Wally on Jefferson and dissent

My current featured blogger, Wally (see right sidebar) just posted something very interesting--you might want to check it out. He did a little investigating into the oft' cited quote "from Jefferson" about dissent being the highest form of patriotism... Very interesting

Music in the dome

Ronnie Milsap and George Strait in the Tacoma Dome. Sorry, we got there too late to hear Taylor Swift open--the traffic turned a ten minute segment of the road into a two hour segment--but hearing Ronnie sing Smokey Mountain Rain, made it all better.

Highlights: Cowboys Like Us (one of my favorite George Strait songs), and his encore surprise rendition of Folsom Prison Blues.

Issues: the obnoxious acoustics in the dome and the one problem I have with George anyway--he's a more-of-the-same artist, probably why he's so successful. He never fails to appeal to the hardcore traditionalist country music fans. I'm afraid I'm not quite in that category.

Good times though. Thanks for securing the tickets Jackie.

The bitter pill

"The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe."
Proverbs 29:25

It is a weakness worth having all on it's own. But there are certainly some additional difficulties that can make for a compounded problem.

But before I explain, I think the fear of man can manifest itself in more than just the classic image we have of the Christian who tries to please all those he meets, to the point where he has difficulty witnessing, and indeed even living a holy life. To be specific, the fear of man can sometimes be strongest when we try to please those who are worth pleasing (those who we respect and admire as more experienced Christians) so much it ends up amounting to simple "sucking up."

What would you say to a believer who is prone to this kind of fear of man and on top of it seems to habitually succeed at disappointing most of those he "fears." This indeed is a bitter pill.

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:8-10

I would say he had better learn as much of humility as he can because I don't think he feels any wiser for his constant stumbling.

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?

Ok...so I gave in again. And, surprise, my bro and I are from common lineage!


Numenorean
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Thawing out

So I'm headed home from work and I don't know if I'm going to make it out again any time soon. The flakes are getting a little smaller--probably the temperature is dropping.

The short version is that the weather report this morning on the way to work didn't mention anything about what we are seeing right now...it's really piling up. grrr

Work was a real drag because I was working outside in it. Three layers of footwear, two on the legs, two on the hands, a soaking wet beany, and a four or five shirt/jackets (I changed my shirt halfway through the day just to escape the wet--then I promptly got wet again and froze.

Here's hoping that I can get out tomorrow...and (*ehem*) that I get to work inside the shop.

So how has the weather been treating you?

I have NOT read the Silmarilian. Really!

Not a totally recommended test because you have to sign up in order to get the results...

LOTR Master You scored 97 LOTR knowledge!

You've read the Silmarilian, haven't you?

The test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on LOTR knowledge

Link: The LOTR Test written by graphx on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Time

"You've got time Mark."

It's been a recurring refrain recently, coming mostly from people who are older than I. However, I don't feel like I have a lot of time. Is it strange to have aging and the drumbeat of time constantly on my mind the last few days--I mean, to the extent that I start comparing metaphors for old age in my head as if I were trying to write my autobiography already: a worn-out tennis shoe, a threadbare couch...? I don't know why but memory loss and gray hair never felt so close.

But the merit of these thoughts is typically evaluated on the basis of the context. When I'm talking about school and graduating from Western, I can tend to be the one who thinks: "You've got time Mark." But when it comes to other issues, more long-range personal goals intrinsic to growing up, I tend to be the one protesting that very line when I hear it repeated by well-intending friends.

Twenty-two, with an almost-degree--the conclusion of which tends to move into the future swiftly ahead of me--a full-time job and plenty of responsibilities and extras to distract me from aforementioned conclusion...

Where will I be in 5 years? I can hardly guess. I remember someone once told me that the books you read and the friends you have are the best measure of where you will be in that amount of time. By the book-estimation alone, I would be going nowhere since I don't seem to have much time for reading now.

There, now you've got your daily shot of morbid anticipation. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Saddam Hussein (1937-2006)

Their inner thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49:11-12

Faithful sayings

What is thy only comfort in life and death?

That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
(-Heidelberg Catachism, Lord's Day 1, Q/A 1)

We believe that this good God, after he created all things, did not abandon them to chance or fortune but leads and governs them according to his holy will, in such a way that nothing happens in this world without his orderly arrangement...

We do not wish to inquire with undue curiosity into what he does that surpasses human understanding and is beyond our ability to comprehend. But in all humility and reverence we adore the just judgments of God, which are hidden from us, being content to be Christ's disciples, so as to learn only what he shows us in his Word, without going beyond those limits.

This doctrine gives us unspeakable comfort since it teaches us that nothing can happen to us by chance but only by the arrangement of our gracious heavenly Father. He watches over us with fatherly care, keeping all creatures under his control, so that not one of the hairs on our heads (for they are all numbered) nor even a little bird can fall to the ground without the will of our Father.
(Belgic Confession, Article 13)

As the providence of God does, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it takes care of His Church, and disposes all things to the good thereof.
(Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 5, Section 7)

For the complete text of these confessions and others, plus scripture references and other documents, see this link.