There are people who reject God and His teachings. Others simply try to modify what the Bible teaches to fit their own preferences. We see this in people from Thomas Jefferson to the drunk on the corner.
Why do people have such a hard time believing in God? I think it could be summed up in this statement: “If there is a God, then I am not.” People reject God because if He exists as He has revealed Himself to be then they cannot rule their own lives. This is also why people can attend church all their lives and never really become believers. It would require a surrender that they are not willing to give.
homo unius libri
Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship
Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship
This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.
Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.
This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.
Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.
Opus 2011-310, Koran Klarifications: Lovers of Death
It has been about six months since I added to this category. I had this title and reference in my computer all that time but I held off on it. In that time I have read and listened to podcasts where this has come up in regard to the suicide bombers that we have seen in Islamic terrorism. I think I am ready to post this.
Islam reflects a different view of death than is found in Christian circles. Christians are not afraid of death. It is not a matter of fear, but priorities and attitude toward others. It does usher us into the presence of God and that is something to be looked forward to. Paul said,
The comments I was reading said that the suicide bombers are understandable because Islam glorifies death and the true Muslim will seek death. That seemed a bit strong but consider this from the Koran,
It is one verse, quoted in isolation. I understand that. But it fits with what I see. Look it up. Read the context. Ask yourself what this says about a “religion of peace.”
All Koran quotes are from the translation by Rev. J.M. Rodwell, M.A. provided by the Gutenberg Project.
homo unius libri
Islam reflects a different view of death than is found in Christian circles. Christians are not afraid of death. It is not a matter of fear, but priorities and attitude toward others. It does usher us into the presence of God and that is something to be looked forward to. Paul said,
(Philippians 1:23-24 KJV) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.There is a natural desire to be with Jesus, but notice that he was more concerned about others than his own personal desires.
The comments I was reading said that the suicide bombers are understandable because Islam glorifies death and the true Muslim will seek death. That seemed a bit strong but consider this from the Koran,
“SAY: If the future dwelling place with God be specially for you, but not for the rest of mankind, then wish for death, if ye are sincere:” Sura 2, “The Cow”, verse 94.If you are a sincere Muslim, wish for death.
It is one verse, quoted in isolation. I understand that. But it fits with what I see. Look it up. Read the context. Ask yourself what this says about a “religion of peace.”
All Koran quotes are from the translation by Rev. J.M. Rodwell, M.A. provided by the Gutenberg Project.
homo unius libri
Opus 2011-309, On the Street: For the Children
Last Saturday the door bell rang. I answered it. So far, so good. I said politely, “Yes?” From their it want down hill.
A lady was standing in front of me with a clip board in her hand. She told me she had come to collect for painting our house number on the curb. Excuse me? We already had a number on the curb. Yes, but this is with new, improved, reflective paint. I told her I did not want a new, improved, reflective number on my curb. The old one was just fine.
Evidently this group had gone around and left flyers saying that they would be coming through and painting numbers. If we did not want the service we were supposed to let them know. Since I never saw the flyer and did not want to ask, I don’t know what I had to do. I said I would not pay for something I did not want. I was polite but said I did not like to be manipulated. I pointed out how the public school where I teach uses the technique of negative notification to keep parents out of the loop. If they want to subject the kids to something they don't think the parents would approve, they send home a flyer in a stack of other papers and tell the parents if they don’t want it to happen to their child they must tell the school by a certain date. This way, when the parent finds out after the fact, the school can claim that they were informed. It works on any pet project from sex education to scoliosis screening. I also shared how my union made me drive all the way across town if I did not want money taken out of my check for a political action committee that stood for everything I hated. I do not like to be manipulated.
She wasn’t listening. Her last plea was that it was for the children, a charity. She was even wearing a t-shirt that said it was for the children. Don’t I care about the children? It used to be that people said the last refuge of scoundrels was patriotism, but now it is the children. I thought of how I paid when some enterprising young people came by one summer on a summer job and asked it I would like it done for a fee. Fine. Free enterprise I can support, manipulation for the children I can’t.
I kept my money. She got to keep her clip board and t-shirt. I have not checked to see if they actually painted the numbers or if they came by and crossed them out. Next time they will probably just add it to my property tax.
homo unius libri
A lady was standing in front of me with a clip board in her hand. She told me she had come to collect for painting our house number on the curb. Excuse me? We already had a number on the curb. Yes, but this is with new, improved, reflective paint. I told her I did not want a new, improved, reflective number on my curb. The old one was just fine.
