Toad Suck, Arkansas, was voted “most unfortunate” town name.
A list of the top ten "most unfortunate" names is below. I find it interesting that even though the polled respondents lived in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, that all the "most unfortunate" names were in the United States. Maybe these other folks just don't know how to get creative when it comes to town names.
Toad Suck, Ark.
Climax, Ga.
Boring, Ore.
Hooker, Okla.
Assawoman, Md.
Belchertown, Mass.
Roachtown, Ill.
Loveladies, N.J.
Squabbletown, Calif.
Monkey's Eyebrow, Ky.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Get over it
According to Yahoo News, former Arkansas Governor and former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee "has called Paul supporters 'fanatical believers' who 'don't represent mainstream Americans'." He also says, "You lost, move on."
Well, Mike, I have a couple of things I'd like to you. I voted for Ron Paul in the primary. I lost. I have moved on. But moving on doesn't mean quietly acqueising to and voting for the Rino candidate that the majority seems to want. All dissent should not be shut out of the Republican National Committee with an "anybody but Obama" mentality.
I've been a Republican for almost my entire adult life and have never voted for a Democrat for president. Like you, I am a "fanatical believer" in Jesus Christ, and a Baptist preacher.. Unlike you, evidently, I don't have to have a candidate who pretends to toe the party line. Get over it, Mike; move on.
Well, Mike, I have a couple of things I'd like to you. I voted for Ron Paul in the primary. I lost. I have moved on. But moving on doesn't mean quietly acqueising to and voting for the Rino candidate that the majority seems to want. All dissent should not be shut out of the Republican National Committee with an "anybody but Obama" mentality.
I've been a Republican for almost my entire adult life and have never voted for a Democrat for president. Like you, I am a "fanatical believer" in Jesus Christ, and a Baptist preacher.. Unlike you, evidently, I don't have to have a candidate who pretends to toe the party line. Get over it, Mike; move on.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Bill Nye the Science Guy
...gets it wrong.
Bill Nye's Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children has become a "hit" on the internet, for better or worse. You can view it at the link above, as well as read the transcript. For that reason, I won't post the entire transcript here, but comment on excerpts from it.
1. "Denial of evolution is unique to the United States." False. Belief in creation may find great strength in the United States, but denial of evolution can be found throughout the world.
2. "When you have a portion of the population that doesn't believe in that [the "science" of evolution], it holds everybody back." False. The history of our nation filled with Bible-believing Christians--which has grown into "the world's most advanced technological [nation]"--stands as a clever denial of Nye's assertion.
3. "Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science." False. Though some would so claim, it remains scientifically a theory unable to explain the origins of the universe.
4. "Your whole world is just going to be a mystery instead of an exciting place." False. Amazingly, Nye thinks all Christians live in an unexciting, crazy, untenable, inconsistent world. I think he needs to get out more; maybe meet some different kinds of folks than he is used to hanging around with.
5. "The idea of deep time, of this billions of years, explains so much of the world around us." False. But I mainly want to notice here that he finds a view that "explains so much of the world around us." Thankfully, the view of God and creation explains all of the world around us.
6. "...grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them." False. Here Nye encourages schizophrenic parents who believe one thing and teach their kids another! No, if it is wrong, grownups ought not believe it either! We do need our kids, and God & creation is a worldview both worthy and safe to be held by grownups and children.
7. "We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need people that can—we need engineers that can build stuff, solve problems." True. Yes, true for once. We do need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers, and people that can build stuff and solve problems. (I wonder if mentioning the desire for "scientifically literate voters" doesn't reveal a lot more about this whole thing than what he actually says.) Apparently Nye has not noticed that for two hundred years and more we have been developing literate voters, good citizens, folks who can build stuff, and folks who can solve problems--all the while with many of them 'weighed down' with a worldview filled with God, creation and religion!
