tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47618305213532063622024-02-02T12:08:47.226-08:00Aesthetics of the MindWandering mind in search of meaning and beautyDaav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-15165722626479881282020-11-16T15:13:00.000-08:002020-11-16T15:13:03.571-08:00Is there room in America for Moderates?<p> <b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is there room in America for
Moderates?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">People say
that the United States of America has never been this politically divided. I am
not sure if that is a true statement or not. It certainly feels that way, but
we have a collective short term memory and have a hard time keeping long spans
of time in perspective. I am thinking that before the civil war, American politics
might have been a little more divisive than it is now. It does seem that
politicians go "all in" and use the "nuclear option" more
often than they should. Why do things feel this way? Why do politicians feel
they need to respond so over-the-top all the time? Is it possible to regain the
middle ground and to have civil discussion and respectful politicians?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How did we get into this situation?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I think this
current situation came about through a perfect storm of career politicians
coming to the end of their careers, growing social media influence, and the
advent of "Troll Nation." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As the "Baby
Boom" generation moves towards retirement, even in politics, they are uncertain
about the future and are needing to trust their kids or grandkids with taking
the lead. It seems many of the leading politicians, whom are overwhelmingly
Baby Boomers, are taking extreme positions in order to hold power just a little
longer. A lifetime of politics has made them experts in radicalizing their opponents
in the eyes of their audiences. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A large
contributing factor is the blatant use of the "Strawman Argument."
The Strawman Argument is when someone creates a caricature of their opponent's
ideas and then argues against the caricature, rather than the actual ideas of
the actual opponent. Often the caricature is the worst possible version of the
opponent's ideology. This is a very dismissive and misleading tactic. It forces
everyone into a false dichotomy of Right vs Left where Right and Left are
extreme positions. This leaves no room for moderates. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We see this
used a lot in the media, not the "News" or "journalism,"
but in talk media and opinion media. So, raises another issue. We have confused
"media" with "news." Journalism, which leads to good news
stories, is used to be about gathering facts for creating a narrative. The
"news story" has devolved into opinion pieces, and the media has
become a rating-seeking 24/7 hype-fest. Two ways to pump the rating are Strawman
and ad hominem arguments. Of course, the king/queen of ad hominem attacks are
the internet trolls. We have all seen them and even at times, have possibly
even become one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Troll Nation
is not a place, but rather a state of mind which exists in the world of social
media. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) is a relatively new
platform for sharing information and ideas. With the ability for instant
commenting and dialogue, it often brings out the worst in people. Not only does
it lead to opportunities of miscommunication, but also for Trolls to wade in on
the attack. Sometimes it is hard to tell when someone is just lacking in
understanding or being an intentional troll. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems we,
as a society have devolved into a state of "Talking, not listening."
"News Media" wants/needs the rating so they just talk, talk, talk,
talk. Politicians want the spot light so they just talk, talk, talk. Even
"we the people" want to be heard through protest marches and social
media so we just talk, talk, talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What can we do?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanksgiving
is just a few days away. Typically holiday time is family time. Of course this
year may be different. Every family seems to have that one aunt, or cousin, or
grandfather who really likes to stir the pot and cause drama. They know all the
hot topic buttons to bring up and send the family into a chaotic swirl or
argument and name calling. The rest of the family tries really hard to stay
away from those topics and not be lead into arguments by the family troll.
These family trolls are the ones who are not invited to the lesser family
gatherings, but you know they will show up at the holiday events and so you guard
yourself for conflict, stay one room away, and try to keep quiet for as long as
possible. This analogy really sounds like America right now. We try hard to get
along, but some people just can't seem to drop it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can Common Ground exist?</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Should we
table some topics until we can take a collective breath?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sure it is
on me to not respond to the trolls out there, and it is on me to not be a troll
to others. Is that enough? Can we find some topics, maybe like foreign policy or
taxation rates, which we can have a civil discussion about? It seems like we
are so used to going to the "us versus them," or the "scorched
earth" mentality that we don’t even have room to listen. How can we
progress if we cannot listen long enough to understand where they are coming from?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would
really like to be seen as a moderate. I believe I am a moderate. But my friends
and family on the right push me to the left, because they do not take the time
to listen and understand. My friends and family on the left push me to the
right, because they do not take the time to listen and understand. I am sure I
do the same thing with them. So, I know I need to be willing to listen as they
speak and search out common ground, and not go on the attack. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Curious how to move out of impulsiveness
& into educated replies?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are a few helpful tips:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. Stop
watching the news and start reading it instead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">News outlets
which are 24/7 are full of hype and it is easy to get lost in the noise and excitement
of their rating games. I have found that reading the news helps me to see
through the false statements easier and to concentrate on the facts clearer. If
I watch the news, it is the local news which focuses time and research on local
events, which is informative. This allows me to have a more educated response
with local events. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2. Listen
before you speak<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ask
questions and allow the other person to speak. As they speak, don’t use that
time to formulate your arguments, but spend that time listening to understand. When
they are done with their stance, then you can have your turn to speak. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3. If you
must post a comment, wait and don’t post in the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Social media
is an interesting beast. We can get instant gratification from it, which can
become an addiction. If you read a post and it triggers you, don't go for the
instant gratification. Spend some time reflecting upon why you were triggered,
if it is worth commenting on, or if you are just trolling. If, after some time
for reflection you feel you must comment, then write out a well thought-out
comment and read it over a few times to check for errors. Then post it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I do believe
many of us share common ground, but have been pushed to the fringes through
some of the actions mentioned above. If we can learn to be civil and allow the
other person to define themselves and their positions, we will see that most of
us are moderates, or at least share some common values. Once we can establish
some common ground, then we have a place to start. Like at the family Thanksgiving,
where everyone can agree the turkey was dry, but the pie was delicious! <o:p></o:p></span></p>Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-56532505517940530892020-09-29T19:04:00.005-07:002020-09-29T19:04:41.283-07:00From the Clutches of the Church to the Arms of God. My Spiritual Autobiography<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Part One: Growing Up. I didn't know
any better and no one told me otherwise</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
disclaimer: First off let me say church was good to me. Nothing ever bad or
sinister happened to me. I did not get excommunicated or ran off because of
some heretical ideas. The Church and I just grew apart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was raised
in the Church of the Nazarene, which is a conservative/fundamentalist church.
This denomination was birthed out of the early 20th century Revival and
Holiness Movements. This church's theology put emphasis on living a holy life.
None of that I knew at the time, but it is important to understand. As I
came to understand what this truly meant, I was no longer comfortable with that
brand of Christianity. Not that I have anything wrong with living a holy life,
only the way in which they forced it upon its members and the way in which they
defined it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the time,
as a child, all I knew was that it was a fun place to hang out. My friends and
family were there. We did cool things like play fun games and later as a youth
we would go on cool trips like to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way, I learned some about the Bible
and some about Jesus and even a little about God. I learned that sin was bad
and God was good. I learned that you need the Holy Spirit to thrive as a
Christian. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I even
learned a little about some spiritual practices such as prayer and fasting,
those seemed to be the two big ones. I participated in other spiritual
practices, yet not knowing at the time that was what they were. Bible study and
worship were also really big in this church. None of it was really that
important to me at the time. As a child, it was just part of going to church.
Being with friends and having fun was the important part. But it did build a
foundation for a spiritual life which took years to build. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now that I
am older and better educated I can reflect back upon those years and see other
forces at work. When a theology is built upon an ideal such as "holiness
of life" it does not take long, a generation or two at most, for that
ideal to become a dogma, a type of works righteousness, and a "law"
to live by. There were stated principles for being a member in good standing in
the Church of the Nazarene. Not only would you attend and tithe
regularly but you would hold to a certain code, outlined in the church manual.
