Fine Dry Wit

Taking Leave Of Our Census

2010-01-05T10:32:00.003-07:00

No thanks, no way, no how. Nyet nyet nyet. Catch you next decade, if there is one.
I want no part in this U.S. Census.
Back in 1999/2000 I was a Census foot soldier, knocking on doors, doing interviews, filling out paperwork and leaving/picking up questionnaires. It was my third job. Working maintenance for a ski resort was my prime, custodial/maintenance for an art gallery second, and then the Census. My hobby back then was trying to keep my girlfriend happy which, like most hobbies, turned out to be quite expensive, making three jobs a necessity.
But now? No thank you. I would not want to be knocking on doors, representing the U.S. Government in Obama’s America. I dealt with suspicious people ten years ago-now I’ve joined them. I mistrust the Obama administration, and I expect that it will make as much a mess of the Census as it does everything else it touches.
So…will I fill out the questionnaire? Yes. If I’m interviewed, will I answer questions? Yes. Those are my duties as a citizen. But I want to enter Heaven with as clear a conscience as possible, so no Census/Government work during the Obama years. Bring on the Palin years!

"I'n Not As Think As You Drunk I Am"

2010-01-03T14:22:00.002-07:00

I don’t know why they keep bothering to put TV beer commercials on during sports events such as the football games playing right now. I’m not going to buy beer, and they’re just wasting their money, trying to get mine for their alcohol beverages.
Not a New Year’s Resolution Hinterlude: Last year I determined to “give up” soda, pop, whatever you want to call the carbonated drinks. Colas. Root Beer. All of it. I began freezing water bottles, both at work and home, as a healthier, much cheaper alternative. A bottle 2/3rds filled with ice, topped off, would remain cold all through my shift/night.
How long did my NYResolution last? It’s still ongoing, proof that we CAN change habits for the better. I’ve begun a new habit breaker this year which I’ll tell about next January.
Back to the beer commercials. Of course I understand the concept of broadcast advertising-I’m going to get all kinds of adverts pointed at me which I couldn’t care less about. Plenty of alkies ARE the target audience.
And they probably wouldn’t appreciate being referred to as alkies. Fair enough.
The Gospel is being broadcast throughout the world, and you may feel that you are not the target audience, that you don’t want what Christians are selling. You certainly wouldn’t appreciate being referred to as a ‘sinner’. Fair enough.
The difference is: although not all who drink alcohol are alcoholics, we all ARE sinners. You can ignore the Gospel as I do the beer commercials, but where beer can only ruin your life, rejecting the Gospel can ruin your after-Life.
Not a New Years Resolution Hinterlude: The devil doesn’t NEED an advocate, but playing one for a moment and a few lines, consider this:
If I were wrong about God, if there were no Father God, no Jesus Christ, no Holy Spirit, and life was limited only to our physical lifetime-no Heaven, no Hell, just life, then death and then nothing…
I would still be all the richer for the lessons learned in this life as a Christian. To be honest, to strive to do good and BE good, to be at Peace with my fellow man, recognizing that all mankind is equal, irregardless of race or country…
Christians are the Best citizens of the world, even in this world of sin.
But I am not wrong about God, and we live beyond our physical death, either entering into Heaven or Hell.
Happy New Year.

Fine Dry Wit Review FWIW

2009-12-28T07:43:00.002-07:00

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Year New Happy
I am Happy. My mood could be described as ‘cheerfully optimistic’ for the coming year. I know that God is working in our lives, taking care of His children, so I don’t fear the future OR the present. I wish more people could know the peace that God puts in the hearts of those who belong to Him. Even when circumstance encircles us with troubles, even what terrible things happen-we are sustained, because God loves us.
I am looking forward to 2006, just as I was 2005 a year ago. I enjoy life, and living at peace with God.
I hope that each of you who stop by here have an excellent, positive, happy 2006.

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Safe Harbor

This post may confuse some of you out there, but bear with me. I’ll try to keep it short.
Just a few minutes ago a friend mentioned that she is “Not afraid to die.” and I know exactly what she means. There is no fear of death for a child of God. I do not want to live a single second longer than God has use for me on this earth. I can echo Paul’s famous, “21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” Philippians 1:21-24

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Who Makes It A Merry Christmas?

