Blog on the Lillypad
Saturday, September 20, 2003
 | What Kind of Christian I am: My Beliefs I sometimes forget that most people are not used to a person who professes to be a Christian, holds a fourth degree black belt in martial arts, writes Doctor Who adventure stories and can recite many dialogues from Bugs Bunny cartoons by heart, all the while studying the stars to find indications of the current events. So I guess I'd better explain the particular branch of Christianity to which I belong. Here is what I believe: |
I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I believe that all translations have some error in them or limitations of language differences in place; so extensive, scholarly study of the Word of God is essential to comprehend the full counsel of the Scripture. I do not think that reading the Bible racks you up any points in heaven, any more than I believe that eating breakfast gives a person super powers. But just as eating breakfast is crucial to a healthy life, so studying the Bible is crucial to a healthy Christian life.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, God in flesh, an express revelation of God to us, made like us to act as our intercessor and intermediary, our bridge of knowledge and fellowship to God, Who is God. I believe that the Lord Jesus lived a perfect life, fulfilled the Law, suffered for us by the will of God, was crucified, died, and was buried. He rose from the dead victorious over death.
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, who is the Comforter of Christ's people, the agent of the work of Christ in us, the Presence of God among His people.
I believe that human beings are completely sinful (a doctrine called total depravity). I think all of us are capable of any sin, not denying that certain people are born with predilections to specific sins. I believe that what holds most of us back most of the time are 1) conscience, a factor of our minds not shared by demons (who are also totally depraved) that restrains us at times and can encourage moral uprightness, and 2) so-called self-respect, which is actually our unwillingness to believe we are such sinners, so it prompts us to behave uprightly (at least while others are watching). I believe that in his natural state, a human being cannot want God or fellowship with God (not unless God becomes the agent hat the human being declares God must be), and so people must first be given Grace from God to be enabled to want fellowship with the God Who Really Is (as opposed to the one they imagine) and to geuinely repent of their sins.
But when that happens, and a person recognizes his or her sin for what it is and repents and turns to Christ for forgiveness, that is salvation. Jesus saves by His power, His action, His authority. Salvation is not brokered by man but by Christ who died for us and rose again. When the Lord Jesus saves a person, He declares the person righteous and the person is given a standing of a righteous person and so can have fellowship with God. The work of Christ also begins in the person as God conforms the person to the image of His Son. This life of change, which cannot come by effort but rather by faith and expectation placed in Christ, is called Sanctification.
That's as brief as I can make it. But all of that just means that I am very comfortable with The Westminster Confession of Faith, which is the bedrock of the original Presbyterian denomination. Many Presbyterians now are so loopy that they're out worshiping Gaia and combining congregations with Unitarians. But historic Presbyterianism, which is far more biblical, is the closest match to my religious beliefs, and I am a member of a conservative Presbyterian denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America.
As for the rest of what I write about, I'll explain them in a later post as my observations. My observations can (and have) change over time. But these doctrinal beliefs are the foundations of my life.
 | Completed Another Fast I usually fast on Tuesdays and Fridays, but Hurricane Isabel messed up my schedule (because I would have juiced the veggies on Thursday and could not with the unreliable power). So I fasted from 7 PM Friday to 7PM Saturday (today). On the one hand, I hate fasting on the weekends because it's an inconvenience to feel slower and more tired when I have so much to do. On the other hand, I get more genuinely involved with what I am doing on Saturday then I do while at work, and so I notice the hunger less. |
However, after yesterday's indiscretions, I felt very ready to give my body a rest from processing food, and my sinuses are now much better than they were yesterday. Also, I am reluctant to not fast twice a week because ever since I started, my back trouble has declined, though I seem to be at a plateau at the moment. But I am tons better than I was!
 | Food for thought, from the blog of Barefoot Kitchen Witch: From Me: Just yesterday I ate too much, simply because it was there. I had leftovers from the hurricane and simply plowed through them. Then I had an allergy attack---which always happens if I eat too many carbohydrates. I was perplexed about the pleasures of foods I used to be able to enjoy. I just get too miserable from allergies if I eat like I used to eat. But I don't want to never have the pleasures of certain food again. Believe it or not, as I considered this and prayed about my attitude towards food, I browsed through my list of blogs and came upon this well written observation, blogged by Jayne, concerning an All-you-can-eat buffet that she, her husband Bill, and their 15-month old son visited. It is well worth reading: |
Begin Quoted Section:Thanks to Jayne for a very pertinent observation about joy being possible only through responsible moderation and true thankfulness for the pleasures provided by food! You can read Jayne's blog at the following hyperlinked URL: http://www.barefootkitchenwitch.blogspot.com
Our table was pretty close to the food, which was good because we could kind of scope out the layout and plan our routes...but not good because the long line for the lobsters went right past our table. We were treated to a neverending look at people who have turned the all-you-can-eat buffet into a way of life.
It was sad, actually, to see so many very overweight people - entire families of enormous adults and their rapidly expanding children. There is no appreciation for subtlety of flavor, for artistry, for the simple pleasure of a steamed lobster, fresh from the sea. They aren't eating because food is a pleasure, they are eating because there is food there. And when there is food out there, cooked and ready to go, it is one's moral responsibility to eat it. All of it. Quickly. If you eat slowly, you get full, and then you can't eat. So you eat quickly so you can eat the most you can possibly cram into yourself.
I felt (and Bill did too, he told me later) tense the whole time. I felt I was expected to eat about twenty lobsters to make it worth the price of admission. And the object of the game is not to enjoy your lobster. Oh no. Enjoying the taste of something takes way too long. "Savor" is a forbidden term in the land of engorgement.
You must rip off the claws, tear them apart with your bare hands, suck out the meat, twist the tail off the body, crack the tail open, tear out the meat, eat that (dunked in a barrel of melted butter first) in one gulp (like a trained seal catching a herring) and toss the body into the shell bowl.
