This Do in .... why?

Last month, I went to church. Surprise, surprise. It was the first Sunday of the month, which meant, we had Communion. I suppose we'll do it again tomorrow.

That sounds really .... tedious. Its supposed to be a celebration. A time to remember. "This do in rememberance of Me," thus saith the Lord. Amen and amen.

Instead, quite often, we are told that we need to examine ourselves. Look inside. Confess our sins. Repent. Be clean. Don't partake in an unworthy manner. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me.

At a time when we're called together, to remember Him, we're pointed to ourselves. Time wise, I believe we spent more time on the "us" part of it, than on the "Jesus" part.

I'd like to see more focus on Jesus, the real reason for communion, and less on me.

I am a Fish Tank

The dogs were barking this morning, and I got up to yell at them. Of course, they were quiet by the time I got out there, but, since I was up....

I decided to take care of a few things around the house. I get a lot more done in the mornings, and everything is easier when the kids are asleep.

I started off sweeping and mopping. I wanted to move the fish tank to the other side of the dining area, as it would give us more sitting room.

So, I had to drain it, move the fish, find something to put the fish in, yada yada yada. You get the picture.

I finally remember we had bought a fish pond for outside. So I took about thirty minutes and dug a small hole for it. 24 inch diameter and 6 inches deep. Not really that big, but big enough when its hard packed dirt like we have here.

So, the fish are happy, the dining room looks a little bigger, the floors are clean, and I'm dirty.

Back to the fish tank. I pushed it up against the wall, then had to pull it back out to make room for the filter. Its in a corner, and still tight against the other wall. I needed to slip the power cords between the tank and the wall, and run them over to the outlet.

Low and behold, it was too tight for the cords even. So, I grabbed the tank and pulled a little. It moved some, but it was more of a sway, and the stand didn't budge. The cord dropped about half-way down and stuck. So, I sat down and pulled on the base, right were it sits on the tile. It waas easier, and the whole thing slid over for me. Mission accomplished.

It made me think of life, laws, morality, and government. Funny, huh.

America, according to history as I was taught all those years ago, was founded by men fleeing religious persecution. They wanted to practice Christianity as God was leading them, not as the government told them was proper and accepted.

When they rebelled and formed their own nation, it was based on their principles. Christians morals as taught in the bible, as believed and practiced in their everyday lives. This is the foundation of our legal system, and our everyday freedoms.

Today, we are trying to spread our lifestyle, and our newer version of freedom, around the world. But its not working so well. I've heard it said for years that you can't legislate morality. It appears you can't legislate capitalism or democracy either.

We've stepped in, with the best of intentions, and tried to help Iraq and Afghanistan. To some degree, we probably have. But we've only managed to sway the top of the fishtank. Eventually, if we keep applying pressure, we will move the whole thing.

But there needs to be a grass roots movement for effective change. When the people want something, then the country can change.

Its the same for individuals. There are certain things I know I need to change about myself. Drink more water. Exercise. blah. But necessary. I know these things, and my life has swayed a little. But I need to desire these chnges too.

As Christians, I've seen us divide up the human person into two or three distinct parts. Material and immaterial, or spirit, soul, and body. However you divide yourself up, you're doing it wrong.

You are one. In the beginning, God created man. Not three things that he packed together like free software bundles. I am a man. One being. I need to worship with my whole being. Not just singing with my voice while my mind roams. Or paying attention to the literal meaning of the words while singing with no emotion. Understanding, emotions, and bodily involvement. Stand up, clap, dance a little. (Very little in my case, since I have no rhythm.)

Changes in my life will need to involve my whole being. Not a mental assent, or mere desire. Desire gives strength, knowledge gives direction, and my body is my slave.

Gotta start at the bottom to move the whole fishtank that is me.

Blair warns of 'arc of extremism'

"'This war can't be won in a conventional way, it can only be won by showing that our values are stronger, better and more just, more fair than the alternatives,' he said."

Thats gonna be real hard, convincing the world that American Values are better than those of the rest of the world. Ordaining gays, condoning violence, ignoring our own poor.

Sure, we need to reach out and help the rest of the world. But I think we're not working hard enough to raise ourselves from the pits we've fallen into.

The Muslim world isn't going to see our way of life as better than theirs any time soon. Not unless they let go of their religion, and become secular.

Thats what we've done. Religion is a private affair here in the States, and it isn't allowed to affect our schools, our work, or our political processes. Ours is a secular worldview, and as such, seems better to us. Better education. Better food. Better homes.

But at the price of our souls. Does Mr. Blair really think he can convince this "arc of extremism" that better food is really worth our souls?

Have a heart, President Bush

Wired News: Senate Says Yes to Stem Cells
The Senate passed a bill that would increase federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. It sounds okay, but stem cells come from dead babies. Okay, fetus is politically correct, but 'dead baby' is more accurate.

There are other sources now. We can explore and improve our understanding of these alternates, and not have to resort to embryonic stem cells.

"Actress Mary Tyler Moore was very disappointed by Bush's stance.

