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 | A bit of blog history The first idea for this website was for it to be a way to put a few of my original worship songs out into the public domain for use in churches (which I still might do someday). As time went along and I realized I had no concept at all of how to accomplish that, I found myself reviewing several older teachings that I had given as a lay teacher and home group leader throughout the years. Many interesting new ways to communicate the ancient truths came to my mind, so in 2006 I began to commit them to my word processor. During Christmastime of that year a friend showed me an easy-to-use html editing program called Nvu, and then we looked for some good low-cost server space. Once all that was in place, I got some practice by working on another website project, then started on this one. I wanted a rather large initial upload, and by the end of June 2007 I had finished the entire Neighborhood House Church series, the first two installments of the Bad Evangelist series, the original version of OK, I Admit It, the introduction and first three levels of the Bible Study Template series, and the first two (and most basic) articles in the political section, Size Does Matter and On Interpreting the Constitution. Twenty-three articles plus an index page seemed like a good start to me. Once I got on line and started really looking at it, a lot of things about this medium became clear to me. Many blogs have ways to reply built in as threads, others make it easy to e-mail the author, and besides those there are the forums, chat rooms, and other things. The problem I saw with all of this is that it becomes too easy for "e-jerks" to come in and post inane and unnecessary drivel on an otherwise intelligent site. Therefore I decided that rather than offer no means of response at all, I would provide an e-mail address in an inconspicuous place (About the Author), so that hopefully only the genuinely interested would bother with it. That way I could weed out the ill-tempered, the malicious, various cultists, and others who might try to hijack my freedom of speech. Then a couple of friends told me that the index page would be a lot easier to navigate if I didn't keep the links to the articles hidden under the title banners. I was already thinking that it could be easier on the eyes and more professional looking if I used colors differently. Thus came the newest look for the index and auxiliary pages that you now see. This has been a significant learning experience for me on several levels, and continues to be so. |
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| A Template for Bible Study: Introduction /bst (posted 6/28/07): Many of us know that we need to get to know the Scriptures better, but just don't have a plan for how to do it. So rather than write a "how-to" on the subject, it seems more appropriate to provide a set of starting points and a few examples. And in an effort to not provide "pat" answers, I feel that I can presume that the reader is intelligent enough to get where you're going so that I can merely point out these starting places along the path and trust God for the rest. Knowledge /bst1 (posted 6/28/07): A good place to start is always the place called "the beginning." How can we understand something if we've never read it? How can we know how to interpret something we're not even familiar with? Here are some very practical steps for getting started on the journey which ought to be obvious, but are too often overlooked. Comprehension /bst2 (posted 6/28/07): It's one thing to know something, but it's quite another to understand what you know. The guidelines presented here are designed to prevent such errors as over-interpretation, disregard to the greater context, over-personalization of a passage, and other common mistakes. The basic skills of better understanding , and the art of their proper use, start here. Application /bst3 (posted 6/28/07): So now you understand a few things--what do they mean to you? The point of the Scriptures is far beyond the presentation of theories, fun facts, or historical events; God has provided for us a manual for solid spiritual living, and we owe it to Him to heed the instructions therein and modify our life-styles and preferences accordingly. Analysis /bst4 (posted 7/19/07): This is the first level at which we begin to work with larger portions of Scripture. Discovering and applying the idea of the larger level context becomes more important here, as well as the skill of accurately outlining a portion from a larger size to its smaller segments. Analysis works in two directions: where something fits in when the larger level is analyzed, and then how it logically breaks down further. Synthesis /bst5 (posted 2/10/08): Now we come to the place where the most depth can be reached in our studies. But unfortunately, many try to do these types of studies without the proper background in the previous exercises, or without being thorough in their investigations. If these methods are used without a preconceived agenda and with reliable research materials and ample, unhurried time dedicated to the process, the yield can be enlightening and strengthening. Evaluation /bst6 (posted 3/15/08): This is the final level on our series, and can become the most complicated of endeavors. It's much too easy to approach this type of subject matter in a haphazard, shoot-from-the-hip manner and confuse not only yourself, but others. The objective comparison of Christianity to other religions or philosophies, of genuine Christianity to impostors, and of various points of view within the Christian faith calls for even-handedness and thoughtfulness at every juncture. Supplements: References & Tools /bst_r (posted 4/8/08): Since I brought up so many different Bible study helps in the Template series, it seemed logical to include a general overview of those