Democrat Majority - Looks Like The Honeymoon Is Over

I've been watching the new Democrat majority Congress with particular interest since the beginning of the year. The Democrats ran hard on immediately pulling troops out of Iraq (redeploying...whatever), a full 5 day work week, universal health care, etc. OK, so we're at the end of February, so how are things? To me, it appears that the honeymoon is over and we're beginning to see the difference between running for office and serving in office.

As for the 5 day work week? That appears on shaky ground. Congress members got a four-day weekend around Martin Luther King Day and I'm not sure we're back to the semi-five day week yet. But that's minimal. So what's big? Well, it would be that whole Iraq thing. Remember last year when everyone was campaigning? Remember, "Bush lied, people died", "Bring the Troops Home Now", etc. The Democrats embraced these ideas and used them, effectively, to get elected into the majority. Well, what's happening with their campaign intentions?

As Congress really began to get under way at the beginning of February, the Democrats seemed ready to get moving on their agenda. CNN summarizes that article like this on their website:

• House will serve as a televised stage this week for marathon war debate
• Vote expected by week's end on nonbinding measure opposing troop increase
• Democrats pursuing tougher measures against president's war policy
• Opponents of war say public opinion is moving their way

I'm sure those from MoveOn.Org and the Left Coast were giddy with expectancy.

However, an article over at CNN provides a pretty interesting look into where things have gone since then. What's the title? - Democrats back away from Iraq plan. It appears that Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid is having second thoughts. He wants to delay votes on rescinding the Iraq War authorization. Unfortunately, this goes against Sens. Levin and Biden who wanted to begin moving on these limits this week. But, that's not all. It also appears that Rep. Nancy Pelosi - the newly minted Speaker of the House - is backing up some too. She doesn't want to use monetary limits as tools to force change troop levels. Do you remember Rep. John Murtha? Well, he's been pushing hard to cut funding to force changes in troop deployments. If the Democrats are fighting, what are all of their supporters thinking?

The public is saying, 'We hired you to get out of Iraq — now figure it out,'" said Tom Matzzie, Washington director of the anti-war group MoveOn.org. "There is a risk that without action, frustration boils over into anger."

But listen to the response from Democrats:

Democrats argue that their failed efforts to thwart Bush's war plans will ultimately pay off by ratcheting up pressure for a change.

What? Failing to do anything will increase pressure to do something? That doesn't make ANY sense. But, I guess we can't expect anything else from the Democrats. They're simply going back to the Clinton playbook of doing what the polls tell them to. As the article states later:

Democrats' troubles finding a strategy on the war reflect a wider lack of consensus among the public about what course to take in Iraq. AP-Ipsos polls show that while a clear majority are pessimistic about the war and oppose a buildup, most people do not support cutting funding for the troops.

I get it now. Instead of trying to be leaders, the Democrats are following the fickle public. It will be interesting to watch the likes of MoveOn.org, Al Franken, et. al. to see what kind of pressure and criticism they place on the Democrats.

Now Playing: "I Need You to Love Me" by Barlow Girl

Technorati: Democrats, Pelosi, MoveOn, Congress

Hurricanes and Global Warming

As we head into the 2007 Hurricane Season, there are sure to be questions swirling. Will the season be relatively tranquil as in 2006? Will we go back to a very active pattern as in 2004 and especially 2005. Also, if Global Warming is continuing to get worse, isn't that going to make hurricanes stronger and stronger? Good questions.

This article discusses a visit made by Chris Landsea (cool name for hurricane studies), science and operations director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, to the University of South Carolina. So, he's one of the experts. What does he have to say on the relationship between Global Warming and Hurricanes?

Chris Landsea, science and operations director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said the notion that global warming is causing an increase in hurricanes gained widespread attention after the stormy seasons of 2004 and 2005.

But that perception is wrong and the statistics don't bear it out, Landsea told about 200 students and professors in the auditorium at USC's geography building.

Huh? But what about the really intense 2005 season and Hurricane Katrina?

Further study continues to show that hurricane activity occurs in cycles of 20 to 45 years, he said. Even though the seasons of 2004, when four hurricanes bashed Florida, and 2005, when Katrina devastated New Orleans and neighboring parts of the Gulf Coast, seemed shocking, they were no more intense than some storms in the early part of the 20th century and in the 1930s, Landsea said.

The 1926-1935 period was worse for hurricanes than the past 10 years and 1900-1905 was almost as bad, he said. So it is not true that there is a trend of more and stronger hurricanes.

Wow, so living in coastal areas was more dangerous between 1926 and 1935 than now. I didn't realize that. Ok...I see that part of it, but what about all the damage and the deaths?

What makes the recent storms seem worse is the amount of damage, and that is because of the amount of people and their structures on the coast, elements that barely existed in the early 1900s.

The 1,500 people who died in Katrina probably would have lived if they had evacuated, and that is the lesson for coastal residents, Landsea said.

