Monthly Archives: October 2017

Oh Hell, Oh Well 2017-45

Posted in Contemplation by

Oh Hell, Oh Well 2017-45

 

“Oh Hell”, could be a standard expression for so many things.  What to say when things go wrong. How to cope with the unexpected. How to deal with life in general, I guess.

We, as humans, get involved with everything under the Sun, and then, must live with our actions, our mistakes, our foibles with others, and the untold realities of life.

The crappy, clutter of our brain synapses that signal the grey matter receptors, result in our thinking the way we do, and in some good and some bad ways, they make us what we are today.

When are we honest with ourselves? The Solitude of Self, implores us to try to do so, but, should I say IF, we are honest, we can see what we are when we do so. Too many of us are not, we hide, even to Self, what we feel, how we see in the mirror, what we want to see, not what is actually there, looking at us.

 At times, we cannot control this feeling of Self, but instead, make excuses for so many things we do. I think this is normal to a degree. If we are authentic to Self, we can do much for our way of living.

It is much too easy to deceive the Self and make up things to survive in life. BUT, consider the fact that we are not sharing with others, many times, what and how we feel. We are not exposing, to others, our deep inside emotions, and we CAN be honest with the one person that does not HAVE to judge us, our own Self, at least, most of the time.

Maybe this should be entitled Self instead of what it is at the top.  Anyway, we say “Oh Hell”, and go on with life the way we do.  I have a standard saying that does go beyond the “Oh Hell”, statement.  IT is , “Oh Well”.

What does Oh Well, do for me? Well, (play on word), for one thing, it gets me by the rigors of what is going on in any given moment. I can say these two words, and then, continue what I was doing at the time. “Oh Well”, says, to me, Hey, get over it, endure, bypass the moment, deal with it, and get past the hideous situation that created itself at the time.

Self-preservation rules!  Life continues in its own way, and I am surviving the terrible time I see myself in and I do NOT give in to the convolutions of the mind that is trying to overcome me.  Well it works most of the time, and when it doesn’t, I go to bed and take a nap or something. Ha!

Oh Hell, Oh Well; two phrases that are different, but are part of MY life. Perhaps, I will welcome you to use them or one of them and I gladly share the “Oh Well” with you at this time.

Peace,

Den Betts

My World — Your World 2017-43

Posted in Introduction to Blog by

                                                                My World – Your World   2017-43

 

How many of us live only in our own little world? My World is the one that I exist in and Your World is where you inhabit on a regular basis.

Normal?  YES!!! Could we drift over to each other’s world?  HMMMMmmmm!!

Do we put up barriers to keep others out of our domain and in doing so are we isolating ourselves from each other?  Do we ignore the joys we could share, and do we evade the tribulations we could have helped with others?

All good questions in life, but made to think about….

When we take a chance to “go over” to the other’s space, we gamble that it will be taken with graciousness and not be resented.  Of course, if it is a joyful thing, I would imagine that it will be appreciated.  But, if it is a trial or tribulation, it might be resented.

How can we KNOW when, what we do, will be taken as a help and not a hindrance or something of a begrudging nature of interference? 

Well, if we try, perhaps it is better than not trying at all, to help those we love or care about. To do nothing may be a terrible thing and something we will regret later.  “Oh, if only I would have said something, or done something”, may be the statement we make of the non-reaching out that we COULD have done.

It could be that the words or actions we might have done would have been the “something” that made a difference.  Just the words, “Hey, I care about you and am thinking about you” is all it would take to make someone feel uplifted.

Don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be hesitant to be there when you think you are needed.  Rejection on their part does not mean you are rejected overall. Maybe, they are stalling, but WANT your input.

Peace

Den Betts           

Likes, Comments, or following me at TheBettsDen.Com  or email me at bettsden@gmail.com      

Apathy 2017-42

Posted in Religious by

Apathy   2017-42

 

The indifference toward or an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, the physical life and the world in general. WOW, what a lack of feeling for something, or someone.

Historically, Christians have condemned apathy as a deficiency of love and devotion to God and his works. How does this occur? What happened to make someone feel this way? Many reasons to attribute apathy feelings or non-feelings toward a religion or actually, anything, but if you add comprehension to the equation, then apathy becomes a measured way of knowing something is not right in the psychic of the mind.

