Although it is important that we vote wisely, that we stay informed, that we inform our leaders of our opinions, what most changes the world is what we do closer to home. It is how we treat our neighbors, our friends, those we work with, what we create inside ourselves for our attitudes toward others and life. Anger, fear and distrust have been tried. If Democrats or Republicans can only see payback time, look for more of what we have had.If you listen to what Obama has said all along, it's about restoring values in which we have claimed we believe. Some have believed those values belonged to one side or the other, but they belong to us all. I grew up with them and bet most of you did also.
I know there are those who don't believe in Obama, don't trust him; some even fear he's the Antichrist, who they have been taught is coming in each generation; but even those should be able to see the value in our improving our attitudes, helping each other to feel better, extending a helping hand when we can, and doing what this little film suggests-- validating one another.
Please consider giving the film a try. It's worth the 16 minutes it will take to watch it. If you are like me, you will think-- well that's nice-- and then it grows on you for what it means. It only works though when it is stamped--
The photographs are of the moon and waves at the beach. Tides come from the moon except the sea doesn't know what drives it. We often don't know what drives us either.
The moon photo is from January 29th, of the crescent moon and Venus, to me, a great example of one thing meaning more when in the vicinity and enhanced by another. The ocean was January 31st and one of Oregon's lovely days at the beach in the winter... assuming you don't mind a little cold.
37 comments:
Obama the Anti Christ ? Does he fit the criteria? A lot of Americans believe that the Anti Christ may be in the world already. It's something to ponder.
Love that moon and venus photo. The Oregon coast must be so beautiful on a sunny winter day. Your photo captures the essence of a roaring sea.
For some reason I've gotten a little disengaged from politics at the moment. I'm waiting for everyone to sort themselves out, stop posturing and do the country's business. Until then, it feels like theater of the absurd.
He does not fit Biblical criteria but there is an email running the circuit (or was during the election) that makes claims that are not in Bible prophecy. A lot of people don't know their Bible very well and are easy to fool.
When I was studying this, it was thought that the antichrist would be a popular leader from what would be the European Union today. The only thing they can say fits Obama in any of it is that he's popular.
The thing is Christians have always believed it's the end times, since the beginning of Christianity. Each generation thinks this is it; so they try to find some leader who could be the 'bad' guy to usher in the good guy.
If I was a believer in such thinking, I'd look for an extremely popular leader in Europe, see if he had a henchman who fit the Svengali criteria and then that he got some terrible wound but recovered miraculously. No Bible scholar back then believed it would be in the US as they thought the US would have faded from power by then due to some catastrophic incident. But remember each generation looks for this to fit their time as it's a basic part of Christian doctrine.
Rain........
This was a really enlightning film.
It WAS worth 16 minutes. I am also remided of the film " Pay It Forward". If only.........
If you want an amusing take on the return of the Antichrist, try this "Good Omens" book :-
http://www.amazon.de/Good-Omens-Accurate-Prophecies-Nutter/dp/0060853980/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books-intl-de&qid=1233513645&sr=1-5
The photographs of the moon and surf are special and classic because these suggest cycles we see in nature as man has seen throughout histrory. Observing these cycles puts problems in perspective and builds my confidence in the future.
Since so many prophecies have been, at best, educated guesses (and some not so educated) and have been wrong more than right, I don't put any faith in them.
Coincidence has more to do with prophecies that were right than the wisdom of the prophet.
And I cannot believe in an Anti-Christ.
Obama has certainly found center stage - but ANTI-CHRIST? That fits the theater of the absurd perfectly. When do we get statues to worship?
The Oregon coast is wonderful, and even better when it rains.
Dixon
Yes, the Oregon coast is one of the best places in the world in a storm especially if you are staying where you have a small fireplace and a view of the surf. It's the best.
Most anything by Neil Gaiman is good while it pokes fun at our seriousness.
NOT MY VALUES, rain.
I believe a baby born alive should be kept alive.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Don't assume, please.
