tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80337502011-12-14T19:08:03.343-08:00...standing right there... in the midst... in the outer... engaged passionately...the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.comBlogger2211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1113089666246922972005-04-09T16:31:00.000-07:002005-04-09T23:50:35.080-07:00

I thought it would be a quick exit. But Blogger was not going to let me go without a fight.And what a fight it was... but after many long days of battle, I have finally migrated my blog to http://intheouter.net

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1112057093161920572005-03-28T21:10:00.000-08:002005-04-25T20:40:33.420-07:00

According to my fellow SoCal Blogger, John Schroeder of Blogotional, it is futile to cultivate multicultural churches because any such attempts will only result in heartbreaking failure.For one thing, merely calculating the racial compositions of congregations is misleading since "[i]f integration is to matter it must be a matter of the heart, not merely the head count." Secondly, congregations

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1112042901771131302005-03-28T11:54:00.000-08:002005-03-28T12:54:32.766-08:00

Well, I have been thinking about this for a while, but circumstances and other diversions have sidetracked me quite a bit. Now, I think I am quite ready to finally make the move from blogger. Especially after witnessing both Messy Christian and djchuang migrating their respective blogs, it all seemed oh-so-easy. And I am jealousimpressed.I think I am going to choose WordPress as my blogging

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111986747577182202005-03-27T20:52:00.000-08:002005-03-27T21:12:27.576-08:00

This week's Best of Me Symphony is up at The Owner's Manual with the Kinky Friedman as the gues host.My submission this time is Fundamentalism and Fanaticism in Any Religion is Wrong, which is in response to what I thought was a sweeping generalization in criticism of Islam. Go have check out this week's fare at the The Owner's Manual!

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111868770770890092005-03-26T11:58:00.000-08:002005-03-26T14:25:00.376-08:00

It is just right there - albeit verbally. After two greulling days of negotiation, I think this long drawn out process (beginning with even before I lost my job, and the ups and downs of the subsequent job search process) is finally drawing to a close. The smoke, however, hasn't cleared.I received a firm written offer on Wednesday night. It was just too fast, I tought. I had just barely come

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111652882999027922005-03-24T00:18:00.000-08:002005-03-24T00:37:55.343-08:00

It's getting closer people! I want to thank all those of you who have offered me prayer support, a word of encouragement and an insight into life's ups and downs and the assurance of God's care and providence.On Monday, I woke up with the resolve that I will get a job finally by the end of this week.On Tuesday, my phone seemed not to stop ringing!I had two further face-to-face interviews and a

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111557798218853872005-03-22T21:52:00.000-08:002005-03-22T22:03:18.220-08:00

Apparently by the time this post is up, Jim Nutt of A Nutt's View is fast asleep, but the guy has been laboring most of today to put up this week's Christian Carnival. There are 51 posts in all, so there is probably something for everyone to savor.As Jim puts it he labored hard to put the carnival together for this week. With much pomp and enthusiasm, he presents the carnival for your "amazement,

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111552016162751472005-03-22T20:05:00.000-08:002005-03-22T20:29:29.650-08:00

From DJ Chuang: Rick Warren is going to spend the whole of Tuesday AND Wednesday on not one, or two or three but ten different shows nationally! Wow!I can feel the heads shaking and the chins wagging already.But I join DJ in asking that all those who see this as an opportunity for the gospel to pray for our brother. Moreover, perhaps we need to see this an opportunity for all of us to talk to our

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111541717846442882005-03-22T17:14:00.000-08:002005-03-22T17:44:40.420-08:00

Just received a personality profile report from one of the job opportunities that I am chasing.It is a 27-page manifesto-like report on my personality trait profile, and the potential match between what I am as a person and how I might perform in a sales position.Very interesting read.Here is what it says in part:...consistently meets the challenge of persuading people to his point of view. Some

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111522589664073782005-03-22T11:53:00.000-08:002005-03-22T17:40:43.656-08:00

Recently I was musing about whether or not it is right to negotiate the highest possible price for a commodity when one is selling on EBay. At the time that I was asking the question my daughter had come to me to inquire about a situation in which she was offered a price much higher than what she had paid for an item which she was auctioning off. She was wondering if it was morally right to sell

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111459620241710712005-03-22T00:34:00.000-08:002005-03-22T00:15:20.520-08:00

A few days ago, I wrote about some criticisms, unjustified in my view, of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. Apparently there are many who share such critical assessments of the book, and some are even questioning his teachings, his beliefs and that of his church, the Saddleback Church. It seems that people are also finding further evidence of his theological non-orthodoxy in the column that he

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111384059019850172005-03-20T21:35:00.000-08:002005-03-20T21:48:09.723-08:00

The Best of Me Symphony for this week is up, and this time the cacophony of posts, quotes and graphical accompaniment are guest hosted by "the best British columnist you never heard of, Julie Burchill."My submission for this week is Showing Mercy to the Poor, a post that was inspired by a sermon my pastor delivered, and also written in response to the fracas that was the debate about stingy-ness

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111179825685438482005-03-18T23:54:00.000-08:002005-03-19T04:24:08.386-08:00

