Dec 2009
The Forgotten Humans
30/December/2009 11:17 Filed in: Weekly Column
Well fellow humans 2009 really was quite a year. As we are continually being reminded by the political spin-doctors, when we entered the year, total financial catastrophe was just a needed bailout away, and now things are much, much better and all would be surely wonderful, except for the fact that they, the real politicians, inherited such a pending disaster.
Humpty Dumpty didn’t fall off the financial wall – yet, but Humpty does seem to look sort of like a handsome bald headed guy with a beard (Ben Bernacke), and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men look strangely like Goldman Sachs investment bankers; just like good old Humpty himself. So lacking a similar event in American history we should give them credit for keeping the wall from collapsing completely. There are still some questions yet to be answered, mostly around the fact that the wall, in its present condition, is completely unsustainable and would we be much better off in the long run, to build a new wall and let the old one crumble into history?
As I was thinking about a title for this final episode in 2009, things are still not that different than the Great Depression. Leaving financial and employment considerations out of the argument, the title of Amity Shlaes’ book “The Forgotten Man” still seems to fit very well. The problem for the twenty-first century however is that the title is so politically incorrect. “The Forgotten Man and Woman” really doesn’t have a good ring to it. So we are pretty much stuck with “The Forgotten Humans.”
That title also fits well with the prime religion of today, evolving atheistic humanism. The Forgotten, by whatever handle, are no longer created in the image of God, but rather consumption machines of a global plan to bring a fictitious heaven to earth. Probably a better with it, term is Utopia, but many are beginning to call it socialism, or communism. Those many however are just troublemakers who don’t understand their place as evolving animals that the more highly evolved will use to fix all the unnatural things of the world. Of course the evolved elite really wants nothing to do with real nature and reality, because that wildness is really a scary place that doesn’t accept their elitist credentials and treats them as not superior to other animals and even lowly plants.
As this year comes to an end it is becoming apparent that some changes are in the offering, for things are beginning to get complex as we move forward in time. Today we hear in the United States, talk about our Founding Fathers and the U S Constitution. That was just an impossible dream just a year ago. Those Forgotten Humans are realizing that they are just not bred to be consuming stuffers, but they are real men and women, with families and hopes and aspirations beyond making a million dollars over a lifetime, by doing a boring job, so you could retire undefeated. Of course much of that awaking was driven by the reality that many of those prosperous investments have disappeared along with the job. If it didn’t happen to you, it is happening to those you once considered your friends.
Read More...
Humpty Dumpty didn’t fall off the financial wall – yet, but Humpty does seem to look sort of like a handsome bald headed guy with a beard (Ben Bernacke), and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men look strangely like Goldman Sachs investment bankers; just like good old Humpty himself. So lacking a similar event in American history we should give them credit for keeping the wall from collapsing completely. There are still some questions yet to be answered, mostly around the fact that the wall, in its present condition, is completely unsustainable and would we be much better off in the long run, to build a new wall and let the old one crumble into history?
As I was thinking about a title for this final episode in 2009, things are still not that different than the Great Depression. Leaving financial and employment considerations out of the argument, the title of Amity Shlaes’ book “The Forgotten Man” still seems to fit very well. The problem for the twenty-first century however is that the title is so politically incorrect. “The Forgotten Man and Woman” really doesn’t have a good ring to it. So we are pretty much stuck with “The Forgotten Humans.”
That title also fits well with the prime religion of today, evolving atheistic humanism. The Forgotten, by whatever handle, are no longer created in the image of God, but rather consumption machines of a global plan to bring a fictitious heaven to earth. Probably a better with it, term is Utopia, but many are beginning to call it socialism, or communism. Those many however are just troublemakers who don’t understand their place as evolving animals that the more highly evolved will use to fix all the unnatural things of the world. Of course the evolved elite really wants nothing to do with real nature and reality, because that wildness is really a scary place that doesn’t accept their elitist credentials and treats them as not superior to other animals and even lowly plants.