books and web resources that can be particularly helpful. Teaching Styles /bst_t (posted 12/9/07): Some would say that there are as many teaching styles as there are teachers. Others would say that style is not important, that all that is needed is to simply tell somebody what you know. But experienced teachers know that there are ways to get a teaching across which can be tailored to the material and to the listeners in order to have the maximum effect, as well as make the ideas memorable. Here are some general categories for your consideration (audio/visual aids are optional). Givin' It "the Works" /bst_w (posted 12/6/09): This article is a conclusion to the Bible Study Template series. Once the various levels of depth in the study are understood, the task that remains is to apply each of them in a logical order to the study at hand. You will find that the order of the articles in the series is not the order that I use in my actual approach, even though all of them are mentioned in their proper place. The method I suggest is general enough for many variations, yet specific enough to give shape to your efforts as you move from the larger levels to the smaller ones. Barbecued Milk /bbq (posted 7/14/07): Two popular terms in "Christianese" are meat and milk, which refer to, respectively, more deep and difficult teaching reserved for the more mature, and the more basic, simple ideas for the novice or those at intermediate levels. One problem is that many in positions of instruction in churches either don't understand the difference or are unwilling to acknowledge it. Some go so far as to try to put forward "milk" as though it were "meat" (thus the title), which leaves many still looking for the butcher's shop. Is the fare at your meetings really worth your time, or are you just sitting through the latest pep talk? |
Sectional
links for A Template for Bible Study: Introduction Amplification (2a) Analysis (Level 4) Application (Level 3) Background research (2b) Character study (5d) Commentary (2d) Comprehension (Level 2) Conjectured situations (3c) Controversies (6c) Counseling (3b) Creeds (included in level 6) Cross-referencing (2c) Cults (6b) Evaluation (Level 6) Exegesis (4b) Knowledge (Level 1) Meditation (2e) Memorization (1b) Other Religions (6a) Outline (4a) Self-examination (3a) Survey Reading (1a) Synthesis (Level 5) Topic study (5b) Type or symbol study (5c) Word study (5a) Supplements: References & Tools Teaching Styles Givin' It "the Works" Barbecued Milk |
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| The
Neighborhood House Church: (all posted 6/28/07) Blankets on the Baby /nhc: Any objective look at the American Church today will reveal some major differences from the way it is portrayed in the New Testament book of Acts. Though many would credit that difference to normal development and adaptation to the surrounding culture, it would do us well to question whether or not these many modifications have created a cumulative advantage or, more likely, a terrible disadvantage which we would do better without. Winning the Argument Without Winning the Soul /nhc_phi: Is Christianity just another religion? Is it tantamount to yet another of the world's philosophies? Can it be disproven through argument, science, or logical debate? Or is it the eternal truth, generously given to us by our Creator-God, and therefore non-negotiable? Christians would of course maintain that the last of those questions deserves the positive response--but unfortunately, one would never know it from the way the Gospel is usually presented to a skeptical, self-seeking society such as this one. How it got that way is examined here. Organized Religion /nhc_ins: God has provided us a template for the way in which we are to organize the operation of the church in the New Testament era. But instead of maintaining that plan throughout the years, we failed to recognize it as such and deemed the ordering of our life together as something which was left up to our discretion. Are we really better at organizing what God ordained than God Himself? What's the difference? Does it really matter? Let's see ... Of the World, But Not In It /nhc_gov: The Bible tells us that Christians are "more than conquerors," and that in Christ we have overcome the world. Yet too many of us are so afraid of the demoralizing influence of the surrounding world that we fail to engage our society on God's behalf, and thus we fall short of being the "salt of the earth." So throughout its history the Church has either attempted to co-opt the world's political structures to accommodate our own purposes or created a sub-culture within the culture to insulate itself from the corruption from without. In both situations the Church remains closed off, cowering beneath the steeples of our self-importance and wondering why God doesn't get the job done. Shouldn't we be the influencing force, rather than allowing ourselves to be influenced by outside forces? The Profits Have Spoken /nhc_ent: Many years ago, a businessman who assumed that I would one day seek a "full-time" ministry, told me that a church should be run like a business. I didn't argue (although I knew he was not a believer), but I didn't agree, either. Certain business concepts are clearly antithetical to the attitudes that our Lord wishes to instill in our assemblies and activities. The time has come to identify the incompatibilities. So, What's Left? /nhc_how: Let us imagine for a moment that all the above mentioned encumbrances were now stripped from the Body of Christ. Or perhaps that they were never there to begin with. How would the Church look? Would it be anything that we could recognize? For those who know that the Church is something more than a building with a steeple on top, here is a look at a church structure that is as unspoiled as the fundamental doctrines about Christ that we hold so dear and have maintained so consistently