The magnitude of the catastrophe that we simply refer to as “Haiti” is a study reserved for those with sufficient determination and resources to discover its roots and causes – and is an investigation that is not recommended for the faint hearted or the fearful.

Most of those involved with attempting to address the rescue and recovery of Haiti’s people have in increasing numbers concluded that simply restoring this nation to its former condition – that is – to the state of affairs proceeding the massive 7.0 earthquake that struck Port Au Prince on January 12, 2010 – is not enough. There seems to be a growing global consensus that the Haitian people need far more than this.

As always, the question is not only how to provide such civic and social engineering – but more critically – how to implement such a vast rebuilding project that is truly sustainable. Recent history is blemished with costly failures – Katrina for example – and Haiti – the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, presents formidable challenges.

Some, perhaps men like Richard Dawkins, might reasonably be expected to argue that Haiti presents a unique opportunity to transform a society that has been steeped in superstition and ignorance by employing all the intellectual prowess of science and technology – thereby fashioning a model of evolutionary adaptation – the fittest simply applying the principles and truths of Darwinian discovery and understanding and thereby achieving such a remarkable transformation.

It is a stand that you most likely will not see Richard or his friends take because it is fraught with sensitive issues – pitfalls for the optimistic and the zealous, and for those who don’t recognize that we have gone down this road before.

You only need name the ideologies, the locations, and the experiments to conjure up the most blatant obstacles to the application of evolutionary theory on ours – or in this case – Haiti’s evolutionary destiny.

Tuskegee, the Volk, Sterilization Laws, Nuremberg Laws, Aktion T4, eugenics, and in its cardinal departure into madness, Auschwitz, Rwanda, and Darfur.

Of course, the Neo-Darwinist or the “evolutionist”, (whatever their choice of designation), will argue that the connection between these and a true understanding of evolutionary thought is unwarranted and untrue. They would term this subject “Social Darwinism”.

Darwin himself had observations on the subject in “The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex” – Charles Darwin, 1882. “Thus the weak members of civilized societies propagate their kind. No one who has attended to the breeding of domestic animals will doubt that this must be highly injurious to the race of man. It is surprising how soon a want of care, or care wrongly directed, leads to the degeneration of a domestic race; but excepting in the case of man himself, hardly any one is so ignorant as to allow his worst animals to breed.” (emphasis is the editor’s)

Remember – we are exploring here how we can improve Haiti in its rebuilding – and whether the prowess of man’s evolutionary development can be brought to bear resulting in the transformation needed there. In a world of dwindling resources and increasing populations – there is ample room to speculate that some – whether they call themselves Social Darwinists or not – must be looking at Haiti wondering what a sustainable response would be?

Or could it be that we are beyond even the great shadow cast by Darwin’s evolutionary theory? – as a recent commentary by Alan Weisman entitled “Is the Earth striking back?” on CNN explores – questioning whether the real legacy of democracy – which we assume will be part of Haiti’s entitlement – is going to be world-wide cataclysms as the industries of free trade and progress built on the use of carbon fuels change our atmosphere – melting the polar ice caps – and bring on a chilling scenario of an Earth’s crust that is somehow responding and “has begun to stretch and rebound.”

In such a Gaia worshiper’s or Gaia scientific understanding – how does the transformation of Haiti fit in? Is it even a good idea to attempt what UN analysts predict will be a minimum $11.5 billion intervention – with a very distinct possibility of failure?

Surely modern science has the answers.

One thing is obvious – the restoration of a city or nation and the healing of its citizens is no small challenge. Recent disasters have given us a large study group of how individual people respond to and recover from major man-made or natural disasters – and although the task of rebuilding is daunting enough – the challenge of finding ways to help people recover from their great emotional and physical losses and the resultant stress is by all accounts even more far reaching.

Perhaps you believe that science has the answer to that, too.

Recently in reference to a prolonged and ongoing natural disaster an atheist stated that he had heard that some people in the disaster area had resorted to praying – and he chided them, assuring them that modern science would save them. It begs the question – if science has so many answers, why did science fail to save them already – and if science is going to save them, when?

It’s a paradigm shift – an anomaly in the matrix,
We are walking,
Yes we’re walking,
On Holy ground

I have never seen it like this before
More people are talking
More people are walking
And they’re headed for the door

We’re through the looking glass
Standing on the river’s shore
The beast is rising up
We can’t go back no more

The siren’s song comes to us
Across the waves
And through the night
We’re through the looking glass
Standing on the river’s shore
The beast is rising up
And we can’t go back no more

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” – Paul, formerly Saul the Murderer

All too often we get sidetracked when we speak of religion, or the gospel, or spirituality, or mysticism. More often than not, when we are talking of these we descend into a confrontation of practices, or initiation rites – compulsory hurdles for the adherents or initiates into a group.

These hurdles or requirements often have little, if anything, to do with the reality of the understanding and application of the teachings. In fact, these boundaries and requirements are usually set up for the sole purpose of the control of the members of any particular body or persuasion in much the same way institutions, businesses, team sports, or any other cohesive unit sets standards of participation.

What was Paul talking about then, when he stated that the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things were beautiful? Did their feet become beautiful as a result of them joining a group who set forth requirements of membership – or by walking around preaching?

Although it is possible that after we begin to walk with the wise, we will become wise – it is not unusual for people to become members or congregants without any perceptive changes in their manners, their aspirations, or their inner selves. The reason for this is that the standards of participation are usually set low enough to encourage new members to join, and only high enough to keep the most undesirable outside the circle.

There is in existence a belief that our overall health and well being can be stimulated by the massage of our feet and hands. Today it is called reflexology. I call it a belief because there is some controversy surrounding it, as there is no clinical or scientific data to support it. However, it has been practiced for millenniums around the world.

If the tenants of reflexology are indeed true – then it follows that those that have “beautiful feet” are representatives of good health and a stable intellect, and are most likely good examples of the “higher” self – the moral and spiritual nature of our being.

Although our use of the word gospel is largely in association with the Christian belief – the general meaning of the word is “the good news” – or something accepted as a truth or guiding principle. In the latter case, someone with “beautiful feet” preaching the “gospel” could describe a variety of persuasions – but always with the same formula – and that is, those with beautiful feet are the obvious representatives of the good news that they, by the very nature of their being – bring with them in their interactions with others.

We all know the old adage – “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” The implications are obvious – unless you can experience that individual’s unique challenges – then you will lack understanding in your judgment of them. Also, it is our feet that carry us forward into the world, and it is our feet that transport us to and from our interactions with those around us.

It follows then – that our feet, and how we enter into the relationships with those around us – determines our influence, our example, and in the end, our legacy.

The word “feet” occurs 256 times in the Bible – and the statements found there paint a vivid picture of this idea, that our feet are the instruments of our influence, and of our success.

These statements range from the dangers of letting our feet carry us in the wrong direction, “For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.” – Job 18:8; to their being the basis of our every endeavor. “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.” – Psalm 119:59

But none is more poignant than, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” – The Preacher of Jerusalem

Finally, we are admonished, “And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” – The Writer of the Book of Hebrews

As the world around us becomes more wrought with strife – when the stress of expressing ourselves , our ideas; and our inner thoughts and heart is assailed on every side – so much so that we calculate our exposure of who we truly are – it is in these times and circumstances – these social and economic conditions, that we as individuals – or as a body – retreat into enclaves.

What does it mean and how do we do it? What are the standards that we turn to when we are forced into the climate where our lives might depend on who we trust with the knowledge of our inner selves?

