Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ 31,000 Flavors

Greetings Dear Reader,

I would eat ice cream every day if I could.  There are flavors that are my favorite like coffee, fudge ripple, and home churned peach.  At Christmas time I always seek out spumoni ice cream.  I always keep some vanilla ice cream in my freezer.  You never know when the Grandsons are going to turn up and desperately need a treat. 

The point is that there are many flavors of ice cream and for those who enjoy it there are many choices.  Some of those choices seem absurd to me.  I think that it is ridiculous to put some things in ice cream.  That, however, is my opinion.    

Before I delve into this part of the discussion I want to set a foundation.  I do not want you to think that I have disrespect for those who practice more extreme forms of faith.  I may not understand it but that does not mean that I am free to mock or ridicule.  What I am after is to clear some of the fog that extremes generate that masks the Gospel.

Whether it is rolling in the isles or forbidding the watching of television there are extremes in the Christian faith.  Each practitioner of these things will give you reasons why it is necessary to following Christ.  They will explain that it is outward evidence of your inner commitment to Christ.

What is intolerable is when they make doing odd things necessary to following Christ.  There is no ritual that is necessary.  No amount of abstinence or participation earns us favor with God.  What is worse is when they use signs and wonders to ask for money or loyalty.  What is intolerable is when they use ritual or odd things to cause emotional damage or control the lives of people.  These things are always wrong; always unacceptable.  They are the opposite of what the Gospel intends. 

What I do need to remember is that “speaking in tongues” or being “slain in the spirit” does not make me a better follower of Christ.  It earns me nothing from God.  If I require others to do anything to prove they are spiritual then I am violating the very foundation of faith. 

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies

Once there was this kid who

Got into an accident and couldn't come to school

But when he finally came back

His hair had turned from black into bright white

He said that it was from when

The cars had smashed him so hard

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Once there was this girl who

Wouldn't go and change with the girls in the change room

But when they finally made her

They saw birthmarks all over her body

She couldn't quite explain it

They'd always just been there

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

But both the girl and boy were glad

'Cause one kid had it worse than that

'Cause then there was this boy whose

Parents made him come directly home right after school

And when they went to their church

They shook and lurched all over the church floor

He couldn't quite explain it

They'd always just gone there

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Oh oh

Oh oh

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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