Walkout on the Pirates

Tonight is the night that everyone going to the Pirates game that is fed up with the lack of commitment to winning by the ownership is supposed to leave their seats after the third inning and return to them after the fourth.

Me? I will be continuing my boycott that has lasted since 1993 when Barry Bonds came back as a Giant after the cheapskates wouldn't offer him salary arbitration because they were afraid he would accept. Not one dime will go to the Pirates as long as they continue to make no effort to win.

A defense of Hymns and Musical Instruments in Worship

Have you ever come across the denominations that refuse to allow musical instruments in their service? I was a member of one that not only didn’t allow musical instruments but also only allowed the singing of the Psalms. I was a member of the Reformed Presbyterians for roughly a decade.

These acapella churches and Psalm-only churches follow the regulative principle of worship. Which says anything not expressly commanded/or shown as an example in scripture is forbidden in worship.

But I would dispute that it is not expressly commanded to sing additional songs to the Psalms. Specifically Esphesians 5:19, Romans 5:9, Acts 16:25, and Collossians 3:16. All of them either order/show the singing of hymns or differientiate between hymns and Psalms. And also some order the singing of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs. Showing that the Psalm-only churches are in error.

Now the no instrument churches argue that there is no command nor example in the New Testament ordering the use of instruments. And I admit I fail to see any. But the New Testament is not the only part of scripture. There is also the Old Testament which I see plenty of examples for use of musical instruments.

David played a harp for Saul that kept the evil spirits away from Saul and made him feel good in 1 Samuel 16. 1 Chronicles 25 sees the sons of Jeduthun using a harp to praise and thank the Lord. Now they will try to claim that only deals with the temple worship and that you can’t use the instruments because there is no temple. Although I fail to see how David’s use of the harp is exclusive t othe temple in Chronicles.

But then we turn to the Psalms. The very songs that are often sung acapella. Psalm 33:2- 3 - Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Isn’t a bit strange to sing about praising the Lord with a harp and playing skillfully and then turning around and saying you aren’t allowed to praise the Lord with a harp during worship?

Or Psalm 49:4, 57:8, 71:22, 81:2, 92:3, 98:5, 108:1-2, 147:7, 149:3, 150:3.

And those are just searches using the word Harp in Quickverse. There was one other Psalm 43 but the context involves the temple so I omit it from the list.

Look at the context of 98 with verse 4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;

I think there is plenty of Biblical evidence for using the musical instruments during service. If all of these Psalms are wrong, then why are they being sung? If they have been determined to be no longer valid, then its rather erronious to continue to sing them.

Can you tell I wasn't always the most popular attendant at the old church? I never was one to hold back how I really felt about things(like you needed me to point that out).

Just one of the reasons when asked what was the difference between the PCA and the RP church, a PCA member said "The PCA is more reformed then the RP church." :D

Environment Issues

I have been told that I'm worse then Al Gore when it comes to the Environment. That's because I was arguing with someone that wants to drill in the Alaskian Wildlife Refuge I said that there should be no drilling in the refuge.

My argument is pretty simple. If its called a wildlife refuge that means unless you're in there for scientific reasons, keep out. If you want to drill there then stop calling it a wildlife refuge. Because once the environment is disturbed with oil rigs(or whatever you call them in case that's only boats), its no longer a refuge. I don't think that's too radical. I'm only opposed to drilling in what's supposed to be a refuge.

Expensive Book on Church Councils

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My history site I mentioned in my earlier post is an affiliate of Amazon and on one of the pages this book on the Church Councils appeared:

A History of the Councils of the Church: From the Original Documents, to the Close of the Second Council of Nicaea A.D. 787

$225!!!!!!!

Maybe I should charge a few bucks to access the Church councils on my site Although I'd probably get into trouble from someone since I originally saved them onto my computer from a now defunct site.

Wow.

Hmm... wonder if I could get a review copy for a review on here... It does cover my period I wrote on for my MA History Thesis. I'm an expert. Stop chuckling publisher. I am too an expert!

Bah probably only give review copies to PhD holders...

Supreme Court says Can't use Race for Admission

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The Supreme Court ruled that schools cannot use race as a rule in their admissions decisions. In a ruling that will level the playing field for all so that decisions are based on logical reasons instead of skin color.

Lets hope this change continues to level the playing field across soceity so that no one starts with a handicap because of their race.

Not surprisingly, Democrats are angry about it.

Which translation of the Bible do you primarily use?

Now that I actually have a few people coming here...

