History in the Making

I was pretty sure I understood the meaning, but I looked it up just to be sure.

Pyrrhic
1885, from Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who defeated Roman armies at Asculum, 280 B.C.E., but at such cost to his own troops that he was unable to follow up and attack Rome itself, and is said to have remarked, "one more such victory and we are lost."

Pyrrhic Victory? Right Diagnosis, Wrong Patient
By Randall Hoven

Assume the geniuses are right. In fact, assume the worst case: O'Donnell loses the general election and the Senate ends up 50-50, with the tie-breaking vote going to Joe Biden. If we wing-nuts hadn't screwed things up by electing O'Donnell in the primary, the Senate would be majority Republican in 2011-12. How much better would a majority-by-one outcome be?

We do not have to hypothesize such a situation. Exactly that happened in 2001. And this is what happened: Jim Jeffords, nominal Republican, left the Republican Party to caucus with the Democrats, putting them in majority control for the remainder of that Senate term.
[...]
When we really, really needed him, Jumpin' Jim jumped. To be clear, all of the good do-bee Republicans who supported our "moderate" Republicans from the Northeast still got screwed. They lost the money they sent him and lost the Senate anyway. Strike one.

Move to the next northeast state, Pennsylvania. Pat Toomey ran against Arlen Specter in the GOP primary in 2004. There was nothing wrong or "wing-nut" about Toomey. He had served in the House for the previous six years. He was a Harvard graduate for goodness sake. But, he wasn't the choice of the Republican Party geniuses. The geniuses knew their incumbent, Arlen. And Arlen proved, if nothing else, that he could win elections in Pennsylvania. So Arlen got the GOP money, the GOP backing and President Bush's endorsement.

Then, when we really, really needed it -- when it might have been possible to filibuster Obama's stimulus in 2009 if a mere 41 GOP senators could hang together -- three GOP senators, all from the Northeast, broke ranks: Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. Strike two.

Then, when we really, really, really needed him, to defeat ObamaCare by filibuster, Arlen did Jumpin' Jim one better and became an out-and-out Democrat. He ended up voting for ObamaCare as a Democrat. He took GOP money when he ran in 2004, and then voted against the GOP when it counted most. Strike three. And I'm out.

Christine O'Donnell and the Tea Party Era
By Mark J. Fitzgibbons

There isn't a Tea Partier who doesn't understand the danger of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid agenda. Any Republican taking any title for granted, however, is a problem. Now, you've got to earn it. With this first federal election of the Tea Party era, the choice is no longer between the lesser of two evils.

Christine O'Donnell is that lesson. At Friday's Values Voter Summit in Washington, she said, "They don't get it. We're not trying to take back our country. We are our country." That reminded me of another outsider derided by the establishment: Ronald Reagan.

With Democrats on the run in so many races, their resources are stretched. Democrats will need to rely on bitter Republicans to fend off O'Donnell's run in Delaware. Conservatives mustn't allow the bitter Republicans to destroy the chance to take the Senate by backing down from, or making excuses for, their establishment "friends."

The 2010 elections will show who's on our side. It's up to the people who care too much about America to no longer care what the establishment thinks of them.

More relevant words for this week:

wa·ter·shed   
[waw-ter-shed, wot-er-]

–noun

1. Chiefly British . the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide.


2. the region or area drained by a river, stream, etc.; drainage area.


3. Architecture . wash ( def. 44 ) .


4. an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc.: The treaty to ban war in space may prove to be one of history's great watersheds.

mile·stone   
[mahyl-stohn]

–noun

1. a stone functioning as a milepost.


2. a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation, etc.: Her getting the job of supervisor was a milestone in her career.

sea change 
–noun

1. a striking change, as in appearance, often for the better.


2. any major transformation or alteration.


3. a transformation brought about by the sea.

Incontinent

I have always thought of incontinence as the inability to control one's bladder. This is the only manner in which I've heard the word used. But it has come to my attention through the King James Version of the Bible and subsequent research that the definition covers other realms of behavior as well.

