Arkansas Blog

"Some of Jesus' followers once suggested something like [imprecatory prayers], according to the Gospel of Luke, and Jesus condemned them for it."

Aw, Brummett, ya gotta be wrong. That would meant there was at least one contradiction in that good book. Ya know, in one of my perverse moments, and they are many, I think I'd like to see a debate between the likes of the Reverend Wiley S. and a true Bibilical scholar. But not around here. The poor scholar would probably be stoned before he reached the airport.

Let's see. Totalitarian statists like Stalin, Mao, and Hitler, practicing a brand of economics called socialism, killed at least 200 million people just last century. The religious politicians' death toll through all the ages pale against that genocide. The elites, who despise economic freedom, are a much bigger threat than errant preachers.

Hitler, practice a brand of 'religious genocide' last century.

The religious death toll doesn't pale?

You're grouping them (Stalin, Mao and Hitler) with the right, RIGHT-WING-PARTYS.

Hitler wrote: "I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty ..."

Simply put.. The devil will infiltrate.. and kooks just like this prove it.. Why good christians don't stand up and shout these kooks down simply amazes me.

A web page with many religious quotes made by Hitler at my name.

doigotta you are right because his deciples ask the lord if he wanted them to call fire down from heaven to destroy those heaths. Jesus said, "You don't know what spirit you are of, I came down to save men not destroy them!"
Men will destroy themselve with no help.. like you know who.
cvd

Slaughter was so inefficient during the time of the Crusades -- all that disemboweling, burning alive, and beheading of captives, women and children took time. If we are keeping score, It doesn't seem fair to compare lives lost to perversions of religion centuries ago to the handiwork of those with ovens, poison gases, bombs and machine guns at their disposal. Maybe we could agree that mass murder, for whatever purpose, is evil. Maybe we could also agree that many things -- most likely *most* things -- done in the name of God are not of God.

Organized religion is Satan's greatest invention.

has huck said anything about what this guy said? if he is as christain as he professes to be he should be saying this is wrong and this man should not say these things and he would not take the backing of people like this.

I disagree, 70%er. I believe the extreme right-wing malignancy that has attached itself to, and metastasized to many areas of organized religion, is Satan's greatest invention.

I think Chairman Mao expressed the politcal motivation for the entire 20th Century-

"Political power comes out the barrel of a gun."

Nixon and Raygun sure used it against those 'socialists' who protested them.

Back in the days of Noah God sent a flood to kill everyone on earth. If Noah hadn't found grace in the eyes of the Lord old snake and lots others and me may have been down the drain.

He spared Noah because not only did Noah find grace in the eye of the Lord but the Lord was thinking about all of you and me.

I want to say to snake that the bible is full of things God said about people that believe like you. To think it was written long before we were born. So I know it is true.

Chasv, I absolutely believe that you should have all the opportunity and support to hold your beliefs. However, I believe just as strongly that if I don't hold them, I shouldn't have to. THAT is one of the things that makes our country great. Once the state starts sponsoring religion, that goes away. I don't want to be *forced* to agree with you. You don't want to be *forced* to agree with me. If neither of us truly believe with our hearts, it's meaningless.....no?

Being a Christian isn't a competition....if you're really loving your neighbor as yourself, you're not gloating when you go to church and they sleep in.

To all of you who wish to respond to chasv, please be my guest. I've told him that I'm done with further debate. I've declared a truce and he has seen fit to violate it. I am a man of my word and will maintain the timeout from further fruitless endeavors with the man.
I've even asked if he would invite me to his church (thrice I think), but up till now he's said nothing to indicate I'm welcome or where it is. It is rather odd that for all his wanting me to believe that he doesn't seem to want me at his church.

