Renegade's Rants!!!

How many more commandments do we need?

2012-01-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

Check out this picture:

Anyone see any problem with it?

Most will not- After all, most see this and automatically think "well, yeah- if we held these true, we'd keep all the other ones."

The problem is, there are those who would look at this, spout this, and do it all in such a manner as to say that THIS represents the bulk of what is commanded.

Since that's the case, let's go ahead and see what Christ had to say about it.

Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

So there you have it, straight from the Lord's mouth- Everything hinges on these two, yes; but we need the others.

Why?

Because as humans, we twist things. How many times has an ex told you they loved you? How many times do you see the word "love" portrayed in films and television as something akin to foreplay?

Ah... I can see the light dawning in the minds of some folks who'd never thought about it before.

Rants

2011-11-14T20:02:00.001-08:00

There was a time when I thought I would be done with ranting. Apparently, that is not the case. I'm going to tell you right up front- You really do not have to actually read this... Tonight, it's really I who needed this. I just needed to release.

When I was thirteen, I wrote a song based on the fact that I seemed to be around whenever anyone met the person that they'd been looking for. My lady friends met guys they liked- and several married those guys. My buddies met girls they liked- and several of them got married. Today, the majority of my friends are married, with families, stable careers (or at least a job), and seeing dreams come true. Sure, they have also seen their share of misfortune, so don't think I'm making it out to be roses!

However, getting back to the point, my friends found the one they were with for at least a year while around me. When they needed romantic advice, they asked me. When my lady friends wanted to know about a guy, they came to me because... I'm not too threatening, apparently. When my guy friends needed advice on wooing women, they came to me... Because I'm a hopeless romantic. Apparently, women like romance. Who'd have thought?

In the middle of all of this romance and destiny calling and fate knocking, I stood wondering just why the hell nothing went right in this department for me. Heh. I dated a few girls I knew, but nothing ever worked out. Meanwhile, my buddies were still with their significant others. So, naturally, I did what any songwriter does in a highly emotional situation: I wrote a song.

I keep the fire going - I keep it alive
Emotions are real - I keep them pure
A real, true love - For this I strive
Advice I keep - Come glean my stores

But though I help and I assist
Though I search still I have missed
Always the best man, never the groom
Still have within an empty room...

I am the keeper - Of the fire
I make the flame leap higher
But when will the ice inside of me
Melt away for love to see
That though I keep the fire of lo-ve
When will love come to me?
When will love come to me?
When will love come to me?
When will love come to me?

I keep the fire going - I feed its burn
Hearts connect and I - I simply smile
They find love - And they turn
I smile and laugh and celebrate - Hurting all the while

For though I help and I assist
For all my searching still I miss
Still the best man, never the groom
Dust gathers in that empty room (ch)

Tonight, something occurred which was completely innocuous- Something completely innocent, without great pomp or circumstance. I'm not going into detail about it, but suffice it to say that it was absolutely ordinary and normal. It's always the small things.

With this "small thing," I realized something- Nothing has changed.

I am in a new place, and I am surrounded by new faces, but nothing about my being a keeper of the flame has changed a bit. I still help others out; I'm still approached by friends seeking advice; and yes, I'm still keeping that room empty.

In short, I still haven't found her yet.

Don't take any of this to mean that I dislike helping my friends, or that I am in any way jealous. I love to help my friends- In any way I can. As far as jealousy goes, I find it to be a foreign concept. I am happy for those around me who find love, and I am more than happy to be able to help in any way. I love my friends and my family immensely, and I'm more than satisfied in displaying that love in any way I can.

Yet still, I cannot shake this feeling of having been overlooked. With only one exception, every ex-girlfriend of mine has found happiness, and I am overjoyed for that. I love that they've found a love they can cling to. Meanwhile, I still have a lot of lady friends who remain just that- friends. Some would say that I'm in the perfect position to be a playboy, yet I do not wish to be.

So, if I could add another section to that song I wrote so long ago, it would be:

How long will it sit in dust
How long must I lay and rust
How long till the waiting ends
How long till I'm more than a friend
How long till I know love's kiss
How long must I still be missed
How long till I lay my head
Beside hers in our bed?

As I sit on this porch and rock alone
I think back and smile
Friends have brought joy to my home
My list of thanks could stretch for miles

Yet still I have an echo there
Where no echo should be
And never once was a fire lit
Where the fire ought to be...

I was the keeper of the fire
I made the flames leap higher
But the ice inside of me
Never melted away for love to see
So though I kept the fire of lo-ve
Love has never come to me...
I wish love would come to me...
Will it ever come to me...
See, it's only toyed with me...

...When will love come to me?

Erdogan's Egregious Error Part 1

2011-09-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

Otherwise titled: How to make 6,000 a total of 600,000 with one phrase verbally expelled by an ignorant troglodyte.

In a recent interview, Recep Erdogan stated that Israel has killed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, while only "a few" Israelis have been killed by Palestinian rockets. He made another statement which was just as ludicrously bogus, but let's deal with this first.

I have to notice, right off the bat, that the man does not challenge the fact that the Palestinians fires rockets into a sovereign nation. That in and of itself should flip on a few lights as to the reliability of the man's statements; not to mention the true nature of his motives. The Palestinians firing rockets are, at little best, terrorists. Period. There is no other accurate portrayal, no matter what the Mass (Sheep) Media says.

I am sure that there are Palestinians who want nothing more than to live in peace. I am convinced of this. Since this is the case, their fellows ought to cease their terrorist activities and work things out via proper procedure. That, or the peace desirous Palestinians ought to hang their terrorist neighbors; that would make a greater impact than white flags, I guarantee it.

Either way, they cannot bring a demand for recognition of their "sovereign state" while inside the boundaries of a recognized sovereign nation. Not without the go ahead from Israel. In this case, Israel will not allow them to do so, and why should they? The national boundaries they have now were gained through legal and proper channels; one with Egypt, and one with Jordan. The area occupied by so-called Palestinians? A part of Israel according to the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. Those in the Gaza Strip? Part of Israel according to the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.

Back to Erdogan's idiotic remark.

The first and most obvious is the number he used. According to B'Tselem numbers, there have been nearly 6,500 Palestinians killed since September 29, 2000 to the present day. Even as a conservative estimate, these numbers are a far cry from "hundreds of thousands." More interesting, perhaps, is the breakdown of this number.

According to B'Tselem, 98.8% of these figures are "killed on their own land." How can that be, I ask, when these lands are properly Israel? The fact that B'Tselem calls these areas "occupied territories" brings into question their own allegiance. If you go to IfAmericaKnew, you find a further distortion of the facts: They state that according to B'Tselem, between 3,535-4,226 of these deaths belong to civilians.

Here's the problem- Palestinians have no actual army. The entire population, fighting age, IS the army. In a word, there may be no army, but there are also no civilians. The only reason they can be classified by "civilians" by this so-called humanitarian organization is because they could not be "actively tied to violent activity."

By the way- Israeli deaths stand at roughly 1,262- Rough because it is not a complete enumeration. This number is significantly higher than the "few" Erdogan stated. While it is significantly lower than the deaths of Palestinians, take into account the emergency medical accommodations available within Israel. If not for these, the large majority of the more than 8,000 injuries would surely have been mortal. Incidentally, this would place the number of Israeli deaths at far higher than Palestinian losses.

Let's look at the beginnings of "Palestine."

They came into being roughly about 135 A.D. Prior to this, the land was- Israel. Palestine was formed as a direct result of the Roman Empire- It was a move by the emperor Hadrian in 135 AD to prevent the conquered Nation of Israel from attempting to rise up any longer. He moved his armies into the region and scattered Israel. At this time, Jerusalem was leveled, and two foreign peoples were moved into the new regions he'd created, respectively named Palestine and Aelia Capitolina, part of the new province Syria Palaestina.

So to recap, Palestinians claim to own land for which they never had right to; land which was wrenched from Israel by Rome for the origination of Palestine. Israel finally reclaimed the land which was theirs prior to ancient occupation with the peace treaty signed between Israel and Jordan. Now, Palestinians are attempting to claim land which was not rightfully theirs to begin with as theirs now- Though the land in question has been legally and rightfully Israel's since 1979 and 1994.

So- With all of this being said, I have just one question:

What is the issue here? Bottom line, Israel is dealing with squatters, and they're even willing to give them portions of Israel.

Try taking over someone's home and see if they're as kind.

PS: Hello to the readers from the United Arab Emirates and other Middle East countries. I welcome all of your comments, but for those of you who are prone to aggressive linguistic jabs, I say this: Save any threats for some other person. I'm not intimidated. Thanks.

Flirting DOES NOT Help A Relationship

2011-09-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

This is an older blog that I just wanted to repost due to the ridiculous amount of chatter I've been hearing lately on this very subject. Supposedly, this sort of thing is good for a relationship- Anyone who says that obviously has a screw loose. With that said, I give you:
------------------------------------------------------------

In regards to the article written by Dave Zinczenko and published on Yahoo courtesy of Men's Health. This article can be found here:
Why Flirting Can Help Your Relationship

Flirting DOES NOT Help A Relationship

The idea of flirting outside of marriage is so akin to adultery, I find it offensive. There is a certain level of flirting that is natural, is normal, and is almost a subconscious thing. The cashier at the convenience store paying a compliment, or vise versa, for example.

However, to knowingly flirt while in an emotional drought in one's relationship puts one in dangerous territory, to say the least. Women especially are vulnerable to this form of emotional "foreplay," as the article called it.

The reason is that women are largely emotional beings. While very rational, and intelligent, God created women to be more in touch with their emotions for their children. (For their husband, to a degree, but that's a different topic.)

Because of a woman's naturally emotional standpoint, when her husband is not meeting those emotional needs at home, the last thing that she needs is to have that need met outside of her husband. It can cause/will cause her to question the validity of her marriage, the competence of her husband, even the genuineness of her feelings for him.
Obviously, you can see where this situation CAN lead to adultery.

For a man, the danger is slightly different. Not quite as threatening on an emotional scale, but just as dangerous, nonetheless.
A man has the ability to know when a woman is flirting with him. The mark of a truly content husband is his inability to notice, or his refusal to lend credence to, another woman's flirtations. As you can imagine, therein lies the problem- IF he is truly content.

As this article focuses on a couple who have hit a rough patch, we must assume that one or both are not feeling fulfilled. This means that, in spite of himself, a man's detection system is fully operational.

Because of this, when that pretty little waitress calls him honey and winks, there's something that hits him inside. If he is not careful, this will cause his thinking to become much more sexual in nature, leaving him fantasizing about someone other than his wife.
For this man, it is a rather short step from the fantasy to the action, provided he truly has convinced himself that there's no point in holding out.

I completely believe that there are men and women who have enough self control to not fall into temptation. I am convinced that a person is truly blessed when their spouse, following a withstood temptation, returns home to sweep them off their feet, demonstrating their love in action in a way both needed.
In this regard, I can see the author's point- However, it is far too risky and dangerous to initiate such a situation on one's own. Such a thing is like issuing an invitation to the devil.

However- Flirting within the relationship... Have fun!!

Two and a Half... Laughs.

2011-09-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

All right- I'm about to do something I have never really done on this blog... Review a television show.

I don't know if anyone caught the new Two and a Half Men, but... Well, let's just say that their idea to kill off Charlie but keep the show going has not inspired me to continue watching. Let's be honest about this- Charlie Sheen WAS the show. There really is nothing else there without him. Every other person on the show was more of a supporting role than anything.

Now, they've brought in Ashton Kutcher. At first, I wasn't sure what to think about the move. It could have been good, it could have been bad. Turns out, bad doesn't BEGIN to cut it. They're replacing the rascal character with a billionaire whose whining could potentially win over Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter. More than that, suddenly ALAN is the lady-advice guru?! For crying out loud- It would have been better to get an over-the-fence neighbor!

As much as I hate to say it, the season premiere was funniest in the scenes where Charlie was being talked about, or talked to... And the sad thing is, Charlie was nowhere to be seen. That doesn't bode well for that 70's show kid...

Honestly, the best thing the network could do, at this point, is announce that Sheen will be signed back on, and turn this whole new season into some horrendous nightmare... Sort of like the one it's shaping up to be.

A 9/11 Post on 9/12

2011-09-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

I'd meant to post this earlier, but it remains just as true today as yesterday:

Keep those who lost loved ones 9/11/01 up in prayer.

For those who did not lose anyone, it may be tempting to consider 9/11 as a memorial and move on.

For those who lost... 9/12 is the memorial of the day after, when no information came through. 9/13 is the memorial of the day when fears gave way to a dull ache. 9/14 is the memorial of the day when they finally discovered the person they'd been seeking would never again light up their life... And many have not even had THAT closure.

So, for all of those who were never able to say goodbye properly; and for all of those who only know of their parents because of pictures and articles and monuments... Pray.

Constitutionalist Commentary part 3

2011-08-04T03:19:00.000-07:00

This is part three of a series I will be doing on why I identify myself as a Constitutionalist. I have been receiving questions lately on why I chose the Constitution Party over the Republicans, and I cannot explain the answer in any more brief a way than this: The Constitution Party represents my views more closely than any other party.

However, for those who are looking for more information, read on. This third part will cover the section titled “Bring Government Back Home.” You can find it HERE. I recommend reading it, because I will refer to it regularly throughout this post.

This section pretty much speaks to the issue of small government. The basic premise is that the Constitution granted certain powers to the federal government; but it also states that, where power is not granted to the federal level, it is either the state or personal level governing. A great deal of significance has been lost when it comes to this section.

