More Island Dreams

University Avenue Baptist Church, Mid Pac Academy, UH Manoa

Swimming Hole near Hana, Maui

Maui Surf

Quote for the Day

"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings."

-- Eric Hoffer

Quote for the Day

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation."

-- Jean Kerr

Quote for the Day

"Honesty pays, but it don't seem to pay enough to suit some people."
-- Kin Hubbard

Island Dreams

A Waianae Sunset

Photo Restoration

I've been testing a plug-in for Photoshop that speeds up restoration of old damaged photos. Here's a photo of my wife's uncle, aunt and cousins that I made a quick cleanup on.

Quote for the Day

"Vegetarians have never been able to explain why the first sin was eating fruit."

-- Unknown

Quote for the Day

"Once again, we come to the holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice."

--Dave Barry

Quote for the Day

"Christmas, with its spirit of giving, reminds us of what we all most deeply and sincerely believe in. I refer, of course, to money."

Tom Lehrer quoted by Steve Hayes at Notes from underground

An Authentically Christian Response to Islamic Terrorists

Christian janitor died saving Muslim students

At a time when many "Christians" are screaming hatred toward Moslems, here is an example of a truly Christian response to Islamic Terrorism.

Listen - - -

Saw a sign at a church that said, "Have you talked to God? He's listening." I want to stop and tell them to change it to, "Have you listened to God? He's talking."

Imagine what would happen if we listened to God instead of talking all the time!

Still Another Old Kumabe Family Photo

Just finished another Old Kumabe Family Photo -- I bet Kathy's dad took this picture because when he visited us in Zimbabwe, he took a photo of Kat, Malaika and me at Victoria Falls. He cut off my head. If he took this one, maybe it was just the way he took pictures and not an attempt to get me out of the picture. ;-)

Another Old Kumabe Family Photo

This is my father-in-law in his youth taking a trip.

Neither Nor

Too often the positions and actions of the "Christian Right" have proven to be neither Christian nor right.

Rich Germans demand higher taxes

Rich Americans would never do this:

Rich Germans demand higher taxes

Rich Americans and Republicans would do this:

We woke up this morning to learn that the new center-right coalition of Ms Merkel’s CDU and Mr Westerwelle’s FDP have decided to cut taxes.

Thanks to Loomnie for bringing this to my attention.

Quote for the Day

"During the thirties a woman came to Sevagram asking Gandhi to get her little boy to stop eating sugar; it was doing him harm. Gandhi gave a cryptic reply: 'Please come back next week.'

The woman left puzzled but returned a week later, dutifully following the Mahatma's instructions. 'Please don't eat sugar,' Gandhi told the young fellow when he saw him. 'It is not good for you.' Then he joked with the boy for a while, gave him a hug, and sent him on his way. But the mother, unable to contain her curiosity, lingered behind to ask, 'Bapu, why didn't you say this last week when we came? Why did you make us come back again?'

Gandhi smiled, 'Last week,' he said to her, 'I too was eating sugar.'"

Told in Gandhi the Man by Eknath Easwaran

Widget

Transparency Is Essential for Christian-Based Organizations in Islamic Countries

Someone has gotten the right idea!

Transparency Is Essential for Christian-Based Organizations in Islamic Countries

Bible Too Liberal? Conservative Bible Project Will Fix It

Will the abuse of the Bible never end? Canaan Banana (former ceremonial president of Zimbabwe and Methodist pastor) wrote a book suggesting that the Bible should be re-written. Are conservative Americans taking up the challenge (though moving in a different direction than Banana suggested)?

Bible Too Liberal? Conservative Bible Project Will Fix It

Quote for the Day

"The unity of the church -- no, the church itself -- is called in question when groups of Christians segregate themselves on the basis of such dubious distinctives as race, ethnicity, sex, or social status."

-- David J. Bosch Transforming Mission

Quote for the Day

"Through their conduct, believers attract outsiders or put them off . . .. Their lifestyle is either attractive or offensive. Where it is attractive, people are drawn to the church, even if the church does not actively 'go out' to evangelize them."

-- David J. Bosch Transforming Mission

Quote for the Day

A story from Steve Hayes at Notes from underground:

A very rich man who lived in Alexandria prayed to God every day that the lives of the indigent be made easier. On hearing about this, Abba Makarios sent him a message: 'I would like to own all your estate.'

The man was puzzled, and sent one of his servants to ask what [Abba Makarios] would do with all that wealth.

Abba Makarios said: 'Tell your master that I would immediately answer his prayer.'

Quote for the Day

"God in Christ has accepted us unconditionally; we have to do likewise with regard to one another."

-- David J. Bosch Transforming Mission

Quote for the Day

Got this great quote from Spookyrach at Skewed View:

"When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?"

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Learning to Love

This came from a missionary friend's newsletter:

'If you want to learn to love better, you
should start with a friend who you hate.'
Nikka - age six (we need a few million
more Nikka's on this planet)

Love of money [and power] is the root of all evil.

