Christ Reveals To John His Future Triumphant Return In Revelation

Revelation is the only book in the Bible which promises blessings to any and everyone who reads it. It's a fascinating journey of prophecy of the end of our world as we know it. Both daily Bible studies that I currently do and highly recommend to anyone seeking to know more of God's Word---Daily Quiet Walk, an e-mail service, and One Year Bible Blog, one of my links to the right---are both winding up this year with studies of Revelation. Here is a brief commentary from Revelation 19:

Apocalypse: "The revelation of a violent struggle in which evil will be destroyed" (Webster's Dictionary). The second coming of Christ will be the apocalypse fulfilled. While the symbolism of the language in Revelation makes it difficult to ascertain exactly how events will unfold, it is clear that when Jesus returns again, it will be to confront evil and destroy it. The heavens will split and Jesus will descend upon the armies of the earth which have gathered in opposition to His return. In contrast to His past role as Savior of man, He will now come as King of creation. Whereas once He made Himself subject to men, now all men will become subject to Him. History will end and eternity will begin.

Most of us simply don't take this seriously, calling it nonsense. But we do so at our own great eternal peril, it reveals.

The eternal state ---an in-depth commentary.

No Thank You

THE CLOSEST I EVER WANT TO GET TO A CRUISE SHIP.

Don't think even Victor Daivs Hanson lecturing on ancient Greece could get me on one of these bacteria infested, love obsessed behemoths. I know it's not wise to say 'never.' So I'll leave it at, I simply cannot imagine enjoying vacationing like this. Ever."

A Short Word on Resort Vacationing

Where we all met for breakfast yesterday. The center of town, a happening, chaotic crowded place. Sensational weather, with mild temperatures and very low humidity. I suppose it is a visual feast for sore eyes. For some.

I love visiting and reconnecting with extended family over huevos.

However, only a few days in a place like this and I realize I'm not cut out for resort vacation/living for the long haul, or even the medium run. From our vantage point yesterday, I watched the cruise ships bobbing in the harbor and thought how, if I happened to find myself on one, I would try to escape to dry land and beg to be incarcerated in jail, rather than have to return to the boat. Can't imagine being on one of those pleasure, love boats by choice.

I kept asking people if there are any trails up that hill at land's end in the background right, and no one seemed to know. Never mind. There are plenty of other hills for me to go up and down here. And that's enough for me.

********

A distant male relative from D.C. here with us turned to me in the car yesterday with the following pronouncement:

He: "I simply ain't cut out for this place for very long."

Me: "My thoughts exactly. But tell me why? Put words to it while you're at it."

He: "It seems in resorts like this people from the States have thrown in the towel and come to slowly die of a life of pleasure. I want to die in the fray with my sword still bloodied, so to speak. The weather is lovely and the company good, but this place is wearing thin for me."

Me: "I couldn't have said it better. Can I quote you on my blog?"

He: "Yes, of course. And tell 'em we'll both be back to the fray in a couple of days!"

10 Most Corrupt U.S. Politicians Circa 2007

Guess who's in number one spot?

Recent Interview With Benazir Bhutto

UPDATE: Joel Rosenberg on why Bhutto's assassination matters.

Gail Sheehy interviews the late Pakistani opposition leader in a piece that was scheduled for publication in Parade Magazine Jan. 6. What red-blooded American woman doesn't grieve over Bhutto's brutal double assassination/murder? Like Ayaan Hirsi Ali, she lived in constant danger of being murdered. From this interview:

Like her country, Bhutto is a riddle. Brilliant, beautiful, fearless, she is also ruthlessly ambitious, devious and corrupt. The first question that perplexes an American: How could Bhutto — Harvard- and Oxford-educated, unapologetically secular — have become the first woman elected to lead a Muslim country? In part, the answer is that in dynastic Pakistan, she is effectively royalty. The second question: Why should this election matter so much to America? That answer is simpler. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Also, the most dangerous place in the world is Pakistan’s lawless border with Afghanistan. It is a Ho Chi Minh Trail of terrorism where Osama bin Laden is believed to enjoy sanctuary.

