Anti-Social Media ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I read through my differing media sources I consider the volume of hatred that is spewed across it.  It is difficult to find honest news sources.  If you think any of the mainstream ones are not biased you might wish to look a little deeper.

It is not wrong for us to discuss the issues of the day in our social media.  It is not the place to spill our vitriol and hatred.  It takes so very much energy to hate.  It also solves nothing.  I have friends that I love dearly whom I see screaming their hatred for this or that person or issue.  It saddens me to see their precious energy spent on this instead of the great good they can and often do in the world.

The true application for me is to never hate anyone for any reason.  It is not my place to judge, condemn, or revile anyone.  I will disagree politely when I think differently.  I will not engage in anger and hatred.  Disagreement does not equal hatred, prejudice, or a phobia.  Holding the position that it does is neither honest nor tolerant.

Whether you consider your position to be right or left it is never tolerant to hate.  It is never a signal that I am correct when I choose anger or hatred over love and compassion.  Christ reserved his anger for those who believed they had the high ground and used it to look down on others. 

Only through loving humility can I hope to reflect what is true.  I will speak what I believe to be true but I will strive to do so with love and compassion.  I will hope always to assure that as I examine my own life that I can weed out anything that is not a reflection of the love of Christ.  Next up will be an issue that I have addressed briefly in the past.  I feel the need to fight off anger in it.  I hope you join me Dear Reader. 

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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Anti-Social Media ~ No Dissenting Views

Greetings Dear Reader,

No one agrees with me concerning every issue.  In some areas I have close friends with whom I disagree fundamentally on many things.  We are still friends.  We do not argue over things that we know will not be changed by arguing.

I am not saying that I tolerate everything.  I believe that some things are inherently wrong.  I am not, however, convinced that rejecting someone because he or she disagrees with you is sound theology.  In truth, it is directly opposed to the idea of loving my enemies. 

The people with whom I disagree know that I disagree with them.  They also know that I am required not to judge, reject, or hate them.  In Social Media we often see people beaten down by those with dissenting views.  It seems that the more one disagrees the less one is tolerant of disagreement.  Instead of polite intellectual discussion there is a sea of vitriol and charter attack. 

We cannot have justice and freedom in a nation that shames you for disagreeing.  When we refuse to hear what others have to say we are violating the very spirit of true tolerance.  No matter what color you paint your political animal or what religious symbol you venerate, you cannot be honest and refuse to hear others.  One cannot have much faith in his or her position if one cannot withstand hearing the ideas of others. 

We must express our ideas with kind intelligence.  I must listen with love and patience.  I must value the person speaking no matter how wrong I may think him or her to be.  If I do not I cannot earn the right to be heard.

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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Anti-Social Media ~ Popular Pejoratives

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the discussion thus far, we have talked about anonymity and integrity.  One of the elements one must consider is that of launching pejoratives without considering the impact to your target.  Or even if you feel that the target deserves the impact perhaps one should consider if it is right to launch such things.

It is easy to get a laugh or drip some venom at the expense of others.  It is a great way to gain popularity in the tribe.  It is even legal as long as one avoids slander or defamation.  I am seeking a higher plane of thinking.

Whether we like it or not, we are required to love our enemies.  We are obligated to love and pray for our political leaders (yes even him [whomever “him” is to you]).   I dislike the words and work of most of our politicians.  I know that there is corruption and scandal.  There is in almost every endeavor. 

None of this allows me to launch insults, accusations, and hatred at anyone.  Nothing permits me to speculate publicly about someone’s character.  Nothing allows me to reject someone based on hearsay.  It saddens me when others I love and respect participate in the popular hatred of someone. 

I understand that we will not always agree.  What I cannot understand is where our decency and respect have gone.  We need to respect our leaders even when we disagree with them.  We can demand that they act properly and fire them if they do not.  All we accomplish with running pejoratives is to foster division and hatred. 

I must love everyone. I must not launch insults at anyone no matter how heinous I find their actions.  My obligation is to love, pray, and work for what I believe is correct in that spirit.

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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Anti-Social Media ~ Light-speed Lies

Greetings Dear Reader,

We have all seen it.  The story of a celebrity death pops up on our social feed.  We express our sorrow at the loss.  Then we find out it is a hoax.  I have been fooled by this.

In the news of late we have found that some professional journalists have abandoned their integrity.  They have coloured, flavored, or in some cases fabricated “reports” to influence political or social positions.  Stories of the negative spread so quickly in our feeds and we believe them without verification.

Terms like “alternative facts” and “somewhat verified” are used to excuse poor journalism and outright lies.  It used to be that journalists and news people were taught to have evidence and verification of their stories.  This grew out of the abuses of print media in the eighteenth century.