Evidently this group had gone around and left flyers saying that they would be coming through and painting numbers. If we did not want the service we were supposed to let them know. Since I never saw the flyer and did not want to ask, I don’t know what I had to do. I said I would not pay for something I did not want. I was polite but said I did not like to be manipulated. I pointed out how the public school where I teach uses the technique of negative notification to keep parents out of the loop. If they want to subject the kids to something they don't think the parents would approve, they send home a flyer in a stack of other papers and tell the parents if they don’t want it to happen to their child they must tell the school by a certain date. This way, when the parent finds out after the fact, the school can claim that they were informed. It works on any pet project from sex education to scoliosis screening. I also shared how my union made me drive all the way across town if I did not want money taken out of my check for a political action committee that stood for everything I hated. I do not like to be manipulated.
She wasn’t listening. Her last plea was that it was for the children, a charity. She was even wearing a t-shirt that said it was for the children. Don’t I care about the children? It used to be that people said the last refuge of scoundrels was patriotism, but now it is the children. I thought of how I paid when some enterprising young people came by one summer on a summer job and asked it I would like it done for a fee. Fine. Free enterprise I can support, manipulation for the children I can’t.
I kept my money. She got to keep her clip board and t-shirt. I have not checked to see if they actually painted the numbers or if they came by and crossed them out. Next time they will probably just add it to my property tax.
homo unius libri
Opus 2011-308, Discernment Watch: Big Brother, 2011
I finally broke down and registered for a Panera Card. You may not have a Panera in your area but it is a restaurant/bakery with quiet background music and a menu based in breads and coffee. They have this card that promises free stuff.
I am a part of the TANSTAAFL crowd. Nothing is free. I am on enough mailing lists, I don’t need to be on one more. They finally convinced me I could register with just my name. No dice. Then they told me I could give phoney data. That I could live with but it still took several tries. The card worked out pretty much as I thought. The first couple of weeks I got something free every two visits. Then they began to be spaced out. It has now been a week and a half since any award showed up. Since they have no info on me in their data base, I at least got a few free items. TANSTAAFL. Actually, nothing is free. They just raised the price of my coffee to cover the cost.
The purpose of these type cards is to build a data base and market to people based on that data base. If I had given them what they wanted they would have my name, address, phone number and e-mail. Does the phrase “identity theft” resonate in your life?
Many people have a library of these cards. Grocery stores, office supply, hardware stores. What people don’t seem to realize is that every time they use those cards the results go into that Great Data Base in the sky and Big Brother knows more about you. He knows what you like to eat and wear. He knows what days of the week you shop. He knows if you buy on sale or impulsively. He might even know the color of your underwear because he certainly knows what colors you like.
This is used to tailor advertising and marketing. You will get things mailed, snail mail and electronic, that is tailored to entice you into an action. If you are tired of junk mail and spam, ask yourself, “How many contests have I entered?” In this struggle we are our own worst enemy.
I don’t want laws against it. Let the business go for the gold. That doesn’t mean I must cooperate of be their patsy.
I expect to get less and less from my Panera Card. I can live with that. I don’t have a major problem with spam because I am willing to live with that.
Enjoy your “free lunch.” Some one is paying for it.
homo unius libri
I am a part of the TANSTAAFL crowd. Nothing is free. I am on enough mailing lists, I don’t need to be on one more. They finally convinced me I could register with just my name. No dice. Then they told me I could give phoney data. That I could live with but it still took several tries. The card worked out pretty much as I thought. The first couple of weeks I got something free every two visits. Then they began to be spaced out. It has now been a week and a half since any award showed up. Since they have no info on me in their data base, I at least got a few free items. TANSTAAFL. Actually, nothing is free. They just raised the price of my coffee to cover the cost.
The purpose of these type cards is to build a data base and market to people based on that data base. If I had given them what they wanted they would have my name, address, phone number and e-mail. Does the phrase “identity theft” resonate in your life?
Many people have a library of these cards. Grocery stores, office supply, hardware stores. What people don’t seem to realize is that every time they use those cards the results go into that Great Data Base in the sky and Big Brother knows more about you. He knows what you like to eat and wear. He knows what days of the week you shop. He knows if you buy on sale or impulsively. He might even know the color of your underwear because he certainly knows what colors you like.
