Arguing with Idiots

Arguing with Idiots

(apologies to other authors who have used this title.)

So, I’ve been taking a break from political conversations for a while.  I’ve refrained from becoming embroiled in conversations on “controversial” topics for a few reasons:

1.  My wife gets burnt out hearing my ramblings.
2.  I’ve been told I seek out confrontation, and I’m attempting to prove otherwise.
3. Stupidity is so rampant that any attempt to shine the light of logic and truth only gets one flogged and demonized, and…
4. The system, as we will discuss, is so broken and is leaning so far over the cliff that arguing with the masses is akin to trying to verbally debate with the wind in a tornado.  Sometimes it’s better to take shelter, wait for the inevitable destruction, and be ready to rebuild after the masses have destroyed themselves.

Today, however, I stumbled upon a quick post by a friend of mine on Facebook.  He’s been dealing with some physical and financial issues lately, and has experimented with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).  Like it or not, Obamacare is the law of the land.  It was fraudulently forced upon the people of the nation by dishonest politicians who were supported by lazy politicians, who were elected by brainwashed, unwitting, self-absorbed citizens whose ignorance is only matched by their unwillingness to research facts from reliable sources (such as HISTORY and SIMPLE MATH). 

…but I digress.

I’m going to share screenshots from my phone of the conversation.  I’m doing this so I can’t be accused of taking anything out of context.  I’ve scribbled out the names of the participants so that nobody can sue me for publishing their names (a case they would lose on the grounds that they freely published their names, photos and comments on a public forum, but again, I digress).  Actually, I’m blotting out their names because when aided by a “cooling off period” and a little reflection, coupled with the logic I’m about to use, I’m hoping against hope that they have enough intelligence to be embarrassed by their own statements.

Here is the initial post.  Harmless enough and needing no rebuttal.

 As you can see, my friend is rightfully displeased with the cost of his government mandated, publicly subsidized coverage as provided through the "Affordable" Care Act, or Obamacare.  This is a very common issue, as vast numbers of subscribers are faced with dramatically increased medical costs from this "landmark legislation" that was touted to decrease the costs of healthcare for the average family by over $2000 a year.

The initial post was liked and responded to by numerous people, most of whom sympathized with his plight and/or criticized the legislation.  I began following the post after sharing a silly joke in an attempt to be the comic relief in a fairly somber conversation.  My joke didn't take a stand on either side of the issue, but was a random attempt to make my friend laugh.

Here's a small sampling of the kinds of comments my friend was receiving.  It wasn't a heated debate or argument.  It was just a group of people generally pointing out the folly of the ACA...and occasionally the President whose name is associated with it.

Then someone took issue with the comments you just read.  I responded with what I thought was a polite, but direct question.

This question has been asked many times in various forms by people who have yet to receive an adequate answer.  One radio talk-show host usually boils it down to "please tell me what percentage of my money you're entitled to."  I thought I asked it in as non-confrontational a way as possible (again, attempting to prove false the allegation that I enjoy conflict.) Bridget, an apparent fellow conversation follower, responded with the following opinion.  I tried to reply as nicely, yet truthfully, as I could.  

I think we can all identify with Bridget's position to an extent, if not necessarily her language.

My response was not intended in any way to be hostile to Bridget or her daughter.  Just a simple statement of facts and logic.  Bridget did not respond, so I'm assuming either she didn't disagree or didn't see the need to converse further.  (This is a lesson I am desperately trying to learn, as the voice in my soul when I become involved in a conversation like this usually says something like: "Wait, it's not worth it... Don't... Um... You should just... Oh, you're going to... Crap.  You are, aren't you?  This will not end well.")

Now, in case you've forgotten midst all my rambling, I asked Miranda to morally justify holding her fellow citizens financially responsible for her medical insurance.  The first clue that Miranda finds her own position weak is that she doesn't even attempt to answer the question.  She merely asks another question in an attempt to make herself appear victimized by her circumstances.  It's the equivalent of asking a child why he did something wrong and hearing the response "but HE did it first!"  The response doesn't answer the question.  It's a common smokescreen used as a tool to distract from the speakers inability to adequately respond.

In an attempt to get a clarification, I asked another question.  I've found I ask lots of questions.  If you ask enough questions, you'll: 

1. ...get the speaker to clarify his/her position to the point that, whether or not they can sway your opinion, at least they've fully explained why you disagree with them,
2. ...come to understand a different viewpoint, which you can ponder and process until you can decide whether to agree or disagree,
3. ...entertain yourself with the inability of the average person to formulate a well-thought-out position or adequately defend it, or...
4. ...give the speaker enough rope to hang him/herself by revealing how ludicrous, self-centered, and/or self-destructive his/her position is (thereby, vividly illustrating reason number three--as stated in the beginning of this post--of why I've been avoiding such conversations in the first place.)

