I have sort of felt Compelled by one of my Commenters to do this Post, so as not to Appear a Coward if I do not Post and Respond to all that she says. In what Follows, I've decided to Post and Respond to her Comment, One Paragraph at a Time.
This First Paragraph is in Response to something I had said in relation to someone's Idea that Krishna and Jesus are the same Person:
Paragraph #1
Satyavati Said - "oh no... Krishna and Jesus are NOT the same person. Srila Prabhupada
said: 'Jesus is our Guru.' ...did you not get the comment I tried to
post several days ago when you were talking about how reincarnation is
meaningless? (It isn't.) Krishna, if you'd like to put this into
Christian terms, is the Father. Jesus is His son. No conflict there."
Response: No, I did not get the Comment you Posted a Few Days ago about Reincarnation. If Jesus is Teaching something different than Lord Krishna, there is a Conflict.
Paragraph #2
Satyavati Said - "Jesus also said, as I mentioned in my comment (the one that I guess you
didn't get), that He had not told His disciples everything, because they
weren't ready for it. Paul essentially said the same thing when he
said he was giving the Christians milk and not meat because they weren't
ready for it. So right there you've got essentially a double-dilution
of teachings. Jesus Himself said there was more that He wasn't telling."
Response: We can Debate about what Jesus meant when He said that He was not telling them everything, yet what Christians believe is that these things were Revealed later to the Disciples after Christ's Resurrection and then Written about by them in the the rest of the New Testament, including the Letters Written by Paul. Here is the Verse you are Speaking of...
"12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13) Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come." (John 16:12-13, KJV)
The Context of the John Scripture is the Guidance and Revelation of the Holy Spirit, which was Received by the Apostles at Pentecost, which Occurred shortly after Christ's Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, yet there were no such Revelations about Reincarnation and the Like given later to the Apostles. What was Revealed to them instead was the Meaning of Christ's Death and Resurrection, which the Disciples did not fully understand Prior to the Occurrence of these two events. There were also things revealed to them about the Christian Life and about Christ's Return.
The other Scripture that you are Referring to is in 1 Corinthians and Refers Specifically to the Corinthians, which was a rather immature Church that Paul was having Trouble with. In fact, this was the Church that was involved in all that Disunity and Quarrels, which is even evidenced within the Context of the Milk and Meat Passage that you were referring to. In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul does not even Address the Corinthians as Spiritual, but as Carnal "Babes in Christ". The NASB and the NIV versions of the Bible translates this as "Infants in Christ" and "Mere Infants".
"1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye' were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye' able. 3) For ye' are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye' not carnal, and walk as men? 4) For while one saith, 'I am of Paul'; and another, 'I am of Apollos'; are ye' not carnal? 5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye' believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7) So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." (1 Corinthians 3:1-7, KJV)
You are Taking Verses Out of Context, Satyavati, in order to make your Points.
Paragraph #3
Satyavati Said - "Now, as far as 'your scriptures and mine would be the same'.... the
Vedas are the oldest scriptures on earth. Everything else comes after
them; so you can take that for what it is. And as far as God being
consistent... you don't need to be a Biblical scholar to see the glaring
and overwhelming difference between the God of the OT and Jesus in the
NT. I don't know if 'consistency' is a good word in this case."
Response: The Reason why there appears to be inconsistencies between the God of the Old Testament and Jesus is because they represent an Old & a New Covenant. In fact, that is what the Word Testament means; Covenant. In the Old Testament, they were Under the Law, but in the New Testament, we are Under Grace.
When I made the Statement about our Scriptures being the same, I was not actually making a Validity of Scripture argument. I'll get to that later. Instead I was making an argument against your God and the God of Christianity being the same Person. Without Pointing out too large a number of Contrasts, I'll just start with one. If I understand it right, Hare Krishna is a Vegetarian and does not approve of Animal Sacrifices. Ok, just based on that One alone, how can the Yahweh/Jehovah of the Old Testament, that instructed the Jews to Sacrifice Bulls, Lambs and Goats, Possibly be Lord Krishna? Yet the God that Jesus continually spoke of was none other than the God of Abraham. That is the God of the Old Testament.
"31) But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32) I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:31-32, KJV)
Paragraph #4
Satyavati Said - "Now, as far as this goes: 'If your Scriptures say one thing and mine another, then one of them is Inaccurate. There can not be two Truths. What is True is True and what is False is False.' ...haven't we just finished a discussion on how two things can be perceived differently and yet both be true? Or was I asleep during that whole conversation? Either way, if we want to get into denying one in favor of the other (which I am not personally advocating), it still comes back to the Vedas are oldest, and everything else came as an afterthought."
Response: In the Discussion that you are Referring to, we were talking about the Reality of both Relative Truth and Absolute Truth, not just the Reality of Relative Truth. Apparently you were only asleep during the half of the conversation that you were not in agreement with. :) You are making it sound as if Scripture is about Perception and Relative Truth and not about Absolute Truth and this is something that I can not Agree with.
As to the Validity of the Scriptures Issue, Accuracy can not be established simply based on something Age and nothing else. If it could, then it would be well established that the World is Flat and that the Earth is the Center of the Galaxy, rather than the Sun, and any Further Knowledge that we have Accumulated on the Subject would be disregarded as an "After Thought".
Paragraph #5
Satyavati Said - "Did you know that in the Vedas, at the end of Kaliyuga, the fourth age (the one we are now living in, which will go on for another 427,000 years), it states that Lord Kalki will come, on a white horse and with a sword, to devastate everything? Does that sound the least bit familiar to you? And yet there it is, in the Vedas, thousands of years prior to any Hebrew, Jewish, Christian scripture. I'm not knocking the Bible. We respect all scripture; the Bible, the Quran, and so on. I'm just pointing out, there it is."
Response: To Compare these two Scriptures in more Detail, would require more Study, yet even if they did sort of Match, that doesn't Matter because there are other forces out there besides God that may be privy to Future Events. At first Glance, though, it would seem that since there are 4 Horsemen Listed in Revelation, not only one, that in order for all four to do their Part, the First one is not going to be able to Devastate and Destroy everything.
As to the Koran, there is a Conflict here because the Koran says "Allah Forbid that He Bore a Son." Well, the Bible says that Jesus is God's "Only Begotten Son". Both of these Statements can not be True. One of them is False. You can respect all of the Scriptures if you want to, Satyavati, but my Point is that since they do not agree with each other, they can not all be true.
Paragraph #6
Satyavati Said - "Also, your comment that Jesus said 'no one comes to the Father except
through Him'; we understand Jesus to be Guru (which means teacher, which
is the same as Rabbi, which is what the disciples called Him), and true
enough, no one comes to Krishna except through Guru. So I don't see a
problem there."
Response: Well, Ok. Though I don't agree with the Argument, at least you do have one besides just that Jesus is a Liar. There is one other Statement that He made, though, that goes against the "All Paths Lead to God" Idea and that is...
"13) Enter ye' in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, 14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, KJV)
The Biggest Problem, though, is simply that since the various different Scriptures do not agree with each other, they can not all be True.
Paragraph #7
Satyavati Said - "We are not sectarian. We don't tell people to stop being Christian, or Muslim, or whatever they are. There is no difficulty. You can very happily be Christian and chant Hare Krishna. Is it a problem? Does it impose? It's a very simple thing. No one has to 'stop' being whatever it is they are...why should they? The goal of all religions is the same."
Response: "Why Should They?" Well, now let's see. Since the Scriptures do not match each other and therefore, can not all be true, those who are True Seekers of the Truth are going to have to Leave or "Stop" that which is not True. Is it really such a great Value to Prevent the Truth from "Imposing" on our Lives?
The Goal of all Religions, Satyavati, is NOT the same. The Goal of Christianity is Heaven. The Goal of Buddhism is Nirvana, which in it's Original Form involved a Reuniting with the Cosmos and achieving a State of Nothingness.
Paragraph #8
Satyavati Said - "I'm not about this 'it must be yours or mine and thus one must be real
and one must be false' mentality. I don't see any problem whatsoever. It's not a 'religious' thing. Krishna says to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita,
'Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.'
'Religion' is an external concept. Just surrender, that's all. Is it
difficult?"
Response: The Only Way to Escape the "This is True and This is not" Mentality is to not Believe in the Existence of any Absolutes. If we were to walk up to a field of Grass and one Person says that the Grass is Green and the other says that it is Hot Pink, sure Both People have the Right to their Opinion, but only one of these Opinions is a Reflection of what is True.
Christians will also tell you that their Faith is really more of a Relationship than a Religion and those who are the most Connected to the Relationship, rather than to the Religion, or any of the Rituals, are the ones who are the True Believers. This does not change, however, the fact that there is such a thing as Absolute Truth and therefore, when Various Religious Texts do not Agree with each other, they can not all be True.
I guess what it comes down to is what is it that we should Value more. Unity or Truth. Yes, Truth can be Sacrificed for the Sake of Unity, yet what Good is Unity if the Final Destination ends up being something other than Heaven? I will Give you One Last Verse and then I'll Close and this may seem like a rather difficult one to Ponder, but here it is... Jesus said...
"34) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37) He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:34, KJV)
As odd as it may seem to some of my Readers, Peace and Unity with all of the Various Religions of the World was not Christ's Goal. That is not what He was about. He Believed in Truth and felt that it was of even Higher Value than Peace. In fact, He Believed in Truth so Strongly, that He Stirred up enough Conflict (No, not Peace, but Conflict) to cause Himself to be Crucified and in doing so brought Salvation to the World.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
When to Think & Reason & When to Seek God's Voice
I Guess I have been Picking up the Pace of my Blog and maybe I should and maybe I shouldn't. It's just that the Blogging World in General seems to have slowed down so much, that I actually have extra Computer Time that I don't know what to do with.
Lord Please Guide and Direct my Blog and Please Guide and Direct what I Read.
Maybe I'll just make this Post a Short One. Pentecostals and Charismatics are even more into Following the Inter Voice of God's Spirit on a Moment by Moment Basis than the rest of the Church. I have this One Girl Friend that even so much as Asked God to help us in our Decision of whose house to meet at in order to rehearse our Music for the leading of the worship at an Aglow Meeting. This is a meeting of Intercessors that Occurs once a Month and I was asked to Lead the Worship. God was Slow in Answering it, yet right at the Last Minute, I said, "Oh Come on up. We'll do it here at my house."
Then when she arrived, she asked me where I wanted her to sit and I said "I don't care. We can either pull some chairs together over here, or we can both sit over there on the Couch." When she realized my Indecision, she immediately Prayed and Asked God where He would like us to sit. I just sort of Chuckled as I was Wondering if this person actually asks the Lord each morning what Cloths she should put on.
Should we actually Ask the Lord to Help us with every single decision in our lives, no matter how Small? She has challenged me, though, for the whole idea sort of Makes me Pause and I do Wonder if I should be seeking the Lord's Direction even more often then I do, so I asked God if I should actually do this Post and what He said was "You may if you wish, but Keep this one Short." So here it is. Now give me your thoughts on the Matter.
