Jesus had two kids, one wife, sedan, mortgage and a receding hairline.

Over the weekend, I had two discussions on conspiracies, and things of that nature. One, the first one, was just a quick negating of them, by me, and another person, seemingly, looking at my naivety, because I lack experience. I, of course, believe I lack evidence, and the arguments lack reason, but that might be my next post. Along those lines, which are unconnected (parallels are not connections), we have the same type of reasoning in the latest 'breakthrough discovery' about Jesus. He was married, and had two kids. Granted, this was not how I expected Jesus to be, but there are parallels that 'prove' that I'm wrong. Whilst I needed connections, 'scholars' need similarities (please note, the claims are not by scholars! I respect scholarship, not pseudo-scholars.) Candida Moss, as usual, writes a clever review of the 'theory' behind it, and I will post a part of her response, "Jesus Christ, Baby Daddy?". The title alone attracted me to the article, and Moss' name makes it worth anyone's time.
Here's a bit:
"...The manuscript is attributed to the Christian writer Zacharias Rhetor and, according to Jacobovici and Wilson, it preserves the untold love story between Jesus and Mary and the shocking revelation that they had two children.

Not mentioned: whether Jesus took out the trash or Mary Magdalene stopped making an effort after the second kid was born and Jesus started spending all his time with his guy friends.

We, of course, hear nothing about Jesus’s offspring in the Bible. There’s a line of rice farmers in Japan who claim to be direct descendants of Jesus (irony alert: they’re Buddhists). And there are at least 40 million copies of a book claiming that Jesus’s great-to-the-power-of-n-granddaughter is a cryptographer in Paris. But other than that, we know nothing about this line of potential demigods. Perhaps they turned out to be deadbeats. It’s a tough act to follow, and not everyone wants to go into the family business. Maybe Grandpa spoiled them. Maybe Jesus—who refuses to acknowledge his mother and brothers as real family in Mark 3—wasn’t going to take responsibility without a DNA test and Maury Povich-style reveal. We can only assume that they’re great at feeding the masses at Thanksgiving and can ice-skate outside year ’round, even in California.

There’s just one small problem with the Jacobovici-Wilson theory. Jesus and Mary are nowhere mentioned in the manuscript. It’s one version of a well-known ancient novel called Joseph and Aseneth, which discusses the life and times of the biblical patriarch Joseph (of technicolor-dreamcoat fame) and his relationship with Aseneth, the Egyptian woman he marries in Genesis 41:45.

Not to be a killjoy fact-checker, but this does seem like an important detail to get right. ...."

Read the rest here!

Thank you, Vets.

Veterans, thank you! You have seen the horrid vileness of war. While we sit here comfortably romanticizing it, having disdain for it, benefiting from it, or worrying about it, you were living it. Thank you for that. Though some might disagree, and some will likely be veterans, I think war hurts everyone, except some corporations, at least superficially they don't get hurt. I may not be a fan of war, expansionism or our imperialistic tendency, but I do respect veterans. They fought bravely, and suffer from it. None of us should be ungrateful. War may be one of the worst things in humanity, but there is hope:
Isaiah Two, Verse Four, or Micah Four, Verse Three.
"He will settle disputes among the nations
and provide arbitration for many peoples.They will turn their swords into plowsand their spears into pruning knives.Nations will not take up the sword against other nations,and they will never again train for war."
This is one of my favorite scriptures, and we, as Christians, have hope! 
Vets, thank you! Despite that wretched lot you were given, it will not always be like that. There will be a change, when Jesus returns.
-Steven C.

Gah!

The names and photos have been blurred to protect the ignorant. 

Firstly, what idiocy! This is a conversation among two "conservatives", or just republicans. You read the infuriatingly  stupid rhetoric, and that's how you know they're stupid. The undocumented can't vote, hence they don't. Only citizens get "handouts", hence they would be more likely to vote democrat, if that's what the purpose of voting democrat is. Supposing voting democrat is for want of "handouts" is as silly as supposing voting republican is so benefits can be removed. Also, politics are far more complex than receiving and not receiving, but what would we know as Californians, we never had Rick Perry. Lastly, these halfwits work on little to no sample sizes, have no evidence, but still claim that others "never learn". Hah! Well, maybe I should take back my previous post about voting. Maybe some people shouldn't vote.  

Jim West, Zwingli and Government

West is skeptical about elections, and with good reason, so he, as he loves to do, references Zwingli.
Here's what he says:
"Zwingli remarks

credo prophetiae sive praedicationis munus sacrosanctum esse, ut quod ante omne officium sit summe necessarium

In his Fideo Expositio.  And he’s right.  The government is incapable of transforming people.  The Gospel, on the other hand, does precisely that.  Or, more accurately, God does just that through the Gospel.

As a consequence, reliance on the State for the betterment or improvement of society is nothing but a reliance on a reed. The only transformation the State is capable of is the transformation of a decent citizen into a self serving greedy sociopath by means of election to public office."

It's true. However, we, as a republic have a responsibility when the opportunity arises to try to assure the best possible outcome. I don't trust Republicans or Democrats, but I still have to choose, until we switch from our two-party stupidity. So, as a Democratic Republic, let's choose wisely, and as Christians, let's preach the Gospel! 

Election Day

GO OUT AND VOTE! We have many important issues that are to be discussed on our behalf; let's make sure we're represented. "Si se puede!"

Halloween: The One Holiday I Hate

  Yes, Yes, this post will be "judgmental", and if you're particularly weak stomached when it comes to strong opinions on such celebrations, you probably have a weak spine too. 

Now, I can, of course, focus on how it is inherently pagan, and that those that celebrate it don't even pretend to have some focus on Jesus. (Though Christmas has pagan origins, it at least has been converted enough to have "Christ" as a focus, unless you've been dupped into Santa and the consumerism that it carries. There is enough Christianity in it that the poor are fed, the orphaned are considered, and the widow cared for.) 

But! Halloween is the celebration of the foolish! I have a strong distate, nay even a disgust for it! It is the holiday of epicurean culture. And it is even more disgusting when a church celebrates it! Whether in the guise of a fall party, or harvest fest, if you celebrate with costumes and receiving handouts, you embody the folly that is today's culture. I have a strong suspicion that since I called it epicurean, some of those pastors who celebrated the vile celebration will have no idea what epicurean means, because they're bufoons! And, yes, I said buffoon, and it should be insulting, especially to those who are under such leadership, because they are being led by it! 

 My complaint about the stupid celebration is that it's just that, stupid. While our nation's poor are neglected, and others oppressed, our churches are dressing up and indulging on candy! "Oh, yes! Let's show our Christianity by being accepting! Accept folly, but not the truth!" You're not a cat! Nor are you a banana! The fact that you spent money, time and some sort of passion is pathetic! It's an observance in artificiality, and over indulgence! One dresses as something they're not, and expects something absolutely destructive to their health for it! How telling of our Christian condition. We dress as something we're not, and indulge in a sweet destruction! Thus, I say that it is epicurean! 

Church, you're welcome, 

Steven