It is against the law to kill a baby born alive and what makes you think I would disagree with that? You do know that the accusation that Obama voted to kill babies born alive was not true? The bill that he voted for would not have enabled the murder of a baby alive when it was born and any nurse or doctor who did that should be charged with murder as there is a law on the books about that. Perhaps you should not make an assumption either, Graybeard. I don't believe in abortion after the fourth month. Nobody gets a politician who supports everything they believe in-- or nobody I have yet seen. It's that sometimes you take one thing you would not like to get things that are more important but partial birth abortions or those examples of murdering a live infant out of the womb, many who support abortion rights up to a point, do draw a line!
All I know is, Jill Stanek testified, under oath, that the accusations were true, and she was not charged with perjury.
I have never seen her statements refuted by anyone other than an Obama hysteric.
Please, show me proof of your claim, and use a reference other than NBC, CNN, or The New York Times... Until then I'll consider your statements water carrying, Rain.
There is not a law in Illinois against murder of babies? Forget the question of someone doing something horrible. That I don't deny happens. What I am saying is that it's against the law to murder a child born alive in most states. I don't care what a newspaper says about it. You just cannot do it but they could in Illinois? And I don't mean one doctor doing something horrible of which they should be charged. That happens and I have not heard of this story except through the right wing blogs and emails but I don't disbelieve her. You though are limiting your reliable sources to the right wingers? Did Fox talk about it? I wouldn't know as I don't listen to them but was it covered there as a crime that should have been prosecuted but was not?
Good grief, this is SO frustrating!
Let me ask again...
"Please, show me proof of your claim, and use a reference other than NBC, CNN, or The New York Times... Until then I'll consider your statements water carrying, Rain."
And I'll once again emphasize, please don't assume that Obama's values are mine.
They most assuredly ARE NOT! Nor are they yours, apparently.
And by the way, my reference is Jill's sworn testimony...
Not Fox, not hearsay.
It is unfortunate that we are arguing about this in a blog where the subject was intended to be about values, not partisan politics. Murder is murder. That's a value but do most anti abortionists really believe all abortions are murder? Would they charge girls who get them with murder? Would they ban birth control pills and the IUD which cause early abortions? Maybe so. Do people like John McCain who say life begins at the moment of conception really believe there are millions of souls up in heaven who didn't get to be born because of all the many miscarriages in early pregnancy as well as abortions? A lot of this is not so much values as religion. A religion says it and some accept it. Values are about more than that unless you regard a contraceptive device that stops implanting to be murder.
Right about now I am wishing I had left obama out of this post because I was more trying to empahsize validating each other, not getting into an argument with someone who I respect-- if don't agree with (I have friends where that is also the case as Bernie and Ingineer have both mentioned). What I wanted this to be about is people treating others with respect, not lying, trying to make people around them do better, and as soon as his name gets into it, it brings up partisan issues (which I don't think apply even if you do). Incidentally, I did write about abortion during the election but it ended up in an extra blog because of space. I didn't write about infanticide because I see that as murder straight out! When I wrote about it, I said what I did here that I do not support unlimited abortions right up until a natural birth. I think many who support abortion rights think there has to be a limit. I don't know that it's religion so much as compassion.
If you wish to carry on this argument regarding abortion, we can do it through email (mine is in the blog somewhere) or even msn but it doesn't seem like we are gaining much here. You have an opinion and so do I. I respect that good people can disagree-- whether you do or not...
NO mainstream newspaper would support infanticide. That is murder. Obama does not support it either. I cannot find a reference to her on the Google right now other than her own site period. She is a pro lifer and I would not be likely to agree with her. I had read her claims previously and as I said, have no reason to think they might not be so. Would she lie? Well I don't know her. Did she testify in an actual trial? That wasn't online anymore if so. The doctor who did that should have been prosecuted. It did appear that it was in 1999 but there is limited info except her own site to show much about it. I didn't even find a right wing site discussing it right now.
Repeating I have heard her claims. I don't deny she may have seen this happen but the question I had which you ignored was is murder of born infants legal in Illinois? If it's not, then what she said was an abuse of the law that already exists which is what Obama claimed.
