Digital Cowboy

I’ve said nothing here recently and probably won’t soon.  There’s too much to say. Respect for the privacy of others prevents me from saying most of what I would like to.

I’ll tell you quickly that the legal conflict is over and I picked up my daughters last Tuesday morning. We’ve been home since Wednesday night. We had a hearing in court last Monday afternoon in Augusta, GA and it went exactly as I had declared in prayer that it would.  No surprises there. (I wanted to make that public because so many have expressed concern and I appreciate that more than you know.)

That’s good news, but it was expected – at least by me.  There’s far, far better news that was surprising to me.  I’ve expected it all along but I wasn’t expecting it now.  I knew that I knew that I knew…  I didn’t know when.  So it was a pleasant surprise Tuesday morning.  It’s also the part I can’t write about here yet.

In January of 2003, an atheist issued a challenge to me: “When [things go the way I predict] and you don’t get what you are praying for will you admit that your God doesn’t exist and prayer is a foolish waste of time?”

I replied, “Certainly.  But only on the condition that when [things go the way I predict], you’ll bow before my God and admit that He answers prayer.”

He accepted.

I’m currently holding my breath while waiting for that admission. Resuscitate me when it comes.

I don’t bring this up to boast about winning a bet.  I point it out to brag on my God.  He answers prayer and He does so every single time.  I had pastors tell me that I was nuts and should give up.  The more time that went by, the less I told “new” people in my life about what I was believing for.  ”It’s been HOW LONG?!?!”  ”Oh, Honey, you need to move on.”

Patience is hard.  It can also be lonely – almost everyone thinks you’re crazy.  I speak from experience.  But don’t you ever let anyone move you off your dream.  If you have a Word from God and even if you’re the only one that believes it, anything is possible. When you serve at the feet of Love.

You’ll never find anyone remembered as great in the Bible that took a poll or allowed themselves to be influenced by popular opinion and general consensus. What you find over and over and over are courageous people that refused to be moved, acted alone in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and we now consider them great because of their faith. (Recommended reading starts in Hebrews 11 and the part about Abraham in Romans 4 is a next step.) Whenever you find yourself in agreement with the majority in any situation, it’s time to re-examine your premises.

“Never” rarely lives up to its hype. It’s not over ’til it’s written in stone. On a grave.

I’m not even completely convinced that it’s always over then.

I’m currently fighting yet another legal battle. This time it’s in two states, a thousand miles apart, to get my children back from a kidnapper.  I offered visitation to which my children’s mother was not entitled and then gave her gas money to get home because she “didn’t budget for the horrible gas mileage” she got on her trip to get them.  (I’ve had custody for nearly four years and she’s never paid a dime in child support, by the way.)

My reward was that I was served with papers 8 hours before I was to leave to drive 1000 miles to get my children.  The papers informed me that I no longer had custody of my daughters.  A Georgia judge that has never met me, my children or their mother gave her the benefit of the doubt when her newest attorney alleged a whole slew of things she has tried – and failed twice – to convince a Texas court that I’m doing… or not doing.  She has no evidence and thus presented no evidence.

What she’s done is a violation of Federal law – forum shopping across state lines.  She could do time for it.  I pray that doesn’t happen.  I wish her well, to say the least.

But, it’s not just me.  I have a friend that has been attacked over the legal custody of his daughter.  In his case, he was never married to her mother and she surrendered custody – in writing – in the hospital at the child’s birth.  The child is now seven years old and her “mother” has never been anything but an occasional visitor in her life.  The child has been raised by her father who places her above every other priority in his life.

Yet another acquaintance – a single father in my church – has recently been accused of horrible things by his recently teenaged daughter.  The girl has been a rebellious child for the last year or so to the point of being violent towards him.  The child’s mother is a known prostitute and drug dealer. She lives with drug dealers.  With one call to Child Protective Services, she temporarily over-rode court orders and terminated his parental rights (temporarily).  When CPS started investigating, they discovered multiple warrants for arrest for the mother and others living in her house.  With the children.  There is also great natural evidence that the teenage daughter’s story is fabricated.

But he is still fighting to exonerate himself and get his children back.  He’s considered guilty until proven innocent.  Because it’s all for THE CHILDREN!

A caring friend recently asked me if she and the rest of The Body of Christ had been, and were, letting “you” down.  By “you” she meant single fathers.

