The Law Is Boring - Sep 30

It's real late as I write this post (just before 4:00 a.m.) but I just had a two hour nap and I feel pretty invigorated. For those precious few that bother to follow this blog (Thank you!), you may be aware of my ambition to become a paralegal. Why then do I say that the law is boring? And if that's the case, why am I persisting in this particular field?

I like the ad shown recently advertising for the state of California. Many well-known celebrities appear and toss off a couple of bon mots. Somewhere in the middle of the ad is one of golf's fan favorites, Phil Mickelson. In his cameo, we cheekily hear Phil say, "We're just a bunch of pencil pushers" whilst recording his score on a putting green. As any golfer will tell you, it's absolutely critical to keep an accurate scorecard. Failure to do so would lead to disqualification (and therefore loss of prize winnings) in any tournament. But do golfers live to write down numbers on a scorecard? No! They live for the game and the physical challenge that every golf course brings. It is precisely this interaction with the game, especially in front of a cheering Sunday crowd, that really drives a golfer.

So it is for those who enter the law field. We too have to do lot of paperwork, probably much more than Phil will ever see in his lifetime! But it's that interaction with people, be it clients or others whose job it is to help in administering justice. I'll tell you another secret: Money is boring too. But it's that interaction between people and money that fascinates me. By all accounts, entering into the legal field is a lucrative one. If you work hard and play by the rules (and there are many!) you can make yourself a pretty penny. Forget the Hollywood version of what lawyers do. The reality is that being in the legal field means being heavily regulated in how we conduct our business. But that does not translate into boring. No sir! It's that interaction between ordinary people and the justice system that keeps us happily employed.

The Christian Angle

People aren't going to remember you by the clothes you wear or the car you drive. Neither are they going to remember every word spoken to them. What people will remember is how you interacted with them. Did you meet them at a point of need or did you take advantage of them while they were in a vulnerable position? Did you treat them with respect as a human being or did you regard them as just an impersonal source of income?

I'm reminded of the story of how Jesus knelt before His disciples and washed their feet. At first, Peter recoils before acquiescing to Jesus' request. Jesus responds:

"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
(John 13:13-17)

No one ever said meeting people's need was going to be easy or clinical. Jesus' ministry wasn't about laying down God's law. It was always that personal touch he brought to His disciples that made Him effective. What an excellent servant we become when we set our sights on Him!

Johnny Cash

Bring Your Cheque Book - Sep 23

That's probably the most profound lesson I learned last week. My paralegal studies are going well. I've finished with the Microsoft stuff (7 weeks), Bookkeeping Fundamentals (2 weeks) and Simply Accounting (also 2 weeks). On to the good stuff!

What was my teacher referring to when he said that? In the legal field, no lawyer or paralegal opens a file and begins representing that client until they get their initial retainer fee. Its all business which is how it has to be. Anybody in the legal field who started working for a client before receiving their retainer monies has lived to regret it. There can be no "I'll pay you later" or a pay-as-you-go system.

Why the rush for money first? I was shocked to learn that my lawyer teacher (who specializes in family law) charges $300 PER HOUR! On a per diem basis, lawyers can charge well over a $1500. A client on a working wage has to beg, borrow or steal to get the necessary funds. He might have to dip into your RRSP's or ask his parents (or family member) for a loan. He may have to take out a second mortgage or cash in his investments. Getting legal help can drain a man's financial resources rather rapidly.

Why Not Represent Yourself?

Seems like a good idea at first glance, particularly if you feel you have a strong case. Those who do are often bitten by the pride bug, thinking "I'll show this smarmy lawyer. I'm gonna put him in his place." This however is an astonishingly bad idea. Not only will you botch the case, your slam-dunk case can quickly go south. Having trained counsel on your side is therefore crucial. An untrained layman entering a courthouse without first doing the diligent legal research (and citations) is looking for trouble. Nor should you bring along any friend or family member to defend you if they are unlicensed. The presiding judge may not even consider your case if you're not represented properly. Please choose wisely if you need legal help. Get legal aid (paid for by the Ontario government) if need be but above all DO NOT attempt to navigate the judicial system on your own.

Rebounds and Appeals

Keeping with the basketball theme, it's critical to understand why you must retain competent and licensed counsel when you first enter the system. As I said, an apparent slam-dunk case can go quickly south if it is sloppy and disorganized. Appealing the decision of the lower courts is going to cost you even more time and money. Lawyers love it when they see prideful people crash and burn in a court setting. More money for them! In an appeal case, a client can use up twice as many hours for a lawyer at twice the rate of pay. Such services can quickly add up to a hefty bill. Sin is indeed expensive!

Life Isn't Fair: The Market System

Why is it that guys like Mark Texeira of the New York Yankees can make in excess $20m a year yet a medical doctor who saves lives gets 'only' a six-figure salary? Who's more valuable to society, a guy who swings a wooden bat or someone who saves human life? Subsequently, how is it that a lawyer (or paralegal) can charge a working man who makes a tenth of what he makes? How can anyone justify a $300/hr. rate? I'll tell you why. Because the free market says so. I know that sounds like a terrible answer and perhaps even a cop-out. Yet any system that doesn't use free market methods impoverishes all those who chafe under it.

I've no plans to bankrupt myself by charging rock-bottom rates to future clients once I get my P1 license. Nor will I gouge them either. But most definitely I will charge them what the market can bear. I've worked 11 years in what turned out to be a dead end job making $14/hr.. So I know what its like to be part of the working class. Indeed I still identify with them. When I got laid off I decided early on that I didn't want just any job. I wanted a career with a future, one that would dovetail with my personal values, abilities and interests.

Knowledge Becomes Power Only When You're Willing to Apply It!

So let me be clear. By no means has the love of money entered my heart. Jesus is still number one. But why not use my God-given gifts to further myself? Money to me has always been a means to an end (and therefore not an end unto itself). It buys you nice things. It allows you to travel to places you've always wanted to visit. It widens your perspective. Money is not evil. It is the love of money that is the problem. I have no plans to fall into that trap.

Father, I pray that I will be able to use my gifts wisely to help others. I pray also that I do not fall into the false worldview of materialism and humanism. Let all my efforts glorify your Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate price on the cross for man's sin. He is the Judge of Judges and our one True Advocate in the Heavenly courts. In His name I pray, Amen.

Johnny Cash

I Dreamed A Dream - Apr 19

By now I'm sure you've heard about Susan Boyle and her knockout performance on American Idol. Here's this frumpy 47 year old woman who was instantly parachuted into fame and did so through sheer moxie. It probably took her twenty years or more for her to become an overnight sensation. But oh, what a debut! I usually have little time for such frivolity as American Idol but Susan's performance inspired me to right this post.

'Maybe I'll Be The Next Great American (or British) Vocalist'

No you won't. Not in a million years. What's the problem with the above statement? If you said the problem lies with the word 'maybe' you'd be absolutely correct. For example, if next weekend you say to yourself 'Maybe I'll take in a movie this week.', what's the likelihood is of you actually going? Nil. Now if you say 'I will see (insert movie title here) this weekend', what's the probability now? Obviously much higher than any 'maybe' statement you'll ever make.

The second you preface anything with the word 'maybe' it will never happen. This world will never open doors to those who preface their life choices with the word maybe. On the other hand, doors will open if you make a deliberate choice and stick to it. You have to be stubborn, focused and single-minded if you ever want to achieve anything in this world. I realize that we're not to love temporal things and to conform ourselves to this world. By no means! What I'm suggesting is that God wants us to succeed and have some ambition. Susan Boyle always knew she could sing. She never gave up despite all the rejection and resistance.

What Separates the Winners From the Losers In This World?

It's not ability and it's not hard work. It is mental toughness and stamina. In my humble opinion, no-one personifies this dimension better than Tiger Woods. All the other golfers have the same skill. Their drives are long and straight. Their putting is sound. Sand traps don't faze them. All of them work hard off the course and practice whenever they can. Yet for some reason Tiger always manages to separate himself from the rest of the field when it matters.

