Touch Not Mine Annointed

In light of a recent blog conversation, I've noticed a few things about defenders/followers of Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven Church (PDC) and Purpose Driven Life (PDL):

1. It is beyond their comprehension that anyone would not be familiar with Mr. Warren, his teachings or writings (hereafter referred to as "PDC/PDL").
2. If they happen to stumble upon someone as described above, it becomes their misssion to introduce and indoctrinate them into the "truth" ("truth" being defined as anything that procedes from the mouth or pen of Mr. Warren).
3. It is beyond their comprehension that once someone has been exposed to PDC/PDL they would not whole-heartedly embrace it or *gasp* might even speak out against it.
4. It is further beyond their comprehension that anyone could/would muster a Biblical defense against PDC/PDL. Any attempt to do so is immediately met with comments such as:
   - "your position is extreme...nonsensical."
   - overuse of acronym ROFL--Translation "your comments don't agree with my opinion and are therefore so stupid they make me laugh."
   - "[your opinion] obviously is unable to stand up to scrutiny." Translation "my scrutiny is superior to yours."
   
5. It absolutely infuriates them when they cannot convince, intimidate or berate someone to their way of thinking.

Look, I'll be the first one to admit that I can be hard-headed, but this (PDC/PDL) is not a topic I am unfamiliar with. I've read both books. I've listened to/read sermons by Mr. Warren. I've scrutinized PDC/PDL in light of my own understanding of Scripture and I just can't embrace it. And just in case you're contemplating the idea that just MAYBE I might be pursuaded otherwise...save yourself a lot of time; don't bother.

Psst...don't tell the PDC/PDL "fan club," but there is also a large segment of the population that doesn't like broccoli. God help us if Rick Warren comes out with "Purpose Driven Broccoli" and ANYONE speaks out against it.

"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 1 Chronicles 16:22 (NIV)

Memorial Day

In celebration of Memorial Day, we drove to Ft. Gibson, OK this morning, specifically, to the Fort Gibson National Cemetery. The first burial at the cemetery occured in 1831; the cemetery was designated a national cemetery in 1868.

One of the most unusual persons buried at Fort Gibson is Vivia Thomas. From the Cemetery's website:

One of the most interesting stories associated with Fort Gibson National Cemetery is the tale of Vivia Thomas. Legend has it this high-spirited daughter of a wealthy Boston family met and fell in love with a handsome young lieutenant at a ball following the Civil War. After several months of courtship, they announced their engagement, but shortly before the wedding he left, leaving only a note that he desired to go West in search of adventure. Broken-hearted and bitter over the abandonment, Thomas went in search of her lover. After learning that he was stationed at Fort Gibson, she set off on a journey of revenge. She cut her hair, dressed in men’s clothing and joined the Army. The disguise worked, as the former fiancé did not recognize her. One night as he was returning from a visit with his Native American girlfriend, she ambushed and killed him. Despite an intense investigation, the murder went undiscovered. However, Thomas grew remorseful and began to visit his grave late at night. Eventually she contracted pneumonia from the continued exposure to the cold and collapsed near his grave, dying a few days later. Rather than condemning her actions, her army colleagues were so impressed with her courage in coming alone to the frontier and carrying out a successful disguise that they awarded her a place of honor for burial in the officer’s circle.

Thank you to all the veteran's and current service men and women who faithfully serve/served our country.

"Freedom isn't free." (Inscription on the Korean War Memorial, Washington DC)

 

High Price of Gas

No matter what the price of gasoline, there is a segment of society that will ALWAYS have money for cigarettes, beer, cell phones and lottery tickets.

Bank on it.

Friday Photo

The company I work for is hosting a "sales meeting" this week. We build refinery equipment, i.e. shell and tube heat exchangers and about twelve of our reps from across the US and Canada are in town for a weekend of golf, eating, and drinking (some more than others). Several of the non-golfers will be fishing on an area lake with guides on Saturday and I am one of the company "hosts" for that event. Should be fun. Since I'm not a drinker or golfer, there's really not much else for me to do. Anyway, the entire week has been spent getting ready for the event, and now the weekend will be taken up with the "fun" and a business meeting on Saturday morning. I did manage to get this shot of downtown Tulsa last night; we were having dinner at the Tulsa Country Club.

Quote of the Day

From ABC News: "Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn, an Obama supporter, compared Clinton to the Glenn Close character in "Fatal Attraction" -- a spurned woman turned stalker who was apparently drowned in a bathtub only to jump up one more time to be shot dead."

Disclaimer: I'm not an Obama support...but this is STINKIN' FUNNY!!!

If I Were President- Continued

Conintuing my thoughts "If I Were President..."

