IRAN USES AIR FORCE TO LOOK FOR SUNBATHERS

The U.S. Navy reports that an Iranian jet buzzed a Navy ship out in international waters. No one knows why.

I think I do. They were looking for sunbathers! After announcing last week that women with suntans would be arrested and beaten, the Iranian government has no doubt taken to the air to make sure no sunbathing is happening in or around Iran. After all, they believe it causes earthquakes. I guess that is what happened in Haiti.

So, where more likely than a ship on a cruise, would you find sunbathers. So they sent a spy plane to look. I'm guessing, though, that they did not find any, or they would have opened fire.

IRAN CRACKS DOWN ON SUNTANNED WOMEN

Iran warns that women with suntans may be arrested and beaten. It just makes you want to live there and embrace Islam, does it not? Especially if you are a woman.

Why women all over the world are not up in arms demanding that their governments oppose the encroachment of Islam is beyond me.

"I am not a monster. I am innocent."

Those are the words of Reverend Ruggero Conti, Roman Catholic priest, said in court regarding accusations that he abused boys in his church. Unfortunately, it sounds way too much like "I am not a crook" and "I did not have sex with that woman". And we know how false those statements proved to be.

WHY THE WORLD NEEDS “SUPERMAN”

Last night the Baby, the Little Woman and I watched the 2006 movie Superman Returns, directed by Brian Singer. The movie has Superman returning to Earth after an absence of five years spent looking for his home world, Krypton.

In his absence, Lex Luthor is released from prison and resumes his evil ways. The legal explanation is clumsy, but no one other than lawyers are likely to notice. Luthor finds Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, steals the crystal and creates a new continent made partially of Kryptonite. Despite that, Superman manages to throw it into space, practically killing himself.

Superman then fell to earth and laid in the hospital for a few days, before recovering and resuming his super ways.

The movie was pretty entertaining, although I found it more interesting for its symbolism and irony than for the action.

The first irony is that Superman isn’t. He is not a man at all, in the sense of being human. He is an alien from another planet. He is not one of us, although he looks like one of us.

The second irony is that the theme of the Superman myth is that his father sent him to Earth and told him humans had a great capacity to be good, they just needed someone to show them “the light”, whatever that is. However, Superman spends all of his time fighting evil, for which humans seem to have an unlimited capacity. In fact, in this movie, while Superman is gone, Lois Lane wrote an article entitled “Why the World Does Not Need Superman”. The movie then goes on to prove, and she later admits, the world does indeed need him, and not to show them the light, but to keep the darkness from overwhelming them.

The story is heavy with Christ symbolism. Superman is sent to Earth by his Father, Christ was sent by his. Superman is perfect, Christ is perfect. After Lex Luthor creates the ultimate evil (in this case a new continent that will flood America and kill millions), Superman took in on himself at the cost of his life. Christ took sin on himself at the cost of his life.

Christ dies and was buried. Superman fell to earth and lay in a great crater, then in a hospital bed with no life signs. Christ rose on the 3rd day. Superman rose after a few days (it may have been three, but I was getting sleepy by then and did not count).

The movie started me thinking (I know, uh oh) about how much and why we like super heroes. The movies are full of them. Superman has been the subject of many movies. Comic book publishes made their industry thrive on a variety of super heroes. They are on television and in novels. Even the current object of fascination, vampires, have super human capability.

I think people realize that the world really does need someone other than man or woman to fix things. They often think politicians will do it. You see this reverential, messiah like context with President Obama. They used to think the United Nations would solve everything, at least before they became major child molesters, rapists, and thieves in their projects.

There is, of course, no Superman. Almost all who have claimed any superiority have been felled by scandal. The Pope, for example, who used to be untouchable, has been tarnished by the continual revelation of child sexual abuse by priests.

What the world needs is Christ. He is the one who sets things right, who takes sin and evil and bears it to deliver us. He gives us the light, the capacity to do and be good. But, most people do not seem to want him. Why would you want Superman and not the God Man? I think it is because Superman does not make moral judgments about the common man. Sure he fights the super evil, but he does not sit down with Lois Lane and say “Lois, you are a sinner. You need to repent and believe in me.” He just dazzles her with his flying and manly good looks. He takes care of all the problems and asks nothing in return.

