There are many things that people go through that they would consider traumatic. One is being fired or getting laid off from your job. Another is moving. The loss of a loved one ranks right up there too. But there is another loss that many have a hard time with, and that is the loss of a pet. Last Friday night I had to make 'The Call' to the vet to have my cat Sylvie euthanized. This Saturday morning was when it was carried out. I sort of chickened out at the last minute and just left her there instead of seeing her very last moments but I didn't see the point in seeing her suffer. Tough job, being a vet. Seeing dogs and cats (and other animals) suffer every day is certainly not for the faint of heart. If I were a people doctor I don't think the suffering that I would see would have the same effect on my psyche as it would tending to animals. Strange. My Dad and I reckoned ol' Syl was close to 15 years old, which is the upper limit of a cat's life expectancy anyways. As she was senile and peeing all over the basement carpet it sort of brought everything into focus. My mother was the one who cried the most over Sylvie's passing and I admit I got a little misty-eyed over her as well. However, I know in my heart of hearts that I made the correct decision to end her life, a moment that every pet owner dreads. I'll see you on the flip-side Sylvie, may you rest in peace 'til we meet again.
Below is a picture of comedian Rick Mercer in a flak jacket spooning gravy on the troop's meals in Afghanistan. You can read about it here on Rick Mercer's own blog. Attaboy, Rick!
I'm receiving conflicting reports here but it appears that Saddam Hussein might be swinging from the gallows' pole by as early as tomorrow. The last step before the execution was the transfer from U.S. custody to Iraqi custody. This seems to have already taken place although neither American or Iraqi officials have confirmed this. Keep in mind that in Islamic tradition, condemned prisoners are usually executed after Friday prayers. Saddam might have a reprieve today but it appears his fate will be decided sooner rather than later.
Last Sunday in church I stood up and reminded the congregation that even though the Christmas season is a time for celebration, for many Christians around the world it is just another day facing persecution at the hands of gov't authorities. And yes, it does happen even here in the West and in Australia.
See this movie from Bibles Unbound and join up. For thirty USD, you can send NTs to people in Muslim lands individually and in their own language. You can also got to the Voice of the Martyrs website persecution.com which I have just added to the sidebar. Being a Christian is about making a difference, it isn't about sitting on your hands whilst whistling Dixie.
As I have stated before, it is very difficult to cut through all the groupthink without paying a hefty price. Congressman Virgil Goode (R-Virginia) is none to pleased with Keith Ellison's (D-Minnesota) decision to swear an oath on the Koran instead of the Bible. You can read Robert Spencer's article on this or if you're lazy like me you can see the video from HotAir.com instead.
As I reported in my previous post, the Muslim Hajj is very much underway. What you may or may not know is that the Hajj has a deadly history, particularly when pilgrims try to 'stone the devil'. If you get that strange feeling that something is dark and sinister at work here you're not alone in your thoughts. Archived from Jan, 12, 2006 from the Beeb.
On Jan, 1, 1999 the euro was born. This article shows how far the euro has come in these past seven years.
We certainly are on the doorstep of a new year, are we not? I don't know for sure if I'll be squeezing off another post these next two days although I do promise to give it a go if I have the time. If not then I'll wish you a Happy New Year for 2007.
I received word on Wednesday that another great American, Gerald Ford, has passed away. He took over from Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal and in the waning years of Vietnam. He was regarded as a 'healer', the right man for the right job at precisely the right time. God I feel has continuously blessed countries like the United States and Canada with leaders that in their own way lead a healing of sorts. These past eleven months under Stephen Harper has been wonderfully quiet and pretty much scandal-free, a welcome respite from the Chretien/Martin regime which was one of the most secretive and corrupt in Canadian political history.
Speaking of dead leaders, Saddam Hussein has still not yet met his ultimate fate. I suspect he might be toast before the new year. One thing is for sure, there will be no shortage of individuals who wish to be his executioner. While Saddam's trial sometimes devolved into a farce at times, let's give credit where credit is due. The Iraqi legal system held its ground and were not intimidated by Saddam or distracted by such caterwauling lefties as Ramsey Clark.
