Almighty and most magnificent God, Father of those who love you through Christ, we sing and shout your praise.
We hear the birds of the air, the beasts of the field and forrests, the winds and the waves send forth your praise. They proclaim all that is yours in this universe.
Let us, O most marvelous God, be at peace in the knowledge of your great mercy and grace.
Though all fails about us, though it seems that evil rules and reigns, let us remember that the war was won at the cross of Calvary, and that you shall show the triumph that is yours in Christ.
This Is My Father's World
Words and Music by Maltbie D. Babcock
This is my Father's world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world The birds their carols raise.
The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world, O let me ne'er forget:
That thought the wrong seems oft' so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world, The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And the earth and heaven be one.
©Public Domain
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
Is It Legal?
By my actual count, 97.863%* of Christians are legalists and 86.912%* of those would deny it.
Do you deny that you are a legalist?
Are you a part of the 86.912%* of the 97.863%*?
A legalist is a person who thinks that there are some rules he or she can follow, some behavior patterns he or she can exhibit or some thoughts and attitudes he or she can possess that will please God more than those who don't follow those rules, exhibit those behaviors or possess those thoughts and/or attitudes.
Fact: Nothing we do will please God.
Isa 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
If we take this in the context of the whole of scripture we see that from the beginning this has been our problem.
God is perfect; we are not.
God demands perfection; we cannot produce it.
The law reveals our sinfullness and our inability to keep it.
Jesus had (and has) to keep it for us.
Mt 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
That does not mean that He added something to the law that had been missing, it means, contextually, that He does the keeping of the law on our behalf.
So we can do what we want to do and still enjoy the blessings of God?
Not quite.
Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
The whole point is our understanding of who we are in Christ and what He has accomplished on our behalf in His finished work at the cross of Calvary.
He said that we are His friends if we keep His commands. Then He gave us the two we have to keep: Love God and love our neighbors.
If we love God, we will serve Him.
If we love God, we will honor Him.
If we love God, we will focus on Him.
If we love God, we will follow Him.
If we love our neighbors, we will serve them.
If we love our neighbors, we will honor them.
If we love our neighbors, we will point them to God.
If we love our neighbors, we will teach them to follow Him.
When we think our concept of what another should or should not do is right and all others are wrong, we behave as legalists.
When we impose our cultural and societal past on others we behave as legalists.
Remember, the biggest problem the Pharasees had, according to Jesus, was their religiosity, manafested in their legalism.
The Word of God reveals our need for Christ and His redemptive power.
The Holy Spirit reveals our short-comings. He prods us to do the appropriate thing in given circumstances.
Remember Job's four friends? They pontificated about God. They even told some truths about God. But they used those truths to beat Job over the head spiritually, trying to convince Job that he must have done something to deserve what had happened to him. God said He was not pleased with them.
I would not have wanted to be in their shoes.
Want to please God? Let Jesus do the pleasing for you and through you.
Don't fall into the trap of being a legalist. If you do, don't deny it; get out of it.
*The figures used in this post may or may not reflect actual mathematical computations. Probably not.
Do you deny that you are a legalist?
Are you a part of the 86.912%* of the 97.863%*?
A legalist is a person who thinks that there are some rules he or she can follow, some behavior patterns he or she can exhibit or some thoughts and attitudes he or she can possess that will please God more than those who don't follow those rules, exhibit those behaviors or possess those thoughts and/or attitudes.
Fact: Nothing we do will please God.
Isa 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
If we take this in the context of the whole of scripture we see that from the beginning this has been our problem.
God is perfect; we are not.
God demands perfection; we cannot produce it.
The law reveals our sinfullness and our inability to keep it.
Jesus had (and has) to keep it for us.
Mt 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
That does not mean that He added something to the law that had been missing, it means, contextually, that He does the keeping of the law on our behalf.
So we can do what we want to do and still enjoy the blessings of God?
Not quite.
Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
The whole point is our understanding of who we are in Christ and what He has accomplished on our behalf in His finished work at the cross of Calvary.
He said that we are His friends if we keep His commands. Then He gave us the two we have to keep: Love God and love our neighbors.
If we love God, we will serve Him.
If we love God, we will honor Him.
If we love God, we will focus on Him.
If we love God, we will follow Him.
If we love our neighbors, we will serve them.
If we love our neighbors, we will honor them.
If we love our neighbors, we will point them to God.
If we love our neighbors, we will teach them to follow Him.
When we think our concept of what another should or should not do is right and all others are wrong, we behave as legalists.
When we impose our cultural and societal past on others we behave as legalists.
Remember, the biggest problem the Pharasees had, according to Jesus, was their religiosity, manafested in their legalism.
The Word of God reveals our need for Christ and His redemptive power.
The Holy Spirit reveals our short-comings. He prods us to do the appropriate thing in given circumstances.
Remember Job's four friends? They pontificated about God. They even told some truths about God. But they used those truths to beat Job over the head spiritually, trying to convince Job that he must have done something to deserve what had happened to him. God said He was not pleased with them.
I would not have wanted to be in their shoes.
Want to please God? Let Jesus do the pleasing for you and through you.
Don't fall into the trap of being a legalist. If you do, don't deny it; get out of it.
*The figures used in this post may or may not reflect actual mathematical computations. Probably not.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Topically Challenged Thoughts
My mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Yet I manage on a daily basis to think of things I want to blog about (or, about which I want to blog), then I pomptly forget them when I sit in front of my "beloved" computer.
So here are some of the things on my mind.
Prayer is not the way we get God to do what we want Him to do. It is to find out what He is doing and get ourselves on board with Him.
If we pray for God to dissipate a hurricane and He does not, what does that say about God? Or Prayer? Or anything?
If we pray for God to send a storm somewhere else, where, exactly, did we want Him to send it?
I heard a man in my church say, "Don't blame God for that hurricane. Blame Satan."
Where in the world does a Christian of many years get such a heretical idea?
Is Satan responsible for all bad things, while God is responsible for good things?
If so, Satan must be more powerful than God. (In your dreams.)
There is still no power at the radio station and we have no generators. We are off the air.
Hariet Miers has withdrawn her name as a candidate for supreme court justice. Lest you think Bush has lost, he can now nominate an extremely strong candidate with little fear of major opposition.
One of my favorite brand new old sayings is, "Christians are wierd. They are so wierd that if it wasn't for Jesus, I wouldn't even be one."
The United States of America has lots of faults. That's mainly because it is made up of people. It is still the greatest country in the world.
Church is not where people go to worship. Church is people who worship God through Christ...wherever they are.
The Internal Revenue Service needs to be abolished.
The "Fair Tax" plan (a national sales tax), if enacted, will be a disaster.
The only fair way to tax people is to tax every earned dollar over the "poverty level," by any entity, personal or corporate, at a flat rate (say, 7%) with no deductions, period. The treasury would have more money than it could possibly spend (given the nature of polititians...wanna bet?).
Neither of the above will ever happen.
We need only one new law: One bill, one issue, no amendments (therefore, no pork).
That will never happen.
It is snowing in parts of the country and very cool in southwest Florida (50s). Must be global warming.
My eyes are very tired. Must be global warming.
I think I have rambled long enough.
Don't you?
Yet I manage on a daily basis to think of things I want to blog about (or, about which I want to blog), then I pomptly forget them when I sit in front of my "beloved" computer.
So here are some of the things on my mind.
Prayer is not the way we get God to do what we want Him to do. It is to find out what He is doing and get ourselves on board with Him.
If we pray for God to dissipate a hurricane and He does not, what does that say about God? Or Prayer? Or anything?
If we pray for God to send a storm somewhere else, where, exactly, did we want Him to send it?
I heard a man in my church say, "Don't blame God for that hurricane. Blame Satan."
Where in the world does a Christian of many years get such a heretical idea?
Is Satan responsible for all bad things, while God is responsible for good things?
If so, Satan must be more powerful than God. (In your dreams.)
