May El-Olam reign. He is, has always been, and will always be. Before a when or a where, He was there. His limitless borders stretch beyond the boundaries of this illusion of material transformations which we call "time". Before He said, "Let there be Light!" and spake forth the fundamental building blocks of this physical universe, the Love, Truth, Hope, and Joy that His Holy Ghost be, and the foundational spiritual principle of light dispelling darkness, He was. Throughout the existence of this universe with is constellations and galaxies, He is. After mankind's physical existence and the subatomic vibrations of all of the matter in the universe cease and this space dust simply fades away, He will eternally be. May His praises never cease echoing throughout the Heavens and on Earth. May the Creation always cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb!"
This author has much for which he can be quite thankful. He has been called a dreamer and nicknamed Joseph by some while a youth and young man. Yet, by his own admission, he simply has an audacity of faith. And, as outlined in Hebrews 11:1 (NIV), faith and hope are inextricably tied. An audacity of hope is the precursor for an audacity of faith.
And, this audacity prodded the author this afternoon while he surfed the world-wide web.
It is said that "knowledge puffeth up and divideth" and quite often the author was told that "his intelligence" threatened "his health and well-being" when he was growing up. In fact, his own father told him this so often that he deemed it a compliment. So, when he heard it from strangers, some of which who seemed quite perturbed at some highly sensible statement that he made, he would say, with a pleasant smile, "Thank you! My father says that all the time!". This would invariably soften the situation and scowls would become chuckles. The author simply has a case of the "can't help its" as a friend of his who is a pastor says.
Well, talking about one's intellectual feats only draws yawns and disdain from others who deem such the babblings of an grandiose ego-manic and jerk. If one is interested in winning friends and influencing others, he must speak about how great they are and not his own wonderful works, abilities, and accomplishments.
So, without giving a litany of accomplishments as an academician and visionary, it simply will be said that many of the grand feats in computing and one key accomplishment in automotive engineering were birthed through the life of this author. Although a single computer scientist does not exist who has won more that one Turing Award, the author is the source of more than one of these visions and modern computing marvels. Some of these were borne from his personal experiences and struggles while a freshman footballer (DE #73) at Vanderbilt and the consequences in his life that were an indirect result of the tragic death of Sonny Bishop (OT #73) in 1987. Yet. may the Lord get the glory for all the great blessings that have arisen. And, may he who has the blood of Mr. Bishop's death and the subsequent cover-up at VUMC on his hands never wash away that stain. May it be a burden in this existence and the after-life. Matthew 7:1-2 (KJV)
Yet, while surfing, this audacity of faith said contact one of the well-known, well-respected men who has been credited with the origination of one of these visions. And, although this computer scientist developed an idea which did not stem from him, audacity said ask him if he knows that a young man, who was driven on a football field in 1987 until he perished when his heart failed by a myopic strength and conditioning coach named Brad Bates, was the "unwilling" sacrifice that has brought forth wealth in computing for so many. And, audacity said ask him if he knew that a physician at VUMC provided an official medical diagnosis in his death which exonerated the coaching staff from any criminal or civil liabilities. And, audacity said tell him that this author underwent a similar conditioning regimen in the late summer of 1988 as a freshmen and spent time in VUMC as a result. And, it insisted that this author tell this award winning software engineer that the author has suffered for over three decades with a similar fraudulent medical diagnosis which has placed quite a burden upon his life and grossly limited his earning potential in his field, although he has post-baccalaureate degrees in computing and engineering. In fact, this medical "care" has precipitated three or four periods of homelessness.
What would you say if you were a moderately wealthy person, the typical American, and you received a note from the sweatshop worker who lived for decades in squalid conditions and made your favorite brand of 100-plus-dollar denims? Would you say, "Well, that is life."?
Much of the beauty in our lives come from the ashes that others are tasting, have tasted, and might taste until the moment that their eyes dim and a sheet of white opens up in their subconscious. At least, it is said that in this life, death and sleep might be sweet. Yet, ash is quite bitter.
Do we not have a chance at eternal life, despite life's accidental sins, because of Christ's Crucifixion and His bitter drink of vinegar mixed with gall. Diligently searching Old and New Testament scriptures will show that He did not perish, traverse the underworld of death, and resurrect Himself simply so we might sin willfully and recklessly. Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV), Christ's words during His Great Sermon on the Mount state so. He greatly valued obedience and the Old Testament Law. And, He followed it and encouraged others that they also do so in a "just manner". So, mercy is part of the cornerstone of Christ's teachings. But, ignoring and accepting the works of the flesh as "simply life" or "the way things are" He would abhor. Remember when He drove the merchants from the House of the Lord with a scourge and overthrew the tables of merchandise. Matthew 21:12 (NIV) The Lord can "wreck shop like no other" when necessary. Do not go off the deep end with this message of "meek and mild". He is, despite His Omnipotent Strength, but you cannot bully and run roughshod over El-Elon or His servants. He can bind the very spiritual wickedness which wreaks havoc in one's life with a single thought. He is out Liberator and Law-Giver. The Gracious Boundaries of His Law brings Liberty. His Power for Liberating the bound sinner is why believers pray, although we do not unanimously agree on scriptural interpretation. So, what will you bring against His Fist and His Wrath when His Thoughts our more powerful than man's most potent weapons? His Strength is Awesome and Terrifying. He can overturn mountain ranges and place continents on the bottom of the ocean's floor in the mere blink of His Eye. He is El-Ro'i.
It was the "fleshly" nature of man:
[1Jo 2:16 KJV] 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
and the hard heart of coaches who were only interested in furthering their careers that took Mr. Bishop's life and caused the turbulence in mine. It was VUMC physicians who were only interested in protecting a hospital's reputation and limiting its financial liability in return for professional considerations, who gave these actions legal credence in the sight of the average American's credulity.
So, be thankful for your blessings and His Mercies which are new each day. The author is quite thankful for his. He could have been simply another "long-forgotten" fatality on the Vanderbilt Commodore's practice field in the late-1980s, a worn-out stepping stone in the careers of a college coaching staff who led the SEC's doormat of a football team. The author has seen many of his visions grow and flourish in the wake of those years. And, he drives one, a used Prius V Two. This is although he was homeless in sixty below wind chills during January 2018. And, these dreams all have been freely shared. Primarily so, men might remember first the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Second so, those who die needlessly each day, especially at an early age, remain near our hearts. And, finally so, we all might eventually accept that those we hold as infallible, beneficent. altruistic gods who we idolize and rarely question, medical professionals, are seen for what they truly are, other humans. (Ezekiel 34) Who are just as flawed as the rest of us, including the most despicable, sniveling, shiftless, and slovenly creep that one might imagine.
And that "bitterness" that we must taste in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. May the Lord bring the Earth Beauty from the Ashes of Our Lives.
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