New Covenant

Praise to the Messiah - The Obamessiah

The Praise to Obama video below (HT: HotAir) is eerie, for many reasons, not the least of which is how utterly lacking it is in real substance. In watching it, though, I thought of how similar it is to what we now see in the evangelical church in America - a disturbingly dangerous reliance on experience as opposed to reason. Worship, however sincere, must be based on truth. Ideas, however sincere, must be grounded in reality.

The Obamessiah video, while not approved of (apparently) by the Obama campaign, essentially displays nothing but emotion, laced with circular or non-existent reasoning. Watch the worship chanting, for yourself.

Consider -

Video:  We can change the world.
Me:  Yes, we can. Since when has this been in question? (note: our first priority is, typically, to change America, is it not?)

Video:  I would like to see, um, a cleaner earth.
Me:  Um, so would I. A couple of questions I have, are: Why?, and How?

Video:  I think it's time for change.
Me:  That's original (BTW, so do I).

Video:  I want a better future for my children.
Me:  I don't. HA! Just kidding. You know what? I want a better future for my children too!

Video:  I would like our environment to be safe.
Me:  Not me. HA! Just kidding again. Just for grins... let's try and find Americans that would not like our environment to be safe (or, not want a better future for their children).

Video:  [various Spanish statements]
Me:  Este es Los Estados Unidos.

Video:  This is our America, my America, your America.
Me:  If you're American.

Video:  I want someone to actually make a difference in my generation.
Me:  Ooh, you got me on that one ('cause I have no idea what kind of difference you're talking about).

Video:  I would like to see us in a world without fear.
Me:  I wouldn't. HA! Can't get away from just kidding, sorry. You know what, I thought we were talking about our America. Now it's the world? Without fear? Tell you what - I'll agree with you on this one. I, too, would like to see a world without fear - without fear of Islamo-terrorism.

Video:  Basically, um, I just want the war to end.
Me:  Basically, um, you gotta kill all the terrorists to have that (which takes us back up to the previous point).

Video:  I would like the rest of the world to think highly of our amazing country.
Me:  Now, here you've really got me, because I'm not particularly interested in what the rest of the world thinks of our amazing country (mainly because our country is, in fact, amazing regardless of what the rest of the world thinks).

Video:  I think the thing that inspires me most about Obama is that he really is going to be the President of the United States... he going to be our president, he's gonna speak for us - because we put him there.
Me: Yeah, I'll agree with you on that one. BTW, it's something that first started happening with President George Washington in the late 1700s. How's that for inspiration?

Video: He stands for not just black people, but all people.
Me: So... why mention it?

Video: He's almost like a revival in a lot of people's souls.
Me: Whoa nellie! What about the separation of church and state? Where's the ACLU?

Video: Hope. Act. Change. Vote.
Me: Yes, please do.

Taking the roof off of Planned Parenthood

1. If a fetus is not a human being*, then terminating a pregnancy is not a moral wrong.
2. If terminating a pregnancy is not a moral wrong, then the reason for terminating the pregnancy is irrelevant.

Hence, it should come as no surprise that offering donations to Planned Parenthood, specifically targeting black women, would be accepted. Right? Even if the donor states that the motive for his donation is to reduce the number of black children?

Is this taking the roof off of the pro-life worldview? (HT: FRC, HotAir)

From the video:

Donor:  OK, so the abortion... I can give money specifically for a black baby, that would be the purpose.

Planned Parenthood:  Absolutely. If you wanted to designate that you wanted your gift to be used to help an African-American woman in need, then we would certainly make sure that that gift was earmarked specifically for that purpose.

...

Donor:  ...you know we just think, you know, the less black kids out there the better. [re: affirmative action]

Planned Parenthood:  Ha, ha. Understandable, understandable.

* of course, there are some who believe that, while the fetus is a human being it is, nevertheless, a life unworthy of life - dependent on the whim of its mother.

