Great New Blog

I want to introduce my audience to the best new blog on the block. It is called Pro-Existence and it is run by Rick and Nancy Pearcey of The Pearcey Report. The Pearcey Report is my homepage because it is the best site on the net for long hard looks at reality. Their passion for believers developing a biblical worldview is my own passion. Rick used to be an editor at Human Events and has worked with World magazine. Nancy is the author of my favorite book, Total Truth. If you have not read Total Truth, go get it now...especially if you work with students.

I commend to you everything they put their hands on.

Head, Call Me

So, I got this new-fangled cell phone which does everything but the dishes. But the terrible thing is I now have lost all the numbers in my old phone. So anyone who I might call or might call me needs to please put your numbers in the comment section. Or you can call my cell which i would enjoy because I bought a 10 second ringtone of Like A Rolling Stone by Dylan..."How does it feel...How does it feel?"...it makes me smile everytime.

I tried to find a picture of My best friend, JonathanHead on the web but I could not. Anyway, head I need you to call me so I can get your number...and just to talk.

Happy Thanksgiving

Excellent Book on Reagan

So I have been working on a few books while I am recovering from back surgery. I have been slowly reading Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and The Crusader by Paul Kengor. And I have finished the Crusader and I am sorry I did. I could never have guessed how much I would love this book.

"Why?" you ask.

Well, it was one of those books that was so much more than I expected. I expected a fairly simple work of praise for the Gipper. But it was oh so much more. Actually the book was a veritable education on cold war policy. I learned an amzing amount of things I would have never heard in my political science classes in college. Granted so much of the NSDDs were not released as declassified till recently but still there was much i would have liked to have known in college that I never heard.

Like what?

1. Did you know that Nancy reagan was often at odds on Ronnie's decisions, especially those he new would procure him more enemies? Usually, if what he decided to do was directed on by the morality of the issue, he was very lonely in the process. This included when Nancy disagreed.

2. Did you know there is evidence from KGB files Ted Kennedy wanted to work with the Soviets to derail Reagan's landslide election in 84?

3. Did you know that Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech was full of recognitions of America's past and present sins?

4. Did you know one of the things reagan detested the most about Communism was its Atheistic character?

5. Did you know Reagan hated nuclear weaponry? He never romaticized them or assumed they were a given part of reality. He saw that the only hope was one of America's buidup so as to bankrupt the USSR and then end the making of nuclear weapons.

6. Did you know Pope John Paul was an integral part of not only Solidarity but the whole fight against atheistic communism?

And there is so much more. The caricatures of Reagan will never stand up to history. He was not only a man of character informed by his faith but was a compassionate president who was willing to be maligned if it meant the fall of communism.

Surgery Tomorrow Morning

Tomorrow morning I will be having out-patient surgery on my herniated disc. Am I excited about going under the knife, albeit a small knife? No. But I am really excited anout releif from the immemse unending pain I have had now for about a month.

I will have to rest for two weeks. No driving for a week. And I cannot pick up anything weighing more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks. The good news is I can do most of my job and read a lot, not to mention maintain this blog.

Thanks for any prayers offered up for me and my family.

Update: The surgery was a success and I am home. I did have to stay overnight because of some spinal fluid leakage. It has given me a headache but that is about it and it will go away soon. No aches or pains in the leg or back. All praise to God in heaven.

It's the End of the World As We Know It

Entertaining and sobering, Mark Steyn's newest foray into the apologetics for the saving of Western civilization is a must read for culture-ofiles like myself.

With damning demographic evidence and a whirlwind of worldview analysis, I am convinced it is a tragic sin he is not part of the President's cabinet. Check that. He should be the cabinet. For he waxes eloquent and sanely on domestic and foreign, economic and political.

His most penetrating observations are reserved for those ideas that are the most obvious. Liberals and the great majority of Republicans cannot see these truths though they are as obvious as there own nose. of course their own nose is obscured by the cocktail party invitation staring them in the face. What is this which Steyn sees and others ignore?

We are at war with an ideological enemy.

We can call it them whatever we want. Islamic extremists. Fascists. All true. But the fact is they have an ideology that drives them.

