Peace Be With You

I've repented. It doesn't happen too often at FDW, but I pulled a post which was honest, but also a bit more harsh than it should have been.
Usually I mull over words, phrasings and posts before I hit 'publish'-this time I posted first and then regretted it. In "Christian Lingoese" I had no peace about my decision.
Peace now, with repenting and making it right. I dug through my digi-archives and found a picture that speaks Peace to me, so here we are.

Heavy Hearts Part Of The Package

Yes, I've used this one before-the joys of blogging include recycling.
Years ago, more hair, eyes shut to shut out the world.
The room where I was standing is now a parking garage; the one who snapped the photo breathed his last breath in 2006.

Polaroid from 1982. She and he passed in 2010, months apart.
Hearts don't remain heavy. Sadness, bad events and troubles pass.
What my group-no particulars on a weblog, but we who know know what is what-my group
is hurting now, but it will pass. It always does.
^"18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

Sinecure For The Cure (Of Whatever)

You don't know these ladies, but you know these ladies, the 'faces' of their respective
global conglomerates.
Flo has the longevity and name recognition, but her 'work' as a kind of grocery scanner...for insurance...is no more real than she is.
The other ladies seem to work at actual jobs, and the AT&T spokesperson has recently been upgraded (unlike AT&T) with a name-now we know her as Lily.
So, why the post? What is the deal?
Everyman. The actors were chosen to be relate-able to everyone. Cute, but not supermodel gorgeous. Friendly and charming, witty-always ready with the perfect bon mot right before the jingle and flashing graphics. My, what great writers they have!
I'm kind of sensitive, keeping an eye out for how advertisers and politicos and others study US to learn better how to manipulate We The People (consumers).
I don't like having my feelings manipulated so as to make me more willing to buy something.
These ladies may be fine folks in real life, but their charms fade when you consider that their entire schtick is "SELL MORE STUFF!"
Their real life counterparts-receptionists, store sales assistants-may barely make minimum wage.
 The received wisdom of "you catch more flies with sugar" explains why advertisements are
full of sweet, happy people. Sugar sells.
Just be on guard against anyone trying to manipulate your emotions. Don't let them use you.
You might say, "Hold on, Doug! You keep mentioning how great it is to be a Christian. Happy all the time. Aren't YOU trying to manipulate MY emotions?"
Not really. I'd rather that you use your mind, logic and reason and seek God.
Also, although the Christian life is one of Peace and Happiness...there are a lot of  trials and tears and bad situations this side of Heaven. No eternal Joyfest with everything wonderful
(again, I mean down here, right now). There is a Rose Garden, but the thorns tear us up.
Right now, I and those in my group are going through a tough time. We're getting thorned, and it doesn't feel good.
But God is Good, and, once more, Viskas bus Gerai.

Hardcore Fate Fans, Disunite!

I seem to be knocking into different ideas about God which seem more prevalent amongst the pagans and 'unchurched' folk.
One lady mentioned that she was not a 'religious person' so she was not a 'hardcore fate fan'.
Me too! BOTH!
Not religious (by my concept) and I regard 'fate' with the same disrespect as 'karma' or 'ghia'.
(sometimes I write things just to crack myself up. I'm an easy audience)
"Fate" is the wind blowing around circumstance, landing on events with no intellect or direction.
That, to me, is far scarier a concept than that of a God in charge of every molecule of existence.
If 'fate' is simply what happens, then life has no meaning, because any and all events happen without reason.
"Karma" (rhymes with pharma and dharma, but not Rosenkrantz) (if you get that reference regarding karma, you're GOOD!) is one step away from the abyss of Fate in that it calls for some of that good old 'lex talionis' or "an eye for an eye"-if you do something bad, then bad will return the disfavor-good for good, mean for mean, etc.
Recent conversation:
M: Yeah, well those girls who used to be my friends in grade school that turned their backs on me in high school-at the reunion karma kicked in, and those ________ got fat. I'm a big believer in karma!"
Doug: But, M...if you believe in karma, won't what you just said bring down the curse of karma on you?
M: Oh, but I'm a good person.
**********
Though he may be a nice guy, someone recently ran this old canard up the flagpole (DUCK!):
  "I imagine this is how a lot of religion works—with the inconsistent and poorly translated ancient texts being forcibly reconciled by divinity scholars determined to make it all make consistent sense."
By 'a lot of religion' I'm going to go out on a karmic limb (DUCK!) and suggest that he is talking about Christianity. I doubt if he spends much time scratching his head over the textual imperfections in the Koran or the Vedic Sanscrit.
Knocking that duck off the flagpole (CANARD!) his statement presumes and assumes an imperfect God incapable of keeping corrupted man from corrupting His Scriptures.
Internal evidence is that corrupted man without the Holy Spirit cannot make sense of God's Word:
"¹⁴But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." 1 Cor 2:14
No, 'divinity scholars' don't rumple, cut and form Scripture to make it make sense.
At least the true Scholars don't-God's Word makes sense because God makes sense. He can work through any medium, including imperfect textual translations of perfect original language documents to get His point across to imperfect Man. 
He opens the eyes and ears of all those to whom the message is addressed so that they can 'get it'. 
May God open your eyes to His truth.