The merry march towards God's rightful judgement continues unabated as well. By the middle of 2007 (at least), there appears to be some kind of showdown coming down between Iran's mullahcracy and the West (U.S. and Israel mostly). Andrew McCarthy of National Review explains why.
There's not much going on here in the Great White North but there certainly is a lot of international stuff that's worth posting.
In China, Hu Jintao is now making noises about building a significant naval force 'to protect Chinese interests'. Read that as a navy that will soon challenge the Americans for naval supremacy and you have another seed of war being planted in the Far East.
Somali gov't forces backed by the Ethiopian military have just entered Mogadishu, the Somalian capital. The 'brave mujahideen' have proven their military impotence once more.
From Jihadi du Jour, 3 million Muslims are beginning the annual Hajj pilgrimage , also known as Saudi Arabia's biggest cash cow apart from its crummy oil. Probably the main reason why the prophet Muhammed started his little 'venture' in the first place. Click on the Kaaba picture on the top left and see a funny video.
I'm a day late with this but the 'Godfather of Soul', James Brown passed away yesterday on Christmas day. Got a video from YouTube with Mr. Brown singing 'Living in America'. If you pay attention, you'll see two shots of the Twin Towers in NYC. Often imitated but never duplicated, there was none funkier than Mr. James Brown.
I'm up for a good rant aren't you? From Jihadi du Jour comes a wonderful discombobulated pro-American and anti-left rant that I think is worth your time. I think JDJ is on to something here. Without a doubt, the two most hated nations in the world are the United States and Israel. This is not by accident, since these two nations are a people who still have a strong connection with God. While we have been blessed mightily by our Creator, we have a lot of faults that our enemies are exploiting. Things like pacifism (peace at any cost), self-hatred and complacency are eroding our morale. Organizations like CAIR scream 'Islamophobia' at the drop of a hat whenever someone says something critical of Muslims in particular and Islam in general. And what do we do? We cower like a scolded child. You see, that's what happens when you abandon Biblical truth. Man knows nothing apart from God's divine counsel. NOTHING! It is God and God alone who is the source of all knowledge and truth. Not the government, not empty philosophy, not academia and not from Man's feeble imagination. It's that simple.
And here's another thing: It's cool to be a Christian! Hallelujah! Unlike our snobbish secular counterparts, Christians sin less, are productive members of society, are generally happier and live longer! So I refuse to apologize for my faith. If you have a problem with it, then talk to God about it. It's also cool to be a regular church-goer too! Whether it be feeding the homeless in Vancouver or tsunami survivors in Tamil Nadu, India, the church does a tremendous job of helping those in need.
Got some other stuff that caught my eye that I think is worth posting:
Earthquakes in Divers Places Dep't: The island nation of Taiwan received a massive jolt (7.1 on the Richter scale to it's south. Thankfully there appears to be few casualties and no tsunami! Whew! I also got a strange one from the Beeb that Dumfries, south of Scotland (!) got all shook up today. The last time that the area got a jolt like that was on 1979, curiously enough also on Boxing Day. Weird!
General Rick Hillier was in Afghanistan along with comedian Rick Mercer to lift their spirits and give them some Christmas Eve turkey. Hooray for the two Ricks!
If there's one thing that Iraqis must deal with successfully in order to have a semi-functioning state (Actually Muslims don't build nations. It's Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists that do. But I digress.), it is corruption. When police are the usual recipients of bribes, crime can only flourish. I think of police in Mexico being bought by the drug cartels and how things are turning for the worse along the Texas-Mexico border. It costs the global economy literally a trillion dollars in wasted money, capital that could've been used to better the lives of the little people.
Speaking of Iraq, Saddam Hussein has a date with the hangman sometime in the next thirty days. May that day arrive sooner rather than later.
There's some good news coming out of the Horn of Africa as Ethiopian troops are routing Somali Islamists. See? Don't tell me that a well-trained, well-equipped army with a steely resolve cannot defeat an Islamic insurgency. Defeatists in the West, please take note!
There's been a horrible accident in Nigeria as over 260 people are dead and many more wounded after a leaking gasoline pipeline exploded.
