The Institute (協会)

1994 Jeep Cherokee Giveaway: Get My Car In A Warmer Climate

I'm selling my SUV. Below are the details. Students can get it for FREE.

This 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport has 121,500 miles. I am the original owner. I've been anal about the maintanence for the past ten years. I'm getting rid of it because I just got another used car to get me through the next ten years.

It's a 5-speed, 2-wheel drive, 2.5 liter 4-cyl SE. It has AC and a removable face plate Rockford Fosgate CD player with MP3 capabilities (installed about a year ago), connect to 4 surround-sound Alpine speakers.

This car is NOT good for Michigan weather and needs to be in a warmer climate with little to know snow. So here's the deal: the Blue book value is $3,070 but I'll get rid of for $2450.

SPECIAL OFFERS: (1) Any St. Louis family that wants to get their high school or college student the car can have it for FREE. You just have to come get it or have it shipped. (2) Outside of St. Louis, I have a special offer for any high school or college student with discounts ranging from 80-99% on depending on financial need. Can you afford the insurance? (3) Single-parent families can have it for free if money's a problem. (4) There is a 100% scholarship available for any Clemson University RUF or FCA students. (5) Any Covenant College student, Phil-Mont Christian Academy Graduate under 22 can have it for free. (NOTE: for all of the offers you have to come get or pay to have it shipped).

If you want to come get it there are only dates I'm in town. I have to have it out by like July 27th-ish. June 6-9; 20-22, 25-30; July 1-7 (these dates may change); July 12-14(15); 18; 22-27. Also, I'm out of the country until May 31 so I might not be able to respond to any e-mails until June.

There is some frontend damdage that's not really noticeable. If you're in a state that requires a front-mounted license plate a new one will have to be installed.

I'm in Aberdeen, Scotland May 19-31, 2005

Read below to find out why. I'll be back in June.

I'm going to do some work on the ol' dissertation so I can "gragitate". And to visit with my friend Chris Richardson who's completando a PhD in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen.

So I probably won't be posting anything until June but I might have the occassional moment to do so if time permits, etc.

What's Your Story 3: Meet Doren and Doug--Girl Problems, Father Wounds, Big Dogs

"The best things that's happened to me is getting dumped by my girlfriend," Doren celebrated. Later, Doug said, "I want to be to my kids what my Dad was not [to me]"

I met Doren (pictured left) and Doug (pictured right) outside the Urban Mill Coffee House in the parking lot. The coffee house was closed. It was just before 10 o'clock.

What follows is one of the most authentic disclosures and displays of courage I've encountered recently. I left the conversation thinking, "WOW, these bruthas are da' real deal: authentic, alive, brave, and on a journey toward healing. Real men." Read their story:

I was a Monday night I wanted out of the house so I went for a drive and stumbled across what I didn't realize would be the highlight of the week.

Since it was two of them, I only asked a few questions. It was cold that night, really cold--even though it was mid May. Felt like 50 degrees. It kind'a sucked.

Doug(picture right) is a 27-year-old independent contractor born and raised in West Michigan but has a heart for Indonesia. He's a musician--plays drums, base, guitar--seems like a very talented and gifted guy.

Doren (pictured left) will be a returning sophomore in the fall at a college in Missouri. Born in Berkeley, Calif., this accomplished pianist and his family moved back to West Michigan when he was a few months old. Doren, who's name I thought was really cool but forgot to mention it to him, was homeschooled K-12.

Best Thing Ever
I asked each of to tell me what was the best thing that's ever happened to them. Doren, with a relaxed smile said his girlfriend dumping him was one of the best things that's ever happened. The three of us laughed, as I sat between them.

The relationship wasn't too good, he said. "God wanted something different. It wasn't meant to be." Actually, after the breakup, Doren, experienced quite a bit of freedom to get out of Michigan and explore the world.

So, facing real fears, he told God that if he got into his college he would go. He was accepted, packed up, and courageously left West Michigan for Missouri. This is admirable because most people I've met here wouldn't have left the state for college (or even West Michigan). Doren's pioneer spirit radiated. I was then actually honored to be interviewing him.

