McCain Asks Obama to Pardon Boxer Jack Johnson

Image by cliff1066™ via Flickr

It's Amazing to me how years and year after event, the present can still be affected by that event. I had known about Jack Johnson, the first black heavy-weight champion Boxer ever. Without him, no Muhammad Ali, no Evander Hollyfield, no Mike Tyson, no XMA, no nothing. I've even posted about him on this blog before. I had heard that the fact that he liked white woman caused him a great deal of problems because society around him would not accept mutual and voluntary interracial relationships. I didn't realize that he had been convicted of driving his own wife across state lines. Further I didn't know the conviction was still on the books.

I don't think that Johnson would like to see his case used as club to hammer the first Black president of the United States. SI am amazed to see that Senator McCain is introducing this idea to pardon Johnson after all this time. I agree Johnson deserves a pardon...it is clearly an injustice done to the man and i don't care that Johnson has long been dead. He should be pardoned. I just don't think McCain is being altruistic in his motives. I don't trust "that one". He says that it's not meant to cause Obama any problems or to criticize him because the President is busy,, but it still seems like to me a ploy.

This article mentions a Kenneth Burns documentary on Jack Johnson's life. I've embedded it below

The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson Episode 1 @ Yahoo! Video

The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson Episode 2 @ Yahoo! Video

McCain Asks Obama to Pardon Boxer Jack Johnson

Theology : The Works of James Arminius

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Brennon, has been kind enough to send e a link to a website containing the complete works of Jacobus Arminius. "Jacobus" in English is "James.", by the way. I really appreciate getting this information and i plan to go through it carefully to better understand what Arminius disagreed with John Calvin about. You can find the link below.,

Theology : The Works of James Arminius

Monergism :: Historic Jesus

I have found a treasure trove of resources for anyone who wants to delve into looking at Jesus from a historic viewpoint. Ir mostly includes a lot of articles to read but it also includes mp3sb and videos for some of the information. This must a must-see website.  It even include several excepts form the work of historian Paul Maier and other experts like NT Wright.

Monergism :: Historic Jesus

Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter Split?

I hate to see any family in turmoil. Although, I don't agree that two men or two women can adeqately raise a family, I have no doubt that they are doing the best they know how. Without God it's impossible for a man and woman to make it with optimal success. Is it any real surprise that when we circumvent God we give up any chance of success? I'm reminded of what James White wrote:

I was directed to this article about "Gay Marriages" (marriage, being defined by God, cannot be redefined by man, hence, these are not marriages at all, but celebrations of rebellion) and as I scanned down the page I encountered the picture found here. The AP picture by Tony Avelar carries the following caption:

Jennifer Kozumplik, left, and her partner of 17 years Nicole Webber, right, from Sacramento, Calif., hold their 18 month-old daughter Sophie as they pose for a photo after receiving their marriage license on the first day of same sex marriages at City Hall in San Francisco.

   As I stared at the picture I could not help but see only one thing: the selfish, self-centered abuse of a beautiful little child by two people committed to the fulfillment of their own desires. I once again immediately thought of the comments of Rosie O'Donnell. She was asked about her "son," and she said he has asked about where his daddy is. O'Donnell's response is the very essence of self-centeredness: "I tell him Mommy only likes other Mommies." 

Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter Split?

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Is the World Ending in 2012?

On his blog, Dr. Mariottini, wrote a great article about the hysteria around the 2o12 date and people saying that according to the Mayan calendar, the world is going to end. I love this paragraph he said and it is so true!

If you believe Hollywood’s version of the events of the final day, as portrayed in the movie “2012,” which features earthquakes, meteor showers, and a huge tsunami that dumps an aircraft carrier on the White House, and if you believe Internet doomsday rumors, or the special program on the History Channel which mixed the predictions of Nostradamus with the Mayan calendar, then, it is for sure: the world will end on December 21, 2012.

If you believe what the Bible teaches about the last days, you have nothing to worry about.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Is the World Ending in 2012?

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Cats and Dogs in the Old Testament

Cover of Cats & Dogs (Full Screen Edition)

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Dr. Claude Mariottini has posted an article in response to an question asked about Isaiah 1:3 which says:

The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."

