Posted on 11/18/2017 3:59:32 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck
Dear FReepdom,
Well, I'm on the virtual road again, lookin' for a job suitable for a high tech redneck as I camp out in a cheap motel and drive a rented U-Haul pickup truck in Gainesville, Florida.
I've already put in for a couple of jobs that are telecommute. But I practically got shanghaied into submitting an application to a company called ASML in Wilton, Connecticut.
On paper, at least, I might be able to aggressively jump into this job, which pays $70/hr as contract.
Which money is sorely needed if I actually went there. Multi thousand dollar apartments. That's serious green.
But I did an overview of the situation that I'd face. I've been on a serious Christian spiritual thrust, and I mean like I'm channeling Jesus so strong sometimes that it's like I identify right down to the guts with His manly redneck side. And I have written more than one gospel song in first person prophetic mode (laden with His promises, addressed right to the listener).
And that's a problem now, I foresee. Because I can already envision what will happen when I go into one of those etiolated New England churches, or what's left of them. This ain't yesteryear's Puritans, who would understand. When those Puritans died, nothing replaced them. Only the shell of their legacy, which is painfully worldly now. I saw it happen in redneck Gainesville, how much more in New England? They serve out little spoonfuls of tincture of Jesus when I wanna haul out a bucket of stronger stuff and say HERE! And I'd get rebuffed at least, if not kicked out.
And wealth is leaving Connecticut (for what that's worth, but it probably augurs worse taxes or else a bad bust).
And then there's the Sandy Hook shooting. That was well chewed over on FR, but what strikes me is the way they reacted to it. There was such a hush-hush about the local details that some have proposed that the event was fabricated. I don't believe that myself. My hunch is that Sandy Hook was so ashamed -- not grieved, as in the church shooting in Texas, but ashamed -- that they sanitized it. Which is why not even obituaries, something that a more Christian, country-minded folk would not have omitted. And shame is the obverse of pride. I wouldn't get along with those folks as the robust "humble redneck" at all! It would be stilted to an unreal degree.
That said, if I absolutely HAD to go to Connecticut, what on earth could a Redneck do in that Yankee land? Beside pine away wishing he was down south again?
Danbury is a larger town pretty close by and may have more moderate real estate. Can’t tell you about any neighborhoods there but there seem to be a wider variety of socio-economic levels around Danbury.
And I’ve also seen bible interpretation snobbery too.
I didn’t think I would see that from a mainstream NASB guy (and NASB is about as reasonable as you can get for modern English, which isn’t Shakespearean English but only related to it) but I did.
One telling point was the exclusion of both/and readings of bible passages that technically might have multiple meanings. In favor of either/or. Snobbery does that. A spirit driven reading can highlight the both/and as applicable and the quibbles are avoided.
Thanks... my survey admittedly was from Google Maps. But they don’t know everything. I possibly saw the creme de la creme.
“There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors.”
In CT the cars up on blocks are Land Rovers not Chevys! We arean’t all crazy. Lots of good gun clubs.
What? They still shoot in Connecticut? Ye Olde Yankee spirit is not yet dead?
Be still my Redneck heart.
And I think the old Yankees would understand Redneck pretty well. The sun might not shine so hot up there, but they knew the pursuits that gave the Rednecks their red necks.
I have a number of friends some folks in my church that are not KJV-only. We’ve managed to more than coexist up to this point. This is more a testimony of the grace of God than anything. I cannot compromise on the Bible issue, but God has seen fit to help us grow together as a church family regardless. From my perspective, I hope to teach through the Doctrine of the Bible next year in the Bible Institute we started this year.
As Peter said to another called out assembly:
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8
Oh for Gods sake! You really need to get out more pal. Do you REALLY think we’re all like that up here? What would you think if I asked you “Hey Johnny Reb, where’s your Stars And Bars Flag and how big is you cotton plantation and how many slaves have you got?’’. Grow up.
I would submit that it’s more a matter of what way the Lord has chosen to bless His word to you.
That doesn’t mean that it’s the best way to bless His word to your neighbor.
