Hello All,
Well, the world’s most controversial author is back! Mr. Scott asked me not to apologize for his absence. Apparently, he wishes to reconcile himself in person. I can only shudder at how that will turn out.
Before I turn the mike over to our cosmopolitan friend, I wish to make one of my boring administrative announcements: At the end of September, the http:/ address for this blog will change from http:/squireandknight.blogspot.com/ to http:/penandink.journey.blogspot.com/. Most likely, the infinitely wise and powerful owners of this server have a contingency for such a thing, but I felt I should let everybody know.
That is all from my corner! Now, on to our mutual friend.
~
Corey L. Megran
Editor-in-Chief
Hello Dear Reader
I hope you’ve all been doing well in my absence. Lately I’ve become quite lazy, content to sit about and waste my time on activities that have no real benefit or meaning. But no longer! I refuse to waste my, if nothing else, interesting life on trivialities and nonsense.
Now, that could be all I planned on lecturing you about tonight, dear reader, but that is not the case. Tonight I am calling out to every man on the face of this planet, young or old. To those who still feel a fire in their soul, and yet let it die when they find no reason to keep it lit. To those who feel a driving desire, no, a need to fight, to stand up for what they believe in, only to see their efforts ruthlessly crushed by those around you.
If this is you, I believe you may want to listen to what I have to say tonight.
One of the most oft-quoted verses in the Bible is Matthew 5:39: “But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.” While this verse certainly has a powerful face value, most of us simply take that and move on. But there’s much more to it than meets the eye.
Apparently, this verse is telling us to never use violence, even if someone offends us. And yet, Jesus drove merchants and salesmen out of the Temple
Jesus was perfect: he never sinned. So obviously, what he did was right. “But… we’re supposed to turn the other cheek!” us believers splutter indignantly. And you’re right. We are supposed to turn the cheek. But you can’t turn a cheek you don’t have. The church today uses that verse to shape the lifestyles of the men that it influences. But then, when we give up our passionate ways, it mourns the loss of manhood! “I thought this is what you wanted from me!” we moan, no longer capable of even becoming indignant.
Which leads me to my final point: when God created men, He gifted us with the amazing qualities of strength, courage, and love. And with those came a responsibility: to use those qualities to protect, not attack. To give, not to take. To provide, not consume. To build up, not tear down. To have courage, not just bravado.
Men were created to be protectors, unmovable pillars of faith and love. Yes, we live in a fallen world, and sticking to these ideals is never going to easy, but do you drop something just because it’s hard? Certainly not! Rather you stick to the straight and narrow path. Jesus never promised it would be easy. John 16:33 says, “For in this world you will face adversity, but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world.” The path is narrow, but the way is straight and the destination perfect.
So, armed with this knowledge, let us march forth with renewed courage and faith into this spiritual battlefield before us. And let this be our resolution: that we shall fight our enemies, not with blows and thoughtless words, but with the wisdom and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest man that ever lived. Amen.
To some of you, this probably caused great indignation. To think, an immature teenager would dare speak to his elders like that! And maybe you’re right. Perhaps I was out of line. But this is something I am… he-hem… quite passionate about. I am proud that I can still be passionate, and I don’t plan on losing it.
To others, this is little more than an annoyance. Just another loud-mouth Christian forcing their opinion on others. But please, if you hear nothing else, hear this: if every man on the face of the planet followed these ideals, there would be almost no crime, no broken families, no teenage mothers, no girls forced into prostitution, no fatherless children, and no greedy consumer companies. You don’t have to believe in God for this to work: there aren’t any strings attached. Just think about it.
And finally, for some of you, something in your heart stirred as you read these words. If so, I ask only this: don’t waste what you’ve heard. God has a plan for you, and I highly doubt it includes you bending before the forces of the Devil. Don’t be ashamed of your desire to fight for what you love. We are warriors for a King, mighty and proud, reveling in His glory and majesty. And there is no shame in that.
I hope I haven’t bored you, dear reader. My next post shall, I think, be directed more towards my peers, but all should find it, if nothing else, interesting.
Until then, dear reader, I remain,
Your humble servant,
~
Walter J. Scott
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