Rob Monti,
Your Favorite MonT-SteR!
Blogs with
MonT-SteR Appeal
Alpha & Omega Min.
Atheism Presupposes Theism
Atheism Sucks!
Christians Behaving Badly
Come Reason Ministries
Facing the Challenge
His Hand is On the Door
Let's Try Freedom
ProLifeBlogs
The Thinklings
World Magazine Blog
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
DOOM
Moe Lane over at Redstate.com called it. Coakley is toast, which may very well be the stake through Obamacare's heart. To quote Mr. Lane, "DOOM."
Senator Elect Brown and tea partygoers everywhere, congratulations.
Senator Webb, you aren't fooling anyone. You and Warner both sold out on Obamacare, and we shan't forget it. With the denouement of today's Boston Tea party, the writing on the wall is just too stark for you to ignore.
But it's too late. You and Senator Warner chose to brush aside the sensible majority you're supposed to represent when we were angrily, desperately assailing switchboards and inboxes, begging you not to let Obamacare advance in the Senate.
You betrayed your public trust. You both turned a deaf ear to us. And there's NOTHING you can say or do at this point that will EVER erase that fact.
DOOM.
Moe Lane over at Redstate.com called it. Coakley is toast, which may very well be the stake through Obamacare's heart. To quote Mr. Lane, "DOOM."
Senator Elect Brown and tea partygoers everywhere, congratulations.
Senator Webb, you aren't fooling anyone. You and Warner both sold out on Obamacare, and we shan't forget it. With the denouement of today's Boston Tea party, the writing on the wall is just too stark for you to ignore.
But it's too late. You and Senator Warner chose to brush aside the sensible majority you're supposed to represent when we were angrily, desperately assailing switchboards and inboxes, begging you not to let Obamacare advance in the Senate.
You betrayed your public trust. You both turned a deaf ear to us. And there's NOTHING you can say or do at this point that will EVER erase that fact.
DOOM.
Labels: DOOM, Martha Coakley, Senator Jim Webb, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Scott Brown
Thursday, January 14, 2010
On Calamity and Divine Judgment
I made the comments below in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Given the nightmarish suffering that's occurring in Haiti at the moment (and some notorious commentary that's floating about on the subject), it seemed like a good idea to repost them.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
I made the comments below in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Given the nightmarish suffering that's occurring in Haiti at the moment (and some notorious commentary that's floating about on the subject), it seemed like a good idea to repost them.
It bothers me greatly that the Christian voices that seem to trumpet the loudest in times of tragedy are those who proclaim (and seem to relish) the arrival of God's judgment in the likes of disasters like Katrina. I recently preached a sermon on Luke 13 that deals with this very issue. Jesus cites two examples of suffering or catastrophe where people were killed by human agency or accidental means. He says to his audience in verses 3 and 5, "Do you think that the people who suffered these fates are greater sinners or worse culprits than everyone else? I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." What He is saying is this: 1) Don't assume that God metes out judgment in every instance of disaster or personal calamity, 2) by extension, don't assume that you are more righteous than those who suffer calamity, and 3) as a corrollary to number 2, don't assume that you are escaping judgment just because disaster hasn't befallen you.
Did God judge New Orleans by sending Katrina? It's not beyond the realm of possibility, nor is it without biblical precedent. God is love, but He is also judge, and he does bring the nations to account for their deeds. But Luke 13 indicates that Christians ought to refrain from being so glib in their pronouncements of gloom and doom. The locus of the Church's ministry in such times ought to be in reaching out with the love, care, and compassion of Christ -- not in smug proclamations of judgment from the comfort of an easy chair.
Ever heard of Jonah, folks? You know, the guy who wanted God to fry those brutal, savage, imperialistic Assyrians? Did God allow him to just sit back and wait for Him to destroy Nineveh? Or did He send Jonah in mission to them in hopes that they would repent so they could be spared? And what did Jonah learn in the end -- that God enjoys laying waste to entire cities, or that He'd rather spare them? Is God pleased when his people are happy about or hopeful for the destruction of non-Christians? Or would he prefer us to be motivated by His heart for compassion and rescue and reach out to unbelievers?
