Golf has always been a gentleman’s game, embodying the best in manners and fair play. Not so anymore. The 2008 Ryder Cup, the 37th renewal of what began as a friendly sporting competition among professional golfers from Great Britain and America, seems now less golf than field hockey.
On a golf course set up more for amateurs than the world’s best players [the better to begat crowd pleasing birdies] with flag waving, face painted crowds and fist pumping, caterwauling players, this year’s event has surrendered all pretense to sportsmanship. It's one thing to pull for your team and teammates, quite another to incite the home crowd while your opponent has golf yet to play. American captain Paul Azinger established a Ryder Cup bottom when he urged the partisan, Kentucky, crowd to cheer when the Euros miss a shot or putt. Citing such behavior by European fans he recommends boorishness as the answer to boorishness 'Zinger’s attitude is more appropriate in the poolroom or bowling alley than on the golf course.
There has been a huge push in America to democratize golf. This has manifested itself in media glorification of public courses, drunken, rowdy fans and poorly behaved players. Unfortunately the effort to bring golf to the common man has brought instead the common man to golf. Can "full contact" golf be far behind? Stay tuned.
History Making?
Pundits of both right and left characterize the presidential election of 2008 as history making. Only if Barack Obama wins the presidency and carries with him a filibuster proof majority in the Senate will Obama v McCain be truly historic - and then only that it will speed up political processes already underway.
America began a descent into socialism in 1912 when Teddy Roosevelt rent the GOP by forming the Bull Moose Party which permitted the election of progressive Woodrow Wilson. The 16th Amendment a soak-the-rich measure adopted in 1913 allowing a tax on incomes, released a constantly increasing source of funds for an ever-expanding federal government. The Great Depression and WWII accelerated this trend, Franklin Roosevelt and The New Deal ushering in the modern welfare state. The post war period saw a rapid increase in federal subsidies to diverse recipients. Washington's growth continued to spiral through the 1970's as more and more free citizens became wards of the state. The Reagan Revolution offered hope that this inexorable drift into semi-marxism might be reversed. However the Bushes, Elder and Younger, betrayed their legacy, squandering every gain made under Ronaldus Magnus leaving us in the current miasma.
The optimism of talk radio and those who confess a confidence in the American people to reject statism is unfortunately misplaced. The average American is ill educated, totally lacking in understanding of complex political ideas, self-seeking and interested more in barring another's success than in achieving his own. This condition is getting worse rather than better. This sort of electorate is the natural constituency of the socialist. Fed by a leftist popular media willing to openly promote fear and class warfare this storm surge of collectivism is unlikely to be checked absent a taxpayer revolt. Conservatives, here as always and everywhere, are fighting a rear guard action. Our children and grandchildren will likely have to be more aggressive if they are to maintain any freedoms at all.
America began a descent into socialism in 1912 when Teddy Roosevelt rent the GOP by forming the Bull Moose Party which permitted the election of progressive Woodrow Wilson. The 16th Amendment a soak-the-rich measure adopted in 1913 allowing a tax on incomes, released a constantly increasing source of funds for an ever-expanding federal government. The Great Depression and WWII accelerated this trend, Franklin Roosevelt and The New Deal ushering in the modern welfare state. The post war period saw a rapid increase in federal subsidies to diverse recipients. Washington's growth continued to spiral through the 1970's as more and more free citizens became wards of the state. The Reagan Revolution offered hope that this inexorable drift into semi-marxism might be reversed. However the Bushes, Elder and Younger, betrayed their legacy, squandering every gain made under Ronaldus Magnus leaving us in the current miasma.
The optimism of talk radio and those who confess a confidence in the American people to reject statism is unfortunately misplaced. The average American is ill educated, totally lacking in understanding of complex political ideas, self-seeking and interested more in barring another's success than in achieving his own. This condition is getting worse rather than better. This sort of electorate is the natural constituency of the socialist. Fed by a leftist popular media willing to openly promote fear and class warfare this storm surge of collectivism is unlikely to be checked absent a taxpayer revolt. Conservatives, here as always and everywhere, are fighting a rear guard action. Our children and grandchildren will likely have to be more aggressive if they are to maintain any freedoms at all.
