The Squibler

Lifetime Salary: American Soldiers

2013-07-14T16:08:00.003-05:00

While I think most of our politicians are money, and power, hungry, I do believe we underestimate their importance. However, you won't find me preaching that a politician is more important than a soldier. The fighting men and women of America are responsible for the security of our freedoms, and should be thanked ever day for that. A politician is responsible for securing those liberties through laws, as well ensuring they are not abused. But anybody can be a politician. Any American can create a law which ensures their liberty. Not any American can be a soldier. It is under this reality that I propose a change to the system. Politicians are given a lifetime salary no matter how long they serve. While I agree a thank is in order, that thank you is overkill, and in fact can attract the wrong types of people to office. Our soldiers are given a (petty) salary for service and it ends there. Why not remove the politicians lifetime salary and give soldiers a lifetime salary? I am sure the money freed up from freezing all paychecks to former elected (and appointed) officials will more than create the fiscal ability to achieve such a task. Unfortunately, due to our military's vastly larger population than are political body it would not be a reality to pay out 100% of every soldiers salary for life. Maybe a system like this would work:

1. Any soldier who was deployed to a combat zone receives 65% of his salary upon discharge from military service for life. Honorable discharge only.

2. Any soldier with no less than 10 years of service, and combat experience, receives 75% of his salary upon discharge from military service for life. Honorable discharge only. This is to raise 10% for each 10 year period, and is not to exceed 90%.

3. Any soldier dishonorably discharged with under 7 years of service, regardless of combat experience, does not receive a lifetime salary.

4. Any soldier dishonorably discharged with above 7 years service receives 35% of their salary for life. Combat experience would raise salary to 45%.

Obviously, death, injury, and other events that could happen to a soldier requiring compensation would fall under a different category. This is also designed to reward soldiers who do their job well, and discourage people from enlisting just for the money.

-Squibler

Make a Whole!!!

2013-07-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

*This is a very complex topic, and I have only touched on the important aspects.

Have you ever read a line in a book and thought, “That was lovely!” only to read the next line and realize that whatever you read before could not have been lovely? Sometimes we add words, or subject, that we believe should be there. That’s not wrong, or a sin, it just happens. However, I believe we as Christians often add loveliness to the creation account that isn’t precisely there. Man was created to be the image bearer of God (Gen. 1:26). Thus, we must assume that God is fully capable of holding emotions and making logical decisions. Therefore, I conclude that Adam was created in the image of logic and Eve in the image of emotion. These two things separate do not represent God, at all! We serve a creator who has full control of both His emotions and logic. But if a man does not know how to control his emotions how will he make logical decisions? If a woman does not know how to use her logic how will she control her emotions?

To clarify: Adam was capable of emotion, but did not know how to properly control those emotions, and Eve was capable of logical thought, but did not know how to properly control her logic. If this is how God created them, then they surely were both equal, and there was no shame.

The purpose then of creating two beings that each represent a part would show the image of God in three parts: Father, Son, Holy Ghost: Man, Woman, Father God. This would mirror the Father teaching the Son, and the Son emanating his Father by teaching, because Eve would also teach Adam. Finally, it would represent how two could be one, and create a premise for three being one.

Earlier I made the argument that we have added loveliness to the creation account. We have assumed that Adam was perfect by himself and that Eve was perfect by herself. What is the point in coming together and joining as one if two things are perfect? Here is the reality; the creation account is beautiful, and humbling. There is nothing to add, or subtract, from it other than we are image bearers of God! My argument can be wrong, I could be missing the point, but reality remains: WE ARE IMAGE BEARERS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD! My goal is simply to illustrate the necessity for a man and a woman. Obviously there is a need, because God created two things. So, rather then think that you are perfect by yourself, remember God created two.

Finally, to clear up any confusion. I do believe it is possible for a person operating in a status of singleness to represent the image of God. I do not believe marriage is the only way to bear God’s image. Rather, I believe marriage is the complete image of God. But we need to be the best image we can be before we can join with another image to make a whole!

Autumn Tear

2012-09-17T17:19:00.003-05:00

August Tear

Leaves flutter past, windows clean

From a distance Sun rays beam,

Kissing the ground found in Autumn sheen

Crops bloom, ready for the team

Leaves flutter past, windows dim

From a distance darkness billows,

Softly the last rain splatters against trim

The arena's left soft as pillows

Leaves lie buried, windows fogged

From a distance light shines bright

Softly feat tread, white blankets flogged

The air a frill, none to fright

Darkness Before the Dawn

2012-09-11T12:44:00.002-05:00

Confidently I can say the theme of this week is "confidence"! Yesterday I attacked a false sense of confidence. The sense by which a person does not prepare themselves for a task and thinks they can will themselves forward. You may ask how is it we can gain a true sense of confidence? Well I believe it is clear that no man possess the ability to truly be confident in himself. We are all fallible. We all fail. Therefore, to place your confidence in ourself might lead to greater diffidence and create an environment by which no confidence is apparent. However, as Christians our confidence is found in Christ. Thus, we can rely on an ultimate power to function effectively throughout our life time.

I can speak from experience that if you compartmentalize the confidence you have in Christ into faith and faith alone acute lack of trust in your own judgement will grow into a paralyzing problem. You see confidence in Christ is not just the reality that we no longer have to fear death or punishment. Rather confidence in Christ is that we are finally free to pursue a relationship with God.

This relationship with God should determine the things we place our confidence in. For I can say that none of us were created to be capable in all things. Each has his or her own talents. Our confidence is then in those areas of strength. However, that does not mean we allow the areas of weakness to effect us, because Christ is the center of our confidence. Thus, the inability for one person to lift a rock above their head does not mean they are insignificant, because the person who is able to lift that very same rock above their head might not be able to lead a great host of men into battle (by whose measuring stick to we decide success?) Does this make either of those lesser men? Not in anyway. It makes them unique. Consequently, if we do not find our confidence in Christ then we will become depressed by things we cannot do. Just study the life of Jesus. What can't He do? Nothing! So, then those areas where we lack capability must be part of His plan.

