Theological One-Liners

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Baltinglass, Ireland-trekearth

I noticed that my most recent Facebook posts and status updates on my main page do not appear to a non-friend. I changed my main Facebook page settings because I want to publish 'Public', it had been changed for some reason.

But I intend to place more posts on my Facebook Blog that I use to promote my two Blogger blogs.

From

One Line Fun

Isn't it great to live in the 21st century? Where deleting history has become more important than making it.

The political and social power of group think...

I have noticed that everyone who is for abortion, has already been born.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. 

The difference between the Pope and your boss. The Pope only expects you to kiss his ring.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

From

Just One Liners

Ridiculous stereotypes often make people very ignorant towards other nationalities. For example, I’m in good shape, intelligent, and I don’t have sex with my cousins, and yet still people assume I’m American. Canadian, Stewart Francis

I’m an Atheist… thank God. Dave Allen (1936 – 2005) Irish comedian

My church accepts all denominations – fivers, tenners, twenties. Dave Allen (1936 – 2005) Irish comedian

My friend Phil was brought up Orthodox Jewish… he actually thought the New Testament was the paperback version of the Old Testament. Lizz Winstead (1961 – ) comedian, writer, radio & television personality & blogger

I definitely want Brooklyn [his daughter] to be Christened, but I don't know into what religion yet. David Beckham professional football player

Genius. 

He was an excellent player though. I saw him play live for Manchester United when I lived in Manchester.

Man Walks Into A Joke

Televangelists – the Pro Wrestlers of religion.

Profound satire.

Two Mormons are going door to door. They knock on the door of one woman who tells them, in no uncertain terms, that she does not want to hear their message. She slams the door in their faces but to her surprise, it bounces back open. She tries slamming the door again, and again, and again but it won’t shut. ‘Get your dammed foot out of my door,’ shouts the woman. ‘My foot isn’t in the door,’ says one of the Mormons. ‘But you might want to move your cat.’

A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. They came to the story of Lot’s wife: ‘The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.’ His son asked: ‘What happened to the flea?

Think God Now

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. - Abraham Lincoln

English Standard Version: Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Criticism is easy: achievement is more difficult. - Winston Churchill.

God formed us, sin deformed us, Christ transforms us.

If truth stands in your way, you are headed in the wrong direction.

That is one to ponder on in situations.



A possible place to nap...

Prism To Fool Your Eyes...

Dubai

Prism

Cited

All About Vision

'A prism bends light. Prism in glasses can kind of fool your eyes into thinking they are working together without strain. Prism can also help with double vision by aligning the two images into one.'

End Citation



I picked up the first of three new pairs of glasses with an invisible prism in one lens. The older pair (expensive German glasses) of just a few years ago had a stick on prism with adhesive which I always thought was weird.

The prism although not invisible is not obvious at all to people or is it obvious in photos.

Therefore, this was not obvious like having my one eye patched in kindergarten. This was obviously not a fun experience.

The store staff were amazed negatively that was the pair of glasses I received, the prism technology being through from the University of British Columbia and associated.

The first new pair are sunglasses and I notice improvement even with them in regard to clarity of vision. Perhaps the old glasses contributed to recent eye strain?

Dubai: Lamborghini

Dubai: So how much damage does a tennis ball do falling from that distance?

Photo from travel.spotcoolstuff.com

Dubai

From travel.spotcollstuff.com

Brief On Philippians 4:8: Audio

Rogers Arena at R40, July 17. 2015

Chuck and I viewed Rush at the R40 tour for our tenth Rush show each. Perhaps the last Rush concert for us as the band is ceasing major tours due to family and health concerns according to media reports.

We both agreed that overall this was our favourite tour for setlist and performance.

Chuck, once again (2013) did not stay in his assigned seat, but this time did not face Rogers Arena security, justice and seat reassignment.

However, a 'dancing biker' type was in front of me in the next row, separated by metal railing and was removed twice by the Vancouver Police Department and Rogers Arena security.

A woman in the next row below 'dancing biker', that appeared with a man and children, really did not appreciate the special attention from the 'dancing biker'.

This may have had an impact on events.

------

A very fine pastor I listen to online that is very knowledgeable with the Scriptures, has some rather, what I would consider fundamentalist views on music.

Therefore, this is one point of cumulative points and reasons why that although I listen to him much for his Biblical teaching, I do not listen to him so much for his theological or philosophical teaching.

The pastor was stating in his most recent online sermon that Christians should basically (paraphrased) be careful with or avoid secular music and listen only to Christian music because secular music likely has a negative effect on the human spirit.

But of course the effects are such that Christians are often unaware.

My philosophical side states:

How convenient.... 

