A Poem of Lament

Poetry and Philosophy have always been at odds

Poets declare praises; Philosophers deny the gods

And is it any wonder we've forgotten mystery?

 Revolving, Devolving with scientific history

~fragment by rustymodem, 2019~

"We crossed a Walk to the other Part of the Academy, where, as I have already said, the Projectors in speculative Learning resided.

The first Professor I saw was in a very large Room, with forty Pupils about him. After Salutation, observing me to look earnestly upon a Frame, which took up the greatest part of both the Length and Breadth of the Room, he said perhaps I might wonder to see him employed in a Project for improving speculative Knowledge by practical and mechanical Operations. But the World would soon be sensible of its Usefulness, and he flattered himself that a more noble exalted Thought never sprung in any other Man's Head. Every one knew how laborious the usual Method is of attaining to Arts and Sciences; whereas by his Contrivance, the most ignorant Person at a reasonable Charge, and with a little bodily Labour, may write Books in Philosophy, Poetry, Politicks, Law, Mathematicks and Theology, without the least Assistance from Genius or Study. He then led me to the Frame, about the Sides whereof all his Pupils stood in Ranks. It was twenty Foot Square, placed in the middle of the Room. The Superficies was composed of several bits of Wood, about the bigness of a Dye, but some larger than others. They were all linked together by slender Wires. These bits of Wood were covered on every Square with Paper pasted on them, and on these Papers were written all the Words of their Language, in their several Moods, Tenses, and Declensions, but without any Order. The Professor then desired me to observe, for he was going to set his Engine at Work. The Pupils at his Command took each of them hold of an Iron Handle, whereof there were fourty fixed round the Edges of the Frame, and giving them a sudden turn, the whole Disposition of the Words was entirely changed. He then commanded six and thirty of the Lads to read the several Lines softly as they appeared upon the Frame; and where they found three or four Words together that might make part of a Sentence, they dictated to the four remaining Boys who were Scribes. This Work was repeated three or four Times, and at every turn the Engine was so contrived that the Words shifted into new Places, as the Square bits of Wood moved upside down." ~Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels chapter 5~

40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 4 Prayer for Prisoners

All over Oklahoma inmates inside prison walls are praying this prayer; And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42). What is Christ's answer to them? We know the answer Jesus gave to the prisoner on the cross, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). That man was condemned to die next to Jesus, and so he received his answer. But what about the thousands of men and women inside who are trying to serve Christ to the best of their ability? What do they hear in answer to this prayer?

Jesus taught us that the righteous who will inherit the kingdom prepared for them are the ones who remembered him. For they ask; “And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:39, 40).

Would you consider praying a prayer of remembrance with me for out brothers and sisters inside the walls of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections?

A Prayer of Remembrance

O Lord please remember those you have chosen behind the walls of prison. Help them to grow, help them to endure to the end. Lord, what you have planted in their hearts, water by Your Spirit and by your word. Strengthen them in heart, mind, and soul. Fill them with Your Peace that passes all understanding and build them up into Your Church, helping them to be fitly joined together. Supply all their needs and make them fruitful unto every good work. In Your Precious Name, Amen.

40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 3

Time Lost on fb is Time Gained Reading Dead Guys

One of the things I like to post on facebook is what I call "Dead Guy Quotes" I do this to help keep myself focused, because, time is short. No I am not talking about the rapture or anything like that. I mean I have lived longer than I expect to continue to live. For me time is literally short. So the time I spend reading I want to get the best bang for my buck. This means "read the dead guys" because the living have not out lasted them yet! The guys that wrote 100 years ago, 250 years ago, 500 years ago and are still getting published, you get the idea. Dems my homies. That said I will now share with you my faithful reader my dead guy quote for week 3 of my 40 day fast from facebook. Please feel free to "Like and Share" Papias of Hierapolis was a contemporary of Polycarp and the Apostle John, so he lived almost 2 millenniums ago.

Days will come in which vines will be grown, each having ten

thousand shoots, and on each shoot ten thousand branches, and on

each branch ten thousand twigs, and on each twig ten thousand

clusters, and on each cluster ten thousand grapes. And each grape,

having been pressed, will yield twenty-five measures of wine. And,

when anyone of these holy ones will apprehend a cluster, another

cluster will cry out, ‘I am a better cluster. Be taking me. Be blessing

the Lord through me.’

~Papias of Hierapolis~

The "holy ones" Papias is referring to are the believing Christians.