Re-reading those first three sentences I realized my point might become a little fuzzy in all the logical distinctions. The key to understanding our confidence is to realize that confidence in Christ is not merely a spiritual distinction. Once we establish that he is the basis of our hope and strength then we are free to pursue whatever our passions are and if we fail it does not reflect on our own capabilities. Rather it reflects on God's will. Consequently, as we learn to place our confidence in Christ regarding all things we'll be exercising sound judgement and the situations where we fail will slowly dissipate like darkness before the dawn, because wisdom will rise in the place of foolishness.

Confidently Stupid

2012-09-10T23:30:00.001-05:00

There is this idea that confidence and positive attitude will carry you through those moments of impossible odds. While there is some truth to the matter, reality is inherent that no matter how confident you are you’ll never climb the Sears Tower with nothing but hands, feet, and confidence. The problem is that we often mistake confidence as preparedness. But unless you are prepared you cannot be confident. Preparedness begets confidence. If you don’t put in the hours you don’t deserve to win. If you don’t believe you can win you don’t deserve to win. The key is to understand the context of confidence and preparedness. If I am preparing for a Decathlon, and out work everyone else in the competition that does not mean I can go audition for an opera and get in based off my attitude alone! Simply saying, “I can do this” equals nothing if you are not equipped to do it. So, next time you are faced with a situation that is one of those impossible ones ask yourself if you prepared for it, and if the answer is no, I’d suggest avoiding it like the plague. Now the answer to the question of preparedness is a lot deeper than if you physically and mentally prepared: it could range much further, but only you can answer that question. Don't let you confidence lead to stupidity.

Warriors Pt. III

2012-09-01T00:41:00.002-05:00

Real Hope

Even though we might find a fair maiden who fulfils, abundantly, our needs and desires the question remains of loneliness. Why was Frank so disheveled upon returning from work? Surely he had a wife; surely she loved, cared, and provided for him. The heart is not complete with just the mind or the mind complete with only the soul. A person is whole when all three work together as one unit. Thus man is not indentified as complete with only a fair maiden and himself. There is a spiritual realm to life whether you are an atheist or pantheist.

If an all-powerful God created man then man cannot find his identity in humanity, but must look to his creator. As the image of our creator’s eye then we must learn His attributes in order to control our abilities and operate in their full capability. Therefore we need God, and cannot be whole without him. However, all men are bad. God is good and will not associate with evil. Thus we must accept His grace (the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son) to accomplish this task. This requires death of self and life to God. You will be reborn in love and function as complete. That visceral battle will not dissipate, but you will have the tools to conquer it. This is the hope offered to mankind.

The path of a warrior then moves away from his own choice to the choices of God. The true warrior follows the paths of God, because he chose to give up his own desires and wants as important. Subjected to this holy quest and armed to the teeth a man can go far beyond just completing impossible tasks. He can complete the most difficult task of all: conquering of self. But this requires death to self.

A fair maiden cannot purely deliver the love sought out by any warrior. If this were the case infidelity would be all but extinct. Humans are fallible. Imperfection courses through their veins. This is not of any mistake by the creator, but by man’s own choice. And by choice He must choose the love of His creator to complete His identity as a warrior.

Warriors Pt. II

2012-08-30T12:21:00.001-05:00

Reality Accepted

Of course Frank isn't real, but his story might resonate with someone, somewhere. His horse was the firm he worked for. His sword the mind he was gifted with. The impossible task: save an important company and continue to save the lives of thousands. His armor?

In the days of medieval battle, pieces of well-crafted metal provided necessary protection from arrows and glancing blows. A warrior in that age had a defined array of necessary possessions. Today there is no defined array of possessions as the battlefield shifts from decapitation. Two headed giants now resemble corporate executives. Ogres holler at you from the guise of a foreman/supervisor. Dragons are the rich and entitled breathing down your "insignificant" back. Damsels in distress are the abused and broken. Princess’ are those clever enough to avoid the trash, but lonely enough to be wary of anyone.

As a man then our task begins at the discovery of ourselves. Firstly, it is the realization we are selfish. Secondly, it is the acceptance of our talents as being special. Thirdly, it is the task of being okay with who are. Finally, we must purge selfish desires and live for others, even if that means no-one lives for us. Fair maidens…

Not every man desires to be a warrior. Most in fact run from it like the plague. Paulo Coelho best describes this indirectly in his book Manual of the Warrior of the Light:

Every Warrior of the Light has failed in his spiritual duties.  Every Warrior of the Light has said "yes" when he wanted to say "no."  Every Warrior of the Light has hurt someone he loved.

This captures why being a warrior is ethereal and not just physical. Though success might follow in your path there is a wake of internal failure left behind. Duties to your God will be forsaken for the sake of a battle won! In those moments where the spirit has sunken its lowest, a quest will be set before you, and the answer must be “yes” when indeed your mind screams “NO!” Uncontrollably those closest to you will eventually (and unintentionally) be hurt by your focus on the protection of others.

Read that quote through a few times. The reality existent in it is true; the life of a warrior isn’t easy and is something that is done because that is the way it is. No complaints are made and no praise is sought. Any praise given is accepted with gratitude, but does not (cannot) puff up. This is why it becomes an internal battle. The fighter is always rushing to the aid of others, always fulfilling their needs. Who is going to fill theirs?

To the warriors of light, there is no such thing as impossible love. They don’t allow themselves to be intimidated by silence, or by rejection. They know that – behind the icy mask people wear – there is a heart of fire. That is why the warriors risk more than others. They tirelessly seek love – even if this means hearing, many times over, the word ‘no’, returning home defeated, feeling rejected in body and soul. Warriors don’t allow themselves to be discouraged. Without love, living has no meaning.”

