Gary North in his new article at Lew Rockwell.com gives a good review of “About Schmidt”, then in typical Gary fashion uses that as a springboard to talk about mortality, the humanist view of worth (it’s all about the benjamins) which leads into the price of caskets, Greg Bahnsen’s funeral, donating your body to science and how the diaconate should be the mediator between the family and the funeral home when it comes to negotiating the price of the service.

This seems to be a good idea. Now I plan on arranging my own funeral (economy-style baby, I’m not going to be a financial burden on my family), but should I die suddenly, I don’t want some slick salesman giving my wife a tissue with a compassionate look in his eye as he shows her the newest model$ of titanium steel ca$kets. No, a pine box should do fine.

The thing that got me thinking in the article was his statement that doctors and funeral directors have become the defacto “clergy” for modern day humanists.

The funeral industry has moved into the gap produced by men’s waning faith in God and in the church as God’s representative agency relating to life and death. The physician has replaced the minister in preserving life, and the funeral director has replaced him in death. Corpses today move from the hospital to the funeral "home" in one step, and from the funeral "home" – a place of negotiation, not a place of passing – to the grave.

Anyone looking to get a good handle on the doctrine of baptism and what it effects would do well to start with this post by Tim Gallant. Extremely helpful! When your done with that, then move on to this piece by Rich Lusk.

Q: "How do you know yourself to be a son of God in fact as well as in name?"
A:"Because I am baptized in the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
from John Calvin's Strasbourg Catechism

Q: "Is baptism nothing more than a mere symbol of cleansing?"
A: "I think it to be such a symbol that the reality is attached to it. For God does not disappoint us when he promises us his gifts. Hence, both pardon of sins and newness of life are certainly offered and received by us in baptism."
from Calvin's Geneva Catechism

My Newest Mix Tape:

Ah, the noble mix tape. A companion for long road trips, a mini time capsule of your life (and yes you really did have “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Every Rose Has A Thorn” on a mix tape in your life, don’t be ashamed, you’re among friends). Not to sound too much like John Cusack's character in High Fidelity but there is a gameplan one must have when compiling a mix tape.

I go one of two ways when compiling; either focus on a theme on one side and a different one on the other or, go the standard route of starting off fast with the first 2-3 songs, then mellowing out for the next 3 or so songs. After that you might want to pick up the tempo a bit (Velvet Underground usually goes good here) just as long as you finish strong with either a slow of a fast one depending on your mood.

On the list below I went with the slow/mid-tempo theme on side A and made my side B all mid to up-tempo rockers. I’m quite pleased with the results.

Side A

Just Like a Woman (Live) – Bob Dylan
Jesus Etc. – Wilco
Tongue - REM
These Days – Nico
Lost Cause – Beck
Fight Test – Flaming Lips
There Is A Light – Nick Cave
All Pretty For The TV - Poor Ol' Lu
Staring at the Sun – U2

Side B

Mr. Blue Sky – ELO
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys
I Want To Be Loved – Muddy Waters
Jellybelly – Smashing Pumpkins
Last Exit – Pearl Jam
All Down the Line – Stones
D’yer Mak’r – Zepp
I’m So Tired – Beatles
No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age

Feel free to comment on what's playing on your favorite mix tape.

Tenessee 24, OAKLAND 41

THE RAIDER NATION LIVES!!!

Now I don't fancy myself as a prophet by any means, but...

Here's a great article about Dodger skipper, Jim Tracy. Admittedly I was unsure of what to think about this guy when the Dodgers hired him in 2001. He was a no namer who had a good reputation as a communicator, which was refreshing to hear after the regime of alienation under Davey Johnson. Now I couldn't be happier with the job this guy has done. He has withstood the tempest that was Gary Sheffield and even earned that worm's respect. He made a controversial decision to go with Paul LoDuca as his starter in the 2001 season and LoDuca rewarded him by being the 2nd best catcher in the NL. Then last year he made two critical decisions that made the Dodgers ten times better than they deserved to be; he gave the CF job to 30 year old journeyman Dave Roberts and gave middling starter Eric Gagne the opportunity to become "The Goggled Gasser" as he racked up 50+ saves.

I really don't think that there would be many managers who would have the guts to make the moves he did, taking the jobs from overpaid, overrated players and giving them to scrappy type guys just looking for an opportunity to stick with the team. This guy is gonna win a World Series one day and when he does I pray its with the Dodgers.