What is a Conundrum? Life is full of them, as we all know, and it turns out I've probably used this word correctly, but I've never seen it defined until now.
My thesaurus defines it as a riddle or a puzzling question.
The way words are used (and miss-used) in our American Culture for example,are sometimes puzzling, and even aggravating, especially when they are changed in meaning almost overnight. The word GAY would be a prime example. Literature of the 19th century used that word liberally to describe people having a good time, often in a party setting. Now, virtually the only time it is used is to refer to a person of an "alternate lifestyle."
There was a time in the American culture when a great deal of learning in elementary schools was associated with the Bible,with godly virtues, and character building stories woven into reading books. Even the word "sin" could be found from time to time, perhaps more often than we find it in Christian literature now.
Other words are also seldom in use now, like the word "modesty." Now that's one for you! Haven't the goal posts been pulled together on that one?! Undoubtedly the "sexual revolution" had something to do with it. Just take for example the
de-volution of swimwear. I remember chuckling at pictures of people in my grandparents' era wading in the surf, covered virtually head to toe in black outfits. Two-piece bathing suits for women were introduced during my mother's generation. My Christian mother however, thought it would be immodest for her to wear one. And now, it is not at all uncommon to see professing Christian young women wearing bikinis!
The two words in the English language that go together like "meat and potatoes" are "cultural standards." Can anyone argue that cultural standards have plummeted in the last 40 years? Is it not apparant that this plunge has also affected the Evangelical Church? When I was a teenager, Christian musical groups were well groomed and wore their "Sunday Best"(What's that?) for their concerts,and were satisfied with free will offerings. Today,Christian music is big show business in large venues. Often the "stars" look (and often sound in my opinion) like they just got out of bed and couldn't find a comb. (Well, that wouldn't work on spiked hair anyway, I guess.) This is the kind of EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT the kids NEED these days,to keep their interest,we are told. If we could keep that much- talked- about 60-70 percent we're losing by providing this kind of fare in the church, what would we really be accomplishing beyond entertainment?
Now I've quit preaching and "gone to meddling" I'm afraid. But I' ve been in a "conundrum" as to how to communicate these things to my younger Christian friends
and even to my contemporaries in the Church who see these things also, but have given up "bucking the tide." "Dressing down" have you noticed, has definitely caught on in the church by the way,so that "Sunday best" is almost entirely in moth balls.
Some of my readers (if there actually are any) may think that I have too much time to think, now that I'm retired. Well, no, I've been observing and pondering these things for years, and sometimes I think I'm going to explode! No,I'm just finally emerging out of my "conumdrum" to put my thoughts in print for the occasional person who may care to read them, and either resonate or debate with me. Seriously, I think the Church is in trouble. We give lipservice to the possibility that we are in the very Last Days but we're too distracted to focus on what the Bible is really saying about being salt and light in the culture, and "teaching and admonishing one another" about the "Face" we put on the Church as we see "the Day approaching." There is one old addage we used to hear a lot, which never was entirely true:"You can't judge a book by it's cover." Any publisher will tell you that a lot of thought, care and design is involved in book covers to help SELL the books. My next blog will concern itself with the "content" of our faith which is revealed (or not) before the world that "reads" us. Look for "BETWEEN THE COVERS."
For an ongoing commentary on Christians and Culture, you might like to check out some commentary by Googling Viewpoint by T.M. Moore.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Christian Citizenship
Into my second day of retirement, I thought I would resurrect the Blog site I started last year. As you can see, two postings are still available to read. I even corrected some spelling errors to "freshen them up" a bit.
Several people have asked me "what are you going to do with yourself, now?" My answers have varied, giving selected items from my "to do" list- which Ruth didn't write, by the way. But most of the time I cited "spend more time with Prison and inner city ministry." Sometimes I added, "become more active in Politics." That one got some surprised looks, and even one "reaction." But nobody has anything to fear; I have no desire to actually run for anything--I just want to help in some small ways to get the best people elected.
It's not easy to find a Bible verse to claim for working at politics. But, as we all should realize, government is ordained by God as a means of keeping (fallen) humanity in check. It's good that we have government even if too much-like now. But it would be horrible to have the opposite, which is anarchy. The reason for the Great Flood spoken of in Genesis gives us a peek at what anarchy would look like, I think. And an out of control government can produce anarchy,by the way.
It is easy to show that our forms of governance in this country had their roots in English Common Law, and other historical inputs, but most uniquely, had Biblical aspects, and clearly acknowledged accountability to Almighty God as our ultimate Sovereign. Even Deists like Jefferson believed and spoke to this point,and in the case of Jefferson-often.
