Be fair to yourselves and to others, that the evidences of justice may be revealed, through your deeds, among Our faithful servants. Beware lest ye encroach upon the substance of your neighbor. Prove yourselves worthy of his trust and confidence in you, and withhold not from the poor the gifts which the grace of God hath bestowed upon you. He, verily, shall recompense the charitable, and doubly repay them for what they have bestowed. No God is there but Him. All creation and its empire are His. He bestoweth His gifts on whom He will, and from whom He will He withholdeth them. He is the Great Giver, the Most Generous, the Benevolent......
Dispute not with any one concerning the things of this world and its affairs, for God hath abandoned them to such as have set their affection upon them. Out of the whole world He hath chosen for Himself the hearts of men—hearts which the hosts of revelation and of utterance can subdue. Thus hath it been ordained by the Fingers of Bahá, upon the Tablet of God’s irrevocable decree, by the behest of Him Who is the Supreme Ordainer, the All-Knowing.
Hello, and thanks for reading. It is warm up in my loft again, but I like writing up here more in the heat.
Comments appreciated on both blogs, even as anonymous or with a pseudonym.
My PhD finale pass from Wales could be in the mail any day. Once I have this document I can upgrade my CV and begin my worldwide search, although mainly in the United States, for work as a professor in Theology, Philosophy of Religion and Biblical studies. While waiting I have been assisting my Mom with her web business (see ad at the top of this blog that states Click here), studying a little mathematics and studying a fair amount of psychology, especially social psychology.
I am the type of guy that would play Wii with his friend's three little girls as the adults were playing board games. Sure I generally prefer computer/video games over board games, but I truly love my friend's kids, and they now have a son as well. They have now moved back to the South.
I would even play dolls with the girls when they would ask. Of course not the way they would play dolls. I usually managed to work some kind of satirical love spat and martial arts combat into scenes which made the little ones stare and laugh. Or I would spin a certain male doll around and around and the little ones made up a story that he was going 'potty' and would laugh and laugh.
So, yes I am that kind of nice.
I have realized the last twelve years especially, due to academic battles that although I needed to stay good in the Biblical sense and love God with all my heart and love others as self (Mark 12 and Matthew 22), I needed to better stand up to social and psychological attempts at manipulation.
At Canadian Baptist Seminary and Trinity Western University, although an A student I had not written a thesis previously and my advisor had never advised someone. The advisor left for the United States and I was given all the blame for a project that had to be shortened.
I had put almost complete faith in the system and my advisor, and was led to a point that was not where I should have been. It was there that I needed to make a stand and I did. Although the project did not do as well as I had hoped I did have a negative review letter taken off my permanent record by me taking a strong stand with the administration.
Here I realized that I should have informed the administration previously that I was not being advised as well as needed.
When I arrived at Manchester University to start my PhD my advisor was away for a year and my temporary advisor stated that if I did not change my views, think secular and stop believing that God created the world, in light of the problem of evil, I would not pass.
I met with my temporary advisor and I met with the academic Dean. They promised that after I came home for Christmas from BC, that I would not be reviewed academically for one year. I came back to Manchester after Christmas to an apartment that had been broken into with all my electronic equipment stolen. In the mail, or rather 'post' there was a letter from the academic department stating that I was to face academic review within one week.
So they lied.
I called the Dean via a pay phone, as I had no phone, and he offered double talk. The letter was wrong he stated, and although the meeting would not be a review, I would be grilled and needed to defend myself.
Hmm, sounded like an academic review.
So another lie.
Going against my parents wishes (sometimes as an adult you need to do this, but I state this as I was the more informed adult) I told the academic department I would not meet with them, had met with my advisor and Dean concerning the issue already, and that I did not deal with liars.
Good-bye.
Here, with God's guidance, I got myself out of a situation where they probably would have wasted a year with me and then booted me.
I tried to transfer to a Christian college affiliated with Manchester and was blocked by Manchester that stated I knew that I could not do the work.
Hmm, well if I knew I could not do the work why was I trying to do an in University transfer?
The level of work would be the same from one Manchester PhD to the next. I simply wanted to do that level of work and be able to come to my own reasonable academic conclusions.
So, another lie.
One night in Manchester I prayed to the Lord for help finding another University or I would go home soon. I searched online for several Universities and emailed a few.
