In the interest of learning more about each other, and who we all are, I’d like to suggest a number of varied topics to comment about. This should help define how each of us feel about a specific topic as well as help us to recognize what we have in common.
Let’s vote on a topic and then I’ll introduce a question to further explore that topic.
Ground rules: Openness to others opinions, non-personal discreditations of those views different than your own, a learning experience for all.
Let’s vote:
1. Global warming
2. Purpose of life
3. What makes a happy person
4. What you’d do different next time
5. Price of fuel and how it affects you
6. Who or what is ‘God’ to you?
7. Recent new story: i.e. "Bitten while on toilet, woman drowns rat"
8. ?????
The order has no preference.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of topics, but rather a starting point. You can be “deep as a saucer” or “sharp as a tack.”
Jim
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20 comments:
Well Jim; As for point #7: Don't take this personal, but there's really something wrong with you bringing this up. As you know, 'a mind is like a parachute- only works when opened'. My parachute has been stored in the closet for a long time.
Will try not to break the rules next time. I wont mention names, but let's hope (his initials are R.G. and his birthday is 11.12.56) will be able to abide by this.
Peter,
are you saying i have a closed mine? i just have an opinion and if you dont agree with it your wrong. :)
just kidding.
nobody wants to hear it anyway.
he who keeps lips sealed so i can make you keep thinking he is and idiot. wont open them to prove you right!!!
Actually, I think everyone does pretty good in tolerating each others opinions. We don't walk, like on egg shells too much. All things considering, we do pretty good. Besides, everyone has a right to their erroneous positions.
All lightness aside. These are good topics, you can really see the teacher in Jim to bring them out.
I want to emphasis Jim's point about opinions: I've quoted this before, but it is so true in many things, "feelings are neither right or wrong, they just are".
Since perception is much louder than reality, and perception is more closely related to feelings; and though truth is concrete, we must be humble enough to know God is the only absolute knower of truth. Therefore, we have no right to judge another's opinion. On the other hand, though perception is entirely subjective, truth is not. So it's worthwhile to try to find it.
In itself a good discussion. While we have no right to judge, because we all have faults, just how much is too much when trying to help another if we think they are incorrect or flawed about something ? I like the idea Jim, now if you just correct Dick and Peter, and I correct you, we can all get along !!!
1.global warming... A Lie
2.Purpose of life... To find Purpose
3.what makes a happy person...good food
4.what you'd do different next time...not be so selfish
5.price of fuel... oh well
6.who or what is God to you...C'mon JESUS IS THE TRUTH AND LIFE.
7.News sucks
8.!!!!!!!
Howz that??
Check out carefully how scripture uses 'judging one another'.
Rom.14, we are not allowed to judge each others worship or service to God.
1Cor5.1 and thru 6chap. We are allowed to judge behavior based on what God says about sin.
However, the word 'judgment', in our culture, almost always carries a negative connotation. Off hand, two reasons for this:
1. No wants to be told they are doing wrong. Especially if it feels soooooo right.
2. It's easy to say, "don't judge me"; implying that all morality relative.
Ok Whitney, on number 1, global warming. "Lie" implies voluntary deception. That might be a little judgmental. People say "Bush lied" about Iraq. Hillary had the same info, but she didn't lie?! To me, accepting either assertion over the other is dishonest. We would not want to be that way.
Whitney !!! Howdy guy !! Don't let Peter tell you what to think !!
The earth warms up during the day, and cools during the night. also, during the summer it warms up and during the winter it cools down.
All nations have bad points and good.
All men lie, and tell the truth
Anyone who does not give an opinion sits on the fence or is afraid to say their inner thoughts(or doesn't) know them)
Clinton-enough said ! at least Bush says something about his opinion
Jim- likes his own feet ??!
Hey Whitney; don't think like my brother!!!! It's good to have some young bucks stirring up the sediment.
Well, it appears that the point for discussion is #8. Judging by the comments, the subject of preference, is, by popular choice, judgment. Peter, thank you for the comment of recognizing me as a teacher, but I view myself as a student, albeit with an opinion.
I think to most people the expression and idea of judgment, is very near and dear to our very hearts and souls; to whom we are and perceive ourselves to be in our own eyes, as well as how we wish others to see us. It gives us an identity, it places us in our view of a social structure, and it allows us to make a decision about others. We make that judgment based on our own point of view, on our own values, our life experiences, and how we distinguish the world to be. Our ego is screaming out when we judge others. To me, therein lies the danger.
