HateBook

Please accept this in lieu of the desired  emotionally charged response this article intends to evoke and insert the standard hate and anger disguised as concern here >

Of course it will be made off the cuff and with no further inquiry on the matter due to my confidence that nothing is misrepresented on the Internet that can be summed up in a meme or even a few paragraphs from a single source.

It will also consist of almost recognizable soundbites that I will parrot and claim as my own thinking on the matter.

To round out my commentary, validate my view and confirm my intellect it will be followed by a random irrelevant quote also taken out of context and made by a dead person that I took more time to find on Google than I did to confirm the story I'm commenting on.

You don't have to tell me I'm right because I'm positive that I am. Agreeing will be seen as competing and disagreeing validation of my superiority.

Fuck you very much.

A Beer Faced Culture

What follows is a response to this Facebook status: 

"What do you post to Facebook? Pictures of yourself yelling at your kids, or having a hard time at work? No, you post smiling photos of a hiking trip with friends. You build a fake life — or at least an incomplete one — and share it. Furthermore, you consume almost exclusively the fake lives of your social media “friends.” Unless you are extraordinarily self-aware, how could it not make you feel worse to spend part of your time pretending to be happier than you are, and the other part of your time seeing how much happier others seem to be than you?"

Life comes with its ups and downs... Everyone's life, without exception.

The consideration of the appearance that it might be otherwise is wishful thinking at best and self defeating at worst.

Though we may find in retrospect we have been mistaken in identifying which parts are which at any given time, life can be and is a beautiful thing. Even though what we endure may be very difficult and at times insurmountable, what is beautiful is truly worth enduring those difficulties. That said we don't generally come to the realization of life's beauty by focusing on the parts of it which seem to be far from beautiful. 

If people are to continue on living through one to find the other they need a couple of things. First they need a hope or faith in something greater than themselves.
They need the will to live.

Second they need to feel that they're loved and accepted simply as they are in order to reach the potential of what they might become.
They need the strength to live.

Talk to anyone who claims to believe in nothing long enough and you'll come to find eventually that they actually do believe in something whatever that something might be called.

Considering all of that, I think most people would like to think of their lives as primarily good things and emphasize or remind themselves of that by posting those good things on Facebook. Saving the bad bits for people who know them on a more intimate level and who can consequently help them without the need for lengthy explanations of histories and situations they'd rather not publicly go into.

Without a doubt however, it is generally known that public commentary also invites public criticism. In considering our criticisms, that we might immediately extend, we should also consider a few other things as well. 

First, what people do isn't always as important as why they do it. While the omission of certain realities might be considered deceitful in certain situations, in others (like Facebook) my guess is that it's probably more likely a means of self preservation.

Our culture is largely fear based. Any animal living that circumstance, even those with the best natures, will become defensive if not aggressive at the slightest sign of weakness, and so here we are too as people interacting one with another.

While presenting anything that invites public criticism and potentially unmerited and unfounded judgment, takes a certain level of honesty and strength, exposing one's weaknesses by sharing our problems involves a far greater depth of both because it makes one an easy target for attack at a vulnerable time.

In my experience we can't accurately assume to know quite what is in our own hearts, much less that which may be in another's simply by appearances. There is far more to most people than the glimpses they may show to even those that may be close to them. 

It really didn't take much living for me to figure out that what people really meant when they referred to their desire for me to be normal was actually their desire for me or anyone to suppress or hide their problems... their very normal problems. So to me the more normal anyone might seem, the more suspect I am about the depth of their potential depravity and just when and how it may manifest.

So I also learned early on in my years that basing the quality of one's own life by merit of contrasting it to another's... well doing that pretty much takes us right back to the beginning of this post.

A Hole Does Not Need to Be Filled with Dirt

If I am an A hole, it's most often because I feel I have been left with no other option, if ever I'm not it is only by the grace of God.

Over the years I have learned how to reel that in, so whether I act on it or not, know that it is almost always my default mode of thought.

Don't believe it?
Push me beyond action into reaction.

I have often been dismissed as a lost cause for being so, however unintentional. It sucks. So I also have a high tolerance for those who share my affliction and rarely do I write anyone off for being so as well. But that's about to change soon enough. 

 The Rules

I like diversity it can be a great asset and I don't at all mind disagreement when it can be expressed in a manner that is constructive rather than destructive.