Larry Norman: In another Land

Some people say that God is dead
That He doesn't exist
Except inside your head

I wonder how many gonna be surprised
When they look straight up
And see Him coming through the skies

- Watch What You're Doing

I just found out, via some Facebook wall writing by my friends Ilona and Greg, that Larry Norman has gone to be with the Lord. (see Google News and Christianity Today)

In one sense, it's difficult to imagine how Contemporary Christian Music could be what it is, today, without the influence of Larry. In another sense, it seems that much of CCM is simply a variant form of mainstream secular entertainment - a variety of entertainment foreign to Larry's early work.

One way, one way to Heaven
Hold up high your hand
Follow, free and forgiven
Children of the Lamb

- One Way

Larry, while a talented rock musician, certainly had his faults. Yet it seemed that his life resonated with those who, for whatever reasons, had led difficult and hard lives themselves.

Let the proud but dying nation kiss the last generation
It's the year of the pill, age of the gland
We have landed on the moon but we'll clutter that up soon
Our sense of freedom's gotten out of hand
We kill our children, swap our wives
We've learned to greet a man with knives
We swallow pills in fours and fives
Our cities look like crumbling hives
Man does not live, he just survives
We sleep, till he arrives
Love is a corpse, we sit and watch it harden
We left it, oh so long ago, the garden

- Nightmare #71

I saw Larry perform a few times in the early 1980s. From a venue such as the gymnasium at Biola, to a small grass playground area, at a tiny church in Orange, California. While he was exquisite, in these concerts, he was also noticeably tired. It almost seemed as if he had used up most of his life's energy during the 60s and 70s.

Larry Norman: now resting in another land...

Come to reason, face the day,
Now's the season, old things pass away.

Stand beside us, take His hand,
He will guide us, in another land.

- Hymn to the Last Generation

The Last 2 percent (v. 5)

(Human - Chimpanzee) = 0.02

If humans share about 98 percent of our genetic makeup with chimps, then why are we so far apart in terms of behavior, agility, cognitive skills, etc.?

What is it that makes up The Last 2 percent?

Chimpanzee Behavior Supports RTB’s Model for Humanity’s Origin

The new insights into chimpanzee behavior further distance the hominids from modern humans. Chimpanzees use caves, hunt with spears, and make tools from a variety of materials, including stones. Still, these primates unquestionably and profoundly differ from humans in terms of cognitive abilities, capacity for rational and symbolic thought, language use, and musical and artistic expression. Likewise, just because the habiline and erectine hominids made and used tools and engaged in hunting and scavenging activity doesn’t necessarily mean that they were becoming “human.” Instead, their behavior appears to be increasingly animal-like, particularly when compared to chimpanzee activities.

Human Ancestors More Primitive That Once Thought

A team of researchers, including Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical anthropology in Arts & Sciences, has determined through analysis of the earliest known hominid fossils outside of Africa, recently discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia, the former Soviet republic, that the first human ancestors to inhabit Eurasia were more primitive than previously thought.

The fossils, dated to 1.8 million years old, show some modern aspects of lower limb morphology, such as long legs and an arched foot, but retain some primitive aspects of morphology in the shoulder and foot. The species had a small stature and brain size more similar to earlier species found in Africa.

Nonconscious Visual Attention System Identified In Humans

For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, wild animals generally represented either a food source or a potential danger. Detecting an animal's immediate presence and then monitoring its movements was vital to the physical safety, nutrition, and well-being of stone-age families.

...

Now a team of researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara has identified a nonconscious attention system, which still exists in the human brain, that maintains awareness of non-human animals and tracks changes in their location, behavior, and trajectory.

On learning from nature: Raptors, and flying

From last Sunday's Nature program titled, Raptor Force,

Humans have had a unique relationship with raptors, nature's aerial killing machines, for more than four thousand years, first through the ancient sport of falconry, and, more recently, as scientists and engineers have turned to these mighty birds -- from golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and turkey vultures, to great gray owls and the peregrine falcon -- as the inspiration for the latest in aircraft design. Using the tricks and tactics of raptors as their model, engineers have devised fighter jets with unprecedented maneuverability and stealth.

But remember - you must force yourself to remember - that the configuration of these mighty birds, the very ones from whom engineers model their designs off of, yes - their design - was not designed, but arose across time, after minute changes occurred over countless steps.