'This is an intelligent human being with a heart, and I don't see how much longer he can deny those aspects of himself,' she said."

Funny thing is, Bush does have a heart.

"The simple answer is he thinks murder's wrong," said White House spokesman Tony Snow. "The president is not going to get on the slippery slope of taking something living and making it dead for the purposes of scientific research."

Our president does have a heart. Thats why he is so involved in world politics (e.g.--the war in Iraq), and why he refuses to be involved in embryonic stem-cell research. There are many people who may benefit from new findings, but many more infants who will never enjoy a single day playing in the park with their daddies.

Whether he can walk or not.

U.S. House Bill on Persecution in China Draws Fire | Christianpost.com- Christian News Online , Christian World News

"'The Chinese government protects the freedom of religious beliefs of citizens in accordance with the law,' Jiang said. 'After reform and opening up ... we have made great progress in our human rights and people's livelihoods. This is obvious for all to see.'
"

Yes, it is obvious for all to see. Thats why we can condemn their actions, because finally they're obvious to even the blindest lawmaker. "China maintains tight control over all religions. Those who attend underground Protestant or Catholic churches routinely face detention, harassment and sometimes imprisonment." What, its called freedom because I can attend church, but it has to be the one controlled and owned by the goverment? They appoint pastors, then tell them what to preach. They have spies attend church to take names and report on them. And this is the official church! Imagine what they do to members of unofficial churches.

They said that the U.S. needs to stop interfering in "internal affairs under the pretext of religious affairs and human rights." There is the key difference. In American, the individual is highly valued. Not so in China. It is the Government and the Party that are paramount. I agree on the point of not interfering in internal affairs. No one else should tell us how to tax or set our speed limits or vote. Thats government. But we have no right to crush down the individual citizens of our country.

I was going to say "I can't believe China said that," but, unfortunately, I can believe.

Prison Closes Christian Discipleship Program

Christian Today > Christian News, Updated Daily > The Prison Service has ditched a groundbreaking discipleship course for inmates at Dartmoor prison on the grounds that it failed to comply with “diversity policies”.

There were two reasons for the closure of this program. They teach the sanctity of heterosexual marriage, for one. Which upsets anyone who doesn't fall into that category. And if they aren't in this category, where do the fall? Into the SIN category. (And we can't be calling people sinners now, can we? Even if they are in prison for breaking the law, we still can't call them sinners, they have enough issues without lowering their self-esteem.)

Secondly, it doesn't comply with the diversity policies of the prison system. They aren't allowed to, ever so slightly, insult another by ... what? ... telling them the Truth? If they say Jesus is the Son of God, some will be offended. If we say He died, and rose from the grave, others will be offended. And we can't offend, now, can we?

A similar program in American (this one is in Britain) reduced recidivism to eight percent. Its clearly effective. Even the little bit it ran in England, they saw changes. Its not just a Bible study run behind prison bars. Its also a support program for those who have been released.

It works, but it isn't all inclusive, so, they're going to throw it out the window.

We can tolerate anything, except intolerance, it seems.

Certainly a one world religion is coming soon, and its going to damn the whole world.

African Anglicans Oppose ... wishy-washy-ness

Christian News, Updated Daily - Christian Today >In an attempt to keep some degree of unity within the worldwide Church the Archbishop of Canterbury last month called for a two-tiered system of membership. The “covenant system” proposes that Churches should be asked to sign a formal covenant, which would allow some to be fuller members of the Anglican Communion than others.

A dual system is proposed, whereby there would be full “constituent” members to the Communion that have conformed to the traditional Biblical views of the Church, but also another section of “associate” members which will incorporate rebel and more liberally-viewed Churches.

Huh? A two-tier system? Two churches? One who obeys the Word of God, and the other who, um, makes up their own rules and goes their own way based on current cultural conditions?

If I remember right, Paul said to turn these people out, and let Satan have them for a while. I don't remember anything about accomadation. Was it Jude, or John, who said to pray for them, and pull them from the fire. Not to build asbestos-lined churches where they can comfortably go to hell.

I commend the Nigerian Anglican church for speaking out against the Archbishop of Canterbury. He's trying to prevent a split in the church by accomodating sin, and they have called him out on it.

Also, I wanted to point out the language of this article. This new proposal would "allow some unity" within the church. He sees this is a "unity in the church" issue, instead of a sin issue. In his language, this appears to be a good proposal, instead of what it is. It is a way to allow people to sin, and remain in the Anglican church.

Two Songs

I was sitting in Starbucks this morning, just before work. It was about 6:10, and I had ordered a Grande Mocha Frappucino, and sat down to wait. I needed to be at work, clocked in, by 6:30. Fortunately, I was only two blocks away.

I had my headphones on, listening to Adonai Dub. "Dub" is a style of music descended from regga/rasta, slowed down and remixed one night when it was too hot to play at a normal pace. This was mixed with traditional Jewish music, to come up with an album called "Adonai Dub." Very ... different.

Anyway, on the overhead was ... whatever ... Starbucks thinks is cutting edge. Communal/soft rock/pop stuff only a few people really like. I tried to listen up, to see what was playing, and lost track of my own music. They blended, became confusing, and cacophanous.

