For the last several months I have been commenting at several different websites on various topics; mostly religious themes; Creation vs. Evolution, Abortion, Same Sex Marriage; that sort of thing. I comment from the perspective of a life-long Christian raised in the Baptist church, mainstream Protestant. Some of the people I engage in a lively […]
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Ichabod
Ichabod
It’s one of those odd, old names from the Bible. The only place I think I have ever seen it used is in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The awkward, unlucky school teacher newly arrived in Sleepy Hollow is named Ichabod Crane.
Outside of Irving’s story, I’ve never met or heard of anyone named Ichabod.
It’s as unlikely a name to hear as Judas.
The story, and the reason for the name, is found in The Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel; chap 4;
The Philistines had attacked Israel and the two foolish sons of the High Priest, Eli, thought that by carrying the Ark of the Covenant into battle they could force Gods hand. He would not risk the Ark falling into the hands of the heathen Philistines, the reasoning went. God would not allow Israel to lose.
They were wrong.
The Ark was captured and the two sons of Eli killed by the Philistines. When he heard of it, Eli fell backwards and died.
The news reached the wife of one of the sons and she went into labour and delivered a boy .
She named him Ichabod; “For the Glory of God has departed from Israel.”
A lot of people believe that’s where We are, The United States.
The Glory of God has departed from us.
If that’s so, the solution to our troubles won’t be found in the assembly lines at Lockheed or Boeing.
It isn’t being built on the slipways at General Dynamics.
It isn’t being trained at Camp Pendleton or Fort Benning.
No piece of legislature will solve it.
No Executive Order will cure it.
No politician ever born, no representative, senator, or president can end this trouble.
The Glory of God has departed from us.
How do we persuade it to return?
Reflections on Beatrice Arthurs Bosom
In the news lately was the tempest-in-a-teapot over a twenty year old painting of actress Bea Arthur topless, when she was in her sixties.
Of all the ills our era suffers from, we have been spared the horrors of a shortage of images of womens breasts . Civic minded ‘artists’, relentless photographers, and desperate editors, strive tirelessly to insure that no one can travel from stoop to curb without being smacked in the face with the newest proof that Ms._______ does indeed have a BOSOM, as do three and a half Billion of her sisters on this sad, old Earth. Having seen countless thousands of these proofs over my lifetime, I can state authoritively that they look remarkably similar to each other.
In the early sixties, there was a movie, the title escapes me, about a man married to the worlds foremost Bikini model. He never saw her fully clothed; she was either in a bikini for a photo shoot or lounging around the house nude or nearly so.
He was the envy of every man.
He spent his time daydreaming of her dressed in long flowing gowns, or bright sun dresses, once I think dressed as a Nun.
It is the ancient curse of Man that he yearns for what he does not have, and tires of what he does.
There is an odd passage in the Bible, Proverbs I think;
“Be content with the breasts of the wife of your youth.”
To the great relief of artists, photographers and desperate editors, people don’t read the Bible much anymore.
Things to Do
Jan 6
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of writing, but it’s mostly comments to others articles on other blogs. This is my response to a list of “Things to learn to do.” on ‘The Huffington Post’, I go there mostly to rattle the cages which I suppose isn’t very admirable but its infinitely amusing. The ‘Posts’ list included […]
Changing the World
Jul 18
If you were brought up in the Baptist Church, you were probably taught that one of the most important duties of a Christian was to Witness to your fellow-man; to share the ‘Hope that is in your heart’. There are basically two ways to accomplish this sacred duty. One way is highly effective, very difficult, […]
Three Marys
Apr 9
Three Marys by W A Adams Three Marys on the road going to a tomb One old one younger one in bloom Hurrying thru a world changing as they sped The dark of the first new day ‘The sun is coming’ the oldest said She carried frankincense to anoint the dead The shadows grew lighter on […]
The Shape of Illusion
Apr 6
This gallery contains 1 photo.
The Shape of Illusion by William E Barrett This is a novel about a 17th century painting, in a Manhattan art gallery with a strange and unsettling quality. The theme of the painting is an unusual one, a subject not painted very often. The ancient canvas depicts Christ leaving Pilots Judgement seat, having been condemned. […]
Evolution: The Work That Doesn’t
Mar 3
A man stands on a stage. In his two cupped hands are two hundred U.S. dimes. The dimes are numbered 1 thru 200. Behind him on the stage are two hundred randomly scattered empty wine bottles. The bottles are numbered 1 – 200. A dime will just fit into the opening of the bottle. At the signal the […]
Atheism: The Belief That Isn’t
Feb 22
I do not believe in atheists. I have never met one. A lot of people have passed my way who said they were atheists, but a little time invested in listening to them has always revealed that they are mad at God. Not mad at the concept of God, or the belief in God, but […]
“The Load of Their Loveless Pity”
Nov 2
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again Proverbs 19:17 “And the load of their loveless pity is worse than the ancient wrong” G.K. Chesterton —————————————————————- The word “poor” occurs one hundred and ninety-nine times in the King James […]
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