A response to: Straight, Conservative Preacher’s Wife Drops a Transgender Truth Bomb Nobody Saw Coming

A response to:  Straight, Conservative Preacher’s Wife Drops a Transgender Truth Bomb Nobody Saw Coming  

1.  The Target restroom situation, realistically, needn’t have anything to do with supporting, or not supporting, "a leftist company" or the LGBT agenda. 

A man is a man, a woman is a woman, a boy is a boy, and a girl is a girl.  It’s science, supported by a wealth of empirical evidence.  Public restrooms have been labeled and used accordingly, with the reasonable expectation by women there will be no man in the ladies' room.  “Boycotting” is apparently an incendiary word or activity now, and I’ve no reason to employ it anyway, as it’s sufficient for me to say I will avoid shopping in any store where I may encounter a man in the ladies' room.  I literally shrugged as I placed a period at the end of that sentence.  No hatred.  No agenda.  No moralizing.  Freedom of choice.  

The thought of encountering a man in the ladies' room would be laughable, if it wasn’t so...not amusing. 

2.  Okay, let’s talk about boycotting after all. 

Target should not be fined or closed on account of discriminating against women who do not want men in the ladies room with them.  Neither should there be a fine levied upon a bakery that doesn’t want to create a wedding cake which transgresses the owner’s religious beliefs.  Don’t like the policies of a business?  DON’T SHOP THERE. 

Christian hypocrisy isn’t even in the Target restroom picture.  Additionally, no one – and certainly no long arm of the civil government – is forcing Target to do, or not do, anything.  Maybe that is hypocritical.
  
Let Target rise or fall on the merit of its doings, gaining or losing customers.  
Let the bakery rise or fall on the merit of its doings, gaining or losing customers.

3.  A “family restroom” is . . . a family restroom, and one’s expectation when passing through the door is that one may find inside any combination of men, women, boys, and girls.  It’s nice that stores offer family restrooms, and I’ve no idea why this is included in the original article.

4.  Restroom “terror?”  That hadn’t crossed my mind, so I’m thinking about it now. 

I’ve finished thinking about it:  No. 

I’d say matters of modesty, expectation, science, and sanity are at issue when Target discriminates against women who expect there to be only females in the ladies' room.  Since my now-expectation is that I might encounter a man in the ladies' room at Target, I will not be shopping at Target.  To me, that seems like a very reasonable, rational, unemotional decision.

5.  It’s my understanding a woman who feels like she’s a man, or a man who feels like he’s a woman, can use the Target restroom matching his or her feelings, rather than their actual, factual sex.  If I am washing my hands next to a man who feels like he’s a woman, I’m pretty sure I’m going to know he’s a man.  The author’s children might be "confused" or "a little scared" if they encounter the opposite sex in a sex-assigned restroom?  The author recognizes even a child understands men are men, and women are women, and finding either in the wrong sex-assigned restroom can be disturbing.  

6.  Number six has nothing to do with Target’s – or any store’s – restrooms, and appears to be included simply for the cause of shifting the focus to demeaning the Body of Christ, the biblical Church, which has never claimed self-righteousness and has love toward all.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  (1 Timothy 1:15)

That’s the attitude of the members of the Church, the Body of Christ.

Only Jesus was sinless, so I wonder why the author would choose to bring attention to her children having been hurt by "a whole bunch of church people."  I don't know what church people are, but the reference seems to be an allusion to professing Christians.  Have her children been hurt by school people?  Neighborhood people?  Playground people?  Swimming pool people?  Or do only church people harm her children?  The charge seems odd.

No one need wait for, hope for, or seek an encounter with a pitifully confused man in the ladies' room in order to teach his or her own children to love others, including the wounded, the broken, and those lost in their sins.  And please do not.  We might consider the prudence of teaching our children that welcoming men into the ladies' room is, at best, disorderly and inappropriate.

[Aside: By all means, if God has called you to testify of His love and His ways to people in Target restrooms, I believe you should obey the call.]

