tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39098904681958847932024-03-13T00:27:33.185-07:00Contrasting LightAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-57046596579855637442012-09-26T10:18:00.001-07:002012-09-26T10:18:46.383-07:00The U.S. American Foundations<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wmYghez4y8Y?fs=1" width="459"></iframe><br />
This is an important video, whether you agree or not, this presents the worldview of one side of the political and social debate.<br />
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The foundation of this worldview is established on the premise that first: everything is laid on Faith; second: Morality; third: on and from these two comes and is established Law; forth: on and from these is build Education.<br />
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Debate as you like, but realize that you are debating with and from your own worldview.<br />
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Truth will prevail because truth does not come from debating, but rather the act of debating is to help the hearers better understand the issue and come to the truth.<br />
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Remember, Truth is not an object or a belief, Truth is a person.
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"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, <u><span style="background-color: orange;">I am</span> the way, <span style="background-color: orange;">the truth</span>, and the life:</u> <u>no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.</u> If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." The Gospel According to John; chapter 14 verses 1-7.</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-51229571415620801612012-09-05T15:09:00.002-07:002012-09-05T15:19:12.158-07:00If They Didn't Believe, Why Publish This Legal Ordinance?We need to be reminded of what the people of the United States called the fundamental foundations before our day of enlightenment (confusion -Editor) and understanding (ignorance -Editor).<br />
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Here for your reading and consideration is the text of the Northwest Ordinance courtesy of <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/nworder.asp" target="_blank">Yale Law</a> School.<br />
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<b>Pay special attention to Articles 1-3.</b><br />
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<i>An Ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the River Ohio.</i></h4>
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<b>Section 1.</b> <i>Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled</i>, That the said territory, for the purposes of temporary government, be one district, subject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstances may, in the opinion of Congress, make it expedient.</div>
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<b>Sec 2.</b> <i>Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid</i>, That the estates, both of resident and nonresident proprietors in the said territory, dying intestate, shall descent to, and be distributed among their children, and the descendants of a deceased child, in equal parts; the descendants of a deceased child or grandchild to take the share of their deceased parent in equal parts among them: And where there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to the next of kin in equal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts among them, their deceased parents' share; and there shall in no case be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood; saving, in all cases, to the widow of the intestate her third part of the real estate for life, and one third part of the personal estate; and this law relative to descents and dower, shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the governor and judges shall adopt laws as hereinafter mentioned, estates in the said territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sealed by him or her in whom the estate may be (being of full age), and attested by three witnesses; and real estates may be conveyed by lease and release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed and delivered by the person being of full age, in whom the estate may be, and attested by two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, and such conveyances be acknowledged, or the execution thereof duly proved, and be recorded within one year after proper magistrates, courts, and registers shall be appointed for that purpose; and personal property may be transferred by delivery; saving, however to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, St. Vincents and the neighboring villages who have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them, relative to the descent and conveyance, of property.</div>
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<b>Sec. 3.</b> <i>Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid</i>, That there shall be appointed from time to time by Congress, a governor, whose commission shall continue in force for the term of three years, unless sooner revoked by Congress; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein in 1,000 acres of land, while in the exercise of his office.</div>
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<b>Sec. 4.</b> There shall be appointed from time to time by Congress, a secretary, whose commission shall continue in force for four years unless sooner revoked; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein in 500 acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. It shall be his duty to keep and preserve the acts and laws passed by the legislature, and the public records of the district, and the proceedings of the governor in his executive department, and transmit authentic copies of such acts and proceedings, every six months, to the Secretary of Congress: There shall also be appointed a court to consist of three judges, any two of whom to form a court, who shall have a common law jurisdiction, and reside in the district, and have each therein a freehold estate in 500 acres of land while in the exercise of their offices; and their commissions shall continue in force during good behavior.</div>
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<b>Sec. 5. </b>The governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal and civil, as may be necessary and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to time: which laws shall be in force in the district until the organization of the General Assembly therein, unless disapproved of by Congress; but afterwards the Legislature shall have authority to alter them as they shall think fit.</div>
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<b>Sec. 6.</b> The governor, for the time being, shall be commander in chief of the militia, appoint and commission all officers in the same below the rank of general officers; all general officers shall be appointed and commissioned by Congress.</div>
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<b>Sec. 7.</b> Previous to the organization of the general assembly, the governor shall appoint such magistrates and other civil officers in each county or township, as he shall find necessary for the preservation of the peace and good order in the same: After the general assembly shall be organized, the powers and duties of the magistrates and other civil officers shall be regulated and defined by the said assembly; but all magistrates and other civil officers not herein otherwise directed, shall during the continuance of this temporary government, be appointed by the governor.</div>
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<b>Sec. 8.</b> For the prevention of crimes and injuries, the laws to be adopted or made shall have force in all parts of the district, and for the execution of process, criminal and civil, the governor shall make proper divisions thereof; and he shall proceed from time to time as circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the district in which the Indian titles shall have been extinguished, into counties and townships, subject, however, to such alterations as may thereafter be made by the legislature.</div>
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<b>Sec. 9.</b> So soon as there shall be five thousand free male inhabitants of full age in the district, upon giving proof thereof to the governor, they shall receive authority, with time and place, to elect a representative from their counties or townships to represent them in the general assembly: Provided, That, for every five hundred free male inhabitants, there shall be one representative, and so on progressively with the number of free male inhabitants shall the right of representation increase, until the number of representatives shall amount to twenty five; after which, the number and proportion of representatives shall be regulated by the legislature: Provided, That no person be eligible or qualified to act as a representative unless he shall have been a citizen of one of the United States three years, and be a resident in the district, or unless he shall have resided in the district three years; and, in either case, shall likewise hold in his own right, in fee simple, two hundred acres of land within the same; Provided, also, That a freehold in fifty acres of land in the district, having been a citizen of one of the states, and being resident in the district, or the like freehold and two years residence in the district, shall be necessary to qualify a man as an elector of a representative.</div>
