Capitalism, Socailism, and other frames of reality?

Is capitalism dead?

The New York Times[1], writes of a trader holding a sign that said, “Capitalism is Dead.” You know things are not nearly kosher when you see someone on Wal-street holding a sign like that! Overstatement, sure, but what are we mere morals to think of this entire economic crisis. Even if you have an economics degree it is hard to understand comprehensively, but why. Simply put it is because economics is a comprehensive subject, thus it has worldview implications.

Economics as worldview
One of the main problems is how economics is taught in college. The economic philosophy of the particular facility, no matter Capitalist or Socialist, is taught like one teaches worldview. With pervasive and overarching principles, dealing with themes like what is humanity, values, ect. Thus economic “worldview” education can’t help but govern a life, unlike religious ideas that are abstract and must be integrated into the soul thought existential action, economic ideas are rooted in immediate reality. Life and character are immediately affected; because of the way it affects life. It is a style of teaching that trains a person in a “way the world works” or “works best.” We like to believe in economics because it gives us a sense of control over the universe no mater the theory. For example, In capitalism, we can render ourselves as self-man men and women. We seek control in believing in economics.

We Americans, need departments of economics to exist because if they exist, then we assume that we know something like an economic realm must exist that is subject to its own 'laws.' Moreover, in order for economics to be a prediction science, we increasingly live as well as think about our lives as if we are utilitarian calculators. To live in any other way threatens to make rational choice methodologies, so important to the explanatory power of contemporary economics, not work. We become interests seeking units of desire in order to sustain the prediction power of economics. Not so to think of ourselves would render our trust in those experts we call economist unintelligible[2]

As a Christian, I already have a worldview that says only theocracy, ultimately and eternally will work as the economic frame for a society. Yet such a frame is not to be until the king comes to clam His bride and establish a true kingdom. Thus all other human attempts operate from a scale of imperfection, no matter how logically tight or historically consistent it is in theory. My rights as a free man has moral validity and vitality in Him (not sure yet about the structure of this) yet equality true, my rights end in his Lordship. Fundamentally, My personal lust for power ended at the cross. I am dead to self-seeking after greed to gain power over my life and others. I am dead to self-seeking after political power thought manipulation and control of others.

My worldview tells me people are bad in their hearts unlike socialism. My worldview tells me God is in control and institutions can’t be allowed to be self-regulating for they are given to structures of injustice. Where as people have a conscience, post-whatever society dose not. The herd is void of a conscience. In short, I want to remind everyone, when we talk of which system is better or more Christian, we must not loose our worldview in the talk. From the Christian worldview – can be seduced by economic theory like it can be by nationalism.

The Fall
All of life has been affected by the one turning point in history: the fall. So to talk about one part of society being bad and another being pure is wrong headed. All parts are saturated an men will use any means to get there ends. The proper used of all neutral elements like technology is determine by the ends towards which we direct them.

Capitalism and socialism, are twisted; polluted, and diluted by the fall and thus both are week. The Great weakness of Capitalism is it produces and idolatry of greed and if left unchecked social structures can exist without a since of social justice (read Amose). Things go bad when the view of the good life in capitalism looses aspects of virtue, character, and religious pity. One Philosophy notes that America has become a culture that forms in people a very “consumer” character.

They are educated or rather miseducated to believe that they should aim and hope for not what they deserve but what ever they may happen to want. They are in the vast majority of cases to regard themselves primarily as consumers whose practical and productive activities are no more than a means to consumption. What constitutes success in life becomes a matter of acquisition of the consumer good, and thereby that acquisitiveness which is so often a character trait necessary for success in capital accumulation is further sanctioned. Unsurprisingly, pleonexia, the drive to have more and more, becomes treated as a central virtue. The Christian theologians in the middle Ages had learned from Aristotle that pleonexia is the vice that is counterpart to the virtue of justice. And they had understood, as later theologians failed to do, the close connection between the developing of capitalism and the sin of usury. So it's not, after all just general human sinfulness that generates particular individual actions of injustice over and above the institutional injustice of capitalism itself. Capitalism also provides systematic incentives to develop a type of character that has propensity to injustice.[3]

That is when capitalism is unrestrained and lacking a conscious. So both moral restraint and social boundaries are needed. Since the British economist John Maynard Keynes rescued the British economy “from the quicksand of the 1930s.” Usually, the markets correct themselves, but every once in a while “unorthodox government intervention” is required to keep the engine running. This is the way capitalism has worked in practice. [4]

Socialism is weak in that it does not work. It is a bad structure, in and of itself. History bears this out, in considerable measure. In the year 1620, an extraordinary charter was written called the “Mayflower Compact.” William Bradford and other writers formulated the original contract with over sight from their sponsors in London. In it they called for everything as producers to give into a common storehouse (YES, a very bad reading of ACT). Yes, The pilgrims who settled in New Plymouth, Virgina, where trying to be granola eating, black hat wearing, witch burning, biblical (with a questions mark) socialist!

This attempt to practice socialism had very poor results and Bradford wrote in his Journal why it failed, he said, “For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense ... that was thought injustice.”

OK so the system is unjust in itself. Further, its greatest weakness is in the centralizing of power. (Hello!! read Animal farm, and think metaphor of USSR) The lust for power will limit human freedom. Socialism is open to it. The problem with socialism is it becomes the center pushing out all true centers, like religious and communal life.

This inversion of the structure of the State which, instead of being built up from below, is organized from above, is the one great iniquity of our time, the iniquity which overshadows all others, and generates them of itself. The order of creation is turned upside down; what should be last is first, the expedient, the subsidiary, has become the main thing. The State, which should be only the bark on the life of the community, has become the tree itself. [5]

Yet, no matter the system a Christian can be a Christian. A Christian can exist in and be ethical in an imperfect system, Brunner explains.

no man, as a member of an institution is only a member of an institution, but always and only a person, there is room for love even in the most impersonal of institutions, not in the actual activity of the institution itself, but “between the lines. [6]

The question is which one promotes the common good and allows for the clearest path towards the good life and I’m a sure there are a few more questions that I can’t think of. But that how I see it.