Some P's To Consider: Personality, Profile and A Plan

So now you've made your life choice. No maybes allowed!. We've got the market cornered on mental toughness. Why then are there still failures? It comes down to three main reasons, personality, profile and a plan.

Personality: Failure often occurs because you're doing something that doesn't fit your personality. It is vital to be able to know your values (What's important to you?), your interests (What intrigues you?) and your abilities (What are you good at?).

Profile: Here's another important point. Don't let someone tell you what you can and cannot do. Susan Boyle did not fit the 'profile' of a singer. No doubt people had in mind the likes of Katharine McPhee or Kelly Clarkson when it came to female singers. Susan was no fool. She knew what she looked like. But never did she let that be a hindrance in her pursuit to become a professional singer.

So it is with you. Never let someone shove you into a mould because of race, gender, age or physical appearance. So much of the PC rubbish out there is based on such victimology. Don't believe a word of it! If an obstacle presents itself go around it or remove it. Don't let anyone impede your success because you don't fit the 'profile'.

Plan: The failure to plan is one the greatest obstacles you will ever face. Do you need further training? Do you require real-life experience? Then go get it. Don't let your pride get in the way! Suck it up and go get that training and experience you'll need. The foundation must be laid first before we can build on it!

Starting a business? Ask yourself: Do I have a formal business plan written up? Do I have enough capital - from private investors, banks, gov't grants and your own resources - to get going? Are my timelines too ambitious? Am I assuming instant profitability? Do I have enough money to cover my current expenses? If we cannot find the answers to these questions our dreams can quickly become a nightmare.

Why Positive Thinking Is Nonsense: Of Elephants and Refrigerators

Indeed it can be the death knell of any creative or business enterprise. Read on:

A corporate interview is taking place and a candidate has just been asked 'How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?'. The candidate replies 'Open the fridge door and put the elephant in'. The interviewer is thrilled by the superficial response.

Have you ever seen an elephant in a fridge? Moreover, do you think you'll ever see such a spectacle? Probably not. The reason why I state that positive thinking is rubbish is because we've developed this humanist notion of limitless development. Not only is this preposterous, it's downright scary. A self-righteous liberal with a cause is much more dangerous than a cynic with an axe to grind. It goes beyond illogic and into the realm of neo-fascism.

Positive thinking is not, nor will it ever be, a guaranteeor of success. Positive thinking is meant to act as a buffer against defeatist attitudes. That's it. Allow me another sports example. If you have two fighters squaring off and one was more skilled, in better shape and more prepared, who wins? Suppose the inferior fighter was using the power of positive thinking. Does that alter the outcome? Of course not. The superior fighter wins every time. So much of what constitutes positive thinking is nothing more than fanciful optimism divorced from reality. So don't buy the hype. I certainly don't!

Johnny Cash

Taking It On The Chin - Oct 26

Ah yes, the end of the baseball season. Not only does the first snowflake sighting remind me of winter, the real clincher is when the final out of the World Series is recorded. As of right now, Philadelphia leads Tampa Bay 3-1 with Game 5 going tomorrow. I've noticed however that it's been more than baseball players that've been getting chin music more than recently.

America: Land of the Free. But for how long?

There's a definite case of schaedenfreude going around the world as America's finances look a bit wobbly. The Chinese are a prime example. The Russians have got their mojo back and are bumping up their strategic nuclear capabilities. I do fear that however assumes the White House will be walking into a hornet's nest. As Pat Buchanan notes: With U.S. markets crashing and wealth vanishing, what are we doing with 750 bases and troops in over 100 countries? Good question Pat. More importantly, how does this fit into God's plan? It is becoming more and more obvious that America's power is receding. Daniel's vision of a revived Roman Empire must mean that America must fall.

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
(Daniel 2:40-43)

'The people will be a mixture and will not remain united' is the perfect description of Europe. It appears that a new financial order is taking root amongst the EU. A second Bretton Woods (named after a town in New Hampshire) is being proposed that would put greater oversight on American finances. I feel for those investors who've been good stewards of their money only to get hurt in this latest catastrophe. They diversified their portfolio, they've not made hasty decisions and yet still they take it on the chin. Nobody said life was going to be fair! If there's any lesson in this, it is that God and God alone is the only thing that guarantees a return on investment. The things of Man can often fail, such as his monetary policy.

On a Personal Note

I'm moving - again! - to another place in Brampton. This post may (or may not) be the last post for October. As soon as I get my internet connection going at my new place I'll be back at it once more. Therefore there will not be a post next weekend, perhaps mid-week after the election. So much packing to do! I dread moving day. I remember my time as a university student moving from home to Hamilton in September only to reverse the process in April. I definitely feel like a foreigner in a foreign land. When God calls me home, whenever that might be, it will be then and only then I can truly say that I'm home. In the meantime I'm just going to have to suck it up and deal with it on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Johnny Cash

The F Word - Oct 21

Naturally I'm referring to flurries here, not some other vulgar word. It happens every year. We see strange flakes falling around us and we look skyward, astonished at this white miracle. Raining at first in Brampton, it turned to snow as I was hitting Aurora on my way to Newmarket. 'Winter has arrived' I said to myself. Now apart from driving in really bad weather, I love the cool air that winter brings. I never sleep better at night than I do this season.

Giving Praise to God for Winter

Why not? To believe all the doomsayers we are headed for a climate catastrophe. While we humans love the summer for the good times we like to spend outdoors, think of what the world would be like if the polar regions didn't have their share of winter. The massive icesheets that cover Greenland and Antarctica would melt, flooding our coastal cities. Crops would likely fail, creating famine worldwide. Rain would fall unevenly, drowning some places while drought would create desertification elsewhere. Yet despite all the handwringing, winter arrives as it always does.

Canada: No Wimps Allowed!!

The snow gives the ski resorts a reason to celebrate too. A lot, and I mean A LOT, of tourist dollars flow into southern Ontario and Quebec as skiers and snowboarders flock to our gentle slopes. I think of the winter sports that Canadians love to play. While we still did rather well at the Beijing Olympics, I always look forward to the Winter Olympics to see our men and women strike fear into the hearts of the opposition. Without the snow and ice, hockey wouldn't be played outdoors either. While I myself was more a baseball fan, I did appreciate Canada's unofficial national sport (Lacrosse is our official national sport). Unlike bears, us humans don't have the luxury of hibernating. Yet I wouldn't trade this changing of the seasons for anything!

Speaking of No Wimps .....

Reminds me of my time spent in the army. If it was cold, damp, dark and windy, chances are we'd be out there doing our training. This weather always brings back the memories that I had while I was wearing the uniform. My first exposure was in basic training in Camp Borden before it became a cadet camp. Even though it was summer, crawling out of your sleeping bag in a tent at 5:30 in the morning to put on a t-shirt, shorts and running shoes was a wee bit traumatic. A second belly button followed by a cold shower is not what I had in mind when I joined at CFRC Hamilton. Now I did survive my basic training (it was only six weeks after all), but when I got to my unit it was more of the same. Army weekends. Oh how I dreaded that weekend every month. Now this might not have been so bad if I was in a service battalion (I was a supply technician), but I was in an infantry unit. This had mixed blessings of course. Firing a .50 cal machine gun, lobbing a live grenade, firing a mortar and other cool infantry weapons was something that very few individuals could boast of. But did they make you work! Not only did you have to qualify in your basic fieldcraft, you were tagged to do other support tasks such as meals or ammo pickup. Driving was a chore too. Fridays were bad enough after a long work week but Sundays were worse due to lack of sleep. Unloading the truck, cleaning equipment AND your weapon were chores that awaited us when we got back to Georgetown armouries. Do I have regrets? Thankfully not one. I'm proud of what I accomplished as a reservist over my twelve year tenure. However I'm just as equally glad I'm no longer doing it. So I've learned not to complain this time of year. After all, it could be worse. I could be in Meaford. HA!

