Duck Dynasty

Have you been following the Duck Dynasty drama? Seem to be three or four very interested parties involved. If you haven’t watched a session or two of the show and haven’t read the Bible lately it might be wise to be silent. Seems like the main character is pretty outspoken. Of course, you might expect the participants of a reality show to be outspoken. I wonder about the circumstances leading to the show being aired on A&E in the first place. How many of us have an opinion about homosexuality? Probably a large portion of the population in the United States are interested to some level? How long has homosexuality been around? I understand that maybe 4% of the population has a same sex attraction. Sorry, I’m getting off the subject. So, the show is on A&E. Phil Robertson is quoted as saying homosexuality is a sin but, he loves all the gay folks in the world. Well maybe just the ones he knows. Very hard to love someone you don’t know. And, somebody or somebodies have complained about what he has been reported to say. I’m not sure if his statements were made on the air or in an interview? Probably doesn’t matter. The first set of somebodies says they don’t like the statements and Phil should be banned from the show. As a result, A&E decided not to air the show if Phil was part of it. He and the others refused the ultimatum and so, A&E announced the dropping of the show. Well, some other somebodies who apparently agree with Phil and his statements or, just like the show, objected loudly to A&E. Now A&E has reversed their position. Now, none of us really know what Phil, his family, A&E, or the two somebodies are thinking. We don’t even understand their motives in this. Nor, can we. Supposedly, the actions of all the parties are based on their view or belief in right and wrong. My first question to any of the parties is where did you get your sense of right and wrong? And, what part of that are you using to govern your statements and actions? And, I really don’t like the answer telling me “everybody knows”. Are your opinions handed down within your family? Are your opinions based on consensus? Are you opinions based on the law of the land or what you believe the law of the land should be? (Vigilante?) Or, are your opinions based on a higher power… like your own personal god? Where do you get you basis of right and wrong? I wonder if money has anything to do with the actions of A&E? I wonder if money or prestige has anything to do with the actions of the Robertson family? If we really love our neighbors why not just withdraw the causes of the conflict? Wouldn’t that be better than fanning flames? And, for one set of somebodies, I recall Jesus saying we should love our neighbors and let God do the judging. Or, did I read that incorrectly? I think it’s in the book. Take a look at Galatians 6.

Unity

Seems to me a big problem in the world today is our inability to operate in unity. Think about achieving peace in the world. Where do you think that should start? Most of us try to get the other guy to see it our way. Not often do we try to see the other point or points of view. I learned today that peace is not some thing that happens inside of me. Peace is not a situation I create or cause. Where do we get peace? Is peace gained by agreement? Probably not, or else we would never achieve peace. It is a fact, we will never agree about every thing. What is it that makes me angry with others? Is it the way they treat me? Is it because they get in the way of me having my way? Is it because they infringe on my territory or property?  Let’s face it, every time some one is born or moves into the neighborhood, the rest of us will have to move over some. Are we willing to move over? Did you ever notice how when some one dies we miss them for a while and then we don’t? What if, every one became a vital part of our lives? What if, we needed every one? Would that change things? Would that change things in the world? Is it possible to make every one important? Are some people not important? Does any one think that about you? When do we feel best? Is it when many of our friends speak highly and kindly about us? Is it when some one does some thing nice for us? Does every one feel the same way? What do you think? Am I important? Are you important? How might we get to be important? Could it be, if we worked to make every one around us feel important, we might become more important? Do we need to be important? How about we change the condition to one of being loved, truly loved? Loving might lead to Peace which in turn might lead to Unity? Meditate on these things.

I’m not saying we are wrong when we judge others. I’m just saying, it might not be very productive. People are often right about me when they make critical statements. What should I do with those statements? How should I respond to those people? Going there and doing this will be hard work. It will not be easy. Would it be worth the effort? Our methods so far have not been very productive. Maybe it is time to take a different approach?

United We Stand!

You've heard it before and the old adage holds true today. United we stand divided we fall. Have you ever seen a winning sports team or any organization succeed when a group of "super stars" try to hog the action. Winning groups like the Oracle who have a strong leader and a strong team tend to finish first in the race. I believe God expects us all to approach our time here the same way. Be the best you can be working together in unity to achieve our collective purposes. The leaders in our country seem to be "Hell" bent on doing it their own way. We need a call for unity. Perhaps we should consider abandoning both parties and starting fresh? What do you think?

IS THERE REALLY A GOD?

What if there really is a God who created everything and controls everything? How many of you answer the question YES? How many are willing to make the assumption and go with the results? How about trusting in that premise in all you do? Want to do the experiment for a day, a week, a month, a year or even the rest of your life on earth? No more flipping around from one set of values to another. No switching of heroes and idols. One diet. One set of goals for life. One career. One wife or one husband for life. Have you ever observed the amount of conflict in the world around you? Are you part of the conflict? Problem? What if we were all part of one family with one set of family values and rules? How many sports teams win the league when the players don't agree with the game plan? How many nations have succeeded forever? Why do companies fail? What does united mean? Like in United States. Or, united we stand, divided we fall? What is love? What is the first word that pops in your head after you say love? Is it doing your best for a friend or acquaintance without expecting anything in return? Or, is it more mutual? I like you if you like me. Or, maybe, I want you at all cost. Mostly, your cost. It can vary from its all about you to its all about me or anywhere in between. Am I more important than everyone else or, is everyone else more important than me? Who decides? In a family, there has to be a dad. Who's your dad? Where do you get your guidance? From self? How good has that been? How happy are you about the past and the present? Talk about happy! What is happy? Laughter? No sadness or despair right. Money? Love? Sex? Drugs? Alcohol? Good job? Nice family? Safety? Health? Youth? Power, position? Friends? Car, boat, airplane, house?

Thoughts for July 20, 2013

No Blogs posted since last September. Has any one out there been trying to follow? Much has been happening that distracted me. Our Church "Dillon Community Church" in Dillon, Colorado had their senior pastor Brian Myers resign a year ago last April. So, for about a year much has been done to find a new pastor. And, it has distracted my attention from other parts of life. God has a way with that for many of us. Some of my immediate family and I have been reading the Bible through from beginning to end. Actually, not quite that way. We are using the Tyndale one year Bible. There are daily selections of OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs to read. The Psalms are read through twice in one year. I have tried to post comments after completing the daily reading. Mostly everyday. Some times I miss. I highly recommend the endeavor for your family if you are inclined. Some of my thoughts are pretty weird. For example, followers of Christ often refer to themselves as believers. Then they are likely to call others non-believers. Make Sense? Well not really. Because the true believer is not to judge others. Words from Jesus. So, ergo, how do they know who is a believer and who is not? Also, since we are told in the Bible that no one is righteous, not one, what would be the difference between a believer and a non-believer? Faith and faith alone. Certainly not righteousness. Do you want to think about "leadership"? Or, maybe the World View vs the Christian View? Let me know I really like to discuss life. How about abortion or homosexuality? How about weapons? Today we(my family and I) read the Proverb !9:21 You can make many plans, but the Lord's purposes will prevail. So, why plan? I believe there is good reason for planning. What do you think they are?