• Welfare is limited to two years (I actually think I'm being generous here). After that, get off your butt and get a job. Also, if you already have four kids and you're on welfare...and you get pregnant--WELFARE ENDS! Better find yourself a charity that doesn't mind the fact that you can't keep your pants on. That "charity" ain't me.
• "Deadbeat dads," when caught, will be beaten to within an inch of death--hence the NEW definition of the name. I prefer public caning.
• You can't get a driver's license until age 17. Don't even start telling me about how "Johnny" needs to drive to his job. He spends all his money on video games and junk food. He's fat and needs to lose about 50 lbs. You're his mother/father; drive him to the gym before he eats and sits his way into a heart attack before he turns 30.
• No help, i.e. government assistance, for you idiots that bought homes on a variable rate mortgage (based on 30 percent of our gross income) and then found out your payment doubled. You couldn't afford a 3000 square foot home then...and YOU AND I can't afford it now.
• If you can't afford a home (see above), you dang sure can't afford those cigarettes, beer and cell phone. Quit whining about how rough you've got it...you created your own problems.
• Tailgaters and people that don't stop at stop signs will be shot on sight. (This one may be a stretch.)

Friday Photos

I mentioned yesterday that I had been in Florida visiting my parents. When you tell people "I'm going to Florida," they most always respond, "Are you going to the beach?" I'm not really a beach person. I've been to Florida and the beach more times than I can count. It's really no big deal to me, but when Dana and the boys go with me (they didn't go this time), we HAVE to go to the beach, which is usully Fort Walton or Destin, two of the most beautiful beaches you'll see in Florida. The "sugar sand" --as some people refer to it-- is so white, it's blinding to look at on a sunny day.

Florida looks much different where my parents live; they live near the town in the panhandle where my mother grew up. The area is primarily agricultural with large fields of wheat, cotton and LOTS of trees. My parent's property sits right next to a state forest, which is beautiful, especially in the early morning. My parents have a room at the back of their home that is dominated by windows which makes it a great place to sit and drink a cup of coffee and just soak in the scenery. This is basically the view from the "Florida Room."

Friday Photos
These pictures represent more of what people think of as "Florida." The first one is a crane that was sitting on the pier at Ft Walton. The second photo was taken from the end of the pier looking back toward the beach. I liked the different colored frames around the windows. You can view all of my Florida pics here.

If I Were President

I've been at my parent's home in the Florida panhandle for the last week, so I've been somewhat out of pocket. However, several things have caught my attention since my return that I feel compelled to address. Please note, I am NOT looking for anyone's approval/disapproval or for an argument...so if you happen to read this and disagree, don't waste your time trying to "convert me." I won't respond.

Philadelphia Police Brutality
There is a very simple lesson here, boys and girls: If you stand on the street corner and shoot at people, then run from the police, DO NOT...I repeat...DO NOT be surprised or even think about crying when they catch you, drag your sorry behind out of the car and proceed to BEAT THE DOG OUTA YOU!!!

Ethnic Pride
I've heard Barack Obama speak about his "African American" heritage. What I'm trying to figure out is: If his Father was black and his mother (whom I don't believe we've ever seen) was white, how come the "African American Pride gene" was more dominant than the "White American Pride gene?" Just asking.

Lethal Injection/Death Penalty
Back in April, the Supreme Court "upheld Kentucky’s method of execution by lethal injection, rejecting the claim that officials there administered a common sequence of three drugs in a manner that posed an unconstitutional risk that a condemned inmate would suffer acute yet undetectable pain." (Source) As of January/February 2008, there are 3,263 inmates on Death Row in American Prisons (Source). (Just for sake of comparison, the town I grew up in boasted a population of just a little over 3000.) California, Florida and Texas lead the pack with 669, 388, and 370 respectively. I say we start lining 'em up and free up a little real estate.

FINALLY...If I Were President
If I were President of the United States, and had the power (the President really doesn't have the power to DO much of anyhing) I would implement the following policies (in no particular order of importance). This is by no means an exhaustive list; just a start.

• Congressmen, Senators, etc (State and Federal levels) would be required to have actually held a REAL JOB before they could "serve." Sorry Ted Kennedy and Barack Obama. Being a lawyer doesn't count, either.
• Lawmakers would not have their own "health care system." They would be required to find group insurance just like the rest of us.
• Leftover monies raised for campaigns would be donated to the Red Cross (or similar organization) once a lawmaker left office. You don't get to keep it!
• Prisons would become prisons. Make it so no one would ever want to go there. No cable, weight room, etc. We would bring back the "chain gangs" and they would be put to work ACTUALLY DOING the jobs we pay many government workers to do while they lean on a shovel or other work implement.
• Fair Tax (Website) IMMEDIATELY. IRS---out of business.
• Zero tolerance for gangs/gang activity.
• Twenty plus years for appeal of death sentences are GONE. Trial--guilty verdict--one year (max) to review--next day: your last meal and your last breath.
• No more fighting wars /police actions like a bunch of girls. Go in--kick butt--and take names! It's done. We're too STINKIN' NICE!!!
• Lawmakers cannot serve for life. TERM LIMITS--max 2.
• School teachers would be paid a decent wage for being GOOD TEACHERS. Get rid of the dead wood, I don't care how long you've been "in the system."
• Voter identification in all 50 states...IN ENGLISH. You can't read? I don't want you voting on how things are done.

That's enough for now. I may be back.