My daughter is currently caught up in the craze of selling through eBay (Note: Selling, not buying; thank God for small mercies!). Last year, she went on an unchecked spending spree (she calls it her "retail therapy") when she was able to earn quite a bit of money. Finding herself without many bills and having just discovered the supposed "wonders" of the consumer credit system, she amassed for

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111192470890424322005-03-18T21:32:00.000-08:002005-03-18T21:44:09.696-08:00

When I was in Perth, Western Australia, I called this church "home." My family and I still miss the church in many ways. Some of the things this poster wrote about the church may still be true about it although I didn't think it was too engrossed what he called the "prosperity doctrine" even when we were attending. I was especially intrigued by his take on some of the things that he was critical

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111047076965706042005-03-18T11:06:00.000-08:002005-03-18T11:28:45.103-08:00

About three months ago, my wife and I attended our church retreat where we were challenged to be authentic in our faith. Specifically, we were challenged to love. Our pastor opened the retreat by re-iterating the importance of the greatest two commandments:He said that the most important thing we Christians must "get" are the Greatest Two Commandments - to love God with all our hearts, all our

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111040265422272992005-03-16T21:29:00.000-08:002005-03-16T22:50:40.443-08:00

Everyone and his dog seem to be blogging about the Ashley Smith: "the Angel from God" story and about the book, The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?. Hennessey View shares a moving story of how the story is helping him recall the pain of his own loss of his daughter and to begin a journey back to his earlier faith in God by embarking on the 40-day challenge in The Atlanta Killer

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111011785465658272005-03-16T14:22:00.000-08:002005-03-16T20:43:39.233-08:00

I recently received an email from friends of mine who minister to professionals and young adults. They wrote me about a recent weekend retreat they conducted for young professionals committed to being “marketplace ministers”. Apparently they found that many were confused about their role as Christians in the marketplace, and how to balance their commitment to their Lord with their enthusiasm for

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111010301779040902005-03-16T13:58:00.000-08:002005-03-16T16:36:10.796-08:00

Previously, I blogged about my current jobless state and how it has rattled my cage. I have been mostly silent about this whole process over here at my blog the last few days, but the emotional roller-coaster has been throwing me around, tossing me about and driving me nuts.Last week was especially bad. I had seemingly exhausted all known leads for possible job prospects and none had gone past

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1111007219561739052005-03-16T12:28:00.000-08:002005-03-16T16:33:20.806-08:00

This week's Christian Carnival promises to be another smorgasbord of Christian blogfest. Stephen at ChristDot has gathered the posts under three broad categories: Discussions, Blessings and Lessons. I submitted my reflection on Depression and Spiritual Healing and it is grouped under lessons, although it could also be counted as a blessing... Hmmmm... now that I think about it, perhaps this is

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110998163013496802005-03-16T10:36:00.000-08:002005-03-16T16:28:12.380-08:00

While enjoying my morning cuppa today, I was doing a little blog-hopping through my long neglected bloglines subscriptions. I found a very interesting piece on taking up one's cross at a time of war posted by Kevin Poorman at the Ekklesia Project referenced in this post by The Gutless Pacifist.While I am not sure if I'd call myself a pacifist, I do have quite a lot of sympathies to the call to

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110781992670750812005-03-13T22:24:00.000-08:002005-03-14T23:24:39.840-08:00

Well it's that time again. Gary Cruse has put together this week's Best of Me Symphony with his usual flair. This time the guest conductor is Joseph Campbell. Once gain, Gary has hunted down a whole collage of images and appropriate quotes to go with the different submitted posts.Given that this is now more than sixty days after that terrible tsunami event in the Indian Ocean, we have a few posts

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110585162465823512005-03-11T15:38:00.000-08:002005-03-13T13:09:44.850-08:00

Y'all probably have seen those people before. Knowing just enough to be dangerous. That's me when it comes to this CSS and HTML and stuff. I learned how to use post summaries after searching high and low for it. You know, how you can just have a couple of paragraphs on the front or archive page and then you get the "Read More" prompt or "Continue reading... " prompt to go to the rest of the post?

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110525273943244242005-03-10T23:57:00.000-08:002005-03-11T09:20:25.346-08:00

...so is Nick Queen. Only difference is when I talk about it, I get hardly any feedback.I need some love too people!Anyway.I was saying.This depression thing. It is going round in the 'sphere you know.What is it with bloggers and depression?Is it that we are typically a little more melancholy than the population?Or perhaps we are a just a tad more introspective?Or maybe all of us just have had

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110530582661119112005-03-10T23:30:00.000-08:002005-03-11T03:05:49.456-08:00

My blog-friends, Ben and his wife, Ann are running a marriage renewal/restoration weekend. Have a look at the information and plan to go or send it to someone you know who may be of benefit. By the way, before you brush it aside too quickly and think that you don't need it, let me share a short story from my experience.Quite a number of years ago, my wife and I heard about a Marriage Encounter

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110431641787933572005-03-10T23:14:00.000-08:002005-03-11T10:37:36.840-08:00

I happened upon this eloquent post regarding the gay marriage debate over at In the Agora. Here is a choice quote:I'm gonna let a little secret out. When you charge that those of us who push for gay marriage are just trying to "legitimize" gay relationships....you're right. Guilty as charged. I absolutely want to legitimize those relationships. I want to put them on equal legal footing and, yes,

