The Squirrel's Nut Cache - 6/10/2010

The Nut Cache - a collection of recent things I found interesting, or amusing, or nutworthy.

When the U.S. Marshals Service took Ruben Hernandez into custody, they didn't know what they were dealing with, until a search of his home found a voodoo shrine, with three voodoo dolls that had the names of the two police detectives and the LA County deputy district attorney who was the prosecutor in Hernandez's upcoming fraud trial. The dolls were also inscribed with his case number. The voodoo didn't work. Hernandez got 12 years...

I've never bought into the whole medical marijuana excuse: "Well, brah, it's all about the medical care and helping ease the suffering of your fellow dudes, y'know?" Let's face it, it's a back door excuse to legalize an intoxicant. Ever since medical marijuana got voter approval in Montana, I've seen shops opening up all over town. This is not the way I wanted my state presented by the national news media!

We've all faced the almost nonstop barrage of "Green" messages; recycle those recyclables, buy high-mileage hybrid vehicles and drive only when necessary, switch to compact florescent light bulbs, use water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators and 1.6 gpf toilets (that need to be flushed 2 or 3 times). Encouragement to "save the planet" are unavoidable. Well, take those messages to heart at your own risk. Back in March, I saw this story from LA, and this week I came upon this from Minneapolis. It just doesn't pay to be green, it seems...

Canadians are weird. Some would even say that they're out of this world. At least the town of Vulcan, Alberta sure is. The mayor wears a Starfleet uniform and proprietor of the local bakery wears pointed ears. Recently, Spock himself held his retirement party there. I understand, I really do. I've been to Vulcan, Alberta, and there's really not all that much to get excited about, so why not Star Trek?

A lot of people suffer from aerophobia, the fear of flying. For many sufferers the fear is manageable, but for some the level of anxiety is so great that it prevents them from travelling by air at all. Since it is common knowledge that flying is much safer then travel by automobile, the fear is an irrational fear. Well, it probably doesn't help to diminish an irrational fear when you see a statue of Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, outside the airport. No, not an airport in Egypt, an airport in Colorado. Face it, nothing says "Denver" like an idol to an Egyptian god...

About a month ago, in the May 6th Nut Cache, we had the story of a lovely former public loo that had been converted into a small home overlooking the English Channel. Now it seems that someone at the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission wants to convert some public restrooms into restaurants. I'm wondering if the folks at the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission read the Nut Cache!

When my buddy wonky73 (yeah, the guy with the cat) first gave me the link to this story, I just knew it had to be a hoax. It had to be! But, after a bit of research, it nøw løøks like the støry might just be true. I think it's cøøl that he was able tø draw the møøse øff and prøtect her, but, I must ask, did the møøse bite his sister? (Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretty nasti...)

And the Nuttiness gøes øn and øn...

Correction: The møøse story was given to me, not by wonky73, but by my buddy Lockheed. I don't know if Lockheed has a cat... or a møøse...)

What a Squirrel Believes – Theology Proper

What a Squirrel Believes

I believe in one, and only one, true and living God. He is the Triune God; eternally existing in one essence and being, yet three co-equal persons share this same essence and being; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is, by His nature and works, worthy of all glory, honor, obedience, and praise, and God alone is worthy of worship. He is the Creator of all that exists in Heaven and Earth, and His sovereign decrees determine all that comes to pass, and the end of all things glorifies Him. In all of His attributes, God is absolute perfection. He has absolute knowledge, wisdom, and power and is perfect in holiness, righteousness, justice, love, grace, and mercy.

While all of Theology is the study of the things of God, Theology Proper is the study of God Himself; His nature and attributes as revealed in the Scriptures.

The Bible does not try to prove the existence of God.

In fact, the Bible clearly states that everybody possesses the knowledge of God’s existence (Romans 1:18-20). In other words, the Bible says that there are no atheists. Those who deny the existence of God must do so by willfully suppressing what they know to be true (Romans 1:21). While there are many philosophical arguments that set out to prove that God exists, I think that, for the most part, they’re just a waste of time, since it is hard to convince someone of the truth that they already know but are firmly in denial about.

We must also be aware of our own limitations. While we all have the knowledge of God’s existence, we must also accept that we are unable to totally comprehend God. We who are bound by time and space have no frame of reference for understanding that which is eternal and transcendent. In the ultimate sense, God is incomprehensible (Deuteronomy 29:29). We must accept what the Bible reveals to us, knowing that we will not understand everything; indeed, we will not understand anything in full. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

The Trinity:

The Bible reveals that God is Triune, a threefold unity. God is one, yet He exists as three co-equal and co-eternal persons; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christians are not tri-theists, we do not believe in 3 gods.

