Shallow Thought Of The Day

There Is Still Good In This World

I know, I know-there are darker than dark clouds coming over most horizons these days.
But we still have Good.
Baseball is good; it is a game of hope, of small moments and sometimes larger triumphs...the world is better when we have Baseball playing.
Once upon a time I enjoyed a game at Coors Field, seen above. 18 years later, it is still
one of my favorite memories.
Memories. Memorials. Memorial Day.
Recently a friend brought to mind another good memory. My Dad and I had stopped at her house to see her new British Lab pup-and the puppy was so excited he nearly jumped through the car window into my Dad's lap.
Monday is Memorial Day and, as usual, I will be at the local assembly. My Dad was a Korea-era veteran who never left Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This Summer will be 5 years since he passed away, preceding my Mother by just a few months. 
So yeah-remember the Good of the past, and don't allow the world's recent tumults to overshadow the fact that there is also Good now.

Isis Bad

Been listening to an interview with a Pastor, formerly a Muslim, who shared insights about Islam with R.C Sproul on his program, "Renewing Your Mind".
The long and the short of it: when a Christian commits acts of violence, he or she is going against the clear teachings of Christ found in the Bible.
When a Muslim commits acts of violence, his or her actions are in agreement with the Koran, are in line with the teachings of Mohammed.
This has been a season of innocent blood being spilled by Islamist terrorists across the world. More to come.
Liberals find themselves nodding along in agreement with Muslims who trumpet that the Christian Bible is corrupted, the Christian God is not Allah, and that Christians serve a false Messiah in ignorance.
Of course, Islam also teaches that abortion is wrong, so I'm conflicted.
What happens when we die?
If Muslims are correct, all non-Mulims are in hell. And many billions of Muslims will join them there if their bad deeds out-weigh their good deeds on a scale. No grace. No hope.
An Islamist can win a 'stay out of hell for free' ticket, the gates of Paradise WILL open to those who happen to be killed while fighting for Islam, destroying the enemies of Allah.
Christians? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, ask Him for forgiveness. All your sin and bad deeds, if placed on a scale opposite the Sacrifice of Christ on your behalf...will be as light and intangible as sunbeams, less than sunbeams. Because where sin did abound, Grace did all the more abound. When Christ said, "I have overcome the world." that included all of the world, through all time, including our present troubled age.
A thought that you may not want to consider:
If I, Doug, were to be killed, whether by a terrorist or accident or through trying to win a hot dog eating contest....I go to Heaven.
If YOU die...

Future Unfutile

A few measured bon knots to get your thinker workin'.
As our friend Criswell has stated, "We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives."
The FUTURE will not see Man in charge-Christ will rule Creation from Jerusalem.
Creation.
Not just Israel.
Nor only Sea to shining Sea.
EVERYTHING.
There  will be no people group not under His control.
Every nation will obey His rule.
Nations. Some will be known by the names they have now;  Zechariah 14:18 makes mention of 'the family of Egypt', so there will at least be an Egypt. Other nations are also named as existing through the Millennial reign.
But will America still be called America? Only if Christ decrees that to be the case.
Cheer up, non-Christian buttercups. If you survive through the 'End Times', yes, you will be obliged to submit to Christ as King and Lord.
But the world, the harsh, evil sinful world you have known will be redeemed.
"And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.
⁷    Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox." Isaiah 11:6-7
There will also be no war in your lifetime. No crooked politicians lying to garner power to themselves. No more hungry children. No more abused children!
The King of Peace will indeed rule from the city of Peace. Your life will be better in unimaginable ways, if you survive to see that Kingdom.
I hope to see you there.

No Lie

Upfed With Religion

"ISIS threatens controversial blogger Pamela Geller in message boasting of '71 trained soldiers in 15 different states'"

This is the headline from a newspaper, the NY Daily News.

Whatever Geller has said or done or promoted-what has been happening all over the world is now here.

ISIS-simply put, Islamic terrorists-are attempting to restrict the free speech of an American on our own soil. 

This isn't new. 

ISIS is attempting to hold US hostage.

No.