throughout our history. Always the Problems /nhc_obj: Of course, the shock of removing our stained-glass colored glasses and seeing the Church as the Bible actually shows it could cause some to react strongly; it could even take two or three generations to get things worked out. Here, in a Q & A format, we look at some of the potential hurdles that might be encountered as we seek to escape mass-produced spirituality. Companion Articles: Koinonia in TV Land /ktv: This was the most fun I've ever had writing anything! It is a stretch to the imagination to get how some familiar characters may be seen in this part-parody, part-illustration of the idea of semi-communalism which seems to be so confusing, yet is so Biblical when the relevant texts in Acts are seen for what they truly say. Are Ya Excited this Mornin'? /exc: A brief, very honest response for those who resort to cheerleading tactics to atttempt to make a church service more attractive to visitors and to members who might lose interest and wander away. For all those who are tired of the artificiality and pretense which so often get in the way of a true spiritual experience, as well as those who feel that they are alone when they wish that the churches which are ill-equipped to provide such an experience would be exposed. Number One /no1: Have you felt ill-at-ease when you read that the Lord seeks a humble people, yet it seems that the only way to make it in the world around us is to constantly strive and be self-assertive? Most of us have, as a result, gotten a warped idea of humility, and live our lives contrary to the way the Bible teaches about those who "shall inherit the earth." This article examines the conflict between the competitive ethic and Christian living. When There is No Revival Without Rebellion /reb: When times of change come, conflicts with authority tend to come with them. Throughout Christian history many have come along who sought genuine reform and modification in some aspect of the Church, but the powers-that-were tended to brand them heretics merely for challenging the status quo. Even if nobody means to pick a fight, many authority figures tend to overreact and engage in one anyway. Sadly, it has become normative for proud church leaders to resist changes that are often necessary and vital for their survival. The Successful Pastor Dialogues /spd: It's a big, BIG church. Many might consider it a borderline mega-church. It certainly has all the right programs in place, a good, solid staff, and a pastor who has the respect of the whole community (and the mansion and luxury car to prove it). Certainly no one has a greater stake in the building of the local kingdom of God than him. Why don't we talk over our idea of the neighborhood house church with him--of course, he of all people ought to see how this scriptural concept of a back-to-the-basics structure would be an advantage ... Discussions with the Church Staff /dcs1: They're well-trained, well-taught in the ways of church management, and thoroughly indoctrinated with all the denomination's theology and practice. They know how to do their part to keep the institution running, and how to support the successful pastor in all that he does. After all, his success is their success. So where did this secular-educated NHC-pushing rabble-rouser come from, and why does he think he can show them what the Bible clearly says? Didn't they get all that down pat in the denomination's systematic theology classes? Maybe what this upstart needs is four years in one of their Bible colleges--THEN he'll learn to see things their way! More from the Staff Meeting /dcs2: The earlier conversations didn't seem to have much effect on this guy, but that doesn't mean that the staff would stop trying. So, now he wants to meddle in their wallets. How dare someone come along and challenge this church on its budgetary matters!!! He wants this church to just cast out years of tradition and the fine tuning of its methods of making this institution operate. If he wasn't a heretic before, he certainly is now! | Article
links for The Neighborhood House Church: Blankets on the Baby Winning the Argument Without Winning the Soul Organized Religion Of the World, But Not In It The Profits Have Spoken So, What's Left? Always the Problems Companion articles: Koinonia in TV Land Are Ya Excited this Mornin'? Number One When There is No Revival Without Rebellion The Successful Pastor Dialogues Discussions with the Church Staff More from the Staff Meeting Meet the church staff (as described in the articles The Sucessful Pastor Dialogues and in both of the Discussions): (Note: this group is not the same group of ministers that was described in "The Parable of the Buses" or in any other illustration in these pages.) Successful Pastor -- the senior pastor of a would-be mega-church, he appears sagely and profound (because he's concerned about his image), and mostly speaks in platitudes and bumper stickers. Mainly, he only trusts other pastors, and decided a long time ago that his status puts him above correction. Associate Pastor -- the senior pastor's "pit bull," he is a little bitter, and wants to be in charge. So don't rock his boat; he's a real "company man." Youth pastor -- Mr. Hip, Mr. Cool, Mr. Trendy--he's usually the first to crack a joke, but the last to get one. Elder-at-large -- he genuinely wants to help out, but thinks you're stupid. He's also a "company man," since six generations of his family have been leaders in the denomination. Worship Pastor -- trying to be objective and "with it," but doesn't want to lose his status in the church; he's smart, cocky, and always concerned with appearing professional. |
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| The Bookshelf /books (posted 3/7/09): What
are the contents of a well-stocked Christian library? Most of us, when
pressed, can think of a few books that have helped us along the way.
