Time flys...

Slow down.

I...

‘I don’t really quite understand. Sometimes I don’t even pretend to. I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am. I am affected by what I let my mind dwell on.’

God's pretty clear...

And just another great verse that my Grandfather has said many times...

⁵"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ⁶But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18NIV

My favorite season...

Thank God for Autumn

Hazy and long shadowy lights, although the day is bright.  Red, yellow, and orange color, fills the country landscape.  The distinct smell of damp leaves after a misty morning shower.  The beautiful and vibrant sunset, with the hint of burning leaves.  A harvest moon aglow, while watching lit night puffy clouds a'whisk.  There's an owl off in the hedge, watching throughout the hallows fog.  The night seems so eerily silent, even as the leaves make their swaying sound.

Tales of the Inanimates

I usually take Raytown Road home, and from there, I take the back roads into Raymore. These are the same roads I used to take home when I attended Longview College back in '93. There's a reason that these roads seem so familiar, and today it finally hit me. So many things are still the same. There's the old farm tractor, nestled in the hedge-row off 155th street, slowly but surely rusting away. The trees are taller and thicker, and in the summer you can hardly notice it's there. But looking close enough, it's there. It's been there for at least 16 years, and I can only imagine that it was there 16 years before I first noticed it. There's the old property corner stones, the old fence posts, and even a few rock piles here and there; bring back memories of when I first noticed them over 16 years ago. Time goes by, but do these inanimate objects even notice? They've all taken on the constant barrage of time, weather, and nature, yet they are still the same. I can't say the same for me. But that's nature on its course. Sometimes when I'm at the office and feel stressed to the max, I think of these things. It's a weird simile of peace for me. Sometimes when I'm 1000 miles away in a different city, I think about that tractor, or the rock pile, or the corner stone in the middle of a now divided field. Constantly in its place, and wondering what it's "thinking". Then when I'm really in the mood to daydream, I think of the history behind that stone, rock, or tractor. How many hands have been placed on that item, and how long ago it must have been. I wonder the history of those people, and what was it they were thinking about all so many years ago. I'm sure that 'ol tractor got several thousand hours on it, before it croaked in the middle of a field now overgrown by a hedge. And how many times has that old man filled her up with gas, and what old stories could he have shared. The mason and his corner stone... possibly 100 years ago or more. How much history can a old fence post have, when you break it down through those that have touched it. I keep wondering...

Martinstag, St. Martin's Day, Advent...

I'll use any reason to start the Christmas Season sooner! In early days Advent lasted from November 11, the feast of St. Martin, until Christmas Day. "St. Martin started out as a Roman soldier. He was baptized as an adult and became a monk. It is understood that he was a kind man who led a quiet and simple life. The most famous legend of his life is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm, to save the beggar from dying of the cold. That night he dreamed that Jesus was wearing the half-cloak Martin had given away. Martin heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he has clothed me." cited from Wikipedia

Yep -it's that time of the year again. KUDL is already playing Christmas music, and the shopping centers have had the Christmas Trees on display now for over a month! Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, and that's when I know it's time to stay away from the store's mad rush of holiday shoppers!!!

As most know Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of the year. It seems that as soon as Thanksgiving and Christmas come and go, I can't wait for them to come again. I think I'm so fond of these Holidays because of the tradition and upbringing my parents and Grandparents instilled. For most, unfortunately, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are more of a 'have-to-do' holiday, than a sacred holiday. As soon as some people hear the Christmas music on KUDL, they feel the anxiety of the holiday rush. I, rather, feel the love and greatest gift that anyone could ever want. The gift that God gave us that Christmas morning; not so long ago. For that,… we have much to be Thankful for!

Thanksgiving couldn't come at a better time; with Christmas following. Last year around this time I came up with a short Christmas lesson for my kids to get them in the Spirit. The very first question I presented to them was, "What kind of things do you think of first when you hear the word 'Christmas'?". They all paused for a moment, with the older kids realizing that this might be a 'trick' question. The younger kids were about to spout off the latest X-BOX game when one of the older kids shouted, "Jesus!" Then the younger kids followed suit mentioning things like the manger, Joseph and Mary, and other items as such. As far as I was concerned, the question didn't have a right or wrong answer. My point wasn't to catch them saying something wrong, but rather keep the true meaning in their minds. Obviously kids will associate gifts with Christmas, but it's our job to keep the truth with them. Without subtle reminders like the one above, it may become very easy for them to fall in the 'have-to-do' Christmas Spirit when they get older.