Ah...good point. If no one lives there and the storm hits, then there's no one to die. Same for property damage. If there's not much there, then there's not much to damage. Well, we've settled those two points. Now, how about the obvious link between Global Warming and Hurricanes.

Global warming is causing hurricanes to be stronger, but it is such a small increase it is almost immeasurable, Landsea said.

The warming will make hurricanes "5 percent stronger 100 years from now," he said. "We can't measure it if it's that small."

I didn't know that either. Only 5% in the NEXT 100 years? That's not much.

Then explain this, why do a lot of people think that the storms are getting worse and more intense? That's what I see on the news and from politicians and scientists.

Landsea said there are several reasons why many people, including prominent scientists, think that hurricanes are increasing and their intensity is increasing.

One of the major reasons is the poor records from earlier years, he said. People know what hit land, but there aren't always records available about storms that did not hit land. Not having those in the mix makes it appear that more are happening now, Landsea said.

Even after satellite recording began in 1965, there have been constant upgrades in the technology and scientists have found that even with the satellites they miss some storms, he said.

"An Inconvenient Truth," the book by former Vice President Al Gore, also persuaded some people that global warming is contributing to hurricane frequency and strength, Landsea said.

But facts that also refute the theory are that tropical storms are weakening and becoming less frequent in all oceans except the Atlantic, he said.

If the storms were caused by global warming, they would be getting worse everywhere, he said.

I guess you answered that too. Do you think there's a lot of rhetoric where real data should be? Nah...that'd make sense.

Now Playing: "Serial Sleepers" by House of Heroes

Technorati: Global Warming, hurricanes, Hurricane Season 2007

Winning On Wednesday - A Future And A Hope

I put this together for a Wednesday night Youth Group session at our church. The video is from The Potter's House out of Australia. The reason I chose this topic is because this is a hot topic for young people. However, as stress in our lives continues to grow, I believe this is also a problem that is growing among adults.

People are looking in all the wrong places for fulfillment. As a result, these same people feel overwhelmed. They don't see a future and they feel like they have no hope. But is this true? Watch the video below and then we'll go a little deeper:



What was the verse on the screen at the end of the video?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Did I read that right? God's plans for me are to give me hope and a future! God doesn't want me to be like the young lady in the video above; so, overwhelmed by OUR misery in life that WE choose to throw away the gift of life that God has given us. But what about God's for us?

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:11

We've got great news. His plans stand firm. They don't change. He doesn't look at us one day and decide, "Well, what I planned was too good for them...maybe I'll back off." or "Gee, I guess s/he can't handle that, so I'll change the plans I had laid out for their lives." He wants us to experience FREEDOM. Freedom from sin, freedom from worry, freedom from fear.

At the end of our Youth meeting tonight, I used an object lesson with our teens. I made them put on blindfolds. Then we as leaders led them into a room where there were chairs and other obstacles scattered about. We lined them up on one side of the room. I told them they had to walk across the room to my voice; BUT, they needed to be aware that there were obstacles between them and me. As you might guess, they ran into things on their way across the room. It was hard.

Then, I told them they were going to have to cross the room again. Immediately, they started complaining. I quieted them down and made my point. I told them, "The blindfold is like sin in our lives when we choose to go our own way and not follow God. We cannot see the pitfalls, barriers and obstacles in our lives." Then, just before they began to cross the room, I told them to remove their blindfolds and allow God to show them where the obstacles were. God's plan is to show us where the obstacles and pitfalls are in life if we'll just listen and follow his guidance.

Now Playing: "Open Wounds" by Skillet

Technorati: Winning On Wednesday

Facing The Giants - Another Update

It's been since mid-December since I gave an update on Facing the Giants if my memory is correct. So, what's happened since then? A lot!

The movie played in theaters until mid January 2007. The final total box office revenues that I can find is $10,178,331. Yes, you read that right. That's over 10 MILLION in Domestic box office revenue. That's right at 100 TIMES more than the production budget of roughly $100,000. That's great news, because the net proceeds will be going towards a recreational project being built by Sherwood Baptist Church for those in their community of Albany, GA. You can read some of my other posts regarding the movie to understand the background behind how this church proceeded to make this movie that has impacted so many. Just click on the "movies" label in the right hand column.

Now that the movie has left the theater, it's available on DVD. It's doing rather well. As of tonight (February 18, 2007), the movie is sitting at #18 on Amazon's best seller list. That's pretty impressive considering that the movie has been available on DVD since January 30. I can't wait to see how it does over the next few weeks and months.

This movie has such a potential to touch so MANY lives. I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you're looking for a perfectly polished Hollywood movie...go elsewhere. Those movies are made and polished so well for one thing - making money. That was NOT the intent of this film. The intent of this film was to simply and plainly show the impact that God can make in the lives of everyday people. I have read many critics that are ripping the movie for production, acting, etc, etc, etc... but, that's their job. When one takes the time to consider that the entire movie was acted by amateurs intent on sharing a message and not bringing home a paycheck, that puts things in perspective. The same thing goes for production in general.

