Instead of the Limbaugh / Olbermann model of debate that incites division, fear, irrationality, and now violence, try instead the “Socratic” method of dialogue. What is painfully dangerous in our American politics today is the lack of a sincere quest for knowledge.

Every now and then I come across an excerpt from a book that produces a moment of “rebirth” in me. These passages of text solidify years of thought into a single moment of clarity. Ideologies that I have been struggling to understand for years suddenly are expressed in a page or two of text that beautifully encapsulates these struggles into a few paragraphs:

“In our society, rational discussion is often aggressive, since participants … are doing their best to demonstrate the invalidity of their opponent’s viewpoint. In a Socratic dialogue … the ‘winner’ did not try to force an unwilling opponent to accept his point of view. It was a joint effort. You expressed yourself clearly as a gift to your partner, whose beautifully expressed argument would, in turn, touch you at a profound level … a successful dialogue should lead to ekstatis: by learning to inhabit each other’s point of view, the conversationalists were taken beyond themselves. Anybody who entered into conversation with Socrates had to be willing to change” (Karen Armstrong, The Case for God).

And this occurence is not just happening on the Right. The Left is equally guilty. There is no difference between Limbaugh and Olbermann if you measure them not by their politic leanings, but by their level of adherence to the Socratic model of debate.

In their disregard for truth, understanding, and context, they are further dividing the country that they so vehemently claim to love. I have a feeling that what many of these wingnuts really love is their power, wealth, and celebrity–certainly more than they love the country they are claiming to defend from the so-called Socialists or Capitalists.

But why are we, as political spectators, so eager to pick between Left & Right? Conservative & Liberal? And follow every announcement of the Party without insight, research, or examination?

Humans, you see, are a “religious” being. Before you think I am about to preach the Gospel to you, I am not using the term “religion” to refer to what you may traditionally think of religion (church, mosque, Sunday school, and Bible). I am referring to a systematic thought process that blindly follows a learned human behavior duly reinforced over time, rather than seeking the simple and evident truth in God. Psychologists or sociologists may refer to this as Group Mentality, commonly known as “following the herd”, “acting like sheep”, etc. But to me, no word describes this human phenomenon better than the word, “religion”. Religion in all aspects of our lives, from our understanding of God, politics, family, business, culture, and every other thing “under the sun”.

Our reaction to 24/7 cable newscasts and AM Radio are not exempt from our ability to want to fit in with a group or macroculture that will give us a false sense of belonging and empowerment.

Jesus Christ famously rebuked the religious of his day because their devotion to religion was obstructing their devotion to God. It is the same today. Religion can be found in the complex diarama of our lives and is not restricted to our theological and spiritual views. We must renounce our love affair with religion in order to regain our sacred relationships.

In all aspects of our lives, in order to find truth, morality, and even God, we must constantly examine ourselves. This must be applied not only to our religion, but our patriotism and politics.
Religion gives us temporary stability and peace, because we can shut off our minds from our busy, overburdened lives and just follow. This inevitably adds just another “brick in the wall” in our journey to Orwelian Utopia, i.e. 1984.

Orwell’s brilliant envisioning of a Government take-over of its people’s minds and souls was neither truly Socialist or Fascists — it was not the extreme spectrum of either Left or Right. It was Ambiguous Extremism itself, which could in many ways be identified with neither Left or Right. The true danger was not Liberal politics or Conservative politics, it was not even Socialism or Capitalism per se, but the lack of reason, of judgement, of balance; it was an insatiable desire to control every aspect of life by following the edicts of the “Party”, as espoused by a select few.

What is sometimes overlooked in Orwell’s 1984 is that the reverse Utopia we discover by reading its pages is not a government takeover, but a lack of knowledge and will on its people’s part. A government cannot form into a true state of reverse utopia without the consent of its people, without their willingness to forgoe the Socratic wisdom that is so dear and necessary to a truly free and democratic society. 1984 cannot germinate within a system of government, until its people stop thinking.