The supposed unguided products of evolutionary development, serving as guides for the actions of intelligent agents.

Male & Female traits: on-off switches vs. dimmer switches

In my recent debates, concerning traits of men vs. traits of women, I've run into what I think is a misconception about what I've been arguing. It seems to me that, once I've made the claim that men (or women) generally act in a certain manner, a counter-argument is presented that so-and-so does not act in such a manner, or that certain historical figures have not acted in such a manner and, as such, my claim is thereby invalidated. Perhaps I'm oversimplifying the counter-argument, but I think the gist of what I'm stating applies.

Yet I am not stating that there are not anomalous situations or persons, nor am I stating that, if one is a male (or female), one must act, or not act, in a certain manner. I am also not stating that males (or females) cannot ascertain or express themselves in the manners typically attributed to those of the opposite sex. In fact, I would argue that each sex has the responsibility to understand how the other thinks. (side note: Bonnie, you're claim that our attitudes towards male and female roles are culturally driven could itself be attributed to culture, could it not? In other words, how is it that you are able to analyze the situation supposedly from outside the realm in which you claim it was created?)

Be that as it may (and at the risk of riling up Sara & Bonnie), what follows is my pragmatic attempt at illustrating my argument:

Pictured below are an on-off switch and a dimmer switch. The on-off switch, when connected in an electrical circuit, either turns the apparatus (in this case, a light) on or turns it off. There is no in between. The dimmer switch, however, not only has the capacity to switch the apparatus on or off, but it can regulate the amount of electricity coursing through the apparatus. Hence, for a light, you can adjust the amount of light it emits by adjusting the dimmer switch.

Here is the analog I am arguing for: 

Men and women, as part of their physiological makeup, are not wired with on-off switches insomuch as they can only demonstrate one trait or the other. Such analysis does not comport with real life and, to reiterate, it is not what I am advocating (although it sometimes seems to be what I'm accused of advocating).

Men and women, while distinct in their gender, are still human beings, and our physiological makeup is akin to being wired with dimmer switches in that we have the ability to demonstrate varying degrees of what we typically describe as male or female traits. Keep in mind, however, that because we are distinct in gender, we will generally demonstrate characteristics, in varying degrees, according to said genders.

The mere fact that a woman can be pragmatic does not invalidate what I am proposing any more than the fact that a man can be understanding. I'm not stating that men or women must operate within absolutes (i.e., on-off switch), but that their tendencies demonstrate characteristics within general parameters (i.e., dimmer switch). As I've posited elsewhere, take a large sampling of males and I would bet that the overwhelming majority would tend towards the typical male characteristics (with the same result occurring on a large sampling of females).

Thus ends the Argument from Home Depot (a decidedly male bastion, btw).

Science Saturday: Progressive design of the internal combustion engine

As a follow-up to my February 9th post, Science Saturday: Declaring the existence of transitional species post, I'd like to give you a lesson plan (of sorts), with the purpose of illustrating the concept of gradual, progressive engineering and design.

On the pragmatism of men

I recently had an interesting, if not sporadic dialog, on Intellectuelle, with a commenter regarding the physiological makeup between men and women. What initiated the dialog were a series of posts, by my friend Bonnie, on the subject of headship, within marriage, per the writings of Paul. Within the course of discussion, I raised the point that I think that men tend towards pragmatism, while women tend towards understanding. Is this really such a controversial statement? What are we to make of the terms chick's flicks or guy's movies if not the simple interpretation that there are chick's flicks and guy's movies? Are Men from Mars and Women from Venus?

Truth be told, my comments on men being pragmatic and women being understanding came from a book I'm currently reading. In Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, pediatrician Dr. Meg Meeker, posits that the most important influence on a young girl's life is her father (that would be a man, by the way). I'll be reviewing the book, soon, but I'd like to leave a few excerpts from the chapter, Pragmatism and Grit: Two of Your Greatest Assets.

...fathers are often the ones who bring pragmatism and solutions to family discussions. Men see problems differently than women do. Women analyze and want to understand; men want to solve - they want to do something. This often annoys wives and daughters, who can get swept up in the thoughts and emotions, and conclude... that you "just don't get it, do you?" or even that you're uncaring or heartless. But that's only because you're less interested in talking about a problem than in doing something about it.

