Um... Uh...

Wow... I've got a blog... Who knew?

I think I'll do something with this sometime soon...

The truth is that I've been very busy lately. I've not forgotten about the blog, and I've got stuff I want to write, but time just has a way of filling up quickly, as I'm sure many of you can testify to, as well. I just wanted to let y'all know that I've been missing you, and I'll be back soon!

(Sad... I just blogged about blogging...)

Programming Note

There is no The Squirrel Can Cook today. I will be out of the office until Monday. That is all. As you were. Carry on.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

As you've no doubt noticed, I've not done much blogging this week... or last week, either, for that matter. Anyway, I've been busy. It happens. There's no Nut Cache again this week. In fact, I don't have a recipe ready for tomorrow's blog, so there will be no The Squirrel Can Cook this week. (I'm cooking a great hashbrown casserole for my hosts in Oregon... I'll blog that recipe sometime soon!)(Especially if they like it...)

Today, I'm driving to Newberg, OR, to meet up with some friends, hang out all day Friday, and then go watch James White debate Robert Sungenis on the topic of purgatory at the Believer's Reason Conference 2010. Then it's into the car right as the debate ends, drive all night to get to home, nap a few hours, and then drive to Missoula to watch my Montana Grizzlies play Northern Arizona University on Saturday.

I hope to return to a more normal bloggy schedule next week.

Yeah, Well, That's Just The Way It Is!

I didn't get the Nut Cache typed up today like I'd planned to, for a Saturday Nut Special... C'est la vie.

But, while my blog has devolved into a Foodie & Weird News Extravaganza, others are still doing serious work. I'm very impressed by my young friend, Fisher, whom God has gifted with a great ability to retain and process information that I can only envy (i.e. he's a really smart guy...). As an example, he just posted this tonight, and it is a thoughtful read: The Christology of Mark. It is well worth reading.

Sorry. Busy. Life. Deal with it.

I'm going to be busy most of today, and, yes, I know that I'm way behind on my blogging. Sorry. Life. Deal with it.

Anyway, since there's nothing new here today, I thought I'd point you towards this excellent post by Majastatic.

Keep watching this space!

A Brief Programing Note

I really need to learn to stop saying that I'm going to publish something "tomorrow!" It always seems that, whenever I do, Providence seems to always dictate otherwise.

This week just seemed to fill with other things, and I haven't had the time to write that I desired. First, my sister and her family were in town over the weekend, which, coupled with the Fourth and all, resulted in lots of fun and too much food, but not much writing. Then yesterday was my birthday & I got a Nook & I've been playing with it and reading books and not doing any writing. And now, here it is, Wednesday afternoon, and I've not posted anything all week... except this, which doesn't really count.

The good news is that the Nut Cache for tomorrow is done, as is The Squirrel Can Cook for Friday. Next week's The Squirrel Can Cook is already in the works.

My few "thoughts on the role of patriotism in the life of the Christian," that I said would be posted Monday, are busy becoming... something else. Something more then a few random thoughts. Stay tuned, there will be something soon?. Yes, "soon."

Also in the works is a long overdue resumption of the Defending Dordt series, as well as the next post in the What A Squirrel Believes series. Plus, sometime before the end of the summer, I plan on doing a book review of Whosoever Will.

So, stay tuned. Busy summer ahead!

The Squirrel Did Not Cook This Week... Again...

With the unexpected trip to Idaho Falls earlier in the week, time really got away from me. I did not have time to prepare a meal for the blog. I assure you, loyal reader, that I do have a nice file of recipes for upcoming The Squirrel Can Cook features.

Meanwhile, here's a nice squirrelly video for you to enjoy. (h.t. Jonathan Hunter)



Also, here's a recipe I tried a while back. It's very good. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

What A Squirrel Believes – Technical Difficulties… Please Stand By

I’ve long collected statements of faith. I’ve got a file on my computer containing about 35 orthodox Christian statements of faith, everything from Grace Community Church’s 19 page What We Teach, to Truth for Life’s short What We Believe; and, of course, the 1925, 1963, and 2000 versions of the Baptist Faith & Message of the Southern Baptist Convention. A personal favorite is the Articles of Faith of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches.

I like orthodox statements of faith. I like to know where a person, group, or organization stands on the doctrines of the Christian Faith. As I said when I first broached this topic last week, I can’t understand why anyone would obfuscate their beliefs, except for nefarious purposes. And, as I said last week, I’m working on composing a statement of faith for A Squirrel In Babylon.

