The Party (1968)
The Party is a classic comedy, and the clips are quite funny.
Romans 8:28-31 (New American Standard Bible)
28And we know that [a]God causes (A)all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are (B)called according to His purpose.
29For those whom He (C)foreknew, He also (D)predestined to become (E)conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the (F)firstborn among many brethren;
30and these whom He (G)predestined, He also (H)called; and these whom He called, He also (I)justified; and these whom He justified, He also (J)glorified.
31(K)What then shall we say to these things? (L)If God is for us, who is against us?
I am assuming that the good that God works in my life will include my successful PhD thesis, once it is reviewed by an external examiner and I defend it in person.
That is, when my University can find someone...
As for career options as a professor, these are some (not all) of my geographical options as an English speaker:
The Good: I could stay in British Columbia and the Lower Mainland and likely live in this condominium for several years. Chucky and Bobby Buff live fairly close by and seemingly have no serious intentions of moving away anytime soon. My Mom is decently healthy and should not need more serious medical care for her disabilities for a few years.
The Bad: The Lower Mainland is pretty secular. One of the reasons I am not working on a PhD in Theology through a local institution is that there was not a PhD offered in this entire province when I was looking for a program. In fact there was not one offered in all of Western Canada! Now, fairly recently the Vancouver School of Theology offers a Wales, Lampeter PhD, and yes Wales, Lampeter is the University I have signed with. I am not affiliated with the Vancouver School although the affiliation they have with Wales, Lampeter allows me to use their library for free.
I may find it difficult to find a local University or college willing to hire a moderately conservative Christian theologian.
The Lower Mainland is also a very expensive place to live.
The Satirical: Will the last successful truly conservative politician in the Lower Mainland please turn out the lights.
Will there be conservative churches in the Lower Mainland in thirty years? Will I be doing communion and church in my basement? Will there be a court case over the next few decades where a Biblical Christian church and/or organization is condemned by the Provincial or Federal court for not holding to 'Christian' standards, that is, radical liberal church Christian standards.
I am not sure that Canada is much different than British Columbia, although Ontario and Quebec have much higher populations than does BC. The Prairie Provinces may offer me some work opportunities.
Ever year I buy this Football Annual which deals with the English Premier League, UEFA and FIFA.
The Good: I have British citizenship. I would very much like to live in the United Kingdom in the context of seeing more English Premiership football, and I would like to spend time with my friends there.
The Bad: As with BC, and much of Canada it may be difficult to find a place for a moderately conservative theologian to teach theology. Generally, the institutions are quite liberal in the UK. Like the Lower Mainland it is also a quite expensive place to live.
The Satirical: Some of the people there are very nice, but while I was there in Manchester I was bottled, and burgled twice. The NHS provides free health care but they messed up on both my nasal reconstruction and orthodontic work after I was bottled. The GP decided he would 'save me time and money' and so he attempted to straighten my broken nose twice by hand without anesthetic! Blood went all over my pants. 'I'm so sorry he stated'. When the surgeon here in the Lower Mainland (also from the UK) examined my nose he stated the British GP had made it much worse. He noted that 'my nose was almost at my ears'. My crowns had to be completely redone here as my gums were inflamed from the work that had been done in the UK. The crowns were too close to my gums.
After I was assaulted in Manchester, I went to a shop to buy a weapon for self-defence. I eventually bought one of those elongated sticks, which eventually broke back here in BC...cheap! The shop owner initially offered me a samurai sword. Perhaps I should go back there and see what he has to offer, if I move back to the UK!
As my good friend Robin, also from the UK, and now in Florida, has stated, it is difficult to get ahead financially in the UK.
The Good: I do not consider the United States a Christian nation, although it is traditionally Christianized. It is seemingly becoming more secular. There are probably more opportunities for employment as a moderately conservative theology professor there than anywhere else in the world.
The Bad: Unlike with Canada and the UK, I would not have citizenship.
The Satirical: Well Major League Soccer is not exactly major league soccer, is it? The sales job is present in the title of the league.
The Good: I have never been to the Southern Hemisphere and I have heard and read good things about both Australia and New Zealand.
The Bad: Are there many Christian Universities and colleges in these countries that would hire and moderately conservative Christian theologian? I would be a foreigner as I would be in the USA.