To me, that is a mortal sin. I felt like I was going to hell for it. When I eat a lobster, I eat all of the lobster. I have friends who "can't be bothered" with picking through all the little legs and the chambers of the body...I also like the coral (the eggs), and the tamale (the exploded liver). In fact, the tamale is my favorite part. So - to not eat all of the meat in the bodies was agonizing.
But I did it. But never again.
I only ate 2 lobsters. (Bill at 3, Bob ate 4, which is a huge change from his younger days when he could eat 6-7 or more at a sitting.) Ate a few other things, and some dessert, but I couldn't gorge myself.
Bill and I decided that one lobster, shared between the two of us, and picked clean, tastes far better and is a far more pleasurable dining experience than gulping down the lobsters we had today.
End Quoted Section
In addition, click here to listen to Homer's complaint about food
Friday, September 19, 2003
 | More Advice From Constable Magpie
Dear Constable Magpie: I am a teenage girl. I am ugly. Please help me. Dear befuddled person, All humans are a bit ugly. After all, you have no fur. But you do have such lovely laps. And human beings who are tuned in to the way of the universe and all that is good have delightful hands that open mysterious and wonderful cans and stroke all the way down my back, and scratch behind my ears. And many humans have lovely voices that tell cats how beautiful we are. When they are properly aligned with what is perfect about the creation, human beings have a beauty all their own, in spite of having no fur and no tails. Some humans are so silly that they even try to judge the beauty of cats and decide which cat is more beautiful than its fellows, but cats are never fooled by this. We are all beautiful because we have been made by God to bring joy to the earth and meditate on the way of all things. It's even in the Bible. No matter how humans rank us, the lowliest cat in the alley is a lovely creature that will become gracious and affectionate if treated well. Don't let the silliness of vain humans affect your perspective. Focus on creating joy and meditating on the way of all things. Thank God every day for your beauty and live as a beautiful creature made by God. Never accept dry cat food when moist is available, and always seek the sunniest spots for meditation. And groom yourself with great care and diligence! |
 | 04:00 a.m: Hurricane Over (for me!)
The wind kept me awake for a good part of the night, but now it's still and quiet outside. I still have a lot of food left, but I am not hungry! (Amazing!) I did lose power three or four times last evening in intervals of 15 - 60 minutes, which got to be exasperating, but overall I got off very lightly. Greatest irony was that at about 2:30 yesterday afternoon, in the worst of it, AT&T called me to ask about my long distance carrier. I told the woman to get off the phone, go home, and hide under the bed like I was doing. |
Thursday, September 18, 2003
 | 7:00 PM EST: And Then the Lights Went Out!
THAT was so boring! I did learn that those inexpensive oil lamps I bought were inexpensive because the light from oil lamps is horrible. I also learned it takes more candles than I have to light a corner of a room so well that I can read a book. I also learned how to balance a Coleman battery lamp and flashlight behind me on the arm and cushions of a sofa so that I could read my book (Persimmon Wind) with the light coming over my shoulder. Even now that the lights are back on, they waver every few minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if I lose power again. The wind is still howling. |
 | 5:40 PM EST Isabel Passing By
Actually lost the lights once. Just as I found the matches to light the oil lamp, the power announced its return by blowing out a bulb in a lamp. I replaced the bulb and voila! Light. We're supposed to get pummeled by wind here in Raleigh for another three to four hours. I just ate some cold chicken and had my Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale. Now I'm too happy to be all that afraid over the howling of the wind. There are branches down everywhere but so far nothing that I would call a "limb". The lightning has stopped, at least for the moment. Only the wind continues. The weather lady said that this might be as bad as it gets for us. I hope the worst is behind us. People right on the east coast will probably not get off this lightly. |
 | Isabel Closing in
Well, it's 11:40 EST, and the wind is really building now. It's almost time to go hide under the bed. The lights are still on, and the cable has gone out once and come back. I cleared off as much bric-a-brac as I could from my counter tops, end tables, and desk. All my sound equipment is sharing space with my pyjamas in the chest of drawers in my bedroom. I'm hoping nothing shatters through a window, but once the power goes out, I'll tuck away the lap top compuer as well. |
To get through the hurricane I bought some roast chicken, banana muffins, and an apple pie yesterday. Isabel has not quite made landfall yet this morning, and I've already eaten the apple pie. I feel a little sick. Oh, and I bought two bottles of Smith's Old Brewery Ale for medicinal purposes. If I get too scared I'm going to drink them both because that's a nicer way of knocking yourself out than slamming your head into a wall.
A trash can outside just went flying. Better go!
"Please Don't Try and Give Me a Bible Study on Repentance"--Jonathan Farris
 | Why Repentance Ampng the Leadership of PPBT is not an option.
Way back, when Dave Hyles was removed from office at Miller Road Baptist church in Garland Texas, he went back up north and loved in obscurity for a few years with a woman who was not his wife (Brenda Stevens) and during that time Brenda's infant son Brent was discovered to have eight or nine broken bones which had all gone untreated. He was removed from the home but was then returned by the state, against the advice of Paul Cialino. Soon thereafter, Brent was found dead. Paul Cialino investigated and refused to close the case, insisting that Dave was the prime suspect. At the inquest for Brent, his mother Brenda did not appear at all, and Dave Hyles pleaded the fifth amendment when questioned. |
Dave next married Brenda, announced he had repented of his sexual sins, and was accepted on the church staff at Pinellas Park Baptist Church in Florida, under the pastorate of Everett Farris.
