Christmas with Snoopy and the Red Baron

"Somewhere behind the French lines..." Snoopy and the Red Baron duelling it out over the German Skies during WWI. The Royal Guardsmen did this album many years ago and tells the story about Snoopy's Sopwith Camel (his Doghouse) and his Christmas Day shootout with the Red Baron.

The Red Baron forces Snoopy down 'behind enemy line' to celebrate Christmas with him.

It is a song and story I grew up with as a kid. One of the Royal Guardsmen has the same name as my father, and for the longest time, my Dad said it was him (and kind of looked like him back in the 60's). I later realized that my dad did not have the singing genes to do this!

Christmas Bells ringing throughout the land, bringing Peace to all the World and Goodwill to all Men.

Of course, Snoopy has these visions and dreams throughout all the Peanuts episodes. Remember the Great Pumpkin episode with Linus and Snoopy lowcrawling through the pumpkin patch? I don't think our dog has those kind of dreams. But then again, we really don't know what dogs dream about. Either way, we didn't get a call from Donald Rumsfeld, Tommy Franks or Colin Powell for our dog to help in the air war in Iraq.

Hmm... I guess Snoopy is retired . We could use a good ACE like Snoopy these days!

Well 'Red' Right Wingers

I wholeheartedly disagree with Rick Warren when he says that we need both 'wings' to fly, both right and left.

As this picture shows, two people well-balanced and peaceful. Who needs a worthless left-wing? When you only have a right wing, you go right- the only direction one really needs in life. You will eventually get to those left-leaning things that are worthless after experiencing all things great and good on the right! Furthermore, when you get to those 'lefty items' you will realize that those things are now obsolete and beneath you and can leave it for the '90%ers'

Growing Up Arminian

Being my usual 'slow on the uptake' self, I compared Luke 2:14:

NIV: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
NKJV: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Looking back, I must have grown up Armenian. Back then, I thought Armenians were people from a state in Southern USSR (that's Union of Socialist Soviet Republics for those who remember the Cold War).

Now I know that my family is not from the present-day Russia, but probably from some old theologian who doesn't like the cartoon character Calvin (and his stuffed tiger Hobbes). I don't know why these Armenians don't like a little kid who has a make-believe living stuffed animal.

These 'Armenians' sure seem to despise those who believe in Calvin's teachings. For example, there is a time when a very deep question is asked, and Calvin refuses to answer based on 'Religious Principle'. Smart guy, why throw your 'pearls before the swine' and lower yourself to the other person's level!

Anyway, when I was a kid I memorized the NKJV, which sounds like Jesus came for All Men. Did He? Compare that to the NIV where his Glory is for those whom His Favor Rests. Hmm....

Am I reading too much into the differences in these two verses? My wife thinks so.

I think I'll look into the other versions and then open up my copy of "Homicidal Jungle Cat" which is one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes books then get back with you later.

Pious Pontifications and Feeding the Sacred Shrill

What is it with certain people? I remember when I was in college and was taught about cults and how they used 'proof texting' to prove their point. Proof texting is a method of proving a point by only using one or two parts of a text, instead of the entire text.


In my studies of cults, atheism, and other belief systems (I use belief loosely), they are extremely good at trying to use this method to disprove Christianity. From Biblical contradictions (Why do the Gospels have four different accounts of Christ?) to denying the Trinity, they use one verse here and one verse there to prove their point.


However, I have noticed in several blogs and websites have been taking articles in the press and taking one line from a comment and disparaging the whole person. Why?


Why would a Christian use the method of 'proof texting' to disparage another (Christian or Non-Christian) We, as Christians in the Real World, battle this type of problem on a daily basis.


Now, we have 'Christian' Blogger/Authors/Speakers/'Experts' who probably never leave the comfort of there ergonomically-correct computer chair and disparage anything that comes across the WEB without fully researching the situation.


It takes more than just Googling 'apostasy' and running with it.


I assume those who are doing this are so insulated by their Christian "Microworld", they almost never come in contact with 'the lost' and what it is like dealing with Christian Apologetics.

These Pious Pontificators seem to ignore (or misinterpret) 1 Corinthians 9:20-22. I will clarify that there is a clear line between 'in the world, not of it'. The below link is a very good exegesis (Google that work and find out what it means, if your pastor doesn't do it, well...) of these verses:

http://www.jewsforjesus.org/answers/paul/paulspersonality

I'm all for Biblical Discernment and keeping the Bride of Christ pure and Holy. But Jesus spent most of his time not in the Synagogue, or writing His 'parchlog' (combination of parchment, and blog).

He spent His time in the world, being the Ultimate Christian Apologist.

We have some serious homework to do before we begin our Pious Pontifications and feed the Sacred Shrill:

1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Acts 17:11 … they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, [to see] whether those things were so.

There is a lot in the today's Emergent Church that is straight out of the pit of hell. But we must do what Paul says above before we vote that person off of Reformation Island...