UnApologetic Apologist

Blog Action Day '09: Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:30:00 +0000

First off, I'm not green. I'm not some city living, manage my window garden, protest if the tree outside my apartment gets chopped, Al Gore follower. I'm not a save the whales, protect the dolphins, leave the reefs alone activist. I'm just someone who cares about the direction we're headed as a species with regard to our world.

I do many different "green" and activist actions, but it's not an attempt to define myself or shame anyone else. It is an attempt to try and wake up a bunch of sleepwalkers who follow the status quo simply because they don't know any better. I doubt we'll make a huge impact on big oil or the automobile manufacturers. The President drives around in his SUV's and leaves them running during his venues. He's supposedly the "greenest" president we've had yet. Where we, where I can make a real difference is in the lives of those around us who do environmentally unfriendly things simply beacuse they don't know any better.

Do you guys know about Jerry Sternin an the Positive Deviance Initiative? Basically, the idea is to find someone in a community doing something better than their peers with the same resources, elevate their status so that they can help others do the same, and thus better the living conditions for all. That's what I'm talking about. Go to BAD's webpage for all sorts of ways to make a lasting difference. The point is not so much what you do, but how you do it. Don't throw yourself out there against the world; be a positive, constructive deviant. Gather others onto your ideas. When there are enough of us quietly making a real difference, we'll see the change expressed at the top. As long as we're just a vocal minority screaming at white castles, not much will happen.

Plant a tree, teach your kids to do the same. Leave the lights off during the day and ask your neighbors why they don't. Use fans instead of the A/C and blankets instead of heaters, then see if the folks at work will do the same. It works and it's a lot less stressful than protesting outside GM (or whoever they are now).
Peace

This Year's Action Day Topic

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Long Time Broken Promises

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Who knew?

I thought getting back into blogging would be like getting back on a bicycle. I thought surely, going from the poorest country in the world to the 4th poorest would mean better internet and more reliability. But alas, it has not meant any of those things. We have to drive almost 30 minutes to use the internet and so I have been cut off from the news and separated from the outside world.

I hardly know what's going on outside of the few connected countries and most of that I don't have any time to write about. It's an odd feeling, but I'm hoping for change. We are moving to a new town and hopefully to internet in our house. That would be lovely and I look forward to being with you all again soon.

Tired

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Every once in a while everyone needs a hiatus. This last month has been mine. I am about to complete an online Hebrew class. I have bought more stuff in the last few months than the rest of my life combined. I have packed all said stuff into a few big wooden boxes and am now packing the rest into suitcases that will fly with me rather than take the boast across the ocean. I have traveled to a few different states and spoken at numerous engagements. I have gotten the official nod from my company to return to Africa. I've played a lot with my kids and gotten ready for a new one. I've spent time with my wife. I've climbed and cut trees. I've watched the news on TV.

Really, this was just a hiatus from blogging. I've grown tired of what is happening in the States and am preparing to get back to the "real" world. All of this political back and forth that goes on here has real consequences, but we rarely see it from this side of the ocean. Beyond that, it's actually hard to hear about what is happening anywhere else. We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't even care to hear about what is happening in the rest of the world.

So, I'm coming back online. I know you missed me.

Abstinence

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:32:00 +0000

While "On the Record" Bristol Palin said that sexual abstinence is not realistic for teenagers. As someone who managed to be abstinent until marriage along with a wife who did the same, I can say that she is wrong. However, I have many great friends who were not abstinent. What makes the difference?

I really like what Dr. Al Mohler has written about this issue.

"The real issue for Christian teenagers and their parents is not to debate whether sexual abstinence before marriage is realistic or not. The larger and more important issue is that sexual abstinence until marriage is the biblical expectation and command. Once this is realized, the responsibility for everyone concerned is to ensure that expectations and structures are in place so that abstinence is realistic.

The debate over whether abstinence is realistic or not misses the more important issue -- abstinence must be made realistic.

Parents and teenagers must make certain that adequate protections and expectations are in place so that sexual abstinence is very realistic indeed. Far too many Christian parents allow their teenagers to be part of the "hooking up" scene of teenage culture. In that highly sexualized context, sexual abstinence would appear unrealistic in the extreme."

"Those who reject the norm of sexual abstinence for teenagers will leap on Bristol Palin's statement as evidence for their cause. But the real issue here is our responsibility to ensure that abstinence is made realistic and stays realistic. Anything short of this is truly 'not realistic at all.'"

Aid for the Nations

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:02:00 +0000

As we work in the poorest countries of Africa, I am keenly aware of the poverty and need surrounding us. How can we assist those in the most need? I am constantly looking for the answer to that question. Really, the answer lies right under my nose.

We need an organization with an extremely wide support base, with a huge amount of talent and giftings. We need a group that naturally cares about others and their well being. We need a group that will look for long-term answers and not just short-term solution. Who fits all of those requirements? The Church!

Oh yeah, the organizations specifically instituted to show a divine love to the world. I know that the Church often gets distracted and focuses more on internal issues than external ones, but that doesn't change the fact that the church is the most well-equipped organization in the world to fix the problems of world hunger, poverty, and corruption. It just needs people to wake it up to its potential. That's what I'm trying to do.

