Free Freedom
01/July/2009 15:27 Filed in: Weekly
Column
This Saturday marks the 233rd anniversary of the
signing of the Declaration of Independence in the
land that became the United States of America. It is
pretty well established these men believed that with
their signatures they were setting a course for a
form of government that would alter many future
political structures. They also realized that their
very lives were pledged to make this experiment in
personal liberty a reality. There was no turning
back.
This week there will be various forms of speeches, articles, blogs, and just plain conversations that express the point that “freedom isn’t free.” Of course the people making these statements mean that freedom requires some sort of effort to remain a viable, or even to generate an expanding form of expression of the human spirit.
The interesting thought in all of this is “if freedom isn’t free” why to we go to such great lengths to limit freedom in all aspects of life? Why not just “Free Freedom?”
There a bumper stickers that say, “Free Tibet” and other sorts of free lands, objects, animals, and social groups, but no one seems all that interested in just “Free Freedom.”
The real reason we don’t want to Free Freedom is because in order to Free Freedom we have to give up our personal license. Put more simply, Free Freedom is a whole greater than its parts. In order for Freedom to become Free, I have to give, or surrender my Freedom license to you, and the other way around. By doing such, a sort of synergistic Freedom is created which is much more grand that just each of our respective Free parts.
While none of us have really ever experienced Free Freedom, we know it is an awesome thing. In fact Free Freedom might not be a thing at all, but must be described as a beyond human personality. This personality we cannot comprehend, but must apprehend, or probably more correctly, we will be apprehended by Free Freedom himself.
To show how un-free we have become it would no longer be politically correct to describe Free Freedom as a him, even though grammatically and historically him includes her. Hence the bondage to Free Freedom will apprehend our personhood.
Read More...
This week there will be various forms of speeches, articles, blogs, and just plain conversations that express the point that “freedom isn’t free.” Of course the people making these statements mean that freedom requires some sort of effort to remain a viable, or even to generate an expanding form of expression of the human spirit.
The interesting thought in all of this is “if freedom isn’t free” why to we go to such great lengths to limit freedom in all aspects of life? Why not just “Free Freedom?”
There a bumper stickers that say, “Free Tibet” and other sorts of free lands, objects, animals, and social groups, but no one seems all that interested in just “Free Freedom.”
The real reason we don’t want to Free Freedom is because in order to Free Freedom we have to give up our personal license. Put more simply, Free Freedom is a whole greater than its parts. In order for Freedom to become Free, I have to give, or surrender my Freedom license to you, and the other way around. By doing such, a sort of synergistic Freedom is created which is much more grand that just each of our respective Free parts.
While none of us have really ever experienced Free Freedom, we know it is an awesome thing. In fact Free Freedom might not be a thing at all, but must be described as a beyond human personality. This personality we cannot comprehend, but must apprehend, or probably more correctly, we will be apprehended by Free Freedom himself.
To show how un-free we have become it would no longer be politically correct to describe Free Freedom as a him, even though grammatically and historically him includes her. Hence the bondage to Free Freedom will apprehend our personhood.
Read More...
June 28 – Washed in the Blood of Christ
27/June/2009 16:01 Filed in: Heidleberg
Catechism
Lord's Day
26
69. Q. How does holy baptism signify and seal to you that the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross benefits you?
A. In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing[1] and with it gave the promise that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly His blood and Spirit wash away the impurity of my soul, that is, all my sins.[2]
[1] Matt. 28:19. [2] Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:16; John 1:33; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 4; I Pet. 3:21.
70. Q. What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
A. To be washed with Christ's blood means to receive forgiveness of sins from God, through grace, because of Christ's blood, poured out for us in His sacrifice on the cross.[1] To be washed with His Spirit means to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and sanctified to be members of Christ, so that more and more we become dead to sin and lead a holy and blameless life.[2] [1] Ez. 36:25; Zech. 13:1; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 12:24; I Pet. 1:2; Rev. 1:5; 7:14. [2] John 3:5-8; Rom. 6:4; I Cor. 6:11; Col. 2:11, 12.
71. Q. Where has Christ promised that He will wash us with His blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
A. In the institution of baptism, where He says: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16). This promise is repeated where Scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins (Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16).
69. Q. How does holy baptism signify and seal to you that the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross benefits you?
A. In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing[1] and with it gave the promise that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly His blood and Spirit wash away the impurity of my soul, that is, all my sins.[2]
[1] Matt. 28:19. [2] Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:16; John 1:33; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 4; I Pet. 3:21.