She was undoubtedly wildly, scandalously ambitious like Hillary, and came by it naturally via birth, or else, how could she have become political royalty as she was? The puerile drama in these Muslim countries just isn't going to stop. In fact, it will undoubtedly ratchet up going forward.

via Drudge.

Blogging A Gentle Sea Breeze

I must be dreaming. I awaken early this morning to the sounds of gentle breezes through an open door, a fan whirring over my bed and the sounds of birds and the sea in the background. I touch my bare feet down on a tile floor and wiggle my toes in delight. The sun comes up over the sea and bougenvillia floods my eyes on the terrace beyond. Excuse me, I mean bougenvillia on the terrace beyond floods my eyes.

I think I shall like this dream, for a few days anyway. I promise myself I will learn how to spell bougenvillia correctly before I wake up. But for now, I shall be very quiet, with nary a thought of presidential primaries, proper syntax or Drudge to jar me awake. Now if I can just find some fresh avocado to have with my green eggs and ham without offending my hosts with my outlandish food choices. They say, 'you want what for breakfast?!' I say, 'just a little avocado, pour favor.'

In fact, I could live on avocado, olive oil, and water for a while. Oh, and little black coffee thrown in for good measure.

Before the sun rise.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Meaning of Christmas is simple: The God of the Universe and Savior of our fallen world becomes manifest in it as a baby, so that He could take on the consequences of our sins, arrogance and loathing, and give us Hope for more, much more than we ever dreamed possible, or than we could ever do for ourselves.

Thank you Mike at One Year Bible blog. You have made studying the Bible this year online a rich and ever wonderous experience.

Christ, Born in Bethlehem

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
And the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over hit kingdome,
establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (NIV)

---Isaiah 9: 6-7

Ineffable wonder, unparalled hope for the world.

Tim Keller calls wonder involutary praise. And says that sense of wonder is what we all need to transform our lives into truly living the Gospel and the Good News, rather than just knowing about it and believing it. I agree.

So I wish you wonder and joy in this holiday season that transforms your life into the future.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to my readers and commenters. See you in the New Year.

Some Thoughts About The Kite Runner Movie

.....and ultimate differences between Christianity and Islam. A review of the movie from the Christ-centered perspective of Dr. Albert Mohler:

The background worldview of the film and the novel is, of course, Islam. Given that fact, several thoughts have been framed in my mind since reading the novel several years ago and seeing the movie just recently. The thoughts concern the contrast between Islam and Christianity brought into focus by the story. These differences are not that Christians are better people than Muslims, that brutality is limited to the Islamic world, or that the Christians and Muslims would understand the theme of betrayal in starkly different terms. Both Christians and Muslims would agree that Amir's betrayal of Hassan is an evil and sinful act.

No, the big difference is that The Kite Runner is based on a false promise and a heart-breaking need. The false promise is that offered to the adult Amir: "There is a way to be good again."

The whole plot suggests that Amir can redeem himself for his sordid betrayal of a young friend by his brave act of rescuing the friend's son, Sohrab. The Christian gospel reminds us that there is no act, however brave, virtuous, or sacrificial, that can make us "good again." Christians understand that our redemption is nothing we can accomplish at all. Instead, our redemption is accomplished by God through the atonement achieved by the obedience of the Son -- obedience even unto death on the cross. Furthermore, the gospel never promises us that sinners are made "good" as we are saved by grace through faith. Instead, sinners who come to Christ by faith receive the imputed righteousness of Christ by the declaration of the Father.

By the end of the film, it certainly appears that even Amir does not feel that he has been made "good" by his brave rescue of Sohrab. He remains a deeply troubled soul.

Sunday Before Christmas

In New York City with my son, his lovely fiance and her precious mother who just flew over from England to meet us....am without my computer and on my way to Redeemer Presbyterian Church to hear Tim Keller. Will post more later. God bless and Merry Christmas.

