Safe Haven

Welcome to the 2010 FIFA World Cup (TM) and the only match that matters right now: England vs. USA. Obviously, I'm liveblogging this: Anthems: I love the English national anthem because it's the same melody as "My Country, 'Tis Of Thee." I wonder if they played our anthem too fast on purpose, so our fans couldn't sing along (very well). 4th Minute: Goal, England. Gerrard. Are you serious? 35th Minute: The US looks pretty good, considering. However, England looks like they can score from anywhere. 40th Minute: GOAL! Clint Dempsey! Weak goal, soft shot. 1-1. Half-Time: 1-1. Advantage: USA. 49th Minute: Wayne Rooney barely misses a pass for a goal, still 1-1. 52nd Minute: Heskey ROBBED by USA goalkeeper Tim Howard, still 1-1. 65th Minute: Jozy Altidore hits the post! Still 1-1. 88th Minute: Still tied, US barely surviving. England can really score. 94th Minute: After 4 minutes of stoppage time, the game finishes 1-1.

I spent the evening "baptizing" my friend Daniel into the original six "Star Trek" films, starting with 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture. [Thanks a bunch, J.J. Abrams, for rendering this whole story moot for the sake of the plot of your admittedly awesome reboot.--ed.] The musical score is just glorious, and I'd say the story has underrated metaphysical, philosophical, or otherwise theological depth. A brief synopsis is in order: An enormous energy cloud of great power destroys three Klingon vessels. The Federation determines that the cloud is on a direct course for Earth. The USS Enterprise , currently under the command of Capt. Willard Decker, is docked near Earth after 18 months of refitting. (Captain Decker has been in command two and a half years, at the recommendation of now-Admiral James T. Kirk, who currently serves as Chief of Starfleet Operations.) The ship and crew are ordered to intercept and investigate. Admiral Kirk, who had given up comm...

Happy Birthday Mike. I think it's been 11 years we've known each other. No offense, it's also one of my least favorite days of the year. [It's someone else's birthday, isn't it?--ed.] Yes. And she's the big gaping hole in me right now. For no good reason. [What is it with you and professor's daughters, anyway?--ed.] I have no idea. I can't even say I know her that well. We seem to run into each other every few years. She's still single, for no good reason. [Besides the Lord's will, you pagan.--ed.] Yeah, that. [Why don't you call her, and wish her a happy birthday?--ed.] Because it would seem really weird and stalkerish, like all the other things I've done. Because I'm a bum who's about to torpedo his only viable career path in what may be a fruitless search for Truth. Because I'm not good enough for her. Because I'm not the kind of man who can credibly pretend it just a "friendly birthday call." Because I...

Another fascinating episode of "STTNG" (for short) worthy of some moral reflection, and I know that Bryan Cross and I have discussed it: "Half a Life"--A noted scientist, one Dr. Timicin, (played by David Ogden Stiers of "M*A*S*H*" fame as Major Charles Winchester) is attempting to revitalize the core of a star as a test to save his own world, Kaelon II. The test fails after a promising start, and Timicin is comforted by Ambassador Lwaxana Troi, mother of ship's counselor Deanna Troi. Mrs. Troi, as per usual, is amorously attracted to Timicin, who returns the feelings. In the process of their discussion, Troi learns that Timicin cannot continue his experiments and cannot pursue a long-term relationship with her because of a peculiar cultural practice--"The Resolution." In four days, Timicin will turn 60, surrounded by friends and family who will celebrate his achievements and their mutual love. When it is concluded, Timicin--as have almost tw...

An awful lot's happened in 2 days or so. Rue McClanahan, most famous for her turn as Blanche Deveraux on The Golden Girls, has died. For the record, that show was and is absolutely hilarious. Most people don't know this, it seems, because unless you are an elderly person or headed there soon, you wouldn't be a natural viewer, or so you would think. But I have watched it somewhat randomly for part of my teenage years and twenties, because like so many things from the 1980's, people my age and slightly older are getting nostalgic, and you can find it if you want (or even if you don't). I'm not sure how many full episodes I've seen; I think 30 or 40 is reasonable. Anyway, I've never failed to laugh at an episode once. [You think everything's funny.--ed.] I don't think I'm just saying that because there was a death. Try it out; it's funny. And you won't have to go to confession or the equivalent, though I won't promise that it's G...