It’s Christmas. What does that mean anymore?
Adam and Eve messed up. At the fall of Man our world became corrupted, we became corrupted. Not a pretty sight. And God was the only One Who could do anything to remedy the situation. And He did.
He promised and sent a Savior to redeem fallen man. Christmas marks the beginning of that redemptive process, when our Redeemer was born in Bethlehem.
The path from cradle to cross to resurrection is all part of a whole, is the entirety of the redemptive work of Christ which freed us from sin and restores us to right fellowship with God.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Not Live Blogging The New Year...I'm just here, and it's happening as I write this. 2008 was...off-putting. Even those who should be cheering like football ruggers seem to be quietly awaiting impending bad times.
Democrats won the White House, and hold Congress and are finally nearly free from the Bush administration. You’d think things would be more cheery on the leftish side of the universe...but it seems rather morose over there.
How can you please a pessimist? Refuse to agree with him. Or her. But this isn’t a political post- I think everyone’s tired of all that. I know I am.
2009 should be interesting. May God extend His Grace to you and may He bring us all Home.

AND

Coming up on 12-31-2009 and the happily anticipated 1-1-2010, I am grateful to God for every day, every blessing, every un-blessing which teaches me something I need to learn. 2009 was just a year, one that I am happy to see receding in the rear view mirror of my life. As that is as close to a country music song as I want to get today, to sum up 2009 I'll revisit a Gospel song from the Statler Brothers:
"I've got one more day behind me,
How many I've got left, I don't know-
But I'm getting closer to Jesus, I've got
One less day to go!"

See you on the other side, friends.

May God Richly Bless You Today

2009-12-22T08:53:00.003-07:00

"4 “The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 “Refute me if you can;
Array yourselves before me, take your stand.
6 “Behold, I belong to God like you;
I too have been formed out of the clay."
Job 33:4-6

"14 “If He should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust."
Job 34:14-15

Which we do-the casing, the body, the physical part of us returns to dust. We would have never been more than dust if not for "the breath of the Almighty."
But we are more, formed by God and made in His image.
For good works, to offer Praise, to honor and Glorify God
And to Live in communion with Him.
If you have wondered why you exist, what you were made for, that is our answer-yours, mine, and God's.

Grandpa Tin Man’s Christmas Dinner

2009-12-17T06:14:00.005-07:00

Scene: The Olive Garden. The Tin Man is hosting Christmas Dinner for his two grandsons, T-101 and his cousin, Agent Smith.

Grandpa Tin Man: 19 cord! I used to chop and stack 19 cord of wood a day, and I LOVED IT! There was never a Tin Man made happier than me! Doing what I was made to do!
Cousin T-101: 01001010 01100101 01110011 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000011 01101000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01001100 01101111 01110010 01100100 00100001
Grandpa Tin Man: What was that?
Cousin T-101: 01001010 01100101 01110011 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000011 01101000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01001100 01101111 01110010 01100100 00100001
Grandpa Tin Man: Kids! I can’t understand your lingo! What he say?
Cousin Agent Smith: He said that we are all happy, doing what we were made to do. I couldn’t agree more!
Grandpa Tin Man: Thank you, Locutus.
Cousin Agent Smith: I’m Smith, Grandpa. Cousin Borg couldn’t make it-just as well…that half-human makes me sick! They…reek!
Grandpa Tin Man: Well, we’re family, so just love the half that isn’t human. How’s your work going?
What is it that you do again?
Cousin Agent Smith: Cousin T-101 and I are both in Computers-he’s hardware, and I’m software.
Grandpa Tin Man: When we get back to the house, would you mind looking at my dial-up? It’s slower than molasses in February!
Cousin Agent Smith: Sure thing, Grandpa. It wouldn’t be a holiday without a little Free Family Tech Support!
Cousin T-101: 01001010 01100101 01110011 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000011 01101000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01001100 01101111 01110010 01100100 00100001
Grandpa Tin Man: What he say?
Cousin Agent Smith: He said you should upgrade your Apple II. Today’s machines have a GUI.
Grandpa Tin Man: Gooey? I don’t want gooey! It sounds dangerous! Say! Did I ever tell you boys how much wood I could cut in a day? 19 cord! Chopped and stacked! I…
Cousin T-101: 01001010 01100101 01110011 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000011 01101000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01001100 01101111 01110010 01100100 00100001
Cousin Agent Smith: (aside to Cousin T-101 as Grandpa Tin Man rambles on) It’s just once a year. I’ve got his oilcan, if he starts crying over that human girl with the little dog again.
FoC: It is the distant future…the year 2000...