Those of us who are citizens by birth or naturalization are actually part of the governments (Federal, State, and Local) of this country. We are known as "We the People".
Our basic function is to vote. In Australia I believe, those of voting age are "required" to vote. Maybe that is an omission in our Constitution for which we have paid a price. For in America, the "privilege" of voting is all too often neglected-as much by Christians as others, possibly.
Now, at this point in our country's history, we find ourselves in what is generally considered the "post Christian era." It is a time when "mutual consent" by people "of age" is the only criteria for sexual activity. Some judges care nothing
about the fact that the parent they decree to take a child of divorce is living an
immoral lifestyle. A President has the audacity to declare the month of June as National Gay,Lesbian,Bisexual, Transvestite month. Tax money is given in the multiple millions to organizations who murder the unborn, and write curricula for sex education courses that steal the innocence of young children and teach them that it's OK for "Jeannie to have two mommies."
You may be as well informed as I am about all that is transpiring presently to make this a much different world for our children and grandchildren than you have known up to now. But if you are turned off to talk radio, and your use of the computer is pretty much limited to Facebook and Twitter, may I suggest that you start "boning up" for the November elections by tuning in to Rush Limbaugh once in awhile, or accessing the Websites of American Family Instute, or their subsidiary, Pennsylvania Family Institute, or Focus on the Family Action? Another good source of information is Prison Fellowhip's "Breakpoint" commentary on WDAC each day,and in email from Prison Fellowship. Sometimes the most informative times on Rush's program are when he has people like Dr.Walter Williams or Mark Steyn fill in for him. But I really hope you don't become a talk radio "Junky."
The most important thing, if you belong to the Lord, is to be in constant prayer
for our Nation, and even our current leaders, many of whom are simply lost, no matter what religious label they like to claim.
This format allows you to comment. I'd really like to hear from you. Even if you disagree about something, that's fine. At my age, I need the mental exercise.
Several people have asked me "what are you going to do with yourself, now?" My answers have varied, giving selected items from my "to do" list- which Ruth didn't write, by the way. But most of the time I cited "spend more time with Prison and inner city ministry." Sometimes I added, "become more active in Politics." That one got some surprised looks, and even one "reaction." But nobody has anything to fear; I have no desire to actually run for anything--I just want to help in some small ways to get the best people elected.
It's not easy to find a Bible verse to claim for working at politics. But, as we all should realize, government is ordained by God as a means of keeping (fallen) humanity in check. It's good that we have government even if too much-like now. But it would be horrible to have the opposite, which is anarchy. The reason for the Great Flood spoken of in Genesis gives us a peek at what anarchy would look like, I think. And an out of control government can produce anarchy,by the way.
It is easy to show that our forms of governance in this country had their roots in English Common Law, and other historical inputs, but most uniquely, had Biblical aspects, and clearly acknowledged accountability to Almighty God as our ultimate Sovereign. Even Deists like Jefferson believed and spoke to this point,and in the case of Jefferson-often.
Those of us who are citizens by birth or naturalization are actually part of the governments (Federal, State, and Local) of this country. We are known as "We the People".
Our basic function is to vote. In Australia I believe, those of voting age are "required" to vote. Maybe that is an omission in our Constitution for which we have paid a price. For in America, the "privilege" of voting is all too often neglected-as much by Christians as others, possibly.
Now, at this point in our country's history, we find ourselves in what is generally considered the "post Christian era." It is a time when "mutual consent" by people "of age" is the only criteria for sexual activity. Some judges care nothing
about the fact that the parent they decree to take a child of divorce is living an
immoral lifestyle. A President has the audacity to declare the month of June as National Gay,Lesbian,Bisexual, Transvestite month. Tax money is given in the multiple millions to organizations who murder the unborn, and write curricula for sex education courses that steal the innocence of young children and teach them that it's OK for "Jeannie to have two mommies."
You may be as well informed as I am about all that is transpiring presently to make this a much different world for our children and grandchildren than you have known up to now. But if you are turned off to talk radio, and your use of the computer is pretty much limited to Facebook and Twitter, may I suggest that you start "boning up" for the November elections by tuning in to Rush Limbaugh once in awhile, or accessing the Websites of American Family Instute, or their subsidiary, Pennsylvania Family Institute, or Focus on the Family Action? Another good source of information is Prison Fellowhip's "Breakpoint" commentary on WDAC each day,and in email from Prison Fellowship. Sometimes the most informative times on Rush's program are when he has people like Dr.Walter Williams or Mark Steyn fill in for him. But I really hope you don't become a talk radio "Junky."
