In the Good

In the ever growing expanse of moral decay that faces human civilization, we have bastardized the good.  We scoff at it in our decrepit jealousies and debase it in our hearts - when secretly we know that being good rings of something long forgotten in our souls. 

It is in the Good where romance still lives. It is in the Good, where chivalry is more than opening a door. It is in the Good where a rose smells sweet, stars are amazing things, falling leaves are inspirational, and home cooked meals are savored - not for their flavors, but for the laughter and the sharing of the meal. 

It is in the Good that we find inspiration instead of aspiration. 

Life blooms in the good. Yet we have been dying for so long that we fear to remove the cancer of our warped sensibilities. We are afraid of the gaping hole that will be left in our soul if we were to truly embrace the whole of Good. But I contend that it is to the Good, and to God that we must direct the course of our lives - for little time is left. 

With what breaths we have remaining, we should seek out and enjoy the vibrancy of lives like those that do good - but not because of who they are, but more so for who they represent and follow (Christ Jesus). And we should seek to emulate them in our own lives. 

To die some day without eternity harbored in our soul - clean, pure, and vibrant, is a waste.  

No my friends, being good is not boring. It is a hallmark of truly living - it is divine.

Morning Moment

It is not some cosmic joke by which humanity merely "happened". 

It is not some beautiful coincidence that the very stuff of stars (i.e. star dust) is the very stuff that makes up our kind.

In our desperation to ignore the very truth in front of our eyes we claim to know the very minutest of details of a "just because" moment.

Why do we so desperately try to organize reality into organic and inorganic?  Most of us do not even know why we use those words.  We get confused. Does organic mean life?  But no -- it just means a lot of carbon.   Yet a lot of Carbon tends to indicate what we call life - but is merely having life, enough to justify being ALIVE?

Reality is causal  and it is created - not inorganic and organic, but rather created and uncreated.   We need physical space and matter and energy to exist.  We need dust, metals, gasses, the Higs Boson, solar flares, stars, gravity, water, heat, etc to exist. 

We can not help but observe that which is created and that which is caused by created things -- we are incapable of observing the uncreated.  It simply does not "exist" and therefore the uncreated can not be touched, tested, timed, experienced - fathomed at all in our finite minds.

Shatter your mind and suppositions for a moment and think about what you do not know.   How easily can your mind deduce things that exist, that are created.   But can any of us comprehend one thing, any thing that is not created that does not exist?  Even a unicorn exists metaphysically.

Alas, but we can all comprehend one such essence - a concept, an existence that is not created yet exists all the same.  

All of humanity can comprehend God - an uncreated god none the less.  We know His existence, yet we can not prove it, touch it, test it, time it.   Why is it that all of us in our hearts can know God? 

The mere essence of knowing one thing that is not created but potentially (heck we know the truth) Creator - should drive us to our knees. 

Instead we, like two year olds filled with self centered delusions, carry on as if we are the center of reality, that we are uncreated but exist none the less - by happenstance.

So the cosmic joke is us, in thinking that we merely happened.   That the infinitely seeming perponderance of universal coincidences and concurrences neccessary for existence all occured without deliberate cause, without being deliberately created.

Hmph... and why do we celebrate Christmas again?

Perspective: The Basis of Apologetics and Scientific Review - Genesis 1-1a

Before we move on to Genesis 1-1b, I thought it would be good to highlight a key take away from the previous post.  A good friend of mine (and Atheist) pushed back on something that I wrote:
 

faith must come before reason, or the Biblical Account of Life, the Universe, and Everything After is nonesense and subject to debate
 

In the first three words of Genesis we encounter "In the beginning God created..." and I lay a case that the emphasis placed on the word Beginning in Hebrew clearly points to the beginning of all reality.    And I then make the claim that if one is to believe this, then the believer must assume God's existence prior to creation - that God, in essence, exists outside the boundary of conventional time as we observe it.  So I argue that faith in God comes first, the validity and content of the Bible is secondary.

Why is this point so important?  Well, it colors our perspective on our interpretation of observed facts.  A person who rejects God will naturally interpret the same set of observances in a different manner - even if the statistical probability of that interpretation is less than the probability of an interpretation that includes God.

Consider Fibonacci and Lucas numbers.   On my blog I have posted three videos on the tab that give a great and easy and fun introduction into these numbers and their patterns.

The fibonacci sequence:  0+1=1  1+1=2  1+2=3  2+3=5  3+5=8  5+8=13 and so on (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21)
occurs everywhere in nature - plant leaves, pine cones, star fish, nautilis shells, cellular chromosomes, our brains, dog brains, electrons, the periodic table, the distribution of any given sand on any given beach, the frequency differentials between light in a rainbow, and on and on....  it also happens to be real good in engineering, space flight, computer programs, human speech and language, the patterns of poetry, the chordal arrangement of music, tempo, and modulating torque on engines.