Desperation stalks Zimbabwe's white farmers

Bill Moyers on the Man Behind the March

Bill Moyers gives us insight into the "Do as I say not as I do" aspect of the health care debate. Remember the adage, "Whenever you encounter propaganda [advertising], ask yourself, 'In whose interest is it that I believe this?'"

Bill Moyers on the Man Behind the March

Quote for the Day

"If you want to know and reach Christ, you will arrive much sooner by following him than by reading about him."

-- M. Basil Pennington Lectio Divina

Quote for the Day

"The Bible is not intended only to tell us about God but to transform us according to the form of Christ."

-- M. Basil Pennington Lectio Divina

Quote for the Day

Speaking of reading the Bible:

"The fool falls into the temptation of saying, 'I already know this text!' The wise one knows that it is one thing to know the chemical formula of water and another to savor it by a spring on a summer's day."

-- M. Basil Pennington Lectio Divina

"In God We Trust"

Based upon the greater importance placed upon insurance company profits over affordable health care for all citizens in the current debate, it is appropriate that the phrase "In God We Trust" is emblazoned upon our currency. Money is truly the god of the USA today.

We venerate the profits while castigating the prophets. May the God of all creation have mercy upon us and lead us to repentance.

Quote for the Day

"God is not truly God for us if we do not listen to him."

-- M. Basil Pennington Lectio Divina

Quote for the Day

"An important disposition for the operation of living faith within us is humility, the full acceptance of reality. . . . Humility is the acceptance of our profound ignorance with regard to God as well as to so many other things. We know what we know, and it is not very much. We know what we do not know, and that is a lot more. And we accept the fact that beyond this there is an infinity that we do not even know we do not know."

-- M. Basil Pennington Lectio Divina

Quote for the Day

"Our communication with our Divine Friend needs to be a two-way street. And if we are smart, we let God get the first word in. For he surely has a lot more that is worth saying."

--M. Basil Pennington Lectio Divina

Quote for the Day

"What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain."

-- Maya Angelou Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now

Quote for the Day

"Perfection does not consist in feeling perfect or being perfect, but in doing what we are supposed to do without noticing it: loving people without taking any credit. Just doing it."

-- Thomas Keating Intimacy With God

Quote for the Day

"Divine love is not a feeling. It is a disposition or attitude of ongoing self-surrender and concern for others similar to the concern God has for us and every living thing."

-- Thomas Keating Intimacy With God

Quote for the Day

"St. John of the Cross wrote, 'The Father spoke one word from all eternity and he spoke it in silence, and it is in silence that we hear it.'"

-- Thomas Keating Intimacy With God

Quote for the Day

"A good and faithful Christian is one who lives the gospel in everyday life, not one who only reads about it or tries to manipulate God to fit his or her particular needs."

-- Thomas Keating Intimacy With God

Quote for the Day

"The emphasis in the New Testament is on listening and responding to the Spirit rather than initiating projects that God is expected to back up, even though God had little or nothing to do with them."

-- Thomas Keating Intimacy With God

Quote for the Day

"Human nature prefers to offer substitute sacrifices to placate God rather than to offer the sacrifice that God clearly states in Scripture is the only acceptable one, which is the gift of ourselves."

-- Thomas Keating Intimacy With God

Quote for the Day

"Prayer is not a method or power given to us so that we can order God around, or tell God how to run the world (or our own world). It is a way to express our love for God and our dependence on God's mercy."

--William A. Menninger The Loving Search for God

Quote for the Day

"A loving person is interested in the conversion of a sinner but not in chiding him or her. He is apt to err by kindness rather than severity."

--William A. Menninger The Loving Search for God

Quote for the Day

"We need no further motive for loving God than loving God. We love God for God's own sake, because God is worth loving."

-- William A. Menninger The Loving Search for God

Quote for the Day

"As for the devil, I do not fear him. Nor can I approve of those who seem to be living a kind of constant 'devil theology.' It almost seems as if they pay more attention to the devil than to God. They see him behind every telephone pole and under every bed. He seems to play a great role in their lives, as they are always talking about him.

"I would rather talk about God and see God where God is -- behind every telephone pole and under every bed and everywhere else. . . . As for me, and, I hope, for you, dear friend, I will continue on in the loving search with the help of God's grace and 'even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is with me.'"

-- William A. Meninger The Loving Search for God

I once visited a church in California while on furlough from Zimbabwe. The Sunday School class I attended was doing a prolonged and intensive study of the devil. There was a strange fascination with the topic (and some rather bizarre interpretation of Scripture) with no mention, and seemingly no interest in God, Himself, or Jesus in particular. I suggested to the pastor that he might want to monitor the class to see if the devil had taken the members eyes off of God. What occupies our minds controls us.

I heard of a fellow who was challenged by a fundamentalist rabble-rouser, "Do you believe in a literal devil?" He replied, "I don't believe in the devil, but I've met him in the streets among the drug dealers and pimps. I BELIEVE in Jesus." A good response.