Just wondering what translation do you prefer? And what translation does your particular church use?

I prefer the NIV. Its the translation we used at Geneva where I was a TA for two and a half years. That's actually where my history site actually started as. I created a site to help my students study for the tests and slowly added more and more of my notes from other classes. (I type all my notes so that I can actually read them)

My church uses the English Standard Version.

Asian emerald ash borer Found

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The Asian emerald ash borer has been found in the area. It has killed 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana since 2002. And now Pennsylvania has quarrantined all the trees because of this bug to try to keep its spreading to a minmumn.

I bet this is not good news for Gumpfs. A small tree/plants dealership that I live close to their "warehouse" ie where they grow all their trees. (When I was a kid I often thought what would be wrong with going there and digging up a live Christmas tree. We could put it back and they'd never know. :) )

California House passes Pet Sterilization Bill

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Just what's needed. More liberal laws to take away rights of people. Now California has decided that everyone must have their dog or cat spayed or neutered by the time they are four months old or face a $500 fine. Only certain licensed breeders will be exempt.

Isn't this grand? Once again the state can come and take away your rights! How dare people want to have cats/dogs that are born at their homes and that they know where the cats/dogs came from.

The state knows best.

How long before we have a new black plague because there's no wild cats that actually eat rats that carry the plague thanks to these all knowing humanitarians?

And the PA Senate has passed the smoking ban. Oh yeah more rights taken away. Isnt it grand? Now it moves to PA House.

As anyone knows that has read earlier posts, I don't like the right nor the left in politics. But I'm really despising this we know whats best liberal crap.

What happened to the Bill Clinton Democrats????????? The Center Democrats. The ones that didn't pass this kind of garbage. They passed laws that helped people that needed it. I liked that.

Iranian strangeness

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Iran is one of the leading exporters of oil but they have to import gasoline because they do not have enough refineries.

Wouldn't it make a little more sense to build some refineries instead of trying to build nuclear plants for "electricity"

An interesting mystery

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A five acre lake in the southern Andes in Chile has simply disappeared. No one can figure out what happened. There was no earthquake that could have caused the bottom to open up and swallow the water.

A river that once flowed from the lake has turned into a crick.

Experts are being sent in to investigate.

I wonder what department acts as the Missing Lakes Bureau

5 foot tall Penguins

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At one time, there was five foot tall penguins living in the warm weather of Peru. They lived around 30 million years ago according to the scientists that found them. They had 7 inch beak.

This find has turned on its head the old theory that said that penguins did not approach the equator until roughtly 10 million years ago. This shows they have been living in the warmer climates for considerably longer. And this find dates to one of earth's warmest periods in its history.

Former City Councilwoman of Southern California could be deported

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A woman who believed she was an American citizen because she's been in the country since she was one years old could be deported because she voted. She ran and won a seat on city council and all was fine until someone revealed that she was born in Cuba.

Because of this, she was never a citizen so she resigned. Then she was charged with illegal voting because as a noncitizen she cannot vote. She pleaded guilty and paid fines. But illegal voting is a deportable offense so now she's possibly going to be deported to Canada which was her last recorded entry point.

This is beyond ridiculous.

She is a legal resident but not a citizen but because she voted she's going to be possibly deported for something she didn't even know she wasn't a citizen. All because someone apparently didn't like the job she was doing on city council. They should be real proud. As should every official who has a hand in this entire fiasco.

Presbyterian Outlook asks what is happening to liberalism...

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The liberal church has been in decline for decades according to the numbers. At one point liberal and moderate churches made up 40% of the congregations in the United States. I think I saw somewhere its under 15%. Dave Perkins said "Eighteen years ago when I joined Presbyterian Publishing, there were 3.2 million Presbyterians; today there are 2.3 million. This numerical membership decline has been among the center and the leftwing.”

The answer I believe lies in how liberal theology plays out. The liberal church in an effort to offend no one tosses out the condemnation of homosexuality, decides that the verse that clearly proclaims Jesus as the only way is not really from Jesus so as to not offend other religions, and tippy toes around Jesus's divinity for I assume the same reason and determines that miracles really couldn't have happened so I assume they can get along with scoffers more easily.

In my opinion it is their unwillingness to draw a line that can't be crossed that set up and continues this downturn. And now the liberal Episcopol Church has a priest who is also a practicing Muslim in its pulpit. Do they proclaim the priest a heretic and remove her? No. Its good for interfaith relations proclaims her bishop.

