I just "read" in a two-hour reading: How To Think Straight by Antony Flew. Why was I reading a book with that title from an atheist? That's a good Q. My thoughts are that the bullet points on the front cover are worth more than the words in the book, though I have to admit that I read it in an overview type of fashion.
The bullet points were these:
"Find the motive. Watch your words. Look ahead. Figure it out. Look for causes. Don't be snowed. Be precise. Watch for sham. Sort fact from bunk. Reason with those who can reason. Don't set a plan in concrete. Take care without paranoia. Assert, deny, propose, refute."
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A quote from one of our culture's gods
"Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing can ever be made." Immanuel Kant 1724-1804 I would disagree with him, but he certainly spoke true of his own life and thought.
Fear and a guilty conscience
Do you have a holy, healthy, and happy conscience? A Christian should have, but often can be loaded up with shameful guilt just like the world, or worse. One of the most important blessings you should pray for and receive is a holy, healthy, and happy conscience. A healthy conscience comes through faithful obedience by magnificent and benevolent grace. Receiving grace establishes confidence and rids us of fear.
This is the core of what it means to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Our devotion book, the Psalms, puts it this way, “Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments.” In another place, but it’s all over the Psalms it says, “For I wait for Your ordinances. So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.” He is saying that he will be able to walk in a wide place, with an enlarged heart of confidence and joy because of the perfect law of liberty that gives him hope and security in this troubled world with troubled souls.
Every day, in the world out there, we buy things from people, we sell things to them, we hold conversations with folks who have severely troubled consciences…. Many more than we realize could be labeled “mentally unhealthy” if you included the sickly, dirty, and depressed guilt and shame through disobedience (instead of a holy, healthy, and happy conscience) that people carry around on themselves through every level of society.
We live in a sea of people laden with guilt. There are many Christians on Prozac and many more that are drugged on the addictive substance called, “Worried conscience Level 5.” Every morning we, Oooopsss! I mean they get up and pop in the 6 pills they have neatly laid out besides their bed in order, mind you: 1) disobedience and laziness (that’s one pill) 2) the pill “guilt therefore” and pill # 3) “shame because you’re guilty,” and feeling bad from the side effects of pills 1 and 2. 4) And this pill is by prescription only, you can get the rest easy from the over-the-counter store called “I am having a pity party in my heart. The 4th pill is called “1000 milligrams of mando worry.” This pill is great for illusions of grandeur and doing great feats of obedience but the unfortunate side effect are sometimes frequent day-dreaming of Satan doing all sorts of evil things to you and your family. You really need the 5th pill to balance it all out. It’s called, “Fear-morphine” and it allows you to daydream all day long about bad things that have never happened and you can sit around and watch movies all the time on the comfy couch and not worry about all the lions roaming around on the street.. Be careful with these pills brethren. They are addictive, and the following side effects can happen, but do check with your doctor: feelings of selfishness, self-disillusionment, bed-wetting, anxiety, zero creativity, muffled laughter, the refusal of the facial muscles to stretch into a smile, complaining about the cold weather, and an overall depression….but don’t worry, these side effects are rare,
Signed your affectionate and loving Uncle, Screwtape.
This is the core of what it means to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Our devotion book, the Psalms, puts it this way, “Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments.” In another place, but it’s all over the Psalms it says, “For I wait for Your ordinances. So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.” He is saying that he will be able to walk in a wide place, with an enlarged heart of confidence and joy because of the perfect law of liberty that gives him hope and security in this troubled world with troubled souls.
Every day, in the world out there, we buy things from people, we sell things to them, we hold conversations with folks who have severely troubled consciences…. Many more than we realize could be labeled “mentally unhealthy” if you included the sickly, dirty, and depressed guilt and shame through disobedience (instead of a holy, healthy, and happy conscience) that people carry around on themselves through every level of society.
We live in a sea of people laden with guilt. There are many Christians on Prozac and many more that are drugged on the addictive substance called, “Worried conscience Level 5.” Every morning we, Oooopsss! I mean they get up and pop in the 6 pills they have neatly laid out besides their bed in order, mind you: 1) disobedience and laziness (that’s one pill) 2) the pill “guilt therefore” and pill # 3) “shame because you’re guilty,” and feeling bad from the side effects of pills 1 and 2. 4) And this pill is by prescription only, you can get the rest easy from the over-the-counter store called “I am having a pity party in my heart. The 4th pill is called “1000 milligrams of mando worry.” This pill is great for illusions of grandeur and doing great feats of obedience but the unfortunate side effect are sometimes frequent day-dreaming of Satan doing all sorts of evil things to you and your family. You really need the 5th pill to balance it all out. It’s called, “Fear-morphine” and it allows you to daydream all day long about bad things that have never happened and you can sit around and watch movies all the time on the comfy couch and not worry about all the lions roaming around on the street.. Be careful with these pills brethren. They are addictive, and the following side effects can happen, but do check with your doctor: feelings of selfishness, self-disillusionment, bed-wetting, anxiety, zero creativity, muffled laughter, the refusal of the facial muscles to stretch into a smile, complaining about the cold weather, and an overall depression….but don’t worry, these side effects are rare,
Signed your affectionate and loving Uncle, Screwtape.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Keep sowing friend
PSALM 126:4-6
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Because of the resurrection, we can sow in faith. There is no good work accomplished in the name of Christ through faith that you have ever done that will not sprout up and bear fruit. All those tears, all that sorrow, all that entrusting yourself to a faithful Creator, is not in vain…. Psalm 126 is the Psalm of thanksgiving for those returning from exile. Jesus Christ has brought us out of bondage and exile from the absolute misery of sin being ourselves entrapped in total depravity. Now, in faith, all freedom and peace is complete in Christ Jesus.
