Brutally Honest

Come, let's reason together

by BroKen

I remember a scene from the old sitcom, All in the Family, where Archie Bunker is telling his family about a friend named, Moose. Moose is big and strong as an ox. Archie respects him greatly because Moose is not only strong but also smart and a great debater. For example, Archie describes how Moose got into a verbal exchange with a guy while leaving the bowling alley. They went at it all across the parking lot until the other guy got to his car. Standing behind his car door, the guy made his final point. He thought he had Moose cornered. But no. In frustration Moose ripped the mirror off the car door.

I think about that from time to time as I enter into discussions with people... usually on the internet. For example, a few years ago I made what I considered a thoughtful, point-by-point rebuttal to an online rant about same sex marriage. In response, at least one commenter simply called me a hypocrite. I know, being called a hypocrite isn't exactly like having your car damaged, but it is the same kind of response. Rather than engage in debate, when they feel they are losing, people will leave reason aside and seek something they believe is more powerful.

They say in poker, “A Smith and Wesson beats five aces.” Sure. But the guy with the pistol as his hand has left the game of poker and become a thief. Likewise, the guy in a debate who stoops to name-calling, character assassination or, God forbid, violence, is no longer searching for truth. They are seeking power over their opponent. They want to win at all costs.

You see, reasoned debate is merely a tool to find the Truth. Both positions can't be true. It is likely that both are untrue to some extent. In the rational give and take of honest debate, we believe that Truth will rise and remain standing while error falls away. But if one party abandons reason, they no longer believe that Truth is important or possible. Winning becomes more important than the Truth.

Some people don't seek Truth because many twisted arguments appear rational but are actually not. It takes effort and a little skill to recognize faulty reasoning. So, either because they don't have the skill or won't put in the effort, many just abandon the whole enterprise of truth-seeking. Yet they still believe they themselves are right and others are ignorant idiots.

Others have abandoned the search for objective Truth because they have been taught it doesn't exist. They wouldn't put it this way, but ultimately for them, all that matters is power. Of course, they want that power in the hands of good people. But what is “good” without Truth?

Online besides “hypocrite”, I've been called “arrogant” (well, yeah), “belligerent” (no, not really), and worst of all, “Republican”! Instead of name-calling, I wish we could just seek the Truth together.

“the truth will set you free.” --Jesus of Nazareth*

The current war: AC vs. DC

By Locutisprime

The last great battle of AC vs. DC occurred between Nicolas Tesla and Thomas Edison. Known as the war of currents, Americans and the world had to choose between direct current and alternating current when it came to electricity. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb among other things, seemed to have the name recognition, and he seemed to have the inside track, but the alternative system proposed by Tesla ultimately prevailed. It was simply a better and safer system.

Fast forward a hundred and thirty years and we have another battle being waged between AC and DC. Only this time, the AC is the American Consumer and the DC is Washington. And once again, the issue seems to rest upon electricity. Only this time, it rests upon GM's new Volt. The car of the future if you are to believe all the hype coming out of the Obama administration. The Obama administration has been pushing this car since the day they took over GM, the problem is, the car is too expensive and it doesn't deliver on the promises made. Aside from those obvious shortcomings, much like Edison's DC current, the Volt is dangerous. It's prone to catching fire.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration is doing everything in their power to hustle the $60,000 plus innovation from GM that only a few can afford, but a curious thing has happened on the way to America's latest government sponsored dream. Americans aren't buying it:

Volt sales fall in January

General Motors extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt had its worst sales month since August, as negative publicity over fire risks hurt vehicles sales in January.

GM sold just 603 Volts - above its sales in January 2011, but far below GM's best-ever sales month in December, when GM sold 1,529 Volts.

Last week, GM North America President Mark Reuss said sales of the Volt have been hurt by bad publicity.

Reuss said bad publicity from the government's investigation into fire risks of post-crash Volts is "definitely a component" of the decline in sales.

GM sold about 7,700 in 2011, below GM's target of 10,000. GM abandoned its sales target of 45,000 for 2012 last month, saying it would match "supply to demand."

GM was outsold by Nissan Motor Co.'s all-electric Leaf in 2011, as the Japanese automaker sold nearly 9,700 last year. Nissan said it sold 676 Leafs in January, down from 954 in December.

Nissan hopes to double Leaf sales this year.

Reuss said that when GM restarts production in February at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant, it will build Volts in a "very reasonable" volume. He said there is some pent-up export demand.

