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.

Indiana's Finest Christian Cake Emporium

"Welcome to Humble Annie's Christian Cakes Emporium, my name is Sandy, and how may we Cake you today?"
The two men in front of Sandy didn't look at sample cakes, but simply stared at her.
The taller one spoke.
"I'm Bill, and this is my fiancee, Ed."
"Nice to meet you, Bill and Ed. Would you like a wedding cake?"
"Would you have a problem making a cake for a gay couple?"
"No-would you have a problem buying a cake from a Christian bakery?"
"Uh...no." Bill and Ed exchanged a confused look.
"Good! Then possibly we can do business!"
"Okay. You wouldn't charge us more because we're gay, right?"
"No more and no less than our competitors-we make fine cakes, only the best ingredients and decorations, but we are competitive on price."
"That sounds fine." Bill smiled. "I thought, being Christian and all, that you might try to
discriminate against us."
Sandy laughed.
"What color is your money, Bill? Rainbows? We only accept green United States currency here at Annie's."
"That's what we have."
"Then your money is good here! When will you be needing the cake?"
"We haven't really set a date yet, more just looking at options."
"That's fine, Bill. We can't sell cakes if people don't come in to look. We love savvy shoppers who know what they want, and want only the best cakes for their special days."
Ed spoke up for the first time.
"Excuse me, Sandy,  but I have a question. Doesn't it bother you at all that we are gay?"
"Should it? Are you a member of my church?"
"No-we don't...attend anywhere." Sandy nodded.
"I knew you weren't members-I would have seen you there. Here's the thing-our church does indeed hold to the Bible as our source for moral standards. While we, while I believe that homosexuality is sinful and wrong, unless you are a member of my church, then you are not under our church discipline. I am under church discipline, so if I were homosexual, then my church would deal with it."
The telephone rang, and Sandy excused herself to answer it. Bill and Ed talked quietly.
"Sorry about that, guys. I'm flying solo today-my boss, Annie, is out delivering a cake."
"Sandy, thank you for your time-we've got a few more places to check out before we make a decision."
"That's fine, guys-here's our card, and I hope that we can do business."
The two most confused gays in Indiana left Humble Annie's Christian Cakes Emporium.

Of Conscience Course

Much rhubarb has been tossed this week defaming Indiana as a state of ill repute-that the gummint there has legislated a hate crime against some somebodies. You know who.
I posted the definite article, the law in it's actual language on Facebook.  No one noticed.
I'll give you the quick translation from legalese to humanese: no hate, just a reminder that gummint can't force religious edicts on religious persons. An echo of the 1st Amendment.
Of course, the animus curiae to the Court of Public Opinion who have been barking at Indiana have assumed, wrongly, that the Religious must bow and scrape to them and their ideals. As if they are superior, and we are somehow second class citizens with fewer rights.
Wonderful thing about America: my opinion is mine, and your opinion, right, wrong or stupid,  is yours. Equal protection under the law-sounds pretty civil, right?
If MY opinions were enforced, there would be no abortion clinics, no homosexual marriage, and we would have a smaller, working Government.
Don't want to live in that world?
You don't have to, as my opinions are not the law of the land.
Title of the post is: "Of Conscience Course".
My conscience is clear, my course, my path ahead the same. I will keep obeying God by
obeying the laws of the land in which I live, no matter how skewed they become by humans doing what comes naturally. Messing things up.
Is there a limit to such obedience?
Certainly. I will obey the laws of the land in which I live until such laws would violate my conscience, or the ordinances of God. If God says NO, it means NO, no matter what the Courts say.
Especially the Court of Public Opinion.