70. Q. What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
A. To be washed with Christ's blood means to receive forgiveness of sins from God, through grace, because of Christ's blood, poured out for us in His sacrifice on the cross.[1] To be washed with His Spirit means to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and sanctified to be members of Christ, so that more and more we become dead to sin and lead a holy and blameless life.[2] [1] Ez. 36:25; Zech. 13:1; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 12:24; I Pet. 1:2; Rev. 1:5; 7:14. [2] John 3:5-8; Rom. 6:4; I Cor. 6:11; Col. 2:11, 12.
71. Q. Where has Christ promised that He will wash us with His blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
A. In the institution of baptism, where He says: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16). This promise is repeated where Scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins (Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16).
Toward a Capitalistic Renaissance
24/June/2009 08:29 Filed in: Weekly
Column
There is beginning in this land and around the world
a groundswell of common people sensing what seems to
indicate that we are sojourners in an epic time.
Bankrupt are the bastions of American enterprise, the auto industry. It seems that like their railroad brethren, they did not recognize the business school standard, which they were in the transportation business, rather than creators of automobiles. Of course the railroads were helped to their demise by General Motors and Standard Oil, which bought up privately owned public transportation, shut them down, and eliminated true market choice for American land based conveyance.
Automobiles were preceded in stupendous change, by the meltdown catastrophe of the financial universe. From which the concept too big to fail has now redefined the wisdom of Forrest Gump, “Stupid is, as stupid does, don’t mean nothin’.”
Let’s see – cheap monetary policy, coupled with easy credit, financially leveraged to the utmost, speculating in unregulated commodities, or bundled in high-risk real estate securities did not last forever. It sure seems our enlightened leadership believed that it would and even more amazing, that they can bring it back just like before.
Of course the oil players are back at it again, betting that economic recovery and unlimited demand increases are just a fall economic recovery away.
Then recent news indicates that solar activity is at a long time low, creating cool temperatures and the potential for a greatly decreased world food supply. All the while global warming alarmists are still promoting an agenda, that mankind can control climate by limiting carbon emissions and animal flatulence, or just have everyone painting their roofs white.
What is missing in the debate of TV pundits discussing the this or that, is that it really isn’t about this or that at all. The real issue is the concept of human enlightenment. Broken down into its most basic tenet we see the inability of humanity to save itself from itself. The problem is not at all about the stuff, the problem lies within the philosophies or religions of man.
Read More...
Bankrupt are the bastions of American enterprise, the auto industry. It seems that like their railroad brethren, they did not recognize the business school standard, which they were in the transportation business, rather than creators of automobiles. Of course the railroads were helped to their demise by General Motors and Standard Oil, which bought up privately owned public transportation, shut them down, and eliminated true market choice for American land based conveyance.
Automobiles were preceded in stupendous change, by the meltdown catastrophe of the financial universe. From which the concept too big to fail has now redefined the wisdom of Forrest Gump, “Stupid is, as stupid does, don’t mean nothin’.”
Let’s see – cheap monetary policy, coupled with easy credit, financially leveraged to the utmost, speculating in unregulated commodities, or bundled in high-risk real estate securities did not last forever. It sure seems our enlightened leadership believed that it would and even more amazing, that they can bring it back just like before.
Of course the oil players are back at it again, betting that economic recovery and unlimited demand increases are just a fall economic recovery away.
Then recent news indicates that solar activity is at a long time low, creating cool temperatures and the potential for a greatly decreased world food supply. All the while global warming alarmists are still promoting an agenda, that mankind can control climate by limiting carbon emissions and animal flatulence, or just have everyone painting their roofs white.
What is missing in the debate of TV pundits discussing the this or that, is that it really isn’t about this or that at all. The real issue is the concept of human enlightenment. Broken down into its most basic tenet we see the inability of humanity to save itself from itself. The problem is not at all about the stuff, the problem lies within the philosophies or religions of man.
Read More...
Special Report: Brute' finds seeds of economic recovery!
21/June/2009 10:08 Filed in: Et Tu
Brute' |
Special
Report
June 21 – The Word and Sacraments
20/June/2009 15:26 Filed in: Heidleberg
Catechism
Lord's Day
25
65. Q. Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all His benefits, where does this faith come from?
A. From the Holy Spirit,[1] who works it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel,[2] and strengthens it by the use of the sacraments.[3]
[1] John 3:5; I Cor. 2:10-14; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29. [2] Rom. 10:17; I Pet. 1:23-25. [3] Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 10:16.
