Today’s posting was inspired by my niece and three colleagues from my Facebook account. I have known my niece about the same time as my three colleagues. The only difference I went to high school with my colleagues over 35+ years past. My niece is getting close to that age. My time flies when we are having fun. The key words are violence and all that is happening in the world today as well as interpretations dealing in the Bible. That is what this paper is about today—interpretations. However, I would like to state that all four of these people are devoted Christians, like myself, we are all infants in learning about the correct way that God wants us to live that so many before us have encountered and to those after us that will encounter the same.

What is truth? What may be true to one is not true to another. (Think about it.)

We used to play a game in my younger years in school. The game is a very valuable lesson. One that can be applied in adulthood. The next time you are at a party, do this as a social experiment.

            

The Game

For this to be effective at least 10 + people need to participate.

Line the participants in a single line.

Whisper in the first persons ear a phrase.

The first person tells the second and the second tells the third and so on.

By the time the last person hears the phrase, they must say it out loud.

It will be an entirely different phrase.

Word of mouth can be an interesting concept. It can be truthful as told or perceptional as heard. Both of them are correct.

With the advancement of social media, the internet highway, the increase in population, life is moving at the blink of the eye. Children are no longer even safe enough to be born. Yet life goes on with all the woes of death or destruction, war or peace, negative and positive, soothsayers, conspiracy theorist, and the list continues. Life will be in existence before and after we are gone from this world. As long as something is growing life will continue. We might not like the way it continues but it does go on. It is called adaptability.

In addressing violence, we think evil, terrorism, homicide, war destruction, etc. Well there are variant degrees. Let’s use homicide as an example. I took a class (yes, another undergrad class) and in the many notes I made there is a sentence: “The majority of homicide victims knew their killer.” [1] While researching on this particular paper, I discovered supporting documentation for this statement. “80% of the murder victims knew their killers and 16% were related to their killers…more than half of the victims had a romantic or social relationship with the murders…Female murder victims were about twice as likely as were male victims to have been killed by a family member (31% percent of the female victims versus 12% of the male victims.)” [2]

This is just an example of how murder can be considered evil and take the life of someone we know by someone we know. Why does God allow this evil to happen?  Evil depends on how it is perceived. What may be evil may not be evil but something incorrect or unsatisfactory. We should be able to understand the context in which the word is used. Perception. A really great helpful example is a biblical verse.

“I am from the light, and create darkness:  I make peace, and create the evil: I, the Lord, do all these things.” (Isaiah 45.7)

So, you are thinking about now, God really makes evil happen to good people. Isn’t that the whole premise of the book of Job? I, personally, was under the impression that God uses everything at his disposal to make a point. Sometimes we get the point, and sometimes we don’t. We keep making the same mistake over and over again.

The world of apologetics looks at it a little differently.[3] CARM published, “…the Hebrew word for evil, rah, is used in many different ways in the Bible. In the KJV Bible it occurs 663 times. 431 times it is translated as evil. The other 232 times it is translated as wicked, bad, hurt, harm, ill, sorrow, mischief, displeased, adversity, affliction, trouble, calamity, grievous, misery, and trouble…. We can see the word does not require that it be translated as evil. This is why different Bibles translate this verse differently. It is translated as calamity by the NASB and NKJV; disaster by NIV; and woe by the RSV.” [4]

In Isaiah 45, God was introducing himself to Cyrus and reading him the fatherly riot act—mess up and your butt is the grass and I am the lawn mower-- a type parental speech. It is just like I would tell my children, “God loaned you to me to bring into this world! Pull that stunt one more time and I will take you out!”  Well, why should God be any different, after all are we not made in his image according to the book Genesis?

But in studying this work, let’s look at the culture of the time of Isaiah. What was going on? I will try to work through this in my own version from studying the word. Isaiah was sent as a prophet by God because there was a lot of improper worship and social injustice going on. Some wars were lost, a few natural disasters, and the government was just poor, piss poor to be exact. All of this is centered around the society and kingdom of Jerusalem. (Our society could really learn from the book of Isaiah.) It is a book of poetry and prophecy. God did use all means necessary to make his point. Meaning, God can control evil and allow it to happen at his command.