The Bible is relegated to second place for feel good theology. If it makes a person happy, then it must be good. If it makes someone uncomfortable, it can't be from God. There is simply no reason to keep worshipping in a liberal church because as long as you're happy, you're ok. You might as well stay home and mow the grass or watch the extra football coverage in the winter. All is equal. All religions are the same. Attend service or not. It really doesn't matter. And really who wants to go listen to a lecture for 20 minutes and drive for another 20 to church when you can get an extra 40 minutes of pregame football action since that 20 minute lecture is irrelevant when the message is all beliefs are good.

That is why I believe the Liberal Church is in decline. I could be completely off base. After all I am on the outside looking in. And of course not all Liberals are the same. Some do believe in those essential doctrines or at least some of the doctrines. Others(like the Episcopol Muslim) toss everything out with the bath water and those are the biggest causes of the Liberal Churches problems.

So is all liberalism bad? Of course not. A very good liberal theory(at least I've always assumed it came from liberals) is the Literary Framework Theory for Genesis 1. Someone noticed that Genesis 1 has the ring of Hebrew poetry and developed the theory.


So what steps could the liberals take? The first one would be tossing the Episcopol Muslim out on her ear and declare her the heretic that she is. After that is accomplished, reaffirm that Jesus is God and is the Son of God and that through faith in him are you saved. After that, you'll be on the road to recovery.

Rate a blog

This surprises me considering my negative opinion on the Pirates, CBS's original decision to cancel Jericho, and the fact that I talk about politics and theology.

Salman Rushdie to be knighted

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Salman Rushdie is to be given the honor of being knighted. He authored the book The Satanic Verses and has been under a Muslim Fatwa that called for Muslims to kill him because the book insulted Islam.

A lot of things seem to insult Islam as far as Muslims are concerned. You can't criticise Mohammed who acknowledged that he was just a man and prophet. But its perfectly fine for Islam to consider Jesus, who proclaimed himself the Son of God and God, as simply a prophet. So its not alright for Christians and others to question the Islamic prophet but its perfectly acceptable for Islam to show no respect to Christianity's God.

Its a nice double standard.

And its also nice seeing the peaceful Muslims chanting for the death of Rushdie and death of the Queen. Islam is a religion of Peace after all. Muslims say it is or else.

Indiana Jones 4 starts

The sight every Indiana Jones fans has been waiting for since 1989. Harrison Ford on set in the hat.

Democrats expect gains in 08

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Democrats believe that they are going to see the same type of voter reaction that they saw in 06. A recent poll found Democrats in the lead by 9%.

The only thing this causes for me is I wish there was a third party that could actually do something. I've never had two blog political polls score me so accurately as the last two from the other day. I hate the Left and the Right of politics pretty much equally. I'm a Democrat but a Conservative one. I don't care for these Liberal laws like banning transfat and smoking. I can't stand Nancy Peloski, I don't care much for Hillary Clinton(but I did like Bill Clinton), and there's not a single politican currently in Washington that I hope stays there.

In fact there's only one politician that I happen to like presently. And that's Republican James Marshall my PA State House Representative. (And the reason I like him is he actually responds when emailed plus he agreed with me on the issue I emailed him about which always helps. Not one other supposed representative has ever responded to me)

What does it mean to be Reformed?

I came across a post by my Professor/Advisor at Geneva College, Byron Curtis that deals with what it means to be reformed. I decided to repost it here

"To be reformed means:

1) to confess with the orthodox churches the consensus of the first five centuries of Christianity, including:

a) Classic theism: One omnipotent, benevolent God, distinct from creation.
b) Nicene and Chalcedonian Trinitarianism: one God in three eternally existent persons, equal in power and glory.
c) Christ, the God-Man, the one mediator between God & the human race, incarnate, crucified, resurrected, ascended, & coming again.
d) Humanity created in the image of God, yet tragically fallen & profoundly in need of restoration to God through Christ.
e) The Visible Church: the community of the redeemed, indwelt y the Holy Spirit; the mystical body of Christ on earth.
The one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
f) The Sacraments: visible signs and seals of the grace of God, ministering Christ's love to us in our deep need.
g) The Christian life: characterized by the prime theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.

