Check out this profile from Acme's dating service:
Hi, I'm Biff. I am witty, charming, and romantic. I sweep the ladies right off their feet. And, I have had my share of them. I have been married to four women. The last "lucky lady" is still married to me although she disappeared and hasn't been seen since October 2007. I say that she ran off with another man but the nosy state police, prosecutors and media insist that I had something to do with her disappearance. They claim that my past makes me suspicious. So let me tell you about my experience:
I was married to my first wife, Carol, for six whole years. She has told others that I was controlling and claims that I cheated on her. What can I say? She's just bitter. Vicki, my second wife claim alleges that I told her the following: I can kill you and make it look like an accident. Oh well, she can't prove it. Kathleen, my third wife, whose body was found in a dry bathtub and whose death was ruled a drowning had previously sought a restraining order against me and filed for divorce. We were still married when the "accident" occurred. I met my fourth wife, Stacey, and started dating her when she was 17 years old. I was 47 years young at the time. My mind is a little fuzzy but perhaps I was still married to Kathleen when we started dating. Anyway, Stacey is not around anymore. I'm looking to date and marry again. Love ya!
Do you expect this bio to receive an overwhelming response? It is based on Drew Peterson a former Bolingbrook, IL police officer whose last wife's disappearance has made national headlines. Yet and still, he is now reportedly engaged to someone. The bible says that love can overlook a plethora of faults. ( Proverbs 10:12 and1st Peter 4:8) It refers to the love of God towards us and the love of people towards one another. Those who are in love do overlook the loved one's faults. In fact, it is said that a marriage can not survive if this is not practiced. However, to respond to that profile begs the question:is it love or is it desparation?
We in this society are too trusting. People will move in with someone they barely know. Also, people have been known to marry someone within weeks of meeting. The heart shouldn't be ignored but neither should the brain.
*I do not mean to make light of the plights of Kathleen Savio or Stacey Peterson but simply mean to make a point.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Antesque
I took the winter wear out of the closet and placed it on to my clothing rack some time between Election Day and Thanksgiving, purchased much of my winter time grocery staples this past weekend, and completed a few of the winterizing task for my car. The cream of wheat, along with accompanying brown sugar, and split pea shells are supplied for the long run. It is always my goal to be fully prepared by the December 1st that precedes the official Winter Solstice. I refer to this annual seasonal planning as an antesque approach to life.
The “Ant and the Grasshopper “is one of the renowned Aesop’s fables. The ant works feverishly throughout the warm months collecting and storing food to get ready for winter while his friend the grasshopper hangs out slouching the summer away. Winter arrives and finds the ant warm and well fed while his grasshopper friend is freezing and starving to death. The ant rebukes his friend when asked for assistance. He tells the grasshopper you had all summer to prepare for this but did not so forget it. The story concludes with the moral that explains that idleness will bring about bad results.
The Holy Bible speaks to this subject. King Solomon, whose name is synonymous with wisdom, is credited as the author of the book of Proverbs. His reign ended roughly three hundred years prior to Aesop’s birth. He referred to the ant’s notorious work ethic on at least two occasions. (see Proverbs 6:6 and 30:26) The bible underscores this notion even more explicitly in 2Thessalonians 3:10, where it states “…that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Lest I had been better prepared, many of my hardships could have been avoided or their effects mitigated. I understand many things happen and it is impossible to foresee and prepare for every possible misfortune, however preparation is a necessary part of life. A lack of planning can truly be disastrous. If you don’t believe me just ask the grasshopper.
The “Ant and the Grasshopper “is one of the renowned Aesop’s fables. The ant works feverishly throughout the warm months collecting and storing food to get ready for winter while his friend the grasshopper hangs out slouching the summer away. Winter arrives and finds the ant warm and well fed while his grasshopper friend is freezing and starving to death. The ant rebukes his friend when asked for assistance. He tells the grasshopper you had all summer to prepare for this but did not so forget it. The story concludes with the moral that explains that idleness will bring about bad results.
The Holy Bible speaks to this subject. King Solomon, whose name is synonymous with wisdom, is credited as the author of the book of Proverbs. His reign ended roughly three hundred years prior to Aesop’s birth. He referred to the ant’s notorious work ethic on at least two occasions. (see Proverbs 6:6 and 30:26) The bible underscores this notion even more explicitly in 2Thessalonians 3:10, where it states “…that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Lest I had been better prepared, many of my hardships could have been avoided or their effects mitigated. I understand many things happen and it is impossible to foresee and prepare for every possible misfortune, however preparation is a necessary part of life. A lack of planning can truly be disastrous. If you don’t believe me just ask the grasshopper.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Check yourself before you wreck yourself
Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, my native state, was arrested by the F.B.I. for extortion. The Governor has the constitutional right to choose the Senator from his state when the Senate seat becomes open. Upon the election of Sen. Barack Obama to the presidency his seat will officially be open when he is inaugurated. Gov. Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell the Senate post to the highest bidder.