Now we can post a lie and it can travel the world at light-speed.  We can turn a spark of rumor into a raging fire of anger and accusation just by typing a few lines and clicking “post”.  Lies become the truth because they scroll through your feed unfettered and unverified.  People repeat and re-post the lie until we all think it is true.

I must verify.  I must not think that something is true just because I read it on my social feed.  The tools are available to me to do the research and learn the truth.  It is my obligation to have integrity in all that I read and write.  It is my duty to put forth only the truth.  I cannot follow Christ properly without filtering out the lies, even when they are told by my allies.

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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Anti-Social Media ~ Anonymous Assaults

Greetings Dear Reader,

There is something fundamentally wrong about hurling insults at someone from the cover of anonymity.  I will occasionally receive anonymous comments on this blog that attack my faith, writing, or me.  I read them and consider whether there is truth in them.  I do not, however, allow vitriol or attacks on my page.

It is too easy to snipe from hiding on social media.  It never does anything but harm.  It is one of the great ills that comes of the ease of communication.  We can create a persona that is hidden and free to spread any rancor it wishes.  One can say horrid things without accountability or fear of reprisal.

Even when we think we are correct in our view we must not be unkind and harsh.   The venom of such attacks does no good and can do a great deal of harm.  One of the reasons that I do not allow negative posts on this page is that I do not want to be a part of spreading the negativity.

Since I am required to love everyone, tolerating this behaviour is an untenable position.  If I need to disagree with someone publicly then I must do so with kindness and respect. I must never resort to insults or attacks.  All that I say must be filtered through grace and love. 

This then allows few occasions for me to say anything other than the things that are good.  If I have good things to say then I can do so with openness and integrity.  I realize that this begs the question of my use of a nom-de-plume.  I choose this because I do not seek fame.  It is simple enough to work out who I am (that is not a challenge).  It is not anonymity but an attempt to live in humility.

Still, Dear Reader, we must never resort to insults and attacks to make our point.  It is futile and useless.  Let me know if I fail in my resolve to never do this.  I promise not to attack you if you do so.

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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Anti-Social Media ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

First, a little data to get us started on this section of the path.   It often helps to know the terrain before one traverses it.  The data comes from Hootsuite. 

• 2.8 billion people were using social media by the end of 2016, up 21 percent from 2015.
  
• Social media use on mobile increased by 30 percent year-over-year in 2016, surpassing 2.5 billion users globally (91 percent of all social media users).
• 83 percent of Americans have a social media account.
• In the U.K., 77 percent of people have a social media account.
• In the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), social media growth rates increased by over 50 percent year-on-year in 2016.
• More than 1.5 billion people across APAC now use social media on a monthly basis, 95 percent of whom access social via mobile—the highest ratio in the world.
• Social media use in Europe grew by five percent to pass 400 million users across the continent, 85 percent of whom access social on mobile platforms each month.

This sounds like a great many people because it is.  We are given very much because of the ease of access and plentitude of information via social media.  Too often what is posted is unkind or untrue.  At best we often get only part of the story.  At worst we get complete fabrications intended to manipulate our thinking.

I admit that social media has value.  I use it daily for communication and work.  I must, however, be vigilant to be accurate, honest, and careful.  I must not get caught up in things that are not reflective of who Christ is.  I must be accountable and responsible for what I take in and what I send out. 

For a few days I will examine some of the ills that are there to be avoided along the way.  I will review the framework that guides my thinking and writing in this arena.  It is simple to join the cacophony of voices shouting in print and photo about this or that issue.  It is easy to catch the virulent voices vilifying this or that person.  The challenge is to remain a voice set apart for love and truth; for kindness and acceptance.

Journey with me Dear Reader.  I need your company and counsel.  I also highly value your presence.   

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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On Atheists

Greetings Dear Reader,

For those of you who claim to be this there is not forthcoming rant.  I am not going to attack you or condemn you.  That is not my place.  Rather, I wish to ask my fellow Christ followers to see your example and follow it.

My friend Russ shared a story that answers a question I have wanted to address for some time.  Why did God create Atheists?

Here is the story he shared:

There is a famous story told in Chassidic literature that addresses this very question. The Master teaches the student that God created everything in the world to be appreciated, since everything is here to teach us a lesson.

One clever student asks “What lesson can we learn from atheists? Why did God create them?”

The Master responds “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs and act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that god commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness he can bestow upon others simply because he feels it to be right.”

“This means,” the Master continued “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say ‘I pray that God will help you.’ Instead for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no God who can help, and say 'I will help you.’”

ETA source: Tales of Hasidim Vol. 2 by Mar

Even Maslow makes it clear that the highest form of development is doing right for the sake of doing right.  It is in doing things for the sake of the needs of others that we become more like Christ.   I cannot have any motive other than love for my neighbor in helping my neighbor or I am selling something.