Coehlo penned this on his blog. Why would a warrior tirelessly seek love? Is it perhaps that he gives so much of himself without seeking anything in return that the inward struggle climaxes in the desire to know a fair maiden more intimately than just her bed? Any person who is human desires to love and be loved in return. Thus, for a warrior to deny this desire would be kill the fire that drives him forward. The reality is that we all need to be loved: love is what drives us toward our task and aids in the impossible completion.

TO Be Continued....

Warriors Pt. I

2012-08-29T09:03:00.000-05:00

Every Warrior of the Light has failed in his spiritual duties. Every Warrior of the Light has said "yes" when he wanted to say "no.” Every Warrior of the Light has hurt someone he loved. That is why he is a Warrior of the Light, because he has been through all this and yet has never lost hope of being better than he is. Each stone, each bend cries welcome to him. He identifies with the mountains and the streams, he sees something of his own soul in the plants and the animals and the birds of the field. Then, accepting the help of God and of God's signs, he allows his personal legend to guide him toward the tasks that life has reserved for him. On some nights, he has nowhere to sleep, on others he suffers from insomnia. "That's just how it is," thinks the warrior. "I was the one who chose to walk this path.” In these words lies all his power: He chose the path along which he is walking and so has no complaints.

–Paulo Coelho

Fantasy Revealed

Deep in the reaches of every man lies the desire to be a warrior. Childish dreams are filled with saving the damsel in distress or slaying the dragon. Growing up “Sleeping Beauty” was my favorite fairy tale. I could pretend to be Phillip slaying the evil dragon! (Obviously my child was influenced by Disney: whose wasn't in the 90's?) Some men portray their warrior traits in different ways, and some run from them. The trick is to define what a warrior is as more than an armored knight riding on the back of his faithful steed, sword gleaming in the sunlight. A knight creates a fabulous image and in fact is a great principle to build a definition on, but it is lacking. When eighty and incapable of raising a sword above his own head the warrior wallows in despair over his lost strength unaware of the ethereal nature existent in a warrior. And his misunderstanding of Love centering his desire for war blackens the soul.

Paulo Coelho penned the opening quote in his book Manual of the Warrior of the Light. Each sentence creates a thought by which pages of writing could dissect meaning; however, the question remains what does it mean to be a warrior? First let us remember that anything received can be ~~lost~~ forfeited. If in the course of living a person neglects their duties or takes upon their self more freedom then allotted they can, as consequence, forfeit rights. After all prison and the death sentence are built upon this principle. In our journey today let us use the image of a knight in shining armor as our principle. Let the dissection begin:

Often we think of a warrior as someone who always wins. While this might be true of a battlefield where defeat is not an option. The arena of the heart, mind, and soul is torn by inward battles. Often a warrior struggles against stronger foes, greater odds, and less gratitude. While making great stories, impossible odds take a faster acting toll upon their target. Perhaps this is why a warrior seeks the love a fair maiden...

Practically a man cannot run around the streets of New York in a glorified tin can wielding a sword slicing up robbers, rapists, murderers, and all sorts of vileness. The police would be all over that and the asylums would be filled (plus Batman would be out of a job). Workably a warrior must find his battlefield amongst his area of effective influence. A person will only be able to (effectively) influence when they are in their element. Thus, a person must be passionate about what they do, and enjoy it. In essence a warrior is someone who takes their talents/abilities and applies them properly. This can ultimately take a huge toll. Fair maidens begun to look really fair at this point...

To recast our image we'll rely upon Frank (a fictional character):

The sun was sinking upon yet another workday. It was midweek: Wednesdays were the worst; long board meetings ate up precious time to work, and that work was still expected to be finished by the end of the day.

"Sally, will have to microwave my dinner again... I should call her." These thoughts slammed through Frank's mind as he rushed back to his office, "Merlin's firm; Arthur's list; Ted's estate; Michael's investment..." This was only half the list. Coffee spilled on the floor. A cell phone rang in the distance. The fluorescent lights flickered on: it was night. Signing back into his computer the light on his office phone flickered green, signaling a new message. Picking up the phone Frank took a sip of coffee.

"Frank, we know you're swamped, but we have a new business proposition. You're our best accountant and we'd like you to handle it. Send your other accounts to Jed. We want you to handle this without the added stress. The firm is "Morbis Medicor". They are a research facility. The files are on their way to your office now. They are in some serious financial trouble, but we think they can be saved, and given your track record you're the man for the job." The message ended with some other instructions.

Frank sighed, "At least I wont have to worry about where money is be shuttled to off the books." The files arrived five minutes later. Frank was just an ordinary accountant. He had a spectacular gift with money and had a noise for good investment of money. Usually an accountant only handled the accounts, but Frank proved he could do more. His track record was remarkable. No client of his was wanton for money. But this case was a mess. Whoever had been in charge of finances didn't know what they were doing and Frank wasn't sure he could help them. Later that night while watching the evening news a single clip stood out, "The CEO of "Morbis Medicor" made an unexpected, and shocking announcement that they were preparing to file bankruptcy. Medicor has been a leader in medical research and has contributed greatly to natural medicinal recovery and prevention. Their research has saved thousands of lives and many doctors rely upon their products and expertise to help patients. There is no way of measuring the effect this bankruptcy will have upon the medical field nor the loss of life that will occur if their doors close."

Mouth open; tie and hair disheveled, Frank was aghast. His wife looked on in concern.

To be Continued...

Taylor Swift

2012-08-15T10:57:00.002-05:00

I stumbled upon a Youtube video where Taylor Swift is making fun of Joe Jonas for breaking up with her. Bitterness dripped from her words, and the energy surging through them was fueled by hate. This reminded me of how all her lyrics are about how cruel, dumb, and insensitive jerks men are. If you dated Ms. Swift and then broke up with her, I can guarantee that relationship will be made famous in a song. Perhaps the reason for this is Taylor Swift thinks highly of herself in a relationship, or highly in general. If you have noticed it is not her fault for breaking up, and she certainly didn't do anything to deserve sitting in the rain as tears streamed down her face. Usually this betrays a base insecurity: if you can't see your own faults and project them onto other people you mostly are insecure and are ignoring the fact. The gaudy amounts of makeup I would say speak to this. Perhaps she thinks that she is not very pretty, smart, or capable; maybe it is one of those things, or a myriad of that mixed with a rough childhood. Whatever the case may be her songs speak destructive thoughts into youth. Filled with their bitter hate how are young girls going to recover from a breakup: man rage? Not to mention who likes a self-indulged person anyway?