It's not about proselytizing, it's about really caring about people.

Burris

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:30:00 +0000

I'm not going to say I told you so, but seriously?!

When Burris came out saying that he had not taken given or received anything from Blago, I said he sounded just like Blago when he said he hadn't done anything wrong. It turns out, it was just like Blago saying he hadn't done anything wrong. All of a sudden, never having had any communication with anyone from Blago's team turned into fund raising with Blago brother.

Wow!

Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:21:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'll share the poem I wrote for my wife:

I could have ganked a poem or stolen a line, but none of them expressed the thought; I love you: uniquely, devoutly, expressly, complexly, compoundingly, demandingly, dearly. I love you: knowing I should love you more, wishing I would tell you more, hoping I can show you more. I love you.

10 Days

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:08:00 +0000

It's been 10 days since I posted last. It's hard to encapsulate all that's happened in this time period. Basically, I've been doing disaster relief around Arkansas, helping get people out from under their trees. I'll still be doing it for the next few days. This has put a little stall in my attempt to learn Hebrew, but I'll recover.

Fox news keeps giving me glimpses of hope and CNN keeps taking it away. It's not that I want Obama to fail, I just want our nation to be smart about how we proceed over the next few years. I'm seeing a lot of fear and not a lot of study going into how we are currently attacking our economic problem. That scares me.

I know the other side thinks they are doing the right thing, but I'm a history guy. I like knowing how situations like this have turned out in the past. Basically, spending plans don't really work in the long run. The economy will right itself if you let it, but we're too scared to let it.

Oh well, we'll see.

Outings

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:47:00 +0000

Blago' is out as is Daschle. Wait! There's actually a little bit of integrity in our political system?! Nancy Killefer is out as performance chief and a $900 billion stimulus package is out.

Does it appear to anyone else that Obama is trying to appoint a bunch of crooks? Maybe that's only because he hung out with terrorists a lot in his younger years. (Ayers, etc.)

Watching a little bit of Fox News makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one who thinks we shouldn't put crooks into high office, but if we can pass the Fairness Doctrine again, then I won't have that haven either.

Let's give three cheers for crooks, greed, and a way to cover it all up.

Aggregator

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:22:00 +0000

If it sounds bad, it probably is. The idea of a federal aggregator bank sounds perfect. The government creates a bank and funds it. This bank is a dumping point for all the bad investments of the banks who aren't doing so hot currently. It basically gives everyone a mulligan and they can all just start over.

One question: When was the last time you really learned your lesson from a mulligan?

Except those currently unemployed by the whole ordeal, most have forgotten about the massive layoffs and financial institution bankruptcies. Everyone has forgotten that the guys who ran Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into the ground are now Obama's economic advisers. Everyone is fine with a Treasury Secretary who cheats the IRS. Why not give all of these nonviable institutions a fresh start? Who cares if the Fed just has to keep pouring billions into them to keep them alive? Who cares if the rich aren't going to be able to pay for it all and it ultimately falls on our shoulders?

What is our problem with letting nonviable companies die? Doesn't anyone realise that this is what is currently crippling our system and keeping us from healing?! If you have gangreen on your foot, do you chop it off to keep the rest of your body healthy or do you leave it alone, let it continue to suck valuable resources from the healthy parts, and eventually spread its poison to your whole body? The answer seems pretty clear to me. Apparently not to our government.

Disappointment

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:08:00 +0000

I am rather despondent about our political situation tonight. In all likelihood Geithner is going to become our next treasury secretary.

Let me get this right:
We have a President who was questionably not born in the United States,
We have a Secretary of State whose family accepts money from foreign interest groups,
We are about to have a Treasury Secretary who owes the IRS $34,000 by not paying back taxes on 2 of 4 years of cheating the tax system and who employed an illegal immigrant in his home.

Why are we damning ourselves?

Good Undergroud Artists

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Timothy Brindle and Shai Linne are decent artists so I thought I'd help you check them out. The video quality is bad, but it's hard to find much stuff from these guys.

Inauguration 2009

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Obama's speech-- good

Michelle's dress-- decent, gloves-- bad

Swearing in-- What was that?!

Dick Cheney-- =) you gotta love wheelchairs

John Williams' inauguration song-- excellent

Gay Pride Band-- umm, they looked happy

Bush's speech in TX-- probably the best he's ever given

I'm eager to see what the future holds.

Israel Pulls Out

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:31:00 +0000

Israel and Hamas have declared a cease fire which Israel attributes to it's success in demoralizing Hamas and Hamas declares is just giving Israel time to get its troops out of Dodge.

Iran still wants Israel dead and is more than willing to just continue arming Hamas and letting them get massacred. Israel still wants everyone else dead and is more than willing to continue getting Western aid whenever they declare war on one of their neighbors.

Does this mean peace will last?

Burris Appointment part 2

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:54:00 +0000

They're going to seat Burris as Junior IL Senator. I'm disgusted.

Burris Appointment

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Does it never end? We just get through a mess in the presidential election and now we get to play Senate seat roulette.

