Colorado Adventure, Part 5

Okay, look, the last time I went four-wheeling I was in Geology school at Colorado State University, and I hung my Ford Maverick in the middle of a stream while I was on the way to check out an old mine. "Wait a minute," you protest, "the Ford Maverick wasn't a 4WD vehicle!" Right. I suppose that could have something to do with why it hung up in the stream.

Anyway, Doris has heard the Maverick story. Wonder if that was why she was a little nervous when I announced we were going to head for Kite Lake via Weston Pass? Let's just say the road ain't paved, and leave it at that. Speaking of leaving, I was concerned that I might be leaving my oil pan or differential on this little drive, but last time I looked under the car, they were still there. You want a high-clearance vehicle for this little trek.

The pictures don't do it justice--it's a very steep grade. And no, Doris isn't walking because she's afraid to ride with me--she's just shooting a few pix.

There were multiple places where it was so deeply rutted with large rocks sticking up in inconvenient places, I didn't think we'd make it. It wasn't until I was crawling carefully through a boulder field masquerading as a road that I realized, "There's no cellphone service up here. If I get this baby stuck, I can't just call AAA. Nobody will find us until June!"

Kinda sharpens the concentration, ya know?

I reckon this fella got his wagon stuck, and decided he'd just go ahead and stay, build himself a home.

The colors, the clouds, the sky up here are just knock-your-socks-off beautiful. The glory of God on display.

Just shy of the pass I took this panorama,  probably about 180 degrees. Click it to enlarge.

Finally, after passing through much fear and many deep valleys we finally gained the pass. Okay, they were really just deep ruts.

Temp was in the low 40's, and it was very windy. Flat out cold.

After many difficult  roads that tried the soul, the AWD, and the clearance (my Vue has 8"), at long last we arrived at Fairplay, from whence we traveled straight to Alma, our sights set on Kite Lake. Kite Lake would be our final stop on the Henry Marshall Tour portion of our trip.

Actually, we stopped first at the District Ranger Office in Fairplay where we were once again informed that the Kite Lake road was really more of a high-clearance-vehicle road. Oh, joy.

The road started off pretty tame, the scenery beautiful.

There's some active mining going on near the lake. The red is iron, there's a lot of yellow coloration as well, probably some sulphur minerals. I found some samples of iron pyrite in the area (an iron sulfide also known as fool's gold).

 The road didn't stay tame. We actually had to abandon the Vue several hundred yards shy of the lake--the ruts were too deep, the rocks too big.

It. was. COLD!!!! The wind was blowing hard, the temp in the 30's. Brrrr! Click to enlarge the image. Kite Lake appears in The Candidate, in a little episode Henry Marshall had there. It was fun to visit in person something I'd only visited in Google Earth up to this point.

On the way home we took Highways 285 and 24. Did not want to try Weston Pass in the dusk--no, thank you!

My next update will involve some Colorado ghost towns we've been haunting the last couple of days.

Tomorrow we are going to attempt Mt. Elbert, using the easiest walk-up of all the routes (the South Elbert Trail). We're going to get as far as we can, but neither of us are expecting to summit the peak--we just aren't in good enough shape. But we'll have fun no matter how far we get!

Colorado Adventure, Part 4

Friday was a planned cabin day, with a side trip to Buena Vista so Doris could do a software download using the free Wifi at The Roastery. Here’s a couple of nerds in their cabin, glued to their laptops. We are both enjoying downtime.

It was a beautiful day. This is the scene from the deck.

On the way to BV we decided to take Lost Canyon Road. In this country, if you see a dirt road, and it’s not posted, you can take it. So I did. It ended at a gate and a barbed-wire fence. This was the view down the road we’d just come. Click on the picture for a bigger view.

This sign was posted on the gate.

We decided not to enter the gate.

On the way home from BV, we encountered a herd of about 40 mule deer, including quite a few bucks.

