Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

View of modern day Bergama, Turkey.

Watch the great Senator Al Franken sprint through the Senate chamber

saw this comedy gold yesterday (Sept 22) late afternoon on CSPAN 2. I almost feel embarassed for the obviously exuberant new Senator. Watch his colleagues as they view this unique event. Is he the President Pro Joker? It almost looks like he's running to tackle Chris Dodd.



One word... Awkward.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4 (NIV)

The ruined Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. A riot ocurred here while Paul was preaching of The Way.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Ephesians 6:14-16 (NIV)

The Temple of Artemis is in the lower right corner, ancient Sardis, modern day Turkey.

Nothing like a mother's protection.

How Missouri Counties vote...

Here I present an analysis of every US Presidential election since 1860, which compares the two parties by Missouri county. It gives a good measure of the political leanings of each county and regions of the state. It also shows that the Show Me State rural counties have grown increasingly red through the years (despite the fact that they vote Democratic for local officials).

Average County Preference 1860 - 2008

The following map gives you an idea of how relatively Republican leaning or Democratic leaning each county has been over the past 148 years. A Republican win was assigned a 1 and a Democratic win was assigned a 2. A mean score was given to each county and is displayed on the legend. A 1.5 would be the ideal "swing" county.

Click here for a larger version of the above map (with counties labeled).

Click here for the text file of the data for this project.

16 Year Cycles 1868 - 2008

The next map displays the trends by county in 16 year increments (4 cycles) from 1868 to 2008. The values are the average percentage/party.

Note the increasing dark red color (strongly Republican) of counties in Missouri. Certainly the dark blue of traditionally strongly Democratic areas (such as the Bootheel/Southeast Ozarks, “Little Dixie”/Northeast Missouri) has lightened. St. Louis City seems to be the only area with has gone the opposite way and is now dark blue.

Click here for a larger version of the above map.

Individual Maps

The following maps present each 16 year cycle in sequential order.

Missouri Presidential Elections from 1860 to 2004

This video displays the results for each election cycle.

"Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
Joshua 22:5

View of the Kestel Reservoir at Bergama as seen from the ancient Acropolis. Note the mediterranean scrub on the hills.

Watermelons watch the Toronto Blue Jays.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-5 (NIV)

View of the Acropolis in Pergamon, modern day Bergama.

It's a battle between the two major parties in Korea. Now this is rough and tumble politics.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

View of the ancient Pergamon amphitheatre.

Does insurance/workers compensation cover accidents involved with "running with the bulls"?

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Luke 12:2-3 (NIV)

View of Bergama looking down from the Pergamon Acropolis.

Angry fan as Real Betis was relegated to the 2nd division.

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:20

View of Bergama from the Acropolis, Bergama is ancient Pergamon.

Ahmadi.. the mental and physical dwarf

Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
Matthew 9:22 (NIV)

View of the Necropolois at Hieropolis, Turkey.

Nothing much, just a bunch of concentric circles in the sky.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NIV)

View of the Necropolis (Cemetery) of Ancient Hieropolis, Turkey.

Freedom to the Iranian People, down with the Dictators!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

View of the Pammukale formation, Turkey.

And so it begins... Freedom is on Fire in Fars.

Blog Link to this site

LINK

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)

View of the calcite formation at Pammukale. It's like an exterior cave. Evidence of the turbulent earth in Turkey (hot springs).

To Celebrate a Lakers Basketball Championship, "fans" steal Basketball shoes, how appropriate.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

View of the landscape surrounding the ruins of Laodacea.

Guys in masks have a presser... loco, no?

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

View of the beautiful grassland landscape surrounding Laodicea, Turkey.

Nice Hejab there Mrs. Clinton - the feminist... hehehe. Like that the man doesn't have to cover his head. Hahahahaha

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

View of an ancient road in Laodicea, Turkey with Mount Honaz in the background.

NBC News Anchor bows down before the President of the United States in an astonishing display of loyalty. Wow... the media isn't biased is it?

See the video HERE

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

View of the amphitheatre ruins at Laodicea, Turkey. It was kind of a lukewarm place to visit, but very beautiful.

Tossing stones in the West bank. What else is new?

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18