Lord Please Guide and Direct my Blog and Please Guide and Direct what I Read.
Maybe I'll just make this Post a Short One. Pentecostals and Charismatics are even more into Following the Inter Voice of God's Spirit on a Moment by Moment Basis than the rest of the Church. I have this One Girl Friend that even so much as Asked God to help us in our Decision of whose house to meet at in order to rehearse our Music for the leading of the worship at an Aglow Meeting. This is a meeting of Intercessors that Occurs once a Month and I was asked to Lead the Worship. God was Slow in Answering it, yet right at the Last Minute, I said, "Oh Come on up. We'll do it here at my house."
Then when she arrived, she asked me where I wanted her to sit and I said "I don't care. We can either pull some chairs together over here, or we can both sit over there on the Couch." When she realized my Indecision, she immediately Prayed and Asked God where He would like us to sit. I just sort of Chuckled as I was Wondering if this person actually asks the Lord each morning what Cloths she should put on.
Should we actually Ask the Lord to Help us with every single decision in our lives, no matter how Small? She has challenged me, though, for the whole idea sort of Makes me Pause and I do Wonder if I should be seeking the Lord's Direction even more often then I do, so I asked God if I should actually do this Post and what He said was "You may if you wish, but Keep this one Short." So here it is. Now give me your thoughts on the Matter.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Easter 2, Jesus Knew in Advance, He would Suffer.
I don't Know why I'm up at this Hour. I just don't feel all that Tired somehow. The Blogs have all been Pretty Quiet, including this one. Do you know that out of the 20 Blogs that I used to Follow, just before I stopped Blogging for awhile between March 5 of last Year and February 18 of this one, there are Only 7 of the 20 that are Still Active.
I was Reluctant at First to Venture Out much in Commenting on the Blogs because I've found some of the Arguing that Takes Place on the Blogs to be quite Tiring. Even on my Own Blog, it can be Tiring being continuously Challenged to Defend every singly thing that I say. I Lament about it, yet you know what? Feeling a little Tired at times is nothing compared to what Christ Suffered.
I'm still thinking about Easter, since that is what my Last Post was about and somehow Easter is still on my Mind. Christ Suffered quite a lot for our sakes and I really wonder at times how People can miss realizing that. As I am now Thinking about the Gospels and what can be said from Jesus' own Words that Explains what He did, Right now the Scriptures that come to Mind are...
"19) Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' 20) Then said the Jews, 'Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?' 21) But He spake of the temple of His body. 22) When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." (John 2:19-22, KJV)
"39) But He answered and said unto them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. 40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'" (Matthew 12:39-40, KJV)
"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye' shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come." (John 13:33, KJV)
And...
"Simon Peter said unto Him, 'Lord, whither goest thou?' Jesus answered him, 'Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.'" (John 13:36, KJV)
In all of these Verses, Christ is Talking about His Death and Resurrection. He Knew what was going to happen before it actually took Place. He even knew how Peter was going to Respond.
"Jesus answered him, 'Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.'" (John 13:38, KJV)
And here is Evidence that He did it Willingly.
"Saying, 'Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.'" (Luke 42:22, KJV)
And you know what? This is another Evidence of His Suffering that is not Mentioned quite as Often as the Crucifixion on the Cross...
"43 And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44) And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45) And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping." (Luke 22:43-45, KJV)
Wow!! I don't Know why this Message came to me after Easter, but here it is.
I was Reluctant at First to Venture Out much in Commenting on the Blogs because I've found some of the Arguing that Takes Place on the Blogs to be quite Tiring. Even on my Own Blog, it can be Tiring being continuously Challenged to Defend every singly thing that I say. I Lament about it, yet you know what? Feeling a little Tired at times is nothing compared to what Christ Suffered.
I'm still thinking about Easter, since that is what my Last Post was about and somehow Easter is still on my Mind. Christ Suffered quite a lot for our sakes and I really wonder at times how People can miss realizing that. As I am now Thinking about the Gospels and what can be said from Jesus' own Words that Explains what He did, Right now the Scriptures that come to Mind are...
"19) Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' 20) Then said the Jews, 'Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?' 21) But He spake of the temple of His body. 22) When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." (John 2:19-22, KJV)
"39) But He answered and said unto them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. 40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'" (Matthew 12:39-40, KJV)
"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye' shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come." (John 13:33, KJV)
And...
"Simon Peter said unto Him, 'Lord, whither goest thou?' Jesus answered him, 'Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.'" (John 13:36, KJV)
In all of these Verses, Christ is Talking about His Death and Resurrection. He Knew what was going to happen before it actually took Place. He even knew how Peter was going to Respond.
"Jesus answered him, 'Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.'" (John 13:38, KJV)
And here is Evidence that He did it Willingly.
"Saying, 'Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.'" (Luke 42:22, KJV)
And you know what? This is another Evidence of His Suffering that is not Mentioned quite as Often as the Crucifixion on the Cross...
"43 And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44) And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45) And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping." (Luke 22:43-45, KJV)
Wow!! I don't Know why this Message came to me after Easter, but here it is.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Easter Post - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Is there any way for me to Make my Blog more Peaceful. I don't feel like Debating right now. It's Easter. Christ Loves you and has Died for your Sins. That's What Christians Teach. It is a Very Special and Meaningful Message that can Change the Lives of those who Believe it. Perhaps I will one day be willing to Debate with the Non-Believers who wish to Discredit this message, but that is not the Reason for this Post. It's Easter. It's a Holiday. It's Time for a Truce.
Here is a Passage about Christ's Love that is a Little Different than just the General Easter Message that He died for you...
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37, KJV)
Or do you Prefer it in the NIV?
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37, NIV)
I'm even going to allow you to Read the Entire Chapter if you Like and in Three different Translations, so Take your Pick which of the three you wish to read. Matthew 23 NASB, NIV, KJV.
Interestingly, the First Part of this Chapter is about Religious Hypocrisy. It's not Actually just about those who do not Believe, but also about those who are already Religious, but do not really Know God. These are Like Wolves in Sheep's Clothing. They are Religious, but not really Followers of God. This Same Phenomena Exists in the Current Christian Churches and Unfortunately, is the Reason Why some of you Have Chosen not to believe in Christ.
Huh. I was just reading this Passage just now and Thinking about how it is Perfect for at least one of the Things that I have been Wanting to say to those who Follow my Blog. No Wonder God Brought it to my Mind.
You see there are Eight Woes, in which Jesus is coming down very Hard on the Religious Leaders of His Day. One of my Favorite of the Verses is...
"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24, NASB)
And there also is a Warning...
"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how [y]will you escape the [z]sentence of [aa]hell?" (Matthew 23:33, NASB)
All This Strong Language spoken to the Religious Leaders of the Day. No Not to the Basic Every Day Sinner, but to the Religious Leaders, yet after this comes the Lament...
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." (Matthew 23:37, NASB)
Don't you see? Jesus Loves all People and wants to save all People, including the Hypocrites that have Hurt some of you and He also Loves You. Please Remember, though, you have not been Hurt by Jesus, but by Hypocrites, much like those that Jesus is Speaking out against in this Passage.
Here is a Passage about Christ's Love that is a Little Different than just the General Easter Message that He died for you...
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37, KJV)
Or do you Prefer it in the NIV?
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37, NIV)
I'm even going to allow you to Read the Entire Chapter if you Like and in Three different Translations, so Take your Pick which of the three you wish to read. Matthew 23 NASB, NIV, KJV.
Interestingly, the First Part of this Chapter is about Religious Hypocrisy. It's not Actually just about those who do not Believe, but also about those who are already Religious, but do not really Know God. These are Like Wolves in Sheep's Clothing. They are Religious, but not really Followers of God. This Same Phenomena Exists in the Current Christian Churches and Unfortunately, is the Reason Why some of you Have Chosen not to believe in Christ.
Huh. I was just reading this Passage just now and Thinking about how it is Perfect for at least one of the Things that I have been Wanting to say to those who Follow my Blog. No Wonder God Brought it to my Mind.
You see there are Eight Woes, in which Jesus is coming down very Hard on the Religious Leaders of His Day. One of my Favorite of the Verses is...
"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24, NASB)
And there also is a Warning...
"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how [y]will you escape the [z]sentence of [aa]hell?" (Matthew 23:33, NASB)
All This Strong Language spoken to the Religious Leaders of the Day. No Not to the Basic Every Day Sinner, but to the Religious Leaders, yet after this comes the Lament...
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." (Matthew 23:37, NASB)
Don't you see? Jesus Loves all People and wants to save all People, including the Hypocrites that have Hurt some of you and He also Loves You. Please Remember, though, you have not been Hurt by Jesus, but by Hypocrites, much like those that Jesus is Speaking out against in this Passage.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Black and White Thinking, Seeking Unity
I've been trying to Pray and Ask God what I should do with my Blog and for some reason thought for awhile that I was going to be writing more Exclusively about Christian Topics, instead of some of the Things that I used to write about. I think that this train of thought, though, was more based on my own Fears because of some of the Conflict that Occurs when I write about some of the Broader Subjects that I have Chosen in the Past, not at the Exclusion, though, of my Christian thoughts, that always do seem to eventually find some form of Expression on my Blog.
At the Moment, I've been more led to just Review some of my Older Posts, especially those which my Hit Counter says are Visited Often. Surprisingly, One such Post is the One in which I was Attempting to Define what is meant by the Subject of "Black and White Thinking". I wonder if some of my Newer Followers would Find this Post Interesting.
I suppose I should add to my thoughts on the Matter, by highlighting a few things that were said in the Comment section of that Post. Here is a Comment by BB-Idaho from Below that Post. Bold Print Added by me...
"So, let us say it is 40 degrees at the airport. An Eskimo deplanes and observes 'Gee, it's hot'. A Sudanese just in from the Sahara complains 'Gosh, its cold'. The temperature is a simple fact... perception of it may be black or white? And from the perspectives of their two backgrounds-both may be true." BB-Idaho February 2, 2011, at 3:20 PM
In this Comment, BB has Illustrated how the Number 40 is Definitely an Absolute (Black & White), but the Perception of it as Hot or Cold is Relative (Gray).
My Favorite Illustration was Mentioned in the Comment section as well, by me...
"Another Example of this that I like is when Two People from Different Places on the Globe are on the Phone Arguing about whether or not the Sun is Rising or Setting, yet Both of them are Right, because the Sun is, In Fact, Both Setting and Rising at the Some Time, Depending on where you are on the Globe, so that Fact is Relative, yet the Absolute is that the Earth Rotates and Circles the Sun."
So you see, there are Definite Absolutes, yet there are also things that are Relative.
Perhaps some of my New Followers may be Wondering why I am Blogging in this way. Well, as it Turns Out, One of the Main Themes that has always run through my Blog is the Balance between the Extremes and our Tendency to Judge each other if we are not willing to try and Find that Balance and while doing so Reach Out to those who have Slightly different Opinions then ourselves.
