Samaritan Medicare vs Not My Brother’s Keeper

Posted on October 9, 2009 by billarends

My Wife and I were across the border in New york last weekend (Lake Placid). The palce is absolutely Beautiful, but would I live there HELL NO.

Because they don’t have Medicare or social assistance you can rely on. The issue is one that the current administration is trying to fix. The problem is there are a large number of rightwing Bible quoting Republicans that think that socialist ideas like Medicare will go against thier values the values they got from the Bible.

You know what that is?

NONSENSE !

Plain and simple nonsense. Here is what Jesus said about Medicare and socialism.

Luke 10: 30-37

³⁰In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³²So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two silver coins^[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ ³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Socialism means society is responsible for those that can’t help themselves. If you don’t see that in the parable, you’re blind. What the Samaritan did was akin to Medicare, and no amount of rationalizing that away will work.

We tend to think that we are not our Brothers Keeper, it is his own obligation to pay for his medical care and his employment insurance.

But who was the first to feel Gods wrath? Cain and his first plea was “am I my brothers keeper.” (Genesis4:10)

The Answer is both socially and Biblically YES.

Rednecks, Violence, Pacifism, Rationalism and Christianity

Posted on August 25, 2009 by billarends

Or what I learned from a JERK in a truck

The problem with life lessons is being able to see the lesson in the situation.One day I was turning right out of a parking area and there was a truck to my left so I could not see on coming traffic. The jerk behind me thought that my caution was slowness so he kept pounding on his horn. I was thinking sorry jerk but I don’t risk my life for rednecks in pick-ups (especially those with attitudes). So I flung him the bird (gave him the finger) and drove away when it was safe to do so. Yes I tend to react with emotion first, this is not wise when you consider I am a pacifist. This Jack Ass then follows me for three blocks and pulls in behind me when I go to stop. He says “if you give some one the finger you should be ready to back it up, with action” I tell him my side of the story that I am not about to risk my ass for his redneck carcass (not in those words) especially not violent rednecks like him. I also tell him that I am about as likely to fight him over this trivial spat as I am to have monkeys fly out of my butt. Personally I wish he would take more dumb risks as it would seem only a tough lesson would shake him into realization that turning into traffic with out seeing it would be STUPID. The big problem is that this jerk was threatening to beat the crap out of me with his 7 year old son in the cab of his truck. Oh Yeah Teach them early that violence works, so they can grow up to be thugs and wife abusers. (If violence was the by-product of insults then parliament would need referees and ropes around it.) I was ignoring his threats for two reasons, one I try not to fight with some one that has biceps bigger than my thighs, and two if he attempted to follow me and strike me (there were spectators) I could have his ass thrown in Jail and that would feel soooo good. However the service guy at the car dealer came running out to tell this redneck that he had just called the police and the jerk left without incident. Damn I was looking forward to charging him with assault. I grew up in a pacifist household my mother was very much against fighting, guns and violence of any sort, so I learned to walk away or take a beating and not cry out when bullied. There is very little pleasure in beating on some one if they don’t fight back, and if they don’t cry or cower. But not fighting back works, because even a bully does not want to look like a bully. You don’t look cool if the guy you’re bullying just stands there. As for the guy that is being attacked, the best thing to keep in mind is while pain is transient and unavoidable, but integrity is worth the pain. The hardest part is to take the pain without crying out. I can’t say that I never fight back, to do so is a natural animal reaction (we are animals). To not fight however is what raises us above the level of animals. We have a fight or flight urge it is built into us genetically. To raise above our animal nature it what distinguishes us from animals. There is no natural instinct that tells us to stand up and take abuse. Where do we learn such contrary behaviour? Well there are a number of possibilities, but two are the most evident. rationalism allows us to make decisions contrary to animal instinct it is logical to assume that if we don’t respond to violence with violence there will be less violence, and religion often teaches us that we are above animal behaviour.

