On Quiz Bowl and Idleness

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

Here are some things I need to confess.  I'm not perfect. (I John 1:8-10)  I get distracted by worldly things.  This was even more so when I was younger (perhaps I wasn't even saved back then).

Here's what happened:  For the past 11 months, I have been without a night custodian.  In December 2023, I had to withdraw my participation in the high school's quiz bowl tournament as a moderator, because I had to work overtime as a custodian.  As of yesterday, I now have a night custodian (he's more of a floater, going to at least three schools to help, but hey, it helps).  So, I am able to participate in this year's quiz bowl tournament, and signed up. 

Yet...I have thought about that above verse (of which I have discussed before) pertaining to such an "extra-curricular" activity such as quiz bowl.  Was I sinning by participating in secular activities?  

Honestly, I don't know.  Quiz bowl is no sin in and of itself; how can the promotion of truth be sinful?  I've been wrestling with my participation all day today, and so far, I came to the present conclusion that my participation is better than the alternative: doing nothing (highly discouraged, if not sinful, in Proverbs 19:15:

Pro 19:15  Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 

).  [Wait, seriously?  Am I lazy for not doing quiz bowl?  No, I'm lazy if I do nothing after work, chores aren't nothing.]

As of now, I'm writing this blog post.  Yet, on most days, I do jack squat when it comes to productivity.  I once said to myself, "I need to relax in order to get ready for the next day."  This is why I don't do any web development during the week, it racks the brain too much.  But other things?  Perhaps that's for another blog post. (That's probably a good idea, a critique of the 40 hour work week. (See Matthew 20:6,9 and the "eleventh hour".))

So what do I have to do to prepare for being a moderator of a quiz bowl tournament?  Not a whole lot:  Just look over the questions, and make notes on pronunciations, changes in current events (this happened in 2021 when Olaf Shulz took over for Angela Merkel as Chancellor of Germany), the acceptability of certain answers (Octavius vs. Octavian, accepting "Bryant" for "Vanessa Bryant"), etc.  Honestly, it doesn't take that long.

Even the event itself doesn't take that long.  As Sima Guang Hater, a critic of Kansas quiz bowl on hsquizbowl.org has said:

"KS quizbowl consists of 16 questions per round, which are one line long and sorted by category. And 3 of them are math calculation. This has the advantage of allowing tournaments to happen in the 3 hours between the end of school and dinnertime, but is otherwise quite terrible."

Now, does this mean that if something of greater importance comes up, that I'll abandon the quiz bowl event?  Of course.  But until then, I have pretty much committed to it, and barring that something of greater importance, it would be unbecoming of me to abandon it (Numbers 30:2, Romans 12:17).  Correct me if I'm wrong please. (Proverbs 6:23)

Hater, Sima Guang. What’s the Matter with Kansas?, 26 June 2011, hsquizbowl.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11697.

Will I Backslide From Financial Discipline?

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

(Deu 31:24-29)

When I paid off my worldly debts on July 2, 2021, and for several months after, the only thing I could think of that was appropriate to do was to celebrate.  Yet, in the back of my mind, I knew that one day, I will get used to this new freedom, and possibly take it for granted.  Time and time again, whenever I had a big financial decision to make, I have tried to remind myself of all that I fought for, in order to stay out of debt.  

Still, I can feel the joy of being a free man slipping away quickly.  I've even started to consider options for another vehicle should my current one, the 2016 Ford Fiesta, breaks down to the point where it's rational to just finance another vehicle.  This is sinful anxiety (Matthew 6:34), and I need to repent of it.  On this, and other events which would greatly test my faith, I had to repeat the chorus of the song "One Day At A Time" by Christy Lane to myself:

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Lord, give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way, one day at a time

Ms. Lane speaks the very essence of Matthew 6:34:

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

There is a secular quote, which is also true in this circumstance.  It is disputed as to who first spoke it, but it goes like this:

Eternal diligence is the price of liberty.

To this I say, "Amen".

Here is a Scripture which speaks to me:

1Pe 2:16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 

This is the war I am waging in my heart.  Perhaps it is a good fight (I Timothy 6:12, Jude 1:3).  May God help me in this.

Lane, Christy.  One Day At A Time.  May 1974.

What If I'm Not Saved? (And Discovering A New Method Of Evangelism)

 I know, it's an unusual question to ask, but I have to vent.

I've been a Christian for many years (how many, I don't know, I don't count the time I first "asked Jesus into my heart", I was still following false Christianity at the time).  Yet, I don't seem to have the passion and desire to proselytize openly to others in public.  You know, what they call "street preaching".  Why don't I do this?  My main excuse is, "I don't know what to say.", which reminds me of these verses:

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

(Mat 10:19-20)

And there are others like this.

Concerning proselytizing in general, I am also reminded of this verse (or something like it):

Jer 4:19  My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. 

