The Avengers: Review

Ok, wow. Like, really wow. I was told this was a stellar movie, and I was not disappointed. My great friend over at Thine is the Kingdom did a great review of the movie, http://allauthority.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-avengers.html which convinced me to see it.  

He did such a complete review that there is not much more to add, but if I dropped it there it wouldn't be a review by me now would it? 

So, I am obliged to repeat some of what he said and say it - from me. 

The Story - super quick style. 

Loki, back from the movie Thor, (which I didn't see) is teamed up with aliens on a far away galaxy wreak revenge and havoc on earth, the planet under his brother Thor's protection. A source of limitless energy, the Tesseract, is also a door to the other side of the Galaxy. Nick Fury, head of the Shield program, (like a souped up FBI) gathers the supers from around the world that are the only ones able to help save the universe. Stealing the Tesseract, Loki opens the door to the other end of the galaxy and unleashes an alien force on Manhattan.  The group of supers, or The Avengers, take on a massive alien force in the streets and in the air in a last stand for the freedom or their planet.

 

The Good:

There is a lot of good to be said about the movie. One thing that stood out to me very well is the message of power and what it does. Ultimate power corrupts ultimately, even if you are the "good guy". It is shown in the movie where even the "good guy" tries to use the Tesseract one step farther than just for clean energy, and tries to make a arsenal to protect the earth. Just because one is a "good guy" doesn't mean that our sin nature is null and void, and we are not open to temptations. I liked that sense of realism to the movie, bringing it home to us on a personal level. 

Captain America is great - as always. A devoted leader who doesn't think of himself, keeping the others focused on the mission and leading the group in the defense of the streets, putting the lives of the innocent before his. Oh boy, I really am a fan of Captain America. He had the best line in the entire movie.

"There is only one God ma'm, and I am pretty sure he doesn't dress like that." 

Loki is the best villain I have seen in goodness knows how long. I had heard he played the part well, and boy did he. Evil as pitch, yet a real person who has real hopes, fears, desires and shortcomings. He is almost likable, pitiable in his state of mental self-exaltation, yet deplorable in his state of a depraved mind with the ability to work its will as one pleases. Loki is a convincing character of one who hurts, and hurts deeply, and lusts for power and control in hopes of stalling the pain. I would have to say that the movie would not be what it is without Loki.        

The witty banter back and forth between the Avengers as they settle their differences is some of the funniest lines I have heard to date. Not too sarcastic, not blase or cheesy, and not off the walls lame. Funny, quick, smart, and clever. I would love to put some of them up here, but it wouldn't do them justice in text form. 

The story line really stands out through this movie. Captain America the movie had a bit of a dose of bad-storytelling. Avengers suffers from no such malady. The plot flows in a realistic yet unpredictable manner, keeping you guessing what the next twist was even when you thought you knew what would happen next. Very well done and very engaging. It isn't a bore or a drag to watch, but each scene seems to be naturally what would come next, avoiding typical Hollywood Steriotypicalism. 

Oh, and the score is great. Epic, sweeping, valiant, and bold. Very well done.  

The Bad:

The movie is based on a completely evolutionary basis, mad obvious by the aliens, and evolution is even mentioned slightly once or twice. 

Cussing (although not too bad or too often), one kissing scene, and the sort seem to come with the territory nowadays. *sigh*.

The biggest annoyance and detractor from the movie could be summarized in one person: Black Widow. She could have been left completely out of the movie, and would not have affected the overall affect of the movie. 

Her clothes are too tight, she has an annoying *I am awesome* attitude, martial arts skills that reek more Hollywood than Jujitsu, and the list goes on. Almost everything I don't like about the movie revolves around her. Ugh. There is one scene near the beginning of the movie where her shirt is *ahem* a little low cut with a shorter skirt than preferable  - and decks out a room of interrogators - all while tied to a chair. Lame. Also she touts a false message of works-based redemption in order to wipe some "red out of her ledger" from the past. Obviously not correct there. 

Oh, and speaking of lame, there are a few lame parts here and there. One is where Black Widow decks the entire room while tied to a chair, the other is where Hawkeye shoots a ship with his bow while talking on and intercom and looking the other way. Sorry, just lame. Not cool, not even really possible. Just lame. 

Hawkeye does a pretty good job the rest of the movie, and overall I like him, but that one scene pushed it a little far as far as realism went. 

     

Iron man is a ton little stuck up. He is concerned only with himself for a good part of the movie, and always has a funny crack and sarcastic quip about just about everything. He does change near the end and make the ultimate sacrifice, but you do have to put up with his attitude for a good part of the film. 

All that aside, it is an enjoyable, exciting, rather breathtaking watch. Gabe does a much more in depth review, so swing over to his for a much more intensive look (I posted the link above) but that is my official short-sweet-and-to-the-point version. 

Overall, I give it a 4.2 out of 5  -  the .3 out because of the cussing and Black-Widow. I sure wish they hadn't had those elements in, because this had the potential of being a simply stellar movie.    

