SPOONFED [A Liberal Portrait]

Well, I guess you've all heard by now. Another woman fell victim to to an unwarranted ten pound weight gain assault. Armed with a super-sized assault spoon, she fell victim to a three and a half quart of chocolate chip, chocolate syrup topped, mega sized bowl of ice cream fed by an unconscionable life robbing spoon. Forgive me, but just how stupid can people be. Spoons have to be banned now. DUH! This blatant assault of rhetoric from spoon loving hillbilly ignoramus's claiming they need them to eat their peas with is the most outrageous thing I've ever heard. SPOON'S ARE MAKING PEOPLE FAT!!!!! They're living in a dream world. Ice cream was never invented when we granted people the right to bear spoons. Spoons make innocent people fat. 

Wake up you morons. Spoons are dangerous. Do you want your kids to be fat! 

BAN SPOONS NOW! BAN SPOONS NOW! BAN SPOONS NOW! BAN SPOONS NOW! BAN SPOONS NOW! BAN SPOONS NOW!       

THE VAIN NAME

This isn't breaking news, just  a reminder for most of us. I believe everyone knows how to take the Lord's name in vain [duh!].  No, It's not duh! The "duh!" is for us --- His creation. The use of his name inappropriately is a big no no, although you wouldn't always know that from listening to some of us, referencing we the ones that have taken His name [christian]. Actually, that's what we need to bring to remembrance. We took His name and the implication is simple enough. We are His ambassadors. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be more advantageous to the gospel if we kept that under our hat. Take some time to consider this proverb.

Two things have I required  of thee; deny me not before I die: Remove from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee,and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.                             Proverbs 30:7-9

My goodness, my actions can cause me to take the Lord's name in vain? It has actually been a common practice from the beginning of history for a person to act as an ambassador for a king, kingdom, institution, or anyone representing a higher position to send out ambassadors in his place. Naturally, there were or are always consequences for blatant misrepresentation. We don't think on that too much because God has forgiven all our sins past and present. Kinda like a blanket entitlement if you think too long about it. Sorry, I still have a mild propensity towards sarcasm. I'll still pick up my cross tomorrow like many of us do, and set it aside at my convenience like many of us do, shameless as the day is long.

Brethren, be followers of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.[ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
                                                                                                   Philippians 3:17-21  

Shameful acts bring Shame to even the Shameless.

I used to play in a band called Shameless. There's my confession for the day. I probably should've left that one in the closet. Even Lewis said one should only revisit past sins only long enough to repent and move on, as dwelling on them may well do more harm than good. Well, we've managed to remove shame from our culture to the point, that, as with all sin, the act itself though always shameful, is shamelessly rendered an undeserved, archaic stigma from which we must free ourselves. This is where we are, after a generation of liberating psychology spawned from  godless dogma. The problem with this is sin still remains shameful and because we've eliminated shame we've created a god [in our own minds] of the same kind, removing reverence and diminishing holiness in our sight. We've become blinded by our own shamelessness and have built a barrier between ourselves and the Lord, imprisoned, snared, and impotent in our walk. I can hear a protest coming, after all He loves me as I am. That's exactly right, so why would you choose to hinder fellowship. If you're comfortable with crude, coarse friendships and feel no embarrassment, I'm not sure what to say to you.

Things that are different are not the same.

If you believe you are a new creation, and still wallow in the mire, it's time to re-examine yourself. 

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates. 2 Corinthians 13:4-5

If you're seeing yourselves as I sometimes do, go ahead and feel the shame. I do, and then regroup. It's necessary, that's why God gave it to us. It's a check and a gift, and God is the only one that can remove it. Until you do, you won't see God as holy and you'll still be that old creation by your own choice. After all, things that are different are not the same. Take the name of Christ always, just not in vain.