The ensuing investigations have snared the good name of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the renowned activist Jesse Jackson. He thus far is not accused of any wrong doing. This episode is the latest in a string of corruption cases to sting Illinois politics. Three Illinois governors have been sent to prison including Dan Walker and George Ryan. It has been speculated that former Governor Jim Edgar declined an additional run for office because skeletons threatened to emerge from his closet. I hate to admit it but we Illinoisans simply shrug upon hearing of this scandal.
The priorities of the people involved supply the root of the problem. Apparently some are willing to purchase the Senate seat whereas Gov. Blagojevich is allegedly willing to sell it. We, believers included, must be careful that our ambitions do not overtake us. We must honestly look within, for those who are willing to do anything to achieve their goals, even with regard to legitimate aspirations, run the risk of letting a desire become more important than the Lord. This is idolatry.
The first of the “ten commandments” declares “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) The danger of unbridled ambition (and this is especially true of church folk) is that it can destroy our relationship with God. We must be mindful of the Apostle Paul’s admonition that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God. (see 1st Corinthians 6:9)
Many effects are of great value; however none are worth an eternity in Hell. Therefore, we must heed the rhetorical question posed by Jesus: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 & Matthew 16:26)
We must control our ambitions lest our ambitions control us.
The ensuing investigations have snared the good name of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the renowned activist Jesse Jackson. He thus far is not accused of any wrong doing. This episode is the latest in a string of corruption cases to sting Illinois politics. Three Illinois governors have been sent to prison including Dan Walker and George Ryan. It has been speculated that former Governor Jim Edgar declined an additional run for office because skeletons threatened to emerge from his closet. I hate to admit it but we Illinoisans simply shrug upon hearing of this scandal.
The priorities of the people involved supply the root of the problem. Apparently some are willing to purchase the Senate seat whereas Gov. Blagojevich is allegedly willing to sell it. We, believers included, must be careful that our ambitions do not overtake us. We must honestly look within, for those who are willing to do anything to achieve their goals, even with regard to legitimate aspirations, run the risk of letting a desire become more important than the Lord. This is idolatry.
The first of the “ten commandments” declares “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) The danger of unbridled ambition (and this is especially true of church folk) is that it can destroy our relationship with God. We must be mindful of the Apostle Paul’s admonition that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God. (see 1st Corinthians 6:9)
Many effects are of great value; however none are worth an eternity in Hell. Therefore, we must heed the rhetorical question posed by Jesus: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 & Matthew 16:26)
We must control our ambitions lest our ambitions control us.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Praise Report
“Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of the sabaoth” (James 5:4 KJV)
“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of host.” (Malachi 3:5 KJV)
A praise report is due. The embattled employees of Republic Window have finally achieved justice. The workers won a hard earned $1.75 million settlement following an arduous six day sit in protest that attracted the nation’s attention. The workers faced the bleak prospect of receiving nothing in the way of payment following the sudden closing of the factory. And so they resisted.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1325592,chicago-republic-window-and-door-sitin-121008.article
The dissent proceeded peaceably even as it forced a financial Goliath, Bank of America, to honor their commitment. Congratulations is due to the organizers and supporters, notably Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who helped bring about a happy ending to the Republic saga. The sit in demonstrated the maxim that I learned as an organizer: “you can’t win at the bargaining table what you lost in the streets”. However, most of all praise is due to God.
God is a God of justice. His word repeatedly condemns those who would deny workers that which is due to them. Furthermore, the Old Testament is littered with his prophets uttering disapproval of oppression and injustice. Amos, Isaiah and Ezekiel, for example, were critical of the leaders of Israel and Judah for their oppressive measures. Justice is generally defined as being or doing that which is right. The Lord cares about justice because what is just is what is right.
“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of host.” (Malachi 3:5 KJV)
A praise report is due. The embattled employees of Republic Window have finally achieved justice. The workers won a hard earned $1.75 million settlement following an arduous six day sit in protest that attracted the nation’s attention. The workers faced the bleak prospect of receiving nothing in the way of payment following the sudden closing of the factory. And so they resisted.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1325592,chicago-republic-window-and-door-sitin-121008.article
The dissent proceeded peaceably even as it forced a financial Goliath, Bank of America, to honor their commitment. Congratulations is due to the organizers and supporters, notably Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who helped bring about a happy ending to the Republic saga. The sit in demonstrated the maxim that I learned as an organizer: “you can’t win at the bargaining table what you lost in the streets”. However, most of all praise is due to God.
