An Instructive Episode: Leftist and Establishment Responses to Trump's Syria Withdrawal

Trump's recent orders regarding US troop withdrawal from Syria have generated a political and media firestorm. He has (wittingly or not) undermined a key plank of US imperial policy with regard to the Middle East. Syria was but part of a larger strategy and the battle against ISIS, like the larger war against al Qaeda, (and the interminable 'War on Terror') are but a pretense, a means to an end in a series of larger geostrategic goals.

In Defense of Anonymity – In Christian Cyberspace and Beyond

There are calls on both sides of the Atlantic to eliminate Internet anonymity. The arguments are made on the basis of social discourse, the preservation of democracy, legal concerns and questions of security. Once again the Establishment is indicating that the Internet project has gotten away from them and has spiraled dangerously out of control.

Orwell and the Bolivarian Dream: When the Law Becomes Sin

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/venezuela-zte/

This is of course a somewhat self-serving article on the part of Reuters as the news agency is in this case serving the Anti-Chavez/Maduro campaign that has been mounted by the West.

And yet, it is disturbing to say the least. As the Bolivarian experiment has collapsed, the rulers of Venezuela (Maduro and the military) wish to retain control and are apparently willing to open some dark doors to do so. I don't think Simon Bolivar would approve.

The Atlantic Article on Empty Church Buildings

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/what-should-america-do-its-empty-church-buildings/576592/

This article has been getting some attention as of late. While listening to 'Christian' radio the other day I heard an interview premised by it and they had a local pastor on the show to discuss the demise of the Church. It was yet again a case of blind leading the blind. The pastor had nothing to offer. He wasn't even able to offer the normal combative narrative that it's the liberal churches that are closing. In the end he said, it comes down to poor leadership.

The Cruelty of Theonomy and its Counterfeit Zion

A response to a garden variety sermon called 'The Cruelty of Piety'

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=624181330317

https://huffduffer.com/jonesay/497939

or click here to play from my Google sites page

N.B. - The Sermonaudio link seems to be dead and so I've provided a substitute.

Though I am convinced the New Testament stands in diametrical opposition to Theonomy I cannot but help and have a certain affinity with some of its advocates. I share in their anti-Establishment attitude and frustrations with regard to the Reformed mainstream. I too have no love for the OPC or PCA and have been at times angered by their bureaucracies and frankly with the deceit of some of their officers. At one time I was on a course to be ordained in one of these denominations and yet today, I wouldn't even consider attending one of their congregations.

That said, apart from a conflict with bureaucracy and institutionalism I have no commonality with Theonomists and their wayward and even twisted interpretations of Scripture.

Butina: Mainstream Media Hype and Deception

Marina Butina entered the scene making splashy headlines. A pretty Russian spy seeking to infiltrate US political circles and sleeping her way to the information at that. The media loved it, especially as Trump had just met with Putin and angered many in the American Establishment. It was like something from a television programme or a movie.

But then they had to back off. The portrait they painted of her started to fall apart. Well now with her 'guilty' plea deal they've got some solid evidence. Right?

The Vocational Fog

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/not-all-vocational-pursuits-are-equal/

Though I disagree with the foundational premise of the article I am appreciative of the fact that the author is at least willing to admit that all jobs are not equal and that some occupations in fact contribute little to the Kingdom of Christ... even to the Dominionist view of the Kingdom advocated by The Gospel Coalition.

The End of Christendom and Evil Unleashed

Overall I am greatly appreciative of Martyn Lloyd-Jones when it comes to the Kingdom and issues regarding Christendom. He was repeatedly sceptical regarding attempts to forge a Christian society and deemed all such endeavours as doomed to failure.

And yet he was not always consistent. Often he would assume that Christendom produced a general morality and that society in some ways had reflected Christian values and was (in the 20^th century) departing from them.

A Watershed in Genetic Experimentation

There was great consternation at the recent report regarding genetic modification experiments being conducted in China. While such experiments have been done openly on embryos and in other contexts, this was a live experiment done on a viable human being. In this case the gene edited babies were made immune to HIV.

Some Comments on the Mueller Probe

On this point it must be admitted that Donald Trump is right. The Mueller probe has destroyed lives. It is a case of McCarthyism reborn, a trend which seems to be popular these days. We're also seeing it (in a different form) with the #MeToo movement.

Under this type of investigation there's no assumption of innocence, there's no due process, the verdict all but precedes the investigation. The prosecutor is also the judge (in many cases) and guilt does not have to be based on evidence, but largely rests on association.

Rehabilitating and Revising Collective Memory

https://original.antiwar.com/Danny_Sjursen/2018/11/15/the-reclamation-of-george-w-bush-is-an-american-tragedy/

It used to take a generation or so for the revision to begin. And then as we entered the Internet age, things began to change. The information age turned out to be the age of myth, the age of ignorance. Reagan was scarcely in the grave and already the legend was being written and the mythology created about his deeds and legacy. We'll now see the same with regard to George HW Bush.

The US and Bahrain: The War Machine Marches On

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/One-billion-euros-from-Bahrain-for-latest-generation-US-helicopters-45493.html

Bahrain, viewed by some as a Saudi puppet state is certainly less than autonomous. The nation hosts the US Fifth Naval Fleet and thus is closely allied with and influenced by Washington.

Kazakhstani Intrigues and a Plot in Italy

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2018/11/16/cortese-improta-5-others-indicted-for-shalabayeva_d718a8c1-09ea-41be-adb7-d6b7355c206f.html

I won't pretend to understand all the details of this case but it's safe to say there are multiple facets and layers. It's the story of Mukhtar Ablyazov, a corrupt figure from Kazakhstan. It must be remembered that in the 1990's Central Asia and indeed all of the former USSR were to some degree in a state of chaos. It was the age of the oligarchs, big business deals and lots of disappearing money.