OK - just wondering... with Americans starting to protest in the streets, and important people starting to make noises that are less like democracy, and more like tyranny, how is it that the American Government can feel like spending millions - even billions of dollars, in sending ships into space, soldiers into Libya, and God alone knows, how much more, into their own pockets?
Does this make any sense - to anybody?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Gen 16. Or proof that no one pays real attention to scripture anymore, except us crackpots.
First, Gods first husband Abram... The mans a wreck. He makes Moses look well balanced and easy to get along with, has another wife. thats right, God was willing to be second to Sarai. Now, Polygamy issues aside... I find that insanely amusing.
But the best, in that setting, is that Sarai herself, *doenst*trust*God*.
OK, God didnt tell Sarai, personally, that she would have a child, but as first wife - she should have. So when she gives Hagar, to her husband... *shakes head*. But the fact that even *Abram* still doesn't trust God, and goes along with it... Im absolutely astounded that God didn't just smite the whole family then and there. Obviously "She" was in a more - amused - mood at that time. Maybe because "She" was dealing with just one or two people, instead of an entire rebellious nation. But She humored them. And Hagar had a son. Ishmael. "God Hears".
How bloody ironic, because for the rest of history, no one was listening.
This is what God has to say about Ishmael...
11The angel of the LORD said to her further,
"Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name [a]Ishmael,
Because (M)the LORD has given heed to your affliction.
12"He will be a (N)wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone's hand will be against him;
And he will live (O)to the east of all his brothers."
Now, I dont know about you, but if this is the character of a man, Id leave him alone. Id be polite, respectful, but not get to involved with any issue, until - Hitler like, He tried to wipe out an entire other civilization. And then, as in WWII, Id beat him back to his *own* borders, and then let him run them.
But no. We've decided that we need to go right into his house, and wipe them off the face of the earth - Hitler like ourselves... (yes, I really said that).
Wow.
These are children of Abram. Promised protection till the end of time, by God Himself (Herself?)
And yet the countries who claim to be the most God fearing in the world, antagonize the bully until he *has* to respond - time and time and time again.
My only clear response to this?
*head, meet desk, wall and floor* followed by a prayer, that I avoid such stupidity in my own life.
__________________________________________________________________________
TO: Mr. W Craven.
I get it. I feel sorry for the multiple critics who watch movies for a living, who missed it. And honestly, in light of what you were doing, it was brilliant. One soul, split among seven kids, trying to become whole. Of course, you fumbled a bit, between the whole concept of schizophrenia being a body with too many souls, and then it being because you dont have a whole one, but I suppose that the effects would somewhat similar.
But all and all - it was clever, and you managed to avoid all copyright violations... and in the end, making the "ron/Neville" character the "Voldemort" as well, was a *very* intelligent play on Rowlings use of Neville as a foil.
You *did* go a little far, naming the Dudley/Draco knock off "Fang" though. but I got a chuckle out of it. And yes, your modern "Aunt Petunia" - May, was clever. I actually liked her, and felt more sorry for her. If you had more time, I would have liked to have seen a little more character development there. You could have made her had an affair, possibly with the Voldemort/James Potter character. Or perhaps just a longing, or a failed romance with him, before he picked up with her sister.... then you could have incorporated Snape into that equation too....
But all in all - it was a very clever, imaginative movie, and yes, Im sorry that not too many people "got" it. It says alot about the lacking of intelligence in this country, doesnt it?
That being said.
Despite Harry Potters marked cultural influence, when you have to resort to making half assed sequels of your own work, reboots - and remakes of more successful work, it may be time to hang it all up, and fucking retire.
Sincerly yours...
N.Romeo
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
This isnt going to make me popular...
But the more I think of it, the more it strikes me, and it kept me up most of last night thinking about it.
There is a popular theory, amongst both the church, and counseling/psychiatric realms, that says you cannot learn to love others, until you love yourself.
This, I have decided, is absolute, and unmitigated bullshit.
And highly unbiblical.
First of all, We are told to love God, and our neighbors, only.
Love, *real* love, is selfless. It is sacrificial. It gives, and gives and gives, unto death. With no regrets.
There is no room there, for love of self at all.
Im not saying, mind you, to deny your flesh. We have needs, they must be met. There is no room, in theology, for the denial that has been seen, over the centuries, as practiced by many sects. God now dwells *in* us. We are his temple. Therefore, whatever we do that does harms us, whenever we cease to take care of our bodies, in a sense, we cease to take, and Love God, just as much, as not loving others.
But this is not, as it were, "Loving" yourself. The self love that is usually harped upon by the church, and by psychology, is simply a fabrication, a design to allow us to excuse and validate our bad behavior. If I love myself, I can forgive myself with no fear, of anything I may do. - With no real need of repentance.
Why repent? God forgives, and I cannot do otherwise.
Again, it comes down to motive, I suppose.
I maintain, that through loving others, you can learn to love yourself. If you can look at the follies, the mistakes, and even the out right dispicableness of another person, and still see the fingerprint of God on their hearts, and choose to love them, simply because they too, are made in the image of God, then you can reach a place where your own evils, become - less.
All too often, what we hate in others, is because we see the same in ourselves and despise it.