Christ, on the other hand, demands worship and obedience. He says he is God, not just a man. Plutarch wrote "The answer of the seventh philosopher to Alexander's question, how a man might become a god, was, 'By doing that which was impossible for man to do.'” Even in Roman times, man needed a hero to deliver him.

Christ does not say you are good, you just need a little nudge to get better. He says you are bad and only he can make you good, and then only by paying the price for your badness and having his Father declare you are good and can now spend eternity with Him.

Tremendous photographs of Iceland's volcano. I like the lightening ones best.

HAITI DROPS ALMOST ALL CHARGES AGAINST MISSIONARIES

Remember the Baptist missionaries who were arrested and charged with kidnapping because they did not have the proper paperwork to take kids out of the earthquake ravaged country?

A Haitian judge dropped the kidnapping charges against all 10 U.S. missionaries. However, Laura Silsby, the only one who is still in jail, still has a charge accusing her of organizing the illegal transport of 33 children. This goes back to the paperwork issue. The maximum sentence for that charge is 3 years in jail. Silsby has now been in jail for several months.

Dear Republican National Committee,

I would be more inclined to donate money in response to your weekly pleas (thinly and repeatedly disguised as surveys) if the following were not true:

Both the national Democratic and Republican party committees spend about two-thirds of the money they receive on themselves and on efforts to raise evem more funds, two thirds of which they will also spend on themselves, including limousines, fancy hotels, and, of course, expensive meals.

Also, of course, if you had not passed that really bad, expensive budget in President Bush's last term, but I've already written about that.

I really don't want to pay for you to eat lavishly or even to "wine and dine" big donors with lavish meals. They can afford their own. I don't eat lavishly and you should not either.

If I were a Democrat, I would really be upset, because they portray themselves as champions of the common man, the working class party, but their leaders live in high style at their expense.

It is pretty much the same every where. Even in communist and socialist countries, the leaders live very well while the working guy suffers. A pox on all of you.

(Note to the blog police and political correctness enforecers of our current government: this is an expression of disgust and not a threat of violence or terrorism and no physical harm is really meant or intended. Please go back to your fancy dinners and leave me alone.)

ANNIVERSARY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING

Today is the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, when Timothy McVeigh set off a home made bomb that destroyed the federal building and killed 168 people. It is hard to imagine anything that could make you feel justified to kill 168 of your neighbors, including children in daycare.

Look for the liberal news guys to tie it to the Tea Party and general libertarian feelings. They are not the same, however. America has a long past of demonstrations and protests against government actions, including liberal protests against various wars.

One thing you probably will not hear about is the fuel for McVeigh's rage. It was the government's raid on the Koresh compound outside of Waco. What you will not hear much about is how Janet Reno ordered the invasion of the compound by men dressed in black commando outfits, armed with automatic weapons, right here on American soil. They caused the compound to be burned to the ground. Men, women and children were killed. This was done even though Koresh was known to come into town, where he could easily have been detained, if necessary.

But there is a big question about whether it was necessary. Sure, Koresh was a bit cooky, having spintered off the 7th Day Adventist church to form his own group and writing all kinds of apocalyptic literature. But, basically staying with his little group in the compound and not hurting anyone.

So, maybe we should balance the reporting. Tell the horrors of the domestic terrorist. But also tell the horrors of governmental terrorism on its citizens.

I think this is especially relevant this year as the Obama administration considers whether to take out a hit on a U.S. citizen who belongs to a terrorist organization. We all hate those Al-Qaeda guys, right, so no one cares too much if we kill one. However, he is not a foreign national conduction a war like operation of terror. He is an American. If he committed the crimes and we catch him, what do we do with him? We put him in jail, present his case to a grand jury and ask for an indictment. If we get one, we put him on trial. If he is convicted, he goes to jail. We don't execute him without a trial.