Johnny Cash

The Second Greatest Lie Ever Told - Aug 10

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:10)

To Be Moral is to Struggle

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30)

Do you want to know why the amoral people of this world do not struggle with their conscience day in and day out? The answer is simple: They don't struggle with their conscience because they don't have a conscience to struggle with! Do you think the likes of Paul Bernardo and Clifford Olsen, Canada's two most notorious criminals, struggled with their conscience while they were on their rampage? NO! So what then is the world's second big lie? In secular terms, it is this erroneous idea that all struggle is a burden and therefore should be avoided. In Christian terms, the idea is that now that you have your sins forgiven and you've secured your eternity with Him, all your troubles and struggles shall cease.

Take Heart. You Belong to an Elite Company of Individuals

It should not surprise you to hear that most moral men throughout history struggled mightily with their consciences. My problem with the public at large is that they don't struggle enough! Many are lost in their own tiny bubble with their tiny little god whilst living in a tiny world. The rest are egomaniacs who think the world revolves around them. To become a moral person is to burst this tiny bubble that we live in and to break free from our self-centered ways.

Success and the Old-Fashioned QB Controversy

If you're a head coach of a football team, would you rather have two good starting quarterbacks or just one? The answer is obvious. The head coach that has only one starter knows that if his guy goes down to injury, his team's chances evaporate. The coach with an injured starter ready to come back and a capable back-up has a wonderful problem to solve. In other words, success brings with it it's own set of problems. The 'problem' of depth is one every coach would love to have. When you come to Christ, you get to discover the real you. Ego gives way to your true humanity. You become more patient, more forgiving, more compassionate and more discerning. Do not expect this newfound 'burden' that you've been gifted with will make your life easier. On the contrary, this depth of range of emotion will enable you to change lives. We become free to testify of God's immense love for us.

The Analogy of the Shivering Man

When I was in the CF, I remember doing some very basic First Aid. Along with learning about wounds and burns, we also learned about the dangers of heat exhaustion and hypothermia. I don't remember it all of course, but what I do remember wrt extreme cold (particularly if one is wet) is that there are different stages of hypothermia. The last stage before death is when the afflicted individual stops shivering. The point being is that shivering is good. The person who has stopped shivering is in immediate peril. Know then there are two kinds of people who don't struggle: The dead (and dying) and the quitters.

To be a Foreigner in a Foreign Land

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
(1 John 4:4-6)

Put simply, this world reviles Godly instruction. To have a Biblical worldview is to be a freakshow in an unbelieving world. There's nothing more this world would love to do then to turn every Christian and every church into an insignificant speed bump on their way to a godless socialist utopia. Liberty and democracy are not absolute certainties. Anybody that tries to tell you different is a fool. Take heart and be encouraged. We are overcomers! Hallelujah!

Johnny Cash

The Presence and Working of the Holy Spirit - Jul 26

What does this mean in our walk of faith? I was talking to another Christian brother at work the other day about the mystery of the Holy Spirit. Here are my reflections on that conversation.

The Holy Spirit in Our Lives

Let's be clear on this critical point: You will be persecuted for your faith. Oh, you can have 'faith' alright. Just as long as you follow the ABC rule, meaning, Anything But Christ. The problems that we see in our lives, our families, our communities and even the world at large can be boiled down to having religion without the Holy Spirit. However it is precisely the Holy Spirit that gives us that much needed wisdom and discernment. Here is a profound thought: You need God in order to talk to God. In more trinitarian terms, it is the intercession of the Holy Spirit that allows us to converse with the Father. We then conclude our prayer in Jesus' name. It is the HS which enables us, gifts us and gives us the fruit of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit in Our Churches

As any hockey fan knows, every player on the Stanley Cup winning team (in this cas the Detroit Red Wings) gets to spend a day with the Cup. Tomas Holmstrom and his cousin Robert Sundstrom decided to baptize Sundstrom's seven week-old daughter Alva Felicia in the Stanley Cup. I thought this was neat. After all, what are the odds of any child being baptized in such a manner? Naturally, this got me thinking. What makes a baptism special is the presence of the Holy Spirit, not the distraction of a sporting trophy. The Holy Spirit is what makes a church a church. Without it, the church is merely a social club with religious trappings and antiquated props. It makes little difference whether little Alva is baptised in a Stanley Cup or a wooden cup. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit resting on her parents and in the church that she will be attending that matters. I sure hope they treasure the pictures of the occasion!

The Holy Spirit in the World

Let us then be clear what faith is and what faith is not. Faith is not the whipping of oneself into a frenzy. Nor is it falling on the ground whilst speaking in tongues. Similarly, the church should be primarily concerned with comforting the saints and giving our testimony to an unbelieving world. That's it. Once a church decides to engage in (usually) Marxist politics, strange (and un-Biblical) liberation theologies and other secular fantasies (global warming comes to mind), it is setting the stage for it's own destruction. It is with great irony then both the individual believer and the church often become the very thing that make the enemies of the cross giddy. We shouldn't be making fools of ourselves in front of others. Neither is it our job to save the world. As flawed as we are and the churches that we erect in His name, it is precisely this body of believers that stands as an obstacle to man's unholy ambitions. Once Jesus comes for His bride (the church), all manner of evil and hatred will flood this world. In the meantime, we ought to be engaging this unbelieving world and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be about our Father's business. Anything less will not do.

Johnny Cash

Devotions - Feb 25

After some degree of reflection I've decided it's time to make some major changes. After two full years of existence the Christian Defender will now be a devotional blog. There are some good reasons for this.

Beating A Dead Horse: Politics and Islam

Why move away from current events? First of all, there are many other sites that do a much better job of delivering the news than I can. Nobody is interested in stale news, much less my interpretation of it. Only in the case of major advances in Bible prophecy will I make the occasional foray.

Secondly, the question of Islam. Again, there are many others such as Jihad Watch that do a much better job than I ever could. I've made my position on Islam crystal clear. Here are six main points to consider:

1) The Islamists are playing for keeps. Political correctness is strangling the much-needed debate on this attack on our cherished freedoms. Until we wake up and realize that we are in the midst of a material, ideological and spiritual war with Islam, the jihad being waged against the West will continue.

2) Our efforts of appeasement have been an abject failure. All of this pandering has not given us even a moment of peace. Worse yet, this has emboldened the enemy's resolve.

3) Israel's fight is our fight. Tiny Israel is at the very forefront of this battle of civilization. The leftist idea that Israel and the Jews can be sacrificed 'for the greater good' is not only profoundly anti-semitic, it's also dangerous.

4) As for America and Europe, unless we stand up for what we believe in we too shall be steamrolled into oblivion. Countries like Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, France and Germany were founded by Christian principles in both its laws and in its institutions. If we lose our Christian heritage, we lose everything.

5) Our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, though flawed, are vital. Pulling the plug prematurely sets all of our efforts back at least a generation. Simply put, no army has ever won a war by going backwards.

6) The maltreatment of non-Muslims at the hand of Muslims. And it's not just the Israelis either. Go ask the Serbs or the Egyptian Copts or the Assyrian Christians in Iraq. Strangely enough, the reverse is not true. So much for moral relativism! The kind of people that Islam produces is a horror story.

After that there's little more that needs to be said. The links I have on my sidebar pretty much explain where I stand on the issue of jihad and dhimmitude.

What Will You See More Of?

I don't think I'm really cut out to be some kind of news reporter. Journalists strike me as being a little bit high-strung, probably as a result of too much coffee. It's an attribute I don't care to share. In short, here are the things I intend to use a lot more of:

Scripture. And Lots Of It!

For me, my real passion is to share God's word. Makes you think what would Paul and the rest of Jesus' disciples think of the world wide web! The internet poses a glorious opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with the unsaved. As I've stated before, there's a lot of sloppy theology being taught out there, even in the churches! I've been studying the Gospel of Mark at my local church with the pastor and a few others. Through this it has become painfully clear the real need for good prophetic teaching. The deconstruction of the plain teachings of God's Word is a burgeoning industry. One that needs to be confronted with sound Biblical doctrine.