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110401875738552672005-03-09T13:25:00.000-08:002005-03-11T04:18:11.230-08:00

Through TulipGirl, I found a moving, sometimes nerve-wrecking, sometimes sad, but also, quietly inspiring series of posts from amy loves books this morning.Last night I was thinking about Iris Chang's response to mental illness by hiding it from close family and friends. Ultimately it robbed her of her own life.Her parents think this is due to the stigma that Asian-Americans normally attach to

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110350412730655862005-03-09T00:57:00.000-08:002005-03-11T09:41:43.173-08:00

Depression is still not widely understood and accepted in our society today. Some cultures attach a stigma to it and this is believed to have been fatal in at least one case, but doubtlessly in many others as well.For Christians, especially those of us who come from sub-cultures where "Victorious Christian Living" and "The Secrets of the Happy Christian Life" are seen as worthy ideals, being

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110359732749041812005-03-09T00:36:00.000-08:002005-03-12T16:29:46.896-08:00

Christian Carnival #60 is up at Belief Seeking Understanding. Douglas has arranged the posts around themes of the Christian life: Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship, Engaging Culture and so on. My submission is a little piece I did on the Commandments, which is part of the on-going saga that is my series on the Commandments (when will it end? Who knows? This is blogging, right?)Looks like it is

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110349605895576172005-03-08T23:20:00.000-08:002005-03-11T09:56:08.213-08:00

I haven't really talked about my depression for a while now. I do accept that I have been diagnosed as clinically depressed; I am just hoping that I can cope for a little while without taking anything for it, and also without therapy. Mostly, the reason is financial, although I do have my doubts about whether my condition really requires medication in the long term. Yet, I am not sure if this is

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110226317080898132005-03-07T12:11:00.000-08:002005-03-07T12:21:26.400-08:00

A couple of amazing posts...From The Cat's Cradle I found What Jesus Didn't Say..... Makes you think why we are so suspicious of each other, and why we are so unwilling to offer grace freely.I also came across Ragamuffin Ramblings, and this inspiring post, Just how shocking is the Gospel? I recommend both posts to you.

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110165121070725312005-03-06T23:59:00.000-08:002005-03-11T10:35:41.266-08:00

I have been thinking through the Mosaic Commandments found in Exodus 20: 1-17, popularly known as the "Ten Commandments". As I said earlier, there were not really ten Commandments. In fact, some have counted as many as 17, and the phrase "Ten Commandments" itself is not used in the Scriptures. When Jesus was asked which of the Commandments were the Greatest, it is instructive that He did not even

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110183611410667082005-03-06T23:58:00.000-08:002005-03-07T00:31:35.346-08:00

Another motley crew has gathered around The Owner's Manual, and Gary Cruse has pull out all stops to present this week's Best of Me Symphony, with John Steinbeck as this week's Guest Conductor. This week's medley includes commentary on hair styles to a rant (what else?) on the press and the war to an analysis on moral subjectivism to road rage at the grocery store parking lot involving bad

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110167816057912162005-03-06T23:55:00.000-08:002005-03-11T10:36:24.066-08:00

The Series on the Commandments opens with the meditation on what I call "The Heart of the Commandments". Using the narrative of the "rich young ruler" as a springboard I highlighted the relationship focus of the Commandments.No Other Gods (The "first" commandment)No Graven Images (The "second" commandment")Do Not Misuse God's Name(The "third commandment")Remember the Sabbath (The "fourth

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1110041947421097502005-03-05T08:38:00.000-08:002005-03-11T10:39:20.213-08:00

As some of you might know, I am desperately looking for a job at the moment. When putting together my resume, I decided to add a section on books or professional programs that have impacted my life both personally and professionally.As I reflected on this, I found that the list was just too long, and decided to move it over to the right column of this blog. I soon realized that there were many

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109816433274042272005-03-02T18:06:00.000-08:002005-03-02T18:20:33.276-08:00

This week's Christian carnival is being hosted at Crossroads, and Diane has organized it around a soap opera theme. This is one huge carnival with fifty posts at last count, so I haven't yet gone through the list yet. My contribution this week is the piece I posted inquiring about the real purpose of prayer.Go, have a look! I am going to go out now and enjoy Yahoo's 10th anniversary's free

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109815565042018662005-03-02T17:59:00.000-08:002005-03-02T18:06:05.046-08:00

My blog is being showcased at the Out of the Wilderness new blogs showcase, a labor of love by Nick Queen. The other two sites that are being showcased this week are A sort of notebook, an interesting site, as well as Rooftop Blog. You can read the interviews here and then click through to read the new blogs.Enjoy!

