“PENSEES”

2012-02-11T12:27:00.004-05:00

IRONY...

There are those in history who "loved" a "truth" so much,

They burned others at the stake (in this world),

Because "THE TRUTH" of those burned, did not reflect their mere "love."

CONVERSELY

There are those in history whose "truth" exemplified only "love,"

Unwittingly staking others to be burned (in the netherworld),

Because their MERE LOVE, wasn't reflective enough of "The Truth"

TRUTH without LOVE is like a dry river bed; it gives direction but no life.

LOVE without TRUTH is like a vast swamp land; it has plenty of life, but no direction.

COMBINED

LOVE and TRUTH are like a wide river valley, plenty of life on both sides, while still providing direction.

2012-02-10T23:26:00.003-05:00

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges for the Christ-Follower,

Is striking the constant, circumstantially-driven,

Elliptical Balance,

Of practicing the

The LOVE of Christ's TRUTH,

For the TRUTH of Christ's LOVE

The greatest heresies in history

Are Always some contextually driven form,

Of privileging one of these dynamics

(Truth or Love)

Exclusively over the other...

Why “Theodicy” Exists Based on Moral and Ethical Decisions

2012-02-03T20:19:00.004-05:00

It is both an ancient and present truth, that when a man exercises his autonomy, making a choice that ends beneficially, then from his vantage point, it was because of what he did; and concludes that God was not necessary... However, when that man exercises the same autonomy, making a choice that ends poorly, and then he concludes God is at fault; because God didn’t protect him from the consequences of the choice he made.

We encourage God to be absent when we make choices that bring us pleasure; but we blame God when He isn't present to protect us from choices that cause us pain.

We don't want to be INFORMED by God about HOW to choose, we only want to be PROTECTED by God, regardless of WHAT we choose.

2012-02-03T18:18:00.006-05:00

Unlimited power held by those without character,

Is characterized in those

Who Would exercise power without limits.

2011-11-15T21:46:00.021-05:00

... But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us

We are afflicted in every way,

But not crushed;

Perplexed,

But not driven to despair;

Persecuted,

But not forsaken;

Struck down,

But not destroyed;

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,

So that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies...

...So death is at work in us,

But life in you

For this light momentary affliction is preparing us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

II Corinthians 4:7-10;11b-12; 17

Lets be honest, in the case of the Apostle Paul's affliction he saw Jewish authorities, Roman Centurions and exhausting physical hardships associated with his Missionary Journeys. We, on the other hand, see our afflictions stemming from an adversarial Post-Christian Culture, Bondage to our Finances and an Emotional Semi-Paralysis attempting to engage our Purpose and Meaning for our Life.

The question is: "Do the above passages still apply in the same way for us today?" Or: "Is God still there for us in the same manner, despite the radical change of 'affliction' in our culture?" Can the same splendor and glory burnished in the Roman Colosseum, for the afflicted faithful, comport with we contemporary sycophants, subtly afflicted (no less in bondage) metaphorically by Fitzgerald's infamous West Egg?

If we look to much to the kind of "affliction" that once was as a measure of faith and response, can we misapprehend a different kind of current affliction, that while different, is no less severe and destructive? The brick and mortar of today's Colosseum's are made up of a composite of materials we know as: Individualism, Hedonism, Materialism and Debtism.

In relationship to our "brokenness" that comes from the Fall:

2011-10-11T09:37:00.002-04:00

Until we are willing to find another that we can truly trust for words of wisdom, that counter and constantly challenge our perception of reality, we will always be highly susceptible to some form of pathology. The constant inbreeding of thought can only birth, in the end, deformed values, beliefs and self-awareness.

2011-05-27T15:11:00.002-04:00

HUMANLY speaking: If the severity of God's "JUSTICE" isn't a true and ever present certainty, then the beauty of God's "GRACE" can't be an ever true and meaningful reality. DIVINELY speaking: JUSTICE and GRACE are eternal and irreducible divine attributes - THE celestial polestar points on an equally balanced axis. To marginalize the function of one is to compromise the nature of the other....

2011-05-25T10:36:00.001-04:00

If life can be compared to a game of CHESS... then just because we find ourselves constantly maneuvering out of "CHECK," doesn't necessitate we are fated to be "CHECKMATED." However, if in the end we have persevered, then more often than not, its because our opponent made a mistake - and not because of some new found genius on our part. This is why we should pray... Hebrews 7:25

2011-05-25T10:33:00.001-04:00

There are those who naively believe that "LOVE" exclusively can overcome the world. And there are those who confidently believe that exclusivity to "TRUTH" can save the world. However, too much "love" creates "cripples" of those who openly receive it; and too much "truth" comes from "cripplers" of those who unerringly believe it. Godly WISDOM knows these two to be symbiotically balanced.

2011-05-04T16:59:00.010-04:00

Caution about how Christians respond to the death of anyone (I.e. Osama bin Ladin), is a MUST... However, the "cautions" I read the last few days, came from mostly "half-pacifists" – the kind that blithely give benefit-of-the-doubt for those who clearly committed great evil, AND NOT the -benefit-of-the-doubt to those trying to stop them...

This kind of pacifist tends to get-in-the-way of those trying to stop evil-doers, but will rarely get-in-the-way of the evil doers themselves. This is particularly true of non-practitioner Academics who declare themselves to be pacifists - and vigorously pontificate to their charges to be so as well. Most are sequestered away in their book-lined ivory towers, busily reading someone, who read someone, who in turn read someone else.

Should peace be pursued, as a matter of principle, in all places, at all times and among all people? ABSOLUTELY!!! Is that always possible or even the best thing? No, not always. The ASSUMPTION here, is that violence always begets violence and less violence against an offending party always results in less suffering for all... There is simply no conclusive evidence to substantiate that assumption.... I give you the German Nazi experience as perhaps the premier example.

Many pacifists almost assume: "Evil can always be shamed into submission and insanity can always be reasoned with into complicity." This simply isn't true universally. If it were then open up all of the insane asylums and then suggest to God that He go easier on Satan.

To be fair there are a couple of stellar examples that come immediately to mind where pacifism worked well! Luminaries such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King are perhaps the best known. But does their example have to be normative? Or did their example work because the time and place were right for them to work? Is pacifism a one size fits all solution for all conflict? I think not. It’s a solution, but I don't think the solution every time.

Its telling how much many pacifists are willing to let the innocent suffer in the face of grinding evil (without even asking their permission), while stoutly defending clearly evil people, and their actions, simply to make their point that this might be a good idea.

Ash Wednesday and Holy Week Liturgal Reading

2011-04-14T15:20:00.008-04:00

Preceded by a 24 Hour Fast

Introduction of the Ash Wednesday Service: (On Front of Service Sheet)

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior,and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, through self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature,let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer. (BCP 1979)

Meditation Music:

Call To Worship: 2 Tim 2:10-13

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Meditation Music:

Ash Wednesday Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 1979)

Mediation Music:

Homily Text: Mark 8:34-38

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

A Collect: – A Congregational Confession: (With Contributions From: The Daily Light)*

Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"? (Pro 20:9)*

The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psa 14:2-3)*

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Rom 8:8)*

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. (Rom 7:18-19)*

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isa 64:6)*

But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Gal 3:22)*

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isa 53:6)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Co 5:21)

That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them…. (2Co 5:19)

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1Jo 1:8-10)

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Rev 3:3)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear. (Rev 3:19-22)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (Jam 5:16)

Receiving of The Ash: (Officiat)

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition,in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws… "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame-- (Dan 9:3-5,7b)

This is An Outward and Public Sign of an Inward Heart Condition.

The Following Will Be Said To Each Recipient Who Receives The Ash

“Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

Obey The Holy Spirit, That You Might Be Conformed To The Image of Christ”

Presentation of Sin to the Cross

An opportunity to write out a specific and troubling sin and present it to the Cross, either by placing it in a basket or tacking it to the Cross itself.

Time of Confession & Prayer for the Forgiveness of Sins

For those who wish, there will be prayer and confession stations throughout the Sanctuary

Closing: Congregational Responsive Reading:

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your
loving-kindness; in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

Wash me through and through from my wickedness
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.

Against you only have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight.

And so you are justified when you speak
and upright in your judgment

Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,
a sinner from my mother's womb.

For behold, you look for truth deep within me,
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

Make me hear of joy and gladness,
that the body you have broken may rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Give me the joy of your saving help again
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

Blessing and Benediction

May The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Meditation Music:

Please depart the sanctuary in silence, sealing to your hearts your new commitments to Christ…

Honor Upons One's Death

2010-11-03T08:28:00.004-04:00

In the end,

whether its through the completion

of some small or great endeavor;

or upon passing from this world into the next -

the honor and respect given to us in remembrance,

is almost always commensurate

to the honor and respect

we had given to each endeavor

and/or to our life out of which we lived.

Reality and Perception

2010-10-02T08:08:00.004-04:00

The Fullness Of Reality Is Known
Not Only By What Is Obvious To Us
But Also Through The Perception Of What Is Missing -

That Is Always There.

This Is Why Many Of Us Are Haunted
With The Troubling Sense
That At Best
Our Existence Is Only Half Of What It Should Be.

Merely Good Intentions

2010-09-09T18:24:00.008-04:00

"Good Intentions"

Without Resolve

Is At Worst A Lie

At Best Self-Deception

Wrapped In Rationalization -

Away From A Heart

That's Was Convicted

The Witness of "Imago Dei"

2010-09-01T22:02:00.009-04:00

We Can Know If A Local Church

FAILS

In Its Divinely Given God-Given Purpose,

When Any ONE PERSON Within It,

Is A More Authentic Representation

Of Jesus Christ,

Than The SUM TOTAL Of The Individuals

Within The CONGREGATION Itself.

It Must Be The Comprehensive Witness

Of The "Imago Dei"

2010-08-06T15:09:00.002-04:00

"If the highest good,

is only the provision of everyone's

basic physical needs;

then the individual's pursuit

of aesthetic beauty

becomes one of the greatest evils."

2010-08-06T15:06:00.002-04:00

Exactly at what point do our "needs" end and the "superfluous" begin? There is both an "absolute" and "relative" dynamic to both - particularly as they relate to the responsibility to the individual; as well as responsible economics. If I live strictly according to my basic needs, and give what I would have spent to the "needy;" then those who were employed because of the "superfluous" now become the "needy".

Wisdom in the Crucible

2010-07-23T18:09:00.004-04:00

So Many Of The Great Challenges Within Our Life,

Are All About Navigating The "Kinds" Of Choices
That We Need To Make,

When The Assumptions That We Bring To Life,

Never Come To Pass..."

(rsg 7/23/2010)

Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you;
Love her and she will watch over you.
Proverbs 4:6

2010-07-12T08:49:00.003-04:00

Those Who Habitually

Jump To Conclusions

Habitually Reveal

Some Inner Fear

(rsg 07/12/2010)

Confession

2010-07-08T16:53:00.004-04:00

True Confession Before Christ

Necessarily Means Embracing The Kind of Inner Honesty

For Which Eternal Separation Becomes

Not Only A Vivid Possibility,

But A "JUST" One As Well.

On The Other Hand,

The ABILITY To Truly Confess

Also Necessarily Means That The Confessor

Is Now Bathed and Swathed

In The Surpassing Grace Of A Loving God.

Why Everyone Shouldn't Get A Trophy - (Among A Whole Host Of Other Things)

2010-06-29T11:04:00.007-04:00

If We All Wait

For EVERYONE To Catch Up

REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES

Then NO ONE Gets Ahead

And We ALL Languish

In Smoldering, Paralyzing MEDIOCRITY.

The Inconvenient Truth Is...

That For Those Whose Vision And Efforts

Have Moved Them On AHEAD

("Inequity" Isn't Always Synonymous With "Unfair")

They Blaze The Trail For Those Behind

Whose Arrowed Road Sign Reads:

"This Way To The Realm Of Possibilities"

Good Government

2010-06-29T10:56:00.003-04:00

Thoughts About July 4th: Good Government Happens (When Those In Power) Establish Laws, That Strike A Balance Between The Oppression Of The Individual And The Collective Good Of Individuals Within A Society. At Issue: Liberals = Individuals Are To Be More Morally Free And Economically Restrictive. Conservatives = Individuals Are To Be More Morally Restrictive And Economically Free.

(rsg 6/29/2010)

Young Adult Maturity

2010-06-26T00:21:00.004-04:00

TRUE MATURITY Is Achieved Among YOUNG ADULTS

When Their RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

Live In A Harmonious Relationship

With Freely Embraced PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY...

2010-06-09T09:20:00.003-04:00

Why is it, that when we have identified a legitimate NEED, that we usually leap to the conclusion, that the ONLY logical recourse is to make it an ENTITLEMENT? It's like having a debilitating ITCH in the middle of our back, that can't be reached, and someone else becomes RESPONSIBLE for locating, purchasing, delivering and facilitating a BACK-SCRATCHIER with which to bring about our relief.

ORTHOPRAXY

2010-05-21T22:07:00.008-04:00

There Are "IDEALS"...

And Then There Is "REALITY"...

The Balanced Assimilation Of These Two

Creates The Ever Elusive Phenomena Called

"ORTHOPRAXY"

[Ortho = Correct (Implying Belief or Ethic) & Praxis = Deed]

Journaling

2010-05-21T22:03:00.004-04:00

To Capture A "Thought"

In Written Form

Is To Declare With Some Permanence

The Perception Of "Reality."

Meditation

2010-05-21T21:52:00.005-04:00

Out Of The Intentional And Quiet Moments

Within Our Soul

Come The Authentic Possibilities

For The Kind Of Activity

That Are Truly Redemptive And Life-Giving...

For Ourselves As Well As For Others.