Saturday was a cabin day as well, because we wanted to watch the Iowa-Perdue game (Iowa won! Yay!). I spent most of the afternoon sitting on the cabin’s deck reading Outlander Chronicles: Phoenix.

“Why,” you ask, “would you read your own book?” I know—it might seem a little odd, but I had to refresh the characters in my mind in order to begin work on Outlander Chronicles: Icarus. And, no, I have not done any writing yet. 

Sunday we went to a great church: ClearView Community Church. Really enjoyed worshiping our mighty God with this group of believers.

After church it was time to do laundry. We found a laundromat through Google called “The Missing Sock,” but managed to get lost finding it. Apparently they have multiple streets named Antero Circle. After finding the wrong one, we kept looking and found the right one.

Does the view from your Laundromat look like this?

Didn’t think so.

Well, Monday is the great 4WD adventure over Weston Pass to Kite Lake. But that will have to wait for Part 5 . . .

Colorado Adventure, Part 3

Tuesday morning dawned with solid overcast, wisps of clouds on the mountains, drizzle at our elevation and snow above the timberline. It was cold! This was taken from our deck.

Anticipating that we’d both experience a touch of altitude sickness, Tuesday had been planned as a cabin day—a day to get settled in and just enjoy being here. Eventually the weather cleared and the day turned gorgeous.

Both of us had mild symptoms of altitude sickness, headaches and mild stomach troubles. But the day turned so beautiful we decided that we’d try to hike a mile or so up the Black Cloud Trail just to check out our gear and to help our conditioning. We loaded up our daypacks with everything we’d be taking on longer hikes. By the time we were ready to go it was drizzling again. No problem—we brought rain gear! We decided to do the hike in the rain. As we gained elevation the rain turned to alternating sleet and wet snow. It was a great hike, the rain gear worked well, and when we returned to our cabin we were still dry—though it was still raining.

Wednesday was beautiful. We threw our packs into the car and drove down to the trailhead for the path to the historic site of Interlaken. Interlaken was a late 1800s resort for the well-heeled of Colorado. Click the link to read about it. It is an abandoned site accessible only by boat, or by hiking several miles in the wilderness.

On the way, around every turn, we had a good view of our nemesis--Mt. Elbert.

 Here and there we'd run across an aspen tree that still had its golden leaves.

We finally arrived at the Interlaken Historic site.

Various groups have banded together to do the work of restoring the site, but no work has been done on it for the last 5-6 years. It was deserted (though a few other hikers passed by occasionally). The Dexter Cabin, shown above, was unlocked with a sign encouraging visitors to enter. The restored woodwork inside was beautiful. 

After poking around the various abandoned buildings on the site, we ate lunch outside, and I took the opportunity to glass Elbert with binoculars. Managed to find the South Elbert Trail, which we will be attempting in several days. The first picture below is of Elbert. Notice the bald shoulder on the lower right, just above a dim grey stand of aspen. You can barely identify the trail we'll be on by the wisp of snow outlining it. The second shot is of that shoulder with a telephoto, and you can see the trail easily.

Interlaken was a great little hike, with a fascinating bit of history.

Thursday we hiked up the North Fork of Lake Creek, right below Independence Pass. In the distance you can see the road to the pass.

Although it was a short walk (a little over a mile) it was a little more rugged than the day before. We were both glad to stop for lunch.

 

I carried my fishing gear, to attempt some fly flailing. I mean, fly fishing. My dad was a master fly fisherman. I never attained to his level. The three pictures that follow, Doris shot. Family members will notice a resemblance to some shots we have of dad years ago. It was completely unplanned. I am wearing dad's fishing vest, though.

 Let me say a word about my feet. I had removed my hiking shoes, and was wading in a pair of sandal-type open footgear. It. Was. FREEZING! After a few minutes of fly flailing, I felt like I had blocks of ice attached to my ankles, instead of feet. OH, that was cold!

