Thursday, September 11, 2014
Axis of Isil
I thought President Obama's speech last night detailing his global strategy for dealing with IS was rather brief and subdued. I thought it would be longer and more impassioned but I'm not against it and generally agree with the tenor. Obama has quite obviously chosen to use the label "ISIL" or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant instead of the more popular "ISIS" and there are reasons for this. Using ISIS constantly the way most in the media now do makes it sound like we're in a war with the ancient Egyptian goddess and also using this term all the time has that "Get Smart"/comic book feel to it (remember Don Adams and his nemesis KAOS?). Another reason Obama prefers the term ISIL is it definitely refers to the threat IS poses to the nation of Israel since Israel falls under the definition of the Levant along with other countries like Jordan. I haven't really read the reviews yet in particular those of the always nitpicking right-wingers but the war and it is a war will eventually include airstrikes in northern Syria and it is the pundit's view that just like Bush left the Iraq war with Obama Obama will leave the Syrian mess to the next president. Syria has already bombed certain IS targets in the north and I couldn't help thinking if they could have they would have used chlorine gas again. The Sotloff family spokesperson has alleged the so-called moderate forces fighting Assad, the Free Syrian Army, sold Steven Sotloff for a price to IS but the State Dept. denies this. OK thoughts:)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
TOTAL DEPRAVITY? BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteTotal depravity of man. Is it Biblical or a tradition of men?
Total Depravity Definition: A state of corruption due to original sin held in Calvinism to infect every part of man's nature and to make the natural man unable to know or obey God. [REF. Merriam Webster]
James 3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.(NKJV)
Men are made in the likeness of God. Does that mean that God is totally depraved? Did God create man in His image? Yes. Is His image one of sin? No. God created man without being infected by original sin or any other kind of sin. Men are infected with sin by their own choice.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes. (NKJV)
God did not create man totally depraved.
Job 1:1-8 ......8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"(NKJV)
If Job was totally depraved how could he be blameless and upright?
Genesis 6:9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation. Noah walked with God. (NKJV)
How would it be possible for Noah to be totally depraved and be a just man? Was Noah baptized as an infant to have original sin washed away? No, he was not. Noah was not born with original sin nor was any other person.
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.(NKJV)
According to Calvinist doctrine Abram was born totally depraved. How could Abram obey God and be blameless? How could Abram obey God? He could obey God because was not totally depraved nor was he guilty of Adam's sin. Abram was born without sin just as was every man before him or after him.
Exodus 18:21 "Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness....(NKJV)
How would it be possible to find God fearing men of truth if all men are totally depraved at birth?
Deuteronomy 18:13 "You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.(NKJV)
How can men be blameless before the Lord God if they are all totally depraved? That is correct, they cannot.
Ezekiel 14:20 "even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord God, "they would deliver neither son nor daughter, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness."(NKJV)
Why did God attribute righteousness to Noah, David, and Job if they were guilty of original sin and were totally depraved?
Acts 10:1-2...Cornelius...2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.(NKJV)
If a gentile named Cornelius was guilty of original sin and totally depraved, then how could he be devout, give to the poor, and pray to God always?
The doctrine of the total depravity of man is not supported by Scripture. Total depravity and original sin are a fabrication of man.
YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE OR YOU CAN TRUST YOUR DENOMINATIONAL CREED BOOKS. YOU CANNOT TRUST THEM BOTH.
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com
Thank you and welcome.
DeleteSept 11 Anniversary; I remember watching that in the ammunition plant cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteOne of those life events, like Kennedy's assassination or the first man on the moon.
I ran the numbers and note that deathwise, the Twin Tower attacks equaled 749
Benghazis. Just for the perspective.
I had just started my vacation that week and didn't go out at all that day. We look back with horror and sorrow, jihadis reminisce.
DeleteSeriously... anti-Calvinists?
ReplyDeleteanti-Calvinists carry very long grudges .
DeleteYou have to admit though reading the link John Calvin was a real bastard. Using green wood to burn someone at the stake because it takes longer, what kind of shit is that?
