Opus 2012-276, Firsts: Chewing My Cud

I am now joining the millions of Americans who do cow imitations.  I am beginning to chew gum.  I had tried it a few times as an appetite suppressant but didn’t see it rocking my boat.  There is no substitute for discipline and delayed gratification. 

Then I saw a poster about dental hygiene that went something like, “Brush, floss, rinse, chew.”  I read the fine print that said chewing sugarless gum could help in taking care of your teeth.  The logic made a bit of sense.  It can’t hurt.  I will ask my dentist next time I see her.

For now I chew my cud.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-275, The Frog Still Lies Dormant

Recently we observed Pulpit Freedom Sunday.  The federal and state government are clearly moving to take away the liberty we have had in the past.  So far they are working to keep it below the radar.  They know about the illustration of the slowly cooked frog, even if Christians and other thought minorities don’t want to see it.  We are talking about the rising tide of persecution. 

I was thinking about how it effected the early church.  We sometimes get the idea that every Christian in the Roman Empire lived in daily fear of being fed to the lions.  Not so.  It was possible to live your whole life and never face persecution even in the days of Nero.  Most persecution was local.  Much of it was motivated by politics or personal gain.  Much of it was triggered by the obnoxious behavior of “believers.”  Like today it found many levels of expression.

We are coming to a time of persecution again.  It is becoming politically incorrect to be a Bible believing Christian.  We live in an ear of “tolerance” for everything except Christianity.  The message of the post modern elites is that we are to respect everyone, even those who violate what used to be universally accepted standards.  You are now “talked to,” demoted, fired, sued and even jailed it you simply state that marriage is between one man and one woman.  It starts here and goes on to the model of the Communist world with prisons, work camps and executions. 

Will it be universal persecution or isolated, politically motivated, spur of the moment, spontaneous, benefiting the persecutor persecution?  Will we be able to be teachers, police officers, plumbers, etc, or will we become like the homeless and bag people?  It is in God hands and we are in God’s hands.  Our job is to be faithful, light and salt.

Can we still stand up and stop the onslaught?  Yes, but not for long.  When I was a full time pastor I used to tell people that the best thing that could happen to the church would be for the Communists to take over the United States.  We would then find out who the real believers were.  I spoke to soon and had the wrong demon.  He is here and wears the face of the IRS, BATF, FBI and many other acronyms. 

Maranatha!

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-274, Agape/Chesed: Love Takes It’s Lumps

One of the hardest things for me to do is to “turn the other cheek.”  This is a clear teaching of the Bible.  Jesus went into quite a lengthy discussion of this principle.

(Matthew 5:38-41 KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

This is hard in marriage.  It is hard at work.  It is hard driving in rush hour traffic.  It is hard.

Yet we are talking about one of the concepts that makes our open culture possible.  We always think we are in the right.  We always want the last word, the best price, and a little respect.  Only by giving up those expectations will our culture endure. 

Jesus noted that the old standard was “An eye for an eye,...”  What is wrong with that?  It never stops there.  When we go for payback we always grab for more.  If we, by some accident, actually get exactly what we lost, the other person feels like we took more.  This is the view of finite creatures locked into our perceptions and, too often, controlled by sin.  If each person demands a little more than they lost the simple bump in the hall will eventually escalate into nuclear war.  Love accepts it’s losses.

This has many applications from the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous.  I was just asked, “How many calories in a hot dog?”  My initial answer was going to be, “Turn over the package and read what it says.”  Instead I gave a number.  Little events like this determine if we are going to be run by pride or love.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-273, On the Street: Chick-Fil-Ay, Hurray

I drove past a corner where they had torn out an old Sizzler and saw a sign in front of the new construction.  It is going to be a Chick-Fil-Ay.  At last.  I don’t need to drive over the river and through the woods any more.  Now one will be on the way.

There are several reasons why I like to see this.  First, if I am looking for fast food I like their offerings.  Without that the rest would be meaningless.  Obviously if I am looking for a $40.00 steak or some tofu they are off the list, but that is a rare occasion.  Second, their chicken has a lower calorie count than the fast food competition.  That makes a difference over time and expands the options open to me.  Third, they have been operating as a company guided by Christian principles, so far at least.  With the death of the founder that may change, but my hope is still alive.