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109720062649357432005-03-01T15:16:00.000-08:002005-03-11T10:46:29.833-08:00

Okay, folks.I did say prayer is about the pray-er and about changing people, more than it is about changing things.So, why am I making a prayer request?First, I am s-t-r-e-s-s-e-d o-u-t!Losing two jobs in three years can be a soul-sapping experience.Second, it's not just I don't have a job. Fact is, without a job currently, many other things are coming apart at the seams at the moment. Believe me

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109717761951852362005-03-01T13:38:00.000-08:002005-03-11T12:13:21.720-08:00

Apparently, things do not bode well for atheism these days. Since the celebrated turnabout of Anthony Flew's disbelief, some observers are claiming that atheism is in so much of a decline that we will soon see the rise of yet another "post-ism":The time is fast approaching when many people who are living in ignorance with no knowledge of their Creator will be graced by faith in the impending

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109575981545344022005-02-27T23:14:00.000-08:002005-02-27T23:34:46.360-08:00

The Best of Me Symphony #65" is up at Gary Cruse's The Owner's Manual, and as usual, Gary has done a fantastic job. The post itself is a treat. This time around the guest conductor is John Updike. Go enjoy, and from there you can also get to a great collection of posts from various contributors. My submission this time around is Should a young lady have to go to a public men's restroom?, a post

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1099723415996668502005-02-27T15:41:00.000-08:002005-02-27T17:09:12.583-08:00

I stumbled upon this blog quite a while back, and placed a "BlogIt" reminder to re-visit, read, reflect and response. It has been a while now, and I have not yet done anything to it. In fact, I promptly forgot about going back and checking out the site. In combing through all my draft posts today, I re-discovered the site, and once again resonated with much of what this 41-year old happily

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109373608834462032005-02-25T15:20:00.000-08:002005-03-13T21:25:50.046-08:00

The lady priest with the kitten heels has a few choice words to say about the church's obsession with "same-sex genital acts" today, and I enjoyed reading her well-balanced and obviously well-controlled discourse on the gay debate within the different Christian enclaves.I agree with her that the emphasis of the Church and its heart and mission ought to be "to feed the hungry, tend the sick,

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109312178879276502005-02-24T22:09:00.000-08:002005-02-24T22:34:03.396-08:00

The first victimplayer for the ...in the outer... round of the Blog interviews is Messy Christian. Here are the questions for her:(1) Describe one key lesson you have learned in Authentic Christianity.(2) How do you think Christianity in Malaysia is different to Christianity as you have observed in, let's say, the United States?(3) How is Christianity in the US and other Western countries

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109258048539537332005-02-24T06:43:00.000-08:002005-03-11T11:15:39.696-08:00

The Blog-interviews are taking place throughout Blogosphere. I first came across it at The Bilbe Archive when Rey was interviewed by Rebecca of Rebecca Writes. I decided to join in and invited Rey to interview me. Here are the questions and answers:1. Which verse(s) stand out as giving you personally the most comfort?Many verses in the Bible offer comfort to me at different times in my spiritual

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109196346925128012005-02-23T13:06:00.000-08:002005-03-11T12:22:01.926-08:00

Today, Parableman's reflection on Belief Seeking Understanding's pondering whether or not retroactive prayer is well formed caught my attention. In his post, Jeremy walks very ably through the philosophical underpinnings of prayer, God's actions and His timelessness. The issue about which both Jeremy and Douglas are wondering is the wisdom of praying about events that have already

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109183436842657352005-02-23T10:26:00.000-08:002005-02-23T11:09:39.766-08:00

So, here I am. I haven't yet done my taxes. I haven't yet balanced my checkbook, and dang it, I haven't looked at monster.com and hotjobs.com to check out today's latest postings on new open positions. Given the events of the past week, that is so critical to me!And yet, I have spent my first hour at the computer blogging, reading blogs, answering blog emails and so on... so, what do you think,

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1109182626658196852005-02-23T10:01:00.000-08:002005-03-11T12:25:38.106-08:00

Christian Carnival is on! After the uncertainty of the handover teething problems of last week, this week's carnival is working like a well-oiled machine, attesting to the administration gifts of the current coordinator, Dory of Wittenberg Gate. This week's Carnival is being hosted at Wallo World. I posted up my meditation on blessings and curses, which is a culmination of a series of posts where

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108974520994229812005-02-21T00:18:00.000-08:002005-02-21T00:28:40.996-08:00

Gary Cruse from The Owners Manual has once again put together the Best of Me Symphony, creatively interweaving showcases of posts, images, and snippets from the "guest conductor" of the week, Jack Handey of Deep Thoughts fame.Who? You ask.Don't worry, I didn't know him before either. He's supposedly a funny person, and Deep Thoughts is reputedly famous as well.Well, get over there and find out

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108920430886541592005-02-20T08:51:00.000-08:002005-03-16T23:32:16.926-08:00

Psalm 42:6:my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar. Actually, I woke up this morning feeling rather rested, which is surprising as I hardly slept at all last night. My current situation stem from recent events, mostly at work (you can read it here and here), and precipitated by my being fired, or

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108895281231841122005-02-20T02:27:00.000-08:002005-03-16T23:27:55.550-08:00

As you can see, I am still not asleep. Insomnia is a symptom of depression. Both of course can also be a sign of doubt, faithlessness and fear. I embrace them all. I admit I am really afraid of the what the future holds or not hold.On the one hand, I chide myself, "O Soul, why are you downcast?"On the other hand, I confess, "...and I shall yet praise Him, My Savior and My God!"But, I just cannot

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108885132110519002005-02-19T23:22:00.000-08:002005-03-16T23:25:59.936-08:00

You're quite useless, aren't you?On Christ my Solid Rock I stand.Two layoffs in three years. Can't hold down a job? A Jonah, perhaps?All other ground is sinking sand.What a loser! Can't hold down a job. Can't endure suffering. Can't provide for your family. Can't do anything right!When darkness seems to hide His face,I rest on His unchanging grace.Hopeless! What can you do now? Where can you go?