Now, let's look at Miranda's math skills for a moment, shall we?  Miranda proudly stated that she works "50+ hours a week," lives in "KC," and divides her time among two jobs and college.  Now she's sharing her bills.  $614 in rent, $120 in car insurance, credit card bills from car expenses (also a symptom of the same "I have to have it now" mindset she'll display throughout this conversation...common among liberals and young college students). She also mentioned the $60 a month she is happy to pay for her health care costs, while apparently being nearly giddy about passing on the "$600 medical expenses" to the rest of us.  She's identified $794 of her income each month that goes to bills.  Granted, she's probably not enumerating all her bills.  That's fair.  But working two jobs, "50+ hours" a week and making "more than minimum wage by a lot" should be able to cover $794 with ease, since the minimum wage in Missouri just increased from $7.50 to $7.65 an hour.  That's a gross (at her figure of 50 hours, assuming she works six days a week) of around $1657 per month.  Take into consideration that she'll probably pay $39 a month in state tax and about $248.55 a month in Federal tax withholding.  

Granted, the balance of $575.45 is not a massive windfall of cash.  However, it is substantially more than a lot of families have left over at the end of the month.  Heck, half that figure dwarfs what I have left over at the end of many months! 

...yet again, I digress.

But Miranda said she makes "more than minimum wage by a lot," so the $575 would be a relatively conservative surplus from which she would purchase her food, fuel, utilities and entertainment requirements.  Meaning, her income should actually be "a lot" higher than the $1675 per month, right?  Yes, because $1675 is 7.65 per hour, 50 hours per week, figured on six workdays a week (since she mentioned that she has two jobs I figured she's probably not working just five days.  An admirable work-load for a full-time college student.)

(And wait... Didn't she say she was a student in Kansas City?  Why in the world is she bringing up the job market in and around Springfield??!! Could it be that she isn't actually in "KC?" Or perhaps that's where all her extra money goes... the three-hour commute from Springfield where she apparently works to "KC" where she apparently goes to school.)

...oops...another bunny trail.  OK, back to my subject. (We'll revisit basic math later.)

I appreciated Grant's response to her, which is why I included it in the screenshot and why I didn't blot out his name. (Actually, I just noticed that I'd forgotten to blot out his name and picture, but since I admire what he had to say and am praising it here, I figured he wouldn't mind.)

No, Miranda, I am not "presuming to know" what you spend your money on.  I'm simply looking at your words and numbers.  You should check your work, or did your college professors not teach you that?

Okay, okay... maybe it's unfair to hold Miranda to the same standards to which I hold myself.  Maybe.  But as of yet, I'm going by her word that she makes substantially more than minimum wage.  If I can support my family month to month by myself while making a a low-middle-class wage, surely she could support herself on two jobs, 50+ hours a week, making a lot more than minimum wage.  Surely, right?  (Okay, the voice in my soul is wanting me to apologize for sounding snarky...and I almost feel bad about it...but...nah.)

(Okay, yeah.  I'll admit this comment was snarky.  Probably shouldn't have said that.  I publicly apologize, Miranda.  No, wait.  Not really.)

So, wait.  Let's go back to something I asked her earlier, in light of what she says in this statement.  She chose to go to school in Kansas City (which, if her rent is any indication, isn't any more expensive to live in than Springfield), chose to make purchases on credit (whether for a car, car repairs, car accessories, or what, she wasn't clear), chooses to work at two jobs that don't offer healthcare (one of which, apparently by a shady "I'll cut you one hour short of getting benefits" method) even though last time I was in Kansas City I could've sworn I saw more than two businesses at which someone could work.  

...and somehow her choices are our financial responsibility.

...Oh, and I haven't had healthcare insurance for a long time.

But that's OK.  As long as Miranda has hers, and can morally justify my paying for it...and your paying for it...and your neighbor paying for it...

Alright, you're probably noticing that my patience is wearing thin with Miranda.  First of all, if you hadn't picked up on it, she's full of crap.  $1600 a month doesn't even come close to "50+ hours a week, working two jobs" and making "more than minimum wage by a lot."  It's actually less than minimum wage at 50 hours a week.  BUZZZZZZ!!!! (Go figure, a dishonest liberal...or one that can't do math...either way, that's part of the definition of liberal isn't it?)  I don't like people who are full of crap.  They smell bad.

