Dueling Cartoons II

On Friday the KC Star cartoonist depicted former VP Dick Cheney sitting in a "make-up" room prior to a TV appearance as "A fossil that represents an early stage of human development..." A link to the cartoon may be found HERE. I suspect that this may be a temporary link...so I’ve given you a description of the cartoon with which mine is "dueling".


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We Still Have to Deal with Potholes

I don't necessarily agree with the claims of this video and suspect that there is some blatant hype going on here; nevertheless, if nothing else, this video should make one realize that the only "real" meaning in life is found in our relationship with God, and then in our relationships with others.

Jesus said: "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26)

Burqa’d

Ann Coulter’s column this week, among other things, talks about the liberal media bias that seems to be rampant since Obama’s election. All "main stream media" (msm) anchors and anchorettes seem to just tow the liberal line...no questions asked, per Ann . It begs for a "Coulter" quote and a DVAN cartoon:

"But what is crying out for an explanation is why every bubble-head TV news anchorette from a nice, churchgoing red state ends up adopting the political views of Karl Marx. From Katie Couric on CBS to Norah O'Donnell on MSNBC, the whole stable of TV anchorettes weirdly have the exact same politics as their liberal masters. It's the ideological burqa women are required to wear to work in the mainstream media. As with a conventional burqa, it enforces conformity and severely restricts the vision. The only way to protect yourself is to do the liberal male's bidding, as the bubble-head anchorettes do, or stand on the rock of Christianity." (Ann Coulter ..read it all)

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Dueling Banjos Cartoons

Have you ever opened the morning newspaper and looked at the editorial cartoon and just wanted to throw a brick at the paper? (no, that’s what you do to the TV when MSNBC is on) What?... burn the paper? Soak it in water?... Cancel your subscription...? Maybe in the past...but now it’s the "Dueling Cartoons"! Here in the KC area we have a liberal newspaper...and, guess what,....that’s right... a liberal opinion cartoonist. Imagine that! In the past I would write a letter to the editor to voice my opposition to the cartoon subject matter.....but to no avail. Given the number of letters...I suppose my conservative opinion might just get lost in the shuffle whether by intent or not. So...the solution...create the "Dueling-Cartoon" .

Now, I know I don’t have the readership of the local newspaper, nor the artistic talent of my local cartoonist..but I do have "some" readership and "some" talent and this venture allows me to vent my inner anger/frustration in more positive ways and to continue to help support the local economy by NOT cancelling my subscription. My first attempt at this venting process is posted below and is based on the Friday morning, May 8th editorial cartoon which can be viewed here. So now, you may have at least two opinions.
(If you’re not familiar with the Perez Hilton incident..you can brush up here.)

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Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

This blog is a follow-up on my earlier "...Without Excuse". I am linking to James White’s reflections of his recent debate with atheist Dan Barker at the University of Illinois. This debate took place on April 30th 2009. Dr. White is a seasoned debater on a full range of Christian subjects. Note carefully Mr. White’s purpose in all of his debates: "I am committed to the idea that debates are meant to glorify God through the proclamation of His truth. I am seeking to edify the saints, and evangelize the lost..."

Be sure to watch the video, (it’s only 3min, 20sec) for it highlights Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." I am still amazed that anyone could look at all the marvelous creations of God and conclude that it all came together by chance.

Hat Tip: Hip & Thigh

Psy-"Kicks"

I discovered a newspaper clipping from the Jan 3rd, 1978 National Inquirer tucked away in an old photo album. (my wife must have bought this thing) The clipping is the entire two page Predictions for 1978 by the top 10 psychics in the country. How they are judged to be the top 10 is not explained, but based on some of the predictions they must have been chosen on a scale representing the most outrageous predictions.