College life has been incredible for Doren. As a home-schooled kid being thrown into the social circus of the college campus meeting new people, making new friends, facing the social challenges head-on has enliven his spirit. He has powerful new relationships that have greatly blessed him.

"It was hard not having my parents around," Doren said quietly. "I had to make my own decisions and trust God." He enjoys the freedom of choosing good things, maturing in his ability to exercise that freedom without the direction and oversight of the ol' parents. It was clear to me, as the temparture continued to drop, that Doren's college experience, so far, warmed his soul.

Doug, totally, surprised me by immediately responding, "Indonesia." "Wow, who says that was the best thing that's happened to them," I thought. Doug and his family have a passion for the country. The hot weather, the ethos, the tight-knit families and communities all very desirable for Doug. "Family is no. 1 there," he repeated. Doug's serious folks, he's actually learning Indonesian. How cool is that?

He's been there of course. In fact, his whole family wants to move there some day. He's done some worship related things, volunteered in orphanages, etc. in the country. To see him totally light up about the country reveals a fire that God will someday honor.

And, then, after debating in my head, I asked them what was the worst thing that's happened to them. The both went to same place--their father wound.

Sons Wounded By Fathers
As we all know every son is wounded by his father in some way, either through passivity or active abuse. Our fathers are sons of Adam and therefore are not perfect. The effects of the wound require deep healing in many cases.

Doug grew up in a house where his Dad was angry all the time. "He would just blow up!" As he got older Doug saw his Dad anger becoming his anger. His father's anger problem had been passed on! Doug, saw it in himself and took decisive action. At, 24, things changed after sitting with other men willing to be honest about their father wounds at a leadership training and decided, "alright, I choose to forgive."

That decision to forgive his father would prove to affect his as well. His own anger stuff just disappeared. Radically disappeared.

Doren's grandfather was "a really bad guy" and was not really a father to his Dad. The effects on Doren's father have been quite obvious. His Dad definitely failed him in a lot of ways, he said. thinking hesitantly he refrained from offering details. "But I love my Dad A LOT," he fervently reiterated.

"I wish he would have spent more time with--still, I'd like for him to spend more time with me," Doren said solemnly looking at flat asphalt. There was a very deep wound there that he we been in another context I would have explored further. "I wish he would have taught me how to follow God better."

At this moment my heart sank. Not only at Doren's story but also at my own. I strangely saw myself sitting there dazed at the asphalt. Unbeknownst to him Doren started telling my own story.

Pride and Girls
Doren's home church is very prideful fostering some pain for guys like Doren. "It's in my church and it's in me," he confessed. Wait! Did he just say that? Did a college sophomore just confess to struggling with pride? I was convicted.

Doug first got pretty physical with girls when he was 13-years-old. Never sex, but really close to crossing the line. Reflecting out loud Doug dropped a most awesome proverb: "your first relationship sets the stage for the rest." That'll preach!

At 19, he moved to Iowa and slipped into depression. The IOWA season in his life was as dark as the sky hovering over us as we confessed.
Doug said that he had huge "abandonment issues" with girls. Girls would date him, make-out with him, and then move on the next guy--using him and his heart in process. A previous girl-friend cheated and that's when he learned to go on the offensive with girls.

"I'm going to cheat on you before you can hurt me," was his way of relating to girls. He didn't trust girls for a while. He became reactive. His relationship with God was horrible at the time as well. After a few bad relationships he decided that he was not going to date anymore until he got his issues dealt with. And he did only after God started to heal him from a lot of stuff.

He was completely living for himself until he became serious again about following God. Now at 27, with a few years now of God restoring his heart, he's seeing a wonderful Godly woman and talking about getting married soon.

Doug confessed also that he used to be a huge poser. "I've always had a problem with guys." Growing up, he was picked-on a lot. He was always "the little guy" that other kids would want to beat up on. So he learned again to go on the offensive, talking his way out things and using words to cut people down as much as possible before they could physically hurt him.