Ya wanna know how cold that water was? Take a gander at this photo, shot a mile downstream of where I was fishing. And YES, that white stuff is EXACTLY what you think it is! And I was wading in this water, essentially barefoot.

Anyway. Could not buy a strike on any of the flies. But a little later, further downstream, I did pick up a nice ten-inch brookie on a spinner, and threw another, smaller one back.

Frozen feet notwithstanding, it was a beautiful day.

Stay tuned for Part 4 . . .

Colorado Adventure, Part 2

Monday morning began in Fort Morgan. Grocery shopping was our immediate task. To our already grossly overloaded car, we added about two weeks of groceries, and continued west. I do believe that if we get snowed in, it will be Christmas before we need more food. Never, never go to the grocery store when you're hungry.

Never, never ride with me in a car in Colorado if I am driving. The last thing I'm looking at is the road. God protects fools, consequently I am not writing this blog post posthumously (which would be quite a trick).

First stop was part of our Henry Marshall tour. Here is the fateful Starbucks frequented by Tim Hardy. South Table Mountain is visible in the background.

Busy Jackson street is where Aries and Viper attempt to eliminate some more evidence, much to Hardy’s dismay. It is a little different than it appears on Google Earth. I mistook the bicycle lane for a third lane of traffic. Across the street you can see 1600 Jackson, Marshall’s campaign headquarters.

We grabbed coffee at Starbucks (without getting run over) and headed down US 285. After attaining Kenosha Pass, we stopped at the same overlook where Marshall paused.

This gorgeous view of South Park has been indelibly stamped on my brain since I first saw it in the 70’s—and little has changed (except the speed limit, which is now 65 mph, not bad for a two-lane road). South Park is huge: the scale of this high valley between mountain ranges is hard to comprehend. Take a gander at this panorama. You can click it (or any of the pictures) for a larger view.

In Fairplay we stopped to get a picture of the District Ranger Office, where Ranger Randall fired up the Snow Cat for a rescue attempt.

 Above Buena Vista we paused to get a picture of the picnic table where Jackson and Trujillo had their secret meeting.

The road into Buena Vista is visible from the edge of the overlook.

And last we stopped at the Roastery, where Marshall explains the impact federal money has on college tuition rates. Right now Dor and I are sitting in the Roastery doing online things (like this blog, etc). I'm enjoying a cup of coffee and a MASSIVE peanut butter cookie. Dor is enjoying a bottle of something called Izze. Don't ask. Haven't the foggiest.

On Monday night, we finally arrived at the cabin, grateful to the Lord for safe travel and beautiful scenery.

Stay tuned for Part 3 . . . 

Colorado Adventure, Part 1

You know you're a Cobb (at least the Chris Cobb edition of the Cobb clan) if you're always packing too much stuff. There is an exception to this rule, and that's when the Cobbs go backpacking. If you have to carry everything on your back, you tend to be a lot more careful about what you bring. Well, we weren't going backpacking.

Can you tell?


 This is the view from the driver's seat. Forget the rear view mirror, this baby is packed to the rafters. If we get into an accident we're going to be crushed by 900 pounds of luggage. But I should be optimistic: at least the impact will be cushioned--we'll be gently crushed to death. Okay, that's enough optimism for now.


You also know you're a Cobb, a son of Lewis Milner Cobb, if no matter how much you bring you can still make it all fit.

I did.

We're probably down ten degrees at the stern. I am convinced that we brought everything in triplicate. Doris tries to console me, telling me that we've got so much stuff because we're going to be cooking our meals at the cabin. I convince myself that she's right, lower the hatch, brace my feet against the back of the garage, and squeeze the silly thing shut. I am positive I heard the car groan.


We're off like a herd of turtles. On Saturday night we stopped at Iowa--twin  Diane's--and managed to disgorge a few items. Now there's actually room for Doris. Yay!

As we headed west early Sunday, we read half a dozen Psalms together, and a chapter of Isaiah. It was a good time of worship (at 75 mph). Needless to say, we didn't close our eyes during our prayer time.

