The Last Song

This is the last song for the Fundamental project, hence the name. I posted all the lyrics primarily for convenience sake as I'm to old to read the liner notes on a cd.

Let me seek not my glory

Nor favor from any mortal man

Let me flee from all so unholy

Turn a blind eye to all that is sin

Let me be a vessel so broken

Tried and true till the end

Let me mirror the Gospel

To a world condemned from within 

Chorus:

Like a rose with a thorn

A beauty I have to defend

Stands alone in a field that’s dying

A sight I behold, defying the wind

Floodwaters are rising

Levees of time still buying, still buying

The land cracks wide, so dry, so dry

Inviting waters come rushing in

The stench of sin to reek, to reek

The heart still meek to weep, to weep

Still the wrath comes pouring down

Still the waves come crashing

Chorus :

Help me stand against the tide

Binding wounds on every side

Help me in Your truth confide

Let the I inside me die

Hear me, Lord, Lord hear my cry

Help me stamp out this pride inside

Lord bring me to my knees

Just bring me to my knees

Listen up, listen up if you’re wishing

Wishing what, what to do when your time is due

If you’re freakin’ look, look there’s a beacon

It’s a lifeline sent just for you

Well, are you ready, steady eddy ready eddy

For a break, No mistake, it’s time to ride

All aboard, cut the cord; all aboard just one more time

See, I’m feeling mighty fine

Written by Gordon Bieber December 12, 2011

Copyright 2011 Cherrysweet Song and Word

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted his hand to heaven,

And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.  Revelation 10:5-6

Mercy and Truth ...... another song

I heard a voice rising from the shadows           Proverbs 3:3 - Let not mercy and
Can't you hear, can't you see my pain               truth forsake thee: bind them about
The voice of fear with pleading malady            thy neck; write them on the table
A cry for mercy echoed thru the tears               of  thine heart.
Truth responds with mercy sure to follow       
His voice seeks all blinded by despair              Psalm 25:10 - All the paths of the
                                                                     Lord are mercy and truth unto such
But wait, your truth is hard to swallow             as keep His covenant and His
Considerations not dealt with properly             testimonies.
Changing tides causing me to follow
Accommodating, accordingly,                             Psalm 57:3 - He shall send from heaven
my reason tells me why                                    and save me from the reproach of Him
                                                                      that would swallow me up. Selah.
We see the truth with all it's implications          God shall send forth His mercy and truth.
Black and white, we see right thru your fall
With proper calling we kindly meddle
Possessing truth, we qualify after all               Psalm 61:7 He shall abide before God
                                                                    forever: O prepare mercy and truth
Mercy speaks; I suffer to recall                       which may preserve him.
Invitation proclaiming come one, come all
The door swings open to hear God's love call   Colossians 2:8 See to it that one takes you
And vain philosophies courting pride endless lust     captive through hollow and deceptive
Deceptive and hollow, taking captives; breaking trust    philosophy, which depends on
Broken lives, broken hearts turned to stone                    human tradition and the basic
Principles of this world will never take you home         principles of this world rather
                                                                                   than on Christ.
Teach me to pray, Truth and Mercy
No other way, Truth and Mercy
Teach me to pray, Truth and Mercy              Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth are met
Humility would say                                       together; righteousness and peace
                                                                    have kissed each other.
Today is the day to put down that stone
Mercy's washing over finds a truth to be known
And love covers sin; opens a door to come home      Application: John 8:1-11
And we're closer,closer to home          
                                                                      Psalm 86:15 - But thou, O Lord, art a
And we're closer; Mercy take me home           God full of compassion, and gracious
Love, you took me home                              longsuffering, and plenteous in
Grace, you brought me home                       mercy and truth
Truth you took me home
                                                                Psalm:89:14 - Justice and judgement are
And we'll walk hand in hand                        the habitation of Thy throne:
And we'll walk hand in hand                        mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.
Let's walk hand in hand
Come walk hand in hand                           Psalm: 98:3 - He hath remembered His
                                                              mercy and truth toward the house
                                                              of Israel: all the ends of the earth
                                                              have seen the salvation of God.

Written with the Lord's help by Gordon Bieber
Cherrysweet Song and Word - June 2008

Scripture best defines the importance of "correctly dividing the Word of God" 2 Timothy 2: 15. In this song, the first two verse's are intended to show the Word out of balance. Separation of truth from mercy or mercy from truth are failed applications of scripture. As with all good things, undue elevation of virtue quickly spoils it's effectiveness rendering it nothing less than a pestilence from hell. There was a time when I would have found this extraordinarily harsh. I've lived too long now to take such a timid view regarding the misuse of scripture. I believe Neil [Eternity Matters] calls it "Dalmatian Theology", if anyone cares to check out what he has to say. But back to the song, God has mercy and truth in perfect balance, and that matters the most. Teach me to pray; Truth and Mercy.

P.S. I'm not just stuck on these two [mercy and truth]. I have trouble keeping my balance on others as well. My walk with the Lord, has at times, resembled that of a drunken sailor.

Fundamental .... another song

Having re-read "The Seduction of Christianity" and being totally perplexed by Casting Crowns statement in their concert video "You can be passionate about what you believe but don't strap yourself to the Gospel" I felt compelled to write this piece. The downslide of the church in this country, not to mention the adoption of numerous heresies packaged in Christian wrapping, and the astounding embracing of pagan philosophy demands a rebuttal. The fundamentals of Christianity are being attacked as never before. Adhering to the fundamentals, because of the continual barrage of propagandic slop fed to us from an amoral media indoctrinating machine, paints a portrait of us as extremely dangerous, psychotic fanatics. What I find fascinating is the church's enthusiasm in distancing themselves from that which at one time bonded the same together. There's little comfort for me in the fact that the Bible says this will happen. My heart cries out still for those blinded by the delusion.

To put this in perspective, try to picture the response of your average sports fanatic after the removal of the fundamentals of their favorite game. The game ceases to exist in any recognizable semblance. It's not extremely difficult to see then the point of the attacks against Christian fundamentals as seen in this light.

Verse 1:

Mr. preacher looked at me regarding not my plea, you’re rather narrow

Expanding this, your creed, I need to intercede just to spare you

You spin and you weave with your power to mislead

 But my feet are on the Rock and I won’t be caught

I’m fundamental

 Chorus:

Yes I’m strapped to the Gospel not a walking contradiction

I know what I believe and it’s strictly non-fiction

I’m fundamental

Verse 2:

You can huff and you can puff, but you can’t bring down this house

With you’re deceiving

Open theists, open doors, many paths if you just ask

Why would you need it?