Every American from President Obama on down to you and me should stand with Pamela Geller TODAY.
'71 trained soldiers in 15 different states'.
I don't care.
I wouldn't care if it were 71 million soldiers in all 50 states-how we respond to threats, extortion and bullying will determine whether or not the bullying will continue.
Give in, give up, mollycoddle...and you lose.
Stand up, stand together, and reject ISIS.
Now is the time to not blink.

 

 

Infantilization Of America

Sure, sure-babies and kids are cute.
They are also emotional tyros who don't understand why what where when or how the world works. All they know is that they NEED THAT COOKIE!!!!!!
Or that their diaper rash is acting up again.
Or a tooth coming in is a world of pain.
They know nothing of responsibility or consequences of actions.
Good parenting teaches both.
But where kids are raised without good parenting...sometimes those lessons go unlearned.
And all of a sudden...teenagers.
And then young adults old enough to vote who have no concept of responsibility or consequence of actions.
Nothing is ever their fault.
They will live forever.
And if it's a terrible world, someone else ruined it.
Is it any wonder that kids flock to the Democratic party?
Conservatives and some few Republicans blather on about personal accountability and individual effort.
Logic.
All Democrats need do is point at Conservatives and pronounce them Evil.
Emotion.
Which political party benefits from the infantilazation of America?
Second question: Which political party better serves the needs of America?
Have a fun election, USA.

 

Insight

I feel that I should explain myself a bit, to the world @ large and certain possibly mystified persons.
I wrote something recently which might have come across as more harsh than intended.
Here's the cutline-I have respect for most people, greater respect for those who are being battered about by circumstance such as illness. I KNOW that it is tough to have Cancer, for example. Tough and harsh and brutal.
I've been to enough funerals in the past couple of years to fill my quota for a lifetime.
Here's what I need to explain, the part that might seem harsh:
I respect people too greatly to treat them any differently because they have an illness.
I won't treat them as 'delicate objects' but rather just as I did before illness came into their lives. As my fellow human beings.
We lost another of our church family to Cancer this past week.
I apologize if I have seemed callous. But to me, it seems right. 

Grab the Handle Not the Blade

It's not butter that needs clarifying-here is a chunk of understanding which might help to better illumine the path we all walk.
A term is being used with 'bias towards foes' of what some consider "Righteous".
I'll just state it: 'Homophobia".
If one is homophobic, supposedly his/her beliefs/actions are based on a fear of homosexuality. Or so say the GLAADaughters of the New American Revolution.
It's dismissive: "He's one of those Christians who are against Gay Marriage. He's a homophobe."
Naw.
But let's talk about this for a moment-why is it that we Christians are supposed to be afraid of homosexuality?
Is it like a disease? If I shake hands with a homosexual, I will become homosexual myself?
"Oh no, Doug-(we) (they) are born that way."
So...if there's no contagion...what is the basis for my alleged phobia?
"Well, it's hateful to deny that someone else's sexuality is normal!"
Comes down to this, citizens: Those who staple the homophobe tag on Christians who reject homosexuality as 'normal' assume that we fear what is different, what we can't comprehend.
Here's the twist: it is actually YOU who are God-phobic. You fear what You can't comprehend. 
We Christians simply point to God's Word and accept His opinion as trumping that of any Man.
If God said that homosexuality were just dandy, we would have it as a sacrament.
But that is not what God's Word states.
We Christians are not motivated by fear of homosexuals.
We are motivated by Love for God.
If God scares you...you might be the one with the foe bias. Say it out loud.

I Love Darkness, But...

Sunshine can be pretty cool, too.
About the darkness thing-I'm talking about physical darkness, absence of light.
I know that some folks are 'scared of the dark' but it is otherwise for me.
Partly because I have been careful through my life to avoid dangerous elements and behaviors-even living in Vegas I could go out walking at three in the morning without worry because I was always sober, and didn't venture into the bad sides of town late at night. And Vegas has many 'bad sides'.
During daylight, I once carried over $10,000 cash through the middle of Milwaukee without a worry. On foot.
My ship was getting ready to leave on a payday, and the afternoon shift couldn't leave to cash their checks; I offered to run to the bank for everyone and, as I had no car at that time, I hoofed it.
Day or night, light or dark-I basically don't fear anything. Fun way to live.