End note

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/opinion/01wed4.html?ref=opinion

[2] Stanley Hauerwas, sanctify them in the truth, (Abingdon press, Nashville1998), 233

[3] Alastair macIntyre, Marxism and Christianity 2nd ed (London: Duckworth, 1995), 13-14

[4] Satyendra Nayak, The Washington Times http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/01/savior-of-capitalism/

[5] Emil Brunner, Justice and the social order (Lutterworth Press 1945) 124-125 p.

[6] Emil Brunner Justice and the social order (Lutterworth Press 1945) 117 p.

The Good the Bad and the Ugly on the web!

You like music? Well then hear are three musical NET gens that can be summed up as the good the bad and the ugly!! I don't need to tell you witch one is which do I?

Fix Your Face

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Going to lay down by Burden - Down by the waters side..

"Going to lay down by Burden - Down by the river side.." this little hymn that most relate to baptisms was first written as a African spiritual of Hope. It was sung by those that dropping the burden of slavery and swimming across the great river to freedom in northern border states. The Imagery remains rich when this understanding is added to the picture of baptism. The free slaves remembered there experience of swimming for freedom and paralleled that experience to the experience of baptism. The song was born on the tongues of men an woman that knew the wet thirst for freedom and the journy thought the water to get there. Further, Paul in Romans uses Baptism as a metaphor for the freedom we have in our salvation. we are new creations free - and holy in Christ. It is seen in Romans 6:3-5

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

As we go under with him we will be raised with him. Both certainty and hope point to the freedom we have in Christ. Baptism is a description that a burden has been laid down by the river side. The slavery of sin, the past, unforgivness, hopplessness are all no more and we now live as free men and woman. I love how my church does baptisms, it is down by the river side, if you will . Below is a video of one little freedom child making her swim for freedom. SO hum it if you know it....

"Going to lay down my Burden - Down by the river side.."

Our justification from sins takes place at the point of saving faith, not at the point of water baptism, which usually occurs later. But if a person is already justified and has sins forgiven eternally at the point of saving faith, then baptism is not necessary for forgiveness of sins nor for the bestowal of new spiritual life. Baptism, then, is not necessary for salvation. But it is necessary if we are to be obedient to Christ, for he commanded baptism for all who believe in him.

WAYNE A. GRUDEM, Bible Doctrine

Baptism is rich in meaning. It suggests cleansing. When you are a disciple, you understand that you are cleansed by Christ. You understand that Christ died in your place on the cross, paying for your sins, fully forgiving you for all your wrongs. You are cleansed from guilt, and you are becoming a cleaner, healthier, more whole person.

BRIAN D. MCLAREN, More Ready Than You Realize

The KING'S glory and the glory King saw.

Last night, I took a trip to 1968. No I was not tripping on acid. I used modern technology to hear the last speech that Martin Luther King did before he died. It is one of my favorites. The whole speech can be found here. As I heard him talk I was reminded of the deep need for what he called dangerous unselfishness. King puts it this way.

Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness. One day a man came to Jesus, and he wanted to raise some questions about some vital matters of life. At points he wanted to trick Jesus, and show him that he knew a little more than Jesus knew and throw him off base....

Now that question could have easily ended up in a philosophical and theological debate. But Jesus immediately pulled that question from mid-air, and placed it on a dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho. And he talked about a certain man, who fell among thieves. You remember that a Levite and a priest passed by on the other side. They didn't stop to help him. And finally a man of another race came by. He got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy. But he got down with him, administered first aid, and helped the man in need. Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, this was the great man, because he had the capacity to project the "I" into the "thou," and to be concerned about his brother.

Now you know, we use our imagination a great deal to try to determine why the priest and the Levite didn't stop. At times we say they were busy going to a church meeting, an ecclesiastical gathering, and they had to get on down to Jerusalem so they wouldn't be late for their meeting. At other times we would speculate that there was a religious law that "One who was engaged in religious ceremonials was not to touch a human body twenty-four hours before the ceremony." And every now and then we begin to wonder whether maybe they were not going down to Jerusalem -- or down to Jericho, rather to organize a "Jericho Road Improvement Association." That's a possibility. Maybe they felt that it was better to deal with the problem from the causal root, rather than to get bogged down with an individual effect.

But I'm going to tell you what my imagination tells me. It's possible that those men were afraid. You see, the Jericho road is a dangerous road. I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem. We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon as we got on that road, I said to my wife, "I can see why Jesus used this as the setting for his parable." It's a winding, meandering road. It's really conducive for ambushing. You start out in Jerusalem, which is about 1200 miles -- or rather 1200 feet above sea level. And by the time you get down to Jericho, fifteen or twenty minutes later, you're about 2200 feet below sea level. That's a dangerous road. In the days of Jesus it came to be known as the "Bloody Pass." And you know, it's possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around. Or it's possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking. And he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt, in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure. And so the first question that the priest asked -- the first question that the Levite asked was, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

Reflections on the virtue of Neighbor love.

Three Amen’s of the soul rise to my mind from his words. King is right when it comes to our greatest problem and how our social problems stem from it. He is also right on the questions that make our problems personal. There is a third Amen but it comes from the example of King’s life.

No little problem
King was right when he points out the deepest problem in man. Our hearts a selfishly bent in on themselves. The selfishness that beckons us to care much for ourselves is at the root of modern indifference to current problems. This self-love that moves us all, from time to time to, “pass on by” is no little problem. It is no little problem for the one bleeding in the ditch and no little problem for the Lover of our soul. For the one in need experiences both the pain of practical needs unmet, and the cold lonely air of indifference, And for the One High and lifted up, the One who came in a manger, our selfishness led him to experience the pain of three nails and 3 hours. Our twisted nature has never been a little problem.

The Questions that bids us stay!
King is also right when he showed how the soul is set to account for it self in dialoged with Jesus' words. He was right because Jesus was right and Jesus' point is clear. The questions we ask ourselves in moments of danger show the content of our character. From Jesus’ teaching, King gives his own call to response in his reprise:

"That's the question before you tonight.
Not, "If I stop to help ….. what will happen to my job.
Not, "If I stop to help …… what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week as a pastor?"
The question is not, "If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?"
The question is, "If I do not stop to help ….., what will happen to them?" That's the question."