For a person who observes this phenomena, and who is predisposed to faith in God, naturally will be inclined to believe that this is a symptom of  God's order.  And it is statistically more probable that this pattern is caused rather than random (considering how non-random the sequence is).

Yet a heart that does not naturally resonate with a belief in God, or rejects a belief in God, will be forced to attempt to reconcile these occurances through some other mechanism.  And it is here where we must first contend with the illogical mind attempting rationality.  That is the proposition that from Chaos, order chaotically arose.  It makes no sense and is statistically improbable.

Perhaps if such order were to arise in one subset of the natural world - the evolution  of animal life for example - then it would be slightly more probable?  However for this pattern to exhibit everywhere, and for other such patterns to emerge everywhere an apologist and any rational mind must contend with the likelihood of a Creator.

As we move forward into the next part of Genesis 1:1 and then throughout the rest of our study, we must keep this perspective in mind.   The world is quick to label something scientific and yet ignore the very basic foundations of scientific and philosophic review.    It creates much contention between the secularist and the Christ follower.

We must view the world through a lense of God existant, and not a lense of God yet to be proved.  We must learn to express our understanding not through rote, robotic "tracts" but through our own world view.  We must clearly start with a statement that we have an inherent belief in God.  We must teach our children the basis for this belief and catechise them into this view.  In this manner we can demonstrate that defending the faith is supported by scientific review rather than refuted by it.  In this manner we can move forward in earnest search for truth without any fear that our faith will be shaken.

Thanksgiving is coming up, so I need to end this rant and prepare for Thursday. 

Be well, enjoy your turkey time.   Comment and feedback is encouraged.  Please invite others to join and contribute.

genesis 1:1a Bible inerrancy, Science, and Creationism

I thought we could explore genesis and see how the bible matches up to science, or what we think of science, etc. etc... my hope is, after all, to figure out what really did happen to the dinosaurs. Please feel free to invite whomever would ENJOY this...
OK so for today, Genesis 1:1
בְּרֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ.
(remember hebrew reads from right to left) And this is taken from the P text (priestly text, most commonly used in translation by both orthodox jews and most Christian scholars... for more info see http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/Genesis_texts.html)
בְּרֵאשִׁית , בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים , אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ.
ha·'a·retz ve·'et a·sha·ma·yim eth e·lo·him ba·ra be·re·shit
read out loud:
bereshit bara elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'aretz
literally translated to English:
bereshit:
the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit) -- beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing
bara:
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes) -- choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
elohim:
angels, exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), (very) great, judges, mighty
eth:
self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
ashamayim:
air, astrologer, heaven(-s)
ve'et ha: is the conjugation of eth: self with the object of a verb to follow
aretz:
the earth (at large, or partitively a land) -- common, country, earth, field, ground, land, natins, way, + wilderness, world, all creation, matter
Now that we have ALL THAT OUT OF THE WAY, let us explore the first half of this phrase:
bereshit bara elohim
In the First Place in Time Created God
or
In THE Beginning God Created
It is important to emphasize that the first half of this scripture is crucial to ALL of Christian theology - it is vital to all Evangelical world views, and it lays the first premise to which all humankind must contend with. First is the assumptive of God. The scripture assumes God - it assumes the audience assumes God. God is named but not defined. It is in the absolute form (because of the use of the word "bara" before it). The reader therefore is not permitted to debate God - God just is. So we can infer from this that the Genesis account, and the whole Bible therefore, is explicitly intended for those people who in their course of life assume God. The importance of this can not be ignored. The remaining stories, teachings, premises, all of the Gospel, and everything in between is built on this premise that God does infact exist. If the reader/audience does not acquiesce to this point, nothing else in this book is relevant or meaningful because it is built then on a false proposition. Ergo, faith must come before reason, or the Biblical Account of Life, the Universe, and Everything After is nonesense and subject to debate.
So an atheist when arguing any other point in the Bible must first be made aware that the Bible begins with God - argue this fact first. With only three words of text and go no further. Bereshit bara ELOHIM ...
I promise we will touch science today in this prose, continuing on...
In addition to the assumptive of God, we find our first touch of physics - the element of time and point 0. Bereshit only is used as the begining word in Hebrew once - its position denotes Absolute beginning. Like absolute 0, this is the absolute start. In common use Hebrew, to say the beginning of a segment, or at the start of a story, the verb or subject is spoken first then the descriptor of time, like bereshit is spoken. So if the author was actually trying to identify the begining of the Heavens and the Earth, but at some point after the start of time itself, the author would be best served by writing: Bara BERESHI T'elohim... or if to emphasize God's work, Bara elohim BERESH et hashamayim...
But here we have the start, the first place in time being denoted. This is it, start. And it was the result of Creation by God. The inference is clear: 1. God exists outside of time and by deduction (since matter and space do not exist yet) He exists outside of matter and space as well. 2. Time is the result of SUCCESSIVE CHANGE OBSERVED between at least two different states - in this case Creation and non creation. God caused and observed creation, and as a result time is caused. And this is infact the modern description of time (check it out for yourself).
ok... so tomorrow, or some point in the future we'll look at exactly what God creates, space, matter, energy, dark matter, light, plasma, and the cosmos... just by finishing the first verse of Genesis 1....
Helpful reading before my next note:
A physics book...
And remember all creation displays His Glory...
Be blessed and Happy Thursday.

