Reflections From the Past

Most people who know me will have at one point or another discovered that I am a journal keeper.

Now, let us get a couple of pesky definitions out of the way. Technically I suppose I actually keep a diary, because it's a "my-eyes-only" (save the rare occasion that I share an entry), deeply reflective and introspective account of my thoughts during the day, conversations I had, and things that I read. The word diary has such a feminine connotation to it that I have decided, in keeping with the title of this blog and despite the fact that it is technically more accurate, that I will allow the ladies to claim this word as their own, and I shall stick to journaling.

Anyway, I have pondered from time to time just why I keep this record of my life. I didn't used to always be like this you know. I have tried to keep a journal a number of times, but each time my efforts proved futile, and each time I eventually simply stopped writing. But in 2013 I started writing again, usually about once a week and kept at it. Maybe because my life was more interesting, and I had more to write about. Either way, at the turn of the new year I decided to try journaling every day for a month. I enjoyed that so much (and actually found things to write about each day) that I've continued doing so, rarely missing a day (and if I do, I always go back and attempt to reconstruct it.)

But my why is something that I think about, particularly since I so often cringe when going over my old entries. Why do I do this thing which it seems has only one purpose: to enshrine in history how immature I used to be. And far greater is my consternation when I think of others examining my innermost thoughts at some later date! But now, friend and reader, if you've stuck with me in my meandering thoughts for this long, I've finally arrived at the inspiration for this little journey of self reflection. It was a quote I discovered on my equally meandrous ventures on the internet about journaling.

“We are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not.” ~Joan Didion 

I know that for most of us (or perhaps I'm the only one, but I think not) looking back on who we used to be, "whether we find them attractive company or not," usually results in feelings of embarrassment that we once were the way we were. But I think this embarrassment is the wrong attitude to have towards our past. Who we once were should be a constant reminder of all that the Holy Spirit has wrought in our lives.

Looking back on our past, regardless of how vile, repulsive, or objectionable it is, should drive us ever further into our Father's arms, and cause an ever greater gratitude to well up inside us  for the saving work of Christ. So in this sense, my journal really serves as a record of the Holy Spirit's redeeming work in me. A log book of how I've changed over the years through His grace. It's also a mortifying reminder of who I once was, indeed would still be, were it not for the work of my Savior on the Cross. Praise God for His kindness and grace towards a sinner like me!

~Paul

P.S. I know I didn't really get to my why, just my what. So maybe I'll go more in depth on my why at a later date. We'll see.

Why I Don't (and Never Did) Believe Money Grows on Trees

We've all heard the saying, "Money doesn't grow on trees." This evening I was contemplating that phrase, and why someone, particularly a young someone, might believe that it does.

I know that no one (well, hopefully no one, but someone probably does) believes that money really does grow like shiny green leaves on a tree, it's the root of the matter that is the issue. Rephrased, the saying could say, "Money does not sprout from nothing."

But why might a child grow up with the idea that money comes from nothing? I would wager that it likely could be that he was given money for doing nothing.

Like a government handout, but from parents instead of Big Brother.

Because little Johnny didn't have to work for the money he received, wouldn't it would be counter intuitive for him to think that income is (normally) proceeded by work, and is therefore the product thereof? I tend to think so.

My brothers and I never received "government handouts" from our parents (which are often masked as allowances) growing up. Very early on my parents would find ways for us to earn money to finances our extraneous spending, like mowing, special cleaning, selling things, and yard work, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Don't raise your kids to expect money that they didn't earn. It won't stop just because they grow up. There's a reason 47,000,000^[source] (that's million) Americans or on food stamps (i.e. government allowance).

Thanks Dad and Mom!!
~Paul

Abrogation of Personal Privacy, and How to Fly Safely

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” 

These timeless words spoken by Ben Franklin went through my mind as I stared into the distance in front of me at the Nashville International Airport. This wasn't the first time that I've opted out of the backscatter scanners, nor was it the first time I'd received an "enhanced" pat down.

