Opus 2012-93, Healthy Insights: Newest Snake Oil

Think of all the everyday parts of our diet that have been painted as evil and later, not.  Think of eggs, salt, coffee, and chocolate.  Think of all the medications that have been touted as the answer to all your health problems.  The latest to come across my path is, wait for it, Vitamin D.

At my last meeting with the doctor treating my diabetes the only issue that was out of line was my vitamin D.  It was low enough that I was supposed to be comatose or some such thing.  Anyway, he is putting me on a massive dose to try to bring me up to what the current gurus are saying is normal.  I will go with it for a time and see what happens.

In doing a little research I found that vitamin D seems to be the latest miracle drug.  In reading over the material it seems that vitamin D could be the cure from everything from psoriasis to depression. 

The most obvious treatment would be to get more sun.  The sun produces vitamin D in our bodies.  The problem is that we are afraid of skin cancer.  The answer might be to find a happy medium.

So step right up and get your vitamin D.  Guaranteed to cure what ails you.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-92, Death and Taxes

I have not posted in the last week.  I only have a few windows in which my time and energy comes together and it seems like every time I have been getting my focus someone has needed my time and attention.  I have had to keep reminding myself that writing a blog is recreation, not required. 

One of the distractions has been a number of deaths in the family.  I am currently in a motel room waiting for everyone else to wake up and get moving as we proceed to a service for my mother in law.  I lost an  aunt about the same time and an uncle a few days ago.  At church there have also been people who have died.

Most have been believers so it is a mixed bag of emotions.  The separation and loss are real but the hope that the resurrection gives mellows the heart.  My mother in law had been sinking into dementia.  In her lucid moments she kept wondering how long the Lord was going to wait to take her.  We all believe she is rejoicing today.

I hope you share that assurance.

Death at tax time is symbolic that of the two we only have to worry about taxes.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-91, Is Tithing Required?

As a follower of Jesus, is tithing required?  The short answer is, “No.”    The long answer is that if you have to ask the question you have other issues to deal with.  Those issues might be more important.  The issue of the tithe is a matter of an obedient and trusting spirit, not a matter of paying your dues for membership. 

Asking, “Do I have to tithe” is like asking “Do I have to change the oil on my car” or “Do I have to take a bath?”  etc.  Some things you can avoid temporarily but the long term consequences will eventually catch up with you.  You will have a breakdown, not because of a one time decision but because of a pattern of refusal.

The tithe was a part of the Old Testament culture.  It was not an offering.  It was not charity.  It was a gift that was to be brought into the temple even when the temple was corrupt.  The simplest and most familiar verse is this,

((Malachi 3:10 KJV)  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

The tithe was the beginning point of giving.  Understand that the word “tithe” means ten percent.  You cannot tithe five percent.  You either follow the directions or you don’t.

If you don’t tithe will you go to Hell?  Not because of that.  Will there be people in Hell who tithed.  Yes, but not because of that. 

Some people will say that the New Testament does not teach tithing.  That is a half truth.  Look at these words of Jesus:

(Luke 11:42 KJV)  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

The subject is tithing on even the small things.  The problem is that they were substituting tithing for other acts of obedience.  Notice the words of Jesus:  “these ought ye to have done.”  Please don’t tell me that Jesus did not believe in the tithe.  He approved but is trying to keep it in context and not let it be a substitute for deeper obedience.

Should you be concerned about this issue?  I know of some people who give away more than ten percent to people in need.  I can accept that they are giving out of obedience to God.  They are not the ones God is cocking His eyebrows at.  I believe that most people who reject the tithe do so because they don’t want to let go of the money, not because the principle is flawed.  They try to hide behind “we are not under law, we are under grace” when the real issue is selfishness and obedience.

God doesn’t want you to give out of guilt or fear.  What He wants is a heart so full of praise and a mind so aware of blessings that the tithe becomes the beginning point of response, not a goal you hope you never must reach.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-90, The Cell Phone Plot

It became clear to me the other day.  I was walking toward my car and saw a poor deformed lady making her way across the parking lot.  My heart began to go out to her as she struggled with her deformity.  Then I realized she was talking on her cell phone, she was not a Quasimodo clone.

You have seen these people.  They have their shoulder hunched up and their head bent over with the phone sandwiched between as they talk with abandon.

