“Sin is a demon...

... lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his maser.”-Gen. 4:7 New American Bible

³¹ The second command is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself. There are no commands more important than these." Mark 12:31 New Century Version

Some churches must be populated with godly people because they never preach about sin. Some churches want to save everybody because they preach about sin incessantly.

But, just exactly, what is sin?

Some denominations believe sin is violating the Ten Commandments. Now, that’s a good start. Other denominations believe drinking and dancing are a sin. They don’t believe anyone should have any fun.

The deacon got my attention a few Sundays ago. I normally couldn’t tell you what the sermon was about but this sermon was so compelling. He left such an impression on me that here I am weeks later writing about it.

Basically Hollywood has so trivialized demonic possession such that no one believes in a person being possessed. He talked basically about addiction and how no one sets out to be an addict. A person will begin with recreational drugs or a drink to unwind from work, and then become a casual user and finally winds up being a full blown addict or alcoholic.

Which gets me back to Genesis, “Sin is a demon lurching at the door”? America does not like to accuse anyone with bad behavior. Instead we like to say a person has bad habits. The two biggest bad habits (sins) in America are over eating and out of control drinking. No one is an alcoholic instead we say “He’s happy go lucky” or “Has a drinking problem.”

I’ve known people with a “drinking problem.” Believe me it was no joke. They lost their business or job or freedom. Some lose their families.

I like beer; a lot. But I love my daughters and grand children more. So, I have taken the cardiologist’s advice and basically quit drinking. I’ll have a beer or two once or twice a year. And then I don’t think about it again.

And for fat people, we like to make all kinds of excuses.

Let’s heed Jesus’ admonishment, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. I firmly believe that it all starts with self love; not narcissism but a genuine belief that you are special and must do everything within your power to preserve your selfhood. If a person loved his neighbor as he loved himself, there would be no need for the Ten Commandments. I believe the Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi should be part of every person’s daily ritual.

Whatever it takes. A person should seek whatever help they may need whether spiritual or otherwise

My Spanish teacher in college once commented, “Everything good in life is either a sin or fattening”. Many things in life can possess us: booze, lusting for things we cannot afford, food, pornography. Anything that can harm us or another human being is a sin. OK, maybe a short coming. But let’s remember the admonition, “His urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”

So, what demons do you struggle with? Are you master or slave?

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I was once a Democrat

Believe it or not, I was a liberal Democrat some 40 years ago. And, I didn’t have to get mugged to change. Conservatives used to say a conservative was a liberal that hadn’t been mugged yet.

I believe what changed my views were nature shows. Yes, nature shows. In nature you see winners and losers. Some die so that others may live. And it got me to thinking (dangerous thing: thinking). How can humans be any different?

I began to notice people in dire circumstances due to their bad behavior. Brought back some of the religious teachings I had learned as a youngster. My own wayward ways and bad company had led me astray. Once I began to associate with a different crowd my life changed for the better.

I was stern with my children because I know how trying to be “cool” can get you into all kinds of mischief. I have a foster brother that spent over 45 years, three fourths of his life incarcerated. He tells me he had to get his head straight. It took him a long time but he realizes he did it to himself. He doesn’t whine about the bad breaks. He just soldiers on.

I’m saving my rant on poor people for another post.

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Best Movie Ever

I used to watch “The Magnificent Seven” so often that daughter number one gave me a VCR copy for Father’s Day one year.

I must have seen that movie at least thirty times before it dawned on me that ultimately this was a movie about redemption.

These were men who hired their guns out to whomever could pay for their services. In the end they did what we Americans do best: protect the underdog. Most of the gunmen died fighting and two of the remaining three rode off, leaving us to wonder whatever was to become of them.

The farmers knew they couldn’t depend on the government to protect them so they took it upon themselves to rectify their situation. In the end, they had to get into the fight themselves if they wanted to be free. The farmers redeemed themselves by fighting with everything they could lay their hands on.

