"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
In move 15 of their semi-final game, Blo landed an uppercut to Quaid's jaw, and that uppercut landed Quaid down on his back, down for the count.
The victory propelled Blo into the Thinklings Chess Championship Game against yours truly. It ought to be a good game.
For those who may be interested, Blo and I have got history. We've got bad blood between us. We're true chess enemies.
We usually go back-and-forth: Blo whacking me, then me whacking Blo. This time, it's for keeps.
Recent facts regarding me and Blo's chess rivalry:
- Blo just beat Bird viciously, three times in a row, on Yahoo chess two nights ago.
- Blo usually wins games against Bird when he has unlimited thinking time.
- On the other hand, Bird has beaten Blo the past two times they played over the phone, with unlimited thinking time.
- Bird's beaten Blo five times in a row in the past five family tournament championship games dating back to 2003.
This one's going to be brutal!
So, OK, for the championship we got Yanks-Red Sox, in which the rivalry is supposed to make us forget that this has happened a bajillion times before. :)
Hmm . . . maybe we should treat this like a boxing championship and have an undercard. :)