Tag Archives: intelligence

ATM’s, Modern Idols

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I know I’m not a good writer.  And if I can’t write well about simple things, how can I possibly expect to write well about the best of things.  But I’ve given this a reasonable shot (as meager as my tiny mind seems to be).   I can only hope that the reader will think it through for himself.  

Yes, that was an apology.  Have mercy on yourself.  I’m just a gate.  Walk through me and see if what I write about is true.  If it’s not, you’ve wasted no time at all.  You would’ve spent that time investigating something else that’s just as fruitless.  But what if I write about the best of possible worlds? Then if you don’t investigate, you’ve lost absolutely everything.  

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Standing in front of an ATM, asking it to have mercy, then expecting it to pump out $400 for you, is rather ridiculous. You’re going to walk away confused and broke.  

There are people who have figured it out: Read the directions. Get a job. Start an account. Deposit your money. Ask the bank for a debit card. Then ask how to use the ATM.   Relatively simple.  I’m sure the bank is eager to help you.  


Isn’t false religion and superstition just that ridiculous, when the Lord’s people are so eager to help anyone learn. Not to mention that the Bible is so easy to understand. The Gospel is preached in every corner of the world. And the Lord Jesus himself promises to guide his people into understanding and profitability.  


But don’t be like those people who read the directions on the ATM alone. If you simply stand in front of the bank, you still can’t get what you want. Success requires continual and faithful work,  a face-to-face encounter, and a live agreement.   


Most people think they will wait to the last minute. Somehow they believe all their sins will be forgiven and they will become glorious creatures. How misguided and sad. There’s a life to be led. There are gifts from God to receive. There is glory to be generated for the Lord of Mercy.  


“Without me you can do nothing.”


The Lord may very well have mercy on deathbed confessions, or awareness instilled by imminent death. But think about all the days that are lost in worthlessness forever. Selfishness may gain you what you want. But it gains the Lord nothing. If your life is not fruitful for God, you have nothing, and are nothing.  


“Many are called but few are chosen.”

Errant Blind Souls

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If I could train my foolish brain to recognize people as errant blind souls wandering in a suit of flesh, I believe forgiveness would flow like a river.  Though there is forgiveness as I live in Christ, it is often by compulsion.  It’s rarely the first thought.

I think about the reason for this inability to perceive correctly and consistently.  I think it has something to do with the deluge of trinkets and baubles which mask the true Man. 

Perhaps it was slightly easier in early Christianity, where there were less objects of affection to be had.  I can’t possibly know, and I don’t think anyone will ever be able to say for sure.  Only God truly knows.

Pride certainly holds a relevant kingship when it comes to masking the true soul of a man.  And doesn’t pride come in such a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and intensity?  But Pride’s robe is made up of all the things a man may amass to declare his kingship over his own soul.  To get to the heart of a man you have to slice through the garbage.  Undoubtedly, recognizing people as blind errant souls gets far more difficult as the abundance of wealth gathers to hide them.

And I think it’s appropriate here to mention that the abundance of things that hide a soul need not necessarily be costly items.  There is the wealth of social alienation.  This alienation relies chiefly on violence as its display.  From ignoring to  physical violence, such a man says, without speaking, “Get past this if you can”.

Regardless all these things, it is to the Christian’s benefit to perceive his fellow Man as an errant blind soul (just like himself).  Certainly something worth thinking on.

From my own perspective, here is a small list of shills people use.

Politics
Religion
Social position
Tradition
Jokes
Rude behavior
Foul language
A pleasant countenance
Apathy
Social intelligence
Clothing
Makeup
Race
Creed
Exclusive clubs
Deviant behavior
Drugs and alcohol
All manner of things that can be bought

All these things mask the true Man.  Who is capable of perceiving past these things on a consistent basis?

15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.” (John 8)

My memory is renewed to consider that God in Christ alone is able to reach any soul.

The Perfection of Holy Forgiveness

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It’s amazing how some things dawn on us ever so slowly.  We think we understand but we do not know as we should. Many people would call humans rather intelligent.  I am forced to think otherwise.

The comparison men use to grade themselves on intelligence, is born in the sea of men (the sum of which could be compared to a jellyfish).  But compare our intelligence to the Most High God and His holy son Jesus, and we fall so far short we are not even worthy of mention in his righteous court.

We all make mistakes on a daily basis.  Many of those mistakes can be referred to as sin; for we knew better but chose that way anyhow.  Can God forgive our sins?  The answer is “absolutely”.

It just dawned on me today how that can be so.  Duh.

The Lord has allowed me to be with and love an absolutely wonderful woman.  She knows my faults but chooses to overlook them.  She is full of discretion and does not speak of them to others.  She makes no excuse for me, but she buffers me against what could be an enemy.

If she is such a wonderous human being and yet falls so far short on the intelligence level, (As do we all.)   How much greater and more discreet is the sweet love of the Son of God?

Certainly something to ponder when doubt overshadows our forehead.

By His Grace

Stupid

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I have often been told that the way I perceive the world is different.  I’m not talking about my Christian perspectives.  People try to put it nicely but in the end they simply say, “You’re just a little different.”

I’ve been told that I go about tasks from an entirely different direction.  I make so many mistakes that I wonder why I try to accomplish anything at all.  Futility and Murphy’s Law seem to be my best friends.  And I am not overstating.

That is the nature of my life.  I am not complaining, nor am I looking for sympathy.  What possible good with either of those accomplish?  I could complain, but I’d still be stupid. You could feel sorry for me, but that won’t make me smart.  I spoke of these things for a purpose.

Though I am an oddball, I am certainly not alone.  God made cherries, grapes, peaches, apples, bananas, Kiwi and the like.  They are not all the same.  But their purpose is to be consumed.

He has allowed that man should be the same; richly diverse in wisdom, knowledge and ability.  Yet the purpose of every man is to be consumed by the things of God and for His Glory.

How should a man complain to God, “Why have you made me like this”?  Should a grape complain because it hangs on the grapevine?  Should the unintelligent sheep desire to be a fox?  Perhaps the oak should wish to retain its leaves in winter.  How is it man is the only creature who desires to be something else?

Are you smart?  Good for you.  Then by all means be smart.  You couldn’t be stupid if you tried.  Are you stupid?  Then by all means be stupid.  You couldn’t be smart if you tried.  Do you crave responsibility?  Then take it upon yourself, and do well.  Do expectations terrify you?  Simply make sure people know you can’t be trusted.

But let every man learn to be at peace with what God has allowed him to become.  What good is greed, envy or judgemental hatred?  Take pride in God, for he has determined that you should be as you find yourself.

There is wisdom that God will give, free and without judgement.  The smart man needs it.  The stupid man needs it.  The average man needs it.  For it will guide each man into all good things.

But let every man put away comparison.  Let every man learn, by the wisdom of God, to be at peace with what he is.  And find some mercy within you to embrace the stupidity of others.  (or as is “PC”,  “Their curious lack.”)

P. S.
If I have offended someone by the use of the word stupid, I allow that you should consider the source.  I readily confess, I am stupid.  I have a right to speak of such things.