2) to confess with the Reformation churches the four great "Solas:"

a) RE the source of authority: Sola Scriptura.
b) RE the basis of salvation: Sola Gratia.
c) RE the means of salvation: Sola Fide
d) Re the merit of salvation: Solus Christus

3) to confess with the Reformed churches the distinctives of the Reformed faith:

a) In salvation: monergism not synergism. God alone saves. Such monergism implies T.U.L.I.P., the Five Points of Calvinism from the Synod of Dordt:

T = Total Depravity
U = Unconditional Election
L = Limited Atonement, or, better, Particular Redemption
I = Irresistible Grace
P = Perseverence and Preservation of the Saints

b) In worship: the Regulative Principle of Worship "Whatever is not commanded in public worship is forbidden." God alone directs how he is to be worshiped in the assembly of the visible church.
c) In the Visible Church: Covenant Theology & Covenant Community. The Church is the New Israel, incorporating believers among Jews and Gentiles alike. Infant Baptism ordinarily follows from this understanding. Sacraments are not merely human observances, but acts of Jesus Christ, marking out the visible church.
d) In life: Life is religion: there is no sacred/secular destinction. As such Christians have neither jobs nor careers; they have vocations (callings). Every calling is "full time Christian service," because every Christian is a full-time Christian.

4) finally, in everything, as Christians everywhere joyfully affirm: Soli Deo Gloria. 'To God alone be the glory.'

Number 600

Sammy Sosa hit #600 in the stadium that saw the majority of his homeruns: Wrigley Field. The fans gave him two curtain calls and chanted Sammy, Sammy... I'm pretty amazed that Chicago is that friendly with him after the way he departed.

Meanwhile the lovable Pirates spend the night making the 0-6 with 10+ era Jeff Weaver look like Cy Young.

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Carter Criticizes West Over Handling of Palestinians

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As my earlier comments on this would indicate, I think Carter is being incredibly stupid on this issue. Hamas attacked Fatah who was their partner in that government. Their attacking was pretty much their resignation. Only thing is, it was a resignation with a whole lot of blood on it.

All Hamas had to do for aid that the West voluntarily gives was to acknowledge Israel has the right to exist. They wouldn't do it.

Hamas claims US, EU, and Israel are blackmailing the Palestinians

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Because they are freeing the money that has been withheld since Hamas entered the government and are giving it to Abbas. Also the West is evil because its been trying to remove Hamas since it came to power.

I guess when it gets right down to it, the West actually owes the Palestinians this aid. After all we should just blindly give money to people that show no gratitude, threaten terrorists acts, and loudly proclaim their hatred for the west.

And then we are supporting the "illegitimate" government of Abbas instead of the freely elected terrorist regime. Yes they were freely elected and Gaza has the government they presently deserve. But Hamas ended this elected government by attacking their government partners with arms.

But the fact that Hamas doesn't see it that way is not surprising. After all they think that the Arabs should be allowed to attack Israel without any repercussions. They attacked Israel, Israel won and took more land. They should be happy they're even still alive.

American City that Best Fits You

American Cities That Best Fit You:

60% San Francisco 60% Washington, DC 50% Austin 45% Chicago 45% New York City

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

You Are 24% Politically Radical

You've got a few unusual political ideas, but overall you're a pretty mainstream person. Chances are that you're turned off by both the radical right and looney left.

Are You a Political Radical?

You Are a Conservative Democrat

Frankly, the way most other Democrats behave embarasses you greatly. You pride yourself on a high level of morals, and you have a good grasp on right and wrong. It's likely you think America needs to get back to its conservative, Juedo-Christian values. Why aren't you a Republican then? Because you believe the goverment helps more than hurts.

What's Your Political Persuasion?

Are you a Gentleman?

You Are 68% Gentleman

You are definitely a gentleman. You're very considerate and you have excellent manners. Occasionally, you slip and do something foolish... but usually no one notices!

Are You A Gentleman?

You Are 67% Feminist

You are certainly a feminist - whether you know it or not. You believe in gender equality, at least most of the time. You also believe there are a few exceptions.

Are You a Feminist?

A Positive Day for the Pirates

Today is a positive day for the Pittsburgh Pirates. You might wonder why. Is it because they called up some superstar in the making from the minor leagues? Have they made a trade that improves the club's chances of winning? Did they finally make the smart move and make Doumit the everyday catcher?

No to all. They aren't scheduled to play today so its impossible for them to lose.

Traveler

Traveler is an ABC series on Wednesdays at 10pm. Its about two graduate students that are set up for a terrorist act by their "friend" They are now on the run with the FBI hot on their trail. And friends and family really can't be counted on as its a huge conspiracy that has been built over two years and it could involve them.

This Wednesday, I believe the 5th episode is on. Its a pretty good show with lots of tension throughout.