1 Corinthians 7:5

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. ~KJV

Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ~NIV

The same word or words are translated "incontinency" and "lack of self-control".
The definitions I find for incontinent include:

in⋅con⋅ti⋅nent  [in-kon-tn-uhnt]
–adjective
1. unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces.
2. unable to contain or retain (usually fol. by of): incontinent of temper.
3. lacking in moderation or self-control, esp. of sexual desire.
4. unceasing or unrestrained: an incontinent flow of talk.

And the following from a medical dictionary:

Main Entry: in·con·ti·nence
Function: noun
1 : inability or failureto restrain sexual appetite
2 : inability of the body to control the evacuative functions

Also very interesting are the related words that are given:

Related Words for : incontinence
incontinency, dissoluteness, self-gratification

Clearly, there is an aspect of incontinence that relates to sexual desire and the inability, or unwillingness, to control that desire.
Now, you have encountered puppies that urinate on themselves (or on you) because they get so excited. We could consider those puppies to be incontinent. Don't forget that they will also hump your leg with no provocation.

Given these things to consider, it seems entirely reasonable for us to conclude that temptations to lust or sloth or gluttony or any other activity of over-indulgent self-gratification are temptations to behave like pitiful little puppies who can't help peeing on ourselves.

Is it any wonder?

I remember a tv ad encouraging the purchase of some chocolate something-or-other and praising its "decadent sensation" or something similar. Do we now imagine that decadence is merely harmless, self-indulgent pleasure?

In fact, decadence leads to decay or is a form of it. Is it any wonder?

Still

I still find it difficult to be still.

The Madness of Anger

The etymology of mad points to an original meaning of "insane". But we use it commonly and more frequently to mean "angry". This is a correct usage. So, what does that tell us about anger?

Interestingly, anger comes from a Norse word meaning "sorrow". Might this also tell us something about anger?

Christmas

What have Frosty the Snowman and toys to do with Christ's festival?

Growing up, Christmas was all about the toys I anticipated receiving. Later, it became more and more about gifts I would give to others. This seems so much more honorable, mature, and generous. But, I gave for my own glory and satisfaction, not for that of others. To my shame, I gave certainly not for the glory of God. What a shame indeed that a festival of The Almighty God's ultimate grace to us -even us- has been twisted and soiled until it is now, even for Christians, a selfish frenzy of worship for a false god, material wealth.

As a child, I was mystified by the elderly who often said when asked that they didn't want anything for Christmas. I have finally come to relate to boredom with the world and all the gifts it offers.

If only Christmas can be a Festival of Christ, then where can boredom live? And what becomes of the body of Christ when it worships in Spirit and Truth?

But how do we do such a thing? Not only so but how to we transition to it, whatever it turns out to be, from the materialist, idolatrous worship of this world that we do now?

Last year, I gave to some a set of CD's describing the scientific evidence debunking the myth of biological evolution. I consider this insufficient, but at least better than what I have always done. This year, I intended to give a gift, the proceeds of which would support adoption of orphans through a Christian organization. Unfortunately, the website for such purchases (the only method available, as far as I know) is down for maintenance. But this is much better, I think. Still, the mere giving of a gift can hardly be called a celebration or festival.

Even now, we have a Christmas Eve service at church. But this does not inhibit or replace our year long idolatry as we prepare for the annual worship of the money, celebrated by giving all that it can buy to those who will also give to us.

I seek to replace what we have been doing, but perhaps I cannot learn what I should be doing instead until I fully and sincerely repent. Otherwise, I might endeavor to serve two masters. Our gracious Lord deserves better.

Defining the Infinite

Define means to determine limits or boundaries and Infinite means without limits or boundaries. Can infinite God be defined?

Gravity of the grave

Gravity is the natural force that pulls us into a grave.

gravity
grave¹
grave²

Willful & Lackadaisical

If one is "obstinately bent on having one's own way" when one is merely willful (that is, when one is full of one's own will), then should we be empty of will and passive and lackadaisical?

Perhaps we should instead be full of another's will; perhaps not just any other, but God in particular. "Obstinately bent on having one's own way" is the sin we see in ourselves and each other even from birth!