Noah Today

I got this in my email today. It's too good not to share - oh no, far too good. Thought you all would get a good laugh, as I did. 

Enjoy ~

NOAH TODAY

In the year 2011, the Lord came unto Noah,

who was now living in America and said:

"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over

-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me."

"Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing

along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying:

"You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will

start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah

weeping in his yard - but no Ark.

"Noah!," He roared, "I'm about to start the rain!

Where is the Ark?"

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed."

"I needed a Building Permit."

"I've been arguing with the Boat Inspector

about the need for a sprinkler system."

"My neighbors claim that I've violated the

neighborhood by-laws by building the Ark in my

back yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to

go to the local Planning Committee for a decision."

"Then the local Council and the Electricity Company demanded a shed load of money for the future costs of moving power

lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the

passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them

that the sea would be coming to us, but they would

hear none of it."

"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban

on cutting local trees in order to save the Greater Spotted Barn Owl."

"I tried to convince the environmentalists that I

needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!"

"When I started gathering the animals the ASPCA took me to court. They insisted that I was

confining wild animals against their will. They

argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and

it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in

a confined space."

"Then the Environmental Agency ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study

on your proposed flood."

"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the

Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm

supposed to hire for my building crew."

"The Immigration Dept. is checking the

visa status of most of the people who want to work."

"The trade unions say I can't use my sons. They

insist I have to hire only Union workers with

Ark-building experience."

"To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally

with endangered species."

"So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10

years for me to finish this Ark."

"Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine,

and a rainbow stretched across the sky." 

Noah looked up in wonder and asked,

"You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"

"No," said the Lord.

"The Government beat me to it."

Goings-on Lately

Ok Guys, I've been a little behind. Been running around, and have finally sat down for some bloggin. So, here's a quick update for all you who have been wondering and waiting ( I hope that is all of you......)

Well, first of all, and the furthest back, I officially joined the world of deer hunters last month.

My daily carry. A rifle, and a pack with lunch, knives, gps and other usefull items. 

My faithful hunting buddy - Josiah - who trucked up and down hills with me for a full week

And the actual fruit of the hunt. 7 days of hunting and one shot at 20 yards later, I bagged my first deer. 

So, that was very exciting. I hunted for a full week, and put in almost 40 miles of hiking - and that's not counting how much was uphill.

Nov. 1st will go down in my history as a good day. A very good day. God provided, and made me wait and trust for a whole week that he would.

Next, I got promoted in my Civil War reenacting group, and recently went through an entire three-day weekend as the ordinance sergeant. That was hectic, challenging, and was a good experience for me, since I was constantly having to do something, thinking outside the box, and was responsible for a lot of equipment. Thank God I think things went well, and hopefully is now set up (thanks to the help of wonderful NCO's under me)  better than before. I hope. We'll see how that goes.........

And lastly, besides running around with this and that other small things, I officially saw The Avengers.

    

I borrowed it from a friend, and finally saw what I had heard was a masterpiece of a film. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. A full review is coming soon, but for now, I will say it was awesome. Way awesome. Not a perfect movie by a long shot, but one of the best movies I have seen this year, and officially made it to my favorites list. 

Well, that's about it for now. I'm off to work on a full blown review for Avengers! 

Why I Won't Be Voting This Year.

(Warning – LONG POST.)  : /

Yeah, kinda shockin (not the fact that the post is long). I, for the first time a legal adult and able to vote in a presidential (Or any) election, will not be voting. I have always looked forward, to with a fair amount of composed excitement, the day when I would be able to walk into the crowded and hushed room, and be pointed towards a small booth where I would cast my opinion to help change the country.

 

And the first year I am able to do it, I am turning the opportunity down.

Why?

Well, that takes a heap of 'splaining. Ready?

I am going to try to keep this short folks, but I can tell you right now it is NOT going to be short. So for the present, just be glad this is the edited version. : )

Before we can ever even raise the question of whether or note it is Biblical to vote, we need to go further back and ask the question of whether or not we even have a Biblical system of government. No, I am not talking about today, in our corrupt society and corrupt political leaders. I am talking about the government how it was originally set up. The Constitution is our ( or suppose to be ) blueprint for our government.  Christians for years have held up the constitution as this monumental document of Christian freedom,

letting us have the freedom we were all born with, and.... and........

They rave on, but actually, I am not so convinced. 

I am going to lay out ( or try to at the very least ) what I think is wrong with our present government ( not actual today politics, but the ideal that is laid out in the Constitution ), what is Biblical government, and how to get there. After that, I hope to lay out many of the objections that I have heard to this plan.

Let me tell you now folks, you might be in for a shock reading this, and let me tell you, this has been a bit of a shock for me as I learned this. 