For me personally, it was the genuineness with which the actors/actresses portrayed the story. Although their actions, speech, etc. didn't necessarily come across perfectly polished at times, whose does? That's what I liked. I could identify with the characters because they appeared as imperfect as I am. Even full of flaws, God still CHOOSES to work through us and use us.

Once again, my hat's off to the volunteers and ministers that pulled this off. May God bless you with the opportunity to make another one.

Now Playing: "Lay Down My Pride" by Jeremy Camp

Technorati: Facing The Giants

Winning On Wednesday - When Should I Be Thankful?

Wow...I didn't expect to get so bogged down this early in the year. I've been on the road continuously for about 10 days - generally for work and with little or NO sleep. I'm sorry for missing last week and being late this week.

So, you've seen the question for this week. When should I be thankful? Simply..today. Whenever today is. As you've heard me mention before, I listen to The Frequency podcast from M88. One of the DJ's challenged me with this idea that we should always be thankful for today - regardless the circumstances. This became even more real to me this week. I was traveling for work and got stuck due to severe winter weather. Ice, sleet, heavy snow, 40 mph winds, etc. The airport was closed and our flight canceled. We had to find a hotel room and rebook flights. Oh what fun!

So why should I be thankful? Because God told me to.

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

It's that simple. God made that day, no matter how miserable. He gave me the gift of waking up that morning. I should rejoice and be glad in the day He has given me and make the best of it. Believe me...that day it was hard to be happy or thankful about much of anything. Then I remembered, I was alive (even after driving in miserable conditions), I had a warm place to sleep (finally found a hotel room), and we found a decent flight the next day.

Life is good...I have to remember that.

Now Playing: "Lay Down My Pride" by Jeremy Camp

Technorati: Winning On Wednesday

I Guess They'll Have to Reschedule...

Wow. It's been 10 days since I last posted anything! That's what work related travel will do to you I guess. I was at our first trade show of the year last week, then gone over the weekend and now I'm stuck in Indianapolis on a business trip due to snow. We almost got stuck where we were staying last night, but we barely made it back to Indianapolis just to learn that our flight was canceled and the airport was closed. Anyway, we're in a hotel with hopes that our reservations for an 8:40 AM flight hold true....but based on what I'm seeing outside my window, I doubt it. But I digress.

If you've read my blog a good bit, you know that Global Warming is one of my favorite topics. I couldn't help posting this. If the link changes, I've included the full text:

HOUSE HEARING ON 'WARMING OF THE PLANET' CANCELED AFTER SNOW/ICE STORM
HEARING NOTICE
Tue Feb 13 2007 19:31:25 ET

The Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building has been postponed due to inclement weather. The hearing is entitled “Climate Change: Are Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Human Activities Contributing to a Warming of the Planet?”

The hearing will be rescheduled to a date and time to be announced later.

DC WEATHER REPORT:

Wednesday: Freezing rain in the morning...then a chance of snow in the afternoon. Ice accumulation of less than one quarter of an inch. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds around 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows around 18. Northwest winds around 20 mph.

Maybe next meeting...

Now Playing: "Who Got The Meaning" by The Elms

Technorati: Global Warming

How Many of Me Are There?

Chris had this on his blog. I thought it was pretty cool, so I thought I'd try it.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 603 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

There goes that sense of feeling unique...oh well.

Now Playing: "Big Enough" by Ayeisha Woods

Technorati: surname

Winning on Wednesday - A Different Perspective

Sorry this is late. This week has been a whirlwind.

This week's post actually comes from a pretty popular Christian music artist. I listen to a weekly podcast from M88 called The Frequency Podcast. It's a really good show where the DJ's from the station review new releases, movies, video games, conduct artist interviews and provide a biblical challenge. There's a link over on the right.

I've been trying to catch up on some of the episodes from 2006 that I didn't get a chance to listen to. In one of the episodes, they interviewed Jeremy Camp, with whom you may be familiar. If you're not familiar with his Christian testimony, it's quite interesting. He lost his wife to cancer. That has given him a very different perspective on life. During his interview he inspired me with a different take on a very familiar passage of scripture.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

Jeremy was talking about how hard it is to deal with losing someone you love. How do you make sense of it? Most of the time we just don't understand why these things happen. Jeremy didn't understand why his wife had to die. He pointed out how we dwell on the future. How we're going to deal with holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. He went on to say that the verse above took on new meaning for him. Here's how he broke it down.

The verse is talking about the Bible. God's Word for us is like a lamp to our feet. A lamp doesn't put out a lot of light. It is meant to illuminate just where we are. His Word is also like a light to our path. This light shows us the next few steps. It is not a floodlight, shining toward every event in our future. Both cases are near term. God is there to show us what to do today and provide the guidance to step towards tomorrow. If, we're willing to listen.

Jesus confirmed this:

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:28-34

I am guilty of dwelling on all the "what ifs?". What if I just listen to God and follow His leading.

Now Playing: "Shine On" by Need to Breathe

Technorati: Winning on Wednesday, God, Jesus