Granted, I am not brokenhearted over the matter but I am puzzled, to say the least. I wondered if chasv was thinking whether I'd show up wearing a placard that said "Heathen Mocker" on it so he would be able to recognize me or not. Well, you folks wisely know that such a notion is foolish. What sane person goes around wearing name labels that reflect how others imagine them to be? One might as well expect deer to run around the woods with little signs on their sides saying "Shoot Me, I Taste Good!"

I am a simple skeptic who has asked for more than the True Believer can provide. He has said and will continue to say that he knows the "truth." No need to explain the quotation marks. I'm sure chasv would have a similar reaction if a Muslim or Hindu came pestering him to join their religion.

So, for the final time, I repeat my question: am I invited to visit at chasv's church? I solemnly swear that my only purpose is to observe and learn. I spent most of my first 25 years on this planet as a regular and practicing Christian. I am very familiar with the stories, the message, the rites, the rituals, the routines, the hymns, the prayers, and the mystique of the sanctum sanctorum. My brother is a lay preacher and knows the Bible in both the Greek and the English; I'm familiar with it in the Latin and the English.

I beseech chasv to call a similar timeout from this haranguing and uncharitable reproaching we've gotten into. If chasv doesn't want to invite me because it would bother him, I would respect that and would obligingly take that as a reasonable excuse for turning me away. I've only asked because I thought it would help me understand him better and there is a certain civility that is part of church that I like. One does not ever go there to argue.

BTW, chasv, call me Jake. Snake is just a rhyming name stuck on for the fun of it and no one ever calls me that other than you.

Now remember, chasv: no more criticism or preaching to me. I'm asking you respectfully. Enough is enough, on your part and mine. Let it be, as the song says.

I was going over all the times we exchanged sharp words with each other and it reminded me of how little boys have always played war over the years. There's lots of noise and pointing those imaginary guns at each other plus shouted proclamations to the opponents that they had been truly slain. Of course, they retorted that all 1000 or more shots had miraculously missed them entirely and that you were the one who needed an undertaker. The game does lose its interest if neither side wishes to die.

Good night chasv.

"Silly rabbit. Tricks are for kids." -- 20th Century advertisement noted for its subliminal subtext.

Hey Jake if you ever said you wanted to come visit the church I am a memeber of I declare I missed it.

Not only are you welcome to come but DBI, Lwood, EY and everyone else including Max Brantley are welcome to come visit here.

If there is not a Missionary Baptist Church near where you live I wll be glad to give you direction to the church I am member of.

Some of the thoughts and observations you write about me are completely absurd because I know there is only one God and his name is Jesus. You must focus your thoughts and comments in that frame of mind.

You told it right about the little boy thing and I appreciate that one.. because we must come to him as a little child and you are so right, so boy is ok.
OH, yeah, I wish you'd get another handle and get away from that snake name thing.

I suppose it's time to say thanks for the invite chasv but I been there, done that , long ago, unless there are some lonesome, fine looking women at your church.

You probably know what Zorba the Greek said about the "only sin God would not forgive."

The name of the church is all I need. Getting directions there will be no problem. You also appear to have forgotten my request for a timeout from your lecturing and admonitions. Write accordingly and I will give your invitation more serious consideration.

Lwood, those lonesome, fine-looking women are sometimes good reasons to avoid going to church. No further comment, if you don't mind.

Chasv, I will consider accepting your invitation under the two said conditions: (1) It must be your church given; (2) You must cease saying anything about my belief or what you think of it. Respect the truce. I don't want to see one more word directed toward me that sounds like this:

"Some of the thoughts and observations you write about me are completely absurd because I know there is only one God and his name is Jesus. You must focus your thoughts and comments in that frame of mind."

You must give me peace in that regard. You already have been given it from my end. I am completely at peace with myself and want respect for that. I am giving you respect for your own circumscribed peace.

Show some temperance and judgment regarding this and then I just might show up for a visit. If Lwood chooses to come, you might want to have him give up his x-ray glasses at the door. He'll be there for more fleshly reasons.

I'm with Lwood.

Those ladies are a GREAT reason to go.