For more than twenty years I have watched fathers come to grips with their daughters' problems, analyze them (sometimes in an almost mechanical way), and solve them. Of course, I'm not saying that all fathers are analytical or pragmatic or better at this than their wives, but it is certainly true in general that mothers and fathers have complementary approaches to problems: fathers reach immediately for solutions while mothers yearn to understand and empathize. Your daughter needs you to be that voice of reason and pragmatism.

...

Frustrated as wives can be with husbands who are program-driven, goal-oriented, and task-solving, men have these qualities for a reason. It is a father's programs, goals, and actions that can make the difference in solving a daughter's problems.

...

Home is work too, because just as people need you to do things at work, your wife and your daughters need you to do things at home. Not just fixing things around the house, but being the man they need you to be. That can sometimes mean intervening in their disputes and helping them solve their problems.

Pragmatism helps men find solutions to problems, and grit enables you to apply these solutions day after day, year after year. These two qualities teach your daughters how to do the same.

...

Many of you men who are extraordinary at performing, thinking, and reasoning at work come home exhausted, and all the skills you practice every day on the job evaporate once you come home. While grit keeps you moving forward at work, at home you may become a pushover or simply disengaged. Dads, you must have grit at home too. Home life requires just as much tenacious engagement as work does. So consciously spare some energy at work.

I am convinced that if fathers recruited even 20 percent of the intellectual, physical, mental, and even emotional energy they spend at work and applied it to their relationships at home, we would live in an entirely different country... Much of what you can do for your daughter is simply to engage her in conversation and listen. Men often talk little, but they listen more. Your problem-solving brain can analyze what your daughter tells you, and you can help her think of ways to smooth over volatile situations... I know you might not want to, but this is where you need to show your grit. You need to stay and listen and navigate female frustrations and hostility. We - daughters, mothers, wives - need you to stay, to bring your courageous, goal-oriented reason that provides solutions.

Frugal Friday: your cup of java

For Frugal Friday, today, let's take a look at that cup of java you yearn - need - to have. Where do you get your coffee fix for the day? Starbucks? The local Coffee Bean?

Try this experiment: 

1. Add up the money you drop, each morning, on a cup of regular brew coffee (not the specialized 1/2 twist of spritzed lemon zest in goat's milk cappuccino decaf),
2. When you get to $9.69, look at the photo below.

3 pounds of regular blend coffee beans, from a discount warehouse store, for $9.69.

Conclusion:  Brew your own morning blend.

Michelle Obama: the gift that keeps on giving (v. 2)

From HotAir, Michelle O., back in April of 2007,

Every woman that I know, regardless of race, education, income, background, political affiliation, is struggling to keep her head above water.

But we can change all of that... if we have the audacity.

Vaccinate, or not

Vaccinate your children? A no-brainer, right? Well, it used to be.

From ScienceDaily, YouTube Breeding Ground For Anti-vaccination Views,

As cold and flu season hits this year amid growing debate over the necessity of vaccinations, University of Toronto researchers have uncovered widespread misinformation in related videos on YouTube.

...

"YouTube is increasingly a resource people consult for health information, including vaccination," says first author Keelan, an assistant professor in U of T's Department of Public Health Sciences. "Our study shows that a significant amount of immunization content on YouTube contradicts the best scientific evidence at large. From a public health perspective, this is very concerning."

From Michael Fumento, Cal. study gets vaccines off hook again for autism,

Grant the anti-childhood vaccine fanatics this; they are dogged. As I write in The American Spectator Online, "Absolutely no amount of data and no number of studies from any array of sources will sway them from their beliefs - or claimed beliefs - that thimerosal, a mercury-containing vaccine preservative once used in many such injections, is causing the so-called "autism epidemic."

...

For the rest of us there are two valuable lessons. First, the lack of a thimerosal connection to the developmental disorder has once again been reaffirmed. And second, those fanatics really and truly are fanatical - as a British Medical Journal book reviewer put it, an "angry and paranoid universe."