And where and how do the enclaves exist?

During the atrocities of the Second World War – people had to endure the unspeakable conditions of the concentration camps. People were starving, they were being tortured, they had to stand in rank as those that rebelled were executed before their eyes – they were forced into silence by the brutality. – But even under those conditions the solidarity of the prisoners was elusive. Even under those conditions you had to know who (which prisoners) you could trust.

“The heart of man is desperately wicked.”

Enclaves then, must have cohesive and defining factors – and they can exist on many levels. Enclaves can be the collaboration of purely intellectual pursuits – they can be the retreat from dubious social or economic trends into a more sensible persuasion – but in their truest sense today, they are the ultimate return to that which is holy and true – and the acknowledgement of the most basic operations of the Spirit of God in the body of believers.

And what are those basics?

When the disciples of Jesus were in training to develop and shepherd the enclaves of the Early Church – Jesus promised them, “If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed – and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” – John 8

The first and most basic requirement for a Christian enclave then – is the primary role of the Word of God.

What we are doing when we form an enclave is to define our priorities and seek to understand what is essential to survive and propagate our shared beliefs.

Enclaves are the last step of survival for its members in an ever increasingly and hostile world and environment – for the believer in Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God – and the Savior – the prevailing world view is crossing the threshold from opposing to dominating – and the coming upheavals and resulting troublous times herald the development of enclaves in every sphere of the operation of the true church – the ecclesia – the “called out ones.”

“A wise man forseeth the evil – and hideth himself – but the simple pass on and are punished.” – The Ancient Texts

Perhaps the second defining characteristic of a modern day Christian enclave would be unity of purpose. This is not each individual finding their separate purpose and then gathering to celebrate their unique goals being realized through common values – this is the submission of the individuals involved to a greater common purpose than their own fulfillment.

In the case of true believers it is defined by obedience to the Word of God – and unity in fulfilling our great commission – “preaching the Gospel in all the world to every creature.” – Matthew the Publican

A true Christian enclave – like all enclaves; then – requires sacrifice. And it is not easy. Forming an enclave demands that we embrace difficult choices.

The timely manner in which we face and act upon these choices will determine not only our success – but by the very nature of the enclave – our survival.

Just as we would consider the various factors in any other valuable acquisition, we will no doubt ask – “what do I need?”, or in this case – “what do I need to do?” – and “how much does it cost?”

The answer to these questions will depend on whether or not the enclave will be the vehicle that will carry you through the crises or not. An enclave that does not take any commitment and doesn’t cost much will fail – just when you need it most.

An enclave that is functioning and that acts as a haven and a center of resources in troublous times will understandably take investment, effort, thought, and prayer. – It will also take a lot of organization.

The key ingredient though – actual community based on Biblical principles – and enclave members working in the operation of the Holy Spirit in humility and unity will be elusive until all those involved have fully embraced and committed themselves to its necessity – and to its success.

It is my firm conviction that the enclave will become a necessity for all believers during my lifetime – and as such – taking whatever steps we can to move toward the realization of the elements of the enclave during times of relative peace is not only prudent – but essential.

“One can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight – and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.” – the Ancient Texts

“A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself – but the simple pass on, and are punished.” – The Preacher of Jerusalem

The Inauguration of the 44^th President of the United States of America

If you haven�t read the transcript of the speech that President Barak Obama gave at his inauguration, then you have missed one of the great speeches of all time.

President Obama was quick to affirm and acknowledge what most of us understand by now, that we live in perilous times, times of challenge, times of change � a crisis embodying everything from all out �war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.� to the consequences of �greed and irresponsibility�, and �our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.�

He correctly points out the results of this crisis, �Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.�, and the foreboding future that this crisis herald�s.

He then goes on to challenge us all to rise to the occasion in following the Americans who have gone before us, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives for the realization of an American Nation which is �bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.�

He calls on all of us to rebuild and remake America, both spiritually and physically, in service and sacrifice, in our ingenuity and in our strength, in our determination and in our actions. He calls us with these words, �For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.�

He calls on public servants to lead the charge in establishing a government based on principles and integrity. And he calls on all of us to play our part in re-establishing America as the great world leader that it should be; the last defense against tyranny, the upholder of justice, the responsible friend of the needy nations and peoples of the world, and the home of freedom, tolerance and understanding.

He speaks of the average American citizen as being someone who reflects the greatest ethics of all of history when he says, �It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter�s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent�s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.�

He assures us that this quest and this endeavor are built on everlasting and enduring truths.

�At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

�Let it be told to the future world�that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive�that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].�

Personally, I cannot argue with any of his proclamations.

I do, however, have some observations.

�you cannot build a city of light on a hill with bricks formed of excess and depravity.� � Ossian

Hope and Virtue

�All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by frost.�

�One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.� – J.R.R. Tolkien

�A Republic must either preserve its virtue or lose its liberty.� John Witherspoon

�Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.� -John Adams

It is essential that we embrace hope � for without hope of success and hope of prosperity in our mutual endeavors � we will be shackled with the abrasions of our petty differences.

But what of virtue? � and what is virtue in our individual lives, in our families, in our communities, in our businesses, in our institutions, in our public offices, in our government, and in our nation? What indeed is virtue, how do we find it, how do we define it, and how do we keep it and teach it to our children?

You might begin by asking yourself a question about a procedure that takes place in this country on the average of over 4000 times a day � the abortion of an unborn human being. Would you personally consider this to be a virtuous act?

Perhaps your answer will be determined by how you view the object of this procedure. Now ask yourself whether or not you would consider the following case and the judicial rulings to be virtuous.

Pregnant Woman Who Shot Herself in Stomach and Killed Baby is Acquitted

October 19, 2006 by Paul Neal Mooney

Judge Dismisses Case Against Pregnant Woman Who Shot Herself in the Stomach and Killed Child

Before dawn on the morning of February 23, 2006, the same winter day that Tammy Skinner felt contractions begin – signaling the arrival of her soon-to-be born baby daughter – the then 22-year-old Tammy couldn’t sleep.
Tammy got dressed and, bringing her handgun with her, drove behind a grocery store into a dark spot. “I sat there for a while and told the Lord that my mind was not right,” Skinner reportedly told a detective.
The first time Tammy pulled the trigger, the gun didn’t fire. The second time Skinner tried to shoot herself in the stomach, the gun didn’t fail. Tammy’s full-term baby girl died as a result of the gun shot wound.
Next Skinner phoned the police from a car dealership and claimed that a man shot her in the stomach and pushed her out of the car. Later, Skinner changed her testimony and said that the baby’s father shot her.�Eventually, Tammy confessed to a detective that it wasn’t the first time she had considered killing her unborn child.
According to the Virginia-Pilot, Skinner, now 23, was “charged in Circuit Court with producing an abortion or miscarriage, a felony charge that her attorney argues cannot be used to prosecute a woman who ends her own pregnancy.”
A lower court judge had already thrown out a charge of producing an abortion against Skinner, concluding that the law was not aimed at pregnant mothers who harm themselves or their yet-to-be born children. Yet the case was resurrected this summer when prosecutors went to a grand jury, who directly indicted Tammy Skinner in July.
A jury trial was scheduled for Nov. 2 regarding the case against Skinner.
But today Circuit Court Judge Westbrook Parker heard arguments in Skinner’s case, including a motion to dismiss the case, and decided to drop the felony charge against Tammy Skinner, effectively ending all prosecution against the underprivileged mother of two.
Tammy Skinner’s father has said that his daughter suffered from depression. Tammy, who spoke with Detective T.L. Cooper five days after the fatal shooting, told him she “did not have any choices” and “wanted to harm the baby.”

