How would you describe this picture?

In one hundred words, write with creative expression what you think is happening here. Use descriptive words. Show, don't tell what happening. Are those spit projectiles? Are her eyes glaring with the intent of death? Are her fists tightened with the strength of steel? Is she ready to pounce on her subject of disdain? Is the pitch and volume of her voice high with excessive decibels? Does it reverberate and echo throughout the entire building that everyone else can hear it? What words and sentences is she speaking? Are they curse words? Insulting words? Hateful? Threatening words? How do you think the recipient of this bully is feeling and thinking? Describe the tension in the scene.

Do you know the specifics of your personality?

It took me over 40 years to figure this out. I didn't even know I was an introvert until I was about 40 and even then, 2 years later, I finally discovered my exact personality type. When I read the description of an INTJ, it described me perfectly. Just about every word that I read in this profile resonated with me. I actually thought to myself, "now here's someone who knows me!" There is nothing worse than going through life and not having anyone who truly understands you. It was so refreshing to read this for it brought about a great deal of understanding to my particular behaviors and idiosyncrasies. Basically it helped elucidate all the confusion that I have had through the years.

I used to think there was something wrong with me because I always preferred to be alone. I have always enjoyed living alone, doing activities alone. I never even got married or had any kids and I'm 44. I never had a string of friends coming and going or an address book filled to the brim with phone numbers and contacts. In fact, sometimes I wonder why I even have a cell phone other than for emergencies. I have been far more anti-social than others, but hey I love books and lectures, museums and documentaries. Put me in a room with a group of social butterflies and I was looking for the nearest exit door. This same mind set carried over into my workplace, that is wherever I was working at that particular time. I always preferred independent work because then I was more productive, efficient, and I could focus much better. Working with large groups of people was nothing but a distraction for me and more than likely would make me extremely crabby and depending upon the circumstances, very angry. Perhaps because I am very sensitive to excessive stimulus, which is typical for NT. The worse part though was when others would criticize me or make me feel as though there was something inherently wrong with me because I liked working independently or didn't go to social events. Most people would put the pressure on me to conform to what they thought I should be rather than just letting me be me. The frustration that I felt every day around most people in general just led to more reclusion. As a result though, I have read more books and have learned quite a bit. The time I have spent reading books or pursuing my hobbies rather than socializing has actually been a wonderful benefit for me.


Here are the profiles of INTJ. You can find out here and here if you are interested. Also you can take the personality test yourself and just maybe you might learn something new about your own self!

Diplomat or General.......which one are you?

If you were to classify yourself in either one of these groups, which group would you be in? Suppose a friend who knew you well had to decide which group to put you in, would they be right? If you had a choice, which group would you rather be in?

I like this picture of the praying mantis. My dad took this photo years ago. He loved these bizarre insects and he especially loved taking photos of them up close. He always said they looked like aliens from Mars. If you were to pick one of these insects up, they will look at you and turn their head back and forth as though they were studying you. Perhaps they were "sizing" you up. I always preferred to call these insects generals because of their unique and interesting movements and their stealthy maneuvering. They know what they want and how to get it! They truly are fascinating insects. When it comes to food, they are about as diplomatic as a lion in the African bush.

Most people fall into the diplomat category. These people tend to be the crowd pleasers and followers. They usually love political correctness. This keeps the "peace" and their own likeability factor. They feel a need to be socially acceptable, fitting in and conforming to social norms, attending to their peers' demands. Unfortunately they can be gullible and naive resulting in them being easily manipulated. The diplomats of the world desire peace at all costs. But these costs can be high from their inability to think critically and strategically. They may lack discernment and insight which necessitates planning. These weakness are greatly exemplified in Neville Chamberlain's appeasement with Hitler (Munich Agreement). After a peace treaty was signed by Hitler, Chamberlain came back to Britain with the treaty in his hand boasting of his "success" with Hitler. His underestimation of the enemy, lack of strategic planning, and his overwhelming desire for peace impeded any lucid judgment and intelligence on his part. Had Chamberlain been more aware, he would have considered Hitlers' charisma and political genius disguised in surreptitious movements and clandestine maneuverings as some bigger objective than just peace! (Hitler wanted a piece of Poland, a piece of Czechoslovakia, a piece of this and a piece of that). No "piece" treaty would have been achieved by a simple stroke of a pen.