The next day a man from Wales called me on the phone and offered to be my advisor. I wrote the 30, 000-40, 000 word approximately MPhil thesis degree with no revisions after marking.
That is no lie.
Although while writing my PhD I did my own MPhil revisions (see MPhil posted on thekingpin68).
The other day an online teacher tried to use psychological techniques with me as I asked some questions on his discussion board and ordered one product previously. He tried to use Alpha male techniques and acted like I needed to commit to such and such with his organization and that there was no excuse for not doing so. I stated that I would make no such commitment, wanted to be online less, would be online less in the future and to take me off the list.
As a result he respects me and we remain in contact. I truly do need to be online less in the future.
Biblically, I am with God's help trying to be loving and kind but need to stand for the truth. I in no way claim anywhere near apostolic authority but in Acts 5 Peter was not nice and two people died as a result.
Sometimes it is ethically superior not to be nice.
Photo sent to me from Jeff Jenkins
I am curious if they have a mascot, and if they do is he perhaps the Beurger King with a turban or the Sultan of Shakes?
My Mom emailed me these photos of flowers, apparently from the Netherlands.
UEFA pulled the previous video off of YouTube, but this video is much better.
Internazionale Milano lost the second away leg of the UEFA Champions League to Barcelona. But, due to the first leg 3-1 victory, Inter won the semi-final 3-2 on aggregate.
Inter Manager José Mourinho ('The Special One', yes that is his nickname) went onto the Barcelona field using the number 1 sign (not the middle finger) pointing toward the Inter away fans and soon the sprinklers were turned on. Apparently he was in a confrontation with Barcelona's goalkeeper.
The football shenanigans...I must admit they make me laugh.
'Jose Mourinho was involved in an amazing bust-up with Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes last night as his Inter Milan side fought its way through to the Champions League Final in a turbulent tie at the Nou Camp.
Mourinho called the 1-0 loss “the most beautiful defeat of my life” but it was marred by his clash with Valdes which happened as he charged across the pitch at the final whistle to salute Inter fans celebrating reaching the Champions League Final with a 3-2 aggregate win.
The Special One was intercepted by a furious Valdes, who grabbed him and wrapped him in a bear hug to try to prevent him waving at supporters high in the top tier of the stadium.
Mourinho eventually wrestled himself free from the grip of the keeper, who was then confronted by a group of Inter Milan players.
The Barcelona supporters hurled a fusillade of missiles at the former Chelsea boss as he tried to applaud his club’s supporters.
Then, as Mourinho and his players cavorted on the pitch in front of their fans, Barcelona turned on four sprinkler jets and drenched them...'
A video with a brief description of Ridvan with the Ridvan 2009 message from the Universal House of Justice The Baha'i Festival of Ridvan. (The pictures of the garden in this video are from the ridvan garden in Akka, not the one in baghdad)
Baha’u’llah declared he was the Promised One of All the Ages on April 21st, 1863. He would then declare again His station 9 days later, and again on the 12th day, May 2nd confirm He was the Manifestation of God for this time.
In “God Passes By” penned by the Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi wrote:
Of the exact circumstances attending that epoch-making Declaration we, alas, are but scantily informed. The words Bahá'u'lláh actually uttered on that occasion, the manner of His Declaration, the reaction it produced, its impact on Mírzá Yahyá, the identity of those who were privileged to hear Him, are shrouded in an obscurity which future historians will find it difficult to penetrate. The fragmentary description left to posterity by His chronicler Nabíl is one of the very few authentic records we possess of the memorable days He spent in that garden. "Every day," Nabíl has related, "ere the hour of dawn, the gardeners would pick the roses which lined the four avenues of the garden, and would pile them in the center of the floor of His blessed tent. So great would be the heap that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it. All these roses Bahá'u'lláh would, with His own hands, entrust to those whom He dismissed from His presence every morning to be delivered, on His behalf, to His Arab and Persian friends in the city." "One night," he continues, "the ninth night of the waxing moon, I happened to be one of those who watched beside His blessed tent. As the hour of midnight approached, I saw Him issue from His tent, pass by the places where some of His companions were sleeping, and begin to pace up and down the moonlit, flower-bordered avenues of the garden. So loud was the singing of the nightingales on every side that only those who were near Him could hear distinctly His voice. He continued to walk until, pausing in the midst of one of these avenues, He observed: `Consider these nightingales. So great is their love for these roses, that sleepless from dusk till dawn, they warble their melodies and commune with burning passion with the object of their adoration. How then can those who claim to be afire with the rose-like beauty of the Beloved choose to sleep?' For three successive nights I watched and circled round His blessed tent. Every time I passed by the couch whereon He lay, I would find Him wakeful, and every day, from morn till eventide, I would see Him ceaselessly engaged in conversing with the stream of visitors who kept flowing in from Baghdád. Not once could I discover in the words He spoke any trace of dissimulation."
