Thursday, January 14, 2016

FORGIVE MY PLAGIARISM


My immediate family will be the first to tell you, I am not a minister.  There are those who might disagree, but it seems counterproductive to debate the issue. In any case, in recent months I find myself in circumstances conducive to frequent and fervent conversations with the Lord. There are those who contend that the Lord’s Prayer was intended only as a template from which to compose our own spiritual conversations. While I wouldn’t disagree with that, it seems likely to me that God would forgive our plagiarism, being heartened instead that we have taken his words to heart. Based on that belief, I have taken two Biblical Prayers and stitched them together with a favorite scrap of scripture; in order to have something on hand that I can recite easily from memory on those occasions when I find it comforting to do so. I share it here in the belief that it can’t possibly do any harm.

“Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” Mathew 6:9-13 “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, and that thine hand would be with me, and keep me from evil, that I might not cause pain.” First chronicles 4:10 Guide me, strengthen me, and use me in thy service lord, that I may, “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” with you, through Christ. Amen SCad us not into temptation,


Tuesday, January 12, 2016


God Bless the United States of America, all those who devote their lives to its service, and our government, of, by and for the people. God Bless our people and our Nation, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all, and God Bless our President.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

FINDING PEACE

FINDING PEACE
When those about us languish
In a sullen sea of doubt,
And the whole world seems in anguish,...
And hope, nowhere about;


Its then faith burns most brightly
With conviction’s brilliant glow,
While fears retreat contritely,
Vanquished by the confidence we know.

For our hope is not in inner strength,
Nor conceit at honors won.
Our valor not doomed to fail at length,
Our victory not contingent on what we’ve done.

Our joy is not reliant
On some gallantry we’ve shown.
We’ve no need to be compliant
To some distant impropriety we’ve known.

For our strength is in humility,
Not some valiant course we’ve trod,
But in simply doing justly,
Loving mercy, serving God. SC

Thursday, January 7, 2016

It's never a good idea to monkey with the bible!


It’s never a good idea to monkey with the bible.  You’re unlikely to improve on the original, and you’re almost certain to tick somebody off.  That being said, early versions were derived from ancient tales told around campfires down through the millennia, and if you enjoy storytelling, it’s an irresistible challenge to take a stab at it yourself.

IN A NUTSHELL

In the beginning, there was a tiny, ageless, spark, and the dark, foreboding void of its antithesis. Then came the first faint tick in primordial time. Light expanded, darkness drew back, and all of creation burst into illumination.

Through time, mists formed droplets, droplets formed seas, and primeval waters lapped at smoldering shores. Darkness and light formed seasons and cycles and the spirit of God shone brightly on creation.  Atoms formed cells, cells formed substance, and an awesome force breathed life into myriad forms.

Thus, seasons and cycles, darkness and light interacted down through the ages. Life developed consciousness, consciousness knowledge, and knowledge gives hope to those who acknowledge the light. SC


Saturday, January 2, 2016

Choose wisely and participate, America. There's a lot at stake.



I believe I’ll tempt fate and begin 2016 with a brief political post.  A true republican, and one of my all-time favorite Presidents, Teddy Roosevelt said, “Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.” I believe that’s very true.  I believe it’s equally true of all religious and political movements. There are those among us, in all political and religious persuasions, which excel at the art of appealing to the baser instincts inside each of us in order to achieve their own goals. They are masters at using our natural tendencies toward greed, apathy, and suspicion to pit us one against the other in order achieve their own selfish agendas. They encourage the belief that bigotry, intolerance, racism and a general contempt for all efforts toward compromise, patriotism and unity are not only acceptable, but even admirable, and their efforts poison and polarize all efforts toward common cause and the general good.

There are others among us.  There are those who believe that America’s best days are yet ahead.  There are those who believe that America’s time-honored institutions are among the most admirable ever achieved by societies and civilizations who aspire to high ideals. They believe that America's greatest strength is diversity.  And they honor diversity to keep America strong. They believe that America’s Constitution and historical documents call all of mankind to a higher plain, encouraging us to heed the voices of our better angels, to extend ever onward the long arc of moral justice in the universe, and to strive with determination toward the goals of our country’s founding fathers in a peaceful yet uncompromising effort on behalf of truth, justice and the American way. Choose wisely and participate America.  There’s a lot at stake. SC




Friday, January 1, 2016

New Year's Resolution, 2016

My New Year’s resolution is to be receptive to the force, impervious to the dark side and entirely exhilarated by the galaxy’s unimaginable potential. In the event that I fail miserably at all of that, I intend to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God. SC