There are many, including me, that cannot at times make the distinction between the two, and so here we are.

There are a good number people in my life with whom I have less rather than more in common with. I feel blessed that they allow me to test their patience, and frustrated when they test each other's.

If we are corresponding in a public setting, and I am the only  common link between you and someone else, it would be safer to assume in your methods and means of communication that you have probably have even less in common with each other than I might have with either one of you. Don't be afraid to say whatever it is you have to say, but please keep this in mind when saying it.

In the exchanges between people that may not know each other except by me, I would ask you to listen beyond the words for the perspective each of the other. After having done so, consider it all the more before responding.

The perception of our motives can obscure our message to the point of alienating our audience completely. What is  heard is may not be at all what is being said, and therein lies the art of (and need for) listening to the heart of another and responding from our own hearts.

I learn a good deal from my friends who are most often articulate, educated, well informed and sincerely well intentioned in their efforts to enlighten others. That said public exchanges are exactly that, public, and the worldviews of the other parties who may be viewing (if not participating) should be considered when a public response is made.

I believe that everyone has a relationship to God, though many of the people that I know would not dare to identify themselves to be what they have come to know as "christian".

As is true with all relationships each rarely looks the same as another especially considering that not all relationships are the same in nature either. They are relationships nonetheless. Consider it then your obligation to build bridges and not walls in your communications.

Given the passion of some on varying sides of any issue and the complacency of others there is bound to be offense at one point or another. This does not bother me.

If this is the case, everyone's best interests are served to consider the nature of the offense internally rather than the catalyst for it externally. If this can be done and we find within ourselves some ugliness we had not previously recognized, perhaps offense too has its place.

Always assume the best of others, until it can be proven beyond doubt that it may be otherwise. Anything less is judgment.

In remembering that you may not to serve  common masters, expect that the courtesy will not be returned. This will lessen a great deal of offense and misunderstanding, not to mention the later need to apologize for being a judgmental dick.

People rarely apologize, ever.
Don't expect it.
You be happier for doing so.

It is not at all important to establish who is right and who is wrong. If your are right be secure in knowing so. Anyone who knows so will not be the one who will have to prove it so through arrogance.

Blame is only ever constructive as a means for learning though it is more often used for shame and to coheres others with the hope that we might minimize our own shortcomings.

If you are wrong admit it.
If you are right, no one needs to cry uncle to prove it.

Where diplomacy dictates apologize.

Especially in matters of the heart, most answers must be found rather than given, in order to be understood and appreciated.

Let people find their answers.
Guide them to answers.
Insisting that yours is theirs is almost never the key to anyone accepting it as so.

Even if other people believe the same as you, no one has experienced what you have. There is value in that if it is used as an instrument of teaching rather than a weapon to defeat your opponent.

You have no opponents.
You may have an audience if you can mange to retain them.

You are usually your greatest enemy with the ability to inflict the most damage upon yourself.
Don't do it.

If you cannot make your case without stating your cause, people will generally question the validity of both.
Step carefully through that mine field.

If you can keep them separate both will be served.

Fakebook

One of the wonderful and very terrible things about Facebook is that although anyone could be anything, or at least appear to be anything, most people are perfectly content to unashamedly and without apology, simply be themselves. Either that or they just can't seem to muster the energy, consideration and self discipline to be anything except themselves. And so they remain...

Most people, unaware of particular traits within themselves, are also unaware of just how deeply revealing their words and actions are of the true nature behind these words and actions. And so they carry on...

In my experience, (and history shows) any character trait, if ignored and indulged enough, will eventually become the character trait you embody.

For as a man thinks, so he is.

So that, people who start out in small proportion as being jerks (or kind), eventually (without conscious effort or awareness) spiral into being total jerks (or kind).

It can get ugly.

But it can be good too.

Lesson?

Let people be themselves, give it time, and eventually they will show you exactly who they are whether they mean to or not.

Thoughts?

d(-_-)b

The English Interpreter of English

I see quite a few posts of graphics on facebook with misspellings and improper grammar. Could they be easily overlooked, sure, but why should I have to?

What the world needs now...

I can't tell anymore if people with such apparent passion for their agendas, are more concerned with simply speaking their minds or they're just shouting so loudly and continually as their attempt to make sure that no one else can...

