Pray For America

Today is America’s National Day of Prayer. Please pray for what God wants from our country’s people, not what we might want.

‘Higher’ Education Isn’t

The folks strolling the halls at our nation’s finest universities are often the most different compared to average Americans. Stories like what follows just seems to happen, more often than not, on a college campus somewhere.

Political correctness run amok.

I just heard about this and thought you might find this case of “flag desecration” interesting. It was not Old Glory that was burned or stomped on this time; it was two replicas of banners representing terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah.

College Republicans (CR) hosted an anti-terrorism rally and, according to the Washington Times, “stomped on pieces of paper they had painted to look like flags…” After the incident a Muslim student filed complaints against the CRs because the Arabic script on the paper had the word “Allah” and the stomping was therefore blasphemy.

Unlike the indifference that most university officials have to the burning of the American flag, they quickly responded to this complaint and filed charges against the students for “incivility” and creating a “hostile environment.” The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, aptly called FIRE, is representing the rally organizers and urging the administration to “spare [itself] the embarrassment of fighting the Bill of Rights.”

Surely a university, of all places, recognizes the students’ inherent rights to express their opinions–however unpopular they may be. As Frederick Douglass said, “Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.” Expect this type of persecution of political incorrectness only to intensify if Congress passes the “Hate Crimes” bill that is now before them. It will further encourage this type of outrageous behavior displayed by the university. [via FRC]

Johnson Hits the Mark, Media Misses the Boat

Zach Johnson won his first major yesterday, The Masters no less. Most of the media are focusing on how it was even possible that Tiger could lose. They’re dumbfounded. Has hell frozen over? Whatever. Tiger is human. Humans make mistakes. Let’s dig deeper.

Others are taking an even baser approach. For some, because Johnson gives credit to his God, they think it fun to bash him for it. Deadspin has never been the home of enlightened ideas so it’s not surprising to see they descend to the lowest common denominator. Unfortunately, it looks like it resonates with their readership too. Oh well, let’s try another.

The Phanatic Mag, based in the city of brotherly love, does it right. They find the true story behind the player, which is really what the media should be focusing on. It’s like Tiger-mania is an infectious disease or something. The author, Jared Trexler, truly betters his ESPN and CBS “superiors” on this piece.

Happy Easter

“Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

He said, “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He’s been raised up; he’s here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty.” (Mark 16:4-6)

I wish each of you the very best in everything you do.
-Paladin

California Universities Discriminates Against Christians, Yet Again

This is becoming a frightening cycle, where Judeo-Christian students don’t get the same treatment as people of other faiths. From the FRC comes:

In the University of California (U.C.) system, college applicants are tired of having their religious studies marginalized. Students from the Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta have been repeatedly frustrated by college admission officers who reject their college prep credits because they were “based on Christian viewpoints.” The university accepts high school courses on subjects such as Buddhism or existentialism but not those rooted in the Judeo-Christian ethic.

So they respond by joining with other Christians that are already accredited decides to file suit. (No big surprise that it’s California leading the anti-Christian socialistic movement.)

During depositions, a U.C. representative testified that students who are “saved” would not be “adequately prepared” for the rigors of college classes if they were taught from a Christian perspective.

I’d really like to see the whole quote, but if this interpretation is accurate, that’s unbelievable to me.

Other classes that were denied by the U.C.’s system included, “Christianity’s Influence on America” and “Christianity and Morality in American Literature.” Both were described as “too narrow or specialized.” This from a school that has legitimized courses such as “The History of Rap,” “Queer Musicology,” “Sex Change City,” and “The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience.” For a school that’s been listed on the Young America’s Foundation list of “The Dirty Dozen: America’s Most Bizarre and Politically Correct College Courses,” U.C. has limited authority to judge what does and does not qualify as a “quality educational experience.”

The hypocrisy coming from the “tolerant” crowd is disgusting. I urge everyone to get involved in situations like this by spreading the word and telling our elected officials that this isn’t right.

