Though essentially a lazy guy, I kind of like busy days. They go by fast, bringing me that much closer to the lonely, sordid death that awaits me, and the sweet rest that will surely follow (unless the Catholics are right).
One drawback of busy days is that I generally come out of them without anything to blog about. Unless the busy day was interesting in itself. Which this one wasn’t.
So I shall link to things.
First, the nasty one. How can anyone read this story and not believe in the existence of evil?
Of course, Christians used to have witch trials five centuries ago, and that proves that this woman and Sarah Palin are indistinguishable.
In cheerier news, the Swedes are contemplating building new nuclear reactors, after years of mandatory The China Syndrome revivals. This has got to be big news, because (as everybody knows) Swedes are remarkably slow-witted. If they’re getting the message, everybody else must be pretty well won over.
Finally, courtesy of this list at SEO By the Sea (courtesy, in turn, of Conservative Grapevine), I learned that people in Guangzhou, China can read this blog. I’m rather surprised. Disappointed, in a way. What do we have to do to be considered running dogs of imperialism?
Though essentially a lazy guy, I kind of like busy days. They go by fast, bringing me that much closer to the lonely, sordid death that awaits me, and the sweet rest that will surely follow (unless the Catholics are right).
This made me laugh. Hard. And out loud. Several times.
Have you ever considered getting counseling for this bizarre sense of humor?
Lars, you are quite funny, you know. The wittiness of your writing keeps bringing me back here. I laughed at that part too, out loud – though quietly, since the kids are sleeping.
I too hope the Catholics aren’t right about that stuff, since I intend to die a Lutheran.
Cindy Ramos: I too hope the Catholics aren’t right about that stuff, since I intend to die a Lutheran.
Ori: Imagine you were a mother (not very difficult for you, I’m sure) and your five year old kid came up with a theory that was cute, well thought out, and nowhere near reality. Would you be upset, or amused?
I suspect our theologies are every bit as amusing to God. The intellectual difference between Him and us is a lot bigger than between us and a five year old. He probably reserves His spankings for more serious offenses, such as attacking one’s siblings.
He probably reserves His spankings for more serious offenses, such as attacking one’s siblings.
Or changing money in the temple court.
Or pharisaical application of the Third Commandment based on the assumption that Man was made for the Sabbath.
Ori’s comment suggests that most of our theology is inaccurate. I can only agree in so far as theology is the product of man’s imagination. That is one reason we need to stand on the inspired inerrant Word of God. We don’t have to guess at what makes God angry. We have the New Testament accounts of Jesus burning with anger I cited above. We also have Old Testament records of events that kindled the Lord’s anger such as Complaining to one another rather than asking God for help, Grumbling about God’s provision, worshiping idols, Breaking Faith regarding the devoted things, etc. A consolidated list may be found in Psalm 106:32-40.
Lonely, sordid death.
Such hope is this!
I hope we are right about it, since I intend to die a Catholic.
Church question. I have my hand raised for a church question.
Greybeard, did you mean to refer to the fourth commandment as the one saying, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy,” or do you number the commandments differently than I do? I’m vaguely aware that some traditions number the commandments in different orders, so I ask if that’s what this is.
We Presbyterians, that is Presbyterian like myself, those of us who are Presbyterian, like I am, think about such things sometimes. =D
Yeah, we count them in the Catholic manner.
One challenge in enumerating the Ten Commandments is that there are actually 11 imperitive verbs in Exodus 20:3-17. There has been much debate over the centuries about which two should be combined.
Luther’s Small Catechism counts Make No Graven Images as an example or repitition of Have No Other Gods Before Me. The two commands about coveting in verse 17 are then considered as seperate, making the 9th commandment Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house and the Tenth, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s.
Most denominations that follow the Reformed tradition (Swiss Reformation, Baptist, Anabaptist as compared to the German Reformation) split out Graven Images into it’s own command and combine the two commandments about coveting.
Very confusing for the average layman and some clergy. But I’ll stick with Luther instead of those later upstarts.
Small Catechism Ten Commandments
Ori Pomerantz – sorry, I meant no offense to Catholics or any other non-Lutherans. It was just a casual comment that was not very well thought out. I don’t know exactly what Lars was thinking with his original words; I was simply thinking, “Yeah, I hope I don’t end up stuck in purgatory for a while. That would be a bummer.”
The only true theology is what God has revealed to us in the Bible. My knowledge and understanding of it is imperfect, but the truth remains: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
Cindy, I think Ori has a pretty high tolerance for offense to Catholics, since he’s Jewish.
Don’t worry about it. We keep our Catholics on a leash around here (right, Sally and Mark?). 😉
Cindy, it’s as Lars said. I’m not Catholic, and I don’t mind it if you say they are wrong – I believe they are wrong myself.
If you’re interested, the Jewish belief is that almost everybody ends up in Geheinom(1) for a limited duration punishment, followed by going to heaven. But the better a person you were in life, the more fun you’ll have in heaven. You can get eternal punishment, but you have to be a Hitler or a Haman to do it – it’s harder than getting your human parents to say they don’t want to have anything to do with you.
We Jews tend to take grace for granted, in much the same way we take air for granted – and for the same reasons.
(1) Usually translated as hell, but really closer to purgatory.
What do you mean “our Catholics.” I thought you were MY Lutherans and Presbyterians.
Cindy — I’m Catholic, I think we’re right, and I’m not offended.
As much time as I’ve earned on the mountain?
Say what you like…rising above it is good for us