People still ask how Farris could have taken on this man who had such a sordid history. Here is an excerpt of a thread from the Hyles-Anderson College forum of the Fighting Fundamentalist Forum. This is not the whole thread. You can go to the FFF (link on the right side of the screen) to view the thread:
 | Posted by The Good Doctor on Sep-16-03 3:20pm
J. and D. Farris Look people... if I was going to post something about Dave Hyles on this forum, trust me... I would not have to hide my name. I am confident that Dave knows better than to mess with me, my family, or any more of the PPBT church members. It is quite apparent that Dave has messed with the wrong family (whoever this madison family is) and is now finally going to reap the results. I normally do not speak for my other family members, but if Everett Farris, Christian Farris, or Jonathan Farris ever have something to tell you people.....we will put our name to it. The Farris name is a good one and we have nothing to hide. Jonathan Farris Pinellas Park, Florida |
 | Posted by Average Joe on Sep-16-03 3:26pm
Re: J. and D. Farris (In reply to: J. and D. Farris posted by The Good Doctor on Sep-16-03 3:20pm) the Good Doctor: "The Farris name is a good one and we have nothing to hide." You allowed an unrepentent sexual pervert to not only join your church but have a leadership position in it. I don't know what kind of "good name" you think you have, but in my book the Farris name is another in a long long list of enablers for DH. |
| Posted by The Good Doctor on Sep-16-03 3:38pm
Re: J. and D. Farris (In reply to: Re: J. and D. Farris posted by Average Joe on Sep-16-03 3:26pm) First of all, Dave did "repent" when he came to our church. (please don't try and give me some bible study on repentance) He knows how to play the repent game very well. Don't try and tag the Farris name to Dave Hyles. The only thing enabling Dave is God almighty. If God did not want him on this earth, than God would destroy him..........and maybe we are getting to see God destroy him now. |
| Posted by Average Joe on Sep-16-03 3:42pm
Re: J. and D. Farris (In reply to: Re: J. and D. Farris posted by The Good Doctor on Sep-16-03 3:38pm) Farris: First of all, Dave did "repent" when he came to our church. (please don't try and give me some bible study on repentance) Don't worry. I won't try to give you some bible study on repentance. Obviously *Biblical* repentance isn't something you guys were concerned about at the time. |
 | Posted by Green Beret on Sep-16-03 3:55pm
Re: J. and D. Farris / AMEN! (In reply to: Re: J. and D. Farris posted by Average Joe on Sep-16-03 3:42pm) TGD> First of all, Dave did "repent" when he came to our church. (please don't try and give me some bible study on repentance) GB> Try connecting some Biblical restoration with the type of "repentance" (i.e. the Jack Hyles type) that was practiced at PPBT when Dave Hyles was allowed in as a member. YOU WERE REPEATEDLY told that he AS WELL AS OTHERS that PPBT supported were repeat sexual offenders and should not have ANY part with a local IFB church. But, no, the good people who played the part of the watchmen were called "the accusers" and "talebarers"! Well, you have a name now, sir. It is one that is forever attached to the legacy of more than one sexual pervert. I completely agree with Average Joe when he says PPBT was an enabler of Dave Hyles. That is my opinion and you are welcome to it. What say ye members of the FFF, is it shared by anyone else? |
 | My Reply on Sep-16-03 4:02pm
I agree with you Green Beret (In reply to: Re: J. and D. Farris / AMEN! posted by Green Beret on Sep-16-03 3:55pm) PPBT failed to fulfill biblical church discipline. David should have been held accountable, should have been expected to make articulate statements about his past, should have been required to address the death of Brent Stevens (without taking the fifth) to the authorities, and should have been required to fulfill his obligations as a father to his children by Paula. They played a game of appearances, just doing what was necessary to get the name Hyles in the door. And it looks like they will be feeling the sting of that mockery of God's righteousness for some time to come. |
| My Longer Reply on Sep-18-03 6:57am
What happened at our church and what we did (In reply to: Re: J. and D. Farris posted by The Good Doctor on Sep-16-03 3:38pm) About three and a half years ago at our church, the regular church staff noticed that our then-pastor was working very closely with the 20-year old music director to alter our arrangement of the service to use the music more effectively. Only a few months before, the pastor had recommended (and the elders had accepted) that the paid church staff member who conducted the choir and ran the music should be let go to save money, and she was. The 20-year old daughter of one of the elders, who had been raised in a Gothard-style homeschool setting, (and was incredibly sheltered and naive) came on as a volunteer music director. |
All the signs were actually in place then that something was going on. Our pastor was always with her, often with his office door closed, and it was observed that notes frequently passed back and forth between them. But only the day church staff saw this.
Eventually, it was brought to the attention of the head elder, and he brushed it off. But the woman who thought something that was indiscreet, at the very least, again brought it to his attention, and the elders questioned the pastor. He apologized for the appearance of impropriety and assured them that his interest in her was fatherly. They had never been seen touching or saying anything inappropriate to each other, and he pointed this out but promised to be very careful to avoid appearance of impropriety.
After several more months passed, choir members became angry because they didn't like the musical choices the young lady was making. Also, our music director position, though prominent in some Baptist churches, has never been more than a service role in our church. All she did was get the songbooks in, hand them ou,t and then have the people sing their parts in rehearsal and put it all together. Usually, our song leader did not even stand in front of or with the choir during church (not even when the choir sang), and an elder led congregational singing.
But this young lady began to be made more prominent as the music director. She stood with the choir, and she was visible when she would pull down a screen in the front and put the new songs up on an overhead projector (which most of us disliked). Choir members protested that this 20-year old girl was now presuming to lead them in devotions and giving them "challenges" before choir practice. She did not listen to their requests for the music that they liked, and she was heedless of a lot of the niceties that her predecessor had relied upon to keep everybody in unity.
To all of this, the pastor turned a deaf ear. Members of the choir began to observe his relationship with her with more scrutiny. They complained to the elders, but the as far as the elders were concerned, the matter had been satisfactorily investigated and closed.
I don't know exactly what happened, but somehow in all of this, either a discarded note was picked up innocently that turned out to be a love letter, or the two of them were caught being indiscreet, but it became clear to a church staff member that he had lied to the elders and that something was going on, and now there was proof. The elders made the decision not to tell the congregation and believed they had the right to so this, though they did not have the right to do that. They met with the pastor and laid down the law. He "repented," agreed to their conditions, and promised changes. They put in a few new rules---the most important being that he could not be alone with her in the church or anywhere else.