66. Q. What are the sacraments?
A. The sacraments are holy, visible signs and seals. They were instituted by God so that by their use He might the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel.[1] And this is the promise: that God graciously grants us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life because of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.[2]
[1] Gen. 17:11; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 4:11 [2] Matt. 26:27, 28; Acts 2:38; Heb. 10:10.
67. Q. Are both the Word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
A. Yes, indeed. The Holy Spirit teaches us in the gospel and assures us by the sacraments that our entire salvation rests on Christ's one sacrifice for us on the cross.[1]
[1] Rom. 6:3; I Cor. 11:26; Gal. 3:27.
68. Q. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant?
A. Two: holy baptism and the holy supper.[1]
[1] Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 11:23-26. Holy Baptism
65. Q. Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all His benefits, where does this faith come from?
A. From the Holy Spirit,[1] who works it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel,[2] and strengthens it by the use of the sacraments.[3]
[1] John 3:5; I Cor. 2:10-14; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29. [2] Rom. 10:17; I Pet. 1:23-25. [3] Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 10:16.
66. Q. What are the sacraments?
A. The sacraments are holy, visible signs and seals. They were instituted by God so that by their use He might the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel.[1] And this is the promise: that God graciously grants us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life because of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.[2]
[1] Gen. 17:11; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 4:11 [2] Matt. 26:27, 28; Acts 2:38; Heb. 10:10.
67. Q. Are both the Word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
A. Yes, indeed. The Holy Spirit teaches us in the gospel and assures us by the sacraments that our entire salvation rests on Christ's one sacrifice for us on the cross.[1]
[1] Rom. 6:3; I Cor. 11:26; Gal. 3:27.
68. Q. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant?
A. Two: holy baptism and the holy supper.[1]
[1] Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 11:23-26. Holy Baptism
Planting Seeds of Common Sense
17/June/2009 06:11 Filed in: Weekly
Column
Volume 11, Issue 24
>>PDF copy
>>Print view
With all the complex happenings currently going on in our world, you may be just hearing the sad news that Common Sense has died. I think I first heard the report some years ago, but I guess it just slipped my mind.
The obituary for “The Death of Common Sense” was filed on March 15, 1998 by Lori Borgman. You can find a number of places on the net for the obit, but one of the most interesting is the link above, which has other similar tidbits from Alan R. Miller, Emeritus Professor of Engineering at New Mexico Tech.
Since much of my writing has to do with various sorts of common type events and personalities, as opposed to specific unique revelations, it has recently come to my attention that rather than being a human personality, Common Sense may indeed be an entity more mundane. Could it be that Common Sense is really just a common seed, a seed many would call a weed?
Reminding you of nature, seeds may look dead, but the spark of life still remains deeply sequestered within the protoplasm, waiting for just the right climatic conditions in which to sprout, grow, and in due season provide a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even one hundred fold.
I would submit that the season for the sprouting of Common Sense is now upon us. As is the general rule, seeds are planted in the spring, sometimes outdoors and sometimes in a greenhouse, or cold frame. In the proper time the seeds emerge and some are transplanted into the garden. In spite of all the best efforts of man, plants we call weeds, do this very well without our husbandry.
The sun provides the light and the energy for photosynthesis. Rain or human watering provides the liquidity to make our gardens and Common Sense grow. With all the enlightened wisdom we can muster, we think we have science on our side, but if you just grow your garden with science you will miss the wonder of it all, the art of passing times, passing seasons, and the joy of harvest.
Many enlightened folks believe that Common Sense is just a primitive and noxious weed, but they fail to understand the symbiosis within the Garden of God. Neither do they dare a taste of the fruit of Common Sense, and hence ignore its life giving properties.
A few people of humble spirit understand the times and the seasons. Hence they are given seeds of Common Sense to plant wherever their pilgrimage may take them. Some of those seeds will take root, for Common Sense grows well in unfertile ground as well as good soil. Common Sense grows best when it is stressed, for the tension makes Common Sense fruit quite savory.
Besides its delectable fruit, the leaves of Common Sense make a healing tea and a curative balm. Common Sense bark can be ground to produce a piquant spice. Its wood is of unquestioned strength and beauty.
So if you believe in the diverse properties of Common Sense, fill your life’s seed satchel each morning, and broadcast the seeds wherever you adventure. While it may appear that the world now is forever winter, really we have trouble understanding the vigor of just a little Common Sense. For once it becomes established; Common Sense is an evergreen growing year around.
So citizens of the world unite, and profess the benefits of Common Sense. For as its branches mature, in its shade can grow the precious crops of Liberty, Peace, and Freedom. They for now are just as endangered as our personal and communal Common Sense.