The alternative is not boring or defeated. As ever, the spectrum is perpendicular to what we may imagine. At one end are both willfulness and lackadaisicalness, which equally bear focus on man, while at the other is obedience to God. That is, being filled with God's will. This cannot produce boredom or disillusionment. Neither does it produce a hard heart. The true alternative to willfulness and lackadaisicalness liberates us from boredom and callousness.

To Live Again

I was inspired by my brother to consider revival.

I wonder..

Do we really want revival?
Should we desire revival?
How would we get revival?
How would you describe a person who needs to be revived?

Canny & Uncanny

These are opposites, as might be expected, but only with regard to the secondary meaning of "canny".

canny
1. Careful and shrewd, especially where one's own interests are concerned. 2. Cautious in spending money; frugal. 3. Scots a. Steady, restrained, and gentle. b. Snug and quiet.

uncanny
1. Peculiarly unsettling, as if of supernatural origin or nature; eerie. See synonyms at weird. 2. So keen and perceptive as to seem preternatural.

Sensitivity

Could it be that an important weapon or armor available to us in our battle against sin is the cultivation of sensitivity?

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and seperated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

~Ephesians 4:17-19

Paul equates a hard heart with loss of sensitivity. There are two results of the hardening of the Gentiles' hearts. First, they have ingnorance in them, which leads to seperation from God and from understanding. Second, they give themselves over to sensuality, which leads to an array of sins, but fails to satisfy.

If the loss of sensitivity leads to ingnorance and indulgence in sensuality, then perhaps its increase can help to empower us or prepare us for understanding, purity, and unity with God.

What do we think of a person who is sensitive? Do we value sensitivity or do we see it as weakness or indulgent?

Does this passage really teach us anything about what not to do?

Sensitive		Sensitivity
Sensual		Sensuality

Refuse

These are different in pronunciation, parts of speech, and of course definition. They do, however, have common lineage.

Refuse¹
Refuse²

Kind

So very different in meaning, these words are not only identical, but also appear to have a closely related heritage.

Kind¹
Kind²    Kin

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.


~ Genesis 1:11-13


Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.


~ Romans 1:28-32


The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"


~ Matthew 8:27


There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.


~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6


But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives


~ 2 Peter 3:10-11


But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.


~ Luke 6:35-36


Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


~ Ephesians 4:32


Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.


~ Thessalonians 5:15-16


His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


~ 2 Peter 1:3-10


One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.


~ Revelation 21:9-11, 18-27

Self-effacing

efface
self-effacing

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."


~ Luke 14:7-11



Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.


~ James 4:7-10



Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

    "God opposes the proud
        but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.


~ 1 Peter 5:5-7

Sound

One most common word with remarkably various definitions and histories.

sound¹
sound²    gesundheit
sound³
sound⁴

Renaissance: Word of the Week 07/30/2007

Since the only true and thorough rebirth that can possibly occur in a human being is the miracle of being born from above (John 3:3), it is ironic, and revealing, that renaissance (a rebirth or revival) is the name given to a period in history defined as a humanistic revival of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning.

Rest: Word of the week 07/23/07

Another word used for disparate meanings.

Rest¹
Rest²

Down: Word of the Week 07/16/07

I'm fascinated by words that are identical, yet have apparently unrelated meanings.

I'm also intrigued by the words that are, in some respects, so simple that they are some of the first words we ever learn, yet have many different uses or complexities in their use.

Down is an excellent example of both.

down¹
down²
down³

Evolve: Word of the week 07/09/07

I've heard so many people talk about ideas or projects built on ideas that have grown and changed over time by saying "it evolved". I have always been annoyed by this use of the word, believing that it is inconsistent with the definition of the word and therefore utterly impossible.

My conclusion was based on this premise: ideas require thought. Evolution requires the absence of thought. Therefore, "the evolution of an idea" is an oxymoron. Honestly, I may have been driven in part by the feeling that use of the word gives assent to the theory.

However, the words evolve and evolution were not invented by Darwin. As a result, they both have meaning beyond his debunked theory and beyond biology.

In addition to providing enlightening definitions for both words, The American Heritage Dictionary also handles quite elegantly the word evolutionism.