ha256's Xanga

Who reigns?

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:03:26 GMT

This is an iron-sharpening-iron moment. Please standby...

We call ourselves followers of Christ. But I have to ask... really? You think so? Maybe because all too often, I have to ask myself. Are you following? I want to seriously consider how we make decisions... the little day-to-day decisions. Coffee? Tea? Water? or perhaps... Buy? Save? Invest? Borrow? I'm not trying to say that one of them is a better choice. I'm asking where your decision making nexus is located.

I've always been interested in learning about how people think. What makes them tick. I remember this one conversation with a gal. We were discussing a situation after the fact. So she was talking about the facts about the situation and then she told me how she had decided to proceed. So I asked her, how she arrived at that choice. And it was simply, "It felt right." I'm not trying to make her look bad, but seriously... How do you even start to discuss something when the support for the decision is purely emotional? There's no point of reference. It's just pitting one person's feelings against another person's feelings on the matter. Have you seen how arguments become circular and there is no honest move to compromise? I think it is because we want what we want and there is really, seriously, no way to discuss or compromise with someone who takes that kind of stance.

I haven't forgotten the left-brain dominated people. ^_^ Yeah, I must count myself among them. We have this idea that logic is the best way somehow. We can reason our way to the wisest decision. But this assumes we somehow know it all. But we don't... as much as have individual expertise, the range of knowledge is so specific that honestly... I think the best thing logic can come up with is pragmatism. Just go with what works. But there's a problem... How do you know it's actually working? You don't. We rationalize when it's convenient for us. We say it's logical, but really the problem is our basic assumptions. If your assumptions are off one iota, your extrapolations are going to be way off. So try to follow logic and you may end up a madman knowing neither right nor wrong, or you end up eviscerating yourself by saying there is neither right nor wrong.

To sum it up, when we just follow our emotions/logic, we fulfill those times described in the Old Testament, "everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes." So what other choice remains? I'd like to summarize it simply. Jesus is Lord. I think that this has yet to sink in fully for me as well. But I'm trusting that we will recognize His voice when he calls. And we will follow...

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http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/08/13/lw.adultery.confessions.whats.next/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/08/12/studentsteachers.online/index.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/sports/olympics/21protest.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=all
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/2613399/Mosab-Hassan-Yousef-son-of-Hamas-leader-becomes-a-Christian.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/nyregion/13detain.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/08/26/o.divorce.dreams/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/08/25/manta.ray/index.html
http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/19/smallbusiness/make_sleep_work_for_you.fsb/index.htm
http://www.slate.com/id/2198942/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1051871/Stalins-mass-murders-entirely-rational-says-new-Russian-textbook-praising-tyrant.html
http://www.nysun.com/business/unthinkable-happens-manhattan-apartment-prices/84900/
http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=august2008-10-things-banks-will-not-tell-you&split=0
http://www.newsweek.com/id/156372/page/1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1051981/Why-men-women-choose-partners-look-like-parents.html
http://www.slate.com/id/2199258/pagenum/all/#page_start
http://slatev.com/player.html?id=1784543751
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7616346.stm

Housing Bill - Debating, Voting, and Summary

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:20:57 GMT

I guess you should know by now, the housing bill got rejected in the US House of Representatives by a slim margin (23 votes to be exact.)

And out of curiosity, I wanted to know how my "representative" voted. Yeah, he voted for it... maybe I should vote for the other guy when my rep comes up for re-election.

If you're a curious cat, feel free to browse the congressional record for September 29th.
Items of interest
12 - Debate & Vote
43 through 56 - Summary thoughts from various viewpoints. (I'm glad there are some smart cookies voting on laws. This whole bill smelled and looked like trash. Hopefully, they can clean it up and go through normal procedures this time around...)

(Normally, I would link to the actual articles, but the page does not allow me to do so...)

I've had time to discuss my stance against this "bail-out" and I must admit, my position has softened a bit. But the anger is still there. If the US Congress can't build a bill that makes sense (& cents!!) to the average American, I imagine they will have the voters to answer to come re-election time. I'm not against helping the financial sector, but I am against treating symptoms and not the actual problem. Throwing money at things does not solve everything. God have mercy.

P.S. I actually found a commentary that kinda sums up my feelings on the matter. I don't agree completely, but it comes pretty close.

Chicken Little

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:52:47 GMT

<RANT>
"The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

Idiot.

Anyone read the story of chicken little? (if you haven't... please do.)