King clams that the question is important for his hears and I would add still important for us today. Such "neighbor love" has been trivialized for an impotent version of love void of power. Neighbor love that bids us stay is not a love common in today’s world. As the parable shows such love has an element of sacrifice. A giving in spit of the danger. A loving the other with no regard for your own protection. It is a care for the good of one's neighbor grounded in the glory of God. Only such a vision of God and others can so consume us to the point we are self-forgetful. But who loves like that? I have to say not many, last century was called the age of the self and rightly so. The post modern age will not be much different. I fear activists will lack the "Neighbor love" of King. We need to let King's questions question us and we need to be honest with the depths of our selfishness.

The fire that consumes.
This selfishness we are all disposed to is a mighty force and never easily overcome. It is a fire that can only be extinguished by an even mightier flame. BUT what is the Nature of such a flame? Only a consuming fire can do such a work. That is why the scriptures say, God is a consuming fire. – For only God can do such a work, Only God can make such a man stay when danger bids him “GO!” This is what the scriptures tell us, “God is a consuming fire” God is the fire and God is the flame. It is only a God’s size flame that can put out the fires of selfishness. We would do well to remember, the fire of God’s jealous love abiding in the heart of his children can move us past self protection and into dangerous unselfishness even on the road to Jericho.

Such a fire, which is god himself, burns for the glory of God. In the heart of man only a passion for the glory of God can move him to stop and moves him to stand. Only Love can make a man do crazy things. And Only Ultimate love can move a man to stay when his head says "Go!" Whatever you call it “moral courage” as the ethicist do. Or “dangerous unselfishness” as the activists do. Or even “A passion for God’s glory!” as the theologians do. What matters is that you do something with it. You stop when you feel like going. You die when you selfishness nature wants to live. It is stopping when you want to Go on by and staying when your fears say run that makes this inner flame more than mere sentiment - action makes it passion!

Seeing by the fire
Seeing by the glory of god is mostly lost today. It is good to remind, this fire is nothing like most fires today. Today people burn but it is all heat and no light. People are passionate today but they burn with a strange fire that demands God to do there biding. They seem to be people of passion but little illumination. People that talk of God's glory but seek there own. People that are marked more by loving the things of God than God himself - such people "pass on by" and dine with the Levite and the Pharisee.

A true passion for God's glory will shift more than your theological propositions. It will change your perception. God's true fire gives light as well as heat. Such a flame gives light to the eyes of the heart and illuminates every human face. In such a light man resembles the one who made him. In this light humanity is seen with divine dignity. By this flame, we see reflected in every human face the image of GOD. So we can understand that this fire's light reveals that humanity is my neighbor, worthy of my care buy virtue of the image they bear. The glory of God reaches to us through our neighbors by the image they all bear. Every pain we see, ever need we can meet but don't is God's glory appearing diminished by our indifference. To love your neighbor is to glorify God in this broken world.


A life as a “holey” “wholly” “holy” burning man
Paul was good at this. He was full of holes and issues but he worked on them. He was wholly given to the will of God. Lastly he was holy devoted to God. This is what it means to burn, to live "well done". He lived as a dead man consumed by the fire of God. It takes Dangerous unselfishness to live as a dead man. We to can be like Paul, one that is breathing but already “crucified with Christ” – a Follower that “no longer lives” but lives on for “Christ lives in” us. We can live as dead men that exhibit life in real time and hope for the days ahead. I love the end of King's speech – on the video - you can see his eye glisten with tears and his emotion is true and rich when he speaks of the death threats on his life. He was a marked man and he knew it. But he had dangerous unselfishness! There where people in need and he was not about to "go on by" but in his weak and incomplete humanity he was completed by love, compelled to stop in Memphis and help. His ending act as a clarinet call for all that seek to be God glorifying activist, ethicists, theologians, insert the occupation of your choice. We all need to echo the heart of king when he stated.

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
And so I'm happy, tonight.
I'm not worried about anything.
I'm not fearing any man!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

The next morning King was killed by a gunman as he exited his motel room.

What King saw.
King was not an example of chastised faultless virtue, yet he revealed to the world a deep and abiding truth. King could be filled with a dangerous unselfishness because His eyes had seen the glory and that passion consumed any competing fire and warmed any chilling fears that would cry "Go on by" when the moment cried "stay." What did king see that gave him the grace and strength? King saw the KING! May we all look up and be graced with such a hope. May we say with king “mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord” and may that drive our hearts to unselfish giving of ourselves. Even if giving to the flame is a bullet to the head or not hating the debauchery and indifference of post-modern culture. We can see the glory of the KING. In the face of it all, we can have the capacity to care, for in it all, we see His glory in the mass of humanity before us. We can love reckless and live dangerous unselfishness for God's glory is rising, His glory is shining, His Glory is enthroned to be the supreme passion for all things!

Turn your eyes to the KING and your ears to King, can you hear the echoes?

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!”

When all Around has Fallen........

In today’s divorce-ridden society, do young people still want to get married? This pod, from the producer’s of the Emmy nominated documentary “Song of Songs,” travels to colleges across the country asking students about their take on long term commitment. As one that has spent his life watching from the wall, this watchman asks all navigating life to be wise and don't just follow your heart but also your head and the words of others.

Dyslexia - Part Two

Confusion and the crowd

It is hard to call yourself dyslexic. One reason is the abuse of the term. A person flips a few numbers and maybe a bit of a lazy reader and *bam* the self-diagnosis is Dyslexia. At this point many say, hey I do that – I must be dyslexic. Please consider what you’re saying. Leaving a word out of a sentence on a essay does not make you dyslexic. Leaving out a word on almost every sentence in an essay, would make you a candidate for such a condition. And a condition you do not want. Such a balsa attitude shows an utter misunderstanding about what dyslexia is. (For the record that gets under the skin of those with this particular DNA combination.) This “Your problems no Problem” attitude lead’s people think your no different then them only lazy or dumb. Another reason is the opposite extreme. It is the utter stigma people may give it. Such judgments are the result of peoples first hand experience. For example, there is little difference between stupid and dyslexic in the minds of people when you ask how to spell the word “Neighbor” because spell check is responding back with “WTF?” If you’re quick on your feet, personal, and verbally articulate, as many dyslexics are, you will often be passed off as a Novelty. So all this to say, much confusion about the what dyslexia is cause much unneeded pain for those with it.

