WORDLESS WEDNESDAY & MUSIC MONDAY

As a way of striving to always post something I am "stealing" an idea from a Facebook friend of mine, (Michelle).  I'll be posting a picture on Wednesday with not text; pictures are worth a thousand words. Then posting a Music video on Mondays.

MUSIC MONDAY:


http://www.freewebs.com/freedom-beacon-ministries/jehovahswitnessbeliefs.htm
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY:

REFERENCES

REFERENCES

Internet

{Just a small sampling of a starting point...}

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071003200333AALRJVU

http://peterjfast.com/2011/08/25/part-two-let-us-worship-the-creation-instead-of-the-creator-the-clash-between-the-pagans-and-the-radical-idea-of-monotheism/

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2007/09/Why-The-Bible-Forbids-Paganism.aspx

http://www.apostolicolivetree.com/pagan_holidays.html


http://bible.cc/matthew/6-7.htm

http://www.biblepages.web.surftown.se/fg01.htm

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

      At first the “idea” of doing such a project was exciting.  But as pen was pressed to paper, the enormity of the task I set before myself began to sink in as daunting.  Though it was of my own choosing, and I revel in the learning experience; I only hope it will be profitable for others in the sharing of my discoveries.  For I ventured upon this work with an opened mind eager to accept whatever gems lay before me.  The daunting part came in how to share that material in a manner that was as “politically correct” as I could.  By that I mean not as a source of contention or for argumentation.  Yet, no matter the approach many will find offence either way in both camps.

   The intent of this work is not toward the conversion from either of the two communities: Christian or Pagan.  Rather it is intended as a beginning resource for understanding.  My hope is that this material may be used for shedding some light on the background in which the Biblical events played out.  The Judeo-Christian people lived among a plethora of deity worshiping nations.  But who were those nations, their gods, their beliefs and practices that the ancient Jews and early Christians lived among?  What was the major difference between the multiplicity of deities the ancient Pagans worshiped, and the single view of the Jews?  Relationship?  For starters, the pagans lived, feared, and personified the natural world.  Where as the Jews viewed the natural world as being wholly set apart from deity, and that deity was its sole creator.  Yet, Christians believed one step beyond the Jews in that, man could have a personal relationship with deity on an individual basis.
   This work will primarily focus upon the ancient Pagans through the lens of internal evidence of the Biblical text, and then expand that view with external historical evidence.  Keeping the focus within this context may prove more enlightening to the modern reader.  It is hoped that this material will lead some to investigate far more scholarly works.   May, both the modern Christian and Neo-Pagan find this effort beneficial, and become yet another resource among their growing library of knowledge.

   The reconstructionist view of Paganism today is growing by leaps and bounds; yet, it is based on the lives of our ancestors.  Likewise, the Judeo-Christian experience has developed far beyond its historical beginnings. Yet, it is these very modern expressions that are not the topic of discussion in this volume of work, nor are the relationships between those two communities.  May our growing understanding of the ancients foster a more accurate desire to be better descendants.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

  I would like to give thanks to several people, both Christians and Pagans alike: Mike Cope, Rick Fairchild, Michael “Mickey” Fruge, Goran Waldeck, Anthony Belcher; for their encouragements, advice and friendship, (some via the Internet).  Also, countless thanks for all those who have gone before me and whose labors I have drawn upon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm doing research for a new book I want to write. I'm entitling it: THE PAGANS OF SCRIPTURE. From time to time I will be posting notes for the book...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

   David DeLane Snow was born in Irving, Texas in 1963.  He lived in various small towns in north-central Texas, and grew up in Brownwood.  Later, DeLane Snow lived for twenty years in Corpus Christi, where he served as a Chaplain’s Assistant in the Texas Army National Guard.  For several years he has been employed in the Mental Health field, and currently resides with Alice Snow, his wife of more than thirty years, in Lewisville, Texas.
   Religiously DeLane Snow was raised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for thirteen years. After many of his own family members “fell away” he later married, and then converted to his wife’s faith as a Southern Baptist, for fifteen years.  Being baptized for the first time in 1984 he soon became a Sunday School teacher, then in 1987 was Licensed as a Lay Minister and began attending Howard Payne University’s seminary extension programs in Corpus Christi, Texas.  After many years of searching and struggling with personal issues, DeLane left Christianity in search of the Pagan Expression of spiritual matters.
   In 2002 he entered a Wiccan Coven, a Neo-Pagan eclectic study-group; yet, due to employment scheduling issues departed after a few years.  But still continues to claim the Pagan Path as his own.  Being a “Solitary Practitioner” DeLane Snow continues to seek out self improvement, striving to create a network of like “believers” for the past fourteen years. With the advent of this work’s research he has come to another cross road in his journey.

