In the Houston area, the Salvation Army will come to your house and pick up your donated clothes and such. Just call 713-425-8721 to see when they’ll be in your neighborhood.
I wish I had known this the last few times we’ve moved! That would have saved many trips of loading the van and going to Goodwill.
Salvation Army is a terrific charity to support.
Only this time, the consequences were easy to predict. But the Democrats ignored them.
Congratulations, Congressional Democrats: you’ve managed to soak the working poor again.
Bank of America will start charging debit-card users $5 a month to pay for purchases. The move comes as the cards increasingly replace cash and as banks look for ways to offset the loss of revenue from a new rule that will limit how much they can collect from merchants.
via Bank of America, CARD Act, Dodd-Frank, and soaking the poor. | RedState.
This will hurt the poor the most. Dodd, Frank et al thought they could magically take money from corporations and give it to people. Guess what? The corporations found a fast and easy way around the new regulations? Who could have predicted that?
Answer: Anyone but Congressional Democrats
Alternate title: “Can a media personality say something more stupid than this? Probably not.”
A tautology is an essentially meaningless statement where all instances are true, such as, “It will rain today or it won’t.” I say without exaggeration that Janeane Garofalo’s version is that Republicans are racist for voting against a (half) black man (Obama) and they are racist for supporting Herman Cain.
It is obvious who the real racist is: Garofalo. She is so cynical that she’ll play the race card to manipulate people even though she has no evidence that Tea Partiers are racist for supporting Cain.
In an appearance on Wednesday night’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” on Current TV, Garofalo explained her theory.
“Herman Cain is probably well-liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican Party, conservative movement and tea party movement,” Garofalo said.
“People like Karl Rove like to keep the racism very covert and so Herman Cain provides this great opportunity so he can say, ‘Look: This is not a racist anti-immigrant, anti-female, anti-gay movement. Look: We have a black man.’ And look he’s polling well and he won a straw poll.”
Note to Janeane: Please meditate on these facts . . .
Via Garofalo: Cain’s rise in support proves Republican racism, or something « Hot Air.
Via The jaw-dropping brilliance of evolutionary psychology: Darwin explains wife-beating:
From Wendy Zukerman, “Domestic violence gets evolutionary explanation” (New Scientist September 2011):
Each year more than 500,000 women in the US alone report to the police violent attacks by current or former male partners. There is a reason why domestic violence is so widespread, says David Buss, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Texas in Austin: it carries a selective advantage, tied with reproductive success. In other words, men who are violent are trying to make sure that their partner has his child and not another man’s.
Does that also explain men who violently force their wives to abort their own children, that they know are theirs?
This is one of the problems of those clinging to the Darwinian worldview. Everything they find has to be caused by evolution — including my conversion from atheism to Christianity based on my trust in the evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
But their foolishness knows no bounds. They “know” why men beat their wives (evolution!) and why they don’t beat their wives (evolution — what else?!).
Great theory, eh? I’m sure that study was peer-reviewed, so you know it is legit!
I’ve got a better answer, backed up daily by roughly seven billion people, not to mention everyone who previously lived*: Original sin.
* Except one
Just wondering . . . why does Michelle Obama have a record number of attendants (60% more than Laura Bush) at the same time that America has a record number of people on welfare?
And why is she compounding this by pretending to be a regular person shopping at Target? See Isn’t This Precious…FLOTUS Michelle Antoinette Pretends to be One of the Common Folk.
Here’s the most insulting thing: She is pretending to be incognito, what with her “plain” outfit (which probably cost over $1,000), hat and glasses. But if this was so undercover, why was there a professional photographer standing there? Did anyone notice the Secret Service people? They obviously have contempt for their supporters, otherwise they would never plan such a thing. Anyone thinking this wasn’t staged shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Of course, the Houston Chronicle ran this photo in a fluff piece this morning.
And why isn’t the media raging about this waste and hypocrisy?
Answer: The media died in 2008.
It is only fitting. Chuck “Jesus is not the only way” Currie apparently could never land a full-time gig as a real pastor, even though he was a wildly liberal (read: fake) pastor in a highly liberal denomination in a highly liberal city. But the Jesus Seminar false teachers like him! See “Rev. Chuck Currie Named Associate Director Of The Westar Institute”:
I’m excited to share the news that I’ve been named the new Associate Director of The Westar Institute, one of our nation’s most important academic bodies focusing on the critical study of religion. For many, the work undertaken by the Westar Institute is a is a beacon of hope to anyone wishing to embrace a spiritual life that has more intellectual integrity. The Westar Institute is best known as the home of the Jesus Seminar.
