Posted 10:17 AM by HokiePundit
Speaking of Churches With Problems...

Unless the theologically conservative Episcopalian parishes break ties with the Episcopal Church, USA, as of September 1st I will no longer consider myself an Episcopalian. They'll have had over a year, and will still be exactly where they were before. If they're serious, they'll leave. If not, then I don't want anything to do with a church that isn't serious. To The Falls Church, Truro, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont), Church of the Good Samaritan (Paoli), +Duncan, +Iker, and all others who lay claim to orthodoxy, I say Leave now! Shake the dust from your feet and leave this inhospitable place! Do not stay and be counted among the heretics by the world.

Posted 11:20 PM by HokiePundit
Roman Catholics Aren't Going To Like This

But I think I've offered enough defense of Roman Catholicism in the past to be able to offer criticism without being deemed some unhinged Fundamentalist. The Bystander is right. He may be a very holy man, but the Pope is also a hypocrite. I obviously don't believe that the head of the Roman church is capable of speaking infallibly, and so I have no trouble believing that he can act fallibly as well.

It is not right that a man who knew and tolerated such widespread abuse over so many decades should lecture Americans over an isolated incident. Roman Catholicism owes the United States of America an apology. Bush should keep the Medal of Freedom for someone more worthy. And Bishop Wojtyla should keep his mouth shut unless he's willing to say Hail Marys and Our Fathers for the next few centuries. To Roman Catholics, I say that I regret that you have such a man as your leader. I had really thought him better than this.

Posted 5:00 PM by HokiePundit
Drat

I need a longer attention span. Either that, or I need to blog more often. I keep wondering about things, thinking long and hard about them, and then resolving them with a simple solution. That doesn't make for great reading.

One thing I'd been thinking about before was the subject of girls. The solution I came up with was that when I'm ready, things will start falling into place. If I force the issue before I've made sure I'm right with the Lord and that dating isn't just an idol I'm placing before God, then only harm will come of it, and I could very well alienate good friends. While I do know that I tend to be very oblivious, and probably wouldn't really know if I was being hit upon even if some girl started rubbing against me, that may be a bit of a blessing. Again, I figure that once I've made sure that my heart, mind, body, and spirit are dedicated to God, then things will work out the way He wants.

I was also thinking about race and the ghetto. Having volunteered in Chester, PA, I've seen some (not much) of the environment. I've also started reading "Code of the Street" by Elijah Anderson, which has been enlightening.
And, I was watching a rerun of ER this morning, and race was an issue constantly cropping up. At the end, one of the black nurses or receptionists (I don't watch enough to have that sorted out yet) was asked by a white doctor if she thought he had been racist in treating a badly wounded white gunshot victim first over a less-badly-wounded black gunshot victim (who later died). She told him that some white people don't see race in anything, but that black people see it in everything. I don't know how far that goes, but I've seen that statement ring true before. I have a very low tolerance for things that sound like political correctness or people making victims out of themselves, but when my friend BH, who is black, mentioned how one problem of the inner city was "institutional racism," it made me consider if there weren't more to this than just unfounded complaints. I think, in a way, it reminds me of the boy who called wolf. Imagine you're with a group of eighty people, and you suddenly have ten people run in and say that a wolf is terrorizing their flock. What would your immediate response be? Whatever this says about me, I think my first thought would be "There can't possibly be ten wolves terrorizing these flocks at the same time. Heck, I'd be surprised if there were ten wolves even in the area." My hunch is that a lot of white people think the same way. Now, it could be that there actually are ten wolves. It could also be that it's one wolf that's attacking all the flocks. And, it's possible that some of the people are either lying or overreacting ("That bush moved! There must be a wolf there waiting!"). I really don't know which is the case, which is why I'm trying to learn more.

At the Navigators Mid-Atlantic Spring Conference this Spring, the main thing that I remember (besides finger puppets and the Quiet Time story) was the speaker's point that some things only have to be given up once, while for other things we may have to pray to God for help every single day for the rest of our lives. I don't know a lot about them, but from my reading of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, I do believe in the idea of guardian angels, and that the whole hosts of Heaven and Hell are watching us to see what we do. So, one thing I've found effective is to ask God to send one of His angels to watch over you. However it works, temptations seem to be a lot weaker when I've done this. I don't pretend to actually understand how this works; all I can think is that the angel is wrestling with whatever demons may seek to harm me instead of me having to do it myself. I could, of course, be way off with this thought, but it seems to make sense right now.

