Moving On
So I think my pleonast phase was a flash in the pan. I haven't found time for it lately nor do I expect to. So, so long. If you need me you can find me on FB.
Islam in NYC
Michael Enright, of Brewster, N.Y, slashed the face and neck of NYC cabbie Ahmed Sharif Tuesday night. Although Enright has not yet divulged his motive he faces charges of Second Degree Murder as a Hate Crime. Tempers have flared in NYC spreading nationwide recently over a proposed Mosque near ground zero. Anti-Islamic sentiment has moved many to oppose establishment of the mosque. The president correctly stated that the developers have the legal right to build the mosque. If the government were to try prohibit building of the mosque it would clearly be in violation of the 1st Amendment. And if the mosque was not allowed where would that end? Which buildings of other religious groups would be challenged?
The 1st Amendment and thereby our country guarantees religious freedom and tolerance.
I've heard rhetoric from Muslims saying the majority of Muslims are peaceful and non-violent. Accept that as true. But it would not be accurate to say that Muslims are tolerant. Wikipedia has a list of all the Muslim Nations in the World. How many Muslim nations tolerate Christian worship or evangelism?
Military opposition to Islam has a long and ignominious history. Eight of the Nine Crusades were aimed at Islamic forces. When they ended many lives were lost and nothing was settled.
The only legal, moral, and ethical way to oppose Islam is to preach the gospel. To convince those tempted by Islam and Muhammad of the supremacy of Christianity and Christ. We don't have the freedom to preach Christ in Muslim Nations, but we still have the freedom to preach it here. And we need to get busy doing just that. It won't be any fun preaching Christ once the US is over 50% Muslim.
The 1st Amendment and thereby our country guarantees religious freedom and tolerance.
I've heard rhetoric from Muslims saying the majority of Muslims are peaceful and non-violent. Accept that as true. But it would not be accurate to say that Muslims are tolerant. Wikipedia has a list of all the Muslim Nations in the World. How many Muslim nations tolerate Christian worship or evangelism?
Military opposition to Islam has a long and ignominious history. Eight of the Nine Crusades were aimed at Islamic forces. When they ended many lives were lost and nothing was settled.
The only legal, moral, and ethical way to oppose Islam is to preach the gospel. To convince those tempted by Islam and Muhammad of the supremacy of Christianity and Christ. We don't have the freedom to preach Christ in Muslim Nations, but we still have the freedom to preach it here. And we need to get busy doing just that. It won't be any fun preaching Christ once the US is over 50% Muslim.
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A personal story. Our congregation wanted to build a building. We had to fight city regulations for a couple of years to finally get permission. We do not have the right to build buildings anywhere we want anytime we want.
Personally, I believe the Muslims have an ulterior motive and relish this "fight" in order to gain victim status. Also I do no care whether the Mosque is built or not but either way there is a lack of trust on my part.
In a moment
As I waited in a line of traffic today a semi-rig driver cut a corner too close. His right rear wheels went into a ditch, the trailer turned onto its right side, and the rear of the tractor was lifted about four feet into the air while the front wheels stayed on the ground. A bunch of us who witnessed it got out and helped. No fuel was spilled but the cooling system ruptured. I helped him get out of the cab. I left as he was still trying to get his bearings.
Unless he's the boss' son he just lost his job. And if this was a career he's lost his career, too. I don't imagine many companies would hire some one who's made a mistake like that. His income stream has ruptured. His life is significantly changed. Just that fast.
Sometimes life seems fragile and unforgiving. When facing such realities I feel especially blessed not to have messed up that bad ... yet. Maybe, hopefully, I won't. Still, thank God for today.
Unless he's the boss' son he just lost his job. And if this was a career he's lost his career, too. I don't imagine many companies would hire some one who's made a mistake like that. His income stream has ruptured. His life is significantly changed. Just that fast.
Sometimes life seems fragile and unforgiving. When facing such realities I feel especially blessed not to have messed up that bad ... yet. Maybe, hopefully, I won't. Still, thank God for today.