As this year comes to an end it is becoming apparent that some changes are in the offering, for things are beginning to get complex as we move forward in time. Today we hear in the United States, talk about our Founding Fathers and the U S Constitution. That was just an impossible dream just a year ago. Those Forgotten Humans are realizing that they are just not bred to be consuming stuffers, but they are real men and women, with families and hopes and aspirations beyond making a million dollars over a lifetime, by doing a boring job, so you could retire undefeated. Of course much of that awaking was driven by the reality that many of those prosperous investments have disappeared along with the job. If it didn’t happen to you, it is happening to those you once considered your friends.
Read More...
December 27th - Amen and Amen!
26/December/2009 08:42 Filed in: Heidleberg Catechism
Lord's Day 52
127. Q. What is the sixth petition?
A. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. That is: In ourselves we are so weak that we cannot stand even for a moment.[1] Moreover, our sworn enemies-- the devil,[2] the world,[3] and our own flesh[4]-- do not cease to attack us. Wilt Thou, therefore, uphold and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, so that in this spiritual war[5] we may not go down to defeat, but always firmly resist our enemies, until we finally obtain the complete victory.[6]
[1] Ps. 103:14-16; John 15:1-5. [2] II Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:10-13; I Pet. 5:8. [3] John 15:18-21. [4] Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17. [5] Matt. 10:19, 20; 26:41; Mark 13:33; Rom. 5:3-5. [6] I Cor. 10:13; I Thess. 3:13; 5:23.
128. Q. How do you conclude your prayer?
A. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. That is: All this we ask of Thee because, as our King, having power over all things, Thou art both willing and able to give us all that is good,[1] and because not we but Thy holy Name should so receive all glory for ever.[2]
[1] Rom. 10:11-13; II Pet 2:9. [2] Ps. 115:1; Jer. 33:8, 9; John 14:13.
129. Q. What does the word Amen mean?
A. Amen means: It is true and certain. For God has much more certainly heard my prayer than I feel in my heart that I desire this of Him.[1]
[1] Is. 65:24; II Cor. 1:20; II Tim. 2:13.
127. Q. What is the sixth petition?
A. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. That is: In ourselves we are so weak that we cannot stand even for a moment.[1] Moreover, our sworn enemies-- the devil,[2] the world,[3] and our own flesh[4]-- do not cease to attack us. Wilt Thou, therefore, uphold and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, so that in this spiritual war[5] we may not go down to defeat, but always firmly resist our enemies, until we finally obtain the complete victory.[6]
[1] Ps. 103:14-16; John 15:1-5. [2] II Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:10-13; I Pet. 5:8. [3] John 15:18-21. [4] Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17. [5] Matt. 10:19, 20; 26:41; Mark 13:33; Rom. 5:3-5. [6] I Cor. 10:13; I Thess. 3:13; 5:23.
128. Q. How do you conclude your prayer?
A. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. That is: All this we ask of Thee because, as our King, having power over all things, Thou art both willing and able to give us all that is good,[1] and because not we but Thy holy Name should so receive all glory for ever.[2]
[1] Rom. 10:11-13; II Pet 2:9. [2] Ps. 115:1; Jer. 33:8, 9; John 14:13.
129. Q. What does the word Amen mean?
A. Amen means: It is true and certain. For God has much more certainly heard my prayer than I feel in my heart that I desire this of Him.[1]
[1] Is. 65:24; II Cor. 1:20; II Tim. 2:13.
Mary did you know?
23/December/2009 07:06 Filed in: Weekly Column
Mary, did you know?
A couple of weeks ago in the post, “God if you are real?” we dealt with how God answers our doubts about His existence by bringing people and situations into our lives to answer that question. This week we will take on that testimony that is later offered by these God questioners to the people who contributed so much to establishing God’s present reality. This begins, “Did you know the situation I was in?”
In that illumination, as with Genevon’s return to our group Christmas party, it was a good thing that I was sitting in a big overstuffed supporting chair, because I had no idea that there was anything wrong with her, when our church group called on her that long past Monday night as she was seriously planning on taking her own life.