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<b>Sec. 10.</b> The representatives thus elected, shall serve for the term of two years; and, in case of the death of a representative, or removal from office, the governor shall issue a writ to the county or township for which he was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for the residue of the term.</div>
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<i>Sec. 11.</i> The general assembly or legislature shall consist of the governor, legislative council, and a house of representatives. The Legislative Council shall consist of five members, to continue in office five years, unless sooner removed by Congress; any three of whom to be a quorum: and the members of the Council shall be nominated and appointed in the following manner, to wit: As soon as representatives shall be elected, the Governor shall appoint a time and place for them to meet together; and, when met, they shall nominate ten persons, residents in the district, and each possessed of a freehold in five hundred acres of land, and return their names to Congress; five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as aforesaid; and, whenever a vacancy shall happen in the council, by death or removal from office, the house of representatives shall nominate two persons, qualified as aforesaid, for each vacancy, and return their names to Congress; one of whom congress shall appoint and commission for the residue of the term. And every five years, four months at least before the expiration of the time of service of the members of council, the said house shall nominate ten persons, qualified as aforesaid, and return their names to Congress; five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as members of the council five years, unless sooner removed. And the governor, legislative council, and house of representatives, shall have authority to make laws in all cases, for the good government of the district, not repugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance established and declared. And all bills, having passed by a majority in the house, and by a majority in the council, shall be referred to the governor for his assent; but no bill, or legislative act whatever, shall be of any force without his assent. The governor shall have power to convene, prorogue, and dissolve the general assembly, when, in his opinion, it shall be expedient.</div>
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<b>Sec. 12.</b> The governor, judges, legislative council, secretary, and such other officers as Congress shall appoint in the district, shall take an oath or affirmation of fidelity and of office; the governor before the president of congress, and all other officers before the Governor. As soon as a legislature shall be formed in the district, the council and house assembled in one room, shall have authority, by joint ballot, to elect a delegate to Congress, who shall have a seat in Congress, with a right of debating but not voting during this temporary government.</div>
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<b>Sec. 13.</b> And, for extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected; to fix and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions, and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory: to provide also for the establishment of States, and permanent government therein, and for their admission to a share in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as early periods as may be consistent with the general interest:</div>
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<b>Sec. 14.</b> It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact between the original States and the people and States in the said territory and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit:</div>
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<b>Art. 1.</b> No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.</div>
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<b>Art. 2.</b> The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of <i>habeas corpus</i>, and of the trial by jury; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature; and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offenses, where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate; and no cruel or unusual punishments shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; and, should the public exigencies make it necessary, for the common preservation, to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And, in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the said territory, that shall, in any manner whatever, interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, <i>bona fide</i>, and without fraud, previously formed.</div>
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<b>Art. 3.</b> Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.</div>
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<b>Art. 4.</b> The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein, shall forever remain a part of this Confederacy of the United States of America, subject to the <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/artconf.asp" style="color: #c2791d;">Articles of Confederation</a>, and to such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made; and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled, conformable thereto. The inhabitants and settlers in the said territory shall be subject to pay a part of the federal debts contracted or to be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government, to be apportioned on them by Congress according to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall be made on the other States; and the taxes for paying their proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the district or districts, or new States, as in the original States, within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled. The legislatures of those districts or new States, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the <i>bona fide</i> purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States; and, in no case, shall nonresident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other States that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor.</div>
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<b>Art. 5.</b> There shall be formed in the said territory, not less than three nor more than five States; and the boundaries of the States, as soon as Virginia shall alter her act of cession, and consent to the same, shall become fixed and established as follows, to wit: The western State in the said territory, shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio, and Wabash Rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post Vincents, due North, to the territorial line between the United States and Canada; and, by the said territorial line, to the Lake of the Woods and Mississippi. The middle State shall be bounded by the said direct line, the Wabash from Post Vincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio, by a direct line, drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami, to the said territorial line, and by the said territorial line. The eastern State shall be bounded by the last mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the said territorial line: <i>Provided, however</i>, and it is further understood and declared, that the boundaries of these three States shall be subject so far to be altered, that, if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have authority to form one or two States in that part of the said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. And, whenever any of the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever, and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State government: <i>Provided</i>, the constitution and government so to be formed, shall be republican, and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles; and, so far as it can be consistent with the general interest of the confederacy, such admission shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less number of free inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand.</div>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3909890468195884793" name="slave" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"></a><br />
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<b>Art. 6.</b> There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: <i>Provided, always</i>, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.</div>
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<i>Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid</i>, That the resolutions of the 23rd of April, 1784, relative to the subject of this ordinance, be, and the same are hereby repealed and declared null and void.</div>
