Opus 2017-066: Just War in Proverbs

One of the areas that Christians disagree is the place of war and how Christians should respond.  There is something in theology called the Just War.  It has a series of requirements and if they are met a Christian is free to be a soldier.  When I Googled it there were no Christian sources on the first page so you might as well go with Wikipedia if you want to read up on the theory.  Along these lines I came across these verses in Proverbs that might contribute to the discussion.

First is a general allowance for war.

(Proverbs 24:6 KJV)  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

It seems obvious to me that if you need wise counsel in order to make war and there is no statement condemning war in general, it is not always forbidden.

One of the principles in just war deals with limiting your response and not giving in to the urge to rape, pillage and burn.

(Proverbs 24:17-18 KJV)  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:  Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

This is just a short moment.  Maybe when I retire I will get back to more detail.  The point is that there is no requirement for being a pacifist.  There is a requirement to limit the carnage and keep you attitude in check.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-065: New Terms: Lieberry

What does it say when an administrator comes on the speakers in every room and calls on a certain group of students to meet in the “lieberry”? 

You wonder what is wrong with education.  Many things, including the poor example set by the leaders.  These are people who have been educated in a system that is mainly concerned with employing Democrats, not with educating children.  They rarely read books outside the fold, books written for and by educators.  They have calluses on their backs from patting each other.  They keep lowering standards in hopes that they will eventually get low enough that the students will measure up.

Maybe if they would spend more time in the library and less in the lieberry they would know how wildly they are failing.

Pay attention so you know.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-064: Boycotting, One Decision at a Time

I have read several places about how Ivanka’s products have moved to the top of Amazon since being ostracized by liberal drone stores.  I saw how Trump’s wine sold out after the left called for a boycott.  Consumers have power if they have the integrity to exercise it. 

Along those lines I have noticed that the Girl Scouts are selling cookies in front of every store I go into.  At the same time I have seen it mentioned that cookie sales are down.  It could be.  I stopped even considering buying Girl Scout cookies years ago when they decided to become supportive of the Lesbian agenda.  Sorry, but if I can I will not patronize places that take those kind of positions.  I don’t yell and scream at the innocent children selling cookies.  I don’t make a scene.  I smile and say, “No thank you.”  I also don’t shop at Target unless I must, which doesn’t happen often.  Since they banned the Salvation Army at Christmas, they have been off my list, or on my list, depending on how you look at it.

Americans with traditional values do not need a nationally organized boycott to let our power be felt.  A million citizens shopping at Walmart or the corner store instead of Target makes a difference, even if it is not admitted.  One person taking a stand on principle makes a difference, even if no one notices.

If Christians would stop going out to eat and shopping on Sunday there would be a lot of people who could not use work as an excuse to miss church.  I have already talked about using links on the internet.

Each decision makes a difference.  Each person makes a difference.  Every time.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-063: Gerrymandering in Democratic Controlled Maryland

I just wrote about the issue of gerrymandering.  I thought I might show you one example if it comes through.  I am new to trying to put pictures in my blog.  The current advocate of doing away with gerrymandering, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, does not want to show you this image of the 3rd district in Maryland.  This was a district when he was governor and he did nothing to change it, nor did he complain.

This is a Google Image.  You can find many more examples.

In case you are interested, according to PJ Media, the Democrats claim this is not gerrymandering.  Of course they claim that a Ruger 10/22 with a pistol grip is an assault rifle.

Politics and truth are two bedfellows that always stay in different hotels.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-062: Headlines: Suddenly, a Problem

I found it a bit amusing reading an article about the goals of the Democrats and Barak still-thinks-he-is-president Obama.  It seems now that the Democrats have been losing on so many levels when the people are actually allowed to vote, it is time to change the rules.  According to Fox News, gerrymandering is now a problem for the Democrats.

Just in case you don’t remember your high school civics classes or went to a modern progressive public school and there is nothing to forget, gerrymandering is a process of drawing the boundaries to congressional districts to favor the party in power.  By careful analysis you can load one district with a majority of your opponents supporters and leave a bevy of districts in your control.  It requires a lot of creativity and no moral scruples, but politicians of both parties are strong on one and lacking in the other.

In California where I am still prisoner the Democrats have been in control so long that with the recently approve “open primaries” the elections are now one party affairs.  Several election cycles ago the voters of California approved the establishment of a non-partisan panel to redraw the lines to do away with gerrymandering.  As far as I know it is still a vague dream.  Here is what former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has to say about the issue.

“America needs non-partisan redistricting commissions,” O’Malley said at Boston College Law School, where he’s now a visiting professor. “This simple reform … must become the new norm of American democracy. … How can we expect people to vote if their voice has been carved into irrelevance by a political map ahead of time?”

I find myself in the embarrassing position of agreeing with a former Democratic Presidential candidate.  What is probably embarrassing for him is that he is disagreeing with the position he held up until the party started losing elections at every level.  There are simple methods for drawing voting districts that pay no attention to party affiliation.  It can be done quickly on a computer.  The problem is that those who claim to want fair elections are not really concerned that the elections were not fair.  They are concerned that “fair” was not defined as making sure they win no matter what the voters want.

I am in favor of simple, compact districts drawn on the basis of population and blind to race, religion, political affiliation and yes, even gender identification.  Will it happen?  Probably not, but a man can dream, can’t he.  Perhaps a Constitutional Amendment would do the trick but it would never get through congress because too many of them would get voted out in honest redistricting.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-061: Headlines: Info on Planet X

The link said, “Remote Viewer Takes a Look at Planet X”.  I thought it was a space probe I had not heard about and clicked to see what it was about.

It started off as a scientific article and I kept reading.  Then I began to wonder if it was a satire or some other type of spoof.  I finally woke up when I read,

“It was worth a shot, so I sat down meditated and sent my mind to the outer reaches of space looking for answers to the great mystery of Planet X.”

From there the author goes on to generational spaceships, giant aliens that evolved on earth before us and so forth.  It was entertaining if not informative.

If it is raining where you are and you need a little light entertainment then you might give it a read.  I quit, scrolled to the bottom and found that the author was a clinical psychologist.  My advice is to stay sane.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-060: The Not-So-Grim Reaper

Every once in awhile the subject of death comes up in class.  We could be discussion terrorism, the latest epidemic panic, a recent accident or a death of a grandparent.  I have been known to joke about death and I often remark that I am ready to go.  The kids can get all squeamish over the mention of death.  They are afraid of the topic.  So are a lot of adults.

Fear of death?  My first reaction is, “Why?”  For Christians the Grim Reaper is not so grim.  For Christians death means that we go on to the destiny we were created for.  This morning in the car as I listened to Alistair Begg he quoted a verse that every Christian is familiar with.

(Philippians 1:21 KJV)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This verse reminds me of two bedrock truths for the Christian.  Life has a purpose and death is going to be even better.

Does that mean I am to commit suicide to be with Jesus?  Of course not.  It just means that although I am not allowed to cheat the IRS, I can cheat the grave.

So death can be a happy thought, a happy thought indeed.

I am sorry if you don’t understand.

homo unius libri