Here are just a few quotes that I have lying around. Thought it would be useful to dispense of them and let others gain whatever wisdom they seem to impart.
"It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write. " – Sinclair Lewis
"I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen." – John Steinbeck
"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." - C.S. Lewis
"The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government." – Thomas Paine
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." – Thomas Paine
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." – Benjamin Franklin
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." – Benjamin Franklin
"A man is as free as he chooses to make himself, never an atom freer." - George MacDonald
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." – Charles Dickens
Then of courese my own self-induglent reference.
"The belief that intelligence equals omniscience is a true sign of ignorance" - E.W. Lewis
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Washington is Burning
It has been nearly 200 years since the near forgotten War of 1812 (an odd name considering it lasted three years). This was the first war since independence was won and as such was the first test for a fledgling nation. The British enemy was far superior in weaponry and veteran service among its men, yet the Americans were not fully defeated. One would be hard pressed to say the Americans won this skirmish, but we can certainly proclaim that we were not conquered as could have been the result.
There is one specific battle that I wish to venture into today; the day the Brits walked on Washington D.C. It was this assault by the Brits that could have changed much of today’s history. At the time the Secretary of Defense did not believe that England would attack the Capital and therefore left few resources for its defense. Instead he believed they would hone in on Baltimore leaving the young capital city at peace. After all Baltimore was a major commercial site and Washington D.C. was little more than a governing city.
Regardless of the contemporary speculations the British did strike Washington D.C. first and were met with little opposition (possibly 500 troops to their thousands). Quickly the British marched into the capital while good old Dolly Madison fled at the last moment with the nation’s beloved first president in portrait under arm and many other citizens full of fear.
Their first stop was the Capitol building where they held a mock congress and voted to burn the city. Then, with the Capitol in flame, they progressed toward the White House and ate the President’s dinner that was still on the table. With much cheer and spirit (or spirits) they then turned the blaze on the President’s home.
One would think this was the end of what was destined to be great. With Washington D.C. taken there was little hope for America. The Brits once again had a stronghold. However, there was a stronger power at play that night and He had a greater plan.
Sometime in the early morning hours the party was harshly interrupted with a great gale wind that swelled into a hurricane quite quickly. Without fair warning, what was a party of the ages quickly became a panic of the century. The winds became so intense that men were holding onto one another as to not be blown away. In the background the flames continued to burn.
Then, without any regard to the life, a tornado touched down in the center of town and ripped and roared through the badly beaten city laying waste to whatever dared remain. The British soldiers were frightened and certainly were praying to whatever God they knew.
As daylight broke the storms subsided and not a single British soldier remained. I can only imagine the prayers of thanks that were being murmured from street to street by the residents of the burned capital. I can only imagine the joy they felt. It is truly inspiring to look back on this day in history and become humbled by a single act of divine interference.
“’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ declares the Lord Almighty.” What a powerful piece of scripture that completely captures the emotion of what happened back in 1814. So often today we try with all of our might and power to make things happen in our life, when instead, we should be allowing the Spirit to open the doors of our progress. It is time we stop watching our city (our lives) burn to ash, and begin to be whisked away by the power of the Lord
There is one specific battle that I wish to venture into today; the day the Brits walked on Washington D.C. It was this assault by the Brits that could have changed much of today’s history. At the time the Secretary of Defense did not believe that England would attack the Capital and therefore left few resources for its defense. Instead he believed they would hone in on Baltimore leaving the young capital city at peace. After all Baltimore was a major commercial site and Washington D.C. was little more than a governing city.
Regardless of the contemporary speculations the British did strike Washington D.C. first and were met with little opposition (possibly 500 troops to their thousands). Quickly the British marched into the capital while good old Dolly Madison fled at the last moment with the nation’s beloved first president in portrait under arm and many other citizens full of fear.
Their first stop was the Capitol building where they held a mock congress and voted to burn the city. Then, with the Capitol in flame, they progressed toward the White House and ate the President’s dinner that was still on the table. With much cheer and spirit (or spirits) they then turned the blaze on the President’s home.
One would think this was the end of what was destined to be great. With Washington D.C. taken there was little hope for America. The Brits once again had a stronghold. However, there was a stronger power at play that night and He had a greater plan.
