Merry Christmas
聖誕快樂
メリークリスマス
Feliz Navidad
Joyeux Noël
عيد ميلاد سعيد
С Рождеством Христовым!
Buon Natale
Feliz Natal
메리 크리스마스
Frohe Weihnachten
Καλά Χριστούγεννα
Vrolijke Kerstmis
I'm sure that there are languages I missed but from the heart I wish you one and all the Merriest of Christmases and joyous tidings of peace on earth and good will to men.
That's all for now. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Hatred
Each and every one of us has had to face hatred at some point in our lives. Its an isidious thing that can be as simple as someone making a snide comment about your choice of clothing, or as blatant as using racial epitaphs and violence. In any case it is not just wrong its evil. The problem is that we've run into in recent years is confusing real hate with politcal disagreements or diferences in philosophical and religious beliefs. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an end in sight for that particular problem. What's most bothersome about it all is that so many problems could be solved if people just talked to one another.
The reason I'm talking about this is because of recent events at a site where I am a frequent poster. Gamepolitics.com is a site that talks about the gaming industry and how it relates to politics.( I mentioned them in an earlier post for those who are interested) A fellow poster there takes every opportunity he can to denigrate religion in general and Christianity in particular; even when religion has nothing to do with the news story in question. He has been asked, repeatedly, to knock it off only to have him turn around and tell us that, those of us who are Christians, are just too ignorant and superstitious to understand him and if we only gave up the things we believe in then we'd see everything his way.
Now don't get me wrong, the guy has every right to his beliefs; and I'd never claim otherwise. He's made his choice and, as a Christian, all I can really do is accept that he's made that choice and pray for him. He accuses Christians of being full of hate and wanting to legislate their faith into being the law of the land. Despite being shown the error of his logic, nope he's right and we're all just too stupid to realize it.
I'll be honest, there are things I disagree with and I'll make it known that I think certain behaviours are right or wrong. That doesn't mean I hate the person doing them, and that doesn't mean that I hate them for thinking differently than me. I actually rather like people most of the time.
My caution to everyone is this. Don't get so caught up in the "us vs. them" mentality that you lose sight of trying to actually solve problems. Remember the first rule of the fanatic: "When you become obsessed with the enemy you become the enemy". You don't have to agree with someone, but at least have the decency to listen to their arguments. Don't berate them for thinking differently than you, you can see where they might be coming from without agreeing with their philosophies. If people were more honest about that kind of thing there would be a lot fewer problems in the world.
That's all for now all. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen
End of line.
The reason I'm talking about this is because of recent events at a site where I am a frequent poster. Gamepolitics.com is a site that talks about the gaming industry and how it relates to politics.( I mentioned them in an earlier post for those who are interested) A fellow poster there takes every opportunity he can to denigrate religion in general and Christianity in particular; even when religion has nothing to do with the news story in question. He has been asked, repeatedly, to knock it off only to have him turn around and tell us that, those of us who are Christians, are just too ignorant and superstitious to understand him and if we only gave up the things we believe in then we'd see everything his way.
Now don't get me wrong, the guy has every right to his beliefs; and I'd never claim otherwise. He's made his choice and, as a Christian, all I can really do is accept that he's made that choice and pray for him. He accuses Christians of being full of hate and wanting to legislate their faith into being the law of the land. Despite being shown the error of his logic, nope he's right and we're all just too stupid to realize it.
I'll be honest, there are things I disagree with and I'll make it known that I think certain behaviours are right or wrong. That doesn't mean I hate the person doing them, and that doesn't mean that I hate them for thinking differently than me. I actually rather like people most of the time.
My caution to everyone is this. Don't get so caught up in the "us vs. them" mentality that you lose sight of trying to actually solve problems. Remember the first rule of the fanatic: "When you become obsessed with the enemy you become the enemy". You don't have to agree with someone, but at least have the decency to listen to their arguments. Don't berate them for thinking differently than you, you can see where they might be coming from without agreeing with their philosophies. If people were more honest about that kind of thing there would be a lot fewer problems in the world.
That's all for now all. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen
End of line.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tom Smith
I'd like to talk about something different today. I've gotten a little heavy and deep recently so here's something a little lighter if only to lift some spirits.
