Pat Sullivan Blog

Intelligent Design Blogs

I came across this blog that you may be interested in if you are interested in the continuing controversy regarding Intelligent Design.  Here is a list of other blogs that cover the same subject.

I really like this topic though rarely have the time to write much about it.  Regardless of those who think it really should be "Un-Intelligent Design" or "No-Design, just sort of happened", this is an area that will continue to receive attention. 

My opinion is that to any thinking person, they have to look at the incredible design of the human body, the earth, the universe we find ourselves in and conclude that there sure seems to be a lot of evidence that a really incredible designer was/is at work.  Makes sense to me.  The issue is, if you believe that what do you do about it?

Gandhi

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

"The future depends on what we do in the present."

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
Indian political and spiritual leader

Thanks Gandhi, I needed that reminder today.

National Day of Prayer

(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

From The Center for Arizona Policy, via an email forward from my mom.

Our country was built on a foundation of prayer. George Washington, in his First Inaugural Address spoke these words:

“It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.”

George Washington called the entire nation to prayer in 1789 when he proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. Following his lead, subsequent presidents also proclaimed days of prayer and thanksgiving. In 1952 Congress established a National Day of Prayer and in 1988 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation permanently setting the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May of each year.

Interesting to read the words of Washington, especially that last sentence.  I've never read them before. 

And I've never found prayer to be a bad thing.

Double Standards

Double standards exist everywhere in our world today.  Here is another perfect example of a double standard.  On one hand, University Professors protest to protect the free speech rights of a leftist professor who was caught plagiarizing.  On the other hand University Professors want to crucify a Christian librarian who had the nerve to suggest that incoming freshman read a few books that were more traditional in their worldview.  Hypocrisy, whether it be on the Right or on the Left is ugly.

Islamic version of tolerance

Can you even imagine a governmental system where someone would face the death penalty for converting from one religion to another?  Only in Islam today.  Here is the story of a man who faces the death penalty for converting to Chrisianity in an Islamic state.

Incredible, but common!  This is what we and Europe can look forward to if Islam is successful in accomplishing their long stated goal of World Domination.  Welcome to the Middle Ages!

Crazy Teachers

Michelle Malkin covers the Denver teacher who went ballistic in his High School Geography class.  Very interesting!

Two observations:

1.  I think this goes on a lot.  If a teacher says anything positive about their views regarding Christianity, they are crucified.  When teachers voice their opinions on anything else including thier hatred of Christianity or America, it is usually fine.  Students need protection from teachers like this.

2. You have to be impressed both with the presence of mind of the student who turned on his tape recorder.  He also asked the teacher GREAT questions.  Given that young people tend to rebel against the views of their elders, perhaps there is hope for our coming generation.  Perhaps they will rebel against the extreme views of teachers like this!

Jon Kyl on Newt Gingrich

One of my Arizona Senators, Jon Kyl, recently wrote this about Newt Gingrich's new book, Winning the Future.  I like both guys.  I recently heard Kyl speak briefly at an dinner.  He is a very sharp and bright guy.  While many don't like Newt, I admire his insightfulness and directness.  I also admired his ability to pull off the "contract with America" sweeping Republicans into the Congress. 

Republicans and Dems alike would do well to tell the American people directly what they want to do.  Personally, I think the Reps are pretty good at this.  The MSM hate what the Reps want to do but at least you know what it is they want to do.  The Dems have hinted that they are working on their "contract".  Problem is that the only things that they can agree to put on the list is:

1. Hate Bush

2. Hate anything Bush says or does.

3. Hate all Republicans

4. Protect the right to kill babies while in, or almost out of their mothers wombs.

This does not come close to Newt's contract.  I am tired of hearing them do nothing but criticize without offering any alternative that is better.  They offer no alternatives!

I agree with the 5 main things Newt fears will happen in our future:

1. That Islamist terrorists and rogue dictatorships will acquire and launch nuclear or biological weapons.

2. That God will be driven from American public life and reduce us to the civilizational ennui that now characterizes a declining Europe.

3. That America will lose the patriotic sense of itself as a unique civilization.

4. That America’s economic supremacy will yield to China and India because of failing schools and weakening scientific and technological leadership.

5. That an aging America’s demands on Social Security, Medicare, and related government programs will collapse the systems.

Typical of Newt, he offers solutions for those 5 things:

1. We must commit to a long war to defeat the terrorists and tyrants who would destroy America.

2. We must reestablish that our rights come from our Creator and that an America that has driven God out of the public arena is an America on the way to decay and defeat.