“The contents of this chapter are much the same with those of the foregoing chapter, looking at the release of the Jews out of their captivity, but looking through that, and beyond that, to the great work of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ, and the grace of gospel, which through him believers partake of. Here are, (I) Precious promises made to God’s people in their affliction, of his presence with them, for their support under it, and their deliverance out of it. (2) A challenge of idols to vie with the omniscience and omnipotence of God. (3) Encouragement given to the people of God to hope for their deliverance out of Babylon, from the consideration of what God did for their fathers when he brought them out of Egypt. (4) A method taken to prepare the people for their deliverance, by putting them in mind of their sins, by which they had provoked God to send them into captivity and continue them there, that they might repent and seek to God for pardoning mercy.” [5]

From reading, we can conclude that yes God did create evil, just like he created man and judgement and trees and redemption and love and idolatry. Does he allow all these things to happen to us, maybe and maybe not, but it all depends on the individual.

To get a good idea of understanding, it takes more elements of study than just praying and reading the Bible. It takes research. Do you know the period you are dealing with? How is it applicable for you? The spiritual life of God is a balance between our soul and the life we live.

Should we do and act as God would want us to act in the Bible? Could you behave in such a manner in accordance with BC 700 in 2017 AD? In 1 Peter, chapter 2 and Romans, chapter 13, we are supposed to honor the law of the land in which man has made to the best of our abilities. But, always keep in mind God’s instructions are highly important therefore, a balance must be adhered to.

If a person goes out and stones another to death another for committing adultery in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2017, then they have committed murder.

If a person goes out and stones another to death for committing adultery in Jerusalem in BC 700, then they have fulfilled to correct the situation in accordance with their cultural law (law of the land and man.)

In studying the Bible all, these things must be considered before applying the scripture to our lives. It is called balance (there is that word again.) (1) What does the verse say to you? (2) What was the verbal interpretation and the context in which it was used? (3) What was going on culturally at the time? Then we learn violence existed then just like now.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for all good works.” 2 Timothy 3.16-17

Every single day we try to live and cope with the reality of life. Why was the grandmother stabbed by her 13-year-old grandson, whom she loved and cared for from birth? Why was the custodial father of two murdered in his home by two very calm men that walked in, shot him, and walked out? Why was a woman killed as a result of a vehicular accident, a week after being home in the states from serving two tours in Afghanistan without being injured? Why did that child die 3 days after being born? Why did he kill himself? How is that drug addict still alive for 62 years when death has knocked at his door more than once?

            We don’t know. A lot of what we have is purely conjecture, including Bible studies.

“To thine own self be true.” Hamlet Act 1, scene 3

My truth is in my faith. I believe that God exist. I believe that he sent his son Jesus (incarnate) to die for us on the cross in order to save humanity. I believe that the Bible offers a lot of good incite to living correctly – literally and literarily.

The rest I am playing by ear.

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[1] Personal Class Notes. Charles Copeland Instructor. “Criminology” Jones County Jr. College, Ellisville, MS. 1993.

[2] Department of Justice Statistics. “Murder in Large Urban Counties”. 12^th May 1993. (accessed 8^th March 2017) https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/MILUC88.PR

[3] ** Special Note: I had never heard of apologetics until 2012 although others have. It is simply in defense of the Christian faith. Why do Christians believe the way they do? Was it an inherited belief, one told to you, or something you learned another way. As a Christian, we should be able without a doubt defend our faith within reasonable means and details. It is support yourself, your cause, your faith.  

[4] Slick, Matt. “Does God Create Evil?” Christian Apologetics Research and Ministry. (accessed 8^th March 2017) https://carm.org/does-god-create-evil

[5] “Isaiah 45.” Matthew Henry Commentary-Bible Study Tools. (accessed 8^th March 2017) http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/isaiah/43.html

Parenting and Education - Teachers

Have often have you heard or you have said, “I raised my children by myself” or “We raised our children by myself.” Same old, yada, yada, yada! Liar, liar, pants on fire! No, you did not! Who do you think you are fooling? If you buy into that statement of a parent raising their children by themselves, then who is the bigger fool? You the person that believes it or you the person that said it?

Let us be smart and analyze the situation? Everything that happens is a child’s life is educational.

Did you take your child to the doctor? Was it you that weighed them in? Was it you who personally paid cash or barter for the services? Did you personally give that child those vaccines? Did you personally draw blood and take it to the lab for you to test? Did you personally make the medicine that your child is taking?