Several months later, he was caught with her in his home when his wife was gone. The elders again decided that they could handle this, but a church staff member sent a letter to the presbytery, and the matter became public.
When the congregation found out about all of this, they were stunned. Our pastor "repented" before us, but though a lot of tears were shed and people expressed a commitment to help him and his wife, we voted almost unanimously to remove him from office. Some of the elders were stunned, as there was no clear evidence of outright adultery. Through a series of church meetings, the congregation taught the elders what adultery actually is, and it does not occur at penetration, as they seemed to be assuming (and this Clinton-like reasoning had actually been a part of their defense of keepng him in office).
The congregation expressed a desire for the pastor to stay within the congregation and go through the full process of discipling and accountability, but he left and joined another denomination, with his wife.
Then we as a congregation turned our attention to the elders, who protested very strongly that they had not violated church order and had done nothing wrong. A lot of us believed that they really had clear consciences in the matter, but we recognized that they had behaved 1) with incredible gullibility and fooilshness in the entire matter, and 2) they had appropriated more privilege in handling the matter than church order actually allowed them. Once the pastor had committed actions that required public discipline, the matter should have been brought to the congregation, soberly and carefully.
Many stormy church meetings followed, punctuated by prayer meetings for wisdom and help. But in the end, we voted all the active elders out of office and installed new elders. The foolishness and lack of perception disqualified the elders who had allowed that bad situation to continue for the sake of keeping the pastor secure. Such a lack of wisdom indicated a complete failure on their parts to meet the requirements of the office of elder.
I had people complain to me that those men had served that church all their lives and did not deserve this, as though being an elder were a merit badge and not a grave and sober responsibility. But the grief and sorrow they had permitted to be inflicted on that sheltered, naive young music director (who did sin as well but was judged by all to be the lesser culprit in the matter) who had been too quickly promoted and thrust into close proximity to a man she had been taught to admire on the level of a prophet, and upon the former pastor's children and wife, and even upon the previous music director who had been neatly gotten rid of, all had to be considered. In the end, the elders had acted to save a fallen pastor from being held accountable and had let others be sacrificed, and that was a reproach on the name of Christ.
Under the guidance of the presbytery and the clear mandates of church discipline, even people who were angry at the former elders were restrained to be quiet about their anger and handle things biblically. We were urged to be sober, humble, and thoughtful about these things because God had visited us with something that really was sorrowful, and we had to find Him in all of this. So overall people worked to be courteous. And in the prayer meetings, there was nothing uncommon in hearing people pray, "Lord show us why You've allowed this here!" As a congregation, we truly felt reproached by the Lord. (How do depraved sinners ever say "I'm innocent!" to the Lord, anyway?)
One of the former elders left. Others were half minded to go or to stay. The former head elder stayed, as he still maintained that he had done nothing wrong. Oddly, over time the wives of the former elders did come to see the situation from the congregation's point of view. I don't know if they agreed with the overwhelming consensus of the congregation, but they did realize that we were acting based on genuine belief and biblical teaching.
Yet, in the end, though reconciliation appears to be taking place, we found that elders who failed to know the biblical teaching on church discipline and/or failed to follow it could not remain in office. We also recognized that the entire event was a visitation from God to chasten us as a congregation and call us into a more thorough study of His Word.
When I see a church who has glibly and gullibly accepted a man into fellowship without looking for the actions that bear out a testimony of repentance assuring me that "God is enabling" that adulterer, or telling me "please don't try and give me some bible study on repentance," I'm about 100% certain that, given enough time, that church will fall into the exact same trap all over again. The answer is not to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and say, "Well, glad that's over with!" The answer is to seek the Lord and commit yourself all over again to the diligent study of His Word in order to be preserved from such a lasting shame being placed upon your church.
What happened at Pinellas Park Baptist Church did not happen because Dave Hyles was so smart, but because the church leadership was so untaught in Scripture. And the worst possible thing to do as follow-up is insist on anything else as a reason for the trouble he caused or declare there was no error. There was gross error in the church leadership, and if those embedded errors are not corrected, the same events will happen again.
We all have to do this again and again with the Lord because He is wise, and we are foolish sinners. There's no shame in your church leadership doing this openly and expressing hope that God will make them---and all of us---wiser by the closer study of His Word. Indeed, the shame is in insisting you are equipped to handle what comes next.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
 |
Constable Magpie Gives Advice Constable Magpie is a Maine Coon Cat named after a gray tabby cat that appears in my Liz Shaw Forensic Mysteries. The fictional Constable Magpie is good for calming Liz Shaw's nerves or keeping her company. However, this Constable Magpie, being a Maine Coone Cat, has many real life applications to make with his cat wisdom. He has observed human behavior quite keenly and even though he cannot read, he has heard humans discuss their troubles, and their inability to swiftly and lightly dispense with troubles amazes him. Before you read his advice, you should be aware that Constable Magpie places a high priority on sleeping (He calls it meditating), eating, and grooming. And he presupposes that people will find him charming and affable (as they always do). But overall, he presents a different perspective that may be of value. |
Dear Constable Magpie: I recently met an executive in my company who has been held up to me as a great woman. But she was very rude to me and treated another woman of her own age (who is not an executive) very snidely, openly belittling her. Yet she lectured all of us (as a group) very well on professional behavior.
Dear offended person, a certain amount of hissing must go on in life. It is very important when frightened or startled to make your eyes as large and as fierce as possible, and to get your hair all fluffed out so that you look very frightening indeed. Often, this display will circumvent trouble. However, nobody can live life with his eyes as round as globes and his hair all fluffed out. Therefore you must re-evaluate the situation to determine what was happening. If this woman merely had a hissing fit because you happened to tread on her tail or eat food from her dish, then you should offer her a treat to make friends. A nice fish head would probably show her the noble intent of your heart, or perhaps chicken livers. If she accepts, then it is clear that she does not harbor ill will towards you.