My World View (Again)

This statement of my faith is not debatable, meaning that I do not enter into argument/debate over these issues. My focus is fellowship with the Father and the Son, and then with YOU as an outflow of that fellowship (1 John 1:1-4). I am not focused on convincing others of the correctness of my views. -It took me 38 years...but I will debate with you your beliefs, until you concretely tell me what you believe - and why.

I BELIEVE the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's ("agape") love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, I remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct my worship.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, I give great place to music in my worship.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, I place great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct me how He should be worshiped.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, I accept reality as His love in my life and my recognition of this perspective as the supreme manifestation that I am truly worshiping Him.

I BELIEVE in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity.

I BELIEVE in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible Word of God.

I BELIEVE in the trinity - one God eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I BELIEVE that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things.

I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.

I BELIEVE that after Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to be His witnesses in the entire world, a responsibility shared by all believers today.

I BELIEVE that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit. All his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God destined to spend eternity with the Lord.

I BELIEVE in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today if they are exercised within the scriptural guidelines. I covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. I believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without this love all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.

I BELIEVE that church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy, and I depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion.

I AWAIT the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and I believe that the second coming of Christ with His saints to rule on earth will be personal, pre-millennial, and visible. This motivates me to holy living, heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship, and participation in adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion. (I was baptized as an adult the day prior to my marriage, for how could I be ready to be married to my wife, if I could not first be married to God?)

I SEEK to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ.

I REJECT: (1) The belief that true Christians can be demon possessed. (2) "Five point Calvinism" (i.e., a fatalistic Calvinistic view that leaves no room for free will. Specifically, I reject the belief that Jesus' atonement was limited, instead I believe that He died for all people, and I reject the assertion that God's wooing grace cannot be resisted or that He has elected some people to go to hell. Instead, I believe that anyone who wills to come to Christ may do so). I REJECT (3) "Positive confession" (the faith movement belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man's will). (4) Human prophecy that supersedes the Scripture. (5) The incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into Biblical teaching, and (6) the over-emphasis of spiritual gifts or experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of Biblical teaching.
So there you have it. Now tell me, what do you believe?

If I taught a Bible College Class, or 3 Part Deux

Pauline and Johannine Interpretations on Christ - we would explore the greats (spurgeon, grudem, Luther, Calvin, Augustine, Chuck Smith, etc.) and their commentary on various interpretations of Christian living from Paul's perspective and then contrast to the same but from the perspective of John. Source texts would include Romans, the Epistles (Pauls and Johns), The Gospel of John and Revelation of John. Then we would identify where we as individuals are on the spectrum between the two - assuming a spectrum between Paul and John exists. I assume Paul will be more legalistic with highlights on grace, and John the opposite. We will take a look at their audience too, as that is important to differentiate their views. It will be necessary to give a background on Hellenistic culture and Middle Eastern Jewish culture of the time and Roman law.

Called by God to be Small: From Saul to Paul - the conversion and sanctification of a soul. We often look at the Epistles of St. Paul as independent pieces that provide instruction on set of Christian principles. However, the letters also were personal. They contain the emotion and the relationship of Paul to a variety of churches and friends. IF we read Acts, Romans, and the letters in Chronological order- what do they reveal about the man who Paul is? Can we see development in his thoughts, his faith and philosophy? Do the epistles reflect an un-yielding and fully formed interpretation of Christ, or do they present the full spectrum - a natural progression of sanctification? Key points of discovery:
-Roman and Jewish Citizenship
-Romans: Law verse Grace - struggles of the mind
-Ephesians: Mature behavior - "knowing" versus advising
-"Thorn in my side" - perpetual struggles
-Timothy - reflections, advice, imprisonment.