If you were anything like me, you were raised with this notion of the Constitution being this document that was almost on inspired status, and thus almost on par with scripture. Granted, nobody actually ever came out and said that, but that was the attitude that was communicated and transmitted, and I was a firm believer that our Constitution was the epitome of Biblical government, and here, in the U.S. was embodied the soul of Biblical freedom, government, and spirituality. 

I mean, after all, the Constitution says I have all the right I please to carry whatever guns I please when I please. Could it get better than that? 

Well, as I get older, and have looked more at the Constitution, the less I like. The more I look at scripture, the more I see a different form of government. But before I propose a new boat to float our country, I am obliged to put a few auger holes in the mental block of the bottom of the present one, to show you there is even a need for a new government. Again, I am not talking about the way things are run today. Even unsaved people don't like it and want to get back to the Constitution. 

But should we? 

Well, here goes.

Our Constitution lays out a government with three branches. Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The Executive branch is Comprised of the President and his cohorts. 

From Wiki....

The top leadership roles of the executive branch may include:

~ Head of government—overseeing the administration of the state, managing the bureaucracy, and enforcing the law
~ Foreign minister—overseeing state's ambassadors, managing and determining foreign policy
~ Commander in chief—commanding the state's armed forces and determining military policy and the cabinet ministers.

The Legislative branch~ (from http://www.whitehouse.gov)

Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

And the Judicial Branch (from http://www.whitehouse.gov)

Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the Judicial Branch, leaves Congress significant discretion to determine the shape and structure of the federal judiciary. Even the number of Supreme Court Justices is left to Congress — at times there have been as few as six, while the current number (nine, with one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) has only been in place since 1869. The Constitution also grants Congress the power to establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court, and to that end Congress has established the United States district courts, which try most federal cases, and 13 United States courts of appeals, which review appealed district court cases.

Ok, So we have a Legislature to make laws and declare war if needed, a President and company to oversee the enforcement of the law, to regulate and over see foreign policy, and to command and lead the STANDING military forces and policy. (you know my opinion on that already.......) and a Judiciary system to try cases, and otherwise, apply the punishments and applications of the laws in court.

Ok, so that is basically the gist of the system.

As Americans, (sorry for all you out there who aint, just bear with me) we are under this law by mere birth, or by choice if you immigrated.

As Christians however, we can't just look at whatever set of laws we are stuck with and call it God-approved. God may have allowed it, but we know from scripture that not everything that God allows, does God approve. David and Bathsheba, for example.

So we are forced to ask, as Christians, is this system Biblical? Do we really believe the Bible speaks to this area, and how we should set it up? Do we? Well, if we really do, and really believe the Bible is totally sufficient, we should believe the Bible has plenty to say about government and how to set it up.

So the Bible should have examples of our type of government, right? I mean, it was almost (or maybe just a hair closer) God inspired and on par (gasp, did I say that??) with.... Scripture! (there, I said what everybody else was thinking but not wanting to say....)

So, I went looking to the Bible to see what it said concerning our form of government, and the evidence I found for it was rather.... non existent. Let’s go to the classic text for the role of government - Romans 13.  

Romans 13:4
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Ok, so he is supposed to execute God's wrath upon those who do evil, or in other words, give the crooks the due punishment for their crooked ways.

Then it goes on to say that the government can get involved in foreign policy, regulate taxes, get involved in foreign policy, and declare war on those who need a good whoppin.

Or does it?

It says we can make new laws for social order, as we see fit, to help lead us towards a Godly society.

Or does it?

God says in Deuteronomy 4:2 "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you."

Well, some say, just because the Bible doesn't say it, doesn't mean that we can't do it. I mean, after all, that was then, and this is now. Things have changed a bit. We are no longer a Theocracy.

So is the Bible sufficient or isn't it? Do we really believe that God spoke to us on that issue? Or do we really believe that God left us in the dark, just this once, to figure out how things were supposed to be done?

Do we? Or are we willing to face that fact that God might have had an opinion or two on what we should do.

So have things changed? What has changed then? Has God's nature changed? We know that can't happen.

“And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind” (1 Samuel 15:29).

Has the nature of man changed? Um, Don't think so.

Has God's word changed? Well, If the Bible is God's word, and we know God can't change, then therefore his word can't change.

Has our circumstances changed?
Well, if God is the same, his word is the same, man is the same, and circumstances really don't affect moral issues, then what about God's system has changed?

Our covenant has changed, and now Christ is our high priest and sacrifice, but from what we see from scripture, the sacrificial system didn’t affect the governmental system in the OT, and God didn’t say that it changed after Christ died in the NT.

I think it hasn't.

Does God no longer rule over us and keep us and take care of us?

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

So, if that is the case, what does the Bible say about government? I mean, after all, God doesn't pull Moses, or Jeremiah, or Isaiah, or any other prophet aside one day, and give them the inside scoop on exactly how to set up a government.

Or does he?

If we mosey back to (guess!) the Old Testament, we find that - oh fancy that! - God actually did set up a system of government.

Ah, you mean the kings - right?