The most important thing, if you belong to the Lord, is to be in constant prayer
for our Nation, and even our current leaders, many of whom are simply lost, no matter what religious label they like to claim.
This format allows you to comment. I'd really like to hear from you. Even if you disagree about something, that's fine. At my age, I need the mental exercise.
Monday, June 29, 2009
I never got into the game Monopoly as a child. Perhaps if I had, it would have given me a taste for becoming heavily innvolved in the world of business and investment. It must give one a heady feeling to be able to buy and sell banks, real estate, car companies, and so forth- or to become a politician and really do this on a grand scale.
But Barack Hussein Obama is having a go at it in a most extraordinary way, and "Monopoly" is the perfect word to describe his game. He can even print as much money as he wants to do what he wants. As if he didn't already have enough favorable press to advertise and laud his massive "achievements", he now apparantly has his own in-(White)house television infomercial at his beck and call, courtesy of ABC.
How exhilerating it must have been for the President to declare the month of June National Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender month. The portion of our population that represents these perversions is estimated at only about 3%. That is a mighty strong endorsement for a tiny segment of society that is the highest contributer to our AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Disease epidemics, and he even complimented these folks for their efforts to "combat" AIDS, whatever that means.
Now we are well on our way to having an energy bill that will further choke industry in the United States, decimate the coal industry, and, as usual, ignore the proven advantages of developing Nuclear energy, in favor of windmills.
Yes, there will be a windmill near every garage housing a car so light and fuel efficient it will hve to be kept indoors, or tethered to keep it from being blown away. But wait! PETA will never permit those windmills! Birds will fly into them and be killed! Well, if taxes are raised high enough, those of us fortunate enough to be still working will take care of that problem-and more. Oh yes- everything is possible with Monopoly- even Universal Free Health Care.
I just read a letter from Senator Casey. Boy is he hyped! He says he and Barak have been so busy making speeches, and passing and signing bill after bill making "progress." He doesn't say what the progress is. Maybe he means higher unemployment- or is it better speeches, and thicker bills to guarantee that nobody can possibly read them the day they come to the floor of the House for a vote.
Forgive me folks,for the cynicism. But seriously now, we are in deep trouble in this country. If you are not already writing letters to polititians, and newspapers, and contributing to organizations like the Heritage Foundation, please do at least one of these things. The fact you are reading this blog tells me that you can find your way around the Internet. Listen to Hannnity and Glen Beck. Get informed. Help save our Nation and generations to come from this madness.
Very Sincerely,
Kenneth Scott Deaver
But Barack Hussein Obama is having a go at it in a most extraordinary way, and "Monopoly" is the perfect word to describe his game. He can even print as much money as he wants to do what he wants. As if he didn't already have enough favorable press to advertise and laud his massive "achievements", he now apparantly has his own in-(White)house television infomercial at his beck and call, courtesy of ABC.
How exhilerating it must have been for the President to declare the month of June National Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender month. The portion of our population that represents these perversions is estimated at only about 3%. That is a mighty strong endorsement for a tiny segment of society that is the highest contributer to our AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Disease epidemics, and he even complimented these folks for their efforts to "combat" AIDS, whatever that means.
Now we are well on our way to having an energy bill that will further choke industry in the United States, decimate the coal industry, and, as usual, ignore the proven advantages of developing Nuclear energy, in favor of windmills.
Yes, there will be a windmill near every garage housing a car so light and fuel efficient it will hve to be kept indoors, or tethered to keep it from being blown away. But wait! PETA will never permit those windmills! Birds will fly into them and be killed! Well, if taxes are raised high enough, those of us fortunate enough to be still working will take care of that problem-and more. Oh yes- everything is possible with Monopoly- even Universal Free Health Care.
I just read a letter from Senator Casey. Boy is he hyped! He says he and Barak have been so busy making speeches, and passing and signing bill after bill making "progress." He doesn't say what the progress is. Maybe he means higher unemployment- or is it better speeches, and thicker bills to guarantee that nobody can possibly read them the day they come to the floor of the House for a vote.
Forgive me folks,for the cynicism. But seriously now, we are in deep trouble in this country. If you are not already writing letters to polititians, and newspapers, and contributing to organizations like the Heritage Foundation, please do at least one of these things. The fact you are reading this blog tells me that you can find your way around the Internet. Listen to Hannnity and Glen Beck. Get informed. Help save our Nation and generations to come from this madness.
