Thursday, April 30, 2009

I HATE WORDPRESS (and spam)!!!


Okay, maybe I should preface this rant with the fact that I don’t actually hate [WordPress] itself, and even if I wanted to, I am not really qualified to do so. For I have never had a WordPress blog.

I am, however, most qualified to hate WordPress’ super-duper spam filter add-on [Akismet]. For it considers me to be a spammer.

Therefore, I suppose a more accurate title of this piece would be, I HATE AKISMET (and spam)!!!, but I want all of those creepy, crawly spider thingies(?) that search engines use to scour the Internet for good things to devour to catch a quick whiff of my ire. So, I figured that including WordPress in the title might do the trick faster than Akismet.

On the other hand, the rest of the title is completely accurate. For I do indeed hate spam with a passion, and to drive the point home to all with a brain at least as big as a gnat, the following is a post that I made on [FishHawk Droppings] around a year and a half ago. (Some grammatical changes have been made in the hope of saving me further embarrassment.)


Whodunit?

I would like to know who signed me up for all of the penile enhancement spam that I have been receiving lately. I’m serious. For I know that I live in the state of Misery, but there has to be a limit to the amount of indignities that a man can be subjected to!

Oh yeah, I’ve got something for you. Well, okay, maybe not anymore. For I am no longer like that, but my good ol’ bad self would have certainly had a valuable service to perform. Satisfaction guaranteed—take it to the bank! For a rusty pair of vise grips and a meat-tenderizing mallet in the experienced hands of someone with a blood type of Old No. 7 always leaves a lasting impression.

I bet you’re the one who signed my wife up for the same barrage a few years back—aren’t you? Didn’t you learn your lesson? For if she could not get me to see where there might be much to be gained before, what makes you think that I would want to be more like Smiling Bob now?

He ain’t all that—don’t you know? If he was, he couldn’t be racing no stock car!

Yeah, I’ve seen some other commercials with a bevy of buxom babes looking all googly-eyed over significant changes to a certain part of the male anatomy in heavy rotation with advertisements for Girls Gone Wild videos late at night on Spike. Be assured that those operators on stand-by are still a-waitin’ my call.

Come on now, can your emails compete with that? Now, I know that there is something to be said for quantity over quality, but you’re taking up valuable space. Space that is need for…um…other stuff!

Maybe I’m missing the point and not taking full advantage of all of the opportunities being presented? For new directives upon what is now good and bad for us are issued all of the time these days. I must have missed the one about drywall being an excellent source of fiber—especially when formed into a diamond shape and dyed a particular shade of blue.

Yeah, I suppose that it could be worse. By the way, does anyone know when the next drawing for the Internet Lottery is being held?

Alas, I don’t know which is worse—spam or some of the steps taken to prevent it? For according to [Smart Boy], all it takes to be permanently labeled a spammer by Akismet is for enough to mark you as being one in their opinion.

Be assured that I know that it doesn’t take all that many. In fact, it may only take one. For it was almost immediately after having some theological differences with someone with a WordPress blog a while back that I started noticing that my comments were being rejected by everyone with a WordPress blog—regardless of the subject matter. That is, of course, at least in the cases where some notice was given. For I have come across many a blog of all kinds that gives no notification of anything when a comment has been submitted, which compels me to go back and check until I am convinced that my comment was indeed rejected when email notification of follow-up comments is not available.

To me, that is just plain rude. For I would like to be told when I am unwelcome when I am not, but in all fairness, maybe the owners of those blogs just don’t realize what is going on.

Whoa, the thought just occurred to me that it may be all part of another evil [Illuminati] scheme to effect world domination. For the blogs that give no notice of comment rejection receive another page view credit each and every time I go back to check if my comment has been accepted yet, and the same applies to when no email notification of follow up comments is available. Subsequently, if I am not the only one who cannot just let it go, that could add up to billions of page views a day, and I don’t even want to think about where that could lead.

Anyway, if you are not a member in good standing of the Illuminati, would you please do something about at least the Akismet add-on on your WordPress blog? For there are a lot of blogs out there that I would like to leave what I would think would be most welcome comments on, and if you would start actually checking what has been rejected, you just might find that I am not the only one who has been algorithmically slandered!

Yes, spammers have become much more sophisticated, and some of their comments may also contain links to some really nasty computer viruses. So, it is understandable why many would not want to start digging through the trash, but doesn’t your anti-virus keep you safe when you are inadvertently surfing dangerous waters elsewhere? If it doesn’t, I highly recommend [Bit-Defender].

No, this is most certainly not a clever ploy to persuade the good at heart to open their comment boxes to my stuff. For I never had anything to do with anything even remotely spammy. That is, except for the real deal, of course.