Only now, at 27, is he learning how to trust men again. The fact that was telling me stuff was amazing. I was again honored by the access. Very honored.

Hope, Making Things Right, Heaven
It was getting late, and getting really cold, so I thought I'd wrap things up. Honestly, though, I could have talked with these guys all night. Wherever two or three are gathered. . . So I ask what they were hopeful about, etc.

Doug's hopeful about seeing big things happen in his life. He's excited about what it's going to look like to walk in the God's blessing and see what's going to happen when God shows up in various ways and does some radical stuff. He's looking forward to possibilities in his new relationship.

"I want to be to my kids what my Dad was not," he declared.

Doren said he was looking forward to a warm bed that night. We all laughed (I was kind'a thinking the same thing). Seriously, this was the coldest May night I've ever experienced, ever.

He's also excited about what God's gonna do in the world, someday having a wife, and with great enthusiasm he awaits the acquisition of "a very, very large dawg." Amen to that!! I told him I had a St. Bernard growing up.

Without transition and with the deep groans of the Apostles Doren said, "I look forward to the day when everything will be made right. The day when everything that everyone has done wrong will be made right." Finally, pleasantly sighing, this young warrior looks forward to "heaven."

I'll never forget that night. I visited with two warrior saints. Doug's fire is contagious. He’s a man who understands joy, real joy, and walks in it. I want to be more like that. It's deep with him you could feel it.

Doren's words about the righting of wrongs is the heart of God and will sit with me for sometime. He’s only a sophomore but he is a fully God-made man. I offered to journey with him if he ever needed it there in Missouri. For those you who know me you know I meant it. The Enemy fears him.

“Thank you God for healing these guys, making them new, and allowing me just a few minutes to hear their story of your working your story in their lives."

(Doug and Doren if there's anything in there that's not accurate just e-mail and I'll fix it. Thanks for sharing your story).

Off To Scotland

Leaving for Aberdeen, Scotland today (Univ. of Aberdeen). I'll be back June 1st-ish.

1994 Jeep Cherokee For Sale or Free To A Covenant College Student

This 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport has 121,500 miles. I am the original owner. I've been anal about the maintanence for the past ten years. I'm getting rid of it because I just got another car to get me through the next ten years.

It's a 5-speed, 2-wheel drive, 2.5 liter 4-cyl SE. It has AC and a removable face plate Rockford Fosgate CD player with MP3 capabilities (installed about a year ago), connect to 4 surround-sound Alpine speakers.

This car is NOT good for Michigan weather and needs to be in a warmer climate with little to know snow. So here's the deal: the Blue book value is $3,070 but I'll get rid of for $2450.

SPECIAL OFFERS: (1) Any St. Louis family that wants to get their high school or college student the car can have it for FREE. You just have to come get it or have it shipped. (2) Outside of St. Louis, I have a special offer for any high school or college student with discounts ranging from 80-99% on depending on financial need. Can you afford the insurance? (3) Single-parent families can have it for free if money's a problem. (4) There is a 100% scholarship available for any Clemson University RUF or FCA students. (5) Any Covenant College student, Phil-Mont Christian Academy Graduate under 22 can have it for free. (NOTE: for all of the offers you have to come get or pay to have it shipped).

If you want to come get it there are only dates I'm in town. I have to have it out by like July 27th-ish. June 6-9; 20-22, 25-30; July 1-7 (these dates may change); July 12-14(15); 18; 22-27.

There is some frontend damdage that's not really noticeable. If you're in a state that requires a front-mounted license plate a new one will have to be installed.

The Riddler Is Dead

Actor Frank Gorshin, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as The Riddler on the old "Batman" television series, has died. He was 72. "He put up a valiant fight with lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia," Christina Gorshin, Gorshin's wife of 48 years. She was at his side when he died. The Riddler, Adam West's villainous enemy in the question mark-pocked green suit and bowler hat appeared on "Batman" from 1966-69.