I responded, “I don’t think so, but I’ve never thought about it in those terms.  I can tell you this:  Being a single father is a far, far more difficult experience than being a single mother.  I never whine about it and I’m only talking about it now because you asked me.  But the fact is that everyone respects and admires the struggle of a single mother.  Everyone feels sorry for her and has sympathy.  Single fathers are looked upon by most of our society as freaks at best and perverts at worst.  We’re always suspects and we’re always vulnerable to wild allegations from any source.”

I’m not interested here in pointing fingers or going on a rant.  But I want to say that the tables have been turned by feminism (defined properly here as:  anyone with a uterus shall be permitted anything her emotions or hormones dictate but shall never have responsibility for anything) and it’s not a good thing for THE CHILDREN!!!!!  I only appeal to that because it’s true and nobody gives a damn about men.

When I was growing up in the 70′s it seemed that most divorces were because selfish men left their families. That was probably true – then – and certainly awful.  But now feminism has turned the tables completely.

Women have become selfish.  (I think they call it “empowered.”)  ”No fault” divorces are now initiated by women more often than men, by a large margin.  (There’s no such thing as a “no-fault divorce.”  If you’re initiating it without a reason, YOU are at fault.)  Both the society and the courts generally justify the childishness of these women while at the same time both of the former are still stuck in the prejudice of the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s.  As a result, we have an entire generation of men that are doing their best to raise children alone.  Yet they are viewed as undeserving victors when they get custody and then they are under constant scrutiny, always vulnerable to as little as a phone call or a court filing to upset their lives and the lives of the children for which they are working so hard to provide stability.

I’m not optimistic that government will ever fix this.  It’s never done anything else worth while.  So maybe my friend was on to something.

Maybe The Body of Christ needs to be more aware and attentive to this.

There’s definitely a need.

Outer space has a smell! Not only that but it’s “a rather pleasant sweet metallic sensation.” (I didn’t read the article or even check where the link went – that would violate The Slashdot Way – but I’ll bet you an authentic Lincoln Three Dollar Bill that the article was written by a Brit.)

(UPDATE: I was wrong. This particular idiot was born in Oregon. He must have picked up the brain-rot in college. It’s common there. I suspect it’s even infectious judging by the way it spreads on every campus.)

Thank Holy St. Darwin of the Galapagos for Science! This is such a relief to me. For years I’ve feared that outer space had no scent and that the hippies might get there first. Too much of the earth already reeks of that wretched Patchouli.

I seem to recall that a few years ago some fellers went out there. Come to think of it, I believe a lot of people have been out there. Of course, now that I’m being forced to think about it, none of them would have known how nice “outer space” smelled because they were all wearin’ them durn space helmets so they could breathe and what not.

That’s an unfortunate complication.

I’m the one using the “blind faith” to understand the world, right?

Just doing a “sound” check, so to speak. I just want to make sure I still have my bearings after “science” has discovered that outer space smells pleasant. And metallic. (What does metal smell like again? Oh. Nevermind. I remember now. I just found it on a website selling candles, thankfully.)

As a parting thought I need to reveal to you that one does not equal one. It’s just really, really close. A very highly educated mathematician I know told me that he once proved that. So it must be true.

I started to reply in comments and realized this was a follow-up post. I’m sorry, Eaglewood. I truly do love you like a brother and I’m not picking on you. Just the opposite. You challenge me and give me an opportunity to address the issues that I started this blog to deal with. I know I’ve done this to you before, but it’s not personal and I’m not attacking you. You simply give me great opportunities to make my point.

I’m grateful for that. Seriously. I truly say that in love.

Eaglewood said:

Cowboy,

I am glad to see you posting again. I know we have had our differences in the past and we will probably have some here as well, but I want to agree with you first. Kirk and friends are doing things the wrong way. Scaring people does nothing but scare them away. I will even agree with you and the third commandment. But where we part company here is on whether or not the ten commandments are now two. I know what you are referencing here and it comes from the Pharisees attempting to trip up Yeshua in asking him what the greatest commandment was. He summed up the ten commandments into two. He did not say that they replaced the ten or that what he said negated them in any was as part of the Law. Yeshua himself said that He came to fulfil the Law not to destroy it. Also by saying the ten are now the two you are in danger of making the claim that He has changed when he has specifically said he is the same past, present, or future.