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Done by the United States, in Congress assembled, the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of their soveriegnty and independence the twelfth.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-35842490656855710072012-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:002012-08-29T14:22:02.751-07:00"You didn't (verb here) that!"It is rather offensive when an individual is told that their blood, sweat and tears meant nothing to build a business, house or worthy successful effort. In fact I find it rather hypocritical that Mr. Obama say this to the American people and then later turn right around and claim for himself the success of saving the automobile industry.<br />
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Excuse me? Mr. Obama didn't <a href="http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/01/auto_industry_recovery_a_badge.html" target="_blank">save the automobile industry</a>, even by his own standard! The money spent to save the automobile industry was collect from the People in taxes. The President didn't save the auto industry. We the tax-payers did!<br />
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Here is a video segment of Mr. Obama's "You didn't build that" speech.<br />
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AP repo<span style="background-color: white;">rts,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">"The American auto industry was on the verge of collapse. And some politicians were willing to let it just die. We said no," Obama told college students last week in Ann Arbor, Mich. "We believe in the workers of this state."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">"We"? It was the decision of one person. I want CEO's held responsible financially if they are going to rely on government funding rather than using my collected income tax to support an unsustainable corporation.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Now the AP states that Mr. Obama is wearing this decision as a "badge" in this election cycle. This "we" seems rather shallow and self-serving.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 20px;">Yeah, I 'm ready for change; back to Liberty away from Socialism and only Forward if we first turn 180 degrees from our current path leading to Communism and humble ourselves before the Almighty God and Creator of the Universe.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-44524274979271732482012-08-22T12:28:00.001-07:002012-08-22T12:28:17.533-07:00WallBuilders - Historical Writings - Should Christians - Or Ministers - Run For Office?<a href="http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=77">WallBuilders - Historical Writings - Should Christians - Or Ministers - Run For Office?</a><br />
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A fascinating and history document written in rebuttal to the first Constitution of the state of Georgia regarding the prohibition of ministers (or clergy) from involvement in the Georgia state legislature. Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon a very astute and certainly involved member of the crafting sessions of the Declaration of Independence and signer of it, he had a practical and well rounded perspective on the reason that perhaps a clergyman should not be involved, and yet he in this sarcastic reply to Georgia's constitutional resolution, strongly disagrees.<br />
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Please read the article in link above.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-82237500853375416602012-08-08T14:45:00.001-07:002012-08-08T14:45:22.604-07:00Antagonism or simply hatred?<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes the post title includes sarcasm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Allow me to illustrate my point with some more humor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are a lot of words that people use. Sometimes within the context they speak you can hear that they improperly used a word, while at other times one cannot be certain but only suspicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mandy Patinkan who played the part of Inigo Montoya in the movie "The Princess Bride", makes a point of telling the Sicilian "Vizzini" played by Wallace Shawn "You keep using that word! I do not think it means what you think it means."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We improperly use words partly in ignorance and also in part because of a massive push from influential people with great publicity capability to create a kind of public opinion. Now I say "create" carefully, because in the truth of reality, public opinion cannot be "created" with the consent of each individual who as a whole make-up "the people". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confused? So am I. Let's break it down to the basics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In general terms: Mr. X. is the Public Relations officer in an organization whose purpose is to "protect the civil liberties" of Special Interest Group (SIG) "A". SIG "A" holds a belief that their civil liberties include the freedom to manage the finances of people whom they deem financially incompetent. So SIG "A" works to gain the trust of these individuals and persuade them to sign Financial Power of Attorney over to SIG "A" and SIG"A" promises to provide for their "needs" providing certain acceptable requirements are met by the individual (community housing, dining, utilities and sanitary facilities, etc).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now that SIG "A" has gained some trust and "protected community" residents; SIG "A" decides to change what they see as the "needs" of the "protected community" residents. This is where Mr. X. must earn his pay by putting together a well articulated statement for why SIG "A" has changed the list of "needs" for which they will provide. So Mr. X's statement is going to say in basic terms that "Provisions 'b' and 'c' are not seen as 'needs' because of set of facts 'd'."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, if you caught this change from "needs" to "provisions", this is part of what I am addressing. The other part of my addressed issue is the changing meaning of words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The word "cool" before the 1960's was used only in reference to temperature.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now as to the post title, "Antagonism" means</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"an·tag·o·nism/anˈtagəˌnizəm/</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Noun:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Active hostility or opposition.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inhibition of or interference with the action of a substance or organism by another."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So the sarcasm of the title is this: if someone is being antagonistic does not mean they hate something about the person to whom they are antagonistic. However, it could be argued that to hate someone or something about them would be antagonistic. So you see, it is the way that the title is composed that causes the sarcasm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This understanding requires an understanding of the meaning of words. Let's learn more about what we hear and especially the meaning of the words we use!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Ps-37-12" id="en-KJV-14463">The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.</span></div>
</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-62745469489890128262012-08-01T12:10:00.001-07:002012-08-01T12:10:55.557-07:00Insane, Immoral or Incompetent - Part 2<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our decline as a people; is not simply the issue that we do not think about the affects of our actions on others. The root to this sinister plant is "we want to". Again: I will say this in a direct and personal way, "I want to".</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Where do wars and fights come from between you and another? Don't they come from your own un-bridled desires?" (Personal paraphrase by the author from the book of James, section 4 verse 1.)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?"</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not all desires are wrong. Desires that are uncontrolled may not be wrong either, but the fact that they are not controlled is wrong. We can talk about control, but let "control" go to the sides for the moment and finish this discussion of "desires". Like I said, not all desires are wrong:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:3 & 4</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to this passage, "the Lord" gives your heart desires. However, before passing the blame off on God for every desire I have I should consider the rest of the statement: "Delight[ing] ...in the Lord". I cannot find in this passage evidence that Delighting in the Lord could end with God giving me a desire to do damage to myself or others. For instance another quote from the book of James:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:</span><span class="text Jas-1-14" id="en-KJV-30281" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.</span><span class="text Jas-1-15" id="en-KJV-30282" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.</span><span class="text Jas-1-16" id="en-KJV-30283" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Do not err, my beloved brethren.</span><span class="text Jas-1-17" id="en-KJV-30284" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.</span><span class="text Jas-1-18" id="en-KJV-30285" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.</span><span class="text Jas-1-19" id="en-KJV-30286" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:</span><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white;">For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."</span></span></blockquote>