Antonio Villaraigosa Es La Alcalde Nuevo De Los Angeles!!

Los Angeles has a new mayor. De la PA:.

Antonio Villaraigosa venció al alcalde James Hahn y se convirtió en el primer edil electo de origen hispano en esta ciudad en más de un siglo, lo cual confirma la creciente importancia de los latinos en la segunda ciudad más grande de Estados Unidos.

Villaraigosa, de 52 años, se mostró como un candidato que podía unir los grupos étnicos y raciales en una ciudad donde el 48% de su población es de origen hispana, 31% es blanca, 11% asiática, y el 10% es de raza negra.

Perfecto. Estoy feliz. Villaraigosa es una demócrata, pero esta bien porque sera una buena ejemplo para los jovenes (demócrata o no)! Espero los Americanos, finalmente, que la gente de origen hispana estan muy importante en politicas y la sociedad en general. Que cuidad es proximo (Nueva York, Newark, Atlanta)?

Por la celebracion en LA, quisiera a ir a Pollo Campero (de Guatemala (yummy). Hay muchos Guatematecos en Los Angeles. MUCHOS)

(amigos, estas libre a corregir mi espanol!)

Pain

As I travel about and talk to people about their stories, there's one theme I find consistent: pain coupled with joy coupled with pain. The reality of the fact that the world is not the way it's supposed to be. Doug and Doren's stories are coming this week soon. . .

What's your story?

Black's Secretly Sterilized By The Government

From the early 1900s to the 1970s, some 65,000 men and women were sterilized in this country, many without their knowledge, as part of a government eugenics program to keep so-called undesirables from reproducing. Elaine Riddick tells her story on ABC. She was raped at 13, then sterilized at 14.

Lia thanks for sending this!!

The Dave Chappelle Show Suspended.

The Dave Chappelle wants to set things straight: "I'm not crazy, I'm not smoking crack," he tells Time magazine in an interview more than a week after his hit Comedy Central show was suspended and the rumors started to fly says the AP.

Friends, I've only seen parts of a few episodes (because of time and laughed a lot). I've heard some say very good things about his wit. How funny is the show? Favorite skit? How bad is it?

IJM 2005 Prayer Gathering: Awesome, Calling All Attorneys

"The 2005 IJM (International Justice Mission) Global Prayer gathering was an awesome time of reunion, worship, fellowship, and petition. To hear the stories of how God is using his people to literally rescue people from the most heinous forms of oppression in Asia, Latin America, and Africa (ranging from children--boys and girls--forced into prostitution, to people illegally held in prison and tortured, to people's land being taken from them) was breath-taking. To pray with hundreds of others who have a heart for justice was beautiful. God is using His people in the Great Battle, in life-changing ways, as he calls fallen creation back to himself.

Experienced workers willing to go on an adventure like this are increasingly hard to find, however. IJM needs experienced attorneys who see needs like this in our world and say, "Here I am Lord, send me." If you're an attorney with 4 years experience, including some managment experience, you have an amazing opportunity to manage a team who will work toward liberating people, right now, from some of the worst abuses imaginable. Would a move like this be hard? YES. Will you not make a ton of money? YES. Will you and your family suffer? YES. Such is the life of following Jesus into dangerous work. But the trade off is amazing. For example, when you see the faces of girls and boys that are free from suffering in brothels because of your work, won't it be worth it? If I were an attorney I'd totally do it.

The Kingdom needs different kinds of missionaries.

International Justice Mission Global Prayer Gathering

This weekend May 13-15 I'm participating in the IJM (International Justice Mission) annual prayer gathering in the Washington, DC area (Arlington, VA).

This is a GREAT organization liberating people from oppression internationally and I'm looking forward to being back with them.

UC Berkeley GREEKS Now Dry. . .

From CNN:

The University of California at Berkeley said Monday it had banned alcohol at fraternity and sorority events following a series of incidents including a booze-soaked boat party that drew police.

