Not beautiful enough, dear Alamo-Girl!!! For I am now about to define "nabal" for Ich and ALL:
nabal (naw-bawl'): There are several Hebrew words in the Old Testament that are commonly translated "fool". Each of the words reflects a different "degree" of foolishness. Probably the harshest degree of "fool" in the Hebrew is "nabal." Nabal carries with it the implication of wicked impiety, stupidity, vileness...and an utterly disgraceful ( low, fallen and withered) condition.
As in:
The fool [nabal] says in his heart,
'There is no God.'
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good." (Psalm 14: 1)
And again:
"The LORD looks down from heaven
on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
"All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one." (Psalm 14:2)
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The nabal is a fool because he turns away from Life, and into himself. He turns away from Truth, preferring to construct his own, according to his own (diminished) lights.
* * * * * * *
On a related subject:
Five hundred years ago science revolted against theological dogma as the source of all knowledge. Today it is science that is trying to assume the mantle of the sole arbiter of truth...They have become so dogmatic that anyone who questions this belief is considered a heretic who should be ridiculed into silence. -- Ben Wiker
Darwinism has become our culture's official creation myth, protected by a priesthood as dogmatic as any religious criteria. -- Nancy Pearcey
There is no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. --Michael Crichton
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On a more light-hearted note, here’s an excerpt from "The Hound of Heaven," a poem by Francis Thompson, that describes the nabal’s view of a certain scientific theory:
Fundamentalists of Darwin,
Can't accommodate dissent.
Heretics are dealt with harshly...
It's their Holy Sacrament.
Macro-Evolution's Dogma,
The "Idol Truth" toward which they're bowed....
Four Commandments: "Sit!"..."Roll over!"
....."SILENCE!" ...
"NO DEBATE ALLOWED!"
It's always wisest to remember,
The "Massah's" Canon Etched in Stone.
Darwin's Dogma's quite inerrant.
So, leave well-enough alone!
You shouldn't stray from his Plantation...
'Cause if you do....
They'll hunt you down! Like a "Lucy-Bone", ...they'll findya!
Then "Deep Six" you in the ground.
They'll be calling out the bloodhounds!
Their Dogma's good...
They've got your scent.
You can run, but you can't hide, boy...
'Cause their Design's Intelligent!
* * * * * * *
If insult is the coin of the day, it seems to me that two can play. :^)
* * * * * * *
I suppose I should have just turned the other cheek. On the other hand, if insult is de rigeur in Ich's debate style, maybe he should try what it's like to be on the receiving end of it for a change.
Forgive me, I am angry today. A saintly Pope is just barely interred, and the jackels are already out in full cry.... I'm taking it out on folks around here, I guess....
Please pray for me, dear sister, that God will forgive me, as I, a sinner, ever pray. I know my life rests in God. I hope He will forgive this self-indulgence....
The debate happened in science. It was allowed. It was decided by the evidence that has come in since 1859. There's no precise date, but was pretty much over in science by about a century ago.
The debate we have now is in forums like FR and school board meetings. It occurs between people who are willing to lie about what science has found and people who know better.
--Henry Cole, Dean of St. Paul's, 1559.
It's not my place to pass judgment, so I won't; but turning the other cheek is what I've come to expect of you. We all have our bad days. Mull it over a little more.
The teacher addresses the daydreaming fool who knows not why the class laughs.
Currently atheists are turning on their TV and looking here on FR and seeing; moral issues, a multitude of people paying their respect to a religious man, and a religious USA - President – and forum. Yet, they have found their sanctuary in a thread dealing with knowledge? Why?
When they ridicule those who have faith in a higher authority – they mock their own purely naturalistic science where they place their own faith based belief system. Humans need bonding and reassurance and this can come from many churches such as the church of; “Thunderous applause”, “It is after all the only rational scientific answer”, “It's the best materialistic explanation we have, therefore it's got to be true”, “If you don't accept the obvious truth of Darwinism you are anti-science and a menace to society”, “life has no target and everything is a transitional species”, or the church of “get back to me when you have truly understood science without your dogma”.
I do empathize with the pain you are feeling about Pope John Paul II and of course, I pray for you – always!!!
The anti-values left-wing cabal will no doubt try to influence the cardinals to elect a pope who will set aside Scripture in favor of their social preferences – but of a truth, John Paul II personally appointed most of the cardinals. This adds to our hope in prayer that they will not be led astray by the allure of the rich European and American left wingers and will instead stick with the Gospel no matter how “inconvenient” it might be. Truly, every church or organization which has stayed with the Gospel has grown while those who have accommodated political correctness, such as for homosexual bishops, have diminished. Under John Paul II's strict adherence to the commandments, the Catholic church has grown and spread particularly in Africa, Asia and South America!
But either way, whether the new Pope is of same cloth as John Paul II – or whether he is a horror – we can be sure that God attends and it will all unfold according to His will.
betty boop, when you used the term ”nabal”, the entire passage of I Samuel 25 came to mind. There, the name itself brings many concepts to bear. Nabal, who was a rich and powerful man, received David’s protection but wouldn’t so much as entertain the words of David’s servants who were seeking some wool or meat at David’s request. Among the lessons of the passage is that we ought to never seek vengeance against one with whom we cannot have a dialogue, but leave that up to God (Nabal was killed by God for this slight to David). For another, it is good to intercede both for the ones with whom we cannot converse and for the one who would seek vengeance for the slight. In the Scripture, Abigail (Nabal’s wife become widow) interceded and was blessed by becoming David’s wife.
So, following I Samuel 25 there is a blessing to be had in not taking offense at someone who refuses to communicate and another blessing for interceding in their behalf! I join with you in your prayers for anyone on the forum who is being a nabal and stand with you so that we can gain strength from one another to resist the urge to strike back.
Thank you, PatrickHenry, for your summary recap at post 467. By your analysis it would appear I have inadvertently escalated a dialogue by making a response at all.
It was my intention only to say what must be said. And in this case what must be said is that those who rely only on their own minds to grasp an image of reality will be limited in their pursuit by the boundaries of their mind. And many people are quite satisfied with that.
I am not. Those of us who are indwelled by the Spirit have the mind of Christ – we can indeed go “beyond” the boundaries of our own minds. It is quite wonderful, illuminating, peaceful and of course, I want to share that Good News!
Concerning the angst, please understand that betty boop and I are sisters in the truest sense – we share the same mind, are on the same wavelength. For instance, it is easy for me to completely disregard offenses to my person but I cannot and will not stand idly by when anyone is attacking betty boop. Evidently, she feels the same way about me.
One final point, for Right Wing Professor and any others who are concerned that the Republican party’s attention to value issues will diminish our hold on government: (a) it doesn’t matter anyway, God is on our side and He trumps all goverments, (b) there are more believers in the U.S. than not – for every atheist who leaves in a huff, several Christians are apt to join in, (c) it is more important to be right than powerful and (d) the general election of 2004 was won by Republicans because of the party’s stand "for" values.
Don't forget Nabal's wife got to marry King David.
I enjoyed your rant and also these little nuggets that I see on the board from time to time
Now another one
Laban's two daughters married Jacob and we all know what happened next, lol