See, I’m doing this game project. The great and powerful Fringespace. I love it, I really do. I’m just getting sort of frustrated with the process right now. We supposedly have this really big team, and all of that… but only a few of us are doing anything. I can live with that, I suppose – but it makes getting the gumption up for doing something on it hard, sometimes. Especially when I could be doing apologetics! As you probably know, I hang out in several chat channels – I average 7-8, on a normal day. I hang out in James White’s #prosapologian and #apologetics, on Starlink IRC – #apologetics on Undernet, #hard-light and #fringespace, on EsperNet, #btrl on another server, and #gamedev, on another.

I get to engage in some awesome apologetic discussions on starlink and undernet, constantly – and that is just so much mroe fulfilling than working on a game, most times. Although, really, I want to get this game done. I’m torn, and I’m a bit guilty that I’ve neglected the game – but I can’t stay guilty, because I’m doing something very profitable!

What’s a gamer/apologist to do? I’m going to keep working, but it’s hard to stay focused when there could be an awesome conversation about the deep things of God going on, and I know I’m missing it. I also feel guilty for neglecting my baby here, this blog, for that game – but it’s a very rewarding project, too. I’m just going to have to divide my time up wisely, so that I am doing everything I can, with the gifts I’ve been given. I know I’m good at this – and I want to show that Christians can do things like this as well as anyone can – but I don’t want to neglect God by doing so.

Hence, my ennui.

Once again, dear friends, it’s an election year.

Which means it’s time to endure endless rhetoric, lying snakes, and nutjobs, all pandering for our votes. Frankly, the entire modern political process in the US makes me sick, makes me tired, and makes me see red. What is even worse, to me, is the spiraling descent of conversation in Christian circles when the subject of politics is broached. If you impugn a favorite candidate, or the entire process, you must be 1. ignorant, 2. biased, or 3. Want the democrats to win.

Frankly? I don’t really CARE who wins, past the local level. They all do what they want, within the confines of the power we’ve “granted” them (as if there was truly a choice about the whole thing to begin with, in a two-party system). To vote, I have to hold my nose about something to do with the candidate, or take them at their word – which, if they are a politician, is about as likely to be kept as for me to win the lottery without even playing. It’s not going to happen.

For those who object that it’s not fair, or useful to generalize – I sincerely ask the objector to examine the collective records of the golden boys of conservatism, libertarianism, and see if my maxim holds true. Perhaps there are exceptions. All well and good. However, I believe that if there is really no guide to certainty as to their decisions, once elected, we have no way to endorse such people, as Christians, without potentially compromising our stance as followers of Christ. 1. Power breeds corruption. 2. Politics breeds compromise. 3. People, politicians in particular, LIE.

Further, I will remind you that in a government such as ours, our positive endorsements of specific people have very real consequences, and are very real indicators to the world on our willingness to compromise our God-given principles in one area for a potential advantage in another. We pass by, in our choices of governmental leadership, things which we would never pass by, in choosing a church leader. Or in a Sunday school teacher. Or even a friend we hardly know. Which, to be completely honest with you, is why I am very cynical concerning the whole concept of “elected” governance at all, the older I become. In a system such as ours, where corruption is rampant, and even encouraged – where anti-biblical statements are the cornerstones of platforms in both parties, can we really endorse anyone, with a good conscience, in that atmosphere?

I say no. I’m also gravely tired of the endorsement, of the lack of endorsement, of political campaigners being grounds for harsh words, name-calling, and vituperation. This is the reason i’ve had a long-standing policy on this blog of a “no political comments, unless the subject is politics” rule. It brings out the worst in people – including me. So, I’m done with it for the year. Period. I’m also disabling my usually-neglected poltiical blogroll for the duration.

Politics:

I do not want to see politics discussed within any topic I don’t have listed within the “Politics” post category. I am not here to talk politics, and you aren’t either – or your comment will have any political commentary removed – unless I specifically say the subject is politics.

The largest percentage of major blogs are politically oriented. Yes, I sometimes link to them – because I read them – but I don’t write about it often. If you’d like a political discussion, I suggest you visit one of the blogs listed to your right under “Politics”.

I hate to be a spoilsport, but that’s not what this blog is here for. This blog is here to discuss why you think the way you think, why you believe the way you believe, and why you hold the moral values you hold. If you’d like a discussion about one of the things above – feel free to comment. Otherwise… don’t.

This IS a politically categorized post, but I’m disabling comments on it – because, really, I don’t want to have to respond to any comments about it. I’m sick and tired of it.

No, I’m not voting for a candidate in the Presidential elections. I don’t trust any of them enough to vote for them. I have one exception, on policy – perhaps. I could almost like Ron Paul, but there is no way in God’s green earth he’s going to get the nod. Even if he does, he doesn’t have any experience in that sort of office, and although I like many of his ideas – he doesn’t have the experience to govern a nation. He’s a dark horse, albeit a very conservative/libertarian one – but one with little experience in an executive office of any sort. That’s all I have to say about that.

I’m done. I won’t respond to any more of it in chat channels, because it puts my blood pressure up through the roof, and I’m really not especially interested in being the Lone Ranger, and going it alone, with my contrarian view, against all comers. I’m done with it, I want to spend my time on more productive things, and I really don’t want to tick off my friends because they don’t agree with me, and I’m such a bulldog about what I believe. I’d rather take a stand on something other than how much I despise a bunch of slimeballs who are able to deceive enough people to be elected. I’d rather be an apologist about something that matters, thank you.

