Weakness

Others,

The first "Christ" in the bible was Cyrus, an Achaemenid (Persian/Iranian) emperor. Cyrus II liberated the Jews and other captives from Babylon. There is archaeological evidence however that the Achaemenids had a policy for destroying the enemy. If making a god out of stone was bad, making God into a tyrant by destruction is worse.

The whole apocalyptic battle between Christ and the anti-Christ is about this policy of destruction. Empire changed hands based upon a different method for killing the "terrorists" who threatened the empire. The Bush administration had resurrected the beast with their "official story." We are charged with the task of restoring constitutional democracy with the bill of rights.

This said, the US is not the only country that struggles with authoritarian elitism. Syria has had a dictatorship under the minority Alawite control for over forty years. They are on record as promoters of torture. More than 200 Syrians have defected.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/03/world/meast/syria-unrest/

Alawites are associated with the Shiites (Iran). Assad's father imposed cronies on the government after his rise to power (1970).
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/02/us-syria-alawites-sect-idUSTRE8110Q720120202

Paul had been using the law to punish Christians. He believed that the power of destruction was the path to power. He was on the road to Damascus to report more Christians to Roman authorities when he encountered Christ. It was there that he found that power is made perfect in weakness.

The situation in Syria shows that sectarian motives often underlie tyranny. This is the reason that freedom of religion is so important as a principle for civil government. It prohibits establishment and allows for the free exercise of religion.

Weakness

2Corinth12 Mk6 Ps123 Ps48

I know someone
who was on the road
to Damascus.
He was using the law
to persecute and punish.
He was devoted to destruction.

I know someone
who was caught up
in the experience of Christ
on that imperial road.
The person felt paradise.
The feeling transcended
perception without leaving it.
It expanded perspective
without destroying it.

The experience was so wonderful
that the person felt all experience
prior to Christ was wrong.

Pain was gone.
Competition had no meaning.
Joy in life made sense.
The request was made
to dwell in paradise indefinitely.

The LORD said,
“Grace is sufficient for you.
Power is perfected in weakness.”

Whenever I feel weak in Christ,
then I am strong in the call
to increase strength in leadership.
Love your enemy.
Do not destroy opposition.

Walk with Jesus as he teaches.
The law is for liberty.
It is not for destruction.
Your authority will cast out
false or harmful precedents.
You will promote truth for
liberty with justice and equity.
Happiness will meet your success.

If you are not welcomed
remember that devotion to destruction
has been attempting to control the world
from before the beginning of civilization.
Shake the dust from your sleeves
against those who support those
that are so devoted.

I lift my eyes to the light in the skies.
As hunger looks for satisfaction;
as thirst seeks refreshment;
we look to God as our provider.

Have mercy on us, O LORD.
Have mercy. We have had
more than enough contempt.

We have suffered unfair treatment
from the advantage given to the elite.
There has been too much derision
handed down from indolent pride.

Safety and health are guidelines
for godliness. God is our guide
forever.

Praise the LORD!

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The statement, “Power is made perfect in weakness” has strong implications for education. When someone works on improving areas of performance that are regarded as weak, he or she has a lifelong relationship with personal and social development.

What happens though when someone else is defined as the weakness?

The Wanted - My Weakness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWbAuAsRZNY&feature=related

Socrates argued for choosing the lover rather than the non-lover in the dialog called “Phaedrus.” He felt that while choosing the non-lover contributes to dispassion in social relations, it is also the basis for slavery. The property owner will choose a non-lover because that person can be controlled. When a provider chooses someone whom he loves however, shared passion is the basis for managing the relationship.

The argument has merit, but if the chooser chooses someone who doesn’t want to be controlled or doesn’t share passion, then both options are undermined. Slavery has been outlawed but de facto enslavement still happens in abusive relations. People who share passion are in such a hurry to consummate their sexual relations legally that they don’t give enough thought to how they will work together to manage a household.

The entanglement of romantic love is not easy to untangle, nevertheless it factors into the consideration of long term relations, whether one is for or against passion. It is possible that a couple who doesn’t feel passion can discuss fairness in management issues, while a passionate couple needs to slow down the mad rush of hormones long enough to decide if they can manage a household together. If so, what’s the plan?

Power is made perfect in weakness,

Steve K.