But if you think about it a little harder, you know that there are
certain ones that well-read Christians throughout the years have
considered the best of the best. This is my humble attempt to provide
you with a definitive list of genuine classics, some personal
favorites, and a few that you should know about for other reasons. The Bad Evangelist series: The Bad Evangelist Chronicles /be1 (posted 6/28/07): Have you ever tried to share the Gospel with someone and come away frustrated and feeling like a real jerk? Have you ever been approached by a real jerk who was attempting to share the Gospel with you? There are times when all the right words have no effect at all. Here is a sampling of a typical smart aleck's attempts to convince people of the veracity of the Christian message that uses every wrong approach in the book. He is actually a composite character whose heart--and theology--may be in the right place, but unfortunately has little control over his pride or his ego. The Bad Evangelist Strikes Back /be2 (posted 6/28/07): Our friend is back, and is just as bombastic as ever. Again he displays an attitude that makes one wonder if he really cares about the people that he's talking to, or if he is just looking for "brownie points" from God. Let's see if he gets to put any notches in his Bible belt today. Return of the Bad Evangelist /be3 (posted 4/15/08): It seems that we have some more stories from our old friend, and I think that this time he may have gone too far. This kind of verbal sparring qualifies in some quarters as a legitimate sport. True, the people he talks to are quite stubborn and opinionated, and often match his level of smart-aleckiness. It is also true that he has the right things to believe and some sound reasoning behind them. But one has to wonder what kind of impact his words and mannerisms are actually having on his listeners. For those reading these articles from a Christian perspective, please remember that "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11) For those reading from another perspective, please remember that the truth is still true even if we mishandle it or use it antagonistically. This guy most likely became this way because of the kind of attitudes he encountered from those he tried at first to talk nice to. The Bad Evangelist IV: the Preaching Menace /be4 (posted 4/26/10): I think I have finally figured out why our bad evangelist friend has such annoying ways when he speaks to the non-believers that he encounters. Most of the ones he comes in contact with are so self-involved, snarky and smart-alecky that he just can't seem to resist the impulse to match their inane comments with like ones of his own. In his eyes, he is "keeping them on their heels" with his clever come-backs and rejoinders, in a mostly vain attempt to show them how truly silly they sound to him. Other Christian articles: The Christianese Top Ten List /t10 (posted 5/20/08): Languages evolve. We can create problems if we impose a meaning onto a word which an author from years past may not have intended, and therefore misunderstand his communication to us. We may have used that word all our lives, but suddenly we find that its usage in a particular context doesn't make any sense. Christianese is no different; but the words once used and understood in a certain way by the faithful have become tainted by different modern uses, derived from pop culture in Hollywood to politicians in Washington, DC , or anywhere in between--even late night television ... My Dog Ate My Bible (and Other Lame Excuses) /dog (posted 9/19/07): When a believer is pummeled by those outside the Church for a mind-set that's not true for him or her personally, it is usually the fault of so-called "nominal Christians" throughout history who, either through gross ignorance, absense of proper teaching by the local churches, or pure lack of genuineness, adopt and harbor attitudes or philosophies that run counter to true Christianity and reflect poorly on the rest of us. So when an erroneous point of view surfaces in someone who claims to have a Christian reason for it, we must see to it that proper understanding is sought out and that no good excuse remains. Would God allow your dog to eat your spiritual homework? Urban Retardation /urb (posted 11/11/09): What is it about some people who seem to always be distant, defensive, unneighborly, rude, or perhaps even combative, and especially so with strangers? Is there some psychological or sociological oddity in a person's upbringing or environment that brings out the worst in them? What part does the surrounding population density possibly play in this callous behavior? Or is impoliteness somehow a genetic trait? What really creates the conditions that retard the development of friendliness and social grace in an individual's personality? Here's my take on it. An Ulterior Motive /marr (posted 11/20/09, original teaser lost) A Musician's Musings /mus (posted 4/7/10): When the secrets of hearts are revealed, especially among church leadership, it can be somewhat shocking to see how much damage these people may