The Satirical: Hmm, I suppose these countries may be a little bit like the UK, but with a lot more sun, and a lot less rain, especially in Australia. I bet they do not have as many thugs there as the UK. What do you think, Russell? Sunburn could be a real issue.
If anyone via Blogger, Facebook, or just the web in general has any positive suggestions please leave a comment or send me an email.
And of course comments as usual are appreciated!
Good news, an idea:
I think that working in religious publishing is an option I will consider as well.
Russ
Additional:
Talk about misfortune...
TSN
MINDEN, Nev. - Clint Malarchuk, the former NHL goalie best known for having his jugular vein slashed by a skate in a 1989 game with Buffalo, is recovering after accidentally shooting himself in the chin with a rifle.
Malarchuk's wife Christy told sheriff's deputies that the .22-calibre rifle discharged after her husband placed the butt on the ground between his legs. He had been shooting rabbits.
The 47-year-old former player, now a goalie coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was flown by helicopter to a Reno hospital for treatment Tuesday.
"Our concern is with Clint and his well-being," the Blue Jackets said in a statement Thursday. "We are optimistic that he will have a full recovery very soon."
Hi Russ.
ReplyDeleteWell as we say in the classics mate it's a "fate acompli". Book the ticket, Australia is the place for you. You can have it all down here. Liberals, Reformers, fundamentalists, good places to eat, good beaches, sunburn, snow in winter, more sunburn, free health system, (if you are prepared to wait) thugs on a Friday & Saturday night only if you are prepared to go into their territory, (I have not encountered any in my 53 years) and we have a wide range of learning institutions that could use someone like yourself I'm sure because some of the stuff I hear coming out of these places really stinks.
OK Russ give me your flight details and I'll meet you at the airport. And just remember Melbourne is the city, forget the rest their just not up to the high standard of Melbourne.
You must at least visit us sometime that's for sure.
Russell.
Thanks, Russell.
ReplyDeleteI definitely would like to visit Australia. I will consider work options from Oceania including Australia.
Good job, mate.
Russ:)
Hi, Russ! Since you said you might consider working in "religious publishing," and you enjoy satire, perhaps you'd enjoy the current issue of Cook Partners, the magazine I edit for Christian publishers around the world, since it is devoted to humor in Christian publishing. The lead article lists 10 funny things about Christian publishing. Here are the first three:
ReplyDelete10. Authors say God revealed to them in a dream that their manuscripts are perfect just the way they are.
9. Editors worry that Revelation 22:18-19 condemns their profession.
8. For some reason, long books skip right from page 665 to 667.
Read the rest at cook-partners.org
Thank you, Kim. I had a look at your site.
ReplyDeletePublishing does interest me.
Russ:)
Hey Russ, it's definitely got to be a tough decision to decide where to go from here. Those kind of major steps are always pretty stressful. I'll be praying for you, and hope that God opens some doors for you. Don't get too stressed about it. Seek His will first, He will most certainly lead you to where He wants you to be!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jake.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is stressful. You can relate to the stress I reason as you chose a seminary and moved from Ontario to Florida. I have also been through similar stress previously when I moved from BC to the UK for the start of my research degrees.
Russ:)
Hey Russ,
ReplyDeleteThe Lowlands are secular and expensive. Sounds Democrat-ish.
Definately don't play with swords. I like the idea of imagining you to sit on the couch watching your football and flicking the button on your baton. I also imagine that is how it got broke, it ran into something that did not resemble flesh.
I'm guessing that my absence and unusual choice of topic kept people away last time. I wrote a new blog today.
Thanks, Jim.
ReplyDeleteI broke the elongated stick on my punching bag...how wimpy.
Russ:)
Alberta is more conservative than B.C., and has a number of seminaries in Calgary and Edmonton. And your mom has relatives in Calgary. If local options don't pan out, there could be opportunities there.
ReplyDeleteIt's not exactly inexpensive to live there though, from what I hear.
That is a good point Sir Chucklins, and I will consider Alberta. I could handle the cold, but my Mom could not and she would need to stay here or move to Arizona to be with my brother.
ReplyDeleteI doubt Calgary and Edmonton are relatively cheap places to live.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Hefner
ReplyDeleteHugh Hefner apparently has lost a girlfriend and may lose another. Is he losing it, or will he simply find replacements?