It is a beautiful dichotomy.  I am compelled to obey God in loving others because I believe in him.  I must love others as if he does not exist so that my motivation is love for others.  I cannot love others in my own strength because I am fallen but God gives us the grace to love others even if we do not believe in him.

As Christ followers we must return to the place where in Christ we find everything.  We need to see the lessons of following in every situation.  We need to remember that there are no secular issues.  I must see those who do not believe but yet love others as my example of how to love unconditionally; even if the condition I wish is to show Christ to others. 

If I do not love others in this way I risk creating a barrier out of my motivation.  I want everyone to see Christ for who he is.  They cannot if I feel I need to buy their view of him with anything.  So to those of you Dear Reader who do not believe in God, I thank you for your example of unconditional love in a world that sorely needs it.

The Basin and the Towel – Michael Card 

And the call is to community

In an upstairs room, a parable

Is just about to come alive

And while they bicker about who's best

With a painful glance, He'll silently rise

Their Savior Servant must show them how

Through the will of the water

And the tenderness of the towel

And the call is to community

The impoverished power that sets the soul free

In humility, to take the vow

That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel

In any ordinary place

On any ordinary day

The parable can live again

When one will kneel and one will yield

Our Saviour Servant must show us how

Through the will of the water

And the tenderness of the towel

The space between ourselves sometimes

Is more than the distance between the stars

By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow

We take up the basin and the towel

And the call is to community

The impoverished power that sets the soul free

In humility, to take the vow

That day after day we must take up the basin

And the call is to community

The impoverished power that sets the soul free

In humility, to take the vow

That day after day we must take up the basin

That day after day we must take up the basin

That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel

Take up the basin and the towel, basin and towel

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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Commitment – To God – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Throughout this I have been careful to avoid directly referencing commitments that we make to God.  I realize that not everyone who reads this believes what I believe.  For those of you who do not follow Christ you may consider this a way to hold accountable those of us who do.

Eccl 5:4 When you make a promise to God, don't be slow to keep it because God doesn't like fools. Keep your promise.

These are the words of Solomon.   We do not hesitate to quote him when we wish to appear wise or make a point about wisdom.  We must also embrace him when we dwell upon commitment.  Christ followers make commitments to God.  It is the nature of following.

So Dear Reader we must always consider those commitments when we act, think, or breathe.  Jesus made this much simpler for us:

Mat 5:33-37
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.' But I tell you don't swear an oath at all. Don't swear an oath by heaven, which is God's throne, Or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King. And don't swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white. Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.

When we say yes to what Christ asks of us we are bound to it.  We come up with many reasons, excuses, and pretenses as to why we do not need to keep our commitment to God but the truth is they are useless.  We even fool ourselves into believing that unbelief will free us from our commitments.  We think that because God is slow to call in our debt of commitment that he will not.  

Whether we continue to sing in the choir or abandon our faith altogether our commitments to God are still alive.  It I say yes to follow Christ it means I say yes to all of it.  I take up the cross.  I follow when it is easy and when it kills me.  I keep my commitment when I doubt or when my faith roars like a lion.  

The measure of who I am is forged in my faithfulness to my commitment to Christ.  I have failed so often that I still feel shame when I think about it.  I have markers I have placed in my life to help not forget my vows to God.  I have daily reminders that I have bound my life to Christ and am wholly his.  I carry the symbol of my oath with me always.  I have said yes to Christ and do not wish to be a fool.

There are daily temptations to be other than what I have committed to be in Christ.  I could have many things I desire if I simply leave behind my fealty.  Darkness and false light both offer me solace if I will only abandon my faith for something less restricting.

I have broken oaths, promises, vows, and commitments.  I know the bitter taste of those acts coming home to roost.  I know what it is to be the fool who has broken faith with God.  When tempted to abandon faith for some more convenient I have only one response:  “I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening – Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.  
His house is in the village though;  
He will not see me stopping here  
To watch his woods fill up with snow.  

My little horse must think it queer  
To stop without a farmhouse near  
Between the woods and frozen lake  
The darkest evening of the year.  

He gives his harness bells a shake  
To ask if there is some mistake.  
The only other sound’s the sweep  
Of easy wind and downy flake.  

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,  
But I have promises to keep,  
And miles to go before I sleep,  
And miles to go before I sleep.


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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Commitment - Integrity

Greetings Dear Reader,

Integrity is one of those things you either possess or you do not.  If we do not do what we commit to do then we do not have integrity.  Integrity signifies that something is whole.  If we do not keep our commitments we are not whole.