NEW BLOG TITLE: The Crimson Catharsis

THE CRIMSON CATHARSIS or "The Red Purging" is the revamped title of my Blog. As the name implies, I am changing a focus in my life.  Some major changes are occurring in my personal life, and I thought it would do well to reflect that here as well.  Keeping the same Blogger address, (thenephilimage) [The was the working title of my novel: THE WATCHER's REQUIEM]; would allow people to continue following my post who care to do so. I am striving to write more. and I am not quiet sure how or in what direction this renewal will manifest itself.

   In renewing my Christian Faith I am not quiet sure how returning to it will manifest itself either.  I don't see myself becoming a Pastor.  At this point even thinking about returning to a church makes me nervous inside.  I have begun researching some information for writing a new book.  It seems this very investigation is what has spurred me toward my return to Christianity.  Paganism's reveal was a fascinating journey with a great deal of answered question. In returning there seems to be a resurgence of enthusiasm, yet many behavioral changes will take time to develop into new habits.
   Right now I am feeling a little more than overwhelmed with emotions and new questions about this direction I seem to find myself in.  Being a seeker is not always finding the answers you want.

An Average Day At Work

   I work at the Denton State Supportive Living Center (formerly: State School); with individuals who have Mental and Physical disabilities (formerly: Retarded). The men I work at assisting with their personal life skills are profoundly disabled mentally. Imagine if you will grown men in every facet physically yet the mental comprehension of an eight month old infant. Yes, sad indeed. But giving [yes I get paid], back to those who are totally incapable of making any recompense to my efforts is rewarding in that servitude unto lesser men has its own reward beyond pay.
  There is a structured plan in everything throughout the day; less so on the weekend so I will just share with you what an "average" day is like on my shift. I work from 2:oo P.M. in the afternoon till 10:oo P.M. in the evening; yes sometimes having to stayover as required for coverage, and yes sometime because I could use the extra pay - let's face it it is a "job" as well.

   After arriving and signing in we, (my "Home" must be covered by three staff, including myself); go to "workshop". It is Nothing akin to a Sweatshop. Just another building where the "individuals" {clients} do various activities, and learning skills "to hopefully allow them the goal of reaching community placement" are 'taught'.  After a few hours there, broken up be a snack time break, we assist those for whom we care back to their residential Homes.  Then we assist the men (I have eight I work for), with meals, various activities of learning and distractions on the patio, excursions on van rides into community settings, and later with readying them with night time duties: laundry, and personal hygiene care and then to their beds.
   What ever you do in great mundane detail to accomplish each one of these topic is exactly what I do at work and my fellow co-workers strive to assist those who can't do for themselves. The actual work is not difficult: Check and changing soiled or wet clothes, using an adaptive built-up handle spoon, pushing a wheel chair to and from, making beds, washing dishes or bathing. Their inability to verbalize their needs, hopes and fears or truly express adult thoughts is extremely difficult and near impossible for these men which usually results in "behavioral episodes": licking windows, screaming and yelling out of the blue for no obvious reason at all, biting and a whole range of things that seem odd and bizarre in " " normal " " accepted society at large. Yet all of this is manageable with respect and patience from the staff to the "individuals served".  Among the staff a dab of humor smooths over our own frustration in trying to figure out and decipher the needs of such lesser men, humor that holds back the profound seriousness of our duties at hand and humor that staves off the deeply sobering sadness of such a state of existence. For the most part I have witness humanity at its best in my fellow co-workers stepping up and being examples to myself.
   Out of nearly fourteen years with the State of Texas the hardest aspect of my job is working with the bureaucratic system we have created, which crushes and micro-manages moment to moment actions of both "individuals" and staff alike. 
Do not get me wrong. I love my job, care deeply for those whom I sever, and yes even enjoy my co-workers, (I appreciate you so much for allowing me to work along side you).  But I'm tired of The System's soul crushing nature and that feeling of hopelessness to create effectual change.

An average day at work: Because I get off at 10 PM I'm not crazy about getting up "too early" in the event I have to stayover on the third shift [10/6].

An Average Day at home...

An average day on my day off - who knows, they're always different.  Today? A lazy Saturday of just being on Face Book all day, occasionally taking my poodle, Micah outside to do his business. LOL still needing to get on top of the collecting mounds of laundry, pet cages needing to be cleaned, all the house work that's gotten neglected during the work week.  Still need to assist wifey with evening bathing needs and meal.

VIDEO: "My Ferrets" Cleaning Day...

My grand children came over and we made breakfast and did some cleaning; and the cage too.

[NOT VIEWING on iPad 2]

grrrrrrrr!!!