We live in a world where some on the Left, Dimocrats, would rather see the Vice President of the United States assassinated, rather than our enemies defeated.

HuffPo closed comments on the alleged attempt on Dick Cheney's life.  Instead of rallying to the side of the Vice President, these traitors would just as soon publish his itinerary.

We have a former Vice President receiving an Oscar, can the Noble Peace prize be far behind?, who uses more than 20 times the amount of energy than the average US household.  Do as I say, not as I do.  And, the defense of this, oh yeah, carbon offsets...as long as Gore can buy carbon offsets, it's okay...

Seemingly disparate events, right?  Well, when taken in the moral context of the world...the Dimocrats have lost their moral compass...assuming they had one.

An attack on the Veep should be answered with the utmost in disgust and the wrning that if tru, it will be met with the ultimate penalty, as if they can get a Republican Veep, they can get a Dimocrat, too.  There is no delineation in the Islamofascist world.  They will attempt to kill all Americans, unless we convert to Islam...

And, the answer to "Global Warming" should not be offsets, it should be less consumption, right?  If a big business, a polluter of any sort, would be vilified for such an action.  Gore's answer is bigger government, governmental controls, monopolistic big brother takes over.  Gore and his ilk will continue to live in huge mansions, see Edwards, Kerry, Kennedy et al.  The little guy will pay...

Which, I guess brings us to another seemingly bizarre call by Dimocrats.  I guess force is called for in Darfur, but not in Iraq...not sure I understand the compass that never finds the magnetic north pole.  It just continues to spin, around, around, and around...where it lands no knows.  North can be anywhere I deem it to be, and tomorrow I can change that "fixed" point.

Ah, the sweet sounds of waves crashing on the sand...my wife won a trip to Kauai for her hard work.  Sometimes when she is gone from my daughter and me, on long trips out of town, we are sad.  However, because she works so hard we are able to enjoy times like these...she won this for her performance in 2006.  She is very good at what she does; confirmed by the fact that upon our early arrival for her Awards Ceremony we ran into her boss' boss' boss!   He slapped me on the back and told me how successful she is; a trip to Kauai, the Grand Hyatt, no less, is good, but his admiration is priceless.  I leave you with the first of many pictures, the view from our lanai:






I am very proud of my wife's accomplishments...blogging will be very light until we return, March 4th.

Aloha!

Did John Edwards really say that?  Gaffe, or is it really how he feels about the security of the Middle East? Hattip: GOP Bloggers follow the thread (Hillary Spot, NRO, and Peter Bart)...

This is the nugget:

There are other emerging fissures, as well. The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the "I" word -- Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. As a chill descended on the gathering, the Edwards event was brought to a polite close. (Emphasis added.)


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I missed commenting on this from Friday.  I am struck that he didn't actually say that the United States is the greatest threat to world peace, that we might start the great conflagration in the Middle East, starting in Iraq and then attacking Iran.

The liberal Dimocratic wing tends to believe the worst in the US and Israel.  It is our greatest flaw, they believe, that we are our own worst enemies.  If only we would sit down and negotiate with our enemies, and give them what they want, they would love us.  I would point everyone to read Dore Gold's book , the fight for Jerusalem, and see who is our enemy.

We are trying to establish peace and security in Iraq, not death, mayhem, and instability.  While there are certainly flaws, the vast majority of our fighting men and women are fighting the good fight.  What other nation prosecutes soldiers and throws them in jail for war atrocities? 

Do we say on almost a daily basis that we wish to wipe Iran off the face of the map?  That the ultimate way to gain access to heaven is to strap a bomb on your body and kill innocents.  The sad part, they kill other Muslims...they have (I imagine) many more Muslims than they have westerners.

Israel has given up territory.  It pulled out of Lebanon.  And what has the response been, ramped up attacks.  Hesbollah fortified and began a war that the world condemned, not Hesbollah, but rather Israel.  The world is upside down.

A nuclear equipped Iran is a threat not just to Israel, but to the entire world.  And, that is just the beginning...

I just visited Powerline and there is a link to a BBC report that the US has "war plans" with regard to Iran.  I, for one, would hope so.  Listening to the saber rattling that comes from Ahmawhackjob, one would hope that we have contingencies to attack our enemies.

Iran poses a two fold threat to the United States. 1) In Iraq they are directly responsible for the deaths of many, dare I say hundreds of US troops. 2) Iran's nuclear ambitions are a direct threat to stability and well being of not only it's neighbor Iraq, the Middle East, but far more important Europe.  Could you imagine Europe being held hostage to Iran with ICBMs pointed at it's heart?

If our war planners did not have plans to attack our enemies, then when the real event happened we would be at a disadvantage and at irreparable delay.  I would venture to say we have plans on the table to attack Venezuela.  Ohhhhhh....

The largest concern of the government of the United States of America is to protect it's citizens from outside threats.  Safety and Security.  The founding fathers knew this was of utmost importance.  It is not to provide Universal Healthcare, it is not to become the nanny state. 

