Finally, I am resolved to get back to what this little experiment was suppose to be about all along.
That is, a forum for me to blast my thoughts into cyber space and stop irritating my family and friends with them.
This year has gotten off to a horrible start and I am absolutely miserable, wallowing in the bitter morass, with self-pity oozing from every pore. I am trying to get down to causes and conditions and, at this point, finding it impossible.
I deactivated Facebook (AGAIN!) and know that only five or six people will even see this. Consequently, without the pressure to entertain, hopefully this post will truly be cheaper than therapy and I can get some awareness of just what is going on!
Recently, my mind is returning time and time again to a quote from an anonymous author in an anonymous volume, "Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well?"
At its very core, this quote seems absolutely moronic! As a matter of fact, if a survey were done on the streets, I think that 98% of respondents would indicate that "managing well" is the recipe for success.
I mean, that's what I was taught. That's what atheists, agnostics, and most Christians teach. The Christians will wince at that comment! They will say otherwise. They are lying. That's okay! They don't know they are lying. That's why it's a delusion!
This is 'MERICA! John Wayne. Remember? We pull ourselves up by our own boot straps and we "don't depend on nobody for nothing!" (Triple negative intended).
Do I really need to outline where this formula for success has gotten us? Okay, maybe you are perfectly content. Do I really need to outline where this formula for success has gotten me?
Self-reliance continues to leave me falling way short! You have NO IDEA how badly I want to "manage well." I am comparing my insides to your outsides and seemingly, you are managing well.
Or.......are you just as DELUSIONAL as I am?
I call Him God. I make no apology for that! You may call Him Higher Power or Spirit of the Universe. (Those of you atheists and agnostics just see your god in the mirror). I do know this. In the past, God has done for me what I, seemingly, could not do for myself. I am not expecting Him to do the same thing again. I am depending on it!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
God Did NOT Run For Office!
In recent weeks, Stainless and I have been discussing the fact that Americans make lousy Christians. We, indeed, have so many freedoms and are so abundantly blessed, that we cannot even begin to comprehend the idea of a sovereign God, setting His own parameters and guidelines for what He accepts and expects.
Now, a number of my readers claim to be atheists or at least, agnostic. PLEASE read no further. This isn't for you. That's another Blog for another day.
But, for you God-fearing, Bible-thumping, gun-toting (American) Christians, please consider this in your daily prayer and meditation: YOU DID NOT ELECT GOD TO BE PRESIDENT OF YOUR RELIGION!
A democracy is NOT what you've signed on to. It IS a monarchy. He IS King!
We bristle at that thought, don't we? We can't wrap our minds around that, can we? It almost sounds distasteful, unfair, rude, unacceptable. This is Murica! God really needs to put His potential laws on a ballot and see if He can get a 51% majority vote before He mandates some really difficult ideas for us to accept, doesn't He?
The Turtle Lady, now deceased, and one of my favorite people of all time used to say, "I've served God all my life....mostly in an advisory capacity!" I think we can all relate to that sentiment. This sweet lady learned late in life and taught me, that God does not need or require my input. He is God. He is King.
When I was a kid, I would often see the bumper sticker that read, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." For many years, I believed that lie. Most of my christian friends still believe that lie. And that lie had taken us down a very dangerous path.
The truth of the matter is, God said it. That settles it. Whether or not I, you, the preacher, the president or ANYONE else believes it, has NOTHING to do with the equation!
We did not elect God, God. He did not run for office. He does not need our vote or our approval! Sorry! Nobody on this planet wants a vote MORE than me. I JUST DO NOT GET A VOTE! And if I don't, neither do you.
The "vote" is destroying my faith tradition. Many congregations are making major doctrinal changes, directly opposed to clear Biblical teaching, based on a 51% majority. My faith tradition is not the only one struggling in this area. Our freedoms and our deep-seeded need to worship in a democratic Christianity is destroying God's Kingdom.
I shutter and get a little scared when I hear myself or you say, "I know that's what the Bible says, but I just can't bring myself to comprehend, understand, accept, or believe something so archaic and unreasonable."
Dear God, please forgive us of our blessings!
Now, a number of my readers claim to be atheists or at least, agnostic. PLEASE read no further. This isn't for you. That's another Blog for another day.
But, for you God-fearing, Bible-thumping, gun-toting (American) Christians, please consider this in your daily prayer and meditation: YOU DID NOT ELECT GOD TO BE PRESIDENT OF YOUR RELIGION!
A democracy is NOT what you've signed on to. It IS a monarchy. He IS King!