Here are some that are not so outrageous, but might have been predicted by any sweat hog in Mr. Kotter’s 1978 under-achiever class. Vinnie Barbarino or Arnold Horshack could have done as well:

Elizabeth Taylor will divorce. (duh...her 7th divorce didn’t happen until 1982, from John Warner)
Earthquake in Iran in July (Iran has an earthquake every couple years since 1947..safe bet), Columbia in August, and Hawaii in September. (none happened, although Iran had one in September ’78..close don’t count in Psychic Prognostications)
Researchers will develop a pill to prevent baldness (it wasn’t predicted that it would work; I think they’re still developing pills) (Velcro was first marketed in ’78 and could help in holding a good wig in place)

Outrageous Predictions:
A thought-mobile will be introduced by GM that will be controlled by the driver’s thought waves. (that may be why they are in trouble today...too much R&D money on this thing)
Elizabeth Taylor will enter politics, become an ambassador and settle the Israeli/Arab conflict. (has the Israeli/Arab conflict been going on that long? What’s that..about 30 years..plus or minus 3000?)
Henry Kissinger will be called back into service to settle the Mid-East conflict. (You’d think between Henry and Liz something ought to get fixed)
Kristy McNichol star of "Family" will make a hit record and become a singing star. (This Psychic got Kristy mixed up with Miley Cyrus...and 30 years too soon.)
Jacqueline Bisset star of "The Deep" will become America’s No.1 sex symbol. (that actually did happen ...but Alas, evidently I was the only one who knew!)
Japanese scientists will develop..a cheap adapter that would enable one to pick-up TV broadcasts from around the world. (I think that would be called a "computer"...but it’s not so cheap,..in my opinion, and didn’t come close to happening in 1978.)
Elvis Presley’s body will be kidnapped and held for $1,000,000.00 ransom. (didn’t happen..but no one predicted that Charlie Chaplin’s remains would be stolen in March ‘78 and held for 600,000 Swiss Franc reward. Culprits were caught and body returned.)
Muhammad Ali will suffer a heart attack in the ring and retire. (no one predicted Leon Spinks would be the one that would take Ali’s title..in 15 rounds Feb 15th. Ali didn’t retire and won back the title in a September rematch)

On our journey through the Bible this year we found quite a story. It is in 2 Chronicles Chapter 18. Wicked King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) sought an alliance with good King Jehoshaphat of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Jehoshaphat acquiesced and agreed to join in battle against the Syrians to recover a city that had been lost. King Ahab gathered 400 of the leading "psychics" of his day to inquire if he’d be successful in this endeavor. After 400 "yes-men" said "go...get ‘em, Tiger", Jehoshaphat sensed an un-holy harmonious unanimity and asked if there were any others that might have a "Word...from the Lord". Ahab reluctantly said "yes...there is one other, but I don’t like him because he never has anything good to say about me". So..they sent for Micaiah, the Prophet. The "gofer" attempted to vet Micaiah's message by telling him about the 400 psychics and how they, in one voice, agreed that the Kings should do this battle and Micaiah would do well to say the same thing. Micaiah said, "..what my God says that will I speak."

Here’s what Micaiah told King Ahab: "The Lord seeks your demise by way of these 400 lying "psychics". Believe them...go to battle... and be defeated and killed." The short version.."he did, he went and he was"! Before he left for battle, King Ahab threw Micaiah in jail until he returned safely. Ahab didn’t come back safely. A soldier fired a random arrow into the air, it fell to earth...the Lord knew where. It struck King Ahab in a small-unprotected area of his armor...the sliver of space between the breastplate and scales of armor...and he bled to death. The Chronicler does not tell of the vindication of Micaiah. The story..leaves him in jail for telling the truth of the matter.

What a lesson this is for today’s Pastors and Teachers..and, for that matter, all of us. "What the Lord says...that will I speak"....no matter the consequences.

The Elephant in the Room

The Reformed Pastor blogged about this on April 20th. Hat Tip to him for this entry:

The following is from the Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — A task force has begun looking into the conduct of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) in its dealings with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations that have left the PC(USA) for the EPC.
The task force was named by the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations (GACER) in response to an overture to the 218th PC(USA) General Assembly (2008) that was referred to the GACER. The overture requested that the assembly "investigate the actions and conduct of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church …"

This little tid-bit of news just screams out "CARTOON"...Hello??....can’t y'all see the Elephant in the room? Folks are not being "wooed out" by the EPC...they're being "run out" by the PCUSA. So...here it is!

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