Religious Discrimination in Fort Worth

In Fort Worth, a Seventh-day Adventist woman and her children were kicked off a public bus–because she was reading the Bible outloud to them on their way to church.

Luther vs. Zwingli

James Swan summarizes Luther’s writings to and against Zwingli. It’s his latest in a series addressing a point in a discussion with some Catholic apologists. The latter were making claims about a Luther citation for which they had only Catholic secondary sources. Swan has been trying to find the primary source to be able to discuss the context.

A Jewish Christmas at Sea

Rabbi Amy Weiss blogs about a cruise she and her husband, Rabbi Kenny Weiss, went on over Christmas.

Life and Death at a Salvation Army Hospital

Cross-Currents reports on a case in Winnepeg in which doctors are claiming the sole right to decide what to do for a patient, irrespective of the wishes of the patient himself or his family.

A Winnipeg case currently winding its way to its grim conclusion pits the children of Samuel Golubchuk against doctors at the Salvation Army Grace General Hospital. According to the pleadings, Golubchuk’s doctors informed his children that their 84-year-old father is “in the process of dying” and that they intended to hasten the process by removing his ventilation, and if that proved insufficient to kill him quickly, to also remove his feeding tube. In the event that the patient showed discomfort during these procedures, the chief of the hospital’s ICU unit stated in his affidavit that he would administer morphine.

Golubchuk is an Orthodox Jew, as are his children. The latter have adamantly opposed his removal from the ventilator and feeding tube, on the grounds that Jewish law expressly forbids any action designed to shorten life, and that if their father could express his wishes, he would oppose the doctors acting to deliberately terminate his life.

In response, the director of the ICU informed Golubchuk’s children that neither their father’s wishes nor their own are relevant, and he would do whatever he decided was appropriate. Bill Olson, counsel for the ICU director, told the Canadian Broadcasting Company that physicians have the sole right to make decisions about treatment – even if it goes against a patient’s religious beliefs – and that “there is no right to a continuation of treatment.”

See also Canadian Jewish News, Volokh Conspiracy, Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraph Agency. Reuters makes it a case of “Religion vs. Science.”

Trent and the Canon

Beggars All has an interesting post about the decision of the Council of Trent on the Biblical canon–the vote that determined authoritatively for the first time for Catholics which books were to be considered the Old Testament. Surprisingly, it passed with only a 44% plurality.

Tolerance in Houston

FBI statistics show what those of us who live here know: Houstonians are tolerant.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas …

My daughter had to go birding for a biology assignment, so we went by canoe on Armand Bayou. I had replaced the cane in the front seat this week–there was a small hole in it when we got it, and we made do as I waited for the materials and tools to arrive.

We saw plenty of birds: brown pelicans, cormorants, blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, ospreys, various kinds of terns and gulls, doves, cardinals, and lots of vultures.

No “calling birds,” though.

Remembering the Prince of Peace …

Brawl breaks out between Orthodox and Armenian priests at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Merry Christmas!

“The children were nestled all snug in their beds …”

It’s close to midnight. The kids are sleeping. Santa Claus ate his cookies and drank his milk while filling the stockings and watching the mournful ending of John Huston’s film of James Joyce’s short story, “The Dead.”

Earlier, after the day’s external chores where finished, I baked cookies (some of which the wife and kids took to some neighbors). We each opened a present (as is our family Christmas Eve tradition). My son picked the smallest, most rattly present. It only only had a note (along with a nickel and a cough drop, which made the sound); it took him to other notes around the living room, which led to a wooden shoe in which was buried the clipped rental tag from his cello–his eyes grew wide as he understood, and then, without words, he ran over and gave me a long firm hug. Aimee’s package was a shirt; Joy’s a cookie jar from a friend; mine, a photo album from my brother Jim with pictures of this fall’s canoe trip.

We had a supper of homemade tomato-basil soup (with the last leaves of our basil plants that were untouched by this week’s frost) and crackers and cheese (Morbier, Comte, and some garden variety Swiss). We watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” while sipping some Mexican hot chocolate.

The kids then went to bed without complaint, making sure to leave cookies and milk for Santa. Sure, they haven’t believed in him for many years. But that doesn’t stop them from putting the care into the treats they know will be eaten while the stockings are filled.