We humans must cope with stress almost all the time in some way, and if we have to get “over” a situation or tragedy, then an apathetic reaction can be expected to occur. The term “without feeling” comes from the Greek word apatheia from, apathes, without feeling, so the origins of the word make sense to its original beginnings.

I would think a phycologist has better definitions and examples of how apathy affects us, but suffice to say, it does and in many ways.

I wondered if this word could be attributed to some today, in their religious belief systems. The word apatheism is the philosophical view that one should be apathetic towards the existence or non-existence of god(s). It is more of an attitude rather than a belief, claim or belief system.

An apatheist is someone who is not interested in accepting or rejecting any claims that gods exist or do not exist. An apatheist may thus decide to live as if there are no gods. The existence of god(s) is not rejected, but may be designated as irrelevant.

The indifference or lack of interest on this topic makes them just not interested in the topic and the argument that morals do not come from God. If a god exists there would be no changes with regards to morality, therefore a god’s existence or non-existence is again irrelevant. They just don’t care!!!

I will argue that one suffering from apathy DOES have feelings of some sorts, but there are no qualms of disbelief, but instead, just indifference.  Apathetic agnosticism dwells on the claim that no amount of debate can prove or disprove the existence of one or more deities existing, and they do not appear to be concerned about the fate of humans. Their existence has little impact on personal human affairs and should be of little interest. Therefore, again, “I don’t know and because of this, I don’t care.”

Could this feeling of apathy be the reason many today have no religious affiliations? Do they have no feelings about the thought of a life beyond what they have on Earth today? Does the agnostic non-religious feelings outweigh those having belief in God? An atheist believes they should live their lives with disregard towards a god or gods and practical atheism doesn’t see the god question as irrelevant in contrast to apatheism.

I don’t know!  I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. This God, is active, alive, aware, and present always.  I feel somewhat sorry for those that have opposite feelings or no feelings at all about God, but realize they have the right to think what they do. 

Den Betts                            bettsden@gmail.com

Peace 2017-41

Posted in Religious by

                                                                                        Peace    2017-41

Peace is word meaning tranquility, calm, restfulness and not meaning discord and the like. It is used for greeting and sometimes in asking for quiet or order.

I use it in closing my emails and suggest that those receiving them, have periods of time that are indeed, calm and collected and tranquil in nature. It is my way of saying, take care and be restful in your life.

It would be terrific if our existence would be a long enduring form of peace without conflict, fear, or violence of any sorts, but that is usually not the case.

If we have a peace treaty, hostility sometimes stops, and this is due to some kind of compromise involving communication back and forth between the warring factions, which is usually the beginning of the end of conflict. This is the ultimate goal of those involved with the process.

Christians who believe that Jesus of Nazareth to be the Jewish Messiah called Christ (meaning Anointed One) also believed He was the messianic prophecy of Jesus, in which He is called, the “Prince of Peace”, one of many such titles that Jesus was given over the years my Christians.

Peace can be measured.  At least, it can be shown to exist by some groups using indicators of internal and external levels of peace today.  Iceland is said to be the most peaceful country in the world with Syria the least, according to the Global Peace Index produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace which evaluates peacefulness in countries, using 23 indicators of the presence/absence of violence. Wonder what it is like, living in Iceland? Other groups rank other countries either better or worse than these mentioned.

Peace on Earth, is the concept of an ideal state of happiness, freedom and peace within and among all people and nations on earth.  To achieve this stature is argued back and forth as to how to achieve this and is debatable. The basic Christian ideal specifies that peace, can only come by the Word and love of God, which is perfectly demonstrated in the life of Christ. Even this is contradicted in the Scriptures, but this is one context that I have read.

Anyhow, peace be with you. May you live in peace, be peaceful and may peace be part of your life forevermore.

Peace,

Den Betts

“I AM” 2017-40

Posted in Religious by

                                                               “I AM”    2017-40

Where do we state what we are today?  Do we make a declarative statement of who we are, and how we are? Are we brave enough to say what we believe in, and more importantly, live the life of what and how we believe?

