A Day of Evil: The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

"You do not become militant if you wish to be a successful propagandist. Because all you will do is preach to the choir and further entrench your opposition." - Jack Nicholson, CNN.com interview, Dec. 27, 2007

This was a day of evil for Pakistan - perhaps even the whole world. Opposition leader and former (and perhaps future) prime minister Benazir Bhutto was murdered today in Pakistan. Many hoped that she was the last, best hope for democracy in the troubled country.

So who did it? al-Qaeda? the Taliban? Pervez Musharraf? Whatever the case, today was a day of evil for Pakistan - perhaps even the world.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Pakistan during the next few weeks leading up to their national election. Will the Pakistanis crumble under the pressure? Or will Bhutto live up to another title given to her today - martyr.

I think it's ironic that Jack Nicholson's quote was published today. While I don't necessarily agree with his politics, but I definitely agree with his statement.

Political Correctness Gone Too Far

There is a serial rape suspect on the loose in Chandler, Arizona. His victims, all of them young girls, have described him as an Hispanic man. The police sketch also looks like an Hispanic man. Yet a Spanish-speaking radio station in Phoenix says it's wrong to describe him as an Hispanic man. Excuse me?

The term "Hispanic" is a description, not an ethnic slur. It is intended to get a scumbag off the street before he hurts another little girl. It keeps us focused on who we should look for, rather than someone who's not even close to being suspect.

I have Hispanic friends, black friends, Asian friends, Native American friends, gay friends, elderly friends, Christian friends, non-Christian friends, Jewish friends, weird friends, and friends that can be described in various other ways - even an Iranian friend! I do not mention these adjectives because they are slurs against their race, creed, nationality, age, sexual orientation, or whatever; I mention them only because that's who they are.

Everyone is unique, and these adjectives merely are part of distinguishing one person from another. I do not discriminate based on these adjectives, nor do I ever use these adjectives when describing a friend to another (for example, "He is one of my black friends.") because that is not important to me.

When I hear the word Hispanic, I think of the wonderful culture that has graced our society. It is a culture rich in history and tradition which encompasses a different language and ethnicities (plural).

Bottom line is that there is an extremely dangerous man out there who just happens to be Hispanic (just as there are dangerous people who happen to be whatever). This radio station needs to be calling him out, as well as the gang members, coyotes, and cop killers that are giving Hispanics a bad name. We become better people when we embrace the diversity around us rather than use it to divide us.

Gloom and Doom: My Concern

My major concern with the way things are going these days is that America has grown really soft. The line between right and wrong has become blurred. There is confusion as to what are needs and what are desires.

As a baby boomer, I heard about the hardships my parents endured as children growing up during the Great Depression and World War II. I feel that most of my generation was brought up to be prepared in case such hardships arise again. But somehow the message seems lost on Generation X - and Generation Y will never hear from them. I wonder if Generations X and Y could possibly survive if a major crisis were to hit this country. Would they even know what to do?

As I have read the Bible stories of how the people of Israel witnessed some of God's greatest miracles, I have often wondered how they could possibly have wandered and strayed from Him. But as I get older and wiser, I have gained a better understanding. I have seen firsthand in my lifetime how this country has declined, and therefore it is easier to understand how that happened in Israel on many occasions. I myself am guilty of allowing myself to be distracted by the things of the world.

I am grateful for my faith in Jesus Christ. Otherwise I feel too old, tired, and powerless to be an activist against the forces causing our nation's decline. I am resigned to being a witness to history rather than a participant. But I suppose writing about it as I am now is a good start.

Gloom and Doom: US Economy

Let's face it. We've been pretty lucky with our economy so far. But like the real estate, the bubble could burst real soon.

Part of that is due to the real estate market itself, especially in light of the the sub-prime mortgage crisis. There's a fair number of financial institutions in serious trouble now that the foreclosure rate is at all-time high. Home values (which were artificially high to begin with) are dropping, and entities such as local governments and school districts who depend on property taxes are hurting. Personally I'm glad that a lot of these fly-by-night mortgage companies are going under. Their morals and ethics are as sub-prime as the mortgages they pimped on the unwary consumers they victimized. Unfortunately, many are losing their homes because they can't get a mortgage they actually have to qualify for.

Oil prices are another big factor. Osama bin Laden has hoped that oil would reach $100.00 per barrel. Well, we're right about there (in fact, it has reached $100.00 briefly). Gasoline is at or near $3.00 per gallon, and $4.00 per gallon is foreseeable. All transportation - not just the family car - is affected, as well as our utilities. All of this translates to higher prices for everything. Some economists predict that $100/barrel oil will be a psychological breaking point for our economy.

The weakening dollar - which is affected by our trade deficit (including tainted Chinese goods), the wars, the mortgage crisis, and oil prices - is also a major concern. I work in an area that deals in foreign currencies, and over the years I have witnessed firsthand how the US Dollar is weakening. The Euro started out at about $0.88 to the dollar - now the ratio is turned the other way, but even more so. The Canadian Dollar is about the same as the US Dollar (and it has exceeded the US Dollar on recent occasions).

Ironically, oil prices which affect the dollar, are affected by the dollar. Saudi Arabia now fixes their price of oil on the dollar - they refuse to take a hit because of a weaker dollar.

The best remedy to this problem is to export more goods. Gee, do we make any goods anymore? Seems like all we have are goods made in China and serviced in India.

Gloom and Doom: Pakistan

One place in the world we need to be concerned about is Pakistan. There is a lot of political unrest there, especially between the former president who was overthrown by the current president (who stands to be overthrown by the former president). Al-Qaeda and perhaps other terrorists are operating in Pakistan, which is just over the border from Afghanistan. Which leads to the scariest aspect of all - that Pakistan has a nuclear arsenal. Although that arsenal is likely quite limited, that is not the point. I'm not concerned about the government that has a lot of nukes. I'm concerned about one madman who has only one nuke.

What's Up With China?

"What is this, like the 8,000th product from China to have lead in it? ...Why don't they just sell lead? Wouldn't that be easier?" - Jay Leno, The Tonight Show

There have been so many tainted products imported from China - from pet food to toys - that it's no wonder so many are calling for an outright boycott of goods made in China. Not to mention that some of the money we spend on Chinese goods goes into supporting an oppressive regime, and very little - if any - goes to the people who actually make the products.

Unfortunately it's easier said than done to boycott China. Just about every manufactured item on our store shelves is made in China. It's not like we have a whole lot of choice when the retailers only sell stuff imported from China.

You have to compliment China on their explosive economic growth. It's a lot like post-industrial revolution America when we produced a lot of stuff for ourselves and the world. And yes, some of those products were unsafe, too. The only difference is that we know better now what is safe and not safe. The Chinese should know better, too. So what is up with China?