A Post Which Rights Itself

2009-12-14T12:54:00.003-07:00

Today is a good day. Today is the day I became aware of "Awkward Family Photos Dot Com.
These are just a few of the jewels in its crown. Click on the post title to experience the majesty for yourself. Thank me ever.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

2009-12-11T00:16:00.004-07:00

Ho Ho Ho! What do you say? In the spirit of “Christmas”, lets extend the right hand of Holiday fellowship to EVERYONE, irregardless of whether or not they fall under the “Christian” banner. Christmas isn’t just for Christians, is it? Spirit of the Season, man. Just love. Just love. Just love your fellow man.
I’ll start. Since my brother the Muslim has a teency-weencie lit-tle problem with the idea of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, lets set aside that inconvenient truth for a moment and join our Christmas Muslim brothers in …Caroling!

Islam Bells (sung to the tune of dogs barking “Jingle Bells”)

Islam Bells!
Islam Bells!
Calling us to prayer!
Unless you are an infidel
We demand that you be there!

And that old favorite:

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(And we stoned her for bringing shame upon our family!)

Let’s not forget to get in a chorus of:

Santa Claus is Coming To Town!
(Claus? That’s not a Jewish name, is it?)

And of course:

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Shariah!

I know, I know-I’m rushing the Season. You might not be in the Christmas spirit yet. PBUY

It Doesn't Matter...

2009-12-09T12:04:00.002-07:00

…what I write about stuff. I’ve been stating that “Global Warming” ala Gore is false, that God can be trusted to take care of His earth…nothing. Crickets. Gore and now Obama act as if it’s a real threat, even when the evidence has been hoked up and proven to be false. False doesn’t matter, if they already have an agenda in place.

It doesn’t matter
…what I write about God and His Sovereignty. Y’all are still going to go on pretending that Christians are the crazy ones, bowing to an empty altar. You demand proof the way the Pharisees and Sadducees demanded proof from Jesus. When confronted with His evidences, they still did not believe.

It doesn’t matter
…how many times I write about the true religion of Peace being maligned while the religions of War are praised. Meaning that Peace that matters is Peace with the God of the Bible, not the false god Allah.
Please don’t bring up again the President Bush trope about his calling Islam a religion of Peace. I know-he was wrong when he said it, and those who still cling to that false idea are wrong now. If you want to know why President Bush said it, ask him.

It doesn’t matter
…how much evidence comes out proving that President Obama is attempting to ruin the United States.
You are, come Hell or high water, going to support him because at least he isn’t a Republican.
People often do stupid things, like voting for the wrong politicians for the wrong reasons. At least in China, where the people have no vote, the population bears no guilt for voting in the wrong leaders. It’s hard to share a ‘high five’ when you’re in chains, but…HIGH FIVE, Chinese population!

But it doesn’t matter. We’re all going to end up in either Hell or Heaven. You’re either waiting for your redemption or your destruction. Carry on.

No…Well. Uhuh. But…You See…

2009-12-06T19:45:00.004-07:00

“Here’s the deal, nutty crazy persons. You earnestly want to make your point. You desperately want me to agree with you. But there’s a problem…you're nuts! To agree with you, I’d have to flip 180* away from Reality, and I’m kind of comfortable, looking up at the sky and down at the ground. I don’t know how to say this without hurting your feelings, but you, your assumptions, conclusions and ‘facts’ are all wrong, false, unreal; all trumped by the Reality which seems to be such a problem for you. Have a good day.”

So would go my answer were I confronted by either of the reality-impaired naifs I caught being interviewed on PBS today. Their interviewer was of one mind with them, except possibly a bit more ridicualable. He was, after all, the host of his own show on PBS. Gravitas, right?