A Bride and Groom Ephesians 5:21-33

How often do you feel like a bride? This question has a tendency, for me at least, of producing a naturally recoiling  reflex of indignation when it's seemingly  aimed at the core of my manhood. Yet, it is in actuality, the single most important  ingredient of not only my manhood, but of my marriage. As a Christian, I must share the role of bride with my wife, and as a Christian must take the role of groom in my marriage. It seems a strange union of roles, but the union is not only unique in view of today's societal norms,  or rather abnorms, but essential towards a God centered plan for marriage. I may need, at this point, a place of shelter or retreat before sharing that a woman does not share  the same dualistic role. Biblically she is a bride and again a bride.  Still, we both share the responsibility of submission to Jesus, our Christ and groom. "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and they two  shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:31-32 Not only is this a vertical submission, but a horizontal submission. "Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21." Before going to verse twenty two, it should be clear that the submission path runs both ways, not to mention that it should be and is a fearful consideration in God's eyes. Most of us will immediately align our own thinking of submission to the more common act of yielding to an authority, a bitter pill for not only women but also to men. We often forget that it is also an acknowledgement of inferiority or dependence; humble or suppliant behavior, a confession of a fault or error, or of obedience, compliance with the commands of a superior or how about a simple resignation or yielding of one's own prideful will to another. This is where I have to consider that I might not always be right.

      "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour  of the church. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ , so the wives to their own husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:23-24

     This is where we lose most of the ladies. Still, regardless of today's modern version of womanhood, there it is. We teach our young ladies not only that they can be anything they want but that there are no limitations as to what they can attain. My question is, and this is for everyone, can I be whatever I want? Can I purpose my life in a fashion as to disregard boundaries or limitations? "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ?" I have to keep bringing it back to Jesus before I can address these questions. How have I, exactly, submitted my self to Him?   "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Does my wife have a groom as does the church? Have I given myself for my bride? Did Jesus promise a big paycheck and a big house with all the material  luxuries of the day or did he understand what his bride really needed? I don't know a woman that doesn't  want a Jesus groom in her life. Can I give myself for my bride like Jesus did for his? "That he might sanctify  and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having a spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."  This is the point where many men  willingly give up the ship. This is where many cease to be men, let alone the  groom. If submission doesn't come first to Christ, manhood disappears into the fashion of the day and becomes unrecognizable. Do I , first of all, love my wife as Christ loved the church? This is agape love, unconditional all encompassing love, and needs a bit of exploring, but hang in there. It's worth  the time. Remember, "For this a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church". 

Part 2

  Ephesians 5:25-26 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

     I could be wrong here, but I think every man that explores this portion of scripture is going to find himself wanting. I love my wife more than anyone in this world, and still I find myself wanting. This is going to be one of those "Not as though I had already attained, either were perfect" moments, but we still must press on. This scripture points to a tremendous amount of accountability. I love but do I sanctify, cleanse, present my wife as holy and without blemish? Do I forgive my wife as Jesus forgives, or is the dirt reserved for more opportune moments? Am I content with the "sin no more" but can't seem to follow through with the "as far as the east is from the west part." Do I cover my wife as Christ covers me? Am I her shelter and shield? Am I as private and personal and open as Jesus  is in her prayer closet? Can she trust me like she does Jesus? Do I pray over her like Jesus prays for his bride? If I fall short on any of these, can I present her as glorious, holy, and without blemish? Can I love her as Jesus loves his bride?

      "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies." It seems like the golden rule should be sufficient here, but it too falls short because we've brought self into the picture which falls miles short of agape love. I know it sounds like a trade, "he that loveth his wife loveth himself". After all one commonly thinks we always love ourselves, but that's rarely true. The more I try to separate myself from sin, the more the revulsion and the greater the disappointment in myself at my failures. And yet, to understand grace, is to know where we came from, and also to know who we are in Christ. I know myself and I know that until I can truly love my wife I can only have a self- love. That I can selflessly love my wife is essential if we are ever going to love our brother. The church is doomed to failure and stagnation, not to mention hopelessly superficial if we stumble from the outset.

       "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother , and they two  shall be one flesh." A man can crush his wife, but only to his own destruction, because we very much are, indeed, one flesh. If this concept is difficult for you, I recommend hitting your thumb with a hammer a couple of times or as many as needed to make the light come on.

      "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning the church. Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife that she reverence her husband."                   So, there's reverence at the end of the story? ............... I'll let my wife tackle that one. 

 Part 3

   If you read the first two segments and are thinking "What a spineless wimp, he passed on the "reverencing your husband", you're absolutely right. I did mention the submission thingy though, for clarification on the groom's part in reference to his being part of the bride [church], and feel confidant that that was enough to leave some howling. I wasn't silly enough to say something silly like estrogen running the church.

