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Friday, June 30, 2006

Friday Fun: Murphy's Law?




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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/30/2006 01:15:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Warren Buffett Buys the World's Most Expensive Worthless Ticket

If you remember my post from Monday on Warren Buffett's massive donation to charity, I made the following statement: "I don't know if he's prepared for what will happen to him after death, but I know he's aware of one thing: not a penny of it is going with him."

Well, in a statement made while signing the pledge to the Gates' charity, he removed all doubt. Buffett said, "There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way." Clearly, Buffett understands that you can't take it with you, but apparently, that being the case, he figured he would then use it now to buy a ticket to heaven. So, what at first sounds like a wonderful act of kindness turns out to be just another self-centered ploy to get ahead and snooker his way into heaven.

Though it is truly great that this money will actually turn out to benefit many hundreds of thousands of people (one can only assume), it will most certainly not turn out to benefit Buffett, himself.

I would like to think it just ignorance, because if not, it is the highest level of arrogance one can imagine. How can we possibly believe that it is possible to either be good enough to merit an absolutely holy God's favor or to think that you can flop some cash around and buy God off. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote, "It is by [God's] grace you are saved through faith; and that faith is not of yourselves. It is a gift of God not as a result of works so that you cannot boast [regarding your good works].

Sorry Warren, but there are no more ways to get into heaven than there are ways for that money of yours to get to those charities. It doesn't matter how many ways one might like for there to be, if you don't sign the document (the one and only way), the money doesn't move. In the same way that the money is distributed according to your terms, eternity is determined on God's terms, and He said there is only one:

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me." (John 14:6). [italics added]

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/28/2006 03:50:00 PM 1 comments links to this post |  

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

The Globe Corner Bookstore

If you are really astute, you may have noticed a new link on the right sidebar similar to this one. When I lived in New England, I periodically visited this cool little store just down the street from Harvard University in Cambridge.

The Globe Corner Bookstore specializes in all things travel. From atlases and travel journals, tourist maps and guidebooks, to language aids and antique (-looking) maps, charts and, of course, globes, the Globe has it all for the travel enthusiast. It was always just a really fun place to visit so I thought maybe some of you would be interested in at least checking out their online store (since you may not be able to drop by in person). Of course, if you're in the Boston area, look them up.

Since I have always enjoyed traveling and travel-related stuff, I decided to hook up with them as an affiliate, so feel free to use the link here as a portal into their bookstore site. I hope you enjoy.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/27/2006 09:15:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

The Passion of the Superman?


Dallas Morning News: "Call it The Passion of Kal-El? Superman Returns, which opens Tuesday night, is splashed with enough Christian imagery for a cathedral full of stained glass windows.

The movie's director is Jewish. So were the two teenagers who created the Superman character – based in part on Jewish sacred stories and legends – in 1932. Nonetheless, obvious images from iconic Christian art and stories are as common in this film as product placements are in most summer blockbusters:

Superman, having been sent by his father, saves the world while (almost) sacrificing his own life. The villain, Lex Luthor, stabs him in the side. While he is being brutally beaten, the only sympathetic face belongs to a 'fallen woman.'

Superman Returns has a number of Christian references, but its director is Jewish.

Director Bryan Singer has said he sees Jewish and Christian roots in Superman."
An interesting discussion, as has been noted before by other bloggers. However, the distinctions between the message of Christianity and the limits of the movie in communicating the story of Christ are clear, as was brought out by the writer of this Dallas Morning News article:

Since the days of Siegel and Shuster, control of the character has passed through the hands of many dozens of writers. Some have emphasized the quasi-religious roots more than others.

The 1978 Superman movie, co-written by Mario Puzo and directed by Richard Donner, resonated with many Christians. In a line resurrected for the new movie, Superman's dad (played by Marlon Brando) says: "They can be a great people, Kal-El, if they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you ... my only son."

That's almost straight out of the Gospel of John, said Reg Grant, a professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. But there's a vital difference from the message of Christianity: The caped, comic book "savior" is not sent to save people from their own evil. "He comes to help us find our potential," Dr. Grant said.