As we continue to understand the realness to trust God for our provisions, those life or death situations no longer just begin, but become part of a much broader narrative in which we understand the faithfulness of God, not only as he provides for our needs, but also adds to that an abundance of blessings and gifts that mean more to us than we can at this time fully understand or articulate. Many times that blessing comes from someone we will probably never meet in this life, or if that happening does occur, one of the first questions we will ask is, “Did you know?”
We know the words to the hymn Amazing Grace. The last verse begins, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years,” I believe that much of that time will be spent, meeting those who have blessed our lives and asking them, “Did you know?” Once they learn about our knowing, we will meet some of their “Did you know friends, and so on, and so on.” Truly a gift that keeps on giving, because the wonder of the gift of God’s grace, can only be truly received if we attempt to continually give it away.
The Bible puts this in context in Ephesians 3:20,21: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Read More...
A couple of weeks ago in the post, “God if you are real?” we dealt with how God answers our doubts about His existence by bringing people and situations into our lives to answer that question. This week we will take on that testimony that is later offered by these God questioners to the people who contributed so much to establishing God’s present reality. This begins, “Did you know the situation I was in?”
In that illumination, as with Genevon’s return to our group Christmas party, it was a good thing that I was sitting in a big overstuffed supporting chair, because I had no idea that there was anything wrong with her, when our church group called on her that long past Monday night as she was seriously planning on taking her own life.
As we continue to understand the realness to trust God for our provisions, those life or death situations no longer just begin, but become part of a much broader narrative in which we understand the faithfulness of God, not only as he provides for our needs, but also adds to that an abundance of blessings and gifts that mean more to us than we can at this time fully understand or articulate. Many times that blessing comes from someone we will probably never meet in this life, or if that happening does occur, one of the first questions we will ask is, “Did you know?”
We know the words to the hymn Amazing Grace. The last verse begins, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years,” I believe that much of that time will be spent, meeting those who have blessed our lives and asking them, “Did you know?” Once they learn about our knowing, we will meet some of their “Did you know friends, and so on, and so on.” Truly a gift that keeps on giving, because the wonder of the gift of God’s grace, can only be truly received if we attempt to continually give it away.
The Bible puts this in context in Ephesians 3:20,21: Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Read More...
December 20th - Forgive our debts
19/December/2009 16:27 Filed in: Heidleberg Catechism
Lord's Day 51
126. Q. What is the fifth petition?
A. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. That is: For the sake of Christ's blood, do not impute to us, wretched sinners; any of our transgressions, nor the evil which still clings to us,[1] as we also find this evidence of Thy grace in us that we are fully determined wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbor.[2]
[1] Ps. 51:1-7; 143:2; Rom. 8:1; I John 2:1, 2. [2] Matt. 6:14, 15; 18:21-35.
126. Q. What is the fifth petition?
A. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. That is: For the sake of Christ's blood, do not impute to us, wretched sinners; any of our transgressions, nor the evil which still clings to us,[1] as we also find this evidence of Thy grace in us that we are fully determined wholeheartedly to forgive our neighbor.[2]
[1] Ps. 51:1-7; 143:2; Rom. 8:1; I John 2:1, 2. [2] Matt. 6:14, 15; 18:21-35.
Brute' says true realism is only achieved through Godly Faith!
18/December/2009 11:25 Filed in: Et Tu Brute'
Humpty Dumpty in a new century
16/December/2009 11:00 Filed in: Weekly Column
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.
We move from our fairy tale “A Christmas Hunt” between Teddy Roosevelt and Al Gore in our Monday post to a real for goodness sake nursery rhyme. Those people of the English language persuasion all learned this short stanza as young children. According to the Internet it has been with us over two centuries. Humpty Dumpty has been used in various times and places to make a point about society, but really has been pretty much accepted in its monarchial reality. For most of this history it has been assumed that Humpty Dumpty was an egg that would surely break if he/it fell off a wall, and the wall was – just a wall.
No matter how you spin the rhyme, there are dire consequences when something or someone falls off a wall. In the case of Humpty Dumpty the result of his fall was death. In the news of the world today there are a number of spins on the current state of Humpty Dumpty as it relates to current or pending realities. This is especially true in the United States, where a lot of people have too much time to analyze the past, report on the present, and prognosticate about the future. To name a few:
Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall during the presidency of George W. Bush.