Well, like most things, writing a statement of faith is harder than it looks. Oh, it isn’t that I don’t know what I believe, or even that I can’t put what I believe into words. No, the problem is that I’m finding it hard to be concise in putting my beliefs into words. I have a new admiration for those who wrote all the statements of faith that I’ve collected. It’s hard to be brief and comprehensive at the same time!

All of this is just to say that it’s taking me a little longer then I’d planned to get the first article posted. Please be patient, and stay tuned…

The Calvinist Menace In Our Midst

It seems that, like mice in the kitchen, the Calvinist vermin are infesting Southern Baptist churches in Tennessee. What is to be done about this plague? Earlier this month, Tom Ascol blogged on a memo that was being circulated amongst Southern Baptist Churches in Tennessee advising on how to discover, and get rid of, Calvinists in the pulpit.

While many of the “Red Flags” outlined in the memo are absolute distortions of the Calvinist position, some are quite laughable.

Such as: “Use of the ESV Study Bible.” (Whew! I use an NASB MacArthur Study Bible!) -Or- “Look for the men they quote in their sermons: do they mainly quote Calvinists such as John Piper, R. C. Sproul, James White, Jonathon Edwards and others.” (Can I still quote Calvinists such as C. H. Spurgeon, J. P. Boyce, Alistair Begg, or John MacArthur?) –Or- “Tendency toward a highly logical systematic theology…” (As opposed to a highly illogical systematic theology?)

Others are self-contradictory, like: “Moving the church to become under Elder Rule.” -And- “Tendency to use their pastoral authority against any member that questions their reform theology or their direction.” Well, which is it? Are they looking to share power with other God-gifted men, or are they pushing to be dictators?

Some are just plain silly, like: “Adding other belief statements or confessions to what their church believes, such as: 1st London Baptist Confession (1689), 2nd London Baptist Confession (1644), New Hampshire Confession, and Abstract Principles.” (Yes, I noticed the dates, too…) Oh, please! The Abstract of Principles was the first statement of faith adopted by Southern Baptists in 1858! Are we never to look at what Southern Baptists believed in the past? Are we to ignore all history? There seems to be an ongoing effort to deny any and all traces of Southern Baptists’ Calvinist heritage, and this is wrong.

All of this is troubling, but, what troubles me the most is the assertion that Calvinist pastoral candidates will have a “Tendency to be evasive about their theology during the pastor search process. They will say things like: ‘I believe and preach the historic doctrines of Southern Baptists just like many of the great Baptist preachers of the past.’ Many laymen will be satisfied in hearing the statement, ‘I believe and preach the Bible.’ Without more intense questioning, the committee will not be fulfilling the sacred duty their church entrusted to them.”

The memo was even accompanied by a “Belief Statement and Pastor’s Pledge” to be signed by the pastor, the chair of the pastor search committee & the chairman of the Deacons:

“I, (pastor), state that my theological beliefs and practices are in accord with _____ Baptist Church. I wish to state that I do not hold to a reformed or Calvinist doctrine and the Pastor Search Committee has questioned me comprehensively in this area of concern.

“With integrity of heart, I have heard the statements of the Pastor Search Committee and can say with certainty that if my theology ever changes to a Calvinist doctrine, I will share with the Deacons my new beliefs and work with them and the personel (sic) committee in transitioning me and my family to a new place of ministry that is more in line with my new theological stance.”

I could never sign such a document, as I would never hide from any search committee any of my theological positions & I agree wholeheartedly that every pastor search committee should thoroughly question every candidate, especially those under serious consideration. No pastoral candidate should ever be anything less than totally up front about any doctrinal position which he holds. Of course, I have no way of knowing how pervasive this “evasion” of search committee questions really is. And, as delusional as the rest of this “red flag” list is, this “evasion” may just be another delusion. However, the point remains that every man of God should be of sound and open doctrine.

With that in mind, I have decided to include a Statement of Faith here at A Squirrel in Babylon. I will be building up this Statement of Faith over the course of several, if not many, weeks in a series of blog posts. That way, I can expand upon each doctrinal statement, providing both my reasoning as well as scriptural proofs. I have no intention of writing a full blown systematic theology, but I never want to leave anyone in any doubt as to exactly what I believe, or why I believe it!

Stay tuned…

Be Back Soon!

I haven't forgotten that I have a blog. I do have plans to return to a more regular blogging schedule soon. Keep checking back!


It was real fun to meet Craig and Heather and their family last week. To everybody else, do let me know if you're passing through Western Montana. We'd love to be able to say, "Hi!" and have a cup of coffee or a piece of pie or something.