So if I give my will over to view pornography, I have made a choice based on my desire to watch it. This is not a desire under control or a desire from God. I will finish out with one last quote from the book of James, 3rd section verses 13 through 18:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.</span><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.</span><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><u>This wisdom descendeth not from</u> <u>above</u>, but is <u>earthly</u>, <u>sensual</u>, <u>devilish</u>.</span><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.</span><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.</span><sup class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."</span></span></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-60146858490534701192012-07-25T10:00:00.000-07:002012-07-27T22:06:52.614-07:00Insane, Immoral or Incompetent?The America I live in today is far different from the America I studied from historians and books in school. What is going on? We have politicians who are involved in scandals before taking office; Individuals consciously active in premeditated murder and friends and neighbors who only seem interested in saving the lives of people already born in an effort to ensure that no harm comes to them.<br />
<br />
So many things are so wrong in every way that confusion will easily take over if we are not careful to guard against it. I have not be ashamed in previous posts to quote scripture and point out some important things from a worldview based on Scripture; nor will I start to be ashamed now. If there is one thing we need most in America today it is a return to humility before God, each confessing our rebellion toward Him and turning from them.<br />
<br />
However, I have noticed from my limited time on this earth that we Americans who used to know so well what pleased God and what did not please God, now have almost forgotten; but what makes it worse, is that many of us do not care! We look at consequences not as a helping correction to guide us into a more respectable, simplified and brighter way of life, but rather as an inconvenience we must pay to continue in our own way, doing only what we want to do.<br />
<br />
We do not care how it affects others; we do not care what expense others must pay for our pleasure. Let me say it another way: I would not care how it tares away at a young girl's conscience or soul so that I can enjoy the pleasure of a pornographic film. I would not care what it costs her in her life so that I can enjoy a little bit of temporary pleasure. I am not saying that I caused her to enter the pornographic market, but it is my choice to watch, rent or buy these videos.<br />
<br />
What of the young men? In making these videos are they not being taught to believe some things about the girls or other men that are not true?<br />
<br />
The issues all come down to this most simplistic root problem. I no longer know what is truth. I have stopped searching for truth (for whatever reason). I care only that my life is comfortable for me with some pleasure in-between responsibility.<br />
<br />
We each ought to come back to discerning the truth. This is only possible when we give up our foolishness (to be in of watch a pornographic video); confess there is a God who rules over the earth, our lives (as a master or otherwise an enemy) who has established natural laws, moral laws as immediately consequential as the laws of physics.<br />
<br />
More details in the post to follow on Wednesday August 1st.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
" There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." Proverbs 16:25</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
" Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 21:30</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-65307758351359035662012-01-16T13:43:00.000-08:002012-01-16T13:43:21.244-08:00Wildlife Preservation Act or Human Race Annihilation?The Council for the Washington D.C. has passed the Wildlife Preservation Act (WPA) of 2010. (Due to the current date being the year 2012, I double checked my research and this WPA of 2010 seems to be the latest revision of the Wildlife Preservation Act.)<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2010/11/dc_passes_wildlife_control_regulations_110910.html" target="_blank">Humane Society of the United States</a>, seem to hail this act as something monumental. However, have so many or the municipal, state and federal leaders forgotten the disease that can spread from not disposing of these pests such as rats and mice? 1 out 3 of Europe's population died in the 14th century because of the outbreak of the "<a href="http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2544" target="_blank">Bubonic plague</a>" or as it was then called, the "<a href="http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2471" target="_blank">Black </a><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>plague</u></span>." Not to mention Lyme's disease and other medical concerns.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=&sid=2069751" target="_blank">WTOP</a> states that Council woman Mary Cheh says that rats and mice are exempt from this WPA ruling.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(This ruling, by the way, states that it is "To require the District Department of the Environment to license individuals performing wildlife control activities, to create qualifications and conditions for licensure, to set restrictions on the capture, handling, and transport of wildlife, to set restrictions on euthanasia of wildlife, to establish control requirements for specified species, to require the compilation of service records and annual reporting, to create standards for suspension of licensure, and to authorize the Mayor to establish fees for licensure." Is this really regulating those companies already providing these services or is this another move to require the home owner be licensed to use sticky traps in his own house? Even though this is "defined" to be targeted at every "pest" but 4 specific groups, it is not well defined, as to many other things.) </blockquote>
<br />
<a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/va-ag-fears-dc-law-may-relocate-rat-families-virginia" target="_blank">CNS News</a> (Includes the Washington D.C. Memorandum in PDF format.) does a wonderful job in publishing some of the remarks of Virginia <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli brings up concerns regarding the spread of disease in Virginia because it will be easy for animal control workers to drop off captured pests across the Potomac river in Virginia. This is only one out of many other things Attorney General Cuccinelli discusses. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Another interesting point which Attorney General Cuccinelli brings out regarding this Wildlife Preservation Act is it's requirement of keep rodent/pest families together. How in the world will you do that? These kind of pests are almost totally independent within a week after birth! I could understand to some extent of not separating the young that are with the mother when captured, but that does not seem to be the intention! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">This will drive up the labor costs for the companies which will in turn pass the cost onto the customer.</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
An obscure mention the Act state in section 3, paragraphs (f), (g) & (h);</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"(f) Captured non-target wildlife shall be released immediately at the site of capture. Captured non-target wildlife that pose an unreasonable risk to the health and safety to persons or domestic animals or that are injured and need veterinary care and rehabilitation shall:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(1) With permission of the property owner, be relocated to a suitable location where nuisance problems are unlikely to occur; </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(2) Transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator, if the animal is sick, injured, or abandoned; or</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(3) Euthanized if relocation or rehabilitation are not feasible.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(g) Captured target wildlife shall be:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(1) Released at the site of capture; </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(2) With permission of the property owner, be relocated to a safe location where nuisance problems are unlikely to occur; </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(3) Transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator, if the animal is sick, injured, or abandoned; or</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(4) If none of the other options are feasible, euthanized. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(h) Wildlife expressing symptoms of disease shall be taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or surrendered to the Animal Care and Control Agency for evaluation and assessment. Outbreaks or potential widespread occurrence of suspect diseases, such as avian botulism, shall be reported to the Department.</blockquote>