Ok, yeah, this pretty much sucks for these frats and sororities. Without alcohol why do they exist. Some would say to give people who were losers in high school a change to finally be "accepted" and "cool" even if it costs them $500 per semester in school.

Dell Computers, Frustrations, Batteries

Last Dec. I bought a $149 battery for my computer and it's already bad. I contacted Dell and since it only had a 90-day I have to get another one.

There are not enough four-letter words to express my true feelings about Dell's batteries.

What's Your Story 2: Meet Winnie Cooper, Singer/Songwriter

"When I get really pissed off at guys I sing songs about pushing them down wells," says Winnie. "That's how I deal with my pain."

Winnie Cooper, a senior, majoring in biochemistry or microbiology , hopes to one day do cancer research (I can't remember her major exactly. I know it's "bad reporting!"). In the meantime, Winnie plays around local bars doing what she's loved since she was 5-years-old, playing the guitar and singing.

Last night, around 11, walking on Wealthy Street on a crisp night I stumbled across Winnie pan-handling just outside of Mulligan's Pub. She also tried to get into the line-up at Billy's, a popular bar just across the street, but they were being "@#$%s," she says.

Her voice. Amazing. Yeah, I was immediately reminded of Norah Jones and Edie Brickell (I got angry when Edie married Paul Simon. It ended her career).

"A penny for a song," Winnie petitions, as the night folk made requests, dumping, into an open guitar case, coins and cigarettes (legal tender in the pan-handlin' business) . As we talked, and she played, I realized that Winnie's actually famous, sort of. A crowd gathered. They made requests. She sang beautifully.

I asked her, "what's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?" Without hesitation she replied,

"I was in an abusive relationship for 3 years." An awkward silence hovered. I loved the honesty. I love brutal honesty anyway. But, I could only think to say, "geesh, that's sucks." I should be better at stuff like that.

Winnie is annoyed by "prissy girls that giggle a lot." "And Rightly so," I thought to myself. Then a thin, blonde young woman walks by wearing a pair of tacky "daisy-dukes" and Winnie bursts out, very loudly, in the most hilarious song about how slutty the shorts are. True talent. She did a lot of impromptu stuff.

As more and more people come by, Mulligans' regulars no doubt, I realize that I've actually encountered a community. "Heeeeeeey, it's Winnie Cooper," people said. Guys were standing, listening, then sitting. I wonder what their stories are? Why were they all out on a Monday night at 11:45 pm? Why was I there?

Before I left, I asked Winnie what's the greatest thing that's ever happened to her. She laughed, "I'm still waiting for it." No more questions, I put my pad down and just hung out with my new friends in a low-hanging cigarette cloud, listening, people watching, laughing.

Do you know anyone with a similar journey or story?

Andy Roddick Upset By Whom?

Andy Roddick lost in the opening round of the Hamburg Masters and Rafael Nadal withdrew because of a cut hand. Roger Federer, my favorite player (even before he was famous) recovering from an inflammation to both feet, defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-3 in this $2.7 million clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 23. Roddick, seeded second, was beaten by Chile's Nicolas Massu 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-5.

Honestly, friends, I've never really liked Roddick but he's been humbled the last few years on the court (mainly by my boy Federer) so I'm warming up to him.

Announcing A New Series: "What's Your Story"

I'm launching a new project talking to regular people about what they do, who they are, what their stories are, what they love. etc. It's random people in real situations.

Mouse In The Bathroom: I Took Pictures

I walk in the bathroom tonight (after coming from the gym) to turn the shower on. I then walk out of the bathroom, past my roomate's room where I comment about the dead possum that our landlord pulled out of our basment and how I don't like dead rodents. I then walk back into the bathroom to hop in the shower and I saw this on the floor (it was not there when I started the shower):

It startled me. My roommate Bryan bravely removed it. It was my first in-the-house-mouse ever. I will never be the same.