Since some of my Newer Followers are Christians, Perhaps I should address the subject of Black and White Thinking in Relation to Christianity. There are some Things that we believe in that are Clearly Black and White, that is Absolute. We Believe that the Bible was Written for everyone and not just for some and that there are definitely some Absolute Truths that are written there. Where the Problem comes in is when People Add to the Bible and Make somethings Absolute that are not Really absolute at all, but instead Relative to a Certain Group.
For Example, there are Churches that Forbid Dancing, yet there are others who Dance unto the Lord. Along this same line, some people enjoy Singing Hymns and others more Contemporary Music. Some People Enjoy Worship Services that are more Spontaneous and others Prefer more Structure. Some are Highly Emotional in their Worship and others are more Reserved. What is Important is that we love and do not Judge each other for what ever it is that we choose, as long as it is Biblical and Glorifying to God.
I guess that it is not True that this Message is not a Christian One, for it has to do with the Unity that is needed within the Over All Church, even between Denominations. What is Truly Absolute, we all need to Embrace, yet we also need to be careful not to expect everyone to be Exactly like ourselves, for I truly believe that there is room for Considerable Diversity within Christianity.
At the Moment, I've been more led to just Review some of my Older Posts, especially those which my Hit Counter says are Visited Often. Surprisingly, One such Post is the One in which I was Attempting to Define what is meant by the Subject of "Black and White Thinking". I wonder if some of my Newer Followers would Find this Post Interesting.
I suppose I should add to my thoughts on the Matter, by highlighting a few things that were said in the Comment section of that Post. Here is a Comment by BB-Idaho from Below that Post. Bold Print Added by me...
"So, let us say it is 40 degrees at the airport. An Eskimo deplanes and observes 'Gee, it's hot'. A Sudanese just in from the Sahara complains 'Gosh, its cold'. The temperature is a simple fact... perception of it may be black or white? And from the perspectives of their two backgrounds-both may be true." BB-Idaho February 2, 2011, at 3:20 PM
In this Comment, BB has Illustrated how the Number 40 is Definitely an Absolute (Black & White), but the Perception of it as Hot or Cold is Relative (Gray).
My Favorite Illustration was Mentioned in the Comment section as well, by me...
"Another Example of this that I like is when Two People from Different Places on the Globe are on the Phone Arguing about whether or not the Sun is Rising or Setting, yet Both of them are Right, because the Sun is, In Fact, Both Setting and Rising at the Some Time, Depending on where you are on the Globe, so that Fact is Relative, yet the Absolute is that the Earth Rotates and Circles the Sun."
So you see, there are Definite Absolutes, yet there are also things that are Relative.
Perhaps some of my New Followers may be Wondering why I am Blogging in this way. Well, as it Turns Out, One of the Main Themes that has always run through my Blog is the Balance between the Extremes and our Tendency to Judge each other if we are not willing to try and Find that Balance and while doing so Reach Out to those who have Slightly different Opinions then ourselves.
Since some of my Newer Followers are Christians, Perhaps I should address the subject of Black and White Thinking in Relation to Christianity. There are some Things that we believe in that are Clearly Black and White, that is Absolute. We Believe that the Bible was Written for everyone and not just for some and that there are definitely some Absolute Truths that are written there. Where the Problem comes in is when People Add to the Bible and Make somethings Absolute that are not Really absolute at all, but instead Relative to a Certain Group.
For Example, there are Churches that Forbid Dancing, yet there are others who Dance unto the Lord. Along this same line, some people enjoy Singing Hymns and others more Contemporary Music. Some People Enjoy Worship Services that are more Spontaneous and others Prefer more Structure. Some are Highly Emotional in their Worship and others are more Reserved. What is Important is that we love and do not Judge each other for what ever it is that we choose, as long as it is Biblical and Glorifying to God.
I guess that it is not True that this Message is not a Christian One, for it has to do with the Unity that is needed within the Over All Church, even between Denominations. What is Truly Absolute, we all need to Embrace, yet we also need to be careful not to expect everyone to be Exactly like ourselves, for I truly believe that there is room for Considerable Diversity within Christianity.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
God Guides through Rational Thought & also People
Hi you guys,
Do you Know that at Times I Write Best in Letter Form? Perhaps I shouldn't be starting a Post out this way, yet this is how so many of my Posts begin. I Start Writing to Individuals and then later Change what I have Written into a Post. My Previous Post was about God's Guidance, yet quite Often God Guides me through my Interaction with others, so in a since, you could say that I am guided, at least in part, by you guys, my Commenters. That is not to say that if you tell me or suggest that I write about a certain thing that I will do so, yet if you say just the Right Thing to me, you will likely Inspire me.
This Post is, at least in Part, a response to the two Last Commenters who Wrote below my Previous Post, as of the Date and Time in which this Post was Posted. Among other Things, Z-man has Expressed that he has become Tired of his own Blog because he is not only Disagreed with, but also Misinterpreted because his Style is to "Think Out Loud". From that, I was inspired to write about how so many People are quite set in their own Way of Thinking and are not Persuadable.
I just don't have the Interest in Arguments that Lead no where any more. I just don't and though I really do not want to Abandon the Original Audience that used to Follow my Blog, my Interest in Arguing has Changed and I want to Figure out a Way to Draw an Audience that is Truly interested in what I have to say.
This got me Talking all about the Question of who my Target Audience should be if I choose again to Blog, which I will get into in just a Minute.
Aside from this, Z also brought to my mind a couple of other interesting Questions in relation to what should be our Approach to Blogging. The first of which is "Should we really 'Think Out Loud' on our Blogs, or should we do that with a Pen Pal and then write something on our Blogs that is a little more Polished?" I have Struggled with this Question quite a lot myself and am not sure if I know the Answer.
Another Question that I have been Asking is whether or not I should Still Blog about Politics and as I was responding to Z-man, I got thinking about how so many People, just as I mentioned above, are quite set in their own Way of Thinking and are not Persuadable and you see, here is the thing.... There are such a large Number of Obama Supporters on the Web that are not Persuadable that I'm feeling led away from discussing it. To those who do not Agree, it just sounds like Obama Bashing and that's not what I want my Blog to be. Perhaps there will come a time in which the Political Harvest will be more Ripe for Reaping, yet I do not feel that now is that time.
The other person that has recently Commented in the Below Post is Satyavati. From her, I have felt Inspired to Think and Write about another Question relating to "Feeling Led", or more precisely, the Idea of just Waiting for God's Voice or Well, more Actively Pursuing the Answers to the Questions that are in my Mind. This is what Led me to the Title of this Post in that God Guides through "Rational Thought" and not just the Act of Waiting for Him to Answer.
In the End, I know that it will be, at least in part you, the Commenters, who are going to help me to Find the Answers to what it is that I should be Blogging about. I've never felt that God Communicates that Often in a Crystal Clear way within a total Vacuum of our own Thoughts and the Thoughts of others. I've always felt that we find our Answers, at least in Part, through the Information that we Acquire from our interaction with those who we Communicate with and this is why God's Voice is so Rarely ever Immediate.
The Impatient do not make very good Christians because God has a Tendency to Take His Time. When He does Speak, it can be quite clear what He is saying, yet this Clarity is often quite Long in Coming and that is just the Way it is at times.
Here is my Dilemma...
A lot of Christians do not Understand the Intellectual. They are able to Accept Things just based on Faith and will often present as their Argument, nothing more then "Well, because the Bible Says so". This is not enough for some people.
There are actually times in which I feel like a Half Breed, for if I take an Intellectual, Thinking, sort of Approach to my Interactions with Non-Christians, there are Actually quite a lot of Christians who will tell me that I am Wasting my Time, yet if I take the Approach of just Talking about the Scriptures, though this will Draw more Christians to my blog, I also know for a Fact that I will lose a good part of my Non-Christian Audience.
It is really Hard to reach both Audiences at Once and, In fact, very Possibly, it is not even Possible. So the Question that I have to Answer is "Do I want to Lose a good Portion of my Non-Christian Audience, or a Portion of my Christian Audience?" and in Truth, I am leaning towards the Later, instead of the Former.
Yeh, here I go "Thinking Out Loud" again and in all reality, sometimes the more Polished is a long time in Coming, just as also is God's Guidance. I have problems with the Idea that is pushed by some Christians, which is "Don't Think About it, just Pray and Wait for God's Guidance." What I am trying to Illustrate in this Post, however, is how aside from just the Waiting on God for the Answers, there is also a Thought Process that goes on that will lead to our eventual Conclusions and God's Guidance will come in the Midst of that Process.
Do you Know that at Times I Write Best in Letter Form? Perhaps I shouldn't be starting a Post out this way, yet this is how so many of my Posts begin. I Start Writing to Individuals and then later Change what I have Written into a Post. My Previous Post was about God's Guidance, yet quite Often God Guides me through my Interaction with others, so in a since, you could say that I am guided, at least in part, by you guys, my Commenters. That is not to say that if you tell me or suggest that I write about a certain thing that I will do so, yet if you say just the Right Thing to me, you will likely Inspire me.
This Post is, at least in Part, a response to the two Last Commenters who Wrote below my Previous Post, as of the Date and Time in which this Post was Posted. Among other Things, Z-man has Expressed that he has become Tired of his own Blog because he is not only Disagreed with, but also Misinterpreted because his Style is to "Think Out Loud". From that, I was inspired to write about how so many People are quite set in their own Way of Thinking and are not Persuadable.
I just don't have the Interest in Arguments that Lead no where any more. I just don't and though I really do not want to Abandon the Original Audience that used to Follow my Blog, my Interest in Arguing has Changed and I want to Figure out a Way to Draw an Audience that is Truly interested in what I have to say.
This got me Talking all about the Question of who my Target Audience should be if I choose again to Blog, which I will get into in just a Minute.
Aside from this, Z also brought to my mind a couple of other interesting Questions in relation to what should be our Approach to Blogging. The first of which is "Should we really 'Think Out Loud' on our Blogs, or should we do that with a Pen Pal and then write something on our Blogs that is a little more Polished?" I have Struggled with this Question quite a lot myself and am not sure if I know the Answer.
Another Question that I have been Asking is whether or not I should Still Blog about Politics and as I was responding to Z-man, I got thinking about how so many People, just as I mentioned above, are quite set in their own Way of Thinking and are not Persuadable and you see, here is the thing.... There are such a large Number of Obama Supporters on the Web that are not Persuadable that I'm feeling led away from discussing it. To those who do not Agree, it just sounds like Obama Bashing and that's not what I want my Blog to be. Perhaps there will come a time in which the Political Harvest will be more Ripe for Reaping, yet I do not feel that now is that time.
The other person that has recently Commented in the Below Post is Satyavati. From her, I have felt Inspired to Think and Write about another Question relating to "Feeling Led", or more precisely, the Idea of just Waiting for God's Voice or Well, more Actively Pursuing the Answers to the Questions that are in my Mind. This is what Led me to the Title of this Post in that God Guides through "Rational Thought" and not just the Act of Waiting for Him to Answer.
