Have you ever noticed how often people use the word "actually"? It drive me nuts. It seems that about 90% of the population can't get through two sentences without qualifying something with "actually". I often wonder if omitting this adverb indicates that the speaker is being virtual.
This isn't the only word that people seem to get stuck on and use repetitively in their speech patterns, it's just the one that for the past few months has started to grind on my auditory nerves and bruise my cochleas.
I actually went to lunch with Bruno today. I guess if actually is not there the listener is to assume the speaker means his imaginary friend Kunta Kente`.
I attended a training class today and the person leading the class must have used actually about 200 times in an hour. I'm not exaggerating. The guy is incredibly intelligent; the class was software development training. Intellect seems to have little to do with this infliction. In years past I probably would have said something sarcastic to him during or after the class, but I have mellowed with age and I don't really enjoy offending nice people like I once did. Now I write on this blog or on my website and hope those spoken of and about just don't notice (Since I estimate 90% of the population to be suffering from this though, maybe you are one of the spoken of individuals). At the height of the speaker's madness he used actually three times in two sentences.
The overuse of this word ranks up there with other things like saying "have went" instead of "have gone". I can't prove it but I think I may be the last living, English speaking person that knows the difference.
I also often wonder why so many people say "I could care less" when they obviously mean to say "I could not care less". If you could care less then you care about the subject at hand to some degree. The degree to which you care is not clear, only that you care at least some. But if you say I could not care less, it is clear that you care nothing at all about the subject matter.
Since I'm on this rant, why do people constantly refer to anything that can be qualified numerically with "ton". Ton is a weight, yet every day i hear things like: "I have a ton of work to do." Good for you, you will really have some muscles when you are through. Since I am a geek I constantly hear things like: "That program has tons of code in it" or "I've visited tons of technical sites and I cannot find the answer." Can't people say something like: "I visited numerous sites without finding anything that helped."?
This one really annoys me - calling people "anal". That word has become a euphemism for a__h____. Freud was probably the first person to use that term. He basically meant stingy. But today, quite often, when someone is annoying they are referred to as anal. People using this word frequently seem like pseudo-intellectual fruitcakes to me, throwing around words they think make them sound cool, but in fact make them sound silly to anyone who knows the meaning of the words.
Maybe you are wondering what my problem is because you think these things don't matter. They do matter though. Every time a word changes meaning slightly or to a larger degree, the entire language is changed. These nuances make it harder for present day people to understand the language of the past and even harder for people years from now to try to understand things written today in context of things written in the past. Colloquialisms change with each generation, perhaps even several times within a generation in some case. This causes confusion in the language and causes misinterpretation in historical writings. If someone living in 2098 reads an informal document written by an average speaker in 2008 and sees the word "actually" or "actual" used she may not realize that it was merely a way of joining thoughts used by people with poor grammar skills. That word may cause the document to be interpreted incorrectly when a sentence not containing the word "actual" or "actually" is not implied leading the reader to believe the meaning is "not real".
There are certainly many other words that are being misused in our society. We never say "the" correctly - almost always "thu". In the south we say "ya'll" and "gonna". Someone digging up a letter written by two people from the southern U.S. 200 years from now without having good documentation from the current era would certainly have trouble with that one. How would anyone ever get "going to" from "gonna". We say "fixing to leave" in place of "preparing to leave" or "about to leave".
I often wonder how much we don't know about history because we freely and happily modify the language to sound cool (another word that undergoes meaning change frequently). Think of the confusion a reader in 100 years might have comparing a document from the 1700s to one written in 2008 if both use the word "gay" to refer to someone.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Christian Trinity
The concept of the trinity is ingrained in christian theology to the point that those of us who do not believe it are scorned, accused of heresy and told that we cannot be saved because we deny the trinity. What is it that leads so many christians to believe pagan teachings? Orthodox Christians claim that God is three separate and distinct entities in one godhead. There is nothing in the bible that teaches this concept. In order to find anything in the bible that references the trinity, one must first accept that the trinity is truth and then go to the bible searching for verses to back up what they have decided to believe before studying the scriptures. Consider the following verses:
Matt 7:21 (KJV)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 10:32-33 (KJV)
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 11:25-27 (KJV)
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matt 26:39-42 (KJV)
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Matt 12:48-50 (KJV)
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
***************************************************************************
It's clear in those verses that Yeshua distinguishes himself from the Father. Why would Yeshua pray to himself?