There is still no power at the radio station and we have no generators. We are off the air.
Hariet Miers has withdrawn her name as a candidate for supreme court justice. Lest you think Bush has lost, he can now nominate an extremely strong candidate with little fear of major opposition.
One of my favorite brand new old sayings is, "Christians are wierd. They are so wierd that if it wasn't for Jesus, I wouldn't even be one."
The United States of America has lots of faults. That's mainly because it is made up of people. It is still the greatest country in the world.
Church is not where people go to worship. Church is people who worship God through Christ...wherever they are.
The Internal Revenue Service needs to be abolished.
The "Fair Tax" plan (a national sales tax), if enacted, will be a disaster.
The only fair way to tax people is to tax every earned dollar over the "poverty level," by any entity, personal or corporate, at a flat rate (say, 7%) with no deductions, period. The treasury would have more money than it could possibly spend (given the nature of polititians...wanna bet?).
Neither of the above will ever happen.
We need only one new law: One bill, one issue, no amendments (therefore, no pork).
That will never happen.
It is snowing in parts of the country and very cool in southwest Florida (50s). Must be global warming.
My eyes are very tired. Must be global warming.
I think I have rambled long enough.
Don't you?
Monday, October 24, 2005
WILMA II
The storm is past and we are safe.
As the storm approached, my wife, Bonnie, was very nervous.
We slept fitfully, waking from time to time to the sound of freight trains and jet planes passing by, which turned out to be Wilma.
As dawn broke, I dediced to look outside and noticed that our front porch was fairly dry.
Our house faces south and the winds were screeming out of the north. The result was that our front porch was both wind and water free.
So we sat on the front porch and watched Wilma in all of her fury.
She ripped some shingles from a neighbor's roof. She bent a palm tree further and further, until finally it was uprooted from the ground. She sent sheets of rain parallel to the ground and clouds by like foam from a shaving cream can.
We were later able to survey the neighborhood.
Several trees were down. One house lost its back porch. A camper was overturned. One house had a tree leaning on it, but nothing was broken therein. Some pool screens were ripped away and at least one pool cage was distroyed.
We had no flooding but we lost power for about ten hours. We never lost land-line phone service, but cell phone service was disrupted until about 3:30 pm. Water service was never interrupted.
And, praise the Lord, Wilma managed only to rip one tab of one shingle from our roof.
The radio station is off the air until power is restored in that area, and I'm sure that will be accomplished by the end of the day.
We are experiencing a cool front and some breezy weather and it is beautiful outside.
Thank you for your prayers and concern.
All is back to normal here and God is now and forever on His throne.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son and Holy ghost.
As the storm approached, my wife, Bonnie, was very nervous.
We slept fitfully, waking from time to time to the sound of freight trains and jet planes passing by, which turned out to be Wilma.
As dawn broke, I dediced to look outside and noticed that our front porch was fairly dry.
Our house faces south and the winds were screeming out of the north. The result was that our front porch was both wind and water free.
So we sat on the front porch and watched Wilma in all of her fury.
She ripped some shingles from a neighbor's roof. She bent a palm tree further and further, until finally it was uprooted from the ground. She sent sheets of rain parallel to the ground and clouds by like foam from a shaving cream can.
We were later able to survey the neighborhood.
Several trees were down. One house lost its back porch. A camper was overturned. One house had a tree leaning on it, but nothing was broken therein. Some pool screens were ripped away and at least one pool cage was distroyed.
We had no flooding but we lost power for about ten hours. We never lost land-line phone service, but cell phone service was disrupted until about 3:30 pm. Water service was never interrupted.
And, praise the Lord, Wilma managed only to rip one tab of one shingle from our roof.
The radio station is off the air until power is restored in that area, and I'm sure that will be accomplished by the end of the day.
We are experiencing a cool front and some breezy weather and it is beautiful outside.
Thank you for your prayers and concern.
All is back to normal here and God is now and forever on His throne.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son and Holy ghost.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Wilma
Being in the path of hurricane Wilma, I thought I would depart from my Sunday Praise series to submit this prayer of protection.
Father, in the storms of life, natural, physical, emotional and spiritual, we call on you to be our protector.
We see your power in nature, and we are awed.
We know you are beyond our wildest imagination.
We submit to your will, no matter what.
We yield to you and you alone.
In the mighty name of Jesus we pray.
'Til the Storm Passes By
Words and music: Mosie Lister © Lillenas Publishing Co.Lead: Rodney Britt
In the dark of the midnightI have oft hid my face
While the storm howels above me
And there's no hiding place
Mid the crash (crash) of the thunder
Precious Lord hear my cry
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Chorus:
'Til the storm passes over
'Til the thunder sounds no more
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
When the long night has ended
And the storms come no more
Let me stand in thy presence
On that bright and peaceful shore
In that land where the tempest
Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with thee when the storm passes by
Repeat Chorus
'Til the storm passes over
'Til the thunder sounds no more
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Scriptural Reference:
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:5
Father, in the storms of life, natural, physical, emotional and spiritual, we call on you to be our protector.
We see your power in nature, and we are awed.
We know you are beyond our wildest imagination.
We submit to your will, no matter what.
We yield to you and you alone.
In the mighty name of Jesus we pray.
'Til the Storm Passes By
Words and music: Mosie Lister © Lillenas Publishing Co.Lead: Rodney Britt
In the dark of the midnightI have oft hid my face
While the storm howels above me
And there's no hiding place
Mid the crash (crash) of the thunder
Precious Lord hear my cry
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Chorus:
'Til the storm passes over
'Til the thunder sounds no more
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
When the long night has ended
And the storms come no more
Let me stand in thy presence
On that bright and peaceful shore
In that land where the tempest
Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with thee when the storm passes by
Repeat Chorus
'Til the storm passes over
'Til the thunder sounds no more
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by
Scriptural Reference:
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:5
Saturday, October 22, 2005
The Pseudo-Science of Weather
Our friend over at Steel Cowboy calls them "weather liars." He has a point.
Weathermen like to think of themselves as "scientists." If you challenge that notion, you are looked upon with disdain.
But let me tell you about science. (If you don't want to be told about science, simply stop reading now.)
Science has some particular characteristics: Science must be "observable." Science must be "predictable." Science must be "replicatable."
Some "sciences" are good at all three of those characteristics, some are not so good.
Physics is pretty good at all three, as long as the math is right.
If we know the distance to the moon, the velocity of the moon as it orbits the earth, the various frictions from the atmosphere of earth and a few other factors, we can put a lander on the moon, manned or unmanned.
Chemestry is pretty good at all three, again, with math a fairly critical component.
We can observe water. We can predict that combining two parts hydrogen with one part oxygen will produce water. And it will work every time.
Psychology is a philosopho-science. You can observe behavior. You can predict some behavior, but not very well, and occasionally you can replicate behavior. Most of psychology, though, is more philosophical than scientific.
Likewise, Sociology.
(For the record, Psychology and Sociology were my majors in college.)
Weather. Ah, weather.
You can certainly observe weather. You certainly can predict weather with only a hint of certainty. Weather cannot be replicated very well, except in small chambers and in computer models (which are tainted with the input of the data entry process.)
For instance, where goes hurricane Wilma?
The "cone of uncertainty," at this writing, covers almost the entire west coast of Florida, from the "big bend" to the Florida Keys. Thanks for the help, guys.
But then, why do we expect that the same people who cannot tell us with any accuracy whether or where it will rain, could begin to tell us where it will hurricane?
Why do we think they know what is happening with "global warming?"
There is a cold front that has made its way across much of the nation. Already, some states have had snow.
This is global warming?
The earths atmosphere is far too vast, and there is far too much data about which we do NOT know to be able to talk about weather or global warming with any degree of certainty.
If you think this atmosphere is big, you should consider the greatness of our Creator.
Isaiah tells us that His right hand spans the universe.
The Hubble space telescope has shown us that the universe is far more vast than even the best scientists had thought. They were rather taken by surprise by what it revealed.
