Cameron gives UK glimmer of hope for change

Even though all eyes are currently on the impending US election, I hope it will not be too long before the Brits have the task of electing a new Government. Although Tony Blair was a staunch American ally in the war on terror, for which we are all grateful, the incursion of the 'Nanny' state into all of British society has definitely been detrimental and has frustrated a large sector of the British populace.
It is time to rein back some of the influence of big government and this seems to be something that David Cameron is willing to do. Also, it is reassuring that, after some time, the Conservative party leadership is willing to acknowledge the immense impact of the Thatcher years and honor her forthright and principled (though sometimes heavy-handed) leadership.

Click on the title to read Cameron's address to the Conservative Party conference in full

Guess who the democratic attack dogs are now?

It seems like the broadcast media is so in the tank for the Democratic party that in order to get any exposure at all, the Republican ticket has to endure the biased vitriol of Barbara Walters, Whoopi and Joy Behar and even the pit bull tactics of a previously benign Charlie Gibson, in order to reach any mainstream audience. Compare that with the worship of Senator Obama on programs like "The View" and you quickly see that this upcoming election is never going to be played on a level playing field.
Olberman and Matthews aren't the only ones betraying their bias...

Think before you write

Thanks to some quick work by another blogger, my previous post about Sarah Palin which contained some factual inaccuracies was alerted. My mother always said it was better to think before you speak. In the same way, it is better to think before you write. Every day there emerges new information about the Republican Vice-presidential nominee. Some of it is factual – most of it unverified. I will be more circumspect in future.

However, my excitement about her candidacy remains. Just today Lee Grady posted a commentary where he talks about her in relationship to the role of Deborah in the Old testament. It is worth reading at http://fireinmybones.com/

Amazing turn of events - What a week!

Two momentous things happened this week. An unknown female governor of an oft-forgotten State was suddenly elevated, even catapulted, into prominence as Senator John McCain's VP running mate AND in a forgotten war, ANBAR province was handed over to Iraqi control. (See Chuck Holton's article at https://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/438057.aspx )
I believe both these events are related in the sense that they are both results of intercession.
Today I received this from a trusted friend:
The e-mail originates from Chuck Pierce and references Dutch Sheets - both respected voices in the Prophetic Intercession movement:

CHUCK PIERCE


I believe you are aware that Dutch was used by the Lord to call prayer
before the 2000 Bush election that was so close. He said this morning that
this election is perhaps even more critical than 2000 because of the Supreme
Court. If the right political posture is not elected, we stand to lose
decades of progress and the repurcutions are enormous. Last year Chuck
Pierce and Greg Hood (both prophets) prophecied that in 2008 we are not
electing a president but the vice president. Dutch said he could get no
release in his heart to back Huckaby even though pressured by many in the
body of Christ. Huckaby is a good man and a strong believer, but he was not
God's choice. Dutch also told us that he knows a man who gave McCain a
prophetic word that McCain had made a vow to God when he was at the bottom
during his POW days and now God was calling in that vow. McCain was visibly
moved by this word.

Dutch was traveling to Texas on Friday and when he landed in the airport,
his wife called and told him to get to the TV asap. He watched McCain
introduce Governor Palin and said he began to weep, even though he knew
nothing about her. (I experienced the very same thing and we have had
reports of many others including Newt Gingrich.) He asked what the
significance of this 44-year-old woman was and he saw the clock said 4:44.
He asked the Lord what that was and the Lord said, 'Ezekiel 44:4.' 'He
brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked,
and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD; and I fell
on my face. NKJV North gate representing Alaska .

A few years ago Dutch and Chuck Pierce went on a 50-state tour prophecying
over the state their part in God's purposes for the U.S. At the meeting in
Texas that evening Dutch was relaying his experience about the Governor to
Chuck who said, 'Do you remember what the word was the Lord gave us for
Alaska ?' The Lord had shown them that Alaska is the alpha and omega state.
It is the place where things begin and end.

You may realize that some of the Alaskan islands are on the other side of
the Dateline meaning that the day begins and ends in Alaska . The Lord said
that Alaska is a gateway for the Ancient of Days to come into the nation .
The Lord told Dutch (back in Alaska ) to tell the people of Alaska to look
forward into their destiny. Alaska has a assignment to open doors and a
place where prophets and intercessors were trained. It turns out that the
Govenor who was raised in a Pentecostal Church , according to our newspaper,
founded the prayer movement in Alaska .

We will be having the last of our 90 days beginning in a major gathering
Sept 11th. The significance of this is that Chuck Pierce had prophecied that
there would be 7 years of war and Sept 11 marks the end of that time and the
entering of the 8th year. Someone said that 44 = 4+4 or 8.
Dutch asked why he and Chuck were in Texas for this announcement and the
Lord reminded him that the word for Texas was that it is a prophetic state -
that the Lord's purpose for Texas is this prophetic function.

Dutch then decreed she will enter the White House. Now, if you don't know
him, he is cautious, has his feet on the ground, and never goes of 'half
cocked' when it comes to prophecy. He said that he believes as of Friday the
U.S. has come into a new level of alignment wilth the Lord and His purposes.
By the way, the Governor will be the 44th Vice President. He continued to
declare that she will be the Margaret Thatcher of America including that she
would be President one day. Many other things came forth. I literally
thought I would explode because the Lord had shown me many of these same
things yesterday.
I believe we especially need to rally prayer for the family and children of
the Governor. They will be targeted by the enemy and I believe we need
special prayer for the oldest daughter. Please take this seriously in your
prayers.


Alaska
When the Lord said in Seattle to go to the Northern Gate, we had no idea why
that was so very important. However, by the Spirit, I knew that Robert and
Linda Heidler were to go with Mary Glazier, a key Apostolic leader in
Alaska, who will be with us at Head of the Year. One cannot invest money
like that without hearing the Lord. We felt we were to spiritually open the
north gate because we felt Alaska would play a pivotal role in the year
ahead. We are now seeing that play out with the appointment of Sarah Palin
in as the Vice Presidential running mate for John McCain on the Republican
campaign. Dutch Sheets and I are now in Waco with a group of intercessors
praying concerning the upcoming elections.

Grand Slam for McCain!

John McCain's choice for Vice-President has effectively taken the wind out of the sails of the Obama campaign. Less than 24 hours after Barack Obama's historic and impressive speech at Invesco Field in front of 80,000 thrilled supporters, John McCain managed a grand slam of his own in naming Sarah Palin, his running mate. She is clearly pro life, clearly pro business, clearly non-Washington and EXTREMELY attractive! So if Election 2008 was in danger of becoming a beauty contest - it just went to a whole new level - with Miss Congeniality no less!!
This now makes the Republican Convention no less compelling than the Democrat one.

Where did the decathalon go?

"I'd love for this to be a spark for the decathlon," said Clay, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, "and bring it back to the forefront."

While I certainly enjoyed Michael Phelps' extraordinary feat, and marveled at Usain Bolt's incredible domination of the sprints, I have to confess that I have been wondering, 'What happened to the Decathalon?'
For as long as I have been watching Olympics, I have always considered the Decathalon, the zenith of athletics. Names like, Rafer Johnson, Bruce Jenner, Daley Thompson and Dan O'Brien, have epitomized the super human Olympian. This time, the USA had Bryan Clay trying to improve on his silver gained in Athens and he was nowhere to be found on NBC. We saw BMX bikes, diving prelims, Water polo and endless interviews with Beach Volleyball players....Bryan Clay won Gold and we weren't able to watch! It was a travesty...just the occasional snippet of news, even the internet was no better. We even had endless analysis of baton handling. Give Bryan Clay his due... he is the true star of Beijing!

Todd Bentley update

LAKELAND | Evangelist Todd Bentley, who led a months-long faith-healing revival that attracted thousands and worldwide attention, had “an unhealthy relationship” with a female staff member during the revival, it was announced Friday by the board of his organization, Fresh Fire Ministries of Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The announcement, a statement posted on the Web site of Fresh Fire (www.freshfire.ca), said the board had discovered Bentley “has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.”