Did God judge New Orleans by sending Katrina? It's not beyond the realm of possibility, nor is it without biblical precedent. God is love, but He is also judge, and he does bring the nations to account for their deeds. But Luke 13 indicates that Christians ought to refrain from being so glib in their pronouncements of gloom and doom. The locus of the Church's ministry in such times ought to be in reaching out with the love, care, and compassion of Christ -- not in smug proclamations of judgment from the comfort of an easy chair.
Ever heard of Jonah, folks? You know, the guy who wanted God to fry those brutal, savage, imperialistic Assyrians? Did God allow him to just sit back and wait for Him to destroy Nineveh? Or did He send Jonah in mission to them in hopes that they would repent so they could be spared? And what did Jonah learn in the end -- that God enjoys laying waste to entire cities, or that He'd rather spare them? Is God pleased when his people are happy about or hopeful for the destruction of non-Christians? Or would he prefer us to be motivated by His heart for compassion and rescue and reach out to unbelievers?
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Bible tweets?
David Schuster of MSNBC made a number of tweets today (if you don't know what that is, go here) decrying Miss California's stance on gay marriage. In essence, he cited several verses from Leviticus in an attempt to demonstrate that Christians are guilty of cherry picking Biblical prohibitions in order to justify their “bigotry” vis-à-vis homosexuality. The argument goes like this: Christians are happy to ignore all sorts of strange and arcane prohibitions in Leviticus, but they capriciously fixate on the prohibition against homosexuality in Lev. 18:22; if the other prohibitions can be licitly ignored with advantage, there's no good reason to regard Lev. 18:22 as binding either.
This is actually a common argument, and on its face it has the appearance of merit. Unfortunately, it doesn't take into account the various categories of law contained in the Mosaic books. Some directly enumerate universal principles that transcend culture (e.g., the Decalogue in Exodus 20). Others apply these universal principles to Israel's cultural setting; as such, the application cited in the Law is necessarily occasional. In other words, even though the transcendent principle behind certain cultural prohibitions is itself inviolate, we wouldn't expect it to be applied the exact same way in every cultural context. The task for the modern biblical interpreter is to do the legwork necessary to tell the difference and live accordingly.
For example, Schuster cites Lev. 19:27, which “expressly forbids men from getting their hair trimmed.” In our culture, this seems patently absurd. Most men shave daily before they go to work as a simple matter of personal hygiene and professionalism; to suggest that we are offending God by doing so smacks of lunacy. But the men of the cultures surrounding Israel commonly shaved their hair and beards for occultic purposes (this could be inferred from the context, especially given vv. 26 and 28). Thus, Lev. 19:27 isn't an arbitrary and silly prohibition; it is, rather, a culturally-attuned application of the universal, Decalogic proscriptions against idolatry and worshiping other gods.
A couple more statements by Schuster, intermingled with my comments:
I daresay, Mr. Schuster, that Lev. 18:22 is no exception.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
David Schuster of MSNBC made a number of tweets today (if you don't know what that is, go here) decrying Miss California's stance on gay marriage. In essence, he cited several verses from Leviticus in an attempt to demonstrate that Christians are guilty of cherry picking Biblical prohibitions in order to justify their “bigotry” vis-à-vis homosexuality. The argument goes like this: Christians are happy to ignore all sorts of strange and arcane prohibitions in Leviticus, but they capriciously fixate on the prohibition against homosexuality in Lev. 18:22; if the other prohibitions can be licitly ignored with advantage, there's no good reason to regard Lev. 18:22 as binding either.
This is actually a common argument, and on its face it has the appearance of merit. Unfortunately, it doesn't take into account the various categories of law contained in the Mosaic books. Some directly enumerate universal principles that transcend culture (e.g., the Decalogue in Exodus 20). Others apply these universal principles to Israel's cultural setting; as such, the application cited in the Law is necessarily occasional. In other words, even though the transcendent principle behind certain cultural prohibitions is itself inviolate, we wouldn't expect it to be applied the exact same way in every cultural context. The task for the modern biblical interpreter is to do the legwork necessary to tell the difference and live accordingly.
For example, Schuster cites Lev. 19:27, which “expressly forbids men from getting their hair trimmed.” In our culture, this seems patently absurd. Most men shave daily before they go to work as a simple matter of personal hygiene and professionalism; to suggest that we are offending God by doing so smacks of lunacy. But the men of the cultures surrounding Israel commonly shaved their hair and beards for occultic purposes (this could be inferred from the context, especially given vv. 26 and 28). Thus, Lev. 19:27 isn't an arbitrary and silly prohibition; it is, rather, a culturally-attuned application of the universal, Decalogic proscriptions against idolatry and worshiping other gods.
