Knowing Islam…

I think, regardless of your faith background, it is high time that people in the US take a hard look at the politics, law and religion of Islam.  This article is a good place to start.

Resolving the Cognitive Dissonance of Islam:

A few things it highlights from the Koran:

“O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil). (Koran, 9:123)”

“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (Koran:9:29)”

“Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings. (Koran, 98:6)”

But, for those of us who believe in the words of the Holy Bible, this all rings true.  For according to scripture; of Ishmael, it states:  

“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” Genesis 16:12

This is not about prejudice or hate, this is about Islamic people needing a saviour.  It is about them turning from darkness into the light.  They need Jesus, only they don’t know it.

A shout out to Oscar…

Something to stand on…

Have you ever wondered about Satan’s fall and just how many angels joined with him against God?  Well, scripture speaks about this.  Truly amazing; speaking of Satan as a dragon: “And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.”  Rev.12:3. 

1/3 of the host of  angels rebelled with Satan and fell from their place in heaven.  Amazing that those who stood in God’s presence could do anything but praise him.

Yankees…

My admiration for A-Rod continues to grow!

A-Rod Comes up Clutch!

The formal Letters…

All these “happy words”…

fL: Great blog about Degrassi. Who would you consider the most significant characters in the Degrassi universe? – Talon C., Oakville, ON.

JP: Degrassi is great because the ensemble cast can methodically carry numerous storylines and characters typically move easily throughout major “clicks” formed between characters and the grade they represent. However, if I were to be honest, Emma, Manny, Elle and Spinner seem to be the most significant characters within this generation of stories.

fL: I know you are of the opinion that Brady Quinn will not get another shot at the starting job, but do you really believe Mangini is freezing him out? – Thomas T., Wilmington, NC.

JP: I think the reasons to keep him out of the lineup, (money, poor performance, agenda) outweigh the benefit the team would see if he played. I do think that we will see him under center before the season ends, but unless he can convincingly lead us to 3-4 victories in a row, we will draft a new QB next year.

fL: A recent episode of ‘Top Chef’ had the chefs cooking vegetarian meals in a steakhouse. The judges, including Natalie Portman, loved Michael Voltaggio’s dish, but Kevin Gillespie took the win. Why does Michael’s genius get recognized, but he can’t get the final nod? Trent & Shana H., Nevada, LV.

JP: Trent, Shana, great question. I have debated this over and over as I have watched this season. Michael is the best chef on the show, or at least he believes that so strongly that he makes sure he mentions it at least twice during each ep. All I can say is that he doesn’t win for one reason and it’s not because he’s an ass.  Even though he is.  It’s because he consistently wears a look on his face that appears condescending and unhappy. Listen, he’s a great lookin’ guy with a lot of natural ability when it comes to cooking. If he came across as a happier person who appreciated criticism and compliments he would win every challenge, no doubt!

fL: J Paul, the Yankees tied the series up 1-1 last night. The series is on. But, A-Rod has hit a slump. Can he pull out of it, or have we seen the last of his big play ability for this year? – Doug D., New York, NY.

JP: Doug, as the Yankees leave behind NY to travel to Philly, so too does A-Rod leave behind his hitting woes. Look for a big outing against Hamels and for Rodriguez to slowly take this series over. You heard it hear first.

Degrassi…

So, getting up at 4:30am to consistently let the dog out leaves me with odd hours to kill with tv.  I have stumbled across a show that many of my peers in “Canada” used to watch.  Degrassi: The Next Generation.  I love it.

Horrible acting, overly dramatic story lines and a frustratingly liberal bent but truly worthy of “guilty pleasure” status.

Also, many faces we have come to know and love on other more main stream tv shows made their start here, including: Shenae Grimes, Nina Dobrev and Ben Hollingsworth.  And we can’t forget the shows superstars Stacey Farber,  Miriam McDonald, Cassie Steele and Jake Epstein. 

Degrassi, it’s about to get real…

A-Rod…

They called him a choke artist.  They said he couldn’t play in October.  They said he couldn’t deliver when it counted…Well, as we’ve witnessed over the last few weeks, they were wrong.  Now all that’s left is to win the World Series.  Here’s to another championship coming to the Bronx.  Here’s to #13 leading the charge.

http://arod.mlb.com/players/rodriguez_alex/index.jsp

Kings Ransom…

It would be hard to watch ESPN’s 30 for 30 “Kings Ransom” and not accept the premise that the Wayne Gretzky led Edmonton Oilers were the greatest NHL hockey team in history. 

Some may argue that Henri “The Rocket” Richard and his Montreal Canadiens with their 11 Stanley Cups are the greatest.  Some may even say the  Steve Yzerman led Red Wings teams were the best.

Those arguments may be good, but no team could compete with the Oilers. 

 Kings Ransom

Edmonton Oilers

Nobel Peace Prize….

I thought this was a joke.  Unfortunately, it is not.  I agree that it was a stunning decision.

Barak H. Obama awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

A critical look at the award: The Prophylactic Peace Prize

Something to Stand On…

“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” – Luke 12: 4-5