Opus 2018-190: Forgiveness

Trigger Warning:  Theology ahead.

Is it necessary to ask for forgiveness?  Is it necessary to change our behavior?  Most pagans and new age church attenders would answer “no” to both questions.  Jesus gives one example where the answers are “No” and “Yes”.

For reference look at John 8:1-11.  I will tag it on the end for those who don’t have a Bible handy and are not familiar with the passage.  It is referred to as the “Woman Caught in Adultery” episode.  A woman was brought to Jesus accused of adultery by a group of Pharisees.  They were obviously trying to force Jesus into some kind of public display.  They wanted Jesus to endorse stoning the woman to death as the law allow for.  Jesus called their bluff and then spoke to the woman.

I don’t think there was any doubt the woman was guilty of adultery.  It is also clear that Jesus was not condoning the behavior.  He said two things and they must be taken together.  First He said He did not condemn her and then Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.”

In regard to my opening question, notice that there is no record of the woman offering a defense or asking for forgiveness.  It is possible that it was left out but clear it is not mentioned.  Yet in spite of that Jesus offered her forgiveness.  Interesting.  I would submit that God is not into ritual flow charts, check boxes or games.  I would suggest that He can read our hearts and even if we don’t say the approved phrases He responds as if we had.  So, no, we don’t need to recite a set piece.  It is probably better if we do because it helps to clarify our minds, but God is flexible in ways we don’t understand.

Was it expected that the woman would change her behavior?  I would say it was not only expected but required.  Jesus did not say, “Don’t worry.  I’ve got your back.”  He clearly told her to stop sinning.  Would Jesus demand something that was impossible?  That was a rhetorical question.  I suggest that it is also vital to our salvation that we “go and sin no more”. 

Here is the relevant passage from the Bible.

(John 8:1-11 KJV)  Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.  And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?   She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-189: Our Public Secret Weapon, Part 2 of 2

Why do people continue practices that lead to the destruction of what they say is important?  We are in a cultural war but the only ones fighting are on the side trying to destroy America.  It is time we put our pocketbooks to work.

Have you ever been around someone who says they can’t make it to church because they work on Sunday?  Have you ever wished that people didn’t need to work on Sunday?  Does the fact that God instituted the Sabbath mean anything to you?  I have a suggestion to make.  I have made it to people around me and almost been thrown out of the family.  What would happen if the people who claim to be Christian would stop going out to eat and shopping on Sunday?  My guess is that a lot of businesses that focus on that day would give their people the day off.  It would not be from threats or noisy demonstrations.  It would because they could no longer make money by being open.  If they closed on Sunday their people could spend the day at worship and family activities and the company would still make money.

Now let me meddle a little more.  What would happen if everyone who considers themself a patriotic American would stop using the businesses we grip about so much?  Would Facebook, Twitter, CNN, The New York Times and others keep up the arrogance?  I doubt it.  They are businesses after all.  They need to make a profit.  They make their money by ad revenues and the ability to sell your information.  Why do you think so many blogs have ads for products through Amazon?  They get a percentage.  It comes out of our casual attitude.  We need to let the power of the free market do its work.

I must confess that I do not use the things I am urging you to give up.  I admit that the people in my life will not allow me to give up Sunday brunches.  But get started.  Don’t click on links that take you to fake news sites.  Don’t buy insurance from companies that donate large amounts to liberal causes.  Don’t hit the sales at stores that take away your Constitutional rights.  Every time you redirect a penny it is a penny less in their balance sheet and a penny more in the pocket of someone who deserves it.

What would happen if there was a war and only the liberals showed up?  Oh.  That is happening.  Do you like what you are seeing?

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-188: Our Public Secret Weapon, Part 1 of 2

I am relatively sure I have addressed this before but it is time to get involved in the cultural war for America.  We must strive to avoid violence, not because violence is always wrong, but because history shows that violent response ends up playing into the hands of tyrants and demagogs more than it restores liberty.  The American Revolution is the exception to the rule.  The French Revolution is an example of the rule.

So how do we put the stop to the nonsense?  We do it like the free-market capitalists that we are supposed to be.  It will not be violent but it will be painful.  It will require giving up learned preferences and going without our fixes.  It will require thought and focus, which is enough to make me doubt it will happen.  We need to hit them in the pocketbooks.

