college hockey

It's no secret that I've always been a huge college hockey fan, particularly the MN Gophers. Well this weekend is a big college hockey weekend with the College Hockey Showcase which involves MN (#3), Michigan (#1), Michigan State (NR) and Wisconsin (#2). It's actually not about national rankings but WCHA vs CCHA. So, tonight MI plays at MN and State plays at WI. Tomorrow MI and State switch. So I checked on tickets for the game tonight and our tickets were taken (I'm going tomorrow though, rah!). No worries, cause it's on TV, right? Well, checking into it and the game is on TV... BUT it's on a premium station called CSTV or College Sports TV. Long story short, I called Comcast and now have the sports package. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to watch the Gophs. Hopefully they win tonight and have a chance to win tomorrow and possibly be ranked #1 after the weekend.

On a different note, I found out today that RJ Anderson and Blake Wheeler have signed letters of intent to play for MN. I saw both these guys play in the state high school hockey tournament last year and let me tell you what. These guys are FANTASTIC. If they live up to their potential AND stick around for 4 years, the Gophs are looking at least 4 more years of highly competitive hockey!

idology II

So I can now say I've been to NYC! Man, what a trip. NYC is a city with a little bit of everything, except cheap real estate. Countless people, shops, sights and sounds, and things to do. One of the sites I did see was the statue of liberty. With that, let's continue with idolatry. (many of the thoughts below are not originally mine, but cut and pasted from other sites)

The statue of liberty was sculpted by an Italian named Auguste Betholdi. His work was greatly influenced by the ancient sculptor Phidias who made gigantic statues of the ancient goddesses, particularly Athena, the "goddess of wisdom" and Nemesis (another name for Venus), a goddess who held a cup in her right hand. Before beginning the statue of liberty project, Bertholdi was seeking a commission to construct a giant statue of the goddess "Isis", the Egyptian Queen of Heaven, to overlook the Suez canal. The statue of Isis was to be of "a robed woman holding aloft a torch" (Statue of Liberty: 1st Hundred Years, Bernard Weisberger, p.30, quoted in Beyond Babylon, James Lloyd, p.103).

Cut and paste this link in a new window, clicking on it won't work: http://www.freemasonrywatch.org/pics/liberty-is-juno.jpg - picture of Roman Goddess Juno 735 BC (wife of Zeus)

The Statue of Liberty in New York harbor was presented in 1884 as a gift from the French Grand Orient Temple Masons to the Masons of America in celebration of the centenary of the first Masonic Republic. She is holding the Masonic "Torch of Enlightenment". Also referred to back in the 1700's by the Illuminati Masons as the "Flaming Torch of Reason". The Torch represents the "Sun" in the sky. The Statue of Liberty's official title is, "Liberty Enlightening the World". The cornerstone of the statue records how it was laid in a Masonic ceremony.

The Babylonian heritage of the "Statue of Liberty" should come as no real surprise to God's people. Her identity is written in her shape. She stands on a base patterned after the Babylonian stepped-pyramids, or ziggurats, of old -- which themselves were designed by the "tower" woman Semiramis and her architects. She stands literally on a base patterned after the tower of Babel! She wears a turreted crown, like Rhea, Cybele, Diana, and the pagan goddesses who were counterparts of Semiramis. She stands as a universal symbol of "liberty," apart from the laws and commandments of God. She represents the "emancipation" of mankind, and "immigration" and "unity" and the coming together of many races to become one universal mankind, all peoples coming together to one land, uniting the nations as "one," with one language. This is exactly what ancient Nimrod and Semiramis tried to do at the original "Tower of Babel," but God Almighty defeated their attempt by scattering the nations and confounding their languages (Gen.11:1-9).

With that said, I find it amazing that one of the largest and most recognized figures on the planet is really nothing more than a Babylonian idol.

Turkey Day

First off, man have I been busy. I've had very little time to update by blog and my spare moments at work has thinned to almost none. The 4 day weekend will be a much needed rest and benefit to catch up on house work.

Thanksgiving has never really been a huge holiday for me. This year epitomizes that. My dad is heading out to his wife’s family and my mom is heading to her side of the family with "notso" (her male companions new nickname). So, I have decided to not attend either gathering. Instead, I will celebrate this day at home. Am I sad? Nope. If anything, I'm a bit bored. It's a much better than feeling uncomfortable around others today, that much I am sure of.

idology

Exodus 20
⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Leviticus 26
¹ Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.