So, brothers and sisters, on this day, as in every Resurrection Day, know that Jesus will wipe away all your tears; all your suffering, pain, and unfulfilled hopes will be forgotten in the light of the Son of God. Our salvation is accomplished to the uttermost. Today we celebrate in reality what will only come more in fullness and completion in That Day. On the Lord’s Day, we celebrate the microcosm of the New Heavens and the New Earth. Do not give up hope in frustration! There will come a day when we who have sown in tears over many long years, yes with thorns and thistles and many heartaches,we will be vindicated! There will come a day when there will no longer be any death; or mourning, or crying, or pain; “those who sow in tears…..will reap with joyful shouting!! “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord…”
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Because of the resurrection, we can sow in faith. There is no good work accomplished in the name of Christ through faith that you have ever done that will not sprout up and bear fruit. All those tears, all that sorrow, all that entrusting yourself to a faithful Creator, is not in vain…. Psalm 126 is the Psalm of thanksgiving for those returning from exile. Jesus Christ has brought us out of bondage and exile from the absolute misery of sin being ourselves entrapped in total depravity. Now, in faith, all freedom and peace is complete in Christ Jesus.
So, brothers and sisters, on this day, as in every Resurrection Day, know that Jesus will wipe away all your tears; all your suffering, pain, and unfulfilled hopes will be forgotten in the light of the Son of God. Our salvation is accomplished to the uttermost. Today we celebrate in reality what will only come more in fullness and completion in That Day. On the Lord’s Day, we celebrate the microcosm of the New Heavens and the New Earth. Do not give up hope in frustration! There will come a day when we who have sown in tears over many long years, yes with thorns and thistles and many heartaches,we will be vindicated! There will come a day when there will no longer be any death; or mourning, or crying, or pain; “those who sow in tears…..will reap with joyful shouting!! “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord…”
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Exhortation
Matt. 28:18 Rev. 5:10
Roger has worked at Empire Steel now for 11 years. He can’t believe how time has flown by. Everyone at work knows that he is a Christian. They know because he doesn’t drop the f-bombs, and he at least tries not to look at those……. Pictures…… that his co-workers hang in conspicuous places where the eyes naturally fall…….. He doesn’t remember exactly how it came to be that he eats lunch by himself. But he’s glad to have it that way. “Those obnoxious brutes, always joking about dirty stuff ((and I assure you, it is dirty)) and trading gross jokes that aren’t even funny.”
He doesn’t realize that they esp. bring up the muck when he’s around because they know it will annoy him, and because, frankly, they don’t really know him. Roger hasn’t even tried. Roger ostracizes himself from them. “Man, I’m glad I’m not dumb like that, ” Roger muttered as he went by with a contemptuously look……..
The truth is, he doesn’t like ‘em. In fact, he despises them. He hates their attitude, speech, work-habits and everything. He hates them really. “Being surrounded by all that filth depresses me and doesn’t help me to do all the duties I need to do as a Christian…”
So, Roger has carved for himself a little niche at Empire Steel. It’s a niche that you could call isolation. He’s a minority in the factory as far as Christians go, but the problem is, he has let that minority status go to his head…Roger feels guilty about not evangelizing sometimes. “Yeah, I know I should drop some tracts off at their table. I know I should have the courage to come up to those guys and rebuke their sin and lifestyle. They wouldn’t listen though.” So he eats alone, doesn’t pursue them. He chooses not to get himself messy with those sinners, and pursue them as friends. Roger likes it that way, it gives him peace to sit in his office listening to Christian music and not being worldly with “those guys.” “Christians are just a’passin through, he reminded himself. This world is not my home.
Well…..The dirty boys in the corner, “those guys,” think Roger is stuck up. They talk about him because he’s weird, and doesn’t do anything fun. “Man, said one guy, he don’t look like he don’t have no fun anyway…… He can care less about the people who work here, he just keeps to himself. Look at him, over there praying for like 10 min’s…. Man, he does that to make us look bad…."
