Sheila's Dribs 'n Drabs

  A Christian asked what it  would take for me to give up my belief in evolution and accept the Biblical Truth that the earth was created 6000 years ago. Should I argue their definition of Biblical Truth? Should I offer the evidence from science refuting their 6000 year conclusion? Should I get into an argument with them? Or should I simply tell them the truth about me... To "give up" my acceptance of science and the scientific method, I would first have to give up my belief in a faithful creator, at which point I would no longer care about the Bible. Not going to happen.

A friend’s post says, “ If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test! ” It seemed kind of a sad test to me, filled with assumptions and misconceptions. But she challenged her friends with the header: NOT OPEN FOR DEBATE. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED EASILY THEN DON'T READ THIS . So this is me, not being offended, and hopefully also not giving offense. She starts with: If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one. If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed . If I’m aware of the dangers cause by careless use of guns, I: a) don’t buy one, and b) wish those who do buy them would all be well-trained, socially responsible, careful, and properly insured. So what does that make me? If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat. If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone. And if I’m concerned about the environment and the treatment of animals, I might buy and eat meat from w...

 So God created humankind, Male and female, said to them, “Be fruitful; multiply,”   “Care for the fish and birds,” he said, But can we swim, and can we fly? “Care for the animals as well,” Care for the land, the sea, the sky. Now we, failing at human-kind, How did we let things die?   But God will not reject us for Our failure and our brokenness. God created humankind And loves us while we cry.   And so God gave two arms and legs, One voice to speak, two ears to hear, For seeing, gave two eyes. But if I cannot speak or hear Or if I cannot see, still I Am part of humankind.   God gave us gifts of milk and wheat And wine. But some of us can’t eat Or drink these. Ask him why.   God made us so to multiply But some can not and some won’t try They too are humankind.   God made us male and female; some Don’t fit the mold, aren’t quite the same But all are humankind.   God made, and lo...

 You tell your sons, “Be good, be kind, And if they threaten you, don’t mind Or else they’ll find a cause to hurt or kill you.”   Tell your daughters, “Please take care, Don’t let them catch you unaware, Or bear forever that with which they fill you.”   Tell your fathers, “Don’t complain At life, the world will give no gain, Just strife to stain the path you tread unwilling.”   Tell the mothers, “Only weep For only time will tell where we Like sheep will now be herded for their ‘shilling.’”   Tell the proud and powerful, “Pay The price. Pretend no more to pray, But stay and see the broken lives fulfilling All your lies” – destroying love, Denying hope in God above, Defining law, a gunshot, done… …Unstill me.

 Teach not that it’s okay to be Other than we approve. Teach not that history may not be The story of our love. Teach not that questions are okay, For only we have truth. Teach not, for learning will betray Our self-made plan for youth. Teach not, teach not, and by this hand A gun is sold and used. Then beg the teacher “Teach,” before The gun be used on you. Pity we can't arm our teachers with words and the right to use them.

I hate those “I’m not selling anything” phone calls, where the speaker claims to really care what I think about important issues facing the city/state/country/community today, then proves how little they care by wanting yes or no answers to everything. I hate those calls especially when they ask if I’m pro-life. I make a simple request. “Please would you clarify the question. You are talking about being anti-death-penalty aren’t you?” Then they hang up. Such a shame. I’d love to tell them about all the other lives I’m pro as well, but I guess they just wanted yes or no. 

If life is sacred, save the child Whose mother cannot pay the price To bring a doctor’s care.   If life is sacred, save the child Whose mother in a darkened room Gives birth with none to share.   If life is sacred, save the child Who has no books, no hope, no smiles, No dreams, no joys to dare.   If life is sacred, save the youth— No place to go, no good to do— Then save the adult whose despair Has led to crime and trouble. Care  For all the wounded warriors who Need hope, respect, and mercy too. And save the sick, the unforgiven, Unemployed, the lost and hidden, Those on death row waiting—Save Their lives, or sacredness deny.   If life is sacred, why Are we not saving sacred lives?   https://www.jpost.com/opinion/columnists/is-abortion-in-christianity-a-mistranslation-of-bible https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-fetus-in-jewish-law/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2582082/ https://...

"Is it lawful to pay taxes, pray?" The Teacher didn't say. Instead he asked them, let him see the coin, so they and he could know to whom it should be given.   So now a judge is asked to say "Define a woman," doesn't say; wisely suggests they look instead at what is known and what perceived and learn what they believe.   What of the babies born who don't appear as boy or girl? What God left undefined, should man decide or wait until the child rescinds  the lonely "I don't know"?   What of the babies born so changed that science has no gender-name? Should faith or law decide for them or science, or just wait again; allow an "I don't know"?   And if the child's appearance might be "wrong" and if their DNA might give no answer, surely they, and others too, are "neither"; we’ve no right to choose or say. So ask the judge if that you will. It's not her ch...

It’s not because they look like me; It’s not because their world seems just Like mine. It’s not because I cry More for their child than those who died Before. These aren’t the things that frighten me, That drive me to the news each night, That make me read intensely of The progress and the cruel plight Of war. My fear is that the battle ground Encompass all, because the sound Of fury with the lethal might Of weapons flying day and night, Is more. It’s more than death of wife or child, Of soldier, town or village, for Before us stands the death of life Itself, at one misstep, destruction Sure. And so I cry.