Hither and Thither 6/29/12

Note: something weird's been happening in Blogger, hence the sporadic white-space. It's in the HTML, and very complex, interwoven. I simply don't have the time to fix it, so just keep calm and carry on.

Of course John Roberts' rather astonishing vote was disappointing news (at best) yesterday. But even worse was the news that we won't even be able to beat our coming robot overlords at rock, paper, scissors.

• But first, as to that whole Obamacare debacle: Michael Graham has what I think are some very good and encouraging thoughts for President Pyrrhus, including this: "So Obama gets to spend the next four months explaining why he lied about the mandate, why he raised taxes on the middle class, and why we should trust him not to raise them in the future . . . and this is a win? "
• Oh dear. You'll never touch this motel-room item again. Sorry.
• Pyro today is featuring one of Pyromaniac Emeritus Phil Johnson's classical bunker-buster arguments against  unicorns  leprechauns  fairies  conservative Democrats "Cessationists."
• Turns out the Millennium Falcon crashed. In the Baltic Sea.
• Ooh, very very cool: a Death Star carved out of a ping-pong ball.
• The effect of these Spider Man covers on me? Makes me think of how richer I could have been if I'd cared for and kept the dozens and dozens of comic books I started buying in the '60s.
• Now that I'm a Dr. Who fan, I get all sorts of Dr. Who stuff, like this from Randy Talley:

• Chris Carney found us a Frenchman who showed some mad survival skilz.
• Irony alert in three... two... one....
• My dear wife had a rough time Tuesday returning from the TGC Woman's Conference, with a delayed (and then cancelled) flight. But it could have been worse.
• Fred Butler has a good link roundup and sharp observations about an incident of Muslim violence in Dearborn, Michigan.
• You know... it's good to have dreams.

• (Thx Nancy Barlass) 
• I love a happy ending, and Fred Butler found us one.
• And from the You Will Not Thank Me For This Dept., this image to haunt your nightmares... neighbor. (ht)
• Check out Chris Brauns' Five Problems with Unconditional Forgiveness, and get his excellent book.
• This is just sad, sad sad. Is Oreo's communicating hatred for homosexuals here? Are they sending the message that there's no hope for loving deliverance from their self-destructive lifestyle? Are they also communicating hatred for anyone who admits out loud that such deliverance is needed and available? Why not just... oh, I don't know... make a really tasty cookie, and leave preaching to preachers?
• Ha! Robot dogs are no match for Kitty-fu!

• Ever wonder why California is broke? You're welcome.
• I'd also add that liberal (i.e. Democrat) lawmakers forget that one of the most portable things in the world is money. Tax and regulate, tax and regulate, and tax and regulate, and the money will walk. Somewhere friendly.
• Hi from Texas! (waving)
• Oh good heavens. Only watch the video linked here if you have about 20 IQ points to spare. (I didn't, and so shouldn't've, but did. It hurt. It hurt a lot, and I had trouble unslacking my jaw.)

• (ht Chris Rosebrough)
• You know how the scientific community works, right? A scientist advances independent thinking, breaking off from the pack, and makes a reasoned case. His colleagues applaud his independence, support his fearless pursuit of truth, and revise their positions accordingly. Right?
• Bwahh hahaha, just kidding. What happens is they fire you! (Chris Carney)
• I'm sure many of you, like me, read Goodnight Moon to your yowwens. Did you know that there's a gentle parody for sci-fi parents called Goodnight Dune?

• Finally... duck!
• OK ok ok, ducks

• Leaving us with:

THE USUALS WILL BE OBSERVED

"The Calviedispiebaptogelical Song" (to the tune "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General")

Composed and submitted by Rick Gomez, who comments as Burrito34.

CDBG:
I am what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical,
That tells you where I take a stand on matters theological,
I can exegete from Scripture doctrines that are biblical,
And show that there are seven ages that are dispensational;
I'll demonstrate that Luther's views were altogether Scriptural,
And then demolish arguments that clearly are heretical,
Including those of long ago that were set forth by Arius,
Found today in modern cults that simply are nefarious.

Chorus:
Found today in modern cults that simply are nefarious,
Found today in modern cults that simply are nefarious,
Found today in modern cults that simply are nefari-arious.