Why should you care?

Well, who defines who is a terrorist? Janet Reno and Bill Clinton defined it for Koresh. Who might President Obama define? You won't argue with this Muslim that advocates and even plans killings. But, what if you define some things as hate speech? What if you think the Tea Party is really disrupting government? How low can you go?

As a side note, does anyone think it rather odd that President Obama advocating the closure of Gitmo and civil trials for foreign terrorists, then seriously considers executing a U. S. citizen without a trial?

America is becoming an interesting place.

IRAQ GOVERNMENT GOES AFTER THE ENEMY BIG TIME

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced today that an Iraqi intelligence team killed al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of al Qaeda's local group of insurgents, the Islamic State of Iraq.

Flights are being cancelled all over Europe due to the ash from the Icelandic volcano eruption. Worldwide travel will be interrupted and delayed. Heathrow in England, a major international hub, is closed, as are many others.

We, as humans, feel very advanced and safe until a "natural" catastrophe occurs. Then, all of our technology and science and ability is useless. The volcano erupted, spewed ash into the air and we only watched and wondered how much damage it would do.

It is likely no one in England got up yesterday thinking, I wonder if something will happen around the world that will affect me. Yet, it has. Back in the 1800s, an eruption in Asia prevented spring and summer from arriving in New England, the cloud of ash was so strong.

There was a huge earthquake in Haiti a while back, then a bigger one in Chile. Now there is a massive volcanic eruption. Maybe it is time to reflect on the fact that we are relatively small and there is someone bigger. Maybe that someone even wants to bring that to our attention.

And here is a thought for you. If that Someone Bigger, let's call him God for the sake of this discussion, used those catastrophe's to draw attention to himself and his power, and it caused many to repent and believe, would these catastrophes not be a work of grace?

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since wht may be know about God is plaint to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creationof the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal powr and divine nature-have been clearly see, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:21-23

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Acts 3:19.

FREE NURSING DEGREE AVAILABLE

If you want to get a degree and help out a hospital with a nurse shortage, here is your chance. It is made available by the HRSA Nursing Scholarship Program
Accepting Applications through May 6

The Health Resources and Services Administration's Nursing Scholarship Program is accepting applications until May 6. It pays for tuition, education-related expenses (including books, clinical supplies and laboratory fees) and even a living stipend.

Nurses must commit to work for at least two years after graduation at a health facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

Call 800/221-9393for details.

Preference will be given to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate registered nursing program.

You will have to begin classes for the fall term on or after July 1 and no later than Sept. 30 of this year.

There are about 500 awards available for the 2010-11 school year.

It's not a free lunch, but it sounds like a good deal if you want to be a nurse and are short of funds.

Even the Washington Post thinks the President's nuclear policy is stupid. Charles Krauthammer puts for the scenario that thousands of U.S. citizens could be killed in an anthrax or gas attack, and we could not respond with nuclear weapons if the attacking country had signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Here is a good flow chart of potential Supreme Court nominees, with pictures.

whip me, beat me, call me Edna.

You can't make me nuke you.

Obama.

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEVENS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Liberal justice John Paul Stevens has just announced he will step down from the court this summer, likely in June or July. His resignation has been expected, as he has strongly hinted he would resign, having waited for a liberal to take the White House and name his replacement.

Stevens is 89 and soon to be 90.

Stevens is the leader of the liberal faction on the court. The President will surely replace him with a liberal, so the numbers on the court will not change. Stevens, however, was well regarded even by the conservative members and could at times muster a majority, bringing in the swing votes. The new justice will not have that kind of clout at the beginning of his or her term.

Since the President will likely appoint someone relatively young, it does guarantee a long term liberal justice in this position.

FORT WORTH MAIN STREET ARTS FESTIVAL

The annual Arts Festival has arrived to Main Street in downtown Fort Worth. I strolled about one third of the way through during lunch. It was a gorgeous day, though windy. Well, it is spring in North Texas after all.