8. "...in another couple of centuries that world view...just won't exist." False. Remember Voltaire? In another couple of centuries Christianity and other beliefs of God & creation will remain vital worldviews, while Bill Nye will be mostly forgotten.
Let God be true, but every man a liar.
Bill Nye's Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children has become a "hit" on the internet, for better or worse. You can view it at the link above, as well as read the transcript. For that reason, I won't post the entire transcript here, but comment on excerpts from it.
1. "Denial of evolution is unique to the United States." False. Belief in creation may find great strength in the United States, but denial of evolution can be found throughout the world.
2. "When you have a portion of the population that doesn't believe in that [the "science" of evolution], it holds everybody back." False. The history of our nation filled with Bible-believing Christians--which has grown into "the world's most advanced technological [nation]"--stands as a clever denial of Nye's assertion.
3. "Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science." False. Though some would so claim, it remains scientifically a theory unable to explain the origins of the universe.
4. "Your whole world is just going to be a mystery instead of an exciting place." False. Amazingly, Nye thinks all Christians live in an unexciting, crazy, untenable, inconsistent world. I think he needs to get out more; maybe meet some different kinds of folks than he is used to hanging around with.
5. "The idea of deep time, of this billions of years, explains so much of the world around us." False. But I mainly want to notice here that he finds a view that "explains so much of the world around us." Thankfully, the view of God and creation explains all of the world around us.
6. "...grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them." False. Here Nye encourages schizophrenic parents who believe one thing and teach their kids another! No, if it is wrong, grownups ought not believe it either! We do need our kids, and God & creation is a worldview both worthy and safe to be held by grownups and children.
7. "We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need people that can—we need engineers that can build stuff, solve problems." True. Yes, true for once. We do need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers, and people that can build stuff and solve problems. (I wonder if mentioning the desire for "scientifically literate voters" doesn't reveal a lot more about this whole thing than what he actually says.) Apparently Nye has not noticed that for two hundred years and more we have been developing literate voters, good citizens, folks who can build stuff, and folks who can solve problems--all the while with many of them 'weighed down' with a worldview filled with God, creation and religion!
8. "...in another couple of centuries that world view...just won't exist." False. Remember Voltaire? In another couple of centuries Christianity and other beliefs of God & creation will remain vital worldviews, while Bill Nye will be mostly forgotten.
Let God be true, but every man a liar.
What Bill Nye should have said
A transcript of Bill Nye's Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children can be found below the video. In contrast to what he said, here is something more like what should be said.
Denial of evolution isn't unique to the United States. We're the world's most advanced technological nation—generally, the United States is where most of the innovations still happen. People still move to the United States. And that's largely because of the liberty, freedom and prosperity we have, and the general understanding that faith and religion preserves those liberties. When you have a portion of the population that doesn't believe in that, it holds everybody back.
Creation is the fundamental idea in all of life. Trying to live without God is very much like trying to do geology without believing in tectonic plates. You're just not going to get the right answer. Your whole world is just going to be a mystery instead of an exciting place.
Carl Sagan said, "When you're in love you want to tell the world." Once in a while I hear people that claim they don't believe in God. And my response generally is "Well, why not? Really, why not?" Your world just becomes fantastically complicated when you don't believe in God. Here are these ancient dinosaur bones or fossils, here is radioactivity, here are distant stars that are just like our star but they're at a different point in their lifecycle. Here is love and faith and morality. The idea of God and creation explains all of the world around us. If you try to ignore that, your world view just becomes crazy--untenable, itself inconsistent.
And I say to the grownups, you are free to deny creation and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we know--but don't make your kids do it, because we need them. We need morally literate voters, citizens and taxpayers for the future. We need engineers that can build stuff and solve problems; we need teachers who can pass on to the next generation; we need preachers who can define morality.
You know, in another couple of centuries the belief in God and creation will remain a vibrant viable world view. Bill Nye will be mostly forgotten.
