For your consideration

Psalm 55 HCSB [brackets are stream of consciousness thoughts from me, which may or may not have anything to do with the passages around them].  I'd also urge you to click through some of those links.

God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore my plea for help.
Pay attention to me and answer me.
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,
because of the enemy’s voice,
because of the pressure of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me
and harass me in anger.
[I have seen many people around the internet lately who almost seem to have given up any hope for the future whatsoever, and from the way things are going--crashing economies, governmental power grabs, and the complete disregard of the current administration for both the letter and spirit of the law--who could blame them?  It is seeming like disaster is upon us.]

My heart shudders within me;
terrors of death sweep over me.
Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
I said, “If only I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.
How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.
I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.”
[Fleeing tyranny--Going Galt, if you will--used to be a great way to escape.  From Moses to the Pilgrims, right?  Too bad we're in the last place left that has any hope at freedom.  Where's my space drive, huh?]

Lord, confuse and confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city;
day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;
destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.
[Seriously, have you heard from places like Detroit, where justified homicide is 2200% higher than the national average? Or how Chicago was so proud that they finally had an entire 24 hour period without a shooting?  While I guess both those things are good, in a way... just, wow.  There are some major problems out there.]

Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!
We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
[Oh, President Obama.  Elected on populism, and then proceeded to throw every support group he had under the bus.  Too bad most of them believe him when he says "Oh baby, you know I love you, won't you please take me back?"  All the hallmarks of an abusive relationship, there. Perhaps with this latest Catholic abortions thing we will see a major group of voters stop trusting the restraining order and go out to buy a shotgun.]

Let death take them by surprise;
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.
But I call to God,
and the LORD will save me.
I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,
and He hears my voice.
Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed.
God, the One enthroned from long ago,
will hear and will humiliate them
because they do not change
and do not fear God.
[I truly do believe in just deserts... it's just that sometimes you really want to see them happen while you're around, rather than waiting for the next life. I know, I know, not very Christian of me, but sometimes you just gotta say what you feel, ok?]

My friend acts violently
against those at peace with him;
he violates his covenant.
His buttery words are smooth,
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.
[Hey, has anyone around here ever heard of a little thing called "Operation Fast and Furious"? It is the weirdest little thing, you know, arming the enemies of a nation whose last aggression against us was in like, what, in either 1916 or 1846, depending on what you count as aggression/aggressors?  Hmmm, well, in any case WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING? Ah yes, and that "violating his covenant" thing...]

Cast your burden on the LORD,
and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
[Righteous is a good word.  It doesn't mean "perfect."  It doesn't mean "nice." And it sure doesn't mean "pansy-ass pacifist."  Maybe a good way to describe it would be "Outraged at evil." Kinda like this. Or Gatling Good.]

God, You will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in You.
[And sometimes that's all that gets me up in the morning...]

Sunday Music: Some Kind of Zombie

I can't remember if I have posted this song before or not, but it's been a looong time if I have.

Before zombies were in, Audio Adrenaline made this:



I quite like the comparison of being "dead to sin like some kind a zombie" (ahem, "dead man dance" ahem).  Doesn't hurt that it's a solid rockin' song, and a bizarre music video (in other words, right up my alley).  And it's from one of my favorite 90's Christian albums--I know I did the Chevette song, off of it a while back.

A Prayer for the President

Psalm 109:8

Amen, and amen.

A pertinent scripture

Proverbs 28:2 (HCSB):
When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

While you might take this to say that the Proverbs are pushing an "Only Ones" mentality, I sure can't say that right now we don't have any "discerning and knowledgeable" people in charge of anything, and the "enduring" part doesn't seem to be very realistic, and between all of the entrenched bureaucracy, states trying to get back their power, justice department trying to start a war with Mexico, tea party, OWS, Republican, and Democrat bickering, and a president who flies off to Hawaii at the drop of a hat, there isn't much leadership floating around out there either.

Interesting times...

Sunday Scripture for those "Occupy... Something" People

I read through the Thessalonians the other night and thought I would just point this out--

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (or thereabouts) from the HCSB translation:

About brotherly love: you don't need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

Or, if that isn't clear enough for you, The Message puts it a little more bluntly:

Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends.

Look for a job or at least stop asking for handouts!

Good Quote

"...freedom is a delicate and subtle gift, easily perverted and often squandered."

From Eugene Peterson's introduction to Galatians in his Message paraphrase.

