Comments from the Harris County D.A. concerning the murder of Deputy Goforth.
Sheriff
Out-Rage-Us: Purveyors of Religious Intolerance
When some people see it, thy see more than one—they see two. What do you see when you see the word “outrage?” Do you see “out” and “rage?”
Some people try to understand the etymology of outrage by defining it in the context of “out” and “rage.” To do so is to misunderstand the origins of the word. Early usage of the word is traced from the Middle English sense of a “lack of moderation” back to its Latin roots of “ultra” or “beyond,” and it has little to do with “out” and “rage.”
Even though I understand the meaning and the roots of outrage, to simply say that the religiously intolerant exhibit a “lack of moderation” seems grossly inadequate. It seems there is a radical element that has little more than an elementary understanding of their religion. To espouse the idea of peace and love and then kill in the name of religion is outrageous.
Two recent incidents serve as an example:
- The terrorist activity in France and the cold-blooded attack on Charlie Hebdo and the team of cartoonists who focused on satire.
- The massacre of innocents by Boko Haram which, according to Amnesty International, has resulted in the death of some 2,000 people in Nigeria.
As I said late last week:
It seems unreasonable that someone can be offended by cartoons, but at the same time promote rape, beheadings, hostage taking, forced marriages, genital mutilation, and suicide bombings
What happened to a simple life based on the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The Abu Dawud offers the Golden rule in these words: “Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourselves.”
The world will be a better place when we stop out-raging people and begin out-loving them.
Pray For The French
Je soutiens le français et je prie pour vous. I’ll say it again in English: I support the French and I pray for you.
I have posted links to three articles that I have read this morning, and I wanted to make them available to you. If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may already have these links.// 0){} }window.NeoGV=window.NeoGV||{};NeoGV.startTime=(new Date()).getTime();
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Article Two: We are not all Charlie:
Article Three: The Majority of the world must stop this form of radicalized religion:
Je soutiens le français et je prie pour vous. I’ll say it again in English: I support the French and I pray for you.
2015: A New Year of Decision
The last chance to do something with the opportunities of 365 days of 2014 is gone, over, and lost. The 8,760 hours have ticked-tocked themselves away, and they have joined Grandfather Time in the hallowed halls of history.
At the stroke of midnight, the future became present, and it gifted us with a new year full of fresh opportunities and precarious choices. The challenge of 2015 is to recognize the divergent path that lies within each decision you will make.
This divergence is seen in the lucid language of David as he chronicles the lives of the blessed man and the ungodly. Notice the distinctive contrasts between the two. As you read this first Psalm on this first day of 2015, I hope it will inspire you to be discriminating in the decisions you make, and resolve to live the blessed life throughout this year.
Psalm One (Amplified Version) . . .
1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
4 Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor [b]sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].
6 For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).
The Iconic Brain or Do Smartphones Make You Smarter?
In the world of information technology the term icon is about as outdated as a dial phone. In the not so distant past, the images on the screen of your computer were called “ICONS.” From a religious perceptive, the word means “a window to heaven.” From the viewpoint of technology “ICON” was used in reference to a window to an application.
The ICON has been buried in the bone yard of outdated computer technology and replaced by the APP. The birth of the APP has walked in step with the proliferation of smartphones.
A story in US News & World Report has examined a study on the correlation between finger and thumb dexterity and the development of the sensory processing component of your brain while using a smartphone. Each part of your body, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, “has a corresponding ‘processing area’ in the emotional center of the brain, a region known as the somatosensory cortex.”
This function of the brain is often referred to as “sensory processing,” and it is the ability of the brain to interpret the information it has received, so it can prioritize and emphasize the components of the data; decide how to understand what is going on; and, decide what you will do based on the information received and processed.
Researchers used an EEG to study the brain activity of 37 people while they were using their cell phones:
- 26 were using touch-screen smartphones
- 11 were sing traditional cellphones with keypads
The study was able to distinguish between the length of time the subject had owned a smartphone and the frequency with it had been used. The change in the brain was associated more with how frequently the smartphone was used over a 10 day period than just owning the phone and using it periodically.
Here’s a thought or two to keep you thinking:
- How can these findings be applied to your life?
- Is it more important to pray for a long time every now and then or to have short frequent prayers every day?
- How does your prayer life mold and reshape the sensory processing region of your brain?
Perhaps this is one of the reasons Paul instructed the Christian to “pray without ceasing.”
DDT: Harmful or Healthy?
DDT is an abbreviation for the pesticide known as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane that was banned in 1972 due to its harmful effects on the environment and its connection as a cancer-causing agent. It was effective, but also deadly.
In recent years there has been a renaissance of interest and a growing fan-base in DDT. This form of DDT (Dirt Detection Technology) is not considered deadly, but very effective and healthy.
DDT is now associated with the IBOT Roomba series of vacuum cleaners. It uses Dirt Detection Technology (DDT) to distinguish between the cleaner and dirtier areas of a room, so it can use its patented 3 stage cleaning system to deep clean where needed.