Remember, our new President has called the country to hope and virtue � and to follow Americans who have gone before us in answering this call to save our nation, and ourselves.

President Obama states that we have failed �to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.�

Are there other difficult choices that we have failed to make regarding our humanity and our dignity � our integrity and our compassion � even our tolerance and acceptance. Have we traded having real virtues for counterfeits and easy solutions?

Real virtues are like anything else that is enduring � they have substance, and they can be defined, understood, even learned and practiced.

Before I continue, let me state that the tragedy mentioned above is no doubt a continual heartache for the family of this mother. Our hearts go out to them for the pain and suffering that they have endured, and will endure.

We can discuss the theory of virtue � but it is in our better interests to confront the issues in such a tragic event to see if we can learn from them, as a society and as individuals.

We all understand that if you take an infant � even just minutes after birth, and use a handgun to end that tiny child�s life � it is without doubt murder. Why then, with only hours to go before her birth, when this child�s life was snuffed out in the same manner � why was that not considered murder by our judicial system? In fact, it was not even considered to be an illegal abortion.

The answer is pretty simple really. If you concluded that this act was murder, then all the third trimester abortions performed in this country (about one every 3 days) would also be murder. Third trimester abortions terminate the life of infants who, when delivered � even under the most difficult circumstances, usually live to become fully functioning and healthy people. Even premature babies born at 24 weeks of gestation have a good chance of surviving. In fact most doctors and hospitals define the age of viability as being about 24 weeks of gestation. A baby aborted at 24 weeks would be considered the beginning of the third trimester.

If these third trimester abortions were considered murder � then you open the door for controversy as to at what point you will consider the pregnancy just a mass of tissue, and at what point you will consider the pregnancy a human being. In America this legal determination has been set at the moment of the child�s full delivery from the womb. That is why, until it was outlawed in 2003, the abortionist could partially deliver the third trimester baby � and then insert scissors and a suction tube into the baby�s brain to complete the operation.

Remember � we are trying to find out here if we are a virtuous nation of people � so let us proceed to find out what virtues are.

If you consult the dictionary � you will find that �virtue� has several meanings. In the sense that we are talking about virtue, and in the way it was used by then General George Washington, and in President Obama�s speech � it has somewhat of a compound meaning � and I would define it as �the capacity to act based on commendable qualities and traits�.

The capacity to act in the manner that will result in the recovery of our nation is based on our �better selves� � and the qualities and traits, although numerous � have for centuries been anchored in some primary virtues.

These might include honesty, integrity, sacrifice, the ability to take the initiative, thoughtfulness, carefulness, promptness, bravery, determination, justice, impartiality, reliability, prudence, trustworthiness, sincerity, and love. All of these are within the grasp of nearly any individual willing to practice and learn them.

There are many more attributes that would be considered virtues worthy of our attention, if we desired to see them acted out in our homes, and in our communities. In fact, these standards of behavior are contagious � and once practiced tend to elicit the participation of those in whom we place our trust such as teachers, doctors, lawyers, public servants, even stock market traders and politicians � and yes, even used car salesmen.

�He who walks with wise men becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.� � the Ancient Texts

Think about it, look closely at the news – watch the actions of the rich and the famous, and the powerful. Ask yourself as you look around you if there are any among you who walk in virtue. In too many cases, the answer is no.

From gang members joining the Marines for military training to commit crimes on the streets of our cities, to members of the military in foreign lands being found guilty of abuse, rape, even murdering the people they have been sent to liberate and protect � the list goes on and on.

A mayor of a major US city admits that he lied to the public about his illicit sexual relationship with an 18-year-old � whom he also pressured into lying about the relationship to protect himself. He expects to stay in office. We turn on the news to hear of another mass slaughter on our school campuses, or a nearly institutionalized problem of students cheating on college exams. Our sons and daughters are comfortable with gratuitous violence, using prescription drugs to treat every imaginable �sickness� or problem, binge drinking, public sex, and ever increasingly brutal and degrading pornography. We have teachers taking sexual liberties with high school students, and priests using their office and influence for their own personal gratification.

In fact, we have abuses of every sort in every sphere of our daily lives � we live in a nation where virtue is not only scarce, but in many cases under attack by special interest groups and the media.

You may want to ask yourself, �Where are we heading?�

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said while defending our new president�s economic stimulus package which includes increased monies for contraception and abortion, �Well, the family planning services reduce cost,” Pelosi answered. “They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those � one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.”

Are these some of those hard decisions President Obama was talking about in his inaugural address?

You may believe that all of these things are being done for the sake of �children�s health and education�, but all we have to do is to look at history to find a different interpretation of what is taking place. What starts with abortion and contraception can easily evolve into government sanctioned mercy killing, euthanasia, and the elimination of those who are a burden on the State.

We have an outstanding example of the dangers we are facing, and that is the state of affairs in Germany leading up to World War II.

Hitler came to power in Germany when the people were desperate for a redeemer to deliver them from the shame and reproach of the restrictions placed on them at Versailles. Hitler was �pro choice� � and under his government, once abortion was legalized, there were nearly 500,000 abortions a year. But the interests of the State did not stop there � and it wasn�t long before policies of forced sterilization, and the killing of handicapped and hyperactive children were in steady operation as well. It wasn�t a big step from there to the extermination camps.

Believe it or not � all of these programs were considered �humane, safe and legal�. Physicians involved in these programs were called �protectors of the family�. The killing was called �a healing treatment� and in the case of hyperactive children, killing them by lethal injection was known as a �cure�. �The first panel to decide which children would be executed and which were not was called the “Committee for the Scientific Registration of Serious Hereditary and Congenital Diseases.” The first killing centers were called “Children’s Specialty Institutions” and “Therapeutic Convalescent Institutions.”� (source unknown)

Once the State was operating in such a manner � the stage was set for a complete departure from sanity.

Hitler proclaimed a renewed and powerful Germany, calling down the spirits of the greater German people who had gone before. The people of Germany opened their hearts and their minds, but the spirits that they channeled in the euphoria of The Third Reich were anything but noble.

Hitler was fascinated with Wagner � who wrote an opera that Hitler identified with so completely that he had a painting of himself rendered as the hero � Parsifal. In his memoirs as Ambassador from Great Britain to Germany from 1937 to 1939, Nevile Henderson states, �I have alluded to my mission to Berlin as a drama. The year 1937 constituted its orchestral overture, of which the Wagnerian leitmotivs* were the disciplined tramp of armed men, ever louder and more multitudinous, and the ceaseless clank of heavy machinery forging guns and yet bigger guns, tanks and ever heavier tanks, bombers and still more powerful and destructive bombers. It was a somber introduction.� (*an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation especially in a Wagnerian music drama � Merriam Webster)

�HITLER WAS ABSOLUTELY HYPNOTISED BY WAGNER’S MUSIC! He was getting the message! He was like a receiver for the message and he played the tune. He added the words and the bombs and the bullets to the tune and brought Hell on Earth!� – DBB

When speaking of Hitler and �the hidden source of his influence over his followers and their complete subservience to him� � Nevile Henderson stated, �Of the facts themselves there was no doubt. He had restored to Germany her self-respect and re-created orderliness out of the chaos and distress which had followed her defeat in 1918. It is true that the price that the Germans had had to pay was a heavy one; namely, complete loss of personal liberty, of independent thought, and of free speech. All were obliged to think, speak, and act as they were told to do or suffer exile or persecution.�

Under Hitler, Germany descended into a darkness that will continue to cast its chilling shadow on every future generation, until a time when mankind has passed away and is forgotten, or until a day of eternal redemption.