And when she finished her last comment with "Soooooo..." she really ticked me off.  First of all, sarcasm has two purposes:  either to demonstrate your intellectual superiority over your listener or to bolster your otherwise weak position.  Miranda apparently can't do the most basic of math, follow the simplest of logic, or carry on the most basic of polite dialogue.  She, as they say 'round these parts, "done ticked me off."  Stupidity is often the loudest and most adamant of voices.

And then this horrible person (yes, I said it, and I mean it) boasts a second time about debts she is more than comfortable passing on to the shoulders of others.  Seriously, what kind of vile, putrid, pathetic human being is so blatantly comfortable about passing on his/her debts for someone else to pay?  The ultimate in selfishness and "I'll get mine, no matter who it hurts" attitude!

At some point, one has to realize that arguing with an idiot a fools errand.  

Sadly, idiots like Miranda make up a substantial percentage of our population: people who transfer the responsibility for their own choices onto the backs of everyone else.  

She doesn't like the word entitlement.  That's because the political term entitlement has a negative connotation, no matter which side of the political spectrum you're on.  The liberals haven't been able to find a way to co-opt that term and make it sound positive yet.  But, Miranda, if you feel entitled to an education and health-care, and who knows what other assistance you are getting, and you feel entitled to have your neighbors foot the bill, you have an entitlement attitude.  If you need further clarification, I'd be happy to buy you a dictionary to go along with the basic math book I'd like to send to you...at no cost to you.

I've gotten to a point where I'm not ranting and raving about politics and economics as much anymore.  You see, twenty or thirty years ago it was time for people to boldly and loudly scream about these topics.  Twenty or thirty years ago there was a chance of righting the ship and changing the direction of our nation. However, we've had more than one generation of students who have been spoon-fed the philosophies of Mao and Lenin all their lives. These philosophies have so invaded every aspect of our daily lives that we look to the government for every need we have.  Government has replaced our sense of hard work, accomplishment, and personal growth.  Government is our provider, protector, and educator.  

...and only a sad few seem to see a problem with that.

Our society is no longer approaching a cliff.  We stand with the tips of our heels on the cliff and the rest of our bodies leaning at a forty-five-degree angle over the edge.  The fall is inevitable.  The momentum is too strong, and changing the direction of a nation takes far too long.

I've gotten to the point that I am just bracing for the upcoming collapse, gritting my teeth in anger, rage, and a deep sadness at the death of America as we've known her, and preparing to dig out from the rubble and start over once the mass of idiots destroys itself.

Cynical?  Conflict-seeking?  No.  Realist.

And now for the apology.  I should not have used the word "idiot."  It has been my practice to avoid using inappropriate words to insult people.  I failed miserably in this post.  You see, "idiot" is actually a term used to describe those with diminished mental capacity, those with a naturally low intellect or with a condition impairing their ability to reason at the level of an average person.  My heart goes out to those people, and I apologize for accidentally insulting them by using this term when I should have merely said "liberal."

What To Remember When The Flames Close In...

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

 

 

 

When I arrived home this evening I logged into my Facebook page and saw a link to a news article that talked about a fire at the church my uncle pastors in Mesa, Arizona. Reading the article, I was able to find out that no one was hurt in the fire, but that there was extensive damage.  This is an obviously devastating loss to my uncle and his congregation, and my heart goes out to them as I lift them up in prayer.  I reached out to my cousin to make sure everyone was alright, and I'll contact my uncle in a day or so, when the shock of the event has settled some. 

 

As I sat and absorbed the thought of the fire and the overwhelming stress that must be engulfing my uncle and his wife, my heart broke.  I grieve inside because of the anguish I know they must feel along with the faithful parishioners at their church.

 

And then one word came to mind.

 

Sovereignty.

 

If you've ever experienced a great loss, you will understand this next statement:  When you're in great distress, the last thing you want to hear is that God has a plan.  I know when my father died I became angry when people told me He had a purpose in my loss.  When you're nursing deep wounds, you don't much care what the ultimate purpose is.  You only know you're hurting.  Well-meaning people say things to us that, while true, often sound clichéd and trite.  To have someone say "all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," can come across as callous and unfeeling.

 

And yet, the Word of the Lord stands true.  Regardless of the sensitivity and timing of people, the Word of the Lord stands true. 

 

As the years have gone by since my father's death, I've learned to differentiate the message from the messenger in situations like these.  I've learned that sometimes people simply want to feel helpful, so rather than remain silent, they speak the only words they can think of. 

