Just a few thoughts that have been bouncing around in my brain that can't make a big old post in themselves:
The other day, a young up-and-coming stock car driver died in a crash while driving back to the West coast from North Carolina. He lost control of his vehicle and he and his passenger were thrown out of the car. Neither was wearing seat belts. With the safety devices found in race cars today, and with the importance placed on safety, why was this young man without a seat belt? My condolences to his family, but this guy should have known better, and wasn't very bright for his failure. http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/may/23/052310988.html
The West Wing series is over, after seven years. A lot of people really liked the final episode, but my family was disappointed. Yes, it was classy. Yes, it was sad. But there were very few resolutions in the final episode! What was Toby's reaction to his pardon? Who is Sam Seaborn engaged to? What happened to Ainsley Hayes? So many things cried out for this series to continue. So my question is...who will be the one to start writing West Wing novels?
With all of the garbage on TV these days, is it any wonder that my favorite network is the Food Network? Thank goodness for Iron Chef America, and my favorite...Good Eats with Alton Brown. Seriously...Alton Brown rules. He is funny, smart, and I learn something every time I watch his show. Besides, how often can you laugh out loud at a food show? Emeril can go away anytime soon, by the way, and he can take Racheal Ray with him.
Am I the only person in this country who refuses to watch American Idol? Why are shows called "reality shows" when there is no link to reality at all?
My wife looks in the mirror as she gets dressed every day, and all she can see is that she "is getting old". First of all, everyone does. Second of all, I'm no spring chicken myself. And third...no one else can tell. She looks beautiful and I am blessed to have her as my wife.
(No reason for adding this....just felt like it. So sue me.)
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Speaking Without Knowing
The man Job had been dealing with three "comforters" for days, who had berated him and telling him that God was punishing him for his deeds. Job defended himself, but in so doing, became a little too confident in his own righteousness. Jehovah gently corrected his thinking by giving illustrations and stating facts. Upon hearing these things, Job humbly admitted, "Therefore I talked, but I was not understanding...In hearsay I have heard about you, but now my own eye does see you. That is why I make a retraction, and I do repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42: 3, 5, 6)
It is folly to claim to be able to speak on a subject of which one knows little, and that which one knows is merely hearsay. Why bring this up? Mainly because I am more than a bit tired of hearing some people tell others what Jehovah's Witnesses believe. I read some of the comments, and I am absolutely amazed, not just with the venom that is sometimes spewed, but with the lies and incorrect information that is spread about our beliefs, by those who don't really have the vaguest idea. For example, the most common piece of misinformation is that Witnesses don't believe in Jesus. Where did they get that nonsense? Obviously they have never listened to one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Witnesses do believe in Jesus, and that his ransom sacrifice made possible a reconciliation with God and the opportunity for eternal life. What we do NOT believe is that Jesus is equal to God or is part of a trinity.
Yet, this and other pieces of misinformation continue to be thrown about carelessly by people who think they know. But unlike the man Job, even when told the truth they refuse to listen and claim to know better than a Witness what Witnesses believe.
It is okay not to agree with Jehovah's Witnesses. It is also fine if a person doesn't want to discuss the Bible (although they don't need to be rude...they can simply say "no thanks"). But please, don't discuss the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses with others if you don't really know the beliefs. If you want to know what we believe, ask us. Don't ask people who have never even read a Watchtower magazine, much less delved into our Bible-based beliefs.
Really, I can't tell you anything about the gestation cycle of the African elephant. I can't explain how television signals are converted into pictures. If you want to know these things, I would tell you to consult the experts, or at least material written by those who know for sure; those who work in the field. I also cannot tell you about the numerous beliefs contained in the Muslim faith. Want to know about them? Ask a Muslim! But to those who ask non-Witnesses what Witnesses believe, and to those who claim to know our beliefs and don't....talk to a Witness! Even if you don't want to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, we are happy to clarify misconceptions about us and our faith. And to those who spread lies just to get people to dislike Witnesses...shame on you.
Once people actually find out the truth about our beliefs, and find out that we are very nice, God-fearing people who care about our neighbors, perhaps those who have spoken incorrectly will emulate Job, who said "What shall I reply to you? My hand I have put over my mouth." (Job 40:4)
By the way, to find information about the gestation cycle of the African elephant, go to the experts: http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/elephants/africel.htm
It's really quite interesting! And now I know the facts, not the fallacies.
It is folly to claim to be able to speak on a subject of which one knows little, and that which one knows is merely hearsay. Why bring this up? Mainly because I am more than a bit tired of hearing some people tell others what Jehovah's Witnesses believe. I read some of the comments, and I am absolutely amazed, not just with the venom that is sometimes spewed, but with the lies and incorrect information that is spread about our beliefs, by those who don't really have the vaguest idea. For example, the most common piece of misinformation is that Witnesses don't believe in Jesus. Where did they get that nonsense? Obviously they have never listened to one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Witnesses do believe in Jesus, and that his ransom sacrifice made possible a reconciliation with God and the opportunity for eternal life. What we do NOT believe is that Jesus is equal to God or is part of a trinity.
Yet, this and other pieces of misinformation continue to be thrown about carelessly by people who think they know. But unlike the man Job, even when told the truth they refuse to listen and claim to know better than a Witness what Witnesses believe.