This is used to tailor advertising and marketing. You will get things mailed, snail mail and electronic, that is tailored to entice you into an action. If you are tired of junk mail and spam, ask yourself, “How many contests have I entered?” In this struggle we are our own worst enemy.
I don’t want laws against it. Let the business go for the gold. That doesn’t mean I must cooperate of be their patsy.
I expect to get less and less from my Panera Card. I can live with that. I don’t have a major problem with spam because I am willing to live with that.
Enjoy your “free lunch.” Some one is paying for it.
homo unius libri
Opus 2011-307, The Theology of Street Signs
The other day I was riding with someone who shall remain anonymous. We came to a stop sign. You know the type: Red, eight sides, says “STOP” in big letters. We slowed down enough that my coffee did not slosh over the side when we hit the drain line but we certainly did not stop. So of course my mind tries to look for order in the universe and reason in chaos.
God has put up controls for our spiritual driving. It is not the way He wants it, but we refuse to grow up. Think about it. How many traffic laws would we need it people would just drive with their brain turned on and their courtesy engaged? Do you have any traffic signs in your home?
God’s ultimate goal for us is holiness. We are to come to a spiritual place where we are walking in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Choices are made with clean hearts and willing hands. This is a level of life that is promised to us but few seem to achieve, mainly because they have been told it is impossible.
Holiness means no rules. What am I talking about? Paul makes the following statement twice in I Corinthians,
We are very uncomfortable with that. It means we have to think and make decisions. We don’t like that. At school I am teaching research skills. One of the steps is taking notes on note cards. I tell the kids that they must have a card with their bibliography on it. Then I tell them they need at least 30 cards. I get two questions. First, “Does the bibliography card count as one of the 30?” Second, “Do I get more points if I do more than 30 cards?”
Legalism lurks in the hearts of even seventh graders.
Legalism requires stop signs, left turn arrows, red curbs and so forth. Most churches have documents that detail all of this stuff. God’s directions to Moses started with 10 rules. When the gentiles were accepted by the Jerusalem counsel they limited their requirements to three expectations. Jesus, narrowed the essence down to two. Why is this so complicated?
Legalism says “Stop!” Holiness says “Yield.” Legalism is a matter of strict, uncompromising limitations. Holiness is a matter of living for others, giving up your own rights, allowing others to go first. One is rules based on a carnal heart. One is love given by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is a higher standard of living, thinking and cooperation.
My prayer is that more would seek this level of living and those who claim it would apply it.
homo unius libri
God has put up controls for our spiritual driving. It is not the way He wants it, but we refuse to grow up. Think about it. How many traffic laws would we need it people would just drive with their brain turned on and their courtesy engaged? Do you have any traffic signs in your home?
God’s ultimate goal for us is holiness. We are to come to a spiritual place where we are walking in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Choices are made with clean hearts and willing hands. This is a level of life that is promised to us but few seem to achieve, mainly because they have been told it is impossible.
Holiness means no rules. What am I talking about? Paul makes the following statement twice in I Corinthians,
(1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.This is what people talk about when they say we are under grace, not law. At the same time Jesus said this,
(Matthew 5:17 KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.We must put these two concepts together. It means walking under the influence of the Holy Spirit in spiritual maturity: Holiness.
We are very uncomfortable with that. It means we have to think and make decisions. We don’t like that. At school I am teaching research skills. One of the steps is taking notes on note cards. I tell the kids that they must have a card with their bibliography on it. Then I tell them they need at least 30 cards. I get two questions. First, “Does the bibliography card count as one of the 30?” Second, “Do I get more points if I do more than 30 cards?”
Legalism lurks in the hearts of even seventh graders.
Legalism requires stop signs, left turn arrows, red curbs and so forth. Most churches have documents that detail all of this stuff. God’s directions to Moses started with 10 rules. When the gentiles were accepted by the Jerusalem counsel they limited their requirements to three expectations. Jesus, narrowed the essence down to two. Why is this so complicated?
Legalism says “Stop!” Holiness says “Yield.” Legalism is a matter of strict, uncompromising limitations. Holiness is a matter of living for others, giving up your own rights, allowing others to go first. One is rules based on a carnal heart. One is love given by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is a higher standard of living, thinking and cooperation.