President Obama was sworn in on the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln was. He rode to Washington on the same train. He invokes the leadership of past American Presidents and leaders � (like Hillary Clinton with Eleanor Roosevelt) � his relationship with the spirit world and the powerful spirits dwelling there, and his spiritual advisors – may be no better at getting it right for him then Hitler�s were for the people of Germany. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. We need to hope and pray that President Barak Obama does not have a nightmare.

]]> http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2009/01/22/the-inauguration-of-the-44th-president-of-the-united-states-of-america/feed/ 4 http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2008/10/10/bring-on-the-russians/ http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2008/10/10/bring-on-the-russians/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:22:36 +0000 BBennettJ http://www.undertheolivetree.com/?p=113

Bring on the Russians!

Whether you prefer a white Russian or a black Russian – or perchance your vodka is served in a martini – or better yet straight with salt – or even more direct – “just give it to me straight!”

They say that Americans are – in the end – Americans – and when push comes to shove – it doesn’t matter – their faith, colour – or creed – they will stand and die – either for you – or with you.

And Russians are – in the final toast and shot – Russians.

But that’s not the worst of it – don’t forget the Viet Cong – and the Great March into madness.� Time will fail us to write verse and song of just a few who will light the stage that has been set before us.

The time is at hand.

What’s coming should be man’s greatest attempt to justify his existence – particularly because we are drifting more and more to the notion that we are somehow in charge of the greatest cosmic occurrence ever, and I mean ever!

If we fail; in this final endeavor – to conquer – then we will perish – and without a jongleur or minstrel to immortalize us in theater and song – even the most remote remembrance of our existence will vanish with us.

“Be not deceived – for God is not mocked.” – Paul the Vagabond

What is being swept away is the chaff of the threshing floor – it may have had a passing value – but now it is for the flames – and none of us can stay it. – And the fire will be unquenchable – and all of these will return to dust and ashes.

But as long as the stars remain – and the seasons change – and life springs forth – the sojourn will be the same – and the issues of life will not cease or be abated.

The proverbs and the prophets alike proclaim the same truths – our substance and sustenance are of the water, earth and air – and the breath of our souls is from God.

And now we are fallen into His hands – and who shall deliver us if we have transgressed His commandments – and scorned his statutes and his messengers?

The intensity of the purging of the chaff and the tares shall try men’s souls – and some shall fall upon the rock – breaking in their redemption.

But what of the Americans? – and the Russian bear? – and the apocalypse? – and the battle of Armageddon? -

“The system we were so proud of is crashing to the floor.”

Drinking Vodka with Galena and the Babushkas

Galena was a force to be reckoned with – she didn’t know how to quit – and she didn’t know how to control her passion in life – the Communist Party and its success; – and though she was past 70 years old – she had the drive and stamina of a 23 year old woman.

On Sundays Galena usually spent the day with her friends – this was the only group left that remembered everything from the first days of the Revolution – the People’s square – and the statue of Lenin – and Karl Marx street – the Babushkas were slowly – one by one – they were being left alone – their lovers and their friends were now in the graveyard – the one you could see if you rode the trolley from CMZ.

So on Sunday they gathered at Galena’s apartment to drink shots of vodka – and to weep for those who had gone into oblivion – for there was nothing in their understanding except the grave – and to return to dust – the heart and soul of the lover and child together had perished – and only vodka could ease the pain.

After a few shots – the grandmothers would reminisce about past Party victories – the heroes of labor who had extracted more coal on a single shift than anyone else in all of Russia – and they spoke of potato harvests, every fall – for six weeks – and then to see 90% of the harvest rot in the storage houses for lack of any facility to preserve the most basic food of their diet.

And they lamented – for their urns of sour cream were empty – not like the days of prosperity under Party rule – no – now they were suffering from the “free market” that had been a condition of the international bankers who had come to Russia to make a quick buck.

After all – the largest McDonalds in the world was in Moscva.

Still, the vision – however dimly viewed in the tumult and change that had so forcefully come upon them; was still pure in their hearts – so they toasted to the Revolution – and to Lenin – and to the Party – and to Mother Russia – but in their hearts they longed for the promise of the redemption – and the resurrection to life and the precious gift of being reunited with their lost loves – and they wept …

But amidst the shortages of sour cream, and borscht, and sometimes bread – and nearly always sugar – the vodka was always available. – So they toasted to their calamity – and they wept again for their lost loves and precious ones.

And then they filled the shot glasses again – and they examined each other closely as the vodka met their lips; and tossing their grey heads back – they drank – and they wept – and they drank again.

The Russian Graveyard

So many of the tombstones are decorated in that very Russian way – the star – sometimes the hammer and sickle – it reminds you of the Russian central intelligence offices – either those that adorn the capital cities of every Russian conquest – or the headquarters of the KGB itself – the tombstones were the same – and they had an air of finality – and remorse and regret – but in all of this they remain stoic and unapproachable.

I have had many experiences just once – once I was asked to conduct a funeral – and once I was a pall bearer.� It was for my grandfather – and so I am familiar with the cemetery of the believer – and the cemetery of the agnostic – and the atheist.

Your cemeteries echo the essence and depth of your life – for we can be no more in death than we have been in our daily affairs – save those lives that are given in sacrifice to the abolition of cruelty and hate – and of the subjugation of the human race.

The Russian graveyard held no enduring expectation – and once utilized – it was seldom visited – except on Sundays – and then only from afar – and with the aid and succor of vodka.

In a land that has no heaven – your daily life must draw on some other purpose and destination – and woe is unto you if your purpose and destination is yourself – or woe upon woe that you should embrace a cause or a purpose that has no meaning; if all is destined to fade into oblivion!

“Rise up and slay – because the twilight is upon us.” – Ossian

Claiming the Sun & the Stars

The great nations and peoples of the world have become great by dispensation – but they deny the Spirit in the same breath with which they claim their mandate to rule and reign – even unto the Universe itself.

Having laid claim to lands and resources – the water and the air; they are now ready to claim sovereignty over the waves; and the moon – and the stars – and they bask in their own light; and they embrace their own image.

They are clouds without rain; and the parched dry earth; though it be a paradise – yet, because in their thoughts it has no enduring truth or presence – it cannot satisfy their desire – and so they must conquer again or fade into the shadows of their former glory.

And so they will go to war -

“O ye heralds, and those that run to save the regiment – this day is all you have to live; for except ye accomplish that which has been entrusted to your gifts and holy graces – we shall all perish with the last trumpet.” – Fin McCool

The Apostles and the Evangelists

Even so – these great nations have produced masters of every craft, and artisans capable of fabricating vessels of fine silver and gold – ceramic wonders, and creations so intricate as to defy their own existence.

The accomplishments of their builders, some standing as the sentries of centuries; – verse and meter and the voices of the multitudes rise up in acclamation of their glories and their destiny.

These, by their craft have loosed the power of the atom and defied the confines of our ecosystem – and deep in their hidden laboratories they have challenged the boundaries of good and evil – and they have risen up to dominate – and in the examination they stand proud and indignant.

And they send their emissaries forth – to proclaim their day – and to prepare the people.

