December Blogger Awards

By my count, 46 BBC blogs were updated in December. Here are some of the best posts in my arrogant opinion:

Elizabeth's Blogging Year in Review
Heather's Big Announcement
Sarah's 2008 in 2008 Challenge
Elizabeth R's Christmas Highlights
Kelly's Restless Leg Syndrome
Julie's Reflection
Mark Regarding Miss Spears

The award for BBC Blogger of the Month goes to:
Mark Brewer, The Silver Platter

And the award for the 2007 BBC Blogger of the Year:
Elizabeth Stewart: Bowl of Stew(art)

Not only did Liz post over 200 times, she also came up with some good themes to post about on a regular basis. Best of luck to all you losers as you attempt to become blogger of the year in 2008.

Knew Awards 07

Favorite TV Show

The past 2 years have been close calls. 'Lost' won in 2005. 'Seinfeld' re-runs won in 2006. But in 2007, we have a landslide winner. The award for my favorite TV show of the year goes to 'The Office.' Countless hours were spent watching and re-watching this show.

Favorite Artist

I evaluate my 'favorite' artist simply by deciding which singer/group I listened to the most in 2007. Despite a somewhat tight race with Derek Webb, the winner of award for favorite artist goes to Weird Al. I made 2 CD's of my favorite Weird Al songs and listened to them very consistently throughout the year.

Most Influential Person

For the 3rd consecutive year, I give this award to Steve Gregg of thenarrowpath.com. I just resonate with his style and am edified by his teaching and testimony. Check him out. Plans are in the works, actually, to bring Steve Gregg to Hess Road Wesleyan Church.

Best Politician

In 2006 I pretty much stayed out of politics, but this year I got back into it to some degree. I've always liked Blair & Harper, but I recently found a candidate from my own country that I really like a lot. The award for politician of the year goes to Ron Paul.

Best BBC Blogger

To be declared tomorrow along with December Blogger Awards

* I couldn't award a best movie, author, book, team, etc b/c the competition was too spread out with no clear winner presenting itself.

Click HERE for 2005's Knew Awards
Click HERE for 2006's Knew Awards

Year In Review

New to the Knew?
Catch up with this Review!
Best of The Matthew Never Knew 2007

January: STIC to the Drink
February: Matchbox Car Games
March: Jobs I'd Love
April: Is God Silent
May: 5.61 in the 40 yard dash
June: How to Get Married
July: Blog Aliens
August: Secret Service
September: BBC Blogging Day
October: Top 10 Sports
November: Odor
December: Bad B Ball

Best of The Matthew Never Knew 2006
Best of The Matthew Never Knew 2005

Will Rogers

Will Rogers (1879-1935) was a famous cowboy, comedian, political commentator & movie star. When he died in a plane crash, the U.S. went into mourning like they hadn't experienced since the death of Lincoln 70 years prior. Here are some of his most interesting quotes:

"Try to live your life so that you wouldn't be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip." "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." "I wonder if it isn't just cowardice instead of generosity that makes us give tips." "I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat." "There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." "An ignorant person is one who doesn't know what you have just found out." "I'm not a real movie star. I still got the same wife I started out with nearly 28 years ago." "Never miss a good chance to shut up." "Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." "There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works." "Fanatical religion driven to a certain point is almost as bad as none at all, but not quite." "Things will get better-despite our efforts to improve them." "I never met a man I didn't like."

26.5

I have determined that 26.5 years old was the age where my body decided it could no longer take care of my immature eating habits. Before this, I could pretty much do anything and it wouldn't make a difference. I could eat junk food or health food. I could exercise or do nothing. No matter! But for the past few weeks, things matter. Now it's up to my mind to take care of me :(

All I Got for Christmas

Just like last year, I received way too much for Christmas. I'll try to remember everything so that if anyone asks on MSN or AIM, I can copy/paste instead of trying to remember and having to type it all out. Here's a pretty thorough list: Seinfeld (Season 7). Computer gaming controllers (for my downloaded old school Nintendo), Socks, a couple board games, tons of cookies, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Special Cups, some sports cards, some gift certificates, a hat, a car power converter, a couple books, an ornament, money, chapstick, candy, and fudge.

So This is Christmas

I'd apologize for not posting a ton lately, but I'm not really sorry. I do, however, wish all of the readers who remain minus the consistent ***'s a very Merry Christmas. It's interesting to me that we have little to no evidence that the early church took special notice of Jesus' 'birthday' as a time of celebration. Christians in the 300's started celebrating the birth of Christ in late December in hopes of 'Christianizing' some pagan festivals. I've heard some people argue that, because of this fact, we shouldn't celebrate a formerly pagan holiday at all. That's ridiculous. We, as Christians, are in the business of redeeming all things in the name of Jesus Christ.

