“sy·co·phant”

Pronunciation:
\-fent also -fant\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin sycophanta slanderer, swindler, from Greek sykophantes slanderer, from sykon fig + phainein to show — more at fancy
Date: 1575

Definition: a servile self-seeking flatterer

Synonyms: see “parasite”

Used in a sentence: Olbermann and Matthews, who proved themselves sycophants during the entire Democratic National Convention, wouldn’t have surprised anyone if one of them had begun a sentence with, “Obama, which art in Denver…”.

Suggested Reading:

Rights in Conflict: "The Chicago Police Riot" The Violent Confrontation of demonstrators and Police in the parks and Streets of Chicago during the week of the Democratic National Convention of 1968.

Democratic National Convention 2008: Obama's Mile High Moment

Hardball : How Politics Is Played Told By One Who Knows The Game

UPDATE: 11:39 AM - By a vote of 630 to (I think) 105, the proposed revised Statement of Faith became the Statement of Faith. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I then offered a resolution, unanimously (I hope!) adopted, calling us to unity, recognizing the efforts and dedication of our leadership, etc.

UPDATE: 10:51 AM - We’re now in the midst of debating the actual proposed revision itself. There have been some folks who’ve spoken on both sides of the issue. My buddy Matt thinks the revised SOF will pass, but I don’t know that he’s betting the house on it…

UPDATE: 10:06 AM - An amendment is offered regarding the inclusion of a statement regarding congregational church government. It is voted down as well.

UPDATE: 10:02 AM - The amendment failed by a significant margin. I voted against the amendment. I believe that the day will come–and I hope that it is soon–when the plank is removed. But Ernie Manges is right: now is not the time.

UPDATE: 9:50 AM - Missionary Ernie Manges, a supporter of the removal of the premil plank, spoke against the amendment, arguing that for the sake of unity, this is not the time, and this is not the place. Now, my buddy Jack Brooks, lacing his comments with his wonderful wit, is speaking against the amendment as well. Jack’s a guy who changed his mind on the whole thing, originally against removing premillennialism, then looking at things from a polity perspective, decided he wasn’t comfortable being in a position where we wouldn’t ordain some of the great British Puritans. The next speaker spoke against the amendment as well, but because he doesn’t believe it ought ever be changed. He included a needless, negative remark against our Spiritual Heritage Committee. Bad show.

UPDATE: 9:39 AM - Bobby File presented a cogent argument for the removal of the premil plank, and Bill Kynes spoke his strong agreement with the substance of it, yet urged rejection for the sake of unity. At this moment, that’s my position. I do retain an element of persuadability (if that’s a word)…

Original Post

I’ve not said much about the worship sessions, and won’t yet; they have been good, uplifting, challenging as we’ve been led by a tremendous worship team, Sarah Renner and Elements from Minneapolis. Our speakers have focused on I Peter 2, on our identity as “living stones” built up into a spiritual household. Good stuff.

We only got to two amendments yesterday, and this morning, we’ll deliberate the other two. If neither passes, we’ll vote on the revised Statement of Faith, it needing a 2/3 majority for passage. One friend, who’ll remain nameless, is planning to abstain from voting on the premil amendment. Here’s his reasoning: he is technically in favor, and pretty strongly, of the amendment, which would remove the word “premillennial” from our Statement of Faith–even though he’s premil himself. My own position is the same as to the issues. The problem is that he and I would both like to see the Revised SOF pass, and removing the premil plank might well make that more difficult (almost certainly). Would we be willing to settle for half a loaf, and then eventually bring back up the removal of the premil plank, once we have a better/stronger SOF? I sure would. But his reasoning in abstaining is this: to vote against the removal of the premil plank would be to send a message, perhaps, that he would like to see the premil plank retained, which is not his intent. To vote for the removal of the plank would be to not only push back the final vote a year, but increase the likelihood that we’ll not get a new SOF at all. And so he’s employing this strategery.

I’m not sure I like it much, though I understand his reasoning. The Board of Directors, which removed the premil plank in revisions 1 and 2, put it back in out of a concern for unity, and possibly as well out of concern that we get a refreshed Statement of Faith in place. I’m inclined to support their rationale, vote against the premil plank, take what we can get now, and deal with that plank in several years.

Suggested Reading:

Dan Rooney: My 75 Years With the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL

Adventures of Marco Polo

Polo: The Runaway Book

Sorry, but I was just listening to my YouTube Celtic Woman playlist, and this came on, and I couldn’t hog it:

Suggested Reading:

Who Was Marco Polo? (Who Was...?)

Tiddly Winks

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind

In my never-ending quest to introduce to my readers some of the best stuff out there, I present a group I just heard of yesterday and listened to today for the first time. Formerly known as “Celtic Man” (original, huh?), they now go by the name “Celtic Thunder”, five guys who sing Celtic music. I’m of the opinion that Celtic music is just about as good as it gets; enjoy this “two-fer” video!

Wouldn’t ya love to see these guys go mano a mano with Celtic Woman?

Suggested Reading:

A little Bit of Heaven shure they call it Ireland. [Song.] Poem by J. Keirn Brennan

Lonely Planet New Caledonia

Mercies slighted and judgments inflicted, or, A serious call to the people of Ireland on the late and present distresses: A sermon preached in a district ... October, 1817, the 20th Sunday after Trinity

singing perhaps my favorite 60’s song:

Is that a raccoon dead on his head?

Suggested Reading:

California Dreaming: Memories and Visions of LA 1966-1975

California Dreaming (A-List)

Go Where You Wanna Go: The Oral History of The Mamas and The Papas

Webbie Dude Paul here, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here, just as it’s been a while since Byron has posted a video of the week, so I thought I’d take care of both things with one post.

While this may be too modern and cutting edge for Byron, I happen to like this. Actually, this is from one of the very first Christian albums I ever owned; here’s Sweet Comfort Band with “Childish Things” (And for those who remember Bryan Duncan, you’ll get a kick out of how young he was when this was filmed)

Suggested Reading:

Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu (Vintage)

The NFL Gameday Cookbook

Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old