My prayer is that more would seek this level of living and those who claim it would apply it.
homo unius libri
Opus 2011-306, On the Street: Halloween Hypocrisy
Last night I broke down and compromised. I hope you can forgive me. I gave out candy on Halloween.
My family does not celebrate this pagan holiday. I do everything to avoid participating. I have all lights shut down that show to the front of the house. I stay in the back. I do not make my home inviting to the trick or treater’s. I can’t remember ever giving out any candy in the 20+ years I have lived here.
In spite of all that some kids rang my doorbell at 8:30 last night. If I did not think my wife was expecting someone I might not have answered it even then. But I opened the door. Three little faces were looking at me expectantly. I really don’t think they wanted to hear my lecture on the evils of satanic holidays. For them it was obviously a fun time. They were dressed up as princesses and such. So I said, “We don’t usually give out candy, but let me see what I can find.” I found some bite sized Snickers and gave them each two.
I was disappointed to break my string but I like to pick my battles. Maybe they will remember that some don’t celebrate Halloween and wonder why. Maybe they won’t.
I can live with that.
homo unius libri
My family does not celebrate this pagan holiday. I do everything to avoid participating. I have all lights shut down that show to the front of the house. I stay in the back. I do not make my home inviting to the trick or treater’s. I can’t remember ever giving out any candy in the 20+ years I have lived here.
In spite of all that some kids rang my doorbell at 8:30 last night. If I did not think my wife was expecting someone I might not have answered it even then. But I opened the door. Three little faces were looking at me expectantly. I really don’t think they wanted to hear my lecture on the evils of satanic holidays. For them it was obviously a fun time. They were dressed up as princesses and such. So I said, “We don’t usually give out candy, but let me see what I can find.” I found some bite sized Snickers and gave them each two.
I was disappointed to break my string but I like to pick my battles. Maybe they will remember that some don’t celebrate Halloween and wonder why. Maybe they won’t.
I can live with that.
homo unius libri
Opus 2011-305, On the Street: You Are Not Alone
We hear a lot about the problem of loneliness. People abound who seem to have no one to share their lives with, no one who cares.
At the coffee house this week I saw a person who thought they were alone. On the counter there are four giant coffee urns. At the sides are cream, sugar, lids, stirrers and such. As I went to refill my cup I noticed the extra care that a lady had taken to declare to the world that she was alone, or at least she thought we was the only person in the world. She had placed a large bag containing her take out purchase to strategically block one end of the counter, keeping me from the urn I wanted to access. She had placed her cup of coffee in such a way that I could not get to the other spout without going over it and she had placed herself, as she slowly opened a sugar bag, in such a way to deny me the other end of the counter. It was a perfect block. It was as if she were the only person in the world.
Yes, many people are lonely. The reason is they act like they are the only person in the world or at least the only person of consequence. If so many people suffer from loneliness it seems that they could be matched up by a service like E-Harmony. Once they were matched they would not be lonely any more. Sounds simple but most of these people are lonely because they refuse to move out of the center.
Are you lonely? Try looking around you for someone you can help. Get out of your little world and find someone worse off than you are. I don’t think you will need to look far.
Meanwhile, please get out of the way so I can get some coffee.
homo unius libri
At the coffee house this week I saw a person who thought they were alone. On the counter there are four giant coffee urns. At the sides are cream, sugar, lids, stirrers and such. As I went to refill my cup I noticed the extra care that a lady had taken to declare to the world that she was alone, or at least she thought we was the only person in the world. She had placed a large bag containing her take out purchase to strategically block one end of the counter, keeping me from the urn I wanted to access. She had placed her cup of coffee in such a way that I could not get to the other spout without going over it and she had placed herself, as she slowly opened a sugar bag, in such a way to deny me the other end of the counter. It was a perfect block. It was as if she were the only person in the world.
Yes, many people are lonely. The reason is they act like they are the only person in the world or at least the only person of consequence. If so many people suffer from loneliness it seems that they could be matched up by a service like E-Harmony. Once they were matched they would not be lonely any more. Sounds simple but most of these people are lonely because they refuse to move out of the center.
Are you lonely? Try looking around you for someone you can help. Get out of your little world and find someone worse off than you are. I don’t think you will need to look far.
Meanwhile, please get out of the way so I can get some coffee.
homo unius libri
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