Think carefully about John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Yeshua was born of a human mother, flesh. Elohim is not flesh, He is spirit.
My good friend Keith Murray shared this list of questions with me. Keith's suggestion is that you answer these questions with scripture and not what you have been taught and accept as truth without having looked to scripture. In fact, always look to scripture for verification of what you believe to be truth. Don't passively accept what someone else (including me) tells you. Find support for your beliefs with scripture. If there is no support to be found look for a mentor that truly knows what the Bible says or think about revising what you think is truth.
1 Is G-d a man?
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
2 Is G-d a spirit?
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
3 Was Y'shua flesh and bone?
4 Was Y'shua a spirit?
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
5 Can G-d be tempted?
James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
6 Was Y'shua tempted?
Matthew 4:1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
7 Is G-d omnicient?
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Job 42:2
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Psalm 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
8 Was Y'shua omnincient?
Mark 13:32
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Isaiah 7:14-16
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
9 Does G-d sleep?
Psalm 121:4
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
10 Did Y'shua sleep?
Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
11 Does G-d become weary?
Isaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
12 Does G-d hunger or thirst?
Psalm 50:12
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13 Did Y'shua hunger or thirst?
Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Matthew 25:42
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
John 19:28
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
14 Has anyone seen G-d at any time?
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1 John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
15 Did anyone see Y'shua?
Matthew 8:34
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
16 Was Y'shua's will always the same as YHVH?
17 Did Y'shua do his own will?
Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
18 Does G-d do his own will?
Isaiah 48:11
For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
19 Who raised Y'shua from the grave?
Acts 2:24
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:32
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts 3:15
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts 10:40
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
20 Did Y'shua become sin?
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
21 Can G-d be sin?
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
22 Was Y'shua forsaken? If so, by who?
Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
23 Was Y'shua sent?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
24 Is G-d sent?
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
25 Can G-d become lower than angels?
Psalm 18:13
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Psalm 47:2
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
26 Did Y'shua become lower than angels?
Hebrews 2:7
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
27 Does G-d pray?
Psalm 50:12
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
28 Did Y'shua pray?
Matthew 26:36
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
29 Is G-d a mediator?
Galatians 3:20
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
30 Is Y'shua a mediator?
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
********************************************************************************
This is not the complete list. There are quite a few more. I'll be happy to post them all if anyone is interested.
Matt 7:21 (KJV)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 10:32-33 (KJV)
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 11:25-27 (KJV)
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matt 26:39-42 (KJV)
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Matt 12:48-50 (KJV)
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
***************************************************************************
It's clear in those verses that Yeshua distinguishes himself from the Father. Why would Yeshua pray to himself?
Think carefully about John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Yeshua was born of a human mother, flesh. Elohim is not flesh, He is spirit.
My good friend Keith Murray shared this list of questions with me. Keith's suggestion is that you answer these questions with scripture and not what you have been taught and accept as truth without having looked to scripture. In fact, always look to scripture for verification of what you believe to be truth. Don't passively accept what someone else (including me) tells you. Find support for your beliefs with scripture. If there is no support to be found look for a mentor that truly knows what the Bible says or think about revising what you think is truth.
1 Is G-d a man?
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
2 Is G-d a spirit?
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
3 Was Y'shua flesh and bone?
4 Was Y'shua a spirit?
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
5 Can G-d be tempted?
James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
6 Was Y'shua tempted?
Matthew 4:1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
7 Is G-d omnicient?
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Job 42:2
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Psalm 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
8 Was Y'shua omnincient?
Mark 13:32
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Isaiah 7:14-16
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
9 Does G-d sleep?
Psalm 121:4
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
10 Did Y'shua sleep?
Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
11 Does G-d become weary?
Isaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
12 Does G-d hunger or thirst?
Psalm 50:12
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13 Did Y'shua hunger or thirst?
Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Matthew 25:42
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
John 19:28
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
14 Has anyone seen G-d at any time?
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1 John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
15 Did anyone see Y'shua?
Matthew 8:34
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
16 Was Y'shua's will always the same as YHVH?
17 Did Y'shua do his own will?
Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
18 Does G-d do his own will?
Isaiah 48:11
For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
19 Who raised Y'shua from the grave?
Acts 2:24
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:32
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts 3:15
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Acts 3:26
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 4:10
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts 10:40
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
20 Did Y'shua become sin?
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
21 Can G-d be sin?
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
22 Was Y'shua forsaken? If so, by who?
Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
23 Was Y'shua sent?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
24 Is G-d sent?
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
25 Can G-d become lower than angels?
Psalm 18:13
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Psalm 47:2
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
26 Did Y'shua become lower than angels?
Hebrews 2:7
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
27 Does G-d pray?
Psalm 50:12
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
28 Did Y'shua pray?
Matthew 26:36
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
29 Is G-d a mediator?
Galatians 3:20
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
30 Is Y'shua a mediator?
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
********************************************************************************
This is not the complete list. There are quite a few more. I'll be happy to post them all if anyone is interested.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
McAfee AntiVirus Software...
constantly pops up windows telling me some of the features are not turned on. This is because I turned the email spam filter off. McAfee slows my email to a crawl if I let their spam service run. It also places a large number of valid emails in its spam folder that it creates in my Outlook folders. When I move an email out of the spam folder into my inbox where it belongs McAfee conveniently moves it back to its own spam folder pissing me off really bad.
When Internet Explorer 7.0 beta was released I installed it and the McAfee security center opened up in an empty white window. Recently I installed the new beta of Internet Explorer and again McAfee Security Center opens in an empty white window. This is so totally ridiculous that I won't even rant on it. There is absolutely no reason for a desktop application to be dependent on the version of a browser installed on a pc. McAfee blames Microsoft. I'm a developer. I rant about Microsoft quite often. This is not Microsoft's issue. It's crappy programing from McAfee and they just won't live up to it and fix the problem.
In addition to popups about my settings, I get popups encouraging me to upgrade to a more expensive version. Sure McAfee, your software sucks so bad that I can hardly wait to give you more money for something that REALLY sucks. A few days ago I got a popup telling me that my subscription would be expiring in February 2009. That's right - 5 months in advance.
Frequently my entire PC freezes because McAfee is updating. Rather than using a threading model, McAfee takes control of both of my processors and won't let go until it is finished. McAfee does not create software. They create crapware.
I have begun sending them emails every time I get an annoying popup. I offered to stop if they would give me a partial refund and cancel my subscription, but they refused. I'll just keep emailing them several times a day - each time I am annoyed by one of their useless popups.
If you use McAfee and find it annoying as I do, then join me in sending them an email every time it annoys you. I don't think they have the talent or desire to make their software right, but at least we can all have some therapy by irritating them and making them pay for annoying the hell out of us with their crapware.
jw
When Internet Explorer 7.0 beta was released I installed it and the McAfee security center opened up in an empty white window. Recently I installed the new beta of Internet Explorer and again McAfee Security Center opens in an empty white window. This is so totally ridiculous that I won't even rant on it. There is absolutely no reason for a desktop application to be dependent on the version of a browser installed on a pc. McAfee blames Microsoft. I'm a developer. I rant about Microsoft quite often. This is not Microsoft's issue. It's crappy programing from McAfee and they just won't live up to it and fix the problem.
In addition to popups about my settings, I get popups encouraging me to upgrade to a more expensive version. Sure McAfee, your software sucks so bad that I can hardly wait to give you more money for something that REALLY sucks. A few days ago I got a popup telling me that my subscription would be expiring in February 2009. That's right - 5 months in advance.