I think it is part of a plot by the chiropractors of the world.  The position must do something to the alignment of the spine and cause a plethora of problems.  There are only two solutions:  See the chiropractor or dump the cell phone.  I prefer the second but I don’t see it happening.

Maybe we need a federal program to help people stand up straight.  Perhaps we could have a law making it illegal to take your hand off your cell phone when it is connected with a call.  Perhaps we could require cell phone users to wear a large helmet with a special adapter to hold the phone against their ear.  All of these steps would, of course, be for our own good. 

“I want to be from the government and I am here to help you.”

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-89, Movie Mantras: Live Long and Prosper

Most of us are familiar with the farewell of Mr. Spock, “Live long and prosper.”  We have learned to give the double V of the Vulcan salute.  It sounds like a great line.  Who would not want to live long and prosper?

I have been thinking of it as the Vulcan curse rather than the Vulcan salute.

Follow my thinking here.  Take another proverbial statement.  I don’t know if it was famous before Disney had Jiminy Cricket sing it but the line from his song went something like this,

“Curiosity, people say,
Killed the kitty cat one fine day.”

You may have heard it as “curiosity killed the cat.”  It is a dangerous trait.  It gets us sticking our nose in places it is not supposed to be.  It gets us sticking our nose in places it should be but in which dangerous people don’t want it.  It can get us hurt in different ways from a child putting their body parts in a flame to getting targeted by drug lords for asking the wrong questions.  It can get us fired, ostracized, and fined.  So I would submit that being curious about the world around you could keep you from living long.  So the Vulcan curse is directing you toward being a conforming dullard.  Not exactly what I want in life.

What about prosperity?  Surely no one could be against prosperity.  No, but let me ask you a question:  Under what conditions do most people grow in character and skill?  Does it happen when things are going well and life is good or is personal growth more often brought about by adversity?  In my experience it is adversity.  Maybe you are different.  Maybe you live in Disneyland.  Maybe you work for the government.

So although we all think we would like to live long and want to prosper I would suggest that we should have a few caveats to the Vulcan curse.  Live well and experience victory.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-88, Discernment Watch: When Corn Is not Corn

As a history teacher I sometimes see things that cause cognitive dissonance.  One of them is the constant reference in the KJV to “corn.”  It is possible that you did not listen in school when they talked about the Columbian Exchange.  It is possible that you went to school before the emphasis was on political correctness and you have not heard the term although you may know the details.

Corn, or maize, is one of the most common grain crops in the modern world.  We know it as a yellowish kernel that we eat fresh off the cob, canned or frozen or pop for a trip to the movies.  We know that the lobbyists have talked us into subsidize using it to make gasoline.  History shows us that before Columbus discovered America and came in contact with the American Indians corn as we know it was unknown.  (PC readers substitute “white Europeans invaded the western hemisphere” and “Native Americans”)  The American Indians are responsible for developing many of the staple foods of our time.  For that we owe them a lot.

In 1611 when the King James Version was translated and published this grain was still known as “maize.”  “Corn” was a term that meant “grain” to people of that time.  So when you read about the Egyptians and corn it probably means barley, rye or wheat.

Many of the misunderstandings about meaning of the Bible come from misunderstood translations.  Many of the so-called “errors” of the Bible are from poor or archaic choice of words.  Don’t write off the written word because you don’t want to do your homework.

Don’t fall for corny interpretations.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-87, Orthodox Easter

You may not have noticed but Easter Sunday is different each year.  This is because the calculation for Easter in most Christian churches is based on the lunar calendar, not the solar calendar.  Like Passover, the Jewish holiday that Jesus was celebrating at the Last Supper, it is based on the first full moon after the vernal equinox.  Like the full moon, this changes each month.

Orthodox churches are different.  Churches in the West use the Gregorian calendar to do their calculations.  This is a revision introduced in 1582.  The Orthodox churches use the older, Julian calendar so they usually get a different date.  The difference is a few minutes a year but over time it adds up.  This year the Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on the coming Sunday of April 15.  You see the same kind of difference in Christmas.

So if you were too busy to celebrate last week, rejoice.  It is still Easter to millions of people world wide.  And if you know your church history you know that every Sunday is a day that we are supposed to celebrate the resurrection.

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

homo unius libri