Here's something I just found out about and have to wonder about.
In the province of New Brunswick, Canada, our laws allow boys and girls, children, to have sex starting at 12 years of age as long as their partner is no more than five years older than they are. At the age of eighteen the individual may have sex with whomever they please as long as their partner is no younger than 13 years of age. (So a 17 year old young person is legally allowed to have sex with a 12 year old child or anyone up the age of 22; an 18 year old with a child as young as 13 and anyone older; a 19 year old with a child as young as 14, etc., etc.)
THIS IS ABSOLUTE INSANITY!!!
I can only guess that the courts were over-burdened with cases and the only way to keep people from breaking the law, thereby easing the case load, was to change the law so that it could hardly be broken. God defend us from the kind of thinking that puts expediency before what's right. Oh, wait now. We're already doing that with things like abortion on demand; sacrificing our unborn children on the alter of expediency, convenience, or even pleasure. I'm not saying that all abortion is bad or wrong, but I am saying that unnecessary abortion (abortion that isn't done to save the life of the mother) is wrong,... and bad.
My thought is this: If it's legal for twelve year old children to have sex, why is filming and taking pictures of children between the ages of twelve and seventeen against the law? I am not saying that I believe it should be legal. Quite the contrary. I'm saying that it should be illegal, with heavy and decisive penalties. Penalties that make the crime not worth the risk.
Personally, I think our parents had it right 50 and more years ago when the law in Canada said that the age of majority was 21, female or male. That is, one was not considered to be an adult until they were 21 years of age. Not old enough to vote, drink alcoholic beverage or engage in sexual activity. Sexual violators of this law were considered to be immoral and stiff penalties ensued. These offenders didn't do well in prison since most inmates would never otherwise conceive of the morally depraved standard of those who molest and rape children.
Call me old fashioned, but the morality legislation of the 50's and before seems to be more in line with the needs of children and young people of today, considering their level of immaturity at these early ages. I believe that if we're going to legislate morality it should be with a keen sense of what is right and what is wrong, rather than a sense of what makes folks uncomfortable and what's going to offend the fewest bleeding hearts. The only ones I'd be concerned about offending are our children and young people (they may be taking care of us soon), and God Himself.
Here's another thing. How can we make a valid argument for laws against child pornography if the children are allowed to have sex and not even need their parents'/guardians' consent?
I don't listen to the news casts very much, but I've heard of more child pornography cases in New Brunswick since I moved here 5 years ago than I did in my previous 5 years in Ontario, where the population of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge alone is greater than the population of New Brunswick. I wonder why that is.
If someone does film or photograph children engaged in sexual activity, they're certainly not going to ask for permission to post them on porn sites. These predators are probably not going to tell the kids that they're filming or taking pictures, and even if they do they'll tell the kids that it's ok, nobody else will see them, they just want it for their own personal use; and the kids, who probably don't have the discernment that their parents should have taught them, are just glad to have the attention. It's no wonder child pornography is rampant in New Brunswick. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to move to New Brunswick.
Bruce Dobson,
Matt. 6: 33
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
TWO WORDS TO MY YOUNGER SELF
If you could write a note to your younger self, what would you say, in only two words?
I started out thinking," Do what you intend to do.", because I remember intending to do so many things that would have made my life so different, so much better, but that breaks the two word rule. If I don't put it like that I (my self of the past) would probably not understand the context and either dismiss it as a hoax or as inconsequential, anyway. Maybe I could shorten it to, "Do intended" or something like that, but I don't know that I (my earlier self) would understand it until I'm 60 or so, when some thoughtful person asks the question and I'm writing a response to a Facebook post or something.
Maybe it would be better to just leave myself something like the Bible reference, Matt. 6: 33, which says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
I believe the Lord has given this verse to me to use as my "life verse". To understand this verse in context, you really have to take the previous 10 verses into consideration. They're talking about food, clothing, shelter, and life, both physical and spiritual. The Bible, the Word of God, is our spiritual Food, so that even if we don't have physical food here on earth, even if we are starved to death, He is the Bread of Life, His Word is Water, Milk, Honey, Bread, Meat. We are to hide His Word in our hearts, and He says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
When we accept Christ as our own personal Saviour and only hope of heaven, turn from our sin and ask Christ to forgive us of our sin, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell (that's long term, for ever) within us and says, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." At that moment He clothes us in His own righteousness and makes of it, a robe of His righteousness for us.
From that point on we have a home in heaven, now and when our time on earth is done, so that we need not fear at all. Of course we must , and should continue in His Word and His Will, but even if all we have is a stone for a pillow and leaves for a blanket, Heaven is our final destination, our Home.