Simply put, what is the federal’s, remains with the federal. What is the state’s belongs with the state. What is neither expressly given the federal or the state is strictly a personal responsibility. When the federal government legislates away personal responsibility, freedom begins to wane. Personal responsibility, you see, is where freedom truly starts.

For quite a while now, the government’s approach to power has been to grant it to itself when a lack of Constitutional power is discovered. The Environmental Protection Agency is a wonderful example of this, as is the National Education Administration. Decisions are being made on a daily basis by individuals who have not been elected, but rather hired by a bloated, out of control governmental effigy. Simply speaking, while the need for secretaries is a given for elected officials, unelected officials regulating use of land; crafting building codes; and demanding education be done exclusively within the public system, all point to the same issue. In short, we need a government that does its Constitutional job, rather than hand it over to be seen to by others unelected.

To bring the government back to its Constitutional boundaries, certain steps must be followed, and certain sacrifices must be made. The largest, of course, would the “easiest said”: The return from “giver-ment” to “government.” From there, a reduction of personal regulations, and so on.

Additionally, this would mean the return of power to the individual states. No longer will the federal government decide for them what they will spend on aid to destitute, for instance. Now, this may mean that some states will pull all funding, while others put more funding into the issue. However, if the citizens have an issue with any use of state power, the answer is not to cede it to the federal government; the answer is to change it from within.

Any candidate willing to do this, who stands behind this 100%, will get my vote- Pure and simple.

The next section speaks about Character and Moral Conduct. I’ve got more than a few things to say about that, so stick around.

Constitutionalist Commentary part 2

2011-07-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is part two of a series I will be doing on why I identify myself as a Constitutionalist. I have been receiving questions lately on why I chose the Constitution Party over the Republicans, and I cannot explain the answer in any more brief a way than this: The Constitution Party represents my views more closely than any other party.

However, for those who are looking for more information, read on. This second part will cover the section titled “Sanctity of Life.” You can find it HERE. I recommend reading it, because I will refer to it regularly throughout this post.

The first part of this section quotes the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The phrasing from the Constitution quote is most important. It states, very specifically, that it secures liberty for both the current generation, and the generation to come. In other words, those which have been born, and those yet to be. If any wonder why most pro-life groups are referred to as “right to life,” this statement is why. Any termination of human life, at any stage, is a gross violation and transgression against the Constitution.

I agree fully with the statement that a pregnancy should not be terminated for the crimes of the father. Rape and incest are crimes in themselves, and ones which wreak havoc on all involved parties. However, to end the life of an innocent only furthers this damage, and furthers the crime. One innocent has already suffered in this situation- Two innocents suffering is unthinkable. A recent study showed 73% of rape victims give birth to their children; a prior study showed 75% to 85% chose the same way. Obviously, the majority of the victims in this study did not think along the lines of most pro-abortion mouthpieces. Furthermore, data shows termination of such pregnancies to be detrimental to the victim. It does not solve a single problem, and it leaves the victim feeling like a criminal.

Abortion is also not an acceptable birth control method. If one wishes to spin that roulette wheel, they can take their chances with prophylactics of varying forms. Methods such as the morning after pill do not work in practice within other areas of life- One cannot rob a bank and decide to give the money back the next morning; one cannot kill then decide to give the victim’s life back the next morning; nor can one become pregnant, then decide to give the child back the next morning. Such is life, and life has consequences which must be faced.

The only method of birth control which is one hundred percent effective is abstinence. If that seems unbearable, then spin the wheel and take what comes.

The statement that court decisions are binding only to the parties involved is true. Roe vs Wade was binding only to the parties involved, and further reference to it as binding national law is lunacy. The courts do not create federal law- They enforce them. The Supreme Court is granted the power to strike down unconstitutional laws, but it is a power not granted them to create law by ruling. Such statements are not in keeping with the express powers granted within the Constitution.

Moreover, every state is a separate government ruled by law itself. Each of these states is sovereign, independent of Federal rulings. Each state has the right to govern itself, to the extent the Constitution allows. As pertains to abortion, every state can, and must, deny and renounce the rulings of the Supreme Court as binding law.

I continue to stand behind anyone willing to stand up and be counted as pro-life. Thus, I am in full agreement with the nomination and campaign of anyone with a pro-life agenda. This includes legislation, judicial enforcement, law enforcement and executive order. No innocent life should be ended at the whim of another.

The section continues by declaring that the advancement of federal power through legislation such as the FACE Act to be in violation of the Constitution. I firmly agree, and affirm that the government must immediately withdraw the law. Such legal action is specifically and completely within the State Government’s power, and to be enacted or repealed by the State alone. The federal government has no Constitutional authority in this matter whatsoever.

Continuing, I stand with the party stance on stem cell research. Such cells are unnecessary for this form of research, and can be harvested from a number of other resources. These resources include the placenta and the umbilical cord. A human life need not be ended to research the potential extension of another.

I also stand with the party regarding euthanasia, infanticide and suicide. These are all right to life issues, all covered by this section, and all preventable with proper care and knowledge. The end of any life need not be so cheapened. Indeed, all life is far too valuable to waste in any of the afore mentioned manners.

I personally do diverge slightly from this section. While I believe that human life begins at conception, I acknowledge that there are life-threatening pregnancies which occur. By this, I mean that so-called “tubal pregnancies” threaten the life of the mother. These pregnancies are rarely carried to term, and it is even rarer for the child to be found alive in the event of a full term pregnancy.

As such, I believe that in cases such as these, such pregnancies should be monitored closely. If there is any problem inconsistent with normal pregnancy; any problem where the medical community would be unable to intervene on behalf of the mother and child; the pregnancy must necessarily be terminated. This is a last resort, and most serious in nature. Every such termination would need to be reviewed, with every bit of documentation of the pregnancy, to ensure that nothing further could be done.

This method would also be immediately halted should technology progress to the point of transplanting tubal pregnancies to the uterus. At this point, no abortion will be permissible. All emergency funding for such procedures would immediately be transferred to tubal/uterus transplants, and all further abortive procedures would be prosecuted as murder.

This is the only area in which I diverge on this issue, and one that is reconcilable with the stance as a whole. I will explain.

In war of any kind, there will be casualties. These casualties can be minimized, but sometimes this minimization comes at great sacrifice. During Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, our soldiers often had to make a snap decision regarding the right to life. When a child or a woman came walking forward with a bomb strapped to them, the choice was clear: kill the carrier, or allow many more to die.

Likewise, in an emergency situation, triage is often followed. In this instance, once more, decisions must be made regarding the right to life. For some individuals, no amount of medical knowledge will save their lives. Then, there are others who can be saved, but only at the cost of the first group. Finally, there are those who need medical attention, but can wait for only one other group before time runs out. In this situation, the first group is nearly always sacrificed to save the other two.

Finally, our law enforcement officers are placed in situations where they too must make decisions regarding the right to life. In these situations, they are often faced with a perpetrator intent on harming himself or others, and often with far more lethal intentions. The decision they face is such: Shoot and possibly kill the suspect, or allow them to harm and possibly kill others? Though it is a hard choice to make, often the only decision to be made is the shooting of the suspect to save the lives of others.

In these three examples, we see that the right to life is sometimes necessarily voided for the wellbeing of others. Likewise, my position does not contradict the overall position of the party. Rather, it acknowledges the tough reality of life itself: That sometimes, choices such as these must be made.

However, these choices are not open to those who would use them at whim. Those who do we call murderers, terrorists, Nazis and other such titles. No, these choices are made only by those facing the decision from a third person perspective. They are not the potential victim, nor are they the potential villain; they are the deciding factor in a tragic twist of life. Only in the case of a truly life threatening situation do these choices arise, and only the deciding factor can make that unbiased call.

To summarize, abortion is a violation of the Constitution in that it ends an innocent life. No court can create binding law contrary to this, as it violates the Constitution. No federal agency can force state government to allow abortion, as that violates the Constitution. Abortion is not a form of birth control, and often creates more problems. Abortion does not solve problems; it only makes the problems worse. There are rare cases in which abortion may be justified, but only until this archaic and horrific practice can be replaced with a more humane method of saving the life of the mother.

This is my commentary on the Sanctity of Life section of the Constitution Party. Next I will review the section: Bring Government Back Home.

Which of These Sounds Right?

2011-07-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

Pharaoh and all his men were storming into the open area of the Red Sea. As they neared, Moses looked up and asked God, "Aren't you going to wash them away with the Sea?" There was a snort from on high, followed by, "What?! And pollute My creation?!"

Jesus and His disciples were just finishing up after He fed the five thousand. As the crowds left, and his disciples began to gather the food, Christ had one last instruction for them. "Make sure you collect any remaining trash, too! We want to make sure we don't litter."

As God looked out over the expanse of space, He created the planets. After forming Earth, He glanced around. Then He said, "Let there be non-mercury laden, carbon footprint reducing light!"

After Joshua leveled the last stronghold of their enemy, he began to order his men to sow salt into the ground. Suddenly, a messenger of the Lord appeared. "Belay that order!" the messenger cried. "The Lord's decided that would be bad for the environment."

IF any of these examples resonates with you; if you feel that any of these are right sounding; if you think the Bible has totally covered up an eco-sensitive Creator, one who is ultimately concerned with the protracted existence of this world... You're blooming nuts.

Remember, we're talking about a God who will leave the bodies of hundreds of thousands to rot in the Valley of Meggido. Also, the same one who destroyed it once already with a flood- And if you think THAT wasn't bad for the environment... Finally, this same God will destroy this world with fire when all is said and done- How's that for global warming?

Look, it boils down to this: We are called to be stewards of creation. We are meant to care for it, and to prevent things such as extinction. However, we are not called to prevent people from using incandescent light bulbs.

Thanks for listening.

Renegade's Rants!!!: Constitutionalist Commentary part 1

2011-07-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

Christian Forums Blog

Constitutionalist Commentary part 1

2011-07-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is part one of a series I will be doing on why I identify myself as a Constitutionalist. I have been receiving questions lately on why I chose the Constitution Party over the Republicans, and I cannot explain the answer in any more brief a way than this: The Constitution Party represents my views more closely than any other party.

However, for those who are looking for more information, read on. This first part will cover the Preamble to the party platform. You can find it HERE. I recommend reading it, because I will refer to it regularly throughout this post.

They begin by giving glory to God. As a Christian, and a firm believer in the law of sowing and reaping, I view this as only right. Without God, there can be no success, no progress, and no freedom. Ascribing God the honor due Him is tantamount to a successful nation. This is seen throughout the Old Testament with Israel’s example, as well as other honorable mentions.

From there, we move on to an acknowledgement of the foundations of this country. Though revisionists have attempted to rewrite the majority of our nation’s history, the fact remains that this country was founded on Biblical principle. The fact remains that the majority of the founders were Christians, though their dogmatic and theological beliefs varied.

There is one glaring fact about this section that I wish to expound upon. For this country to have grown in the way it has, and succeeded in the way it has, there could be no other foundation other than the Bible. The Koran demands unbelievers be converted, by any means necessary. The redes of Wicca, or witchcraft, allow for gross misconduct, so long as no other living person is harmed. Atheism would never have founded a nation wherein religion is practiced freely. However you look at it, the principles and precepts upon which the nation was founded could come from only one place- The Bible.

Now some have stated that the first and second commandments come into direct contradiction with the Constitution. I want to take a moment to address this. The idea is that, because the first two commandments deal with having no other god before God, the first amendment is contradictory. Thus, most people using this argument are doing so in hopes of “proving” the United States was not formed on a Christian foundation. The argument is fundamentally flawed, however, when one takes into account the fact that it allows for the free practice of religion, but does not demand the adherence to a specific religion. As such, it is not anything even close to a contradiction; rather, it is further proof of the wisdom of the Founders. They formed the country based upon the whole of the Bible, rather than just a few parts.

Now we come to the five principles listed at the end of the preamble. I will list and comment each one.

· That each individual is endowed by his Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are the rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness… I agreed with these words when I first read them in the Declaration of Independence, and I continue to agree with them. Some may point out that the word “property” is not found in the original Declaration- This is wrong merely on a technicality. The word is found within the original, but not within the ratified version.

· That the freedom to own, use, exchange, control, protect, and freely dispose of property is a natural, necessary and inseparable extension of the individual's unalienable rights… This is a point I believe to be one of the most at risk liberties in our nation today. The regulatory nature of every form of government, from local to federal, in regards to property is preposterous. More to the point, the fact that these rights are continually trod upon through the use of sovereign ownership, in whatever form it takes, is a supreme violation of the people’s will, and a betrayal of their good faith.

· That the legitimate function of government is to secure these rights through the preservation of domestic tranquility, the maintenance of a strong national defense, and the promotion of equal justice for all… Some may disagree with this statement; I do not. Government was never meant to be a wet nurse, a “Daddy Warbucks,” or a savior. It was meant to be a sentinel- Ever vigilant to the welfare of the citizens. Welfare is not defined as a check every week or so. It is the well being and peace of every individual to live out life and live to the fullest. However, it is not the government’s job to assure that person is able to live at the peak of their potential- Merely that they have the opportunity and chance to do so. Everything else is up to the individual. Basically, the statement of the government is this: “I keep you safe, and provide the peace and the law to allow you to succeed; get to it.”

· That history makes clear that left unchecked, it is the nature of government to usurp the liberty of its citizens and eventually become a major violator of the people's rights… Nowhere in history do we see a government remain a champion of liberty and freedom. If there were such a government, it would still be around today. As such, every government must remain constantly and consistently in check at all times. There is need for growth and flexibility, but there is also a requirement for a very specific boundary that will not, and cannot, be crossed. This government has crossed it long ago.