As usual, my thoughts arent - as cohesive, as I wish they were.
But nothing, in scripture, from the old to the new, from the books of wisdom, to the fruit of the spirit, lends itself in anyways, to say that we must learn to "love ourselves" before we love others.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
If we work ourselves backwards... There is little of the modern concept of "self-love" in self control, which speaks of temperance and moderation. Gentleness, is certianly not a quality we see in those who love themselves. Faithfulness would be scoffed at. Goodness, is now considered objective. Kindness, - as a concept almost forgotten, these days. and longsuffering - is certianly not a triat of the modern concept of self-love.
Perhaps this is the real heart of the problem. Our concept of what "love" is.
If I *truely* love myself - I would not partake of any activity which could cause lasting bodily damage, thats for sure. Smoking, and drinking, for instance, would certianly not be practiced.
If I truely loved myself, I would seek peace, and calmness. Stability.
I would want for myself, only really, what I wanted for others.
Back to Stars golden rule - "Dont be a dick"
The problem comes in, when we are faced with angry, hostile, bitter people, who have no understanding or desire to understand.
How can we love people who are so filled with hate?
By remembering, I suppose, that we are no better ourselves. That what I see and detest in them, I have in myself.
And of course, that these too, are made in the image of God.
But to love ourselves, before loving others, is - almost preposterous, in its biblical sense.
Perhaps, they are something that must grow together, slowly. As you learn, as you grow, as you see and hear more clearly, you love.
That is, if you choose to love.
And therin, lays the "heart" of the issue, (bad pun)
You must *choose* to love the people around you. Daily. Sometimes, even by the moment. Its not easy. Sometimes, its near impossible, when the people around you give you nothing to feed that desire with.
That, I suppose, is when we must truely love, and trust God. In loving Him, we push through, and love the other, regardless.
And remember, that may be the only love they will know. Perhaps, for that hour, or that day, or even this lifetime.
There is a popular theory, amongst both the church, and counseling/psychiatric realms, that says you cannot learn to love others, until you love yourself.
This, I have decided, is absolute, and unmitigated bullshit.
And highly unbiblical.
First of all, We are told to love God, and our neighbors, only.
Love, *real* love, is selfless. It is sacrificial. It gives, and gives and gives, unto death. With no regrets.
There is no room there, for love of self at all.
Im not saying, mind you, to deny your flesh. We have needs, they must be met. There is no room, in theology, for the denial that has been seen, over the centuries, as practiced by many sects. God now dwells *in* us. We are his temple. Therefore, whatever we do that does harms us, whenever we cease to take care of our bodies, in a sense, we cease to take, and Love God, just as much, as not loving others.
But this is not, as it were, "Loving" yourself. The self love that is usually harped upon by the church, and by psychology, is simply a fabrication, a design to allow us to excuse and validate our bad behavior. If I love myself, I can forgive myself with no fear, of anything I may do. - With no real need of repentance.
Why repent? God forgives, and I cannot do otherwise.
Again, it comes down to motive, I suppose.
I maintain, that through loving others, you can learn to love yourself. If you can look at the follies, the mistakes, and even the out right dispicableness of another person, and still see the fingerprint of God on their hearts, and choose to love them, simply because they too, are made in the image of God, then you can reach a place where your own evils, become - less.
All too often, what we hate in others, is because we see the same in ourselves and despise it.
As usual, my thoughts arent - as cohesive, as I wish they were.
But nothing, in scripture, from the old to the new, from the books of wisdom, to the fruit of the spirit, lends itself in anyways, to say that we must learn to "love ourselves" before we love others.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
If we work ourselves backwards... There is little of the modern concept of "self-love" in self control, which speaks of temperance and moderation. Gentleness, is certianly not a quality we see in those who love themselves. Faithfulness would be scoffed at. Goodness, is now considered objective. Kindness, - as a concept almost forgotten, these days. and longsuffering - is certianly not a triat of the modern concept of self-love.
Perhaps this is the real heart of the problem. Our concept of what "love" is.
If I *truely* love myself - I would not partake of any activity which could cause lasting bodily damage, thats for sure. Smoking, and drinking, for instance, would certianly not be practiced.
If I truely loved myself, I would seek peace, and calmness. Stability.
I would want for myself, only really, what I wanted for others.
Back to Stars golden rule - "Dont be a dick"
The problem comes in, when we are faced with angry, hostile, bitter people, who have no understanding or desire to understand.
How can we love people who are so filled with hate?
By remembering, I suppose, that we are no better ourselves. That what I see and detest in them, I have in myself.
And of course, that these too, are made in the image of God.
But to love ourselves, before loving others, is - almost preposterous, in its biblical sense.
Perhaps, they are something that must grow together, slowly. As you learn, as you grow, as you see and hear more clearly, you love.
That is, if you choose to love.
And therin, lays the "heart" of the issue, (bad pun)
You must *choose* to love the people around you. Daily. Sometimes, even by the moment. Its not easy. Sometimes, its near impossible, when the people around you give you nothing to feed that desire with.
That, I suppose, is when we must truely love, and trust God. In loving Him, we push through, and love the other, regardless.
And remember, that may be the only love they will know. Perhaps, for that hour, or that day, or even this lifetime.
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