Well, maybe, but God made it pretty clear to Samuel, that when the people wanted a king like everybody else, that they were turning away from God.

1 Samuel 8:4-9
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Ok, so God made it pretty clear that having a king, to "judge us like all the nations" was turning away from God. If God says having a person up there with that much power, is turning away from him, I would guess he means it.

Also note what the Israelites said. "Like all the nations".
The very fact that everybody but God's people were doing something, and we know that everybody else was not serving God, that would be an automatic turn-off for me.

But hey, there were kings who followed God and did great good in Israel! Look at David.... and....and...

So if we do things in a way that God doesn't like, in a way that somehow has some good effects, does it all of a sudden becomes acceptable to God? Is God pragmatic? Whatever works goes?  

Well, we don't see that in scripture. And remember, as Christians, the Bible must be our sole text book on how to live life that is pleasing to God.

So, what is left?

Well, you have to back up even farther in time, to Moses (Oh, I guess God did pull him aside. Whoops).

We see a very interesting form of government. We see, kinda as we know it, a judicial system, and judicial system only.

We see only Moses, and captains of fifties, hundreds, etc., set up to judge the cases brought to them by the people, and they applied God's law and his commands to the cases brought to them by the people.

And they set up taxes and trade with foreign countries and made new laws.......

Well, actually, they didn't. All they did was apply God's law to the lives of the people, and apply God's just punishment to those who deserved it.

Hey, that sounds familiar..... Let’s go back to Romans 13.

Romans 13:4
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

In the context of what Moses did, that now makes a heap of sense. God, though the judges of Israel, executing his wrath upon them that do wrong.

But, what about all the things that.....

That we have in our Constitution that we don't see in the Bible? Well, I guess they have to be chucked. God said don't add or take away from my law. I guess that is pretty clear.

   Exodus 18:19-23
 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

So, just a judicial system, to apply the judgments that God laid out, with no making new laws, or regulating......anything?

Well, that is all I see from scripture, and I am trying to operate completely from Scripture, since I believe that Scripture is completely sufficient.

The more I think about it, what are new laws for? Are God's laws not good enough? Has things changed?

Wait.... we already went over that.

The more I think, the more I lean towards having God’s laws he laid out and God’s laws alone. NO other laws officially on the “lawbooks” of the government.

Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

People start arguing right there. They say we need more laws to keep people safe. Traffic laws, or hunting regulations, for instance. We need to have these regulations set in place so that way evil man will be restrained from doing wrong and wiping out either people or animal populations.

But you know, God didn’t do that did he? In all the wicked nations in the OT, God didn’t go in and tell the good guys to go in and make new laws to keep all the bad guys in check. He either told them to wipe them out, or go evangelize to them. Yet for some reason, in our country, we as a Christian people think it is the Christian thing to do to go and make laws to keep the evil people from doing evil things like abortion, or gay marriage and such.

So do we believe God might have got it right? Or do we believe that maybe we got the one-up on God, and the way it was carried out then was old hat, and what we do today is the new in-method on going towards a Godly society? Do we? Are we really willing to look only to scripture for our method of government?

As I have thought about it, the reason we make laws other that what God specifically gave us, seems to me, is because we think we can have a civil society full of wicked men with wicked hearts, that are not following God, and not suffer consequences in our society and immediate surroundings.

I am going to say that again, because this is huge, and it is not just the heathens out there believing them. It is the mainline big-wig Christian reformed leaders of today.

The reason we make laws other that what God specifically gave us, seems to me, is because we think we can have a civil society full of wicked men with wicked hearts, that are not following God, and not suffer consequences in our society and immediate surroundings.

We think that we can have wicked men, and if we merely have good traffic laws, we will somehow escape the negative effects of having evil men doing evil things, and killing people by reckless driving. We somehow think if we have good hunting regulations, (and you can define “good” any way you please) we will escape the negative side effects of having evil men doing evil things, and wiping out animals populations uselessly.

God didn’t (and doesn’t) think that is the way to handle it. Why do we have the gumption to think that we somehow know better?


We rant and rave over how bad our government is now, but we don't realize that the founding fathers, not knowing what was coming, and in my opinion, not taking scripture into account, set up a system that was radically unBiblical from the get-go.

I am going to make a statement that will probably go against most American’s grain. The more I study the actual debates of the founding fathers, and what they said, and why they said they said what they said, I conclude that the founding fathers of the United States set up as secular a nation as communist Russia. The only difference is that ours had effects that allowed us to be free and worship God as we saw fit. Nowhere in any discussions, any debates, or any arguments surrounding the Constitutional Convention, was the Bible as an even remotely important document.

I know for years we have been told that our founding fathers were Christians, and how they made a system of government based on their beliefs of God and man, and so thus we have fully Christian form of government.

Well, if you have ever read the stuff the founders wrote, and said, and published, you find that what they actually said and tried to do and make, was in its essence, completely secular. I know it is a shock to most, but go read the Federalist Papers, Antifederalist Papers, Articles of Confederation, etc., and anything that actually reports what they said and did, and you might be in for a surprise.

