Imagine That

Utah gunman, 18, was Muslim from Bosnia.

The 18-year-old gunman who killed five people in a crowded Utah shopping mall was a Bosnian Muslim refugee who was prepared to kill many more, say investigators.

Talovic had a backpack full of ammunition, a shotgun and a .38-caliber pistol, police said. Investigators knew little about Talovic, except than he lived in Salt Lake City with his mother, the chief said. He was enrolled in numerous city schools before withdrawing in 2004, the school district said. Initially, police refused to release his name or any information about his background.

But President Bush says Islam’s a religion of peace. More amazing than that is the fact that the mainstream media can’t imagine what the shooter's motive was. Maybe we could focus on protecting our boarders and keeping these people (and the other illegals) out. Naw, lets send more troops to Iraq and talk up invading Iran, that’ll make America safer.

Hillary is going to win in 2008 and she’s gonna do it by running to the right of GWB and the rest of the GOP.

Optics

Lets see gun post then a religion post and now a gun related post. Maybe I’m getting into a rut. There's a gun show this weekend and fly fishing should be starting soon. I have a Bible class to get ready to teach on Sunday. No, no rut here just a limited number of activities for me to do over the winter. I need to get to it on the reloading. Garden seed catalogs are showing up, spring must be right around the corner.

I’ve got about a grand (maybe a little more) and I’m looking to get into 1000 yard shooting. I need a better scope on my rifle. I’d like suggestions on scopes you have used, likes and dislikes both would be appreciated as well as recommendations if there is a new product on the market that you wish you would have bought if it had been available.

I’ve been doing some of my own research on this and I like the Leopold Mark IV 8-25 by 50 mm ($1400). I like Leopold on my hunting rifles but for me this is more a thing of sticking with a product I’ve found to be good than a well thought out decision. Also I’d be just as happy dropping $800 for a scope that is just as good but less pricey. The problem is finding something “just as good”. Your thoughts and reasons for them are appreciated.

If I need more than $1400, I guess I can save up some more. I'll be using this on a Springfield M1A but I think at some point I'll put it on another gun.

Church Shopping

I didn’t really know what to title this post. I don’t believe the practice of “shopping” for a church is Biblical. It’s not like you get to go and “pick” one that “fits” you. I know, some people including some friends of mine, have this mindset. It’s wrong. You don’t get to chose “the church of your choice” like a restaurant. We don’t get to accept God on our own terms. He is God, we’re not, therefore He gets to make the rules.

Having said that, I’m facing a dilemma. I was asked by a friend in another state about “picking” a church. The question in this case is different than what most folks mean. This person isn’t a Christian but is looking to become one. The question isn’t asked by a person of faith seeking to worship God, it’s a question asked in a effort to discover God.

I think most people would recommend the church they go to. That’s what I’d normally do, but they don’t live in my town. Here is my dilemma. I don’t belong to a denomination. I left the “denomination” I grew up in when I became serious about making faith my own. Even if I did belong to a denomination I couldn’t in good faith recommend a group of people I don’t know just because they have the “right” name on the door.

I’m not someone who believes that every church claiming to be Christian is. In fact I believe the opposite. I believe God has some specific doctrines He’s established, and that He very much cares what we believe and practice. That said; what bits of advice would you give to someone looking at going to church for the first time?

How Do I…..

The list of questions like; what gun to buy, what class to take, what ammo to use etc is almost endless for the new shooter. What the newbie is looking for is a quick answer to a question that doesn’t have one. If you’re a gun nut or at least aspiring to be one, collecting lots of different guns is part of the fun. If you’re new to firearms ownership and you’re looking to get into it to accomplish a specific goal, like hunting or self defense, you’re looking to buy a tool.

Most of us want a tool that will do the job and be the most cost effective. I think that’s what lies at the hart of the “what gun do I buy” question. Unfortunately there isn’t one answer that works for everybody. That’s why gun makers offer hundreds of different models and calibers. Self-defense is a good thing. Where are you going to do this? Is the gun just for the home or is it something you’re going to carry on you most of the time?

My carry gun is a great little 45 acp that I dearly love, if I could only have one gun for both carry and home this would be it. If I wasn’t going to carry it and it was just going to set in a drawer someplace till it was needed, I’d pick something else.

My first choice for home defense is a handgun.

The first consideration is quality and reliability of the firearm.

The second thing I’d think about is ease of use.

The third thing I’d consider is how powerful it is.

The forth criteria is how accessible is ammunition.

Here’s my reasoning: A handgun is easy to move with and get into play in a confined space. It must go bang when needed or it’s useless. I has to be nearly fool proof to operate in a fight. It must deliver enough punch to takeout the bad guy. I have to be able to get my hands on ammo for defense and practice so the more common the better.

When picking a gun here’s what I’d look for.

1. Made in America. This isn’t a protectionist thing, we make the best handguns in the world, period. Yes some foreign makers do a good job, I don’t own any so I can’t tell you who they are from experience. Spend 10% more and support our industry and craftsmanship.
2. Major manufacture, this means Ruger, Springfield, Smith and Wesson Kimber, etc.
3. It can be used, no big deal if it is so long as its in good shape.
4. ease and reliability, this means a revolver as they are easy to use and take care of and are nearly always 100% reliable.
5. packs enough punch, get a .357, 44 mag or 45 long Colt, in a double action revolver, this takes care of criteria 2,3,and 4.

Go buy a second gun, but buy this one first, this needs to be a Browning Buck Mark in 22 cal (I like the Ruger Mark II too). Shoot the heck out of it till you get the hang of using it and till you get some idea of how much you like shooting and what your preferences are in handgun features. Here is a link to a good training article.