CDBG:
I can speak with great detail upon the subject of the Trinity,
And then describe succint-a-ly Christ's hypostatic unity
In short, you now can see on every topic theological
I am what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical

Chorus:
In short, you now can see on every topic theological
He is what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical

CDBG:
I know of Christian stalwarts like the Bishop Athanasius
Of John's two close disciples Polycarp and Saint Ignatius
Conversant with the arguments of Calvin and Arminius,
The fierce debate that raged between Augustine and Pelagius;
I've read from the Panarion composed by Epiphanius,
And works of history that were recorded by Eusebius,
I can tell you of an odd duck who went by the name of Origen,
If you need me to repeat this I'd be happy to begin again

Chorus:
If you need him to repeat this he'd be happy to begin again,
If you need him to repeat this he'd be happy to begin again,
If you need him to repeat this he'd be happy to begin,begin again,

CDBG:
Of books I'd like to own the number is very prodigi-ous
My personal library would fill up a double decker bus,
In short, now you can see on every topic theological
I am what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical

Chorus:
In short, you now can see on every topic theological
He is what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical

CDBG:
And now for the main reasons that I've dived into Theology,
For one thing, to articulate a biblical Christology,
To better share the Gospel with a sinful lost humanity,
To see people accept Christ is what really matters most to me;
And help believers progress toward spiritual maturity,
If God wills I'll be doing this until I hit senility,
And to contend for the true faith as we were thus advised by Jude,
In a loving manner that is never spiteful, mean or rude.

Chorus:
In a loving manner that is never spiteful, mean or rude,
In a loving manner that is never spiteful, mean or rude,
In a loving manner that is never, ever, spiteful, mean or rude,

CDBG:
For the wisdom God has given me I have the utmost gratitude,
and since it was bestowed on me I take a humble attitude,
And so, now you can see on every subject theological,
I am what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical.

Chorus:
And so, now you can see on every subject theological,
He is what you'd call a Calviedispiebaptogelical.

The value of denials in pursuing truth

[This is a companion piece to a two-parter in Pyro begun here and continued here.]

Some denials are totally valuable and totally sufficient. A spouse asks, "Did you do X?" Other-spouse replies, "No" (or "Yes"). And that's the end of it.

Put marriage aside. Just ask any credible, honorable, faithful person: "Did you do X?" The response, once again, is sufficient.

But when it comes to doctrine and truth and conceptual issues, it isn't nearly so simple. It's sad that we have to keep this in mind, but we do. In such cases, a denial (or affirmation) may be of great psychological interest, but of zero contentful or evidentiary value.

For instance, suppose we asked even Rob Bell, "Did you mean to create the possibility of hundreds or thousands going off to a hopeless eternity, suffering the wrath of God in Hell, because of what you wrote in your book?" Any chance he'd answer "Yes"?

If you asked a Jehovah's Witness, "Do you mean to be perverting the Word of God so badly that you and anyone you persuade will be shut off from redemption in Christ and doomed to the wrath of God?", would any of them say "Yes"?

If you asked a Mormon, "By your display of good works and wholesomeness, do you mean to communicate that sinners do not need Christ's blood as all-sufficient for atonement, do not need the one and only true Gospel, and thus do you mean to divert them from Christ to damning error?", what are the odds of an affirmative?

If you asked a pastor who spends his pulpit time in stories and entertainment, "Do you mean to teach your people that you are smarter and more fascinating and wiser than God?", how many would return a "Yes"?

And if you asked anyone wobbly on God's sovereignty in salvation, "Do you mean to reserve some of the glory for salvation to man, instead of God? Is that your intent?", how many would say "Yes"?

In such cases, the person's answer may tell us about them emotionally or psychologically; it may reveal their intentions. And that is of some value. Knowing what someone does and doesn't mean to do or communicate by his system helps us know that person better.

But it is of zero value in evaluating the system itself.

See?

Monday music - Rosanna X 3

First, just in case you don't know the tune, here's Toto's original studio version of Rosanna. It's worth listening to, if only for the slammin' horn arrangement by Chicago's Jimmy Pankow.