The Doctrine of the Trinity is a derived doctrine, meaning that it is not explicitly stated in the Bible, but is a conclusion derived from the clear teachings of Scripture. The Bible clearly states that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6), yet the Father (Matthew 6:8-9; Matthew 7:21; Galatians 1:1), the Son (John 1:1-18; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8-10), and the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18) are each identified as God.

The most concise statement in the Bible regarding the Trinity is, I think, Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” In this verse, the word for “name” (ὄνομα [onoma]) is singular, so, in effect, it reads “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the one name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

That the God revealed in the Bible is Triune in nature is a difficult concept to grasp, and it is totally impossible to fully understand. It should be believed, not because it is easy to believe, but because it is what the Bible reveals.

[I will address the deity of Christ and the deity of the Holy Spirit more fully in the posts on Christology and Pneumatology at a later date. For a more in-depth treatment of the Doctrine of the Trinity see James R. White’s The Forgotten Trinity]

The Sovereignty of God:

A sovereign is one who reigns, or rules. God’s sovereignty over His Creation is absolute, total, and independent (1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalm 115:3, Daniel 4:34-35). God is the ultimate authority, and all lesser authority is granted by God for His purposes (John 19:11; Romans 13:1). As Arthur W. Pink put it, God is “subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him.” (Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 135:6)

God, in His sovereignty, has decreed, in eternity past, everything which comes to pass, without exception. While God is not the author of sin, He does ordain the existence of evil, because if He had not ordained evil, evil would not exist (Isaiah 45:7). We have no right to question God’s decree (Job 40:2; Isaiah 45:9).

[For a more in-depth treatment of God’s sovereignty, see John MacArthur’s Answering Big Questions About the Sovereignty of God & Why Does Evil Dominate the World?]

Attributes of God:

An attribute is a characteristic, property, or quality of someone or something. Attributes are what we use to describe things; “The box was 10 inches long and 5 inches wide,” and, “He is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighed 168 pounds,” are descriptions of physical attributes. If we say that someone is “nice” or “honest,” we are describing attributes of character and personality. So, when we speak of the attributes of God, we are attempting to describe what He is like.

God’s attributes are generally divided into His incommunicable attributes and His communicable attributes. His incommunicable attributes are transcendent characteristics which belong to God alone. His communicable attributes are characteristics which God’s creatures may share with their Creator in some limited degree. Where the creature shares an attribute with the Creator, the creature’s attribute is a poor and incomplete reflection of the perfection that is God.

The attributes of God are not parts of God, but are aspects of the whole being of God. All of His attributes are always consistent with each and every other attribute. Because one of God’s attribute is His infinite nature, any list of the attributes of God will be incomplete.

Some of God’s attributes are:

Self-existence

God’s existence is not dependent on anything outside of God Himself. (Exodus 3:14)

Infinitude & Eternality

God is completely unbound by space or time (Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:8)

Immutability

God’s being, nature, and character is unchanging. (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Heb. 6:17) God’s unchanging nature does preclude Him from performing different actions. (Jeremiah 31:31)

Self-sufficiency

God does not need anything. He does not need food or water to sustain Him. He needs no air to breath. He needs no one to advise Him. (Psalm 50:12-13)

Omnisapience

God is perfect in His wisdom. Everything He does is wise, and He is never foolish. (Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 1:11-12)

Omniscience

There is nothing that God does not know. He has perfect and complete knowledge of the past, the present and the future. (Psalm 147:5; Romans 11:34; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20) God’s perfect knowledge also extends to what might have been; He perfectly knows all possibilities. (Matthew 11:23) (God’s perfect knowledge of possibilities is not to be confused with error of Molinism, as even that which is possible is subject to God’s sovereign decree.)

Omnipresent

God, not being in anyway limited by space and time, is always present everywhere. (Jeremiah 23:24; Psalms 139:7-10; 1 Kings 8:27)

Omnipotence

God is all-powerful and is able to do whatever He wills. (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Psalm 115:3; Matthew 19:26)

Love

Love, whether used of God or man, is the desire for and actions taken to insure the well-being of the one loved. (Deuteronomy 7:9; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8)

Holiness

To be holy is to be set apart. God is set apart by his absolute perfection in all things. (Isaiah 6:3; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 15:4)

Righteousness

God’s righteousness refers to His morality and justice. All matters of right and wrong are a reflection of God’s righteousness. (Genesis 18:25; Daniel 9:7; Revelation 16:7)