If you play you can win just forget about the sin

Salvation guaranteed, a foolish man’s dream

I’m  fundamental 

Chorus:

Bridge:

Narrow minded, accused a cynic, a raging fanatic

But the name that fits me best and the one that I Love best is fundamental

Verse 3:

Crucified, yes, He died, He was buried now He’s alive and I’m forgiven

Divine justice satisfied from the one and only Christ if you trust Him

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life He says

No one comes to the Father but by Me –

He’s fundamental 

Chorus: 

Bridge:

Narrow minded, accused a cynic, a raging fanatic

Non-emergent, no buddha, no hindu, no making me a god

No replacement, preserved the word, the King James Version

No perverting, no faith in faith, just faith in God 

I’m fundamental

If [I'll Fly Away] ..... another song

Amazingly enough this two letter word appears in most Bible translations over 1500 times. Our God is a covenant God. Although, it is God at work through us, with us being the vehicle He chooses, we still in His wisdom are allowed a part in His glorious work to be a reliable and trustworthy vehicle if...

           IF   [I’LL FLY AWAY]          

If you believe, if you receive, you’ll fly away 

Verse 1:

If a hand or a foot or a wandering eye                                    Matthew 5:28-30

Dooms a man, from the start, before he dies                          Mark 9:43-45

If an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth                             Matthew 5:38-41

In your heart, in your mind, you know it’s true 

Chorus 1:

If you believe, you can cast it away

If you walk that extra mile

If you forgive, you’ll be white as snow                                  Isaiah 1:18

If you bow, you’ll be flying away 

Verse 2:

If a man claims this world for his home                                 Matthew 16:26

If we tear a child from his mother’s womb                            Psalm 139:13-16

If the poor have need we choose to ignore                             Matthew 25:34-46

In His eyes are we really known?                                            

Chorus 2:

If you could lay down your life today                                    John 15:13 - Matthew 13:38

To be last, to be first someday                                                Matthew 19:30

If God’s Holy Word you never change                                  Revelation 22:19

You’ll rise up and fly away 

You’ll fly away

You’ll really really fly 

Bridge:

Oh no, It’s not a race if there’s no finish line

Oh no, where’s the prize if we can’t endure this time            Mark 13:13

Pick up your cross and follow me                                           Matthew 10:38

Oooo pick up your cross and you’ll be free 

Repeat Chorus 1: 

Verse 3:

Hmm, I’ll cast my bread upon the waters                               Ecclesiastes 11:1

Hmm, Ask and find what really matters                                 Matthew 7:7

Hmm, Gonna seek and find

Hmm, Gonna leave, leave it all behind 

Repeat Chorus 2: 

I’ll fly away                                                    Written by: Gordon Bieber

Fly away                                                           6-12-2011

I’ll fly away

So fly home

House Foreclosure...?

I love having houseguests, mostly. But sometimes it can gradually turn into a nightmare. I mean, well just imagine, having graciously opened your doors to someone in need of a home. I know that’s unusual in and of itself, but it is a biblical mandate of sorts, and a generosity displayed in splendid proportions. Imagine all the people living in a house of love, with everyone taking all those special steps to accommodate one another, considerate, understanding, kind, and above all, grateful. It could work, we all agreed, because we had our special House Rules, so special that we posted them throughout the house in the most prominent of places.  

My how we grew and thrived! Of course in time the house, due to the increasing number of houseguests, needed to be added onto and re-modeled so as to accommodate our increasing needs. Indeed, this was a challenging endeavor to say the least, but the plans were drawn and carried out, though not without much consideration. I must say at this point, to be completely honest, that there was a degree of trepidation on the part of some as to ability of the house rules to encompass and anticipate the situations arising from this undertaking. Thus, we were compelled to expand and elaborate on certain aspects of the house rules, strictly out of a belief that this was necessary to preserve the bonds of peace and tranquility in the house. After all, it’s impractical to believe that the house rules, as they were, could contend the differing views sure to arise. Yes, disagreements were inevitable and we needed to be assured of our readiness to meet them. I must say again, to be completely honest, to the surprise of us all, we were not at all prepared with the vastness of the contingencies that arose.  

Still, although I questioned the wisdom of having so many houseguests, I had confidence in the House Rules to allay any serious acts of misconduct among the houseguests that might arise. I’m afraid at this point, that I was not supported in this conviction by as many of the houseguests as I had hoped. Alas, more needed to be done in regard to explanation of the House Rules. Not one to be put off by the challenge, once again the finer points of the House Rules were expounded and then added upon, or should I say embedded into our vast document, so as, because of it's vastness, to prohibit the placing of such into the prominent places of the house. I guess, what I am getting at is that this was of little importance because of the more delicate and complex nature, not to mention the sensitivity involved in application of the House Rules. To be sure though, the need for examination delving into the finer points were most exceedingly and enthusiastically met by concerned houseguests.  

Much to my dismay the needs of the household became so overwhelming that the only possible solution was a set of house rules that could evolve with the ever-changing challenges that seemed to rock and threaten our tranquility. It goes without saying that certain of the houseguests arose to the occasion and we rested in the comfort of knowing they would be undaunted by this task. Indeed the house would be preserved. Okay, to be sure there was some give and take, which was understandable, but safeguards were put in place. I’m pretty sure we’re all right now. Even now things are being monitored, although I hope they’re watching things closely.  

I guess nothing can be simple, but in a way I miss seeing those old House Rules placed in their prominent places around the house. I must just be getting old and sentimental. Yes, things change I guess … Don’t they? It’s getting so hard to remember. Some of the houseguests say now that the old Rules were never really there at all. Still, I miss the old house. I miss inviting people to be houseguests, opening your home, becoming family. I’m afraid I don’t even recall who it was that first invited me, strange isn’t it, something I so loved to do. I wonder even now … who built the house, so strange. I wonder if he still lives here somewhere. So many rooms, still I’d like to meet him, talk to him, find out what he thinks. Oh well, I’m just thankful I’ve got such a splendid house to dwell in. They still say that it's the best in the neighborhood, and that makes me feel proud ... we've always been proud to be sure ... well for the most part. I guess we weren't always so good looking back though. We did some bad things they say, but nobody's perfect and we're exceedingly more attentive to our differences now and more graciously tolerant. Still, in a sad kind of way, I still miss the old days ... but I’m okay ...... I guess.

