The road to charismania is paved with good intentions.

I take up the keyboard yet again.

I have missed you.

The subject matter may be...rarified...but it has been hamster-wheeling in my noddle, and I must get it out. The stupid wheel squeaks.

One of the most disingenuous arguments out there is this: "all Pentecostal / Charismatic / Spirit-filled churches are un-Biblical, because they misuse "speaking in tongues". "They all stand up and babble in gibberish at the same time, and no-one interprets!".
Apparently, so did the Corinthian believers.

And it's always "tongues". There are eight other tools in the charismata toolbox, but NO...we gotta pick on tongues. Granted it being the most, ngaaah, vocal of the gifts of the Spirit, it is the most readily abused, for "who can tame the tongue?", whether you are speaking English, or La-ma-salala.

Have you ever given a grandchild or nephew a set of magic tricks for beginners, and he then endlessly treats you to the same disappearing nickel or magic numbers trick? Yeah, that was the Corinthian church. They had a new toy, the likes of which they had never experienced, so they wanted to experience it againandagainandagain! And they jumped ahead in line. Didn't wait their turn.

In short, immaturity was rife.

This does not render the GIFT inferior, or bad, nor does it provide a doctrinal reason for saying "Well, THAT went away after the apostles died. HURRAY! Now we have a BOOK!". (Since I brought up the Book, I will add that there is ZERO Biblical evidence for spiritual gifts being the conduit through which the Bible came to be written, beyond out-of-context application of two individual verses from two different New Testament epistles, by two different authors, Paul and James.)

One issue is cognitive dissonance, on all sides of glossolalia. Paul APPARENTLY has two things in mind when he speaks of tongues. One (in 1 Corinthians 12) is the contextually inspired utterance in tongues, which should be coupled with the gift of interpretation from another speaker, which renders them analogous to the gift of prophecy, apparently, and unexplainedly (though Acts 2 may well give a clew). This exists for the edification and understanding of the congregation. The other is from 1 Corinthians 14, where Paul teaches that, failing the presence of the interpreter, one should pray in tongues to oneself (quietly) and to God. The first is a Happening in the church's worship, the second is apparently a readily available and usable mode of praying (I will pray in the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding -my native language- also. This appears to be a volitional thing for the believer.)

Excitability being what it is, people got it all backward, and then, as now, believers took to babbling uninterpreted, because GIFT! Paul does NOT CONDEMN THE GIFT, as many modern pulpiteers are wont to do. Paul CORRECTED the Corinthian misuses. Between chapters 12 and 14, The Holy Spirit sandwiches what became chapter 13, the "Love Chapter". The logical flow is this:
Ch. 12: These are the gifts of the Spirit. You are doing them wrong.
Ch. 13: This is agape, how to love one another.
Ch. 14: This is how to do the gifts in love.

Assuming that modern "Spirit-filled" practise is analogous to that in the New Testament church, human nature works its way, and the same errors and behavior repeat themselves. Could there be a reason for Paul's correction of the Corinthians to be included in the extant canon?

Mmmmmyeeahh, COULD be!

An Agglomeration of Angst

One man's licorice
is another man's cilantro.

----------------------

When a leg vein fails, and the shower looks like a scene
from the Grand Guignol.


THIS IS GRAPHIC AND IS ABOUT BLOOD. DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE THE QUEASY TYPE! I MUST WRITE THIS.
====================
Varicose vein did not like wash cloth scrubbing. Next thing I knew, the tub looked like a murder scene. Could not see where the blood was coming from, then I saw a fine spray from my lower shin. It was fascinating, until I thought "that's my blood, and it's going down the drain". I lost a measurable amount of it (I estimate between 1/2 cup to 1 cup), so I knotted my washcloth around my leg, dried off, and woke Lanie up to help me. She bandaged my leg, and I stayed still for an hour with leg elevated. Then I got a cane, got to my bed, and proceeded to sleep the rest of the day.

Have stayed still most of the evening. There is NO evidence of continued leaking, so maybe I have dodged a bullet. Gonna take it easy as best I can. If there is a recurrence, I'll go get the sucker cauterised or something. But it was briefly entertaining.
LOOK! A new thing!!

It was, as I said, fascinating, almost hypnotic. I lost enough for me to be a bit dizzy later. Have eaten well and hydrated, and feel right as rain, now.