A Bit Light on Blogging Lately

I must apologize - I've been a bit light on blogging lately. It seems I get involved in other pursuits - trivial or otherwise - and find myself saying, "I'll blog later." Well, it's later. And Blogger keeps adding new and cool features. I'll get my act together.

Prayers Answered: Wedding Bells

Yesterday was a happy and blessed moment for our family. Our older daughter, J, got remarried. Joining our family is our new son-in-law, R, and our new granddaughter, K. They were married at the home of a good friend of ours.

J's short-lived first marriage was not a very good one. Probably the only positive thing out of it was our grandson. R, on the other hand, has never been married but he did father a daughter from a previous relationship (which is still very amicable).

We have watched our daughter go from a bad marriage to a couple of bad relationships with other losers. But R is different. I liked him the moment I met him, and I've been very impressed with how he treats not only his daughter, but our grandson as well.

It wasn't love at first sight - at least for J. In fact, she called him "the Stalker." But R persisted in his gentle way, and eventually won her over.

For years I had prayed for J to make the right choices in life. I prayed for her happiness. When R came into the picture, I prayed this would be turn out well. Those prayers got turned up a notch after he proposed to her on Valentine's Day this year. All of these prayers have been answered.

It is also interesting to note how far we have come along over the years. My wife, too, experienced divorce when the girls were quite young. Naturally, there has been animosity between her, her ex-husband, his new wife, and to some extent, myself. But regardless of what has happened over the years, time has healed many wounds. This particular meeting was the most amicable ever - even friendly. And I must say that this event has given me a profound sense of peace.

I have known my stepdaughter J for fifteen years now. She was an angry child, and in adulthood she faced substantial disappointments. I have to admit that yesterday as I danced with her, I choked up in telling her this was happiest I have ever seen her.

The photo above is one of my favorites. R's brother J was best man, and J's sister E was maid of honor. And the two new step-siblings, K and J, were flower girl and ringbearer, respectively. Aren't my girls cute? Aren't my grandkids cute? My son-in-law ain't too bad, either.

My prayer now is that this new family that was created yesterday will prosper and flourish for a very long time.

Under Construction: A New Computer

The old Gateway we bought in 2000 has served us quite well. But let's face it - she's starting to show signs of becoming obsolete. Just for fun I went to Gateway's site to see what the trade-in value would be. Zero.

Over the years, I've done some modifications to the old machine. I've added RAM, an Ethernet card, and some USB ports and I've had to replace a DVD-ROM drive. Recently, as I was replacing the power supply (the fan had become excruciatingly loud), it hit me. Why don't I build my next PC? I could put in whatever components I want, make it as fast and powerful as necessary, build it in stages over time as my budget allows, and build it for less money than I could for a pre-built model that wasn't as nice.

I did some research over the web and found a wonderful guide to building your own computer.

At this point I've started gathering the components for my new computer. And just for fun, I've added a "progress report" in the side bar of this blog showing where I'm at. I think this shall be fun.

9/11: Retrospective

Today’s date will no doubt will strike horror in the annuls of history. I've just come in after seeing our "guardian angels" flying overhead. They are a pair of F-16's and a KC-135 Tanker, very high up in the sky. They are the only aircraft in the sky tonight, patrolling over the greater Phoenix area. The F-16's appear to be doing a figure-8... The tanker flies in a wide circle around the Valley. It is a very eerie evening. - journal entry, 11 September 2001

It was six years ago tonight that I wrote those words. It was a very eerie evening indeed. We live under the air traffic pattern for Sky Harbor airport, and the sound of jet engines is nearly constant. But not that night - or for several nights. The skies were nearly silent except for the sound of the combat air patrol circling our city.

It's hard to believe that it was six years ago today that we experienced the most fearful moment my generation has witnessed. It's even harder to believe that our collective memory of that horrific day is fading away just as the smoke did over Ground Zero.

There was a lot of uncertainty on that day, and in the weeks to follow. Six years later, now embroiled in an unpopular war, I dare say we live in a time that is just as uncertain. As we debate on whether or not we should bring the troops home, we seem more concerned about the antics of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton (all whom in my opinion have overstayed their fifteen minutes of fame).

Meanwhile, al-Queda and other extremist Muslims are hell-bent on destroying our way of life. They care not whether we are Christian or not - hell, they won't hesitate to kill other Muslims to impose their narrow-minded will upon the world.

Wake up people. And keep watch, my brethren. Be vigilant.

Dog Days of Summer

It certainly feels like we're in the doldrums here. I haven't even felt like blogging. This has been the hottest summer I can remember. Phoenix has had a record 29 days with temperatures hitting 110° or more. The monsoon was rather interesting, too, with a couple days in a row where storms sprang up and hit the area. We've also had the remnants of two hurricanes reach us (Dean and Henriette), but they didn't do much.

Makeshift Memorial

Here's what it looks like at the Third Street entrance of Steele Indian School Park today:

One Lucky Dog

Meet Molly, a west highland white terrier, also known as "the Flying Dog." Sitting in her restrained portable pet carrier, Molly often would ride with her dad as he piloted a helicopter for the morning news show.

Yesterday at around midday, her dad - for whatever reason - decided not to take her along for this particular helicopter ride.

Her dad, Craig Smith, never came back. He was one of the two pilots killed in Phoenix yesterday.

Tragedy in Phoenix

The images on the left will be burned in my memory forever, I'm sure.

Yesterday, all five of Phoenix's news helicopters, along with one police helicopter, were monitoring the pursuit of a stolen vehicle. Then tragedy struck. Two of the choppers - one from KTVK (Channel 3) and KNXV (Channel 15) collided in midair and plummeted into a park below.

Each chopper carried a pilot and a photographer - all four were killed. Our local media was dumbstruck as this news story involved their own.

Ironically, no one on the ground was hurt. That is no small miracle when you consider this incident took place in central Phoenix, over and in a park surrounded by high rises and residential areas. The area's light rail is being constructed on Central Avenue along the park's western boundary. There is a hotel on the western boundary, a high school on the northern boundary. And to the east is the VA Hospital.

Eventually, the suspect involved in the stolen vehicles (he stole two) was arrested after barricading himself in a home on the far west side of Phoenix. He may possibly be charged on four counts of manslaughter.

The park and streets around it are currently closed. The NTSB is now conducting their investigation. Debris is scattered as far as 200 yards from the crash site. As far as the FAA can tell from the radio transmissions, the pilots were following procedure. But perhaps the helicopters were too close to each other. Monsoonal winds can be erratic, even when the weather is good (which it was). Some witnesses said it appeared that the two helicopters got "sucked in toward each other."