7.  The author’s definition of “pervert” is a mystery to me, particularly when used as she has in an article about men who feel like they’re women being welcome in a public ladies' rooms.  I agree with the admonition to be cautious at all times, in all places, especially in a day when all manner of evil is called good, and good is called evil, thereby licensing by means of cultural adoption “do as you please.” [See dictionary entry: pervert]

8.  Not wanting to encounter a man in the ladies' room has nothing to do with “love” or “fighting,” rather with common sense, reality, science, and facts.  So calling a decision – individual or en masse – to not shop where one may encounter a man in the ladies' room “THE BIG ONE” seems a little shrill.

Has there been a public "temper tantrum?"  Frankly, I simply don’t know.  If there has, I haven’t seen it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not out there, and people of every persuasion can be guilty of not comporting themselves with aplomb on occasion. 

The inference that not wanting to share the ladies' room with a man – whether he feels like a woman or not – makes one a pharisee feels like an unwarranted stone has been hurled at the Church.  And any intimation that Jesus didn’t specifically tell people to stop sinning, seems dangerously errant. 

It appears neither loving nor reasonable to shame people who prefer to shop where men and women use restrooms assigned to their factual sex.  

The poor people who have perverted, deviant ideas about their sexuality are being encouraged to act that out, rather than being helped to embrace the truth.  Welcoming into the ladies' room men who feel like women is neither loving nor Christlike.  (Again, the concept of teaching our children about love and sin by admitting confused men into a public ladies' room seems extraordinarily strange.)
 
Never did Jesus say, “Continue in your sins.”  Neither did He offer to aid us to continue to sin or make us more comfortable with sinning.  He loved us, therefore, to do so would have been preposterous.    

God recommends not an open mind, but a mind anchored in His word and His ways.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”  (Psalm 1:1-3)

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

There doesn’t need to be any religious thought whatsoever involved in the public restroom assignment issue, for empirical evidence clearly provides proof that men are men, and women are women.  It’s genuine science.  At issue is merely whether or not men and women can expect only men in the men’s room and women in the ladies’ room.  Target is discriminating against men and women who want sex-assigned restrooms in the stores where they shop.

Yet, pretending there is no spiritual element involved when mankind embraces a clearly religious attempt to override factual creation with the fancies of men’s minds, thereby altering the culture, and discriminating against people who know God created us male and female, would be disingenuous.  That is spiritual.  It is religious.  And that would be a reason for The Church to lift her voice.  If she's going to love like Jesus did, be like Jesus, she should.

Judging

A county official was caught doing drugs in a public place.  He’s confessed and been arrested.  

His mug shot preceded the news headline.  He looked pretty gnarly in the photo.  And sad.  I felt sorry for him. 

This is a man whose profession required achievement of a set goal, determination, an enormous measure of study to earn an advanced degree, then specialized training.  Given his apparent age, I presume he performed the tasks of his profession for a long time, perhaps making abundant provision for a wife and children.  Now he is publicly disgraced, and his career is likely ended.

I noticed there was a comment beneath the news item: a single word, the definition of which is “a low, worthless, or evil person.”
 
This public official is no more low, worthless, or evil than I, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  (James 2:10) 

How do we determine what is right and what is wrong?  Why are there laws?  Who had the audacity to make them, and on what authority?  In the most widely accepted world paradigm, survival of the fittest is law, in reality and practice lawlessness.  Yet there are laws, judges, juries, fines, punishments, prisons, and most strident and unbridled of all, public opinion.  A whale of a lot of judging and meting out of punishments.

I have stood guilty before the Judge of the whole of creation, from Whom came everyone’s understanding: there is that which is right, and there is that which is wrong.  We’re not animals, and the standard is not survival of the fittest, and the Judge has revealed Himself to every person, so that all are without excuse.  The public official has been, and shall be, judged.  So have been, and shall be, I.  All according to law, the schoolmaster which is to teach us all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  (Romans 1:18, 19)

Setting the standards of right and wrong I don’t believe is within my purview.  God has done that, and I believe what He’s said.  All of it.  I agree with God on this part, but that part, nuh-uh.  I don’t like that part.  Self aggrandizement or silliness.  It’s not quite as silly as believing -- whether one recognizes or admits to this glaring fly in the ointment -- there arose from an explosion a particle that metamorphosed into an ability to judge right from wrong according to any standard, be it Self's, Community's, Collective's, Herd's, or God's.