Some Christmas Legends Are True

The World War I Christmas truce.

Theology Matters

James White on Joel Osteen on Mormonism.

Pawns of War

George Bush once saw the Kurds as allies against Saddam. Some Kurds, that is–just the “good Kurds” in Iraq, and not the “bad Kurds” in Turkey.

Now that Saddam is out of the picture, so are the Kurds, it seems, as Bush seeks to enlist Turkish and Iraqi support against them, whether they are in Turkey or Iraq.

See also, Kevin McKiernan, The Kurds: A People in Search of Their Homeland.

Tidbits from CWN

Diogenes and company have some interesting thoughts on 1) Roger Mahony’s claim to have been mugged and 2) James Carroll’s Christmas column.

Cirque du Willow Creek

Christmas at the MegaMall … er … MegaChurch.

Crimes, Misdemeanors, and Judicial Misconduct

Mark Colville got a stiffer punishment for simulating Blackwater USA’s slaughter of innocent Iraqi civilians than the mercenaries who actually committed the crime.

Details at New Haven Advocate and National Catholic Reporter.

Colville and Co. were tried last week before a kangaroo court in Currituck County, N.C., where the judge ordered the public, the press and the defense witnesses out the courtroom without explanation, then proceeded to pronounce the demonstrators’ guilty as charged.

Virginia-Pilot also reports on this violation of the right to a public trial, which shall be the basis of their appeal. Few other newspapers have picked up the story, however.

In a courtroom closed to the press and public, protesters were sentenced to jail Wednesday for re-enacting a Baghdad shooting incident at the front entrance of Blackwater .

They said they will appeal the verdicts, partly on the grounds that they were denied their constitutional right to a public trial.

Currituck County District Judge Edgar Barnes took the rare step of clearing the courtroom after trying one of the protesters, Steve Baggarly of Norfolk, in public. The remaining six were then tried, convicted and sentenced behind closed doors.

The judge gave no reason for his action. …

Katy Parker, legal director of the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she had never before heard of a similar action being taken by a North Carolina judge.

“It’s a clear violation of constitutional rights, not only of the defendants but the press and public,” she said. “They have a right to a public trial, so any trial that goes on behind closed doors is a farce.”

Editorial from the Virginia-Pilot denounces the judge’s actions, which are clearly unconstitutional. See also DailyAdvance.com.

Another report says that someone tried to read the Constitution to the guards, but they shut the door in their face.

Where is the outrage? This was over two weeks ago! Why has the national media not picked up on this?

Christmas Reflections

War in Heaven: Revelation 12:1-6

The Book of Revelation places the birth of Christ in cosmic perspective. It comes as one scene in the story of a war that reaches from heaven to earth. The baby to be born has enemies who lie in wait.

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38

St. Bernard of Clairvaux said that this story tells of three miracles, not one. First, that God and man could be united in this promised Child. Second, that a virgin could be a Mother. And the third and greatest miracle–that Mary should believe it.

Imagine yourself in her shoes. Maybe 14 years old. Not quite sure even of what transpires between a husband and wife. And now told that she would be a mother.

And she believes. Did she doubt, even for a moment? The Church has always said no. But Joseph certainly did. It took a vision to convince him that she hadn’t been out behind the barn with some young man–or Roman soldier. Not Mary. She heard, and she believed.

Martin Luther said of this, “Had she not believed, she could not have conceived.” But “she held fast to the word of the angel because she had become a new creature.” God’s word–from the moment of her conception–had made her this. And so must we, too, be transformed by the Word, day by day, that we might believe, and that we might cling in faith to God’s Word, in spite of what our experience and our feelings might say.

And believe what? Believe what Isaiah prophesied: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” It’s easy enough, Luther says, to believe that Jesus is the son of the Virgin and the Son of God. It’s much harder “to believe that this Son of God is ours.” To put ourselves in the position of Mary, and to hear and to believe the promise that Christ is come to us. His body, broken for you. His blood, shed for you. That is the incredible news promised to Mary and to us alike–that Christ comes for you, for me; to be, truly, God with us.

The Visitation: Luke 1:39-45

Mary visits her cousin, and when Elizabeth greets her with blessing, Mary sings out with joy, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” She sings in praise of God. A God who has done great things: He has shown his strength. He has scattered the proud. He has filled the hungry. He has helped his servant. He has helped this particular servant. This nobody. This unknown.