It is okay not to agree with Jehovah's Witnesses. It is also fine if a person doesn't want to discuss the Bible (although they don't need to be rude...they can simply say "no thanks"). But please, don't discuss the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses with others if you don't really know the beliefs. If you want to know what we believe, ask us. Don't ask people who have never even read a Watchtower magazine, much less delved into our Bible-based beliefs.
Really, I can't tell you anything about the gestation cycle of the African elephant. I can't explain how television signals are converted into pictures. If you want to know these things, I would tell you to consult the experts, or at least material written by those who know for sure; those who work in the field. I also cannot tell you about the numerous beliefs contained in the Muslim faith. Want to know about them? Ask a Muslim! But to those who ask non-Witnesses what Witnesses believe, and to those who claim to know our beliefs and don't....talk to a Witness! Even if you don't want to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, we are happy to clarify misconceptions about us and our faith. And to those who spread lies just to get people to dislike Witnesses...shame on you.
Once people actually find out the truth about our beliefs, and find out that we are very nice, God-fearing people who care about our neighbors, perhaps those who have spoken incorrectly will emulate Job, who said "What shall I reply to you? My hand I have put over my mouth." (Job 40:4)
By the way, to find information about the gestation cycle of the African elephant, go to the experts: http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/elephants/africel.htm
It's really quite interesting! And now I know the facts, not the fallacies.
Friday, May 05, 2006
France, Religion, and Taxes...with a shot at Uzbekistan
It's been a few days since my last rant, so the venom is ready to spew forth once again. Well, maybe not venom...more like incredulousness.
Religious persecution is nothing new. The Pilgrims fled Europe to avoid persecution, and one only has to crack open a history book to see numerous other examples of it. Whether you agree with a religion or not, if a country has a constitution, and within that constitution there is a guarantee of religious freedom (even a limited amount), then by law that country's security forces and political powers are bound to abide by that law. And yet...here are just two small instances of remarkable persecution taking place in our very day. One is in a former Soviet bloc country, so it may be less surprising to some. But a remarkable display of chutzpah is taking place in a country considered a part of the West; my second home, France.
Here is the situation. The French government has decided that Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization are to be taxed for all donations received from its members. Mind you, Jehovah's Witnesses, whether you agree with them or not, are an acknowledged and approved religion in the country of France. No other religious group is being taxed in this manner. Yet for some unknown reason, the French courts have agreed with this move and have ordered that this tax be paid. Not only that, but here's another kicker: the tax rate is 60%!
http://www.jw-media.org/newsroom/index.htm?content=europe.htm
(Click on the link for France)
The courts have acknowledged that the organization "was run in a completely benevolent fashion, and that its activities were not commercial or for profit." So why the tax? That is what all people who believe in religious freedom should be asking. Even the members of other religions are concerned about this matter. If it can happen to Jehovah's Witnesses, who is next?
The case will be brought before the European Court of Human Rights, which has consistently overruled such ridiculous rulings time and again. I am confident that they will uphold the rights listed in the French constitution. And still, we must ask ourselves; if it can happen in France, where next?
I would like to direct everyone's attention to the events in Uzbekistan as well. It isn't just Jehovah's Witnesses being attacked there, although reports consistently come in relating to one abuse or another against them. In this case, the government is directly ignoring their own constitution to persecute members of any religion they see as opposing their own.
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=774
Isn't it sad that with all the progress that these countries are claiming, that the fruitage that their progress is bearing is that of oppression and persecution reminiscent of the former Soviet Union.
(For further information on religious persecution around the world, please visit the excellent reporting site of Forum 18 at www.forum18.org)
Religious persecution is nothing new. The Pilgrims fled Europe to avoid persecution, and one only has to crack open a history book to see numerous other examples of it. Whether you agree with a religion or not, if a country has a constitution, and within that constitution there is a guarantee of religious freedom (even a limited amount), then by law that country's security forces and political powers are bound to abide by that law. And yet...here are just two small instances of remarkable persecution taking place in our very day. One is in a former Soviet bloc country, so it may be less surprising to some. But a remarkable display of chutzpah is taking place in a country considered a part of the West; my second home, France.
Here is the situation. The French government has decided that Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization are to be taxed for all donations received from its members. Mind you, Jehovah's Witnesses, whether you agree with them or not, are an acknowledged and approved religion in the country of France. No other religious group is being taxed in this manner. Yet for some unknown reason, the French courts have agreed with this move and have ordered that this tax be paid. Not only that, but here's another kicker: the tax rate is 60%!
http://www.jw-media.org/newsroom/index.htm?content=europe.htm
(Click on the link for France)
The courts have acknowledged that the organization "was run in a completely benevolent fashion, and that its activities were not commercial or for profit." So why the tax? That is what all people who believe in religious freedom should be asking. Even the members of other religions are concerned about this matter. If it can happen to Jehovah's Witnesses, who is next?
The case will be brought before the European Court of Human Rights, which has consistently overruled such ridiculous rulings time and again. I am confident that they will uphold the rights listed in the French constitution. And still, we must ask ourselves; if it can happen in France, where next?
I would like to direct everyone's attention to the events in Uzbekistan as well. It isn't just Jehovah's Witnesses being attacked there, although reports consistently come in relating to one abuse or another against them. In this case, the government is directly ignoring their own constitution to persecute members of any religion they see as opposing their own.
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=774
Isn't it sad that with all the progress that these countries are claiming, that the fruitage that their progress is bearing is that of oppression and persecution reminiscent of the former Soviet Union.
(For further information on religious persecution around the world, please visit the excellent reporting site of Forum 18 at www.forum18.org)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)