spiphywarfare

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  • Navigating Division: Thoughts on New Saint Andrews Ad

    Anybody on 𝕏, well, “Christian” 𝕏 anyway, is probably aware of the brouhaha going on due to the New Saint Andrews ad featuring Johnny Cash’s tertiary digit (see below). I generally stay out of the turmoil there because I rarely see any edifying or encouraging words offered to differing views. I’ll try to offer something worthwhile now, though. Why? Because I’ve never been more disappointed by so many people, across the entire gamut, who are generally edifying and uplifting.

    The Ad

    New Saint Andrews Ad

    It seems to be directed towards attracting young men looking to make a stand against the massive cultural rot in society. The uproar comes from the fact that these men must be, among other things, “willing to hoist the Jolly Roger and Johnny Cash’s favorite finger whenever faced with idolatry.”

    I’ll offer my own thoughts on the ad before continuing. That ad would never have seen the light of day if I were someone whose approval was needed before going live with it. That is not how we should present as Christians.

    The Audience

    Now, 𝕏 has all sorts of people claiming the name of Christ. There are blaspheming women who claim to be pastors preaching that Jesus was transgender and KJV only folks who deride any make-up/jewelry, women wearing pants, or using any other translation. There are racist anonymous (and non-anons) accounts constantly using racial slurs against minorities and racist black preachers who can’t answer when asked if white people can get to heaven.

    I’m not writing about any of them here. I’m writing here about brothers and sisters that I see who usually have good insights.

    The Issue

    I think 𝕏 is designed to be divisive, and when we are immersed in it too long, being divisive may become our goal without us being aware of it. I think we tend to want all the people we agree with to know that we agree with them, and not those “other” people.

    I think we may not count the cost of that. The cost is division. If, and it may be a big if, if in prayer they believed it to be within God’s will for them to do that ad, and they were correct, where does that leave you and your condemnation of them?

    Some of the poorest takes that I’ve seen on this controversy have been to a man who literally asked for guidance on how to be a strong, Christian man with a backbone. He’s been ridiculed for being whiny and LARPing about being a man while “real” men are at work and not on 𝕏. This, from his alleged sisters. Is that really how you want to respond to someone asking for guidance?

    The other disappointing thing was that of people assuming motives. They’re doing this so they can feel good. They just want to (insert motivr here). That’s assuming an attribute specifically relegated to God in scripture. You don’t know anyone else’s heart to speak it factually. Just append, “I think” or “it seems” to the front of those statements, unless you really can see their heart. Otherwise, stop pronouncing judgment. Yes, we’re not to speak harshly, but the exceptions to that prove it is not a hard, fast rule. David ate show bread. Jesus told his brothers he wasn’t going to the feast and went. Things we see as violative may not be. Who are you to judge another man’s slave.

    Do you really believe there is a time to kill (Ecc3:3)? If you don’t, your opinion is probably as valuable as Andy Stanley’s. If you do think God actually meant that there are times when intentionally ending a life is appropriate, then I don’t see it as a stretch that there may be a time to “give the bird to idols.” At the same time, I understand Ecclesiastes doesn’t say there is a time for obscene gestures. Just a time for everything.

    None of that changes the fact that a good name is better than a good ointment or that a good reputation is better than great wealth. Saying that it could be appropriate doesn’t require throwing out being humble in spirit, placing ourselves last, or loving our neighbor. Saying it is never appropriate is putting yourself as the judge of your brother.

    A response

    It really wouldn’t be hard to make a post that says, “I don’t think that’s appropriate” and move down the road. Or would it? It doesn’t seem to me that it should be.

  • This is why I go camping

    The dappled light of the sun danced across my face and the surrounding ground I laid on. The wind from the surrounding plains rustled through the tops of the trees in the little valley. It hardly seems right to call it a valley. It was really just a low spot with a babbling creek and a multitude of trees providing much needed shade.

    Staring up through closed eyes, I could see the movement of the leaves. My ears heard the distant calls of various birds, and they sang, “All is well in the world.”

  • God + Country: Big Eva’s Collaboration with Those who Hate God

    I came across this draft I had started in late January 2024. I started it because names I’ve heard for years, including Russell Moore and David French, were in on it. Those guys have been names that people at my completely normal church have trusted. I would have listened to them, oh, five years ago. Sadly, many honest believers are still as in the dark today as I was in 2019. Anyway, on to Ye Olde Draft…

    If you’re a Christian and haven’t heard about Rob Riener’s film, God + Country, and the sinnanigans surrounding it, you aren’t paying attention. The film, to release soon, purports to be a documentary on the dangers of Christian Nationalism (CN).

    If you don’t know, Reiner’s an avowed atheist. An enemy of God. Why would supposed Christians team up with an enemy to attack other Christians? That’s not just rhetorical, I would challenge you to answer that, out loud, to yourself.

    I noted in 2020 that the growing chorus against CN seemed to be a term that would be used to attack people that hold normal CHristian values and I remain more convinced of that today. A couple of other thoughts from folks are below.

