Early Bird Cut-off For Banner Coming Up

I have mentioned the Banner of Truth Conference before. I was reminded today that the early bird cut off date is May 2nd. After that the prices go up. Head over to The Banner website and sign up in the conferences section.

Engineer's Guide To Cats

Worth the 7 minutes it runs.



(HT: Challies Dot Com)

Why Are Plastic Bags Bad?

With the growing anti-plastic bag movement including bans in various Canadian towns, I have been considering what lies behind this. I know the statements that generally are part of this movement is that plastic bags are environmentally unfriendly, but rarely do I find any actual support for that beyond an outright statement. While I can understand that other than some biodegradable bags these bags do not disappear particularly quickly, at the same time plastic bags are recyclable and can be reused. The study that claimed that animals were being killed by plastic bags in the ocean has been shown to be an outright lie and has been changed to reflect that (something that is not generally ever mentioned by the way).

Paper on the other hand requires the destruction of trees, and while it can be recycled will likely get soaked with various fluids that will require it to be garbaged and thus will end up in the landfill where it will take up the supposedly unavailable landfill space as much as plastic.

So, why are plastic bags bad? I want something more than opinion, I want facts, especially with supporting scientific literature to show the evil of plastic bags.

For Those Big Companies That Threaten Small Ones -- Some Turn About

While reading through Slashdot.com I found this link to a letter responding to Monster Cables who threatened Blue Jeans Cable, a small cable company. Little did those who sent the letter from Monster Cables know that the head of that company was a lawyer for 25 years before going to Blue Jeans Cable. His letter, which is both humorous and insightful, can be found here. It is long, but well worth the read. BTW, this is a lawyer I could actually like.


Technorati Tags: Humor, Litigation, Big Business Bullies

Sign On To Ban DiHydrogen Monxide

This substance that is used by pesticide companies, nuclear companies, chemical companies among others. It is found in the food and drink we consume, and tests have shown it is in everyones bodies.

Protest this ubiquitous threat.

Watch the following video for more information:

Luther on Charity and Unity in the Context of False Doctrine

As I was doing some preparations for next weeks morning sermon, I was reading through Luther's commentary on Galatians which I just recently added to one of my Bible Study programs. As I read the quote below, I started to wonder if Luther lived today and was facing the same doctrinal controversies that I am others face in the denomination I serve within. Even though he did not, his comments strike true even today.

Let others praise charity and concord to the skies; we magnify the authority of the Word and faith. Charity may be neglected at times without peril, but not the Word and faith. Charity suffers all things, it gives in. Faith suffers nothing; it never yields. Charity is often deceived but is never put out because it has nothing to lose; it continues to do well even to the ungrateful. When it comes to faith and salvation in the midst of lies and errors that parade as truth and deceive many, charity has no voice or vote. Let us not be influenced by the popular cry for charity and unity. If we do not love God and His Word what difference does it make if we love anything at all?

Paul, therefore, admonishes both teachers and hearers not to esteem lightly the doctrine of faith as if it were a toy with which to amuse oneself in idle hours.

—Luther's Commentary on Galatians