The Blinne Blog

American Optimism

A recent Harris poll on the religious beliefs of Americans found that 69% believed in the existence of Hell but only 1% believed that they were going there! Now that is optimism.

Stupid Quote

New Scientist reports:

Fifty years to the day from the discovery of the structure of DNA, one of its co-discoverers [James Watson] has caused a storm by suggesting that stupidity is a genetic disease that should be cured.

Physician heal thyself.

Pledge of Allegiance

CNN.com is reporting:

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A federal appeals court Friday rejected the Bush administration's request to reconsider its decision that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God."

The ruling means the case could go to the Supreme Court. In Washington, a Justice Department spokesman said no decision has been made about whether to appeal the ruling there.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it would not accept any other petitions to reconsider last June's ruling by a three-judge panel that the pledge is unconstitutional when recited in public classrooms.

Sigh. There is a reason why the Ninth Circuit is the most reversed circuit in the country.

The Blame Game

Dave asks:

I've been considering, most of my online day, what to say about folks who take a disaster and attribute it to the Wrath of God, such as Mr. Mohammed Jaber al-Tamini of Iraq, who opines that the Columbia disaster is God’s response to Israeli aggression against Iraq.

It's not, certainly, something that is attributable to Islam alone. After all, one of the more famous examples of it, of late, was the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s attribution of the 9/11 attacks to God being torqued with gays, liberals and feminists. His brother in service to Christ, the Rev. Pat Robertson, has similarly suggested that Florida gets hit by hurricanes because, among other things, Disney World allows "Gay Days."

So it’s not a sectarian thing. Hmm.

How about idiocy? Can we blame it on idiocy? Heartless, egocentric idiocy? 'Cause, to be honest, that seems to cover all the bases here.

A better example is Fred Phelps (who shows up every once in a while here in Fort Fun) and his sick reaction to the Columbia tragedy.

Jesus explains it this way in Luke 13:1-5:

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (NIV) [emphasis mine]

The proper way to look at tragedy is not now evil they are but how evil we are because as Jesus stated above being a victim of tragedy does not show greater guilt. To answer Dave's question, it is a combination of being egocentric and a mechanical view of how God's wrath is meted out. As we see from verse five, that is for the next world, not this one.

The Changing Face of Religion in Europe

From Apologia Report via pcanews.com

"Impious Europe" by Roger Scruton -- opens by reporting that an "enormous spiritual tension has begun to manifest itself in Europe. The presence here of large numbers of Muslim immigrants has brought home to ordinary citizens truths that have long been officially hidden: Religion is natural to human beings, and is also a means by which they define their social membership. Under the old Christian dispensation, membership and citizenship coincided; that was the purpose of national churches. Under the new dispensation, the two are growing apart, and the native population is beginning to sense its lack of spiritual identity in the face of religious communities that appear to defy its way of life. ..."

"Although doctrine has no place in our public life, a fear of heresy is beginning to grip the countries of Europe - not heresy as defined by the Christian churches, but heresy as defined by a form of post-Christian political correctness. A remarkable system of semiofficial labels has emerged with which to prevent the expression of dangerous points of view. A point of view is identified as dangerous if it belongs to the old Judeo-Christian culture and thereby reminds us of what we were when we actually believed something. Those who confess to their Christianity are 'Christian fundamentalists,' or even part of the 'Christian fundamentalist Right,' and therefore a recognized threat to free opinion. ... It is as though our society is seeking to define itself as a religious community whose very lack of faith has become a kind of orthodoxy."

Supreme Court Ruling on Operation Rescue

FOXNews.com reported the following on RICO and Operation Rescue:

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that federal racketeering and extortion laws were improperly used to punish aggressive anti-abortion protesters, lifting a nationwide injunction that barred people from interfering with clinic business.

EE Prayer Requests

We are thankful for our prayer supporters. We are confident that the Lord was directing each team tonight, some had great evenings while others were unable to share. We are thankful for the opportunities that He has given us.