From a Christian perspective we follow the biblical edict (or we should) that says;

Romans 12:19-21
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Now contrary to the direct image of God as a smiter of sinners, I take this verse to mean that those that commit evil will not be rewarded but rather they will overcome by a good society. They over time as man evolves socially will cease to be. In other words evil will be overcome by good in Gods time.

Good Bye Bob

Posted on July 31, 2008 by billarends

I used to live in a small community in Southern Ontario called Angus. For the most part it is a bedroom community for Canadian Forces Base Borden. Many people come and go but there are some diehards that stay and work at making Angus more of a community than a place to camp out while you are stationed at CFB Borden.

Angus has bred many unique characters one of which was Bob Houghton, Bob was a Scout leader for many years and I was lucky enough to work with him as the Liaison officer from the Angus Lions Club to the Angus Scouts. Bob like many Scout leaders became an unofficial foster parent for many youth. He and his wife took in many teens over the years when they had nowhere else to turn. Like many Scouters the Houghton’s took on the role with both physical and mental stamina. As a Scouter you are a more than a role model you are a part of the lives of the youth you work with, they often become part of your extended family, and in Bob’s case immediate family.

Unfortunately being away from Angus for about 10 years I only get the occasional news from back home, and the news of Bob’s death came to me rather late.

ROBERT ALLAN HOUGHTON (December 27, 2007)
Robert Houghton of Angus, passed away peacefully at Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie on Wednesday December 26, 2007 in his 62nd year.
Beloved Husband of Madeline..
Loving Father of Allan(Jennifer)and Suzanne(Eric)all of Angus.
As well as many others whom he opened his door to over the years.
Cherished Grandfather of Cailey, Cassidy, Julia, Jakob, Graysen, Hunter and Riley.
Dear Brother of Edith Barriault(Joseph), Barbara Willis(Don) and Joan Curtis(Gary).
Predeceased by his Parents Helen and Allan Houghton, and one brother William.
Bob will be sadly missed by his many relatives and friends.

Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency: or Why Not to Become a Model

Posted on July 26, 2008 by billarends

The other day I was watching a reality show entitled the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, on the Oxygen Network.

Why? Well some times I do really stupid things. It is an hour of my life that I really want back. I could have done something far more edifying, like shave my back , or compare the odor of my running shoes, anything but watch this thing. Oh well as I said earlier, sometimes I do stupid things.

In the episode I watched this botox injected (oh those ugly lips – which only look right forced into a smile which she rarely does) arrogant and ignorant woman that runs the agency, (Janice) and attempts to make you think that she has a brain and is some kind of modelling genius. That is the whole idea behind the show. IT FAILS.

Janice is a caricature of all that is wrong with modeling today. She makes rude comments about the model’s fat (WHAT FAT) she bullies her models and clients and thinks that because she is the modeling diva she can get away with it. What the heck was someone thinking when they put a camera in front of this clown. Well then clowns can be entertaining. I apologize to clowns.

Here is my biggest problem. In this episode she recruits a model from a restaurant and tries to make her into a model. In my books she corrupts her. Don’t get me wrong I am not one of those Christians that sees the devil in people I think the devil tends to let us screw ourselves up because we do it so well. Much as I hate Janice she is no Devil. If there is a Devil out there he/she is much smarter. One exercise she has her models do is to pose nude for a seniors painting class. Personally I don’t have a problem with nude modeling, total or partial, what I do have a problem with is that Janice threatens to fire two of her models for refusing to go totally nude.

These two models are members of Model4Jesus and they with some fellow models4jesus talk to Janice who tells them all if you are a model you have to pose nude it is a please the client industry. If you don’t pose naked “you are not a model.” She puts this dull-witted look on her face and says “I don’t get what is with these models and nudity.” She says “you do what the client wants.” Okay so what does that mean? You have to have no values as a model? The one male model says it would be an insult to his family, and Janice laughs at him. This means that there is very little difference between Ms Janice and a Madam or Pimp. She farms out beautiful people to clients that can request them to do whatever they want and the models can’t say NO how is this not, prostitution albeit on a lesser scale. They get nude but don’t screw the client, so Janice isn’t even a good madam.