have suffered. It can be even more shocking when we see that it was likely us in the churches who inflicted such damage. Our congregations, as well as our society, are much too eager to put certain folks on a pedestal only to find that when they fall from it, it was our own push that was responsible. The Parable of the Buses /bus (posted 7/14/09): Hollywood likes success stories; but this is a story of success gone wrong. Even though the essence of the tale is taken from actual events, I don't wish to embarrass anyone, so I changed names, details, and the time frame a bit--and I added a little dialogue for effect. Of course there is a moral to the story, and this is a hard one for us imitative Americans to swallow, particularly for those of us from the Rhema-tarian tradition. I hope that the liberty I took in the story-telling will not cloud the purpose, but instead that it might add a Rhema-licious flavor. Reader's Block /block (posted 5/12/10): Let me take this opportunity to encourage my readers to study to show themselves approved, if I may borrow a phrase. I have noticed that many react to the use of bigger-than-average words or by long sentences by giving up on trying to get the point of something that may be a dense read. This happens not only with technical writing, but also often with more basic texts that should be familiar to many but often are abandoned for a lack of effort. Indoctrinations /ind (posted 8/4/10): Many people expect great spirituality from those who have the credentials offered by our seminaries, Bible colleges and other like institutions. But so many who attend these do not belong in them, yet they succeed anyway; perhaps it is because their view that ministry is merely a career in a helping profession; or perhaps they were guided by well-meaning counsel or by circumstance, not by God. Even more unfortunately, those who do belong, and would not only benefit from the offered courses but would go on to be beneficial to others, too often pick up many bad habits and some misguidance along the way. So the wheat and the tares grow up together. Grace is More Demanding /grace (posted 4/6/11): Jesus had much to say in His "Sermon on the Mount" about the subject of grace. Amazingly, He did so without actually using the word at any point during that discourse. A theme was introduced here that we can find throughout the New Testament, yet it is often overlooked. As a result, certain misperceptions about grace and its relationship to the Old Testament law have come up, which sadly cause many to stumble into problems such as antinomianism and moral laxity. Where are the boundaries, if any, of Christian liberty? OK, I Admit It /ok (originally posted with the initial upload on 6/28/07; revision posted 5/20/08): Have you ever asked the question: "If God is love, then why is there so much random pain and suffering in this world, regardless of the victim?" If so, then this article is for you. But rather than leave you with a non-answer, I draw from such sources as the Book of Job and the parable of the Good Samaritan to show an aspect of this problem which I have never heard discussed elsewhere, but find to have a great deal of validity. Chain of Command /chain (posted 8/11/08): These days, the institutional church is controlled from the top, by the men in the sharp-looking suits in the ivory towers and their minions, the control freaks in the pulpits of the local outlets. When Biblically understood, the concept of authority is much different. So if critics of the house church model claim that we do it only because we have a problem with authority, it is those critics who fail to understand what authority really is. Let's take a look at the Word ... A Five-fold Job Description /jobs (posted 6/23/10): This essay is a look at one of the most popular texts in renewalist thinking, Ephesians 4:11-13. Various understandings of these verses have given rise to controversy between the charismatic and cessationist camps, and they are merely glossed over by many others. Yet when students of the Word try to draw conclusions about these ministries based on little more than cross-references and a word study, it is easy to miss out on a full and accurate picture. Some are even surprised to see what the Old Testament texts have to say concerning subjects as clearly oriented toward the New Testament era as these. As usual, it is my hope that this article can widen some of the unnecessarily narrow ideas that are bandied about as church theology. Calvin's Pendulum /calv (posted 7/4/09): Perhaps the most influential writer and theologian of the period known as the Protestant Reformation was John Calvin. Although Calvin's works appear from today's perspective as a highly ordered system, a look at the process by which he arrived at that system reveals a carefully worked-out blending of extreme reaction to the excesses of the Roman Catholic ideas prevalent in that time with an embracing of certain other characteristics which may turn out to be surprising. For such an intelligent man as Calvin to swing across the spectrum of ideas from mimicking certain