Cutting through the Confusion

Ronald D. Davis in his book, Gift of dyslexia writes on the experience he had with the confusion that surrounds this learning disability.

Once as a guest on a television show, I was asked about the "positive" side of dyslexia. As part of my answer, I listed a dozen or so famous dyslexics. The hostess of the show then commented, "Isn't it amazing that all those people could be geniuses in spite of having dyslexia."

She missed the point. Their genius didn't occur in spite of their dyslexia, but because of it!

He goes on to say:

Having dyslexia won't make every dyslexic a genius, but it is good for the self-esteem of all dyslexics to know their minds work in exactly the same way as the minds of great geniuses. It is also important for them to know that having a problem with reading, writing, spelling, or math doesn't mean they are dumb or stupid. The same mental function that produces a genius can also produce those problems.

What is dyslexia?

The simple definition is “extremely difficult to read, write, and spell in your native language—despite at least average intelligence.” My favorte definition is “the umbrella slang word for public's inability to understand the complex and extraordinary thought process of 'Multi-dimensional FreeThinking". I’m sure you guessed I like that one for it's bit. (ha ha) For my purpose, I want to dig a little deeper. I want to look at how dyslexia is scientifically understood. On my next, blog, I suggest a way of viewing dyslexia theologically. In that section I will outline a theologically understanding of dyslexia as I see it (a little D-lex humor). But first the scientific, followed by some concluding thoughts on the matter.. The international dyslexia association gives us a more complete definition from a scientific perspective.

Dyslexia is a neurologically-based, often familial, disorder which interferes with the acquisition and processing of language. Varying in degrees of severity, it is manifested by difficulties in receptive and expressive language, including phonological processing, in reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, and sometimes in arithmetic.

Dyslexia is not the result of lack of motivation, sensory impairment, inadequate instructional or environmental opportunities, or other limiting conditions, but may occur together with these conditions.

Although dyslexia is lifelong, individuals with dyslexia frequently respond successfully to timely and appropriate intervention.

I want to highlight some point about dyslexia.

Section one

One, Dyslexia is an inherited condition. Researchers have determined that a gene on the short arm of chromosome #6 is responsible for dyslexia. That gene is dominant, making dyslexia highly heritable. It definitely runs in families.

Two, Dyslexia results from a neurological difference; that is, a brain difference. People with dyslexia have a larger right-hemisphere in their brains than those of normal readers. That may be one reason people with dyslexia often have significant strengths in areas controlled by the right-side of the brain, such as artistic, athletic, and mechanical gifts; 3-D visualization ability; musical talent; creative problem solving skills; and intuitive people skills. In addition to unique brain architecture, people with dyslexia have unusual "wiring". Neurons are found in unusual places in the brain, and are not as neatly ordered as in non-dyslexic brains. In addition, f/MRI studies have shown that people with dyslexia do not use the same part of their brain when reading as other people. Regular readers consistently use the same part of their brain when they read. People with dyslexia do not use that part, and there appears to be no consistent part used among dyslexic readers. One part of the brain has hijacked the function. This can be a benefit or a curse depending on how the development pathways form in the individual.

Common observable traits of Dyslexics:

· High IQ, low test scores

· Daydream often

· Read/write with additions, omissions, substitutions, reversals

· Transposition of letters, numbers or words

· Mispronounce long words

· Unorganized

· Often confuse left/right, over/under, up/down, etc.

· Poor time management

· Poor reading skills and comprehension

· Poor at word problems in math

· Poor self-esteem

· Easily frustrated

Three, Dyslexia is not a result of a lack of motivation or sensory impairment. It is not that I need glasses or any such aid. Dyslexia has nothing to do with a defect in the normal range of physical sensory ability. If just does not work like that. Also, Many confuse lack of motivation for laziness. Many with dyslexia care little for learning because the process becomes like climbing a mountain every day. Who would want to climb Everest, day in and day out? Such lack is not a cause of the problem only a symptom. Don’t tell a dyslexic to just study harder, tell them to take Socrates advice and “know thy self,” to learn how they think and learn so they can “teach thy self.”

So Dyslexia while considered a disability is really people who are wired a little differently thus the fact that it considered a learning disability says more about what is considered learning. Dyslexic people are visual, multi-dimensional thinkers. Dyslexia is a brain thing, mental functions that are common in dyslexic range in degree and intensity. There are 8 basic mental functions common among those with dyslexia.

1. They can utilize the brain's ability to alter and create perceptions (the primary ability).

2. They are highly aware of the environment.

3. They are more curious than average.

4. They think mainly in pictures instead of words.

5. They are highly intuitive and insightful.

6. They think and perceive multi-dimensionally (using all the senses).

7. They can experience thought as reality.

8. They have vivid imaginations.

We are intuitive and highly creative, and excel at hands-on learning. The key to understand this way our brains work is in system thinking a type of Big Picture thinking, which evolves thinking in pictures and relational connection. Because we think in pictures, it is sometimes hard for us to understand letters, numbers, symbols, and written words. Now there is a difference between a person that is a predominately visual thinker and one that has dyslexic. The former has the ability to think in abstract without formulating it into a pictorial form first. The latter, can learn to read, write and study efficiently when we use methods geared to our unique learning style. Dyslexics have the tendency and ability to visualize all dimensions of symbols. Seeing and thinking three-dimensionally is a great asset, especially in today's multimedia world. So when is dyslexia a "disability"? It is a disability when it is not valued and cultivated as a learning difference and crutches are used to get through traditional education.

From around 3rd grade I was labeled "Learning Disabled" and "Dyslexic”. I recognized as a child that all my testing from elementary school through college only pointed out that I was not at my appropriate grade level and that was a problem. I was fortunate to be in a place that helped those like me with methods geared for my unique learning style.