A couple more statements by Schuster, intermingled with my comments:
- If a narrow read of the bible is the last word on “marriage,” what about bible based condemnations of cosmetic surgery?
It's certainly valid to consider whether or not cosmetic surgery is biblically sanctioned, but does he really mean to suggest that breast implants and homosexuality are morally equivalent? I hope not... - Lev. 19:19 forbids planting two different crops in the same field or wearing two different kinds of thread Penalty? Lev. 24:10-16 death.
Here, Schuster makes a common error by reading these verses sheerly through the lens of modern experience and sensibilities. In order to make sense of the Bible—particularly the OT—we have to make an effort to understand the milieu of the ancient Near East (ANE). In a nutshell, Israel was an agrarian culture utterly dependent on a good harvest for its very survival. If Schuster's going to invoke modernity with respect to Lev 19:19, he might do well to observe that modern farmers judiciously avoid planting corn, wheat, and soybeans together in the same field. Perhaps science and experience have taught us that mingling crops ruins both harvest and subsequent generations of seed. If so, God's prohibition takes into account the fact that such activity in ancient Israel would not only threaten livelihood, but life itself. I don't know about you, but I can understand why a God who cares for His people would tell them in no uncertain terms, “Do NOT do this.”
I daresay, Mr. Schuster, that Lev. 18:22 is no exception.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: apologetics, bible study, Christianity, David Schuster, homosexuality, MSNBC
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tilapia Po'Boy recipe
So, my wife buys these breaded tilapia filets from Sam's Club. Usually, she bakes them in the oven until they're crispy on the outside, and I enjoy them with thorough doses of vinegar (I'm not really a seafood person).
Well, she had somewhere to go this evening, and graciously cooked up some of these tilapia filets for me to eat while she's out. This time around, however, the ol' take-it-with-vinegar routine just didn't seem appetizing. So, in the fine Monti tradition of improvisational gastronomy, I experimented with what we had on hand in the kitchen.
The result was (IMHO) delicious, and a welcome change of pace. If you're trying to get more fish in your diet and in a rut, try this for a quick and tasty meal.
Tilapia Po'Boy
Ingredients
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
So, my wife buys these breaded tilapia filets from Sam's Club. Usually, she bakes them in the oven until they're crispy on the outside, and I enjoy them with thorough doses of vinegar (I'm not really a seafood person).
Well, she had somewhere to go this evening, and graciously cooked up some of these tilapia filets for me to eat while she's out. This time around, however, the ol' take-it-with-vinegar routine just didn't seem appetizing. So, in the fine Monti tradition of improvisational gastronomy, I experimented with what we had on hand in the kitchen.
The result was (IMHO) delicious, and a welcome change of pace. If you're trying to get more fish in your diet and in a rut, try this for a quick and tasty meal.
Tilapia Po'Boy
Ingredients
- 1 breaded tilapia filet, baked until exterior is golden brown and crispy
- 3 slices of onion, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 long hot chili pepper, coarsely chopped
- 1 roma tomato, chopped
- 1-2 t. soy sauce
- 1 T lemon juice
- 1/2 t. Tabasco sauce
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 small pat of butter
- Shredded Monterrey Jack or sharp white cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Crushed red pepper
- 1 Small Italian sandwich or hoagie roll, or (better yet) some ciabatta bread or about 4"-6" of a Louisiana baguette (whatever you use, be sure to toast it)
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a non-stick skillet.
- Over medium heat, add the onion and long hot chili pepper. Stir to make sure the oil/butter covers everything.
- Sautee until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add soy sauce, Tabasco, and lemon juice. Add salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste. Stir.
- When this mixture has sauteed for just a moment more, fold in the tomato. Stir thoroughly. Continue to sautee until the tomato wilts a bit, then remove from heat.
- Take your toasted roll/bread, and spread a little mayonnaise on the inside. Place the baked tilapia filet on the bread, and spoon the sauteed vegetable mixture on top. Sprinkle just enough shredded cheese to give it a bit of a tang, and enjoy.