So my whole point? This is my subtle reminder that Thanksgiving and Christmas go hand-in-hand, so we might not succumb to the mad holiday rush. Now is the time to give thanks, and keep the true meaning of Christmas close to our hearts. Advent is the time to prepare for the celebration of the coming. Prepare your hearts and remember what is true. We should treat every day of our lives as if Thanksgiving and Christmas were in the midst. We have too much to be thankful for. The fact that you are reading this page means you are alive and well; be thankful for it! My only request from you is that you take a moment today or tonight to pray for this Holiday season. Thank Him for all you have, and for what we have yet to be given. Thank Him for your problems, as problems are our way of learning how to deal with tough times. Thank Him for your children, as they are our heirs and mirrors of who we are in life. Pray that we don't succumb ourselves to the mad holiday rush. And most of all, thank him for our Savior and that he stays close to our heart,…the reason we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas!

There's probably no God...

"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.", says Oxford University biologist Richard Dawkins, who donated $9,000 to a new Atheist organization based in London. This organizations plan is to put this advertisement on 30 buses within London. The organization has now raised so much money, that they are planning on expanding.

The only reason the word "Probably" was added to the phrase, was included to ensure the posters didn't breach transit advertising regulations, which stipulate ads should not offend religious people.

And we don't have reason to worry? This is by the mark.

News Article Here

The Bean is Back...

Rightfully so, since my previous post on Autumn, it's appropriate to bring the Bean back into my daily ritual. This post is purely trivial and has nothing to do with my worldly initiative on preservation and conservation of the human race.

I drink coffee year round, but I don't get SERIOUS about it until Autumn. There is something about the crisp cool air of an Autumn or Winter morning that makes a good cup of coffee a necessity. People either love coffee or hate it. Personally I have NO earthly clue why I, or anyone else for that matter, would love the taste of coffee. If I were to try and explain its taste to someone, the only thing I could come close to analogize it against is Roasted Dirt. Yummy.

It's amazing that coffee doesn't harm us. Just to name a few, it's chock full of Caffeine, Calcium, Betaine, Chlorogenic Acid, Liverine, Magnesium, Chline, Dicaffeylqunic Acid, Methliberine, Phosphate, Niacin, Paraxanthine, Potassium Sulphate, Trigoneline, Theobromine, Theopyline, Diterpene esters, Acetic, Arbinose, Linoleate, Dietepenes, C3-C10, Fructose, Kahweol, Galactose, Glucose, Insoitol, Mannitol, Mannose, Xylose, Nonacosane 5-hydroxtryptamides, Phosopholipids, Tocopherols, Tryiglycerides, and Triterpene just to name a few.

Take all of that, grind it up, and you have a great cup o-Joe. The following lists a few facts about coffee:

• 53 Countries grow coffee
• An acre of coffee trees can produce 10,000 lbs. of coffee beans.
• The percolator was invented in 1827.
• No coffee is grown in the contiguous states of the United States.
• Coffee was roasted in a frying pan up until the late 1800's.
• Brazil in the world's largest producer.
• Over 2000 ships transport beans each year.
• October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.

Autumn breeze...

Nothing like the brisk Autumn breeze to get my allergies in a twit. But it's the season I look forward to most, especially after a dusty end of summer. Now it just needs to freeze!

I haven't written for a while (don't most blogs say that somewhere?), but things have really been keeping me busy. Not that it's anything that would interest you, I'll just say I'm glad it's fall!

I don't have much of anything interesting to say. I'd say a few things about the candidates, but honestly that just gives me a headache. I can't wait for the election. Other than that, the items most notable that have happened since I last blogged:

• Price of Gas has fallen from over + $3.60 down to $2.68 the past two weeks.
• Hillary didn't quite make it (sigh).
• Palin is Mccain's VP running mate, and she claims the troopergate probe has exonerated her.
• [personal commentaion] Again I feel like a minority when everyone bashes the GOP, and praises Obama while looking forward to a great change.
• The Space Shuttle mission STS-125 (Hubble Servicing Mission 4) was postponed until next year due to a major glitch in Hubble's electronics. They should have originally launched earlier this month. This should give NASA more time to find out how to fix the current problem, while giving the astronauts time to train how to fix.
• We are in an economic fallout (crisis). The U.S. just passed a 700 Billion bailout plan, although no-one seems to know what that means or how it will affect us. [pc] Obama will fix it though.
  