What was it that so bent their brains? Same old same old: Jews. Israel. Yawn.

Nobody gets worked up over the Irish anymore, and the Italians have been skating for years…what is it about the Jews which gets people so worked up?
One of the interviewees, a woman named Schwartz, was quick to point out that the problems of Gaza can’t all be laid at Jewish feet, as (and I quote): “There are a LOT more Christian Zionists in the world than Jews.”

Oh my head. I think she means me, as I am a Christian who does not believe that God has abandoned the Jews. I not only support Israel’s right to exist, I will shout from the rooftops that it DOES exist. I believe that when the Lord returns, He will set up His earthly Kingdom with Jerusalem as His Capitol.
Homework, meaning looking it up for yourself will mean more than my quoting the scripture here:
Zechariah chapter 8:21-23 and all of chapter 14. Mighty cool!
Oh, and crazy triad on PBS? If Israel offends you, don't go there. Big world, lots of choices.
Personal to Ms. Schwartz: "Eligbi ala Caba, beleti ola be." Have a nice day.

Lamentations 3:21-26

2009-12-01T22:54:00.001-07:00

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:21-26

I never get tired of reading these verses. I've posted this Scripture before, but have meditated on them for 30 years-they are full of promises for us all.
There have been times when I was in difficulties, of the types we all face, and I would get...loud. Then I would remember that I should be quiet, and wait for God to bring me through. Which He did, which He still does.
It always strikes me, that as Jeremiah is meditating on God's lovingkindness, he moved in the sixth line to exclaim to God, "Great is Your faithfulness.".
That is good. That is proper and right.
The LORD is good to the person who seeks Him. Amen.

Almost Part Of Life

2009-11-28T12:29:00.003-07:00

Considering my last post, it probably isn't wise to post now about suicide, but when was I ever accused of wisdom?
For the record, I’m not a good candidate-I’m expecting to be alive for eternity, in a glorified body, praising God. This temporary green room of a life, with its ups and downs, isn’t going to win any awards, but it is what it is. Temporary. Livable. Sometimes full of giggles.
So why post about suicide?
Circumstance, friends. There have been quite a few too many people in my area recently who have killed themselves . That touches us all.
Here’s something to consider: God sets the number of our days, just as surely as every hair on our heads is countable. He allots to each of us a finite number of minutes this side of the grave. How we die is not nearly as important as how we live.
Not everyone has the comfort of knowing that God loves them, cares for them, has a Hope ready to carry them through the tough times we inflict on each other down here.
All the more reason to proclaim the Gospel, and let people know that there is a bright future ahead. And also let people know that the present day mess doesn’t have to kill them.
Would a Born again Christian suicide? It has happened. We are human still, and even those who belong to God may find the present life unbearable.
But it is bearable. We continue to live and work and play and wait.

Cheer-o Yourself, Bob

2009-11-27T08:21:00.003-07:00

Well. That wasn't interesting. But I'm back. Here's the what: I've had a bit of a hard week and a half. Nothing life-shattering, just hard. It happens to all at times, and it was my turn.
Let's say that my life is broken into three sections. If I have a rough patch in any of the three, the two other parts carry me through. Two parts in a bit of trouble, at least the third would be going well.
Well, all three parts went South this time. Now I'm heading North.
About the title: Bob Benchley wrote about this subject back in the 1930's. And it is as old as man.
Viskas bus gerai.

Temporary Sanity

2009-11-23T01:48:00.001-07:00

I may be gone for a bit, but I will continue FDW.

Swans and Ducks

2009-11-20T09:38:00.005-07:00

Elihu makes a defense of God to Job and his friends:
“10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 “For He pays a man according to his work,
And makes him find it according to his way.
12 “Surely, God will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 “Who gave Him authority over the earth?
And who has laid on Him the whole world?
14 “If He should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.”
Job 34:10-15
Just a note-that last is a beautiful theological statement.