It doesn't appear that there has ever been an incident involving media-operated helicopters like this before. Kind of surprising when you consider how these choppers seem to flock together when there's a major news story. In Phoenix, if you see five choppers, you know it's big. To me, this seems to have been accident waiting to happen. The fact that it hasn't until now is a testimony to the skill of these pilot/journalists. I suppose now the FAA will be rewriting the rules on this.

I am rather familiar with Steele Indian School Park. It is where our church - in conjuction with two others on Central Avenue - hold its Easter sunrise service every year. I've also met with my Stephen Ministry care receiver there - it's a nice oasis in the middle of the city.

I wonder if my attitude toward that place will change, too.

There is so much regarding this story, so here a just a couple of additional links:
Story
Photos

Favorite Quote of the Week

"We had Lindsay Lohan booked on the show tonight, but apparently she was already booked."

- Jay Leno, The Tonight Show, July 25, 2007

2007 NBA Championship - San Antonio Spurs *

Now that former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation for betting on NBA games - including those he officiated - it could be very interesting as to what comes out of this mess.

It's bad enough that Phoenix Suns fans think they got hosed by horrible officiating in their playoff series against the Spurs. The fact that Donaghy called game 3 only adds fuel to the fire. And if others were involved in the Spurs' championship run this year? There will be hell to pay.

Lot's of folks would love to see Donaghy dead. I say place him under witness protection at least until the FBI gleans every bit of information they can (I think torture is justified since he was - after all - an NBA ref). Fine him an amount equal to whatever salary he made while he was gambling and give the proceeds to NBA charities. Then quietly take him out of protection so his mafia buddies can take care of him.

If it is found that other referees were involved, then obviously the NBA has some very serious problems.

First (but probably the least of their problems), is that the legitimacy of this year's NBA title is questionable at best. Perhaps they would have to add an asterisk next to the Spurs. Or better yet, just strip them of the title altogether (and to be truly fair, just don't give it to anybody).

Second, David Stern would need to resign as commissioner. Or face impeachment by the NBA owners.

Third (and probably the most serious), the NBA will have to struggle with their image and credibility. TV networks, sponsors, and fans will probably be more hesitant to dole out cash. If that's serious enough, the NBA could face extinction.

Pretty serious stuff.

Finally Some Relief

The monsoon has struggled to get started this year, but it was sure here this week. We'd been experiencing quite a number of 110°+ days right into mid-July, but this past week has been a different story. We've actually had some rather inclement weather. We even had two rainy afternoons to watch out our window at work. Cool! Really, it has been noticeably cool(er). Even on sunny days the temperature has struggled to reach 100°. In fact, with the humidity out there, this is probably the moistest monsoon I can remember for a long time.

Freedom Is Not Free

I think the inscription on a wall at the Korean War Memorial in Washington says it all - "Freedom is not free."

Let us not forget that our own country's fight for independence continued for another seven years after we declared it. And even then, the British came back again in 1812 to try and take it away.

Let us not forget the gargantuan issues our country faced for decades until it was finally resolved in violent struggle. The Civil War was nearly America's undoing; instead, an entire segment of the population was liberated, and we became a stronger nation.

Let us not forget the juggernaut of Nazi Germany and its evil Axis of fascist allies who sought to shape the world in their twisted image. The struggle was monumental - and came at a very high cost - but it was necessary.

The struggle against Communism and it oppresive ways has manifested in many ways. One of the most visible ways is in Korea, where many perished as two mighty powers vied for control of the peninsula. Even today, the struggle remains an unresolved stalemate as both sides stare at each other across a 54-year-old cease fire line.

We went into Vietnam hoping to stem the tide of Communist agression; failing this mission would start a domino effect of losing the rest of southeast Asia. We flinched. Vietnam fell. So did Laos. And Cambodia. And Burma. In Cambodia, some one to two million people were eliminated in the killing fields by that murderous regime.

So what about Iraq? Are we going to flinch there, too? Granted, the war has proved difficult. Probably because we're playing too nice, too politically correct. But this war has not been any more difficult than any previous struggle.

I admire my fellow Americans for wanting peace. It is a good cause. It is just. It is honorable. But peace - like freedom - is not free.

We are dealing with an enemy that thinks America has gone soft and are more than willing to prove it. They don't understand the freedoms we enjoy. They have no Bill of Rights. They are intolerant of any religion other than their own. Whether you are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, something else, nothing else, or even some sort of Muslim, you are on their hit list.

This is a small but tenacious enemy. They must be dealt with over there or we will be dealing with them over here. Perhaps it's already too late. But we must be prepared to struggle.

Freedom is not free. That's not a suggestion. It's a fact. Let's not forget that.

Hot Time in the City and a Dubious Anniversary

Today marks a rather dubious anniversary. It was on this date seventeen years ago that the temperature in Phoenix reached 122° - the all-time high. Yikes. I remember a couple of days later commenting to a coworker that it felt noticeably cooler - it was only 118°. There's even a mathematic formula where the date equals the temperature: 6 + 26 + 90 = 122.

'Tis the season, I guess. Temperatures above 110° in the Sonoran Desert are actually a rather necessary precursor to the monsoon. The ancient Indians in the area also timed the monsoon as an event occurring after the cicadas arrived - and I've heard a few lately.

I am, however, thankful we did not hit 122° today. But the thermometer here at our house did record the highest temperature so far this summer - a mere 114°. I'll be glad when the monsoon arrives.

Fighting Amongst Themselves

It has certainly been a rather intriguing time in the Middle East lately.

In Lebanon, the Lebanese Army has crushed militants from the Fatah Islam group after a month-long standoff centered in a Palestinian refugee camp.

Meanwhile, after months of trying to get a viable government going within the Palestinian Authority, it appears that Fatah and Hamas are locked in a civil war in the Gaza Strip. Last week, Hamas virtually seized control of the government, and President Mahmoud Abbas declared a national emergency.

In Iraq, Shiites and Sunnis continue to fight each other as the U.S.-led coalition tries in vain to establish some sort of order there.

What a tangled web we weave.

Taking A Stand: Embryonic Stem Cell Research

"...and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them." Psalm 119: 128-129

"If this bill were to become law, American taxpayers would for the first time in our history be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos." President George W. Bush

"Unfortunately, because of the stubbornness of one man — President Bush — these people continue to suffer as they wait" Diana DeGette, D-Colorado

As maligned as our president is these days, George Bush has done something to remind me why I admire him and why I voted for him. He stood up against Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, further supporting his assertion that this legislation "crosses a moral line that I and many others find troubling." I can't agree more.

In cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother's health, I agree that abortion may be the only option. But otherwise it is immoral. Period. There is nothing you can say or show me that would justify it - not even the harvesting of embryonic stem cells.

"A woman should have the right to control her own body," is something I've heard argued, and I totally agree. With all the preventative measures out there - for both women and men, there's really very little excuse for an unplanned pregnancy. The problem these days is that too many people are not willing and able to take responsibility for their own actions. And parenting a child is an immense responsibility.

Another concern is that the harvesting of embryonic stem cells could encourage some women to get pregnant for the sole purpose of providing stem cells. They would essentially prostitute themselves to the health care industry who in turn would likely pay them as little as possible.

Stem cell research does not require embryonic stem cells. Just as it is no longer necessary to kill a rabbit to determine a pregnancy, it is also not necessary to terminate a human life to harvest stem cells. Duh! There is plenty of material out there. Embryonic stem cell research is just another way to justify abortion.

Stem cells offer us hope to potentially cure many dreaded diseases. I'm all for that. But stem cells do not have to be embryonic.

I have one of those dreaded diseases myself. I have type-II diabetes. I expect it will be my ticket to heaven sooner or later. So what? Even Lazarus - whom Jesus raised from the dead - eventually died again. We all die, and stem cell research isn't going to change that.

Too many people have already sacrificed their lives for my physical needs and my freedom. Indeed, Jesus sacrificed his life for my very soul.

Personally, if it ever becomes practice, I will ensure any medical directive of mine clearly states that I will not allow the life of a human embryo to be sacrificed in order to save mine. If such measures are taken against my wishes, then those medical personnel better hope it doesn't work. Because when I get better, I will sue the crap out of them.

Do you think President Bush is being stubborn? Do you think I am being stubborn? Fine. But know this - some things are right and true whether you believe in them or not. I've made my stand.

Back From Camp

Another summer music camp has come and gone...now I'm back home where it's nice and hot (whoopee).

This year's camp was a bit smaller as about a dozen kids we usually get from one particular church did not come this year. Too bad.

We also had a rather unfortunate and serious incident (of which I can't really elaborate) that resulted in sending one camper home. On Wednesday night, Pastor B and I drove back to Phoenix to take him home. Not something I ever want to do again.

Otherwise, it was a really great camp. The children wrote and performed a wonderful little opera. The weather was cool (even downright cold one day), and we even got to have campfires despite the fire danger.

From our church we had three children attend this year - they all had a great time. Their parents and grandparents can attest to that.

As for me, this was perhaps the best camp experience (even with the glitch) that I've ever had. There's just something about that place. I consider it one of my God places. As one of my fellow staff members said, it's a place that helps turn my spiritual life back to normal. Without a doubt, I prayed more this past week than I have been lately. I got to catch up with some old friends and make some new ones, all with whom there was much levity. My friends at church told me today that I looked more peaceful. Well, I sure feel that way. Onward and upward.

Ding Dong, the Bill is Dead

I was very pleased to see that the immigration reform bill that was being considered by Congress is dead - at least for now. For too many reasons to specify, it was a bad bill (and if it does get resurrected, I will go into detail at that time). I would even go as far as saying this bill was unconstitutional. One thing that is certain is that our Congress very nearly sold us out.

I have no problem with hard-working, law-abiding people who want to become U.S. citizens - in fact they make our country that much better, and they already contribute to the national economy. But this bill would have handed the keys of our country over to gang members, drug traffickers, terrorists, welfare leeches, and various other ne'er-do-wells.

Arizonans and the residents of other border states have made their voices clear on this crisis. We are fed up with the Federal government not enforcing the laws already on the books. It is the states now that have to take up the slack with tough legislation of their own.

Instead of taking junkets to Iraq and Afghanistan (and in Nancy Pelosi's case - Syria!), our congressmen need to come see what it's like right here. It's high time that Ted Kennedy get his fat ass down here.

Headed Off to Camp

I will be spending the next week at camp, so obviously I won't be blogging unless someone brings a computer with an internet connection. But it is, after all, about getting away from it all, isn't it?

There are some things I won't miss. Like the summer heat in Phoenix (although it hasn't been that bad this year yet). Like hearing about the continuing saga of Paris Hilton (can we serve some cheese with that whine?). Like work.

And who knows, maybe I'll even see one of those elk thingies.

Checking In

With everything going lately, I've been too busy to blog. So here's the latest:

Met The Future In-Laws
With J and R's wedding coming up in October, it was decided that we should meet with J's future in-laws. So we met for dinner at J and R's house last Sunday evening. Nice folks. Not surprising since they have such a nice son. Got to see the grandson, the future granddaughter, the grandpuppy, and grandcat also. It was a grand evening.

The Grandpuppy Visits
We got to see Zoe again on Monday evening. Zoe had some surgery on a fractured front leg recently, and she now seems no worse for the wear. I think Princess can attest to that. Zoe has grown a bit since she last visited and is probably two or three times bigger than Princess. When I got home, I was being told to go rescue Princess from her "mauling" - and indeed she was pretty wet around the neck and sides from all the dog slobber. But closer observation of their antics revealed that Princess was the chief instigator (gotta love a little dog with attitude) and Zoe was just being a puppy. Princess, as usual would let Zoe chase her around and around the chair, then turn around and get in her face. Zoe's usual defense was body-slam Princess and sit on her. Funny and cute.

Nice BBQ at Church
For the Memorial Day weekend, it was decided by our Congregational Care Committee (of which I am now a member) to hold a barbeque. I was volunteered to flip burgers on the church's new charcoal grill. Hmmm. Standing by an open fire on a May afternoon in Phoenix. Actually, it wasn't too bad - we were in the shade (although it was just a palm tree). Lucky, the church cat, layed in the grass next to us - no doubt hoping for a handout or an accidental drop. The food turned out great. The best part of it was the fellowship with my fellow griller and our kitchen helpers. I'd do that again in a heartbeat.

Princess Goes to the Vet
Princess was overdue on her shots so I took her in Thursday for her exam. All is well with her, although she seems to have allergies (which I've noticed whenever she's been out on the grass for a while). I don't think she was too traumatized, but between the thermometer, two shots, and (pardon my sharing of TMI) an expressing of her anal glands, Princess didn't seem to appreciate the extra attention toward her rump. I made it up to with a trip to Petsmart.

Camp is Coming Up
A week from now I shall be packing for my week at summer music camp. Should be fun as always, even with the challenges one normally faces when dealing with that many kids. Mingus Mountain is my favorite "God place" and I look forward to spending some time up there.