• Royals tickets will cost more next year.
• Chief Season Tickets may be free next year if they continue on their wonderful loosing streak.
• Stores started Christmas as early as mid September. They are expecting worst sales ever.
• Lake Annette Toll Road is no more. Previous Post Here

Hopefully I'll find a bit more time to write this thing. But for now hope and pray for the best in the weeks ahead.

Misty Summer Memories

Although I am not an individual that loves the heat, I do love the seasons here in Missouri. Summertime has its good moments. Summer is the season that keeps me young. It also is the season that generates its fair share of those ol' timey summertime memories; family cook-outs, friends, and weekend rides through the beautiful countryside.

It is hard to believe how nice it has been out the past week. Middle 80's for a high, and even lower 60's; upper 50's for the low. The weatherman is saying that the heat is gone for the year. Very comfortable outside! It's a perfect precursor to the autumn season. I know, I know... labor day hasn't even come yet! Ohh well....

Real Life Scare...

Just two months ago if you were to ask how business was doing with my company, I would have told you we were as busy as ever. But I sometimes forget that we are now part of a larger company as JWS was purchased by an Alabama company a few years ago.

Yesterday around 4 P.M, we all received the same mandatory meeting request:

Subject: CAI Update
Location: Support Department

RE: If you are unable to attend the meeting, you will be given a call and we will fill you in on the content that will be discussed.

YIKES! The meeting was scheduled for 1 P.M. the following day (today). You can only imagine what was going through people's minds, as well as mine. And being that I was traveling made it even more unnerving.

Yes, it was true that several people were laid off, JWS was not directly affected by the initiative. We did recently have a couple people leave, but they were not let go, although JWS is not hiring for those positions as we are in a hiring freeze.

We have been affected by the current market, especially since we serve the construction industry. We were assured that no more layoffs are planned, although the future will tell the truth; obviously.

It's just a stark reminder that everyone needs to do all they can do to better serve their customers and the business they work in. We all need to do the best we can to find new business and keep current business strong.

I must say it wasn't a pleasant feeling getting an e-mail like that. Hopefully it's the last........

The Dogmata Of It All...

It just doesn't make sense to me. How can everyone be right, and not one person be wrong; except for those people that aren't right!?! Does that make sense? Sure doesn't seem right to me, but then again I'm wrong.

Here are some ways you can be sure that you are always right.

• When proving that you are right, please be sure to talk excessively loud.
• While talking excessively loud, you can further your rightness by not stopping when you talk.
• Make certain that you interrupt others and talk louder when doing so.
• If someone says they don't agree with you, then tell them they are wrong. Remember the louder the better.
  
• Don't purposely say something that is wrong. It will only confuse those that are really wrong into thinking they are right.

Fathers Day

Fathers day has past, but the memories will be good! We had the boys this weekend and took the boat for its maiden voyage on Saturday. I got a great sunburn! The boys both loved it. We went over to Moms on Sunday evening, and everyone was there except for L. I believe she was working.

I always feel like I have so much to live up to. My father definitely continues to show his compassion and is definitely someone I strive to live up to. He's a dedicate individual that puts his dedication in anything he sets out to do. Raising a family was and is still to this day a priority he keeps close. I'm sure he has his moments and feels that some times he didn't do good enough. I suppose we all fee that way sometimes, where that seems to be the norm, not the exception for me. I take it as it comes, and thank God for my family and for all that we don't have to strive for. There are many less fortunate ones out there, and my prayers are with them often. Often I pray thanks for all that I don't have.

If it's one thing I've tried hard to do in the past 6 years, is to put others before me. To force myself toward my declared dedication, I recently volunteered my time to the CA/N initiative. The Child Abuse and Neglect prevention program in Cass county is spearheaded by a nurse with the County Health department and the local Cass County prosecutor. I'll be on the planning committee whose purpose will be to design a response to the issue of CA/N. I look forward to providing my time, and hope that the initiative will be a positive influence for others that are less fortunate, as well as a positive influence on me and my family. This is a brand new initiative for the county, and so far it seems the response to this initiative is very positive. The first planning committee is the second week of July. It's a chance for everyone to meet, and to find more information on how child abuse and neglect is effecting our community.

Now for the best part... tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! I'll have the boys again, and I hope the weather is good. Fishing seems like it would be a fun thing to do this weekend.

Till next time!

