Christian Lifestyles
September, 2017 Volume 6, Issue 4
The Newsletter Celebrating Christian Life in Your Community
to judge of others by ourselves. The difficulties in the con“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” wording of the sentence do not affect the interProverbs 27:19 struction and pretation.”2 “As we see our own face when we look on the mirror-like surface of the water, so in every heart of man we may see our own likeness. In spite of all diversities we come upon the common human nature in which we all alike share. Others see in the reference to the reflection in the water the thought that we judge of others by ourselves, find them faithful or the reverse, as we ourselves are.”1 “As in clear water the face of the gazer is reflected, so man finds in his fellow man the same feelings, sentiments, passions, which he has himself. He sees in others the likeness of himself; whatever he knows himself to be, he will see others presenting the same character. Self-knowledge, too, leads to insight into others' minds; "for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?" (1 Corinthians 2:11). There is a solidarity in human nature which enables us
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1 Barnes Notes on the Bible, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/proverbs/27.htm Pulpit Commentary, ttp://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/27.htm
Mirror, mirror on the wall...
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“Isn't it amazing how sometimes you can look at a lake a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immeand see such a perfect reflection? Sometimes it is difficult to diately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intell where the land ends and the reflected image begins! tently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues Sometimes when we look in a mirror, we see what we to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he James 1: 22-25 want to see. Remember the wicked queen? ‘Mirror, mirror, will be blessed in what he does.”
on the wall . . . ’ Now, she had an advantage in a mirror that Staying close to our Father in prayer, and shining the light would speak to her, and magic spells to change her ap- of His Word onto our lives will allow us to ‘see’ ourselves pearance. Even if we don't have an enchanted mirror, we clearly, and then reflect that light for others to see. may look into it and ignore the “For once you were full of gray hairs, the wrinkles that darkness, but now you have are starting, and the fact that light from the Lord. So live as we just don't look quite as people of light!” young as we feel! Ephesians 5:8 I wonder if we ignore things about ourselves when we look into our best mirror - God's Word?
And we have been charged with a large responsibility: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
The Bible tells us many things about how we should appear—does our reflection match up with the ideal? Are we paying attention to ‘walk’ or are we satisfied just to ‘talk’?
We need to remember that our outward lives reflect our inward heart. A life of strife or Let's check out this group of verses from the Book of of foolish behavior reflects the fact that we are not absorbJames: ing the wisdom found in the Bible and living it out. Let's al“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive your- ways try to reflect the light of Christ that is within us!” selves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but http://studyforwomen.blogspot.com/2012/11/proverbs-2719does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in mirror-mirror.html
Jezebel and the jezebel spirit “Jezebels are believed to be androgynous narcissists— being both female or male – hermaphroditic. This same spirit could live in a man just as much as it could live in a woman. It is not about being male or female. So ignore the ‘he’ or ‘she’ gender in the image below. The psychological community calls them narcissists. The church community calls them Jezebels. Many believe that they are one and the same. Call them what you will. It’s all about power and control.”1
So what is the Jezebel spirit? The Jezebel spirit is not just one spirit like Satan is. This is a ‘type’ of evil spirit in Satan’s kingdom. There is only one devil, one Satan, but there are many spirits that would be considered a Jezebel type spirit, as they all have a particular type of personality and a specific way in which they like to operate. The reason many deliverance ministers have used the term, ‘Jezebel spirit,’ is because of the nature of its personality and the way it operates once it sets up shop within someone.
