Good? part one

While going through the Sunday paper, I read an article about one of my favorite actors. The article about Harrison Ford was very interesting and I appreciated the comments. One of his quotes got me thinking. In describing himself, he said "I want to be good at what I do, and I want to learn from other people how to get good, be good, stay good".

What does 'good' mean? Good at doing something? Good in you behavior; a good person? What is the source of that 'goodness'? If I'm being good, what does it mean to -not be good? Are other people the source of how to get good? Is the definition of a good person a utilitarian construct of societal agree-ability? Why don't I agree to Hitler's social actions? If I know where 'good' is going, do I know where it comes from? If I define being good differently from another person's definition, how can they be both 'good'?

Unless some source point of  'good' is outside of a personal opinion, it must only be a personal reference that can be adjusted to whatever circumstance may come my way. Expediency becomes the word, not 'good'. So, let me suggest that an external referent must be applied to insure a reasonable indication of what 'good' is and what 'good behavior' looks like.

It is amazing how many cultures worldwide have similar norms, morals, ethic references. Although the application sometimes appears different, the core of action (we might cal them values or virtues) is remarkably similar.

In one of the business articles I read recently, the author noted six items in Western business practices that illustrate having 'good behavior'. These items, which I will look at in later posts, seem to translate into all cultures. They are: honesty, honor, self-respect, humility, manners, and the practice of respect. Again application may vary, but the virtues remain integrated to the culture. Even the crudest tribe culture may lie and cheat outside the tribe to achieve gain, but they will stand with the virtue of honesty with their members. In comparison, when an action goes beyond the norm of the virtue the person is said to be bad, evil, maybe even sinful. So how do we know and label it that way?

There seems to be some reference point in which these virtues have been established as 'good'. I would suggest that man has been unable to establish them on his own. This is based primarily on the fact that people are first self-motivated to their own definition and personal self interests. Even I cannot evade this pull to the self-justification of my actions. So where did these virtues, which can be contrary to my wants and demands, find their birth and what does it mean for my 'good' behavior?

What are your thoughts?

We Need Bigger Cars

Now that the average miles per gallon has finally reached 1987 levels, we can get to the economic stimulus of making bigger cars. Without subjecting you to trivial facts, by making bigger cars we can revive the steel industry, the oil companies can make more plastic, and bigger cars means bigger tires. All of which will increase the size of production and our industrial complex.

Following the stimulus practices of our government, we can make more and give everyone money to buy them, even if no one wants to purchase them. We can pave the roads again ( I mean the ones we don't use) and allow the bigger cars to run on the old roads, increasing the need for new tires, equipment replacement and ultimately a new car! Wow, what an idea, I'm glad I thought of it.

Tape

Eye the Pessimistic Believer

I guess it has been the past "successes" of Nazism, Communism, Tribal Dictators, and Fascism that has caused the Western Christian community to interpret the scriptures with a great deal of pessimism? And when I add the number of "military conflicts" that USAmerica has been part of following World War II, which comes to thirteen in sixty years (with two still going on), maybe there is pause for despair. Oh yes, we do have the cheesy groups that limit their conversations only to "Think success, be success" (You know...'think the crown -- be the crown'?). They do congregate a large following which could be attributed to the pessimism of society at large and just possibly to the pessimism they find from other church communities.

However, it's time for the USAmerican church to get off their greater posterior position and stand with humility to the hope and sacrifice that is recognized and acted upon in other parts of God's kingdom here on earth. Instead of incorrectly passing the promises of God's kingdom into the future thus relegating the reign of Christ's goodness into a mystic millennium, His ways are now. Within this challenge is both failure and gain, but the fact remains that with a pessimistic dispensational view there will be no success and the gain is more like a cerebral migraine thought to feel good.

Believing that it will only be doom and gloom until the Messiah returns leaves out the fact that the Messiah has already come to us (I think it's remembered as Christmas).  So why do so many of us live with downcast souls? Yes, because of my own willfulness, life has had its difficulties, yet the Spirit of Jesus remains to keep my alive and seeing the beauty of living a dedicated life in His Kingdom.

And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build my church and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong toits detriment or hold out against it]. (Matthew 16:18 AMP)

To my Jesus freaking friends, remember that you are part of that huge rock, that this motley crew is called the fellowship of God. You are bigger than you think -- you are a LARGE piece of that rock. In humble thankfulness I would call us all to act according to the faith given us.

In ages past, Biblical believers saw the reality of faith and hope in both humankind and His created works. He did not abandon either but declared a covenant, and and sealed it with the coming of the Christ, who broke through the space-time continuum with a promise and governance that makes sense against the pessimism and struggles of life.
Daniel

We Should Promote Bribes

Thanks to Daniel in allowing me to start posting to this site. I hope to add more comments as time goes by.


The puritanical work requirements of  USAmerica has caused too much success. Today, things are changing and we should promote these changes. The indicators are the scriptural virus checks on society being removed and the greater global market that flourishes by rewarding corruption. Additionally, with corporate and economic leaders being called on their so called 'scandals', we need to get with it now!

The first step is to get a job with a regulatory operation that can withhold services. Then, because we only get wages for the work we do, we are in an excellent position for "a little extra". With these "extra funds" we would make our service-process a little smoother. (Why let our political cadre have all the bribes? I think they call it entitlements or pork, something like that.)

So I propose, as regulators, we could withhold public works unless we receive an extra fee. Or withhold phone service without an extra tax. Better yet, let's limit the choices of educational opportunities so that only certain educational groups would get extra monies for their classrooms or could hire special tutoring for after school learning.

One writer said "Corruption turns every institution from servant into master". So join up now and start making way for all those extras we deserve.

Feeding Comfortably,  Tape Worme'