Thursday, August 30, 2018
Oops
Sounds like significant amounts of Hillary’s emails ended up in the hands of the Chinese. Don’t worry, there’s no story here.
Fruits of the spirit
Scripture tells us that if God‘s Spirit lives in us, that we will manifest certain characteristics because of that fact. These are referred to as the fruits of the spirit. They are: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,gentleness, respect, and self-control. Way too frequently Christians today ignore or demean these things or sacrifing them on the altar of self.
Love gets twisted in to license
Joy gets demeaned into merely feeling “happy”
Peace is submerged either in infighting or the epidemic of depression and anxiety that is growing
Patience is lost in a culture of immediate self gratification
Kindness is reserved for those on “our side” or those who can befefit us
Gentleness only applies to those who agree with you
Respect is more and more conditional
Self control is simply ridiculed and dismissed as unrealistic
Basically we’ve entered a time when way to many who claim to be Christian, say “Fxxx” all these things. It’s all about what I think is best for me, not what’s best for others or for the Body of Christ.
The great thing about these, is how counterintuitive and countercultureal they are. When the culture says, it’s OK to attack those with whom you disagree, and the fruits of the spirit indicate otherwise. Just like “Love your enemies” runs counter to what our society tells us. There is not a list of people, or groups of people, that these things don’t apply to. There Aren’t any exceptions, or excuses.
The only reason that any of us fail to demonstrate the fruits of the spirit is that we decide we know better. We decide that we don’t have to be gentle to those people, because those people aren’t gentle to us or to others. Or we think that we don’t have to exercise self-control because we live in an age of instant gratification and anything that makes us wait must be bad. It’s our natural ,sinful desire to assert that we know better than God.
Love gets twisted in to license
Joy gets demeaned into merely feeling “happy”
Peace is submerged either in infighting or the epidemic of depression and anxiety that is growing
Patience is lost in a culture of immediate self gratification
Kindness is reserved for those on “our side” or those who can befefit us
Gentleness only applies to those who agree with you
Respect is more and more conditional
Self control is simply ridiculed and dismissed as unrealistic
Basically we’ve entered a time when way to many who claim to be Christian, say “Fxxx” all these things. It’s all about what I think is best for me, not what’s best for others or for the Body of Christ.
The great thing about these, is how counterintuitive and countercultureal they are. When the culture says, it’s OK to attack those with whom you disagree, and the fruits of the spirit indicate otherwise. Just like “Love your enemies” runs counter to what our society tells us. There is not a list of people, or groups of people, that these things don’t apply to. There Aren’t any exceptions, or excuses.
The only reason that any of us fail to demonstrate the fruits of the spirit is that we decide we know better. We decide that we don’t have to be gentle to those people, because those people aren’t gentle to us or to others. Or we think that we don’t have to exercise self-control because we live in an age of instant gratification and anything that makes us wait must be bad. It’s our natural ,sinful desire to assert that we know better than God.
Inclusion
It’s always kind of amusing when people who is political philosophy is centered around the virtues like inclusion and tolerance all of us sudden rush to embrace exclusion and intolerance.
Monday, August 27, 2018
“We reject...”
“We reject your Notions of virtue.”
This is a bold, yet problematic claim.
It’s boldness comes in presuming to speak for some unknown “we”, and presuming that simply announcing what “we” reject carries any weight in the world of objective reality.
It’s problematic in the following ways.
1. The writer is presuming that he knows specifically what “Notions of virtue” he is rejecting, when no specific “Notions of virtue” have been enumerated for the mystery “we” to reject.
2. It’s unckear if the entire “Notion” of actual virtues existing is being rejected, or if point #1 is operative.
3. The “Notion” of virtues extends back as far as Ancient Greece, it seems strange that “we” appear willing to throw the baby out with the bath water in this instance.
What’s strange is that the only specific virtue under discussion can best be described as “I You as young men behave in a gentlemanly fashion (respect, honor, value women because they have value), then women might react positively towards you.”
On the one hand that could be viewed in a cynical, transactional, pragmatic manner (If you do X, then Y), and perceived as a way to manipulate. Or one could argue that it’s a restatement of the virtually universal “Treat others as you wish to be treated”.
In either case, why anyone would reject highly valuing,honoring, and respecting women because of their intrinsic value as humans?
Ancient Greece founded their ethical system in 4 virtues.