 

So, as I was looking at photos of a fire that occurred today, some twelve hundred miles away, the word rang in my mind like a bell.  Sovereignty. 

 

You see, we've forgotten about sovereignty.  In our self-sufficient, Western culture, we hardly even understand the concept of sovereignty.  This crucial aspect of the very nature of the God we claim to serve is completely lost on us.  And, what little we do grasp of His sovereignty is often the object of our resentment.

 

Our culture teaches us that we must be self-sufficient, self-reliant, and self-important in order to be strong and at peace.  We're taught, even in churches sometimes, that we must fend for ourselves and rely on our intellect, strength, and common sense to navigate the storms of life.  If you're financially stable, emotionally balanced, and socially connected, you will have all the tools necessary to face any difficulty.

 

And then it happens.  Then the real difficulty hits.  Then the fire strikes.  Then a loved-one dies.  Then a major illness occurs.  And you're left to realize that all the social connection in the world is meaningless, all the financial stability upon which you once relied is gone, and your emotional stability lies crumbled at your feet.

 

As I watched the news footage of the Mesa fire today, I couldn't get the thought out of my mind that our Father is sovereign.  He answers to no one and His purposes are mysterious to us only because we often can't be trusted with the details.  He can do as He wishes, when He wishes, and for whatever purpose He chooses.

 

It sounds like a harsh truth.  One we don't want to hear.  But it shouldn't be.  It should come as a source of comfort!  Our God can do whatever He wishes!  He holds within His hand the power to create and to destroy.  He gives and He takes away.  He does so of His own accord and according to His own will.  He has chosen to never break a promise, and He's promised to carry us through our toughest times! Our God truly is magnificent and loving! 

 

As my uncle stands in the parking lot of the church he's pastored for the past fourteen years, the heavy scent of doused coals hanging thick in the air, I'm sure there are tears in his eyes.  I'm sure there's a deep ache in his heart.  I pray, though, that this same word will ring in his mind right now.

 

Sovereignty.

 

For, if we truly live in the faith we claim, we place our trust in a sovereign God.  He is faithful.  He is mighty.  He will never leave us, nor will He forsake us.  He always provides.  The God who was not created by anyone answers to no one.  Nothing can stop Him from accomplishing His will.

 

As my mind pictures Uncle David looking sadly upon the smoky debris of a burned out building, I picture a loving Father looking down, knowingly nodding. "I've got this all under control, son.  Trust in Me.  My love for you has never faltered and never will."

 

 

 

 

 

Please prayerfully consider contributing to this hurting congregation.

 

For those of you who have asked, there is now a PO Box address for financial donations regarding the church fire. If anyone would like to send in a financial donation/love gift of any amount (this would also be tax deductible) you can send it to the following: We appreciate your generosity, love and prayers during this difficult time.

NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
P.O. BOX 1325
MESA, AZ 85211

480-834-3312

www.mesanewlifeaog.org

 



Thank You. An Open Letter To My Wife

So... Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone.  On our Memorial Day we packed up the kids and took them to a park to play in the fountains.  As with, seemingly, any excursion into the wilds of American civilization, we saw far more adult female skin than we would have preferred.  Apparently, Midwestern girls are not all that I was led to believe as I grew up on the West Coast.  The phrase pure as the driven snow wasn't the image they seemed to be attempting to convey.

As I was guiding our little bundles of joy through the park, watching them playing in the water, and trying to continually bounce my eyes to skin-free scenery, a thought struck me.  There was a time when tattoos on women were a rarity.  They represented a rebellious, devil-may-care, rule-breaking attitude.  Often, women with ink were outcasts, the oddballs of society.  Usually, they were the folks who'd lived rougher, non-mainstream lives.  A woman with tattoos stood out because of her uniqueness and unwillingness to conform to societal norms.

Over the past few years, tattoos and piercings have become the norm.  Rarely do you see a woman who doesn't have ink.  Rarely do you see someone without some sort of bluish-green design peeking out from under a sleeve, creeping out from a neckline, or proudly displayed on an arm or leg.  Names, dragons, dolphins, stars, tears, skulls, all adorn every possible part of the bodies of ladies of all ages, all the way down to teenagers.  It's become so common that very soon I can foresee a time in which women without these colorful badges of honor will be considered the outcasts, the rebels, the bold ones.

And then I look at you.  My amazingly beautiful ray of sunshine.  The mere sight of you brings a smile to my face.  As corny as it may sound, when you walk into view it's as if light shines down from the sky directly on you.  Scenes reminiscent of Garth's first vision of his dreamgirl in Wayne's World play out in my head. 