And God's right hand spans it.
When we sing, "What a mighty God we serve," we ain't just whistlin' "Dixie."
When the splitting of an atom can release the energy to distroy Hiroshima, and the universe is made up of trillions of atoms to the trillionth power and the God we serve is more powerful than would be the splitting of them all, we must conclude that He is a fearful and awesome God.
That a God that powerful, that awesome, that mighty, that majestic, that holy and that righteous loves little ole "nothing" me is the most astonishing thought possible.
He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our praise. He is worthy of our devotion. He is worthy of our servitude. He is worthy of our self-lessness. He is worthy of our thanksgiving. He is worthy of our right attitudes. He is worthy of our time, talents and abilities. He is worthy of our giving 100% of ourselves to Him without any reservation at all.
Oh, and one more thing.
He knows where Wilma is going.
Weathermen like to think of themselves as "scientists." If you challenge that notion, you are looked upon with disdain.
But let me tell you about science. (If you don't want to be told about science, simply stop reading now.)
Science has some particular characteristics: Science must be "observable." Science must be "predictable." Science must be "replicatable."
Some "sciences" are good at all three of those characteristics, some are not so good.
Physics is pretty good at all three, as long as the math is right.
If we know the distance to the moon, the velocity of the moon as it orbits the earth, the various frictions from the atmosphere of earth and a few other factors, we can put a lander on the moon, manned or unmanned.
Chemestry is pretty good at all three, again, with math a fairly critical component.
We can observe water. We can predict that combining two parts hydrogen with one part oxygen will produce water. And it will work every time.
Psychology is a philosopho-science. You can observe behavior. You can predict some behavior, but not very well, and occasionally you can replicate behavior. Most of psychology, though, is more philosophical than scientific.
Likewise, Sociology.
(For the record, Psychology and Sociology were my majors in college.)
Weather. Ah, weather.
You can certainly observe weather. You certainly can predict weather with only a hint of certainty. Weather cannot be replicated very well, except in small chambers and in computer models (which are tainted with the input of the data entry process.)
For instance, where goes hurricane Wilma?
The "cone of uncertainty," at this writing, covers almost the entire west coast of Florida, from the "big bend" to the Florida Keys. Thanks for the help, guys.
But then, why do we expect that the same people who cannot tell us with any accuracy whether or where it will rain, could begin to tell us where it will hurricane?
Why do we think they know what is happening with "global warming?"
There is a cold front that has made its way across much of the nation. Already, some states have had snow.
This is global warming?
The earths atmosphere is far too vast, and there is far too much data about which we do NOT know to be able to talk about weather or global warming with any degree of certainty.
If you think this atmosphere is big, you should consider the greatness of our Creator.
Isaiah tells us that His right hand spans the universe.
The Hubble space telescope has shown us that the universe is far more vast than even the best scientists had thought. They were rather taken by surprise by what it revealed.
And God's right hand spans it.
When we sing, "What a mighty God we serve," we ain't just whistlin' "Dixie."
When the splitting of an atom can release the energy to distroy Hiroshima, and the universe is made up of trillions of atoms to the trillionth power and the God we serve is more powerful than would be the splitting of them all, we must conclude that He is a fearful and awesome God.
That a God that powerful, that awesome, that mighty, that majestic, that holy and that righteous loves little ole "nothing" me is the most astonishing thought possible.
He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our praise. He is worthy of our devotion. He is worthy of our servitude. He is worthy of our self-lessness. He is worthy of our thanksgiving. He is worthy of our right attitudes. He is worthy of our time, talents and abilities. He is worthy of our giving 100% of ourselves to Him without any reservation at all.
Oh, and one more thing.
He knows where Wilma is going.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
COMMENT WARS-The Blogpost
The time has come to admit defeat.
I am over 100 comments behind Phil Johnson, and time is running out (I think Jesus is coming back Tuesday at 7:30 pm).
It's true, defeat is hard to take.
But what am I...a man or a mouse?
Hard to tell. I do love cheese.
It has been a riotous trip and great fun. Thanks to those of you who realized what was going on and took part.
To those of you who just couldn't figure it out, don't worry. The rest of us will never admit to being OK.
Never having been one to fear going out on a limb, I want to share what I thought were the funniest comments in terms of the spirit of what was happening.
I really loved them all: the repeats; the friendliness, the whole thing. But these got me to laughing...and that's what I enjoy most in life.
First the winner. Not the funniest (but pretty droll, when you think about it), but the 100th.
His/her name will be forever lost in antiquity or the cluttered closet of life, for he/she had not the courage to leave us his/her name. It was:
Anonymous: I think people have might too much time on there hands. (I'm sure he/she meant "their")
David, Sugar Loaf Mountain, said: joe - I am sending the blog administrator lady over to put the KYBOSH on this whole bogus million comment march you have going. And: Can I run an ad for my blog here?
Libby, Musings of an English Muffin offered: This is just the wierdest net-pastime yet.. I love it.
Here's what Marc, further up & further in music had to say: Your pathetic begging on PYRO has obviously paid off!I know its working for me...
One of my favorite people, Jeremy, Jeremy Weaver's Blog said: Joe! What up? Since you've got the bizarro Phil thing going over here, maybe we should talk about ducks and whether they escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?
What can you say about Nettie, Mistress Tootie Belle ? She's unique and adds: I'm not going to leave a comment. Just to go against the trend. Hey, wait a minute...
After I admitted to commenting on Phil Johnson's blog, John, at Passion to Write wrote: I'm doing all I can to at least make you look good in the standings, but if you're gonna visit the other side, I'm outta here. And: Just post whatever you feel you must or shouldn't, and leave the comments to whoever's in charge of such things. I think would be best for this situation as I am totally sure that I'm not sure if I helped or hurt. Can i get a big Amen on that?
Skillfully mixing themes from two of my posts, Rose's Reasonings ' Rose told me: God told me to tell you that you are a blog sensation!
I think Denise was the very first commenter on my very first post. From Just Thinkin' : Writing nothing is under-rated. I write nothing all the time. And it feels good.
There is another John. I call him, John (the other). He's at The Cutting Edge and writes: I also like your blogs about nothing. Its the Seinfeld approuch to blogging.
I get my biggest blogjollies from Think Sink , featuring the many skills of Jeff H. He asks: Or is there a distinction to be made between "not posting" and "posting nothing" that I'm missing here?
And from the man himself, Phil Johnson, the inimitable, the one and only, the master of commentology, the Pyromaniac we have this: Of course Phil Johnson frequents this blog. You're an inspiration to me, Joe. Maybe I should lay off another week.
Now with regard to Phil's comment. I don't know whether it is really from him or not. I am no longer certain such a person really exists. We can not touch him. We cannot feel him. We cannot hear him. And now we cannot even read him. We must take him by faith.
Since one can post as someone else, it is entirely possible that someone else commented on my post, claiming to be Phil. It is also possible that it really was Phil. Or maybe a bunch of chimpanzees were sat at a typewriter, randomly pecking away, and they came up with this comment on my blog.
Phil, if it was you, it was an honor.
If it was someone else, it was still an honor that anyone would go to that much trouble to be an im-post-er (get it? Post....). Plus, don't you need a user name and password to comment? Hmmm.
With Phil's soon return (not to be confused with Jesus' return Tuesday night at 7:30), the blogosphere will undoubtedly revert to its previous state of dignity and respect.
I had no inkling how much fun my silly post about the number of comments on Phil's blog while he was away would be, but it was.
Thanks for the excitement!
God bless you all.
Have a great day. Make it a Christ filled day. I'll see you here tomorrow.
But if I don't see you here...I'll see you over there.
I am over 100 comments behind Phil Johnson, and time is running out (I think Jesus is coming back Tuesday at 7:30 pm).
It's true, defeat is hard to take.
But what am I...a man or a mouse?
Hard to tell. I do love cheese.