Reuss says Volt awareness has gone up over the last two months in the wake of publicity over the government's investigation.

GM is focused on rehabilitating the Volt's reputation. "It's a tough road, but we've got to do it," Reuss said.

Dear God, please send missionaries to Washington, DC

By BroKen

I heard a story years ago about missionaries working with tribal peoples in, I think it was, Papua New Guinea. There was a time when missionaries sought to bring, not only the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also the culture and customs of Western Civilization. For several decades now, missionaries seek to avoid that kind of cultural influence. They work hard to avoid the imposition of western styles of dress, or language, or political systems.

So, the story goes, that the converts in a jungle village decided that they should have a meeting house, a church building, a large hut in which they could gather to sing and pray and worship. But the people were poor and didn't have the resources to build such a structure. The missionaries were supportive and could have perhaps raised the money themselves to build what was wanted. Yet both the missionaries and the people thought it best if the people could find a way to do it themselves.

The people decided to take up an offering among themselves each week for the purpose of building a building. They appointed a treasurer who would hold the money for the church until they had enough to build. Even though the first offering was not nearly enough to build what they wanted, it was still much more than the treasurer had ever had in his possession. At the next meeting when the church asked for an accounting from the treasurer, he apologized because he had spent all the money on gifts for his family and friends. No one condemned the treasurer. Generosity was a value deeply embedded in their hearts. They all understood why he had done what he had done. They all felt they would have done the same thing. Still, they wanted a church building and now they had to start all over again.

They appointed another treasurer and took up another collection for the building. Once again the new treasurer, with access to more money than he had ever had, spent it all on gifts for his family and friends. And again, no one accused the treasurer of stealing because they knew they would have done the same thing if they had had access to such a large sum of money. But now they had to start again with nothing.

After the third treasurer spent all the money on gifts for his family and friends, the people came to the missionaries. They asked if the missionaries would hold the money for them because they couldn't find anyone who, with access to so much money, could resist the urge to be generous to their family and friends.

I think about that story when I read how Congress spends the people's money. I wonder where we could find some missionaries in Washington who would hold the money for us instead of blowing it all on their friends. If we ever did find those missionaries, would the people be wise enough to ask for their help?

What's Love got to do with it? (UPDATED)

By BroKen

A friend of mine posted an image to Facebook that I think illustrates much of the confusion of our modern age. The image shows stylized extension cord ends, plugs and sockets, in pairs of each possible combination: two plugs, two sockets, and a plug and socket. In the middle of the three pairs are four little words: love has no gender.

Obviously, the image isn't from an electrician's manual. It appears to be saying something important about Love, when in fact it is trying to advocate acceptance of homosexual relations. I posted a cute response; “That's true but sex does have gender. The cords on the right and left (the two plugs and the two sockets) won't work.” A friend of my friend commented that my idea assumes that the only purpose of sex is reproduction. He is wrong. Here's why.

The extension cords are a metaphor for males and females but extension cords don't reproduce. We often call plugs, “male” and sockets, “female” mainly because of their shape, but even more important than shape is function.

In sexual reproduction, the male is essentially the transmitter of information (DNA) and the female is the receiver which then acts on the information to create a new individual. That is what sex is and that's how it works whether in fungi, plants or animals like us. But the concept is not limited to reproduction.

Consider a lock and key. The key carries information which is received by the lock to allow the lock to open. The key is male in both shape and function. The lock is female in both shape and function. Two keys will not work. Two locks will not function. The lock and key, male and female, are two complementary parts of one apparatus, though the lock and key do not reproduce.

You see, the friend of my friend refers to merely the sexual act between humans, while I was referring to the broader and deeper concept of complementary parts which form a unit. Two sockets cannot form a unit. Neither can two plugs.

Of course, the act of sex between humans is more complicated and useful than mere reproduction. But its complications (emotional and social) and uses (celebration and unification) arise from the concept of complementary parts which form a unit. Destructive complications and uses of sexual activity, like rape and prostitution, arise from the rejection of this concept.

So, the image reveals a deeply confused understanding of sex. But it also displays a profound confusion of sex with Love. What do plugs and sockets have to do with “Love”? Nothing! Of course, men love other men, and women love other women. But sexual contact with the same sex is, well, not “love” but “sexual contact”.

As people act on this strange belief that love and sex are the same or that plugs fit plugs as well as plugs fit sockets, “they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.”