Sometime in the early morning hours the party was harshly interrupted with a great gale wind that swelled into a hurricane quite quickly. Without fair warning, what was a party of the ages quickly became a panic of the century. The winds became so intense that men were holding onto one another as to not be blown away. In the background the flames continued to burn.
Then, without any regard to the life, a tornado touched down in the center of town and ripped and roared through the badly beaten city laying waste to whatever dared remain. The British soldiers were frightened and certainly were praying to whatever God they knew.
As daylight broke the storms subsided and not a single British soldier remained. I can only imagine the prayers of thanks that were being murmured from street to street by the residents of the burned capital. I can only imagine the joy they felt. It is truly inspiring to look back on this day in history and become humbled by a single act of divine interference.
“’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit’ declares the Lord Almighty.” What a powerful piece of scripture that completely captures the emotion of what happened back in 1814. So often today we try with all of our might and power to make things happen in our life, when instead, we should be allowing the Spirit to open the doors of our progress. It is time we stop watching our city (our lives) burn to ash, and begin to be whisked away by the power of the Lord
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Government Housing for All
Recently, less than six months, I became a home owner, or so I thought. When my wife and I began the adventure of home ownership we thought we were fulfilling the American Dream, a dream that was quickly dismantled. After only this short time of “ownership” I am left with a nagging question of who really owns my property.
At first glance most people will acknowledge that the bank is the actual owner of any mortgaged home, and for me that would be absolutely correct, however, I have taken this question a step further. What if the property was paid in full? What if there was no bank or other lender that could lay claim to the land? Would I then “own” the land?
The answer to this question is an astounding no. I do believe that most people may have an idea of where I am heading with this post already. In speaking with others about this topic many have quickly concluded that the government owns the land through the process of eminent domain. Again this is correct, however, from what little knowledge I have a citizen may legally fight against a claim of eminent domain.
The facet of property ownership that I am digging for is not one that many have mentioned.The facet in question is property tax.
Plain and simple, by paying property tax we are essentially acknowledging that the land that we live on, or think we “own” is not ours. If it was your home and lot that you had full rights to with all privileges of ownership no other entity would be able to profit or gain income from said parcel. In many parts of America that is not the case.
By allowing the government to tax your land you give up your ownership rights in many ways, primarily the right of sole possessor of land. If you doubt this premise maybe you should try not paying your property tax and see how long it is before the land is taken from you. Sure, it may take quite a lengthy bit of time before this extreme action is enacted, but it may and can still be taken.
I will conclude with a quote by Benjamin Franklin, “there is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the people’s money, then all their lands and then make them and their children servants forever.” While I will agree that we obviously do not have a king and that we are not at a point of tyranny as of yet, the bricks to that road are quiet when laid and nearly undetectable when walked upon. If we continue to allow the leaders of our country to tax us and our possessions as they see fit we will eventually lack the funds they require. Once the treasury runs dry the land will be sure to follow and we will become indentured servants even more so than we are today.
DISCLAIMER: I wanted to add this note that states that the agencies who receive this funding are not to blame and are not the problem. Many school districts, mental health programs, and courts receive their funding in this manner and are well worth every cent they receive, however, I desire that we would utilize an alternative taxation method in order to fund these much needed services.
At first glance most people will acknowledge that the bank is the actual owner of any mortgaged home, and for me that would be absolutely correct, however, I have taken this question a step further. What if the property was paid in full? What if there was no bank or other lender that could lay claim to the land? Would I then “own” the land?
The answer to this question is an astounding no. I do believe that most people may have an idea of where I am heading with this post already. In speaking with others about this topic many have quickly concluded that the government owns the land through the process of eminent domain. Again this is correct, however, from what little knowledge I have a citizen may legally fight against a claim of eminent domain.
The facet of property ownership that I am digging for is not one that many have mentioned.The facet in question is property tax.
Plain and simple, by paying property tax we are essentially acknowledging that the land that we live on, or think we “own” is not ours. If it was your home and lot that you had full rights to with all privileges of ownership no other entity would be able to profit or gain income from said parcel. In many parts of America that is not the case.