Squirrel and Schedules

As I said last week, the new job is really interfering with my blogging. But Mrs Squirrel says I have to just learn to deal with that, so...

Here's some upcoming stuff for you to look forward to --

The Defending Dordt series will continue, with Unconditional Election currently slated for this Friday morning, in place of The Squirrel Can Cook (which will be returning soon, but probably not as a weekly feature.)

The Squirrel's Nut Cache will continue as a weekly feature, so keep sending in nuttiness for review!

Next Sunday, I will be starting an exposition of Daniel at church, so Monday's post will consist of some sort of sermon notes/outlines/summaries. I'm also planning on podcasting the sermons, if I can get all the technical details resolved (nothing major, it's looking good.)

I'll also be passing on fun and frivolity from the taxi, as things happen. I'll also be tweeting from the taxi (between fares, while safely parked!), so follow me on twitter.

I hope that's wet your whistle! See you soon!

My First Day in the Cab

While I was able to ride along with another driver yesterday, today was my first full day (12+ hours) in the taxi. It began at 4:45 am, which is why I’m really tired tonight, and why this blog post is going to be real short.

It was a busy day, but it is a job I do believe that I’m going to enjoy. Of course, having a “real job” is going to impact my blogging a bit, and in ways that I’m sure I haven’t thought of yet. I do know that there will not be a ”The Squirrel Can Cook” for a few weeks, while I get some things organized.

Just one funny/sad story before I go. About noon, I was dispatched to pick up a fare (taxi lingo: fare noun 1 – the price of conveyance or passage in a bus, train, airplane, or other vehicle. 2 – a person or persons who pay to be conveyed in a vehicle; paying passenger. 3 – a person who hires a public vehicle and its driver) at an apartment complex to go to a bar downtown. When I arrived, the fare turned out to be a very hung-over young woman. She needed to go to the bar because that was where she’d left her car the night before (At least she hadn’t tried to drive home… Maybe…) I dropped her at the bar, and went on about my business.

A few hours later, I was dispatched to another bar downtown to pick up a fare. It turned out to be the same gal, who was now late to work. She still hadn’t found her car, she didn’t know where her car was, and she needed to get to work. She said that she had called the police and the tow truck companies to see if her car had been towed or impounded, it had not.

The whole time I was driving her to work, I kept thinking that her car was most likely parked back at her apartment complex, but somewhere that she was unaccustomed to parking. If I see her again, I’ll try to find out.

I’ll see everybody sometime soon, when I’ve got a little time for blogging, and I’ll be sure to share any good taxi stories that come up.

Tomorrow’s shift starts at 6 am, which will almost feel like sleeping in after today’s early start time!

Because Someone Asked

After Monday's post, with the picture of "Montana Squirrel," I've received several questions about where I get my pictures? While I'm not a graphics designer, I must admit that I do work up most of my graphics myself (with the exception of the main blog design, which was done by Everyday Mommy Design. Thanks, Jules!) And it's something I've learned to do since I started blogging.

I use an open-source program called the GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP. And I learned/am learning how to use it from Frank Turk's GIMP University blog.

As I said, I'm no expert, but I've learned enough to turn these three pictures...







Into this.



And, believe me, if I can do it, so can you!

The Squirrel Returns: Better, Faster, Stronger

After a frustrating weekend of trying to load Windows XP on a machine that is just too new to run it, I took the plunge and installed Windows7 Release Candidate 1 on my laptop yesterday.

I've got to tell you, this may be the best version of Windows ever. It always seemed like Microsoft launched Vista way to early, the OS just wasn't ready. XP was working very well, at the time, and didn't seem dated at all. I never could understand why they launched Vista when they did.

Well, Windows7 is what Vista should have been. The "every other Microsoft OS" rule still applies. I wonder how much market share Microsoft lost during the Vista era? The commercial release version of Windows7 is scheduled to go on sale in October 2009. If you need a new computer, hold on until then.

If you're a techno-geek, go ahead and try Win7's RC1. You'll be glad that you did!

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions and advice.

I Know, I Know...

I know it's Wednesday and I haven't posted anything yet this week. Holidays really can mess things about a bit.

We got lots of yard work done over the weekend, and still got in some "laying about watching movies," too. But the one think I didn't do any of, is writing. (I really do need to get more organized about this blog thing!)

It's been two weeks since I hung the squirrel feeder in the tree in Mom's front yard. Nobody's found it yet...

I've got a good Nut Cache for tomorrow, and a nice recipe for Friday. I'll see if I can't get this thing back on some sort of track for next week.

Thanks for your patience!