Opus 2018-281: Another Drone, RIP

If you find my drone, just leave it on the front porch.  The last time we saw it was as it passed over the house, still rising but heading toward the valley.  It was an impressive flight.

I received it as a gift from my kids and my son was the pilot in “control” when it made its break for freedom.  We flew it in the house a bit and then went for the challenge of the great outdoors.  Unfortunately the winds of Texas were more than we bargained for. 

We looked in the trees and down the hill.  We talked to the neighbors and they had lost one over Thanksgiving and evidently the guy down the road had lost one recently.  I had hopes it would be like looking for my golf ball.  Often when I can’t find mine I find someone else’s.  I wonder how many drones are waiting out in the wilderness for someone to find them?

It was fun while it lasted.  If I was a ten year old boy I would be shattered.  Being older and wiser, I shrug my shoulders and get on with life.  The kids will probably buy me another one so they can play with it.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-280: Christmas Cat

Was there a cat at the Incarnation?  I have never made a study of the art work for the birth of Jesus but it would seem that a realistic depiction of a stable would have a few cats for catching mice and other pests.  That was their primary function and they are a part of farm life.

The reason I am focusing on cats is that my wife will soon be returning from Japan, she is in the air as I write, and I am afraid that the cat will not transfer its affection back to her.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not a cat hater.  I am also not an animal lover.  I can enjoy your animal at your home where you clean up and provide when you are out of town.  I don’t enjoy them enough to want to do that myself.

If she had been gone a day or two this would not be a problem.  As it is the cat seems to have imprinted on me.  She sleeps on or near me.  She follows me around the house.  She seems to be my constant companion.  What am I going to do if this is permanent.  My wife will then want to get another cat.  The animal has now taken a position on my desk where she can stare at me.

Maybe this will last until I travel to Japan and the cat can imprint back.

I hope not.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-279: Transition

I started this on Thanksgiving evening.  “Today is one of the happiest days of the year.  It is now officially acceptable to play Christmas music.  The rule is that as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over you can take the plunge.  Most are not ready for it then, but it is still within the range of civilized behavior.”

Although it is days later I want you to know you have my permission to begin celebrating Advent and Christmas.  You can even move on to Epiphany it you want.  A few years ago the kids got me one of those bluetooth speakers that have a rechargeable battery.  Since none of our old cars have auxiliary inputs, let along USB ports, I learned that I can plug my old I-Pod into the speaker, turn it up and enjoy everything I want to hear as I drive.  I also have it all on a flash drive that I plug into a little bookshelf unit I have in my bedroom and it will scramble and play. 

So even days later I still have things to be thankful for.

Merry Christmas or Happy Incarnation Day.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-278: How Do You Know if You Are Sick?

I am back.  I am not sure you noticed I was gone but 24 hours after arriving at the home where we celebrated Thanksgiving, I started to fade.  I assume it was some sort of flu with muscle aches and such.  I did little except sleep for about 48 hours with a couple of cups of soup squeezed in.  I am sure you have had such an experience but it has been along time for me.  I have been doing blogs for eight years and I have never before missed a day because I was too sick to think.

Several indicators told me it was real.  For one I experienced no hunger and did not think about food from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.  For another I never even opened my computer.  When I was napping in my chair I never picked up a book.  I had no interest in turning on the Christmas music.

Since I am not 30 any more, nor 40, nor 50, nor 60, I expect that it will be a gradual return to what is normal for the 71 year old man.  It is hard to know at times if there is really something wrong or if it is just an unsupported hardware system. 

Whom do I blame?  It could have been the toddler or the teenager at the home.  It could have been the vegetable tray we got at the local store.  It could have been a government plot to put me out of action while they took over the country.  It could have been I forgot to wash my hands at a key point in my activities. 

Now it is on to advent.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-277: Thanksgiving, Really?

I wonder how many people sit down to a big feast today and never seriously think about being thankful.  Of course one of the reasons is that since they don’t really believe in a personal God, whom do they thank?  I guess some might ask, “What do they thank?”  Can you picture a thanksgiving day in the Empire of Star Wars?  How would you thank the Force for your blessings?  Which side of the Force?  Or both?  I know that some people might thank the wind for blowing but it seems kind of empty unless you believe the wind is aware of your thanks.