I wish we had had the presence of mind to photograph the shower, but it may have disturbed some.

I guess the Brillo pads will have to go....
------------------------

"I have never had a fire ant bite"

I can no longer say this.

------------------------

I can "temporarily" suspend service on a Verizon line for $10 per month.
I can pay them NOT to have a line.

-----------------------

If the Prexy had come up with a cool name like
"CONELRAD",
everyone
would be fine.

(Comment on the whining about the cell phone "Presidential alert")

Good GRIEF, people.
It was an emergency alert system test, like the old EBS tests for the cell age.

----------------------



------------------------

The word is "ogle", not "oogle".
Neither is it PRONOUNCED "oogle".
------------------------

The Bible is not a grimoire, filled with potent spells that if you say them JUST right, or enough times, they will bend the Almighty to your will.

Instead, it instructs you to bow your knee, your desires and plans, to His Will.
Just a thought....

-----------------------

Amazed at how much data people happily proffer with these
"Find out how Santa will kill you" type quizzes.

----------------------

Here is the con shirt design Lanie and I did! The copper details are metallic copper ink. You can catch some of the shimmer in the upper left gears.



-----------------------

So much current comics art comes from folks whose mommies clearly said "You're such a GOOD artist!"

-----------------------

Kind of amazed at how not terrible the '77 movie "Shock Waves" was.


-----------------------

Have a lovely week!

A congery of convivialities!

Not liking what someone says does not render it untrue.
It merely means that you do not like it.

--------------------
It is significant that the historical creeds of the church make no mention of "The Rapture".

--------------------
Here's yer conspiracy theory.
What is the Alex Jones ban
supposed to distract us from?

--------------------
Who was forcing you
to listen to
Alex Jones,
again?

--------------------
Freedom of speech covers the palaver of John Birchers, Communists, Democrats, Republicans, even those who would advocate running around the pool, or yelling "FIRE!" at public gatherings.

(The latter two especially must then own the response to their advocacy.)

-------------------

------------------
The use of "Conspiracy Theory" as a pejorative serves to shut down "the conversation". Deviate from The Narrative, and you will be gifted the redshirt of "conspiracy theorist".


------------------
Then you think
"Maybe Orwell should
not have written
some things.".

------------------
Two neologisms that twist my gut.
"Gastropub"
"Nutraceutical"

------------------
Anyone remember a '60s
sci-fi movie that referred to "lasser beams"
I think it was Italian.

------------------
My brain tonight
gives new meaning to
"spindizzy".

------------------
Limestone Co. officially
has black bears.
Mister Ranger's not going to like this....

-----------------

Later....

A plethora of (self) plagiarism

Colossus blue screened me. Had to get an ASUS gaming computer, because graphics programs.
New computer boots up in 12 seconds. CorelDRAW opens in less than that.
WOW!
I can also play a mean game of mahjong solitaire!

Don't tell ME I'm not a gamer!!

------------------------------

Just celebrated the Dread Dormomooo's and my 41st anniversary on the 23rd.
YAYYYY US!!

-------------------------------

Limestone Co. officially
has black bears.
Mister Ranger's not going to like this....


--------------------------------


Himself and Archie Waugh enjoying life in Chicago.
Went to a great Japanese/Thai place.
Celebrating a marvelous G-Fest! Go, go Godzilla!


-------------------------------

Because eternal verities are eternal...



-------------------------------

The ORIGINAL Jonny Quest is being released on Blu-Ray.
I am NOT a Blu-Ray fanatic, but I WILL have this.

The cartoons are uncut, and will have the correct credits at the end.
You heathen monkeys.

-------------------------------

Speaking of JQ, here is a link to a FREE online comic, that TOTALLY gets the original.
http://stormerbrooks.com/free-comic-to-read.html



-----------------------------

Here is a pic of Archie, Noel, and himself at Maki, that restaurant....



The tilt is because the earth could not stand the burden of
that much awesomeness on one spot.

------------------------------

Can't we leave politics out of our animu?
Just watch the pretty pictures, eat Pocky and drink Ramune?


------------------------------


Our latest kaiju shirt. Art by Kez Wilson. Noel did the print.


--------------------------

You're welcome.




--------------------------

I had forgotten that the movie "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla" was titled here in the states "Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster" in 1977.
Universal threatened to sue over the use of "their" word "bionic. Cinema Shares, the distributor, changed it to "Godzilla vs. The Cosmic Monster".