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108876559777828542005-02-19T20:51:00.000-08:002005-03-16T23:23:58.686-08:00

Recently I recounted some of the things that my now former boss did in the past few weeks and months which particularly irked me. She has always been on a rampage in the office against us her underlings. One of the worst things she did, that perhaps started my downhill slide, was this...From about August last year, I began to follow-up on an old client of mine who had just moved to a new company.

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108801691252217502005-02-18T23:46:00.000-08:002005-02-19T11:11:21.236-08:00

It started to hit about midnight last night. The undeniable doldrums and sense of foreboding. It was difficult to get to sleep, but I did, and slept quite well. This morning, I was able to fight the debilitating depression and get a few things done. At least I managed to finish cleaning up my resume and met with a business consultant friend of mine who gave me a dozen names from his database. I

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108691536730415602005-02-17T17:52:00.000-08:002005-02-17T18:03:10.760-08:00

I have just been fired. The Lord gave my family and I this verse as a promise. Theologically, of course, this passage talks about Israel's expreience, but devotionally, the Lord does speak to His people in their circumstances through the Word.In any case, as I was contemplating suicide (no, just kidding), I felt Him bringing up the following verse/promise:Psalm 81:10: "I am the LORD your God,who

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108442153817805382005-02-14T18:39:00.000-08:002005-02-15T21:22:46.846-08:00

I have been in a very deep depression the past couple of weeks. I had stopped seeing my therapist a few weeks before Christmas, and also stopped the meds shortly after. The financial strain was just a tad much for me. At work my boss had cut my base salary and did a host of other things so that the prospect of earning commissions to make up for the difference is drastically minimized.The

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108377525682598462005-02-14T02:38:00.000-08:002005-02-15T15:56:22.900-08:00

------------------------In preparation for submission to the Christian Carnival this week, I updated this post with a final paragraph to make clear the point of the post------------------------What is the eleventh commandment?That used to be one of the trick questions that as kids my friends and I asked one another. The answer we were looking for was the "New Commandment" that Jesus gave His

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108365517112802582005-02-13T22:42:00.000-08:002005-02-14T03:02:49.133-08:00

The Best of Me Symphony is showcased this week with the usual artistic flair as The Owner's Manual's Gary Cruse presents Hunter S. Thompson as the virtual "Guest Conductor" of this week's opus magna, with the various posts. Gary has tirelessly and with apparent artistic skill and ease, put together the potpourri of posts to resemble a symphony of sorts interweaving them together by choice quotes

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1108017208162097252005-02-09T21:56:00.000-08:002005-02-13T23:22:17.723-08:00

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year of the Rooster, the Year 4702 or 4642 depending on whether you start to count from the first year of Emperor Hwang Di's reign or the sixty-first year (most people prefer to count from the first). But! Who is counting, really!As someone who loves history and who would like to maintain my children's heritage for as long as possible for them, I also

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107840515538734642005-02-08T21:27:00.000-08:002005-02-08T23:28:14.496-08:00

As long as it is convenient, or as long as it is affordable (or profitable) I will be moral. As long as the practice of morality does not impinge upon my quest for comfort, pleasure and self-satisfaction, I will be altruistic (kind, cooperative, compassionate, loving, etc.) and maintain a high standard of ethics in my personal, business and commercial lives. If the law, whether civil, religious

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107684557485615752005-02-06T02:00:00.000-08:002005-02-06T23:27:38.343-08:00

I read the review of my blog by Bad Example and decided to take up the challenge to change my blog color scheme. First I tried to add a different color to my main panel, then one thing led to another, and I even went back to basics by starting out with a totally new template and re-designed it, transferring the bulk of the sidebar (left & right) over. Main re-designing was the adding of the left

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107307538139380302005-02-04T13:16:00.000-08:002005-02-04T17:00:09.846-08:00

It’s been a while since I wrote anything about my work. It has not been any better than when I wrote about it before. In fact, it has been worse. I have been reticent to write anything about my situation because of fear of repercussions like others have experienced (call me chicken but I do have a family to whom I owe responsibility), but it is getting to me somewhat, and I need to have a place

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107040611327869972005-02-03T20:16:00.000-08:002005-02-04T09:02:25.186-08:00

After a few weeks of distractions, and a couple of recaps of where I have been, I am finally tackling the fifth commandment: "Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Paul calls this the first commandment with promise: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107392818816154122005-02-02T17:06:00.000-08:002005-02-02T22:53:23.543-08:00

The King of the Blogs Challenge: "You have just been chosen as the King of the Blogs. Write a speech beginning you[r] reign of terror." My adoring, ingratiating vassalsprecious citizens, hearken now your ears to the speech of your beloved King: "Thank you to all my loyal subjects for fulfilling your responsibility and making the only choice you ought to make. For this dutiful act in our

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107218737578922252005-01-31T16:25:00.000-08:002005-01-31T23:36:26.113-08:00

Yes! I finally got selected to enter the King of the Blogs tournament. This is a tournament between three blogs at any one time to see which is going to get the coveted title at the end of the week. The judging is based on the blog's design, content, the creativity of the blogger in answer to a challenge question, and also the ability of the blog to draw support from its readers (that means YOU).