Several years ago one of my very best friends, and brother in every way that matters, introduced me to the music of Tom Smith. He played Tom's "Debasement Tapes", and I think "And They Say I've Got Talent" on our way to my first Origins. I became a fan that very day. I hadn't heard much from him in a long time and I had figured that he'd either simplly stopped recording or life had just gotten in the way. Then I found his web page www.tomsmithonline.com , to say the least I was thrilled. It was then I remebered that he had been referenced in the webcomic Something Positive by R.K. Milholland, of which I am a regular reader by the way.
I had wanted to pick up more of Tom's cds but just never had the money. Then I attended the 2007 Gen Con in Indianapolis, IN. I was walking through the dealer hall when I happened upon a musicians alley. There at a booth was Tom Smith. He was friendly, congenial, smiling and seemed to be having a great time. It was also here that I bought a copy of every cd he had with the exception of "Debasement Tapes" and "Plugged". Of the cds I bought that day his Marcon 2005 live cd is my favorite.
In Tom's music I find all the passion, and genuine love of music that is present in many of the old school (and by this I mean Hank Williams Sr, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash) artists of country and folk music. I found a musical home in Tom's music, if I may wax the poetic. To be sure there are modern cds that I like, but I always come back to Tom's music because its so enjoyable to listen to. You can feel the joy coming off of the music as he sings the playful song and you can feel the loss and sense of mourning in songs like "A Boy and His Frog". Actually, listening to that particular song it almost feels like the kind of thing that Jim Henson would have written himself. I can't really think of higher praise than that.
I want to take this moment to say thank you to Tom Smith for his music. Thank you for the songs and thank you for the laughs. Thank you for the tears and thank you for the memories that spring up when I listen to your music. My mother and I would watch old Peter Lorre movies, and The Muppet Show, and many other things together. Many of your songs referance these and I remember those times through the songs.
Hearing Tom's music, to me anyway, is like a visit from an old friend. So thank you again Tom for the music and thank you for sharing it with us. You've got the love of the people, and to my mind, that's one of the best things possible.
That's all for now. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
Several years ago one of my very best friends, and brother in every way that matters, introduced me to the music of Tom Smith. He played Tom's "Debasement Tapes", and I think "And They Say I've Got Talent" on our way to my first Origins. I became a fan that very day. I hadn't heard much from him in a long time and I had figured that he'd either simplly stopped recording or life had just gotten in the way. Then I found his web page www.tomsmithonline.com , to say the least I was thrilled. It was then I remebered that he had been referenced in the webcomic Something Positive by R.K. Milholland, of which I am a regular reader by the way.
I had wanted to pick up more of Tom's cds but just never had the money. Then I attended the 2007 Gen Con in Indianapolis, IN. I was walking through the dealer hall when I happened upon a musicians alley. There at a booth was Tom Smith. He was friendly, congenial, smiling and seemed to be having a great time. It was also here that I bought a copy of every cd he had with the exception of "Debasement Tapes" and "Plugged". Of the cds I bought that day his Marcon 2005 live cd is my favorite.
In Tom's music I find all the passion, and genuine love of music that is present in many of the old school (and by this I mean Hank Williams Sr, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash) artists of country and folk music. I found a musical home in Tom's music, if I may wax the poetic. To be sure there are modern cds that I like, but I always come back to Tom's music because its so enjoyable to listen to. You can feel the joy coming off of the music as he sings the playful song and you can feel the loss and sense of mourning in songs like "A Boy and His Frog". Actually, listening to that particular song it almost feels like the kind of thing that Jim Henson would have written himself. I can't really think of higher praise than that.
I want to take this moment to say thank you to Tom Smith for his music. Thank you for the songs and thank you for the laughs. Thank you for the tears and thank you for the memories that spring up when I listen to your music. My mother and I would watch old Peter Lorre movies, and The Muppet Show, and many other things together. Many of your songs referance these and I remember those times through the songs.
Hearing Tom's music, to me anyway, is like a visit from an old friend. So thank you again Tom for the music and thank you for sharing it with us. You've got the love of the people, and to my mind, that's one of the best things possible.
That's all for now. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Takingf a Stand
I'd like to take this moment to talk about a few things. Its likely to be a hot one today so be forewarned.
I am disgusted with the current administration. There was a point where the United States could claim the moral high ground. There was a time when we could stand proud in that fact and have confidence that there were some things we'd never do because they were wrong. Yet more and more it seems like we've left that morality behind us in the name of expediency and trying to do "the smart thing". The moral thing has become an inconvience to getting what the government says we need.