The episode progresses and the ex-waitress, who objected to nudity, is coerced into doing a nude and highly erotic photo-shoot which Janice thinks is a triumph for the girl. I think that the poor woman has compromised her values for money and to a large extent it is Janice’s fault.

In the next episode of this dumb show Janice’s client asks her to participate in the shoot and Janice gets all snippy and mad as she claims not to be a model anymore why would someone want to look at an “OLD” person in a bathing suit. So far Janice has insulted anyone overweight and anyone with moral issues related to nudity and called anyone old, ugly. But the coup de gras is, she exposes herself as a hypocrite because she refuses to “do what the client wants” if it involves her. She has to be coerced into modelling, what happened to the idea you do what the client wants? Okay so now I have vented and wasted more of my time on Janice Dickinson, but I feel better for the exercise.

Welcome to the Land of the Shallow People.

Posted on June 24, 2008 by billarends

Recently CTV ran an article on a dating services called Beautifulipeople.com. The service is controversial because it bans so called ugly people. They define ugly by voting on who is ugly. The whole thing is repulsive it reeks of Adolf Hiltler’s master race ideology. Most people would laugh at this service, but to laugh at it would be to belittle the fact that it is a symptom of a larger problem in society that is that we are devolving to more basic instinctual behaviour, when it comes to dating. If we decide our sexual partners based on looks we will be creating a race of pretty but stupid people. That said beauty is a product of personality and physical appearance anyone that decides on a person to date based on one side alone will likely get what they deserve, a person that is truly ugly. If all you are concerned with is who to jump tonight then this service is for you. Some have said humans are animals and this is just a product of instinctual behaviour, if this is true then we haven’t progressed much above the eat sleep and procreate level. In the past people like Greg Hodge where labelled as Dogs, this wasn’t a compliment. If you want to succeed you have to distance yourself from these guys. Just think what would happen if it was discovered that a politician was using this service? From the comments on the CTV article it is evident that using this service would place you in a category that no one with aspirations of any sort would want to be in. Being labelled one of the pretty people may seem like a good idea, but from a career point of view or a success point of view the words on your CV or the diplomas on your wall are of more value unless you’re a model. Remember money can buy you a new face a new body a new look, but your stuck with your personality and if it is ugly you’re ugly like it or not. The patrons of this service at least give Hollywood directors characters to make fun of. Welcome to the land of the shallow people.

Looks Like Wine, Smells Like B S

Posted on May 29, 2008 by billarends

Affection; a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display .

I was at a wine tasting in a commercial winery in France some time ago, enjoying the experience more than anything else as I have no idea of good wine from great wine. I know what I like and I know what is bad wine. In reality this winery produced some adequate wines or so I am told, but there was this one tourist from Britain that was going on about the different flavours he could taste in the wine the body the bouquet the legs etc… He puffed out his chest and exaggerate his expressions as he waved his hand over his glass, and pontificated.

An Ausi on the tour made a comment on the Australian wine industry being very good and producing wines like some of the better French and German wines. To which the affected Englishman responded that “ the grapes used in Australia didn’t have the quality to produce the variety of aromas needed as the base for good viticulture and that the vintners could use to learn a bit about viticulture from the Germans who have produced wines almost as good as the French but with wider appeal.”

It has been a number of years since I was in France and I have learned a bit about wines in those years so, was the affected Englishman telling the truth or was he blowing smoke? Well after a bit of research the answer is blowing smoke. Why? Australian wines are often made with the Syrah or Shiraz grape which is noted for having one of the most varied results when it comes to Aromas, producing when blended or on their own some of the most popular wines. And as for learning from the Germans one of the most influential vintners in Australia is Wolf Blass, who studied and worked in the European wine industry for 13 years before he migrated Australia in 1961.

Don’t take my word for it look it up yourself and never believe someone who sounds full of himself, because often as not, he is full of something else as well.

Steven Murray Truscott (update – Steven Truscott has been acquitted in the 1959 murder of Lynne Harper)

Posted on August 28, 2007 by billarends

I penned the following post this morning, but as of around 11 AM Steven Truscott has been acquitted in the 1959 murder of Lynne Harper.

