Hope and Fear

Inauguration Day: "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." Today: "This recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits . Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we … Continue reading Hope and Fear

Bits and Pieces

The news isn't interesting yet again today. Republicans admire the Democrat's desire to surrender. I don't disagree that the Iraq war must end eventually, I just don't think Congress should be dictating it. But I'm alone on that point, I think. Tammy Faye Bakker is preparing to die, but aren't we all. I don't spend … Continue reading Bits and Pieces

Review: On the Move

Bono, the lead singer of U2, was asked to give an address at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2006. Bono discussed his personal faith, the faith of nations, and the plight of the poor in Africa that are dying from AIDS. Based on this speech, "On the Move" was produced with images of the faces … Continue reading Review: On the Move

I Need a Shower

I was at the gym last night, working on the treadmill. My usual habit is to listen to stuff on my iPod Shuffle, a mix of Country & Western, 70's Rock, 90's Folk Music, Spike Jones, Contemporary Christian, A Capella African Christian, Jazz, and sermons. Ok, so there's no real coherent theme there. In front … Continue reading I Need a Shower

Kenya Mission, Day 7

January 2, 2006 Today's Swahili phrase: hakuna matada, which means "Disney marketing phrase." No wait, it means "no worries." I've received a lot of encouragement to continue this series - we're about halfway through - but this next day was a very important day, full of eye-opening experiences, and frankly, just hard to get a … Continue reading Kenya Mission, Day 7

Kenya Mission, Day 6

January 1, 2006 Today's Swahili phrase: Jambo, which means "Howdy" in Texan. We used this word more than any other, I think, and it was so easy to pronounce. I meant to write these faster and closer together, but the work load skyrocketed on me the last couple of weeks. Several of you have encouraged … Continue reading Kenya Mission, Day 6

Kenya Mission, Day 4

December 30, 2005 Goodness, can it be Friday already?  We left Houston Tuesday afternoon and we're still not at our final destination.  It's like Africa is on the other side of the world or something.  😛 We woke up in the Methodist Guest House in Nairobi, and in the light we could see how quaint … Continue reading Kenya Mission, Day 4

Kenya Mission Trip

God has been begun preparing me to be a part of an upcoming mission trip; I want to experience first-hand the needs of another culture and to help evangelize our lost world. Our mission group is scheduled to depart for Africa by the end of this year 2005. We have been preparing and planning for … Continue reading Kenya Mission Trip

A Faith Vacuum

A faith vacuum haunts Europe There was a time when Europe would justly refer to itself as "Christendom." Europeans built the Continent's loveliest edifices to accommodate their acts of worship. They quarreled bitterly over the distinction between transubstantiation and consubstantiation. As pilgrims, missionaries and conquistadors, they sailed to the four corners of the Earth, intent … Continue reading A Faith Vacuum

Posts are Coming, I Promise

Been busy lately; posting has been slim. You know, what with that wedding thang and all. Today's not going to slow down enough to post anything; I want to tell you about the KSBJ Summerfest and the Newsboys and last night's ImagiNations dinner at the church hearing about African missionaries and listening to Christian African … Continue reading Posts are Coming, I Promise

Christianity Today Book Awards 2005

Looking for Christian reading material? There are so many titles out there, it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Christianity Today has listed the top Christian books for 2005, divided into several catagories: Apologetics / Evangelism: Christian Living: Biblical Studies: History / Biography: Christianity and Culture: Missions and Global Affairs: The Church / … Continue reading Christianity Today Book Awards 2005

True Love Waits

Uganda is under criticism for a policy of abstinence to combat HIV/AIDS. Uganda pushes the ABC method ("A"bstinence, "B"e faithful, "C"ondoms). Critics don't like that order, but Uganda president Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet insist "there is no safe sex outside of faithfulness in marriage." Even though this "True Love Waits" program has been … Continue reading True Love Waits

Earthquake / Tsunami Animation

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) has put up a worldwide animation that shows where the earthquake hit and which areas of the world were affected. Watching it it's easy to see why east Africa (3300 miles away), India, Indonesia and Malaysia were hit by the tsunami, but Singapore, only a few hundred miles away, … Continue reading Earthquake / Tsunami Animation

Al Qaeda Operative Arrested in McAllen, Texas

A South African woman, Farida Goolam Mohamed Ahmed, was picked up at the McAllen Miller International Airport on July 19, headed to New York. Authorities believe she is a high-level Al Qaeda operative. Government sources tell FederalNewsRadio.com that capturing this woman could be comparable to the arrest of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of … Continue reading Al Qaeda Operative Arrested in McAllen, Texas

Anti-Semitism 150, Israel 6

The United Nations passed a resolution, 150-6, to demand the Israel tear down the wall they're building that's keeping the Palestinian bombers out. Carlos asks,I can imagine Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, … Continue reading Anti-Semitism 150, Israel 6

Rod Paige and the NAACP

Rod Paige tears into the NAACP in an opinion to the Wall Streel Journal. I have a message for the NAACP's Julian Bond and Kweisi Mfume, who have accused black conservatives of being the "puppets" of white people, unable to think for ourselves: You do not own, and you are not the arbiters of, African-American … Continue reading Rod Paige and the NAACP

Protest Without a Cause

I dunno what came over him, but a little girl named Isis asked California Education Secretary Richard Riordan if he knew her name meant "Egyptian Goddess." Riordan replied, "It means stupid dirty girl." After some nervous laughter in the room, the girl told Riordan her name meant "Egyptian Goddess." "Hey, that's nifty," Riordan said. Afterwards, … Continue reading Protest Without a Cause

Giving Blood

I gave blood after lunch today, and I'm following the nurse's orders - relaxing, eating cookies, drinking water, blogging. Giving blood is only a minor inconvenience to you and can help save lives, so consider it when you next get the opportunity. And you get free toys - last time I got a frisbee, today … Continue reading Giving Blood