I drew back and listened to just my headphones, and concentrated to drown the other music out. Nice. I like what I had on my MP3 player.

Life is a lot like that. My relationship with God is like that. I focus on one thing, and I can enjoy it. Too much going on at once leads to confusion, and I need to pick and choose whats important.

Adonai, or Starbucks.

Amazon.com: The Last Templar: Books: Raymond Khoury

The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury was very disturbing to me.

The basis of the book is that the Templar's were founded by a group of men whose sole mission was to uncover the gospel of Jesus, written in his own hand. It detailed his teachings and decision to proclaim himself the Son of God. It has fairly long dialogues between a true believer and those who are disillusioned by "the truth." The disillusioned have long monologues explaining their thoroughly logical view-point, and the believer, who has short lines stitching their monologues together.

Its clearly riding on the coat-tails of The DaVinci Code.

My problem is that the basic story of Jesus being a fake is accepted as truth. The church's hierarchy knows this, but doesn't want to destroy the faith, useless faith, of a billion people. Faith, belief in something greater than ourselves, is a good thing. It doesn't matter what we believe, because belief itself drives us to be better people. Sure, there have been wars, Inquisitions, murders, terrorism, etc. in the name of religion.

This book defies the roots of Christianity, and cheapens it to the point of mass psychology, an opiate of the masses. Jesus is alive, real. But there is a whole slew of books coming out now in this vein. Religion/belief/faith is good. Just don't believe your way is the only way. Jesus, Moses, Mohammed. We can all get along and be better people by believing. Even if our beliefs are blatantly lies, and we know it.

I'm disgusted.

Rose Garden

Well, these are a few pictures of our little Rose Garden. We have two or three bushes, three climbers, and three rose bushes. Plus dozens of daffodils, irises, and, um, something else. But I can't remember what they all are.

The house is coming along nicely. We're just about ready to tackle the backyard. We even bought a little "fire bowl" for the backyard. 12 inches deep and 3 feet across, with a wire grate for the top, to keep the kids and animals from falling in, I guess.

Anyway, we are having lots of fun adapting and improving our home. Its nice having our own "home" that we can change, without asking anyone else if its okay first.

Finding the Highway

Set up for yourselves roadmarks,
Place for yourself guidposts,
Direct your mind to the highway.

I was actually looking for something different when I stumbled on these verses. I'm sure I've read them before, but something jumped out at me this time. Maybe it was the symmetry, or the balance. Or maybe it was just time for me to see, really see, this message at this time.

Set up implies that something isn't there. Maybe it was at one time, but its not now. Or perhaps it was never there. But it needs to be erected because nothing is there now.

Place implies intent and order. This isn't to be a random building project. Forethought and intention are needed. Planning. Where do I want these markers? How high? How big? What kind of building materials?

Direct also shows to me that I need to do something with these signs. They are to point me in a certain direction. A direction that I need to travel in. These signs are not a project to keep me busy, but specifically for self improvement.

And I do mean self. Yourself, Yourself, Your. These words, repeated three times. It doesn't matter if no one else follows my signs. More than likely, no one else will even be able to read or decipher what I have posted. They are specifically for my use. For my improvement. For me.

What purpose do these guideposts and roadmarks serve? They are to help direct me back to the highway. The highway, in this case, is the christianity as practiced in my youth. Vital. Strong. Filled with life and hope and desire. I have many excuses for wandering away from "my first love," but it all comes down to the fact that I am not on the highway anymore.

What are these signposts and roadmarks? I don't know right now, but I plan on finding out. When I do, I will let you know.

60 Days for Child Rapist

"The one message I want to get through is that anger doesn't solve anything. It just corrodes your soul."

This is a quote from Judge Cashman of Vermont. Mark Hulett began raping a 7 year old girl, and continued for four years. The judge knew he needed treatment, but wouldn't get it in prison, so he ordered him to 60 days, then to seek immediate treatment, or risk going back to jail or face possible life behind bars.

Ok, so they guy needs treatment, but this is just plain wrong. The girl suffered for four years, and will probably go through years of therapy. IF she ever manages to get married, she is going to have a tremendous amount of emotional baggage.

The judge stated he no longer believes in punishment. What does that mean? Punishment doesn't rehabilitate? Maybe.

But you know what? This type of exhausted leniency does no one any good, and just puts one more rapist back out in the neighborhood.

Another point here: punishment and rehabilitation are two different things. If the prisoners are treated and changed while in jail, that is great. But prison is a punishment, not rehab.

We have forgotten that. "Spare the rod, spoil the child." God also told us that the rod will not kill the child. But being spoiled may lead to death. Many learn their lesson, and don't return to become criminals again. It also serves as a lesson to others: rape little girls and you see what happens to you. (I don't think '60 Days' is the message we should be sending to deviants and perverts.)

The judge said that when he began 25 years ago, he handed down tough sentences but now believes "it accomplishes nothing of value."

Nothing of value? At least it keeps the morally defecient away from my children. That is something of value.