Looking back its easy to see where they've been able to justify some of this. We've slowly experienced a softening of our language to make certain terms less offensive or to gloss over the facts. I blame the media and the PC police for much of this nonsense. I blame Bill Clinton and his demand to know the definition of "is" during his depostion in a perjury defense. I blame us, as a society, for not stopping it when we could.
We have to take a stand on this. We have to demand the cessation of waterboarding as a means of "intense interrogation". We must demand that our leaders and abide by the rule of law. Whether or not our enemies do so is irrelevant. It is the right and morally correct thing to do.
As a Christian citizen and a conservative I DEMAND that the republican party denounce this practice for the barbaric and inhumane thing that it is. I encourage my fellow citizens on both sides of the political aisle to start writing emails and letters to our representatives and demand that this stop. We are a nation of laws and a nation of morals waterboarding violates both of these.
Our nation is built upon the idea that all mean are created equal and endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must stand together as a nation and let it be known that we cannot and will not abide the travesties that have been commited in the name of "gathering information" any longer.
Ask ALL the current candidates the tough questions. Ask them if they will abide by the rule of law. Ask them if they will cease the unlawful and immoral act of waterboarding. Ask they if they will abide by the constituion in all things.
It might not be the "smart thing" to do; but it is the moral thing to do, and that's more important than anything else. It is by no means easy, but doing the moral thing never is.
That's all for now. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
I am disgusted with the current administration. There was a point where the United States could claim the moral high ground. There was a time when we could stand proud in that fact and have confidence that there were some things we'd never do because they were wrong. Yet more and more it seems like we've left that morality behind us in the name of expediency and trying to do "the smart thing". The moral thing has become an inconvience to getting what the government says we need.
Looking back its easy to see where they've been able to justify some of this. We've slowly experienced a softening of our language to make certain terms less offensive or to gloss over the facts. I blame the media and the PC police for much of this nonsense. I blame Bill Clinton and his demand to know the definition of "is" during his depostion in a perjury defense. I blame us, as a society, for not stopping it when we could.
We have to take a stand on this. We have to demand the cessation of waterboarding as a means of "intense interrogation". We must demand that our leaders and abide by the rule of law. Whether or not our enemies do so is irrelevant. It is the right and morally correct thing to do.
As a Christian citizen and a conservative I DEMAND that the republican party denounce this practice for the barbaric and inhumane thing that it is. I encourage my fellow citizens on both sides of the political aisle to start writing emails and letters to our representatives and demand that this stop. We are a nation of laws and a nation of morals waterboarding violates both of these.
Our nation is built upon the idea that all mean are created equal and endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must stand together as a nation and let it be known that we cannot and will not abide the travesties that have been commited in the name of "gathering information" any longer.
Ask ALL the current candidates the tough questions. Ask them if they will abide by the rule of law. Ask them if they will cease the unlawful and immoral act of waterboarding. Ask they if they will abide by the constituion in all things.
It might not be the "smart thing" to do; but it is the moral thing to do, and that's more important than anything else. It is by no means easy, but doing the moral thing never is.
That's all for now. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Tragedy
There are tragic times in life. I think we can all agree on that point. Bad things happen and hit us in the heart, it makes us angry, depressed and sometimes it makes us feel like ending it all. Sorrow is a natural part of life, its a part of what makes us human. The ability to feel emotional pain is part of what makes us appreciate the good times in life.
As a Christian, this holds especially true to me. God never promised us an easy life. never said that there wouldn't be hard times while we were alive. I accept that, and most times I readily embrace it. Over the years I've developed a personal philosophy on the matter that goes a little something like this. "There are storms in life, this we cannot avoid. What matters isn't the storm you face, but how you face it. You can either stand up and look straight into the eye of the storm saying I am a child of the Living God, bring it; or you can crumple into a ball and just hope to survive." Lately it seems like there's just been one storm after another, after another in succession; and it is hard to maintain the faith that's seen me through so much.
From being bullied and emotionally abused for my entire time in school, to the trouble I've always had finding and holding a job, to my current situation of trying to get medical assistance to help pay for a hospital stay from earlier this year. I've come through them all, by the grace of God, and become the person I am. I wouldn't change any of it, because I wouldn't be who I am without those things that happened.