But unlike the many atrocious reports you've probably read or heard about of aggressive, rude, obnoxious patter downers, I've always had fairly uneventful and painless (or as painless as having a gloved hand running around my waist band can be) experience with the TSA. So I really can't really personally relate to some of the outrageous stories that have been told (like this one).

But that's no excuse to accept these kinds of invasions into our personal privacy just "to obtain a little temporary safety." This kind of violation wouldn't have been tolerated even a decade ago, but today, people will go through nearly anything so long as it's 'for your safety.'

What's even more sobering is the knowledge that the airports are only the first step. The distrust of Americans will eventually move to more general public places like stadiums and schools (oh wait, we already have that), and will only become more and more invasive. But are we actually safer in the air and on the ground today then we were in a pre 9/11 world? I would wager that we're not.

But I know the solution to this whole problem: weapons, maybe even assault rifles.

Yes, I just said that, allow the thing that liberals have nightmares about, and constantly rail against, onto planes. Actually though, they're already on a lot of planes. Many pilots are allowed to have a gun in the cockpit, and more than 10% are armed in the sky (per this not-so happy-about-it article).

Just as arming American citizens can and has protected innocent life on the ground in schools and in public, allowing the people to protect themselves and those around them while in the air will not only make us safer, but it will preserve our liberty and freedom.

Movie Survey

Over at the Botkin sister's blog: Visionary Daughters (which I would highly recommend), they have a Movie Survey going right now. I just finished taking it, and the results are pretty interesting. It just says that they're gathering intel for a project they are working on, so the more people that answer it, the better!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Overpopulation

Well, I guess that settles it! There's just too many people on this planet! How do I know this? Why, because Jacques Causteau said so! And Al Gore! And we all know that the poler ice caps are melting right? I mean, wasn't florida supposed to be like a third underwater by now?

If you recall from my China post, I am of the opinion that overpopulation is a fictional creation of those with power who would like to gain more power (or money). Nothing will get people to act irrationally than pending disaster.
Overpopulation is also directly related to global 'climate change.' Most of the videos, articles, and books you will find on either subject will inevitably touch on the other.
Here's the video that I found which sparked this post.

On it's face, this video seems to make sense, but there are several fundamental flaws with it's logic (or lack thereof). What do you think that they are?
In the coming days, I'll probably post some more videos on both sides of the argument.
And the list just goes on and on!

Tipping the scales

Have you ever heard the phrase "Don't rock the boat?"
I was reading a book called The Second Mayflower by kevin Swanson , and one of the analogies that he used when talking about politics was that of a balancing scale.

It only takes a couple of people on one of the far ends of the scales to make all the people in the middle of no effect! You don't have to have half the world behind you to make a difference, God almost always works through minorities, but not just any minorities, dedicated minorities. Minorities who know where they're going, and why they're going there

(Quick note, I don't think that the worlds problems will be solved through politics, that can only happen when fathers take their position as servant leader at the head of the family, when the church and  the family get back into their God given positions. But I also don't think that we can simply wash our hands politics and government and think that we'll be able to come back to them later. We've got to fight on all fronts, though we will all have areas of focus.)


Far to often, people on the right (but more likely just a little right of center), are concerned about picking someone who's 'electable,' rather then someone who will upset the status quo, which is why said 'Republicans' seldom get anything done! The liberals on the other hand tend to push candidates, bills, and legislation that most would consider 'extreme,' because know where they're going, and they have a plan to get there, but it's not a place where I would like to be.

If we want to win the battle in the political sphere, we need to have a goal in mind, and path in sight, and determination to do what it takes to stick to that path! Get on the end of the seesaw!!!