DeleteSingularity shmingularity you've no doubt heard of the coming cyber-caliphate.
ReplyDeleteAnother hostage this time a Briton apparently beheaded by IS. Happened again in the open desert so how come the drones don't pick this up? Where is our vaunted NSA technology? Cameron vowed a manhunt but how if you don't put boots on the ground? Empty rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteIf "Jihadi Johnny" is really the young ex-London rapper Bary he probably knows a thing or two about video production. Authorities should take more time authenticating these videos imo.
ReplyDeleteAre there still actual Calvinists around? What church do they go to?
ReplyDeleteYes, a few still around. The Puritans were quite Calvinistic and wings of
Deleteboth the Presbyterian and Congregational churches retain predestination
beliefs. (I knew a few, they think its hooey). One result of religious fundamentalism is rigorism: Inward (some ultraorthodox Jews will not defecate on the Sabbath) and outward. Outward rigorism can be problematic:
1. Condemnation: of non-members (the Other) and/or of members of one's said faith; a rigorist may view members of one's faith insufficiently practicing said faith and may condemn them; critique; is often benign. Outward-rigorism, in most cases, usually ends here.
2. Active & Radical Proselytization: apart from condemning, one is active in attempting to convert members of different religious groups to one's own. The radicalness of the proselytization in this growth is characterized by aggressive, and often insultingly verbose, approaches to members of different religious groups; bribe-for-conversion; discard familiarity with family and friends of ex-religion; "convert or else".
3. Religious Cleansing: suppression, often violent, of practices of non-members (can be done through social, economic, or political means); iconoclasm.
4. Genocide: of non-members.
All too true. The jihadists take this to unusual levels beheading fellow Muslims (Sunnis hating Shiites). In this sociological context with the shared black heritage of oppression I've never understood black-on-black crime.
Delete'Atlas Shrugged-Who Is John Galt?' Part II debuts in finer theatres this weekend.
ReplyDeleteGet a big box of popcorn and let me know how wonderful it is.
My friend saw it the other day on 42nd St. and raved about it. The first two installments lost money but the producer completed it as a labor of love. Eagerly awaiting soapie's review.
DeleteThe Ayn-hater over at Green Eagle has been following the film with interest:
Delete" Box Office Mojo is now reporting Atlas Shrugged III to have achieved a first weekend gross of $355,000.00 on 242 screens, or $1467 per screen. My quick calculation tells me that that works out to about 21 paid customers per screening. Well, at least you wouldn't have had a problem getting a good seat." (my quick calculation of his quick calculation makes that an unbelievable $70 a ticket, and I'm not a RandFan). Is it true that
the John Galt character was played by Ted Nugent?
My friend kept talking about how great the movie was and I kept saying how come it got hardly any press. Will probably be relegated to Nosferatu-type cult classic status.
DeleteRead in the paper the other day McDonald's sales have been slumping. Maybe it has to do with their new policy of kicking the old-timers out after their half hour is up.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mikey D's doesn't follow Burger King's latest innovation .
DeleteFor me that'd be a Diarrhea Burger, at least three trips.
DeleteTime for Obama to grow a set of balls and bomb the living shit out of this sons of bitches
ReplyDeleteWhat would Reagan have done? Of course Tom Delay, you remember him, has strongly implied he's hesitant because he may be one of those closet Muslims himself.
DeleteSpeaking of barbaric beasts, we note that the cryptozoology folks are having a hard time coming up with Sasquatch DNA ....
ReplyDeleteI know someone who is a true believer and you can't convince him otherwise. Life is boring, believe in the 'Squatch.
DeleteBurdock root tea - great health benefits, not so great taste.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts on Scotland old bloke?
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the pros and cons. Doesn't ruffle me kiltie either way.
DeleteI like the idea of a United Kingdom. I also understand the other side. I also kinda find it a boring issue like coming out with a new version of pinochle.
DeleteSo are we ready to bomb northern Syria? What's going on? Despite all the usual anti-IS rhetoric nothing seems to be happening.
ReplyDeleteMcCain is waiting too. He's starting to get blue balls.