<br />
"<a href="http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/avian_botulism/" target="_blank">Avian Botulism</a>"? Avian botulism according to the National Wildlife Health Center, a branch of the U.S. Geology Survey, is only applicable to birds! So why not reference a disease more applicable to the common house pest?<br />
<br />
What is more condemning in the broad scheme of things is this; We as a civilization and organized communities are more concerned with the preservation of wildlife and making sure that disease carriers are not harmed when abortions are performed everyday as if the life of a little unborn child were a nuisance! A nuisance is being told that my child is not worth the life of a diseased carrier of insects! That in fact is more than a nuisance and borders on negligent homicide.<br />
<br />
What about the demeaning of women and men in the market of pornography? What is more reprehensible, child pornography! Public nudity, Inappropriate public behavior or blatant disregard of natural law in the total acceptance of homosexuality? Are we so truly corrupt in morals that "anything goes" in public without regard for others and remorse of our offenses?<br />
<br />
What of the open use or even medical prescription of drugs such as Marijuana, Meth-amphetamines and old opium variants? It never cures the illness, but only masks the problems. What better could the researcher be doing if they were directed to find true cures rather than symptom alleviation?<br />
<br />
We are destroying ourselves! Can we not go back to understanding that law of nature and nature's God? There is a way to do this! Are you willing to participate and follow the principals that nature's God delineates? It is time, now. Tomorrow might be too late.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Hear </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17665Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">the word of the LORD,</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You rulers of </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17665Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sodom; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Give ear to the instruction of our God, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You people of Gomorrah. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“</span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17666AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Says the LORD. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“I </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">have had enough of burnt offerings of rams </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And the fat of fed cattle; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“When you come </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17667AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">to appear before Me, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Who requires </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">of you this trampling of My courts? </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Bring your worthless offerings no longer, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Incense is an abomination to Me. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">New moon and sabbath, the </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17668AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">calling of assemblies— </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I cannot </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17668AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“I hate your new moon </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">festivals</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and your </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17669AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">appointed feasts, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They have become a burden to Me; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I am </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17669AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">weary of bearing </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">them</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“So when you </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17670AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">spread out your hands </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">in prayer</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I will hide My eyes from you; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Yes, even though you </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17670AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">multiply prayers, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I will not listen. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Your hands are </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">covered with blood.</span>“<sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17671AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></sup>Wash yourselves, <sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17671AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)"></sup>make yourselves clean;<br />Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.<br />Cease to do evil,<br />Learn to do good;<br />Seek justice,<br />Reprove the ruthless,<br />Defend the orphan,<br />Plead for the widow.<br />“Come now, and <sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17673AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)"></sup>let us reason together,”<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Says the LORD, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“</span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17673AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Though your sins are as scarlet, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They will be as white as snow; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Though they are red like crimson, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They will be like wool. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“</span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17674AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">If you consent and obey, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You will </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17674AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">eat the best of the land; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“But if you refuse and rebel, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You will be </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17675AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">devoured by the sword.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Truly, </span><sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17675AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">the mouth of the LORD has spoken."</span></blockquote>
Isaiah 1:10-20<br />
<sup class="xref" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17668AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-17671AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)"></sup></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-75025393888595122042011-12-23T16:04:00.000-08:002011-12-23T16:04:48.816-08:00Good (God) versus Bad (Evil)Wow! My apologies for the long absence. It certainly has not been for the lack of material!<br />
<br />
What about The nativity display in Athens, Texas? It hit the national news scene.<br />
<br />
What of the earth quake seismographic technicians say caused by the dam built over a fault line in China?<br />
<br />
Of course there is never a shortage of political material, especially in the pre-election season! The primary elections are coming up in the spring, so mud slinging, name calling, black eyes and thrown punches are common place. I am not saying these common things are okay, just that we have been conditioned to it and does not seem to stir our hearts anymore, but we do let our emotions over power our rational, decency, friendliness and concern. I am devastated!<br />
<br />
There are very good reasons and great wisdom in avoiding all of the things that distract us from the truth. For instance, would you want to be in the constant company of someone who was always saying you were wrong about a statement, misled about a concept and at fault for a poor decision? I tend to doubt it. Not even the Grinch in Dr. Susses' tale of "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" wanted to be ridiculed, scorned or mocked.<br />
<br />
We have no problem with being abrupt, curt or even slightly offensive to our family, co-workers and other drivers, but have you ever noticed how quickly our demeanor changes when a friend calls, or public figure walks up?<br />
<br />
There is a great admonition in Philippians division 4. I want to focus on a part of the division and I will quote it here:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."</blockquote>