“Without question, the nastiest, evil, most disgusting, cunning, and seductive spirit in Satan’s hierarchy has to be what many call the Jezebel The word ‘Jezebel’ is comspirit. This evil spirit has been ing from the Old Testament responsible for not only tearstory of Queen Jezebel back ing down churches, pastors, in the days of Elijah. She was a and different Christian minisruling queen back at that time tries, but it has also been rewho cold-bloodedly killed sponsible for breaking up many of God’s prophets back many marriages, friendships, companies, along with getat the time she was ruling.”2 ting many people to commit cold-blooded murders and The Biblical story of Jezebel, also spelled Jezabel (died c. suicides. 843 BC), in found in Kings I and II. While she was married to For those of you who have been hit and slimed by this evil King Ahab, who ruled the kingdom of Israel, she was known spirit, or have encountered it in some way, you will know as an archetype of the wicked woman.” exactly what we are talking about in this article. It is without 1 https://dianarasmussen.com/2014/08/28/jezebels-arequestion, one of the most evil and vile things we have ever androgynous-narcissists/ come across in our lives. Like Satan, this type of spirit is 2 http://www.bible-knowledge.com/the-jezebelsimply pure evil. spirit-and-how-it-operates/
“What we think is quite lovely, God sees as warts, scars, and deformities” “The beautiful but wicked Queen was the villainess in the fairy tale Snow White. She would stand before her talking mirror to inquire, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Each time, the mirror would respond, “Thou, O Queen, art the fairest in the land.” But over the years, Snow White grew into womanhood and her beauty transcended every other woman in the kingdom. Came the day when the mirror said to the Queen, “Snow White, O Queen, is the fairest of them all.” From that time on, according to the fairy tale, Snow White was the object of the Queen’s hatred.
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the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’
This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will A Biblical king had a similar story. His name was David. take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and The mirror was the faithful prophet Nathan“1 he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in “The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Is-
said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
rael.’” Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’” 2 Samuel 12:1-13 “It’s scary sometimes to see us as God sees us. What we think is quite lovely, God sees as warts, scars, and deformities; unless all those imperfections, which God calls sin, are covered by the pure and precious blood of Jesus.
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man re- If you haven’t committed your life to Christ, take a look in frained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare eternity’s mirror, which is the Bible. Stare into that glass a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took intently, good friend. You may be very surprised at the imthe ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it age you see staring back at you. for the one who had come to him. This is the time to pray from the depths of your soul, “O David burned with anger against the man and said to Na- Lord, be merciful to me, just an old sinner. Cover me with than, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must that only quilt of cover, the blood of Jesus. And save me die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he today.”1 did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! This is what
1 http://www1.cbn.com/devotions/mirror-mirror-wall
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been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and “He went out again about noon and you have made them equal to us who have about three in the afternoon and did the borne the burden of the work and the same thing. About five in the afternoon he heat of the day.’ went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16
Selflessness
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“Was this story of ‘The Parable of the Workers in the Vine- opened up the opportunity for service. yard’ prompted by the disciples claim that they had left eve- The story starts out with a conventional plot, hiring day rything to follow Christ, implying that they deserved some workers. But it turns at the end to what is totally unconvenkind of reward for their service? tional, so that the people who worked the least got equal Most likely, for Peter thought he should receive more than pay. How is it possible that the last shall be first? Not by the rich young man would have. After all, they were the first agreement and not by contract--but by grace and grace to leave everything and follow Him. This lesson was appar- alone. As 19:30 reminded us, with God all things are possiently prompted by the event that led to the teaching on ble, and especially this work of grace that the last is first. If wealth and the kingdom and concluded with the same God extends grace to people at the eleventh hour, and they theme of the last being first. But the message here goes respond, trusting in His goodness, they will also receive what He promised others. If God calls people into service in even further, to the general call to faithful discipleship. His vineyard, and they serve Him faithfully, both the calling We may form the interlocking lessons out of the answers of and the reward is by grace, especially if their work was not the landowner at the end of the story, for those represent the a full day. teachings of Jesus on reward for faithfulness.
First, the Lord is sovereign over His kingdom. Because He is the landowner, He can pay people whatever He wants to pay them, as long as He is just. And no one here could accuse Him of being unjust. He owed no man an explanation of His dealings with the workers in the vineyard. He arranged for the first workers to be paid a day’s wages--that was fair. But the other workers He only promised a fair wage, and He certainly was more than fair there. In God’s kingdom, then, He is absolutely sovereign and He can deal with all people in whatever way He chooses. He is free to give some people more than others in relationship to their years of service or contribution. He alone makes the decisions of what to give people for service, how to use them (all day or not), and how to reward their faithfulness. And no one can challenge the decision of the sovereign Lord.
