A Dash of Salt

Monday's Mayhem

National Geographic magazine is reporting that redheads may become extinct within 100 years.  (Hat tip: Joe Carter)

A funny story about Chelsea Clinton and the marine.  Appropriate for all political stripes. (HT: Scot McKnight)

Meet Blinky, the two-headed calf.  (HT: Relevant)

A mass-baptism by fire...hose!  Gives new meaning to "sprinkling."

And now to lend a little (very little) culture to this humble blog...Abbott and Costello meet Shakespeare: "Who is in the primary position?" (HT: James Wilson)

Weekend Wonderings

This has been a hectic week for me as it probably has been for you, I bet.  Here are some interesting places I've on the internet, the little time that I have had to surf...

Reflections on the life and ministry of Rev. Jerry Falwell. Taking the time to read these different posts from various perspectives gives a broader, deeper picture of the public mega-church pastor and founder of the Moral Majority in the 70's and 80's. Two rememberances of Falwell you probably haven't read: Rick Warren and Eric Redmond.

How about a lesson in art appreciation? Justin Taylor hit the beehive with a stick when he posted some seemingly innocent comments about the outrageous price of $72.8 million paid for the late Mark Rothko's abstract painting, White Center.  Read his brief post and then scan through the comments. Wow! A great discussion.

Very cool video of the week: The Fastest Production Car in the World, the Bugatti Veyron.  This six-minute segment from the British car show, Top Gear, is slick. Even if you're a "non-gearhead" like me, you've got appreciate this car hitting its top speed of 253 mph! (Hat Tip: Joe Carter)

Lightning strikes the Empire State Building in NYC about 100 times per year.  How about this photo taken this past Thursday? (HT: Relevant) Photo by Susanna Bates for the NY Daily News.
 

Jesus Action Figure

Jesus dolls have been in the news a lot lately.  Dawn and I found these in a Manhattan convenience store.  I was especially impressed with the Jesus Action Figure's "movable arms and gliding action."  There were tiny wheels on the bottom of Jesus' feet, kind of like a pair of Heelys shoes.  I guess that would make the Jesus doll a holy roller.  The Moses Action Figure came with plastic "stone tablets and a shepherd's staff."  The Albert Einstein Action Figure was "dressed for intense classroom action" and was clutching a piece of chalk.  (If I were Albert Einstein, I would be smugly impressed that my Action Figure was being sold right next to Jesus' and Moses' dolls.)  Just click on the picture for a more detailed view.

Weekend Wonderings

Have you been duped by one of these?  The Top 25 Web Hoaxes and Pranks, as compiled by PCWorld.  "If it's on the Internet, it has to be true, right?!?"  (HT Joe Carter and Relevant)

This is an interesting report the late President Reagan's private diary of his White House years.  You gotta love the man even if you don't agree with how he lead the country.  (HT: Scot McKnight)

A guy in the Netherlands built a replica of Noah's Ark using the dimensions given in Genesis.  It's not full size but still large enough for a 50-seat theater in the keel.  Noah's was actually 5x larger than the Dutch version.

Perhaps you have heard about the three Christian men who were brutally martyred in Turkey several weeks ago.  This week a very graphic account of their torture and death circulated on the web, which turned out to have exaggerated a few of the details.  The brothers were indeed tortured and killed for their faith, just not a gruesomely as had been reported.  Here is a letter from the Protestant Church in Smyrna (Izmir) clarifying what happened to the men when they went to a Bible study with several seekers. (HT: Justin Taylor and Denny Burk)

Weekend Wonderings

Mark Roberts on the image we should remember from the Virginia Tech tragedy: not angry Cho Seung-Hui but heroic Dr. Liviu Librescu.

If there is no God and no higher authority telling us humans what is right and wrong as atheists contend, then who is to say that what Cho Seung-Hui did Monday at Virginia Tech was wrong?  But the fact is, atheists are outraged at the massacre just as almost everyone else is.  What has to be frustrating for atheists is that in their scheme of things, there is no final judgment.  Therefore, Cho has killed himself and thus has ceased to exist, and does not have to face justice for his crimes.  Read this thoughtful piece called "Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Virginia Tech." (HT: Justin Taylor)

Did you hear about presidential candidate John Edward's $400 haircut?  Incredible.  Mr. Edwards takes his hair seriously, as evidenced in this video "clip".  I could get almost 62 haircuts from Charlie, my barber, at that price, and that would last me over seven years!

Encouragement from Jim Martin: "The Lord Is My Helper."

"How to Get Out of Debt" an old Saturday Night Live sketch...funny and true. (HT: Michael Kruse)

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." (Jackie Robinson)  April 15th was the 60th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first major league baseball game, which of course was significant because he was the first African American to play in the majors.  TIME Magazine featured a great set of articles on the impact Robinson made on other African American players in the big leagues, "In the Footsteps of a Legend."

Weekend Wonderings

I have not been able to be out and about on the Web much this week (I've been hiding under a huge rock called "Greek 4"), but here's a smattering of a things I thought were interesting...

Ten Things You Probably Didn't Know by Joe Carter.

Tomorrow (April 1st) is National Atheist Day, according to James Wilson.  (If you're not sure why that particular day was chosen, read Psalm 14:1.)

More information about The Secret from Al Mohler. (HT: Justin Taylor)

A humorous and necessary post on Cell Phone Manners by Jessica Robinson.

Wise words from Waco.  Jim Martin's thoughtful post on bad thinking, "Have You Ever Been Stuck?"

