Accountability/Consequences

Accountability (n): The fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.
Consequences (n): A result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
(Definitions from the online "Oxford Dictionaries" http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/)

These two words might be the reason that Christianity is not terribly popular. People generally seem to not want to be held accountable for their actions, or have consequences to their decisions.

Nobody wants to be responsible for anything. There are rules and regulations governing everything we do or say or think (maybe not think, but almost.) You aren't allowed to ____. You aren't permitted to _______. Don\t _____. I'm certain you can fill in the blanks with any number of things that aren't allowed, or permitted.

In Matthew 5:3-11, Jesus outlines 9 different person-groups who are blessed, and the consequences of their conditions.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." Matthew 5:3-11 ESV (http://www.blueletterbible.org)

 So, after this, He goes on to say that our righteousness has to exceed that of the Scribes and the Pharisees! (who, then, were viewed as being the most righteous there was.) Then, He goes on to take many of the 10 commandments and jack them up to the next level!

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." Matthew 5:21-22 ESV (http://www.blueletterbible.org)

 Then, He ends the "Sermon on the Mount" with"

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 (http://www.blueletterbible.org)

That's a pretty tall order.

 “God’s love never ceases. Never. Though we spurn him. Ignore him. Reject him. Despise him. Disobey him. He will not change. Our evil cannot diminish his love. Our goodness cannot increase it. Our faith does not earn it anymore than our stupidity jeopardizes it. God doesn’t love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God’s love never ceases.”
― Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus: A Heart Like His (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?commit=Search&page=8&q=Max+Lucado&utf8=%E2%9C%93)

 What does this have to do with accountability and consequences? In Christianity, we are accountable to God; in thought, word, and deed. For things done, and left undone. (Actually, in all life, we are accountable to God. However, in Christianity, we are forgiven. C.S. Lewis says, "“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”) However, in Christianity, true believers are covered by the Lamb of God. (Max Lucado has said, "“In the Chinese language the word for righteousness is a combination of two characters, the figure of a lamb and a person. The lamb is on top, covering the person. Whenever God looks down at you, this is what he sees: the perfect Lamb of God covering you.” Max Lucado, Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine")

Here, in North America, we are not held accountable for much of anything. You can't make your payments? Declare bankruptcy. Don't "love" your spouse anymore? Get a divorce. Don't want the child you're carrying, anymore? Get an abortion. C.S. Lewis observed, many years ago, "“A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity"

Why does North America not think that marriage is for life, anymore? Why isn't bankruptcy, or divorce, or abortion a shame anymore? Why is everything talked about in shouts all the time? What ever happened to shame? It seems as though nobody knows how to blush over anything anymore. Shacking up, aborting, bankruptcy, cancer, "women issues", they're all spoken of openly; there isn't any "taboo" subjects left. Everything is all over the television, and the internet and the radio. (Actually, thinking about it, I lie: Christianity is taboo. Truly believing in the Son of God is taboo. Absolutes are taboo. Creation is taboo)
Judging is taboo. If you judge anything, the verse "they" quote is "Judge not lest you be judged". Ask them where in the Bible that is, they couldn't tell you, but they are certain it is in the Bible -- somewhere! (They're also certain the Bible says "might makes right", and "God is on the side of the strongest battalion.") It is Matthew 7:1.

A short couple of verses later, in Matthew 7:6, it states, "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." People don't want to believe in absolutes because what they are currently believing is wrong. There is a God, and He does have Commandments, and He will judge.

Sh-h-h ... I'm Job-Huntin'

*Sigh*

I so wish it was as easy as it used to be.

I used to be young.  I used to be more patient. I used to be ambitious. I used to be ... hired.

Now, I'm the opposite. I'm old, impatient, un-ambitious (is that a word?  It is now.) and un-hired.

I look terrific ... on paper.  I keep updating and improving my resume. But, for whatever reason, I'm not yet hired.

I have the dreadful feeling that I may end up having to accept some entry-level job.  There are certainly a lot available. In a couple of weeks, all the students will be returning to their classrooms, so maybe I ought look a bit deeper into the entry-level positions.