What might also surprise you, is how off beat some of the big names you always hear about. For instance, James Madison was a massive influence on the Constitution, and he had ideas that basically were heading back towards the system in Britain they just left.

Anyway….

Is having the ability to obey God freely in a government the same as having a Godly government? So maybe our system isn’t quite the Biblical example, but look how much good we have done with our country! If we have freedom, and we are free (or were free) to obey God as we pleased, isn’t that pleasing God?

 So, can we do something that God didn’t say we can do, to hope that we might get the same results as if we had done it the way he did? In other words, does the end justifies the means?

Sorry to say, but I don’t think so. God in several cases in the OT shows us he cares about not only what he tells us to do but how he told us to do it.

Yes, I know America has been the most free nation, physically and spiritually, since Israel's time, but that is kinda like the Kings in Israel - A method that is not God's plan, that happened to produce a few benefits we like at the same time.

So, we see from scripture that a judicial type of system was what God had set up, but an Executive and Legislative branch were not set up, and both seem to contradict principles of government that God set up.

So I believe that a Biblical system of Government, is where a judicial set-up of fifties, thousands, etc., applies the application of God’s law on the situations brought to him from everyday life, and deals out justice as dictated by the case law and specific commandments of God’s law. Nothing more, nothing less.

Man is free to do as he wills, inside of what God allows, and he is judged when he goes outside of the laws God sets out. Period.

I am going to wrap this up (finally, sorry it has been so long) with a paraphrase from Frederic Bastiat.

“Now that busybodies and do-gooders have inflicted so many systems upon society, let them try freedom, since that is having faith in God.”


So, to answer the question I posed in the title, the reason I will not be voting, is that by voting (for officials and posts other than what is explicitly shown in scripture), I believe a person is saying that they think the system they are in is Biblical. Let me explain. By voting, you say.

A.    The system (of the Constitution) is Biblical.
B.     That the office of a president, senator, etc., is Biblical.
C.     That by voting for a president, senator, etc., you can move your nation towards a society that is pleasing to God.

 I believe, by what I have shown, that those are unbiblical statements, with an unbiblical thesis, and because of that, I will not vote.

I will get the Gospel out.

The Gospel, and only the Gospel, can ever change a country. Not a new political leader who just might give us our guns and not kill as many babies.

The world, not just America, needs the Gospel. Not a political leader at the top to do things God isn’t pleased with. Mormon or Muslim. Doesn’t matter. Not a bunch of guys making laws that God didn’t make. I believe that is not what God wants.

I would love y’alls opinion on all this. This is based totally from what I have seen from scripture, and have pieced these theories and arguments together by my own thoughts, so I would love other scriptural inputs from you guys. I have tried to make this completely from scripture, and from scripture alone. Please share any scriptures you know that would share light on this subject.

 





 

Why I won't call 911

I am sure you have all seen one of these signs before, and if you live anywhere near the west, quite regularly. Most people who post this sign up are usually ready and willing to back up their words with action, and have enough heat under the pillow and next to the bed to make any crook in his right mind head for the hills with his tail 'tween his legs. 

Most of the time, this type of attitude comes from a self-sufficient attitude, most commonly popularized by the icon of the cowboy and the west - which is why you see a lot of these signs out west.

Well, that isn't why I won't call 911. I mean, I am all for self-sufficiency - and of course cowboys, but that isn't my main reasoning.

Back in the days before the police were the knight-in-shining-armor to anyone who was in distress, when someone kicked in the front door, the first response of the father wasn't to grab the phone and dutifully punch in the life-saving three numbers. The first response of the father was to grab the 'ole 12 next to the bed, and either the thug ended his career with a heavy dose lead poisoning, or he got smart and beat for the bush at the mere sound of that double-aught buck racking into the Remington.

Or if you go even further back, the father grabbed his sword, or the nearest stick, to ward off the intruder.

Nowadays, the reaction is quite different.

Glass breaking someplace in the house in the middle of the night? Get the kids, hide under the bed, call 911.

See someone being robbed? Be useful and call 911.

See suspicious activity in that back alley? Just in case, call 911.

911 has become our Larry-Boy signal (for all those familiar with Veggie Tales...), that we are ever-to quick to punch in at the slightest sign of anything remotely dangerous, so the Hero will come to our aid and save the day.

For as long as I have known about the police, they have been, at least on the mental scale, the ultimate call and the ultimate authority on danger, and dangerous situations. Anything that looked remotely fishy called for an immediate 3 number punch.

The older I get, the more I wonder, and think that maybe I was pretty wrong in my earlier beliefs.

So, why 911? Why the police? Are Police biblical? 

As you probably already know, I am going to resort to the Old Testament for this question.

If we go back to (guess!) Moses and his era, to one of the first governmental systems ever set up, and basically the first one God specifically set up, we obviously should find the Moses police and see how right and proper our police setup is today, right?