Quote for the Day

"Externally motivated enthusiasm is not from God. It may be good and useful or it may be evil, but it is not spiritual. I am sorry to say that we see a great deal of this kind of enthusiasm today passing off for religion. Television seems to be a popular medium for this kind of hype. Beware of emotional responses generated by overenthusiastic 'Bible thumping' preachers or by media-generated audience enthusiasm, stimulated by stage effects and electronic embellishments."

--William A. Meninger The Loving Search for God

Quote for the Day

"If you want to be a true lover of God, you must love God even more than you love yourself."

-- William A. Meninger The Loving Search for God

Quote for the Day

"I plead with you, for the love of God, do not give up on your prayer. Start over again every day. Do not look for consolations. Remember again and again that love begins when nothing is expected in return. You will have consolations enough when God wills it. Enjoy them when they are given, but do not look for them or become attached to them. Seek the giver, not the gifts."

-- William A. Meninger The Loving Search for God

Quote for the Day

"A real Christian, as opposed to a cultural Christian, is not one who never sins. He or she is one who, having sinned, is willing to reach out and find his or her sufficiency in Christ and start over again--today!"

--William A. Meninger The Loving Search for God

A Dirty Story - Quote for the Day

"Many years ago there lived a scholar who asked an old rabbi what could be learned from the Talmud. The rabbi told him of two men who fell down a chimney. One man arrived at the bottom dirty, while the other arrived clean. Is that the lesson of the Talmud? the scholar asked. No, replied the old rabbi, listen to me: the dirty man looked at the clean man and thought himself clean. Is that the lesson of the Talmud? asked the scholar. No, replied the rabbi, for the dirted man looked at his own hands and seeing them sooty knew he'd been dirted. This then is the lesson of the Talmud? said the scholar. No, said the rabbi. Then what am I to learn from the Talmud? asked the scholar. The rabbi told him: You will learn nothing from the Talmud if you start by believing that two men can fall down a chimney and not both be dirtied."

-- Len Deighton City of Gold

Quote for the Day

"We were taught, as much by example as precept, to respect our minds and to use them; to examine the evidence before rushing in with our opinions; to distinguish between fact and theory; to see history through the eyes of the poor and vanquished, not merely those of the powerful and the conquerors; not to believe that something is true simply because it would be pleasant or convenient if it were and, when exposed to propaganda, to ask ourselves, 'In whose interest is it that I should believe this?'"

-- P. D. James Time To Be In Earnest

Unfortunately, this lesson has not been taught or learned by the majority of citizens of the U.S.A. today. We are too quick to voice opinions and too ready to view history through the eyes of the powerful and conquerors rather than consider the view from the eyes of the poor and vanquished. (This is a complete departure from the attitude of God revealed in the Bible and especially in Jesus. Ironic for a nation which so many claim to be a Christian Nation. Especially since those voicing the claim tend to be the ones least likely to empathize with the poor and vanquished.)

A good place to begin practicing to learn this lesson is the current health care debate. When confronted with the TV ads and proclamations of the politicians and lobbyists, let us ask ourselves, "In whose interest is it that I should believe this?" There is clearly a divide between those seeking to maximize profits and those seeking to maximize "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" of the citizens of this country.

Sick Leaders

Southern Baptists have had some spiritually and morally sick leaders in recent years. There is nothing of the Imitation of Christ about them. They are more the antithesis of Christ. The following is an example: Ex-Southern Baptist Leader: Abortion Doctor’s Murder Answer To Prayer

Is it any wonder that people fail to know the love of God in their lives?

I couldn't have said it better.

(Click on image to view full size for easier reading.)

Actually, he did tend to have harsh words for the religious leaders, too.

Another Old Photo - Colourized

Here is another family photo (belonging to the family not OF the family) I've worked on. Click on it to see it full size -- it's definitely nicer.

Today's Photoshop Project

(Click to enlarge and view details)

Tried out a new technique for making a panorama. This is using photos from last year's Corvette show here in Hot Springs.

Today's Photoshop Project

Today's project was to restore and colourize an old family photo left by my mother-in-law.

Hot Springs Cruisers 9 May 2009

Luke and I went to the Hot Springs Cruisers' car show Saturday before between rains. I've begun processing the pictures and here they are. More to be added later.

(For a better slide show, click on the icon to go to the gallery.)

Proud Father Keep On Braggin'

Last night was Awards Night at Hot Springs National Park Community College. My son, Luke. was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and won the Outstanding Work Ethic award. He's lucky. When I was in school you either did vo-tech or college prep. He's getting to study Automotive Service Technology while doing college prep and AP courses at Lakeside High School. Smart kid. Good kid. Must take after his mother.

Survey: Support for terror suspect torture differs among the faithful

"The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new survey."