Great Value Corn Surprise

I love it when I find a little beetle in my corn. Now I'm no scientist and don't even pretend to be. But something tells me that this little bugger was growing in my can of corn for some time. I looked on the can for the toll free number to call if you are dissatisfied and whoa-is-me... none to be found. Just says 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Needless to say we didn't have corn last night.

Other life elsewhere?

This is the question that's on everyone's mind. Right at this moment, the Phoenix Lander is scooping up ice from the Mars polar region. It's from that ice, scientists will determine if Mars was once life sustaining, and if so, could it harness life itself?

The image above is one of my favorite images taken by the Space Telescope Hubble. Just the vastness of space is unimaginable. This image was taken back in 1995 and 1998 (it's a composite of two separate images). The Hubble's shutter was held open for 1 million seconds; long enough time to let even the faintest of light hit its lens. It's estimated to hold around 10,000 galaxies in this small slice of space alone. If you attempted to view the same spot from earth, even with a powerful scope, this portion of space would be mainly black. Because Hubble doesn't have the atmospheric disturbances that we have here on earth, it can surprise us with images such as this. And more so, from earth, this portion of space would only encompass an area roughly 1/10th the size of the moon! This is like a grain of sand from all the sand on the earth.

Personally, I totally believe that the possibility exists for life elsewhere in space. It's gotta be like winning the lottery? There has to be a 1 in 100 billion chance. I find the Phoenix mission very exciting, and hope that we learn a good deal from this endeavor. Who knows... maybe we will be making some new friends as well!

My Great Mentor...

Everyone has that someone special that they look up-to in life. Someone that gives them that extra energy in life to make even the most miserable situations seem petty. If you haven't had that person in your life, then I can't even begin to describe what joy you are missing. I must say that my parents are obviously the ones that raised and reared me, and made me whom I am. I can't say enough good things about all the advise and love they have shown me throughout my years. But outside of my immediate family I choose my Grandfather Robert as my biggest mentor.

At 80 years young, he has more sincerity and blessings to share than anyone I know of. As far back as I can remember the act he has played as a role model is more than I can explain. He was born at the onset of the great depression and the strife his family must have experienced can only be unimaginable. He did his time serving his country, and continued his time as being the 15th hired employee of the then, Bendix Corporation located in Kansas City, Missouri.

Throughout all his years, and to this day, he keeps a strong bond with the Lord. He attempts to walk daily to keep his strength, and I believe that every day he is able to do his walk, he is truly walking right beside the Lord, talking with Him as if he is his Lord's best friend; sharing the things that make him happy, as well as the troubles he knows his friends and family are experiencing. His blessings are evident in all that he does, and there's not a day that goes by where he isn't thankful it's not his last. This is a wonderful thing, as he uses his strength and knowledge of all the wonderful things the Lord is capable of in his every day witnessing.

Grandpa isn't the type of individual that keeps quiet when things aren't what they ought to be. He can somehow treat every situation that comes his way as an opportunity to witness; somehow, in someway, to someone. I can't even begin to imagine how many lives my grandfather has touched in a positive way of some sort. So this is in honor of my Grandfather. The Lord has truly blessed you and it's evident in all you do!

For the Love of Space...

Image Courtesy of NASA

Do you enjoy watching the night sky? Have you ever been known to gander towards the heavens, watching the stars slowly pass above you? Do you occasionally study the moon, it's phases, and where it is in the sky? Do you occasionally set aside some time to and plan ahead for meeting up with friends to watch the next major meteor shower? And have you ever set your eyes in one part of the sky, just to see if one of the 'stars' is quickly moving directly overhead? If you have said "Yes!", to any of those questions, then I would like to say hello to you, as an astronomer friend. I have always had an obsession with the night sky.

My Dad first explained to me when I was 8 years old, that the star I was seeing moving quickly overhead, wasn't really a star at all; but a man made satellite! "Wow!", I remember saying to myself. It just wasn't comprehendable to me. I relate my feelings then as to what my Grandfathers Mom must have thought many years back. My Grandfather Robert told me that when he was just a kid, he was outside the back porch one summer night watching the stars. His mom was inside doing the dinner dishes, when Robert started yelling excitedly for his mom to come outside. In a panic, she raced out the back porch and asked Robert what all the commotion was about? "Mom, look there...", he yelled pointing in the direction of a moving star. "That's a satellite! We put that into space, and it's over 200 miles above us, moving at over 15,000 miles per hour!!! We can see it because the satellite is reflecting the sun's rays!" His mom studied the moving star for a moment, and then looked at Robert, paused, and then took the dish rag and hit it over his head exclaiming, "Robert... you need to quit dreaming up these wild things, get back inside and do your homework!". Little did my Grandfather's mom know, but he had just studied about satellites in school a few weeks before!