--------------------------

Exposing screens to print shirts with. The vacuum blanket whines, the lights come on, and then...everything stops.
I figured I would have to open the panel and see if a fuse burnt out, or a wire came loose. I looked at the power cord, and it was plugged in. There was SOME light in the panel's neon pilot light.
The Dread Dormomoo came out, looked at the plug.
Pushed it in.

All better. "Did you unplug it, then plug it in again?" works.

--------------------------

Hard cases make
for bad policy.

--------------------------Talking about a thing does not fix a thing. Talking endlessly about it, fixes it even   less.


--------------------------
Becoming wiggy...out-of-time. My sleep cycle is playing with my head like a kitten with a dead frog.


--------------------------


Later, kiddies!

The 5000 Musings of Doctor A

---------------------


And THAT'S amusing. The microwave comes on when you open the door, now.

---------------------

Did ANYBODY like Keiko O' Brien?


---------------------

So, Patrick, it's OK to say that the US is a democracy, because through people's misuse of language, we can write it off to the evolution of language, despite the fact that the designers of our constitutional republic meant very exact and specific things in their use of their language? Is that what you're telling us here, Patrick?



----------------------

I grew up in South Carolina.
"Why don't you go back?"
they asked.
"Chicken bog." I said.


-----------------------

Why exactly cannot selfie
                               people flip their photos
                                    taken in a mirror?



-----------------------

Wow.
"King Kong vs. Godzilla" sure has some terrible bluescreen work.
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" levels of bad.
Yet, it is a really fun movie!


-----------------------

SF readers: Remember Lupoff's The Adventures of Professor Thintwhistle and His Incredible Aether Flyer? Proto-steampunk!

-----------------------


TRIGGER WARNING
A spiritual screed for Christian-types:
There are a LOT of preachers, and a lot of voices out there, vying for your attention, and perhaps your eternal destiny. Despite the smiles, the positivity, and the promises, you will do well to examine, compare and contrast what they teach, over against what the Founder and His apostles taught. Do these teachers use buzzwords and terms foreign to Jesus, Paul, Peter, and the rest? Do they introduce "spiritual" concepts not found in Scripture? Do they challenge you to be more Christlike, loving, caring, or do they say you are fine just as you are? Is their focus on your growth, or the growth of your (and their?) bank accounts?

Jesus told His apostles-in-training regarding preaching the Good News "Freely you have received, freely give.". They were free to receive food and care from those who appreciated their service, but they were not to ask for it.
How much time does your TV Preacher of Choice spend talking about money, especially, extracting money from the Faithful? Compare that to Jesus and His apostles. A word to the wise.



-------------------------

After 40 years,
I finally watched
"Capricorn One".

-------------------------

I foresee a revolution
fought with
fondue forks.

-------------------------

ONOES!
The Chakra Orgone Pyramids
are almost sold out!!!

(My reaction to an internet advert.)

-------------------------

The last Children's
Crusade did not go well.
Just sayin'.

(My reaction to David Hogg and Company.)

-------------------------

Got home the other morning around 4AM,
opened a can of chilled consomme,
ate it with lemon juice and Worcestershire. Yum!

-------------------------

Isn't "The Shape of Water"
just a
"Jabberjaw" reboot?

-------------------------

Amuses me that no one
talks about
The Weapon Shops of Isher  by A.E. van Vogt
anymore.

-------------------------



-----------------------

Justin Trudeau looks like
he should host a remake
of "Blues Clues".

-----------------------

She has a tongue
would clip a hedge.

-----------------------

You have a heart
as cold
as a wet Christmas.

-----------------------

Anyone else recall how clueless you really were
at age sixteen?

-----------------------

Feelin' the need to march
and beg that my rights be taken away.
Seems to be in vogue.

----------------------

I can find no example
of Paul refusing to make a tent
because the customer worshipped Zeus.

----------------------

Things I've learned from X-Files season 11.
Avoid the Internet of Things.

----------------------

This is making America great? A revisiting.

I was asked years back
"Aardvark, do you think people's behavior has turned for the worse over the years?"
------------------
Now, THAT'S a question. As this is my blog, and my opinion reigns supreme:

Yes.

But a yes with caveats.

"Yes", because there are more people to behave badly, and more to interact synergistically, badly.