These messengers faint not – nor will they be persuaded – because they walk as minions – and they set the stage.

Neither are they hidden – for the apostles and the prophets faces and names are written for all to see – and their evangelistic fervor is the subject of every entertainment; and of every publication.

Only be aware – that though they appear unto you as princes and as favored ones – and though their works are smooth and sultry – yet – their end is destruction and their habitation desolation.

The First Watch

In one way or another – the attack will come at 3 am – it isn’t a time of day – it is a condition of the heart – and of the soul and mind;� and it can take hold of an individual, or a family – or a congregation – or a tribe – or an assembly – or a legislative body – or a judiciary – or an administration – or a camaraderie – even of those facing death.

We shall all face death in the third hour “on some scarred slope or battered hill”.

God knows twere better to be deep

Pillowed in silk and scented down

Where love throbs out in blissful sleep

Pulse nigh to pulse and breath to �and breath

Where hushed awakenings are dear

But I’ve a rendezvous with death

At midnight in some flaming town

When Spring trips north again this year

And I to my pledged word am true

I shall not fail that rendezvous

-Alan Seeger (1886-1916)

When Jesus the Carpenter walked in Judea – He upbraided them because they did not discern the signs of the times.

The legions of Rome were coming – and their destruction was at hand.

Prophets and sages have lamented – all down through our history; of the futility to set a watchman on the tower – if he be an hireling.� “Are there any but hirelings among us?” – The Fool As the usurer boasts, “Give me control of the nations money – and I care not who writes its laws.” – Rothschild “Wrath’s Child”

When the day of our incarceration comes – and night falls upon us – we shall then go into perdition – except ye be saved. – and then the words of the Master Psalmist will reverberate – and a chorus will proclaim that “the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” – The Shepherd

And so we raise our eyes upon the calamity – and the coming destruction – and we ponder – some of us simply sinking to our knees in awe of what has been revealed to us – some turning to flee the wrath to come – and some raising up the sword, and going forth to fight.

“Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve – if God be God – then serve Him.”� DBB

The Death Angels and the Point

of No Return

Very few of us would choose death – or bondage and prison, or slavery – but many souls down through the ages have gone into bondage simply because they failed to act in time to avoid it coming upon them.

All too often the point of no return is breached while we are occupied with less important things – or by an atmosphere of intimidation and fear that prevents us from seeing things as they really are. – Or worse yet – by surfeiting and complacency.

Our point of no return is coming – collectively; and individually – it will be sooner for some – and later for others – but it will come.

It can mean different things to different people – too.� During the height of the Third Reich – ordinary Germans became prisoners in their own homes – for to fail to conform was treason.� The Communists ruled Russia through fear – And the Khmer Rouge? – they used abject brutality – in some cases they were barely human.

So how did each of these cross the line to that point of never going back – a point at which even the thought of redemption was ludicrous?

I was told the story – and perhaps it is embellished – but never-the-less, based on the truth of war; a young man – in fact too young to go to war, lies about his age to enlist in the Army paratroopers – the 82^nd Airborne – “Devils in baggy pants” – the Division of Infamy.� When D-Day comes, he is 19 years old – and a lieutenant when he jumps out of the plane – when he hits the ground he is a captain – and he leads his men to capture an important bridge in the French countryside.� Later in the war he is recruited by a relatively unknown intelligence agency – the NSA.� You see – there are American deserters from the front lines – soldiers who have decided to “disappear” into the surrounding towns and villages.� Some of these boys have met pretty French girls – and now they want to make love instead of making war.� To the military commanders, they are a disgrace – and an embarrassment – and it is his job to find them – and to execute them – for there will be no Tribunal on their desertion of duty – “it could hurt the war effort.” – Source Denied

His greatest sin is his youth – and his willingness to serve.� Once he becomes an assassin – he has passed his point of no return – but the steps and choices that have carried him there are honorable – even commendable.

“Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people; and go from them! For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.” – The Child Jeremiah

We are in the throes of a paradigm shift – politically, economically, socially, philosophically, religiously – and as we move forward and lay hold on the future – our present condition – in all its many facets – will pass away – and there will be no return. – and soon there will be little if any personal choice left about the direction we are heading.

Our world will take the long march into darkness – and yes, some of us will go quietly.

Remember the Savage, and the Controllers, and the brave new world.

And when the Death Angel comes – is there any among you that can deny that spirits and voices and apparitions in the dark have all been given their times to speak – prophets have warned us – and the Ancient texts have concurred – so that we are without an alibi, and our final judgment is echoed by the witnesses.

“Therefore I say unto you, watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.” – Jesus called Christ

A New World Order

The atmosphere is almost giddy – it’s a bit like all of us – everyone in the world – is sharing an MDA trip – we have fallen in love – only to find that when we awake – the reality of our differences, and prejudices, and covetousness, and idolatry and diversity is anything but something to celebrate.

“For ethnic group shall rise up against ethnic group – and there shall be wars, and rumors of wars.” – The Prophet

“For how shall we be reconciled if there be no daysman between us?”

Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse – and the personification of Evil is risen up among us – and he goes forth with wrath and indignation – because he knows his time is short.

History repeating itself once again – Nimrod, and Pharaoh, the Mayan Priest holding the beating and bloody heart of the sacrifice – Caesar, Alexander, Hitler, the Son of Sam, – Pol Pot, Mao tse Dong, Stalin, Idi Amin – Robert Mugabe, Dresden, Auschwitz, the Killing fields, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. -

All in the name of the triumph of man. – But make no mistake – the coming conflict will be so universal and so inhumane “That except those days should be shortened, no flesh should be saved.” – Jesus on the Mount of Olives

]]> http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2008/10/10/bring-on-the-russians/feed/ 0 http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2008/05/18/the-north-central-iowa-thinkers-society/ http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2008/05/18/the-north-central-iowa-thinkers-society/#comments Sun, 18 May 2008 17:48:17 +0000 BBennettJ http://www.undertheolivetree.com/2008/05/18/the-north-central-iowa-thinkers-society/ The North Central Iowa Thinkers Society

I belong to he North Central Iowa Thinkers Society (NCITS) – however, I am presently the only member. I believe that there are others about who are thinking – but as of this writing they have not been asked to join – nor have they inquired about membership. It is food for thought.

We have a record in the holy writings of Jesus arguing with the doctors of the law in the Temple in Jerusalem – very auspicious surroundings – Jesus was 12 years old at the time. “… after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” – Luke the Physician

We have other instances of Jesus’ conversations with the Doctors recorded in the Gospels – the most prominent example being his conversation with Nicodemus. Most of the other conversations recorded are less congenial – more confrontational – & eventually they more or less become reproofs & indictments.

The Doctors have reduced the mystical to a theological discussion – and Jesus is not impressed. “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” -

“for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith; …”

Peter the Fisherman received the Keys of the Kingdom from Jesus – (Mt 16:19) – Keys of mystical power – and he leaves us this record, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, …”

It is possible to play arpeggios on your brain.

The writers of the New Testament had put some questions to rest – the Gospels are not just the good news, they are the definitive statement. Subsequent contributions reflect this -

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.” (the Writer of the Book of Hebrews)

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom – but in demonstration of the spirit and of power” – (Paul – formerly Saul the Intellecutal and Murderer)

The Power of Transformation – the light shining in darkness, the rainbow – Heaven opened up above us – down below the pits of Hell; and the Son of Man – with the angels of God ascending and descending – the Revelation – the uncovering – the open shew of spoiled principalities and powers.