It seems to me that the Dimocrats would have us pull back to within our borders, to concentrate on how to enlarge the government's reach into our personal lives.  The Government knows best how to insure us, spend our money, how to micromanage our lives.  I say no thank you...

You know the more I think about the House and Senate Dimocrats going about their silly business of trying to pass these non-binding resolutions the more I think they are cowards...

Strong words, but I am sick of hearing those who only have this to say: "If only I knew then what I know today, my vote would be different..."  That's a load of crud, if they had any back bone they would merely say, based on the information I had, given to me by the intelligence agencies I made what I felt was the best decision.  Now, the intelligence turned out to be wrong, but I stand by my vote.

Now they throw up these silly non-binding resolutions.  Meaningless, no backbone.  If they truly believe that this is a bad decision then they need to make meaningful resolutions.  This is just a way for them to cover themselves, well, just incase the surge works.  If it does then they can say they did nothing to impede the progress.  Take a stand.  We know where your true beliefs lie.  Dimocrats want the US out, plain and simple.  Obama, at least, is consistent...

Why is it that the rhetoric from Dimocrats mirrors our enemies more than it does those who want to win...

Support the troops and oppose the president...ultimately they are saying that defeat of the president's policies is preferable, unfortunately that means that our troops are the ones who pay the price...

 Tonight just after 24 broke to a commercial I was running downstairs to get a glass of water...my peripheral hearing I hear a news break that the Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer...

I ran back in and my wife said that she heard the news on her drive home tonight...whoa, where was I not to hear the biggest news of the day.  Well, with media saturation on Anna Nicole Smith's death I have kind of tuned the news out, but how did I miss this one?

Marty Schottenheimer was unceremoniously fired by AJ Smith, GM for the Chargers...well, what timing is that, let all the good coaches go and then fire the head coach.  Now there's planning...who's left in the wings for the head coach job?  I am not happy in the least.  Marty, with his warts and all, has created a winning team.  Where's the loyalty?

AJ Smith gambled with the choice of Philip Rivers over Drew Brees, which is still up in the air.  Can Philip come back and have as good a year after a huge winning season?  The Chargers are in trouble.  Losing the core of coaches hurt, but having a new coach come in and institute his system...not good...I have never really thought that AJ Smith was very good.  Now we will find out.

Who's next?  Who's available?

• Dennis Green?
• Bill Parcells (no way)
• There's no one left in the wings, Cam Cameron gone, Wade Phillips gone...
• Did the Bears sign Lovie to a long term contract, could we get him

This is foolish, Marty had one year left, he put together a winning team and the Chargers needed to put back to back seasons...new stadium in the wings (Oceanside, my home, is on the short list...).

What a way to start a Tuesday morning...life goes on.

    In an effort to begin to share more of my faith, I am going to link to the sermon from Sunday and make comments.  I would ask that if you have any additional comments and/or questions that you use the comments sections.  My aim is to generate discussion, and not to teach or preach.  I am a man of faith and wish to share it with those who wish to participate.  I more wish to put thoughts to "paper."

Today following the service I had to kill some time between the sermon and a training class I had for Growth Group Leaders.  I was in our bookstore and picked up the following book:

The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam's Secret Plan to Take the Ancient Holy Land

I have started reading it this afternoon.  Wow.  We are truly in a fight for our very existence.  From holocaust denials to Temple denials.  The Radical Islamists are looking to erase all links to David's Temple, and even go so far as to deny David's kingdom.  What strikes me is that mainstream journalism plays right into the hands of Hamas and at the time Yasser Arafat...

We are seeing a battle on many fronts, a war being waged by an enemy who is bent on the destruction of Israel, Jews, Christians and Christianity.  What is also striking is that our enemies are waging this battle, while we sit and debate greenhouse global warming.   We fight more passionately about raising the minimum wage than we do about protecting the homeland.  It is coming, the war will strike here soon, are we prepared?

Back to the task at hand:

Study Series: 1 John
John’s Handy Dandy Spiritual Lie Detector
10 Questions that Separate Spiritual Posers from the Real Deal

Love is a Verb:

1 John 3:11-23

Chris Brown

This is an ongoing 10 week series on detecting a true Christian and those merely professing the faith.  So far the main point of the series is about being more than just a "Hearer" of the Word, and becoming a "Doer."
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11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

 21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

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The greatest commandment is to "love one another."   We have been called to action, the word LOVE is a verb, not just an empty word.  We have been saved to be different, not to be of this world.

The question that is asked of us: "Are you meeting needs, or just feeling sorry for people?"

    John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love on another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Agape love: a word representing divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, thoughtful love.

There are many words for love, Eros, Phileo, Storge (pronounce storgay), and Agape.  The first three are what we get from love, something is given to me, where Agape love is what you give to others.

 John 15:12-13: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John is imploring us to Love others, to have faith and step out in faith.  We are to do something with the gift that God has given us.  Give as He has given to us...

Sermon as of 2:30pm was not updated, but here is the link.