Word em up.

For the Girls

Men's Thesaurus

Because they're mostly true….

"IT'S A GUY THING"
Translated: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with it, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."

"CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?"
Translated: "Why isn't it already on the table?"

"UH HUH," "SURE, HONEY," OR "YES, DEAR"
Translated: Absolutely nothing. It's a conditioned response.

"IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN"
Translated: "I have no idea how it works."

"TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU'RE WORKING TOO HARD."
Translated: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."

"THAT'S INTERESTING, DEAR."
Translated: "Are you still talking?"

"YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS."
Translated: "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop,' the address of the first girl I ever kissed, and the vehicle identification number of every car I've ever owned... but I forgot your birthday."

"OH, DON'T FUSS -- I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT'S NO BIG DEAL."
Translated: "I have actually severed a limb but will bleed
to death before I admit that I'm hurt."

"HEY, I'VE GOT MY REASONS FOR WHAT I'M DOING."
Translated: "And I sure hope I think of some pretty soon."

"I CAN'T FIND IT."
Translated: "It didn't fall into my outstretched hands, so
I'm completely clueless."

"WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?"
Translated: "What did you catch me at?"

"I HEARD YOU."
Translated: "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said
and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next three days yelling at me."

"YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE."
Translated: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize
it could be worse."

"YOU LOOK TERRIFIC."
Translated: "Oh, please don't try on one more outfit. I'm starving."

"I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE."
Translated: "No one will ever see us alive again."

"WE SHARE THE HOUSEWORK."
Translated: "I make the messes; she cleans them up."

Rethinking It

This is a carry over from Vox’s. Where I said:

“Winston believes that non gun owners rely on gun owners to provide their safety since they expect men with guns to come and help them out if the situation arises. Thus they are dependent on the provision of others for a basic human need, ie parasites.”

I do believe it is the right and duty of the individual to provide for their safety and security. I do not recant that basic premise. However, I have to reconsider my conclusion. Thimscool raised good points that deserve consideration. My summation of these points:

1. Gun ownership isn’t the sole means of securing ones safety.
2. Paying taxes for police and military protection, isn’t parasitical.

I concede point one. A person is able to take steeps to ensure their safety and not own a firearm. Firearm ownership is (from my point of view) the best, last line of defense but the lack of a gun doesn’t prove the individual unable or unwilling to provide for their safety.

I am forced to concede point two as well. I don’t believe you can count on the police or armed forces to take care of this need for you. In fact under our system of government and law; neither group can be held accountable for not taking care of you, even if the circumstance in which you find yourself is one in which it is their job to address.

Unfortunately for me in this debate my belief, however well founded, doesn’t change the intent of the protectee. The intent of the protectee is to trade money in exchange for the assistance of the protector. One cannot be a willing party to an exchange and be a parasite. In the case of a trade, one party is exchanging something of value in order to obtain something of value; therefore they are not a freeloader.

I’m wrong about a non-gun owner being an automatic parasite.

That Time of Year

It’s Tax time again. It’s time to pull out those dusty receipts and scour the check book for deductible items. I’ve been enjoying using “Tax Cut” to do my taxes for several years now, it’s quick, easy and for $20 bucks it’s a good way to go.

I also do a couple of other personal finance chores this time of year. It’s a good idea to check your credit report for inaccuracies. I know several of you (including myself) are dedicated to debt free living, you might be thinking, “if I’m not in debt, why bother”?

Most of us will borrow money for a house. Your mortgage rate is based on your credit report. Also other things like insurance rates are based on your credit scores. It’s a good thing to check up on what information is being kept on you.

Once a year the credit repositories are required, by law, to give you a copy of your credit report. Get it. They are not however required to give you a free copy of what your credit score is. They want you to pay for it. This little interview will give you a decent idea what range you fit into.

I suggest you take the time to pull the free reports and inter the data as it appears on your report as you answer the questionnaire. The range you will fall into on the free score generator is VERY close to what your actual credit score will be. It’s close enough to predict interest and insurance rates. Go ahead and spend 15 minutes to do this little chore, its worth it.

Parable or True Account?

There is a story told in Luke 16 about a poor man and a rich man that die. The story creates a bit of a dilemma for Bible scholars. Jesus taught many lessons by using stories that were intended to convey a deeper truth that wasn’t always apparent. These stories are called parables. Most of the time the text itself indicates that a story is a parable by saying things like “Jesus taught the multitudes using parables” or “the Kingdom of Heaven is like…”. The use of a simile in the conversation is a huge clue that what follows is a parable and not an actual recounting of events.

That brings me to Luke 16:19-31

19 "Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. 20 "And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.22 "Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.23 "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.'25 "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.26'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'27 "And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house - 28 for I have five brothers - that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them,'30 "But he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!"31 "But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"
NASB

There is no use of similes or other indicators that this is clearly a parable. The greater context of the passage is one of teaching, but there is nothing that explicitly states or clues the reader to this being a parable.

My question is: “Is this story a not necessarily factual illustration used for instructional purposes OR is it a true retelling of events that Jesus was aware of”?

WTW A Day Late

They Finally Got Me

I had to switch to the new blogger or it wouldn’t let me sign in. Today I broke down and did it. I believe that Bill Gates and Google are involved in an evil plot to take over and rule the world. As long as they don’t have robots that do their bidding, we should be able to escape their clutches by going outside. I’m sure the pasty white geeks will burst into flames as soon as their skin comes into contact with the sun.

Believe it or not New Blogger sucks worse than old Blogger. I’m now up to attempt 8 at publishing this post. Maybe it’s not the suckyness and general incompetence of Blogger, maybe they have software that keeps you from publishing anything negative about New Blogger.