I write this comment not primarily from an entertainment perspective, but philosophically. I think he should be dumped for not wanting to get married and have children, and as well for having two other girlfriends, of course.
LOL! the video clips were hilarious. And the guy said THANKYOU? funny stuff!
ReplyDeleteAs you continue to pray and seek the Lord Russ God will lead you to where you need to go and take you down the right path for your life.
Here are some interesting statistics:
ReplyDelete- Over 12 million American adults currently maintain a blog.
- More than 147 million Americans use the Internet.
- Over 57 million Americns read blogs.
- 1.7 million American adults list making money as one of the reasons they blog.
- 89% of companies surveyed say they think blogs will be more important in the next five years.
- 9% of internet users say they have created blogs.
- 6% of the entire US adult population has created a blog.
- Technorati is currently tracking over 70 million blogs.
- over 120 thousand blogs are created every day.
- There are over 1.4 million new blog posts every day.
- 22 of the 100 most popular websites in the world are blogs.
- 37% of blog readers began reading blogs in 2005 or 2006.
- 51% of blog readers shop online.
- Blog readers average 23 hours online each week.
Thank you both Tamela and Jeff.
ReplyDeleteRuss:)
Russ,
ReplyDeleteAfter I was assaulted in Manchester, I went to a shop to buy a weapon for self-defence. I eventually bought one of those elongated sticks, which eventually broke back here in BC...cheap! The shop owner initially offered me a samurai sword. Perhaps I should go back there and see what he has to offer, if I move back to the UK!
I have a telescopic 'Steel Cobra,' which looks like this, but is black.
A couple or so of my swords have broken while practicing with them. All I do is swing them around (fast), and they break! I also have a spear that looks something like a dragon spear, except its even more cool; but it broke as well, just from spinning and swinging it around (the blade actually went way up into the air, landing very close to me, and, if it would have hit me, I might have been seriously injured). They make most of those things only for display, and they don't last through serious practices. If I actually tried to use some of those cheaply-made weapons for self-defense, I would be in trouble! (Also, many of them are not sharp, though some that I have are.)
I have a steel nunchaku, which is well-made. I also have some knives, and those have lasted through practices. I have a 3-section staff, which I still have not mastered. Also, some of the nunchakus I have had in the past were connected very cheaply, and one half went flying while I was swinging them around! The two shurikens I have look cool, but are pretty worthless, as they are not very sharp. I also have a morning star that looks very similar to this one, but the chain is so cheap on it, that I can't swing it around, or the heavy steel ball with come off.
Here's an article with helpful links on Resources For Jobs in Publishing
ReplyDeleteJeff, thanks for the publishing information. I worked on the letter last night and today will work on places to sent it to.
ReplyDeleteMy weapons I work out with are a large Swiss Army Knife, with blade not extended for sparring;), baseball bats, metal and wood clubs.
I am less interested in martial arts weapons and very interested, since my fight in Manchester in 2000, with learning street weapons defences, and some judo and grappling. I now put less emphasis on karate punches which are really like jabs and instead use hook punches and elbow strikes more. High kicks are also less likely to score in a fight, but they are useful to know just in case the correct situation arises to use them. The elbow strikes are very useful for close in fighting when kicks and punches are taken away. I am working on an elbow defence for if someone attacks me from the shoot. I spread my legs apart for balance and keep my elbows in tight and strike very hard with elbow strikes to the head and throat. I can likely knock someone out with my elbow strikes. This worked really well against Chucky the other week as he tried to take me down as he took my punches and kicks away. I also have learned the choke hold. I think I can choke Chucky out in ten seconds, if he was stunned. We also work on defending choke holds and do basic judo take downs, and the triangle choke on the ground, and some arm and leg locks. I have also worked on in sparring getting out of the mount and reverse mount while on the ground.
I bought a book on grappling techniques for persons taking karate and have also downloaded judo and grappling information from the web.
I also use a punching bag.
Techniques must be adapted for the street, on grass or inside a building, as I have no intention of fighting in a ring. One must be willing to bite and gouge in a street fight against holds and locks. There is no honour, only life and death, or the risk of serious injury.
A mistake many non-fighters (like most of us are) will make is to follow the expert fighters on television and adapt their personal training to the ring which is an even bigger mistake when on the street one can be stabbed easily. There are no rules on the street as I learned being bottled after I won the fights on points.