It has been a riotous trip and great fun. Thanks to those of you who realized what was going on and took part.
To those of you who just couldn't figure it out, don't worry. The rest of us will never admit to being OK.
Never having been one to fear going out on a limb, I want to share what I thought were the funniest comments in terms of the spirit of what was happening.
I really loved them all: the repeats; the friendliness, the whole thing. But these got me to laughing...and that's what I enjoy most in life.
First the winner. Not the funniest (but pretty droll, when you think about it), but the 100th.
His/her name will be forever lost in antiquity or the cluttered closet of life, for he/she had not the courage to leave us his/her name. It was:
Anonymous: I think people have might too much time on there hands. (I'm sure he/she meant "their")
David, Sugar Loaf Mountain, said: joe - I am sending the blog administrator lady over to put the KYBOSH on this whole bogus million comment march you have going. And: Can I run an ad for my blog here?
Libby, Musings of an English Muffin offered: This is just the wierdest net-pastime yet.. I love it.
Here's what Marc, further up & further in music had to say: Your pathetic begging on PYRO has obviously paid off!I know its working for me...
One of my favorite people, Jeremy, Jeremy Weaver's Blog said: Joe! What up? Since you've got the bizarro Phil thing going over here, maybe we should talk about ducks and whether they escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?
What can you say about Nettie, Mistress Tootie Belle ? She's unique and adds: I'm not going to leave a comment. Just to go against the trend. Hey, wait a minute...
After I admitted to commenting on Phil Johnson's blog, John, at Passion to Write wrote: I'm doing all I can to at least make you look good in the standings, but if you're gonna visit the other side, I'm outta here. And: Just post whatever you feel you must or shouldn't, and leave the comments to whoever's in charge of such things. I think would be best for this situation as I am totally sure that I'm not sure if I helped or hurt. Can i get a big Amen on that?
Skillfully mixing themes from two of my posts, Rose's Reasonings ' Rose told me: God told me to tell you that you are a blog sensation!
I think Denise was the very first commenter on my very first post. From Just Thinkin' : Writing nothing is under-rated. I write nothing all the time. And it feels good.
There is another John. I call him, John (the other). He's at The Cutting Edge and writes: I also like your blogs about nothing. Its the Seinfeld approuch to blogging.
I get my biggest blogjollies from Think Sink , featuring the many skills of Jeff H. He asks: Or is there a distinction to be made between "not posting" and "posting nothing" that I'm missing here?
And from the man himself, Phil Johnson, the inimitable, the one and only, the master of commentology, the Pyromaniac we have this: Of course Phil Johnson frequents this blog. You're an inspiration to me, Joe. Maybe I should lay off another week.
Now with regard to Phil's comment. I don't know whether it is really from him or not. I am no longer certain such a person really exists. We can not touch him. We cannot feel him. We cannot hear him. And now we cannot even read him. We must take him by faith.
Since one can post as someone else, it is entirely possible that someone else commented on my post, claiming to be Phil. It is also possible that it really was Phil. Or maybe a bunch of chimpanzees were sat at a typewriter, randomly pecking away, and they came up with this comment on my blog.
Phil, if it was you, it was an honor.
If it was someone else, it was still an honor that anyone would go to that much trouble to be an im-post-er (get it? Post....). Plus, don't you need a user name and password to comment? Hmmm.
With Phil's soon return (not to be confused with Jesus' return Tuesday night at 7:30), the blogosphere will undoubtedly revert to its previous state of dignity and respect.
I had no inkling how much fun my silly post about the number of comments on Phil's blog while he was away would be, but it was.
Thanks for the excitement!
God bless you all.
Have a great day. Make it a Christ filled day. I'll see you here tomorrow.
But if I don't see you here...I'll see you over there.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Crazyfire
I just came from Pyromaniac .
As I left there were 124 comments.
Phil is NOT posting!
He is gone!
Kaput!
Writing nothing!
Yet he gets 124+ comments!
I write my best work and get 12 maybe 15 comments. Tops.
Phil quits writing and gets 124+ comments!
Foul! Foul, I tell you! Foul!
OK That's it! I've had it with Phil Johnson.
I can do as well as he.
From now on I will blog nothing.
What's that?
What's that you say?
I've been blogging nothing from the beginning?
Oh, the pain of degradation!
I'm wounded to the core.
If that's how you feel then never mind. I will continue posting as always.
Now see what you've done?
As I left there were 124 comments.
Phil is NOT posting!
He is gone!
Kaput!
Writing nothing!
Yet he gets 124+ comments!
I write my best work and get 12 maybe 15 comments. Tops.
Phil quits writing and gets 124+ comments!
Foul! Foul, I tell you! Foul!
OK That's it! I've had it with Phil Johnson.
I can do as well as he.
From now on I will blog nothing.
What's that?
What's that you say?
I've been blogging nothing from the beginning?
Oh, the pain of degradation!
I'm wounded to the core.
If that's how you feel then never mind. I will continue posting as always.
Now see what you've done?
Monday, October 17, 2005
Hearing by the Word
So many of you had such kind things to say about yesterday's post (Sunday Praise), that I thought I had better do something about it.
Warning! Today's post brings out the self-righteous indignation in me. You must be able to distinguish between my actual thoughts and my tongue-in-cheek thoughts in order to proceed safely.
I work at a Christian radio station, as some of you know. I have the early morning shift: 6:00 am is my start time.
In order to be at work on time, I have to get up at 4:00 am. I have done this for many years, and it is easy for me, as long as I get a good night's sleep.
Last night I went to bed at my regular time and soon fell into a pretty good slumber.
To my dismay, about an hour and a half into my sleep, the phone rang.
Now my mother is back in the hospital (doing better, thank you) and I thought the call might be about her. So with some trembling, I went to the phone to answer it. I said, somewhat sleepily, "Hello."
A very loud female voice responded. "Hello," she said. "Is this the Joe Scoggins who works at the radio station?"
"Yeth it ith," I answered. (I tend to lisp when I am half awake.)
"I just got out of church and God told me to call you and let you know that Alphonse wants to come help you guys move." (We are moving to new facilities, and somehow she found out about it. I guess Alphonse did, too.) "I just wanted you to know that I can vouch for him."
So that is why I am mad at God.
Of all people, He should know that I am old, I have a heart condition, and I need my sleep. Why in the world did He tell her to call at that time of night?
Of course we all know that God is not bound by time, but I am. He should have told her to call before my bed time.
Truth is, He did NOT tell her to call.
Some Christians are such spiritual pygmies that they think God speaks audibly to them about mundane things and are willing to expose their ignorance by telling others that He does.
Now look, before you go off half-cocked, I know God can speak to us if He chooses to do so. but I can tell you this: Nothing God has to say to us is contrary to, in conflict with, or a further revelation of His word.
A careful reading of His word reveals absolutely NO instance in which God spoke to anyone for any reason other than to either make them a great leader or to write a part of His word.
And He CERTAINLY does not tell people to do things that are improper, impolite, self-serving, counter-productive, harmful or contrary to what He has told someone else to do.
While I was in college (Stetson University...class of '65), one of my class mates walked up to a pretty girl and said, "God has told me to marry you. You are to be my wife."
She slapped his face. (Rightly so, I think.)
Another aquaintance of mine was convinced that God had told her she was to marry a certain Christian celbrity. She went so far as to make her way back to his dressing room after his presentation and tell him so.
Neither was married, but believe me, God never told her that. I have personally known this celebrity for many years. God never told her that. Period. He didn't. No. Trust me.
When we are ready to be specially and uniquely used of God for a single purpose which He has purposed for us in Christ Jesus, and when He has prepared us spiritually for the task of leading His own to new heights, then He might speak out loud to us.
Maybe. If He wants to, not just because we want Him to.
"Well do you mean to tell me that you don't think God can speak to us if He chooses to do so?"
What, have you not been paying attention? Of course He can.
But unless we are especially chosen, He won't.