Hillary, Wrapping Gifts of Socialism in Pretty Packages; Wanting to Be Our Nanny-In-Chief

There's no subtlety here. Hillary has a vision for our country: increasing every citizen's dependence on the federal government from cradle to grave, using our tax monies. She's a blatant socialist and intends to make our country into an even greater nanny state.

It's scandalous.

Surely the people of our great country will not let this happen. Surely we value our freedom, our economy, our independent spirit too much to let her try to force feed us these 'gifts.'

Just say no. In unison.

The Clintons are truly a political disgrace. They must not be elected.

Outdoor World/Bass Pro Shops, Americana at Its Most Outrageous Fun

The most festive, fun place on Earth at Christmastime. I'd put it up against anything. Everyone comes with a dream and tries to hang onto to their wallets. Only a country with free markets and the great entrepreneurial spirit like ours could come up with so many, many choices of how to spend your money and your leisure time. You won't find this in the Middle East, Russia, Cuba or most any other place in the world. Americana at its most outrageous.

The aquarium with dozens of big fish delights everyone, especially future little bass pros.

Seventy pound catfish is a favorite of the aquarium there.



Merry Christmas from Tennessee.....

Getting Personal: My #1 Most Favorite Gadget of 2007

In the overall scheme of things, I consider myself a simple soul.

To wit, the longer I live, the more I like simple, easy to care for, lightweight things (food, relationships and other gadgets). Anything that gets too complicated, too fast---no matter how wonderful the promises---either never gets in the door, or quickly gets the boot if it does. I don't have a lot of storage space here, so I relish space-saving, decluttering indulgences.

I've never cared much for vacuum cleaners. They just get bigger, fancier, more laborious and expensive and take up way too much space in the closet. I loath lugging them around, ripping out the electrical cord from the wall, just as I've crawled under the bed to get a 5 year-old dust wad. In short, the vacs I've had over the years---great and small--have all been less than satisfactory.

Until this year.

Something magical happened to my vacuum world in 2007: I saw and bought on a whim a little Bissell Turbo Perfect Sweep for $39 at Target and threw away my last vacuum cleaner---FOREVAH! I admit I was skeptical at first, and even agonized for at least thirty minutes in the store before ringing the register and checking out. Totally unnecessary.

I now feel like Cinderella after the Prince when I vacuum.

It's the cutest little machine and will go anywhere with me. It's tiny and doesn't even have a permanent cord. Instead, when you're not using it, you plug it in overnight to charge it up for hours of hard work and then store it in the closet until you use or charge it again.

So ladies, remember to consider this when you want to do something nice for yourself. And fellows, if you're not giving her diamonds or lace, then consider a little touch of perfection. It's a lot cheaper and can do things in short order that jewelry can never do! And unless you're a cleaning perfectionist---which I'm not---the little turbo gets you out doing whatever else you most love to do instead of vacuuming.

Priceless.

Merry Christmas!

The Telegraph Names Internet Top Ten of 2007

It's a British take on the year now ending, but still not bad from where I stand. From the phenomenon called GodTube to the King of Spain standing up to Chavez, it's been quite a year. I know it's early, but it's my blog and I'm doing it now anyway.

Joel Rosenberg on Putin's Personhood

Joel always has a solid take on breaking news, especially as it relates to Israel and the Middle East. In essence, Time Magazine considers Vladimir Putin a greater (negative) force for change in the world than anyone else as this year draws to a close. I can't disagree with anything Joel says here.

He also reminds us of President Bush's historic trip to the Middle East in early January. It will be his first trip to Israel, since he became President, though he was there as governor of Texas.

Meanwhile, the braying Archbishop of Canterbury takes issue with God's Nativity good news story, and as usual wants to set us straight. What ever would we do without this top atheist impersonating a Christian?