Consider also the U.S. and Japan negotiations prior to Pearl Harbor. For any U.S. Diplomat to believe Japan was capable of peace was a grave mistake. Japan's earlier aggressive invasion of Manchuria in 1931, was enough to prove otherwise. The obvious weakness of the diplomats who strongly desire peace without applying knowledge is evidenced by the aforementioned facts. However, the diplomats have their strengths and as a result, have averted serious outright war and other major and minor conflicts. Their skills of negotiations and diplomacy are necessary in just about any relationship. This is where they shine. Take for example J.F. Kennedy. Because of his calm demeanor and skilled diplomacy, he avoided what could have become all out nuclear war. In the Cuban Missile Crisis (Bay of Pigs), the world came the closest to nuclear war since the atomic age began. So the diplomats have their strengths, notwithstanding their costly mistakes and blunders (weaknesses).

The generals on the other hand use their strategic and tactical minds to accomplish their clear objectives. The masterminds are always thinking ahead and their vision is their strength. The have the insight and discernment to plan for contingencies and unforeseen events. With their acute mental vision and perspicacious minds, they have the ability to see the truth that others can and will not due to the infiltration of political correctness. The generals hate political correctness and see it as a distraction; it clouds lucid judgment. They do not underestimate the enemy and understand the importance of staying one step ahead of the game. They expect obstacles but plan ahead tactically because their objective is to win. Rommel comes to mind when I think of a great general. Rommel hated the politics in Germany but he loved Germany. He hated what Germany had become under Hitler and the Nazi's but he loved commanding an army for the Fatherland. Unfortunately, even the best generals are not susceptible to "corrupt politics." The generals have their weakness though and one such example is that of General Patton. A great general was he, but diplomacy he lacked and the  result got him demoted by Eisenhower. Pattons' thirst for war and winning (not losing) propelled him further into Africa causing the Axis powers to pull back. America needed a strong general like Patton, that was the only way to win a war against such an overwhelming power and Patton understood that this was no time for cowardice. The objectives and success could not be accomplished with a bunch of timid, weak soldiers. But he took his gusto too far and slapped a scared, inexperienced soldier. His diplomatic skills were no doubt lacking. He even wanted to fight the Russians after a marshall plan was set up for Germany. He said to Bradley that we were going to have fight them anyway. Patton was right because the Cold War came next. Although Patton had the strategic and tactical planning that made him an effective general, he grossly lacked "people" skills or  shall we say diplomacy!

So with all these examples in each group, where do you see yourself? Each group has strengths and weaknesses but what is more important to you? Do your strengths matter more or your weaknesses to be improved upon? Do you prefer to strive for balance, knowing that you should try to improve some of your weaknesses because your strengths tend to come naturally?

Justice

Is there any real justice in this world? Do you believe there is? If you had to constantly bare up under unfair circumstances and had been sorely wronged by another, even though you had to pay very HIGH price for their selfishness and saw no real recompense, would you still believe there is justice in this world? And how would you define justice? Is it more concrete or abstract? Is it some arbitrary number or criminal sentencing?

Suppose you were a victim of a drunk driver. You were waiting at a red light minding your own business and someone smashes your vehicle. Due to the severe impact of the rear end collision, your vehicle is now declared a total loss. And this person that was drunk, was very drunk. Not just a little mind you, but very drunk,.33 BAC. Not only do you loose your vehicle, but you get severely injured and loose your job. Then the drunk drivers' insurance company tries to blow you off, your employer tries to screw you out of your job, and the doctors try to minimize and trivialize a severe spinal injury that causes so much pain (herniated disk WITH nerve root compression) and if that's not enough, then your insurance company raises your rates even though you were not at fault. And now you want to shop around for cheaper rates but you can't get anything cheaper because now this accident, even though YOU WERE NOT THE ONE DRUNK DRIVING, is showing as a record for a claim on your drivers license! How is that justice? You can tell me if this were you. Would you believe there is justice in this world?

