Safe Haven

5 Thoughts For The Day 5. Scott Rolen is having a monster baseball season at the age of 35. He's always been one of my favorite players, and would be a Hall of Famer if not for injuries. 4. Day 1 of the "new plan." No, this does not involve women. 3. I have made it through the day without listening to Barry Manilow. [Yeah, but "Mandy" was playing in your head.--ed.] 2. I didn't even know this song until last year, and I love it. Heard it on imeem.com. (Curse you, Myspace!) He's earned a hearing beyond his famous signature song. Warning to Tim: I will be finding one of his abums from the '90s or '00s and giving it a listen to write a review. Yes, I've heard the original. It's too slow to make the intriguing lyrics jump out at you. But congrats for writing a great song, dudes. 1. I heard yelling out my door, and then a doorbell ring with a knock. But I didn't get there fast enough. Hope they weren't selling something. [Actually Ge...

5 Reactions to the World Cup 5. I will believe until my last breath that FIFA was actively trying to prevent US advancement past the group stage. 4. The rules governing the issuance of cards should be revised. No one should miss a match while never having been dismissed from a match (especially as bad as the officiating has been). 3. Soccer--or football, if you like--is truly a beautiful game, and I don't understand why it isn't more popular here. Give me a rooting interest, and I'm in. 2. I respectfully disagree with Mr. Darke that every side would delay a match up 2-1 in extra time. Ghana's behavior was appalling, and should have merited a team yellow card. 1. #3 aside, I don't care about the tournament now. I may watch the final, but no more. And I hope Ghana loses 12-0. Entirely Unrelated Side-Rant: I may have to charitably punch Barry Manilow right in the face. YouTube is great, because you can explore tons of songs you hadn't heard. I knew Mr. Manilow sang...

My loyal reader is prompted to ask why I didn't liveblog the USA-Algeria match from Wednesday. The answer is: I wanted to actually watch the match. It takes me longer to type than you may think. And I feel a certain obligation to record semi-accurately pertinent details from said match, which limits enjoyment, in a sense. I'm thrilled about it all, of course. I follow most sports, and I am an ardent patriot. Landon Donovan, the scorer of the winning goal in stoppage time (because the clock counts up in soccer, stoppages do not affect it per se; thus, the head ref adds the time lost that he deems appropriate to the end of each half) has been the symbol of American soccer for eight years, and perhaps the nation's greatest player. How fitting indeed. The ninety-first minute of the game (with 4 added minutes of stoppage time) was the occasion for the most necessary goal. Had the goal not been scored, and that within the following 3 and a half minutes, the game would have ended ...

In addition to reclaiming interesting phrases for the English language, join me in my quest to reclaim rainbows . [Side-Rant/Disclaimer: In no way does my lamentation over the hijacking of the rainbow for a cause mean that I hate homosexuals. On the contrary; stop by, have a beer, share some laughs. Provided, of course, that you are not a "d-bag"* as they say in the vernacular.] Remember when a rainbow was just a rainbow? I dare you to wear, display, paint, or draw anything rainbow-colored. You'll have a spontaneously generated meeting of the Triangle Coalition on your front lawn before you can say " Eric McCormack ." Which I hate, because 1) I like rainbows, 2) I don't actually enjoy political discussions/heated debates/awkward meetings with church elders every 5 seconds. [Side-Rant #2, Subject: Homosexuality: Is the practice of homosexuality prohibited by the Bible, and thus, morally wrong? Yes. Get over it. Can the inclination to homosexuality be affected...

2010 FIFA World Cup (TM) USA vs. Slovenia: 10th Minute: USA looking aggressive but a little sloppy, 0-0. 13th Minute: Birsa, Goal, 1-0 Slovenia. Seriously. 43rd Minute: Goal, Slovenia, 2-0. Half-Time, 2-0 Slovenia. 49th Minute: GOAL!!! Landon Donovan, 2-1 Slovenia. 82nd Minute: GOAL!!! Michael Bradley, 2-2. 85th Minute: 3rd US goal disallowed for no reason, 2-2. Full-Time: 2-2.

