Do you have any litmus tests for political candidates? That's rhetorical. I know you do. Everybody does, even if the litmus tests are very basic (e.g., must be human and not dead). I finally decided to write mine down. » read more »

What will happen when Israel strikes at Iran's centrifuges and, likely, their shiny new heavy-water reactor? Obviously, Iran will counter, putting to the test their grandiose military claims. I would find it difficult to believe Israel will escape unscathed, but I know they have a decent anti-missile defense (though not perfect, I expect). » read more »

The U.S. and Russia are reviving the Cold War. Russia upped the ante by threatening to sell the S-300 to Iran. This would essentially force Israel's hand. Israel would need to strike Iran before this air-defense weapon went into service. » read more »

I have numerous Christian acquaintances who insist upon having a calling to put their children in government schooling. Might they be right about this calling? If not, why not? » read more »

This is a 10-year-old's (fifth grade) take on socialization in government schools:

I don't like the fact that we don't get any social time. We [sic] only time we're allowed to socialize is at lunch, at recess (which we only get 15 minutes of), and in the Girl's Bathroom. A lot of the girls in my class go to the bathroom a lot just so they can socialize. I've done that once, and I din't really have to go to the bathroom.

How very sad.

The subject came up at work, and I got to thinkin'. Engineers typically abhor overhead. If he's a programmer, writing code is productive while most everything else is overhead. If he's a hardware designer, schematics and possibly layouts and parts selection represent productivity. Things such as status reports, quality control, meetings, and record-keeping are usually deemed distractions to his "real" work. » read more »

The problem with Vox's apparent preference for certification is that such processes are just as bogus as any degree. I cannot begin to describe how many times I've seen UL, ISO, or TL certifications handed out like Tic Tacs...after the requisite bribes and rear-kissing. » read more »

Need I say more than this? Jurors who question the legitimacy of unconstitutional or immoral laws are kicked off the jury. In short, we can all rest assured that juries--the last check and balance against government tyranny in the courts--will blindly obey the will of their government masters. How is this freedom? » read more »

I've been wrestling with whether or not I should talk to my pastor about all the heresies (albeit minor) he preaches or his abysmal understanding of Koine Greek and Hebrew. I was being nagged to do so because I thought I had a responsibility to stand up for truth. However, the Lord reminded me of Matthew 7:6. » read more »

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Please pray for several unspecified kids. They are presently experiencing unexplained symptoms which may be related to very serious conditions. Pray for healing. Pray for parental and medical wisdom. Pray for early detection and effective treatment, if necessary. » read more »

The new dance year has begun. As I first stepped into En Pointe's (EP) studio yesterday afternoon, I was inundated with small tasks, queries, and greetings. It was pleasantly crowded, and I was a bit overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I was happy to be back. » read more »

Finally getting fed up with numerous school bus dangers, I decided to start working my way through government to figure out how to hold dangerous and errant drivers accountable. I cannot say for sure if the accountability is genuine, but I did manage to make contact with the head of the Gwinnett schools' transportation system. » read more »

I just received this from PJI:

For Immediate Release: August 18, 2008

Contact: President Brad Dacus (916) 857-6900

Cal. Supreme Court Rejects Doctors' Rights of Conscience

Sacramento, CA - In a major decision likely to re-draw the battle lines of the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court today ruled against two doctors who declined to artificially inseminate a lesbian. » read more »

Our church's pastor managed to do a sermon this week without screwing up any doctrine or demonstrating his incompetence with Koine Greek (let alone Hebrew). He preached on John 15:2. His sermon was, as usual, baby food, but at least he didn't lead people astray as he usually does.

Like Georgia, the U.A.E. appeals to international law in its dispute with Iran over Abu Mousa. The mistake they make is this: such an appeal assumes a rule-of-law philosophy at work in all concerned parties. Iran has amply demonstrated it does not follow this philosophy. » read more »

This is a good article on the Russian invasion of Georgia, the West's abandonment of their ally, and the lessons to be learned in defense of Israel. » read more »

My credo is sola scriptura but, even so, that (IMHO) must needs be tempered with the interpretation of Scripture by others, lest one become a heretic. And so, there is a place for tradition as a check against ‘private interpretation’. Even so, I also believe in semper reformanda, as long the change brings one closer to God and truth. » read more »

Kidsignments is coming next week! Held twice a year, it's one of the largest children's consignment sales in the nation, limiting the number of sellers to 1,000! There is always a waiting list of sellers to get into this sale.