Wednesday, April 29, 2009

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Tales of Wonder]



MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Vendetta
WhiteHeart

Count the locks
Upon your door
Guess Beaver doesn’t
Live here anymore
A gun for me
A gun for you
Now they’re killing people
For their tennis shoes

You and old
Share the fear
A violent streak
Is running everywhere
Ooh
It’s hard to say
How it got this way

Feel the anger burning
Holy anger rising
Up in you
What should we do

Vendetta against
The raging world
Vendetta against
The lies we’ve heard
Vendetta led
By love not hate
It’s the only way
The pattern breaks
No

Quietly
We lose the hope
While the media
Pushes the envelope
Hear the warning cries
The sirens blare
I wonder
Do we love enough to care

Care enough to stand
Heal this broken land
And love the lost
At any cost

Vendetta against
The raging world
Vendetta against
The lies we’ve heard
Vendetta led
By love not hate
It’s the only way
The pattern breaks
No

Vendetta
Vendetta

Ooh

Link: [WhiteHeart]

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Richter Studios


Richter Studios and their [Video Production Services] has just been brought to my attention, and all I can say is, “WOW!” I mean, “WOW!!

No, I don’t think you are hearing me. Hey, I’m talkin’, “WOW!!!,” here. For it is like a movie studio offering to make commercials for your company.

Come to think of it—they are a movie studio! For they produced [Following Deerpath], which is a documentary about the town of Lake Forest, IL. The following is a trailer to the movie, which should give you a good idea of what they can do for your company:

Too much for you? Well, Richter Studios offer a [wide variety of services]. For from basic photography to interactive web presentations—they can do it all.

Be assured that there are plenty of businesses around here who would benefit greatly from the [expertise] that Richter Studios has to offer. For so many of their commercials are downright awful.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is said that a product or service will sell itself, but the way it is presented also says a lot. For I am not about to go to a dentist who uses a rip-off of American Idol as the backdrop for an advertisement. Would you?

Yes, I must disclose that this is a paid advertisement through [ReviewMe]. For this is required for payment.

Nonetheless, I am genuinely impressed with Richter Studios. I think you will be too if you go check them out.

TWO FOR TUESDAY

Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.



Link: [On YouTube]

Going Under
Evanesence

Now I will tell you
What I’ve done for you
Fifty thousand tears I’ve cried
Screaming
Deceiving
And bleeding for you
And you still won’t hear me

Going under

Don’t want your hand this time
I’ll save myself
Maybe I’ll wake up for once
Not tormented daily
Defeated by you
Just when I thought
I reached the bottom

I’m
Dying
Again

I’m going under
I’m going under
Drowning in you
Drowning in you
I’m falling forever
Falling forever
I’ve got to break through
I’m going under

Blurring
And stirring
The truth
And the lies
So I don’t know what’s real
And what’s not
So I don’t know what’s real
And what’s not
Always confusing the thoughts
In my head
So I can’t trust myself anymore

I’m
Dying
Again

I’m going under
I’m going under
Drowning in you
Drowning in you
I’m falling forever
Falling forever
I’ve got to break through

So go on and scream
Scream at me
I’m so far away
I won’t be broken again
I’ve got to breathe
I can’t keep going under

I’m
Dying
Again

I’m going under
I’m going under
Drowning in you
Drowning in you
I’m falling forever
Falling forever
I’ve got to break through
I’m going under
Going under
Going under
Drowning in you
I’m going under


Link: [On YouTube]

Bring Me To Life
Evanesence
How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I’ve become so numb
Without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there
And lead it back home

Wake me up
Wake me up inside
I can’t wake up
Wake me up inside
Save me
Call my name
And save me from the dark
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run
I can’t wake up
Before I come undone
Save me
Save from the nothing I’ve become

Now that I know what I’m without
You can’t just leave me
Breathe into me
And make me real
Bring me to life

Wake me up
Wake me up inside
I can’t wake up
Wake me up inside
Save me
Call my name
And save me from the dark
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run
I can’t wake up
Before I come undone
Save me
Save me from the nothing I’ve become

I’ve been living a lie
There’s nothing inside
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love darling
Only you are the life among the dead

At this time
I can’t believe I couldn’t see
Kept in the dark
But you were there in front of me
I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without thought
Without voice
Without a soul
Don’t let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

Wake me up
Wake me up inside
I can’t wake up
Wake me up inside
Save me
Call my name
And save me from the dark
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run
I can’t wake up
Before I come undone
Save me
Save me from the nothing I’ve become

I’ve been living a lie
There’s nothing inside
Bring me to life

Link: [Evanesence]

Lyrics From: [elyrics.net]

Monday, April 27, 2009

Come Monday...Lost Generation?