What a difference! To think on the things that are true (having a standard of right and not being based off of what is not wrong), honorable (respectable; to live by standards; to have conviction) , just (exempt from punishment by law), pure (never sullied with corruption), lovely (beautiful, gorgeous, inspiring to good), commendable, excellent and worthy of praise (valuable of compliment).<br />
<br />
Yes, what a difference that would make it our world, if even just 1 in 30 people did this.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-18706974904063538592011-07-20T14:22:00.000-07:002011-07-20T14:22:09.783-07:00The basics of life... Part 2Belief system > Essentials of life<br />
<br />
Love seems a little advanced to start a topic such as "The basics of life", yet if love is not an object but a person, love is not advanced at all because life is claimed by love to be it's progeny. That being a claim which needs research is exactly the reason I chose this posts topic to be the second in this series of "The basics of life."<br />
<br />
What do you believe? On what do your beliefs have affect?<br />
<br />
You do not exist because of your beliefs, nor do you exist because of someone else's beliefs. A person's beliefs cannot create something or someone, but they can affect something or someone.<br />
<br />
Okay, so I have made several statements with which some may not agree. This only illustrates the belief system. Note my statements and you will have some idea of what I believe and what I do not believe on the topic of these statements.<br />
<br />
I urge you my reader, listen to the statements you make and from them begin to deduce what you believe. Does what you believe properly align with truth and love, or do they produce behavior in you of ill-repute and offense?<br />
<br />
How then do you change beliefs? Well you can try electroshock therapy, though I would not suggest it! You could even try a bit of psychology, though again I would not suggest it. Would it not be logical to seek the assistance of the maker of such a marvelous system as the human body, intellect and gave him the breath of life for the answer?<br />
<br />
Sure you must come to this belief yourself, and I will not force the belief on you. When you are ready for the answer, I do hope you will ask Him for it.<br />
<br />
Please allow me to leave you with a few quotes regarding our Creator.<br />
<blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><div class="vs selected" id="vs1" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;">"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.</span></div><div class="vs" id="vs2" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.</div><div class="vs" id="vs3" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.</div><div class="vs" id="vs4" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant</div><div class="vs" id="vs5" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;</div><div class="vs" id="vs6" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.</div><div class="vs" id="vs7" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.</div><div class="vs" id="vs8" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.</div><div class="vs" id="vs9" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For we know in part and we prophesy in part,</div><div class="vs" id="vs10" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.</div><div class="vs" id="vs11" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.</div><div class="vs" id="vs12" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.</div><div class="vs" id="vs13" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1Corinthians 13</div></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." Deuteronomy 6:4</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.<br />
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,<br />
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.<br />
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.<br />
They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.<br />
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.<br />
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.<br />
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.<br />
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.<br />
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.<br />
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:1-11</span></blockquote></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Thank you for reading! I hope and pray it gives you something to think about. I know it points you toward the right place for right and proper changes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-54292537721750541922011-07-08T14:26:00.000-07:002011-07-08T16:05:36.556-07:00The basics of life... Part 1"What is love?"<br />
<br />
There are so many things that fill our eyes, ears, thoughts and lives that we often can not recall where they came from. If we do an action and later question our motives; or repeat a phrase before thinking about it then in our embarrassment asking ourselves where we heard it, it can really come solely from one place.<br />
<blockquote><b><i>Our heart.</i></b></blockquote> Whether it be a family expression, societal refrain or time in history, it does not matter; we refer to our heart as the seat of our emotions. We say such things as "I love you with all my heart!" or "I'll always treasure it in my heart!" Somehow by bringing our heart into our description conveys a deeper feeling for the person or gift from the one whom we so treasure.<br />
<br />
The communication we so desire our loved one to receive is that we appreciate them and their kind actions toward us. Yet all we communicate by word or action, only represent the truth. It is similar to describing something to a blind person.<br />
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Have you ever tried to explain a sunset to someone who only has a concept of light and dark. How about describing a flower to someone who is only familiar with the aroma of flowers in general? If you can do so, it is not easy and is not done in the way that you explain the same thing to a sighted person!<br />
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I dare say to that when you have succeeded you have not given the person the sunset or flower you described, but only the essence of it!<br />
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Up to this point I've only given you, my reader, a faint essence of the fragrance that I call romance. From this point on I will describe romance; in a visual manner; as a vapor, or by sense of smell as a tantalizing and winsome aroma. Something transient and intangible.<br />
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I have spent a good many years thinking and wondering about people. What is their passion for <i>that one</i> they adore? What is the origin of such emotion? Some people revolt to such an expression of regard for another because they say such a fascination as "romance" will never last. Others sit back and hope that from romance, or infatuation, will grow an enduring love; such hope is the stuff of romance novels.<br />
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I know that this post began with a question of Love's true definition. A good place to start in such a case is to examine our pre-conceived notions and consider the relevance of each notion to the topic. Thus romance and infatuation often being called "love" were two of my first notions to address and prove to be "not love."<br />
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In Love's expansive reach is yet another side which we have not yet explored.<br />
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What of provision and consideration? Is it not loving someone to provide them with all the things they want? Is it loving someone to constantly go out of our way to afford them every possible consideration?<br />
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For example: After reading each interaction chose one of the two answers at the end which you think shows true love.<br />
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<blockquote>Romance/Infatuation: A dating couple go out to a park to walk around and talk after having dinner with a healthy chat at the table. After some time they find a bench surrounded with flower and low shrubs for some privacy, illuminated by the silvery light of the moon. "What a romantic spot!" she thinks as he too notices and suggest they take a rest. He knows that he must be careful not to move too quickly with her, because she is a little timid and would rather wait until their wedding day to show him the affection she has for him through their first kiss. He's always respected that for her sake, but he feels a little unsure that their relationship will really work out if they do not truly love each other. The only certain way that he feels they can be sure of their mutual love for each other is if she will acquiesce to his desire for a trial run at love with a romantic moonlit kiss. "After all, isn't that what a girl dreams about? Her prince appears and lays a big romantic kiss on her lips clearing all her doubts as toward whom his intentions are focused? The added ambiance can only help her be relaxed about this, right?" he asked himself as they sit down.<br />
What is love for boy-friend toward girl-friend?<br />