Besides all that, when our life here is done and we do get to go home; whether it be tomorrow, by famine or flood, exposure to the elements, or man's inhumanity to man; or if we should continue and prosper until His Appearing, we will be with Him eternally, and that is Life indeed, both now and for ever, for eternity.
That, in a nutshell, is what Matt. 6: 33 has come to mean to me.
Bruce Dobson
Matt. 6: 33
I started out thinking," Do what you intend to do.", because I remember intending to do so many things that would have made my life so different, so much better, but that breaks the two word rule. If I don't put it like that I (my self of the past) would probably not understand the context and either dismiss it as a hoax or as inconsequential, anyway. Maybe I could shorten it to, "Do intended" or something like that, but I don't know that I (my earlier self) would understand it until I'm 60 or so, when some thoughtful person asks the question and I'm writing a response to a Facebook post or something.
Maybe it would be better to just leave myself something like the Bible reference, Matt. 6: 33, which says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
I believe the Lord has given this verse to me to use as my "life verse". To understand this verse in context, you really have to take the previous 10 verses into consideration. They're talking about food, clothing, shelter, and life, both physical and spiritual. The Bible, the Word of God, is our spiritual Food, so that even if we don't have physical food here on earth, even if we are starved to death, He is the Bread of Life, His Word is Water, Milk, Honey, Bread, Meat. We are to hide His Word in our hearts, and He says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
When we accept Christ as our own personal Saviour and only hope of heaven, turn from our sin and ask Christ to forgive us of our sin, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell (that's long term, for ever) within us and says, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." At that moment He clothes us in His own righteousness and makes of it, a robe of His righteousness for us.
From that point on we have a home in heaven, now and when our time on earth is done, so that we need not fear at all. Of course we must , and should continue in His Word and His Will, but even if all we have is a stone for a pillow and leaves for a blanket, Heaven is our final destination, our Home.
Besides all that, when our life here is done and we do get to go home; whether it be tomorrow, by famine or flood, exposure to the elements, or man's inhumanity to man; or if we should continue and prosper until His Appearing, we will be with Him eternally, and that is Life indeed, both now and for ever, for eternity.
That, in a nutshell, is what Matt. 6: 33 has come to mean to me.
Bruce Dobson
Matt. 6: 33
Friday, August 16, 2013
ABOLISH SLAVERY
Someone posted a picture to Facebook that depicted a pair of hands in handcuffs. the caption was about abolishing slavery, and while I agree that slavery is an abominable thing, whether it's white slave traffic, child or even adult slave labour, or the sex slave trade market it is a horrible thing and every measure should be taken to end this abomination. However, I see another kind of slavery that almost nobody is aware of and yet most of the population of the earth is a part of it in one way or another. Of course, when I saw this post I commented, mentioning our society's slavery to the media. In my comment I suggested breaking our tv's and throwing them out. O dear lady replied to my comment saying that this kind of thing is more of an addiction than slavery. I replied to her comment to explain slavery and addiction as I see them. this is my reply to her reply to my comment on slavery:
" I've had both addictions and enslavement. An addiction is what we experience when we allow something, or someone, to control our emotions, our body, our schedule, even our will. A simple example would be coffee (or chocolate, tobacco, alcohol, etc.). We consume these because we enjoy the flavour or the effect they have on us (hard to believe with some things). Unfortunately, we enjoy these pleasures to the extent that if we don't continue to indulge ourselves we begin to feel discomfort or 'ill at ease'. We then ease the discomfort by using more of these things until we get to the point where, if we cannot avail ourselves of these things we become ill with nervous tremours, head aches, irritability, nausea, even vomiting and much worse and I'm not even talking about addiction to hard drugs.
If there is a difference between this and slavery it's in the fact that an addiction is by choice. Then again, the apostle Paul labeled himself a 'willing bond slave" which is an Old Testament reference to a person who was a slave to a Jew for whatever reason, and when the year of jubilee came around (once every 50th year) the slave's owner was to free all his slaves. If a slave loved his/her master and wanted to remain in their service for the rest of their life, they could indicate this by going to a doorpost, driving an awl (a sharp, pointed tool) through their ear lobe (I forget right or left), and inserting a gold ear ring which they would wear, by choice, for the rest of their life.
Forced, illegal slavery is an atrocity, and should be abhorred and abolished. However, not all slavery is bad, much of it is by choice and much of that is not forced upon us, it is the sacrifice of our rationality, our sanity, and our will on the alter of pleasure.
Thank you.
" I've had both addictions and enslavement. An addiction is what we experience when we allow something, or someone, to control our emotions, our body, our schedule, even our will. A simple example would be coffee (or chocolate, tobacco, alcohol, etc.). We consume these because we enjoy the flavour or the effect they have on us (hard to believe with some things). Unfortunately, we enjoy these pleasures to the extent that if we don't continue to indulge ourselves we begin to feel discomfort or 'ill at ease'. We then ease the discomfort by using more of these things until we get to the point where, if we cannot avail ourselves of these things we become ill with nervous tremours, head aches, irritability, nausea, even vomiting and much worse and I'm not even talking about addiction to hard drugs.