Semper Reformanda!
Paul

Furthering the Journey

Today I just started reading Always Ready by Greg L. Bahsen, thank Pinecone for the recommendation!
I read the first three chapters today, and so far, it's really good! He's very thorough and gets his point across in a clear way that even I can understand!
Along with afore mentioned book, I've also been listening to a couple different MP3 series on Dispensationalism and amillennialism.
The Series on Dispensationalism can be found HERE, and the millennialism ones HERE (the third series). They're quite interesting, and both sides make some good points. I need to find a good audio series on Post-millennialism. Could anyone recommend one?

Semper Reformanda!
~Paul

Of Coat Tails and Theology

Have you ever heard the phrase, "hanging on your parents coat tails?" It's usually used to imply that someone just takes what his parents have taught him without really giving any thought as to why. When it comes to what you believe about salvation and theology, that can be dangerous, not because your parents might give you misinformation, but because if you don't know why your parents told you something, it will be very easy for someone else to flip your boat by questioning it.

(Quick note, I think that what your parents tell you is really important! If you have godly parents, don't ever underestimate how valuable that is!)

Which is (one of the reasons) why it's important not just to know something, but to know why you know what you know.
It's like this:
It's really important not just to know what you know, but to know why you know what you know. Because if you know why you know what you know, then you know that anyone else who doesn't know why you know what you know won't know how to rock what you know because you know why you know what you know! It's that simple!
Ok, anyway,
So that's the road I'm on now. I, as we all do, have presuppositions and assumptions that I sort of absorbed while I was growing up as far as theology is concerned. In the circles that I was raised in, theology was sort of a tainted word. For the most part, it was considered something that only the high minded people in seminaries ever thought about, and they usually eventually went off the deep end (at least, the ones that I heard about). So we didn't study theology, and just 'believed what the Bible said.' While that sound nice, the problem with it is that we ALL have a theological worldview, wether we like it or not. Saying that we don't simply means that we're less epistemologically self conscious than the "theologians" are.

Over the last year or so, I've been realizing that the world of theology is a bit more complicated than I had previously thought, and that I don't really know what I believe. I'm what would be called a 'theological light-weight.' Now don't panic, I'm not questioning my Christian faith, or wondering wether the Bible is true or not. I know why I believe the Bible is true, and that Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way. But as far as the finer points of Christian beliefs are concerned, I don't know what I believe. Am I pre, post, or a-milleniel? Do I believe in Covenant theology or Dispensationalism? Am I "Reformed?" Questions, questions, questions. I have opinons on some of the afore mentioned views (and many, many more), but I have yet to come to a really solid conclusion on any of them (perhaps aside from wether or not I'm "Reformed"). 


"So why is he telling me all of this?" you might wonder. Well, I tell you this because I think I'm going to document some of my theological journeys on this blog. So if you're the type who can't stand being around people that you disagree with, here's your heads up! However, I do hope that you are the type of people who like to discuss things with others, even when they disagree with you. I read a lot of books, and listen to even more audiobooks and sermons, so I'll probably post my musing and thoughts here about what I've been reading/listening too.


So there you have it! Please tag along with me on my search for truth!!!


Semper Reformanda!!!  

Overpopulation in China

And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly

in the earth, and multiply therein.

Genesis 9:7: 

My Cousin (who is a really good writer) is on a site called "Figment," which is kind of like facebook for writers.
Anyway, she is also ardently pro-sanctity-of-life, and has been fairly vocal on Figment about her views, and has gotten some flack for it (imagine that!). So Bravo Sara-Anne!!
One of the threads that she brought to my attention, and eventually got me to join Figment so that I could respond to it, was one someone had started about China, and it's "overpopulation" problem.
I did some research to make sure that my facts were accurite, and then wrote a response on that thread addressing the myth of overpopulation. You can see the thread here. Start at the beginning, and then read to the end. It's only two pages at the moment.
I got some of my quotes from this video, which gives a really good 30,000 feet overview of the whole "running out of food" issue.