I wrote this for a Sunday School lesson a good while back, and it was floating around in my blog’s “drafts” buffer. Figured I’d clean it up and post it. Enjoy.

What do we mean, when we say “unfair”?

The dictionary says that it means to be “unjust, biased, or unethical”.

So, when we apply this to the life of Job, does God’s treatment of him seem unfair?

Or, a different question, do the things that happen to us, or to others, seem unfair?

Are they “just”?

“Properly due, merited; consistent with what is morally right”

Think back to the definition of grace that many of you may know:

“UNmerited favor”

So – when God acts to bless, is He not bestowing grace, not justice?

We’ll stop there, and come back to it – just keep that in the back of your mind for a bit.

The Accusers: – Job 15:5-6

Eliphaz comes out swinging, responding to Job’s stinging remarks in Job 13, calling them “… you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! “. He sure does wish that they had stayed silent, like they had begun, when they first arrived! “Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.”

Ouch!

He isn’t done, though. He rails at Job for thinking himself better than they – then, he appeals to authority (an age-old debating trick that is as ineffective as it is deceptive) by saying that the “grey heads” think the same as they do.

In verse 20, he cuts to the heart of his argument – that the wicked are the ones who see this sort of judgement, as the natural outworking of their sinful lives – thus, Job must be sinful.

The argument goes as follows:

1. Sinful men are always punished by God for their sins *in this life*.
2. You seem to be punished by God in this life.
3. You must be a sinful man.

Job, after Eliphaz’s chapter-long diatribe winds down, will have none of it. In fact, he’s rather annoyed.

Read Job 16:2-3

He then goes on to recite a short-form version of the trials he has endured, and makes a very interesting statement.

Job 16:19-21>

Catch a couple things in there?

1. He has faith in the Justice of God
2. He trusts in God, not man (small wonder, considering what he keeps hearing from them!)
3. He anticipates an advocate in heaven for men.

Where have we heard of that?

Read 1 John 2:1

Sound familiar?

Read 1 Tim. 2:5

How about that?

Job picks up on this, and understands the need for such a thing – as we may be hard-pressed to imagine.

Job Trips:

After Bildad essentially rehearses Eliphaz’s argument, in Job 18, Job has enough.

First, he accuses them of pride – which, probably, is justified.

Second, though, he accuses God of being unjust. Of wronging him.

Is God unjust? CAN God be unjust?

He even says to them in 19:22 -“Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?”

Job isn’t perfect. He’s amazing – but he isn’t perfect.

However, read what he says right after he says that:

Read Job 19: 25-27

Wow. This, many think, is the most triumphal statement of faith ever recorded. Remember, too, that this is not only before Abraham’s covenant, but before the law, before the messiah, or any hint of the messiah.

He affirms his faith in God’s existence, His sovereignity, His personal involvement in human affairs, His future reign on earth – he affirms his own mortality, his belief in a physical resurrection, and his belief in an eternal life in the presence of God.

Wow. This is from a man sitting in ashes, ridiculed by his friends, who has lost everything he posesses, everyone he loves (does his wife count?), and afflicted most excruciatingly by varied sickness. Utterly amazing.

Zophar, then, gives Job the *same argument*. Again. Read Chapter 20, if you don’t believe me. He does, though.

Job finally, finally, responds to their argument.

Read Job 21

Seems rather similar to this:

“for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45)

Read Ecclesiastes 7:15

Common Grace. Common Grace is defined as the “grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation”. Job, I believe, is establishing for these knuckleheaded “comforters” this bit of theology.

God gives even the wicked some blessings. God gives these same blessings to everyone.

However, Job is reminding them that God’s grace is extended to believer and unbeliever alike – and that not every bad thing that happens to someone is the result of a judgment from God.

So. What can we learn from this?

1. Not to be miserable comforters, of course. Mr. Hal has talked about this, before – remember Mrs. Triplett?. What does Job tell them?

Job 16:5

2. God cannot be unjust. Everything is for His glory, and there is purpose behind our suffering – even when we can’t see it.

3. We have an advocate in heaven, Who mediates between the Father, and us

4. Common Grace explains the seeming “unfairness” of Christian suffering and non-Christian prosperity.

5. Faith can be found, even in the midst of suffering. “For when I am weak, I am strong”.

I decided she was getting a bit moldy, so I’m airing her out, drying her out, and opening back up. For a little while, at least.

Funny how those two first years of marriage, a baby, and the like can derail you 😀

In any case, I’m still working on Fringespace, still hanging out in #prosapologian, and hanging out with my wonderful family.

Which reminds me. You remember this post? Well, God answered the prayer I made, all that time ago – He was the Father to my little girl, when I couldn’t be – and He brought her to me. She lives with me, now. We’ll see how it goes from here on, but we have her until at least the end of the school year. There are very few things in life that bring me as much joy as just being able to look at my little girl again, whenever I want. It’s been something I’ve dreamed of, and prayed for for so long, I keep wondering if I’m dreaming.

God is good. Other than that, things are going fairly well. Love my church, and our Sunday School class. We’ve started a family bible study, and host it every other week at our house. Had all 6 kids at once, for Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Great time, blessed time.

Maybe I’ll start posting more often. Maybe. Oh, I fixed some things about my template that have been bugging me for a few months. The funny thing is, that’s when I visit, most often, is to fix something aobut the blog I never post on. Go figure.