The damage done when we break a commitment may not be obvious at first.  Still it creates fissures in our being that multiply.  We lose the trust of those impacted by our failure.  Breaking one commitment makes easier to break another.  Eventually it can become part of our character. 

That we are known as habitually late or that we cancel things at the last minute should be something we abhor.  We must not treat any commitment as mundane.  If we think that we may need to change our plans we must not commit.  If we commit we need to realize that we have given our time, efforts, or availability to someone else.

I have become much more careful about the commitments I make.  I try to recognize when things are outside of my control and not commit to things I cannot control.  I cannot change the times in the past that I have not had integrity.  I can be integral today.

It seems that like so many other things, following Christ in the moment means having integrity in the moment.  We can make a habit of being honest.  We can make it our nature to keep our commitments.  We have to do so by doing it in the moment every moment.

Making a commitment means I choose to have integrity in future moments.  It is giving my assurance that I will do a thing in the future.  When I break a commitment I create fissures in my integrity.  It is only through keeping my word that those fissures can heal.  

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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Commitment - Oaths

Greetings Dear Reader,

“An oath is a solemn commitment that often involves invoking a divine witness and is relative to future behaviour.”   We primarily see oaths from those entering the military, law enforcement, medicine, and politics.  All of our national Presidents have taken this oath:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The presidential oath is taken most of the time with his hand on a Bible.  The public nature of this type of commitment should be inviolable.   Oaths and vows deal with future actions.  We promise to do or not do something.  We give assurances that the thing that we are being entrusted with will be completed faithfully.

So much of an oath is related to acts of faith.  We are bound to act in the promised way for the duration of the time we are entrusted with the office or duty.  I wonder if we understand the full weight of that type of commitment.  Since we cannot foresee all circumstances we are promising to act a certain way no matter what happens.  This is a serious faith based commitment.

I am not talking about faith in God.  It is faith in our own fortitude that is involved in an oath.  I will do “X” no matter what happens with “Y”.   This is not only binding it is open ended.  It does not surprise me that Jesus cautioned us about swearing oaths.  It is not that we should not take them but that we should understand the full weight of them.

It keeps coming back to personal integrity.  I must be complete in my loyalty to the words I say.  I must be honorable and honest.  I must be the one who governs my actions so that they adhere to my word.  An oath is making clear that to which I am saying “yes”. 

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Commitment - Bonds

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the universe of Star Trek the race of Klingons are experts and insults.  Arguably the most intense insult one can level at a Klingon is “tokhe straav'” or “willing slave”.  We would call that individual a “bond slave” or one who has willingly bound their life to the servant of another.

We make commitments with legal standing.  Bonds are commitments that carry the force of law.  Breaking them has consequences beyond the social and spiritual ones.  In the ancient world servant could choose to become a Bond Servant when offered freedom.  They would then bind their lives to a household forever.  The Greek word for this is Doulos.  A ring in the ear of this willing slave told all who saw him that he was not for sale.

A financial bond is a promise to appear at trial when accused of a crime.  Our word is to be our bond and no other thing should be necessary.  Because we violate our commitments we have to offer assurance that we will do as we say.  Bonds should not be necessary in our world.  Our commitment should be enough.

A popular song from my youth said that the man wished   “…to know that I’m not shackled by forgotten words and bonds and ink stains that have dried upon some line…”  We avoid being bound to things when there are things to which I must be bound.

My word must be my bond.  I must be bound to Christ and his commands to love and peace.  I must give away my freedom to be his bond servant.  The world must know that I am not for sale.  I have been purchased, redeemed, set free, and then freely stepped back into the role of bond slave to Christ.  It is not logical but it is true that this is where true freedom lives.

Doulos – Kemper Crabb

You are my God

And I am your man

I will follow you

With the work of my hand

And the thoughts of my mind

And the love of my heart

If the world could know

If they could understand

Ah, the exquisite touch

Of the Creator's hand

Brings a blur to my eye

But makes my vision clear

Ring, rainbow ring

Encircles the throne

Fiery ring of love

Around your own

A golden ring to show

Just where I stand

A ring that binds my heart

Into your hand

And looking back across the years

I can see that you were constantly there

Constant creation

That’s what I am

As you are making me into your man

Here is my ear

Drive through the nail

The world will know

By the ring that I wear

That I am not for sale

For you are my God

And I am your man

Ring, rainbow ring

Encircles the throne

Fiery ring of love

Around your own

A golden ring to show

Just where I stand

A ring that binds my heart

Into your hand

For You are my God

And I am your man

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Commitment - Pledge

Greetings Dear Reader,

A solemn promise relative to an undertaking is called a pledge.  The most commonly known pledge in this country is the Pledge of Allegiance.  I recall saying it every morning in primary school.  It is simple and short:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We pledge ourselves to endeavors, symbols, and causes.  We speak formatted words or agree to take certain actions for a purpose.  Again we are submitting our will to an endeavor.  Pledges are commitments to a cause.