Well, first off, before we look for them, what do police actually do? (It's easier to look if we know what we are looking for. :) )

Nowadays, they basically are used in any situations involving the carrying out of or dealing with the infringement of the law.

Run a red light? Police on the move.

Someone robbing a bank? Police here to keep you safe.

Really bad boy and you's a'goin to the slamma? Police here to escort you in a nice air-conditioned car.

So we get the idea.

So if we go looking through the OT near Moses's time, we see lots of officials running around, reporting to Moses constantly on the situation of the tribes, arresting people for selling contraband figs, fining people for speeding on their donkey through the middle of the tent lot..... etc....right?

Ah fooey. None.

So what did they do? Who kept peace and order, if it wasn't the "authorities"( authorities on what??) ? Does it really matter? Do we really believe that God might have spoken to us on this issue, and are ready to find out what he actually did?

Well, I see something radically different in their time. Instead of officials running around keeping the peace, it was the people seeing and reporting violations of the law, and knowing that era, it was probably the heads of the households doing all the doing.

Nowadays, we have moved past that in this day and age, and become more sophisticated and now have trained professionals doing all that work for us.

But why? Are we really "so advanced" that we have moved past scriptural examples?

I don't see that pattern in scripture. We actually see men being men and stepping up to their role of being the heads of the households, and as leaders of their home, also leaders in the immediate community.

For example, they caught a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath.

Quick! Blow 911 on the trumpet! Get the Moses police over here on the double to get this lawbreaker!

Oh wait, sorry. That wasn't what happened  -  I must have misread that.

It says they grabbed him and took him to Moses, and Moses dealt out the punishment God had decided for the sin of breaking the sabbath. Not the police. Not some official with a big tin badge. They grabbed him.

   Numbers 15:32-35 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Over and over again through the OT, we see men leading the community and doing their part to keep peace in their neck of the woods. We don't see them running off on their donkey and hiding away while the officials of the day dealt with the dangerous situation. They dealt with it.

Oh Heavens to Betsy! A lion is eating my sheep! Get the police out here ASAP while I head to safety! 

If that was the response of David while guarding his sheep, he would have been out of a job and a lot more things when he got home. 

What did he do? He looked around, and taking what he had, ( in one case his bare hands ) and dealt with the situation himself. He didn't punch the 3 numbers, he dealt with it himself.

Why do we think we should do any different?

In my honest opinion, we shouldn't, but we, deep down in our sinful soul, really want to do it different. We want to be safe and cozy and let someone else be in danger and risked getting killed.

Men nowadays, with few exceptions, are cowards.

Yessir, I'll say that again. It's a stiff word. COWARDS.

Men would rather hide in the sofa with their GMO potato chips and let somebody else take care of the dangerous work.

I have actually seen a girl with her sleeves rolled up, working under the hood of a car, in a parking lot, while her boyfriend sat in the car. I just recently heard of a woman with her husband on a safari-type trip to Africa, and  when the "tame" cheetahs turned on her and mauled her, her husband stood at a safe distance and took pictures.

Men nowadays are that lazy - and that cowardice.

Now that I think about it, I bet that lady with the cheetahs wished David the Lion killer was around to save her - because unfortunately, nobody else was, or would.

As men, men have a role not only as the heads of their households, but as the heads of their households, heads of the society as well. It is the men's job, not the cops, to keep peace and order in the society.

Glass breaking someplace in the house in the middle of the night? Grab the '12, and a flashlight and see that everything is all right.

See someone being robbed? Bum rush the guy from behind and knock him to the floor. Or better yet pull your own gun and make him get on the floor why you watch from a comfortable distance.

See suspicious activity in that back alley? Put down the lemonade you were drinking while talking to your neighbor, and both of you mosey down there and make sure things are in order.

Honestly men, I think the police are a mere result of us guys refusing to take up our manly responsibility and do what needs to be done. We jumped ship, and the government was all to keen to come to save the day - where we should have been the knights in shining armor. We baled out and called for help, and they were more than willing to oblige.

Because if you think about it, that is exactly what calling 911 while you do nothing, really is.

You are asking for someone else who is not involved, and not particularly responsible to come and take your place as the defender of the society and save the day from the threat you are not willing to face yourselves.

Manly? Hardly, I think. But sadly, that is the attitude and actions of the majority of the male population of our country.

Am I saying there is never a case for 911?

Actually, if us guys really did what we were supposed to, we would never need armed policemen - ever.

Who would want to mug a lady in front of a cafe full of men who are packing heat and have a reputation for defending ladies at all costs?

Who would want to rob the bank when they know that the little dad with the big family at the counter would give him what-for if he so much as chirped about a robbery? Really?

What crook wants to operate with those odds? If every man walking by is a substantial threat to theirs or anybodies  malicious or harmful ways, it would put a real damper on any criminal activity in an area.

