And Now For Something Completely Different

I have no idea.

We Are Our Own Worst Enemy

Why Iraq prisoners no longer talking

U.S. military interrogators in Iraq tell Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin prisoners are doing far less talking since the publicity of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the crackdown on harsh techniques used in questioning them.

"Do you want to know why there are so many successful attacks – attacks that are not averted because of good intelligence?" asked one military source familiar with the situation. "Because we're getting next to nothing out of the prisoners. Our information flow has dried up."

Many of us saw this coming. Maybe if we offered them ice cream and told them we'd be their best friend. We really need to smarten up.

Dissatisfied

It is odd how man seems to be so dissatisfied with God. Seriously. We seem to think that we can improve on what He has done. It is one thing when we do this by creating a new Rose, or a new breed of dog. It is another thing all together when we think we can improve on His religion. And we do. If we weren't so busy improving on God's religion, there wouldn't be so many varieties of religions in the world. -- Ronald L. Dart - Galations

I got three new fish for the tank. I was concerned that the Jack Dempsey would kill any fish I put in there since he has been alone for so long. I wanted something colorful and lively and considered Tiger Barbs but they are too small at the size the pet shop has. A group of large adults would be nice though. I like Silver Dollars but they are too skittish and I was afraid the Jack would chase them down. I ended up getting these Iridescent Sharks, which turned out to be a bit of a mistake, although not for the reason I was concerned. I was not too familiar with them and did not know the eventual size of the fish. The card on the tank in the pet shop said 8 inches. The clerk said about a foot. That would have been fine.

I got them set up in the tank and they are getting along swimmingly with the Jack. He was mildly curious but he leaves them alone. Good. Now I went on the internet to look up these sharks and guess what? The pet shop was dead wrong about the size. They get huge, up to 52 inches long! Why do they sell these in pet shops and not tell you how big they really get? Realistically, hardly anyone would have the room to keep a fish this large and probably less would actually want to, there are more interesting large fish out there.

So now I have three of these sharks (not really sharks, they just call them that) and we'll have to see what happens.That's what I get for trusting the pet shop and not doing my own research. Too impatient I guess. James likes them and they are active, just like I wanted. Could be a bit more colorful though. I should have tried to find Clown Loaches now that I've done some more reading up. I haven't seen them around, though.

The moral, I guess, is - Don't buy Iridescent Sharks!

If you have to leave the pet shop empty handed and come back another day to make sure you get the right fish, do it.

No Way!!!

Man Discovers Four-Inch Nail Embedded In Skull

How does this happen? And in his mouth, no less! Must have been a hell of a toothache.

Tradition of Men

"I have repeatedly offered $1,000 to anyone who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' The Catholic Church says: 'No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week.' And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in a reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church." (T. Enright, C.S.S.R., in a lecture at Hartford, Kansas, Feb. 18, 1884)

"Nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the apostles ordered the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the seventh day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] Church outside the Bible." (Catholic Virginian, October 3, 1947)

"Which church does the whole civilized world obey? Protestants call us every horrible name they can think of - anti-Christ, the scarlet-colored beast, Babylon, etc., and at the same time profess great reverence for the Bible, and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the power of the Catholic Church." (Industrial American, Harlan Iowa; a published lecture by T. Enright, December 19, 1889)

"Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals or precepts?"
"Answer: Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her, -she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority." (Rev. Stephen Keenan's A Doctrinal Catechism, p. 174: Edward Dunigan and Brothers, New York, 1851)

"You will read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we [Catholics] never sanctify." (Cardinal Gibbons' Faith of Our Fathers, p. 111)

"It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church." (Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, N.J. 'News' of March 18, 1903)

"Protestants...accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change... But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that... in observing the Sunday, in keeping Christmas and Easter, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church--the Pope." (Our Sunday Visitor, February 5, 1950.)

"If Protestants would follow the Bible, they should worship God on the Sabbath Day. In keeping the Sunday they are following a law of the Catholic Church." (Albert Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the Cardinal, in a letter dated February 10, 1920.)