Oh, Chuck is all about intellectual integrity! Except when he’s being a serial, unrepentant liar. Or taking his 6 yr. old girls to gay pride parades as props to show how tolerant and inclusive he is (I wonder if Portland’s celebrations are as diverse as San Francisco’s?). Or when he accuses those who disagree with him of being racist, including a black pastor (who Chuck didn’t know was black). (It reminds of when he dismissed Stand To Reason for the racist reason that they are white guys. Besides it being an example of the genetic fallacy, Chuck didn’t realize that by his own logic we should ignore him. After all, Chuck is a white guy. You can’t make this stuff up!)
“Rev. Currie will help us to become better equipped to bring into the public forum the considered views of biblical scholars whenever the Bible is invoked on behalf of this or that cause.”
That is so comical. Remember, Chuck is the heretic who thinks that the Gospel of John was written in AD 130 and that the “gospel” of Thomas is more authoritative. He taught an entire sermon on John 14:6 yet concluded that Jesus was not the only way to salvation. Chuck, the “scholar” and PhD candidate, didn’t know there were at least 100 other passages pointing to Jesus’ exclusivity for salvation. He says that Christians have as much to learn from other religions as they do from us, but what do they have to teach us about Jesus? And you can’t even skim the Old Testament without seeing that the Israelites #1 problem was worshiping other gods.
Chuck quotes Matthew 25 over and over, taking it out of context, of course, but always refers to the “least of these.” Yet he is pro-legalized abortion and pro-taxpayer funded abortion. Apparently killing 3,000 innocent but unwanted human beings — who surely meet the definition of “least of these” — isn’t enough for Chuck. He wants there to be more abortions.
Chuck holds those false views and more, yet they named him Associate Director?! Of course, because they are as transparently false as he is.
This will be fun! I say without exaggeration that I have yet to see Chuck get a Bible verse right. He’ll grab one from Isaiah, or wherever, because he thinks it makes his point, but if you examine the passage it is easy to see how wildly off the mark he is. I am looking forward to analyzing his “critical studies.”
See One Long Bluff: A Review of Richard Dawkins’ “The Greatest Show on Earth” for a thorough dissection of Dawkins’ bad logic and philosophy. Here’s the summary, but I encourage you to read it all. Dawkins’ book is already outdated, for example, by his claim that the design of the eye is poor. You’d think they’d get tired of being embarrassed about the “bad design” claim after being proved wrong on not-so-vestigial organs, “junk” DNA and the like.
Conclusion: Does Richard Dawkins have the goods?
Richard Dawkins continues in the same vein throughout his book. One favourable review of Dawkins’ new book, published in The Guardian, commented that while The Greatest Show on Earth “demonstrates once again [Dawkins’] consummate skill as an explainer,” the science covered by the book mostly rehashed “pretty standard stuff.” The book fails to address the growing problems of biological information, the origin of life, how natural selection coupled with chance mutations can account for the origin of irreducibly complex systems, which continue to defy the Darwinism he preaches. Darwin called The Origin of Species ‘one long argument’ for his theory, but Richard Dawkins has given us one long bluff. The Greatest Show on Earth seeks to defend neo-Darwinism by appealing to theological arguments, by attempting to explain away the challenge of the Cambrian explosion by means of invoking ad-hoc conjectures, by exaggerating the evidence for the potentiality of natural selection, by misrepresenting design arguments, casting down ‘straw-men’, and by avoiding mention of the most sinister threats to the neo-Darwinian model of origins.
Another point which is worth mentioning is that one should not be so taken with the evidence that is consistent with evolution that we think we can ignore the evidence that contradicts it. And this isn’t a balancing act — weighing whether there is more evidence for or against the theory. We know from common experience that even a small amount of clearly contradictory evidence outweighs a large body of consistent evidence. A common thread running throughout Richard Dawkins’ book (The Greatest Show on Earth) is the analogy of weighing up incriminating evidence in a court of law. But in a court of law, no matter how much evidence appears to incriminate someone, it would be entirely outweighed by a reliable alibi that the accused was in a totally different location at the time of the crime. The same is true of science. Even a small amount of attestable data that clearly contradicts evolution is sufficient to demonstrate that it is false, despite a much larger body of evidence that is consistent with it.
The actual evidence shows that major features of the fossil record and cell biology are an embarrassment to Darwinian evolution. Judged by the normal criteria of empirical science, the data used to prop up neo-Darwinism is weak. We know today that there are multiple critical facts which strike hard blows at the conventional understanding of the theory. These are not merely trivial problems or anomalies that are likely to be solved, but fundamental matters that appear to be without prospect of solution.
