Despite what many of my previous and perhaps current acquaintances may think, I am well aware of the fact that my opinions conjure up bad feelings that cause many to mentally write me off. If this is the case for you, I suggest you save yourself some aggravation and leave me to my own devices (assuming that is how you see it). However, if you wish to know more about me, like me or not, reading my rantings will provide some key insight.
Today, first things first: a list of my thoughts that will help to outline my future blogs...
1. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God. God is Sovereign.
2. I will love Lauren (more and more, yes, but mainly better and better I hope) until death separates us.
3. Though I am not really a Calvinist, I firmly adhere to the 5-points of Calvin.
4. A few things are relative, but absolutes are the norm - "All things are relative" is wrong.
5. Two of the silliest phrases I have ever heard: "I do not believe in philosphy" and "I do not believe in Doctrine." Not believing in philosophy IS your philosphy. Not believing in Doctrine IS your doctrine. Think about it.
5. Johann Sebastian Bach's music is the greatest music ever conceived. My island CD would definitely be his St. Matthew Passion, B minor Mass, The Goldberg Variations - oh it is too hard to decide!
6. I have always considered myself to be a republican, but I now realize that no matter who is in office (be it legislative or executive), taxes never seem to decrease. Not only that, but the complete lack of control concerning unbelievably irresponsible government spending (example: 'pork barrell' legislation) has me losing all hope for longterm, continued freedom (using my definition of freedom of course; you can ask me about it if you like; maybe I'll write about that sometime).
7. "Throwing out the baby with the bath water" might be the error most often committed by our society today.
8. If you slug a hippy at a peace rally enough times, he will eventually realize that fighting back is occasionally necessary (I cannot take credit for this thought, but I certainly agree!).
9. You should not "Beware of aggressive drivers." You should "Beware of inconsiderate and thoughtless drivers." For example, USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL! and DO NOT BRAKE ON THE HIGHWAY UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY! and THE LEFT LANE IS FOR PASSING, NOT CRUISING AT 58 MPH WHILE DAYDREAMING ABOUT BELLY-BUTTON LINT!
10. The east coast is better than the west coast. Why...? There are actually regions in California that are trying to make spanking children a crime! (Among other things)
11. Reality TV is evil. It is not real. (For some reason though, Comcast defines Mythbusters as reality TV. I guess technically it is, but it is certainly different than "The Bachelor.")
12. Sitcoms, when taken in by the unfiltering mind, are evil. Just because something works for comedy, does not make it OK for real life. For example, "Everybody Loves Raymond"; while humorous, it teaches everything that is wrong with American family relationships.
13. If Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Sean Penn, Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler, George Clooney, Michael Moore, etc. all become unable to communicate past the speaking capacity of a mule, I swear I did not do it; I may have wished it, but I did not do it. If I knew how, I certainly would.
14. I am competitive. Some of you may view this as an understatement.
15. I was glad to see both Bobby Abreu and Allen Iverson leave Philadelphia. What do you know?!? Both teams got better immediately! Try and call that one a coincidence!
16. Excellence is something I admire in people. If you have dedicated your life to honing a skill that God has given you, you have done well.
17. Pictures are not more important than the vacation itself. Enjoy your vacation, but do not go for the sake of coming back and showing your pictures and don't pretend you enjoyed yourself more than you did.
18. Live for what you are doing, not for what you think you might be doing 20 years from now.
19. Complain if you like. If you do not do something about it however, don't ever complain again.
20. Objectivism, via author Ayn Rand, is the closest secular philosophy to my world view I have ever seen. Howard Roark is my hero.
In summary, I have strong opinions.