Answer: NO, YOU DID NOT. Teachers taught them.

                Involved was a: Doctor, nurse, laboratory technician, receptionist, the pharmacist, and the clerk that you came into contact with on that one single doctor’s appointment. Who exactly did you not come into contact with on that single appointment because they were out of your visual perception or thought?

The teachers who taught the doctor, nurse, the lab technicians, receptionist, pharmacists, and the clerks, you didn’t see them did you?  

The contactors including the employee and material manufacturers who build the doctor’s office or the pharmacy or the furniture you sat on while at the doctor’s office, were they at the doctors that day?

The shoe and clothing manufacturer and the material mill workers who clothed everyone around you, including you and your child(children), and made fabric for the furniture you sat on, did you see them?

The day care workers, teachers, or the spouses who were keeping the children (if need be) of the doctor, nurse, receptionist, lab technician, the pharmacist, or clerk you came into contact with, where were they?

What about the doctor’s office manager, payroll clerk, insurance clerk, file clerk or cleaning crew that you didn’t see that day?

                What about the manager of the drug store where your prescription was filled?

                Did you see the person who made your car, engine, and wheels so you could drive it?

What about the person who drill the oil, the manufacturer of the oil that turns it into gasoline, the truck driver that delivers the gasoline, the store manager who checks the levels of gasoline on a daily basis, the clerk you pay money to for the gas? Did you see all of them on this single visit?

What about the boss who allowed you to take off work, without giving you a hard time, to take your child to the doctor?

What about the government employees who ensure you have a family leave day or a to take your child to the doctor?

What about the teacher at your school who marked your child absent and will have to specially administer make up homework or a test that your child missed?

What about the absentee officer, the principal, the school district’s financial officer, school’s Fiscal officer who handle the reports to the state to receive funding for the next year because your child was absent from school on that day?

What about the agent with the department of education who funnels funds to the state, and then onto the districts so that your child does have a school they can attend?

What about the banker, teller, or ATM technician who keeps your money or makes it readily available to you?  

They are all teachers who have been taught...and will continue to teach…vicious cycle.

I have mention more than 1,000+ plus people that have helped raise your child. I didn’t include grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and coaches that help raise your child.  Least we not forget the grocery store clerks, managers, employees where we shop or the chef, wait person and cashier at the restaurant or fast food outlet, and / or the cleaning person who cleans up after you have left any premises involved. I also didn’t include the road contractors, plumbers, electricians, and so on that make it possible to drive your car, see at night, and flush your toilet.

We are all interdependent. There is not one person among us that can lay claim that they raised their children alone. Unless you have done all this by yourself – singularly—there will always be two of more people helping you raise your child. Children observe and learn.

SOMEONE HAD TO TEACH ALL THESE PEOPLE HOW TO DO WHAT THEY DO…RIGHT

Knowing how hard it is now to raise children and realizing that we are all teachers, why do we FAIL to put more money into formal education to further the advancement of our children? Why do we FAIL to support professional teachers more to make sure that corn crop is the sweetest and best to work with our most precious investments, children?

The voucher system is giving too many options when we have a system that needs to be worked on, not scrapped or given an alternative to lose funding. States are not equal in the education? Why? Why is “A” state doing better than “B” state? Why is “B” district doing better than “C” district in that state? These questions need to be answered. In the same token, charter schools don’t always work, Christian schools are not always accredited, private schools are not always the best solution for anyone.  There is no game plan on what to do at this time, federally or on the state levels. Why?  EDUCATIONAL RED TAPE! It is messed up in a sea of red tape.

In my lifetime, I have seen very few private schools, one (1) maybe two (2) charter schools that work, and two Christian based schools that I would love to see expand.  The ones I support have their accreditations.

There is a lot that we parent’s need to be up in arms about. My children are grown but I still want to see an investment in the future for my grandchildren—the two born to my daughter and son-in-law and the future ones if any that might son and future daughter-in-law might have.

SPECIAL NOTES

***If you see my grammar wrong or a misspelled word, feel free to teach me correctly.  Well, I am not perfect! I did spellcheck and proof read.  (LOL) 

As a parent, are you concerned about the soul of your child or children? Parents (or use to) had a hard time talking to the children about sex. What is even worse, they had a hard time talking to their children about their souls. Telling to abstain on sex, doesn't always work and neither does talking to them about their soul, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to broach the conversation. God does not guarantee anyone tomorrow. Talk to your children today. 