What's Your Story 1: Meet Jaron of Cafe Mate, Organic Tea

I love smell the of incense. I love drinking organic tea. On Mother's Day, 2005, in Grand Rapids, while walking around my Eastown neighborhood, sunny and 71 degrees, my eyes fell upon these life-giving words: "Organic Groceries." Hurrah!! Somehow I missed this after driving by the same store-front hundreds of times. It's "The Healing Path," my neighborhood organic food store. I picked up two avocados for some organic guacamole that I make (well it's mostly organic). The store smelled of incense and had organic tea. It's also where I met Jaron. It was a great day.

(Jaron, 24)

As I left to pay for my avocados I met Jaron Seigel, a 24-year-old owner of an organic tea business. Sitting on a stool typing away on his lap top, drinking tea. We talked about injustice. Jaron's clearly one of the coolest guys I've met in this town. With great entrepreneurial spirit and an insightful concern for our world it made for a pleasant spring afternoon conversation--especially with Reggea music echoing all around. (Reggea is Jaron's favorite music since Bob Marley captured his ear in high school.) Jaron's company is Cafe Mate(with accents over both letters e). Totally organic tea. He started the business when he was 19!

Conversation started when I asked for Darjeeling Tea.

International slavery quickly emerged as a topic when I asked for that tea. I always ask for Darjeeling tea because it gives me an excuse to brag about my India trip last summer with IJM. I've been to Darjeeling and would move there without hesitation.

Ah, we had the most wonderful conversation about consumerism, economics, poverty, wealth, the challenges of being a small business trying to maintain intergrity in a market where government and unethical business practices violate the liberty of the small guy. He's a deep thinker. Articulate. Very cool!

Jaron graciously "comped" me a few samples. I mean a lot. The gesture was genuine, authentic and received with great apprcation. He even walked out to his car to get it (that never happen at Wal-Mart). I felt like a friend. He gifted me Chai Mate (cloves, vanilla, hazelnut, spices, etc.), Coco Mate (cocoa, raw cane juice, coconut, spices, etc.), and Herb a Mate (chamomile, ginger, with orange and kiwi accents. He makes all these tea blends himself. Awesome. Incredible. I can't wait.

By the way, "The Healing Path" has an impressive selection of breads, fruits, veggies, milk, eggs, and other cool stuff! ALL ORGANIC AND an affortable and resonanble portioned FOOD CO-OP!! What a great day. And yes, I did call my mother.

My Cube At Work: It's Where The Majic Happens

Yep, this is where I do the life changing work of research, writing, and networking while I'm in the office. And it's orgnanized clutter, by the way.

Why My Blog Will Never Be The Same

I am now armed with a Nikon Coolpix 5600. 5.1 Megapixels, 3x Zoom, and an in-camera Red-Eye Fix.

Evidence of the Fall: Exhibit #435AXR2--The Biggest Bird Car Poop Ever

In the new heavens birds will be more considerate.

Love American Style

Ah, yes, Love American Style!! Hey, remember this show? I only saw the re-runs but today, for some reason, the theme song was playing in my head. What's American style love look like today?

About the show from tvhome.com: "This show premiered on Monday, September 29, 1969 and the last episode aired on Friday, January 11, 1974. There were 108 color episodes were filmed at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Love, American Style entertained viewers with stories about common people finding love in all walks of life. Each hour-long show would give us either one, two, three, or four stories of love.

Lumps In the Neck: Non-Hogkins Lymphoma, maybe/maybe not

About 7 or 8 weeks ago I noticed that I have a few lumps on the right side of my neck, under my skin of course. I knew they were lymph nodes. As a hyperchondriac I immediately got on-line, typed my symptoms found several site regarding lymphoma(cancer). So I went to my general prac. and he felt them.

Yesterday, I went to an ear, nose, throat dude so here's what's next. I had blood drawn to test for levels of something (I forgot as my mind began to drift into worse-case scenarios). We're first going to see if it's allergies or something.

He put me on amoxicillin/clavulanic acid tablet 875mg/125mg (common name Augmentin) for about two weeks to see if the lymph nodes subside. If they do, then we'll need to find out what I'm reacting to (I guess).

If they don't go down, then we're going to schedule a CAT scan. My next appointment is June 2nd.