Sports and Popular Culture

Why not? As an avid follower of sports for most of my life it makes sense to comment on all matters athletic. Sports is a big part of Canadian culture, and not just hockey!

As for my rants on pop culture, I do think it is important to have a Biblical outlook on the general silliness that pervades our lives. I live in the world yet I feel like a foreigner in a strange and hostile land. I think that's the attitude God wants us to have. In the world but not of the world. So many Christians miss out on God's best because of their obsession with earthly matters.

Why The Change In Format?

In a word: Flexibility. Not that I've ever suffered for lack of material. I haven't. I just feel that this gives me more latitude and freedom. Seems silly for me to restrict myself on my own blog! As I mentioned above, this will come at a price. Less political punditry and anti-jihad rants and more scripture. I firmly believe truth is both timeless and universal. It is precisely for that reason that this change is essential. Not only will this hopefully increase readership, it will have a much greater personal impact. Giving glory to God is probably the greatest service any man or woman can do for humanity. I've got an internet connection and I intend to use it!

Johnny Cash

18 Wins, One Giant Upset - Feb 4

What a tremendous game! Even though the first three quarters produced all of ten points between the two teams, I found myself in suspense. The fourth quarter was pure magic. Hollywood would've rejected the script saying it wasn't realistic. Hah! That's never stopped them before! Let's face facts: Tom Brady and company got a good old-fashioned back alley ass kicking New York style. Not pretty but effective. Here's the story from TSN and a cool picture gallery.

The Thrill of Victory


End of game celebrations. From left to right are former Pittsburgh Steeler QB Terry Bradshaw, New York Giants QB Eli Manning and NYG head coach Tom Coughlin.

Hands Off! It's Mine!


David Tyree traps the ball with his helmet over Patriots safety Rodney Harrison's objections. A turning point of the game. An act of sheer desperation that will make the NFL highlight reels for years.

Don't Drop the Baby!


That act of desperation leads to this game-clinching TD catch by Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left. Plaxico was likely suffering from some kind of ankle strain. The pain that these guys have to endure to play this game is incredible.

The Agony of Defeat


Veteran LB Junior Seau of the Patriots lies face down after the loss. Chin up, buttercup! Something tells me the Patriots aren't finished racking up Super Bowl wins just yet.

Johnny Cash

Our Phony War - Jul 30

All hail King Newt! OK, maybe he's not a king. Or even a prince. One thing for sure, Mr. Gingrich is nobody's fool. Anyhoo, do give this video a peak (runs 4:03). Thankfully not everybody in the West has gone to sleep over that 'Religion of Peace' we all know and love.



I can't believe July of '07 is toast already. As for me sitting in a non air conditioned room I'll be glad to see the end of summer. DizzyFatPlonka has left an interesting comment on my previous post and I've left two comments as a reply. I think you'll find the interchange most illuminating. I'd also like to apologize as it appears that all my frontpagemag.com links are now kaput. They've done an upgrade and I'm not going to attempt to re-format the old links. Sorry. The link to FPM on the sidebar is still good. I've deleted the Bilderberg link and added a link to It's the end of the world. Please do take a peek at it. I was looking at it myself late last night before I went to bed. Well thought out and researched from what I saw. Anyways, I've got some spare time and decided to get a post in to close out the month.

I mentioned that the U.S. decided to sell the Saudis $20bn worth of high-end military equipment. Seems the Saudis are in a snit over Iranian-U.S. negotiations over Iraq hence the $20bn bribe. Now the other shoe has dropped and the Russians have sold the Iranians 250 brand spanking new Sukhoi 30's with tankers for in-flight fueling. This gives the Iranians the long-range capabilities they've always wanted. Below is a picture of the Sukhoi-30. The red star on the tail fin indicates Russian allegiance. It looks a lot like an F-14 Tomcat or a F-15. Darn Russians! Always stealing our designs!


Keep in mind that Russia is also in demographic decline. Orthodox Christians are dying off at an early age (men especially) and a low birth-rate means Russia is shrinking at a rate of 700,000 people per year. And just who is replacing the vacuum that the Christians are leaving behind? It seems Muslim women have this horrible habit of pumping out a new unit every nine months and the locals can't keep up. A nuclear-armed Pakistan (30 warheads) is one thing. Russia with 5,830 nuclear missiles combined with Islamist leanings is a foreign policy nightmare. Along with Libya releasing those Bulgarian nurses and declaring their intention to sell the EU it's oil, the battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) looms ever closer.

From the 'I Told You So' Dep't: I think Mr. Harper has gotten the Russians all uppity. Russian subs were seen making a 'test dive' in the Arctic Ocean. I suspect they weren't there to admire the plankton. Here's the deal: We'll have a best of eight hockey series (Four games in Russia, four in Canada). Winner gets the lot (I have a strange sense of deja vu over this). And screw the Norwegians and the Danes.


Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics Dep't: A recent poll conducted amongst Muslims finds support for suicide bombings is on the decline. Well whoop de doo. Hugh Fitzgerald thinks it's a crock too. This is a change of tactics, not a change of heart. They can say what they like but I won't be fooled. All this creates is confusion amongst the moral equivalency crowd. Hey liberals, here's a news flash: The Palestinians don't want a compromise. They want a defeated Israel and a Jew-free ME. Period. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

Making New Friends Dep't: Aaahhh, isn't this sweet? UNIFIL and Hezbollah are now buddies! No kidding! An interesting convergence is taking place as UNIFIL troops are liasing with HB to prevent attacks from Sunni insurgents. I wonder how well the UN mandate to disarm HB is going?

Congratulations to the Iraqi soccer team for winning the Asia Cup. Four have died and 17 are wounded as a result of 'celebratory gunfire'. What dolts. The Law of the Conservation of Energy (what goes up must come down) can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.

Johnny Cash

Therefore Watch And Be Sober! - Jul 29

Couldn't resist this one. There's a lot going on in the United States over this John Doe protection legislation. If free speech is threatened in America, free speech in Canada or Britain will surely fall. I'm sick to death of every Muslim advocacy group screaming 'Islamaphobe' everytime someone reports illegal activity concerning one of their brethen. Having a discerning attitude towards Muslims and Islam in general does not an Islamaphobe make.


The thinking towards the poorly-named 'War on Terror' (terrorism is a tactic, not an end unto itself) baffles me. 'Bush started this war' is the prevailing wisdom today. Most would certainly reverse the cartoon. But I think the Cox and Forkum cartoon below is in fact, correct. If anything, appeasement and half-measures are the order of the day as far as the West is concerned. Things are not going well in Iraq. In lieu of actual wisdom anti-semitism becomes a convenient fall back position. Making sweeping accusations whilst quoting unnamed (or non-existent) sources represents the heighth of corruption and intellectual laziness. Syria stonewalls us in the Rafik al-Hariri assassination and makes preparation for war with Israel. Our response? Tepidity and weakness. Islamic santioned slavery persists in Sudan and we refuse to call their bluff. The topper? A $20bn arms sale to the Saudis. The West selling their non-military goods to Muslim countries is one thing. Enabling their jihad against us is another. Unscrupulous, foolish and short-sighted is any arms sale to a Muslim nation.


Still got some more stuff I'd like to cover.

GFA missionaries in Mishnapur, West Bengal, India encounter resistance to the Gospel.

Tisha b'Av just recently concluded on July 24th of this year. Consider the tragedies that have befallen the Jews on that fateful day:

Ten of the twelve spies return with a negative report. Israel loses faith and spends 40 years in the desert.
The destruction of Solomon's temple by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.
The Roman army burns the Second Temple to the ground in A.D 70, leaving not one stone upon another (Mt 24:2).
Just to be sure, the Romans plow Jerusalem with salt a year later.
Simeon Bar Cochba's army destroyed in A.D. 135.
The declaration of the Crusades by Pope Urban II in 1095.
The burning of the Talmud in 1242.
King Edward I rids the Jews from England in 1290.
The Spaniards follow suit and expel the Jews in 1492.
The start of the First World War in 1914.
The first killings at the Treblinka extermination camp in 1942.
The AMIA bombing by Arab terrorists in 1994 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 86 and wounding 120.
The Jews were evicted out of the Gaza strip in 2005. Gaza (or Gush Katif) is now home to Hamas and elements of al-Qaida.