Disengaged

This has been coming on for a time, and some few of my readers might have noted a change in FDW and FerDW posts in the past few. Time to state the state of the state.
I'm still here, remain in the same house, work the job, feed the cats...
But
I feel more alienated from the world, the mess and tumble of world events, I'm tired of emotionally dealing with the dire catastrophes which pop up as often as acne does on teenagers.
In part, my disassociation with current (D/C) events began a few years ago when I shut off my subscription to DirecTv.
Gone are the news channels and Breaking News(!) alerts and all that stuff.
I also used to listen to talk radio, rhymes with Cush Mimbaugh. Now? Nope.
When I watch TV shows, I pretty much only watch DVD season sets. I haven't followed
a 'new' show in years.
In both fictional worlds: TV series and news broadcasts, you can only watch the same events unfold so many times before it all blends together into ennuiac 'blah'.
I usually hang up on Republican election mopes who call to ask for my support. I care about my country, sure. I love my country. Warts (politicians) and all.
I feel disengaged from the 'political process' which is a term which can be used in polite company and in front of children.
Whether Republicans or Democrats "Win" the next or any elections...it's hard for me to care.
Ennuiac blah. (Don't bother looking that word up-minted here for right now. yay.)
When will I become engaged again? Hard to say. I am waiting for the return of Christ, when
He will rule the world with truth and grace. And make the nations prove the glories of His Righteousness.
In that day, Christ ruling the nations with a rod of iron, THEN I will happily engage in world events. And wonders of His love. And wonders of His love.

I'm Poor and Happy About It

In short, what follows is a post which is also a Bible study; if you have no love of Scripture, just pass on by, friend. If the topic interests you, I encourage you to open your Bible and follow along.

The Poor In Spirit

Matthew 5:3

“³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The Beatitudes, among the most beloved teachings of Christ, are where He describes the character and attributes of those who have a part in His Kingdom and family.

What does it mean to be ‘poor in spirit’?

My (MacArthur) study bible notes that someone who is ‘poor in spirit’ recognizes his or her sinfulness, knows that because of that sin they are ‘spiritually bankrupt’, having no inherent goodness to commend themselves to God. To be poor in spirit is to be humbled, recognizing the need for Salvation.

By contrast, those ‘rich in spirit’ would be like the Pharisees who were so certain that their good works and law keeping were pleasing to God and were their ticket to Heaven.

As Jesus said of the hypocrites who made a showing of glorified piety, “Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:2b

We can find many examples of ‘poor in spirit’ Godly people throughout Scripture; here are just a few:

David-after Nathan the prophet confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba, wrote:

“¹    Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;     According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
²    Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity     And cleanse me from my sin.
³    For I know my transgressions,     And my sin is ever before me.
⁴    Against You, You only, I have sinned     And done what is evil in Your sight,     So that You ^£are justified when You speak     And blameless when You judge.” Psalm 51:1-4

We can read of David’s sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah in 2 Samuel chapter 11.

Another man who recognized his spiritual poverty is Isaiah.

