On Guns and Their Control ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Reading, writing, and listening to your thoughts on this has taught me a great deal Dear Reader.   Remember that I am not a violent person.  Still I am also aware that we live in a violent world.  I have dear friends along the entire spectrum of this discussion.  I love and respect them all.

I think the deepest lesson I have learned is that we are all far too afraid.  We fear what might happen so we do things.  We fear shootings so we want to limit guns.  We fear loss of freedom so we wish to be armed.  We have become a society driven by what we fear.

I wrote quite a few years ago about how I think that all wrong that we do is attached to our fear in some way.  We are afraid so we do things that are wrong to shield ourselves from what we fear.  We let fear guide and control us. 

So how can I be a person that does not live in fear?  First, I need to understand what destroys or removes fear.  There is an answer for this.  “Perfect love casts out fear.”  Since I am required to love everyone, if I am perfecting that love then my fear will be cast out by it.  I realize that this sounds puerile and simple.  That does not make it untrue. 

I know that a thousand situational arguments leap to mind of what might happen.  I am required to live beyond those thoughts.  We all are.  We cannot find peace and build a better tomorrow if our reactions are based on what we fear.  We cannot build a healthy world based on fear, lacking love. 

I am not allowed to harm anyone.  I am also not allowed to tell others how to live.  I can live out an example.  I can show you love and kindness when we are together no matter how I think or feel.  I cannot stop someone intent on evil.  I cannot control anything no matter how much I believe I can.  I can follow Christ with all my heart and work toward justice and peace for others.  I can do whatever it takes to show love for others.

This has been hard for me.  I hate it when any human is harmed by another.  There is so much discord and hatred in the world.  As I move on to other things the conclusion for me is the same.  No laws or freedoms will solve the problems we have until we admit that we are the problem.  We need a daily overhaul of our thinking.  Thank you for your company and spirited debate Dear Reader.  As always it is precious to me and teaches me much.

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 Guns and Their Control ~ Which Way Are You Going???

Greetings Dear Reader,

My writing yesterday triggered an energetic discussion for a friend of mine (pun intended).  Some of his dear friends asked many questions about the question at hand.  I cannot long labor on this topic as it pains me to do so.  Still my friend deserves and honest and humble response. 

These are the same gun

The question surrounding this one gun, the AR-15 was a simple one.  Walk me through the steps that would be taken were the gun banned today.  How would we guarantee that this action would prevent an individual from staging another school shooting with one?  The answer is it will not.  Here are just a few reasons why:

• Of the guns sold in the last two years 1 in 5 is an AR-15 style gun.
• There are numerous ways to acquire the parts and build your own.
• With over 400 MILLION guns in the hands of citizens we have no way of knowing how many are AR-15’s and who has them (even if we got all the registered ones).
• You can buy a kit to 3D print your own AR-15.
• You can still buy the Ruger Mini 14 which is the same gun just not scary looking (thank you Kevin).
• A ban will not do anything to stop someone who is intent on using one to kill people.
• Just the threat of a ban has spiked sales over the last two years and driven many sales underground. 

This, however, is not the point.  The point is that no matter what we limit in terms of availability, it will not change the hearts and minds of humans.  My friend Anne said very clearly that she is for regulation and nothing will change her mind.  That is her choice and she has a constitutional right to that opinion.  When has regulation ever prevented someone from breaking the law?

No matter which side of this discussion you land on, the problem is our failure to love each other.  We cannot salve our own conscience by simply banning this one gun.  We would be lying to ourselves.  A band-aid will not stop the hemorrhage of hate that flows through our culture.  Here are some practical things that can be done to lessen the violence.  Prepare to have your toes trampled a bit.

• Conservatives need to take responsibility that the other side is right that we do not do enough to care for each other’s needs.  They foster hatred by not treating EVERYONE with love and compassion.
• Liberals need to accept that their tolerance does not extend to those who disagree with them on their hot issues.  They need to accept that they foster hatred by treating those who disagree with them as “a basket of deplorables.”
• Everyone needs to take a step back a realize that if it does not lead to kindness and compassion for others it is likely not a good idea. 
• Eventually every great society weakens and falls to an enemy.  We all need to accept that if the enemy is at the gates we will be glad for the ones who are armed and prepared to defend us.
• Every culture that turns on itself decays and dies.  Until we remember to be united as a nation and work our issues out civilly we will continue to die on the vine.