If there is a difference between this and slavery it's in the fact that an addiction is by choice. Then again, the apostle Paul labeled himself a 'willing bond slave" which is an Old Testament reference to a person who was a slave to a Jew for whatever reason, and when the year of jubilee came around (once every 50th year) the slave's owner was to free all his slaves. If a slave loved his/her master and wanted to remain in their service for the rest of their life, they could indicate this by going to a doorpost, driving an awl (a sharp, pointed tool) through their ear lobe (I forget right or left), and inserting a gold ear ring which they would wear, by choice, for the rest of their life.
Forced, illegal slavery is an atrocity, and should be abhorred and abolished. However, not all slavery is bad, much of it is by choice and much of that is not forced upon us, it is the sacrifice of our rationality, our sanity, and our will on the alter of pleasure.
Thank you.
LEGISLATED MORALITY
Here's something I wonder about.
In the province of New
Brunswick in Canada, our laws allow boys and girls to
have sex between the ages of twelve and eighteen as long as their partner is no more than five
years older than they are. At
the age of eighteen the individual may have sex with
whomever they please as long as their partner is no younger than
thirteen years of age. (So 12 - 12 to17; 13 - 12 to 18; 14 - 12 to 19;
15 - 12 to 20; 16 - 12 to 21; 17 - 12 to 22; 18 - 13 to whatever older;
etc.)
THIS AN ABSOLUTE
ABOMINATION!!!
I guess the only way to keep
people from breaking the law was to change the law so that it could hardly be
broken. God defend us from that kind of
moral thinking.
My thought is this: If it's legal for twelve year old children to have
sex, why is filming and taking pictures of children between the ages of twelve
and seventeen against the law? By this I
am not saying that I believe it should be legal. Quite the contrary.
Personally, I think we had
it right 50 and more years ago when the law in Ontario, Canada said that the age of
majority was 21, male or female (I think that was actually federal law). That is, one was not considered to be an
adult until they were 21 years of
age. Not old enough to vote, drink alcoholic beverage or engage in sexual activity. There
was the stipulation that
males were allowed to have sex from the age of eighteen with parental
consent while a females were not, even with parental consent (guardian
where applicable)
Call me old fashioned, but
the morality legislation of the 50's and 60's seems to be more in line with the
needs of young people today, considering the legal age limit and current level of
maturity. I believe that if we're going to
legislate morality it should be with a keen sense of what is right and what is wrong, rather
than a sense of what makes folks uncomfortable and what's less likely to
offend.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A WORD FITLY SPOKEN
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." -- Pro 25:11
A simple letter can mean so much. My wife and our three month old son were going to Quebec to visit her family for two weeks while I stayed home in southern Ontario, working and missing my family. Her grandparents were up there in years and the idea was that this might be the last opportunity for them to see their first born grandchild.
It really was a special occasion and I wish I could have been there but the bills had to be paid. As it turned out, her grandfather died shortly after that visit so it ended up being a good thing after all.
One thing we talked about while discussing the trip was missing each other. We considered phone calls, but they were expensive and funds were tight. My mother-in-law was pretty much footing the bill for this trip and I didn't think it was prudent to push the gift too far. Before they left, my wife handed me a bundle of letters she had written for me; one letter for each day they were going to be away. You know how the story goes from there.
My wife will ever know how much those letters meant, and still mean to me. I still have them. Every once in a while I come across them and I'll stop and read them. Even now they give me solace. Talk about "A word fitly spoken..."!
You never know what "A word fitly spoken..." might mean to someone
A simple letter can mean so much. My wife and our three month old son were going to Quebec to visit her family for two weeks while I stayed home in southern Ontario, working and missing my family. Her grandparents were up there in years and the idea was that this might be the last opportunity for them to see their first born grandchild.
It really was a special occasion and I wish I could have been there but the bills had to be paid. As it turned out, her grandfather died shortly after that visit so it ended up being a good thing after all.
One thing we talked about while discussing the trip was missing each other. We considered phone calls, but they were expensive and funds were tight. My mother-in-law was pretty much footing the bill for this trip and I didn't think it was prudent to push the gift too far. Before they left, my wife handed me a bundle of letters she had written for me; one letter for each day they were going to be away. You know how the story goes from there.
My wife will ever know how much those letters meant, and still mean to me. I still have them. Every once in a while I come across them and I'll stop and read them. Even now they give me solace. Talk about "A word fitly spoken..."!
You never know what "A word fitly spoken..." might mean to someone
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