The Bride of Christ: Romancing a Masculine God. Our culture has a strong apprehension for homo-erotic influences in our society. Yet in our own Christian walk, as men we are called to be the Bride of Christ. This is perhaps the only and the most ignored precept of our faith. Let us explore these scriptural mandates in both instruction and parable and see the full extent of the phrase. We will use standard scriptural references to brides throughout the OT and NT and use them as a reference point to model our own relationship with Jesus. We will learn to see the strength in the role of the bride and hopefully respect our own wives moreso. We will review the types of love:brotherly, romantic, and godly and apply it to our own relationship with God. We will look at the idea of submission and of sacrifice. We will explore Proverbs 31 and apply it to our mandate for having a mission based life on earth. We will discuss the masculine concept of God and challenge it ("in His image He made them male and female"). We will also explore the following concepts: spiritual adultery, spiritual divorce, Jesus as head of household, etc. This class could be for married men only or open to all. Perhaps reserved only for students who have demonstrated a strong fundamental relationship with Christ and understanding of basic Christian doctrine.

Where the Feeling Comes From

the heart. the brain? God?

Does it matter? We can feel. joy, love, pain, hunger, hope...

I want to sing from where the feeling comes from.

I spent the day enjoying so many things... morning at Starbucks... with my little girl, catching up with Jerry... then my wife and I strolled through a farmers market...then Sophia and I played in the park... cooked some tamarind chicken, then I caught up with Scott O. at another starbucks... then met the new babysitter, left for a gathering of church peeps... came home, snuggled in bed and watched some Netflix...It's midnight now.

My Jesus, this life is worth all the emotions, good and bad. I do want Heaven, but I am glad you gave me today.

New Year, Same Questions

1. Do you believe in God?
2. If yes, was God created and subject to the Universe or is God the creator of the Universe? If no, how are you sure that God does not exist?
3. Is there a purpose to existance? If so, what is it?
4. Is there a purpose for human life?
5. What happens when we die?
6. What is the soul? Does it exist?
7. What is the mind? Is it different than the soul?
8. What is the secret to love?
9. What is the secret to peace?
10. What do you do all day? Why?
11. What are you accomplishing? Is it worth it?
12. What does it mean to be alone?
13. What is Good, what is Evil, do either or both of them exist?
14. What does it mean to be something (sad, happy, hungry, red, blue, rich, fat, alive, dead)?
15. Do you think?
16. How do you know?
17. Do you have a purpose?
18. Are you Good?
19. What determines if something/ someone is Good or Not Good.
20. Are you powerful? How do you know?
21. What is more powerful than you? Why?
22. Do you pray? Why?

Through the Lense of Yesterday

36... don't remember 36 too well, but I was a father for the first time
35... that rocked, celebrated - truly celebrated -- my parents were able to be there for the first time since age 27.
34... don't remember too much - just my amazing wife... our new business..our new home
33... my wife took us all to the Chart House, Jane made me the best birthday card ever, and Katya put my face on my cake (tres leches)...AND I recieved the entire collection of Babylon 5 videos...
32... did a lot... dancing at Big Texas, dinner with a ton of friends - Jerry Jones told me the key to life (Hanging with others, good peeps = good life) Katya (not my wife yet) sneeks me away to get dessert at Perrys... she spent the entire day with me actually. such a good friend.
31... HUGE dinner... i think all of Clear Creek community young adults were there - including Jerry (lol). Best memory: Jerry jones: Let's go surfing... Sid: I can't surf Jerry: Bro' I'll teach you Tommy: Uh... HOW ABOUT ITS NOVEMBER AND FREAKIN COLD!!! Old dudes tryin to be kids *facepalm. Jerry: you're just jealous.
30... Small dinner at Churascos... Chocolate Tres Leches.... Sonia argues with me over who should pay the check (idiot, I should have let them pay... just think about the interest I would have made on the savings...lol) Phone call from mom: You need to get married.
29... don't remember
28... huh....
27... uh... nope
26... you know family is important... a god daughter in my arms, home made macaroni and cheese, pork chops... and the resounding love and promise of family...a restless heart was calmed by Good O'l fashioned food and a sister deeply loved
...24...Old friends. Spent the entire day walking through the Emerald Necklace... climbing trees, Yours Truly... Sold two of my rental properties for a tiny profit...
...22...hard year... lots of transitions...cathyrn clark... oof... you sure know how to put things in perspective -- one of the most spiritual birthdays ever...
..21... Peppermint Schnapps...yuck Deepa, what were you thinking? A tattoo? Really Matt Cotner? A birthday baked potato bought at the Overoak Pub by Shabnam..call from Karrie Langer --> why do friends have to talk so seriously and be so frank... but so loyal
20... Phone call from a pay phone in the pouring rain... one of the best gifts ever....deeply touched, eternally remembered.
19... The last time I talked to my sister on my birthday
18-17: Veronica, Chris, Peter, Alex... good times... can't remember the specifics... but I have pictures... yes Veronica, you at one time had frizzy hair, and Alex, well you had hair. Karrie -->what do you mean the world doesn't revolve around me?
16: Melanie --> you mean I am not Actually God? Tough blow...The Elam family --> Son go buy a birthday pizza.LOL...
15... hmm don't remember
14...nope...
13...uhuh...
12... Bon Jovi... enough said....

