Adam Wells « POWIP

24May/114

That Was Awkward

Apparently, these billboards have been popping up across the country. I'm generally a fan of clever responses to laughable behavior, and while I give him credit for having the stones to go big or go home, Camping's prediction falls in the laughable behavior category. The sheer hubris required to disregard plainly written scripture while simultaneously performing hermeneutic gymnastics that would make Shawn Johnson dizzy.... Well, let's just say it makes even an 89 year old man fair game for mockery.

I do, however, feel sorry for most of his followers; many of whom may well be too young or naive to remember "1994?" I don't, however, feel sorry for anyone who falls for this business about October 21. There is no excuse this time, and anyone who spends their life savings or racks up stupid amounts of debt (a completely irresponsible thing for a Christian to do in anticipation of dying anyway) will deserve all the mockery I can muster. I've got 5 months to practice on Democrats.

Maybe he and Obama can share a slogan: "I mean it this time."

Adam Wells

Living life at 84 mph and 7000 feet. All I ask is that you don't block traffic, act like a professional, and don't act all surprised when your actions have consequences. Oh, and don't complain about the refs; trust me, they don't care if your team wins or not.

Filed under: Too Lazy to Categorize 4 Comments

23May/112

Coasting

For the past three weeks, I've been essentially coasting, trying to deal with some major changes and uncertainty while, at the same time, trying to ignore them. Neither task has been easy; probably because I'm trying to do both at once. We didn't want this chaos and in some ways it scares the hell out of me. I hate uncertainty, and I don't deal well with the stress, but there's a good chance that all the changes will work out for the best.

I ask that those of you who are so inclined would pray, think, or intend for our strength over this next month or so.

Adam Wells

Filed under: Series of Unfortunate Posts 2 Comments

20May/1117

Attention Deprived Tool Breaks It Down (updated with exit question)

It looks like Dan is going to have a long day of live blogging ahead of him starting tomorrow morning at about 2:00 am (EDT), because Christians will start floating away, time zone by time zone, at that time. Not only has he narrowed the rapture down to the day, but he's got it down to the hour; 6 pm everywhere, time zone by time zone. This is just awesome, because now we here in CO get to watch the rapture happen in Europe and our own east coast before it happens here.

I'll be jumping off my roof at 5:59:59 pm, and praying God has taken daylight savings time into account. He wouldn't forget about that, would He?

Update: Exit question: If he's truly sincere with this belief, exactly how shaken will his faith be when he's wrong?

Adam Wells

Filed under: God Bothering 17 Comments

19May/1112

Best Allegory Ever

I really don't think he meant it this way, but Enoch's post on his son's struggles really works out to be the perfect allegory. The fact that it was written just a day before Obama openly threw Israel under the bus makes it perfectly timed; even prescient.

I do not wish to make light of Enoch's untenable position here. My daughter had her own struggles, and to her credit has steadfastly followed the school's instructions. My son (5), however, doesn't suffer fools easily. He'll need to learn how to simply ignore the morons of this world in order to function, but if he senses a slight from another, his first instinct is to tackle it head on. We've had those notes, phone calls, and meetings, too.

Now, after Saturday, it's apparently likely that y'all won't be hearing much from me. This time, he's got it right, I'm sure of it. So, I suggest you prepare yourselves for the pending chaos. My understanding is shotguns are the weapon of choice for fighting zombies. The weapon of choice for fighting Jews? Obama. Although, given Israel's successful history, you may want to head that way to ride out the pending Zombie Apocalypse.

Just sayin'.

Adam Wells

Filed under: Too Lazy to Categorize 12 Comments

11May/115

Maybe We Could Stop It With Some Death Threats

Some dickhead at LSU decides to steal a flag from a memorial and then burn said flag. The aforementioned dickhead then gets arrested by local police, and a fellow dickhead in arms decides to stage/schedule a flag burning protest. My first thought when reading this was to wonder whether death threats would actually press local officials to cancel the prick permit.

Then I realized the Baton Rouge officials shouldn't be held responsible for the cowardly behavior of local officials in Michigan. Then, I kept reading, and saw what young Mr. Cody Wells is planning in response. Good for him, and I hope he gets the cadets to participate. I hope he's related, but I doubt it.

Adam Wells

Filed under: Too Lazy to Categorize 5 Comments

6May/112

Capitalism at Work in NYC

Alt headline: Why they hate us and I don't care. I have no idea what the profit margin is for an endeavor like this, but even if it's only $1 per shirt, $10,000 in two days is pretty good money where I come from. I assume it's good money even in NYC.

Adam Wells

Filed under: Too Lazy to Categorize 2 Comments

6May/117

The Next World Wonder, or Just Creepy?