"If you follow the Bible alone there can be no question that you are obliged to keep Saturday holy, since that is the day especially prescribed by Almighty God to be kept holy to the Lord. In keeping Sunday, non-Catholics are simply following the practise of the Catholic Church for 1800 years, a tradition, and not a Bible ordinance.... With the Catholics there is no difficulty about the matter. For, since we deny that the Bible is the sole rule of faith, we can fall back upon the constant practise and tradition of the Church." (Francis G. Lentz, The Question Box, 1900, pp. 98, 99)

"Is it not strange that those who make the Bible their only teacher should inconsistently follow in this matter the tradition of the Church?" (Bertrand L. Conway, The Question Box Answers, 1910, p. 255)

You shall do your work six days, and on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your ass may rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12

For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and sanctified it. Exodus 20:11

The United States of America and the Law of Liberty

The following was written by Ed Burson. It is part of a larger piece and I quote this part because it needs to be said and it builds on my post from earlier today.

Regardless of the lies to the contrary today, the government of our Nation was designed by Christians, using the Law of God as its foundations. Nowhere else in the world, will you find a nation whose laws are so inextricably connected to the Word of God!

It is the foundation of these Laws of God, in our Constitution, which HAS GIVEN US OUR LIBERTY!

It is this GLORIOUS LAW that developed such a rag-tag group of men and women, into the GREATEST NATION the world has ever known.

And the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 1 Corinthians 3:17

The degree to which we forsake this Law is the degree to which, we will lose our power and our wealth and our freedom!

Until very recently, our people have always understood, at least this much of the truth of God.

For over a hundred years, a very popular song, America the Beautiful, has been sung in churches throughout our land. It contains the revealing line, "America, America, God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self-control, thy LIBERTY IN LAW."

Our people have always understood this fundamental truth, until recently.

So speak and do as those who shall be judged by the Law of liberty. James 2:12

promising them liberty, they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom anyone has been overcome, even to this one he has been enslaved. 2 Peter 2:19

Liberty is not the freedom to break God's wonderful Law! It is the freedom to keep God's Law! It is the freedom, which is automatically provided, because people ARE keeping the Law of God - the Ten Commandments!

When a people respect and honor the Law of God, they gain the freedom to pursue their own happiness, in any way they please.

The only thing we must learn is that we can NEVER allow our pursuit of happiness to take happiness away from others.

We do not inherently understand how to live like this.

That is why Our Creator gave us His Law.

A people who obey this Law become free from the fear of thieves, murderers, and rapists! They are free from the meddling interference of their own government and every other form of evil, we can imagine, because the Law of God restrains people, from doing evil things to one another.

We do not observe God's Law in order to obtain salvation, but in order to create an environment of trust and peace and genuine love, within our families and within the Church and within our nation.

When the entire world observes these laws, the result will be the same; worldwide trust, peace and genuine love between all of mankind!

The psychologists and the rest of rebellious mankind, shout, "Utopian nonsense!"

No, it ABSOLUTELY IS NOT "Utopian nonsense"!

When our nation preached these laws and taught them from their pulpits, even though they NEVER actually kept them very well, this was a much safer and happier nation.

Many of us remember those times. This was the fruit of even a half-hearted attempt at Christianity!

It is when our people began to stray, from this Royal Law of Liberty that the misery began to creep in.

Any student of history will notice that the periods of moral decline and wholesale departure from God's laws, were immediately followed by periods of financial upheaval and wars - ending in the death of many of our people.

Witness the "Gay Nineties," stretching into the second decade of the 20th century, followed by the great "War to End All Wars" and the "Roaring Twenties," followed by the "Great Depression" and World War II.

Following these horrific wars, we always find a relative time of moral stability. It doesn't require a prophet or even a genius, to see God's hand in this endlessly recurring cycle.

It is just like in your home. When children are running and screaming through the house and they are corrected, peace follows for a brief time.

The world scene is no different from this. The same rules bring the same results, regardless of where they are practiced.

Ashamed to be an American?

After spending 10 days in London with friends who were outspoken about their disdain for President Bush's policies, Berns Rothchild came home wishing she had a way to show the world she didn't vote for him.

"I sort of felt ashamed, and didn't really want to be associated with being an American," said Rothchild, who lives in New York City and voted for John Kerry.

Could it be that you are not, at heart, an American? Your thoughts and values are not even close to those of the founding fathers of this nation. America was founded on freedom, personal responsibility, freedom of religion, not freedom from religion (and the founders had a strong and outspoken faith in God), the sanctity of human life and small government (a Republic, not a democracy).

Face reality and stop trying to make America over into your image, because you can't change the foundation without destroying the house.

But then again, what you want is more important than anything else, isn't it?

How's That?

In which I take issue with Hal Lindsey on a couple of obvious errors in his essay, The ultimate tragedy

First, he presents the age old "immortal soul" doctrine.

