"Which man is worse off? The one who tells a lie or the one who believes it?" Because I cannot control what anyone says I never think about that.
I am not really moved by anyone telling a lie about me, but I take strong exception anyone knowing me would believe it. Am I taking an offense? Maybe so, but I suddenly know I do not really have a good reason to trust them further. Definitely disappointed particularly at the my loss. But silently, under my hat, not woundedly so. Stronger? Absolutely!
.....no matter that so many great quotes are each credited to literally thousands of different people.
The first personally original quote that simply jackboxed out of me was during a friendly but excited discussion among relatives as a teenager.
"Only offensive people take offense."
It was suggested that my remarks were assuming an offense against a cousin. I chipped back that no, he would not be offended because only offensive people take offense. Did not think about, it was suddenly just there.
Since then I've came to love it, and repeat it often as I possibly can. Who knows? Maybe I heard it before and could not remember it? Always seemed unlikely to me because it reflects an outlook I was born with since I can recall much earlier, in the fourth grade, a childhood acquaintance saying to me that, don't you know I am calling your mother a dog? To which I responded, so what? your saying it does not make it so.
I always wondered why anyone could become so animated by anyone else just saying such and so. Honor? How did anyone assume they had control of my respect? I do not need anyone's respect. I respect myself. I never felt responsible for what others said, about me or not about me. I am not going to waste time denying speech I do not seek to control, cannot control, or more likely never even hear.
But, forgetting all that, quotes are wonderful because they are so brief, so concise, and the best ones so darned true. The more words one employs explaining anything is just so much accumulation of muddy water. It specifically means to me that one is not clear of what they are talking about.
By virtue of taking an offense,
Exposes ones' offensiveness
Taking an offense indicates a weakening, having taken it. It advertises ones' resulting vulnerability. Like anger, it tells everyone they are wounded. This highlights them as a perfectly clear target for attack. The sense of blood in the air tells all rivals, instinctive among males, this weakened state is a good time to strike. 😋
Flying Low
My spirit is clearly seen flying quite low lately. Reading in Ecclesiastes can do that for one I suppose with everything reflected as meaningless. But while toil is meaningless, the writer does say our only hope for meaning comes in enjoying our toil. First glance seems to me dangerously close to a logical pattycake. But, he says the toil is meaningless while the enjoyment of it is another thing.
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| If the seen is beautiful what about the unseen? |
However the best verse in this book for my attention is found in the early going. It confirms my suspicion that God has placed eternity in our hearts. I am taken by this, since it is universally good to exist, by definition. This contrasts with the observation of the writer of Ecclesiastes that it is better to never have been born. There is much grief in wisdom, also my underline. As recently mentioned, I have been captured by the idea that merely the passage of time itself, good or bad, is intrinsically sad.
No blinkies for
second pulpit talk
I witnessed this sermon. I've heard it twice. Once, and then a second time, around fifty years later, by a different pastor. Same thing in a reworked format, sad as sad any emotion can be, but in it, no mention of Jesus Christ whatever. Then like a cold shower, inexplicably, an invitation to give your heart to Jesus.
The first was to children, as the 11th and 12th grades were ushered out of the chapel, so they could freely vent I guess. The second, much later, was to comfortably advanced retired people. The first sermon was well responded to by the children, but the oldsters, about to enter the glorious gold mansions, never blinked an eye.
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| Church for Sale |
I was born into one church. I was married in another church. I will likely die in my current church. While I was attending, in all three churches, contentious members voted their pastors out of office.
We are what we believe
Pulpit Talk at Pulpit Rock
Can one believe Jesus rose from the dead but find healing too hard a miracle feat to ever mention healing? I always thought they felt if they were not healed, then they would not be believers nor else not enter heaven. But I was never specifically told this by anyone.
All I found is, not only in the denomination I was born into, but in many Protestant denominations, they never mention healing. All without saying exactly why. Since I was baptized in church on Pentecost Sunday, I feel licensed to speak about myself on the subject, whether anyone thinks I am right or wrong.
Something for the kids...
Healing was an integral part of Jesus' ministry, and quite a contentious part at that. Jesus' theme, it must be resaid however, was about the Holy Spirit and being born again. Something that was not ever mentioned in the church I was born into. I was told the stories in the Bible were not true, only the meaning was true. You know, something like Santa Claus, something for the kids. I learned, overheard form the adults, what the meaning was of pulpit talk.
I was surprised to learn of the lack of healing emphasis much later, after graduating from a Christian high school of the numerous connections to the New from the Old Testament, with healing, being just one.
Prediction prespoken
If one is young they will change their mind. If they are old they will lose it. This is when one finally realizes, if they haven't already, is all they have is their spirit. The only time to build one's spirit is in the changing seen world. What they fed their spirit then is the foundation of what they will know in the unseen world forever, outside time.
Healing verses are comforting to consult and carry with you at all times. After all, one never knows when the blow may fall. Often in the struggles we encounter are victories of faith. I found it wise to watch closely what Jesus said prior to healings. Those who neglect this endeavor are at times heard trying to convince God to heal them, long after God already healed them when Jesus endured stripes on the Cross. These pleaders reveal their ignorance of the Cross. God sent Jesus and now they expect Jesus to believe for them. He said, we must recall, that they would be healed according to their belief.
"For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured out to you, and to you who hear more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
Mark 4:23, 24-25.
The only reliable rule in psychology I trust is "projection". From out of the heart the mouth speaks. One reveals more about themselves in talking about another than they realize. And if anyone takes an offense, they are offensive by reason of having taken it.
So often people tell me
the bargains they
made with God.
One, I remember him now, because he was so colorfully animated. His nickname was the name of a boxer all the rage at the time.
Seems my friend had cancer of some variety. And he told God he would help people if He would heal him of cancer. Apparently he felt God agreed with the arrangement because he set about doing his end of his bargain with gusto.
He agreed to built an elaborate front walk for someone in our group, himself a character of high estate, and during the course of his labors asked the high estate to get some more stones.
Whereupon he was told in no uncertain fashion, to buy them himself. Harsh words resulted. I cannot say with any certainty that he ever finished the front walk.
Despite his habit to fly off the handle he finally passed away, happy as a lark in a nursing home. Maybe that is the way it is when the mind deserts the body before the spirit takes over. Despite my tendency to advise shying away from bargaining with God, now that I think about it, he did quite well in his bargain for all that.
The Paraclete is the Holy Spirit. I favor this simple early church definition. First mentioned in the gospels in the book of John, Jesus said He would send His disciples another Advocate.
So this is why I identify Paraclete with the Holy Spirit. Para means alongside, and a paraclete is like a lawyer who stands alongside his client before a judge. Like a lawyer also, he is one who tells his client what to say and speaks for him.
One view, first explained, unknown now to me, was the Paraclete is one who represents us before God and assures God that we are believers. Then they made the point that God does not tolerate nor allow evil, not even in His presence. I mention this because so many church people I've engaged believe God allows evil in the world.