What is , "an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member"?

It is adultery in spirit as if in fact. This apparently has happened more than once.
I know that people have drawn comparisons between Todd Bentley and Samson ( ridiculous!!) but I wonder if people will finally stop putting ministers on a pedestal and start focusing on God and God alone.
Having said that, I still believe that many have been touched by outpourings such as the Lakeland one. I pray that those, who upon hearing the news, are ready to dismiss the move of God, will keep on believing the message even if the messenger is flawed.

Lee hits the nail on the head! ( as usual)

"To put it bluntly, we’re just plain gullible."

In those words Lee Grady sums up the view of many, I'm sure, with the news that not only has Todd Bentley left the Lakeland revival but then shortly afterward, announced that he and his wife Shonna were separating. While the circumstances surrounding the separation are not known, what is apparent is that many thousands of people and even respected leaders, seemed to uncritically endorse a revival that had certain questionable manifestations associated with it.
That in itself should once again bring into question the American pre-deliction for cults of personality, when 'moves of God' seem inextricably linked to one name.

Grady is right to call the Body of Christ to account, just as he is right to say:
"We are weathering an unprecedented season of moral failure and spiritual compromise in our nation today. I urge everyone in the charismatic world to pray for Bentley; his wife, Shonnah; his three young children; Bentley’s ministry staff; and the men and women who serve as his counselors and advisers. Let’s pray that God will turn this embarrassing debacle into an opportunity for miraculous restoration."

he is also correct in his assertion that, "...God desires to visit our nation in supernatural power. I know He wants to heal multitudes, and I will continue praying for a healing revival to sweep across the United States. But we must contend for the genuine, not an imitation. True revival will be accompanied by brokenness, humility, reverence and repentance—not the arrogance, showmanship and empty hype that often was on display in Lakeland."

AMEN

A Deafening Silence except for the thundering sound of unanswered questions...

"While many questions remain unanswered regarding John Edwards' affair with a woman he hired to produce videos of him, some Democrats are already writing off the impact of the news.

Edwards, who admitted on Friday that he had an affair with Reille Hunter after meeting her in a New York bar, insists he is not the father of Hunter's baby, Frances Quinn. A former Edwards staffer, Andrew Young, took responsibility for the child though no name for the father appears on the birth certificate."

This story is not done yet and Senator Edwards who suggested the fact that his wife's cancer was in remission as a mitigating factor, is digging a hole that even the silent Democratic party will not be able to fail to fall into. Someone ask Barack what he thinks.....

Jon Voight Sounds Off

Hats off to Jon Voight for speaking his mind in an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Times. In this politically correct world, he voices some real concerns about the upcoming presidential election as well as the misguided focus of many on the left wing who fail to see the long-term implications of their liberal extravagances.
Click on the link and check out his article:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/

Two Americas Indeed!

I don't know if this is a spoof or not but I love this cover. Hypocrisy is alive and well in America. At the same time the LA times have instructed their reporters not to blog about the Edwards story because it originated in the National Enquirer. Funny, they didn't have the same reservation when there was innuendo about John McCain's alleged dalliance with a female lobbyist......hmmmn

Edwards in hot water

New reports are saying that Senator John Edwards, he of the youthful smile and $100 haircuts, has fathered a baby out of wedlock (I love that word!...) and ran into a host of photographers at the a Beverly Hills hotel as he was meeting with mistress and baby...
As you may recall, his wife Elizabeth is battling breast cancer. What does this remind us? Being photogenic is no mark of character... and voicing an issue ( poverty...two americas...) is all well and good, but a man who disrespects his wife in such a way does not deserve even an ounce of reportage and even less respect himself - he is , as they say in England...A CAD!!
Senator Obama - beware!

The Futility Continues

Rumors of an orchestrated war continue. Ohlmert is determined to pursue a course that will lead to the disintigration of Israel from within. He makes concessions that bring no tangible benefit to Israel, but only seem to fuel Hamas and Hezbollah with the notion that Israel is too weak to maintain its borders and lacks the political will to ensure its security without appeasing those who openly seek its destruction.
Two bodies in exchange for re-invigorating the enemy - what a deal! Who has the political and moral backbone to stand up and defend Israel?

Tony Snow

I along with many others were saddened to hear of the passing of Tony Snow. Always refreshingly authentic on camera, Tony made cable news palatable for me. His personal warmth was only exceeded by his obvious comprehension of the world both temporal and spiritual. I can still recall his tear choked tribute at the end of Fox News Sunday. He was endearing and will be greatly missed. What greater tribute than to hear two presidents call him a good man.

I'm on vacation and theoretically that means I can choose what I would like to do....
And so I have chosen to spend a little time recording some new songs!
Tonight I have almost completed the track for a song called "The Birds are singing His praise" (yeah it's a little long.....) Will update later.

'Toine in Memphis - answer to prayer!

Overnight a trade brought MY favorite NBA player to Memphis! That my friends , is an answer to prayer! Now Antoine Walker may have seen his best days, but he did win a championship ring with the Heat two seasons ago. He can still play and he's always played well in Memphis. I'm orderin' tickets!!

A nostalgic trip

A pleasant evening of relaxation means a good movie and a bowl of ice-cream.
" The Princess Bride" was the first date movie I took Allison to. It has remained a beloved treasure. I recently purchased the DVD and viewed it this evening. Watching it again was like becoming reacquainted with an old friend. Maybe it's time for you to be re-introduced to a favorite movie once again,,,,

Maybe he listens to Lil' Wayne?

The men arrested in the slayings of an aspiring Christian singer and his colleague at a Texas recording studio said in a chilling jailhouse interview the victims were killed at random in a robbery that netted only $2.

Cousins James Broadnax and Demarius Dwight Cummings, both 19, face capital murder charges in the deaths of singer Matthew Butler, a father of two, and Stephen Swan, his employee, outside Butler's Christian recording studio, Zion Gate Records in Garland, Texas.

Broadnax and Cummings, speaking to MyFOXDFW.com from the Dallas County Jail, told the station of their plans to rob somebody the night of June 18. They traveled by train from Dallas to the suburb of Garland because "that's where all the rich white folks stay at," Broadnax said.

Their targets turned out to be Butler, 28, and Swan, 26.

"I made sure they was dead," Broadnax told MyFOXDFW.com

His voice wavering, Broadnax recounted in blood-curdling detail how he shot the men to death in a parking lot outside the recording studio after Cummings asked for a cigarette.

"I just blanked the f--- out," Broadnax said. "I shot him [Butler] and he stumbled back. I shot the driver [Swan]. He hit the ground, you know what I'm saying, but he leaned up like he was going to try to get back up, so I shot him in the head.

"Then his homeboy, I shot his a-- again, you know what I'm saying, but he was still trying to run off," he continued. "I knew he was going to die anyway, but just to make sure — pop, pop."

Broadnax said he shot Butler twice in the head.

I have seen too much evidence of young men both black and white who have appeared to have grown up without a conscience. No remorse - hardened by life and hardened to life. They embrace the notion of 'gangsta' - and unfortunately unlike Lil' Wayne (see previous post) are never going to live to brag about their rise to fame!