This is the most revolting news I've read in some time. How is it that in the U.S.A., church goers are the most likely to deny the teaching and commands of the one they claim to follow? The U.S. churches are becoming the most anti-christian organizations around. Whatever became of "love your enemy?" "Do good to those who hate you?" "Lose you life for my sake?" "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good?"

It seems the anti-christ has mounted the pulpit and the sheep are devoured by wolves. We need a national year of repentance. (A day won't do.)

Read: Survey: Support for terror suspect torture differs among the faithful and weep.

Hot Springs Fly-In 04 April 2009

A quick look at last week's RC Airplane Fly-In

For a more interesting slide show, click on the blue icon on the right and be transported to the world of Adobe.

Quote for the Day

"It would be wonderful one day to meet an American whose God has made his life harder, not easier."

—Leon Wieseltier, commenting on Barack Obama's statement about people clinging to religion out of economic frustration (New Republic, May 7).

-- From the June 3, 2008 Century Marks, The Christian Century

McConnell: I'm 'disappointed' in Obama's lack of bipartisanship

The Republican's definition of "bipartisanship" is "you buy everything we propose or we part company."

Their idea of compromise is "we both state our positions, you capitulate, and we proceed with our ideas."

They sing a different song now that they don't have a slim majority.

Quote for the Day

"Better give your path to a dog, than be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog would not cure the bite."

-- Abraham Lincoln
Quoted by Doris Kearns Goodwin in Team of Rivals

Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh

I recently saw an ad for Disney's Pinnochio DVD. Suddenly, I realized why the Republicans have an elephant as their symbol.

Maybe Winnie the Pooh will explain the Democrats' symbol.

Foolishness

There are fools and there are fools. Judging from this article, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is one of them. Bush's heavy handed power grabbing security policies and military intervention more closely resemble the destructive actions of Mugabe. The land grab had nothing to do with economic policy. It was geared to destruction of political opposition and enriching supporters -- like Bush Republicans loved to do. Obama has more affinity with Tsvangirai, a former trade union leader, who seeks to help the working man rather than the overlords of society.

S.C. governor compares stimulus to Zimbabwe

Posted: 06:16 PM ET

From Jessica Yellin
CNN

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — The United States faces a Zimbabwe-style economic collapse if it keeps “spending a bunch of money we don’t have,” South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday.

Sanford, a Republican, has been a critic of the Obama administration’s $800 billion stimulus plan. He said he’ll turn down about a quarter of his state’s $2.8 billion share unless Washington lets him use that money to pay down debt.

“What you’re doing is buying into the notion that if we just print some more money that we don’t have and send it to different states, we’ll create jobs,” he said. “If that’s the case, why isn’t Zimbabwe a rich place?” Zimbabwe has been in the throes of an economic meltdown ever since the southern African nation embarked on a chaotic land reform program. Its official inflation rate topped 11 million percent in 2008, with its treasury printing banknotes in the trillion-dollar range to keep up with the plummeting value of its currency.

But with South Carolina’s unemployment rate now at 10.4 percent — the second-highest in the country — state lawmakers will attempt to override Sanford and take the $700 million if he turns it down, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said.

Uncle Sam and the Panhandler

Recently my uncle saw an old friend panhandling on the street corner. This old friend had been quite successful, but hard drink and bad judgement had him homeless and hungry. He asked my uncle for some money to buy some food. My uncle wanted to help so he offered to give him some if he promised not to use the money to buy alcohol. The agreement was made and the money changed hands.

A short time later my uncle passed by again and saw the old friend quickly emptying a fifth of whiskey down his throat. My uncle was angry and confronted his former friend. "You promised not to use the money I gave you to buy alcohol!"

"I didn't use the money you gave me to buy this whisky!" replied the increasingly inebriated man. "I used your money to buy a burger. I bought this with the money I had been saving."

My uncle is Uncle Sam and his friend is the Wall Street banking establishment. When poor people use their existing resources to buy big screen TVs or such luxuries and then ask for public assistance to obtain food and housing, most hard working people are outraged. One must first use one's own resources to provide for the necessities of life. It is only when all of one's resources are insufficient that one can ask for help.

Does not the same principle apply to big business? Shouldn't the excessively remunerated executive have an obligation to reduce his own wage before depriving the industrious worker of his job? Shouldn't executive perks be eliminated before the business is driven into bankruptcy? Shouldn't a business cut ALL possible unnecessary expenses before asking for government assistance?

We must not limit our focus to the excesses of greedy CEOs. The boards of governors of these irresponsibly led companies must also be called to account. Shareholders must demand better management of their investments or replace these overcompensated incompetents.

Perhaps a good way to measure the relative value of workers and executives at a business would be the following: Let the executive officers stay away from work for 1 month and see the impact on the business. Let the hourly wage workers stay away for 1 week and see the impact. Whichever group's absence has the greatest impact should receive the greatest compensation. I doubt that those currently getting multi-million dollar bonuses will be missed. In fact, their assistants will probably do a better job in their absence.