We have become way to dependent on the Government to keep us safe, and to tell us what to do in dangerous circumstances.

This is what happens when we no longer think it is in our line of duty to step up in time of danger.
I know this is goofy, and kinda sad, but get the point from it. There really is a serious message behind all of this.

If Big Camo there hadn't called 911, but ran over to his buddy to see if he was ok, maybe Tiny would have lived to see another hunt - despite the serious lack of gun-safety. 

But he didn't. He did what he was told good boys always do in danger - get somebody else to figure out what to do. And what happened? Tiny lost any chances that might have still been around for survival. 

So again, is there ever a case for 911? 

What is your call? Would you? Are you men gonna jump ship and let some boy in blue with a big badge be your wife's hero?

God put You there as the man - You are responsible. 

Honestly though, it aint about being the Hero, just for Hero's sake. It's about filling in the role God put you in.

It's what Christ did. His beloved bride, the church, was in dire danger. He didn't whine to the Father for help while he hid. He didn't punch a celestial 3-number. He wen't out and died to save his bride. 

Can we as Christian men, in the role of Christ to our wives and families, do any less? 

Now of course, there are protests to this reckless burst of macho dependency, as some would view it. I mean after all, cops are trained professionals! They are trained to deal with dangerous stuff like that, and should therefore be the only ones to handle that stuff. 

That sounds kinda like Israel saying they couldn't go do what God told them to, since all the countries around  them were much bigger, badder, and "trained".

We know, that when they merely obeyed God, and did what they were told, it didn't matter who or what they were against - they won. 

So why are we any different? If God has called us to defend our family or the immediate society, does it matter how many guns, knives, and teeth that crook in your living room or the mall parking lot has? I think not.

Do what God has commanded and defend your family, and keep peace in your society. God told you to do it, let him worry about the consequences. 

In other words, Man up guys. The world is in need of some manly Heroes, and you are the ones that God has called to be those Heroes. Heroes who obey God, do what he has commanded, because he has commanded. The world could use a few more of those. Those, are real Heroes. 

So, I guess those guys out in the west who had that mentality of taking care of themselves and put up signs telling other about it, were pretty on par. They couldn't rely on the government for anything, since there was no government help for thousands of miles. They dealt with it or else. They were the men - they took care of it.

Now, do not confuse all of this with the idea of "meeting out justice" to every wrong-doer we pass. God has placed Judges in the world to carry out his punishment on those who choose to disobey. That is not the common mans job. 

I am referring to men stepping up in line of danger to save the innocent and those entrusted to his care. Not men handing out judgement to the criminal for his sins. 

Is there ever a case for 911?

Well, I am going to revise my statement in my title slightly.

I won't call 911 to come save the day. 

I will call them to come clean up the mess. It is the governments role to judge evil-doers, and that's it. 

The saving the day and all that, is up to us guys. Tag we're it. Plain and simple, its our responsibility.

Guys, it's time to Man Up.

Captain America: Review

Ok, I have officially seen my first modern Super-Hero movie, in the long stream of movies that has been coming out about them recently.

When Captain America came out last year, I wanted to see it, but never thought I would actually get the chance to see it. So when we were in Colorado ( yes, I went back to Colorado! ) our friends had rented it, so we got to see it.

So, here goes. 

  

Steve Rogers is a wimpy skinny kid from Brooklyn in WWII. He wants to join the army, to help in the war, but due to his physical condition of being skinny, wimpy, and otherwise *not* army fit, he is turned down five times under different names all for the same issue. 

The army however is trying a new "super soldier project" where they take normal people, and then alter them to make them real life super men. 

   

One scientist who worked under Hitler, is heading up this project, and he picks skinny Steve to join the army, if he is willing to be in the super-project. 

Steve is confused, but agrees. 

Steve is put throughthe  super - zapper, and goes from Steve Rogers, wimp, to Steve Rogers, Super Soldier. 

He is put in a bond-sales program at first, selling bonds as an American icon. Things go fine until his friend is captured by the dreaded Hydra - Hitler's science and technology department, which is turning out weapons that are decimating the U.S. troops. 

Captain America puts his muscles and kind heart to the test, and take on the Hydras HQ - alone.

Steve, after rescuing the whole unit, makes a team of the best men, and helps to take down Hydra, compound by compound.   

The Good:

Captain America is humble. That stands out so clear through this movie. When he was wimpy, he had no power, and therefore respected power, and didn't abuse it when he had it, since he was always the one who got beat up by all the bigger guys who held their man-status by how well they could beat up smaller guys who crossed their path. Steve is chosen because he is wimpy, and "his heart is Good" and is chosen over 

stronger men in the unit, because he knows the proper use of power.

Over and over again, he is humble, quiet, and composed. Not a loud, foul-mouthed hero who wants to take all the glory and glam for himself. No-sir, not him. Humble, quiet, but confident.

It also shows that one man who isn't afraid of what happens to him and selflessly serves others, can do more than he or anybody else thought he could.