Fourth, the workers should be pleased with what He gives them, and not concerned with what He gives other people. If the workers were genuinely pleased to receive the work and the day’s wages, they would have focused on that, and not on another worker’s packet. It is when people start comparing what God has given to other believers that they begin to judge God’s fairness. But in the final analysis it is not by length of service, or amount of work, that grace operates--it is based on what He chooses to give.
The warning to each of us is not to be proud of what we have done and expect more than those whom we think have done less. After all, if we have done more, or done it longer, it is only because by His grace He made the opportunity available earlier for us. The word here drives us back to the instruction that whether He gives us a whole day, or just an hour, we must serve Him faithfully and trust that we will enter into the reward that He has in store for those who are Secondly, everyone who serves the Lord will be treated faithful. That God chose any one of us for His vineyard is fairly. The workers either got what they agreed to, or they amazing. We should rejoice in that, and rejoice in the fact got more. In fact, the latter servants came to work without an that He is still inviting otherwise “unemployed” folks to join. exact agreement, so they were actually trusting the landowner that they would receive a fair wage. They did not In the final analysis this story is basically about people rehave a settled agreement fixed. And because they trusted sponding to the opportunity to work in His vineyard when His equity, they were rewarded with the same wage that the the invitation is made to them. For some the arrangements others who worked all day were receiving. But they got are clear, for others they are not, but in both cases the Lord theirs first when the owner paid the wages. This no doubt deals justly and fairly with His people. It is not a parable was designed to underscore the point that the last shall be about salvation per se, but about working in His vineyard, and the rewards that will be given for faithfulness. first. Thirdly, how the Lord treats all of His servants is by grace. Until the workers were approached by the landowner, they had no work. If He had not found them and arranged for them to enter his vineyard, they would have remained with nothing. No one can complain that such a gracious provision is unfair--unless they think that everything must be based in a legal arrangement. Everyone should be thankful that God
The bottom line is that people should be ready to respond to the opportunity for service, and rejoice in what He gives us as a reward for our service. He alone knows the value of each person’s service for His kingdom. But we can all rest assured that when the opportunity and the rewards come from the gracious Lord, they will be just and generous.” https://bible.org/seriespage/29-workers-vineyard-matthew-201-16
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Selfie Christianity “Christians living in the selfie culture must beware of creating a ‘selfie Christianity.’ Rather than challenge our culture’s self-absorption, many Christian leaders cater to it. The shift has been subtle but unmistakable. Rather than glorify the character of God, many sermon points now begin with the word ‘you’ and focus on how God can help ‘you’ in your life with ‘your’ dreams.
love pursuing undeserving Man. It is the story of redemption, accessed only through repentance (Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19). God does bless His people (Genesis 24:1; Psalm 128:1). He does delight in pouring out His grace, mercy, and blessing on those who fear Him (Ephesians 1:6; Psalm 112:1). But when we view God as a merely a means to obtain earthly blessing, we have bought into a false gospel. When Jesus is presented as the ticket to get what we want from God, ‘another Jesus’ is being preached (see 2 Corinthians 11:4). As we take our selfies and post them for others to see, we must take care to maintain godliness, modesty, and propriety. Selfie culture tends to foster a love of self. But Jesus said the greatest commandment is to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength’ (Mark 12:30). When we love God, obedience follows naturally.
Instead of teaching the cost of discipleship as Jesus did (Luke 14:26–32), too many teachers promote seeking ‘your best life now’ or tantalize with the promise of blessing for those who ‘pray this prayer after me.’ Rarely is the depravity of man mentioned in the cathedrals that attract the carnally minded. Instead, the messages are light on Scripture and heavy on flattery and self-worship. Couched as ‘encouragement,’ these selfie messages substitute biblical words like sin, repentance, and sacrifice with more pleasing terms such as mistakes, change, and believe in yourself. This selfie culture is seeing a fulfillment of 2 Timothy 4:3, which warns, ‘For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.’ The battle cries of New Testament Christianity have always been ‘Take up your cross and follow Jesus! Be crucified with Christ. Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, not here on earth’ (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Matthew 6:19). But the battle cries of selfie Christianity sound like this: ‘God thinks you are awesome! Follow your dreams! Speak positively, and God will bless it.’ This pseudo-gospel has integrated with the selfie culture, and the heresy is going virtually undetected by millions.