Open Letter to David Stern

NBA Commissioner David Stern, you defended your decision to suspend Phoenix Suns players Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw on ESPN Radio's Dan Patrick Show yesterday.

In your opening comments, you said, "One of the things we did was put in a rule that said nobody leaves the bench, so if the players were not playing, it means they violated the rule. It means they either didn't know about it . . . or they knew about it and they forgot about it or one of the six assistant coaches that were there didn't grab them fast enough. So these players took themselves out."

Okay, so we're playing by the rules as far as the Suns players go. I can accept that on the basis of the rules alone. So what about Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen? They also left the bench during a rather physical play (which involved only INCIDENTAL contact) during the second quarter. Here's the video in case you missed it. Doesn't the rule apply to Duncan and Bowen?

You were asked if this rule was subject to interpretation. You said, "No."

Again I ask, doesn't the rule apply to Duncan and Bowen? According to your interview, it does. Therefore DUNCAN AND BOWEN MUST SERVE A MINIMUM ONE-GAME SUSPENSION. What part of that do you not understand?

You questioned Stoudemire's and Diaw's intent for leaving the bench. Did you really? Or did you just come to your own conclusion without asking them? For that matter, did you question Duncan as to why he left the bench (I know why Bowen left - more on that later)? What the hell did you assume his intentions were?

Here's one of your better quotes: "It's being decided because two Phoenix Suns who knew about the rule forgot about it, couldn't control themselves and didn't have coaches that could control them. And don't you forget it."

'"And don't you forget it." ???' What was that for? How old are you, Mr. Stern?

You sit there and harp about the Suns assistant coaches not being able to control their players. So where the hell were the Spurs assistants when Tim Duncan who wasn't playing but was ON THE COURT WITHIN THE THREE-POINT STRIPE DURING PLAY? Obviously not doing their job. The video (here it is again in case you still missed it) clearly shows BRUCE BOWEN pulling Duncan back to the bench where (in your words) he belonged. And don't YOU forget it!

You rant and rave about how Stoudemire and Diaw were twenty feet from the bench before being called back. But I guess it's okay if Tim Duncan goes onto the court during play, even if he's not playing. Granted, if he had wandered twenty feet away from the bench, he'd be in the paint and he'd be pretty obvious (guess you have to give credit to Duncan's smarts on that one). So did Duncan stay within some magical, yet invisible, line? Where's that in the rules?

Again, let me quote you: "Is it a red-letter rule? Absolutely." Given the outcome, I'd say you bent the rules for your Golden Boy, Tim Duncan.

I heard your radio interview with Dan Patrick and I've got to say that you came off as an arrogant SOB with a serious case of foot-in-mouth-disease (refer to your quotes above and below). A couple more of your choice quotes included: "You better stop that!" and "You don't understand anything!" While Mr. Patrick was simply asking you (in a professional manner) the questions that America wants to know, you came off as sarcastic, condescending, patronizing, defensive, offensive, and unprofessional (I come off that way in this letter because it seems the only way you know how to communicate).

My biggest pet peeve is people who don't follow the rules. You're so quick to quote book, chapter, and verse on the rules, yet you hesitate to impose them on the Spurs. What's really up with that?

While not necessarily the case, this has every appearance of foul play. The public isn't as stupid as you may think, and this looks like a fix. Like it or not, the NBA now has a serious image problem. Perhaps the only way it can be restored is if the rules are followed and penalties imposed - even on Duncan and Bowen (oh my God!).

As I conclude my letter to you let me offer another of your quotes: "If I had a team, I would make sure that my players never the leave the bench and so would you." Well, Mr. Stern, you have 30 teams and you are responsible for all of them - including the Spurs (imagine that).

Well if I had one those 30 NBA teams, I would be asking for your immediate resignation. Your actions or lack thereof clearly demonstate a lack of integrity and/or competence to handle the immense responsibility you have. Also, be careful what you say in public - it can be quoted back.

You are quick to place the blame on players, coaches, and even the owners. But the responsibility is yours. If you are so steadfast in your decision, why didn't you come to Phoenix? Can't handle a few "boo's?" Gee, even the Spurs can do that.

To defend your position with the fans is absolutely mandatory. But what you have done is discounted the fans. And that is not good for the NBA. Time to step down, Mr. Stern. What are you waiting for? This is your written invitation.

Spurs Rewarded For Dirty Play Against Suns

With precious time ticking down on the game clock, Steve Nash expected to be fouled. I think we all expected Nash to be fouled. It's part of the game of basketball.

But I find it hard to believe that anyone - including Steve Nash - that Robert Horry would blast his way at Nash like a Mack truck. Talk about a sore loser. That is not basketball.

Deservingly so, Robert Horry is serving a two-game suspension. But Suns players Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw are also suspended for tomorrow night's game, simply for getting up off the bench. There were other players and coaches involved in the near-melee. But the actions of one punk (I can't call him a man) cost the Suns more. It does not make sense, and it cannot help the image of the NBA one bit.

Stoudemire was right when he publicly called out the Spurs and called them a dirty team. Last night's antics only prove it more. But David Stern and the NBA do not have the balls to call them out.

I find it hard to believe that the fans in San Antonio are so proud of their team. It's quite possible that the Spurs may advance to the Western Conference finals, and then the NBA Championship. But it will be a hollow and dirty victory. Just like when the Mexican army won the Battle of the Alamo (stick that in your pipe and smoke it, San Antonians).

Perhaps you disagree. Perhaps you think I'm one of the whining Suns fans. Yes, rules are rules. But rules are not absolute. And if you think what happened is right, then stay away from me - I don't want to know you. You have much more serious issues to deal with.

Personally - win or lose - I hope the Suns beat the living snot out of the Spurs.

Uncanny Resemblance

You know, I always thought future Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson looked like he came out of the Civil War (especially when he wore the mullet).

I discovered I wasn't too far off the mark when we visited Gettysburg. Standing atop Little Round Top is a statue of General Gouveneur K. Warren. If you were to put a baseball in his left hand, he'd be a dead ringer for Randy Johnson, scowl and all.

Serving as Chief Engineer for the Army of the Potomac, General Warren went to Little Round Top to assess the situation when he noticed the Confederate forces maneuvering towards the unoccupied mountain. Warren acted quickly to commandeer a regiment to rush in to defend against the Confederate attack just in the nick of time, thereby protecting the Union left flank and saving the Union forces from a disastrous defeat. Gouveneur Warren is considered by many to be the savior of Gettysburg. He was the ace that day, just as Randy Johnson has been the ace on many a day.

By the way, do you know who else was at the Battle of Gettysburg? Major General Abner Doubleday - mistakenly credited as the inventor of baseball (but he did patent the cable car that still runs in San Francisco!). But I do digress...