In a society that sees the human form as a blank canvas upon which to color and scribe, I see you as God's perfect sculpture--finely crafted, flawless, perfected.  You lack the need to expose yourself to a tattoo artist to cover yourself with etchings, because you are already a masterpiece, a work of art upon which any human alterations would have the effect of graffiti on an otherwise beautiful statue.

And then I realize, in a very short time, you'll be considered a rebel for your refusal to conform to societal norms.  You'll be looked down upon by the very ones who revile those who've looked down on them and called them judgmental.  They will judge you for not being like them, the same as others have judged them in the past. 

So, I guess what I want to say is, thank you for being bold enough to be different.  Thank you for understanding that God created you perfectly, without the need for alterations and permanent adornments.  Thank you for honoring me as your husband by being modest and not exposing your flesh to the world.  Thank you for your moral strength.  Thank you for rebelling against the current fads.

I am grateful to you and for you.

I love you.

A Letter to My Children

A few days ago I watched the reports of a young woman humiliating herself on television and it set my mind in motion.  As of the writing of this letter, I have one adult son who is in the military, one teenage son who is in high school, one six-year-old son in first grade, and one 9-month-old daughter who is just learning to walk and talk.  I'm proud of you all and love you more than my own life.  You are on my mind every day, even on those days when I don't seem to reach out to you the way I should.

I tried to choose an image from the singer's performance
that showed the inappropriateness, but was the least
crude in what it depicted.  This was the best I could
come up with.

After watching a video of this young pop star, I began to think about the condition of the world into which you will all one day find yourself released.  The moral codes, the political climate, the crime, the education, the economy... These are all things that concern a parent.  

I spoke to a young man with whom I work, and he made a statement that caught me off-guard for a moment.  In regards to the sexualized gyrations and skimpy clothing this young woman chose to display, he said, "Look, girls dress and act like that at clubs and bars all the time.  The only reason this is getting noticed is because there were cameras and media there."  It makes sense.  Her behavior didn't really shock young people.  It's us older people who are out of touch with the youth party culture who seem to be standing aghast at her antics.

Now, I spent some time in clubs.  But, that was years ago.  Things were a bit different then.  His comment made me realize just how far things have come since my earlier days.  

It's an age-old thing.  People who lack important life-nutrients always find ways of seeking those things out, even when they don't realize that's what they're doing.  Children raised without strong, loving, stable parents will find ways to seek acceptance that are often unhealthy.  It isn't a new phenomenon.  In this pop star's case, we see a girl who grew up with a semi-absentee father who (admittedly) wanted to be her friend rather than an authority figure.  She grew up lacking the leadership that comes from a healthy relationship with a father. 

Not only that, but this beautiful young girl grew up in an affluent family, surrounded by people who constantly told her how great she was.  It's the way Hollywood works.  We build people up to the point of ridiculousness, then we criticize their every move.  We celebrate their external aesthetic features rather than focusing on the inner qualities that make a person great.  It's a superficial, topsy-turvy process that leaves countless unprepared young people destroyed in its wake. 

You are my children.  You are my sons and my daughter.  I love you with every fiber of my being.  And because I love you, I have a few things to say.  I am not perfect, or always right, or the smartest man in the world.  I am not infallible.  Sometimes I blow it.  Sometimes I make a fool of myself.  However, here are some promises I make to you:

I'm not always going to tell you what you want to hear.  Though one of the greatest joys in my life is to see your smile, that joy is outweighed by the joy of seeing you make wise decisions.  Those wise decisions will cause you to experience long-term fulfillment and to have a solid reputation that will serve you well throughout your life.  So I might adamantly disagree with you.  Please understand that the starting point of any discussion we might have is I love you.  Those three words are the foundation of every conversation we have.  I would rather anger you by telling you the truth than to stand back and watch you walk headlong into an oncoming railroad train.  So, expect to be angry with me from time to time.  I promise, it's for your own good.

I promise you will never have to wonder if your father loves you.  I may not always be good at showing it, but I will do everything in my power to solidify the fact in your mind.  I would give up my life for you.  I want nothing more than to spend time with you and to see you live a happy life.  My entire existence is committed to helping you do better in this world than I have done.

I promise to always listen.  I know it might seem awkward to talk openly with your father.  I know your friends might not understand your ability and desire to unashamedly discuss things with your father, but I want you to know that you can.  I promise to let you say what's on your mind and heart, and actually think about things from your viewpoint before I respond.  I can guarantee it won't always be easy for me, but I will do it because what you have to say is important and does have validity.