Here's my response on Figment:

@acrosstheuniverse1211, Poverty is not caused by over population. Poverty is brought about by a plethora of different sources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.), and the World Food Programme "There is enough food in the world today for everyone to have the nourishment necessary for a healthy and productive life." The problem as they state it is "The world currently produces enough food for everybody, but meny people do not have access to it."

(Quick fun fact: Africa, if cultivated using modern farming techniques, could feed the whole planet, according to some experts.) 

The Word Food Programme lists key causes of Hunger, and they are:
*Poverty
*Conflict (War)
*Natural Disasters
*Over-Exploitation of the Environment
*Poor Agricultural Infrastructure
No where on that list is overpopulation.

I find it interesting that China gets all of the attention when it comes to overpopulation, considering that their density of people per square mile is actually not that high, Just 363, according to the UN World Prospects Report 2005. Lets compare that to a few other countries.

Taiwan: 1,660
The Netherlands: 1,460
India: 953
Japan: 873
Germany: 593
Italy: 518
And just for fun, let's throw in Singapore, coming in at a whopping 18,513 people per square mile!!

So why isn't there an uproar about those countries?
There are three main reasons:
*The population is well distributed over the land mass
*The supply chain of food is modern and well established
*They have more personal liberty (Thus allowing them to make more money, allowing them to buy more food)

 Now, whenever you read about overpopulation in China you undoubtedly see pictures like this:

 

I highly doubt they show you pictures like this:

 

That is southwestern china. Not a lot of people there. Chinas real problem is population distribution. A very large portion of their population is crammed into cities! Now If I were to show you a picture of Time Square such as this:

 

I could write a very compelling piece about how overpopulated N.Y.C. is. Or I could show you a picture like this:

 

And I could talk about how the population in N.Y.C. has dropped dramatically in the last few years.

China is not overpopulated, it's population has simply been packed into large metropolitan areas. The fact that it has a communist government which forcibly keeps their currency undervalued (which, by the way is why almost everything here in America is made there), thus making them less able to trade with other countries for things like food.

Which brings me back to the quote from the Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.) "The world currently produces enough food for everybody, but meny people do not have access to it."

~Paul

Photography Thoughts

(warning, I'm thinking out loud here)
I've been an avid photo taker for about the last 5 years, but most of the time, after I import them onto my computer and delete the bad ones, they just sit there. Partially because I usually don't have anything to do with them. So I was thinking the other day, what if I were to post 5-10 photos on one day each week here on my blog, for you all to see/critique? It would help keep me motivated to be editing photos, and taking new ones, but I also wonder if it wouldn't be fitting of this blog to post them here, in which case, I could start another blog just for photography. Though as I'm thinking about it, photography is part of my life, so does the title "youth of chivalry" only apply when I'm talking about high and lofty theological thoughts?
A couple of blogs I follow (such as Lisa's) have both a main blog (which also gets pictures) and then another blog specifically for pictures.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
~Paul

The Gimme Generation

We live in an entitlement culture.

I doubt that any of you balked at that statement.

Everyone feels that they 'deserve' something or other.

"I deserve a well paying job."
"I deserve to go to college."
"I deserve a break."  

Or my favorite, which I saw on a billboard for a grocery store recently:

"You deserve fresh."

Whenever I see a billboard that says something like, "You deserve fresh produce," my first reaction (and one that I often make out loud while I'm driving), is WHY?
WHY do you "deserve a well paying job?!" Did you work hard? Are you industrious?
WHY do you "deserve to go to college?!" Because you got good grades in preschool?
WHY do you "deserve a break?!" Because you are just sooo awesome? WHY!?!?

The feeling that we are owed anything, just because, is a huge problem in our society. It can come from a lot of different places, and things like allowances are probably about the worst.
Think about it, Dad goes to work everyday, and brings home a paycheck because he has been productive ( <-- key word there). But now, little Johnny and Sally want their part of it, so Daddy kindly gives them a portion of his salary. "Why" you may ask? He may have any number of reasons:

"Because they're not old enough to earn money themselves."

