Careful Thought

Courtesy of Chai-Rista at Truly Bad Films:

1. My uncle once: Worked at Area 51.
2. Never in my life have I: gargled chili
3. When I was five: I nearly managed to sever the tip of my left middle finger.
4. High School was: normal. No really. I went to Normal Community High School in Normal, Illinois.
5. My parents are: great folks, but my dad passed away peacefully last year.
6. I once met: a bear coming over the mountain.
7. There’s this girl I know who: has a burning desire to be a missionary in a Middle Eastern country. God bless her!
8. Once, at a bar: I did a lot of pull-ups.
9. Last night: I interviewed a prospective pastor for our church.
10. Next time I go to church: I will print the bulletins.
11. When I turn my head left, I see: a nearly dead plant. It has a death wish.
12. When I turn my head right, I see: a wooden lion my son made for me.
13. How many days until my birthday? 322 days.
14. If I was a character written by Shakespeare I’d be: Mercutio
15. By this time next year: I hope to be finished writing THE BOOK.
16. A better name for me would be: “Stop it now!‿
17. I have a hard time understanding: why people hate people of faith
18. If I ever go back to school I: would take Creative Writing and grammar classes
19. You know I like you if: I talk to you.
20. If I won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: God, then Cyndie
21. Take my advice: Go easy on the credit cards!
22. My ideal breakfast is: Chicken fried steak and gravy, with chipotle Tabasco.
23. If you visit my hometown: you’ll miss it if you blink.
24. Why won’t someone: answer the phone!
25. If you spend the night at my house: you’ll probably step on kid (or dog) toys in the middle of the night
26. I’d stop my wedding: I’m not planning on having a second one so I’ll stop it right here
27. The world could do without: the ACLU
28. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: clean up kid barf.
29. Paper clips are more useful than: thumbs for resetting my Clie.
30. If I do anything well, it is: show my fallen nature.
31. And by the way: the dogs are coming tomorrow.

The hostility toward evangelical continues, this time (or, once again) in the military. I served for 24 years in the US Air Force and watched with alarm the growing intolerance toward any mention of Jesus the Christ. Reference to a hazy, non-judgmental God is fine. From the Washington Times:

To pray — or not to pray — in Jesus’ name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House yesterday.”I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus’ name,” said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.

The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000 signatures on a petition seeking an executive order.

Seventy-three members of Congress have joined the request, saying in an Oct. 25 letter to the president, “In all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying.” (More)

The Air Force Academy (my alma mater) has seen its share of controversy recently over prayer and proselytizing. The military is increasingly becoming a mirror of our society’s hatred of faith.