Verses to think about on the topic of immigration--legal or illegal. 

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."  (Leviticus 19.33-34)

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13.2)

Valuable Actions

I know I said I was going to write about the Gospel John. I am, but his work has inspired me deeply to write this posts. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14.6) The purpose of this paper to gently compare Christianity, Sikh and Islam religions in attempt to understand how people interact in such a confusing time.

What are valuable actions? For the intent purpose, they are actions that people do that may or may not have or reflect value to their belief system. That alone is a vague definition. Do you understand it? Let me give you an example. I will use a popular subject that I am still trying to figure out today as to the meaning. During the Republican National Convention, on day two (2), the invocation was led by Harmeet Dhillon, the vice chairperson for the California Republican Party.[1]  The invocation was a prayer of the 5^th largest religion in the world, Sikh religion. She covered her head and led prayer. If you watch the video, she is talking about prayer to the “one God above.” Which is in the Bible that many Christians adhere to we are supposed worship and pray to God (Jesus incarnate) without fail. Any truly devoted Christian should have noticed that other Christians were praying to a God that is representing a religion that many know nothing about. Talk about confusion to its highest authority. Why would they do that? This is where we ask what do our actions say about our value? Are they valuable actions depicting who we are?

         

      We hold the Ten (10) Commandments in great truth as being used to somewhat dictate certain laws throughout the world. One of the Commandments stated is “Thou shalt have no other god before Me.” (Exodus 20.3) The text written supporting this commandment is simple and self-explanatory. Let us take this topic and investigate to be able to answer the question of non-sense and foolishness or actions that we should guard ourselves against actions like this.

Compare Sikh and Christianity

In 2014, Newsmax (an online publication) wrote an article “Images of the 12 most popular world religions and sects.”  Sikhism was number 9.[2] The article states:

“Sikhism was founded in the 15th Century in Punjab, India, on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and 10 successive Sikh Gurus (the last one being the sacred text Guru Granth Sahib). The word Sikh derives from the ancient Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner," or śikṣa meaning "instruction."[3]

I personally cannot tie any of this into being an offshoot of God’s (Jesus incarnate) word or any direct passage that Jesus might have used as printed in the Bible. I crossed reference the article’s definition of this religion with three (3) on line dictionaries and they held the same terminology as the article. Jahnabi Barooah wrote that the Sikh religion is an offshoot of Hinduism because they rejected in Hindu caste system; they are monotheist and follow the scripture the living Guru, which there have been several. The last living was Guru Gobind Singh who passed away.[4] Guru Gobind Singh passed away on the 7^th of October, 1708. [5]  Very interesting to find out this information.  

                

One of the major teaching of Sikh is the following passage:

     "I observe neither Hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan month; Him I serve who at the last shall save. The Lord of universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims have I broken free. I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the Muslim prayer; To the Sole Formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme Being who alone is both Ram and Allah for us." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib, Raga Bhairon pg. 1136) 

"Any human being who faithfully believes in: (i) One Immortal Being, (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru Granth Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and, (v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion is a Sikh." (Rehat Maryada, Sikh Code of Conduct) [6]

                I understand that this is an offshoot of Hindu. I saw the word Gosain and at first thought it was a god of some type. Well that is not true. A gosain is wonderer that has given up all material pleasures for worship of the Shiva, the god of destruction, regeneration, and sexuality in the Hindu trinity. But not all gosains practice self-discipline or abstain. From there, a gosain is broken up into ten sects. [7] Each sect follows various gods.[8]  None of this is in what we Christians consider is in the Holy Bible. To clarify this a little better than just a statement, “You should have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20.3) In other words, God is the only God as listed in the Holy Bible, the Ten (10) Commandments.  

                Further research of the Sikh religion with what is written in the Holy Bible reveals that they believe that God is above the normal human range, something we cannot totally understand, comprehend or put into words. He also exists and operates within while sustaining the universe and the very existence of all things in the universe. He makes everything happen. [9]  The Holy Bible commonly mentions the same.

                “As you do not understand the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” (Ecclesiastes 11.5) “By faith we understand that the worlds were set apart in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.” (Hebrew 11.3) We do not understand God. That statement is universal. We cannot comprehend, other than what we read in the Bible, and we follow it through faith.