Financial Crisis
Only one thing can happen when you give armies of Ivy League MBA's lighntning fast computers and access to other peoples money - a financial crisis. As Lehman Brothers follows Bear Stearns, Freddie and Fannie Mae into the tank it is frightening to know the same crooks and knaves that created the meltdown are charged with undoing it.
Of Liars, Obamadens and Poltroons
A woman successfully keeps a household of 4 or 5 children while advancing from small town mayor to governor. A triumph for women every where! Not among the rats and slithering things that make up the left leaning media and the Democrat Party.
Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska and GOP Vice President nominee is being scurrilously vilified by The New York Times, NBC, MSNBC and other supposedly legitimate news organization, not to mention the sewer slime of moveon.org and The Daily Kos. "Can she handle the job and her new downs-syndrome baby"? "What kind of mother is she"? "what about that DUI her husband got"? [22 years ago]. "Her 17 year old daughter is pregnant out of wedlock" they sneer [although she is engaged to the father]. "Too inexperienced" they snicker on and on and on. There must be something wrong with this woman the rest of us are not privy to.
There is something wrong with her, something awful. She is not a Democrat or member of the abortion caucus. Remember Clarence Thomas? One would have thought his heroic rise from abject nothingness to Supreme Court Justice would have been universally celebrated - especially in the black community. Thomas, however was "lynched" by the Negro-Liberal Combine. Of course Justice Thomas is a Republican. You see the racialists, hacks "journalists"and other cretins of the left cannot bear a successful woman or black or any other member of a "victim class" whom it does not own. To do so would be to admit that one can succeed without mother government's help. Such an outcome of course would diminish the endless whine that life in America is too mean and hard unless the state gives you some advantage it has taken from some other hapless schmoo.
These Marxist poltroons want your car, your home, your money and your life. Oblivious of the historical fact that collectivism's only products are corruption, poverty, fear and torture, they will stop at nothing to make us all comrades. Real people are appalled by the egregious abuse heaped on Justice Thomas and Governor Palin. They question how decent people could behave in this manner. Everyday people just can't grasp that the Andrea Mitchells and Keith Olbermans of this world are not decent people. They are true believers in socialism who think their intentions are morally pure and thus they are exempt from behaving morally. They will spare no principle in the effort to convince a majority of the collective knaves, fools and aforementioned schmoos of this country that the Obamadens alone can and will service each and every want they can imagine, and that the dastardly "rich" will pay for it.
We can expect only more of the same from these malefactors. Look for them to trot out an endless number of women to tell other women that this Palin woman is not really a woman. One can only hope that Gov. Palin is as tough as she is described and that she counter attacks without mercy or compromise. If she does she will like Clarence Thomas, achieve the position for which she is nominated.
Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska and GOP Vice President nominee is being scurrilously vilified by The New York Times, NBC, MSNBC and other supposedly legitimate news organization, not to mention the sewer slime of moveon.org and The Daily Kos. "Can she handle the job and her new downs-syndrome baby"? "What kind of mother is she"? "what about that DUI her husband got"? [22 years ago]. "Her 17 year old daughter is pregnant out of wedlock" they sneer [although she is engaged to the father]. "Too inexperienced" they snicker on and on and on. There must be something wrong with this woman the rest of us are not privy to.
There is something wrong with her, something awful. She is not a Democrat or member of the abortion caucus. Remember Clarence Thomas? One would have thought his heroic rise from abject nothingness to Supreme Court Justice would have been universally celebrated - especially in the black community. Thomas, however was "lynched" by the Negro-Liberal Combine. Of course Justice Thomas is a Republican. You see the racialists, hacks "journalists"and other cretins of the left cannot bear a successful woman or black or any other member of a "victim class" whom it does not own. To do so would be to admit that one can succeed without mother government's help. Such an outcome of course would diminish the endless whine that life in America is too mean and hard unless the state gives you some advantage it has taken from some other hapless schmoo.
These Marxist poltroons want your car, your home, your money and your life. Oblivious of the historical fact that collectivism's only products are corruption, poverty, fear and torture, they will stop at nothing to make us all comrades. Real people are appalled by the egregious abuse heaped on Justice Thomas and Governor Palin. They question how decent people could behave in this manner. Everyday people just can't grasp that the Andrea Mitchells and Keith Olbermans of this world are not decent people. They are true believers in socialism who think their intentions are morally pure and thus they are exempt from behaving morally. They will spare no principle in the effort to convince a majority of the collective knaves, fools and aforementioned schmoos of this country that the Obamadens alone can and will service each and every want they can imagine, and that the dastardly "rich" will pay for it.