President Obama is well on the way of putting Humpty Dumpy back together again.
President Obama attempted to take away the freedom of Humpty Dumpty to sit on his wall, he built through hard work and freedom and this resulted in Humpty’s death. This is definitely a Federal government attempt to acquire the Dumpty Wall for some sort of redistribution of wealth scheme.
What is never questioned in any of the above scenarios is that Humpty Dumpty reality exists today in what we would call a totally secular world or worldview.
As we pointed out in last week’s post asking, “God if you are real?” could that God reality change our and Humpty Dumpty’s worldview? In this respect Humpty Dumpty would only ask that question after he fell off the wall. But it also follows that if “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t put Humpty Dumpty together again,” then is the future hopeless for Humpty Dumpty, if he must rely only on a natural king; rather than the King of kings?
Of course the answers to the God question above echo pretty much the same theme, “Humpty Dumpty, the future is great if you don’t lie there in pieces, put your life together.”
Read More...
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.
We move from our fairy tale “A Christmas Hunt” between Teddy Roosevelt and Al Gore in our Monday post to a real for goodness sake nursery rhyme. Those people of the English language persuasion all learned this short stanza as young children. According to the Internet it has been with us over two centuries. Humpty Dumpty has been used in various times and places to make a point about society, but really has been pretty much accepted in its monarchial reality. For most of this history it has been assumed that Humpty Dumpty was an egg that would surely break if he/it fell off a wall, and the wall was – just a wall.
No matter how you spin the rhyme, there are dire consequences when something or someone falls off a wall. In the case of Humpty Dumpty the result of his fall was death. In the news of the world today there are a number of spins on the current state of Humpty Dumpty as it relates to current or pending realities. This is especially true in the United States, where a lot of people have too much time to analyze the past, report on the present, and prognosticate about the future. To name a few:
Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall during the presidency of George W. Bush.
President Obama is well on the way of putting Humpty Dumpy back together again.
President Obama attempted to take away the freedom of Humpty Dumpty to sit on his wall, he built through hard work and freedom and this resulted in Humpty’s death. This is definitely a Federal government attempt to acquire the Dumpty Wall for some sort of redistribution of wealth scheme.
What is never questioned in any of the above scenarios is that Humpty Dumpty reality exists today in what we would call a totally secular world or worldview.
As we pointed out in last week’s post asking, “God if you are real?” could that God reality change our and Humpty Dumpty’s worldview? In this respect Humpty Dumpty would only ask that question after he fell off the wall. But it also follows that if “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t put Humpty Dumpty together again,” then is the future hopeless for Humpty Dumpty, if he must rely only on a natural king; rather than the King of kings?
Of course the answers to the God question above echo pretty much the same theme, “Humpty Dumpty, the future is great if you don’t lie there in pieces, put your life together.”
Read More...
The Christmas Hunt
Today the United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen focuses upon “Earth Journalism Awards” among other interesting topics. In efforts to provide a little “fresh insight” into this unique conference in human history the Wonder Springs Chronicle would like to post this little contribution. We don’t claim that it is journalism, nor even a good story, probably more of a simple fairy tale, concocted not by climate change skeptics, but true believers, in this continuing universal principle. It however, probably doesn’t spin this reality in a way that would find a wide audience among our Copenhagen friends.
We live in troubling times, and readers of knuckle dragging blogs such as the Wonder Springs Chronicle and other publications and programs are being told they are unenlightened, stupid, naysayers, who only believe in some fictional deity, guns, and real money. Therefore for our loyal readers please understand that this really is a tale of real fiction and worldly wisdom, which you might fully not understand. It attempts mythically to bring together for a hunting trip in the backwoods two of the most enlightened progressives of all time, namely Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt and Albert (Al) Gore. It must be pointed out that these two men lived a century apart, we therefore need some license with reality to make this fictional trip happen, so we have creatively decided to have this trip begin today, December 14, 2009, but to focus upon the technology of a century ago, that would be December 14, 1909.