I think the actual verse I'm thinking of says something like "I cannot hold it in", that is, the words of the Gospel.

Here's another one:

1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 

So where does the "What If I'm Not Saved?" come in?  Well, I am reminded of a quote by Charles Spurgeon (a false teacher though, he believes there will be more people in Heaven than in Hell, contradicting Matthew 20:16 and the like), which reads:

"Have you no wish for others to be saved?  Then you are not saved yourself.  Be sure of that."

Is this Biblical?  I don't know.  Still, I answer the question from Mr. Spurgeon.  Do I wish others to be saved?  Of course!  I would love for people to see the light and experience the truth like I have.  There is hope in this godless world, and it is through knowing the Truth.

You know, as of this writing, perhaps that is what is missing in my evangelism, my own personal testimony.  I haven't really thought of it, but there is something that does give me joy (and sometimes excitement), as well as calm assurance, and that is the fact that I know the Truth, that I can access the Truth, and that the Truth will not lie to me.  In this instance, The Truth (who is Jesus Christ says John 14:6) is a little like Rick Astley to me, but not totally.  I was going to compare the chorus of "Never Gonna Give You Up" to what Jesus says, but a few problems:  Jesus (even through the disciples) can make you cry in this world:

Act 21:13  Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 

Yet, the other lyrics ("Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you") sounds a lot like the following:

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

(and the like, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Joshua 1:5, I Chronicles 28:20, etc.)

In other words, THE TRUTH WILL NOT LIE TO ME!!!  Mere men lie.  Jesus, who is the Bible (John 1:1, 1:14, I John 1:1, Revelation 19:13, etc.), who is the Truth (John 14:6), doesn't.

This is why:

Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 

So, something to think about.  A unique evangelism method.  May God lead me to spread the message of heart burning Truth.

Charles (CH) Spurgeon. “Do You Wish Others to Be Saved? – Charles Spurgeon | Deeper Christian Quotes.” Deeperchristianquotes.com, 2019, deeperchristianquotes.com/do-you-wish-others-to-be-saved-charles-spurgeon/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2024.

What Is Revelry?

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

(1Pe 4:1-3)

Please bear with me, because I'll probably speak much about The Ninth Cloud in the next few posts.  It's been over two years since the events in that book, and ever since I've published the book, I've had second thoughts about my attitude towards the Culture Festival (called Planet Comicon).

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of the book.  Let's examine it (as I Thessalonians 5:21 recommends):

28 In due course, the stark refusal to attend the Culture Festival became a relic of yore. I was wholly committed. 
29 Not solely as a guardian of watchfulness, but for a cause anew: the jubilation of mine emancipation from debt. 
30 It dawned upon me that this venture might well serve as the ideal occasion for what some of the devout term a “Rumspringa”. 
31 For me, it presented a chance to revel and exult in mine newfound liberty. 
32 No longer was I to restrain my mirth. For there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

v. 31 of the chapter uses the word "revel", as translated by the AI.  As I'm writing this, this concerns me.
What sort of revelry was I talking about?

Chapter 2, verses 18-19 gives a clue:
18 Throughout the entirety of our voyage, my spirit was alight with mirth.
19 The recollection of my triumph remained vivid within my thoughts. Verily, this was to be a time of great rejoicing!
It was all in my head.  All I could think about was being debt-free.  So far, nothing outward.  In v. 38, I mentioned giving the "V" sign imitating Winston Churchill, that is, a "V" for "Victory".  No revelry there.

Then there is this passage from the same chapter:
64 Advancing, I cast mine eyes upward and beheld the disciples aloft, gazing down upon us. 
65 These were they who had procured special admittance to partake of certain revelries betimes.
66 A vision then struck me: as champions of sport are oft celebrated with a procession in their native land, so did I perceive the scene. 
67 Though I knew full well no disciple heralded me, the semblance was such that my mind’s humours discerned no difference. 
68 I surrendered to the sensation. Was it conceit? Was it boastfulness? 
69 I cannot say, but the yearning to feel it was overpowering. 
70 Have I not merited some measure of festivity, though but a semblance, for my endeavors?

The "disciples" were the fans who were cosplaying.  The "vision" was one of many imaginations in my head.  You couldn't tell outwardly, but inwardly, I was so drunk with joy, again, simply by the very fact that I was debt-free.  This very fact alone, alone with what the scene "looked like", turned into mental novacaine.  