In fact, the new movie, despite its Christ imagery, could hardly be less theological. There's nothing of prayer or heaven. Superman offers salvation only from the perils of this world.

Still, it makes for great conversation starters. Besides, unless it is a movie such as The Passion of the Christ, a movie with particular imagery need not necessarily "get it all right." In fact, because it doesn't can often lead to deeper and more lively discussion.

[Full article here.]

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/27/2006 09:30:00 AM 2 comments links to this post |  

Monday, June 26, 2006

Buffett Donates 85 Percent of $37 billion to Charities

"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is donating a total of $37 billion -- most of his personal fortune -- to a foundation started by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and to several family foundations, making it the largest-ever individual charitable gift in the United States.

Buffett, 75, is the chief executive of investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. He is worth an estimated $44 billion, according to Forbes magazine, making him the second-richest man behind Gates, who is worth about $50 billion.

The $37 billion comprises about 85 percent of Buffett's fortune."
I don't know if he's prepared for what will happen to him after death, but I know he's aware of one thing: not a penny of it is going with him.

[Full story here]

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/26/2006 07:10:00 AM 1 comments links to this post |  

Friday, June 23, 2006

SBC: Finneyists?

My pal, Alex Forrest, has written a very good post in response to some of the actions and attitudes expressed at the recent Southern Baptist Convention. I believe he's right on the mark and I share his sentiments.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/23/2006 08:40:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Friday Fun: Diet Coke and Mentos...An Extravaganza!

"What happens when you combine 200 liters of Diet Coke and over 500 Mentos mints? It's amazing and completely insane.

The first part of this video demonstrates a simple geyser, and the second part shows just how extreme it can get. Over one hundred jets of soda fly into the air in less than three minutes.

It's a hysterical and spectacular mint-powered version of the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas, brought to you by the mad scientists at EepyBird.com."



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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/23/2006 08:20:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Senate Rejects Plan For Quick Withdrawal of U.S. Troops

Democratic Presidential hopefuls (?) John Kerry and Russ Fiengold may not have the political clout they each hoped they had after an 86-13 defeat in the Senate of their proposal to begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the end of the year.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/22/2006 03:10:00 PM 1 comments links to this post |  

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

UPI: 'Young people tune out older standards'

According to a recent UPI report, an increasing number of teens and young adults, termed "Generation Me" by one psychologist, is unconcerned with social acceptance.
A California psychologist says young people have become increasingly indifferent to the impression they make on others.

Jean Twenge, the author of 'Generation Me,' teaches at San Diego State University. She gathered data from surveys taken between 1958 and 2001 by more than 40,000 youngsters. They featured questions aimed at whether the respondents always said 'please' and 'thank you' or were careful to dress appropriately.
The article goes on to explain that in 1999, the number of children between the ages of 8-12 who showed an indifference to social approval had risen to 76%, up some 19% since 1970. What are the reasons for the increase? Some say it is technological.
Sherry Turkle, a psychologist and sociologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, blamed the increased use of cell phones and similar devices.
"They're tuned out in some ways to the social graces around them and the people in their lives, in their physical realm, and tuned in to the people they're with virtually," she said.
I think that is an overly simplistic answer. Certainly, there is something to be said in regard to the "virtual" generation that is largely removed from society. The question is how did they get there? As the parent of a five-year-old who can handle a computer almost as well as I can, he only experiences as much of it as I allow.

I believe the bottom line is the apathy of parents towards parenting. Certainly, it gets harder and harder to monitor and prevent children from experiencing inappropriate things, but too many times, parents fail to try. Perhaps a deeper problem lies in the fact that many parents have no real discernment between what is and is not appropriate; the difference in right and wrong.

If parents do not take an active role in relating to their kids as parents rather than just buddies when they are little, earning respect when possible and demanding it when necessary, then kids will find themselves in a world all alone with no one to lay down the borders for them and rebelling against those who try later. Children need these types of boundaries in order to feel safe and to have a safe place to learn and to succeed. Whether we (or they) realize it or not, that's exactly what they want.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/21/2006 11:00:00 AM 1 comments links to this post |  

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Episcopalians Elect First Woman Presiding Bishop

Episcopalians might be on the verge of a split after the election Sunday of the denomination's first woman presiding bishop. This move, after many others over the years such as the practice of ordaining women to the priesthood in 1977, the adoption of a more liberal edition of the Prayer Book in 1979, and the election of the denominations first openly gay bishop three years ago, could send the denomination's conservatives over the edge and out the door.