Just think about the sheer impossiblity of this being some type of coincidence. Thirteen unique acts of carnage falling on the same day against the Jews. Will the 'abomination that causes desolation' (Mt 24:15-24, Dan 9:27) occur on that fateful day? Even in times of disaster, God is still very much in control. Anyone who wishes to refute Tisha b'Av is welcome to it.

Finally some congratulations are in order to Winnipeg Blue Bombers SB Milt Stegall (seen below) who broke the all time CFL record for TD's with number 138 and 139 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Way to go Milt!


Johnny Cash

Happy 140th Birthday, Canada! - Jul 1

While 140 years as a nation isn't that long, I think this nation is still a wonderful place to live. Yesterday I gave you the flag of Israel, my spiritual home. Today I give you the flag of Canada, my physical home.


Wow, I have so much to talk about. While I squeezed off my last post late at night I decided to do a much more thorough job today. It's anarchy in the U.K. as an amateurish attempt at terrorism was made at Glasgow Airport, one of Scotland's busiest. You can see the picture gallery of that incident from the Beeb. One of the pictures (posted here) shows police subduing a suspect in the bombing who was a passenger in the fire-engulfed car.


By now I'm sure you've heard of the tragedy of the double murder-suicide of Canadian-born wrestler Chris Benoit in Atlanta, Georgia. I believe Benoit's happiest moment came at WrestleMania 20 in NYC while celebrating a championship belt with his best friend, Eddie Guerrero. Tragically, Eddie preceded Benoit in wrestling's long roll call of premature deaths in 2005, passing away at the age of 38. Benoit was 40 when he snapped, an old man as far as wrestling is concerned but still too young (not to mention his wife and son) to be gone.


Was it Barnum and Bailey who said, 'You can't fool all the people all the time?'. Well, you certainly can fool most of the people most of the time. We live in a generation that is staggeringly ignorant of God's word. Divorced from the Divine, a man will believe in anything. When I look at what's happening in Britain recently, I cannot help but be amazed by the accelerated pace of prophecy as Gordon Brown replaces Tony Blair. With Tony now becoming the newly-conceived special envoy for the Quartet (U.S., EU, Russia and the UN), there is no doubt that we are in that last generation that Jesus spoke of. Think about it for a second. Prior to 1948 there was no such thing as Israel, the United Nations or a European Union. It is only this unique generation that can boast of such things. The fact that these indicators now exist is a true measure of the pregnant times we live in.

Farfour the Mouse, We Hardly Knew Ye: Out of Israel comes one of the strangest martyrdoms on TV. Farfour the Mouse was beaten to death on Hamas-affiliated Al-Aksa TV by an actor posing as an Israeli agent. While this strikes me as a form of black comedy, keep in mind that young impressionable minds are seeing their beloved Farfour being killed by a 'Jew'. The fact that Farfour is a Disney rip-off or that the actor playing the Israeli agent is Muslim matters little to these young 'uns. To them, Farfour is like a member of the family. Inflammatory and blatant anti-semitic propaganda rooted in the lowest form of cynicism. The innocence of youth gets trampled underfoot once more.

From the International Herald Tribune comes an interesting story from Kabul, Afghanistan about suicide bombers and those who deal with the aftermath. Some imams won't even bother saying a graveside prayer for those who have shed Muslim blood. The grave diggers are unsurprisingly a coarse lot, prone to gallows humor to liven up their day. An interesting insight into a dark topic, that's for sure.

Now with this being Canada's birthday, I want to share some good news. It seems that Canadians have a pessimistic outlook on Muslim-Christian relations. Why is this good news you ask? With every jihadi attack carried out, the greater the backlash to the powder-puff treatment that Islam receives. More and more are waking up to the threat that Islam poses. More and more Muslims are having a quiet crisis of faith. These are all good things. May this increase exponentially.

Do you remember June 6, 2006? You know, 6/6/06? While some heathen dolts did celebrate the Beast's number on that day, an even more interesting date is a mere six days away. You guessed it, 7/7/07! Many are rushing to the altar that day, hoping that will bring them luck. While I'm not so sure of that, I do know that 777 is found in the Bible:

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Rev 5:6)

The Lamb is a clear reference to Jesus Christ. He is described as having 7 horns, 7 eyes and 7 spirits or 777 if you will. For a larger look at this, you can view my post The Number 666, 777 in my greatest hits.

That's it for today and likely the week as I'm headed to Niagara Falls for some much deserved rest. I'll be busy next weekend too so I don't know when I'll post next. I've added 'Learn to Pray' (pdf file) in my Booklets header and 'Compass Direct' in my Recommended Favorites. Compass Direct is one of the finest sites on global Christian persecution happening today.

Johnny Cash

The Lord of War - Jun 16

Read about the fallen one in Ezekiel 28:12-19:

You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.

You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.

Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.

All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.

Is it any small wonder we are in so much trouble? Take a gander at this video from metacafe on terrorism and the media polluting young minds in the Middle East.


The Media Of Terrorism And Its Effects

Satan is a busy boy, isn't he? There's no doubt that all hatred of the Jews and Christians comes from the wicked one. From threatening missionaries with death in India, to stirring up jihadi activity in North Africa and in Lebanon (with thanks to Hezbollah), and the constant barrage of one-sided criticism that both Israel and America face every day it's a small miracle that God's work still gets accomplished. God is still sovereign and He's still in control.

Given their situation, shouldn't the Israelis be a dour, pessimistic lot? Yet amazingly, most Israelis are optimists! Amongst the Jews, 83% were happy and 71% of Israeli Arabs reported to be content. When you realize how many Israelis have a loving relationship with your Creator it shouldn't surprise us at all. Now consider the lot of the Palestinians and non-Israeli Arabs: Nothing but poverty and despair! When the light of Jesus Christ is pushed out, darkness and strife abound. So whether it be an individual or an entire nation, being dependent on Him is the surest path to happiness.

I haven't had a sports commentary here for awhile but two items of interest have caught my attention. With the Anaheim Ducks winning the Stanley Cup and the San Antonio Spurs capturing the NBA title (see above photo), it seems to me that there's a paradigm shift: If you want to win a championship, go west or go south.

The second item that caught my attention is the NHL floating the idea that the Nashville Predators may come north to Hamilton if new owner Jim Balsillie has his way. The NHL board of governers will have their say and will move a franchise only as a matter of last resort. Not to suggest that this idea is an impossibility, it isn't, it's just that I see many a Hamiltonian who put down a big chunk of money for possible season tickets slinking back to get their refund. I've seen this before: A well-placed rumor is circulated, everybody gets excited and then nothing happens. I sincerely hope the good people of Hamilton don't get screwed in this.

I've just done a big upgrade for today. In the sidebar you'll find seven (!) new links and two new headings. Good News Booklets has four very good end-time links. You can view them in html format or in pdf format using Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you're not into reading in a big way you can click on one of three of the Anti-Jihad Flash Videos from terrorismawarness.org. Naturally, you'll need flash to view the videos. Like D'uh!

Johnny Cash

The X-Def: Now Seen On Six Continents - Jun 10

I've just gotten a hit from some blessed soul in South Africa and two from South America. Along with my usual (and much appreciated) traffic from North America and Europe, I've also received hits from Australia, Riyadh (!), Pakistan, Korea and China. Damn you Antarctica! Seriously though, I am deeply humbled and delighted to report this wonderful news. Without lots of hard work and prayer none of this would've been possible. Praise God for He is most faithful!