But because of mankind's rebellion against Him, man now has two destinations in eternity. Every person who does not restore his relationship with God will spend eternity away from God in a place of isolation, torment and outer darkness.

He quotes John 3:16-19 but inadvertantly leaves out verse 15:

so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Two opposites, everlasting life - perish. Dont' read into it, just read it. How 'bout Romans 6:23:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let's see, wages of sin = death. Gift of God = Eternal life. In Eccle 9:5-6 it says:

For the living know that they shall die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; nor do they any longer have a part forever in all that is done under the sun.

In Genesis 2:17 God says:

but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

They didn't die when they ate the fruit, so did God lie? No, God wasn't talking about the death of their body. Read Hebrews 9:27-28:

And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment,

so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And to those who look for Him He shall appear the second time without sin to salvation.

Everyone dies once, that death is not the "wages of sin." In Job 32:8 we read,

But a spirit is in man giving them perception, even the breath of the Almighty.

This spirit in man does not die with the body, but is preserved, with no knowledge of the passing time, until the person is ressurected in the judgement.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).

Our modern use of the word "hell" does not match the meaning of the word "Gehenna." Gehanna is a place. Read here for detailed explaination of Gehenna.

The truth is, the wages of sin is death. And all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.

There is plenty that can be said about this subject and I cannot possibly cover everything here. The following links cover the subject in more detail, and more eloquently than I.

Is There Really A Hell Fire?

The Bible Does Not Promise Heaven

Do You Have An Immortal Soul?

You Can Take It With You

When I Die, What Happens Next?

You can read the truth in your own Bible, it's in there, but you must let go of the preconceived ideas you carry around with you.

But wait Hal, there's more! Hal Lindsey continues:

The Bible teaches that if a person dies before the age of accountability, he is automatically covered by the atonement of Jesus Christ because he didn't have the ability to make a decision.

No, it doesn't. Notice his complete lack of scriptural reference? That may be something he came up with to explain what happens to children when they die, but it is not the truth. Perhaps it brings him a little temporary comfort to believe that but he is fooling himself and those who listen to him; it really does them a disservice and hides the truth.

Sorry about the rant but it really bothers when someone who should know better, doesn't. Misinformation profits no one and hurts all.

Satan was surprised to see the Tree of the Knowledge of Good And Evil in the Garden of Eden. What Satan said was not entirely a lie, just a little misinformation mixed with truth.

And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,

for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4-5

And they didn't die, not right away.

The Choice

No Longer a Person

What's up with Consumer Reports casually inserting a box labeled "Abortion Options" in an article on birth control (More and Safer Options)? A bit too casually. And do they consider abortion one of the safer options? I know there are many people who wish everyone would just shut up about this and who would like abortion to be no big deal at all, but you can't change reality. It is always a big deal. It is taking a human life, no matter who or how someone redefines it. A rose, by any other name, is still a rose. Consumer Reports is being irresponsible with this report. By not mentioning any negative aspect of abortion they are leading people to make a very serious decision without all the facts. Perhaps they believe what you don't know won't hurt you but they are dead wrong about that. In fact, the combined decision of over 850,000 women who have had "legal" abortions in the U.S. every year (that's over 2300 a day!) is having dire effects on our country and our people. Worldwide totals must be staggering!

Brought to my attention by Worldnet Daily.

"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate of human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest gift-a child-as a competitor, and intrusion, and an inconvenience. IT has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters. And, in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners." -- Mother Teresa

Do we understand what society really wants? They want the right to have sex whenever, with whomever, and however they want, and they want to do it with no penalty. This is a right that is beyond the power of any government to confer. How could we be such fools? It is one thing to engage in great social experiments, but did we have to experiment with our children?

We are now moving into the results stage of a social experiment so monstrous that it boggles the mind. The results may be irreversible. If not one more illegitimate child were born, if no more abortions were permitted, we would be generations recovering from what we have already done. But there is no sign that any change is in the offing. The American and Canadian governments are determined-the craziness will go on.

When I speak of our governments, I am not referring to any individual, institution, or political party. I am referring to a system that has a mind of its own and that is subject to no one. It is like a giant computer run amuck which no one can turn off. Its prime directive is to increase in power and control, and to destroy any opposition to its will. -- Ronald L. Dart

Who is the final authority on morality? Well, God is, of course. If then the final authority on morality is God, and if the state becomes the final authority on morality, then the state is god. If you have wondered at the growing hostility of our own government toward the "religious right," look no further. The God of the Christians is competition for the state-god.