Roger read his Bible during lunch that day, this is a portion of what he read: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” But he didn’t make the connection to his work. He felt defeated and complained in his heart. “I wish I was in ministry” he said out loud…
Roger has worked at Empire Steel now for 11 years. He can’t believe how time has flown by. Everyone at work knows that he is a Christian. They know because he doesn’t drop the f-bombs, and he at least tries not to look at those……. Pictures…… that his co-workers hang in conspicuous places where the eyes naturally fall…….. He doesn’t remember exactly how it came to be that he eats lunch by himself. But he’s glad to have it that way. “Those obnoxious brutes, always joking about dirty stuff ((and I assure you, it is dirty)) and trading gross jokes that aren’t even funny.”
He doesn’t realize that they esp. bring up the muck when he’s around because they know it will annoy him, and because, frankly, they don’t really know him. Roger hasn’t even tried. Roger ostracizes himself from them. “Man, I’m glad I’m not dumb like that, ” Roger muttered as he went by with a contemptuously look……..
The truth is, he doesn’t like ‘em. In fact, he despises them. He hates their attitude, speech, work-habits and everything. He hates them really. “Being surrounded by all that filth depresses me and doesn’t help me to do all the duties I need to do as a Christian…”
So, Roger has carved for himself a little niche at Empire Steel. It’s a niche that you could call isolation. He’s a minority in the factory as far as Christians go, but the problem is, he has let that minority status go to his head…Roger feels guilty about not evangelizing sometimes. “Yeah, I know I should drop some tracts off at their table. I know I should have the courage to come up to those guys and rebuke their sin and lifestyle. They wouldn’t listen though.” So he eats alone, doesn’t pursue them. He chooses not to get himself messy with those sinners, and pursue them as friends. Roger likes it that way, it gives him peace to sit in his office listening to Christian music and not being worldly with “those guys.” “Christians are just a’passin through, he reminded himself. This world is not my home.
Well…..The dirty boys in the corner, “those guys,” think Roger is stuck up. They talk about him because he’s weird, and doesn’t do anything fun. “Man, said one guy, he don’t look like he don’t have no fun anyway…… He can care less about the people who work here, he just keeps to himself. Look at him, over there praying for like 10 min’s…. Man, he does that to make us look bad…."
Roger read his Bible during lunch that day, this is a portion of what he read: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” But he didn’t make the connection to his work. He felt defeated and complained in his heart. “I wish I was in ministry” he said out loud…
And Post 6 of 6 of Hannah's Family Poems
"Julia"
cranky babe, wanting babe
Quiet, chubby
going out, music, copying, dancing, drawing
screaming
!!
cranky babe, wanting babe
Quiet, chubby
going out, music, copying, dancing, drawing
screaming
!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Post 5 of 6 of Hannah's Family Poems
"Elijah"
Brave, giving
Red ears, small fingernails
Working, writing, playing, snacks, Abby
Climbing
Brave, giving
Red ears, small fingernails
Working, writing, playing, snacks, Abby
Climbing
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Post 4 of 6 of Hannah's Family Poems
"Abby"
Excited, happy
curly hair, short toenails
Cooking, games, sleeping, working together, books
staying home
Excited, happy
curly hair, short toenails
Cooking, games, sleeping, working together, books
staying home
Monday, April 6, 2009
Post 3 of 6 of Hannah's Family Poems
"Hannah"
Happy, Excited
Heart Face, long hair
Soccer, pink, hiking, friends, books
Loving
Happy, Excited
Heart Face, long hair
Soccer, pink, hiking, friends, books
Loving
Friday, April 3, 2009
Jesus is Lord, where?
"It would have been much easier on the early Christians, of course, if they had preached the popular retreatist doctrine that Jesus is Lord of the "heart," that He is concerned with "spiritual" (meaning non-earthly) conquests, but isn't the least bit interested in political questions; that He is content to be "Lord" in the realm of the spirit, while Caesar is Lord everywhere else (i.e., where we feel it really matters). Such a doctrine would have been no threat whatsoever to the gods of Rome. In fact, Caesar couldn't ask for a more cooperative religion! Toothless, impotent Christianity is a gold mine for statism: It keeps men's attention focused on the clouds while the State picks their pockets and steals their children."
Part 2 of 6 of Hannah's Family Poems
"Jana"
Happy, enjoying
Blond hair, blue eyes
Teaching, parties, books, daddy, caring
Kindness
Happy, enjoying
Blond hair, blue eyes
Teaching, parties, books, daddy, caring
Kindness
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Part I of 6 of Hannah's Family Poems
"Ben"
Excited, loving
Brown beard, blue eyes
Camping, baseball, summer, mom, vacations
Hoping
Excited, loving
Brown beard, blue eyes
Camping, baseball, summer, mom, vacations
Hoping
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