What to Wright

It certainly is hard to say anything that hasn’t already been said and I don't ever see myself ever trying to keep up with all the intrigues of the day being perpetrated on an ever increasingly apathetic culture. I'll leave that to Glenn and Neil, both of whom I recommend and have links to at the top of my blog. I'm a musician and will focus and or utilize what little time I have on the computer to this end, which is my music. This still enables me plenty of room for discourse [the ability to get myself into trouble].

I have most recently re-recorded one of my newer songs entitled ..... 

"The Rock's Gonna Roll."

The lyrics are as follows:  

Verse 1:          Asleep at the wheel, racing toward the stop sign

A dream and a dreamer about to collide

The face of the real at the scene of the crime

Son, why this pleading? Couldn't you read the signs?

 

Chorus:           The Rock’s gonna roll, He’s coming
                        The roll’s gonna show just who He did know


Verse 2:          The wheat’s on the floor with the thresher
                        The chaff’s blown away with the wind
                        The sheep to the call of the shepherd
                        The goats on the outside looking in


Chorus:           The Rock's gonna roll, He's coming
                        The rolls's gonna show just who He did know


Bridge:            Ten virgins with lamps sit waiting
                        Five alive with a hope inside
                        Five alone with a dream that’s fading
                        Heavens falling as they cry


Chorus:           The Rock’s gonna roll, He’s coming
                        The roll’s gonna show just who He did know


Verse 3:          The cat’s in the cradle, sacred cow’s on the table
                       Getting served up one more time
                       Conversation’s intense while the time is being spent
                       And the beggar cries out one last time


Chorus:          The Rock’s gonna roll, He’s coming
                       The roll’s gonna show just who He did know 

Obviously, the song refers to the return of Jesus the Christ. Just as obvious is the fact of my belief regarding His return. When someone says He’ll die and return from the dead and then does it, it lends enough credibility, in my eyes, that He will do just that.

Verse one addresses the negligence of ignoring His command to be “living as if the time was ever present.” The two most common reasons for non-compliance are simply, disbelief and the arrogance accompanying belief in self-reliance, or time is somehow connected to my itinerary. Both are fatal. “Sorry I wasn’t ready,” or “Nobody told me, I didn’t have a chance,” are not going to carry the day. 

Verse two is about that day. Judgment will surely come, period.  The Bridge [Matthew 25:1-13] may cause a little more disagreement in interpretation.  

“Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23  

What to me seems apparent, especially in today’s church, is the wanton selling of Biblical truth for the gratification of some pastor’s appetite for an accommodating, culture friendly, times relevant demanding, ever changing need for re-creating and adding freshness to a dull out-dated gospel for a more tolerant, compliant, evolving and self fulfilling message to fill pews. "Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

 “ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:5  

“Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Matthew 13: 44 

I believe that the gospel is not up for revision. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. A lamp not filled, isn’t of any more use than a half-truth. Neither will take you home. 

Verse three is in anticipation of the disagreement that may come with the Bridge. The spirit of anti-christ is busy [the cat’s in the cradle]. Discussion and scrutiny of scripture are absolutely vital. After all, every denomination has its sacred cow [sacred cow’s on the table getting served up one more time].  [Conversation’s intense] indeed, one must defend his cow to the end, [while the time is being spent] yes, time is ill retrievable and we are advised to use it advantageously [while the beggar --- Luke 16:20-31--- cries out one last time]. 

Well, there you have it. “Why not just write it all out in the first place?” “Why the vagueness associated with briefness imposed by lyrical boundaries?” Cuz, I’m a musician, [some sort of a genetic pre-disposition of sorts I think], and your mother should’ve warned you about us, so what are you doing reading this in the first place.

Hell's Best Kept Secret

God is so good! I found this from Ray Comfort's "Atheist Central" blog after trying to respond to Neil's "Eternity Matters" most recent posting. It's a sermon titled "Hell's Best Kept Secret."  I highly recommend this, as it is well worth your time!

The Island [Looking for the Promised Land]

Remember back in the day, when the proposition of "If you were stranded on a desert island and had a choice of one companion, who would it be?" was playfully offered for mischievous revelations into a persons desires or perhaps glimpses into their own little picture of paradise? I do! Now, here I am older and having absolutely no doubt whom I would have on my Island, I am content to the point of sinful neglect of the horizontal aspect of God's second greatest command. I love the privacy of my Island. I go to work, behave like a pleasant sort of fellow that's quick to tend to any perceived need I can meet, and the concept of ministry-minded reaching out with the love of Christ is alive and well. But .... I'm finding it hard to yoke myself to a community of believers. I don't think I'm hard. I don't think myself inflexible. I just can't find the ballpark. For the sake of clarity, perhaps it's easier to understand by looking back to an earlier example of renewal and covenant as expressed in 1636 by the church in Boston. 
"We do give up our selves unto that God whose name is Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ... and unto our blessed Lord Jesus Christ ... promising [ by the help of His Spirit and grace] to cleave upon Him ... by faith in a way of Gospel obedience, as becometh His covenant people forever.   

We do also give up our offspring unto God in Jesus Christ, avouching the Lord to be our God, and the God of our children, and ourselves, with our children to be His people, humbly adoring this grace of God, that we and our offspring with us, may be looked upon as the Lord's. 

We do also give up our selves one unto another in the Lord, and according to the will of God, freely covenanting and binding our selves to walk together as a right ordered congregation and church of Christ, in all ways of His worship, according to the holy rules of the Word of God, promising in brotherly love, faithfully to watch over one another's souls." 

This is not a foreign language or a foreign land. I would have to say that this works if you’re faithful in your determination to honor your covenant. The obstacles that I see are basic. They're peppered all over what we just read ...Gospel obedience [you actually have to live what you say and the Gospel is found in the Bible not the message] ... give up ourselves [this involves dumping your 12-step self-help, self esteem, self indulgence for a one step move to the cross] ... avouching the Lord to be our God [this is not you, forget your inner divinity and be a tool God can use] ...give up our offspring unto God in Jesus Christ [this is not the guy with spiked hair leading the youth group espousing the freedom from the law by God's grace so you can get your tattoos and whatever else that may make you relevant to today's cesspool] ... our offspring with us [how un cool is that --- offspring connected to their family, we all know the offspring have their own pew in the back of the church --- family has to work before church works] ...binding ourselves to walk together as a right ordered congregation [probably unlikely until we get the family thing straight and Gospel obedience --- how lame is that, after all "casting crowns" said not to strap ourselves to the Gospel and they're famous and not narrow-minded] ...faithfully to watch over one another's souls [when was the last time you were corrected and happy about it?].

