Monthly Archives: June 2015

Whose God is Who???? 2015-96

Posted in Religious by

Whose God is Who????    2015-96

If the God of the Hebrew, Christian and Muslim faiths are the same God of Abraham, THEN, is there a different god that is followed by those same faiths? Of course NOT!

All those following these religious faiths can say “God is Great!” or “Allah is Great” in Arabic, if you use that language.

To say or think that the God of Abraham likes only one of the religions mentioned and not the other two is ludicrous. I would think that to use a religion to exclude the others of the same God could be sacrilegious to do so.

To also believe that any that do not believe in the religion that you follow and to insist that those of the two other religions MUST do so, is— well I have many words I could use here to describe those people.

History can tell of how evangelists of Christianity traveled to parts far away to not just spread the word, but to somewhat force the unbelievers of Christ into believing in Him. Christians can deny that this happened, but too many writings have proven this to be a fact.

It is evident in reading the stories of the Old Testament that the Hebrews had a thing of dealing with those that did not believe in their God of Abraham, called Yahweh in the time of Moses and afterwards.

So, it is not surprising that certain Islam followers are trying to do the same thing today. The goal is to have the non-believers of Islam convert to their religion, even at the threat of death.

The difference is what the Hebrews did, what the Christian evangelists did, and what the Muslim followers are doing today is about the timing. What the Christian and Hebrew followers did then is not what they do now as a policy. Then and now does not represent now.

Is there prejudice against the other two religions by one religion today, not saying which religion they are right now. YES, would be the answer, for in reality, the minority of each probably does have resentment towards the other religions not of their own that they follow.

Does this make sense? NO!!! In this modern world there should NOT be this type of discourse today! I would think that the only God in existence must have problems with His children that have thoughts and actions the way they do today. Fellow man cannot be violated and killed in the name of God, regardless of the religion being followed.

God does not get pleasure in hearing “God is Great” or “Allah Akbar” (being about the same phrase) after one of his children does a despicable thing like killing in His name. I believe that those that do so are either primitive in thinking, brain washed, ignorant, or some other description that is appropriate for them. Using God as an excuse is inexcusable.

The main thing is if they kill, decapitate, destroy, maim, or kidnap, DON”T do it in the name of God and state that He is agreeing with your actions. If you do it, do it for your own personal corrupt reasons and not God’s if you feel you must do those acts! Or better yet, don’t do it but try to make a peaceful statement for your religion instead. There is NO reason for killing for killing sake anyhow…… Maybe I should say there is NO reason for killing ––period……

I really think I am writing, but not reaching the people of all faiths that do the things they do. I just watched the news (6-18-15) and listened to the reporter tell of nine people killed by a racist in North Carolina, because he hated blacks. He did it inside a church after staying at a Sunday School lesson for an hour, then killed everyone there except for two people who pretended they were dead.

What a world! Again, God of Abraham has to see these things happen and shake His head wondering about the human race then, now and in the future. So many atrocities that occur that probably remind Him that we are still primitive people on this planet Earth. To think that He is in agreement today or even before, of doing things in His name, must make him ponder of why He even bothered creating man………………………….  Maybe it is because He loves ALL, unconditionally, regardless of the faiths, beliefs, etc………………………… Hmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

Den Betts

JOHN F. KENNEDY #1 2015-95

Posted in Quotes by

JOHN F. KENNEDY #1   2015-95 

“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” JFK       

Much of this could pertain to today with the lack of compromise in Congress today. This is especially true with the election process coming this next year for President of the U.S.

Today, 6-25-15, the Supreme Court of the U.S. upheld what is called “Obama Care” or the “Affordable Health Care Law”. Is it a good law or a bad one? It does not matter, because it CAN be made into an excellent one if the Congress would quit being so partisan and tweak it where needed.

I feel that I am blessed with the Social Security Law and the Medicare Law that were passed in the past. I am fortunate that the leaders then, saw a need, and made and improved on the laws that make it possible to live the life I live now. So, I implore that those leaders today, DO SOMETHING, and quit blaming the “other side” and be responsible to the people that elected them.

Den Betts

Search of Self 2015-92

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

Wait a moment, and read, then think about what is written. Does this make sense to you? Can you relate to these words being written? When I wrote this, it was a period of time where I was reflecting on my life in many ways. And now, I can see myself contemplating my existence in a different way, based on knowledge today.

It IS really OK, if you do not understand these words of mine, for at the time, they were written about the self of then, and not of now. The neat thing is that I know what they mean and how the words relate to my existence.

Search of Self  2015-92

A quest; a way of identifying the

whole of man in an individual way.

The time when one reaches into the

mind, to the very essence of soul

to arrive at the meaning of life’s

past accomplishments and future

endeavors.

 

A time of joy, or perhaps of sorrow,

in reflections of history and

the realization of goals made

and also of unfulfilled dreams.

 

A period of contemplation of an

adjustment to the future, of a

redirection of pathways to be

traveled – based on knowledge today.

