The Great Separation

Rent a Car? Sure. But Rent a Pet?

Is that tail wagging? - Okay, here's a Monday oddity. A pet one at that.

There's a company in San Francisco - of course - that is renting out dogs. The company is called FlexPetz and they provide dogs to people who just don't have the time to commit to a real pet relationship.

Here's a link to the AP report by Lisa Leff: Company Rents Pets to Animal Lovers.

I can understand the desire to take a pet home on a trial basis, but the idea of renting one is, well, I just find something wrong with that concept. But then perhaps it's just a sign of the times in which we live where things are there just for our wants and needs and are easily put away after that desire in us has been filled for the moment.

The most telling quote is this:

Melissa Bain, a veterinarian with the Companion Animal Behavior Program at the University of California, Davis, said she had concerns about, but no hard-and-fast objections to a service like FlexPetz.

On the positive side, it might give people an easy way to test the ownership waters and keep a few dogs from being euthanized, Bain said. Possible downsides would be irresponsible members who treat the dogs like a lifestyle accessory instead of a living thing.

"It depends on the people and it depends on the animal. Some dogs may be fine and some may become stressed because they are moving from home to home," Bain said. "Perhaps they had a good experience with a good part-time owner and then they get shipped back. What kind of message does that send to kids? That dogs are disposable."

Well, if people are disposable while still in the womb, I guess dogs are disposable at any stage when it impacts upon self-centeredness.

The Great Separation continues.

The Islamization of America.

From the halls of academia - Here is a news item that I find particularly disturbing.

Oren Dorell reports for USA Today: Some say schools giving Muslims special treatment.

Reading the article, it would look to me to be more than just special treatment. Perhaps the better word choice would be preferential. Thankfully that word is in the first paragraph.

Some public schools and universities are granting Muslim requests for prayer times, prayer rooms and ritual foot baths, prompting a debate on whether Islam is being given preferential treatment over other religions.

Schools are doing such things as setting aside scheduled prayer times, prayer room, foot baths, prayer rugs, etc. But some schools are not stopping there but requiring non-Muslims to adhere to the rules as well. Such as removing shoes, not crossing gender boundaries, and in some cases not letting the "infidels" access to the rooms at all.

Here is a quote I find chilling:

Daniel Pipes, founder of the Middle East Forum, a conservative think tank, sees the requests as part of a movement to force the public to acquiesce to Islamic law.

"The goal of Islamists is the application of Islamic law," Pipes says.

From all that I can view of history and today, subjugation is the ultimate goal of Islamic law.

[hat tip: Dhimmi Watch]

Please Pray for the South Korean Hostages.

They hate you because of me - Twenty-three South Korean Christians went to Afghanistan to help meet needs and be Christ to those suffering in darkness.

These Christians were taken hostage by Islamic terrorists. Eighteen of these Christians are women. One has been murdered; shot in the head, chest, and stomach. According to some sources he was a pastor.

Michelle Malkin is covering the developments of this story getting little play on the MSM.

The Great Separation continues.

Terrorists Making Dry Runs on US Airlines.

Should we be concerned? - Absolutely!!!

There were dry runs that ran up to the the 9/11 attacks.

Now it appears that terrorists are running dry runs again on our airplanes so that they can test out just how soft a target our skies are now.

Here's a link to the Reuters's report, U.S. airports warned of possible attack "dry runs":

In at least four incidents over the past year, security screeners have found items in carry-on luggage -- blocks of cheese taped to electrical components, for example -- that resembled homemade bombs, according to the TSA's July 20 memo.

"Past terrorist attacks and plots show that such testing generally indicates attacks will soon follow," said the internal memo, which was posted on the Internet by NBC News on Tuesday.

We need to be on high alert as citizens.

Here is a video of actor James Woods detailing the dry run he experienced on a plane pre-9/11 that included at least two of the Islamic terrorists of 9/11.

Quote for The Week: Supply for Needs?

Who supplies the need? - I've been attending a seminar at church dealing with how we as Christians should deal with finances.