In Isaiah chapter 6, when Isaiah has his vision of being in the presence of Holy God, he cries out:

“Then I said ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined!     Because I am a man of unclean lips,     And I live among a people of unclean lips;     For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’”

Isaiah 6:5

Just are we are poor in spirit, depending on the Grace of God to make us right with Him, when Isaiah spiritually poor, God extended His Grace:

⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 
⁷He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Isaiah 6:6-7

I’ve always wondered why the angel used tongs to take the coal from the altar. Was that altar so Holy that even an angel could not touch it with his hand? But he held the coal when he touched it to Isaiah’s lips. I guess we’ll find out when we get there.

Here are some examples of people who were poor in spirit who would become rich in Christ-

A tax collector: “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’. Luke 18:13 (from a parable, but representing a repentant soul begging for mercy)

A centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof” Matthew 8:8

Peter: “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Luke 5:8

One more example which might not come immediately to mind regarding the poor in spirit whom Christ gathers into His Kingdom-we do not know his name, but we will meet him in Glory:

 
⁴¹“And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.

⁴²And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 
⁴³And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:41-43

So shall all the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Versus

^"12But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment."
James 5:12

^"33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 
³⁴But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 
³⁵nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 
³⁶Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 
³⁷But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Matthew 5:33-37

What does this have to do with the price of apricots?
Prevarication.
Christians are called to the same standard as everyone else, the same standard which is
supposedly adhered to by all, that we be honest in all of our dealings with others.
We are entering the political season when false promises are the norm, lies about opponents are brightly printed and propounded and everyone feels slightly dirty when they vote.
To politicos, Image counts for more than truth; we all lose when the politicians fight.
My Yes will remain Yes, my No, No. You will not find me stumping for Republicans, passing on to my (few) readers the talking points, the 'facts' promoted by any politico.
Please, do the same in your life-yes is yes, no is no, and don't pass on any lies to help your side color outside the lines of truth.
Both your and my honesty are valuable, too valuable for us to be manipulated by politicians. 
And may neither side win.

"It Doesn't Say: "Blessed Are The Peacefakers"

Peacefakers abound in the midst of this stinky rotten uncivilization.
Muslims seek all to be at peace with them...through the process of submitting to Islam and yes, they are willing to kill you to bring about Peace.
They are Peacefakers.
The acknowledged 'Doves' of our political process, the Democratic party, are all about Peace.
They agitate against War and generally feel superior to those misled and ignorant 'Hawks'
who seem kind of...bad . Evil. Warm ongers.
But I see Democrats as Peacefakers because they may preach "Peace" but continue to protect and defend (!) Abortion, which is a 'silent holocaust' decimating millions of human lives. 
"Oh, but you see, Doug, legally those fetus are not human, so there!"
So, who ARE the the true PeaceMakers? The verse answers the question:
"⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The Peacemakers are those promoting Peace with God, sharing the Gospel, letting people
know that they can be at Peace with the King of Peace.
No one need shake their fist at God forever. Peace is possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Who came that we may be restored to a right Peaceful relationship with God.
We sons and daughters of God beg you to surrender to God as we have, because we want ALL to enjoy the Peace which passes all understanding which we have through Christ.
Unlike Islam, we won't kill you to win the Peace.  We already have won by surrendering to God. Our war is over.
Seek God and know His Peace.

This Is Getting Old

I just caught you! You read the post title and the first thing in your head was, "That sounds negative, like something someone says when they are getting tired of dealing with fill in the blank.
Not Guilty, at least regarding this post.
I was just reading a tribute to makeup artist Dick Smith at Movie Morlocks the TCM blog. He 'aged' Max Von Sydow to play Father Merrin in "The Exorcist".
When I saw Von Sydow in "Shutter Island" it was like seeing Merrin in a business suit, that is how accurate Dick Smith's makeup was back in 1973, when Von Sydow was a robust 44 year old.
Movie magic from the make up trailer-we can all appreciate well crafted works, and Smith
was a master craftsman.
To read the fine tribute, go here:
 http://moviemorlocks.com/2014/08/01/applied-genius-remembering-dick-smith/