Parent or Friend

2010-05-15T11:11:00.003-04:00

A Parent Can Be A Friend To Their Child Only To The Degree That It Begins To Interfere With Their Ability To Mature and To Be Competent. After That... The Most Necessary Thing Is To Simply Be Their Parent. It Is Not About Being "Liked" During The Interim... Love And Respect Come Later In Life Because You Lovingly Guided Them Into The Fullness Of Their Potential...

Excerpt - The Eternal Now - Thomas R. Kelley

2010-05-13T10:11:00.002-04:00

In The Immediate Experience Of The Presence,The Now Is No Mere Nodal Point Between The Past And The Future. It Is The Region of Divine Presence Itself

No longer is the ribbon spread out with equal vividness before one, for the past matters less and the future matters less, for the Now contains all that is needed for the absolute satisfaction of our deepest cravings.

Why want, and yearn, and struggle, when the Now contains all one could ever wish for, and more? The present Now is not something from which we hurriedly escape, toward what is hoped will be a better future.

Instead of anxiety lest the future never yield all, we have hoped, lest we fail to contribute our full stint before the shadows of the evening fall upon our lives, we only breathe a quiet prayer to the Now and say: “Stay, thou art so sweet,”

Instead of anxiety lest our past, our past defects, our long-standing deficiencies blight our well-intentioned future efforts, all our past sense of weakness falls away and we stand erect, in this holy Now, joyous, serene, assured, unafraid.

Between the relinquished past and the untrodden future stands this holy Now, whose bulk has swelled to cosmic size, for within the Now is the dwelling place of God Himself. In the Now we are at home at last.

2010-05-13T09:43:00.000-04:00

Is it just me, or do the crystal clear images associated with each of the upcoming days, weeks, months and years, become less and less vivid and more and more of an obscure blur - gaining speed and losing clarity with each succeeding year I live? I need to take Brother Lawrence & Thomas R. Kelly's admonition and learn to live in the "Eternal Now."

Spring Awakening

2010-04-23T00:24:00.004-04:00

Last Night While Quietly Biking After Dark

I Felt In The Star-Filled Skies

A Startling Sense Of Vibrancy

Caused By The Cool, Clear, Crisp, Feel

And Smell Of The Spring-Time Air

Heightened Even More By Plunging Through

Assorted Pockets Of A Heavy Powerful Elixir -

The Exhilarating Aroma

Of Apple Tree Blossoms

ATTITUDE AND HEART

2010-04-13T20:34:00.004-04:00

I Would Like To Have Seen

The Whole World With Eyes

Incapable Of Anything But Wonder,

And A Tongue Fluent Only In Praise

(Pay Conroy - Prince of Tides)

Disagreeing With Liberal Ideology Is Not The Same As Racism

2010-04-02T23:08:00.003-04:00

A Letter To The Editor, In Response To Newspaper Beaver County Times, Editor JD Prose (03/28/10), That To Disagree With Liberal Progressives and Barak Obama - Is The Same As Racism.

I was not surprised by J.D. Prose's most recent column that accused anyone of not agreeing with President Barack Obama's policies as being a racist. (Question: how would Prose explain conservatives Lynn Swann, Michael Steele, Clarence Thomas and Alan Keyes?)

With feigned concern, Prose demurs sanctimoniously that these same people virtually invented hate-speech. Notably, Prose conveniently ignores the endless vitriol aimed at conservatives, particularly by hate-speech purveyors and apostles Bill Maher, Keith Olbermann and Joy Bahar, and even organizations like MoveOn.org.

Prose's poisoned penned jabs are either irresponsibly uniformed and/or intellectually disingenuous to consistently leverage alleged (many unsubstantiated - abhorrent if true) comments and activities from the fringe (endemic to both political parties) to make his best argument, raising the question of whether he's an ideologically bound propagandist or thoughtful journalist?

Parroting talking points from far-left leaning websites resembles many of the journalistic practices of the former Soviet Union's media outlets: Pravda and Tass.

People can genuinely rejoice in the election of an African American (who ran as a moderate) and still reject without being racist the inexorable attempts at social re-engineering, wealth-redistribution, entitlement machinations, legislative violations and financial shell games from ardent liberals.

Rich Grassel

Ambridge

Wednesday March 31, 2010 02:25 AM

Some Thoughts On The New Healthcare Law - Ok, Its A Bit of a Rant!

2010-03-23T09:07:00.005-04:00

In Light of Government Healthcare Reform: There is no EMPIRICAL evidence that it works. NONE! There are no real firm FISCAL figures! NONE! How about Democratic TRANSPARENCY? NONE! Effort for real BIPARTISANSHIP? NONE! Chance that Reid & Pelosi intend to stop without pursuing Universal Single Payer Healthcare? NONE! UNBIASED Elite Media in their reporting? NONE! That the AVERAGE AMERICAN has actually taken the time to carefully think through the precedents socially and economically of the Healthcare Bill? NONE! That PA Democrats who will survive this Fall? NONE!

"The nose of the Camel is now underneath the tent." The intent by the Democrats is to have the entire Camel in the tent, with us... Here are my thoughts:

1. When 32 million people - about 17 million of which are young singles - many of whom opt out to pocket the extra cash, become dependent, there will be no turning back...

In addition, this is not a static number... as time goes by and young adults mature they will have to be added...

2. In response to the claim that there will be lower health insurance premiums: How can you tell Insurance Companies that they now have to do the following:

a. Sign on dependents up to age 26

b. Ban limits on life-time coverage

c. Not deny people for pre-existing conditions

d. Insure 32 million people who were heretofore not insured

Where will this EXTRA money come from? We are talking billions upon billions of dollars - ad infinitum.... To borrow a line from President Obama: "Let me be clear..." Its not that we shouldn't be compassionate about all the above... its the HOW and the WAY we get to it that matters...

Point: Insurance Companies (who's average profit margin is 4%) will have to pass those costs on to you and me...

Now follow this...

For two full-time staff people we pay almost $1,900.00 A MONTH for Health Insurance. If our Insurance Premiums go up to say $2,800 - $3,200 A MONTH, then Non-profit groups like ours may say: "To heck with it! we can't pay this... We are dropping our Healthcare Insurance benefit for employees, pay the $800.00 PER YEAR fine for each individual and let the Federal Government do the rest - THROUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS... We now become dependent forever, like those other 32 million, on the Federal Government. Washington bureaucrats increasingly will now become responsible for the decisions related to our personal decisions related to healthcare.

LOOK THIS IS THEIR PLAN AND IT WILL BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS... IT HAS TOO....

In the end, you and I will be paying for the uninsured BY PROXY, through Higher Insurance Premiums... Largely without the government having to officially tax Individuals and Families. It's a beautiful thing isn't it? The real taxes will be passed on to those making more than $250,000.00 per year, who already pay about 50% in taxes already... Note: The bottom 45% of all income makers pay NO INCOME TAX AT ALL... AND MOST GET WHAT IS CALLED: "AN EARNED INCOME TAX BENEFIT" TRANSLATION: the Federal Gov't gives them money, in the form of a tax return, for not making enough money...

3. Special Interest Groups - you know the groups that the Administration regularly attacks, as if they are completely innocent themselves, play a huge role here... In the Form of NO TORT REFORM... Billions of dollars are spent every year in defensive medicine and frivolous law suits... but because of the Obama Administration's, er, um how shall we say this: "night-time companions" - Did you know that the Trial Lawyers Special Interest Group, are exempt from any complicity in the burgeoning cost of Health Care.

4. For the first time in the History of the United States... You and I are being required to buy something very personal against our wishes by the government... This is the essence of socialism... Sorta like the Obama Administration saying: "GM Auto is to big to fail, the anyone seeking to purchase a new car will have to buy from GM only." This of course could never happen because the Autoworker Union would never permit something like that down the road ... Right?

5. Getting back to my original post: There is NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE that Government sponsored Healthcare Works well. Not in Russia, China, all of Europe or even Canada. For example: In Canada, if you need an MRI you will wait almost a month, but your CAT can get one the NEXT DAY!!!

This whole process has been smoke and mirrors, dis-ingenious, intellectually dishonest and yes even a bit evil. And the part that the Elite Media has played on this is a violation of everything that has to do with what Journalism is supposed to be... they really ought to rename themselves either PRAVDA or TASS...

Psalm 1:3 The Giving of Life In Life

2010-03-08T07:07:00.005-05:00

1. ANSWER This carefully:

What Person Do You Know,

Who When You Are In Their Presence

"GIVES YOU LIFE," and why?

2. DON'T ANSWER This - But Think About It Carefully:

What Person Do You Know

That When They Are In Your Presence

"YOU GIVE THEM LIFE," and Why?

Before We Die

2010-01-26T13:27:00.011-05:00

For Many Of Us...

One Of Our Last Rational Thoughts That We Have...

Before We Die

And Cross Over

[Victorious?]

The Finish Line From This Life Into The Next...

Is To Dare To Look Back Over The Course Of Our LIFE...

The "RACE" That We Had Just Run...

Complete With Whatever Kind Of

Discipline We Employed,

Strength We Exercised

And Heart That We Exerted...

And We Look Deep, Deep Inside

And Ask Ourselves...

[In A Voice With Quiet Intensity]

"Could WE Have Done Qualitatively Better?"

"Could WE Have Given More?"

"Did WE Give It ALL away?"

AS WE RAN WITH THOSE WHO RAN WITH US...

[That We Said We Loved]

"Did My Great Commitments In Life

Spur My COMPANIONS

To GREATNESS In Their Life?"

Perhaps... We Are Secretly TERRIFIED

[That Maybe, Just Maybe]

That During The Course Of OUR Life

Our MOST Faithful and Closest COMPANION Was

The Specter Named: "MEDIOCRITY"

Who Was Mantled Around Us The Entire Time...

rsg 1/26/2010

(1 Cor. 3:12-15)

The Great Swiss Psychologist
Paul Tournier Said:

Most People Spend Their Entire Lives
Indefinitely Preparing To Live...

Why Neither Hyper-Capitalism and Socialism Will Work

2010-01-07T23:54:00.004-05:00

Fundamentally...

When It Comes To

Hyper-Capitalism and Economic Social Progressivism [Socialism]

EACH fails to work for the same sort of reason…

Hyper-Capitalism fails because the individual,

as a matter of personal principle

works hard only for themselves; and

Socialism fails because individuals,

as a matter of personal principle,

will not work hard for the other.

Selfishness and Pride

will not be easily filtered

by ANY economic and/or political theory.

The Sensus Plenior [this was that] of Genesis 3:15 and Phillipians 2:5-8

2009-12-24T07:51:00.001-05:00

Even with GOLDEN JOY

As the dominate emotional backdrop,

when thinking of the Birth of Christ,

I can't help but see some DARK THREADS

Of sobering reality in that tapestry,

When I consider that Christ's suffering for us

BEGAN in His birth –

CULMINATING in the Crucifixion Event.

Genesis 3:15 is the Sensus Plenior of Philippians. 2:5-8

An Advent Reminder

2009-12-24T05:51:00.004-05:00

This Advent Season

I Have Become Increasingly Aware

Of How Much I Practice My Faith

More As An Ideological Worldview

Rather Than A Relationship

With The Living God Of The Universe

God Incarnate Was Born 2,000 Years Ago

Not A Philosophical Idea

A Response To Mark Madden’s Regarding His Tiger Wood’s Commentary

2009-12-18T06:08:00.003-05:00

The Madden Apologetic For Choosing Golf Over Marriage and Family

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1424/2009/december/14/monday-madden-maybe-tiger-should-pitch-the-wife.html

In a sense Madden's article [Beaver County Times – Monday Madden 12/14/09] is more about what we should value in life vs. what Tiger did or should do... IT IS AFTER ALL ONLY GOLF - A game that culturally we have elevated way beyond its intrinsic and extrinsic value to the life and the world that we live in.

Regardless of what Neanderthal's like Madden write and say; and the blood rushing "man crush" they appear to be intoxicated with, you can never get around the fact that we live in a world where relationships matter and integrity, trust and loving relationships matter even more. For all the wackiness and inconsistency with which we practice these as humans... THEY STILL DO MAKE THE WORLD GO AROUND...

Infidelity of all sorts damages and destroys all of these aforementioned virtues. The commentators, who supported Madden's position can't know what Tiger's wife felt, experienced and believed... they can project from their own experiences, but THEY CANNOT KNOW. They don't know if for example what Tiger promised her in heart to heart conversations and private moments; if he gave her some life altering disease because of the unprotected sex with the 15 or so women that he was unfaithful with, or even how this will clearly affect the Wood's defenseless children etc. The sharp hard-bitten pontificating on what commentators perceive to be the reality of Tiger and his wife is only that pontificating... and it is implacably sad... There is nothing lasting and redemptive and helpful to the world-at-large, with the export of Madden's (and minions) values regarding marriage and families.

In addition, the shrill, biting and cynical responses of these Pro-Madden Commentators, who would use the absurd argument of "moral equivalency" [aimed at Tiger's wife/alleged golf club], in further support of Madden, leaves most of us thankful that we have been spared and/or at least that maybe we have found a way to transcend the kind of practical nihilism they seem to embrace. This kind of attitude (found predominately in single cell organisms) is after all inevitable when we live vicariously through others. The irony of course is that they have given themselves permission to objectify, subsume and accommodate people like Tiger emotionally, but people like Tiger did not give this permission to them – it is a false and pathetic reality, as well as an inwardly miserable kind of existence.

The black hole within which the last visages of Madden's humanity and emotions seemed to have been sucked in to, makes his position on Tiger and his wife just as tragic, for all - albeit in a smaller venue - and for that at least we can all be thankful!