So what can we make of this thing called Christmas? We can utilize the time to discuss and celebrate the doctrine of the incarnation. The stories of Jesus' birth were important enough to the Gospel writers to merit a few chapters. It's our task to figure out why. We can certainly spend the time increasing the unity in our churches and homes through love. Finally, we can use Christmas as an opportunity to reach out to those in need. Instead of hoarding up treasures on this earth, we can spend and be spent for the needy in one way or another. Or both!

By the way, this post is my Christmas card to all of you!
Merry Christmas

Endorsement

A lot of the networks have been asking me, 'Who does The Matthew Never Knew endorse for President of the United States?' Well, after a careful investigation of the candidates over the past 2 months, this blog is ready to endorse Ron Paul for President. Ron Paul is, unquestionably, the candidate for those seeking smaller government, lower taxes, and a non-interventionist foreign policy. Dr. Paul is leading Republican Candidates in number of Straw Polls won and all candidates in campaign funds raised in the 4th quarter. In regards to my #1 issue, abortion, Paul is radically pro-life. As a medical doctor he has delivered more than 4,000 babies. As a member of the House of Representatives he has introduced legislation to define life as beginning at conception.

Junk Journalism

This article is another example of horrific journalism, but since the headline (Archbishop says nativity 'a legend') was picked up by Matt Drudge, a lot of people will get the wrong impression.

The title is extremely misleading. It makes it sound as if Rowan Williams doubts the basic biblical presentation of the birth of Christ. In reality, the article simply separates biblical data from traditional legend. For example, regarding the '3 Kings of Orient,' Williams says, for the most part, what I said last year. There might not have been 3. They almost certainly were not kings. And they weren't from the Orient. Williams also rightfully dismisses the typical nativity scene of shepherds and magi together on a snowy December night as bad history. I think most everyone who has cared enough to investigate already knew this. No big news.

The article shows extreme bias in its usage of quotes. If you read the actual interview, you find Rowan Williams accepts all the biblical data as history and dismisses the extra-biblical legend as simply that. Unfortunately, most readers won't read the actual interview, they'll just go away thinking that the Archbishop doesn't believe the Bible's account of Christmas...like this guy! At best, these journalists are really dumb. At worst, they have an agenda to deceive.

Dream in Dream

Last night, for the very first time ever, I had a dream within my dream. I distinctly remember 'waking up' from a nightmare, but realizing that I was still dreaming. I've quite often known I was dreaming while dreaming, but never before have I had a dream within a dream. The 'nightmare' consisted of getting a phone call in the middle of the night that someone had died. After being woken up by the phone call, I woke lots of other people up to tell them the bad news. But they soon checked into it and discovered that I had only dreamed the phone call. But as they were figuring that out, I realized that I was only dreaming the dream about having the nightmare.

Political Quiz

Take THIS QUIZ from usatoday to help you figure out which candidate is most similar to you on the major issues in the U.S.A. My 'winner' was Ron Paul.

Carolling

Christmas carolling is a a very simple yet very meaningful ministry. On Saturday 4 of us from the church took less than 3 hours out of our day to sing some Christmas songs in various nursing homes. It was fun. There was some laughter. Some tears. Some fellowship. Some perspective. Some prayer. Some worship. Some love. Some pure and undefiled religion. Get a group together and visit your area nursing homes.

Christmas Classics

Last year I posted a poll asking you to vote for your favorite Christmas hymns. Here are the results:

13 O Holy Night
13 O Come, O Come Immanuel
08 What Child is This?
07 O Come, All Ye Faithful
06 Hark the Herald Angels Sing
05 Silent Night
05 Go Tell it on the Mountain
05 O Little Town of Bethlehem
05 Angels We Have Heard on High
04 Joy to the World
04 The First Noel
03 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
03 Angels from the Realms of Glory
03 Away in a Manger
02 Good Christian Men Rejoice
01 We Three Kings
01 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
01 I farted on Santa's lap so Christmas will stink for me
00 While Shepherds Watch their Flocks

Now go carol accordingly

For the Record

Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee apologized to fellow hopeful Mitt Romney for asking the question "Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" Now, I don't know the tone in which Huckabee asked the question. In any case, it wasn't a smart question to pose, politically speaking. And for the record, I think Huckabee would be a horrible President.

