In which I make a few statements about Jeff's blog.

I've been wanting to do this for a while, because all of you have no doubt been there, either through mine or Andrew's blog. For those of you who don't know, Jeff is my ex-roommate and 1/2 of my best friend. We are certainly two different people, but very similar in myriad ways. Sometimes frighteningly so. Which is ironic in light of the fact that Jeff actually has a twin brother named Dan. :-)

I'm sure many of you, if not all, react sometimes with uneasiness and perhaps suspicion to his series of posts concerning politics and government. It's difficult not to. My purpose has nothing to do with confirming or discrediting his writings, but to introduce you to the man behind them (1) so you may have an accurate understanding of his character, and therefore (2) you might be less inclined to dismiss his arguments as the ravings of a madman :-). Because I know him and you don't. So to whatever extent you trust my general judgement or opinion (in this case forged by long personal experience and quite unshakable), now you will have it.

Character profile: Jeff Watkins :-)

Jeff would attempt to gainsay this, but he is one of the most authentic people I have ever met, and one of the most sincere, mature Christians. I know what he would say about these statements (diffident disagreement, which of course speaks well of him in itself) but I know him as well or better than anyone - I've been around through his ups and downs, his strengths and weaknesses, as he has through mine - and I would remind him that it is the tenor of a man's life, and not the given moment, that defines him. Jeff's life is defined by honesty, sincerity, a vision of the Kingdom of God and a desire to grow in His grace.

I love Jeff with the love born not only of equality and friendship, but respect, and I hope you will each get to meet him someday because he's just one of those people you will be blessed in knowing.

Now none of this means Jeff is always right. What it does mean is that Jeff is not hasty - he is careful and responsible both as a person and a journalist. Anything Jeff writes about he has thought through critically and quite capably, researched thoroughly, takes seriously, and understands its ramifications (and the criticism it may receive.) If, having done so, he still writes about it, be careful not to dismiss it too easily.

Again, I'm not writing to give my assent or dissent. My opinion on a subject would be rather pointless - you must form your own opinions, as I must mine. But my opinion - my knowledge - of this particular person may give him credence. Based on my knowing Jeff, I would encourage you to seriously consider anything he has to say, however difficult it may be to believe.

Maybe that was overkill, but there it is.

The end.