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Like begets like

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:36:51 +0100

I believe there are such things as natural laws. Aristotle could be said to have discovered the concept, St. Thomas Aquinas to put them in a Christian context. These are rules that apply to everything, define our relationship with the universe/God/The Creator/Gaia, and are self-evident: things are how they are! We can use our knowledge of how these laws work in our personal development, particularly in that most crucial element: our relationships with others.

So, maybe you doubt me? Here are some simple examples of "like begets like": an important natural law. Dogs beget dogs. Chestnut trees beget chestnut trees. Now, in the context of ourselves and our nature, kindness begets kindness, sharing begets more sharing, Hatred begets more hatred.

If you aren't comfortable with this idea, give some thought to the issue. If I hate someone, this all-pervasive attitude will be evident in my direct relations with them, of course. But hatred would also drag down my state of mind. It takes energy to have emotions of any sort! My boiling hatred is exhausting and worthless! Nevertheless, natural law applies. Hatred begets more hatred: children see us hate, and learn to hate in turn. Others note our hate and may hate us for it. The object of our hatred hates us in return, maybe.

Would that the destruction of "like begets like" reach only into our direct relationships! But no: the damage stretches well beyond our little world. Hatred begets hatred through the lives of those we meet. It influences the decisions of others in a negative way. Hatred begets hatred.

"Like begets like" is of course a route to a more positive way of thinking. Kindness begets kindness, afterall. Positivity in your thoughts and actions will cause the same in others. Why not try to use "like begets like" in analysing people's reactions to you? Why not use it to further your relationships with others? Honesty begets honesty: you will never be punished for telling the truth, because that humility you display will be returned to you in the future. Trust begets trust: to win the trust of another, you must trust them. Love begets love: who could expect love from someone when no love is given?

Recognition of Free Will is essential

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:23:35 +0000

God gave us free will, because, although He could have created humans to be a crowd of automatic God-worshippers, He chose not to, because a person who chooses to worship Him is something very special to Him. For example, I could cause my computer here to tell me that I'm wonderful, on the hour, every hour. I can assure you that even if I had a huge ego, I wouldn't find these constant reminders from a dumb machine particularly satisfying.

So, free will is God-given. So what does that tell us? That systems of government that supress it are wrong, even if the ultimate goal of these systems is well-meaning.

That's not to say that free will is an excuse to be reckless. On the contrary, we are holders of huge responsibility. God knows that we could do ourselves harm with it. Humanity has the power to destroy itself with free will. But, in the same way that a parent would never prevent a fit child from learning to swim because of the chance of drowning, God doesn't take free will away, even from those of us who abuse it. What he does do, is have an attendant there by the poolside. He is our Saviour, Jesus Christ! Now, if I, with my free will throw myself into the pool in a reckless manner, and harm myself, I could thrash for a few moments and stay afloat, maybe for minutes. Jesus would through me a lifeline, which I might foolishly, or proudly refuse to accept but eventually, I'd tire myself out. Then I would surely drown. But if I take that line and show willing, he will pull me to the edge and then out of the pool.

Why then, regulate? Why must the government dabble in the excercise of our free will? Because greed and other sin stifles our good nature, and we then misuse our free will. We stop working socially, and start to work for ourselves alone. We isolate ourselves in the pursuit of personal wealth, then become apathetic and shallow and community crumbles.

I'm going to try and see what I can do to make sure everyone gains from what I do, first locally, then in the wider community. Now there's good use of free will! Pray for me, will you? And join me if you like.

Moral bankruptcy

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 17:37:38 +0100

Since the events of Tuesday night, I've been looking for a way to look at the 'modern' approach to sexual relations (read: sexual immorality) to see what chain of consequences would arise from ignoring it. Then I found this, which, whilst rather, um, fatalistic, does seem it ring true. It's from an editorial on the Preterist Archive website, entitled, "Chicken Little Goes to Church" and was written by Rev. Andrew Sandlin.

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Managed Chaos

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 15:17:05 +0100

What a concept. Managed chaos. The idea, pushed by educated and trustworthy men (as far as I can deduce) is that governments create instabilities like 9/11 and in the health and welfare of certain populations (notably African Americans - Ebola, and the US homosexual sector - AIDS) to the advantage of globalists. Never come across the term before. Quite frightening, really. Have a look at Antipas Ministries, especially articles by Dr Horowitz.

What do you think?

A ragchew: Community and Jesus, Argument and Debate

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Tue, 10 May 2005 16:18:19 +0100

I know it sounds negative, but sometimes it's bad experiences that make you want to blog/write more. I mean, look at Byron [poem], and he's by no means the best example! I tend to write long e-mails to Christian friends. Some excerpts end up on the net, like this one. I don't change places, names, etc. I don't have that much time. I trust my readers, though. Love one another like Jesus loves you. Think long and hard before you flame me for anything I say here, but if you want to get in touch, then do.

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Love keeps no records of wrongs

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 17:52:45 +0000

I've been listening to 1 Corinthians 13 [click to play with Realplayer] and getting quietly intruiged. You see, several persons who have ministered to me in the past tell me that forgiveness doesn't include forgetting. The implication is that when someone has lost your trust, you are not obliged to give it back, even though you've forgiven.
Looking at 1 Corinthians 13:5, we're told that, "...[love] keeps no record of wrongs." that to me means that I'm justified in giving people my trust, even when they should, in secularist terms, at least, loose it for good.
People have suggested that taking this approach means that I'm walked over, but I find that people don't take advantage of me in that way: maybe being offered trust makes people feel valued. A lot of the people's wrong-doing is because business, education and everything else tells people to take a position of fear before they offer anyone the hand of friendship and trust. It must be something to be won, rather than offered as of right. I think Paul was trying to tell us that we're doing something wrong. The Darby translation says instead, "...[love] does not impute evil." Quite right. And neither should we.

Gorgeous Christian sentiment from C H Spurgeon

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 12:49:10 +0000

Whilst {browsing|surfing|trawling} the web as I am wont to do, I stumbled apon a text from Around The Wicket Gate by C H Spurgeon, the highly influential London evangelist of the mid-1800s. For people who have issues about the validity of what they have heard from Christians about death, this text puts it in a quasi-factual light, making comparisons and drawing analogies that most will understand. "I am the Bread of Life" comes to mind.

Have a read, and try not to get upset. If you want to chat, e-mail or Skype me, telling me in the authorisation box that you want to talk about this.

Yesterday was an interesting one

nospam@example.com (James Valentine) — Thu, 11 Nov 2004 16:55:01 +0000

Spontaneity seemed to be the order of the day. Having intended to rise early, I actually escaped from the glentle clutch of slumber at approximately 1130, there being no particular schedular pressure. In the last few days I've been up very early, so I had no qualms with a late morning appearance.

Public International Law was the subject of the two-hour lecture that greeted me on arrival at Amory at 1400. Got chatting to a friend in Christ who was experiencing a little networking trouble, so I offered to assist afterwards. We decided I would accompany her to a bit of fellowship at the Imperial where the CU had organised another of their regular Wednesday meetings of which I have prior experience. In fact, if you're ever in the Imperial on a Wednesday afternoon, pop in to the room on the right sometime after 1730. The Spirit moved a lot of us in those couple of hours as Becca told us the Good News and started a bit of discussion. People who know me will know that I give organised religion a bit of space, but the CU isn't like that and it's good to see folk getting interested in Christ and seeing some good work going on.

Read on for some insight into my Christianity. Christ makes me who I am. My usual florid blog-language will dissolve at this point. Christ deserves a greater clarity of expression.

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