We are headed for great conflict between church and state. When the founding fathers of our country penned the Constitution, they had no intent of making the church subordinate to the state. But the state-god will brook no competition. The first commandment of the state-god should be familiar: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." In the end, the state will insist on subordination or elimination of all opposition.

The state is powerless before many things, but doesn't know it. As the state grasps at more and more power to solve its problems, it will finally enslave its people. Men of earlier generations knew this-had experienced it. We seem to have forgotten. -- Ronald L. Dart

Quotes are from this essay: The Aborted Generation

Winter Cleaning

I started deep cleaning the fish tank yesterday and continued today. I took all the rocks out, brought them to the back yard and pressure washed them. Then I started pressure washing a part of the house and had to keep going because it looked funny with a clean spot. I only did the back today though. I need a ladder to do the sides. While I was at it I cleaned the deck, too. The fish tank is almost clean, I want to get every last bit of sediment from the gravel. I won't, you never can, but I need to do more. I found coins, sticks, crayons, tires from a toy car, pieces from the backing of an area rug and a necklace that said Joshua on it. (He was looking for that!) Of course, James was responsible for all that stuff in the tank, it looked like a real lake! Poor fish.

By the way, it reached 80 degrees today!

Same Old Story

The man who predicted the tsunami

A leading California geologist repeatedly warned Indonesian officials that an earthquake and tsunami would soon strike their shores, it emerged this weekend.

...was so frustrated in his attempts to get the attention of Asia's leaders that, in desperation, he began handing out fliers, posters and brochures to residents of the islands worst hit by the waves.

He spoke at churches and schools to tell people what to do in an earthquake.

"No one can predict exactly when an earthquake will happen, but it was clear that this area was at relatively high risk and such an event would definitely happen one day," he said after the devastation. "We told them it would kill people, wreck infrastructure and destroy livelihoods. But our warnings were falling on deaf ears. My team and I decided to bypass the national and local government and start warning people directly. I hope our efforts saved some lives."

Nobody ever listens to those warnings before the fact. Life is so good, nothing has happened in our lifetime, it couldn't happen to us - you've heard it all before. The warning was there, the information they needed was there, but they didn't want to hear it. It's always the same. It's the same with the return of Jesus Christ. The keys to prophecy are available, you can know them, the information is available. Seek (intelligently) and you shall find.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When its branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near.

So you, likewise, when you see all these things, shall know that it is near, at the doors.

Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled. Matthew 24:32-34

Start here:

Christian Educational Ministries

Church of God Worldwide Ministries

GTA Evangelistic association

BibleStudy.org

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30

Same ole, same ole.

A Great American

A Great but Misunderstood American

"And I tell you this morning, my friends, the reason we have to solve this problem here in America: Because God somehow called America to do a special job for mankind and the world. Never before in the history of the world have so many racial groups and so many national backgrounds assembled together in one nation. And somehow if we can't solve the problem in America the world can't solve the problem, because America is the world in miniature and the world is America writ large. And God set us out with all of the opportunities. He set us between two great oceans; made it possible for us to live with some of the great natural resources of the world. And there he gave us through the minds of our forefathers a great creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Misunderstood indeed, read the essay for more of what Dr. Martin Luther King said about America.

Another Amazing Survivor Story

I saw this on the news a couple of days ago but just got around to looking it up on the web. Tsunami survivor found adrift at sea. 100 miles from shore and eight days and look at the picture! What is that? Branches from a tree? This is an incredible story, can you imagine being in his position?

Of Fish and Boys

I took the kids to the pet shop today after I picked up Joshua. I took James there the other day and he really enjoyed it and asked to go back, they have a shark he likes. Actually, last time he wanted me to buy the tank, the shark and a large moray eel. Aaah, no.

This time the girl recognizes him and they're talking and before you know it James is feeding the shark, a bunch of moray eels, and every else in sight, including an octopus. One of the eels started jumping out of the water! I think she knew what she was doing because she told me all about a 55 gallon tank and stand available for about $100.00 dollars. It's easy to say no when you don't have any money! I'd like to see the business succeed and all but I can't help you.

I would like to add a few more fish to my collection (of one - a large, old Jack Dempsey). The wife doesn't like the idea. She'll have to get used to it I guess.

And I Quote

"Species do not transform one into the other. They show stability from generation to generation, and my experiments demonstrate that fact. Isn't anyone listening?" -- Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), Father of Genetics.