I still feel as though I ought follow my education and training and experience and continue to look for Secretarial work.That's what I'll do, for now, anyway.  Continue looking for secretarial work.

Motorcycling Update

I have actually become a "Biker Chick"

I have learned how to ride a motorcycle.

I have a motorcycle: It's a Harley Davidson Sportster, 1200, Low (Which has been "slammed" to a lower, Low)

I was first learning, and ... well, I drove into the ditch. I was trying to turn onto main street: I was looking at the ditch, rather than onto the road where I wanted to go. I did learn quickly that you go where you're looking.  Fortunately, it wasn't a deep ditch. Unfortunately, Mike had to get it out. He was able to.

After this, I had taken a motorcycling course. It was from Vanderhoof: E & R training. They provided motorcycles, helmets, and safety vests. They had plenty of bikes, none of which were very tall. (Which was a good thing) It was 2 and a half days of training. And, we received our 2nd test. Which I passed! yay!

So, after learning how to ride, I decided to go and try it out on my very own bike. Big mistake. I went to get it out of the shop ... and dropped it.  I vaguely remembered seeing and reading a little card at the Harley shop: pick it up with your legs, not your back. I attempted repeatedly; it didn't work. I ended up going into town and asking Colin to come out and pick it up and train me to do so. Once he showed me the technique, it made a lot more sense than the way that the motorcycle pick-up card said.

Later, I was able to ride all over the Valley (The Bulkley Valley: Topley to Smithers, Topley to Burns Lake, Topley to Prince George.) It was a lot of fun. When I had asked Colin to pick up the Bike at the beginning of the summer, it had 119 km on it. When I parked it after the Biking Season ended, it had over 7000.

I failed the first time that I attempted the final test. For some reason, I became completely unglued. Nerves, bad habits I'd developed, probably more nerves. Further self-training and I tried one more time. I made it that time. So, now I'm licensed for class 5 and class 6. My new license states "Class 5,6."

Since becoming a motorcyclist, I have found other women locally who ride. It seems to have become something that women just decide to do. There is a terrific age range: My great-neice is 14 (and has been motorcycling for 2 years) all the way to over 60. I've met women in their early 20s and early 30s who motorcycle.

It's a very fun thing to do. I appreciate it. My husband says that I look good on a bike. Many others are surprised that I decided to take it up.

Mike's "Man Cave"

Before Christmas, I was wandering around our local Canadian Tire store, and saw a neon sign for sale: it was an outline of a "mountain" with a "cave" outlined in the bottom of the mountain. The caption, also in neon tubing said "Man Cave". It amused me, and I would have bought it for Mike ... except for the price.

For the last few days, he has been calling his shop his "man cave". He's become attached to the title for his shop.

So, I am assigned to find out from a store or two here in Prince (George) what a sign similar would cost. He has a specific idea for what he wants it to look like. I have the "specs" written down. I hope that it'll be less than the one available in Canadian Tire. If it isn't, I'll call M. and see if he doesn't just want to purchase the one that is in C. T.


Update:, August 6, 2013

Well: even though I'd thought it was just a "flash in the pan" type of idea, apparently it has caught on --- hard. If you enter "Man-Cave" in the search bar on Google Search Engine, you can get pages and pages of 'images' of a "Man Cave". In the internet search, you get 36,000,000 results (in .18 seconds).

I didn't know that it had caught on and gone as large as it has. I presumed that it would remain being a shop-type of area, place where guys 'hang-out'. Where they can do 'boy-stuff' --- no girlz alowed! However, when you do look on the image-section of Google Search Engine, some of the "man-caves" that are out there rival some of the fanciest restaurants that I've been in. Many are built around a "theme"; sports, bars, cars, motorcycles, basketball courts, pools ... many of the images are incredible!

Of course, Mike, being himself, hasn't let moss grow under his feet either. He has built an "office area" in part of his shop; our daughter calls it a stage. Either description fits. He will be using it as an office, but at the moment, it does resemble a stage. Beneath it, Mike has built it into a storage area.

This past spring, he hired a guy to do the painting that he wanted done. It's now Dark Forest Green and Blue-Gray.