    My advice is that you not watch this movie, or that you watch it with discernment, because it will offer a look at what is coming for uncompromising Christians.

    EDIT: I’m glad to say that this movie was a complete failure and I pray to God that he emboldens his people and confounds the efforts of his enemies.

  • First Time Brewing Beer

    I’ve made a couple of ciders, some ginger beer, and a wine or two. They’ve been fun to make, and relatively easy.

    I have stayed away from beers because, quite frankly, I found it a bit intimidating.However, I am giving it a try today. The first thing I can say about it is that when my kits instructions included “brew day” steps, they weren’t kidding.

    The second thing I will say is that when I pulled the grains out of the water after they had steeped for 20 minutes, it was a very pleasant smelling liquid (wort) they left behind. It was slightly nutty with a hint of a corn smell. The grains were carapils and caramel. As I write this, I am waiting for the wort to begin boiling so I can move to the next step. More later.

    As I wait, watching the pot for it to boil, I begin to think it never will. My mind is going over the next phase. After all the warnings about letting the LME (liquid malt extract) carmelize on the bottom of the pan, I find myself wondering if maybe I should have stayed away from beer after all. It seems this must be a fairly regular occurrence.

    I am fairly certain that I prevented any of the first batch of LME from carmelizing. However, I learned tongs are useful when making beer if you drop your spoon into the wort while trying to lay it across the pan.

    At this point, I’ve added the first LME and noticed that the wort basically smelled neutral afterward. Just a slight hint of the smells I noted earlier were left. I’ve also added the Willamette hop pellets. Gave them a sniff before adding them into the wort and immediately recognized how beer gets its flavor from hops. Funnily enough, adding them to the wort made it smell like I was boiling hay.

    The first 45-minute boil is over. I just finished adding the second bit of LME and the spices. The spice packet had a very nice citrusy smell. I will be very pleased if I end up with a clean, crisp beer. It needs another 15 minutes of boiling, a cold bath, and then into the fermenter for a while. A few minutes into this last phase, and the wort smells grand.

    Done. Well, sort of.  I’m done for a few days anyway. I got the wort cooled down and transferred most of it to the fermentation container.

    I use “most” for two reasons. One, pouring out of a giant pot into a 5″ opening is hard, and it didn’t all make it. Two, some of the wort came out with the trub, left-over solids. But, I got it in there and got everything sealed up. Now, the first wait.

  • We Need to Stop S. 3589 

    We Need to Stop S. 3589 

    An interesting bill has been filed in the Senate, S. 3589, also known as the “Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act of 2024” aims to prohibit unauthorized private paramilitary activity in the United States. Sounds good right? We don’t necessarily want or need Wagner Group-style armies running around in the U.S. Or do we? 🤔 That’s another discussion for another time. What caught my eye while reading this was that Section 9 of this legislation includes an interesting definition, it incorporates a “security services unit” within the broader category of a “private paramilitary organization” (PMO). 

    The bill provides the following as the definition of a PMO: 

    This term encompasses any group of three or more persons who associate under a command structure. Their purpose is to function publicly or train to function publicly as a combat, combat support, law enforcement, or security services unit. 

    link to section

    Why That Matters 

    As a retired peace officer, I remember at times seeing how broadly written laws can be broadly and selectively enforced. That, combined with the need for churches, or any other organization for that matter, to be able to protect themselves in this society where violence is on the rise, caused me some concern. 

    Is Your Church Security Team a PMO? 

    Do you know if your church has a security team that trains to protect the congregation during services? Does it have a team lead or person considered “in charge” of it? Under the bill’s definition, this security team could be classified as a “private paramilitary organization” due to their structure and focus on security services. 

    Effects 

    Now, what could be the impact of this bill if this team acts during a service to neutralize a potential threat (such as an armed intruder)? If the bill becomes law, their actions might be considered “unauthorized private paramilitary activity” unless their activity has been sanctioned by federal or state authorities. 

    Despite their good intentions, and rightly honorable actions, the security team could face legal consequences. As written, this bill leaves open the possibility that they could be held liable for engaging in paramilitary activity without “proper authorization.” 

    Their training and commitment to protecting the congregation could lead to imprisonment if the law is strictly enforced as written now. A violation of the law that results in death carries this penalty, “the person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life.” Imagine the hero in the opening photo being sent to prison for his actions.

    Now, under exceptions we find the law does not apply to the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, state militias, military re-enactment organizations, veterans in a parade, and:

    “members of an organization that is authorized under Federal or State law to provide paramilitary, law enforcement, or security services training or to engage in paramilitary activity, law enforcement, or security services when performing the functions authorized by law and, in the case of paramilitary activity and law enforcement functions, when under the direction and control of a governmental authority [emphasis added].”