It states that “Man was created in God’s image.” (Genesis 1.27) There are many passages that state the trinity “…Father, son, and holy spirit…” similar to that in Matthew 28.19. However, in other passages it states:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1.14-18)

To keep down the confusion because this makes it sound as if God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are three different people in an archaic manner. According to several sources 1 John 5.7-8 was added to the Bible after the Council of Nicaea as not to confuse people that we worship three separate entities like in paganism or other worldly religious sects. [10] Therefore, the basis of Christianity is the belief of monotheism whereas the creator, God, takes on the flesh as his son, Jesus (incarnate) to save humanity. The Holy Ghost is God’s way of communication like a go-between since we are cannot see directly God, because of his greatness: he uses the image of the Holy Ghost (Spirit). “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us….” (John 1.14) “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one…” (1 John 5.8)

I will draw the conclusions from what little I have studied that there are similarities with the Sikh religion and Christianity like that of Judaism and Christianity. God cannot be comprehended and monotheism; however, Sikh religion does not acknowledge Jesus Christ (incarnate).

                I have to ask this question: Why did Christian’s bow their heads at Republican National Convention to be lead in prayer from a person that represents a religious order other than Christianity? It is true that they could be praying to God. However, since I have already quoted the passage John 14.6, would this be an action of ignoring Jesus Christ existence? Jesus Christ hence Christianity. Look at it this way, if you are a Christian, would you go to a Jewish Temple to practice their religion or would you observe? If you are a Christian, would you go to an Islamic Mosque and participate or would you observe? Neither of these religions acknowledge Jesus as our Christ and Savior. Now we should compare the Islamic religion to Christians and Sikh religions.

Compare Islam to Christianity

                The Islamic religion is listed as the second largest religion with 1.6 billion followers. It is a monotheistic faith based on the teaching of the Profit Mohammed, 7^th Century from Saudi Arabia which eventually was broken down into four (4) sects, Sunni, Shia, and Sufism. The God is referenced in Arabic (Allah) is the same God revealed in the Jewish and Christian Bible.[11]

                Other sources claim that Islam literally means submission to God and 1.226 billion followers are listed worldwide. It is noted that it is the second largest religion internationally. [12] I accessed the definition of Islam in a few dictionaries and it states pretty much the same thing. When cross referencing the word Islam and Allah (Arabic for God) in the Holy Bible there is no reference. We must also consider the translations of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, which all three were written and spoken during the time period of Jesus. The reason behind this, Islamic religion claims that that Allah and God are the same because Jesus called to Allah while he was being nailed on the cross. “… And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27.46) “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15.34) Definition and translation is a major issue among religions, especially Islam and Christianity. Islam religion, again, claims that Jesus did not call out to “God” but to Allah, citing Matthew and Mark’s verses.[13] In the middle east, there are so many different variations to the word being used, meaning Christian or Jewish God, as Allah. In fact, there were so many different theories that it can be confusing and overwhelming to the average person. I took the time to check out the sources as listed on the Wikipedia page of “Allah.”

                Allah is used by and or as:        God in Islam

                                                                           God in Abrahamic religions

                                                                           Arab Christians

                                                                           Muslims

                                                                           Christians and Sikhs in West Malaysia

     Babists, Baha’is, Indonesian, and Maltese Christians as well as Mizrahi Jews

Allah corresponding with:           Aramaic Elah, emphatic state Elaha, Biblical Aramaic Elaha, Assyrian Christians Alaha,              Hebrew Elohim—singular Eloah

                Allah-al-ab                                        God the Father

                Allah-al-ibn                                       God the Son

                Allah-al-ruh al-quds                        God the Holy Spirit[14]

                It is safe to assume that Islam considers Allah the same as the Christian God from the Holy Bible. Christians in other parts of the world also consider the same. Why do American Christian’s doubt this fact? I have yet to meet very few who agree with Allah and God being one in the same. The American Christian should be no different in their religious beliefs than the Syrian Christian, Malaysian Christian, Maltese Christian, or Arabian Christian.  Yet, we know that there are other names for God in the Holy Bible with similar variations used by what I have already discovered. For example: God, Yahwah, Lord, YHWH, Holy Spirit, Light, Rock, Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Shiloh, Messiah, Father, Son, Yeshua, Lion of Judah, Mediator, and many more. I understood that YHWH is a four-letter tetragrammaton to denote the true name of God as taught in Religion 101 class during my undergrad studies. “His name is so great and so special that we cannot even speak it.” [15] This even brings up a point as to the language that Jesus spoke, or even talked, which I have come to understand through reading is all conjecture, theories. “There are a lot of religious theories. However, there are some questions that we just do not have an answer for.”[16]   In my heart from this study, Allah and God are one in the same.