· That, therefore, it is essential to bind government with the chains of the Constitution and carefully divide and jealously limit government powers to those assigned by the consent of the governed… This is how the above commentary is achieved. That the Constitution remain the highest law of the land; that said law not be changed except in great need, such as the Civil Rights movement; and that no part of the Constitution be altered to allow for greater government power. Power truly does corrupt, and it will corrupt a system as easily as a human being. Once corrupted, the entity will continue to grow, much like cancer. Thus the need for absolute accountability on the part of the public servants, which will begin with a heavy emphasis on the word “Servant.”

This is my commentary on the Preamble of the Constitution Party. It is, in my opinion, one of the most accurate appraisals of where this nation needs to be. No other party has the wherewithal to champion such a goal. Certainly no other party is willing to make the sacrifices necessary to return this nation to its original design.

Next, I will be looking at the next section: Sanctity of Life.

FDR, Nationalism and H.R. 973

2011-07-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward."

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

I find it very interesting on more than one level that FDR, a man who lived about half his life as a cripple, made a statement such as this. I am not slamming him for being crippled- In fact, that is about the only thing I hold him in esteem for. The man was the only physically challenged president we've had, and he did a pretty decent job in many respects. The problem is that he also did a horrendous job in many others.

Actually, one of the first reasons I find it interesting is that it is a quote many liberals would wish to champion. Notice, I did not use the words Democrat or Republican: Truth be told, there is very little difference between parties any longer. No there is only ideology, and that breaks roughly into Conservative and Liberal, with many riding fence in between; but I digress. It is a quote they would champion because it sounds like a truthful statement from a heroic figure. The man could not walk, yet look at his keen observation!

I cannot help but notice, however, that the only backwards walking I've seen from most modern Conservatives is derived from their need to clean up the past administration's mistakes. The charge I often hear is that Conservatives are stuck in the past- Well, people who clean up someone else's disasters often are, though not by choice.

This brings me to an article I read earlier today originally written by the late Howard Zinn. In it, he lambastes what he terms "Nationalism ... One of the great evils of our time." The problem is, Zinn proceeds to describe patriotism- Not Nationalism. Now mind you, this man was a veteran. He fought in World War II. Thus, it was strange to read such a gross mischaracterization- He ascribes the very attitude which gave rise to Hitler to patriotism.

Take, for instance, this excerpt from the beginning of the article:

On this July 4, we would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blesse
Is not nationalism -- that devotion to a flag, an anthem, a boundary so fierce it engenders mass murder -- one of the great evils of our time, along with racism, along with religious hatred?

This is not Nationalism- This is patriotism that is being attacked here. Perhaps more amazing in its sheer foolishness is the fact that the article attempts to paint the United States of America as unimportant, unexceptional and far from unique. He ends his abomination of an article with these words: "We need to refute the idea that our nation is different from, morally superior to, the other imperial powers of world history ... We need to assert our allegiance to the human race, and not to any one nation."

This is humanism at its best- Not to mention historical revisionism, interpretive deviance and terminological hijacking. While I agree that the U.S. has no feet to stand on from a moral perspective in many instances, the rest of his closing statement is purely progressive liberal bull.

I bring this up because once again, a Conservative has to set the record straight.

Nationalism is what Germany experienced during the rise of Adolph Hitler. It is an extreme attitude of superiority centered around a single powerful figurehead. The ruler institutes symbols and the subjects show reverence and/or deference to these without question, criticism or complaint. It was this attitude that allowed Hitler to not only come to power, but also to taking his first steps towards eternal, historical infamy. When Hitler was questioned, what resulted was often a less than pretty sight; within his government, individuals who stood against him wound up catching a bad case of death.

Contrasting heavily with this is Patriotism. Patriots support their nation, think highly of their nation and appreciate their nation. However, they are also highly critical if something seems to be affecting it for the worse- They speak out, demanding a return to proper adherence to rule of law, for instance. Or, hypothetically speaking, denouncing as wrong something as obvious as electing a duel citizen to federal public office. In this country, this sort of thing can be done at any time, anywhere. In this country, patriots rally behind a flag and their troops while demanding accountability from their leaders. In this country, people can do this without disappearing unexpectedly- Or being slaughtered on the spot.

This article exemplifies perfectly the need for H.R. 973. In short, it spells out the need for all courts, from Municipal to Supreme, decide cases based solely upon US Law and no other. It seems so simple and common sense that one might be tempted to dismiss it as unnecessary. Such a dismissal would be a colossal mistake, however.

As indicated in the earlier example, common sense is far from commonplace nowadays. As such, people are needing, more and more, for things to be spelled out for them. Our leaders in D.C. top this list. For this reason, I urge you to phone your Reps and Senators and demand their support and passage of this bill. It's simple, it's common sense, but in the long run, it may save this country.

If you don't know who your Reps and Senators are, try this handy online tool.

Regulation and Foul Play

2011-05-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

There are certain things that this government does which truly annoy the crap out of me. Certain things such as... Banning cloves because they're supposedly trainer cigarettes- Though studies show differently. Studies actually showing that cloves account for less than 1% of all underage smokers preference. Studies further showing that though menthols are far more addictive, they remain legal.

Such as... Anti-bacterial soap potentially being banned by the FDA and EPA. Such as... A fool's group attempting to outlaw Happy Meals throughout the nation. Such as... A group trying to get trans fat banned.

If you want to know more about what's got me so riled up, check out the PDF booklet written by Ronin Lawbringer. All the links are below, and I do have permission from the author to make this available freely.

It all boils down to this: Freedom in this country is not freedom. Instead, it has become a simpering attempt at complacency while the overlords bilk us of everything.

Time to take a stand.

REGULATION: A Dirty Deal by Ronin Lawbringer - Megaupload

REGULATION: A Dirty Deal by Ronin Lawbringer - Rapidshare

REGULATION: A Dirty Deal by Ronin Lawbringer - Hotfile

REGULATION: A Dirty Deal by Ronin Lawbringer - FileSonic

REGULATION: A Dirty Deal by Ronin Lawbringer - FileServe

REGULATION: A Dirty Deal by Ronin Lawbringer - MediaFire

HELL: Eternal Justice, Eternal Love - part 2

2011-05-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

Earlier, I spoke of the next destination in our lives- Not this finite one you and I live on planet Earth, but the one we live within it. Like a box within a box, our eternal spirit is merely housed within a finite physical shell. We are created as dependent eternal beings; able to live beyond physical death, but dependent upon our Creator for that life.

This is overlooked in modern Christianity, and has been for some time. In fact, there have been those "hellfire and brimstone" preachers which have pushed forward the idea of our earning our right to enter Heaven here on Earth. These say that if one dies in sin, one falls through into Hell. Strangely enough, no sin is present in this world save that which grieves the Holy Spirit- That is if I'm reading my Bible right. Don't get me wrong here. I am not saying that humans are perfect, nor am I committing heresy.

What I am saying is that MY Bible states Christ died for the sins of ALL. That means every one of them, not just the ones we repented of this morning. In fact, the only sin which is not forgivable- Is not accepting that very forgiveness. It's the ticket to board the cruise ship; if you have it, you go- If not, you don't.

Nevertheless, these wonderful preachers made their money convincing people that they were hot because Hell was right beneath them... And not because they were packed into a tent tighter than sardines. It was this ministry of condemnation that gave rise to such mindsets as that of the noted agnostic, Robert Ingersoll. It was he who stated thusly:

They say that when god was in Jerusalem he forgave his murderers, but now he will not forgive an honest man for differing with him on the subject of the Trinity. They say that God says to me, "Forgive your enemies." I say, "I do;" but he says, "I will damn mine." God should be consistent. If he wants me to forgive my enemies he should forgive his. I am asked to forgive enemies who can hurt me. God is only asked to forgive enemies who cannot hurt him. He certainly ought to be as generous as he asks us to be.

Individuals who say these things seem not to be understanding a very crucial fact: We humans are eternal, within a finite vessel. In the beginning, after the Fall of Man, yet before the Sacrifice, all of humanity understood this. Indeed, Cain mourned that his punishment for killing Able was too great to bear. "Everyone who comes across me shall slay me," he states, giving reference to his own eternity within the finite.

Today, however, this seems to be the sum of existence for many, and how sad is that?! Regardless of the tragedy encompassed by such a life stance, it progresses and grows. Many are taken in by this foolish thinking, and the various forms of "logic" which spring up around it. Such as the idea that mankind is doomed for its rejection of God's love, when in reality, man is doomed for its fallen nature.

Much like a car with a shorting central computer, our lives spit and sputter and refuse to run well. Continuing on with this sort of problem could lead to far more serious disaster: A sudden seizing of the brakes and the remainder of life as a paraplegic, for this example. We could continue on, not knowing this fate is awaiting; or we could bring it in to the mechanic, who has already paid for the replacement so as not to burden us with the price.

This truth is NOT what Bell operates under in his most recent book. Instead, he presents his version of "truth," one that leaves out the troublesome issues of Hell and eternal justice. He asks, in essence, what kind of loving God would damn a human soul to eternal punishment? The answer, he states, is that God would not. Thus he commits to the ages an atrocious error, one which Satan himself has fabricated: The assumption one knows the Creator based upon a sole aspect.

If God is Love, than how could He damn a soul? If God were solely and completely the sort of fuzzy love we associate with teddy bears and Santa Claus, than He could not. Fortunately, God is so much more. In fact, we often start at the wrong end when teaching on the love and/or wrath of God. However, before we get to that point, we first must define terms according to the Bible, not according to today's understanding.

First, we must understand that Love is not merely a fuzzy feeling. The opposite of love is not hatred, and love has the ability to be seemingly cruel. The opposite of love is apathy, for even hatred errupts based upon love. The seeming cruelty of love takes place when it must allow for discipline and punishment. A parent hates punishing a child, but it must be done at times. Why? Because love desires the very best. Allowing an action heedless of future wellbeing would not be love- It would be gross indulgence. Thus, love will seem very cruel when the object of love does not act in its own best interest.

Then we must look to wrath. Wrath is not the form of anger we see today. If anything, it too comes from a point of love. Wrath is the natural response when the object of love acts contrary to its best interest. It is anger, disappointment and sorrow together as one. Anger that one could be so thoughtless as to disregard one's wellbeing so entirely. Disappointment that one could do so more than can be credited to mistake. Sorrow that one must be opened to punishment as a result of wrongdoing.

Where we tend to get things backwards is our teaching of the reasons for the Wrath. Most say that it is man's rejection of Christ's Love that brings the wrath. In fact, this is wrong. It is man's fallen state which brings the wrath. Sinful man does not reject the love of Christ- he rejects the sacrifice, thus taking the full weight of his own sin back upon himself.

God is not only Love. He is also just. Justice can abide nothing but complete and absolute conformity to upright living; that is, living according to the desires of love. Anything other must be punished. It is perfect love which leads to perfect justice. Love desires the very best; wrath is the result of infraction upon obtaining the best; justice responds to the infraction.

Our sin affects our entire being, a blemish upon an undying spirit. Yet we seem to believe it a temporary thing. Because of this false belief, many see the idea of Hell as being entirely too much. In reality, however, it is a just punishment based upon the lasting decision of an eternal being to reject a permanent covering. In effect, man is already charged with his crime, and the punishment is death. When man rejects the sacrifice, he rejects his own plea bargin- The one thing which could get him out of that death.

And yet, with all of this, people seem to believe an eternally lasting crime not worthy of an eternal punishment. The crime not forgiven, the only one, is the one for which forgiveness is not sought. Those eventually sent to Hell are sent, not because of God's desire to punish, but because they have condemned themselves.

HELL: Eternal Justice, Eternal Love - part 1

2011-05-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Roman poet Virgil stated that "we each bear our own Hell."

William Shakespeare once famously penned "Hell is empty, and all the devils are here."

Oscar Wilde observed that "we are each our own devils, and we make this world our Hell."

Each of these statements seem to be a point that Rob Bell's latest book could originate from. In actuality, they reveal something rather true about this world; namely, that it can be a living hell, and that such a hell is based solely upon our own choices. Our decisions and the subsequent consequences can be disastrous, affecting not only our lives, but those of the people around us. It can truly be a hell of such dark and terrible conditions that we may be happy to see the Hell of the afterlife pale in comparison. Such a notion would truly bring happiness to many and satisfy most who are itching to hear something they like.

Now where have I heard that phrase about itching ears before?

Oh, yes. Second Timothy 4:3-4 --

³The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. ⁴They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories.

That pretty much speaks to the latest happy-happy thoughts to come from the mind of Rob Bell. Now, within this book Rob suggests that Hell is a myth- Not outright, but in so many words. More literally, he makes the same historically rooted arguments every other anti-judgment person has ever made: That Gehenna was the local city dump always on fire, etc. He then jumps from these points to say that Christ never once spoke of eternal damnation.

Is he reading the same Bible I am, or did he mistake his Emergent Church Translation for a copy of Finding Peace Within? Before anyone gets upset with me about this, bear in mind that the Seventh Day Adventist church is founded on the idea of annihilation and soul sleep, as opposed to an eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. Bell does not suggest this, but he's on board at least as far as Cecil Perry, President of the SDA church in England, has remarked. Perry made the statement in 2000 that:

“The message of hell is in stark contrast to the message of hope and love and tends to engender fear”
(“British Seventh-day Adventists Warn Against ‘Stoking’ Hell Fires,” Religious News Service, April 2000).

That's right- Apparently, fear is no longer allowed within the Christian faith. Now, I'm not going to outrightly claim the SDA church is not Christian. I am not doing this right now because at this point, I do not want to be sidetracked.

The reason I find it interesting that there is this sudden desire among the various Christian branches to erase Hell from the picture. It is almost as if everyone would rather the idea of an eternal judgment is TOO wrong, or TOO harsh. In fact, the idea of an eternally lasting judgment issued by an eternally just God makes eternal sense.

