Conrad Johnson's Blog, page 28

Anthony Jeselnik and Thoughts and Prayers

For all you people who run to the Internet to post your 'thoughts and prayers' in response to the tragedy de jour--it means absolutely nothing...just pray in your closet because it means more.

John H. Byk and I'm Coming Out

I've broke your heart a thousand times  but you have never left my side--for King and Country
Almost every hour in these Faster Than Light speed days, you see another story about somebody famous coming out gay like Olympic Silver Medal winner, Gus Kenworthy, and I'm down with that (who cares anyway meh yawn but read more here if you do). But since we're all sharing dark family secrets constantly now to both dismay, delight and gross unconcern in some cases, I thought: What the hell? I'm bored and it's raining Pats and Dogs. So here is my deepest and sincerest share for the season and for the whole damned world to see and to hopefully sneer at because all hate increases my blessing. Thank God I could finally, finally hand all my hate over to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and to let the Holy Spirit at last work fully to complete its sanctifying task in my soul. Now that doesn't mean I'll ever give up the most kick ass weapon that was given me--my Samurai sword sharp wit--but it does mean that the Word gives me new life daily and transforms my mind which is very, very, very hyper cool. Love, joy, and peace without apology.
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God"--Luke 12:8

Jeff Miner and The Children Are Free (a book review about Christianity and homosexuality)

The Children Are Free: Re-Examining the Biblical Evidence on Same-Sex Relationships by Jeff Miner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Supreme Court's recent decision to pave the way for the 'legalization' of gay marriage may seem counter intuitive yet still right to many. Hopefully, it will lead you to reexamine the hateful and misinformed religious and cultural prejudices that were taught to generations of church goers. It may be difficult to admit for some, but the progressives got this one right. Jeff Miner and others were way ahead of the curve here.

After a close reading of this relatively short treatise that biblically justifies homosexual love (not wanton lust), anyone with a discerning mind has to agree that the bible does not condemn it. In fact, if you're willing to acquiesce to Miner's brilliant debunking of what he calls the 'clobber' passages that misguided haters use to shame homosexuals (and logic dictates that you must after a careful and objective reading), one might even say that gay people hold a special place in God's kingdom. Although not officially sanctioned by Jesus as reported in Matthew 19:4-6, ironically, what Christ said turns the tables on heterosexuals as he clearly states that anyone who divorces and remarries commits adultery. However, there is no vigilant policing and public shaming by the hate mongers on this point. It's called 'cherry picking' Scripture to suit our sinful natures and a lot of people do it. This is where the gay community often takes the high road and ignores heterosexual hypocrisy, probably because they are so busy still fighting for their rights and most likely (and unfortunately) will be for years to come, because just as the 14th Amendment to the Constitution did not immediately free slaves in deed but only in word and law, so it seems to be with SCOTUS' decision this year green lighting gay marriage in all fifty states.

What is truly fascinating about Miner's apology (and I use the word in a rhetorical sense) is his explanation of why Jesus used the phrase 'born eunuch' in Matthew 19:9-12 where he is reported as saying:

And I say unto you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immortality, and marries another, commits adultery. The disciples [then] said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it." --English Standard Version

As Miner explains, in Jesus' times to say that someone was 'born a eunuch' was akin to calling them a hairdresser from San Francisco--you highly suspect the man of being gay and for obvious reasons. Now some men were made eunuchs, or castrated, in order to protect harems or serve as loyal and trusted officers in an earthly kingdom, and others, like the apostle Paul (and Jesus himself) forswore marriage for the sake of their ministries. And, pray tell, how is one 'born a eunuch' unless Christ was referring to a boy being born without testicles which seems highly unlikely. So, plainly speaking, some people are indeed born gay. It is not a choice. Jesus knew not everyone could accept this but how far society has come from that to downright hate and persecution is evil and criminal. Yet this fact remains: Christ speaks very strictly and reverently about the lifelong love between a man and a woman (never using the word 'marriage') and then in the same breath explains homosexual behavior without condemnation. As the Master often did, he covered all bases of human sexuality concisely and straightforwardly yet still his words were misconstrued.

Miner brilliantly deconstructs the 'clobber passages' that many use in the name of religion to an intelligent reader's satisfaction (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:10) as only a Harvard educated lawyer and theologian can, yet millions of people still rely upon these few passages to brandish hate and shame with a vengeance, ignoring hundreds of passages that clearly deal with heterosexual relationships.