By allowing the government to tax your land you give up your ownership rights in many ways, primarily the right of sole possessor of land. If you doubt this premise maybe you should try not paying your property tax and see how long it is before the land is taken from you. Sure, it may take quite a lengthy bit of time before this extreme action is enacted, but it may and can still be taken.
I will conclude with a quote by Benjamin Franklin, “there is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the people’s money, then all their lands and then make them and their children servants forever.” While I will agree that we obviously do not have a king and that we are not at a point of tyranny as of yet, the bricks to that road are quiet when laid and nearly undetectable when walked upon. If we continue to allow the leaders of our country to tax us and our possessions as they see fit we will eventually lack the funds they require. Once the treasury runs dry the land will be sure to follow and we will become indentured servants even more so than we are today.
DISCLAIMER: I wanted to add this note that states that the agencies who receive this funding are not to blame and are not the problem. Many school districts, mental health programs, and courts receive their funding in this manner and are well worth every cent they receive, however, I desire that we would utilize an alternative taxation method in order to fund these much needed services.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Men of America (and the women too)
Let us turn back the hands of time today and look at America, and society for that matter, some 150 years ago. I know you may be wondering why I would want to do such a thing, but then again why do I do most of the things that I do. (Man that was a lot of ‘do’ in that sentence, hopefully the whole post isn't full of do.)
In the days of our great-great grandparents, or not so great in some cases, there was a certain aspect of life that was just simpler. Do you ever recall hearing of them having to deal with many of the same issues that we have today. Sure there was unemployment and the housing of a family could become a stressor, but today’s society seems to moan much louder.
In the days gone by a man used to take the care of his family into his own hands, not cry to his city officials about his short falls. The family would move to find work, or the family would work the land (if they had any), but seldom did they expect a social agency to care for their needs. In those days people flocked to our great nation for the opportunity to work and be their own person. Currently, to our great misfortune, our nation does not breed that same fervor and the flock comes for a different reason.
The answer as to why this occured is lengthier than what I can provide today, however, I contend that one key reason is the absent father/husband. When one takes a casual glance in today’s society you are more likely to find a single mother struggling to survive than you are to find a responsibly, married, man that is breaking his back for his family. Now, I understand that there were many injustices committed in yesteryear and our current system alleviates much of them, but which injustice is bigger: today’s absent father or yesterday’s overworked man?
Simply put: I am asking that America stop looking for the assistance of government agencies and to begin standing on their own two feet. America was great in the days that men took care of their family and women (hopefully I am not castrated for this) took care of their men. Unfortunately the moral standard for society has become so liberal that the hope for a return to what was once great can only be concluded as being lost.
Women, your cowboy is never coming home; not because all men are bad, but because there is no home being made. Men, your lady is not yours any longer; not because women have begun to wear pants, but because we have forgotten how to love them. America, our greatness may never return; not because America is not great, but because America has forgotten what it stands for.
In the days of our great-great grandparents, or not so great in some cases, there was a certain aspect of life that was just simpler. Do you ever recall hearing of them having to deal with many of the same issues that we have today. Sure there was unemployment and the housing of a family could become a stressor, but today’s society seems to moan much louder.
In the days gone by a man used to take the care of his family into his own hands, not cry to his city officials about his short falls. The family would move to find work, or the family would work the land (if they had any), but seldom did they expect a social agency to care for their needs. In those days people flocked to our great nation for the opportunity to work and be their own person. Currently, to our great misfortune, our nation does not breed that same fervor and the flock comes for a different reason.
The answer as to why this occured is lengthier than what I can provide today, however, I contend that one key reason is the absent father/husband. When one takes a casual glance in today’s society you are more likely to find a single mother struggling to survive than you are to find a responsibly, married, man that is breaking his back for his family. Now, I understand that there were many injustices committed in yesteryear and our current system alleviates much of them, but which injustice is bigger: today’s absent father or yesterday’s overworked man?
Simply put: I am asking that America stop looking for the assistance of government agencies and to begin standing on their own two feet. America was great in the days that men took care of their family and women (hopefully I am not castrated for this) took care of their men. Unfortunately the moral standard for society has become so liberal that the hope for a return to what was once great can only be concluded as being lost.
Women, your cowboy is never coming home; not because all men are bad, but because there is no home being made. Men, your lady is not yours any longer; not because women have begun to wear pants, but because we have forgotten how to love them. America, our greatness may never return; not because America is not great, but because America has forgotten what it stands for.
