Disqus - Latest Comments for joel

Re: The world must act now to stop a genocide in Burma!

Joel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:02:46 -0000

It seems a rather sick thing to joke about.

Re: The world must act now to stop a genocide in Burma!

Joel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:09:46 -0000

Who would you bomb?
The child soldiers who have been forced into the life they live? The villages of innocent people? Bombs kill indescriminantly (sp?) and often kill more innocents than "bad guys" since the bad guys like to surround themselves with civillians. We need to find peaceful resolutions to these types of situations.

Re: Pagan Thinktank Releases Annual Sol Invictus-Friendly Shopping Guide

Joel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:39:02 -0000

Baal O’Raeli !!!
I just had to chuckle when I read that one.

Re: Pontifex Maximus (Obama’s Religion, pt 1)

Joel — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:42:46 -0000

Why wait for school boards, transportation commitees, city hall, or any other bureaucrat before something is done. If you see something that needs addressing in a Christ-like manner, just do it. I say, "screw the government." Just simply ignore it. To place any hope in it is idolatry.

Re: Africa is not a hospice

Joel — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:43:13 -0000

I, for one, would like to see more cooperation between the churches in the more developed and wealthy nations and the churches in the poorer and less developed nations. And by cooperation, I mean an equal exchange between the two sides. I feel that it is far too common for wealthy churches to send missionaries or delegates to poorer churches and tell them, "this is how to solve your problems, do it our way and everything will get better." What I would rather see is a true dialogue where the church in the developing world could tell the church in the developed world what it needed to address the issues in it's area. Then the wealthier churches could simply try to provide them with the support needed. In my opinion, we need to let go of control and allow the poorer churches more latitude in how they deal with their issues.

Re: Economic Matters: Socializing the Risk or Capitalizing the Reward?

Joel — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:38:59 -0000

Maybe we just need to put some of this in perspective. If the national debt truly is 11 trillion dollars, that would mean that if every single man, woman, and child in this nation were to take an equal share of the debt, we would each owe $36,667. A family of 5 would owe $183,335. This would be on top of whatever other debt we may already hold such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards.

If we are going to survive for any amount of time, we are going to have to stop purchasing beyond our means and stop making debt a way of life. Your neighbors purchased a home that they couldn't afford. It may not be p.c. to say this, but maybe they sould have simply continued to rent a place to live rather than bite off more than they could chew. Owning your own home, while having its own set of advantages and disadvantages, is simply not a right. It is a privelege, and one that comes with an expensive price tag.

But we have been programed by the media to have this sense of entitlement that tells us that it is ok for us to over-consume and live in nicer homes and drive fancier cars than we can reasonably afford. I remember when I applied for the loan for my home. We needed to borrow around $60,000. But the people at the bank said, "We can give you a loan for $110,000. You can take the extra money and buy a car or go on a nice vacation." I told them that I didn't want $110,000, I only wanted what I needed. The system is set up to entice people into believing that they can have more than they really can.

My wife is from Japan. She doesn't understand why americans love to be in so much debt. In Japan, people pay cash for many things including cars and homes. If they do take a mortgage for a home, they typically mortgage a much smaller percentage of the homes value than we do. How do they do it? For one thing, they are more patient than we are. They are perfectly willing to continue to rent a place until they have saved up enough money to buy a house. They take public transportation until they have saved up enough money to buy a car, and then they continue to use public transportation so they don't have to fill up their gas tank every week. It is quite common for children to continue to live with their parents long after most americans have moved out of mom and dad's. My sister-in-law and her husband are in their 40's and continue to live in the same house with his parents. This is perfectly normal over there.

As far as the federal reserve goes, while their implementation has smoothed some of the peaks and valleys of the economy, their catering to corporate greed have led them to put band-aids over problem that required more serious attention. This bailout is just another band-aid. Like the little dutch boy with his finger in the dike, they are starting to find out that the dike has more cracks and holes in it than they have fingers. It is all going to come crashing down sometime soon and we will all be swept away by the torrent of debt and greed that we have built up.