Last Day In Russia

Not having a cell phone has been surreal, which means that I need to spend more time without one. I have had plenty of time to think of new ventures and how to help take Integris to a new level. Spending time with my family was wonderful. I realize now that the time to put away some parts of "me" and some dreams on a shelf has come. I think its time to figure out how to put more into God, people, community.

Here in Russia people don't smile they walk around with blank stares. I am aware of this because I don't speak the language... so I've noticed. Is it the same back home? Shouldn't we be cognizant of our connection to each other? Smile to strangers because we aren't really strangers? Wave hi and say hello to people we don't know, because in a way, we do know them?

It is a thought.

I also realized that it is better to be the good guy, noble, compassionate, strong, fun... good. Our society has crippled the concept of Clark Kent and Superman. But I think some major healing needs to be done with our concept of what has value, and what is just empty.

Russia is full of beautiful, knock out, georgeous women. But many know it, and it lessens them. God is a crucifix on a necklace here. Icons on a wall, church on Sunday (rarely for most). They look at my interpretation of Christ as a "Cult". Praying over meals - quaint and quirky.

But the people here have Spirit - it resonates here. Like God is saying, I won't let go of you, even if you forget about me. You can feel the Holy Spirit everywhere -- I think its called common grace, or something like that. And those that are religious are also Reverent.

I think we have forgotten how to be reverent. I think we only view the Spirit through seldom moments, miracles, whispers. But the Spirit is constant - an ever present Help. So how can we be more spirit filled as a people?

Russia could embrace our type of Christianity -- I just need a good old fashion barbeque (oh and alcohol must be welcomed, its a cultural thing here) and if the food is free, and the music good, the people will come. And they would enjoy the fellowship and they would discuss and contemplate God and Jesus. It would be a start.

Back home, I think my participation at Calvary Chapel is going to change. I am going to be more out going, more involved and connected... but moreso, we as a family are going to bring some of Russia back with us. A bridge to the Spirit, to reverence of God.

I miss Texas, but it can wait one more day.

I am enjoying the surroundings and the hum of family.

Confessions from a Hypocrite

http://www.sermonspice.com/product/38536/welcome-to-our-church-2011

I think we as a society have forgotten something along the way to progress. We forgot what freedom means. We forgot what it means to live in community with one another and God. Our Nobility has been sapped by our poor decisions and the never ending attack on our senses by the world around us.
Alot of you try to figure out why, how I became a Christian. It fits.

For all of us, it fits. I don't know why we make up so many lies as to why we believe or don't believe. I don't know why we have so many interpretations of one simple book.

But I do know this -- life is more full, more noble, and much less complicated as a Christian.

I mentioned earlier that we have forgotten what it means to be free. Freedom is not the ability to speak without censure. It is not the ability to date who you like, marry whomever you want. Freedom is not having the absence of discipline and perogative in our lives. Yet somehow, we have come to be deluded and think it is these things that define freedom.

I posit that Freedom exists when and only when an individual becomes self aware and has control of their mind - untethered to anything else in the world. You are free when you exist in the world but are not of the world. (PS that nugget's in the Bible by the way)

So how then can we achieve this? I contend that no other faith or philosophy on the planet allows for a path to complete freedom outside of Christianity. And I believe that no one can grasp the true freedom of life, the universe and everything (D.A. RIP 1952-2001) without being in a community of people who are themselves also pursuing the same thing.

The church experience should be one where you are not indoctrinated and brainwashed, nor brow beaten into a guilt laden submission of all temptations and desires. The link above describes my church experience at Calvary Chapel (we're in wikipedia too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary_Chapel).

Anyway, I'm not perfect. But life is good and free. I did have to work hard for my freedom - but it didn't consist of paying for soldiers to fight terrorists, nor did it consist of teaching about creation or darwin in schools, nor does it require me to be consistently paying attention to the economic strife that is tearing our country down....

It required me to think, decide, and act in a manner consistent with my values.

Ok. done for now.

Spread the word - especially to young people.

Parents and Children

by John Coblentz © Copyright 1992, Christian Light Publications

Honoring Parents

God's expectations for the family are based solidly upon Scriptural principles. We have already observed some of those principles in relation to heritage, but there is another basic principle which has suffered such neglect and abuse in Western society that we must pick it up here and consider it carefully. That is the principle of honoring parents.

Among the commands God gave to His people was one specifically related to families. "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12). Paul, writing to the Ephesians, notes that this is the only command of the ten to which a promise is attached. The promise has to do with well-being and long life. Inasmuch as life is a social existence, and inasmuch as the family is the basic social unit, it follows that our obedience or disobedience to a basic family principle will directly affect our lives.