UPDATE (By Mr. Brutally Honest):  I want to link back to and excerpt from RC2's related post on this as she writes something I think to be penetratingly discerning:

I can't tell which side of the gay marriage controversy this poster is on. The slogan is clearly pro; the illustration? Not so much. Which makes it the first "bi" poster, perhaps. 

 

Anyway, a message I think is absolutely brilliant, though probably not in the manner intended. Assertions to the contrary have no bearing on the actual transmission of life, light, power, spark and bond. [Bolded emphasis added]

Touché.  Says it all I think.

Merry Incarnation!

By BroKen

On Christmas Day we celebrate the Incarnation. Incarnation literally means “in flesh”. Though we don't use it very often, it is a very good word. We might say, “That dancer is the incarnation of gracefulness.” Gracefulness is an abstract concept. But when you see it on display in a person, in the flesh, then you know what gracefulness is. There are spiritual realities all around us. We often miss them unless they are “in flesh” so we can see them. With a tip of the hat to folks from Missouri I'll say that “incarnation” means “show me”.

Incarnation with a capital “I” refers to a specific instance when God Himself took on flesh. It is the central miracle of the Christian faith. Of course God is The spiritual reality all around us. But we can miss Him and often do because we are so focused on physical things. So, God became flesh in order to show us; to show us that He is, to show us what we are, to show us what we need to do.

Imagine what it was like to be around Jesus. Everyone who took the time to look saw a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Even today many would say that the curse of crucifixion is incompatible with the Lord of the Universe. But Jesus always said that was what would happen to Him. Not only that, but He said that we should follow Him. Because we could never do it ourselves, Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death, even a death on a cross. He showed us what to do.

Imagine what it was like to be around Jesus. Everyone who took the time to look saw that their heart was dark and cold compared to His. Some people became angry at the comparison and accused Jesus of arrogant blasphemy or worse. Others fell on their faces and washed his feet with tears or begged Him to go away because they were unworthy to be in His presence. Even today many continue to reject Jesus and the message of His Kingdom. Those who humble themselves before Him, He gives the right to become children of God.

Imagine what it was like to be around Jesus. Everyone who took the time to look saw that He was different. His attitude and responses seemed to come from somewhere else. Those closest to Him became convinced that He was God in the flesh and eventually worshiped him as such. A lot of people revere Jesus as a great teacher or an especially good man. But anything less than the earliest Christian creed, “Jesus is Lord” is not Christian. If we are right that Jesus is God, then those who do not recognize him as God don't see God when He shows Himself to them.

May your Merry Christmas show you the Spirit of God all around.

Let's be different, together!

by BroKen

Do you say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”? Does it matter? Do you care?

A few weeks ago a friend sent me to an article by a guy who calls himself The Fat Pastor. The article argues that we who get upset over the greeting “Happy Holidays” are misguided and that we should get upset over more important things. The author even goes so far as to say, “when people get angry when someone says 'Happy Holidays', I get angry that they are angry.” Do you understand this? The Fat Pastor gets angry because some people get angry about unimportant things. The things he thinks people should be angry about are children dying, oppressed workers, and closed-minded churches. Well, of course. But can't people be angry about other things, too. Apparently, The Fat Pastor thinks it important to be angry about the anger of other people when he thinks their anger is unimportant. Are you confused? Me, too. Let me try to clear things up.

Is there anything wrong with the greeting “Happy Holidays”? Not really. There are lots of celebrations this time of year. If you don't know what kind of celebration the receiver is likely to enjoy, “Happy Holidays” covers anything.

Is it wrong to wish a Merry Christmas to those who do not celebrate Christmas? I can't see how it is. I mean, if I am wished “Happy Hanukkah” I do not recoil with aversion. Though I do not celebrate Hanukkah, so what? Apparently my friend does celebrate it and wishes me well during that time. I can even extend the same greeting. “Happy Hanukkah” to you my Jewish friends, and God bless you!

I can see how a Fourth of July parade down the streets of London would seem a little cheeky. But how does a wish of “Merry Christmas” offend those who choose not to celebrate Christ. They should, at least, see it as a blessing. The problem is not with the generic “Happy Holidays” but with the twisting of a sincere wish of “Merry Christmas” into an offensive curse.

“Merry Christmas” says little more than “I wish you well during our celebration of Christ.” But when employers or politicians say to those in their charge, “You must NOT say 'Merry Christmas'” well, that speaks volumes, more than a simple greeting, about their desire to control speech and limit expression. Personally, whatever their motivation, that makes me a little angry.