Frequently my entire PC freezes because McAfee is updating. Rather than using a threading model, McAfee takes control of both of my processors and won't let go until it is finished. McAfee does not create software. They create crapware.
I have begun sending them emails every time I get an annoying popup. I offered to stop if they would give me a partial refund and cancel my subscription, but they refused. I'll just keep emailing them several times a day - each time I am annoyed by one of their useless popups.
If you use McAfee and find it annoying as I do, then join me in sending them an email every time it annoys you. I don't think they have the talent or desire to make their software right, but at least we can all have some therapy by irritating them and making them pay for annoying the hell out of us with their crapware.
jw
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Obama bothers me
When questioned about abortion, Obama recently replied that the decision was above his pay grade. What? What kind of answer is that? It's the type of uncommitted answer that people give when they don't want their true beliefs to be known. I think that If Obama knew without doubt that the majority of the voting public were apposed to abortion his answer would have been different. Obama claims to be a Christian, a man who believes the word of God. If we cannot be sure when life begins then shouldn't we make the choice that assures we are not murdering babies? Anyone who thinks that partial birth abortion is not murder is totally detached from any sense of morality and reality. I don't want a president who claims to be a man of faith but refuses to take a stand. I don't want a man who claims to be a Christian, but puts man's law above God's law. Forget the religious aspect; Obama is a hypocrite. He will say anything to further his own cause. God does not make allowances for people to go against His will because they are running for or hold public office.
While the U.S. is facing a financial meltdown of historic proportions, Obama has decided to focus on his own cause and continue campaigning instead of doing the job he was elected to do in the senate. Is shirking commitments in favor of furthering one's own personal interests a quality that makes a person a good leader. If foreign warships are heading toward the coasts of this country in 2012 will Obama be too preoccupied with his re-election campaign to remain in Washington and command our military?
Obama's campaign recently seems intensely focused on criticizing others and offering little of his own plans. During the debate it looked as if he won the argument about corporations paying very little in taxes by using loopholes. But geeeee, did i just not hear his solution to the problem or did he in fact not offer one. Although McCain was partially wrong, he was more correct than Obama. It is important to keep corporations and factories in the mainland to prevent the loss of jobs. Obama just used the moment to make himself appear more savvy than McCain. As usual though, he offered no real solution.
Some quick research into Obama's lineage reveals that he is more white than black and that is he more Arabic than African. All of that is fine and has no weight in his qualifications. What's wrong is that he has created the illusion that he is this country's first black (inference being African-American) presidential candidate. Again, he is using deception to increase his appeal.
I believe also that Obama has voted "present" a few too many times in the senate. He seems to have issues taking a stand.
Obama is very good at telling us what is wrong and stating that when he is president all will be different. But tell me, what exactly does he intend to do about anything? Being fast on the draw and hitting your opponent with a sharp criticism may seem really cool to some but it's not a skill that will help him run this country. And personally, I think that Putin could kick Obama's butt in 30 seconds or less and given that Putin probably does not take kindly to Obama's type of liberal "I'm smarter than you" responses I don't want Obama leading this country.
jw
While the U.S. is facing a financial meltdown of historic proportions, Obama has decided to focus on his own cause and continue campaigning instead of doing the job he was elected to do in the senate. Is shirking commitments in favor of furthering one's own personal interests a quality that makes a person a good leader. If foreign warships are heading toward the coasts of this country in 2012 will Obama be too preoccupied with his re-election campaign to remain in Washington and command our military?
Obama's campaign recently seems intensely focused on criticizing others and offering little of his own plans. During the debate it looked as if he won the argument about corporations paying very little in taxes by using loopholes. But geeeee, did i just not hear his solution to the problem or did he in fact not offer one. Although McCain was partially wrong, he was more correct than Obama. It is important to keep corporations and factories in the mainland to prevent the loss of jobs. Obama just used the moment to make himself appear more savvy than McCain. As usual though, he offered no real solution.