Recall that image with which we began. Chaos, distress, persecution and darkness. Conditions in which it seems God is absent. But he is present–here, in the virgin’s womb. Ready to act; ready to turn the world upside down. Present, even now, though hidden from our eyes, bringing that moment ever closer.

Again, to quote Luther:

God allows the godly to be powerless and oppressed so that everyone thinks they are done for; yet even in that very moment God is most powerfully present, though hidden and concealed. When the power of man fails, the power of God begins, provided faith is present and expectant.

Mary praises God for his greatness because she has known poverty and darkness and loneliness, and she knows, therefore, that she can do nothing great or powerful; she knows she could never play a role in God’s plan, or in human history, a young nobody in a backwater province of the Roman empire. And because she knows this, because she has a true sense of who she is, she can truly appreciate the pure graciousness of God’s promise.

Luther reflects:

You have got to feel the pinch of hunger in the midst of scarcity and experience what hunger and scarcity are, when you do not know where to turn, to yourself, or to anyone else but only to God, that the work may be God’s alone and of none other. You must not only think and speak of lowliness, but come into it, sink in it, utterly helpless, that God alone may save you. . . . For this reason we are Christians and have the Gospel, that we may fall into distress and lowliness and that God thereby may have his work in us.

The Nativity: Luke 2:1-20

Today there is much talk of “spirituality,” mostly associated with the New Age movement, in which spirituality means turning your back on the material world, on things that can be seen or touched or spoken about, to enter into pure spirit, meditating upon emptiness, darkness, the infinite. A search for something completely different from what we experience in everyday life.

The charismatic movement in many churches taps into the same desires. A search for the spectacular, for supreme heights of emotion, miracles, healing, riches, power–all that’s associated with the “name it and claim it” school of televangelists. It’s more materialistic than what the New Agers claim to be after, but it, too, looks for meaning in something out of our ordinary experience.

But here, in this reading, we see God, not in the infinity of nothingness, not in the riches and power of an emperor’s court, but naked, cold, flecked with blood, dust and straw, lying in a manger, surrounded by the smell of animals.

That’s what St. Francis wanted the world to see when he reenacted the Nativity at Greccio–not the star in the sky, not the angels praising God, not the mystery of the preexistent Word, not the glory of the resurrection–but the humility of our God, who stooped this low, for us. Stooped to a point where only animals and a handful of scruffy shepherds bothered to pay any attention. Stooped to a point where he needed a mother to nurse him and to change his diapers.

Perhaps it would take a remade manger to get the point across to us, too. We’ve seen too many plastic and carved wood and elegant ceramic Nativity scenes, so that the scandal of the incarnation perhaps does not affect us as it should. Perhaps if we could smell the barnyard odors–and the baby’s diaper.

But even then, something would be missing. For we know who this baby is, and we can’t by any stretch of the imagination put ourselves into the position of Herod, who would destroy him, or the innkeepers, who would turn him away, or the multitudes of the world’s population that went on their way ignorant of the miracle.

In one of my favorite passages, Luther says of the scene before us,

They were, of all, the lowest and the most despised, and must make way for everyone until they were shoved into a stable to make a common lodging and table with the cattle, while many cutthroats lounged like lords in the inn. They did not recognize what God was doing in the stable. With all their eating, drinking, and finery, God left them empty, and this comfort and treasure was hidden from them. Oh, what a dark night it was in Bethlehem that this light should not have been seen. Thus God shows that he has no regard for what the world is and has and does. And the world shows that it does not know or consider what God is and has and does.

Joseph had to do his best, and it may well be that he asked some maid to fetch water or something else, but we do not read that anyone came to help. They heard that a young wife was lying in a cow stall and no one gave heed. Shame on you, wretched Bethlehem! The inn ought to have been burned with brimstone, for even though Mary had been a beggar maid or unwed, anybody at such a time should have been glad to give her a hand.

There are many of you in this congregation who think to yourselves: “If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby! I would have washed h is linen. How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!” Yes, you would! You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem! Childish and silly thoughts are these! Why don’t you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve him, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ himself.

