How do you view the past??

And hopefully it is not a beleaguered past ...creating insurmountable difficulties, that our troubled minds cannot comprehend.  If we feel there is no recourse other than to react ANGRILY ...then perhaps we have not overcome, but have been overcome.

Our recent past should not affect us to a state of unforgiveness toward others.

And neither should it affect our all conclusive feelings toward ourselves ...not forgiving ourselves.

How do you view the present??

What is your general overall mood on an average day-to-day basis??

And what does it usually take to move you from center ...to a high or low emotional state, of excitement, agitation, or complacency???

How do you view the future??

And how concerned are you for others??

Are you focused on your own life as it will unfold tomorrow ...or are you more concerned about future generations of people??

How do we begin our life??

Let's move beyond the messy part ...beyond the soiled diapers.

Once our movements progressed past bowel movements, we advanced past observing what came to us ...to that which we ourselves could go to.

This likely became a bit concerning to our parents, as we could gravitate towards much trouble ...a tendency that would never leave us.

The trouble usually begins with physical danger, but there is always a tendency to explore new dimensions ...knowingly, or unknowingly, to undesirable mental processes; and inevitably drawing conclusions of potential spiritual ramifications.

But, to go back a bit, usually activities were provided for us (when we were children) to occupy our time within designated boundaries.  The fascination of sight usually occupied a crib, or playpen.  As our ability to move about increased, there was an introduction of toys.  As we get older, arts & crafts may have been introduced ...to allow us also to make, build, or create.

These stages, or domains remain present s we get older ...but the boundaries move beyond that of a parent-child relationship ...as friendships are developed, and the more meaningful ones establish the boundaries with commitments.

But, the expectations of relationships often change, and the tendencies too often lead back to trouble.

How does all this make any sense?? Shouldn't we just follow the advice of the lyrics of those songs: "If your happy and you know it, clap your hands ..."??

Yes, it may be an old Sunday school song ....

Or Bobby McFerrin's, "Don't worry, be happy ..."

Or a more recent lyric by Pharrell Williams: "Clap along if you know what happiness is to you."

Positive attitudes ...yes, by refocusing, we can often pick up our day.   But, a parent's concerns often go beyond a song or dance. Parents often get on their knees ...to pray their children will be okay each day.

What is a parent to do ...when they feel their child is repeatedly suffering??  How can a parent help minimize the pain that, in spite of their love, inevitably rises from the depths to defeat all kindness, laughing at good intentions, and challenging future hopes with unbelief and aimed at destruction???

The parent can only do his/her best.  And the parent clings to hopes & dreams, not so much for themselves ...but for their children, who are their hopes and dreams.

Some problems arise with the decision of how to meter-out disciplinary measures.  As a child, I found it difficult to grasp the concept of "It's going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you!"  

Okay ...the majority of parenting should not be discipline, but rather showing a natural caring.

In the Bible, Luke 11:11, mentions how if a son asks for bread, the father will not give him a stone, neither will he give him a snake if he asks for a fish, nor a scorpion if he asks for an egg.

At Christmas, most children expects gifts of some sort.  Expectations vary greatly, as well as does gratefulness.  Yet, what child would not be disappointed if only a lump of coal was found in their stocking?

I cannot imagine the child would excitedly thank the parent for the lump of coal, "Thank you so much! Now I can get together with a dozen of my friends who also hopefully have received a lump of coal ...and we can keep warm for a few minutes."

Other people have a bit more money, "Since you will be beginning driver's training when you turn 14 this year, I thought I'd buy you this Challenger."

I wonder what the child will expect for their 15th birthday?

Someone who has limitless potential to give gifts, with no limit to how grand the gift, may put much consideration in how to begin this expression of giving.  And it the lesson learned, one of giving, or of receiving??

I've heard people say that you can't outgive God.  And they go to the verses just before Luke 11:11, and direct their attention to how it says that whoever asks receives.  One group has been known as the "Name it, claim it" group.  But, reading down to verse 13, it says how much more shall our Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask.