An afternoon w/ Lil' Wayne

I promised my eldest son that I would listen to the latest Cd by Rapper Lil' Wayne before I dismissed his lack of judgement. So with headphones on I settled down (!) for a 77 minute joyride in the presence of "the greatest rapper of his generation".
Without being unduly unkind - there was some definite skill in wordplay demonstrated throughout. There was the presence of commercial and annoyingly good backbeats and samples. "Lollipop" is an insiduous track that slides into the subconcious before you fully realize the overt oral sexual overtones.
Of course I was listening to the 'unclean' version - and therein lies a problem. How clever a wordsmith do you have to be to use f*@# or m-F or b**tch a thousand times - I can get a dose of that everyweek in my Jail GED class - unfortunately many young black males live in a distorted "WAYNE'S WORLD" but without the bling and the arrogant self promotion.
I wish my son had been exposed to REAL afro-american writing and poetry from the likes of James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and even Gil Scott-Heron before he rose to acclaim Mr Carter as a great poet.
I wish that I could say that my afternoon with Lil' Wayne had a redemptive purpose or an educational, uplifting outcome. Instead I was left with the impression that he is symptomatic of a problem, not an attempt to be a solution, to the plight of the oppressed minorities, whether racially or economically. I am looking for a voice to arise out of the urban landscape that not only speaks truth to power but does it in a way that brings life! Up to this point there has only been one in my lifetime - Martin Luther King, and there is only one who can truly set people free by his word and that is Jesus Christ!

John Thornton - One of the 'Good" Bengals!

I am a long time Cincinnati Bengals fan, though I have been both frustrated and disappointed over the years at some of the attitudes and actions of the team. How refreshing to be reminded of the good that continues through the likes of John Thornton. His off the field activities have truly made a difference in the greater community and it's good for THAT story to be told, instead of news of another arrest, suspension or whiny hold-out by ocho cinco

The Pastor who wouldn't leave....

The Reverend Jeremiah Wright continues to make news as he conducts a media tour that surely has the Obama campaign in a 'tizz'. Rather than pouring oil on troubled waters, Barack Obama's former Pastor has put fuel to the fire of controversy in a way that is hard to fathom, if indeed, he is supportive of his protogee's run for the White House. Which leads me to wonder whether there is an overwhelming ego issue behind these latest moves. When a popular preacher steps out of the pulpit, a large part of their identity leaves with them. Charismatic personalities can be quite insecure when separated from their audience and whether Jeremiah Wright can ever truly retire is at question. Needless to say, his addiction for attention might render Barack Obama's election quest null and void. On the other hand, he might unwittingly be exposing the politicized black church to attention it really doesn't need, which would have political ramifications far beyond the 2008 race for the White House.

Return to Devotion

Acts 2:42 (NRSV) They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Talk to people about church these days and they will talk about the music program, the youth program, the preacher and sundry other related topics but rarely do they mention 'devotion'. It's a word that means “Ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle” or “Religious ardor or zeal; piety.” It's a ancient demonstration of religious life that has sadly fallen from use and favor in a world run by clock and schedule. We have a 'busy' religion as if 'busy' makes us better or at very least, less likely to sin!
The early church was much more organic in nature and simpler in practice. It maintained its life by merely focusing on the kernel of the Gospel, proclaimed by the witnesses of it. By hanging with those who possessed the genuine life of Christ, they sustained their own. We on the other hand seem to run from fellowship rather than embrace it, maybe afraid to let our lives be seen in the light of His true Body – the Church.
The breaking of the bread, of course, spoke of the practice of remembering Christ's death in what became the Eucharist, but it also spoke of community fashioned by those willing to sit down together at the same table. The prayers of the saints together further established and fostered that sense of one body, sharing in the one bread and together liturgizing before the Father, letting their requests be made known – I doubt there was such a thing as an 'unspoken ' request in those days!
Which brings me to my central point – that of a move towards simplification. I have a desire to strip away those things that are merely accepted practice, but maybe non-essential in our effort to see God's Kingdom come. You see, the passage from Acts goes on to remind us that during this time, people were being added 'daily' to this wonderful entity called the 'church'. Unfortunately as I look around, I rarely see signs of that kind of growth. Even more striking is the number of people who are exiting the church, for various reasons – one of the main one's being its lack of relevance and responsiveness to people's everyday lives.
Maybe it's time for a return to devotion and a reformation that renews the simplicity of true koinonia (fellowship) that allows people to embrace Jesus for reasons other than making me too busy for sin but too tired for service. In light of that I am glad that groups such as Mission Mississippi promote the coming together of Pastors, lay people and business people in their effort to change Mississippi – One relationship at a time! It's a concrete answer to a complex problem and a simpler solution than most that have been espoused by church growth experts and missiologists. It's one however that I feel is right in line with Acts 2:42.

Race crying 'racism'

“The African American Church was born out of the crucible of slavery and the legacy of prophetic African American preachers since slavery has been and continues to heal broken marginalized victims of social and economic injustices. This is an attack on the legacy of the African American Church which led and continues to lead the fight for human rights in America and around the world.” Reverend Otis Moss III, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached the Christian tenet, “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Before Dr. King was murdered on April 4, 1968, he preached, “The 11 o’clock hour is the most segregated hour in America.” Forty years later, the African American Church community continues to face bomb threats, death threats, and their ministers’ characters are assassinated because they teach and preach prophetic social concerns for social justice. Sunday is still the most segregated hour in America."

The discussion over Barack Obama's mentor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright JR, continues, with a statement issued from the church that he founded. It's one thing to talk about the role of the African American Church, important as it has been for all the reasons stated - but then to trot out the cliche about the 11'O' clock hour still being the most segregated hour in America, is disingenuous. For there to be a segregated hour there needs to be an African American Church whose identity and distinctive based on ethnicity alone. In the same way there needs to be a white church to remain just as ethno-centric. Where is the call to true Christo-centric christianity where there is no Jew or Greek, Slave or Free but all are ONE IN CHRIST?

Obama's crazy mentor

“The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied.”
Just one example of the rhetoric spewed from Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr's mouth as the Obama campaign try to distance themselves from their spiritual roots. If you believe this conspiracy theory, then Hillary's right wing conspiracy theory sounds pretty tame....
“We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost.”

This from a man that visited Colonel Gaddafi in Libya while they were still a bona-fide state sponsor of terror....
Barack - you may have charisma, but your associations may yet be your downfall!

Same ol' Story Same ol' Song.....

If it's Monday it must be sex/political scandal time. I'm sure this is another case of pseudo-invincibility, where a powerful person somehow believes that 'they' will be the one that DOESN'T get caught!
As of this writing , Gov. Spitzer has not resigned, but then again neither did President Clinton....

Song for a small circle of friends

What an awesome yet poignant video! Wonderful song that was Larry's way of reaching out to those known and unknown who crossed his path. He never sang a song the same way twice....I think, judging from the posts on the LarryNorman.com website, he had a wider circle of influence than even he was aware of....

The Passing of Larry Norman

I was saddened to hear of the passing of possibly the most influential christian musician of my lifetime. His revolutionary music and lyrics gave hope to those of us who were reaching for Jesus while at the same time dreading the surrender of their art and music. The discovery of "Bootleg" followed by "The Trilogy" and of course "Upon this Rock" allowed myself and thousands of others to have the courage not to lay down our guitars but use them as weapons of worship and evangelism. My spiritual growth and development as a christian songwriter owes an immeasurable debt to the pioneering work of Larry Norman. Witnessing him live was to be challenged to be bold and tender at the same time. Sure, he could be obtuse and wierd but he could in the next breath be uproariously funny and then achingly beautiful. His voice was totally unmistakeable and the sheer numbers of artists who credit his influence is a testament to his genius. I am only grateful I managed to see my 'hero' a number of times at the height of his powers. He was a true giant in the musical universe and more relevant than 99% of so called contemporary christian music. Peace....

Good News from Iraq

This time, Col. Oliver North is the bearer of good tidings. It seems the tide is beginning to turn in Iraq and particularly Bagdad. However, the silence in the U.S. mainstream media is deafening!!
Initiatives such as the Bagdad prayer patrol have allowed pressure to be applied to the problem that does not even register a blip on the secular radar. What they can't explain they choose to ignore. Thankfully a goodly portion of middle America are not so foolish. Pink can sing her anti-Bush song, the Dixie-Chicks can win another meaningless award and Sean Penn can do whatever Sean Penn does. I believe that soon President Bush will be vindicated and all those running away from him both Democrat and Republican are going to look very foolish!