The Islam religion does not recognize Jesus Christ. There is also a contingency of religious radicalism in the Muslim religion which I consider dangerous, but no different in comparison to the Christian Crusades of 1095-1291, which I also considered dangerous. It is safe to assume that even though much of what I discovered isn’t really in the Bible to point out facts and support anything, Sikh and Islam have a common ground with Christianity in the description(s) of God, his being, his existence. But, that doesn’t mean I will participate any more in their religious rituals or prayer than I would participate in Hindu ritual used by Brahmans, the Vedic priest – Yoga (also called the 8-limbed path to enlightenment.) I have met a few Christians who feel they get closer to God by using Yoga. To each his own.

                After doing this study, I do understand how Christians can become confused and get off the beaten path. I understand to each his own, like the actions of those praying at the Republican Convention, day 2, with a religious leader of the Sikh religion, especially if they were unsure as to who they were praying to at face value. What I am getting at is to find the truth within yourself. We cannot let the actions of other in the religious world confuse the main focus of faith that a Christian has which is God the father, incarnate as the son (Jesus Christ), that communicates through the Holy Spirit form. Whether it be Islam, Sikh, or Christianity, none of these three are better than the other, but they do not know Jesus by name and have not accepted him as their savior. (Then again, neither does Judaism.) Christians follow Christ. Should we punish the Islam, Sikh, or Jews for not following Christ? No. “Put the sword back in its place. (for Jesus said) for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26.52)

If you are a Christian, then be just that but not an overzealous one. The Bible speaks against glutton in many verses but it does not necessarily mean over eating; it means over indulgence. Find your Christian focal point, your purpose, participate in Christian actions and live by them. God knows what is in your heart. “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs in the heart.” (Proverbs 21.2) As a Christian, no one goes to God except through Jesus if we live by the Holy Bible.

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[1] Fox 10 News Phoenix, Arizona. 7.19.2016. (accessed 3.6.2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwGqSg17imE

[2] Grigonis, Richard. “Images of the 12 most popular World Religions and Sects.” NewsMax Independent American, Online Magazine. 1^st May 2016. (accessed 6^th March 2017) http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/most-popular-religions-sects-images/2014/05/01/id/569022/

[3] Grigonis, Richard. “Images of the 12 most popular World Religions and Sects.”

[4] Barooah, Jahnabi. “Sikhism: 5 things to know about the Sikh Religion.” The Huffington Post. 5^th August 2012. (accessed 6^th March 2017) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/05/5-things-you-should-know-about-sikhism_n_1744657.html

[5] New Delhi Publication. “Happy Guru Gobind Jayanti: 11 fascinating facts about Guru Gobind Singh, the 10^th Sikh Guru.”  India Today in Education. 16^th January 2016. (accessed 6^th March 2017) http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/guru-gobind-singh/1/571962.html

[6] Sikhs.org. “Who and what is a Sikh?” 2011. (accessed 7^th March 2017) https://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm

[7] PG India.com “India is a land of contrast” 2017 (accessed 6^th March 2017) http://www.peoplegroupsindia.com/

[8] Smithsonian Institute. “Ritual, Religion, and Spirituality-Hindu Belief and Practice.” History, art, Culture.  http://www.asia.si.edu/explore/indianart/belief.asp

[9] Singh, Daljeet. “The idea of God in Sikhism.” Spiritual Essay-Hinduwebsite.com. 1994. (accessed 7^th March 2017) http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sikhism/the-idea-of-god-in-sikhism.asp

[10] United Church of God. “A spurious reference added in 1 John 5.” Beyond Today Study. 22^nd July 2011. (accessed 7^th March 2017) https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/is-god-a-trinity/a-spurious-reference-to-the-trinity-added-in-1-john-5-7  

[11] “Islam.” Religion Fact. 17^th March 2004. (accessed 6^th March 2017) http://www.religionfacts.com/islam

[12] Grigonis, Richard. “Images of the 12 most popular World Religions and Sects.”