Denial of evolution isn't unique to the United States. We're the world's most advanced technological nation—generally, the United States is where most of the innovations still happen. People still move to the United States. And that's largely because of the liberty, freedom and prosperity we have, and the general understanding that faith and religion preserves those liberties. When you have a portion of the population that doesn't believe in that, it holds everybody back.
Creation is the fundamental idea in all of life. Trying to live without God is very much like trying to do geology without believing in tectonic plates. You're just not going to get the right answer. Your whole world is just going to be a mystery instead of an exciting place.
Carl Sagan said, "When you're in love you want to tell the world." Once in a while I hear people that claim they don't believe in God. And my response generally is "Well, why not? Really, why not?" Your world just becomes fantastically complicated when you don't believe in God. Here are these ancient dinosaur bones or fossils, here is radioactivity, here are distant stars that are just like our star but they're at a different point in their lifecycle. Here is love and faith and morality. The idea of God and creation explains all of the world around us. If you try to ignore that, your world view just becomes crazy--untenable, itself inconsistent.
And I say to the grownups, you are free to deny creation and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we know--but don't make your kids do it, because we need them. We need morally literate voters, citizens and taxpayers for the future. We need engineers that can build stuff and solve problems; we need teachers who can pass on to the next generation; we need preachers who can define morality.
You know, in another couple of centuries the belief in God and creation will remain a vibrant viable world view. Bill Nye will be mostly forgotten.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
In memory, Archie McDonald
Yesterday morning a memorial service was held for Archie P. McDonald of Nacogdoches, Texas. Anyone who was interested in history, especially East Texas history, knew him or knew of him, his books and his work. He was long-time Executive Director of the East Texas Historical Association and editor of the East Texas Historical Journal. Mr. McDonald was born November 29, 1935 and died August 16, 2012.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
The Contemplation of God
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1)
Consider four truths: God’s love is –
Eternal – it is without beginning and end. ‘In love, having predestined us’ (Eph 1:4-5). ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee’ (Jer 31:3).
Sovereign – it is without external influence. ‘Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated’ (Rom 9:13). ‘According to the good pleasure of his will’ (Eph 1:4)
Immutable –it is without change. ‘strong as death...many waters cannot quench it’ (Song of Solomon 8:6-7). ‘having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end’ (John 13:1). ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’(Rom 8:35)
Gracious – it is without condition. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son’ (Jn 3:16). God’s definite love rested on the fulfillment of one condition: the obedience of Christ unto death. The Father was satisfied with everything concerning His Son.
-- excerpt from The Contemplation of God by T. David Simpson
Consider four truths: God’s love is –
Eternal – it is without beginning and end. ‘In love, having predestined us’ (Eph 1:4-5). ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee’ (Jer 31:3).
Sovereign – it is without external influence. ‘Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated’ (Rom 9:13). ‘According to the good pleasure of his will’ (Eph 1:4)
Immutable –it is without change. ‘strong as death...many waters cannot quench it’ (Song of Solomon 8:6-7). ‘having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end’ (John 13:1). ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’(Rom 8:35)
Gracious – it is without condition. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son’ (Jn 3:16). God’s definite love rested on the fulfillment of one condition: the obedience of Christ unto death. The Father was satisfied with everything concerning His Son.
-- excerpt from The Contemplation of God by T. David Simpson
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
What we have through faith
What do those who champion baptism for the literal remission of sins have in baptism that we don't already have by faith? According to the Bible "them that believe":
1. Are given power to become the sons of God, John 1:12.
2. Have the righteousness of God, Romans 3:22. Cf. Romans 5:1.
3. Are the seed of Abraham, Romans 4:11.
4. Are saved, I Corinthians 1:21. Cf. Hebrews 10:39.
5. Are given the promise, Galatians 3:22.
1. Are given power to become the sons of God, John 1:12.
2. Have the righteousness of God, Romans 3:22. Cf. Romans 5:1.
3. Are the seed of Abraham, Romans 4:11.
4. Are saved, I Corinthians 1:21. Cf. Hebrews 10:39.
5. Are given the promise, Galatians 3:22.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
More readings on history and other stuff
The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the blogs
linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the posts linked.