We are all guilty of trying to put Him into a box that fits our comfort level. I know we have discussed this before and I know where you stand but others may not. There is a great danger when we simply approach Him from one angle and only discuss one aspect of Him. Love is only one aspect, He is Holy, Righteous, and The Great I AM. He has more facets then we as mere mortals could even begin to comprehend. You know there have been times that I needed Him to be Daddy, but I have never forgotten that he is the all-powerful creator of the universe and is more than worthy of my total worshipful adoration.

I get all that. I don’t think we differ all that much on theology. Where we differ (and where I have a problem with Ray and Kirk) is on focus.

We have been sent to seek the lost. Our Father, and His first begotten son (not only) have never done it by pointing out to people that they’re sinners and need a savior. They do it by simply being available when the sinner realizes that.

The law is flawed and never was intended to be anything more than a way to show us our need for a savior. But you can’t start there with the unsaved.

“It is the goodness of the Lord that brings a man to repentance.”

How many times do I have to quote that before people start believing The Bible and paying attention to what Jesus said? (Yes, I know Jesus didn’t literally say those words. That was written by Paul in Romans 2 and I’ve paraphrased it, too. I suggest you read it in context before you get back to me.)

They will know us by our love. Religion is a gigantic distraction from our Father’s love and the only thing our enemy has ever done well. Ray and Kirk are just two of many that missed the point and gotten caught in the trap. Some times you talk like one, too. That’s not an insult. I grew up in it. I understand.

It’s a lie.

He cares not a whit about rules. He really honestly doesn’t. Living a life with Him is never, ever about the house rules. He doesn’t care about that. He cares about people. That’s it. He’s about nothing but Love, people and connecting the two. All that stuff you say about His Holiness and Righteousness and all that – it’s all true because it’s describing who He IS. It doesn’t describe how He ACTS. First Corinthians 13 and First John 4 do that. (Pair those up and try to reconcile it with what religion has taught you. If you’re not convinced when you’re done with that, call me; I have more ammo.)

He’s not asking you to obey anything! He just doesn’t. Ever. Do. That. That’s religion that does that. He just wants you to get to know Him and spend some time with Him now and then. Everything else will grow out of that relationship. You can’t start at the end. That’s what religion does. You can’t keep any commandments without Him. With Him, you want to and He’ll teach you how.

You said:

Love is only one aspect, He is Holy, Righteous, and The Great I AM. He has more facets then we as mere mortals could even begin to comprehend. You know there have been times that I needed Him to be Daddy, but I have never forgotten that he is the all-powerful creator of the universe and is more than worthy of my total worshipful adoration.

You missed it in the first five words there. You cannot possibly say that “love is only one aspect” when He said that He IS Love! Can I make that little word anymore powerful in any way in this medium? How big, how bold do I need to make it before you give up your religion and realize that He’s not enforcing rules? He doesn’t need you to keep apologizing for His alleged contradictions. He simply needs for you to represent Him accurately to the lost.

I couldn’t help but think when I read what you wrote there, “You haven’t begun to touch worship because you’re still playing with the religious ideas that were designed to keep you from actually knowing Him.”

He doesn’t demand or require worship! He recommends it because it’s good for us and He IS Love. I don’t worship Him because He requires it. I worship Him because He’s worthy. When I got to know Him, it was a natural response. Do you see the difference?

Lemme put it another way – I thought I was worshiping Him for years because I grew up in church, I was “saved” when I was six years old and preaching at eight. It’s what I was taught. Much later in my life, I actually got to know Him on a personal level. When that happened, everything changed. I don’t worship Him because I feel like I have to or because He demands it. I worship Him because knowing Him inspires it. It’s the only natural response to His Love.

Getting back to the point: Knock it off with the religion and the rules. That’s not what He’s about. He just Loves you. He just Loves “them.” He is love and He’s patiently waiting for you to get past your religious contamination so that you can get to know Him.

While you’re arguing over the rules of your doctrine and having “theological” debates over scripture with people like me, people are going to Hell because they don’t know what He’s really like. They’ve been sold a lie about Him. I would reject the God most churches teach, too. That god is unreasonable, irrational, obnoxious and demanding.

Fortunately, that’s not who He is. He’s peace. He’s love. He’s joy. He’s my Daddy. And He’s looking to grow the family. Everyone is welcome.

UPDATE: Upon re-reading this, I realized that I was unfair to eaglewood. It was merely sloppiness but that doesn’t excuse it. Much of what I said was not directed at him personally but at the religious ideas he raised and I was addressing.