Check out www.kidsignments.com for all the details. » read more »

I recommend Jerry Knoff if you're ever in the market to buy or sell real estate. He's a very enthusiastic broker with values rarely seen in real estate. He used to be an accountability brother of mine, so I know him very well. He's conscientious, goes above and beyond the call of duty, works tirelessly for you, and exudes integrity. He's a real professional. » read more »

Guven's has been a consistently awesome jeweler. They're sold-out believers. They always give very fair deals--far more fair to the customer than to their own bottom line. They are very helpful and attentive. They're quick. They're also patient as they wait on customers. Their taste is impeccable, too. We have frequented Guven's for years, and we're still amazed by their service and prices.

The New Testament In Scots, tranlsated by William Laughton Lorimer (LL.D, F.B.A.) (1885 - 1967), was first published in 1983 by Southside (Publishers) Ltd, Edinburg, Scotland. I can't remember where I ran across this work, but it was the audio recording of the four gospels by Tom Fleming that fascinated me. This is a new translation, directly from the best Greek texts available. The written tranlsation places the story of the woman caught in adultery, and a few other doubtful passages, in an appendix, but Mr. Fleming (O.B.E., C.V.O) reads them in context. » read more »

After much research, I've become convinced that Archbishop Ussher's historical timeline (the history of the world beginning at creation) is correct. His Annals of the World is a comprehensive analysis of Biblical timelines, effectively resolving all apparent contradictions (e.g., the Israelite sojourn into Egypt). Masterfully done.

A friend once asked me if it were acceptable to publicly deny Christ while privately, secretly remaining faithful. I had only Scripture as an answer: "Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." and "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." » read more »

"What comes around, goes around." "You will reap what you sow."

I've been pondering both the history and future of our country, and I cannot help but wonder if we are reaping what we've sown. I'm not talking about how our Declaration and Constitution were created by God-fearing men who believed that the Bible should be the moral compass of our country's framework. » read more »

Unverified, but easily believable: » read more »

Fox reports again on the recent attacks against Christians by the CA University system. In this case, the University is denying course credit to students who learn from a Biblical or creationist worldview. Absolutely predictable, of course. The ungodly world--don't fool yourself into thinking America is still Christian by any means--is on the warpath against God's followers. This is just an attempt to discredit creationism while avoiding any scientific investigation into its claims. » read more »

Apparently, English-Only rules in the workplace, etc., are all but illegal. The EEOC's policies state that such rules are assumed to be in violation of federal law (discriminating based upon national origin), unless the employer can prove such a rule is necessary for safety's sake or otherwise necessary for conducting business. Such proof must include actual evidence of the harm of speaking foreign languages in that business' context. » read more »

We were at the park today making friends with another mom and her kids. Our kids were playing together when it became evident that my son was in trouble. He was playing in a tree. He was getting down out of the tree and slid down and got his knee wedged in between two trunk limbs of the tree, maybe 18-24 inches off the ground. He got so stuck we women couldn't get him out, so I had to call 911. It took 5 firemen to get him out by prying the limbs apart as much as they could. » read more »

Have you been dreaming of an opportunity to serve the Lord in a worthy ministry? Have you been itching for a job that eats up all your vacation days and much of your sleep, breaks your back and wears out your feet, leaves you dehydrated and hungry, makes you a servant to all and master of none, and gives you plenty of opportunities to open your wallet in generosity? Then Praise In Motion Tech Crew is the job for you! Only true believers need apply. » read more »

My dad and I know that America used to have a good government, and it helped us do the right thing. But we both see now that it has gone downhill. The government has too much power, and they're using it in the wrong ways. For example, they say that kids can get the best education in school, but they're having a hard time finding teachers that are smart enough! » read more »

I've blogged a bit in the past about the demise of this once great nation and the inevitable need for another revolution to restore liberty once again. I've repeatedly said it's not yet time for revolt, despite our present government's abuses being far worse than the British crown's in the mid-to-late eighteenth century. In discussions of late, I've come to realize just when it is time for revolt, armed if necessary. » read more »

Check out this article http://www.foxnews.com/story/0.... Once you've read it, if you are as outraged at this as I am, consider contacting Tyson Foods and letting them know. I went to http://www.tyson.com/corporate... and clicked on "Contact Us" and gave them an earful. While I doubt that boycotts have any effect at all on big corporations, I let them know of my displeasure and that I will not buy their products in the future unless they rescind this policy. » read more »

Some idiots say having a litmus test for political candidates is wrong. Would these same idiots be okay with electing a mass murderer, a serial rapist, or a dead man? (The last may actually perform better in office than any of our recent candidates.) It's common sense to expect candidates to meet at least a reasonable minimum, espousing a platform that demonstrates potential competence for the office. » read more »

I have watched a show for several weeks now called the Baby Borrowers. It's where five teenage "couples" borrow babies, toddlers, pre-teens, teens, and elderly people. All the girls thought they would be wonderful parents and wanted to have kids as soon as possible. Well, at the end of the experiment, they all broke up and weren't going to have kids for a long time. So think about that before you have kids too young from now on. It's a good thing to learn!