1. Steve, James and Kit were unable to get into a home tonight. They visited my home for practice where James went through a gospel presentation.
2. Mike, Melissa and Adam did a questionnaire with Brad. He said he doesn.t believe in God. Brad did allow the team to share the gospel, he was not ready to make a decision.
3. Mark, Tiffany and Paul were unable to visit Elizabeth tonight but made an appointment for next week. Pray her roommate will be there too.
4. David, Lindsay and Tom shared with a family, Jeff, Rita, Josh and Jessica. Jeff and the children, Josh and Jessica, had good answers. Rita's answers were questionable, the gospel was shared, it seems she is a believer. Pray the Holy Spirit will use this visit to meet the true need in her life.
5. Daniel, Kerry and Colin. A follow-up on Kerry's way of life with the hairdresser, Lauren. The gospel was shared two weeks ago and she commented she could not get the conversation out of her head, was able to deal with more of her questions. Continue to pray for further opportunities. The team did a questionnaire with Michael, who is trusting in being a good person. The gospel was presented; Michael had a lot of head knowledge, but is not trusting. Pray for him.
6. Kristin, Jackie and Brian visited Rich and Anne. Rich made a decision for Christ at age twelve. Anne could not answer the questions. The gospel was shared; she wasn.t ready to make a decision.
7. Colleen, Pete and Ryan. As a way of life Pete and Ryan met with Dr. Yu and had a good discussion and plan another meeting with him. The team visited Cami who had good answers. The team had a good visit with her.
8. Rod, Kimberlee and Dick had an appointment that didn.t work out. The team called on Eddie. He gave works answers to the diagnostic questions. The gospel was presented. He was not quite ready to make a decision but seems very close. Pray for further opportunity with Eddie.
9. Lynn and Nathan did not have a third team member, so were unable to go out tonight.
10. Lynette, Mark and Brian. Lynette's way of life with a gentleman that gave a work answer. The gospel was shared to clarify that is was Christ.s death alone as payment for his sins. The team met with Amy. She had good answers.
11. Fred, Jason and Starla didnt get in tonight. Attempted several questionnaires.
12. Grant, Leah and Andrea. Leah's way of life was with Nick, he questioned if there is a heaven; gave him literature. The team met with Nicole and Courtney; they had good answers. The gospel was shared for assurance and enlistment.
13. Jon, Cindy and Arlyn met with Mina and Citaran who attend a Hindu Temple. The gospel was presented and gave them literature.
14. Jessica, Matt and Bruce. Matt's way of life with a friend Gabe. The diagnostic questions were asked and the gospel shared. Gabe made his decision for Christ. Pray he will become involved in youth group. The team did a questionnaire with Brenden who claimed to be a Christian. The gospel was shared and he made his decision For Christ.
15. Kyle, Chris and Rebecca. Rebecca's way of life with Timothy. The diagnostic questions were used and the gospel was presented. He still isn't ready to accept Christ, but is searching. Kyle's way of life was asking Justin the diagnostic questions; he had good answers. The team visited Matthews parents and received good answers.
16. Don, Doug and Judy. Don's way of life was with Justin. The gospel was presented and he accepted Christ. The team visited Paul and Ann. Paul had good answers while Ann gave a works answer. The gospel was shared then she said she was a believer.
17. Len, Emily and Frances called on Doug. He had good answers, a brief gospel presentation was used for assurance purposes. Pray for him, he may be confused by his cult background.
18. Lora Lee, Jara and Matt did not get in tonight. The team did two questionnaires. The first lady allowed them to share part of the gospel but was not able to complete it. With the second lady they were unable to share the gospel.
19. Allison, Jeff and Dick. Jeff's way of life with a family member, he feels like there was good progress this time. The team met with Corie and Paige; not sure where they are spiritually. The gospel was shared, no decision.

Please pray for those contacted this week, and especially for those that have responded to the gospel of Christ in recent weeks: Kaylee, Erika, Joni, Dale, Tessa, Bob, Karli, Linda, Kirk, Darren, Laura, Dan, Kara, Antonio, Gabe, Brenden and Justin.

Shuttle Perspectives

A Voyage to Arcturus provides some perspectives on the Columbia tragedy. In one of them, Fred Phelps asserts that the shuttle astronauts are going the Hell.

... the endlessly entertaining Fred Phelps is at it again. Bad as he is, we will be poorer when he's gone, reduced to telling our progeny tales of the old days when things like this were actually produced with serious intent -- how will we convince them that Westboro Baptist "Church" (which consists entirely of the Phelps extended family) wasn't a satire?

Peace In Middle Earth

This just in from the Gondor News Network

Peace in Middle Earth in our time

MINAS TIRITH (Gondor News Network) - Thousands of peace activists took to the streets of Minas Tirith and other cities of Middle Earth today to protest what they termed a rush to war with Mordor.

.We need more time for diplomacy,. said a key member of the Middle-Earth Security Council, Saruman the White. .I am not convinced by the evidence presented by my esteemed colleague, Gandalf the Grey, or that the Dark Lord Sauron presents an imminent danger to the peoples of the West..

Many of the people protesting war in Mordor agreed with Saruman.s remarks. .Sauron says he.s destroyed his Rings of Mass Destruction (RMD) and that.s good enough for me,. said one fellow carrying a sign that said .Elrond is a Balrog.. Another demonstrator urged, .Give the RMD inspectors more time. There.s no reason to rush to any judgment just because Mount Doom is belching lava, the Dark Tower is rebuilt, and Osgiliath has been decimated.. A third protester piped up, .I haven.t heard a single bit of convincing evidence connecting the Nazgul with Sauron. I think they destroyed Osgiliath on their own initiative without any support from Sauron. Besides, it.s understandable they.re angry with Gondor. We haven.t done nearly as much for the Orcs and Goblins and Easterlings as the Nazgul and Sauron have. It.s understandable they throw their support to them. It.s our own fault really..

As the protesters continued their march through the city, they chanted, .No blood for Mount Doom,. voicing a common sentiment that the leaders of the Western peoples are really seeking to get their hands on the powerful Mount Doom, where the One Ring of Power was allegedly forged.

Gandalf the Grey was unavailable for comment. A spokesman said he was in an undisclosed underground location, which sources have revealed is codenamed: Moria.

MORE...

Hormesis

Look at this concerning a concept called hormesis. At low levels poisons may actually be helpful! See also this at Nature Science News. You won't see this in the press any time soon.

See the chart above. Hypothetical curves depicting (a) threshold, (b) linear non-threshold, and (c) hormetic dose-response models using cancer (number of tumours per animal) as the endpoint. Chart from Nature 421, 691-692 (2003).