Our story is set in a hunting camp in Northwestern Montana, at one of President Roosevelt’s favorite hunting spots. He has been camping at the location a couple of days before Vice President Gore arrives, by horseback, sometime in the evening before our story begins.
Teddy: Good morning Al, Merry Christmas. How did you sleep?
Al: Happy Holidays Teddy. Dang, I almost froze to death, I mean the ten wool blankets you gave me to keep warm just didn’t seem to do the job. And did you realize the fire in the tent stove went out about midnight. Why didn’t you get up and feed the fire, that canvas tent was as cold as that eternal hotspot, if you catch my drift?
Teddy: Well Al, you see it is this way, I was President of these here United States and you were just a Vice President. I think that means you work for me, not the other way around. More to the point if you had not spent the whole night whining about being cold and gotten up and stoked the fire yourself, you might have gotten your blood circulating and not have been so cold. More to the point, the canvas tent, the wool blankets, and the wood stove are about as carbon neutral as you can get. I thought you believed in that sort of thing.
Al: You’re right Ted, I’m just not acclimatized to this rapid cold change from staying in five star hotels, traveling on my private jet, and my home back in Tennessee. Also you know methane flatulence is produced by the sheep that was the source of the wool, why didn’t you have some modern petroleum based sleeping bags, I’m sure I would have slept very toasty in a nice synthetic bag?
Read More...
We live in troubling times, and readers of knuckle dragging blogs such as the Wonder Springs Chronicle and other publications and programs are being told they are unenlightened, stupid, naysayers, who only believe in some fictional deity, guns, and real money. Therefore for our loyal readers please understand that this really is a tale of real fiction and worldly wisdom, which you might fully not understand. It attempts mythically to bring together for a hunting trip in the backwoods two of the most enlightened progressives of all time, namely Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt and Albert (Al) Gore. It must be pointed out that these two men lived a century apart, we therefore need some license with reality to make this fictional trip happen, so we have creatively decided to have this trip begin today, December 14, 2009, but to focus upon the technology of a century ago, that would be December 14, 1909.
Our story is set in a hunting camp in Northwestern Montana, at one of President Roosevelt’s favorite hunting spots. He has been camping at the location a couple of days before Vice President Gore arrives, by horseback, sometime in the evening before our story begins.
Teddy: Good morning Al, Merry Christmas. How did you sleep?
Al: Happy Holidays Teddy. Dang, I almost froze to death, I mean the ten wool blankets you gave me to keep warm just didn’t seem to do the job. And did you realize the fire in the tent stove went out about midnight. Why didn’t you get up and feed the fire, that canvas tent was as cold as that eternal hotspot, if you catch my drift?
Teddy: Well Al, you see it is this way, I was President of these here United States and you were just a Vice President. I think that means you work for me, not the other way around. More to the point if you had not spent the whole night whining about being cold and gotten up and stoked the fire yourself, you might have gotten your blood circulating and not have been so cold. More to the point, the canvas tent, the wool blankets, and the wood stove are about as carbon neutral as you can get. I thought you believed in that sort of thing.
Al: You’re right Ted, I’m just not acclimatized to this rapid cold change from staying in five star hotels, traveling on my private jet, and my home back in Tennessee. Also you know methane flatulence is produced by the sheep that was the source of the wool, why didn’t you have some modern petroleum based sleeping bags, I’m sure I would have slept very toasty in a nice synthetic bag?
Read More...
December 13th - Our daily bread
12/December/2009 14:11 Filed in: Heidleberg Catechism
Lord's Day 50
125. Q. What is the fourth petition?
A. Give us this day our daily bread. That is: Provide us with all our bodily needs[1] so that we may acknowledge that Thou art the only fountain of all good,[2] and that our care and labour, and also Thy gifts, cannot do us any good without Thy blessing.[3] Grant therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it only in Thee.[4]
[1] Ps. 104:27-30; 145:15, 16; Matt. 6:25-34. [2] Acts 14:17; 17:25; James 1:17. [3] Deut. 8:3; Ps. 37:16; 127:1, 2; I Cor. 15:58. [4] Ps. 55:22; 62; 146; Jer. 17:5-8; Heb. 13:5, 6.
