9-11, besides this?
100? 50? How about 0? Yes, none. Two more murders after 9/11 are in dispute as to reason for the crime, and the FBI did not classify them as hate crimes. One was a man killing a Muslim man dating his ex-girlfriend. According to FBI hate crime statistics for 2001-2004 (the latest report) all hate crimes against Muslims in America look like this.
Incidents of hate crime
Year/incidents/murders and manslaughters/assaults
2001/ 554/ 0/ 95
2002/ 170/ 0/ 34
2003/ 155/ 0/ 33
2004/ 193/ 0/ 26
Besides the murders and assaults, the rest of the incidents are verbal assault or intimidation.
Do you see what I mean by astounding tolerance? Some people because of philosophical or religious belief consider abortion, murder, and yet, how few actually lash out violently against people they would consider accessories to murder.
When it comes to bigotry against Muslims, the American response has been amazingly calm. By any figment of the imagination, an attack of the magnitude of 9/11, followed by war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and yet bigots in America have lashed out so rarely.
I spoke to the docent of the museum about these observations and wasn’t it interesting that two of the major exhibits really were an unbelievable exception of the general trend of what is overwhelmingly tolerant about our nation’s people. She said they are teaching zero- tolerance.
It is commendable to teach zero-tolerance. I just thought it would be encouraging to let students going to the museum know, wherever they are getting their tolerance, at least in terms of not striking out with violent behavior goes, keep it up.
Since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1972, how many abortion clinic murders have there been, either at the clinic or staff murdered off campus? 1000? 500? 100? How about 7. Total.
An interesting side note is the murderers were not all self-professed “Christians” either. Bombing abortion clinics is often used as evidence that there are radically violent “Christian” terrorists, of which I have no doubt there may be people who call themselves “Christian” who commit terrorism. It’s just they need better PR because we are not hearing about it.
After the September 11th attack, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner, was killed in Mesa, Arizona. He was a Sikh, which is not Islam, but a blend of Muslim/ Hindu/ other faith. His picture is in the exhibit as a hate crime murder against a Muslim who wasn’t Muslim. Well, how many more hate crime murders have there been against Muslims since 9-11, besides this?
100? 50? How about 0? Yes, none. Two more murders after 9/11 are in dispute as to reason for the crime, and the FBI did not classify them as hate crimes. One was a man killing a Muslim man dating his ex-girlfriend. According to FBI hate crime statistics for 2001-2004 (the latest report) all hate crimes against Muslims in America look like this.
Incidents of hate crime
Year/incidents/murders and manslaughters/assaults
2001/ 554/ 0/ 95
2002/ 170/ 0/ 34
2003/ 155/ 0/ 33
2004/ 193/ 0/ 26
Besides the murders and assaults, the rest of the incidents are verbal assault or intimidation.
Do you see what I mean by astounding tolerance? Some people because of philosophical or religious belief consider abortion, murder, and yet, how few actually lash out violently against people they would consider accessories to murder.
When it comes to bigotry against Muslims, the American response has been amazingly calm. By any figment of the imagination, an attack of the magnitude of 9/11, followed by war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and yet bigots in America have lashed out so rarely.
I spoke to the docent of the museum about these observations and wasn’t it interesting that two of the major exhibits really were an unbelievable exception of the general trend of what is overwhelmingly tolerant about our nation’s people. She said they are teaching zero- tolerance.
It is commendable to teach zero-tolerance. I just thought it would be encouraging to let students going to the museum know, wherever they are getting their tolerance, at least in terms of not striking out with violent behavior goes, keep it up.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
acts 15- everyone
weighed down by rules and regulations?
confused by moral relativism?
-meet King Jesus
confused by moral relativism?
-meet King Jesus
scapegoating
When touring the Museum of Tolerance Holocaust exhibit, you see the various ways the Nazi’s tried to dehumanize the Jews and others. Blaming the Jews for Germany’s woes after World War I was a long process. It didn’t just happen overnight. The amazing thing is we are talking about less than 1% of the population. That’s how many Jews were in Germany. It doesn’t take a large group of people to become a scapegoat for everything.
After the Holocaust, small groups of people would necessarily be wary of how any society would look at them. Perhaps they would go out of their way to try to make sure they are treated with respect and dignity by the dominate culture in as many ways as possible.
I think this is some of the thinking behind the “gay rights” movement today. According to recent studies, adults who identify exclusively as homosexual are about 1 to 1.5% of the population of America. Yet, there are times when you hear some extreme things being said about them. As if the ills of American culture are in some part due to the homosexual behavior of some of her citizens.
Whether you think homosexual behavior is unhealthy and a sin or not, you can understand why those who identify as homosexual would be very sensitive to any rhetoric they sense is dehumanizing in any way. I don’t agree with many of the tactics and methodology of “gay rights” advocacy groups, but I understand their passion and urgency. It wasn’t long ago, those who were identified with a pink triangle patch were put on those trains and sent to the camps in Europe only later to be murdered.