[13]  Naik, Zakir. “Is Allah mentioned in other scriptures?” Islam 101. (accessed 6^th March 2017)  http://www.islam101.com/tauheed/Aior.htm

[14] Wikipedia “Allah” Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia 2016. (accessed 6^th March 2017) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allah (The majority of the sources used where checked out and read by me because I am not one to generally use Wikipedia for a reputable source)

[15] Notes from undergraduate class “Religion 101” Dr. Clayton Sullivan. 1995, University of Southern Mississippi. (In all honesty, according to Dr. Sullivan, we really do not know the real name of God.)  

[16] Notes from graduate class “The Unborn Life”. Dr. Anthony Joseph. 2013. Houston Baptist University. 

Additional reading: Bauckham, Richard and Carl Mosser. The Gospel of John and Christian Theology. WM.B.Erdmans Publishing Company. Grand Rapids: 2008.

Let us play catch up

     It has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog. It has been a year. Let me try to catch up on everything.

     Of course, as the world knows, we have a new president, Donald Trump. I did not vote for him, but as a citizen, I will support the position and his administration because it is my tax dollars that help run the country. He is working for “The people “as a public elected official. Therefore, it is my job to respectfully voice my opinion if I feel he is making a grave error and support him even though I may not like his decision because of my idealism. 

     Burning the American flag and protesting really doesn’t get the attention everyone thinks it does in a positive manner. I am much older and have been there done that in the years of my foolish youth. I did learn something during this election year, President Trump did not cause all the hateful actions. People were hateful to begin with and they showed their true selves this election year. I am ashamed at some of the behavior and ignorant uneducated intellect that many of my countrymen have displayed. There used to be an old saying: “Did your mother raise you in the barn?” The actions of many were that of stubborn farm animals. Social media and the a few select news media added fuel to this type of mentality. 

    I also learned that many American’s do not know the workings of their own government as well, and neither does our currently elected President. He is getting a crash course and quickly. This election, whether we want to label it or not, is historical. Not because he is president, but because of the overall mood of the election and the way it was carried out. There was so much hatefulness, distrust, yellow journalism, poor speechwriting, the radical and racially abusive tones. America doesn’t need to worry about foreign terrorist because there are enough homegrown (born) and naturalized terrorist that we have cultivated all on our own. Dear Lord God help America heal. 

Next 

     I now have a second grandson. My daughter gave birth in May 2016, to a beautiful huge baby boy. He was almost nine (9) pounds. He is precious. When most babies are born, they have dark blue eyes. Well his eyes are still blue and they are progressively becoming a crystal blue with light green flecks. This is a mixture of my parent’s eye color. Mother had crystal blue and Dad had emerald/ grey green. I now have Aiden and Parker. 

     Meanwhile, Aiden is such a hoot! As he gets older his personality has just warmed my cold heart. (Yes; you heard it correctly, I have a cold heart.)  

    My son has finally fallen in love. Enough love to where he is getting a balance in his life. I am thrilled beyond belief. She is a very sweet Cuban/Caribbean young lady. She is in school aspiring to be a professional makeup artist. She is a good person and we (she and I) have a lot in common. Here comes the hard part! She is taking my oldest, my baby, my only son. How dare her! Like a good mother, I will cry and tug a bit, but I will let go. It is the right thing to do—time for him to go fly. He is 27 years old after all; makes his own living; does his own thing; I am really proud of him. He hasn’t popped the question, but they know in their hearts it is a deep connection of mutual like, respect, and love. The rest is only the mechanical part. 

     I will be living all alone again for the first time since in 1981. My daughter has her own place with her husband and two children. I thought about splitting the mother custody, six (6) months with one of my children and six (6) months with the other. I said NO! I want my own place with my eclectic style of decorating and living. In October, after two years in this apartment, I will be alone. I will be looking, starting in July, for a new place to live. Meanwhile, stay posted. I will start posting again (now that I have gotten a new computer) to my blog. I would like to write about the Gospel John in the next posts. I have really given some time and energy into studying about his life. 

"EVEN THOUGH, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23.4 

     God has been one of the biggest comforts in my life. I know he is here guiding me. I honestly do not fear death because he is on my side. Go with God and be blessed.