Come to think of it, the only outward sign of my ecstasy didn't come until Chapter 4, when I met Medis Stella, and the tears didn't come because of seeing her, but because of the acknowledgement and validation of paying off my debts.  The fact that Ms. Stella was a celebrity further cemented another of my mental "images", as if she was Meredith Viera on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.  I extracted from that moment the feeling of complete victory, as if I answered the $1 million question, and the lights went crazy, and the music went crazy, and confetti fell from the ceiling, all to indicate, as our current President would say, that this was a "big f***in deal". 
That was it.  I believed in my heart that becoming debt-free was a huge deal, and the outward appearances matched what I was feeling.  That was the very source of my high emotion.  Not the fact that I interacted with no fewer than three celebrities, but that the acknowledgement of being debt-free matched how I truly felt.  They understood.  They got it.  One person once commented to me that it was because actors live on "feast or famine", so of course they would understand my jubilance.
Yet, was my attitude sinful revelry, according to the Scriptures?  What is revelry?
The Greek word in question in I Peter 4:1-13 is "komos", meaning "a carousal (as if letting loose): revelling, rioting."  Looking up the definition of "carousal", it suggests that it is more akin to going outwardly wild, often with alcohol involved.  All I did was just play with my brain chemicals.  I certainly didn't riot, I know what that looks like.
I guess what really happened on that day is that I was allowed to confess my joy, I was allowed to not hide it anymore.  Medis Stella offered more of a soapbox.
And as for celebration, under the appropriate circumstances, it is no sin:
Ecc 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 
Ecc 3:4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
One biblical example follows:
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
(Luk 15:22-25)

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
(Luk 15:29-32)

Now, could have there been a more appropriate place to let it out?  Perhaps.  Yet I'm glad God set this up (as he sets up everything says Colossians 1:17, among other places), because at least I could rejoice in a way I felt it worth rejoicing.

So I guess it was rejoicing, not revelry.  If there was any revelry, or any sense of idolatry and worldliness, I do repent.

Scripture and Doctrinal References In "The Ninth Cloud"

2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 

I wrote a book.  As of this writing, the publishing is pending.  While the book itself doesn't teach religion, It contains many references to the Bible and Christianity (the book is translated into King James language, and the very style of the book is in chapter and verse format), so I wanted to post the religious content on this blog for free, so no one can accuse me of peddling the Word of God for profit. 

FOREWORD

I conclude with the following message. 

Whether it shows me a hypocrite or not, this message is universal to all: 

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolary.”

CHAPTER ONE

6 Yet, to grace the Culture Festival with mine presence? Verily, as a stripling, I harbored dreams of such festivities, arrayed in the raiment of intrepid celestial marshals. 

7 But on that day, I recoiled at the thought. I recall a demonstration at a grander culture festival by a band of zealous religionists, decrying such gatherings as dens of carnality and false worship. 

8 “Super Men and Winged Knights, let them be thy salvation!” they would cry in jest.

9 Now, I disavow their congregation, for they proclaim that The Messiah died but for a chosen few. 

10 In truth, The Messiah yielded His life for all, albeit the efficacious redemption is for but a select number. 

11 Whilst I cleave unto this latter belief steadfast as a rock, what weigheth more upon my mind regarding mine attendance at the Culture Festival is thus: Super Men and Winged Knights are verily idols, an abomination indeed unto The Messiah. In this matter, the fundamentalists speak aright.

19 And what declareth The Book? To sup within the temple of an idol is no transgression. Moreover, The Hamster is my kinsman, to watch over him and his kin is an act of charity.

32 No longer was I to restrain my mirth. For there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

CHAPTER TWO

20 Yet, there is another matter to recount: Within the bounds of the festival, there existed a realm deemed verboten in my contemplation, known as Celebrity Row.

21 'Tis a place where devotees of divers notables might capture their visage alongside them and obtain their marks of autograph.

22 I deemed it proscribed, for such personages can readily ascend to the stature of deities in the eyes of men. 

29 'Twas not out of malice towards the Stellas, but rather, a fondness for them, and a desire not to exalt them as idols within my heart.

MIDLOGUE

28 Dear Reader, I do acknowledge that there is suffering in life. 

29 It is written: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”

CHAPTER FOUR

3 Whilst I did procure the garment, my zeal for further acquisitions was tempered. I desired not to return laden with trinkets of regret. 

4 Verily, the Saviour hath spoken, “A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

41 She counselled that I gather my coin. I do now, yet not for mine own sake. Such is contrary to The Book.

EPILOGUE

18 The edict of The Scripture endures: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

Well, That Was Stupid.

 “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” (Proverbs 23:4, KJV)

In my last post, I decided to separate my Christian content from my non-Christian content in order to monetize the non-Christian content so as to not peddle the Word of God for profit (violating 2 Corinthians 2:17).

I then (seeing as I was on an extended vacation), proceeded to try to work more on my content, both religious and secular, and based on my personality, when I set out to do something, I am super bent on getting it done.

One problem:  I'm exhausted.  Thus, unintentionally, I have sinned.  Of grinding so hard at my web content (even though I just wanted to grind to see if I could even make money), I repent.  