However, if hissing is a way of life for her, and she is a person prepared to attack on any provocation, then you should avoid her. Put your back to her and jump onto a sunny windowsill to meditate. Let her go on her way. There is no need to thrust yourself upon her attention, for if she is a hissing female, you will only provoke her further. Sometimes even cats will descend into perpetual bad moods and expectations that others can never meet, but I have observed it far more often in human beings. Either way, you get nothing but hisses, and this is not good for your coat. You must lead a tranquil, leisurely life so that you have plenty of time to groom your coat and keep it smooth and luxuriant. After all, cats have a duty to be beautiful, for we provide joy in the universe. Surely human beings have a similar duty. Therefore don't worry about perpetually cross people. Just let them be.
 |
Clouds Rolling In We had a beautiful day here in the Raleigh area. The sky became deep, perfect blue. Down here in the south you rarely see that depth of blueness in the sky. Humidity usually keeps it a paler shade of blue than what you can get up north. But by 4:00, wispy strands of clouds were shot across the sky in one or two places. The breeze was picking up, but was not unpleasant. Still hard to believe this monster with the 500 mile diameter is bearing down on us. Now, at 7:00 PM, the wispy strands have thickened up a lot, and they are blotting out the sun so that it shines through only in patches. Grayer clouds are rolling ever nearer. |
I stopped on the way home and bought some cooked chicken, banana muffins, two Smith Ales, and an apple pie. I don't eat that stuff when there are no hurricanes (apart from the ale), but this is all pre-cooked, and power outage seems highly likely for up to a week after Isabel passes through. Most recent news just told us she has turned northwest and will lkely land on the southern edge of Pamlico sound. If that's how it really plays out, Raleigh will be on the "Tropical storm" edge of the hurricane. I'm hoping we get off lightly! The plant is closed tomorrow
 |
Thanks for another great quote, Father Ted In the final day before Isabel hits, I'd like us all to keep laughing, so I picked out another great Father Ted quote. Father Ted's famous explanation to Dougal on how to praise God. |
Held Over Until After the Hurricane
| Two of a Kind: Episode Two.
MP3 file (audio). 34 minutes Set after Terror of the Autons. After their first adventure together, the Doctor and Jo attend a party, but the Doctor's young assistant realizes that he brought her along only because he did not want to go alone. And then he loses her to a gambler in a poker game! Things go from bad to worse as it becomes apparent that the Doctor cannot beat her card-playing captor alone. Episode One (31 min.) Episode Two (34 min.) |
 | WOW Returns to the FFF
After darting away when I commented that he behaves as a guilty person and then being invisible for several days, WOW has returned to the FFF. He announced himself with the following post: |
Re: Will the Real Dave Hyles Please Stand Up?
Posted by WOW on Sep-16-03 4:18pm
(In reply to: Will the Real Dave Hyles Please Stand Up? posted by Berean Believer on Sep-16-03 12:32pm)
I AM DAVE HYLES!!!
And what are you going to do about it???
Nothing!!!
 | In pretty short order, the wily browsing had him stumbling over himself again, and I asked for somebody to hand him a shovel so he could just dig himself deeper at a faster rate. But you can see from the post that this man relies on defiance, as any thwarted person does. When you get to the Fighting Fundamentalist Forum, you see a mindset in many of the self-proclaimed preachers that reveals no heart of the Gospel in them at all. Their Christianity is built on outward displays of power and authority that rely on Christian icons: waving Bibles, short haired men, long skirted women, all the camp meeting and revival type songs of two generations ago. But when you get beyond that (or through it), there is nothing there but carnality and the thinking of this world. The texts that they preach are corrupted with human thinking and outright ignorance of the Scripture. And they have turned their churches into private kingdoms in which they exert severe control. |
 | Father Ted Meets an IFBx preacher
Posted all in good fun, of course! But our favorite parish priest, rashly assuming that Father Dougal was actually the least intelligent specimen of clergy on earth, encounters an IFBx preacher while on assignment from Bishop Brennen to see what the Fundamentalists are up to. Click Here |
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
One Hot Debate: Requirements for the Ministry
This assertion from a poster on the FFF:
We don't need formal education. Knowledge puffs up. Humility before God is better than knowledge.
My Reply
You're contradicting Scripture Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-13-03 4:28pm Paul admonished Timothy: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
It's true, the emphasis of the word study is really to exert diligence, but Timothy's labor was to be given to doctrinal correctness (rightly dividing the word of truth). His labor was in the academics of studying the sacred text and understanding it thoroughly.
Paul wisely sets down the limits of the educated person: all achievement for its own sake he reards as dung, but he clearly states in I Corinthiansa 9:21 and following these reasons for developing his mind with cultural understanding of others:
21) To them that are without the law, as without law [not meaning he became godless, only able to converse with and understand them--ed.] (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law
22) To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Paul's indication here is that the goal of Christianity is to be conversant with all cultures, all people--not mingled with their philosophies, but aware of them, educated in them, able to discern their beliefs and where they veer from truth.
Such a Christianity would have to be an educated Christianity--educated in a broad study of literature.
Paul reveals his own classical education (and apparent approval of some of what he had learned from the Greeks) in I Corinthians 15:33, when he warns, "Evil communications corrupt good manners," which is a quote from pagan Greek literature. Paul's use of the quote doesn't make the Greeks any less pagan, but it does show that Paul was well read in the literature and could quote it and had no compunction about doing so to serve the Word of God.
In the book of Acts, Paul again shows his broad education when he refers to the Greek poets in Acts 17:28. In fact, it can be argued pretty well, that Paul's sermon on Mars Hill was so apt because he understood his Greek audience so well.