What I think is irrelevant, and I am no person's judge.  What God says matters, and He's offered forgiveness and full pardon to all who will come: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (Romans 6:23)
 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  1 John 1:7-8

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

Off and On the Hook

Off the hook.

If Baby NoName is a girl:

This block pattern was simple to crank out, so the blankie came together quickly.  

One would think it's winter already, as I sit ensconced in skeins.  Just practicing; not warming up, but cooling off.  If the view through the windows wasn't so verdant, I might even be able to imagine a blizzard.  Cloudy skies and leafy branches swaying in the breeze will serve, for it isn't a dress rehearsal, and I'm simply enjoying the script.

My fellows went fishing today, and I sent them off with a request they bring home some whales.  They aimed to please and hit the mark.  On the hook:

 
Girl hooks and guy hooks: crankin' 'em out and reelin' 'em in.  It works.

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.  -Daniel 2:20-22 

Man Compliment

Charles noticed the stack of 42 (forty-two) crocheted blocks on my table and asked, "What are you going to do with those?"

Mastering a block pattern new to me, when I finished the blanket for "Baby NoName" (Charles' current name for one-on-the-way), I didn't feel finished with cranking out the blocks.  So I planned an afghan to replace the tired quilt on the rack in the living room.  The quilt wasn't nearly as tired as I was tired of looking at it, but now I had cause to replace it.  So to answer Charles' question, I said, "I'll make an afghan.  There, look at the baby blanket, and you'll understand what I'm going to do with them," and I pointed to the folded bundle on the corner of the table.

In order for you to better understand, or fully appreciate, his "compliment," I'll show you a section of the afghan which came together from the stack of blocks that first caught his eye:

"Wow, that's really awesome!" he said of the white and yellow baby blanket.

"Is it really?" I asked, for I hadn't been entirely satisfied with it.  I'd begun making blocks with a white yarn I must have inherited from my mother, for when I came to the end of the skein and needed more blocks, I discovered the yarn is no longer available to purchase.  A long and tedious search for it had resulted in at least being able to buy on eBay someone's skein of "banana."  With a sigh, the envisioned, lovely, white baby blanket became a patchwork of yellow and white.  I couldn't help but be disappointed.  Yet, Charles thought it was "awesome."  I could go with awesome.  But next, he delivered the compliment extraordinaire.  Remember, I'd asked, "Is it really?"

"Yeah, spiders couldn't even do that!"

Oh.  Thank you.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  - Hebrews 11:3

Diabetes and Okra

This article -- What Are the Benefits of Okra for People with Diabetes? -- seems to provide a reasoned and reasonable treatment of the topic.

I noticed a meme recommending the daily ingestion of “okra water” as treatment for diabetes: nip the okra ends, pierce the sides, and leave in water overnight.  Drink the resulting swill in the morning.   Every morning.  Okra sorely offends me, but moreso would diabetes.

Interested, I grabbed the meme-fashioned tutorial and tucked it away in my Health folder.  When I had time, I sought to vet the claim.  Snopes -- who I trust as much as I trust fat cat Purrle to not dump the wastebasket in the night if there are chicken bones in it --  to my surprise, was not able to entirely dash the claimed benefits of leaving okra overnight in a glass of water and ingesting the resulting liquid.

I found this particular snippet in the Snopes article, quoted from Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes (2012),  noteworthy:

“There is anecdotal evidence for the amelioration of diabetes by dietary consumption of okra but what are lacking are controlled clinical trials. There are constituents of okra such as polyphenolic molucules [sic] that provide encouragement for such studies in the future.”  Snopes Article  

You don’t say.  It’s a positive admission I wasn’t expecting to find.  Which august body, though, would deign to conduct such trials?  The FDA?  The pharmaceutical industry?  Heh.  I daresay this will be one left to the general public, with only anecdotal evidences from which to draw knowledge.