The truth for me is that I hate every form of taking a human life; full stop.  The reality is that we do it every day and only scream about it when we do not like the method or the type of victim.  As I have thought through this all week the answer keeps coming up the same.  Every one of us needs to realize that we can all do better at the “love thy neighbor” stuff.  Until we get serious about that no amount of rhetoric about guns is going to reach those who fear what will happen if they give up their guns.  Until we get serious about it no amount of talk about civil liberties will calm those who see gun owners as self-centered and selfish; only caring about their needs. 

We all stand around guilty of the same hypocrisy.  We are all saying, “Let him live in freedom, if he lives like me.”  That is not love or kindness.  That is vanity, pride, and arrogance.  No side of the argument is innocent of this.  I can do better at it.  I hope this makes my position clearer, Dear Reader.  If I stepped on your toes I apologize and am willing to wash your feet.

Which Way are You Goin’ – Jim Croce

Which way are you going, which side will you be on

Will you stand and watch while, all the seeds of hate are sown

Will you stand with those who say, let his will be done

One hand on the bible

One hand on the gun

One hand on the bible

One hand on the gun

Which way are you looking, is it hard to see

Do you say what’s wrong for him, is not wrong for me

You walk the streets, righteousness but you refuse to understand

You say you love the baby

Then you crucify the man

You say you love the baby

Then you crucify the man

Every day, things are changing,

Words once honored turned to lies

People wondering, can you blame them

It’s too far to run, and too late to hide

Now you turn your back on, all the things that you used to preach

Now its let him live in freedom, if he lives like me

Well you light has changed, confusion rains, what have you become

All your olive branches turned to spears

When your flowers turned to guns

Your olive branches turned to spears

When your flowers turned to guns

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 Guns and Their Control ~ Data and Feelings

Greetings Dear Reader,

Frist let me express a feeling.  I feel that anyone who blames victims who are innocently killed needs to spend a great deal of time with a therapist.  I promise that my heart is broken over the loss of life in any shooting.  It is always wrong. 

Now a little bit of data.  I keep getting this idea that some in our society think that gun violence is somehow a predominant cause of unnecessary death in our culture.  Although I think that shootings must be stopped I do not think that taking away guns is the answer.  The logic of prohibition does not work and we do not apply it equally.

Here is some data with the source links for us to consider:

Car Related Deaths Per Year:  1,300,000

Abortion Deaths Per Year:  600,000

Cigarette Smoking Deaths Per Year:  480,000

Alcohol Related Deaths Per Year: 88,000

Drug Related Deaths Per Year: 64,000

Gun Homicides Per Year:  14,000

If we replaced any of the data in the rhetoric for outlawing guns with the “object” of the causes for other deaths, it would not be logical or we would object.  Let us begin with drugs.  We have outlawed the dangerous ones everywhere.  There are still 64,000 drug deaths per year.  We tried outlawing alcohol and it resulted in more crime and violence. 

We know that cigarettes kill people but they are still legal.  We have cities where there are laws that tax soda but you can still smoke cigarettes. You can get a product that kills 34 times more people a year than guns at any servo in the country. 

Then there is the data that seems completely insane to me.  46 x more abortions of innocent children are committed each year than gun homicides total.  They are both wrong but so is our perspective.  You would deny someone the right to own a gun because of what MIGHT happen.  You demand murder of the unborn on demand when death always occurs.  It troubles ne greatly that people will demand the right to murder the innocent while wishing to limit the rights of others to own an object.  Something is very wrong with this thinking. 

Do not think for a moment that I excuse or consider gun violence against humans acceptable.  I would posit that in a culture where we have devalued the life of the most innocent in our world we should not be surprised when madmen kill children.  The hypocrisy seems obvious to me.

If we follow the logic of denying someone something because of what he or she might do with it we are in trouble.  Does any of this sound reasonable:  People who consume alcohol to excess might drive drunk so we should not allow them cars even before their first DUI.  People who smoke cigarettes are going to become a burden on the medical communities so we should deny them healthcare.  People who speed might cause a life ending accident so we should deny them cars. 