When Marty is right, he's right : "I am not of the opinion" said Luther, "that through the Gospel all the arts should be banished and driven away, as some zealots want to make us believe; but I wish to see them all, especially music, in the service of Him Who gave and created them." Again he says: "I have myself heard those who oppose pictures, read from my German Bible. … But this contains many pictures of God, of the angels, of men, and of animals, especially in the Revelation of St. John, in the books of Moses, and in the book of Joshua. We therefore kindly beg these fanatics to permit us also to paint these pictures on the wall that they may be remembered and better understood, inasmuch as they can harm as little on the walls as in books. Would to God that I could persuade those who can afford it to paint the whole Bible on their houses, inside and outside, so that all might see; this would indeed be a Christian work. For I am convinced that it is God...

The Day is Mine! Academically, there was nothing to fear. A 2.44 GPA never looked so good. [You lost one of your ready-made excuses for being a papist.--ed.] I know. I don't think I was trying to torpedo myself. I think there was one assignment too many for me in one case, and I was inattentive in a little thing, which became a big thing. [But you did really well on that exam, which never happens.--ed.] I know. Just think what I might have done with more time to prepare. [That was a closed-Bible exam, no?--ed.] Hmmm. I didn't know my editor was Larry Feingold. Yes, it was. [You are blessed to remember Scripture like you do.--ed.] In my defense, it helps to read it fairly often. [Yeah, well, you just read Colossians 2 days ago, and you intended to read it for 3 weeks.--ed.] Guilty. But, God-willing, I'll read Ephesians and maybe Philippians [sp.?] today. Editor's Note: I stole the fictional editor concept from blogger and author Mickey Kaus. Too bad on that Califor...

OOOF! My school allows us to see individual assignment grades before the final grades come out, and it is ugly at points. I can't do math, but I think it'll be OK. I'd like to say that I am a real person, not a robot, and one with a physical disability at that. If you give me what amounts to "busy work," I have to make a choice. One thing I'm really proud of is the work I did in my Hebrew in Exegesis class on a word study paper (97) and the individual exegesis paper (88). I had already been aided by a 96 on the group exegesis paper, having teamed with "Deano" and "Exegetical Michael Jordan." I needed those, because that's the very class which worries me. Then again, I think now all I fear is the term GPA; if it was below 2.25, that will be the end of my studies. [There might not be any point in finishing.--ed.] Well, I've not decided to become Catholic, hermeneutical and ecclesiological doubts aside. [But it surely affected you--ed....

Note to Robin Thicke : Your massive awesomeness cannot be overestimated. Though I can abide the occasional semi-slinky line here and there ("Lost Without U," looking in your direction, and I am a Babyface/Marvin Gaye fan after all) I must call biblical shenanigans on an album entitled "Sex Therapy." And it has a warning label! So I picked up "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" instead. (Fred the Fundie: But it says 'Evolution'! Oh, heavens to Betsy! Whatever shall we do?) There must be a happy medium somewhere. I figure it's this: If your pastor can't affirm something in a song as reflective of marital love as God intends without firing himself, it's wicked. [Is it a bad time to mention that every time you attend a marriage/dating/sex seminar, you hear "Whip Appeal" in your head for the next three hours?--ed.] Look, I'm not gonna play it for the youth group, OK? But I think we should congratulate the songwriters in that ca...

No, I Cannot Pray and Chew Gum at the Same Time, Thanks for Asking I found myself praying for a buddy just now, forgetting that I had a piece of gum in my mouth. It's not that I couldn't do it; it just felt a bit unserious. Father or no, this is still Almighty God we address. I barely wanted to type that. [Oh, smeg, here comes an anti-evengelical rant!--ed.] Have you gotten the distinct feeling you were in a place where people were talking about God in worship, but not to him? 94% of the time, it's not even intentional. But no wonder we're all confused: it seems like everything in evangelicalism I have seen is geared toward some nebulous "seeker" I have never met, or to his comfort and non-offense. And not that this is bad; I want the people who don't yet know Christ to come; I want the people who could know him more deeply (that'd be all of us) to come, too. But if we're not us as Christians, to what or to whom are we drawing these people? If it...

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...