I've been watching the story unfold about this "financial crisis" and I'm struck by how no one has really taken the time to flesh out this "crisis" people keep talking about. We need to bail out these companies or the whole financial system will grind to a halt. Please... who do you think you're talking to? This smells suspiciously like another "knee-jerk reaction" that has been orchestrated from the bowels of the White House. 9/11 to Iraq. Make people afraid and they will do anything you like. I'm going to tell my representatives to kill this stupid bill. I've had enough of inflation and moves in the public sector that majorly benefit the big movers and shakers in the private sector. A 700 Billion dollar move is NOT something to be made in a week... much less two or three. STOP and THINK! This crisis has sat for this long and I haven't seen a problem. You know what needs to happen? SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT THAT THEIR HOUSES AREN'T WORTH THAT MUCH!!! and you know what that takes? Time. I'm all for throwing money at big problems that need money. But this isn't a capital issue, it's the fact that people misunderstood the nature of the risk. So the taxpayer should help by taking on that risk?!? Because the investors and big guys are scared crapless about how much these "securities" are really worth? Yeah, let's put that on a national ballot and see how far it gets. McCain would look good up against those kinda of odds.
</RANT>

We now return to our regularly scheduled program

prairie dog style

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:30:45 GMT

<personal thoughts>
So it's been awhile since I've put up a post. And from that, yes, you can extrapolate that my personal devotion life has been pretty crappy. Maybe I've been reading too much news lately. Russia.Georgia.Olympics.Housing.Freddie.Fannie.Bernie.Obama.
So I finished reading Chronicles of Wasted Moments by Malcolm Muggeridge. His book reads like a reminiscent blog with jewels hidden among the piles of mundane dirt and rubbish. Blah, blah, blah... *BLING* ... blah, blah, blah. And it reminded me again of how pointless life is w/o Christ and w/o God. All new news... is old news happening to new people. Genocide. Spin. Injustice. Tyranny. Corruption. Ineptitude. I recognize again... how is it that people believe we can build a utopia, when the sins of humanity are so plain to see? The line between good and evil truly goes thru the heart of every man, woman and child. And until we can all find a way to face that...

I'm trying to read through the bible from cover to cover again. I got a new version, ESV, at the recommendation of a pastor at my church. I've read thru the bible once with NIV, but I think it would be good to see how things change with the new version. (* He knew her. *) Yeah, that was interesting. And for those KJV people, I know... it's old school. But I've never read it, alright? I'm currently trying to struggle through 1 Chronicles. So many names, so many family trees. Makes me want to skip to a more interesting book. If I was really ambitious, I would try to sketch out the family tree... or maybe try to build a 3D render /floorplan of Solomon's temple. That would be sweet.

Helping with small group. It's been challenging. I think that unless God raises up people that are truly loving. It's all a moot point. An exercise in futility. It's hard to keep that perspective. May we become smaller in our own eyes and God become ever larger and stronger.

Send up a prayer for me, would ya?
</personal thoughts>

Here's some links to my online perusals...

http://www.persecution.com/members/prayerroom/index.cfm
http://www.prisoneralert.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/business/yourmoney/07shortcuts.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/31/business/yourmoney/31money.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/business/06unbox.html
http://www.jasonbartholme.com/11-powerful-firefox-3-add-ons-that-can-replace-standalone-applications/
http://weblog.xanga.com/NVRSAD_DAY/667320207/index.html

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_56314.html
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/an-assault-on-decency/index.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1035315/Father-branded-pervert--photographing-children-public-park.html
http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/Pandemic-2.html
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121642367125066615-4K_l2jdjmxrSAZRs5Ii1mziroY8_20080818.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/16/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/07/20/53414.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92520419&ft=1&f=1001
http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/22/news/economy/paulson/index.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/business/05freddie.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/business/20debt.html?pagewanted=all
http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/23/news/economy/middle_class/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/21/real_estate/mo_ban_on_lending_abuse/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/23/news/economy/housing_bill.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008072309
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/fashion/24work.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-skills-you-need-to-succeed-at-almost-anything.html
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/19-free-gtd-apps-for-windows-mac-linux.html
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/10-productivity-myths-that-hold-you-back.html

Square One

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:24:24 GMT

You know... sometimes, I make things much more complicated than they need to be. KISS should definitely be the rule, not the exception.