<ol><li>Attempt a romantic kiss even though he knows her desires and convictions?</li>
<li>Continue respecting her request to save her gift to him through their first kiss?</li>
</ol></blockquote><blockquote>Provision/Consideration: Grand-daughter stops by her aging, diabetic grandfather's house everyday on her way home from work to talk with him and get him anything he may need that he can not get himself. He says, "Thank you sweet heart, but I'm doing fine. I would appreciate it though if you could bring by a carton of Tin Roof Sundae ice cream for me when you stop by tomorrow!"</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><ol><li>She knows that he doesn't like the sugar free ice cream so should she buy the regular ice cream he is asking for?</li>
<li>Should she not buy it for him and respectfully tell him that she can not; because of his diabetic condition?</li>
</ol></blockquote>What was your choice? If you chose answer 2. for either situation, you are right! Love does not force someone to go against their convictions, nor will it aid someone in abusing themselves.<br />
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My point in this is that love is something more than infatuation and romance or provision and consideration. Love is tangible, searchable<br />
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You can sense the signs of their love for you by sight and smell but to touch their love as anyone would hold a bouquet of freshly cut flowers is quite impossible. Even though the flowers will carry their tantalizing aroma with them after being cut, their winsome aroma will fade faster than if they had been left living in their native plant. So you see the flower is not love but it is the action from love which you can handle and the tantalizing aroma that you can enjoy.<br />
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The love in you is more tangible than that in another. For you see, love; as I said before; is tangible and personable, but not by you as it is in another. Love is a personal thing. Not that you love yourself, for that is the perversion of love. You must first receive love from the One who is love. Then as you receive love you are free to give it away by means of winsome aromas and refreshing mists. This is what I mean that love is not the flower, for if it was you would have always given refreshing mists and pleasing scents, but now we see that it is not me that is the source of the beauty merely the outlet. It is the love in me that equips and enables me to share this love in romance with my wife and a refreshing mist to my children and friends.<br />
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So if romance, infatuation, provision and consideration are only a part of love, what is love?<br />
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Love is a God who created a world and all of the matter in it, including humans to rule over and care for it. He loved it all so much that He was willing to let man choose the way he would travel (God's way, or the way which is "not God's"). Man chose "not God's" way causing a corruption in himself, his wife and all of the rest of universe because it is under his care.<br />
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Each of us were born into this corruption and guilty because we have each chosen to do things our own way rather than God's (God's way being the way of love).<br />
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Even still, love is offered as a free gift to any who will receive it. God who is love "...so loved the world, that he gave his only natural born Son, that whosoever believes in him should not die, but have life that has no end."<br />
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<blockquote><blockquote>"...let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that does not love does not know God; for <b>God is love.</b>" (1John 4:7, 8 emphasis added)</blockquote></blockquote> This is just the beginning, the refreshing mist I used as an illustration for romance. I hope this will wet your appetite so that you will search out the truth about love. Because life without love is a living death.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-20529327102671167452011-07-04T14:14:00.000-07:002011-07-04T14:14:10.544-07:00What was the point?When the united States of America declared "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown..." it was not a declaration of rebellion, because any study through the biographies of the men that signed the document we call "The Declaration of Independence" would reveal a surprising amount of petitioning and appeals much before any act of defensive war.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">This is another point I do not wish to belabor but to remind us that rebellion is not the word for the war that won our independence from Great Britain; the British had already made acts of war on the citizens of the thirteen British colonies in the Americas. Our actions were those of self-defense not initiative warfare throwing insult and offense into the face of our political authority.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I often wonder how our friends in Great Britain feel about our celebrating over here and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">vilifying them as a people. Remember this is the day we remember the signing of the Declaration of Independence! There was much work and danger after this day, 235 years ago! We are not celebrating the demise of British friends! It was painful to take-up arms against our fellow countrymen! Our document which declares us free and independent of the crown of Great Britain is clear, we relate to them as we do any other nation, "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Our desire for freedom was not simply to live free from an oppressive government under King George, III. The colonists sought to be loyal to the British crown asking for the freedom to worship as directed by the written word of God and not the dictates of a state run church.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Many people today think that the only or primary reason for our independence was because we were being taxed and not represented. The grievance of taxation was <u>seventeenth</u> in a list of <u>twenty-seven!</u> Taxation ranked in the <u>LAST half</u> of the grievances, not first or even primary! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">What then would be the first freedoms which they would wish to protect?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Reading the Bill of Rights, we learn that their desire was to protect the free exercise of seeking God. No interference or opposition from government!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Let us remember these thing on this day: </span></span><br />
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<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">In this time of peace, we praise God for our friends the British (largely from whom we descend)! </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">In this time of history we have the peace to seek the meaning of truth without pressure of conforming to one thing or another, but making our beliefs and faith our own!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">We still have the freedom "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."</span></li>
</ol>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-58975162612453620712011-06-27T12:15:00.000-07:002011-06-28T11:48:25.929-07:00Are fathers really the providers?The answer to my post about fathers and what is expected of them really is simple. The explanation of that simple answer though is the difficult part of this post.<br />
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It sounds rather irresponsible to say that father's are not supposed to be the providers; though if you think about this situation from an abstract perspective, it can make a lot of sense.<br />
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We think ourselves to be autonomous and separate from almost every possible supplier of things that we need. We honestly think that we; as working adults; provide food, money and shelter for ourselves and our family. Is that the case?<br />
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From the practical aspect, yes the father should work to earn money which then can be used to care for the needs of the family.<br />
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To look at it from the abstract as stated in the beginning of this post, provision is truly much more than money.<br />
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Money cannot provide love.<br />
Money cannot provide friends.<br />
Money cannot provide a spouse.<br />
Money cannot provide family.<br />
Money cannot provide a home.<br />
Money cannot provide children.<br />
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Money is in a sense powerless. It is the value placed in a currency that is exchanged for services rendered by a worker for the employer.<br />
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In past centuries, exchanging currency for labor was something that the wealthy were able to participate in with the upper class citizens. On the other side of the society a system called "bartering" was used to repay services. Most of the time the objects used in bartering were foods or clothing. In some cases a tenant would work for the land-lord to pay for that months rent of property and house.<br />