“He who was ordained – not after the law of a carnal commandment – but after the power of an endless life.”

Unless you accept the truth of the Gospels – you are cursed to tread the paths of argument, debate, discourse and the understanding of your mind.

Jesus might have done so when he was 12 years old among the Doctors – He had less time for it when he was triumphing over Evil and Death.

All are welcome who are walking in love and humility � for there is no Enemy among us.

We dwell in peace and harmony � for ours is a home of hearts � and each one gives of his substance accordingly � and everyone receives.

Our children are learning and playing at our feet � and our household is the household of faith � therefore we ask those who walk among us to treat this ground � these dwellings � our meager resources and our loved ones with openness and respect.

It is our desire that during your sojourning here that you are able to express yourself freely � and that in the course of our lives, however entwined � we will with each day find new reasons to appreciate one another.

In this house we can claim no greater accolade then to be called the beggars and servants of Christ � our dearest friend, Lover and King � Jesus of Nazareth.

Ours is to confront any error in speech, or any deceiving way � and as much as it is in our power to restore and retribute in mercy and truth.

We may not comprehend the grandeur of our vision � but our understanding is exalted as on wings of doves � and we pale as the brilliance unfolds around us.

We are the children of an unseen Father � Kept hidden save for the daily gifts and mercies that He bestowes upon us.

This is our home.

And this is our endeavor � that when we are given the chance to walk among you � we will always remember our home � as we traverse yours.

We seek peace, truth � and love.

And the greatest is love.

Though peace be shattered

And truth obscured

We believe that Love conquers all.

Make yourself welcome.

The Living Room

Did you ever see a room

That was living. I mean,

A room that was alive?

Because living is what we do.

But a room � what makes it alive?

Is it the size? Or the wrap?

Or the pristine mountains beside it

That give it beauty and wealth?

Not my living room � and mine is alive

With voices and joy

And whispers of love in the night

Of embrace so satisfying

Of laughter

The breaking of bread

The wine of commitment

The absence of self

Of the living and not of the Dead

A living room � it really is a Living Room.

Sometimes I even think it steals

My socks and favorite pens.

A living room � it is! � it�s true!

“Today’s special is………tolerance”

When you read the Gospels you rarely find Jesus expressing truth in list form. There are a few instances where Jesus does make something of a list in His expression of a certain idea. One of, or perhaps we should say, the most famous or well known, are the Beatitudes – “Blessed are ye……”To find lists of behavior we usually go to the Epistles – and even there the lists are infrequent – but they are more common.”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance – against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:20,21

In this same chapter of Galatians you can find another list – one on the works of the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such like;” Gal 5:19-21a

First of all – do you personally even understand what most or all of these are? Probably not.

You probably do understand a few of these – and they are most likely the ones most repeated from the pulpit – adultery, fornication, witchcraft, hatred, murders and drunkeness.

You probably also know what Idolatry is – but you won’t hear that one decried as often from the pulpits – seeing that we live in a nation of idol worshipers.

But what is variance or seditions?

And is this the complete list?

Are there more?

Which list in the Bible is the most important and complete? Is it the Ten Commandments? Do I have to keep all the lists faithfully to be saved?

Who then can be saved?

“For if there had been a law which could have given life – verily righteousness should have been by the law.” Gal 3:21 “Ye that desire to keep the law, have ye read the law?” (paraphrase of Gal. 4:21)

So why then the lists?

I believe that the Apostle – with his enumerations, was trying to illustrate the quality, the texture, the character, the color, the smell & the sights & sounds of the works of the flesh or the fruits of the Spirit – not categorize them for adherence.

In fact – in one instance, a certain action could be a “work of the flesh” – and under different circumstances the same action could be a manifestation of the “fruits of the Spirit.”

It is a matter of judgement; and righteous judgement depends on a keen insight into all the various aspects of an action – which include motive, circumstances, ramifications – all the many aspects or facets – the ripples formed by the pebble tossed through the undisturbed surface of tranquil waters.

Take “tolerance” for example.

The Mundane

Webster says this about the mundane:

Etymology: Middle English mondeyne, from Anglo-French mundain, from Late Latin mundanus, from Latin mundus world
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the world
2 : characterized by the practical, transitory, and ordinary : COMMONPLACE <the mundane concerns of day-to-day life>
synonym see EARTHLY

All of us face mundane tasks on a daily basis – but I think they have been given a pretty bum rap by the media. When was the last time you saw your favorite movie star wash the dishes? – or take out the trash?

Commonplace experience is a lot of what life is made of – and it might be good to remember that �the trick is not to do what you like, but to like what you do.� These days you often hear the word boring along with anything mundane. �Oh, that�s soooooooooo boring� � and in the process we are missing a great deal of what life has to offer.

It has only been a generation since it was considered admirable to be able to do simple tasks well, like bake a cake or make a loaf of bread – now with our excessively busy schedules – we are seeing the advent of 24 hour daycare centers for children. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/12/earlyshow/living/main583299.shtml)

I am not making a judgment on an individuals need for such a facility – but it does seem to me that our daily mundane lives might be spiraling out of control.

In 2 Peter 2:3 it says, �and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you� -

Covetousness is pleonexia in Greek, meaning avarice (excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain), greediness, fraudulence (deceit), or extortion.

Feigned is plastos in Greek; meaning false formed or artificial. (Where we get our word plastic)

So many plastic words which if you will follow them, those leading you through covetousness will make merchandise of you. A kind of slavery where you make them rich and they keep you striving after the wind – all the time *despising the mundane. *(Webster – to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful)

In my yard there are tiny flowers blooming, and I had a conversation with a child today – the sunset was exquisite, and the sunlight on the snow – well, how can you describe things so mundane.

Almost everyone I meet these days is in a race to catch the wind – and from all my experience the wind is a pretty elusive target. Just the moment you think you might have a hold on it – it swings by and undoes your hairdo. Let�s hope yours is not a toupee.

So, the mundane would include quite a few things – like ��.

Sunsets, rainbows, waterfalls, fields of flowers, chocolate, babies smiles, the occasional wildlife, sunrise, the starry sky, trees, good food, toddler chatter, a warm fire on a cold day, a photograph, music, art, a walk, clean sheets, a lady bug, a rollypolly, the sound of a clear stream over rocks, splashing in the water, swimming, snow, the rain �.. skipping stones, the ocean, the beach, the mountains, the wind, true and sincere friends (oops, we might be slipping into the profound here.)

So why is the mundane maligned as being �oh so boring� and pursued so infrequently in �real life�?

Could it be because these things are free of charge? – you can participate without spending any money? – no one has to be there to sell it to you before you are allowed to enjoy it? – is the mundane maligned because of its intrinsic value? – that the very nature of these mundane things keeps them out of reach of the merchant?

Remember the admonition from the mystic Hosea – �He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. � The Holy Scriptures

There it is again, deceit, feigned words – selling you that which is not bread, and waters that will not quench your thirst, empty clouds without rain � Paul the Evangelist calls to us to �save ourselves from this *untoward generation� – *(marked by trouble or unhappiness)

The mundane is our free ticket entertainment – it happens every day, everywhere, it is multimedia at its very best – and if we can shed the cruel illusions of the advertisers, we can begin to enjoy ourselves, we can rest, we can perform our daily tasks with enthusiasm and charisma -we can begin to shine as lights.