Formulating non-visual words

Dyslexics tend to be visual thinkers. As they read or hear, they want to visualize what they're learning. Take this sentence: "Give me the ball." A young dyslexic may get stuck on the words "give" and "the". The dyslexic student can visualize a ball but has a more difficult time visualizing "the". Ron Davis uses clay as a method to help dyslexics visualize non-visual words. His students work on mastering certain known-troublesome words with clay. I used what was called a tactle board that I spelled words on. To this day, I can feel some words when I write them. I still tear up thinking about the first time laying in my bed, I leaned over and wrote on the wall the word “grace” reflecting on that night as I wrote G R A C E, it came to me I knew, really knew, what it meant. Finally, this abstract consept was visual to me, embodied in a moment that is between me and the Lord. With all dyslexics, the struggle is the process of visualization, which takes more energy and causes dyslexic students to take longer to complete a task.

Education and the Dyslexic

Some of the traits of dyslexics are seeing, thinking, and perceiving multi-dimensionally. Traditional educational processes interfere with a multi-dimensional thought process. Eventually, this becomes a problem as dyslexics tend to find it difficult to understand language in traditional methods of learning. Multiply this problem over years, and you have a student with what "they" call a "learning disability". I believe that providing an educational process in harmony with the multi-dimensional free thinker's thought process will result in greater success for students. Dyslexics often possess higher than normal intelligence and extraordinary creative abilities, which can be compromised by a traditional educational process. In that case, dyslexic children can struggle with their stifled talents. Some outlets for this energy are positive; some are not. It's not fun playing a game you're not good at that others are. Some develop traits recognized as characteristics of ADD. Some turn to art or sports; some become teachers' pets to make up the difference. Some disturb the class; some do things you don't want to know about. I did them all.

Dyslexia is a unique, hidden learning difference that requires a different educational approach. Most school system still do not address dyslexia in the way I believe it needs yet this is understandable oversight can only help on a general level. It is up to the child and there will to strive for the best Human they can be. In college I got accommodations, which were helpful but could have been a crutch for me if I was not so doggedly determined to prove something to myself. These Accommodation where Extra time on tests, Tutors and note takers, and Books on tape.

Traditional schools generally try to fit everyone in a box, feeding students information at the same pace with little regard to their learning differences. Of course those who learn differently "fall behind" because they have to decode information to absorb it. They learn differently, not slowly, but the result is like a domino effect. Many students' self esteem goes down as a result of their frustration, which increases when they feel that no one understands them.

I personally believe that dyslexics are also human antennas who get distracted or inspired by the world around them, like the old days when getting in front of the antenna would make the tv reception phase out. Dyslexics need to be engaged in learning to minimize loosing focus to other things. Using more of their senses is a good way to engage dyslexics in learning.

Day dreaming believer - My experience of learning

When I think about ideas, I use my "mind's eye" to actually see what I am thinking or what others are telling me. In this state of mind, I go through a virtual walk-through. Personal I believe that dyslexics and "learning disabled" people have heightened sensitivity to external stimulation and are come with a disposition that allows them to cultivate a spiritual awareness easer and quicker than most. I also think Jeremiah and Ezekiel was dyslexic but how can I be sure right?

It is necessary for me to visualize everything. I remember being frustrated in Algebra classes as I tried to visualize the concept of a negative multiplied by a negative equaling a positive. My logic was this: if you dig a hole, you have a negative; if you multiply the hole, You have a field full of holes. But it's not; it's a positive! And no one can explain it! They want us to simply accept it. Well, I just can't, not if I'm going to truly know it. I would frustrate teachers with one question, WHY? It is no wonder I have degrees in psychology theology and philosophy.

Like blind people often have stronger senses such as hearing and smelling, I believe dyslexics have stronger mental visualization. Information is seen in my head like a movie, which allows me to get a clear picture of how I'm going to accomplish something before I even start. I can't even write a paper till I can see the whole paper. many don’t get this about dyslexics. I have been working on my Master's thesis in ethics for about a year and just now am I seeing it to write it. I can create a visual walk-through of what someone is telling me. Sometimes the information will trigger a different subject, usually a profound idea or perspective of what I am learning. I call them "sparks" and "idea rolling".

I go on virtual journeys often; it is the core of how I create an end-product. I love it when the Lord uses the same natural talent to show me something. Those journeys are of a totally different nature but, shall we say, ride on the same boat.

Sometimes, I work like a "mad-man" when I want to finish what I've started. Once I am grounded (a prayerful process of focusing my mind, and asking desperately for help; AND HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFU!) and in the moment (connecting all my senses to the task at hand) with the book or computer or bible before me, I have been known to work for hours without eating, drinking or getting up to go to the bathroom. I don't have balance in this area, but I really like to work in this way. I get so excited and passionate about the subject, often theological, that, when I finish, I am almost in a state of euphoria. It love it, for the joy of it - and that joy drive me. Neither money, not fame nor the hopeless seeking after popularity, it is the idea and the one behold all ideas that so fascinates my mind heart and soul. I may die poor but I am rich. I have journeyed places and seen thinks it is unlawful for me to tell of, but God knows the value of such journeys, he took me on them and one day there true value will be known

Dyslexia 1.5

Three Videos on Dyslexia

The First is an encouraging spot for NBC new

The Second and third are educational videos on the subject

Dyslexia: Part ONE... "The words make fun of me…"

When I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:10)

There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear.
(1 John 4:18)

But by God's grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others-not I, of course, but God's grace that was with me.
(1 Corinthians 15:10)

Barefoot Grace: when weakness, fear and trembling get inside love

“Please don’t call on me” the boy thought as he hid behind a girl sitting in front of him. It was a typical day in 6^th grade. A day like all others, except, today was reading day. It was a small class only 26 but the boy wished for one more person. All 25 had read. He had kept up and as always he was last. Peering through her pig tails the teacher's eye and his eye met. “Read the next 3 sentences?” His heart sank.

He looked at the book for a moment and slowly he flopped it open. As the book tipped and spread across his desk, the boy noted the texture and aged look of the book. To himself, he asked and pondered its own story... His mind sparked and in the time of a blink, he created and enjoyed a little story of how the book found its way to his desk. It had traveled the world from Topeka Kansas, where it was published, to the hands of a small missionary school in India. It was read by Tong Tong, an Indian boy, now fur trader. who sold it back to a literate sailor seeking education as well as adventure. Somehow it made the trek back to America and not just America but Georgia and not just Georgia but Macon Ga. Their it was found by His teacher and given to him.