If anything, read this book for the debunking of the clobber passages because, without them, the misinformed haters don't have a leg to stand on. But this book falls short because Miner tries too hard to exegetically reinterpret Koine Greek terms that have forever lost their meaning in the cultural dustbins of the distant past. Without going into too much detail, Miner uses the example of someone in the future reading the word 'lady-killer' from today and applying it literally without understanding it's true meaning. And speaking of ladies, The Children Are Free also expertly analyzes beautiful, heart warming stories of lesbian love, such as the story of Esther in the Old Testament, that further supports the truth and the way to a fuller understanding of agape love-- God's unconditional love for all.

But the author stretches word meaning possibilities at some point in the book, however, as anyone with a linguistic background can see, so it distracts from the solid premise of his main argument as the apostle Paul so succinctly said: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."--Romans 8:1-2.

Maranatha.
n

View all my reviews

Jordan Feliz and The River

Newsboys and God's Not Dead

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

How To Create a Gun Free America in Five Easy Steps

The Suicide Theory: A Netflix film review

This award winning film, The Suicide Theory (2015), starring Steve Mouzakis and Leon Cain, is a psychological thriller that is now available on Netflix.

Director Dru Brown takes writer Michael J. Kospiah's script and makes us reel with roller coaster mad fun on a dark journey into cross dressing psychotic hit man, Steven Ray's dilemma--how to kill a morose (yet still endearing) gay man who wants to die but who can't stay dead.

Percival, played by Leon Cain, tries to talk Ray into 'spending some time with him and getting to know him' so that he might better learn how to kill him right and good. Ray refuses to believe the man's incredible story after he lands from a suicide jump off the roof of a building onto Ray's car yet still lives. Percival insists that its fate but Ray won't buy it until several brutal, point blank execution attempts (don't worry, even if you know it's coming it will surprise you still so this not a spoiler).

The psychosocial drama that unfolds from the very first scene where the anxiety Ray ambushes and brutally kills a rude customer who cut in front of him in a convenience store prepares you for this thrilling ride into a 'born' killer's head. It only gets weirder and more intense from then on and just when you think you've got it all figured out, the film ends in an unforgettable scene that will still leave you on the edge with a sinister, slightly knowing smile curling your lips if you've payed attention. And you can't help but.

How To Make Pork Bangkok Baja

Imagine being Indian Summer barefoot on the Baja Coast, toes in the sand, drink in hand [see my recipe for a Pink Horizon on next post]. The pig's done roasting and the moon zoned beach bums are dancing at the edge of the still red hot coal pit. No? My pen ry as they say in Thailand. Never Mind. 


INGREDIENTS:
1 PORK CHOP STUFFED
1-2 CUPS APPLESAUCE
1 MEXICAN SERRANO PEPPER
SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
CILANTRO

1. Chop pepper and mix with 1 tsp sweet and sour sauce, 2 tb applesauce, add olive oil and mix well with cilantro flakes.
2. Cook pork chop thoroughly to desired color on outside in olive oil and garlic.
3. Serve with remaining applesauce and hot sauce mix. 
4. Chill with a Pink Horizon (bookmark this page and return)

Cheers!!!

Ivan MacFayden and The Ocean is Broken

Ivan MacFayden
http://www.theherald.com.au The look on Ivan MacFayden's face in this photo haunts me. I have seen that face on many world seasoned merchants sailors who live on the sea and know that the bigger part of climate reality 
most landlubbers, or those like us now who stay close to land, 
will never know unless they've spent the same number of days 
staring at endless watery horizons seeking signs. Ivan obviously found 
some big game changing ones. I've seen smaller versions of this 
flotsam trash phenomenon, miles of plastic, filth, god knows what, 
bunched on the surface in the Gulf of Mexico decades ago. Decades. 
I remember it was early morning or evening (same kind of light) 
and I was in the wheelhouse of a tug with the First Mate and we just 
stared dumbly at a mess we knew that could never be cleaned 
until he finally broke the silence and said, "This is America's 
soft underbelly body of water and it's hopelessly polluted." I 
believe that's what Ivan saw--the huge brain-gut of the planet and 
it's cancer that we caused it. READ HIS REPORT HERE AT THE HERALD.COM.AU

John H. Byk and Cooking The Man Against the Sky

BETWEEN me and the sunset, like a domeLook. She's beautiful. What else can I say? There really are no words to describe my, or anyone else's, end ties for that matter. We just go on. One day after another and another and another until there are no days left. Emotions ramming us at full speed ahead. If you're lucky, you live by principles like me or so I believe. A life without principles is a life wasted. I can quote famous dead or alive people but I won't. You have to hear me on this one-always wear a life jacket in living waters. Semper Paratus.