Summed up it was, "do not go to places of ill repute, and don’t go with
anyone one who would." This means no drinking (bars), no dancing, and no
movies. My parents did not hold too close to this code. I went to school
dances. I went to the movies with friends. My parents drank wine and beer on
occasion (although I did not until I was in my 30s.) The church leadership just
kind of looked the other way. They had more important things to do then ostracize
my parents . My parents were very involved and remained members in good
standing. This created a duality in my thinking, a duality which would later
help me to break free.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I found that
within that church, the push behind "holiness" became a legal
framework for moral purity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was
lacking was both the reasoning behind the quest for "holiness" and
the training in how to achieve it. It left nothing but layers of guilt and
shame for seemingly petty temptations. It did not equip a child or youth to
face the big bad world and all the things one would experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
guilt/shame is not unique to this church or to me. I have heard many times:
"Oh you know that Catholic guilt," or "That is just my Baptist
shame kicking in," and similar sentiments. This tells me that what I was
feeling and what I came out of, is a universal Christian experience. It stems from
unfair expectations, lack of spiritual education/direction, and a
legalistic/moralistic framework of belief. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I had no
idea the depth of what was going on. It took years to work through the layers
and find peace with my morality/spirituality duality. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here is a
short example: Going to the movies. I love to go to the movies, but the
prohibition: "Thou shalt not go to the movies" meant we never talked
about going to the movies at church. We kept that part of our life separate,
which of course brings some guilt. Then, if you are caught coming or going
from the movies then you have some shame to go with the guilt. Until one day
the cinema was showing a "Christian" movie and then it was ok to go
to the movies. So obviously there wasn’t anything wrong with the Movie Theater
itself, only what was happening in the theater. If it was "Christian,"
then it was ok. Yet then one could ponder, what about something with a good moral and G rating? No? Still
bad?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Making a
blanket statement about movies only led to confusion. A better option is leaving
it up the discernment of the parents and the children. This is also the right
spiritual thing to do. Later I came to realize this. This line of
reasoning is why my parents allowed me to go to dances and the movies, etc. Yet not everyone was that spiritually mature, certainly not the youth. Let me
continue with my example. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the late 1990s the church changed its stance on going to
the movies. All of a sudden, it was ok. I was working in a Church of the
Nazarene as an associate pastor at that time and I had members come to me in
confusion. How could going to the movies suddenly be ok? There had only ever
been an absolute and no training or education to discern the
"holiness" of not going to a movie, versus when it might be
"holy" to go to a movie. Absolutes can destroy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the proper spiritual guidance, absolutes
become legalistic dogma which enslave people to a way of thinking and acting
without fully preparing them for the ramifications (guilt/shame).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What does this
type of legalism teach a child or youth? It may teach them how to be a moral
person, but not a spiritual person. What about the Bible? Doesn’t that teach
someone how to be spiritual? In a legalistic system without spiritual
foundation, Bible stories become fantastical tales completely removed from
reality. Moses and the burning bush becomes so far removed from life that the story becomes meaningless. It seems God does not act this way anymore. Yet, God does, it is just that we are no longer spiritually attuned. We are moral but not
spiritual. Once we rediscover our spiritual side, then the Bible becomes alive with new meaning and insight. The fantastical stories open up to us a new understanding of the God/human relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
legal/moral framework of absolutism dug itself deep into my psyche from those
early years. It took much soul searching, education and reading to finally find
the divine. Even today I have kneejerk reactions in certain situations which I
have to carefully work through and ask very clear questions about. Questions
such as: Is this from me or from spirit? Is this response helpful or harmful?
Am I bringing light and wholiness (yes wholiness, not holiness)? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I shy away
from absolutes, dualities and either/or thinking. I find they all lead into
briar patches. But in this case, my parents modeling different behaviors than those taught by the church created a duality within my thinking which had to be
rectified. It was the crack in the wall which the light of spirit was able to penetrate
and free me from a legalistic framework which was killing me. I am thankful for
my parents modeling a way of being which was more spiritual than what the church
was showing me, even if they were doing it unknowingly. It allowed me somewhere
to turn later in life, especially as I discovered the mystics and learned all
about theology. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Coming soon Part Two: Becoming a Mystic. </span></p>Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-49336040214427734282020-07-26T09:06:00.001-07:002020-07-26T09:06:58.409-07:00<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR_UdlMEjll17yhZ9Zp6wWhhO-IIcTuQA5-o8UmVslT0TJ0S-iE7R7qE3YimfLcD7I5kubI_bgGWZkeiFGZMTsKF5x1HF4qp96zC4B2v9d4rj5cSdgx6XwgPGHEIjWArZfg4nypEgCxuq/s320/Freedom.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5"><b>Freedom</b></font> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">40x30, 2019</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Available for purchase</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYev18x8EFUN2wqKAGWHhJ1NKN6HKDDLR1u6Y2fIRI6Ry3IGEOTm4LRCS4fVDVbavP8bhnuc0d1VQcUcD-epDiQa6y0qCJX_BadFnBRV2iGR-weLWsq4VL2idaWmkdQ63vceblkDmZnRn/s2048/Freedom+detail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1222" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYev18x8EFUN2wqKAGWHhJ1NKN6HKDDLR1u6Y2fIRI6Ry3IGEOTm4LRCS4fVDVbavP8bhnuc0d1VQcUcD-epDiQa6y0qCJX_BadFnBRV2iGR-weLWsq4VL2idaWmkdQ63vceblkDmZnRn/s320/Freedom+detail+2.jpg" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2-AoBRxVUGgTevihAlR7njfW-F6nx90Kyo-VuCyzC9Gan7XReMxn4fw6QGu00EP_fY-eF0WhIeGaMZBrM3TjssiBjLsYZuQq9lSs-AyiHOE0Jxeg5UoGhg6FRolZxERY5Ip8qoDIVhmU/s320/Freedom+detail+1.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5">Details from Freedom. </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Freedom</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is
a ready to hang oil painting exploring spiritual freedom. Here we are
bursting out of the religious chains which hold us back and prevent us
from soaring into the heavens. Spiritual but not religious means that we
are not bound by dogma or tradition but free to explore beyond the
confines of "religion" and find something new, something
freeing, something deeply meaningful. We may find that in the depths of
dogma or tradition, not because someone told us to, but because that is
where our heart met spirit.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><font size="5"><br /></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><font size="5"><br /></font></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-75933150385692031932020-07-18T13:00:00.001-07:002020-07-18T13:00:41.000-07:00What is going on in these crazy times?<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What is a worldview?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And why is it important?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is not a Google Earth Image of the
earth, although those are cool. Nor is the first the photograph of the Blue
Marble, taken by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A worldview is how we understand the world
around us. It is derived from our experiences, education and outside influences
such as culture, family, upbringing, geo-political and socioeconomic positions.
And it is the most important thing to understand about ourselves and about
others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For most people their worldview is
subconscious and they could hardly even articulate it. They understand the
world around them through a set of filters and they believe most people use the
same or similar set of filters. But when you start to ask the tough questions
about existence, then their worldviews begin to peek out. Right now in America
we are asking tough questions and many people are starting to see worldviews
clashing. Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let's start with an example of a major
shift in the worldviews which happened a few years ago. This shift was slow in
coming but profoundly changed the course of the world. For a thousand years
leading up to the 17th century everyone believed that lords and kings were
God's appointed rulers. Everyone in the lands were subject to the king. That is,
the king could tell you where to live, who to marry, where to work, and what to
do with your free times. All you, as a subject, could do was obey and pray that
the king God appointed over you was a good one. This is a drastic
oversimplification of a 1,000 years of Western history, but it holds true. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Slowly a new idea, a new worldview started
to creep into Western Thought. Actually as a middle class developed, due to a
rising Merchant class, and through the advent of secular universities, an old
idea was rediscovered and reissued as a new idea. The idea was that people were
equal. All people were created in the image of God and therefore anyone could
rise to the ruling class. God didn't anoint a special line of people to be
kings and rulers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This revolutionary idea culminated in the
following words:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That
to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation
on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">-Declaration of Independence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This revolutionary idea sparked the birth
of a nation. We are not beholden to a king, nor to a state. This was an unheard
of worldview shift. It was not just replacing the king with "the
state."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Are we subject to the State? Can the State
tell us where to live, who to marry, where to work? No. We are citizens in the
State electing people to tell us where to work, who to marry… just joking! We
are free peoples. We make our own choices. We tell the State what we want from
it. At least in theory. Power rests in the hands of the people, not the
government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That is a major, major worldview shift.
