“I have all my family, including all my in-laws on Facebook because I want to stay close to everyone while I'm far away. Please remember, when you're posting dozens of political articles on Facebook, that every member on Kayla's side of the family sees it, and we live in a world of many different opinions. It's very uncomfortable for me. The lack of moderation. I mentioned it before, you know as well as I, the old saying about keeping religion and politics on the hush around coworkers and extended family. Well it means even less nowadays, but the point still has merit. Please keep helping me maintain a courteous atmosphere. I like to see us all joke and stay fun, not getting edgy with clashing opinions flooding the news feed every day.”
You know, I’m reminded of the picture of the ostrich sticking his head in the sand. Come to find out that old adage is not true at all. According to Dr. Karl from the ABC Science website (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/11/02/1777947.htm)
The ostrich is, now found only in parts of Africa, is the largest known bird. It stands up to 2.4 metres high and 155 kg in weight. Ostrich farmers are attracted to the durable ostrich leather, lovely saleable feathers, lean meat and extremely high feed-to-weight-gain ratio (3.5 to 1, much better than cattle at 6 to 1). If scared, the ostrich can run at up to 65 kph. Its kick is powerful enough to bend 10 mm steel rods into right angles, and can easily break a human leg. The ostrich uses its wings for balance (when running) and for courtship and display, when it’s not batting its thick black eyelashes.
Ostriches have three main strategies when attacked. They can run away, they can kick, or they can try to hide (eg, when nursing the eggs). When hiding, they will sometimes lay flat on the ground, with the long neck and head also on the ground. In the rippling heat haze of their native Africa, they can look just like a grassy mound.
There is one interesting ostrich behaviour that comes close to burying their head in the sand. When ostriches feed, they sometimes lay their head flat on the ground to swallow sand and pebbles. The hard grit helps them to grind their food in their crop. From a distance, the ostrich looks like it’s burying its head in the sand.
Hence, the myth about an ostrich sticking his head in the sand is just that, a myth. And just an ostrich doesn’t stick his head in the sand when danger approaches, neither should we. You don’t want me to post articles that have political or religious content because you’re afraid of what relatives and family members will see and think. You’re afraid that they will probably be offended, and that politics and religion are two subjects that are best not broached. They are live hand grenades waiting to go off. Am I too far from the truth?
Yet, both topics are of the utmost importance in this day and age. Religion has become a joke, and politics has become an even bigger joke because of the unbridled corruption now taking place on Capitol Hill. It’s bad enough that the current president has lied in every way imaginable and is the worst president ever to step foot in the White House (see article entitled “The Worst President Ever”, http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/55287) but the leaders within the “so-called” Christian community who are supposed to be warning us about the impending doom of the nation are totally silent, with the exception of just a few (Brannon Howse, John MacArthur, Usama Dakdok just to name a few). This is in direct opposition to Biblical teachings as found in Ezekiel 33, and is embodied in the Sadducees and Pharisees talked about in Jesus’ discourse found in Matthew 22:23 – 23:39. Jesus even went so far as to refer to those religious teachers in Matthew 23:33 in this way, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” The words “serpent” and “viper” literally mean poisonous snake, and even allude to their allegiance with Satan.
Matthew, no matter what, I am duty bound to tell the truth about the current social, political and religious environment of the USA. Your future, and the future of every person I know and love, are at stake. With politicians purposely putting over 11,000,000 people out of work because of socialist policies, with religious leaders purposely putting untold billions into hell because they sold out to a more pleasing, non-confrontational teaching, and to elementary, junior high, high school, and university teachers tearing down the proud Judeo/Christian standards upon which this nation was built, the people we know and love are at a crossroads, and so is the nation. Do we continue to be “non-confrontational” on social interaction websites because we want everyone to be all lovey dovey, or do we try and steer them in the right direction, back towards truth, honor, integrity and lovingkindness yet all the while not compromising truth? I opt for the latter.
Look at what my brother Chris just said in response to one of my posts! He’s reveling in the fact that Obama’s IRS is attacking conservative and Christian organizations while letting liberal organizations that believe in their agenda get off scot-free! He’s become what Lenin called a “useful idiot,” which is a “derogatory term for people perceived as propagandists for a cause whose goals they do not understand, and who are used cynically by the leaders of the cause.” (Hey, sometimes Wikipedia gets it right!)
I’m going to close with this scripture from Galatians 4:1-16, "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”
Ask yourself that question. Have I, your father who is very proud of you and Kayla, who loves you more than you could ever know, now become your enemy because I dare to speak the truth???
I have a simple rule for Facebook.
On my page I am king.
Politics is welcome, including dissenting opinion, including liberals, because the battle of logic with different opinions can be fun and educational,,,
BUT ,,,
If anyone, and I mean anyone including family, is disrespectful, calls names, or just pisses me off they are gone, and I mean defriended, and I don’t let anyone back once gone, but I suppose if they honestly apologized and proved to change their ways I might reconsider.
Logical non emotional factual argument can be a good thing even if you disagree, but most of the time that criteria favors the conservative.
Who needs these kinds of hassles?
No, no and no.
Facebook is one of the worst things created. We had two nasty run in with relatives over very simple little matters. One is just starting to talk to us again after several years. The other is beyond repair. Though my wife doesn’t talk to them, she is afraid to “Unfriend” them as it might further damage the relationship.
The way I feel, is if someone can’t even send me a “personal email” or pick up the phone for a chat now and then, how much are they really interested in “staying close” and personal? Are they so busy that you find yourself on line number 35 on their contact list?
Tell your son that you’ve created a new will and are leaving your money to the church. See how fast you’ll get that phone call.