I've reported on the plight of Assyrian Christians who have come under a great deal of persecution since the fall of Saddam in 2003. Pope Benedict XVI recently had an audience with President Bush and they talked about the sorry plight of ME Christians. Pray that God will use this persecution to lift up and shine His glorious light into an unreached part of the world.



If Islam Is So Wonderful, Why Is Everyone Leaving Dep't: As the infighting between Hamas and Fatah flares up again, young people are planning to leave. A fatwa has been issued telling the young Pals that they should stay and fight. Naturally this will have little or no effect on the Palestinian brain drain. For me, emigration patterns never lie. Nobody is trying to emigrate to Islamic countries and the desired country of destination is always one of Canada, America or Western Europe. People vote with their feet as to where they want to be. We ought to keep that in mind how special Western civilization is and stop our incessant navel-gazing.

There is no doubt in my mind that those who wish to delegitimize Israel are in fact brazen anti-Semites. The Jews have every right to call Israel home, and no amount of appeasement is going to change that. As this week is the 40th anniversary of the 1967 war which gave Israel a surprise victory (compliments of the Creator of the Universe), one of the reasons why Israel won was its rejection of defeatism. Jihadi Du Jour gives us a OT Bible lesson on what happens when God sends you the victory and you refuse it. Looking around today we hear the same sentiments, 'We can't win' and 'The enemy is too large and strong'. The corrupted wisdom of this world has always despised God's clear counsel. The Useless Nations (powerless against Iranian complicity in Iraq and Afghanistan) cannot deliver on its promise of peace to the Jews. Only God can give the peace that this world so desperately needs.

Lately it seems fashionable for celebrites to adopt an atheistic worldview. From Bill O'Reilly comes the quotes of some Hollywood stars:

George Clooney: "I don't believe in heaven or hell. I don't know if I believe in God."

Angelina Jolie: "There doesn't need to be a God for me."

Carrie Fisher: "I love the idea of God, but it's not stylistically in keeping with the way I function."

No Carrie, the idea of God is not stylish. Neither is it 'tolerant' or politically correct. May I make a confession here? I've always admired Mr. Clooney for his success with women. With that being said, I still wouldn't want to trade places with him. All the sexual conquests that George Clooney enjoyed here on Earth will not help him one bit when he comes face to face with Jesus Christ. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, as these Hollywood celebrities will eventually find out. No, if I had to change identities with someone it would be Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators. Not only is Mike popular with both men and women and enjoys a NHL salary, he's also a Christian. While Mike Fisher didn't complete his Stanley Cup dream (falling to the Anaheim Ducks in five), his entry into God's Kingdom will make any Stanley Cup championship pale by comparison.

Let's close with some techie stuff. I've often wondered when and where the next big terrorist attack will come from. I'm quite sure where it WON'T come from and that's hijacking planes. If I'm an aspiring jihadist, contaminating the food and water supplies is an idea. So is attacking the electrical grid or vital fuel lines as the recently foiled attacks on JFK airport proved. One option being actively persued by the jihadists is cyber-warfare, one that the Estonians just came under from the Russian gov't. While the Estonians responded well, a cyber-attack that's even minimally effective will have a disasterous effect on our economy. E-commerce and online banking is now a big part of our nation's economy. An attack on a Canadian bank would cause account holders to withdraw their assets and would collapse the Canadian banking system. Not a happy thought, but one we ought to keep in mind.

Lastly, I came across this link from LiveScience.com on the viability of wireless electricity. I think this is a long way off as there are too many bugs that need to be worked out. Still, it's an interesting possibility. Remember, you read it here first!

Johnny Cash

Remember Canada Fitness Day?

On Wednesday, I spent the afternoon baking in the sun, timing races at my children's' school. It was track and field day.

When I was in grade school, it was called Canada Fitness day. I hated it, especially the endurance run. I was never overweight, but it was the 80s, and lets face it, you can't pull off the teased hair, miniskirt-with-hot-pink-leg-warmer look and still be cool doing the 100 meter dash. I was always last in every race. I never made it over the high jump more than once, ball throw was a write-off, and during triple and long jump I'd swear someone put lead in my sneakers. All in all, I dreaded it.

As do my children. By the end of the day, they were physically ill from the heat and sun. I lathered them up several times with SPF 40, but being in full sun from 9 - 3 proved to be too much. Thursday they were home sick. Sunburned and suffering from heatstroke - mild, but still unpleasant.

I was reminded of a news story I'd seen several months ago about an 8 year old boy who was running up and down the stairs at school as part of the new government recommended DPA (Daily Physical Activity) who dropped dead of a heart attack. This boy was a healthy - and slightly overweight - 8 year old. When I was in school we had phys-ed teachers who were trained in things like CPR. Now, due to cut-backs gym teachers are just regular classroom teachers with little training should a child pass out or have a heart attack from overexertion.

Fortunately, Wednesday's track meeting was without incident, but that was pure luck. Those poor kids looked like boiled lobsters by the end of the day. I can't help but think that with the number of obese children on the rise, the number of deaths like that 8 year old boy will also rise. When will the government stop looking at the dollar and start looking at the faces of the children who are affected by it? Could that little boy have been saved by timely CPR or even the use of a defibrillator? These are the questions we should be asking in to those in charge of school funding.

Faith Girl

Consumed By Trivia - May 5

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 24:44,50,51)

One of the greatest signs of the Lord's return has to be the current feeling of apathy. To be sure there is a tremendous amount of activity going on, just that none of it is terribly important. A case in point is the recent brouhaha over Team Canada captain Shane Doan. Shane made an un-PC remark about French Canadians some time ago. Here are the facts:

1) The slur was an alleged one and has never been proven under oath.
2) This happened TWO YEARS AGO!!
3) This was a private conversation between Doan and Phoenix Coyotes goalie Curtis Joseph. What was said on the ice ought to stay on the ice.
4) Shane Doan has NO history of anti-French slurs in his NHL career or hateful remarks towards any other racial/ethnic group for that matter.

Bob Nicholson had to fly from Moscow to Ottawa in order to testify on Shane Doan's behalf. Perhaps our MPs are bored and/or underemployed. Everything in Canada must be tickety-boo in order to free up the time needed to stab a player in the back whilst playing overseas. People are asking, 'Is there not bigger fish for them to fry?'. Transfixed by the trivial and oblivious to the obvious is what all four parties are up to. Canadians at large are not amused.

Are we at war or what? Listening to the major media outlets you'd think nothing extraordinary was happening. Western civilization is the only one that passionately defends the cause of the enemy. When you look at history, empires and civilizations fell into ruin when its citizens lost their will to defend it. From slavery to awakening, awakening to revolution, revolution to success, success to complacency, complacency to apathy and the apathy leads us back to slavery. You can argue whatever you like, but we are on a definite negative trend.

Imagine if General Rick Hillier was put on trial for war crimes. What effect would it have on the morale of Canadian troops? If I'm not going to shed tears over a WW II German SS officer in Russian custody, why should I weep over Taliban terrorists getting their just desserts from the locals? It is rough justice, yes, but it is justice. The likes of the Taliban offered no mercy to us, and we are not obligated to offer it to them. We need not apologize for it either.

I have some English news to report as well. As you may know, Prince Harry is headed to Iraq with his unit, The Blues and Royals. If Prince Andrew saw it fit to serve in the Falklands, then Harry should go with his unit. Many are concerned over the Prince's safety and rightfully so. However there are a few points to consider:

1) The Blues and Royals are an armored reconnaisance unit. While the use of IED's will be on everyone's minds the likelihood of being a fatality within an armored unit is actually quite slim.

2) The Needle in the Haystack: Even if the terrorists find out where the Blues and Royals are there's no guarantee that Harry will be with them. It would have to take an intelligience leak or phenomenonally bad luck in order for Harry to become a casualty.