When we pledge ourselves to the cause of Christ it is no small things.  We pledge this so often in the formatted prayers and hymns we sing.  I do not think we ponder the weight of the words we say and sing. 

A Christ follower is called to a cause.  We are to use love, kindness, and grace to teach others to follow Christ.  So many of us have pledged our lives to this cause.  Living out the command to teach others to follow Christ does not require us to speak any proscribed words.  We are pledged to this cause by our commitment to Christ.

This is a cause I gladly renew my pledge to each morning.  I sit for a moment and take in what God has to say to me through the Bible.  I then ponder how I will live out that message in my commitment to teach others to love and forgive.  Some days are diamonds and some days are coal. 

The Pledge – DeGarmo and Key

He died for me, I'll live for him.

It's a world of choices, patterned to confuse,

Distracting, little voices whisper what to do,

Searching for the pieces, one step from the edge,

Turn your heart to Jesus, make this solemn pledge...

He died for me, I'll live for him,

He died for me, I'll live for him.

Above all lords and regents, he is king of kings,

I'm pledging my allegiance through these words I sing,

Take this oath of service; write it on your wall,

It's our only purpose for living life at all.

He died for me, I'll live for him,

He died for me, I'll live for him.

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Commitment - Vows

Greetings Dear Reader,

At some point we decided that promises were not enough so we made stronger promises and called them vows.  We applied these new and improved promises to solemn occasions.  We pick out lofty words.  We intone these words in front of witnesses. 

Vows are a big deal.  They are words that are supposed to be forged in the titanium of the soul.  They must be etched into who we are when we speak them.  They are taken voluntarily.  Once forged, vows are permanent unless they contain a terminus.

 And yet we break them.  I have broken sacred vows.  I have had others break vows them have made to me.  In the darkness of the heart and deception of the mind we decided that the vows we make are breakable.  We rationalize, justify, and lie to make breaking those vows palatable to our souls.

We don’t seek the permission of the witnesses.  We don’t honor the person or people to whom we make the vow.  We convince ourselves that what we want is a priority over the vows we make to others. 

I have learned through failure and pain that breaking vows leaves a permanent mark on me.  I think as humans we know that this is the case and it why we hold vows in such solemn esteem when making them.  A vow is sacred and our abandonment of it never makes it null and void.

It Ain’t Yours to Throw Away – Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio

That same road that brought you here

Will sure as hell take you home

The life you left behind will have you back

You're tired of paying dues in worn out shoes

And Broadway blues

And any fool will tell you

The damn ol' deck is stacked

What if you're just a vessel?

And God gave you something special

It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away

Every time you open up your mouth

Diamonds come rolling out

It ain't yours to throw away

No...

And all of the players, the movers, and shakers

The story maker suits have gone home

You drew the last slot

You thought it was your shot

But now it's just one more chance blown

What if you're just a vessel?

And God gave you something special

It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away

Every time you open up your mouth

Diamonds come rolling out

It ain't yours to throw away

No...

And our town is cold as January

Life comes true, and dreams get buried

Every day...

Destiny won't be denied

It ain't yours to throw away

No, it ain't yours to throw away

'Cause every time you open up your mouth

Diamonds come rolling out

It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away ...

Throw away

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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Commitment - Promises

Greetings Dear Reader,

I wonder how often we consider that asking someone to promise something implies a level of mistrust.  The implication is that one saying he or she will do something is not enough.  It asks for a commitment beyond the commitment of yes or no.

Photo by Marissa Voo

It creates an implied contract “higher” or more serious than just saying you will or will not do something.  Even though our yes or no should be enough we make the issue more serious when we promise.  We enter in a contract that limits our choices and freedom.

When we make a promise we give the power over to the holder of the promise.  This becomes a deep measure of our character.  When we promise a lover that we will never leave them we give up our right to leave.  When we promise to stay at a job for a certain amount of time we are committed to that time.   We put ourselves in debt to the holder of the promise to pay what we have promised.

Breaking a promise is more than violating your yes or no.  It is tearing something away from the holder of your promise.  We reach into the mind or heart of the promise carrier and destroy the trust and confidence they hold.  We say clearly that we are willing to damage someone else to do as we want. 

The other aspect of this is that we think once the promise is violated we are free.  This is a lie.  Until the holder of the promise releases us from it every act that follows the path is tainted.  It does not mean that we cannot do good after that point in time.  It does mean that we still owe a debt.    

I ponder the promises I have broken along the journey and the damage this has done.  I have sought forgiveness where I could.  Further I have sought release where possible.  We are not free of the debt of a promise until the commitment is paid or we are released from it.  Even now some minor debts of time and service spring to mind that I must attend to. 