I honestly became a fan of Captain America the person, even if the movie did have issues. 

The Bad:

The villain, the Red Skull, is another super that got "supered" who was another plain human, but wanted power, and got super-ed with a "bad" heart. The super-process merely amplifies your qualities - Captain America was good at heart, and got super-good at heart, Red Skull was bad, and got super bad. It was the failure in making a good soldier, that made the scientist make Captain America. 

So, we have some screwy beliefs as to the nature of man - but this Hollywood. *sigh* 

Some things kinda disappointed me though. This movie felt rushed. It could have easily been a 3 and half  hour movie, but they rushed the plot, the characters and the action, to make it a shorter movie than it could have been. It had so much potential to be longer, and have rich characters with background, but it was rushed so some of the figures seemed shallow and weak, and some of the action was chaotic and rather confusing.

When Steve is selling war bonds, the dancing girls with him are in need of more clothes - to put it mildly. I had to look away on most of the sale scenes.

The main lady in the movie is a drill sergeant basically, and is mostly a feminist. Boy, in most of the movie she was annoying.



A pistol-toting sharp-shooter, a 'don't-get-in-my-way' mentality, with a military uniform to boot.
I have to give her one credit though. Even though she went with Captain America on a few of the ending missions, she doesn't ever really fight like the rest, but just sorta tags along for the ride. I guess you might could call that a good thing.......

BUT. There is a whole section of scenes where she stands in the street and takes out crooks on the run with her pistol - while most of the other men (soldiers no less) were conveniently safe.
So, all in all, a feminist character.

And of course - war movie, cussing. It is generally only by one foul-mouthed general, but still, it is there.

Kissing scenes - *sigh*. No comment.

Oh, and a few moments of crude humor.

Overall, all things considered, I am kinda sad to only give CA 2.5 stars. I was hoping it to have been better, and it had so much potential to have been better, but those few things made it less than it could have been.

I would have a hard time recommending it, because of the immodesty.

I do however like Captain America the person.

This may be the comic-book version of him, but boy, I really like that type of Hero. 

Things That Make My Day

Ya know, there are those times when you think a heap, work your tail off, tape it back on and have to keep going, and then there are those times when you just have a lay-low time and take it easy.

Well, those times work inversely with blogging. When you have lay-low times in life, you write big-bad, thick, hearty blog posts. When you are running around with your tail taped on, you write small easy posts.

Well, I have been running hard lately, so it's officially time for a nice laid back post.

I decided to do a post on the things that really just make my day a good day. Those things that I really look forward to. The things that if I had the chance, would do a lot more of, or the things in every day life I really enjoy. I am pretty easy to please, and the things I enjoy aren't an exception.

No particular order. :)

~ Shooting.
Boy-Oh-Boy do I love to shoot. Any weapon, any caliber, any target. I prefer my handgun or a fined tuned rifle with good sights or a good scope. Love lever actions, love a good scoped hunting rifle. Just something about putting that hole where you want it......

My .40 Springfield. Daily-carry weapon of choice.

~ Fishing.
Oh Golly, love to fish. I haven't fished but once this year, and let me tell you, it's been hard. Times are hard, budgets are tight, and fishing is one of those things that goes by the wayside for the things that matter more. Loving wading in up to my waist and just casting by a brush snag waiting for something......

~ Hangin out with friends......

~ Being goofy with friends...
(nuf said)

~ Hunting.
Oh yeah, love hunting. This will be my fifth bird season I believe, and I will be officially going on my first deer hunt in October. Pray hard for that!  Anything I can hunt, I do and I enjoy. I love game meat.

First jackrabbit

This past year was the first year I was ever able to get my limit bird hunting. 

My big 'ole fluffy dog. Dixie. Such a goofy, fluffy, happy, dingy, loopy, lovely dog.  Always look forward to seeing her going back to the barn.

Tall glasses of sweet tea.
Homemade, with honey please.

~ Playing in the waves.
Didn't think of me as much of a beach-boy did ya? Oh man, I love the beach, boogie-boardin, the surf......  I would love to learn to surf one day.

~ Swimming in lakes.
I've swam in pools a heap, and it really doesn't turn me on. Far too tame. In a rocky lake with steep rocky cliff sides and no bottom four feet away from shore? Now were talkin. Heaps more adventurous and.... scary, honestly.

Me havin a ball at the Blue Ridge Resevoir this past June. 

~ Road trips.
Gotta love road trips. All the gear stuffed in the back, driving for hours past new scenery headed someplace exciting. In the past few years, I have been to Colorado twice, been to Oregon once, to California once, and I am headed back to Colorado mid September.

~ People talkin' southern,

~ Good firm handshakes,

Last but not least......

~ Southern food - mashed puhtayta's, fried chicken, fried okra, dumplins, gravy....... oh boy, I had better stop now before I start droolin...

Well folks, that's about all I can think of now. Just a few things that really make me smile. How 'bout you?