There is a reason that some refer to Turkey Day.  That is the center of their festivity.  They don’t seem to be aware that you can buy turkeys at other times of the year.  And what do you do if you can’t afford a big turkey and all the trimmings?

To me Thanksgiving Day is just another day in some ways.  I have a morning ritual that begins with looking at a description of the Last Supper.

(1 Corinthians 11:23-4 KJV)  ...the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Part of what I do is remind myself that if Jesus could be thankful knowing that the cross was coming, how much more could I be thankful living in America in the 21st century.  I am aware of the forecasts of doom and gloom.  I know that the socialist goons are doing everything they can to disrupt our society.  I am aware of the cesspool of public entertainment.  But I have a context.  My context is not this week or even this century.  My context is eternity and the Big Picture.  I know that there is a God who is in charge and has a plan.

In addition to that my life is swamped with blessings.  I think that those of us who are aware of the big picture are also more aware of our blessings.  I am enjoying the day.  I have blessings of family and friends.  The heater works and the roof does not leak.  My pacemaker is still working and no one has refused to accept my credit card. 

And I know the One who I am thanking.

Rejoice and enjoy the day.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-276: Baby Talk: Distractions

I was reminded of another reason why many people like to have the babies in the nursery instead of in the worship service on Sunday morning.  Sometimes they are more interesting than the sermon.

I found myself sitting behind a young couple with their baby on Sunday.  She was a cute little kid.  She was not as cute as my granddaughter, but I did not tell her mother that.  I found that I had to work at listening to the sermon instead of making faces at the baby.  She we responsive and seemed to have plenty of extra smiles so it was hard.  I found she was about two months younger than mine. 

I also was reminded of why some people would rather work in the nursery than be in the service.  In the nursery they don’t have to endure that “go around and greet everyone” moment that seems to be so popular in churches today.  I have always felt that if people really cared about talking to me they would come early, stay late or call me during the week.  I have six days and 23 hours for them to talk to me each week.  I only get an hour to experience congregational singing and the preaching of the words I need to be hearing.  But I am polite.

The sermon was on “thanks” because it was Thanksgiving Week.  See, I was listening.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-275: Don’t Ask if You Don’t Want

Be careful what you ask for. 

Now and then I have people who ask me to pray for them.  I am not sure they really want that.  I might include the concern they have but only as an add-on to my basic pattern.  I had developed my way of lifting people up and did not realize where it came from until my wife was in the hospital one time.  The chaplain came and as he prayed for her I could tell what he was doing and it became clear where I got it.  It came from Jesus.

(Mark 12:30 KJV)  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And He got it from the Old Testament.

(Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV)  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

My prayers for people follow the body, soul, mind, spirit path.  I put it different ways but I cover all of them because if they were important to Jesus, they are important to me.  I always start with salvation since everything else is a dead end street without it.

So unless you want the whole package, don’t ask for the pretty wrapping.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-274: Instant Coffee Socialism

I don’t know who it was that originally got me to check out the Daily Time Waster but I find myself wasting time daily at the site.  One of the things it does is show you new products.  Today is had some kind of deluxe box cutter.  Does the world really need a new box cutter?  That is the result of this thing called liberty, also known as free enterprise and capitalism.

It was not a new thought.  The awesome reality hits me every once in awhile.  Do you want a clear example of the difference between socialism and free enterprise?  Go to Amazon or Walmart and check out all the different varieties available.  Or go to the grocery store and check out all the different brands and styles of coffee.  In the banana republics and workers’ paradises you will probably be lucky to get instant coffee let alone five choices of espresso. 

We live in a world of plenty.  Remember that people classified as poor in America live better than the vast majority of people in the world. 

Rejoice, be glad and enjoy it while you still can.  Remember that the Progressive socialist Democrats want to make these decisions for you and they are on the rise.  When _______ is redistributed then no one will have ______, except the elite decision makers.  Fill in the blanks any way you want.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-273: Headlines: Letting Jimmy Have His Way

It would seem that the solution to the Jim Acosta temper tantrum is simple.  Give him his press pass back and stop having press conferences.  We used to call it “all dressed up and no place to go”.  Or give him his press pass back and stop taking any questions.  The president could also call in small groups of reporters or give one-on-one interviews on a daily basis. 

