If My People

Before I begin, I want to introduce a personal theory of mine. I call this theory the "Egg Shell Theory of Manipulation." It posits that if you safely cross eggshells without breaking any, then there will be no offense. In this case, the strength of the eggshells rests solely upon the one laying down the conditions. The conditions are usually infantile to the point of impossible.  Some will bend over backward in a futile attempt. It need not be said, but that is the whole point. They desperately hold onto grudges. They desperately cling to their racist ideologies. They look for reasons to be offended. They look for reasons to hold onto their hatred.

It does not matter what information you bring. It does not matter if the source is reliable. If there is a route to sink further into the delusion, it will be the road taken. Try as you might; you can't force someone to take a look deep within themselves. While pointing out errors, mistakes, racial bigotry, or a host of other things in other people, they cannot see those things within themselves. 

One may ask how this applies to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Before I begin, let me first illustrate several problems I have run across. The first is the view of the passage that this passage is for the People of Israel during Solomon's time. The second is the Old Testament is a history book that has no bearing on today's world. The first view, while correct, is also short-sighted. The second view is inherently dangerous. 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

The phrase most often overlooked comes directly from the passage most often quoted, "and turn from their wicked ways." Are the critics of this passage inferring that G-d no longer wants people to repent? Yeshua may have paid the price for our sins, but it remains up to the individual to recognize that they are just as guilty before G-d. Scripture also teaches that the person who says that they do not or have not sinned is a liar, and the truth is not in them. Scripture goes further and teaches that a person who says they love G-d and yet hates the fellow human being is a liar! The same holds for those who desperately hold to their grudges. The same holds for those who desperately cling to their racist ideologies. The same holds for those who come up with excuses why they are justified in their hatred!

May the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob humble you before him. May the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob open your eyes to the truth of who you are!

One final comment that addresses the notion that 2 Chronicles 7:14 applied to the physical temple; scripture teaches that your body is the temple where G-d wants to reside. While the United States is NOT mentioned anywhere within scripture, the principles of repentance and reconciliation remain the same!

Sincerely,

David A. Kitchens, Editor

Waking up!

I put together a short video to ask some questions. This video will not mean anything to some. This video, however, will hopefully reach those that are looking for answers. It points out a downward path that is hard to stop without help. If this is you, I encourage you to seek help! I encourage you watch this enlarged to a full screen.

Sincerely,

David A. Kitchens, Editor

The "Hate" I drank

I was walking down the Street

I came across one I didn't want to meet

This one is easily instigated

And thrives on being hated

Hate is the choice of poison

Hate is what they destroy in

Blinded by Hate

You cannot communicate

Hate has them blind

Love is absent from their mind

Hate tears them apart

Love is absent from their heart

I know this to be true

It was me, not you

I was counterfeit

And a bigger hypocrite

A mess was my life

A life full of strife

Hate is what I planted

Fear is what was granted

Deeper I sank into the dark

Into a Sea with one nasty shark

Weights were on my feet

Proof of my deceit

To the bottom, I sank

My hate I drank

More proof of no goodwill

It made my stomach ill

At the bottom, I awoke

To see death in a hooded cloak

My heart ran chill

Death was ringing up the bill

A price I had no say

A price I could not pay

A punishment that was just

A punishment that was a must

A hand reached out to me

A hand to set me free

Love became a light

It set hate, to flight

Do you know this hand I speak of?

It reaches out in love.
It is a nail-scarred hand.

Sincerely,

David Kitchens, Author

2D and 3D Thinking

 

"2D" thinking is someone who is like a light switch. This light switch has only two options. These options are "On" and "Off." There is no room for any other option. This type of thinking tries to force an opinion based on limited knowledge and facts. While the information they have may be accurate, what it lacks is the sense of "context." 

There are shades of light, but there are no shades of dark. Being able to see in the dark requires some measure of light. There may not be enough light to see clearly, but there is some light available. While at sea in the U.S. Navy, I witnessed the absence of all light. Your sense of bearing is not working the way it should. It helps to know what your environment consists of but, there is a sense of uncertainty.

That being the case, there are some things in which I would be considered a "2D" thinker. A list of some of the things of which I will not apologize for consist of:

1. There are two chromosomes: X and Y.
2. There are two genders: Male and Female.
3. A marriage consists of One Male and One Female. 