In the End, I know that it will be, at least in part you, the Commenters, who are going to help me to Find the Answers to what it is that I should be Blogging about. I've never felt that God Communicates that Often in a Crystal Clear way within a total Vacuum of our own Thoughts and the Thoughts of others. I've always felt that we find our Answers, at least in Part, through the Information that we Acquire from our interaction with those who we Communicate with and this is why God's Voice is so Rarely ever Immediate.
The Impatient do not make very good Christians because God has a Tendency to Take His Time. When He does Speak, it can be quite clear what He is saying, yet this Clarity is often quite Long in Coming and that is just the Way it is at times.
Here is my Dilemma...
A lot of Christians do not Understand the Intellectual. They are able to Accept Things just based on Faith and will often present as their Argument, nothing more then "Well, because the Bible Says so". This is not enough for some people.
There are actually times in which I feel like a Half Breed, for if I take an Intellectual, Thinking, sort of Approach to my Interactions with Non-Christians, there are Actually quite a lot of Christians who will tell me that I am Wasting my Time, yet if I take the Approach of just Talking about the Scriptures, though this will Draw more Christians to my blog, I also know for a Fact that I will lose a good part of my Non-Christian Audience.
It is really Hard to reach both Audiences at Once and, In fact, very Possibly, it is not even Possible. So the Question that I have to Answer is "Do I want to Lose a good Portion of my Non-Christian Audience, or a Portion of my Christian Audience?" and in Truth, I am leaning towards the Later, instead of the Former.
Yeh, here I go "Thinking Out Loud" again and in all reality, sometimes the more Polished is a long time in Coming, just as also is God's Guidance. I have problems with the Idea that is pushed by some Christians, which is "Don't Think About it, just Pray and Wait for God's Guidance." What I am trying to Illustrate in this Post, however, is how aside from just the Waiting on God for the Answers, there is also a Thought Process that goes on that will lead to our eventual Conclusions and God's Guidance will come in the Midst of that Process.
Monday, February 25, 2013
To Blog or Not to Blog, Waiting on God's Guidance
I don't have any real Clear Direction in my Blog yet, but that's Ok. Sometimes when we Wait on God, it takes a little time before we know all of the Answers. So Far, I'm sensing that I should be writing about Spiritual Things, rather than Politics, at least for now, but I do not want to do so in a way in which Drives Non-Believers Off.
Two Posts Down I was having a Discussion with probably the most loyal of all my Followers, BB-Idaho. We were discussing how the Blogging World can be Hostile at Times and the Discussions can appear to be quite Futile and because of this, I am Reluctant to Pursue some of my Old Followers by Visiting their Blogs. Peace of Mind is a worth while thing to Preserve and I'm not so sure that Pursuing Lots of Hits is really what this is all about. There has been a Slight Increase in comparison to the Hits I was getting when my Blog was Totally Inactive, but it's not enough to really brag about.
Anyway, as BB and I were discussing, "Whether 'tis easier on the mind to agonize over the darts and arrows of written argument or to press the 'escape' button and from the sea of troubles, by deleting, end them?" (Words of BB-Idaho) I guess he was Paraphrasing Hamlet because of my Chosen Title, though I'm certainly not as Depressed as all that and I assure you that my life will continue to go on quite Contently, whether I decide to Blog or not. Poor Hamlet. If only he had known that Jesus and the Indwelling Spirit could have helped him through all of his Troubles.
Here's my Response, though, to BB and to all others who might be listening....
I'm not as Concerned about Injury as I am about Outcome. If I could feel confident that the End Result would be that someone might actually be persuaded of at least a little something, then I will take "the Darts and Arrows", yet when it seems Fruitless, that is worse than any Dart or Arrow that is slung at me, so let's just find a way to not make it Fruitless, shall we.
This is why I want to be sure that God is truly the one Calling me to do this, for it is my Belief that He is the only one who can make anything that we do actually matter and this is why I simply will not Proceed with any Post until I feel sure that that's the Direction that God wants me to go in. I feel at Peace about this Post, yet my Efforts to Pursue Followers is in Slow Motion, until I can sense some further Direction from the Lord.
I have Often heard it said that "God's Word will Never Return Void", yet how can this be if the one who we are Quoting Scriptures to does not Believe in the Validity of those Scriptures?
Just so that I could be sure that what I am saying is actually what the Scripture says, I looked it up.
"10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, 11) So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth. It shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11, KJV)
Ok, now that I've read it directly out of the Bible, a Question comes to mind. Does the Phrase "My Word....that goeth forth out of My Mouth" and "in the thing whereto I sent it" refer to any Scripture spoken at any time, or just to that which the Lord has Specifically Directed, Guided and Sent Out.
You see, there is a difference between a Christian that is simply going through the motions and another Christian that is actually Following the Direction and Specific Guidance of God and this is the Reason Why so many Christians are not Effective in what they set out to do, for even though the Bible says...
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13, KJV)
It also says....
"I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me, ye can do nothing." (John 15:5, KJV)
So Often when we Hesitate and are Reluctant, people think of things such as "Agony" and Fear, yet to Press On or to "Escape" is so much more Complicated than just the Question of Fear or Agony or of Considering what is "Easiest on the Mind". The Appropriate Question to Ask is not "Will it be Hard?" or "Will I be Injured?", but instead, "Will it be Fruitful?", "Will there be a Positive Outcome?", "Will it be worth it?" or more Pointedly, "Is this what God Wants me to Do?"
To Truly be Effective, we have to "Abide in Christ" and Wait for His Direction, for the Bible also says....
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, KJV)
So you see, being Hesitant and Reluctant is not a Negative Thing. Quite the Contrary. It is the Right Thing to do.
As I was Looking for that last Verse, I found three others that are encouraging in relation to Waiting on the Lord and then I thought of One More...
"Wait on the LORD. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalms 27:14, KJV)
"Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." (Psalm 37:34, KJV)
"Say not, thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee." (Proverbs 20:22, KJV)
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9, KJV)
In Closing, I just want to Pray that these Words will not Return Void and that God will Draw those to my Blog who Need to be Encouraged by these Words. I also Pray that He will give me Direction as to whether or not I should Pursue anyone, by Visiting the Blogs that they Frequent.
Two Posts Down I was having a Discussion with probably the most loyal of all my Followers, BB-Idaho. We were discussing how the Blogging World can be Hostile at Times and the Discussions can appear to be quite Futile and because of this, I am Reluctant to Pursue some of my Old Followers by Visiting their Blogs. Peace of Mind is a worth while thing to Preserve and I'm not so sure that Pursuing Lots of Hits is really what this is all about. There has been a Slight Increase in comparison to the Hits I was getting when my Blog was Totally Inactive, but it's not enough to really brag about.
Anyway, as BB and I were discussing, "Whether 'tis easier on the mind to agonize over the darts and arrows of written argument or to press the 'escape' button and from the sea of troubles, by deleting, end them?" (Words of BB-Idaho) I guess he was Paraphrasing Hamlet because of my Chosen Title, though I'm certainly not as Depressed as all that and I assure you that my life will continue to go on quite Contently, whether I decide to Blog or not. Poor Hamlet. If only he had known that Jesus and the Indwelling Spirit could have helped him through all of his Troubles.
Here's my Response, though, to BB and to all others who might be listening....
I'm not as Concerned about Injury as I am about Outcome. If I could feel confident that the End Result would be that someone might actually be persuaded of at least a little something, then I will take "the Darts and Arrows", yet when it seems Fruitless, that is worse than any Dart or Arrow that is slung at me, so let's just find a way to not make it Fruitless, shall we.
This is why I want to be sure that God is truly the one Calling me to do this, for it is my Belief that He is the only one who can make anything that we do actually matter and this is why I simply will not Proceed with any Post until I feel sure that that's the Direction that God wants me to go in. I feel at Peace about this Post, yet my Efforts to Pursue Followers is in Slow Motion, until I can sense some further Direction from the Lord.
I have Often heard it said that "God's Word will Never Return Void", yet how can this be if the one who we are Quoting Scriptures to does not Believe in the Validity of those Scriptures?
Just so that I could be sure that what I am saying is actually what the Scripture says, I looked it up.
"10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, 11) So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth. It shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11, KJV)
Ok, now that I've read it directly out of the Bible, a Question comes to mind. Does the Phrase "My Word....that goeth forth out of My Mouth" and "in the thing whereto I sent it" refer to any Scripture spoken at any time, or just to that which the Lord has Specifically Directed, Guided and Sent Out.
You see, there is a difference between a Christian that is simply going through the motions and another Christian that is actually Following the Direction and Specific Guidance of God and this is the Reason Why so many Christians are not Effective in what they set out to do, for even though the Bible says...
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13, KJV)
It also says....
"I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me, ye can do nothing." (John 15:5, KJV)
So Often when we Hesitate and are Reluctant, people think of things such as "Agony" and Fear, yet to Press On or to "Escape" is so much more Complicated than just the Question of Fear or Agony or of Considering what is "Easiest on the Mind". The Appropriate Question to Ask is not "Will it be Hard?" or "Will I be Injured?", but instead, "Will it be Fruitful?", "Will there be a Positive Outcome?", "Will it be worth it?" or more Pointedly, "Is this what God Wants me to Do?"
To Truly be Effective, we have to "Abide in Christ" and Wait for His Direction, for the Bible also says....
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, KJV)
So you see, being Hesitant and Reluctant is not a Negative Thing. Quite the Contrary. It is the Right Thing to do.
As I was Looking for that last Verse, I found three others that are encouraging in relation to Waiting on the Lord and then I thought of One More...
"Wait on the LORD. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalms 27:14, KJV)
"Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." (Psalm 37:34, KJV)
"Say not, thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee." (Proverbs 20:22, KJV)
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9, KJV)
In Closing, I just want to Pray that these Words will not Return Void and that God will Draw those to my Blog who Need to be Encouraged by these Words. I also Pray that He will give me Direction as to whether or not I should Pursue anyone, by Visiting the Blogs that they Frequent.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Oh How Blogger.com has Changed.
Perhaps I will Change my Subject Matter Soon to Religious Topics, rather than Political Ones. Hopefully I will find followers who have that Interest. Feel Free, though, to Click on my Labels and Read whatever you choose to, for I have actually Posted on quite a large number of Subjects and Categories.
Before I Change Directions, though, I think that I will talk just a little more about the Subject of Blogging. The whole Look of the Blogger.com set up has Changed since I stopped my Blogging on March 5 of 2012. It is not as easy to Find Things. When I'm Logged in, which I usually am while on my Own Personal Computer at home, all I see in the Right Top Corner of my Blog is "New Post", "Design" and "Sign Out". There is no Link to my "Dash Board", which of course, includes my Feed to all the Blogs that I used to Follow. In Fact, I no Longer know how to get to this Feed. I Suppose that I'll Figure it out eventually, yet if anyone happens to Wonder by my Blog and knows how to help me, that would be really Appreciated.