How about giving the Acosta his own personal interview with the president.  Then President Trump could sit drinking a diet Coke and saying nothing but, “No comment.”  What an exclusive that would be.

It is obvious that this “reporter” went to pubic school where he was repeatedly told he was special and allowed to disrupt class any time he did not get the bathroom pass.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-272: Headlines: You Sly Fox, You

It is official.  Fox has reached down into its orientation basket and decided it identifies as liberal.  It was actually an easier transition than that of Bruce Jenner.  According to Don Surber, Fox has joined all the other liberal lip-sinc “news” outlets in demanding Jim Acosta get his press pass back.

My only contacts with Fox News came in two forms.  The most regular was on Sunday mornings as I would walk through the room and catch a bit of the morning broadcast from Fox.  The second was on vacation when I was quarantined in one room with someone who loved TV.  I had to put up with 24 hour blather.  It was either some version of Flip a House or Fox News.  At the time Fox was interesting except for the view from the plantation presented by Juan Williams.  I guess he was there for comedy relief.

When I started going to Fox on the internet I began to see the drift taking place.  Headlines from the left moved from occasional to routine.  A liberal spin on the posts replaced “fair and balanced”.  I have not deleted the link yet but I rarely use it any more. 

I guess now it is official.  We have lost Fox.  Now we need to keep from losing Florida.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-271: Is Compromise Possible?

The internet has a lot of talk about another civil war.  That is real and horrifying at the same time.  Civil wars are the most brutal kinds of fighting.  You may not understand it but the American Civil War had more casualties than all of our other wars combined.  It literally turned brother against brother.  We are engaged in a generally non-violent civil war now.  The exceptions of course are the actions of the left as they try to escalate to the point of reprisals from conservatives.  Let us hope they don’t get what they want.  They are not out to build a better America.  They are out to destroy a system that has brought unprecedented prosperity, security and opportunity to the masses.  They cannot stand the fact that they cannot be in total control.  If they can bring us to their level then they know they have destroyed the unique experiment of the American Republic and transformed us into a police state.  Such is the norm for history.

The real issue in 1860 was states rights.  The question was, “Do states have a right to make their own rules or does the federal government have ultimate power?”  The South tried to reject central control by withdrawing from the Union.  Lincoln first tried the peaceful response of ignoring their withdrawal.  Then came Fort Sumter and the carnage escalated. 

For the South is was always about rejecting centralized control from Washington, D.C.  To this day the people below the Mason-Dixon line call it the War of Northern Aggression.  This is a rather accurate description.  Most of the fighting was done in the South by Northern armies invading. 

The war did not blossom over night.  It was not a sudden thing.  It had been festering for decades over a number of issues.  The trigger issues varied.  Slavery was one of the hot buttons that went back to the original Constitution.  Several Southern states refused to join if slavery was banned.  The issue was hotly debated at the Constitutional Convention.  The Southerners at that time seemed to understand that slavery needed to end but wanted time to adjust their economies and cultures.

Tarriffs were another source of anger.  The North had factories.  They wanted the Southerners to buy their products but it was cheaper to import them from England.  When the industrial states got enough power they raised tariffs and forced the South to buy American.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?  Can you say, “Steel”?  The nation wanted a railroad to go across the continent.  Where did you build it?  Did you put it in the north to benefit the industrial states or in the south to advance cotton?  There have always been sectional rivalries. 

Today the issue will not be states’ rights because things are so mixed.  Every state with a large city has a pocket of liberal politics  If you look at the different maps of elections with their blue and red you notice that it is not so much a difference in states as a difference between urban and rural.  The next civil war may be over the Electoral College which in reality determines whether the big cities run the country or will fly-over country still have a say.

The triggers are many:  Abortion, Second Amendment, gay marriage, immigration, health care, taxes, welfare, affirmative action, the list goes on.  The problem isn’t even that different people have different opinions.  The problem is that there are always groups that want to force their views on everyone.  Will the left push hard enough and fast enough to trigger the majority of Americans who just want to be left alone?

I hope I don’t live to find out but my children will certain see how the story unfolds.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-270: Act II

Intermission is over.  It is time to get to the next act in the blockbuster play, If You Can Keep It.  I refer of course to the antidote in which Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government we would have.  He is reported to have answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.”  It is becoming questionable whether we can keep it.  I am not sure that too many want to try.