What some Christians think is, "I have this thought. It seems right to me. It must be God speaking to me."
BALDER-EVER-LOVIN'-BLUE-EYED-DASH!
"If God would only speak to me, I would know His will."
Look, God has done ALL the speaking He needs to for us to know His will. It is in His word. When we have done everything He has laid out for us in His word, then we may be ready to hear from Him audibly. Not until then.
I'm not there yet and I seriously doubt whether you are either.
Hey...Jesus spoke directly to folks when He walked the earth physically. Most of them did not believe Him or follow Him.
So the next time "God" tells you to call me when I have already been asleep for an hour and a half, realize that it is not Him talking. It is either your imagination or you need to say, "Get thee behind me, Satan."
Don't call me.
PS: I'm not really mad at God. I love Him and trust Him. That was a literary tool to get you to think. OK?
Warning! Today's post brings out the self-righteous indignation in me. You must be able to distinguish between my actual thoughts and my tongue-in-cheek thoughts in order to proceed safely.
I work at a Christian radio station, as some of you know. I have the early morning shift: 6:00 am is my start time.
In order to be at work on time, I have to get up at 4:00 am. I have done this for many years, and it is easy for me, as long as I get a good night's sleep.
Last night I went to bed at my regular time and soon fell into a pretty good slumber.
To my dismay, about an hour and a half into my sleep, the phone rang.
Now my mother is back in the hospital (doing better, thank you) and I thought the call might be about her. So with some trembling, I went to the phone to answer it. I said, somewhat sleepily, "Hello."
A very loud female voice responded. "Hello," she said. "Is this the Joe Scoggins who works at the radio station?"
"Yeth it ith," I answered. (I tend to lisp when I am half awake.)
"I just got out of church and God told me to call you and let you know that Alphonse wants to come help you guys move." (We are moving to new facilities, and somehow she found out about it. I guess Alphonse did, too.) "I just wanted you to know that I can vouch for him."
So that is why I am mad at God.
Of all people, He should know that I am old, I have a heart condition, and I need my sleep. Why in the world did He tell her to call at that time of night?
Of course we all know that God is not bound by time, but I am. He should have told her to call before my bed time.
Truth is, He did NOT tell her to call.
Some Christians are such spiritual pygmies that they think God speaks audibly to them about mundane things and are willing to expose their ignorance by telling others that He does.
Now look, before you go off half-cocked, I know God can speak to us if He chooses to do so. but I can tell you this: Nothing God has to say to us is contrary to, in conflict with, or a further revelation of His word.
A careful reading of His word reveals absolutely NO instance in which God spoke to anyone for any reason other than to either make them a great leader or to write a part of His word.
And He CERTAINLY does not tell people to do things that are improper, impolite, self-serving, counter-productive, harmful or contrary to what He has told someone else to do.
While I was in college (Stetson University...class of '65), one of my class mates walked up to a pretty girl and said, "God has told me to marry you. You are to be my wife."
She slapped his face. (Rightly so, I think.)
Another aquaintance of mine was convinced that God had told her she was to marry a certain Christian celbrity. She went so far as to make her way back to his dressing room after his presentation and tell him so.
Neither was married, but believe me, God never told her that. I have personally known this celebrity for many years. God never told her that. Period. He didn't. No. Trust me.
When we are ready to be specially and uniquely used of God for a single purpose which He has purposed for us in Christ Jesus, and when He has prepared us spiritually for the task of leading His own to new heights, then He might speak out loud to us.
Maybe. If He wants to, not just because we want Him to.
"Well do you mean to tell me that you don't think God can speak to us if He chooses to do so?"
What, have you not been paying attention? Of course He can.
But unless we are especially chosen, He won't.
What some Christians think is, "I have this thought. It seems right to me. It must be God speaking to me."
BALDER-EVER-LOVIN'-BLUE-EYED-DASH!
"If God would only speak to me, I would know His will."
Look, God has done ALL the speaking He needs to for us to know His will. It is in His word. When we have done everything He has laid out for us in His word, then we may be ready to hear from Him audibly. Not until then.
I'm not there yet and I seriously doubt whether you are either.
Hey...Jesus spoke directly to folks when He walked the earth physically. Most of them did not believe Him or follow Him.
So the next time "God" tells you to call me when I have already been asleep for an hour and a half, realize that it is not Him talking. It is either your imagination or you need to say, "Get thee behind me, Satan."
Don't call me.
PS: I'm not really mad at God. I love Him and trust Him. That was a literary tool to get you to think. OK?
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Sunday Praise
Father, in the name of Jesus, I come to recognize your might and your power. I seek your will above all else. Thank you for your gracious provision. Let the blood of Christ pour over my sin and my sins and help me to have the same attitude toward others that you have toward me. Lead me to overcome those times when I would stray from the center of your will. Enable me to praise you daily now and forever.
I have not been faithful to you as I ought, but you have always been faithful to me. You have never turned your back on me. You have been steadfast and sure. You cared for me when I did not care for you and your have cared for me since I began caring for you.
No mattert he season, Heavenly Father, you have been faithful. All of the universe gives witness to your faithfulness. All creation shouts of your faithfulness.
You have given me life when there was none. You have bestowed the peace that passes understanding. You have given me hope and have directed my step. You have given me strength, hope and blessings beyond measure.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
by Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/gisthyf.htm
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
I have not been faithful to you as I ought, but you have always been faithful to me. You have never turned your back on me. You have been steadfast and sure. You cared for me when I did not care for you and your have cared for me since I began caring for you.
No mattert he season, Heavenly Father, you have been faithful. All of the universe gives witness to your faithfulness. All creation shouts of your faithfulness.
You have given me life when there was none. You have bestowed the peace that passes understanding. You have given me hope and have directed my step. You have given me strength, hope and blessings beyond measure.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
by Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/gisthyf.htm
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Haughty, Haughty, Haughty
Theologians have their place. I am not at all sure where it is, but they surely have one.
After all, we need people who can define the minutia of the meanings of God's word for us, the various aspects of the nature of God and how we should apply it to our lives.
We need some folks who can do the work that the Holy Spirit of God cannot do for us, Him being so small and all. We need educated men and women who can keep us straight.
As an example, there are grave mistakes on the part of the "average" Christian with regard to baptism.
(For the purposes of this dissertation, let us asume that we all read the same Bible in one or the other of its various translations and that we have read the related passages. If you haven't, go read them before partaking of this post.)
Some say you cannot be a "good" Christian unless you have been baptised. Others contend that baptism is a part of what actually saves you. Then there are those who see baptism as symbolic, but necessary, while some see it as not really important, but not a bad "religious" thing to do.
Some say infant baptism is valid, others claim it is not.
Some see an imagined "age of accountability," while others seem to think that if you are "raised a Chritian" you must be one, baptism or not.
For the record, here is what I believe:
Baptism does not save. Baptism is an ordinance. Baptism is a testimony to what God has done in one's life through Christ. Baptism is a "reinactment" by a Christian of Christ's death, burial and resurrection (in infant baptism, and/or sprinkling, where is the burial part?). Baptism is a "should be done," not a "must be done." (For the unititiated, those are deep theological phrases.) The proper form of baptism is imersian, because that is how Jesus was baptised (I know...I saw it in a picture.) Other forms may serve as memorials, but don't call them "baptism."
That is my story, and I'm sticking with it. I'm 63 years old, have studied God's word every day for 45 of those years and am not about to change my mind. (Don't bother quoting scripture verses to me, I have already read them. )
If you do not hold to my view, you are abviously missing something. Certainly someone as smart as you can see that I'm right.
But it's OK. This is America. You have the right to be wrong.
Fortunately, we have theologians to set us straight.
Right.
There are as many "theological" points of view as there are theologs to hold them.
As a theologian, you can be a St. Augustianian, you can be a Spurgeanite, you can be a Calvanist, you can be a Lutheranite, or even a Benny Hennian...well, you get the idea.