If we use this criterion as a way to view other people, it feeds into the very nature of what Christ was pointing us away from; the idea that we are better than others. We must be accepting of others and recognize that we are all on a life quest, that of, a path of searching for Truth. The path and accompanying experiences are not the same for everyone, just as our life experience itself is not the same. We are agents of choice, beings of change. Our paths of experience are not the same, but the direction we are heading is, if, we are a searcher. Look at the number of Christian faiths that there are; will all be lost except the one that we endorse and adopt? No, I do not believe so, just as I do not believe that the indigenous tribes that worshiped a Creator will be lost. There is one bumper sticker that I would put on my car, in regards to my religious beliefs, (aside from my personal belief in EVs) and, that is, “My God is too big for one religion.” I believe (and that is where my philosophy comes in) that we are the products of our environment, upbringing, and current life experiences. We are on a path that will bring us closer to our Creator, but we choose the time it takes.
The older I get, the more I find I have to learn (Don’t get me started on new species yet to be discovered, in Antarctica or elsewhere). I learn from my 5th grade students every day. I thought I had all the answers when I was younger. As I become more experienced, I have more questions. But, the feeling of confidence must be tempered with openness to others experiences and paths. My dad and mom were very wise (as in common sense), and smart (intelligence). They recognized that they could not force me to take their path, but I had to experience my own.
Much more developed minds than mine have debated this very same subject. I feel that, I am a student in this process of growth. It is my choice to learn, listen, and be open. I cannot control anyone through words, thoughts, or actions, other then myself. I can be an example, but not a stone tablet issuing edicts.
I endeavor to not judge others, even though they may have an opinion that varies from mine. It is for me to recognize that we are all on a path to find truth. \
Jim
Hey Jim, the best teachers, are even better students.
To us bumpkins, that reaffirms think outside the box and God is bigger than we box we try and put him in!!
Peter,
I honestly believe the so called "alarmist" are producing fear through the guise of global warming instead of responsibility and stewardship. Environmentalism is now a religion, based on what I perceive is a lie! Like all man made religions the common denominator is that in fact that they are man made and not of biblical truth, therefor they are base on a lie. As we now the Devils most powerful tool and weapon is his tongue. It's my understanding that if it's not Biblical than it's not truth. Our foundational thought process should be based on Biblical truth anything less is a lie strait from the lips of the evil one. You and I once had a discussion about "sovereignty" God is sovereign! and he is sovereign over his created world or worlds. Now, does that mean that men rape the oceans and carelessly decimate our forest and rivers, sadly yes, that's truth, The fix... It's starts with me and you teaching our young ones about our responsibility to our father and about being stewards to his creation and stewardship should be taught in basic curriculum in our education institutions. sorry my message is kinda all over the place but my message is simple right. Ok the caffeine just wore off got to go!!
Pretty good thinking for a guy who can't figure out where the B B comes out of the gun !!
Thing I figured out is satan (Lucifer) has done a heck of a job and confused us so much all he had to do is sit back and watch. I told the church I go to, "I don't need satan to work on me, I do it myself, for him", sad to say, but true, and I think that is a step each of us takes in life whether we know it or not.
If we have faith, even as small as a grain of sand, we can move the mountains? then having faith, ever so small that Jesus died to save us, where does that go? !!
Whitney,
It’s good to read your mind on the blog. The issue of global warming must be very important to you. Forgive me if I wedge my way into a topic that you addressed to Peter. Stewardship and responsibility are two of my favorite topics, and are topics that I as a father and teacher have ‘preached’ about. Ask any of my kids at school and they’ll say something to the effect of, “Yes, Mr. Hooper wants us to understand that we are responsible for our education, yes, we are responsible to our environment.” As in any movement, religion, or interest, there are those go to the extremes in extolling their viewpoints, perspectives, beliefs, opinions, and attitudes to others. And, yes, it can be seen as a religion. But, too, just as there many different religions that emanate from the Bible, there are also many different forms of environmentalism. I wonder, if Jesus were walking the Earth today, would he would be viewed as a capitalist or an environmentalist? Would he pillage for his benefit or be a steward of the earth? WWJD?
Could it be that the ‘alarmist’ is one who recognizes danger as the definition implies, and sounds the call for alarm by doing and saying things that are not what people expect? I think that Jesus was an alarmist in the sense of what he preached; the message that all must repent and come to him. Some did and have heeded the alarm, while for others it was and is, too far out of their ‘norm’ to be taken seriously The Bible even warns of doomsday predictions that would befall the Earth..