Copy of the Magna Carta Sells in New York For $21.3 Million, A Bargain

(This is the kind of headline my late dear grandmother would have swooned over! As a Magna Carter Dame who pilgramaged with my aunt to Runnymeade in the 70s, she took this document very seriously and instilled in me the importance of our forebearers' foresight to the freedoms we have, and often take for granted, in our country today. It was the beginning of the Rule of Law. I guess her influence and my lineage make me a proud Magna Carta damette, or something like that.)

One of 17 copies of the Magna Carta sold for $21.9 million yesterday:



Bearing the seal of King Edward I and dated 1297, it is one of 17 known copies of the historic tract that defined human rights as the foundation for liberty and democracy as it is known today. It is one of two that exist outside Britain; the other is in Australia.

The Perot Foundation bought its copy from a British family for $1.5 million. From 1988 until earlier this year it was on loan to the National Archives in Washington, sharing space with the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, two documents that drew on its principles.

"Over those years," Redden said, "it may have been seen by 40 to 50 million people, certainly the most viewed version of the Magna Carta anywhere."

The Magna Carta came into existence when a group of English barons demanded that King John affix his seal to a list of protections at Runnymede in 1215. Those edicts were not fulfilled, but subsequent versions of the document followed for the next 80 years, until 1297, when it was codified into law.

Tuesday's sale price included the auction house's commission.

The Ugh Report: Democratic Candidate John Edwards Candidacy Will Soon Bite the Dust When Rielle Hunter Pregnancy Rumors Confirmed?

THURSDAY UPDATE on John Edwards-Rielle Hunter story.



John Edwards, baby daddy?

Rumors have been circulating for months and months, and now appear undeniable: John Edwards has a girlfriend who's six months pregnant.

Drudge headlines it late Tuesday. The National Enquirer screams it in its current edition: Rielle Hunter is having John Edwards baby for sure? The aphrodisiac power of politics. Rielle Hunter was Edward's videotographer, and now allegedly secluded in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Her web videos of Edward's campaign disappeared but now have surfaced again.

Presidential candidate John Edwards is washed up. if this is true Completely. Utterly. It will be a two-person race between The Clintons and Obamas.

After months of denial, the truth is coming out? If Edwards doesn't like it, well he can just......sue us.

He's toast. Burnt toast at that.

UPDATE: Former campaign assistant Andrew Young is now taking the rap, saying he's the father of Rielle's baby. What a story!

In a bizarre twist, Young, a 41-year-old married man with young children, now claims HE is the father of Reille's baby. But others are skeptical about his claim and talk of a political cover up is heating up. Reille, when contacted in person by the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, denied that she was Reille Hunter. Later, she hired a lawyer and issued a statement, saying that Young is the father. But a source close to the 43-year-old divorcee says Rielle has told a far different story privately. "Rielle told me she had a secret affair with Edwards. When she found out that she was pregnant she said he was the father."Rielle loves Edwards and will do anything to protect him, the source said. The NATIONAL ENQUIRER has obtained exclusive photos of a visibly pregnant Rielle and learned from close sources that she has been in phone contact with Edwards. That information has not been denied by anyone. "Rielle told me while Andrew Young is a friend, she's not romantically involved with him," says the source close to Rielle.

To be continued for sure.

Forbes, Top Ten Tots?

Surely they jest.

Just in case you don't have enough to do, here's a ridiculous link to show us what this world is really coming to. Honest to goodness.

Powerful babies? Influential infants? How low can we go? I feel sorry for these poor children who will be brought up in the spotlights of the media circus, surrounded by armed guards at all times and living in the shadows of pompous, sychophantic unreality and larger-than-life egos.

Praytell, can any of them survive to live a half-way normal, grounded life?

The Dreaded Deflated Hillary Photo Beamed Round the World

Update: I took her photo down, I simply can't look at it any longer. Anyway, it's all over the Web and easy to find. She's not my candidate and never will be, but I wish her well and anyway, it's Christmas.