What does it mean to honor our parents? Do Westerners generally honor their parents? Do Western Christians honor their parents? These are questions we must honestly face.

The Hebrew word for honor literally has the idea of heaviness. In verb form it means to give weight to, or to hold as significant or worthy in contrast to something light or frivolous. The practical outworking of such a high regard for parents is invariably associated with such things as obedience, helpfulness, and deference. Children do what their parents instruct them to do, help their parents with work and responsibility, and where there are differences of opinion about plans or desires, they yield to their parents.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that parents are to be honorable. That is, they are to be venerable, loving, and wise. The truth, however, is that all parents have faults and fall short of the ideal, and that some parents are actually unloving, foolish, and contemptible. Does a parent need to be honorable to be honored?

The direction God gives for children to honor their parents makes no exception for parents who are not honorable. In another authority relationship where God calls for honor, He says specifically, "not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward [unreasonable]" (1 Peter 2:18). Young children do not grapple with whether they should obey or not. They tend to respond as their nature dictates. Older children and youths, however, begin to analyze their parents' performance as well as their own reasons for or against obeying. Those with Christian teaching struggle with this command of God in view of their imperfect parents. Three things must be kept in focus for those whose parents may not be honorable:

1. One must honor the position of a parent even when the parent does not seem deserving of honor. All authority rests in God. The position of parenthood with its responsibilities was given by God, and where parents are unfaithful in their responsibilities, they are unfaithful not simply to their children, but to God. By honoring the position of parents, children can leave in God's hands the task of rebuking, chastening, and correcting. With this view, one can say, "Even though my mother screams at me, she is still my mother. And I will try by God's grace to do cheerfully what she says."

2. The giving of honor is more dependent on the heart of the one honoring than the life of the one being honored. To honor parents, one must have an honoring heart, that is, a heart with the qualities suited to honoring. Such qualities include submission, love, faithfulness, meekness, wisdom, etc. Without these qualities, one would find it impossible to find a parent he could honor. With these qualities, one will find grace to honor the parents God has given.

3. Since God commands honor to parents, and God is perfectly honorable, obedience and honor can be given to imperfect parents as obedience unto God. As long as we focus on the imperfections of earthly parents, honor will be difficult. But when we focus on the glory and perfection of our heavenly Father, we have no reasonable option but to honor Him. Since He told us to honor our parents, our honor and obedience to them can be viewed as honor and obedience to Him.

Many Christian young people struggle with practical questions about honoring their parents. They wonder HOW? Here are some specific suggestions for teens who are serious about giving honor:

1. Develop a conscious habit of expressing gratitude to your parents. When you begin to consider, you realize your parents have done, and continue to do for you, far more than you can ever calculate.

2. Discuss with your parents plans you are making. Share both short-range plans for the week and any long-range plans you may have for the next year, several years, or your life. Failure to communicate is one of the most common problems between teens and their parents.

3. Ask for advice. Even if you think you know what your parents will say, ask them what they think. Many teens complain about overrestrictive parents, but probably the biggest cause of overrestriction in parents is underaccountability in teens. Initial advice from parents may not be intended to be the final word on an issue. If you have other thoughts, their advice provides a basis for you to discuss your view point with them. When it comes down to the final decision, of course, you will need to honor them. But even if this means you do not do what you had wanted to do, you will have gained respect and the benefit of further openness with them.

4. Value evenings at home. This will mean, especially in some communities, that you will not go to every activity available to you. Discuss with your parents a suitable schedule and then ask for advice when faced with schedule conflicts. Believe it or not, there will come a time (and shortly) when you will think back to evenings at home as a teen and wish that you could roll back time and just for one evening return.

5. Look for opportunities to do what is not asked. It is hard to describe all that happens when a task is done voluntarily as a gesture of kindness. The work becomes lighter, the worker is changed, and the one for whom it is done is affected. Parents find immeasurable joy in those who honor them in this way.

6. Honor your parents when away from them. Those young people who are really serious about honoring their parents will find that their actions do not change when they are removed from their parents. Neither do their words. Neither does their appearance.

7. Involve your parents on any steps you take on acquiring a life companion. This is not saying we should return to the oriental custom of parents arranging totally for the marriages of their children. It is to say, however, that the notion that only "I" can ultimately tell who is best for me is a false notion in the other extreme. More specific guidelines for this will be given in Chapter 3.

The principle of honoring parents is a lifetime principle. Certainly roles change as a person moves from childhood to teenage to adulthood to old age. But all through life there are ways to show respect and honor to one's parents. As a person moves out of his parents' home, one of the foremost ways to show honor is to seek counsel. As one's parents move into old age and frailty, honor is shown by caring for them. Some of the difficulties associated with that care are discussed more fully in Chapter 8. Here we will simply note that the benefits which come from honoring parents in this way more than offset the difficulties. Furthermore, the practice of sending old folks off to care centers has left a vacancy in the family which convenience cannot replace. The separation and loneliness experienced by many aged parents is a tragedy they should not be required to endure.