Some people could not wrap their minds around that shift. Even today some
people claim kings are divinely elected to rule. Not all worldview shifts are
this dramatic. Not all worldviews are this profound.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are macro worldviews, which most
people in a region hold to in whole or in part. And there are micro worldviews
which only hold sway over small groups or even just individuals. A dominate
culture will have a dominate worldview with some slight variance at the micro
levels. A macro worldview might be: if you work hard you will succeed. A micro
worldview might be: all my hard work has not gained me anything, the system is
rigged against me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When a dominate worldview comes up against
another worldview which does not hold to the same values then tensions can
arise. If the conflict is at the macro level then the two sides can come to
conflict until they learn to live with each other or one side wins out. If it
is a micro vs. macro worldview, the micro worldview will be minimized and the
people holding to it will be ostracized. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here is an example of worldviews which are
at odds with each other. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">WASP verses POC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A WASP is a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.
The term, in a more general usage, refers to White Christians in North America.
They have strong beliefs in America and American Christianity. Often they hold
to the idea of Manifest Destiny, that God has chosen America and blesses it
uniquely. They hold to a duality of hard work and divine blessing. If you are
well off, then you are blessed by God, and/or you put in the hard work and
deserve the riches. They support the military as essential for America to rule
the world, by divine right. And they support the police as the keepers of law
and order. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They find foreigners as an
oddity and people of other religions as suspicious. They believe everyone also
holds to this worldview and that it is the only factually true representation
of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Not all white people hold to all these
tenets, but they typically hold to some of them. Many white people have
developed their own micro worldviews due to their rubbing against other micro
worldviews. This is often seen as a threat to the WASP way of life who then blame
higher education and a liberal agenda for corrupting the youth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A POC is a Person of Color. Often they are
first or second generation American, but some of them have been here since
before the beginning of the nation. A POC could be Latino, Asian, Black, or
Native American. It is a very diverse population. And to lump them all into one
group does them a disservice. They have a variety of worldviews because they
come from a wide range of experiences, religions, education and backgrounds. The
only thing they have in common, living in America, is that they stand in
juxtaposition against the dominate WASP worldview. They are a collection of
micro worldviews brushing up against the macro American worldview of the WASP.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let's take one sample from the POC group:
a black, male in this mid-twenties. College graduate and working a full time
job. He is most likely to be overlooked for promotions at work and he is more
likely to be pulled over by the police on his way to and from work. How does
this shape his worldview? His education and hard work don't amount to much. He
is often met with skepticism and suspicion. He is seen as a criminal,
repeatedly year after year by the police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What is he to think about the world he lives in? What message does he
pass along to his children and, eventually, grandchildren? What is the
worldview they will develop due to the course of actions against this POC just
because of his skin color? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a real example, lived out by
millions of POCs all over the nation. Their worldview runs along the line of: The
police are not their friends and do not protect them. The police protect the
system which only serves to keep them in their place. They are not free to live
or work where they want. They do not have the power or entitlement to force the
government to bend to their will. They have to fight for everything. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The micro worldviews of POC are beginning
to be noticed and are rubbing against the WASP worldview. Things are changing. This
clash of worldviews is seen in movements such as Black Lives Matter/All Lives
Matter. Until both sides can sit down and listen to each other, to understand
the underlying worldviews and find ways to move past them, the conflict will
continue to escalate. The macro worldview cannot hold out against the plethora
of micro POC worldviews which are beginning to merge into a single diverse
unit, forced together by the WASP way of looking at things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A dominate worldview which cannot make
room for diversity of ideas will either fight tooth and nail to keep the status
quo or it will slowly crumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
the dominate worldviews tenets are powerful and worthwhile, some need to be
dropped and other worldview ideas should be adopted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A worldview should be a fluid and dynamic
way of understanding the world around us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It may be time to reflect upon your own
worldview and see if it is just and life affirming. Maybe it is time for other
influences to come into your life to help you shift your worldview and to
educate your children and grandchildren about different ways to understand the
process the world around them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br />Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-81547355863071556222020-07-08T19:08:00.000-07:002020-07-08T19:08:02.991-07:00Aspens in the Dark, Acrylic on canvas<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.daavcorbet.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2509" data-original-width="3375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bCh-oEAT-shknp5PExS5iwFysVYxOxcszQA7wfRlgNfwND84Xm21p-7Rw67ys3XjkfCkvm3J81r8RP0IG_RTAy4nPMuAXy6Pr7faPKRzodOP31zo690U43387t8tMd5nH5Tcvcna5KMf/s320/throughtheleaves10aspensinthedark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Aspens in the Dark, Acrylic on Canvas 18x24, not available</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Trees have always held symbolic power for me. While
painting the series "Through the Leaves" I wanted to explore the many
different ways trees effect us. Through the acrylic pour techniques I used I
was able to capture the full range from spring budding and blooming to the
autumn changing of colors. This painting is Aspens in the Dark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Aspens remind me of the mountains, especially the mountains of Idaho where I spent many years. In the summer the cool breeze would make the Aspen leaves "quake" gently. The flipping from light green to dark green and back again as each side of the leaf would flash in the light was always very calming. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">But Aspens in the fall where pure delight. Those dashes of yellows and oranges mixed in a hillside of every green pines. They would glow in the early morning dawn and look like tongues of fire on the mountain side with the setting of the sun. </span></p><br /></div>Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-85566901330632479152020-07-05T13:11:00.005-07:002020-10-07T08:16:49.056-07:0021st Century America<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">How did we get into this state of unrest? What the hell is
going on?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are not standing in a new place in history. 21st century
America is just like 19th century America. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">What we see going on around us is the same struggles that
have been going on for centuries. These struggles stem from two roots and are
so intertwine as to form one hulking tree of oppression. This massive tree
overshadows everything that happens in western society, and possibly the world.
The two roots are Capitalism and Police as paramilitary organizations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first root is Capitalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Capitalism is an adequate system. It certainly has its
advantages over other system of economics and production. But it has inherent
problems which actively work against it. The two largest problems are excess
and inequality. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Defenders of the
status quo like to point to outliers of this as seen by a rich person falling
from grace and becoming poor or the underprivileged rising above it all to
making it big, these are the scarce exceptions. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Excess in capitalism is a given. If you have a good idea and
a little capital (cash) or access to cash then it is possible to turn your
little into a lot. If you have capital but no ideas you can always
"shark-tank" an idea. And the more capital you have, the more capital
you can make. Excess builds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">If we were all starting from zero, then this would be
limited to what could be achieved in a life time of work. We do not start at
zero, some start well below zero and some start well above zero. There are
millions of "trust fund babies" who don’t need to work a day in their
life because they have the capital to invest and thus, live off the interest.
On the other hand there are people who are saddled with debt from before they
are born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all comes down to the luck
of the birth. This creates a duality: The Owners and the Workers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The duality of Owner/Worker defines the inequality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inequality has very little to do with one's
skill set or even educational potential. Often it has to do with being born
into the right family with the right capital means. At no fault are the
children who are born into a situation which is beyond their control. Sometimes
education and opportunity presents itself and the child can move beyond their
birth. Most often they cannot. It becomes a generational inequality issue. This
is part of the system of capitalism. Owners need workers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Attempts are made to limit the excess and the inequality.
Antitrust laws of the late 19th century and early 20th century limited the size
and scope of business. The Federal Trade Commission regulates big business.