I've also been reminded that deciding to walk with God is often like wading out into a strong current. If you try to stand still or don't move fast enough, you're going to get swept back. While you're on the shore, it's pretty peaceful, but you're not actually going anywhere. I'd noticed before that whenever I make a decision to do something that I know will be very hard for me, temptations to do what I'm trying to reject come flying fast and hard. Even, things that never would've been opportunities before "magically" open up. Satan knows when we're stepping out, and hates it. So, I think that these new temptations are a good sign that I'm heading on the right path and that Satan knows it, and hates it.

Posted 9:21 PM by HokiePundit
Computers Are Cool

Go here, click on the link for "Animusic," and save the file. Enjoy!

Posted 11:41 AM by HokiePundit
You Need to Read This

It's not light reading, though.

(via TS O'Rama)

Posted 8:56 PM by HokiePundit
Whoa

1. I see a little spider which looks like some mutated soldier black ant crawling on my monitor.
2. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a tiny bit of black-ish movement.
3. I hear a "click."

Assessing the situation, I see that the spider has jumped a distance of at least three feet from the top of my monitor to a small container on the floor. I look at the spider, and it's doing its spidey-thing and moving around, presumably searching for food. If my math is correct, then the spider just jumped from a distance over four times as far as if I'd leapt from the top of the Empire State Building. Nasty little buggers...

Posted 1:41 AM by HokiePundit
It Sure Looks Bad...

...until you start actually breaking down costs. At approximately $409 per person for the War on Terror, that doesn't sound so bad. The cost of my GameCube, six games, three other controllers, memory cards, and a carrying case probably are about that much. I'm pretty sure that most people would value not being flown into skyscrapers more highly than a GameCube setup. Furthermore, given that the rich pay most of the taxes in America, the amount that I personally paid is probably fairly low (being a college student who is employed off-and-on). So, while the number is big, it's not all that impressive when you really look at it.

Posted 5:44 PM by HokiePundit
Memo to Other Drivers

Let's face it: many of you aren't very good drivers. Oh, I'm sure you know how to operate your vehicle, and I've seen some of you fit your Suburban in spots where only a Jetta should fit. I have no doubt of your technical ability.

However, many of you are rude, and sometimes downright mean. When someone has their blinker on, especially when traffic is hardly moving, then it is common courtesy to let them in. Not doing so, especially if it means nearly running them into a pylon or off the road, is just plain mean. Similarly, getting all up on my rear bumper isn't likely to make me go faster or get out of the lane, especially if I'm not in the passing lane or I have a tractor-trailer in the spot where you'd like me to move.

Many of you also violate the law. In Virginia, the speed limit designates how fast you are permitted to travel. State law recognizes no instance where you may lawfully violate the speed limit, unless you are an emergency vehicle or cop. You are also forbidden from passing on the right. When you drive the way that most of you do, you put those of us who actually obey the law at risk. If you have children in your car, then I think you ought to be charged with neglect for driving the way many of you do. If you are pretending to be a Christian and still speed, then I question whether you're actually a believer or not. I'm upset when cops are going at least 70MPH (the maximum speed in Virginia is 65; also, cops and emergency vehicles may not speed unless their lights are on), and even more so when they fail to pull people over whom they know are speeding. Look: either raise the speed limit to where you actually believe it should be, or obey the law. Allowing people to drive over the speed limit is a pretty dirty thing to do, since you allow them to believe that they may speed and then pull them over whenever your podunk town needs more money. It's fundamentally dishonest, and I don't like it.

The law is the law. Either obey it or work to change it. Until it is changed, though, you still need to obey it. I'm upset that so very few people obey the law, though I should expect as much in a fallen world.

ALSO: Would it wrong for me, as a Christian, to put a sign on the liftgate of my truck that says: "SLOW DOWN, You're Not That Important?"

Posted 10:16 PM by HokiePundit
Status Report

Two days after my surgery, I'm feeling swell swollen. I've normally got a fairly narrow chin; my face is rectangular right now. If the swelling goes down by a fair amount tonight, then I'm off to Chester, PA tomorrow morning. If not...well, then I'll just have to wait until June. I'd say it's 50/50; let's hope I'm able to head out.

Posted 2:49 PM by HokiePundit
And They're Out!

The appointment was at 1PM. I'm feeling good right now (novocaine!). The rest of the day shall be occupied by sherbet, movies, and food. My sinus headache is gone, as is the nasal congestion. Oddly enough, I feel better after the surgery than before. I'm sure I'll hurt later, but for now (before any percocet or anything like that), I'm pretty good.

Posted 12:05 AM by HokiePundit
Uh-Oh

It looks as though the Fearsome Pirate may have closed up shop. This would be a real shame, as he was one of the most entertaining and intellectual bloggers out there. If he happens to read this, I hope he comes back.

Posted 12:04 AM by HokiePundit
An Announcement

Today, I get my wisdom teeth removed. I'm going to just go with local anaesthesia, and hopefully will be able to blog some time this evening.