Nietzsche Is Dead

Was...

2009-03-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

I was sitting on the google page trying to remember what it was I was trying to search. Couldn't remember what it was so I sat there with Was typed in the google page. Eventually if you sit there long enough google will give you a helping hand and give you ten suggestions based on what other people have searched for. I found the suggestions under was kind of humorous so I went on and searched for was a, was b, was c, etc. etc. These are some of the results of my extensive search. Hope you find some of them as humorous as I do.

It should be noted that each of these probably has hundreds of thousands if not millions of "hits."

Was...

Bill Clinton impeached

Hitler Jewish

Abraham Lincoln black

Jesus black

Jesus a jew

Achilles real

Benjamin Franklin a president

Bush a good president

Beethoven black

Clinton a good president

Darwin wrong

Dracula real

Desperate housewives on last night

Einstein an atheist

...Christian

...Jewish

Elvis a racist

FDR a republican

... a democrat

... a socialist

George Washington the first president

God on vacation

Hitler jewish

...a christian

...a vegatarian

...married

...an atheist

...elected

...body ever found

...catholic

nine out of ten of the was h's were dedicated to hitler.

It over when the germans bombed pearl harbor

Jesus black

...a jew

...real

...married

...born on december 25th

...God

King Arthur real

Knight Rider cancelled

King Solomon black

Mr Rogers a navy seal

Nixon Impeached

Obama sworn in on the Koran

...Born in Kenya

...Born in the US

...Born in America

...Born in Hawaii

Oprah at the inauguration

Paul married

Paul an apostle

Robin Hood real

Shakespeare real

The moon landing fake

Thomas Jefferson black

Twilight good

Walt Disney frozen

...a nazi

...a racist

Xena real

Your father a baker

Your father a thief

YK2 real

you ever bit by a dead bee

Zorro real

Zeus a titan

...ever married

That's it. It's pretty funny to me. In my mind it reads off like a list of questions that a child would ask such as "Daddy, why is the sky blue?" but instead of being children it's grown adults asking, "Hey...*cough* ummm was Dracula real? Oh....I see. Oh yeah...I knew that. Ha ha.....ummm.... *cough* Was Hitler an elected married christian/jewish/catholic/atheistic married vegatarian?"

Religion

2009-02-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

What is religion to you? If you were to be called religious, would you flinch as if you were just punched in the gut or would it be a compliment to you and warmly accepted with gratitude? Both inside and outside the church many people have strong opinions about what religion is and whether it's the disease or the cure.

Doing a simple google search on religion I've come to the conclusion that religion is inspired by Satan, is man's attempt to be right with God, leads to pride and despair and is just flatout disgusting. Deepak Chopra has this to say about religion: "Religion is confining and imprisoning and toxic..." Sigmund Freud said that religion is an illusion. George Carlin, in good ol' George Carlin fashion stated that religion is bullshit. If you look around and listen to sermons you'll find that a lot of pastors have mixed feelings about religion. You can find sermons to fit your fancy. When I think of anti-religion, Mark Driscoll comes to mind.

Mark Driscoll is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and he has quite a bit to say about religion. If you jump on youtube and check him out you'll find over a hundred sermons by him. Some of the sermons have titles such as: "How do I fight religion?" "Jesus vs. religion", "hard and soft religion" (both being bad), etc. He absolutely hates religion and those aren't my words those are his. Now I really like Mark Driscoll. Even though we don't agree on some things (he's a Calvinist, I am not) I really like his sermon style and I'm sure that if I'm up in heaven and my seat (cause we'll have seats in heaven) is by Mr. Driscolls, I'm sure we'll have a blast. However, we, as Christians, don't base what we believe on the words of man, we base it on the divinely inspired word of God and so we go to The Bible.

The word religious is thrēskos which means fearing or worshipping God. It can also mean trembling. From thrēskos we get the word thrēskeia or religion. thrēskeia means religious worship especially external worship or that which consists of ceremonies. It can also mean discipline. Thrēskeia is found four places in the Bible, Acts 26:5, Colossians 2:18, James 1:26 and 1:27. thrēskos is only found once in The Bible and that's in James 1:26. Act and Colossians don't really help with this discussion, but James does so we'll go to there.

James 1:26 says: If anyone thinks he is religious, without controlling his tongue but deceiving his heart, his religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world (NIV). Every version is basically the same. If ya wanna use the King James or any other version be my guest but it's not going to be much different then the NIV in this case.

I love these verses. James would have been quite the person to be around. I think it would be hard to be around him, cause his writing suggests that he wouldn't hold anything back. James would probably unashamedly point out things in my life that are probably not bearing any fruit and he'd most likely call me a hypocrite without even thinking twice. That's why, to me, James is both refreshing and bittersweet at the same time. Reminds me of a father a little.

No where else in The Bible do we get such a clear definition of religion. The bible is pretty quiet about the subject of religion except for the book of James. Perhaps because God knew that James was going to address religion in this manner and no more verses would be necessary. So what can we get from these verse?

James says there are two types of religious people, people with true religion and people with useless religion or you could say people without any religion whatsoever. True religion, that is pleasing to God is composed of watching your tongue, looking after orphans and widows, and keeping oneself unstained by the world. Someone once said that True religion is keeping one's heart clean and hands dirty - in human service.