Just as the our Ocean has so much left unknown, so does our outer space; if not more! When viewing pictures that the Hubble has recently taken, I forget that just a square centimeter of that picture of a Magellanic Cloud is really light years across! I forget that when I'm looking up at the stars at night, that I'm really seeing the stars as they were hundreds and thousands if not millions of years ago! Our view of the night sky is truly the only time-machine that we have here on earth! There is so much out there that we can't and don't know. It's an awesome balance of nature and our planet Earth is only a minuscule spec of space dust caught up in the balance of the gargantuan heavenly orbit.

For those that have even the slightest interest in Space and all that it has to offer, I suggest visiting Spaceweather.com. Dr. Tony Phillips pins the site daily, and always has something new and interesting to share.

Those were the days...

I remember the days when I could fill up the ol' Ford 150 and never feel like I was getting ripped off. That's when I was making just a bit over minimum wage. That's right! I never thought twice about the emissions I was outputting as well.

What happened to cause such a spike over the last year? Yowzer!!! The price increase in gas has definitely had an impact on my family. We watch what vehicle we take when and for what reasons. We have a Ford Fusion that Dana and I car pool in to work (we both work at the same job), and the Durango is used when we have all the kids together. I now think twice when the day comes that Alex wants to start driving. If I can't afford gas for myself, how can Alex who doesn't even have a job afford gas for a vehicle???

It all for the best though. Who needs to drive aimlessly around town when you don't have anything better to do? I remember I used to do that all the time. Now I just go for a walk. Much better I suppose!

Guilty by Reason of Association

Every once in a while I come up with Bible lessons for the kids. They seem to like it and I wrap a story up about them within it. Usually the story is just to make a point, and doesn't infer or mean that my children really did that. It's a colorful illustrative illusion to 'get' them in the moment! Here was my last story, and they all seemed to really like it!:

What we do, what we say, and how we act all affect our relationship with God. You can fool others, and you can fool yourself, but WE CAN'T FOOL GOD! Here's why.

What does the phrase, "Guilty by Reason of Association", mean?

Leviticus 5:1 - "If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible."


Take for example: Let's say that Dylan snook out of the house late one night, and decided to meet up with some friends. They were walking along the street with nothing better to do. Then one of Dylan's friends said, "My cousin and his parents are away for the Christmas holiday in Texas, at his Grandparents house. I know where his dad keeps a lot of money. Let's go break in the house, take the money, and then buy a XBOX 360 and some video games!" All of Dylan's friends were psyched-up with the idea and couldn't wait to get the XBOX 360. But Dylan didn't think in his mind that this was the best idea. He knew that it was illegal to break into a house, illegal to steal, and most of all, knew that this wasn't something that would be pleasing to his parents. But Dylan figured that as long as he doesn't break into the house or steal the money,... that if he just waited outside while his friends went into the house, that he wouldn't get in-trouble.

Well, Dylan did just that. While breaking into the house, Dylan waited outside in the cold, nervously and he even started sweating because he was getting scared. And then out of no-where, police were surrounding the house and had Dylan lie on the ground with his hands behind his back. All of his friends were arrested, and so was Dylan.

Why do you think Dylan was arrested? He didn't do anything, did he?

Just because you may have not done anything wrong, doesn't mean that you are necessarily innocent. Because Dylan knew what his friends were doing wrong, he was obligated to tell someone what they were doing. Hiding the truth, or not participating in the crime didn't make Dylan innocent. He was guilty, because he stayed with his friends while they committed the crime, and he didn't go tell someone that they were about to rob a house. Of course this is just a story, and Dylan would never do anything like this,... but if he had, he would have been arrested and charged with an accessory to a crime.

This is why as Christians, it's important for us to choose our friends, and actions closely. Hanging around with the wrong crowd, makes us just as guilty as them; even if we don't do anything wrong. And perception on other peoples part puts you in a different class of person than what you may really want to be associated with.

What most memorable part in the Bible identifies why we are guilty by reason of association, and what are we guilty of?

Genesis 3:6-13

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Why is it important that we know God is Omnipresent?

