overproportioNATE

I know that this wouldn't fly with someone that isn't enlightened to the idea of a greater purpose. But I'm starting to understand why some people say that "happiness is the enemy". When everything is O.K., there is absolutely no need to do anything differently. Few people leave an "O.K." job. Few people leave and O.K. church. When they are "happy". I guess that the point that I want to make is that the source for happiness is different from the source for joy. That really is the difference. A dictator can be happy when he's won his wealth on power over his enemies. An adulterer can be happy. A nice, clean cut, professional, entrepreneur who has done no real "wrong" in his life can feel happy that he's made it, that he's arrived. For the Christian, happiness can be what keeps us glued to our pews. Happiness keeps us caring for ourselves, and no one else. It helps us to read, and learn, but rarely to go and do.  R

I like to write about controversy. If I could study only the controversial from here on out, I think that I would. Every morning I say the pledge of allegiance with a 5th grade class. We declare our allegiance to one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. That is one fine dream. Now, this next example is extreme, and I do not mean to compare these, just to point out something relevant. Imagine Nazi Germany, declaring their allegiance to God. Imagine that country, those people, that face, declaring its dedication to God, to be under God. What would that be? How off-base would that be. That nation was practicing behaviors, sanctioning behaviors that spit in the face of God. How wonderful if it could turn from that and turn to God, to be under God. But to declare oneself under God, when being nothing of the sort, is ludicrous. Imagine a people wiping out an entire people group for the sake of God, and giving God the credit, under God. Call it manifest destiny. Im