A Prayer

Lord, protect the widows and orphans, help modern medicine to find a universal cure for cancer, and keep me from ever, ever looking like someone out of "people of walmart" while grocery shopping. Amen.

More Chevette-ing

And with a metaphor! But a rockin' song.



It was also my roommate's theme song.

We're just coasting

Manifest destiny is still how the US rolls, but now we don't even have a theological base to it.

Puff the magic Jesus
Floats around the universe
The United States is His favorite place on the whole entire earth
So sing your songs and wave your flag
And thank the Lord for all you have
But what about them?
Did you forget about them?

We came we conquered never speak of this again life
Must go on let’s not think of them
Things are comfortable now the pioneers have settled in
A perfect blend of progress and pale skin
For our sake and those to come
We’ll rewrite the text so you can forget where you came from
Tell it in a way that will build your self esteem
Repackage the product and sell the American dream

History is best forgotten and even better rewritten
And since there’s no forgetting let’s remember it different
Commit to it so strongly till you believe it
The truth is there but you aren’t able to receive it
You need to know you’re safe here
Hide your face here cuz you found your faith here
But four walls with no windows doesn’t mean you’re it
Four walls with no windows doesn’t mean they don’t exist

What a prosperous, wondrous place
Remember to say grace before we scrape our plates
And ignore the crying outside the door sure
You’ll pray for their burdens but you don’t want to make it yours
Thin lines divide but there’s a world of difference
So crawl back into your happy existence and feel the bliss of ignorance keep you warm
Blessed are those who mourn but it’s so foreign
The more you have the less you care
The less you care the more you become unaware
And sure life’s not fair but it favors us apparently
And how are we to interpret this excess
Is it God’s favor ill-behavior or simply man’s modern progress
God bless us as we sweep this mess under the rug
Don’t want to walk barefoot on the tile and step in the mud
Out of sight out of mind and pushed to the side
Left for someone else to rationalize and justify

Sunday Music

For some reason, I doubt you'll ever hear this song in church...

Another John Reuben Song

Sales Pitch:

Everyone’s got a hidden agenda watch them push it on you
Everyone’s got a hidden agenda don’t pretend not to
It’s a battle for your mind and a battle for your pocket book
They’ll play on your emotions until your heart is hooked
Reel them in tell them what’s your intent
No Mr. salesman you don’t have my confidence
See I’m not sure if I can trust your heart
So don’t feed me your lies disguised in sheep guard
Everyone’s got an agenda can you tell me what for
Everyone’s got an agenda can you tell me what’s yours
From the liberal media to the conservative core
From politics to the dude trying to play it cool on the dance floor
Its human nature runs deep and reeks of secrets
No matter how hard you try no man can keep it
For a time maybe but one day you’re gonna have to face it
And when that time comes you won’t be able to fake it

Left yourself lying in the dark waiting to be exposed
Catch yourself hiding from your heart and what God only knows
Smile put on your game face
Your death bed awaits
And sure there’s grace but it’s going to sting a bit
Try to sell it to God and see if he buys your sales pitch

Watch them tell you they’re more than their worth
Watch them take advantage of the church
But then again stepping stones were meant to be walked on
They’ll leave and come back once the floor boards are gone
And they’re sitting in the basement pondering energy wasted
Trying to figure out how to make it
Take it to the innocent and manipulate it
Job well done religion look what you’ve created
Easily slipping easily fading away
Easily forgetting why it was that I was made
Easily saying all the right things I need to say in order to make it easier for myself to get paid
Don’t look at it like this moments of trite bliss
This propaganda is lifeless
Move at the speed of which light is
Fast forward through the time as I write this
Now I might not have been the wisest
But I put my soul into each line if money ain’t the motive it’s priceless
I followed a trend called timeless

These folks don’t walk it but they go about it and they talk it
Now-a-day’s they’ll turn anything into product
Merchandise name your price try and turn a profit
Even the sacred's been turned dishonest

Or, as the Dread Pirate Roberts said: "Life is pain, princess. Anyone who tells you different is selling something."

Today's the Day

If you're reading this, you missed the end of the world.  Apparently you need to shape up.

If you aren't reading this, congratulations, you've been raptured.

End of the world is coming...

Stock up on booze!

I don't know if you have these things popping up where you are, but we've got several billboard signs around town proclaiming the end of the world will happen on May 21. One of these signs is right next to a liquor store called "Last Chance Liquors." I should have taken a picture of it when I drove past it yesterday, but at least you can see it in the link above.