We have a problem much deeper than who can and cannot own a gun.  We value what we want over life.  We demand our “rights” over the love and compassion we owe each other.  It is wrong to deny someone something because of what someone else did.  It is also wrong to have double standards on who can and cannot kill others at will.  We all need to realize that the problem is us.  It keeps coming down to that 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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On Guns and Their Control ~ The Nature of Humans

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the opening scene of Star Trek Five: The Final Frontier (arguably the worst of the Star Trek movies), we find ourselves witnessing events on Nimbus III, The Planet of Galactic Peace.  On a planet devoted to peace guns are not allowed. 

This has not prevented the locals from designing and building weapons.  They have compressed air rifles that shoot stones.  The Federation ambassador on the planet states, “Our new age died a quick death. The settlers we conned into coming here were the dregs of society.  They soon began fighting amongst themselves.  When we forbade them weapons they soon began to fashion their own.”

In the popular game, Skyrim war is called the “Season Unending”.  We have been killing each other for all of recorded history.  The progression of our ability to do this is perhaps one of the most significant and tragic demonstrations of our creativity.  We become continuously better at creating ways to destroy each other.  Our entertainment is filled with violence.  We make sport of killing in virtual worlds.  We are surprised, however, when real people pick up real guns and attack the innocent. 

In the same Star Trek movie Dr. McCoy states that “Human life is far too precious to risk on crazy stunts” when Kirk almost kills himself trying to free ascend El Capitan.  I submit that we have lost the understanding of just how precious every life is.  I will not delve into this too deeply but it is necessary for us to regain the value of life before we will stop taking it from others. 

Currently we ignore killing on a mass scale when it is far enough away.  We tolerate injustice in other countries to save on petrol and obtain cheap consumer products.  We value life until it truly inconveniences us to do so.  Yet, we say it is too much when it is a man with a gun in a school.  I submit that it is too much when it is a child in the womb, a homeless veteran sleeping in the cold, or refugee in another country where we barter aid for power. 

Until we face that our disregard for life is a significant part of our poorer selves, taking away the guns will not stop the deaths.  I am not in favor of weapons designed to kill humans at any level.  It is not what we are designed to be doing.  We have, however, built violence toward each other into our nature.  We fail to love each other as we are supposed to love.

I used to be a very violent and angry person.  It is only through faith and following Christ that I have found that I no longer need these things.  I still struggle with the angry selfish part of my nature.  I suppose I will all my life.  I cannot commit violence and claim to love others.  It seems once again Dear Reader that we are what needs to change.  We are what needs to be different. 

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 Guns and Their Control ~ Thoughts and Prayers

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Sons and I used to regularly play paintball in a private wood.  We would spend an afternoon hunting each other and then cool off in the land owner’s pool.  One particular day my eldest Son would often be about to shoot me and I would somehow still get the upper hand.  I had always made it a practice to remind my children that I loved them whenever I would win at a game.  After shooting my Son for the fifth time in one day I called out, “Hey Son…”

He responded with a very frustrated, “I know dad, you love me.”

One of the things that saddens me is when things that I take seriously are mocked by those who do not understand or do not agree.  I do not mock anyone who believes differently than I believe.  It is not only unkind but it is wrong. 

I noticed that in social media there is mockery of the expression of thoughts and prayers.  The gist of the meme is that our thoughts and prayers are useless.  I will never agree that praying for others when they are in crisis is useless.  I will agree that if someone is in crisis and I only express that I am praying or worse “thinking about them” it can be insulting. 

It is like walking by a homeless person in winter and wishing them to be warm and well fed.  Jesus’ brother James points out that doing this is useless: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

It is wrong to simply tell others that you wish them well and do nothing.  I am not sure what should be done but until we find a way to stop the violence we need to shut up with our epithets.  I do not mean that we should not pray.  I mean that we should not talk about it publicly. 

Jesus makes it clear that prayer should be private: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  

If we really want to make a difference we need to put action with our prayer.  If you follow Christ then you know you are required to love your enemies.  How is killing anyone showing love?  I am not saying there is no need or use for a gun.  I am saying that guns designed for hunting humans violate the premise of loving our enemy. 