There is a strange correlation between this thought and some other observations. The first observation was made by Ms. Madalyn Murray O'Hare, when she famously stated: "The fear of hell is the basis for the Christian faith." In fact, that is not the basis of the Christian faith- Though such stark contrast in viewpoints has not been helped in current times by the likes of Fred Phelps.

In fact, it is the fear of God that is the basis of Christianity, and not fear as defined by 1, 2, and 4 of Websters Dictionary. Let's be honest about this- Even our modern definition of fear does not begin to describe what is spoken of in the Bible. Admiration, reverence, and the sort of "fear" felt when entering the presence of a very powerful but highly respected leader is what's spoken of... Not terror.

However, it IS this terror sort of fear that is spoken of by Perry and O'Hare. It is also this sort of fear which has led countless people to reject the truth of the Bible; these people who would rather be happy in a finite and mortal existence than be infinitely secure. The sort of fear that encourages people to make a joke and mockery of its very existence. It was funny man Jim Carrey whose character stated: "Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they're eating sandwiches."

This same fear is what has led people such as O'Hare and Perry to reject its teaching, or object to it, one of the two. The idea that there could be justice in the world, and beyond it, apparently does not sit well with those who do not wish to live by any moral or ethical code but their own. These are the people who claim that Hell is already present here on Earth; that we need not have one which will last for eternity, because we have one which can last our entire pitiful existence. As some might say, one which can last the most important part of our life: The part for which we are alive, and not merely memory. In the words of Ed Babinski--

Given headaches, backaches, toothaches, strains, scrapes, breaks, cuts, rashes, burns, bruises, PMS, fatigue, hunger, odors, molds, colds, yeast, parasites, viruses, cancers, genetic defects, blindness, deafness, paralysis, mental illness, ugliness, ignorance, miscommunications, embarrassments, unrequited love, dashed hopes, boredom, hard labor, repetitious labor, accidents, old age, senility, fires, floods, earthquakes, typhoons, tornadoes, hurricanes and volcanoes, I can not see how anyone, after they are dead, deserves "eternal punishment" as well.

Here's a twist, however. What if this so-called "most important part" is not? What if the most important part, that which we should live for, is to come? Some may argue that we should not look ahead, that we should live in the moment and for today. What good is that, I answer, if today's rash decision impoverishes one tomorrow? Every part of life is dependent upon the preceding part: An infant dependent upon his birth; a teen his childhood; an adult his teen years; and an elder their entire life experience. What if the transition of life to death is much like the transition from womb to cradle? The womb is all the infant knows, yet there is another eighty plus years before it outside of that womb.

As such a possibility cannot be ruled out, and no evidence can be presented to conclusively prove otherwise, one can certainly entertain thoughts of the outside world- The world beyond this existence. However, there is a serious misconception regarding the destination of the dead. This misconception hinges on the idea that there are merely two places a departed spirit can go: The first being Heaven, the second being Hell. There is, in fact, a third; the hall of judgment. There is no purgatory, no place to work off one's sins, but there is a place where one discovers if one's sins are covered by the Blood of the Lamb... And their own acceptance of that gift. It is here that we, having shaken loose the bonds of time, gather after death. It is not our final destination, but it is our next.

Blessings to the Pioneers of Faith Hip-Hop

2011-05-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

In April, several veterans of the Holy Hip-Hop genre gathered together for the first ever meeting of it's kind. With the opportunity to present my gratitude to so many who have had a positive influence on my life, you know I had to grab it.

2010-07-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

Mission Statement of The Deceived

2009-01-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

"Our goal is to see the world through eyes well clouded; To speak with little knowledge; To stand against anyone who thinks differently; And to defend our actions, words and cause with the implication of narrow mindedness."

When I hear of organizations created to bring about "freedom" for this group or another, I immediately think of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. The next to last thing I think about are Christians. The absolute last thing I think of are homosexuals or transgendered folk.

However, just a few days ago, I was introduced to a group known as Soulforce. Now, because of this group, my whole perspective has changed.

For instance, I do not believe that any person should be denied the Word of God. I don't believe it's a good idea for any person to be barred from church attendance. I don't believe that any church should be central to violating an individuals constitutional rights. For that matter, I don't believe in constitutional rights being violated at all.

I only bring this up because on November 11, 2008, the First Baptist Church in Jackson, TN did perhaps the greatest disservice to the Christian faith they could have done: They denied entrance to a group of homosexuals invited to the concert taking place at that church.

In fact, all over America, homosexuals and transgendered folks are shunned, demonized and discriminated against in many ways. Denied jobs, church attendance, homes and more, they truly have had a very hard time living- Let alone living it well.

Thus, it is for this reason that the opening statement fits First Baptist Church, and any other that does the same.

HOWEVER---

Using the same example, any group that calls ahead of time to announce their planned presence at a function hosted by a person or persons decidedly against their movement invites this trouble. Why, exactly, would a group do this? Well... Ask Soulforce.

According to their vision statement, they are for freedom for homosexual and transgendered people "through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance." This sounds great! After all, why shouldn't they be able to go where they want to go and do what they want to do- Within reason, of course.
Unfortunately, they shut their eyes tightly for this part, left out intentionally: "from religious and political oppression."
Oops, hold on a moment! What about other forms of oppression? Are these groups held back only by religious and political means? What about independent, personal bias?

Apparently, Soulforce seems to believe that all kinds of negativity towards homosexuals and transgendered originates with "religious bigotry." Note the quotations. This is the full statement, taken from their mission: "The mission of Soulforce is to cut off homophobia at its source -- religious bigotry." They go on to say their style is intended to "connect the dots between anti-gay religious dogma and the resulting attacks on the lives and civil liberties of LGBT Americans."

Hold up for a moment, folks. I have no issue with ya'll wishing to be employed equally and insured equally. But since when is it all right to oppress me in an effort to stop your oppression?!

Let me just give you an example.

For centuries, the term "Marriage" has been considered holy- It's part of the traditional vows, for crying out loud. Lately however, these groups wish to reinvent the term. Why? "Civil Union" covers everything necessary legally, and simultaneously keeps the term marriage sacred. Someone very close to me, who is homosexual, has himself stated the whole marriage debate is a dead issue carried on by "scream queens." (Direct quote)

Here's the thing. Soulforce and other such groups want heterosexuals to accept them and treat them as equals. Folks, if you want to be treated equally, quite screaming for special consideration! Honestly, I know I'd be more than willing to take on the cause of equal rights if there wasn't this insatiable need for special treatment.

To any Christians reading this with a suspended sense of disbelief, or straight up outrage, listen to me:

These folks are so deceived, they firmly believe they are completely in the right. Sadly, they ARE right when it comes to the idea of religious bigotry, and this is our fault. We know they're in sin, we know they're in trouble, we know they're drowning, and yet we're keeping them from entering a "house of God?!"

To any homosexuals or transgendered reading this with anger and/or outrage, listen to me:

I speak from my own convictions, which are, at the moment, MY constitutional right to hold and voice. It is my opinion that you are wrong. Nevertheless, I'll defend it, because I believe THAT is right.

Having said this, let me simply put words to my next couple of thoughts and sign out.

If you at Soulforce wish to be accepted by those who are "religious," perhaps you shouldn't attack us so often.

If you fellow Christians want for homosexual and transgendered activists to stop oppressing us, then perhaps you should begin practicing what Christ practiced.

That is all.... For now.

The Proposed Porn Industry Bailout- Take Two

2009-01-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

So Larry Flint feels that though his empire of filth isn't floundering, he needs some of our tax dollars. The Girls Gone Wild camp thought the same basic thing and joined in with the begging. I don't know about any of you, but I really am not interested in seeing money I pay to protect myself and my family go to aid an industry partially responsible for it's destruction.

Earlier, I said I'd leave the moral aspect out of it for awhile. Now, I'm going to bring it back into the picture.

This industry twists the perceptions of men and women. Their views on sex, on physical appearance, on the definition of "freedom." And yet here these two men are, acting as the protectors of the people and purveyors of the general health.
Does this seem wrong to anyone? Anyone at all willing to stand up, even in spite of their own misdeeds, and speak against this?

I am. I am perhaps the worst consumer I know. However, because of this, I can speak truthfully about what it is and what it does. Therefore, I intend to do just that.

Pornography is a visual stimulus that causes the mind to produce a chemical into the bloodstream that causes two things- A heightened drive and higher probability of mental imprinting. The more it is released into the brain, the more the visuals are imprinted and the more that happens, the more stimulation is needed to elicit the same reaction.
This is not something that effects only me. The truth is, it effects everyone in this same manner but to varying degrees.

The fact that more and more is needed to generate the same response is what eventually leads some people to potentially violent and often repeated sexual offenses. Not everyone responds in such a manner- However, the fact that enough do to create these statistics should cause every American's eyebrow to raise.

And now, two of the most influential men in this industry are requesting a portion of our tax money to keep it rolling.
I would like to challenge every American that does read this to do one thing- Make sure you let your reps know exactly how you feel on this matter.

If I come up with anything else, I'll be sure to post up, but in the meantime, I'm signing out.save

Porn, the US and Bailouts... WHAT?!

2009-01-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

According to the AAP, the Porn industry in the United States is seeking a $7 BILLION bailout... Even though they are not in danger of collapse.

Does ANYONE else see a PROBLEM HERE?!

Listen, I for one would love to see it fall apart- I don't care what ANYONE says, it is responsible for more failed marriages, more rapes, more sexual assaults, more sexual degradation then any other source I know. And I do know from personal experience, thank you very much.

According to a poll done in the NINETIES (!!!!) more violent offenders credited pornography with the increase in their appetite- More to the point, their lack of satisfaction with "ordinary" sex and the need for something greater. This was nearly ten years ago, and it has NOT gotten any better.

Larry "I-Challenge-God" Flint and Joe "She-Wasn't-Eighteen?" Francis both went to the Senate seeking aids... Um, sorry- Aid, as in financial. They say that "Congress [should] rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America." And the only way to do this is by "...supporting the adult industry and doing it quickly."

Let's just leave the moral aspect out of this for the time being, okay? First off, why the HELL is the government responsible for our sex lives?! When was pornographic material a part of every American's sex life?
Let me just ask one question of every reader: WHY would you WANT the government funding your sex life, or the lack thereof, if you believe the fap boys?

I have plenty more to say about this, but I'm not going to continue blogging pissed- Make no mistake, though. More will follow!

How Dare WE... (Part 3 of 3)

2008-10-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

How dare we call ourselves Americans?

Or, perhaps the real question should be:

How dare we act as though we don't give a damn for three years, only to pretend as though we really care about politics every fourth year?

Listen. This series has not been against blacks, or whites, or republicans or democrats or purple people eaters. It has been a call to action to those who would otherwise not be interested in what goes on in the upper echelons of our government. To those who cry about what our government does, but who don't care enough to actually check out the candidates. Those who'd simply take each candidate at their word, then spend the next four years complaining only to start the cycle all over again.

These men and their running mates are not perfect, nor will any candidate ever be. They are not outsiders, like they would have you believe. They are not going to bring any kind of change or hope or glory to this nation on their own, and that much is certain.
Obama uses wonderful catchphrases, like "change" and "hope." McCain says "country first." Frankly, the only change we'll see is to the history book, no matter how this election turns out. Either we'll have the first black president, or the first woman vice-president. Let's not make this about the history book.

Look at McCain. A skilled leader. Not a skilled orator, but certainly one who speaks his mind. Who refuses to allow anyone else but himself define who he is. A prisoner of war, and a servant to the nation.
Now, look at him again. He speaks out of turn. He has defined himself as two-faced on many occasions. He was certainly a prisoner of war, but he also showed reckless disregard for his post prior to his imprisonment. He has said himself that he has been an imperfect servant.

Look at Obama. A skilled leader. A gifted orator. A soldier in his own kind of war- A war against inequality and discrimination. A man who has remained married to one woman, and who claims moral and ethical standing.
Look at him again. He never seems to speak unless from a script. Two-faced. A certain recklessness towards his constituants and a lack of scruples regarding his allies. A victim of discrimination, certainly, but one who uses his heritage to his political advantage as well.

Through the course of this series, I have recieved countless attacks ranging from race-baiting to a lack of patriotism to racism to full blown communism. It is amazing how quickly people respond personally when one points out their inconsistancy. It is also amazing how folks who react violently to radicalism, in example, often respond in kind. Some folks get extreme when you point out a problem they may have.

Some folks have actually employed conversation in their responses to me. They want to know my views. They want to know my background. Strangely enough, these questions fall into what I was going to be talking about now.
I grew up in an area with a high caucasian population. There were very few blacks in my town, but I was raised to believe that all folks are equal, no matter how they look. It was originally taught because of a disabled vet I insulted at four years old. However, as I grew older, I began to understand that skin color is not a disability, but beauty. Just as we all have hair, our skin color is nothing more than pure external beauty.
I realized that disliking someone based upon skin color is equal to disliking someone because their large intestine has an extra coil. Or because their hearts are slightly larger. Or because their tongue is a bit longer.
Conversely, LIKING someone for any of these reasons makes about as much sense.

I took a liking to politics when I was twelve, and I've kept up with it. I've got countless newspaper articles on various events throughout our country that I've kept and stored and refer back to. I do not refer to these to concentrate on the negative, but to always keep a balanced objective. Politicians would like us to develop amnesia every four years, and far too often they get their way.
Not with me. I cannot be lied to regarding their voting records because I know it. I cannot be lied to regarding their public life, because I've kept up with it. The only thing I may be lied to about is someone's personal life- And there are usually ways to learn the truth about even that if one digs deep enough.

