God: Or a Conspiracy?

I’ll lean towards God as the potential conspirators (Al Gore, Bryan Fischer, and my pastor) were very unlikely to have gotten together. Somehow, this unlikely trio have gotten to me into a somewhat contemplative mood regarding my life.

It started with Al Gore in Reuters:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Former U.S. vice president Al Gore says he has “fallen out of love with politics” and does not want to run for president although he has not ruled it out completely…

“And I’m not convinced the presidency is the highest and best role I could play.”

I’ve remarked on Gore’s statement on my podcast, but it impressed me in a few ways. While I disagree with his issues, Gore has a sense of purpose, of what he should be doing in order to further them.

I’ve been thinking of another run for office (for what office I won’t say) and this questions occurs to me as to whether running for office is the best use of my time and talents.

The blogging thing is very important. I believe Conservatives need to get blogging, and I’ve been a leader of that in Idaho. Being elected to office would detract from the time I had to build the blog.

I also at this point, am one of the most consistent political podcasters out there. Truth be told, I’m enjoying the podcasts, which is a secret to it. Plus, I can see podcasting turn into my day job and taking care of the bills, if given enough time. The last few months have seen phenomenal growth in audence, and it doesn’t show much sign of stopping.

But sometimes, what’s best for us financially or even enjoyment wise isn’t what God would like us to do. I’d enjoy nothing more than spending every weekend watching four Comedy Sportz shows a weekend, but I doubt that’s God’s Will.

Then, my pastor on Sunday Morning mentioned in a sermon on leadership that there were large numbers of vacancies in American pastorates. He attributed this in part to people not praying about what God wanted them to do and simply looking at the financials. For those who don’t know that despite the stereotypes of rich preachers, most ministers eek out a living in what’s a challenging and hard job.

Now, I sincerely doubt that I’m called to pastoral ministry. If God intended me to do that, he’s never given me a clue that I’m gifted that way. Teaching, I could see. Senior pastorate, I don’t think so. But have I really done enough praying on calling and direction? That question came to me and perhaps, I do need to do more.

My Bible reading, seem to confirm that I needed to be involved in politics. I read Ezekiel 22:30:

And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.-Ez. 22:30

To me, with the focus I’ve had on politics, I’ve always viewed that involvement as standing in the gap. But when I read Bryan Fischer’s prayer. He sends out daily devolationals) I read this line in the prayer:

We know that even today you are looking for a man among us who will build up the wall and stand before you in the gap on behalf of the land so that you will not have to destroy it. In Ezekiel’s day, you found no one, but I pray that each of us will be that man.

It occurred to me that I could stand in the gap as a blogger, as a writer, even as a podcaster.

So what? Where does this leave me? Confused. I’ll have to pray about it and you can bet that you, the readers will be among the first to know what happens.

A Busy Vacation

Friday, Sunday, and Monday were high volume active days. Thursday afternoon I got off work and within hours, we were off to a vets appointment following an interview with Mr. Cox. Friday was busy as well with a podcast with David Oatney in the morning, shopping, and getting the car lubed. Saturday was somewhat more restful. Watched some very nice DVDs and then went to Comedy Sportz in the evening. Sunday was crazy with several project coming due together. Today has been a cacophany of activity.

Monday Morning: Dental appointment. I found out the wisdom teeth have to go which means extraction, sedation, and finding a driver/ride. No luck on all counts so far. I’d like to go on a Friday after work so that I can rest up on Saturday without having to return to the grind after what I’ve gathered is quite painful oral surgery.

After that, it was off for 18 holes of Disc Golf at Ann Morrison, Lunch at Chuck-a-Rama. Then home to work on a big story I’ll breaking within the next couple of days, then a podcast in which I fumbled at the beginning with my opening clips no longer loaded in my Gizmo Project’s, the opening was weak. Thank goodness for Audacity editting software. Now, I have the Cox Campaign Podcast posted, and a blog entry made over there, along with the entries here.

Overall, I think I could have used a few more lazy days in the midst of the vacation, but on the other hand there were other things I would have wanted to get done as well that I didn’t.