I mention all this because my sister was pregnant with her second child recently. She lost the child, and that's what it was, a child. (Don't go there in trying to say anything about that.) In some ways this storm is harder for me because its not me that's facing it. As much as my sister and I don't get along I've always had her back. This is something that I can't really help with and I hate it, but its a storm of life so I can either face it as above or I can retreat.
If you take nothing else away from this post take this. God loves us. He doesn't allow these things to happen in order to cause us harm. We have to trust that God, our Abbah Father, knows what's going on and that there are reasons for them that we are unaware. Its hard sometimes, and its never truly easy; but it is what it is.
That's all for now all. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
As a Christian, this holds especially true to me. God never promised us an easy life. never said that there wouldn't be hard times while we were alive. I accept that, and most times I readily embrace it. Over the years I've developed a personal philosophy on the matter that goes a little something like this. "There are storms in life, this we cannot avoid. What matters isn't the storm you face, but how you face it. You can either stand up and look straight into the eye of the storm saying I am a child of the Living God, bring it; or you can crumple into a ball and just hope to survive." Lately it seems like there's just been one storm after another, after another in succession; and it is hard to maintain the faith that's seen me through so much.
From being bullied and emotionally abused for my entire time in school, to the trouble I've always had finding and holding a job, to my current situation of trying to get medical assistance to help pay for a hospital stay from earlier this year. I've come through them all, by the grace of God, and become the person I am. I wouldn't change any of it, because I wouldn't be who I am without those things that happened.
I mention all this because my sister was pregnant with her second child recently. She lost the child, and that's what it was, a child. (Don't go there in trying to say anything about that.) In some ways this storm is harder for me because its not me that's facing it. As much as my sister and I don't get along I've always had her back. This is something that I can't really help with and I hate it, but its a storm of life so I can either face it as above or I can retreat.
If you take nothing else away from this post take this. God loves us. He doesn't allow these things to happen in order to cause us harm. We have to trust that God, our Abbah Father, knows what's going on and that there are reasons for them that we are unaware. Its hard sometimes, and its never truly easy; but it is what it is.
That's all for now all. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Testing the Teaching
Well I haven't written anything in a bit but given some recent events in my life I believe that it's time that I share some of my religious views. What I'm about to say may offend but I'm not going to apologize for that. I wouldn't be honest if I did,and if there's one thing I cherish it's honesty and integrity.
I'd been posting on a certain message boad claiming to be Christian in its content and belief system. I hadn't really paid much attention to some things as I didn't really post there all that often. Well I finally started doing some digging and I was pretty appauled at what I saw. For example they teach that there is no rapture of church and no seven year tribulation period. The second part of that is expressly false if you have any knowledge of the book of Revelation. As to the first, well there are people with differing beliefs and for the most part I can let things go, well at least if what they're saying can even remotely be backed up. Another example is there adherence to the "dead bloodline" belief that states Eve had a child by Satan (btw this claim cannot be backed up by scripture, despite their claims to the contrary).
I tired to call them on this, only to be rebuffed and to have my posts summarily deleted. Their claim was that I could not provide scripture to back up what I was saying. The problem with that argument is that I did in fact refer to scripture, I just didn't quote it. I knew that doing so would be useless because I know the type of people that they are. Any interpretation other than their own would be labeled false because their minds are already made up.
Now I'd to leave you, my honored readers and friends, with some advice that I've learned over the years concerning scripture and teachings based on scripture. Let me preface this with telling you all that I am a literalist when it comes to the Bible. I believe it to be the inerrant, infallible, perfect Word of the Living God.
1. If someone uses one sentance out of a chapter and tries to tell you what it means, stop them and ask for the context. Better yet go to that chapter yourself and read it in its entirety. If what the teacher/preacher/pastor is telling you doesn't line up with what's being said then the teaching is wrong.
2. If someone tries to tell you have to be enlightened to understand the deeper mysteries of the Bible, walk away. While its true that God will, at times, open someone's eyes to something they might not have noticed; it is not in His nature to hide things in the way that intelectuals seem to think He does.
3. If something doesn't seem right about what you're being told. Stop the person and ask questions. If their response is to tell you to just listen to them, walk away. A good indication of a false teaching is the unwillingness to be asked probative questions about it. Chances are that if you're having that feeling then its the Holy Spirit letting you know that something's up.