This helps to create a freer and more open market so other smaller business can
have a chance to compete. Workers can move into the Owner class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another way to limit excess is through taxation. The
inheritance tax is levied against the super-rich in order to limit the amount
of capital that is trapped in trust funds. Property tax and income tax can both
be used to help shape more equitable society. Often taxation is used to help
support the working class as they struggle to make ends meet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unions used to be a powerful force in the USA fighting for
the rights of the working class. Unions allowed the Workers to approach the Owners
on equal footing. Through collective bargaining, workers' unions were able to
increase the livelihoods of their union members. Unions have fallen out of
favor and the working class has seen a huge wage gap increase over the last 40
years. The poor become poorer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the 1950s and 1960s the US economy was the strongest
it has ever been. During that time we came to dominate the world market. It is
also the time when taxation on the super-rich was the highest it has ever been,
and Unions were also at their peak fighting for the workers<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b> It was a golden age which created a robust Middle Class. A Middle
Class which is now in sharp decline due to the loss of unions and the changing
of laws in favor of big business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">No amount of regulation is going to create a perfect
capitalism. There will always be excess and inequality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some fear that regulation will move
capitalism into socialism, where the State controls more and more of private
business and private life. There certainly needs to be a balance between
government regulation and capitalist freedom. And the people of the nation need
to be the determiners of how far into socialism we are willing to go. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And this leads us into the second root, which is the way
policing is done in America.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The owners of capital have always used the military or the
police to keep the system in place. Socialism threatens them and they often
respond covertly through politics: undermining the unions, relaxing taxes and
antitrust laws. They also respond overtly through the use of police. The police
may not even know they are being used as pawns to protect the rich. Certainly
one would think the police union would stand with other unions against immoral
corporate practices. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's take a moment to look at policing in America before we
wade into how capitalists and police are intertwined. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Police forces are built upon paramilitary organizational
ideas. There is a chain of command. You don't questions your superiors. You
follow orders. You look out for your fellow soldiers. There are inherent
problems when you use this structure in civilian life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of those problems are lack of oversight and
accountability. As well as the creation of an ingrained "us versus them"
mentality. Other problems that occur are seeing everyone as an enemy
(criminal), closing ranks around problem officers, and the blue brotherhood
syndrome. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Accountability is only as good as the leadership. If the
commanding officers do not want to hold lower ranks accountable, or even side
with them in their bad behaviors then there is no recourse for the
"civilians" to take. Outside oversight and accountability can go a
long ways in correcting some of these inherent problems. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When you combine a paramilitary organization with an Owner dominated
economy then you can see great abuse of power. The police power and the
economic powers combined to keep the system working. In some respects this is
needed. But if the powers at the top are unjust, corrupt, inept, immoral or
just plain apathetic towards others, then the system slowly grinds people down.
There is no recourse and no escape for the millions of people trapped at the
bottom. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are seeing the fruits of this dynamic play out today. It
is not the first time we have seen it, nor will it me the last. People, on both
sides, focus in on one particular aspect of the failing system, but fail to see
the underlying faults in the whole system. People see racism in the police
force, but fail to see that the police force is only working at the hands of
the Owners. The problem is in the way in which people of color are perceived by
society in general. And that stereotype is promoted on behalf of the system.
This idea was started centuries ago and is ingrained in our culture. Very few
of the people who work within the system even see the systemic failures. They
may see a few problems, but chalk it up to a racist policeman, an inept business
owner, or a lazy worker. They seldom take the time to sit down and piece it all
together to understand how the whole system is devised to protect the wealthy
and make sure the working person stays in their place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because this is a problem with the system and not a problem
with a people, or person, there are very few changes that can be made. Going
after an individual may feel good for now, but it will not change the system in
the long run. Can the system be changed to make a more equitable and fair
society? Sure. Do the power-that-be want that to happen? Probably not.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></p><br />Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-68935398401374371342014-04-13T06:59:00.000-07:002014-04-13T06:59:16.920-07:00Christianity and Homosexuality
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christianity and Homosexuality<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christianity and homosexuality is a topic to which I have
given much thought. I have witnessed the treatment those of my friends and
family who are gay have endured by both society and the majority of the
Christian community. I have felt ashamed and embarrassed. As a student of
theology I have taken a personal interest in this topic and how it has
developed over the last few decades in the Christian community. Recently the
topic of homosexuality has begun to impact my local community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have read countless editorials and blogs
across many venues regarding this, it is evident that my local community is
struggling with discrimination and homosexuality in the public arena. Some of
the opinions I have encountered are obviously slanted, while others are very
thoughtful. Yet, neither side convinces me of their argument. I myself have
started many blog posts and “letters to the editor,” just to discard them because
I did not like my own tone or analogies. With the arguments I presented, I felt
I was overlooking an important facet. I felt the need to reflect deeper upon
this topic before putting in words some knee-jerk reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My early awareness of homosexuality occurred in high school
during the late 1980’s. A few guys in my class were gay, yet we thought nothing
of it. At school, it was never a topic of conversation or concern. But at
church… it was a sin and they were choosing to live in sin. Of course we had no
idea what their personal life held, but they must be sinners because they chose
to be or act gay. So, what exactly is the “sin” of homosexuality, the
attraction to someone of the same sex or the sex acts themselves? My
understanding at that time was that: to be gay was to act in a certain manner
and therefore that manner was equal to sin. Yet, the exact nature of sin was
never defined. The culture and society taught us that gay men were flamboyant
and promiscuous. The church taught us that it was most obviously a sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through the years, I met gay couples who were neither
flamboyant nor promiscuous, challenging the cultural view. They were just
regular people whose mate was of the same sex. So then, from the church’s
perspective, what exactly was the sin they were committing? At that time in my
life, I did not think deeply about it. Based on what I had been taught, it was
obvious they chose that life, and that they should know the consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I began my theological training at a conservative
Christian college, this dialogue suddenly changed. It was no longer “choosing”
a lifestyle, but whether or not to accept the lifestyle into which they were
born. At that point, being homosexual became known to be more biologically
based. Homosexuals were born as such. In these teachings, it was an
“abnormality,” which could either be cured or ignored. With this understanding,
it was then sinful if they were not seeking the correct “aid” in overcoming
this “disease.” The burden of sin, then, still rested on the head of the person
who was gay. So, even though the dialogue shifted, in essence, the result was
still the same. What still remained undefined was what exactly was the sin? At
this point in my life, it all made much less sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So as we further this thinking that homosexuality is a
“disease,” then what exactly is the “disease?” Does the liver of a person who
is gay produce too many of the wrong proteins? Or perhaps, the brain must be
growing upside down. Could someone point to a root biological cause of
homosexuality? Does that even matter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is at this point of questioning and reviewing what I’ve
been taught, that I am reminded of the story in the Gospel of John, chapter
nine, where Jesus heals the man who was born blind. The disciples asked who had
sinned, the man or the man’s parents, that he might be born blind. The
religious leaders then affirm in the story that there is a relationship between
blindness and sin. We are left with a distinct impression that the thinking of
that time was that those born with any “defect” were born so due to sin. It was
a common idea of the time. Yet, Jesus actually denied this claim and then healed
the man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throughout the history of Christianity, the concept of a
“defect” being related to sin was carried through until the nineteenth century.
It was at this time that science began to have a better understanding of the
human body as a whole. Now, we see a child who has Downs Syndrome and we may
call them “God’s Angel” rather than a “sinner.” My comparison here is only that
neither being gay nor having Downs Syndrome are “sinful.” They may not fit the
overall “norm” of humanity, but then nobody technically does on an individual
basis. Ten thousand years ago, no one had seen a green eyed person before.
Certainly, the first green eyed person should have been stoned as a sinner.
Obviously, this is sarcasm on my part. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So then, what does this mean for the Christian? Does this
thinking change the dialogue again? Perhaps, people who are homosexual choose
to be the person that God created them to be, rather than living in fear of the
majority; the supposed “norm” of society. People who are homosexual do sin,
just like everyone else. But, the sin is not for being attracted to the same
sex as oneself, but could be just like everyone else’s sins: breaking
relationships, giving in to temptations, and being disheartening to others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some may say, “But, as a Christian, we are supposed to live
by the Bible and the Bible clearly says that homosexuality is a sin.” To this,
I would counter, as a Christian, we are supposed to live by the grace of God
and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Should we then follow the Bible and
call those who are born with blindness sinners? Or, should we follow Christ in
extending a hand of healing to the broken man? Through the church’s Bible
thumping, fear mongering, and dis-graceful behaviors, we have wounded, rather
than healed. And by healed, I do not mean to change others, but rather to bring
hurting people into the arms of love, mercy, and community so that they may
know health. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon reflection and writing, I recognize that I do not see
homosexuality as a sin, in and of itself. Through contemplation, I had to
wrestle with my theology of human nature, of sin, of the place of the Bible and
Holy Spirit, and of community in general. I believe that sin is a relational
matter. It is not a thing or a state of being. When a relationship, be it
personal or communal, is being torn apart because of the action or inactions of
the parties involved, then sin is occurring. Therefore, the church has sinned
against people who are homosexual, in its words and actions which have broken
the relationship between the individual and the church corporate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is not an easy task coming to an understanding of the
root causes of sin. Ask any marriage counselor about why spouses act out
against their partner, and recognize that there is no specific answer.