Sunday was a long, long, long drive. Especially since we had to listen to the Broncos lose. Made it even longer. But finally there was a ray of hope: the Lord gave us a sign.

<sigh> What a wonderful sign!

And then more beautiful rays of hope!

 Sunday came to an end at Fort Morgan, Colorado. Tomorrow we would begin a Henry Marshall tour (seeing up close and personal the various locations I included in The Candidate) and end our day at the Mount Elbert Lodge in Rinker Cabin.

Stay tuned for Part 2. . .

An interesting trajectory

I am reading through the New Testament in my personal quiet time, and was arrested by the first sentence of Mark—which then made me think of the first sentence of Matthew, and then of the rest of the Gospels. More on this in a moment.

Now as I understand it, it is the content of the canon—not necessarily the arrangement of it—that is inspired. Such things as the chapter and verse divisions are not inspired, having been added well after the canon was complete as an aid to study. Nonetheless, the arrangement and items like the chapter and verse divisions often provide interesting observations (though not authoritative in the sense that the content is authoritative).

For instance, the number of books in the English version of the canon is sixty-six. Don’t get too carried away with this, because the Jews considered Samuel to be one book, not two (because it is a long book, it had to be divided into two scrolls, hence “First” and “Second” Samuel). Same with Kings and Chronicles. So the number sixty-six is an artifact of the Christian version of the canon. But even as such, there are some interesting bits of trivia to think about—like the arrangement of Isaiah, for instance.

The English version of the canon has sixty-six books, thirty-nine Old Testament books, twenty-seven New Testament books. Isaiah has sixty-six chapters. Contrast the major emphasis of the first thirty-nine chapters with that of the last twenty-seven. Check out how chapter forty (the first chapter of the final twenty-seven) begins—compare it with Matthew 3. Think about what the last twenty-seven chapters of Isaiah focuses upon. Neat, huh. [I would love to give credit—or blame!!—where credit is due, but I don’t remember how I happened upon this. Someone probably mentioned it in seminary, but I don’t remember.]

So back to the first lines of the Gospels. There’s a trajectory there that is interesting to me. Matthew 1:1 begins by identifying Jesus as the son of David and the son of Abraham—which means He is the heir of the promises to David and Abraham. Then Mark 1:1 identifies Jesus as the Son of God, which more explicitly links Jesus to the promise in 2 Samuel 7:14. But the statement is not necessarily radical, because there’s evidence that the Old Testament Israelites considered their kings to be sons of God—not in the divine sense, mind you—but in the sense that they were the theocratic representatives of the God of Israel.

But the first sentence of Luke is as though the reader is tracking with the trajectory and is getting a sense for where it is going, and is not quite ready for it. The reader steps back and asks the incredulous question, “Wait a minute! Did this stuff really happen in history? Is it for real?” which Luke then proceeds to answer in the affirmative.

And finally, the first sentence of John hits the target to which the other first-sentences were leading. It identifies Jesus as God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Anyway, it’s not profound, but it is an interesting trajectory.

Review of Sinclair Ferguson's The Pundit's Folly

This is an outstanding little book based on Ecclesiastes. Pundit’s Folly is not a commentary on Ecclesiastes, rather, it’s an expository application of it. Ferguson writes as a pastor-theologian, and you get the best of both worlds in Pundit’s Folly.

Ecclesiastes is the consummate book for the post-modernist lost in the foggy swamp of a meaningless life. Ferguson gently takes the reader down the road of futility traveled by Qoheleth (the “Pundit”), as Qoheleth searches vainly for something that would fill the emptiness of his life. When all the canyons and byways have been revealed as dead ends, Ferguson directs the reader’s attention to the poor wise man of Ecclesiastes 9:13-15, and applies the text to Christ, the wisdom of God who became poor that we might be rich. In the final chapter, using a wealth of resources from the Scriptures, Ferguson invites the reader to discover the proper fear of God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Never does Ferguson get into the weeds regarding who the Pundit is (Solomon? someone else?), or when it was written, or any textual issues or technical details of the Hebrew language. He takes the English text of the NIV and interacts with it as it is. He writes with the warmth and sensitivity of a modern-day C. S. Lewis, eschewing off-putting, academic jargon. The book is penned for the common man.