I guess that some bloggers have taken to playing a new game and I have been tagged.  I am supposed to share 6 "weird" things about me, and then tag someone next to keep the writing going. Apparently mgraves from over at coming up crows got me. That is tough to think of 6 things that are ward about you...hang on...it'll come to me.

The rules are:
"Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog."

Most of the preceding was blatantly stolen from Graves who stole it from Jimmy Carter.

Here are my weird quirks:

1) Here's one.  Actually, maybe it's two.  I love the tabloids!  You know, the ones that are at the check out counter when you go through the line at the grocery store.  The National Enquirer, The Weekly World News, etc.  Something about aliens...

2) Kind of part of the first one...I read my wife's magazines...okay, this is a hard confession, but I read Cosmo, Allure, and others.  I get to peek at what the fairer sex is after.  It's kind of like Playboy, I read it for the articles...sometimes there are really good recipes, too.

3) I talk at the TV/Radio.  This drives my wife nuts.  When FOXNews is on and they have some liberal whacko on, I have a full on conversation with that person.  One of my favorites is to yell at John Edwards and Hillary when they are making their stupid proposals.  During the response to the SOTU I just about had a conniption when Jim Webb was talking, the fool had nothing in response to me!!!

4)  I love really stupid movies.  Just recently I watched Taldega Nights and have to say that I thought it was hilarious!

5)  Man, I am going to have to reach down now...in some ways I am the stay at home dad, that doesn't stay at home...my wife's career has taken a turn for the better.  She is the one getting the promotions and is making fantastic money, and could likely get beyond being a middle level manager and into upper management.  I am extremely proud of her, and yet someone has to stay close to home in order to take care of our daughter.  Now, I have a 9-5 job, but when the fever comes, it is dad to the rescue.  The ladies at the day care know me and are surprised when my wife shows up, in fact I would venture to say they don't even know her name...(does this one count?)

6)....

6)....

6) Okay, how about this one, I love my in-laws.  My father-in-law has taken me to be his "son that I never had."  We are close, in that we have very similar tastes.  He and I are computer geeks, he more so than I.  And, he is very protective of me.  One time at band camp...y family and I traveled to their home in Boston one Christmas, and we sat in the living room and played a game of "hot potato" with a small ball.  My wife and I are very competitive, well needless to say the ball was thrown to me and my wife dove in front of me to get the ball and drove her fist into my nose!  Bloody nose, and tears, etc.  Well my father in law took charge.   He wanted to make sure I hadn't broke my nose...and it was his daughter that hit me...silly stuff.  Very happy to have their love...

Now, I need to tag 6 others:

Sorry guys but here goes:

My pal over at Quadrivium
Ronald over at Sunny Blog
Justin over at Ski Blog
I'll tag Hugh, but I am pretty sure he's a little busy Hugh Hewitt
Tim at Broken Masterpieces
Lastly, a blogger I admire greatly and read every day, Marc at American Future

All in fun...

I received this via email, and you know I take it with a grain of salt, but it is still freaking hilarious.  I submit it to you for your comments:

 

Thought you'd enjoy this one. . .

The art of "spinning"

Judy, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, a fellow lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription: "Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."


Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton @NY.Gov for comments. Hillary's staff of professional image adjusters cropped Remus' picture, scanned it, enlarged the image, and edited it with image processing software, so that all that's seen is a head shot. The accompanying biographical sketch read as follows:

"Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a govern ment facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad.
In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed." (And that's how it's done.)

Do you think that al Qaeda can come up with something this advanced?  This looks deadly. 



UAVs have come a long way from the early days of circling and taking photos.  Now they can target an enemy and destroy it...fly under the radar, which I highly doubt bin LAden has in the mountains of Waziristan...

Courtesy Gizmodo and Bad Guys (finally link manager is working!)

Got to love the moniker, too: Reaper.

Along the same lines is the following from Investors Business Daily opinion regarding the technological advances in "Star Wars":

In Our Defense

Posted 1/30/2007

National Security: Nearly 24 years have passed since Ronald Reagan was ridiculed for proposing a system that would detect, track and destroy incoming ballistic missiles. But in a year, such a system will be on line.

Can't hit a bullet with a bullet, the critics of Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative imperiously sniffed. Mary McGrory of the Washington Post mocked Reagan's proposal as "a Buck Rogers plan."

Others, Sen. Ted Kennedy among the first, derided the plan as "Star Wars." It was dismissed as too expensive, too iffy and too destabilizing to the geopolitical order — just another dimwitted idea from our simple-minded president.


Editor: If the Dimocrats say it can't be done, that is the signal to double funding because it CAN be done, and better than we thought!  We need this technology considering Iran is working with NorK to gain ICBMs, and with China launching missiles to shoot down satellites.  We live in a very dangerous world on the brink of many fronts...

A step in the right direction is to increase the size of our military, decimated by Bill Clinton.  He cut the size of the military, cut funding for SDI, and of course failed to get Bin Laden.  Don't hear Hillary criticizing Bill, now do you?