Rich Grassel

Christian Fairness With Other Worldviews

2009-12-09T17:41:00.006-05:00

The Only Way To Be

COMPLETELY FAIR

(As a Christian)

To What All Other

Ideological/Worldviews Believe,

Is To Be ONLY "FAIR"

In My Allegiance

To All That I Should Believe.

Its Truth That Should Matter

Not Just Matters of Truth

rsg
(12/09/09)

SNL’s Devastating Critique of President Obama

2009-11-22T07:05:00.002-05:00

Saturday Night Live

And Its Depiction of Barak Obama's Effectiveness

Was anyone equally astounded last night with Saturday Night Live's unbelievably irreverent depiction of Barak Obama's domestic policies as they relate to China (unfortunately NOT on YOUTUBE as of this writing)? I guess the thing that surprised me the most, was that it was more devastating and biting than ANTHING they did to the Republican Presidential Party in 2008.

Oh, sure, SNL followed up minutes after, with promotional clips from the Movie 2012, creating a montage depicting a Palin/Beck Presidential (2012) that ushers in the apocalypse of the world. Nothing really surprising there… I suppose if SNL had gone as far as portraying Palin as the eschatological Anti-Christ, (instead of what we know to be the truth) overthrowing Heaven itself, then I still might not only have been surprised, but I would have at that point been offended too… Given the Elite Media's personal, misogynistic and ideological attacks of Palin; and SNL's destructive-voting-swinging-assault on her last year nothing really surprises me anymore with them spoofing her.

UNLESS…

Similar blistering criticism is aimed at Barak Obama who has been nothing but Teflon up until this point. Wow! The three comments by the Chinese Interpreter to President Obama(remember in real time President Obama just came back from a very tepid reception from the Chinese): 1. "Do you want to Kiss Me?" 2. Do You Want To Take Me Out To Dinner And A Movie?" and 3 "Do I Looked Like Misses Obama?" Finalizing itself with the Chinese official progressively assuming a very compromising position… All I can say is WOW! Far more critical than anything they did to Palin last year I think… Unforgiving in their assessment of Obama's Stimulus Package, Cash For Clunker's Program and Healthcare Reform… WOW!!! I found myself actually wanting to walk out of the room where my TV was…

STILL…

In the END for SNL, Palin's potential election for President 2012, DESTROYS THE WORLD, while Barak Obama, in a reversal of fortunes (no pun intended) is merely gittin cozy with a disillusioned seemingly victimized Chinese official.

I say the political winds have shifted and it will be interesting to see where things go from here!

WOW!!!

EXISTENTIAL TIME…

2009-11-20T08:32:00.007-05:00

Birth is Not-Requested

Youthfulness is Fleeting

Aging is Inexorable

Death is Wrong

Eternity is Restoration or Dis-Integration

There... IT IS THE CROSS!!!

Life is Right

The Present is Vital

Child-Likeness Is Necessary

Existence is Purpose

HOPE

Restoration, Wholeness, Authenticity,

Relationship, Meaning, Purpose,

Peace , Love and Joy

(SHALOM)

Can Be Ours...

The Media Elite: Comparing Radical Islam and Conservative Christianity

2009-11-12T00:11:00.001-05:00

Someone please tell me, in a contemporary context, how it is fair, rational and truthful that "Radical" Islamists (note: a subset of Islam) can be compared and equated with "'Conservative' Christians" – defined ostensibly as: "any Christian who disagrees with any of the big ticket items on the Leftist Liberal Agenda?" This equation has been made by the likes of Bob Shieffer from CBS and Andersen Cooper [Hasan – "Conservative"]from CNN, in their defense of Major Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood Terrorist. If you are a Conservative Christian, this new development, ironically enough should "terrify" you. Here is a clear, intentional and deeply nefarious connection being made by the Elite Media.

In deference to Mr. Sheiffer ["Christianity has nuts too"], I am not aware historically, of any Conservative Christians who have regularly, over the years, been fitted with vests loaded with plastic explosives designed to blast apart helpless noncombatants, women and children and/or who insidiously creep into helpless, trusting and unsuspecting crowds laden with loaded pistols, mowing them down while shouting "Allahu Akbar!" [God is Great!]. This kind of equitable comparison made by the Elite Media is neither credible, honorable nor intellectually honest. Truth is not the same as ideology.

Rich Grassel

Ambridge, Pa

2009-11-08T07:17:00.007-05:00

There Isn't Anything

More Inspiring or Dangerous

Than A Man Who Has A

Clear And Passionate

Purpose For His Life

RSG

(10/11/09)

The Dynamic In Christian Spiritual Formation

2009-10-30T08:18:00.012-04:00

Behind Every Sin

There Is Temptation [peirasmos]

Behind Every Temptation [peirasmos]**

There is a Test [peirasmos]

Behind Every Test [peirasmos]

There is intended godly Wisdom and Illumination

Behind godly Wisdom and Illumination

There is Awareness For Divine Direction

Behind Awareness and Divine Direction

There is True Fulfillment for our
Dire Personal Needs...

(Because of Our Depravity, Brokenness & Woundedness)*

Behind the Fulfillment of Our True Needs

There is Peace [Shalom] & Restoration [Imago Dei]**

Apart From These...

There is only Our Falleness

Behind Our Falleness

There is Only SUFFERING & DEATH****

Note*

Depravity = The Will & Desire To Sin
Brokenness = The Image of God is Damaged
Woundedness = What Others Do To Us That
Accelerates & Intensifies Our Depravity &
Brokenness

Note: **

Cornelius Plantinga offers the following comments and definition of "Shalom."

"This webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets called shalom. We call it "peace," but it means far more than than just peace of mind or cease-fire between enemies. (As a matter of fact, the area-over which two armies may declare a cease fire-fire may be acres of smoldering ruins.) In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight - a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, all under the arch of God's love. Shalom, in other words, is the way things are supposed to be."

Note***

That which is in Red represents "Sin Management"
This is where most Christians live out their entire faith

That which is in Green represents: "The Inner
Life In Christ"

rsg 10/30/2009

How We Motivate People For Christ

2009-10-26T14:56:00.004-04:00

Jesus Christ Stands
On The Sufficiency
Of WHO He Is

If That Is Not Good Enough

Then Why Should Hell
Be Any Better?

There is Far More Virtue In
Deciding FOR Christ
Versus AGAINST Hell

Biblical Principles or Personal Preferences

2009-10-24T23:03:00.005-04:00

The Church That Is Driven By

Biblical Principles

Is The Church That Leads

Others To Heaven

The Church That Is Driven By

Personal Preferences

Is The Church That Leads

Others To Hell

rsg
(10-18-09)

What Color Do We Live Our Lives In?

2009-10-13T07:33:00.016-04:00

First Photo Ever Taken From Outer Space
Of The Planet Earth

Most Of Us LIVE

More According To What What FEAR Inwardly

Rather Than What We HOPE For Outwardly

This Kind of Existence

Is The Difference Between

Portraying Our Life

From The "NEGATIVE" Of A Photo

LIMITED to The Grainy and Dualistic Color Pallette

Of A Black And White Photo

Versus

The Our Life Portrayed As The Photo

That EMBRACES The Joyful, Quixotic, Nuances

Of The Full and Dynamic Color Spectrum

The Problem With Scientism Scientists – aka Richard Dawkins

2009-10-09T23:55:00.013-04:00

So I was watching an interview today between Bill O' Reilly and Richard Dawkins (famous or infamous, depending one's perspective). Dawkins', is a self-proclaimed atheist who's two most recent books, are The God Delusion (2006) and The Greatest Show On Earth (2009). O' Reilly's primary point, which Dawkins quickly conceded, was that Science can't explain how it (the universe) all began; and until Science could explain otherwise, said O' Reilly, he chose to believe in God. Dawkins countered saying thing rather than believe in God, seek a way "to do better science (e.g. have "faith" in science)."

I find it interesting that Dawkins, whose worldview is "Scientism," makes this gratuitous and irrational leap in logic, that even though Science can't explain the origin of the Universe, it would still be appropriate to conclude that it could not have been created by God – despite not having the hard conclusive science to the contrary. This was the primary hole in Dawkin's argument, and I would have loved to have seen O' Reilly catch him in it… Again… if you can't prove something with science, then in equal manner you cannot disprove the same something with it either….

There is a kind of palpitating arrogance for those who embrace Scientism. To (in mind numbing fashion) lightly sweep aside all other worldviews,* and privilege ONLY their own exclusively, is something that most other worldviews do not even consider… Even the most hardened, conservative Christian, for example, understands the value of Science in providing perspective when it comes to what is really real; but Scientism Scientists like Dawkins can't conceive of returning the favor, despite enormous deficiencies in their logic and the Scientism mechanism otherwise. Scientists who embrace Scientism can offer us nothing more than a "hypothesis" (educated guess) in regards to the origins of the universe - which is in essence their Worldview.

Let's get this straight. Scientism Scientists like Dawkins fundamentally believe the only appropriate way "reality" can be determined is through the Scientific Method. That being said let me ask this question:

Has everything that could have been discovered by the

Scientific Method,

Been discovered by the Scientific Method…?

NO…

THEN DOES IT EXIST?

Yes! Things Do Exist Outside The Scientific Method

Regardless of Whether It Has Been Discovered By The Sceintism Scientist Or Not!

Scientists and Scientism Scientists discover new things almost everyday – from sub-atomic physics to biological life forms. Yet, to be logically consistent, those things can't exist according to the Scientism Scientist. Could it be possible, that the Scientific Method is simply a too impoverished a device for discovering all that there can be? Including the existence of God? If one starts with the a priori position that the only reality is a physical one… then the only Worldview one can use is Scientism… And, if one ONLY uses the Scientific Method and no other, how can one know of its potential limitations? The Scientific Method in this way is all exclusive and self-validating all at one time – it reserves the right to be above and beyond all critique, from any other Worldview. After all, one could argue surreptitiously that the Scientific Method hasn't been proven by the Scientific Method - right? So, hmnn... Does it exist?

*The Four Great Questions

of A Worldview

1. Who(se) Are We?

2. Where Are We?

3. What is Wrong?

4. How Do We Fix It?

“Who’s Minding The Store?!”

2009-10-03T08:50:00.003-04:00

If The Cultural Mentality Was "Response-Ability"
Before The Mid 1970's

(You Do What You Have To Do, To Make This World A Better Place)

And If It Morphed Into A "Culture of Therapy"
Until The End of The 20th Century

(There is an Ambiguous Correlation Between The Degree of a Person's Victimization
And The Amount of Responsibility They Can Be Held Accountable For)

Then It Has Tragically, Since Become
A Culture of "Play" In The 21st Century

There Isn't Anything

More Dangerous To Our Current Culture

Than A Group of Self-Identified Victims

Who Gratuitously Theraputize Themselves

Through An "Entitlement" Life-Style, of

Self-Absorbed Play

CALLING

2009-09-29T08:38:00.014-04:00

Most “callings” are never fully realized.
Because many of us
unwittingly constrain and orient
our lives relationally:
More according to what we Fear in
rather than what we Hope for,
more of what we are Doubtful of
rather than what we Trust in;
more against what we Hate
rather than for what we Love.

It is the difference between
being rooted and embracing our existence in
the grainy negative
of a black and white photo
and a photo that exhibits
the full-color spectrum.

rsg
(9/29/09)

2009-09-29T06:44:00.014-04:00

There Isn't ANYTHING

More Inspiring OR Dangerous

Than A Man Who Has A

Clear And Passionate

Purpose For His Life

rsg
(9/27/09)

My Thoughts Of What The Church Should Be

2009-09-18T08:38:00.004-04:00

The Church

The church [ecclesia] is a group of people graciously called by God into right relationship(s), living as a dynamic "incarnational" [Christ in our flesh] presence within the world, rooted in and emanating out of an authentic and transparent community [koinonia], dedicated to reconciling and restoring all things over to the image and purpose of Jesus Christ…

Illuminated by the Holy Spirit
Instructed by the Scriptures
Informed by Church tradition

rsg
(May of 2009)

An Escapable Truth

2009-09-18T08:31:00.003-04:00

We Live For And Serve

That Which We Love Most
r.s.g.

(Matthew 6:21)

TIME

2009-09-15T01:45:00.002-04:00

To fully live, is to live fully in the moment...
Life is so incredibly fleeting otherwise...

It would seem wise to intentionally commit
to a heightened awareness....

To live fully in the moment, means to willingly step
into the heat of the crucible,

From which is formed the linchpin that fuses
our past and future together.

To fully live acts, as a hinge, that regularly opens or closes
a myriad of opportunities.

Just One of Many Reasons...

2009-09-11T08:40:00.002-04:00

Why We Should Be VERY Wary Of Government Run Healthcare

A Report By A Not-So-Conservative (Moderately Liberal) Ideologue

Check It Out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9GMKK_fWKg

Draft: Part 1 of 6 of Chapter One – Your Thoughts?

2009-09-01T12:17:00.009-04:00

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

And Biblical Christian Spiritual Formation

Chapter One

Introduction:

How are we to understand the flow and development of Christian Spiritual Formation in a Biblical historical sense? What are the historical highlights from a Biblical perspective that provide a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be spiritually formed over into the image of Jesus Christ?

Perhaps the best mechanism through which to accomplish this study is provided by scholars Bartholomew & Goheen in their text: The Drama of Scripture, who postulate the view of Biblical History as a "Six Act Play." While similar to the perhaps better known Reformed view of Biblical History: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Glorification, Bartholomew and Goheen's variation provides one additional critical piece having to do with the role and work of the institutional Church.