The intermission was a two year period where the Republicans controlled congress and the presidency.  During that time you had a Supreme Court with Justice Kennedy providing the mystery and the others voting as expected.  It was a time to get things done.  Donald Trump did his part.  He has done everything he could as an executive.  He has kept his promises.  He has been repeatedly stabbed in the back by the Republican establishment.  Just think what could have been done on health care, immigration, regulation, voter fraud, the right to bear arms, etc if the RINOs had not been such RINOs.  We dreamed and that is about all we got out of them.

Will the new make up in the Senate perform as hoped?  We will see.  There is some hope but keep in mind that Mitt Romney is not exactly Trump’s BFF.  I take some hope in the belief that Romney is basically a decent guy.  If Ted and Donald can kiss and make up for the good of the country, maybe Mitt will join in.  We also hold our breaths to see if Lindsey Graham 2.0 stays the same or has another metamorphosis. 

The curtain is about to rise.  Watch carefully.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-269: Levels of Honor

Most veterans do not deserve to be honored as heroes.  What they need to be honored for is their sense of responsibility, duty and willingness to sacrifice.  Both are of great value to the country.

I am a veteran.  I served in Vietnam.  I was in places where people had been killed.  It was a genuine war zone.  At the same time, I am not a hero.  I never knew the horrors of combat or the sickening fear that someone might be drawing a bead on me.  Although there was some risk of death the greatest danger I had was boredom.  I don’t mind being thanked for my service but the real honor should be reserved for the warriors.

All warriors did not choose to be warriors.  In the Vietnam war most soldiers were drafted.  The honor comes from responding to the call of duty.  We did not seek exotic deferments or head to Canada.  After your physical it was pretty much the luck of the draw.  I went through training with men who had enlisted to be clerks so they would be spared combat.  My guess is that once in Vietnam many of them found they were handed a rifle and told to get in line.  To their credit, most served with honor.

Keep in mind that for every fighter pilot there are hundreds in support.  For every Ranger or Seal there are at least dozens in the background.  All serve.  Some give much more than others.  Some give the ultimate.

So I honor the warriors out there, past and present.  I who served, thank you for your service.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-268: Gauntlet Time

I, like many Americans, do not have a clue to what is going on in Florida and Arizona.  Everything I read comes from one side or the other but it is strange how the same areas have so much trouble counting votes and always seem to find piles of uncounted Democrat votes after the Republicans win an election.

Now is the time to throw down the gauntlet of the law.  Or else this is the time to shut up and slink away.  As conservatives we are supposed to believe in the rule of law.  We are against rule by fiat or personality.  There are rules and they should be followed.  One of the basics of life is that you never win a game when only your opponent is allowed to cheat. 

So put up or shut up.  If the duly elected election officials of Broward County have been ignoring the laws passed to govern the validity of elections then here is what we do:  Arrest, Arraign, Indict, Try, Jail.  It is pretty simple.  Do it.  If there is no indictment or conviction then either you are full of hot air or you are incompetent.  If there is no significant jail time then you are part of the problem. 

The alternative is not acceptable to conservatives.  One of the character attributes of true conservatives is integrity.  I don’t mean just talking about it.  I mean living it.  We refuse to cheat.  We refuse to get violent until every other course has been followed.  We are patient and try to work through the system.  We cannot honestly cry “foul” until we have actually worked the system.

So use the law.  If we are forced to the alternative then we have lost because violent vigilante action usually ends up destroying the system it sets out to protect.

What does the arrogant rule breaker often say when caught in the act?  “So sue me.”  Do it.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-267: Election 2020: More Rope, Please

I have a suggestion for the conservatives in the House.  Vote as a block for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.  Or maybe they could get Maxine Waters to step in.  These two have spouted so much hate and violence that we need to keep them in the limelight.  America does not seem to have started to pay attention yet. 

Of course that brings up the question of how clear the Democrats will need to get on their agenda of violence and socialism before the common folk of Pennsylvania, New York, California, etc. get the idea.  It may be that nothing will wake them up because they are already aware of what is going on and approve.  Once you get on the dole and adjust to living off the productivity of others it is hard to start being responsible.