THAT is what this has been about. THAT is why I encourage the American people to DIG. So they cannot be lied to and taken in. My heritage is a mix of Indian and French, and I do have American-Africans in my direct ancestory. I see the things this government has done to my Native people in history. I see the same things regarding other peoples- Not just my own heritage but others as well.
Every major betrayal in the history of this nation has come about because someone or many someones refused to do any research about the person they were dealing with. Why, I wonder, do the people of our present day refuse to research? Answer- They have forgotten their history, and as the saying goes: Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it.

To get past racism in this country, there must be an agreement at ignorance; That is, while not forgetting the history of what has occurred, we must make a conscious effort to not associate it with the hurt of that history. This is just as much a necessity for whites as for blacks.
The problem is, as has been stated, there will always be those extreme groups who refuse to get along. We as a nation, apart from these groups, must unite against them- We must NOT allow these small groups to set the tone for the whole of our nation.

When it comes to the upcoming elections, we need to realize that there is more at stake than the presidency. There are local elections, for instance, which affect change at a local level. To be so caught up in the history or charisma of either candidate that one ignores everything else is to perpetuate the wrong kind of ignorance- The kind that got us to this point in the first place.

In my honest opinion, neither of these men DESERVE the presidency. BOTH have shown themselves to have more of their own whims at heart. So who do I personally support? To be honest, no one.

I'll be voting for McCain for president, but not because I support him- I simply disagree with him on issues that concern me less than Obama.
For example, I want someone to go after the medical providers that gouge their prices so the price of health care rises. I do not WANT a government solution that caps the doctors, because there will never be a decent procedure done in this country again.

However, when it comes to local elections, I'll be voting for John Lynch for governor. I agree more with him on issues than his Republican counterpart.

The point is, I vote issues, and I harbor a firm hope that one day most of us will.

I am an American, and I am proud to be so. My pride is only overshadowed by those who are more than happy to be Apathetican.

What are you?

How Dare Those... (Part 2 of 3)

2008-10-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

How dare those white people!!

How dare they think that just because it's the "White House," only white folks belong there!

Better yet, how dare they NOT get behind the black candidate?

Whites are not, as a whole, Neo-Nazi supremacists with affinities for the letter "K" in triplicate. There are some, just as there are the "Black Power" folks who feel the need to kill or beat any white they come across.

This is the truth of the matter. There will always be the crazy, fringe dwelling groups who deal out death, destruction and mayhem. It is merely going to be. There is no getting around it.

What I want to know is how are these candidates going to do about the supporters who belong to these extreme type groups? Let me see...

Obama has a particular group supporting him that declares him to be virtually a savior- Apparently, according to this small group of people, he will rectify all the injustice done to the black race throughout the history of this nation. Amazing.
He also has a more violent group supporting him. These folks, whom I have had the sad fortune of meeting, are looking forward to him becoming president. They apparently believe that they'll be able to take over properties, confiscate vehicles and livestock... All in the name of "fairness." As previously mentioned, they get violent when it is pointed out that this is not likely to happen at all.

McCain has a particular group following him that declares him to be the return of the war hero era. That's all well and good, except the last war hero we elected turned out to be a bad idea. When this fact is brought to light, these folks immediately deem you a terrorist or "commie scum," and refuse to speak to you.
He also has a following among the various white supremest groups. These folks are sickening, to an extreme sense. They support McCain because he's white- And that is it. They wear shirts such as the one I was treated to seeing a couple days ago. It read, "N**** please- It's a WHITE house." They scream foul, disgraceful and hurtful things at anyone of color, but especially Obama and his supporters.

Gentlemen- Start your engines.

I'd like to see each of these men actually get on with reprimanding these people. Instead, they BOTH spend most of their time lying through their teeth and attacking one another. Want to unite the country, boys? Tell the extremists to STFU.

Listen, blacks need not vote for blacks for the same reasons whites need not vote for whites. It's about the issues of the day, politically, and not something that's based solely upon external appearance. Is race an issue? It most certainly is, and it has been shown to be just as serious, indeed as deadly, now as it was a hundred years ago.

However, please listen to me.

Electing a white man to office is not going to make black people disappear, nor will it make your hatred of them socially acceptable. Likewise, electing a black man to office is not going to make white people disappear, nor will it allow the hatred toward THEM any more a good thing than it is now.
The issue of race and racial relations is only going to be solved through a certain amount of ignorance combined with an agreement and an understanding. It will NOT be solved through one election, but through many elections; Not through simply a president, but through senate, congress, and local level politics.

To believe that the election of a black president or a female vice president is going to change suddenly how the world views us or how we view ourselves is a pleasant lie, but a lie all the same. The only thing this election will change, regardless of the outcome, is the history book.

McCain seems to be a great guy who has a certain standard and moral judgment. That's good. However, if you believe that he cannot lie, I'd remind you that he is still human, and every human lies. He is just as corrupted as every individual in Washington.
His track record certainly DOES speak for itself. He voted for the war in Afghanistan, for the war in Iraq, and does not support an immediate pulling of the troops. He has his hands in two cookie jars often enough to raise eyebrows as to whose side he's truly on. He HAS supported our current president. He argued against a Social Security overhaul, proposing instead a form of investment.

You've seen all the ads for his wonderful deeds. He has a history unlike any other candidate in the primaries or the current match-up. He IS a war hero, certainly. However... Look up his voting record. See who's interests he REALLY has at heart. Discover for yourself what kind of a president he'd be, instead of relying on CNN or Fox to tell you.

News is no longer unbiased. You, on the other hand, have the ability to make up your own mind. I'd suggest you begin to do so. Take ownership of your own brain, form your own thoughts, and then... Take ownership of your vote. Plant the seed, reap the harvest, and do not, DO NOT, cry if you have failed to take your duty seriously.

We need more adults, and fewer whiners. Think about it.

How Dare Those... (Part 1 of 3)

2008-10-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

How dare those black people!

How dare they think that just because their ancestors spilled sweat and blood into the dirt, they are worthy of such a thing as the White House!

Hmmm.

Better yet, how dare they wait so long to stand behind one man?

It's not their history that makes them, as a race, worthy of the White House. It's the fact that they are citizens of this country. Say what you will, think what you will. Blacks deserve the presidency just as much as whites, natives, etc... IF, that is, they are citizens.

Illegals aside for the moment, we who reside in this country have an obligation to step up for the job... Or to vote for it. There really is NO other choice- If you are sitting at home on November 4th, you'd be better off dead. You'd free up some land for others, free up some money for the economy, and you're already making about as much of an impact on our government now as you will then.

Back to black...

I encourage everyone to get their heads out of their hindquarters and vote based upon issues, not skin color. Folks, if you are American-Africans, and you are voting for McCain, that does not make you disloyal to anyone.
If you are Caucasian, and voting for Obama, you are not being disloyal to anyone.

The only way you are being disloyal to someone is if you vote for a guy you'd down a beer with, or if they've got the same skin tone, or if you think they re good looking, etc.

Then, the only person you are being disloyal to is yourself.

A black man in office sounds like a great idea to me. Of course, a woman VP sounds good as well.

The gist I've been getting is that blacks will vote for blacks because they are of the same people. Whites may vote for blacks because they do not want to appear racist. I understand these issues. However, voting emotion over pure, logical decision has always been, and will always be, a bad idea.

Back during the primaries, Hillary called for women to vote for her BECAUSE she was a woman. That is NOT a reason to vote for anyone.

Barak seems to be a great guy who has a firm set of principles. This I am happy to see. However, if you think for a moment that he isn't as dishonest as every other politician in Washington, think again.
His track record speaks, and speaks loudly. Taxes when "the people" weren't looking, minor tax cuts when they were. Socialization of medicine as opposed to nailing the pharm companies and equipment suppliers for price gouging. Pointing fingers when there seems to be a contribution out of place, but remaining quiet on his own shadowy dealings.

You've seen the ads. You know all the good things he's done, or claims to have done. I'd encourage you to go and research the missteps. The problems. The issues. Look in the shadows, and then weigh the pros and cons.

Once done, make your decision, and make it good. You will have four years of regret if you waste it.

Think about it.

Random Thought Generator

2008-05-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ever had one of those nights when all you can do is think? I mean that literally- No sleep, no movement, no hunger... Nothing but thoughts running wild in your mind.

That recently happened to me.

According to medical science, our brains get confused at times of extreme sleep deprivation or sleep overload- It begins firing off on all cylinders, pumping out thought after thought a mile a minute. Fortunately, they say, most people do not consciously process all of these "brain sparks," and thus are able to function at near normal capacity. Most, they say, are even able to get to sleep while their brains do this weird bio-electrical spasm.

Lucky them.

I am one of the chosen few who gets to sit up at night and consciously process, and as such, find that I see my life flash before my eyes quite regularly. Even without the life threatening circumstances... Imagine that!

So, anyhow- A few nights ago, I'm laying in bed with my brain doing it's thing, trying to calm it down and get some sleep. I had to be at work for 7am, and it was approaching very quickly.

But the thought in my head just wouldn't leave me alone...

Who am I following? Where am I going?

If you find the above questions to be familiar, it's a paraphrase from the book "Prophet" by Frank Peretti. It is something I've thought a lot about recently. Who am I following? Well, naturally, I will say I'm following God. However, when I say that, immediately my spirit utters a weak, "Uh..." and I am left to ponder whether I am following Him with my full heart, mind and soul.

As I ponder this, the next wave comes. Riding the crest of that thought tsunami like crazed surfers are the verses, "Take every thought captive" and "take up your cross daily."

Sorting through all the history now flashing before me, I can see all the times when I've done what God has asked, but done it grudgingly... Or worse yet, half-heartedly. Parts of me still holding back, as it were. Am I stuck in some Christian form of D.I.D.?!

Suddenly, BAM! "There is now, therefore, no condemnation."
All these thoughts melt away from 3D nightmares into images from a children's book, and I find I am now looking at them as if they were a manual for life. What to do. What NOT to do. I may have a redeemed form of Dissociative Identity Disorder, but at least I know from whence my help comes, and in Whom I trust!

"The things I should do, I do not; And the things I should not do, I do..." The verse slams into me along with the memories of countless times of slipping, repenting, slipping, repenting, and slipping again.
The agony that accompanies such falls from Grace is unbearable, yet there just the same... I lay in tears and hope for some comfort, but it does not come. In fact, very quickly, comes the next wave of thoughts, memories and verses.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."
Again, I see the things I've done wrong flash before me, and again, the pain is unbearable... Blowing God off to look at porn; Speaking His Words without living the example; Causing condemnation as opposed to allowing for the conviction of the Holy Spirit...
The pain is intense, but I find that through it all, my Father is there, holding me in His arms.

"I chasten those I love, and I love those I chasten..."
The words spoken to me at my lowest time come back once again, ringing through just as clearly now as then. And now, as then, it brings tremendous comfort to me. Not because I know that He won't let bad things happen- He will, should my actions bring them about. Not because I think that He'll allow me to get off like Teflon- He won't.
No, it brings me comfort because I know that these things take place BECAUSE of His great love for us. We'd never know the stove was hot if we didn't get burned. We'd never know the knife was sharp if we didn't get cut.
Likewise, we'll never learn the value of obedience without disobedience.

Some may wish to argue this point with me, but hear me out.

It is not a sin to be tempted, nor is it a sin to err. Christ Himself suffered through temptation. Christ Himself erred...
Let me stop here, before the shouts of heresy start, and point to His stay in the Temple at 12. He did not realize it would cause worry, nor did He realize it was perhaps wrong. He was merely a young man itching to be a man. The Bible itself states that "...In this, He learned obedience."

An error does not make a sinner, it makes a man. It is in this moment that we see Christ as being truly God and truly Man at once- Thoroughly understanding His purpose, yet learning from His mistakes.

And so it was that I realized that God does not, nor has He EVER held any of my mistakes against me. My sins maybe... My transgressions, perhaps... My iniquity, sadly... But not my mistakes.
My sins will be held as long as it takes for me to learn. My transgressions held to allow for just punishment. My iniquity seen in the faces of my children and my children's children, (God forbid!!)
However, my mistakes are meant as learning tools. Perhaps not wished for, but certainly used to train me in the way I should go, so as I get older, I will not depart.

It was with this happy thought, the realization that God loves me even in punishment, that I drifted off to sleep finally, at 5am...

Perhaps, just maybe... Your insomnia is trying to teach YOU something.

Finding The Balance: or, Pick The Jesus In The Middle, Stupid

2008-04-03T13:15:00.001-07:00

I had told myself that my next post would be the follow up to "My Hate Speech." Well, that has changed, and rather unexpectedly.

In all actuality, I have been much busier than I thought I would be, and the sequel to the blog mentioned above has taken on a life of it's own- Perhaps becoming a book! For this reason, it is being postponed indefinitely.

Instead, I'd like to spend some time sharing my thoughts which sprung to mind after reading the following comment from a dear, dear friend of mine. He stated:

"I just don't like the intellectualism that so many live in that seems to crowd out the working of the Spirit... ...I think there's a better way then a Sunday morning sermon and not much else."

Indeed, I too have seen this brain over God approach. Sadly, many who follow this way are being led astray. They study and study the Bible, but without the Spirit of God providing understanding, it becomes just another book, albeit a rather ornate, expensive one.

My initial thought, then, is that we must rush to the Spirit. I'm sure this is where some folks now stand, honestly. If you were hurt in the church of the Dry Word, than you must immerse yourself in the Holy Spirit River.

The issue with these approaches, however, is vast, it is large, and most importantly, it is exceedingly dangerous.

