Monday Morning Rant 69

It’s petty, but I couldn’t resist. In my belief that everything is quantifiable I took the research from an article I posted which included Oprah’s annual income of $385 million and combined it with a recent headline announcing her current weight at 200 lbs. This works out to $1,925,000.00 per pound. This in turn results in an annual income per ounce of $60,156.25.

These dollar figures can only increase if she could find a weight loss program that worked.. Now there is a solid reason to watch your food intake and exercise.

I am really ashamed of myself because by using the same formula, my generous frame and niggardly earnings only stimulate an annual income of $3.12 per ounce. Since neither one of us is paid by the pound I probably shouldn’t be concerned.

Lies equal truth?

In an on going assault on truth, the AP has furnished a story which perfectly exemplifies the use of the press as an agent of propaganda. There is little news in the story by Seth Borenstein, other than an absolute verification of the twisted, biased, desire to continue the myth of global warming. The link is included for the sole purpose of allowing you to isolate this near perfect example of their misguided efforts.

The inclusion of false examples, predictions, and assertions of expertise are rank within the piece. It is, in fact, so lacking in balance that the least astute can see the lame attempt to project their self-serving agenda.

Mixed in with the rest of the diatribe is a lame paragraph near the end which makes the observation that the exact opposite of the main message is not supported by data. If you can make it that far, you will find that those comments even attempt to weasel their way around the truth. Richard S. Courtney, a climate and atmospheric science consultant and a UN IPCC expert reviewer ridiculed the AP article and goes through the list. He also labels the article as such: “Rarely have I read such a collection of unsubstantiated and scare-mongering twaddle.”

In another example, Borenstein called upon John Christy of the University of Alabama and claimed that he predicted a sea level rise of nearly 3’. When that assertion was checked out with Christy it was revealed that it was not a quote on the results of global warming but rather an observation about the possibility of storm surge in the aftermath of a hurricane. That is an extremely critical difference. Most third graders recognize that difference.

The message here is quite simple. People lie! If we are unwilling to actually check on what they say then we are the willing victims of their perfidy. Unfortunately, there are many in positions of trust with high sounding tittles (science writer for the Associated Press, formerly with Knight-Ridder) who distribute this bile.

Sanctuary

Wasilla Bible Church in Wasilla, Alaska was damaged by a fire Saturday which was allegedly set by an arsonist. Fortunately, the few people inside escaped the million dollar blaze without harm. No one has been named as the perpetrator but there was some speculation that the presence of a prominent national figure in the congregation may have been instrumental in the crime.

In the recent terrorist attacks in India, one of the targets was a Jewish couple and their orthodox missionary branch in Mumbai. They were slain in the presence of their horrified children. One of the purposes of the branch was to provide a safe haven and comfort to visiting Jews in that area.

Although little reported, attacks on black churches, often in the form of arson, has not diminished since the troublesome sixties. They continue apace here in the United States.

These primitive acts are difficult to understand by those who follow the laws and wishes of God. For people of all faiths who worship God and cherish their church home as they do their own, it is impossible to understand the mindset of those who would contrive to do them harm. These evildoers will continue to exist, however, as long as there are people who follow the risen Savior and not men. It does pose some difficult questions.

Do we bother to think of security in our houses of worship? Are we prepared to deal with the various assaults on our sanctuaries? Can we safely assume that no one would ever have aught with us and bring grief to our congregations?

I believe that God will protect the helpless. But, does helpless describe those of us who are able bodied and fit to assume some of the responsibility for the protection of our churches? About a year or so ago, an assailant entered a church in Colorado Springs with the intent to slay some of the congregants. Fortunately, they had anticipated this terrible possibility and had security personnel within the congregation who handled the matter with a vastly lessened loss of life. Being prepared does not lessen our dependence upon God. He does not command us to be as sheep in the presence of wolves. In a perfect world, we may all lie together, but, this is not a perfect world. Our world is fraught with danger and people of evil intent. Some measure of anticipation could well mean the difference between tragedy and tranquility..

And finally

I am a veteran of many-a-church dinner but I will concede in an effort to try out every dish possible I have been known to not quite finish each morsel. Some unfortunate kitchen accident or misstep has been known to render a dish less than pleasant if not inedible. Such was not the case at our dinner in Miami on Sunday. No emperor ever dined as well. The lowly corn stood proudly beside the baked ham in my preference for the next bite. At the close we were challenged with a desert table which literally groaned from excess. There is no doubt that my selection of the apple pie is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

“Skip” Robison delivered the message on the vital importance of example teaching our children and it was my pleasure to be seated near him and his wife Jean at our dinner.

My visiting white breasted nuthatch finally settled down long enough to affirm my identification of his species. No doubt lingers and I now wonder how I ever confused him with his cousin the downy woodpecker. In my defense, it is the first nut hatch I have ever positively identified.

Although threatened with an ice storm last night, we caught a break and got some very minor precipitation As a result I can more comfortably refill the bird feeder for the predicted fall of temperature. It’s 13º right now and I am grateful that we have been spared any electrical interruptions.

Please do enjoy your week and continue to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Merry Christmas

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon