Chavez visiting Russia, Belarus, and Iran

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez travels this week to Iran, Russia and Belaru. Chavez departs Tuesday for his week-long tour, from June 26 to July 3, defiantly insisting that he will purchase Russian submarines and possibly an air defense system from Belarus, despite vocal objections from Washington. "The war of resistance is the weapon with which we are defeating and will defeat the threat of imperial war," Chavez said Sunday presiding over a military parade. He also views himself as Bush's arch enemy.

He hopes to put the "finishing touches" on an agreement to purchase from Belarus an integrated air defense system with a 200-300-kilometer range (125-200 miles). In 2006 Venezuela signed more than three billion dollars in contracts with Russia to buy 53 Mi-24 armored helicopter gunships, Sukhoi 30 fighter planes and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles.

During Sunday's military parade, Chavez brandished a Russian-designed AK-47 assault rifle proclaiming: "If it weren't for Russia we'd be almost weaponless today. (article)

Amazing

Sometimes I am caught in amazement about Gods plan for our lives. I believe that God knows us better than we know ourselves. I mean outside the realm of physical attributes, like how many hairs on my head. God knows each of us so personally, it can be frightening. I was thinking this evening about my wife. I often get frustrated because she isn't as neat as I. Which is weird because I am boarder line OCD about some things. For example: if you use a dish, and are through with it, put it in the dishwasher or sink. If you use a paper towel or a kleenex, throw it away. This list could go on for a while. Anyway, on the other hand, when it comes to laundry, I am not neat. I put clothes on the dresser and they could be there for a week or so.

Up to now, I am sure that none of this seems to be amazing, probably more like disgusting. Well here is the deal: I was reminding my wife of all the things that I would like to have picked up around the house that she may/may not have "left out". So I am sitting there thinking, and it hits me... She is almost a 180 degrees different than I am. I am loud, she is quiet. I am out going while she is reserved. I clean the carpets and kitchens, she cleans the dog beds and cat litter. In the midst of all this, I thank God that he knows me so well that he knew my perfect match. This may come off as simple and nothing special, but then God didn't just match us up because we are soo different, but we also share a great many things. We both love to try exotic foods (exotic, not gross grubs, although we have had snails), we both enjoy computers, we both love to sing to our hearts content (she is way better than I, thats why i have to play it so loud, gotta drowned myself out).

It isn't really amazing for our generation to look at something and say, "WOW, that calculator can add and subtract!". Likewise, it doesn't seem to be very exciting anymore for God to say, "I know how many hairs are on your head". The fact that God can tell you the emotional side of a person though, the how he/she works part, that is truly amazing. I find my wife to be extra-complicated, many times over, yet for God, the Creator, its simple.

Take a moment and thank God for how well He knows you. Remember that even though you may not understand why things happen in your life, God knows you better than you know yourself, and although it may not be easy, it is for your best. He created you, and no ones knows something better than the creator.

Russian Bluff Called

Nato calls Russia on bluff in Vienna. The conference ended without agreement on any of Russia’s demands, each of which challenged in one way or another the post-Soviet status quo in Europe.

President Vladimir Putin had threatened on April 26 to suspend unilaterally Russia’s compliance with the CFE Treaty (the 1990 original and the 1999 unratified adaptation) unless the treaty was changed in Russia’s favor and further concessions were made to Russia on the balance of forces beyond the treaty itself.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov (defense minister until recently and Putin’s heir apparent at the moment) followed up during May and early June with similar threats of a “moratorium” on Russia’s compliance. Russia would, in that case, unilaterally withdraw from the CFE Treaty’s system of mutual verification and inspections of forces, exchanges of information, and pre-notification of military movements.

According to Russia’s chief delegate, Anatoly Antonov (AP, International Herald Tribune, June 15-17), “If no further results are achieved, then a moratorium could become more of a possibility. We want to see some serious talking take place. This Conference was neither a tragedy nor the end of the story.” Nevertheless, Russia’s position as summarized by Antonov in the wake of the forum remains that the 1999 CFE Treaty has “become meaningless, is no longer viable” and that Russia wants to “re-establish the treaty’s viability” -- some of the code-words for re-writing the treaty in Russia’s favor. Pending this, Moscow’s declared first-priority goals remain that NATO countries ratify the treaty by July 2008 while Russian troops remain in Moldova and that the three Baltic states sign the ratified treaty (Itar-Tass, RIA-Novosti, June 15, 16).

The threats as well as the trade-off tactics failed demonstrably at the Vienna Conference. Nevertheless, Moscow may persist with its trade-off tactics in upcoming negotiations, including Putin’s informal meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at Kennebunkport, Maine, where Putin can undoubtedly add the issues of Iraq, Iran, and North Korea to his deck of bargaining cards.

(article)

Eco friendly??

Burkina Faso, Spain and Venezuela, through the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), have signed three financial support agreements worth nearly 2.5 billion CFA francs (about 5 million U.S. dollars) for agricultural production development in Burkina Faso.

According to the agreements signed Wednesday, Venezuela's financial contribution totaling 1.185 billion CFA francs is aimed at financing small-scale irrigation projects within the framework of a high intensity agricultural project, through the use of controlled water in the country.

Spain's contribution amounting to more than 600 million CFA francs is earmarked for supporting an agricultural production program. (article)

The efforts should impact about 2100 families. This seems to be a very positive thing. At the same time, Venevuela has signed a deal to buy five Project 636 diesel submarines, and then four Project 637 Amur submarines at a later date. Pres. Chávez wants to use the submarines to thwart any possible future trade embargo by the US and to defend its oil-rich underwater shelf.

Why does Pres. Chávez fear a trade embargo by the US? What are they hiding?

(On another note, the US wont drill oil from the sea for environmental reasons, which is silly to me. If America had off shore oil drills we could stop our dependency on the middle east oil, and create new jobs at the same time.)

Venezuela - which has a defense pact with Cuba - is now the world's second largest purchaser of Russian military hardware. If the full submarine deal goes ahead, Venezuela will have the largest submarine fleet in Latin America.

It is interesting to me that the Russia gets seriously upset at the US for a missile shield in Europe, but Russia is off selling military arms to our close-by countries. That tells me that they have a hidden agenda.

Heres an interesting fact: Back in 2005, Spain sold £890m of ships and aircraft to Venezuela.

So here it is: Russia sells military arms to China, Iran, Syria, Venezuela. And since Venezuela can't get enough, they are also buying from Spain. ( I don't know why Spain is helping Venezuela, but I am sure it has to do with some oil agreement. Maybe Russia has something to do with it.) (article)

So where is Venezuela getting their money? Venezuela has received record revenue from a surge in oil, its biggest export, and hasn't sought a loan from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) since 1996. (article)

Russia, China, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and possibly Spain??

Global Warming

I have a theory. It is going to come off as crazy and not possible, however thats what makes a conspiracy theory. If it came true, I will be hunted down and you will all think that I had some part in it, however I do not. That being said, I will start explaining, in a nut shell.

Global warming is a hoax. It was started a long time ago, when we thought that we were facing a upcoming "cooling scare" and that CO2 would cause a increase in temperature. As coal miners went on strike, the middle east caused problems with oil prices and also that year, temperatures rose. Coal miners were going on strike because the U.K. was closing the pits. Meanwhile oil prices were causing the country into recession. This is very important because of the pressure put onto Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister. She did not want to lose her position, so she searched for a way an answer. Not trusting the middle east, nor the Coal miners union's, she was left with an agenda for nuclear energy. When the temperature changed and started to warm, it was perfect timing for her to propose a non-carbon creating energy.

Determined to hold her political position, she funded studies to prove the relationship between climate and carbon dioxide. The group was later named IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). The IPCC was the first group to show climatic disaster as a result of global warming.

The idea of man made global warming by way of carbon dioxide wasn't just intriguing to Mrs. Thatcher, it also appealed to environmentalists. Trying to keep this somewhat short, I will skip ahead a little.

Global warming is now a very HUGE issue. No politician can afford to say it doesn't exists. There is such a large "industry" that if it were publicly accepted as false, millions would be out of a job, not to mention humiliated. Therefore the issue will always be important. In the mid 80's people started to believe that global warming was a serious threat. However when something isn't a major threat, it is no longer confrontational. Also during the 80's you have the downfall of world communism the wall in Germany came down. The hippies no longer had a cause to fight for. Global warming became their new fight, it also became a more and more extreme cause.

When you look at Global warming, the reason it exists is industrialization. Cars, factories, planes, and things alike. So to prevent industrialization, we must prevent the use of energy. This would take us back to the dark ages, where we do not have electricity, no microwaves, ovens, heaters, air conditioning, no more refrigerators, nothing. Sounds a lot like parts of Africa, where 1/3rd of the world's population has no energy (5 million children die a year due to the smoke from the fire pit inside the house). Third world countries are now feeling pressure by all the large global warming business and scientists and you name it, to NOT industrialize their countries. Africa has coal and oil as a natural resource, but environmentalists are campaigning so they won't using it.

You have probably already heard much about Al Gore and his "Inconvenient Truth" documentary. I am sure you have heard somewhere that it had flaws, yet so many people still want him to run for president of the USA. In fact, some polls show that if he did cast his vote, he would be the front runner for the democrats.

Global warming is a band wagon that everyone is jumping on. Its a cheap and easy way to tell others you care about something. So here it is, Global warming, the new political party. The political party that could entice the rest of the world to join hands. Let every nation join the fight in climate control.

Now do you see where I am going? This would be a great disguise for an up and coming politician who wants to create a one world government, to protect the environment. This leader would sell his ideas on climate control, would convince nations to throw out weapons of mass destruction, and brining peace to the world. What a marvelous idea.

Maybe THAT is how the anti-christ will come.

Clinton gets endorsement from Spielberg

Who cares what Spielberg thinks?! What makes him know more about things than your or I? Why is it even in the news?

The media is corrupt. Sorry i just had to rant. I wish there would be a news station that didnt cover such crap about the entertainment industry, THATS NOT NEWS! It does not impact my life, it has NO relevance to my life. Show me news about local companies, laws and state congress. Give me highlights about the federal government. Give me an unbiased opinion about the presidential candidates. A list of what each has done, and let me decide if it is good or bad.

Give me real updates about wars, and not some stupid hippy point of view.

end rant.

Lucky Man

Montgomery Gentry - Lucky Man

I have days where I hate my job
This little town and the whole world too
Last Sunday when the Bengals lost
Lord it put me in a bad mood

I have moments when I curse the rain
Then complain when the sun's too hot
I look around at what everyone has
And I forget about all I've got

But I know I'm a lucky man
God's given me a pretty fair hand
Got a house and a piece of land
A few dollars in a coffee can
My old trucks still running good
My ticker's ticking like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, a good woman's loving
And one more day to be my little kid's dad
Lord, knows I'm a lucky man

Got some friends who would be here fast
I could call em any time of day
Got a brother who's got my back
Got a mama who I swears a saint
Got a brand new rod and reel
Got a full week off this year
Dad had a close call last spring
It's a miracle he's still here

But I know I'm a lucky man
God's given me a pretty fair hand
Got a house and a piece of land
a few dollars in a coffee can
My old trucks still running good
My ticker's tickin' like they say it should
I got supper in the ove, good woman's loving
And one more day to be my little kid's dad
Lord, knows I'm a lucky man

My old trucks still running good
My ticker's ticking like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, a good woman's loving
And even my bad days ain't that bad
Yeah, I'm a lucky man
I'm a lucky lucky man


This song hit home to me because its real to me. In all things give thanks.

Meat and Potatoes

A recent post made by my wife in an online group we are active in is resonating ever so strongly in my mind. We were talking about the Willow Creek Church and how they worship and conduct services.

Someone had brought up criticisms about the church:

They sent a survey to non believers and designed their worship around the answers
Their messages are too watered down.
They did not hold service when Christmas was on Sunday
They had Bill Clinton speak at their leadership conference.

Needless to say the attack started a ruckus. We are not talking about just one church, now we are talking about many churches. A "watered down message?" is a pretty harsh accusation for anyone who to say about a church, especially one like Willow Creek.

So what of these super large churches that draw a crowd so big you have to wait to park? What about churches that spend more time singing praise music than preaching? Do we depend on a church alone to feed our spiritual needs? NO! Silly rabbit, trix are for kids!

This is where that very special post comes into play. Here is what she said:
"I've always seen the church service as a time to draw in non-believers, worship God, and glean some wisdom from His word. To be honest I don't think of the sermon as the central part of a church service. I think the central part is that the body of Christ is meeting and worshiping him together. Everyone is there to help each other out in their relationship with Christ. Although the sermon is important it's just a snack compared to the meat and potatoes you should be getting in your personal time with God."

A Sunday morning church service should not be feeding you your nutrients for the week. You should be feeding yourself everyday. That is what makes your relationship with God Personal. Services are there to hold fellowship, be connected with other Christians and to shine as a beacon to Non-believers as a place they will be accepted. Build your relationship with Christ and learn His word, you do not need a church for that.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28