Act I – God Establishes His Kingdom: The Creation

The author of Genesis is careful to affirm that it was a Sovereign and omnipotent God that brought order out of chaos (Gen. 1:2; see also Jer. 10:12; Col. 1:17). In a concluding statement, Genesis 1:31 records: "God - Elohim [~yhil{a] saw all that he had made, and it was very good [daom bAj]. And there was evening, and there was morning-- the sixth day." In essence, by declaring His act of Creation "daom bAj", God is saying of the Created Order that it was perfect, without flaw or defect; whole, with nothing damaged or missing; complete, with nothing needing to be finished; pure, with no evidence of corruption; integrated fully and faultlessly balanced within and among all of its diverse components; and finally holy, set apart for the glory and purpose of God. And in particular, Mankind, the lovingly created apex and vibrant nodal point, around which all of the Created Order was organized, basked in the absolute fullness of Shalom.

An additional crucial thread to be indentified within the tapestry of Creational theology is that having to do with relatedness. In other words, each entity within the Created Order was not only intrinsically perfect and good in and of themselves; but each of those entities, in the most exquisite detail, was intrinsically perfect and good in their connectedness with one another. In essence, there was a faultless interrelatedness and integration of all relationships with one another; and it was by this condition of perfect integration that the whole of the Created Order experienced the state of Shalom. Quintessentially, all Creational forms and their functions were ideal in balance and harmony. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. offers the following description of Shalom:

This webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it "peace," but it means far more than just peace of mind or cease-fire between enemies. (As a matter of fact, the area over which two armies declare a cease-fire may be acres of smoldering ruin.) In the bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, all under the arch of God's love. Shalom, in other words, is the way things are supposed to be. (Plantinga 14-15)

Therefore for Man, to experience true Shalom it necessarily meant to be fully integrated, balanced and whole in the following arenas:

1. Between himself and God,

2. Between himself and others;

3. Within himself

4. Within the totality of the Created Order.

The state of Shalom means for all things relationally to be what they were supposed to be originally, in terms of their nature and in their relationships… This portrait of the Created Order (pre-Fall), is vital to understand for the Christian in the post-Fall era. because if we are to understand from which we must be saved regarding the evils of chaos and "dis-integration" (Rom 1:21, Eph 4:18);" then there must be a clear picture of what Christ intends to save Mankind to - and to restore us to our Pre-fall condition (Is 65:17, Acts 3:21)

A Response To J.D. Prose Beaver County Times

2009-08-17T22:11:00.002-04:00

Debate On Healthcare

There is a difference between being an informed political pundit and an ideologically blind propagandist J.D. Prose's (Beaver County Times Editorial 8/9/09) shrill and condescending diatribe against those not supporting government sponsored healthcare was only slightly less offensive than his arrogant check-your-brains—I-know-it-all(ism). Counterpoints to J.D. Prose:

There are 37 million Americans and 10 million illegal aliens who ostensibly lack health care. Free (Public Option) Healthcare invites millions more…
There're millions of young, healthy, mostly single, amply employed adults who intentionally opt out of healthcare, they could otherwise afford.
The World Heath Organization's antiquated study (2000) is often considered faulty because it failed to compare apples to apples and is ideologically driven (leftist) – their research template is no longer used.
(Big) Government can't be trusted with social programs. Tricare aside, consider the scary, teetering status of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Prose astutely avoids how to pay for Government Healthcare – in July, Government borrowed $6 Billion dollars a day for maintenance; and Federal Government income is down 18% so far this year!
There is no Obama mandate
visa viz. the Presidential election - people liked what Obama said during the election, but not the reality of what he meant by it, as President now.

Rich Grassel –

Ambridge Pa

Media Fairness In The Beaver County Times

2009-08-17T22:08:00.001-04:00

Another Response to JD Prose's Response On 9/16/09

I couldn't help but notice this past week that the Times published only ONE Letter to the Editor in response to JD Prose's RANT in favor of government sponsored Healthcare (8/9/09). Then Mr. Prose reserved the right, as an Editor on your staff, to selectively cut and paste fringy, nonpublished Letters-to-the-Editor, in favorable fashion for his follow-up Editorial (8/16/09). Clearly, he intended to insinuate all those who disagree with him were INCAPABLE of offering thoughtful, intelligent well defined arguments against his position on Healthcare. This is clearly not the case and it is reprehensible that the Times would PROPAGANDIZE the Healthcare issue in this way.

Considering Mr. Prose is a member of your Editorial Staff, I can't help but wonder, how he might influence, not only what important News Stories might make it into your paper, but also those stories which might not… …Maybe, just maybe, ONLY those stories that don't agree with his particular WORLDVIEW…?

A PUNDIT offers his (usually informed) perception of a certain kind of reality… …A PROPAGANDIST however seeks to CONTORT that reality over into his preconceived worldview image… To be intellectually honest, perhaps you should reconsider renaming your paper "PRAVDA?"

Rich Grassel

Ambridge Pa, 15003

Jungles to Defeat – Thoughts About A Missions Experience In Honduras

2009-07-15T23:12:00.002-04:00

This is a excerpt taken from my Journal that I kept while doing some short term missions in Honduras. I spent some time at a place called El Sembrador, near a small town in Eastern Honduras called Cantacambas.

This Farm School was started by a couple in the middle of the 20^th century. They were rejected by every Missionary organization that applied to… Not to be deterred they sold their farm in Washington Courthouse OH, rented an ocean-going barge, shipped their remaining equipment and moved to Honduras with their 1 year old son Timothy

Amazingly, after some 25 years, they cultivated over 2,000 acres of farmland (carved out of the jungle), fed, clothed and educated 200 young boys every year. El Sembrador, as it came to be known, educated most of the pastors now working in Honduras. Some of their students have risen to the highest positions in the government. There is more to say, much, much more… But here are some of my sentiments after my experience there…

FINAL THOUGHTS: (Hand Written Journal Pg. 73)

Jungles to Defeat!

Wednesday, July 20, 1994

4:45 a.m.

Rose at 3:50 a.m.

El Sembrador Farm School Dining Room

Here I am in the Dining Room... One last time. I have many things going through my head. I hope to have the time to write them all down[…]

[…]For the last time I've heard the almost deafening, driving whine of the crickets outside the bathroom window. This was quickly followed by the familiar rhythmic ebb and swell of the kind of cricket that lives where we do - the darkness hiding all but their faithful persistent song.

This morning I have heard, for the second time in my life, the blood-freezing, guttural growl of a native monkey - high in the tree tops. It's voice pounding through the forest and semi-darkness - inquiring about companionship, food and safety. I have heard his voice for the last time... While, his voice may have reverberated and died in the distance, the echoes of his song will remain forever in my memory.

After gently brushing away my faithful morning companions - the termites, I will sit at this table for the last time, recording my thoughts from the day before. Coleen and Cheryl, two missionary women from the States are always there before me, preparing for the days meals – poised to feed 40 plus men three times a day. With the subtle and indistinct sounds of their quiet efficiency in the background I bend to my task of collecting my experiences from the days before[…]

[…]For the last time this week I have worshipped with them [my new friends from Honduras]. The three churches we visited and ministered in are forever, indelibly fixed in my mind.

I will never forget their proud yet humble determination to live on and make the absolute best of what they have. I will always be mindful that there wasn't a student among us - who if they sold half of what they personally owned - couldn't have bought any of these people out - lock, stock and barrel!

What amounted to a life time of back-breaking work, for these people, could be more than compensated by a few birthdays and maybe a Christmas or two. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to marry and raise a family in what amounted to a small one room hut. Carved out nothing more than inconsistent small opportunities; in a land that has no mercy for the poor. I will always see their liquid brown eyes, sun darkened faces and arms, calloused hands, work bitten features, humble abodes clumped together in isolated communities - scattered across a rugged unforgiving land - governed by a small group of questionable and corrupt men - in a city of a million jumbled and ruined lives - most dwelling in disasters called "neighborhoods".

My last night at El Sembrador, I stand on a section of newly poured concrete in the Auditorium, completed by our Missions Team. In front of me - to the west rise some of the highest mountains in Honduras. With quiet exhilaration I witness the sun, with slow majesty recline behind the jagged peaks. In wonder and awe, I watch as these mountains pull a mantle of mist around their shoulders and slowly fade into the darkness.

A chorus of evening birds, thousands of frogs and a million crickets sing a postlude fair well. Now immediately above the knife-like ridges is a surreal white light. A wonderful cool breeze blows into the horizon - its gentle hum, like that of a mother taking her sleeping toddler to bed for the night. Behind the wind creeps the dusk - encouraging the chorus into a melodic fortissimo – all the while steadily pulling behind it, a blanket of darkness.

This is my last day here and so for the last time I have a chance to draw some important conclusions about my experience here...

Despite all of the heart pounding grandeur and beauty of this tiny rugged country, I believe that it's nothing more than veritable wasteland - next to the soul lifting, eternal beauty of Don and Twila Hawks RECKLESS FAITH AND LOVE FOR MINISTRY. A man and woman, who with complete abandonment, unswervingly heeded God's call. This couple: who subdued, not just a wilderness of untamed plants, animals and disease; but an even more formidable jungle of poverty, illiteracy and faithlessness.

In addition to the corn, rice, beans and trees they planted - they cultivated hope, love and faith! By the grace of God they sowed and harvested from the hearts of men and women - and changed the world around them!

This morning just before we rumbled down a packed red clay lane, I could see the gutters were swollen with orangish red water from last nights rain. Dawn was breaking and covering the land with a bluish white light. Crickets, completing their last refrain, were instantly drowned out by the roar from the engine of the bus, as it came to life. Before we boarded, I inhaled a subtle perfume - the sweet smell of rain as it hung heavy in the morning air - bringing with it a sense of refreshment and newness. I couldn't help but think of how refreshed I was; and wondered how this tremendous experience might bring something new to my life!

Slowly we rumbled down the lane. The squeak and clatter from windows would be our journeys music now. Out of the faint light of the cabin of the bus, came half a dozen murmuring conversations. The bus continued to rumble on down the lane. With each splash and spray of the muddy water flying past the window, the thought of our final departure saddened me more and more.

I will miss you El Sembrador. God willing I will come back again.

I too want to be a man who with reckless abandonment, exercises a living and vital faith. The kind that will change lives - change the world....

Somewhere out there, there is a jungle for me to defeat. A wilderness to cultivate and a myriad of hearts to grow and nurture our God's love, truth and call in...

And thus ended capitalism

2009-05-16T11:10:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.dilbert.com

Conflict and Violence

2009-04-16T22:03:00.006-04:00

Evil Cannot Always Be

Shamed Into Submission...

Insanity Cannot Always Be

Reasoned Into Compliance...

It Isn't "Peace" That Stops Chaos

Peace, Is The Result Of What Happens When Chaos Is Contained

There Might Be Circumstances When A

Double Negative Is Necessary

And The Only Alternative By Which To Make A Positive

rsg 4/16/09

Fairness In The Media:

2009-04-16T09:41:00.002-04:00

I would be very interested in reviewing any empirical evidence that many in the Liberal Media (I.e. Beaver County Times Editorial Board – "Terrorists Within" 4/8/09 & JD Prose 4/12/09) have with clearly linking Poplawski's horrible crimes to the influence from the "far right" (whatever that is exactly) talk radio and "faux news" outlets. Their opinion may well be singularly tragic and overt leap in logic that intentionally serves only to advance their own political ideology and agenda. Recall that there are MANY faithful and life-long liberals in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County who were fearful of what might happen to their Second Amendment rights, were Barak Obama to be elected. Indeed you will recall that Beaver and Washington County (solid historical Democratic Party bastions) were won by McCain in this last Presidential election.

Without evidence, their conjecture that it was the "hateful" speech from the "far-right" that goaded Poplawski might not be true at all. Could it be rather, that they might be capitalizing on that terrible event to advance their own Political bias? Unfortunately, I really cannot say for sure because I don't have any evidence, my comments I freely confess, are nothing more than "conjecture."

By Way of Example: With an astounding, almost apples to apples and oranges to oranges, macabre-sort-of-irony, these same Liberal Media Outlets refused to offer a similar critique of those supporters (ostensibly from the "Far-Left") of Lovelle Mixon. The supporters of Mixon openly paraded and celebrated in the streets - the deaths of three police officers and fourth one grievously wounded, by the hand of Mixon, in Oakland California, Saturday March 21, 2009. Mixon's weapons of choice were a handgun and an assault rifle. It is worth noting that Mixon was in violation of his parole, had an "extensive criminal history." His killing and wounding police officers is one thing, but for the Liberal Elite Media to offer virtually no commentary in response to those who celebrated his actions is truly appalling. Why were those "celebrants" who were arguably from the "Far-Left" not implicated at all? If the "Far-Right" is responsible for contributing to Poplawski's demonic actions, then can the same argument be made against the "Far-Left" with Mixon's? And if so, where is the balance within the Elite Media? Something to think about…

Rich Grassel

What Should The Individual Christian And Church’s Role Be Regarding Abortion? Thoughts? Comments Responses?

2009-04-07T08:28:00.002-04:00

April 6, 2009

Notre Dame's betrayal of faith

By Selwyn Duke

When John the Baptist said to King Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife," the price he paid was his head on a platter. He had spoken Absolute Truth to power in a time when power was absolute. It was the bravest of acts, the kind only undertaken by those very rare men for all seasons.

Lying in stark contrast to this is catholic (note the small "c") Notre Dame University's genuflection before Barack Obama, a man embodying the very antithesis of Catholic teaching. As most are aware, the university extended an invitation to Obama to deliver a commencement address and, to make matters worse, will bestow upon him an honorary doctorate.

This is despite the fact that Obama has distinguished himself as the most militantly anti-life president in American history. In fact, his support of abortion extends to the point of infanticide, and I speak of his, at best, indifference to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. In opposing the Illinois version of this legislation — thereby signaling his willingness to allow newborn babies to die in soiled store rooms — he showed his true colors. That is to say, it's not so much that the matter of when a baby gets human rights is above his pay grade; it's that he is morally degraded.