Re: When is it ok to be a jerk?

Joel — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:24:24 -0000

I found and read a very enlightening essay today called "Open letter to my children Concerning GOD AND COUNTRY FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE" by Carl Mease. This essay has much to tell us about how a Christian should behave during times of conflict; whether that conflict be war or personal disagreement. It opens with the following verse...

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be
quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach,
patient when wronged, with gentleness
correcting those who are in opposition, if
perhaps God may grant them repentance leading
to the knowledge of the truth and they may come
to their senses and escape from the snare of the
devil, having been held captive by him to do his
will. (2 Timothy 2: 24-26)

The rest of the essay may be read here:
http://www.polyventurepubli...

It is 45 pages long but the type is large and it reads fairly quickly.

Re: When is it ok to be a jerk?

Joel — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:45:27 -0000

I'm sure that if anyone wanted to see me behaving as a jerk, they could simply place their cursor over my avatar and read some of my past postings. I hope that I haven't been too bad though since I try to restrain myself somewhat.

Re: Confessions of a Recovering Nationalist

Joel — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:25:37 -0000

No offense taken. I enjoy a good debate or even argument from time to time. But I think most of the people on this site attempt to limit their conversations to the particular subject at hand and not engage in things that could be considered direct personal attacks. As we only get to type back and forth to each other, it is often difficult to convey sarcasm or other subtle nuances that we could convey with facial expressions or speech patterns when speaking face to face. On top of that, this is a Christian website and most of us try to behave accordingly. I look forward to further debates with you.

Re: Confessions of a Recovering Nationalist

Joel — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:55:13 -0000

Slider,
I don't claim (nor did I claim in my post above) to be an expert on anything. I am simply relating how I came to hold the beliefs I do through the experiences I have had. I have seen the effects of our nation's military being unleashed on people much weaker than us. I have seen the effects of America's strong arm economic tactics to ensure that third world nations stay that way in order to continue to provide us with cheap goods. It pains me that behavior is a matter of national policy. As far a criticizing the church, that depends on how you define church. Is it the church as the institution or the church as all Christians united through Christ. You better believe that I hold the church as an institution accountable for its actions. The church as an institution is a worldly institution. The church as all Christians united through Christ is a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of Christ. I pray for both the church and for the U.S. and its leaders. I also pray for North Korea's leaders and for Iran's leaders. I will also pray for Muslims and Hindus. I am well aware that many have been wounded or died in the service of this nation. Many more have been wounded or died in the service of other nations. Some our allies. Some the enemies of this nation. I have seen it with my own eyes and I will not assign a priority to one as being any more important or tragic than another. God certainly has done and will continue to do many great things through this nation. Often, in spite of ourselves. I know that the American people are very charitable and I don't wish to discount that. But I also don't wish to support a national system that seems to work very hard to make sure that there are always plenty of good causes for us to need to be charitable towards. If any of these beliefs of mine make you think that I am self-righteous, I would have to disagree. I am a wretched sinner with much to repent for in my past, present and I'm sure any future that God would be gracious enough bestow upon me. As far as your attempt to personally be-little my 11 years in the military as simply "swabbing decks", I don't believe that I will respond in kind. I will simply say this... Have you have ever answered the phone late at night and had to kiss your family goodbye, not being able to tell them where you are going or when you will be back ( if you come back ) and then get loaded on a plane with your battle gear and weapon to be deposited in a foreign country in a time national crisis as I have? If so, I would expect a little more understanding and respect for my service. If you haven't, well, is that how your 40 years of experience in the church have taught you to treat people?

Re: Race Around the Web

Joel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:50:34 -0000

I understand where you are coming from. We don't need government laws because we are called to observe a higher law. Anything less is meaningless.