Relationships are easy to break and hard to mend. Christians are called to mend
relationships with grace and love. In order to overcome “sin” in a
relationship, both sides have to be willing to confess their faults and enter a
meaningful conversation. Therefore, how can the church make such a move,
especially when many Christians misunderstand homosexuality? Is it a
theological restructuring and pastoral hermeneutical rethinking that needs to
take place? For some, this may sound as if I am trying to justify “sin” and
change the “truth” in order to fit the culture. In essence, it is necessary to
free Christianity from the culture. The true heart of Christianity is grace,
not sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-23205921544110525922014-03-13T20:38:00.000-07:002014-03-13T20:38:03.022-07:00New Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNTtR3vHS6k3-Zuzc8vew06n-b6Fx9o12XIJnXmmNgoPe0QTEbLGLE5sBJYWGYIHeHs79-SvJYX5LQlM5ZkYZ-gJIWFuBSkIccLK1ZQib6hhiKDtvig2lwWAMLvSn8UOsp8DVx5Ch7tK8/s1600/Cross+and+circle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNTtR3vHS6k3-Zuzc8vew06n-b6Fx9o12XIJnXmmNgoPe0QTEbLGLE5sBJYWGYIHeHs79-SvJYX5LQlM5ZkYZ-gJIWFuBSkIccLK1ZQib6hhiKDtvig2lwWAMLvSn8UOsp8DVx5Ch7tK8/s1600/Cross+and+circle.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
Here is an image of one of my recent drawing. I have been working more in pencil and crayon, exploring abstracts. <br />Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-83902641610302598782014-02-25T19:22:00.001-08:002014-02-25T19:22:41.963-08:00Spring Art Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsyTUgnvcEwNG_BkyBmpSSdPwTW1xu3fM3HGhPXre0DuFiNQa1lwo5-mFUtK4c-ebuWkbtRVMf4yezmsPKyWfUTVJtPnw_LI6V7NXMMFSX7MLCOC8Opt5HSvKb4mYGmHyH08AxYpDX0sh/s1600/Coming+Spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsyTUgnvcEwNG_BkyBmpSSdPwTW1xu3fM3HGhPXre0DuFiNQa1lwo5-mFUtK4c-ebuWkbtRVMf4yezmsPKyWfUTVJtPnw_LI6V7NXMMFSX7MLCOC8Opt5HSvKb4mYGmHyH08AxYpDX0sh/s1600/Coming+Spring.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
Here is a drawing I have done for my next art show. The show is in April so I am keeping with a spring theme. It has been refreshing to work on a number of these "spring" drawing in the gloom of winter.Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-50800768290474143462014-02-17T20:37:00.002-08:002014-02-17T20:37:42.111-08:00The 50 Dollar Lesson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmcO03ujriYWAQk1eraA_0NESX-YGkhmOp6k3Dv6Tp8z7sdf6UEVvWIThhTV5-EkORnGwcZU3hOlzAUrLVpZFr8m7jpXlernU7t8fEysofDlspXk_JzjaFK6O3hlloBepE1ebc8nNXqrR/s1600/50dollarlesson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmcO03ujriYWAQk1eraA_0NESX-YGkhmOp6k3Dv6Tp8z7sdf6UEVvWIThhTV5-EkORnGwcZU3hOlzAUrLVpZFr8m7jpXlernU7t8fEysofDlspXk_JzjaFK6O3hlloBepE1ebc8nNXqrR/s1600/50dollarlesson.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been seeing this picture make its rounds on the
internet at blogs and on Facebook. When I first read it I kind of laughed, had
a typical knee jerk reaction like must stuff on the internet is designed to do,
but then the story stuck with me. I reflected upon the story and the point it
was trying to make. I moved passed my knee jerk reaction and gave it some real
thought. Certainly the little girl’s goals are worthwhile. Certainly we want
the President and the government to be working to overcome such problems as
homelessness and the causes of homelessness such as unemployment,
underemployment, addictions, mental and physical disabilities, and other social
problems. But there is more to the story than what the government can do, the
rest of the story is what I can do. “I” being me, the little girl, the parents,
and the homeless man. Personal responsibility must always play a part in any
social problem. And for some it ends at personal responsibility and for others
it begins with personal responsibility. By that I mean: some say if you were
responsible for yourself you would not end up homeless; others say let us help
you get on your feet so that you can once again become responsible for yourself
and let us teach you how to do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are many reasons someone may end up homeless. I think
the implication of the above story is that this homeless person is lazy. And certainly
laziness can bring you to a point of homelessness, but there are plenty of lazy
trust-fund-babies who never have to worry about being homeless. And some of the
hardest working people I know are just one paycheck away from being homeless. I
think laziness as a cause for homelessness is not proven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many homeless people suffer from mental issues which make
personal responsibility impossible. They do not possess the capability to be
responsible for themselves in any meaningful way. If they do not have a support
system of family or friends then what happens to them? The government can only
do so much. And do you really want that homeless man showing up to mow your
lawn?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But that is not the only problem facing society today. Modern
warfare and medicine are creating an influx of medically dependent people.
Because of the great strides in modern medicine many soldiers’ lives can now be
saved. Soldiers who would have died of their wounds in previous wars are now
coming home. Although they are living they are often injured to the point where
they will always be dependent upon the medical professions due to loss of limb,
brain injuries and PTSD. Many soldiers also become drug dependent. This is a
road to homelessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the question really is how do we equip these people to be
self-reliant and take on personal responsibility, if it is even possible. And
what do we do with those who will never make it that far?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So all of this was rattling around in my mind and I came up
with a sequel to the above story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A day later the little girl was at the store with her
parents. She saw the homeless man sitting out front of the store with a little
cardboard sign. She was trying to get up the courage to go tell the man about
her friends who would hire him to mow the lawn to help him not be homeless any longer.
Just when she thought she could do it she saw an elderly couple shuffle over to
the man and start a conversation with him. The couple reached down and helped
the man to his feet. The woman sized him up briefly and then moved off down the
sidewalk and crossed the street. The elderly man took the homeless man’s arm
and escorted him into the store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The little girl, shopping with her parents, caught a few
peeks of the two men in the store as they moved slowly up and down a few aisles
filling a small basket with a few items. As the little girl and her parents
were leaving the store she saw the woman returning with a bag on one arm. The woman
met the two men as they were also leaving the store. Interested in the whole
scene the girl scooted away from her parents and went to talk with the older
couple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Excuse me but are you giving this man a job?” the little
girl asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The couple smiled and the woman answered. “No he is not
ready to work. Yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“But maybe soon.” The older man added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Then what are you doing?” Asked the girl innocently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The couple smiled again. The woman spoke again. “We are
giving him some help. Sometimes we all get to a place where we need a little
help. I bought him a change of clothes. New, fresh clothes can be invigorating.”
She held up the bag showing the girl the clothes from the thrift store down the
street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And I bought him couple of easy to eat meals. Having a full
belly can give you a new perspective on life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh,” the girls responded, “but where are you taking him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The old man continued. “Well sometimes new clothes and food
is not enough to get you back on your feet. He has agreed to come with us to a
shelter our church runs. There he can spend a few nights, have a hot shower and
maybe find a little peace. And if he is ready they also offer counseling and
have connection with other organizations which can help him get off the
streets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Being willing to change is the first step though, and he
seems willing today.” The woman added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The little girl thought about it. She could smell the man
and he did need a shower, and new clothes, not a job mowing lawns. The man
looked about ready to fall over, she would not want him in the car with her. “But
why are you doing this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The couple smiled again. “Because we are Christians* dear.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh” The parents, who were listening to the whole
conversation, and the little said in unison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*Instead of Christian you can certainly use the word human.
Personal responsibility is a human trait that goes hand in hand with social responsibility.
Historically, and for me personally, Christians are supposed to be the example
of loving thy neighbor, being the Good Samaritan, and transforming the world
for peace.</span></div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-55951588315372325802014-02-04T20:29:00.001-08:002014-02-04T20:29:41.888-08:00Potential Cover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IstedYYp2FQc5emHM_XdgBMSuxeo7bhCeYhhMsWNKqEcH0k_CnF0susDCDWzHiYINSB-ennBtw9z9pkb6P21LGWsIkmoYM37AGLqc23FN3tLbhgFhRy4UDR40SCnvJJ3lSYQZ3QqQVQA/s1600/third+daughters+cover+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IstedYYp2FQc5emHM_XdgBMSuxeo7bhCeYhhMsWNKqEcH0k_CnF0susDCDWzHiYINSB-ennBtw9z9pkb6P21LGWsIkmoYM37AGLqc23FN3tLbhgFhRy4UDR40SCnvJJ3lSYQZ3QqQVQA/s1600/third+daughters+cover+art.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Here is an image for a potential cover for my next bookDaav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-13287162733586422532013-12-17T20:16:00.003-08:002013-12-17T20:16:55.528-08:00Fiction, non-fiction or ...