Pagan Loving Christians

Keeping it simple: If God so loved the world, and we are to follow Christ...we should love the world too.
Here's my premise: I am acting in LOVE if I warn pagans against impending Judgement. I would be hateful to hide Salvation from those who need it, especially those who don't think that they DO need it.
Of course, I have no idea who is not yet saved-everyone is an iceberg, living most of their lives below the surface.
So, in order to not miss anyone...
"¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 
¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
¹⁸“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 
¹⁹And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 
²⁰For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 
²¹But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:16-21

Even So...

April 14, 2015 MONTICELLO, Iowa—Hillary Clinton may have been speaking to just 22 people here at her Iowa kickoff event, but the now-official 2016 candidate was looking far beyond the voters in the room when she outlined in the clearest terms yet the rationale for her campaign.

"A lot of people in the last few days have asked me, 'Why do you want to do this?' and 'What motivates you?'" Clinton said at the event. "And I've thought a lot about it, and I guess the short answer is, I've been fighting for children and families my entire life. ... I want to be the champion who goes to bat for Americans."

Okay.  Families usually have children in them, and Mrs. Clinton wants to be known as a champion of both children and families.

Well and good.

Every baby aborted five years ago would be in kindergarten right now if they had not been killed in the womb. Oh, and they would be Americans. Someday they would be voters.

Two main political parties in America-one defends Abortion, protecting it as a 'right'.

Not a moral right. A political one.

The other political party says that it considers Abortion murder, but has been unable to do anything about it for 42 years? 

Here's my point-I do not expect any good to be achieved by any political party.

As a Christian, I am waiting for our Lord to return and set this world straight.

Until that day, my conscience will be my voter's guide.

Demolicans Versus Republicrats

"Presidential elections are planned distractions
To divert attention from the action behind the scenes"
lyric from "Just Another Movie" by Timbuk 3.
A bit of a cynic, Pat MacDonald wrote that during the Reagan Presidency-I wonder what he thinks of the contretemps passing for Politics these days?
I am taking to heart the idea of staying out of political squabbles for the foreseeable.
The party of the first part doesn't seem too distinked from the party of the second part.
Already some aspirants have declared their intention to be President.
Long time readers of FDW-both of them-know my propensity for being 100% wrong
regarding elections. The last one that I got right was Geo Bush beating John Kerry, which was literally a "no-brainer".
So allow me to proclaim loudly that Hilly Clinton, who just announced, will NOT be the Dem with the nom.
She might be the first one to quit. If she hasn't already by the time you read this.
On the other side of the dais, the 'field' of contenders is growing...and I don't care.
No one yet has had opportunity to define himself...except they all seem to be "himselves" with nary a 'herself' to be seen.
But it's early yet.
My greatest hope is that Christ will return soon and save us from one more election.

A Game Of Thrones Christmas-Santa's Special Miracle

Future Memorials You Will Partake In

Okay, about the title-in lit work that's called a grabber. I was just thinking about this
Resurrection Day-how we see a million and a half sitcoms/police procedurals/TV 'specials' focusing on Christmas, but nary a one for Christ's Resurrection.
All part of the whole story which, thank God, has the happiest of endings.
In short:
God created.
Sin entered.
God redeemed.
New creation free from sin.

As promised,
Christ will return to this earth just as He left it, but He will not leave it as it is now:
No more politicians and other professional liars allowed to hawk their wares.
Justice will prevail. <---note nbsp="" p="" period.="" the="">No more War, with Peace emanating  from His throne in Jerusalem.
So Doug, what's this about future memorials for US to be a part of?
²⁰“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 
²¹‘The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go.” 
²²‘So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.’ 
²³“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”Zechariah 8:20-23

^"16Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.¹⁷And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 
¹⁸If the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which the LORD smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 
¹⁹This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.
²⁰In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” And the cooking pots in the LORD’S house will be like the bowls before the altar. 
²¹Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts in that day." Zechariah 14:16-21

I know that that is a lot to read, but basically, all the world will send representatives to Jerusalem and perform sacrifices as a memorial to what God has done in redeeming a lost creation. "Canaanite" stands for all those who reject God. Not allowed in. Ever.
If you survive to that day, you will be represented there. There's a lot more detail in Scripture concerning that time-I encourage all to read about their future.