LOOKING LIKE THE AIR LEAKED OUT

Is it the end? Drudge asks rhetorically. Don Surber sees vulnerability writ all over it. Ann Althouse complains only middle aged women get this kind of unfair treatment. Rush believes our looks obsessed culture will simply not choose to look anymore and banish her herewith. Dr. Helen argues, no, men also get the dreaded ageism treatment , often unfairly, while The Anchoress agrees: not the first time, won't be the last, then links to Michael Totten's love post with some pretty unbecoming photos of politicos. Then the GOP weighs in.

It's a love/hate link fest of unprecedented proportions. The only thing that could have gotten even more attention would be if the photo had been of Hillary's rear end.

There's nothing original I can add to the cacophony of commentary abounding, except,

Hillary looks her age here, no question. She looks tired, deflated, puffy around the eyes---like she's eaten too much salt---older and out-of-sorts. In short, every woman's worst nighmare of a photo, with all due respect to Ann, Helen and other of the great levelers. Women hate stuff like this, me included. We all should humbly admit but by the grace of God, go we. Yes, yes I know it's dreadfully vain and superficial of me. So be it.

I think women, and men too, never photograph anywhere near their best in cold, cold weather. It's because our pores, skin cells, veins, capillaries and connective tissue are all contracted by freezing temperatures, and thus we become shells of ourselves until we warm up again. Whether this is a metaphor for a larger looming reality remains to be seen, but I wouldn't be at all surprised. For now, I say, she's in trouble not because of ageism, sexism, racism, culturism, atheism or cold weather.

The Clintons are in trouble because she and Bill are cold, hard-bitten, aging politicians who can't be trusted to run the country anymore and that harsh reality is reflected in the above photo. We must now make sure she doesn't get the Supreme Court, as boobie prize.

She does have at least one thing to be thankful for: it wasn't a photo of her derrier flung round the world. I've heard for years that she's given the strictest of orders to her staff of keepers and handlers not to let anyone, a-n-y-o-n-e, take a photo of her from behind. So in the relative scheme of things, her worst photographic scenario hasn't come true. Yet. And God help us if it should happen. But for now, she's probably thankful for such small things. Still make no mistake, there are times that Hillary does look good. And she will again.

A Word About Huckabee and Thompson, as Iowa Looms

Much is being written about the ascendancy of Mike Huckabee as a Republican presidential candidate.

And the demise of Fred Thompson.

It may all unfold as it now appers. Be that as it may, I want to add my two cents worth:

Mike Huckabee would be a disaster to his party if nominated for either president or VP. I concur with Steven Stark that he's the new Jimmy Carter, I also concur with Bryan Preston at HotAir on his position on clemency and Rick Warren's influence on his so-called purpose driven model for leadership as governor of Arkansas.

As a southern evangelical, let me cut to the chase: Mike Huckabee would ruin any chances of a Republican winning the presidency in 2008. He needs to stay in the pulpit and the private sector and out of the White House. He will never win, no matter how he shows in Iowa in two weeks and beyond.

On the other hand, Fred Thompson who appears to be in trouble, is just the man this country needs, as President or VP, to hang tough and stand firm on the most pressing issues facing America today: homeland security, tight borders, the war on terror, free trade and opening up new markets, objective verses subjective Constitutional interpretation and appointing judges, to name a few.



One final note: for the first time in two years, I think The Clintons may have jumped the shark and be forever on the decline. And it's about time. It couldn't happen to a nicer couple. American Digest has memories of their times together in the days of drugs, sex, rock and roll in the late, late 60s (1971).



Dick Morris agrees The Clintons don't have a clue how to win the White House back now. Interesting, since Dick declared earlier this year that Hillary would certainly be the next President of the United States.

Micah Prophesies Christ Born in Bethlehem, 700 Years Before The Story Is Told in Matthew

GROWN WISE MEN/OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLARS BOW DOWN BEFORE A BABY: AFTER HUNDREDS OF YEARS THEY KNEW THE PROPHESIES WERE FINALLY COMING TO PASS.

This great Messianic prophecy was written some 700 years before the birth of Christ:

Micah 5:1-5

1 Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod.