But what I found most interesting is that everyone is acting like his question is extremely illegitimate. I don't think the question is a worthy question for the context of the Presidential race, but it's certainly a legitimate question for Mormon theology. Though I highly doubt many Mormon's are aware of the foundational teachings of their Church, such doctrines are still a reality.

Here's the facts. In Mormon theology, Satan wanted to be the one to save mankind. "Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind" (Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses 4:1). But God selected Jesus for that task instead, and so Satan rebelled against God. Brigham Young commentates on this passage: "The appointment of Jesus to be Saviour of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer" (Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 13:282).

Finally Free!

Today I finally broke free from my dear sweet mother who had previously kept me tied to a wall with a funnel in my mouth which she used to force feed me nothing but sauerkraut.

Teaching Update

I've now taught through 39.1% of the Bible. Here's the breakdown:

32.5% of the OT
~26.8% of The Law
~39.8% of History
~32.1% of Wisdom
~30.0% of Prophets
62.7% of the NT
~61.5% of the Gospels/Acts
~46.0% of Paul's Epistles
~91.1% of other Epistles

Books Remaining:
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Judges, 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, John, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Timothy

The Multiverse

I'm hearing more and more about 'The Multiverse' in philosophical discussions. Basically, since the 'fine tuning' argument has been gaining momentum, many naturalists have admitted that random chance cannot account for life in our universe. But instead of attributing life to a Creator, naturalistic philosophers have theorized that there are a nearly infinite amount of parallel universes and that 'life' was bound to show up on some of them. Thus, instead of there being 1 universe, there are a multitude (multiverses).

To be blunt, this is incredibly stupid on multiple levels. First of all, believing that there are a multitude of universes compounds the question of origins. It's hard enough to explain the matter of our universe minus a Creator, let alone the matter in millions of universes. Secondly, by definition, the multiverses are impossible to observe. They are not 'too far away' and we are not lacking the proper technologies. They exist completely separate from our own universe. It's baffling to me that naturalists will refuse to accept an 'unobservable' Creator, but get excited about an unobservable multiverse!

Butterflies

Today I went to a 'God & Science' discussion hosted by Canisius College. I went because I'm in the midst of a series on creation so I thought I might pick up some interesting insights. The first speaker shared about the 'fine tuning' argument for the existence of God. The second speaker shared about the relationship between faith and reason. But the most interesting thing was the Q&A period. There were a number of passionate atheists in attendance and they pressed the second speaker on what he considers the best 'evidence' for Christian belief. I was quite shocked that his answer was a story about how a butterfly appeared to his mom and a very sad moment in her life. This is the type of individualistic 'evidence' that atheists scoff at. What an opportunity to focus in on the resurrection of Jesus Christ! I talked to the other speaker afterwards and he shared my disappointment that the question was answered in the way it was. Nevertheless, I found an interesting book am excited to teach tomorrow night.

City of God 5

I didn't like the beginning of the final section of Augustine's "City of God," but it got better as it went forward. Here are some of the views Augustine took in part 5:

~ Against the idea of 'Christian Perfection'
~ Against 'health & wealth' gospel
~ For the 'just war' theory
~ For the immortality of the soul
~ For physical discipline
~ For the 'closed' canon
~ Against a church 'dress code'
~ For 'eternal torment' view of hell
~ For amillennialism
~ For end-times convesion of Jews
~ For present binding of Satan
~ For a lesser continuation of miracles
~ For the beauty of male beards
~ For the historical evidence of resurrection
~ For earthly memories in eternity
~ For 7 ages of history, we being in the 6th

Bad B Ball

My Basketball buddies and I didn't have a good night. We have some major differences of opinions regarding the rules of basketball. In this post, I simply want to flesh out some of the reasons why the past few weeks have produced growing tension.

~ Part of the problem, I think, is the 8 years of age difference b/w them and me. Believe it or not, basketball has changed a lot since I was a teenager. The game is a lot more '1 on 1' now instead of team oriented. I get a bit frustrated by the lack of give-n-go's, pick-n-rolls, effort on the boards, and general movement. They just don't play the way I'm used to playing and, being competitive, this isn't helpful. It's more of a show-off circus that team basketball.

~ Part of the problem is simply a disagreement about which rules we are playing with. I'm of the mentality that we should play by basic High School/NCAA rules. I've always been rule oriented. I don't have fun in chaos. My friends are of the mentality that 2 vs. 2 is much more of a free-for-all. No 5 second rule. No charging fouls. I really think we need to agree on a set of rules. Eliminating those 2 rules gives the bigger players a huge advantage, so my competitive nature gets frustrated by their absence.