3) If you're wearing the uniform, you're a target. Actually, this works in Harry's favor. If nothing else, the Iraqi insurgents have shown that it's all about targets of opportunity rather than specific units or individuals. Even if Harry is killed there's no reason to believe that the Brits are going to surrender en masse. Battles still have to be fought and attrition must be waged, a point that the insurgents concede.

The U.S. and the EU have decided to form a single market. What this really means is that all the regulation, red tape and bureaucracy will be thoroughly examined to see where the problems lie. The Americans and the Europeans have been working together for a long time, well before the formation of the EU and W's presidency. The only calculus that's altered here is the speed at which these changes will now take place. Keep in mind that we're dealing with a decade-long process here, not something that's going to get done in a few months. Nevertheless, it is a tremendously important development.

Whenever I see anti-Semitism raise it's ugly head there is always reason for worry. Along with anti-Christian sentiment, anti-Semitism and the rise of the Big Lie is the 'canary in the coal mine' regarding the rising tide of nationalism and fascism. Terror attacks were actually on the rise in 2006, a 25% increase. As I see it, there are two main reasons why anti-Semitism is still prevalent:

1) Ignorance of History: In the West, Europe in particular, there seems to be a divorce from twentieth century history and now. Either people don't know, or they do know but don't care, or they know and have learned all the wrong lessons. It's not good, any way you slice it.

2) Ignorance of the Bible: Anti-Semitism would be dead on arrival if people knew what God's Word had to say about the Jews, Israel and Jerusalem. I believe the key is for teenagers and young people to re-discover the teachings of Jesus Christ. The only innoculation against this garbage is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the young people of Europe and America. It's either that or Armaggeddon. Let us choose wisely.

Well, that's it for this post. Only took me three days to pop it off! I've added the 'Prophecy of the Popes' to my links list. Do check it out. According to St. Malachy's prophecy, the current pontiff is the second-to-last pope before 'Peter the Roman'. Try Googling 'Glory of the Olives' and see what you come up with. The answer may surprise you.

GO SENS GO
Ottawa has just defeated New Jersey 3-2 in Game 5 to win the series 4-1. They face either the Buffalo Sabres or the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Johnny Cash

Unfinished Business - Apr 7

Below is a cool pic from Jerusalem Post on the Easter festivities in the Holy Land.


Today being Saturday on the holiest weekend of the year, I thought to myself, 'What title would be appropiate for today?'. Christ's Passion took place on the Friday (although there are many Bible scholars who dispute the actual day of the week that this took place) and His resurrection is celebrated on the Sunday. So what about the Saturday when the crucifiction was finished and Jesus still lay in the tomb? And there's were it hit me: Unfinished business. Well, Jesus did come out of His tomb to show His victory over death and sin. Thank God! However, Christ's work is still unfinished. When He comes in glory to put the final nail in the coffin of this sinful age is when He will truly be able to say, 'It is finished!'.

I've been reading up on the fallout of the release of those British sailors and I gotta tell ya, it isn't pretty. Back in January of this year there was a raid in Irbil, Iraq on the Iranian consulate that the Americans executed in trying to capture Iranian Revolutionary Guards Gen. Minojahar Firouzandeh. Although the officer eluded capture after some Kurds tipped him off, six others were taken into custody and one diplomat was promptly released. In other words, this was a 'tit for tat' measure. You should also read Alan Caruba's article submitted by Brigitte Gabriel at Jihadi du Jour for insight as well.

Wars and Rumors of Wars Dep't: Last summer's war that the Israelis waged against Hezbollah has left a sour taste in everybody's mouth. When I was blogging on the war I said that leaving Hezbollah half-finished simply set the table for a future and much larger conflict. It now appears that everybody is getting into the act including Syria, Iran, and even Libya. In a way, this is exciting news for those who are intimately acquainted with Bible prophecy. In Ezekiel 38 and 39 we are foretold of a future battle in which God would intervene directly in the affairs of men on behalf of the nation of Israel. That reality is now much closer than it appears. In the meantime, continued prayer for Israel and the ME is a must.

When Jesus said 'Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted', I'm quite sure that He wasn't referring to those crybaby leftists who blame America for all the world's ills. Here's a Biblical lesson on freedom from Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly on Rosie O'Donell's antics and a sobering report on the ugly reality in Iraq four years later.

I didn't realize this but its been 25 years since the Brits kicked ass in the Falklands. From the Beeb comes a cool picture gallery of that conflict a quarter of a century ago.

I always enjoy closing a post on a positive note. Read about Mahabir who started a mission in Goa, India with his mother. This missionary has sacrificed much, including being disowned by his father and being banned from his home village of Karnataka, India. God is good and He will take care of Mahabir and his mum. Praise His name!

Break out the salami and cheese cause the Toronto Raptors have captured their very first Atlantic Division title. Let's hope Chris Bosh and the boys go far and add some much needed excitement to the Toronto sports scene. Perhaps an extended playoff run by the Raptors will dull the disappointment of another underwhelming year from the Leafs.

LET'S GO RAPTORS!

Johnny Cash

Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Mar 26

It must be the silly season already. There can be no other explanation for what I'm seeing out there. I mean, I have so many examples that I don't even know where to begin! So in no particular order here are some individuals who have earned my ridicule and contempt:

This may be slightly off topic but I'm going to go ahead with it anyways. What the hell, it's my blog, right? Y'know, there are a few people out there who really grate on my nerves. Not just merely annoying or a nuisance, the mere sight of them makes you want to put a fist right through your TV. NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman is one of those people. So smug and smarmy, so slick and insincere that you want to rip your own arm off just so you can hit him over the head with it. In other words, it's a special kind of hatred reserved for a select few. So what's gotten a burr under my saddle you ask? In a word, it's fighting in the NHL. Here's my take on this: I love hockey. I love its toughness, its scrappiness and the emotions it brings out in its fans. What I fail to understand is why do guys like Wade Belak (Toronto Maple Leafs), Cam Janssen (New Jersey Devils), the recently suspended Chris Simon (New York Islanders) and Donald Brashear (Washington Capitals) still have a job in the NHL? I'm sorry, but I think the NHL has dropped the ball on this. My main point (and I do have one) is that there should be no place on any NHL team for a guy that plays only two or three shifts a game, has more penalty minutes than ice time and contributes nothing offensively to his team. If you can't skate, pass, shoot or score an occasional goal in today's NHL you have no business being out on the ice. Period. Look, if a guy wants to drop the gloves on occasion then so be it. However, if he can't play sound defensive hockey and maybe score 10-15 goals a season (or 25 points or higher), then fuhgeddaboutit. This to me sounds eminently reasonable. Do the knuckle-dragging Neanderthals at the NHL understand this? Noooo, of course not. Actually, I think Neanderthals were probably kinder and better looking than Donald Brashear but that is beside the point. Guys like Colin Campbell and Ron MacLean understand what's at stake here. But not Gary. No sir, because he is just so much smarter than you and I. Nothing but contempt for the fans collective intelligience he has. After all, he is a lawyer. Oooooh! What tripe. What nonsense.

Another loser that's gotten my attention is Aussie turncoat David Hicks who was seen openly and freely fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan. I wonder if David can play hockey for Gary? Ah, maybe not. Sorry, no sympathy for this one. You make your bed, you lie in it.

OK, so here's another one that shares the same spotlight as Mr. Bettman and that's 'America's Sweetheart', Katie Couric. She's another one that's also superficial and mean-spirited. You know Katie wouldn't even hesitate to stab you in the back if it meant a career advancement. Here's an excerpt from this article on her mindless fawning over Al Gore to show you what I mean:

For her part, Dr. Couric sort of showed her lack of objectivity when she opined that a special session of congress should be convened to evict George W. Bush and install Al Gore as president.
Calling for Al Gore to be sworn in by April 22, 2007, which is also Earth Day, placed an additional strain on Couric's vanishing credibility.

Please note that Katie Couric is not an accredited doctor. That's just part of the satirical nature of the article.