Paul was definitely on trial at Mars Hill. The polite request for him to speak of his beliefs veiled the threat that he could be charged with "corrupting the morals of the young" if his beliefs amounted to anything that criticised or condemned pagan Greek culture. (Socrates, who also espoused monotheism, was sentenced to death for the crime of corrupting the morals od the young; that is, he spoke out against the Greek gods and many Greek customs which he viewed as self destructive.)
Paul knew the structure of the discourse that he was supposed to give, and he understood perfectly well that if he said anything that they could use against him, he could have been sentenced to death. So he structured his discourse in such a way as to fit with their culture and yet to exalt God as the only sovereign Ruler of the universe. By insisting that his God was the Unknown God, he stayed within the boundaries of Greek law. This cunning defense and exposition of his faith required a detailed knowledge of Greek culture, which Paul obviously had.
Paul's broad education in the classics, then, gives us the example to follow. We are to be as educated as possible, people who study, read, consider, and consult research. As I said before, there are plenty of well meaning but ignorant Christians. It's better to have well meaning and educated Christians.
REBUTTAL #1
BASSENCO: Paul admonished Timothy: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
[BASSENCO:] It's true, the emphasis of the word study is really to exert diligence, but Timothy's labor was to be given to doctrinal correctness (rightly dividing the word of truth). His labor was in the academics of studying the sacred text and understanding it thoroughly.
REBUTTAL: HOLD ON LUCY!!!! You accuse me of contradicting scripture! LOL!!!! Pray, tell me this!!! Which university did Timothy attend? There are many learned men of God who have never stepped foot into a college or University. They certainly don't have a degree, but they somehow manage to do the work that God has called them to do. They are learned individuals, not because they have a degree, but because they have given themselves to study. Paul told Timothy to study, not attend the local Bible college. You accuse "fundies" of twisting the scripture to enforce their own agenda, but you, my dear, have just done the very same crime that you rail against everyone else for. Your plagaristic piece on the life of Paul was sweet, but still you have not shown me where I contradict scripture. No where does the scripture say that FORMAL education is a must for ministry. I never said that education is unimportant, I only said that FORMAL education is not a prerequisite to being qualified to ministry. Again, in your arrogance, you have proven nothing except that you are puffed up with knowledge that you think that you have. Let me ask you a question. Is college the only way to an education?
No where in this conversation have you acknowleged the superior importance of The Holy Spirit's power on one's ministry superceding the importance of education. Maybe, that is because you do think that man's ability is more effective than God's power.
My Reply
Re: You're twisting history! Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 9:38am
Timothy, of course, was educated in the synagogues, which provided a very good education in the Scripture of the Old Testament and gave him a complete formal education in Hebrew and the existing Scripture.
We also know that Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel, acknowledged in that time as being one of the greatest rabbis of all time. And Gamaliel held forth with several students in the tutor system, but taught them and did not "mentor" them. Paul was fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, a man fully educated and able to converse with different cultures in their native tongues, with knowledge of their cultural expectations.
They used a tutorial system for higher education. But there was no such thing as "mentoring" to bring a man into the ministry. Timothy had very good formal education in the synagogue system and Paul is telling him in 2 Timothy that he must continue to study diligently.
WHERE DOES PAUL SAY HE NEEDS A MENTOR? No where.
Paul DOES argue for extensive education for all Christians, and Paul is an example of a highly educated man. He NEVER tells young men to enter the pastorate by being mentored.
REBUTTAL #2
Where does the Bible say that Timothy studied in the synagogue? Just curious. i don't have a Bible here with me, and I don't have the scripture memorized, so help me out with the location in scripture where Timothy studied in the Synagogue. Would that not be equivalent to our modern day CHURCH? I don't see the connection of the Synagogue and a college university. Sorry. ... Where does Paul say that one must go to an institution of higher learning to be effective in ministry.
Where did Peter attend college? how about James and John? Where did Stephen and Barnabas attend?
Does God say that college training is HIS plan for ministerial training? It is not Bible based. It is a humanistic concept to say that the power of God's Spirit on HIS CALLED servant is not enough. He must have man's stamp of approval on a certificate before he can be accepted. I rebel against your humanistic mindset, and I say that while a man must know the Word, The call of God and His empowering is of SUPREME importance. Stay in your books,woman, while the men of God are in the trenches fighting spiritual warfare for the glory of God.
My Reply
Mentoring Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 11:21am (In reply to: Bass, posted by Smellin Coffee on Aug-14-03 10:58am) SC, while mentoring obviously forms a part of anybody's growth process, it is not a qualification for the ministry. Some people need a lot, and some people get enough early in life so that they are more independent as adults. Interaction with others of greater age and experience is ongoing throughout life.
What qualifies a man to be a minister of the Gospel in expert handling of the word of God and a mature approach to spiritual matters and the government of church matters. Because mentoring cannot be quantified (ie, that point where a person has been mentored enough), it cannot replace formal training. That's my point. I'm not saying mentoring is bad. However I am saying it is no substitute for an education.
Addendum to My reply
Re: Does the scripture say that Timothy... Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 11:42am
No, a synagogue is not the same thing as our modern church. ... Boys at age three (by the time they were weaned) were started in their education and "learned their letters" in Hebrew culture. (Before the synagogue system was formalized, this training was done by the elders.) They were educated with formal training in their language and studied the Law and the commentaries of the teachers (including books that are Apocryphal) until they were old enough to read the Law before the congregation (of men). Christ Himself made excellent answers to questions based on the book of Tobit.
The education was based on two things: first, the actual language studies required to read the Law (The Torah); and second, there was formal instruction (which included A LOT of rote memorization) on the commentaries of the teachers of the past. These commentaries were called the oral Law (even though they were written down and preserved in a lot of places), and we know this compilation of commentaries as the Talmud.
The Torah had precedence as the Word of God, but all young men were educated in both the contents of the Torah and the Talmud.
