What is a Christian? ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I found myself in a situation where my brain was screaming for me to act in anger.  Parts of my personality that have been quelled for decades rose in me demanding to be loosed with free rein.  Instead I managed to walk away through the thought of Christ and his grace.

The visceral reappearance of not just my anger but my very violent young self, terrified me.  I spent most of the night battling that part of me and his sinister malevolence back into submission.  He posed some very reasonable arguments as to why I should let him choose my path for a bit.

I do not use the term Christian to describe who I am.  I do, however, wish to follow Christ.  In that moment, through that night, I wished nothing more than to find my way out of the anger and find again the path toward home. 

It has caused me to dwell deeply on what it is to be a Christ follower in the cognitive realm.  The discipline of the mind is key to following.  The mind must rule the heart when pain or sorrow seeks to take one from the path.  The will must assert sound reason over feelings when those feelings seek to betray what it means to be a Christ follower.

For the sake of putting my darker self into more permanent exile, I am going walk through what a Christ follower must be and do in the mind.  I must think through this thinking.  I could use some kind 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 ͡°)

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Be The Reason… - Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are always an example of something.  We move back and forth between being examples of good and bad things.  We choose the patter of our example.  We become either reasons for belief or cautionary tales.   

It is my obligation to be the reason that people believe in good things.  I must do so by example.  I must do so by living out love, kindness, and faith.  I must become an example of these things no matter how I feel or what my circumstance.

It truly is possible to choose to do right no matter the situation.  It is not easy and it is not simple.  It is my duty to be the reason that others have hope.  Only in this can I be sure that I am following; if I live out the Gospel in every endeavor.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Someone has Faith

Greetings Dear Reader,

I said all that to say this…   We who follow Christ need to be the reason that people find faith.  We need to live lives that put hands and feet on the Gospel.  We need to be a living example of faith. 

The difficulty is that I cannot take out my faith and show it to someone.  I have be an example of love, compassion, kindness, goodness that can be seen as a glimmer of who Christ is.  Too long we have inundated the world with things that detract from the Gospel. 

When we fail to deal in the things people need to believe in by being the reason to believe in them we hinder others from seeing Christ.   Faith comes from seeing the things that faith yields.  Faith comes from living out the Gospel and earning the right to be heard.

I do not want anyone to put his or her faith in me.  I do want to be a reason that someone puts his or her faith in Christ.  Someone did this for me and it saved my life.  I must do the same.  I must be an example and give people a reason to believe.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Someone Believes in Kindness

Greetings Dear Reader,

People need friends even if they do not realize they need them.  It is easy to be solitary when one chooses to be so.  It is difficult when one does not.   It is easy to hard.  It is easy to be indifferent to others. 

It is hard to be kind.  It takes constantly thinking of the needs of others.  It requires insistent intentional putting ourselves in the place of others.  We need to see and understand how others feel and think.  It is remembering the needs of others and even if we can do nothing having compassion.

Kindness changes things.  It can cool tense situation.  It can ease the burdens of others.  It can open doors to friendship.  Kindness fueled by love is the paving material into the lives of others.  It also provides an exit ramp to a solitary selfish existence.

It is easy to guard our hearts and not share them.  It remains easy until we take the risk of doing so.  We will get hurt.  We will be damaged.  It is, however, always worth it.   When the kindness pays off in someone believing that there is genuine kindness in the world it all becomes worth it.

Easy to be Hard – Three Dog Night

How can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel

Easy to be hard

Easy to be cold

How can people have no feelings

How can they ignore their friends

Easy to be proud

Easy to say no

Especially people who care about strangers

Who care about evil and social injustice

Do you only care about being proud

How about I need a friend, I need a friend

How can people be so heartless

You know I'm hung up on you

Easy to be proud

Easy to say no

Especially people who care about strangers

Who care about evil and social injustice

Do you only care about being proud

How about I need a friend, I need a friend

How can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel

Easy to be proud, easy to say no

Easy to be gone, easy to say no

Come on, easy to get read

Easy to say no

But too easy to be cold

Easy to say no

But too easy to say no

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Believes in Love

Greetings Dear Reader,

The engine that drives hope and good is love.  The power to crush the barriers of pain and suffering is love.  The path to all things worth finding is love.

I am not talking about romance.  What I am pondering is the power of selfless unconditional love for those we encounter daily.  It is where we can find the strength to combat all the besieges the work of getting back to good.

This establishment of reason is very simple.  Moment by moment my motive needs to be to be the reason that others believe that love is possible.  People need to see it in everything I do.  They need to feel loved, respected, and valued. 