God is a God of justice. His word repeatedly condemns those who would deny workers that which is due to them. Furthermore, the Old Testament is littered with his prophets uttering disapproval of oppression and injustice. Amos, Isaiah and Ezekiel, for example, were critical of the leaders of Israel and Judah for their oppressive measures. Justice is generally defined as being or doing that which is right. The Lord cares about justice because what is just is what is right.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Where is the Christ in Christmas ?
I wrote about our local “holiday parade” in the Gold Standard’s Friday 11/28/08 entry. The commentary emphasized the decision to call it a holiday festival instead of referring to it as a Christmas celebration. The name notwithstanding, the merriment centered on themes related to Christmas. The event overwhelmingly highlighted the secular aspects of the Christmas holiday. Nonetheless, the holiday is still Christmas.
The word Christmas is a combination of the words Christ and mass. Christ is the title that Jesus holds. Christ identifies the role Jesus performs the same way that captain, president, and principal identify the people who fulfill these respective functions. Christ refers to the anointed one. The word anointed in this frame of reference means chosen. The contemporary use of the word mass refers to a religious service namely of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the root meaning of this word relates to a gathering of people, particularly for the purpose of celebrating something. Christmas, therefore can be translated as a celebration of the Christ, the anointed one.
Christmas is a party for Jesus. In this case, it is a birthday party for Jesus. Something occurred to me while watching the “holiday” Christmas themed parade. Where is the local church presence at the Christmas parade? It was virtually nonexistent. Perhaps two or three vehicles represented churches.
Why is the church practically absent at a city wide celebration of something that is nominally a birthday party for Jesus? I don’t know. However, I do know that we as the church body are blowing a wonderful opportunity to evangelize. This type of church inactivity may be why the holiday has been secularized so much that a nativity scene spotting is going the way of the passenger pigeon.* Jesus said we are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14) The world should see the church of Jesus Christ during the birthday season of Jesus Christ.
I am not here to be on the soapbox. I understand that responsibility for this state of affairs rest with me as well. To that end, I would appreciate any suggestions from the few people who read the Gold Standard. We as believers need to be seen and heard. Moreover, Jesus needs to be seen and heard especially at Christmas.
* The passenger pigeon refers to a bird that once numbered in the millions, possibly billions, but is now extinct.
The word Christmas is a combination of the words Christ and mass. Christ is the title that Jesus holds. Christ identifies the role Jesus performs the same way that captain, president, and principal identify the people who fulfill these respective functions. Christ refers to the anointed one. The word anointed in this frame of reference means chosen. The contemporary use of the word mass refers to a religious service namely of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the root meaning of this word relates to a gathering of people, particularly for the purpose of celebrating something. Christmas, therefore can be translated as a celebration of the Christ, the anointed one.
Christmas is a party for Jesus. In this case, it is a birthday party for Jesus. Something occurred to me while watching the “holiday” Christmas themed parade. Where is the local church presence at the Christmas parade? It was virtually nonexistent. Perhaps two or three vehicles represented churches.
Why is the church practically absent at a city wide celebration of something that is nominally a birthday party for Jesus? I don’t know. However, I do know that we as the church body are blowing a wonderful opportunity to evangelize. This type of church inactivity may be why the holiday has been secularized so much that a nativity scene spotting is going the way of the passenger pigeon.* Jesus said we are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14) The world should see the church of Jesus Christ during the birthday season of Jesus Christ.
I am not here to be on the soapbox. I understand that responsibility for this state of affairs rest with me as well. To that end, I would appreciate any suggestions from the few people who read the Gold Standard. We as believers need to be seen and heard. Moreover, Jesus needs to be seen and heard especially at Christmas.
* The passenger pigeon refers to a bird that once numbered in the millions, possibly billions, but is now extinct.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tis not the Season
The angels, ambassadors of God, approached some chosen shepherds with news of the Christ child’s arrival into the world. (Luke 2:9-14 Holy Bible) They conveyed a message about an event that should delight all those who hear about it. Upon their return to heaven, the celestial chorus cried out in concert “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
The angels’ song is synonymous with what the Christmas holiday represents.
It is only fitting that Christmas epitomizes the high point of the human experience. The holiday, when celebrated correctly, honors a divine act of love selfless and passionate in its expression. So how did “Black Friday” become a part of the Christmas season? And since when does seeking a bargain arouse our worse instincts? The recent events on each coast are troubling.