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107242696266837102005-01-30T23:56:00.000-08:002005-01-31T23:28:44.796-08:00

The Best of Me Symphony is out once again. Gary has obviously worked very hard to produce yet another compilation of posts submitted by various bloggers, and weave them together into a mosaic of posts, graphics and "commentary" by virual host, George Will. It is a special skill, and Gary should be applauded. This time around, I submitted one of this site's favorite post, Remove Your Sandals. If

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107118980505442922005-01-30T13:48:00.000-08:002005-01-30T13:03:51.646-08:00

I am not sure how many who came by this site actually gave specifically to this effort, but if you are interested, here is the link to the update report that I received in an email this morning. I am touched by this couple's hearts and their desire to make a difference at such a time as this. I have reasons why I cannot personally be there, otherwise, I would go, and I can only help in the small

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1107099422560111552005-01-30T07:24:00.000-08:002005-01-30T09:27:51.246-08:00

Blogging is a peculiar activity. It is a medium that is sometimes a cross between a public opinion piece and a personal journal entry. Therefore, sometimes things that are written in a blog contain personal, intimate details of someone's life, or at least, a glimpse to the writer's personal thoughts that might be classified as "too personal." And, yet, perhaps this might be the attraction or

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106811362962039542005-01-29T15:20:00.000-08:002005-01-29T18:41:09.410-08:00

This post continues my meditations on the ten commandments. It seems to me that both scholars and Christians alike place too much emphasis on the legalistic aspects of the Law and fail to see the priority of grace in the Old Testament. Central to understanding the Law is the relationship factor that God underscored in the giving of the Commandments (Exodus 20:1-2). This relationship is based

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106895017694531262005-01-27T22:46:00.000-08:002005-01-27T22:50:17.693-08:00

This is just not funny. Not at all. No. Not even slightly. How could anyone do this? I am simply appalled and sick to the stomach.

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106894759467078562005-01-27T22:33:00.000-08:002005-01-27T23:26:11.040-08:00

"Daddy, who am I?" My youngest daughter asked, tentatively, puzzled and confused. "I mean, am I Australian, or Malaysian, or... Ch-Chinese?" I said, "Why, honey?" "Well, the other day at school, the teacher asked all the Chinese kids in the class to go forward for a meeting. I didn't go forward because I thought I was Australian, and you and Mom were Malaysian, but not Chinese." I wasn't sure

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106893817608907082005-01-27T22:04:00.000-08:002005-01-27T22:52:02.696-08:00

Christian Carnival #54 is Up! This time, it is hosted by Niel Uchitel at Digitus, Finger & Co. There are quite a few excellent posts submitted. For each post, Niel has put in a paragraph of his own commentary. He has done well. A couple of the pieces I read that I'd like to highlight are: Making out with Jesus (I agree, cool title!) by Joe Missionary, who wondered if the expressions of

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106866225719110042005-01-27T14:30:00.000-08:002005-01-27T16:06:57.006-08:00

Whatever the (Big) Ten Christians Blogs are doing, they are doing something right (at least from my myopic perspective)! La Shawn Barber linked one of my posts today, and I am beginning to get some traffic from there. Those of you who are regular (all 10 of you! hehe, honestly, I don't know how many of you are regular readers) over here might remember my giddy brouhaha about my Large Mammal

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106812121727434382005-01-26T23:40:00.000-08:002005-01-27T01:57:51.003-08:00

In his forward to Joanne Ciulla's Ethics, the Heart of Leadership : Second Edition, James MacGregor Burns categorizes three types of leadership values each of which have implications for styles and stragegies for leadership itself. These values are ethical virtues--"old-fashioned character tests" such as sobriety, chastity, abstention, kindness, altruism and other "Ten Commandments" rules of

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106758119590083302005-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:002005-01-26T09:01:08.530-08:00

While driving to work this morning, I had 95.9 The Fish on the radio. Billy and Lauren, the hosts of the morning program were doing a segment called "Ultimate Family" and asked callers to call in to talk about their own "ultimate family." A man called up and talked about his wife. He said he really appreciated her because she loved him so much. They have been married for eight years and she

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1103094176598512182005-01-24T23:40:00.000-08:002005-01-24T23:46:01.283-08:00

There is this thing about blogging which is different from normal forms of writing. When you are writing a book, or an article, most of the time you know the end from the beginning. You create an outline and even might have a conclusion pretty much summarized before you attempt to write. But I have found blogging to have this tendency to take me in all sorts of directions. I began a series on

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106471461633662812005-01-24T22:11:00.000-08:002005-01-24T23:44:03.483-08:00

Found this story over at teddY-risatioN. It is such an inspirational story that I thought I'd share it. I read it, and was overwhelmed with emotions. We need more such people. To be inspired, click here to read it at the Straits Times (newspaper) site (if you do not wish to register, use the following: username:theBloke; password: intheouter).