Philippians 4: 8 would often be used in context from a fundamentalist position

Philippians 4:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [a]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, [b]dwell on these things.

Footnotes: Philippians 4:8 Or lovable and gracious Philippians 4:8 Lit ponder these things New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Strictly speaking if I was to take this verse legalistically, with my educational background, no theological or Biblical teacher could pass the test.

For example, in this case I view this pastor as speaking the truth and being right most of the time in regard to Biblical Studies, but is not always speaking the truth and is right in terms of theological and philosophical issues.

In regard to music, I question seriously whether he is speaking the truth and is right.

Should I therefore not listen to him?

Should I not dwell on his ministry?

No, further the verse states if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise dwell on these these things.

In a fallen world one has to parse through and divide up truth from non-truth, what is right from what is not right.

This is the case with all preaching, secular music and all things where there is learning involved.

Is the case of Rush, for example, it is performance based music that one can listen to primarily for the musicality and while hearing the lyrics, they need not be the focus.

I would agree with some of the lyrics and not agree with others, if I focused on them, which I rarely do and I also rarely read them.

But I am aware the lyricist is writing from a definitive non-Christian worldview.

For any pastor or person in ministry (or Christian) to assume that the music based on the lyrics would have a negative impact of my spirit is theological and philosophical assumption and unsubstantiated.

It is very difficult to prove.

However, I can state that the music relaxes me and also has taught me about the need for innovation and complexity in how I approach my own work, such as this blog.

I also have seen ten very good performances, especially last evening.

Therefore, the positives outweigh the negatives, including spiritually in my case. As we are spiritual, intellectual and physical beings.

It also needs to be stated that much of modern Christian music, not all, is worship and not performance focused.

Some classical music, for example, that is performance orientated is relating to Christian culture I realize.

I admit that I am not expert on all genres of performance orientated Christian music.

However, much of modern Christian worship music is rather on the simplistic side in order for people in a church congregation to sing along and 'worship'.

Some persons like myself, generally do not relate to this kind of music, artistically, although there can be agreement on much of the lyrics.

The pastor implied there may be a spiritual problem with those that do not like Christian music, basically worship music, but he intellectually, theologically and philosophically completely avoided the issue of worship music versus performance music and personal taste.

This is not a robust enough theology or philosophy.

Again I acknowledge the intellectual limitations of a blog post as I have in the past.

He tied the listening of secular music to possible spiritual problems.

This is possible in some cases where the lyrics and culture of a secular artist have too much influence on the listener.

Reasonable.

However to without significant substantiation suggest that secular music has a negative influence typically on the willing Christian listener cannot be reasonably proven.

It also can operate as a type of evangelical cop-out theologically as in blaming secular music for spiritual problems when the problem is most often something more direct and obvious.

For example, depression is caused by lack of employment and is not caused by listening to secular music.

A pastor, Christian in ministry (Christian) would be wiser to focus on the actual true solution to a problem, and I am acknowledging there is always a spiritual aspect.

Problem A is often solved by

Solution A

God willing

If God does not provide a solution at least a reasonable Biblical, theological and spiritual approach was taken.

Vancouver:trekearth

Text Conversation Versus Skype Video

London-Daily Mail

Text Conversation Versus Skype Video

In the previous post I mentioned...

'Ecclesiastes 7:27-28, verse 28 specifically, was stated to me by a friend and single Pastor from Europe in a three hour video Skype this morning, in regard to relationships with women....

He also reasons I should seek ministry work as a Revered, which I am completely unconvinced of, and always have been since it was under a consideration, although I would be very interested in teaching theology in a church, certainly.'

As we were setting up the Skype meeting I asked by text whether the Pastor wanted to text only or to chat through video.

The Pastor suggested that it would be better for us to meet on Skype to meet face to face so to speak in order to better understand each other, facial expressions, vocal tones (paraphrased) etc...

I agreed with this idea.

Prior to meeting this European Pastor online, my impression of him on Facebook was that he was reasonably well-educated and very committed to the gospel message.

However, a difficulty with his ministry as an evangelical preaching type ministry is that like many, including mine, although mine is more theological and philosophical, than preaching, is that it can read as somewhat cold, academic, controversial and divisive in today's very secular world.

The warm nature of the actual person presenting cannot really be experienced by reading his or her textual preaching and teaching, or by having a text conversation.

Through Skype it was further confirmed the Pastor was significantly educated and is committed to the gospel message.

We are both Reformed.

I found the Pastor far more warm and caring in person via Skype than through text conversation on Facebook.

My view of him definitely changed. It was positive before, but is now more so.

The Pastor stated he viewed me as an erudite scholar, but now could see how much we related, but this was only after we had met face to face, so to speak.

I can reason that I too, would seem perhaps more warm and caring in person through Skype video to people as compared to my Facebook and Blogger writing.