Jenny Smith Hits the Big Apple

One of our good friends, Jenny Smith, has been chosen to take part in the “Rolling with Style” event in New York City.

We’re so proud of her and all the work she’s done with The Mobility Project. She’s an amazing person with a huge heart. Congrats Jenny!

Athiests Under Fire

Came across this article today about how some athiests have been threatened because of their beliefs. It’s sad really. For a person who claims to follow Christ to anonymously condemn another without love, without true knowledge is beyond immature, it’s evil.

People who behave this way are the ones that Christ will say, “should have known better.” The very person we claim to follow instructed us:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [link]

Showing love to those who work towards removing faith from public life is extremely difficult. It’s much easier to make fun of them. But no one said it would be easy to follow in the footsteps of the only perfect man.

I’m a Christ Follower

Above is the first in a series of parodies comparing a Christ Follower and a Christian. It all comes down to behaving like Christ; do we or don’t we? At this time if year, it’s especially notable to consider the type of life Jesus led and what that means to all of us. [via Negative99]

Merry Christmas!

Where Is the Compassion?

My heart breaks for smallest, most vulnerable among us… the babies. How some people can believe that by killing our unborn children that we, as the human race, can progress in any fashion is absurd. Here’s the latest from Capital Hill:

One of the final acts of the out-going Congress is a fitting one–voting to advance the cause of life in the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. While 250 House members agreed that women should be fully informed about their babies’ suffering during abortions, the number fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for the bill’s passage. While we are pleased that 60 percent of the House believed in offering mothers anesthesia for their child, the other 40 percent should be called upon to explain their logic in supporting anti-pain laws for animals, but not for unborn humans. It is unconscionable that 162 elected officials would choose to keep women in the dark about the pain their unborn child could experience during a late-term abortion. If unborn babies are routinely given anesthesia for surgery, surely mothers considering abortion should have the same option.

As the new leadership seeks to “govern from the middle,” we urge them to reconsider this issue in the coming term. In the meantime, the bill’s failure serves as an unpleasant reminder that we are losing several true pro-life champions in Congress as the session comes to a close. We applaud them for their efforts and appreciate the record they left behind.

For those struggling with the issue, the very best discussion I’ve found is by Scott Klusendo: Unborn vs. Newborn: Which is Human?.

Government Increasingly Anti-Christian

Many in public service have taken the concept of not having a government-sponsored religion to the point of government putting down all voices of religion, well, Christianity anyway.

This year in Chicago, the Mayor’s office has forced the removal of an advertisement for the film released this week called The Nativity Story. It’s an advertisement. How is that government-sponsored religion? Here’s their spin:

Our guidance was that this very prominently placed advertisement would not only be insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market for its food and unique gifts, but also it would be contrary to acceptable advertising standards suggested to the many festivals holding events on Daley Plaza,” Jim Law, executive director of the office, said in a statement.

Ebenezer, Mr. Daley. Mr. Daley, Ebenezer.

Saddam Sentenced to Hang

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced Sunday to hang for crimes against humanity in the 1982 killings of 148 people in a single Shiite town, as the ousted leader, trembling and defiant, shouted “God is great!” [link]

God most certainly is great, but that doesn’t change the fact that you murdered thousands and thousands of your own people.

If it were possible, I’d be most interested in watching Saddam come before his creator and witness the exchange. It might go something like this:

God: “Hello Saddam.”
Saddam: “Almighty Allah, give me my just rewards for serving you!”
God: “You served only yourself, my son.”
Saddam: “I killed only those who weren’t your children!”
God: “All people are my children. All people deserve the opportunity to know Me.”
Saddam: “But they rejected you, they…”
God: “That was not for you to decide.”
Saddam: “I must beg for your forgiveness… I have been wrong…”
God: “I’m sorry Saddam, it is too late for that. You never truly sought me out but instead used my name to better yourself. I am not a God to be used. Now you will have to fend for yourself… without Me.”
Saddam: “Nooo!!”

Massive ‘Lost’ Quiz Woven with Symbolism

Consider yourself a Lost enthusiast? Perhaps. I thought I was too, until this Lost Quiz showed me just how much I didn’t know. This is the most thought-provoking show since the original Matrix, with symbolism and philosophy woven throughout. This quiz highlights some of those hidden aspects.

(I answered 9 of the first 16 correct, then proceeded to bomb out the remainder of the quiz.)

Jihad or Not, Islam Kills

This past week I heard part of a discussion with Robert Spencer (of Jihad Watch) and Jeff Sacci on the Michael Medved show. At one point, Medved posed this question to pro-Islam Sacci: Which Islam country would you hold up as a good example of religious tolerance? (paraphrased) To which Sacci replied, “Indonesia and Malaysia.”

It’s pretty sad that merely days later that very country, Indonesia, executed three Catholic priests without a fair trail. Christians in that country are now rioting and violence between the faiths is growing. Now a second Christian was murdered in Assyria simply because he was a Christian and the Muslim murder(s) were still upset about the remarks (remarks!) from Pope Benedict.

Lileks has it right.

But it’s not what we say that truly offends. It’s what we are. The West’s lack of interest in joining the Ummah is an affront in itself, and we broadcast our sins in High Infidelity. If you believed that the West’s apostasy was an affront to God, you’d spend your leisure hours torching straw popes too.

…

In the meantime, we will learn to say less and less about more and more. As the grim cliche has it: If you say Islam isn’t always a religion of peace, the Islamicists will kill you. This doesn’t make them hypocrites, of course. The grave is a very peaceful place.

Islam has become the biggest bully on the block. They’ll punch you in the stomach and take your lunch money if you just look at them wrong. Except in our real world, it’s usually fatal.

Islam and Its Stereotype

Just Monday I posted about the falacy that so many think All Faiths Equal. Tony Perkins, in today’s Washington Update, speaks clearly to this issue yet again:

We are all aware of the unjust outrage this week by many Muslims around the world over comments by Pope Benedict XVI, who was merely trying to argue against violence in the name of religion and to insist upon a necessary connection between faith and reason. Some commentators claimed the furious Muslim over-reaction showed that Islam is, in fact, unable to separate violence from faith. Today, in one Muslim country that has been marked by inter-religious violence, Indonesia, the government is considering whether to execute three Catholic priests, Dominggus da Silva, Fabianus Tibo, and Marianus Riwu. The evidence from their trial clearly shows they have been railroaded and deserve, at the least, a re-trial. However, we have learned there is a real possibility the Indonesian government will execute them soon, possibly by Friday night. If Islamic countries and adherents of that faith wish to demonstrate what they always claim – that Islam is a peaceful religion – the best place to start is with clemency for these innocent Indonesian Catholic priests. You can help. Please send a fax to Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S. (fax: 202-775-5365), requesting that the Indonesian government grant clemency, or a re-trial, for these priests.

‘All Faiths Equal’ Propaganda Exposed

Here’s just one more piece of evidence that shows the world’s faiths are clearly different not only in their descriptions of God, but in the way their members interact with people both inside and outside their circle of faith.

In a speech last week, the Pope quoted a 14th century emperor who criticized some of Mohammad’s teachings for their endorsement of violence. So the Muslim group Al-Qaeda responds with “We shall break the cross and spill the wine. … (you will have no choice but) Islam or death.” and threaten jihad to “worshippers of the cross.” [link]

It would be so much easier to characterize these kinds of statements/actions as irregular within the faith of Islam, if the remaining portion of the faith were quick to condemn them as not a part of true Islam. But those reprimands are few and far between. Thus we’re left with images of Muslims dancing in the streets as their enemies die.

Update: Muslim gunmen kill a nun and her bodyguard in Somalia and Palestinians set fire to a Roman Catholic church.