A Life Redeemed

John Newton went to sea at the age of 11 and was forced to enlist on a British man-of-war seven years later. He was captured after deserting the intolerable conditions and exchanged to the crew of a slave ship. He began reading a book he found on board— Imitation of Christ—which began to sow the seeds of conversion. Newton eventually gave his life to Christ during a storm which threatened the ship. For the rest of his life he observed May 10, 1748, as the day of his conversion. He was promoted to captain of a slave ship traveling between North Africa and England. Slave ships left England empty and anchored off the African coast. Tribal chiefs would deliver men and women captured in raids and wars to the buyers, who would select the finest specimens. Then the captives would be loaded aboard ship, packed in like sardines below deck and chained to prevent suicides. Those that survived the voyage to the New World were traded for molasses and sugar to make rum, which the ships would take back to England. Then the ships were off to Africa to begin their miserable trade all over again. It took six years for the inhuman aspects of the business to force Newton to leave the sea for good.

Newton studied for the ministry and used the last 43 years of his life to preach the gospel. He wrote over 200 hymns, with “Amazing Grace,” “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” and “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds,” being several of his most loved and sung works. At 82, Newton said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” Newton truly understood God’s amazing grace, for he had experienced it first hand.

Germany makes it to the Finals - Euro 2008

Germany defeated a tough Turkish team 3-2, and moved to the finals where they will face either Russia or Spain.

There is much fanfare throughout Germany. It is 2254 hours here in Germany and it sounds like the 4th of July. They (Europeans) take their football seriously!

I'll keep rooting for my German Team.

Jail Time for Homeschooling Parents

We made it back from a week long family vacation in Switzerland (a post on that later); and are getting ready to move from Mannheim to Wiesbaden which is the state capital of Hesse.

Speaking of Hesse...I read an article posted on Worldnetdaily.com about some German homeschooling parents living in Hesse, that are getting prison time for homeschooling their children. Read it here. The German government is anti-homeschooling to say the least and according to this article federal prosecutors are taking it to these parents.

A mother and father who have been homeschooling their children each have been ordered by a German judge to serve three-month prison terms after a prosecutor said he was unhappy with fines the family paid and he wanted the parents jailed. It was just a year ago when WND reported the prosecutor, Herwig Muller, appealed a lower court's imposition of fines against the Dudeks.

I'm a little concerned (more about the perception of 'homschoolers') but thankful my family and I do not fall under German jurisdiction for homeschooling. BTW, there is a large American homeschooling community serving here. However, this should not be a big surprise. Afterall, Germany is a socialistic state.

Of note: One of the first acts by Hitler when he moved into power was to create the governmental Ministry of Education and give it control of all schools and school-related issues. In 1937, the dictator said, "The youth of today is ever the people of tomorrow. For this reason we have set before ourselves the task of inoculating our youth with the spirit of this community of the people at a very early age, at an age when human beings are still unperverted and therefore unspoiled. This Reich stands, and it is building itself up for the future, upon its youth. And this new Reich will give its youth to no one, but will itself take youth and give to youth its own education and its own upbringing."

What gives big government? I like what Joerg Grosseleumern, a spokesman for the the Netzwork-Bildungsfreiheit, a German homeschool advocacy group, said: in Hesse a family's failure to follow the mandatory public school attendance laws violates not only administration regulations but the criminal code.

"It is embarrassing the German officials put parents into jail whose children are well educated and where the family is in good order," he wrote in an earlier alert about the situation. "We personally know the Dudeks as such a family."

What does the government have to fear about well educated, good citizens? Nothing.

But according to Wolfgang Drautz, consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany, has commented on the issue on a blog, noting the government "has a legitimate interest in countering the rise of parallel societies that are based on religion."

The government certainly doesn't want your children to be socialized in religion (read Christianity; perhaps Islam and others are on the hit list too); but it's ok to socialize your children into secular humanism, materialism, etc-- the religion of atheism is straight all right for your children.

I'm raising and teaching my children to be followers of Jesus Christ, students of God's word, and to be good citizens of whatever state they serve. This is not a parallel society; at least not according to our founding Fathers (read what some of them had to say about Christianity and citizenship). In the end, my family lives in two cities: The City of God and the City of Man. We will do our civic duties for the rulers of the City of Man but ultimately we serve the Christ, the ruler of the City of God .

HULK SMASH

Yesterday the new Marvel Comics movie, The Incredible Hulk opened. It is supposed to be better then the 2003 Hulk, which was considered a box office failure. I liked it but it's not one of my favorite Marvel Comic adaptations. This is generally what happens with origin stories (Spider-Man 1 is an exception).