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106551456902340512005-01-23T23:13:00.000-08:002005-01-23T23:26:31.110-08:00

The compendium of this week's Best of Me Symphony (#60) is "co-conducted" by George Bernard Shaw at The Owner's Manual. My entry for this week's symphony is What do we value most?. I explore the issues raised by Thomas Nagel's "Jusitce and Nature" about differentiating inequalities that are socially constructed against those that arise from nature. I ask if our sense of justice would be any

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106515930962885562005-01-23T13:26:00.000-08:002005-01-23T22:34:55.253-08:00

Sometimes, bloggers just have to do this. I am re-modelling this here space this afternoon. Good thing about that is I don't need to go to the bank manager and get the noose around my neck re-fitted, nor do I need to view drawings, plans and whatnots. All I need is that imaginary blogspace in my head and then attempt to get on top of this html thingamajig to re-create the look-and-feel as those

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106413655738483232005-01-22T09:02:00.000-08:002005-03-11T17:37:51.603-08:00

I succumbed to the temptation of reading One Hand Clapping from JollyBlogger's recommendation after having told myself that I will not waste my time on that site. I lost respect for him when he failed to engage his commenters after making what I thought were arrogant, irresponsible and unfounded remarks about the moral superiority of the West. This time Sensing argues that Islam is conducting a

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106295898921463622005-01-21T01:11:00.000-08:002005-01-21T00:24:58.920-08:00

Christian Carnival #53 hosted by Sidesspot is up, with a large offering (over 50!) of good reads from around various Christian bloggers. My submission this week is Showing Mercy to the Poor in which I applied some ideas from my pastor's sermon on the second chapter of James to what it means to offer mercy, and its relevance in the certain controversies arising from the events of recent weeks

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106290089294002282005-01-20T22:43:00.000-08:002005-01-22T10:30:25.363-08:00

BlogClicker has just added a couple of cool features. I am actually still at work when I received this email (it's 11:15 pm dang it(!!), and I'm still here at the office working on a presentation for tomorrow, so why am I here??) Anyhoo, I took a little bit of a breather and added one of the new features from BlogClicker - the FaithBlogClicker BlogRing. So, if you are interested in things

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1096946868901537592005-01-19T20:27:00.000-08:002005-02-26T14:09:26.156-08:00

Recently there has been an almost incessant call for President Bush to demonstrate moral leadership in relation to the festivities of the inauguration. According to some quarters, President Bush's apparent extravagance in the pomp and festivities of the inauguration has been suggested to be a sorry demonstration of the lack of moral leadership in a time of grave need, tragedy and suffering both

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106196379877338502005-01-19T20:12:00.000-08:002005-01-19T21:04:41.056-08:00

Messy Christian is thinking about ghosts, here and here. Many of us who grow up in Eastern cultures are familiar with ghost stories and supernatural experiences and encounters. Haunted buildings, dreams and memories linger on in some of our psyches. In Eastern societies ghosts are commonplace in a co-existence with the living, sometimes in harmony, and sometimes in uneasy discomposure. For

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106176034665720342005-01-19T14:38:00.000-08:002005-01-19T15:19:21.023-08:00

...but for some reason I have been bumped up to Large Mammal in the TTLB Ecosystem! I don't know how or what happened, but it probably has something to do with the Church Directory project that Joe Carter started at the evangelical outpost. See the post over at Razorskiss about the effect this endeavor has had on the overall positioning of evangelical blogs on the ecosystem. I must say that I

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106038593788280662005-01-18T01:52:00.000-08:002005-01-18T22:24:18.910-08:00

One of the major deals for me when I moved from Australia to the United States was driving myself around. First, I had to get used to driving on the other side of the road. Next, I had to learn to find my way around LA, zipping along freeways and around town, and in certain parts to pretend that I know where I was going so that I don't look like the foreigner that I was. In a few short months,

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1106033671543940512005-01-17T23:31:00.000-08:002005-01-17T23:34:31.543-08:00

150 Tsunami Orphans Rescued. When we left Australia, our mission was to “save the children”. But it is now so much more. It is now about giving hope to people who are stunned, it is our growth as human beings on this planet as we discard all misconceptions of India.Read the update here

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105944240845561112005-01-16T22:43:00.000-08:002005-01-16T23:02:22.400-08:00

It's that time again. The Best of Me Symphony #59 put together ever so colorfully and eloquently by The Owner's Manual. This week, Gary once again demonstrated his prowess by the "guest-conducting" of Fran Lebowitz. My entry for this week's repertoire is a piece I wrote after reading a very popular blogger flaunt what she calls evidences of the superiority of Western Culture. When I tried to

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105938331416627062005-01-16T21:29:00.000-08:002005-01-16T21:30:31.293-08:00

My wife loves Iron Chef. This evening, while watching the Iron Chef America Preview Special I learned a valuable object lesson about differences in culture and value systems. During the Preview program, a profile of a past competition between American chef Bobby Fley against Japanese Iron Chef, Marimoto, the American team did the unthinkable in the minds of the Japanese Chef community. For