Do not fear those who may ridicule your Common Sense planting role,
For nothing ventured, nothing gained, remains a proverb true.
Life’s too short and each day too precious to be wasted.
For wisdom not derived from Common Sense is completely and temporally obscure.
Common Sense did not die, nor will it ever,
For as long as man walks the earth, Common Sense,
The weed to many, will always pioneer the way secure.
Podcast
>>PDF copy
>>Print view
With all the complex happenings currently going on in our world, you may be just hearing the sad news that Common Sense has died. I think I first heard the report some years ago, but I guess it just slipped my mind.
The obituary for “The Death of Common Sense” was filed on March 15, 1998 by Lori Borgman. You can find a number of places on the net for the obit, but one of the most interesting is the link above, which has other similar tidbits from Alan R. Miller, Emeritus Professor of Engineering at New Mexico Tech.
Since much of my writing has to do with various sorts of common type events and personalities, as opposed to specific unique revelations, it has recently come to my attention that rather than being a human personality, Common Sense may indeed be an entity more mundane. Could it be that Common Sense is really just a common seed, a seed many would call a weed?
Reminding you of nature, seeds may look dead, but the spark of life still remains deeply sequestered within the protoplasm, waiting for just the right climatic conditions in which to sprout, grow, and in due season provide a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even one hundred fold.
I would submit that the season for the sprouting of Common Sense is now upon us. As is the general rule, seeds are planted in the spring, sometimes outdoors and sometimes in a greenhouse, or cold frame. In the proper time the seeds emerge and some are transplanted into the garden. In spite of all the best efforts of man, plants we call weeds, do this very well without our husbandry.
The sun provides the light and the energy for photosynthesis. Rain or human watering provides the liquidity to make our gardens and Common Sense grow. With all the enlightened wisdom we can muster, we think we have science on our side, but if you just grow your garden with science you will miss the wonder of it all, the art of passing times, passing seasons, and the joy of harvest.
Many enlightened folks believe that Common Sense is just a primitive and noxious weed, but they fail to understand the symbiosis within the Garden of God. Neither do they dare a taste of the fruit of Common Sense, and hence ignore its life giving properties.
A few people of humble spirit understand the times and the seasons. Hence they are given seeds of Common Sense to plant wherever their pilgrimage may take them. Some of those seeds will take root, for Common Sense grows well in unfertile ground as well as good soil. Common Sense grows best when it is stressed, for the tension makes Common Sense fruit quite savory.
Besides its delectable fruit, the leaves of Common Sense make a healing tea and a curative balm. Common Sense bark can be ground to produce a piquant spice. Its wood is of unquestioned strength and beauty.
So if you believe in the diverse properties of Common Sense, fill your life’s seed satchel each morning, and broadcast the seeds wherever you adventure. While it may appear that the world now is forever winter, really we have trouble understanding the vigor of just a little Common Sense. For once it becomes established; Common Sense is an evergreen growing year around.
So citizens of the world unite, and profess the benefits of Common Sense. For as its branches mature, in its shade can grow the precious crops of Liberty, Peace, and Freedom. They for now are just as endangered as our personal and communal Common Sense.
Do not fear those who may ridicule your Common Sense planting role,
For nothing ventured, nothing gained, remains a proverb true.
Life’s too short and each day too precious to be wasted.
For wisdom not derived from Common Sense is completely and temporally obscure.
Common Sense did not die, nor will it ever,
For as long as man walks the earth, Common Sense,
The weed to many, will always pioneer the way secure.
Podcast
Reardan's Audubon Lake
16/June/2009 18:01 Filed in: Photo Tour
| Oikos
Thoughts
You are sitting in front of your computer screen looking for some place to go, that sounds really cool and definitely some place none of your friends have ever heard of. You think about birds and a lake which has been recently set aside for bird habitat. So thoughts of the Audubon Society added to lakes lead you do a web search for “Audubon Lake.”
Somewhere down the page after all the real estate developments and apartments you find a link to “Reardan’s Audubon Lake.” From that link you find out that it is a 277 acre wildlife preserve near the small town of Reardan, Washington. Chances are, as you continue, you will find some more information such as these links below:
Inland Northwest Land Trust
Spokane Audubon Society
Washington Wildlife and Recreation
Bird Web
Well, that is all very good and wonderful, but a couple of significant question remains, has anyone from any of these fine organizations ever been to the place? What does it look like?
Now all your fears and heartburn have been answered. Please visit our photo tour of Reardan’s Audubon Lake under our Creation Media Tab, with the direct link here.