Re: Confessions of a Recovering Nationalist

Joel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:34:23 -0000

Does this bashing of America offend you? The U.S. isn't the only country that cherishes freedom, liberty and the opportunity to worship un-inhibited. There are many around the world, but most Americans seem to think that we are the only ones. But I don't think that we should simply save our "bashing" for just the good ole USA. We should be going against every form of authority that is not of the Kingdom. I actually prefer not to "bash". I simply choose to lable the worldly forms of authority as illegitimate and impotent. And how did I come to hold my views? It was not at some emergent/missional/new monastic gathering. I came to hold my views during my 11 years of service in the military of the U.S.. I saw first hand how the U.S. govt. suppresses other nations and people (many of whom are Christians) just so we can have relative "peace" at home and cheap goods to fill the shelves in our stores. That is not the type of behavior condoned by the Kindom that I pledge total alleigence to now.

Re: The Style of Subversion Part 2: Resisting Pseudo Alterity

Joel — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:16:48 -0000

Brandon,
I believe that while some will be called to flee, some will be called to stay in order to be demonstrations of God's love to those who are suffering. The important thing is that each one heed the calling of the Lord and carry out whatever we have been called to do.

Re: The Style of Subversion: An Introduction

Joel — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:53:38 -0000

I have ubuntu on my computers, does that make me a hipster? Actually, I doubt that anyone would mistake me for a hipster. First of all, my bike has 21 speeds. Second, I don't own clothing that could be considered cool. My wife tells me that I dress like an old man (but I don't wear my pants above my waist). Third, I don't live the spoiled middle class kid kind of life. I bust my ass every day working as a mechanic. Well, I work as a mechanic for a utility company so I don't really have to work all that hard, but the job is still dirty and sweaty.

On the serious side, while the Adbusters article had some good points, I found it to be shallow and near sighted. These kids that are labeled as hipsters are simply trying to find where they fit in this world just like all the previous generations did. I don't envy them though. Everything is so scrutinized by the media and comercialized now that it is nearly impossible to find a unique identity for one's self.

Re: Another World is Neccessary: Anarchism, Christianity and the Race from the White House

Joel — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:16:14 -0000

Hmmm...
I may just have to take a day off from work and make the journey to Columbus for this. Sounds fun and interesting. Plus I will get the chance to meet more like-minded folks. There don't seem to be too many "radicals" around NW Indiana.

Re: What’s Enemy-Love Got To Do With It?

Joel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:08:51 -0000

Thank you. I found your reply to be very helpful in understanding my role as an ambassador of Christ.

Re: What’s Enemy-Love Got To Do With It?

Joel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:41:05 -0000

When I originally read the news story I mentioned above, I began to ask myself a lot of questions. I strive to be a peaceful person and promote peace in the world around me, but I also feel that any person, given the right circumstances, could be incited to violence. I will continue to hope and pray that the Holy Spirit would intervene for me if I were ever placed in such a situation like that and lead me to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. But if my voilent human nature should take over and cause me to do something I wouldn't otherwise do, at least I still have grace. Praise God for that.

Re: What’s Enemy-Love Got To Do With It?

Joel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:37:41 -0000

Well, I know that in the imaginary world inside my mind I would like to think that I would somehow disarm the individual and then hold him until the authorities arrive. However, in practice I'm afraid that I would be inclined to hurt the man out of a sense of vengance. I don't think that I would try to kill him, its not really in my nature to be murderous. But I'm afraid that my anger would override my sense of control.

I used to train in Aikido. It is considered a "non-violent" martial art because it uses no punches or kicks. But I consider that to be a bit of a misnomer since it replaces them with breaking bones, ripping tendons and tearing muscles. It has as its core goal to disable the attacker so that they can attack no more. The end result is not usually death, but intense pain.

I like your idea of rendering him unconscious, however you may want to think that through a little more carefully. A blow to the head could just as easily kill as it could knock uncounscious.

Re: What’s Enemy-Love Got To Do With It?