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105910847263494782005-01-16T14:56:00.000-08:002005-03-18T15:01:58.283-08:00

My pastor preached on James 2 today and I believe that this passage throws light on some issues surrounding my recent reflections about comparative culture and morality. My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105770302536289582005-01-16T13:24:00.000-08:002005-01-16T14:36:54.536-08:00

This is my first entry to the "Jesus as Logician" project (but see Jeremy Pierce's objection to the title of the project). It is taken from John 8:3-11. When the Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in adultery before Jesus, they intended to entrap Him in a moral connundrum. The Law of Moses, they said, required that such a woman be stoned to death. They were hoping to force Jesus to have to

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105773127191552982005-01-14T22:54:00.000-08:002005-01-14T23:49:38.626-08:00

Over the past week, I have been reflecting on the issue about Culture, Morality, the role of the Church and the place of the Christian in society. It all started with some controversial conversations started when I responded to a couple of posts at another site and over here. Messy Christian joined in the chorus and that created a whole thread of discussion that became heated at times. I also

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105679791474008282005-01-13T21:06:00.000-08:002005-03-11T17:21:56.446-08:00

In the past couple of days, I was engaged in what I was hoping to be a conversation between several people on whether or not certain aspects of Western culture makes it a morally superior culture or civilization to any other. According to Diplomad, his purportedly first-hand experiences of some representatives of people from one Asian culture, which is predominantly of one religious persuasion,

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105596021446718622005-01-12T21:57:00.000-08:002005-01-12T22:27:21.326-08:00

Ok, I give up! You tell me, is the West morally superior? Why or why not? By the West, I have been told, it doesn't mean the "white man" but the West - the Western civilization. That civilization that is broadly speaking Judeo-Christian, if you are more inclined to trace your roots religiously. Or, that civilization traces it from the Greeks and the Romans, (and that which adopted some kind of

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105513440811039682005-01-11T22:58:00.000-08:002005-01-13T22:30:57.720-08:00

I chanced upon two different blogs tonight (I have since surfed from both sites and forgotten which ones they were - but I couldn't help think about the contrasting posts, triggering the thoughts that I am posting here) - one an obviously "right-wing" conservative who applauded the Passion of the Christ winning a People's Choice Award. A few minutes later, I came across another, obviously "

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105504184988812152005-01-11T20:24:00.000-08:002005-01-12T00:17:54.646-08:00

I read with interest and not a little cautious alarm over at One Hand Clapping, an article in which Donald Sensing quotes from a couple of snippets from different reports of an American foreign service diplomat serving in Indonesia. One highlights the apparently ineptitude of the UN in distributing the badly needed aid to the victims of the Tsunami victims. Another tells of his observations

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105418514751253592005-01-10T20:18:00.000-08:002005-01-10T20:53:44.043-08:00

Dory of Wittenberg Gate has some great thoughts on what she calls the "S" word. Submission. In some circles, this word is not too popular. Reading Dory's reflections inspired some ideas in me about this whole aspect about leadership, submission and mutuality. I remember when the huge uproar within the worldwide Anglican Church when they were debating women's ordination. The debate spilled over

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105393709377677822005-01-10T13:30:00.000-08:002005-01-11T21:39:12.880-08:00

I may have helped him get over there, but today, I found this by going over there through him. In this article entitled, "Angry with God," author Jeff Jacoby draws from various writers to correlate the belief that God did not cause the Tsunami with Harold Kushner's view that God cannot be considered omnipotent. Kushner is the author of "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," in which he

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105384267971675762005-01-10T10:56:00.000-08:002005-01-10T11:58:45.060-08:00

There is a hotch potch of various posts in the latest Best of Me Symphony, with many political pieces. The Symphony is made up of selections from various entrants (not necessarily the author), that is at least 60 days old, and that is deemed to be among the best from the blog. This is only the second time I sent off an entry to the Best of Me Symphony and I must say, I was a little confused

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105170761526866272005-01-07T23:44:00.000-08:002005-01-07T23:54:14.290-08:00

Hah!... now they are saying the US military might have something to do with it. Or some international inter-governmental conspiracy. Or, perhaps aliens. People are starting to speculate in internet chat-rooms, and in bars, around the world, about what or who might have caused the catastrophic earthquake and subsequent damaging tsunamis. "There's a lot more to this. Why is the US sending a warship

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105159582282697852005-01-07T20:31:00.000-08:002005-01-07T23:53:35.186-08:00

Every now and then, us "BlogExlosioners" are feel obligated to post something about this phenomenon. So here is my long-overdue BlogExplosion post. BlogExplosion for most of us was once a way to earn lots of traffic. Lately, I think the strive for more traffic has been replaced by the search for better blogs to read and share. If you don't know what I am talking about (although the majority of

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8033750.post-1105125828319700332005-01-07T11:11:00.000-08:002005-01-07T12:08:38.793-08:00

I can't believe it! Why are some sections of media (and around blogosphere) still bothered about the question whether or not America (or Americans) is (are) stingy. The comments were never in the first place directed at America. If any fingers were pointed, they were more like imaginary fingers pointed by the press, or other overly sensitive Americans whining, "Look what they are calling me, Mom!

the blokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04567089121041012713noreply@blogger.com0