The other thing that is weird is the Absence of the Tabs that use to be at the Top of the Screen when I'm on the "New Post" or "Design" Pages. I actually have to Click on Close, in order to find my way to "Comments" and then "Comment Moderation". Why so many Steps? We used to be able to just click on the Tabs across the Top. If you ask me, they have made their Program less User Friendly while I was away.
And as to how to Find the "Dash Board", I have yet do Discover that one.
Here's one other Thing.... I Understand that if someone decides to Follow my Blog, I can just Click on the Avatar and find my way to their Blog. It is interesting if the New Trend is to ask people to "Please Follow Me", for it used to be "Please Add me to your Blog Roll". I, personally, like to Limit the Number of Blogs that I Follow because if I don't, my Feed becomes so Cluttered that it is hard for me to make sense of it all. But then again, it would be Nice if I could even find my Feed, now wouldn't it?
The Blog Roll Works just as well as the Avatars of those who are Following us, for the Blog Roll is made up of Links to People's Profiles and Blogs, just as the Avatars are a Similar Link. The Difference is that we can Create these Links ourselves and do not have to Rely on someone else to Provide those links for us by becoming a Follower.
Yes, all that I just now wrote in the Two Previous Paragraphs was in response to someone who made the above mentioned Request of me. I hope that this will help him, if he decides again to Drop by.
Meanwhile, can anybody tell me how to find my Dash Board Feed? Thanks.
Before I Change Directions, though, I think that I will talk just a little more about the Subject of Blogging. The whole Look of the Blogger.com set up has Changed since I stopped my Blogging on March 5 of 2012. It is not as easy to Find Things. When I'm Logged in, which I usually am while on my Own Personal Computer at home, all I see in the Right Top Corner of my Blog is "New Post", "Design" and "Sign Out". There is no Link to my "Dash Board", which of course, includes my Feed to all the Blogs that I used to Follow. In Fact, I no Longer know how to get to this Feed. I Suppose that I'll Figure it out eventually, yet if anyone happens to Wonder by my Blog and knows how to help me, that would be really Appreciated.
The other thing that is weird is the Absence of the Tabs that use to be at the Top of the Screen when I'm on the "New Post" or "Design" Pages. I actually have to Click on Close, in order to find my way to "Comments" and then "Comment Moderation". Why so many Steps? We used to be able to just click on the Tabs across the Top. If you ask me, they have made their Program less User Friendly while I was away.
And as to how to Find the "Dash Board", I have yet do Discover that one.
Here's one other Thing.... I Understand that if someone decides to Follow my Blog, I can just Click on the Avatar and find my way to their Blog. It is interesting if the New Trend is to ask people to "Please Follow Me", for it used to be "Please Add me to your Blog Roll". I, personally, like to Limit the Number of Blogs that I Follow because if I don't, my Feed becomes so Cluttered that it is hard for me to make sense of it all. But then again, it would be Nice if I could even find my Feed, now wouldn't it?
The Blog Roll Works just as well as the Avatars of those who are Following us, for the Blog Roll is made up of Links to People's Profiles and Blogs, just as the Avatars are a Similar Link. The Difference is that we can Create these Links ourselves and do not have to Rely on someone else to Provide those links for us by becoming a Follower.
Yes, all that I just now wrote in the Two Previous Paragraphs was in response to someone who made the above mentioned Request of me. I hope that this will help him, if he decides again to Drop by.
Meanwhile, can anybody tell me how to find my Dash Board Feed? Thanks.
Monday, February 18, 2013
To Blog, or not to Blog, That is the Question?
I've been asking myself lately whether or not I should start up my Blog again and the Answer has not been Clear. I wonder how many of those who are listed in the Column to the Right as my Followers are still around and are actually watching their Feeds. The only reason why I know that there is a possibility that at least some of them are not is because I have listed myself as a follower on quite a number of Blogs and yet when I quit Blogging, I also stopped looking at the Feed that reports to me the Activity on the Blogs that I Follow. So you see, I'm not really following those that I "Follow".
Anyway, I have found the Blogging World to be Hostile at times. The Debates are often quite Futile and when I search my Mind and Heart for reasons to continue this Craziness, I am often at a loss for any Clear Direction. It's just that I've began to Comment again on the Blogs of a few others and when they come to my Blog to check me out, I wish that I could come up with something fresh for them to read.
Not only that, but I also wish that I could offer them a Forum in which to Talk to Me and maybe that is all that this Post is. It's a place to say hello and to talk about whatever. Even if my Visiting of and Commenting on other Blogs is Minimal, I still Wonder if anyone is out there simply because they have decided to "Follow" my Blog. Perhaps there is someone out there who is watching his or her feed who would like to show up again and talk to me.
Monday, March 5, 2012
"Wiped Off the Map"/Is that What Ahamidinejad Meant?
Ok, I guess Maybe I will both Read and Respond to a Link that the Soapster Left. It's sort of an Interesting Subject and the Article was Informative. I suppose that a lot of the People that are on the Web a lot already Know the Story of how the Statement that "Israel must be wiped off the map" is in actuality a Misquote, yet is this statement really that far Off, or are we just being Technical about Words again?
I Guess the Actual Quote was that "This Regime occupying Jerusalem must Vanish from the Page of Time". Don't You see? The meaning is really not as different as those who would like to Defend Ahmadinejad would like it to be. Just how is Vanishing from Time really so different then Vanishing from a Map? I guess that the Second Statement could Imply the Total Destruction of Israel, yet without the Proper Understanding of this English Phrase, and In Fact, in the Absence of Intense Emotional Reaction, it could mean nothing more than that Israel is no Longer Called Israel on the Map, so if we are going to be Technical about Words, let's do so with the "Misquote" as well.
The First Phrase, the One Actually Spoken by Ahmadinejad, could be Understood as Vanishing from the Pages of History. In Light of this, how is Disappearing from the Map, much Different than Disappearing or Vanishing from the Page of Time. In both of these Cases, both the Language and the Culture of both of these Phrases needs to be Understood and the Article did not get into that so much. Both Phrases, though, can be Taken either in a Mild or a more Emotional Way, depending on the Emotional State of the Listener.
In Light of what I have just said, it is interesting to note that the Actual Original Misquote, "Wiped off the Map", came from Iran itself, not it's enemies. Though the article did not present it this way, this Fact actually gives Credence to the Idea that this so called "Misquote" does, In Fact, Represent the actual real Sentiments of many Iranian People. If the "Misquote" did not Originate from the "War Hawks", then this takes away Credence from those who are Accusing them of Irrational Motives. Also, the Iranian People, from whom the "Misquote" Originated and who Understand their own Culture and Language Perfectly, did not seem to Consider this a Misquote.
Perhaps the Original Phrase was not a Reference to Genocide, yet that doesn't make it any less of a Statement that Threatens War, for how else is the Vanishing from a Map, or from "the Page of Time" supposed to be Accomplished, apart from War?
Don't the Jews have just as much Right to their Place on the Globe as anyone else? It just so Happens that the area of Earth that the Jews Possess is a rather Small Plot of Land.
The Hour Glass Display that was on the Posters around the Iranian President when he Delivered his Speech in Tehran at a Program Entitled, "The World Without Zionism", were quite offensive and most definitely Implied a Threat.
I don't feel that the Fact that Ahmadinejad was actually Quoting the Words of Ayatollah Khomenei, whether then making his Own Original Statement, is a Significant Detail to Mention, for he Quoted him to show Support and Agreement, as is evidenced by his Statement that "This Statement is Very Wise." Whether Ahmadinejad Originated the Idea, or just Agreed with it, is Inconsequential to whether or not he does, In Fact, Hold the Positions in Question.
Another Point that was Made in the Linked Article was that Khomenei and Ahmadinejad were referring to the Regime, not too all of Israel. Getting back to the Hour Glass Display again, though, this Display made a Statement about far more then just the Current "Regime" of Israel. In this Display is an Hour Glass with the Planet Earth at its top and Two Small Round Orbs representing the United States and Israel are shown Falling through the hour glass' narrow neck and Crashing to the Bottom, thus the Implied Removal of not Only Israel, but also the United States from the Earth.
Don't you see? In Order to Understand the Intents of People, we can not Base our Opinions on Only One Quote, or Misquote. Even if it can be Argued that the Actual Words of the Quote that has been Misquoted may not Mean what the Misquote Implies, yet the Hour Glass Display makes a rather Strong Statement that does Mean what the Misquote Implies.
Even if, however, the Regime is all that Ahmadinejad was Referring to, how does he Plan to Remove such a Regime without War? Also, I Fail to see what is so Evil about the Regime that now "Occupies Jerusalem". And, my Goodness, how does just Siting Examples of Regimes that have Collapsed, justify Causing the Collapse of another one? He makes absolutely no sense at all.
The Discussion of the Word "Earth", rather then "Map", is also an Insignificant Distinction. Since the Entire Earth has been Mapped, if a Country is no Longer on the Map, then they are no Longer on the Earth either, now are they? Arguing about Word Technicalities, though, does not Hold Up when evaluating all of the Facts. Getting back to the Hour Glass Illustration, for Example, the Earth is what Appeared in that Picture, not a Map, so the Second "Misquote", Containing the Word "Earth", is actually more Accurate, than the First.
The Next Thing that is discussed is the Reaction of a whole bunch of World Leaders, of which, at least 10 were mentioned throughout the course of the Article. Well, this reality gives Credence to the the Fact that there is enough evidence out there of a Threat to make an Impression on many World Leaders, not just One or Two and to Suggest that such a Reaction is Based on One "Misquoted" Statement and Nothing else is Ridiculous.
The Real Problem, however, is that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was given Multiple Opportunities to Deny that he said these Things, or that he Meant what he said in the Way in which it was Misquoted. Instead, he Avoids the Question. You could say that he Neither Confirms, nor Denies it, yet if the Idea of "Wiping Israel off the Face of the Earth" was at all Repulsive to him, he would have Denied saying such a Thing. In Truth, however, the Idea of Totally and Completely Destroying Israel does not Repulse him in the Slightest and that is just the Problem.
He might as well of just said out right that the so called "Misquote" is, In Fact, exactly what he meant. The Fact that the Insistence that this is a "Misquote" is coming from those who wish to Defend him and not from he, himself, is not at all an Unimportant Detail, for to Refuse to Deny something is really no Different than Admitting it or Agreeing that he meant exactly that which he Refuses to Deny.
When Ahmadindjad said that "the People with no Roots there are now Ruling the Land", this was a Lie, for the Jews have lots of Roots and History there in Israel and Jerusalem.
This Article just goes on and on, Complaining again about yet another Word Technicality, in that the Quote;
"As the Soviet Union Disappeared, the Zionist regime will also Vanish and Humanity will be Liberated."
is "Misquoted" as...
"The Zionist regime will be Wiped Out soon the same way the Soviet Union was and Humanity will achieve Freedom."
The Only Difference, though, between the First and Second Statement is that the First does not Explain how the Zionist regime will Vanish and the Second says that it will be Wiped Out, yet it would be Very Foolish and Careless to not see that the First Statement does, In Fact, Imply the Second. To Deny this is Foolish. I'm getting so Tired of these Word Technicality Arguments that are Meant to Down Play and Justify Obvious Negative Intentions.