This means that selfishness and anger must go.  It means that genericity must be a part of who I am.  It also means that I cannot substitute anything less than love for love.  I must not replace love with things or people.  I must always seek to act in a loving way with all my endeavors. 

It is in loving others that makes progress down the path of following Christ.  If I work at being the reason that someone believes in love then perhaps I can help them believe in other good things as well.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Someone Has Hope

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the byproducts of too little good is too little hope.  So often the world seems weary and worn to me.  It seems old, tired, and dusty.  It feels “thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.”

The world needs hope.  When we live out the love and compassion of the Gospel can build hope.  When we deal in grace and kindness we can provide hope.  When we care for the social needs of others in practical ways we can give hope. 

Hope is the fuel that gets us to good, better, and best.  Hope is the engine that can drive us down the path when it seems we cannot go on any further.   Hope is what can push us past pain and suffering.  Hope is what keeps sorrow and loss from consuming us.

I must give others reason to hope.  I must set an example.  I must show love and kindness.  I must be patient and humble.  I must follow Christ as closely as possible so that I maintain my own hope. 

What I most need to remember is that in Christ alone is hope that endures.  In Christ alone is hope found.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason… - Someone Believes There is Good

Greetings Dear Reader,

We need to keep in mind that in the beginning all things were good.   We messed it up.  We created the things that are not good.  We are the reason that good is sparser than it should be.

The difficulty is that it is that the bad in the world wears away at us.  It drags us down.  It dogs our spirit.  It haunts our attempts to do good.  It steals us of belief that there is good.

Whether it is in small things or great we can do good.  Sacrificing something for the benefit of others can be great good.  The cumulative acts of daily being good to others can be just as powerful.  The truth is we may never know the impact.  It is in the doing of the good that we create belief that there is good; even if it is only within ourselves.

I must be good to others.  I must be good to the gas attendant no matter how surly he is.  I must be good to my coworkers.  I must be good to strangers.  I must show that there is good by being good to others.

I might be the only good someone sees in a day.  This is not a point of pride.  It is a point of opportunity.  It is a chance to be the bright spot.  It is my privilege to do any good.  It is my chance to make a small difference that might grow into something great.  Whatever I do I must do good.

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 ͡°)

Be The Reason … - Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you read this regularly you know that I am constantly searching for ways to express how Christ followers are supposed to show love to others.  My friend Elisabeth posted a meme recently that triggered a thought on how we should view our responsibility to others.

I need to be the reason that others see the potential for good.  I need to be the reason that others have an example of hope and love.  I must focus on how to be the reason that Christ obtains the opportunity to se be seen for who he really is.  I must tear down the false constructs that blur that image.

As I walk through this thinking Dear Reader please remember that I do it to create in my heart a better follower.  My desire is never to judge or condemn others.  My heart is to follow Christ so closely that I disappear and all you see is him.

Walk with me if you will.  I enjoy your company.

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 ͡°)

Percent Logic – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I had pondered many other things to discuss concerning this but as I think through it I come to a conclusion.  Statistics must lose to compassion and love every time.  So much of their common use is political. The political must always take a back seat to the pursuit of good.

As an example I ponder the tragic shootings in Orlando.   Much more time has been spent on the ISIS and gun control conversation than on how we get to the place where killing strangers is the right thing to do.   We do not teach our society to be loving and selfless. 

We no longer place the ultimate value on human life.  We instead measure its value against other things such as convince and choice.  We allow hunger and need to exist so that we can do what we want to do.  We politicize and debate while people are being killed or dying. 

Data is important.  It is an excellent servant in science and understanding the world.  In the hands of the ill-intentioned it is a dangerous weapon.  Statistical data with integrity and used with the same can benefit us greatly.  When we use statistics to manipulate and control others we create belief based on lies.  It leaves me wondering which has killed more people: statistics or 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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Percent Logic – Statistics and Morality

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the things that we ignore when inundated with statistics is that sometimes they just do not matter.  There used to be a time when most of the scientific world believed that the world was flat.   Even if everyone believes that the world is flat, 100%, they would still be wrong.

There are times when ti does not matter how much we think a thing is true or how many people believe it.  I am going to use a harsh example here.  I believe it.  It is, however, an example of how morality trumps data.  In the Holocaust during World War II 100% of the people who believed it was write to kill those in the concentration camps were wrong.  There is no moral value in interring people because ow what we think of them.   

The same can be said for the Japanese camps in our own country.  The same can be said for any situation where we take the position that it is right to wrong in order to meet the desire of the majority.   No political pole or common thought can justify the mistreatment of others.

For those of you who take the rather safe than sorry position it is clear that often when we do so with human rights we end up killing people.   That is unacceptable.  I am going to offer this last thought on this.  I realize it is harsh and that I will offend some of you Dear Reader.   I am not judging individuals.  I am judging a position and an act.