Information garnered from the Internet is as trustworthy as is the stranger who posted it.  Perhaps okra water (or daily eating the slimy vegetable) should be filed in everyone’s Health folder, so it can be tried by those we know who might benefit from it.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  -Matthew 10:29-31

I Found the Lost Tomatoes

And the 265 other photos.

This is a shadow one doesn't want cast upon her curtains.

SugarPlum made magazine art when she was last here for a visit.

I caught Son4 before the mirror in the kitchen,
admiring his harvest earrings.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD.  -Psalm 150:6

A Dinner Party

Yesterday, I had a lovely conversation with a dear friend.  Reflecting upon it now, the story of this dinner party comes to mind:

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him.  And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner." 
 
And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee."

And he saith, "Master, say on."

"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.  Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?"

Simon answered and said, "I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most."

And he said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged."

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, "Seest thou this woman?  I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

And he said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven."

Luke 7:36-48

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.  1 Peter 3:15 || And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  Revelation 22:17

PTTD

Son4 told his dad last night he has PTTD:  Post Traumatic Tomato Disorder.

As he helped me scald nearly 100 tomatoes, he asked, "Have I told you how much I like tomatoes?"

"This isn't a labor of love for you, is it?" I responded, long aware of Son4's distaste for tomatoes.

"It's a labor of loathing," he muttered.

Bathed and cooled, I arranged the tomatoes just-so on trays on the table, so I could memorialize them via photography before we dispatched them.  Years ago, when I was smitten with blogging, the camera was my near-constant companion, providing images to illustrate most blog posts.  Maybe I could restart that engine, and an image of one hundred tomatoes on the table seemed fitted to the post forming in my head. 

When I inserted the camera card into my computer this morning, I noticed it contained over 250 photos.  Drat, I'd never erased those early July photos.  I'd do that with this upload.  Then something went wonky with the process, the card contents were erased, and the photo destination folder was also empty.  Oopsie. 

I made salsa with the bulk of yesterday's portion of the harvest.  Some of those tomatoes were peeled, seeded, and refrigerated for making tomato butter today, a favorite of Charles'.  The recipe is here, if that piques your interest, and you're overrun with tomatoes.  And I can steal the recipe's illustrative image for this post.  Heh.

Charles brought in a bag of another 25-30 last evening and was met by 2 silenced mouths and 4 widened eyes.  In addition to yesterday's canned salsa, we already had fresh tomato juice, fresh salsa, and ketchup.  That tomato-butter-to-be is waiting in the wings (and clearly, I'm ignoring it).  What next?

Poor Son4 will be suffering RTTD -- Recurring Traumatic Tomato Disorder -- for some time to come.  Into each life a few tomatoes must fall.  And to some, a bit more than others.

 



Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  Colossians 3:2

Cantaloupe

Among other things, Kevin's growing cantaloupes this year.  As we were paring and cutting another this morning, and Kevin sampled a piece, I asked if it was sweeter than previous ones have been.  He said maybe a little bit, but he's liked them better -- at my suggestion -- with some sugar added.  "Well you didn't add sugar to that last bowlful, did you, because I did."

"Yes," he said, "I did.  But I only used about a teaspoon.  How much did you add to it?"

"Two or three tablespoons."

Candy.  We have cantaloupe candy.
It's delicious!  

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Psalm 119:103

Facebook ID Photo Tutorial

Not.
Not really.
But I updated my ID photo today, and the gyrations were mildly interesting.

One can access a real tutorial here, which is where I began to understand the magicNot which occurs with photos uploaded to Facebook.  And it was through the counsel on that website that I learned an ID photo should be 160 pixels by 160 pixels.  To preserve clarity, uploading double that size, 320 pixels x 320 pixels, is advised.  I assume the web page author has tested this with good results.