Are they looking for a goon?
ReplyDeleteDear:Sir/Madam,
Our company BHP Billiton Plc Requires international agents who shall serveas a link between us and our clients and you will also be responsible forthe collection of payments from customers within your region on our behalf.If you think you can handle this position pls write back for more info on our enquiry. Email:karen_wood1@live.com
Best Regards.
Karen Wood,
Company Secretary.
Russ,
ReplyDeleteI am less interested in martial arts weapons and very interested, since my fight in Manchester in 2000, with learning street weapons defences, and some judo and grappling.
Makes sense. I have taken knife-fighting (tulisan), kali (stick fighting), arnis (stick fighting), and one class in bo staff. I have also practiced on my own (from books and friends) with the bo staff, nunchaku, etc. for many years. However, I don't carry any of those around with me, so knowing how to use them would not likely be helpful in a street fight. I used to carry a balisong (butterfly knife) in my pocket, but not anymore. I also used to carry nunchaku in my car, until the police told me it was illegal.
The first time I was attacked with a knife, I tried to grab the guy's knife hand to do a Judo or Jiu-Jitsu move on him, but he was too fast, and I almost got my hand cut. I then was able to kick the knife out of his hand (I was into karate and was fast then), injuring his finger, and then I followed up with an attack of my own. The second time (years later) that I was attacked with the knife, I did the same thing.
Before I was born again, I was always afraid of being attacked, and I would always think about what to do against a knife or a gun. I was always practicing awareness of my surroundings. But I was always in fear. After I got saved, I was no longer afraid of getting killed, and that fear went away.
I admit that, if someone broke into my house today, I would get one of my weapons and defend myself and my house. However, I am no longer afraid of being killed, as I once was.
I also don't like guns, so I refuse to keep a gun in my house. And, if the other person has a gun, there's usually not a whole lot you can do. Even if they are within attack range, a person would have to be incredibly fast in order to disarm the gunman before he can pull the trigger.
And, when it comes to defending your life, you're right about not playing by any rules (biting, eye gouging, etc.). Using your surroundings is also good (a stick on the ground that could be used as a weapon, maneuvering so the sun is behind you, being aware of uneven or slippery surfaces, etc.).
CAUTION!! THE NEXT PARAGRAPH MAY BE OFFENSIVE OR DISTURBING TO SOME!
The most horrible thing I could imagine, personally, on this earth, would be if I were in prison and some inmate(s) tried to rape me. If that happened, I'm afraid I would turn into a wild, insane animal, and I imagine I would do anything, including biting down on their throat and ripping out their vocal cords with my teeth. If anyone attempted that, I could see myself becoming a murderer. I think I might rather be disemboweled, or have all of my skin cut off of me, than be raped by a man.
Thanks, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteI think Biblically since the state is to maintain law and order (Romans 13), we have the right to defend ourselves within reason when attacked if a police officer or soldier is not there to protect us.
Good thoughts.
Jeff, Before I was a believer, I knew a guy that I hated and he went to prision for some things he did. It was stated in the local newspaper he was raped in Jail.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, that guys going to DIE!!!!
I would gouge out his eyes and rip his throat out. Rick b
Hi Rick,
ReplyDeleteSomeone who is facing violent physical assault, including potential rape, has the right to use deadly force in my opinion.
The victim cannot be assured that murder will not follow the assault.
Thanks,
Russ:)
Russ and Rick,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you guys understand.
For me personally, if I was in prison and someone was going to try to kill me, I'm sure that, realistically, I would try to defend myself, even though I'm sure I'm going to Heaven when I die.
However, in the case of being a victim of rape, that's like an entirely different thing for me. First, it is, IMO, the worst offense against the male ego, and strips a person (in a sense) of their manhood. It is not only an attack against the person's body, but it is an attack against a male's masculinity.
Rick, I've already crossed the line in some of my comments on Russ' sites sometimes, but nevertheless, I want to say that, on that Mormon Hater site where that guy uses the completely inexcusable and low tactic of attacking you in the way he did, when I read his comment that many people are attracted to him, and even get aroused, by watching whatever video he has of himself on YouTube, and that people stalk him because of it (and he makes the absolutely ridiculous assertion that you are one of them), first, he must have an incredible ego to think that highly of himself; and second, if his video is turning people on sexually, then I DO NOT want to find out what it is that he is doing in that video! I mean, to me, that sounds like more of an incrimination against himself than anyone else!