Some quick research into Obama's lineage reveals that he is more white than black and that is he more Arabic than African. All of that is fine and has no weight in his qualifications. What's wrong is that he has created the illusion that he is this country's first black (inference being African-American) presidential candidate. Again, he is using deception to increase his appeal.
I believe also that Obama has voted "present" a few too many times in the senate. He seems to have issues taking a stand.
Obama is very good at telling us what is wrong and stating that when he is president all will be different. But tell me, what exactly does he intend to do about anything? Being fast on the draw and hitting your opponent with a sharp criticism may seem really cool to some but it's not a skill that will help him run this country. And personally, I think that Putin could kick Obama's butt in 30 seconds or less and given that Putin probably does not take kindly to Obama's type of liberal "I'm smarter than you" responses I don't want Obama leading this country.
jw
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Eckhart Tolle is a phony
Recently I came across an article about this guy somewhere and decided to do some research on what he is about. I'm going to tell you upfront I don't like the guy. I think he is an endless bag of hot air. His thoughts are like molecules in a bag of hot gas, bouncing around, colliding, and never really solidifying. I read the first chapter of "The Power of Now". I really feel that is enough to critique his writings. If I bite into a burrito and taste spoiled meat, I don't keep chewing hoping I will eventually get to something that is edible and nourishing; I throw the burrito in the trash. If the first chapter of a book makes no sense, the remaining chapters are not likely to either.
In the second paragraph of the book, Tolle demonstrates what happens when you turn your mind off by referring to the story in the first paragraph as a parable. A parable is a story with a moral or religious lesson. There is no moral or religious lesson in that story. It's quite certainly not true and it's not really meaningful. But since thinking is too much of a bother for people like Tolle, perhaps the meaning of words is not relevant to his nonsense teachings. I'm guessing that he used the word parable to draw an inference to biblical teachings giving his book a deeper spiritual meaning in the mind of the reader.
Being is the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.
Eternal means always existing, no beginning or ending. None of us are eternal. Again, Tolle demonstrates his lack of language skill and, in this case, his lack of a grasp on reality. Maybe this statement makes sense to some, but I'm convinced it is just nonsense. Anyone willing to accept that Tolle possesses some higher form of intellect may read this and feel intimidated by not being able to grasp its meaning. If you fall in that category, I'm here to tell you, that statement is nonsense so stop pondering it and read something with real meaning - like the Bible. If you think you are one of the few who is able to grasp it, then I would say you are likely just a psuedo-intellectual, numb-minded fool; the same type that thinks a 20X10 foot empty canvas is a valid minimalist expression of meaningful art.
But don't seek to grasp it with your mind. Don't try to understand it. You can know it only when the mind is still. When you are present, when your attention is fully and intensely in the Now, Being can be felt, but it can never be understood mentally.
Perhaps Tolle is incapable of understanding things mentally. I am not. I hope anyone reading this is also able to understand mentally. Tolle is trying to tell us that we are incapable of thinking and that our thoughts are meaningless and worthless. I'm saying that Tolle is incapable of any type of higher thinking and no one should take his "teachings" seriously.
Do you believe that the cause of your unhappiness is thinking too much? Do you think that turning your thoughts off and shutting down your mind will make you happier? Well, it has long been said that ignorance is bliss. Maybe if you are unaware that you are starving to death, you will die happy. Perhaps forgetting your bills and just ignoring the lack of light in your home when the electricity is turned off will not bother you; after all, you have shut your mind down so you don't need to read. If you are an average U.S. citizen though, you will not be able to tolerate the lack of television for long. Of course viewing hours and hours of tv is about as mindless as life gets, but you have to think somewhere along the way so you can make enough money to buy the tv - unless you feel better stealing one.
People across the planet have already begun shutting down their minds and allowing themselves to be led. Maybe Tolle is just confirming what it is that many want to hear.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Some of you who still read may recognize that phrase. For the remainder, look to Paul in the Bible or email Tolle and ask him; he quotes (or misquotes) the book it came from quite often. What Tolle is teaching you is not sound or inspired. It's just stupid. Thinking is possibly the greatest ability we humans have. Tolle wouldn't be able to distribute his nonsense all over the world if some thinking man had not invented the printing press and others had not expanded that invention to create the incredible ability we all have today to communicate on a global scale almost instantly.
