Situated between our house and my wife's favorite suburban crack house (Starbucks) sits a small unmanned structure which serves to collect clothing and shoes. I have passed by the container every weekend for the last several years and it has always displayed a sign claiming that its purpose is to collect these items for the less fortunate. Today, however, I noticed a change. "Clothing and Shoe Donations" has been replaced by "Clothing and Shoe Recycling".

The replacement of that single word on that particular sign is a telling indication of the direction that our culture is headed as a whole. We are turning the corner and accelerating toward a world where it is considered more virtuous to care for the planet than to care for the poor. The planet that was provided as a habitat for the image of God is more important that the image of God itself.

Don't get me wrong. Recycling is a very good thing to do. Like I said, this is the habitat in which God placed us. To not care for the planet is to practice poor stewardship and a sin. But, we cannot put the cart before the horse and the trends that I am seeing across the world are indicating just that.

A religion is rising. Father God is being replaced by Mother Earth. The Creator is being replaced by the created. Al Gore is probably even working on a Green Manifesto to replace the Sermon on the Mount.

We're headed in a scary direction. I don't know exactly what's in store, but it will not be good. In the meantime, all that we can do is to love Him and care for our fellow man whether they be the poor or the powerful and hope that God will be merciful to those (of us) who reject Him and His people.

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." At least, that's what the physicists say.

But, this whole swine flu hysteria seems to violate that law. This has to be the biggest over-reaction that I have seen in my lifetime. According to the CDC, the United States sees 36,000 people die of flu-related causes every year. So, far we have one death. One. Uno. Ein. Odeen. As a response, we have hundreds (or probably even thousands by now) of schools and businesses shutting down across the country. Ironically, the over-reaction to H1N1 is viral in itself.

I often hope that I'm wrong about things. This is not one of them. I really hope that I'm right. Of course, if I am, we'll never know it. The best case scenario is that this whole mess quietly dies out and the Obama administration is once again our hero for saving the world from such a threat. The worst case is unspeakable.

However, I will say that I do not relish the position of the people that have to make big decisions concerning things like this. They really are in a tough spot. Sort of darned if they do, darned if they don't. Nor am I trying to throw stones at any one particular person, party, or position. I just never cease to be amazed by the collective foolishness of this world.

I just caught an interview on SportsCenter featuring Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. He is evidentally making the rounds plugging a video game. In the past, I've seen a few interviews of him, but I had forgotten what a humble, respectable guy he seems to be.

In a world of Cinco Ocho, Terrell Owens, and other caricatures of asinine narcissism, Fitzgerald is truly a breath of fresh air. Not only is he fairly articulate, he displays a calm spirit and shows respect for other players and coaches. Oh, and by the way, he did not pass on the opportunity to witness Christ. And, he didn't do it in the cheesy impersonal "First of all I want to thank God" way, but he was deliberate in his profession of Christ as his Lord. It was obvious that he was not just paying lip service.

I really like this guy. He may be my second favorite player, coming in just behind Andre Johnson.

This blog has been sitting idle for several months. I'm not really sure why. Tons of things have crossed my mind that could easily be mistaken for profitable content, but I've never actually pulled the trigger. Subconsciously, I think I wanted the first post to be something really awesome. I'm not really sure why on that one either.

This morning I decided to just throw something out there, to get that first post under my belt. Well, here it is.

-crickets chirping-

Okay, now what?

How about something about the "philosophy" of this blog? Or, a list of promises to the three people that actually stubble across it periodically? That sounds good, so here goes:

I am a Christian. I have a biblical worldview and this site will be consistent with it. I have respect for almost all other worldviews, but I think they are wrong (at least to some degree). If I didn't think that a particular worldview was wrong, I would hold to it instead of my own.

Comments are not enabled. Why? While I like to dialogue with others, most comments boil down to one of two categories: "Wow, awesome post" or "Here are 10 reasons why you suck". The former would simply inflate an already dangerous ego. The latter turns into a time-sink since opposing views are not generally reconciled on the internet or any other forum with a potential audience. Pride always kicks in and folks dig in their heels. It becomes a debate rather than a search for truth. And, if the comment is left unresponded to, defeat is considered admitted. I'll pass.

I don't speak Latin and you probably don't either. There will be no Latin (except the "solas").

I will not use terms like "Sebellianism" or even "Progressive Dispensationalism" without explaining what they mean.

I will not engage in "blogosphere" debates.

The tone of the blog will be generally positive. The Church is the only army in history that shoots its own wounded and I will not contribute to that. Of course, from time to time wolves in sheep's clothing will be brought up.