It must be anti-neocon week at the BBC. [ Isn't it always?--ed .] Another episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was amazingly timely and political on BBC America: "The Drumhead"-- Starfleet Admiral Norah Satie (played by Jean Simmons) comes aboard to investigate an apparent sabotage of the dilithium crystal chamber which powers the warp drive. A Klingon who came aboard in an officer exchange turns out to be a spy for the Romulans. Following a lead prompted by the intuition of Satie's Betazoid assistant, (for Betazoids are telepathic) Ensign Simon Tarses is discovered to have lied on his application to Starfleet. He lied about the race of his grandfather, saying he was Vulcan when he was, in fact, a Romulan. Satie uses this revelation to expand the investigation well beyond its initial goals, even after the crew determines that the explosion was an accident. Satie brings Captain Picard under the scrutiny of her tribunal after Picard tries unsuccessfully to stop the...

5 Random Wednesday Thoughts 5. Better to be a theologically inconsistent Protestant than one with no love. 4. I will try to listen this time. Will this be a date? 3. I'm hoping for a 'Star Trek' night with Chris and Dan tomorrow. [ If that was slated to be a date, you just lost it.--ed. ] Whatever! Real intellectuals love the Trek, baby! 2. Happy Birthday, Donica Liu. 1. A note on social networking: Being clever with your religious views only serves to make me think you are: 1) ashamed of Jesus, or 2) a pagan. On the other hand, "Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life!!!" suggests: 1) I am an emotionalist, and/or 2) I'm one of those "hot" girls who won't have premarital sex, but I'll enjoy being a flirty tease for the next ten years. Sad but true.

This blog crossed over the 3000 page view mark on December 19, 2009. As of today, (surely aided somewhat by my reading of old posts) the number stands at 4112. But not bad for a blog that has spent most of its existence dormant!

Star Trek: The Next Generation has been everywhere; Sy Fy Channel has been showing it, as has BBC America and WGN America. (And Local 46.) During its 7ish year run from 1987-94, it set the stage for a revival of a franchise, gaining the grudging respect--and then undying loyalty--of the Trek faithful. I am a Trekkie, through and through. I could just be a nerd, but I rather think that a good story (and uniquely a science-fiction story) can help us to see things we didn't understand or can't talk about. I've recently seen a couple of episodes of the show that really got me thinking. "The Wounded"--A former captain of the USS Rutledge, ("Ben Maxwell", played by Bob Gunton, Jr. of "The Shawshank Redemption" fame) has been forcibly attacking and destroying Cardassian ships, in contravention of the Federation's nearly-minted peace treaty with Cardassia. The USS Enterprise has been sent to stop Maxwell and his new ship, the USS Phoenix, from des...

An absolutely brutal day, week, and year for President Obama. As a side note, I renew my objection to First Things, a Christian magazine, embedding a partisan blog within without explanation. Interacting with politics is important for Christians. But what we ought to do is set up the framework--whether biblical, philosophical, moral, etc.--by which Christians consider how they participate and vote. We ought to be wise enough not to simply slap a Scripture verse on our pet cause or causes, arrogantly note how one party or another fails to address our supposedly more enlightened understanding, and then cheerlead for one side. Politics is 1000 times more acrimonious when people "sanctify" their political participation with a rugged certitude only matched by their ignorance. There's too little a discussion of theory behind policy choices, and quite a rush to define particular policies and people as the more "Christian" of the two choices. (And we assume there are o...

I Want To Be My Father's Son I have a mentor/friend/father-figure type of person in my life now who recently wrote about losing his mother very young. Those memories and feelings are very deep and personal; I tread very lightly here. And surely losing your mother is different. Still, I lost my dad when I was young. I remember watching a TV show called "Home Improvement" where the dad, "Tim Taylor", discusses losing his father young. (Actually, this show sticks out to me because it was often funny, and because he talks about this a lot.) I remember him saying that he idolized him while he was there, and did so when he was gone. They didn't live together long enough for the son to see the flaws in his father, to be his own man, to even fight with him. I probably have an idealized image of him; then again, if he was anything like his brothers, he was a good man, so far as that is possible for man. Heck, my mother, his ex-wife, has nary a poor word to say about...

Good point.

I was realizing one interesting thing this week, because prayer has been lacking. That is, prayer and sin are complete opposites. I might be the Apostle of the Blindingly Obvious on that one; I don't care. It hasn't been that obvious to me. In any case, from talking with various friends, I have a quite undeserved reputation as a "prayer warrior." In evangelical parlance, that means I don't treat 'I'll pray for you' the same as 'Have a good day.' If that's all it takes, we are a sad bunch. I've forgotten thousands of prayers. On the other hand, being a bit Martin Lutherish, I feel the need to say, "Holy Spirit, would you hear the prayers of friends I may have forgotten..." (And of course, "TT" and "Rabbi Tbone" are always in my prayers, unless I screw up.) As I was chewing on the silliness of being credited with something I have no idea about, I reasoned, "C'mon, there's nuns and grandmas who ca...