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Even still it is not the work which provides these needs. The father did the work, as also the mother may have engaged in some craft to barter for food items in the market.<br />
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The past centuries I mentioned where bartering was more practiced, could be the 1st through the 6th centuries and even as late as the 19th century. If in the 1st century someone were to suggest that God was not supplying their needs, they would receive a strong reaction from anyone who heard such an accusation, because atheism was unheard of and Gnosticism was largely unthinkable although growing.<br />
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Why such a strong reaction? Perhaps the better question is "Why such a weak response today?"<br />
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The answer is this; by our pushing further away from God there is less cause to draw distinctions between good and bad, right or wrong. In fact not only is there less cause to draw such distinctions but it has become offense to do so!<br />
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If atheism is true, because God does not exist then right or wrong is subjective and what is right to one person could be wrong for another, but in the end is not truly wrong because there is no standard to measure either right or wrong. So that distinction between right and wrong really becomes "I can do whatever I want." It sounds good; until you begin to see that you really are not able to care for your needs much less the needs of anyone else because it is just as right to do what you want as to do what someone else wants!<br />
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If Gnosticism is true, because God is aloof (meaning that He is not personally involved in our lives), then right and wrong is only as objective as I need it to be to preserve my wealth, health, family and pride. This also sounds good until you realize that everyone else lives the same way that you are and you really come back to the same problems with which the atheistic society is dealing.<br />
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If God is true, because God created the world and all the matter/substance in it; then He provides our food, clothes, spouse, family and shelter. He demonstrates true love to us because He created us and has been taking care of our needs ever since! We enter the picture and exchange our sweat for money and in turn exchange it for the things we forget He is providing.<br />
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It is our self-centered ideology which turns our reasoning into self-reliance or self-sufficiency when we could do nothing if He had not created us first; kept us maintained second; and third loved us so much as to let us go off in our selfishness so that we might learn He is really our provider!<br />
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This brings me to this simple answer I mentioned at the start of this post. "No, fathers are not the providers. Father are simply the person who is supposed to be in the presence of God (by prayer) listening to Him as He asks the father of his family's needs and answering in humility with respect."<br />
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Can it get any more simple than that?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-82712374756188893172011-06-17T21:30:00.000-07:002011-06-18T07:49:28.412-07:00Fathers DayFathers day is coming quickly. What bit of character would you say best defines a father (dad, or daddy)? Listed below are a few things I find frequently expected of fathers in our society that I cannot expect any man to actually fulfill.<br />
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1. Protection from evil, hate, lust, greed, crime and bodily injury.<br />
2. Provision of home, food (balanced in medical suggestion and dietary calibration), weekly stipend, college tuition, transportation and clothing (just to get started in the provision category).<br />
3. To raise or have raised children capable of benefiting society without having received a proper raising themselves.<br />
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What is fatherhood then?<br />
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Come back to find out what Contrasted Light does with the subject.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3909890468195884793.post-79520732861607500182011-06-17T16:25:00.000-07:002011-06-18T11:19:46.549-07:00So much noise...yet one voice can speak above them all.Have you ever noticed that all over the world there are a few choice spots where people go to "get away"? "Get away from what?" you ask? There are some people in the world that are more sensitive to noise than others; most of the time it is a sensitivity to the lack of noise.<br />
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What does this blog have to do with noise being titled "Contrasting Light"? I'm going to be up front with you reader by telling you that I will make statements and ask questions that should cause you to think and reflect on societal ideals, religious teachings, social morality, political viability and your personal beliefs. Nothing I write in any post on this blog is or will be aimed toward any one individual, but may arise from interaction with a person(s).<br />
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Back to the question "What does a blog named 'Contrasting Light' have to do with noise? Noise has a way of changing from a threat to warm greeting depending on the illumination of the person or object making the noise. Light is a basic and vital element to our existence.<br />
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What makes noise around you? What makes noise in you? I am referring to your thoughts and 'mindless' activity. Can you sit in a quiet room in peace, or must you occupy yourself with movement, noise or futile thoughts?<br />
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In the middle east lived a teacher who took authoritative command over the elements of weather and sea during a violent storm. Speaking to the stormy winds and turbulent sea said, "Peace, be still." Centered in the most unnerving circumstance, surrounded by noise he said, "Peace, be still."<br />
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Do you wish at times that you could tell the noise in your life to be at peace and be still? Is this the stuff of vacations; changing one noise for another, or more noise for less?<br />
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I write this not to make a case for a silent world, but to ask how comfortable are you with silence? If you had no music albums from your favorite singer, radio to listen to your favorite station or internet tools to search for noise on the world wide web, would you go crazy?<br />
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Jesus, the teacher in the middle east I mentioned earlier, accepted silence, as well as knowing the proper time to speak out above the noise to restore the peace and stillness. I have a desire to see more people working in wisdom knowing when to speak out above the noise, restoring peace and stillness to a mad, noisy and violent world. Many people are talking and pushing for "peace", "safety" and condemning violence, which only produces more violence, unrest and danger.<br />
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The only way I see peace and stillness will be restored is to swallow my pride, say to the person I am speaking to "I apologize. You are right and I was wrong in doing... Will you please forgive me?" That will stop the stormy winds, but still leaves us to deal with the turbulent sea and torrential rain.<br />
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I made the winds allegorical to relations man to man, but the turbulent sea and torrential rains are the results of my choices which I made, choosing to ignore the results knowing all too well that I alone was to blame. When you fear the capsizing of the ship you are in and drowning by unforgiving waves towering over you, that is when everyone I know calls on God to save them. Why do they call on God? Why should He save them? He told them what would come because of their choices. He didn't do this to them. He didn't tell them to make a bad decision.<br />
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Why do people blame God if He does not save them from their rain and waves? If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen to good people? After all isn't this the whole situation of noise in our lives...noise "Management", "Damage control", "Sanity salvaging"?<br />
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No, noise is a reminder to me that unless, I get my pride out of the way (humility) and depend on Jesus for all of my needs (redemption) while still surrounded by noise and confusion, I will drown in the sea of my own folly.<br />
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Until next time; I leave you with your noise (thoughts).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00941720761141175300noreply@blogger.com0