He knew it was not a true story but anything was better then reading! His story was much more interesting than any story in the book. He laughed out loud at his train of inspiration, smiling big in satisfaction, before realizing the class was widely gaping at him, with looks that acted like "Crooked" road signs pointing him in the wrong direction. This was not the first time, there looks he knew all to well.

That one was “Idiot!”

Over there was “YOUR WEIRD!”

The row over, “PITTY”

His friends, “YOUR STUPID!”

Even the teacher though she tried to hide it silently stared in blind confusion, “YOU’RE HOPELESS.”

Returning to the book and settling himself the boy nervously thought “The book would help him? right?” Well traveled books are helpful? Right? They understand, right? The boy stared at the book as if waiting for it to talk to him. Hoping that somehow looking at the words long enough would make the confusion, empty spaces, and lost connections, go away, Fill up and reconnect. Yet the boy knew that reality was not in fanciful thinking and books did not help you read but are for reading. Waiting would only delay the inevitable.

In a voice projecting an apparent confidence, the boy read “THE…” The teacher stops him. "No. The word is 'A' " As He stared at the page he could hear the words laughing at him, slowly he realized it was the giggles of his class mates. "It is A." The teacher said sweetly amidst the giggles of the class.

“THE … Boy.. Wa.. Wal.. WALKS… The boy looks up for approval. The teacher nods as if to say good job. His eyes spark. He smiles and continues… “THE BOY WALKS ….. ME.. HO..” Laughter explodes out of the class filling the room with a condemning joy. Seeing he messed up somehow he quickly comes to his own defense. “ME HO.. It could be the name of a boy..... from china? Or.. Or.. something….”

The teacher stops him and the class, “The word is HOME…Dawson.. The word is Home.. Keep Reading.” He could hear some classmates deliberating behind him ...

“Think he will make it this time?"

"NO way! It will be over soon…He ant got it in him.. He’s Stupid! He said home backwards!"

"and upside down"

"Stupid!”

In the distance, some of the boys in the back began to softly chant "Noswad... Noswad... Noswad..." The teacher eyed them and the chanting quickly faded away.

After hearing the conversation the boy looked up at the teacher and resolutely said “Can I read now?” "We don't know!", a bodiless voice said and the class erupted again in laughter. The boy grits his teeth determined to make it to the last word. Looking at the page, there was a long pause the silence was palpable. Without lifting his head the boy spoke up, “I don’t know that word...” More laughter. The teacher warns the class.

The word is “FROM.”

The boy read, “THE BOY WALKED HOME FROM” … the teacher added “SCHOOL”. The boy repeated “SCHOOL.” More silence.

Slowly smiling as if he had just planned a brilliant escape the boy said, “OOOOH! “THE BOY WALKS HOME FROM SCHOOL!” “That reminds me, I did that yesterday; walked home from school. It was dry. I saw on the news that we may get some rain later in the week. What do you think?”

“I think you need to keep reading! Dawson.. read, NOW, please!” Ten minuets now have passed and the teacher's voice bristled with frustration.

Giggles of earlier now faded and the class rests in awkward silence and distracted laziness. Not giving up the boy said “THE BOY WALKS HOME FROM SCHOOL! .. A DAY...”

"No! Dawson! “THE!” It is 'the'….T.H.E! You can do this! Dawson!"

In a wispy voice that sounded of weakness but is really the strength of the soul grunting as it holds back a flood of pain, hurt, and tears, the boy said, "Yes ma'am, I'm trying.." After a deep breath, the boy again echoed the teacher “THE…” "THE D.. DA" As before he could hear the words laughing at him yet this time the class remained silent. On a frequency only he could hear the word secretly mocked him.

The boy read, “THE DAY…”

The words chanted…. “Dumb Dawson… Don’t know a thing.”

He kept reading “W… WA ... WAS…

“How Stupid are you? Rocks are smarter and more useful!”

The teacher said “HOT” The boy repeated “HOT.” “THE DAY WAS HOT.” Looking up, His lip trembled he knew it was taking to long. He knew his time was up, as if in slow motion the the teacher conceded.

“You can stop! Don’t go any further.”

Just then the words, the class, the room, the very air with one voice cried out,

“FAILURE! YOU’RE A FAILURE!”

The boy could almost taste the blackness. It happened, one tear hit the page.. The boy knew more were coming! He could feel them rising! He blurted out “Can I go to the bath room? Before the teacher could acknowledge him the boy darted out the door and down the hall. He ran. He ran Hard. He was always good at running. And when He ran, as it was said in a movie he would see many years later, He could feel God's pleasure. AS He ran He felt the pleasure of GOD. He kept running out the door and down to the gym.

Out running the tears,

Out running the words,

Out running the labels,

Out running himself.

Some say he has never stopped running. He never stopped pushing himself. He never stopped out running himself. But that day he did stop, he was stopped in his tracks when something his father told him came to mind. There in-between the gym and the classroom, almost a metaphor for his life, he remembered his dad’s words, “I love you, Mama Loves you and Jesus loves you that’s all that matters! When you know that, nothing can make you run!”

The Boy walked back to the class room just before entering the boy paused to tie his shoes, then decided to take them off. Anyway, He was not going anywhere. The boy could feel the cold painted concrete on his feet. They would not diminish his courage to finish. Shoes in hand, he entered a room full of "crooked" road signs but this time nothing would stop him, not even himself.

Seeing Life through tears is common for a dyslexic but overcoming fear by embracing weakness is the glory of a dyslexic. To this day, when the boy's feet feels the cold hard texture of painted concrete, he cant help but smile and be reminded of the courage that Love gives. One tear hit the page encapsulating one word. Inside a tear “the” can become an “A” and inside Love, fear can become courage.

"The greatest weakness of all is the great fear of appearing weak, LD / Dyslexics face their fears everyday in school, thus are some of the fearless people I know."

- Girard Sagmiller

So Remember the spiritual lessons Dyslexia can teach.