I’ve been reading the blog Musings from a Theo-Geek by Marie for a long time and wanted to make readers aware of her new book. If you have any interest in the topic of eating disorders and overcoming spiritual bondage then I encourage you to look into it.
Side note: I don’t have the stats in front of me, but my daughter mentioned that when TV comes into a culture that eating disorders increase dramatically and quickly.
Calvary Press is releasing “Redeemed from the Pit: Biblical Repentance and Restoration from the Bondage of Eating Disorders” . . .
From the publisher’s website, here is the description and Martha Peace’s Foreword:
NEW! Check out our eBooks for download!
HAVE YOU FALLEN INTO THE PIT?
HERE’S HOPE!
REDEEMED FROM THE PIT
by Marie Notcheva
• Up to 3% of ALL adolescents in the United States have
symptoms of bulimia.
• 5-15% of ALL adult women show the same signs.
Are you one (or do you know someone) of the literally thousands who suffer from an eating disorder, most likely bulimia? Do you see yourself as fat and unattractive? Do you feel as though you don’t “fit in” and suffer from periods of deep depression? Has binging on food and then purging become a daily part of your routine?
HERE IS HOPE!
Drawing from her own experiences with the disorder, author Marie Notcheva shows you how to overcome this life-destroying habit. No, not by some contrived “self help” system—but by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ! Notcheva believes that the person suffering from an eating disorder is not a victim of a “disease”; it is not something that has befallen them or has been thrust upon them. Rather, the bulimic became so by a series of choices. They chose to feel a certain way about themselves. They chose to start on a path of behavior that leads to a destructive habit.
Likewise, those suffering from bulimia can start making correct choices. They can make the choice to believe that their behavior is sin, not a disease. They can believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and that by trusting in the sacrifice of Christ for sinners, they can have new life—and that they can have victory, not only over bulimia, but over the greatest threat of all: eternal destruction.
This book may indeed prove to be a “life saver” to many. It will certainly give tremendous hope to all who read it.
FOREWARD BY MARTHA PEACE
Since Mother Eve fell into sin, almost all women, Christians or not, have desired to be beautiful. Different cultures, over time, have defined beautiful in different ways. Remember the bee-hive hairdos of the 1960’s? Ancient Roman women thought that beautiful, too! Well, the bee-hive went out and thin came in.
Today, we are greatly influenced by the media to think that the only truly beautiful women are thin; very thin. We want to look like the movie stars, news anchors, and models that are almost always super-slim. I once heard about a movie star who on a very long air flight refused all the meals. On occasion, however, she would become so hungry she would insist on something to eat, eat two bites, and refuse the rest. She was thin and she was beautiful, but I wonder if her almost-starvation diet was worth it in the long run. She struggles with anorexia. Another may not starve herself; in fact, she may often be gluttonous, but maintains her weight by throwing up after the meal. Sometimes her compulsion is repeated several times per day. She struggles with bulimia.
It was forty-plus years ago in nursing school that I learned about eating disorders. As I recall, it was the first time I knew that eating disorders existed. Both were said to be psychiatric diseases and both, especially anorexia, were difficult to treat. What must have been rare back in the 1960’s is now, for many, a common practice. The quest for beauty which likely began with Mother Eve has not gone away. It is still labeled a psychiatric disease and anyone struggling with an eating disorder knows what Marie Notcheva means about being in the “pit” and “in bondage.”
Redeemed from the Pit: Biblical Repentance and Restoration from the Bondage of Eating Disorders is a gift from God to those struggling and to those helping someone struggling with an eating disorder. This book maintains a high view of God and an accurate view of man. It is written in an engaging style and entwined within it is Notcheva’s own personal struggle and how God granted her repentance and real freedom. As a biblical counselor to women, I am looking forward to using this book to help others. Read it prayerfully and thoughtfully. You, too, can, by God’s grace, be truly redeemed from the pit!
Martha Peace Biblical Counselor and Author of The Excellent Wife
Price: $21.99
ISBN: 978-1-879737-78-5
One of the pro-LGBTQ arguments swallowed by too many people in the center — and especially by those claiming the name of Christ — is that oxymoronic “same-sex marriage” (SSM) won’t impact them. That is a lie. Via Evidence of homofascism | Reason To Stand, where you can see many of the things already carried out by the Gaystap / GayGB. View the link to see the entire list. And note that these things have happened while most states have voted against SSM. It will only get worse. Religious freedoms will inevitably erode further, because they will make real Christians enemies of the state.