"Yes", because people have longer lives, and can get really good at being bad.

Violinist: How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
NY Cabbie: Practice.

"Yes", because people have cut themselves from moral and spiritual moorings, and by that, self-control, through a cultural rejection of Biblical teaching. Like it or not, the strength of the West has lain in its Biblical Consensus. America has not been a "Christian Nation" (darn hard to baptise a landmass). I could argue that the concept is not tenable, but the fact remains that what governed The West was an overall "Christian" mindset, with Biblical underpinnings in intellectual thought, common law and jurisprudence, and man-on-the-street morality. Francis Schaeffer and others have documented this ably, and I recommend Schaeffer as a start.

"Yes", because we abandon our children to be cared for and taught in government-run schools, a government that WE have allowed to become the poster child for the wholesale rejection of what made America what it was. I was born in the Fifties. It was a time when rifle manufacturers advertised in the Boy Scouts' "Boys Life" magazine, and kids took part in marksmanship contests at school. GUNS! at SCHOOL!! Yet there were no "mass shootings" in, oh, 1963. Now, 50 years later, I find myself...well-armed, and have had at least three instances in my life that could have been adequately answered with ballistics, yet I shot no-one. I had self-control. I had been taught "thou shalt not do murder". Because our culture has rejected wholesale what made it great and good, now we have school shootings, many schools with armed security, and we have a congregation that carries for protection, because churches are also a target. Policy-types quake at the prospect of the kiddies having their eyes and thoughts sullied by lessons about the Ten Commandments, a historical compendium of basic get-along-ism. "Because Religion". The biblical consensus that kept us safe and for the most part civil has been deleted because people also cannot read the Constitution; because Thou shalt not kill is such terrible teaching.

"Yes", because public behavior has coarsened, with...unpleasant results. Road rage was not a phenomenon when I was a kid. Public discourse has degenerated to who can out-F-bomb the other. (Yes, I have a problem with public vulgarity. Jesus making a godly assessment of the Jewish leaders' character as being "sons of snakes" is NOT equivalent to my calling someone an "S.O.B.").

"Yes", because the church has become a Voters Auxiliary. Our proper mission is making disciples (teaching folks how to live, and then SHOWING them how to do it. Jesus walked, talked, camped out, preached and taught with His disciples for three years. We drag 'em to a crusade, "get 'em saved", and ensconce them on a pew. NEXT!), NOT marching on Washington, or Montgomery. Can and should a Christian vote as an individual? Likely so, but the church's purview is not to be a Voting Bloc.

So, in a word, yes.

"Make America Great Again"? Maybe, but first America will have to be good again, as de Tocqueville famously did not say.

Nuevo Nattering

Customary comestibles consumed.
Black-eyed peas, turnip greens, fried chicken.
Now to repent of sympathetic magic.

-----------------------

In this New Year,
I shall rabble-rouse until
Congress investigates Clinton/Brungarian collusion.

----------------------
SERIOUSLY
Air Fryers.
Are they REALLY good,
or is this hype?

-----------------------

How much bandwidth
is wasted by people
not turning off gifs?

----------------------

Why are adverts becoming more infantile?
"BeMoreLala"
"Dilly Dilly"
Next we'll talk using with li'l icons.

----------------------

Jim Goolsby wrote:
"Parker Posey is Dr. Smith in the Netflix reboot of "Lost in Space"...somewhere in Alabama they are scraping Weatherly Hardy's brains off a print shop wall..."

My response:
" I thought this was old news.
Makes me no never mind. I have zero expectations.
Too many reboots. So little satisfaction."

----------------------
Why are there so many Japanese toys of the SR-71 in the mid-Sixties,
when no one was supposed to know about it?
They even did a model kit which had the drone that launched from the SR-71, that NO-ONE was supposed to know about!


-----------------------
Fuzzy Mothra!
Want to hug!!



----------------------

Had I known that
Trunk Monkey was a thing,
I might have asked
Santa for one.

----------------------

I neglected to ask Santa for what I REALLY want.
To be Hugo Drax.

"James Bond. You appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season."


"Look after Mr. Bond. See that some harm comes to him. "


"Even in death, my munificence is boundless. When this rocket lifts off, I shall be leaving you in your own private crematorium."

--------------------

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MES AMIS!
Blessings to you all!