problematic practices on the one hand to a quite staggering departure from certain others, some very odd inconsistencies surface. Toys in the Toy Chest /calv2 (posted 9/9/10): When children play with Barbie dolls or toy soldiers, they act out their imaginations of either real people or of heroes and villains. But at the end of the day the toy is just that--a toy. It is usually put back into the toy chest (if Mom insists) and can be forgotten for minutes or for months. Broken ones can be discarded and later replaced. They can be dressed up, abused, and put into positions that would embarrass anyone. They are better than marbles, but less important than pets. Is that the way God thinks of mankind? Is it necessary for us to be in such a position with God for Him to maintain His sovereignty? Do we only think that we can think for ourselves? Church History Appreciation /hist (posted 4/7/10): Humans have an annoying tendency to repeat the mistakes of the past. This is most likely because too many of those mistakes go unrecognized, and when they are recognized, the minority who understand are rejected in their attempts to call attention to the conditions which caused them. But how can we recognize a mistake in the making if we don't know that something was tried before? The teaching of history is too often incomplete, uninteresting or even inaccurate, and therefore so many fail to give this subject the attention it deserves and desperately needs. I have taken here the risk of combining two potentially disparate elements into a single article to demonstrate both the need for comprehensive historical understanding and a most pressing example of a lesson not yet learned by American Christians. The Charismatic Trail /char (posted 1/8/10): For everyone who was a part of the phenomenon known popularly as the "charismatic movement," the many phases that it went through and the effect it had on us, for good and for bad, can be at once a source of both nostalgia and repulsion. For those who were never involved in it but think you know what it really was, you probably need to think again. And finally, if you are having trouble keeping up with the distinctions between the pentecostals, the charismatics, the "third wave," the renewalists and the various terms used in discussing them, perhaps the recounting of my own journey will help. The Law of Spiritual Motion /3rdlaw (posted 2/3/11): Are you concerned about Christian unity? Many people in the church, including the upper levels of the various denominational hierarchies, would say that they are. Yet it seems that most of us then proceed to engage in the types of actions that do more to promote division than unity. A brief examination of church history will demonstrate that schisms can arise over the most trivial of matters. Some have made the joke about the causes of a church split being as important as "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin." This article is not as concerned as much with the issues that divide us as it is with our reactions to the controversies that arise. | The
Bookshelf Book list in .rtf format Book list in .txt format The Bad Evangelist series: The Bad Evangelist Chronicles The Bad Evangelist Strikes Back Return of the Bad Evangelist The Bad Evangelist IV: the Preaching Menace Other Christian articles: The Christianese Top Ten List My Dog Ate My Bible (and Other Lame Excuses) Urban Retardation An Ulterior Motive A Musician's Musings The Parable of the Buses Reader's Block Indoctrinations Grace is More Demanding OK, I Admit It Chain of Command A Five-fold Job Description Calvin's Pendulum Toys in the Toy Chest Church History Appreciation The Charismatic Trail The Law of Spiritual Motion | |
| Political articles: On Interpreting the Constitution /Political/ic (posted 6/28/07): During the hotly contested 2000 Presidential election, a friend and I were discussing the U. S. Supreme Court's involvement in the determination of the outcome. When I questioned their role, he said to me, "But it's the Supreme Court's job to interpret the Constitution." His simple, matter-of-fact statement made me wonder if such an assertion was, in fact, constitutional. Upon reading Article III, I didn't see it there, so I began to seek out where the idea actually came from. Is my rage not justified? Size Does Matter /Political/size (posted 6/28/07): How big should our government be? How intrusive should it be in our daily lives? Does it really have the right to invade our privacy at times, or is it genuinely concerned with making sure that we don't get stepped on somehow? How relative are the terms "big" and "small" when they apply here? Believe it or not, the American Founding Fathers answered these questions for us as they wrote our Constitution. We would do well to discover their views, and heed their advice. The Religious Marketplace /Political/mkt (posted 6/29/08): Freedom of religion: why has it become such a controversial topic? Even Thomas Jefferson's description of the "wall of separation between Church and state" is a subject for much debate and shoot-from-the-hip interpretation. Clearly