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

My wife received a link to the following video in an email, which she forwarded to me, and now I pass it on to you. Since it is at least well over a year old, it may be old news to many, but is this message not worth repeating over and over again for one reason or another [James 4:13-17]?


Sunday, April 26, 2009

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.


Link: [Enquiring Daily Tribune]



Saturday, April 25, 2009

Bittersweet Refinements: XVII

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.


Chapter XVII
Sheltered Lives

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. [1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NAS]
With all of the “stuff” hitting proverbial fans all over the place, it is hard to imagine that any of us are leading all that much of a sheltered life. In fact, it would not be all that unreasonable to naturally think that it seems much more likely that most, if not all, of us were created to be the objects of our Heavenly Father’s wrath—certainly not His affections. For what has not reached out and bitten someone today will surely take a chunk out of their children tomorrow[1].

Nonetheless, there is more to our lives than what naturally comes to meet our physical sight[2], and it is in this regard that all of us lead much more sheltered lives than what most are willing to even consider[3]. For we were all created to be our Heavenly Father’s children by faith[4], and He has no desire to see any of us perish[5].

In other words, it is in regards to our eternal lives that we are sheltered, and it is about this that 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 is referring to. For it is written: “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” [John 3:18 NAS]

Yes, many have been led to believe that 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 addresses something much more tangible to the here and now. For it has been widely taught that our Heavenly Father will not allow His children by faith to be tempted to lie, steal, cheat, fornicate, murder, and all of the rest of those things beyond what they can withstand.

There is certainly plenty to support such a doctrine. For all in Christ are allowed and enabled to participate in His divine nature[6], and there is absolutely nothing sinful about that[7].

There is, however, the matter of just how much we are allowed and enabled to participate in our Heavenly Father’s divine nature while we are still a part of this world that should not be ignored[8]. For the more highly we want to think of ourselves—even in His only begotten Son, the more in danger of eternal damnation we become[9], and this most definitely applies to righteousness—be assured[10].

Alas, is this not something that the Apostle Peter was made all too painfully aware of? For even after being delivered from the humiliation of his denial of Christ[11] and restored to his position of leadership[12], was he not made to suffer even more[13]?

Yes, it can be argued that the Apostle Peter brought all of his own misery upon himself. For he had a tendency to be quite impetuous at inopportune times[14], and the density of his hard-headedness is beyond compare[15].

Nonetheless, is it not to miss the point to hold such a position? For if our Heavenly Father is truly able to shelter us from being tempted to sin by the devil, should He not be able to also shelter us from the wickedness of our own heart[16]—naturally-speaking, of course[17]?

No, none of this will make any sense to those who have not been given ears to hear[18], but the implications will be undeniable to those who have. For many have suffered so very much so very unnecessarily[19] because of being accused of not truly being in Christ because of false doctrines based upon the premise that no one who is truly in Him sins[20].

Yes, it is written: Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. [1 John 3:6 KJV]

Just like it is also written: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [1 John 3:9 KJV]

On the other hand, could it not be that what is being addressed in 1 John 3:3-10 is a different kind of sin? For it truly is as it is written: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. [1 John 1:1-10 KJV]

No, I am not here to dispute the fact that all wrongdoing is sin[21], and that the one who sins is subject unto eternal damnation[22]. For it has been personally revealed to me that this is indeed true[23].

Nonetheless, is there not another side to this that we would do well not to ignore? For it is written: All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. [1 John 5:17-20 NIV]

Alas, does that not serve as a further explanation of what 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 and 2 Peter 1:1-4 is actually addressing? For who from amongst us could stay firm in the faith without the shelter that is provided by our Heavenly Father[24]?

Yes, around and around it could go until the very end. Therefore, may we all make a close examination of ourselves. For who from amongst us can honestly say that there is nothing about ourselves that is not perfect in the same way as our Heavenly Father is perfect[25]?

Certainly not the Apostle Paul after He came to truly know our Heavenly Father in a very close and personal way[26]. For it is written: We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 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. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. [Romans 7:14-8:11]

{1}Hosea 4:1-14; {2}2 Corinthians 4:18; {3}John 3:19-21; {4}Romans 8:16; {5}Ezekiel 18:30-32; {6}2 Peter 1:3-4; {7}Psalms 18:30; {8}1 Corinthians 13:12; {9}Proverbs 16:18; {10}1 Corinthians 4:7; {11}Luke 22:54-62; {12}John 21:15-19; {13}Galatians 2:11-16; {14}John 18:7-11; {15}John 21:20-22; {16}Jeremiah 17:9-10; {17}Isaiah 45:9-12; {18}1 Corinthians 2:14; {19}2 Corinthians 10:1-12; {20}1 Timothy 1:5-11; {21}1 John 5:17; {22}Ezekiel 18:4; {23}Galatians 1:11-12; {24}Mark 14:38; {25}James 2:10; {26}Galatians 1:11-17.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Sites To See

This is the new version of FIVE FOR FRIDAY. As with the former, it is the SOLE purpose of this weekly series to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another. Please, go see for yourself.