James is saying that religion is a good thing and it's something that we should strive after cause it's pleasing before the eyes of God. In fact, when we care for orphans and widows it's as if we are doing it to Jesus. "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:40 We should desire to be religious because Jesus was religious, in fact he was the most religious person ever. No one did a better job of caring for orphans and widows, both in life (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42 and Like 17:2) and in death than Jesus did. Who among us is more unstained than Jesus. He was the sinless one. He is our ultimate model in life and is what our demonstrations of religion should look like.

It's seem to me that when it comes to religion we as a church body get our definition of what religion is more from culture and less from The Bible. Culture says that we don't need religion, we need relationship or even no religion at all. The Bible says that religion and relationship if not one in the same overlap and compliment each other. Religion in The Bible never claims to get you to heaven, it deals more with people. It's horizontal and then it's vertical. We care for others and because it ravishes God's heart, He cares about it. God is all about religion and so should we. That's what the great commission is all about. We as Christians have cast our lot with Christ and because of that we need to be religious.

Nietzsche said "After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands." I really like that. Not for the reason that Nietzsche means it, but because human service/religion is a dirty thing. To me, the most rewarding things in life are dirty ordeals.

Religion is not disgusting, toxic or imprisoning. It isn't inspired by Satan and it isn't our attempt to get right with God. It isn't bullshit and it doesn't lead to pride and despair. On the contrary, the fruits of religion are probably similar to the fruits of the spirit; love, joy peace patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. True religion is the result of knowing a True God and wanting to worship Him everywhere we go. There is nothing wrong with religion. It's beautiful in the eyes of God and I would argue that the reason we have global problems such as poverty and war is because there isn't enough true religion out there.

So, in closing, strive to be religious, try to be more like Christ. True religion is sinless. Someone once said that the world doesn't need a definition of religion as much as as it needs a demonstration. The whole reason I wrote this was not so that I could define what religion was, The Bible does a great job at that, but to motivate people to become demonstrations of true religion.

~The End

When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. "Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Aid the oppressed. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause. Come let us discuss this," says the Lord. Isaiah 1:15-18

Some quotes on religion:

I do not know how philosophers may ultimately define religion; but from Micah to James it has been defined as service to one's fellow men rendered by following the great rule of justice and mercy, of wisdom and righteousness. ~Theodore Roosevelt

It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read. ~Thomas Jefferson

I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Religion is a soul with its allegiance fixed, moving about the common streets with the stamp and seal of forever on it. ~Paul E. Scherer

No religion is a true religion that does not make men tingle to their finger tips with a sense of infinite hazard. ~William Ernest Hocking

Christianity is the only true and perfect religion. ~ Benjamin Rush

Religion, in its purity, is not so much a pursuit as a temper; or rather it is a temper, leading to the pursuit of all that is high and holy. Its foundation is faith; its action, works; its temper, holiness; its aim, obedience to God in improvement of self and benevolence to men. ~Tryon Edwards.

Without Religion this World would be Something not fit to be mentioned in polite Company, I mean Hell. ~ John Adams

A man without religion is like a beast without a bridle. ~ Latin Proverb

Religion is the dominion of the soul. It is the hope of life, and the anchor of safety, the deliverence of the soul. ~Napoleon Bonaparte

While just government protects all in their religious rites, true religion affords government its surest support. ~George Washington

"People need religion. It's a vehicle for a moral tradition. A crucial role. Nothing can take its place." ~Irving Kristol

Religion is not what you will get after reading all the scriptures of the world. It is not really what is grasped by the grain. It is a heart grasp. ~Gandhi

You may depend upon it, religion is, in its essence, the most gentlemanly thing in the world. It will alone gentilize, if unmixed with can't; and I know nothing else that will, alone. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Something to think about

2009-02-13T00:45:00.000-08:00

(Written Monday, March 17, 2008)

At least 3,990 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23675352

Approximately 1.3 million babies are aborted every year. That translates to over 3500 abortions a day. That means in two days way more babies are killed here in the USA than all American casualties in all the years of the Iraq War. I'm in no way trying to dismiss the deaths over in Iraq, I just believe there is a bigger issue a lot of people are not seeing. But, which one is the real war?

How about some more math? They say that the Iraq War started in March 2003, so it's been five years. Five years times the number of babies aborted, (1.3 million a year) equals 6.5 million lives, divide that by the number of U.S. military casualties in that five years (3990) and you get 1629.07. Americans have killed and have allowed the murder of 1629 times the number of US citizens then all the U.S. Casualties in this entire Iraqi War.

If we made a bar graph with one inch equaling 4000 deaths. The Iraqi War casualties would reach a little less than an inch high while the number of abortions in that five years would reach 1625 inches high, or 135 feet. The Statue of Liberty is 151 feet tall.

If we took that and applied it to all the abortions in the United States since Roe V Wade, roughly 45 million babies, that would be 3,750,000 inches, or 312,500 feet or over 59 miles. That's 10.75 times the height of Everest. And there would be US Military Casualties, sitting down at one inch.