The result is a well-written, pastoral, sympathetic, eighty-eight page gospel tract that will be particularly helpful to people of the current generation. Read it yourself, and give it to a friend who is beginning to discover that life under the sun promises much more than it delivers. Five stars, highly recommended.

Memorial Day Time Travel

So, what’s the last half of your month of May been like? Rainy weather, a few days kind of chilly, maybe fighting traffic on the way to work?

What say we do a little time travel on this Memorial Day weekend, to the pitching flight deck of the USS Belleau Wood, CVL-24, in the last part of May, 1945, as the war in the Pacific closed in on Japan. You’re in the “Fighting Thirty,” with Ensign Lewis M. Cobb. It was mostly an unremarkable time for VF-30, sandwiched in between much hotter fighting and a horrific typhoon that occurred in early June.

Since the F6F Grumman Hellcat is a single-seater, you’ll have to be content with looking over Lou’s shoulder. . .

-------------------------

Monday, May 14, 1945 At Sea

One of the roughest days of my life. Off at 0445 for two fields on the northern tip of Kyushu, had to fly up the inland sea and across 30 miles of mainland to hit them. AA was terrific saw 7 Jap fighters airborne but they didn't attack nor did we because we were low on gas. AA was very heavy. We were shot at during our whole retirement, for over 30 miles. Every second was living hell. Because of a crash we had to land on the Bennington. We were on the deck 30 minutes when we were launched again, this time to Shikoku. We hit two fields, straffing & bombing, AA fairly heavy. Carried 1 ton of bombs total and damaged two planes on the ground was in my plane from 0425 till 1400 except for 30 min. 8 hrs. flight time, am I tired?

Tuesday, May 15, 1945 At Sea

Refueled today. Weather was bad so all CAPS cancelled. I was so tired that I slept all day long without cracking the sack except to eat lunch. No mail, no "hot skinny."

Wednesday, May 16, 1945 At Sea

Still with logistic support group. Big meeting of squadron commanders over on the Hornet. Skipper brought back lots of news. We are supposed to lay around Okinawa for about 2 weeks and then we go to Leyte where Admiral Halsey will probably relieve Admiral Mitscher. All the Task Group commanders will be relieved also. There is a possibility that we will be relieved at Leyte though a air group shuffle isn't expected. Many air groups that came out at the same time we did have already gone back. We are now the senior CVL air group out here. If we aren't relieved at Leyte we are stuck with a long cruise because Halsey is expected to go on a rampage. Flew a 4 hr. CAP today.

Thursday, May 17, 1945 At Sea

Flew another 4 hr. CAP today, guess it will more of same for next 10 days. Sure wish we'd get some mail. Like to know how my honey is! I'm not counting too heavily on getting back on good time now.

Friday, May 18, 1945 At Sea

Flew a 3 3/4 hr. Rap CAP today. All quiet, nothing doing.

Saturday, May 19, 1945 At Sea

Was scheduled for two hops today, because of weather only got one 3 3/4 hr. CAP in. Flew at least an hour on instruments. Let down from 20,000 to 200 ft on instruments. Had heavy ice on our wings and wind shield. Ran through thick snow flurries. My radio went out but still had YE, came in on that. Was really a rugged hop. Two teams went on a strike to Tokuno but they did not find anything.

We refuel tomorrow, sure hope we get some mail.

Sunday, May 20, 1945 At Sea

Spent a peaceful Sunday. Did not have to fly, I spent the day playing cards, reading and this PM had some beer up in Jakes room. Just before chow we got plenty of mail I got 6 letters and some snapshots from Helen. Letters from everyone so I'm really happy.