Anybody know about this stuff?

[I know that Harry Seabrook, Reformed and Van Tillian, and the rest of the littlegeneva.com racist, Seabrook-types may be hoping for the worse possible outcome, as I am "living proof" of all that wrong with the PCA in their minds, but I would ask that the racists not post comments here].

Hendrix College Toga Party Was Toned Down This Year

Hendrix College, Conway, Ark., has an annual Toga Party where students can unwind from a challenging academic year. As an on-campus event, this year, it was toned down. The Profile, the student paper, printed the following instructions from a student about the Toga: "By the way, ladies, dress skimpy, and guys, stay classy."

Hendrix College/Animal House? Who knew?

Van Til Leads To Racism?

In the name of Reformed theologians like Cornelius Van Til and in the name of presuppositional apologetics Harry Seabrook is hosting an entire web-site with multiple links to other sites promoting racism and white supremacy--in the name of Christ.

Here's the question of the year: Since I believe this is not what Van Til believed, or would want to be associated with, why are the Van Tillians and those embracing presuppositional apologetics saying nothing to refute the ideology of Christian white supremacy which seems to be alive and well in the OPC and PCA? Why are these guys allowed to claim Van Til?

This is not a minor problem that we can simply ignore if we expect to broaden the Reformed influence.

MTV News Reports On Paula Abdul and Corey Clark

Ok, so Corey Clark and Paula Abdul had an affair. Is Paula married? What's an "affair" mean?

From MTV:

The night he serenaded Paula Abdul from the "American Idol" stage during an elimination round, Corey Clark claims a mysterious woman gave him a slip of paper with the "American Idol" judge's home number on it. The nervous singer waited until midnight to call Abdul from a payphone before being taken in a cab to her Hollywood Hills home for the start of what he alleges was a three-month love affair.

During that affair, not only did Abdul help Clark with his look, she helped him pick a song she knew would appeal to fellow judge Randy Jackson, seemingly clearing Clark's path to becoming a finalist on the 2003 edition of the talent show. These are among the allegations made by Clark in Wednesday night's sweeps-timed special edition of "Primetime Live" entitled "Fallen Idol."

Why does America care about this? Corey is a grown man and Paula is grown woman. There are millions of adults that have "affairs" outside of what the Designer of sex desires for human relationships. So I look at this story and I think, "yeah, so what?" They are both missing out on the power and beauty of living the life desired by God.

Also, dude, is totally using this to push his own name (usuing the media like me) to promote his upcoming album. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Paula planned the whole thing out just to call attention to him and to increase the show's ratings.

I feel bad for both of them.

Help Me Buy A Digital Camera

Go HERE for this post. I need digital camera advice.

THE COMMENTS ARE DOWN AT WORLDMAG RIGHT NOW!!

A Racist Gets Schooled

The entire post below was develop and written by Josiah. I asked him to cut and paste it here. None of the words written below are my own and solely belong to Josiah only. So when you comment you are commenting on what Josiah said (not me).

[borrowed with permission from the Josiah at Irresponsible Journalism]

See, if you're gonna be a racist and post picture's of an interracial family to rip on them, don't be a moron and hard-link the images, especially if the husband of that family happens to work for a web development company with at least a modicum of intelligence and creativity, who also happen to be intensely loyal to their employees/friends.

The story is LittleGeneva.com, a psycho racist site/blog claiming Christianity, decided to rip on New City and The Huffine Family. You can see screen caps of the original posts here (low res) and here (high res).

But because this guy was dumb, he simply hardlinked direct to the images on Huffine's site. So what we did was replace the original images with these below. Here's a couple of links to the sorta-hacked pages.

Little Geneva Hacked (high res) Little Geneva Hacked (low res)

Help Me Buy A Digital Camera

Friends, I'm in the digital camera market but I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm looking to spend something in the $300 range or less.