As a Christ follower I must remember to follow the example that we have from God of keeping a promise.  Peter points out that “The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.”

I must do what I say I will do when I say I will do it.  For all of us there are promises back there that may require some humility and faith for us to fulfill.  The holder of those promises is owed a debt.  There are consequences for not paying that debt.  Unfortunately we do not see them all and fool ourselves into thinking we are free.  Keeping them out of love for Christ should be our first step.

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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Commitment – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have been searching for a particular kind of bow for someone.  He is just learning to shoot and it is something I love.  I thought I found just the right one this past weekend.  Instead I had found the right model but with cracks in the recurve. 

One of the things I was taught when I first learned to shoot a bow was to inspect the recurve for cracks before I string it.  A bow can shatter when strung if it has cracks in it.  The integrity of the bow must be verified before one trusts it under tension.

Before I became serious about being more invested in grace and mercy commitments were almost debilitating for me.  I would get frozen in the moment of someone not keeping his or her word.  It would damage my trust and my friendship with the individual.

Eventually I learned that if the individual is not going to keep a commitment forcing him to do so or demanding that she do it only does damage to the parties involved.  The relationship is damaged long before the commitment is broken.  A person is broken long before he or she begins violating promises, commitments, and vows.

It still troubles me greatly that the integrity of our society continues to fray and tatter.  Christ followers are to be known by the love shown to others.  If we are to have any credibility with those who do not respect our beliefs we must have integrity.  It is in keeping our commitments that we become dependable. 

If I am to understand this enough for it to be a part of who I am naturally I must assure that I have thought through what people and God expect.  Although commitment seems like a simple thing I think there is an underlying complexity to it.  I think  a little vivisection of the idea of commitment will serve to cement my understanding of just what I am doing when I say “yes” to anything.  Walk with me a feel free to join the conversation. 

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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The Clauses in our thoughts – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Thomas Traherne said that “to think well is to serve God in the interior court.”  My mind is constantly the source of my worst criticism, my deepest sins, and my greatest successes.  Controlling my thoughts increases my ability to do well.

It is the moment that I must capture.  I think well long term.  I have had an excellent education thanks to the sacrifices of my parents.  I have read thousands of books.  I have written several.  I have ten years of post-secondary education.  I had worked as a college professor for twenty.  I know how to think.

The thinking I must master daily is the thought of the moment.  It is the thoughts born of emotion that are the dangerous ones.  When I feel fear or anger the next thought is the one I must control.  I must burst the thought bubbles that are negative, hateful, unkind, and selfish. 

It is the clauses in my thoughts, when not controlled by faith and following that get me into trouble.  It is my responsibility to assure that every idle thought is brought into captivity in faith. 

So as I toss out the thoughts and questions that dance through my mind I must assure that I kill the ones that are harmful, selfish, and unloving.  I must also assure that I nature and give full life to those thoughts that are wholesome and good. 

“Finally, Dear Reader, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.”  ATT – If I focus on this type of thinking the environment will not be suitable for thoughts that are inappropriate.

If You Want to get Free – Waterdeep

In the gas station bathroom by the condom machine

I heard the word of the Lord

He said "Take off your shoes, this is holy ground too

You know I came for the sick and the bored."

Beneath the selling of beers

And the welling up of tears

Out beyond the beam of the remote control

There's a whispering voice

That the humble ear ears

that says "I am still waiting for you to ask just to be made whole."

And the bush it was burning on the mountain top

And though the leaves never blackened, the fire didn't stop

That's the way that it works in this old life of sin

You gotta let the fire burn you just to get clean within

I am so often deterred from my actual intent

by distractions in a cellophane wrap

And by a cruel voice that taunts me when I open them up

to find just one more box full of crap

It's where you're mocked while you abstain

and then cursed when you give in

It's all a game that's impossible to beat

But there's a peaceful refrain God'll sing in your brain

when you put the nails to your hands and your feet

And the smell of our sacrifices

still fills up my head

There's just a few left at the altar, Lord

all the rest of them fled

And we've cried and we've tried

We've sweat and we've bled

But we don't just need atonement

We need to be raised from the dead

When they took down the cross from that dark hillside

The blood on their hands was the blood from his side

That's the way that it works, that’s the way it must be.

You gotta let His blood stain you of you want to get free

If you want to get free

If you want to get free

Don't you want to get free?

I think you want to be free.

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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The Clauses in our thoughts – Criticism

Greetings Dear Reader,

As the caffeine kick starts my brain this morning and I approach this aspect of the topic I am haunted by times when I have been too critical of others.  That haunting pushes me to be less critical and deflect it when others are indulging in unkind criticism.