How To Make a Facebook Post

Don't have anything to say?

No original thought processes that might indicate independent thinking? 

Maybe it's just too risky to put it all out there.

Well then...I have a solution for you!

Ask pharaoh...

I believe in God. Believing what I believe to be right, it seems logical for me to think that you should believe in him too.That's not my call however, that's yours to contend with and it is between you and God what arrangement you come to.

How did that garden grow?

It is often easier to embrace the "attacks" of the sinners than to endure the "love" of the saints. It is in fact why I do not attend church. God is God, yesterday today and forever, His love never changes. To God be the glory.

This was a fb post I made last month...

I expect little to nothing from non-believing people or those who do not proclaim any sort of "faith" or religion as a baseline for their moral and ethical behaviors, and yet they continually amaze me with their graciousness and honest inquiry.

Religion, more specifically Jesus, and the actions of those professing to be his followers, always seems to be an issue that had affected everyones' life in one way or another, and so sometimes people respond less than kindly, but like I said I should expect no less, we don't answer to the same convictions.

However, believers often seem to use their faith as a justification for treating people in a manner that seems to be in direct opposition to that same professed faith.

My experiences over the years as someone that has been involved with churches, have shown me that often those people who would like to believe they are actually the most zealous act and respond to certain situations and communications, in manners that are calloused, self-righteous and insensitive in making their points, or in trying to force conviction, about God's word and nature. Especially in the hope of "saving" them.

Even when in that process they have clearly hurt or offended someone in or outside the faith, the damage they've caused is rarely admitted or addressed.

When or if it is, an apology is even more rare to encounter and is usualyy substituted with a justification of their actions. It seems that this because they see what they've done as being God's work instead of considering that their method of achieving God's work may not God's method.

In short they feel that since their cause is not their own so the wake of damage the leave behind is not theirs either.

So is my point in concluding that God is God, that He alone knows His plan is that we shouldn't focus on believers as a factor in considering God.

I don't believe that one must be on God's side to be used in accomplishing His will, but it certainly isn't an enviable position to be in. So these people too may be a factor in the equation. Only God knows. I recently experienced this all over again so I'm a little unclear as to what God is doing with me right now. There is a plan to be sure He just hasn't felt inclined to share that with me, so far. At least not on this level.

In our current culture it seems that if you can stir kool-aid you can start churches, so the sheep must wisely mind their shepherds to ensure the shepherds are wisely minding their sheep.

Open the doors and see all the people

I have said in the past, and here as well that..."the biggest problem with church is that it filled with people" which I think has been misunderstood or perhaps not fully understood.

Please allow me to offer this to you, I know it isn't anything I haven't said in the past, I'm just applying it here for clarification.

The reality of the problem is not that the church as an institution is occupied by the people that God created, the problem is that church as a body seems to be preoccupied by the god that we have created.

We all say with a smile that God created man in his own image, but are hard pressed to admit that we have corrected the situation by returning the favor.

THAT is fundamentally the problem, of course that broad statement is inclusive of a whole myriad of problems that  go along with that.

The church as an institution should be occupied by the church as a body, however neither really depends on the other to exist.

d(-_-)b

God is God and that is enough...

That we may find ourselves discontent or even failing to recognize the manners and methods by which God is at work, does not at all indicate that he is not at work for the greater good to his glory.

It simply means that God is God and we are not.

These things are not ours to control. That will never change and there is hope in that...but if in our lives we cannot submit & trust him to be in control now, just when is it that we think that we ever will?

God is God and that is enough.

d(-_-)b

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Matthew 25:31-46

In my younger days my survival dictated that I develop the horrible ability not to look back, and to walk away with no regrets.

Over the years it has been a struggle for me to undevelop that ability in order to maintain some very valued relationships and the difficulties they can sometimes bring.

Once in a while though something big happens, and I find that it's still not a bad card to have in the deck.

God is God, Solo Cristo Salva....

Public Image Ltd. - FFF:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nndFH-f33xA&sns=em

Inconceivable

I can't possibly be expected to believe you have a valid point if you can't bother to write it on a sign, have it photographed with "you" holding it, and then post it on the internet ...however if you can manage to pull off that complicated little trick then I'd have to say you've pretty much irrefutably solidified your whole argument. You know what...I'm going to go write this on a sign and post it right now. Then you'll know I'm right.