What do you think about having the Bible taught in the public schools?  TIME Magazine's David van Biema has put together a balanced article, "The Case for Teaching the Bible."

Weekend Wonderings

Oh, what a happy, transmogrified day!  Calvin and Hobbes comics online with searchable dialog! (HT: Tim Challies)

How to Attend Church 52 weeks a year.  (HT: Joe Carter)

Just because you're conservative doesn't make you right if you do things wrong.  Al Mohler on conservative prophetess, Ann Coulter, and her inflammatory remarks about John Edwards.  Memo to Ann: Open mouth; insert foot; chew vigorously.  (HT: Justin Taylor)

How to witness to Jehovah's Witnesses.  This is a great story and a terrific example of how to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit by James Wilson.

A warning and encouragement for all of us procrastinators from Jim Martin, "Pay Now or Pay Later."

Weekend Wonderings

In the battle of man against the elements, here's photographic proof that my buddy, Jeff McMullen, lost his fight against the snow and ice.  (I should say his car lost.)  Why shovel snow when you can plow it with your car, right, Jeff?!?

After nearly two hundred years away, wild beavers have come back to New York City.  Here's cool video of a beaver swimming in the Bronx River.  The last time they were there, they could gnaw through trees.  Rots-a-ruck if they try one of those skyscrappers!

Do you ever struggle with thought patterns that just won't leave your mind?  The problem we need to "reboot" our thinking, according to Doug Murren.  He has some terrific suggestions on how to renew your mind with the truth.  (HT: Jim Martin)

Jessica Robinson paid off her car this week, and she is way too excited.  (Congratulations, Jessi!)  In other financial news, Scot McKnight confessed that he has never ever used a debit/check card in this funny post he wrote.  Some of the comments are even funnier.

Here's a new NT Greek website by Dan Phillips who is doing it just for the fun of it.  Looks very interesting, not too technical or scholarly, though you do need to know Koine Greek to benefit from it.  (And I know that there are number of my loyal blog readers who would get a lot of it...the usual seminary types and others.)  Perhaps it will inspire you to learn Greek.

These Demotivator posters are hilarious!  They inspire me to try harder...I think.  Thanks, Justin Taylor, for the laughs. 

Weekend Wonderings

American Government 101:  "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is  a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." -- President John Adams 
(HT: Michael Kruse) Click picture to see it better.

Muslims rioting over Israeli excavations near the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.  Here's a report from TIME.  I'm paying attention to this.

What do you think about Leonard Sweet's claim that the way we (us American evangelicals) are doing church might be "killing the West"?  Read his provocative article here.  What do you think he means by "not 'come and see' but 'go and be'"?  His thoughts are radical, but I think they're on target.  What's your opinion?  (HT: Michael Kruse)

Coffee Smackdown!  Guess what Consumer Reports found out when it taste-tested Starbucks', Dunkin' Donuts', Burger King's, and McDonald's coffee? Yuppies everywhere are in denial and shock! (HT: Justin Taylor)

And speaking of coffee, Jessica Robinson introduces her cool redesigned blog and features some delicious-sounding specialty coffee recipes, like "Iced Coffee Slushie," "Mocha Coffee," and more.

I've Been Tagged by Jim Martin

I just found out that I've been tagged by that pastor-blogger in Texas, Jim Martin.  Since I have never been blog-tagged before, I'm not exactly sure what to do.  The best I understand it, I need to share with you 5 odd or unusual things about me that most people don't know.  Well, here goes...

1. My first name is "Sheridan."  Now you see why I use my middle name, "Scott."  While growing up (and even now in seminary), I hated the first moments of the first class when the teacher took the roll and called out "Sheridan Morgan."  I'd always ask to be called "Scott," and most of the time they would comply, though my homeroom teacher in eight grade insisted on calling me "Sheridan" the entire year.  I was scarred for life.  "Sheridan" is a family name.  I'm named after my dad, who was named after his great-grandfather, who was born during the Civil War and was named after the famous Union cavalry general, Phillip Sheridan.  My great-great-grandfather was Phillip Sheridan Reel, a harness maker in Keedysville, MD.  Once when I was studying the meaning of names, I discovered that "Sheridan" is of Celtic origin and means "Wild Man" which would be pretty cool if it didn't sound a little sissy-fide. 

2. Between Bible college and my first ministry as a youth pastor I ran a fresh and frozen seafood delivery business, and sold advertising time for WKSL, "Your Good Companion Radio" in Greencastle, PA.  The early morning announcer was a good ole country boy who said "technical de-FICK-ul-tees" when there was a problem, which seem to be often.  I don't know if the station is still on the air.

3. While I was in high school, my pastor, Ralph Wenger at Paramount Brethren-in-Christ, let me preach a few times on youth Sundays.  My first sermon was very, very long, but he let me do it again with lots of helpful encouragement.  I also got to preach in my Christian school's chapel a few times and even won the "Preacher Boy Award" my senior year (I think no one else was in the running.) 

4. When I went to Washington Bible College in the fall of 1977, I thought I was just going to learn more about the Bible and God's will for my life.  My intention was to move on from there, get more schooling, and become a newspaper reporter.  Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Washington Post reporters of Watergate fame, were an inspiration to me.  I dreamed that I would be assigned to cover the Middle East and be reporting from there when Jesus returned.

5. A family legend says that I ate a cigarette as a toddler.  I kicked the habit soon after that.

I now tag James Wilson, Jeff and Jodie McMullen, and Jessica Robinson.  I look forward to hearing what they have to say!