Not A Cheerleader Don’t wanna fly Another flag. “Tell the truth, But tell it slant” Ain’t exactly right this time. Ain’t on no team, Ain’t got all the answers, But I’ll find Him If it kills me first. I have Christ, But what we’ve all done Is like invite Him to Supper ‘Long as He stays quiet. What about the questions, Like the smoke of an unfit offering? They will not be waved away Easily with a hand. He bids us in But we stay Outside, Where it’s safe. You mind this, friend, Mind it good, You who have lived near The River: I ain’t swimmin’ Unless it leads me Home.

5 Thoughts On This Tuesday 5. Are they too busy, or have Christian girls lost the ability to say, "No, thanks"? 4. I don't know if that mp3 site was just janky, or illegal, but in any case, 'A Love Story,' by Babyface is outstanding, and Arista should fire the guy who decided to shelve the album. Or is it "shelf"? 3. I eagerly await a Protestant answer to the hermeneutical/ecclesiological conundrum: 1) How do you prove a particular, well, anything from the Scripture? 2) If we disavow apostolic succession, how are we visibly, really connected to the Body of Christ? I await the Catholic answer to the same problem in 1), with an added bonus: It could appear that Catholic apologists appeal to Scripture when useful, and appeal to the revealed Tradition when the scriptural case is tenuous. I'm thinking St. Basil would freak out about that, I dunno. Let me state this in a humorous way: This is the "Everyone on 'The Journey Home' was in Fundie-...

Sometimes, the music charts make sense. The iconic, the lasting, the beautiful have their runs at the top, living on for a while on my favorite chart, the AC chart, and make a good number of us happy for years to come (while others fight an urge to find a high cliff). Other times, one cannot believe that such a great tune went unnoticed. Like this one . I'm not a singer, but I want to record this. It hit #81 on the Hot 100 some years ago, and hit #31 on the R&B charts. I am stunned.

I just wrote an e-mail to a friend, and the last line caused me to stop and cry for several minutes. What was the word, the thing freighted with so much meaning to cause me so much pain? "Family." We throw around the phrase "church family" in such a buzzwordy fashion that it doesn't mean what the words mean. God help me, I may love my church family more than my own blood. My pastors, my elders, and everyone else are somewhere between brothers and sisters, and fathers and mothers. I joined another church nearer where I live as an associate member, and I love them too, but it's nowhere close. No disrespect. Nearly every post here for about a year has been about the open and frank investigation of Roman Catholicism*, even if not stated. Provoked in me by an (apparent) inability of Sola Scriptura to provide definitive doctrinal guidance, to settle disputes, to silence heretics. And as a person who desires/desired to minister in the Reformed tradition, I was trou...

5 Random, Disconnected Thoughts for Today 5. I wonder if she likes fruit smoothies; she's not Econ Girl, but she's nice* enough. 4. Good job, Wainwright, and good job Brad Penny last night. 3. Nathan Hall should know that he owns the prize still, for the funniest thing ever written on my blog. It's been 7 years; congratulations. 2. Go Royals?!? 1. I cannot stand in judgment of revealed truth; if being a creedal Christian (read: explicitly, intentionally creedal) is better than non-creedal, the creeds cannot be assented to because they agree with my interpretation of Scripture, for two obvious reasons: 1. I, you, and most other normal people* [Sidebar: We shall call the abnormally qualified exegetes the Collins/Wenham/Feingold Exception] are not good enough to interpret Scripture by themselves, thus making most claims subjecting creeds to Scripture preposterous. And 2. they would have no real authority, hence my realization, "Derivative authority is a sham." I cong...

5 Post-Masters Thoughts 5. The group is kind of eclectic in the last few years--lots of foreigners at the top, and near the top. 4. I'm glad Tiger didn't win. Tiger has some living and growing to do; adding to his legend at a time like this would be really bad for him (and others). 3. Jim Nantz rules. He's approaching the Costas Zone, for those who need to be on my TV at key sporting moments. 2. Some people may not like how the Masters controls everything--including what you see the first two days--but it does add to the mystique of the thing. 1. I was not a fan of Phil Mickelson before this. I didn't even have a reason. But now, I am. And of Mrs. Mickelson too. And every day that Phil and other players are adultery-free...let's just say it should be part of the rankings. Unrelated Side-Rant: "Protestants do good things, but..." I hear sentences like this these days, as I spend a great deal of time with observant orthodox Catholics. It may well be that the...

5 Masters Thoughts 5. Tiger is right there--and he hasn't yet had a good round. 4. I hope the wind blows and the greens are fast tomorrow. 3. I'm rooting for the old guys. 2. I'm rooting for an American. 1. I want to see an old-timers match play with Nicklaus and Gary Player. Heck, Gary broke 80 last year at the age of 79 at the Tiger-proofed nightmare that is Augusta. Shorten the holes a bit, and give the old lions one last chance to shine.