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We seem to be very dualistic in our thinking. Things are
either fiction or non-fiction. Fiction is all that made up stuff that does not
relate to any fact in any real way, such as the Hobbit, or Cubism. Non-fiction
is all those factual things like science, history or Cubism. Oh wait. I
mentioned Cubism twice. Is art a fiction or a non-fiction? I think in our
attempt at simplistic, black and white thinking, we are overlooking one other
category which is neither fiction nor non-fiction and yet it is both fiction
and non-fiction. That is the category of faith. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what is faith? Faith is meaning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some fiction is just pure entertainment as it should be. But
hidden in that category of fiction are also those pieces which speak to a
deeper level, it brings meaning to life and to the heart and mind. Now you are
moving into faith. When that deeper level is reached it does not mean the
author is a great genius of psychological insights and depth. What it does mean
is that the human experience is such that we share vast amounts of feeling,
insights and thoughts. By tapping into that shared experience, depth is reached
and faith is kept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Within the realm of fact, or non-fiction, meaning is gleaned
not from the accumulation of data and information, but from understanding.
Understanding needs to develop into wisdom through application. Now you are
moving into faith. When new discoveries force a paradigm shift within the
scientific communities do the old theories then become fictions? Certainly they
are invalidated but they have not lost their meaning. That was one way of
looking at the data set and from it certain conclusions could be deduced, now a
new way is needed to look at the data set which may or may not create new
conclusions. Meaning is maintained. Faith is kept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some works are born in faith which straddles the line
between fiction and non-fiction. Any attempt to force them into the category of
non-fiction stripes it of meaning and make it irrelevant. And likewise to push
it towards fiction is to remove the wisdom and understanding that it contains
leaving it empty of value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, the Bible is a book of faith. To attempt to use it
as a guidebook to the past for historical studies removes its meaning and makes
it an empty book. To chalk it all up to works of fiction erases the insights
and meanings which it brings to being human. For me it is not a work of
fiction, nor is it a work of non-fiction. Any facts it contains are incidental
to its meaning. Any stories it contains are not just moralisms, but speak to
real human meaning. It is a work of faith which should bring meaning to one’s
life. To read it any other way is to not understand it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me Art is a work of faith. I am creating something real
in a real place at a real time. All of that data about me, my artistic career,
my place in history, etc. can be compiled and biographized and that is not a
bad thing, but it is not my art. Art is not a fiction although it is created
and holds a special place in my being, and perhaps only my being. But it is not
make believe. It is real but not is a scientific, quantifiable way. It is real
in the same way an experience is real. Everyone who rides that roller coaster
leaves with a different experience. And yet it is a shared experience but not
everyone likes it. Art is a faith thing because it transcends fiction and
non-fiction into the realm of meaning, of experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Learning to find that place of faith in our dualistic
culture is not easy. Religions turn it into theology and legalistic judgments.
Politics turns it into an “us vs. them” mentality. Science says “this is the
only way it can be.” Faith is meaning and finding that meaning is a personal
quest for each person. Some find it in family, some in sports, some in work,
some in church, some in… well the list can as varied as the population. The
important part is to break the dualistic thinking and realize that faith is not
an either/or proposition but a both/and. Faith is that which brings meaning to
you regardless if you find it in a movie, a book, a lecture, a community or a
political party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-35395195489213507392013-11-21T21:12:00.000-08:002013-11-21T21:12:11.263-08:00Leviticus and the Founding Fathers of the USA
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hear people say that we, the United States, were a
Christian nation but at some point we have moved away from the Christian
principles of the founding fathers. I always wonder about the accuracy of that
statement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am reading through the Bible for a class. Right now we are
reading Leviticus in the Old Testament, a very dry read. But one passage in particular caught my
attention. Leviticus 19: 33-34.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The
alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as
yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow, that sounds like something Jesus would say. Made me
think “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what would the founding fathers
say?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I imagine they would say something like, “Yep because we are
all aliens here, now if we can only get those damn natives to accept us…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think the founding fathers would agree to this
biblical ideal and have a very different understand of immigration issue then
the ones we have today. I wonder how many Christians are willing to live by
this principle of accepting the alien in love and treating them like a native
born. Makes one rethink immigration law and su<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">ch</span>, at least if you are Christian… like the founding
fathers…<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-64847017897513981392013-11-10T20:06:00.001-08:002013-11-11T19:46:12.202-08:00Why I support Obamacare<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am a Christian and I support Obamacare, here is why:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I first heard about Obamacare and the way it was going
to “force” everyone to buy insurance. I thought “Hell No! The Government does
not have the right to force its citizens to buy anything.” Then I stopped to
think about it for a time. The government does not have any rights. Only People
hold rights and one of the first rights is the right to one’s health.
Governments are only permitted to do what the people allow them to do or are
designed to do through their laws with the consent of the people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1>
</h1>
<h1>
My first Insight</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Health Insurance and health care are not synonymous although
they seem to be moving in that direction. At some time in our history Health
Insurance became the gateway to health care. Certainly one can access health
care through emergency situations, but that access route is usually extremely
expensive. But for true health one needs access to routine doctor’s visits,
check ups, medicine and tests on non-emergency bases. Without insurance that is
cost prohibitive. The gateway to the right of healthcare is closed to many
people because insurance companies deny them coverage due to preexisting
conditions or drop their coverage because of chronic problems. That does not
seem right.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1>
</h1>
<h1>
My second Insight</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Health Insurance companies and many health care providers
are for-profit companies. That means they make a profit from your health, or
sickness. If your health changes in a way that threatens the profit they will
make then they will change or drop your coverage. That is just good business
sense. It also seems wrong. The gateway can suddenly be closed in your face
because of profit margins, especially when you need it most. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1>
</h1>
<h1>
My third Insight</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If health insurance companies are going to be the gateway to
healthcare, then that gateway needs to be open to everyone, it is their right
of health. But because of the capitalistic, for-profit nature of health
insurance (and healthcare to some extent) then we cannot have a flood a “sick
and needy” people draining the coffers of the insurance companies. If the
government is going to force the insurance companies to accept everyone and
deny no one their right of access to healthcare, then the government need to
require everyone to carry health insurance so that the “presently healthy” can
off set the cost of the “presently sick.” But remember someday you will be the
“sick” and protected from being dropped by your insurance company and somebody
else’s “health” will help to pay for your “cost of sickness.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course the other option is for health insurance companies
to step away from being the gateway to healthcare. What that would look like or
how we would then access healthcare is an open question.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1>
Personal Experience and how it affected my thinking</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the spring of 2007 I had an accident with a power saw and
my knee. The emergency knee surgery cost over $10,000 and of course I was
uninsured. Why would I be? I was young, healthy and did not have extra money
for luxuries like health insurance. I had a few choices to make after the
surgery. I could make payments to the hospital and pay the bill or walk away
and let the hospital try to come after me financially. I paid the bill (With
the help of my lovely wife). Many people decide they cannot afford such
unexpected and costly medical bills and walk away, leaving the hospital to pass
the cost on to other patients or the state. Walking away only raises the cost
for everyone, making it harder for people to access health care. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And of course the next month I found the money to enroll in
health insurance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the fall of 2011 while on a trip to Wisconsin my
three-year-old son needed emergency abdominal surgery. After the surgery and a
week in the hospital the bill ran well over $35,000. Thank God we had insurance
and the wonderful hospital in Wisconsin was “in network.” The final cost to us
was in the thousands instead of tens of thousands. It was an unexpected blow
but we were able to handle it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the spring of 2012 I became sick. After months of trouble
shooting we figured out that my gall bladder had stopped functioning properly.