I do not agree with him on all issues and this is one. Heck, I also favor making gay marriage legal in the United States and he doesn't agree with that either. He picked a treasury bunch that would not have been my choice. I don't know that I think any stimulus package is a good idea. Possibly we need to go into a depression to resize our country. That won't be popular with anybody. I am sure I will disagree with him on a lot. You just have to vote for one or the other and I sure didn't want Palin as president.
Your question IS answered, Rain, in Jill's video, if you only take the time to watch it.
Horrific.
Disgusting.
Okay, just read your last comment. Did she testify at a trial and if so, was there a verdict? Her testimony when not in a legal proceedings is not something she could be perjured for. I have no idea if she lied... and yes, it's frustrating. I am going to try to avoid partisan issues here for awhile as they cause so much upset and what good does it do? I believe in death with dignity too which many are calling murder. There are a lot of 'moral' issues that good people do see differently.. at least that's my opinion... which is what this blog is about.
Since I do not question her sincerity, nor believe she lied, I can't watch that video. You might say it's unfair but I already said I don't support unlimited abortions. I also cannot watch zealots discuss anything. I think I mentioned I hadn't heard an Obama speech until the acceptance of the nomination. I just don't do it. I read the words. Call me a wimp but i get nightmares and I don't like to put anything in my head to give them fodder. If I watched her and believed her, I'd feel very upset and if I watched her and thought she was a nutcase, I would feel equally upset. I don't support abortion rights throughout a pregnancy, would limit them to the beginning; so it's not like I have to be convinced. I do though intensely believe in early abortion rights for each woman to decide not the government and so she and I would not agree on that either
I am sorry I got this whole thing going in here by mentioning Obama as I would hate to lose you as a reader but we are going to just have to agree to disagree on Obama for now. Time will tell on what he does. I might also be down on him in the future-- water carrying woman or not *wondering if I could balance one of those big urns on my head*
You wrote: If you listen to what Obama has said all along, it's about restoring values...
Restoring VALUES? Like not having to pay our taxes??? That's TWO appointees now that he is letting slide. This man has NO values, NO honor!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/02/daschle-faces-new-questions-lawmakers/
I'm not angry rain, just saddened by what I continue to see in folks around me.
Like you, they want to give this dishonest opportunist a pass, due to Bush hatred or for whatever other reason. But your post was about values, and made an assumption...
I think I've made my point in Spades:
"My values are higher than that. Don't associate me with this man or his followers."
Okay we all agree that we don't agree on what are values. As for the tax situation, Daschle will be answering for that today. There has been some confusion in people's taxes when they receive something like a driver but don't think of it as taxable income. No excuse but Farm Boss ended up with a tax issue this year which wasn't near that big, of course, but when someone is self-employed, it is easy to goof up and get a penalty.
At any rate, mea culpa on using his name here as this was something I think mattered for us as individuals and his name became a red herring. As for hwo it goes, time will tell what kind of leader he will be. Those who hate him are likely to continue but maybe he will do well anyway or maybe not. His popularity won't last whatever the case.
And on Bush. I do not hate him. Unlike some, I didn't think he was the Antichrist (although he did have an evil henchman *just kidding). I disgreed with his political views on almost everything. He wasn't a person I'd like in person probably, our personalities would have not meshed at all; but maybe he meant well. I always said it took a lot of people agreeing with him for it to happen as it did with Iraq, Katrina or the tax situation. I do not wish him badly in the future. I hope he has a very nice retirement in Texas :)
You're a good man Greybeard!
Thank you Sara, I try.
And try.
And try.
Hi Rain . . .I've been following your interesting discussion with Greybeard. Despite all I think you both can agree to disagree without sending bombs back and forth. Mr. Obama has many talents, thinks quickly on his feet, and seems to hold radical liberal views of the world. The majority of Democratic Party will support his efforts toward more government intrusion and control of American citizens. I don't believe he and the liberal Democrats are promoting the best interests of America. Greybeard apparently agrees.
Now, what does that have to do with VALIDATION (which was a terrific uplift for my day), or with abortion? Like McCain I believe life begins at conception. Further, that the medical profession should not allow abortion ONLY because the birth mother wants it. I think there should be additional compelling reasons. My views on either abortion or politics are not the same as yours or Greybeard's. So what? In this contentious world it is necessary to have disagreement before agreement. It's called RESPECT for the other person's opinion.