Only the eye of faith can discern where God is truly present. Mystics may seek him in the sublime, others may seek him in miracles, the materialistic may seek him in wealth. We must seek him where he has revealed himself to be–in this baby lying in a cattle stall–and in the poor, the hungry, the diseased, the outcast, the alien, in the world around us.

The Presentation: Luke 2:22-32

Luke does not tell of a star in the sky–we read that in Matthew’s Gospel. Luke does not tell of wise men from the east searching for the child–that, too, is Matthew. Luke does not tell of jealous king Herod, who would kill all the children of Bethlehem, rather than let one threatening baby live. That, too, is Matthew.

In Luke’s gospel, the wondrous events go largely unnoticed. If the angels had not visited the shepherds, and sang to them their song of joy, there would have been no visitors to the manger. Until Jesus returns to the temple at age twelve, the only other people who seem to notice him at all, according to Luke, are two prophets, Simeon and Anna, who noticed something unusual when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to offer the required sacrifice for her purification 33 days after his birth.

The priests take their two birds and go about their work. The other worshipers busy themselves with their prayers and their sacrifices. But Simeon, “guided by the Spirit,” comes and takes the child in his arms, saying with delight, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” No one else seemed to notice–none of the people of Israel–not even the priests. But he saw. “A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” They may not see now; even people of faith may be blinded. But others will see, and will come, and will acknowledge him, even Gentiles.

And then, as the passage continues, he says other words–to Mary–and what cheery words to say to a new mother:

This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed–and a sword will pierce your own soul too.

Visionaries and prophets have spoken of judgment for ages–usually associating it with death, or the last day, and visions of a great white throne, or, at least, St. Peter at the gate. But Simeon says, the judgment is now. How will you greet this babe? That is the question. He is the deciding factor. He is both judge, and the criterion of the judgment. This infant, lying in his arms. He will decide the fate of all. “A good prophet,” some say. “An example of selfless love,” others say. “A myth,” “a crackpot,” say others.

Only one response will do, as we gaze on the baby: “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

The Finding in the Temple: Luke 2:41-50

Mark’s gospel begins with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. John’s gospel begins with a poetic prologue, but then follows Mark to the Jordan river. Matthew and Luke both have stories of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem–but Luke tells of shepherds and Matthew of wise men. Matthew adds a story about the flight to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath. But here, in this tale, is the only story about Jesus from his return from Egypt at a very early age until his baptism, when he was in his late twenties or early thirties.

We know nothing of how he played as a child, or how he learned the carpenter’s trade from Joseph. We know nothing of friendships, temptations, desires or joys. We know only what the book of Hebrews says, that “he had to become like his brothers in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest.”

But here we see him, at age twelve, in what might be interpreted as a mini adolescent rebellion. He abandons his parents for three days, and we see them frantically searching for him, finding him, at last, at the temple, discussing scripture. “Why do you treat us like this?” The parents scream. And I can just imagine Joseph taking off his belt, ready to grab him by the ear and head to a private corner.

And Jesus thoroughly befuddles them by saying, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Or, according to other manuscripts, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s interests?”

I’d draw two things from this. First, having seen Christ as the salvation of the world, and having believed in him, we are called to stay with him. To be about our Father’s business. To rejoice in him, learn of him, to learn the pleasures of prayer, of worship, of study of his word. The Christian life is not a one-time, one-event thing. It doesn’t stop at baptism or confirmation. That’s just the beginning of a lifetime journey. We need to go on. “Further up and further in,” as C. S. Lewis put it. Called to follow him on his journeys through the dusty villages of Palestine, healing the sick, proclaiming the word, serving the poor. Called to the cross, and suffering.

Secondly, having seen Christ as the salvation of the world, everything else in the world will dim in comparison. We must follow him no matter what. If a choice must be made, Christ must be our choice. That may lead to pain and alienation, even from those we love, who may come searching for us–”How can you do this to us?” their jealous voices will cry. Our mother, our father, our spouse, our children, our friends. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

Discipleship requires hard choices. And the choices we will be called upon to make are not apparent when we first set out on the journey. There comes a time when we long to go back to the easy days, when we long for reunion, no matter the price, with those we are separated from.