Better than a bar.

Lwood I don't know what zorba the qeek said but I know what the only unforgivable sin is, do you?
We have all ages of women in the church.

Jake I really want you to know the truth but you said you are comfortable the way you are and that bothers me. if you are not and really want to find the Lord you can find him right where you are right now. Well, I better put it this way, seek the Lord and HE will find you..He knows if you are sincere or not. He loves you but you must seek and believe he is the rewarder of them that seek him.

It would be nice having you and Mrs. visit me and my wife and play guitar and sing some gospel songs.
My bible verse is in Mattew chapter 6 verse 33. I give that to you to use for all your needs.

I'm not sure if you really want me at your church. You fail on my two requests and that indicates several possibilities: (1) You missed the message; (2) You're just ignoring it: or, (3) You don't want me at your church.

Again, let me keep it simple:

(1) Name of your church, please.
(2) Say nothing about my beliefs.

I want to attend your church and see what occurs there. I have no interest in meeting you personally or pursuing religious questions/debates with you at this time. I don't mean this in a bad way. I just want you to know that I prefer to attend anonymously and not have any fuss about it. I won't announce when I'll come nor will I tell you about it later. I don't want to make you the focus of the visit.

I haven't meant to cause you so much struggle with these simple requirements. Have a little of that faith you're certain about. I appreciate that you wanted to meet me and thank you for the thought of including my wife. However, it will only be me coming. Her reasons for not attending are personal and medical and need not be discussed here. However, like I said, seeing you is not my purpose. Being at a church service will be enough, thank you please.

I will not even get the opportunity to attend until mid or late Fall due to other commitments. And that would just be the earliest I might attend. Again, I make no promise or pick no dates. I'll know when the time is right and will act accordingly then. I just need the name and service times for Sunday morning.

Thank you. Jake

'a fable with two morals :'

"A sparrow was caught unsheltered in a blizzard. Beaten and frozen by the storm, the little bird fell to the ground, nearly dead.

After the storm, a farmer driving his cows through the field spotted the sparrow on the ground. The kindly farmer picked the bird up, pressed its frozen little body deep into a fresh, steaming cowpie, and continued on his way.

The moist heat of the cowpie soon revived the little bird who, in her joy at finding herself alive and warm, burst into song. A fox hunting nearby heard the sparrow singing, and, following the sound, found the sparrow, snatched her up from the cowpie, and ate her in one bite.

The morals of this story:

Every now and then you may find yourself in a world of shit, but the one who put you there is not necessarily an enemy, and the one who takes you out is not necessarily a friend.

When you are up to your nose in shit, it's a real good time to keep your mouth shut."

Larry King Live at 9:00 p.m. ET
on Monday, August 20, 2007

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True believers on a mission to remake a godless world in their own religion's image! Christiane Amanpour takes you inside her unprecedented journey to the frontlines of the clash already changing our world. Face to face with "God's Warriors." Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders fighting for their faiths!

(Boy, this oughta be a good old fashioned free-for-all.)

I believe that all Missionary Baptist Churches would be preaching the gospel and I know there is one closer to your home than mine is. They would have services just like our church do. Check them out.

Check your e-mail. You may be right and it is too far away and then again it might not be so far after all. I have been to other missionary baptist churches (although it has been several years) but I'm really only interested in attending services at yours. Again, I've sent you an e-mail address to give me that information in case you'd prefer to not mention it on the internet. I will inform no one else of it as that would be a violation of trust.
I appreciate you complying with the second condition. The first condition is all that remains. You might say it's a test of your faith, trust, and beliefs. I have knocked at your door. If it remains closed then I'll know I'm not wanted or expected.
For your information, anything that has passed between us over the past few months on this blog will not ever be brought up while I'm at your church. I will go there not for your sake but for my own. Let's hope that some don't find your reticence a weakness. It would be an unworthy judgment.
RSVP via e-mail. My future is in your hands.