I promise to not always let you have your way.  The old phrase "as long as you live under my roof" will be in full effect here.  You see, I bear a responsibility in the eyes of God to raise you to be godly adults.  Godly adults are not self-centered, materialistic, lazy, or disrespectful.  I've been all of those things at one point or another, but God has changed me.  My job is to model a godly attitude to my children and require godly behavior in my household.  

I promise to celebrate your achievements.  When you go above and beyond what is required of you, I will celebrate in ways that will be obvious and probably a little embarrassing. I won't throw a party every time you pass a class or every time you clean your room.  I will, however, make an absolute spectacle of myself when you demonstrate your skills, talent, fortitude, and passion.  People who are celebrated when they do their jobs rarely have an incentive to excel.  Not everybody who plays a sport is a winner.  Not everyone who shows up for work deserves a promotion.  It is when you put in extra effort and reach beyond the basic requirements of a situation that you can achieve greatness.  I will lavish you with praise when you do something honorable, difficult, selfless, or creative.  Do something that demonstrates the greatness within you.

I promise I'll always be there for you when things don't go your way.  Even when you've done what we all do, making dumb choices, I'll be there.  There is nothing you could possibly do that would stop me from loving you.  I will always stand ready to be a shoulder to cry on when your world crumbles.  I'm not just your dad when things are good.  I'm your dad.

I'm far from perfect.  I'm no superhero.  But I will move heaven and earth to be what you need in a father.

I want you to see that your value lies not in the performances you put on for other people, but in the character you display when no one is looking.  I want to show you that you don't have to lower yourself to others' standards in order to be accepted.  I want to teach you to be so connected to true love that you immediately recognize the myriad counterfeits the world will throw your way.  I want to point you to the Truth that comes from above rather than settling with the perceptions of man.

I love you and always will.

Dad

This I Believe

In an age in which seemingly vast numbers of people are confused about their beliefs or experience an ongoing evolution in their belief system based upon public whims and political correctness, I see a need to make clear statements and acknowledge the beliefs that form the foundation of my character.  Therefore, I will take this opportunity to publicly state where I stand on the most important issues in history.

I believe God created the heavens and the earth.  In His unfathomable brilliance, He fashioned the stars and the planets, the moons and the space within which they move.

I believe since God created space and time, He is bound by neither.  This is the concept of omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence.  He is the beginning and the end, and sees all from where He stands.  Therefore, no circumstance or event is beyond His ability to control.  He is never surprised or caught off-guard.

I believe God is sovereign.  Though in many cases He has revealed His reasoning to us in His word, He is not obligated to do so.  He has chosen to order the universe the way He sees fit.  That is His right and His prerogative.  He does not need to condescend to explain Himself to me.  Likewise, mere mortal mankind is foolish in its attempts to refashion God in its own image, for He cannot be contained in human understanding or will.

I believe mankind chose selfishness and disobedience rather than honor and holiness.  Through this choice, sin entered the human race.  Because of that sin, mankind now struggles under the self-chosen curse of sinfulness.

I believe God poured out His righteous wrath on the earth in the form of a flood, nearly wiping out life on the earth.  This was a holy cleansing in which God not only showed His anger but also His mercy.

I believe God made a covenant with Israel when He chose to send His Son to dwell among them.  This covenant has often been broken by Israel, but has been upheld by the great Creator as He has protected, prospered and defended His chosen people throughout the ages.

I believe God sent His Son to dwell among men.  He was miraculously fully God and fully Man.  He was the perfect example of love in action, mercy exercised, and grace personified.  He was the only person to live a sinless life.  Because of the conflict between His sinlessness and the scourge of sin that clings to mankind like a plague, He was rejected by men, arrested, and murdered.

I believe Jesus, God's Son, arose from the grave victorious over death.  In this act, He demonstrated His transcendence of the laws of nature.  He is, once again, not bound by space or time.  He is all-powerful and undefeatable.

I believe Jesus ascended to heaven, where He now abides with the Father.

I believe God sent the Holy Spirit as a Comforter, to guide and direct those who have committed themselves to Him.  The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity, the three facets of the Personhood of God.

I believe mankind can have a personal relationship with Almighty God, through Jesus Christ.  That relationship is the ultimate reason for man's creation.  For, God desires that His creation should seek Him in love and worship.

I believe that maintaining a relationship with God requires devotion and commitment, that faith without works is dead and useless, and that our loving Father is willing to embrace imperfect humans who seek to honor Him in all they do.  He has given us the pathway to His embrace in His revealed Word.  Our task is to follow hard after Him by seeking to live by the precepts He has given us.

