October 27, 2009
Hotel Ramblings
by Dyran

This week I’m languishing in a hotel in the ‘wonderful’ city of Dayton, OH for training on a new piece of equipment my company is starting to service. I’m spending my days being bored to tears and my nights cooped up in my hotel room. Dayton isn’t the kind of city you want to go roving around in if you can help it. You may be found floating in the river a few days later.

Being down here reminded me of a story one of my instructors told us a few years ago about a church down here in one of the nasty neighborhoods. He was a preacher in the area himself, so I think I can take his word on this. They never lie, do they?

Apparently, during a service a man came bursting into the church pursued by a few thugs. He was out of breath and scared shitless. He was followed a moment later by a couple of thugs who proceeded to drag him out of the church. No one lifted a finger, not even the preacher.

I can’t really say I blame the people there. Dayton has a bad reputation as a violent town and they knew that if they did anything the violence would turn to them. But I hear a lot from believers that they believe god (or Jesus) will protect them from harm. Do they have the courage of their convictions?

I think they know Jesus will not help them and if they helped that man they would be next. Jesus if fine protection from vague evil influences and threats like the devil and other demons, but when it comes to real life threats he’s about as effective as the rhythm method of contraception or using logic on a Teabagger. Deep down, most believers know this and generally take real world precautions like keeping your nose out of other people’s business: Especially when said people are armed.

Just thought I’d share this little anecdote to break up my boredom. I have just one more day of training left before I can head home and I’m trying really hard not to brain the guy sitting next to me. People say there’s no such thing as a stupid question, but this guy seems to have a talent for finding them. I have been dumbfounded by his skill at discovering the most inane and meaningless questions to ask. Just when I think he has reached a new low he out-does himself again. We may get to leave early tomorrow if we finish early so I’m going to pick up a ball gag on my way there and make sure we do. You may read about me in the news later in the day.

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tim-o October 29, 2009, 1:21 pm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It\'s not that deep down I know that Jesus won\'t help me. Quite the opposite, actually. I take precautions because I\'m not an idiot. I don\'t go jumping out of planes without a parachute, not because I don\'t believe that God could save me, but I believe that God\'s given me the sense not to, the tools to protect myself, and has granted humanity the ability to discover advances in medicine, etc. for our benefit. As when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness: Do not test the Lord your God. Jesus did not just miraculously fill the stomachs of the hungry with a word, but he broke the bread and gave it to them to eat. The same way, why would I expect a miraculous protection or healing when God\'s given me perfectly viable ways to avoid harm and tragedy and deal with them when they happen. timmeh269@yahoo.com