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins from ancient times.

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.

4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

5 And he will be their peace.

Could it, oh could it be just a coincidence when we then read the account in Matthew 2, written almost 800 years later which goes like this?

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one born king of the Jews? We saw his star and came to worship Him.' When he King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem of Judea,' they replied for it is what the prophet (Micah) has written. 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea are by no means least among the rulers of Judea, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'

Then Herod sends the Magi out to Bethlehem to find the Christ child and instructs them to return to him and tell him where the child is, so he too can go and worship (read that, kill) the child. So the wise men leave, find the Christ, recognize they have found the Son of God and bow down and worship him. But before they can return to Herod, an Angel appears to them and instructs them to leave the country another way and not go back to Herod.

What an incredible story! This intense but miraculous time of year is a wonderful opportunity to ask this Christ child to be born and grow in our hearts. If we continue asking, He will indeed come and reveal himself to the Wisest Men of our hearts and minds, much wiser than any so called worldly wisdom.



Thanks to One Year Bible blog for inspiration today and every day.

Homemade Chicken Vegetable Soup

Recipe Saturday....

Saturday: So busy cooking and getting ready for a family gathering tonight for my son and his lovely new fiancee---to introduce her to family and a few friends that I haven't had time to write. But I'll be back, God willing, sometimes later this weekend.

Ladies Luncheons 2 and 3

Quick political poll:

Atlanta: Anybody but Hillary. Anybody but Hillary and Jane Fonda. Anybody but Hillary. Anybody but Hillary and Obama. Anybody but a Democrat. Anybody but John Edwards, Obama, or the Clintons.

Anybody but Hillary.

Nashville: Anybody but a Democrat. Anybody but Hillary.



Ugh, sorry about all the Johnny Depp pics, he's not ideal at all...just listen to the music if you like. Only one I could embed.

Jane Fonda at 70, Still Appalling After All These Years

Have to admit I've never been a great fan of Jane Fonda. My disaffection started decades ago, like many others', after seeing photos of her with the Viet Cong smeared all over the world when she became Hanoi Jane.

Jane, poster girl, sex symbol, wild child war protester of the 60s and early 70s. But get this, Jane is now 70 and wants to be the recycled sex symbol of the 21st century, if she and her publicists have anything to do with it. And, judging from the sound of it, the're working overtime to indeed do something about it:

Jane Fonda has her mind set on making an erotic film. The 70 year old actress wants to prove that elderly couples still have active and fulfilling sex lives. She says, "They're not knocking down the doors of someone almost 70 in Hollywood. I want to make an erotic movie about a woman over 70. There's this cultural vacuum that, when you hit a certain age, you're not sexual anymore. The contrary is true. We'll see if I can do it. Got to get it written first. I've already mapped out the love scene."

Goodness gracious, Jane, you're so kind to show all us dumb illiterates the way to the sexual riparian promise lands of old age. What a relief to know sex after, say 35, is even possible.

*********

I met Jane briefly, in the early 90s out West. She was with then-husband Ted Turner up in Montana at an environmental conference where Ted was a featured panelist/speaker (can't remember what he was his topic---perhaps raising bison in an ecologically happy way). Anyway, Ted was so surly and offensive on the podium, for a minute I actually felt sorry for her. But the feeling didn't last, and over the years kept up with her less and less.

But Thursday while visiting relatives in Atlanta I picked up the morning edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and who should be on the front page but Jane and her dog with the happy and reassuring headline: Fonda at 70: 'Best Time of My Life.'

The story goes on to chronicle Jane's outstanding life and journey from Hollywood to Atlanta, her marriage to and divorce from Ted, and the non-profit she started 13 years ago to help prevent teenage pregnancy in Georgia called Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP). The article indicates Jane is a role model for young people, especially teenagers who are struggling to finish school and not let their lives be messed up by early pregnancy.

So important is this organization to her that's she's celebrated her biggest birthday last night with proceeds to benefit G-CAPP. Price of admission about $50,000 over seven years per person.