It was dead and needed to be removed. Again, thank God I had insurance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not one of these cases did we know about ahead of time and
in the midst of it happening if we had tried to get insurance we would have
been denied. Thank God that I had the good sense of enrolling in insurance
after my first accident or today we would be buried under mountains of medical
bills. I am sure that at this point, with our medical history, we are moving
away from a “safe bet” in the insurance actuaries to more of a “risk” for the
insurance companies to keep us insured. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I noticed that on the bills I received from the hospitals
and the insurance claim statements many charges were lowered, dropped or
disallowed by the insurance company. That means insurance companies, because of
their size are able to broker special deals and fee schedules which the
uninsured patient is not. What is the true cost of a gall bladder removal
surgery? The amount billed or the amount paid by the insurance company? No one
knows, not even the hospital.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realized that the medical industry is not like the auto
mechanic who will give you an estimate that is close to the actual figure and
then get approval for any charges that might be way over the estimate. If you
have a problem, the hospital may give you ball park figure, but they wont know
the full extent of the charges until you are checked out of the hospital. Any
estimate they give you holds no meaning. And you have very little recourse to
fight back. But insurance companies do and can because they are so massive no
little hospital could stand against them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that is a good thing and a bad thing. What happens when
insurance companies become so large that no one is accountable? What happens to
the little guys who are stuck between the hospital and the insurance company?
Only some one larger than the insurance companies can stand against the
insurance companies to fight for the little guys, and that would be the
government, with the consent of the people (the little guys). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through this I realized that with things the way they are in
the health care industry one needs health insurance. But health insurance is
not available to everyone. And it should be.</div>
<h1>
</h1>
<h1>
</h1>
<h1>
Tentative Conclusions</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I have laid all these thoughts out in a very linear
order, but it did not occur that way in my thinking. It was much more jumbled
and disjointed and took a while to work through. This is where my Christian
faith informed me and helped me to see things I would have otherwise pushed
against. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, Christianity is expressed through helping your
neighbor. (Of course there is much more to Christianity than that simple
statement, but my theology is not relevant in this case, only my faith in
action.) In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) we learn that we
are all neighbors to those who are in need, and those in need are our
neighbors. Responding to those in need is our Christian duty. With that outlook
on life then desiring those around me, friends, family, neighbors to have
access to health care makes perfect sense. But it seems the only access they
can have is through health insurance. But some of those people are being denied
health insurance and therefore being denied health care. It is not neighborly,
nor does it sit well with my Christian sensibilities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that is why I support Obamacare. It makes me uneasy to
be forced to buy a product or service by any government. But I understand the
economics behind it. If the healthy people who may not need health care are not
paying in to support those who are sick and are drawing against it, then the
whole system will collapse. I feel that since it is a product I am already
buying then I am willing to be “forced” to buy it to guarantee my neighbors, my
friends and my family will have access to it when they need it. I don’t see it
as punishment against the people, but rather a way to regulate the insurance
companies on behalf of the little guys, the people who need to have their right
to health protected. And although the mechanism of the action makes me
uncomfortable, the outcome satisfies my Christian mind and soul. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know there is much fine print in Obamacare, and I may not
support that whole thing lock, stock and barrel but I agree with the intent.
Now the outcome may not be predicted and I may need to change my mind. But
until we can insure adequate heath care for everyone through some other means I
am willing to give this a go.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you want to read the Obamacare Bill for yourself you can find it <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr3590/text" target="_blank">here </a><br />
New York Times Article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/health/for-medical-tourists-simple-math.html?_r=0" target="_blank">link</a> from comments </div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-4528227101665933652013-11-04T20:50:00.001-08:002013-11-04T20:50:14.690-08:00Truth big T or little tScience searches for truth through facts (data).<br />
<br />
Religion (spirituality) searches for truth through meaning.<br />
<br />
The truth of science is not the same as the truth of religion.<br />
<br />
Data (facts) does not lead to meaning only knowledge.<br />
<br />
Meaning does not lead to knowledge only awareness. <br />
<br />
When awareness is added to knowledge through reflection, intuition and insights then a greater truth is revealed. A truth that neither science nor religion can capture or reveal on its own. To stay firmly rooted in one position as opposed to the other (science vs. religion) is to deny the full truth and to lead a half life mistaking it for a full life. Knowledge and awareness leads to wisdom which seems to be greatly lacking in both the realms of science and religions. To fight over truth (little t) and yet mistake it for Truth (big T) brings nothing but discord and is as far from wisdom as one can get. Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-63205799824957726282013-10-05T16:06:00.001-07:002013-10-05T16:06:47.451-07:00Most Recent Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReBpBnUyWacaEXAgNPs6M-0IUGlvGKs61FUg6e0lpVlrBP_hg0I6m03eo3QiardD4Zl5keZV-ctKDc9WmY6zevkfU1RIh2v-DaPT_OUSK76nPCoogaj-FJEsjxbKgjzRP3q9K6FF2skUF/s1600/trinitycrossedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReBpBnUyWacaEXAgNPs6M-0IUGlvGKs61FUg6e0lpVlrBP_hg0I6m03eo3QiardD4Zl5keZV-ctKDc9WmY6zevkfU1RIh2v-DaPT_OUSK76nPCoogaj-FJEsjxbKgjzRP3q9K6FF2skUF/s320/trinitycrossedited.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
This is my most recent painting. I finished it in September, 2013. It is oil on canvas, 18x24. I show my painting in local shows a few times a year. For more on my art you can visit <a href="http://daav-corbet.fineartamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://daav-corbet.fineartamerica.com/</a>Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-67010485603979295002013-09-11T19:55:00.001-07:002013-09-11T19:55:25.700-07:00Matthew Chapter 14<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew Chapter 14</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Herod, the secular politician, is
trapped in this own words and lusts. The cost of saving face is the death of an
innocent man, John. Corruption cannot stand before morality. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Jesus wishes to morn but the crowds
do not let him. Jesus continues to bless and heal the crowds, providing for
what they need. Jesus seems to move on a different plane then everyone else.
Nature has no hold on him, nor does fear. Peter is still fearful and learning
faith. It is easy to believe in some one else, but much harder to believe in
oneself. Herod feared what his dinner guests would say and Peter feared the
wind and water, neither had faith in their own actions. Others had enough faith
to just reach out and touch Jesus’ cloak to receive healing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Fear drives away faith, faith
reaches towards and follows after Jesus into all the places he may go. Eyes on
Jesus in faith do not leave room for fear.</div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-28065438017233813912013-08-18T15:20:00.003-07:002013-08-18T15:20:34.578-07:00Matthew Chapter 13<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew Chapter 13</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The kingdom message is always a
good thing. How it is received determines the fruit it will bear. Parables are
used because not all are meant to understand, only those who have the eyes and
ears set on the truth of God. How do we received the message, do we hear and
see it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The seed is the Gospel message, the
kingdom of heaven. We are the soil, we all receive the seed but some are
conditioned and ready to let the seed grow into a fertile plant. But hearing
means being open, receptive, it means giving all for the seed, not worrying, or
delaying. The soil only receives; God does the growing. In the end, the good
seed in the good soil is all that remains. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Listening to the parables requires
a response. Either one understands and accepts or one does not understand and
the seed falls away. How do you respond to the seed planted in your life to
day?</div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-68833025572663791222013-07-23T20:20:00.002-07:002013-07-23T20:20:54.482-07:00Matthew Chapter 12<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew Chapter 12</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The Sabbath is for rest and
communion with God, not for a legalized entrapment of others. The Sabbath is
for health, healing and community. The religious leaders cannot understand the
spirit of God because they are trapped by their understanding of Scripture.
Even where the Scripture points to the Spirit they can only misunderstand.
Sabbath rest is not a legalized ideal but a place of mercy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Anything the religious leaders try
against Jesus is easily refuted because they are not acting in the Spirit.