Adding to his impressive pro-death resume, Obama has rescinded the Mexico City Policy, thereby allowing our tax money to be used to promote abortion in foreign lands. He is also using tax dollars to fund the harvesting of stem cells from nascent human life. And he endeavors to establish a policy that would force health-care workers to either be party to abortion or risk losing their jobs ("Freedom of Choice" Act).

But it isn't just on life issues that Obama is found wanting. He also supports special rights for homosexuals (euphemistically called "gay rights"). Additionally, he apparently was a member of Chicago's socialist New Party in the 1990s, an association he has never adequately disowned. This is relevant because socialism seems incongruent with Catholic teaching. As Pope Pius XI said plainly in 1931, "No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist." (In fact, the Church has long condemned socialism — here and here, for instance).

Yet the inappropriateness of honoring Obama at Notre Dame doesn't have to be inferred from pronouncements from the past. Contemporary Church leaders have made their voices heard as well, with 13 bishops publicly criticizing the invitation. Among them is Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa, who said,

"For President Obama to be honored by Notre Dame is more than a disappointment, it is a scandal."

Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark said,

"When we extend honors to people who do not share our respect and reverence for life in all stages, and give them a prominent stage in our parishes, schools and other institutions, we unfortunately create the perception that we endorse their public positions on these issues."

Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City wrote,

"Catholic institutions of higher learning must always be places where the Catholic values we hold so dearly will always be supported and promoted — not where the culture of death is allowed to be honored or valued."

And, in a letter to Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis called the invitation an "egregious decision" and said,

"It is a travesty that the University of Notre Dame, considered by many to be a Catholic University, should give its public support to such an anti-Catholic politician."

Now, here some will say that Jesus was also criticized for consorting with sinners and responded with that heavenly wisdom, "The healthy are in no need of a physician." Yet this isn't an analogous situation. More appropriate here is, "The unhealthy are in no need of a podium." I would have no problem with anyone offering Obama counsel — he could certainly use it. I myself would be happy to talk with him if he asked; maybe I could muster shades of John the Baptist. But what Notre Dame is doing is quite different: It is honoring Obama by bestowing a doctorate upon him. Additionally, it is not giving him an opportunity to receive counsel but a forum in which to dispense it — and to malleable young minds at that.

Then there are those, such as the writers of this silly Los Angeles Times editorial, who accuse those on my side of hypocrisy, saying we were silent when pro-death penalty George W. Bush spoke at Notre Dame in 2001. Well, let's examine this.

First, I think I speak for many when I say that Obama is objectionable not just because of his profound lack of respect for life. From his apparent socialism (and I believe communism) to his support of "age-appropriate" sex education for kindergarteners to his opposition to California's Proposition 8, he has served notice that he is pushing a hard-left agenda (which I documented here) that certainly violates the letter and spirit of Catholic teaching.

Second, there is no equivalency between abortion and the death penalty or, for that matter, what is supposedly President Bush's mortal sin, launching military campaigns. The Church teaches that while capital punishment is hardly ever necessary in modern societies, it nevertheless is the right of "legitimate temporal authorities" to determine when it is justifiable. The Church also promulgates something called "Just War Doctrine."

There is no Just Abortion Doctrine.

Unlike capital punishment and war, direct abortion is never morally licit under any circumstances.

Having said this, there is a deeper issue to address. We're all sinners, and we could probably pick any president and find ways in which he violated Catholic teaching. And what about academic freedom? As the L.A. Times opined, the issue at Notre Dame is "whether a distinguished university should ban a speaker with whom it disagrees or engage him . . ." and that all universities "sometimes need to be reminded of the importance of uninhibited debate."

But the university isn't "engaging" Obama; it is giving him a forum in which to speak unopposed. There will be no debate. Of course, I realize that when the editorialists speak of "uninhibited debate," they refer to a general climate of academic inquiry and give-and-take fostered over time by exposure to different ideas. But while this sounds good, it's nonsense.

While leftists can pontificate all they like about "academic freedom," they draw lines like anyone else. Would they hire a professor or schedule a speaker who would advocate the extermination of a minority? If not, why? I mean, whomever they chose will be a sinner, and do not judge lest ye be judged, right? And, would they entertain a debate about the reinstitution of slavery or whether or not germs really cause disease? How about trephination (drilling a hole in someone's head) as a solution to mental illness?

The point is that our gratuitous talk about "open-mindedness" is mere sloganeering, because we all consider certain issues to be settled. As G.K. Chesterton once said, "The point of having an open mind, like having an open mouth, is to close it on something solid." A child cannot advance in math if he won't accept simple truths such as two plus two equals four, and science would never have ascended from a childlike state of primitiveness had man not accepted and then built upon simple scientific truths. We might have debated Aristotle's geocentrism versus Copernicus' heliocentrism in 1600, but if we had still been wrangling over it in 1910, we would have been insane. Perpetual open-mindedness in all matters is not a virtue because it isn't "mindedness" at all; it is the trumping of the mind. The mind is there to find answers, not just ask questions.

And moral truths should be treated with at least the respect of scientific ones. Of course, "open-minded" secularists will be quick to point out that morality isn't science, and I'll be even quicker to say they're hypocrites. I reiterate that they draw their lines (slavery, racism, sexism, extermination of minorities, etc.), proving that their relativistic creed is mainly for use on other people's values. They have their dogma, just like everyone else.

But, leftists, here is a newsflash: This isn't about your dogma — it concerns Catholic dogma. You have your values — twisted and distorted though they may be — and you're very self-centered to believe they should prevail in a Catholic setting. Not everyone is as numb to morality as you are, and believing Catholics understand that many matters you're confused about are actually settled issues. We also understand that, as with science, man cannot progress morally unless he accepts known truths and builds upon them.

The bottom line is that Catholic institutions (if they are to be authentic) have a responsibility to apply Catholic dogma, not the secular variety. They have an obligation to draw Catholic lines, not merely replicate those of the Los Angeles Times. They have a duty to instill students with Catholic teaching, not that of Berkeley. Thus, in such an eminently sane setting abortion isn't a debated issue. It's a settled issue. And Barack Obama isn't just another president. He is way over the line.

Really, this whole affair smacks just a bit of evangelist Billy Graham's obsequious behavior with respect to the Clintons. I'm referring to how he once called them a "great couple" and "wonderful friends," implied that Hillary Clinton might make a good president and once quipped that Bill Clinton "should be an evangelist" and "leave his wife to run the country." Ah, Rev. Graham, "if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way . . . ."

We should remember that since every age has its Herods, we have to ask ourselves a couple of questions. Would recognize one if we saw him? And, then, would we have the faith and strength to be a John the Baptist?

© Selwyn Duke

Reading, Studying and Community – An Online Conversation About Faith and Life

2009-04-06T22:14:00.005-04:00

Searcher: Rich, Thanks for your comment on my blog! did you get my reply ?

Searcher: I am reading "The Christians as the Romans Saw Them" by Robert Wilken

Rich: Cool... I bet that is interesting... I love the cultural stuff! LOVE IT!!!

Searcher: That is certainly new territory for me. It is interesting. I haven't done much reading that has to do with strictly biblical stuff meanwhile I am reading through Acts also..I will see if the two complement each other.

Rich: Wonderful! My reading range tends to be Biblical, Anthropological, Sociological, Cultural and Theological as well. My teaching in the DCP also pushes me into Humanities, Leadership, Business and Communication as well... it really helps

Searcher: That sounds great... those are my interests as well..I am thinking of exploring philosophy more

Rich: That would be good as well... BUT, while you read all of those kinds of things, you gotta make sure you are grounded to your core

Searcher: yeah...that sounds responsible

Rich: All disciplines are inherently "evangelizing" and "polyannic."

Searcher: Right…

Rich: I know that you probably know all of this, sorry if I sound obvious

Searcher: no it's good to hear...I was talking about accountability

Rich: I just have had a few former students swerve off the path recently... makes me sad... maybe they'll swerve back!

Searcher: Yeah...sometimes I wonder if I am swerving

Rich: Why do you say that?

Searcher: Well...when we have these discussions about politics... especially with some of the stuff I wrote last time... I think to myself... I have formed these opinions just by reading the news by myself and then when I present these ideas a some people I respect disagree with me which is ok

Rich: Question: My sense is that you are still trying to find yourself... your true non-negotiable core... Given where you are... do you find yourself living in such a way that "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world; or does the world make more significant inroads into who you really are? Who is affecting the other more in a healthy way?

Sent at 11:20 AM on Thursday

[The Following Comments Allude More To The Searcher's Comments In Their Blog]

Rich: Believe it or not, I have experienced the same here to a certain degree... The question for all of us is: Do we get what we get in a balanced fair fashion and how does what we get square with our core values about life and faith? Just so you know... I read or skim three Newspapers a day... all three would fall into the "liberal" category... Recently, I cancelled one and subscribed to a more conservative one. I also subscribed to Newsweek Mag. I watch (normally) the evening news, local and national and then I usually watch Fox - where I get both views... normally... Greta, Hannity and Combs (Combs can be formidable) Bill O'Reilly (he's Right of center) Shepherd Smith (I think he's one of the closest of the unbiased journalists that I have seen so far) whew!

Sent at 11:24 AM on Thursday

Rich: So, I try to get a fairly well rounded view. Again, so that you know... Politically... I grew up in a blue collar home... my father worked for the steel mill.. Earlier in my childhood we had to go on welfare for a short period of time.... I grew up on the bastion of blue collar, liberal of the USA... So all of these things have helped to inform me... Still learning though!

Searcher: Haha....I feel like have oscillated from Conservative...and have swung towards liberal...but I am still trying to find my spot I guess

Rich: One final thought... I have done inner city ministry in the following cities, many numerous times: Wash DC, Philadelphia (Campolo's EAPE Program), Pittsburgh, Chicago, The Bronx in New York City... I just don't want you to think that as a moderate conservative, I have not had some background and experience from the other side.

Searcher: Gotcha....Rich I know that you have the ability to see things from both sides...that is why I respect you...but it is interesting to hear that you have EXPERIENCED things from both sides

Rich: Re: your last post: Given your stage and place in life... and educational discipline... that experience would be normative. You are in a sense, testing what your real core values are and ought to be... which is excellent... If I may... just don't do it alone, in a vacuum or in some worldview socio/political ghetto... You are a wonderfully bright, sensitive person... with REAL ability...

Searcher: so you keep yourself grounded by [being] in a learning community?

Rich: I was just talking with my students yesterday and said to them, that in as much as we "pursue, KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND UNDERSTAND" we imitate God. Biblical interpretation as well as "life" interpretation should always been done in "community."

Yes! And people like yourself, have kept me balanced the other way... [One of the functions of community] Because you articulate yourself well... I respect your ability to see "reality" and to represent it well. You are a thinker and I love and respect that about you. Duh... so many "respects" you'd think I could come up with other synonyms! :-)

Searcher: Haha..so I need you...we need each other...I must find people here also...to keep me grounded

Sent at 11:37 AM on Thursday

Rich: I think one of the key dynamics is: "What does truth (reality) look like; and what does love (compassionate implementation) of it look like in this world? How do we strike that balance and/or the dynamic interplay of those things in life? People, because of their wiring and experiences tend to fail on one side or the other... not the healthy tension that is necessary... Remember that the healthy tension, which is so hard, is counter to the Fall (dis-integration) and closer to Shalom (integration - life in its original balanced relationships of all things)...

Searcher: Wow... yeah

Rich: Sort like the Ying Yang thing... [Only in terms of the need for "balance" as a phenomena – NOT an equal balance between good and evil] A concept that our oriental friends devised through natural revelation

Searcher: Haha...I love it "common grace."

Rich: yep!

Searcher: Hahaha.......isn't "common grace" one of the essential teachings of Reformed thought? I mean i learned about common grace at Geneva....that idea is heresy in the fundamentalist places i came from originally?

Sent at 11:45 AM on Thursday

Rich: Sure it is... by I am not sure they would want to take it that far... McGrath would argue, I think, what he calls a kind of "cautious inclusivism" meaning: that JESUS [NOTE; If He Wanted To] works throughout the world, through: the image of God in us, the Law of God written upon our hearts and minds, whatever "truth" that is imbedded in their indigenous religion, Natural Revelation, and His omnipresence to bring people - independently apart from the church into a restorative relationship with Him. That is to say, we cannot know for sure all the ways and means that Christ works in this world to draw people into a saving relationship with Himself. Christ may, IF HE WANTED TO, use the things listed above to save those who have never heard of Him.

Searcher: gotcha

Rich: Some "Cautious Inclusivists" would argue: "Do we REALLY want to place the salvation of the entire world (60 billion historically) into the hands of the institution church? Given that, are we really prepared to say that in the 2,000 year history of the church (this is changing radically now south of the equator) that most of the Elect are from Europe, North America and a few million in South East Asia?

Searcher: I wrestled with this some while I was in Greece...this is what makes me liberal...when constructing a theology on things like this I always like to error on the side of love

Rich: To extend their argument... Historically, the Jacobs that he loved were mostly white Europeans... Hmnnn... and the Esau's that he hated were Africans, Indians, Chinese etc.. Does Jesus work to save them in some way? Without putting a number or percentage to it?

Searcher: I feel as though I must error on one side b/c I cannot know absolute truth [absolutely].

Rich: We encounter these problems when we privilege a single attribute of God over (and sometimes against) all of the other communicable attributes of God.

Searcher: again...tension...balance soverignty....love

Rich: We... We never know exactly how God works right? Yep... Think about it... God is like a Perfect Diamond, each facet representing an attribute of His. No one facet is greater, better, or more important. For the diamond to be perfect all the facets must be represented in some way... Denomination and faith traditions tend to privilege one facet over the others... See now I sound like a social scientist liberal! LOL!