The problem arises when we discover that each school vigorously defends its own postition, and discussions with them result in confusion and sometimes even anger.
So how does that relate to the unity among His followers for which Christ prayed in John 17?
Now what I am about to say is designed to incite.
My experience with "theologians" has not been good. They almost always at least border on arrogance. They accept viewpoints only from other "theologians." Having "studied" theology, they know the answers and the rest of us don't.
Theologians see themselves as having insights that most of us don't. Nevermind that they were "taught" their theology by someone who had the same approach.
Theologians are universally defensive.
While I have met some theologians who were wildly liberal in their social viewpoints. I have met some theololgians who were ultra-conservative. I have never met one who said, "You know...you're right. I had never considered that before. Now I need to adjust my thinking."
But they all want me to adopt their line of thinking (Truth be known, they don't give a running flip what I think.)
So. If you are a self-proclaimed theologian, you are probably steamed by now. Pity.
And now, in violation of my own rules about quoting scripture (but this is my blog...I can violate my own rules if I want to [he said, haughtily]), are some verses of interest.
Pr 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pr 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Pr 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
Isa 10:33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
I like that last one...don't you?
UPDATE 1
Related topic: OK, folks, read what is really being said in my post...don't be mislead by the tongue in my cheek.
UPDATE 2
Related Topic: Harriet Miers: If she is confirmed, Bush wins. If she is not confirmed, the next nominee will be a shoe-in, Bush wins. Either way.....
I think the majority of the opposition on the grounds that she "is not qualified" are idiots. All of them. Read the Constitution. She is qualified.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Superstitious?
In the immortal words of Pogo, "Friday the thirteenth falls on a Thursday this month."
Most of us are unwilling to admit to superstitions. Most of us, however, succumb at one time or another.
Do you walk under ladders?
How about black cats? Do you feel creepy when one crosses your path?
Do you fear Friday the thirteenth?
I had a friend who would walk all the way around the house in order to enter the same door she exited.
What about "Knock on wood?" Maybe you knock on your head when you say it, thus letting everybody know that "you don't really believe it...you just do it for fun."
Of course.
Do we sometimes treat our faith as though it were a superstition?
I had another friend who placed his Bible on the dashboard of his truck because it protected him from accidents. "See?" he would say, "It works. The only accident I've ever had was very minor."
So, did it protect him or not? (As far as I know, he never read it...just used it.)
This is worse than the plastic button I keep on the table next to the door to keep elephants out of my yard. It works! I have never had an elephant in my yard.
Does that seem absurd?
Let me tell you what's absurd.
Any time we use a verse of scripture out of its total context to "prove" a point, we are treating God's word as a superstitution.
Whenever we expect God to depart from His Holy Will to accomodate some real or imagined need we have, we are treating our faith as a superstition.
If we assume that God wants what we want instead of the other way around, we are treating our faith as a superstition.
When we engage in actions to accomplish some "spiritual" end that is not modeled in scripture ("place your hand on the television as a point of contact..."), we are treating our faith as a superstition.
There are verses of scripture that we have heard used in a particular way all of our lives, but upon examination we discover that in their context they do not really mean that at all.
If we do not then immeidately change how we think about that scripture, we are using our faith as a superstition.
Do we believe something about God that is not clearly defined in His Word? We are treating our faith as a superstition.
Expecting God to do for us something that suits our whim, when there is no spiritual or scriptural reason for Him to do so, is treating our faith as a superstition.
"Please, please, God, do this for me because I want it so much." (Ever "pray" that before buying a lottery ticket?) That's not a reason for God to do something for us. It is using our faith as a superstitution.
God is not our substitute for a "genie of the lamp," nor is He a civilized substitute for a witch-doctor. He is not a mystical, etherial whiff of spirituality floating around in the atmosphere.
He is the first person of the Trinity, holy, righteous, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, sovereign, transcendent, unfathomnable, infinite, loving, merciful. He is GOD.
He is not a superstition.
Let's not treat Him like one.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
I Just Can't Wait Any More
Warning: Do NOT attempt to read this post unless you are willing to scrape, dig, and hang in there to the end. If your mind is rigid, you will not make it. You must be willing to make associations. Proceed at your own risk.
For the purposes of this post, please make me the Grand Potenhamous of the Union of Citizoffers. And let's pretend that it is my duty to nominate a person to fill a retiring Decidinhoffer's position on the Major Decidenhoffer of the land.
Next, let's pretend that our Official Behavior and Decidenhoffen document prescribes that the Senalyinhoffers have the job of interviewing my nominee and saying, "Good pick O Grand Potenhamous. It is our advice that you put this citizoffer in the retiring Decidinhoffer's position."
Only let's pretend that the Senalyinhoffers don't like to be restricted to just saying, "OK" to my choice, but think that if they pomp, puff, and pilander enough the rest of the citizoffers will think, "What a good job those Senalyinhoffers are doing of protecting us from the selection of a Decidenhoffer who might actually stand for something.
In fact, in the past, the Senalyinhoffers have blabbered, bellowed and blustered over my previous nominations of Decidenhoffers so much, and have had so much support from the medihoffers in the land, that my nominations said, "OK, nevermind," and the one I did nominate who was approved to sit at the helm of all the Decidenhoffers, was allowed due to a deal between myself and the Senalyinhoffers not to blabber, bellow and bluster over that one as long as the next one I pick is to their tastes.
So now let's all get our heads together and see what can be done.
I consult with my advisenhoffers and we jibber over our direction.
I could pick from a bunch of really well known Decidenhoffers who are strong and willing to fight for a position on the Major Decidenhoffer and whose positions are firm and well known, and against whom the Senalyinhoffers are likely to resume their blabbering, bellowing and blustering until absolutely nothing gets done (a condition to which they are used, but the rest of the citizoffers don't want), OR, I could perform what amounts to a "quarterback sneak" and nominate an A+ lawhoffer, whose positions I know supremely well, but whose said positions are not as well known to the Senalyinhoffers and the Medihoffers.
All of the Senalyinhoffers would be sent into a tailspin.
The Senalyinhoffers who were my enemies would not be able to find a reason to blabber, bellow, and bluster and I would still get the same result I would have gotten had I nominated one of the better known Decidenhoffers.
True...the Senalyinhoffers would not be the only ones confused, there would also be the Medihoffers and people like Rash Limhoffer, but the nomination is very likely to be consumated.
If the Senalyinhoffers renig and descent, no harm, no foul.
They then would be much less able to blabber, bellow and bluster about one of the stronger Decidenhoffers when I nominate him...her...them...whatever.
Either way, while I am enjoying the height of political geniusism, the Senalyinhoffers would be relegated to the burnt wood pile, left to just sit on their ashes.
And I would rest on my laurels with my legacy intact and the citizhoffers once again able to follow the postulates of the Official Behavior and Decidenhoffen document.
OK. Stop pretending now.
We all know that we live in The United States of America and that a scenario such as is described above could never happen.
Unless, that is, we had a really "dumb, stupid" Yale graduate serving as President who was, in the end, the greatest political strategist who ever lived.
Well whaddaya know.
For the purposes of this post, please make me the Grand Potenhamous of the Union of Citizoffers. And let's pretend that it is my duty to nominate a person to fill a retiring Decidinhoffer's position on the Major Decidenhoffer of the land.
Next, let's pretend that our Official Behavior and Decidenhoffen document prescribes that the Senalyinhoffers have the job of interviewing my nominee and saying, "Good pick O Grand Potenhamous. It is our advice that you put this citizoffer in the retiring Decidinhoffer's position."
Only let's pretend that the Senalyinhoffers don't like to be restricted to just saying, "OK" to my choice, but think that if they pomp, puff, and pilander enough the rest of the citizoffers will think, "What a good job those Senalyinhoffers are doing of protecting us from the selection of a Decidenhoffer who might actually stand for something.