Getting Back to the Hour Glass Picture, though, Containing the Earth, Israel, the US and an Hour Glass, this Picture says it all and Confirms the Motives that are Implied by what has been Called a "Misquote".
As to the Closing Argument in the Article, containing the Quote "History shows us that Oppressive and Cruel governments do not Survive.", I fail to see how Israel Falls into the Category of an "Oppressive and Cruel Government" that will Fall on it's Own without help from Iran. This Wishful thinking has absolutely no merit and this is the Part that is the Lie, but then again, I guess everyone can Read the Linked Article for themselves and Form their Own Opinions about it.
I Guess the Actual Quote was that "This Regime occupying Jerusalem must Vanish from the Page of Time". Don't You see? The meaning is really not as different as those who would like to Defend Ahmadinejad would like it to be. Just how is Vanishing from Time really so different then Vanishing from a Map? I guess that the Second Statement could Imply the Total Destruction of Israel, yet without the Proper Understanding of this English Phrase, and In Fact, in the Absence of Intense Emotional Reaction, it could mean nothing more than that Israel is no Longer Called Israel on the Map, so if we are going to be Technical about Words, let's do so with the "Misquote" as well.
The First Phrase, the One Actually Spoken by Ahmadinejad, could be Understood as Vanishing from the Pages of History. In Light of this, how is Disappearing from the Map, much Different than Disappearing or Vanishing from the Page of Time. In both of these Cases, both the Language and the Culture of both of these Phrases needs to be Understood and the Article did not get into that so much. Both Phrases, though, can be Taken either in a Mild or a more Emotional Way, depending on the Emotional State of the Listener.
In Light of what I have just said, it is interesting to note that the Actual Original Misquote, "Wiped off the Map", came from Iran itself, not it's enemies. Though the article did not present it this way, this Fact actually gives Credence to the Idea that this so called "Misquote" does, In Fact, Represent the actual real Sentiments of many Iranian People. If the "Misquote" did not Originate from the "War Hawks", then this takes away Credence from those who are Accusing them of Irrational Motives. Also, the Iranian People, from whom the "Misquote" Originated and who Understand their own Culture and Language Perfectly, did not seem to Consider this a Misquote.
Perhaps the Original Phrase was not a Reference to Genocide, yet that doesn't make it any less of a Statement that Threatens War, for how else is the Vanishing from a Map, or from "the Page of Time" supposed to be Accomplished, apart from War?
Don't the Jews have just as much Right to their Place on the Globe as anyone else? It just so Happens that the area of Earth that the Jews Possess is a rather Small Plot of Land.
The Hour Glass Display that was on the Posters around the Iranian President when he Delivered his Speech in Tehran at a Program Entitled, "The World Without Zionism", were quite offensive and most definitely Implied a Threat.
I don't feel that the Fact that Ahmadinejad was actually Quoting the Words of Ayatollah Khomenei, whether then making his Own Original Statement, is a Significant Detail to Mention, for he Quoted him to show Support and Agreement, as is evidenced by his Statement that "This Statement is Very Wise." Whether Ahmadinejad Originated the Idea, or just Agreed with it, is Inconsequential to whether or not he does, In Fact, Hold the Positions in Question.
Another Point that was Made in the Linked Article was that Khomenei and Ahmadinejad were referring to the Regime, not too all of Israel. Getting back to the Hour Glass Display again, though, this Display made a Statement about far more then just the Current "Regime" of Israel. In this Display is an Hour Glass with the Planet Earth at its top and Two Small Round Orbs representing the United States and Israel are shown Falling through the hour glass' narrow neck and Crashing to the Bottom, thus the Implied Removal of not Only Israel, but also the United States from the Earth.
Don't you see? In Order to Understand the Intents of People, we can not Base our Opinions on Only One Quote, or Misquote. Even if it can be Argued that the Actual Words of the Quote that has been Misquoted may not Mean what the Misquote Implies, yet the Hour Glass Display makes a rather Strong Statement that does Mean what the Misquote Implies.
Even if, however, the Regime is all that Ahmadinejad was Referring to, how does he Plan to Remove such a Regime without War? Also, I Fail to see what is so Evil about the Regime that now "Occupies Jerusalem". And, my Goodness, how does just Siting Examples of Regimes that have Collapsed, justify Causing the Collapse of another one? He makes absolutely no sense at all.
The Discussion of the Word "Earth", rather then "Map", is also an Insignificant Distinction. Since the Entire Earth has been Mapped, if a Country is no Longer on the Map, then they are no Longer on the Earth either, now are they? Arguing about Word Technicalities, though, does not Hold Up when evaluating all of the Facts. Getting back to the Hour Glass Illustration, for Example, the Earth is what Appeared in that Picture, not a Map, so the Second "Misquote", Containing the Word "Earth", is actually more Accurate, than the First.
The Next Thing that is discussed is the Reaction of a whole bunch of World Leaders, of which, at least 10 were mentioned throughout the course of the Article. Well, this reality gives Credence to the the Fact that there is enough evidence out there of a Threat to make an Impression on many World Leaders, not just One or Two and to Suggest that such a Reaction is Based on One "Misquoted" Statement and Nothing else is Ridiculous.
The Real Problem, however, is that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was given Multiple Opportunities to Deny that he said these Things, or that he Meant what he said in the Way in which it was Misquoted. Instead, he Avoids the Question. You could say that he Neither Confirms, nor Denies it, yet if the Idea of "Wiping Israel off the Face of the Earth" was at all Repulsive to him, he would have Denied saying such a Thing. In Truth, however, the Idea of Totally and Completely Destroying Israel does not Repulse him in the Slightest and that is just the Problem.
He might as well of just said out right that the so called "Misquote" is, In Fact, exactly what he meant. The Fact that the Insistence that this is a "Misquote" is coming from those who wish to Defend him and not from he, himself, is not at all an Unimportant Detail, for to Refuse to Deny something is really no Different than Admitting it or Agreeing that he meant exactly that which he Refuses to Deny.
When Ahmadindjad said that "the People with no Roots there are now Ruling the Land", this was a Lie, for the Jews have lots of Roots and History there in Israel and Jerusalem.
This Article just goes on and on, Complaining again about yet another Word Technicality, in that the Quote;
"As the Soviet Union Disappeared, the Zionist regime will also Vanish and Humanity will be Liberated."
is "Misquoted" as...
"The Zionist regime will be Wiped Out soon the same way the Soviet Union was and Humanity will achieve Freedom."
The Only Difference, though, between the First and Second Statement is that the First does not Explain how the Zionist regime will Vanish and the Second says that it will be Wiped Out, yet it would be Very Foolish and Careless to not see that the First Statement does, In Fact, Imply the Second. To Deny this is Foolish. I'm getting so Tired of these Word Technicality Arguments that are Meant to Down Play and Justify Obvious Negative Intentions.
Getting Back to the Hour Glass Picture, though, Containing the Earth, Israel, the US and an Hour Glass, this Picture says it all and Confirms the Motives that are Implied by what has been Called a "Misquote".
As to the Closing Argument in the Article, containing the Quote "History shows us that Oppressive and Cruel governments do not Survive.", I fail to see how Israel Falls into the Category of an "Oppressive and Cruel Government" that will Fall on it's Own without help from Iran. This Wishful thinking has absolutely no merit and this is the Part that is the Lie, but then again, I guess everyone can Read the Linked Article for themselves and Form their Own Opinions about it.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
MoreThoughts on Republican Primary Candidates/2012
As to the Election, I am now Leaning towards Newt Ginrich and in a Minute I will explain why.
I had Initially Started this Post on the Day of the South Carolina Primaries, January 21, and I didn't even Know the Results yet. We had just recently discovered that Santorum Won Iowa, not Romney, giving One Win to Santorum (Iowa) and One to Romney (New Hampsire). For the Remainder of this Post, when I say Update, I am Referring to the Date of this Post and when I say Earlier, I am Referring to January 21, when I First Wrote this Post.
Update: Now we Know that Gingrich has Won South Carolina and Romney has Won Florida. Santorum and Gingrich have both Won One State and Romeny has Won Two.
Earlier: My Opinion at the Time of the South Carolina Election was that Romney had been coming Across as a little Arrogant and to be Honest with you, I still get that Impression at Times. He's just a little too Confident that he is going to Win and well, at the Time of the Carolina Election, he wouldn't Release his Tax Reforms. Ron Paul may be a little Embarrassed because he makes less then the others, yet Romney is Embarrassed about something too, yet we do not Know what.
Update: Did we ever Find Out what Romney was so Embarrassed about? It seems to me that there was nothing all that Surprising about his Tax Reforms once he Finally did decide to Release them. I guess he is just Afraid that People will Judge him because he Makes so much Money.
Earlier: Both Santorum and Gingrich Appear to have more Heart. Romney Appears to have more Money.
In Actuality, Gingrich's willingness to be a little Softer on Illegals that have been here 25 Years and have Roots in the Community makes sense and Romney's Approach does come across as a little Heartless.
Update: It Seems to me that there was a more Recent Debate in which Romney Defended himself a little better and did not come Across as quite so Heartless in Relation to Illegals. I Laughed when he said that the Issue is not "11 Million Grandmothers" and he Assured as that he is not Going to be Going Around Ripping Grandmothers out of their Homes.
Earlier: Ok. So Newt has had some Marital Problems and has even had Affairs as a Result. He has Married his "Mistress", so it wasn't just a Casual Thing done just for Thrills.
I Know it's hard for a lot of Hard Core Christians to Understand, but you know what? Sometimes these Things just Happen. I can Forgive him for that.
For some Reason, they Keep Referring to Newt as "the other Conservative Option" and to Romney as the One who is more Liberal, even though both of these Guys have been Criticized for ways in which they are not as Conservative as some would like them to be.
And what about Rick Santorum? Well, though I Agree with his Strong Pro-life Stand, it may be too Strong for most of the Liberals, a lot of the Independents and perhaps even some of the Conservatives. I'm Afraid that might make him Unelectable.
Michael Buckman has also said something about him During the Iowa Election Period that Unfortunately Stuck with me, for she Claims that he has a Spending Problem and I guess this is Based on him Voting a Few Times for them to Raise the Debt Ceiling. I Never did hear his Defense in Relation to this One.
And Ron Paul, well I'm afraid that both he and Santorum are Unelectable in the General Election. Ron Paul, though, has the Added Problem of being a little on the Radical Side on some of his Positions.
Yeh. I Think I'm going to go with Newt. For now that's my Decision.
Update: My Opinions have not Really Changed much after Watching the Debates Leading up to the Primary in Florida. I Wish that I had heard the Speeches that were given on that Night. I Missed them this Time. Oh well.