Iraqi PM Sees Decline in Baghdad Attacks

It's not exactly making front page news but the reports out of Bagdad are nothing short of amazing. Of course the official reason given for the turnaround is the effect of more troops on the ground (the surge) and a growing dissatisfaction among Iraqis with sectarian violence and especially the brutal tactics of Al Qaeda.
I would like to offer another reason - PRAYER!
Since the summer a website http://prayercentral.net/baghdad/ has been mobilizing intercession for that troubled city. The results have been encouraging. Daily prayer for the troops and the inhabitants as well as daily focuses on particular neighborhoods are beginning to bring transformation. I encourage YOU to become involved.

K-Ville ...A hit in Jail!!

I made the fatal mistake of showing the pilot episode of K-Ville to my Jail GED class a few weeks ago. Their assignment was to write a review. Some were so engrossed that they never took notes, but the couple of reviews I read, gave it a definite 'Thumbs up!'
The result of that session is that now they have demanded to see subsequent episodes.
If they like it ...it must be good.....So I hope that K-Ville survives the cut and continues to capture new fans.
The writing continues to be layered, with enough twists and surprises to hold our attention. In addition, the ensemble cast grows and deepens with each succeeding episode. Anthony Anderson is very impressive, showing grit at the appropriate times and humor when needed. He really is an excellent actor. I hope you check it out - Fox Broadcast channel Monday nights at 8:00 pm CST.

Thugz Off Drugz founder coming to Grenada

The war on drugs is a global battle waged locally. The aftermath of drug addiction is a long journey out of darkness and only starts when the regular Drug and Alcohol programs end. Here in Grenada, MS, we are battling the nexus of Drugs and Crime that threatens to hold our community in its vise-like grip. As a group of us began to meet, we heard of a successful program based in Oregon. We are thrilled that Alan Evans, founder of Thugz Off Drugz is going to be with us next month. We hope that he can inspire us to go on to the next step towards transformation.

Cussin' in the bedroom

If you want to see what J. Lee Grady was referring to then click on "Cussin in the bedroom" and it'll take you there....Unbelievable!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waXrbpFikZU

Lee Grady continues to shine the light on us..

I appreciate the commentaries of Lee Grady more than I enjoy reading Charisma Magazine. Unfortunately the excesses of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement are being broadcast on the nightly news and accessed through YouTube. I am now wary of identifying myself as a charismatic christian because of the negative connotation.

K-Ville a show worth watching

I have to admit I'm hooked. I have downloaded the first three episodes of this drama from I-Tunes and am enjoying the acting abilities of both Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser. As long as i can keep Kangaroo Jack from entering my imagination.....I'm fine! All seriousness aside - I am pleased to watch Mr Anderson in a non-comedic role, having already demonstrated his versatility in "Hustle and Flow". Cole Hauser, I was unfamiliar with, but these two cops are developing a chemistry reminiscent of Starsky and Hutch and I am looking forward to watching episode three later on today.

P.S. I watched it...it's the best yet. Watch Fox Channel Mondays' at 9 CST.

Sanity returns with Wallace and Gromit

In the midst of the mundane and the mildly ridiculous, comes news that Wallace and Gromit are set to return to the glories of the small screen. The B.B.C. might have slipped a little bit over the years into the Post-Modern pseudo-intellectual morass, but all is not lost. Sanity is about to return if only in claymation!" Trouble At' Mill " promises to be a classic. It's a pity it takes so long to do - we'll have to wait until late 2008 to enjoy the latest bit of wit from Nick Park and Aardman studios.

The most maligned man in America

I watched the interview with Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes last Sunday and was truly impressed with Judge Thomas. In fact the few times I have heard him speak publically, he has made eminent sense. I look forward to reading his book, "My Grandfather's Son".

My friend at work

Check out an interesting cross-pollination. Punk and Punjabi Pop. My friend Chris Constantinou and Punjabi pop sensation Daler Mehndi. Available now on I-Tunes

Sombre Anniversary

Six years on and I wonder how many of us need to be reminded of that awful Tuesday morning. I just watched again, the very good CNN documentary on 9/11, shown for the benefit of a class of 17-19 year olds. I'm not sure that it resonated with them as much as I would have liked. Our culture suffers from short term memory and we are probably more concerned about Britney Spears career freefall than remembering the events that have brought us to this juncture in History. Maybe the members of the House and the Senate ought to take a small refresher course before some of the more ideological ones of them try to decimate the potent testimony of both General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker.
As if we needed an added injection of reality, Osama Bin Laden has issued another video calling for a caravan of martyrs to be released upon us. A word to the not so wise......George Bush is not and never has been.....The Enemy!! As braver men and women than I, fight to defend and protect freedom, I pray that this country's obsession with self absorption and tendency to sabotage its best efforts, will be halted at least for a moment, as we listen to the names of those who lost their lives on that day; and then that we, having been called to attention oncemore, would recover an urgency and commitment to triumph in this war of the worlds.

House Passes Bill Requiring Troop Withdrawal Within 120 Days

Mark this date on your calendar. On July 12th, 2007, the Congress of the United States, officially surrendered in the War on Terror. We have capitulated in the face of butchery and horror. Now all that is left for Congress to do is to send an official invitation for Islamic extremists anywhere in the world to 'have their way'.

If it weren't for courageous reporters like Michael Yon http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/al-qaeda-on-the-run-feasting-on-the-moveable-beast.htm few of us would have any idea that this war is continuing to be fought and won against a demonic enemy, in spite of the weak-knee-ed and lily-livered politicos.

George W. Bush will stand his ground and will be vilified for it, but history will treat him with honor. The mainstream media continues its relenting attack on the President with Senator Reid and Nancy Pelosi fanning the flames from their hypocritical ivory towers. Senator Reid even had the gall to suggest that the surge had been a failure when if fact it has only been in full effect for about a week...

IF as some allege, Al-Quaeda are baking children and serving them to their parents, then what this country's leaders are in the process of doing is no less sickening.

Let us surround this President with prayer for not only wisdom but courage to stand firm!

Idol crazy

What? it's finally over? Jordin wins over Blake? Now I can finally get some sleep. Big voice overcomes beatbox and now we have two more names to add to the ever growing list of talented youngsters vying for attention in an attention deficient world. It was fun to follow, even though I had to rely on second hand reporting from my family much of the time, as I was otherwise engaged in working for a living!
But does it all amount to anything in the long run?... I think not. "What the world needs now (to quote Bacharach) is love sweet love" not another vocal gymnast to compete with the Whitneys, Mariahs and others.
Another interesting side note is just how many of the Idol finalists claimed a faith and had 'church' connections.
Idol...church...Idol....church....Now there's a disturbing trend to ponder!

Cho Seung-Hui and red flags

Thesmokinggun.com has posted some of Cho Seung-Hui's writings and considering that he was a senior in a prestigious University maybe the biggest red flag should have not just been the expressions of rage and hate that are contained therein but that his writing was not what I would imagine University level creative writing should be. It raises the question as to what standard they are expecting on a college level these days.
Of course, Cho is not the first writer to ever spew hatefilled rhetoric or dwell on the bizarre or horrific - and I'm not condoning either but there are also examples of horror and violence in literature that are still considered great literature - some of the pre-Shakespearean plays for example.
That said, it could be that no-one was willing to confront his lack of creative writing ability for fear that he might 'go postal'. Unfortunately it was to no avail. The lack of confrontation appears to have only increased his sense of alienation resulting in this monumental tragedy.
To be fair, his professor attempted to have him go to counselling but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Maybe the emotional damage had been done years before and like post-traumatic stress disorder, surfaced to cataclysmic results, this past Tuesday.

