STONES AND GUNS, FAITH AND FEAR

This month, there are some items for consideration that can easily swell to serious and lengthly understandings. But for now, they're worth just getting noted. The first has a slight connection to Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, a story many read for the first time in high school that ends with the stoning of a town's person so there would be a good harvest. This practice is no longer necessary as most now have crop insurance. But apparently, some want to bring it back or actually believe it never went away.

The second item is a number of churches giving away guns which is a new twist to going out to the highways and byways. There have been some very "interesting" ecclesiastical promotions over  the years, but this is a bit much. 

Some things should be left to personal choice rather than part and parcel of an untaxed ministry. Similar to this is the belief in a gun-toting Jesus as Jerry Boykin said in his speech at a recent pro-family conference.

First off, everyone knows that an AK-47 is a better gun than an AR-15. I want to think that Jesus returns with the best rifle possible. Yet as the Son of God, chances are that man's pitiful weaponry won't be necessary. I'm beginning to believe that many understandings of Jesus come from looking into a mirror.

FROM THE HEADLINES

The third item is perhaps a matter of confusion. All the alarm that many of the religious have about most everything that doesn't seem to fit their idea of faith. Whether based in fact or not, such warnings of sheer doom seem contradictory to the divine protection they claim as the reason for no fear. Off hand, I'm sure most, if honest, face life with faith and fear. So why the necessity to make paranoid and dogmatic claims? Especially when so many other factors come into play.

OH! THE HUMANITY

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO BE SAID. For the full story type in Pamela Rauseo for a search. There are several good accounts on the internet.


NOW THIS IS ART!

The fourth item is more personal. I have to admit that my faith is practically based in girls, fried chicken, cars and art. Who knew? Categorically, that means my beliefs have a lot to do with romance, food, mobility and creativity.

If I had known about all those blonde girls in Utah, I'm sure I'd been Mormon. If I had ever tasted real deli food, I'm sure I would now be Jewish. Since I knew about very expensive race cars, I'm pretty sure that being Amish would have never worked. At one point, I fell in love with traditional churches inside and out. The artistic emphasis was a good fit. But later on, I saw some other colorful and festive celebrations and realized that being a Hindu must be a lot of fun.

As it is, I was born were I was born and now realize that circumstance of birth is the main determinate. My admiration to those who have been able to do otherwise.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

There  are  a lot  of  problems,  inconsistencies,  and differences  in  the  way  the Bible,  Jesus  and other faiths are understood and  interpreted. There are too many  considerations to distill a  cogent and concise statement  or resolution  that  covers  our subjective experiences and historical realities, but what has that sense  of  the  eternal,  that  makes  a real difference,  that builds up  rather  than  tears  down,  that applies love  before  rules, and  that  has  compassion before  judgment points to the kind of God who isn't confined by our best, ...or our worst, imaginings.

BONUS PIC

CREDITS: ABC NEWS, HUFF POST -Mark Gongloff, Samantha Lachman, AP- Michael Tarm, ART DAILY, RETELLING THE LOTTERY BY SHIRLEY JACKSON - Geren H., MIAMI HERALD/GETTY IMAGES.

VLADIMIR PUTIN - POOPY HEAD COMMY

And just like that the dynamics change, there's a major shift and all doubts are vanquished. My mother taught me not to call people names. But it's something I like to do. Which has always been my standard in evaluating parental advisements. I have never hidden my hatred for dirty, rotten commies. But as of late, they've been so nice, relatively speaking, except for the adolescent prince of North Korea who is the poster child for bad parenting and some others who raise to being pests at best, even Cuba has gone soft.

So how funny is it that the communist nation that supposedly became democratic is acting more and more like they have a five year plan to re-establish the ideal state. China could still have the same ambitions if the the smog would clear long enough to see where they put the Manifesto. Even though I'm a veteran, I actually get some of the Vietnamese communism. But I must disclose how much I love the people and the country. So my thinking here might be a little biased.

For me, "Better dead than red," only applies to the Republican party. Personally, I'm not that zealous but apparently some are. However, digging up the old "Once a commy, always a commy," seems appropriate. What part of Putin being a former KGB officer didn't the world get? When he was voted back into office, I wondered if he was trying to establish a Bush-Like Dynasty. You know the one family to rule ideology. But now, with his anti-gay policies and the fetish whipping of Pussy Riot, he is out to conquer more than lions, tigers and bears.

FROM THE HEADLINES

Apparently, there are pro west and pro Russian groups in the Ukraine that see the future quite differently. But is this enough for a civil war or eventual partitioning? If so, it makes for a lose, lose situation. Are we, the U.S., going to back the side that could be up against the Russian military? That could easily be worse than Syria's war. At the minimum, there will be an economic backlash in the form of sanctions and cooperation in other areas will be restricted. The International Space Station is a symbol of countries working together just as the Olympics are a symbol of peaceful competition. If Mom and Dad breakup, what happens to the kids?

OH THE HUMANITY!

There seems to have been a problem with the ousted Ukrainian president's luxury estate. Viktor Yanukovich lived rather well as do many leaders of other countries. The photos indicate an Architectural Digest approach to design and decorating with the added zoo, golf course and restaurant made from an old ship to name a few add ons. It's not William Randolph Hearst's Castle, maybe more along the lines of Michael Jackson's Never Never Land with or without real gold faucets. But this place didn't go up overnight. He must of spent a lot of time at Home Depot, certainly someone should have noticed.


NOW THIS IS ART!

We've seen how unstable divided nations can be. Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan quickly come to mind and there are more. Two large distinct groups in any country have a potential for disruption in their struggle for control and dominance regardless of how poopy headed the leader might be. But when the lies and rhetoric escalate their differences, the adversarial groups can become radicalized to the point of threatening violence. But usually cooler heads prevail and they just settle for accomplishing nothing due to their demanding vacation schedules and fear of looking weak.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

One of the more interesting developments in all of this is the selection of Oleksandr Turchynov as interim president. Besides being a political figure, he also is a Baptist preacher who has the task of keeping Catholic and Orthodox believers together when they also represent East and West alliances. Although, if you've had to deal with deacons and trustees at church meetings, you are likely well prepared. 

I wonder if being a poopy head commy is like the scorpion in The Scorpion and the Frog story. Vladimmir just can't help himself. It's in his nature. But now, the consequences of his stinging have him rattled a bit. Did he invade a country for less than apparent reasons far before exhausting other efforts to resolve the matter? Ironically, our world interdependence now creates awkward situations and opportunities. But when you've already stung another country and somehow still made it to shore, you might think you can get away with it again. Chances are he is only trying to keep up with the United States. I sure hope there's not a gold medal involved?


BONUS PIC

CREDITS: RELIGION NEWS SERVICE - SALLY PULLMAN BAILEY, NATIONAL PHOTO COMPANY, HUFF POST - SARA GATES - REBECCA - PAIGE LAVENDER - SAMANTHA LACHMAN, ART DAILY, DOWN TREND - TRAVIS MELVIN, NBC NEWS, MAIL ONLINE NEWS - WILLIS ROBINSON, AP, GETTY