And this tidbit from San Diego, 3 Children Contract Measles

Two children at a San Diego charter school and a sibling have contracted measles, prompting county health officials Monday to notify parents and students about possible exposure.

Two of the children attended the San Diego Cooperative Charter School, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

They did not have the measles vaccine, according to the HHSA.

Oh, and a fourth case of the measles has been reported (this is the first cluster of measles to occur in San Diego in 17 years). And it has been spread, via the friendly skies, to Hawaii. And... there may be six more new cases in San Diego. An interesting graphic on the spread is found here.

The Long War (v. 3)

Beslan Type Tragedy Averted in Northwest Pakistan

Pakistan’s interior minister (caretaker) Hamid Nawaz informed media on Monday (Jan 28) that Islamic militants have taken over 250 schoolchildren hostage in Pakistan's northwestern district of Karak. Armed militants reportedly stormed into the school at Domail village, equipped with rocket launchers and grenades, following a clash with security personnel in the Battal Khel area of Bannu district. Police claimed have chased the militants to neighboring Karak district after foiling their attempt to abduct a government health official and his driver.

On Iran's Increasing Influence in Latin America

...The news article and McConnell's testimony make it clear that Cuba and Venezuela are teaming up with Iran, a nation identified as being a part of the "Axis of Evil" by the President in the days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The entire world is alarmed at the prospect of Iran ultimately developing or otherwise gaining possession of nuclear weapons. It is also understood that narcotics trafficking has been historically used to fund criminal activities and terrorism. In order for drugs to enter the United States and then be sold on the streets of our cities. The drugs destroy the lives of those who become addicted to them. Often the addicts are young people whose lives are destroyed. The crimes that addicts commit to get their hands on the money they need often result in the death of innocent people and the destruction of their families. The violence that is associated with the drug trade is of legendary proportions. And the money that is generated by drug traffickers enable the drug trafficking organization to corrupt the governments of the countries in which they operate and enable them to often buy weapons and equipment that is superior to the weapons and resources used by governments that attempt to combat them, including our own country.

New Concern Over Pakistan

The Spanish daily El Pais on Sunday reported that European intelligence services now believe that Baitullah Mehsud, the head of the Pakistani Taliban, whom the CIA believe ordered the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, also orchestrated a plot last month to attack Barcelona and other European cities.

Michelle Obama: the gift that keeps on giving

Michelle Obama, for the first time in her adult life, is really proud of America: Michelle Obama finally proud of America
Michelle Obama: "For the First Time in My Adult Lifetime, I am ...
Scarborough Won't Smile at Mika's Michelle Obama Defense
Michelle Obama & American Pride
Michelle Obama hasn't been proud of America in at least 26 years?
STOP PRESSES: Michelle Obama is proud of hope... finally loves ...

Joe Carter on the non-existence of Naturalistic Ethics

A money quote excerpt from Joe Carter's lengthy post on Naturalistic Ethics,

...Evolution is a blind process that has no teleology. Whatever behavior *works* is the behavior that *survives*. The main problem for naturalistic ethics is trying to establish moral norms without smuggling in a guiding purpose.

For example, we can't say that since cooperation helps us survive that it is a "good" behavior. Nature doesn't really care if we survive or not. Even our own genes don't really care if we pass them on to further generations. We either do or we don't. When we do we call it survival. When we don't we call it extinction. Nature doesn't care which event actualizes.

But, the naturalist will protest and argue that we *do* care if we survive? True. But so what? If nature doesn't care then why should we? But, they will stammer, we can't *help* but care about our survival. If that is true, then the will to survive is our main preference. Our morality should therefore be structured in order that this instinct is preserved. We should adopt whichever set of behaviors increases our individual chances of survival.

If cooperating with my neighbor in a particular situation helps me to survive then I should do that. If killing my neighbor is more beneficial to my survival then I should do that instead. Since nature does not provide an objective moral standard I must make an existential choice about what is right and wrong.

Baby-name remorse: Children as products

From CNN, Baby-name remorse, what do you do?

...a surprising number of parents who, following the birth of their child, suffer namer's remorse. In a recent poll of 1,219 mothers conducted by BabyCenter.com, 10 percent considered changing their baby's name. The reasons they gave ranged from being inspired by another name to having a relative disagree with the choice.