I don't believe in reincarnation, but wow - the resemblance between Johnson and Warren is uncanny.

Pet Food Crisis: Why Are We Exporting Wheat From China?

This whole thing related to the pet food recalls has gotten quite messy. We're finding now that the tainted stuff has been fed to livestock, so now it's in the human food supply. And now there have been two arrests in China of those thought responsible. They'll probably end up getting shot or hanged or something. Not that the Chinese necessarily care that they've tainted our food supply. They're more concerned about saving face and possibly losing some export business.

Which begs the question: WHY ARE WE EXPORTING WHEAT FROM CHINA?

Meanwhile, I've attached a link to the latest recall list from the FDA.

Pat Burke: A Sign of Good Times

Pat Burke isn't exactly a household name. But he's definitely my favorite bench player. While the likes of Nash, Stoudemire, Thomas, Marion, Bell, Diaw, Jones, and Barbosa are tearing it up on the basketball court, Pat Burke is there cheering them on from the Phoenix Suns bench.

This Auburn alumnus had a stint with the Orlando Magic but has played most of his professional career in Europe. Now he's back in the NBA in a Suns uniform. He doesn't get a whole lot of minutes, but when he does, he's fun to watch.

Last night's game was his most recent appearence; when the Spurs had pretty much conceded the game and sent their bench out to play, the Suns did the same. Pat Burke got to play. And when Pat Burke plays, it means the Suns are doing well. Let's hope we see more of him in the next - oh - eleven games.

Thursday Report, 3 May 2007

New Appliances Anyone?
Last month I paid off Home Depot for the new dishwasher we got last Christmas. Now our refrigerator is on the blink. Keep in mind that my wife has been wanting a new refrigerator for quite some time. So I went and looked up refrigerator repair on the internet and came back to my wife saying, "So you want a side-by-side this time?" The new fridge arrives Monday.

Just When You Thought Things Were Bad in YOUR House
Our older daughter J and our grandson have moved in with her fiancee and his daughter. You may recall they have a new puppy, Zoe. Well Zoe had a little accident a few weeks ago and apparently (although not apparent the first time it was X-rayed) she broke one of her front legs. She's having surgery today.

On top of that, J went to the emergency room because of abdominal pain. She has gallstones. She will be discussing gall bladder surgery soon.

A Good Supreme Court Decision
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that those idiots who get involved in police chases can't sue the police for stopping them, provided the police don't use excessive force in stopping the suspect vehicle. Mind you, when a car is speeding along and barely under control, it only takes a tap of its bumper to push it completely out of control. Just ask the plaintiff - he was speeding along at 100 m.p.h. on a suspended license. The police intervened according to the standard procedure for stopping these wingnuts, and now he's a quadraplegic. If you ask me, it's better than having him kill an innocent bystander and ruin other peoples' lives.

Iraqi Government Entity Targets Sunnis
While we're busy "surging" against the insurgency, it was reported that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki has set up an office within the government consisting of military advisors dealing with the whole mess over there. This agency has been found to have an extreme Shiite agenda which is only contributing to the sectarian violence. Cute.

Oh, What A Tangled Web We Weave
Meanwhile, it appears that some Sunnis have had enough of al-Qaeda, as evidenced by the increasing numbers of Sunni militants who are fighting against al-Qaeda; they've even claimed that they killed the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Gosh, don't you just love a civil war based on differing religious, political, and economic agendas?

Phoenix Suns Advance to the Western Conference Semifinals
Last year they made it look hard. This year, they made it look easy (except for the one game they lost). Just like last year, the Suns faced the Lakers in the opening series of the NBA playoffs. But this year, there's something different about this team, and I like their chances. The Suns were able to dispatch the Lakers in five games. Now they face the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. Should be interesting. And a lot of fun to watch.

How 'bout Those Diamondbacks?
Since last week the Arizona Diamondbacks are 5-2. I'm not sure how, sometimes, but I'll take it. Looks like their biggest nemesis this year will be the Dodgers.

Thursday Report

Thursday Report
The idea for this title comes from a former coworker of mine who has quite a wit about her, and whom today I was reminded of one of the things she would do.

Every Monday we used to receive an email sent by my employer about things that were going on in our center and in the company in general. It was called the Monday Report. Then the next day, our coworker W would send out an email to our team which was essentially an amusing commentary about the Monday Report, as well as other amusing anecdotes. It was called the Tuesday Report. The Tuesday Report was not so imformative; but it was definitely worth looking at each week.

We no longer get the Monday Report. And since W has left the company, we haven't been getting our Tuesday Report either. But since I was reminded today of the Tuesday Report, I have been inspired to write a blog article each week that had some not-so-in-depth commentary just for fun. And I work half-days on Thursday. Hence the Thursday Report.

Don't worry, I will continue to comment on other topics as I am inspired to do so.

She's Baaaaack...
Over the past weekend, one of our grown children has moved back in with us. We love her dearly, though, so it's okay. Besides, it gives us an excuse to clean the garage again (always a work in progress). Our little dog Princess is thrilled to have another people in the house as well. Granted S & I have had to make some minor adjustments, but it's nice to have E home with us for the time being (whatever that will be).

Speaking of Princess
We've had some other adjustments in our household since the passing of our last cat, Snoopy. We now have a doggy door. Woohoo! I can't tell you how much that makes us happy - no more getting up to let the dog out, let the dog in, let the dog out, let the dog in, etc., etc. Princess can go potty any time, go sun herself when she feels like it, come back in and sleep whenever. It's great. Princess also no longer has a problem with jumping onto the bed at night knowing she won't accidentally land on the cat (always a plus).

How 'Bout Those Suns!
The NBA's second season - the playoffs - have now started. Our Phoenix Suns are now leading the Lakers 2-0 in the first playoff series. The first game was a bit shaky, but the Suns won in a fashion typical of their regular season. In the second game, though, the Suns absolutely demolished the Lakers. In fact, Charles Barkley, who is frequently critical of the Suns, was pretty quiet Tuesday night.

Sir Charles has been somewhat right about the Suns. After great seasons the previous two years, the Suns could not get it done. This year, many - including myself - have a sense that the Suns may win that elusive NBA Championship. We shall see.

The D-Backs: A Different Story
The Arizona Diamondbacks have certainly had their struggles this past week. Not even the ace from yesteryear, Randy Johnson, could eke out a win in his first start of the season. It's just a matter of slow offense. But they did manage to win it last night with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 9th with two out. Wow.

