Rancho Miller

Dazbog: Good-lookin’ logo, good-tastin’ coffee

Michael Miller — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:02:40 +0000

While in Loveland, Colorado, recently, I needed to get some quality coffee before heading into the Big Thompson Canyon and happened upon a place called Dazbog. It’s a Denver-based chain with some great coffee and superior graphics. It took all my willpower to resist buying this mug to add to my already overflowing collection. I did, however, buy some coffee to bring home. Their Ethiopian is killer. But I think the best thing about Dazbog is their logo.

Finally, it’s not business as usual

Michael Miller — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:27:19 +0000

We’re seeing it all over, in federal government and state governments. Here’s an example:

Kansas’ decision to take federal family planning funds away from Planned Parenthood has put the state in a vise.

That any state, and there are now several, would dare to challenged an entrenched NGO like Planned Parenthood is amazing.The states that have done so are now being challenged by the federal government, setting up a conflict there as well.

We’ve got a long way to go before we get back to sanity in this country, but at least it’s not business as usual.

Northminster Presbyterian in Peoria holds to Scripture

Michael Miller — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:02:26 +0000

This is terrifically encouraging.

Rev. Doug Hucke and the other leaders of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria have always taken principled stands in the past when their denomination, Presbyterian Church USA, has taken unprincipled stands. One example is PCUSA’s effort to divest itself of Caterpillar Inc. stock because Cat sells equipment to Israel, equipment which the denomination accused Israel of using illegally against Palestinians. Representatives of Northminster, which includes many Cat employees among its members, questioned why the denomination would take action that would financially harm some of its own members and why it would single out Israel for such action but take such a light approach toward Palestinians who attacked Israel.

Recently, PCUSA voted to drop requirements that its ministers “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and woman, or chastity in singleness.” In other words, opening the door for ordination of anybody engaged in a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Northminster’s session made this statement:

This is a very troubling development and one that Northminster Presbyterian does NOT endorse. Our standards for church officers will remain unchanged. Northminster will not knowingly ordain people engaging in sexual activity outside the bonds of marriage between a man and woman. The change that took place this week does not alter our position on this issue. Nor will the change be forced upon us in any way.

Way to go, Northminster. Hang in there.

Presbyterians approve change that opens door to gay clergy (knoxnews.com)
Run, don’t walk, from the Presbyterian Church USA (4simpsons.wordpress.com)
Presbyterians to ordain gays & swinging singles (geneveith.com)

Obama position likely will embolden terrorists

Michael Miller — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:00:59 +0000

If anything, Obama’s statement—misunderstood or not—that Israel should return to its pre-67 borders will embolden Palestinian terrorists, evidenced by Hamas calling for a return to 1948 borders.

If Obama is unwilling to make demands of Hamas to halt all attacks on Israel, etc., but instead puts the weight on Israel to cave in, Hamas and Hezbollah will see that as tacit approval of their positions. If Obama continues down this road, look for increased attacks from Gaza and Lebanon in coming months.

He offered a “helpful” clarification of his positions on Sunday to the American Israel Political Action Committee, saying that he was misrepresented, although his statement on Thursday was pretty clear. Either the Great Miscommunicator blew it again or, as suggested on WLS-AM this morning, he was testing the waters.

I really got a kick out of this response from senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar:

Speaking to Al-Emirate Al-Youm, Zahar asked “Why won’t we talk about the 1948 borders? Why won’t we discuss the partition plan which was internationally recognized?”

Of course, that partition plan was rejected by all Arabs, who immediately launched a war on Israel. Now it’s what they want? Well, I guess that’s progress.

Sign that man up for a comparative religions class

Michael Miller — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:04:20 +0000

It’s not like we haven’t argued before over whether God hears the prayers of a non-Christian. Jerry Falwell got us involved in that discussion in 1980. But, in the wake of a new Pew poll showing 18 percent of Americans think the Ø is a Muslim, the White House has implied that prayer is a Christian practice by definition.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said most Americans care more about the economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and “they are not reading a lot of news about what religion the president is.” He commented on Air Force One as Obama headed for a vacation in Massachusetts on Martha’s Vineyard.

Burton added, “The president is obviously a Christian. He prays everyday.”

Christians who have a good spiritual discipline do pray every day. But so do Muslims, 5 times daily. And observant Jews, 3/day. And Baha’is. And pagans. And Hindus.

I’m not sure why this is such an issue, other than we’re all so used to hearing Obama lie that it wouldn’t be unusual to find out he was lying about his faith or that the conspiracy mill is juiced about where his loyalties lie (besides in himself).

As a messianic believer in Yeshua, I’d just as soon the Ø turn out to be something other than a Christian or Jew until such time as he changes his ways. For right now, he wouldn’t be doing either tradition proud.

About that poll – Obama is ‘obviously’ a Christian (politico.com)
Polls Show Public Unclear on Obama’s Faith- FOX FORUM: Why Americans Believe Untruth- In His Own Words: Obama on Religion (politics.blogs.foxnews.com)

Life on the way home–8/4

Michael Miller — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:01:03 +0000

They were there at one point. I swear it.

Is this what trees look like to The Flash?

Just before it ate my library borrowings.

From a Focus 03

Michael Miller — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:10:05 +0000

Granted, it’s no “From a Buick 6,” but the new category of From a Focus 03 will offer glimpses of what I see on my way home or into work.

Who says weeds can’t be pretty?

Remember Then Came Bronson?

Sir DC, Knight of the Membership Development Roundtable

Michael Miller — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:07:52 +0000

Pay no attention to the digital goiter growing out of the right side of his head.

No longer a danger? I beg to differ

Michael Miller — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:30:55 +0000

From the “Wish I had had a camera” dept:

I stop at Thornton’s at Illinois Routes 26 and 116 Monday night to gas up, and as I’m putting the pump handle up, I look a couple lanes over to see a young man smoking a cigarette while filling up.

Before I hastily got my receipt and jumped into the car to get out of the area, I noticed his T-shirt, which said:

“No longer a danger to society.”

Talk about false advertising …

Paul Ryan, family guy

Michael Miller — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:23:25 +0000

Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, probably the most level-headed and maybe smartest guy in the GOP, has ruled out a run for president in 2012, says The Weekly Standard. Interestingly enough, one of the qualities that would make him a good president is also one of the reasons that he won’t run: his priorities.

But the 40-year-old congressman has consistently tried to quash the notion that he might run for president and did so again last night during the $50 per person fundraising cruise on Lake Geneva. “No, no there isn’t,” Ryan replied when asked if there’s any chance he would run for president.

“I want to be a normal person,” Ryan continued. “Other people can run for that thing. Other people can’t do this,” he said, pointing to one of his three young children sipping a kiddie cocktail.

Many politicians say they won’t run for higher office because of their family, but Ryan really seems to mean it. “I lost my dad when I was a little kid,” he said. “So I’m very sensitive to that issue. I’d be on the campaign trail in a month, and I’d be crying myself to sleep because I hadn’t seen my kids for eight or ten days. Right now, I can handle it when I don’t see them for three or four days.”

It’s a shame that, thanks to the news media, running for president is a no-go if you value family like Ryan does. That’s not saying that politicians with young children, like Barack Obama, are cheating their children of their father if they run for president. But Ryan’s not taking any chances.