Monday, December 21, 2015

Pomp and Circumstance circumspection






Graduate
(by R.P.Edwards)

Recognition
For work and way
A needful notice
Of you this day
But remember, madam
Remember, gent
Your talents, gifts
From God
Are lent
Your toil was long
And hard
And dear
Your perseverance
Brought you here
And we salute you
Madam, gent
But your strength and breath
From God were lent
So celebrate!
On this, your day!
As cap and gown
Are stored away
Then turn your steps
Yes, turn and do
Bring forth the harvest
Sown in you 
But remember often
 As decades go
And OTHERS reap
From what YOU know
Remember, finally
 Madam
Gent
Your precious life
From God
Was lent


 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge 
(Proverbs 1:7)


Attended a graduation ceremony recently. An undergraduate degree was awarded to a loved one and it was celebratory and yet somber at the same time. Celebratory; for great effort and tireless pursuit were needed to lift this weight along with the others already placed securely upon the shoulders. Somber; because of my mourning over the rudderless state of the vessel that welcomes the innocents and schools them, for years, in the bastard art (pardon me) of navigating with a broken compass.

Yes, it's a God thing again. Absolutely fundamental. The recognition of the greater SOMEONE. Of Nature's God, the Creator, the Supreme Judge of the World, Divine Providence (Jefferson's words). A Higher Learning that bows the knee and does not aspire to godhood. That's what it USED to be, and still is in lessening numbers (I speak from imperfect knowledge). And so, these PC Petri Dishes continue to introduce and grow infectious cultures that are then injected into society and, since elites bond with elites, places of power--in particular--and we all--by extension--are sickened. And oh, how we reek of rebellion and recklessness and rot.

However, trying to be less of a faultfinder (I know, too late), I did feel a swelling with the playing of the traditional graduation march, Pomp and Circumstance and, although God was not officially recognized in the celebration, I could tell from some of the words spoken that His influence was apparent. AND, since this is the Midwest, the ROTC had an honored place as well.

Conclusion: I DO have hope for academia. But it will begin with a spiritual revival. I shall pray towards that end.

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Sunday, December 13, 2015

Jihad; abortion is not an option

Hope Clinic, Illinois




Cordial Killing
(by R.P.Edwards)

Cordial killing
Nice and neat 
Until the Lord
Our judgment metes




When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them
(Koran 8:12)

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
(Romans 12:17,18)


And so you see the difference. For "we" believers, who like some divine "backing" for our religious actions, the two writings above show the stark contrast between Biblical Christianity and Koranical (is that a word?) Islam. I'll side with the one that doesn't advocate killing.

However--and this is more along the lines of the lead-in poem--I was recently pondering our peculiarities when it comes to death and its administration. The setting: our local abortion clinic (shown above). Unusually warm for this time of year, business was good. Yes, a lot of folk coming to remove the in-utero inconveniences before Christmas and New Years. Some saints on the sidewalk were singing, praying, pleading, preaching. Believers on the other side were escorting the "clients" to the executioner's layer. For the most part, all was low key, predictable, repetitious.

So I mused a bit about the obvious: If the "radicalized" (devout, rather) Islamists wanted simply to kill Americans, then becoming an abortionist would be the way to go. Good pay. Respect in certain quarters. And only a few harmless barbs from "them" to deal with.  But, as their "book" instructs, "terror" is the thing. Terror motivates. And, as I observed, there was no terror on the lot this day. Murder, yes. Terror, no.

Conclusion? I never advocate terrorist-like activity, but, until Americans start to actually understand the evil that is abortion (like our ancestors who finally saw the light on the slavery issue) and let their passions rise a bit, I don't see much change happening. Cordial killing will continue unabated, week after week after bloody week. But, don't expect it to make the evening news any time soon. That slot is reserved for those pesky, unconventional, terror-desiring Jihadists.

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Friday, December 4, 2015

The Real Fix









 Evil fruit
(by R.P.Edwards)

Evil comes
And we're surprised
We plant it all the day
So when it grows
And bears its fruit
There's nothing 
We can say


Righteous exalts a nation, 
but sin is a disgrace to any people
(Proverbs 14:34)


The story behind the above headline: Republicans offering "prayers" of support and sympathy is not even close to being a "fix" when it comes to preventing massacres, such as just happened in California.  So, what IS the solution? More gun control.

What a crock. You see, I look at this with the eyes of a "believer" of a different stripe. Rather than the "murder is good" inclinations of the followers of the prophet; I follow the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. And, the volume that tells of Him (revered in times past before the "new" religion of secularism took hold) warns of consequences when a nation turns its back. Of course, God was not the author of the tragedy, but since we have so little time for Him, the bad stuff that is the opposite of Him...can be expected to show up more often.

So, were the "prayer" requests and offerings by republican political celebs in line? Of course! Events like this that remind us of our inadequacies and frailties SHOULD push us to our knees; to the place of reaching for the true helper and healer.

But, when it comes to those whose hands drip with the blood of the unborn and whose moral endorsements are anti-god, when they offer clueless criticism of the deity and those who would seek Him, a scripture comes to mind:


Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
(Isaiah 5:20,21)


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