Two Posts You Have to See

There are a couple blog posts, you just have to see for yourself as the pictures tell it all.

Right from Left shows us Al Gore’s office. Judge for yourself how green it is.

Meanwhile Wizbang’s Kim Priestap shows us what happens to a woman in Iran who doesn’t wear a head covering. Don’t expect me comments from the Feminists Left on this.

The Politicians Don’t Get It On Immigration

Is there anything more dense than the stance taken by the Washington Politicians on illegal immigration? People are angry as all get out and the GOP seems to have no clue that not only are they making a joke of our national security, they’re ticking off the base and they’ve ticked them off big time. There will be a price to pay if they don’t mend their ways.

We talk about this issue and more on tonight’s Truth and Hope Report.

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Also:

-One Idaho Cop Gives All
-The Lack of a Biblical Worldview
-Another Reason for Chastity
-The Night Clerk on Gun Control

-Childish behavior by Members of Congress
-American Legion and ADF Join Forces
-Maybe Kids Aren’t So Bad After All

Related Stories:

Right Mind:

Officer Down Memorial Page

Barna’s Annual Study Say Americans Remain Spiritually Active, but Biblical Views Wane

Chicago Sun-Times:

Capitulation from A-Z

New York Times:

AFTER AIDING BILL ON IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYERS BALK

Right Wing News:

Project Payback: Google-Bombing Pro-Amnesty, Republican Senators Up For Election In 2008

Clayton Cramer:

Another Reason Not to Change Sex Partners As Often As You Change Your Socks

Powerful Letter to the Editor in the Washington Post

Christianity Today Live Blog:

The Church of the American Experiment

CNS News:

Probe Carbon Offsets, Congressmen Say

Christians, Veterans Team Up to Protect Religious Memorials

Murtha Earmark Threat Called ‘Blatant Abuse of Power’

Human Events:

Have We Raised a Generation of Narcissists

Don Surber:

Thank God There Were No WMD

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Perri Nelson’s Website, Committees of Correspondence, Mark My Words, DeMediacratic Nation, DragonLady’s World, The Pet Haven Blog, Webloggin, The Amboy Times, The Bullwinkle Blog, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, Blue Star Chronicles, Nuke’s news and views, Pirate’s Cove, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, Dumb Ox Daily News, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

It Bears Repeating

Dennis Mansfield shares a Robert Knight article that makes a great point:

Virtually every major news outlet made sure that Falwell’s controversial comment following 9/11 and his notorious “outing” of the “gay Teletubby” Tinky Winky got ink and airtime.

The New York Times noted that it was an article in the National Liberty Journal, which Falwell published, that touched off the Teletubbies ruckus. But the article failed to mention that the Liberty Journal piece quoted The Washington Post’s outing of Tinky Winky, and that the gay press and several other mainstream outlets had cheered openly for a year that the boy in the purple suit, carrying a purse and bearing the homosexual symbol, an upside down triangle, on his head, was clearly the first openly “gay” character in a children’s program.

I recall faxing The Washington Post article to the National Liberty Journal back in February 1999. I had also faxed an article from a gay newspaper in which one of Teletubbies’ creators boasted openly that Tinky Winky’s character, which combines a deep daddy’s voice and mommy’s handbag, was a deliberate attempt to make children think differently about gender. The Liberty Journal editors decided to stick with the Washington Post as the main source, which seems like a wise thing to do. But in the end, it didn’t matter.

In the 10 years since, the press magnified and sustained the myth that Jerry Falwell “outed” Tinky Winky with no apparent evidence. He just did it for the heck of it, to be mean to gays. As smears go, it made him easy to ridicule. Try as they might, that was the best they could do, since they unearthed no hint of scandal involving his integrity. In March 1999, Liberty Journal Senior Editor J. M. Smith pointed out the media’s distortions, but the myth continued to gain strength. Dr. Falwell himself took it in stride, even placing a stuffed Tinky Winky on top of his computer as a joke. Given his own generous spirit and lack of vitriol, he didn’t seem to understand the damage that was done to his reputation.