If you turn your mind off every time you face a stressful challenge then you will never develop the ability to deal with life. I enjoy facing the challenges of life even though I do get frustrated sometimes. Your mind is like a muscle. Use it and it grows stronger. Ignore it and take the easy way out and it grows weak.
Emptying your mind of thought invites elements you may not want to enter your psyche and influence you in ways that you will not be aware of. I'm sure there are many extremists in the world who would be very happy to know that people across the U.S. were turning their minds off for several hours each day.
I might post more about this man's nonsense later. Right now, several thoughts are racing around in my head so I think I will be a slave to the thinking that helps keep my mind alive and not asleep as the minds of any followers of Tolle are sure to eventually become.
jw
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Estes Park 9/21/2008
Drive along Trail Ridge Rd and the road to Bear Lake.
For anyone interested in technical facts, I use a Nikon D80. All the images on this post were shot with the kit 18-135 lens. Post processing was done mostly with Photoshop. A couple of photos were processed with Photomatix. I like HDR images and Photomatix is a great tool for making HDR images.
For anyone interested in technical facts, I use a Nikon D80. All the images on this post were shot with the kit 18-135 lens. Post processing was done mostly with Photoshop. A couple of photos were processed with Photomatix. I like HDR images and Photomatix is a great tool for making HDR images.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Am I a cult
It seems all too common for people who consider themselves to be "orthodox" Christians to try to regulate what others should believe about faith and label anyone who rejects their ideology as a cult. You can hear this a lot on christian radio, read it on Christian web sites and probably hear it in a lot of churches. I don't visit a lot of churches so I can only guess that it probably goes on there. I reduced my Christian radio listening quite a bit some time ago also because I got tired of the crap that is spewed across the airwaves in the name of God. I am not a Christian; in fact, I claim allegiance to no denomination.
So here's some fuel for the confused to label me as a heretic or cult: Jesus is an invented idea of a church that has never really cared about your relationship with Elohim. If you don't know who Elohim is, I suggest you read the Bible. Elohim's son was not named Jesus and He was not born on December 25th. Elohim's son, the Messiah, was named Yeshua. Jesus is the fictional, white man with blue eyes that modern Christians have been duped into believing is the son of God. Yeshua, a Jew, observed the sabbath and His Father's laws. Yeshua, unlike Jesus, never taught anyone that the laws Elohim gave Israel were no longer valid. Elohim stated that we were to honor the sabbath - which is Saturday, not Sunday - and that we are not to worship idols or make images of things in heaven. Nothing Yeshua ever said negated His father's word.
None of the prophets, Yeshua, or the apostles ever mentioned anything resembling a trinity. If Elohim, Yeshua and the Holy Spirit are three manifestations of the same person then who was Yeshua praying to? Is Yeshua his own father? What is the GodHead? Modern day Christians have been fooled into believing pagan ideas. Yeshua is not God. If Yeshua was God then he could not have died on the cross since God is immortal. If Yeshua was God then being omnipotent really negated all of the things He accomplished since it was only His being a man that made His life so incredible. Yeshua never claimed glory, always telling people that the glory goes to Elohim and that all of His miracles were accomplished through Elohim, His father.
If you think that you are going to be spared the horrors of the tribulation because Jesus will rapture you before it happens, you are in for a big surprise. You're in for an even bigger surprise if you think that you have eternal salvation just because you once said you accept Jesus as your saviour. Your salvation is not guaranteed. Satan loves for you to believe that nonsense so you will continue to revel in your sin thinking that Jesus will save you in the end.
Are you: working on the Sabbath? worshiping people on TV? living in sin thinking that your salvation was bought with a few words?