I had Initially Started this Post on the Day of the South Carolina Primaries, January 21, and I didn't even Know the Results yet. We had just recently discovered that Santorum Won Iowa, not Romney, giving One Win to Santorum (Iowa) and One to Romney (New Hampsire). For the Remainder of this Post, when I say Update, I am Referring to the Date of this Post and when I say Earlier, I am Referring to January 21, when I First Wrote this Post.
Update: Now we Know that Gingrich has Won South Carolina and Romney has Won Florida. Santorum and Gingrich have both Won One State and Romeny has Won Two.
Earlier: My Opinion at the Time of the South Carolina Election was that Romney had been coming Across as a little Arrogant and to be Honest with you, I still get that Impression at Times. He's just a little too Confident that he is going to Win and well, at the Time of the Carolina Election, he wouldn't Release his Tax Reforms. Ron Paul may be a little Embarrassed because he makes less then the others, yet Romney is Embarrassed about something too, yet we do not Know what.
Update: Did we ever Find Out what Romney was so Embarrassed about? It seems to me that there was nothing all that Surprising about his Tax Reforms once he Finally did decide to Release them. I guess he is just Afraid that People will Judge him because he Makes so much Money.
Earlier: Both Santorum and Gingrich Appear to have more Heart. Romney Appears to have more Money.
In Actuality, Gingrich's willingness to be a little Softer on Illegals that have been here 25 Years and have Roots in the Community makes sense and Romney's Approach does come across as a little Heartless.
Update: It Seems to me that there was a more Recent Debate in which Romney Defended himself a little better and did not come Across as quite so Heartless in Relation to Illegals. I Laughed when he said that the Issue is not "11 Million Grandmothers" and he Assured as that he is not Going to be Going Around Ripping Grandmothers out of their Homes.
Earlier: Ok. So Newt has had some Marital Problems and has even had Affairs as a Result. He has Married his "Mistress", so it wasn't just a Casual Thing done just for Thrills.
I Know it's hard for a lot of Hard Core Christians to Understand, but you know what? Sometimes these Things just Happen. I can Forgive him for that.
For some Reason, they Keep Referring to Newt as "the other Conservative Option" and to Romney as the One who is more Liberal, even though both of these Guys have been Criticized for ways in which they are not as Conservative as some would like them to be.
And what about Rick Santorum? Well, though I Agree with his Strong Pro-life Stand, it may be too Strong for most of the Liberals, a lot of the Independents and perhaps even some of the Conservatives. I'm Afraid that might make him Unelectable.
Michael Buckman has also said something about him During the Iowa Election Period that Unfortunately Stuck with me, for she Claims that he has a Spending Problem and I guess this is Based on him Voting a Few Times for them to Raise the Debt Ceiling. I Never did hear his Defense in Relation to this One.
And Ron Paul, well I'm afraid that both he and Santorum are Unelectable in the General Election. Ron Paul, though, has the Added Problem of being a little on the Radical Side on some of his Positions.
Yeh. I Think I'm going to go with Newt. For now that's my Decision.
Update: My Opinions have not Really Changed much after Watching the Debates Leading up to the Primary in Florida. I Wish that I had heard the Speeches that were given on that Night. I Missed them this Time. Oh well.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thoughts on Republican Primary Candidates, 2012
As to the Election, I am now Leaning towards Newt Gingrich and in a Minute I'm going to be Explaining why.
For those who Find this Page at a Later Date, I'd just like to say that this was written on the day of the South Carolina Primaries, but we won't know the results of that until tonight. We've just Recently been Told that Santorum is the One who Won Iowa, not Romney. What was Once a Romney Win by Only 8 Votes, later became a Santorum Win by 34 Votes. So here's the Story, so far... Santorum Won Iowa, Romney Won New Hampshire and the Out Come of South Carolina Appears to be either Romney or Gingrich.
In my Opinion, Romney has been coming Across as a little Arrogant Lately. He's just a little too Confident that he is going to Win and he won't Release his Tax Reforms. Ron Paul may be a little Embarrassed because he makes less than the others, yet Romney is Embarrassed about something too and yet we do not Know what.
Both Santorum and Gingrich Appear to have more Heart than Romney. What Romney Appears to have is Money.
In Actuality, Gingrich's willingness to be a little Softer on Illegals that have been here 25 Years or more and have Roots in the Community makes sense and Romney's Approach does come across as a little Heartless.
Ok. So Newt has had some Marital Problems and has even had Affairs as a Result. He has Married his "Mistress", so it wasn't just a Casual Thing done just for Thrills. I Know it's hard for a lot of Hard Core Christians to Understand, but you know what? Sometimes these Things just Happen. I can Forgive him for that and I Believe him that his Ex-Wife's Accusation against him is False.
For some Reason, they Keep Referring to Newt as "the other Conservative Option" and to Romney as the One who is more Liberal. I Guess that's because of his Tendency to Change his Mind about Things.
And what about Rick Santorum? Well, though I Agree with his Strong Pro-life Stand, it may be too Strong for most of the Liberals, a lot of the Independents and perhaps even some of the Conservatives. I'm Afraid that might make him Unelectable.
And Ron Paul, well he is Unelectable too, as well as a little on the Radical Side on some of his Positions.
Yeh. I Think I'm going to go with Newt. For now that's my Decision.
For those who Find this Page at a Later Date, I'd just like to say that this was written on the day of the South Carolina Primaries, but we won't know the results of that until tonight. We've just Recently been Told that Santorum is the One who Won Iowa, not Romney. What was Once a Romney Win by Only 8 Votes, later became a Santorum Win by 34 Votes. So here's the Story, so far... Santorum Won Iowa, Romney Won New Hampshire and the Out Come of South Carolina Appears to be either Romney or Gingrich.
In my Opinion, Romney has been coming Across as a little Arrogant Lately. He's just a little too Confident that he is going to Win and he won't Release his Tax Reforms. Ron Paul may be a little Embarrassed because he makes less than the others, yet Romney is Embarrassed about something too and yet we do not Know what.
Both Santorum and Gingrich Appear to have more Heart than Romney. What Romney Appears to have is Money.
In Actuality, Gingrich's willingness to be a little Softer on Illegals that have been here 25 Years or more and have Roots in the Community makes sense and Romney's Approach does come across as a little Heartless.
Ok. So Newt has had some Marital Problems and has even had Affairs as a Result. He has Married his "Mistress", so it wasn't just a Casual Thing done just for Thrills. I Know it's hard for a lot of Hard Core Christians to Understand, but you know what? Sometimes these Things just Happen. I can Forgive him for that and I Believe him that his Ex-Wife's Accusation against him is False.
For some Reason, they Keep Referring to Newt as "the other Conservative Option" and to Romney as the One who is more Liberal. I Guess that's because of his Tendency to Change his Mind about Things.
And what about Rick Santorum? Well, though I Agree with his Strong Pro-life Stand, it may be too Strong for most of the Liberals, a lot of the Independents and perhaps even some of the Conservatives. I'm Afraid that might make him Unelectable.
And Ron Paul, well he is Unelectable too, as well as a little on the Radical Side on some of his Positions.
Yeh. I Think I'm going to go with Newt. For now that's my Decision.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Romney/Ron Paul Delima
I'm just about Getting Ready to give in to this Ron Paul Mania. It's not Because I Entirely Trust him to Run this Country. I Think that his Cuts to Government Programs may be too Deep, too soon, and I don't Trust his Foreign Policy. Though it does sort of Appear that his Cuts are Focused more on the Military and Aid to Foreign Countries, than on things such a Social Security and Medicare. That's actually good. Romney and Santorum may Actually Cut these Things.
The Reason why I might even Vote for Paul is because I would never Want Romney to Win by as Large of a Margin as he Might. The Idea of him Winning the Electoral College Votes by a Land Slide does not at all Appeal to me. Come on, you Guys in these Other States. Vote Against him. Will ya'? I'd Actually Like something that is In-between Ron Paul and some of the other Republicans, yet such a Critter does not Appear to Exist.
The Reason why I might even Vote for Paul is because I would never Want Romney to Win by as Large of a Margin as he Might. The Idea of him Winning the Electoral College Votes by a Land Slide does not at all Appeal to me. Come on, you Guys in these Other States. Vote Against him. Will ya'? I'd Actually Like something that is In-between Ron Paul and some of the other Republicans, yet such a Critter does not Appear to Exist.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Gen. News, Music Ministry, Dad with Dementia/Alzheimers
As Long as there are Lurkers in my Hit Counter that I can not Identify and for whom I am not able to go to their Blog in Order to Hint that I've been Thinking about them, I feel that it's Important for me to Keep Posting Once in awhile so that they will not Lose Interest. I Try to Post at least a little something every Week, but don't always Succeed. Sometimes, though, I do better then that, so Hopefully that makes up for it. There was not as much Interest in my Previous Post as I thought there might be.
I've been Busy with the Music at our Church. We have a New Pastor. The Last Sermon of the Previous One was on Christmas Day and the First Sermon of the New One was on New Year's Day. Since the Last Pastor Plays the Guitar, he and his Wife helped me with the Music. The New Pastor Sings and has been Singing with me, but does not Play an Instrument, so I am now the Only Guitar Player and am Pretty Much the Main Praise Leader. We have another Couple that does our Music Once a Month, but other then that, I am it.
I've had Mixed Feelings about the Extra Responsibility, yet for now am not sure what to say about it. I've had another Teenager Volunteer to Help Out, but again she is just another Singer. What I really want is someone who can Play an Instrument and Ideally another Guitar so that I don't have to Necessarily be the Main Person every Sunday.
This is what has been Distracting me from my Blogging Lately. That and also, some Extra Stresses Relating to my Father-in-Law who has Dementia. I don't Really want to get into that One, except to say that he still Drives, but has to be Careful where he Drives to, cause if he gets outside of the Area that he still Remembers, he will get Lost.
More Recently, he has Gotten in an Accident and this has been Quite Confusing and Stressful. Perhaps I'll come back Later and Write more in the Comment Section about this, but for now, I just wanted to get a little something Posted for you Guys to Read.
I've been Busy with the Music at our Church. We have a New Pastor. The Last Sermon of the Previous One was on Christmas Day and the First Sermon of the New One was on New Year's Day. Since the Last Pastor Plays the Guitar, he and his Wife helped me with the Music. The New Pastor Sings and has been Singing with me, but does not Play an Instrument, so I am now the Only Guitar Player and am Pretty Much the Main Praise Leader. We have another Couple that does our Music Once a Month, but other then that, I am it.
I've had Mixed Feelings about the Extra Responsibility, yet for now am not sure what to say about it. I've had another Teenager Volunteer to Help Out, but again she is just another Singer. What I really want is someone who can Play an Instrument and Ideally another Guitar so that I don't have to Necessarily be the Main Person every Sunday.
This is what has been Distracting me from my Blogging Lately. That and also, some Extra Stresses Relating to my Father-in-Law who has Dementia. I don't Really want to get into that One, except to say that he still Drives, but has to be Careful where he Drives to, cause if he gets outside of the Area that he still Remembers, he will get Lost.