The question is would it be more clear to change the text to read "dog" and "cat" instead of "ox" and "donkey"? The idea behind the passage is that people are so disobedient to God compared to oxen and donkeys towards us. Mariottini did a great job explaining why this a bad idea because of how cats and dogs figure into the context of the Old Testament and ancient Hebrew society as well as the undniable fact theat the verse does not say "cat" or "dog". I believe that what was written is what God really gave Isaiah to say. I want what God really said, not some distilled mistranslation. Besides, I don't think cats are obedient.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Cats and Dogs in the Old Testament

This Sounds Familiar

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I was going through my blog feeds and I found a post from James White about Frank Beckwith  talking smack against Frank Turk. I agree with Dr. White and Turk that Beckwith offers no logically defensible, let-alone theological defensible, reason for turning from Catholicism to Protestantism and then back to Catholicsm. I mean what is this? Musical chairs? I agree that the problems pointed out by Turk concerning Roman Catholic dogma as being unbiblical are unscalable and if you don't hold those pieces of their doctrine than according to them you are anathematized. I agree with Turk. If disagreeing that Mary was immaculately conceived and bodily assumed to heaven and co-redeemer from sin,  or rejecting transubstantiation, celibate priests, purgatory, and all other unbiblical teachings, make me anathema according to the Roman Catholic Church, then I'm proudly anathematized. When I read the quote from Beckwith on the blog post, I had to wonder where did I hear that before? Beckwith wrote:

I had no idea that Mr. Turk was so gifted in the clairvoyant arts, able to not only jump the space-time continuum to observe my teenage years but to pierce the veil of cognitive and spiritual privacy in order to extract from my soul the reflections, contemplations, and judgments that were instrumental in my journey back to Catholicism. Given his unusual interest in comic book aesthetics, perhaps he possesses powers not unlike the mutants that populate the imaginary world to which he seems so drawn (pardon the pun). Or perhaps he is just ill-mannered and presumptuous.

Then it hit me: This is the same kind of things I get from atheist on Twitter! Scary. Take a look at White's blog post and then tell me he's wrong. For that matter Turk's remarks are unassailable He's right. Roman Catholicism as taken from the official teachings of the Popacy is not the same Gospel as found in the Bible That's not saying that all Roman Catholics hold to these ideas, but I think it is fair to say that if you don't you may not be a true Roman Catholic.


http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3568

LouRugg vs TurretinFan Debate Regarding Calvinism

I have heard that there is a debate between an apologist I have been admiring, who calls himself TurretinFan, and Lou Rugg who fancies himself the defender of Arminianism. On the Dividing Line, James White played a portion of the debate. Here is the debate in its entirety

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Here is a link to that particular Dividing Line and it contained several other interesting things like an Atheist who attempts to save Dan Barkers' Justin Martyr's argument; and a call in which I was confused as to what the caller was arguing concerning the Harold Camping debate. Apparently, the caller thinks that the church age is over but because most of it thinks that its Arminian dictrine.

http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3538

Here is a post TurretinFan made listing quotes from throughout history that shows that many folks believed that God actively hardened Pharoah's heart so that he would not let Israel go so that events would play out as they did.

Baking Clay Pots - Subtracting Water or Adding Hardness?

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Meghan McCain's Cleavage-Covering Style: Nothing To See Here! (PHOTOS)

I admit that I googled for this picture because I had heard that pictures of Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, was floating around the Internet where she was acting like a girl from "Girls Gone Wild" exposing herself. She posted the picture on Twitter and a whole lot of people have said that they were offended. Personally, after seeing the picture, I don't see what the problem is! I mean if people think it's "slutty", I think that says more about them than it does about her. I mean she's not naked and many average women dress like that at home. Also, compared to what a lot of people post on Twitter, her picture was extremely conservative and tasteful. Don't get me wrong. I don't admire her much, but I think she's being unfairly treated! I agree with the following quote:

Meghan McCain wrote in her regular column on the Daily Beast:”To be honest, I don’t feel that I have anything to feel ashamed of, I’ve always embraced my curves and will continue to do so.”
“For years I have struggled to accept the fact that the way I look in a tank top comes off more “sexual” than a flat-chested woman. And once again I was reassured by the media that someone with my cup size should always be covered up. Or what, I’ll be seen as a slut? It’s pathetic we can come so far in so many ways, but when Rep. Aaron Schock or Rep. Jeff Flake post pictures of themselves without their suits on — and their shirts, for that matter—they are proclaimed “hotties.” But put me in a tank top and I am suddenly an embarrassment to the Republican Party and women everywhere. The double standard is infuriating. “

Go to the following link to see what she means by double standard!

Celebs Strip Down On Twitter: Digital Overshare? (PHOTOS, NSFW)

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/01/celebs-strip-down-on-twit_n_221685.htmlMeghan McCain's Cleavage-Covering Style: Nothing To See Here! (PHOTOS)

Atheism is Dead: Collision - Christopher Hitchens and Doug Wilson at the Movies

Mariano has posted an article about a movie that drops October 27, starring Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson. It is a documentary chronicling the two of them debating each other over the question of whether or not Christianity is evil. I've listened to these two debate twice and Wilson did extremely well. I will see this one at some point.  You should do yourself a favor and read Mariano's article on his Atheism is Dead blog and the trailer below.