Many conspiracy types are forecasting an economic collapse.  At some point the paper money will become useless and then we shall really find out what hard times are like.  The thing about that is I have been hearing about that for over 20 years and we don’t seem to be any closer than we were then.

Will 2020 be any different?  Stay tuned and stock up on canned goods.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-266: Headlines: Today’s Crisis

Don’t you love the talking point of the left about the current “Constitutional Crisis”?  This one is over Trump asking for Sessions’ resignation.  It is always interesting that the socialists who ignore the Constitution all of the time get so into it when they think it can help them.  They might want to read it.  They count on the masses never having done so.  I am still waiting to hear the source in the Constitution which says that the president cannot fire anyone who is not elected. 

The Senate has a say in who is approved.  Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution lays out the basis of that.

“He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the supreme court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law.  But the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the president alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.”

You notice that the cabinet is not specifically mentioned but most agree it would be included. 

The mysterious crisis that the left if finding has to do with the president firing a cabinet member, not appointing one.  Historically this was dealt with in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.  One of his cabinet members was basically a seditious spy for Radical Republicans.  He was making it impossible for Johnson to do his job, so he fired the man.  Congress said, “You can’t do that” and started impeachment procedures.  It failed by one vote in the Senate and thus you would assume that precedent says the president can fire. 

This is the kind of nonsense that you can expect from a political party that finds the right to an abortion in the Constitution but can’t find the right to bear arms.

It is a moot point anyway.  Sessions was not “fired” he was asked to resign, and he did.

The Democrats have not even finished contesting elections and already the push to make us a banana republic is moving forward.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-265: On the Street: Being Accepted

You know you are becoming part of the community when the dogs stop barking at you.  When I first started walking in my new community the dogs would throw themselves at the fence like they knew I was from California.  The next dog down the street would be alerted and ready for me as I walked by. 

Now they don’t even bother getting up.  If they do come they only give me a little “woof” of hello.  It is good to be accepted.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-264: Election 2018: Scratching My Head

I was hoping for better news on the House of Representatives but it looks like most of the races were won by significant enough numbers to demonstrate the will of the voters.  I know how they voted and it was very frustrating to watch all of those seats flip to the party of hate.  It really just reinforces my view of a nation that elected Clinton and Obama and repeated the nonsense. 

Business as usual, but I really can’t figure out some of the results.

I now live in Texas.  I came here to get away from politicians like Beto O’Rouke.  He is an empty suit that disagrees with the values and culture of Texas on just about every issue.  He lost as he should.  The thing that mystifies me is that he came so close.  According to the latest information from the Secretary of State he received 48.32 compared to Cruz at 50.89.  ??????  Pick an issue.  Guns, he was against them.  Abortions, he was for them.  Open borders was his theme.  Go on down the list and he sounded like he could have won in California.  He came close enough to be scary.

And look at Arizona.  According to Real Clear Politics McSally is less than one percent ahead of a Democrat who said Arizona voters were crazy and had no problem with people joining ISIS to fight against America.  This should have been a runaway situation.  Of course this is the state that kept returning John McCain, Mr. RINO, to the senate.  You need to factor in all the liberals fleeing their model socialist state to the west.  Still, where are the Americans?

I can understand Virginia moving blue.  Northern Virginia is simply an overflow for the swamp of D.C.  Their gravy train in on the line.  What I can’t understand is Pennsylvania.  Four districts switched to the swamp support by sizable margins.  Have they ever heard of coal?

We will move on.  Divided government is part of the checks and balances that the Founding Fathers envisioned.  It is probably healthy.  So are Brussel sprouts.  It doesn’t mean I have to like them.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-263: Election 2018: Day of Hope

This is a day of hope.  Today Americans have the choice to make their voices heard or to sit back and do nothing.  One of the benefits of our system is that we have a choice and we are not forced to exercise it. 

I am optimistic.  I hope that the numbers at the end of the day are good for the America I envision.  I am aware that there are a lot of people who are so brainwashed and ignorant that they don’t recognize the danger of socialism and the tyranny it produces.  I am aware that they don’t have any idea of economics and so many are employed or supported by government jobs and largess that they think money grows on trees.  They forget that leaves also grow on trees and most leaves are of no value except mulch.