A Final Observation on the Bush Presidency

Thanks to What the Duck for this reminder.

"Stop the Turkey!"

(Before)

Around Thanksgiving I was walking down the street minding my own business when I heard a noise behind me. People around me were looking behind me with strange expressions on their faces. I turned to see what was going on. I saw a man rapidly approaching, running in fact, with a huge ax yelling what sounded like, "Stop the turkey! Stop the turkey!" As the man got nearer, it became obvious that he was actually yelling, "Chop the turkey!" not "Stop the turkey!"

When the man got alongside me he began to swing his huge ax wildly at ME, all the while yelling, "Chop the turkey!" I began to bob and weave, duck and dive, to avoid the razor sharp double blade ax as the lunatic tried to chop ME.

By the time bystanders got the police and they were able to taser the man into submission, I looked like this!

(After)

(Actually, none of this really happened. I just made up this story as a response that that inevitable question, "Did you get a haircut?" that people always ask one who has just gotten a haircut. Of course, since I had such a stupid answer for such a stupid question, no one asked. Not wanting to waste the story, I'm saving it here.)

Reflections on the Election

Disclaimer

Although I was thoroughly impressed with Barak Obama before I knew anything of his biography, it is true that similarities in our life adventures draw me even more to support him because of the broad cultural experience he brings with him and the dramatic way his life expresses the American ideal.

Obama was born in Hawaii and spent most of his youthful years there. My wife was born and raised in Hawaii and my daughter was born there. I, personally, feel more at home in Hawaii than in any other state of the union. The multi-cultural life in Hawaii is a good basis for a president who wishes to lead and represent a nation of diversity. I gotta geevum fo' da kine local boy.

Obama's father came from Kenya in East Africa. Just out of college I lived in Tanzania, Kenya's next door neighbour and at that time fellow member of the East African Community. I visited Kenya often. Barak Obama is African American in the truest sense. My two sons were born in Zimbabwe. They, too, could be called African Americans by geography of birth. Africa is in my family's blood. My daughter and older son did their secondary schooling in Kenya. The sense of identity many in Africa and other countries feel for Barak Obama opens doors for him to lead on the world stage in a unique way.

These are some of the reasons I feel a special affinity for Obama in addition to the attraction to policy positions and philosophical positions that agree with mine. This affinity will strengthen my support of him even when we disagree.

Transitional Symbol

Obama, for me, is also a transitional symbol. I welcome the change in the USA that his election represents.

I remember when the only contact I had with non-white Americans was in the cotton patch. In the fall when the cotton was ready to harvest, schools closed and we all went to work picking cotton. Blacks and whites shared the labour in the fields but not the same water bucket. We were side-by-side in the field and some conversations and superficial friendships were possible. But we went back to separate schools when the cotton was harvested and used separate bathrooms and water fountains in the towns. When the white churches held revivals in the small southern towns, they knocked on every door to invite folks. White people were invited to the revival. Black people were invited to visit the local black church. (That never quite fit into my understanding of God. When we sang "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight" I took it literally.)

I remember when my high school was integrated. A neighbouring school wouldn't allow our pep squad to attend the basketball game when we played in their gym. Our black players could come. We were all very frightened and ready to fight for our team mates. We "joked" about which of us would be hanging from the flag pole after the game. But we were seriously afraid.

I could tell more horror stories of what life was like back then. There were times when there was a double risk for those who crossed the colour barrier. One could be attacked (physically and verbally) by both white extremists and black extremists whose only point of agreement was that we must be separate.

The election of Barak Obama and the beauty of his family on the stage at his victory speech was like a fresh wind rejuvenating hope after the dark despondency brought on by his predecessor. For many of us the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the beginning of what seemed to be a never ending nightmare.

Barak Obama's election may, just MAY, be a symbol that change really is coming. Sam Cooke, you sang about it. You were not a dreamer, you were a prophet.

Barak Obama and Zimbabwe

The election of Obama brings my mind back to my adopted home of Zimbabwe (where I wish I were). Obama's election highlights one difference between the USA and Zimbabwe that plays a role in causing the USA to overcome difficulties while Zimbabwe is self-destructing. It's a simple difference in attitude and law (but one that some Americans are loosing sight of, making them more akin to Mugabe's party than the American Founding Fathers). It is the practice of inclusion rather than exclusion.

Obama's father was not a US citizen. But Barak Obama was born in the USA, and even if his mother had not been a citizen, he became a citizen by birth. A Zimbabwean friend of mine studying for his PhD in the USA had a son born here. His son is a US citizen. He is eligible to become president of the USA. The French recognized the significance of this attitude when they presented the people of the USA with the Statue of Liberty. The USA builds upon the gifts, skills and aptitudes of those whose parents chose the USA as home. And the USA is a better country for this inclusivity.