Wednesday, April 22, 2009

WhiteHeart Wednesday

Link: [Highlands]



MP3 Audio Player From: [BlogDumps Video]

Excuse Me, Forgive Me
WhiteHeart
Kerry says to me
That I really don’t see
I’m making too much of all this morality
This could never offend
Your Heavenly Friend
I’m not committing crimes against humanity

Excuse me
Forgive me
I’m certain that you do see
Excuse me
Forgive me
Not the same thing in my mind
It’s one or the other
No they’re not together
They both have got their own place in time
So excuse me

I know some things are wrong
I’ve heard your righteous song
But a lot of these things
Are only indiscretions
Gotta play it loose
I’ll be the one to choose
You can’t believe that this
Would ever change my redemption

Excuse me
Forgive me
I’m certain that you do see
Excuse me
Forgive me
Not the same thing in my mind
It’s one or the other
No they’re not together
I’ll decide which one to use next time

Kerry
In your heart and mind you lose
‘Cause something’s dying every time

It’s one or the other
No they’re not together
Do you really think
That you should choose this time
To excuse me
Or forgive me

It’s one or the other
No they’re not together
No they’re not together
Do you really think
That you should choose this time

Oh you gotta let it go

Excuse me

Nanananana

Forgive me

Link: [WhiteHeart]


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

TWO FOR TUESDAY


Not every song that will be featured here will be what is generally considered as being “Christian” in the eyes of this world. For some will be anguished cries from the pit of despair, and others will be quite obviously ferverent rants of rebellion. Nonetheless, be assured that they will all be of our Heavenly Father (in one way or another) and I hope that you have been given ears to hear the message.


Rescue - Uncle Kracker
Link: [On IMEEM]

Rescue
Uncle Kracker

I stayed out late last night
But nothing I could drink
Could help me drink you off my mind
Everywhere I looked
Oooh
I saw your face
And I wonder
And I wonder
If there still might be
A little space in your heart for me
‘Cause I’m so cold
I’m so alone
And I miss you babe

So won’t you come to my rescue
Shake this pain from my soul
And take this fool back into your heart baby
I’ll go crazy if you don’t
‘Cause I’m a mess here without you
Ain’t no pill for this pain
So please
Please come to my rescue baby
Make it right away

I was a fool to leave
Leave behind everything that meant everything to me
Every day and night
Mmm
My heart pays the price
And I’m out here
Stranded out here
On this lonely road
I’m so lost
Won’t you lead me home
I need you back
Need one more chance
And I miss you babe

So won’t you come to my rescue
Shake this pain from my soul
And take this fool back into your heart baby
I’ll go crazy if you don’t
‘Cause I’m a mess here without you
Ain’t no pill for this pain
So please
Please come to my rescue baby
Make it right away

I’m drowning baby
I need you to save me
Yeah
Don’t leave me like this
Don’t leave me like this
Don’t leave me like this
Throw me a line baby
One more time

So won’t you come to my rescue
Shake this pain from my soul
And take this fool back into your heart baby
I’ll go crazy if you don’t
‘Cause I’m a mess here without you
Ain’t no pill for this pain
So please
Please come to my rescue baby
Make it right away

Make it right away

Make it right away


Follow Me VIDEO (Mike Bradford ReMix) (No Conga) - Uncle Kracker
Link: [On IMEEM]

Follow Me
Uncle Kracker
You don’t know how you met me
You don’t know why
You can’t turn around
And say good-bye
All you know is when I’m with you
I make you free
And swim through your veins
Like a fish in the sea

I’m singin’

Follow me
Everything is all right
I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won’t find nobody else like me

I’m not worried ‘bout the ring you wear
‘Cause as long as no one knows
Then nobody can care
You’re feelin’ guilty
And I’m well aware
But you don’t look ashamed
And baby I’m not scared

I’m singin’

Follow me
Everything is all right
I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won’t find nobody else like me

Won’t give you money
I can’t give you the sky
You’re better off if you don’t ask why
I’m not the reason that you go astray
And we’ll be all right if you don’t ask me to say

I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won’t find nobody else like me

You don’t know how you met me
You don’t know why
You can’t turn around
And say good-bye
All you know is when I’m with you
I make you free
And swim through your veins
Like a fish in the sea

I’m singin’

Follow me
Everything is all right
I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won’t find nobody else like me

I’m singin’

Follow me
Everything is all right
I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won’t find nobody else like me

I’m singin’

Follow me
Everything is all right
I’ll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won’t find nobody else like me

Link: [Uncle Kracker]

Lyrics From: [Sing365.com]

Monday, April 20, 2009

Come Monday...Chicken a la Carte

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else that may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

[Culture Unplugged] invites any and all to spread the message of the following video far and wide, and to do something about it, of course.



Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. [James 4:17 NAS]

[Ettarose] is another who has been doing the right thing. Will you not follow their examples in whatever way you are allowed and enabled to?

Sunday, April 19, 2009

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and I after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where we lived. Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.








Saturday, April 18, 2009

Bittersweet Refinements: XVI

Bittersweet Refinements is another book that I have been given to publish. If it gets to sounding an awfully lot like a broken player stuck on repeating the same old wrong song over and over again that is because it is to a fairly great extent. For most of it contains rewritten parts of the Bitter/Sweets that were published here before. Hopefully, it will get to sounding a lot better to you very soon, and for the benefit of those who do not have access to multiple versions of our Heavenly Father's Holy Bible, numbered Scripture references in the text (for example, [1]) provide links to such through Bible Gateway this time around. The same also applies to verses included in the text.


Chapter XVI
Demonic Possession


They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. [Mark 5:1-10 NIV]

Yes, the fictional accounts produced by the entertainment industry of demonic possessions really do have some basis in fact, but it is an extremely rare occurrence—be assured[1]. For it is usually in a much more sinister way that a demon takes control over a person[2].

What happened to Judas Iscariot serves as a good example of that. For it is written: Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. [Luke 22:1-6 NIV]

No, that is not something that you will hear coming from most pulpits[3]. For Satan has been quite successful at convincing such a great, great many that Judas Iscariot acted out of his own freewill, and even from those that you might hear otherwise, the spin will be towards Judas causing this to happen to him by inviting Satan into his heart for one reason or another[4].

Yes, many of them would point to what was said about Judas by the One[5] who would know who would be spending all of eternity in Heaven or Hell[6]. For Christ Jesus said that it would have been better for him to have never been born[7], and this is something that would never be said of someone who was not being held accountable for such a sin[8].

The absolute truth of the matter truly is, however, that it is on account of how Judas reacted to his betrayal of His Lord and Savior after he came to his senses, and not what he had been a party to[9], that is the reason for why that was said of him—be assured[10]. For unlike the Apostle Peter[11] after his own fiery trial[12], Judas refused to have full and complete faith in the grace of our Heavenly Father[13].

Yes, there appears to be a discrepancy between the accounts of Judas’ death given in Matthew and Acts that should be addressed before proceeding any further. For in Matthew, it is written that he hanged himself[14]. Whereas in Acts, it is written that he fell headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines spilled out[15].

Be assured that this came as a great mystery to me for many years, but then our Heavenly Father explained that there is actually no discrepancy at all[16]. For Judas did indeed hang himself, and it was after being cut down that his lifeless body was dropped headlong, which resulted in his belly bursting wide open.

Alas, what happened to Judas was a indeed great tragedy, and what is happening to far too many is just as great[17]. For the devil has convinced them that they have the authority to cast out demons wherever they may be found[18].

No, this is not to deny that our Heavenly Father will sometimes cast out demons through one of His chosen servants[19] for the benefit of all concerned[20]. For it is written: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." [Mark 16:15-18 NIV]

Such miracles are never independent of Him[21], however, and even in regards to those who do claim to be working with the full authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is by their very own words[22] that they attest to just how deceived they are[23]. For it is written: In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. [Jude 1:8-11 NIV]

{1}James 1:5-8; {2}2 Timothy 2:24-26; {3}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {4}2 Peter 1:20-2:3; {5}John 10:30; {6}2 Timothy 4:1; {7}Matthew 26:20-24; {8}1 Timothy 1:12-14; {9}John 7:24; {10}Luke 8:17-18; {11}John 21:15-17; {12}Mark 14:66-72; {13}Matthew 27:1-10; {14}Matthew 27:5; {15}Acts 1:18; {16}Jeremiah 33:3; {17}Ezekiel 18:30-32; {18}2 Corinthians 10:13-15; {19}Acts 16:16-18; {20}John 11:11-15; {21}John 15:5; {22}Matthew 12:37; {23}Matthew 7:15-23.