You can watch the first few episodes on ABC.com to get caught up. If you like serialized dramas this one will at least conclude since its first season of 7 episodes has already been filmed. Its ratings apparently are increasing each week if certain posts I've read are true.

Episcopol Priest and a Muslim

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In Seattle there is an Episcopol Priest who has become a Muslim. The Episcopol Church appears to be fine with this.

Even before becoming a Muslim, this priest had a warped view of Christianity:

She has never believed in original sin
She believes the Trinity is an idea about God and cannot be taken literally
She does not believe Jesus and God are the same, but rather that God is more than Jesus
She believes Jesus is the son of God insofar as all humans are the children of God, and that Jesus is divine, just as all humans are divine — because God dwells in all humans

So essentially she doesn't accept the orthodox Christian faith. Instead she has adopted old heresies such as Arianism and combined it with New Age.

But she continues to believe that Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Which is in contrast to her new Faith in Islam. The Quran flat out denies both.

So instead of being a heretic of one religion, she has chosen to be a heretic of two.

Crazy Squirrel

If there was ever a need for a video camera this had to be it.

A squirrel in Germany attacked three people before being killed by the third victim. It ran into the first person's house and jumped on her back and then sunk its teeth into her hand. She ran outside and shook it off where it then went and attacked a construction worker who beat it back with a measuring pole so it ran into a garden and attacked a man there. He killed it with his crutch.

Watch out! The Squirrels are rebelling.

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What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you? Your Result: Hector Barbossa You are Captain Hector Barbossa! You are so evil that even hell its self spat you back out! In other words, you are one evil dude! And you really like apples.
Will Turner
Jack Sparrow
Elizabeth Swann
Cutler Beckett
James Norrington
Davy Jones
Tia Dalma
What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

Hamasistan and Fatahistan

Apparently, Hamas would like you to believe that it was forced to take over Gaza yesterday and today.

In addition to being forced to take over Gaza, Hamas says it won't accept any foreign peace keeping troops including Arab troops. So basically its stay out we need to do some more cleaning like throwing people off roofs, marching them through streets and then shooting them execution style. Oh and also the always respectable looting by the mob.

And then there's the after killing all these Fatah people, Hamas offers all the survivors amnesty. I can see it now: Ok everyone who escaped us, it is now safe to show yourselves. Come on you can trust us. No more throwing people off of roofs.

And so Hamas attacks Fatah and kills all these Fatah people and then cries foul when Abbas dissolves the government. I mean what exactly did they think was going to happen. Oh its ok for you to attack and kill all these people who support us and we'll just keep governing with you as partners.

And of course there's people online who want to blame the United States for this. We should have been focused on Palestine instead of Iraq they claim. Well call me silly but I think we should be focused on the United States.

And one person on one of the Jerusalem Post articles took issue when the US State department calling these terrorist the militant wing of Hamas. They claim that its actually the army of Palestine since Hamas was in charge and so these militants are the same thing as the US army. Nope. Not even close. It would be the same thing if the Republican Party had their own armed militia and was using it as an army. But the U.S Army is not aligned with political parties. It represents the United States irregardless of politics.

The other object of ire of some people is Israel. Somehow this is all Israel's fault that these people won't get along. After all there's nothing about the Middle East that suggests that these people just don't get along. Its not like they have been killing each other for over 1200 years over all these same issues. Or maybe I should say 3200 or more years.

And the sad thing is... there's probably people who I debated with during the Hezbollah-Israel war that think Hamas is really heroes. After all they thought that of Hezbollah. I can't tell because it was in a private club that I no longer am a member of.

Judge tells man he cannot have a girlfriend for three years

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A man who beat up his ex-girlfriend, cut the phone cord when she tried to call the police, punched and kicked her has been ordered to not have a girlfriend for three years. He has a dependent disorder and cannot handle rejection.

I don't know. It seems like perhaps he should be in jail for assault. But then I think of prisons as places that are protecting society instead of punishing the guilty. Although they definately are punishment of course.

Pirates vs. Rangers

Looking at the stats from the newspaper and the ERA of tonights pitcher... Maybe if the Pirates scheduled 162 games against Texas, they could be over 500. I doubt it. Most likely the Rangers pitchers would eventually turn it around and it would be back to the Pirates as usual.

Murderer goes free

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A USC student gives birth to a baby and throws it in a dumpster where it dies. And somehow the California judge doesn't consider it murder and throws out the case.

And this student had a similar event in 2004. She showed up at a hospital with no baby and claimed it was stillborn. No body was ever found. I wonder what happened to it.