Men shot at one another at a toy store in San Diego. Who brings a gun to a toy store anyway? A frenzied crowd of bargain hunters stampeded a security guard to death at an East seaboard Wal-Marts. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081129/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_death;
I know this is extreme out of the ordinary behavior. Still, it is a disturbing commentary on us. The fact that someone would camp out in front of a store all night long for a bargain is bothersome in itself. Episodes of violence further show that we have gone astray.
The gift giving and surrounding hoopla have become too important to some of us. A holiday that celebrates the love of God and the birth of our savior Jesus Christ is now used as an excuse to bask in the excess for which we Americans are known. God is not pleased with this. Let us put Christ back into Christmas and we will have peace and goodwill toward all.
The angels’ song is synonymous with what the Christmas holiday represents.
It is only fitting that Christmas epitomizes the high point of the human experience. The holiday, when celebrated correctly, honors a divine act of love selfless and passionate in its expression. So how did “Black Friday” become a part of the Christmas season? And since when does seeking a bargain arouse our worse instincts? The recent events on each coast are troubling.
Men shot at one another at a toy store in San Diego. Who brings a gun to a toy store anyway? A frenzied crowd of bargain hunters stampeded a security guard to death at an East seaboard Wal-Marts. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081129/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_death;
I know this is extreme out of the ordinary behavior. Still, it is a disturbing commentary on us. The fact that someone would camp out in front of a store all night long for a bargain is bothersome in itself. Episodes of violence further show that we have gone astray.
The gift giving and surrounding hoopla have become too important to some of us. A holiday that celebrates the love of God and the birth of our savior Jesus Christ is now used as an excuse to bask in the excess for which we Americans are known. God is not pleased with this. Let us put Christ back into Christmas and we will have peace and goodwill toward all.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Everyone Loves A Parade
A glorious caravan of floats, fire engines, marching bands, mascots, and other assorted festive moving parts will promenade through the ornamental tree lined streets in the heart of my home town tonight. It is a highly anticipated spectacle that arrives the day after Thanksgiving each year. It has but one flaw: the name, the Annual Holiday Festival and Parade.
The myriad cast that travels a two mile stretch through our downtown and attracts thousands of spectators, represent symbols associated with Christmas. Yet, for some reason we can not call it the Christmas Festival and Parade. The name is part of a disturbing trend of removing Christ out of Christmas celebrations.
Nativity scenes have become a relic in public displays of a holiday that is derived from the historical event depiced in the scene. All that remain are the secular images of Christmas, Santa Clause, elves, reindeer and the like. Don't get me wrong. I am not a grouch. I like these things. However, such niceties are merely marginal to the real meaning of Christmas. The incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the accompanying grace this represents is the root of the Christmas holiday.
Would we ask people to celebrate Columbus day without making mention of the man, his name, or accomplishments? How about we celebrate on July 4th without speaking of our nation's origins? And forbid people to raise the flag on that day. Lets have Presidents Day without the presidents. The aforementioned examples sound ridiculous but the public accepts the ideal of a Christless Christmas without batting an eyelash.
It is time for logic and good sense to prevail. God gave Jesus to the world incarnated in the likeness of humanity to save and liberate us, from ourselves. (see John 1st chapter Holy Bible)
If God did not do this we would not have Christmas or anything else to celebrate. Give the Lord his due and allow us to celebrate the Christmas holiday and he who brought it to us.
The myriad cast that travels a two mile stretch through our downtown and attracts thousands of spectators, represent symbols associated with Christmas. Yet, for some reason we can not call it the Christmas Festival and Parade. The name is part of a disturbing trend of removing Christ out of Christmas celebrations.
Nativity scenes have become a relic in public displays of a holiday that is derived from the historical event depiced in the scene. All that remain are the secular images of Christmas, Santa Clause, elves, reindeer and the like. Don't get me wrong. I am not a grouch. I like these things. However, such niceties are merely marginal to the real meaning of Christmas. The incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the accompanying grace this represents is the root of the Christmas holiday.
Would we ask people to celebrate Columbus day without making mention of the man, his name, or accomplishments? How about we celebrate on July 4th without speaking of our nation's origins? And forbid people to raise the flag on that day. Lets have Presidents Day without the presidents. The aforementioned examples sound ridiculous but the public accepts the ideal of a Christless Christmas without batting an eyelash.
It is time for logic and good sense to prevail. God gave Jesus to the world incarnated in the likeness of humanity to save and liberate us, from ourselves. (see John 1st chapter Holy Bible)
If God did not do this we would not have Christmas or anything else to celebrate. Give the Lord his due and allow us to celebrate the Christmas holiday and he who brought it to us.
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