More Recently, he has Gotten in an Accident and this has been Quite Confusing and Stressful. Perhaps I'll come back Later and Write more in the Comment Section about this, but for now, I just wanted to get a little something Posted for you Guys to Read.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Religious Views, World Views & Environmental Issues
I guess in time, I will need to get back to the Subject I was Previously Focused on, which is Libertarianism, yet since I have such a diverse Audience, something New has come up in the Mean Time.
Since our Spiritual Beliefs have an Effect on how we View our World, this can not help but to have an Effect on our Politics. Many Environmentalists are overly Zealous in their Cause Primarily because they have a Very Different View of the Relationship between God, Man and Nature then Christians do.
First, I will Explain the Christian View on God, Man and Nature and then I will be Explaining the Political Implications. Please Bear with me as I Explain a Religious Idea, for I will not be Explaining why this Idea is also a Political One until the End. For now, let me just say that we all have World Views and that the Christians are not the Only Ones who have such World Views.
Here is the Christian View on how God Feels about His Own Creation...
"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26, KJV)
According to the Bible, the Main Difference between Animals and Man is in the Fact that unlike the Animals, Man is Made in God's Image and this is the Reason why man has been Given dominion over the rest of God's Creation. There are some who have Reacted Negatively to this Verse because they Feel that it Gives us License to Ravish and Abuse the Earth, yet I do not at all believe that this was God's Intent.
In the Comment section of another Blog, I recently said this...
"Certainly Man is expected to Treat God's Creation with at least some level of Respect and not Ravish her until she is Totally Barren and Empty of her ability to Sustain Life. Such a Level of Disrespect should not even be given to that which we have been Given Dominion Over. Certainly we should be Better Stewards of that which God has Entrusted to us."
The Very Fact that Man has the Power to be so Destructive in Relation to Nature is Evidence of the Dominion that he has been Given, yet just because we are the Ones who have the Dominion does not Mean that we have the Right to Ravish and Trample on that which has been Entrusted to our care.
Here is another Verse that Shows that God does indeed Value His Creation...
"26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; 29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31) Therefore take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall we be clothed?' 32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:26-33, KJV)
And also...
"29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." (Matthew 10:29, KJV)
If God did not Value His Creation, He would not take so much Care to Nourish her and "Cloth" her, yet...
"30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:30-31, KJV)
So we are Clearly the Favored of God's Creation and are most Precious to God. Here are a few more Verses...
"35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35, KJV)
This Exact Statement is also Repeated in Mark 13:31 & Luke 21:33. Also see II Peter 3:10, which Adds more Detail.
Which Leads us to the Next Thought...
"18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18, KJV)
To Keep this in Balance, I must add that somehow there are those who have Gotten the Impression that Christians require that we "Renounce this natural world". The Word "Renounce", though, is a Little too Strong, for this Implies Abandoning and Refusing to Acknowledge. Even God does not do that. Instead He "Feeds" and "Cloths" His Creation. We are just not Supposed to Value it above other Things that are Spiritual in Nature. It is more of a Priority thing, than a "Renoucing" thing.
On the Other Hand, if we Value Nature so much, so as to View it as God and thus, Worship it, then we end up Renouncing God Instead.
The Last Couple of Verses that I want to share may come across as Confrontive to those who love Nature, yet do not Acknowledge the Creator, yet without these Last Verses, the Discussion of the Biblical View on the Issue is not Complete.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1, KJV)
"19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20) For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20, KJV)
And...
"25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1:25, KJV)
The First two of these verses talks about how there is Evidence of God in His Creation and the Second describes the Worship of the Creation as is Viewed in Christianity as a Form of Idolatry, just as the Bible also says...
"3) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3, KJV)
Ok, now for the Political; Like Usual, it all comes down to Balance. Protecting the Environment is Important, but not at the Expense of the Livelihood of Man. Plants and Animals are Important, but not more Important than Man.
By now, you may be saying that we should Keep our "Religious Views" out of Politics, yet in this case it is not Possible to entirely Remove our "World View" from our Political Views. Either you Believe that Man and Nature are Totally Equal, or you do not. There are no other Options, and to Believe that Man is not Created in God's Image and is nothing other then another Animal is no less a Spiritual Opinion, than to believe that Man is Created in God's Image.
There is an Inequality in this Country based on the Fact that Atheism is not Viewed as a Religious Idea, yet how can the Belief that there is no God not be a Belief about the Nature of God? So you see, Atheism is a Religious Opinion as well because it is an Opinion about God. Quite Apart from that, though, there are Religions that Teach the Belief that Animals are equal to People because of the Reincarnation Cycle, thus Making this a Religious Idea.
No matter how you turn this Issue, the Underlying Factor that Drives our Environmental Politics is Religious in Nature and to Deny this Only Confuses the Issue.
As you can see, the Christian View of the Relationship Between Man and Nature is quite Different than the View held by Buddists and Hindus, yet again we need to Understand this is Accordance to Balance, for it is not Correct to Assume that Christians do not Value Nature, cause we do and we are Required of God to be good Stewards of that which He has Entrusted to us.
Consider this, for Example, if a Dog Owner Trusts someone to care for their Dog, can the one who has been given the Responsibility for the Dog Neglect to take care of the dog? No One Argues against the Idea that People are the "Pack Leaders" and not the Dogs, yet if you Neglect to meet the Needs of that which you are in Charge of, you are Behaving Irresponsibly.
Things need to be kept in Balance, though, for Nature does not Rule over Man, and therefore, what Man Needs in order to Exist, should not be Disregarded when Making Environmental Decisions. This is Why Economy and Jobs is just as Important as the Environment and Why things must be kept in Balance when making these Decisions.
Interestingly, the Comment Section has Taken Off more in the Direction of a Validity of Scripture Discussion, rather then a Discussion about Environmental Issues.
Since our Spiritual Beliefs have an Effect on how we View our World, this can not help but to have an Effect on our Politics. Many Environmentalists are overly Zealous in their Cause Primarily because they have a Very Different View of the Relationship between God, Man and Nature then Christians do.
First, I will Explain the Christian View on God, Man and Nature and then I will be Explaining the Political Implications. Please Bear with me as I Explain a Religious Idea, for I will not be Explaining why this Idea is also a Political One until the End. For now, let me just say that we all have World Views and that the Christians are not the Only Ones who have such World Views.
Here is the Christian View on how God Feels about His Own Creation...
"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26, KJV)
According to the Bible, the Main Difference between Animals and Man is in the Fact that unlike the Animals, Man is Made in God's Image and this is the Reason why man has been Given dominion over the rest of God's Creation. There are some who have Reacted Negatively to this Verse because they Feel that it Gives us License to Ravish and Abuse the Earth, yet I do not at all believe that this was God's Intent.
In the Comment section of another Blog, I recently said this...
"Certainly Man is expected to Treat God's Creation with at least some level of Respect and not Ravish her until she is Totally Barren and Empty of her ability to Sustain Life. Such a Level of Disrespect should not even be given to that which we have been Given Dominion Over. Certainly we should be Better Stewards of that which God has Entrusted to us."
The Very Fact that Man has the Power to be so Destructive in Relation to Nature is Evidence of the Dominion that he has been Given, yet just because we are the Ones who have the Dominion does not Mean that we have the Right to Ravish and Trample on that which has been Entrusted to our care.
Here is another Verse that Shows that God does indeed Value His Creation...
"26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; 29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31) Therefore take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall we be clothed?' 32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:26-33, KJV)
And also...
"29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." (Matthew 10:29, KJV)
If God did not Value His Creation, He would not take so much Care to Nourish her and "Cloth" her, yet...
"30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:30-31, KJV)
So we are Clearly the Favored of God's Creation and are most Precious to God. Here are a few more Verses...
"35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35, KJV)
This Exact Statement is also Repeated in Mark 13:31 & Luke 21:33. Also see II Peter 3:10, which Adds more Detail.
Which Leads us to the Next Thought...
"18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18, KJV)
To Keep this in Balance, I must add that somehow there are those who have Gotten the Impression that Christians require that we "Renounce this natural world". The Word "Renounce", though, is a Little too Strong, for this Implies Abandoning and Refusing to Acknowledge. Even God does not do that. Instead He "Feeds" and "Cloths" His Creation. We are just not Supposed to Value it above other Things that are Spiritual in Nature. It is more of a Priority thing, than a "Renoucing" thing.
On the Other Hand, if we Value Nature so much, so as to View it as God and thus, Worship it, then we end up Renouncing God Instead.
The Last Couple of Verses that I want to share may come across as Confrontive to those who love Nature, yet do not Acknowledge the Creator, yet without these Last Verses, the Discussion of the Biblical View on the Issue is not Complete.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1, KJV)
"19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20) For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20, KJV)
And...
"25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1:25, KJV)
The First two of these verses talks about how there is Evidence of God in His Creation and the Second describes the Worship of the Creation as is Viewed in Christianity as a Form of Idolatry, just as the Bible also says...
"3) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3, KJV)
Ok, now for the Political; Like Usual, it all comes down to Balance. Protecting the Environment is Important, but not at the Expense of the Livelihood of Man. Plants and Animals are Important, but not more Important than Man.
By now, you may be saying that we should Keep our "Religious Views" out of Politics, yet in this case it is not Possible to entirely Remove our "World View" from our Political Views. Either you Believe that Man and Nature are Totally Equal, or you do not. There are no other Options, and to Believe that Man is not Created in God's Image and is nothing other then another Animal is no less a Spiritual Opinion, than to believe that Man is Created in God's Image.
There is an Inequality in this Country based on the Fact that Atheism is not Viewed as a Religious Idea, yet how can the Belief that there is no God not be a Belief about the Nature of God? So you see, Atheism is a Religious Opinion as well because it is an Opinion about God. Quite Apart from that, though, there are Religions that Teach the Belief that Animals are equal to People because of the Reincarnation Cycle, thus Making this a Religious Idea.
No matter how you turn this Issue, the Underlying Factor that Drives our Environmental Politics is Religious in Nature and to Deny this Only Confuses the Issue.
As you can see, the Christian View of the Relationship Between Man and Nature is quite Different than the View held by Buddists and Hindus, yet again we need to Understand this is Accordance to Balance, for it is not Correct to Assume that Christians do not Value Nature, cause we do and we are Required of God to be good Stewards of that which He has Entrusted to us.
Consider this, for Example, if a Dog Owner Trusts someone to care for their Dog, can the one who has been given the Responsibility for the Dog Neglect to take care of the dog? No One Argues against the Idea that People are the "Pack Leaders" and not the Dogs, yet if you Neglect to meet the Needs of that which you are in Charge of, you are Behaving Irresponsibly.
Things need to be kept in Balance, though, for Nature does not Rule over Man, and therefore, what Man Needs in order to Exist, should not be Disregarded when Making Environmental Decisions. This is Why Economy and Jobs is just as Important as the Environment and Why things must be kept in Balance when making these Decisions.
Interestingly, the Comment Section has Taken Off more in the Direction of a Validity of Scripture Discussion, rather then a Discussion about Environmental Issues.
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