There were many who left Jesus when he began to say hard things. And he said to the twelve, “Will you leave, too?” And Peter said, in words that we must come to as well, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

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Citations from Luther are from Roland H. Bainton, trans., The Martin Luther Christmas Book (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1948).

ADL Denounces Catholic Archbishop …

The ADL has denounced comments by a Catholic Archbishop. He called for separation of church and state, and treating of all religions equally. What was the problem with this? It was Patriarch Michel Sabbah speaking of Israel, and of the inequality of Christians and Muslims.

Freedom of Speech in Canada

Reports say Canadian journalist Mark Steyn has been denounced to a human rights commission for opinions expressed in Maclean’s in 2006. National Review editorial; John Robson op-ed in The Ottawa Citizen.

Here’s an explanation, though, from the Muslims who complained: “All we want is a chance to respond” to Steyn’s article which they found to be inflammatory and insulting to Muslims.

“On March 30, 2007, we met with Maclean’s senior editors and proposed that they publish a response from a mutually acceptable source.”

It would seem to be standard practice among most newspapers and magazines that provision would be made for a response. And notice, they didn’t even demand that their article be published–they proposed one “from a mutually acceptable source.” But they say that Maclean’s, the Canadian equivalent of Newsweek or Time, refused.

And note this:

In his National Post article, Mr. Levant devotes much attention to the importance of freedom of expression in Canadian society. We agree, which is why we asked Maclean’s for an opportunity to debate Mr. Steyn. It is also why Mr. Steyn is not a party to any of our human rights complaints. We haven’t asked him for an apology or a retraction. Neither have we filed hate-speech complaints against him. He is free to do and say as he pleases.

What we did ask for, however, was an opportunity for the Muslim community to participate in the “free marketplace” of ideas. It is our belief that in its truest form, freedom of expression results in a lively debate among all interested parties — not just among those who play by their own exclusionary rules. If Maclean’s wants to publish articles alleging that many Muslims are “hot for jihad,” it has to provide an opportunity to respond.

This issue isn’t about attacking journalists or stifling free expression. It’s about ensuring that our media outlets provide a forum for open debate and argument.

Does a publication have an obligation to publish rebuttals? I would think freedom of the press would suggest not. At the same time, I think newspapers and magazines which claim to be about dialogue and discussion of issues should honestly and fairly provide for that. That seems only good journalism. Maclean’s should have done the decent thing and arranged for the simple discussion the Muslims requested. That they feel these Human Rights Commissions (which have a chilling history, recounted in some of those links) is the only way to go, is unfortunate. Better to have shamed Maclean’s by going to their competitors–which, in essence, is what they’ve now done. National Post has published their response to Ezra Levant’s opinion piece. If National Post can do it, why can’t Maclean’s?

Further Steps toward European Unity

Little noticed in the U.S., more border crossings in Europe were dismantled today, expanding to twenty-four the nations participating in the passport-free “Schengen Zone.”

“Without Objection …”

Mary Ann Glendon was confirmed as the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican by the Senate on Wednesday in the most perfunctory of votes. There’s no evidence there was even the customary hearing. Some folks had been spreading all sorts of rumors of controversy, but there was no more debate on her nomination than there is when the typical Second Lieutenant is confirmed for promotion to First Lieutenant.

There should have been objections, based on principle, as I noted back on November 6. She is not only an active Catholic, but is president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and was head of the Vatican delegation to the U.N. Conference on Women in Beijing. How can she represent the U.S. to the Vatican when she holds Vatican appointments? This is like naming an Iranian government minister as U.S. ambassador to Iran.

If the U.S. is to have an ambassador to the Catholic Church (a debatable proposition on First Amendment grounds), then surely the person should be chosen on the basis of whether they can represent the nation’s interests.

The Catholic Church and the UN

John Allen gives the Catholic Church credit for a UN General Assembly vote in favor of a global moratorium on the death penalty.

This is ironic, in that the Catholic Church for centuries told rulers that the death penalty was obligatory (see the Catechism of the Council of Trent). She condemned as heretics those who dared to say it was contrary to the will of God to burn heretics (see Leo X, Exsurge Domine, for example, point 33).