A Kentucky Baptist in the War of 1812
Baptist Ecumenism...some initial observations
Five Great Mysteries of the Christian Faith
Preacher in the hands of an angry church: the fall of Jonathan Edwards
The True-Gospel Faith Declared According to the Scriptures
William Kiffin
A Kentucky Baptist in the War of 1812
Baptist Ecumenism...some initial observations
Five Great Mysteries of the Christian Faith
Preacher in the hands of an angry church: the fall of Jonathan Edwards
The True-Gospel Faith Declared According to the Scriptures
William Kiffin
Monday, August 06, 2012
Democrats withdraw support
Mark Clayton won the Tennessee Democratic U.S. Senate primary last Thursday. Now the Democratic party rejects Senate nominee Mark Clayton. According to the state party, "Mark Clayton is associated with a known hate group..." and the State Party will not promote him or support him. They are also encouraging Democratic voters to write-in a candidate in the November general election.
I thought maybe Clayton was in the Ku Klux Klan, but apparently the statement was made because he is vice-president of Public Advocate of the United States. I'm not familiar with them, but this conservative group describes itself as a "conservative, pro-family advocacy group" and opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.
I thought maybe Clayton was in the Ku Klux Klan, but apparently the statement was made because he is vice-president of Public Advocate of the United States. I'm not familiar with them, but this conservative group describes itself as a "conservative, pro-family advocacy group" and opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Miscellaneous quotes
"The least used part of the TV remote control is the off button." -- Charles Swindoll (heard on the radio)
"History is not the past, but a map of the past drawn from a particular point of view to be useful to the modern traveler." -- Henry Glassie
"Some are Microwave Christians - 30 seconds and they’re done." (unknown)
"Begin with the end in mind." -- Stephen R. Covey
Christians are the best and worst arguments against Christianity. Or, “The best argument for Christianity is Christians...But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians...” -- Sheldon Vanauken
"History is not the past, but a map of the past drawn from a particular point of view to be useful to the modern traveler." -- Henry Glassie
"Some are Microwave Christians - 30 seconds and they’re done." (unknown)
"Begin with the end in mind." -- Stephen R. Covey
Christians are the best and worst arguments against Christianity. Or, “The best argument for Christianity is Christians...But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians...” -- Sheldon Vanauken
Thursday, August 02, 2012
A "Free" Press
Latest Word on the Trail? I Take It Back, an article by Jeremy Peters, certainly makes one wonder what has happened to the American concept of a free press!! When we read the news, are we really getting news or just politi-speak?
I believe Orwell called it "Newspeak". Is that what we've come to?
I believe Orwell called it "Newspeak". Is that what we've come to?
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
The intolerance of tolerance
The America in which we live seems to descend deeper and deeper in the abyss of intolerance -- much of it in the name of tolerance! During today's "Appreciation Day" for the restaurant chain, there has been a Chick-fil-A bomb threat.
Our country was founded on freedom of speech -- religious, moral, political. This tolerated (put up with) all speech by allowing it to be put forward by those who supported it and then allowing it to be contradicted by those who did not. Now, rather than exercising the right to freely speak against what someone has freely spoken for, those who think all messages should be tolerated (not spoken against) want to shout down any speech they can't tolerate. Or in this case, blow it up.
Our country was founded on freedom of speech -- religious, moral, political. This tolerated (put up with) all speech by allowing it to be put forward by those who supported it and then allowing it to be contradicted by those who did not. Now, rather than exercising the right to freely speak against what someone has freely spoken for, those who think all messages should be tolerated (not spoken against) want to shout down any speech they can't tolerate. Or in this case, blow it up.
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