I just heard about a couple of great ironies that happened tonight regarding the DNC and the upcoming RNC.

1. James Dobson's "F$#K US on the Family" group held a prayer session asking that God send rain to Denver to ruin the DNC. God wasn't listening.

2. The RNC is in danger of interference by Hurricane Gustav. The now hurricane-hypersensitive GOP can't be partying when a hurricane is on the loose! Maybe Dobson can intervene. It worked SO well on the Dems in Denver.

If I have learned one thing in this life, it's that God has an awe inspiring sense of humor - and I have every reason to suspect that God thoroughly enjoys using irony to expose hypocrisy.

More than you would ever know.

Richard, Please forgive me for speaking of God out of turn. Apparently you have the God-given right have both the first and last Word on such matters.

Richard's God doesn't have a sense of humor.

Richard's God hates the gays, don't you know.

Richard's God is a vengeful God.

You mis-understand. I find Dr. Dobson's actions deplorable. The arrogance and self-adulation of Dr Dobson and others of his ilk are a large part of what is wrong with Post-Modern Christianity. I believe God has a great sense of humor. How else do you explain the way He allows us all to carry on the way we do? We all deserve to be struck dead by a bolt of lighting, yet here we are...

Well said, Richard. I misunderstood your post. Hope to meet you sometime - if not before the lightning bolt strikes, then definitely after!

Isn't it interesting that tornado alley runs right through the Bible Belt?

"We all deserve to be struck dead by a bolt of lighting, yet here we are..."

Too true.

Out of curiousity, Richard....do you believe in the doctrine of pre-destination?

I always wondered why if Dobson was such a good Christian then why wasn't he out there helping those who needed help without a huge price tag on all of his assistance. I think it's deplorable the way he preaches to his followers as to how to vote in government elections.

"Out of curiosity, Richard....do you believe in the doctrine of pre-destination?"

Pre-destination is one of those "hot-button" concepts that means different things to different people. Rather than becoming mired in "definitions", it is much easier to simply tell you what I believe:

-Those who recognize their own depravity and sinfulness and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and seek to live in convent relationship with God, will spend eternity in heaven, and are the elect. The elect have been known to God from the foundation of the earth. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to call the elect.

-God loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ and desires that all would be saved and no one perishes to hell. Those who are "elect" will at some point in their life respond to the Holy Spirit working through God's Word. Ideally, the concept of living in convent relationship (i.e. using God's means of grace (His Word and the Sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion) to sustain our faith) is passed from one generation to the next.

-Those who harden their hearts to the Holy Spirit working through God's Word, basically decide to pay for their sin themselves and thus condemn themselves. You send yourself to hell through your unbelief, this is not God's doing. Because God is Holy (will have nothing to do with sin) He demands payment for sin, either you allow the Holy Spirit to create sustaining faith (again through Word and Sacrament) and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, or you pay your own way eternally in hell. Love without justice or accountability is not love.

-We have been conversing back and forth long enough that by now you should know you weren't going to receive a "yes" or "no" answer from me. I trust I did not disappoint.

Well, I took your response as a "yes"....you appear to be of the Augustinian persuasion. Thanks.

Richard sayeth:

> and seek to live in convent relationship with God

...did you perhaps mean "covenant"?

Yup... my bad.

I think Richard would get in trouble if he went to live in a convent.

Not sure if this story goes here or in the "Burning Man", thread.


http://hosted.ap.org/dyna...TE=DEFAULT

Dust storm causes some to leave Burning Man early

By MARTIN GRIFFITH
Associated Press Writer


AP Photo/Brad Horn


RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A dust storm chased away some participants from the counterculture Burning Man festival before its traditional climax Saturday night on the northern Nevada desert, authorities said.

Roger Farschon, incident commander for the federal Bureau of Land Management, said the dust storm on the Black Rock Desert about 110 miles north of Reno began early Saturday afternoon and continued into the evening.

"We are in (a) total whiteout," he wrote by e-mail. "A similar cold front caused a major dust event on Monday. The rest of the event has been relatively dust-free."

The annual celebration of radical self-expression was scheduled to climax Saturday night with the torching of its 40-foot signature effigy.

The crowd on Saturday morning reached a record 49,599, up from 47,097 last year, authorities reported.

Farschon said he was unaware of any fatalities or major arrests during the weeklong event leading up to Labor Day.

"Overall, the event is going smoothly with no major problems," he wrote. "Medical cases are very consistent with last year with daily patient loads of 0.5 to 0.7 percent of the population."

The BLM had made six arrests and issued 129 citations to participants through early Saturday morning, many for drug violations.

Burning Man, an eclectic art, music and performance festival, began in 1986 at San Francisco's Baker Beach and was moved to the Black Rock Desert in 1990.

Praying in one thing but I think it's the height of hubris to profess to know what God would do or think about any particular subject. Yes, yes, we have the bible to look to but it says nothing about which sports team will win the big game.

I believe it shows respect by the GOP to reduce the amount of time on the RNC. Not only to their deligates but for their families who might be in harms way. It proves to me that when a region of the nation is facing a disaster, that party lines are set aside and people (Americans) come first.

That is what I believe God is clearly demostrating to the world, people are more important than anything else that is happening in the world and this includes the RNC.

It reinforces my belief that Senator McCain is true believer in God because he heeded the sign that was sent for all the world to see. Have the Democrats cut their convention short because of a pending natural disaster? Probably not, if there was one.

Maybe it just means people should be paying more attention to the gathering of Ron Paul supporters. Considering that the end result of the GOP convention's curtailed schedule is that press pass requests for the RP convention are way up.

If it does work this way then it appears God did not answer Dobson's prayer to ruin the DNC and did answer a prayer to ruin the RNC. (I don't believe that by the way). IF it worked this way it looks like God is on the side of the Dems and against the Reps. Hmmm.

FYI here is what God's Son has to say about the subject. Not implying that any one party is just or unjust, good or evil.

"43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Ditto