Freedom of Speech

As I post tonight, I see that a fellow blogger's blog has been removed. Who removed it? I do not know. However, I am and always have been an advocate of having the fundamental freedom of being able to express oneself.

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
Voltaire

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." US Bill of Rights

"2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;

(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

(d) freedom of association." CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Psalm 99

I was reading the 99th Psalm not all that long ago. One passage stuck with me: God forgave the Israelites and punished them. It kind of reminds me of the Roman Catholic practice of penitence. There's a notion in our society that if you forgive somebody, that's it. There's no repayment, no eye for an eye. Although I don't believe in penitence or purgatory, and do believe in the full and sufficient sacrifice of Christ, I do make a distinction between forgiving and forgetting; I like to say, "I'll forgive you for kicking me in the @$$, but I'm not bending over in front of you again." So, will we be punished, as some believe St. Peter was punished for denying Christ--three times--by Jesus as Christ asked him in front of all if he loved Him three times over? Will we enter the Kingdom of Heaven and pay in part for our sins? (Again, I'm not suggesting we can earn our way to Heaven). It makes me wonder a little.

Guide Me

Online, on the Daily Office web page, the Psalm tonight asks God to "deliver me in your righteousness.
Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.
Into your hands I commend my spirit, *" and I found that I really meant the words as I read them. ALMIGHTY GOD guide me, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Mercy vs. Judgement

Because I'm a huge procrastinator, sometimes I miss the morning prayer when I'm on afternoon shift and instead do the shorter midday prayer. Yesterday, I was saying the prayer that starts, "Father of mercies," and I saw something that caught my eye/made me think. In the first line are the words mercies and compassion. There seems to me a strong message of mercy vs. judgement throughout the New Testament. And, we judge each other all the time. Jesus said that the second great commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. Also, when Jesus quoted the Old Testament scripture, he once used the passage that says God desired mercy. If we treat our neighbor as our self, with mercy, there should be no judgement. May God have mercy on us as well. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Washed Feet

So we were at Maundy Thursday service, and the reading was about the feet washing. Jesus said to St. Peter that one who is already clean only needs to wash his feet. This got me thinking about what St. Paul said about committing the sin that he didn't want to do. If sin is perpetual, but we are dead to sin through Jesus, then maybe we only need our feet cleaned when we stumble because we are already clean....

Mr. Sulu's Pic

The actor who played Mr. Sulu in Star Trek TOS is on Facebook. I liked his page, and follow his posts. Unfortunately, he is a very outspoken gay activist, liberal, and anti conservative. Anyway, he posted a pic a while back that caused quite a stir. It was Jesus and His disciples sitting around Him. He says to feed the hungry etc... Then one of the disciples says, "What if they're gay or worship other gods?" To which Jesus replies, "Did I stutter?" Then the trolling and b1tch1ng and hate started in post after post. But, gay debate aside, nobody seemed to be too concerned over the other god part. Jesus said to treat your neighbor as yourself and that it was the second great commandment. The first (before the second--because it is first) was to love God with all you being. Other gods? I don't think so.

High Point

The high point in my faith--other than when I was a kid on the farm--would have been the last time I was laid off from Hendrickson. I had been through layoffs before. I always looked for, and found, a job right away. This time was different. I didn't panic. I didn't worry about bills, rent, or my next meal. I totally trusted in God. I didn't just say it, I lived it. I prayed to be called to ordained ministry (in spite of my deathly fear of public speaking). I never heard a call. Some would say, "You retard. That's because there's no God." But I asked and waited. I had no plans. I had no worries. I was more important than the birds. I want to get back there.

My great grandfather, after whom I'm named, was a faith healer. He had rock solid unshakable stupid blind faith. I want that. I know I can't heal; my faith is far too weak. My grandfather was the most devout man I've ever known, and he never healed. Oh to have William's faith....

Crappy Lent

I had a crappy Lent. I hardly went to Church at all. I didn't go to a single Lenten study. I didn't feel it was very fulfilling; I just didn't feel it. I didn't really give anything up. I thought a lot before hand, never made a decision, and Ash Wednesday came and went. I'm in a valley right now. Holy week was somewhat better. Tonight, I asked God to guide me more over the comming new year. I have been badder, and I asked for it to be a new start. I got a little froggy. Then, in the baptismal vows we renewed tonight, it says with God's help I will resist evil. This is good, because I can't do it alone.