1. Inside Love, fear can become courage.

2. The greatest and most controlling fear is the fear of not appearing weak.

3. Fighters are Runners remade by the grace of God. Fighters are Runners moved by the feel of barefoot grace.

4. The appearance of weakness is the truth of a believer. Courageously acknowledging personal weakness is the beauty of a believer. Overcome fear by embracing weakness is the glory of a believer.

Writers note - in the story above I tried to bring you into a world few understand. To show in some little slice the world as a dyslectic feels it. I was hoping to help people see through My eyes emotionally while gaining an understanding of the whole.

More importantly - showing the truth that moments of embarrassment can become moments of empowering grace. Such moments in life train us to understand just how divine strength squeaks through our weakness. It is my favorite paradox of grace - weakness is strength. Today a businessman or Political power player may tell you "weakness is just weakness, it will amount to pain, oppression, and rejection. Weak people are failures and will not make it in a dog eat dog world." Yet in God's kingdom courage only comes one way in the acknowledgment of your weakness and uncovering of your need for help. Such undressing of the soul before God is the door to acceptance, freedom, and hope. In such honesty, fields of grace open to you and the spiritual presence which clothes the soul in courage is personally disclosed in your weakness.

In the final analysis
To be perfictly clear the main point of this story was to remind us the greatest weakness of all is the fear of appearing weak but when we embrace our weakness through Truth, and Love - Grace empowers and overthrows all fear in a revolution of the heart.

Coming Attractions

dYSLeXIA - One insiders "back-ward and upside-down" look into a condition many do not understand and many joke about.

I am starting a seriose on this blog. I will be explaining dyslexia. what it is? what it is like? and Why I think God makes 10% of the population this way. At any rate, it will do me good to write it, I want people understand how I can appear so smart and then feel so stupid....

the education will begin soon....

Salt, Light, and Baby powder

"You are the salt of the earth; ….."You are the light of the world. …..Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

- Matt 5:13-16 (NASB)

A Mother was 3 months pregnant for the third time yet this time it was different there was danger. She was in her mid-thirties and not in perfect health. The doctor’s claimed that both the kidney medication and thyroid medication she had to take for her own health, could and should cause severe retardation. More than likely the child would be retarded or deformed unable to ever fully take care of itself. The doctors requested serious consideration as to the possibility of an abortion. To the husband the doctors added that the chance of him loosing the child and loosing his wife where significantly higher than usual. They may both die if this child is taken to term.

“At best, your child will be mentally retarded. Worst case, you loose both of them. I suggest you abort the pregnancy – the risk is too high!”

The Couple takes a moment to think things over. The doctor is not out of the room before the mother speaks up, “Dead or alive, I am keeping this child! ” In the time it takes a butterfly to open its wings the choice was made. The husband explains to the doctor, “You heard her. We will take whatever the Good Lord chooses to give us. He is smarter than all of us anyway, even you, Doc! ” That night as the mother lay sleep less in bed she thought of a story she had read about a woman named Hannah. Hannah was a praying woman. She was child-less but in her prayers gave to God the fruit of her womb. And God gave her a child after she had first, given the child to God. Laying her hand on her stomach, the mother prayed,

“God – I give you the fruit of my womb! Whatever it be, I give you this child, I consecrate this child to you and your service. Jesus, let this child be a witness of you, whatever it be. In frailty show yourself mighty. In weakness display your glory. I give this child to you, whatever it be…… And Lord, don’t let me die… I like the smell of baby powder. Amen”

The mother roles over on her side the saltiness of her tears wet her lips. This is how the salt of the earth live and how the salt never looses it savor. The mother smiles, for her God is God and her God is Good, whatever it be!

In the time it takes to smile, my mother was given her answer. On September 12, 1976, six months later, she received back to herself, what she had given. She was alive, I was pronounced a healthy baby boy and life smelled like baby powder. The same doctor who reasoned my death marveled at my life. I have been told that at my discharge, he waved good bye with a bible in one hand and a clip board in the other. The doctor called me his little light; the light that showed him God is real. His little night light that helped him to read the book as true. It is a family joke, that he is the first person I ever led to the Lord. My first convert: a southern doctor that tried to kill me. All I did was be born, yet in the plan of God, I was born to the salt of the earth; people that know how to believe, pray, and bring light into this world.

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. ….Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

Matt 5:13-15 (MSG)

Don't hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

Matt 5:16 (LB)

A Wedding Sermon

I wrote this because I was tired of writing my thesis and after I finished I thought I would post it. Though I am not a Priest, Preacher or Rabbi. I now have a wedding sermon any taker?

Dawson's first wedding sermon

Introduction
We are gathered hear to day to watch two worlds collide. I say “worlds” because before me are not just two people but two lives. Lives with worlds of experience between them and ways of viewing that world, such worlds are bound to collide. This coalition, this two becoming one flesh, God calls marriage. Marriage is his idea. In Genesis 2:22-25, God preformed the wedding. He even let Adam write his own vows.

The LORD God … brought her to the man. 23

The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman ,
Because she was taken out of Man ." 24

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

I believe it was the first and last wedding in which all participants were naked. (Ha ha)

If you keep reading this great story does not have a happy ending. Sadly, one chapter over from where I read Adam and Eve experience failure and deep disappointment. The up side to such a fall was threw it all they where still one because God had made them One.

My point is that a wedding is the beginning of being one.

U2 has a song call “One.”
They have many songs, but the song One is one of their finest.

The song starts

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you
Now you got someone to blame

So is this the best thing about being married, about being one?
That you get someone to blame.

To the Groom
Repeat after me

I ______ _______
take you ________ _________
so I’ve got someone to blame.

To the Bride
Repeat after me

I ______ _______
take you ________ _________
so I’ve got someone to blame.

That’s not all being One means.
The song by U2 continues

Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?

To the Groom
Repeat after me
I, ______ _______
take you ______ ______,
to disappoint me
to leave a bad taste in my mouth

To the Bride
Repeat after me
I, ______ _______
take you ______ ______,
to disappoint me
to leave a bad taste in my mouth

What does it mean to be one?
For U2, being one includes times of disappointment and of blame. God would agree.

There is a French philosopher with the rather unfortunate name of Nancy. Jean Luc Nancy. Mr Nancy can’t stand false “oneness”. He can’t stand relationships and marriages and communities that just put up a good front. But Mr Nancy does not give up on marriage. Instead Mr Nancy argues that true relationships, deep oneness, starts with us being real.