God must be known and experienced by the fullness of who His is, not just one part... If that happens... they you have set the stage potentially for heresy... This does not mean that you won't experience, at times, one part more than another, it just means that the light that comes through the other facets are reflected through the one primarily experienced. [Edited In] The reason why certain facet(s) are privileged more than others by certain faith traditions is because: 1. They tend to resonate with certain personality types and 2. Strong leaders for whom a particular facet works well, tend to privilege that facet for their followers – resulting in those leaders developing a theological system. 3. Certain facet(s) may speak more powerfully during a time of historical need and crisis for the Body of Christ.

Searcher: Wow..this is great stuff so working out common grace takes a lot of experience being close experiencing God

Rich: I enjoyed talking with you... Maybe you are just being kind... sorry if I took too much time. I am going to have to go in a minute! I am supposed to be working on my sermon and thesis today. :-( Yes common grace is more than just a theorethcal proposition, that we give a nod to and then move on... it is work

Searcher: No rich I enjoy talking as well and you did not take to much time discussions like this take me out of the vacuum..and put me in community

Sent at 11:59 AM on Thursday

Searcher: Thanks, Rich. Take care. I will pray that God guides you as you prepare your message. Take care

Rich: Thanks man! Love you brother!

Being…

2009-03-28T11:58:00.001-04:00

"Knowing and doing are so intimately related that if you do not act in the light of what you claim to know, you do not really know it." - James W. Sire

A Human Parts Industry

2009-03-13T11:38:00.008-04:00

Zygotes and Stem Cells

Developing Humans NOT Bio-Mechanical Parts

I find it fascinating the many of the arguments and parallels used to justify Abortion and Stem Cell Research were also used to justify slavery in the 19^th Century and the Holocaust in the 20^th Century.

Slavery in the Mid 19^th Century:

The Argument: They are NOT really "human" and as such they are really "useful" and indispensable to us for our health and well-being. This was the kind of argument that Slave Owners and Southern Politicians used to maintain their material wealth and thus in a related manner "well-being." In like manner, Great Britain's Pro-Slavery politicians of the 18th and 19th centuries, used this argument tirelessly against the great emancipator, William Wilberforce, for over 30 years – declaring that the entire British Empire - an empire that was so vast that "the sun never set on it," would have its entire economic system collapse through the outlawing of slavery.

Some sources are estimating that the Abortion Industry makes almost a Billion Dollars a year. Just Planned Parenthood alone claims 4,000,000 activists, supporters and donors

In terms of Stem Cells that come from embryos or an aborted fetus, they are now being used to research how to manufacture new parts for the living - who in turn are suffering from disease, birth defects and old age. Imagine, if you would, people intentionally participating in and producing embryos simply to manufacture parts and harvest them for someone else. It is that cold and that crass – that evil. In principle, this is no different than that dark subversive human parts harvesting industry – that exists throughout the world - designed to kidnap selected people for the sole purpose of removing their organs, so that some other more privileged person can have harvest those same organs, to replace their damaged or diseased one(s) – stolen - without their permission - ripped from their bodies because those in power have not come to terms with their mortality, their physical reality and their arrogance.

The Holocaust

The Argument: They are NOT (the Jews) really "human;" and in addition look how they rob us from having those things that are "useful" and indispensable to us for our health and well-being. The Nazi's believed: "If we allow them to continue to exist among us, then they might threaten the Aryan - Ubermensch existence beyond us" - as if that were logically possible...

Unforeseen pregnancies can interrupt our current manner and standard of living. A child in the uterus can and eventually does affect one's resources – in many cases they can appear to threaten one's quality of life economically as well as the inconvenience associated with its existence. The overwhelming and vast majority of abortions and the fetus' that come from them are performed because of "convenience" not because of necessity. The horrifically detailed accounts of the Nazi's experimentations on pregnant women, children and adults are legion and legend.

Abortions aside… producing zygotes and embryo's simply for their human parts making capacity transcends most of what can be called evil in this world.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

Martin Niemoller

It may not be popular, it may offend and it may even cause me to lose some valued relationships… I still choose to speak up.

Rich Grassel

A Letter to Instructor Paula Anderson and Central Connecticut State University

2009-03-13T10:38:00.002-04:00

Who Is Protecting Whom?

As a faculty person in an institution of Higher Education for eleven years, it has recently come to my attention the deplorable treatment of a student of yours named John Wahlberg. What a horrible example of academic freedom, intellectual honesty, and a clear violation of the First Amendment. So what if some students felt "scared and uncomfortable?" These students are ADULTS are they not? Would anyone on your campus, not believe for second, that many of those same (alleged) students in Ms. Anderson class, on any given Friday night, observe if not participate in all kinds of risky behaviors- that should make them "scared and uncomfortable"? In addition, are there not other presentations given by other students throughout the course of the year, on other subjects, that make other students "scared and uncomfortable?" In the spirit of consistency, are they in like manner censured and reported to the Campus Police? When a student asks for directions to the Campus Police Headquarters, could they use the word "Gulag" as a synonym instead? Thankfully it appears as if at least your Campus Police (professional skilled labor - right?) maintained their reason - noting that Mr. Wahlberg owned Firearms legally.

Question: Does Ms. Anderson participate in an academic enterprise, or provide nanny services? If students felt "scared and uncomfortable" then it would be HER responsibility to help those students in class process the information in a redemptive manner. Pedagogically: It would seem prudent, if not scholastically respectable to not ask students to discuss controversial subjects in class, and then NOT BE PREPARED to process that subject in a helpful and informative manner - in a kind of let say Renaissance Spirit. A fair, cursory survey of the role of Firearms in the History and current Culture of the United States could have done much to inform those students in her class.

I wonder.... Just how safe do you think many of your students now feel when it comes to the pursuit of study and discussion of those subjects that Ms. Anderson (and by extension YOUR university) deems to be dangerous, risky and politically incorrect? I am quite sure that many of them now feel much more cautious (read "scared") and inhibited (read "uncomfortable") to engage in the free world of ideas. I had heard, although I cannot confirm this, that Mr. Wahlberg was required to be psychologically evaluated before he could return to class. IF this is true, I could conclude nothing other than your institution as being ideologically totalitarian (now I am "scared" and "uncomfortable"). Imagine what some students and observers could only conclude: "Because you don't value, behave and THINK like we do... we are concerned that you might be mentally ill." Have the life and writings of Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn not taught us anything? How about the little book written by George Orwell - Animal Farm? Ms. Anderson might want to read that again (if she has) - particularly the very last chapter about how (strictly and metaphorically speaking) really ended up looking like who! Is Ms. Anderson from the former Soviet Union?

The incredible irony is that Mr. Wahlberg was discussing, in the spirit of academic freedom, ideas that some people can use to protect themselves in the face of unforeseen violence. Were you there to protect him when academia threatened to do violence to his intellectual freedom and his first amendment rights? I genuinely hope that Ms. Anderson has been educated by your administration thoroughly on these matters and that the rest of your faculty have had opportunity to discuss and process this tragic event in the kind of informed manner that everyone is served and edified by it. If not, I am afraid it would be the height of scholastic hypocrisy.

Sincerely

Rich Grassel

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,504524,00.html

http://media.www.dailycampus.com/media/storage/paper340/news/2009/03/04/Commentary/Professors.Need.To.Respect.First.Amendment.Rights-3658833.shtml

Part V – Spiritual Formation of Higher Education Students

2009-02-27T07:58:00.005-05:00

A Paradigm: Revisiting Transformed, Transcend and Transformational

My essay so far has been an attempt at arguing the necessity of getting at the real Spiritual Formation issues in the life of Christian Higher Education Students; and the wonderful possibilities that can come from unleashing young men and women who are spiritually in the process of vigorously becoming inwardly whole and complete; so that they might be outwardly competent by authentically demonstrating the life of Christ. The essential point being that what the world needs most are men and women who go at life as a genuine as Christ Himself would, in wherever circumstances they are called and find themselves in. This is the only way that they can become the dynamic transformational force in all of society and culture.

A Hero of Mine: William Wilberforce

In fact and actuality, this is not without significant precedent. One of the most inspiring examples that I can think of is the life and work of William Wilberforce -- one of the primary leaders of the Clapham Sect in the late 18^th and early 19^th century England. Clearly, England as a nation and culture at the time had much in the way of our problems, and perhaps even more. It has been argued by some historians for example, that Great Britan managed to dodge the phenomena of the "French Revolution" that swept across Europe at the time; largely because of the exhausting and dedicated work of men and women like William Wilberforce, Charles Simeon and John Thorton. It is truly astounding that a few people could affect that much change within a culture that was incredible in its moral decadence, corrupt political system, and an elitist snobby aristocracy still living out the last vestiges of the Divine Right of Kings.

Shortly after his conversion experience, the very wealthy and socially popular Wilberforce thought of resigning from his position in the House of Commons and going into the professional ministry. Seeking council from a pastor friend John Newton and author of the hymn: Amazing Grace; as well as a career as a former slave trader; Newton encouraged Wilberforce to remain in the House of Commons and affect change for the Kingdom through his political office. Over the course of his life time, Wilberforce was able to achieve the following: 1. The abolishment of slavery in England (a monumental battle!). 2. Later the complete abolishment of slavery throughout her colonies (The Empire upon which the sun never set!) 3. The invention of Sunday School – to provide educational opportunities for the poor and homeless children. 4. The radical development of Missionary Societies – a hugely successful work, that recruited, trained and supported professional missionaries – they not only shared Christ, but also penetrated some of the most remote regions of the world – taking with them many things like medication and scientific advancements. 5. They created and lobbied for the first ever child-labor laws to protect the abuse of children from cruel employers. Those same employers who worked children as young as eight years old, 12 hours a day in Coal Mines and as Chimney Sweeps . Undeniably, Wilberforce and the rest of the Clapham Sect were able to put things into motion that not only changed their culture, but the entire world around them.

Wilberforce's efforts were possible because to him, it was crucial that his heart life reflect Christ… His capacity to be inwardly transformed enabled him to transcend the pervasive and alluring cultural temptations of social popularity and a stultified and corrupt political tradition that resisted any manner of change – the result of which enabled him to become one of the great, world transformational figures in the history of the world – for Christ and His Kingdom! For Wilberforce, there was no "compartmentalization" and/or a life in Christ as a form of "individualism."

When We Are Not Inwardly Transformed, Outwardly Transcendent and Capable of Being Transformational Agents

By way of providing a dramatic opposite example, the lack of inner transformation, transcendence and transformational ability always bodes ill, particularly in the Church and her leaders. In my studies on genocide for example, I was initially startled to discover that within virtually every genocidal context, uniformly the Church as well as individual Christians tend to respond very poorly. Why is this?

Genocide, which is a political and cultural attitude of virulent anti-relationship, aimed at a people group that have been deemed no longer worthy of life, is antithetically and diametrically opposite of the Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom. If anybody ought to know about relationships, forgiveness, grace and healing, it ought to be the Church and her followers. But this was not the case, in the most recent example of mass genocide practiced in Rwanda. Within 100 days 800,000 to 1,000,000 members of the Tutsi tribe were either largely bludgeoned death with clubs and/or hacked to pieces by machetes, by members of the Huitu tribe. Statistically, I was startled to find that there was virtually no difference in the behavior from the churched and self-proclaimed Christians and the non-Churched and non-Christians – across denominational lines and faith traditions. Hutu Christians simply didn't have the ability to overcome their cultural prejudices and systematically murdered their national and Christian brothers and sisters.

In a more recent example of genocide pertaining to Rwanda, an Editor's article from Commonweal Magazine notes the following of individual Christian and Church behavior:

(In June of 2002) "two Benedictine nuns were convicted in a Belgian court of collaborating in the murder of thousands during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Sister Gertrude Mukangango and Sister Maria Kisito were sentenced to fifteen and twelve years' imprisonment, respectively for their roles in turning over to their Hutu killers seven thousand Tutsi who had sought asylum in the nun's monastery, the sisters willingly provided the gasoline used by Hutu militiamen to burn down a garage in which five hundred Tutsi men, women, and children were hiding… There appears to be little doubt about the women's guilt. Crucial to the prosecution was the willingness of other Benedictine
sisters to testify against them."

…Catholic bishops, priests, and sisters suffered martyrdom at the hands of the militias, and ordinary Hutu Catholics were killed trying to protect Tutsi neighbors. It is equally true, however, that other clerics and nuns supported the Hutu genocide or stood by silently as it unfolded. Catholics were found on both sides of this enormous crime, and it is sobering that the pervasive Catholic institutional and cultural presence in Rwanda proved little impediment to such mind-numbing savagery."

Andre Sibomana, a Rwandan Catholic priest, journalist, and human-rights activist records in his book: Hope for Rwanda, details the following in his conversations with Two French journalists Laure Guibert and Herve Deguine, about the role of the Catholic Church during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

The church did nothing to prevent tragedies which could have been prevented. When the bishops were informed that a genocide was about to happen, when they saw the increase in killings in the period leading up to the genocide-on average five every night- their attitude didn't change. The leaders of the church stood by the government, particularly the bishops of Kigali and Byumba. They failed toreact in an appropriate way toward the role of the government in the preparation of the genocide.They should have broken away[….] […]The fact that society was unable to prevent the catastrophe shows that there was a fundamental breakdown.Christians shouldn't suffer a situation; they have a responsibility to take control."

Later in his book Sibomana offers this brief exchange of one of his church member's behavior:

Some believers were weak and irresponsible: They did not weigh the consequences of their actions. Iasked one of my parishioners who carried a grenade, 'What are you doing?' He replied, 'Don't you understand the situation we're in? We'll think about religion later."