Do I want good resolution at my age?  Prettymuch not.  However, my own past experience has taught me the ID photo size is increased in the photo album, itself, and if I’m going to be blown up, I’d prefer to not also be terribly pixelated, for a pixel-raggedy face is about as uncomely as, and more bizarre than, one bearing the etchings of real time; a very long flood stream of real time.   So I chose 320 x 320 as my base photo size.  Yes, it needs to be a square, or Facebook will apply their own cropping tool, and one doesn’t want to become a blockhead or lose a limb.

Now, I didn’t want my whole, old selfingness tattooed on the Internet.  My face would be humbling enough.  Neither, though, did I want that in size SCARE-US.  So I measured Facebook’s album presentation of my last ID photo.  The thing measured more in the neighborhood of 365 x 380, so I‘m not sure where Mr. Tutorial got his figures, and that’s way too much of my face in yours.   

“I can beat this thing.”

I put a gray border around my me-photo.  I was getting smaller.  Then a put a white picture frame around the gray, said frame actually being a blotchy white edging.  Next, I put a blue picture frame inside the white one, this comprised only of some thin, faint lines, tying it to the trim color in the page header and hopefully having the effect of drawing others‘ attention from MY FACE: “Oh look, how did she get those blue lines on there?”  *snort*

Now I totaled 380 x 380, further diminishing my SCARE-US factor, for a goodly bit of ME was framing.  How accomplished did I feel?  A bit.

The worst element in the process, though, is uploading the photo, for no matter how quickly one reloads the page and deletes the resulting post from her timeline, it stinkin’ hits the News Feeds.  NO!  STOP IT!  Don’t make people try to think of nice things to say to me about that photo!  For cryin’ in a bucket, I did all that maneuvering in an effort to be small and unnoticeable, and you slammed a report in the evening news.  Cruel. 

I’d only changed the photo because the last one had a shadow cast on my forehead which looked like I was wearing Buster Brown bangs.  I bore that shame for several months, actually preferring it over the News Feed’s mouthy LOOK AT HER! which would result from switching out the photo.  Where’s a rock?  …Are you kidding me?  I wouldn’t fit under that thing.  Just look at me.  NO, I DIDN’T MEAN THAT.  DON’T LOOK AT ME! 

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.  Psalm 27:8

A Spade

It’s about lies, but put that on hold.

Call a spade a spade.  That came to mind, so I decided to research the origin of the phrase.  Not often do I want to mire myself in lengthy articles, so I didn’t read the Wikipedia entry word-for-word, but I found some interesting bits.

“To 'call a spade a spade' is a figure of speech which explicitly calls out something as it is, by its right name.  The implication is not to lie about what something is and instead to speak honestly and directly about a topic, specifically topics that others may avoid speaking about due to their sensitivity, unpleasant, or embarrassing nature.”  [Emphasis added on account of that lie-thing, but we‘re still holding that at bay.  At bay - what‘s that mean?  I‘ll think about that tomorrow.  Or not.] Source 

In case you’re not interested in visiting Wikipedia, I have to include this slam by author Joseph Devlin, as he criticized writers wishing to portray linguistic superiority:

"For instance, you may not want to call a spade a spade.  You may prefer to call it a spatulous device for abrading the surface of the soil.  Better, however, to stick to the old familiar, simple name that your grandfather called it."

In a sense,  Devlin’s observation is useful in addressing that lie-thing.
Now we’ll do the lie.

“…[A]nd some reporters have told outright untruths.”

Untruths?
I’ve heard the word “unthruths” on television news.  I’ve heard it in a courtroom.  I’ve read it in print, even from Christian ministries.

Hold on while I check the dictionary . . .
It’s there.
Well, the archaic meaning is “unfaithfulness or disloyalty.”  That’s interesting.  In the current definition, though, we find the word LIE.  Surprise!

Is there anything wrong with an untruth?

The word “lie” is in the Bible, sometimes referencing a reclining position, but when referencing an untruth, the Bible says “lie.”  It also says liars will suffer a horrible fate.  Since God hates lying and addresses it most seriously, perhaps we do ill to mask the sin with prettier terms or ones not found in God‘s word.  God calls untruths “lies.”

