Being content is a gospel virtue.  In its superpowered form, contentment is gratitude.

Growth is also a gospel virtue.  Not just moderate, quiet growth.  It too must be superpowered.  Immoderate growth.  Progressing beyond all reason.  Insatiable ambition.

The man of God must have both. (more…)

Isaac Asimov was 64 years ahead of his time in The Naked Sun.

I have had an idea percolating in my mind. But I am not convinced it is profound, or not.

Jesus encoded the Gospel in parables, so that it is only understood by those ready and willing.

Isaiah is similar, but using High Hebrew Literary structures.

Tolkien wanted his work to be implicitly Christian, but what if he didn’t go far enough?

How could we explain the Gospel in terms of High Fantasy? Can it be done?

Joseph Smith is the classic farmboy who discovers ‘magic powers’ and has a great destiny.
Brigham is a Ranger who leads people on a quest to re-establish a glorious kingdom.

Is there further we can go here?

Sauron created the Orcs out of Elves. But is not the essence of the Gospel, creating Elves out of Orcs?
For that matter, how much different are our pre-mortal or post-Ressurection selves from Elves?

Is there more to be said here? Is this a fruitful line of thought?

It seemed both profound and light-minded, in the best meaning of the word.
And in the best tradition of this blog.

Free for a limited time: www.amazon.com/Programming-Manuscripts-Python-Beginners-Guide-ebook/dp/B07JHYGTQR

Has decent ratings. It might be a bit outdated, but can’t beat free. It might be useful for a young person to explore programming/coding.

Sometimes, you can pick up cheap older versions of software at Half Price Books, or other discount outlets, that would go along with these free ebooks.

Free, for a limited time, ebook edition of “Forever and Ever, Amen: The Heart-Warming Stories Behind the Music of Paul Overstreet.”  Forward by Randy Travis.

https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Ever-Amen-Heart-Warming-Overstreet-ebook/dp/B07W65KJ2K

As of May 14, 2020, no longer free — but still only $.99 USD.

The great secret is to relish greatly and yearn greatly.

Buddhists at least in the western Yoda-style version say you should try to get rid of your yearning because it causes you dissatisfaction with your current lot. Even in our own tradition dragons are miserable evil creatures because they always want to hoard more gold and/or fear losing what they already have.  So much so that they don’t enjoy the gold they lie on. It is the absence that drives them, not the possession.

Common sense tells us that its basic human character to feel dissatisfaction with what you currently have if you are desiring more than what you currently have. Ambition and contentment don’t play nice together.

But common sense lies.  It is possible. Everyone loves babies while still working to have them grow up. That’s ambition and contentment at the same time.  Part of the fun now is the potential they will grow into then.

The master man is the one who loves his little house and his little family, his small yard and his climbing rose . . . and who loves them like a Jove!

While in his mind’s eyes still seeing so vividly he can taste it, and working like a madman to achieve it, the great house on the hill with broad tree-dotted acres of lawn rolling down to the sea, where several generations of superb, aristocratic descendants come and go.  That vision is part of why he loves what he has now so madly.

Every man a holy pirate king! Gleefully running your gold through your hands, eyes glittering at the uncharted seas that still lie unplundered before you.

“Be still and know that I am God” while also daring all.

I recall seeing something on the Internet, which I will paraphrase

Internet Traditional Wife:
My dear, I darned the hole in your fleece overthrow!

Medieval Traditional Wife:
This morning while pulling weeds, three birds sang to me that I should make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and a little robin confirmed it to me this afternoon. I leave in the morning.

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