Prudence
Justice
Temperance
Courage
Later The Church added
Faith
Hope
Love
If these are the “Notions of virtue” you “reject”, what a depressing and nihilistic world you inhabit.
This is a bold, yet problematic claim.
It’s boldness comes in presuming to speak for some unknown “we”, and presuming that simply announcing what “we” reject carries any weight in the world of objective reality.
It’s problematic in the following ways.
1. The writer is presuming that he knows specifically what “Notions of virtue” he is rejecting, when no specific “Notions of virtue” have been enumerated for the mystery “we” to reject.
2. It’s unckear if the entire “Notion” of actual virtues existing is being rejected, or if point #1 is operative.
3. The “Notion” of virtues extends back as far as Ancient Greece, it seems strange that “we” appear willing to throw the baby out with the bath water in this instance.
What’s strange is that the only specific virtue under discussion can best be described as “I You as young men behave in a gentlemanly fashion (respect, honor, value women because they have value), then women might react positively towards you.”
On the one hand that could be viewed in a cynical, transactional, pragmatic manner (If you do X, then Y), and perceived as a way to manipulate. Or one could argue that it’s a restatement of the virtually universal “Treat others as you wish to be treated”.
In either case, why anyone would reject highly valuing,honoring, and respecting women because of their intrinsic value as humans?
Ancient Greece founded their ethical system in 4 virtues.
Prudence
Justice
Temperance
Courage
Later The Church added
Faith
Hope
Love
If these are the “Notions of virtue” you “reject”, what a depressing and nihilistic world you inhabit.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Francis
I know a lot of people who are great admirers of Pope Francis, especially his lean towards the left on various social issues. But we’re now hearing that Francis knowingly and intentionally covered up for and maintained someone in a position of power in the RCC who was heavily involved in the homosexual sexual abuse scandal. If these accusations are true, and the source seems credible, then how can those who jump on the bandwagon with Francis’ social justice pronouncements not immidiately separate themselves from him. Don’t Francis and those like him bear a high degree of responsibility for the decades of homosexual sexual abuse in the RCC? Don’t those who support him bear some of that responsibility as well?
Irony
The irony of one anonymous troll, hiding behind a pseudonym, and an empty blog profile (whose admitted that he hides his identity) refusing to answer questions from someone who posts as anonymous on a blog, is stunning.
The sense of humor deficit that is deleting my attempts to point this irony out is equally amusing.
The sense of humor deficit that is deleting my attempts to point this irony out is equally amusing.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Responsibility
This new leftist concept of responsibility is strange and a bit self serving.
Dozens of people killed or injured in Chicago and the response is that the people of Indiana are responsible.
People who advocate treating women with respect and honor are somehow equated with rapists.
People who have violated US immigration law, and commit murder in the US aren’t representative of the broader population of people who have chosen to violate immigration laws, but the 97% of gun owners who have never committed a crime with a gun are somehow responsible for the 3% who do.
My antecedents were mostly relative latecomers to the US, except the significant part of my antecedents who were Cherokee, yet somehow I’m branded as a racist and bear some degree of responsibility for slavery. Although the native Americans were societies that practiced slavery.
I, and others, didn’t support or vote for Trump yet are somehow responsible for him winning the election.
Chicago has a significant problem with violence, we’ve been told that cites like Minneapolis, Baltimore, St Louis, etc have a problem with systemic racism, yet the political party that has run the system in those cities for decades somehow is absolved of responsibility for what they’ve overseen.
I have no problem being responsible for my actions, I even accept that I bear some degree of responsibility for my families actions, also for those I vote for (unlike those on the left). But this concept that people are responsible for things they’ve had no part in, or that they haven’t done is more than a little strange.
Dozens of people killed or injured in Chicago and the response is that the people of Indiana are responsible.
People who advocate treating women with respect and honor are somehow equated with rapists.
People who have violated US immigration law, and commit murder in the US aren’t representative of the broader population of people who have chosen to violate immigration laws, but the 97% of gun owners who have never committed a crime with a gun are somehow responsible for the 3% who do.
My antecedents were mostly relative latecomers to the US, except the significant part of my antecedents who were Cherokee, yet somehow I’m branded as a racist and bear some degree of responsibility for slavery. Although the native Americans were societies that practiced slavery.
I, and others, didn’t support or vote for Trump yet are somehow responsible for him winning the election.
Chicago has a significant problem with violence, we’ve been told that cites like Minneapolis, Baltimore, St Louis, etc have a problem with systemic racism, yet the political party that has run the system in those cities for decades somehow is absolved of responsibility for what they’ve overseen.