A spatulous device for abrading the surface of the soil is a spade.
An untruth is a lie.

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

Drama

I’ve noticed on the Internet a recent spate of memes urging people to eliminate from their lives those who create, or bring with them, DRAMA.  Yes, eliminate those people from your life.

Really?

drama - (4) any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results: the drama of a murder trial.  [For other definitions, see here.]

Do I know anyone whose life is void of situations or events which are vivid, emotional, conflicting, or of striking interest? 
No. 
I’m to live in isolation, solitary confinement?

No one dare harsh my mellow.
Keep your problems to yourself; mine are important, but yours . . . notsomuch.
I don’t have any drama in my life.  What's wrong with you?
Don’t drag ME into your stuff.  If it’s unpleasant, I’m sure you deserve it, so deal with it.
You're messy.  Go away.
I just want to have fun!

That’s Christlike.  Not.

I wonder if those who eliminate from their lives people who experience or create drama (i.e., live in the world; breathe) spend money to entertain themselves with imaginary drama. 

Ah, that was great!  All that edge-of-my-seat drama, and I didn’t have to invest a single thought or breath to encourage, uplift, guide, or share a burden.

Perhaps the creators of the memes mean something other than what is being conveyed.  I hope so.  Ü

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6:2)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.  (I Peter 3:15)

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.   (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.    (II Timothy 3:1-5)

TwitterNot

I usually don't remember how I arrived where I am, and such was the case when I created a Twitter account on Sunday.  I'd never wanted a Twitter account.  I'd never needed a Twitter account.  All I remember is having accessed some news on the Israel-Gaza conflict, and the source had a Twitter account.  Source mentioned tweeting timely updates, and I wanted those, because mainstream news is slow and insanely -- yes, insanely -- biased in favor of the Arab terrorists.   

insane
1. Unsound in mind or intellect; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted.  
     Source: http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/insane

Creating the Twitter account was pretty straightforward.  I spent a little time familiarizing myself with the utilities and "followed" the news source and a pastor I like.  Then I went away.

I opened Twitter yesterday, Monday, to look for news and was met by a notification my account had been suspended:

"...Unfortunately, it looks like this account, @___, got caught up in one of these [automated sweep] spam groups by mistake."  (emphasis added)

Mistake.  Whose mistake?  Clearly, not my mistake, by Twitter's own admission.  Then I was cautioned to take care that I don't tweet anything that breaks the Twitter rules.  [For the record, the account stats show I have made 0 (zero) tweets, so even a hacker cannot have tweeted through my account.]  And the message concluded thusly:

"To continue using this account, please confirm below: 

"I understand that my account may be permanently suspended if I continue using Twitter in a way that violates the Twitter Rules."

There was a box to tick, making my false confession.

Turn down those lights.  May I have a drink of water?  Is that a one-way window in that wall behind me?  Could I stretch my legs, walk around a bit?

Okay, this just isn't worth it.  I'm going to delete the account.  The short of a vexingly long story is I cannot delete the account, unless I make the false confession.

This bird laid no eggs, tweeted no song, and has abandoned the nest to the buzzards.  I'll follow The Jewish Standard on Facebook.  Facebook.  That's a rant you won't want to hear.  But may. 

Twitter.  A big *pfft*!

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Philippians 4:4-5

Orange Chicken - But Not Really

It's what's for dinner.

One of my daughters-in-law created a new blogplace and is affecting the migration of her old to the new.  Hmm, I'll have to ask her how that's done.  I might like to take up blogging again.  Then I was stricken with impatience or compulsiveness or a surge of not-entire-elderly brain power and did the deed on my own.  Immediately.

I semi-meticulously made my way through 700 posts -- dating back to 2007 -- to hunt for ones which, these seven years later, I might prefer to expunge.  I had a particular category in mind, and apparently I'd performed that task a few years ago (elderly brain had forgotten), for I found fewer than a handful to delete.  Of course, I was checking only one category, so who knows what other mindless blather may remain tattooed in the blogosphere?  Worse, I expect I'll be adding to it.