You see, each of these approaches takes a bit from the Word of God, and runs the full field, not realizing that they are scoring for the rival team. Intellectual study has a very firm place in the church, or we would not be encouraged time and again to do so. The oft quoted verse is "study to show thyself approved."
However, we are also told not to study too much, because, as it says in Proverbs, "Too much study wearies the body."

We are told several times to listen to the council and follow the instruction of the Holy Spirit. However, we are also cautioned against false prophets, and perhaps the most direct, brutal and shocking caution regarding taking things out of context is found in Galatians 1:6-9, which reads so strongly I simply MUST quote it directly:

Galatians 1:6-9 (New King James Version)

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

As you can clearly see, changing the Gospel to say what it does not say is to be taken very seriously. From the very beginning, the words of God were considered sacred. Nowhere is it better shown than when Israel put the pieces of the tablets into the Ark of the Covenant. It was then carried by priests, defended by the nation, and by God Himself. He takes His word seriously, as should we.

What has this got to do with anything? Plenty.

You see, when people go to the other end of the spectrum and believe that the Spirit is the be all end all, certain issues arise. For one thing, the Holy Spirit is not the extension of God which is to be worshiped. When the Bible speaks of the Spirit, it speaks of a Helper and a Guide. All praise given the Spirit of God is deflected to God the Father.
The wonder working power which many are so earnest for is not meant for a special parlor trick or to tickle a fancy- It is meant for two things: Those who need it's touch, and drawing those folks to Christ, and through Him, to salvation. It is a physical manifestation of God's power.
Craving this power, to the exclusion of God, is not only wrong in that we seek the gift and not the giver, but also in that it GRIEVES the Holy Spirit. More to the point, dear friends, it is dangerous.

Take the example of Simon the Sorcerer. Here was a man who saw the wonders of the Spirit moving mightily through the followers of Christ. He saw it, saw what it did, and he wanted it. So, he went to Peter and said, "Give me also this power," and offered him money for it. He was refused, rebuked, and told that the reason the Spirit would not rest upon him was because of his heart condition.
Many of those who go actively seeking the Power without thought to the Giver do not have the right heart condition. This is the reason that, when the Spirit ministers to those it came to minister to, its physical manifestations leave and go where it is needed, even when those who are seeking the power are still claiming it.

The fact of the matter is that this life requires BALANCE.

Balance is not something that we as humans can do alone- We can balance a bike, we can balance to walk, we can balance our checkbooks... Most of the time. However, we cannot balance ourselves. As it states in the Word, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9) This fact is echoed throughout the Bible, such as in Mark 7:20-23, "...What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

However, YHWH is a God of order, of balance. It is through Him and His power that we are able to achieve balance. To seek one aspect of Him alone is to once again go out of balance, falling out of His will, out of His grace, and as such, out of His protection.

Seeking the Spirit of God is a wonderful journey- But it is not one to be taken without the Word of God to guide you. Furthermore, the study of the Word in one's own private time is glorious- But only when the Spirit is with you.

A gifted author by the name of Ted Dekker once stated in his book, THR3E that there are three persons in each of us- The good, the Evil and the soul caught in the struggle.

So it is with our search for God. We can seek His words, and die for lack of His Spirit. We can seek the Holy Spirit, and die for lack of guidance. Or, we can seek after and follow the example of Jesus the Christ, Jeshua, and achieve that balance which He embodied.

Scripture and Spirit; Works and Faith; Law and Grace- It is all modeled for us in the life of Christ Jesus.

I'd like to leave you with a quote from another good friend of mine, one who has walked some very dark paths in his life, and so is keenly aware of the Light:

There are three Jesus' out there.
The first Jesus is the one people invoke when in a theological debate.
{the Word alone}
The second Jesus is the one people invoke when their car won't start.
{the Spirit alone}
The third Jesus is the one who calls us out of darkness.
{the balance}

Which Jesus do you serve?

My Hate Speech

2008-02-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

This is my official proclamation on where I stand on other religions, beliefs and issues. Though I do not make fun of anyone, or slander anyone, you'll notice that my opinions are very pronounced. Since I do not believe that any human on this planet will EVER see heaven without first knowing God, through Jesus Christ as their Savior, well... You can call this my hate speech.

Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc.- All merely hold different views on our common beliefs. One Savior, born of a virgin, died as a sin sacrifice for all mankind, and rose again after three days in a tomb. He appeared to many people, eating with them even, and was taken up to Heaven in plain view of over a dozen witnesses. We believe He will return again in power and glory to take His people away prior to the destruction of the Earth. We believe that Jesus the Christ was the Son of God, and that the ONLY way to Heaven is through Christ.

Mormonism, Jehovah's Witness, Catholicism, etc.- All claim a form of Christ, but do not believe according to the Word of God.
Catholicism is really the only one that can swing both ways, as I know many proclaiming Catholics that truly do know Christ. However, I also know Catholics that do not know Christ as their Savior at all. They know Him as the figure on the cross and the traditions and religion make them feel they are doing something, makes them feel that they are earning their way to Heaven- It doesn't happen that way.

Catholics, Mary WAS NOT, IS NOT, and NEVER WILL BE holy, nor is she to be revered, nor is she to be deified. Her obedience should be admired, she was blessed certainly, and absolutely, she is a role model. But she is not the mother of God. She was the mother chosen by God. Saints are not meant to be worshiped, adored or prayed to. Icons are not meant to be revered, or worshiped.
These things are meant to be used, if you must, as aids of worship; Very much like a guitar, a hymnal or an organ. NOT to be revered. Frankly, they are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ, ALONE, as their Lord and Savior.

Jehovah Witnesses are absolutely wrong in their beliefs. Great people, but dead wrong. There are so many issues I have with their beliefs, I really should not even begin right now. The idea that we are part of 44,000 JEWS is completely contradicted by the Bible. However, if we believe the literature of the Watch Tower, there are parts of the Bible that right, part of it that are wrong, and we are supposed to trust someone else to tell us which is which. Sadly, they are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Mormonism is very much like Islam without the jihad. It was started by a drug addicted alcoholic who was having an ongoing affair on his wife. Only thing that didn't happen was the murderous rampage into the town that threw him out. However, to reduce Jesus to nothing more than a mortal who attained godhood is a slap in the face. To believe that MEN will eventually attain godhood also, provided that the right things are done, is foolish. To tell women that they are just as equal as men, when the actual belief states that women will spend the after life serving man-gods also makes all who recruit for this false religion liars.
The truth is, they are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Islam is also a false belief. Something that political correctness refuses to do is tell the truth. Thus, I am being totally and completely politically incorrect when I say that they are misguided, misdirected and misinformed. It too was formed by a drug addicted alcoholic who had an affair with the wife of the towns ruler. Only difference here is that several years after being thrown out, this man came back and killed every member of the town except the wife- she he married.
There is no Allah, unless you are going with the literal translation which is "One God." Then, you would have to use it as a term in reference to Jesus Christ. However, they DO NOT consider Christ holy, merely a great prophet. They believe that Allah allowed His death upon the cross for attempting to claim godhood, and they do not believe He rose from the dead.
However, there is only ONE way to Heaven, it is Jesus Christ. You will not have 72 virgins, but you will have eternal life. There will never be a Heavenly reward for blowing oneself up. God hates murder, and wholesale murder is just not going to get around that.
I know a few Muslims, they are wonderful people, occasionally we talk, sometimes debate, religion, but they are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Satanist, Wiccan, Witch, Pagan, etc. Hell is NOT a party. You will not drink the blood of Christians from their skulls. "Mother Nature" DID NOT create God, nor is it god. There IS NO GODDESS. Satan will not rise up and strike God down, nor will goddess Gaia strike down those who do not believe. You have no power but that which is given you. You are given it for as long as you are of use to Satan, and he WILL destroy you when you are of no further use. The ONLY way to stop this from happening is to renounce your sinful life and accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Renounce the dark lord, and make Him Lord of your life.
I have a few friends who fall into this category. Good people, but if you do not do this, you are going to hell.

Atheist, Maltheist, Hedonist, Agnostic, etc. There is a God and there is a Devil. There is a Heaven, and there is a Hell. You are not the end of all things, and you DO NOT control your own future. Granted, your decisions are your own, but they have already been seen by God, and have been planned on accordingly so His perfect will comes to pass. God IS NOT evil. He will allow hardship and tragedy but He IS NOT the source of the pain. He is a God of ORDER, not a God of CHAOS. Carnal pleasure IS NOT a means of worship, nor are any of your fleshly desires.
I know several folks who fit in this category and while I enjoy these people, they are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual. You WERE NOT born this way. There are genes in each person that dictate whether a man will be more effeminate, and whether a woman will be more masculine, however- NO ONE IS BORN HOMOSEXUAL. This lifestyle is wrong, you are living in sin, and while God will take you where you are at, He WILL NEVER tell you it is all right to continue living this lifestyle. Anyone who HAS told you this has done you a disservice.
----->----->A Side-note to homosexual clergy: YOU ARE WRONG!!!! You are living in sin, you are leading your flocks into sin and you are damning yourselves and others. Listen carefully, you snakes and vipers- should you continue, and die in this transgression, THERE WILL BE NO MERCY FOR YOU on the day of judgment.
I have several gay friends and a couple of lesbian friends, as well as a few bi friends and family, and I love them all dearly. I have seen a couple turn from their wickedness, but sadly, the others are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc. No, not one person will ever go to hell because of their party affiliation. However, you politicians. Your actions are watched and weighed and recorded. There will be a final day of reckoning for ALL mankind, and no diplomatic immunity, no political privilege, no special interest will bail you out. Even if you ARE a believer, you WILL have to answer for your decisions, because they SHAPED A COUNTRY.
YES, it matters if a politician has an affair. Yes, it matters if they are flamboyantly homosexual. (Barney Frank- Hell is paging.) Yes, it matters if he has had sex while on the job! (Bill Clinton? Seating for one in the lake of fire.)
---->---->Side-note to the President off the United States: Quite playing with fire, Mr. President. Israel is to be an ally at any cost. Look at the time line, sir, and tell me it isn't frightening that with each major departure from good standing with them, there is a corresponding natural disaster. You claim to be a Christian, and yet your actions of late have shown there to be little fruit. You claim a form of Christianity, Mr. President, and with all due respect, you will be one of the goats lest you change your ways. America will not go down because of you, sir, but America will watch your fall. It has already begun... Are you too blind to see it?
My examples, I'm sure, are nice people, with hopes and dreams for the future, and I'm sure we could find common ground. However, they are going to hell if they do not trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Pro-choice, Pro-abortion... Any who willingly and knowingly support abortion with the knowledge of what it truly is- YOU ARE MURDERERS. You kill innocent children; The most defenseless and frail humans on earth, and you destroy them for profit. Exorbitant profit. You claim that an abortion on a five month pregnant woman removes "tissue," yet if that same woman were killed by a drunk driver, he'd face two counts of negligent homicide. He did not intend to kill anyone, but you PLAN these out, scheduling them, deciding upon the best form of murder. You doctors are cold, merciless, serial killers. FACE THE TRUTH. CONFESS YOUR SIN. If you do not, you are going to hell.

Pro-life Those of you who block entrances, grab onto women, kill doctors and bomb clinics, listen to me: YOU ARE JUST AS EVIL AS THOSE YOU HARM! Being dragged away from a door does not make you a hero, but a fool. Being arrested for obstructing a women from her legal rights does NOT make you a martyr, but a moron. You who would kill doctors, you are not children of God, but of Satan. You who would bomb clinics, you are monsters- More so than those you bomb! God does NOT look with favor upon any of you! You do not glorify Him with your words or your actions, and as such you are shaming Him. REPENT!

Beastials, pedo- and necrophiliacs Not going into great detail here. Your actions are an abomination before the Lord, and those currently living this way- You are damned. Repent of your sin, seek accountability for your crimes... IT IS NOT TOO LATE to begin anew. Heed this warning, for you are going to hell if you do not trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Non-Christians, anti-Christians Take a lesson from Rome. The more Christians you kill, brutalize, terrorize, harass or persecute, the more converts will be added to our number. You cannot stop God, nor can you be successful against His people. You may cut one down, but there will be ten in their place. Heed the warning.

Christians Let's Get Off Our Butts! The world is not saving itself, and people are going to hell by the millions. Stop bellyaching. Stop procrastinating. Stop complaining. Get out there and DO! The worst they can do is take our life- But we gave our life to God, so we've got NOTHING TO LOSE. If we continue to make excuses, we've got something to lose, and God's got something He isn't pleased with. We must examine ourselves carefully should we feel hesitant to witness- Nothing should stop us from sharing His Gift.

I'm sure there will be more to follow this later, but for right now, I think I've pissed off enough people. I know many, many people who fit into all these categories, and while I'm very accepting of them as people, they ARE going to hell, if Christ is not their Lord and Savior. Tiptoeing around the Truth will only get them more lost and you and I into trouble with the Almighty.

I do welcome your thoughts.

Philao~
RETS

Praying Through It

2008-01-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

Ever had something that just nags at you and won't leave you alone? A fear? A doubt? How about sadness or anger? Despair?

Very often, I've had this happen. I'll have something such as the emotions and mindsets listed above pester me and refuse to leave me alone. Nothing I can do will stop it. No matter how I read, who I talk to or what I listen to, it just refuses to leave me alone.

There will be some people who'll tell you, in this situation, to take time for yourself. Others will tell you that now you need to lean on friends more than ever. Still others will tell you that you're not in the right place with God. They'll all tell you to pray.

Any of these groups could be right. Sometimes you need time alone, sometimes you need others support, and finally yes, you could have moved out of God's will for your life.
However, something that they all hint at is the need for prayer. The problem is, that prayer for this sort of thing is not meant to be a short prayer said over your Bible, meal or pillow. It calls for far more.