Personally, I think Burris is a liar. Watching him in the Senate committee meetings told me pretty clearly that he is unwilling to be honest. Not only his answers, but also his body language said, "I'm trying to fool you all. Appoint me anyway so I can start getting paid."

I don't know where Durbin comes from and know very little about him, but I'm glad he has decided to voice that Burris is un-appointable. At least he and White seem decently honest. Check out this article. I don't know where the IL Supreme Court gets the idea that it can rule over the national Senate, but it is sorely mistaken.

I have no say in the matter, not being from IL, but I think that should do general elections. But wait, would that mean Burris would have to pay back his $1+ million loan?

This is rediculous. And it is not a race issue.

New Year part 2

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:17:00 +0000

I was contemplating things I would change about 2009 compared with 2008. There's not anything. I want to be a better father and husband and a better follower of my Lord and Savior, but those are areas to grow, not necessarily change.

My life is full of change as I prepare to move, study more, and learn more languages, but it is a good life and I wouldn't change it. I am thankful for the friendships I've gained and lives that have touched mine.

May your 2009 be as blessed as my 2008.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:39:00 +0000

It's January... the time for reflection on the past year and making plans for the new.

I have been without internet access for a little while, staying out in the bread basket of America.

Getting back to urban civilization was not all that pleasant: rude drivers, disturbing newscasts, and droll gray surroundings.

However, just to throw my opinion into the mix, Burris shouldn't be named senator and it has nothing to do with race. I watched a Law and Order episode recently where a black man killed his boss, blamed it on racially ignited rage, and proclaimed his innocence and the Nation's guilt. In the show, a jury with eight black jurors found him guilty. The show talked through the ethics of affirmative action and other measures aimed at promoting equality among the races. Basically, the conclusion in the show was that as long as minority races (some of whom are not so minor anymore) continue to make race the issue and assure the presence of racially oriented pseudo-equality programs, race will continue to be an issue.

Has anyone read Stupid Black Men by Larry Elder? It is a very good read and an intelligent look at race issues in the States. (Unlike Michael Moore's Stupid White Men, which abandons constructive criticism for mudslinging.)

Basically, Burris is an idiot if he thinks that by repeating the statement that he is a senator, he can make it true. He came from extremely dubious circumstances and if he really wanted what was best for his state and country, he would submit to state elections and run for the office.

What's he worried about? If he is such an honest, noble man, then he would win in a landslide.

Bombings

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:55:00 +0000

I'm sure just about everyone has heard about Israel's bombing of the Gaza strip, but how many heard that Gaza had started launching long-range rockets into Israel? One article talks about Hamas' resistance and their defiance of authorities.

I am always astounded by the power that Hamas holds in Gaza. One would think that in this age we would have progressed far enough that peaceful negotiations would make terrorist-run states a thing of the past. However, the hatred of Israel in the Middle East and the subsequent freedom that terrorist groups enjoy there are constant reminders of our failures as peacekeepers.

For a long time we have believed that the East would eventually just see things our way. That ethnocentrism and nearsightedness are causing us many problems today. Will we learn from past mistakes?

Advent Conspiracy

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:12:00 +0000

This Christmas, I gave the gift of water. I work with Living Water Intl. guys in West Africa and know that the work they do is good and Christ focused. So for some of my family, I gave donations at www.water.cc

You can still be a part of changing the world. Check out www.adventconspiracy.org It's not too late for your Christmas to really mean something this year.

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:59:00 +0000

I pray you all remember the real reason for the season and give of yourselves for Christmas this year.

As a church marquee read, "You can't spell Christmas without Christ."

For my Catholic friends, that made me think, "Even if you take out Christ, you can still have mass."

:) Peace.

Stupid People

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:06:00 +0000

A yahoo search happened to put me on a photo journal of celeb bankruptcy and foreclosures. Donal Trump has filed bankruptcy twice. A host of sports stars, singers, and celebs are losing their homes because they thought they were above paying their mortgages.

Why do normal people for the most part know not to buy things they can't afford, but rich people spend money they don't have? Or think they can just choose not to pay for something and nothing will happen?

If only more Africans were going to Heaven, I'd be ready for this world to end. Church, why don't you get on that?

Sock and Awe

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:44:00 +0000

This is pretty bad. I know everyone heard about President Bush getting shoes thrown at his face by an Iraqi journalist, but now they've made an online game out of it. You can check it out here.

Let me know what you think about this whole thing. Some have said we should have pulled out right then; I think it's good that we didn't do anything rash and Bush handled it well. C'est la democracy. (sp?)

By the way, one of the most disturbing things about the game is that they track where it is being played. France, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Pakistan, Lebanon, etc. are in the top 25, but the U.S. is #1.

Wilberforce Trafficking Protection Act

noreply@blogger.com (shadrach) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:37:00 +0000

I haven't seen this on any of the news servers I track, so I thought I'd let you know about a bill passed by Congress in this December session, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. If it passed so quickly through both parts of Congress, then I'm pretty sure it is not as strong as the ERLC makes it sound, but it's a start.

Read about it here.