The cable channel Sci Fi bravely aired tonight an "original movie" titled Wyvern.

This creature feature features the following terrifying plot: "When global warming unearths an ancient dragon, a small Alaskan town will be destroyed, unless . . ." You'll have to figure out the rest.

But why call this broadcast brave?

Because it dares to link ancient dragons and global warming, thereby raising in the mind of every school boy and girl a simple question: What's more mythical, ancient dragons or global warming?

I guess they're right about Sci Fi Saturday: "The Most Dangerous Night on Television."

We're looking for an expert in Movable Type to help The Pearcey Report.

For more information, please email us at pearcey@thepearceyreport.com.

A pastor celebrates a man from whom we can still learn much, and whose distinct approach to people, ideas, and methods of ministry continues to challenge the cultural and religious secularism of the day.

Various kinds of machines chew up people today in the name of God, the state, and sometimes even ministry (especially sadly), but Schaeffer's life helps open a door to a better, far more humane alternative. He was born Jan. 30, 1912.

This watercolor titled Banjo Player is by artist Carol Kelly Dorn.

"I hope Obama fails," says Rush Limbaugh of President Barack Obama's goal of bringing more and more aspects of American life under the "hope," "change," and control of a centralized federal government.

In response, Democrats have launched a petition drive calling on Americans to "voice your outrage . . . to Limbaugh's outrageous Obama attack."

But this petition drive may have backfired, as "Rush fans pummel Democrat website."

Somehow or other, these Rush fans may be onto something.

They may realize that "success," like "change," needs to be evaluated before one jumps in with both feet. For one thing, one man's success may be another man's disaster -- or even a nation's disaster.

Meanwhile, in the midst of backfires and outrages, one wonders: Does President Obama hope Rush Limbaugh succeeds?

Udo Middelmann and gang have updated the website of the Francis A. Schaeffer Foundation. 

Below is an announcement (on their website) for Udo's latest book, titled Christianity versus Fatalistic Religions in the War Against Poverty:

Most literature and many aid efforts concerned with poverty relief and development function on mathematical assumptions. Those who have more should share with those who have less, thus creating equality. Some would add a moral component saying that those having more are morally wrong and must have gained their surplus from outright theft or unfair trade. But on the side of the needy, religious and secular efforts see only a material problem. Both neglect the devastating power of bad ideas based in religion and social customs. Yet what anyone believes about the building blocks of life will have results; their ideas are like eye glasses that either distort or bring into focus an objective reality. Development work must focus on developing people's ideas. Cultural change must precede material changes.  

If this book is anything like the lectures Middelmann has been delivering on this topic, this volume is a must read for anyone concerned about people triumphing over poverty.

That includes the current President of the United States.

The bio page of the website features Edith Schaeffer, for those of you who have asked where she is.

When I first met Nancy, she was living with Debby and Udo in their chalet at Swiss L'Abri.

Anyone who cares about an authentic expression of Christian worldview living and thinking should take a very close look at Middelmann's work.

It continues to be a refreshing and Biblical alternative to various religious marketing machines and utilitarian Big Nameism we witness here Stateside.

The Flag of Victimhood is one of the most powerful -- and manipulative -- propaganda tools waved today to win friends, influence people, and destroy opposition.

Ann Coulter refuses to salute.

Somebody at Yahoo! seems to like our headlines.

The latest example of this is found at the bottom of a story titled, "Iran Calls for U.S. to End Support of Israel."

See the section "Most Blogged - World" and click on "blogs about this story (5)."

Here's the headline that caught Yahoo!'s attention: "Iran Leader Demands Change: Says U.S. Must Apologize for Crimes."

That Ahmadinejad can manipulate "change" his way demonstrates how meaningless a linguistic symbol it is without a fixed and definite content rooted in reality.

That kind of rootless "change" can turn hopes and votes into plain old despair. It's happened before in "historic" elections, and it can happen again.

For more on the challenge of "change," see philosopher Angus Menuge on "Regarding Change: Liberals Drink Deeply From Fascist Well."

She can see 2012 from Alaska.

"Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has started a new political action committee," reports WorldNetDaily, "in a move that many are seeing as a precursor to a possible run for president in 2012."

Here's the official welcome at SarahPAC.com.

The Rochester branch of L'Abri Fellowship is holding a conference Feb. 13-14, 2009.

Announced topics include "The Future of Earth: Al Gore or Acts III" (by Wim Rietkerk) and "European Leadership Forum and Christian Heritage" (by Ranald Macaulay).

Here is Rochester L'Abri's welcome page, plus a brochure and registration form for the conference.

Rochester L'Abri is directed by Larry and Nancy Snyder, in whose chalet I lived for several months during my time at Swiss L'Abri.

For more information, call 507-536-0108.

The good news is you are invited to attend an event featuring Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, one of the GOP's most articulate spokesmen.

The not-so-bad news is that the event sponsored by the John Locke Foundation is now sold out.

Good move at American Family Radio.

We're finalizing the brochure for a European Christian worldview tour titled "From Plato to Picasso to You," to be held this summer, June 10-18.

We expect this to be a tremendous time of fellowship, on-site examination of significant venues in Western cultural history, and discussion of the relationship of humane and Biblical living across the whole of thought and life.

There will be much more to share about this "worldview conference on wheels" in the brochure. Meanwhile, here's a preliminary announcement:

You are invited to join worldview scholar and author, Nancy Pearcey, and writer-editor Rick Pearcey for a nine-day excursion through Rome, Florence, and Paris.

You will learn to “decipher” the meaning of the art and cultural artifacts that have shaped the Western mind -- and that continue to influence our lives today.

You will visit the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, the David and the Uffizi, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, and cruise the Seine in the City of Lights.

All of these will be illuminated by lectures and discussions led by the Pearceys. Cost of this 9-day tour is $3,899.

For more information, please call 215-702-4333. Or email Claire Johnson at cjohnson@pbu.edu.

Here is the announcement page for 2009 summer tours available via Philadelphia Biblical University, where Nancy is a professor of worldview studies.

Please stay tuned to Pro-Existence or The Pearcey Report for future updates.

* February 4 Update