These nagging thoughts and feelings call for us to PRAY THROUGH.

Daniel had many instances where things came up and plagued his mind and the only way he was able to receive relief was through seeking God.

Praying something through. Sometimes, it requires us to get alone with God; Sometimes, it's best to involve others; Still other times, we should begin with fervent repentance.
Nevertheless, the key to it all is the will to stay upon our knees until the burden lifts or we are answered.

This means that we need to put out of our way anything and everything that requires our attention other than God. This is not the time for casual interaction- We are coming before the King of the universe with a passionate petition.

How heavy is your burden? Our Savior's was so great His sweat was as blood. Daniel's was over what he'd read. Their response was the same- Intense prayer. Daniel fasted and sat in sackcloth and ashes. Christ bled from His pores. Both Prayed until something happened.

We have become lax in this area. How often do we pray through our problems? How often do we pray until something happens- whether that be an angel's ministry, or a feeling of peace; An audible answer, or a timely word from another servant of the Lord, we need to learn again how to pray things through.

I have recently been learning to do this. It's different. It's frightening. It'll put you in a place where you have no control over your own life.
And it'll be the greatest feeling in the world. When God has control over every aspect within your life, things begin to take place. Healing in your own life and others. You'll have visions and dreams but most importantly- You'll feel free to be about what God tells you to do, because HE provides your every need.

I encourage you all to take the first step in this life of complete and utter dependence on the Lord... Pray through your issues and problems, the ones that plague you- And see what happens.

Philao~
Andrew

Flirting DOES NOT Help A Relationship

2007-12-28T01:52:00.001-08:00

In regards to the article written by Dave Zinczenko and published on Yahoo courtesy of Men's Health. This article can be found here:

Why Flirting Can Help Your Relationship

---NOTE: (5/19/2011) As of last year, the original link no longer worked. As a result, I have found a cached version to link to, thus allowing the relevancy of this article to continue. Thank you.---

Flirting DOES NOT Help A Relationship

Denominations: Not Divisions, But Organs In The Body Of Christ

2007-12-13T02:42:00.000-08:00

God is far too complex for us to be able to comprehend a full revelation of who He is. Thus, he has allowed different aspects of Him to be seen by different people. Also, as humans, we are so varied that what helps me get into the throne room of God may not work for the person next to me.

I may enjoy lifting my hands and shouting praises to the rafters, whereas they may be much more focused on God if they are holding a hymnal and singing in a reverent tone. The other gentleman next to me might be the sort of willing vessel to jump and whirl when the Spirit comes upon him, while the woman next to him, because of her past, would not feel safe in anything but a carefully ordered service.

Thus, we have denominations, which are really only single words or phrases that sum up that church's approach to worship, Bible study, and prayer. Some of these are spawned due to rebellion, but some are very much acting upon a true revelation of God.

Very often, even those that originally began in rebellion have been blessed once that sin has been confessed.... Martin Luther rebelled against the "church" of his time because of a revelation of God and the meaning of His word.
Was the rebellion necessary? Only he and God know for certain, but the fact remains that it is because of him that many of us now know how to truly read and understand the Word of God.

As people come to know Christ, depending upon their prior lifestyle, God moves them into flocks that will minister best to their individual needs.

Someone who was an atheist for example, may not be able to get into the "Holy Spirit thing" right away, and thus God places him in a body that focuses more on the Word.
As he grows spiritually and develops, perhaps God will lead him into a new body, an new denomination even. Then again, perhaps not. His calling may keep him in that place, meant to instruct those who follow after him.

Or perhaps a former witch comes to knowledge of the Lord because of the Spirit she can feel around the Witness. She would, perhaps, be led to a Spirit manifesting church... One in which the Spirit that drew her can continue to love on her.
As she matures, perhaps she'll be led to another church or denomination, one that focuses more on the Word and it's study. Perhaps not. It may be her calling to become so filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, that she can simply enter a room and clear it, thus being able to witness to those in it unimpeded.

Either way, simply because someone hops, runs, walks, crawls or shuffles down the Straight and Narrow, the major thing that matters is that they are moving forward along it. If they are not moving, or not moving forward at all, then yes, there is a problem there.
If they have stalled, then there's a chance God is doing some major repair work. If they are falling, get out of the way, and take as many true believers with you as possible.

Some may feel that last part was too heavy handed, but let me be clear. When a church body is pronounced dead and lifeless by God Himself, it is time to leave. Period. Anyone staying will indeed be brought down with the ship- they either are too blinded, or they've got something to lose.

I've found this test to be true- The Word says to test the spirit with Spirit. Thus, ask the Lord to reveal if this particular church body is within His will. Because when it comes down to it, it's really not the entire denomination that's wacky, it's the individual bodies.

This was all brought about by a verse in the Bible, actually, in Acts...
I believe it was Caiaphas who stated that if this thing is not of the Lord, it will fail, but if it IS of the Lord, then we are powerless to stop it.
And there have been denominations who have fizzled into nothingness. And there are churches that have done the same.

So after reading that, I got this vision of the human body, and how all the organs are supplied blood, and they all work together. If one organ stops allowing the blood to leave it, it ceases to function correctly, causing the Body to weaken. This also will eventually cause the blood to stop flowing to it, which will cause a hemorrhage if left untreated.

So too the Body of Christ has many different parts that do many different things, but we all operate within the Body of Christ, and thus, MUST work together.

In Rebuttal Of John Piper

2007-11-27T23:02:00.000-08:00

The article this responds to can be found here.

I'm partially through, and I have come across a statement that concerns me...

Jesus nor his disciples seemed to understand God's absolute power as absolute control.

This concerns me for the reason that though Jesus prayed, "Your will be done," His prayer was not born from ignorance, but obedience and submission.

LENGTH WARNING!!! This turned into a lengthy post, however, I feel it's worthy of everyone's time...

Life belongs to God. He owes it to no one. He may give it and take it according to his infinite wisdom.

This is a point I have made several times in the recent past. However, I'd go a step further, and say that God controls life and death not only according to His Wisdom, but also to His Love. This is not to say that I agree entirely that God causes every death... Merely that those He does allow to happen, happen according to Wisdom or Love; Those perpetuated by the enemy, He uses for the good.

In other words, behind all disease and disability is the ultimate will of God.

I respectfully disagree. Perhaps, behind all disability, gained naturally. However, disease was not present upon this earth until the fall of man. It was part of the curse put on the earth as a result. Does disease exist BECAUSE of God? Yes. Is He directly responsible for this person or that person being struck by it? According to the Bible, I'd have to go with rarely.
From what I have read and studied, God normally causes disease as a punishment, or as motivation. However, I can see instances throughout history where He has caused someone to be born with some sort of physical drawback to further the Kingdom.
Again, I feel the law of exceptions applies to much of this argument.

Natural disasters. Again, I feel this is something people need to be very careful with. God created the natural power that we see, however, I do not believe that the ferocity we see is always of His ordination.
While I certainly do not prescribe to a lot of the junk the environmentalist movement tries to sell, there is strong scientific evidence which support the idea that the increased industrialization of the globe has contributed to the more erratic weather patterns.

Animals: Again, this is shaky ground. Again, this has it's root in the fall of man. For this reason, I'll simply refer to my previous statements, but I did feel it important enough to mention.

He has his purposes for every roll of the dice in Las Vegas and every seemingly absurd turn of events in the universe.
More that, living outside of earthly time, and according to the Word, He sees the end from the beginning, thus He knows each role, and has already planned accordingly.

Here we go again... I do not believe subscribe to Boyd's ideology, but neither can I support Edward's. Either the Bible is true, or it is not. Either God is All-knowing, All-seeing, Omnipresent, etc., or He is not.
Again, God sees the beginning from the end. In a more current statement, God stands at the beginning and the end, and sees all in between.
Yes, He gave us the gift of free will. However, He could also see the moment He gave it what would happen to the very end. For this reason, the plans that He puts into motion would seem to suggest that He ordained the initial decision, when in fact, he simply knew it'd be made prior to the decision-maker's mere existence.

In the case of Christ's death, it was Christ's sacrifice that was ordained from the beginning. Look at where it was initially foretold! God, in the instant He created man, knew all that would happen. Thus knowing, has moved through history, a Divine Hand guiding the flow of history, while allowing it to unfold, in general, as man's free will determines.
The interesting thing to note, here, is that just as God notes all the evil decisions, so to does He see all of the righteous ones: Salvation, seeking His Divine Will, and so on. Therefore, not only can we gather that God guides history through Divinity, but also through those who have given their lives to serve Him.

Edwards answers, "If by 'the author of sin,' be meant the sinner, the agent, or the actor of sin, or the doer of a wicked thing . . . . it would be a
reproach and blasphemy, to suppose God to be the author of sin. In this sense, I utterly deny God to be the author of sin." But, he argues, willing that sin exist in the world is not the same as sinning. God does not commit sin in willing that there be sin. God has established a world in which sin will indeed necessarily come to pass by God's permission, but not by his "positive agency."

And yet, causing a person to sin is considered sin in the same Word? No, once again, I feel that the way God moves in history is misunderstood. God put the knowledge within the garden, as well as life eternal.
However, the bringing about of sin into the world was neither His desire, nor His purpose. He wished for a creation that would CHOOSE to obey and love Him, rather than have that as a part of it's physical make-up.
Upon sin's release, we have only ourselves to blame for our actions- None know this to be true more than I. If Edwards premise be true, I could blame God for preordaining me to commit the sins and crimes I'm guilty of, and then sit back and allow anything to happen.
If, by his supposition, I did anything other the live by "what will be, will be," then I would actually be fighting God. However, Christ Himself urges us to live attempting to be perfect, just as the Father is perfect.
Furthermore, and by that very statement, we cannot in good faith support that God ordains His followers to stumble, as He has commanded that we not be a stumbling block to our brethren. If we are to follow His will according to Predisposition, then He has contradicted Himself, and is thus not God.

All in all, this is very thought provoking in it's implications, however, I feel that certain aspects are borderline heresy.

In closing this, let me simply say that because one broadens one's view to allow that God sees beginning to end, and planned accordingly from creation, does not take away from His divinity, His perfection or His love. In fact, it actually highlights it an great relief.

The Sovereignty Of God is far greater than Predestination allows.

Philao~
RETS

The I.C.C.

2007-06-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

Inescapable Christian Cowards.

We are not like the world. We run from anything that could get us into trouble, but would be a lot of fun to do. What cowards we are.
There are so many things that we DON'T do, and so many thing that we DO, that the world in general looks at us and utters a collective, "Huh?!"

WHY don't Christians participate in certain activities- seances, orgies, Mardi Gras?!
WHY when they finally DO something fun, do Christians ask forgiveness from people around them- And then from thin air?!
WHY, WHY, WHY do Christians get so worked up over gay marriage, prostitution, drugs, etc.?

These things are all harmless fun when done in the right manner! Gay deserve to be able to marry- Why are Christians so afraid of change?
Why shouldn't prostitution be legal- at least in some places? If it's what they want to do, if they have fun doing it, and if others are getting use from it, why not?
Why shouldn't Weed be legalized? It relaxes you, it calms you down... And if you want to go with a Christian argument, God created everything, right? So... Why not?

These are arguments I, and I'm sure you as well, have heard before. The fact that we oppose these things marks us a wimps, or cowards. We are "afraid" of change, "afraid" of fun, and "afraid" of all the "good" things in life.

For instance:

*We Flee Temptation
Drinking, smoking, promiscuity, pornography... All "good" things, and all things that we openly and loudly decry as wrong. These are things that we run from.
There are other things that are more personalized, such as dancing, certain music, films, etc. Personal preference issues that all add up to being completely and totally wimpy.

*Fear Of Change
Gay marriage? Abortion? Legalized prostitution?
All issues that we, again, loudly and strongly oppose. To see these issues come back so often and with so much support often makes us publicly wonder what is happening to our country. When these issues are brought up again and again, we question the moral fabric of the citizenry as a whole.
Our apparent "judgmental attitude" comes across as the fear of change, and there are examples throughout history tossed in our faces to illustrate that point. Salem Witch Trials, anyone?

*Fear Of Consequences
Whenever we fail our standards, we ask forgiveness from God. They see us praying and wonder why. What we did was merely fun, and we only live once- So why regret?
I have a few regrets, yes. But for the most part, I do not regret anything. All that I have gone through has molded me into who I am today, and I am a better man because of my own mistakes, and the consequences I have suffered.
However, the world sees our conviction from the Holy Ghost as guilt or regret. They don't understand this, in many cases.
Consequences are part of the natural order, but it shouldn't keep you from trying new things, in their minds. Plus, our insistence that there is much more to fear then what we receive on this planet is often viewed as a paranoid delusion formed to fortify our own fear.

Gentle As A Lamb, Wily As A Snake.
Often, our calling to be meek and gentle is misinterpreted as cowardice. Our calling to be smart and strategic is seen as subversive.
The world does not understand the concept of "turn the other cheek" in the same manner as we do. While many Christians take this expression to a wholly different extreme, our understanding is very much the same.
The Golden Rule only remains in effect until someone is in the wrong- then it is replaced with "an eye for an eye."
Our understanding is that when someone wrongs us, we forgive, and move on- If at all possible, treating the offending party no differently. If not possible, we take this rule to mean that we speak no evil against them, and pray for them.
Still, the world in general does not understand how we can wish good for someone who has done us wrong.
Our call to be "wily as a snake" often puts us at odds with governments that attempt to stop the spread of the Gospel. When we smuggle Bibles, walk backwards through the snow, meet as a church body, in worship, when the law specifically states otherwise, we are viewed as subversive. This is also a form of cowardice, in the eyes of many.