And,

"Today, there's this perception that naming a child is almost like naming a product -- there's this huge national drive now to not be like anyone else," says Laura Wattenberg, author of "The Baby Name Wizard" and founder of the blog BabyNameWizard.com.

In our drive for self-fulfillment, in our quest to become truly individual, we have come to view our children as products, hoping to provide them with the benefit of being not like anyone else. This is a direct break from being connected through the heritage of your ancestors, culture, and religion. Following heritage and tradition requires responsibility, naming a product unlike any other demands individuality.

Two points to ponder, with regards to this phenomenon,

• In the UK, Muhammad is now the 2nd most common name given to baby boys. Are, we seeing the results of a decidedly post-Christian culture?
• The notion of "what's in it for me?", inherent in the reasoning behind naming (and re-naming) your child. How does this effect, if at all, the means with which we evangelize non-Christians (and, for that matter, disciple Christians)?

I think, therefore IM

A primer for anyone, over the age of 40, on the manner in which one communicates, via text messaging. If you have any desire to communicate with anyone under the age of 25, it is essential that you learn the fine art of typing in an IM world (that would be - Instant Messaging). Here are a few essential tips:

1. Drop the uppercase alphas:  remember, this is instant messaging, so who has time to stretch their pinkies out to press that soon-to-be-retired "shift" key? and note that TYPING IN ALL CAPS is considered shouting.
2. Drop most, but not all, punctuation marks:  again dont forget that this is instant messaging and that your time is critical  are there exceptions?  yes usually question marks & many !!!!
3. Revert to an "illegitimate child"-ized version of shorthand:  u know ur goin to type fast when u cut out lots of leters cuz it makes it ez & ther arnt as many keys to hit
4. Learn, and use, codespeak:  brb = be right back, w/e = whatever, btw = by the way, ltr = later, ty = thank you, np = no problem, jk = just kidding
5. Learn, and use, the essential "lol":  Every so often, throw in the phrase "lol" in your message. It literally means "laughing out loud", and its incessantly repeated use is pretty much a requirement for anyone involved in IM'ing.
6. Emote:  Intersperse the optional emoticon characters, such as -   ;^)  8^)  :^0 
7. Intentionally misspell:  To emphasize the quick nature of text messaging, remember to misspell a few quick keystroke words. For instance, the becomes teh.
8. Brevity:  Lastly, keep your messaging conversations short.

if u master the ez rules listed ...lol... then ur on ur way to happy texting  btw u will say ty 2 me for sure ...lol...  do u understnad? GOT IT? ;^)  ...lol!!!

A flurry of posts on evangelical capitalism & relevance

Andrew Jackson laments on a topic that also troubles me... Why do pastors preach "relevant" messages? Never mind our affluence. Never mind our comfortable, air-conditioned lives. Never mind that we have free and easy access to Christianity - real Christianity. No, not only do we selfishly crave messages that are relevant to our-selves, too many Christian pastors eagerly shovel such feed into our open, empty mouths. Some excerpts from Andrew's post,

1. Pastors [who specialize in "relevant" messages] do not need to spend significant time in studying and meditating on God’s Word...

2. Pastors often borrow (steal) a message from a fellow pastor or an internet pastor...

3. Pastors can talk and talk (many have the gift of gab, and hopefully get a few laughs), in the name of being relational, and say very little...

4. Pastors can pick and choose topics that make many people feel good about themselves, and in so doing, simple dismiss significant portions of the Bible that might not be so positive in a Christian consumer crowd...

5. Pastors can simply take a popular book that is out on the Christian market (one by Bill Hybells or Rick Warren would do), and use it to provide them their title and 3 or 4 points they need for their message...

Phil Steiger recently wrote two posts, Pastors and Middle Management, and McChurch: Not Lovin' It. Says Phil,

...Ask your average pastor who they are reading right now, or who their favorite “leadership” authors or, or which authors their colleagues are recommending to them, and I guarantee you that there will be more masters of industry than pastors or theologians on that list. And the more evangelical pastors read and pattern their lives after these management types, the more our churches become half-baked corporations where the staff is treated as means to ends and congregations are treated as customer profit centers.