The alignment of the two issues, our lack of love for our enemies and expressing our “thoughts and prayers” without doing things that make a difference have caused mockery of the genuine expression of our faith.  There will always be those who mock God and us for believing.  We cannot change this. 

What I can do is assure that any expression of my faith is accompanied by action.  I must pray privately for those in need and in pain.  I must also work for new ways to show love to everyone including those who hate me.  If I fail to put action with my faith it will be useless and I will deserve the mockery.  Once again, Dear Reader, it seems that the problem is not the gun.  It is us.

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 Guns and Their Control ~ A Gun Tale

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you read my writings regularly you know that I grew up in Georgia.  I am proud of most of my southern heritage.  We are not the ignorant sloths that we are sometimes depicted as.  It is also true that stereotypes spring from something.

When I was a boy my Grandfather, a retired police officer, taught me to shoot.  He taught me how to respect and handle guns.  I had to learn to clean and store them before I ever learned to load and shoot.  There were rules and I knew to obey them.  I practiced for hours shooting clothes pins from a wire with my BB gun.  I graduated to a .22 when I could hit 22 clothes pins from twenty yards away without breaking any of them.  The trick was to hit them at the bottom so that they would spin around the wire. 

After a summer of practice and hard work I was taken hunting.  I used a .410/.22 Savage.  Later in the fall I graduated to a bolt action .410 with a five-round capacity and a .22 semi-automatic which held ten 22-long rounds.  After the day’s hunting, if I had obeyed all of the gun rules I was allowed to fire my Grandfather’s 30/30 Winchester and his 20-gauge shotgun at the targets behind the farm house.

I was seven years old.  That same year I took shooting classes in my elementary school.  I also learned to shoot a bow and how to hunt with one.  There really were gun racks in pickup trucks and people did hunt before and after school.  My story of learning and shooting is not an uncommon one. 

There were not school shootings.  We were somehow different.  I am not saying that there is not a problem to be addressed.  I will not, however, blame the presence of guns.  It does not scan.  We can rant and rave all we want about the presence of guns being the problem but the truth is that this is not the problem. 

If we do not deal with the truth then nothing will get solved.  We need to remember how to teach discipline and respect to our children.  We must embrace the idea the we have changed as a society in some ways that are not good.

I must deal in truth not conjecture.  The truth is that we have lost a level of respect for each other, for authority, and for life.  I am not sure what the answer is but removing the medium of our expression of our own failings is never the problem.  Prohibition does not stop a thing from existing.  It does drive that thing into the shadows where it becomes aligned with other problems. 

Until we realize that the problem of violence is in us we will not change.  Until we embrace that we do not treat each other the way we should things will only get worse.  I long for the day when no one causes harm to another human.  That is the problem that exists daily whether there are guns present or not.

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 Guns and Their Control ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hesitate to write about this.  It is, however, a social issue that requires my evaluation.  I must know what I think and be prepared to express that thought with conviction, love, and kindness.  I do not at the moment know if this will be a single post or a series of musings.

I do know that guns have been an issue in my life since I was a small boy.  This perhaps requires a tale or two and, therefore, it may be that I need to spend some time on this set of thoughts and questions.

When it came up with the Crema Counsel this past week I could tell that there are very strong feelings in the hearts and minds of my friends who sit on said counsel.  I thought to stay away from the issue.  I cannot do this and remain honest in my search for ways to be more faithful in my following.

I suppose I will ask you to venture with me Dear Reader as I attempt to navigate reasonably that which both sides of the discussion refuse to consider with good reason.   I will not entertain emotional, pejorative, or situational thoughts.  These are neither productive or conducive. 

I will not attack anyone nor will I reject anyone just because they disagree with me.  I will address what I think is true whether I like it or not.  If I tread on your toes, I apologize in advance.  Please walk with me so that I have someone to show me what I miss.

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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Second Thoughts – Cell Phones of the Dead Part II

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

“I can hear the cell phones of the deceased ringing in the triage parking lot; loved ones trying to find them...".

It is Wednesday evening.  Even the very best of those cell phone batteries are dead now.  The phones are all probably in neat little bags as evidence or belongings of the deceased.  Almost everyone has a cell phone.  There are at least fifty-nine that are no longer needed by their owners.  They no longer have meetings to go to, news feeds to catch up on, or concerts to attend.