I have no problem being responsible for my actions, I even accept that I bear some degree of responsibility for my families actions, also for those I vote for (unlike those on the left). But this concept that people are responsible for things they’ve had no part in, or that they haven’t done is more than a little strange.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Trump is a bad, bad man
At the risk of repeating myself, Donald Trump is a person of low character and because of his character failings I chose not to support him in the 2016 election, and won't in 2020 either.
He is clearly someone for whom honesty and transparency are foreign concepts. He ethics are dependent solely on his perception of what's best for him at any given moment. His repeated unfaithfulness to his wives, as well as his multiple divorces, are reason enough not to support him.
I could go on and list in great detail, and with great vitriol each and every failure of character Trump has. I could ascribe those character failings to him being "evil" or "depraved" or debauched" or any number of things.
But, for me, the fact that he holds his marriage vows in such low esteem tells me enough about his lack of character and morals that I have no real need to expound further.
Has he told more lies that anyone, ever in the history of American politics? I have no idea, nor do the people who make those sorts of claims. Has Trump done things that I have agreed with, sure he has. But I almost always find things that presidents I didn't support have done that I have agreed with.
Were his comments about forcing himself on women crude, vile, and inexcusable? Of course, yet we still have statues and venerate Harvey Milk who did much worse things that Trump talked about.
Unfortunately the problem ins't so much that Trump is a person severely lacking in character, that's a given. It's the fact that those who hate him, don't hold those on their own side to a remotely similar standard.
Of course, as people who profess a belief in Christ, shouldn't our posture toward Trump (and others) be one of working, praying, and hoping for him to repent? For him to acknowledge his failures and to respond to the saving grace of Jesus?
Finally, do I need, want, or hope to impose my views on others? No, I'm not responsible for others. Do I hope that we have better choices in 2020 than in 2016? Yes I do. Do I feel a compulsion to be disagreeable, or to lie about those I disagree with? No I don't.
He is clearly someone for whom honesty and transparency are foreign concepts. He ethics are dependent solely on his perception of what's best for him at any given moment. His repeated unfaithfulness to his wives, as well as his multiple divorces, are reason enough not to support him.
I could go on and list in great detail, and with great vitriol each and every failure of character Trump has. I could ascribe those character failings to him being "evil" or "depraved" or debauched" or any number of things.
But, for me, the fact that he holds his marriage vows in such low esteem tells me enough about his lack of character and morals that I have no real need to expound further.
Has he told more lies that anyone, ever in the history of American politics? I have no idea, nor do the people who make those sorts of claims. Has Trump done things that I have agreed with, sure he has. But I almost always find things that presidents I didn't support have done that I have agreed with.
Were his comments about forcing himself on women crude, vile, and inexcusable? Of course, yet we still have statues and venerate Harvey Milk who did much worse things that Trump talked about.
Unfortunately the problem ins't so much that Trump is a person severely lacking in character, that's a given. It's the fact that those who hate him, don't hold those on their own side to a remotely similar standard.
Of course, as people who profess a belief in Christ, shouldn't our posture toward Trump (and others) be one of working, praying, and hoping for him to repent? For him to acknowledge his failures and to respond to the saving grace of Jesus?
Finally, do I need, want, or hope to impose my views on others? No, I'm not responsible for others. Do I hope that we have better choices in 2020 than in 2016? Yes I do. Do I feel a compulsion to be disagreeable, or to lie about those I disagree with? No I don't.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Convicted
Paul Manafort was convicted today on numerous charges of election fraud, collusion with the Russians, and various other tamperings with various elections. Thank goodness.
It seems that Cohen has implicated Trump in using campaign funds for illegal payoffs. If there’s evidence, let the impeachment begin. But, until the evidence comes out let’s remember, Cohen’s claims don’t make Trump guilty, and why would someone with access to literally billions of dollars use campaign funds for payoffs?
It seems that Cohen has implicated Trump in using campaign funds for illegal payoffs. If there’s evidence, let the impeachment begin. But, until the evidence comes out let’s remember, Cohen’s claims don’t make Trump guilty, and why would someone with access to literally billions of dollars use campaign funds for payoffs?
Sunday, August 19, 2018
A little unwell
I saw a post on Twitter today that suggested that Trump has some sort of mental illness, and that it is getting worse. Now, I have no standing to address the validity of this claim, but some of the things he says make me wonder.