As part of my answer I mentioned the oppression of natural marriage proponents by homosexuals and was subsequently asked to provide evidence to substantiate my claim.
Here is my answer.
The issue is how, in the quest for normalization/affirmation, “gay rights” will result in oppressive laws/regimes like the Human/Homosexual Rights Commission of Canada.
Redefining marriage will certainly affect how everyone thinks about marriage and statistical data shows that in countries where marriage has been redefined to mean nothing more than two people posessing strong feelings for one another, the number of people who get married and stay married are dismal at best.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/660zypwj.asp
Of course the redefinition of marriage is not the only cause behind the decline of the institution of marriage, it was already sick as evidenced by the prominance of sexual promiscuity and high divorce rates. But redefining marriage in an attempt to divorce it from its biological moorings is like adding a new sickness on already diseased animal.
As for the oppression that forced normalization/acceptance of homosexuality brings, I submit the following list as examples of what is becoming known as “homo-fascism”, a term I find quite apt and not the least bit ironic.
Please note as well that these are actual cases that have already happened, this is not a “slippery slope” hypothetical scenario. The politically corerect ship of homosexual persecution has already sailed.
Couple faces legal action for refusing to rent a room to a homosexual couple http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259646/Gay-couple-turned-away-guest-house-owner-let-share-bed.html
Couple lose ability to provide foster care for refusing to affirm homosexuality http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/28/christian-couple-lose-care-case Bonus: The courts official ruling is that their religious beliefs are trumped by gay rights (the right not to be offended?) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361469/Christian-beliefs-DO-lose-gay-rights-Judges-ruling-devout-foster-couple-lose-case.html
Prop 8 supporters harassed http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/prop._8_supporters_suffer_harassment_assaults_from_homosexual_activists/
Counseling student prevented from graduating and ordered to receive mandatory sensitivity training http://emhardegree.hubpages.com/hub/Christian-Counseling-Student-Sues-School-for-Forcing-Gay-Sensitivity-Training
Schoolboy suspended merely for disagreeing with homosexuality (Cant have this sort of bullying going on now can we?) http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/22/texas-school-punishes-boy-for-opposing-homosexuality/
Paypal refuses to process donations to groups that don’t affirm homosexuality http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/paypal-launches-investigation-of-pro-family-groups-following-homosexual-com/
Affirmative action is like nepotism: You end up with more unqualified people, and the qualified employees have to live 24 x 7 x 365 with people — including themselves — wondering if they are really there on their merits. I feel sorry for the qualified minorities hired under Affirmative Action programs. They can’t just enjoy what they do, they have live with everyone wondering if they really deserved the job.
Then there is the injustice to the more qualified candidates that don’t get hired. And the customers and citizens subjected to substandard service or even unsafe conditions (in the cases of emergency responders). Everyone loses. Affirmative Action may have had a benefit at a point in time, but it has long outlived its usefulness.
In a free market, the bigots will lose. You want to be stupid and not hire great employees just because they are black, or female, or whatever? Great! I’ll hire them and kick your company’s butt because I’ll have the best and brightest on my side. Just look at the history of how college football became integrated. The more schools like Alabama got whipped by teams with great black players, the less racist their recruiting practices got. Go figure. And the athletes didn’t have to wonder if they were selected on their merits. Blacks compete very well in athletics and entertainment, two of the most brutally competitive fields. Don’t insult them and other minorities by saying they can’t compete in education and business.
See Berkeley College Republicans hold affirmative action bake sale.
A controversy over cupcakes is heating up at UC Berkeley in California, where campus Republicans are planning to hold an affirmative action bake sale on Tuesday.
At the sale, white men will be charged $2 for a baked good, Asians will pay $1.50, Latinos $1, African-Americans 75 cents and 25 cents for Native Americans, KGO-TV reported.
Women will get a 25 cent discount.
“The pricing structure is there to bring attention, to cause people to get a little upset,” Campus Republican president Shawn Lewis told the TV station. “But it’s really there to cause people to think more critically about what this kind of policy would do in university admissions.”
The Campus Democrats immediately slammed the sale, which Lewis said is meant to take a stand against an affirmative action-like bill for the University of California system that is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.
On Friday, the student newspaper reported that the student government could vote to defund the Republican group over the bake sale. A hearing is scheduled for Sunday on the fiery issue.
What a shocker: The majority Left can’t take the sting of satire so they have to use their power to oppress free speech.
Eternity Matters 