rambling rosemarie

I don't know that you will read this because my blog is not well known and in the larger scheme of things I am of little consequence. I know you are a busy man and honestly, given the last few weeks I imagine you might be tired of people's opinions. Knowing this, however, I hope that you will take a moment to read it or that someone who knows you will kindly bring it to your attention. I want to thank you for your post dated 2/25/2010 . I know that it is not easy to be criticized, confronted and talked about. I talked about you here on my blog and if you care to read what I said you will note that I was praying for you. That was sincere. I also know that it may seem to you that those of us who are reformed in our theology just want to make your life miserable because you are not reformed. That may be true for some, but I assure you that is not the case for me nor is it the case for those with whom I associate. Speaking for myself, my intentions are honorable toward y...

I am always amazed by how little attention most people pay to words, especially the words they use. Words have meaning; they are the symbols or maps we use to communicate. While the map is not the territory, it's crucial that the map accurately reflect the territory it represents. Perhaps I care about this because of my personal experiences with words used carelessly and inaccurately. When you've been a liar and know the treachery of the lies you've told and when you've been on the receiving end of lies, white or Technicolor, you know their ability to gut you. If you've been on the receiving end of a rebuke, one that's hit the truth of your lie on the head and exposed your guilt, it brings with it the sort of shame you can only do one of three things with; repent, attack the one who has exposed you, or retreat like a coward and never deal with the issue in the light. I have spent the last couple of hours listening and reading through thoughts and opinions abo...

Just in case my two or three readers think that I am out of line when I say that high self-esteem is dangerous, please take the time to watch this interview on Good Morning America. The recent horrific shootings in Alabama on the Huntsville campus prompted a look at the suspect, Amy Bishop. During the interview with an expert on profiling, Dr. Michael Welner, Bill Weir asks about the differences between men and women who commit mass shootings / murders and the expert finds a commonality: high self-esteem. Do I think everyone with self-esteem will commit a mass shooting? No. But the sinful preoccupation with yourself and your accomplishments, abilities, wants and desires does lead to having less regard for everyone else. That is dangerous. Any of us are capable of the most heinous sins imaginable when given the right set of circumstances and provocations. Thinking more highly of yourself than you do others lowers your threshold of tolerance making the likelihood of hurting ...

I read an article in our local paper about a scholarship program that is being offered to the young people "in the foothills of Appalachia." The program is called Tandava. Tandava is the dance of the Hindu god, Shiva. Shiva dances a rigorous dance that results in both the creation and the destruction of the world. My grandmother was right. This world is going to hell in a hand basket. What she didn't tell me was that Shiva was going to dance to make it happen. The program's objective is to build greater confidence and self-esteem in area youth. The founders of the program say this is necessary to help our students compete with other students from bigger schools in the state and across the nation. The article defines tandava as a Sanskrit word meaning 'entering the great dance of life with skill and poise.' Skill and poise are good things and have absolutely nothing to do with self-esteem. Confidence comes with mastery and clear understanding. Pois...