One of the most poignant moments in the book, Steyn makes a statement that set it all before and opened up vistas of reality I had only dreamed could be real. OK, I knew they were real he just said it better than anyone else. In a discussion about the left's bizarre priorities he states, "In their bizarre prioritization of 'a woman's right to choose,' feminists have helped ensure that European women will end their days in a culture that doesn't accord women the right to choose anything." (16)

Another?

When discussing the FREE TIBET bumper sticker on a VW "movement",..."Idealism as inertia is the hallmark of the movement." Beautiful. Like Van Gogh the words are before my mind's eye. Gorgeous and devastating words. For the progressive hippies obviously are wearing no clothes...or deodorant.

Steyn calls it...its the end of the world as we know it.

It's A Herniated Disk

I got the results from my MRI. And I do indeed have a herniated disk/disc. I have an appointment on Friday in Jackson with a neurosurgeon. His name is John Davis and he has come highly recommended.

My Prediction

Republicans will hold both the Senate and the House

UPDATE: We have lost the house

UPDATE: And we will most likely lose the Senate. Obviously, my optimism and confidence in the conservative majority in this nation was ill-informed.

"Just a Joke"

Why Vote If You Are Disillusioned?

This is a pretty good article by Piper giving reasons to vote even if you are disillusioned with the candidates.

However, I will say this is one of the few times I will disagree with Piper on something. And I take no pleasure in it. You see, I do not buy the "argument" or charge that President Bush is arrogant. I disagree with this assessment for a few reasons.

1. First, a personal one. I was recently called arrogant buy a group of men because of my steadfast confidence on an issue in the denomination I serve in. No reason was given save my demeanor, I "came across that way." Hogwash. I thought I was right and they thought they were right. So of course, I, the youngest in the room at 34 and in the minority was seen as the arrogant. So I no longer will trade in the marketplace of ideas with such accusations. They are pretty mush irrelevant and penny-anty.

2. Mush is said about Bush's swagger and confidence. The same kinds of things were said about Washington, Lincoln, Reagan, and Churchill. This is not to mention Luther, Calvin, et al. Men of prominence are almost always shot with this verbal projectile. It doesn't kill them it just colors them and diverts discussions and debates about reality which can actually be and must be reckoned with.

3. My guess is Bush is much more humble than most can imagine. Or should I say, unsure of himself. My guess is he is the very opposite of myself. I am terrible and come across awkward in small groups and and in private conversation. I then over-compensate and treat the situatio as if I am talking to a big group. You see, in private casual conversation I stutter terribly. But I never do when I am in teaching mode. Never. So, guess which I prefer? I prefer situations where I am in charge and instructing people.

4. Arrogance makes demands and Bush does so much pleading it is hard for me to call him arrogant.

5. Why call Bush arrogant when his detractors are Pelosi, Kennedy (Mary Jo Kepechne has no comment), Kerry, Chavez, Michael Moore and the rest of the liberal cultural elites? Arrogance manifests itself in the policies of liberals who think they should raise your taxes because they know better how to spend your money. It is also manifest in partial birth abortion and gay marriage ammendments. To talk about demeanor and swagger is misguided if well-meaning.

To be honest, I love Piper so much more than Bush that I cannot stand disagreeing with him on this issue. But I feel compelled. Feel free to call me arrogant.

Laid Up

Well, I have not been blogging for a few days. The reason? I have been literally laid up for about 2 weeks. My physical therapist thinks I have a herniated disk which I think is putting some crazy pressure on my sciatic nerve. Walking has literally been a pain in the butt...and my entire left leg.

The good news is I am much better. My mobility is better abd the pain level has been reduced significantly through therapy and some good old-fashioned bed rest. However, I will still have an MRI on Monday...a first for me.

The irony is I once was blind but now I see.

No. Really.

Someone from my church donated lasik eye surgery to me. So I now see 20/20. No contacts. No glasses. It is probably the closest this side of the Jordan I will be to experiencing a miracle of biblical proportions. I am so grateful for what it is done for me physically and how it has given me new insight on the miracles of the Bible. More on that in a later post.

Also, I need to point out what a wonderful woman my wife is. She has pretty much taken care of the whole family. She has been at our bec-and-call (sic?) for days even though she has also been under the weather. Man, is she great and it is a pleasure to see more of her greatness the longer we live together and love together.

Hopefully more posts next week...