Thanks, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteThe owner of the Mormon Hater blogs uses ad hominem extraordinaire.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI never knew until the Mormon hater said so, that he was on Youtube. I do not search youtube for every person I find on the web, And I agree with you.
Then as far as guys being raped, Their is a van dam movie called (in hell), not one of his better movies, but then which one is good anyway?
but in the movie, their is a really bad guy in prision, real old school jail in a forgien country, the guards bring male (victims) to this bad guy and he rapes them. they do not show the rapes, but they show the terror on the face of the guy as they toss him in the cell, and then you here the screams of the guy as he gets raped.
I was not expecting that to happen in the movie and it was tough to see. rick b
I thought in hypothetical terms that if the LDS Church knew about the Mormon Hater's blog they would not be impressed or supportive, nor would many individual LDS.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I think it is very wrong for Rick to be lied about on Mormon Hater's blog, the LDS blogger is doing his cause a disservice.
He should simply argue his religious case or close down his blog silently admitting he cannot answer the Christian critics. His use of ad hominem extraordinaire shows his intellectual weakness is the area of religious studies.
Cheers, Rick.
Russ,
ReplyDeleteunless you follow his blog closely, you will not notice, but he has deleted many people simply for giving out links to blogs that witness to mormons.
also I put out info from my blog, quotes from his former prophets such as Joseph smith and Brigham young, where they are saying very hateful things about christians and he removed them.
then he said on his blog to me, but has since removed he, he is not looking to debate. he proves he really does not want to hear the truth, then to come to my blog and call me an A-hole shows he has no love, I left it on my blog to prove he said that. rick b
Russ,
ReplyDeleteunless you follow his blog closely, you will not notice, but he has deleted many people simply for giving out links to blogs that witness to mormons.
Thanks, Rick.
I have noticed, and this is one of the reasons I think he is a waste of time dealing with. I also noticed that he treated your friend Concrete in a similar was as you.
I support your ministry Rick and think you have assisted many.
Russ:)
Rick,
ReplyDeleteI never knew until the Mormon hater said so, that he was on Youtube. I do not search youtube for every person I find on the web
I never doubted that that Mormon guy was making up all that garbage about you simply as the lowest tactic I've ever seen, merely out of complete desperation and frustration, because obviously he cannot refute whatever points you have challenged him on. Basically he's grabbing a handful of mud and throwing it at you, because he cannot beat your argument with logic.
Their is a van dam movie called (in hell), not one of his better movies, but then which one is good anyway?
LOL! At first, I liked Van Damme, but then all his movies became the same thing. The same thing with Steven Seagal, although Seagal has had somewhat better movies, generally speaking, than Van Damme, IMO.
I was not expecting that to happen in the movie and it was tough to see.
OK, you have now convinced me to stop talking about that subject. Ugh.
Russ,
ReplyDeleteI thought in hypothetical terms that if the LDS Church knew about the Mormon Hater's blog they would not be impressed or supportive, nor would many individual LDS.
Very good point.
His use of ad hominem extraordinaire shows his intellectual weakness is the area of religious studies.
Case closed. Rick wins.
Scenario: A mixed martial arts fight. The Mormon guy is about to tap out, having been caught in Rick's choke hold, but instead, out of pure desperation, the Mormon guy pulls out a knife and begins to use it. He is disqualified for an illegal weapon. Rick wins.
I also noticed that he treated your friend Concrete in a similar was as you.
ReplyDeleteRick has a friend named 'Concrete'??! Oh, man, with a name like that, he should go over to that Mormon guy and just pound his skull!
Sorry, got carried away there...
Rick pours his hot sauce down the opponents throat...fight over.;)
ReplyDeleteRick pours his hot sauce down the opponents throat...fight over.;)
ReplyDeleteLMHO! Hilarious!
My buddy Concrete, I have known him for about 15 years. I meet him in Chicago, he was up visiting from Australia and we have kept in touch over the years.
ReplyDeleteYou want to see a funny video? Go to youtube and type in, Cookie Monster Sings Cannibal Corpse.
Cookie Monster, a natural as a death metal singer.
ReplyDelete