As to the significance of that Declaration let Bahá'u'lláh Himself reveal to us its import. Acclaiming that historic occasion as the "Most Great Festival," the "King of Festivals," the "Festival of God,"
“The Divine Springtime is come, O Most Exalted Pen, for the Festival of the All Merciful is fast approaching. Bestir thyself, and magnify, before the entire creation, the name of God, and celebrate His praise, in such wise that all created things may be regenerated and made new…Arise before the nations of the earth, and arm thyself with the power of this Most Great Name, and be not of those who tarry.”
April 15, 1890, The distinguished orientalist, the late Professor Edward G. Browne, of the University of Cambridge, visited Baha'u'llah at Bahjí in the year 1890, and recorded his impressions as follows: -
"... my conductor paused for a moment while I removed my shoes. Then, with a quick movement of the hand, he withdrew, and, as I passed, replaced the curtain; and I found myself in a large apartment, along the upper end of which ran a low divan, while on the side opposite to the door were placed two or three chairs. Though I dimly suspected whither I was going and whom I was to behold (for no distinct intimation had been given to me), a second or two elapsed ere, with a throb of wonder and awe, I became definitely conscious that the room was not untenanted. In the corner where the divan met the wall sat a wondrous and venerable figure, crowned with a felt head-dress of the kind called 1taj1 by dervishes (but of unusual height and make), round the base of which was wound a small white turban. The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow; while the deep lines on the forehead and face implied an age which the jet-black hair and beard flowing down in indistinguishable luxuriance almost to the waist seemed to belie. No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!
A mild dignified voice bade me be seated, and then continued: -- "Praise be to God that thou has attained! ... Thou has come to see a prisoner and an exile. ... We desire but the good of the world and happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment. ... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled -- what harm is there in this? ... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the `Most Great Peace' shall come. ... Do not you in Europe need this also? Is not this that which Christ foretold? ... Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind. ... These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family. ... Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind. ..."
Such, so far as I can recall them, were the words which, besides many others, I heard from Beha. Let those who read them consider well with themselves whether such doctrines merit death and bonds, and whether the world is more likely gain or lose by their diffusion."
April 12, 2010 Please note my additional article at bottom: Integrity and Matthew 18
Happy Easter.
Ontology: Derived from the Greek word for being, and in the 17th century became associated with metaphysics concerned with existence. Blackburn (1996: 269).
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
If one in Christ died this instant and went to paradise (2 Corinthians 12, Philippians 1, Luke 16, Luke 23). I do not seriously doubt that being in the Lord's presence, the person would be totally without suffering and despair resting in the Lord in a sinless state personally and ontologically. Needs would be met in some spiritual way, but I believe the Lord would be more than enough, as one would await the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) and the culminated Kingdom of God (Revelation 21, 22).
A problem with our present earthly realm is that we are sinful, live in a corrupted ontological environment and that our needs as Christians are met only within God's will for our good (Romans 8). So, the blind need to see, paraplegics and quadriplegics needs to walk, etc., and cannot. These are actual needs, but God's plans and needs for persons have greater priority.
This divine priority is often misunderstood by persons.
One can show faith, consider the Lord perfect and holy, pray and thank the Lord for blessings, ask to be cleansed of sin, and pray for others. One in Christ can have the peace of knowing Christ, being elected and born again, and it is the greatest occurrence for a human being.
Yet there can be misery and suffering. Because of personal sin? Well, somewhat and sometimes but not necessarily and primarily if one is basically a committed, obedient Christian. This is not necessarily and primarily a free will issue, or even a fallen nature issue. Quite simply like a blind person that cannot see, one can have actual needs that are not met. One can be unfulfilled in certain ways within God's permissible will. I reason within his perfect will, God will provide healing and all needs for persons within the culminated Kingdom with resurrected citizens.