Brace yourself for a minute or thirty. I’m about to rant.

Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort have a weekly program. You know Kirk. He was Mike Seaver!

Those two just need to back it down and knock it off until they figure it out. It’s unfortunate.

So here’s an open letter to Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort:

Bring that stupidity at me and I’ll patiently tell you where you’re wrong. Yes, I know about First Corinthians 13. I love you. Right motivations don’t make right tactics.

You’re doing it wrong. Please stop. You’re making atheists as fast as you’re making Christians.

You’re interviewing people on the street and leading them into admitting that they’ve broken some of “The Big Fancy Ten Commandments.”

The ten are dead. There’s only two now. I’ve watched you explain where I’m wrong there and I’m not convinced. YOU are wrong. Pathetically so. You’re not arguing with me on that one, you’re arguing with Jesus.

Please stop beating people over the head with The Law. Read the book of Galatians a couple of more times before you quote Paul to try to tell me that EVEN Paul respected the law. (You should start at the beginning and make sure you get to Chapter 3, verse 1 where he said, “O, foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?”)

Your intentions are good and pure. I have no problem believing that. But you’re leading people to believe that the Daddy I know personally is willing to send them to eternal punishment in an eternal Hell over a misunderstanding.

I understand that your religion teaches that, but you obviously don’t know Him. You’re also probably going to be quite surprised just about every day for the first couple thousand years when you get home. There’s a lot of people there you’re not expecting to see.

That’s not what He’s like at all.

Getting to the point: His name is not “God” so you don’t have to spell that word out when you ask someone a leading question about whether they have ever “taken” His Name “in vain.”

That’s what YOU are doing. It’s also what you’re doing wrong. He’s not a judge that decides. He’s not a tyrant that demands obedience. He’s not a narcissist that requires you to kiss His ass.

He’s a loving Father. He invented both of those concepts (loving and Father). Speaking of which, have you ever called any man “Father?” I ask because Jesus said (check it – these words are red in your Bible), “Call no man Father.”

Do you consider that breaking a commandment?

Have I ever taken His name in vain? Nope. Not one single time. I’ve said, “My God” many times. In the old days I even used to say “goddamn.” I don’t anymore but even that’s not taking His Name in vain. His Name is not “God.” (I’ve stopped saying “goddamn” because now I’m much more careful about using the word, “damn.”)

Let’s analyze the phrase. What does “in vain,” mean? The word “vain” means:

1) Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless
2) Lacking substance or worth

How would you go about taking His Name in vain? I would suggest that you check those definitions when considering what it is you do. I think both definitions have application to what you’re doing if you actually believe that His Name is “God.”

It might also be interesting for you to note that He said that to Moses. It just so happens that at that time, Moses was also the only human that had ever lived that actually knew His Name. Re-reading the story of Moses’ life makes it clear that there’s certainly life giving power in That Name.

It’s unlikely that you know His Name. I’m not boasting. I couldn’t possibly boast about that. Many people know His Name. I’m not special. I rarely utter it and when I do I get chills. There’s power in That Name. It’s even more humbling when I realize that He’s my Daddy and He loves me with The Love that invented Love.

And He gave me His Name. I’m a blessed man just to know Him even if I was going to Hell. With Him, all the rest is gravy. The gravy is good. He adopted me and treats me like an only child. He is Love and Perfection and Peace and …. My Daddy.

Until you figure out His Name, I would suggest that you resort to the description He used for Himself in First John: He is Love.

Please stop trying to threaten and scare people into serving Him. I appreciate and understand your zeal, but it’s damaging. I spend much of my time in ministry apologizing for people like you.

You’re misrepresenting him.

He’s not a terrorist. He’s Love.

Signed,

Another Undeserving Child of the King

I need to add a footnote because I know I have some very valuable friends that disagree with me on some of this. I respect you because I know you’re showing respect to Him. I’ll never have a problem with that. But when Ray Comfort is ambushing people on the street and asking them, “Have you ever said, “My gee-o-dee,” and then using that to convince them that it means they’ve broken a commandment so thus they need a savior, he’s not only not representing the God I serve, he’s giving me headaches.

Also, His Name is not a secret but it has been hidden. If you don’t know Hebrew, you don’t His Name. If you do know Hebrew, you still might not. It’s worth finding out. If you don’t understand why it matters, read the end of Psalm 91 again.