~ Part of the problem may be what we're looking for each Wednesday night. I'm looking for exercise & competition. They seem to be looking more for fun. Like I said, I don't fool around well. I like to play seriously. They like to try to tap the ball on the head of the player guarding them whereas if you do that in a real game the other team will take a swing at ya.

~ Part of the problem is my poor play recently. Usually we have 4 people playing. I like 2 vs. 2. When only 3 of us are present we have to play '21' which I hate. I don't have a lot of 1 on 1 skills and I'm not a teen anymore. I get worn out fast. We had a streak where we only had 3 on quite a few nights so I was getting frustrated. I think that's when I started getting tired of the circus-like rulelessness.

So here is my proposal/compromise
1. I'll waive the 5 second rule
2. I'll never call a charge
3. They can't fool around during games
4. They must bring a 4th person
5. No negative comments

I'm Dreaming of...

I had a strange dream. It was really like 2 separate dreams, but they were linked together. It started out with a mother and her two children living in a small town. One day, their home was invaded by some bad guy who forced them out onto the wrap-around porch. Somehow, he managed to make them 'live' on the porch for many years while he lived inside. They could use the yard once in a while and did so by playing with remote controlled cars. But eventually the son decided it was time to take action. He led a revolt against the bad guy. But there was no clear-cut winner of the war. Everybody was just tired. The bad guy decided that he would indeed leave the house, but the family had to go with him! So the 4 of them left in some type of tiny vehicle. They eventually arrived at some kind of hotel.

That's where the dream transitioned. All of the sudden there were 5 people. The bad guy was the same, but now there were 4 hostages: 2 guys and 2 girls. For some reason the 2 guys had to pretend to be girls, and all 4 were dressed almost identically. The hotel room consisted of 3 rooms. The bad guy had his own room. Then there was a room with 4 beds for the hostages. Then there was a bathroom with 4 stalls. The bad guy had a video feed so he could watch the 4 at all times.

After some time, 1 of the guys and 1 of the girls got so annoyed by the situation that they went into the bathroom and considered attempting an escape. The guy took off his girl outfit briefly, but then regretted it. They were afraid the bad guy had seen this, so they walked into his room, but he appeared oblivious. Nevertheless, they decided to reveal the truth of their genders anyway. The bad guy was relieved. He said he was tired of being a 'bad' guy just like the one guy was tired of pretending to be a girl. He promised that the next morning they'd all be free.

But once the 4 friends were in bed, the bad guy came in and started the curtains on fire. He truly was fed up with being a bad guy though and was quite willing to die in the fire. Unfortunately for his plan, the fire was easily smothered by a towel. The bad guy surrendered to the will of the 4, but they offered him friendship and the group went on their way with a world of possibilities before them.

iDwight

As many of you know, I'm not very good as sleeping at night. Lately I've been taking advantage of the Netflix 'watch now' (online) feature. What have I been watching? The 1978 series "Battlestar Galactica." And even though this means I'm a lot like Dwight Schrute, I like it a lot. It's well written, mostly well acted, and the special effects aren't even annoying. I'm about half-way through the short series.

College Football

Here are MY NCAA Rankings

1. Ohio St. (11-1)
2. LSU (11-2)
3. Oklahoma (11-2)
4. USC (10-2)
5. Georgia (10-2)
6. Virginia Tech (11-2)
7. West Virginia (10-2)
8. Missouri (11-2)
9. Hawaii (12-0)
10. Kansas (11-1)

Knew News

It's been a long time since I posted some Knew News, so here it goes:
~ My girlfriend has been sick. Secretly (er, secretly until this post) I like her being sick, in a way, b/c she's stuck at home and I get to see her more to keep her entertained. But don't tell her I said that and, Katie, don't remember that you read it.
~ I moved my office furniture around. My office is somewhat small, so there weren't a lot of choices. But a little change goes a long way. That's twice in a 1 week that I moved it, but now I feel pretty content.
~ I just had a chat with a long lost friend. There is nothing quite like catching up with a valued friend. In fact, I think I'm going to ignore all of my friends for a year just so I can catch up with you next winter!
~ College football is crazy this year. I'm going to fall asleep watching the Hawaii game. I hope they go undefeated. If they do, they're the true national champions!
~ Congrats to Kirk & Joanna