Den Betts

God’s Grace 2015-91

Posted in Religious by

God’s Grace    2015-91

So, what is God’s Grace?  Is it something we can get or is it something else? According to my favorite source, Wikipedia, it is something we get for free, from God. It is tied in with the word faith, but let me get into that later.  I think, but am not sure, that this might be a Lutheran thing, based on Martin Luther’s beliefs. I really do not want to get into a Luther versus Catholic belief thing, but may or may not have to do so.

Now, this can be hard to understand or it can be made easy. I think one way of solving this is to check out Scripture and see what it states.

The fundamental meaning in the New Testament and in subsequent theological usage is that contained in the Letter of Paul to Titus: “For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all people” (2:11), and in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.” The book of James has another spin off regarding deeds and faith, but I will leave that alone for now, also.

Luther had his thoughts of grace. It is by faith alone (sola fide) and by grace alone (sola gratia) that men are saved. Good works are something the believers should undertake out of gratitude towards their Savior; but they are not necessary for salvation and cannot earn anyone salvation; there is no room for the notion of “merit” in Luther’s doctrine of redemption.

I admit that other religions or denominations have other thoughts about this subject, but I am not going into the divisions of this subject. The concept of grace has been called “the watershed that divides Roman Catholicism from Protestantism, Calvinism from Arminianism, and modern liberalism from conservatism. So there ARE different thoughts about how we get into Heaven or are saved. I guess I am expounding on one thought now, and will leave the others to people more capable to do so.

I was sent the following “joke” from my Pastor that may put this into perspective of how grace works, versus other actions by us.

How to Get Into Heaven per St. Peter

A man dies and meets St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. Peter says to the man, “Here’s how it works. You need to have one hundred points to get into heaven. You tell me about all the good things you’ve done. They are all worth a certain number of points. If your total is one hundred or more, you can come in.”

“Well,” says the man. “I was happily married to the same woman for 52 years. I never looked at another woman. I was attentive and loved her dearly.”

“That’s great,” says St. Peter. “That’ll be two points.”

“Hmmm,” says the man. “This is going to be harder than I thought. Well, I attended church regularly, volunteered my time and tithed faithfully.”

“Wonderful,” says St. Peter, “That’s worth another point.”

“One point!” says the man. “Okay, okay. I was involved with a prison ministry for twenty-five years. I went into the prison, at least monthly, and shared Jesus with them.”

“Wow!” says St. Peter. “That’s another two points!”

“Only two points!” says the man. “At this rate, it’ll be only by the grace of God that’ll I’ll ever get into this place.”

“Bingo!” says St. Peter. “That’s one hundred points! Come on in.

OK, maybe that is not the way exactly how it works, but it sounds sort of neat. Common Christian teaching is that grace is unmerited mercy (favor) that God gave to humanity by sending his son to die on a cross, thus delivering eternal salvation. Do we have to have faith to get grace, or does it come from God automatically. In John 3:16 (KJV) says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That was stated so long ago and attributed to John, but does it continue like it was or does God have a different opinion now?

Many theological theories based on interpretation of Scripture are offered about this subject. I would like to think that it is up to God to decide on the fate of his children and that can be  thought of in a convoluted way that man does or could not understand. There is no NEW tablet that anyone has hiked up a mountain to get where God has written his decrees on, so I don’t know, of course.

When I pray to God, I usually add in my prayers, “Thank you God for the opportunity to be with you for eternity because of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross. Let me carry His cross in acknowledgement of His act, so long ago.”  I have stated before, I wear a cross daily, not for others to see, admire, or comment, but to remind ME of Jesus Christ and  His resurrection and that I AM a disciple of Jesus Christ forever more.

Den Betts

Past and Now 2015-90

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

From” TheBettsDen.com       Too many people, including myself, dwell on the past and don’t realize that the present is the forerunner to tomorrow. This is a new chance, an awakening, a vibrant opportunity to make a change in one’s self. I leave you with this poem to give you the time to outline what you may do, to create a new you——–

Past and Now 2015-90

The past is over; done and gone

Not forgotten, but instead a memory

of action, events and thoughts of

history that once lived in the present

 

Fond times of the past are like

spring flowers blooming in colors

and smells that delight in

so many ways

 

The bad and ugly moments of the past

are albatrosses around the neck of reason

holding down, keeping back and

retarding growth of the mind.

 

The past is made up of both good and

bad experiences, but the present

is what should matter now for it affects

not only today but also tomorrow at times

 

What you want out of life should be decided

on actions of the moment and not

be determined by what

occurred yesterday.

Bury the past

Cultivate the now

Enjoy the future.