“On behalf of the government, I am truly sorry,” said Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant
______________________________________________________________

On September 30, 1959 Canada sentenced a 14 year old boy to hang from the neck until dead. Today Steven Murray Truscott, is still alive and trying to prove his innocence. He could remain quite as his sentence was commuted and he has served his time, but he would like his three children to use his real name. Steven Murray Truscott has been living under an assumed name since the 1970’s. Since his arrest and subsequent release he has committed no crime. He now awaits a new trial by his own request to clear his name.

In 1959 Pierre Berton penned the following poem, I think the appeal will add a new stanza, and make it not such a sad lament.

REQUIEM FOR A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD
By: Pierre Berton

In Goderich town
The Sun abates
December is coming
And everyone waits:
In a small, dark room
On a small, hard bed
Lies a small, pale boy
Who is not quite dead.

The cell is lonely
The cell is cold
October is young
But the boy is old;
Too old to cringe
And too old to cry
Though young —
But never too young to die.

It’s true enough
That we cannot brag
Of a national anthem
Or a national flag
And though our Vision
Is still in doubt
At last we’ve something to boast about:
We’ve a national law
In the name of the Queen
To hang a child
Who is just fourteen.

The law is clear:
It says we must
And in this country
The law is just
Sing heigh! Sing ho!
For justice blind
Makes no distinction
Of any kind;
Makes no allowances for sex or years,
A judge’s feelings, a mother’s tears;
Makes no allowances for age or youth
Just eye for eye and tooth for tooth
Tooth for tooth and eye for eye:
A child does murder
A child must die.

Don’t fret … don’t worry …
No need to cry
We’ll only pretend he’s going to die;
We’re going to reprieve him
Bye and bye.

We’re going to reprieve him
(We always do),
But it wouldn’t be fair
If we told him, too
So we’ll keep the secret
As long as we can
And hope that he’ll take it
Like a man.

And when we’ve told him
It’s just “pretend”
And he won’t be strung
At a noose’s end,
We’ll send him away
And, like as not
Put him in prison
And let him rot.

The jury said “mercy”
And we agree —
O, merciful jury:
You and me.

Oh death can come
And death can go
Some deaths are sudden
And some are slow;
In a small cold cell
In October mild
Death comes each day
To a frightened child.

So muffle the drums and beat them slow,
Mute the strings and play them low,
Sing a lament and sing it well,
But not for the boy in the cold, dark cell,
Not for the parents, trembling-lipped,
Not for the judge who followed the script;
Save your prayers for the righteous ghouls
In that Higher Court who write the rules
For judge and jury and hangman too:
The Court composed of me and you.

In Goderich town
The trees turn red
The limbs go bare
As their leave are bled
And the days tick by
As the sky turns lead
For the small, scared boy
On the small, stark bed
A fourteen-year-old
Who is not quite dead.

Lord, Shall We Strike with the Sword ?

Posted on May 18, 2007 by billarends

I have had another Christian video game creator react negatively to my criticism of violent (so called) Christian video Games. Rather than go back into what I find offensive about individual games here is something the Christian creators of these games need to think about.
I do not recall any of Christ’s followers killing anyone. And when one of them did take up a sword what did Jesus do and say?

Luke 22 : 49 – 51

49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

I realise that the interpretation of this is often based on the circumstances surrounding Jesus capture, but the words do not say “permit this {now}” or “suffer this {for only this time}” they simply say “permit even this” or in other interpretations “Suffer ye them thus far.”
When we look at our Christian past, we don’t view the crusades with much respect. Our saints are those that have sacrificed themselves rather than sacrificed others for Jesus sake.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

I think we are called to die for our beliefs not kill for them.
But I guess this wouldn’t really make a good action game, the first time a conflict comes up the hero steps up unarmed nonviolently and gets killed for what he believes.
It is easier to kill than to die for what you believe, wasn’t this what Jesus tried to tell us? Sorry but those that would kill for God missed Jesus’ message totally.