No Grasp of Your Reality

While I really don’t care much for Halloween, I thought this was a pretty cool design. Combine pumpkin carving with classic video games, and you get… 1upkin!

I could understand former Congressman Bob Barr’s thinking when he wrote the following recently:

Voting for president used to be so easy, at least for a conservative. There was the Republican candidate. You knew he generally stood for lower taxes, less government spending, giving fewer powers to the government, lower deficits and a zealous regard for individual privacy.

Then, there was the Democrat. You knew he generally stood for higher taxes, more government and deficit spending, and a zealous regard for civil liberties.

Throughout my own presidential voting history, the choices have rarely, if ever, been agonizing. Nixon vs. McGovern? Carter vs. Reagan? Reagan-Mondale? Dukakis, a Massachusetts liberal? Clinton? Al Gore? Ah, the good ol’ days. Each of those races presented clear choices, easily resolved.

Now we have the election of 2004. For the first time in my voting life, the choice in the race for president isn’t so clear And, among true conservatives, I’m not alone.

No, Bob, you’re not alone. Plenty of us are going through the same struggles right now.
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10.30.2004

Gentlemen,

A friend gave me a copy of the bulletin, and let me know that they have missed our family in our church recently and had been praying for our children to get over their chest colds. They wanted to make sure that in our absence, we were still kept abreast of the announcements and prayer requests that are published in the bulletin. It was a very thoughtful and heartfelt gesture.

After we parted ways, I opened the bulletin only to feel my heart sink.

“Lateness for the morning service dishonors God by making it difficult for us to begin on time and disturbs those who come early and are beginning to worship. Let’s all get organized during the week and especially on Saturday night so that we can all come to meet with the Lord and His people. Try to get to worship and get settled ten minute before nine”. – From the Oct 24 bulletin insert.

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I think one of my bigger gripes is that so many excuses that are coming from Bush Administration about the whole Iraq war, and no one can just admit “We were wrong…”. As blogger Al Nye writes, “President Bush and his Administration never acknowledge making mistakes. In fact, Bush admits that even with hindsight, he wouldn’t change his decisions regarding Iraq.” Not that Kerry hasn’t said the same thing…

As I start to reach middle age, I’m starting to take notice of life’s smaller pleasures. Take, for instance, my Zebra Sarasa gel pen.

Before I can explain the goodness that is this pen, I must first make sure you, the dear reader, can understand the history of my frustration with pens, mostly stemming from my left-handedness. Being as my language of choice when writing is English, and being as English is written from left to right, anything I write will eventually be smudged by my left hand. This rules out using any pens that do not dry quickly, including fountain pens and most gel pens. I resigned myself to using ballpoint pens, even though they tend to cramp my hands.

After years of frustration, gel pens were invented and sold that dried instantly, but even those technical marvels had one major flaw… they would leave gaps in your line. You’d try to sign your name, and half of your last name would simply be missing. What was one to do?

I was waiting for my shuttle to pick me up at the BJ’s in Downingtown for my trip to Australia, when I realized that I didn’t have any pens. I ran in and grabbed a 20 pack of Zebra pens, and threw a couple in my bag. I have since been amazed, simply because they do what they’re supposed to. Without any effort, I can draw a smooth, clear, uninterrupted line, and don’t leave smudge marks.

What else can one ask for from a pen?

Just received this email from an associate of mine on the Reformed Theology Discussion List. In a previous post, I asked to see “just see one person in the Constitution Party find fault with the Constitution on Biblical principle”. Well, ask and ye shall receive:

Tom, I’m your man for that. I’m a registered member of the Constitution Party of PA, and I find fault with the Constitution on biblical principles. I’ve expressed as much to great length on the “Constitutionalists” yahoo group. The Constitution does not acknowledge the supreme monarchy of our Lord Jesus Christ, or honor his exclusive right to be worshipped and glorified above all idols (see the 1st amendment.) Having said that, I voted for Michael Peroutka for President. He is a Christian man with Reformed convictions. He told me in person that his favorite theologians are Rushdoony and Dabney.

Looks like as of right now I’m leaning that way, now. Although, I can’t say I’m as much of an establishmentarian as my associate, I find less fault with it than with our current system. And of course, mention Dabney and I’m putty in your hands.

It seems that Doug Wilson isn’t voting for Bush either. His beef is not so much with Bush, but with Christians who wink at the actions of the president… actions that would have raised all hell if it had been a Democrat doing them.

But here, in summary, is the reason I cannot vote for him. George Bush is far more likely than any liberal Democrat to get evangelical Christians to justify and go along with a public square religious syncretism. As a matter of settled policy, Bush has observed Ramadan in the White House, conducted a polytheistic worship service in the National Cathedral, offered reverence in a Shinto shrine in Japan, and so on. Many of these things, if done by a liberal Democrat, would (rightly) have had Christians up in arms. But with Bush, they go along.

It’s a good point, and one I didn’t think about. Why should I expect the elected president of a pluralist society to act anything like a pluralist? Wilson is right… I shouldn’t be upset with the President. It’s the normally rational Christians who are quick to claim the pluralist as a brother that really bugs me.

The election looms ever closer, and I’m realizing that I need to make a decision who I’m going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. For those of you not paying attention, my available choices follow:

• George W. Bush - Republican
• John Kerry - Democrat
• Ralph Nader - Independent
• Michael Peroutka - Constitution
• Michael Badnarik - Libertarian

Of course, Bush and Kerry are the candidates from the two major parties, and I’m not so deluded as to believe that one of them will not walk away the winner. However, unless some major revelation appears, I’m not able to vote for either of the major parties.
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I’m currently on a Damien Rice kick and you should be, too.

And while you’re copying me, have a mug of Double Spice Chai Tea with milk and plenty of sugar. Accept no substitutes for Stash.

Recent personal study on Peace:
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Why do believers have a spirit of peace? Because they are reconciled through Christ’s blood:
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This is a recent online post I made to the Reformed Theology Discussion List. It took me more than five minutes to write, so I thought I’d stick it in my blog to keep it in webspace a little closer to home
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You need to see Jon Stewart on Crossfire. Tucker Carlson looked like his head was going to explode. You can download the BitTorrent here. You can also read the transcript here, but it really doesn’t do it justice.

How many times have we heard that the “insurgent/terrorist” attacks in Iraq are limited to particular areas of Iraq (i.e. Fallujah, Sadr City, Ramadi, etc.)? This graph seems to differ with that assessment.

Amazing words from an inmate down in out in America’s prison. It will truly bring a tear to your eye.

“A plan is not a litany of complaints, and it’s not laying out programs
you can’t pay for,” Bush said during the last debate.

I wonder why it is that Kerry can’t afford his proposed plans? Could it be because the
federal government is already up against the legal deficit limit?