3. We must insist on patriotic immigration and patriotic education based on classic American history and the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and Abraham Lincoln.

4. We must transform our domestic institutions in order to harness modern science and technology to create jobs, wealth, and lead the world economy into the 21st century.

5. We must establish the opportunities for a personal Social Security account, a portable personal pension account, and a personal health savings account, so the wealth we create during our working lives is wealth we control.

Admiration

George Bush changed his schedule to go to Coretta Scott King's funeral where he was rebuked and ridiculed by two former Presidents and a Reverend Lowery.  The audience loved it and cheered wildly as Bush just sat there and took it. He had to know beforehand that he was not going into friendly territory.  He had to know what was likely going to happen. And yet, he went anyway.  From the LA Times:

The most overtly partisan remarks came from the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a King protege and longtime Bush critic, who noted Coretta King's opposition to the war in Iraq and criticized Bush's commitment to boosting the poor.

"She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions way afar," he said. "We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there. But Coretta knew and we knew that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance. Poverty abounds. For war, billions more, but no more for the poor."

As the barbs flew, Bush seemed to take the heat in stride, smiling at times, giving Lowery a standing ovation and even pulling the civil rights leader in for a bear hug.

I have to admire his courage and graciousness in the face of bitter partisan rudeness and incivility.  President Bush showed true Christian character that would be difficult for most of us and certainly me.  He was clearly the most civil person at this uncivil event!

I have always been in awe of Jesus when at the start of his "Passion" Peter struck one of the guards with a sword. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"  Matthew 26:52-54

Had it been me, 12 legions of angels would have destroyed them all!  I would not even begun to suffer what Jesus knew He was about to suffer.  His grace under the pain of the next 24 hours is truly amazing to me.  What a triumph of character to withstand the incredible pain, shame, ridicule and hatred all the while knowing He did not HAVE to do it, except to fulfill His mission.  That is something to be admired! 

I admire Bush for not opting out of what he had to know was going to be a painful time.  I admire the glimmer of Christ likeness that I saw in George Bush today. 

A website you HAVE to read

I have posted numerous times here about my concerns about radical Islam.  My observations came only in the past few years after 9/11.  Prior to 9/11, I was virtually oblivious to the true threat that radical Islam posed to all modern nations. 

I continue to be concerned that America is gradually growing bored with the idea that there are millions of Islamic terrorists who believe that their religious scriptures clearly instruct them to "kill the infidels."  The infidels would be us, the Jews, Christians, Hindus and even other moderate Muslims.  I have failed to understand non-military ways of dealing with this threat.

My son Patrick came upon this website by Daniel Pipes.  I have spent much of today reading his articles dating back to 1980.  His website, DanielPipes.org, is the single most accessed source of specialized information on the Middle East and Islam.  His resume is very impressive. 

If you want some insight into what "the war on terror" is really all about, you have to spend time on this site.  Sign up for his newsletter!

There are so many articles I found interesting that I cannot even begin to mention each one.  Easily the most scary one is this one revealing more about the nutcase president of Iran.  We truly live in a dangerous world.  While I am not certain that President Bush is doing everything right, I am glad we have a President who is at least doing SOMETHING RIGHT to protect us.  There is no question in my mind that what America has done in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere has played a major role in stopping further terrorist attacks on American soil.  Likely, it is inevitable that the terrorists will once again succeed here, but at least since 9/11, we have been spared due to courageous efforts of our military who have been unleashed by President Bush.  The more I learn, the more I realize that this is NOT a short term effort!

Take some time and begin to digest the insight of Daniel Pipes.  I wish I had discovered him earlier.

Technorati Tags: Iraq, Middle East, Islam, Iran, GWOT

Iran throws CNN out

I find it funny that Iran got mad at CNN for apparently mistranslating the nutcase president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  They translated his words "nuclear technology" to "nuclear weapons."

I find this funny because CNN is very much part of the crowd that argues if we are just real nice to terrorists, they will stop being terrorists. If the terrorists are successful in doing what they say they want to do, (establish Taliban-like, Sharia-Islamic governments everywhere) the first thing that will go is freedom of the press, followed rapidly by outlawing abortion, homosexuality, most movies and freedom of religion. 

We truly are at war for our way of life.  Why liberal activists and Democratic leaders don't see this is beyond me.  The things they love the most would be the first things eliminated if the terrorists win.  And yet they act like Americans are the terrorists for trying to kill the terrorists wherever they can be found.

Iran just proves that they are totally intolerant, even of the politically correct, tolerance loving CNN.

Technorati Tags: Iran, Politics