Monday, May 21, 1945 At Sea

Lousy weather today but I flew two hops regardless. Had a 3 3/4 hr. I CAP around Amami this AM. Weather was very bad 1-200 ft ceiling & rain. Went on a strike against Tokuno this PM. Weather was zero-zero. To avoid my crew crashing into the mountains, I got my team separated from the skipper's and was unable to find him again, we returned. As bad a weather as I ever flown in.

Tuesday, May 22, 1945 At Sea

Led two divisions on a 3 3/4 I CAP today. Sturdy was shot down on a preceding hop against Koniya seaplane base, we stood by him until he was picked up by a PBM. Made one run on some warehouses and two runs on a radio station on Amami. Weather lousy.

Wednesday, May 23, 1945 At Sea

Day of rest for me and mine. Refueled today - weather very bad. Scuttlebutt is running rampant as to whether or not we will be relieved at Leyte. We are due in Leyte either on the 27^th or 28^th. Gosh how I'm hoping. have the 4 AM hop which means that I'm up at 0215 guess I'll hit the sack.

Thursday, May 24, 1945 At Sea

Weather bad today but I still got in two hops. We didn't take off as early as scheduled though because of weather. Got in a total of 8 hrs. both ICAP's. No business, tired rear end.

Friday, May 25, 1945 At Sea

Didn't fly today because of weather, only 4 teams flew. Pixton shot down a Frank and Skipper got a betty. The expected air attack took place today but because of weather it didn't bother us much. I think many Jap planes were shot down around Okinawa.

Saturday, May 26, 1945 At Sea

Off the deck at 5 AM for one of the most harrowing hops I've ever had. It was black and rainy with ceiling from 0-100 ft. Before we were launched the Hornet squadron commander, who was airborne, told them not to launch anymore planes because of terrible weather. We were launched on instruments and climbed to 4,000 ft before breaking out. Soon after the order came to land and we let down and landed. There were 2 mid air collisions and 2 planes that spun in. Upwards of 150 planes jettisoned bombs and rockets in the drink, what a farce!

Sunday, May 27, 1945 At Sea

Refueled today, did not have to fly. Rec'd 15 letters, 4 of them from Helen. I'm afraid she will be in for a disappointment because I don't see relief in sight for us yet. Guess its back to Okinawa for more support missions tomorrow. A jap plane landed wheels up on Yontan and 21 japs jumped out and blew up many planes and aviation gas before they were shot. Guess thats the reason we aren't going to Leyte on schedule.

Monday, May 28, 1945 At Sea

Did not fly today because of weather. One hop got up. As of midnight last night we became the 3^rd fleet. Halsey has taken over though the change in command is not complete yet. Believe we will go into port for that. We are now Task Group 38.1. That really will ream us if we don't get relieved before he runs amuk.

Tuesday, May 29, 1945 At Sea

Flew a 4 hr TCAP this AM over Okinawa, weather was better but no business.

Wednesday, May 30, 1945 At Sea

Bad weather, no flights today. Refuel tomorrow.

Thursday, May 31, 1945 At Sea

Refueled today so I spent a peaceful day in the sack. Was surprised to get 4 letters, didn't expect any today. Weather pretty bad.

------------------------------

Whew! We survived! But for a little perspective, what were you doing when you were twenty-two years old? You’re probably like me—very grateful for those who showed up to fight when the call came.

To all those who gave the last full-measure of devotion, and to all those who risked everything but came home alive: THANK YOU!

Tell me again why I should vote for Trump?

This little screed is addressed to the Trump Voter:

That the GOP party leaders are telling us to unite around Trump tells us something about the politics of the GOP leaders. You see, the GOP used to stand for something that was distinct from the Democratic Party: individual responsibility, small government, fiscal responsibility, and a strong defense. But when the leaders of the GOP can unite around a man who advocates at best—at best—only one of those positions, it tells me that the GOP leadership (and therefore the Party, for all practical purposes) has cast off its moorings and is adrift in the same post-modern soup occupied by the Democrats.