No matter how we view it statically or how we present the data the moral truth is this.  100% of all abortions are murder.   No matter what situational ethics you wish to apply it is murder.  No matter how many statistics you present of who will do what if it is illegal murder is murder. 

I know that some of you disagree.  What plagues me is that people need to deny this truth to justify choices.   What about the statistics we ignore.  Only a small percentage of abortions are for medical or psychological necessity.  And then there is this; in this country alone we have destroy over 1 Billion years of potential life.  That alone is enough for me to choose morality over statistics.

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 ͡°)

Percent Logic - Refugees and Terrorists

Greetings Dear Reader,

We will hear all kinds of statistics about how few of the refugees that seek safety are actually a danger to us.  Those statistics are likely accurate.  We will also hear the argument that we have to get it right all the time and that they only have to succeed once.  We reduce the argument of being humane to others to numbers, possibilities, and probabilities.

In all of this I ask the same question:  What is my obligation to Christ in aiding others?  I am not supposed to put my safety first if others are in danger.  Yes I must consider the safety of others.  Yes there will be a flood of scenarios and circumstances where the answers are hard. 

This is why there are very clear guiding principles for those who follow Christ.  We must love our enemies.  We must meet the needs of those in dire straits.  I have to see the hungry as hungry, not as hungry “fill in whatever group you wish to avoid”.   I must risk it all for others. 

So the statistics are simple in this.  100% of the people who are terrorists are worthy of being loved.  They can and must be stopped but not by denying the needs of others.   What would be the impact of every Christ follower acting in this way?   

I cannot say that I know what the answer is here.  I do not know that there must be a way to find the true path.  There must be a way to love our enemies, protect our own, and meet the needs of our neighbors no matter how big the neighborhood.  In this case the statistics are only used to justify avoiding one of these.

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 ͡°)

Percent Logic – Belief equals Truth…

Greetings Dear Reader,

…or does it?  One of the ways in which we fail to respect the science of statistics is when we force the data to reflect our position.   This misuse of statistics is called a statistical fallacy.  

I am going to lapse into educator mode for a moment.  The basis of cognitive learning is the gaining of knowledge, leading to understanding, then to application.  Statistics are used to help us understand things.  When we create statistical fallacies we limit or even manipulate understanding.

Some of the ways in which this is done are discarding favorable data, asking loaded questions, using biased samples, asserting a false causality, data dredging, and many more manipulations.  There is ample reading out there on this topic if one cares to pursue it.   The point is that when we intentionally misuse or skew data we create false understanding that leads to false application.

The process works like this:

I believe X is true

I skew my data so that it proves X

You are told that X is true.

It should work like this:

I believe X is true.

I gather, analyze, and report honest data.

I adjust what I believe based on the honest data.

I say all this with an open an honest caveat.  Some things require belief and cannot be proven or disproven.  In honesty we also must consider that Aristotelian logic is not the only type of valid reasoning.  There are other forms of reasoning that are valid.  Truth that cannot be found in statistics may be found in other forms of reasoning such as metaphorical logic.  We will touch on that later.

For now we need to focus on the principle that the use of statistical reasoning must be honest and avoid fallacies.  We may gain followers through statistical manipulation but we build our foundations on shaky ground when we do so.  Those inside my faith have done this and caused great damage. 

I have a dear friend who has walked away from faith because of this.  He actively pursues proof for his unbelief because of the harm done him by false data used to represent God.  It is necessary to view honest data.  It is also necessary to realize that we cannot prove some things.  Most importantly God does not command that we prove his existence.  He requires that we follow in faith.

I was reminded by a dear friend yesterday that this is not as easy for others as it is for me.  It is not up to me to prove that the Father wants you to see the Son Dear Reader.  It is up to me to follow in love and grace so that faith becomes an undeniable certainty. 

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 ͡°)

Percent Logic – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Statistics are important.  We can use them honestly understand behaviors, opinions, and conditions.  Statistics allow us to measure and quantify.  They are a valid part of research and understanding.

The problem with statistics is that they are subject to abuse.   It is easy to dishonestly represent what they say and mean.  It is easy to manipulate data to get the answers we wish.  Without integrity statics are a dangerous weapon. 

In this political and oddly violent season we see all kinds of statistics supporting this or that position.  Beyond the manipulation of the data comes the inequitable application of statistical logic to social situations.  We use percent logic to create memes that support our position but do not allow that to be equalized across a spectrum.

I believe that it is very difficult to legislate morality and do so equitably.   It is also difficult to measure some things equitably.  We cannot say that all things are equal statistically and have a moral society.  It just does not work that way.