ReplyDeleteThe Islamic groups in Iraq began holding and filming hostages in 2004:
ReplyDeleteBerg, Armstrong & Hensley were beheaded on TV that year. Schultz, Vincent & Fox were executed in 2005. In 2008, Young, Mimms, Johnson-Reuter, Cote andWinthrow had their fingers sent to US authorities and were then executed.
(We note that in those years we WERE bombing the crap out of them and we cannot
hold Obama responsible) Now, in 2014 we have Foley and Sutloff beheaded.
So, it is hardly a new thing...maybe Twitter has finally publicized the ISIL modus
operandi? BTW, Wiki has a listing of world-wide hostages from all countries that are being held in many other countries. Finally, we have France & Germany who have
succeeded in freeing their nationals by paying handsome ransoms. These things are never simple nor easy.
I'll tell you what Obama is, a w-teaser. A War Teaser.
ReplyDeleteKind of encouraging, the congress is asking State & Pentagon "What's the end-game?" W-teaser: what would McCain be? BTW, what's up with all the domestic
ReplyDeleteabusers in the pro-football arena?
McCain, dunno but since he's tough on IS and pro-interrogation how 'bout CBT (cock 'n ball torture)? NFL has always been rife with the criminal type it's just coming to the fore now.
ReplyDeleteThe international coalition of...the not so willing?
ReplyDeleteThe British seem very lukewarm. Not sure if they are still mad about Blair sending all those tommies into Basra, or the Scots getting away from the crown. You would think with 1. all the British citizens volunteering for ISIL and all the British citizens being held by ISIL they would at least offer some air support. Then there is the conspiracy theory that S. Arabia wants the US, through Lindsey Graham and McCain, to send in huge numbers of troops to lay waste to Syria so the Saudis can
ReplyDeletetake it over. We will find out, 'Sunni' or later ....
I believe France has offered air support and those are the French. Britain is a great big wuss imo.
ReplyDeleteThe Australian mass public beheading plot, I didn't know this was going on in the land of kangaroos. PC will be our undoing. Muslims in the land down under are upset about the police raids. They deserve kudos-cubed imo.
ReplyDeleteThe Aussies are not keen on their conservative control . The screw people to
ReplyDeletesuck up to business isn't working in Sweden either. There is a strong anti-immigration in the western countries which has led to many right wing votes, but the tricklenomics
that come with the right are unpopular. (except in Idaho, where we have moved into
last place in education, health and wages..but we got guns everywhere). Politics-
gotta love it.
Just like here a large % of the population doesn't mind profligate gov't spending but austerity measures to rein it in are seen as attacks on the poor. That's your core gov't-dependent base. I'm not surprised.
DeleteAusterity doesn't work. But Americans are always too proud to take advantage of lessons learned by other nations... like how we refused help from the Dutch (who live below sea level) on how to cope with living below sea level after Katrina.
DeleteIn your personal life austerity is sometimes called for. How come it doesn't apply to gov't?
DeleteThe Alibaba IPO: you gonna buy a bunch of stock? Their e-business is bigger than
ReplyDeleteE-Bay and Amazon combined and they own almost as many clouds as Google...and
they operate mostly in China. Cloud ownership- here I always thought clouds were
free, floating overhead, produced by St. Michael and his briar pipe. Go figure.
With a name like Alibaba how do we know it's not an IS front? Also made in China. I think I'll skip.
DeleteHere's an ancient pilgrimage for your Bucket List . Probably
ReplyDeletewant to visit Paris first?
It actually sounds interesting. I like the offbeat places.
DeleteWe note that the wee laddies and lassies of Scotland voted against secession.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of the pros and cons, but apparently Cameron made concessions and
the Scots played hardball by threatening to evict Brit subs from their northern bases. Was ISIL involved?
I think it was emotional. "United" just sounds better, United Kingdom, United States. It has a nice family ring to it. Breaking away would've been like seceding from your grandmother.