On the other hand, my sons were born in Zimbabwe and their birth certificates clearly state that they are not eligible for citizenship. Not only that, Mugabe has actively tried to drive out others who were born in Zimbabwe. Second, third and even fourth generation Zimbabweans whose ancestors came from Malawi, Moçambique, Lesotho and other countries are denied citizenship and efforts have been made to repatriate them to countries they have never known. As a result Zimbabwe is losing many who could be contributing to the betterment of the country. Many who love Zimbabwe and would sacrifice to build the nation have been forced to leave in order to survive. Many of the brightest and most skilled are now building other countries and will probably never return. The brain drain will leave the country with only the least qualified as the building blocks for recovery.

Barak Obama is a symbol of what can be accomplished when a country practices inclusivity. He could not have risen so high in Zimbabwe. I'm thankful his father chose to study in the USA rather than in Zimbabwe.

Sarah Palin a Muslim?

Steve Hayes at Notes from underground has come up with a great analogy.

"If I've seen it once, I've seen it dozens of times, people claiming that Barack HUSSEIN Obama is a Muslim. That's about as convincing as saying that Sarah Palin is a Muslim because she's the governor of Al Aska."

Unfortunately, such stupidity is contageous and too many Americans have weak or non-existant immune systems. The confusion of the little lady who was corrected by McCain in the oft replayed clip is more common than we wish to acknowledge. Who knows who will become confused and think Al Aska is an islamic state since it is bordering on Russia like all those "istans" that emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Song of Obama and Other Irishmen

This is just TOO funny. If one drop of black blood makes a person African American, then a drop of Irish blood should make him Irish American. Obama meets O'Hara, O'Reilly and the rest of the clan.



Thanks to Thin Places for finding this and posting this where I could find it.

Constructive Criticism

I think that should be "apostrofly."

From What The Duck

High Politics

On the way to work one day last week, I stopped at a traffic light behind a vehicle with a political bumper sticker high up on the back window. My eye drifted down to the license plate and my mind linked the letters on the license plate to the high bumper sticker. As a product of the 1960s, the humour of the juxtaposition of the two overcame me. I had a small point-and-shoot camera in my lunch bag beside me. I immediately began digging to find the camera and get the shot. Just as I got the camera out, the light changed. I was able to grab a poor shot as the vehicle pulled away.

Here is the High Politics shot of the week:

SBC - Strange but True -- Fox News wouldn't lie?

I ran across this headline and couldn't believe it. Only in the SBC!

Magazine Featuring Female Pastors Pulled From Shelves, 'Treated Like Pornography'

Can you believe Fox News published this?

Interesting Comparisons

Dr. Jonas' Blog has the following post:

Interesting Comparisons

A former student emailed me the following this morning. It is probably a bit of an exaggeration but is nevertheless still an interesting read.

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight....

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic, different.'Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable. Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience. If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian. If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife (WHILE SHE WAS FIGHTING BREAST CANCER) and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

That pretty well sums it up!

"Change" McCain Style

The story is told of a WWII POW camp commander who told the prisoners one day that they would be allowed to change their underwear for the first time in six months. The prisoners began to cheer until the commander began to point from one prisoner to another and say, "You change with you. You change with you."

That is "change" McCain style.

Lest We Forget

Church Mice got it right.

May the same mind be in US that was in Christ Jesus.

AMEN!

Cry for Zimbabwe

A defeat for justice? Or a case of Solomonic wisdom? Or a triumph for violence and fear?

Read the tragic news: Cry for Zimbabwe

Quote for the Day

"There were more violent quarrels in our deeply religious home than in the home of a gangster, a burglar, or a prostitute, a fact which I used to hint gently to Granny and which did my cause no good. Granny bore the standard for God, but she was always fighting. The peace that passes understanding never dwelt with us. I, too, fought; but I fought because I felt I had to keep from being crushed, to fend off continuous attack. But Granny and Aunt Addie quarreled and fought not only with me, but with each other over minor points of religious doctrine, or over some imagined infraction of what they chose to call their moral code. Whenever I found religion in my life I found strife, the attempt of one individual or group to rule another in the name of God. The naked will to power seemed always to walk in the wake of a hymn."

--Richard Wright
Black Boy

Political Hardball

Political Hardball

The playoffs for the Democratic (National) League championship to decide who would play the Republican (American) League champion in the Political Baseball World Series has proven contentious.

Team Clinton batted first in the opening game and scored a run in the top of the first inning. A light mist was covering the field. As Team Obama came in to bat it began to rain and continued to do so resulting in the game being called off.

When game one was replayed, Team Clinton scored a run in the third inning and Team Obama scored one in the fourth and one in the eighth, winning the game 2-1.

Game two went to Team Clinton who scored 5 runs in the sixth inning while Team Obama scored 1 run in the fourth and 1 in the ninth. Team Clinton won 5-2.

Team Obama won the third game 9-4, scoring a run in each inning. Team Clinton scored all four of its runs in the ninth inning.