The cell phones of the dead are not getting the updates and alerts as we feast on the foul news of gun protests and people bashing.  We, the American people have already descended into factions, feuds, and political blamestorming.   We dishonor the dead by grabbing for political gain with their neatly stacked corpses as our platform. 

The cell phones of the dead will not bother you today because they too are dead.  Yes, we need to stop the violence.  We need to stop the bleeding first.  We need to show as much outrage over the commerce over corpses as we do over kneeling football players, aborted babies, and slow hurricane responses.  We have lost our ability to respect the dead.  We use them instead to further our own agenda. 

The cell phones of the dead are still ringing in my mind.  Here is my agenda:  Spend your protest money to care for the families left behind by the dead.  Donate your time giving blood, tissue, or anything else that is needed.  Refuse to engage in political talk about this tragedy and steer the conversation toward active practical ways to help the wounded and the grieving.  Save your opinions for later.  Care for those in need now.

The cell phones of the dead have gone silent.  The cell phones of the wounded are telling stories.  One woman, Jan Lambourne texted this to her husband after being shot, “I love you. I've been shot. I love you so much.”  She was in critical condition.  She has since been upgraded to stable.  We need to create a world where she and her husband want for nothing until she is recovered. 

The nation has forgotten how to be decent to each other in their disagreements.  That means the people, the individuals have forgotten.  That means that just as the cell phones of the dead go silent so do our horror and resolve.  When they were ringing we wanted to answer.  Now we want to blame and fight.  The cease fire in our civil war only lasted long enough for us to pause, not stop. 

The cell phones of the dead have gone silent but not in my heart and mind.  Seek not to know for whom the Cell tolls; it tolls for thee…

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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Penny and Pound ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have never been one who likes Kool-aide.  When it comes to politics, social issues, and faith I become more and more someone who cares more for thinking thing through than following along.

No one, including you and I Dear Reader is right about everything.  My pursuit must be for truth with humility.  I must listen with compassion to what others think.  I must filter every position through the requirements of my faith to love and compassion.  I must seek righteousness and holiness with every step.

When any side demands that we accept everything in order to “belong” I must question the validity of the motives.  You do not have to believe everything I do for me to love and accept you.  I am all in on wanting everyone to have love and value.  I desire for every human to have the chance to live a rich and meaningful life. 

I cannot accept that all beliefs or positions are acceptable.  I do not, however, hate anyone just because I disagree.   I am not allowed to accept everything. I am not allowed to hate anyone.  These can live in harmony.  It is my obligation to be in for a penny and a pound on my love for Jesus and following him.  I am also required to be all in on my love for every human. 

It may be the one place where I insist that we should all be all in.  If everything we did was out of love for each other the world would be a much better place.   It is in this truth that we could all agree even if it is just a philosophical starting place.

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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Penny and Pound ~ Logical Conclusions

Greetings Dear Reader,

We take positions on issues and ideals.  We decide what we believe and what we think others should believe.  Adopting values that coincide with our beliefs becomes who we are.  Very seldom do we have the courage to take our belief systems to their logical conclusions.

I am not going to dive into this too deeply.  Remember Dear Reader that I am processing this for my own benefit.  I am trying to sort out the reasons why I am all in relative to my faith and following.

Do we really follow our beliefs to their logical conclusions?  My faith tells me that the entire effort is to get things back to good.  It requires me to love unconditionally.  It requires me to care for the needs of others.  It is vital that I not dismiss anyone based on his or her beliefs. 

I ponder if others follow their beliefs to their logical conclusion.  If, for example, there is only the natural world and this is all a huge accident there is no logical reason for me to care for anyone’s needs/wants but my own.  We can postulate all we want that about common good and making the world a better place.  If this is all there is then it does not matter. 

I must follow my faith to its logical conclusions and live them.  I must be all in for this or abandon it.  Since I believe it the latter is not an option.

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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Penny and Pound ~ Worrisome Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the terms that recently stopped me in my tracks was “alternative facts”.  By its very nature a fact is “a thing that is indisputably the case.”   It is, therefore, unreasonable and worrisome when one claims that there are alternative facts. 

