Statement of Belief

I believe that;
-God exists and is has been active throughout the ages in the affairs of the earth.
-Jesus Christ is both God and Man, was sent to earth to reconcile man's sin and rose from the dead.
-The Bible is God's living word, and is accurate.
-God exists beyond the realm of time and space.
-History and Future have been written by God.
-By examination of prophetic work, we have the opportunity to discern where we today are in God's plan for humanity.

Geopolitics/ Pres. Bush's Iraq Program

After viewing tonight's speech delivered by President Bush a few different topics jumped into my mind;
1.The propaganda value of the speech
-Notice the use of "us" and "them", gaining support for current program of state building, etc.
2. The status of the changing world stability.
-China's/Russia's regional hegemony in Asia, developments in South America toward a continental bloc for tradng purposes and regional independence from the US, the rising power of the EU on both economic and political stages, and the Middle East power vacuum, with Iran vying for regional hegemon status, and the use of fundamental Islam to establish cultural/national identity.
3. The US's reasons for involving itself in world affairs to begin with. For the longest time the US was not so brazen in its world domination. Are out motives in Iraq so honorable? Are we trying to make sure that an American backed governance is in place around the worlds major oil supply, just as we supported Saddam when that was appropriate?

Just some thoughts.

Good Article on Learing Jesus (most often called knowing Jesus)

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=327

Westernization/Americanization

Im looking to do some research about the history of this. What the concepts were? Maybe, there might be some connection to nationalism? I need to look into that as well.

Im thinking that westernization has always been studied, as the case for European/Mediterrianian domination of the world. As "globalization" and the opening of the world economy has increased, along with the rise in technology that makes this possible what would has been the effect of the United States' local regional hegemony. Has the world really been westernized? Is America participating in cultural colonization? Is there a cylce being played out, in which non-western cultures are gaining a rising level of toleration and acceptance in the United States?

Just today I saw a show entitled the L.A. Holiday Special on PBS. There were young asian girls in full kimonos singing Christmas songs. Their dialect was good and very calming to my nativistic side. Along with this, in just my short lifetime, I have noticed a trend in acceptance of political correctness. I beleive there is an increasing unwillingness of society to regulate what used to be its diverse morals and common values. Partially in the name of being centrist, we make a business decision accept. Centrism roots itself in stability in my opinion. In the name of pleasing "the middle" on most topics, centrism (and media technology) has slowly brought the United States population to a general concensus on most issues. Your for life or your against it. For homosexuality or against it. For the right or the left. The forum of debate is not that diverse anymore. The asian dancers however are part of the solution and not the problem.

These girls are accepting American culture. They are learning the meaning of Christmas. Its time to be full of joy cheer. To celebrate the change of seasons and the beginning of the new year. A clean slate for some, not for others. But they arent asked to learn the Christian meaning of Christmas. I mean, as a nation we love the holidays and all, but we dont want to force others to learn a different religion. That would be horrible. So we are accepting of the L.A. Holiday Special. We are accepting of getting gifts, it is nice. We shop, cook, travel and relax. This is the holiday season for most of us. Where is Christ? He isnt needed anymore. The honor is gone. Today as well, I witnessed a Hooters commercial set to a Christmas tune. I think I had heard the same melody in church a while ago. It is hard for me to imagine what it is like not to ever make that realization. But media deregulation and more importantly the commercialization of values, morals and culture. Songs that once reminded me of my girlfriend or maybe my parents mean products to the next generation. That is messed up. They dont even know it till its too late.

As American values change and with it, increasing cultural pressure from the rest of the world, what lies ahead? Will the United States implode on itself from cultural uncertainty? Will the world be a mutually shared domain for some elite, and a distant thing for those left out of globalization? I dont know, just a few questions.

Look to the future

I have been combing through some online encyclopedias and literature, learning what I can about nuclear strategy. I expect that my best research and perhaps any contributions that I can make will come later. When?, a year?, two years?, i don't know. But it will come, of that I am certain.

-Channing

Rants and Raves

I keep trying to think up something profound to say, but instead i have settled for this. I desperately need to get my first post over with. So here I will list maybe a few goals for the blog.
1. To learn something for myself. I figure if I can start organizing all this stuff maybe I will be able to make something of it.
2. Teach someone something they didn't know. Hey, there is a lot of stuff out there. I cant claim anything of myself. Perhaps someone will pick up something, carry it a little, and give it to someone else. Who knows? (Segway to #3)
3. Change something for the better. Education shouldn't be something we do for others. We should seek wisdom for our own benefit, and with what we gain we can help others.

Enough for now. Look for topics including Advertising, Media, Religion, Economics, History, Psychology, Society, and Culture.

-Channing