11/21/2019
Is there a selfish gene? Can we not all agree we live in a rapidly transforming society from socially polite to narcissism? I may be too old to understand how the framework of our society abides such things, but evidently it does. It seems to be true that there is a heightened sense of self-centeredness in most criminals, which brings to mind an appalling thing when we discover this arrogance and self-importance in the professionals revered, such as Certified Public Accountants, Attorneys, etc. Sometimes we can see the same thing in those who work for monopolies, such as public utilities, or those given monopoly rights, such as natural gas companies.
You might wonder why I’m on this rant. This is a little thing to be griping about aloud so I thought I’d just write about it and get it off my chest. We have been given an edict to remove ourselves from the store building by December 13th, due to a change in ownership. I’m pretty sure that means we hold all the rights and privileges of a lessee until then. The new owner just went out in front and painted the pole for our store sign! Yes! Just now, while I work and wait on customers, the new owner just painted it—changed our dark blue logo color to a gray color, totally unrelated to our business! If that isn’t self-serving, arrogant and approaching narcissistic I don’t know what is! I’m pretty sure it’s a particular gene only a few receive. (Ha!)
“One Moment in Time” by Dana Winner, was the SIMH this morning. She’s a very good vocalist and it is a very good song. It would be especially good with a few word changes, things which would direct our minds to the “moment in time” which we can remember as the moment of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.
Do you remember your “moment’—that moment in which you knew you couldn’t handle this life or the next by yourself, seeing there was no way to get to be “right with God” by your own doing, and therefore, trusting in Christ’s saving power. I remember mine really well. I was the worst hypocrite I had ever known, not seeing myself worthy of being called a Christian, yet letting people think me one. I just cried out “I’m a mess, Lord, please save me.” It was not me saying those words that saved me: it was giving up and letting the Lord give me peace and eternal life in Him! Remember?
We’re having a really good weather week—weather we should have been getting the first two weeks of November, as well. Beautiful sunshiny days, down about freezing at night, 60s in the afternoons. All the leaves are falling, rapidly. Decorations have changed from the ghoulish halloween to Thanksgiving (the one true day to be a “holi-day”.) I know, next will be the Xmas decorations and that’ll last about 5-6 weeks.
I might get criticized because I refer to Dec. 25th as Xmas, but I don’t care. First, Christ was born in late September by the best biblical record and counting the time from conception to birth. So, it’s very hard to make Him the center of it (for me.) Second, things popularized for Xmas celebrations all came from paganisms and idolatry—why (again) is it “we” celebrate the Xmas season? Since 1974, it has not really made sense to me. It isn’t my motive here to squabble about this. It’s very apparent where we live (the world in general) is going to do it. So, if you ask me to teach a bible class or preach the gospel in a room where there is one of those well-lighted and sparkly green things standing in the corner, I will. And I will not criticize your use of the decorations at all. But, I won’t lead or participate in the singing of carols, either. Fap.
Grrr—interruptions come fast sometimes, I finished my day and went to bed thinking I had done all I meant to do, only to arise this morning (22nd) to find I never finished this column and post on Thursday as I intended. Ah, me.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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