http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward recent pleonast.com entries by user ward en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=601804 - Finish school work for this and next week, so I can travel and Thanksgive with no pressre. - Polish up (enough for government work) Boot Camp (next DeWard book that I'll spill more on later) to send advance copy to Stephen Arterburn for possible cover quote. (How awesome would that be?) - Go to Orlando for Florida College basketball game in Amway Arena (vs. Florida Christian College). - Spend the afternoon in Orlando and use same ticket to get into Magic vs. Rockets evening game. - Teach Bible class. - Preach Sunday AM. - Pack for trip. 2008-11-21 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=600608 I've expressed before my dislike for "Mansion over the Hilltop." I don't want to revisit all of the arguments I made last time I railed against the song, but I thought I might add another reason why it's near the top of my Least Favorite list. Even if nothing else I've said about the hymn is true—if all of my previous arguments were completely fallacious—I would hazard this: "Mansion over the Hilltop" suffers terribly in comparison to what, I think, is a much more thoughtful approach to the glory of heaven. Compare these two verses and weigh in one way or the other: From "Mansion Over the Hilltop" I'm satisfied with just a cottage below A little silver and a little gold But in that city where the ransomed will shine I want a gold one that's silver lined From "The Sands of Time" The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face; I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace. Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierce... 2008-11-18 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=599842 For those of you who aren't sports fans and/or don't care about the USF Football evaluation below, get excited about a new movie coming soon. Go check out the trailer: TWINMH: The Movie (Those of you who read the football post should check out the movie preview as well.) 2008-11-16 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=599838 Well, USF's tenure as Second Best College Football Team in Florida was short lived. And today's blowout loss was more of the same: dumb penalties, too many turnovers, and Swiss Cheese defense. Sloppy football, all around. But wait, you say, they've won six games and are bowl eligible. True enough. But let's examine these six wins a little more closely in order of difficulty. University of Tennessee-Martin: 1AA School Florida International University: Might as well be 1AA Syracuse: Barely D-1 UCF: Middle-of-the-pack in C-USA NC State: They have decent games, but they've lost six games Kansas: Clearly not the Kansas of last year (6-5) After further review, USF has one win that's worth something, another win that's decent (but isn't anything to gloat about) and four wins that are embarrassing to be counting toward Bowl Eligibility Status. Meanwhile, they've lost every Big East game they've played (save Syracuse), including being hammered today by a previously 4-5 Rutgers that's been ... 2008-11-16 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=599401 "You pro-choice people... you need Roe v. Wade. You're desperate for it. Not because you're sure of your opinion, but because you're not. You need to cling to that ruling as moral validation for a position that you're not entirely comfortable with, deep down." —Denny Crane 2008-11-14 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=598286 - I filled up my gas tank today. Only spent $22. The price dropped another $.02 per gallon since then. - Halfway through the season and the Dolphins are over .500. Raise your hand if you predicted that one. Even better, the Raiders, Rams, 49ers and Chiefs are all on their schedule. Might they finish 9-7—or even 10-6? Nah, not getting my hopes up that much. - Nearing the halfway point of my Contemporary Evangelism class. Nothing too exciting from it so far. Lots of work; so far, lots of As. The best news will be in five weeks when it's over. Okay, that's not nearly as much good news as I thought I had. Somebody else take over from here. 2008-11-11 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=596977 There's a student here at the College who I think is really pretty. This is off to a dangerous start, isn't it? From the first time I saw her, there was something striking about her. And I felt like I'd met her before. For a long time, I couldn't quite figure out what it was—either the striking-ness or the familiarity—since she's not attractive in a supermodel sort of way and I know I'd never met her before. Last year passed and I never figured it out. Summer passed and I didn't give it a second thought. At some point during this semester, however, it finally dawned on me: she reminds me of Brooke. She's certainly not a dead ringer, and between a difference in hairstyle and age, the thought might not even cross your mind if you saw her—although the one person I've asked for confirmation agreed with me (though he did say he wouldn't have seen it if it hadn't been pointed out). And, to be honest, I'm not even entirely sure what it is exactly that brings me to the conclusion: ey... 2008-11-07 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=596540 ...I wouldn't have picked this one: 2008-11-06 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=595704 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. —God (via Paul; Romans 13.1–2) 2008-11-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/ward?l=5&entryID=594063 There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. You would have no authority... at all unless it had been given you from above. Sure, I'll vote. But I will do so understanding that it is God who puts the president in the oval office, not me. Isn't it kind of funny how mixed up Christianity has gotten with politics—almost to the point that "Religious Right" is synonymous with "Christian"? How did that happen? Jesus couldn't have cared less about who was governing when He was on the earth—at least, it sure doesn't seem like He cared. Paul and Peter merely said to submit to the one in charge (Nero, in their day!). There is no indication of any concern on, say, Luke's part of whether Tiberius or Octavian or Julius would have been a better ruler for Christians. And when a so-called Christian finally did get in control of the Roman Empire, it was about the worst thing that could have possibly happened to the church. So how ... 2008-11-01