History will stand against the generation that does not believe because history
understands the Spirit as a testimony of the times to one who is greater than
those in the past. The testimony of history supports the claims of the spirit,
not the claims of the religious leaders. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Evil will be known by the fruits,
which are produced out of the heart. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Being a disciple means being
family.</div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-43064245031595850132013-07-19T06:13:00.002-07:002013-07-19T06:13:41.355-07:00Matthew Chapter 11<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Mathew Chapter 11</div>
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John wonders about Jesus if he is
the one to come or not. Earlier when John baptized Jesus, he knew. Now that
John has been arrested and locked up in prison maybe his faith is shaken and he
doubts what he once knew in the spirit of faith. Jesus reaffirms John’s faith
by pointing out the good works and the good message that is being accomplished.</div>
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Now Jesus questions the crowd about
who John is. John is the forerunner and herald of change. The crowds have left
John for Jesus but the power and position of John has not changed. He is the
Elijah who will bring the kingdom closer to all who can hear and understand.</div>
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Even those who witness the power of
Jesus are unrepentant. They do not “hear” what the true message is. They have
had their chance and time is coming to an end for them. They could have fasted
with John or celebrated with Jesus, but instead they refused them both.</div>
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Repentance and life in Jesus is an
easy burden unlike the Law, which has been made extremely difficult. Legalism
of the Law oppresses, but the yoke of Jesus is mercy, forgiveness and
compassion, which sets one free and makes life easier. Life in Jesus is not a
burden but a freedom. </div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-27491068542039385022013-07-07T20:50:00.000-07:002013-07-07T20:50:18.123-07:00Matthew Chapter 10<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew Chapter 10</div>
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The workers are few. Jesus gathers
his twelve disciples and empowers them with the authority to carry on his
ministry. His commission comes with a price, total obedience to God. God will
provide the means and the way. They are to depend upon God for the worker is
worthy of his keep. None of them will be able to say “I did it” for it will all
be from God. In fact the only reward they can expect is persecution, just as
their Master, Jesus, is going to be persecuted. Jesus is in it with them and
they with him. But the eternal reward will be worth the pain of this world. </div>
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Being sent by Jesus to preach and
heal means being given special authority. Everyone will not recognize that
authority. Those who recognize it will be blessed to receive the teachings. But
being a disciple of Jesus requires sacrifice which the world does not
understand but is necessary for the later reward. The Spirit empowers the
disciples to make a difference in the world. </div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-63495664811152450222013-07-02T20:49:00.001-07:002013-07-02T20:49:06.157-07:00Matthew Chapter 9<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew chapter 9</div>
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True faith is accompanied by
action. That is the faith that heals. A broken body is the same as a broken
spirit. Faith and forgiveness must go hand in hand. Healing of the body is the
same as healing the spirit (forgiveness of sins). Both come from the same
authority. An authority the religious leaders do not need or understand. The
righteous have already saved themselves, but the “sinner” still needs a doctor
for healing. To them, Jesus has come to minister. The old do not understand the
new. Jesus is new wine and a new patch that the old religion and tradition do
not understand. He needs new ways to express what he has come to say and do.
His teachings and healing with authority reflect this new way of faith.</div>
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Faith overcomes sickness and death;
even demons flee before Jesus. “Nothing like this has been seen in Israel.”
Jesus is new. Everywhere Jesus went he saw the need for his message and
healing. The crowds were harassed and helpless. The state, the religion, and
the leaders had all turned away from the crowds but Jesus had compassion on
them and saw the great need there.</div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-27895935978923381502013-06-30T13:37:00.003-07:002013-06-30T13:37:44.820-07:00Matthew Chapter 8<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew Chapter 8</div>
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Jesus, finished with this section
of teachings, begins to heal all those who come and ask for healing. A leprous
man, a Centurion’s servant, and a woman, are all outsiders to the community of
Jews. In them, Jesus finds great faith, even greater faith then among his own
Jews. So much faith that it will replace the Jews and many will come from the
East and West to sit with God at the final banquet. Great faith is found in
Jesus’ ability to heal. This adds weight to Jesus teachings. </div>
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Jesus’ power seems to have no
limits. But the faith of his disciples is limited. They have yet to understand
the true nature of Jesus. Yet power can frighten. Instead of faith and freedom
at the power over demons, some turn to fear. Responding in faith means over
coming fear, fear of the expected, fear of the unknown, fear of the outcome.
Faith means seeing a better possible future where the servant is healed, the
leprosy is gone, and the demons ran off. Faith is holding to what can be even
in the face of the fear which only focus on what is. How does one respond to
Jesus power and authority?</div>
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Only gaze upon the slumbering lord
in the midst of troubles to be comforted that peace can be had, even here.</div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-65472090890114963302013-06-23T14:05:00.002-07:002013-06-23T14:05:42.964-07:00Matthew Chapter 7<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Matthew Chapter 7</div>
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As the Sermon on the Mount
continues, Jesus turns towards attitudes of judgments. One’s life is so full of
wrongs, evils and sins that there should be no room to point out other’s errors
unless one it trying to distract from one’s own wrong doing. Concern yourself
with your own life and then use that which you learn about self-improvement to
help others. Judging is not the goal. You cannot see clearly to help others
until after you have cleared the “plank” in your own life.</div>
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God will give good gifts to those
who ask, seek and knock. It is an active faith in God, a faith set on God and
searching after God. God will provide all the blessings in an active faith.</div>
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The Law and the Prophets are summed
up in one easy saying: do to others what you would have them do to you. This
follows God’s blessing. God will bless those who bless others. This way is not
easy for the gate is small and the way narrow but leads to life. One will know
by the fruit produced those who are the right way. The good fruit is a sure
sign of a righteous person walking the narrow way. Others who come boasting and
preaching but not producing are suspect. All who hear and obey are building a
solid foundation for life. Treating others with compassion and justice is never
the wrong way. This is self-evident. And a plain truth, but one that has been
hidden. It takes Jesus to state it plainly. And in so doing reveals his
authority. Those who do not know try to hide their lack of knowledge with
confusing and contrary discourse. The truth is simple and simply revealed. Its
simplicity carries weight and authority. It makes common sense that all can
follow. </div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4761830521353206362.post-58205361648418441332013-06-17T19:30:00.001-07:002013-06-17T19:43:18.299-07:00Sample of my Work in Progress, Untitled.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The force in the lift began to
lessen as they reached an opening of a branch. They all followed Elijah out
into the branch tunnel. It was dim after the brightness they had first
experienced. Not too far along the tunnel of the branch leading away from the
trunk was a set of windows. They stopped briefly to admire the view. Reagan
judged they were three quarters of the way up the tree and well above the
forest. They could see for miles and miles. </div>
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“Wow” Layla said stepping back from
the windows. “That is high.” </div>
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Windows continued to dot the walls
as they walked further out in the branch. They could feel a slight breeze that
was growing steadily stronger. They reached a place where the tunnel branched
into two slightly smaller tunnels. It was unnoticed at first but obvious once
Reagan began to look for it, the tunnel had been narrowing slightly. The group,
following the Raven, turned down the left hand side of the split and after a
dozen steps was greeted with an opening stretching before them. It was the source
of the breeze. A large green deck stretched out from the opening. Another green
“leaf” covered part of the deck. </div>
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“This is where I would have landed.
But obviously your vehicle could not make a landing here. So we walked, and
floated. Take a look if you would like.” Elijah spoke calmly. His feathers
ruffled slightly in the breeze wafting in from the opening in the branch to the
landing pad.</div>
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Reagan, Clara, and Olivia walked
out on the deck. It was made of a very sturdy ceramic. Layla hung back. “No thanks.
I can see fine from here,” she offered at their quizzical looks. </div>
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Reagan now noticed that each leaf
hanging from the branches surrounding them was much thicker than he had first
realized. Each one served as a room, or in clusters of leaves, as a whole house
possibly. He could also make out other landing areas, usually near branch
junctions. He walked near the edge and peered down. He could see the trunk
stretching down to the ground far below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He realized that many of the trees were similar to this one, housing a
whole community of Ravens. He stepped a little closer and noticed the lack of a
guardrail around the deck. Of course, what need would a bird have for
guardrails? It was a long, long way down. Maybe Layla had the right idea. He
moved slowly back from the edge. He sighed and moved to join her in the tunnel.
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Clara laughed at him. “A space
captain afraid of heights?” She mocked, as she stood motionless near the edge. </div>
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They resumed their walk and came to
a cluster of leaves. Elijah rang a discrete buzzer at the opening. And they
waited. It was not long until an aged Raven appeared whose dark feathers had
mostly turned gray. He slowly inspected his guests. He greeted Elijah coolly. </div>
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“You have brought me humans.” It
was not a question, but a statement directed at Elijah.<br />
<br />
Read another sample <a href="http://daav-aotm.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-quick-look-into-my-next-book.html" target="_blank">here</a> </div>
Daav Corbethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15676786781015801633noreply@blogger.com0