Timothy, raised as a Hellenistic Jew but kept in the faith by his mother, (See Paul's commendation of her in 2 Tim.) went through that system of education, which was the custom of the Jews who "kept the faith" in pagan countries. He was well schooled in the foundational differences between Pharisee and Sadducee, and he understood the history of the priesthood and the shifts and factionalization in Jewish thought over the centuries.
REBUTTAL #3
[I] Didn't say that being knowledgeable is unimportant. I said that FORMAL EDUCATION as in college and degrees is not the standard by which we judge whether or not a man is worthy of the Bishoprick. It is not found in Scripture that it is. Through all her polished attempts, BASS has yet to prove her point to me.
Addendum to my reply
All ancient education was provided by wise men Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 11:50am
I don't understand your point. The education was still formalized, tested, and strictly administered. It was also based on the study, memorization, assessment, and analysis of TEXTS, not mentoring. As I said, mentoring is fine, but it cannot replace education.
You can train a blacksmith, a carpenter, a well digger by apprenticeship. But for that which requires knowledge of a text, a higher level of education is required----formal training. Whether by a tutor or a lecturer, that teaching must be systematic, tested, and demonstratable.
REBUTTAL #4
I read all of that hogwash that you put scripture into. You can assume, derive, and conclude all that you want, but there is no statement or even an insinuation that God expects everyone that HE calls into the ministry to go to the university for man's approval. Paul was educated ... Peter wasn't. 3000 conversion took place under Peter's preaching, not because of his education, but because of the power of God. While you say man's effort is a mute point in pleasing the Father, you contend that man's effort is everything in being able to be used by the Father. The same Spirit that equips man to live the faith life, is the same Spirit that equips God's called servant to preach the faith life.
My Reply
Re: Here we go again!!!! For real!!!! Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 12:02pm
Yet Peter, godly man that he was, was not able to minister to the Gentiles. He got caught up in his own provincialism and could not overcome the boundaries set by Judaizers, so that Paul himself rebuked Peter for withdrawing from the evident truth of Grace.
Of course God can use anybody, but it is presumption to assume that because God can use anybody there is no need to get formal education. Ridiculous! Just compare Peter and Paul. Peter saw 3000 saved. Paul wrote most of the New Testament and held together the early church by his letters, his teaching, and his travels. He did this because (as he acknowledged) he was able to be all things to all men. And that ability to communicate across cultures came by his education.
Furthermore, Paul does exhort Timothy to be as educated as possible in 2Timothy 2:15, urging him to apply himself with words that show that hard work and diligent application were necessary in formal studies in order to be able to present the Gospel well and teach his own flock. In Titus 1:9 Paul says that the elder must be competent enough in doctrine to both build up his own people and also to show the errors in the teachings of those who oppose the Gospel.
My Reply No, just an educated woman Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 12:05pm
God is impressed by one thing---the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore going to HAC cannot impress Him. Nobody's character can impress Him. Nothing we do can impress Him.
But we are free to serve Him, and Paul admonishes us to be as educated as possible in order to reach all people and in order to defeat the foolish fables of others.
REBUTTAL #5
We need men of God to TRAIN young candidates and mentor them into the responsibilities of a minister.
I NEVER SAID MENTORING ALONE WAS ENOUGH!!!!!!
My ReplyRe: Bass, read one more time.... Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 12:07pm
You said, "We don't need formal education." And I am saying, oh yes we do.
REBUTTAL #6
...As uneducated as I am with my B.S. and M.A. degree, I will walk away from this dialogue .... Bye Bye.
My ReplyRe: It is finished/Back to IFB Rule #1--Accuse Posted by BASSENCO on Aug-14-03 12:53pm
You ...are not able to support your idea. (And that's because it is founded on fallacies.) You can always get more education. We all can, and we all should (which is just what Paul advocated).
Monday, September 15, 2003
 | For Brent Stevens
As one who came too late to save, I'll lay white roses on your grave. All that I could do I've done; Now rest in Christ, forgotten son. |
Based on an anonymous poem. After this was posted on the FFF, Rick Philips finally was silent.
 | Spectrum is Green!
Had a brief e-mail conversation with Green Beret from the Fighting Fundamentalist Forums! He is an science fiction fan from WAYBACK, and he mentioned having watched Captain Scarlet when he was a kid. So for all you old fogies like him (and like me) who remember the genuine drama that Gerry Anderson could evoke with marionettes and models of buildings, here's a really brief MP3 file designed to bring back memories of the intro to Captain Scarlet |
 | Cannibal on the Prowl
So today the cannibal tried to convince me that I was in danger of angering another person, and she made herself out to be interested in warnng me. I went to the allegedly angry person and found that nothing was wrong between us. I did not mention the cannibal's slanted version of the way things are. I really don't want to create hard trouble for the cannibal, but neither do I want to be pulled into any of her fantasy games or manipulative attempts to get me into her stew pot. I keep in mind Bryan's comment about her possible opinion that I hold my beliefs and conduct merely as a protective shell in the same way she holds her middle class respectability as a mere shell of respectability. I feel like she is still poking around for some way to get a handle on me, some way to steer my reactions so that she can guide me into her----oven, kettle, call it what you will: that place where what I am is carved up for her emotional high. |
Sunday, September 14, 2003
 | David Spence, Plagiarist in Who-ville
Just got a note from a fellow who runs the Gallifrey One board that he was advised that a poster on the board had ripped off my Mysterious Gentlemen from London and presented it (under a different title) as his own. He verified this, notified the plagiarist, banned him from the web board, and deleted the story. I wrote to the alleged plagiarist to ask him what was up. I also wrote to the Gallifrey One lead fellow to ask for a copy of the plagiarizing piece. And I wrote to the reader who made the discovery and thanked her. |
Monday mornng (Sept 15) I got this e-mail from the culprit:
I wish to apologise about the claims of plagiarism. To a certain degree,
they are accurate, but only to a point. I have not copied the whole of your
story , I just took the opening paragraph of your story 'Mysterious
Gentlemen from London' and modified it for an opening chapter of my story
'Ashes of Evil'.