Now I could not justify publishing this piece as an attack on the chosen lyrics for Ms. Swift's songs. The reality is probably much harsher than even you and I could imagine. Perhaps she suffered from something in her childhood that has driven her to find solace in a relationship with a man. But instead of finding that gentlemen that inspires her to growth she finds those who are incapable of helping her the way she wants. Thus, man after man becomes fed up with her "childish" ways and breaks up. I am not going to speak to the character of those men who she dated, but I will say dating a pop star is asking for trouble. The sad part of all this is that unless she finds security within something greater than herself, and a man, she'll continue to hide her pain behind the mask of some ethereal idea.

Final point, this isn't a personal attack on the pop icon. Merely this is a testing of the why. Why like Taylor Swift's music? Why faun over her? Why? Why? Why? Mostly I think it is because she gives an escape to the emotions most young girls are feeling. Definitely it is not because she is a super talented singer, or even songwriter for that matter. Art is accepted because it has a universal truth within it somewhere. However, the problem with this is that all you do is breed more hate and bitterness. Men become the pinion for everything bad that happens in a relationship and castrate themselves to just get a lady! Whether directly or indirectly, fairly or unfairly, manhood is being attacked. All the while people scream that we need more men! The truth of the matter is that unless physical abuse or other unmitigated circumstances arise, 50% of the blame belongs to each couple.

Higher

2012-08-07T12:36:00.001-05:00

*I generalize in this post: don't take offense if you aren't what I am speaking of

These are a few things I dislike: 1. South Carolina 2. Badly cooked food 3. Someone telling me what I mean after I told them already 4. Rich People 5. Bad Writing.

Ironically this Blog, I think, characterizes something I dislike: what a conundrum. However, my focus is upon the word “entitlement” and rich people. Everyone judges. Everyone judges from a personal bias. I’m not going to write on how people should stop judging. That is as futile as keeping bad writing off the New York Times Best Seller list. In fact I endorse judging, if you don’t make a judgment on a person than they will be allowed to walk all over the essence of your being and by the time you notice the trespasser it’ll be too late. The key is to judge on the principle of their character and not the ideal of yours. Rich people I find have a hard time with this. They sit inside their palace of gold looking down upon the “peasants” and turn up their noses in disgust. Why? They have reached a height not worthy of lowly creatures. Anon that moment when you dare make contact with them they look with scrutinizing eyes waiting for one mistake to trample upon your image as if it were a dandelion. Perhaps they should stop to think that the people they turn their noses upwards on might choose to use their talents for something other than themselves.

Perhaps this is the warning: don’t forget that no matter your talents there is somebody else more skilled using them for others. Most rich people have “earned” the right to despise their fellow man (that doesn’t make it right), but I think they forget that in their pride some people are humble enough to realize it is not worth the time of day to show them the error of their ways. So, when you are tempted to look down upon somebody because they seem less fortunate and more mistake prone than you stop to think that perhaps they could outshine you, but choose to shine that light upon those who need it. I obviously handpicked rich people and generalized them. This is not to say don’t be rich and don’t aspire to great heights. It is to say that no matter how hard you work, no matter what you’ve earned, sweated, and endured you aren’t entitled a higher opinion of yourself than your fellow man.

Poop Pants

2012-07-30T15:09:00.001-05:00

*Warning: this is a crappy piece of writing

People complain, cleverly at times, that the two choices between Presidents are equal to two different sized cow pies (we'll leave which pie is bigger to the liberals). This may be true. But if you equate politicians to cow pies, than even George Washington would be a piece of crap. The problem is not that politics are full of poop. The problem is that people are too worried about appearances to get dirty anymore (this analogy is becoming increasingly harder not to use certain synonyms as connotations). The purpose of politics has never been to put a pristine footprint into the ground. The purpose of politics has always been the betterment of a society. Some ideas are just poopier than others. After all it is dirty business changing a babies diaper. Thus, the choice isn't really between which cow pie is smaller. The choice in November is which idea of politics leads us closer to a better society. Obviously they both stink like wet diarrhea. I mean you don't poop out expensive smelling waste do you? So, why are you complaining? You stick just like everyone else. Don't choose based on a scale of stink. Choose based on a scale of progress, because everyone stinks.

Consequently, if you choose on a scale of process you'll remove the need to worry about nasty smelly business and will be able to worry about preparing for the future. We'll never have the perfect candidate , ever. But we will always have a candidate that can get the country closer to where it should be contrasted by a candidate that will take us further. The question then becomes who takes us closer? You must choose that. But if you get stuck on cow manure your nasty dog breath will scare people away.

Finally, if you are really upset about both candidates and think they wont take us closer to a better society tape your fingers together, get up out of your chair, and do something about it. Stop your whining and initiate some change. Even if it doesn't change something, and least you didn't become intoxicated by the smell of smoldering feces.

Cowardice

2012-07-28T10:16:00.001-05:00

Cowardly dogs bark the loudest - The White Devil

We are going to attempt the marriage of two separate ideas into one whole ideal. Cowards will often speak, speak, and speak some more of their great strength, abilities, and deeds done. Everyone knows that this type of soul is spinning fantastic stories to cover some insecurity. Some poor souls will believe and in the moment of need be left alone in the cold. We don't need to belabor the facts surrounding cowardice, but we do need to realize that a piece of cowardly living exists in each and every person. When finally called to do what is required the euphoric drug of cowardice courses through the veins, freezing. This is human nature. However, why do Christians seize up? They've been freed (Romans 6) through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. There is nothing left to fear for a single saved person. Not even death retains it's bitter sting. Yet, some stand before God called to a task and the cower behind a tree, quibbling about the inadequate training. A Christian should be the bravest person on the planet.