... an explanation and more to come.

shipped

Amazon dot com rocks. As of 10am by books were on a truck for MSP. The books suddenly have the chance of being here by the weekend! Joy!

books

I bought two books last night on Amazon.com. The first book is called, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life by Dr. Os Guiness. The reason for choosing this book I'm going to see Dr. Guiness speak this Friday night here in the cities. He's supposedly a well renowned speaker and his talk is going to be about where he believes the church is going to be in 5-10 years and how the postmodern world is impacting Christians and the spreading of the gospel. It should be an interesting perspective - or so I hope. Anyways, this book that he wrote is supposed to be on the same subject, and was one he recommended to read for deeper understanding.

The other book I'm going to get is called The Almost Christian Discovered (Puritan Writings) by Matthew Mead. The theme behind this book is pointing out what the typical believing Christian does to make him unsaved, even though the Christian thinks they are. A better way to describe the book as stated by a reviewer, "The author takes example after example of people who demonstrated great signs of spiritual life but were never truly converted to Christ or as he puts it be 'an almost Christian'."

I'm anxious to get these books... especially with my upcoming flight to NYC. Nothing like a good book to read while on a plane!

church

I went to another new church today called First Free, an Evangelical Free Church. It's the closest Evangelical Free church to my house and looking at the website it seemed pretty good. From the moment I entered the door, the impression I got started my experience off in the wrong direction. The smell was almost overbearing as I thought I walked into a retirement home. The sanctuary was old, probably built in the 60's and the banners that hung on the walls were probably original. The music was nice, a mix of old and new with an old fashion choir wearing gowns. The minister however didn't really touch me. His speech came with in impediment (couldn’t say his S’s) and it appeared like he read off note cards - with his head down half the time. His enthusiasm was expressed with arm flapping, which was remarkably similar no matter what the story and seemed VERY forced. The message he delivered however was positive and was not seeker sensitive which is what I was looking for. I doubt I'll go back, but at least I'm searching. Maybe I’ll try to find another Evangelical Free Church to try next week.

the weeks end

I ended up not going deer hunting this weekend and instead got some much needed rest and work done around the house. I capped off the weekend by catching Ladder 49 in the theater this evening. I was a little surprised by the end of the movie, but it only added to the reality. Overall, a very good movie. On the drive home I had a little unexpected joy when I looked up and saw the northern lights! Unfortunately they weren't very bright since I am in the city, but they did stretch horizon to horizon! The good news is, they are supposed to be out all this week, so maybe I'll take a drive into the country later this week to catch the show.

last round

Went golfing today for what I believe is the last round of the year. It was my first time golfing since September and the course I played a course that I've never played well. Ended up shooting a 91 (46-45), just a few strokes above my average. I guess I'm pleased but more than that, the weather was outstanding. Nothing like golfing in November when it's 64 out.

mini vacation

So I purchased an airline ticket today to New York City for the weekend of the 19th! $235 round trip, not too bad at all. I'm pretty excited since I've never been to the big apple. I'm heading out there to meet up with my cousin, who's going to be out there for work. He's got a meeting Friday afternoon and Monday morning, so instead of flying back and forth he's going to stay the weekend. I'm actually flying into Newark NJ (flying out of LaGuardia) Friday morning and I'm going to take a train into NYC and wonder on my own for a few hours till he gets done and can meet up with me. I'm hoping I can get everything I need into a backpack and so I can be fairly mobile walking around NYC with all me gear for half a day. Should be nice... cheap airfare and free hotel. I'm pumped!

early xmas record?

The date, October 29th... TWO days prior to Halloween. So when I was in Maryland last week, I had to run to a Lowes to pick up some hardware that I needed for the project. I went into the main door and what did I see to my right? Xmas trees, house lighting, and other yard ornaments. Man, pagan holidays are only getting worse and seeing all that xmas gear pre All Hallowed Eve almost made puke.

uu

I was up till 2am watching the election coverage last night... man am I tired. Once again, I'm so disappointed in this worthless political state of Minnesota for letting our electoral votes go to a mild socialist. I'm not sure who all these people are, because if you break down the overall voting my geography, all the outlining counties vote republican! Who are all these out of touch people here in the cities that swing the state to the democrats? Tree huggers? The universities and their teachers? Unions? It just doesn't make sense any way you slice it.

On the bright side, Bush is claiming victory – as he should. Ohio is a mathematical lock and even if Kerry gets NM voting will go to the house… which WE the republicans hold majority. 4 more years, 4 more years. To quote myself, “You can’t spell Winner without a dubya.”

double-u?

Man, watching the election live is so slow, but stressful. As I sit watching the election W is ahead... but no states have changed hands from 2000. I hope my midnight tonight I can fall asleep with ease knowing the next 4 years will be in good hands. Only time will tell....