This is one of those things that begins in the mind and is so devastating to the thinker.  We do not realize how a critical nature erodes our ability to find joy and sweetness in life.  I have a dear friend who no matter what is said can spot the negative and call it out for all to see.   How did this person get there?  How did the positive become poison to her thinking?

It starts in the mind.  It begins when we let the negative take root in the mind.  Whether it is damage caused to us by others or selfish acts of want and jealousy, allowing negative criticism to have purchase in the mind is dangerous.  It is one of those things that grows within us and kills the good thoughts as quickly as possible.

A critical nature quickly poisons the thinking.  It also poisons others.  Friendships and relationships suffer.  Opportunities are lost.  A critical nature quickly becomes a lonely place.  It is just too dangerous a path to walk.

I must think on good things.  I must see the positive things in others.  If I feel critical I must ask why and control my thinking.  I must not dismiss cruel or unkind behaviour as “just being honest”.  I cannot justify negative criticism and claim that I am obeying the command to love others.  It just does not scan.  

It is not enough to not participate.  I must do more.  I must see and expose the positive in others.  I must recognize and call out the intrinsic value of every soul.  I must love them.  If I focus my thinking on this then there is not room for negative thought bubbles.

Prayer of Saint Francis – Sarah Maclachlan

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon:

Where there is doubt, faith ;

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

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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The Clauses in our thoughts – Lust

Greetings Dear Reader,

Realizing that for much of our culture this word “lust” no longer is negative it may seem odd that I address it.  First I would qualify the area in which I address this.  In most instances we associate this word with sex.  We need to associate it with a much broader range of thoughts.

We use words like craving, hunger, and hankering to soften the point.  It is the nature of our human condition to minimize things that are wrong.  Lust is a sin completely housed in our minds.  It leads to other failings but it is a cancerous thought bubble that wishes to permeate our entire lives.

I do not want to ignore the sexual aspect of lust.  An honest man must say that it is a daily battle to burst the thought bubbles implanted by our culture’s treatment of the female form.  We use lust to sell nearly everything.  I do not want to leave women out of the conversation.  Society is giving them equal time in this arena but as a male I must look to my own failings and struggles before I dare address those of others.

It is one of those places where a disciplined mind is necessary just to get through the day.  Bringing our thoughts into captivity is the only path to freedom from this form of lust. I do not wish to neglect the others areas where I must defend against lust.  The lust for food leads to gluttony.  A lust for control leads to manipulation.  The lust for control also yields lies, unfaithfulness, and betrayal.  We can even lust for a form of freedom that is not ours to pursue.  This lust leads to the breaking of commitments and vows.

These particular clauses in our thoughts betray us as quickly as possible.  Their purpose is to distract us from our intent.  We can instantly go from our actual intent to improper cravings as a single thought bubble bursts over our mind.  It is only by moment by moment determining to think well that we can defend against this.  If I fill my mind with the things that Christ values then the thought bubbles of distraction are easier to reject.

The results are what matter.  If I control my thinking about women then I see them as humans with genuine talents, gifts and needs.  I see their intrinsic value instead of a place to get my desires met.  If I control my lust for food I am healthier.  I see the needs of others in want of food more clearly.  I am more thankful for what I have.  My lust to control is alone controlled by realizing that control over anything but my own thinking is a lie. 

That is the crux of it.  The thought bubbles of lust for anything are offering a lie in place of the truth.  They are offering to satisfy with a counterfeit of reality.  Nothing but truth will satisfy the mind.  I must avoid the counterfeit thought bubbles and think well.  In this is the path to truly following Christ. 

Playing Marbles with Diamonds – Steve Camp

Waking up to a very different world

We got mud on our flag before it’s even been unfurled

Our heroes have fallen and a leader is heard to find

The clock is running out and we’re casting our pearls before swine

There’s a whole lot more than preaching to the choir

Kneeling at the alter and paying our tithe

We've been treating God like he’s happiness for hire

We’ve been playing marbles with diamonds

Isn’t it a sin how his name how his name gets thrown around

We pat God on the back like a buddy from out of town

We thank “the man upstairs” for the things people praise us for

We give God the glory but we’re happy to take the award

There’s a whole lot more than raising lots of money

Building our churches and spreading our faith

If faith is just the dice you roll to get lucky

We've been playing marbles with diamonds

There are precious things of God

And we must guard them with our lives

Like an unborn baby’s dreams

Like a husband love his wife

May the hope of his returning

May it glorify our faith

As we hold onto his holy word

May the chaff be blown away

Can we ever live up to the things we say we believe

Because the world is watching looking for some honesty

Are we riding down a freeway instead of narrow road

We turned the passion for the lost into the business of saving souls

There’s a whole lot more than preaching to the choir

Kneeling at the alter and paying our tithe

We’ve been treating God like he’s happiness for hire

We’ve been playing marbles with diamonds

There’s a whole lot more than raising lots of money

Building our churches and spread

If faith is just the dice you roll to get lucky

We've been playing marbles with diamonds.