Atheism is Dead: Collision - Christopher Hitchens and Doug Wilson at the Movies

Christian Apologetics - Life and Doctrine: Jewish / Judaism : Does Christianity Corrupt the Old Testament? And: On the Memra, part 1 to 5

Mariano has written a great and powerful series about whether or not Christianity corrupts the Old Testament. This is a series worth reading!

Jewish / Judaism : Does Christianity Corrupt the Old Testament? And: On the Memra, part 1 of 5

Jewish / Judaism : Does Christianity Corrupt the Old Testament? And: On the Memra, part 2 of 5

Jewish / Judaism : Does Christianity Corrupt the Old Testament? And: On the Memra, part 3 of 5

Jewish / Judaism : Does Christianity Corrupt the Old Testament? And: On the Memra, part 4 of 5

Jewish / Judaism : Does Christianity Corrupt the Old Testament? And: On the Memra, part 5 of 5

Justice of the peace Keith Bardwell defends refusal to issue marriage license to interracial couple

I found out last night that the judge who refused to give an interracial couple on the grounds that the biracial children will not grow up accepted by blacks or whites, spoke out last night. His comments are in the article linked below. Here is a video from CNN concerning what happened.






I don't get Judge Kieth Bardell. The black man is light-skinned. He is obviously the product of interracial relationships of generations past. What is the difference now? I mean who isn't multi-raical anymore?

Justice of the peace Keith Bardwell defends refusal to issue marriage license to interracial couple

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Irony of Ironies

Image by George Eastman House via Flickr

There is this great e-mail going around:

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said: 'Let me see if I've got this right.

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.

'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.

'You want me to do all this and then you tell me. . . I CAN'T PRAY?

Christian Apologetics - Life and Doctrine: Atheism and Christian Apologetics – Athanatos Opens Its Gates

The online apologectics program known as Athanatos is starting up again. Mariano is going to be one of the instructors. Check it out!

Christian Apologetics - Life and Doctrine: Atheism and Christian Apologetics – Athanatos Opens Its Gates

Sunday Quote: Tillotson on Eternity - Apologetics 315

Here is great quote originally posted by Brian on Apologetics 315.

He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.

- John Tillotso

I love it!

Sunday Quote: Tillotson on Eternity - Apologetics 315

Brennon's Thoughts: In Memory of Jacobus Arminius

On his blog, Brennon has posted a great post summarizing the life of Jacobus Arminius in memory of the 400th anniversary of his death. I found it interesting. Changed how I view Arminius. He certainly was not an idiot and I w9ould like to see his exegesis of John 6:44, Acts 13:48, and Romans 7,8,and 9.

Brennon's Thoughts: In Memory of Jacobus Arminius

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Squashed Philosophers- Condensed Plato Aristotle Augustine Descartes Hume Marx Freud Copernicus Hobbes Sartre Ayer Sade Wittgenstein Einstein

Here is a great resource...condensing the work of some of the best Philosophers ever!

Squashed Philosophers- Condensed Plato Aristotle Augustine Descartes Hume Marx Freud Copernicus Hobbes Sartre Ayer Sade Wittgenstein Einstein

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Nazi Concentration Camps (Nuremberg Trial Film) WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT!

The file entitled "Nazi Concentration Camps" was entered as evidence at the 1945 Nuremberg Trials of Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, and 22 other Nazi officials at the end of World War II. It presented a stark picture of the atrocities of the Holocaust and ensured than no one would ever doubt the meaning of the charge "crimes against humanity."

NeuroSky MindSet - Brainwave Sensing

I was watching some local news and I came across some awesome news. There is a Silicon Valley based company, NeuroSky, who is marketing a product that allows people to use their brainwaves to control computers! I knew this was coming but I did not know that it would be this soon. They have come far! They have a game where you can use telekinesis (moving objects with your mind) and pyrokinesis (starting and controlling fire) in the game by concentrating and focusing! They even have an application for looking at how music effects your thoughts and emotion through graphical represenation of your brain! The possibilities are endless. This technology could be applied to almost any computer-based industry or process. NeuroSky has even sweetened the deal by providing application interfaces (API) for almost every platform in use today such at PC, Mac, and mobile platforms. And the languages you can use are well-represented in the real world: C, C++, C#, and Java -all of which I have used. One of the best things is that it's inexpensive. For $200, they give you the software and hardware you need. I really need to get in on this. Seems like it would be much fun. I found some video on their YouTube channel that shows the product in action!











NeuroSky MindSet - Brainwave Sensing

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Acts 13:48 and Evangelism: Great Falls, MT

Here is a great sermon on Acts 13:48 and what it means to evangelism.

http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3566

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