The sequels were a dud and never up to the original. I own many action movies but in my estimation none are equal to “The Magnificent Seven”.

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Illegal Immigration

It seems we have two opposite views on immigration: those that want open borders and those that would have ALL illegals rounded up and deported.

Allow me to tackle this one at a time.

Firstly, open borders will only lead to anarchy. If things are bad along the border now, have you thought what will happen if anyone can enter without impunity? I’ve heard the pro-illegal crowd say we are separating families when we sent parents back to their country of origin. Well, the state had no problem breaking up my brother’s family when he was sent to prison. The state does it every day when they send one or both parents to prison. Now, don’t tell me persons coming illegally are all good people just trying to better themselves. THEY COULDN’T WAIT.

It’s a slap in the face to all the good folks that followed the rules to offer blanket amnesty to all illegal aliens. Although many are hard working and stay out of trouble, there aren’t enough jobs to keep everyone out of trouble. And then there is the bunch that will load up on everything they can.

It’s chicken shit to call the Governor of Alabama a racist. His state can’t afford to keep educating illegal’s children and curing them in the county hospitals or keeping them in jail.

I’ve heard the weak argument, “They contribute more than they take”. Toro caca. Why are Catholic churches where aliens have become the majority in such a sad condition? Because they don’t contribute their fair share.

To the anti-illegal crowd I say, “You’re peeing against the wind”. You should know that while your congressman may stump against illegal immigration, he’s not going to do anything. Sure makes for a good public persona but campaign monies come from the very corporations that profit from a cheap labor pool.

It seems the only people that are offended are the Latinos that feel they must kiss Mexican ass. THEY should be kissing OUR asses. I once told some Latino liberals that found the term illegal aliens offensive that maybe we should call drug dealers unregistered pharmacists and hookers, unlicensed entertainers, burglars, uninvited guests.

The Minute Men are at least trying to do something not just bitch. Bravo, Minute Men.

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Old Dead, White Guys

"Freedom is never an achieved state; like electricity, we've got to keep generating it or the lights go out." -- Wayne LaPierre

A few years ago it was fashionable to bash old, dead white guys.

Figures; only morons could come up with something that dumb.

Let’s see; what did those old, dead white guys give us?

Well, for starters they gave us democracy. Granted, women did not have a voice outside the home and their whole economy was slave based. Still, they made attempts that hither forth would light a fire in men’s hearts and that fire has not yet died.

They gave us some of the greatest minds known to man. Men like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. They gave us literature, drama and political theory. Some of the world’s greatest art is from Old Dead White Guys.

While Americans take their liberty for granted, we can see in the nightly news people the world over wanting to be free. Hundreds may die tonight for their hope to be free.

Some of those dead, white guys risked life and limb to explore new worlds. Men like Christopher Columbus and Lewis and Clark. Granted, things may not have gone too well for the indigenous people but don’t blame them. They were only the messenger.

It’s easy for us to condemn in hind sight what happened in the past, but let’s not forget that it’s in the past. We can’t go back and change what went before.

I got an email once that stated “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a present. That is why it’s called the present”

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Skepticism Is Next to Godliness

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn't wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine. Bertrand Russell

Daughter number 2 once asked me if she should question her parents. My response was “Of course”. Parents like everyone else have an agenda. I don’t believe that the good book meant that children should blindly honor their parents. What if the parents are thieves or worse, murderers; should a child honor their parents’ wishes? I think not.

I thank “god” my daughters are free thinkers and are successfully following their own path.

I know older people who are stuck in antiquated thinking because mom or dad believed such and such. They do not want to admit that mom and dad might have been ignorant. My parents were ignorant through no fault of their own. They had been conditioned NOT to question their elders.

The problem with America as I see it is that no one seems to have critical thinking. Folks have let the preacher, news person or politician take over their brains. Seems like “American Idol” or “Survivor” is the most important thing in their lives.

And then they keep bitching about the country going to hell. Wake up; think for yourself, fool.

As Voltaire said, "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd”.

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