...our churches need pastors who know what it means to follow a divine call to stand behind the sacred desk and see people as a shepherd.

###

...I ran across this item in the Out Of Ur blog. In “McChurch: I’m Lovin’ It,” a pastor in a church in Nashville is highlighted. He has wholeheartedly embraced a franchising model of building churches. He openly admits to following a handbook and rarely deviating from it.

...

...This is one of the reasons why Americans are staying home from our churches in apathetic droves. We are actually trying as hard as we can to offer nothing different from the neighborhood Starbucks. If I can have a good cup of coffee, read/listen to an interesting self-help book, have a stimulating conversation at Starbucks or at church, and there is no other substantial difference between the two, I will choose Starbucks 9 times out of 10. The coffee will inevitably be better.

Read both of Phil's posts.

In our haste to have non-Christians like us, have we dispensed with the meat of the message? In his The Cost of Discipleship broadcast (12/27/07), R.C. Sproul highlighted John 15:18-20. A couple of quotes,

Here Jesus links persecution with hatred, and the hatred of the church with a hatred of him.

...

If we are identified with Christ and are faithful to Christ, then Christ's words of prediction will necessarily, at some point or another, come to pass in our lives - that we will be hated for his name's sake.

Relevant, or not.

That's right, don't forget to "nuter" your pet

From ABC2 News...

Whose children are they?

From Mere Comments, Prying Pediatricians,

...the American Academy of Pediatricians

has issued "guidelines" to its doctors suggesting that they ask scary-crazy questions of children during routine checkups. And in the case of teenagers, these questions are to be asked if possible without parents present. The questions include how much the parents drink, whether they have a gun in the house, and (this is the worst of all) whether teenage girls' fathers "make them feel uncomfortable." Let me emphasize: These are not cases where there is probable cause of abuse. The doctor is supposed to ask these questions routinely of girls who come to him for, say, a sports checkup for school.

Read the referenced blog post here.

The Last 2 percent (v. 4)

(Human - Chimpanzee) = 0.02

If humans share about 98 percent of our genetic makeup with chimps, then why are we so far apart in terms of behavior, agility, cognitive skills, etc.?

What is it that makes up The Last 2 percent?

What Gives Us Fingertip Dexterity?

Quickly moving your fingertips to tap or press a surface is essential for everyday life to, say, pick up small objects, use a BlackBerry or an iPhone. But researchers at the University of Southern California say that this seemingly trivial action is the result of a complex neuro-motor-mechanical process orchestrated with precision timing by the brain, nervous system and muscles of the hand.

...

"Our data suggest that specialized neural circuitry may have evolved for the hand because of the time-critical neural control that is necessary for executing the abrupt transition from motion (tap) to static force (push)," he said. "In the tap-push exercise, we found that the brain must be switching from the tap command to the push command while the fingertip is still in motion. Neurophysiological limitations prevent an instantaneous or perfect switch, so we speculate that there must be specialized circuits and strategies that allow people to do so effectively.

Chimpanzees May Build Their 'Cultures' In A Similar Way To Humans

Socially-learned cultural behaviour thought to be unique to humans is also found among chimpanzees colonies, scientists at the University of Liverpool have found.

Historically, scientists believed that behavioural differences between colonies of chimpanzees were due to variations in genetics. A team at Liverpool, however, has now discovered that variations in behaviour are down to chimpanzees migrating to other colonies, proving that they build their 'cultures' in a similar way to humans.

Tool-wielding Chimps Provide A Glimpse Of Early Human Behavior

Chimpanzees inhabiting a harsh savanna environment and using bark and stick tools to exploit an underground food resource are giving scientists new insights to the behaviors of the earliest hominids who, millions of years ago, left the African forests to range the same kinds of environments and possibly utilize the same foods.

...

The new study demonstrates that "the understanding and capability to exploit these resources were very likely within the grasp of the first chimp-like hominids," argues Pickering. "It was widely believed that it is a uniquely human adaptation to use tools to dig these things up."