The threat to part ways has been a long-standing one and one wonders whether or not it will actually happen. Though Katharine Jefferts Schori of Nevada pledges to work with those who differ with her views, it is clear where she stands and what she will push for. Bishop Schori did not attend the consecration of V. Gene Robertson, the aforementioned gay bishop, but she did vote for him and celebrated his election.

It remains clear that the Episcopal Church of America, like it's brethren in England, will continue to marginalize themselves as a church (i.e. the Body and Bride of Christ) and as the voice of Truth within the world. It will be interesting to see if those who stand on Scripture as the Word of God will have the courage to move forward and, perhaps, out the door in order to move back to its historical and biblical roots.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/20/2006 09:35:00 AM 3 comments links to this post |  

Monday, June 19, 2006

Joys of Parenting: Another 'First'

This weekend we drove up to Cincinnati for the day just to hang out and do family-type stuff together. We had tons of fun and capped it off by watching the Reds play the Chicago White Sox. I should say, though it was a good game, watching the Reds lose to the Chicago White Sox.

I should mention that, contrary to the empty seats in the photos, the stands were full. As a matter of fact, as you can tell, all that was left were the cheap seats in the nose-bleed section...we just got there early. Since we like the Red Sox, Jacob kept getting confused between the Reds and White Sox and, in the excitement, would occasionally yell out, "Go, Red Sox!!!" (naturally, when everyone else had just gotten quiet). I would have never imagined a five-year could get as embarrassed as he did.



This marked both Jacob and Karen's very first major league game. One of the greatest joys of being a parent is getting to experience so many "firsts."



It's always something of a bitter-sweet experience because we are blessed with being able to share so many of these new adventures and one hopes there will be many, many more. At the same time, as these "firsts" continue to come and go, there is the realization of the passing of time and the understanding that the special moment when your little one experiences something never before experienced, they'll never be quite as special as that first time.

That couldn't get much sappier, could it? Ah, well...I'll just claim parental prerogative to be a big baby when it comes to their children and claim the right to fully experience the struggle, the pain and joy that comes with watching a child grow up.


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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/19/2006 10:20:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Friday, June 16, 2006

Friday Fun: A Doggone Good Player



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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/16/2006 07:33:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Wanted: Seeking Used Car Salesmen To Staff Fertility Clinics. Apply Within

In many countries, like China and Canada, those bastions of conservatism, it is illegal to select the gender of their babies. So what do they do? If they're wealthy, they drop the cash to come to the United States where there are no regulations currently in place.

As that great philosopher, The Burger King, put it, Americans like to "have it their way." So, now we're sharing that gift with the world.

(cue Announcer)

"That's right, folks, for no money down and low, low monthly payments, we'll have you driving out of here with your brand new, shiny bo-o-oy. Not in the market for a boy? No problem. How about this beauty: she's got four on the floor and not scratch on her. She's a beautiful baby girl, fully loaded with absolutely no defects. Not here. No sir. No way. We only provide the best, most perfect children for your parenting pleasure (cue toothy grin)."

Is this unethical? Heavens nooooo. It's perfectly legal so it must be ethical. After all we're not playing God. Heck we don't even believe in God, do we? Now, Nature, she's a different story. We go for her. Listen to this amazing testimony about one of our fine, upstanding salesmen physicians:
One doctor who offers embryo selection for about $20,000 says he is serving the marketplace and helping Nature, not playing God. People will be less alarmed as sex selection becomes more routine, said Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg of the Fertility Institutes of Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Now, could that be any clearer? It will become much more palatable as this becomes more routine. After all, ethics are totally based on the taste and whims of the majority anyway. Just look at the violent crimes in America: every year the crime rate generally goes up and and we don't even notice...not a flinch. Not us. Who's really to say that offing some crack-head is wrong in the first place, right? Hey, we're not playing God, we're just helping Nature get rid of the schmoes who deserve it. Anyway, as violent crimes continue to increase and become more and more routine, people will become less alarmed. It's the American way.