Now imagine if people had the audacity to call you "princess." Being hit by a very drunk driver and that horrific nightmare you had to walk through and bare up under was just one event of the many other horrific, nightmare events you had to walk through. Would you still believe in justice? Would you still believe there were decent people left in this world? Is it any wonder why now you don't trust people and you've become a very STRONG individual? You had to walk through that nightmare alone with no one coming to your defense! Because you were living alone, no one was there to see the countless nights you couldn't sleep because of jabbing, stabbing pain shooting down your left arm and in your neck. They were not there to see the ataxia, visual disturbances, muscle weakness, dizziness, and nausea and vomiting. In fact, you were held in the court of public opinion with a negative bias that was not in your favor even though you had done nothing wrong. You had to fight every tooth and nail just to have your most basic human rights met because you were treated like an animal, not a human being with dignity. So why should you believe there are still decent people left in the world when all most people have done is wronged you, belittled you and minimized and trivialized your severe hardships?

What do you honestly expect in a sinful, wicked, depraved world? Ecclesiastes 5:8 says "If you see the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. In other words, God is higher than any judicial court system in this world and he will dole out His justice in due time. No one will escape the justice of God.

I still believe in the goodness of God despite all that. But it has changed my perspective. I no longer hope in people or this world.......my hope is in God. Psalm 41 was the passage I came to when I was going through that horrific nightmare and it spoke directly to my heart. As a result, I quickly shifted my focus from horizontal to vertical. Psalm 41 was tailored just for me during that time because every word was true to what I was experiencing. This Psalm is a prayer for healing written by King David (who btw, had many enemies).

Blessed is He who considers the poor. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou
wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me, when shall he die, when shall his name perish? And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself, when he goeth abroad, he telleth it (or gossips). All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, Oh Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine INTEGRITY, and settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen and amen.

Divorce and remarriage.......what is Gods will on this topic?

This topic has been widely debated for years and years in a wide variety of denominations that to actually know what is the truth verses what people's opinions are would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The armchair theologians are quick to assert their opinions as are simple lay people and they are quite dogmatic about it without any proof of their condemnation to the proven innocent party. So I wonder how many of us who profess to be Born-Again actually read what God says in His Word so that they can know and understand His mind and His moral will.

Everyone has opinions, we all know that but how many of those opinions are based on the Truth of Gods Word? If God hates divorce, what are we to believe what His mind is on remarriage? And if we also know that Gods character (as described in His Word) is full of grace, mercy and forgiveness, at what point do we draw the line between what is morally wrong and what is permissive within the will of God? And where do we draw the line between Gods moral will and His individual will for each Believer?

It is true that one in two marriage end in divorce and statistically it is actually worse in Christian marriages than non-believing or secular marriages. It seems most people today change their relationships and marriages like they do their underwear, so with that in mind, I wonder how many people actually think (mindful) before making such a decision of consequence?

To reiterate..........It is true that unscriptural divorce is one of the great evils of our day and time. Many modern churches are as lax in their divorce laws as were the ancient Pharisees who allowed divorce for "every cause". Denounce and abhor this Hollywood kind of divorce. Keeping rigid standards against all laxity in divorce and sticking to the scriptures and only what God allows will keep the commitment in marriage. Interestingly and of particular concern are those denominations that do not allow their ministers to perform a ceremony for the proven innocent in divorce, but they will gladly receive these same people into their membership and take their money. Many are bound to denominational tradition and those roots go very deep!