Good news for beta males everywhere; the Japanese are going to make it possible for you to make out with that hot Russian babe you met on the interwebs. I'm guessing Allahpundit is calling his concierge personal shopper now.

Adam Wells

Filed under: Too Lazy to Categorize 7 Comments

27Apr/1112

Long Form Birth Certificate

I had always thought "natural born citizen" meant "born a citizen." Whether one was born a citizen because of his parents' citizenship or because of geography, I never thought it mattered. If it does, it shouldn't. The purpose of the requirement was to make sure our presidents all had a stake in the country, so being a citizen from birth should be enough. Frankly, I'm not comfortable with the fact that children of citizens serving overseas in the military could be excluded from eligibility for president because of an accident of geography while an illegal immigrant could hop the fence, have a baby at a Laredo ER, and her child would be eligible.

Personally, I would have expected him to wait until around September, 2012, to make this release. Politically, it worked out in his favor. The only reason I can think of to dump this now is to make Trump look effective. I'm not sure it'll play out that way for Trump, because I think he would have rather had the issue to play with for the next 18 months; but it's all I have. Can anyone else figure out what's in it for POTUS? I don't buy the "distraction" argument coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

That said, I have long thought the "birther" movement the equivalent of basing your retirement plans on winning the lottery. Now that the lottery has been closed, we can move on. As Ed Morrissey says,

Now, maybe we can focus on all the ways Obama is failing as President.

Update: Alternate headline: Trump's Sails Suddenly Windless

Adam Wells

Tagged as: Birthers, Obama 12 Comments

23Apr/111

My Name is Adam, and I’m an A-hole

It's not that I haven't known it for a while, but like all of us I spend a lot of time in denial. I love to think my boorish behavior is justified by something. By some slight, or some wrong perpetrated against me or mine. When I cut someone off on I-25, I like to think he deserved it for cutting me off first or for driving 78 mph in the fast lane when I'm trying to go 84. Who does that, right? Or when i clam up at the restaurant and snap at the staff, it's because they aren't doing their jobs properly. I hate incompetence and unprofessional behavior. That shouldn't be tolerated! Can I get an Amen?

Well, it's been pointed out lately that I'm an asshole. Frankly, I knew that before, and have lately been discovering through the actions of others just how much of an ass I've been in the past. I knew I was one, and have asked the proper people for forgiveness (which has been granted), but watching others struggle and stumble has given me new insight into my own failings of the past.

As a wonderful friend pointed out, though, a very critical part of our life journey is "facing our ass-ness." As she said, it's "essential to 'being crucified with Christ'." That leads me to the weekend.

It's precisely because I'm an asshole that Christ died for me. I needed Him, and He came through for me in a way that only He could. This is the weekend we commemorate His sacrifice. The days are no more "holy" than last week, or last month; but the commemoration is good for my soul. It drives me to reflect on just how much I need His grace on a daily basis; and how I still have a tendency to push Him away so I can indulge my inner asshole.

Adam Wells

Tagged as: Easter Reflections, Forgiveness 1 Comment

23Apr/110

Koran Burning Tool Convicted of Something

After reading the article, I'm still unsure what the conviction was for. Did he actually begin the protest and get arrested for that, or did they arrest him in a pre-emptive strike? No one has claimed that he was going to actually incite violence; only that he was going to be the victim of violence because others would be so incensed with his words (he wasn't even going to be burning the Koran from what I understand).

If his conviction was for unlawful assembly, then I'm less inclined to be upset with it. You can argue with the local police chief's decision, but he has the right to make it. That said, it looks like Jones is going to be returning to Dearborn to protest at the Court House next week; in a way calling the bluff of the local authorities who have stated he can protest there. Was it really the location they were concerned with?

Allahpundit's thoughts seem well reasoned, but based on the premise that he was convicted for intending to commit a crime. I think we're all considerably uncomfortable with the idea that the potential reaction of others to your words can allow law enforcement to punish you for them. I'm even more disturbed by the idea that such potential would allow the government to actually prevent you from speaking.

What happens when a group of Muslims decide that it's "fighting words" for Franklin Graham to declare Jesus is the Messiah? Is that really so unlikely that they'd take that mile now that we're giving them this inch? To be clear, I think Jones is a tool (Fred Phelps Light with a more palatable cause) and is unnecessarily provocative. But it shouldn't be illegal for him to speak his mind, let alone for him to intend to speak his mind.

I have to wonder, how would governments react if a group of Tea Party activists decided that a speech in Austin, TX, suggesting we raise taxes was sufficient provocation to resort to violence. Let's assume they had demonstrated that intent by killing liberals in Canada. Would Austin take the pre-emptive step of silencing the speakers in their jurisdiction to ensure their public safety? Call me skeptical.