I'm only trying to make you think. I'm not judging anyone.
jw
So here's some fuel for the confused to label me as a heretic or cult: Jesus is an invented idea of a church that has never really cared about your relationship with Elohim. If you don't know who Elohim is, I suggest you read the Bible. Elohim's son was not named Jesus and He was not born on December 25th. Elohim's son, the Messiah, was named Yeshua. Jesus is the fictional, white man with blue eyes that modern Christians have been duped into believing is the son of God. Yeshua, a Jew, observed the sabbath and His Father's laws. Yeshua, unlike Jesus, never taught anyone that the laws Elohim gave Israel were no longer valid. Elohim stated that we were to honor the sabbath - which is Saturday, not Sunday - and that we are not to worship idols or make images of things in heaven. Nothing Yeshua ever said negated His father's word.
None of the prophets, Yeshua, or the apostles ever mentioned anything resembling a trinity. If Elohim, Yeshua and the Holy Spirit are three manifestations of the same person then who was Yeshua praying to? Is Yeshua his own father? What is the GodHead? Modern day Christians have been fooled into believing pagan ideas. Yeshua is not God. If Yeshua was God then he could not have died on the cross since God is immortal. If Yeshua was God then being omnipotent really negated all of the things He accomplished since it was only His being a man that made His life so incredible. Yeshua never claimed glory, always telling people that the glory goes to Elohim and that all of His miracles were accomplished through Elohim, His father.
If you think that you are going to be spared the horrors of the tribulation because Jesus will rapture you before it happens, you are in for a big surprise. You're in for an even bigger surprise if you think that you have eternal salvation just because you once said you accept Jesus as your saviour. Your salvation is not guaranteed. Satan loves for you to believe that nonsense so you will continue to revel in your sin thinking that Jesus will save you in the end.
Are you: working on the Sabbath? worshiping people on TV? living in sin thinking that your salvation was bought with a few words?
I'm only trying to make you think. I'm not judging anyone.
jw
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Driving through the park
Summer is at and end, so I took a trip through Rocky Mountain National Park on 9/7. It's really sad to see all of the trees - mostly pole pines that have been and are being destroyed by beetles. Hundreds of thousands of them.
Still, Colorado offers many great things to see and photograph: Wildlife; waterfalls; mountains; lakes; streams; sunsets....
This waterfall is located very close to the "Old River Road" that runs through RMNP. It's a very nice drive. Be sure you want to drive the entire 11 miles or so though; the road is one way once you get started. It's narrow and quite a climb.
This lone marmot was atop a very high peak. These little critters don't really seem to be terrified when I get close to them. I usually talk to them (yes, I am slightly strange) and the sound of my voice must amuse them. This one was happy to pose. I promised to bring him a print next spring.
Enjoy the rest...
More at My site
Greetings readers
This blog will be a general discussion about religion, politics, world affairs and complaints.
While I do not refer to myself as a Christian because I don't like what is going on in churches here in the U.S. and elsewhere, I do believe in the God who delivered Israel from Egypt. I believe that Yeshua is the son of Elohim and that Yeshua came to enlighten us about the truth of His Father's laws and love for us.
Obama is a phony. Go ahead and elect him, see what it gets you.
Evolution is possibly the most ridiculous idea to ever dupe so many supposedly intelligent people in the history of man. No one who bothers to ponder the possibilities of life evolving from a few building blocks can really believe it could happen.
People who drive around in cars with stereos that rattle the walls in my apartment should have their licenses revoked.
Visit my site: Joe's Site
While I do not refer to myself as a Christian because I don't like what is going on in churches here in the U.S. and elsewhere, I do believe in the God who delivered Israel from Egypt. I believe that Yeshua is the son of Elohim and that Yeshua came to enlighten us about the truth of His Father's laws and love for us.
Obama is a phony. Go ahead and elect him, see what it gets you.
Evolution is possibly the most ridiculous idea to ever dupe so many supposedly intelligent people in the history of man. No one who bothers to ponder the possibilities of life evolving from a few building blocks can really believe it could happen.
People who drive around in cars with stereos that rattle the walls in my apartment should have their licenses revoked.
Visit my site: Joe's Site
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