So in conclusion, resting in God and Jesus in this life can be a misunderstood theological concept and a half-truth, if it is deduced to be a remedy to depression via suffering without some type of countering contentment.
I was christened as a child and baptized as an adult. Covered.
How about seeking theological truth? Oh sorry, that is not cool, baby.
Which is true?
a) This strongman also had to eat the stone within a ten minute period in order to win another competition.
or
b) This strongman and his competitors formed two teams and played a game of soccer with that stone ball as part of the competition.
This one made me a laugh. It is satirically pro-evolution and anti-Calvinist at the same time.
Integrity and Matthew 18
In light of a few, not several, past disputes over the last few years I write the following short addition to this post.
Note: I do not expect past disputes to be corrected this way, necessarily, but I would like to document this for the future occurrences. I remain open, however.
I have been blogging with thekingpin68 since 2004, and this blog, satire and theology, 2006. I reason I am a sinner by nature and by choice at times (Romans 1-6), saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2: 8: 10). I hold to the Reformed view that all my actions are tainted by sin in this realm. I must be born again (John 3) and therefore regenerated by God's choice (Ephesians 1) to be in Christ and am useable by the triune God in basic although not perfect obedience.
Sin can exist with online dealings
Sometimes while blogging, emailing, and using other social media, one's finite nature and yes, sinful nature, can contribute to problems with others, that also have finite and sinful natures.
Questionable integrity can exist online
Online there also exists a difficulty of being able to demonstrate integrity to others that do know one in person. For example, I can say I have integrity but when others do not know me in person and simply read my words, or listen to audio posts, this integrity is more difficult to establish.
One is morally responsible, even if less to blame
I am morally responsible for my thoughts and actions and cannot control the morally significant thoughts and actions of others. Even if I feel I am the less wrong in a given situation/discussion, one or more persons may be able to show me where I have erred in some way, and/or I may be able to show persons where I have not erred, or where he/she has erred. One or both parties may be able to make personal improvements and perhaps reconcile. Each should be willing to discuss the issue, looking at both sides.
Writing can be limited
Simply writing back and forth may not increase understanding. Personally, I am open to Skype or telephone conversation, and I am sure that one could call or email Grace Vancouver Church and ask my pastor about me in some cases if needed.
An example comes to mind here. More so in the past I blogged with a gentleman that also blogged with several other of my links. I thought some of his views were orthodox and Biblical and some were heretical. I told him via email that some of his views were heretical.
Now, in my mind when he argued against me and my Reformed views online, my impression of him was that he was quite sure of himself and trying to defeat my Reformed arguments. We sort of made up and he somewhat agreed to consider my points. He did state over time that he wanted to learn from me, but he would argue with me at times. I reasoned we ended up arguing in circles and that he had not read enough commentaries and used enough Biblical tools to see the error of many of his views.
But, very interestingly, when he later called me on the phone, and he has I think four times now, I had to admit that although I still believed I had been correct in calling some of his views heretical, that I had him reasoned out somewhat wrong as a person.
This really hit me, actually.
He was in actuality far less sure of himself when were on the phone, and I realized that what I thought was a rather argumentative nature via print was actually via the phone a nature that wanted to test his points for self-verification and verification by others. I actually found him much less combative and sure of himself on the phone than I deduced him to be online. I reason he was in actuality more teachable by me by having talked to me in person.
I of course learned as well.
In conclusion, the Matthew 18 model should be used to resolve these conflicts:
When the issue of integrity and/or moral and ethical correctness comes to mind, I invite him/her and representatives if required in the situation, to contact me with the method that works. This is based on Matthew 18: 15-17.
'Matthew 18
15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.'
If the whole earth were to be converted into silver and gold, no man who can be said to have truly ascended into the heaven of faith and certitude would deign to regard it, much less to seize and keep it. ..... God is Our witness! Whoever hath tasted the sweetness of those words will never consent to transgress the bounds which God hath fixed, neither will he turn his gaze towards any one except his Well-Beloved. Such a man will, with his inner eye, readily recognize how altogether vain and fleeting are the things of this world, and will set his affections on things above. The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds.