“16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 “Shall one who hates justice rule?
And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
19 Who shows no partiality to princes
Nor regards the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands?”
Job 34:16-19
On with our show. I don’t simply cast off any criticism which may be valid. I am as susceptible to mistakenality and blind-eyeness as the next sinner. Believe it or don’t, I actually try to honor God in my life, and in these posts on FDW.
The recent Obama posts with his image being apellated with words such as “hypocrite” and “liar” caused someone to think that I was being un-Christian, or at the very least a poor one.
Fair enough.

“7 “He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 “And if they are bound in fetters,
And are caught in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.
10 “He opens their ear to instruction,
And commands that they return from evil.
11 “If they hear and serve Him,
They will end their days in prosperity
And their years in pleasures.
12 “But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword
And they will die without knowledge.
13 “But the godless in heart lay up anger;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.”
Job 36:7-13

Their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves. Starts with an O, ends with an A.
I won’t try to justify my opinion of Obama by tossing scripture at you. I won’t mention, except in passing right here, the very unkind words Jesus had for the leaders of Israel, and for Herod, the President Obama of Christ’s day.
What I will do is ask you to look at these few verses (or dig in the Bible on your own) and ask yourself, what is God’s opinion of the Obamas of the world?
“But Doug,” you might say, “If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, you should keep your mouth shut!”
No. If someone, even my President, is acting wickedly, is attacking my country, is abusing his power...I won’t shut up. I am calling out Obama to repent, to return from evil, for his own good.
Once upon a time John the Baptist had access to Herod Antipas through having been imprisoned. What did John do? He got in Herod’s face about his personal bidness:
“17For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; 20for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.”
Mark 6:17-20
God is watching.

Boldly

2009-11-18T10:01:00.003-07:00

Space….is not the final frontier. Only spatially, in a point A to point Z kind of way. Here’s the here’s:
I’m ancient in dog years, but doing pretty good in Doug years. I watched Stat Trek when it was first on, and hated that it was cancelled, a child’s first disappointment.
A bit later my family is visiting relatives in an urban area, the TV is on and…Star Trek! How is this possible, I ask?
Re-runs, I am told. Oh. The concept of programming being re-broadcast enters my reality.
So now, 18 parsecs from that small world era where I would join Kirk and Spock in beaming down to some alien desert with big paper mache` rocks…J.J. Abrams, (who I suspect was my kindred kid back in my day) has brought it all home. And I’m beaming.

Casablanca Obverse

2009-11-14T13:52:00.004-07:00

Oh no, you say-another one of those posts. I know some prefer the politi-bitters, or the theologic cambrianism.
But again, Doug with the old movies full of actors who have been dead lately.
According to the imdb, Alida Valli, pictured above with Joseph Cotton, passed from this world all the way back in 2006. Also according to imdb, she was in over 100 films-I just watched "The Third Man" after having heard about it for quite.
Leave it to say that it was much better because of her work in the movie. If you haven't seen it, or not for awhile, I encourage you to track it down, see for yourself what Cinema used to be.
Endnote: Among the few extras on the Criterion Collection disc is a casual picture from production in Vienna- the director Carol Reed visited by Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan, filming "I Was A Male War Bride" right in the near. Comedy meets Tragedy over tea. How very British.

Coward in Chief

2009-11-12T06:47:00.004-07:00

From the A/P:
“U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that she is concerned about the Obama Administration’s "corruption, lack of transparency, poor governance (and) absence of the rule of law."“

Okay-I fudged, but I own up to it. I replaced Afghanistan with the Obama Admin. Supposedly it’s Karzai’s administration which is riddled with corruption, lack of transparency poor governance (and) absence of rule of law.
This coming from Hillary Clinton can be likened to a prostitute jeering at a bride for not being a virgin on her wedding day.
“President Barack Obama won't accept any of the Afghanistan war options before him without changes, administration officials say, amid an argument by his own ambassador in Kabul that a significant U.S. troop increase would only prop up a weak, corruption-tainted government.”
(But he has no such benchmark for Chicago?)
The military commanders have stated that more troops are required for Afghanistan to achieve a positive outcome.
But the Peace Prize President doesn’t want to hear it. So our troops in Afghanistan are in more danger, as they will continue to be undermanned, and undermined by their own Commander in Chief.
Obviously Obama wants to be a Peace time President, and resents being saddled with a war he didn’t want. Pity poor him. Pity poor U.S. as we are ‘being led’ by a non-Leader.
If he doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to face down our country’s enemies-and I’m not talking about Republicans here-then he shouldn’t be President.
I expect him to cut and run while blaming everyone else for the troubles he has brought on our country. I also expect that he will not seek re-election. I hope I'm right.