- Put a little Cajun seasoning (like Tony Chachere's or Slap Ya' Mama!) in the mayo, or substitute it for the salt and pepper in the sauteed veggie mix.
- Flatbread or a tortilla could make this a tasty wrap.
- If you want a healthier cheese option, feta might be a good choice.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: recipes, The MonT-SteR
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Voiceover recording FAIL!
While recording voiceovers for a training video at work this week, I got real frustrated. I use something akin to a Porta-Booth to do recording. While it does a good job approximating the quality of a full-blown soundbooth, it makes reading copy and controlling the computer a tad difficult sometimes. I just couldn't get situated, and so goof-ups were frequent and hard to recover from.
Witness the EPIC MonT-SteR Consternation&trade!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
While recording voiceovers for a training video at work this week, I got real frustrated. I use something akin to a Porta-Booth to do recording. While it does a good job approximating the quality of a full-blown soundbooth, it makes reading copy and controlling the computer a tad difficult sometimes. I just couldn't get situated, and so goof-ups were frequent and hard to recover from.
Witness the EPIC MonT-SteR Consternation&trade!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: fail, humor, The MonT-SteR
Thursday, April 09, 2009
A free Macbook Pro?
Call me crazy, but Macinlust can drive one to do crazy things from time to time.
You've probably seen these sites where they offer goodies that appeal to anyone with a bit of a gadget bug. Complete an array of offers, and you'll get the techno-carrot they dangle in front of your face to entice you—anything from iPods to PSPs to, well, Macbook Pros.
The problem with many of these sites is that they want you to complete the most ridiculous offers to get the goodie. No, I'm NOT going to apply for a mortgage and buy a European vacation package just to get a LAPTOP, for Pete's sake. My gadget greed isn't THAT out of control, thank you very much.
I recently encountered a site that asks one to complete a modest offer (like a trial at Netflix or a sample pack of gourmet coffee) and refer 24 people who also complete offers to get the goodie. That seems doable to me. So, I took the plunge.
In my case, I had to order some ShamWoW! towels, which is fine; I've been wanting to try them anyway. But now comes the work of referring 24 people who are willing to complete offers like I did.
So, if you're interested in getting a Macbook Pro on the über-cheap, pay Notebooks4Free.com a visit. From what I've seen, this is actually a reputable company that's not out to scam you (go here for a positive and seemingly credible review).
I'll keep you posted on how my application for the Macbook progresses.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
P.S. The MonT-SteR Reduction has been going badly. I really fell off the horse after my business trip. A day off for Good Friday tomorrow will give me the chance to go to the gym for an extended period of time, thus breaking the pattern of not getting to the gym for an extended period of time. Pray for me! This whole weight-loss, fitness thing HAS to happen.
UPDATE (5/1/2009):
I received credit for completing my offer -- my ShamWow! towels arrived yesterday (happy happy, joy joy), and my offer was marked as complete by Notebooks4Free last evening. Now I just have to figure out how to get referrals.
I received credit for completing my offer -- my ShamWow! towels arrived yesterday (happy happy, joy joy), and my offer was marked as complete by Notebooks4Free last evening. Now I just have to figure out how to get referrals.
Call me crazy, but Macinlust can drive one to do crazy things from time to time.
You've probably seen these sites where they offer goodies that appeal to anyone with a bit of a gadget bug. Complete an array of offers, and you'll get the techno-carrot they dangle in front of your face to entice you—anything from iPods to PSPs to, well, Macbook Pros.
The problem with many of these sites is that they want you to complete the most ridiculous offers to get the goodie. No, I'm NOT going to apply for a mortgage and buy a European vacation package just to get a LAPTOP, for Pete's sake. My gadget greed isn't THAT out of control, thank you very much.
I recently encountered a site that asks one to complete a modest offer (like a trial at Netflix or a sample pack of gourmet coffee) and refer 24 people who also complete offers to get the goodie. That seems doable to me. So, I took the plunge.
In my case, I had to order some ShamWoW! towels, which is fine; I've been wanting to try them anyway. But now comes the work of referring 24 people who are willing to complete offers like I did.
So, if you're interested in getting a Macbook Pro on the über-cheap, pay Notebooks4Free.com a visit. From what I've seen, this is actually a reputable company that's not out to scam you (go here for a positive and seemingly credible review).