125. Q. What is the fourth petition?
A. Give us this day our daily bread. That is: Provide us with all our bodily needs[1] so that we may acknowledge that Thou art the only fountain of all good,[2] and that our care and labour, and also Thy gifts, cannot do us any good without Thy blessing.[3] Grant therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it only in Thee.[4]
[1] Ps. 104:27-30; 145:15, 16; Matt. 6:25-34. [2] Acts 14:17; 17:25; James 1:17. [3] Deut. 8:3; Ps. 37:16; 127:1, 2; I Cor. 15:58. [4] Ps. 55:22; 62; 146; Jer. 17:5-8; Heb. 13:5, 6.
Brute' says, If life gives you a dead tree, cut firewood!
11/December/2009 09:23 Filed in: Et Tu Brute'
God, are you real?
09/December/2009 08:04 Filed in: Weekly Column
“God if you are real? ? ?”
This is probably the most common question formulated by people in all sorts of difficult situations, from all sorts of backgrounds, from almost everywhere on earth.
Many times this inquiry is veiled in the bait and switch concept of if – then. Such as the famous, “God if you save me from this storm then I will go into the monastery and become a monk.” Without such a God induced provocation Martin Luther may have ended up as a lawyer, or even a simple coal miner.
Many times the situation appears so difficult that the “and then” is not required. This is probably a wiser course of action, at least from the theological point of view. It does seem more than vain however, if you are about to meet your Maker to try to set up a paradigm in which your bargaining with God will somehow stop the storm.
It is also very interesting that in true survival situations, all the survivors of the situation share one common attribute, regardless of social position, wealth, religion, or other criteria. That common hallmark of all survivors is that they prayed.
Read More...
This is probably the most common question formulated by people in all sorts of difficult situations, from all sorts of backgrounds, from almost everywhere on earth.
Many times this inquiry is veiled in the bait and switch concept of if – then. Such as the famous, “God if you save me from this storm then I will go into the monastery and become a monk.” Without such a God induced provocation Martin Luther may have ended up as a lawyer, or even a simple coal miner.
Many times the situation appears so difficult that the “and then” is not required. This is probably a wiser course of action, at least from the theological point of view. It does seem more than vain however, if you are about to meet your Maker to try to set up a paradigm in which your bargaining with God will somehow stop the storm.
It is also very interesting that in true survival situations, all the survivors of the situation share one common attribute, regardless of social position, wealth, religion, or other criteria. That common hallmark of all survivors is that they prayed.
Read More...
December 6th - Thy will be done
05/December/2009 20:00 Filed in: Heidleberg Catechism
Lord's Day 49
124. Q. What is the third petition?
A. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. That is: Grant that we and all men may deny our own will, and without any murmuring obey Thy will, for it alone is good.[1] Grant also that everyone may carry out the duties of his office and calling[2] as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.[3]
[1] Matt. 7:21; 16:24-26; Luke 22:42; Rom. 12:1, 2; Tit. 2:11, 12. [2] I Cor. 7:17-24; Eph. 6:5-9. [3] Ps. 103:20, 21.
124. Q. What is the third petition?
A. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. That is: Grant that we and all men may deny our own will, and without any murmuring obey Thy will, for it alone is good.[1] Grant also that everyone may carry out the duties of his office and calling[2] as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.[3]
[1] Matt. 7:21; 16:24-26; Luke 22:42; Rom. 12:1, 2; Tit. 2:11, 12. [2] I Cor. 7:17-24; Eph. 6:5-9. [3] Ps. 103:20, 21.
The Advent Season
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
At Wonder Springs we normally give Brute’ his day, but with the United States jobless rate declining last month to an even 10 percent, it is generally assumed that most of the MSM, or the LSM (Lame Stream Media) will be reporting that “Happy Days are Here Again.”