And as well I would seem more warm and caring than in comparison to my audio lectures which are not conversational.

For the Pastor and myself, the warmness never occurred by reading each other on Facebook and by the occasional online, Facebook discussion.

People can know each other better through face to face dialogue as opposed to text conversation or by reading text or listening to an audio presentation.

Another lesson for me in how effective human interaction works.

End

A Facebook friend posted this from British actor and comedian, Russell Brand. I am not by posting this recommending Mr. Brand as a philosopher, intellectual and celebrity as much as stating that from a secular perspective he does make some reasonable critical points in regard to pornography.

Ecclesiastes 7:27-28 & Audio

Bois, France:trekearth

Ecclesiastes 7:27-28, verse 28 specifically, was stated to me by a friend and single Pastor from Europe in a three hour video Skype this morning, in regard to relationships with women.

This was after my eight hour shift of corporate security, ending my work week and a late night dinner out.

Strange hours.

He also reasons I should seek ministry work as a Revered, which I am completely unconvinced of, and always have been since it was under a consideration, although I would be very interested in teaching theology in a church, certainly.

Ecclesiastes 7:27-28

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

In regard to wisdom and goodness

27 See, this have I found, says Qoheleth, adding one to one to find the sum.

28 What my soul still seeks and has yet to find is this: “One man out of a thousand have I found, but a woman among them all I have not found.”

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Donald C. Fleming noted in regards to the context of wisdom and goodness: 'If women have a low rating in the author's judgment, so to do men-only one better over a sample of a thousand!' Fleming (1986: 698).

Bible Hub

Cited

'Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 7:23-29

Solomon, in his search into the nature and reason of things, had been miserably deluded. But he here speaks with godly sorrow. He alone who constantly aims to please God, can expect to escape; the careless sinner probably will fall to rise no more. He now discovered more than ever the evil of the great sin of which he had been guilty, the loving many strange women,'

End citation

My reasoning is that in this rather secularized age there are many, even in the Church that lack significant, Biblical, Theological and Philosophical training and a strong spiritual commitment to the Biblical God.

Therefore,  Ecclesiastes 7:27-28 may indeed be relevant.

However, I have to primarily through prayer, study and fellowship be concerned with my own wisdom, spiritual standing and goodness with the Biblical God; secondarily concerned with others that I can impact and influence less.

FLEMING, DONALD C. (1986) 'Ecclesiastes' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

Related Audio

 

Fireworks & Avoiding Fireworks

July 4th fireworks from the United States side in an international park without any border control. I was ignorant this existed.

We took this photo from the United States side of the international park...

Romans 12:9-21

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; [a]give preference to one another in honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the [b]saints, [c]practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute [d]you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but [e]associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. [f]Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [g]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes:

Romans 12:10 Or outdo one another in showing honor

Romans 12:13 Or holy ones

Romans 12:13 Lit pursuing

Romans 12:14 Two early mss do not contain you

Romans 12:16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things

Romans 12:17 Lit Take thought for

Romans 12:19 Lit give a place

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

End

'Chuck driving by 0 ave figures we might accidentally be in the USA. Well get us out...'

My refrigerator. This demonstrates my tremendous commitment to Perrier from France, blueberries, English peas, boxed fish. and non-fatass foods.

Potential Fireworks?

Vancouver

Chuck via Facebook. Potential fireworks? Well, the Rush show is coming up again on July 17 providing Mennonite Chuck a reasonable and good opportunity to have himself placed behind bars. During the last show in 2013, Uncle Chuck refused to stay in his designated stadium seat because he was sitting beside a 'fat guy' and the computer genius decided that sitting in the stairs area would be the wise decision. Unfortunately, a tattooed man complained, security was alerted and soon Chuckles was seat relocated.  I was noting concert events by mobile in blog comments and Chuckles and I were teased, likely by a female observer (s) because of the events. Chuck could have simply moved further up the arena as there were plenty of empty seats and avoided all the hassle!

A man in China reportedly mistook his two pet bear cubs for two pet puppies...http://society.people.com.cn/n/2015/0701/c136657-27238612.html

I stated on Facebook Samsung S4 just notified me that my alarms and ringer were on do not disturb mode...news to me. Imagine when computers really have artificial human-like intelligence.

Working on July 1, Canada Day, but invited out to July 4th fireworks, but viewed from the Canadian side(?)... Further

I have never viewed the American July 4th fireworks before, but will admit that viewing actual literal American fireworks, although safely from the Canadian side of the border, will be a relief from the near constant barrage of politicized Christianity related topics that arise from the Excited States of Americana. Not that things are near perfect here in the Socialist Paradise of Canada, just more quiet...