�Do not wait until some deed of greatness you can do, Do not wait to shed your light afar, To the many duties ever near you now be true, brighten the corner where you are.� – Ina D Ogden wrote these words when her hopes of preaching on the Chau�tau�qua cir�cuit were dashed by her fa�ther�s ill�ness, which forced her to aban�don her plans in or�der to care for him at home. She embraced the mundane, she chose service over self indulgence.

The mundane is valuable stuff – it�s just not for sale – pursue it and the profound will come knocking on your door.

So if the mundane is not for sale, what is going on with all this buying and selling?

Watch a few advertisements. It hardly matters what they are selling, from cigarettes to cars to toilet paper, if you believe the ad, acquisition of the product results in the added benefit of a profound contact with something or someone wonderful and desirable. Sports drinks whisk you to a world where all are talented athletes, excelling in imaginary races of skill and endurance. Buying a car enables you to capture the wind, and take a sex goddess as your prize. Ordinary toilet paper becomes a portal to a world shimmering with sparkling pools and fragrant flowers.

The Masters of Illusion have been perfecting their craft throughout the ages – especially in modern times – could all this effort be aimed at more commerce?

The magicians, charlatans and Chaldeans were able to conjure up signs and wonders so persuasive that it gave them access to those sitting in the highest seats of power. Through their manipulation, they could mold events on a national scale. But turning the heads of pocket puppets was not enough to satiate the appetite of of these power hungry barons seeking dominion over the souls of men. For them, only mass obeisance could fill their cup of plunder – the compliance and subjugation of all individuals at any cost.

In the course of history there have been very few figures who have manifested sufficient influence as was needed to dominate societies by universally captivating the very hearts of men. Those that stand out most dramatically range from Jesus of Nazareth and Gandhi to the Caesars, Napoleon, and Hitler.

In the absence of such a personage hearts and minds must be won through other means.

Today the average person in the developed world will absorb the impact of nearly 3000 separate advertisements a day for everything from personal products, self-improvement programs, medicine and medical treatments, financial planning, business opportunities, political and religious viewpoints, and corporate hegemony to direct manipulation of their inner views on world issues such as globalization, global warming, the environment, wars, controversies like genetic engineering and abortion – even life itself.

Propaganda via the multimedia reigns supreme and it is not by chance – some of our most brilliant and creative minds have suborned for the task. The tools of the trade have been honed to a sharp threshing instrument.

We are promised the profound as we are subtly stripped naked and smitten barren – gorging ourselves at a smorgasboard where wrong is right, evil is good, war and terror is a peace process, bondage is freedom, infanticide is personal autonomy, perversion is an alternate lifestyle, a 1000 mile prison wall is a security barrier, compliance is independent thinking, and pornography is mandatory.

Peter the Denier knew the cost of this compromise when he said, �While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption. For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.� – The Holy Scriptures

In his song �The Great American Novel� Larry Norman penned, �When I was young you murdered art with courtroom politics, and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth. But I know you better now and I don�t fall for all your tricks, cause you�ve lost the one advantage of my youth.�

But fall we do, and we are spiraling into chaos.

The Profound

Now, to change the subject a bit to the profound.

Webster says this,

pro�found

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French parfunt, profond deep, from Latin profundus, from pro- before + fundus bottom �
1 a : having intellectual depth and insight b : difficult to fathom or understand
2 a : extending far below the surface b : coming from, reaching to, or situated at a depth
3 a : characterized by intensity of feeling or quality b : all encompassing

In other words – deep. I like the definition here of �characterized by intensity of feeling or quality� – since that is what we could be reaching for in this miracle of existence that we call living.

The profound is that which has some depth, some quality, some meaning, some insight – it is more than, it is greater than, worth more, deeper, finer, fairer – and most of us are familiar with the slang used to describe it – cool, heavy, rad, groovy, gnarly, bad, sweet, tight, wicked, super, kewl, hip, phat, awesome!

At least, this is the origin of these slang terms, to describe the events, emotions, feelings, ideas, visions, and dreams of each new generation. Oddly enough – the word profound itself is not cool – but the profound experience is.

Can the mundane deliver the profound?

In 1993 I was on a flight to India with a documentary film crew, and the in flight movie was something called �Groundhog Day�. I am a real fan of Bill Murray, but I must admit that about half way through, this movie had me wondering where it was going. About the time he started doing himself in, I braced for the worst. I was pleasantly surprised – in my opinion this movie was profound, (If you are one of the few who have never seen it – enjoy). However, this movie was not the highlight of that particular trip – we had a lot more in store for us – the truly profound.

Through a series of phone calls, our Indian manager came to a misunderstanding that resulted in our film crew boarding a flight from Delhi to Calcutta for the purpose of interviewing Mother Teresa. Our schedule was so tight, that all we had time to do on this one day trip was to fly to Calcutta, drive to the Mother House, conduct the interview, and rush back to catch our return flight to Delhi – we didn�t have much time to spare.

Upon our arrival at the Mother House in Calcutta, we were informed that there must have been a misunderstanding, that Mother Teresa was about to go to prayer, that she would be in prayer for four hours, and that she did not give interviews, not to anyone.

After some gentle pleading – we were told that we could meet Mother Teresa and were allowed to go to the second floor of the Mother House to do so. She met us dressed in her Sisters of Charity habit, barefoot – she was shorter than I had expected, but did take the time to greet us. We asked her if she would do an interview with us and she declined, saying she didn�t do interviews. �I will pray for you and you pray for me�, she said and began to excuse herself. We asked if we could interview one of the other sisters – to which she also declined. �I will pray for you and you pray for me�, she said and began to excuse herself once again. We stopped her once more and asked if we could just take a few pictures – �Sorry, we don�t allow any pictures� came her sweet but firm reply. �I will pray for you and you pray for me�, she said and excused herself to go to her daily four hour prayer.

We were escorted to a room on the first floor. While there, we met several people, most of whom knew Mother Teresa personally. Through a series of short conversations our director convinced one of the sisters to take a note to Mother Teresa asking her once more for the interview, and assuring her that we would pray that she would grant our request. As she left with the note – this sister said, �I�ll take Mother the note – but you had better pray.� – We did.

About 15 minutes passed, and another sister suddenly appeared in the room and said, �Mother will see you now�.

We rushed up the stairs, set up for the interview, and spent the next hour interviewing and then chatting with Mother Teresa. This was profound – and just spending this short time with this wonderful human being left an impact on my life.

The profound by its very nature is hidden in the most mundane things. It is a bit deeper down. Sometimes you have to dig in before you can find this hidden treasure – it is the second wind of a long distance run, the diamond encased in a lump of coal, the gold nugget at the bottom of the stream among the pebbles, it is the true friend in adversity, the word fitly spoken, the spring in the desert – the Holy Scriptures say, �When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life�.

Experiencing the profound raises us above our earthly nature, our basest instincts, our morbid mere existence, our familiarity, and our self centered apathy – and turns us toward the sun, we reach for the stars, and we touch the sky.

So is the time and effort needed to embrace and comprehend the profound worth it?

It will cost you something.

Freedom, enlightenment, understanding, perception, innovation, communication, empathy, revelation, consolation, you name it, the deeper things in life take time and effort to experience, and even more time to assimilate – Jesus the Prophet summed it up when he said, �He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.�

Things don�t come into focus by consuming alone. Another serving will not necessarily reveal the essence of the matter.

Deep inside of each one of us is the knowledge that the profound is within our reach – but all too often it is not within our grasp. We sell ourselves cheap, we substitute that which is easy to see and feel, even repeating the same input over and over for its momentary solace of our voracious appetite for the genuine and meaningful.