DeleteWe have a President who has displayed a lack of leadership, a lack of judgment, ignorance of history, a cowardly approach to the threats we face, and who has demonstrated over and over again that he is a liar. Yes, we are witnessing a Failed Presidency, his administration is likely to be judged the most corrupt in the history of the nation, indifferent to the Constitution and our laws. The failure to respond in a strong way to the Iranians who took U.S. diplomats hostage left Jimmy Carter with a single failed term in office. And now a President who tells our enemy that "We Don't Have a Strategy", kind of puts himself in the position of being even worse than Carter. “Hope and Change.”? We have neither.
ReplyDeleteBut there is one characteristic about Obama had become glaringly obvious, and consistent, . HE LIES ALL THE TIME!
I have to agree with part of this and it's also well expressed.
DeleteSeriously? Give me a break.
DeleteIt's well written Saty was my point. Substitute Bush for Obama and it's all good.
DeleteThe terrorists are gonna hit us again because everyone's walking around playing with their new iPhones, digitally masturbating to their phablets.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or does that Pennsylvania cop killer look like Jay Leno ?
ReplyDeleteDoes he crack jokes?
DeleteI don't know if this falls under that vague term "chatter" but I've heard some folks express concern that the next 9/11 is imminent and it'll be a major nuclear attack in NYC. Be that as it may I think we've been lulled into a false sense of security by our gadgets.
ReplyDeleteIf that is a concern, then you need an app for NukeMap . Center the ground zero sights at some key Yonkers location; if a suitcase operation,
Deleteselect a ground burst, or if an airliner, airburst. Typical nukes yield 15-150
kilotons, so in the case of terrorists, I'd recommend 15 KT probably. Since
you would be vapor, not necessary to consider fallout intensity and drift.
...happy calculating...
Is it a credible threat? IMO yes and Obama recently alluded to this. Remember in the pre-9/11 era nobody seriously thought they could pull off a 9/11.
DeleteI couldn't believe all the global-warming ralliers yesterday. I can think of ten issues off the top of my head that are more important (see above, police brutality, cancer, renegade bicyclists in Central Park, hacking rings......).
ReplyDeleteI've been pondering this philosophical question the last couple of days: In the epic battle of good vs. evil how come good fears evil but evil doesn't fear good?
ReplyDeleteI think we need to worry more about the Khorasan Group and less about the Koch Brothers. Well anyway McCain is happy:)
ReplyDeleteThe ISIL don't like getting bombed: they said if it continues, they will behead the
ReplyDeleterest of their many hostages. Is that a dilemma?
It is and Obama might want to consult Erdogan on how Turkey got their 49 out.
DeleteGetting back to Lymes Disease: Brother in law, a builder in N Wi, had Lymes twice and has now come down with Polymyangia Rheumatica. Apparently the lymes
ReplyDeleteborella bacteria elicit complex antigen response, which in some cases, particularly
over the age of 50, cause muscular inflammation which mimics forms of arthritis.
But it is a condition which will run its course in a matter of 2-3 years. In the interim
it is treated with powerful steroids like prednisone, which in itself presents other
symptomatic problems. (Just in case you want to discuss with your Dr. next time
you are in)
My doc is a mainstream doc and so doesn't believe in Chronic Lyme. Instead they want to move on to Butt Science instead of addressing your weird pains or ongoing tinnitus. Doctors.
DeleteRough year so far for Apple, first the iCloud insecurity and now the new phones slowly taking on the contours of people's butt cheeks.
ReplyDeleteConservatives are confused and befuddled because all-in-all Obama gave a pretty good speech at the UN. Better to focus on that latte salute.
ReplyDeleteKrauthammer's in a pissy mood ain't he?
ReplyDeleteI see Rev Pat (send me lots of money, I'll pray for you) Robertson has his foot in his mouth once again. This time, the "little Jewish radical terrorist"
ReplyDeletehappens to be an honors graduate of the USAF Academy, as are his son and daughter. There has been similar talk from the far fundamental sector that the
military cannot be tough, honorable and mean unless they are all Christians. Dunno here.
Maybe I'm jaded but I just read your link and my first reaction is what Robertson said wasn't that offensive and he's entitled to his POV. Dunno, on the other hand it seems like we go way out of our way not to offend atheists.
Delete