Why is it that the Church does not function as a body? When the hand needs the arm to move it is left in a cold stasis. When the eyes need the mind to blink they dry from neglect. When the feet need legs to run, they crawl. The finely tuned machine is cracking under stress fractures of doctrine. Perhaps, in your own area the specific point of the church is operating efficiently. This is good. Have you ever noticed that the nerves in your body never seem to stop functioning (unless you have leprosy, but thats a different problem entirely)? The nerves of the church are indeed working. They feel the pain of disjointed movement and rusted ligaments. They see the disunity.

A son or daughter of God should be courageous, always. "A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chase or honest or merciful only on conditions" C.S Lewis drives the point home. We are not called to be conditional beings. We called to be courageous warriors fighting against the spiritual despotism that envelops God's creation. Our armor is far superior, and our commander the ultimate warrior. We need fear nothing, but God Himself. The church is so disjointed today because men and woman are scared of the truths contained within God's word. They bend and twist doctrines to fit their own comfortable needs: "Pilate was merciful till it became risky."They preach the loudest, but when the battles come, they crumble. Rise up ye' warriors of God!

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chase or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky. -Screwtape Letters

Puzzled

2012-07-27T11:08:00.002-05:00

A man, like a glass mirror, should reflect the beauty of a woman. A woman, like a shimmering lake, should reflect the strength of a man. There is a concept that a man is strong and a woman should submit to his strength. That is a thought of tyrants. A mans strength should reflect the beauty of a woman's virtue. A woman's virtue should reflect the strength of a mans honor. Meaning I man should be able to draw strength from a woman's virtue and a woman should be able to draw strength from a mans honor.

Brute strength in and of itself is nothing but a sledgehammer of destruction. Un-tempered it can do no more than bludgeon. Virtue without strength is nothing more than a flower to be trampled upon by uncaring children. Without fortification it is listless in the wind. Think of any puzzle you've put together: each piece is unique by itself, but beyond being unique cannot accomplish much. Through reliance upon the uniqueness of each other piece they fit together to make a whole. This whole when fortified with glue or tape creates a beautiful picture born from labor.

Like a glass mirror,

Reflect beauty Spectral

As a shimmering lake,

Reflect strength Temporal

Fortified by Hope

God created Adam first, for what reasons are not important, but through this He showed the necessity of not relying upon your own unique character to pull you through the work God has willed. Like a puzzle piece your uniqueness is pointless without another person. God is the glue that holds the picture together. Ephesians 4 speaks of the unity within the Church. This is important: men can sharpen each other; woman can sharpen each other: however, neither can temper the other without each other. The purpose of the church is to create one giant picture of God's choosing. We do not yet know what it will look like, that is why faith becomes such a important factor. Yet, we do know that if we use the uniqueness of our creation to fit into the picture Christ will be the glue that holds us together and allows us to function as a unit bent on the will of the Father.

Rethinking

2012-07-25T23:40:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you write something and months later return to it realizing you might have made a mistake. Rarely do you post something, leave for work, and ten minutes into the drive realize you made yourself seem ungrateful! Perhaps I should have dedicated myself to hard work in the pursuit of higher education. Perhaps I got bored with the easy classes because they were easy and thrived on the hard classes because they pushed me. But I think even though I missed the road I should have traveled on, God has still used that to place where I need to be regardless. It is possible I'm missing a piece that I'll have to work harder down the road for. However, the lessons and principles I've learned while at a place I might not have been at will carry me through many a time in the future and have really set me up for success. This is to say I might have made a mistake, but through the grace of God I'm able to use that mistake for success.

Beyond Capability

2012-07-25T14:16:00.002-05:00

Some people go to college for the experience and their B.S degree. Some go to college to make it further in life than their parents. Others, like sheep, follow the crowd. Personally, I was the sheep. Highschool taught me the thirst for knowledge and college seemed to satisfy that thirst. This was the extent of rational thought on that matter: further my education and learn what I want to learn. The price alone for this willful ignorance should have deterred such idiotic thinking. Alas it didn't. After doing all I could to get into Princeton (where I should have gone), the next best thing presented itself and I went there. Private Christian colleges are excellent. They create an environment to grow your intellectual capabilities without the bombardment of secular manifestos and psychotic professors on a life long vendetta against rational thought. Though, a private Christian college, while it helped unlock my mind, failed to propel my abilities past the atmosphere of mediocrity. Thirty thousand dollars a year were spent on the idea that higher education magically places you higher up the totem pole.

My professor once told me I should have gone to Harvard. Of course flattery set in, but the snide thought that he didn't know my grades or how I excelled in hard classes and struggled with the easy ones made him some how ignorant. Now the more time passes, the more I realize that I made an eighty something thousand dollar mistake. College isn't just a place you go for the degree that automatically places you above the lower ranks of work. Granted for some this will be the case. But for those who were blessed with minds that go deeper and extend to the outer reaches of the universe, college should be chosen based on ability not getting a B.S degree. Indeed means plays into the college you'll choose, but the money invested in a good education will pay dividends in the future. For example a person willingly goes into debt for a house, but gripes about how much his education costs. The house is an investment just as education is. Debt becomes necessary only at the point where it can be used to further a persons plight in society and expand their talents. Spending money because everyone else does is foolishness.

Certainly, I should have gone to Harvard/Princeton and battled the highest intellects they had to throw at me. Surely, I foolishly picked, and spent money wastefully. Definitely, it was not all for loss. I've studied under some brilliant minds, whose effect will never be lost. But I have never had the chance to push my intelligence to its brink. I've stayed within the comfort of it's own habitat only to venture out when the coast was safe.

