80s

I want it to be the 80s again.  Things made sense.  Life was easy.  Sure, we lived with the threat of Mutually Assured Destruction; but, there was an order to it.  There were understood rules.  There was more freedom, less red tape, less policy, and for a kid it was great.  The toys were great.  The music was then awesome.  The girls were cute.  Less stress from not being constantly available 24/7 due to technology and less hoops the jump through, there was still stress.  The technology that was supposed to get rid of paper work and make work easier did neither and allowed one person to the the work of 1 1/2 people for less cost than 1 person because of unemployment rates and third world labour costs.  The family was the social unit.  People were allowed to operate outside the endless red tape that is regulations and policy, from how you lead people at work to the governments invasive incursion into child rearing and the private life.  Socialism was wrong, not gaining a stranglehold.  Churches were at their pinnacle and Christians were not persecuted in the West.  We knew who we were and didn't apologize for it.  The economy was strong, jobs were plenty.  Freedom of speech trumped political correctness.  We were offended if we chose to be.  Things were not perfect, and looking back I can see how righting those imperfections with good intentions became the vehicles of destruction for much of the social issues we face now.  The divisiveness seems deeper, stronger, more passionate and often more hateful.

They say that romanticizing the simplicity of a better time is an illusion.  But, there is truth in it.  Things were more simple, as our lives become more and more complicated.  I look back to the 80s fondly.  Things were great, even without the internet.  We played outside.  We used the phone and made plans with friends.  On the farm, we worked hard in the summer; and, I miss it now.  Golden Age Syndrome I think they call it, may be an illusion.  However, I believe it is an illusion based on truths.  An escape, maybe it is.  Just feelings, are feelings not relevant?  I have always valued logic over feelings, which are also--as I understand it now--very important.  And, I don't think the 80s were a golden age.  If I had to pick a golden age, I'd pick the 1940s or 50s, The Greatest Generation.  Or, I'd pick the early to mid Victorian Age.  A great time to romanticize, people were civil and polite, and dueling kept people from being too offended.  Elegance and beauty, women too, were things perfect?  No, they weren't; but, they never are.  If I could go back to any age, a la Star Trek TOS episode All Our Yesterdays, I would live as a sea officer in Nelson's Navy. 

For those in Anxiety

ALMIGHTY God, who art afflicted in the afflictions of thy people:  Regard with thy tender compassion those in anxiety and distress; bear their sorrows and their cares; supply all their manifold needs; and help both them and us to put our whole trust and confidence in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

You Don't Want to Go Goofy

Some people try to do too much.  Take Bishop Bruce for example, a good man who cared (maybe too much).  The stress and the workload he had taken on were too much for him, the situations and the pressure.  Were there warning signs?  How much is too much?  How can one tell?  When the advice and the help doesn't work, and you keep doing too much, what gives first?  Stress seems to be underestimated and very poorly understood.  It's causes, management, and effects are not fully understood.  Yes, it can make you sick; I think most people understand that.  What seems to be the worst case scenario is the individual for whom stress management is ineffective and for whom the workload and burden is greater than they can deal with, self induced our otherwise.  Being told to let it go or not to let it get to you is not helpful at all.  When all those helpful people with advice just don't understand, it's all the more frustrating.  My advice to people who have not gone goofy yet?  If you can't manage the stress, remove it.  Because, once you go goofy, you're not serving anybody anymore.

Pray for Bishop Bruce and all those in anxiety and distress.  FATHER help us.  I ask this in the name of Your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

More on I don't fit

Should I be in an Anglican Church like ANIC who are so anti gay and live with it; or, should I stay in the ACC that does everything else wrong, pushing every liberal agenda. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Bathroom Nuts

With men in girls' bathrooms and pedo sex ed curriculums, I can't help thinking that society is moving toward justifying pedophilia. P.S.  They're going nuts in the States over this bathroom issue. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Synod

So, gay marriage is back on the agenda.   It's being pushed hard.   But, is it what's best for the Church?  Is it socially driven or Spirit driven.  P.S.  What do I want to happen.  A new Church canon should exist that allows gay weddings and protects decenting voices from being forced to participate.   A canon on this divisive issue should respect both sides. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Logistics

The West has aircraft carriers, troop carriers, jump ships, c-130s, and globemasters.  They have liberal governments. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android