And anyhow, I do try to look beneath the surface, which the reader of any version ought to. A look at tradition shows, for example, that the Septuagint was the widely revered “King James” of its day, even to the point that its looser renditions of Old Testament got copied verbatim into segments of the New. Such a situation is a sign to me that it’s the meaning that counts, not “quarrels about words.” It was a useful view unto the Old Testament, not the most literal rendition a human might make. Same as what we can get from the Message version in places.
Read the KJV all your life to good spiritual health. But skip the snobbery, OK?
Let me tell you something. An average day in July or August here in southern NJ is around 93 degrees with the humidity around 70-80%, It gets f’ing HOT up here in the summer.
There are plenty of conservatives in Wilton, CT along with the super rich.
Check out the Wilton Ymca, it has a 50 meter pool with pristine water quality.
And anyhow... anyone who doubts that the original Hebrew of the Old Testament matters right down to the very letter, might try to explain the Bible codes away. Let alone what Jesus said.
And yet... and yet... the Septuagint with its more dynamic readings of that same very precisely given Old Testament was what often got copied into the New Testament text. So either we are brittle and go TILT here, or something more gracious is needed. Like you said, agape, or charity as the KJV puts it. Permit the Spirit to be able to breathe into it to carry just what He wants carried.
And anyhow, I could get quite on board with a “usefulism” teaching. Now that has the charity in it (as expanded in meaning to embrace the dimensions of agape, which isn’t just like tossing alms to a beggar, but a personal investment).
“Onlyism” — nope. That cuts against charity.
I disagree with that last statement and yet charity, “love in action,” can still be had. Do I hate my brethren for using a plethora of versions, all of which disagree? Of course not. My love for the scriptures and desire to know God’s words is what drives me to “onlyism.” When versions disagree, both cannot be true. And yet, I can still exercise charity toward my brethren.
Is KJV-onlyism divisive? Most of the time because it is an argument of authority. Do we have the authority to pick and choose what God said or has He said it and we are to follow it? Why would it be that Satan’s first action amongst mankind was to pervert God’s very words and his last to leave them alone? Of course he would do his best to muddy the waters.
All of that said to come full circle. According to scripture, we are defined by our love for the brethren. Even that which is correct can be used a weapon to wound someone. If we are people of the book, we will reflect grace and mercy and charity (love in action), even in the stuff we disagree about. There are some bridges too far, however, i.e. teaching a false gospel. Let them be accursed.
By the way, the KJVO position has taken its fair share of snobbery from the other side.
Stay out of the cities, get back in the rural areas, some good folk out there.
A commute that does not involve NYC areas isn't too bad.
And there are still lots of Christians there. Probably the majority will not have your fervor, but that will be true anywhere.
Obviously, God is opening the door for you. God is giving you a choice. If you choose to go . . . go in peace, harmony and love (agape). Want to change the world? . . . look inside yourself first! Change how you look and judge others. Yes there will always be evil in this world, why allow evil to stop you from growing, and developing as a person.
I speak from experience. Been there done that.
Bless you and many prayers
CT refugee now in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lived in Hartford Darien, New Canaan and West Redding. Fairfield County. Lowell Weicker turned the Nutmeg State into a welfare state in the 60s or 70s. Knew every County backroad. Refuge for NYC elites in full cooperation with the Genovese construction family business, where nothing gets done quickly..
Got everyone of my family out.. long ago. Good memories linger of Tokeneke, God’s Acre and the next station to Heaven
That's the first time I've seen that word in print since C.S. Lewis and That Hideous Strength
Best wishes, prayers up.
Easy to tell God, "Lead on", and difficult to actually follow sometime - ask Jonah...
Good luck - just said a little prayer for you.
New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont form a large contiguous area of firearm freedom, with open carry, no permits required for CCW, no registration and no limit on purchases, as well as having extremely low crime by national standards and a friendly, high trust and low time preference population.
Of course, those three states have something else in common....
If you are evangelically inclined, it’s a mission field, but you can find Bible-believing Christian brothers and sisters in every town and county in these three states, with some excellent Christian schools for the youngsters.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.