We can expect only more of the same from these malefactors. Look for them to trot out an endless number of women to tell other women that this Palin woman is not really a woman. One can only hope that Gov. Palin is as tough as she is described and that she counter attacks without mercy or compromise. If she does she will like Clarence Thomas, achieve the position for which she is nominated.
Does What I Wear To Church Matter to God
Jesus called his disciples to come as they were. He dined with crooks, thugs and prostitutes. An itinerate rabbi who gave most of his homilies outdoors and off the cuff, I doubt seriously He cared what one wore while listening to The Sermon on The Mount. On this basis most 21st Century, evangelical, Christians take the position that what one wears to Sunday Worship is unimportant. Formality is in the norm, considered elitist, old fashioned or silly at best.
A deeper look might prove this majority opinion to be in error. In the book of Exodus, after God gives Moses the Law, He sets forth in elaborate and minute detail, the specifications for The Ark in which the tablets were to be carried and the Tabernacle which was to house The Ark. In Chapter 38-40, The Almighty describes down to width and color, the thread to be used in the priest's garments [only the High Priest was permitted to come into the presence of The Most High]. Clearly, God here cares deeply about the way in which He is worshiped and the manner of clothing worn. When Jesus entered Jerusalem and began to teach in the Temple it would be foolish to think He did not present Himself in his finest robes. To do otherwise would have been an affront to the dignity of the Temple and His Father in Heaven.
America has become a laid-back nation. Casual Friday has become dress-down Tuesday, sloppy Thursday and slovenly Saturday. In our youth conscious, antinomian culture, attention to form and detail in dress is seen as snobbish or eccentric. School teachers resemble their students and druggists and doctors have abandoned the white lab coat. Tradesmen and artisans who once dressed in starched blue or khaki uniforms now come to your home in wife beater tee shirts and cut off jeans. It seems as if only bankers, lawyers and high government officials - and a few Ministers of The Gospel - can be regularly found in tailored clothing. Nowadays we are all one in unpretentious, familiarity.
Again sadly, The Church has let itself be defined by the world. Finding slapdash dress acceptable in the schoolhouse and the workplace, The Church has surrendered its own sanctity by embracing the relaxed style of dressing for worship attendance. “After all”, we say “God doesn’t care what one wears when he comes, only that he come”. Further we don’t want to put off unbelievers or appear “better than”. The reality is we find it easier to throw on a golf shirt and khakis and slap shorts and flip-flops on the kids than bother with neckties, dress socks, shoes, trousers and jackets.
Unfortunately there is an inconvenient truth for our nonchalant worshipers. It does matter what you wear to Sunday services. It matters to the world of unbelievers and most of all it matters to God. Those in the First Century who came to hear Jesus were did not understand they were in the presence of The Son of God. He kept His Deity a carefully guarded secret until late in his ministry. Even The 12 were not advised of His true identity until very near the end. In the world of Second Temple Judaism, this Jesus was the son of man.
Not so today. Christians go to The Lord’s House on The Lord’s Day. These titles are not merely pious sounding names. They are the titles of God, of our Savior. When we enter the church building we step inside the earthly house of The Great I AM. Sunday is not just the day of Jesus the dusty rabbi but of Christ, The King of Kings, The Lamb worthy to receive glory and honor. Casual dress is explicitly familiar. Familiarity does not beget reverence. In what way does coming into His presence dressed as if for a cookout bring honor and glory to The Risen Christ? Is it in the coming alone? If believers don’t respect their Savior and Sovereign enough to enter His courts in dignified apparel why should we expect unbelievers to hold Him other than in contempt? Why should our children accept the authority of a God not worthy of dressing up for?
I am not suggesting that one needs to wear expensive or sophisticated clothing to church in order to properly honor God – only that it be serious and dignified. For those who don’t know what serious and dignified attire is, I offer this question as an example. If your family [including your children] were invited to dine at The White House with The President and First Lady, what would you wear? How would you clothe the children? Is communing with God Almighty, in His House less important?