Some people react to the Holy Spirit in a way that is nearly not reacting at all ...and would be about as appreciative as most would imagine one would be in receiving a lump of coal.  But, that would be not really true, as one would not receive the Holy Spirit in a spirit of ungratefulness ...as to say, to receive God is to receive what is characteristic of God.  One would not say that they sadly received joy, or that they anxiously received patience.  It is the comedian who says that he wants patience, and wants it now!!

There are some who name it.

There are some who claim it.

There are also counter-claims ...and accusations.

A person with pure motives, does not need to defend his motives ...as the truth of his pure motives stays the same.  But, most often the one with pure motives does care about whether the motives were conceived as pure.  So, this is taken into consideration.

Often a person may be offended, and say, "Oh, so you don't trust me!  I see how it is."

But, often they don't see how it is ...as it is not so much that the person isn't trusted, but it's the temptations and trickery of the world that cannot be trusted.  How many people would be offended if you told them not to go down a road because the bridge is out?  Often we are offended because the communication is not bridged.

Some of you may see the bridge I'm building here, and some of you may not. For those of you who just dismiss what I say by saying I'm too confusing ...well, give me another chance, and treat this as a new section.

I know I've said this before, but don't ask me where.

If you find out, you can tell me.

But, for now ...well, I was thinking again of God's consideration in creating.

For those of you who don't believe in God, I would find it hard to believe you've read this far.  But, if you have, then consider how your belief is at least as illogical as mine.

Logic does not wholly define my beliefs, but it may play a larger role with you.  So, imagine your version of the beginnings.

Most people talk of the "Big Bang" ...and it is actually part of the title of a famous TV show.  But, the 'big bang' would mostly speak first of gravity pulling things together ...and increasing mass, while also greatly affecting density.  (Perhaps that's part of the problem ...attempting to logically discuss this with too much density.)

One of my favorite cartoons was Jonny Quest ...and I remember particularly liking the episode, "The Invisible Monster".  This monster was energy, and fed on energy.  In the real world, there is no real conscious life here ...just absorbing (sort of like the state I was like while in college).

But, this condition in the universe does not allow for life, but the opposite.  They would claim that life came about by cooling. 

Now, some people may think it is cool to think about robots.  Automation has made life so much easier in the physical sense ...but, automation is not life.  

Some people may think that life would be easier without people (after birth, of course) ...and I will not get into the grateful thing at this time.  

Some years ago, I recall many nationalities held fast to some of their country's ways of life ...and the man would go to work during the day, but when he got home he expected to be given the newspaper, his meal cooked and served to him, and his laundry done.  And imagine the outcry among relatives if it was told that the wife complained about this.  Today, with TV dinners, a microwave, and Echo (or Echo Dot) ...many men may find it preferable to be waited on, and not hear the complaining.  Cold steel, metals, and mechanics may do your bidding at times ...but, what do you warm up to at night.

Oh yeah, I forgot ...we have country music and the dog.

Getting off the subject of robots, or mechanisms for a moment ...let's look at some familiar stories.  If you are a Christian, then likely you've heard of Max Lucado.  He is a great storyteller.  He wrote a story, entitled, 'You Are Special' ...and one of the stories within that collection is about Punchinello.

For those who aren't familiar with Max ...well, I'd recommend you read some of his stuff.  But, for now, let's mention a story that has some similarities to Punchinello.  Punchinello was made by a wood carver, much in the way that Pinocchio was made by Geppetto ...as a wooden marionette.

There's a riddle at the end of this blog: (http://anoseknowslittlemorethanwhatitsmells.blogspot.com/)

For those who like to approach logic intellectually, there's the Pinocchio Paradox: "My nose will grow."