Stephen R. Haynes, associate professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College and a member of the Church Relations Committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council shares his thoughts on a slightly different take than Sibomana, but similar non-the-less (I quote at length):

Like Nazi Germany, genocidal Rwanda is an exceedingly unattractive venue for Christian self-examination. Much of the evidence indicates that "blood" proved thicker than baptismal water, that faith was powerless to overcome the interests of class or ethnicity. And Rwanda has provided few stories designed to restore our trust in humankind or the role of faith in confronting evil. So far, we know of no Rwandan Bonhoeffers with whom mainline Protestants can identify; no Hutu Corrie ten Booms to sustain evangelical's belief that God protects the righteous; no Catholic bishops who risked their lives to speak out against the violence; no Le Chambon-sur-Lignons where the persecuted were sheltered by simple Christians in a "conspiracy of goodness."

YET PRECISELY BECAUSE so little good news can be gleaned from the Rwandan genocide, Christians must not ignore it. One pressing issue raised by Rwanda is human nature, what theologians have traditionally called anthropology. Although scholars of the genocide assiduously avoid theological questions, Christians must ask what this and other episodes of mass killing reveal about the essence and extent of our falleness. Reinhold Neibuhr reportedly said that the doctrine of original sin is the only doctrine for which Christians have any empirical evidence...

These are disturbing words of indictment and at the heart of it, many people died horrible, senseless and tragic deaths in Rwanda, by the hands of their fellow Christians and Church members, because as participators in genocide, they lacked the inward transformation of Christ and were not capable of transcending their cultural conditioning and circumstances, this left them as non entities as transformational agents. In short, they simply not able to do the things that Jesus would do, if He were they, in the here and now…. Kierkegaard is problematic for many of us:

But genuine religion has an inverse relationship to the finite. Its aim is to raise human beings up so as to transcend what is earthly. It is a matter of either/or. Either prime quality, or no quality at all; either with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength, or not at all. Either all God and all you, or nothing at all."

Spiritually Formed = Leadership

In our Principles of Leadership class we provide for the class a definition of what we consider genuine leadership to be:

Leadership is the passionate, faithful commitment to one's

giftedness and calling.

(rsg)

One of the significant outcomes hoped for those who participate in Christian Liberal Arts Higher Education, is that in their faith and vocational integration, that they might exert Christian Leadership within the culture and change the world for Christ around them. I believe this Christian leadership is truly impossible in a pervasive sort of way, unless their leadership is a result of a determined response to imitate Christ, know what He desires of their life and are able to employ their giftedness to that particular end. In other words, we are obligated to imitate the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ, by being made over in His image and having Him ignite all of our potential for His cause.

Conclusion:

The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wants me to do; the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die."

Kierkegaard from his: Journal

Killologist, David Grossman tells of the following story, observed and recorded by a Reporter who observed the following events. Immediately after the battle of Normandy, and the Allies steady advance over German territory, Hitler desperate to regain momentum responded with a full-scale and vicious counterattack. Throwing all of his reserves and material that he could muster at the Allied advance, it consequentially stalled; and then began to slowly fall back. Allied command responded in part by flying and dropping the infamous 101^st Airborned Division to blunt the counter attack by the Germans. We know this as the Battle of the Bulge.

One reporter, who was walking down the dirt and gravel road, noted with interest a soldier from the 101^st emerge silently from the hedgerows and walk down onto the road. Several days of beard growth covered his face and he was dirty and worn from days of fighting. Over his back he carried a rifle. In his hands, he held a bazooka. He started walking towards the Northwest – towards Germany – towards the fighting. Up the road, in the direction to which he was heading, they could both hear the roar of a Tank engine, moving towards them at a high speed, retreating before the German advance. The soldier stopped… Soon the Tank, an American Sherman tank, came into view and continued its advance towards them. The soldier now stood in the middle of the road and did not move. The Sherman tank stopped in front of him, its engine idling. The hatch on the front of the tank popped open and a man peered out, his face clearly masked with fear… "Are you looking for a safe place" said the 101^st Airborne Soldier? "Yes," said the tank soldier… "Then stand behind me." Said the soldier from the 101^st.

I love that story, because I think that it parallels so much of our current circumstances within the Church and in the world… We have many of our Christian brothers and sisters who are quickly retreating before the advancing evil of our day. And we desperately need Christian soldiers who are clear about their mission and determined to make it happen. We must be "soldiers" who are willing to engage the enemy on his turf, at great cost.

German Scholar and Nazi Resister, Dietich Boneffer is noted for saying: When Christ calls a man He bids him to come and to die." Jesus' admonition to us is that in order to truly follow Him, we must "die to ourselves." This is God's expectation of all who claim to know Him as Savior and Lord. But we can't give our life to Him and in service to this world ultimately, unless we are willing to have Christ in us, in the world, with His marching orders in hand. Perhaps more than anything it takes determined obedience. In light of this I am reminded of Thomas R. Kelley's comments in his A Testament of Devotion:

We are torn loose from earthy attachments and ambitions – contemptus mundi. And we are quickened to a divine but painful concern for this world – amor mundi. He plucks the world out of our hearts, loosening the chains of attachment. And He hurls the world into our hearts, where we and He together carry it in infinitely tender love.

For every Student that finds a way to become inwardly transformed, so that they might transcend personal and cultural inhibitors, in order that they might like Christ "amor mundi" and transform the world… They become like that soldier from the 101^st Airborne Division… Trained, skilled, Obedient, Focused on the Mission at hand and ultimately successful against the enemy. They provide the "safe place" for others through their calling, giftedness and vocation. They are in fact the kind of young men and women who know authentically how to be Inwardly Transformed, so that they can Outwardly Transcend; in order that they become overtly Transformational Agents in obedience and love for Christ and the Kingdom of God!

Part IV Spiritual Formation and The Integration of Faith and Vocation

2009-02-22T09:32:00.003-05:00

An Example: "Respectable Businesses"

Without A Redemptive Christian Approach

I am mindful of C.S. Lewis' book: The Screwtape Letters, in which he is often noted for his comments on evil with the following statement:

"The greatest evil is not done those sordid 'dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice."

Lewis' point is well taken if we were to examine the origin and promotion of Pornography in our culture. For example, in a fascinating article in the Sunday, October 29, 2000 Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette an article in its Commentary section featuring the following:

General Motor Corp., the world's largest company, now sells more graphic sex films every year than does Larry Flint owner of the Hustler Empire. The 8.7 million Americans who subscribe to DirecTV, A GM subsidiary, buy nearly $200 million a year in pay-per-view sex films from satilite…"

EchoStar Communications Corp., the number 2 satellite provider, whose chief financial backers include Murdoch (chairman of News Corp.,), makes more money selling graphic adult films through its satellite subsidiary than Playboy…"

AT&T Corp., the nations biggest communications company… also owns a company that sells sex videos to nearly a million hotel rooms

The article goes on to say: " For all the money being made on sex – legally – by mainstream corporations, the topic remains taboo outside the boardroom. The major satellite and cable companies do very little marketing of the X-rated products, and they are not mentioned in annual reports except in the vaguest of euphemisms… None of the corporate leaders of AT&T, Time Warner, General Motors, EchoStar, Liberty Media, Marriott International, the Hilton, On Command, LodgeNet Entertainment or News Corp. – all companies that have a big financial stake in adult films and are held by millions of shareholders – were willing to speak publicly about the sex side of their businesses."

To the astonishment of Flynt… his competitors in the 10 billion annual adult market are mainstream corporations whose board members are among the American elite."

Clearly these large "respectable" corporations described above have great need of a redemptive Christian influence. But, where was it? At the risk of appearing to moralize, are there not Christians associated with those corporations who have voting and policy power? Were there no influential Christians in management or on the Board of Directors, who would govern with the mind of Christ? If so, did any of those Christians have a faith and vocation integration perspective and commitment, or is their worldview compartmentalized? Or perhaps there simply are not enough of them and they are simply too outnumbered to make that much of a substantive difference… Of those who might be there, did any of them come from a strong Christian background and/or Christian Liberal Arts Colleges like Geneva College? If so, what was their approach to procuring their various positions? More specifically, did they get their position with the idea that they would keep the toxic parts of the job from infecting them; or did they take the job with the idea of infecting it for Christ?

Could it be possible that there were no Christians there, who intentionally chose that kind of work, that career path because they felt called by God to penetrate it as a Mission Field and use their calling and gifts to create a "good infection" that C.S. Lewis discusses in yet another book Mere Christianity? And because they did so, what they have, is not really a job but rather, a "vocation" that they are committed to? A powerful sense of God's design and purpose for them; a passionate calling, desire and commitment to transform this part of society for Christ, that the Apostle Paul encourages us with from Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Higher Education Students and the Practice of "Individualism" by Default…

Recalling that many young Christians choose their perspective majors for: First, not out of a sense of "calling," but because it will meet their lifestyle wants and "needs;" and secondly because those same students often engage in the subtle interplay of vacillating between "vocation" and "livelihood." In other words, they choose their livelihood predicated on wants and needs and then declare it their vocation!

Third, perhaps, even before Christian students come to Colleges and/or Universities, they really haven't been given the necessary experiences or diagnostic tools to be able to ascertain their vocational calling. Therefore the "individualism" practiced here is the kind that comes by default. They default and do, and act, on only what they know and have experienced.

As a Youth Minister involved in numerous churches and communities, it was no secret that most students spend the lion's share of their time and energy doing those activities that reap the most rewards socially; and through which their parents cold live vicariously. Over time this often resulted in emphasizing the development of secondary gifts and talents and not so much their innate and primary ones… In High School, a student can function reasonably well with this approach. But when they go to College or University, they discover that their secondary gifts are not weighty enough to allow them to perform at the next level. Conversely, their primary gifts, the ones that are directly related to their vocation and calling, withered, became truncated and are often grossly underdeveloped. This condition as well, will not permit them to perform at the next level… As a result they are often lost and confused about how their faith can work with their vocation - whatever that may be… The resulting primary objective becomes social and financial "survival."

This situation is exacerbated all the more, when they receive pressure from family members about choosing a particular major that will enable them to pursue a specific and narrow career path for the rest of their lives! I recall reading a number of years ago, that of those students who graduate from a college or university, only half go into a field of their particular major; and of that half, another half of them move out of that field altogether within five years. In addition, the average person changes, not their job, but their career 3-5 times in their life-time.

My thought is that those of us who do Youth Ministry, as well as those of us who are involved in Christian Higher Education, have a significant if not vital role to play in guiding students in this thought process. Clearly, what we have been doing so far is not working. As of today, there is not one major institution in our culture in which the Christian community has any significant influence. We are indeed in a Post-Christian Culture. This despite the fact that Christianity and those who embraced it are either responsible for and/or shaped significantly things like: Hospitals, Schools and Universities, Democracy/Politics, Business, Non-Profits etc. etc. We have lost our way from the faith and vocational integration principle - because over time, like the proverbial frog in the kettle, we were wooed into a highly privatized, intellectualized and compartmentalized expression of our faith. How odd it is that what we fail to recognize that what we build in life, is actually what we live in. Soren Kierkegaard once said:

"Most systematizers stand in the same relation to their systems as the man who builds
a great castle and lives in an adjoining shack; they do not live in their great systematic
structure. Metaphorically speaking, a person's ideas must be the building he lives in ---
otherwise there is something terribly wrong

We always do what we always are, because we can only do what we only are….

Part III Spiritual Formation In Higher Education

2009-02-18T07:47:00.003-05:00

The Origin of Individualization = Self-Idolization

My former Sociology professor at Geneva College, Russell Heddendorf was fond of saying repeatedly in class: "There is always a reality beyond the one that you perceive." The truth of this statement, in itself alone, was almost worth the price of my tuition. Wisdom, it would seem, demands that we make it our life's work to discover and comprehend those realities that always lay beyond the immediate ones that we currently perceive; in order that we might grow and become everything that Jesus would have us be, so that in turn we can do everything Jesus would have us do…

Certainly one of the crucial things that we should all discover is the culturally affirmed, multiphasic and elusive reality of "self-idolization" and how it plays itself out in our lives; and that we have come to know culturally as "Individualism." It is no secret that within the Christian tradition, self-idolization finds its rootedness all the way back to the narrative in Genesis 3 that details Eve's encounter with Satan.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Clearly, Eve's decision, and eventually Adam's, had much to do with the fact that they desired to "be like God." Their Fall away from God, rewired the spiritual genetic code with the same kind of pattern and corruption of our ancient Enemy. Rejecting God, they chose instead to enter into a life where they would be forever tempted to love and serve only themselves. And so we have the primary struggle within all of mankind – an unholy trinity of the co-mingled sins of Pride, Power and Selfishness to get what we want. It is in fact impossible to practice one of them (primarily), without the other two being present in a supporting role as well.

One of the Greatest Evils:
The Individualization of Calling and Gifts

Self-Idolization in the form of Individualism has been studied astutely by more than just the Christian community. Noted Swarthmore College professor of Psychology, Kenneth Gergen, in his classic work: The Saturated Self comments on the self and community:

Still, the development of relatedness as a fundamental reality will proceed slowly, for as we have seen, the Western vocabulary of understanding persons is robustly individualistic. The culture has long been committed to the idea of the single, conscious self as the critical unity of society. Decartes' dictum "I think therefore I am" is emblematic."

Throughout the entire work, Gergen argues persuasively that one of the most compelling distinctives of people in Western Culture is that they live lives that are thoroughly turned in on themselves. The outlets for our growth and development in our Individualism - as a worldview are myriad. None are more compelling and pervasive than our unwitting absorption of it at the feet of our parents throughout the course of childhood and adolescence.