I am a proponent of higher education. You'll often hear me complain of peoples ignorance and stupidity. However, I do not believer higher education is for everyone. Upon entering into any investment a person must do their research. They must understand the fiscal and physical costs involved and move forward based upon that information. Foolish people just go for it. If you are seeking higher education push yourself beyond your own capabilities. For in the process of failing you'll learn how far you can really travel and what you improvements you need to make. Academics should be a process of failing, for in the act of hitting the ground you'll learn what you're made of.

Tomorrow

2012-07-24T23:38:00.002-05:00

Song lyrics, poems, movies, stories all have specific forms dedicated to what a person would do if they knew time was against them. Most everyone dedicates those precious few moments to selfish motives of feeling. For example some guy learns he has cancer and his family is estranged: the rest of the plot is spent on recompense. However, why did he fix the broken bonds? For his own satisfaction? To right a wrong? For his family?

I would argue that most people live for others because they don’t know when they’ll die and fear that selfish living could turn against them. Obviously, this isn’t true of everyone, some people understand what sacrifice means. Yet, what would you do if faced with the proposition that your life would end tomorrow? Would you go experience all that you haven’t experienced yet?

My gut reaction a few days ago when asking this question was, “Yeah, I’d go experience all that my body could take.” I never got to finish that thought before it was replaced with another, “The afterlife is considerably more important and longer than the current life.” 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 is very clear that those saved will rule and judge. Romans chapter 8 makes it extremely clear that this only pertains to those who walk after the Spirit. Galatians adequately describes the process of such living. Thus, if in heaven I shall face a glory incomparable to any on earth, part of which will involve ruling angels and the world, than my life on this earth is fairly insignificant outside of the work Christ did upon a wooden cross two thousand years ago. Therefore, if I were to die tomorrow nothing I could do in those 24 hours would matter.

If you were faced with dying tomorrow the question you must ask is whether you’d forsake Christ for a feeling that will never be remembered. Sure experience life as it comes, those experiences shape our abilities to judge and use wisdom. Our future does not depend upon feelings of excitement. In fact our futures depends on God and if we truly trust Him we’d live with reckless abandon.

The Forest

2012-07-11T11:06:00.001-05:00

The sun beat softly upon Mother earth, warming her core. Two blue birds flitted across the sky chirping their approval of another wonderful Summer day. Flowers strained to kiss the sky, unknown to them that this was an impossible task, they attempted all the same. A great and old tree creaked as he stretched the tough limps of his body, in the process shaking off droplets of dew. A squirrel chattered away on a branch: "Oh, please not another day with those annoying noises." He intended this to be a silent thought, but apparently by the squirrels hurt look (squirrels are very sensitive animals) this wasn't the case. With a flash of gray the Grandfather tree was left alone to ponder (tree's, being the oldest, were wise and well versed in the deep aspects of life) complex meanings of intriguingly difficult and boring subject manner. A fox stealthily crept back to his den: the forest was coming alive with life.

"Honey, do you think our children are still alive?"

"We're Robins, such thoughts aren't befitting of our royal blood."

(Robins thought themselves to be among the first fowl created)

Suddenly, the forest went quite. Leaves shot up in the air, but no sound was heard. Every living thing sought shelter: there was an imminent threat....

(It is the reader's chose to comment about what this threat might be and see where the story goes next)

Soliloquy

2012-07-07T10:12:00.002-05:00

Soliloquy, this blog is a type of soliloquy. At 135 posts, nearly 5,000 hits and 60 comments (part of which are my own) this blog has been a small success upon the mountains of blogs populating servers. But the reality is that most of my posts go unread, unnoticed, and uncommented: leaving me with an audience of google bots creating search terms. These legions have done a fabulous job of promoting my materiel and a horrible job of leadership. However, success is not always measured by the content of a mans purse. If you were to read one of my first posts to The Squibler two things would happen: (1) You'd be embarrassed for me and (2) I'd be embarrassed for myself. Yet, in all humbleness I'd have to say I'm happy with the style my writing has morphed into. Though, I have yet to capture emotions and learn the art of creating an emotional roller-coaster through words; the ability to express my views has greatly increased in effectiveness. I'll never achieve the perfection I seek in my writing, but I will continue to look back and realize that after years and years of writing for a hobby there has been improvement. Enough about my random musings (it is my blog so I can do that).

Soliloquy:

An act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.

This is the definition as found in Oxford's Dictionary. "An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself" indeed this five year journey has been such a definition. I began by talking about success not being the possessions of a mans purse. As far as successful bloggers I'm poor and require Government help to pull myself out of the quagmire. As far as successful writers I'm on the path, not because I have a great amount of followers, but because through time (and as time continues) I've grown my talents into a harvest. Whatever your talents be if you are diligent to tend the ground upon which they grow and patient as time passes, when the moment is right you'll reap the benefits of your due diligence. But never rely upon the approval of others (than God) to motivate you.

Responsibility

2012-07-05T16:43:00.002-05:00

I've had more responsibility and expectations dumped on top of me in the past month than I thought any one person could bare without going crazy. The lesson learned: you can either rely upon your own knowledge and abilities to carry you through or press deeper into God's word and deepen your relationship with him, thus drawing from His strength and relying on His wisdom. The latter is how people keep from going insane, making gross oversteps of judgement, or relying on temporal fixations to relieve the stress. My job wasn't easy before, then it got harder, and harder, and harder. One of my co-workers told me that the key is keeping strong in your relationship with God. Yet, I realized as the responsibility came and came that this was the key. When responsibility is put on your shoulders whose consequences echo far into the future you can't afford to make a little misstep (though they happen) let alone a big one. But you cannot rely upon your own finite abilities to soldier through. A reliance upon self will lead to a depressed stupor as you struggle to get a grip on reality. Like an engine without oil you'll bind up and the affect around you will be massive (not for the positive). If anybody reads this the one thing I want to impress upon you is that the more responsibility you have the deeper your relationship with God needs to become and the more time you need to spend studying His Word: it is the only relief for the stress of such high expectations. Surely, it is the only way to make wise decisions.