I can think of several “boycotts” that had dramatic, long term results but you could not prove effective at the time.  I remember when K-Mart was an economic force to be reckoned with.  There were two or three items that I always bought at K-Mart.  When I went to buy those things I would look around and maybe drop a few more bucks.  Then they decided to start dipping into soft pornography.  An organization called the American Family Association called for a boycott of K-Mart.  I stopped shopping there.  I had to break a habit and look other places.  It was inconvenient, but I joined in.  After a short time they backed off on the porn but my habits had already been changed.  In the years to follow they started closing stores and declining in their part of the pie.  I am sure that they, and you, would deny that the boycott had that effect but I participated and saw it happen.

I could list the other products and stores I have avoided over the years.  It was not automatic.  It was not easy.  It was also not fanatical.  If K-Mart was the only store in town, I would go to K-Mart.  On the other hand I had to change my snacking habits, I quit going to my favorite fast foot chain, I don’t buy certain brands of clothes and I don’t give money to some non-profits that I used to approve.

It can be done.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-187: Headlines: Democrats Claim Victory Because They Lost Small

The double standard in reporting continues.  I am looking at the race in Ohio.  At the moment it looks like the Republican will squeak by and win.  Somehow this is being portrayed as a victory for the Democrats.  The talking point is that Trump won the district by a large margin, the seat has been Republican for years and therefore coming close shows how big the Blue Wave it.

Very interesting but you lost.  Factor in all the cheating, fraud non-citizen votes and you lost significantly.  Of course, that is my spin.  But you still lost.  The Blue Wave was a ripple and could not make it over the dike.  This is not New Orleans where the levies gave way.  It seems to be Ohio where the Republicans got more than the Democrats.

After refusing to accept that Trump won in 2016 the Progressives (Democrats, liberals, socialists, Communists, RINOs) will continue to interpret every result as a mandate for their side.  It is just another reason to not pay any attention to the pundits and propagandists.  It is the same nonsense we get from the fascist thugs of Antifa when they claim they are against fascism.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-186: On the Street: Adversity Training

I don’t often catch Rush Limbaugh but when my wife is in the car I hear him a bit.  The other day he was talking and said something that was interesting.  He said he has been fired seven times.  Picture that.  Possibly the most successful radio personality in our history, who started the wave of conservative talk radio, was kicked out seven times for who knows what reasons.  I am sure he has grown and developed a lot but how would you like to be one of those executives who gave him the boot?

Too often people give up when they should work harder.  To often we give up on others who simply need a little time to season.  Of course firing them might be an important part of their wake up call.  Since I am retired I can tell you that.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-185: The Chinese Are Coming

My wife is spending a lot of time following all the latest conspiracy theories.  She has me sit down to watch some special segments.  As I was sitting watching something about 45,000 indictments being pursued by pro-Trump people, the guru on the screen went on to another subject.  Evidently the Chinese are going to send troops to Syria to fight against the Americans.

I am afraid that one got me scratching my head.

I wonder if this is another case of geographic ignorance.  Syria is nowhere near China, except being on the same continent.  A Chinese military force would need to cross a boatload of countries if it came by land or air.  I am not sure that India would sit and act like it was an everyday event.  I don’t think Russia would buy it.  If it came by sea it would need to either go through the Suez Canal or all the way around Africa.  While the South China Sea might be sfe grounds for in invasion force I have a hard time believing it could make it all the way with no “accidents”.  These factors do not bode well for a Chinese invasion force.

I could be totally wrong but it is things like this that make me wonder about all these people with geopolitical genius.  It also didn’t help that he didn’t know how to pronounce coup d‛etat.

I am expecting enough trouble in the future without getting excited about this kind of stuff.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-184: Headlines: Warning Flag

Is anyone having trouble with this but me?

When I saw clips of the ceremony involved in returning the remains of the American servicemen who were MIA’s from the Korean War I noticed that they were draped in blue and white United Nations flags, not the Stars and Stripes.  I asked myself, “What gives here?”  I realize that the Korean War was fought under the cover of the UN but these casualties were Americans who thought they were fighting in the name of America. 

I did not see anything about the arrival in the United States but my hope is that the disgraceful rag of the UN would be removed and replaced by Old Glory before they actually made it home.

homo unius libri