Joel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:25:33 -0000

I like that. Well thought out and presented.

Re: What’s Enemy-Love Got To Do With It?

Joel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:03:54 -0000

It is one thing to call oneself a pacifist. It is another thing all together to actually live that out. And I have some real questions as to whether 100% pacifism is the right answer. Wes Hunter and hewhocutsdown have some very valid points and I would like to bring up a real situation as opposed to hypothetical ones.

I remember reading about a situation in California a few months ago. A man was found late at night on a rural road. He had an appoximately 2 year old child with him and he was stomping, kicking, punching and picking up and throwing this child down on the ground. People who witnessed this called the police and when the officer arrived, the man refused to stop the attack and the officer shot the man dead. The todler was so badly mutilated from the assault that the coroner had to identify the body using dna.

Now I am going into a hypothetical situation involving the real situation I stated above. I would like to think that I am commited to peace. However, if I had been in the situation as a witness to this particular attack, I think that I probably would have at least made an attempt at stomping that man into jelly. I think the sight of a child being attacked in a brutal attack like that would have enraged me to the point of casting my convictions aside. Perhaps I am a poor Christian for feeling that way, but what would Brandon Rhodes have done if you had been in that situation?

Re: Render unto Washington?

Joel — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:16:19 -0000

(sigh...)
I never seem to be able to say what I want to say adequately. My comments always come, out despite my best efforts to the contrary, sounding blunt and overly simplistic.

At any rate, thanks Ted, for stating this in a much clearer way than I ever could. I actually think that extracting the temple tax from a fish is a pretty good guiding principle. Maybe next time I'm looking for something to spend my money on I should simply go fishing instead! =)

Re: Render unto Washington?

Joel — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:48:39 -0000

Well, here are my 2 cents on this topic...

I think that Jesus did tell us to pay our taxes in these verses. But, our paying taxes shouldn't be done out of loyalty to the state. We are simply to pay them because we are expected to be good citizens. While witholding the portion of our taxes that go to pay for the military may seem like a revolt, we must remember that Jesus also rejected the revolt. Besides, its not as if the military won't get their money if Mark Van Steenwyk (or anybody else) witholds that portion of their taxes. The military will simply use the portion that was payed.

Here is what it breaks down to. Everything hinges on what is in your heart. If one does good deeds while holding murderous rage in his heart, that person is guilty of murder. If one pays taxes while rejecting the military might that their government might use, God will know and that person will be guiltless.

Re: The Dark Knight of America

Joel — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:14:09 -0000

"Many Americans do unethical things because the “ends justify the means.”

And that is the epitome of arrogance. We believe that we are better off to take the situation into our own hands and out of the hands of God . That our plan is better than His.

"...if you are an American you are simply more likely to feel free to gripe about those in power than folks from other nations."

I'm not so sure that America has a monopoly on this. I have traveled around a bit and I would have to say that most people in most countries gripe a lot about their governments. Some of them just have to be careful who they gripe to.

Re: Happy St. Elizabeth’s Day!

Joel — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:11:38 -0000

I feel that we should continue to celebrate the holiday. It really doesn't matter if you want to call it July 4th or St. Elizabeth's Day. The important thing is that we are thankful during our celebrations. There are a number of celebrations in the bible and they all revolve around being thankful for our blessings and acknowledging God as the One who provides those blessings. I think it is important to continue those types of celebrations to show our gratitude to God. Even if those blessing have come to us by way of an imperialistic nation. But the blessings that we are given come with responsibilities. We need to stop over-consuming and we need to use our blessings to help others who may not be as fortunate as ourselves. We need to simplify our lives so that we have the time and resources available to do God's work

Re: Happy St. Elizabeth’s Day!

Joel — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:59:06 -0000

I'm not so sure that Jesus is one to "quibble" much. While I don't wish to trivialize His suffering on the cross, salvation is a gift available to anyone for free. 8-)