Thursday, February 23, 2012

Phonies and Theology



As if we did not have enough going on already, another political firestorm is threatening to burn out of control.  It started with the remark from Rick Santorum about President Obama being guided by a phony theology, and then more fuel was added by Rev. Franklin Graham.


I missed the last part of the interview when it was being initially aired, but I heard enough to be fairly disgusted with the way the panelists were trying to get Rev. Graham to come right out and say that President Obama is not really a Christian, along with being fairly impressed with the way Rev. Graham refused to go there.  Oh, but they backdoored him in the part that I missed.  For instead sticking with answering their questions about whether or not Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney were Christians by saying that they would have to ask them about that, he came right out and said that Santorum and Gingrich were while saying of Romney, “Christians would not recognize Mormonism as being of the Christian faith.”

Did I miss the memo?  For Rev. Graham is supposed to be a Protestant while Santorum and Gingrich are avowed Catholics, which used to make them unrecognizable to each other.  For Protestants are supposed to believe that we are saved by grace through faith alone while Catholics are supposed to believe that the sacrifice that Christ Jesus made for us did not pay the price in full.

Yes, I understand that the baptismal waters have been becoming steadily more murky for several years now, but I thought there was still as much of a distinction between Protestantism and Catholicism as there was for Mormonism?  Yes, it matters.

Besides, what does theology have to do with politics in the minds of most in the Christian community today, anyway?  For it has been widely taught that our Heavenly Father has very little (if anything at all) with the daily affairs of this world, which most certainly covers politics.

So, why is this a news story in the first place—let alone the beginning of another political firestorm?  Again, it matters.

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.  Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.  Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, ‘Who sees us? Who will know?’  You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!  Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘You did not make me?’  Can the pot say to the potter, ‘You know nothing?’” [Isaiah 29:13-16 NIV]

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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Please Help Save The Puppies


Friday, February 17, 2012

President Obama Should Start Packing Now


Link: [On YouTube]



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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Whitney Houston 1963-2012


If you happen to be one of the 27 who hasn’t heard yet, [Whitney Houston] was found dead in her hotel room yesterday afternoon, and if you are one of the 5 who are not aware of her epic struggles with drug addiction the last several years of her life, the cause of her death is yet to be determined.  May she rest in peace.


I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston
If I
Should stay
I would only be in
Your way
So I'll go
But I know
I'll think of you
Every step of
The way

And I
Will always
Love you
I Will always
Love you

You
My darling you
Hmm

Bittersweet memories
That is all
I'm taking
With me
So goodbye
Please don't cry
We both know
I'm not what you
You need

And I
Will always
Love you
I will always
Love you

I hope
Life treats you kind
And I hope
You have all
You've dreamed of
And I wish to you joy
And happiness
But above all this
I wish you love

And I
Will always
Love you
I will always
Love you
I will always
Love you
I will always
Love you
I will always
Love you
I will always
Love you
I will always
Love you
You
Darling
Oh I'll always
I will always
love you

Lyrics From: [elyrics.net]

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Silence Is Not Always Golden


It is said that silence is golden, and many in the Christian community have been led to believe that this applies to dealing with those who oppose them in some way or another.  For it is written: Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.  [Proverbs 26:4 NIV]

Ah, but what about the very next verse?  For it is also written: Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. [Proverbs 26:5 NIV]

Could this be a contradiction?  No, not at all.  For the fourth verse is referring to getting down in the gutter with someone instead of taking the high road while the fifth verse is addressing what can happen if we choose to ignore an opportunity to serve.

Tragically, far too many have been to led to believe that our Heavenly Father is rather indifferent and distant—certainly not very personable and having been actually there with each and every one of us since the womb.  Subsequently, they see nothing wrong with thinking that it is not worth their time to try to reason with someone who does not want to accept what they are presenting.

Some take it a step or two farther by being careful to not throw their [pearls before swine] in the first-place.  Ah, but are we not all naturally swine in comparison to our Heavenly Father’s Holiness, and yet, He keeps giving us as much of Himself as we are willing take?

Quite simply, it all comes down to love—His love, to be exact.  For who in their right-mind can honestly say that they are being led by His love while remaining silent as they watch the blind being led by the blind toward a bottomless pit?

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Friday, February 3, 2012

Super Bowl Ad Warning


The following is an ad for [Randall Terry], who is running as a Democrat for the office of the president of the United States of America.  One of the main platforms to his campaign is a repeal of [Roe vs. Wade], which is the United States Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions in this country.  Subsequently, since he is afforded the same considerations as any other legitimate candidate running for president, that extremely graphic ad will be allowed to be aired during the Super Bowl, this coming Sunday, February 5, 2012.

To be quite honest about it, I am torn on the issue.  For I despise the airing of something so graphic.

On the other hand, an abortion is indeed murder, and anyone who can stomach more than a few seconds of the ad will not be able to honestly say that it isn’t.  I only made it around 10 seconds, and I hope NBC will air some kind of warning just before it airs so that parents can at least cover the eyes of their small children—if not get them out of the room.



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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Circling The Proverbial Drain




The clip above was taken from “Rocks and Shoals,” which is the second episode of the sixth season of the [Star Trek Deep Space Nine] series.  To give you a little context, if you are not already familiar with the episode, the Star Fleet contingent have crash-landed on an unchartered planet, and they soon discover that they are not alone.  For a Jem’Hadar ship, who are the monstrous-looking non-Star Fleet warriors, had also crash-landed there several weeks before, and their Vorta, who is of another species, had made a deal with Captain Sisko to get rid of them out of fear of them killing him after the drug that is used to control them runs out.

On the other hand, I suppose none of that really matters.  For what I would like for you to focus upon is what the Jem’Hadar leader told Captain Sisko at around the 2:57 mark.

Alas, if only I could be so simple-minded, which is not at all insulting in this case.  For there that Jem’Hadar was with an option to save his life, and the life of his men (so to speak), but he was locked onto what he considered to be the simple truth to their existence, which is that it was not their lives to give, and it never was.

You see, the Jem’Hadar had been created by the Founders, who are another species, to serve as both their protectors and shock troops in their quest to rule over as much of the galaxy as possible.  Are we any different?  That is, at least in regards to being created beings, and subject to the will of our Creator?

No, that is not something that far too many (both inside and outside of the Christian community) want to focus upon.  Count me as being one of them far too often.  For I want things to go my way at times, and I do not believe that anyone has ever had a thing on me when it comes to throwing genuine hissy-fits.

Yes, I am quite sure that my life would be much better if I could just resist having expectations.  For when they are not met, I usually dive to the bottom of deep, dark depression.

No, this is not to say that we should not want more of what our Heavenly Father wants us to have—especially in regards to experiencing more and more of a very close and personal relationship with Him, but even that can be taken too far.  For He is not one to cheat anyone out of anything, and bitter complaints will not force His hand.

Of course, the pain from my physical ailments would remain.  On the other hand, what if they are really just a result of my belligerence, and if I would just try harder to be a better son, maybe I won't have to hurt so badly?

Yeah, here I go, circling the proverbial drain again.  Woe is me.

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