I'm Not Confused

2009-11-11T13:16:00.002-07:00

I know that today is Veteran's Day. I'm a peacetime veteran myself. I was going to forgo commenting on this Day as words seem trite, and with what has happened at Fort Hood, in Afghanistan and Iraq; this day seems more like Memorial Day.
So, no real post. May God Bless you and also Bless the rest of us.

Some Good News For A Change

2009-11-09T23:21:00.001-07:00

When the Lord takes up His people in what is colloquially referred to as "The Rapture", it will certainly be good news for Christians. Leaving behind a world of sin, our sinful bodies? Who wouldn't want that?
I can't see if anyone is raising their hands.

"2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
Psalm 2:2-3

We see the leaders of the nations (kings of the earth) seemingly bringing about this prophesy today.
You hear of the proud and OH! so civilized "Post-Christian Europe",
you read of the advances of Islam conquering more and more of the planet,
You see billions of peoples in the gulags of Communist atheism.
The 'tearing apart of the fetters' ? Have you desired to be free from the guilt that Christians keep talking about?
Be careful what you wish for, friends.
When all of those noisome Christians are taken away, with their preaching at and sharing the Gospel with a world that doesn't want to hear it....

11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD,
“When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.
12 “People will stagger from sea to sea
And from the north even to the east;
They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD,
But they will not find it. Amos 8:11-12

The context of the book of Amos shows that this famine will take place during a time when God is judging the world.
Just as the Bible is a closed book to those who do not have God's Spirit, during that famine the world will be so troubled, tribulations will be so great that some people will seek God, desire that God will forgive their sins and save them. But the Salvation available NOW will at that time be hidden from them. I know that there will be some who accept Christ in the troubled times ahead...but they will be killed by those rejecting the Gospel.
The good news for you? We're still here. The Christians have not yet left the building. The 'time of the gentiles' has not yet ended. There is still time for you to seek God and His forgiveness.

Those kings of the earth mentioned above? Do you know how that "unfettering" will turn out for them?
"15Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16and they said* to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”"
Revelation 6:15-17
Who indeed?

Post 580! Whoop De Do!

2009-11-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

Consider this a rebut from all of the terribles going on in the world.

Oklahoma and Dr Zhivago are very well known, which is why I didn’t give many clues. The other movie is “Very Other”. The tag line is: “The motion picture with something to offend everyone!” and it certainly attempts to do just that. “The Loved One” came out the same year as “Dr. Zhivago”, with two very interesting performances from Rod Steiger.
Of course, Christianity is one of the elements which gets the greatest going over. But it’s a strawman religion that gets set fired to-Christianity as perceived by Hollywood. It misses what should have been an easy target, not that I’m complaining.
Many of the ‘closeted gay Hollywood’ community of the 1960’s appear in this movie, gathered by the director for his own reasons. It goes beyond co-incidence that the chaps are acting together here.
The movie is hilarious, and, when it misses a mark, it isn’t from a lack of effort. Rod Steiger as Mr Joyboy (the character is straight, but the movie?) is worth the price of a rental/purchase by himself, but his mother...
So ends the weakest movie quiz ever. James wins, as the only participant.
If you haven’t seen these movies, I encourage you to seek them out.

Evil Is Like A Box Of

2009-11-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

"NO lover of the gospel can conceal from himself the fact that the days are evil."
C. H. Spurgeon in "The Sword and Trowel" August, 1887

Charlie, if you think times were bad back then...