Monday, March 15, 2010
A Natural God
What is natural? I know this may seem to be a fairly simple question, yet I see a potential issue with our contemporary understanding of the word. I find that there is sufficient cause to believe that what we call natural is not natural at all.
Imagine, if you would please, that you were the proud owner of a vivarium. In this created world you placed a couple frogs and fish. Everything was made to your specification. Then one day the frog looked towards you and postulated that the world in which it lived was natural, and that you in fact were supernatural.
At this point I do suppose that if this indeed happened you would be wondering if you inadvertently (or not so inadvertently, I do not judge) licked the fore mentioned frog. However, for this argument let us suppose that this was a regular occurrence and you have no cause for concern.
If this statement was in fact made to you by the frog I would think that you would find it quite a ridiculous comment for a creature to make. After all, you created the entire world in which it lives and for the sake of argument I will even say that you had the power to create the creature. In this example I find it difficult to believe that the created creature could ever postulate that the creator was not of natural existence, yet this is exactly how we view God; we view Him as if He is more than natural.
In Christianity it is put forth that in the beginning God created all things and we now live in that creation as a created. If this is truly the case then how can we ever possibly call out to God that He is supernatural? Does it not make more sense to understand that the state God exists in is the natural state of the universe and that what we live in is some altered, almost artificial in essence, state.
Now I know some etymologist may at this point be conjuring up the definition of "natural" and point out that the definition of "natural" does not reference initial state (or original form). It simply means something that was developed by nature and to what nature is would be another question entirely. To this point I would agree, however, it is the connotation that causes issue.
I contend that the use of natural in today’s societies brings with it a connotation of unchanged or original form. This connotation has essentially altered the understanding of the word and therefore transformed our idea of what is an initial state and what is an altered state. I suppose to the evolutionist this makes no difference, but to the creationist this will be the crux of their understanding.
In conclusion, I do not wish to prolong this scrawling and will summarize. The intention was to simply display that we do not live in a world that is natural in relation to the existence of God. It is God in all His glory that is natural. When God created us He created an unnatural world for us to live in, but gave us a piece of His natural spirit so that we may always know Him. In this sense our natural spirit is at odds with our unnatural flesh. Therefore, we must daily take up our cross and crucify our unnatural fleshy encasement.
Imagine, if you would please, that you were the proud owner of a vivarium. In this created world you placed a couple frogs and fish. Everything was made to your specification. Then one day the frog looked towards you and postulated that the world in which it lived was natural, and that you in fact were supernatural.
At this point I do suppose that if this indeed happened you would be wondering if you inadvertently (or not so inadvertently, I do not judge) licked the fore mentioned frog. However, for this argument let us suppose that this was a regular occurrence and you have no cause for concern.
If this statement was in fact made to you by the frog I would think that you would find it quite a ridiculous comment for a creature to make. After all, you created the entire world in which it lives and for the sake of argument I will even say that you had the power to create the creature. In this example I find it difficult to believe that the created creature could ever postulate that the creator was not of natural existence, yet this is exactly how we view God; we view Him as if He is more than natural.
In Christianity it is put forth that in the beginning God created all things and we now live in that creation as a created. If this is truly the case then how can we ever possibly call out to God that He is supernatural? Does it not make more sense to understand that the state God exists in is the natural state of the universe and that what we live in is some altered, almost artificial in essence, state.
Now I know some etymologist may at this point be conjuring up the definition of "natural" and point out that the definition of "natural" does not reference initial state (or original form). It simply means something that was developed by nature and to what nature is would be another question entirely. To this point I would agree, however, it is the connotation that causes issue.
I contend that the use of natural in today’s societies brings with it a connotation of unchanged or original form. This connotation has essentially altered the understanding of the word and therefore transformed our idea of what is an initial state and what is an altered state. I suppose to the evolutionist this makes no difference, but to the creationist this will be the crux of their understanding.