Here's another group that would fit right in with Gary and Katie and that's the Liberal Party of Canada. Positively reeking of insincerity over their superfluous support of our troops, they play mind games as Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor makes a legitimate gaffe in the House of Commons. Fortunately, Stephen Harper is not a man that rattles easily. Actually, he sees right through them and isn't afraid to call their bluff. To give you an example, in the recent federal budget both the Grits and the NDP knew that the budget had enough votes to pass because of the Bloc's support of the gov't. So they play this ridiculous game of saying, "Well we can't endorse this budget because it doesn't give enough to blah, blah, blah ....." knowing full well the budget was a done deal. Listen, only a moron takes seriously the claims these guys make. Another full-out assault on Canadian's intelligience in other words.

What is going on with the Holy Land nowadays? The madness is spreading I tell you. Why else would a woman strap on live crocodiles while trying to cross from the Gaza Strip to Egypt? When I think of stupidity in Israel is usually think of Ehud Olmert or one of Condi's breathless announcements of some meaningless 'peace' proposal but this one takes the cake.

Speaking of Israel, did you know that Hooters is opening a restaurant in Tel Aviv? Gosh, what could go wrong with that? I mean doesn't Hamas and its murderous militias have enough reason to kill Jews and other assorted fat and bloated tourists? Pure nuttiness.

Lastly, here's an article on why it's good to believe in a God who cares for us. Man, I just couldn't be an atheist. Looks too much like hard work to me.

Johnny Cash

Am I Being Too Harsh? - Mar 18

To the point, I am rather harshly critical of Islam. Am I being too hard on this religion whose adherents number in the billions? I think not. Truth be told I will always find myself in opposition to this ideology that enslaves minds and destroys bodies. It is good from time to time to make sure that you are being fair and accurate in your reporting. It's a legitimate question for anyone who freely offers up their critical opinion in the blogosphere. When I see journalists, scholars, celebrities and other bloggers take a stance, I notice a certain meanness, a kind of petty vindictiveness in their vitrol, the very thing I want to avoid.

Look, I love discussing politics and religion with other people. But my God some people are soooo hypersensitive when it comes to their pet beliefs that it's like stepping in a minefield when you talk to them. The way I see it is this: There can be no maturing in your political and religious beliefs if you don't examine them from time to time. My political views are vastly different today than what they were ten or twenty years ago. It is also likely that some of my views will change again in the next ten years or so. But like I said, you come across some people and your jaw drops. Their spiritual immaturity becomes painfully obvious as you come away with the conclusion that they will never accept any other postion other than their own. It would be more productive running into a brick wall at top speed than to argue with someone with a closed mind. It is a nightmare arguing with a proud person. They are physically unable to shut their mouths, never once taking the time to actually listen. On and on they rant, bullying and intimidating anyone who dares question them.

And so it is with Islam. Raising so much as a peep of protest to question them brings them to a rabid state. Like these Indian Muslims who threatened to behead Taslima Nasreen. In a civilized society any accusation of slander is brought before the courts. Not so with Islam! Nope, beheading is the way to go! Mohammed said so after all. I think when you examine fascist beliefs such as National Socialism, Communism, White Supremacism and yes, that 'Religion of Peace', there will always be those who gravitate towards it. If it didn't have that glossy sheen to begin with nobody would even bother. As Serge Trifkovic notes here:

It was exactly during Stalin's show trials that the Western intelligentsia was most outspokenly pro-Communist. Some people are drawn to the amoral exercise of raw power (emphasis mine) rather than repulsed. It is the basic appeal of fascism and one of Islam's greatest strengths.

Read your history and find out for yourself. The prophet Mohammed and Adolf Hitler worshipped war and having power over their enemies. The only difference between the two is that German National Socialism has been forever discredited whereas Islam's 'glossy sheen' is still very much in play. Power corrupts, whether it be the Council of American Islamic Relations, the United Nations or even such bona fide scoundrels as Pete Rose (Sorry Pete, no Hall of Fame entry for you until you truly repent of your sins).

So make no mistake, there is a coming war with Islam whether you like it or not. Totalitarianism in any form is an abortive policy. So what then do we do to defeat this threat to our freedoms? Here are a few ideas from your humble correspondent:

1) Europe must support Israel and the Jewish claim to the land. I believe it's called Zionism. Despite all the Europessimism, I still think they can pull back from the precipice from which it finds itself. However it must come from the grassroots, not from the dhimmified politicians. Europe must rediscover its democratic and Judeo-Christian traditions or move towards civil war. Time for 'Eurabia' is running out.

2) Emotional and materiel support for the U.S. military is crucial. Like it or not, the Americans are the sole guaranteeor of stability in the ME. Our politicians have to get serious about the spiritual nature of this battle and stop wasting men, materiel, money and morale to bring democracy to those who soundly reject it. (Note: I know how 'material' is spelt. The use of the word 'materiel' here is I believe the correct one.)

3) Support for the emerging global church in places like India are crucial. The West should dedicate a great deal of money and resources in helping bringing the Gospel to the unreached in the ME and Asia. Let's put all this PC in the garbage. Islam is not compatible with human rights. Islam is NOT an Abrahamic faith! Why is this moral equivalence so hard to shake?

That's it for now. Like I said, we got our work cut out for us. God's glory awaits all those that have their hope in Him.

Johnny Cash

And Now For Something Completely Different - Feb 12

With apologies to Monty Python of course. No clever segue needed here as I've said all I wanted to say in my previous post. So without further ado, here's some of the news that has crossed my desk in recent days.

Without sounding like I'm flogging a dead horse, it appears that the end-game between Iran and the U.S. is well under way. This has been a long time coming, hence the reason why I've shied away from any sensationalist pronouncements and the like. By the way, what's wrong with putting fear into the heart of the enemy? Why is that deemed so offensive, especially to the useful idiots on the Left? Squeezing Iran is the best possible thing we can do right now in light of what's happening in Iraq. Iranians view the Americans as resourceful and unpredictable, which believe me is actually a good thing. Taking advantage of this paranoid mindset ought to be priority number one for the Bush administration.

The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming! In Munich, Germany, President Putin's true colours were revealed as he came out publicly swinging against U.S. foreign policy. Defence Secretary Robert Gates kindly rebuffed Putin and reminded everybody that one Cold War was quite enough. While the old unlamented Soviet Union is dead and buried, the Russians are re-entering the arms race with a vengeance. Though not even close to it's zenith in 1985, Russian arms exports are ominously on the rise.


Just remember, it's not paranoid if it happens to be true. Did you know that your iris can be scanned without your consent?

Why are honeybee colonies dying in droves all of a sudden? In the honeybee article it states:

Along with being producers of honey, commercial bee colonies are important to agriculture as pollinators, along with some birds, bats and other insects. A recent report by the National Research Council noted that in order to bear fruit, three-quarters of all flowering plants—including most food crops and some that provide fiber, drugs and fuel—rely on pollinators for fertilization.

See that? No pollinators like bees equals crop failures which lead to famine. I know this sounds silly, but please keep these bees in you prayers. They are more important to humanity's survival rate far more than we'll ever know.

You wouldn't understand, it's a Canadian thing: Our own Stephen Harper found himself in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick to ceremoniously drop a puck at a pond hockey tournament. Consider the scale of this 'little' tournament:
1) There are 120 teams (or so) vying for the Wooden Cup. Along with the obvious contingent of Canadian and American hockey players, there are also teams from England, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Egypt (!), and the Cayman Islands (!!).
2) Roulston Lake which is where the tournament is being played on can support up to forty teams (or twenty rinks) at any one time. A lake that big has to be frozen up real good in order to physically withstand the weight that is placed on the ice.
3) I was perusing the papers today and it appears that an American team called the Boston Danglers won the tournament. Good for them!

Lastly I've got a cool video link that I've been saving since I've moved to Brampton. It's from frontpagemag.com and requires flash in order to play. It calls itself the 'Islamic Mein Kampf' and ought to be seen by everyone. A must-have for your favorites!

That's it for today. I'm tired and I'm going to bed.

Johnny Cash