Some people will point out that genetic defects such as XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) or XYY (XYY Syndrome) occur. Currently, statistics show that such cases are rare within the United States. In the case of XXY, the statistics are 1 case per 200,000 births. The point is not to use a rare issue to make a larger argument. 

The work of English clergyman, educator, and Shakespearean scholar Edwin A. Abbott (1838-1926), brought 3D thinking to Victorian England through a book, Flatland. In this book, people were either flat lines or had any number of sides. What is missing is the sense of depth. Life is not a single point, nor is it a series in a flatline. Life is depth, richness, character, and color.

The picture to the left is one of my highly rated photographs. On another site, the advice was that it showed the depth of field. It is hard to depict depth on a 2D plane. The focus of this picture is on the branch in front. The blurred portion in the rear gives it that sense of depth.

Depth is used or referred to in a myriad of ways in everyday life. When someone accuses another of being shallow, they are referring to that lack of depth.

Someone who has 2D thinking cannot successfully (usually) argue a conflicting idea. They hold to an All-or-nothing or black-and-white type of thinking. The black-and-white refers to two conflicting points of view. The All-or-Nothing refers to you believe all, or you believe nothing. They attempt to frame their viewpoint dishonestly. This type of framework denies the possibility for variables, conditions, and context. It is an insidious tactic that has the appearance of logical reasoning. 

This type of thinking has the effect of obscuring the consequences of actions. It can lead to making rash decisions. When you are facing a limited number of options, both of which are bad (damned if you do, damned if you do not), it can be very frustrating.

This type of thinking can lead to the shallowness of thought. For example, how many of us wonder how our diet and lack of exercise will affect us in the future? This type of thinking is a type of win-lose situation. You may have run across this tactic in your everyday life. For example, the person who diminishes other people in the eyes of others? The person who challenges every decision made by a supervisor to take their position?

"2D" thinking is someone who is like a light switch. This light switch has only two options. These options are "On" and "Off." There is no room for any other option. This type of thinking tries to force an opinion based on limited knowledge and facts. While the information they have may be accurate, what it lacks is the sense of "context." 

There are shades of light, but there are no shades of dark. Being able to see in the dark requires some measure of light. There may not be enough light to see clearly, but there is some light available. While at sea in the U.S. Navy, I witnessed the absence of all light. Your sense of bearing is not working the way it should. It helps to know what your environment consists of but, there is a sense of uncertainty.

That being the case, there are some things in which I would be considered a "2D" thinker. A list of some of the things of which I will not apologize for consist of:

1. There are two chromosomes: X and Y.
2. There are two genders: Male and Female.
3. A marriage consists of One Male and One Female. 

Some people will point out that genetic defects such as XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) or XYY (XYY Syndrome) occur. Currently, statistics show that such cases are rare within the United States. In the case of XXY, the statistics are 1 case per 200,000 births. The point is not to use a rare issue to make a larger argument. 

The work of English clergyman, educator, and Shakespearean scholar Edwin A. Abbott (1838-1926), brought 3D thinking to Victorian England through a book, Flatland. In this book, people were either flat lines or had any number of sides. What is missing is the sense of depth. Life is not a single point, nor is it a series in a flatline. Life is depth, richness, character, and color.

The picture to the left is one of my highly rated photographs. On another site, the advice was that it showed the depth of field. It is hard to depict depth on a 2D plane. The focus of this picture is on the branch in front. The blurred portion in the rear gives it that sense of depth.

Depth is used or referred to in a myriad of ways in everyday life. When someone accuses another of being shallow, they are referring to that lack of depth.

Someone who has 2D thinking cannot successfully (usually) argue a conflicting idea. They hold to an All-or-nothing or black-and-white type of thinking. The black-and-white refers to two conflicting points of view. The All-or-Nothing refers to you believe all, or you believe nothing. They attempt to frame their viewpoint dishonestly. This type of framework denies the possibility for variables, conditions, and context. It is an insidious tactic that has the appearance of logical reasoning. 

This type of thinking has the effect of obscuring the consequences of actions. It can lead to making rash decisions. When you are facing a limited number of options, both of which are bad (damned if you do, damned if you do not), it can be very frustrating.

This type of thinking can lead to the shallowness of thought. For example, how many of us wonder how our diet and lack of exercise will affect us in the future? This type of thinking is a type of win-lose situation. You may have run across this tactic in your everyday life. For example, the person who diminishes other people in the eyes of others? The person who challenges every decision made by a supervisor to take their position?

Developing 3D thinking requires practice.