Wanderings – Page 32 – The Life and Times of Joe Suttle

In Yer Face!

joe February 7, 2009 Faith

We all may have thought of that as a twenty or twenty-first bit of slang, but let me tell you, that goes back to the time of Moses!

My reading today took me to First Peter chapter 3, and right there was "the Face of the Lord is against…" Whoa! Where did that come from? Peter was actually quoting David in one of the Psalms, but it got me doing some digging.[more]

Seems that whenever the people (Jewish usually, since it was their God) did some stupid things or thought they were better than God, He "set His face against them." You can check it out yourself in many places in the Old Testament. When they got God ticked off at them – there it was. God effectively said "You messed up and didn't follow directions, so you are on your own." And there was the enemy ready to defeat them.

What do we mean when we say that we're "gonna get up in their face?" In no uncertain words, we are going to tell them off and walk away in a huff. Oh, by the way – most definitely leave them to stew over what you are mad about and let them fail on their own.

Worse yet, how do we feel when some one "gets up in our face?" What's our reaction? What do we change? More importantly, how long does it take us to change?

All They Want Is Money – Yours!

joe February 6, 2009 Political

Plans and pressure for the "bailout" continue, with each side taking shots at one another. Forget the shots at one another, just look at the facts.

They promised “The bar that we set is the highest that any administration in the country has ever set.” – that from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. If that's the case, why are "regular citizens" unfit when we "forget" to pay our taxes, and yet they nominate people to be our leaders who's tax accountants can't even figure out how to file their taxes.
They say the money is a "bailout" to get the economy moving, but most of what they propose will take years to get plans drawn, contracts written and bids reviewed. Remember, after Iraq and "Halliburton", the government can't just give the work to a company that specializes in whatever it is they need done, even if they are the best at it.
If they want to help people who are being foreclosed on, why not just let the government buy up all the mortgages and let people pay the government back. Oh wait, at what price will they buy the mortgages? If at face value, then the banks and other lenders will get all their money back and "we the people" will be stuck with a worthless piece of paper. Remember, the banks loaned the $250,000, and the property is now only worth $100,000 – nice gift. Besides, the banks only loaned the money because the government said "you have to make homes available to people, even if they can't afford them."
Giving it a little more perspective, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “If you started the day Jesus Christ was born and spent $1 million every day since then, you still wouldn’t have spent $1 trillion.” Let's see, 2008 years times 365.25 days equals $733.2 billion. A lot of money for ???
If you thought the "Recovery" was going to help "people", then you got another think coming. What should have been so simple is now in excess of 600 pages of "stuff". There is more regular government junk in the bill than "Recovery" stuff. Did we elect dummies to run our government? Don't they understand the difference between fixing something and having a party. Or do they think we are dummies and won't be able to figure this out or are stupid enough to believe their tricks?

Now, mind you, if I have stepped on your toes or hurt your feelings, I'd be more than glad to hear from you using "Contact Me" on the right. After all, these are my thoughts for which I accept responsibility. Not only would I be glad to hear from you, I'd even be happy to discuss this with you. Alas, there are not many who want to do that for some reason.

Bless Who?

joe February 6, 2009 Faith

Now there's a hard thing to do, especially when they have gotten your goat and your thoughts are of pushing them off a cliff! Impossible you say! Be honest, there are people that just rub you the wrong way. Sometimes it seems that their goal in life is to aggravate you (or me). They are intent in their mission – whether it's their mannerisms or the "off the wall" comments they make or their squeeky, whiney voice – it drives you crazy.

Then, there are the words that make you feel like dirt!

Yet, there is Peter, who says "bless them." [more]

Considering Peter's early days with Jesus, you have to wonder where he got the coolness he wants other believers to have. After all, wasn't it Peter who just whacked off that guys ear? And remember Peter trying to tell Jesus to "forget this 'I'm going to suffer' stuff." That was the old Peter before he learned that he was not the greatest person in the world – before the wind got knocked out of his sails – before God showed him that people other than Jews were OK.

Now he says to us "be different." Maybe he needed to write a book on "How Jesus Changed Me" that would have made the best sellers list. All Peter is saying is "Treat people different." The message from Jesus about "turning the other cheek" finally got through and he wants us to hear it again and again.

"Don't be like them – bless people instead" is his message in chapter 3. Let the evil doer do their evil, but don't return it in kind. Let them insult you, but don't get in a "dissing" war. "Bless them."

Easy for him to say…maybe I need to look at what a blessing is. More about that next time.