Conrad Johnson's Blog, page 23

Haroon Moghul and The Management of Savagery (au nom de Satan)

Today's brilliant post in the ezine, Quartz, by Haroon Moghul, brought to my attention what many call 'the Islamic jihadist playbook for terrorism', The Management of Savagery. I encourage you to follow the link, read it and share with others this exposition of evil amongst us. Peace.--Jean Mark
Au nom de quoi? Au nom de Satan...
Even before the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris, I knew what they would say. They would claim that France is a “crusader nation”; that France’s Muslims are oppressed; that France participates in operations against ISIL and has deep historical ties to the Muslim world.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Mercy Me and Flawless (You dirty, dirty boys and girls)

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.-Proverbs 30:5

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ...2 Timothy 3:1-17

Rebecca Forster and Gefährliche Zeugin

Rebecca Forster is back from Berlin and in great company. Click http://www.amazon.de/b?ie=UTF8&node=8484548031 … …. #reading sehr gut

Esterlyn and Freedom American Style

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you-James 4:7

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control; against such things there is no law--Galatians 5:22

The Secret Life of Words (an 'in case you missed it' movie review)

The critically acclaimed, award winning film,  The Secret Life of Words, released in 2005 and starring Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley, is definitely worth a close viewing. And at least once more again if you've already seen it what with all the wars and rumors of wars these days. But you'll have to turn up the volume because, as the title suggests, it's not a movie made for those who devour loud gratuitous sex and violence. It's a romantic drama that surgically pierces the soul and examines how true love can only come wrapped in pain. This is not to say that no humor exists in the marvelously scripted and directed screenplay by Isabel Coixet. Indeed, Robbins plays Josef, a severely injured oil rig worker in the North Sea with keen, tortured wit that eventually draws Hanna, his circumstantially appointed nurse played by Polley, into a ridiculously beautiful dimension of laughter and deep sharing.

There are so many tropes, memes, motifs of love, suffering, joy, hope, sharing, pain, communication, longing forbidden love, lust, pleasure, apathy, complacency, absurdity--far too many too adequately deal with--that I defer the reader of this review to the film itself. Ultimately, it is a meticulous peeling away of a victim (and victimizer's) psychological and emotional skin that is brilliantly and metaphorically symbolized by Polley's nursing of Robbins' burn wounds. Layer by torturous aching layer of flesh is slowly stripped away and replaced by visible and invisible scars upon the soul that only deep, communicative and honest love can heal.

But perhaps the best thing about The Secret Life of Words is the reality based reference to the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. If I told you anymore then I would have to cut you out of the secret itself. Forever. Enjoy.

Is it possible to overthink love? (Happy Meal from singer, Shawn McDonald)

I was looking for moneyAnd found a name.I was looking for numbers;Just part of the gameI was searching for sunshineAnd then I found pain.
You are my beginning,You are my end.You are my love song,You are my friend.
I was walking in fire,I was stepping in tune.Lights on the hilltopLed me to you.Sometimes the silenceIs colored in blue.
You are my beginning,You are my end.You are my love song,You are my friend.
This journey's not over,This story's not told.Your love comes with sorrow,But our joy stands bold.You're calling me softly,More lightly than snow.
You are my beginning,You are my end.You are my love song,You are my friend.--John H. Byk


Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. --1 John 4:4

Jihadi "Lady Face" John and The parable of the beaver and the snake (got qu'ran?)

photo from thereligionofpeace.com


A beaver prepared to cross a wide river and sees a deadly, brightly colored snake resting in the sun waiting. It lifts its poisonous head and says to the beaver, "I need a way to cross this river. Can you help me?" 
"But you are a dangerous snake," answered the beaver. "How can I trust that you will not bite me and then eat me as I die?"
"Because I give you my word," said the snake.
The good natured beaver who wanted no enemies and who tried to live peaceably with all men thought it over and finally agreed. He let the snake slither onto his back and then swam them both across the wide, fast moving river. Once on the other side, the snake fiercely bit the beaver on the back of the neck. The beaver cried out, "You killed me! You lied to me! I helped and trusted you! Why did you do it?"
The snake smiled devilishly and said, "Because I am a snake and it is my nature to do so."
If possible , so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all--Romans 12:18

Fernando del Paso and El Premio Cervantes

Congratulations to the Mexican novelist, Fernando del Paso, on winning one of the most prestigious literary prizes for Spanish language fiction, El Premio Cervantes. You can read the full article in Spanish HERE and use Google translate to get the basics on this noteworthy literary event if you don't read Spanish. Also, if you like Spanish American authors who write in this genre, please check out my Goodreads review of 
The Secret History of Costaguana by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
 photo by SAÚL RUIZ
El escritor mexicano Fernando del Paso ha ganado el XXX Premio Miguel de Cervantes. Es el galardón literario más importante del español con el cual se rinde homenaje al conjunto de la obra de un autor. El premio está dotado con 125.000 euros y se entregará en un acto especial el 23 de abril de 2016

Will you never forget on this Veterans Day?

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God--Matthew 5:9

Chris Tomlin and Good, Good Father (new release)

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect--Matthew 5:48