"The theory of evolution is impossible.... Evolution is a kind of dogma which the priests no longer believe, but which they maintain for their people." -- Paul Lemoine (1878-1940), Geologist, Director of the Natural History Museum in Paris, President of the Geological Society of France.

"(It's as difficult) to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science." "Manned space flight is an amazing achievement, but it has opened for us thus far only a tiny door for viewing the awesome reaches of space. Our outlook through this peephole at the vast mysteries of the universe only confirms our belief in the certainty of its creator." "One of the most fundamental laws of natural science is that nothing in the physical world ever happens without a cause. There simply cannot be a creation without some kind of spiritual creator." -- Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), Space Scientist.

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." -- Galileo (1564-1642), Scientist of Optics, gravity, and Astronomy.

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." -- George Washington Carver (about 1864-1943), Biology Scientist, Organic Chemist.

Classical Darwinism, as well as neo-Darwinism, maintains macroevolution is nothing more than extrapolated microevolution. But this extrapolation is precisely where appeals to observation stop and hand waving begins. The extrapolation in reality is nothing more than a gigantic leap of faith." -- John Baumgardner, Geophysicist, Plate Techtonics Research Analyst, Fluid Dynamics Scientist.

Many more available here: Scientists and God

Sinners Above All?

There is some talk that God (or allah) caused the Tsunami to punish sinful acts (fornication and sexual perversion) committed in those areas. Is this true? The theory just doesn't hold water. What makes them think those same sins are not being committed in every city, in every country around the world? What, it's worse in Indonesia? The Middle East is not a den of iniquity? America, Canada, Mexico, Europe, China, Columbia, Brazil? - name one country that doesn't have these things going on to some degree.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

Jesus spoke directly about just this sort of thing.

And some were present at the same time reporting to Him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

And answering, Jesus said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things?

I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were sinners above all men who lived in Jerusalem?

I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-5

Time and chance happen to all. Do something to help.

Neal Boortz did some investigating and recommends AmeriCares. They look pretty good in Charity Navigator

A Still, Small Voice

Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12

The God Who Disappoints

10 Year Old Girl Recognized Tsunami Signs

Schoolgirl Saves Nearly 100 Lives

"I was on the beach and the water started to go funny," Tilly was quoted as telling The Sun. "There were bubbles and the tide went out all of a sudden. I recognized what was happening and had a feeling there was going to be a tsunami. I told mummy."

Some of the stories coming out are just so hard to take - heartbreaking - the death toll is beyond imagination, but there are also some amazing stories of survival. It makes you wonder if God, perhaps, had a hand in saving some of them. God works in subtle ways many times, like a 10 year old girl recognizing the warning signs of a tsunami she just learned about in school 2 weeks earlier and warning others of the danger.

Some people, the Archbishop of Canterbury in particular, are questioning whether God exists at all.

The Asian tsunami disaster should make all Christians question the existence of God, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, writes in The Telegraph today.

Should it make all Christians question the existance of God? Well, I have to say the Archbishop of Canterbury does not know God. He has had a god of his imagination, as many have, but they have no relationship, they have not had prayers answered, they do not keep His commandments, don't know His plan, don't know what He is doing and don't know why. He has a job, he wears fancy clothes, makes signs with his hands and takes home a paycheck for a "respectable" position.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4

If he knew God, he might question why God let it happen, he might even be angry about it, he would certainly be saddened to see it, but he would never question His existance - he would know.

In the wake of a disaster you should consider your life, things such as, why are you here?, what's it all about?, what happens when you die?, should you repent?

The tsunamis may not be near enough to cause you to really ask yourself these questions, life , after all, has a way of helping us to forget God. There is nothing like being in the midst of a disaster to bring God to your careful attention and I think that's one reason God let's them happen. And happen they will.

German Pope?

Rome's Next Choice?

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the chief architect of Pope John Paul II's traditionalist moral policy, has long been a bugaboo for liberal Catholics. But they had stopped worrying that the German might one day ascend to St. Peter's throne. His hard-line views and blunt approach had earned him the epithet of panzerkardinal and too many enemies. Well, their worrying may now resume. Sources in Rome tell TIME that Ratzinger has re-emerged as the top papal candidate within the Vatican hierarchy, joining other front runners such as Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan and Claudio Hummes of Sao Paolo. "The Ratzinger solution is definitely on," said a well-placed Vatican insider.

Interesting. Very interesting.