But, what I wonder, is what the response would be from those who hate him if this theory is true. If, in reality Trump is mentally ill, then wouldn’t that mean that he’s not evil? Wouldn’t that mean that empathy and concern are more appropriate than hatred and vitriol? Wouldn’t that mean that he should be dealt with under the 25th amendment rather than through impeachment? Wouldn’t that mean that treatment rather than punishment would be appropriate? Most of all would those who spew hatred be able or willing to admit that they were wrong?
Clearly this would be an unprecedented situation and would require an unprecedented response. But, I suspect that concern, compassion, and empathy would be in short supply.
But, what I wonder, is what the response would be from those who hate him if this theory is true. If, in reality Trump is mentally ill, then wouldn’t that mean that he’s not evil? Wouldn’t that mean that empathy and concern are more appropriate than hatred and vitriol? Wouldn’t that mean that he should be dealt with under the 25th amendment rather than through impeachment? Wouldn’t that mean that treatment rather than punishment would be appropriate? Most of all would those who spew hatred be able or willing to admit that they were wrong?
Clearly this would be an unprecedented situation and would require an unprecedented response. But, I suspect that concern, compassion, and empathy would be in short supply.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
White supremacist...
White supremacist, lifetime NRA member, Trump supporter, establishes a compound in New Mexico to train children to commit school shootings and the mainstream media and liberal social media goes crazy.
Oh, sorry. That isn’t right. He’s a Muslim and the liberal media/leftist social media types are silent. Maybe because they’re so busy covering the plethora on rockets that the apartheid loving Israelis are living into palestine.
Oh, no. That’s wrong too.
But Trump!!!!
The numbers of dead and wounded continue to rise in Chicago. The (peaceful, tolerant, nonviolent) left continues to both encourage and engage in violence against those they disagree with, the media, and the police. A high ranking official on the DFL is credibly accused of domestic violence.
Yet the silence continues.
If only someone with all the answers would spend less time trying to ascribe thoughts, motives, and various “isms” to others and present a detailed, defined plan that would solve problems...
Yet the silence continues. As does the support for Kieth Ellison. It’s not enough that this idiot is riding his race and religion to various posts of prominence, it’s that his sycophants refuse to hold the accusations against his to the same level of acceptance as they do for those they hate.
Liberal black candidate makes racist comments about an Asian candidate, yet silence from the leftists on blogs and social media continues.
It’s interesting that a blog post about the silence from leftists when folks on their side of things engage in behavior they deplore in those they hate doesn’t generate on topic comments.
The silence continues.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg makes an apparently racist comment, and the silence continues.
I've noticed that the alleged "answer" to solve the violence problem is to blame other people. In order to stop violence in Chicago, we need to impose our will on the people of Indiana. We need to spend more federal education dollars. or whatever.
I guess trying to teach people the simple concept that violence isn't always the best response and that people should be responsible for their own behavior is just too difficult.
Oh, sorry. That isn’t right. He’s a Muslim and the liberal media/leftist social media types are silent. Maybe because they’re so busy covering the plethora on rockets that the apartheid loving Israelis are living into palestine.
Oh, no. That’s wrong too.
But Trump!!!!
The numbers of dead and wounded continue to rise in Chicago. The (peaceful, tolerant, nonviolent) left continues to both encourage and engage in violence against those they disagree with, the media, and the police. A high ranking official on the DFL is credibly accused of domestic violence.
Yet the silence continues.
If only someone with all the answers would spend less time trying to ascribe thoughts, motives, and various “isms” to others and present a detailed, defined plan that would solve problems...
Yet the silence continues. As does the support for Kieth Ellison. It’s not enough that this idiot is riding his race and religion to various posts of prominence, it’s that his sycophants refuse to hold the accusations against his to the same level of acceptance as they do for those they hate.
Liberal black candidate makes racist comments about an Asian candidate, yet silence from the leftists on blogs and social media continues.
It’s interesting that a blog post about the silence from leftists when folks on their side of things engage in behavior they deplore in those they hate doesn’t generate on topic comments.
The silence continues.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg makes an apparently racist comment, and the silence continues.
I've noticed that the alleged "answer" to solve the violence problem is to blame other people. In order to stop violence in Chicago, we need to impose our will on the people of Indiana. We need to spend more federal education dollars. or whatever.
I guess trying to teach people the simple concept that violence isn't always the best response and that people should be responsible for their own behavior is just too difficult.
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