Melissa Etheridge's wife and other incongruities

I'm afraid I succumbed to temptation and sat through the entire Academy Awards broadcast. I found Ellen DeGeneres to be a pleasant surprise, Al Gore to be as irritating as ever and Melissa Etheridge to be the one to drag everybody in America into her psycho-sexual eccentricity, masquerading as civil rights activism. Her use of the term 'wife' to describe her 'partner' left something behind bigger than her undoubtably diminished carbon footprint. Why does the Hollywood liberal mafia insist on ramming the barrel of its Berkeley pseudo-elitism down our collective throats? And then they go and give her "Best Song"...please......Sorry Randy Newman, you will never be forgiven for "Short People"!!

Mississippi works to heal itself.

The recent sterling work by Jerry Mitchell and others at the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson have meant that justice long awaited might at last be realized. This is a crucial step as MS, even in the face of Rep Charles Rangel's comments, works to heal itself.
Please check out the articles:

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701250391

Happy New Year - Brand New Music

Hey!
Sorry to have been absent for a while....I've been busy laying down some new music and revising the "Recovered Memory" project from last year.

Click on http://iacmusic.com/jonathanpatrickmoore

or http://recoveredmemory.bravehost.com/

to hear some new music or stream the project in its entirety.

Meanwhile the world descends into chaos, George Bush's poll numbers dip proportionately, and after a promising start, the Cincinnati Bengals return to relative mediocrity while still hitting the headlines for most arrests per team. Three good reasons to put your faith in Jesus this New Year!!

Intriguing scenario put forth by Pat Robertson

Quoting Isaiah 19:23-25, today on the 700 Club, Pat suggested a possible merger between Syria and Iraq, based on Syria's agreeing to peace with Israel. His reasoning is sound based on clearer ethnic and cultural ties between present day Iraq and Syria as in the ancient Assyria. Pat talks about President Bush fighting Scripture on his "Roadmap to Peace" proposal.
While I'm sure the liberal press will have a field day with this, taking Pat's comments out of context, I believe he has a very good point. When will believers strive to fulfill scripture instead of fighting against it?

Borat and the culture of insensitivity

The leading movie at the box office for the past two weeks has been "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." starring so-called comedian Sasha Baron Cohen. While I have not seen the movie (it hasn't made it to Grenada's miniscule megaplex!!), it has become apparent that Mr. Cohen managed to create his comedy by demeaning and belittling various people groups. Many of those who have become the unwitting targets of Borat's mock-umentary are now sueing both him and the film distributor who both look to cash in on the strength of multi-millions earned at the box office.
I hope the offended partys win and win big. There is no humor more tasteless than cruelty, and Mr. Cohen should have to reap some of what he has sown.

Donkey Politics

I don't have the privilege of voting but I encourage my students to do so. I am unable to vote because, as of yet, I am not a citizen of the United States...but if I was, I would hope that my ballot would reflect an informed opinion. Alas, I fear we have just seen the exercise of 'donkey' politics. It's a term that originates from Australia, where because voting there is compulsory, some voters have to vote in the manner of 'pinning a tail on the donkey' hence donkey voting, where they vote blind. It is ironic of course that the symbol of the Democratic party just happens to be a donkey!

Sound of Melodies, Compact Disc [CD] - By: Leeland - Christianbook.com

Sound of Melodies, Compact Disc [CD] - By: Leeland - Christianbook.com
click on the title above and order from CBD

The "new" sound of worship!

On my way to an Encounter God weekend, where I was to lead worship, I stopped off at a christian bookstore (two actually!!...) and picked up a new CD by a group called "Leeland". It was on sale for the ridiculous price of $6.99. I didn't immediately put it in because, quite honestly, I was not sure what it would sound like - I only had a vague feeling that my children probably had heard them on one of their favorite screamo-emo christian rock shows. Instead I inserted into the CD player the latest offering from CCM's current darling Jeremy Camp. I think I listened for about three songs and after being suitable un-impressed, I took a chance on "Leeland".
The opening and title track, 'Sound of Melodies' burst like a wave of cool refreshment into my speeding van and I found myself captured by meaning and passion (something strangely lacking in the Jeremy Camp offering). Great opening I thought, then came track two "Reaching"- equally captivating as I found myself singing along and soaring with the lead singer's Keane-like vocals. Then on to track three and four (the wonderful "Tears of the Saints" with a line 'this is an emergency' which ranks as one of the most telling lyric lines in recent memory...) And so on through the rest of the album. Shades of Delirious, the afore mentioned Keane and even the Afters, but ultimately this is a majestic freshman effort by a band fronted by an eighteen year-old with a genuine message delivered in a pure and powerful yet vulnerable voice. Check it out - the new sound of worship from "Leeland"

How do you score a war?

We now have a tenuous but intact cease fire between Hezbollah and Israel. It seems unlikely that it will hold because nothing essentially has changed. Israel bowed to international pressure and stopped short of what was necessary in order to remove the terrorist threat from its northern border. Hezbollah is claiming both a moral and territorial victory. They are still in place. They still have the capability to launch Katusha rockets, and the Lebanese government is retreating from the notion of disarming them.
How do you score a war like this? Maybe you don't...you simply prepare for a 'do-over'.
The western media are almost reluctantly giving the victory on points to Sheik Nasrallah and his cronies. Ehud Olmert looks set to retire from competitive war making in the not too distant future.
Look for Bebe Netanyahu to emerge as the warrior king, just in time for the rematch. And this time expect hell and fury to be unleashed, not only upon Lebanon, but upon Syria and Iran too!

Sobering News

Just a couple of weeks ago, I boarded an American Airlines flight from Heathrow Airport, outside London, bound for New York's JFK airport. Today I awoke to hear the news that Al Qaeda linked terrorists were targeting just such flights with sophisticated liquid bombs, planning to detonate them in mid air causing the maximum loss of innocent life.
Two thoughts come immediately to mind:
(1) I'm glad I'm not travelling at this moment in time and looking back just a couple of weeks, I was somewhat surprised at the lack of intense baggage and personal inspections both in the UK and Stateside.
(2) I'm grateful for vigilant security forces on both sides of the Atlantic and for the skillful investigative capabilities of both nations who are able to interdict such plans in a timely manner and so prevent greater tragedies than have already occured.
It is also apparent that our intelligence and Homeland Security personnel cannot rest for even a moment as this ongoing clash of culture, religion and civilizations continues.
While all eyes are on Lebanon and Israel, the terrorists are eying America and the rest of the western world like a coiled snake ready to strike.
As we approach the fifth anniversary of September 11th, we would do well to remember that our enemy still lurks and we have not yet won this war.

Not too smart a war being waged by the media.

We are extremely naive when it comes to what we believe from our media. They always seems to have a grandstand view of the war which leads the cynic in me to wonder if it is not being staged for their benefit. The news that the Kana massacre might in fact be an elaborate fraud created by Hezbollah should surprise no-one - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=109072
but unfortunately it obviously fooled major world leaders, Condoleeza Rice and others.
This is a war and a time when we need to trust our spiritual eyes and not our natural. We are living in an age of manipulation and unfortunately....this is no magic show!!

Back from the U.K. back to work!

I'm now back at work having spent a wonderful two weeks back home in the U.K. just hanging out with Mom and letting her fix me all my favorite food.
Since returning home, we have sold our house, witnessed my in-laws being re-married after being divorced for over 30 years, and celebrated two birthdays.
Also I enjoyed a reunion with another part of my 'family' in Dallas, Texas on my way to and from the U.K.!
School is back in session next week for my kids, with Aidan beginning kindergarten, or as he likes to put it....'zero grade'!
More later.......