What is “I AM” and how does this relate?  Way long time ago, a man-God, named Jesus, stated this. Jesus said, “I AM” and in fact, He WAS and STILL Is, what He said! As God revealed Himself as “I AM who I AM”, His Son let it be known that He was also, “I AM”, as a divine name equating Himself with the “I AM” title God gave Himself, to Moses, centuries before.

Moses was a reluctant man, not ready to do the will of God, and questioned just who God was at the time. God had to identify Himself as being the divine being to Moses and stated, “I AM” to Moses and still Moses kept questioning Him. This can be read in Exodus regarding Moses, and in the Book of John about Jesus and His “I AM” statements, especially in John 14:6 where Jesus said, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life.

So, how or what does this mean to me?  I can state I am a husband, a father, a son, or many other things, but more than that and more important to me, is where I say this:

I declare a fact that “I am” a child of God! I do NOT hinge or deviate from this fact, but instead proudly state this, as I said, a fact, not a supposition of life.

I therefore say, “Do NOT try to force me to say otherwise, for I willingly say, “I am”. I do not even hint of my being anything other than a child of God, and nothing more. I feel others can make the same claim, and go further by reiterating their beliefs in a divine being that created all of us.

As such, do not try to tempt me, for “I am” and will not be tempted by you or anyone else, from my beliefs in God or what He means to me.

Do know, that “I am” and anything like greed, wealth, riches, and any material things cannot sway me in my beliefs, because I cannot be bought and cannot be changed on how I feel toward God, my Creator.

Also, do realize that, because “I am”, nothing you can say, do or show me, will change my mind; for what you think is what you think, and may not be what I think.

I say this, “to you Mr. Devil, the evil one — be aware that “I am” baptized and am immune to your wishes, your desires that are not what I want — ever, and I will reject you, I will fight you, I will not accept your evil presence around me —- ever!!!!!

For listen again, “I am, I am, – forever more, I am, and always will be a child of God, loving Him, being a student disciple of Jesus Christ and enjoying the presence of His love. God, the Almighty, is alive, He is aware, He is active and foremost, His presence is with me always.

Den Betts                            bettsden@gmail.com

Was Jesus a Good Christian? 2017-39

Posted in Religious by

                                                   Was Jesus a Good Christian?  2017-39

Of course not!  He was of the Jewish heritage and most likely WAS a good Jew for his time. That is to be expected, BUT the Jewish leaders did not think so.  They connived with each other, and baited him to expose his thoughts about the Hebrew religion.  They persevered and managed to trap him into a situation where they could take Him to the Roman authorities to be found guilty of a charge they wanted to make against Him.

Jesus was a Rabbi and, as such, was a teacher of the Hebrew Scripture. He KNEW the past writers of this religion and could bring up passages that made His sermons standout. 

I do not know what a “Good Christian” today would be. Who decides? Who dictates to those around them that someone is a good this or that?  If that happens, then those people are being judgmental and that says something about them and not the one they judge.

Being able to quote Scripture at moment’s notice, does not make you a good Christian. Knowing the stories of the Bible does not make you one either.  It shows that you have a great memory at least, but not necessarily a great pious person. 

I would think it takes effort on one’s part to LIVE the life of what Jesus would want you to do, and using his teachings, as a guide to life. It is HARD to live a life like that of someone (Jesus) who was practically perfect. OK, some would say absolutely perfect, but I am sure he had some faults not reported in Scripture.

To strive for perfection or at least betterment of self would be a great goal. To NOT be discouraged in the process is probably a good reality, but the important thing is to try.

Den Betts

Change Direction 2017-38

Posted in Religious by

 CHANGE DIRECTION   2017-38

What does it take to do something, to “change direction” in our lives? What exactly is it to do so and what directional change could we make? Sometimes it takes something to make us do something!

Recently, a friend of mine had a life-threatening health diagnosis that gives this person the opportunity to change direction in their lives.  Or, it gives them the chance to decide on doing something different other than just continuing in their lives the same way as it has been before the health news.

Yes, we can do nothing different.  We can seek treatment in some way that might make us better. We can do more though, by making a change in our lives in many other ways.

To change direction involves many things.  It may involve having a lifestyle that uproots our normal way of existing to one of having better habits, more exercise, eating different things, a disciplined way of using our mind towards a complete change of our Self.