True tolerance is respect and courtesy toward another, though you disagree with them. Those who are on all sides of this topic would do well to remember this.
After the Holocaust, small groups of people would necessarily be wary of how any society would look at them. Perhaps they would go out of their way to try to make sure they are treated with respect and dignity by the dominate culture in as many ways as possible.
I think this is some of the thinking behind the “gay rights” movement today. According to recent studies, adults who identify exclusively as homosexual are about 1 to 1.5% of the population of America. Yet, there are times when you hear some extreme things being said about them. As if the ills of American culture are in some part due to the homosexual behavior of some of her citizens.
Whether you think homosexual behavior is unhealthy and a sin or not, you can understand why those who identify as homosexual would be very sensitive to any rhetoric they sense is dehumanizing in any way. I don’t agree with many of the tactics and methodology of “gay rights” advocacy groups, but I understand their passion and urgency. It wasn’t long ago, those who were identified with a pink triangle patch were put on those trains and sent to the camps in Europe only later to be murdered.
True tolerance is respect and courtesy toward another, though you disagree with them. Those who are on all sides of this topic would do well to remember this.
Monday, April 10, 2006
museum of tolerance
I went to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles on Friday. We saw how genocide and mass murder continues today in places like the Sudan. However, the thing that was most striking about the Holocaust was the efficiency and planning. 6 million Jews, along with 9 million Gypsies, Communists, homosexuals, and other targeted groups were systematically murdered in only a few years! You look at the blueprints of the “Final Solution,” the intricate details, and you forget that these were scientists, mathematicians, military and political leaders, sitting down and strategizing for the sole purpose of calculating how to murder the most people, quickly and cheaply.
The Holocaust was not a side issue for Nazi Germany. It was the dominate factor. They were using trains to ship the victims to the camps that could have been used to ship troops for the war effort. Military failure on the Nazi’s part was at least partially due to their obsession to murder as many Jews, and others they considered unworthy, as possible. It really took away a lot of energy, focus, and resources from the military campaign.
Just recently, plans have been revealed that showed the Nazis were ready to go in to Palestine and work with Arab collaborators and kill off the Jews who lived there. Only defeat of Rommel’s Army stopped those plans from moving forward.
As I am writing this I am realizing this was only a little over 60 years ago! These evil events are still fresh events in the overall minutes and hours of history. This was not some ancient primitive culture going on a warpath. This was a sophisticated, brilliant, death machine made up of human parts.
Stop and think about all of this today.
The Holocaust was not a side issue for Nazi Germany. It was the dominate factor. They were using trains to ship the victims to the camps that could have been used to ship troops for the war effort. Military failure on the Nazi’s part was at least partially due to their obsession to murder as many Jews, and others they considered unworthy, as possible. It really took away a lot of energy, focus, and resources from the military campaign.
Just recently, plans have been revealed that showed the Nazis were ready to go in to Palestine and work with Arab collaborators and kill off the Jews who lived there. Only defeat of Rommel’s Army stopped those plans from moving forward.
As I am writing this I am realizing this was only a little over 60 years ago! These evil events are still fresh events in the overall minutes and hours of history. This was not some ancient primitive culture going on a warpath. This was a sophisticated, brilliant, death machine made up of human parts.
Stop and think about all of this today.
Friday, April 07, 2006
other faiths
This morning I was speaking to a Jewish friend about the Passover Seder we experienced at our church Wednesday night. I asked him if he is celebrating Passover and he said, “No.” Then he proceeded to tell me he doesn’t go to temple or observe any days, not even a weekly Shabbat. He made sure I knew he is a believer, though.
I told my friend I was going to bug him every so often to at least observe Shabbat each week. I invited him to think of it as acknowledging God and keeping his heritage going another generation. He thanked me, and said he would think about it.
This is a good approach for Christians to take in your relationship with people of other faiths. Encourage them to be involved with their faith practices. That usually is a surprise to them. If a Christian is interested in talking to them about faith at all, they may have a preconceived notion that you are trying to show them why your way is better and they should follow your path. Now, I do want all people to trust in Jesus, and one of the ways Jesus works is to keep people who continue to seek God, looking, from within other faiths. If they are not practicing any faith, there may or may not be an end to their seeking.
There is a school of thought that says it is easier to share the Gospel with an atheist then with someone of another faith. I don’t always find this to be the case. When someone opens themselves to a God outside of themselves, it is a general opportunity for the Spirit to draw them to consider Christ. It isn’t always a closed door. Also, this is evidence you respect their faith and are courteous of their worldview.