The reality of the so called good news is really confined to pretty much those who have had access to the government’s free (funny) monetary expansion policies. The truth is that there are many Americans and citizens in other countries around the world are facing hardships stemming from the Great Recession, that they have never experienced before. Some of them have been in that rut and somehow survived now longer than they thought possible.
The opportunity that we can gain from these life trials is that “faith, hope and love,” are unique assets of all our human personalities. They are gifts of God, given to us in unique ways, we are however much of the time to busy understand not only their unique nature, but also our own.
Their have been those, in relatively recent human history, who have tried to change these gifts of God into a force that can be manipulated by human efforts. Many times these faux conversions were attempted for lofty reasons.
Love is probably the most abused of these three. “I (heart design) something,” being the most common attempt to make the supernatural gift of God, subject to human depravity. “All you need is love” as well as “Love means you never have to say you’re sorry.” are not examples of true love, but really narcissism.
Making you healthy, wealthy, and wise through your faith, was and still is part of the reason Christianity continues to be considered ridiculous, by many people, some who have tried the to plant their seed of faith and found it bought someone a new house and corporate jet, while their faith had to make the choice between food, and utilities, while old time necessities came to look like totally vanquished dreams.
Finally, we have succeeded in turning hope into a force also. Hope in hope and we can change the world and the United States will obey also. Truthfully I have little hope that the breathing period will last all that long, but I am grateful for at least a little reprise for this Christmas season.
Therefore during the rest of this year the Wonder Springs Chronicle will focus upon how God uses our difficult circumstances to reveal His nature in our lives and how Godly faith, hope, and love, are able to sometimes overcome our circumstances, but also provide are deepest needs when we have forced to take steps beyond our understanding
C. S. Lewis has said that the greatest miracle was not in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that He was willing to become human at all.” The Christmas season is that time when most of the world celebrates that miracle. Let those of us who truly believe in that miracle take the time to share historical reasons for our faith, hope and love and the material gifts will take care of themselves.
Advent is the first period of the church year in which Christians around the world look forward to the birth of a Jewish baby who was also God incarnate. That condescending act of God has become the basis of our redemption, real Good News, and the true reason for the season.
Merry Christmas
Jerry
At Wonder Springs we normally give Brute’ his day, but with the United States jobless rate declining last month to an even 10 percent, it is generally assumed that most of the MSM, or the LSM (Lame Stream Media) will be reporting that “Happy Days are Here Again.”
The reality of the so called good news is really confined to pretty much those who have had access to the government’s free (funny) monetary expansion policies. The truth is that there are many Americans and citizens in other countries around the world are facing hardships stemming from the Great Recession, that they have never experienced before. Some of them have been in that rut and somehow survived now longer than they thought possible.
The opportunity that we can gain from these life trials is that “faith, hope and love,” are unique assets of all our human personalities. They are gifts of God, given to us in unique ways, we are however much of the time to busy understand not only their unique nature, but also our own.
Their have been those, in relatively recent human history, who have tried to change these gifts of God into a force that can be manipulated by human efforts. Many times these faux conversions were attempted for lofty reasons.
Love is probably the most abused of these three. “I (heart design) something,” being the most common attempt to make the supernatural gift of God, subject to human depravity. “All you need is love” as well as “Love means you never have to say you’re sorry.” are not examples of true love, but really narcissism.
Making you healthy, wealthy, and wise through your faith, was and still is part of the reason Christianity continues to be considered ridiculous, by many people, some who have tried the to plant their seed of faith and found it bought someone a new house and corporate jet, while their faith had to make the choice between food, and utilities, while old time necessities came to look like totally vanquished dreams.
Finally, we have succeeded in turning hope into a force also. Hope in hope and we can change the world and the United States will obey also. Truthfully I have little hope that the breathing period will last all that long, but I am grateful for at least a little reprise for this Christmas season.
Therefore during the rest of this year the Wonder Springs Chronicle will focus upon how God uses our difficult circumstances to reveal His nature in our lives and how Godly faith, hope, and love, are able to sometimes overcome our circumstances, but also provide are deepest needs when we have forced to take steps beyond our understanding
C. S. Lewis has said that the greatest miracle was not in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that He was willing to become human at all.” The Christmas season is that time when most of the world celebrates that miracle. Let those of us who truly believe in that miracle take the time to share historical reasons for our faith, hope and love and the material gifts will take care of themselves.