In conclusion, I do not wish to prolong this scrawling and will summarize. The intention was to simply display that we do not live in a world that is natural in relation to the existence of God. It is God in all His glory that is natural. When God created us He created an unnatural world for us to live in, but gave us a piece of His natural spirit so that we may always know Him. In this sense our natural spirit is at odds with our unnatural flesh. Therefore, we must daily take up our cross and crucify our unnatural fleshy encasement.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Freeing the Beast
Recently I have taken up the exercise of running. At one point, five years and thirty pounds ago, I would run two miles daily. These daily runs at the time were a thing of magic and I often looked forward to them throughout the day. Over the weekend I changed gears in my running routine, if you call one week of participation a routine, and took the jog outside in lieu of the gym. It was this jog in my neighborhood, nowhere near two miles by the way; that I realized what I had been missing this past half a decade.
There is something so natural and basic that emerges in the person who is exerting themselves by running/jogging. It is as if the world slips away and you are able to become just what you were meant to be: a living, breathing, adapting creature.
All too often we humans muck everything up with our complicated way of doing things. What we need to do is just step back and remember that we are all just here for a season and we need to enjoy the world in which we live.
We need to experience the sun shining on our face and the moon cooling the air. We need to find shade under a tree and allow the grasses to tickle our feet. We need to feel the adrenaline of an exerted body and the peace from the rest that comes after. We need to stop and remember that none of it matters as much as we think it does.
Today I challenge you to go run, maybe not in the physical, but at least in the spiritual. Let your spirit run before you and experience the world in which you live in a new way. Experience it in the way that you have forgotten.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Relief in "Relief"
As a modern day Christian I, along with many others, find that in some ways our faith has been disconnected with reality. It is as if the belief in a supernatural being that created all things is considered science fiction in a world that proclaims to be science fact. This schism in the human psyche presents us with a sort of alien effect in the world in which we live.
To compound this issue we also find that in many of the religious institutions of the world we are just as foreign. It is as if when we go to congregate with other Christians everyone wears a mask of what they believe they should be. Many churches today create this pseudo-peace type existence that our mind utterly rejects as authentic. (Quite possibly the reason conversions are down across the nation.)
So what we have is a person, such as myself, that fully believes in God (with reasonable doubt of course) and fully believes there is no place for them. The world rejects the person's premise of a Creator, and the church rejects the person's need to not only be relevant, but real. I do not believe this is what Christ had planned.
With all this considered I arrive to my point of this entry. I recently read my first issue of Relief. Relief is a Christian literary journal that treats the cause of our faith with a very open eyed, honest, and transparent perspective. They seem to understand that the corporate church environment has become just as alien to us as the world in which we live. As you read their published works you become engrossed with the theme of real world hurt married with supernatural comfort. It is this marriage that appeals to the genuine faith we all strive for.
In closing I simply thank the people over at Relief for their hard work and their vision. The goal of this publication as stated on their website is, "to pursue a complete picture of Christ and life –- real, gritty, painful, wonderful, this-side-of-heaven life." To this they have been successful. May I also recommend that all my readers take the time to look over their site (http://www.reliefjournal.com/) and even consider a subscription.
To compound this issue we also find that in many of the religious institutions of the world we are just as foreign. It is as if when we go to congregate with other Christians everyone wears a mask of what they believe they should be. Many churches today create this pseudo-peace type existence that our mind utterly rejects as authentic. (Quite possibly the reason conversions are down across the nation.)
So what we have is a person, such as myself, that fully believes in God (with reasonable doubt of course) and fully believes there is no place for them. The world rejects the person's premise of a Creator, and the church rejects the person's need to not only be relevant, but real. I do not believe this is what Christ had planned.
With all this considered I arrive to my point of this entry. I recently read my first issue of Relief. Relief is a Christian literary journal that treats the cause of our faith with a very open eyed, honest, and transparent perspective. They seem to understand that the corporate church environment has become just as alien to us as the world in which we live. As you read their published works you become engrossed with the theme of real world hurt married with supernatural comfort. It is this marriage that appeals to the genuine faith we all strive for.
In closing I simply thank the people over at Relief for their hard work and their vision. The goal of this publication as stated on their website is, "to pursue a complete picture of Christ and life –- real, gritty, painful, wonderful, this-side-of-heaven life." To this they have been successful. May I also recommend that all my readers take the time to look over their site (http://www.reliefjournal.com/) and even consider a subscription.
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