In the fall of 1979, just before attending Geneva College, I discussed with my father which academic degree that I intended to major in order to better facilitate my calling to ministry. His encouragement to me was to avoid the ministry because: "it doesn't pay enough money." When I countered that obedience to God with my life was more important than money, he parried with statements like: "it's nice when you are young to have those kinds of ideals. But when you get older, marry, have children and have to provide a roof over your head and food for your family, the ability to make money, in the end, is all that counts."

And then, he was quick to follow up with a well known admonition that he was well known for saying:

The number one thing in life is to look out for yourself and to, learn not to depend on anyone else! Just take care of your own needs and wants because nobody out there will ever do it for you! Don't worry about anyone else – let them take care of themselves - always take care of number one first!

I really can't blame my father too much, he was only parroting a dominant worldview that saturates every level and corner of our own culture. My interviews of prospective students and their parents, done in the past; as well as all of the advising that I've done, convinces me that I my experience was not unique. Rather, in varying degrees and intensities an "individualistic – self-idolizing" approach to life is disturbingly normative… This despite Jesus' pointed, total-life-surrendering-admonitions, given to us by Him in His Sermon on the Mount as service to Himself and to our neighbors.

The normative practice of individualization means that we imbibe inadvertently in one of the greatest evils that can be practiced in our world: "Individualization of Calling and Gifts." In epidemic proportions Christians take what God has ordained as a unique and special particularity in us, as-a-means-of-grace-for-others – and for His glory; and instead use it instead to advance our livelihoods, social status and the insatiable search for pleasure. They have transmorphed the difference between "needs" and "wants." Contravailingly, what God calls us to unswervingly is the sacrificial and loving "Communalization of Calling and Gifts." Our calling and gifts are not our own, they do not belong to us only… They have been uniquely distributed to each one of us as a means to fulfill the plan and providence of God.

It is crucial that creative and insightful dialogue be created to help arrest the thought and practice in the lives of Christian Higher Education Students. When discovered, complicity on the part of those professionals in Higher Education should be acknowledged as well. We can't expect our students to follow what we say, unless we are willing to walk before them and demonstrate it in spades by what we do. "Individualism" should be treated as one of the primary barriers between the authentic practice of one's faith and vocation, and it works powerfully among us in the following ways:

Three Manifestations of "Individualism" in the Life of

Christian Higher Education Students

Higher Education Degrees as Means for Life-Style & Social Status:

First, it comes as no surprise to those of us in Christian Higher Education that many Christian students often make choices about their majors, based not on calling and giftedness; but on their belief which degree will best facilitate their wants i.e. read "lifestyle" and emotional needs, perhaps as it relates especially for things like social prestige. It doesn't help when the college or university reinforces this kind of thinking in virtually all of their marketing materials. In addition, pressure from family and friends can be enormous in sorting out of these issues. Counter conditioning our Students to live differently and not embrace these kinds of values can be challenging at best. The net affect however, for those Students who choose to misapply their lives over and against their calling and giftedness can be analogous to the following: They become hammers that drive in screws, wood saws that cut paper and monkey wrenches that pound in nails. The work gets done, but the end affect usually isn't very pretty and/or ultimately very fulfilling. The damage takes its toll if not on the people around them, then on the core of their emotional and spiritual lives. They live hard for the means that produces only a feeble end.

One of the primary effects of this kind of "individualism" practiced here is the commitment to a kind of emotional security buoyed by the belief that they can do that kind of job and still be "nice" like a Christian should be… They are living the respectable life and maybe even pleasing their family members by making them proud. But in the end, this cannot be vocation, because their mentality associated with it will never permit them to "risk" it all… the kinds of risks often demanded to advance the Kingdom of God.

Confusion Between "Livelihood" and Vocational "Calling…"

Second, many Christian students in Higher Education vacillate between the subtle attitudinal shifts of vocation as "calling" to vocation as merely "livelihood." They often see them as one and the same. But clearly the biblical concept of vocational "calling" has to do with a specific manner or way of life, directed by God, that always works through things like (although not exhaustively) a particular vocation/profession, a particular marriage and a particular locality or place to live. When God created us as individuals He had also in mind very clear and desired outcomes. Those outcomes are designed not only to please and glorify Him, but are included in the overall redemptive process for the world as a whole.

Os Guisnness, in his wonderful book, The Call, offers these falling comments on the subject of "Calling."

Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction out as a response to His summons and service.

Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him, and for Him. First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics, or teaching) or to somewhere (such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia.

Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live and act entirely for him. We can therefore properly say as a matter of secondary calling that we are called to homemaking or to the practice of law or to art history…

In addition, it's also important to note that God gives us particular spiritual gifts and talents with which to fulfill our callings. In other words, if God desires certain outcomes without lives, to which He calls us, then it makes sense that He would gives us the tools necessary to complete them. But this is where the problem for many of our students lies because they are often given every opportunity and excuse to use their particular giftedness to enhance their livelihood only.

One of my favorite passages to speak from is I Peter 4:7-10:

(7)The end of all things in near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (8)Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. (9)Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (10)Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

Often I conclude the reading with this hypothetical question: "How would anyone here, upon their death and ascension, like to stand before God for their final judgment and part of what they would hear would be the following statement from God."

"I am pleased that you are here, but this one thing I have against you… you regularly withheld my grace from people that I loved… because you misused your calling
and the gifts that I gave you to serve yourself mostly, and did not bless those to whom I providentially intended them be for… who needed them more."

One of the very important realities for all of us to face is that our calling and gifts do not belong to us. It's important to re-emphasize that they were given to us, as a means of grace for the world around us. It's crucial that we and our students integrate this vital truth otherwise we are in danger of risking a life-time of merely patronizing God. In other words, calling and gifts are a priori and should never be used to answer only the reductionistic question of "what kind of 'job' should I get?" Rather, certain and confident knowledge of calling and gifts should shape one's redemptive approach to life, out of which one of the many primary issues is: "How can this profession, job, employment opportunity enhance what I have been called and gifted by God to do with my life?"

The steady application of this kind of non-creative, unimaginative, reductionistic assessment of one's personal calling and gifts is what propagates the limited impact the Christian community has within the major institutions within our culture. It would seem appropriate for the Christian student, after gaining a strong sense of calling and skilled knowledge of gifts, to intentionally and confidently "target" a particular area of culture e.g. Business World, The Arts, Higher Education etc., as their vocation/profession. It's only when they do this that it becomes a "vocation" in the truest sense of the word. I am reminded of Eugene Peterson's haunting words:

"The place that God calls you to, is the place where the world's great hunger and your deep gladness meet."

The Camel In The Tent

2009-02-11T07:54:00.002-05:00

By Donald J. Boudreaux Wednesday, February 11, 2009

About the writer

Donald J. Boudreaux is chairman of the Department of Economics at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. His column runs twice monthly. He can be reached via e-mail.

The Obama administration announced that no executive salary at any firm that accepts federal bailout funds can exceed $500,000 annually. To many people, this idea seems sound. To me, it seems sadly suggestive of a bleak future for America.

Before we discuss the problems with this salary cap -- the object of my next column -- it's useful to point out some general noxious aspects of the goings-on inside the Beltway that make this salary cap acceptable to many Americans.

First, and most obviously, firms that accept bailout funds from Uncle Sam have little cause to complain about whatever restrictions he slaps on them. He who pays the piper calls the tune. And although Uncle Sam is not really the piper's payer -- taxpayers are -- the decision to pay or not to pay in this case is Uncle Sam's. It's inevitable that he will demand that the piper play only tunes that set toes on Pennsylvania Avenue tapping.

Any business executive surprised by such restrictions should be demoted to the rank of bicycle messenger.

But the most egregious problem with this salary cap, as with all other restrictions and requirements that are attached to bailout funds, is that it sets a frightening precedent. Government is now increasingly in the business of determining salaries and deciding whether firms can have private jets. These matters -- salaries and jets -- are lightning rods for public attention. So they are, ipso facto, lightning rods for politicians' attention.

You can bet your grandchildren's share of the national debt, however, that other corporate matters will become lightning rods of attention -- and, hence, objects of self-righteously imposed government restrictions.

Is Bank of America spending oodles of money on advertising? Horrors! Make it stop. Is General Motors planning to install machinery that will displace some workers? Never! Make it stop. Is Chrysler appointing yet another middle-aged straight white male as its president? Racist homophobic chauvinists! Make them appoint a handicapped lesbian of color.

Whatever the political fear or fad du jour, be sure that it will be revealed in gaudy orders given by Washington to whatever firms feasted on its bailout bounty.

Which raises the question: Which are the firms that feasted on Washington's bailout bounty? This question is not as easy to answer as you might think. Sure, it's clear that, say, Chrysler got bailout funds. But what about Chrysler's suppliers that, while none received any direct handout of taxpayer funds, enjoyed higher profits as a result of Chrysler remaining in operation?

Indeed, what about every firm in America? After all, the financial and auto-producer bailouts, and the more general "stimulus" packages, are meant to assist the entire economy. Funds spent on the bailouts and on the stimuli eventually wend their way throughout the whole economy, benefiting everyone. That's government's stated goal.

Because (the presumption is) without these bailouts and stimuli the U.S. economy would have collapsed into ruins, it stands to reason that every firm -- every American, even -- received government largess. And because this largess was bestowed, either directly or indirectly, upon every firm, no firm deserves to be excused from having to follow detailed marching orders from Washington.

I hope I'm wrong. But I genuinely fear that the extensive and massive "economic rescue" spending pouring today from Washington will combine with the newfound enthusiasm for hyperactive government to quickly create a culture of government direction of the economy as this country has never before known.

The camel's nose is under the tent. It will be followed shortly by his filthy rear. When that happens, the entire tent that is the American economy will be not only foul, but so crowded with a stupid and clumsy animal that very few of us will have enough elbow room to pursue our own peaceful goals as we choose.

The camel will, of course, assure us that his hulking presence within the tent is necessary. He'll snort that if he were to leave the tent -- indeed, even if he were to remove from the tent merely one paw -- the tent itself would crash down in a heap, smothering all us good Americans.

As time passes with the camel fully in the tent, fewer and fewer Americans will remember how spacious and full of opportunities the tent was before the camel made himself at home within it.

And those of us who continue to demand that the camel leave will be increasingly viewed as utopian dreamers -- delirious fools who actually believe that the tent can remain standing without the camel parked inside and leaving us ordinary folks scant private space.

Addendum From Rich Grassel

Make no mistake... CEO's who abused their responsibilities with their pursuit of unmitigated greed; and who danced lightly away to some exotic Caribbean Island with other people's millions, deserve nothing less than life in prison. For people like Bernie Madoff, I am tempted to think that prison is too good for them... Their maleficence has and will continue to cause much in the way of suffering and angst. In addition, they have enabled those who privilege "socialism" to take the high ground, at least temporarily, in the discussion about the role of Government, Social Issues and the Free Market.

However, the latter two thirds of Mr. Boudreaux's article genuinely terrifies me... Particularly, to expand this thought even more, do we really want government intrusion into the private business sphere when it comes to religious activity and expression? Will those businesses that received Federal bailout monies now be subjected to Federal Government policies that involve Lunch-Time Prayer meetings and Bible Studies? Will employee's be able to decorate their offices and work areas with a Nativity Scene at Christmas; have a open Bible on their desk, or have A Crucifix on the wall? How are those things, for example regarded in most public schools or government offices? Broadly speaking, the precedent for this has already been set by the Grove City Court case in 1983 and Title IX. Followed by the Discrimination Restoration Act passed by Congress in 1987. Bottom line, those entities that receive Federal Dollars and public funds are subject and expected to abide by all Federal Mandates. Do we really want this?

Socialism

2009-02-10T22:40:00.003-05:00

The Only Problem With Socialism

Is That You Eventually Run Out

Of Someone Else's Money

Margaret Thatcher -
Great Britain's Former Prime Minister

This Bears Repeating...

Socialism Works Well Only For The Many
Who Have Lost Their "Will"

AND For The "Will," of The Few, Who Need To Control The Many

In The End It Allows Only For "Victims" To "Survive"
And Those Who Had "Survived" To Become "Victims"

There Is A Crucial Difference Between
Helping Those In Need...

And Needing, To Need, To "Help" The "Needy"

For Whatever Reason...
r.s.g. 10/12/08

GREATNESS

2009-02-05T11:41:00.003-05:00

In The Seeking of Personal Greatness...

There Are Compromises To Be Made...

In Allowing Greatness To Find You

There Are Personal Sacrifices To Be Embraced

r.s.g. 02/05/2009

Somethings to Consider

2009-02-03T15:38:00.005-05:00

The Thought Has Occurred To Me That...
Often, When We Pray,

Perhaps The Terrifying Truth Is:...

That Our Prayer Can Be More For WHAT We Believe To Be TRUE In Our Mind...

Rather Than WHO Exists In Our HEART...

Have We Mistakenly Prayed To Our Ideology?

Consider Carefully In Sober Fashion Who Our God, At This Juncture, Could Really Be...

A Dogmatic, Brittle and Dead Orthodoxy...

Or Unwitting Passionate Form of Self-Idolization...

Maybe This Is Why Our Prayers Are Always Answered... Just Not Like We Thought They Should Be...

r.s.g 02/03/2009

..................................................

Any Time An Ideology Moves Towards Some Form of Human INSTITUTIONALIZATION

It Necessarily Means A Decisive Move Towards CORRUPTION

Because At That Point, The Ideological Issue Almost Always Morphs Over Into The Use of "POWER" - Who Gets It And The Manner By Which They Wield It

Committed Relationships, Collectively Committed To A Common Idea, Need Not Always Be Formally Organized. If They Do, The Issue Inevitably Morphs From One Of Potentially Redemptive Ideals For The Whole, To One Of Self-Serving Power For The Individual.

r.s.g. 1/20/2009