Latest Thoughts...

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

  • Count It All Joy

    "Count it all joy when men revile you and persecute you..."

    Sometimes people don't really even understand what Sheria and I do.
    In fact, we even just recently got an earfull about how foolish we are, accused of being lazy under-achievers who wait for money to fall out of the sky.

    I suppose it can be easy to draw that conclusion if someone is unable to actually see the work we do.

    That said, Sheria and I are where we are, in spite of questions, in spite of uncertainty, because we were will to suffer for the sake of the gospel.
    Some people will just never understand. Oh sure, anyone could understand suffering because we deserved it, because we simply made a dumb choice or made a mess of our own lives... But it is surprising to me sometimes exactly which people, as it turns out, don't really have any grasp about what it means to suffer for Christ. And as far as suffering for Him goes, Sheria and I don't really even suffer as much as some. But it is odd to some people that we actually choose this direction, knowing fully and rationally the enormous challenges and uncertainties it brings. Just rolling with the punches can be work enough, but every week is one long prayer for sheria and I as we try to make sense of this chaotic, unpredictable business of ministry and teaching. I left a steady job for it. Sheria and I agreed on the risk and every footprint to this point has God's mark in it.

    Some people are willing to die for this, for the sake of the gospel. Those who aren't, however, many of them stand to the side and criticize those who do.

    I am willing to choose the things that are hard. I am done with the worldly rat race of trying to maintain, trying to throw more money and toys at a problem in us as humans which is, let's face it, way deeper than any of us ever thought.
    Change will not ever happen from making more money.
    Those who think so are deceived.

    We will continue working and running this course, regardless of finances. I choose that pattern, the pattern of Jesus, remaining obedient to the Father despite every obstacle or opposition. If there is no way I can make anyone understand it, then sobeit. Let them keep building their failing systems. Let the dead bury the dead.

Monday, 02 November 2009

  • Arab Alabama and Socialism

    The city of Arab in Alabama for some time has had a city-provided phone company called Otelco. Essentially, a socialized phone company. They might claim to be privately owned, but it is common knowledge to the entire city of Arab that Otelco is run by the city government. Because of this, they dominate the data/communications industry in the city of Arab. They have blocked the possibility of competition.

    Otelco is notorious for providing second-rate service for twice the price you would pay with anyone else.
    1.5 mb DSL costs over 90 dollars a month. Compare that to AT&T's standard rate for 6MB DSL and your jaw will drop and how ridiculous the pricing is. Even the usually-expensive Charter Cable is cheaper than Otelco while even still offering greater bandwidth for those lower prices.

    Because of how the city government of Arab and the phone company of Otelco have sealed the market from competition, this means that Sheria and I have no options in the way of internet service...unless of course we are willing to pay an astronomical of money up front for satellite internet service.

    I won't even go into the horror stories of long distance charges from Otelco, an issue which has caused many people to either move away from Arab or just get cell phones instead of land lines.
    Everyone knows about this around here. For the residents of Arab, Otelco is an immediate sore spot in conversation. But no one is doing anything about it.
    The city politicians squeeze ridiculous amounts of money from Arab residents every month...and I'm sure their reasons are probably economical ones...talking about how this is such a vital part of Arab's city economy...but Arab is one of the most run-down, backward, dark cities in all of Marshall County. Go figure.
    Furthermore, probably the actual reason that it continues is simply that it lines the pockets of city politicians at the expense of the city of Arab.

    So, in light of this, I ask this question.


    How do you feel about nationalized health care?
    How many more examples do we need that it is an open door for disaster?

    I don't identify myself with parties or wings. Government is an essential part of the success in this society, I don't think it is un-spiritual at all for me to say so. Yet all the same, government should be given some sort of limits as to what kind of power they can assimilate from society...I believe this as well.

    The question I present is not liberal vs. conservative, it is success vs. failure.

    In light of Arab Alabama and countless other examples in history, including Great Britain's garbage dump health care system, how do you think it would work in this country to have nationalized health care?
    I'm just not convinced that it would.

    I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just stating my thoughts aloud.


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