Just the facts Ma'am.  Just the facts...

We may disagree on ideas and ideals.  When we disagree on things of substance we look for facts.  When we disagree that there are absolute truths we really have no ground on which to stand.  Pilate asked this of Jesus.  He asked “What is truth?” 

We seek axiomatic principle in almost everything and in many cases reject what we find.  If we claim that there are no fundamental truths then we are loaded with logical difficulties in all communication.  In many cases the alternate truth is a lie or an error.

We demand that others embrace our “truth” and judge them if they do not.  Again, both the right and left do this with vigor so do not think that there are alternate truths about it.  I realize that there is a question begged here and I will not duck it.

I claim to hold belief in some very narrow absolute truths.   I also realize that these truths are not as inclusive as some popular thought would require.  These beliefs do not make me phobic or a racist.  They do not generate hatred or prejudice. 

Everything I believe is based on two primary requirements.  I must love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  This alone is a lifelong effort that must be renewed daily.  I must love my family, neighbors, strangers, and enemies without qualification.

This means that anything else I claim as truth must fall in line with those requirements.  I cannot accept that there are alternate facts that go against this requirement.  I will not accept that I have to agree with you about everything to live out these commands.  In fact, I am required to reject ideas that would make these commands invalid.

If there are no hard truths that we can treat as the bedrock of our congress together then everyone is entitled to their own choice of alternate facts.  I know what my dangerous weaknesses are.  The world does not want an Aramis Thorn who pursues those alternate “truths”.   More on that thinking tommorw.

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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Penny and Pound ~ A Response

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hope you realize how highly I value your responses.  Elisabeth sent me a response to yesterday’s post that I felt deserved to be shared with you Dear Reader.   She posted the address to a simple passage from the first letter to Timothy from the Apostle Paul.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people.

Please know that I do not intend to launch on a tirade about the last days or point a finger at anyone.  I find this passage fits greatly with the idea of a world with malleable ethics.  I could spend an entire series just pondering the meaning of each term in relation to the current state of both our national and world culture.

More important is that we realize when we see this behavior in the world we should not be surprised.  We should also assure that if we are following Christ we avoid these things.  Most interesting is that the list begins with people loving themselves.  These does not mean self-worth.  It means that people put their desires over what it right and the common welfare.

I would say that both sides of the coin do that to a great extent.  How often do we see an individual put his or her “rights” or will above the common good?  We I am not being prophetic.  I am merely commenting on what I see in the world.

I must see this list as something to avoid.  I must assure that I am not boastful, arrogant, hateful.  I must love the Father rather than what makes me feel good.  It is in being faithful to the opposite of these things that I find myself following Christ more closely.  Thank you Elisabeth.

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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Penny and Pound ~ Malleable Ethics

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are some things where one is either in or out.  One cannot be “a little bit pregnant.”  One is alive or dead.  One is faithful to one’s spouse or they are not.  There are some lines that cannot be crossed without being other than what we claim to be.

I cannot point my finger at others.  That is not my place nor the purpose of this exercise each day.  Rather it is so that I honestly consider what I must be in my heart, mind, and actions so that I do what is right.  I fail. That too drives me.  I want to be better today than yesterday.

Increasingly we see that ethics in our culture are opening malleable.  Our ethics have always been situational in some ways but it becomes more open and flagrant of late.  We have a serious problem of being ethically mercurial.   

We live out logical fallacies and embrace untenable philosophies.  We deny truths to appease our social and political desires.  We put truth, honor, justice, love, and kindness on a sliding scale.  

I had friend, who no longer considers me a friend because he wanted to minimize God’s command to love everyone.  He insisted that we need only respect everyone.  The Father is clear that we must love Him, our neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies.

We cannot pick and choose to whom we will show love, grace, and kindness.  I cannot refuse to love anyone.  I cannot pretend that I am better than anyone else.  I must be all in as one who commits to being faithful in my devotion to Christ’s example and following him.  It is not a weapon.  It is a practice in clear ethics lived out in humility.

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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Penny and Pound ~ Intolerant Inclusion

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems that both the right and the left have a blind spot that I am not sure how to heal.   They both seem to demand that if I side with their side on anything that I must side with their side on everything.  When I offer a penny, each side demands a pound.

