Introduction

To whom it may concern;

As this is my first attempt at a "blog", I wish to begin by clearing up any possible future misunderstandings. What I write here, what I post here, whom I link to and whom I endorse may at various times amuse you, exhort you, instruct you, titillate you, comfort you, or please you. I assure you, such effects will be strictly accidental on my part.

However, I sincerely hope I offend you.

Undoubtedly there will be those who make it as far as that last line and leave. Or continue reading on, having already made up their minds to distrust or even despise a man so antisocial, so unkind, so rude as to seek offence against others. Good riddance to them (first group) or you (second group). To the rest of you, welcome and good luck. I am antisocial. I am unkind. I am often rude, and I am not a people person. However, inasmuch as I hate people, this is not why I desire to offend you.

This is my final winnowing of you, my dear readers, before the excrement truly impacts the impeller. I am a Christian. I am a son of the Living God. I am a disciple of Jesus the Christ, who is the Word of God incarnate. I desire to offend you because God desires to offend you. To the reprobate, God has described Jesus as a "stumbling stone and a rock of offense". To the saint, the Holy Spirit is bringing constant reminder that sanctification is an ongoing process. There are no other categories. Offence is universal.

Lest you misunderstand, I really do hate people. However, my God is perfect compassion even as He is perfect wrath, and as I, among all people worthy of being hated, have been shown mercy and grace undue, I ought do no less. In aspiring to offend, I desire not to insult but, rather, to challenge. I desire to lay aside the trappings of pride and comfort in favor of unmitigated truth. So this becomes my prayer: That my words of offence, that your honest and discerning mind, and that the working of the Holy Spirit would here amalgamate for the purpose of bringing glory to God most high. Kyrie Eleison!

Ravus Caelum