Enjoy sitting be the fire and looking out the window at the Oregon coast.
Aren't you glad you don't live in Kenya or Sudan.
Dixon
We are very lucky we live where we can agree to disagree, Dixon. I only wish I was looking at an Oregon coast right now but that was just a day trip down there. I am on the farm and more concerned with lambs doing okay than ocean waves. So far so good this season. :) I have some photos of triplets coming up... and you can bet no references to Obama for awhile :) I might discuss issues if some seem to be pertinent but going to try to keep it from partisanship and for awhile it'll be dreams and the farm. I much prefer those kind of ideas-- maybe throw in some art.
Hey Rain I remember that interpretation of the Anti Christ back when the European Common Market as they called the EU back then had 10 member states. I guess they got that one wrong.
If the tax code is so complex that a man like Tom Daschle can make a $140k mistake or the chairman of the New York Federal Reserve can make a $30k mistake then it is time to reform the tax code. Let's throw the entire thing out and start over with the new Obama tax form.
Line 1 What was your income ____.
Line 2 Send it in.
Funny ingineer. The big thing though is that we paid $412 billion in interest in 2008 and that barely counted the last bail out. We worry over a $800 billion stimulus package but just think we are putting half that just into interest on the debt we had before the last stimulus. Doesn't that make us a debtor nation? What is going to turn this around? Can budget cuts really do it? What gets cut? existing pension promises? Road programs? I know you would probably say any poverty programs but they aren't the largest part of our budget. We can't cut military nor the promises we made to our veterans that we would manage their health care, can we? Where can we cut enough to cover this kind of debt to get that interest back to a more reasonable level?
And worse, what happens if the solution they come up with is to start printing dollars so the debt isn't worth as much and neither is what we saved or have worked for? It's not a simple situation we are facing.
Yeah, I've heard the poppycock, right ring anti-Christ thing regarding Obama. Few things make me hopping mad but this is one of them. I enjoyed seeing Michelle Obama in the White House on CNN.
You tackle the hard problems, Rain. I don't think you've given us your opinions regarding the ethics of the octuplets. Would you consider giving us your take?
Ingineer,
LOVE that tax form...isn't that the truth!!!
I just pray that there is another reaganesque conservative out there to save us in 4 years...maybe this guy, Paul Ryan (although I still thing Sarah has what it takes as well).
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9454
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WifAyJioxQU
I doubt that the mother of the Octuplets and the previous 6 children will wind up on the public relief roles, at least until her children are grown. There is always somebody who wil take interest to the point of supporting a fool such as she. she does not have to work until then, although I have read that she was a nurse. I feel that if the government is going to get involved in any part of personal life, they should have something to say about who is using fertility treaments. It should not have been made available to this woman (baby factory). It spoils the sanctity of child bearing and will probably effect the lives of those children.
I agree with Bernie on the octuplets and he pretty well said it all. I blame the doctors who let a woman who sounds mentally off (nurse at one time or not). I read that she lives with her parents who have gone bankrupt and have a two bedroom home. Those poor kids and these 8 new ones are likely to need special care. She hopes to get millions from Oprah and publicity. Maybe she will but sure not from me. I wondered if they would be on public assistance also which didn't make me happy either. Is this some kind of requirement for the doctors to have to give her the fertility treatment, some law? I don't know but it seemed crazy to me.
Believe me I know plenty of nurses that are mentally off. My ex wife in particular. I think there is plenty of blame to go around on this one. The doctor and the parents both have made poor ethical decisions. Unless you are super rich and can support 14 kids you should not be having them and even then it to me it is not fair to the kids to have that many, but that is my view and should not be forced on anyone unless I am paying for the kids.
And Rain, I sure hope that we do not start printing dollars to pay the bills, but I am afraid that is what is going to happen. If they do we will be paying $15 for a loaf of bread and it will take us at least 10 years to get out of this mess.
Loved the little movie - loved your photos - thanks it was uplifting.
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