Singing In the Rain

I love the rain. I can even enjoy the mud. But must they both find way into my new truck?

Currently Listening: Stepping Out, by Diana Krall

That Which Stems from Cells

I never thought much on stem-cell research before. However, as it is a big deal on the ballot next month, it has come into the cogwheels known as my mind. There are a whole schlew of moral and ethical problems here. The first is obvious, we are cutting into human life! Of course this can be rationalized. The eggs aren't fertalized, so it isn't life yet; it's just tissue, yada yada. I'll let that slide for now. After that they want to justify it by the surplus of embryos stockpiled from fertility clinics. I have a problem here, that goes beyond the moral/ethical fallacies of fertility clinics. Stockpiled surplusses get depleted. Then what? Then our wives and daughter get coerced into pushing their bodies through a brutal barrage of medical treatments to create and harvest the thousands of embryos required for stem cell research. It becomes as "necessary'' as giving blood, and embryos become a tradable commodity. Womens bodies become production facilities for the goddess Science, and the damnable greater good. After all, it just harvesting tissue from bigger blobs of tissue. I don't think Hitler could have thought up a plan this diabolic, or had it swallowed so easily. The American public is demanding it's right to a haulocost! If your worldview has no standard for morality or ethics, I guess that's okay. But we have a moral standard, we have a God, and He requires us to protect the innocent and fatherless, not to lay their necks on the butcher's block. We cannot prey on the defenseless in order to comfort the dying. I'm all for finding cures, but not at the expense of this sort of false dualism; one life for another. This is not the sort of self-sacrifice that Christ displayed, but a cultural cannibalism. In the height of our intelligence we are self-destructive. It is an amazing judgement that the very hand that slaps the face of God, God will use to plunge a knife into the heart.

Missouri Amendment 2 Initiative

This is to let everyone here from Missouri know about this important topic. There is an Amendment on the ballot for the next election that is one of the most deceptive affronts on the sactity of human life, the ethical treatment of women, and tax ceiling attempted in this state. It is touted as the biggest pro-life battle ever fought in this state, yet very few Christians in the state know that there is even an issue. This is a big deal! If the bill passes, it will open unlimited goverment resources, without accountability, to research facilities and clinics, that will result in the exploitation of women and the desecration of human life (God's creation). For more info visit www.nocloning.com and www.votenotcloning.com. I encourage everyone who is able, get involved, and tell everyone you can about this!

Born. Again. And again. And again.

There seems to be some confusion as to my birthday. I only have one. I just celebrate at multiple, random times throughout the year. Some would think this would result in more presents (more birthday celebrations = more presents). This has not been the case. I will also forgoe multiple celebrations, as it seems to be adding to my percieved age, which has had negative ramifications in the relationship department.

Also, to clear up another misconception, I am not addicted to coffee. I could quit anytime I want. Ironicly I don't want. In fact, I have no desire. Coffee is good. Coffee is very good. Coffee is... oh never mind. Seriously, I will not be controlled by anything other than the Word of God. Coffee is awesome, when used as a means of grace, a blessing from our loving Creator. When used that way, then it follows that it should be made to His glory. May I recomend the french press?

For those of you who didn't know, I am very chic. But, after today, I am really very chic. That's right, I now drink coffee made in a French press (Google it). After spending the last weekend at my good friend Laurence's house, drinking coffee from his french press, black I might add, I knew, deep in my heart of hearts, I needed one. So I got myself one for my birthday (besides being chic, I am also very kind). So far so good. I am now looking forward to a long and hyper hobby of coffee parophenelia collecting.

Besides learning really cool ways to stay up late, I enjoyed the awesome fellowship over the weekend. And the work. There is nothing like working alongside wise men and good friends. Working hard. And eating good.

There was a wedding last weekend too. I think that had something to do with why we traveled 800 miles. Yeah, thats it. Went to VA for a wedding. Visited friends after. Maybe from the beginning....

Good friend, JL invited Donkey Boy and Me to his wedding in Bristol. DB desired to make a trip of it. So we went to the Outer Banks, NC (hence photograph). We went sea kayaking, parasailing, and boogie bording. We hunted seashells, visited gift shops, ate at quaint cafes and century old restraunts, ascended a lighthouse, and drove a lot. We were just two lonely-eyed boys in a pickup truck. We had a great time.

Then the wedding. It was beautiful. (For those who are interested, manly men can be obsessed with beauty.) The problem with weddings is that you don't get to visit with the bride or groom for more than 30 seconds, yet somehow it is worth driving 12 hours for.

We spent the rest of the weekend at Laurence's, including my birthday. There were good conversations, great beers, and sweet memories.