I'll keep you posted on how my application for the Macbook progresses.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
P.S. The MonT-SteR Reduction has been going badly. I really fell off the horse after my business trip. A day off for Good Friday tomorrow will give me the chance to go to the gym for an extended period of time, thus breaking the pattern of not getting to the gym for an extended period of time. Pray for me! This whole weight-loss, fitness thing HAS to happen.
Labels: free macbook pro
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Photoshop World and The Biggest Loser, Blog Edition
Greetings from Beantown. I'm here in Boston for the Photoshop (PS) World conference, learning all sorts of yummy new things about every designer's favorite killer workhorse application.
I consider myself an intermediate to almost-advanced PS user, and it was gratifying to find that a good number of things presented today were review for me. But I got to see lots of nooks and crannies in PS CS4 that I was unaware of. The neat thing about PS nooks and crannies is that they can have a very meaningful impact on your workflow. For example:
In other news, your One and Only Favorite Friendly Neighborhood MonT-SteR™ is, well, fat. Portly. Obese. Rotund. Corpulent. Some of you who actually see me on a regular basis will doubtless be completely UNsurprised at this revelation. But it's true. Call me Moby Dick (Ishmael was thin, I'll wager).
And so, The MonT-SteR must reduce. Lots. Like, the "over 100 lbs." kind of "lots." To be specific, I need to lose at least 140 lbs.
This seems kind of daunting, but I done this before. I lost nearly 100 lbs. years ago, and over time (especially after the birth of my first son) I gained the weight back, and then some (and how!). And corresponding medical complications are forcing my hand. I'll not be done in by hypertension and declining cholesterol.
So, as a therapeutic measure, and to help with motivation, I've decided to use my blog to chronicle my progress. Think of it as The Biggest Loser for the blogosphere.
Not sure what shape this will take, or how I'll publish my results. But I think it will be helpful to know that readers and other netizens can come along for the journey. I'm sure there will be days when I'll need encouraging words from folks out there!
In an effort to continue my recent trend of getting to the gym, I'll be heading to the fitness center here in the hotel before breakfast and class.
So, off to bed with me!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Greetings from Beantown. I'm here in Boston for the Photoshop (PS) World conference, learning all sorts of yummy new things about every designer's favorite killer workhorse application.
I consider myself an intermediate to almost-advanced PS user, and it was gratifying to find that a good number of things presented today were review for me. But I got to see lots of nooks and crannies in PS CS4 that I was unaware of. The neat thing about PS nooks and crannies is that they can have a very meaningful impact on your workflow. For example:
- If you have PS CS4, check out the Content Aware Scaling. In essence, if you have an image that you need to scale in a non-proportional way, you can protect the important content of the photo so it doesn't squish or stretch. Very powerful when you have a photo that is perfect for your project but it doesn't fit the dimensions of the end product.
- PS CS4's mask and adjustment panels are awesome time savers, and they give you the ability to apply masks, feathers, and adjustments to an image in non-destructive fashion. Very cool.
In other news, your One and Only Favorite Friendly Neighborhood MonT-SteR™ is, well, fat. Portly. Obese. Rotund. Corpulent. Some of you who actually see me on a regular basis will doubtless be completely UNsurprised at this revelation. But it's true. Call me Moby Dick (Ishmael was thin, I'll wager).
And so, The MonT-SteR must reduce. Lots. Like, the "over 100 lbs." kind of "lots." To be specific, I need to lose at least 140 lbs.
This seems kind of daunting, but I done this before. I lost nearly 100 lbs. years ago, and over time (especially after the birth of my first son) I gained the weight back, and then some (and how!). And corresponding medical complications are forcing my hand. I'll not be done in by hypertension and declining cholesterol.
So, as a therapeutic measure, and to help with motivation, I've decided to use my blog to chronicle my progress. Think of it as The Biggest Loser for the blogosphere.
Not sure what shape this will take, or how I'll publish my results. But I think it will be helpful to know that readers and other netizens can come along for the journey. I'm sure there will be days when I'll need encouraging words from folks out there!
In an effort to continue my recent trend of getting to the gym, I'll be heading to the fitness center here in the hotel before breakfast and class.
So, off to bed with me!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: Photoshop, weight loss