I understand, it is tempting to be religious. It may in fact be the original sin. I, too, want to shout at you, “What the fuck are you thinking, America?” But alas, I must restrain myself, in deference to Socrates who I will now go and attempt to learn of.

At the center is the Hillary Clinton arm of the Obama administration who has been pissing off Chinese officials in the past two months. There are 3 main contentions:

(1) Stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons by imposing a U.S. lead U.N. sanction on Iran’s Islamic “republic” leadership. Everyone is on board, including Russia, which we thought may be a problem initially–everyone, that is, except China. China seeks to lose a major source of oil in their relationship with Iran by imposing sanctions. At a time when China’s economy is growing, this energy source is indispensable to China. So they are balking at any UN Resolution and they have Veto power.

(2) Obama has agreed to meet with the Dalia Lama, which really has pissed the Chinese off. This has been further aggravated by the U.S. currently agreeing to supply arms to Taiwan, including a fleet of F-16 fighters, 114 Patriot missiles, 60 Black Hawk helicopters, and some communications equipment. China has retaliated by saying they will provide medium range missiles to Pakistan.

(3) Clinton has sided with Google–against China–in a freedom of information dispute. China wants to censor Google.Cn and even Google.com from showing search results that include the Dalia Lama, Tiananmen Square, and other freedom issues that China deems inappropriate. This, too, was further aggravated when Google accused China of hacking into their Gmail accounts to obtain information about rebels who had been using Gmail to share information. Google has threatened to pull its operations out of China. Unfortunately, spineless investors pulled some stock out of Google since this conflict, and Google stock has plummeted a bit, along with the rest of the market which has seen a heavy decline over the past few weeks. Google’s moral stance being discouraged by investor greed and fear.

P.S. CNN–are you still covering Michael Jackson’s chimp’s reaction to his death? How’s that going?

Things held tightly and dear

Those everyday things will not matter at all

In the light of eternity’s dawn

People we voted for – taxes and death

Things we bought and worshipped

Feelings of hope that faded to pain

Will just be a memory on history’s dark page

Time will be past

These “things” will be gone

Shackles all left by the way

For all that we “own” is this thing we call “love”

When God’s gift of “forever” unfolds

Then saints will recall:

Things must have mattered so much to us then

Things we held tightly and dear

But the truth of the matter – its message so clear

“Love” is the only thing man takes from here..

In the light of eternity’s dawn.

In a society in which its people care more about what David Letterman said to Sara Palin in a childlike outburst, the internet has become a more reliable source of news and dissemination of knowledge than the mainstream U.S. media, which runs itself more like a business than a dispenser of truth.

Ratings matter. Truth–well, matters–when it enables TV stations to sell commercials.

In face of such a news-business model, the Internet and Facebook have become more legitimate in their dissemination of the news than CNN and FOX News combined.

While the U.S. media barely covers what is happening in Iran in 10 second clips and sound-bytes, the people in Iran risk their lives to capture video footage and spread it on the internet via Facebook, asking that their friends “share” the clips with others.

America considers Iran one of its greatest threats today. Even if not for the Iranian people who despise their government, shouldn’t U.S. news outlets at least cover current elections in Iran and its subsequent mass protests because it is in the best interest of America and it’s own citizens to do so?

In a society that cares more about American Idol and Reality TV Shows, it’s not surprising that the U.S. media does not feel it is important enough to cover the above protests in Iran.

One has to be shiveringly reminded of prophetic novels like Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and A Brave New World. Except this time it’s not “Big Brother” who is censoring our news … but we, the people.

Among our favorites? The Enchanted Blue Topaz Ring (shown above)–also available as an antiqued aquamarine ring, antique style ruby ring, and in many other genuine gemstone types.

Another delectable jewelry piece? The Vintage Floral Diamond Engagement Ring Set, a part of the same collection among Apples of Gold’s Diamond Rings.

This is a wonderful book to read slowly for deep reflection and meditation with a cup of tea or coffee by your side. These heart-felt “songs” should be savored slowly, devoured practically and initiated completely into one’s daily walk. In difficult times such as these, Katherine’s book is without a doubt a refreshing reprieve for the days ahead.