Some of these arguments for consistency are logical.  I cannot want equality in an area without wanting it for all humans.  I cannot speak of the value of life without speaking to the value of every life.  Where the demand for pounds over pennies confounds me is in the assumption of cross-pollination of values.  

My faith does not allow me to accept every position of either side.  I cannot claim to follow Christ and accept hatred of any kind.   I cannot promote violence and follow the Prince of Peace.   I cannot worship the Father and allow the slaughter of children. 

It is my experience, however, that both sides demand that I follow in the extreme no matter how illogical the position becomes.  To bolster this untenable dichotomy false syllogisms are created.  It is assumed that because I disagree on a point that I disagree on all points.   In the inverse if I support either side’s position on a single point it is assumed that I support it on all points. 

I can oppose the murder of the unborn without feeling that women should have less rights than men.  I can believe that all people should have access to quality affordable healthcare without being a communist. 

What I must do is follow Christ no matter who it offends.  As with so many things the demands of both sides make no room for the things that are reasonable.  The truth is often somewhere in the middle.  I must seek Christ and the truth no matter what the cost; penny or pound.

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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Penny and Pound ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I begin with the presumption that we have all heard the expression “in for a penny; in for a pound.”  For those of you who do not it simply means that one is all in for something.  It means that if accept a part of something then you accept it all.

I find that I ponder this in light of things of and not of the faith.  Let me mitigate a question.  All things are of faith.  There are no secular issues.  There are, however, sectarian issues.  There are questions of custom, practice, and politics that one must answer individually. 

These questions have to do with faith and following.  They have to do what is required of me by the Father and sometimes its opposition to the church, the public, and the politic.   By way of example I consider that there are those who would have me hate people who do not share my faith.  This is not the way the Father deals with the world.

In some things I am all in.  In some things I must not be because I cannot accept all things.  To hone my skill in following I must ponder all of them carefully.  In this part of the journey I will not get to them all but I hope you will walk with me for a bit as I ponder those before me.  Thank you as always for your company 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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We need change.  We need reformation and revival.  It has always been the responsibility of the church to care for the needs of the masses.  We have watered down the mission with sects and politics and then are surprised that we become less effectual.

When we choose to neglect the needs of others we cannot speak the words of Christ and be heard.  When we treat anyone as underserving of our love and care we neglect the heart of the Gospel.  It is in the needs of other that we have the ability to project the love of Christ.

I must not fall into the trap of left versus right.  I must embrace Christ and follow him in humility.  I can hold to my faith without hating anyone.  I can hold to my standards without rejecting the needs of others.  True faith is never in opposition to true love, kindness, and care.

It is my obligation to follow with all my heart that which Christ commands.  It is my joy to be good to others no matter what their relationship to what I believe.  We need to stop taking our stand in things that are not Christ.  When we stand in Christ alone we lose the need to hate, destroy, and neglect.  That is a good place to be.

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Reformation versus Revolution

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is one of those stances that requires careful distinction.  To revolt is to rise up against something as a rebellion for whatever purpose is claimed.   Revolution is not interested in peaceful discussion.  It demands and destroys.

Reformation, however, seeks to reform that which exists.  It is a presentation of ideas through which one seeks to right the course of things.  Reformation is based in idea and their free congress between people of integrity.  It is not necessary to revolt to reform.

The violence inherent in revolution is not necessary to reform things.  When we abandon peace to make others do as we wish we become the tyrannical things we hate.  Burning a shopkeepers business does not further the truths of a cause.  It destroys an honest man’s livelihood. 

If that alone does not give you pause then perhaps the motivations need examination.  If you are willing for one innocent to suffer to defend your ideas then perhaps there is something wrong with you methodology.   It is never necessary to shed blood to be heard.  It might mean yours gets pummeled out of you.  It might cost you more that you are willing to pay.  But that is the nature of reformation instead of revolution..

Revolution – Beatles

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We're doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell is brother you have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you'll change the constitution

Well, you know

We all want to change your head

You tell me it's the institution

Well, you know

You better free you mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao

You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Positions versus People

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whenever we allow fear or hatred to make our choices we diminish as humans.  When we allow our political positions to be the regulators of care and compassion then we allow others to be neglected for the sake of ideas.

