Robinson Crusoe and a January Rant
1/07/08 - 2nd Day - After Breakfast. We had a great Sabbath and Lord's Day. Very peaceful. In addition to the other books I am reading, I picked up Robinson Crusoe - the unabridged version - that one of the children had left lying around. I had not read it since high school and I was curious if I remembered any of it. I was shocked how deeply spiritual and doctrinally sound it is. I can say that I do not remember any of the long chapters on repentance, duty to God, Sabbath keeping, sorrow over sin, the providence and goodness of God, etc. Specifically the conversion narrative chapter when Robinson has the dream of Christ coming to him in fire and judgment, and afterward prays for God to give him repentance, which he receives - this was an excellent read. After that, in several chapters Robinson is reminded of his duties to God in prayer and supplication, and he constantly reads the Bible, studies it, and seeks to serve God. This was very challenging and very motivating to me. I was not surprised to hear that Daniel Defoe was a Puritan and the son of a dissenting minister. The book has also encouraged me in my own writing, as I have often been torn about writing a fiction novel, though I have determined to do so if the Lord wills.
Anyway, I would strongly recommend Robinson Crusoe if you have either never read it, or haven't read it in some time. It brought to mind that I have the complete works of Daniel Defoe in my library, and I will have to read some more from him when and if I ever get my office finished.
There are several great things about writing a blog. It is a great journal that I can turn back to and read. I like to go back a year and read about what was going on then, and how much has changed. You don't notice change much when you are living life, so it is nice to be reminded how much God has blessed us in a year, and how much has changed. Another great thing is that my life is an open book, and when folks come visit or communicate with me, I usually don't have to go through a mini-biography. I am shocked sometimes how much people know about me and my life. It never ceases to amuse me when I meet new people and they say things like "have you had any long-term effects from that spider bite?", or "do you still have the cow that kicked you in the knee?" A blog is also a great way to hear back from friends, and to hear from new friends who are on the same path of life as we are. One of the bad things about writing a blog is that it seems to be an invitation for anonymous loudmouths, trolls, false prophets, and critics who like to pick apart what you say and pontificate to you as if they know you. Frankly, I refuse to listen or heed anyone who criticizes me anonymously. You see, some people have a tremendously high regard for the things that they think. In normal life, you would listen to someone because you know them and you know their own manner of life. You would seek out people you respect, and you would be glad to heed their counsel and advice. If someone I respect comes to me and has something to say to me, I would listen to them. Now, if some no-name loudmouth walks up to me at Wal-Mart and wants to deride me for my full beard, do you really think I give a flip what he has to say? I actually get Romanist antichrist worshipping stalkers who anonymously prophecy against me via the free "comment" service on this blog. The things about opinions is that everyone has one, and everyone seems to think that theirs has merit. Now, I do not surf the internet and participate in other forums, etc. I do not go to Romanist blogs and spew at the writer my opinions about the Papal Antichrist. I do not surf blogs anonymously and give people my opinions. I do comment on two or three Agrarian blogs because a) I respect the blogger and what he/she writes, and b) I am generally known by them and I comment under my real name. One of the greatest evils in the internet age is the plague of anonymous opinions, or the high regard people have for their own. It is one thing to write your opinions down on a business card and throw it into your garage so that only someone who is actually looking for it may find it - this is what a blog is. No one gets my opinion that doesn't ask for it. People seek out these things, they are not thrust into their faces. I don't buy "clicks" or google ads. It is quite another thing to surf around anonymously and force your own stupidities on other people who do not know you or care what you think. I encourage comments on this blog - in fact, I would like to have more of them. But I do not encourage anonymous sniping or opining.
Ahhh... an early January rant.
Ok, so we are in the midst of a heat wave here in January. I woke up to 60 degree temps at 4 a.m. this morning. It is supposed to be back in the mid 70's again today (it was near 80 yesterday), and then start heading down into the 60's throughout the remainder of the week. We continue working on our double-dug gardens and I will be working on some sermons today. I hope to have the sermon notes from a week ago up sometime today.
Hope everyone is doing fine,
Michael Bunker
Anyway, I would strongly recommend Robinson Crusoe if you have either never read it, or haven't read it in some time. It brought to mind that I have the complete works of Daniel Defoe in my library, and I will have to read some more from him when and if I ever get my office finished.
There are several great things about writing a blog. It is a great journal that I can turn back to and read. I like to go back a year and read about what was going on then, and how much has changed. You don't notice change much when you are living life, so it is nice to be reminded how much God has blessed us in a year, and how much has changed. Another great thing is that my life is an open book, and when folks come visit or communicate with me, I usually don't have to go through a mini-biography. I am shocked sometimes how much people know about me and my life. It never ceases to amuse me when I meet new people and they say things like "have you had any long-term effects from that spider bite?", or "do you still have the cow that kicked you in the knee?" A blog is also a great way to hear back from friends, and to hear from new friends who are on the same path of life as we are. One of the bad things about writing a blog is that it seems to be an invitation for anonymous loudmouths, trolls, false prophets, and critics who like to pick apart what you say and pontificate to you as if they know you. Frankly, I refuse to listen or heed anyone who criticizes me anonymously. You see, some people have a tremendously high regard for the things that they think. In normal life, you would listen to someone because you know them and you know their own manner of life. You would seek out people you respect, and you would be glad to heed their counsel and advice. If someone I respect comes to me and has something to say to me, I would listen to them. Now, if some no-name loudmouth walks up to me at Wal-Mart and wants to deride me for my full beard, do you really think I give a flip what he has to say? I actually get Romanist antichrist worshipping stalkers who anonymously prophecy against me via the free "comment" service on this blog. The things about opinions is that everyone has one, and everyone seems to think that theirs has merit. Now, I do not surf the internet and participate in other forums, etc. I do not go to Romanist blogs and spew at the writer my opinions about the Papal Antichrist. I do not surf blogs anonymously and give people my opinions. I do comment on two or three Agrarian blogs because a) I respect the blogger and what he/she writes, and b) I am generally known by them and I comment under my real name. One of the greatest evils in the internet age is the plague of anonymous opinions, or the high regard people have for their own. It is one thing to write your opinions down on a business card and throw it into your garage so that only someone who is actually looking for it may find it - this is what a blog is. No one gets my opinion that doesn't ask for it. People seek out these things, they are not thrust into their faces. I don't buy "clicks" or google ads. It is quite another thing to surf around anonymously and force your own stupidities on other people who do not know you or care what you think. I encourage comments on this blog - in fact, I would like to have more of them. But I do not encourage anonymous sniping or opining.