And the World Waits

And the world waits...


Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.



If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Old Days New Times - from my Facebook

You can find the original on my facebook page under notes:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/me/?s=30#!/notes/sidhartha-sen/old-days-new-times/421870671529


I don't really miss my high-school years. But I do miss the town - and the people. I miss Mentor. I don't think its possible to truly explain the special circumstances in which we all grew up. A mall, a beach, a few movie theaters, coffee shops, and a spattering of neighborhoods created the community of our youth.

Perpetual grey skies with some clear sunny days.

The people were the difference. Hope and apathy, punk and preppy all mixed together to form our world of love, life, and letting go. Letting go happened senior year I think. Who would have thought Face Book would bring a semblance of that history back into the present.

It's like the Brady Bunch reunion shows... all grown up, with jobs, and kids, and homes, and bills. You know we never really talk about our bills on here. Hmm. I can't believe Heidi Baggot would become an expat in China....or that Steve Kansa would... uh... what exactly do you do Steve?

The fact that Matt Cortelli and John Vaugn have grown up into admirable father figures gives me (slim) hope for my own future.

Jonathan LePere and I are extremely close in political views now... ack... what does that mean? Did he become more liberal, or I conservative? Perhaps both.

I think I miss the people most... and some of them were not even good friends of mine back then, but are so treasured by me now... while others who I was extremely close to have grown up and become insane or despondent or both.

I am the God father of my ex-girlfriend's sister's baby. It is a weird thing to write but a lovely truth from the journey of my life. And I named my daughter in part for my high school best friend's sister, Nicole. Who by the way was recently married (congrats!)

I remember being in Boy Scouts with Adam Shea and Mark Winner. I never figured out if heather herman and adam dated... they did didn't they? Oof, I was so out of the loop.

I remember when my friend Carlos died (remember that?) and Jen Seese -- who I butted heads with constantly -- hugged me and was nice to me (never forgot that, never said thanks either...should have).

I moved to Mentor, the summer before 6th grade. My two best friends were pete holland, and Carrie Ritchie. I lost touch with both and found them again here... Peter became really cool (seriously check out his facebook page) and Carrie turned out amazing.

Speaking of Karrie's ... langer married TOM???!!! ok... that was interesting news... who saw that coming? I think its awesome, they are a great pair.

For some reason, I never could get over the fact that some people had parents and relatives that were teachers... my mind just couldnt comprehend.

And then again there were my adopted brothers... the one's that were the kids of my parent's friends...Mark, Mike, and Rob... Mike Post lives in England now...weird, what's weirder is he procreated and propagated his gene's -- fortunately his children are georgous. Mark Host is still secretely in love with Yoda...sorry Beth, its true. I can't say anything about Rob, he knows where I live and could kick my ass.

So many of us are on here... who needs Classmates.com? We've grown up, somewhat (Nicole Elam is probably still a legal midget). But I still have memories of Mentor: snow days, orchestra, failed attempts at volley ball in matt's back yard, and eating chili at Chris ditchman's house.

What's up with days like today? Days like today we can realize how cool our little band of wannabee, hopeful, full of ideas, teenagers truly were and are.

Matt Kacir is going to be a father... truly? Really... I mean who? how? ok I KNOW how, but who? lol... congrats Matt. I miss your brother.

I think I'll take my family back to Mentor some day soon. Hopefully see some familiar faces. We have a very good thing, coming from that place. Despite our circumstances, we have all done allright. Found some happiness. Found some love. Found some peace. Must be something in the water.

Share this with others if you want... up next, embarrasing pictures and scans of old notes and year book greetings....muahhahahahah

ok, just kidding, that would take too much time. I have a child to care for and a wife to love.

Enjoy life.

Comments:
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  John Vaughn It is always so much fun trying to explain to my wife and sometimes the kids what type of city Mentor truly was! When I hear stories about how they (my wife and her friends) used to "cruise" or all the small towns that were dirt roads, now cities like Mentor! It really was a wonderful thing! I guess in the end we are all products of a time that hopefully one day will resurface and lend itself to our children and theirs! Thanks Sid for the mini trip back home!

  August 17, 2010 at 4:27pm · Like
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  Lori Sebulski How the hell did I get tagged in this? You didn't even BOTHER to mention me. Asshat. :)

  August 17, 2010 at 4:57pm · Like
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  Steve Kansa Sid, if I were you I wouldn't miss my high school years either. :) Funny you mention my career as that is about to change as I have decided that the never ending pursuit of money ends up being just that. I've decided that my life-long passion is something that I simply must do even though the path isn't crystal clear. And that's ok, cause what would be the point of doing it if it was crystal clear? Even though I would have loved nothing more than to be the hell out of there at the time Mentor proved to be the perfect incubator for what is now obviously my life's work.