All the graphics in posts prior to 2010 are fitted with background colors to match the oldest blog.  It's not pretty.   

So orange chicken is for dinner.  And that's on my mind, because when I finished the migrating and editing chore, I glanced at the clock.  Oh, it's about time to add the carrots.  Moreover, I had to write something in order to begin to reacquaint myself with blogger composition tools, so I slapped dinner up there and began smacking the keys.

Wow, how do I get my signature on here?  Where's the post template I designed?  In 2010, and haven't accessed in more than a year.  Carrots are calling.  When I finish with carrots and find my stuff, I think I'll be a blogger again.

FancyNot CarolineNot

Update:  A new signature for a new season of blogging.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  - Psalm 118:24 

Deception and Discernment

Excellent
Michael Furchert

Former Resident of East Germany

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  - Matthew 28:19, 20

Fantasy, Fortune, & Fresco

Son4 alerted me there was news coverage of the opening conclave parade, and curiosity caused me to tune it in.  He was particularly eager for me to see the jester costumes the guards were wearing.  Colorful.  Festive.  Amusing.  

Soon, I had to mute the television, because the devilish, repetitive chant was clearly something I didn't want in any room of my home, much less entering my ears.  I was to later learn they were chanting a rote prayer to numerous dead people, asking their help.  No wonder I couldn't bear to hear it.  Have mercy. 

I continued to watch for a few minutes, though, intrigued by this pompous ceremony and the attendant garb.  I studied the lace skirts -- to me an enigma in men's clothing -- and wondered over God's provision squandered on elevating mere men and garnishing their opulent palaces, when people are living in earthen or woven huts, many ill, starving, dying.  "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."  The Lord Jesus Christ, Christian: what a fearsome thing it is to take His name in vain.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but taking His name for a religion in opposition to the God of the Bible, teaching the traditions of men, promoting pagan practices, living lavishly, and denying the sufficiency of the shed blood of Jesus Christ in payment for sin, seems frightfully forward and froward.

Stunned I was, when the camera went tight on the ceiling.  I had to look away.  Admittedly, I stole two more glances, because I couldn't believe I was actually seeing "that."  I was.  Numerous corpulent, naked men.  If there were women included, I didn't notice them with my furtive glances.  Totally naked men.  On the ceiling.  In a building called a chapel.  Pornographic paintings in a chapel?  Whose chapel?  Most assuredly, not God's, for it was God, Himself, who clothed the first man when sin entered the world through Adam.  It must have been awfully important, as it was later cemented by written instructions to keep the body covered. 

Naked men.  A roomful of men in lace skirts, and naked men painted all over the ceiling of the large, garish space.  Yes, I'm still a bit overcome by the depravity and by the sore knowledge that even some true Christians seem to believe nakedness in any art form other than photography is fine.  ...I've paused long here, trying to make sense of that.  Fail.

These are perilous times.

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.   And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:9-15

Knowing God

lifewithoutlimbs.org

Note: These films are included on my blog solely on the merit of their contents.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:10)  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Twitter Bible?

Earlier in the day, I'd told Son3 and Son4 I was working on creating a list of prominent elements in each chapter of the Book of Revelation, so I might see at a glance what occurrences were in which chapters and perhaps better understand the chronology of events, for there are divisions in the book that cause it to not be a strictly chronological read.  When they came that evening to the living room, and I was again planted in front of my computer, Son3 asked if I'd finished my task yet.

"No, but I'm getting close."

"Hey, you should do that with the whole Bible," suggested Son3, who obviously had no clue how laborious had been this process in a single book.

"Yeah," said Son4.  "You could call it The Twitter Bible and just post it a book at a time on Twitter.  And I know what you could write for Revelation: 'Uh-oh!'"