These are the reasons we are known as cowards. Cowards that walk up to complete strangers, telling them about the Love of an Almighty God, about Hell, and about the Salvation Story.

I am indeed a coward, because I refuse to deal with the consequences of NOT obeying my God.

This is why the world is so stunned when we Jesus Freaks are so passionate in our persecution. When we Freaks are mutilated, tortured, starved, imprisoned and/or murdered.
We are so "cowardly" in other areas of life, why, HOW, can we suddenly bear these horrors and NOT curse our tormentors; Not deny our beliefs; not do ANYTHING that would ease our suffering.

It is at this time, in this instant of ultimate courage in the midst of ultimate torment, that they begin to see our cowardice as courage- And all that we have said suddenly begins to make sense.

Are you among the ranks of the ICC?

Singles Ads

2007-06-28T23:46:00.001-07:00

"Well, you know you're on Myspace!"

This is the response I get every time I complain about these stupid personals ads! This particular online dating site calls itself TRUE.

Well, TRUE, let me spin you a tale... A tale of deception, sex, and lies.

First off, the beefcake in your ad? Or the hot chick? If they actually needed your site, they'd have exchanged their posing for a membership, not posed, then spent all of that paycheck on your ridiculous membership prices.
So, basically, no one will ever find someone quite that good looking on your site.

Secondly, what business man comes home from a long day at the office, tired, worn out, and just wanting to relax? Probably all of them. But how many would actually consider taking off their suit coat, shirt and tie... Then putting the coat back on- Just for the heck of it?!
Uh, sorry to burst your bubble, ladies, but none to 1%, and the odds are running better for NO ONE.

Or, how many women will get home, and, feeling tired, put on some clingy, skimpy night shirt, throw a white faux fur rug on the hardwood floor, put their laptop there and their webcams on the back of a chair looking down their shirts- And call THAT relaxation?!
Again, odds are good that unless they earn their money this way, it doesn't happen!

Finally, the lies- You imply that the poor schmucks that are really looking for LOVE will come to your site, and find it in the arms of some supermodel. You suggest that women who look like that are ACTUALLY that desperate. You suggest men who look like that don't ALREADY have a bevy of women hanging from their arms.
YOU LIE!
You shamelessly promote your site knowingly using sexual inuendo; You know that these people do not exist except in fairy tale, and you use this to prey on those with self esteem problems. You act as if this is OK.
SEX DOES NOT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP MAKE! And you KNOW this!

In summery, you people are liars, manipulators, scam artists, cheats, pimps, hoes, shameless, and every other word for lowdown, dirty, rotten, bottom feeding scumsuckers there is. You people are lower then corrupt trial defense lawyers. Lower then OJ Simpson's slogan writer. You have to look UP to see whale feces!

And, Tom, just a small footnote here with your name attached- You don't want Myspace to be affiliated with sex addicts, or anything else of that nature. Most of your market here is comprised of junior high students.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ALLOWING THESE ADS?

And that, my friends, is my rant for the day.

Music Peeves

2007-06-28T23:42:00.001-07:00

There is music in this world that is created by stupid people. Seriously. One look at the effort taken to write some of these songs really makes you wonder how the songwriter actually got this far.

For instance... Sheryl Crow sang "all I wanna do is have some fun, I got a feeling, I'm not the only one..." Problem is, we already know she's not the only one who wants to have fun- In the very first verse, she meets a guy who tells her he wants to have a little fun before he dies!
Yet, we are still forced to listen to this moronic chorus line over and over again...

How about Message In A Bottle? The last line of the song "Sending out an S.O.S." repeats over a dozen times!!! What happened- did he run out inspiration?

Then, there's some fool techno song that repeats the same ascending seven tones over and over for six minutes. I normally like techno, but that is stupid!

Then there's that bloody cowboy who thought doing a country cover of Lips Of An Angel would be good idea. Hey, Dude, you're a moron. Slide guitars have no place on that song, not to mention that your cover absolutely SUCKS!

How about Love Train? Hall and freakin' Oates! I lost track counting the times they say "love train" at twenty!!!!!

Then, my personal favorite- Fatboy Slim. The guy has made an entire career of repeating the same line over and over and calling this abject idiocy a song.

OK, folks. That's enough ranting from me. If you're a musician, please for the sake of mankinds sanity- QUIT MAKING STUPID SONGS!

If God never changes, why does it seem like He does?

2007-06-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this thought for a long time. I've been consumed by it, really. It's been on my mind during all waking hours, and I've dreamed of finding the answers to my musings in my sleep. What is this thought, you may ask. What kind of thought could keep a man from his much needed sleep? There are many, but this one has been on my mind the most:

If God is constant and never changing, why does it seem like He does?

I believe the reason we see God move in so many different ways has nothing to do with HIM CHANGING. It has everything to do with our understanding and comprehension.

God told Moses to hide in the cleft of the rock until He passed by. Moses only saw His back, and still came away overloaded with His visible Glory. The people of Israel had a hard time looking at Moses, and eventually, he had to wear a veil… The Israelites were afraid to look at him!

Then there are the verses about God's measureless Love, and other such scriptures.

I believe there's a reason that God changes His methods of movement, such as from the "Fire-and-Brimstone" tent meetings of the thirties to the Isuzu Street Outpouring to the Jesus People Movement of the seventies to the Billy Graham era, etc… I believe all of these moments in time can accurately mirror Who He is- But we wouldn't be able to go on living if we got a full revelation of His person or ways.

I fully believe that we can be in tune with the Holy Ghost and conduct Praise and Worship with only vocals, or with a full on symphony; with Hymns or with modern worship songs; With just Bible teaching and prayer and ten minutes of singing, to a three and four hour service.
I believe that while we squabble over doctrinal grievances, the Lord Himself grieves over us, because we fight over what we should be celebrating. From what I've seen, each "denomination" has a different way of worship, teaching and fellowship, but God has had a tangible presence in each church I've been to. We should celebrate, because we've all gotten to see a different facet of God, and the combined image should just boggle our minds.
Some have seen Him as a Judge, some have seen Him as a Father; some have seen Him as an Intercessor, some as a Physician.
These are all parts of Who God is, not the whole. The reason, I believe, is one of Love. When faced with His Glory, Power and Majesty, man would die. And so, we see through a glass darkly, we see Him through shades and hues and facets of His power. It is not that God is changing… It's that we are shown a different part of Him, each time.

The best way I could sum all this up in one sentence would be; God never changes- But He does change position on the throne!

I have noticed, as I read through Matthew, that the ministry of Jesus was constantly being interrupted by well meaning, but totally off base, individuals. They often asked Him questions that had to do with the law, with the God of Moses' time and so on.
I find it interesting to note that they could not see Jesus was actually giving them a different view of God- Not a "new" God!
However, from their responses, all the way to His very death, this is the impression they gave!

What does this have to do with people today, or better yet, with the Church today?

There are going to be those that will not accept this "Unity Of The Body" message I have been given. (did I just say that?) You may hear this and agree, and if so, you may pass these thoughts on to others. However, they may not like what we have to say, or agree with what we have to say.
Many in our spiritual family have gotten too tangled up in tradition to see Truth. Many are so busy singing "Old Time Religion," that they have missed the New Covenant.
These are those who will attempt to stop the spread of this message. These are the ones that will find men such as Ted Dekker to be "traitors" to the cause. These are the ones who will tear at us, back-bite, and attempt to undermine what is about to take place.

But know this. I have it within my heart, as I'm sure you do as well, that there will be an awakening in my life. That I will live from this day forward as One Body with fellow believers, regardless of our petty differences. That I will show His Love to everyone, to the extent of my own human limits.
These few tradition loving brethren may see me as a threat, but I will love them, accept them, include them, and in all other possible ways, show them the RELATIONSHIP OF CHRIST...

To have a relationship with our Creator is what the New Covenant is all about. Time to break the chains of religiosity, the chains the devil has worked so hard to snare us in, and show the world what True Christian Freedom is all about!

Thoughts on the direction of life

2007-06-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

There's a few things I'd love to share...

1. God is awesome, God is great! And... He's definately got a plan!!

2. I stumbled upon a God appointment in August.

3. Because I followed direction, I met a girl named Manon.

4. Manon is awesome! We were offically together for about 9 months... She's awesome, she's got ambition, determination, and most importantly, she knows exactly what she wants from life. She's stable. Many of you already know how often I hook up with girls that are... not all together, so to speak. Manon is different. And God? THANK YOU!! Even though we did not last, I discovered a lot about myself, and we are still on speaking terms- Proof that starting a relationship on a foundation of friendship keeps things hospitable even if things don't work out.

A quick not to clarify some of the statements above. I do not hold anything against any of my ex's. None of them. I do, however, see the hand of God in just about all that has happened in my life. Including the breakups that I've been through.

All I've got to say is, trust God. He's got everything under control. Even if we can't see it.

Video games, cheats and "the evil empire!"

2007-06-28T23:35:00.002-07:00

This will be very quick.

What happened to all the cheat codes for video games?!?

There are some awesome games that I play that would be awesome with like a "Big Head Mode" or something... There are a couple that take two hours of retries to beat a single level... If this were playstation or gamecube, there might be cheat codes available.

But- I have an X-box. And apparently 'The Evil Empire' doesn't like allowing anyone to change anything in regards to their programs, software, etc.

Guys. Lighten up. They're just games!

Baseball

2007-06-28T23:35:00.001-07:00

All, right... Let's get something straight right now. I am a fourth generation RED SOX FAN!! My mother is a Red Sox Fan, My grandmother before her, and so on.

My father, on the other hand, he and his whole family are New York Yankees fans. Long line of Yankees fans in that family as well.

Now... We're going to discuss giving credit where it's due.

Every Red Sox Fan I know can accept, and even cheer for, a good play. EVEN if it's the opposing team. EVEN if it's the Yankees.

Skip to every other teams fans. I have heard nothing but how all the other players in the game suck, and their team is perfection. I'm sick of it. GET REAL!

Your team is just as good, and just as bad, as every other team out there. Yes, even the mighty Yankees. Every single one of them has bad spells, and every one of them has good spells. Some last longer then others... 86 years for the Red Sox.

But even in the 86 years that the Sox weren't in the world series, they made some incredible plays. Some record book plays; and some record book follies!

The truth is: So has everyone of the other teams throughout the game.

So, get down off your high horse, applaude the good play, moan that your team should have gotten that player in the off season, or whatever you have to do... But suck it up, and quit being the guy up front I'm about to dump soda on!!!

Driving

2007-06-28T23:34:00.001-07:00

All right everybody... Let's talk about DRIVING. It's that thing you do when you get behind the wheel of a car.

Lot's of people say they can drive, but not too many seem to actually be able to. There are always things they do, or don't do, that just seem to get under the skin... Know what I mean??

Take, for instance, my ride to work today. The person in front of me did not seem to realize that the speed limit thru that section of roadway was 40mph. We were doing 30. They also did not seem to realize that they needed to put their blinker on before turning. This nearly resulted in a fifteen car pile-up on Daniel Webster Highway.

Not a good thing.

Then there are the people who seem to be attached to the bumper of the car in front of them. Also known as tailgaters, these bozo's believe that by riding that way, the vehicle in front of them will have to speed up, or turn off.

Just so we're clear: I don't tolerate that. If someone is on my bumper, I slow, then tap the brakes, then hit the brakes. Dude hits my car, then dude just bought my new one. Three strikes and you're out, homie!

When not having to deal with idiot driving, I always seem to hit all the red lights, construction or detours... Can I get a witness?

Nevertheless, there is something that I try to keep in mind at all times: If I'd've left early, the wait wouldn't be a thing.

Soooo.....

Leave early, drive the limit, signal your turns, and never, never tailgate..... It might be me in front of you!

All Right People...

2007-06-06T23:02:00.000-07:00

Entry number 2.

Why, why, why, why do some people find it so hard to come up with original things to say?

I love recieving E-mail... Love it. But half the junk I get is just that- JUNK! Even some of what comes from wonderful friends of mine are nothing but forwards and pointless crap!

People- I, for one, would rather get four or five words from the heart then a box full of forwards and junk mail!

So, keeping this in mind, go to your E-mail server, and compose something- anything. This is an exercise in proper technique... How to write something from the heart. It might be simple as "Hi... What's up?" It could be a long letter that you never realized was just waiting to escape.

Either way, the person you're writing will be happy to hear from you, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you've done something good.

Right. Well, cio!

Rambling on about nearly nothing...

2007-06-06T22:56:00.000-07:00

All right.. My first blog.

Ever notice how everyone seems to jabber about absolutely nothing in there very first post? I'll try not to do that. I I have opinions, dawgonit!!

1st opinion: Bush is actually doing a pretty good job as president, and the only reasons people don't like him are: They think the world would be a peaceful place if the US wasn't at war; They can't admit that he's doing a good job because then they'd have made a mistake when they backed Kerry; They swallow every damn thing the media throws their way without asking questions; Or, they're just the kind of people that were actually stupid enough to believe that Michael Moore actually makes documentaries as opposed to propaganda.

Yes, I suppose there are people who just plain don't like him. Fine. But don't come out quoting some tired rhetoric or buzzword you've heard on CSPAN or ABC. Make up your own mind, for crying out loud! Have an opinion, and base it on something you believe, not because of what someone said, but because you yourself have looked into it. You have studied the facts. You have seen the cases, and you have drawn your conclusions.

And that concludes rant #1. I promise to give you more food for thought, or just hate mail, later on. for now, adios!

(Originally posted on Myspace Wednesday, March 15, 2006)