There is much to see. In my short trip, I saw art glass, pottery, photography, painting, mobiles, sculpture and collage. It was very interesting and some was outstanding. There are many activities for kids, so take them! There is a plethora of junk food if you are inclined. It was hard for me to stay away from the funnel cake booth, but I did.

This picture is of a mobile. They always have a display of several in the parking lot on Main Street. These are just gorgeous.

There are performers playing all kinds of music of different kinds. I hope to return with the Little Woman.

Joanna, of "Grace In The Home" fame, made this cake for us for our Easter lunch.

THINKING ABOUT HEAVEN

One of the funny things about people is our desire to know what we cannot know and speculate about it. When we do this, we often ignore the knowledge we do have. Heaven is one of those topics that inspire speculation.

Movies have portrayed heaven in terms of clouds and harps and people wearing white.

People even write books claiming they have gone there and returned to tell the tale. This is particularly sad, since the one person we can believe this happened to is the apostle Paul, and he said we cannot do that. He did not use his own name, but referred to one who had been taken into the third heaven, which is Biblical terminology for what we call Heaven, the abode of God.

Interestingly, Paul did not say what he saw there. In fact, he said it was not allowed!

Paul told the story in 1 Corinthians 12. He was caught up to Paradise, the third heaven. "He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell." 1 Corinthians 12:4. If God would not let Paul, the last apostle, speak of the things in heaven, why would he let someone today, even if they could go and return (which I do not believe).

In addition to all this, a person who claims more knowledge of heaven than is revealed in Scripture is denying the authority of Christ and the sufficiency of Scripture. God chose to reveal some things to us, but not all. Hebrews 1 tells us God has spoken to us in these days by the word of Christ. That word is contained in the New Testament. The New Testament is closed. To claim direct revelation is to dispute the canon of Scripture and claim the status of the Old Testament prophet, receiving direct revelation from God outside of Scripture. Although there are a few Pentecostal leaders who claim this privilege, in effect elevating themselves over Christ and the Bible, orthodox believers, mainstream Evangelicals, do not not.

In case I cannot say it clearly enough, let me quote one of my favorite theologians.

"There is no need for us to speculate about the precise nature of heaven. We are assured on the authority of Jesus Christ that it is the house and the home of his Father and ours (there are twenty-two references to the Father in John 14), that his home is a prepared place containing many rooms or resting places, and that he himself will be there. What more do we need to know? To be certain that where he is, there we shall be also should be enough to satisfy our curiosity and allay our fears." John Stott.

I guess the United Nations likes me saying bad things about them; they sent me this email:


REF/07/04/10;United Nations Qualification Numbers for a grant award of $515,810.00 USD is UN/01/2010/459. Contact: @ Tel:+447023064797 e-mail: sd.unverification@live.com for claims detail.United Nations, Fee charge to be paid is GBP 150 Pounds reply for details.

does this mean the fee is 150 pounds of anything?

Funny that the award is in dollars but the fee is in pounds, huh.

wonder if they do C.O.D.?

Sad News Today

I just heard that Michael Spencer, The Internet Monk, died this week of cancer.

I also just heard that Bruce Waltke, Old Testament Professor at RTS Orlando resigned due to a flap over a video in which he appeared. He has taken the position that evolution and the Bible can be reconciled. Interestingly, he still believes in a historical Adam and Eve.

Comcast won its court challenge against the FCC concerning FCC authority to regulate the Internet.

Believe it or not, there are some people out there who think I drink a lot of coffee. Just because I teach Sunday School with a Starbucks cup in my hand does not mean I am an addict.

Nonetheless, here are some thought about coffee. You know you have had too much coffee when:

* You can type 60 words per minute with your toes.

* Intant coffee takes too long.

* You chew on other people's finger nails.

* You answer the door before people knock.

* You sleep with your eyes open.

* You only sleep so you can wake up and smell the coffee.

* You are the employee of the month at Starbucks and you do not even work there.

* You go to AA meetings just for the coffee.

This has all kind of made me want a cup. I think I'll head home early and stop at Starbucks.

"The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, whcih is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are." C. H. Spurgeon.