Friday, August 22, 2008

change of scenery

Today I am in my old home town of Thornton, CO.

Tomorrow, some of us from the Mapleton High School class of 1963 will be getting together for our 45th reunion.

So, for all practical purposes, I have been gone from the area for forty years. I am awestruck at the changes in the area.

The little town I grew up in has now connected with Denver, is spread out all over creation.

And driving the interstate reminds me of being in southern California. In fact, coming into the area from the north east, I was aware of the dark haze covering the Rockies...Yassir ubetcha... smog, u know, just like in CA.

I asked the lady on the desk, here at the motel, if the price of my room was so high due to the dem konvention coming next week; she said yes.

So, here I am, back home again...

Interestingly, five years ago, when I came here the 40th reunion, my engine blew on my escape.

So, we'll see how the old crew looks.

in hoc signo vinces

This morning's newspaper poll asks: "Do you think an anti-abortion ad should have been included in a school district directory available at Sioux Falls schools?"

Firstly, I understand ads included in school directories/yearbooks are paid for, and help allay costs of printing. If the ad is indeed a paid advertisement, then it should be included.

Nextly, it is well understood that abortion is the law of the land...it is also axiomatic that the gummint school systems are online to teach children anything that is immoral...for years now, we have been inundated on how, we are all sexual creatures, and therefore we should encourage our children at an early age to embrace their sexuality.

Teaching five - eight year old children how to use a condom? No problem, it is more important for them to know how to use a condom then to understand how the United States of America came into being; and what was important to the founding fathers.

In my younger years we used to joke that you either had a birth certificate or an apology letter from BF Goodrich. That ain't the case any longer...condom broke, didn't have time to put one on? Oh, well, if she is preggers, just head on over to planned parenthood, they will take care of it, and it will be paid for with tax money.

Sadly, it has become chic for girls/women to have children; even without visible means of support. R.I.G.H.T! Gummint will take care of her and the children, no problemo!! It is time, Scotty...

No wonder, it appears that the largest majority of supporters of the dems are younger unmarried women...uncle sam will take care of you, regardless of what you may do, or want to do.

According to post-modern thought, the anti-abortion ad undermines the ability of the school, and the gummint, by default, to define appropriate behavior.

But, who would be insensitive enough to claim that not including the ad would be exercising censorship? Just like refusing to teach intelligent design in school, it is too deleterious to allow another "idea" to come into the arena.

SHHHEEEEEEEESSSSSSHHH!!!!!

Gimme a break...and I don't mean break off a kit-kat bar...

Sunday, August 17, 2008

A word fitly spoken

A sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. (Phil. 4:18.)

"The living sacrifice is 'acceptable to God.' It ought to be a wondrous inspiration to know this, that even the lowliest things we do for Christ are pleasing to Him. We ought to be able to do better, truer work, when we think of His gracious acceptance of it.

"It is told of Leonardo da Vinci, that while still a pupil, before his genius burst into brilliancy, he received a special inspiration in this way: His old and famous master, because of his growing infirmities of age, felt obliged to give up his own work, and one day bade da Vinci finish for him a picture which he had begun. The young man had such a reverence for his master's skill that he shrank from the task. The old artist, however, would not accept any excuse, but persisted in his command, saying simply, 'Do your best.'

"Da Vinci at last tremblingly seized the brush and kneeling before the easel prayed: 'It is for the sake of my beloved master that I implore skill and power for this undertaking.' As he proceeded, his hand grew steady, his eye awoke with slumbering genius. He forgot himself and was filled with enthusiasm for his work. When the painting was finished, the old master was carried into the studio to pass judgment on the result. His eye rested on a triumph of art. Throwing his arms about the young artist, he exclaimed, 'My son, I paint no more!'

"There are some who shrink from undertaking the work which the Master gives them to do. They are not worthy; they have no skill or power for the delicate duty. But to all their timid shrinking and withdrawing, the Master's gentle yet urgent word is, 'Do you best.' They have only to kneel in lowly reverence and pray, for the beloved Master's sake, for skill and strength for the task assigned, and they will be inspired and helped to do it well.

"The power of Christ will rest upon them and the love of Christ will be in their heart. And all work done under this blessed inspiration will be acceptable unto God. We have but truly to lay the living sacrifice on the altar; then God will send fire."
J.R. Miller, (from Making the Most of Life.)

Streams in the Desert, Vol 2, Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1966, August 17