I am still optimistic.  I have Hope because God is on the throne.  I do not assume that America is God’s chosen people.  That position was given to Israel and I have not heard about it being reassigned.  At the same time there are still a lot of people living in obedience and faith.  I know that the country survived FDR, Jimmy, WJC and BHO.  We can outlast the demagogues and self appointed messiahs because overall our system is robust and there are still enough of a righteous remnant that I believe God is not done with us as a country.  People came through the Great Depression.  We can not only survive but thrive in what is coming.

That gives me hope about the future no matter how the numbers come out. 

My hope is not in the American people.  These are the same people who elected Bill Clinton twice and Barak Obama twice.  This is a country that almost elected Al Gore.  This is a country in which the major media outlets have not gone bankrupt and people who know better are still going to Starbuck’s and eating Ben and Jerry’s.

God is patient.  I hope that tomorrow will bring good news about politics.  I know today brings good news about eternity.

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-262: Because, Gorges, Part 2 of 2

What do I do with the Sabbath. 

(Exodus 20:8-11 KJV)  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Again, that is pretty clear and I am not sure any of us try to pay attention to it.  I have a feeling that if we did the shopping malls and restaurants would start closing up one day a week.

I could make the defense that I am not a Jew and this is the Law, thus it does not apply to me.  That does not work too well because if I can do that with the Sabbath I can also do it to stealing and adultery, if you catch my drift.  While I feel comfortable doing that with the ceremonial law I can’t do it with the moral law.

So lets go literal.  What is the purpose of the Sabbath?  It seems clear that it is a day of rest.  It is a day for no work.  Notice that there is no mention of worship, synagogue or temple.  God did not go to church on Saturday, He rested.  He stopped His work of creation.

So the Sabbath is to be a day of rest.  I will admit that we do not honor that.  I could go along with the idea that we do no work on Saturday.  Maybe that is where the church has missed it.  We have taken Saturday to be the day we catch up on chores and called Sunday a day of rest.  Then on Sunday we wear ourselves out doing church stuff.  In the process we don’t have a day of rest.  Now that I am retired I could easily avoid any work on Saturday and still go to church on Sunday.  That would leave me five days to get everything done on the “honey-do” list.  If you are working you don’t have that luxury. 

Modern appointment calendars may solve the problem for me.  If you have bought one you have noticed that they are now making Monday the first day of the week and putting Sunday at the end.  They do it because it saves space on the format that puts a week on two pages.  Personally I think it is also done to kick the Lord’s Day off the beginning of the week.  It will be interesting to see if it ever spreads to the monthly calendars people have on their walls.

I see the Sabbath as Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.  I see Sunday as the Lord’s Day.  One should be for rest and the other for worship.

Until I work that out, just call me “inconsistent”. 

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-261: Because, Gorges, Part 1 of 2

Recently Gorges of Gorges Grouse got a bit upset with me and my inconsistency.  He stopped short of the word “hypocrisy” but you could see it wanting to jump out between the lines.  In case you don’t bother with reading comments, here is what he had to say,

“So why do you deny the TRUE Sabbath, but then stick the commandments for it on the FIRST day of the week? And please don't use the silly argument that man can choose any day he wants for “‘the Sabbath.’”

He has a point.  This is what the Bible has to say.

(Exodus 20:8-11 KJV)  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

That seems pretty straight forward. 

Of course we also need to point out some conflicts that Jesus had about the Sabbath.  One is found in Mark 2:23-28. 

(Mark 2:23-4 KJV)  And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.  And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

The law allowed people to take enough grain from a field to deal with their hunger so we are not looking at theft or trespass.  What the Pharisees got upset about was that plucking grain was work and that meant that they were working on the Sabbath.  If you understand the passage in Exodus rigidly, then Jesus was breaking the Law.  Yet He answers them to point out an understanding that I am not sure we get yet.

(Mark 2:27 KJV)  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

The Sabbath rest was not a burden that God put on His people.  It was a protection that He demanded for their lives.  They were not to work themselves into the ground.  Notice that it applied even to the cattle.  If it were written today it might apply to our automobiles.  God knew about type A people who never rest.  He knew that such behavior was bad for us.  To He called a Sabbath rest.

Like all Biblical laws, there is a good reason for them.

To be continued...

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