New Song and other news

Just got back from a conference on Adult Education in Natchez, MS - a delightful Antebellum town on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. While I was staying across the river in Vidalia, LA, I wrote a song for my in-laws wedding. (Wonderful story....must tell you sometime!) The new song is entitled "All things beautiful" as in "...He makes all things beautiful in His time." I am pleased with the outcome and may well record that tune and about three others and add them to the new CD for American consumption. Watch this space.
Also we ( actually Allison mainly) have been readying our house for sale and looking at property in the old part of downtown. You get more house for your dollar there....and with our expanding household, it seemed like a needful thing to do!
LAstly...I'm heading across the pond to England on July 4th ( how appropriate...) for almost two weeks of uninterrupted R & R. WOW!!

Recovered Memory finished!

Here's the story behind the tracks:
"Drake's Drum" - The drum itself is housed at Buckland Abbey and whenever England is threatened by danger, if you listen, you will hear the sound of the drum and at that moment Drake will reappear and rout the enemy - or so the story goes.
"Doublewaters" - The title refers to the place where the Rivers Tavy and Walkham meet, before flowing into the River Tamar. It was one of my favorite places to go - it was quite a stroll but always worth the effort.
"Apres Stroll" - An instrumental actually written for another project which has never seen the light of day. This piece was inspired by afternoon strolls designed to walk off the effects of Sunday dinner.
"20 Minutes Older" - Written with tongue in cheek (and sung that way!) and in honor of my twin brother Nigel whom I love dearly and have no spirit of competition with whatsoever. (...Right!)
"Home" - A song that has been around for about 8 years but finally found itself a place to call home! All the details are accurate as far as my memory serves me.
"A Rainy Afternoon" - An instrumental written and improvised in the wee hours and a chance to play some uncharacteristic lead guitar.
"Dewerstone" - A cautionary tale based on an old Devon legend. I sang it in about as low a register as I could so that it might sound unlike any other voice on the project.
"Eternal Father Strong to Save / The Traveller" - The first melody is the tune of my Uncle Jack's favorite hymn while the second song is a re-recording of a song from the 'Proving God' album, inspired by the foghorn sounding at the Needles, off the Isle of Wight.
"Photographs" - This song was recorded back in 1982 and appeared first on the 'Shooting for the Heart' album. I thought about re-doing it for this project and then decided I liked the original just fine....so what would be the point. It fits the theme of memory so I've included it here. The song itself was inspired by a grandfather I never knew but one that left a legacy of images for us to enjoy.
"Paris Jazz" - This instrumental dates from my college years. It was inspired by a trip to that great city and listening to the wonderful street musicians who seem to hang out on every street corner.
"There and Back Again" - A synthesis of two memories - the first is of my Nursery School experience where; when we would walk to the recreation field in Yelverton to play, we had to grasp this thick nautical rope and walk along the lane in single file; the other is one of those priceless phrases my father (the Squire) was famous for - ' We're going there and back again to see how far it is!'

The revised Cover art

courtesy of jnthnmoore

Recording up and going

Dear friends,
The "Recovered Memory" project is under way. Having been writing new songs for the past couple of months, I finally got down to recording the tracks. Two are completed so far:- "Drake's Drum" and "There and Back Again". The results are pretty good (in other words - I can live with them...). I think my mother will appreciate them as well. There are lots of references to my childhood as well as universal themes of pilgrimage and growing up. I am planning two more days of recording this week. and I hope to complete at least two more songs in that time. That will put me well on the way to meeting the July 1 deadline. I leave for Dallas on the 2nd and fly out from there to the UK on the 5th. I am planning a couple of instrumental tracks as well - to help the flow. I have eight songs ready to record.
Pray for me!

Dewerstone

The Dewerstone - a new lyric based on a legend about a rocky outcrop on the Southern part of Dartmoor, famous as a rock climbing center, where the devil and his hounds are supposed to chase poor sinners over the edge.

On a cold and misty evening, while my lord was out-a-riding,
He thought he heard the baying, of some hounds beyond the ridge,
And as his pace-a-quickened, the mist it swirled and thickened,
His horse it went to neighing , as they crossed Cadover Bridge.

On Wigmore Down a-climbing, the wind it was a-whistling,
But still the sound of baying, drew closer through the fog.
The Master spurring on a-pace, as soaking wind drove in his face,
A shadow voice kept saying, “You can't out run the dogs.”

Oh beware, be you rich or poor,
Of the Wisht hounds roaming the southern moor,
The sinner venturing out alone,
Should best avoid the Dewerstone.

Dewer had him in his grip, he knew that with one fatal slip
As both approached the craggy lip, their fate would soon be sealed
They never saw the granite ledge and so they rode hard off the edge,
To meet their maker in a place where every heart’s revealed.

On the morrow early rising, chanced on a grisly sighting,
A horse and rider lying, at the foot of Dewerstone,
And after drawing closer, I saw it was my master,
E're with the sun yet shining my world was overthrown.

Jonathan Patrick Moore C 2006

I'm back!!

Been gone from the blog for about two months......work, family, church.....
It's Easter Weekend and with the surge of Spring has come a renewal of inspiration:

Here is part of what I've been working on: a new project reflective of my beginnings and my country of origin. It's going to be an original "Folk" Cd with songs about my heritage and my memories of growing up in Devon.

Here are two lyrics entitled "Doublewaters" and "The Beating of Drake's drum" for your perusal:

Doublewaters

Down the path to Doublewaters,
Calling wayward dogs to heel,
Dashing sons and dainty daughters,
Gorse and brackened games conceal,
Grazing Dartmoor ponies nodding,
As if recalling Spring's first foal,
Honeysuckled air infusing,
Joy into our weary soul.

On Bodmin moor June’s sun is setting,
Tin mine towers in sharp relief,
Through the mottled woodlands streaming,
Shafts of evening’s golden sheaf,
Sound of pebbled waters rising,
Beckon weary walkers on,
First embracing then refreshing,
Two streams reach for Tamar’s run.

Now in memory returning
To my childhood days of grace,
Ever youthful ever yearning,
To walk again in sacred space.

Every Sunday through the summer,
City dwellers park their cars,
Sipping tea midst idle chatter,
Watching hikers from afar,
Disappear into the distance,
T’ward the valley far below,
Barely noting their existence,
Emerging later face aglow.

Jonathan Patrick Moore C 2006

The Beating of Drake’s Drum

At the Westerly Approaches, Spanish galleons appear,
Their intent to wrest our freedom, men of England have no fear,
Our bold Captain and commander, none can match his heart so true,
He has time to play the game boys, and defeat the Spaniards too.
In a time of mortal danger, Lo the foreign forces come,
We will summon strength of heart boys, at the beating of Drake's drum.

Wellington standing defiant, 'gainst the brash Napoleon,
Sailing out of Plymouth Harbor, with the pride of England’s men,
We will give to him no quarter, till our freedom is assured,
We have muskets at the ready, true of aim and swift of sword,
Where the courage to defend her, when the darkest dangers come,
There's a sound that stirs our hearts boys, 'tis the beating of Drake's drum

Now our finest lie besieged, upon the sand of Dunkirk beach,
Every fisherman of England, rescue is within your reach,
Man the boats and pray for favor, help them fight another day,
In this hour of present danger, God will speed you on your way,
Draw your strength from men of yore, Every hindrance overcome,
Listen now O men of England, hear the beating of Drake's drum.

Anytime these shores are threatened by a diabolic foe,
When dark clouds are gathering and fear consumes the nations soul,
If amid the sounds of bustle coursing through our city streets,
You might hear the whispers of a catalog of past defeats,
Then I pray you listen closer for another sound to come,
Listen for the heart of England, hear the beating of Drake’s drum.

Jonathan Patrick Moore C 2006

The more I hear the more I like...