Team Obama also won game four 7-5. They scored 1 run in the first inning, 2 runs in the fifth, 2 runs in the sixth and 2 runs in the eights. Team Clinton scored all five of their runs in the ninth inning.

Team Clinton won game five by a score of 6-1. Team Obama opened the scoring with a run in the first inning but Team Clinton replied with 4 runs in the fifth and another two runs in the eighth.

Team Clinton claimed that the series was tied 3-3 since they had won the opening game 1-0. Team Obama argued that it was 3-2 in their favor since the opening game had been called before they had an opportunity to bat. The commissioners of Political Baseball ruled in favor of Team Obama leaving Team Clinton fuming.

Game six was vigorously contested by Team Clinton. Four Team Obama batters reached first base after being hit by pitched balls. Ultimately Team Clinton was victorious, winning by a score of 5-2.

Team Obama took game seven by a score of 5-3. Team Clinton failed to even the score in the top of the ninth inning, but insisted that Team Obama bat in the bottom of the ninth, even though they lead on the scoreboard. They argued that the game must be played out since in the remaining half-inning, Obama players could suffer injuries which would prevent them from achieving victory against Team McCain of the Republican League in the World Political Baseball World Series.

Team Clinton put out a press release stating that they should represent the Democratic League since they had scored more total runs than Team Obama. When informed that it was games won rather than total runs that decide the winner of a series, they replied that their superior total run scoring showed they were the stronger team. Moreover, they had made more double plays than Team Obama indicating that they were also a better defensive team. If they had been allowed a designated hitter as Team McCain was in their playoff, Team Clinton would have won game four since it was the strike-out by their pitcher that ended the game before they could win. They had been robbed of the run they scored in the aborted first game and should be allowed to apply it to their total score. They also scored more runs in big innings than Team Obama. For all these reasons, according to Team Clinton, Team Clinton should go to the Political Baseball World Series rather than Team Obama.

At last report, Team Clinton planned on fielding a team at the Political Baseball World Series, even if it meant locking Team Obama in the dressing room before the game.

Sacrifices

(From the Sentinel-Record newspaper in Hot Springs, AR.)

Each must sacrifice according to what he is willing to give.

OUTRAGE!

Hillary Clinton has claimed that the situation with Michigan and Florida delegate counting in the Democratic Primary Election is like the election in Zimbabwe where votes are not counted. This is the most outrageous thing she has done yet. There is NO comparison between the two situations. I lived in Zimbabwe for 16 years and it became home for me. I suffer daily over what is happening there. Lives are being lost and a great country destroyed due to the power hunger of one man, Mugabe, and his minions. In Zimbabwe it is those who follow the rules who lose, not those who flaunt the rules.

On second thought, maybe there is a parallel. Hillary Clinton more closely resembles Robert Mugabe than Morgan Tsvangarai in her effort to attain power. Mugabe is the one who changes the rules, ignores the rules, lies, and does whatever is necessary to attain and maintain power. Just what we see Clinton doing.

Early in the election season I had high regard for Clinton and thought she would make a great president with Obama as vice president. However, her true character has been revealed in the manner she has sought the nomination. She has disqualified herself by my standards of decency, integrity and honesty.

God's Sense of Humour

A friend, who is a missionary in Pemba, Mozambique sent this story. I don't know if it's aprocryphal, exaggerated, true, or great fiction. It is a great story in any case. 

THE PASTOR'S CAT...

This particular story just made me laugh. Every time I think about it, the vision of that poor cat just amuses me to no end. Hope the story leaves a bright spot in your day.

Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.

That's what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke. The tree went 'boing!' and the kitten instantly sailed through the air - out of sight.

The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, 'Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping,' and went on about his business. A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food.

This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, 'Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?' She replied, 'You won't believe this,' and then told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, 'Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it.'

She told the pastor, 'I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her.'

Lesson learned: Never underestimate the Power of God and His unique sense of humor.

Stupid signs

These are TOO funny. Check out these signs at Stupid signs at dave cross online.

Where is God in the Storm?

Jim Evans makes the following observation in the column ,Where is God in the Storm? at Ethics Daily.

God is where God is always found--standing beside the weak and the broken, comforting those who have lost everything.

Somewhere a preacher is calling down the wrath of God. But God is not there. God is in devastated cities and crushed villages, binding up the wounds of hurting children.

Why is this insight so often missing in our churches and in the hearts, souls and minds of those professing to be Christians?

Thank you for posting this, Jim.

Footsteps

From Peace Takes Courage:

Politically Correct Church Membership

Martin Marty gives guidelines for being politically correct in church membership. This is especially good advice for politicians.

PEWLESS

by Martin Marty

This spring a certain Christian layperson has been criticized for not exiting his local church when he disagreed with something his pastor preached.

The experts on the subject have been, as far as I can tell, media personnel who never go to church, do not know what sermons are for, and have not experienced lively congregational participation; people who value fidelity very little and church hopping and sermon shopping very highly; those who have political stakes in their judgment; and people who pay no attention to the contexts of messages.

