February 2009

Tonight (Friday February 27) William Dembski will debate Michael Ruse at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Dembski is an expert in Intelligent Design, Dr. Ruse is a Darwinian philosopher. They have previously debated several times and collaborated on a book together.

As many of you may know, this is the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his Origin of the Species.

On Saturday February 28, Trinity Baptist Church will host “Contending for the Faith: An Apologetics Conference” with Dr. William Dembski. The conference will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at noon. Dr. Dembski will address “The Task of Apologetics” and “Every Christian an Apologist”. The cost of the conference is $5 and includes breakfast.

Governor Bobby Jindal

Last night, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal gave the Republicans’ response to President Obama’s State of the Union address. I give the young state executive leader a high grade. Read the rest of this entry »

If you haven’t heard by now, an Oklahoma City motorist made the news because a police officer pulled him over for featuring an “Abort Obama Not the Unborn” sign on his car.

The reason for such action was due to the motorist possibly being a “threat against President Obama.” Dear friends, don’t you find this conclusion quite fascinating?

Someone says they want to “Abort Obama,” and that is a terrible thing. However, someone wants to abort an unborn child, and that is acceptable?

The police officer’s action provokes so many alarming responses. Of course, the issue of first amendment rights is one of the cards one would pull immediately. Many who tolerated the negative Bush signs for so long could voice their disgust as well.

For me, the greater concern is the overemphasis given to the first part of the phrase of the confiscated sign over the latter. Instead of a negative focus on our current president, let us use our energies to focus on giving life to the unborn.

North Dakota state representatives made a strong move yesterday. They drew a proverbial line in the sand that boldly states when life begins – which is rightly declared at conception.

Rep. Dan Ruby is a hero for the unborn. He is to be commended for sponsoring a bill that declares “any organism with the genome of homo sapiens is a person protected by rights granted by the North Dakota Constitution and state laws.”

Oklahoma representatives also are mentioned in the linked article. Rep. Dan Sullivan authored a bill that prevents doctors from performing abortions strictly on the grounds of gender of the unborn child.

Many would say this is mostly a useless bill because such reason for abortion has never been recorded. However, I believe it provokes public thought and can be influential in encouraging future parents to not consider abortion.

Here’s a question: Big Oil is bad. Big Peanut is bad, apparently. Big Pharmaceutical is bad. Big Bank is bad. Why then, is Big Government good?

It’s naive to say that by being nice to each other we can avoid issues of sin. — Bishop Martyn Minns of the Anglican Church of North America

Did you know: “Washington’s Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day (or Presidents’ Day). As Washington’s Birthday or Presidents Day, it is also the official name of a concurrent state holiday celebrated on the same day in a number of states.”

So, happy birthday to the father of our country, General Washington. Without question or debate, George Washington was and remains the greatest President that ever was or could ever be.

It is, however, profitable to mention others who positively shaped the course of this nation. In no particular order, here are a few:

Read the rest of this entry »

Things that go on in public schools never cease to amaze me. In a day where the need for more parental involvment in the education and lives of children is the school’s battle cry, one school in Nevada City is underfire for stepping way over the line. What’s all the fuss about? Parents in the school district are up in arms over the 12 year old girl who was forced by the school’s counselor, Steve Davis, to take a pregnancy test.

The counselor cited various rumors at the school that Celine Randall was pregnant. He took it upon himself to pull her from class, confront her about the rumors, and then forced her to take a pregnancy test. The biggest shock of all is that Randall’s parents were never contacted. They knew nothing of the rumors, and more importantly they knew nothing of the pregnancy test their twelve year old daughter was forced to take. A lawsuit was filed by the girl’s parents in late October 2008. You can read more about the story here: http://www.theunion.com/article/20090211/NEWS/902109975/1053/rss

“America needs a Manhattan Project for character. Children must be taught to tell the truth, that falsehoods have bad consequences. Children must know that honor, respect for others, integrity and fair play are indispensable to a happy life.”

- former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, writing in a column in the Feb. 6, 2009, edition of The Oklahoman

“The Darwin 2009 Project at the University of Oklahoma will mark the anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of publication of his On the Origin of Species with activities and speakers throughout 2009, including a March 6 speech by atheist Professor Dr. Richard Dawkins, of Oxford University, in England.

“Professor Dawkins was featured in the 2008 documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, featuring Ben Stein.

“Ahead of the Darwin 2009 Project, Trinity Baptist Church in Norman is hosting the Designed for Faith: Science & Religion in Conversation Conference tomorrow, Sat., February 7, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.”

Source: Oklahoma Family Policy Council Email Newsletter.

This news story tells me there is at least one other Okie besides me who hasn’t bent over backwards to the yoga boom. The story says in part:

For Laurette Willis, there is no middle ground on yoga. She describes it as a gateway to the occult or New Age religion, and, at best, a diluted, one-size-fits-all spirituality.

The Oklahoma resident and author spent more than 20 years practicing and teaching yoga before reconnecting with her Christian faith and inventing PraiseMoves, a Bible-based exercise program that pairs individual verses with postures, some of which are similar to yoga poses.

In those two decades, Willis said yoga opened her to astrology, metaphysics, crystals, channeling, psychic readings, out-of-body experiences and other practices.

My Elijah Complex needs a reality check sometimes.

Hat Tip: BTD

I experienced my first Rose Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol yesterday. It was a great thrill to participate in this significant event.

I witnessed many people throughout the floors of the building, scampering to find their respective senators and house representatives. There was quite an array of families, senior citizens and school groups in attendance. I appreciated being among the many of my state who made a concerted effort in telling our government officials that Sanctity of Life is a valuable and sacred thing.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Oklahomans have an opportunity to express their belief in the sanctity of human life to their legislators during the 18th Annual Rose Day February 4 at the State Capitol. (Rose distribution at 10:30 a.m. and rally begins at 11:45 a.m.)”

The Capitol never has such a pleasing aroma as today. I hope to see many of you there.

Interesting article on National Review Online today. It begins:

“For the first time since Jimmy Carter ran for the White House in 1976, large numbers of evangelical and Catholic voters pulled the Democratic lever in a presidential election. Last week, Pres. Barack Obama decided to reverse a policy that prohibits U.S. tax dollars from funding abortion providers overseas.”

“How to square the two? Some younger Christians probably saw it coming: Obama’s campaign emphasized social-justice issues like overcoming racism, combating poverty, and tackling global issues like AIDS, and for them, this agenda trumped abortion. For others, however, the new policy is a betrayal: While courting the evangelical and Catholic vote on the campaign trail, Obama also promised to reduce the number of abortions.”

Though I chose to start out neutral and/or favorable to him, this one major policy switch (and the disloyalty to his campaign rhetoric it represents) is why I cannot in good conscience approve of the job Obama is doing. Read more of the piece here.

Last year, I wrote a post about the priority of environmentalism from a Christian perspective (March 14). After reading Father Jonathan’s article “Limiting Couples to Just Two Kids is Not the Way to Save the Earth,” I have witnessed one of my greatest fears regarding the global warming issue.

Promoting abortion for the ridiculous notion that it would save the Earth is an absolute low. Father Jonathan’s article even presents Jonathon Porritt’s concept of making sure teenage mothers abort their children for the sake of the environment.

Please friends, let us pray this does not become the norm.