We bristle at that thought, don't we? We can't wrap our minds around that, can we? It almost sounds distasteful, unfair, rude, unacceptable. This is Murica! God really needs to put His potential laws on a ballot and see if He can get a 51% majority vote before He mandates some really difficult ideas for us to accept, doesn't He?
The Turtle Lady, now deceased, and one of my favorite people of all time used to say, "I've served God all my life....mostly in an advisory capacity!" I think we can all relate to that sentiment. This sweet lady learned late in life and taught me, that God does not need or require my input. He is God. He is King.
When I was a kid, I would often see the bumper sticker that read, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." For many years, I believed that lie. Most of my christian friends still believe that lie. And that lie had taken us down a very dangerous path.
The truth of the matter is, God said it. That settles it. Whether or not I, you, the preacher, the president or ANYONE else believes it, has NOTHING to do with the equation!
We did not elect God, God. He did not run for office. He does not need our vote or our approval! Sorry! Nobody on this planet wants a vote MORE than me. I JUST DO NOT GET A VOTE! And if I don't, neither do you.
The "vote" is destroying my faith tradition. Many congregations are making major doctrinal changes, directly opposed to clear Biblical teaching, based on a 51% majority. My faith tradition is not the only one struggling in this area. Our freedoms and our deep-seeded need to worship in a democratic Christianity is destroying God's Kingdom.
I shutter and get a little scared when I hear myself or you say, "I know that's what the Bible says, but I just can't bring myself to comprehend, understand, accept, or believe something so archaic and unreasonable."
Dear God, please forgive us of our blessings!
Monday, October 6, 2014
THE TV KEEPS ROLLING!
I'm not sure what you called it when you were kids. We called it "rolling." Anytime the Horizontal Hold was amok, the TV would roll. It was maddening. And it took a very steady hand to turn the Horizontal Hold knob and get it in just the right place.
The TV also had a Vertical Hold knob. But I do not recall the Vertical Hold ever being amok. Vertically, the TV was fine. Horizontally, it was often a mess.
If you haven't caught the application, then Bless Your Heart. It's been on my mind every day, while experiencing one of the most difficult weeks of my life.
I meditated daily on my Vertical Relationship. I thought about just WHERE do I get my value? Just where does my security come from? And it is becoming abundantly clearer and clearer, that there is nothing in my life more important than my Vertical Relationship (finger points skyward). And when my vertical hold is in place, all the horizontal relationships seem to fall in line.
HOWEVER, when my Vertical Hold is off kilter, all my Horizontal relationships suffer. As soon as I start getting my value and security from a horizontal relationship, my mind moves into a VERY bad neighborhood.
It's much easier to spot it in you. I see you getting your value and security in education, jobs, spouses, kids, grand-kids, bank accounts, houses, recreation, yes even church....the list goes on ad infinitum. I can see it clearly in you. But I fail to see it in me. More often than not, someone close to me has to point it out.
Someone has to pull me aside and say, "Kevin, you're getting your sense of worth out of your horizontal relationships!" Brother, there are dark and dreary days ahead for you!"
So, even though the Vertical Hold was always okay on the TV, it doesn't appear to be that way with me. I need to grab the Vertical Hold button and get it back into place. The Vertical Hold button needs adjusting before I can even think about grabbing the Horizontal Hold and stop this thing from rolling!
The TV also had a Vertical Hold knob. But I do not recall the Vertical Hold ever being amok. Vertically, the TV was fine. Horizontally, it was often a mess.
If you haven't caught the application, then Bless Your Heart. It's been on my mind every day, while experiencing one of the most difficult weeks of my life.
I meditated daily on my Vertical Relationship. I thought about just WHERE do I get my value? Just where does my security come from? And it is becoming abundantly clearer and clearer, that there is nothing in my life more important than my Vertical Relationship (finger points skyward). And when my vertical hold is in place, all the horizontal relationships seem to fall in line.
HOWEVER, when my Vertical Hold is off kilter, all my Horizontal relationships suffer. As soon as I start getting my value and security from a horizontal relationship, my mind moves into a VERY bad neighborhood.
It's much easier to spot it in you. I see you getting your value and security in education, jobs, spouses, kids, grand-kids, bank accounts, houses, recreation, yes even church....the list goes on ad infinitum. I can see it clearly in you. But I fail to see it in me. More often than not, someone close to me has to point it out.
Someone has to pull me aside and say, "Kevin, you're getting your sense of worth out of your horizontal relationships!" Brother, there are dark and dreary days ahead for you!"
So, even though the Vertical Hold was always okay on the TV, it doesn't appear to be that way with me. I need to grab the Vertical Hold button and get it back into place. The Vertical Hold button needs adjusting before I can even think about grabbing the Horizontal Hold and stop this thing from rolling!
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