Wow, I thought, Jane has started a non-profit to help prevent teenagers from getting pregnant. The article didn't give any details as to how to her organization accomplishes this feat of preventing pregnancies in youth. Education? Birth Control? Abortion? Who knows.

But never mind. Judging from the sound of it, it's certainly not through celibacy, abstinance, or role modelling. Nor advocating sex within the confines of love, marriage, commitment and the ability to actually care for children. That would be far too, well, 20th century.

The piece continues by saying Jane is most anxious to tell the world that at 70.... 'sex is good and she's having it, thank you very much.' It is only very late in the article that a boyfriend, who looks like a movie star, is revealed as the object of her sexual happy affection. He is a man who lets Jane do whatever she wants.

What a relief to know that sex is even possible at such a ripe old age and that our last century's most insufferable sex symbol has now made it into the 21st century, and her 8th decade intending to kiss and tell all AND be a role model for preventing teenage pregnancy every step of the way.

Wow, Jane Fonda sure has her work cut out for her: Sex and the suddenly single 70-year old role model counselling kids how to prevent pregnancy. What about this picture, especially on the front page of the Atlanta paper, makes me uneasy, so so uneasy?

I shudder to think what might happen when she turns 80 or 90. Perhaps a full spread in Penthouse or YouTube videos, completee with instructions on how to find.......oh never mind

Whatever would we do without Jane Fonda to show us the way? And to know that discretion, decorum and living quietly never has to be a choice of an aging hippie population.

A Word About Censorship

A commenter writes:

“Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime . . . .” — Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart

Also a hallmark of Webutante.

*********

I am flattered by your compliment and remain, happily, guilty as charged.

When I was a newspaper reporter a long time ago, I met the First Amendment for the first time. I may have thought I understood it before then, but I didn't. Not really. Today I probably have more to learn, but I've now come to believe there is nothing more misunderstood by the citizens of our country than the First Amendment. And of the issue of censorship. And the huge differences between personal and government censorship.

Censorship, in our free, democratic world, has for the most part, been taken out of the realm of the government and put in the hands of individual citizens.

The magnificent concept of individual censorship also has another name: free speech. Free speech not only means I can say, write, think, watch, ingest, buy and read what I want---within the limits of the law---it also means I can discern and decline what I choose to think, write, watch and read.

I can and do write what I want here within the bounds of the law and my own sense of propriety, but just as important, no one is compelled to read a thing I say here. Amazing!

I can accept or reject comments for good reason, or no reason at all! Even on a whim. And call it what you may, I am guilty as charged. The Constitution guarantees me this ineffable privilege.

We individuals live and breathe individual choices and censorship thousands of times each day. I censor what I eat, who my friends are, what I blog and don't blog and who I publish in my comments section. Rarely I do reject a comment, sometimes for content and other times for taste. The First Amendment guarantees this right to me and you, but it doesn't and can't guarantee our feelings will never be hurt, or that we won't sometimes be offended.

Others have the same privilege. I may not always agree or like their censorship choices, even when they might censor me, but I staunchly defend their right to disagree with me, censor me and even reject me, even when I think it is uncalled for. The shoe of personal censorship fits both feet.

The First Amendment gives me the individual right of first refusal, so to speak. And guess what, Oh Anonymous Commenter, I can and do exercise that right for good reason, or for no reason at all on this blog.

It gives me the right to walk away, turn off the remote, delete or block an e-mail, refuse to respond to a caller. Remain silent. Be offended, and on and on and on.

And that's good news for you too. Because, if I don't publish your comment, you may still publish it on your own blog for anyone else to read, or not read, as they so choose.

That's freedom within the limits of our law, for that I am most thanbkful. And hopefully you are too.

So, Mr. Anonymous, I'm on my way to a day of personal censorship in myriad ways, and I hope you are too. If you don't like my censorship choices, then you certainly have The First Amendment's permission to walk away from me and my little choices.

Best wishes.