Of course if there is child sacrifice or something than it we need to talk…
I told my friend I was going to bug him every so often to at least observe Shabbat each week. I invited him to think of it as acknowledging God and keeping his heritage going another generation. He thanked me, and said he would think about it.
This is a good approach for Christians to take in your relationship with people of other faiths. Encourage them to be involved with their faith practices. That usually is a surprise to them. If a Christian is interested in talking to them about faith at all, they may have a preconceived notion that you are trying to show them why your way is better and they should follow your path. Now, I do want all people to trust in Jesus, and one of the ways Jesus works is to keep people who continue to seek God, looking, from within other faiths. If they are not practicing any faith, there may or may not be an end to their seeking.
There is a school of thought that says it is easier to share the Gospel with an atheist then with someone of another faith. I don’t always find this to be the case. When someone opens themselves to a God outside of themselves, it is a general opportunity for the Spirit to draw them to consider Christ. It isn’t always a closed door. Also, this is evidence you respect their faith and are courteous of their worldview.
Of course if there is child sacrifice or something than it we need to talk…
Thursday, April 06, 2006
friends
We had a Passover dinner last night led by a Jewish Christian pastor from Chosen People Ministries. He led us through the Seder and showed the symbolic connections of Jesus’ Last Supper and the Passover Meal. The clarity of the Christian faith coming out of Judaism was fascinating.
This morning I met with two new friends who are Muslim who introduced me to their organization, Global Cultural Connections. They work to foster dialogue and understanding between Muslims, Christians, and people of other faith. We spoke of what we hold in common, and their warm and gracious invitation to be in relationship with their community was very encouraging.
I know these unrelated events that occurred in a 24 hour period are not indicative of anything more than people getting together. It did however say something about where we live. In a strange but wonderful way, the lay of the landscape that is America has something to do with it.
Shalom
Salaam
Peace out
This morning I met with two new friends who are Muslim who introduced me to their organization, Global Cultural Connections. They work to foster dialogue and understanding between Muslims, Christians, and people of other faith. We spoke of what we hold in common, and their warm and gracious invitation to be in relationship with their community was very encouraging.
I know these unrelated events that occurred in a 24 hour period are not indicative of anything more than people getting together. It did however say something about where we live. In a strange but wonderful way, the lay of the landscape that is America has something to do with it.
Shalom
Salaam
Peace out
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
reaction to the "no better than bacteria" story
Well, the story I blogged on yesterday still didn’t make it to the national news. Other than a story responding to the negative reaction to Eric Pianka’s position. It did make the Drudge Report however, and now the “nation” knows. I went to Panda’s Thumb, kind of an anti-intelligent design website that I read on occasion, and it was interesting to see their response. They tried to characterize Forrest Mimms III, the original critic of the speech, as a “disgruntled creationist” though I could find no evidence of his “creationism” in any of his web materials, and he is called a “crazy kook,” on the website, as well. Panda’s Thumb is actually a pretty good website to see the weaknesses in the intelligent design argument, as well as see the weaknesses of Darwinist’s pointing out the weaknesses of the intelligent design arguments!!
Following this story is kind of fun, because Eric Pianka denies making such claims, but because of the internet, you can go to class evaluations of his courses at University of Texas, and, sure enough, you see one student responding in this way:
"Though I agree that convervation [sic] biology is of utmost importance to the world, I do not think that preaching that 90% of the human population should die of ebola [sic] is the most effective means of encouraging conservation awareness."
Today, you can’t find this evaluation, because it is no longer there!
This is an extreme view taken by an extreme evolutionary biologist and should in no way be conclusive that Darwinian evolutionists want humanity destroyed. In fact, I agree there is good evidence for many tenants of Darwinian theory (the processes of adaptation and natural selection, for example), and so I wouldn't characterize the average evolutionist as extreme, and I am certainly not saying they are advocating the destruction of humanity or such.
However, this is a good example, of the clear use of morality and value judgments in the science classroom which are metaphysical topics by nature, and according to Darwinian advocates, this supposedly is not to be allowed in the science classroom!
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
acts 14- human
As Paul and Barnabas continue to be used by God with healings and signs and wonders, some Jews try to stop them, Gentiles try to worship them, Paul may have been murdered…All in a days work.
no better than bacteria
The agenda of many Darwinian evolutionary biologists has been assumed to be political and not pure science for quite some time now. This is why some of them continue to bring school systems to court to try to stop schools from allowing teachers to talk about the weaknesses and challenges to Darwinian evolution. I am so used to the misinformation that is being spread through mainstream news that nothing really shocks me anymore when it comes to the agenda of some Darwinists. Except this. Which happens to be a true story. I still haven’t seen it in mainstream media. Yet…
Eric Pianka, University of Texas biologist, just received the distinguished Texas Scientist award from the Texas Academy of Science last month. He had the videotape of the award’s ceremony shut off before he gave his speech. There were tape recorders in the room, though, so one gets to hear what went on anyway. Hence, you understand the turning off of the videotape.