True relationships start with each of us acknowledging that there will be disappointment and blame and a bad taste for this or that offense.

Because when we are real, when we face our limitations and name our struggles. We are then able to see the world of another; we can see the other’s reality. This opens us to face others limitations and struggles.

And in that shared reality, we are one.
World’s collide and we are one.

And so the key to building a good marriage is to be real.
to face your limitations and struggles.

Or as U2 sings,
One life
But we’re not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other.

Personal words to the groom (something like)
I remember sitting with you, slumped over a café table in Raleigh
Two weeks before you had asked for some advice on how to choose a marriage companion, how to know someone was “the one.”

And then there you were, slumped over the café table, telling me that it was over.
In that moment, your relationship had a sense of reality,
a since of disappointment.

Yet here you are today and you are looking very handsome. Look at your bride, isn’t she beautiful? Now tell me and was it all worth it?

So my charge to you is Remember
Remember that times of disappointment there will be many more but do not remember it without remembering the risk, and courage and fortitude you mustered to continue after her. Do not remember without the memory that in the end being ONE is worth it all!

Personal words to the Bride (something like)
On your website on May 16th you wrote:
I am sooo over being engaged. I am sick of organising stuff. Why does deciding you want to spend the rest of your life with someone equal becoming a manic, diarised control freak? I hate who I am becoming! And sometimes I just want to shut down and just quit. But I cant.. I just can’t.

And so you have built your relationship on reality and on struggle.
Yet here you are today and you are looking beautiful and you’re soon to be husband is looking handsome. The struggle was worth it. The pain of being real was worth it. It was all worth it.

So my charge to you is Continue
From this day on you will build a house and a family, it will be a struggle and as long as you open yourself to be real it can be a joy. Look at your husband, He can be trusted, He is willing to fight for you, willing to be one. In all the ups and downs of life build your marriage on reality and in the knowledge that the struggle is worth it, and it will be! So I say to you continue to be real. Continue, for it is worth it!

You both are Christians

You follow a God who accepted you.
Who knew your reality and your limitations.

Who loved you as you are.
This is what love is:
That God loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which are sins are forgiven.

God
who did not accept false oneness
who looked past all our “good fronts”, our “love-like phoniness”, our “painted smiles”
God send his son when we were yet sinners to die for us, in our place, for us.

So God
Who looks past our “Good Fronts” and Self-righteous actions and saw hearts that said
I don’t like you!
I hate you!
You make me sick!
I am indifferent to you!
I don’t know how I feel about you!”

and still he Loved and Still he died! ------ For US.

God accepting our reality and our limitations.

Marriage is now a part of your Christian spirituality.

Remember Adam and Eve, they messed everything up and ended blaming each other. After being given the punishment for there disobedience, God for there own Good, kicked then out of the Garden I imagine them hand in hand walking with heads down, for the weight of there actions rested squarely on there heads. But if you read closely you see God's grace at work in this mess. God likes to work in the middle of the mess. Adam and Eve fell but God did not kick them out and write them off. God did not give up on them.. The last thing we hear of there marriage is the two dealing with the lose of one son and the other son being the killer. MESS! But God is not done! that is not the end of there story. The end of there story is the same as ours, the human story ends in the same place ours does - At the Cross. God works in mess and thought the mess of the cross to make a way for man. God will work in all the messes that happen in your marriage if you let him be the center of your marriage.

Keeping short accounts, not taking each other for granted, making time to listen.
Is not part of romance or love, it is part of your life in God.
Romance can’t secure forgive but a life in God can.
Life-together in God can forgive, and endure the hurt,
Life in God can open us to say I’m wrong and grow closer through the pain.
For your part of a bigger story, your story is part of God’s story,
Your life is no more it is now Our Life with God for you are ONE.

Christian spirituality is a journey Marriage is part of the journey.
A journey of a shared commitment to grow and change.
And the only way you can grow and change,
the only way you can wrinkle and mature with each other,
is to be real with each other, to accept your limitations and “name” your struggles.
But take time to
Have Fun!
Be adventitious!
Enjoy each other!

Have Sex all the time! - God Invented it for your "oneness"!

It's all part of the journey get into it!

Conclusion
You will probably not remember a single word I say.

When you watch the video tape, you will hear me say

Build you marriage on reality.
Build your marriage on your limitations and struggles.

But every time you hear U2, I hope you will remember

One life
Because you’re not the same
You get to carry each other
Carry each other

AMEN.

Pictures of Grace, Part four of four,

the fighter for the new song - a mind on fire and a heart of creativity

Pictures of Grace, Part three of four,

Sanctifying Grace

How amazing is it to see the dawn,
to wittiness its growth as one come from meager beginnings
a light like a life known for its steady movement from darkness to destiny.
As if a viewless voiceless wheel pulls it by some invisible power,
sunshine like grace filling empty night, lifting the falling,
teaching the weak that beauty is a capacity of all things created.
A capacity through which we creep into the experience of redemption,
And gain the knowledge of redemptive action, the Awe of Amazing grace,
Grace like a sunrise in slow moving beauty.
Burns me, changes me, And I only grow hotter from its flame

Empowering Grace

How amazing it is that freedom rings in the hearts of men,
that blood and faith stands stronger than chains.
That the longing for justice is a grace to act
yet in stillness, grace slowly saturates and nations are changed

How amazing it is to see the freedom that is not free
take root in people that know not freedom
and even in chains, in hate, in the stretch of a whip
And rise, A people rise, as free men ..They rise by grace.

Grace amazing in oppressive flame
Unending grace in a shepherd's Fame
Grace amazing in inspiring ways
Unending grace in enduring waves

Grace is freeing grace
Grace is good
Grace is known as God is good.
And Good is God reaching out in love
Grace is unmatched gifts
from the fire dove.

Pictures of Grace, Part two of four,

Temptation is universal
the fork in the path - where we entertain the thought of evil.
so effortlessly, how it enslaves - how slow and calm the noose is slipped tight
till all is night and daylight hurts the eyes

then in desperation or fits of hope we cry

AND HE ALWAYS HEARS ... HE ALWAYS HEARS!