I have not been hearing much about Chick-fil-ay in the news lately.  I guess the Christian bashing has moved on to Mormon bashing with the election coming up.  If they maintain their stand on Sunday closures I am sure that the media will find time for them after the election.  Remember that any blade of grass that raises a head above the masses gets chopped off by the mower of the Thought Police of the Elites.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-272, Should-a-Beens: Paying the National Debt

I keep hearing about how our grandchildren are going to pay off the national debt built up by George Bush and Barak Obama.  It occurred to me the other day, I can live with that.  After all, it was the young people who elected Obama.  They wanted Hope and Change.  They are certainly getting that.  They are the ones who have borrowed the money and run up the bills and have their hands out, so let them pay if off and be unemployed. 

There is a good chance I will be dead before Social Security runs out or Medicare goes bankrupt.  My kids currently have good jobs and I am still working with benefits.  It may get tight for me but I will probably be okay.  I do not say that in blind selfishness.  I am willing to redo Social Security and such.  I am willing to make sacrifices.  I know it can’t go on forever.  As a teacher I never vote for more money for education.  I am willing to go for reform but it will take people of all walks of life sitting down, having an open discussion and seeking for a solution that will be best for everyone not just to big campaign contributors. 

When you are ready to talk, let me know.  I will meet you at the table or vote for someone who will represent me.  I will not give you a dollar when you are standing in front of the “Help Wanted” sign at the fast food joint.  I will not feel friendly when you are in front of me at the grocery store with your EBT card getting cash back.

I am quite willing to let you get the government you deserve.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-271, Discernment Watch: Before the Fact

Before the election we need a reminder of our priorities.  I want to offer this now when the election is still up in the air and either side could win.  It does make a difference who wins.  One side is more on the side of righteousness.  Don’t let that make you lose your sense of proportion.

We are blessed to live in a republic that has historically given us unusual liberties.  We have been able to speak, worship, associate and gripe with no fear of reprisal.  This is unusual in history.  We live in a bubble.  We are a blip on the history of humanity.  I rejoice in that.  My hope is not based on it.  My hope is bigger than any political party or movement.  My hope is in the saving blood of Jesus Christ and the sovereignty of God.

Recently we observed Pulpit Freedom Sunday.  I repeatedly hear Alistair Begg talking about how the kingdom of God is not dependent on any political party.  I believe we should be involved in politics but in reality it does not make an eternity of difference who wins in November.  If I am on the losing side, I am used to that. 

We tend to get carried away tying democracy and republics to Christianity.  In reality God’s kingdom can be built in almost any political atmosphere.  The Bible does not use the word “democracy.”  The church was born and flourished under the tyranny of Rome.  It is expanding under the dictatorship of Communist China.  It is not a matter of what the government is.  Our success is not based on our political situation but our hope in Christ. 

So before the results are in, cheer up.  I have read the book.  You should have read the book.  We know who wins in the end.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-270, Stealth Zombies, They’re Everywhere

I have only seen one Zombie movie.  It was enough to last me the rest of my life.  The problem I am having is that I am beginning to see the living dead everywhere.  They don’t have the gore and they can walk without shuffling, but they really seem to be brain dead.

This morning I hit my regular morning pit-stop.  I got my coffee and one of my regular contacts joined me for “just a minute.”  He asked me if I had watched the debate and we traded a few opinions.  It seemed we saw the same two men.  We heard the same words.

Then he dropped the bomb.  He was swinging toward voting for Obama.  He claims that the veins on my head popped out and my teeth clenched.  It could be.  That is the way non-Zombies react to the emergence of stealth-zombies. 

I am hoping that he was just pulling my leg, but I doubt it.  The problem is that he fits the stereotype of the do-good elitist.  He is a wonderful human being in many ways.  He is a retired, successful businessman.  He started and built businesses.  He has invested in the stock market.  He is probably worth multiplied millions.  He knows how to play the tax avoidance game.  He gives large amounts to charities and needy causes and knows how to structure all his investments to maximize his available funds.  He is the picture of the greedy capitalist portrayed by Obama and the Progressives.

Yet he is going to vote for our resident socialist.

Just because a man is good at selling snake oil this guy forgets four years of elitist government kleptomania.  Because he says at a debate that he believes in the free enterprise system and feels keeping America safe is his first priority this guy forgets all of the government take overs, regulations and attempts to gut our defenses that have been going on for four years.

The only explanation I can come up with is that he was bitten by another stealth zombie and his brain no longer functions.

Beware of the Stealth Zombies

homo unius libri