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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The Clauses in our thoughts – Promises

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the movie Radio Flyer, which I highly recommend, the story begins with Tom Hanks explaining the importance of promises.  Tom Hanks’ character, Mike says, “Well, you can't just say, ‘I promise,’ then forget about it. ’I promise’ are the most important words you'll ever say... well almost the most important words you'll ever say.”

When we make a commitment we transfer something from our possession to the possession of another.   We make or give promises.  Part of that is there must be not thought bubbles involved.  When se make the promise we must not be creating a back door as we do. 

I once heard one person in a marriage say to the other, “I only thought it would last ten years or so when we got married.”  This person stood in front of a church full of people and promised a life of faithfulness whilst holding a thought bubble that was a time bomb on that promise. 

We do not see that sacred nature of a promise.  We inject thought bubbles into that sacred space and infect it.  We say that we will help someone whilst thinking of way out.  We agree to lunch knowing we will postpone it later.  The core of our spirit gets worn away by this practice. 

I truly believe that being honest in my thinking is the only way to be honest with others.  These thought bubbles burst with a poison that infect s our confidence, strength, and integrity.  How I think when I interact with others consistently determines who I am.  The thoughts become actions, habits, and eventually a life.  I do not want them to be poisonous to me or to others.

Promises Made - Dan Fogelberg

Promises made

Promises broken

Measures of our demise

Secrets of souls that

Rarely get spoken

Pleasure's a thin disguise.

Dozens of ways

Dozens of reasons

Shielding our hearts from pain

Riddles of romance

That distance may yet explain.

Certain of nothing

So fearful of love

Nobody seems to show you enough

Over and over

The scenes are replayed

And once again

Those promises made.

Feeling forsaken

Broken in two

How did this ever happen to you?

Taken for granted

Bruised and betrayed

Lonely survivors

These promises made.

Dozens of ways

Dozens of reasons

Shielding our hearts from pain

Riddles of romance

That distance may yet explain.

Certain of nothing

You're so damn fearful of love

Nobody seems to show you enough

Over and over

The scenes are replayed

And once again

Those promises made.

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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The Clauses in our Thoughts – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

How often in television and movies do we experience someone having a “thought bubble” that lets us in on what he or she is really thinking in a situation.  As the audience we are let in on the real emotion or intent behind what the listener is told.

We put clauses in our thinking.  We edit what we say out loud to temper our intent.  There is no light way to do this.  If we indulge in this practice we live in dishonest pretense.  We can communicate honestly if we choose to do so.  We can temper that honestly with love and compassion.

Jesus tells us that we will give account of every idle word.  Imagine if our “thought bubbles” were visible to others.  Would we be willing to do the damage?  We are required to love others.  There is not category of human that we are not required to love.  This means that our thoughts must be loving.

One of the ways I attempt to live this is by “bringing into captivity every thought.”  If I have a negative thought I look for the truth behind it.  If there is none I must dismiss it.  It I find I want to temper what I am saying with inward clauses then I must stop saying it until I am sure I can be honest.

This type of thinking permeates our lives without us truly pondering it.  As I travel I must assure that I am honest about how my actions evolve.  I must assure that the mind is disciplined to follow Christ so that the heart and actions fall in line. 

I am going to travel this part of the path for a few days to make sure that I capture my thoughts.  I hope you benefit from the time Dear Reader.  As always I value your thoughts.

Recapture Me – Michael Card

Fleeing what I do not know

Recapture me, recapture me

I flee to where I cannot go

Recapture me

The bridge between my heart and mind

Recapture me, recapture me

You come across myself to find

Recapture me

You come and knock on imaginations door

You come to show to

To know You is what eyes and ears are for

With ears that hear but not receive

Recapture me, recapture me

With eyes that see but can't perceive

Recapture me

Your paradox and poetry

Recapture me, recapture me

You speak one sacred certainty

Recapture me

You come and knock on imaginations door

You come to show to, to know You is

What eyes and ears are for

(what eyes and ears are for)

(What eyes and ears are for)

To know You is what eyes and ears are for

(What eyes and ears are for

What eyes and ears are for)

Through prophets madness make me wise

Recapture me, recapture me

Through foolish faith open my eyes

Recapture me

With sacred words, with silent words

Recapture me, recapture me

You're the living Word that must be heard

Recapture me

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/michael-card/recapture-me-lyrics/#VxdSfmew7PqB4fab.99

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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