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  Revelation 22:20, 21

Jesus in the Bible

Transcribed from the video of Tom Horn’s lecture posted here

Genesis:  The Prophesied One, the divine seed of the woman, who will crush the serpent’s head and redeem mankind to God

Exodus:  The Passover Lamb

Leviticus:  The High Priest, making intercession for man in the Holy of Holies

Numbers:  The Cloud by day and The Pillar of Fire by night, that guides the covenant people

Deuteronomy:  A Prophet like unto Moses, that will arrive in the fulness of time

Joshua, Judges, Ruth:  The Captain of Our Salvation - The Judge - The Lawgiver - The Blessed Kinsman Redeemer
 
I & II Samuel:  The coming Messiah, exalted by God with power

I & II Kings:  The King who will reign with ultimate power

I & II Chronicles:  From the Tribe of Judah, typified by the temple with wisdom greater than Solomon

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes:  The Dayspring from on High - The Lord Our Shepherd, whose kingdom shall be from everlasting to everlasting

Song of Solomon:  The Bridegroom, whose marriage to the bride is faithful and forthcoming

Isaiah:  God with us.  The Seven-Fold Spirit of God is upon Him.  He heals the blind, makes the lame walk, unplugs the ears of the deaf, becomes a Light to the Gentiles, dies as a guilt offering for sin, but rises from the dead to live forever.

Jeremiah & Lamentations:  The Righteous Branch

Ezekiel & Daniel:  The Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi:  The Pierced Son - The Burden Bearer - Mighty Saviour - Cleansing Fountain, who becomes a Priest and a King

Matthew:  A Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger; the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah, born of a virgin

Mark:  Miracle Worker

Luke:  Perfect Physician

John:  Only Begotten Son of God - Lamb of God - Bread of Life - Light of the World - Door to the Sheepfold

Acts:  Ascended Lord - Judge of the living and the dead

Romans:  The Root of Jesse - a Rock cut out without hands - an offense to many, but the Deliverer to others

I & II Corinthians:  First Fruits of the Church

Galatians:  He sets us free.

Ephesians: The Head over all things - Cornerstone of the Church

Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy:  The Image of the Invisible God, who meets our every need - Mediator between God and man - Soon Coming King

Titus & Philemon:  The Blessed Hope - A Friend who is closer than a brother

Hebrews & James:  Author and Finisher of Our Faith - Key to Patience and Wisdom - Blood that washes away our sins
 
I & II Peter:  Living Stone - Chief Shepherd, who watches over the Church

I, II, & III John:  Everlasting Love and Eternal Life for those that know Him

Jude:  Only Wise God - Our One and Only Saviour

Revelation:  He arrives!  Alpha and Omega - First and the Last - Manifested Word of Almighty God - Bright and Morning Star - Lion of the Tribe of Judah, that hath prevailed - King of Kings - Lord of Lords, whose appearance shall shatter the schemes of occultic spirits and evil men with the brightness of a thousand suns, and at whose coming EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW and EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  John 1:1-4

Jesus - No Other Foundation

Excerpt:

After the investiture with the scarlet papal robes, the vest covered with pearls, and the mitre studded with precious stones, the new Pope is conducted to the altar, before which he prostrates himself in prayer, bowing as before the seat of God.  ...We read: "The Pope rises, and, wearing his mitre, is lifted up by the cardinals, and is placed by them upon the altar to sit there.  One of the bishops kneels, and begins the Te Deum.  In the mean time the cardinals kiss the feet and hands and face of the Pope."  This ceremony is commonly called by Roman Catholic writers "The adoration;" it has been observed for many centuries, and was performed at the inauguration of Pius IX.

...At the coronation of Pope Innocent X, Cardinal Colonna on his knees, in his own name and that of the clergy of St. Peter's, addressed the following words to the Pope: "Most holy and blessed father, head of the church, ruler of the world, to whom the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, whom the angels in heaven revere, and the gates of hell fear, and all the world adores, we specially venerate, worship, and adore thee."  Read More...

 

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  (I Timothy 2:5)  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.  (Hebrews 9:24-28)  I am the LORD [Yehovah]: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  (Isaiah 42:8)

From the comments section: And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.  And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.  But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:21-24