Ahhh... an early January rant.
Ok, so we are in the midst of a heat wave here in January. I woke up to 60 degree temps at 4 a.m. this morning. It is supposed to be back in the mid 70's again today (it was near 80 yesterday), and then start heading down into the 60's throughout the remainder of the week. We continue working on our double-dug gardens and I will be working on some sermons today. I hope to have the sermon notes from a week ago up sometime today.
Hope everyone is doing fine,
Michael Bunker
posted by Michael Bunker at 1/07/2008 05:27:00 AM
7 Comments:
Here's a comment for you. Keep doing what you are doing. I have seen no problems in all the YEARS I have been reading and listening to you. They are all just prideful, lusting whores who have nothing better to do than try, they never succeed with true children of Christ, to pick apart ministries that differ from theirs.
Hey Michael. I've never commented on your blog before, but as a Catholic agrarian I'd just like to say that while I obviously don’t concur with your anti-catholic theology, I have found your agrarian insights and enthusiasm to be valuable. I have even found your views of Catholicism to be, well, entertaining. I guess I've always found the spectrum of protestant views on Catholicism to be intriguing - which is another reason why I read your blog on occasion.
I’m no stalker, so I hope you don’t mind a non-anonymous, Romanist antichrist worshipping agrarian Lurker...
Steve,
Thanks for the comment and thanks for doing it under your real name. Glad to know that there are Catholics out there with some remnant of manhood left.
I am amused by the Romanist tactic of lumping all the "diverse Protestant views" into one lump in order to deride any substantive proof concerning the evil cult of Romanism. The Mormon can just as easily lump all anti-moroni sects into one lump and dismiss them because their views are diverse. I am less than entertained, though, at anyone making light of the 10's of millions of murders at the hands of the Pope and his Jesuits. I doubt Christ will be laughing at that little tidbit of fact, no matter how much the Roman Church tries to wash her hands clean by calling it a "black myth" or an historical anomaly.
Never forget that the martyrs cry out to Jesus Christ from 'neath the throne, even today.
Michael
Steve,
Just wondering if you have any thoughts on this news, or Padre Pio in general...thanks
By Phil Stewart
Mon Jan 7, 12:50 PM ET
ROME (Reuters) - A plan to exhume the remains of Italy's favorite saint to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his death has sparked a protest by followers who threaten to go to court to make sure he rests in peace.
The exhumation would give millions of Italians another chance to pay tribute to Padre Pio, a 20th century mystic monk said to have suffered from stigmata -- bleeding wounds in the hands and feet similar to those of Christ.
Archbishop Domenico D'Ambrosio announced at the weekend his intention to lift the saint from his crypt in southern Italy and put it on full view for several months starting in April.
"It is our duty to allow the generations that come after us the ability to venerate and best care for his mortal remains," D'Ambrosio said in a sermon.
But other Catholics, like Francesco Traversi, who heads the Association Pro-Padre Pio, are threatening to block the exhumation in court.
"They can't do it (without the relatives' permission) because otherwise they'll be committing a crime," Traversi told Reuters by telephone, adding his group would present a legal motion to block the proceedings in the southern city of Foggia.
Traversi said he had the support of Padre Pio's closest relatives -- his niece and her daughters -- although an Italian news agency quoted one relative denying that.
Padre Pio's popularity is hard to overestimate. A Catholic magazine once found far more Italian Catholics pray to him than any other icon of the faith, including the Virgin Mary or Jesus.
Born Francesco Forgione, the Capuchin friar was said to have wrestled with the devil in his monastery cell and also to have predicted future events.
Padre Pio, who died in 1968 at the age of 81, was even said to have had the power to appear in two places at once.
Pope John Paul II made him a saint in 2002 at a ceremony that drew one of the biggest crowds ever at the Vatican. The Church had said it found evidence that the miraculous cure of a sick woman was due to the dead monk's intercession.
I have never read Robinson Crusoe, and read with interest your review of the book.
I found it online, for free (which is the best price EVER) at:
http://www.deadmentellnotales.com/onlinetexts/robinson/crusoe.shtml
So those of you, like me, who would like to read it too....Enjoy!
Thanks for the recommendation Michael!
I have read Robinson Crusoe many times over the years and LOVE it. Recently I came across one of the author's other works at a thrift store and was thrilled to get them. However, I was shocked. I believe the name was something to do with "Moll Flanders". I didn't get far before I burned it. But, I still have Robinson Crusoe and highly recommend it. Maybe if someone has read the other one, you can tell me if I maybe burned it too soon... :-D
Just so happens a few weeks ago Deb and I picked up a copy of Robinson Crusoe at a thrift store. I recall reading it as a child, and look forward to doing so again. I had forgotten how Godly it was.
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