Monday, February 26, 2007

If Christ is not risen

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

But now Christ
is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 NKJV
Just a reminder, in case you had already heard about film director James Cameron's latest documentary, in which he challenges the resurrection. It's not only Church men who are challenging him on his claims, it looks, so far, like the larger archeological community is not happy with him either.

Read up at this link.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Texas should just secede

For a good summary of events with regard to the following info, I recommend checking out the America's Most Wanted web page (links at the bottom of post). They have taken a stand on the right side of this issue and as a result have combined a lot of journalistic know-how with sensation making savy (a good thing). The story IS sensational after all, and it just keeps getting more so.

Three Texas lawmen are now being abused by the law they are sworn to uphold. On the one hand, two border agents are now serving time for "civil rights violations." On the other hand, a Deputy Sheriff, is being charged for similar offences even after he was cleared a year ago by all the immediate investigatory work on the case. In any case, it seems that illegals are doing wonders at obtaining the means to turn the American system of justice on itself--kind of like a dog chasing its tail.

How have they done it?

There seems to be a triad of anti-Americanism that have a powerful influence (at least in Texas).

Figure 1: Meet U.S. Attorney John Sutton. His disposition toward law enforcement can best be summed up here in this quote from America's Most Wanted Web site:

"This is an obvious case of he said/they said. On the one hand, there is an illegal alien, on American soil, driving a van full of about $1 million in drugs. On the other side are two experienced law enforcement officers... While the U.S. Attorney reiterated his stance on the issue, he never answered the question of why he sided with Aldrete-Davila instead of (border agents) Compean and Ramos."
Disturbing...

Figure 2: Here you have the Mexican Government, which has attempted many times to interfere and insist on "justice" for civil rights violations... the full extent of their involvement can only be guessed though.

Figure 3: Finally there are the illegals, coyotes, drug runners, et al. Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, is the man (term used loosely) who drove the van that was found with $1 million worth of marijuana. Supposedly, he was shot while "fleeing," a violation of procedure. Even though he escaped he still found a way (via a friend in our border patrol) to initiate a case against the two who thwarted him. His wounds tell a different story than the one he claims:
"According to TJ Bonner, the Army doctor who treated Aldrete-Davila, [the fleeing story] doesn't hold water. According to Bonner, Aldrete-Davila's entrance wound was on the left side of his left buttock and the bullet was found in his right side.

That entry wound is not consistent with someone fleeing. Rather, it looks like someone taking the "bladed stance," i.e., pointing a gun at someone. The stance would come from someone firing a gun in his left hand. Bonner says Aldrete-Davila is, in fact, left-handed."


What's even more incredible? The admitted felon, drug smuggler and illegal immigrant who was granted immunity by the federal government in order to testify against the border agents, is now suing the federal government for $5 million.

See these links:

America's Most Wanted on the border agent's stories.
Grassfire.org - the lobby group trying to get our lawmen pardoned.
America's Most Wanted on Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Milestone

Congratulations to my cousin Josiah Neff on his graduation from basic training in the United States Marine Corps. He follows his older brother Jalon who bacame a marine around four years ago (if I remember correctly).

Do us proud!

Monday, February 12, 2007

Austria to Iraq in forty-five days

The British reporters seem to be doing a better job on this story. They are actually mentioning the dirty details of how weapons are making it from manufacturers to Iran and then to Iraqi Shia militias. See these two stories:

First, the armor-piercing .50 cal rifle (over 100 have already been found) that made it in 45 days from the point of delivery to Iran to point of tragic discovery in Iraq. This is a stunning display of efficiency for American reporters and the Democratic Congress to still be pretending to doubt the evidence. Nice concise quote:
Within 45 days of the first HS50 Steyr Mannlicher rifles arriving in Iran, an American officer in an armoured vehicle was shot dead by an Iraqi insurgent using the weapon.
Incredible!

The second story is an earlier, more general one (that is linked within the first) that covers the accusations from the White House.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

One day only

"What!?"

I stopped suddenly on my way out the door to the car and turned slowly. Yes, that was the sun all right...and more than that, it was indeed warm upon my face. It was like...well, like feeling the sun again after a long winter--like what I felt last year as expressed in this post.

Except, as I try to remind myself, winter isn't over and it is just as likely to turn cold again. But who cares. It can be spring for a day, can't it?

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Tips to keeping me honest

Imagine this (the easy part of this lesson):

You run into me somewhere in the ordinary course of the day and you ask me an important albeit unappreciated question.

"Hey how are you Mark?"

"I'm good," I say in response (substitute with "I'm alright" "Not too bad" "Just grand" or whatever you wish if you feel the need).

A few of the wiser folk might like to pick through my answer by saying something like "Just good?" and I will generally dodge the request for more detail unless there is something in particular that I can safely share like "long day, you know..." or what have you.

But let me warn you before you just take my answer at face value: There may be signs to my status that can better be observed than related word-of-mouth. Consider a few examples:

1: I'm standing at the counter of some business, busily filling out my name and number for some reason or other. Suddenly the last couple digits to my phone number vanish from my mind...like they never existed. The person behind the counter raises a puzzled eyebrow as I pause for ten dramatic seconds to retrieve the missing digits from some dark corner of grey matter. "hmmmm...so how are you doing these days..."

2: I yawn...stretch as I grab a pen to clock out. I glance at the calender and notice it has finally been turned to February. Already there are various coworkers who are marking time off in order to find respite from the recent endless overtime. Those not on the calender just call in sick. It's only Tuesday though and you are feeling it. You look and notice the date of your birthday and that triggers a horrible feeling of lostness. How old am I anyway? I probe desparately into the past, searching for clues to my age. I finally latch onto one...it was my golden birthday last year...that makes me 22. *sigh*

The rest of the week is fine, I know who I am, how old I am...I even remember that I'm an idiot for "living" with so little sleep. Life is good it seems until I forget my phone number once again...and then in the vary same evening (tonight), I get this message from a friend:

"you know...i heard you tell someone that you're 23 last night...you know you're really only 22, right?"

*snif*

Our debt


-author unknown

Monday, February 05, 2007

In need of perspective

I think it's time to get on the ball and start reading some of the military blogs out there. They tend to have the rest of the story that we so need to hear.

Here's a good video from BuckSargent.net:

The heroes are on our side--someone you should know

Here's a good read from military blogger BLACKFIVE.

Be sure to read the story at the bottom of his post from the Stars and Stipes--they interviewed the man called Rambo the Afghan.

(photo source - www.bucksargent.net)



Many anecdotes of Rambo's exploits are making their way across the blogosphere. One recent one (included in the above link) tells of how he recently thwarted a car bombing with his signature red pipe at the base he "guards."

A medal is in order right?

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Comments back up

I'm afraid I went to bed with a project unfinished one night and forgot to place the publishing settings in the proper place. I was wondering why my comments were getting quite dry. My bad.