At least, that's Dr. Steinberg and company's logic.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/15/2006 11:00:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Notable Quote: Francis S. Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute

“When you have for the first time in front of you this 3.1 billion-letter instruction book that conveys all kinds of information and all kinds of mystery about humankind, you can’t survey that going through page after page without a sense of awe. I can’t help but look at those pages and have a vague sense that this is giving me a glimpse of God’s mind.”
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Human Genome Research Institute
Genome Technology Branch
Head, Molecular Genetics Section

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/15/2006 07:40:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Heard The Latest? We're Dooooooomed.

According to physicist Stephen Hawking, the Earth is due for a major disaster and must therefore begin to work on self-sustaining colonies on the Moon and Mars. Hawking does not provide guidelines for what we are to do when destroy those planets (I know the Moon is not a planet).

Even better news? Hawking is planning on writing a children's book with his daughter on the nature of the universe so all the good little boys and girls can be indoctrinated educated into his worldview.

That's swell.

[story]

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/15/2006 07:10:00 AM 0 comments links to this post |  

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Blogging: The Long and Short of It

There is a theory out there among blogging gurus that posts should be kept short. People just don't have the time and/or attention span to sit on one blog for several minutes in order to read a 12- or 1300 word essay. Instead, keep your post only a couple of paragraphs long. While I know that to be true of myself quite often, I wonder how widespread it is.

I have written both long and short posts and often wonder when I write longer ones if people are actually reading something I've put a good deal of thought and work into. As of late, I've been keeping posts as pithy as possible and am considering making that the rule with longer posts the exception.

I'm asking for your participation in a very informal survey of sorts. Whereas I hate doing this because if no one responds, you look as though you're sitting in a room by yourself with the proverbial finger up your nose and no one listening. "Hello-o-o-o-o? Anybody there?" Please don't let me sit with my finger up my nose...very uncomfortable...not that I would actually know.

When you see a long post, do you tend to read the title, maybe a couple of lines and then scurry off on your merry way, or do you read them in their entirety? Even if you do read them completely, what is your preference? I would especially like to hear from anyone who finds themselves on this particular blog fairly regularly to know what types of posts you enjoy reading most. Obviously, if you do come here regularly, you know I tend to focus primarily on worldview issues (events and stories that have worldview significance, Christian worldview issues, ethical/morality questions, etc.) since that's an area I've specialized in.

So, what kind of stuff scratches your itches?

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/14/2006 05:00:00 AM 10 comments links to this post |  

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

SBC Update: Follow-up to Mohler-Patterson Discussion

As a follow-up to my post about the Mohler-Patterson discussion at the SBC Pastor's Conference, Baptist Press has a very good summary of the event here for those interested.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/13/2006 05:20:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Monday, June 12, 2006

Steeler Quarterback Seriously Injured

Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in downtown Pittsburgh today. He was not wearing a helmet.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/12/2006 09:00:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

SBC Annual Meeting at the Starting Gate

Well, boys and girls, it is that time again. The annual Southern Baptist Convention is ready to get underway with the Pastor's Conference that began yesterday. I decided not to go this year after having attended the Nashville meeting last year. That was enough to last me for a while. Nevertheless, if you are one of those who has an interest, here are a couple of good links to keep you posted:

Marty Duran's SBC Outpost
SBC.net (where you can watch live streaming)
Missional Baptist Blog
If there are others you know of that should be added, please post them in the comments section.

In my opinion, the most interesting thing about the conference may be the "duscussion" between Al Mohler and Paige Patterson on the disctinctions of Calvinism and Arminianism. It probably would be more interesting if it were going to be a true debate as it was first billed, but that was later changed to focus on the way in which the two viewpoints can coexist in one organizational structure.

