Of Dogs and Men

When I first moved to Georgia last October to live with my sister and family, they had a great dog named Oreo. He was a black lab with white markings on his chest, paws and face. O.K. maybe the white on his face was grey hair. In any event, as I said Oreo was indeed a great dog from the moment I arrived, most always laid back and calm: except when it was time to eat. At this point in time he would break into what I could only describe as his pattented "dinner dance." Keep in mind Oreo was over twelve years old ( that's 50,000 years old for humans I'm told, but I question the reliability of my source). Oreo would circle around the floor almost like chasing his tail but always with an eye on you as you bagan to prepare his meal. He would also give little jumps in the air and pant with uncontrolable ecstasy. It was quite the sight. When he finished his meal he would retire to his bed in the corner, thoroughly contented or exhausted I'm not quite sure which. Later before the end of the evening, we fed him around eight, Oreo would often engage in a robust game of tug-a-war with his favorite tug-toy. Again amazing energy for a 50,000 year old dog. He was like Yoda who normally gimped slowly around all day but when he broke out that light saber he was suddenly the bionic man.
Oreo's heart and entire inner being was so full of love of life and especially love for his masters that one afternoon we got home and could quickly see he was not well at all. As has been said in another context, and forgive me for borrowing, Oreo had given his last full measure of devotion. He was given peace that night. My eyes well even now as I write this. I will end with this unknown quote:

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

Couch-potato Christianity

Tonight I attended a Bible study where we discussed the trials of the early church that begins to be fleshed out in the book of Acts. As the historical record makes clear, not just the bible but extra-biblical sources of the first several centuries after the resurrection of our Lord, these Christians faced unimaginable persecution. That is why they were forced underground into the dark, cold catacombs to practice their faith. People don't do such things if their lives are not at risk. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Precisely when the enemies of Christ thought they had aborted this infant movement, those so persecuted rose up to spread the gospel around the entire Mediterranean world.
Would we do the same today? In our cities and suburbs we can find churches mere blocks away from each other, all well heated or air-conditioned with cushioned theater seats and uplifting "I'm o.k you're o.k." messages. Don't want to upset anyone, especially when the offering plate makes the rounds. And just to make things convenient, like drive-thru fast food open at any hour, we can chose any service time to attend.
"Don't cramp my style, besides the game starts in half an hour".
God help us. If the church had to have been started in the 21st century, we would still be praying to rocks and trees. But the good news is that it is not left in the hands of weak, fallible sinners like us. The church came from the side of the crucified Lord of life and belongs to Him alone. As Christ declared to Peter after the apostle's confession of His being the messiah, "thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build MY church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"(Matt. 16:18). The gates of hell have indeed been trying since the beginning of the church. They have yet to succeed. With Christ for us they won't. "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world"(Matt. 28:20).

"Veni, Vidi, ..."

For starters, we have all come to something and that something is right now.  The past cannot be undone, and what lies in the furture is all hypothetical.  That leaves you right here, now, reading this blog.  "Wherever you are be all there" is a timely quote from somewhere in the recesses of my memory whose author I fail to remember.  Leaving all philosophical questions aside for now, I suppose my chief objective in this endeavor is to try and grapple with some of the current events of the day through the prism of their possible politcal, religious, historical and well, all right, their philosophical implications.  If you're confused right now that makes two of us.  Coming from an undergraduate degree background of politcal science and history, along with a graduate degree experience involving theology and psychology, this could be either thoroughly stimulating or sedatively boring.  Oh, did I mention that five months after graduating from college I contracted spinal meningitis, nearly died, and have lived ever since partially paraplegic with an acute hearing loss?  Just details.
We will have time enough to cover all of that and much more in the future . . . or will we?