All believers are ethicists. We must test all things against the Word of God, the Word being an unchanging standard of ethics.

Is it better to be seen as humble even if it means being perceived wrongly as unsure about the Word of God? Or is it better to be confident in the Word, even if it means being perceived wrongly as proud and arrogant? » read more »

My mom could use your prayers. She's been battling a kidney infection for the past two weeks. They docs thought her gallstones were the problem last week, but earlier this week she woke up vomiting with fever, and my step-dad took her to the hospital. She was sent home 8 hours later. I spent all day Wednesday with her and she looked about the worst I've ever seen her. Anyway the kids and I prayed for her before we left the other day and she has been getting better since then. But she just called and she's still weak and in need of full healing. » read more »

Michael Reagan writes:

President Bush should issue an executive order denying any federal funds to those cities which either officially or unofficially provide sanctuaries enabling illegal aliens who commit crimes to escape deportation. They need to learn there is a price to be paid for exposing their citizens to criminal activities by aliens here illegally.

Bull! Denying federal funds is laughable. No, instead those city councilmen need to be tried for treason and executed if found guilty. » read more »

In 1 Timothy 2:11-15, Paul wrote:

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. » read more »

Some believers see devils everywhere, blaming them for all their woes. In so doing, they're avoiding personal responsibility for what is really just the natural consequences of their own sins. The recently popular euphemism for seeing demons behind every difficulty is "spiritual attack". » read more »

I ran across this blog post a while back (Vox linked to it), and I wanted to pass it along. Too funny.

Some friends of ours have just been blessed with their first child, and they are having a hard time. The new mom, especially, is struggling with her fears about parenting, and with nursing in specific. They are also having a hard time getting sleep. They are both strong believers, but I am afraid they are having a hard time hearing the Lord right now. » read more »

Self-test for Autism Quotient: http://www.msnbc.com/modules/n...

Bear in mind, it's a self-test. This means its accuracy will be highly suspect, especially by those personalities that can easily and naturally morph.

From http://voxday.blogspot.com/200... ...

[Vox quotes from http://article.nationalreview.... ...]

An acquaintance of mine, an academic in the human sciences (not Charles Murray) holds the opinion that across an IQ gap of more than one standard deviation (i.e. about 15 points), communication between two people becomes difficult, and that beyond two standard deviations it is effectively impossible. » read more »

After some extensive work on the Notify module of TuscanyCircle, and after its long absence, I've re-enabled email notifications for trusted users. If you go into your account (click "account" on the top-center menu), you should see a tab for "my notify settings" or something like that. You can choose to enable or disable notifications as well as include new posts and/or new comments. » read more »

We had never believed in chiropractors' effectiveness. In fact, much of their philosophy is bunk, as far as we're concerned (e.g., all troubles can be trace to the spine, etc.) We think manipulating the spine is a dangerous prospect, and there are likely a lot of incompetent chiropractors out there. Having said all this, we have found one we are comfortable recommending without reservation: » read more »

I found an interesting book by William James Sidis. Though Sidis was supposedly a super-genius (so far, I'm not seeing it), the flaws in his logic show through. To be fair, he was more up front about his assumptions than most "scientists" but not as much as he should have been. I'm only a third of the way through yet, but it's proving to be a very interesting read, flaws notwithstanding. » read more »

Please pray for En Pointe School of Dance. This school is struggling somewhat due to changing demographics--new neighbors just aren't so interested in ballet. The school is considering moving locations as one step in stimulating new growth, but this has numerous trials associated. En Pointe is a center of very high quality ballet instruction (plus jazz, tap, modern, praise & worship and more), and all its leaders exude Biblical values.

Alternative Pest Control has been a valuable service provider to us for several years now. They are a Christian business, and their ethics seems to back this claim. They're affordable, effective, prompt, and courteous. They'll do routine extermination as well as termite letters and such. They also guarantee their work. » read more »

It seems this page is one of the most frequently visited on TuscanyCircle by web searchers (e.g., Googlers, Yahoo-ers, etc.). People must really be interested in emotional maturity these days. In a way, I suppose that should be an encouraging sign. What would be more interesting, though, is knowing what people are taking away from TuscanyCircle. Are they truly seeking emotional maturity? Or are they merely looking for affirmation, evidence showing how they're more emotionally mature than their peers? » read more »