I guess I'm whining. I'm also looking for the Promised Land. The puritans and the pilgrims came here in hopes of starting anew. They were fleeing a corrupt and vile homeland. Where can you flee to now, when the heart is hopelessly flawed and so very inescapable? It follows me everywhere, even to my Island, even to the Promised Land. In spite of this, I will not despair, nor will I roll over and play dead. I've committed myself to the One that Was and Is, and Is to come. He is coming. 

Oh, by the way, If you were wondering who I would pick to be on my Island ...It's my wife Cherry. Now if that's not a God thing, I don't know what is. "We do give up our selves unto that God whose name is Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

I'm Still Here

I'm still here.

What a great day!

     This is the day that the Lord has made … that the Lord has made … that the Lord ordained? You better believe it. I was surprised. He wasn’t. He gave this day to all of us and as for me I will praise and thank the Lord for it. Every day is special and every day is His despite the view from here, from our particular perspective. This is a comfort to me, a reassurance, and a cause for the hope He has provided for me in my weakness. 

     So, What makes me so gleefully optimistic today? I spent the day freezing on a street corner, holding my protest sign against abortion, and basically spitting into the wind. Ah! But I got to do it with a bunch of the sweetest pit bulls on the planet, whacked out weirdo’s that do more than sit on pews. People I had met for the first time, and I might add, delighted by my presence, oh! … And might I mention, a man I also have desired to meet for a long time. This guy can preach! He certainly surprised me with his depth and passion, not to mention his intelligence and ability to articulate. He has to be one of the most unpopular, unrelenting bulldogs of our day. Of course, there was no media presence and it didn’t matter. There was little hostility except for an occasional “California wave.” Like I said, we were spitting in the wind. I didn’t want to stop, though, and now we’re home and for the first time in a long time, I’m motivated. I’m more than convinced that apathy is a disease that is curable, and maybe it will be cured in my day.

     So … with whom was I standing on the street corner with, freezing my basoombas, and loving it? Alan Keyes. Yeah! This guy is trouble, he’s radical and over the edge, but … after listening to him, watching him, researching him, dissecting him without apology, I’m convinced of his genuineness and his integrity. He places himself under God’s scrutiny, and ours. Contrary to the ways of popular politics, principle reigns supreme, along with its origin. He is the John Quincy Adams of the day, unpopular yes, but rooted in the resolve of his beliefs and gratifyingly unaffected with the overwhelming opposition he faces. He shared one of his despairing moments with us. He told us that he once said … “God, you’re all I have. Wait, what did I just say? God, You’re all I have?” He says he was stricken at that moment with the absurdity of what comes out of our mouths. What more could we possibly need?

     It occurred to me then just how corrupted and obstructed our vision can be. He also spoke of the audacity in thinking that we can actually “save” anyone. God saves. The truth lies more in where we stand. I want to stand in the truth of God’s righteousness and in the surety of His word. I can do all things through Him. Actually, He allows me, as His child to hold His guiding and reassuring hand thru the days of my life.

     Yes, this is the day the Lord has made. Take hold of His hand and take a walk with Him!

HEALTH "CARE"

This showed up at work not to long ago and I haven't a clue as to it's origin, but it does lend credence to the old saying that truth is stranger than fiction.

One Life

     One life; one life out of billions of others. Purpose and value swallowed and devoured by the sheer insignificance of being, of smallness, a voice robbed of existence by the roar of nothing less than the same. Seemingly endless in its persistence, masses, volume, and magnanimity, the onslaught prevails … almost! Our smallness would defeat us, if it could, by default. After all, life is just a vapor.

      This is the basis for my faith, or rather my faith in Jesus. It was just one life, but from the time I was first introduced to Jesus I knew his voice. I can’t offer a definitive explanation other than even as a young boy I knew there was no other like Him. It was His voice that I knew and trusted. Now, I was surrounded, like the rest of us, with the awakenings of the promise of newness, common with youthful discovery and the assumptions of ownership. I had not yet read Ecclesiastes. The philosophies of the time sounded so good, so new, and even compatible with those of Jesus. I prided myself on knowing of His engaging the evils of establishment. I did so also. I still heard His voice with the help of my ever so carefully and newly enlightened worldview. I did some stupid things. I discovered the age of accountability. I heard his voice again. He said, very clearly this time, after I had been doing something I knew was wrong [drugs], and I remember this like it was yesterday, “You will never be the same person you were yesterday. There’s no going back.” I remember feeling like the image on the other side of the mirror looking back at who I was the day before with no way of returning to where I belonged. I felt small and alone. I wish I could say at this point that I became wise to the lies. I didn’t. I dug myself an absolutely astonishing pit.  Yet still, I could hear His voice. Incredible!

     I’m not a great climber. It took years to climb out of that hole. Now I’m looking at the mountain I want to climb. With so much time spent and an account wanting for returns, I still look through the mirror with the anticipation of being reunited with the person Jesus intended and intends still in making me. There is a price for disobedience and it lasts a lifetime. So now I’m ready to be obedient but like I said the piper is still there waiting to be paid. I can hear an objection at this point, after all am I not a new creation? Yes, I am…one with a lifetime of consequences. I’m not whining though, I feel incredibly blessed. I believe in happy endings. I’ll be just a vapor but not just. I’ll be a vapor trail … Oh! Yeah! Whatever time is left for me I want to leave a trail that leads others home, back to reality, back to Jesus.

     This is the basis for my faith. I know now that I’m just “one life.” One life out of billions. Jesus was one life. He talks to me with a still small voice. Size doesn’t matter to Him; He created the universe above us and in us. He’s more than just the natural, more than supernatural…He created both.  He’s not misled with the philosophy of the day because He’s the truth. Jesus always was and is life. He came to give me purpose, show me value, give me His voice, and transform my littleness into more than I can fathom. I may not be able to prove Him to you, but just ask Him and He’ll prove Himself in your life. He breathed it into you and sustains you even in your rebellion, and patiently waits right up to that last breath. This is the basis for my faith in Christ and in life…one life.

Why

    Why do we look like them? I have no problem with the necessity of taking Osama's life but was sickened by the picture in the paper of a huge crowd celebrating. It was the same feeling I had watching film footage of Arab nations celebrating after the destruction of the twin towers. Justice ... can it be served without wallowing in the gutter? I'm as guilty of a vengeful heart as the next guy but this reminds me of children sticking their tongues out at each other after inflicting their childish insults and injury. Is it not possible to rise above? God help us ... is there anyone else out there that see's this as wrong? Why do we look like them?