So I was lying in bed tonight and well, you can guess what happened. I got insomnia. This is actually the second night in 4 days or so. I don't really have alot to worry about. Maybe getting a good night's sleep is a fine art and I've just lost my touch. Tried praying for peace. Tried thinking about nothing. Yeah, rolled around for the better part of 2 hours or so. It struck me that this Christian perspective answers so many of the primary questions we have about life.

(God loves you.) Love God.
(God is the boss.) Listen to God
(God is in control.) Take it up with God.
(God created you.) God probably knows more about you than you do.
(God has a purpose for you.) Love others.
(God makes the rules.) Ask God how to play the game.

I'm sure I could go on, but given that it's the wee hours of the morn, I'll just stop there.

=== === ===
Food so bad, it's Unconstitutional?
Sad state of mental hospitals in the US...
What about the Iraqi's?
Serious Babytalk.
Beating Stupidity in the workplace
Who's paying for retirement now?
Take two vacations and call me in the ...
This man takes the concept of Martha to a whole other level...
Nature vs. Nurture in the world of business

3 steps forward, two steps back...

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:13:56 GMT

Who is God? (Why does it matter?)

It has become abundantly clear to me that I have lost focus. God has become fuzzy in my brain and in my heart.

Dad, forgive me. I clearly do not understand what it means to have a Daddy-God. I forget how you created all the things I see, the planets, the sun, the people around me with your awesome creative hand. I've been distracted on a day-to-day basis from remembering the one who has paid my ransom in blood. My eyes have ceased to look forward towards the day where Jesus will come back again and take us all Home. The Lord and Master of my life often seems to be myself. My inner sanctum of my heart, the temple of worship has become cluttered with all these useless idols and worthless altars. Come in and clean out the temple again. Throw out those things which are unworthy of worship. Clear my vision again. Help me to see clearly. Come in and be Lord. Mend the broken things in me, fix the twisted things, don't leave me as I am. May your will be done in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

=====
Gay rights meets freedom of religion.
Interesting drinking glasses... (courtesy of http://merginglanes.com/)
What happens when old people fall in love?
Having kids won't make a marriage, eh?
Thou shalt not Facebook friend promiscuiously!
Organ-harvesting ambulances?

And sometimes... I remember again, why I read my xanga subs...
Tizzy & Fraychel~ Thanks!

Modus Operandi

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:31:51 GMT

It's sad. I've taken a good look at my heart lately and it's bad. I don't give a crap. Just seriously apathetic about alot of different things. Now don't get me wrong, there's plenty of stuff that gets me riled up, but it's all about me. Like when some random driver in front of me doesn't know how to drive in one lane instead of two or some other driving pet peeve of mine.

Complaining... bickering over stupid stuff. I know, who would've thought. But I feel it bubbling up. If it's in my thoughts, I'm fairly certain it will start to affect my actions. Stop complaining about this and that and then doing nothing. Pointless. Seriously. I'm not saying people should not vent and share burdens, but I'm saying that we need to understand that we should do something. Whether it means you need to face the issue head on or pray about it with a close friend.

How did I get here? I don't pretend to understand the whole thing, but mostly it seems to boil down to two things: Ungrateful and forgetful. I haven't counted my blessings lately. And mostly, I've forgotten God and what's He's done for me. I'm too quick to look at what I don't have instead of what I do have. I'm too quick to judge others and forget the grace that God has for me. 7 * 7 * 7 is quite a lot.

Pray for me to learn how to love better. Now that would be a Modus Operandi to post about...

Divorce

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:22:20 GMT

I don't know if it's just that I'm getting older or maybe because I've just experienced more, but sometimes, I wish people would approach marriage with a bit more respect.

How did I get on this topic exactly? Rewind to about a year back and I was watching one of my friend's marriage unravel. disintegrate. Pick your term/euphemism. Either way, it's not a pretty sight. I still remember the friends I grew up with who's parents were divorced. And the new friends I've made along the way who've gone through their parents separation, if not technically-full-out divorce. I've learned to recognize how it's shaped their lives... their outlook on life and the people around them.

And I'm around all these people who have such crazy expectations of their future mates. Who treat married people as either non-existent or just single people. I'm not saying I've got this down... On the whole, I wonder how many people who are not married have a clue as to what marriage really means? We just have this fuzzy mishmash of romantic notions with glimpses from our parents and pastors. I dare you single people to read the traditional marriage vows. I stupefies me that people think that marriage is just the next step.