Faithfulness

God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God. (Genesis 6:18; 9:9; 17:7; Deuteronomy 4:31; 7:9; 1 Peter 4:19)

Mercy

Mercy is seen most clearly in such qualities as compassion and patience. God’s mercy is expressed by His long-suffering with, and forgiveness of, sinners.(Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 52:8; Micah 7:18; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 2:4; James 5:11))

Grace

God’s grace is distinct from but inseparable from His mercy. Where mercy is seen in pardon for wrongs done and mitigation of deserved punishment, grace is seen in the bestowal of undeserved blessings. (Matthew 5:44-48; Ephesians 2:8-9)

[For a more detailed look at the attributes of God, I recommend A. W. Pink’s Attributes of God.]

God, by His absolute perfection in all things, is worthy of worship, honor, glory and praise (Deuteronomy 6:13; Psalm 2:11; Psalm 96:9; John 4:23; Romans 12:1-2; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 22:9).

The Squirrel Can Cook – Chicken Taco Bake

Casseroles are a staple of American cooking. They’re convenient for busy families, and they’re highly portable, making them standard fare at potluck dinners, family reunions, birthday parties and other informal gatherings. I’ve got several cookbooks that were published by churches and all of them are dominated by casseroles.

This recipe is not from one of those cookbooks.

This is my version of a casserole that my mother got from a friend in Georgia. With multiple layers of ingredients, it looks fancy and complex, but it's actually pretty easy.

We will need:

1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded
1 package of taco seasoning (or enough to season 1 pound of meat, if you buy it in bulk)
1 16-ounce can refried beans
1 16-ounce can black olives, sliced
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 4-ounce can chopped green chilies (or, for a spicier version, 1 can chopped jalapenos)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
4 10-inch flour tortillas

Combine the diced tomatoes, the chopped green chilies, the taco seasoning, and the shredded chicken in a skillet. (Do not drain the tomatoes or the chilies.) Mix well, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.


Coat the inside of a 9x13 inch with butter and line the bottom with two of the flour tortillas. Spread the can of refried beans evenly over the tortillas.


Now spread the cup of sour cream on top of the refried beans, evenly distribute the black olives and ½ cup of the cheddar cheese on top of that.


Now it’s another layer of tortillas…


Topped with the chicken, tomato, & chilies mixture and the remaining 1 ½ cups of cheese.


Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let rest for five minutes before cutting.


Serves 8. Enjoy!


The Squirrel shall not live by bread NUTS alone!

The Squirrel's Nut Cache - 6/3/2010

The Nut Cache - a collection of recent things I found interesting, or amusing, or nutworthy.

"Swiss federal law states that public nudity is not a crime." That's as may be, but the people of the Swiss canton of Appenzell don't much care for naked people hiking around their mountains. Can't say I'd care too much for that myself. Well, they outlawed it, but now the courts have said that naked hiking is okay. Is it bad of me to wish them bad weather?

Born in the same hospital on the same day, Steven and Amy grew up going to the same school and church. They started dating in high school. Now they're getting married. I congratulate them and wish them all the best. And, while Steven will probably never forget Amy's birthday, I'm betting he'll still forget their anniversary...

It's easy to get stung on Wall Street. Most people might expect to encounter swarms of money-hungry investment bankers and stock brokers. But, it was Memorial Day, and the banks and brokerage houses were all closed. No, there were no swarms of bankers and stock brokers, but there was a swarm of bees that congregated in the doorway of an Italian restaurant. Hey, who doesn't like Italian...

Some rocks are, well, cheaper then dirt. Other rocks are more costly. And the value of a few very rare rocks is out of this world. The rarest rocks in the world are not diamonds or rubies, they are moon rocks. All together, Apollo astronauts brought 842 pounds of moon rocks to earth. Most of those rocks are still locked away at NASA facilities and are reserved for scientific study, but some 200 samples were mounted for display and presented to state governments and friendly foreign governments. Some of those display rocks, valued in the millions of dollars, have gone missing.

On Tuesday, Dr. Al Mohler discussed children who fail to grow up and become responsible. Indeed, we see more and more young "adults" who still live with their parents long after they should be supporting themselves. One of the biggest problems with still living with Mom when you're 32 is that she might just take away your beer...

It has puzzled experts for years. It is argued over from beer halls to halls of higher learning. It is a question that philosophers continue to argue over today. It's an age old question that really doesn't have a satisfactory answer, "How else is a groundhog supposed to get to Walmart anyway?"

And the Nuttiness goes on and on...