Gems and Donuts

      I just spent a week in the throes of perpetual activity, thrust into my sedate and somewhat peaceful domain, by my ever so endearing daughter, her ever so cool husband, and their ever so endearing children. They are not the assorted donuts I’ve titled in this analect, but rather my assorted gems, and something truly to be treasured.

      I’m not going to promote the commonly ridiculous notion that they, the grandchildren, are my responsibility to spoil. They’re much too precious. They are much too precious. They are very much too precious! All of them, all ten of them, unique in personality, disposition, temperament, and beauty are worthy and deserving of our nurturing, care and shelter.

      I personally have done nothing to deserve this unmerited blessing from God.  My life, until recent years, has left nothing but a trail of crumbs from the insatiable sampling of every donut I could get my hands on. On the other hand, my grandchildren’s diet has been carefully and prayerfully provided by their parents. The first step my son-in-law took was in the selection of his life-long mate. They both agreed that their special donut should not be served until after dinner and never to be shared with anyone else. They rightly knew that the consumption or sampling of other donuts would create an insatiable appetite that would lead to a life of severe indigestion and complications. It is prudent at this juncture to point out, somewhat embarrassingly, that my understanding of this is, sadly enough, skewed. You see, of course, that I will never know or completely understand this because I didn’t wait to share this donut with the one God intended me to share it with. Once shared of course, you are on the other side of what could have been with no way back. This leads to an endless pursuit for many, having less and less to share until it is all gone.

     The second step my son-in-law took was the shelter he would provide for his gems. Romans 16:19 “ but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” Of course, if you’re an avid donut eater, this is impossible. It certainly means an end to that vile, beastly corruptor and perverse intruder into our homes. You will never, ever, provide shelter for your God-given gems with a donut factory in your living room. This too is a mystery for many already across the divide. Thanks to my dear sweet wife, we have lived without one for sixteen years, and yes the sensitivity returns, but sadly, this side of heaven we will never know what it would have been like on the other side. Oh to be “simple concerning evil.” This means it is imperative to keep your gems precious. The Public Sewer System will destroy, corrupt and sever your gems from ever pursuing the precious diet God intended for them. God didn’t entrust your gems to anyone else. This includes the church, especially today. I can’t find any evidence for God delegating that responsibility to anyone else but Dad. God forgive me for what I did to my own.

      The nurturing of our entrusted little gems is surely a strange thing in these days of gluttony. After all we deserve our time alone. I saw little of this with the keepers of our little grand-gems. They seem to have laid down their lives, and in a strange way, have been taken up into a far better realm, or what I perceive as a true reality. The reality offered by the world is the foreigner, and as seen in the light of obedience, reveals itself as it truly is, vile and filthy, spoiled forever. Obviously, I as a Christian, and by the grace of God, will never view this trust in a dualistic way, giving evil the same footing as goodness, but as something of infinite value in the eyes of God, to be preserved and nurtured, or by default by our negligence, turned over to the one who destroys and very efficiently blinds. Our daughter has very wisely, much to the dismay of other gem keepers because of the discomfort it seems to breed inside of them, chosen to be a mother. Daycare doesn’t nurture like a mother. She has laid down her life and taken up, once again, something more precious. Once done, I can hardly picture her viewing it as a sacrifice. This is something else that is incomprehensible to someone that has eaten the donut.

     I don’t imply perfection on their part or a lifting up. It’s just a choice. It’s a choice that puts you at enmity with the world. It’s a choice that will leave our son-in-law’s family without the regret that my wife and I live with. It’s an unpopular choice that people will attack and yet some will marvel at. It’s a choice that will change the world more than anything else can. I can assure you that at God’s banquet, the donuts served up by this world will not even be on the menu, or even be a memory, and surely not desired, for what God serves will forever satisfy and fill with goodness everlasting for those who chose to treasure their gems.

1 John 2:15   Love not the world, neither the things [donuts] that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Target Practice

  
    This will be short and sweet! First a disclaimer ... I don't have a subscription to the newspaper ... I don't have a parakeet. I do peruse the want ads and read Pickles in the comics. And then, I reluctantly admit to browsing thru the rest to kill and or to waste time. Today, Gordon Howie made the front page again because he's selling property to pay taxes and to subsidize his income. It bears asking the question "why are they still trying to paint [to smear, tarnish, infer, taint] a less than desirable image of the man?" After all, the election for Governor is over. He certainly draws criticism even from some Christians [he reads his Bible]. The answer is easy! This guy doesn't know when to quit. He's off and running again with his Life and Liberty Group. After sponsoring or co-sponsoring all the pro-life legislation the past six years, he's taking aim at the pro-death camp from the street level. He's not going away. The difference between his Christianity and the more prevalent christianity is that he knows we're in a war. His endurance reminds me of a story about John Quincy Adams who, after fourteen years of being one of the most reviled representatives in Congress for his unrelenting commitment to end slavery, was asked by a reporter ... " Why do you do it? How can you keep going year after year, battered by the newspapers, against insurmountable opposition? Why do you do it? " His response was simply this. "The duty is mine, the results are Gods." JQA read his Bible.

     Matthew 7:29 says " Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

     When I watched Veggie Tales,  " The Pirates That Don't Do Nothing, " I thought, I know you guys. It's the church that ”doesn't do anything.” I removed the double negative just for my mom. You're all over. You're the ones that can't call murder, murder. The harder you try not to be offensive the more you are ... to Christians. In the KJV truth and mercy are yoked together. It's not merciful if it's separate from the truth, and truth without mercy is fruitless. Repentance and healing do not come from admitting to a procedure to remove tissue. When facing the consequences of divorce and trying to move on, it didn't work to tell myself I made a bad decision, lots of people do it, and the kids will be okay. Rationalizing ... that's another name for lying. What works is the truth. I'm an adulterer and to top it off I'm a liar in whom vows to my wife and God meant nothing, or surely not enough. Repentance isn't always easy but it works and it is necessary! C.S. Lewis stated that, as with a mathematical problem, after making an error it does no good to continue forward for the solution. As with the problem, the quickest and only way home is to go back to where you made the error and correct it before continuing. All right, it was something like that. Anyway, it sounds like I'm attacking the Church. Well, you're right! I am. I'm tired of kicking a dead horse and I'm tired of people that think being a Christian is a spectator sport. I also know it's not everyone, just too many of us. I want more than to know about God. I want to be known by God. It might be a dirty job to be me, but that's the option God gave me. He'll also give me the qualifications and hopefully an occasional prod when I need it. I pray that I can be known by God... not famous, not in the paper, but for sure not on the sidelines. I'll never be perfect this side of eternity and I've made more than my fair share of mistakes but I won' be drawn out of the battle, and I feel rather certain that Gordon Howie will not either just because the enemy is using him for target practice. What God desires is for His people to move out of the trenches. We're supposed to have the armor for defense but he also equipped us with a sword. Now if we could only quit cutting each other with it and use the sword as intended, as our one offensive weapon.

