Building blocks

One of the frustrating things about paths that attempt to bring us inner peace but fail is that they don't give us a proven method to change. We get so swept away by sin because of our failure to recognize the process Peter gives us in II Peter 1. The process is application of God's promises leads to faith leads to life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better, leads to self control, leads to patient endurance, leads to godliness, leads to love of Christians, leads to love for everyone.

To Ayden

Welcome, angel.
The Divine Screenwriter has given me a small part—
An extra—a reoccurring guest star at best.
We will on occasion appear in the same scene.
And I will outwardly note your increases in stature,
And you will inwardly note my increases in girth,
And you will call me when you’re doing a report on
Something I know about—penguins or poetry.

I could write to you of your potential,
But people will drive that into you enough.
You are more than potential.
I could write to you of those who have gone on before you,
But I don’t want to turn back.
I will not build dark shrines to the dead
While lovely little lights illuminate my dancing.

The Evolution of Parenting

if you dishonor us, we will stone you

if you dishonor us, we will disown you

if you disobey us, we will spank you

if you get punished at school, we will punish you at home

we want a better life for our children

we need to protect their self esteem

our children are our life

that’s not plagiarism (even if its cut and pasted)

we have to defend our children

these teachers are paid by us

bail bondsmen, do you take visa

kids will be kids

take a condom before you go out

kids are going to drink

what can we do

I Sing the Body Mediocre

Is it ok to not want world peace?
To recognize that the compromise required would
Cheapen ideals?
Is it all right to want to hold on to
What makes me Black
And her White
Even while we fight
And not want the gray water
After the brushes are washed?

Maybe it's wrong to mulch and guard
The roots of my belief
And care about the origins of my thoughts.
Maybe I can't cram an African foot
Into a Made in America shoe.
Maybe I should be
Colorless, odorless, tasteless
Carbon monoxide
Slowly, silently killing character in the garage.

Or maybe, John,
I don't want to Imagine a world of harmony.
Maybe I want to be free
To hate
If hating defines my love.

Mental Health

If we believe in worldview psychology to its fullest extent, then we have to believe that true mental health comes only with a perfectly rational worldview. Since we are Christians, we must believe that the only rational worldview is the one supplied to us as believers. That means that the only people who can come close to mental health are Christians. Muslims, Jews (of the Jewish faith), agnostics cannot have true mental health, no matter how sane they may try to appear.