I am thinking through the things that are being measured in our society and wondering how to assure that I filter the data through faith.  I hope you will walk through some reasoning on logic with me Dear Reader.   I always value your thoughts and questions.  After all, 100% of you are precious to me.

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We feel.  That is what we do.  It is good that we feel.  The problem is that we have become a culture where what we feel is our operational truth.  That is a dangerous way to live.  It erodes at morals, values, and mores.  It pulls the threads that keep our society civil.

Worse, as a Christ follower my feelings are not to be my prime mover.  An attitude of love for others not a emotion of love is to guide me.  My family, friends, and enemies are all to receive an attitude of love from me no matter how I feel. 

Everything I feel must be filtered through truth and my obligation to love God and all humans.  I must ride herd on my negative feelings, glean the value they have, and then do away with them. 

My Grandfather used to say, “Do what is right no matter how much it hurts.”  I try to live by that but I fail.  I think that I would attenuate his statement.  I must do what is right no matter how I feel.  It easy to say and hard to live.  Most truths work living are.

If I am to be what I aspire to be then I must be honest about what I feel.  I must do what is right with my feelings.  I must think through what I feel before I respond to it.  I must rarely permit my feelings to produce a raw reaction.  In this I can follow knowing that I meter my heart to beat out love to everyone. 

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings – Emotional Storms

Greetings Dear Reader,

So often we think we have dealt with negative feelings.  We have thought through or talked through a situation.  We have forgiven the other person.  Then like a hot summer afternoon the storm pops back up stealing all of our composure.

These emotional storms if handled properly can be very beneficial.  They are opportunities to regulate our reactions and responses.  These instances test our resolve not to be ruled by out passions. 

Sometimes we have not truly forgiven.  We must assure that we do.  Sometimes the fault is our as we crave something we should not.  Sometimes we have not truly addressed out feelings on a matter and our emotional well is full.

There can be physiological reasons.  Whatever the case storms of emotion will come.  We must not let them dominate and we must let them pass.  We must feel the storm but never let it rule us.

Our senses require us to feel every moment.  We are supposed to live in the moment.  The storms that will erupt must not control me.  They must force me to confront my heart honestly.  They must not devour me.  I must turn to my faith to handle my feelings.  I can weather the storms but only if I do so in faith.  If I do then the lightning, wind, and rain can be very beautiful indeed.

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings - Fear

Greetings Dear Reader,

Once again, like anger fear has its place.  Fear protects us from danger.  It triggers our fight of flight response.  It gives us that small warning to be careful.  It can save our lives. 

There is healthy and unhealthy fear.  Fear in the form of healthy respect is a good thing.  We rarely use the word in this way.  It is still important.  We must have a healthy respect for things that can harm us.  We must have a healthy respect for those who rule over us.  That is good fear and it is not the way we use the word any more.

So many things about fear are unhealthy.  We indulge our fear and give it control.  We act badly because of fear.  We mistreat others out of fear.  When fear controls us we do not act rationally and we lose power.  We do not act lovingly when we act out of fear.

It is natural and understandable to feel fear.  It is always wrong to allow the fear to be in charge.  Fear kills our reason when we give it control.  It feeds our greed.  It propels us to be selfish and unloving. 

If I am to properly follow Christ then I must not allow fear to control me.  I must face fear with the filter of my protection in Christ.  He has promised to meet my needs and care for me.  I cannot allow fear to keep from that.  I must hold out the standard that fear will not control me.  I will give it a proper place in my existence and will use it to see danger.  I will heed its warnings but think through my responses.

Fear has a place in the journey.  That place is not as the leader.

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings - Happiness

Greetings Dear Reader,

Happy is almost universally defined as a state of pleasure or contentment.  We are guaranteed the right to pursue it in our constitution.  We want to be happy.   It is not wrong to desire happiness. 

Whether or not one is happy, however, must not be the standard for our choices in life.  If I pursue only happiness then I will harm others out of selfishness and greed.  I can make choices that are irresponsible.  I can neglect my responsibilities to God, friends, and family by pursuing only happiness.

I have always thought that we get it backwards.  I think that happiness is a choice.  I think that if we learn to be content we find happiness.  If we find our pleasure in good things then we will be happy.  If we put our happiness first instead of seeking good and contentment then happiness will remain elusive.

I must not let whether something makes me happy determine how I treat others.  I must not let happiness determine my morals, values, attitudes, and actions.  Happiness will be the product of choosing to do what is right and finding contentment in that.  If I do not feel happy I must analyze my attitude.  I must determine if I am pursuing the right things and if I am content with what God has in front of me in the moment.