I'd like it to be able to zoom some and I want to be able to record a few seconds (or minutes) of digital video. Is this "movie mode"? (I know a guy that sent me pictures and one of them was like a 10 second video and he did it all on his digital camera. I thought, "WOW, that's cool!!"). And I want to be able to record sound as well.

Let me know what's out there that I should look at. Thanks. Oh yeah, where's the best place to buy one anyway?

PCA/OPC Racism At It's Best: New City Fellowship Is Now Attacked

The attack is now on New City Fellowship (PCA) in Chattanooga, TN.

You won't believe it: http://littlegeneva.com/badlands/index.php?p=659

Seriously, click HERE.

My Last Footlong Subway Sandwich

Last night, I probably had my last footlong sub from Subway. It's too much food. I can't eat that much any more. I am old.

Boston College Offers Closing Thoughts For the 2005 School Year

Ryan Conners, an opinion write for the paper at Boston College called The Heights, offers some words, after quoting the Bible and C.S. Lewis, on what it means to be human:

There are no mere mortals, as C.S. Lewis says. Our love for this truth and for each human person, a love which is often expressed in tears, is the hope for our age. We should see in our tears and in our suffering our capacity to love. In the years that follow, we cannot know the extent to which we will suffer. My guess is that it is far greater than we think. As we leave BC, perhaps we will shed a tear because we will miss those whom we have grown to love here. But we will cry more in years to come because we will love more.

For many seniors graduating from college this year the next few weeks are going to be a mix of joy and pain, clarity and confusion, anticipation and dissappointment, wealth and poverty--and worst of all MOVING!!

Conners continues,

But the promise, of course, is that one day every tear will be wiped away. The task of treating every human person for what he is − a creature of immeasurable value − is work that needs doing. In fact, it is the work we will spend our lives doing. It is quite a task, but I hear there's a banquet to follow that is out of this world. Hopefully, the class of 2005 will meet again there.

Jeff Gordon Wins: My First NASCAR Posting

Jeff Gordon, in car 24, "proved again Sunday he is NASCAR's new king of racing at plate tracks, fighting off challenger after challenger on the way to winning the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway in overtime." This is his 72-nd career win. There was an awefull 25-car wreck that delayed the race about 45-minutes. Was anyone there who could offer more description?

Why do people hate this SPORT so much? Some people don't even consider it a real sport? Is it?

Some Would Call the Dude In The Jeans "Lame"

Yeah, some would call him a loser because he's actually wearing running shoes with jeans. Who does that some might ask? Some would say, "lame Americans that's who!" How do you find Americans in Europe and Latin America? Look for the folks wearing running shoes and sneaks with jeans.

Whereas, this guy below would be considered by some to be normal. "Why," you ask. Jeans and a pair of Diesels. My friend's wife makes fun on him 'cause he's got a ton of shoes. He's a Diesel wearer.

Diesel's (or at least "Diesel-type" shoes) are very cool (see below). No one will think you're lame wearing these:

The Malicious Abuse of the Word "LIKE": English Minded People HELP

Like, what's up with, like the overuse of, like, the word "like." Like, I don't, like understand how, like, people are, like, actually, like communiticating with as many, like, uses of the word "Like."

Sometimes I'm like, "hey, would you, like, shut up with, like, the use of all the, like, friggan, likes. I'm like sure that, like, is the, like, most used word, in like most high schools in America. Like, what's, like, up, like, with that? Does, like, every other word, like have to be like. Hey, I say, "like maybe we should not say like so much.

Maybe the word "like" is actually tired. Maybe we should use something new and give "like" a break. But, like, I don't know what to insert. Here's a thought, how about silence??

It's like "like" abuse or something. No, like, word deserves to, like, get treated this way. How did this, like, start? When, like, does it end?

I notice that, like, when I do youth talks, I like use the word "like" like a lot. It's like crazy! Ya know!!

I propose a boycott of the word "like." Like, I'm serious.

Welcome to 1992--Do Stores Even Sell These Anymore?

C'mon, Who Would Actually Wear These?

I've seen people in the airport with these shoes on and I'm like "What, they'd better be really, really comfortable??"