Purchase Songs of the Feathered Wind at Amazon.Com

Come Lord,
rescue me from evil’s greedy talons.
Plant my feet on plum-robed mountains
safe from the death angel’s charm.

When you are close beside me
I will never be afraid.
You enfold me under Your mammoth wings
You are my shelter from the storm.

Come Lord,
Surprise me with a gift of Your silvery wings
that I may fly away with You
and live forever free.

You have seized my heart with Your love song
You have wooed me with Your unspeakable joy.
You have washed me in Your blood fountain.

I am Yours.

But I so hunger to be with Your Presence.
I so thirst to drink in Your face
I long to thank You for Your gift,
and praise Your immeasurable grace.

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

Leprosy is an infectious disease derived from the French work “leper” and from the Greek word “lepros” which means scaly, referring to the scales that form on the skin in some cases of leprosy. It corresponds in the main with the disease which is fully described in Leviticus 13:14. The ancient leprosy, in its more severe form, is to be regarded as a judgment from God, Deuteronomy 24:8. Jews considered this disease as unclean and infectious; and also as being a punishment from Jehovah, as we know it to have been in the cases of Miriam (Numbers 12:10), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27), and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16-23). The suffered was commended to the priest and was separated from many of the privileges of society. 6 commands were given concerning a leper. He should rend his clothes, he should go with his head bare, he should put a covering on his upper lip, he should cry, “Unclean, Unclean” when he came near other people, he should be considered unclean all the days of his plague and he should stay segregated from clean and healthy people all the days of his plague. (Leviticus 13) To all others, lepers were sinners who deserved the death penalty.

Lepers associated chiefly with each other as we read in 2 Kings 7:8.and so it was in this case too. 10 of them met Jesus as he travelled between Samaria and Galilee. They stood far away and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”When Jesus saw them, he just said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

Luke doesn’t write of any of them asking or pleading with Jesus anymore. They just believed his words, obeyed and went. We need to see from the Word of God why a leper went to the priest. These 10 were already known as lepers to all so they were being sent to the priests who were given the rights to declare such a person clean and free from the disease. Leviticus 14 describes in detail the ceremonial cleansing for flesh leprosy for the rich and the poor. Jesus wanted the priests to declare them whole and thus give testimony to God’s power.

3 things stand out as we read this passage from the gospel of Luke. Firstly, faith in the words of Jesus, secondly, obedience to his words and finally gratitude. All the 10 lepers believed the words of Jesus and obeyed his command to go and show themselves to the priests. Luke writes, “And as they went, they were cleansed.”The healing was effected as they went. Faith in the promises of God and obedience to the Word of God is of paramount importance as we live the Christian life. And so is gratitude.

All the 10 were healed, yet only one of them, a Samaritan came back to Jesus to express his gratitude. He was thankful to God for the healing that he had received. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Jesus, though he knew everything, asked a question to those following him, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Many seek the Lord for bodily healing and material benefits, but when their purpose is solved they rarely come back to thank the Lord or take up the cross and follow him. Getting a bodily healing or experiencing a miracle does not guarantee eternal life in heaven. Believing in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross and living for him, obeying the Word of God is the only way to salvation.

Faith in the words of Jesus had brought this Samaritan leper his healing and Jesus affirmed that by telling him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

CHAPTER  1
ABOUT THE SHADOW

All my life I knew there was another part of me, something I couldn’t explain until now. It seams as if an alter ego, or even a shadow, MY SHADOW! Her name is Emma! She helps me make my decisions some are right some are wrong. No mater what she makes me… me. She’s EMMA My living shadow.

CHAPTER  2
THE SHADOW ITSELF

The shadow lives in a place called the UNDERWORLD it is a very different place a place like no other, never could be explained. In the undergrounds’ there are very little shadows left. So many children don’t believe, they don’t believe in what I like to call… MAGIC. Magic is what keeps the shadows alive, at one time all kids had shadows, but then they stopped believing! So I guess you could say that they are extinct there about 5 shadows left Pat, Lilly, Angle, Diamond, and EMMA! Together they will go through a rough time trying to keep their kind alive. Their only hope is the human form of Emma … EMILY.