We define our compassion for others by an assessment of politics first.  The essence of compassion is that politics do not matter.  To love one’s enemy is not a political command.  It is social and spiritual.  We are not to do harm or allows harm to be done by inaction.

The political climate fills us with the hypocrisy of believing that neglecting the needs of the opposition is acceptable.  I do not know how to solve the problems that are involved in allowing immigrants from nations that hate us.   I do know that starving children should be fed at any cost.  People dying because we are worried about what may happen is bad thinking.

We get distracted by the political arguments whilst the needs of people go unmet.  We argue over ideas and rights at the cost of justice for the oppressed.  We make up new ways to feel offended whilst furthering the offense of hating others.  In the fervor to advance our own agenda we fail to love and care for those who are in dire need of our help.

As a Christ follower my politics must ride in the back of the bus when love, compassion, kindness, and mercy are on board.  It is not acceptable for others to suffer so that I can create my perfect political venue.  It is a failure to follow for me to choose my social rights over love and compassion for others.  I cannot force other to believe as I do through politics.  I can, however, live my faith honestly by showing love and compassion to the needs of everyone regardless of his or her beliefs and philosophies. 

If my God is not big enough to care for me whilst doing this then I need a bigger God.

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Issues versus Insults

Greetings Dear Reader,

I used to get so angry when students would refuse to learn.  As I grew in my teaching experience I realized that one cannot force anyone else to learn.  One cannot legislate learning.  It is the meeting of two minds over knowledge, understanding, and application.  It is the bridge of two people in academic congress journeying to a new place.

The social stances I see hinder learning.  Instead of speaking to each other we have become embattled factions hurling epithets and insults.  We damage each other over ideals instead of reason and conversation.  We fail to hold back our emotions in favor of conversation.

With me the anger, disrespect, and violence weakens one’s position.  I will always listen to a reasoned conversation.  I will withdraw from insults, derision, and attacks.  I will not support those with whom I agree who employ such tactics.  One cannot love one’s enemies and use these tactics.

We attack instead of expressing the need.  When we do express the need we load it with conditions and provisos that make compromise difficult.  I will always hold to standards that align with my faith.  That means that no matter what I think of someone’s morals or values I must care about his or her needs.  I must love him unconditionally.

We can discuss anything.  I must not argue or divide just to win my way.  The values I hold are worthless if they cannot abide honest discussion over issues.  My faith is a failure it cannot stand with all its requirements.  If the greatest commandments are to love God and love humans I cannot water that down and be honest.  I do not need to insult others to live my faith.  If you need to argue this then perhaps we do not share the same faith.

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 ͡°)

Searching Social Stances - Mayhem

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whenever one engages in violence against persons and property the action is by definition intolerant.  In a nation that accepts violence as entertainment we pretend to be people of peace and tolerance.   We act as if we care about the rights of everyone.

We do that until those rights disagree with our values.  Whether it is destroying college property or allowing someone to die because of rules and regulations we are not tolerant.  We may claim to be but in truth we visit mayhem on each other actively and passively. 

When protests have even the smallest bit of violence they are no longer protests.  When a law to protect our borders allows an ailing mother to die we are no longer being noble.  If we call our position one of social justice then we had better assure just behavior and just treatment of everyone.  When I say that I follow Christ I had best be peaceful with everyone.

If one claims to follow Christ and allows for mayhem then one is not following Christ.  If one claims to seek tolerance, peace, or justice and acts violently then one is seeking none these.  It is in the peaceful protest of injustice that justice will be obtained.  It is in the assurance all people get a peaceful voice that the truth can be heard.

I am required to love and respect everyone.  That love and respect does not condone any particular philosophy or behavior.  I can believe that one is wrong in his or her morals, values, and stances without hating him or her.  I can disagree with an approach to a social ill without being racist of bigoted.  What I must do is assure that I insist that the social ill be addressed with respect to the needs of others.  

No matter which side of the issue I am on if I am part of or condone mayhem I am wrong.  If I work through love and peace to assure that the needs of others are met I am living out the Gospel.  If I exclude anyone from that care then I am not follow Christ. 

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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