Shirt-Tales vs. Shirt-Tails

  I sometimes wish I could be hopelessly ignorant of the cascading, downhill slide of the degeneration of our culture. Degeneration here is the key word. It's a process. It takes time and in our culture it also takes planning. I'm going to suggest here, much to the dismay of our planning committee, that it is a Judeo-Christian heritage that is on the skids. We're now to the point of delusion that they'll even argue about that. But what really ruffles the feathers is when you can still tie all the underlying good and virtue that under girds the foundation of this country riding on those shirt-tails, ragged as they may be.
     1799 - Dr. Jedediah Morse reminds us "To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoy. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom... Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them."

Once again we have another quote from some nut associating Christianity with our democratic --- oops I guess he said republican --- form of government. 

     1783 - Dr. Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on the First Pillar of the Constitution: "All the forms of civil polity have been tried by mankind, except one, and that seems to have been reserved by Providence to be realized in America...[That wonder was a unique kind of republic] "... a democratical polity for millions, standing upon the broad basis of the people at large, amply charged with property..."  This, for all of us that weren't home schooled, is talking about " The Principle of Representation." Notice the mention of property. A persons property was equated with his freedom in those days and not something for the government to be equally distributing among those they deemed deserving. The Bible was essential to the desire for liberty, and the ability to be self-governing, in turn, was paramount to preserving that liberty. The biblical view of man lead the way in developing a form of government not blindly led by the will of the masses or by the tyranny of one man. That's why Exodus 18:13-21 was a primary guide for our Founding Fathers. Jethro exhorts Moses to choose qualified judges for guidance and direction. In Webster’s dictionary  "republic" was stated as "A Commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power was lodged in representatives elected by the people. " Oh, to have qualified and Godly representatives.
       Oh, and why did they keep saying that the separation of powers came from that silly old Bible verse, Isaiah 33:22?  " For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our King." They said that be cause that's where "The Second Pillar of the Constitution, The Separation of Powers" comes from. I don't remember that part from my public school indoctrination.

Now, not only did God give us the model for our system of balanced branches of government, but He gave us Guidelines and Limitations of power. That's just one of the reasons the Founding Fathers founded a whole bunch of Bible societies with the intent of getting Bibles into the hands of ... EVERYONE. They very correctly reasoned that an illiterate person incapable of reading the Holy Scripture was easily misled and incapable of judging the legitimacy of laws passed. State constitutions were quick to establish the three prerequisites of public education in the pursuit of passing these ideals on to the coming generations. 1. The teaching of religion [Christianity] 2. The teaching of morality 3. The pursuit of knowledge. I'm surprised they haven't cut off access to The Library of Congress. All you have to do is to be able to read, accompanied with a little initiative, and you can see for yourself what they actually said. I can see that day coming round the bend when that option is gone. Maybe not, with our nosedive into the low ranks of literacy, [700,000 recent graduates could'nt read their own diplomas] the need will not arise.
      Another quote: Rosalie J. Slater "Can we expect these three governmental actions to operate correctly if we, as individual Christians, do not know the source from which they are derived, and what was their purpose? In our ignorance today we are tempted to believe that the power of the judicial, executive, and the legislative branches of our government resides in those individuals who staff these offices. Yet, upon on consideration of the Biblical base and purpose, we can see that the power or control resides not in the staffing but in the electorate, which these offices represent. It resides in each individual Christian as he allows Christ to rule his life."
      Now there's a concept for us that doesn't allow for too much blame shifting. There's a reason the judicial branch didn't have their own building until 1935 and why they occupy the smallest portion of the Constitution. It's not because the original intent was for them to decide what was deemed okie dokie for the rest of us. The original intent lies in "We the People."  The people, as in the ELECTED representatives, the ones that hear more than one hour of presentation of argument, and have to answer to their constituents, the legislative, the part that inherits the lengthier portion of the Constitution, were the ones to decide POLICY and the rule of the land. Does anyone ever read the heading on all the official court documents, "This is the opinion of the court?" Ignoring the irrefutable intent of the Constitution, the blatant imposition of their personal agendas, and defiance of past precedent and blatant omission thereof would certainly have earned them the well deserved boot, if not worse, from any of the founders of this document. The mere indulgence of the thought of a five from nine majority ruling the roost would be an anathema to anyone living in the first century of this country. Actually it still is today...but no one seems to have the courage to put a stop to it. They're there for life and people are duped into thinking this is their representation?   I could write several quotes now on the importance of integrity and Christian morality as presented to us by our Founding Fathers, but I've already done that.
     The Third Pillar of our Constitution: "A Dual Form of Government" Math.22:35-40
Jesus states the greatest commandment, as “Thou shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind." The second as "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself." The first commandment applies to our national sense in that we are willing to be God governed. This extended, in their eyes, to going further than printing slogans on coins that read "In God We Trust.' We have inalienable rights and responsibilities that extend to institutions such as home, church, school, and state. It shouldn't be surprising that these are the areas targeted by our planners in their quest for dismantling this document. Inalienable, God given? Central government has never had the power to encroach upon these liberties. Central and State are each supreme in their own sphere.
     This pillar addresses the age-old question,  "How can unity and diversity co-exist in harmony?"  It's not doing so well under the current philosophy of the day. It could be that the Founding Fathers concluded that a government that allowed both form and freedom, unity and diversity, was possible only through a balanced Biblical perspective. I agree. It's too bad Biblical is not inclusive in the new definition of diversity. This would once again tie us to an immovable foundation inclusive of those darned absolutes. This is going to hurt a little bit, but they're talking about limited government and accountability, and a strict adherence to their delegated authority. Delegated authority is the key phrase here. What we have now is corrupt, self-appointed authority, especially in the judicial and executive, wielding powers not expressly given them. The weakest branch, once pre-eminent, has now become that of the people, the representative. But as Benjamin Rush, John Adams, and other signers of the Constitution observed, the removal of the Bible and its teachings would lead to the eventual demise of our system of self-government.
     Unfortunately, as I said earlier, the ride on the shirt-tails of what was, even with the protections foreseen by the founders, is not going to sustain us much longer. This is surely a joy to many, a horror to some, and a battle cry to others. The planners for our demise fear only our vision restored, our ignorance dispelled, and the fear of God, which is the beginning of knowledge, once again instilled in our hearts. Their own shirt-tales, lacking even a good semblance of a fairy tale, are showing their tawdry origins as examined and exposed in the light of truth, and truth I'm afraid to remind them, is immutable and unchanging unlike their distortions and lies.