The thing about those signs is, apparently the guy who is putting them up never read the Bible where Jesus says "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (It's in Mark 13, if you care to look it up)

Dude. If Jesus says he doesn't even know when the end of the world is... well, then I think the word that describes you best would be "pretentious."

Not Boring Sunday Music

I'm a sucker for rockin' Christian music...


And on an only slightly related note, I am taking today off.  Keeping the Sabbath holy, and all. I don't know about you, but I think that's my favorite commandment.  The weekend commandment.

A Scripture for Sunday (and for Alan Baird)

Proverbs 28:1

    ¹ The wicked flee when no one is pursuing [them],
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 

In case you missed this whole situation, Linoge has a good summation here.

Sunday Music: Work

This song pretty much sums up where I'm at right now:



Lyrics:

Just in case, I will leave my things packed so I can run away
I cannot trust these voices

I don't have a line of prospects that can give some kind of peace
There is nothing left to cling to that can bring me sweet release
I have no fear of drowning, it's the breathing that's taking all this work

Do you know what I mean when I say, 'I don't want to be alone.'
What I mean when I say, 'I don't want to be alone.'

Empty spaces, shadows hit by street lights
warning signs and weight of tired conversations

In the absence of a shoulder, in the abscess of a thief
On the brink of this destruction, on the eve of bittersweet
Now all the demons look like prophets and I'm living out
every word they speak, every word they speak

Do you know what I mean when I say, 'I don't want to be alone, '
What I mean when I say, 'I don't want to be alone'
What I mean when I say, 'I don't want to be alone.'

Do you know what I mean when I say, 'I don't want to be alone.'....
I have no fear of drowning. It's the breathing that's taking all this work.

Religion Quiz!

15 questions asked, 15 questions answered correctly.  Booyah!  Though to be fair, the one on transubstantiation threw me for a loop for a second--but then, I'm not Catholic.

I had to do it, as the article that linked me there was talking about how atheists know more about religion than those who identified themselves as Christian.   But then, the quiz covers religion and not Christianity, so it is a loaded headline.  If you actually look at the statistics, the "White Evangelical Christian" category got above average or tied on all of the "Christian" questions, falling off on the stuff about Ramadan and Nirvana.  I mean, really, the 64% that Atheists got isn't exactly a passing grade either...

Take it here.

Be intolerant, because some things want to kill you

Stolen directly from Alan.

Needtobreathe: Hurricane

I had another Needtobreathe song awhile back, but this one really got stuck in my head. It just has some good lyrics and some good sounds.



If you want the "Official" version (embedding disabled, thanks record companies!), it's right here.

If you don't want to listen to the song, I encourage you to at least look at this section of the lyrics:

In the light of the mourning
Can we change what we felt and heard
Can we turn it into the glory
Break the paths of our fathers before us
Though we stand on the outside
We will find what we once believed
And will crawl our way to the clear skies
Standing up we are
Standing up we are

We roll the dice we play like fools
We plead with time to change the rules
Its like a hurricane is coming our way
We've all been warned but we still chose to stay

I can't believe it now the time has come

It works on multiple levels for me. Needtobreathe is a Christian band, so you can obviously look at it from that viewpoint--the church (that includes me, by the way) really has a hard time these days practicing what it preaches. Or, you can look at it from a political viewpoint--for the past few generations we as a country have been slipping, and it seems like those who care most for the founding principles are on the outside.

"We've all been warned but we still choose to stay..." I feel like Dagny Taggart, torn between reviving or destroying and starting over.

Can we turn back into the glory and break the paths of our fathers before us?

We'll have to see what happens...

Life Turns

I was out in the garage rummaging around and found a whole cabinet full of some of my dad's gun stuff. I knew he was getting into shooting and reloading right when I left for college, but I was never around when he did anything with it. I found a ton of .270, both reloaded and non-, a bunch of birdshot in various gauges, all of the reloading stuff, a stack of unused targets, and 2500 rounds of Federal .22LR marked "1984." It is weird that I still think of all of his stuff as "his," even though he died almost two year ago. It is weird to think that it is all now mine, since my mom and brother have no interest in it. I look at it and feel kind of like I'm stealing from my dad, which is also weird.

I am reading through Ecclesiastes right now and was struck again by chapter 3 (here from the HCS translation):

Ecclesiastes 3
The Mystery of Time
1 There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;

3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;

5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;

6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;

7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;

8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

I guess there is also a time for leaving your dad's stuff in boxes and a time to shake the dust off and use it.

I've been needing some targets, and my 10/22 is beckoning me...