Someone might say that “Happy Holidays” acknowledges our differences. No, it doesn't. The phrase covers over our differences as if we are all the same... just celebrators. Real tolerance would hear “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” or any other greeting as different but similar blessings.

So, now I say to you all, “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas” and “May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you and all those you love.”

A Merry Hunt

By BroKen

For those of you who are still looking for that deer this season (and you know who you are!) just remember it could be worse. You could be this guy...

The Joy of Thanksgiving

By BroKen

Happy Thanksgiving! Are you happy? I hope so. If you've got plenty to eat that can be a happy time, even when too much indulgence causes indigestion. If you are surrounded by the warmth of friends and family that can be a happy time, even when Uncle Clem starts a political rant and sprays a little spittle on the cranberry sauce. If you are happy, I am happy for you. Still, you are probably aware that there are people around us who are not happy this Thanksgiving. Of course, there are the lonely without family or friends who will take them in. There are also those who despite our best efforts to supply a festive meal this time of year, are still in want. But today I am thinking of those who have all they need to eat and have a lot of family and friends, yet still find themselves unhappy.

Some have lost possessions or the means to procure possessions during this season. Things on which they depended; a job or a house or a car are gone, and the future is uncertain. The stuff they leaned on has crumbled around them. Perhaps it has even fallen on their heads. It is hard to be happy when things you need are crushed.

Others have lost loved ones and even though there are other faces at the feast, the fact that one face is missing keeps coming to mind. The laughter and love of others, instead of lifting the spirits, reminds them of their loss and sours what would otherwise be a happy time. It is hard to be happy in the midst of pain.

Look, I'm not trying to bring you down. If you are happy today, go on back to the turkey and football (you might want to skip the cranberry sauce if Uncle Clem is around!) But to those who are not happy today, for whatever reason, read on.

You should know that happiness is over-rated. Because it is determined by circumstances; the things that “happen” to us, happiness is always a temporary state. But if happiness is temporary that means unhappiness is temporary, too.

Realizing that happiness and unhappiness are temporary states can help lead us into a much more permanent state of joy. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy looks back on what was with gratitude for the good. Joy also looks ahead with hope for the good things that will be. So, even if you are unhappy about the way things are now, you can still be joyful. Really, you can!

Thanksgiving is the way to joy. If you've recently lost something important, remember what made it good and thank God that you had it for a while. Thanksgiving doesn't make you happy, it gives you joy. So, may the Joy of Thanksgiving be yours today!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Four sheets to the wind...

By BroKen

Recently on Facebook I've reconnected with an old friend. We were just out of college when we found ourselves on an amazing adventure. We both taught at Colegio Metodista (Methodist High School) in San Jose. Costa Rica. Randy taught Social Studies and I taught eighth grade Science. We lived together for a year and were bonded by the experience of learning the students, the culture of Latin America and a little of the Spanish language. But even more than all that, we were bound by our faith in Christ.

Now, some twenty five years later much has changed even though much has stayed the same. I've become a preacher while Randy is still teaching now outside of Washington, D.C. My faith in Christ has remained intact while, for Randy, this faith has become a pipe-dream. He calls himself an atheist. So, our reconnection has included discussions, similar to conversations in our house in Costa Rica so many years ago, on the existence of God. A former student has even joined in the discussion as a sort of referee since this discussion sometimes looks like a debate. It's just like old times, only..... not.

I'm considering some ideas to bring to our discussion. But, first, I thought I would try them out on you.

Imagine four sheets of paper. One has been folded into an airplane. One has been shaped into an origami frog. One has been crumpled into a ball, a paper wad. And one sheet is left alone.

All four objects are made of the same stuff but they are different things. Philosophers call that stuff the Material Cause. The last sheet represents that cause; the stuff of each object. It is important how the sheets were made, by whom and why. But for now consider just sheets of paper taking different forms.

Their form makes the objects different. Philosophers call that the Formal Cause. The paper wad represents that cause; a different form than the sheet. I read recently that crumpled paper has deep mystery to science. It cannot be accurately modeled! But for now, it is enough to see that a paper wad is different from a sheet. It has a different form.

An origami frog might be folded by an eight year old, but I couldn't do it. Philosophers call the eight year old the Efficient Cause. Almost anyone can make a paper wad. But it takes skill to make a frog. If you'd never seen a real frog, you might have trouble distinguishing the frog from the wad. But for now, it is important to note that an Efficient Cause must be up to the task. I couldn't do it. I am not an efficient cause of origami though you might be.