Spring Weather Ending?
I sure hope not. Although we did barely touch 100 degrees last March, we've had quite a nice spring. We've actually had a bit of rain, too. Enough to delay the fire season by - oh - ten days. But this weekend is the time we may actually hit 100 for the first time this year. Let the hot times roll.

Blacksburg: Reflections On A Tragedy

Is it my imagination, or does it seem like the flag has been flying at half-mast a bit too much lately? Sure, it's to be expected now and then - like when former president Ford died. But not when it's a senseless tragedy like what happened at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia on Monday.

Of course there are always the questions as to why. But when it comes down to it, if I were alone in a room with Cho, I don't think I would ask why - his words would be meaningless. There is no justification whatsoever for this wasteful and hideous act of evil. Perhaps I would share the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ - at least give it a try. But it's too late now anyway. Satan has claimed another soul and Cho was probably honored that evening by "having dinner with Hitler" as I like to put it.

I would also call NBC on the carpet for even considering to air this insane man's manifesto. Again, it is pointless and provides no added value to our society whatsoever. The materials sent to NBC should have just been turned over to the FBI - period. Because of NBC's irresponsible handling of these materials, others may now be emboldened to follow Cho's footsteps and perhaps - God forbid - try to top him. Although all the news outlets are showing it, I think NBC should be singled out for boycott of all their programming and sponsors, at least until those who decided to air Cho's rantings are fired. After all, Don Imus fired for less (and I'm not trying to minimize the effect of his inappropriate comments or discount the response to those comments).

So who's all to blame? Do we blame the psychologists who did little or nothing to treat Cho's mental illness? Do we blame our medical system which no longer institutionalizes the criminally insane? Do we blame the lax gun control laws that allow people like this to purchase weapons? Or do we blame strict gun control laws that disallow security personnel to carry the very weapons that could have dropped this animal before he snuffed out 32 lives? Was Cho's upbringing not strict enough? Or too strict? Do we blame those who did not reach out to Cho? Or do we blame the disease that made him so unapproachable to those who tried to reach out?

As I watch this and other world events unfolding before me, I submit to you the root cause of the world's ills. This is not a God-fearing world. We live in a generation that goes about its business as if there is no God with whom to be accountable. As if there is no God to judge them. As if there is no God at all.

It is better to depend on the LORD than to trust mortals. - Psalms 118:8

If God is so good and loves us so much, how can He let this sort of thing happen? That's a valid question, for which I have a valid - if also simplistic - answer. We are all God's children, and God created each and every one of us with a free will. Instead of robots that obey His every beck and call, we are to make our own choice to love God. And it's that free choice that makes our love of God truly genuine.

Yet there are others that choose not to love God. They don't respect God's creation, and they don't respect God's children. They don't care who gets hurt. They just go on and live their lives as if God doesn't exist.

What we saw Monday was a clash of values. And 32 people innocent of the charges leveled by an insane animal were killed in the crossfire.

It is time to mourn again. I leave you with this link to the Virginia Tech homepage which has a fitting tribute to their fallen students and faculty.

The Don Imus Scandal: Can We All Just Move Ahead?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, "Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?" Jesus answered him, "I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22

Let's face it. When Don Imus made his derogatory remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team last week, he was an idiot. His comments were unacceptable. Period. And I think it was right for his radio show to be suspended. And I think it was perfecly alright for Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson to call Imus out.

I've never heard Don Imus' show. In fact, I never even heard of Don Imus until this whole thing came out. I don't know anything of his character or his beliefs. I have heard a recording of the comments he made on the infamous broadcast, and I agree they were distasteful as they were polorizing.

I also know that Don Imus has apologized profusely for his comments and has thrown himself at the mercy of the public, those he directly offended, and his staunchest critics. Don Imus has figuratively nailed himself to a cross for his offense. Which is more than anyone can say for former Arizona governor Evan Mecham, a horse's ass who made similar racial slurs on a daily basis without apology.

And now Imus has been fired. That is certainly the perogative of his employers; the loss of listeners and sponsors is probably enough to justify Imus' termination.

But is that enough to make the likes of Sharpton and Jackson happy?

To these Christian leaders, I would ask now that they step up to their faith. Imus has apologized enough already. Are they willing to forgive? And if you forgive seventy times seven, have you really forgiven the first 489 times?

A "Monumental" Vacation

S and I returned yesterday after spending a week's vacation in the Baltimore/ Washington area. The weather was near-perfect, and the cherry trees were beginning to bloom. Here's a brief synopsis:

Saturday (March 24): travel day

arrived at BWI airport

settled in at our "home base" at (my wife's) Aunt L's house in Laurel MD

Sunday: church and family

Monday: Washington DC [photos]

Washington Monument

World War II Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

We also saw the new Airbus 380 super-jumbojet landing at Reagan National Airport.

Tuesday: Washington DC/Arlington VA [photos]

Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

Arlington Cemetery

The cherry trees around the Kennedy gravesites were in full bloom.

Wednesday: Gettysburg PA [photos]

Gettysburg National Military Park

Boyd's Bear Country

We had a special treat; instead of taking the tour bus, we had a guide give us a personal tour as he drove our van around the battlefield. His knowledge was vast, and when I mentioned the defense of the Union left flank by the 20th Maine Regiment on Little Round Top, he took us to very spot where that took place.

Thursday: Washington DC/Arlington VA [photos]

Iwo Jima Memorial

U.S. Capitol

National Air and Space Museum

Lafayette Park

White House

The cherry trees around the White House, the Capitol, and in Lafayette Park were in full bloom.

We spent the evening at Toby's Dinner Theater in Columbia MD where we took in a well-done production of George M, a musical based the the life of George M. Cohan.

Friday: Baltimore MD [photos]

Ft. McHenry

National Aquarium

I got to help raise the flag at Ft. McHenry!

Saturday: travel day - return home.

Snoopy, 1991-2007

Often with a 16-year-old cat, it's just a matter of time. For Snoopy, his time came today.

The circumstances had an odd timing. Almost two weeks ago, I bought a new cat food for Snoopy. His appetite had been downright voracious, and so I thought I'd find him a cat food formulted for his special diet (he had an early history of urinary blockage). He ate some of the new food for the first few days, but he did get sick (and vomited) and never really liked the new food. It turns out that some of the cans I brought home would be part of the Menu Foods pet food recall.

We quickly reverted back to Snoopy's regular brand of cat food. But he never really seemed to get his old appetite back. On Wednesday night he was pretty sick and definitely not sick. I thought for sure he was suffering from kidney failure.