Marriage

2012-07-02T09:22:00.002-05:00

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. -Genesis 2:18

Yesterday, I got to thinking (the Government should mandate my thoughts) about what I am looking for in a wife (this is an ever evolving concept that is churned over and formed into my idea of what is perfect; consequently, God most definitely has a different idea of what is necessary). I've always thought my love needs to be expressed in undying support of a wife; whatever her fears, I assuage them; whatever her happiness, I increase ten fold; whatever her needs, I meet. I thought this meant anybody that fits the core list of characteristics I'm looking for would fit the mold. Yet, when I put thought into my future and the job's I'll hold it struck me that I could not love my wife as she needed if she was just anybody. Needless to say this was one of those "duh" moments.

How easy it is to think that with love anything can be accomplished, but a Lion doesn't bed with a Zebra because love is the common denominator. It's been in the Bible this whole time and yet I've overlooked it based on some temporal idea of the intention behind marriage: And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Marriage is not simply reproduction, or love. Rather the union of two people is for the mutual support of the tasks they've been given by God. It's not simply: he's cute; she's pretty; we have chemistry; get hitched. Instead it is, we have chemistry, he has qualities that compliment me and she has qualities that compliment him: love figures the rest out.

Bear with me as I tread upon dangerous ground: for me the job's I'll hold are high stress environments so that if I married someone who was always fighting the tides of this world (while doing a fabulous job of it) it'd be required of me to be her buckler always, even when I have to swallow hard and forget the tempest of my own life. Now in a high stress environment I wouldn't always be able to give her my all. This would eventually end in a tenacious disaster. Yet, I'd have no doubt we'd deeply love each other, but a Zebra can not bed a Lion. Thus, for me she would be someone whose character is strong and doesn't struggle to keep her fortitude constant. This way I could pour into her life and be her guide while she supports the foundations of my character as they are buffeted on all sides from a laborious field of work. This doesn't mean I'm any less of a man for her, or she any less of a woman for me, but rather that through the grace of God we've taken our strength's and combined them to create impregnable defense's.

Finally, the common denominator that keeps a marriage together surely can not be love: the statistics show that marriages fall apart all the time. God is the common denominator, the well of strength and wisdom to be drawn upon; or so this is what I've witnessed by watching successful marriages.

Supreme Court: Health Care

2012-06-29T09:36:00.002-05:00

Yesterday the Supreme court ruled in favor of Government run Healthcare. Ignoring the fact that the law was clearing an impingement of rights, or that The Chief Justice essentially said if a person Constitutionally breaks the Constitution the Supreme court can't do anything about it, this law has far reaching implications for our Country. Look around Europe: Government run Healthcare has put them in a dire situation. History shows this is a difficult idea to uphold. History also shows us that the Federal Government made a power grab. What is to stop them from passing a law saying if a person doesn't sell their land to the Government they'll tax them? This bill is headed no where fast. Yet, people line the streets celebrating progress. This progress is closer to the progress of anarchy and socialism than it is the progress of a great democratic republic. The poor support this bill. Class warfare will increase as the dissidence between the three classes expands rapidly. This isn't an awful bill because Obama proposed it, it is an awful bill because it spits in the face of true Americanism. Hopefully, this awakens the States to cease back the power apathy gave to Federal agents. May the American people rise to plug the gapping hole in our lines!

Pefection

2012-06-19T11:42:00.001-05:00

Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good. –Vince Lombardi

The key to living a life of excellence is to stay grounded in reality. People think that excellence is doing everything perfect. Perfection is an unattainable function, for if this were possible we’d be as God. Vince Lombardi best embodies the pursuit for excellence. By running after perfection you must hold yourself to high standards. Those high standards, once realized, cannot be attained. But the second best thing to perfection is excellence. In the process of reaching for the highest shelf you’ll pass or stop at the second highest. There is nothing wrong here with stopping second best, for the second best in this regard is indeed the best. Only God can give you perfection, and then that is a different story. This is so that excellence is the best any human can attain. But you’ll never get a rocket to the moon if you just plan on shooting into the atmosphere. The key is to remain optimistic that you can achieve excellence even when the going gets tough, as it will.

A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all – he’s walking on them. -Leonard Louis Levinson

Backwards

2012-06-18T11:32:00.000-05:00

There is thought process between Generation Z and later parts of Generation Y that runs along the lines of instant satisfaction. They’ve spent so much time getting instant attention that fixing a problem should be instant. Parents and the Internet have perpetuated this idea. Growing up, tears and a tantrum would instantly get the problem righted. Internet with its speed and relative efficiency has all the information needed right at your fingertips. Any problem or desire can be met and remedied depending on your Bandwidth speed. Certainly, if you didn’t like something close the page or do another search. Essentially, the training of their parents (cry and receive) to the Internet (dislike and click) is now habit.

This wouldn’t bother me so much if I was 75-years old and didn’t have to live with them for the last 3/4 of my life. Yet, I have friends who established this habit and will influence the Country for the next 40 something years. It bothers me when people I know live in habitual misconception, because most of the people I know are Christians. Thus, this lie has crept into Christianity. Have you ever noticed that God must be the God of quick fixes? If he can’t solve a persons problem seconds after a prayer is sent then He must not exist. Faith has been replaced with sight. Faith and sight contradict each other! In reality faith is dying, and God is required to meet people’s deadlines. Being sovereign must mean you have the highest Bandwidth speed.

Reality is much different. History tells us that fixing problems is not as simple as running a Google search or crying. The greater the problem the more effort required. Thus, you can’t download an anti-virus program and run a script to solve your problems. Nor can you throw a tantrum and get what you want. Yet, this habit is ingrained. Entertainment thinking has bludgeoned rational thinking into a pool of geeks with glasses or “old fashioned” thinking. For example this election will be labeled as a choice between Hitler and Mussololini, if people are still clever. There is a thought processes that Mitt Romney is a not much better than Barrack Obama and thus a choice for either one is a choice that will damage the country (consequently, these are the people who don’t do research). Essentially, if a candidate does not exist that can fix the problem immediately both candidates are basically the same. I approach what I watch this way! If a movie doesn’t have good reviews or lacks substance it gets ignored. However, the problem with this country runs much deeper than my own desires. The fix is more complicated than one man. Therefore, we can’t just flip channels until the perfect solution is found. Compromise must be made. Half a step forward is still better than remaining in the same place or going backwards.