If you wish me to change this I shall be happy to write my own original
copy, and I do apologise for not contacting you about earlier.
Sincerly,
David Spence
I was pretty steamed at the way he minimized his theft of my work, so I wrote back this reply to his e-mail address of djfs@blueyonder.co.uk:
David, Of course I want you to change the opening of your story. There is no such thing as "to a point" in plagiarism. If it's plagiarism, it is theft of material, and that's what you've done with my work. The apology would be a lot more believable if you didn't follow it up with a lame excuse that it was only "to a point."
You've gotten yourself banned from the Gallifrey board, and I hope you'll seriously consider where plagiarism will get you if you continue to commit it. Among writers, including fanfic writers, it is taken seriously and is roundly despised because it is morally wrong. Before you completely lose all credibility and any chance of engaging in mutually respectful relationships and activities regarding fiction writing, I hope you'll do an integrity overhaul on yourself and recognize that you must not take possession of what is not yours, whether it's a paragraph or a whole story.
And he took more than a single paragraph, but he had no right to take any of it.
 |
Mysterious Gentlemen from London is a Doctor Who story about the Doctor and the Brigadier having drinks together because the Brigadier decides that "good highland malt" will console the Doctor after Jo runs off to South America. They drink too much, drive the TARDIS while tipsy, and end up in the American West. They are then mistaken for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they try to solve a mystery about why a train derailed and how two people ended up dead, even after surviving the wreck. The story was helped in popularity by Gary Mercant's excellent cover illustration for it, which you see at left in miniature. And while it is a fan's dream story because it highlights the Brigadier and has a lot of humor in it, I would not rank it as one of my top five Doctor Who stories. It's definitely a romp. But if this guy plagiarized it, I'll take some sort of action to stop him from plundering my online stuff. |
 | Hurricane preparation
It's been over a year since I had to prepare for hurrican season. With Isabel churning its way closer I hauled out my two small rucksacks from the car and reviewed everything. Good thing I did. My four-pack of batteries had corroded, so I replaced them and restocked the flashlight itself. I canot find my water carrier, so that means i have to get up on a chair and look on my top shelves in the closet. I can see the edge of the fanny pack up there, so I bet the water carrier is right behind it. |
Otherwise, here is what I have in rucksack #1:
__Rainproof Poncho and hat/hood
__two pairs of thick, durable socks
__three pairs of cotton undies and a bra
__cotton t-shirt
__lightweight special fiber turtleneck
__nylon slacks
__sealed packs of Kleenex, sewing kit, Advil
__sanitary wipes,
__emergency blanket (ultra lightweight type)
__2000 calories of food in durable form
__Four sealed water pouches
__Brand new vinyl shower curtain liner (countless uses)
__Nylon rope
__matches
__Sanitary napkins and panty shields
__gauze pads
__medical tape
__water purification drops
__barrets
__camping style eating utensils
__Flashlight
__Batteries for flashlight
__Soap
__chapstick
Rucksack number 2 is more lightweight and holds
__sealed pouch of granola
__Two Alpine Air freeze dried meals
__Mess kit
__lightwt. mini coffee pot
__Sterno folding stove and two ethanol candles
__groundsheet
I cannot find my jack knife. That means I'll need to get another one! And I must also acquire the following items for a good evacuation kit:
__Cash in small bills appropriate for conditions
__Hair brush
__bottled water (1 quart)
I do have a larger, army surplus backpack that provides better back support than the cheap rucksacks. I may transfer everything to that because it's only about 20 pounds worth of stuff, total. The problem is that my back is not fit for anything any more. Carrying stuff with me to make evacuation more comfortable has now become a great problem.
BTW, if you want advice on emergency preparation, go to The Emergency Preparedness FAQ
 | Gaaaaagh! Hot!Hot!Hot!---Part Two!
Last week I started my horseradish experiment, based on the advice of Norman Walker, a vegetarian who lived to be over 100 and advocated fresh vegetable juices for what ails you. I've been fasting two days per week, drinking three pints of juice for each 24 hour fast, and at this point my back inflammation has decreased sharply---especially this week. Also, my symptoms of menopause have lessened considerably, especially the insomnia. So today it was time to throw out the old horse radish and pulverize in the new! |
At the grocery store the Chinese produce man frowned at shallw bin of horseradish roots and said, "Not too good! Soft!" But I told him soft horseradish is better than no horseradish. This morning I peeled it and noticed a lot more fumes. Last week's fresh root did not give off the mustard oil fumes until it was actually being pulverized. But I chopped it up and then ran it through the Champion Juicer, set on puree. A lot less juice came out with the pulp, annother effect of being past its peak. But oh my, those volatile oils did just fine!
Once again, an invisible cloud rose all around me, prompting an exit once or twice so that I could recover. But I finally got all the pulp scraped into a bowl and then washed up. As it happens, this past week was a flu and sinus infection week for a lot of people. I'd been a bit achy and congested earlier but had gotten off lightly. Three people I know actually had to see the doctor and get antibiotics. And two of them spent Monday and Tuesday in bed. But after the exposure to the mustard gas in the kitchen, I blew my nose and expelled black blood and gunk from far back in my sinuses (sorry to be grotesque) and abruptly breathed easier. So to be on the safe side, after I'd mixed the pulverized horseradish root with lemon juice, I took a large half-teaspoon of the mixture.
WAAAAAHOOOOOOO! More tears, and liquid fire all the way down my gullet. And nausea. Horseradish, pure and barely diluted, does not always agree with me. So I mixed up some lemon juice with two tablespoons of maple syrup, filled the big glass jar with 24 ounces of cool water, and drank down this natural lemonade to settle things. It did.
