Spirit

SPIRIT
 

Spirit. It cannot be broken and it cannot be stolen away. A victim in the throes of despair might feel otherwise, and certainly the victim’s “master” would like to believe it so. But in truth, the spirit remains, sometimes buried but never fully removed.
 

The physical powers of the body cannot be separated from the rationale of the mind and the emotions of the heart. They are one and the same, a compilation of a singular being. It is in the harmony of these three – body, mind, and heart – that we find spirit.
 

How many tyrants have tried? How many rulers have sought to reduce their subjects to simple, unthinking instruments of profit and gain? They steal the loves, the religions, of their people, they seek to steal the spirit.
 

Ultimately and inevitably, they fail. This I must believe. If the flame of the spirit’s candle is extinguished, there is only death, and the tyrant finds no gain in a kingdom littered with corpses.
 

But it is a resilient thing, this flame of spirit, indomitable and ever-striving. In some, at least, it will survive, to the tyrant’s demise.

Spirit. In every language in all the Realms, in every time and every place, the word has a ring of strength and determination. It is the hero’s strength, the mother’s resilience, and the poor man’s arm. It cannot be broken, and it cannot be taken away.
This I must believe.

-Drizzt Do’Urden (paraphrased exert from part 5 of

RA Salvatore's Exile, Book 2 in The Dark Elf Trilogy)

Life as an Admissions Counselor

Don't question God's provision.  Sometimes, this is the best you get.

James 2, for the Post-Modern Era...

My friend Donny re-wrote James 2, and I found it very interesting.  I would love to hear what my avid readers think about his editing.

James 2, for the Post-Modern era...
Pretentiousness Forbidden
written by Donny Kunzer

1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't be pretentious. 2Suppose some dude comes into your post-modern church wearing designer jeans or maybe, god-forbid, has no social skills, and then a poor man covered in tat's or in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing shabby clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you dude, you remind me of that '90's guy Kurt Kobain or the totally righteous Shane Claiborne, that's so f-in' sick Brotha'" but say to the GAP-jean-wearin' boy or girl, "You stand there you nerd" or "Man, what a freak," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become fashion judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are socially inept (look at Moses or Gideon) in the eyes of the world to be healed in fellowship and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted Jesus through Mr or Mrs Socially Awkward. Is it not The Buffalo Exchange who is exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into 1980's Fashion Court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong, through MTV and the consumeristic garbage on television for starters?

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love (even your socially inept, or God-forbid: RICH) neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism to the dude who bought over-priced, used-up jeans at the Buffalo Exchange himself, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not buy $100.00 designer jeans from the GAP,"[b] also said, "Don't do the same for re-treads at some trendy second-hand store."[c] If you hate the non-hip but forget that you were once "uncool" in the eyes of God yourself, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, and not the Fashion Police all around you 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!


Thoughts?