It's day two....and I'm listening through to about 10 hours of blues influenced original music. I have been a fan of Chris Rea ever since his first album (What ever happened to Benny Santini?). However , the sheer scope and depth of this work is staggering. I can't think of another musician in the modern era who has published such a strong body of work at one time. For those who are familiar with the more pop oriented Chris Rea will find enough here to keep them entertained. The Blues Ballads (CD7) is particularly satisfying for those who love the languid, smoke filled Rea delivery. There is also enough variety within the blues genre as presented by Rea and his merry cohorts to keep even the most discriminating afficianado smiling. Blues Beginnings (CD1) is like an aural history lesson, whereas the Celtic and Irish Blues (CD9) does for blues what Riverdance did for tapping feet. Louisiana and New Orleans Blues (CD3) takes us along the bayou and gives us a taste of Cajun cookin'. The production of each CD tries to stay faithful to the recording techniques of that time and place and in so doing gives each CD its own unique feel. In fact it becomes eveident when you are changing CD even if they are playing in rotation on my computer. I'm serious....you need to check out this music! At about $55-$60 through Amazon.com this has to be the musical bargain of all bargains.

Blue Guitars has arrived

Blue Guitars - Chris Rea


This arrived today - I've already watched the accompanying DVD which was a fascinating look into the creative process. I'm beginning to savor the 11 cd's worth of music. I feel like someone has just given me the keys to their wine cellar......

Death Row

One of my students has just become the youngest deathrow inmate in the State of Mississippi. At 20 years of age, he is now # 70 waiting in line for a lethal injection. I grieve for a life apparently wasted, his young son who will never see his father again, and a family who are left to wonder "What went wrong?"
The crime for which he was convicted was senseless and part of an increasing trend towards mindless violence that not only grips the inner cities but has migrated into the rural reaches of Mississippi. Fueled by rage and a hip-hop culture countless young men, both black and white are becoming de-sensitized to the consequences of violent actions. As my student wished for just one more chance - another family is left to mourn a 67 year old man who had his life brutally taken from him.
And yet, though for many years I shared a philosophical belief in the deterrent effect and the necessary justice of capital punishment, I now find myself in somewhat of a dilemma. This young man was no mindless monster - he was tender-hearted, friendly, with an easygoing smile and both a desire to learn and to grow. In other words - his was (and is) a life that is redeemable, even if that has to be from behind prison walls.
I am changing my mind about capital punishment - but am I just bowing to the pressure of personal sentiment? What do YOU think?

This was the story that ran in our local paper on November 10th 2004:

"The sheriff's office has clarified the charges against those arrested for the murder of Ruben L. Britt, owner of Crossroads Grocery.
Two teens are being held on capital murder charges and two others on related charges in the shooting death of the Grenada county store owner Sunday morning.
Eric Bullins, 16, and Terry Pitchford, 18, are being held without bond on capital murder charges. Pitchford along with two others are also being held on a charge of conspiracy to commit a crime, according to Justice Clerk Brenda Mullen.
Demarcus Westmoreland, 18, and Quincy Bullins, 19, are also being held on conspiracy charges. Both their bonds have been set at $50,000. According to Mullen, a December 2nd preliminary hearing will be held for the four teenagers with Judge Jimmy Tallant presiding.
Bullins and Pitchford are charged with shooting Ruben L. Britt, 67, multiple times at his Crossroads Grocery at the corner of Highway 7 and Scenic Loop 332.
The cash register was taken. "

This week that story resolved itself with the murder conviction of Terry Pitchford and the sentence of death that was issued. What makes this story compelling is that for the last year I have had the opportunity of teaching Terry both in my GED class and as part of my Bible Study. I have become acquainted with his family, his girlfriend and his young son. In fact Terry inspired me to teach a class on "The Seven Secrets of Effective Fathers." His story is a tragedy, a tragedy being repeated in communities across this nation. Young men are buying into a gang/gangsta culture, fueled by rappers and violence, drugs and alcohol. They are being led into a mindset that short circuits their conscience and leads them down a path to destruction.
If you met Terry, you would like him. He is well mannered and respectful. He has a close family and a mother of strong faith. He made a terrible choice and has to face the consequence of that choice. Terry too professes a faith in Christ. My prayer is that he will be able to hang on to his faith and find some personal redemption while sitting on death row.

p.s. My personal opinion of Terry in no way excuses his terrible crime and the obvious loss and continuing grief of the Britt family.

Check out Chris Rea's latest work!

Chris Rea - Blue Guitars

For my 50th birthday I ordered an 11CD + DVD box set from Chris Rea. It's on its way and I'm really looking forward to listening to this meisterwork by one of the sweetest slide guitarists. ( It may take me another 50 years to listen to all the tracks!! - 137 in all! )

Awesome picture!

courtesy of jnthnmoore

What a pumpkin!

courtesy of jnthnmoore

Been silent too long....

Hey Folks,
It's been a while since I posted. The Bengals are enjoying a bye week before hosting the 9-0 Indianapolis Colts. Meanwhile, the President is taking heat for pre-war intelligence, gas prices and the slow Katrina response.
In the interim I made a trip down to New Orleans (my first time in that famed city) and found the destruction to be so widespread that it is almost impossible to see how the response would ever be as instant as most Americans naively expect it to be. Instead I was impressed by the incredible and indomitable spirit of charity which is now being displayed by the 'armies of compassion' as they feed clothe and counsel the residents of the stricken gulf coast. America is becoming increasingly anal-retentive and really needs another good dose of unexplained catastrophe to shake it out of its almost terminal self absorption. God will probably permit such events until we genuinely repent and start weeping instead of whining ; start praying and stop playing.
On a connected note: Christmas this year has been emasculated and will now resemble J.C. Penney's annual 'White Sale'!

Bengals 4-0!

Well....I've been away from my desk, so to speak, with a work deadline and a crowded house, I was left with little time for blog entries. Meanwhile the NFL season is well underway and to further emphasize that we are in a season of miracles, my beloved Cincinnati Bengals (loyal fan since coming to these fair shores in 1981!) are now 4-0 on this young season with two home wins and two on the road.
For once, we seem to actually have a balanced team. For years the modus operandi was outscore the other team because we had a crummy defense. Now the defense is getting the job done while the offense is poised to explode behind the arm of Carson Palmer, the powerful running of Rudi Johnson and the triple threat of Johnson, Perry and Houshmazandeh. Kudos to Coach Marvin Lewis who appears to have the right touch not only with the players and the press but within the community as well.
It's been years since its been cool to be a Bengals fan....I'm going to ride this train as far as it goes!!

Thoughts on the Katrina aftermath.

First of all let me say that we were spared the brunt of Katrina - in fact though some are still without power in our area we only lost power for a few minutes. Our small city has opened up its hearts and churches to people from Louisiana, displaced by what is fast becoming a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions.
What concerns me now is the increasingly strident criticism of relief efforts and the overwhelming desire to apportion blame whether on the President or local officials.
FACT: This is a disaster of overwhelming proportions and as such there will be an inability to rescue everyone in a timely manner ( as in right now!)
FACT: Americans have zero tolerance for pain and suffering - therefore if someone is in distress - IT MUST BE SOMEBODY"S FAULT!
FACT: The City of New Orleans had no practical way to evacuate the hundreds of thousands of poor, mostly black, residents who had neither the means of transportation or the funds to buy their ticket out - hence the human tragedy we are now witnessing. Just telling them to get out is no plan!
FACT: the decent and the good will ultimately prevail over the baser acts of human nature and we will recover.

Free on bond - Mississippi takes a step back!