The resources used for this post are The American Covenant, by Marshall Foster, excerpts from David Barton of Wallbuilders, Library of Congress, the Records of Congress, and the KJV Bible.

Sex Education

     We have a rancher friend who lives in the middle of nowhere [Wyoming]. Upon his arrival at the ranch last night, he was contacted by a neighbor informing him of a man [in gender only] standing alongside the road near his buildings at 7:30 in the morning dressed in nothing but net stockings and a g-string, displayed in all his glory for the passing of the school bus. Can anyone else see the intrinsic value and the common sense approach of doing what you can with what you have, a staple of American ingenuity.  With the impending cut-backs coming in education, here we have a public service provided by one of our most revered citizenry of late saving the taxpayers the expense of a field trip or of providing the usual in-class presentation. It just goes to show that we can't be outdone here in the wild west.
We can be every bit as progressive as our urban neighbors. Thank goodness for our ever so endearing pliability and willingness to change. Obama rules!

As it was once said, "When the left is right, look for the sun to rise in the west."  (An excerpt from ancient Gordonian Literature)

About a Minute ---- ?

     Do you ever wonder why you bother reading letters to the editor in the paper? I 'm always amazed to find out what a hateful ignorant racist I am. It's surprising, considering I've yet to engage. I confess my sloth doth hinder my reluctance to response as does the more obvious absence of reasonable argument to contend with. Still, one should make attempts despite the seemingly abundance of evidence of a reprobate mind. I know that sounds extremely judgemental, but the vitriolic rhetoric spewed, devoid of any semblance of truth, or rational progression of thought, leans towards what I consider to be the saddest state of all confirmed with outstanding consistency.
     Today I read all about filthy republicans enraged by their inability to pass legislation to murder abortionists now responding with legislation to destroy womanhood. [I have to state right now that the her definition of womanhood would hardly be within a stones throw from mine.] It takes about a minute to see how stupid that is. Just kidding! It doesn't. What response could be presented that would draw any less blatant distortion or condemnation? None I suspect. Why would one respond except perhaps to draw more attention to the denigration of a mind inundated by a steady diet of  godless morally bereft liberal left wing drivel. I really think they're their own worst enemies. I doubt very much that I could make a better case for their moral degradation by anything more than to let them be their own billboard. The lady in question, in her attempt to defile anothers image, paints a far more revealing portrait of herself. I can conjure up little more than pity for her condition and her insistence of portraying it to the rest of the world.  I know I sound condescending ---- so here it comes --- a confession. I used to run around saying you can't legislate morality. I still can't believe anything that dumb ever came out  of my mouth but  I am after all, a lapsed liberal. Yes, It takes about a minute to see how stupid that is. Just kidding! It doesn't.
     I read another letter expounding a woman's right to choose, after all our country was founded on freedom of choice. It takes about a minute to see how stupid that is! Just kidding! It doesn't. I am by far not as well read as I should be, but in all the historical accounts that I have read, I've yet to find one based on everyones right to choose what they want to do. They always want to apply a precept such as "freedom of religion" one of many principles our country was founded on, and liberally misrepresenting it, likening it to butter or jelly smothering the bread beyond recognition. I have read enough of the founding fathers to say with confidence that you're not going to find one that would not be repulsed at the killing of the unborn let alone the the idea that they implied any inherent rights to do so. They did overwhelmingly adhere to the idea that freedom of choice was restricted by biblical scrutiny and biblical truth trumped man's law. You were free to do good, period, as the bible states. I realize they forget to teach that now, but omission doesn't change the reality of what was. Now I'm going to readily admit that while I would be opposed to a woman aborting her body I am adamantly opposed to her aborting someone elses body. I like to reason these things out. You start with a common sense test like the following.
      If a woman is raped, who should pay?
            1. The woman
            2. The taxpayer
            3. The rapist
            4. The baby
     If a couple has sexual relations outside of marriage resulting in pregnancy, who should pay?
            1. The couple
            2. The taxpayer
            3. The baby
     The baby is the obvious fiend and punishment should be quick. Surely, if the little fiend can't be pulled apart in the womb then the job can easily be finished outside of it quickly enough or not. Payment for his or her crime can be made by way of research or by way of ingredient in a multitude of useful products.
     It takes about a minute to see how sick this is! Just kidding! It doesn't.

Collective Sand Party - Everybody's Invited

     I don't mind going to a party, as in celebrating a birthday or the like, but always disliked going when coerced. You have to go! What will people think if you don't show up? It's not going to hurt you one bit to go! Well, sometimes, I admit it's not always as bad as I thought it would be, but this collective sand party is one where they'll be dragging me kicking and screaming. Before I start pleading my case though, I will concede, reluctantly, that while a little collective sand is inevitable and unavoidable, I reserve the right to hose down, re-groom and withdraw to my own little hobble. You see, I grew up and the allure of the beach parties with their sand castles disappeared when the tide of reality came rolling in. You see, I listened to a friend who talked some about sand and about a rock. No one wants to talk about the Rock anymore --- everyone wants to talk about the sand, and if we use all the sand, we'll be able to build this incredible castle. All you have to do is forget about the tide and that silly old Rock.

     I suppose everyone's wise to me now. This is going to be another cheap shot at my " Deluded Dreamers". I really can't afford to do much else and as people start waking up they'll realize the same. This is usually when a good "DD" will remind me that we're all in this together, and I agree. As Lewis acknowledged in his fleet of ships analogy, most people will agree that the ship needs to be seaworthy. Secondly, that for the safety of the other ships, rules of the sea must be observed. Thirdly, the one that causes all the conflict and confusion, is agreement on the destination. I must be blind at this point not to see the obvious innuendos of a socialistic unity as the only way to achieve the obvious goals. Well, what's the cost of membership going to be? Oh,  and what exactly is a member? What kind of a unit --- oops! I mean member am I? I mean we are all like the grains of sand, united in our quest to build our super, fantastical sand castle. Oh! I almost forgot, who gets to be the architect? As you probably suspected I have a few thoughts of my own. Shoot, I just broke one of those membership rules ---- private thoughts and or opinions are strictly prohibited and unnecessary and will be supplied by the state. Obviously, this is one of those silly blunders I always seem to make. I hope someone has the good sense to respond and give me a good name-calling. That's the best way to deal with people who are too stupid to change. Sorry! I'm too stupid to learn my lesson so I'll continue.