I should have seen this coming:  I was at a game night with some friends yesterday, and that was the best experience I've had in weeks.  Everything just seemed right for once.  Beside the point yes, but even the dice rolls were satisfyingly odds-defying.

I tried to justify my hustle.  Yes, I should be content with what I have (Hebrews 13:5), and I thought I was, I just wanted the satisfaction of doing something.  The problem is, the metric was money, which was the sinful part.  That is, the combination of hustling to exhaustion, and money.

Besides, practically, my main bread and butter is about to make me even more bread.  By the way, if you're looking for night time part time work, USD 290 is definitely hiring.  Go to usd290.org and look for custodial positions available.  The aforementioned position?  Yeah, definitely available.

So what caused all this economic activity?

Andrew Tate.

Yes, I know, he's a terrible influence on kids because of his stances toward women and getting rich, but all I cared about was the hustle.  He teaches, "Speed!  Speed!  Speed!" in order to make tons of money.   Again, I just extracted the work ethic part of his philosophy. 

Yet, there is also a time for respite (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  Like I said, my main bread and butter, combined with my low living expenses, make for comfortable living.

So yeah, for now, as far as The Sweeping Developer content, I'm done.  Call back when I'm actually motivated to work on my secular stuff.  The discipline to hustle at USD 290 is already there (It's no sin to hustle if your pay is based on time, the hustle is for my good name).

Correct me if I'm wrong in any of this. (Proverbs 6:23)

"It Is An Evil Time", or Why I Didn't Post During Pride Month (and Digressions About July)

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

(Amo 5:10-13)

Before I get into why I didn't post during Pride Month, let me tell you about a YouTube video I watched from a guy named GradeAUnderA.  I'm not going to post it here, because he's a potty mouth.  Still, he made a video about what he calls a really wild Bible story, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 (he didn't mention the Scripture chapter).  He points out the "wild" facts of:

• The people of Sodom wanting to have sex with the angels (v. 5)
• Lot offering his two virgin daughters for the people of Sodom to have sex with (v. 8)
• The angels blinding the Sodomites (v. 11)
• Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt (v. 26)
• Lot's family living in a cave (v. 30)
• Lot's daughters getting Lot drink and having sex with him in order to be pregnant (v. 33-35)

I mention this because it is ironic:  Many people during Pride Month indeed commit lots of sodomy, the sin named after the city that was destroyed.

I also wanted to point out that the fact that the world (of whom GradeAUnderA is) would obviously think of such things happening as wild:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

But I digress.  Why didn't I post during Pride Month?

It's because mainly of Amos 5:13, mentioned in the beginning of this post:

Amo 5:13  Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Pride Month is definitely an evil time, a time in which homosexuality and other sexual deviations are celebrated.  Now, I may or may not be correct in my interpretation of that Scripture, but just in case Amos 5:13 means that I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times, I keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times.  Correct me if I'm wrong!  (Proverbs 6:23)

Which gets me to thinking:  What act of pride goes on in JULY?

Now of this I'm not sure whether I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during the 4th of July.  Yes, there are some who are "proud to be an American", yet, and this is my opinion, I may be totally off base by calling those who celebrate American Independence Day "proud".  Honestly, I really don't think most Americans display "pride" when celebrating their independence from Great Britain.  If you ask the average American, it's just a day off to eat grilled food and shoot off fireworks.  Again, correct me if I'm wrong. (Proverbs 6:23)

Now, one day in particular at this time of year warms my heart greatly: July 2.  Why?  On July 2, 2021, I made my final car payment and became debt-free for the first time in my adult life. (Romans 13:8) It also just so happens to coincide with what John Adams considers the REAL Independence Day (since the actual vote to become independent from Great Britain happened on that day):

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

Now, replace "Independence from Great Britain" with "Independence from Debt" and Mr. Adams has captured my sentiment towards that day quite well (other than the "You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not", I am quite enthused, sir).  It's not pride I display.  It's glee.  It's jubilation.  I'm not proud to be debt-free.  I'm happy to be debt-free.  It's a freakin' miracle, as if I was cured of cancer.  Praise be to God.

“A Quote by John Adams.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/7168127-the-second-day-of-july-1776-will-be-the-most. Accessed 30 June 2024. (Yes, I looked this up during Pride Month, but the actual posting of it wasn't until the next day)

Whew.

1Ch 16:8  Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 

Not sure how to explain it, so let me summarize:

My car broke down.  I had to get it towed to the dealership.  I just happened to have the money for the towing and repair bill.  I didn't have to finance another car.  I had savings to be used for moving out.  That's pretty much gone.  What's also gone is the return to worldly indebtedness (Proverbs 22:7, Romans 13:8).

I thank God.

(based on my knowledge of game shows, I recall this phrase: "Close calls...narrow escapes...split-second decisions...", and in this instance, over $600 in cash, paid in full.  "A combination guaranteed to make you say...")