I believe that, just as selfishness and disobedience introduced sin into mankind, so selfishness and disobedience are the foundation upon which all sin is built.  This is why God revealed His commands to His people, starting with "You will have no other gods before Me."

I believe that a time is coming when Jesus will return to earth to catch away those who have embraced Him in this life, and that others who have ignored the message of Christ will be left behind.  Not everyone who calls himself a follower of Christ will be counted among the true believers.

I believe that God has given man the choice of his eternal destination, a literal heaven or a literal hell.  Heaven, a place where those who know and love God will spend eternity with Him, and hell, a place where those who have rejected God in favor of selfish pursuits and disobedience will spend eternity in the torment of separation from God.

I believe these things to be true.  Therefore, I believe it is my duty to share this knowledge and reach as many as possible, not because I am important or special, but because I'm indebted to my Creator for His many blessings and am filled with love for my fellow man.  I wish that all mankind would embrace the Truth of the Savior and reap the reward of eternal life with Him.

This is what I believe.  This is the message I deliver.  This is the passion of my heart.

Freezing the Tidal Wave...

If you're at all like me you're really plugged in.  You have a smartphone, a computer, maybe a tablet.  You listen to the news, you read.  There is a virtual tidal wave of information crashing against your cerebellum at any particular moment.  

A few minutes ago I was scrolling down my Facebook news feed, mindlessly scooping up tidbits of intellectual flotsam as I went.  Sheriff Joe's deputies responded to a call of an intruder shot by a homeowner. A high school friend wants to become a cat lady.  A former coworker has a bad rash.  You know, the typical Saturday morning Facebook feed (By the way, you might want to get a cream for that at the pharmacy.).  Then I picked up my phone and glanced at my Twitter account.  The Tweeps are active this morning.  The judge in the Zimmerman trial ruled out voice analysis of a 911 call. Django Unchained used the N word over 100 times and got an award while Paula Deen used it once over twenty years ago and got fired.  I checked my work email to find an update on the inventory process and a rousing encouragement to meet our store goals for the month.  I return a text message from my wife about the bank being closed on Saturday, and that Tuesday we should look into switching banks.

It's a tidal wave.  We live in an age in which we are flooded with a constant stream of facts and soundbites, gossip and memes, images and sounds that are supposed to make us feel more connected to one another than ever before.  However, Americans report being lonelier and more isolated than ever.  Why is that?

It's simple.  It's desensitization.  Just as I mindlessly rolled the wheel of my mouse and perused the treasure of Facebook entries on my news feed, we constantly absorb random bits of information about our surroundings and the people in our lives.  But the stuff that we absorb is just the cast-off, whimsical, non-threatening miscellany that does nothing but continue to deteriorate our attention spans. Squirrel!

Every technology that comes about to purportedly connect us to our world ends up creating more distance between us and the people and events that actually carry some importance in our lives.  We don't take the time to hand-write letters anymore.  Ain't nobody got time for that!  We can't carry on a face to face conversation because we keep getting interrupted by the incessant text messages that continually stir our ever present handsets to life.  We can't read a book, because it's usually done on a screen and there are so many tabs and distractions on the screen as well that we find it impossible to focus.  We think we know what's happening in the lives of those around us because of the pithy comments and status updates we see on our screens, but we fail to realize that behind those memes and pictures are people who are really struggling.

We've become a nation of momma's basement dwelling gamers who have no concept of reality, and it's simply because we're flooding our minds with miscellany and jumbled bits of randomness that our minds simply begin to go numb.  We shut down.  We lose focus.  We glaze over.  Focusing on something important  in our cluttered minds is often like searching a page from a Where's Waldo book.  The trivial crowds out the substantive facts.

We're more stressed than ever.  We're more tired than ever.  We're more distracted than ever.  We're more disconnected than ever.  And we do it to ourselves.  Our "down time" is spent surfing the web, watching television while checking our phones, tweeting and texting, and other forms of distraction.  A person can't even go to a movie theater without being distracted by the many cellphones that randomly light up when sending and receiving text messages.