A deeper look might prove this majority opinion to be in error. In the book of Exodus, after God gives Moses the Law, He sets forth in elaborate and minute detail, the specifications for The Ark in which the tablets were to be carried and the Tabernacle which was to house The Ark. In Chapter 38-40, The Almighty describes down to width and color, the thread to be used in the priest's garments [only the High Priest was permitted to come into the presence of The Most High]. Clearly, God here cares deeply about the way in which He is worshiped and the manner of clothing worn. When Jesus entered Jerusalem and began to teach in the Temple it would be foolish to think He did not present Himself in his finest robes. To do otherwise would have been an affront to the dignity of the Temple and His Father in Heaven.
America has become a laid-back nation. Casual Friday has become dress-down Tuesday, sloppy Thursday and slovenly Saturday. In our youth conscious, antinomian culture, attention to form and detail in dress is seen as snobbish or eccentric. School teachers resemble their students and druggists and doctors have abandoned the white lab coat. Tradesmen and artisans who once dressed in starched blue or khaki uniforms now come to your home in wife beater tee shirts and cut off jeans. It seems as if only bankers, lawyers and high government officials - and a few Ministers of The Gospel - can be regularly found in tailored clothing. Nowadays we are all one in unpretentious, familiarity.
Again sadly, The Church has let itself be defined by the world. Finding slapdash dress acceptable in the schoolhouse and the workplace, The Church has surrendered its own sanctity by embracing the relaxed style of dressing for worship attendance. “After all”, we say “God doesn’t care what one wears when he comes, only that he come”. Further we don’t want to put off unbelievers or appear “better than”. The reality is we find it easier to throw on a golf shirt and khakis and slap shorts and flip-flops on the kids than bother with neckties, dress socks, shoes, trousers and jackets.
Unfortunately there is an inconvenient truth for our nonchalant worshipers. It does matter what you wear to Sunday services. It matters to the world of unbelievers and most of all it matters to God. Those in the First Century who came to hear Jesus were did not understand they were in the presence of The Son of God. He kept His Deity a carefully guarded secret until late in his ministry. Even The 12 were not advised of His true identity until very near the end. In the world of Second Temple Judaism, this Jesus was the son of man.
Not so today. Christians go to The Lord’s House on The Lord’s Day. These titles are not merely pious sounding names. They are the titles of God, of our Savior. When we enter the church building we step inside the earthly house of The Great I AM. Sunday is not just the day of Jesus the dusty rabbi but of Christ, The King of Kings, The Lamb worthy to receive glory and honor. Casual dress is explicitly familiar. Familiarity does not beget reverence. In what way does coming into His presence dressed as if for a cookout bring honor and glory to The Risen Christ? Is it in the coming alone? If believers don’t respect their Savior and Sovereign enough to enter His courts in dignified apparel why should we expect unbelievers to hold Him other than in contempt? Why should our children accept the authority of a God not worthy of dressing up for?
I am not suggesting that one needs to wear expensive or sophisticated clothing to church in order to properly honor God – only that it be serious and dignified. For those who don’t know what serious and dignified attire is, I offer this question as an example. If your family [including your children] were invited to dine at The White House with The President and First Lady, what would you wear? How would you clothe the children? Is communing with God Almighty, in His House less important?
Time of The Season no. 14
The selection of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate is a brilliant political stroke. Palin's nomination completely washed out Obama! Live at The Apollo and reduced the Democratic Convention "bump" to near zero. More on Palin later.
Think About it.
Among men, everywhere and always, right and wrong is determined by who has the biggest gun [or club]. Democracy is merely a bloodless way to establish who gets to hold the heater.
Among Democrats the greatest woman is she who can manage career, children and home. Sarah Palin, however, the Republican VP candidate is being criticized by the Obamadens for dividing her time between campaigning and caring for her recently born child.
Leftist filmaker Michael Moore thought it a good thing that New Orleans might be once more inundated [by Hurricane Gustav] so that the GOP Convention is disrupted.
Among Democrats the greatest woman is she who can manage career, children and home. Sarah Palin, however, the Republican VP candidate is being criticized by the Obamadens for dividing her time between campaigning and caring for her recently born child.
Leftist filmaker Michael Moore thought it a good thing that New Orleans might be once more inundated [by Hurricane Gustav] so that the GOP Convention is disrupted.
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