Even if we might have done something wrong, and our parents don't know about it; that doesn't mean that we still haven't done something wrong. God is everywhere, and he sees everything. Omnipresent doesn't just mean that God can 'see' everything we do. He knows what we are thinking as well. God lives within our souls. He knows what we feel, how we feel, what we are thinking, and knows what we are going to do.

Because God is omnipresent, and He lives within our Soul, we must constantly be evaluating our actions and thoughts.

Would you say a cuss word in front of your mom or dad? Would you say a cuss word in front of God? Every-time you say something bad, think something bad, you are doing it in front of God.

What can I do to help me remember to do what's right? That's awful hard!

Yes! It's extremely hard, and as sinners, we will never be perfect and never do everything exactly the way God wants it done. But here are a few ideas that will help you be a good Christian and help us to lead a Christian Life!

PRAY PRAY PRAY! Ask for forgiveness for those that have sinned against you, and the sins you have done against others. Wear a WWJD bracelet? Every-time you feel uncomfortable about a decision you have to make that might be wrong, think about what Jesus would do? Would Jesus talk back to his parents? Would Jesus write this letter that might have cuss words in it to their friend? Would Jesus steal a persons quarter they found on the counter? Would Jesus not do his chores his parents told him to do? Would Jesus make excuses if he forgot to vacuum the floor when he got home from Church? Of course he wouldn't do any of these things. Wear the bracelet as a reminder to always think, Would Jesus do this? If not, then decide to make the right decision. Even if it's hard, you must make the right decision.

As we learned, being a Christian is much more than going to church and doing good things. It also requires us to control our thoughts and actions and do what is Godly. God promises us Eternal Salvation, and this should be something all Christians should strive for. Striving for this includes us doing what is right, every day, every hour, every minute, and every second of the day! God is watching us. He is in your heart. We are all guilty by reason of association; from the day of Adam and Eve. Keep your thought on Jesus, and always remember... WWJD?

Your Conscience As a Guide...

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something, but haven’t? All the opportunities are there for you, but your conscience keeps you quiet? I don’t know, maybe it’s not your conscience as that can tend to infer a moral dilemma. And I suppose that dilemma isn’t the right word either, as that infers a heart felt problem.

What is our conscience? Is it, as Freud would have it, the superego (or, more literally, the "above-I"), one of the multitude of impulses composing the psyche? Is it, as the Gnostic's would have it, the pneuma, the divine spark within us that predates this creation and seeks return to the true God? Or is it, as it is most commonly understood, our better self, some combination of the two others that is informed by superior moral authority? Whatever your answer, it becomes clear that our conscience should be heeded only insofar as it derives moral authority from beyond ourselves.

I believe that, somewhat, evil is its own punishment. To commit evil is to choose to be apart from God, and so it is apart from God that the evil remain. I can imagine no torment that would be more horrible. Nothing that Dante describes in his Inferno sounds more awful than Limbo, the first and outermost circle of Hell, where virtuous pagans and un-baptized infants suffer an eternity of "desire without hope." Seen this way, our conscience is fulfilling its role only to the extent that it leads us toward God, making it indistinguishable from faith. So those who would follow their conscience without the benefit of faith are deluded. They're deluded not because they lack faith, but because they follow a course that lacks meaning in the absence of faith. Those with faith need only be concerned about whether the voice they're heeding is their legitimate conscience or one of the psyche's many other internal actors. After all, neither faith nor conscience allows us to transcend our humanity.

Is it dangerous to let only your conscience guide your actions? I would say it is very dangerous - since your "conscience" is, I believe, the results of your early 'enculturation' about what is right and wrong - often becoming ingrained well before you have any real ability to rationally critique the messages you are given.

Therefore, if your parents believe that treating members of ethnic groups different from your own as fellow humans is wrong, if you trust your conscience, you may never critically examine the messages you were given - although, if other messages you are given conflict with this, you may.

If I let my 'conscience be my guide' in certain situations, I would be in trouble! Many of my decisions are based on the golden rule 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. Some people, like career criminals, don't seem to have a conscience or they simply don't care about the consequences of their actions; for various reasons.

I don't feel like I have a strong conscience. Left to my own devices, I would do just about anything short of murder. Okay …. Sorry, I'm stretching the truth a bit, but it makes my point. I live my life on the straight and narrow simply because I don't want to hurt others, don't want to do things that are illegal...break the law and go to jail and because of religious teachings I've been subjected to since childhood.

So how did I get from asking a common question to rambling about our conscience? Is this ever going to start making sense? Good question! Bear with me. ..