Let me get this straight, because he's not old enough to earn some money, he deserves to have it handed to him on a silver platter? So when he's old enough to earn money himself, is he just going to stop taking the free money from you?

"Because they've just been so good this week,"

Hmm, I sure didn't get paid to behave. Good behavior was expected of me. I was punished for bad behavior.

"Because they deserve it."

No comment.

Etc, etc, and etc.

We need to develop an earned mentality. Don't give me something because I deserve it. Give it to me because I earned it by doing something! Live so that you can say:

"I earned the privilege of a well paying job." Because I worked hard to get there.
"I earned the privilege of a college education." Because I studied hard, and can afford it.
"I earned the privilege of taking a break." Because I've been working hard. (Just make it a short break.)

~Paul


P.S.
And whatever you do, please, Please, PLEASE do NOT give your kids an allowance. Ever. Being on the parent dole is just one step from being on the government dole, and we know where that leads. Just say no! (And make that little guy rake the leaves or something. So what if he's only 3. Trust me, he'll thank you for it later.)

History gets more expensive

"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."
― George Santayana

“Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up.”
― Ronald Wright

Am I the only one who looks at what's happening, and thinks "Hasn't this happened before?"
And it's only going to get more expensive.

~Paul

True Chivalry by Sophia Smithe

Here's a really good poem by Sophia over at Sophias Siege. May we all in this generation work to restore the concept of Godly chivalry.

“Let the women and children be first”

Rose the courageous cry

From the throngs of men aboard the ship

Who were destined that day to die

Their hearts were saddened by the grim proposition

Yet they clung to their manhood and stood

Willing and ready to give their own lives

As a man of true chivalry should

Nary a word of dissent was heard

Upon the forlorn decks

As scores of men boldly met their deaths

And were buried at sea with the wreck

A century past, and the men of our day

Have all but forgotten the call

Of “Women and Children first, Gentlemen;

Let not one of them fall”

 The sacrifice of Titanic’s heroes

Must shine out to the end

“Greater love hath no man than this:

That he lay down his life for his friend”

 ~Paul

Semper Reformanda

I came across the phrase "Semper Reformanda" in the signature of a blog I follow (Sophia's Siege) and didn't know what it meant. So I, not being one to just pass over something I don't understand when I have the whole internet at my fingertips, did a quick search, and this is what I found:

Ecclesia semper reformanda est Latin for "the church is always being reformed", sometimes shortened to semper reformanda, "always being reformed"

Here's a life principle that we would all benefit from. I've met people who are set in their ways, and not open to critiques, and they always seem to be, well, kind of stale for lack of a better word. We should always be striving for closer adherence to God's word, and to be open to being corrected by others, we all (at least, I know I do) have blind spots that we can't see, but may be blindingly obvious to others, so when they point them out, thank them! We all need one another to help build each other up!
Paul

The Bride of Christ

"I do."

Those are two words which I look forward with great anticipation to saying, to know and be known through and through by a woman with whom I can share everything that I am, every hurt and every joy, every laugh and every cry. And yet, how much more should we long for that kind of relationship with our Lord? Ultimately, that's the purpose of marriage; to portray to the world the kind of relationship that we will have with the Son. He is the ultimate Bridegroom, and we, The Church, are the Bride of Christ.

This is one of the reasons why divorce is so destructive . It's not just two people breaking a convenient that they made before the Almighty God, but because their marriage is so much more then that. God didn't institute marriage simply as a means to propagate the human race, nor to make us happy. He designed it to be a picture of something that is much more, something beyond us. Marriage is a picture of the relationship that the Son will have with his Church! This is the reason why there are such harsh punishments for people who divorce and who commit fornication, it's a blatant violation of the marriage covenant, and what the marriage represents!

The culture has really lost sight of the holiness and sanctity of marriage in our day and age. So let us be the shining lights in this dark world of what marriages should really look like!