CHAPTER 3
HUMAN FORM

Each shadow has a human form, and each human has a shadow. In this case Emily the human form of Emma is a science fan, she is good with chemicals. Emily knows about the Underworld, and knows that there only 5 shadows left so she is on a mission to find a way to make the shadows regain their human form so they don’t all go extinct. But when they die they will make a new generation of the Undergrounds’.

CHAPTER 4
CHEMICALS OF LIFE

There are three chemicals of life one has a very distinct smell as if there is old milk that has been there for about a month to two months. This chemical is a very rare one and nobody is quite shore that this chemical will even help, but it is worth a shot. the second one is a very sweet smell this one will definitely work because it was specifically made for people to regain their strength, and you need strength to move any part of your body. The third one doesn’t have a smell but this one will defiantly will work also because this is an energy chemical used to keep you awake. So the last two work but the first one not so much, so we will haft to test it on one of the shadows, the oldest is Lilly so I guess we will test it on her. Lilly don’t cry no matter what you will be okay because we have a chemical that will kill this one if it starts to do wrong.(sob) “Okay”! good.

CHAPTER 5
THE CHIMICAL

If you will please lay flat on this bord and try to fall asleep so you won’t feel a thing okay. “Okay”. About 1 hour later Lilly woke up but she didn’t wake up to being a shadow she woke up to be a HUMAN, and she had a shadow of her own! So it turns out that you don’t need the other two all they needed was that one! So they worked on all the others the last person was EMMA, “oh Emma you don’t know how much I’ve wanted to see my shadow in human form”. “Me either”.

CHAPTER 6

They say that all kids will get another shadow they just haft to believe. When god takes you to hevin, he takes our shadow two, the shadows become our baby angle, as we become there mother, and father. And live a new life in hevin, and get new chances. Lord keep the generation going in the Underworld. Keep it going for as long as you can because the shadows would be grateful. AMEN

Gospel Of Luke

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. Then he asked them, “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” And they had nothing to say. (Luke 14:1-6)

The confrontations with the rich, learned and powerful continued unabated in the 3 1/2 years of Jesus’ ministry. He was always watched carefully so that he might be caught in something that he said or something that he did. He spoke wisely so they could never catch him in his words. Finally they resorted to false testimony. But he knew that no one could do anything to him before it was his time so he continued his work with zeal and unmatched success.

Here was another occasion where the religious rulers, the experts in the law were eagerly waiting to accuse. Instead the tables were turned on them by his words and deeds. Whether the man suffering from dropsy was bait laid before him we wouldn’t know for sure but Jesus was up to the challenge anyway.

Here again we do not see Jesus looking for faith (for healing) in the sick man.  He had dealt similarly with the woman bound by a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. He was here to prove a point; that God is compassion and love personified and one who cares for the afflicted, performing beyond the boundaries of laws and regulation which he has set.

He had been healing many on the Sabbath and again he chose a Sabbath here to heal this man. He posed a question before his critics: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” Strangely the Pharisees and experts in the law present there did not choose to argue or debate; perhaps knowing that it was an exercise in futility, because he was going to heal anyway.

The man in question here was suffering from Dropsy. Dropsy is an accumulation of watery fluid in the cellular tissues or in any of the cavities of the body, as the chest or abdomen, and may be due to disease of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or peritoneum. Whatever the cause, here was a man with generalized swelling; he must have been quite out of shape, but for Jesus, it was no major task. When someone is healed of a major debilitating illness or of a sickness which has no treatment, it is a MIRACLE to them and those who witness it, but for God it’s simple. He doesn’t have to work hard or put in extra effort. For him, it’s just “SAID & DONE”. So Jesus just took hold of the man, healed him and sent him away. All in a flash. He then faced his critics and asked, “”If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?”

There wouldn’t have been 2 answers to that question, so again everyone kept quiet. Jesus had proved to them again that God was good and intended to do good to those who suffered, be it the Sabbath or not. He thus silenced his critics time and again by his miraculous works.