  August 17, 2010 at 5:14pm · Like
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  Nicole Elam Smith I loved growing up in Mentor. I never wanted to leave, then I lived up all over Cali and ended up on a farm. I love the unpredictability of life. People we thought were just hopeless are enviable and the golden children of our youth are well... a bit tarnished. It's comforting to reconnect with all of you, in some way you all have contributed to my life, and I love my life. So thanks! P.S. As for my extreme shortness of stature...all I have to say is that proportion is key and I have it!!!

  August 17, 2010 at 5:55pm · Like
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  Heidi Baggott Sid, I blame your boy/girl party in 6th grade with Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" playing in the background as the starting point that has landed me in China. Just kidding. Growing up where we did and when we did was great. There are many places I have lived (So. Cal and Scottsdale, AZ) where I would constantly think "If I had kids, I would never want to bring them up in a place like this." But with how much I think it was great growing up there, I always wanted to see other parts of the country and the world. THANK YOU for that unexpected call almost 1.5 years ago when I was trying to make a decision on what to do and where before I decided on China. It really means a lot that you called to listen and offer your advice and support. You have turned out to be one of the most amazing and inspiring people I know. I love that we have reconnected via FB 2 years ago.

  August 17, 2010 at 6:53pm · Like
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  Sidhartha Sen Was it two years ago? Time is moving too fast. Kansa what you wrote is so true but still leaves exactly what you do a mystery...I think u must be a gigolo...what else could be your life's work? Lori, do I have to mention my constant homeroom companion? It's kinda obvious that you had a HUGE impact on my life...afterall I would never had such an appreciation of joy and laughterif it was for watching you. always laughing and smiling, pony tail swinging...quick to smile again no matter what boy broke your heart... the fact that you make blonde jokes more fun helps too....

  August 17, 2010 at 7:21pm via mobile · Like
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  Lori Sebulski Um, yes, you should have mentioned it ;) Some things just don't ever change, Sid. The boys breaking my heart or you. I am glad that you haven't changed, that I can still make fun of you for being a Boy Scout, but can we please do something about the smiling through my tears? Because the whole broken heart thing is getting old. Thanks.
  
  It seems that everyone else couldn't wait to get out of Mentor but I always stuck close to home. And then bought a house here last year. I love the flashbacks when I go past Mentor High, walk into Spudnuts, go to Better in Mentor Days or to a MHS football game. It brings me right back to the friends I had so many years ago, still have now, and how much fun we always had together.

  August 17, 2010 at 7:34pm · Like
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  Mark Winner Thanks Sid! This was truly amazing. You've made me smile tonight ; )

  August 17, 2010 at 9:30pm · Like
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  Melanie Miller Bumpus Lori, I was tagged and didn't get shout out either :(

  August 17, 2010 at 10:04pm · Like
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  Sidhartha Sen I didn't know how to fit lipstick messages on my bedroom window into a story that my daughter will read some day....lol. melanie I tagged a lot of peeps but fb cut them off.

  August 17, 2010 at 10:13pm via mobile · Like
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  Melanie Miller Bumpus :)

  August 17, 2010 at 10:20pm · Like
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  Melanie Miller Bumpus You know I am surprised you didn't pat yourself on the back for your matchmaking abilities. If I've never said it - Thanks!

  August 17, 2010 at 10:57pm · Like
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  Sidhartha Sen I am that good. I only went on one date with Katya before we decided to get engaged.. a few months later married.... true story... must share some day.

  August 17, 2010 at 11:14pm · Like
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  Nicole Elam Smith My Dad asked my Mom to marry him on their first date. Sometimes you just know...

  August 18, 2010 at 9:49am · Like
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  Heather McGrattan Webster Hey guys... So parts of this made me laugh.. and others made me tear up. Mentor hasn't changed much. I now longer live there, but still live close. The traffic is nuts and the kids are just as crazy. When you plan your trip back home... let us know.

  August 18, 2010 at 11:53am · Like
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  Steve Kansa Sid, naturally you guys decided to get engaged on the first date - she was the only one that would go out with you! :) I distinctly remember Jeff Damon going down to the morning announcements in high school to give birthday wishes to Mike Hunt. That still cracks me up every time I think about it.

  August 18, 2010 at 12:23pm · Like
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  Mark Host Yeah, we know where you live too, remember?

  August 18, 2010 at 7:41pm · Like
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  Sidhartha Sen But I can run faster than you. And I doubt you'll come to Texas anytime before Christmas, and Mike would have to cross the Atlantic to get here. Plus England has made him soft...I could out run him too....ha!

  August 18, 2010 at 8:54pm via mobile · Like