Happiness is a choice.  It is derived from choosing to follow in faith no matter what the situation.   Happiness is found in joy in whom I follow.  The joy is found in the journey of faith and following.

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings - Desire

Greetings Dear Reader,

For years food was my enemy.  I thought nothing of eating much more than I needed.  I hid pain and discontent behind pizza and ice cream.  It cost me in energy, health, and social interaction.  My desire for food overrode my good judgment and obedience. 

Feeling desire is not wrong.  A well-made meal or rare delicacy is not wrong.   Once again the desire must be filtered through reason and self-control.  Everything we want is not bad.  Most things to excess are.  Living in a world that constantly wishes us to consume makes regulating desire a necessity.

Whether food, funds, or flesh we must not be driven by our desires.  Gluttony, greed, and lust are all desire gone wrong.  Food, money, and sex are not bad.  Pursuing them over Christ is.

We must have standards that set an example.  We must not consume more than we need while others go without.  We must not use each other to satisfy our wants.  If we are driven by our love for God and each other we must not let our desires come first.

I had a conversation with a friend just yesterday regarding this.   We need to allow our desires to come from our delight in God.  If we are driven by that then we will attune our desires to it.  We may fear that we will lack.  We  may think we will go without.

Christ made it clear that if we follow him we will lack nothing.  It comes down to faith again.  Do I really believe that I will have what I need?  Do I love God enough to find my sustenance in him?  If my standard for desire is God I will filter out the things that are not wholesome or healthy.  I will not use others.

I need to find all my hope in Christ.  In him I can live and move and have my being.  That is a desire worth having.

In Christ Alone – Performed by Stephen Nasby

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings – Anger has Rules

Greetings Dear Reader,

First I should be very clear that it is not wrong to be angry.  We will feel angry.  If we deny our anger or bottle it up it is dangerous.  Paul’s reference to anger in Ephesians is in the imperative.  “Be angry and do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

“Be angry” is not a choice it is a command.  There are things about which we must be angry.  “…and do not sin” is also the imperative.  We must not use anger as reason to sin.  The third imperative is that we must not let the anger live through the day.  This means we are to deal with our own feelings about a situation so that it does not impact us internally.

We seem to be very good at the first imperative.  We are very good at being angry.  I know people seem to be only angry all the time.  Anger becomes a very easy emotion to access.  It is an easy habit to form.

Where we fail is to then assess the anger we have accessed.  Unfolding before us once we feel anger is a set of binary choices.  There is little gray area in these choices even though we try to make it so.  As I work through anger I ask the first and hardest of all questions.

Is my anger justified?  My anger is not always justified.  Sometimes it is rooted in selfishness or greed.  This question must come first.  Figuring out why I am angry often leads to the choice of blame or forgiveness.  We are not allowed to cling to anger.  We are required to reason out a course of action if the anger is justified. 

I must be loving, kind, and forgiving.  I must express how I feel in a way that does not harm or disrespect.  I must always be the master of this most dangerous of feelings.  I must be honest about the feeling, the source, the justification, and the resolution.  I must do all this be day’s end so that I do not carry it over into the next.

Again dealing with this feeling has the overshadowing requirement to love my neighbor or enemy.  It requires me to love God through control and honesty.  Anger has rules.  If I am to follow Christ properly I must obey them.

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 ͡°)

Setting Standards for Feelings – I Feel

Greetings Dear Reader,

Before I delve too deeply into the negative part of this self-discovery some things about feelings must be addressed.  We feel.  If we deny that we feel we damage ourselves.  If we ignore some feelings we will not be able to fully understand things. 

Fear for example is a vital feeling.  We must listen to fear.  We must listen to and evaluate the things it triggers.  We have feelings for some very important reasons.  Those reasons are connected to our emotional health and sometimes our survival.

The error that we make is we give control to our feelings.  We allow anger, fear, or greed to control us.  This is very dangerous.  When our feelings control us we ignore sound reason and act. 

It comes down to the difference between responses and reactions.  It is often necessary to react.  Instinctive reactions built into our DNA are very important.  They can protect and save us.  When we interact with people on a social level we must be responsive and not reactionary. 

When we feel anger we must take a beat.  When we feel fear we must reason.  To move through life allowing our feelings to control us hinders our ability to be good to others.  In any situation when we let our feelings decide our course of action we need to assure that we have reasoned our way through the actions.

As I work through the proper place of feelings in my life the first thing I must assure is that they are not in control of me.  I must master them or they will be my undoing.  I must allow them to live but not allow them to rule.  That alone is a daily task requiring attention and balance.

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 ͡°)