A new Calvin & Hobbes?!?

Is this a new Calvin (a la "Calvin & Hobbes") waiting to happen, or what?!? Just look at that mischievous smile. I think we're in for trouble in a year or two!

Sleeve-Facing

Caleb's been sleeve-facing again! Not bad for a 2-1/2 month old!

Maybe he can even get a Geez promo gig! We'll have to send them the pic...

The Pope and HIV/AIDS

Pope Benedict XVI has taken a ton of criticism over his remarks about condoms while on the way to visit Cameroon and Angola. The Pope said in essence that condoms aren't the solution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and they often make things worse. Well, that created quite the uproar and backlash against the Pope, the Catholic Church, and Christians in general. But are his statements that far off? What is the evidence that condoms solve the HIV/AIDS problem? I haven't done an exhaustive search, but there are an increasing number of articles and research papers suggesting condoms don't help as much as we think.

A brief, but insightful commentary is given by James Shelton in The Lancet in 2007, one of the most prestigious scientific journals. Titled "Ten Myths and One Truth About Generalized HIV Epidemics", here's some misconceptions he identifies (with a few extra comments):

1) HIV spreads like wildfire.
2) Sex work is the problem.
3) Men are the problem.
4) Adolescents are the problem.
5) Poverty and discrimination are the problem. In most countries, HIV/AIDS is more common in the wealthy.
6) Condoms are the answer. Mainly because people don't like them, use is irregular, protection imperfect, and they seem to foster disinhibition, thus increasing risky behaviors more likely to transmit the virus.
7) HIV testing is the answer.
8) Treatment is the answer.
9) New technology is the answer.
10) Sexual behavior will not change. The ABC program in Uganda, focusing on Abstinence, Be faithful (fidelity) and Condoms if you can't do A or B, worked quite well. Homosexuals in North America also changed their behaviors in the '80s. So it can be done!

And the one truth? Partner-limiting behavior (ie: fidelity) works, and we need to focus on that. The full reference is: Shelton, JD. Ten myths and one truth about HIV epidemics. The Lancet. 2007:370, pp 1809-11.

In condemning condoms, the Pope is condemning and calling out the lifestyle choices that are contrary to Biblical teaching (free sexual license, adultery, fornication, etc.). Most people don't like this. And (not) surprisingly, research shows that Christian teaching on sexuality (ie: abstinence and fidelity) usually work, more-so than condoms/testing/antiretroviral/etc. If one is to acknowledge this, one must admit the sexual revolution doesn't quite pan out as promoted, that self-discipline and self-restraint are not such bad ideas, that we are guilty of sin and there are consequences...

Politics... ideology... truth...

Maybe the Pope isn't crazy...

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana

Found out last week that it was released in paperback a month ago. Finished it last week. So good, so good! Hard to put down! Paints an incredible picture of Christ's humanity, and divinity. Highly recommended!
(apparently 9% off on Chapters website).

Reflections on The Lord's Prayer

From "Names of God and other Bible studies" by Rose Publishing:

How Can I Pray?

How can I pray "our" if I live only for myself?
How can I pray "Father" if I do not act like his child?
How can I pray "who are in Heaven" if I am laying up no treasures there?
How can I pray "hallowed be Thy name" if I don't care about being holy myself?
How can I pray "Thy kingdom come" if I live for my kingdom, power, and wealth?
How can I pray "Thy will be done" if I disobey His word?
How can I pray "on earth as it is in heaven" if I will not serve him here and now?
How can I pray "give us... our daily bread" if I am dishonest or unwilling to share what I have with others?
How can I pray "forgive us our debts" if I nurture resentment against another?
How can I pray "lead us not into temptation" if I willingly place myself in its path?
How can I pray "deliver us from evil" if I refuse to put on all of God's armor?
How can I pray "Thine is the kingdom" if my life does not reflect his lordship?
How can I pray "Thine is the... power" if I fear what people may do?
How can I pray "Thine is the... glory" if I seek honor for myself?
How can I pray "forever" if my life is bounded only by the things of time?

-adapted from "Alone with God" by John MacArthur, Jr.

Hockey - Tradecentre!

The NHL Trade Deadline is 1hr 30min away. I'm watching the live up-to-date coverage on TSN. It's strangely exciting - the potential for big names to be traded as teams prepare for the playoffs. The Oil need a good D-man... can we say Jay Bowmeester? But the "experts" say only Vancouver and Boston are interested. C'mon Tambollini! Let's make a run out of it!!

Theodore Dalrymple's monthly article

Theodore Dalrymple, who wrote "Life at the Bottom" which I just finished, writes a monthly essay for the New English Review. I was pretty excited to find this out. Dr Dalrymple's essays are poignant commentaries on the state of society, healthcare, and the results of intellectual ideas carried out in real life.Click here for the page with his essays, and Enjoy!

Here's the opening paragraph from his latest essay,The Rules of Perspective:

If I were asked, without time to give the question much thought, to name the greatest political virtues, I should reply, ‘Prudence and a sense of proportion.’ A New Jerusalem could not be built of these virtues, of course, but neither could a Hell on Earth; and since Hells on Earth are two a penny in human history, but New Jerusalems are infrequently encountered in it, to say the least, there is much to be said in presumption of those admittedly tepid and unexciting qualities.