Opus 2017-112: The Bread and the Cup

Warning.  Theology ahead.

In taking communion I reflected on the two elements and what they represent.  The bread is depicted as Jesus’ body; the cup, His blood.  Both represent a sacrifice we can never understand.  We can meditate and gain meaning.  We can focus and gain a glimmer of truth.  We can study and find all kinds of applications.  In the end it involves realities that we cannot grasp.  If that were not true He would not be God and it would not be powerful enough for our salvation.

His body represents the incarnation.  What an awesome thing for God to step into humanity.

(Philippians 2:6-8 KJV)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We can define each of the words.  We can work out the grammar.  We can get the point.  We can never begin to experience what it was for the Word to become flesh.  He humbled Himself to the point of death.  He who was eternal put Himself in a position to know our limitations and our fears.  The contrast is too wonderful for us to absorb.

But we try. 

The cup represents the crucifixion and the atonement, the shedding of blood.  Because one of God’s attributes is justice, it was not possible for Him to just say, “Olly, olly oxen, free, free, free.”  We are sinful.  Sin demands payment.  We can never hope to pay the principle, let alone the interest.  Only the Perfect Lamb of God could do that.  So, He who knew no sin became sin our out behalf by dying on the cross and shedding His blood.  That is why it is called the passion.  The agony of bearing our sin is beyond comprehension.

But we can try.

And we can rejoice in the knowledge that,

(John 3:16 KJV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-111: Maybe It Wasn’t Reagan

I wonder if the defeat of the Soviet Union was a result of a secret deal between American leftists and the Communist leaders.  They could have been convinced that if a visible enemy and example of socialism were removed from the playing field then a generation of snowflakes could be raised to embrace a candidate such as Bernie Sanders.

Think about it.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-110: Headlines: Punch a Bully in the Nose Day

The questions have been hard to answer.  The kids at school are asking about the missiles fired at Syria.  How do you give an answer on a complex issue to a generation that is conditioned to sound bites? 

I have mixed feelings.  There is much I don’t know.  I am not worried about going to war with Russia.  For a good summary you can read Scott Adams has to say on his Dilbert blog.  The only thing I could add is that mature military leaders do not like war but understand it is sometimes necessary.  They understand that peace comes from the willingness to make war and the bad guys understanding that.  I admit there are loose cannons in the military but I think Donald Trump has surrounded himself with people who have their heads on straight. 

One of the questions I ask the kids to get them thinking is, “What is the best way to deal with a bully?”  The usually answer reflecting the results of brainwashing, “Tell a teacher.”  Those who think know that such an action usually gets them bullied more.  The proper answer is, “Punch him in the nose.”  Assad is a bully.  Putin is a bully.  ISIS is a bunch of bullies.  Terrorism is the art of bullying.  Unfortunately the only answer is often, “Punch them in the nose.”  Obama either did not understand that or wanted the bullying to continue.  Thankfully there is a new sheriff in town.

Consider Assad punched.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-109: Don’t Hold Your Breath

A new member of the Supreme Court has been confirmed.  I am assuming he will be sworn in.  Everything I hear sounds good.  I am optimistic about the future of the court.  I could have written that about John Roberts but I don’t think I was blogging at that point.  I would have not known how disappointed I would be in the results involving health care and we have another twenty years to go.

A new member of the Supreme Court has been confirmed.  I am assuming he will be sworn in.  Everything I hear sounds good.  I am optimistic about the future of the court.  I am writing that about Neil Gorsuch.  Will time find me disappointed?  We will be forced to wait and see.  What I do know is that the future has a much better prognosis than it would have if Hillary had been elected, Trump had not been true to his word or the Republicans in the Senate had not finally shown that they have a pair.

In this case it was three strikes and your in.  Three times I have held my breath.  Three times I have been glad to go on breathing.  It remains to be seen if we have a home run or the runner bunted and was hit by the ball on the way to first base.

But for now, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in,...

Don’t stop working, voting or talking.  If we just hold our breath we could turn blue.  If we keep active we can turn the country red.  It must be spring, hope is eternal.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-108: Headlines: Surprise! California Heads Toward Sanctuary

I kept hearing rumors that California had become a Sanctuary State yet I was not seeing it in any of the headlines.  I finally did a Google search and got the status.

The California State Senate has passed a law that would make the People’s Republik of Kalifornia a state that ignores federal law on immigration and thus makes us a Sanctuary State.  We would join Maryland in rebellion.  It passed on party lines.  It is now going to the Assembly where the Democrats have a super majority and from there will go to our own governor Moonbeam, the Honorable Jerry Brown.  Guess what party he belongs to.  Since the Democrats are the party of “we hate America” I expect it to pass. 

I then hope that President Trump and his cabinet proceed to fulfill their promises and cut off all federal funds to the state.  Won’t that be fun to watch!  Think of an already crumbling highway system with no federal money.  Think of schools kept afloat with federal grants sinking like a sieve.  Think of welfare programs without the billions to pay their social workers.  Think of all the politicians and government officials without the bottomless largess of the federal government to siphon funds from.  It will not be a pretty sight.  Actually it will be a beautiful sight.

I hope it happens.  I plan to be gone from the state before it kicks in so I will be able to enjoy it from afar.  The only problem is that things may get so bad that the rest of the rats might try to desert the sinking ship.  We may need to draw new lines for the border fence.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-107: On the Street: I Am Not the NSA

What have I learned this morning while trying to study and write?

She doesn’t like cherries.  She has a mortgage and no children, but she does have a dog.  The dog has a hot pink halter.  She doesn’t like that her parents help themselves to food in her refrigerator when they visit.  They don’t even ask.  She thinks it is quaint that her mother sends thank-you notes.

Her friend has a black thumb.  That sounds racist to me but I think she felt a black thumb is the opposite of a green thumb.

The thing that bothers me the most is she is an employee.  She seems to be managerial level because she has her laptop out and was seemingly doing some work in between conversations with people across the room.  She doesn’t seem to realize that the entire world doesn’t want to know about her private conversations.  We are not all the NSA.  I wonder if she is a snowflake?

Privacy also means I don’t need to listen to you.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-106: Ideas on Health Care

We need to continue the conversation on health care.  I would prefer that the federal government get out of it totally but, since that isn’t going to happen, I am sure I can come up with other ideas.

How would health care be different if regular office visits were removed from the insurance coverage.  Sometimes this is called catastrophic coverage. 

Some would say that it would cost more because regular check ups are a way of avoiding bigger problems.  People would not go if they had to pay.  It might cut into their plans to go to Disneyland.  Of course that is why I shop at Walmart not Nieman Marcus.

We would also need to demand a serious co-pay for the Emergency room.  Too many people use it as their GP.  We could refund any charges if the problem turns out to be a genuine emergency.  Of course the issue then is defining genuine emergency.  It might be set at the level of being admitted to the hospital.  I remember one time I went because I thought I was going blind.  I never saw a doctor.  The triage nurse took one look at me and said, “Pink eye.”  What I thought was an emergency, and it was after hours, should have cost me the going rate for an office visit and a few bucks for a generic prescription.  It should not have socked my insurance $800.

If I can come up with ideas why can’t the elite classes that want to rule us?

homo unius libri