Last night I listened to an interview of Pastor John MacArthur on the subject of what God says about Homosexuality.
I'm going to stop right there for a moment to point out: if you make negative assumptions about MacArthur and the content of the interview based on the subject matter, be careful that your prejudice doesn't rear up, as you would be pre-judging something you haven't heard.
During the interview, MacArthur is posed questions by an associate, and MacArthur makes plain at the outset that he is not offering his opinion. He rightly says that no one's opinion, not even his own, matters. What matters is God's opinion, clearly stated in Scripture.
I would encourage you to seek out MacArthur on the web-I go through iTunes-and listen to that interview yourself. What you hear may surprise you, or confirm your prejudice, if you have any. He makes a very good reasoned response to the query of why Christians get all into the personal business of sinners, why Christians oppose Homosexuality.
I also listened to a sermon from MacArthur on the subject, "The R-Rated Church." Quite.

Who's That?

2009-11-01T15:58:00.001-07:00

Who's That?

There's nothing wrong with having a bit o` fun. For your bemusement, from the photo above, name the movies, the actors AND name the characters they played.
If you've seen and enjoyed the movies, do tell. If you haven't...do watch.

Bumping Against Bad

2009-10-29T00:27:00.003-06:00

Recently a soul took issue with my Christian witness because I put a picture of President Obama in a post with the word “COWARD” written across his face.
My response, that I didn’t care what anyone thought about the post, was met with a return volley of chastisement, that I should care, because: “By their fruits shall ye know them, as it's written.”
Chuck Smith had a great line in one of his books about “Renegade Fruit Inspectors”.
You know, Christians and others (especially others) who take upon themselves the checking of Christians efforts/witness.
Am I offensive? If so, please feel free to ignore me and go about your day. But please, PLEASE, I beg of you(!)...stop back and share here at FDW the next time you apologize to someone for speaking your mind, for having an opinion. I'm eager to learn what that's like.

Faith Is Fine, But…

2009-10-26T08:36:00.003-06:00

If you refuse to accept the impossible as possible, you’re on your way to quiet.
Here-two examples: let’s call them Vern and John.
Vern is an adult, mid-twenties, who was born into a church denomination which he still attends.
John has pinballed between religions, looking for Salvation in many dark corners.
Which one stands a better chance of becoming a Christian?
If you say Vern, as he already is one…no soup for you!
While Vern is comfortable in the religion he grew up in, he will never seek to become a Christian because his church has taught him that he is a Christian. He doesn’t think he needs Salvation, as he has already acquired it.
John, on the other hand, is not satisfied yet, has no such quiet in his soul. He knows he is a sinner, but is stuck in the reason/logic vs. faith conundrum.
The doors of Heaven will never be opened by logic or reason (or church membership), as those are part of man’s attempt to explain existence. If it were possible to win Salvation through reason/logic, then Christ wouldn’t have had to die for sinners, as they could argue their way into Heaven.
You can find Verns and Johns in the New Testament-Vern is a type of Pharisee whose religion has told him that he is just and right before God, irregardless of whether his heart is filled with sin.
John is still looking for someone to take his sin away.
If you refuse the impossible idea that man can earn, argue, reason his way into Heaven…you are on your way to the quiet Peace which God gives to His children. God only allows Himself to be discovered through Faith.

Drag Me To Heaven Instead

2009-10-22T23:59:00.002-06:00

Sam Raimi may someday catch up on his adulthood, but right now, I’d say he’s busy being a kid, one with a BIG sandbox.
I wouldn’t want to spoil “Drag me To Hell” for anyone, but there is one point in the mythos which caught my mind’s ear enough to comment on: the idea of anyone ‘cursing’ someone else to Hell.
Nope no nyet.
You say, “Of course no one can do that, Doug!” and I say that
If people COULD damn someone to Hell with a curse, with people being the way they are, there wouldn’t be enough of us left up here to whistle back at the birds. We’d ALL be down there.
Conversely, not a one of us can bless someone into Heaven. It’s not up to us, for which we should all be grateful. I wouldn’t want to be the one to decide who goes where.
God reserves that decision for Himself.
Here’s a little side note:
the apostles James and John once asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to destroy some Samaritans who were obstructing Christ and His apostles. The brothers had already miraculously healed, cast out demons, and seemed to think that they had the power to burn up a village of Samaritans.
Jesus rebuked the brothers, and said, “the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:56a
God need not give Christians any special powers to damn someone to Hell-that would be like giving Christians the ability to teach fish how to swim. All we can do is point towards Christ and tell what He did for us. Even if no one listens. Tap tap...is this thing on?