As I read about the properties of this property cleaning device, I thought of God’s 3 stage cleaning system:
- The Holy Spirit: “He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).”
- The Word: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).”
- Prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).”
Casual cleaning is not always enough to get the job done. Instead of sweeping the dust under the carpet, we need to employ God’s 3 stage system of cleaning–DDT will get the job done.
The Testing of Character
While listening to a discussion, I heard a comment made about a particular person: “He comes from a family that has never suffered from a shortage of self-esteem, and he oozes narcissism.” That comment reminded me that a trainload of healthy habits can be derailed by a single character flaw.
A good example of someone whose character was tested and remained unblemished is Daniel. In the book that bears his name, we are told that, “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.”
As a captive in a foreign land, Daniel found himself in a difficult position. He had to find a way to comply but not deny. How could he obey a king and stay faithful to the King of kings?
Daniel followed the edicts of King Nebuchadnezzar until it came to eating the food from the his table. Because the food had been offered to Babylonian idols and most likely violated dietary restrictions, Daniel tactfully refused to eat it.
The tension for Daniel was a decision between compromised compliance and righteous reliance. Would his character be solid or soiled?
In Psalm 105, there is a historical account of the mysterious workings of God and the way he used Joseph. It is apparent that God took the time to develop the character of Joseph:
When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions.
Like Joseph, Paul was stalwart and steadfast in his service to God. His faith was unshakable, and his character was resolute. These qualities give credence to his words in Romans 5:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Take a few moments to think about the role of faith, hope, and endurance and the manner in which they influence your character.
#ephesians4:32
Forward with Forgiveness in Ferguson
Let there be no more resentment, no more anger or temper, no more violent self-assertiveness, no more slander and no more malicious remarks, Be kind to each other, be understanding. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you ~Ephesians 4:32
Forgiving is Forward Living
A Christmas Riddle
Is the myth of Santa a riddle or a taradiddle? The contrasting stories I saw yesterday certainly paint different pictures of old St. Nick:
- Story #1: Georgia Church Posts Message Saying ‘Santa Is Satan’
- Story #2: Secret Santas in Massachusetts Pay Thousands of Dollars to Close Out All Layaway Orders at Three Toys ‘R’ Us Stores
- Story #3: Ho Ho No: School bans Santa from winter concert
- Story #4: Santa and his elves wash windows at Mission Hospital
It seems that people have different opinions of the red-suited giver of gifts. Is he the demon or the delight of December? Is he charming or harming to our children. Is he innocent folklore or a fatuous troll?
A Pew Research survey released in December of 2013 found that Santa is not just a childhood fixation:
- 69% of parents with at least one child under age 18 said they planned to pretend that old St. Nick would visit their house on Christmas Eve.
- 22% of parents who don’t have kids that believe in Santa still expected to participate by gift-giving in Santa’s name.
- 11% of people who don’t celebrate Christmas still planned to get a visit from Santa.
Frank Riga, emeritus professor of English at Canisius College, says the myth of Santa Claus can enhance creativity and imagination in children.
Our focus needs to be on more than Santa and enhancing creativity and imagination. A new survey (Pew Research) suggests that most Americans report a belief in the biblical Christmas story as historical events that actually occurred. Nearly 75% of Americans believe:
- Jesus Christ was born of a virgin
- Angels appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus
- Wise men were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus
- 80% of the adults in the USA believe the newborn baby Jesus was laid in a manger.
What will be your main focus this Christmas season? Will it be the red-suited Claus or the angelic clause?
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12
Linguistics and Liars
A Southern Gospel Revival is a band that I like. Ben Hester sings and plays guitar for this group, and he gives a fine performance of the song In the Sweet By and By.
As I was listening to this song this morning, it reminded me of an incident at the Kansas State Fair. I was watching a demonstration and closely listening to the fine-honed monologue of the salesman. As he finished his demonstration, he displayed a toothy grin and waved to us saying: “This is the end of our demonstration, so I want to say “bye-bye,” and I want to thank you for coming. Bye now!”
His use of the word “bye” was a clever display of linguistics and the subtle use of a homophone. On one level the crowd was thinking: “Gee what a nice man to say good-bye like that.” On another level, however, his message was, “I want to say buy-buy . . . buy my product now!”
I had a similar experience at the Home Show. There was a booth touting the warm feeling of fleece and the benefits of wool, and they even had a little pen with a ewe and her lambs. I smiled when I heard the salesman say: “Every ewe here knows how important it is to keep her babies warm.” The message he was sending was not focused on the “ewes” but the “yous” in the crowd—“You mothers want to keep your babies warm, so buy this fleece blanket.”
When Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, he warned them of linguistics and liars and of people who would use “smooth words and flattering speech to deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:18).” This verse has also been rendered as “enticing words” and “pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.”
I don’t have anything to sell, and I’m sending only one message: Bye for now, and take a minute or two to listen to In The Sweet By and By.
insightbyseymour 