By what rational reason would I vote for a man who opposes everything I stand for? Let’s say I vote for him and he wins. Exactly what has the country gained? I’ll tell you: a liberal Democrat with an R after his name. If you trans-gender Hillary, you get something close to Trump.

Ahh, you say, but the judges! the Supreme Court! Don’t forget the Supreme Court! If Hillary gets in she will load the Court with libs that will do permanent damage, irreversible damage to the country.

Yes, she will. But maybe you should have thought about that a little earlier? Perhaps instead of bandwagoning with one of the most reprehensible characters to come down the pike since Machiavelli you should have been voting in the primaries for one of the people who had the character, the chops, the experience, the guts, worldview, the intelligence to actually uphold conservative Republican values. There were, after all, plenty of them.

Instead of indulging in Trump’s anger and triumphal bombast, why didn’t you take a close look at the man? It’s too late now. You’ve already jumped off the cliff, and dragged us along with you.

So, you think Trump will appoint better judges than Hillary? Why?

• Is it because of the keen understanding he displays of the judiciary when he speaks of “judges signing bills?”
• Is it because of his commitment to the Republican Party, as illustrated by his history of support of Democrats?
• Is it because of his desire to protect the helpless, such as he has illustrated in his use of Eminent Domain?
• Is it because of his commitment to stop special interests from buying politicians, as he illustrated in his contributions to Hillery, et al?
• Is it because of his concern for the rule of law, as illustrated by his command of the US military to ignore the Geneva Convention?
• Is it because of his concern for jobs for Americans, as illustrated by his properties, hotels, and other concerns importing foreign labor?
• Is it because of his remarkable integrity and honesty, as illustrated by Trump University, and the myriad class-action lawsuits brought by people have been cheated?
• Is it because of his incisive understanding of business and finance, as illustrated by his companies’ multiple bankruptcies?
• Is it because of the consistency of his pro-life position, as illustrated by his support of Planned Parenthood?
• Is it because of his consistent positions on small government, as illustrated by his ideas on healthcare?
• Is it because of his great respect for women, as illustrated by his multiple marriages, shameless and open affairs, and so on?
• And we could go on and on, but it shouldn’t be necessary if you are paying attention.

So, remind me again: on what grounds do you believe he will do better than Hillary? Or is it because he says he’s going to do “amazing things,” and “you’ll really be amazed” at all the “amazing things” he will do? Yes. I suspect you will be quite “amazed.” But perhaps not in a good way.

#NeverTrump

#NeverHillary

#NeverBernie

Book Review: Reasons we believe, by Nathan Busenitz

Reasons We Believe: 50 Lines of evidence that confirm the Christian faith, by Nathan Busenitz.

I am a little conflicted about how to describe this book. Busenitz' volume is primarily a small encyclopedia of internal evidence: in other words, it recounts what the Bible itself says about the fifty lines of evidence. It's a great book for answering a question in the form of, "does the Bible really teach that?"

If someone asks you, "does the Bible really teach that it is the Word of God?" or "does the Bible really teach that Jesus is God?" Busenitz provides, in compact form, a precis with many biblical references providing the ammunition you need to answer the question. Not all, but nearly all the evidence Busenitz provides comes from within the covers of the Bible itself--and his reasoning from the biblical text is very solid.

However, his use of external evidence is a little uneven--sometimes he uses it, sometimes not. When he does, it's invariably excellent.

If you are looking for a work on apologetics, I would recommend Busenitz plus. In other words, get Busenitz because of his excellent, faithful use of internal evidence. Add to it something like I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Geisler and Turek, which is stronger on external evidences. Between the two you'll get a more complete accounting of God's supernatural works in a material world.