God's Guidance

2012-06-14T11:11:00.002-05:00

Action, or deed, is only the evidence of something deeper within. If your actions are evil than inside your heart resides a bent towards evil. If your action is good than deep inside your heart resides a bent towards good. Proverbs 27:19 “As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.” The qualities of your heart will determine the qualities of your action. Thus, to focus on the essence of manhood is not to focus on how much he chews, spits, womanizes, cusses, helps old ladies across the street, fights, burns, pillages, wars, works, lifts weights, and does all shorts of thing associated with manhood. Rather, the crux of manhood is found in the heart.

God knows and understand

For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart

And what's in the heart defines

The measure of a man

Looking to David’s life: adulterous, murdering warrior with a bent towards laziness, and only raised one good son. Yet, God called David a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Clearly a man after God’s own heart is one who is given to his passions. Rubbish! II Samuel 12 accurately shows what a man after God’s own heart looks like. The chapter is too long to quote here. A summary: Nathan tells David a story of a man who cheats his neighbor. David becomes angry with this man and demands his death. Nathan tells the king that he is this man and David repents understanding he has done a great wrong (killing Bathsheba’s husband). The Lord still punishes David, but rather than go about life not thinking of the wrong he has caused it appears David mourns for the people he wronged and seeks God’s forgiveness. He accepted responsibility for his actions and with compassion sought to comfort, and even mourned, for those he’d wronged. A man accepts the responsibility, bad or good, for his actions and recovers his dignity through charity (Colossians 3:14). The quality of his choices will be determined by the quantity of responsibility accepted. Adam was created first and thus was given the most responsibility and leadership as the first-born. Therefore, a man bears the majority (if not all) of liability in a relationship or in daily life. His duty is to protect, rule, and live a life through charity and peace if at all possible (Romans 12:18). I could concoct a list of do’s and don’ts; we could go into ancient history and show the responsibilities of a first-born, but here’s the deal:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (I Corinthians 13)

This is not merely the love chapter adequate for marriage services; rather this is the conformation to the image of Christ (God). This is how our God loves. This is his heart. No person fallen out of relationship with God can attain true manhood, because he is lacking the touch of life. The heart of a man should be turned towards God: He will be your measure. He will guide you.

Manhood?

2012-06-13T12:05:00.002-05:00

*For those who might take offense. All my writings on this blog, whether quoted or not, have scriptural foundation. Thus, if you stumble upon here and become upset that I define manhood in Biblical terms that would be rash considering the precedence already set.

What is a man? In a culture where fatherhood is quickly declining the answer to this question becomes increasingly tedious. A father passes onto his son what it means to be a man, and a son looks to his father for this guidance. If there is not a father there isn’t a passing off the torch. Boys are left to define manhood on their own. Mostly they’ll turn to other boys just as lost, or to Hollywood whose definition of a man changes according to what makes the most money. There is a lack of credible sources to turn towards. Elton John sings in his song “The Measure of a Man”:

These battered hands are all you own

This broken heart just turned to snow

Go hang your glories on the wall

There comes a time when castles fall

And all that's left is shifting in the sand

You're out of time, you're out of place

Look at your face

That's the measure of a man

While 4Him in their song of the same title contrasts this view:

Oh I say the measure of a man

Is not how tall you stand

How wealthy or intelligent you are

'Cause I found out the measure of a man

God knows and understand

For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart

And what's in the heart defines

The measure of a man

Most people associate manhood with a more visceral twist than just pure action. For even the most accolade of achievers fears he has missed the target. Consequently, the Bible does not point towards action being the evidence of Godly living. It does not say that action is Godly living.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Paul doesn’t say a man of God may be perfect through good works. Rather that a man of God should be perfect, furnished (to be ready or available) for good works. Thus, the responsibility of a man is to prepare himself to be more Godly. This of course is what Paul is speaking of in Romans 8:29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Earlier and later in the chapter it is clear (as a concise study of Romans chapters 1-7 will show) that this process begins with walking after the Spirit.

Using 2 Corinthians 4:4 I’m going to make a logical jump to condense my terms: “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Paul speaks of Christ as being the image of God. Taking Romans 8:29 into consideration then ultimately the purpose of a saint is to conform to the image of God (Genesis 1:29).

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 8:29 says that His will is to be conformed to the image of Christ. The image of Christ is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Thus, Romans 12:1-2 should be applied as we become more Christ like. Consequently, this comes from following the example of Christ as scripture says. We could then read the gospels and try to attain to Christ’s example of manhood. However, that would be hard, because Christ was also God acted on different premises than we are to. Thus, Paul says in I Corinthians 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I am also of Christ.” Therefore, through following Paul we can have a more complete picture of Biblical manhood, because Paul was taught by Christ and followed Christ according to the duties required of a saint not fully man and God.

Effectively what I am saying is that the measure of a man can be found in his walk with God and willingness to conform (daily) to the image of Christ and ultimately fulfill his role as the image bearer of God (Genesis 1:26). This, however, raises a devastating question how does a man know he is walking effectually after God? I began by saying manhood is often categorized using visceral terms. This I believe is a correct way of measuring manhood. But not person will be able to measure another’s inward feelings. We must turn to the good works (2 Timothy 3:17) produced by a person. The task of tomorrows discussion will be focused on what those good works are and what foundation they hold. Obviously helping an old woman across the street is a “good” work, but does that define a man? Even Hitler was sensitive. Surely drinking, cussing, spitting, chewing, womanizing etc. etc. don’t always determine a man and vice versa. We have reached the dilemma left by fathers (or lack of).