Zach Uram's Blog

swords raised
senses heightened
tempered minds
command cold steel
glimmering in dawn’s light
sharpened by intention
bushido
the warrior’s code
restricts and defines
a final test
a struggle for honor
what is lost
in winning
what is won
in losing
every move calculated
a parry for a thrust
a counter for each form
this deadly calculus
plays out
all the training
dedication and sacrifice
reduced, refined
to one last move
now it comes
the air sings
as the blades dance
to a harmony
only two can hear
precision coupled
with intensity
reality drops away
only dazzling swordplay
suspended in time
a lone cherry blossom falls
as the final stroke connects
blood sprays
soaring into the sky
release
the samurai’s soul
not broken
transformed
a beautiful match!

— Zachary Uram, (c) 2011

Christians are the #1 target of comedians in the US, such as Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and I’m sick of it. They don’t DARE go after Muslims. It is quite the opposite it is climate of PC and everyone is taught to respect Muslims and revile Christians in the public schools. The comedians are AFRAID of Muslims. They are cowards and intellectually dishonest. Christianity has gone through major reformation, Islam hasn’t. Islam needs a MAJOR reform. This is 2010 not 710. Look how Christians and Jews are treated as second class citizens in most Muslim dominated nations. I just read article in NY Times how Iraqi Christians have virtually abandoned Iraq due to persecution. Funny thing is during Saddam Hussein reign no one bothered them!! This is what happens when Islamists are put in charge, the minority groups who are non-Muslim get treated like shit. And there is not great concerted worldwide media outcry over mistreatment of Christians and Jews by Muslims but if some cartoonist makes a cartoon depicting Mohammed all Hell breaks loose. And those stupid laws in many Muslim countries saying it is illegal to preach to Muslims about Jesus or illegal or even death penalty if one leaves Islam for Christianity! It reflects deep intellectual insecurity!!!

perception variable
shifting like the wind
reality yields

a new consciousness
no, a new being
genesis

blinding waves
penetrate the mind
illuminating hidden truths

potential unlocked
evolved
transformation achieved

a new reality
unknown to most
the last frontier

searching for truth
vagaries of indoctrination
the familiar is profane

mesmerizing
shocking
to behold

a waking dream
frozen by time
paradigms collapse

going deeper
past fear
connecting

the old world
forgotten
a lie

a solitary path
to voyage
to grow

now connected
clarity
refuge from the mundane

madness
liberation
finally peace

— Zachary Uram (c) 2010

Katana blades
Glisten in dawn’s awakening
Warriors bound by honor
The world falls away
Senses heightened
Muscles coiled like vipers
Ancient ritual
Civilized barbarism
Man is a wicked thing
If one must die
This is a noble path
One lunges forward
Tempered steel whistles
A flick of the wrist
And his fate is sealed
The arterial spray
Blankets the snowy ground
Crimson droplets
Poetry in motion
A samurai falls
But his soul is free

Posted a comment on Darlene Egelhoff’s blog

Wonderful blog post Darlene! I studied physics at Carnegie Mellon University (before my mental illness struck) and I *love* science. The great lie of the so-called New Atheists (people like the insufferably arrogant and condescending Richard Dawkins!) is that one must reject theism to be accepted as a rational thinker, to be a scientist. This is a ridiculous false dichotomy and it’s so sad so many young students are being indoctrinated into a binary view of epistemology where one must either reject reason and the modern world or embrace theism. There is nothing new under the sun, as Scripture says, and none of these “new” arguments are new at all. We Christians can use science and engage in scientific research without compromising our faith. As you echoed God gave us a mind to explore, to question, to ponder! Praise God. I personally do not see enough evidence for macro evolution, but as you said even if that is true it should not bother one who has built their faith on the firm bedrock of faith in Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! All of creation testifies to the handiwork of the Creator and I’ve truly seen that manifested in my intellectual inquiries into the natural world. Let us not shrink back into the corner in the realm of public discourse, whether it be a Sunday school class, a university classroom or a discussion group with our closest friends, and be afraid to boldly proclaim that we are thinking Christians! Virtually all of Western science has been laid down by people who expressed Judeo-Christian faith. Let us remind students that perhaps the greatest intellect in history, Isaac Newton, was a fervent follow of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I grew up poor but we were very happy so I never made a false link between money and happiness as, unfortunately, so many seem to do now. I never wanted to be rich, but as a kid there were certain things I thought it would be cool or fun to hav.e someday. The older I get the more I realize money and material possessions matter so little in the spiritual world which is the truest reality. That is why it irks me when I see such a huge emphasis on material status as a marriage qualifier (for the husband). There is a huge gulf between what we truly need and what we want. Our culture inundates us constantly with a message of materialism and compels us to embrace a hyper-consumerist lifestyle if we wish to be happy. And on the radio I hear those nauseating commercials that implicitly link the size of a diamond and a man’s degree of love for a woman. What rubbish. There is no real difference between rates of divorce for Christians in America versus non-Christians (they may even be higher for the latter). Christ calls us to be salt and light unto the earth. Our lives should stand as an example which will point others to the gospel. People here seem to go crazy for weddings and spend thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollar, yet 54% of them will be divorced! It’s sheer madness. I’m glad computers and iPods and cellphones were not readily available when I was a kid. I have many happy childhood memories of playing outside. As kids we couldn’t wait to get outside, in the summer we’d spend literally the entire day outside playing games, sports, socializing. Now I see so many kids who lock themselves away in their own little social webs with the internet, cellphones, video games. I think this is very unhealthy. I bet most boys would much rather have their father spend more time with them versus buying a gadget to occupy their time when they look back on their life. Thank God for godly parents!

The top 3 masterminds of 9/11, Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Mullah Omar, are living inside Pakistan under the protection of their intelligence service. Great ally eh? 😦

I just read an alarming article by Russell D. Moore which is an absolute must read for all Christians in America, “God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck”.

An excerpt:

“Mormonism and Mammonism are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They offer another Lord Jesus than the One offered in the Scriptures and Christian tradition, and another way to approach him. An embrace of these tragic new vehicles for the old Gnostic heresy is unloving to our Mormon friends and secularist neighbors, and to the rest of the watching world. Any “revival” that is possible without the Lord Jesus Christ is a “revival” of a different kind of spirit than the Spirit of Christ (1 Jn. 4:1-3).”

AMEN x INFINITY!! Yes, it is literally disgusting to watch this spectacle unfold. American “Christians” lap up the materialistic populism at the false prophet Beck’s feet. Real, Biblical and effectual, revival means turning away from ALL sins, not just the ones that are popular in our profane and hedonistic culture. Beck is deceived, he does not follow the Jesus Christ of Scripture, the Word incarnate. Pray for the charlatan Beck, stop supporting his shameful ego trips and follow the Lord Jesus Christ!

The self-aggrandizing fame hungry buffoon Glenn Beck.

Remember: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matt. 7:15

May the Force of Christ be with you!

My latest Photoshop creation! I think it turned out pretty good. Let me know what you think.