The news from Philadelphia Mississippi today is that the same judge who sentenced Edgar Ray Killen to 60 years for the manslaughter of 3 civil rights workers back in 1964 has now said he can go free on bond pending an appeal to the MS Supreme Court.
I wonder who got to the judge?
Surely even grounds for appeal is not sufficient cause to release a man who enjoyed 40 years of freedom while waiting for the State of Mississippi to have enough guts to push for justice in this case.
So come Monday morning, if his family and 'friends' can come up with $60,000, this hate-filled old man will get a privilege that 99% of the other MDOC inmates (majority black - I might add!) could never hope to obtain. Shame on you Missisippi. You have just given the rest of the nation and the world another reason to claim that nothing has changed.
It's time to redouble our efforts in prayer and intentional reconciliation. We may have wounded the snake but we have yet to chop off its head.

footnote: Killen was free on bond this afternoon
The circuit clerk's office said Killen, a brother and three other families — all from Neshoba County — had secured the bond with property. Frank Richardson, who attended the bond hearing, said he had put up 800 acres because Killen was a longtime friend and he wanted to help him. (Fox News)

Back to school/work

After a three week break/vacation I am heading back to work in the morning. Of course I can't say I rested...the first week was spent recording the theme song for a Chrysalis Weekend, followed by the weekend itself. The next two were a jumble of diapers bottles and interrupted sleep, as we now have a new born in the house. The new session will be a challenge because we will have a new routine and extra paperwork(the bane of my life!!) PRAY FOR ME!!

Now the B.B.C. are asking questions.

If you click on the title of this post, it will take you to an article posted on the BBC NEWS site that asks the question whether the policy of multiculturalism in Britain has worked, in light of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by British born Muslims. CHECK IT OUT!

They were British!

The astounding news coming out of London today is the revelation that the four bombers were more than likely, British born subjects. Forget about Al Quaeda infiltrating and moving through Europe's porous borders; the U.K. , as we suspected in the case of the infamous shoe bomber is now producing its own breed of home-grown terrorists.
Historically speaking the British are now reaping the whirlwind of a collapsed empire where the attempts at colonial patronage, extended to places like Pakistan and India, as well as the African continent, have enabled diverse religious and ethnic communities to have access to British commerce and prosperity without needing to assimilate to British culture. They have become in some extreme cases - "the enemy within". The radicalism fermented in Mosques up and down the length and breadth of Britain now receives scant attention due to the prevailing mood of multi-culturalism, now so fashionable in political and educational circles and encouraged by the rampant liberalism of the B.B.C.
As an ex-patriate Brit, I am dismayed that a nation that less than seventy years ago withstood a tide that threatened their very way of life and existence has in recent years rolled over and played dead in the face of a blatant assault on the character and tradition that made Britain the envy of the developing world.
In protest I shall now drink a cup of tea and read "Cold Comfort Farm"!!

Bombs, Blair and Bush.

Make no mistake...the global war on terror goes on. Thankfully President Bush and Prime Minister Blair are firm in their resolve as instanced by their reaction to today's horrific bomb blasts in central London. This is a war of ideologies and cultures - many doubt if the fat and happy western world has the stomach to fight for its own survival. Personally I am grateful for two world leaders, who for all their failings, see this one issue crystally clear. If we do not triumph in this one cause we shall lose everything.
We may hate war, despise the loss of life and resent the expense of prosecuting a war; but desperate times need desperate measures and cometh the hour cometh the man (or men). It's time for both countries to rally, to pray and then put whatever resources are necessary to achieve the ultimate objective. We must prevail in Iraq, continue to aid Afghanistan and track down terrorists wherever they are. We must maintain Guantanamo Bay and not bow to outside pressure. We must remain on a war footing!
For those called to prayer...it's time to ascend the wall again with renewed intensity, remembering that,"We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of wickedness in high places."

Post Holiday Blues

Work dragged today....Somehow the one day vacation didn't quite do the trick! I'm sure my students noticed my lack of energy. Tomorrow I'm hoping for a higher biorhythm (is that even possible?) The summer heat is here and it really saps your strength. On a brighter note, the leftover barbeque chicken was delicious!

Is there a place for satirical criticism?

The night before last, I called an old friend and we talked for a couple of hours. I had spent a number of years as his associate a few years back. Our parting was amicable and we have remained close friends even if we have not communicated regularly. As we caught up on 'news' I learned that his teaching position at a west coast Bible College had recently been terminated. The college is attached to a prominent and thriving church in the City of Portland, Oregon.
However he has recently become the subject of a blog that is a critique of this particular church and its ministry style. His dismissal drew many comments from those regular posters to this blog....so naturally being the inquisitive type I scrolled over to take a peek. While all the posts that I read were extremely complimentary and supportive of 'LT', the general tone of the blog was critical and satirical in its treatement of its subject.
My questions are... Is there a place for satirical criticism of churches and ministries by other believers? Is it another case of 'Judge not that ye be not judged'? or is there a legitimate place for using sarcasm and hyperbole to poke fun at or denigrate ministers or ministries that we might disagree with?
What do YOU think?

Edgar Ray Killen not the only one showing no remorse...

The Edgar Ray Killen trial made headlines around the world. His conviction on manslaughter charges and subsequent sentencing to 60 years sent a clear message that Mississippi is trying to move beyond its racist/ white supremist past. Killen of course has remained defiant and unrepentant - much in the same way that Byron De La Beckwith and Sam Bowers did before him. It therefore seems inconceivable that in the present climate, the two U.S. Senators from Mississippi - Trent Lott and Thad Cochran should have missed the opportunity to go on the record by co-sponsoring a bill essentially apologizing for the failure of the U.S. senate to enact anti-lynching legislation back in the sixties. One would have thought it was a no-brainer, particularly for Lott who lost his leadership position because of his 'remarks' concerning Strom Thurmond; but even Thad Cochran - an avowed moderate republican couldn't bring himself to 'do the right thing'!
“I don’t feel I should apologize for the passage of or the failure to pass any legislation by the U.S. Senate. But I deplore and regret that lynchings occurred and that those committing them were not punished,” he said in a statement last week.In an interview with his state’s largest paper, the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, he pointedly noted that the paper had not apologized for its 50 years of editorials in support of segregation. - CAPITOLBUZZ June 19th 2005
If a Neshoba County jury could do their civic duty by bringing justice, finally, to the families of Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney; The least that our Senators could have done was to represent the people of Mississippi before the eyes of a watching world and sent a message that the climate is changing here and that showing a modicum of remorse might have resulted in a multiplicity of rewards.

courtesy of jnthnmoore

If you've never seen this movie, it is well worth your while. I picked this up for less than $5 at Walmart. I am fast becoming a huge Jim Caviezel fan. This is an intriguing thriller with a scientific/fantasy twist. It is my official Father's Day movie for 2005!

Sunset Boulevard revisited?

As the Michael Jackson trial jurors continue their deliberations, I wonder what will become of the singer himself. His finest moments were almost a generation ago now and all he is at present is an echo of a former self but barely recognizable at that! Even if he is acquitted he is going to find it tough going to find a new relevance in a world where 15 minutes of pop music fame is a lifetime. I picture an androgynous Norma Desmond figure, haunting the halls of Neverland, crying about the loss of fan adulation while listening to tapes of past recorded glory...."She's out of my life" , "Ben", "Billie Jean".....and most poignantly,"You are not alone"!

Take a deep breath...

We're preparing to teach our summer session which will last about six weeks. We have a lot of new students which means learning some new names and connecting them with right faces. Then I have to come up with six weeks of innovative lesson plans......for which at the present moment, I'm drawing a blank!
Now I know everything will work out and that inspiration will hit me at the time that I need it, but in spite of that assurance I have to pause and take a deep breath.....
That's better!

Summer-is-a-comin'-in!

It's June 1st and the children are out of school (at least until summer school starts!). Long evenings at the ball park, hamburgers on the grill and grass to be mowed; it's all a sign that "Summer-is-a-comin'-in!"
For me personally it means back to work until the middle of July when I finally get three weeks off. I'm making tentative plans to visit some friends this summer - as I get older I find myself needing to re-connect with faces and places from my past, lest I should forget. As I experience my fiftieth summer on this earth, I'm grateful for health and strength and a youthful outlook on life. Just remember to tell my knees that, first thing in the morning!
I'm also listening to seventies classic rock....ELP, YES, etc........I think I'm having a mid-life episode and it's kinda fun!