It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.
- Roy Disney
Only when your values are skewed in favor of your flesh do you make incorrect decisions! You will never be wrong when your heart is in the right place and you are guided by holy values! Do your best to base your decisions on Godly principles.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
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16 comments:
Just found this on a blog I read.
“History is the fiction we invent to persuade ourselves that events are knowable and that life has order and direction. That’s why events are always reinterpreted when values change. We need new versions of history to allow for our current prejudices.” –Calvin and Hobbes
The two quotes kind of cancel each other out. One by a cartoon company executive, the other by a cartoon character.
Is "value" just a synonym for "prejudice"? Something to think about.
Great post. This verse popped in my head;
Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Great post Helen and it made me think. I do, however, feel that value and prejudices are very separate entities. I am very vocal for freedom of speech. I may not agree with what one says but I will defend their right to say it. I am also, like yourself, not a prejudice individual. I do feel though that we all have our bias'. You showed me yours with the Malkin incident. Bias' are not necessarily a bad thing. The druggie on the street values his drugs but that doesn't mean that he is prejudice. Unless you are not referring to racism. Then perhaps everyone, including you and I, has some form of prejudice.
Going back to the Calvin and Hobbes quote though. History is not fiction and it is knowable even though life may not have order or direction (without God). Things are always being reinterpreted but that is not because our values have changed but because people are looking at things from different perspectives. You and Shirley Buxton are on completely opposing sides of the war, but that doesn't change the history of the war. So I think the author of Calvin and Hobbes may have missed it on this one.
I always love chatting with you-you really stimulate my brain. I am so glad that we are blogging friends. I can agree to disagree without it getting ugly.
Good thought. His values are the ultimate guide across all generations.
Hey Gene thanks for stopping by. Great to hear from you. I love staying up with what is happening in your church. Yes, His values are always right!
I value - you. Maybe that is somewhat prejudice, too. XO
Babe -- without you I have no value!
Brian, you are one of the few people who seems to know that racism is more than a mere prejudice. I really got blasted on another blog when I said all white people are either racist or recovering racist (making the parallel to alcoholics). . The idea isn't original with me. But our society is racist, though improving, which doesn't mean certain individuals can't reject racism altogether. It just means we hear so much of it, that we'll lapse into it at some point, if we don't keep it constantly before the Lord.
Human beings are an ignorant bunch. I was opposed to this war before it began (both this specific war and war as a way to settle human differences). But you'd have thought I renounced my faith by the way folks responded. But rather, it is because of my faith that I embrace pacifism. There are, historically, three ways that Christians have viewed war: One is Augustine's "just war theory," another is pacifism. Oddly, many who would never set foot in a Catholic church quote Augustine like he was God's right hand man on this one. LOL
I can’t for the life of me understand how people who claim to value “human life” fight to destroy choice with respect to abortion and euthanasia but uphold the death penalty and war. I know. I know. The commandment that says, “Thou shalt not kill,” means “thou shalt not murder.” Okay. Then how many other things have preachers been lying about? And why get all up in arms to post the one we don’t mean in every courthouse in America? Ah, but it’s “innocent” life. Then explain original sin! I’d better value the life of the murderer on death row because I have the same propensity to kill as he did. Oh, but you’re “soft on crime.” Bologna. Life in prison ought to mean life in prison. But the cost to the taxpayers. Ah, so you were thinking of yourself all the time. Sinners we are. And an ignorant bunch at that.
So “It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are” just isn’t true. It’s hard to make decisions because they not only affect us but generations to come. What we can do is “[our] best to base [our] decisions on Godly principles.” But even that will not stop Godly people from coming to opposite conclusions at times. For example, Shirley and I on the war. Sometimes, within the limits of human understanding, we do our best and miss the mark. The goal (at least my goal) is to stand before God, having done my best, and hear, “well done, thou good and faithful servant,” not “guess you were right about that one!”
Brian - I was too tired to really let my mind think about this post, but I have enjoyed reading yours and Helen's comments.
To Helen - your comment on life in prison, death penalty, and taxes - this immediately brought to my mind the scripture that says, "...the love of money is the root of all evil." No wonder we are referred to as "sheep" because it is the most ignorant animal.
You're right about us standing before God, Helen. I think most of us are striving to hear Him say "Well Done." Yes, even christians miss the mark, but wasn't it the Apostle Paul who said, "...I PRESS (emphasis mine) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." I just think about this post in this light (it didn't say the decision would be the right one) - when one has a true value (maybe even a conviction), it is not hard to make a decision. It may not always be the correct decision, but when one has a value it is not hard to make the decision.
Jana - I really enjoy blogging with Helen. She really stimulates my brain and causes me to think. I love your comments as well! MUAH!
Yes, Brian those decisions are easy, but we must relaize that our prjudices affect those decisions. See coments at http://helenl.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/the-truth-about-the-recent-news/ I value my son's life more than I honor the president or even my citizenship in this nation. I respect the office of pesident, but think the man presently in it is unworthy.
Helen - I, too, value your son's life more than anything. However, to say a man is unworthy of an office is a bit harsh, don't you think? After all, your son, or any other person who joined the military, is aware of the circumstances involved when they were sworn in. I am not going to say what side of the war that I am on, or whether it is good or evil. The President of the United States was simply exercising his right to engage our troops. It may or may not be right but it is his prerogative according to the Constitution. Since those joining the military were not drafted, I can only safely assume that they valued their country and were willing to defend it with their lives. Whether this fight was about defending America, I do not know, but to say that a man is unworthy to be in an office because of something we don't believe in is prejudicial.
Helen - After Bill Clinton's sexcapades - did anyone say that he was unworthy of that office? They left him in didn't they? Just something to ponder.
Brian, Clinton was impeached. And cliche "when Clinton lied, nobody died" is true.
Helen--you're so right about the cliche, but, in my opinion, he disgraced the office of President of the United States. How much more "unworthy" can one be?
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