Advent is the first period of the church year in which Christians around the world look forward to the birth of a Jewish baby who was also God incarnate. That condescending act of God has become the basis of our redemption, real Good News, and the true reason for the season.
Merry Christmas
Jerry
Specialization classes
02/December/2009 08:47 Filed in: Weekly Column
On Tuesday evening President Barack Obama presented to the American people and the world at large his war plan for Afghanistan. Those thirty thousand extra troops will give ammunition to pundits everywhere to analyze whether that glass is half empty or half full. Little commentary will focus on the reality that in this analogy it is half a glass. The major question that speeches don’t cover is how you fill up the glass or empty the glass as time goes on. That is also dependent on whether there is a hole in the bucket, dear Jacob. Fixing the bucket will prove more costly and time consuming than the President and his supporters and adversaries are willing to admit. This is especially perplexing when the option of getting a new bucket is quite impossible.
Spun in more historic terms, is the Afghan War really an attempt at colonization focused upon a people who don’t believe in colonization and don’t particularly want to play the game? What is really at stake is a global conflict basically between Twenty-First century western culture struggling against medieval Islamic adherents. This is not a new war, but we think there are enlightened ways to provide a simple solution for Western Culture to triumph over the bad jihadists. Lots of luck fellows!
In reality if it was not for the victory at the Battle of Tours in 732 and in the Siege of Vienna in 1529 the whole world would be followers of Mohammed. This of course leaves out the Grace of God, as outlined in the Bible of Christians and Jews, as Almighty God. As the Almighty he rules over and controls human destiny. Since Western Culture truly no longer believes in God the words of that Biblical icon Solomon is in order, “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” Put is more twenty-first century jargon, Lots of luck fellows! A little history lesson of what followed the Battle of Vienna in 1683 might give some global historic perspective.
Of course twenty-first century Islam is not as overtly organized as medieval Islam. Covertly it seems just as successful especially in that old adversary Western Europe. The radical jihadists while well funded must exercise what command and control they have from the remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. However little command and control is required for attacks such has the recent guerilla attack at Ft. Hood, Texas by Army Major Hasan.
In the last week the threat of further sanctions really had no effect upon Iran. So they are going to install fifty thousand more centrifuges to enrich their only domestic energy needs and alternatives. The Iranian options there have even more salient consequences, none of them easy, none of them cheap, none of them without broad ranging ramifications.
Read More...
Spun in more historic terms, is the Afghan War really an attempt at colonization focused upon a people who don’t believe in colonization and don’t particularly want to play the game? What is really at stake is a global conflict basically between Twenty-First century western culture struggling against medieval Islamic adherents. This is not a new war, but we think there are enlightened ways to provide a simple solution for Western Culture to triumph over the bad jihadists. Lots of luck fellows!
In reality if it was not for the victory at the Battle of Tours in 732 and in the Siege of Vienna in 1529 the whole world would be followers of Mohammed. This of course leaves out the Grace of God, as outlined in the Bible of Christians and Jews, as Almighty God. As the Almighty he rules over and controls human destiny. Since Western Culture truly no longer believes in God the words of that Biblical icon Solomon is in order, “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” Put is more twenty-first century jargon, Lots of luck fellows! A little history lesson of what followed the Battle of Vienna in 1683 might give some global historic perspective.
Of course twenty-first century Islam is not as overtly organized as medieval Islam. Covertly it seems just as successful especially in that old adversary Western Europe. The radical jihadists while well funded must exercise what command and control they have from the remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. However little command and control is required for attacks such has the recent guerilla attack at Ft. Hood, Texas by Army Major Hasan.
In the last week the threat of further sanctions really had no effect upon Iran. So they are going to install fifty thousand more centrifuges to enrich their only domestic energy needs and alternatives. The Iranian options there have even more salient consequences, none of them easy, none of them cheap, none of them without broad ranging ramifications.
Read More...