I'm personally against divorce, but I have to admit I don't really know how that translates into action. I just don't want to be one to say... Sure, I plan to be married to a lady for life.... and then drop the ball somewhere in the middle. How about preparing to be married? Like dealing with your anger issues, now, not waiting till God brings that special someone into your life. Getting your finances in order? How about communication? Ready for dealing with the sins of another person, up close and personal? Forgiveness...

If you ask me, dating is the easy part. Being married to one person for life is much more difficult. So instead of preparing to be the best boyfriend or best girlfriend... how about investing some time & energy into being a good husband or a good wife? How about investing in those families around you and lending them a helping hand during tough times? Praying for them. Babysitting for a couple hours. Helping just that little bit for them to live a faithful and fruitful life together.

Loving your (married) neighbor as yourself.

Shalom,

ha256
--- --- ---
So police to kill you for being drunk, unruly, and unarmed...
(court documents, more details...)
Um... who exactly are we bailing out in this foreclosure madness?

Not da Savior~

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:36:57 GMT

The Democratic Primary creeps ever closer. Yes, I'm in PA. Yes, I've gotten swept up in all this political brewha. But I think, it's often easy to think that somehow one of these candidates will change the world. In some ways, they definitely will. The US of A is not something to be taken lightly. I'm certain that the leadership of this country has definitely turned the average Iraqi's life upside down.

I want take careful aim here. Christians are not here to make a utopia of this country. Jesus plainly said that His kingdom was not of this world. This is not Home. I don't want to give people the idea that christians shouldn't play a part in this democracy or that they should leave their faith at home when they step into the voting booth. But what I am asking, is where are you and I placing our hope?

Obama is a good candidate. But he's just as human as the next guy. The debacle over his San Francisco comments proves at least that. Hillary had her emotional moment. McCain, well, McCain is getting along in years. He might keel over halfway thru his next political term.

I wonder, have we prayed over these presidential candidates? I understand the intense desire for people to call GW a dufus or take your pick of names... But have you ever prayed for GW? Last time I checked, he's as human as the next guy. Why this intense scrutiny of our leaders? Did we somehow expect that our leaders would magically change in perfect people?

Before you cast your vote, consider where you've placed your hopes.

Shalom,

ha256

Sabatical

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:19:03 GMT

Hello again~

Lent was an interesting time and I've been fairly busy lately. Hence why my posts have been languishing as of late. I've been thinking, perhaps it is time to switch up the format again. A friend discussed my QT times and I think perhaps, it would be good to post up my thoughts from my bible readings. I recently purchased an ESV Bible and having read the NIV from cover to cover, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to read the entire ESV as well to compare between the two versions.

So I was reading through Deuteronomy a couple of days ago when some passages caught my eye. They are as follows:

When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field human, that they should be besieged by you? Only the trees that you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siege works against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.

Deut 20:19-20 (ESV)

God said not to besiege trees. :chuckles: I dunno, it just seems so funny in some odd sort of way. "Are the trees in the field human that they should be besieged by you?" Such a nuanced stance on resource usage, when God is talking about war. Seriously. I'm trying to think of a modern equivalent... the only thing I can come up with is something like telling people to not eat seeds while a famine is occurring in the land.

When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God gives them into your hand and you take them captive, and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you desire to take her to be your wife, and you bring her home to your house, she shall shave her head and pare her nails. And she shall take off the clothes in which she was captured and shall remain in your house and lament her father and her mother a full month. After that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. But if you no longer delight in her, you shall let her go where she wants. But you shall not sell her for money, nor shall you treat her as a slave, since you have humiliated her.

Deut 21:10-14 (ESV)

God wrote a law in regards to captive women. That surprised me. Maybe I'm just a chauvinist and God is poking me. That wouldn't surprise me. Just like Him... But regardless... the mental picture that comes with this passage is just surprising. God is the god of the captives. She has the right to mourn her dead. After you have freed this captive and raised her to a position of authority in your household as your wife, you cannot take the authority or rights back. You cannot reverse things and make her a slave again. It seems to me that God is concerned with the foreigners... I wonder what He would think of the US immigration policies?

Do you think I can make it?
I think someone is pranking me. I got an email the other day.
===
Fighting like an old couple might be a good thing??
Pluralism goes off the deep end.
Voodoo meets modern interior deco
Sleep positions & personality
Is your chocolate fueling child labor?
Technology, generation gap, and love meet.
The Manga Bible!
The Mom song
Suicide Bombers, Halo, and an ohh... moment