In fact, in the past, the Senalyinhoffers have blabbered, bellowed and blustered over my previous nominations of Decidenhoffers so much, and have had so much support from the medihoffers in the land, that my nominations said, "OK, nevermind," and the one I did nominate who was approved to sit at the helm of all the Decidenhoffers, was allowed due to a deal between myself and the Senalyinhoffers not to blabber, bellow and bluster over that one as long as the next one I pick is to their tastes.
So now let's all get our heads together and see what can be done.
I consult with my advisenhoffers and we jibber over our direction.
I could pick from a bunch of really well known Decidenhoffers who are strong and willing to fight for a position on the Major Decidenhoffer and whose positions are firm and well known, and against whom the Senalyinhoffers are likely to resume their blabbering, bellowing and blustering until absolutely nothing gets done (a condition to which they are used, but the rest of the citizoffers don't want), OR, I could perform what amounts to a "quarterback sneak" and nominate an A+ lawhoffer, whose positions I know supremely well, but whose said positions are not as well known to the Senalyinhoffers and the Medihoffers.
All of the Senalyinhoffers would be sent into a tailspin.
The Senalyinhoffers who were my enemies would not be able to find a reason to blabber, bellow, and bluster and I would still get the same result I would have gotten had I nominated one of the better known Decidenhoffers.
True...the Senalyinhoffers would not be the only ones confused, there would also be the Medihoffers and people like Rash Limhoffer, but the nomination is very likely to be consumated.
If the Senalyinhoffers renig and descent, no harm, no foul.
They then would be much less able to blabber, bellow and bluster about one of the stronger Decidenhoffers when I nominate him...her...them...whatever.
Either way, while I am enjoying the height of political geniusism, the Senalyinhoffers would be relegated to the burnt wood pile, left to just sit on their ashes.
And I would rest on my laurels with my legacy intact and the citizhoffers once again able to follow the postulates of the Official Behavior and Decidenhoffen document.
OK. Stop pretending now.
We all know that we live in The United States of America and that a scenario such as is described above could never happen.
Unless, that is, we had a really "dumb, stupid" Yale graduate serving as President who was, in the end, the greatest political strategist who ever lived.
Well whaddaya know.
Loving Each Other (From A Distance)
This blogging thing is very interesting.
I feel a bond with every one of the people whose blogs I regularly visit, and who regularly visit me. I suppose you each have the same experience.
The people I visit are of various writing skills. Some are pedantic. Others are fluid. A few are "sophomoric," while there are some who are just verbose. Several writers reveal emotional difficulties, yet others give the impression that "they have arrived." There are those who write with confidence and some seem timid, yet determined.
So, why do I feel such a bond?
Could it be that the experience of reading others' thoughts, those that they are willing to write for the general public to see, gives us such a small picture of who they really are that we complete the picture in our own minds, putting positive imaginations at the fore?
How many of you, if you were to "hang" with me for more than an hour at a time, would tire of the way I look at everything with a sort of warped (by some standards) view?
It doesn't even bother me that people sometimes see me that way. A fellow said to me, "Joe, you are really wierd," to which I responded, "You need to keep that in mind."
With how many of you, were I to be in your presence for much time, would I tire because you take "too much" too seriously?
Yet in the blogosphere, we can be friends, even good friends.
Many of us have a common bond in Christ. Yet we see him differently. We have different interpretations of who He is and what He does. We hold to different doctrines and teachings.
A few of you have had "theological" training. Most of us have not. Yet we are all willing to expose our theology and philosophy to others.
Some of us approach our Christianity from a purely "mystical" direction, others are much more pragmatic. Both approaches cannot be 100% right. Neither approach can be 100% wrong. Yet the person of Jesus unites us.
I really, really like reading your thoughts. I really, really like that you come read mine.
Somebody explain all of this to me.
Or not.
This blogging thing is very interesting.
I feel a bond with every one of the people whose blogs I regularly visit, and who regularly visit me. I suppose you each have the same experience.
The people I visit are of various writing skills. Some are pedantic. Others are fluid. A few are "sophomoric," while there are some who are just verbose. Several writers reveal emotional difficulties, yet others give the impression that "they have arrived." There are those who write with confidence and some seem timid, yet determined.
So, why do I feel such a bond?
Could it be that the experience of reading others' thoughts, those that they are willing to write for the general public to see, gives us such a small picture of who they really are that we complete the picture in our own minds, putting positive imaginations at the fore?
How many of you, if you were to "hang" with me for more than an hour at a time, would tire of the way I look at everything with a sort of warped (by some standards) view?
It doesn't even bother me that people sometimes see me that way. A fellow said to me, "Joe, you are really wierd," to which I responded, "You need to keep that in mind."
With how many of you, were I to be in your presence for much time, would I tire because you take "too much" too seriously?
Yet in the blogosphere, we can be friends, even good friends.
Many of us have a common bond in Christ. Yet we see him differently. We have different interpretations of who He is and what He does. We hold to different doctrines and teachings.
A few of you have had "theological" training. Most of us have not. Yet we are all willing to expose our theology and philosophy to others.
Some of us approach our Christianity from a purely "mystical" direction, others are much more pragmatic. Both approaches cannot be 100% right. Neither approach can be 100% wrong. Yet the person of Jesus unites us.
I really, really like reading your thoughts. I really, really like that you come read mine.
Somebody explain all of this to me.
Or not.
This blogging thing is very interesting.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Sunday Praise
Jesus, in your name I come to proclaim how marvelous you are.
As I consider your majesty as King of kings, the one who will rule over all the earth, help me to remember that you are at once the Creator and the Son.
Lord Jesus, may everything that I do, every thought I have, every place that I go bring nothing but honor to you. May my love for you grow daily.
Your creation is beyond beautiful. The templed hills, the magnificent mountains, the lush valleys, the rivers and lakes, the great canyons, flatlands and deserts give evidence of your beauty, which surpasses them all.
Fairest Lord Jesus.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faljesus.htm
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine,Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.
As I consider your majesty as King of kings, the one who will rule over all the earth, help me to remember that you are at once the Creator and the Son.
Lord Jesus, may everything that I do, every thought I have, every place that I go bring nothing but honor to you. May my love for you grow daily.
Your creation is beyond beautiful. The templed hills, the magnificent mountains, the lush valleys, the rivers and lakes, the great canyons, flatlands and deserts give evidence of your beauty, which surpasses them all.
Fairest Lord Jesus.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faljesus.htm
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine,Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Oh the Horror of It All!
This is Rose. I was over at her site Rose's Reasonings where she was showing some of the pictures with which other bloggers identify themselves. Some of the pictures are quite frightening. Why would someone use such a picture to associate him/herself that was scary?I don't know the answer to that, but Rose missed some of the scariest ones out there.
As a public service, and for the protection of bloggers everywhere, I have decided to reveal to you the scariest picture IDs in the blogosphere.
Be warned...this could be traumatic.
Here is one that Jeremy uses on his site. Look deep into the eyes. See the deep darkness. Be afraid.
The next one is Nettie. She gives the impression of innocence and peacefullness. Do not be deceived! This is a picture of a person with a different kind of mind. Of that you can be certain.
Everybody knows this one. Its the dreaded Jeff H. This is a picture that strikes fear into the very heart and pituitary gland of every left wing blogophile. How can one look at this image and not grasp its full impact?
A happy looking couple comes your way next. But don't be fooled by the smiles. There is a level of emotion here that could easily be missed. Be advised: Don't miss it!
Now it is starting to get grim. This happy guy is all smiles. But don't overlook the coat. Why would a person wear a coat on a blog that is viewed in Florida? It's enough to make you think. Right, John?
The picture you will see next is not so frightening in-and-of itself. It's the name. Jayleigh. Jayleigh...can you say the name? Just because it is a beautiful name is no reason to let down your guard.
Here's the guy who started it all. The PYROMANIAC! I mean, "Pyro." That means fire. And Maniac...well we all know what that means. Note the shades. No eye contact here. Shiver!