     It's time for a quote. "...the modern notion that children should call their parents by their Christian names is so perverse.  For this is an effort to ignore the difference in kind, which makes for real organic unity.  They are trying to inoculate the child with the preposterous view that one's mother is simply a fellow citizen like everyone else, to make it ignorant of what all men know and insensible to what all men feel.  They are trying to drag the featureless repetitions of the collective into the fuller and more concrete world of the family.  A convict has a number instead of a name.  That is the collective idea carried to its extreme."  C.S. Lewis

     Well, I am a firm believer in membership, one that acknowledges how unique we all are and the awesome way in which we compliment the body, one that bestows abundant honor on members perceived to be less honorable, one that suffers when another suffers and rejoices when another is honored. I hear an objection coming ---- Why can't I see how truly collective this is? I'm not going to disagree. This is true unity! I hate to gig your bum now by bringing up that silly old Rock again. He told me that this little grain of a person that I am shouldn't be yoked to you forgetful little grains regardless of the fact that at some point He may require me to lay down my life for one of you. You know, grains that are prone to huge exaggerations, denying the Rock, doing despicable things like dismembering little unborn grains and throwing them in the trash while reaping huge profits, and let's not forget the less discreet grains engaged in their nasty little perversions with anything that walks or just about walks, oh, and the grains that worship little made-up rocks while telling little fibbers about them all being the same. Gosh, after all, things have always been going on the same way forever what with all this evolving and constant mastering of concepts like relativity and subjectivism.

     I know that last sentence didn't make sense [being the same and changing --- mastering the constantly revised], but some people are determined to preach it as the gospel, and we shouldn't be surprised. 2 Peter 3 tells us that in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts would say all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation [uniformitarianism]. They would be purposely ignorant of the flood and creation. All you have to do is believe reason evolved from chaos and blind chance against insurmountable odds, that reason is an unintended by-product of a mindless process, and your mind is a product of the irrational. This is the foundation of their sandcastle and the reasoning they base the plausibility of their fairy-tale on. Sounds reasonable if reason would somehow become reasonable. I wonder if that's why chapter 3:5 says they'll be dumb on purpose. What were they thinking? Doesn't matter if thinking's just an accident like they say.

     I've got a theory ---- and it conforms partially to what they're saying. Things aren't changing much. What we're seeing is part of a revolution [as in revolving, like one of those doors]. Society goes corrupt and immoral and guess what? All sorts of things start falling out the closet just like history has shown us over and over again until the show's over and the tide comes in one more time. The sandcastles will be gone but the Rock will prevail with all His little tiny rocks that clung to the only reasonable recourse, the absolute and unchanging, the beginning and end.

Sheep Sheparding Sheep Shearing Sham

I struggle sometimes with opening my mouth, although probably not as much as I should. I struggle with the fact that God chose and entrusted people with the duty and obligation of spreading the Gospel. I have often thought his idea of using a talking jackass in the OT a more fitting and prudent choice than the alternative of allowing us the arduous task of transforming ourselves into the one and same. I'm not espousing evolution here ---- really! After all, we're supposed to be sheep, right. It gets confusing though, what with wolves in sheep's clothing shepherding or sheep shepherding sheep without the shepherd. Why couldn't we be cows ---- religious only when we're in the mooood accompanied with our ever so endearing bull? Actually, chickens are kinda herd-like, like sheep, and we've got the pecking down [note that I did not make a gender reference here as in hen-pecking because I'm especially sensitive in that respect]. Sometimes a good duck is preferable to a branding, although once again that's another area of expertise [I know I've branded my fair share]. I know, I just evolved into a lame duck --- I was just horsing around. Oh well, if the shoe fits and it fits too well sometimes, isn't it all tolerated here on our animal farm? Doesn't diversity suit the times and relevance of the church today, and doesn't it make you feel so good to fit in?  Well, I've uddered enough, I'm off to get my spring shearing done.

I’m afraid I have a tendency towards sarcasm, surely something I need to work on. I was relapsing when I wrote the above. I have this fear that at the end of my blogging days I'll still be referencing this quirk in my personality [quirk sounds better than fault or dysfunction]. I had an older friend say to me once, after I was carrying on about the church, "yes, one church, a lot of ideas". Since that visit I've been trying to have a gentler approach, which the word supports, with the exception of outright heresy [then I'm right back to the Elijah, and our own Lord's rather direct, dead men's bones, confrontational in your face, let's make one thing clear, you're messing with my own and destroying lives approach]. Gosh golly, I still like to picture Elijah's onslaught of ribbing while the priests of baal, hopelessly embarrassing themselves, try to "light their fire". Ooooh! And all that cutting on themselves thousands of years before band-aids were even invented. And it's just one guy pulling the rug out from under this really cool racket that took years to establish. Makes you wonder what happened to their media mud slinging team.

Sorry, I regressed a little again. Anyway, as a sheep, I'm in the market for a good shepherd. I know we live in a small town, but there are fourteen churches here, so why am I the only one who's got it right? I bet a lot of you are thinking you've all ready met me. Seriously, I like people and I don't do the church-hopping thing too well, but the church [in our country at least] is on a downhill slide. Am I wrong? Let me clarify a bit --- I require a church I can bring our son [the boy] to without exposing him to scantily clad females --- I know it's everywhere --- billboards, checkout counters, worship teams, etc. ---- but it's getting harder and harder to leave the house. [My wife and I, understandably, could go to a few of the churches] Why is the church so busy being relevant? I'm always wondering why we aren't setting the standard.  After all, we didn't have to think one up.  God did that already. If we're so worried about being a little stale, I have a suggestion---let's live up to the standards God gave us and watch what happens.  And I have another suggestion for the entire evolving theology crowd ---- think up your own name for your religion and quit sullying Christ's. Actually, I think I know the answer to that one too---it's in the Bible. The best damage is always from within.

By the way I'm a black sheep, not suitable for a good sacrifice ---- kinda blemished and whatnot so please look elsewhere, and besides my wife still loves me and would kinda miss me.