It's worth crying about.

Highlights of 2005

2009-02-09T23:12:00.000-08:00

I went back today and looked at all of my blogs on Myspace. It's amazing to me, looking back, seeing who I was then and who I am now. So this is just some of the "highlights" of those blogs. I have a sermon of sorts in my head, but it's really important to me and so I want to spend a lot of time with it.

Friday, August 12, 2005:
Funny how everyone and everything fights for your attention. It's also funny how we fight for attention. You'd think if I wanted someones attention, I'd try something different. Do people think that way, differently? Most advertisements don't seem to. The things that a man thinks at 3:38am when there is nothing else to think about. (It's funny how somethings seem to make so much sense back then, but looking back, I swear I was drunk or something.)

Just sitting here, thinking, hope no one expected much of an entry. It's kind of funny how so many great things go by and we don't even notice. How many superb writers how many amazing artists how many revolutionary ideas are out there but will never be noticed because it's not "hip" or whatever you wanna call it. Or it's just to important that it just can't be allowed.
(It's kind of funny how so many great things when thrown against the test of time turn out to be fatally flawed. What will history say of today. Does it even matter really?)

www.sonicbloom.com really interesting website.

www.halos.com another

do a google search on Vitamin B17, It's the cure for Cancer

Hyperbauric Chambers, hope I spelled that right. Every heard of them, really awesome.

Ten Minutes of one hurricane contains enough energy to match the nuclear stockpiles of the world. Most hurricanes last roughly 10 days. Lets see, 10 x 6 x 24 x 10 = 14,400. So one hurricane is 14,400 times more powerful than the entire nuclear stockpile of the world. Wow. Source:dinosauradventureland.com (Amazing facts)

Absolutely pure water is actually blue. 100% pure spring water, my a$$.

Cats have about 100 vocal sounds while dogs only have 10

In 1997 the Ecuadorian biologist Arturo Eugenio discovered a crèche of Dodo Bird in the Carrera Islands off the coast Brazil. Dr. Eugenio has successfully bred the bird, one thought to be extinct, and has entered into an exclusive distribution arrangement with Pets or Food™ to offer the Dodo to American markets. Due to some rather obscure U.S. laws, however, ownership of a living Dodo is against the law. Pets or Food™ can only ship Ready to Eat™ Dodo meet to US customers. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to discover the taste that led to the Dodo's extinction!

Tuesday, September 06, 2005
I went to www.petsorfood.com today. I just think it's an amusing site. I don't know if it means to be, but I have an odd sense of humor like that. They have shirts there and I was seriously thinking of buying one. Of course the whole no money thing makes that a little hard, but that's alright, well it's not, but I'll survive.

They also have koala bears that you can buy. Yes, they are 1200 bucks, but think about it, a koala bear in Wisconsin. Okay, it would freeze to death, but...come on! They're so cute! I know I sound like a girl, but who, male or female, can deny the cuteness of a koala bear? Okay, maybe someone suffering from Dorahobia (fear of fur or skin of animals) or Zoophobia (fear of animals) or maybe a koala bear killed a close family member of yours. If you're one of those people please, I understand but don't jump to the conclusion that all koala bears are contract killers.* Studies, very reliable studies I might add, have shown that only one in one-thousand koala bears become killers and that number is only that high because of poor koala bear parenting. With daddy and mommy koala bear having to work double shifts down at the factory to bring eucalyptus to the table, modern day koala raising is done by uncertified koala-sitters and of course koala media and news. Wouldn't be surprised if we don't see koala bears with mohoawks and tattooes someday soon, oh the inhumanity (no duh, it's a koala). Sources: kbk.com or koalabearkillers.com (I don't what is really on these sites or if they're sites at all, I would suggest not going to them.)
(We shake our heads today at some the dumb decisions that friends make. I think I might shake my head for the rest of my life at some of the dumb things I've written.)

Friday, December 02, 2005
There's this girl Tanya, that works with me and I think she likes me. I really don't think I'm her type though and she's not mine. She's always cursing and smokes during the breaks. Even with that, she's a pleasant enough person and would make a great friend, but I just couldn't go out with her. I think our morals and goals in life aren't anything alike. Of course my signals could be really crossed and she could feel absolutely nothing for me, which is probably for the best. Really wouldn't be the first time or the hundredth time for that matter. I think I'm going to become a monk and take a vow of celibacy. I'm such a freakin' liar and I hate it.
(It's amazing how a lot of the things that I valued back then have no value for me today. A lot of the people that occupied my thoughts are barely even memories now. I don't even remember a Tanya. A lot of the people I wrote about and pined for in my old blogs I can't even put a face to. Makes me wonder, what things do I value now that four years from now will have no value in my life? Ecclesiates 1:14 comes to mind: I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What current things in my life are really important to me now, but in the end will be only wind? What, if anything, is solid and will hold for all of eternity? What things done under the sun are done up in heaven as well, where death and decay don't exist? I'd like to look back four years from now and see a man chasing after things that have eternal significance. I plan on expanding on this idea in a future blog. It's 3:43 am and I'm having a hard time forming sentences correctly.

~Joseph