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Glory and Dominion

February 20, 2009 Faith

After the tongue-lashing from Peter, earlier in Chapter 4 (First Peter), he comes up with two words that had me scrambling for definitions – "glory" and "dominion."

In case you missed the sharp tongue, it was those same words that we get tired of hearing about how we believers should treat one another. Give it a break Peter! We know how we should treat others, and it does not always agree with what you (and Paul and Jesus said)!

Whoops! Did I say that? Isn't that how we sometimes live? After all, we are in the real world and know what those people are like.

At any rate, good old Peter said that we should keep "stoked up" (my words) in our love – our actions or how we treat one another. [more]Remember, this wasn't written to people who were not believers, so it has nothing to do with how we treat those who are not. This was strictly about how you and I should deal with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Now I know there will be lots of people who are going to tell me I am wrong, but you go back and start at the beginning of First Peter and tell me to whom the letter was written. It wasn't to the govenor or king. It wasn't to the soldiers of the Roman army. It wasn't to the drug dealers down on the corner!

Verses one and two of the first chapter clearly lay out that this letter was to believers who just happened to be scattered all over a large section of the "known world." So, this whole thing so far has been about how we should live.

Now he comes up with two words that don't easily translate. Glory and dominion are kind of tied together, even though very different. Glory is like being put in a spot light. We see pictures with the light radiating behind Christ's head, and that is one way of picturing it. My favorite image is of a darkened stage, with the music playing and one spot of light, into which a singer or dancer appeared on a lift (they rose up out of the floor). During the entire song, there are no other lights so that all eyes are on this one person. They get the applause and then the light goes out. They gloried or basked in the light and were honored for what they did. Had there been more lights, we, the onlookers would have been confused.

Glory singles out the one performing the act so that when we give glory we know to whom we give glory and honor.

Dominion was much easier to deal with – that's a kingdom. It sets boundaries about who is in charge of whatever. Doesn't matter what kind of reading you do, science fiction or historical documentary, the picture of a King and his Kingdom (or Queen and her ?? (good question)) is clear. That was all Peter was trying to get us to see. If Jesus is King of your life, He deserves that we/you let the whole world know to who's kingdom you belong. Wear your colors proudly. Even when people call you names and hurl evil upon you, give Him glory and dominion.

Let the whole world know!

E-Verify Clarified

February 18, 2009 Political

Almost like I put my foot in my mouth. There were several inaccuracies in my post called "Hard For Business", about how Congress is dragging it's feet on E-Verify.

I had said that there were no businesses opposing this, but that was an incorrect statement. Seems that leading the charge (after the doltish Congress) against E-Verify is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They will get my wrath in a separate email. Suffice it to say that their opposition is over "what it will cost businesses to implement e-verify."

Well, I tracked down what E-Verify is all about and based on what ALL businesses are required to do, the burden for E-Verify is a drop in the bucket. There is no charge to get on E-Verify, and there are no equipment requirements other than "internet acceess via a web browser." E-Verify is in addition to the "I-9" form that IS required of ALL employers. You hire somebody, they have to fill out an I-9, and you have to make an effort (of some kind) to verify that the person you have hired is "eligible to work." [more]

Actually has nothing to do with immigration, but whether the new employee has all the papers that make them eligible to work – Social Security, Green Card, H1-B, etc. As an employer, you have to get them to sign the I-9 then do some kind of check to make sure they can work for you. E-Verify can only be done after you have hired the person and set a date when they will start work for you. Per the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), "The employer must initiate the query no later than the end of 3 business days after the new hire

Bellson Drumming in Heaven

February 18, 2009 News

Louie BellsonOne of the world’s greatest drummers has found a new resting place. Louie Bellson died at 84 in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Valentine’s day.

Louie had played with such greats as Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Oscar Peterson, Woody Herman, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.

He had fallen in November, broken his hip, and was in rehab. Complications from Parkinson’s disease are given as the cause of his death.

Bellson, leaves a legacy of rich music, both secular and sacred. At some point in his life, he became a Christian and played rather regularly in his church [more](Emmanuel Baptist in San Jose I do believe). He played with Duke Ellington for his Sacred Concerts, and Duke encouraged him to compose and conduct his own sacred concert, which he did and recorded it with members of the USC studio band.

Louie is recognized as the inventor of the double bass drum at age 15, which earned him an “A” in Art class. At 17 he won a major drumming contest against 40,000 competitors. He was the drummer or conductor on over 200 albums, and his last CD was released in 2008.

It was my pleasure to be introduced to him when he played with the Cal State Hayward Jazz Ensemble, on at least two occasions. It is my pleasure to have in my posession autographed CDs from this giant of music. It was surprising the first time I saw him play, that at the end of the concert, he said “every now and then I get away from church with my wife and play outside like this. Church isn’t a bad place – it’s where I found peace and a reason to live.”

Thank you Louie. Thank you God that I got to see and hear this giant.

[center]Thanks to louiebellson.com for the photograph[/center]

Copyright 2009-2026 by Joe Suttle