Darlene. The woman who gives new meaning to the phrase, "hold your head up." I ask you. When you look on this visage, can you?
Have you ever been stared at before? Steve stares. Look at the stare. Stare back. Hold that pose if you must, but please don't come crying to me.
And now the moment you have all been waiting for. The scariest picture in the blogosphere. With Halloween just around the corner, it is little wonder that this image would be included in a post like this. Brace yourself. Get protection. Dial 722. Do whatever it takes. Whatever you do, do NOT look at the next image unless you know what you are getting into. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
With all of that stress, you need something soothing and quieting. So here is an image of a sweet lady who will calm your nerves. Her name is Bonnie. She is the love of my life, and one of the best things to happen to blogging...ever.
(I don't know anything about the bloggers whose icons I used here ... I just think their icons are INTERESTING! ... this was all in fun ... I hope it is understood ... "no offense intended")
Friday, October 07, 2005
To Change or Not to Change?
I have been following with interest the discussion on Jeff Wright's Blog about the nature of the elements in the Lord's Supper (The word "Communion" seems very odd to me).
There is Transsubstantiation, Consubstantiation, and other tiations that characterize various denominations' teachings on the subject.
Now I have a tendency to view things from a more practical point of view without getting all mystical about it.
Here's what I know: 1) Jesus ate the bread and drank the drink (read: wine); 2) He told us to do it. 3) He used some words that are at least open to interpretation. 4) Your interpretation is as good as mine, but mine is probably correct. So say they all.
I think we should approach the Lord's Supper with reverence and prayer.
We must be sure we are worthy by reminding ourselves that our worthiness comes not from our own purity, but from the purity imparted to us by Christ's death, burial and resurrection and His living in our hearts.
What happens to the bread when I eat it? Does it literally become the body of Christ? Is that the whole wafer or just the part in my mouth? What part of the body is it? Is it a part of His heart? Maybe its part of His gall bladder.
If it is just a reminder, what kind of reminder is it?
In my mouth, the bread feels like bread and the juice (Hey! I'm a Baptist. We don't do wine [but Jesus did.]) tastes like juice.
Well, here is my difinitive answer to the delima: I don't know.
I do know that when I partake of the Lord's Supper, my focus is totally on Jesus. He becomes the in all, of all, by all and through all of everything I am and am doing.
And so I observe this ordinance/sacrement with all of my heart.
I think that is good and Biblical.
There is Transsubstantiation, Consubstantiation, and other tiations that characterize various denominations' teachings on the subject.
Now I have a tendency to view things from a more practical point of view without getting all mystical about it.
Here's what I know: 1) Jesus ate the bread and drank the drink (read: wine); 2) He told us to do it. 3) He used some words that are at least open to interpretation. 4) Your interpretation is as good as mine, but mine is probably correct. So say they all.
I think we should approach the Lord's Supper with reverence and prayer.
We must be sure we are worthy by reminding ourselves that our worthiness comes not from our own purity, but from the purity imparted to us by Christ's death, burial and resurrection and His living in our hearts.
What happens to the bread when I eat it? Does it literally become the body of Christ? Is that the whole wafer or just the part in my mouth? What part of the body is it? Is it a part of His heart? Maybe its part of His gall bladder.
If it is just a reminder, what kind of reminder is it?
In my mouth, the bread feels like bread and the juice (Hey! I'm a Baptist. We don't do wine [but Jesus did.]) tastes like juice.
Well, here is my difinitive answer to the delima: I don't know.
I do know that when I partake of the Lord's Supper, my focus is totally on Jesus. He becomes the in all, of all, by all and through all of everything I am and am doing.
And so I observe this ordinance/sacrement with all of my heart.
I think that is good and Biblical.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Change in the Wind
There are some big changes taking place at the Christian radio station where I work.
To begin with, we will have two new voices in the lineup.
Steve Allen began today, and has a most personable voice. He will be a great asset.
Next week, another Steve will join us, Steve Gimbert.
Steve G. will actually do the broadcast from his home in Georgia by way af a technique called WAN casting. That's techno-ise for Wide Area Network casting. He'll be able to enter our computer, see the song line-up, and voice the afternoon program. He'll have total control of the station from way up north in that fine southern state.
If you would like to listen, you can. Go to kingdom.fm. No "dot com" or "dot org", just kingdom dot fm. Click on "Listen Live" once, and then again when it comes up again. Be sure pop-up blockers are turned off and give the server a moment to load.
If you don't have Internet access, raise your fm receiver's antenna really, really high.
And, if you don't have Internet access, quit reading my blog (unless someone printed it out for you). :)
God is good (an understatement) to have sent us these two men to be a part of our team.
To begin with, we will have two new voices in the lineup.
Steve Allen began today, and has a most personable voice. He will be a great asset.
Next week, another Steve will join us, Steve Gimbert.
Steve G. will actually do the broadcast from his home in Georgia by way af a technique called WAN casting. That's techno-ise for Wide Area Network casting. He'll be able to enter our computer, see the song line-up, and voice the afternoon program. He'll have total control of the station from way up north in that fine southern state.
If you would like to listen, you can. Go to kingdom.fm. No "dot com" or "dot org", just kingdom dot fm. Click on "Listen Live" once, and then again when it comes up again. Be sure pop-up blockers are turned off and give the server a moment to load.
If you don't have Internet access, raise your fm receiver's antenna really, really high.
And, if you don't have Internet access, quit reading my blog (unless someone printed it out for you). :)
God is good (an understatement) to have sent us these two men to be a part of our team.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Sunday Praise
Howcan I express my love for you, Lord jesus?
As a teenage boy I gave my heart to you and you have never left me nor forsaken me.
In the midst of my pride, arrogance, poor judgement and willfull sin, you gave yourself for me and to me.
You died a horrible physical death for me. I stood guilty before a perfect, omnicient, omnipotent, omnipresent, righteous God and you interceeded for me, paying my sin debt.
You bore the humiliation, the physical pain, the beatings and the piercing of your crown of thorns and the terrible nailing to the cross for my sake.
You were forsaken by the Father while you took my sin on your shoulders and thus provided for me that gift of gifts, eternal life.
In life I will serve you in gratitude. In life I will give myself for you. In life I will testify to your goodness, your greatness, and to your neverending mercy and grace.
As death draws ever nearer, as it does with us all, I will praise you with all my strength. As long as you leave me here on this earth, I will follow you. And when I draw my final breath, I pray it will be to praise your name.
When I behold the place you have prepared for me, as I realize its everlasting joy, and as I present to you the crown you have afforded me, I will shout, "If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now."
My Jesus, I Love Thee
by William R. Featherston
My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
For thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
I'll love Thee in life; I will love Thee in death
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.
And say when the deathdew lies cold on m brow,
"If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight;
I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
As a teenage boy I gave my heart to you and you have never left me nor forsaken me.
In the midst of my pride, arrogance, poor judgement and willfull sin, you gave yourself for me and to me.
You died a horrible physical death for me. I stood guilty before a perfect, omnicient, omnipotent, omnipresent, righteous God and you interceeded for me, paying my sin debt.
You bore the humiliation, the physical pain, the beatings and the piercing of your crown of thorns and the terrible nailing to the cross for my sake.
You were forsaken by the Father while you took my sin on your shoulders and thus provided for me that gift of gifts, eternal life.
In life I will serve you in gratitude. In life I will give myself for you. In life I will testify to your goodness, your greatness, and to your neverending mercy and grace.
As death draws ever nearer, as it does with us all, I will praise you with all my strength. As long as you leave me here on this earth, I will follow you. And when I draw my final breath, I pray it will be to praise your name.
When I behold the place you have prepared for me, as I realize its everlasting joy, and as I present to you the crown you have afforded me, I will shout, "If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now."
My Jesus, I Love Thee
by William R. Featherston
My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
For thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
I'll love Thee in life; I will love Thee in death
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.
And say when the deathdew lies cold on m brow,
"If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight;
I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
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