Our attitude of living can be challenged to the point where we will no longer be seen as the person before. Perhaps, we will get closer to the God we were ignoring and become more cognizant of His presence towards us.  Or, maybe we will have a feeling of empathy for those we shunned or did not see in front of us, or among us.

Many things can happen that will involve our direction in life, which will completely make us a better person in the process. The old us, will become the new beginning of the newer us and this change will be startling to some, because it is not the old us in front of them now.

I remember a movie that involved “The Bucket List”. This showed two men who decided to make a change in their lives and begin to whittle down a list of things they wanted to succeed doing before they died. Perhaps we can start a list of those things we have put off in our lives because we were too busy, too scared, or too poor to do them in the past.  Maybe, we ALL should make a bucket list and check off those items we have not done in our lives.

To change direction requires us to make decisions.  We MUST start somewhere, and I ask this: When is the time to start?  When must we begin to change direction in our lives?  Also, consider this: What if we never change and the life line of life ends before we even get a chance to make a change?

If so, so be it.  We just did not decide on something we could have done that might have made a difference to someone else besides ourselves, which would be sad to a degree. This time on Earth has an ending, and we are all subject to this point in time.  

The ending on Earth does not mean, in my mind, an ending of life, just the ending as an Earthling.  I went to a funeral and the Priest said, “Our lives are like a trilogy, a beginning by being born, a middle where we live on Earth, and the third part, our eternal living after we die.” What if he was correct?

Can we, should we, really take a chance and not live our lives on earth with gusto and finally make a change in direction, and realize the third option of having life hereafter can be a reality?

Den Betts

Light of the Son 2017-37

Posted in Religious by

The Light of the Son 2017-37

 

The light is there for all to see

                But is unseen because of the blindness of man

The light of the Son is brighter than,

                The light of the Sun of the Universe

The Son’s life gives birth to life forevermore

                It promises eternal living to those that see

A promise of forever more to those seeking the way

                The way is the only way for all

Darkness cannot comprehend the light and

                Can only be illuminated by it

Life gives hope and hope of human existence

                Is the Light of life!

Light is shared and shows the way

                As it becomes the light of the world

Look for the light and grasp it,

                Enjoy it, relish its existence

Rejoice, for you have seen the light!!!!

Den Betts

It Doesn’t Matter 2017-36

Posted in Contemplation by

It Doesn’t Matter!   2017-36

Well, all things matter, but some things, just don’t matter in life.

I use the phrase “Oh Well!!!” many times in life now. I have done so since I had a horrific automobile accident that changed my life forever. It is my way of coping with life.

We can either deal with life as it is or try to change it. Some things cannot be changed and now we have a choice of either living with it or suffer the consequences by fighting it and either winning or losing something in the process.

“Oh Well” has helped me as I said.  I do NOT especially like something that has happened, but saying these two words, gets me by and allows me to continue with life as it is.

Recently, I have also added, “It doesn’t matter” in my list of sayings to state, when the little or big things occur. 

What these three words do, is get me beyond the present moment and makes me realize that, in life, many things JUST DON’T MATTER, in the long-term way of life.

Of course, things DO matter, but many of the little things that get to us, can be put in the bin of discards of life as not being important in the long-term.

How many of us get upset at many of the small occurrences of life and allow them to irk us, annoy us, or at times, control us and our actions?  

This is where my new utterance of “IT doesn’t matter” helps me, again, cope with daily life. I do NOT want to be controlled by stupid, petty, things that are not important.  I have enough problems just dealing with daily issues that are a result of my accident to have little things get in the way of the enjoyment of life.

I have and do, hide, when I can, the effects of a closed head brain injury from the accident, that I deal with EVERYDAY. Most people do not realize how I feel in the daily activities of my life, and I don’t go out of my way to express them to others. I hide my emotions, my physical feelings, to allow me to get on with life in as normal of a way as I can and not because I am ashamed or trying to be acting like normal. I don’t and have not done this since April 1997.

Anyhow, “It doesn’t matter” is my way of dealing with life and it makes me cope with everyday events by putting a feeling of scale of what does and what does not mean something to me. 

I do care for others and how they feel, but for myself, I deal with me in the way I want to and will continue to do so; period.

Peace be with you,

Den Betts