The Pope uses his First Pope Right to condemn and dissuade.

In the O-Zone

Manufacturing News on A Slow Monday: Can't Drudge Do Better?

DRUDGING UP THE NEWS FROM TEN YEARS AGO

This morning Drudge features---at the top of the scroll---a speech by Mike Huckabee preaching the need to Take This Country Back for Christ and headlining it as if it were made this weekend on the campaign trail, rather than almost 10 years ago to a national group of Baptist ministers.

The speech is here, and as a Baptist minister, it's right on. As a stump speech on the way to the presidential nomination, it could be construed as going way too far, in my opinion.

Again, this speech was made almost a decade ago by a Baptist minister to a convention of Baptist ministers meeting in Salt Lake City and, within that context, was totally appropriate. But the media will probably, sadly, eat Huckabee alive for this. And as usual take it out of context and then project it on the highest office.

I personally think Drudge is sensationalizing something that is business-as-usual for men who minister and preach the Word of God. It plays so well today precisely because it is a timeless message for our times within the religious/spiritual realms of our country.

Please note that it's a very slow Monday for Matt Drudge, a very slow news day for the media in general. So drudging up old news for the top of his scroll---even very old news--- sometimes takes going to heroic measures for lots of attention. and traffic.

I'm sure it will play well to the horrified masses, including the ACLU.

Vanderbilt Students Make Political Ads for Presidential Candidates

These Giuliani ads were done by Vanderbilt junior Noah Schwartz and Team Giuliani as part of a class project for a course being taught this semester by former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-TN and VU political science professor John Geer. Teams were formed to make ads for each of the major candidates and much of their semester's work has been posted on YouTube.

Great job, Team Giuliani! Watch more here.

This one---pitting Giuliani against Hillary---got some, er, cackles in class.

Team Thompson got some good publicity in the (home team) morning daily. Also this.

Sunday, Advent

Note: I had intended posting another vignette today from C. S. Lewis' The Great Divorce, but have stashed the book somewhere and can't find it. However, when I do uncover it, I plan to feature the grand finale nearer to Christmas. I hide things from myself, I suppose, to entertain and frustrate myself, all at the same time!

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Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, is one of my favorite times of the year. It is also one of my most challenging, as days shorten and distractions multiple ad infinitum. Both joys and sorrows seem magnified as our existential loneliness and longings often come to the forefront of our emotional and spiritual lives.

It's easy, so easy, to take quick fixes which promise to bring relief to the anxious soul. The temptations of too much food, alcohol, sex, spending, and of course a zillion distractions and rampant materialism have never been so abundant or compelling. Those of us who have lived through enough of these cycles know quick fixes are a chimera and often lead us into deeper long-term. We don't have to do so many quick fixes....this will slowly pass.

If only we could take some time, as we wait to celebrate the birth of the Hope of the World--the Christ Child, to be still. To be quiet. To reflect on our blessings. To repent of our sins. To learn from our mistakes. To pray for others. To ask forgiveness. To reach out in appropriate goodwill. To grow a little emotionally and spiritually. To sit still and alone and be content.

God speaks to us in silence as well as his Word. Quietness is a discipline and a virtue.

Advent is also a wonderful, rich time to---in the silence and stillness of our aloneness---to humbly ask Christ to reveal himself to us in our lives and hearts. If we continue to ask with sincerity and humility, He will eventually answer.

May God help us all to grow closer to Him and His Son during this mysterious time of year.

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Yesterday, my greatly loved son in New York called to tell me he has just become engaged to a wonderful woman whom I already love dearly. I'm so happy for them! I pray this is for life. God bless them and their life together and protect and guide them in all things. Needless to say, I'm thrilled!

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A wonderful, inspirational, preposterous fable for our times. Love lost, love found and magnified. Reviews weren't particularly good (and yes, I know Roger would eject this one!), but I still enjoyed it immensely. It's a woman thing... See this movie alone or with loved ones! And take the children too. Sweet fantasy tied together with music of every ilk.