So, what do we do about it?  We need to freeze the tidal wave.  We need to find solitude.  We need to study silence.  We sometimes simply need to unplug.  Jesus demonstrated this when, though the crowds were demanding His time and his disciples were always around, He "would withdraw to desolate places and pray [Luke 5:15-16]." (See also Mt. 14:23)

Sometimes we just need quiet.  We need to sit in the woods by ourselves.  We need to go for a long walk or a long drive.  We need to shut out the voices and simply listen.  Listen to the silence.  Experience the sounds of the birds in the trees as if it's the first time.  Hear the insects hopping among the blades of grass, the rustling of the leaves, the sound of your own heartbeat. Freeze the tidal wave of life's noise and ponder.  Get away from it all.  It'll completely change your outlook and mood.  It'll help you to refocus and rejuvenate.  

Try it.  You'll be better for it.  Your relationships will benefit.  Your emotions will benefit.  Your connection to God will benefit.

Freeze the tidal wave.

Just a Few Hours To Go...

Thirty year-old Lauren Rousseau was a permanent substitute teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary.  On December 14, 2012 she went to work like any other day.  Anyone who has ever worked with young children knows that the process of corralling youngsters is very similar to the job of herding cats.  This was Lauren's job, and she was hard at it that day.

Thirty-eight year-old Anthony Tempesta was a husband and father who worked as a bond broker for Cantor Fitzgerald in New York.  On September 11, 2001, he was working on the 105th floor of One World Trade Center.  It was his daughter's seventh birthday.  His wife had called him because their front door had been open when she awoke that morning.  He'd stayed on the phone with her while she'd checked the house for intruders.

Army Pfc. Michael Pearson was just twenty-two years old.  He had left a local furniture business job to join the military and have the opportunity to serve his country.  He was known for having a great sense of humor and loved "horsing around with his nieces and nephews."  He was at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas on November 5, 2009.

Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera was a wife and mother who was simply going about her daily activities, vacuuming out her minivan at a Shell station in Kensington, MD on October 3, 2002.  Life doesn't get more normal than that, right?  The mundane tasks of an ordinary day.  However, like those listed above her and like so many more, her time on earth was about to come to an end.

On Monday, two explosions rocked the finish-line area of the Boston Marathon.  Three died and scores were injured. Later, MITPD officer Sean Collier was murdered.  In West, TX, a fertilizer plant exploded killing fourteen and injuring nearly two hundred others.  An 8-month-old girl was killed and her mother badly injured when a driver hit a bus stop in a St. Louis suburb.

The people I've listed here were just like you and me.  They had families, lives, jobs and daily duties.  They had bills, stresses, successes and failures. They were imperfect yet beautiful creatures who were trying to do the best they could in the world.

If you're like me at all, your heart's desire is to give your children a better life than your own.  You work hard, whether in an office, a factory, or in your home.  You end your days tired from your daily activities and you get up in the morning to repeat the cycle.  You have bills that you sometimes have to struggle to pay.  You have stresses from employers, neighbors or family members that cause you to sometimes lose sleep.

Sound familiar?  It's a story as old as time.  We all have such circumstances and stresses.  We have people we love and who love us.  We have certain obligations that we spend a large amount of time trying to meet.  We have joys and we have struggles.  It's just part of being human.

The thing that struck me today, in the wake of this week's violence and mayhem was the suddenness of the events that took their lives.  These people--and the countless just like them--were simply going about their business.  Do you think they awoke on their fateful morning thinking that they had just a few hours to go?

Probably not.  And neither did I this morning when I left for work.  Neither did you when you started your day today.  And yet, today could be that day.  It can come by human hand, by illness, or by happenstance.  Life can be extinguished in an instant. James 4:14 says:  "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

It sounds pretty ominous, doesn't it?  Yet, in another verse, scripture says: "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

So, what's my point?  The Bible tells us how fleeting life is, yet we're not supposed to worry about it.  Interesting, and so counter-intuitive, right?  It's a piece of cake, actually.  

Yes, life is fleeting.  Yes, life can be snuffed out or radically changed in an unexpected instant.  And no, we are not to worry about it.  And... yes, it is possible!  You see, when you've given your life to Christ, committed your very existence and all your plans and ambitions to Him, the "peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7)  When the Spirit of God thrives within you, there is no room for fear.  God is love and "perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

When you've given yourself to Christ, you recognize His sovereignty and His power.  He is then in charge of your well-being.  If He is sovereign in our lives, then we must choose to believe that He has the right to decide what comes our way.  That way we can live in that peace that passes understanding--that peace that, no matter what's going on around us, places its trust in our sovereign God.  That's true peace.  That's peace that doesn't rely on my strengths or weaknesses, but places trust in God, Who has no weaknesses!  

You can have this peace.  All you have to do is stop relying on yourself or others for your assurance.  Turn to God, Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  My email address is 2010.michaelland@gmail.com.