This quote from missionary Hudson Taylor continues to stick in my head:

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply."

Asian Parasite might be Reason for Bee Disappearances.

Small can be deadly too - There are two news items this morning that try to shed light on the Colony Collapse Disorder affecting beehives worldwide.

Gulf Weekly reports that some scientists think the problem may be a tiny parasite attacking the bees.

In April, Californian investigators said a single-celled parasite, Nosema ceranae, might be to blame. Other researchers say the fungus indicated a suppressed immune system.

Canada's CBCNews also reports that the parasite has recently been found in the Canadian beehives and is being considered as a source of CCD. But there is a but:

However Agriculture Canada's leading bee scientist, Steve Pernal, is taking the sting out of that theory.

Pernal says although this parasite has just been identified in Canadian hives, evidence from frozen bee samples in the U.S. shows it's been there since the 1990s.

"If it's been around that long, and if it is such a big problem, I think we would have encountered it before."

So I guess the jury is still out on the cause.

Barbaric... Barbaric... Barbaric... What's more Barbaric?

"Without civilizing influences" - The fact that Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons is under criminal investigation for his suspected part in the brutal practice of dogfighting is probably of no surprise to most Americans. After all, the news of the famous quarterback's current predicament has run repeatedly on most news networks.

The act of treating these animals so horribly is a terrible thing. Recently Senator Byrd had this to say up on the Senate floor:

Obviously the senator is incensed that such a thing would be done, as is most of the media and many Americans, I'm sure. And rightly so.

But why is the treatment of these animals garnering so much press time when there are other more, "Barbaric," things happening in our world, even our own country, to people?

Check out the following news items and tell me if they deserve more press time than a spoiled NFL star supposedly raising dogs for fighting.

From The Hearald: Bags of dead babies stuffed in well:

Thirty plastic bags stuffed with skulls and body parts that police believe may be from aborted female foetuses or newborn girls killed because their families wanted boys have been found in an abandoned well in eastern India.

Investigators suspect a medical clinic nearby performed the abortions and possibly killed infants at the parents' request, although authorities have yet to conclusively determine the sex of the babies.

Then there's this Christian persecution item out of India reported by BosNewsLife about a Christian Pastor's brutal beheading by Hindus.

Picture Perfect Friday: Support an Author!

Feed a writer - It was my pleasure to meet Jodi Cowles, the wonderful author of, The Minor Protection Act. Her book is a political thriller that I believe Christians in America need to read.

Today's pic is of her MPA-mobile. You see, she is currently touring the country promoting this great work that God gave her.

You can read about her journey, almost a year now on the road, at her blog, whereisjodi.

This picture was taken on the day she pulled out of our church driveway. She was stuck with us for over a week because what was planned as a weekend stay became a lot longer when her transmission died.

My suggestion to you is click over to Amazon and buy, The Minor Protection Act. You'll help her buy some gas, pay for that transmission, and continue on her way, where ever she be today. Plus you'll get a bonus out of it. A great book from an author who really loves Christ.

Burning Christians in Iraq.

They hate you because of me - Christian persecution is on the rise in Iraq and this report from WorldNetDaily:

Christians in Iraq, including converts from Islam and people involved in mixed-faith marriages, are being crucified by Muslim terrorists, according to a Dutch member of Parliament studying the war-torn country.

We need to remember to daily hold our brethren and their persecutors up in prayer.

The Great Separation continues.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

A False Spiritual Movement in America.

Not of Christ - I just want to alert you to a worthwhile read over at one of my favorite blogs, Windows to My Soul.

The post is titled, Truth Matters.

Here's a snippet:

According to these teachings, becoming Christlike is a matter of practicing the disciplines, especially 'the silence' that is all the rage. Being born again or having the indwelling of Jesus Christ is no longer a prerequisite for postmodern times. Droves of spiritually hungry folks are being sucked into believing we only need to follow the model of Jesus to be like Him. They enjoy the mystical trappings of a more interspiritual, ecumenical community where unity is promoted over truth.

Be sure to click over.

The Great Separation continues.