Dr. Pianka advocated that it would be a good thing if some group of people would spread the Ebola virus so that 90% of the world’s population would die. In this way, the planet earth would better survive the rages of humanity. Dr. Pianka said this about humans.
“We’re no better than bacteria!”
This is not a joke. Witnesses and the taped evidence confirm it. The most unbelievable news of all, is this. After this speech, Dr. Pianka was given a standing ovation from the members of the Texas Academy of Science!!
So, if you are a Darwinian evolutionist and you think those of us who question that Darwinian mechanisms are the sole explanation for all things scientific, and we say you are holding on to some teaching that is not science, but philosophy, and we say we are concerned by some of the strong political aggressiveness you exhibit to prevent simply following the evidence wherever it leads or questioning any of the teachings of Darwinian evolution using science to critique. This is some of the non-science stuff coming from your "camp" that is frightening.
If you are in this camp and agree with Dr. Pianka, I’ll continue to debate the science, if you will actually sit down at the table and talk about it. But when it comes to philosophy, I think I have a superior view of reality and it is time you consider what I have to say before you start killing my fellow humans, whom I love and respect.
In the meantime, I need to hear the condemnation of this viewpoint by other Darwinian scientists. I will be watching the net for responses. I would argue this is a make or break time for open and honest Darwinian evolutionists to speak up.
Eric Pianka, University of Texas biologist, just received the distinguished Texas Scientist award from the Texas Academy of Science last month. He had the videotape of the award’s ceremony shut off before he gave his speech. There were tape recorders in the room, though, so one gets to hear what went on anyway. Hence, you understand the turning off of the videotape.
Dr. Pianka advocated that it would be a good thing if some group of people would spread the Ebola virus so that 90% of the world’s population would die. In this way, the planet earth would better survive the rages of humanity. Dr. Pianka said this about humans.
“We’re no better than bacteria!”
This is not a joke. Witnesses and the taped evidence confirm it. The most unbelievable news of all, is this. After this speech, Dr. Pianka was given a standing ovation from the members of the Texas Academy of Science!!
So, if you are a Darwinian evolutionist and you think those of us who question that Darwinian mechanisms are the sole explanation for all things scientific, and we say you are holding on to some teaching that is not science, but philosophy, and we say we are concerned by some of the strong political aggressiveness you exhibit to prevent simply following the evidence wherever it leads or questioning any of the teachings of Darwinian evolution using science to critique. This is some of the non-science stuff coming from your "camp" that is frightening.
If you are in this camp and agree with Dr. Pianka, I’ll continue to debate the science, if you will actually sit down at the table and talk about it. But when it comes to philosophy, I think I have a superior view of reality and it is time you consider what I have to say before you start killing my fellow humans, whom I love and respect.
In the meantime, I need to hear the condemnation of this viewpoint by other Darwinian scientists. I will be watching the net for responses. I would argue this is a make or break time for open and honest Darwinian evolutionists to speak up.
Monday, April 03, 2006
fascist?
Fascism- A term that originated with the political movement led by Benito Mussolini from 1922 to 1943 in Italy. More loosely defined, fascism has no characteristic benchmarks that clearly point to any specific government system.
In general, a fascist government would have strong total control over all aspects of life in a given country. Originally, Fascism was seen as an opposition movement to Communism, and yet it appears to be remarkably similar in outlook.
Today, “fascism” is almost always used incorrectly. In modern terms, it means,
“something that someone I disagree with is.”
Like calling someone a “Nazi,” calling someone a “fascist” is a lazy way out of having to actually articulate a position and defending it intellectually. Whenever I hear the term “fascism” or “fascist” used, I know the person either isn’t confident of the reasonability of their position or they have no idea what they are talking about and use “fascist” as a way to attempt to gain influence without having to think.
In general, a fascist government would have strong total control over all aspects of life in a given country. Originally, Fascism was seen as an opposition movement to Communism, and yet it appears to be remarkably similar in outlook.
Today, “fascism” is almost always used incorrectly. In modern terms, it means,
“something that someone I disagree with is.”
Like calling someone a “Nazi,” calling someone a “fascist” is a lazy way out of having to actually articulate a position and defending it intellectually. Whenever I hear the term “fascism” or “fascist” used, I know the person either isn’t confident of the reasonability of their position or they have no idea what they are talking about and use “fascist” as a way to attempt to gain influence without having to think.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Christcast 4
Dana and Kristina have a dad/daughter talk about teachers going off on
politicals in the classroom, and taking the dreaded SAT's.
politicals in the classroom, and taking the dreaded SAT's.
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About Me
- Dana
- Pastor from LIFEhouse Church in Northridge CA, focusing on the theme, "How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk."