What is consistent is the Catholic Church’s claim to be the teacher of the state. She can change her teachings from century to century, can require execution or forbid it, can denounce religious liberty or command it, can terrorize Jews or demand they be given respect–what is consistent is her own claim to be mater et magistra, Mother and Teacher, of all humanity.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Christmas

“Three Wise Men Are Just a Legend, Says Archbishop of Canterbury“–how’s that for a sensationalist headline?

Problem is, that’s not what he said. He was contrasting the accounts of Luke and Matthew with the accretions–the idea that the magi were kings, or three, or that they were at the stable.

“Matthew’s Gospel doesn’t tell us there were three of them, doesn’t tell us they were kings, doesn’t tell us where they came from.

“It says they are astrologers, wise men, priests from somewhere outside the Roman Empire, that’s all we’re really told.”

Turning to the topic of when Jesus was born, he said it was ‘very unlikely’that there was snow.

He said there was no evidence of animals present – a popular theme of Christmas cards.

He dismissed the idea that the star of the North stood still in the night sky – because stars just don’t behave like that.

For good measure, he added Jesus probably wasn’t even born in December. He said: “Christmas was when it was because it fitted well with the winter festival”.

Update: Transcript of his remarks.

GYC

Janice Becca is reporting on GYC.

Holiday Rants

At BeliefNet: Rant about the Holidays, and Finding Peace after the Rant.

How did this season of sharing, caring and love for fellow man become a fight to terminology as if they are being attacked or slighted if their faith is not recognized? This goes entirely against any belief system or faith that is celebrating at this time of year. I make the statement “Happy Holidays” just for the fact that it is respectful to all. Christmas is not the only holiday at this time of year. There is Christmas, Yule, Kwanza, and Chanukah . No matter what the holiday you celebrate, is it so bad to respect other beliefs? It does not diminish a particular holiday to do so. In my heart I believe that it enhances the season in remembering that others hold this time sacred as well. This has been a prevalent fight in the states that I see as a waste of time, and frankly disrespectful to everyone who partakes in this mentality. There is so much pain in the world and so much violence in this day and age, and to bring the words you use this time of year to a fight truly takes away from the reason that we all celebrate the season to begin with. What happened to Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards men? What has happened to love your nieghbor. It seems we are in a day and age where all these addages.. well.. add up to nothing but get what you can take from someone else. Step on your neighbor and take what you want. Respect nothing but what is self serving and feeds your ego. This is a fight that I see is truly destroying the fabric of emotion that should be prevelant in this time of year. Is it really so distasteful to hear someone say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”? If you feel that it takes away from your holidays, I have to question why? Are you so lacking in your faith that if someone else doesn’t scream your beliefs from a hilltop then you must attack them?

Christmas Greetings 2007

A Christmas card for our friends.

Tolkien Birthday Toast

Dom Bettinelli started a Facebook group, Tolkien Birthday Toast. January 3, 2008 will be Tolkien’s 116th birthday. At 9:00 p.m. (your local time), you are invited to raise a glass in memory of The Professor.

He writes:

J.R.R. Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa on January 3, 1892. To celebrate this event, on this day each year Tolkien fans around the world, led by the Tolkien Society, are invited to raise a glass and toast the birthday of this much loved author of The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, and the Silmarillion.

To make the Birthday Toast, you stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words ‘The Professor’ before taking a sip (or swig, if that’s more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink.

Tolkien Society home page.

I was invited by Dom, and I went on to invite some select friends and family (so there is an interest cast of characters who have signed up so far!).

Mike Huckabee’s Christmas Ad

I might not be as concerned about Mike Huckabee’s Christmas ad, its “floating cross,” and its blatant pandering to evangelicals if he weren’t also being hosted at a fundraiser by Steven Hotze, who represents the most extreme “Reconstructionist” wing of the Republic party. These are the folks who believe in Dominion theology, or creating a theocracy.

I tend to share Ron Paul’s concern …

“It reminds me of what Sinclair Lewis once said. He says, ‘when fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross.’”

The Bayou City …

Houston is the “Bayou City” — and our bayous are filthy. And they aren’t even talking about the visible stuff that has kept me from putting my canoe in Buffalo Bayou.

Adventist Review on QOD Conference

Mark Kellner’s article about the QOD Conference has finally appeared in the Adventist Review. He references an Andrews University press release.

From October–My comments on the conference.