Over the years, I’ve tried to set some of my media friends straight about the inception of the myth, but the response has been pretty much, “That’s our story, and we’re sticking with it.” And why not? It’s a very useful device. It’s so good that even many conservative commentators have bought into it, pointing it out from time to time in order to polish their own images as more reasonable people than someone like Jerry Falwell.

I hate it when history is distorted and now as Paul Harvey says, “You know the rest of the story.”

Lee Newbill, American Hero

We’ve been following the story of Sgt. Lee Newbill, the hero who died in a shoot out in Moscow. Dale at Right Mind has provided some of the blogosphere’s best coverage on this event, as he’s been following this with great interest.

Those who knew him say Lee Newbill always gave 100 percent, no matter the endeavor.

“From being a husband, father, friend and an officer within the police force, officer in a club, he gave everything he could give until quite literally it hurt,” said Tom Wilson, a friend of the slain Moscow Police Department officer. “It was a major effort to get him to back down from his duties.”

Newbill was shot and killed by a yet-to-be-named shooter Saturday night in Moscow. He is the first Moscow police officer ever killed in the line of duty.

First Presbyterian Church sexton Paul Bauer also was killed. Latah County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brannon Jordan and a civilian were wounded during the shooting, which began Saturday night and ended Sunday morning. The suspected shooter was found dead at the church with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

Officer Newbill’s memorial page at Officer Down where you can leave condolences.

In addition, I called over to the Moscow Police Department and was advised you could make a check out to the Moscow Police Department and send it to them with a note that it is to be used for Lee Newbill’s family. Here’s the address:

Moscow Police Department
118 E 4th Street
Moscow, ID 83843

The Politics of Tragedy

In the comments of Red State Rebels, Tara Rowe writes:

The killer used an AK-47 which if I’m not mistaken was banned by the Brady Bill until Congress sat back and watched the bill expire last year.

Actually, you are quite mistaken. Yes, the killer used an AK47 along with a Spring M1-A. But these were never banned under the Brady Law. These were banned under the assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004, not last year.

However, blaming the weaponry for what happened misses the point. It was the person not the weapon whose responsible. If anyone can be blamed other than the killer, it seems valid to evaluate the failure of mental health officials to deal with this individual properly:

According to Duke, Hamilton in 2005 had been arrested for domestic violence against a woman he was having an extramarital affair with, and sentenced to two years probation. He was not to possess firearms during that time, but had purchased the rifles before that charge was filed, Duke said.

On Feb. 16, Hamilton attempted suicide by overdosing on anti-anxiety medication, and was evaluated twice for involuntary mental health commitment, Duke said.

Hamilton told one of the evaluators that if he were really to commit suicide, he would do it through a mass shooting or bombing in which others would die, Duke said. Then he told the evaluator he was not serious, Duke said.

Hamilton was judged not to need involuntary commitment, and was released, Duke said.

Hamilton was in court May 15 for violating the conditions of his probation on the domestic violence charge by halting his mental health counseling, Duke said. The case was continued until June 15.

It’s always a tough call, but it seems the man should have been committed. Unfrotunately, a tragic misjudgment was made and that not the instrument of this madness is to blame.

Help to the Democrats

The Idaho Democrats are looking for a slogan. Here are some of my suggestions:

-So Far to the Left One Leg is Shorter Than the Other

-Formerly California Democrats

-North End Values ARE Mainstream Idaho Values

-We Want an extra seat on JFAC

-Because Someone Has to Lose Elections

Of course there could be specialty mottos for Liberal Democrats who are trying to get the Booth House shut down:

-Compassionate Liberals for Shutting Down Homeless Shelters

And for the Idaho Senate Democrats:

-Less Seats Than a Toyota Sequoia

Julie Fanselow wonders

As one of Idaho’s leading Dem bloggers, I want to know why I hear about things like this in the local paper instead of via a press release that I can share with my very avid Democratic activist readers.

Maybe Dems are not as technologically with it as I give them credit for.

An Inconvenient Class

How Schools in Canada in the U.S. are uncritically pushing Al Gore’s global warming myths

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