    I included this section because there has to be a specific reason for that emphasized language to be in there. Why would it specify that law enforcement members can only do that when under the “direction and control” of a governmental authority? Would the feds consider an off-duty officer providing security for a church, movie theater, a Quinceañera, etc. as being under the direction and control of a governmental authority? I “know” that they are, but this language making it explicit makes me wonder.

    The only halfway good thing about this bill is that it recognizes it’s limited by the Commerce Clause so if one can manage to outfit their team with all in-state equipment, including ammunition, it is of no effect at all. But I would urge people to contact the people in D.C. that are supposed to represent them and ask them to oppose this bill.

  • Hmmmm… Homeschool Socialization

    So, my wonderful wife and I had the occasion to be around a large group of kids a few years ago. The energy level among the young people was exceptionally high. One of the things we noticed while there was lots of disruption, a slight bit of disrespect, and just general noise going on was that two kids in particular were doing exactly as they should do and we’re not being disruptive, disrespectful, or loud. After my wife pointed out the two kids, I couldn’t help but notice that they were the two home-schooled children in the class.

  • Merry Christmas 2023

    It’s Christmas morning. The sun is still down. Our kids are young adults for all intents and purposes. There is a slight chill in the air. I sit alone in the living room, in the soft light of the Christmas tree and the glow of the screen I am writing this on, and wonder.

    I wonder if we have given our civilization away. On this day that millions of people in the west, and around the world, celebrate the incarnation of God himself, we see stories of another religion, being allowed to disrupt our celebrations. People disrupting Christmas carolers with, “No celebration, ’til liberation,” as if they get to decide when we celebrate our Lord. People telling us, “No Christmas as usual,” unless we bow to their demands. There were plenty of others.

    For the record, I’m not real keen on bowing to the demands of any other human. It’s never been one of my strengths. I am, however, keen on acknowledging the Lordship of that child born in a lowly setting two thousand years ago. I am keen on my children and grandchildren having smiles on their faces, joy in their hearts, and their eternity sealed. As our faith in the Lord goes, so goes our civilization. Western society is unravelling to the joy of our enemies. We mostly sit by a watch it happen, and console ourselves with word, “Oh, what a pity.”

    I do however take solace in the fact that our Creator isn’t limited by our abilities to remain faithful individually or as a nation. Regardless of the status of our nation, or the West, in the future, Christ is King. Even so, I cannot and will not willingly give in to the destruction of my children’s future.

  • Defenders of the West

    Cover of Defenders of the West by Raymond Ibrahim

    I am about one-third of the way through the book, “Defenders of the West: The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam” by Raymond Ibrahim. I’m going through it as an audio book, which isn’t my favorite but, when you commute several hours during the week, it isn’t too bad. It’s made me realize a few things.

    I’ve already come to the conclusion that, even though I’ve thought this for a while, we’ve become exceptionally soft. I had no idea of how soft until I hear the accounts of some of the battles of the crusades, from both Christian and Muslim chroniclers. Men their enemies say looked like porcupines due to the number of arrows in them who continue to fight. Men who cry to God to take their blood and their life for His glory. Some of that about one’s own king could obviously be hagiography but, I don’t think it is likely for an opposing scribe to write an idealized version their infidel enemy’s accomplishments.

    The account of Ferdinand III includes two events where he was encouraged to enter battle with others who opposed/threatened him but happened to be Christian. He refused. He claimed he would never do battle with another Christian unless there was no other option. We’ve, well, some at least, have seemingly lost this ability as well. Log on to Twitter, or X, and you will find Christians gleefully attacking each other over Christian Nationalism, baptism, election, or more, all while the world burns and people who are damned to hell for all eternity are dying.

    We’ve lost our way. I’ll proclaim now, I won’t fight another Christian. Some have made me wonder what is wrong with their thinking, but I’ll not fight a brother or sister in Christ. Caveat that if I think you’re a false teacher, fighting you isn’t fighting another Christian.

    Finally, it has made me rethink Islam and how we approach it these days. That, however, is for another time.

  • Texas isn’t selling enough fishing licenses

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    Texas isn’t selling enough fishing licenses

  • Generative AI. Funny Not Funny.

    I’m doubting the “Intelligence” part of AI right about now. I went for a little outing today and not far away I took a picture looking down on a monument currently in progress. With it being “in progress” it obviously wasn’t great for presentation, and I got the following image.

    Original Image

    This is a fair representation of what is there. However, it’s okay to visualize what it will look like when the grass fills in. Those patches of dirt are definitely unattractive. Perfect job for AI right? That wonderful time-saving tool everyone tells us we need to rave about.

    Okay, so I give it the prompt, “Fill dirt areas with grass and leave everything else alone. The result?

    Not Even Joking

    This particular instance is humorous to say the least. This is the result produced by software from a massive, well-known, private sector company. That’s important because I think in general; most people accept that the private sector performs better than the public sector. It quits being humorous when you consider these results in light of the fact that, “The Pentagon is Moving Toward Letting AI Weapons Autonomously Decide to Kill Humans.“