I don't know how exciting that will be, but you never know, a shofar or two could always pop up here or there to save the show.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/12/2006 09:04:00 AM 0 comments links to this post |  

Friday, June 09, 2006

Friday Fun: Somewhere in the category of 'Worst Nightmare'

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/09/2006 04:15:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Zarqawi: Not Only One of the World's Worst Enemies, But Arguably His Own

FALLUJAH, Iraq - News of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s death trickled in to the U.S. Marines camp outside this battle-scarred city Thursday bringing the troops a vague sense of satisfaction.

Some Marines scoffed at the appearance of the Jordanian-born terrorist in a video released in April and they suggested the leader’s demise was the product of his own vanity when he showed his face to the world.

The footage portrayed al-Zarqawi as an insurgent commander looking over maps and swaggering through the desert with a heavy machine gun. But outtakes released later showed that he needed assistance firing the weapon.

Quite a guy, that Zarqawi fellow was, huh?

[Full Army Times article here.]

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/09/2006 06:25:00 AM 0 comments links to this post |  

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

A Workshop To Die For

From Australian Newspaper, The Age:

Australian right-to-die advocate Dr Philip Nitschke plans to hold two euthanasia workshops in New Zealand in August after the government decided not to pursue legal action against him.

The New Zealand government last week decided not to prosecute Nitschke over a Medical Council complaint he was practising medicine illegally by holding such workshops.

The Darwin-based activist, who is not registered as a medical practitioner in New Zealand, provoked the complaint by holding three gatherings earlier this year.

Nitschke claims the workshops "give rational adults material that enables them to feel that they are in control of their lives and deaths, and that this is no more 'practising medicine' than advising people how they should adopt a healthy diet." [Read full article here.]

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/07/2006 10:05:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

Monday, June 05, 2006

End of the Journey

After two long week but good weeks on the road traveling around part of Texas, we're finally home. For any of you who have been following our little saga, you know that our air conditioner went out on us during the second leg of our trip, between Nashville and Jackson, TN. After trying a few different places to get it fixed in Jackson, Dallas and Houston, we gave up the ghost. In San Antonio, we looked for a replacement

We went to one car dealership only (Carmax) and within an hour we had found the right vehicle at the right price at the right time. By that afternoon, everything had been taken care of and we drove away in our "new" 2003 Honda CRV that had only 25,000 miles and more importantly...air conditioning!! It is an understatement to say it was soooo nice driving in air conditioning!

The cool thing about all of this (no pun intended) is that even if we had not been provided this vehicle (and I truly believe it was provided for us), I know God would have continued to provide for our needs in other ways. I already told you that the drive from Houston to San Antonio was supposed to be in the low 90s according to the weather reports with only a few scattered clouds. Instead it was cloudy and 69 the entire drive.

The older I get and the more I experience, the more the reality of God working in human history is profoundly solidified in my heart and mind. As one of my spiritual heroes, Francis Schaeffer, said: "He is there and He is not silent." He really does care.
Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/05/2006 04:25:00 PM 4 comments links to this post |  

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Does Insanity Trump Guilt?

Yes, I know, I know. I said that I wouldn't be posting until Monday, but I didn't want you to miss this. I was listening to Dr. Al Mohler's radio show via podcast last night where he dealt with an interesting worldview issue: Is it moral to declare someone not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity?

The skinny: Insanity does not in any way eliminate guilt. However, insanity (or other types of mental illness) should be considered in the sentencing phase. I couldn't agree more. Murder, for example, is a crime (i.e. wrong) regardless of the state of mind an individual is in, though their "punishment" may be to spend a certain number of years (or the rest of their lives) receiving treatment for their illness.

This is beyond mere semantics to preserving the reality of objective truth and serving justice where justice is due. Visit Dr. Mohler's blog here to read his complete argument or to download the podcast.

OK, back to my vacation.

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/01/2006 11:50:00 PM 2 comments links to this post |  

Heading North

It's been a couple of days since I've posted, but we are wrapping up our time here in San Antonio and are preparing for our long journey back up to Northern Kentucky. Saturday will be spent with friends in Little Rock and Sunday will be the last leg back up, so it will probably be Monday before I am able to post again. So, if that is the case, have a good weekend and I'll try and catch up any interested readers on the end of the vacation saga next week. Blessings!

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posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 6/01/2006 10:14:00 PM 0 comments links to this post |  

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