The 2008 Hulk movie picks up where the previous on left off, with one noticeable difference...a new cast. Ed Norton plays Bruce Banner/Hulk, William Hurt as General Ross, and Liv Tyler as Betsy Ross, Bruce Banner/Hulk's love interest. New to the series is Tim Roth who plays a Special Forces soldier who turns into Hulk's arch-nemesis, Abomination.

Hulk was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and made his first appearance in May 1962. The character has appeared in a television series, with spin-off television movies, starring Bill Bixby as Dr. Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk; in animated series in 1966, 1982 and 1996.

In the first issue, the Hulk was gray. Writer and Marvel editor-in-chief Lee had wanted a color that did not suggest any particular ethnic group. Colorist, Stan Goldberg however, had problems with the gray coloring, resulting in different shades of gray, and even green, in the issue. Stan Lee picked the uncommon color, green. From issue #2 (July 1962) on, Goldberg colored the big brute's skin green.

Should be a good SCI-FI action flick.

"You're making me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

Croatia stuns Germany in Euro 2008

Germany's Michael Ballack, right, Croatia's Niko Kovac, second from right, and Croatia's Ivica Olic, left, challenge for the ball during the group B match between Croatia and Germany in Klagenfurt, Austria at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships.

Germany's misery was complete in stoppage time when Schweinsteiger was dismissed for a push on substitute Jerko Leko.

On Thursday Croatia dealt Germany a 2-1 Euro 2008 Group B defeat here on Thursday in one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far.

However, Croatian Coach, Slaven Bilic stated, "There is no other way to beat the Germans than to play well. They're still a great team, though, and still one of the favourites for the title."

Germany plays Austria on 16 June in what turns out to be a crucial game for both football clubs; a rivalry that goes back at least to 1978.

Defending champion Germany was eliminated by Austria 3-2 at the 1978 World Cup in Cordoba, Argentina, in a match in which Austria had nothing to gain and Germany everything to lose. It remains one of the most famous Austrian sports victories over its bigger neighbor and it came after 47 years of trying.

Germany needs at least a draw against co-host Austria on Monday in Vienna.

16/06/2008

v

Austria

20:45

Group B	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Croatia	2	2	0	0	3	1	6
Germany	2	1	0	1	3	2	3
Austria	2	0	1	1	1	2	1
Poland	2	0	1	1	1	3	1

I will continue to root for Germany (at the slight chance of upsetting Christina's Austrian kinfolk).

64th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Men of the 16th Infantry Regiment seek shelter from German machine-gun fire in shallow water
behind "Czech hedgehog" beach obstacles, Easy Red sector, Omaha Beach.
© Robert Capa/Magnum Photos.

On this day in 1944, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the go-ahead for the largest amphibious military operation in history: Operation Overlord, code named D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern France.

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

-- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

I give thanks and remembrance to all my brothers-in-arms whom have gone before me. These guys are my heroes!

Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, based on an Associated Press tally of convention delegates, becoming the first black candidate ever to lead his party into a fall campaign for the White House.

I like what William Bennett says about Obama and the Democratic Party:

[T]he Democratic party is about to nominate [has nominated] a far left candidate in the tradition of George McGovern, albeit without McGovern’s military and political record. The Democratic party is about to nominate a far-left candidate in the tradition of Michael Dukakis, albeit without Dukakis’s executive experience as governor. The Democratic party is about to nominate a far left candidate in the tradition of John Kerry, albeit without Kerry’s record of years of service in the Senate. The Democratic party is about to nominate an unvetted candidate in the tradition of Jimmy Carter, albeit without Jimmy Carter’s religious integrity. . .

Rockabilly Legend Bo Diddley: 1928-2008

Another legend passes...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians, died Monday after months of ill health. He was 79.

He was called 'The Originator' — Bo Diddley, who with his signature rectangular guitar 'The Twang Machine' built the bridge from blues to rock and roll.

My dad taught me how to play the guitar, and some of the first songs I learned were Bo Diddley songs. I still enjoy breaking out my Fender Stratocaster and strumming away on 'Bo Diddley.'

My favorite Bo Diddley album...

Forget the silly cowboy costume on the front cover -- because this is a heck of a great album! Bo might have gotten saddled (no pun intended!) with a silly gimmick for the title and image of the set -- but the album's one of his best from the early Chess years, and features a rip-roaring batch of tracks that really cut it up in his classic scratchy guitar mode of the time! Lyrics are great -- nearly all originals by Bo himself, with that hip swinging, and hard-wailing approach that was always a lot of fun -- and cuts include "Gunslinger", "Diddling", "Cheyenne", "Cadillac", and "Doing The Craw-Daddy".