Yes, They’re watching! We cannot love God biblically and continue to be infatuated with ourselves. The closer we draw to God, the more we see the depravity of our own hearts. Self-infatuation has no room for the love of God. We can only serve one master (Matthew 6:24). Jesus came not to refine our flesh but to kill it (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20), and until we are willing to Psalm 119:36 says, ‘Incline my heart to your testimo- crucify1 our selfie mindset, we cannot be His true discinies, and not to selfish gain.’ The focus of the Bible is God, ples.” 1 https://www.gotquestions.org/selfie-culture.html not us. The Bible is the historical account of God’s limitless
What is the other PTSD?—Post-Traumatic Jezebel Slavery or Slave Disorder! “When you control a man’s mind you don’t have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will automatically find his proper place and stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit.”
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“Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing (PTSS), by Dr. Joy DeGruy, Ph.D., describes a set of behaviors, beliefs and actions associated with or, related to multi-generational trauma experienced by African Americans that include but are not limited to undiagnosed and untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in enslaved Africans and their descendants.
PTSS posits that centuries of slavery Carter G. Woodson, in the United States, followed by sysThe Mis-education of the Negro temic and structural racism and op“Post-Traumatic Slavery Disorder is pression, including lynching, Jim a curriculum designed to help you Crow laws, and unwarranted mass develop a clear understanding of the incarceration, have resulted in multisocial, emotional, and economic dynamics that are impairing generational maladaptive behaviors, Black Peoples’ ability to capitalize on their own knowledge, which originated as survival strateinformation and learning clearly, coherently and inde- gies.” pendently on behalf of their own personal development; as well as that of their family and community.”
Submitted by Traci Stevens, First AME Church-Pasadena, CA
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D., SCV Voices
Dr. “Gene” Dorio has practiced Geriatric and Internal Medicine in the Santa Clarita Valley, CA for 23 years and he is still one of the rare breed of physicians that does house calls. He’s an advocate for senior rights, a voice for the SCV Senior Center, and fights for senior affordable housing. Gene is on KHTS Radio and ‘House call for Seniors’ on public access TV.
For some dental schools, a bar of soap has to be carved to show hand-eye coordination. Is there any point where a surgeon needs to show agility by juggling scalpels? I invite my surgical colleagues to When time permits, he writes for the online web site, SCV weigh in on this question. Physician Report. Here’s a snippet from his latest article: Until then, next time you visit a surgeon, you might want to toss them a football and see if they make the reception. “Good Hands” You’ll then feel confident they won’t drop the ball.” “We know a tight end can catch a football. How do you know a surgeon has similar hand-eye coordina- For more medical information and related articles, go to his website at: tion? Shouldn’t this quality be possessed by all surgeons? Acceptance into surgical programs is based on grades and http://scvphysicianreport.com/2017/08/19/doctors-diaryaugust-19-2017-good-hands/ test scores. But where and when in medical school and surgery residency are doctors screened for their dexterity and PS Back in the day, Dr. Gene Dorio was an outstanding wide nimbleness? Can these skills of adeptness be taught through receiver for Los Angeles High School in L.A., CA and attained practice and repetition? Being in surgical training, I never the top award of 1st Team All-Southern League player in 1968. saw anyone dismissed because of ‘bad hands.’ Go Romans!
Al’s Herbs No one knows what causes us to age. We do know that living a healthy lifestyle can greatly improve the length and quality of one’s life. There are many theories regarding aging; recently medical experts link the intake of free radicals and the speed of the aging process. Free radicals damage the DNA of healthy cells and interferes with cells’ ability to regenerate. Free radicals enter our system through chemically processed food (meat), cigarette smoke, alcohol, drugs, and environmental pollutants. Free radicals can also lead to chronic inflammation, a constant state of bodily stress that can weaken the immune system, which can make the body more prone to contracting illnesses. The ability to maintain one’s general health is extremely important for sustaining healthy cell growth and regeneration.