Unbelievable.

Presbyteries seizing church property

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Now first I am not a member of the PCUSA, the largest Presbyterian denomination. I am a member of the PCA, the second largest Presbyterian denomination.

There's been a lot of news coming from the PCUSA with conservative churches voting to leave. The last few months have seen 2 or 3 large churches leave in the Pittsburgh area alone. The reason being is these churches believe the PCUSA is becoming to liberal in its theology and abandoning classic orthodoxy. In fact I have seen a couple of quotes that amount to "Why are we allowing a 2,000 year old writer control how the church is being run?" Now granted they might have said that without thinking it all through but its scarey when the mainline Presbyterian church has members saying that. If it hadn't been for people that wanted to return to that 2000 year old writer, there would be no Presbyterian Church.

But the thing that is really in the news is the fact that the PCUSA is actually seizing the church buildings or demanding huge payments from churches that are leaving. One church had to come up with $500,000 and another $250,000.

Now lets think about this for a second. If the Presbytery had actually funded the building of these churches I could understand it. But some of these churches are decades if not centuries old. And the PCUSA has only been around since 1983. I just don't see how they can claim ownership of churches paid for by local members as belonging to the denomination.

And the really burning question is why would any church want to become affiliated with a denomination that is going to seize their building if they want to leave later?

I know that the mainline Episcopol church is like this as well.

Retired Lutheran Bishop claims Jesus enshrined in myths

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He doesn't believe that Jesus was born of a Virgin
He doesn't believe that Jesus was born in Bethlehem
He doesn't believe that Jesus had twelve disciples
He doesn't believe that the miracles of Jesus were real
He doesn't believe that Jesus was divine

But he does believe that Jesus was a pivotal figure in history.

I'd like to know why. If none of the things are true then Jesus seems to be nothing more then a madman who failed and was executed.

Its like people that say he was just a good teacher. Yeah he taught he was the son of God and is God... um if he's not then why's he a good teacher? Because he also taught do to others as you would want to be done to you? Well others have taught the golden rule.

Jesus either is the Son of God and is God or he's not someone that I want to learn from.

I believe he is.

Insane Judge

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A judge is suing a dry cleaners for millions of dollars because of misplaced pants. The pants were later found. And during testimony this judge bursts into tears over the pants and asked for a recess...

And this is someone expected to render judgment in cases? He should be disbarred and then run out on a rail.

The Art of the Scam

Have you ever watched the Robert Redford and Paul Newman movie The Sting? In it Paul Newman and Robert Redford swindle someone that killed a friend of Robert Redford's character. It was a fun movie to watch.

But in real life, it not so much fun to be swindled. That's pretty much what The Pittsburgh Pirates did around the turn of the century when they promised that the on field play would improve if they received tax payer funds to build a stadium. Well its been years and the play has been steadily pathetic.

I think its time for the public to either be reimbursed for the money the Pirates swindled from them or the MLB seize control of the franchise and find owners that will produce a watchable on field product. Preferrably someone with the name Mark Cubans.

And the MLB should be able to do this since the Pirates are receiving money from the rich clubs that is supposed to be put back in the team. They aren't doing it. They presently have a team salary that is $2 million more then it was in 1992. In contrast, the Yankees have added something like $180 million dollars to the team salary.

Why should teams that want to win be forced to support a team that has no desire to win?

And they showed their lack of desire after the 1992 season when they wouldn't even offer Barry Bonds salary arbritration after he said that he would accept it if offered. They might have different owners now but the cheapness has continued.

MLB, either take the franchise away from McClatchy and Nutting or just fold the team. PNC Park deserves better then to have these cheapskates as tenants.

And Pirates, I haven't been to a Pirate game since 1993 when Barry returned for the first time as a Giant. I refuse to support a team devoid of any desire to win. Take your fireworks and bobbleheads and shove it.

Smoke free restaurants

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Eat n Park and several other restuarants have decided to ban smoking in their restaurants. The owner decided to go smokefree in its PA, Ohio and WV businesses. He doesn't know if it will hurt his business or not.

But this is exactly where the decision should be coming from. The owner and not the state. I am so tired of the weekly editorial calling for the state legislature to legislate a smokefree state. It is none of the state's business whether or not an owner allows smoking in the building he owns. If someone wants to stay away from other people's smoke then they should act like adults and find a smokefree restaurant instead of begging the state to infringe on more rights with ridiculous hold your hand laws.

And I'm a non-smoker.