Very Sincerely,
Kenneth Scott Deaver
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Our Postmoral,Premillenial Era
I had a great-grandmother who emigrated to America from Germany at the age of 16. I lived with her and my grandparents one summer after my Dad was drafted into the army near the end of World War II. I have fond memories of her reading me Bible stories, and hearing her German coloquial sayings, such as, "allisis fercherten en der velt." (spelling uncertain)which meant,"everything is upside-down in the world." Truly it must have pained her that her Fatherland and her adopted country were locked in mortal combat, especially since she had known her country to be a "Christian" country, much as we liked to categorize the USA.
If Nana were living today, I don't know what her german words would be for the changes that have taken place in the world in terms of the devaluation of life, sexual "liberation",sexual perversions and all of the efforts of educators and governments to
dignify, legalize and protect them, contrary to nature and the laws of God. Just reading the new website of the Presidant of the United States as to the intentions of this administration makes my hair stand on end.
We now seem to be entering an era not unlike the one first century Christians experienced- except for our harnessing of cyberspace to enable us to learn everything about everything, good and bad. The question posed by Christian philosopher/theologian Francis Schaeffer,"How shall we then live?" is more appropriate than ever.
Those of us who love God, having experienced the Grace of redemption
have no less resources to "shine as lights" in such a world as the early Christians had. (Philippians 2:15) Indeed, the Apostle Paul was writing about this from a Roman Prison,where clues in his writings indicate that he effectively evangelized his rotation of guards. Take note of Philippians 4:22 where he passes on the greetings of the "saints"-"chiefly they that are of Ceasar's household."
Some of us recall the era of the 70's and early 80's when we thought that Bible believers had the "Moral Majority." I don't think Jerry Falwell thought we were about to bring on the Millenium,
but hopes seemed high that the nation's moral slide could be significantly slowed. If indeed it did, the downward slide has since picked up a lot of momentum, now greatly aided by governance that rules out the supremacy of God's Law.
The sixth chapter of Ephesians, also written by Paul from prison, gives us much food for thought as we contemplate the spiritual warfare which is heating up all around us, especially verses 11-18.
He had already spoken to the Philippian saints in the first chapter about the cost of his discipleship, and that unto them "it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." Christians in many parts of the world are already living out this mandate,BIG TIME. Christ may come at any moment to snatch us out of this evil world. But our seeming immunity to the tribulations of our brethren may be lifted for a time before we experience the Rapture. What do you think? I'd really like to know your views.
If Nana were living today, I don't know what her german words would be for the changes that have taken place in the world in terms of the devaluation of life, sexual "liberation",sexual perversions and all of the efforts of educators and governments to
dignify, legalize and protect them, contrary to nature and the laws of God. Just reading the new website of the Presidant of the United States as to the intentions of this administration makes my hair stand on end.
We now seem to be entering an era not unlike the one first century Christians experienced- except for our harnessing of cyberspace to enable us to learn everything about everything, good and bad. The question posed by Christian philosopher/theologian Francis Schaeffer,"How shall we then live?" is more appropriate than ever.
Those of us who love God, having experienced the Grace of redemption
have no less resources to "shine as lights" in such a world as the early Christians had. (Philippians 2:15) Indeed, the Apostle Paul was writing about this from a Roman Prison,where clues in his writings indicate that he effectively evangelized his rotation of guards. Take note of Philippians 4:22 where he passes on the greetings of the "saints"-"chiefly they that are of Ceasar's household."
Some of us recall the era of the 70's and early 80's when we thought that Bible believers had the "Moral Majority." I don't think Jerry Falwell thought we were about to bring on the Millenium,
but hopes seemed high that the nation's moral slide could be significantly slowed. If indeed it did, the downward slide has since picked up a lot of momentum, now greatly aided by governance that rules out the supremacy of God's Law.
The sixth chapter of Ephesians, also written by Paul from prison, gives us much food for thought as we contemplate the spiritual warfare which is heating up all around us, especially verses 11-18.
He had already spoken to the Philippian saints in the first chapter about the cost of his discipleship, and that unto them "it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." Christians in many parts of the world are already living out this mandate,BIG TIME. Christ may come at any moment to snatch us out of this evil world. But our seeming immunity to the tribulations of our brethren may be lifted for a time before we experience the Rapture. What do you think? I'd really like to know your views.
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