There are specific foods known as “superfoods” that contain powerful antioxidants shown to fight free radicals such as: 1. Red apples, nectarines, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, black/green tea—These foods all contain bioflavonoid antioxidants that reduce inflammation. 2. Split peas, artichokes, white beans, black beans, garbanzo beans; all good sources of plant-based protein. The body loses muscle as it ages, making it important to include sufficient amounts of protein in the diet. 3. Flaxseeds, walnuts—these two superfoods are sources of DHA Omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties that help improve brain functioning, known to delay onset of neurological aging. Extracting your fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds in a juicer will flood your body with the nutrients it needs to stay in optimal health. Whenever you take any kind of recommended foods or herbs, it wise to check with your health provider and make sure the foods or herbs are safe and have no adverse effect on any prescribed medicine you might be taking.
“Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow?”
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The Newsletter Celebrating Christian Life in Your Community
On the Edge Our Human Conditions on “the least, the last, the lost ” “I don’t really like the poor. They’re not always clean. I stay away from sick people. They smell bad. I don’t understand people whose customs, culture, and ways of thinking are different from mine. They make me feel uncomfortable. I don’t want to go to church with them or socialize with them. People with handicaps also make me feel awkward. Actually, I enjoy being with people who are just like me.” In part from the Disciple Study Manual, 1st Edition
Thank You Lord for Your Word “… suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Luke 14:31-33 “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42 “If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;” Deuteronomy 15:7
“Why does God allow some people to be born into poverty and some to be born with a ‘silver spoon?’ That question is not easy to answer. The problem lies not in the fact that there is not an answer, but that the answer is complex and maybe not as specific as we would want it to be. What the Bible does is paint a picture of why these sorts of things do happen. It paints a picture of the reality that we live in, and tells us about the God who rules over this reality, so that we might understand to some degree (but not completely) why these things happen.” http://christianity.net.au/questions/why_does_god_allow_inequality
Did You Know The Sons of Korah? “You may have heard of the story of the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16:25-34, where the children of Israel watched while the earth swallowed up the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, as well as the families of only Dathan and Abiram, in judgment by God for their acts of rebellion. We may remember that the Sons of Korah did not rebel and were therefore not condemned to die for the sins of their father. What we may not know is what happened to the Sons of Korah? Of all of the psalms in the Bible, eleven are attributed to the Sons of Korah. These poetic songs include Psalms 42— 49, 84,85,87, and 88. These beautiful psalms express a spirit of great gratitude and humility to an awesome, mighty God.”
Christian Humor A local doctor said to his patient, "I'm sorry, but you suffer from a terminal illness and have only 10 to live." The startled patient said, "What do you mean, 10?” “10 what?” “Months?” “Weeks?!" The doctor quipped, “Nine..."
A doctor’s patient asked him, “ How can I live longer than 100 years? The doctor asked him whether he smoked. “No.” “Do https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011/04/01/the-sons-of-korah/ you eat too much?” “No.” “Do you go to bed late?” “No.” Do you drink alcoholic beverages?” “No.” “Do you chase after September Sweets women?” “No.” “Then why would you want to live more than 100 years?” Candied Grapes INGREDIENTS 1 box melon fusion Jell-O or 1 package of Jolly Rancher Watermelon gelatin
A woman in a hot-air balloon is lost, so she shouts to a man below, "Excuse me. I promised a friend I would meet him, but I don’t know where I am." "You’re at 31 degrees, 14.57 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude," he replies.
INSTRUCTIONS 1) Remove grapes from stem and rinse with water thoroughly. 2) Strain in a colander. 3) Spread gelatin onto a plate or shallow bowl. 4) Coat grapes in gelatin. 5) Refrigerate for 1 hour
"You must be a Democrat." "I am. How did you know?" "Because everything you told me is technically correct, but the information is useless, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve been no help." Well then, you must be a Republican." "Yes. How did you know?" "You’ve risen to where you are due to a lot of hot air, you made a promise you couldn’t keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it’s my fault."