Paul

It was Monumental

"Hmmm, maybe I should post this on my blog" I thought as I wrote in my journal, the sound of tapping key's filling my ears. So here it is. Let me know if you have any thoughts on this subject! I'd love to hear from you!

March 17, TuesdayMonumental.That’s the name of the movie that we saw tonight, Kirk Cameron’s new movie about the founding of America. Not the founding fathers, but before that: the Pilgrims. It was a very though provoking film and centered around the reasons why the Pilgrims left England for America. There were quite a few that I didn’t know about, like the fact that King James had tripled the national debt and had declared that he had the "divine right of kings," a phrase that he invented. I won’t go into all the details here because there were so many but it’s a movie well worth watching, and a subject that I will have to study in more depth at some point in the near future.The point that I found to be the most intriguing actually didn’t have to do with the Pilgrims but with the economic and moral state that England was in during the early 1600s. They had what would now be called a "church-state." King James (The successor to Queen  Elizabeth) controlled the church, and thus, wouldn’t allow people to diverge from its teaching. Having the Bible in English was capital crime, and punishable by death by tortuous means. On top of that, he tripled, yes, tripled the national debt! After hearing about all of these things, it really makes our situation look pretty rosy. Not saying that we’re on an upward slope, but we certainly don’t have it as hard as they did back then. People who say “Oh it’s never been this bad, the end must surly be near!” obviously have not been a student of history. It’s good to keep things in perspective. Our nation is sick, and we as christians need to reclaim our Christian heritage. The Lord has greatly blessed this nation because it was founded in the fear of God. Yes, some of the founders were not God-fearing men (Some of them were flat opposed to him!), but that doesn’t mean that we are not a nation built on godly principles! We as Christians should be shining lights in this time of darkness, the salt of the earth, if you will. God doesn’t work through majorities (usually), but through dedicated minorities. It doesn’t take much leaven to leaven the whole loaf (Galatians 5:9). 

So get out there and be the light, salt, and leaven of the world!
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid" (Mat 5:14).

Extinguished Churches

“Stop by.No one’s burst into flames yet.”

I read that as I leafed through the few items in the mail today. I was like, “Huh?!?” so I flipped over the large card stock ad to read the back side. The last part of it said,

“Come to [our church] this Easter, wear whatever you want, and be yourself. We really want to show you how much fun getting to know God can be!”

It was a flyer for a church in our area. I still haven’t figured out how the front relates to the back, though maybe it served its purpose: to get me to flip it over and read the back. Though I have to wonder, by "No one's burst into flames yet," are they implying that they're just luke warm? Anyway . . .

I think that this is probably the most watery presentation of why one should come to church that I’ve ever heard (though I haven’t been around for very long, so I guess that that’s not saying much). Where’s the command to repentance? I don’t recall any section of the book of Acts in which the apostles told everybody how much fun getting saved was going to be. If “fun” is the only reason why people should “get to know God”, than I can see why it would be lower then a football game in most peoples lives. 

~Paul

Liberty vs. Safety

A while back, I was going through security at the airport, and I remember a lady thanking one of the security officers for "keeping us safe". "Because we're too incompetent and weak to do it ourselves" I thought.
Benjamin Franklin said this nearly 300 years ago, and it's exactly what's happening today:

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"

The Government can't be everywhere at once (Thank goodness!), so they can't protect you in every circumstance. The purpose of the law isn't to catch criminals in the act as much as it is to bring them to justice afterwards. It's the citizens responsibility to protect himself, his family, and look out for those around him.
So the next time you hear a politician talking about how we should "give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety", think of this quote.
~Paul

Only God knows . . .

Here's a really good one:

"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Civil War Era Quote

So I've given you the time period, but do you know who said this? The answer will surprise you. Take a guess in the comments, but don't look it up and then answer, I'll tell you in a few days.

“I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races – that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything.”