After a visit to the veterinarian and some blood tests, it was determined that there was no urinary blockage, no kidney failure, and no diabetes. However, the vet had felt around Snoopy's belly and thought it didn't feel right, and that perhaps one of the kidneys was quite small. Also, the white blood cell count was too high - indicative of cancer. Even with antibiotics, however, Snoopy's prognosis was not good. The vet said even though Snoopy couldn't really tell us, he probably felt like crap.

With our vet's full support and understanding, and given Snoopy's advanced age, S and I made the very difficult decision not to treat him, and to end the suffering which was only going to get worse anyway. And the cat food? Probably just a coincidence.

We already miss Snoopy very much.

Can't We Just Have a Little Spring Weather?

You just never know about March weather. I checked the high reading on our indoor/outdoor thermometer yesterday - yep, we hit 100° exactly. Meanwhile, at our upcoming vacation destination in the Washington DC area, it is snowing. Can't we just have a little spring weather?

Catch Me If You Can!

Meet the New Granddog

Our daughter J bought a new addition to her family (although her fiancee wasn't altogether thrilled at first).

Her name is Zoe - a Boggle (Boston Terrier/Beagle mix).

Right now she's just a puppy and about the same height but a bit stockier than Princess.
The two dogs get along great.

Call to Discipleship

I have a friend at church whom I don't always see eye-to-eye with. And I'm sure I annoy her at least as often (if not more) than she annoys me. Yet while I don't always agree with her (and I choose to agree to disagree), we have some really profound spiritual moments together.

She has had some real struggles with her health for the last several years, not the least being the breast cancer which started her whole struggle in the first place. I saw her today as she was walking by, and since I hadn't seen her for a couple of weeks (when I'm sure I annoyed her last), I motioned for her to come give me a hug.

Turns out she really needed that hug, the kind that says, "I'm so grateful for this safe, comfortable place because I'm not okay." She just found out that her cancer is back. As we held each other much longer than your typical casual hug, her tears flowed and she shared how she dreaded the stuggle. She said she was tired of fighting. "I know you are, honey," was the only response I had. It was the only response appropriate for that moment. I think it spoke volumes.

So today was obviously one of our profound spiritual moments together. So pray for my friend.

Okay, Would You Believe October?

So our daughter's wedding is probably not next March. She thinks she can swing it (and has the groom about 90% convinced) for October 20.

Makes no difference to me. The sooner they get married, the sooner I'll have a new son-in-law and granddaughter.

Life in the Fast Lane

It's that sort of busy time of year, and it's been sort of busy around here, but a lot's been accomplished.

I borrowed my dad's pole saw (chainsaw-on-a-stick) and trimmed up our mulberry tree real good. February is the best time to do that so you catch them before they bud and bloom. Besides, we had bulk trash pick up. I'm eyeing other trees in the yard now for the next bulk pick up. Fun. I like chainsaws-on-a-stick. Heck, I just like chainsaws.

I had my wife get our healthcare reimbursement figured out, which in turn helped get our medical expenses figured out for taxes. Then I did our taxes (nice and early) and we already have our Federal and state refunds.

Then last week I got to write up my annual performance appraisal for work. Fun (NOT!).

All this in light of our upcoming vacation plans. My wife has an aunt who lives in Maryland - right smack dab between Washington and Baltimore. Can you say "sightseeing?" I've never been to Washington, but I've always wanted to go there. And we'll see a bit of Baltimore also. It's kind of ironic - I've been to five national capitals in my travels, but never our own. Being the history buff that I am, I am really looking forward to this trip.

False Prophet Identified

"At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." -Matthew 24:23-25

Take a good look at the picture on the right - this is exactly what Jesus warned us about. This is a false prophet. This is a false Christ. Sounds crazy?

Meet Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, a pastor in Miami who claims to be Jesus Christ incarnate. And he has the number 666 tattooed on his arm. Now that's odd. And the scary thing is that a lot of people believe him.

De Jesus preaches that there is no devil and no sin. I don't know what Bible he's preaching from, but the New International Version has a combined 466 specific references to "devil" and "sin," as well as 46 references to "Satan." And that's not including other references to the devil including "serpent," "beast," "evil one," etc. That's a lot of references to something that doesn't exist (did you know that cats are not mentioned in the Bible? yet they exist!).

Satan is the Great Deceiver, and perhaps the biggest lie he perpetrates is that he doesn't exist. Trust me, he does.

But wait, it gets even more twisted. Not only does De Jesus claim to be Christ incarnate, but also the antichrist! How can he be both?

Then there's the matter of the "666" tattooed on his arm. While the number 666 is associated with the devil, De Jesus claims it's all just a misunderstanding. Well, let's see. Revelation 13:18 states: "This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast [the devil], for it is man's number. His number is 666." Sorry, there's no mistake about this verse; 666 is associated with Satan. Unfortunately, De Jesus' followers do not have the wisdom to discern that. In fact, De Jesus thinks the antichrist is a great guy.

De Jesus also preaches, "The Antichrist is not the devil; he's the being who replaces Jesus on Earth." True. The Antichrist is not the devil. 2 John 1:7 says, "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." But when Jesus ascended into heaven, he was not replaced by deceivers. The work of Christ was placed in the hands, feet, mouths, and hearts of his followers. Nor did Jesus leave us in a spiritual vacuum after he left, for he promised us in John 14:26 : "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

De Jesus - I wonder if that's his real name, or one he concocted to ease his deceit? But one thing is sure - he is an antichrist in the true definition. He shmoozes his congregation along the path of evil. They hear what they want to hear. He exploits their ignorance. By telling them there is no devil and no sin, they have no God to fear. In the end, he will only lead them - and himself - to destruction.

How do they allow this to happen to themselves? How do they allow this inherently evil man to control their very souls? Quite simple. They don't know their Bible. And Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda knows this.

If you wish, check out the full story on CNN.

Meanwhile, I close with this passage: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1

In other words, get into the Word, my friends. The Bible is your best protection against scheisters like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Joseph Smith, and Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda.

Keep watch, my brethren. Be vigilant.

New Additions Coming to the Family

Well, it's Valentine's Day, and he popped the question. Our older daughter, J, has been dating R for about six months now. And tonight they are engaged.

S & I have been commenting on how much we like R and what he's done in J's life. We look forward now to having him as our new son-in-law (the first one was such a disappointment and continues to excel in mediocrity).

This makes for a ready-made granddaughter as well - R has a three-year-old girl. K and our grandson J get along great as well.

Looks like a March wedding next year!

Maxine's Solutions

From an e-mail I received recently:

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately; illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, wild animals attacking humans in Florida. Not me. I concentrate on solutions to problems. The result is a win-win-win situation:

1. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border

2. Use the dirt to raise the levees in New Orleans

3. Put the Florida alligators in the moat.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?