Then, since I always try to go-live at least once on Mondays, a more recent live performance. On the one hand, unfortunately sans horns; on the other — hey, Gandalf on bass!

Then finally a double-treat. This version is a Capella, and it's by a Slovenian choir called Perpetuum Jazzile. I've listened over and over, and still really like it. Enjoy! (You will.)

AOG guards against threats to the Gospel like atheism, Islam, Buddhism... and Calvinism?

The Assemblies of God, that denomination which teaches that born-again Christians who don't speak in tongues can't really serve or live for God, the same that brought us Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Paul and Jan Crouch, David (Paul) Yonggi Cho, is clanging the warning-bell against such "challenges to the Gospel" as...

Yep. Teaching that Christ died for, saves and keeps His sheep is a "challenge to the Gospel." In AOG-land, anyway, the land where just being in Christ isn't really enough.

Raising the inevitable question: "Um... to which Gospel?"

BTW, dibs on Fisking Olson's article.

UPDATE: it has begun.

Monday music - Little Boxes, by Walk Off the Earth

Thanks to Magister Stevenson:

Hither and Thither 6/15/2012

Short one for starters. Will try to grow as day goes.

So, now that I'm a pastor, here's me, every last blessed Sunday morning:

• Well, except for the T-shirt.
• And the whole fast-and-flawless-tie-tying business.
• Fathers Day is imminent. Do you have a Dad who's still alive? Can't tell you how much I wish I did. My father died 1/1/03, and I miss him all the time, still. Check out this video hosted by Denny Burk, and do something about it.
• So you know I did a post at Pyro about particular redemption yesterday. And I did another today. But did you know there was a rap song (?) on the subject?
• While we're still thinking of, er, alternative, er, music... here's Mr. Rogers, autotuned. (Gil Sebenste)
• While I like this, I wonder if it actually sounds like Spurgeon.

• Better ask an expert. Kerry Allen?
• You may know that the Trololo singer died recently. Here's some backstory on his relation to Soviet propaganda. (thx Becky Schell)
• Staying with the back-story theme: Max Page, the adorable little kid in the Darth Vader VW commercial is actually facing open-heart surgery. (Update: he came through it well.)
• ...and staying with that, Star Wars fan club presidents build very-awesome home theaters.
• No, I don't preach in these (thx Pony Peterson).

• ...yet.
• Did you go see Prometheus? I'm so sorry. But if you read this by Thabiti, you may actually feel that you saw a really deep movie! And maybe you did!
• In a happier view, Susan found us a lovely video of a phenomenon called murmuration.
• Romney campaign: so far, so good.
• My boys will absolutely love this political ad. (Jay Camp)
• And here's a good one from Romney.
• Today's Pentagon: mission creep, or creepy mission? (Sakovich)
• BTW:

• Another Coffee: It's a Health Drink update — delaying Alzheimer's?
• DAOD ponders whether sweet dreams are made of... cheese.
• Sam Knisely has a Perfect Food entry from Burger King: Bacon Sundae.
• Absolutely useless food news: how to make vegan bacon.
• My version is in two steps: (1) tell the vegan he's being silly; and (2) serve him bacon. Ta daa.
• Titanic duel until Bowser goes low.

• From my son Jonathan, Mission Impossible squirrel. Amazing jumps.
• Think amusement park rides are all just about the same, variations on a theme? Fred found a Russian ride that is absolutely insane.
• And yeah, I'll do it when Dear Wife does it. If then.
• Hunh. Imagine it had been the current president's head. To be clear: either one, equally in horrendous taste.
• Another entry to make Biblical Christianity blog your go-to place for important how-to information.
• Aww... and yikes.
• I leave you with thoughts of boing-boing-boing-boing...

• ...and these.

THE USUALS WILL BE OBSERVED

72-hour sale at Westminster: Dispatches from the Front

Yeah, you know... I think I'm going to get me this:

Monday music - "Eat It," by Weird Al Yankovic

If you've never seen the original Michael Jackson video, we'll wait right here while you come up to speed. Take your time. Really, it's fine.

Back? Sweet. You're ready now for the Weird Al parody version, which is pretty much hysterical from the rude hand sounds at the start to the guitar solo, and the end.

