Seattle Seahawks training camp opens!!

Finally, NFL training camps are open. Not that I don't like other sports but Football reigns supreme as far as I'm concerned. I can't stand NBA basketball (March Madness is good though). Baseball is OK when the playoffs come around. I like soccer more and more every year. but... back to the NFL!

The Seahawks are gearing up for another campaign. This year looks to be very interesting and has quite a few side stories. An offense with some question marks, a defense set to dominate, a lame duck head coach, the replacement head coach on staff...

I'll try to hit on a few of those stories throughout the season. Today though, I will highlight some training camp news.

OFFENSE: The biggest news of the offseason was the release of Shaun Alexander (2005 MVP ['06-'07 softy]) and the additions of TJ Duckett and Julius Jones. The Seahawks also drafted F.B. Owen Schmitt from West Virginia, T.E. John Carlson from Notre Dame and H.B. Justin Forsett from California. The Hawks signed LG Mike Wahle from Carolina in an attempt to shore up a suspect offensive line. Perhaps the most important move however, was bringing in Mike Solari as the offensive line coach. Bill Lazor (QB's), Kasey Dunn (RB's) and Mike Debord (Asst. O' line).

All of the rookies were in camp on the first day with the exception of John Carlson. His agent must be playing some real hardball with the Hawks since Seattle is hurting so bad at TE. I sure hope he doesn't miss much camp as the offense will be difficult to learn.

Wide Receiver: Bobby Engram was in camp on the first day much to the relief of everyone. Bobby would like to restructure his contract but decided to honor Mike Holmgren and his contract by not holding out. Overall I'd say that receiver is the biggest question mark. Losing DJ Hackett was big, Branch has been very fragile. Burleson and Engram will probably be the starters on opening day. Don't be surprised to see Seneca Wallace work his way in at receiver or slot every once in a while now that Charlie Frye has a year under his belt with Holmgren.

Running Back: will be fun to watch this year. While I wouldn't expect as dominant a running game as in '05, it will be greatly improved over the last two seasons. Jones and Duckett hit the hole hard, and Morris should be running like someone with something to prove. The big sleepers in my estimation are; O. Schmitt (I hope that's what they put on his jersey) and Forsett. Schmitt is a head banging brawler, I believe him to be very similar to Mike Alstott. And Justin Forsett who is simply a play maker. Wouldn't be surprised to see him returning punts and kickoffs.

Quarter Back: Matt (Isn't his NFL Network commercial great) should be an NFC Pro-bowler again. Frye will probably be competing for the two spot with Wallace.

O Line: Jones is getting long in the tooth and is starting to get beat (3-7 times a year). The addition of Wahle should help improve things (as should some running backs who will hit the hole on their feet instead of curling up and falling down). They won't be great like '05, but they will be better than the last two seasons.

Christian Voter part 2: Abortion

I now come to the seven issues to which there is only 1 legitimate position for a Christian voter. To take the opposite position (through activism, or by placing your vote), would be indicative of a corrupted conscience or a disingenuous spirit of compromising moral truth for the spirit of the age.


Issue #1 Abortion:

What: Abortion - The intentional termination of a pregnancy by direct mechanical means or medicinal means.

Other names: Choice, reproductive choice, womens sexual health, reduction (when there is a pregnancy with multiple babies), emergency contraception, infanticide.


What the Catholic Church officially teaches regarding Abortion:
2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:
You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.

2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae," "by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:
"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death."
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. . . . As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights."


I used here the official teaching of the Catholic Church as defined in the official Catechism. The teaching contained there however is not such that Christians from other ecclesial communities would encounter doctrinal difficulty in embracing it. No Christian can in good conscience support legalized abortion or candidates who; facilitate, embrace, champion, safeguard, or enable legalized abortion.

Politicians who declare that, "I oppose abortion, personally, I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception. But I can't take my religious belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on... [someone] who doesn't share it. We have separation of church and state in the United States of America." are dishonest with themselves and with everyone.

How about if you are an athiest or agnostic politician who opposes abortion?
How about if you are a Muslim politician but your stance against abortion is strictly scientific?
Why isn't a person allowed to use metaphysical philosophy to inform their consience?

Politicians who make statements about "not forcing their religious views..." aren't being truthful. What they really care about is keeping in the good graces of their party and keeping the money rolling in from their special interest groups.

Christian Worship vs Christotaintment

I read this story and found it to be rather silly. One of the things that I remember from my sojourn through various Protestant (Evangelical, Main-Line, Fundamentalist) churches was that they focused on the entertainment aspect of the Sunday worship service. Mostly the "Evangelical" and "Fundamentalist" communities, but also the Main-Line (Protestant Churches more than 100 years old) churches to a lesser degree. Contemporary music is a very important aspect of this entertainment. Often times I even found it to be the focus of the service.

Plays and skits were also frequent tools used during the service. Again the focus was on entertaining the people present, while delivering a message.

I think that these type of low, irreverant forms of church services have led to a general lack of "awe", respect, and "fear of the Lord" in American Christianity. What else could account for a T-Shirt line like this...

Now back to the pastor who wrecked his motorcycle in church and broke his wrist. He was going to use the motorcycle to show how we must become one with Christ. I suppose by showing that when you sit on a motorcyle to ride it, you become part of the bike. Whatever, I see the analogy and I think that it could be an effective, albeit silly, way of explaining we must unite ourselves with Christ.

These innovative ways of conducting a church service become necessary when a community is cut off from the Traditions/traditions of Christ's Church. And when a community is cut of from authentic tradition, it necessarily creates it's own traditions. Christ himself prayed for us to have unity (John 17: 20-26), and he put the structure in place for us to be united. Through the hands of the priest, we receive the great gift of the Eucharist. Through this Eucharist, we are able to be united with Christ, his Church, and each other. As St. Paul said in Ephesians; "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all."

Now, the Catholic Church has it's own problems with innovation of the liturgy

The problem with all of these "Christotainment" versions of worship service is this. It makes man the focus of our worship. It makes man the focus of the liturgy. It makes worship and praise horizontal and not vertical.