Den Betts

Trip of Life 2015-89

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

Does anyone know of the somewhat hidden meaning of this poem?  It does have a theme of “life”, but in a disjointed way has an overall statement of “being”. Well, if not, no big deal, since I remember why and when I wrote it at the time. We all make this journey, but some do not realize just what and how it transpires. How we end up is unknown to many, but known by some. What an adventure!!!!!!!!!!   2015

Trip of Life   2015-89

To walk a tightrope of being,

Soul, body and mind intermingled

Joined as one, Earthly union

Shell then behind, duty done by

 

Control involving internal mass

Coldness, blankness

Final journey with continued existence

Eternal light shining – welcoming

 

Essence now of “being”

Progression, a normal pattern of life

Den Betts

Realization 2015-88

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

Reading over this poem, I can see that I started each first line with a word that I continued on with the thought of the word.  I want to say that I was in a state of flux such as, when we all sometimes live in a state of instability as in the presence of a force field in a specified physical medium- Hey, sounds neat to me!!!!

Realization  2015-88

Realization – that things are the way they are

because they are, and are to be

Comprehending – that some problems will always

remain –never changing, forever being

Finding – things that were, may never be the same again

ways that are, may also stay forever more

Wishing – won’t make a dream happen or bring

one back that once was and isn’t now

Trying – doesn’t’ help sometimes, even with

desire and wants so badly, so wanting…

Accepting –  the trials of life the best way that can

using each day as a new learning experience

Knowing –  the limits and capabilities and living

with them, based on Realization

Den Betts

The Mind Gap 2015-87

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

 

From: TheBettsDen.com

When does The Mind Gap present itself to a person? When it does!!!! Till then it is in the background, somewhat hiding, until it presents itself to be known. Hard to actually explain or give an example, but known when it is known. Really exhilarating to experience or have in actuality and to truly know where it comes from. This occurred before “The Happening”, but in reality, I somewhat think they are related.

I was told by my esteemed Editor (my dear wife), that I should consider NOT posting this on my blog. Well, I respect that, but also feel that I have to do what I have to do at times. So, here it is… Perhaps not easy to understand or accept, but it is what I feel I experienced and now acknowledge as factual. So I share it, only to let others know that there are “things” that cannot be explained or hard to do so at times…. So be it…..

Addendum: Perhaps, just perhaps, I am snookering (neat word!) you and this is all a fabrication!! Or maybe NOT and it is something that was, is and will continue to be????

The Mind Gap    2015-87

The point in time,

a nanosecond, the

infinitesimal span

where the conscious

and subconscious levels

of thought, separate

and become anew.

 

A moment where reality and

deep thought- change the

areas of being.

When the unusual is possible &

creativity reigns, the

mini-voltage impulses

are in a neutral state.

 

A lengthened gap

brings forth new abilities-

gives birth to an anomaly,

a true power that is

uncontrolled in any way

showing itself at random

and occurring in many forms.

 

Few have it, many dread it,

some abuse it, but all those

having it know of its existence.

The Mind Gap – a time warp,

impossible to explain, measure

prove or disprove, but is there;

believe me, I know

 

Perhaps easier to call it a

“Mystical Creation of Thoughts”

and let it go at that, for others

to ponder, wonder, and comment on

AND, to contemplate the possibilities

To strive for and obtain for Self……….

Den Betts

 

Nothing to do with the words — Mind the Gap or

Closing the Mind Gap by Ted Cadsby & Don Tapscott

 

GLORB 2015-86

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Statement by

From: TheBettsDen.com

When I first revisited this, I first thought it was going to be a humorous one that I wrote, but soon found otherwise. Will we, as inhabitants of this large planet Earth, let things go this route, or continue to disregard the subtle signs of man’s ignoring what we are doing to the domain we live in? OK, the name is sort of weird, I admit…….

GLORB  2015-86 

Such, may be the bones withering to yellow dust

With seagulls flying by with reddened eyes

The smokestack spews forth sulfurous spume

As fish look for something no longer there

 

An oozy quagmire bubbles and ferments – almost alive

Created by the one most vulnerable by its presence – man!

The lonely toad belches forth a rumble of noise

Hearing instead only an echo of itself – puzzled

 

So big a world, so gigantic – never fear it was said

A lie, a misconception found out too late

Such may be the bones of all some day

Turning to dust in the eerie somber light

 

GLORB to GLORB and dust to dust!!!!!

Den Betts

Inspire Thyself 2015-85

Posted in Contemplation, Poems by

From: TheBettsDen.com

Maybe I should become a “Life Coach” and give advice to others, as a job in retirement! (Probably would not pay well for me!) This speaks like one, and I believe I wrote it when I was trying to give myself a pep talk or something. Anyhow, it makes some sense on how we should turn around our thinking on the doing of life….

Inspire Thyself   2015-85

 

Step out of the shadows

Of the mind; the fog of

Misunderstanding. Pierce

The veil with reality of

Comprehension and

Clear thought.

 

Sweep away the cobwebs

Of not knowing,

The stumbling

Blocks that create

The barriers

Of full belief

 

Jump over the walls

That hinder progress

And zoom, fly and

Speed past

The obstacles

That get in your way.

 

Don’t look back at

The fallen debris,

But instead, forge

Ahead, to a better

Enlightened way.

 

The only thing holding

You back is you, not others,

So look in the mirror of your

Mind and let it know

What you want, and then

JUST DO IT!!!!

Den Betts