The New Testament law of divorce and remarriage is very strict when compared to the 30 grounds for divorce in our 50 states. The ancient Jews however, allowed divorce and remarriage for every cause because of the "hardness of their hearts (Matthew 19:3)." In Moses' time, many Jews were cruel to their wives and divorced them for frivolous reasons such as burning biscuits, poor housekeeping, poor cooking or bad manners and because of this cruelty and "hardness of heart", God permitted divorce. Repudiation of the marriage at his whim and pleasure was at the center of Jewish divorce legislation. So all a Jew had to do to divorce his wife was give her a certificate of divorce in the presence of two witnesses. The marriage was then legally dissolved and both parties were free to remarry (Deuteronomy 24:1-2).

The only cause for divorce in the New Testament is fornication or adultery. Why is this? Old Testament men were allowed to have multiple wives and concubines but New Testament men are allowed only one wife. Clearly this would be a case already for adultery when a man has several wives like they did in the Old Testament. In Matthew 5:31, Jesus makes clear that the only time a certificate of divorce is allowed is in the case of adultery or fornication, otherwise any other reason would be the same as committing adultery. In other words, any man who divorces his wife (with the exception of adultery), causes her to commit adultery in remarriage. He is still her husband and she is still his wife in the eyes of God. Both sin if they remarry or enter into sexual relations with another. There could no dispute in this clearly undissolved marriage. If a divorce occurs beyond that of adultery or fornication in New Testament Law, the couple is still married so the question of dissolution is at the heart of the matter. 

If the husband puts away his wife in the case of adultery, the marriage is dissolved and the man is not involved in the sin that the woman committed. The opposite is true for the wife in the case of a husband committing adultery. Beyond adultery or fornication, the spouse has given no other just cause as a reason to divorce and in so doing, they expose their spouse to sin. So fornication was a just cause or right cause for dissolution. Righteously speaking, would Jesus make it right for a man to divorce an adulterous wife and then make it wrong for him to remarry? Logically, what kind of law would that be which establishes a right but places a no-marriage penalty upon anyone who uses the right? Jesus used a decisive expression......"saving for the cause of fornication." The question of divorce and remarriage centers around these words. Messiah told the Jews they could not divorce their wives for the frivolous reason of burnt biscuits or over salted soup. He threw out every cause but the one of fornication so He did not abolish all divorce as some claim using Romans 7:1-3.

Doing an exhaustive and unprejudiced study would uncover the Truth but many are afraid to really investigate it. I believe the crux of the debate is what dissolves a marriage? Does adultery? And if so, there can be no question for remarriage. The right to divorce carries with it the right to remarriage. So why is not the Bible more clear on this subject? There are scriptures but one needs to elucidate the fact of dissolution verses non-dissolution.

The Potter and the Clay

                                          This is what our Sovereign Lord says,
                                    Oh house of Israel, aren't thou in thy hands the clay
                                       that I may mold you and shape you
                                          making you as I may?

                                      This is what we the chosen ones say,
                                         The distress of difficulties
                                            the anguish of sorrow,
                                                the bitter pain of persecution,
                                          yields the peaceable fruit of tomorrow.

                                           Bringing out His destined tools
                                             of adversity create a flame
                                               temperatures of extreme heat,
                                                 we will never be the same.

                                          Smashing down and plummeting,
                                            breaking into pieces, chiseling away
                                               removes all the impurities
                                                 and prunes back the decay.

                                          During this appointed time
                                            words just can not express......
                                         the unreasonable, unfathomable,
                                            inexplicable pain of this process.

                                           The depth of this intensity
                                             seems to never relent.
                                         Sometimes even our cries of mercy
                                            won't remove our lament.

                                               The dark billowy cloud
                                        engulfs with the temptation to despair.
                                          But have hope my beloved,
                                             God still needs to repair.

                                          Those old waste houses
                                            and barren waste lands
                                             to create something so beautiful
                                              with the touch of His mighty hands.

                                            Through this fiery furnace,
                                              God will sustain His own
                                                allowing only what He wills,
                                                  reassuring us we are not alone.

                                             Oh give thanks dear children
                                               persevere, be patient and hold,
                                                  to those sweet cries of relief
                                             bring forth the finished product Gold!


                                               By Cynthia Holwick  (July 1998)