Curly's Sweater

It's been awhile since my last post, but I'm back from several weeks of travel and field duty.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

On this date 145 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history at the dedication of the military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Using just 272 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly articulated the meaning of the conflict for a war-weary public.

At the dedication, the crowd listened for two hours to Edward Everett before Lincoln approached the podium. His address lasted just two minutes, and many in the audience were still making themselves comfortable when he finished. He began by reminding the assembled crowd of the Founding Fathers' vision, which established a nation that was "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." He addressed the country's civil war, which was testing the endurance of American revolutionary ideals, and he honored the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg, suggesting that their struggle had already consecrated the ground "far above our power to add or detract." Lincoln then succinctly stated the purpose of the Northern war effort: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

The Galactic Empire Needs You!

My vote is cast...

Obama, the Moral Choice?

This will most likely be the last time I post anything on the U.S. presidential race. I've already sent in my absentee ballot...

I read where a fellow follower of Jesus Christ claimed that Obama was her moral choice for president. She based her decision on the candidate's stance on the Iraq war, fighting poverty, and several other positions. She also wrote: 'although not happy about his stance on abortion, still found him as the moral choice.'

I was surprised about this. It echoes of the classic abortion mitigating strategy: 'I'm personally oposed to abortion but...'

So, here's the reason why Obama is NOT my moral choice for president:

1. His stance on abortion is immoral. He voted against the Illinois Senate Bill 1095-Born Alive Infant Protection Act whic only illustrates one aspect of his anti-life stance. Now if you don't see murdering a human being, no matter the location, as not a moral issue, then it's a non-issue for you. However, this is not a biblical Christian view.

2. His pro-socialist/marxist stance. I still can't figure out why modern day liberals have this love affair with communists (they were in love with Uncle Joe--Joe Stalin and still defend him as if he was Mother Teresa). It is a suprise to most voters that Obama has ties to members of the radical left (read, socialists and communists). The Communist Party USA recently endorsed him for president and he has ties to socialist-marxist radicals such as Bill Ayers.

"Our time has come...I can see a role for the Communist Party USA in the next period." Those words from Libero Della Piana, an operative speaking at the headquarters of the Communist Party USA and eagerly anticipating an Obama presidency.

I do not want to commit the logical fallacy of 'guilt by association;' however, one writer noted, relevant associations do matter and context is everything. Moreover, my mother and father told me on numerous occasions during my youth, 'you are judged by the company you keep.' Who can argue with your parents?

Additionally, his 'spread the wealth' comment is very telling of his socialist-marxist proclivity. Karl would be proud...


The power elites which include liberal democratic party members, keep all of their money and take the working classes money and 'share' it with the non-working class which only creates more poverty and gives no incentive to work harder or even work at all. Good policy.

Why is it that former Soviet-Bloc countries are turning towards democracy and capitalism?

Communism has never worked in any country in which it has been tried. In practice, Communism — the ultimate goal of liberalism — affords everything to and for the power elite and little to nothing for everyone else. It also does away with the concept of meritocracy — unless of course one is a member of the aforementioned power elite. However, more and more this is what Democrat presidential candidate and Senator Barack Obama seems to be proposing.

Comrade Commisar Obama is not my moral choice for president.

Obama-Marxist rhetoric: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/13/obama-plumber-plan-spread-wealth/

Communist Manifesto: http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html

Das Kapital complete version: http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/261/1294/frameset.html

In Honor of Those Who Serve - 9/11

To my comrades past and present, and especially to those in the 519th MI BN...I think of you often.

Dating for Dummies

And now on a serious note...

Do Christian singles have a rough time connecting with that someone special? I have no idea (but I did date my one and only for four years before we got married and we've been happily married for 15 years).

Dwindling congregations and a lack of experience in relationships have left many churchgoers struggling to find a partner, according to clergy.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of worshippers signing up to internet dating sites, but clergy are concerned that they are losing personal skills, such as flirting and reading signals.

Now hundreds of Christians are attending courses designed to make them more successful in turning a first date into a long-term relationship.

Here's some of what they're learning:

Lessons include how to greet someone, how to hold good eye contact and how to judge whether the other person wants to be kissed at the end of the evening.

"The workshops are all about giving people the confidence to make their date a success. They go through the whole process of what is acceptable to talk about and when it is appropriate to try to take things to the next level."

Mr Spalton (Peter Spalton, known as the dating doctor) said that chat-up lines can be a good way to make someone laugh and feel relaxed, but that some Christian jokes might not be well received.

And pick-up lines to avoid:

- 'Now I know why Solomon had 700 wives. He never met you.'
- 'You float my ark.'
- 'I didn't believe in predestination until tonight.'
- 'Let me sell you an indulgence - it's a sin to look as good as you.'
- 'How many times do I have to walk around you before you fall for me?"

Perhaps we need more workshops, seminars, Sunday school lessons to help the singles out. Do they teach this at seminary? If not, they should. I know this is easy to make fun of after all, I'm married.

U.S. Army Drill Team

Discipline...