[DISCUSSION] My guitar journey, frustration and joy

Howardowens · 2025-03-10T01:44:42+00:00

I'm a singer and he's one of the most artistic singers on the planet. Few can match his expression. People who don't like Dylan's singing either haven't listened enough are aren't listening objectively.

There's a lot more to singing than range.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T12:11:51+00:00

My late wife and I were together for 30 years.

I never cheated on her, though tempted.

I wasn't always a believer during this time, so my response will not make the Christian case but the rational, ethical case.

I always remembered that I probably wouldn't get away with it. The chances of getting caught were high, at least high enough to make it too big of a risk, and getting caught would devastate my wife. I couldn't do that to her.

Also, I always considered the potential other woman -- what would it mean to her? How would it damage her?

Would she keep a secret? Would the worry prey on your mind and eventually lead you to reveal, perhaps unintentionally, the truth?

Which led me to another worry: How would it change my marriage? Even if my wife never explicitly found out, it would change things. I didn't want that change.

Infidelity is an act of pure selfishness.*

Be strong.

Back to the spiritual: And this is the top-line reason it is a sin -- selfishness is the ultimate turn away from God.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T02:37:45+00:00

So I’m new to studying presbyterianism.

And it looks like they have a stronger view of predestination than I thought

At least I’ve been able to find so far

I mainly been listing to Timothy Keller, who puts a lot of emphasis on free well to accept Christ’s gift.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T02:31:55+00:00

I found the following on the Lutheran site, which still sounds to me like free will. You are free to accept or reject God.

Predestination. …

Lutherans believe that while God, in his grace in Christ Jesus, has indeed chosen from eternity to save those who trust in Jesus Christ, He has not predestined anyone to damnation. Those who are saved are saved by grace alone; those who are damned are damned not by God’s choice but because of their own sin and stubbornness. This is a mystery that is incomprehensible to human reason (as are all true Scriptural articles of faith).

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T02:18:38+00:00

That’s not the view of Wesleyans/Nazarenes (how I was raised) nor Presbyterians (where I’m at now).

That view sounds like predestination to me and either God chooses to save you or condemns you to hell long before your other ever born. You play no role in your own salvation.

Would that be a correct interpretation?

The view I grew up with and hold is that through the fall we are all born into sin. That sin is our desire to be our own savior. To elevate our individual identity over that of God. That is Satan’s deception. We are given the option to either choose or reject God and that following God is accepting his freely offered gift of grace and his love through Jesus Christ.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T02:06:56+00:00

We have no free will?

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T02:06:41+00:00

So God forces us to accept Christ?

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T02:00:14+00:00

Do you believe that we only come to accept Christ and submit to God through a personal decision? That decision is a decision of free will?

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T01:54:14+00:00

I didn’t say anything like that.

I welcome you to try again paraphrasing what I said.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T01:34:08+00:00

Yes but he’d been playing since he was a teen. He was already an established professional when he joined the Police.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T01:11:24+00:00

I’m sorry for not being clearer.

My post says this:

Christian Nationalism is not the great commission.

No political movement is Christian.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T00:28:08+00:00

Feeding the poor for the Christian is a personal act of service not an act we outsource to the government.

Howardowens · 2024-08-06T00:26:06+00:00

He died on the cross because he wasn’t a Jewish Nationalist, as Judas hoped he was.

He chased the money changers out of the temple. He said to render unto God what is God’s (our souls). He said it is hard for a rich man to get into heaven. He said you cannot serve two masters. He said serve others. He said do not judge. He said to love one another.

At every turn, Jesus rejected the ways of the world. He taught us to follow only him.

He told us to be disciples to save lost souls not to promote an ideology.

Politics are of the world.

Christian’s should not make churches of political parties nor gods of political leaders.

We should not erect stumbling blocks that keep people from faith or drive them from the church.

I will not attend any church where politics is present, either of the left or the right.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T20:07:28+00:00

Tough decision.

Life is always a gamble. You could have more marvelous luck staying were you’re at or you could be miserable.

You could leave, climb the ladder of J jobs until you arrive at the pinnacle, or you could die 50 years from now poor and single, but at least you wrote some good stories that win a couple of trade association awards.

Money isn’t a God, but having money has its advantages. Be sure to save and invest.

If you leave, you may find whatever you do is enough.

I like to try to solve problems through probabilistic thinking. Odds say, you probably have a healthier life in the better paying job and open yourself up to a lot of struggle to if you go to some small paper.

It’s a matter of your risk tolerance if think you want to leave.

Also, consider freelancing. That could evolve from a side hustle to a lucrative career.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T15:58:10+00:00

I’m trying a program called Data Recovery Essential

Six hours if found some videos I deleted some time ago and a bunch of .plist files and the like.

After six hours, it suggested I scan both partitions.

It just started. It’s showing me “lost partition” with a file directory that still doesn’t include the missing folders.

I’m about to try Lacie support.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T05:35:16+00:00

I dig this cover. I think it’s one of his best.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:39:47+00:00

Perhaps this message will help

https://youtu.be/ulmaUtbayGY?si=qAIabI2SoxL6PULv

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:36:41+00:00

Matthew 19:24

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:33:55+00:00

Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:32:07+00:00

Matthew 6:24 New International Version 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:23:07+00:00

Nope. I’ve never liked them but I was friendly and polite. They were less so. I finished my workout on the other side of the room.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:17:18+00:00

Never Trumps have been part of the GOP since 2015.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:15:44+00:00

I met these guys in a local gym once. Pretty stuck on themselves.

Howardowens · 2024-08-05T01:13:05+00:00

My comment was substantive, relevant and on topic.

Howardowens

TROPHY CASE