Yes, the nose growing gives Pinocchio some degree of responsibility, but the condition of how that all works out is not his doing.  Also, there is a condition of choice ...yet, though the correct choice may not always be clear, it is made clear who he should turn to to make the correct choice ...Jiminy Cricket, his conscience.

It was Geppetto's wish to have a real boy ...and that wish is partially granted at this time, as Pinocchio becomes alive.  He is no longer a puppet, controlled by someone else ...as he has a free choice, but he's still wooden.  Pinocchio is told he must prove worthy for it to be wholly true that he become a real boy.

Of course, in real life, only God is worthy ...and as man (& God), Jesus proved worthy.  That is something we could never do, nor never have done. 

Oh, yes, to get back to the part I said I'd mentioned before ...which I haven't as yet again mentioned.  I've been hinting at it strongly, but for those who can't follow me, and I've already admitted I can scarrely follow myself at times ...

Okay, the mention of parenting ...and how children are to be treated, does bring me to consider God's approach.

No, that does not require a lot of guessing ...as the Bible is very clear on most of what is being said.  Sadly, we spend a lot of time on the little that is perhaps is not clear.  Though that is not necessarily a bad thing either, as long as it does not occupy too much of our imagination ...overriding the truth of what we do know.

But, by imagining, I am not claiming truth ...rather I am trying to see what God has for us, which perhaps I have missed, or overlooked.  So, with this in mind, if I were to imagine how God approached this ...would He allow something to be withheld, as to beg the question of why?? 

And it goes back to the questions of why ...which is our questioning, or the potential question of the angels.  It becomes rather silly to even think we'd pose a question towards God, of why He doesn't/didn't trust us.  But, then again, we do become silly at times.  Of course we know that God knows everything we have done, what we are presently doing, and what we will do.

So, it's not ever a matter of whether He trusts us ...as He knows. And it's all about whether we trust Him.

But, since our understanding is important to Him ...He wants us to understand for our own sake.  And some ways just become easier for us to understand who He is ...as that is what is most important.

So, don't know if you follow me, or not ...but, that is why I feel He has created the angels first.  And if we understand enough about how a large portion of them eventually went wrong ...then it's easier to see why He put limitations on us (inclusive of further limitations on that wayward group of angels).

I could go on about this, but I probably already did ...somewhere. Perhaps I could do a bit of summarizing at this time.

Summarizing ...

The past can be learned from ...it does not need to define us, yet it does provide an undeniable foundation of understanding.

The future cannot be feared ...or should not be.  I know it can be ...but, fear should not be advanced through the misfortunes of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Much has to do with how we view our present ...and inescapable is the fact that our present attitudes affect our perceived past, as much as our real past can affect our perceived present.  And our perceived future is also not immune from present influences and chosen directions we accept.

Speaking of the future, I've recently (again) heard many voiced opinions about Heaven and Hell.  Suppose that we don't call them that ...just for this part of the conversation.  Let's call them a place where those who follow Jesus go ...and a place where those who don't believe in Jesus go. In a different sort of way, you could call it ...Earth.  But, let's focus instead on the place where people go after their life on earth is complete.

I've worked in a prison ...and they are sometimes somewhat like-minded, and sometimes not so much. People do change. So, let's allow that to be a consideration also.  But, at this point I am going to bring up the mention of Hell.

Some people feel Hell is a place of isolation ...separated from everyone.  And from working in the prison, and from reading of certain accounts reported throughout the world, I know that by this definition of Hell, some people would prefer it to the life they are presently living.  Some people go through extreme torment, and would welcome just being able to be left alone.  In my view, those people who feel that a loving God would not create a Hell ...well, I'd think they'd also have to question why a loving God created the Earth.

Well, we are not robots ...we do have choice ...and the Earth is filled with, well, ...a world of choices.

And one of the choices ...is Jesus.

That choice should change how you perceive things.  And though it may not necessarily change the world around you in the way you would like ...it will definitely make a big difference in the Heaven of believers sharing the fruition of that hope.