I believe that we indeed are experiencing global warming, or rather, a period of global warming. I also believe that this is a situation that is not new to Earth, but rather new to our experience here. It does have its fanatics, as in anything that is new. I understand in reading about tree-ring analysis that there have many cooling and warming periods in the last 2,000 years. What it makes it interesting is the rapid rate of measurable CO2 emissions that correlate to the use of fossil fuels in the Industrial Age that we are benefiting from. If I understand correctly, it is not the rise in the CO2 (as this has always cyclically occurred as evidenced by ice core samples, but the rapid rise and amount in the atmosphere. Even worse is the methane gas that is stored in frozen organic material that will be released when permafrost is melted. This would exacerbate the situation even more as it is much more effective in holding in heat than CO2. I believe that nature is in a constant balancing act; erosion, the water cycle, El Nino, etc. Since there are no written records or objective data to form hypothesis on, it’s only speculation, which gives rise to fanaticism. The lack of water because of climatological changes lead some anthropologists to speculate that is why the Anasazi from Mesa Verde. The only thing constant, is change. I think that we’re simply on a ride, and we’re simply speeding it up.
All of us search for a standard to live by, the Bible and a belief in God gives us that. It’s a safe harbor in a storm, a belief we can put our faith in, a promise with a future. God has a plan for Earth. You’re right, he is sovereign. You’re right too, I see myself as an environmentalist. You’re right, I was a logger cutting trees down and am proud of it. A dicatomy you say, life, I say. You’re right when you said, “starts with me and you teaching our young ones about our responsibility to our father and about being stewards to his creation and stewardship should be taught in basic curriculum in our education institutions.”
Keep on believing,
Jim
Whitney; (and all wedgeinskis) Yeah, the devil does lie. In fact, generally he attacks us with little else. As for global warming, I'm not convinced of it. However, I'm not convinced the other way either. It's against my nature to be neutral about anything, but there are good scientists on both sides. True, there are more who believe 'in' global warming than do not. However, there was once a time when there were more who believed the earth was flat as well. The correlation to religion here is on purpose. Not only because science can be religiously followed, but also, man is biased by predominant theories. Regardless if religious or secular.
Frankly, for me, there are too many variables to make an honest, uncategorized declaration.
There are some things which are clearly black and white, but what they are are also argued. For instance, I believe everything Jesus said. But I think everyone agrees, we don't believe all opinions 'about' what Jesus said. Common unity, and godliness depends on making an accurate distinction.
Ben,
In regards to the comment you made, "To us bumpkins, that reaffirms think outside the box and God is bigger than we box we try and put him in!!"
I never did understand that one, it stymies me, why would anyone get INSIDE a box to think in the first place? I can understand at the ocean, by water, even under a tree searching for inspiration. But, inside a box??????
JIm
Regarding Ben's out of box comment, when I taught Sunday School class I used to ask the kids, "why didn't Napoleon listen to rock music?" Answer - he couldn't escape his culture.
Well, I suppose there might be other reasons too. What's cool; what's fashionable, what's the best way to dance, walk, grow your hair?
A famous preacher once told a story of being in a huge room full of people for job orientation. None of the attendants knew each other. After a couple hours or so, the leaders offered everyone to get up and get refreshments near the front of the room. There was a very long quiet pause and no one moved. Finally this preacher said to himself, heck with this, I'm getting some food". He got up, made the move. Suddenly everyone got up and lined up behind him. They all wanted food, but they couldn't make themselves move away from the herd. People are that way with thinking too.
What I've noticed about people who almost died, they don't feel like they have to conform to anything. They just want to know the truth. They question everything, and don't worry about what anyone thinks.
I recently had a friend die of Hepatitis. Before he went, he was that way. He was laying on his death bed and called his entire extended family in and told them all everything he wished he would have said for years past.
When you almost die, suddenly your focus is sharp; it's no longer clouded by too many unnecessary things. Only the essential is thought about and things become clearer. There isn't instant knowledge, but there is instant clarity of view, and everything that's is obvious, but clouded by non-essentials, becomes abundantly lucid.
Now here's a riddle: Jesus said, "follow me and take up your cross". Why does this help us to "think outside the box"?
a person who thinks "inside the box" focuses on the cross, the ones who think "outside the box" wonder what the cross represents?
and you are right, I think, thinking inside the box is blindly following, outside, wondering why follow and what would happen if..., and then makes up their mind which they think is the best, and then wonder,why do I think this is the best ? if you look at Jesus, I believe He thought WAY outside the box and followed his inner belief and what He thought was the best path, no matter what others said, then again, he WAS a teacher!!
Is this still a "vote" or is everyone supposed to just give their answers to each item?
If so, I say maybe.
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