their intent was not to set up a particular sect or religion as the state-favored faith. Yet many people will happily tell you what they think their meaning was, even if their ideas have no basis in history. Disclaimer: No liberals were harmed in the making of this blog--however, liberalism has potentially been dealt a painful blow of common sense. When the Dow Gets to Zero /Political/dow (posted 5/5/09): Even at its lowest point in the 1930's, the worst number the Dow Jones Industrial Average had was 41.22 on July 8, 1932 (the lowest point ever was 28.48 in 1896, the year it was started). For all its ups and downs, the "Dow" is still considered the best barometer of the overall health of commerce in the United States. Yet there are forces at work in our government and in other sectors which would downplay or even negate the usefulness of the free market to our economy, thus working to change our system into one in which the federal government has a much greater level of control over how businesses are operated, and dictating many of the specific actions that a company can take. This is hardly a new phenomenon, yet it has been building to a point where now we may be on the brink of a societal transformation that would greatly damage the concepts of our Founding Fathers including their vision of a small federal government and the paradigm of liberty of commerce. Who's Responsible for April 15th? /Political/apr15 (posted 9/19/07): On that oh-so-special day of our calendar, the average American taxpayer is required to do something that is unprecedented in the history of world government. We are expected to successfully navigate a horrendous maze of confusing legislation, specialized language, and mathematical acrobatics in order to tell the government something that in every other situation the government will tell us. Sure, we could pay a specialist ... but why should we? That just becomes an additional burden on our pocketbooks. How have we allowed ourselves to become so ensnared by a behemoth of regulation? A Sniper with a Shotgun /Political/sniper (posted 11/11/09): The ultimate test of a good sniper is the ability to hit the exact bullseye of a target and not disturb anything around it. This can best be done with a single bullet from a rifle. The use of any type of shotgun would be silly in this scenario, because of the wide dispersal pattern of the buckshot over a great portion of the surface of the target. Thus the thing at which the shooter takes aim will not be the only thing the shooter hits, but many other things will be affected. Now let's see how this illustration applies to current events in the U. S. government. Provisional Checkmate /Political/iraq (posted 1/22/09): When someone says "checkmate," they usually mean that the game is over. But if a match consists of several rounds and the checkmate applies to only the latest round, the provision is that not only is there more to come, but that the winner of the most recent game is most likely to win it all; and perhaps that makes for the best understanding of my title here. By the way, this is not an article about chess, but rather a perspective on the war on terrorism that may be unusual to say the least. The role of the war in Iraq in the overall scheme may be more clear when addressed in a particular way. And besides, it gives me a great opportunity to hurl some pejoratives at Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda lackeys. Carbon Footprints in the Sand /Political/carb (posted 11/1/07): According to the will of Alfred Nobel, "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses" should win his coveted Peace Prize. On October 12, 2007, it was awarded for a completely unrelated reason. Come and see the rampant silliness. Adventures with a Light Bulb /Political/bulb (first posted on 8/14/08, updated 9/16/08): Any reasonable, sensible person ought to be willing to take certain reasonable, sensible steps to protect our natural resources by reducing the amount of toxins and pollutants they cause to be released into the environment. Sometimes the measures presented to us are accompanied by claims of great results for a minimum of effort. Such is the case with a new type of light bulb--the CFL or compact fluorescent light. Here we go again with the rampant silliness. Independent Voters /Political/iv (posted 12/3/10): For those of you who noticed, last month's election made some far-reaching changes in our federal government and in many state governments as well. Throughout my lifetime, only once has a party held on to the presidency for more than eight years; and it seems also that it is getting easier for both houses of Congress to see a change of leadership. If it seems to you that the country is experiencing strange mood swings lately, this may be the root of the reason. | Political articles: On Interpreting the Constitution Size Does Matter The Religious Marketplace When the Dow Gets to Zero Who's Responsible for April 15th? A Sniper with a Shotgun Provisional Checkmate Carbon Footprints in the Sand Adventures with a Light Bulb Independent Voters | |