Monday music - "That Girl," Stevie Wonder

From the man with the silkiest voice on the planet - except maybe Matthew Ward. One of my Stevie Wonder  all-time favorites... others to come!

Plus, at no additional charge, a little extemporaneous performance with Patti LaBelle on his arm. Unfortunately, it's incomplete, and she doesn't sing. But it's still fun!

Hither and Thither 6/1/2012

OK gang, here's what I've got, from progressively warming Houston.

We'll begin with a graphic depiction for what it is sometimes like for people, the first time they here a thorough, sound presentation of the Biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty in salvation.

• One of my children is thinking of growing watermelons. Well, Son, here you go.
• Is it too late to ask? Familiar with the contents as I am, I think either or both The World-Tilting Gospel and God's Wisdom in Proverbs could make terrific graduation gifts. If you agree, write a decent post on your blog making that case, and I'll feature it.
• Or, for that matter, Father's Day gifts?
• Here is a very thought-provoking list of ten reasons to self-publish. Two matters the article doesn't deal with do come up in the comments: cover art, and the need for good editing. Beyond that, I think self-publishing does still carry the same onus: "Not good enough for a real publisher, eh?"
• An artist made nine Star Wars portraits in splatter-paint style. (Warning: article uses a word we wouldn't allow our kids to use.)
• The Dark Knight Rises trailer... in sausages.
• "Perfect food"? Er, no.

• Not this, either. (Fred Butler)

• But maybe this:

• Mm-mm. (Yurie Hwang)

• This one might be a perfect food, except for being too light on the mayo:

• Staying with food, honing in on it's a health food -- what else? Coffee! (Chris Harwood)
• One of the creators of Veggie Tales is having second thoughts — and, I think, rightly so. Sounds as if he got his world tilted. Better late than never; better sooner than late.
• You will love this solution to the need for an endless energy resource.
• Sigh. So They have decided to re-do a decades-old superhero, and make him an unrepentant sexual pervert. And They expect to be celebrated and lauded and congratulated for their "bravery."
• Want to see "brave"? Reboot a major superhero and make him a pedal-to-the-metal Biblical Christian. That would be bravery.
• Never happen this side of the Millennial Kingdom.
• And no, I'm not even going to link to a story about the latest ploy to corrupt children.
• Where's Admiral Ackbar when you need him?

• Kevin DeYoung put out a very good post giving ten commitments for Christian churches in relation to homosexuality. Do yourself a favor, and don't bother with the comments. Kevin doesn't believe in  (or probably does not have the time for) interacting too extensively in his metas, and the inmates often take over the asylum. Fairly common on some TGC blogs.
• Just...oh dear. (Curtis Sheidler)
• Kerry Allen smuggled out an exercise video for our coming robot overlords.
• Lego ninjas? (Dwayne Warren)
• Gee, Mayor Bloomberg; whatever happened to "My body, my life, my right to decide"? (Chris Carney)
• Nancy Barlass alerts us to the Duct Tape Diner.
• To help my boys with the teen years. Well, and beyond.

• I made no secret of the fact that Romney was just about my last choice. "Just about." My last choice is Barack Obama, in the sense of the word "last" which means "even if you point a gun at my head, I'm not making that choice." So I am happy to read John "Rocket Man" Hinderaker's optimistic essay, These aren't your father's Republicans.
• The Romney campaign just needs to study the Dole campaign and the McCain campaign — and do the opposite (apart from the brilliant selection of running-mates). I hope they're smart enough to know that the media defines "mean" and "nasty" and "dirty" as any GOP candidate who doesn't roll over and play dead, and I hope they're ready to deal.
• The bottom-line was spelled out nicely for me in a Tweet by Frank J. Fleming, who said: "Mitt Romney really wants to be president. I really want Obama not to be president. Seems like we can form an alliance."
• Here's a great opportunity to win a copy of the best Bible software out there. Happy Birthday, BibleWorks!
• And, winding to a close...
• So did you stumble this week, even badly? Well, here you are still alive. God's given you another chance. Go for it.

• And these lovely parting gifts:

THE USUALS WILL BE OBSERVED