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Amen to that! -
I would not count him out just yet. Sometimes there is suspension or deducting the damages from his paycheck. Either way it is costly. Most important did he learn but not just learn, also make the necessary corrections.
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wow. that's definitely food for thought. I actually witnessed something much like that when I was a Freshman at USF-- we saw an 18-wheeler take a turn and somehow, flip right over on it's side, knocking out a streetlight, on Busch Boulevard. We were sitting right under the traffic light and saw it unfold right in front of us. We could just go, "Whoa....Did that just happen???"
Something to Ponder
MY WAGE
I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid.
--J.B. Rittenhouse
I'm not convinced that the message of this poem is entirely scriptural, yet it speaks to me. If you would have more, you must do more. One can't haggle or barter down the price for success. If we don't pay the price for success, we won't succeed. Of course providence is a factor in all our endeavors. And without His blessing our house won't be built. Yet and still, we must do our part.
Any thoughts?
I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid.
--J.B. Rittenhouse
I'm not convinced that the message of this poem is entirely scriptural, yet it speaks to me. If you would have more, you must do more. One can't haggle or barter down the price for success. If we don't pay the price for success, we won't succeed. Of course providence is a factor in all our endeavors. And without His blessing our house won't be built. Yet and still, we must do our part.
Any thoughts?
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"...we must do our part". Agreed. However, our part can never exceed God's part. It brings to mind all the works salvation sermons I heard over the years. Grace was rarely mentioned. Preachers were afraid of sounding too much like Baptists.
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Interesting...and yet I find myself agreeing with the first comment. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God sends rain on the just and the unjust. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights. Our God can exceedingly abundantly beyond all we could think to ask. We DO plant and water, but God provides the increase. I think the message of Scripture is that though we ought to be working, we must not develop an exaggerated sense of control, nor believe that too much depends on our efforts. I think we are too influenced by American society to emphasize ideas of do-it-yourself by pulling-on-your-own-bootstraps and being indepedent and you-can-do-anything-if-you-work-hard-enough type stuff. That's not God's message; God says you can't do anything without him, and that HE can do anything if you're working for him. Good things come God, not us, and though we absolutely ought to be working our hardest to serve him (he deserves it!), we must remember he has ultimate control over the results.
...I hope I'm not over-analyzing this little poem up there. :-) -
whatever thy hand finds to do, do it with all thy might. We are responsible for how we use our blessings and deal with our trials, for we will have both. God has already done the ultimate, and gives us our very breath every day!How shall we then live?
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I think many people fail because they refuse to allow themselves to succeed. I like the idea that if we expect more of life that life will reward us.
Hallowed Ground
Did you catch the new PBS show, Hallowed Grounds. It's an amazing tribute to Americans who gave their lives for others on foreign soil. Here's a way to measure the greatness of a nation:
See how many of that nation's citizens gave their lives in service to another nation. And add another stipulation. Only count those who gave their lives with no thought of personal gain from their service.
Nearly 220,000 Americans are buried on foreign soil or missing in action having done just that. Has any other nation ever given so many for so noble a cause? I think not. And I'm proud to be an American.
See how many of that nation's citizens gave their lives in service to another nation. And add another stipulation. Only count those who gave their lives with no thought of personal gain from their service.
Nearly 220,000 Americans are buried on foreign soil or missing in action having done just that. Has any other nation ever given so many for so noble a cause? I think not. And I'm proud to be an American.
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Interesting thought.
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I watched that, and bawled.
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Ref. below, N. Korea is just one of our problems. Things are escalating in Israel and Turkey is against them. This should get interesting. Don't give up your guns just yet.
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About a year ago I saw an interview with Hal Moore. He stated that after that battle, he knew we were not going to win in Viet Nam.
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Side note: I found it interesting that the Muslim cab driver who was slashed was NOT for the NYC mosque, and that the perpetrator was a mosque *supporter.* Of course the media didn't report it that way at all, but distorted the facts to make it seem as if the slasher was a "right winger."