The paper airplane was made to fly. Philosophers call that purpose, the Final Cause. If the paper plane doesn't fly or doesn't fly well, we say it isn't well made because it doesn't fulfill its purpose.

My friend says that the universe is merely "atoms and void". We agree on this material cause. We agree on the formal causes, the different forms atoms can take. But I continue to be amazed that anyone, especially Randy, can think that natural laws are an efficient cause for those forms of matter that are alive. Nothing in nature, not even natural selection, has demonstrated the creativity necessary for a DNA molecule, let alone a human brain. Nature by itself is simply not up to the task. Believing life happened naturally seems to take an enormous leap of faith.

But the most troubling aspect of my friend's atheism is the loss of purpose. For Randy, there is no final cause for the universe, no purpose to life except what he gives it. When he is gone, so is the purpose.

Randy and I have certainly taken different paths since we walked, and rode buses and talked about life and dreams of the future. It breaks my heart that he seems to have taken the road to nowhere.

...so we could laugh together.

by BroKen

Here is something that happened to me years ago from which I still learn a great deal. You may take whatever lesson you will. It might be... this guy's a lunatic. Yes, maybe so.

Shortly after college I spent three years teaching junior high science at Colegio Metodista (Methodist High School) in San Jose, Costa Rica. As I was leaving I told friend and family that it would be like a cushy Peace Corps job. But those I met in the Peace Corps actually made a lot more money than I did.

My beginning salary was 4000 colones per month (Costa Rican currency) which was about $100. That was plenty to live on but I wasn't saving any money. In fact, after a few months I took on some extra classes and was making 6000 colones per month. But inflation was such that it was still only $100.

That first year I took with me five twenty dollar bills. It was all the money I had. Those dollars were quite precious to me. After about eight months I was down to my last twenty dollar bill. I sensed that I was really depending too much on those dollars instead of depending on God. I felt He wanted me to give it to Him. After a few weeks of struggle, I took the bill with me to church on Sunday praying, “I want to do something special with this money. God show me what you want me to do.”

During the worship service a young man, a tourist, thanked God that although he had been robbed the day before, the thief had only taken money, nothing important. I was impressed that a man would thank God even after having been robbed. Everyone headed to the fellowship hall after the service for coffee and doughnuts but I sat on the front pew looking at the offering plates. I still had the bill in my pocket. “I don't want to put it in the plate, Lord. What do you want me to do with it?” I remembered the tourist. “Do you want me to give it to him, Lord?” I felt nothing. “I will if you want.” Nothing. I headed to the fellowship hall. “Stop me, Lord, if you don't want me to do this.” Still silence from heaven.

I found the stranger and introduced myself. I said, “I've never done this before but I think God wants me to give you $20.” He said, “Oh, I don't need it. My father is a multimillionaire. I travel around the world and if I ever get in trouble he sends me whatever I need.” I felt about the size of a grasshopper. He told of some of the places he'd been and I went back and put the bill in the offering plate.

Back home I sat on my bed complaining to God about how He had mistreated me. I was sincerely looking for guidance and ran into a wall. “Why didn't you stop me, Lord?” Now, it wasn't with my ears but I heard, “I did.” The response surprised me because there had been nothing but silence up to now. I really couldn't argue... I didn't give the man the money. Still, I had a complaint. I cried out from my heart, “But why didn't you stop me before I made a fool of myself?” Again, it wasn't with my ears but I tell you I heard someone laughing. That really made me angry.

You know, there are few things better than being laughed at when you are trying to be funny. And there are few things worse than being laughed at when you are not. I was not trying to be funny. I was as sincere and as serious as I knew how to be. But then, perhaps because I was sincere and serious, I looked back at myself trying to give a multimillionaire $20, and I started laughing. I fell back on my bed playfully shaking my fist at the ceiling and still laughing I said (it may have been out loud) “Boy, if there's anything I hate it's a wiseGod!”

The words formed but immediately I wanted to take them back. Do I have the right to joke with God? Who do I think I am to shake my fist at the Almighty... even playfully? But you really can't take words back especially when you are talking to God. I had put those words together. They were mine. So I just cowered a bit on my bed wondering what God might make of my affront.

Again, not with my ears, I heard, “I bore the cross so that we could laugh together.” Then I cried.