    The whole point of bringing up the dualistic role of men as bride and groom, church member and husband, is that we have so many dysfunctional marriages today, and an appalling lack of manhood, if not misunderstanding. A healthy, manly leadership is absent in the home turning the churches into a dumping  ground of societal relevance instead of biblical order. In point of fact, we the men, are at all points in our society being neutered and properly trained to tuck tail and step out the role God intended. If you're thinking church should fix that, good luck finding a pastor or board that hasn't already been neutered. It starts with submission, but in the right direction. God set the order, how about trying a proper submission to the real groom, our model, as hard as it may be to follow, and purpose to present our bride glorious, not having spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish, joined unto our wives as one, humbled by Christ's example as shepherd, shield and protector, in the path of salvation to our Holy God.

     If my understanding is correct, not withstanding the many role's played out in the church, ours the fathers, are the ones to be held to the fire [accountable] before God for setting our order and will against His.

A Good Example

People look at me like I'm crazy when I bring up THE Communist  AGENDA at work here in our beloved land of the fee. First, here's the list of goals presented to our cONGRESS in '63 to review at Conservative Refocus.  And here is one of the numerous and all to common examples at Right Angles.  They're not doing this secretly and yet the most common reaction is " Yeah, things are really changing man, BUT you really don't think it's a conspiracy do ya? Actually, I do. It's built upon Marx's technique of graaaadualism [It's the slow boil,  Kermit!]. There does come a point when it's too late to get out.

Lemming Small Talk

I've been reading the paper again! I don't pay for that kind of aggravation but still subject myself to it at lunch time. I read a column [you're never going to believe this] demonizing the republicans for failing to fall in line with Obummers' health care and inability to control his spending habits. That in and of itself is normal enough. We all know the mantras. Why I subject myself to this would require some extensive self analysis, but I don't do the self thing very well.

Anyway, they've been trying to steal my goat for a while and they finally got it! So fair is fair. I know we've all heard the comparisons of sodomites with slaves .... I'm leaving that one alone. Now, it's slavery and health care. Did you know we were the last ones to abolish slavery and now we're the last ones to adopt commie care. It's shameful, to say the least, in the keen eyes of our ever so observant columnist. Still, hanging on to a semblance of rationality, I'm trying to understand the connection of granting freedom to a group of people and the compulsory [forced] enlistment to commie care under penalty of fine, loss of driving privilege, and lean on property and/or bank account. They always try to make an argument between the two [freedom and enslavement, choice and no choice], smile and wonder why we don't get it. They're right! I can't make my mind twist that way. In the case of slavery, the republican party, after the abolishing of slavery, passed twenty-three civil rights laws. The demoncrats spawned a wing of their own during the same period, the KKK. They were just as successful hanging 4800 republicans, that was the qualifier, with about a fourth being white. Yes folks, we had black congressmen, [former slaves] writing civil rights bills and the republican party passing them as quick as they hit the floor. Not to worry though .... It was enough to rally the demoncrat party and they repealed them all in 1896 when they regained the House, Senate, and the Presidency. This gives me pause to wonder????? Why can't we [the people] get anything repealed now! Anyway, they redeemed themselves when Johnson got Kennedy's civil rights bill that he borrowed from Eisenhower [republican] passed. Well, they could only get 44% of the democratic vote when they just needed a simple majority. Not to worry again, they used 7% of the republicans 83% to secure their place in history. Sorry, I'm rabbit trailing a little bit.

Actually, now that I caught my train of thought before I derailed and said something spiteful, I can better understand the similarities between slavery and abortion. You just simply persuade the court to nullify a person's personhood and reduce them to property to do with as you please and walla you have an indisputable tie between the two. It's the democratic way .... actually it's kind of habit with them democratic type of people, but .... it had it's upside, the creation of a small radical bunch of terrorists that formed a republican party that had the audacity to call slavery and abortion wrong. Actually, really, really wrong. Hitler tried it. He made Jews non-people and his loyal compatriots made the case at the Hindenburg trials that they were justified under the law. They hung them anyway. Still, they're making a better world for us despite our apprehensions that this path is leading where it always has in the past. We can, at least, be another bad example to exhibit to the world. We can become first once again if only by coming in last.

So, as the one lemming said to the other ................................................................................................

Types of Government, Explained

This was, once upon a time, common knowledge in a far away land, now relegated to a state of mythical distortions and buried with all of it's companion virtues. Still, in the like manner of Christianity and her Saviour, Jesus, watch for the unexpected ressurection.

A Must READ!

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