Less vocal are church members who are unsure when to advance toward the pulpit in appreciation, when to back away, or when to finally head for the door, slam it and shake the aisle-dust off their feet.

To help them, we offer this little gamelike guide, suggesting where they should sit in church to indicate affirmation or negation. Arrange your pieces on a hypothetical board and play along. Begin in your regular pew.

1. If the preacher offers the prosperity gospel, announces that you can serve both God and mammon, and uses as sermon text the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal:

Move ten pews forward and up your pledge.

2. If the preacher is not wearing a United States flag over her robe:

Back up 15 pews.

3. If the preacher avoids all controversial topics and lulls everyone to sleep:

No response—remember, you are asleep.

4. If the preacher uses scripture to affirm that all acts by the United States military in all wars have been and are just:

Move forward ten pews and smile. This is getting good.

5. If the proclaimer of the gospel announces good news to the poor, healing and hope:

Move up two pews, but tentatively. As a Christian, you should welcome that kind of message, as long as it is sufficiently vague.

6. If the preacher blasts secular humanists, Islamofascists, rappers and anyone other than standard-brand heterosexuals:

Move up three pews and volunteer for the committee to extend your preacher's call.

7. If the preacher finds that liberals and conservatives, blacks and whites and others, including himself, fall short of gospel-rooted living:

Stay where you are; ambiguity is confusing.

8. If the preacher includes a few seconds of strident and edgy language that will make a controversial sound bite at the next congregational assembly:

Be sure you've recorded it; it will be good ammunition when you are drawing the conclusion that you've had it and don't really belong in this congregation. But stay where you are so you don't look suspicious.

9. If the preacher asks those who are without guilt to pick up a stone to throw: Head toward the back pew in a hurry.

10. If a few angry words from the preacher can make you forget how she visited your dying mother, greeted your children as friends and urged you to work for justice with mercy:

By all means, leave. But admit it—you miss the community, the challenge and the gospel. It's lonely out here, and all you will hear of your former pastor from now on are sound bites.

from The Christian Century

Another Car Show

Here are some more photos from another car show. Additional photos will be added as I process them.

"Know when to hold them, know when to fold them"

The line from a Kenny Rogers' song, "know when to hold them, know when to fold them" applies to politics. One needs when to change directions and when to hold steady. George Bush and his flock are confused with this issue, saying that "to pull troops from Iraq would mean that those who died there, died in vain." They don't realize that compounding a mistake does not undo the mistake or transform it into correct action.

Hilary Clinton also needs to learn "when to hold them and when to fold them." She has passed the point where continuing to fight for the nomination can have any positive effect. She is only deepening the divisions in the party and country by her antagonistic campaign. It is time to "fold them." Her inability to see that is a fault that disqualifies her from the presidency in my opinion. We don't need more years of Bush stubbornness and blindness to the consequences of the inability to change course -- even in a female incarnation.

I Can Identify With This

A few years ago I spent a few weeks filling the pulpit for a friend while he was away studying. There was a young lady in the congregation who had Downs Syndrome. One morning before the service she came to me and said, "I really like your messages. They put me to sleep."

I guess at least one person got something worthwhile from my efforts.

(Cartoon from Church Mice.)

MOTS

It appears that if we like MOTS, we can vote for Hillary or McCain. Hillary will give More Of The Same Republican-style dirty win at any cost politics. McCain will give More Of The Same Bush War policies and welfare for the rich.

I don't want MOTS. If you don't like Obama, vote Ron Paul. At least he'd do things differently.

A Different Kind of Observation

Here are some fun observations. Last Saturday my son, Luke, and I went to a corvette show here in Hot Springs, AR. We had fun shooting photos. I'm processing them now and have an album in process at Adobe's new Photoshop Express web site. More photos will be added as I process them.

Bumper Sticker I Want to See

"Keep a Republican in the White House --
Vote for Hilary!"

Baptist Group to Boycott

Here is a bit of satire, a spoof, that sounds so plausible that someone is bound to report it as true. If it used a denomination other than baptist, I'm sure SBC folks would be circulating it in chain e-mails.

Read and laugh: Baptist Group to Boycott

Money Where The Mouth Is

Isn't it ironic that Hillary Clinton, whose main campaign talking point is the need for universal health care, failed to pay the health insurance for her campaign staff? Other things (ads and donuts?) apparently were more important.

If she doesn't budget for her campaign staff's health insurance sufficiently, why should we think we can trust her to budget and pay for the nation's health care system?

Just curious.

Bush Alikes

George Bush: Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.

FALSE

Hillary Clinton: I dodged sniper fire in Bosnia.

FALSE

Hillary Clinton: A mother without health insurance died after being denied hospital treatment.

FALSE

John McCain: The surge is working.

FALSE

If you want Bush over easy, vote for John McCain.

If you want Bush lite, vote for Hillary Clinton.

If you want the truth, vote for someone else.