4. Remember that logic and faith are not anathema to each other. Deductive reasoning can help you see through a lie to the truth. For example if a teaching says one thing, and you know that logically it doesn't follow the nature of God call them on it.
5. Be wary of phony discussion. If someone asks a question and you answer it in a reasonable manner, explaining your meaning as you do and they return with three iterations of the same question, walk away. They've shown that they have no desire to hear and are only trying to goad you into saying something in anger so they can say "see this person isn't a Christian". Its manipulative and its deception, these things are not of God.
6. Anyone telling you that they and only they have the correct interpretation of scripture and is unwilling to tell you how they were able to reach that conclusion is a false teacher. They don't want those things asked and they don't desire reason. These are the people who demand blind and unthinking obedience. They ignore that Christ said "come now and let us reason together".
Knowing all this if people persist in attacking you then they've made it clear that they don't want you there. (I was actually told to stop posting at this particular board). With that knowledge you should do what the Bible teaches about moments like that, don't let the dust settle on the soles of your feet. Wish them well and tell them you'll pray for them; but don't stick around to be trapped in a never ending cycle of foolish arguments.
That's all for now all. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line
I'd been posting on a certain message boad claiming to be Christian in its content and belief system. I hadn't really paid much attention to some things as I didn't really post there all that often. Well I finally started doing some digging and I was pretty appauled at what I saw. For example they teach that there is no rapture of church and no seven year tribulation period. The second part of that is expressly false if you have any knowledge of the book of Revelation. As to the first, well there are people with differing beliefs and for the most part I can let things go, well at least if what they're saying can even remotely be backed up. Another example is there adherence to the "dead bloodline" belief that states Eve had a child by Satan (btw this claim cannot be backed up by scripture, despite their claims to the contrary).
I tired to call them on this, only to be rebuffed and to have my posts summarily deleted. Their claim was that I could not provide scripture to back up what I was saying. The problem with that argument is that I did in fact refer to scripture, I just didn't quote it. I knew that doing so would be useless because I know the type of people that they are. Any interpretation other than their own would be labeled false because their minds are already made up.
Now I'd to leave you, my honored readers and friends, with some advice that I've learned over the years concerning scripture and teachings based on scripture. Let me preface this with telling you all that I am a literalist when it comes to the Bible. I believe it to be the inerrant, infallible, perfect Word of the Living God.
1. If someone uses one sentance out of a chapter and tries to tell you what it means, stop them and ask for the context. Better yet go to that chapter yourself and read it in its entirety. If what the teacher/preacher/pastor is telling you doesn't line up with what's being said then the teaching is wrong.
2. If someone tries to tell you have to be enlightened to understand the deeper mysteries of the Bible, walk away. While its true that God will, at times, open someone's eyes to something they might not have noticed; it is not in His nature to hide things in the way that intelectuals seem to think He does.
3. If something doesn't seem right about what you're being told. Stop the person and ask questions. If their response is to tell you to just listen to them, walk away. A good indication of a false teaching is the unwillingness to be asked probative questions about it. Chances are that if you're having that feeling then its the Holy Spirit letting you know that something's up.
4. Remember that logic and faith are not anathema to each other. Deductive reasoning can help you see through a lie to the truth. For example if a teaching says one thing, and you know that logically it doesn't follow the nature of God call them on it.
5. Be wary of phony discussion. If someone asks a question and you answer it in a reasonable manner, explaining your meaning as you do and they return with three iterations of the same question, walk away. They've shown that they have no desire to hear and are only trying to goad you into saying something in anger so they can say "see this person isn't a Christian". Its manipulative and its deception, these things are not of God.
6. Anyone telling you that they and only they have the correct interpretation of scripture and is unwilling to tell you how they were able to reach that conclusion is a false teacher. They don't want those things asked and they don't desire reason. These are the people who demand blind and unthinking obedience. They ignore that Christ said "come now and let us reason together".
Knowing all this if people persist in attacking you then they've made it clear that they don't want you there. (I was actually told to stop posting at this particular board). With that knowledge you should do what the Bible teaches about moments like that, don't let the dust settle on the soles of your feet. Wish them well and tell them you'll pray for them; but don't stick around to be trapped in a never ending cycle of foolish arguments.
That's all for now all. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you, may He make His Face to shine upon you. Amen and amen.
End of line
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