Plus, he has been collecting various things for the decor: the "Man Cave" sign (pic above) being one of the items. I have also purchased a couple of other items, with "Man Cave" written on them. Plus, he's bought a couple of posters (to be framed), and had ideas kicking around for various other elements that he wants to do in his shop.

Calling the area a "Shop" almost seems to be a misnomer, now. He's cleaned the entire place up, and has organized his "Storage Area" so he can find stuff when he looks. He has plans to have an Office Space there. He plans this, that, and the other thing. I don't doubt for a moment these things will come to pass.

December 28, 2013
Our daughter has been home for a short time for the Christmas Season. She has seen Mike's "Man Cave" for the first time. She's really impressed. She can "see" in her imagination whatever Mike tells her what he's going to be doing in the future.

January 23, 2013
This Saturday, Mike will be holding a Prayer meeting/Study in there. He's cleaning it up, and going to be getting more chairs and arranging an area for this meeting. As far as I know, there's Henry coming. Some of the other neighbors have been invited. It's a very exciting thing.

Here's a link to the Wikipedia information:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_cave

Becoming a "Biker"

It isn't actually certain for sure.

I brought it up to my husband: I might like to try to becoming a motorcycle driver. He said that was completely unexpected. (Undoubtedly) He had some concerns: accidents, incapability to balance well enough, incapability to avoid animals ... accidents.

It was unexpected, no doubt. But if I like it, it will be something that he and I cans share. It isn't because I feel "pressured" by Mike, nor because I feel as though I need it to "keep our marriage together". Nor is it because I want to become a "bad biker b****h", or I feel "left out" of part of what Mike likes.I want to simply try it out; if I like it, great; if I don't, well, I gave it a try.

The plan, so far, is to buy a used "dirt-street" bike, for me to learn on. As it stands right now, I know nothing about how to ride. Like, totally, nothing. Seriously. Further on, down the road, if I like it, our current plan is to purchase a Matte Black, Low, Something Harley Davidson motorcycle. He thinks that it would be great for me, because I have... vertical impairment. And he's thinking a "Soft-tail". (I have no idea what that means, but it sounds vaguely obscene.) I have warned him, repeatedly, that if I do end up liking this new thing, I will be wanting THE most blinged-out Harley Davidson in the Valley, if not the province. (Maybe even in Canada.) But, first things first: the used "dirt-street" bike to learn on.

Spitting

Spitting is one of the yuckiest things I have ever witnessed, or seen the results of. The most unlikely person I have ever heard of spitting is Jesus Christ, Lord God Almighty.

Mark 7:33: "After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue.
Mark 8:23-25 : "He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the mans eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" he looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight restored, and he saw everything clearly.

John 9:6, 7: "Having said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go." He said, "Wash in the pool of Siloam." (This word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

So, I suppose that not ALL  spitting is disgusting; but any spitting done my anyone that isn't the Lord God Almighty is disgusting.

Children

First off, let's start by my saying that children are not my favorite creatures. They are noisy, they leak, they can be disobedient.

I'm currently sitting in Safeway. There are a pair of younglings noisily running about. The girl is okay. She's not that loud. The boy is hell-on-wheels. He's not obedient; he's noisy; he is noisily dis-obedient.

The mother, who looks like she might be out of her teens; by a short time. (Possibly only this year...) is shopping with her mother. Her mother looks harried as well.  Also, the mother, who looks quite young, is a compact, small person. For now, the children are smaller than her ... for now. She doesn't look like she's trying to hang onto her youth, and isn't really the adult. She does look like she's the one in charge. It's possible that she's the stepmother. (The mother of the 2 children commented to her mother "her father isn't even here" indicating the young girl.) The boy may be being disobedient because she "isn't really his mom", but I think he's actually about 2 or 3 years old (I've observed 2 or 3 year old boys; I would never want one.)

The grandmother in this scenario was attempting to get the younglings out to the vehicle, but didn't have any fortune in doing that. they may have left by now; I don't hear them (i.e. the boy)

It's a sad state of affairs in the world when children don't know who their father or mother actually is. That goes down a rabbit trail that has nothing to do with the subject at hand, so I'll leave it alone at that.