Random Thoughts on the Dead Americans in Jordan

When the story broke over the weekend I immediately thought of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and how happy he must be at this news. He wants to widen the war and there are plenty within the US Congress, Pentagon, and even White House that want the same. The Iran Hawks are already squawking – demanding some kind of massive bombing campaign – even if it leads to a massive war. As one commentator pointed out the Middle East is in the cusp of the biggest regional war since 1973. These people couldn't care less. Men like Lindsey Graham are literally just vampires – they live for blood.

DiLorenzo's Latest Attempt at Red Baiting

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/new-york-state-assemblyman-tony-simone-wants-to-bring-back-forced-labor/

This post caught my eye and typifies all that is wrong with the revisionist Bircherite academics associated with the extreme end of the Libertarian Austrian School – and the Neo-Confederate Thomas DiLorenzo (President of the Ludwig von Mises Institute) is among the worst.

Ethiopia's Foray into Somaliland

Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed has generated a great deal of frustration within Washington. He waged war on Tigray and the ethno-political faction long supported by Washington. He has by some estimations moved Ethiopia closer to China. And as of 1 January 2024, Addis Ababa has now moved into the sphere of BRICS.

Mohler's Vanguard Nation

It's been some time since I listened to Albert Mohler. Those who know my writings know that I'm not in any sense a fan of the seminary president. The other day I caught him speaking about the anniversary of Lenin's birth and that got him talking about Lenin's modifications to the Marxist schema.

Humanitarian Border Patrols and Buffers for Fortress Europe

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/22/eu-to-start-releasing-money-to-tunisia-under-migration-pact

This is but one in a series of incidents regarding deals with European authorities and African states. Couched in humanitarian terms, the real goal is to curb immigration. The Europeans and Americans both have realized that it's cheaper and better (in terms of optics) to prevent the migrants from actually arriving on European shores. If they can create and pay for a buffer that will block these streams of human beings fleeing war, poverty, overpopulation, and in some cases a collapsing climate, they can feel good about what they're doing – because they don't have to look at it or get their hands dirty as it were.

The Revival of Franco and Francoism

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/15/us-far-right-francisco-franco-spanish-civil-war

This caught my eye because I've heard recent attempts by figures on the Right to argue that Francoism was not fascism. Usually the argument relies on limiting fascism to the Third Reich and anti-Semitic Hitlerism – and maybe taking into account something of Mussolini. Franco is treated as something outside this spectrum and usually much is made of the fact that his regime did not pursue anti-Semitic policies.

Lamenting the Decline of Sacral Marriage

https://issuesetc.org/2024/01/03/0032-the-demise-of-the-augustinian-view-of-marriage-dr-allan-carlson-1-3-24/

Listening to this latest installment of Allan Carlson being interviewed on Issues Etc., I kept thinking about the elephant in the room – the one that was never addressed.

The Missing Element in the Packaging of Vocation

https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/is-work-good

Reading this piece from Ligonier, it felt like a sale pitch, like I was being sold a package. And what is the product? It's the Protestant Work Ethic, so critical to the Magisterial Reformation's sacral programme. All of life in this world is made into holy Kingdom work and is an act of transformation.

On the contrary, the so-called 'Dominion Mandate' is no longer fulfilled by us – but by Christ in the New Heavens and New Earth. The work in the garden was Kingdom work – but once the Fall took place and they were exiled to the East of Eden, Adam and Eve no longer dwelt in the Kingdom. Rather, they awaited the seed, the One who was to come, the One who would defeat death – for there is no death in God's Kingdom.

Italy and the BRI

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67634959

There is an evident reciprocity taking place between Italy's Right-wing coalition government and Brussels. On the one hand, Brussels is moving in the direction of Meloni when it comes to her government's posture toward immigration. Under the guise of the humanitarian concern and anti-smuggling measures, the EU is doing all it can to curb immigration – even to the point of arming and paying North African regimes. We're seeing the same thing in North America with US attempts to curtail immigration in Central America, long before the migrants actually reach the border region.

Evangelical Support for Israel

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67422238

This is but one of many articles making the rounds over the past couple of months since the latest outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinians. The story is always essentially the same and yet new actors arise and the rhetoric sometimes changes – as do some of the political dynamics.

Evangelical Feminism in Europe

https://evangelicalfocus.com/=life-tech/24403/spanish-baptist-faculty-of-theology-includes-feminism-in-its-curriculum

Building bridges to society is basically another way of saying – find as much common ground as you can and try to redeem what you can. It sounds noble and well-intentioned but history demonstrates it's a formula for compromise and eventually capitulation.

Welcome to Age of BRICS+

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66525474

The world is changing, a new order is forming. This has been in the air for sometime but a milestone was passed on 1 January 2024 with the expansion of BRICS.

Costa Redefines the Kingdom

https://www.ironsharpensironradio.com/podcast/december-22-2023-show-with-dr-tony-costa-on-no-king-but-christ/

There were many good points made in this interview. As I'm not a Baptist, I found myself often disagreeing with Tony Costa (and of course the host Chris Arnzen), but despite some tangents and doctrines presented out of focus – it was overall a decent exercise.