We sell our birthright for a mess of pottage.

Some time back we were in Texas visiting some of my children and grandchildren. My wife took our two two-year-old granddaughters for a walk – they had an intended destination and duration for the event – but they didn�t make it there and it took a lot longer than planned – the time was taken up by more important things that the �little girls� discovered on the way. They hadn�t gone far before the �little girls� found a lady bug. The lady bug took a half hour of their time, crawling on their hands, walking up their arms, flying away and having to be found again, more time playing with it. After that they found a �rolly polly� – you know, the little gray bug that rolls up when you touch it. This took another 15 minutes as the �little girls� delighted in this animated little bug. Then they found some pretty flowers, which they picked to give to their mommies when they got home – and after that they found an ant hill – a virtual city of activity. Next came the babbling stream running through the property – and the �little girls� spent time listening to the sounds, watching the water caress the rocks, and insisting to take off their shoes to wade in the gurgling pools. The wind then caught their attention, and they spent time feeling it – �feel the wind!� they exclaimed as they lifted their arms and twisted their hands to experience it as fully as possible. They hugged each other spontaneously, they patted each others backs as they said �I wuv you!� – they held hands as they walked – remember – these �little girls� were two years old at the time.

What are you spending your time doing – and how do you see the experience of your daily life? As adults we must perform many tasks each day, we must complete our work, we must fulfill our responsibilities – but we are not required to relinquish our sense of wonder to do so. We can find the profound as we walk through our days.

�That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.� – Paul the Evangelist

It will cost you something.

�Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.� – the Holy Scriptures

The Profane

And the profane?

Is it even worth our time or attention? Why didn�t we deal with it first and up front, call a spade a spade, and then move on to the worthwhile?

Sadly, it probably wouldn�t be worth our time excepting that we are awash in the profane, and once again – it is not by chance.

What does it mean to be profane anyway?

It is to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt, to desecrate it – to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use – to violate the sanctity of, to treat disrespectfully, irreverently, or outrageously.

Believe it or not – most people are are uncomfortable with those who treat the sacred with disrespect – at least, they are uncomfortable with it the first time it happens. It is the repetition of the vulgar and irreverent that numbs our sensitivities and pales our blushing faces.

The prophet Jeremiah was called to be a prophet while still young, and was a voice of warning – calling on the people to turn from wickedness to avoid destruction at the hands of the Babylonians. His amanuensis Baruch recorded these words, �Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush�.

The profane is an unwelcome guest at the table of love and light.

The Holy Scriptures contains a book known as �Jude� – in it the writer claims to be the brother of James (the brother of Jesus), thereby claiming himself to be the brother of Jesus of Nazareth. Here is his description of those profane persons to whom we are all becoming more and more familiar – �These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.�

Too harsh? – or was he simply stating the facts – �when we walk with the wise, we will be wise.� – and when we walk with the profane ���.?

Most of you have probably never heard of Lenny Bruce, Aldous Huxley, or Anthony Burgess, Stanley Kubrick or �A Clockwork Orange�, or even Francis Ford Coppola, but you probably know about his nephew Nicolas Cage. You might have watched �Eyes Wide Shut� – but did you understand what you were viewing? – Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove, 2001 A Space Odyssey, The Shining, or Full Metal Jacket? All of them stars in a purple haze – Jimi kissing the sky.

Before I go on let me say that touching the profound and the profane are pretty similar experiences – it is just that one is the counterfeit of the other.

We can walk with Ken Kesey and the �Electric Koolaid Acid Test� – or �One Flew Over the Cuckoo�s Nest�, (Jack after �Easy Rider�, �Five Easy Pieces� and a few others – preparation for �The Shining�) – or we can submit to the heroin driven force of �Deep Purple� – we all fell under The Beatles spell – and for good reason.

Remember, touching the profound and the profane are pretty similar experiences – it is just that one is the counterfeit of the other.

We have all embraced change on unprecedented levels since the 1960�s – and it has included a foray into the profane.

Most, but not all of those mentioned above have had something to do with this foray – some of them opened the door for us to the profound – some brought us not only to our highest highs, but to our lowest depths – so how do you tell the difference? – who is who?

Our pathologies run deep.

In rhetoric, pathos is the use of emotional appeals to alter the audience�s judgment. (Wikipedia)

Pathology according Webster is �the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them� – (my emphasis) – experiencing the profane or the profound produces some changes in you too.

We are submerged in emotional appeals on every front – and to understand how powerful these are we can again look to the definition of emotion. Webster says, �a conscious mental reaction (as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body� – the spin doctors know that emotional appeal changes the way we look at things, it changes our ideas of ourselves and others, it changes who we are – inside.

Emotion, in its most general definition, is an intense mental state that arises automatically in the nervous system rather than through conscious effort, and evokes either a positive or negative psychological response. (Wikipedia – emphasis mine)

Lets list the most basic emotions – anger, fear, sadness, joy, disgust, surprise, curiosity, acceptance, shame, desire.

Repetition of the profane through emotional appeal in our books, music, movies, television, public speaking, art, politics, business, advertisements, even science, has a definite effect on how we perceive it or accept it.

It has been said that the most recent changes in the way the public views violence, sexuality, prescription drug use, parental control, political correctness, tolerance, environmental issues, a consumer society; our socially acceptable paradigms – our very perceptions of who we are and what we think – is the direct result of these emotional mantras. Repeat it often enough and the public will accept it – or at least they will no longer resist it.

The profane has a central role to play in all of this.

The shocking effect of the profane in our lives is a confrontational experience that we must deal with – we must choose to either embrace it, shun it, or turn away in apathy – with the profane there is no real middle ground – it is by definition extreme and in-your-face; and with expert use it is designed to change the boundaries of our personal standards.

It has been extremely effective in doing so.

Through the ages, our sages and prophets have not endorsed the profane.

Jeremiah said, � For both prophet and priest are profane� The prophet Ezekiel – � Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean�� Timothy – � But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.�

Solomon the Wise – �Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths.�

King David – � The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.�

The profane lowers the common denominator, it lowers the standard, it demeans, it abases, it pollutes.

Isaiah the prophet was one of the most eloquent writers of antiquity. These are his words, � Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!�

We have lowered the common denominator in a public display of �false humility� – where we pay lip service to the idea of equality and fraternity.

If you win the lottery – you might be surprised that material wealth by itself will not open the doors of private counsels and the boardrooms of the elite. While our pundits laud our social and economic progress and universal access to equal rights, the realities of our world have not changed for far too many who bear the weight and burdens of the mechanics of this so called progress on their shoulders.

The ghetto is still the ghetto – isolation is still isolation – poverty is still poverty – slavery is still slavery.

The big difference is not that as a people we have fulfilled the invitation of a better promise – �Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.� – (Words written by Emma Lazarus that are found on the Statue of Liberty) – the big difference is not that we have condescended to men of low estate, and through self-sacrifice have lifted them from their dire circumstances and enriched their lives. . . . .

The difference today is that through embracing the profane – as a people we are descending into the same condition as those we pretend to rescue – by embracing the profane we are sending our very sons and daughters into perdition.

The profane is a cheap counterfeit for the profound – it is easily accessible to all, even to the meanest of men.

Closing

Paul the Evangelist wrote these words, �For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.� – profound words of truth that can transform and bring light and life.

I think Lee Ann Womack said it well in her song �I Hope You Dance�

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you�ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they�re worth taking
Lovin� might be a mistake
But it�s worth making
Don�t let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance.