Fine Dry Wit

Confounded vs Abounded

2012-02-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Nice guy, Carl Sagan. Wrong about God, and, if this quote is accurate, not in Heaven at this moment, as he did not know God.
Wishful thinking didn't create the 'idea' of God, nor of an 'afterlife'. God is, and He makes it easy for those He has chosen to have Faith. He also made it impossible for those He has NOT chosen to have or understand that Faith.
Wishful thinking didn't set apart a people group (Jews).
I've said it before-if you want evidence that God exists, look to the Jews. In no other part of the world, ever (!) has a family group been kept separate from the rest of the world, no matter where they are living.
More evidence of God: the hatred FOR the Jews exhibited nearly universally. If they were merely a mid-eastern family group, no one would even know the difference between a Jew and an Arab.
Back to Carl. He was the one invested in wishful thinking. With a wave of his hand he dismissed six thousand years of history as "ancient traditions". In effect, he was relegating God to the status of 'Myth'.
Why? Simply because he didn't know God. His wishful thinking was that MAN was preeminent.
He might have suggested that he could not have faith in a God he couldn't see-but why would he have any faith at all in the sinful, corrupt MAN that he could see?

A side note-it was very sad to hear of the passing of Whitney Houston today. She had a tough life. I don't know if she was a Christian-growing up in church doesn't get you into Heaven. But I know that tough times usually drive someone to seek help, it causes many to reach out for God, and perhaps I'll see her in Heaven. I hope so.

Laff Clownz, Laff

2012-02-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Robert Benchley was a quipper. He wrote funny (no-he wasn't right handed) meaning that his had the gift of stating things in a humorous way-well enough to build a career out of laughter.
Possibly this is a stone that I shouldn't pick up, as I do have the word 'Wit' in the title here, but I think that what passes for humor this century doesn't pass mustard. See?
I will admit to publishing a few jokes here and there through this blog, but I'm not a humorist, and I don't always think I'm funny. Smelling.
Here's the thing-it has become de' regular to mock, smear, lie about and lambaste those who do not share your opinion on an issue-political, religious, race, etc.
Saturday Night Live mocked Gingrich the other night, Bill Maher mocked Romney's religion (shock, right?),
and a thousand trolls on a million blogs daily ridicule anything of importance coming from the Right side of the planet.
Christians in particular are noted as targets of scorn and hatred. I'm not complaining-it comes with the territory (Heaven). If we DARE make a statement about Sin on a non-Christian blog the Athei-gnostitx lose their collective cool and start with the verbal tar and feathers. And they often think they are funny.
Before you chuckle at the next cartoon/quip which reaffirms your prejudices...think about why the joker/quip-to-zoo-ologist is attempting to make you laugh. To lighten your heart with an amusement? Or to firmly entrench you in his or her or it's mindset?
Agenda comedy fails the stink test.
Get wise, guys.

The Scripturally Precise Return Of Random Thoughts Tuesday On Thursday

2012-02-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, my head. It isn't quite dizzy, but I could stand a few months of contemplative quiet away from the political geek show. I'm not even watching/listening to the politics yet, and somehow it bleeds into my indifference and gives me a case of the fearful anticipatories. I KNOW it is going to get nasty before peacequiet returns.
A friend lent me a great book by Dr. Charles Stanley which is helping to keep the politics in perspective.
I've been hearing warnings about POMO for awhile now, that post-modern thinking is somehow muddying the consciousness of people (more than usual) so that there is no basis for truth anymore-what I believe is as valid as what you believe which can be the opposite of what she or he believes-that nothing is solid, truth is a metal liquid like Mercury, able to shift in whichever direction it is tilted.
Nah. Truth is God's truth. What He says is the bedrock on which everything stands, even if the post modern world wants to wish Him and His moral laws away. They will be brought to their knees, humbled with the rest of us who already know God. Read Zechariah and Isaiah. Ouch for them, blessing for us.
I don't have hope in Man to do anything more than continually mess up worser and ungooder. We are Devo!
But God is Good, and Patient, and Kind. Tesed.

Really, I'm Not Psychic!

2012-01-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

So much for sunshine.

"MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — U.S. Navy SEALs parachuted into Somalia under cover of darkness early Wednesday and crept up to an outdoor camp where an American woman and Danish man were being held hostage. Soon, nine kidnappers were dead and both hostages were freed.

President Barack Obama authorized the mission by SEAL Team 6 two days earlier, deploying the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden last year. Minutes after the president gave his State of the Union address to Congress he was on the phone with the American's father to tell him his daughter was safe."

I'm as happy as butter that the two hostages are free, but I do have a few questions.

Are we at war with Somalia? Is it legal for us to send military troops to kill kidnappers?

Enemy soldiers on the field of battle are a given. Terrorists make themselves our enemies. But kidnappers? When did they become a high priority target? If the hostages had been held since October, why wait so long? Why wait until the night of the State of the Union speech?

As I said, I am glad that they are free.

What makes me question the timing is that line in the story above about President Obama authorizing the mission.

Is that his call? Does he have the authority to send our military into a country with which we are not at war to kill civilians?

How about Canada? If President Obama can send death squads into Somalia, why couldn't he dispatch Navy Seals north of the border on retrieval missions?

President Bush was called a Cowboy for allegedly going to war without unilateral support. If he had sent OUR military against non-military targets, the Cindy Sheehans would still be screeching about it this many years later.

She and her ilk would offer to be human shields for the impoverished, mis-understood Somalis.

But President Obama they cheer. Go figure.

One more kick: the American woman held hostage, Jessica Buchanan, was born in 1980. This President, who was willing to risk many American lives to rescue her...just this past week affirmed his support for Abortion on the anniversary of "Roe v Wade". Her life was so precious in Somalia, but he would have had no problem with her life being extinguished in the womb.

Abortion is our GLOBAL shame-that it is 'legal' will never make it moral, and those who protect it will one day stand before God and find out what it is to have Life taken away.

Fret Not, Friends

2012-01-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

I assume that in tonight's State of the Union address President Obama will claim credit for every sunny day while blaming Republicans for snow.
He can claim anything he wants, and reality just moves forward without him.
Listening to Wretched Radio last night, I heard Psalm 73 done as a spoken word 'song'-it was great to hear, and it struck me that Psalms 73 and 37 complement each other quite nicely-I read through them today at lunch, and I encourage you to do the same.
Fret not indeed.

Wintertime For Hitler

2012-01-22T05:02:00.001-07:00

Bear with me for a few as I head into odd territories, an expidit which has been kicking around in my head for awhile now. (sidenote- you wouldn't want to be in my head-scary architecture)
I believe that satan is a fallen angel, who attempted an uprising in Heaven, sought to be like God. Satan and his minions, fellow fallen angels, are noted all throughout Scripture; there could only be no devil if the Bible were false-since it is true, what it declares is true.
So...satan and his angels fell, and are stuck here. From the beginning he had sought to corrupt the things of God, spoil His Creation.
At the cross, Jesus Christ defeated all of satan's plans by redeeming this dross world, these clay pots of sin we like to call "Us".
But lets start back a few thousand years, after Adam and Eve messed up and started populating the earth.
Genesis 6:1-8

¹Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
²that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
³Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
⁴The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
⁵Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
⁶The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
⁷The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
⁸But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."

That's quite a chunk, but basically men evolved from sinners to evil nasty sinners who only looked to do evil.
You can find plenty o' books written about "The Nephilim" (noted above-in the middle of the text) which conjecture all kinds of crazy things, such as hybrid demon/men.
Dr. John MacArthur suggests in his study notes that the Nephilim were humans possessed by fallen angels, which I find more reasonable, as we have examples of such possession all through Scripture.
Here's where I get to add a conjecture: that satan and his minions sought to hold all of humankinid in thrall, would have loved to exterminate any thought of God, any mention of Him from the lips of Man.

(Guess how they're doing these days!)

Put in in understandable terms: Imagine if Hitler had won, and his Reich held sway over the entire planet for thousands of years. That's the sort of corrupt kingdom that satan/ the Nephilim were heading. It got so bad that Democrats won the...scratch that...so bad that MAN was totally corrupted, with the exception of one man, Noah, who found Grace in the sight of the Lord.
Think about that. Satan thought that he had won down here, as 99.9999999999999999% of the world was in his control. Overconfident much?
But God has everything under HIS control, always. Noah, one witness, was enough for God to restore humanity. God's Grace on Noah extended to his children with him in the ark, and here we went again, downgraded and growing more evil in each succeeding generation.
We read in Daniel of spiritual conflicts between the forces of God (angels) and the forces of satan (fallen angels), the latter of which hold sway over kingdoms here on earth...for now.
We read in Revelation how the whole thing turns out- satan and all of his icky ilk are tossed into 'The Lake of Fire' and God continues into eternity with His redeemed Creation. Game over.
I don't fear demons, or satan- they are defeated. I fear God.
In fear of God are elements of right respect and love-just as when I was a child I loved, respected and feared offending my father, so it is with God. May you come to know that fear.

Set Free From The Bean

2012-01-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was supposed to be hard.
Yup-I'm off coffee, and was warned that I would have headaches, withdrawal, and an overall feeling of having just run two marathons.
Nope. No nothing-I didn't even hurt a little bit. I think that after 40+ years of drinking coffee, I must still have so much built up in my system that I can coast.
Rhyme to my reason: Have you ever tried to change something in your life, but found it hard because you have become so used to the way that your life goes each day?
It's like an old garden, where the roots and weeds have overgrown the rows. Hard tilling.
Sometimes, to make progress, you have to turn over the ground, break it up.
I am a creature inhabited by habits-of which coffee had been one of my longest lasting, and most enjoyed.
But I have found that I can no longer eat like a teenager, so old habits out, new habits in. I have already been
exercising the past few years-which only happened because I made room for it. Now it's a good habit.
With eating right, exercising, and making good decisions, I should last a few more decades, unless the Lord is willing to bring me home. My greatest selfish desire is to be in good health in my later life. I'm doing what I can now to make that happen.

The Secret To The Secret Of Life

2012-01-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Tonight someone said the most complete word pertaining to our existence:
Contentment.
Specifically, to be content with who we are, what we have, where we are in the world and more.
As a Christian, I am content with who I am, even though I know that God is working in my life to make me more closely conformed to the image of Christ.
I am content with what I have, as it all comes from God.
I am content with where I am, as this is where God has led me.
And more.
Who I am now will be perfected in eternity.
What I have in this world will pass away, replaced by much much better.
Where I will be is in Heaven, even Heaven on Earth, as Heaven is wherever God
resides, and during the Millennial reign of Christ, that will be here, but a much much better here.
How could I not be content?
Here's a funny thing, though. I was looking through a Christian Book catalog today, seeing what the marketplace is doing; there are many Christian books laying out programs/plans for Christians to be:
Healthier.
Happier.
Prosperous.
With a magnificent marriage.
Better kids.
Free from addictions.
Ready for a global collapse.
A BETTER YOU!
Sexier-what?

Do you see it? What all of these items have in common?
They all focus on the Christian, not Christ.
They all are aimed at improving the life (a morning mist, a hand's span of time) of a Christian through some work/plan/program.

Are we neurotic nellies? Unhealthy, unhappy, not prosperous, with poor marriages and families?
Addicted? Frightened of world events? No?
Then why all the books? Why not simply be content with God?

The Ladies Was Good

2012-01-09T09:33:00.002-07:00

On another blog which I would blush to mention I was recently joining in a converse about old films being 'colorized'-was this practice evil or good? Is colorization of old celluloid a sin or a blessing?
It was Ted, of course-the Turner in Turner Classic Movies who had bought most of old Hollywood's catalog of treasures.
Technicolor Ted wanted to make old movies palatable for the youth of the world, who had grown up on COLOR TV and COLOR MOVIES.
The outrage! Letters were written to editors (of newspapers-you can look it up), Turner was hanged in Effigy (Indiana) and the court of public opinion sentenced him to six years of being married to Jane Fonda.
But Ted had a point. It's not just my love for TCM that brings me to defend him-I recently tried to share a few movies with a young friend who just couldn't get into them...because they were in black and white.
The Lady sitting immediately to the left of Judy Garland in the picture above is Virginia O'Brien, a comedic actress who made movies better by being cast in them (sort of the opposite of Robin Williams).
She wasn't the titular Lady in "Lady, Be Good" but her song in that movie is it's high point. A close second is Eleanor Powell's dance with a dog. No kidding.

I'm hoping that someday 'black and white' movies and talents such as Virginia O'Brien will be remembered and embraced by future generations.
Case in point-the Lady above, Jessie Ralph, was born in 1864. Think about that-a year old when the Civil War ended. She is delightful in one of my favorite classics: "Double Wedding" with Myrna Loy and William Powell.
They brought all the color needed for that film-red faces in the audience, from fans laughing so much.

Psychic Looks Back At 2012

2012-01-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Just kidding. I was going to parody the December 21st end of cycle that the Mayans allegedly predict, but t'aint funny, McGee.
Why has that date been bandied about by so many non-Mayans as if it might be true?
Sin. Even the most vile sinner amongst us carries the marred likeness of God, as we are made in His image.
His Image, His Morality written on our hearts.
We KNOW that this world is sinful, that there will be a reckoning for all of the evil we see (and perpetrate) every day. We are somewhat surprised that God has allowed this thing to go on so long.
So even sinners are longing for this to end; us forgiven sinners are looking for the better world He has promised us. All others? I hate to think about it.
Lemmings aren't suicidal-they just think that they can fly.

Once More and Forever, With Feeling

2011-12-29T18:26:00.002-07:00

It has appeared here before, but this time, with this picture I am remembering a decade. I took this picture on December 31st, 2001. Ten years since, my life has changed dramatically-half my family has passed, I've changed careers, graduated from a business university, bought a house and am now living a quiet life.
I change-older, heavier, but in as good a shape as in 2001 when I was working a physical job. I may be chained to a desk now, but the exercise routine I've been working the past few years has benefited me greatly.
I change, but God is unchanging. He has led me through my life; He knew me, that I would be, before the foundation of the world. He not only creates common items such as myself, but He also makes beautiful frozen waterfalls, and puts in our being appreciation for such beauty. Wow.
I am honored to be welcomed as a member of my church-we love, need and pray for each other, and I wouldn't ever want to go back to flying solo. I said that half my family has passed-my church family extends to Heaven, billions of brothers and sisters bound together in Christ. Wow again. I look forward to the Day when we all get together to worship God in corpus Glorious.
If I were to get out the scales and measure the 'good' and the 'bad' of the past decade, it would be ridicualbly weighted in favor of "GOOD". Sure, I've had struggles, and some bad times...but I've also had God watching over me every millisecond of the decade.
Job had more trouble in a day than I've had in my entire life, and yet, in unison, we can say,
"Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Sympatheologic

2011-12-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all pagans or accidental Christians passing by this blog.

Well! Christmas night and all through the!

Don't bother looking up the word adorning this post-"Sympatheologic" is so freshly minted

it's still warm from the mind-oven.

Put simply (for a change), I've been over-inured with attempts to clutch at my heartstrings, make currency of my emotions.

You know what I mean-the Holiday feel good warm puppy stories.

"A man saves 40,000 nickles as a hobby, but gives them to a charity because..."It's Christmas"(tm)!" dunt dunt dah!

"A cat lost on vacation back in 1978, but the 5th generation of its kittens find their way back home to the waiting family on...

(you guessed it!) "Christmas"!"

Please stop.

Why the fuss, Doug?

Simple. My emotions are mine. I do not want my emotions manipulated with warm puppy stories by media trying to make a buck off of me.

Because it's Christmas. Christmas. Christmas. Beer commercial. Warm puppy. Christmas. Christmas. Car commercial. Christmas. Warm puppy. Vodka. Christmas. Truck. Christmas.

I am not made of concrete and other discrete 'parts'. I do have emotions...I just prefer that they not be abused for the sake of commerce.

Which brings me to the theologic part of 'Sympatheologic'.

God has Blessed me with many friends and family.

They are on my heart, in my prayers. I think I have more sick friends right now than healthy ones. Some are struggling, some few may not see another Christmas.

But all are safe with God.

Right now, today, there have been "Christmas Day attacks" across the globe which have killed some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. My sympathies are with them, their families. They are safe with God.

I have unsaved friends and family for whom I continue to pray. They are...

Homme Brulant

2011-12-17T20:53:00.001-07:00

Coincidence? I have, to the right of the page, a promo still showing Cary Grant, Kate H. and Baby, and "Bringing Up Baby" was on TV tonight. As the Dallas Cowboys seem to be playing some high school team, probably on a bet, I've been catching up on the "Crimedy" known as "Castle". And what do I see? A Medical Examiner trying to eat his lunch, interrupted by detectives.
Aaaaannnnddddd my mind reminds me of where I've seen this particular dynamic before: the Philo Vance movies of the early 1930's, with both Warren William and Basil Rathbone (!) as Vance. That Medical Examiner was always fussing about detectives not letting him finish a meal. Coincidence? I think not-I think that the writers/showrunners of "Castle" have done their homework. To remain fresh and new sometimes you have to study the old.
Another example: Pyromaniacs, the Team Pyro blog, weekly posts a blog entry "from" Charles Spurgeon.
It is always thoughtful and wise and classic Spurgeon.
I doubt that I will ever be quoted at all, and here is Charles Haddon with a weekly column 119 years after his advancement to the Front Office.
Coincidence?
No. His work is durable and endurable. His words are as fresh as if he were still in the pulpit today.
I wouldn't ever say that these posts are terribly hard for me to write-I am full of ideas, and, when I can juke left and elude my better judgement for a few steps, I will often dash away and put ideas in a blog post.
Spurgeon seemed incapable of missteps or faulty logic/ideas in his writing. He was GOOD.
He was also a man who had studied Scripture his entire life, who preached only from the Word.
Coincidence?

When The Sun Comes Out, Rainbows Die

2011-12-12T13:20:00.002-07:00

I have faith in God to do Right, and faith that Man will do Wrong.
Meaning that the more I see of this sad twisted world, the more I
long for Heaven.
We have an election coming up next year, with not one Conservative candidate
that I can vote for without feeling like I'm abetting a crime.
Romney bet me ten grand that I couldn't write about Gingrich without mentioning his
marita...argh!
Rick Perry? I'd rather vote for Katy Perry.
I could have voted for Herman Cain. Gone.
Likewise, Sarah Palin would have my vote...if she were running.
I don't like having to choose between fourth and fifth choices simply because
my preferred candidates aren't in the race.
Sigh. I can vote for Michele Bachman as a protest vote, though I might still write in
Katy Perry.
Democrats have it worse; they have to vote for the man who attempted to destroy the economy and bankrupt their children. And their children's children...in the name of making America 'fair'.
By which he means unfair towards those who achieve, and 'fair' towards those who do not.
There's a good reason why I continue to look through the Bible, reading passages describing
Christ's Millennial Kingdom. The entire world will be "Fair". Truly fair, and honest, and
there will be no elections. Amen!

The Lost Fourth King Of Israel

2011-12-07T12:25:00.001-07:00

Maybe not lost, but surely missing in the New Testament.
Before Bible scholars press the buttons on their contradiction recognition machines, pointing out that Solomon was the Third King of Israel-Saul, David, and then Solomon...the first and truly only KING of Israel is God.
Then Saul, who messed up bigtime, David, a man after God's own heart, and then Solomon, who made Saul look like a novice in the messing up department.
You might say that God allowed Job to be tested by ruination, and allowed Solomon to be tested by wealth and abundance. Guess who passed the test?
What brought this post into being was a study in Ecclesiastes the other night, with a study note kicking me back to 1 Kings chapter 11. I won't post it here for the sake of time (I'm due for my nap) but in chapters 9-11 of 1 Kings God warns Solomon to keep to the straight and narrow, or he'd be buying troubles wholesale.
King Solomon blew it, allowing the abundance of treasures in this world to pull him away from God.
Not just the 700 wives-headaches, anyone? But he also built altars for his foreign wives to worship their gods.
Thus violating the Prime Directive; here is what God said in 1 Kings 9: 6-9

"⁶“But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them,
⁷then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
⁸“And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’
⁹“And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the LORD has brought all this adversity on them.’”

Adversity wasn't the half of it. After Solomon died, Israel was broken up, with ten tribes heading North to set up their own nation, only to be eventually wiped out.
The believing remnant was later carried off to Babylon; Daniel and company became slaves of infidel kings.
Fast forward to the time of Christ, the New Testament era. All Israel loved them some Moses bigtime, and David was well thought of, but Solomon? The grandest human King to ever sit on the throne, the writer of three books of the Wisdom literature? Hardly a note. Jesus makes mention of Solomon when He states that even Solomon, in all his glory wasn't as well dressed as the lilies of the field made by God.
Will we see Solomon in Heaven? I think so, as even for kings, Salvation is a gift from God, not dependent on works or anything that a man does or doesn't do. No matter how much Solomon (or Doug) screws up, it can't affect Salvation. He or I may arrive in Heaven with no treasures laid up, no extra crowns won by bearing fruit, living a life pleasing to God, but if we are in, we are in, thanks to the lovingkindness and longsuffering of God. I hope to see you there, too.

Prince Of Peace Makes War

2011-11-29T10:34:00.001-07:00

^"33And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—" Luke 2:33-34

I don't usually stop in the middle of a sentence; look up the rest of the verse for yourself, and see the context, but the point of the post today is in the final word above, 'opposed'.
Opposed doesn't half cover it. Herod the King of Israel started the ball rolling; when the Magi came looking for the Christ, he lost his collective cool-another King? Would he lose his Kingdom to an infant?
Long story short-the Magi found the babe, were warned off of returning to Herod, who sent his soldiers to slaughter all of Bethlehem's male children 2 years and younger.
That's Opposed with a capital 'O'. To no avail, as man and devil can never frustrate the plans of God.
Coming on 2012 and the Lord Jesus Christ is still being opposed by devilish men. My brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are being killed for bearing His name. That Iranian pastor I mentioned a while ago could walk out of prison today (if he can still walk) if he would only deny His Savior.
Opposed. I'll tell you who is opposed, friends. Everyone who does not belong to Christ is His enemy. They (you?) are opposed and defeated.
In His Grace and Mercy He chooses loved ones from the ranks of His enemies and showers Love on them, bringing them into His Kingdom. But only few, and of His choice.
If you grew up in a religious system that swears allegiance to Christ but does not live for Him...guess what?
You are a Herod. You are chaff and not wheat. Goat and not sheep. Stubble to be burned.
Pray that God will extend His Grace to you, shower Mercy on you. Are you opposed to that?

No-You're A Muppet!

2011-11-23T08:58:00.001-07:00

It's a Memory Wednesday. Back before you were born, in the second to the last decade of the past century I was 100 miles from the nearest 'real' rollerskating rink. Middle of Cold Winter, not much to do in our home port...I and a few friends went for it-all the way to Sault St. Marie, Ontario Canada to enjoy a skate.
The highlight of the night was a rinkfull of Canukians (plus three Coast Guardsmen) grooving in circles to
"The Rainbow Connection" from the big hit "Muppet Movie" Exhilarating. So was the ride back with no heat in the car...but it was all worth it. We stopped at the "Big Boy" restaurant in the American Sault. Good times.
There was a closer 'fake rink' in Alpena, Michigan, but too small; we were like dogs chasing our tails.
There's a new Muppet movie out now, but I doubt that it can re-capture the fun of those first movies.
Tomorrow we celebrate as a nation being Thankful to God for all that we have, and all that He has protected us from. May you have a very good and Thankful Thanksgiving. Make a memory.

Rulers Schooled

2011-11-19T20:31:00.001-07:00

^{This is a post about God's dealings with unrighteous rulers:}

⁷ “He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;

       But with kings on the throne     He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
⁸    “And if they are bound in fetters,     And are caught in the cords of affliction,
⁹    Then He declares to them their work     And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.
¹⁰    “He opens their ear to instruction,     And commands that they return from evil.
¹¹    “If they hear and serve Him,     They will end their days in prosperity     And their years in pleasures.
¹²    “But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword     And they will die without knowledge."

Job 36:7-12

I had mentioned this verse in a discussion last week about those in 'power' who seem to think that they are the top petunias in the garden, that some act up and think they can do anything they want.
Look at the verses above. God is watching the righteous, watching to see how they are being treated by those who hold sway over their lives.
Those rulers-kings, presidents, premiers, straw bosses, etc. have to do right by their constituents, or God, Who sees all and knows all, will whup on them, declaring to them their transgressions. Big Heads.
Because He is a Merciful God, He will open their ear to instruction, and give them a chance to repent.
If they do, well and good. Prosperity. Pleasures.
But no hear-much to fear-sword time. C-yah.
You might ask for examples. King Saul springs first to mind. Pharaoh in Egypt. Adolph Hitler (sidenote-what would the History channel do without Hitler? He's on more shows than Simon Cowell!).
How about King George the 3rd? Nicolae Ceausescu? Mussolini? Are you catching the drift, citizens?
As Christians, we are commanded to obey those placed in power over us, whether they are good or bad or downright evil. We honor God by being good citizens. Which often leads to Christians shooting at Christians, as happens in most wars. It is quite possible that a German Christian ruled by Hitler killed or was killed by an American Christian soldiering under FDR...and that they now stand together in heaven, worshiping God.
I pray for President Obama often-that he will repent of his sins and seek God. I would love to see him in Heaven. I don't want anyone to go to hell.
What's good for the Grander is good also for the commoners-repent and seek God. End your days in prosperity and your years in the pleasures of knowing God. amen.

Don't Want To Live Like A Refugee

2011-11-15T09:35:00.001-07:00

HAH! I KNEW I'd seen this act before! This OWS movement-where the alleged poor have-nots complain and revolt against the allegedly rich haves.
History lesson. In 1948 the United Nation created two countries: Trans-Jordan and Israel.
The Arabs living in Israel who did not want to become Israeli citizens booked out of town, left hearth and home and headed for Trans-Jordan.
The powers that were amongst the Arab 'leadership' pushed them back to Israel's border, set them up as political refugees and demanded that Israel be wiped off the map for 'stealing' their homes.
The "Palestinian" refugee camps serve only one purpose: to give the Arab peoples a marker, an aggrieved populace to champion who had been 'dispossessed' of their birthright...which they gave up when they refused to become Israelis.
Want to know a secret? Some of the Arabs stayed, became citizens, have lived under a democracy for over 60 years. They have all of the rights we enjoy here, including the right to worship Allah, and the right to vote.
There are Arab members of the Israeli parliament. Jews can't even set foot in Saudi Arabia, but Arabs in Israel live free.
On to Wall Street. Refugees from Capitalism are being championed by rich Leftists, poor communists and Michael Moore, that old one percenter dissenter.
Yasser Arafat skimmed billions of dollars off of the World support which was supposed to be helping the poor Occupy Israel ragmuffins.
Who will profit from Occupy Wall Street? Not the folks living in the Wall Street, an aggrieved populace with hardly an outlet charge their iPads! Inhumane!
Of course, they go home on weekends... to the Hamptons, while the Union thugs lowest on the graft ladder earn their keep with weekend duty as replacement (scab?) outraged citizens. Joking. Almost.
So-who will profit from this exercise in futility? No one. 40 years from now old Leftists will be applauded in the Party meetings for their OWS efforts in 2011. They might have been assistant substitute teachers in Paducah, but they will claim with pride that they stood up to "THE MAN" on Wall Street. Power to the feeble!

Staff Sgt. Ret.

2011-11-10T12:04:00.001-07:00

VETERANS DAY.
On Veterans Day, services usually highlight our elder Veterans, showing old soldiers in uniform, with our flag prominently displayed. That is wonderful, and I look forward to attending a local service.
As a peacetime Veteran myself, I know that my service was important, but is lesser-those who serve during wartime deserve greater honor.
For this post I decided to go a different direct: I searched for photos of "Staff Sgt" and made a graphic of just a few of the results.
Those serving as a Staff Sargent are usually career soldiers-it is nearly impossible to attain that rank in a single term of service.
Look at those faces, friends. We don't know their stories, but after their career service, after they add "Ret." to their rank...I daresay that they will for the rest of their lives honor their country and their comrades in arms by attending both Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances.
I encourage you to do the same.

Peripherally Faithful

2011-11-05T11:25:00.001-06:00

Looking for faith in all the wrong places, the Mistaken venture forth to attempt to seize, in their grasp, the hand of God. To see His face with their eyes. To hear His voice, experience His presence, to know Him...on their terms.
Faith is a gift from God, and it is repellent and repulsive to hear the Mistaken claim that they are Christians, just the same as those chosen by God.
But they don't have the faith that is supernaturally gifted by God. So they have nothing. They have faith, indeed, in lesser things, such as being born into a family of Christians, receiving Salvation by being baptized, seeking relics/signs, pegging their faith to what they can see, hear, touch.
Lost.
The Mistaken believe that they can receive God's Blessing by doing something. Even though they have not been chosen by God, they have been assured by their families and churches (who are also lost, blind leading blind) that God's arm can be twisted. That by doing certain works, no matter whether or not they repent of their sins, God can be made to accept them. That they can by their own efforts somehow generate righteousness good enough to win God's favor.
The Mistaken have been lied to all of their lives, and they often reject the truth of the Gospel when confronted with their need for Salvation.
"I'm a Christian, too!" One recently told me.
"We have an unbroken chain of Popes all the way back to Peter!" Said another.
There, I've tipped my hand-you might have thought I was talking about the Pentecostals, who seek after gifts and signs as earnestly as the crowds following Jesus in His day. Some other time.
The Mistaken are not collected under the single umbrella of one denomination. It's raining brollys.
Faith in churches will send you to hell just as quickly as faith in Islam.
May God 'wake you up' to your actual condition and need for true Faith.

2011-11-03T13:32:00.000-06:00

A sunrise, taken from the top of a water tower. The past few dawns I've seen some amazing views rivaling this picture.
I appreciate all that God has given me, including ten more years since I took this picture.
I was watching a documentary today on Humphrey Bogart, hosted by his son. (Sidenote-I LOVE DVR and TCM!)
Born wealthy, ruggedly handsome, eventually a movie star who had it all...
Four wives, chronic alcoholism and Cancer, which took him when he was six years older than I am right now.
God decides the number of each of our days; I'm ready to go, but until I can serve Him in Heaven, I will do what I can to serve Him here.
Appreciate what you have from the hand of God. Thank Him even for the hard times, as Paul did from his prison cell, Richard Wurmbrand from his, as Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani does today in Lakan, Iran.
Bogart 'played' heroes and villains, but they exist for real in our world today, and God decides who fills each role. It is good to be Blessed by God.

Putting a Face With A Name

2011-10-22T17:39:00.001-06:00

Hello out there in internetsland. Enough with the politics for now, though this subject does kinda sorta bump up against the same.
Pictured is Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, under a death sentence for leaving Islam and refusing to reject Jesus Christ. Living under theocratic rule (at its despotic worst) Nadarkhani may die for his faith.
I imagine he could be praying Psalm 59: 1-5, 12-13, 16-17
^"1Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
²    Deliver me from those who do iniquity And save me from men of bloodshed.
³    For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD,
⁴    For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me. Arouse Yourself to help me, and see!
⁵    You, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah."
I and many others are praying for him and for our brothers and sisters around the world facing death for belonging to Christ. Their hope is my hope. Their Savior is my Savior. And we all look forward to the day of our Lord's return.

^"12 On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.
¹³ ^£Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more; That men may know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah."

^"16 But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.
¹⁷ O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness."

Anchor Rancor

2011-10-19T21:20:00.004-06:00

Even in photographs he slides to the Left.
I was just thinking about President Obama's support for "Occupy Wall Street". He was the first to so 'occupy' the Street by way of corporate 'bailouts' and the 'taking over' of car companies. He set the CEO pay for companies tangled in his web at $500,000.00. Half a million dollars compensation.
Do the sidewalk geeks of OWS remember that? That the President who is praising their efforts thought that half a million dollars per year for CEOs was fair?
I bring this up because of a recent reminder as to the inart of failed argument:
People arguing facts against people arguing emotions is a waste of time. There is no middle. The people arguing from the emotions (in this case OWS) don't care about the facts. Those arguing from the facts (or truth/reality/the real deal/me) will be unmoved by emotional arguments. Both sides will be better served by not arguing.
Looking ahead, the misshambles of the Left's attempt to 'fix' healthcare (which you will never hear a whisper about until after the election) is being taken apart by courts deeming parts of "The Plan" unconstitutional.
The Left has expended so much political capital and MONEY to make this happen, with nothing to show for all of their efforts (hopefully) that they have lost the American public. It was never about healthcare and reining in costs. It was always about Control, and the American people kinda like thinking for themselves.
President Obama, in my opinion, will not carry 10 states in 2012. Every policy of his which has been implemented hurts America. Jimmy Carter must be cackling from the grave. (I know he's still alive, sorta)

Evict the "Occupy White House" Protestants

2011-10-14T22:10:00.000-06:00

Documentatians are pinning their "Oscar" hopes on the lamest protest since my seventh grade 'irregulars' showed disdain for authority by taking the pennies out of our penny loafers-RADICALS!
Lech Walesa is looking into a lawsuit against President Obama for attempting to 'co-opt' "Solidarity".
Walesa's reasoning is that his Solidarity movement was attempting to break up communist rule; President Obama is heading the other direction.
Obama's LOVE for (and solidarity with) the anti-Capitalist whine-mongers shows where his dried up tiny little heart lies.
Speaking of lies, I'm still not ready for the political season of electioneering. This post is more about President Obama's standing shoulder to shoulder with inane financial anarchists than his many political sins. Others can point out those demerits.
This is about the ridiculosity of a man who has become wealthy by pointing a bony finger of shame at 'Capitalism'...who cheers on morons wearing designer clothes, carrying ipods and expensive cell phones who stage a sit-in of Wall Street.
Think about this. These 'Occupy Wall Street' nimrods gnash their teeth at banks and financial markets.
They wear stupid signs and chant slogans complaining about the fictive "1%" being evil.
Really? 1%? I would LOVE for only 1% of any group to be evil! But of course their flawed math skills seem to conflate the idea that there is some sort of sainthood bestowed on them for being part of the '99%'. Because they've suffered so much. The scar marks from the whips and chains from the 1% are still...I'm sorry! No marks on them at all! Silly me!
Okay-they don't like banks. But I would bet you that they have bank accounts, and some presence in financial markets as individuals. I would give a crisp one hundred dollar bill for a picture of an "Occupy Wall Street" protestant at an ATM getting lunch money.
They also seem to hate Capitalism, which is the part which would warm the cockles of President Obama's heart if flint could burn.
The clothes on their backs are there because of Capitalism. The houses/apartments where they live exist because of Capitalism. They have food in their kitchens because of do I really need to repeat myself?
One TV talking head I saw suggested that this Occupy movement is being ginned up to distract the country from the lousy job that President Obama and Congress have been doing ahead of an election year.
It won't help. I think that President Obama will be defeated next year.
My advice to the "OWS" protestants is: get jobs. If there are no "ACCEPTABLE" jobs where you live, don't whine-lower your standards or move to where there are jobs. At one time in my soiled past I was working one full time and two part time jobs to 'make it.' Get to work.
Addendum de dum dumb: I found this picture on reddit-Jordanian communists showing support for OWS.
Think about that. Athiestic Muslim communists are thrilled by the fools and whiners who would tear down Capitalism if they had any grip strength in their fou fou hands. Ridicuable!

Man Can't Manage To Manage Man

2011-10-10T08:23:00.000-06:00

"Actress Marzieh Vafamehr has been sentenced to a year in jail and 90 lashes for her role in a film about the limits imposed on artists in the Islamic republic, an Iranian opposition website reported Sunday.

"A verdict has been issued for Marzieh Vafamehr, sentencing her to a year in jail and 90 lashes," Kalameh.com reported."

There's more to the story, and I encourage you to check it out-this isn't a news site, but I saw this this morning, and it ties in with the post percolating in my brain, so...

Muslims don't take kindly (kindly might not be in their dictionary) to Christians attempting to share the Gospel with any Muslim. You may have heard the reports recently of the former Muslim who is now a
Christian pastor in Iran-he is under a death sentence for the 'crime' of leaving Islam. When the Iranian authorities heard grumblings from the international community about their making a bad showing...they changed the story and said that he raped someone. No-one raises ruckus over rapists, right?

Yesterday in church we had a visit from a member of Gideons International, who made the point that the Bible is verboten in most Islamic countries.

Dreaming the impossible dream, these Muslims think that they can keep God out of their countries. Not going to happen.

"Brother Andrew" smuggled Bibles in behind the Iron Curtain during the colder war. Underground "illegal" churches flourish in China, according to the group "Voice Of The Martyrs". The fact that a homegrown Iranian Christian pastor is imprisoned in Iran is evidence that God has people there.

So, these Islamic Quaknuckleheads think that they can keep the Gospel from their peoples? They think that they can manage to manage Man?

Listen to what God is going to do:

"⁶And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

⁷and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”" Revelation 14:6,7

Oh sure, they can confiscate your study Bible at Iranian customs, but what will they do with an angel declaring the Gospel from the heavens?
"UH, Mohammed has declared that it is a sin to look up! DO NOT LOOK UP! COVER YOUR EARS, TOO!"

Who Put the Fun In Fundamentalist?

2011-10-08T10:07:00.004-06:00

Well, this is a first for FDW, at least in my memory. I'm eating cold worm soup right out of the can.
I've had a problem this past week with a friend regarding my post "What Discern Meant".
We differ on a few issues. I invited his comment on the post, and the can of worms opened and dumped out is all my fault. I apologized, and have done everything I can to avoid further argument. The last thing I am doing is changing this post, getting rid of all those links.
Peace and out.

2011-10-05T21:03:00.002-06:00

What Discern Meant?

2011-10-04T15:47:00.000-06:00

Check this out from Paul:

"¹¹But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
¹²For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
¹³The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
¹⁴But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" Galatians 2:11-14

This post isn't about living like Jews, or the hypocrisy demonstrated by Peter. Well, kinda sorta-read on.
Look at Barnabas. He was lacking in discernment, but, in his defense, look at what he had to deal with:
Peter, the friend of Jesus who walked with Him, had sat at His feet, leader of the Jerusalem church...was in error.
Big Pete. The Man. The legend. Error plagued sinner.
Barnabas had accepted 'as Gospel' that Peter was shooting straight. If Peter shunned the Gentile Christians to please the Jewish Christians, who was Barnabas to say different?
Well, he was a Christian. God imparts discernment as one of the gifts of the Spirit. If he had inquired of God regarding Peter's actions, he wouldn't have joined in Peter's hypocrisy.
But he didn't and he was and it was a failing; thank God for Paul! He knew what it meant to oppose Peter-he risked splitting the Jerusalem church, actually all of Christianity-but he didn't hesitate a second.
I've been observing an unfolding drama playing out in our 21st century church-a man, T.D. Jakes, who is considered a heretic by some, a 'Bishop' by others- has been invited to a Christian conference of some great import...but as a heretic, or a brother? To be reasoned with, or welcomed in fellowship? huh.
How can we discern from God whether Jakes is Fakes? Judge him and his fruits against Scripture-my opinion and your opinion are worthless. God sets in His Word clear evidences of who is or isn't a follower of Christ-so if we look into Jakes's theology, measuring it against Scripture, we should know the truth and hopefully be like Paul and not Barnabas.
If T.D. Jakes is a Christian, then this situation mirrors what happened in Antioch as set down by Paul. Get in his face and call him to repent.

If T.D. Jakes is NOT a Christian, if he is indeed a heretic...then he should not be invited to the conference. But it's not my conference, and it's not my call. I'm just observing from the back of the room. Party on, Garth.

The Weekend From Heaven

2011-09-29T14:22:00.000-06:00

Well. That's better. I shared in a respite weekend, with no TV/internets/newspapers/world problems/politics.
I sat on a lake with friends, learned from God's Word, and it was all wonderful. May God greatly Bless you today.

Kibitzing God

2011-09-19T13:59:00.001-06:00

Do you know what God did yesterday? That's right. We don't know. We can't know.
God is working His plan perfectly, and we must live by faith, secure in the knowledge that God works all things out.
It is quite the guessing game among some to attempt to 'divine' the intents of God. They would jump up and object to the term 'divination'...but there you go.
These some suggest that any nation acting against Israel, for example, will result in condemnation and God's judgement arriving quickly on the doorstep of the offensive nation. Touch Israel and you touch the apple of God's eye. And then you die.
In general, they are right. But in the specific, in the suggestion that doing "THIS" will result in "THAT"...they are attempting to divine the undivinable, to kibitz God's actions and motivations.
Three of Job's four friends thought that they knew the reason for Job's hardships: 'he must have some secret, un-repented sin' for God to afflict him so greatly. They were kibitzing God's motivation, and they were 100% wrong. They were the ones who ended up repenting, asking Job to intercede for them with God.
Look at Luke 13:1-5
¹Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
²And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?
³“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
⁴“Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?
⁵“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The 'some present', if I read the context correctly, were asking Jesus about God's motivation for allowing the massacre of those Galileans-were they being punished for their sins? Was it God's judgement?

Jesus brings them face to face with the Gospel: ³“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

This Friday the Pale Stinians are going to submit their application to the United Nations for membership.

I haven't read much about this, but I assume that they will declare Jerusalem their capital, claiming as much of Israel as they think they can get away with.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is just a few years removed from being Arafat's puppet-he is the 'President' of imaginary "Palestine" the same way that Al Capone was once Mayor of Chicago.

Here's where the "doing "THIS" will result in "THAT" breaks down: It may not be in God's plan for "Palestine" to be judged quickly. They may not suffer a tsunami, a hurricane or a plague of locusts simply because they poke their finger in the apple of God's eye.

^"The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil." God may (and I say MAY, as I cannot divine the Divine) be using Palestine to refine Israel. If so, Palestine will remain a tool in God's hand until He is done with it. THEN comes the Judgement.
Bottom line: we can't determine with any accuracy what God is doing-if we could, we would be God. We know for certain that He glorifies Himself through His Creation. The particulars are up to God.

We All Know What Is Coming

2011-09-06T17:26:00.000-06:00

We all know. We all have in mind that the 10 year anniversary of 9-11 is coming up at us.
With all respect to what happened on that terrible day, I am not looking back. I am looking forward.
There will be a day when there are no more Muslims. No politicians. No atheists. When the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom, all the vainfoolish imaginings of Man will end. All contrary opinions will be dust in the wind.

The Province Of God

2011-08-30T17:35:00.000-06:00

“1 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil,
2 He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.”
Isaiah 57:1-2
I don’t ever want to twist Scripture to say something it doesn’t, but I think that there is a passing truth here worth mentioning. In this chapter of Isaiah God is rebuking the leaders of Israel who did not honor Him, but were evil, living lives of idolatry.
The verses here were an indictment against those leaders, who had no compassion for those who were perishing under their administration. ‘No man takes it to heart’-rather than being good stewards, or shepherds, they were living carnal evil lives, uncaring as to the welfare of their people.
But there is something special, something more in this passage.
“For the righteous man is taken away from evil,
2 He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.”
We live in a world of trouble. When God wills it, he will ‘shorten the days’ of the righteous to rescue them from evil. What is that evil? Burden? How much burden is too much?
We can’t answer-it is all the province of God to decide how much suffering one of His children will endure on this side of death.
“He enters into peace”
Recently a young Christian man committed suicide. His troubled life ended, and he entered into peace.
There are churches which teach that suicide is unpardonable sin, one which would possibly exclude some one from Heaven. They are wrong about a lot of things, including this issue. How we die is never as important as where we go after death. God had decided that that young man had had enough. He brought him home.
As Christians we look to God for our providence. If we are truly His to do with as He wills, we are obedient unto death and beyond. I don’t fear.
May God put in your heart a desire for Him and His righteousness.

_

2011-08-27T21:22:00.000-06:00

The Inelegancy Of Manic Wide-eyed Panic

2011-08-25T15:08:00.000-06:00

The more the ground shakes under one's feet,

the greater the calamitous circumstance...

the greater my faith in God.

A world filled with troubles has one message:

"There is much to fear."

But a heart filled with God's Spirit responds to a different message:

"God Loves you and all will be well."

The certainty in uncertain times is that God stands outside of Time-He knows

the end from the beginning, and assures us that someday all fear/troubles

will be past and forgotten.

May God keep you.

God Controls, Alters and Deletes

2011-08-22T17:04:00.001-06:00

Just a genial conversation over malts about a Scripture reference. We didn't have Bibles open, so going on memory I was defending a point which I didn't remember correctly.
Though not stated, it was a question on the idea of 'Eternal Security'-whether or not a Christian could have his name blotted out of the Lamb's book of Life. In the book of Revelation there is mention of this, and, as I said, I got it wrong. My point was that from God's perspective, He knew who would or not be saved, as He was the one doing the saving. So talk of 'blotting out a name' was poetic language, not literal. When I got home I dug in to find the reference:

^"4But you have a few there in Sardis who have kept their clothes unstained, so they will walk with me and will wear white clothes, because they are worthy.

⁵Those who win the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. And I will not erase their names from the book of life, but I will say they belong to me before my Father and before his angels.

⁶Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:4-6

God was letting the saints in Sardis who had kept their clothes unstained know that they would walk with Him. He was assuring their security; they need not fear losing their salvation.
But note that Jesus was talking to the righteous in Sardis. He makes no such promise to those elements of the Sardis church who had not lived righteously. He didn't need to blot out their names from the book because they had never been written in.
If Christ caught up His church today, I would love it if my church were represented 100%...as far as I know we would be. But God sees hearts and knows who is or isn't saved. Sardis had "just a few". Hhmmmm.

The God Of Broken Hearts

2011-08-19T20:25:00.001-06:00

God was the first one to get His heart broken. Adam and Eve, created to love and commune with Him, instead hid from His sight due to sin.
The record begins there, but continues down through today-this world, fallen, corrupted, is a world of hurt, pain, heartbreak. To be alive is to have had your heart broken at one time or another. God in His Grace restores us, heals our spirit as He would heal our bodies, otherwise who could survive?
Jesus had His heart broken more than once-as you read through the Gospels, you see Jesus being moved by the tears of Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus had died. He joined in their tears.
Jesus witnessed daily members of His creation who hated Him, rejected His words, at times picked up stones to kill Him. He was there to save them from Hell, and they declared Him to be of hell.
Finally, on the cross Jesus knew the heartbreak of being separated from His Father, who was too pure to look on sin. You might say that it was a "replay" of the separation of God and Adam in the Garden, but this time Jesus experienced it from the side of Adam's humanity.
"My God, My God-why have you forsaken me?" was followed by "It is Finished!"
Because of what Christ accomplished, we can sing the Scripture, "No Tears In Heaven". We will have no more heartbreak-it will all be past and forgotten. I would love to see you there.

I'm a Christian-It's Not Sharia If I Do It

2011-08-15T18:46:00.002-06:00

Check your shoes before reading, friends-if I step on any toes, I hope you're not wearing sandals.

First and foremost, a group called the "American Family Association" is doing a bit of toe-stepping of its own, and I am kinda against it. Kinda.

They are Christians behaving very nicely. They oppose many of the same things I oppose, cherish many of the same ideals I espouse. Good guys. White hats. Big smiles.

But I have to get in their business a bit. Hear me out.

The AFA is big on calling out corporations for doing stuff Christians oppose-Sears was (according to AFA) selling pornography on their website, Home Depot is pushing Gay marriage, and they think that maybe, just maybe, Lady Gaga is nuts. (I just threw in the last one-she's goofy)

Well and good, AFA. Call them out. Shout it from the rooftops.

But

Then they call for Christians to boycott the nasty corporations. Wait-what?

Is that the purview of Christians?

Are we to punish someone who is not a Christian for not following Christ? For being worldly in their own world, within which we are merely sojourners?

Can we demand that corporations adhere to Christian morals? Punish if they do not? (hint-they won't. They are incapable of doing right, being righteous.)

I never gave it much thought until listening to Tod Friel's "Wretched Radio" He is the one who suggested that such economic blackmail as AFA is formenting against corporations is a Christian form of Shariah Law. We don't like it when Muslims attempt to make us live by their laws, so...

Lets go to the Bible. The prophet Daniel served under three administrations honorably. When his personal religious space was invaded, he stood strong. But he didn't tell any of the rulers of Babylon that they had to toe the line and worship his God. He didn't tell them to stop carving the fertility totems or he'd organize a work slowdown. He lived for God in an ungodly place.

As do all Christians.

Here's a funny sidenote-Tod Friel? the Wretched Radio guy? AFA carries his program through their American Family Radio. Funny that.

My bottom line-I live for God, try to do right. But I don't fault the world for being worldly-if Sears and Home Depot were people, members of my church, THEN they would be called to adhere to Godly standards, as our church statement of faith details. But they are of the world, and not under our church discipline.

"But wait, Doug! I'm promoting Christian values when I attempt to make a corporation stop being so evil!"

Okayfine for you-and good luck with that. Maybe next you can empty the ocean with a teaspoon.

So Doug, how about you? You're a sinner with a Sears card in your wallet. I've seen you at Home Depot!

Yup and yup.

Here's what I think. I'm against abortion, so I wouldn't EVER encourage a woman to go to an abortion clinic.

I'm against alcohol consumption, as I see the heartbreak of alcoholism destroying lives...so I don't drink, and don't encourage others to drink. Those are just two of the two of the moral judgements by which I live my life.

But I can't demand that my friends stop drinking because I know it is wrong. That's not my place. That's not for me to decide...for them.

Time On For Bad Behavior/Werewolves of London

2011-08-11T18:50:00.001-06:00

Brits gone wilding. Riots and lootings and bricks through windows, oh my.
There doesn't seem to be any reason for all of the violence. I thought we had "Civil" in our Civilization, but maybe this is telling of our true nature: no matter how mannered and modulated our lives, under our collective skins we are still cavemen. Think about it-how do we describe someone who is an example of purity and good?
A Godly person, one like God-loving and peaceful, long-suffering and patient.
What do we see in the streets of London and Manchester? Other.
We ARE responsible for our actions, friends. These looters are not doing themselves any favors, are hurting the society they live in, are sinning against their world and themselves.
I doubt that you will find any Christians among the rioters. Just Other.

USA! USA! AA+! All The Way!

2011-08-06T13:29:00.000-06:00

Too broke to joke? Not me, brother- can you spare a trillion?
Those of you in the grey haired set might recognize the riff on the Depression era song, "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?"...or you may not. I'm not that old myself, but I'm a student of bad human history.
So...the Standard and Poors dropped our country's credit rating from AAA to AA+, and I heard this morning that some politicos (you know who they are) are BLAMING the S&P! This is like a bank robber blaming the judge for calling him a thief.
What comes to mind? Ray Charles, of course, with his song, "Busted".

"I went to my brother to ask for a loan cause I was busted

I hate to beg like a dog without his bone, but I'm busted
My brother said there ain't a thing I can do,
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu,
And I was just thinking about calling on you and I'm busted."
Flat broke. Bought the poor farming collective.
^"19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
²¹for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
So far, our government is both financially and morally bankrupt. 2 for 2.
But the government can't break in and steal my treasure, can't tax it either.
If the company I work for went under, if I lost my job, if my 401k became dust in the wind...I'd still be fine.
My confidence is in God, and He will take care of me. If I starve to death, the best thing happens-I enter Heaven and live face to face with my Savior.
You don't have to take my word for it, though:
^"7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
⁸More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
⁹and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
¹⁰that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
¹¹in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:7-11amen.

Imprint Non-sustaining

2011-08-02T18:41:00.000-06:00

Try as we might, Mankind (which often isn't) has no effect on God's Creation. We can't deforest the Amazon-God keeps growing trees. We can't use up all the water-He keeps sending more rain.
Look at the picture. The building seen above the fancy car was a small cabin/sauna. All that is left now-a rectangle of cement floor. You didn't even know about the floor until just now, and would never have missed it in any case.
In Vilnus, Lithuania a mass grave was unearthed at a construction site-it turned out to be remnants from Bonaparte's retreat, when Napoleon failed to pick up Russia as a trophy for his Empire. All gone now. After Napoleon it was someone else's turn to play bigshot.
Once upon a time, Germany thought it would be darling if every country in the world was known as "Germany". Nope.
In the physical world, man fails. In Civilization, man fails. Alexander The Great may have had his likeness stamped on coinage, but his influence on the world died with him. You couldn't buy a cup of coffee with those coins today.
However:
God does hold sway over His Creation with style that turns men green with envy. Where Man cannot keep a civilization going for more than a few thousand years, God is Eternal, His Creation will last until He replaces it with one fit for Eternity. Mighty cool.

C.I.K.

2011-07-29T17:13:00.004-06:00

Three am. As he watched the well dressed man leave the store and head back to the limousine, Paco took a sip of his coffee, getting ready for what was coming next.
Three minutes later The Man came in and walked up to the counter. Paco met his glowering stare with the ease that came from having worked graveyard at the minimart for three years.
“Carton of Camels, please.”
“Excuse me, sir, but like I told your man, I need to see some money.”
“Listen. You know who I am.”
“Yes, sir. A carton of Camels costs $42.86. Cash only.”
The Man smiled, looked at the nametag and said, “Paco-I’m just a little light tonight. How about you let me use my credit card, and I’ll throw in an autograph?”
Paco pointed to the wall behind him where The Man’s name was prominently displayed on the “Do Not Accept Checks From These Deadbeats” list.
“Already got one, sir. You may be the President of the United States, but at three o'clock in the morning in this store, cash is king.”

Grateful vs Not

2011-07-23T06:26:00.001-06:00

Through my friend Chrystal's site I heard of something called "Wretched Radio" hosted by Todd Friel. First I went to iTunes and downloaded samples of the show, and now I get the entire program each weekday. I don't agree with everything they promote (shock), but if nothing else, Todd and company ask and answer thought provoking questions about Christianity and other subjects. I am going to add "Wretched" to my sidebar, so have at it. In the past week he explained his reasons for not voting for Sarah Palin (who isn't even running this time) and Mitt Romney (who is but shouldn't).
He also had an interesting take on Michelle Bachman's contretemps with regard to having belonged to a church which teaches that the Pope is THE Antichrist.
Duh. That's Christianity 101, people. The Pope isn't THE Antichrist, but he does 'lead' a cultic empire that is very much against Christ. Bachman's answer when asked...well, you can go to CBS News or Todd's site to find out what is what.
You might notice that I also have a link to John MacArthur's site, Grace To You. This past week I listened to a set of his sermons which deal with "Slavery" in the Bible and in our history. Good insightful stuff.
As for the title of this post, I was just thinking that the world population can rightly be divided into two camps: Christian and evyboddy else. We are grateful to God and Praise Him for all that He is, all that He has done, and all that He will do. Evvyboddy else doesn't. They aren't grateful to God; they curse Him when they can be bothered to think of Him. That's not faith, that's not being grateful, that's not right.
You are in one of those two camps-you know which one, and so does God. Don't stay among the weeds when you can become wheat. God is funny that way: He accepts sinners into His Kingdom, changing them from death to Live. Just one more thing that I'm grateful for.

Obama Is NOT Hitler!

2011-07-17T20:13:00.000-06:00

I hope that no one construed my putting of Hitler and Obama together as my saying that they are similar. May it never be!
I fixed the picture-now they are both looking to the left.
One major difference between the two gentlemen is that Hitler hated the Jews, and Obama merely wants Israel to disarm and commit cultural suicide. Not the same thing at all!
Hitler met with the Grand Heighdy-ho Mufti of Islam to discuss their common hatred of the Jews-Obama simply declares that Israel must make peace with their neighbors who are trying to exterminate them. Different! Night and day!
Another major stark contrast between Hitler and Obama is that Hitler had control of the media which trumpeted his greatness. We all recognize that the media in our time is scrupulous in their objectivity with regard to President Obama. They never let him 'get away' with any lies or weak attempts at propaganda.
So lets hear no more fuss about comparisons between Barry and Adolf. It's like comparing apples with apples, so there, too.

He Sure Can Give A Great Speech!

2011-07-13T15:39:00.002-06:00

The other night I'm watching a History series on the Hitler and the Third Reich. Wow. I had forgotten how BELOVED Hitler was by the German peoples. They tripped over the doorstep of fanaticism right as they came in. He bought their allegiance with a few well-thundered points:

1: They were the greatest people in the world!

2: Everything wrong is the fault of the Jews!

3: They would rule with him over everyone else...FOREVER!

YES, WE CAN go overboard in fanaticism much as the German peoples did. They were as human (and as wrong) as the Arab nuttyboys and girls who decry Israel today, tossing bombs and venom at Jews simply because they exist. The nutties have been sold on the idea that LIFE would be much better for all involved if Jews didn't. Exist.

I've mentioned it before-this hatred of Jews is spiritual-they (and Christians) are representative of God who is the actual object of the world's hatred. They can't find Him so they beat up on us.

Back to the failed artist. Hitler was a very unhappy man who acted out his unhappiness on the world stage.

Satan can always find unhappy people to promote.

Once upon a time, Alph made a speech and signed a law that:

Jews were no longer citizens of Germany.

That to marry a Jew or to have sexual relations with a Jew were both crimes.

According to the series I was watching, 30% of the funding of the German war effort came from seized Jewish properties.

If you are wondering about the picture at the top:

Hitler claimed that the Jews had gotten rich at Germany's expense, so it wasn't only religious bigotry but also class warfare that Hitler was promoting.

He demanded that the German auto industry (taken over by the government) create a "people's car" which the common German could afford.

Of course, the very first Volkswagens went to the Nazi party member elite, but there it is.

Hitler came to power when Germany was suffering a decimated economy still trying to rebuild from WWI.

Today, we are looking out over a weakened global economy-someone following in Hitler's goosestepping footsteps might come to prominence by declaring that: "We are the greatest people in the world! Nothing we do wrong is our fault! Those darned Jews (or Christians. Or Brits. Or Norwegians) got rich at our expense and it's time for some payback! We will RULE!"

Nope. God rules. And all the wannabes Satan enthrones are thrown down. Honest Adolph.

Elide

2011-07-09T10:26:00.000-06:00

I learned a new word today. Elide. It's beautiful. Look it up if must.

P'Gell. A contraction, an elide. Will Eisner's "The Spirit" deserves to be made into a movie, a GOOD one, to wipe away the horrible film of Frank Miller a few years ago. There's another one!

MY Arrogance Is Charming!

2011-07-02T13:13:00.001-06:00

Endearing. Affirming. Whatever.
I'm arrogant enough for two people half my size...so it all evens out, right?
I was visiting Big Hollywood website today where (once again) Liberals (with a big L) are typecast as humorless about and blind to their own faults and failings, all the while being gleeful about the supposed failings of people like me.
Hey, a laugh is a laugh, and if I can make just one Liberal chortle by stating my conservatism, I can put that in the laugh bank. Not Left Bank-that's in France. Please pay attention.
I don't really have to DO anything to rile up the un-Conservatives. My mere (and I mean mere) existence gives meaning to their empty little lives; without me and my cohort, they would have nothing and no one to oppose.
Think about it-they are so politically correct that they cannot pick on anyone with regard to race, gender, sexual disorientation, or geographical provincialism. They NEED us! The bile would blow their heads off their necks if it didn't have an outlet.
I'm arrogant enough (so to speak), in that I have no doubts about God or my place in His Creation.
A neurotic person unsure of anything can only perceive such confidence as arrogance. So, semantics.
My faith in God informs my politics, my work, my life.
A Liberal's lack of faith in our common God informs everything about them, hence the bile.
I'm going to borrow my old friend Janeane Garafalo for a moment as an example of what I'm talking about.
If Jane triggers your mirth with her standup where she goes all political on Republican targets, if you love her outspokeness with regard to what she sees as hypocrisy on my side...well and good. You know what I'm talking about. You are tuned to her mental radio.
But then something happens. Janeane get saved, meaning that God puts in her a desire for salvation and brings her into His kingdom.
All of a sudden Janeane's faith begins to inform her politics, her work, her life. Just as suddenly you begin to hate on her. The hate seems valid because she's a turncoat; a shining light of Liberalism has been extinguished.
Don't doubt that it couldn't happen. God saved a Pharisee named Saul who was actively destroying the lives of Christians. He wrote approximately one quarter of the New Testament through the inspiration of a Holy God who saves sinners.
Bottom line: Liberalism is a lie, darkness that hates the truth. It inflates man's perception of Man while ignoring God. Give it up while you're still upright. Thank me later in Heaven.

Your Arrogance Is Hilarious

2011-06-30T20:12:00.005-06:00

Not to me, of course-I'm just a guy at a keyboard. I'm talking about ARROGANCE towards God and His children. It makes God laugh.

^"12 The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.
¹³ The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming." Psalm 37:12-13

I've quoted these verses before here at FDW...some things never go out of season.

Read this next part carefully: If Sarah Palin were an atheist, but still (somehow) holding her present political beliefs...she wouldn't face one thousandth of the vitriol she now endures.

If she were a Buddhist, we would hear no outcry that, if elected, she would attempt to change us into a Buddhist country, forcing HER moral code on the populace.

Let's look back a few years to 2004. John Kerry is a Catholic-do you recall anyone getting riled that Kerry would attempt to enforce a 'Catholic' moral code on us if he won? Nope. Because he is the type of Catholic that protects abortion-a Catholic that even Bill Maher could love. Kerry is of the 'gnashing his teeth at the righteous' persuasion. He makes God laugh.

I don't know if Sarah Palin will run for president. I hope she does, either this time or the next. That would make me happy. That would make you happy too, even if you are a teeth gnasher-your country would be improved, and think of all the snarky anti-Palin books you could buy! How many Liberals got rich by calling President Bush an idiot? A Palin Presidency for them would be like printing money. Who doesn't like money?

Virginia Katherine McMath

2011-06-25T19:46:00.000-06:00

Look at Ginger and Fred. They are smiling, dancing, enjoying life. They did their part to cheer us out of the Great Depression, following Shirley Temple's lead by dancing dancing dancing. Almost always with big smiles, perfect rhythm, and Art Deco production designs.
This won't be the only mention of Virginia Katherine McMath that you will see-July 16th is her centennial celebration. I may take down one of their films and watch it tonight.
Funny how these posts go astray sometimes-I was going to write about a modern actor who seems to be full of sour pickles in every interview...but more wag and less bark, and he doesn't deserve to be named in a Ginger and Fred post.
Okay, it's decided: "Swing Time" and "The Maltese Falcon". Ginger and Bogey. That's a night of entertainment!

Humbled

2011-06-22T20:10:00.000-06:00

I came across this extraordinary photo while working on a family project-these three brothers were my dad's cousins, the picture taken during the "Great Depression". Hard times. Tough kids.
I've been following a study on the book of Hosea which seems to draw parallels between what Israel and Judah were experiencing and what we may be facing today in our age-prosperity abounding, but the peoples hearts being far from God. This led to the destruction of the northern kingdom (Israel) while the southern kingdom (Judah) was taken away into the Babylonian captivity I mentioned in this post:
http://finedrywit.blogspot.com/2011/06/when-i-close-my-eyes-im-invisible.html
Back to the boys. We had prosperity abounding during the roaring twenties, right up until 1929 when it all went bust. These lads lived the Great Depression.
Carl Sandberg had a parable of those times:
A man walking across a bridge heard cries for help; a man was down in the river.
"Help me!" He cried. "I will miss my shift down at the ironworks!"
The man on the bridge raced to the ironworks only to be told,
"You're too late-the guy that pushed him in is already on the job."
If you are prosperous, if you own your own home, have savings and retirement set...good. Great. But remember that we are only a few generations away from the world these boys experienced. One drought, such as God sent as judgement in the time of Elijah, could bankrupt our world again. Everything you have could become worthless. Dirt poor.
The difference is God. He promises to take care of His children through tough times and even during prosperity. It doesn't matter how rich or poor I am-what matters is my relationship with God. I don't worry about the future; I can see days coming, if I live long enough, when I will become feeble, old, weaker-it happens to all of us. But I don't worry-the same God who saved me loves me and will always take care of me. I pray that He will do the same for you. Hopefully He won't have to send locusts and brimstone to get your attention.

I Know Something You Don't Know! Nyah Nyah!

2011-06-18T03:19:00.000-06:00

See if this fits your world view: If knowledge is power, then Secret Knowledge is secret power!
The world is suckered again and again by this trick. If I know something that you don't, then I have an advantage over you. Versa Visi also.
Great
Not
Obvious
Secret
Terminologies
Improve
Capabilities

Please Forgive me-I just had it in my head to make a gnostic acrostic. That's how my brain works.
Back to the flame. On the telly they have an entire subgroup of programming where "Secret Knowledge" is picked out like meat from a crab. Free Masons, Rosicrucians, Psychic Pets flipping houses, UFOs, and how Kathy Griffin continues to find work. Amazing! The Stuff THEY Don't Want You To Know!!!
Yeah yeah.
Back in my younger Christian days I read works by a man named Salem Kirban who supposedly had the down low on "Everything" from a Christian perspective. Nope-just another goof. If he were alive today he could make a good living as a talking head 'expert' on the cable/satt shows preposturating "Secret Knowledge".
One of my favorites: "Brad Meltzer's Decoded". Brad and his investigators track down the hidden in plain sight Mysteries of the Secret World. They have fun. They are fun!
Secret knowledge exposed by the light of the world turns out to be no big deal.
It doesn't matter if the Free Masonist Illiterati Rosy Cross-tatians (forgive me-a crab pun) plan on taking over the world before Dec 21 2012 when it all supposedly ends.
Compare the sum total of all human knowledge against this simple truth: God knows more, and Man is less.
Every cracked pot (see Caractacus, who thumbed his knows at the Romans) thinks that he can 'rule the world'.
Hitler, Napoleon, Alexander, Ben Affl...scratch that...they all took their shot. But no one can 'rule the world' unless they are able to dispossess God, Who owns all of His Creation. And our arms too short to box with God. We're just kids playing in His sandbox. Have fun.

From OUCH!! To HOPE!!!

2011-06-15T20:30:00.000-06:00

I just read a quote on my friend Chrystal's site: "Pride is the mother of all heresies."
St Augustine said a mouthful there, but pride is just as much a burden for non-heretics.
Do I see issues of pride in my own life? Yes-my skillset is small, but I can do some things well, and I am as susceptible to "Big Head Syndrome" as anyone.
We are admonished to "Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord." Pride makes us not want to look at God. We don't want to measure ourselves against His Righteousness.
But there is HOPE. One day, we will be transformed out of these sinful pride-ridden bodies to live in harmony, happily humbled before the throne of God. We won't care then about who has the biggest boat, or golfed with the fewest strokes, or has bought a new car. We're supposed to be keeping up with Jesus, not the Jonses.

When I Close My Eyes I’m Invisible

2011-06-09T19:00:00.002-06:00

Not for really, but it works on the same principle as an ostrich hiding its head in the sand.
I’m nearly invisible now, in a good way-those that knows are regular joes.
Forever grateful that God has made me His child-the older I know, the more I get, all the more I see His workings in my life, in our lives, in our world which is merely His Creation.
A few kind words about Islam. Well, not Islam itself, but the peoples who have bought into that bogus tinny ringtone rendition of religion. They are doing the Lord’s work. You heard me.
“ 5 “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days— You would not believe if you were told.
6 “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.
7 “They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves.”
Habakkuk 1:5-7
History lesson. God’s own special possession, Judah was behaving ver’ badly, ignoring God and going after strange idols.
For their own good God was about to punish them, sending them off into captivity for 70 years. You remember Daniel in the lion’s den? That Captivity. Those guys.
Chaldeans were Babylonians who are now, in our times, the Iraqi/Iranian/Turkish/ the Stans.
All those mentioned in the last sentence now wear the dirty turban of Islam. They are united in their hatred of Israel, a spiritual hatred not based on anything Israel has done. On the world stage, Israel is as innocent as a lamb, surrounded by Islamic jackals.
So what? What’s the big D, Doug?
Eschatologically speaking-that is, in the period known as the “End Times” God is going raise up those Chaldeans again. They will, according to Scripture, be among the nations threatening to attack Israel with the intention of wiping them out…sound familiar?
God will cause these knucklehead nations to meet together in a staging area called the valley of Har Megiddo also known as Armageddon.
What we have witnessed in the past 1700 years is that Islam, a counterfeit religion, has had it’s proponents marching across the globe, seizing dwelling places which are not theirs. They are dreaded and feared, and their justice (sharia) and authority originate with themselves.
They are doing the Lord’s work of heating the cauldrons of hatred against Israel. Read Psalm 2 to see how that turns out.

Searching For Daynight

2011-06-02T17:06:00.000-06:00

If the end of the world does erupt, texters will find out last.
Look at this girl, her back to Van Gogh, tweeting that she's bored. Bored.
I can't toss rocks though. There's a picture of me in a high school yearbook where I'm sitting oblivious, lost in a book.
I don't get texting, though. If it's a generational thing, I must admit to not getting kid's shoes with little wheels in the heels, either. I would fall on my back if they came in size mens 10.
As for the title-I'm time shifting, and it is part struggle, but all will be well.
If you see someone texting in public, go up to them, ask them questions in a made up language, pretending to not know english. It will give them something to tweet about.

Peace Commissioners

2011-05-29T22:00:00.000-06:00

This morning in church a speaker quoted 2 Cor 5:18-21:^"18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
¹⁹namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
²¹He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Which is the Gospel message in it's purest form: we who are reconciled to God through Christ are called to tell others that that same reconciliation is available to them. To you. We are, in effect, God's Peace Commissioners, charged with the message that it is possible to be at Peace with God.
It is a battle. That which is unholy (all of us) by our nature want to keep away from a Holy God. But God works in the lives of those whom He will, drawing to Himself unholy sinners and making them, as it says in the verse above, 'the righteousness of God in Him'.
Why this picture? I have this picture in my collection of unscanned objects-this picture came from the Library of Congress. Family history in tintypes and postcards.
God's Peace Commissioners for 2011 are mocked, hated, killed-all for bearing the name of Christ. That is spiritual hate being directed at Christians who serve the Prince of Peace. Our response? God Loves ______.

The Moon Is A Harsh Minstrel

2011-05-25T23:09:00.000-06:00

Yeah, that's about the right color, if the wrongish flawer. I didn't know what was growing under my bay window-it turned out to be tulips red like this rose. I had to protect them from animal type nibblers, and they are doing fine.
Speaking of fine, I have been blessed with an answered prayer, and it reminds me that God is good, and is in charge of even the little details. My life is a little detail.
If you want a bit o fun, and have grown tired of the Harold Camping comedy, check out Chuck Missler. I caught one of his broadcasts, and was impressed with the Scripture study. I googled Missler to see what he was about and found this self important goof on youtube who claims that Missler is of the devil. Self important goof is wrong, and probably has cooties. I d/l Missler's studies on iTunes, and have enjoyed them, so the S-I-G would probably think I was full of 'devilry' too.
Ah well. My unofficial training in psychology (a story you won't read here) has given me a sort of radar for oddballs and cootie sufferers. Ping!

The Past Will Catch Up With Us In The Future

2011-05-22T21:05:00.000-06:00

Don't waste much time trying to figure out the title-it doesn't really mean anything, kinda sorta.
If you look to the right of the page to the pretty red and white boat, you are looking at my past.
The main significance of the boat that you see is that it is the place where I became a Christian, down below deck there between the "83" and the anchor.
God got me to the place where I needed to be to reach out to Him, and that day, back in the late 1970's...my life as a new creation in Christ began. I didn't understand all that happened when it happened, but I knew instantly that it HAD happened, and I haven't had a molecule of doubt about God since that day.
One of the first Christian books that I found and read was Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" where he predicted that Christ would return to set up His Kingdom by the late 1980's.
As Joe Bob Briggs would say, "El Wrongo."
Lindsey did have quite a bit of information right, but his (pessimistic) assumptions were way off. He thought that things were soooooooooo bad back then that Christ HAD to be coming soon.
He's not alone-history is littered with those who have felt that "Things are worse than EVER!"
Actually, we humans with our extremely limited perspective can hardly comprehend how things are in our own particular vicinity, let alone world-wide.
Trust in God who sees everything-His perspective trumps ours in every possible way. If you just shook you heart NO in disagreement-God, who looks in the hearts of men saw it. Comprehend that.

Christians Living At Odds With Reality

2011-05-13T11:33:00.002-06:00

Hoo boy. Here we go-did you ever notice that Christians aren't perfect? We are mere sinners saved by Grace.
I can assure you that Christians still mess up, get things wrong, may have mental health/emotional/physical issues just like the rest of humanity.
Harold Camping (pictured above on right-just kidding) has determined that God will bring JUDGEMENT DAY.

I agree!

On May 21, 2011.
...uhhh...hold it Harold-you just lost me.
So, why this post?
I've read fanatical statements made by adherents to this belief. They are rock solid certain that Camping is right.
They are not only betting the farm, but their entire lives on the idea that they are going to be Raptured, taken up by God on that date. For them, there is no May 22, 2011-that's when the Tribulations start.
A few important things to consider:
The Chicago Cubs will be playing the Red Sox that weekend, in Boston for the first time in nearly 100 years.
I am hosting a multi-family rummage sale. I haven't bought the balloons yet, but...
Camping first announced this event as happening a few years ago-when it didn't happen, he explained that he hadn't finished researching the book of Jeremiah yet, so his numbers were wrong.
No, Harold-YOU are wrong. Knowledge (without wisdom) puffs up, and makes us think more of ourselves than we should. If you were the Bible scholar your conceit tells you that you are, you wouldn't be making crazy claims of special knowledge-that the gnostics department.
Unless the Lord DOES actually choose that date to bring us up into Heaven...you will be bringing ridicule to the name of Christ. Your ego will probably make you fluster and bluster and make excuses, but that's all right-we're all human. That's what we do.
I only wish that you hadn't convinced so many good Christians that you were right. Pride goes before a fall, God humbles us for our own good. They will be fine, and will have learned a good lesson about false teachings and teachers.

Windom Earle For President!

2011-05-10T22:50:00.000-06:00

No, not the Canuck band-the real deal Windom Earle. So far I haven't seen anyone on the sane side (Republican) who sparks an iota of interest. I expect Don Trump's lifelong ego trip will not make a stop in the Oval office. He's been dead to me since the 1980's.
Newt? Newt is the John McCain of Republicans-too old, too entrenched in the problems of Washington to be counted on to know anything of Solutions.
Sarah Palin hasn't announced, and may not run. Until she or another strong Conservative tosses hat in ring, I nominate Windom Earle.
A lifetime of government service, but he magically remains an outsider, much like President Obama claimed to be in the last election.
He's a widower, which may be a negative to some; I know that Earle would focus on the job of being leader of the free world with a lazerlike attention to detail. He's always been very good at the details. Very, very good!
Nixon played piano, Harry S. Truman was a small town sherriff...Earle plays chess like a master. The images from a chess match may not be as enthralling as a president detailing his basketball brackets, but he wouldn't be running for "Chessmaster-in Chief". He most assuredly wouldn't appear on the "Oprah" show to attempt to boost his popularity.
Since it is no longer on the air, he could borrow the catch phrase, "My Name Is Earle" from that silly sitcom.
Maybe choose Joy as his running mate, though he has more history with Leo Johnson.
Windom Earle. Remember the name. 2012.

Happy Mom's Day, Citizens!

2011-05-06T11:59:00.000-06:00

I may be early but oh you kid...can not ever be too early. My parents grew up in different towns, different ages-it took photoshop to put them together, and a rose smells as sweet to the eyes as it can on a computer screen.
Happier M. D. to you all.

Usa Not Usama

2011-05-01T22:53:00.002-06:00

Oh sure, we've all heard the news by now that Bin Laden has been killed. I became aware when hearing "USA! USA!" being chantshouted at the Phillies/Mets game tonight. You've got to love sports broadcasters like Bobby Valentine:

"It has been confirmed that Usama Bin Laden has been killed...Willie Harris steps into the batter's box for the Mets..."

So how do you feel about this? Bin Laden, not Harris. Whenever the Mets play I pretend that they are the Yankees and root for their opponents.
Bin Laden. He has been more of a idea figment for the last decade than a viable adversary.
Remember-I (we) didn't make him our enemy. We're all about the Love, man. Islam made him hate. We became the focus of that hate, and when his side attacked our side, we retaliated. If not for Islamic terrorism, ours would be a much quieter, happier world.
Anger gives birth to many children-there will be retaliatory attacks. I expect that we will see red paint spattered photo posters of Bin Laden carried through streets in rallys from Egypt to Afghanistan to Detroit.

Huh. Top of the fourteenth right now.

Remember a while ago when some pastor in Florida or somewhere publicly burned the Koran? Some innocents in another country on another continent were killed in "response" to the 'outrage'?
I thought that the Pastor was wrong, not because the Koran is sacred, but because it was unnecessary-the Koran means nothing. It's just words on paper, and if they didn't have the Koran, Islamists would get angry about something else. Men wearing hats at the dinner table. Women flirting by showing a toenail. Whatever.

Mets take the lead, now the Phillies have to come back. They've just got to!

Bin Laden is like the Koran-he means nothing. Just as the Buddhists trot David Lynch out to raise funds for prayer houses, Islam used the celebrity of Bin Laden to raise hate. Remember what he was famous for? That's right, class-Hating.
It's okay that he's gone. Islam has many more to take his place.

Rally caps. Mayberry is the last chance for the Phillies...aaaaannnnddddd .....game over.

Can't You Be Happy For Five Minutes?

2011-04-26T23:04:00.000-06:00

Actually, yes, I can. And so can you, friend.
I see entire cultures and civilizationzoinks working very hard at trying to be happy, amused, thrilled to be alive.
If it comes that hard, maybe happy isn't for you. I've known peoples who only felt 'right' when they were miserable.
I used to cook midnights at this restaurant. This old couple probably in their 70's came in every night and arguefought through their nightly meal. Top of their lungs. Recriminations and accusations with coffee and pancakes. They were lovin' it.
It really isn't that hard to be happy:
Be content with what you have. Even non-Christians and pagans can follow that Scriptural admonition.
I would never want to get rich in this world-too much temptation to think better of myself than I do.
With that said, enough is plenty enough, but we must all eat and we prefer to sleep under roofs, bathe in hot water, etc. So we work. Whatever God wants me to do, I do.
God has blessed me with plenty. I am content. The picture I took many summers ago, but each time I see it I am reminded of that beautiful day. That makes me happier than if I had my weight's worth of gold sitting in the bank.
May God so Bless you that you forget to be unhappy.

Tree Hugger Holiday

2011-04-22T10:07:00.002-06:00

I was going to use a picture of an Ironwood tree growing on our property, but those pics are part of the great unscanned collection.
Hug away, tree lovers. Nothing wrong with Earth Day, if you remember that all of Creation is the work of God's hand. We merely populate what He has made. We don't 'own' the earth anymore than we own stardust (excepting Hoagy, of course.)
Look up into that ole buttermilk sky and see clouds and stars; look down at your feet to where you're walking. It's all God's stuff; if you look in a mirror, what do you see? More of God's stuff.
Much of it is beautiful. I love God's slightly marred creation in which we now live-Heaven will be Perfect!
Cherish what He has Blessed you with. He even made the eyes you use to read these words. Mighty cool.

Deaf By 23 Oh I'm Sorry Were You Leaving?

2011-04-21T10:45:00.002-06:00

Sometimes fun is where you find it. I listen to my iPod for fun and to help make the moments pass delightfully while working. I treasure the gift of hearing. God has Blessed us all with so many fine gifts-it would be a shame to not thank Him.
Hopefully, by God's Grace I will continue to be able to listen and hear for many years to come.
Here, in this little literary nibble is a mild 'ra'-barely half a rant. Things I gotta say:

Hey! Life is precious! Drinking, smoking-they are bad for you! (As if you didn't know.)

We each have a limited number of days to live-God keeps the count-but you make choices. Choose to invite cancer into your body and you will have a worse time of it. Choose to drink alcohol and watch all your aspirations go down the drain.

Fun is where you find it. But if you 'fun' actually is debilitating and harmful, what kind of fun is that?

I have fun exercising. It feels good now and pays dividends later in life.

I have 'fun' reading God's Word. It is medicine for my soul, and food for my mind. It is one of the 'healthiest' things that I do, paying dividends for eternity as I learn more about God.

Fun doesn't have to involve harming your body with drugs. You do realize that you are merely tampering with your emotions, right? Drugs/smoking make you FEEL. Emotions? You will jeopardize your health over emotions? Wha?

It's been said too many times, but by now you're probably not reading this anymore, so:

Emotions are the seasonings which make life more palatable. But letting your emotions rule you-making decisions based on how you feel rather than what is real...crazytrouble.

Who needs crazytrouble?

Beer Summit 2011

2011-04-14T12:53:00.000-06:00

There. All of you who just can't enough of Ann, here she is diplomatically trying to save Libya from American aggression...or whatever. P. Obama is offering a lager not to the liking of Malomar the insignificant.
Ann has a new book out June 7th. She's been moderately quiet lately-I assume she will be making the rounds promoting the as yet un-named book.
P. Obama has been an embarrassment since the day he took the oath of office. He will probably be defeated for re-election but whatever happens, happens. We survived Carter; we can survive Carter II.
Who will step up on the Republican side? It's wide open right now-I think that whoever get the brass ring on this go-around will have many Liberals thankful that we still have a secret ballot...so they can vote against Obama.
You see, when it comes right down to the nit/grit...nobody wants to pay more taxes than they have to. No one wants the Government to order their lives. Live Free Or Die is ingrained into us. So the slogan of 2012 may just be: "Yes we can! Change our minds!"
See you on the other side, Rhodes.

More Wag...Less Bark

2011-04-05T20:44:00.000-06:00

I love it. I love seeing a car window sticker with such thoughts as: "More Wag...Less Bark". Simply elegant.
The pup driving the cah is from Meg Frost's site Cute Overload which I've noted here before. If you need some smiles, go check it out.
I'm feeling good right now-left work early as I have an appointment in the morn. Eating a pastrami on foccacia sandwich which is all good. I used to make sourdough foccacia by the sheetpans back in my baking days. Good stuff.
Some days just feel better than others. I could list the troubles global and personal that have cumbered us with cares...but naw. May God Bless you today. Wag wag wag.

Forget Your Hexagram

2011-03-30T13:21:00.000-06:00

I feel like revisiting an old postage here at FDW, just for gins and griggles.
I posted awhile back about the "Ghosthunter" type shows on TV. Some guys with electronic doodads and video cameras hunt spooks. If they get ANY evidence at all, they get so excited that they shout over any poor spirit trying to finish his point.
Bottom line-God says stay away from occult practices. Leave that ghost alone, you don't know where it's been.
Demons-actual fallen angels-are actually behind what we term 'the occult'. I want nothing to do with them.
One of the TV shows, "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Channel recently had an episode where they confronted a demon plagued place-and they brought in a priest to perform an exorcism. Huh.
You may be asking, why is Doug watching such shows? Nothing good on the Church Channel?
Actually, there is nothing good on the Church Channel, but that's another post.
I watch what I watch. I don't believe that I am here to hermetically seal myself in Church culture. I live in this world, too. I found out something about the "Ghost Adventures" crew that intrigued me-one of the three Ghost Adventurers, Aaron...identifies himself as a "Baptist Christian". Huh. I guess Aaron doesn't seal himself in church either.
Anyway,Aaron and his two partners in ectoplasimic pursuits teamed up with a priest to exorcise a place.
In the book of Acts we read of some of the miracles, including casting out demons, done through the Apostle Paul. Some Jews, jealous of Paul, decided that they would also gain a following by casting out demons in the name of...well, read for yourself:

^"11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
¹²so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
¹³But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
¹⁴Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
¹⁵And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
¹⁶And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." Acts 19:11-16

This is how I see the Ghost Adventures crew getting into trouble. Except for Aaron, they don't seem to be Christian. They seek out occult occurrences, and, not having faith themselves, ask a priest to use his faith to accomplish an exorcism. "We adjure you by the Jesus Father Blarney preaches." Trouble in River City.
I think that they are heading for misery and trouble in their lives, and I would say to brother Aaron, "Dude, you're in the wrong business." Not that it's any of mine.

Point A to Point Z

2011-03-22T11:55:00.002-06:00

This is what the past looks like. Not yours, of course, but past is passed back behind us all.
God states in His Word that our lifetimes are like a passing moment, a few hours of a morning and then it's done.
No one, to paraphrase Hank, makes it out of this world alive...for now. The oft-noted "Rapture"-the 'catching up' of those whom God will gather to Himself-that will be our vertical exodus, alive and Praising God.
I don't have Scripture at hand to back up this belief, but I think that "THERE" we will remember every blessing we have received during our pilgrimage here...but we will forget every pain and curse as if they had never happened.
No sin in Heaven, which is wherever God is. I believe that includes no memory of sin.
Counterpoint. Those who will be cursed to exist forever apart from God will have no memory of Blessings, good times, joys enjoyed during their lifetime. But every curse, every painful memory they will wear like chains forever.
Please don't think I'm gloating. Hell isn't my destination only through the Grace of God. I will have many friends and family there, and I wish there were no hell...but what I wish doesn't matter.
God saves whom He Will. No one "Decides" to become a Christian. It isn't a matter of our will, and we can't decide to stop being Christians. None of His sheep will run off to other pastures. We wouldn't want to.
So, what is this post about?
Just a reminder, friends, that even though our time on earth is short, we should seek God, seek His forgiveness and Holiness. If you feel that you are destined for hell, but wish that you weren't...God may be drawing you to Himself. He made it fully evident to me where I was heading before He saved me.
May God seek you out and bring you home.

Memoria

2011-03-15T13:23:00.000-06:00

Harsh times, friends. Prayers have been streaming up to God from all around the world for the peoples of Japan and Libya. Add yours to ours. May God extend His Grace to many, turning their hearts to Him.

We Know Who Put The sin In Wiscon-Sin

2011-03-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

I have a cruel taskmaster, which goes by the ignominious title of a "elliptical trainer". It makes me hurt at the gym by not making me hurt...at the time. It feels great, and I am tempted to overdo...but the 'repent at leisure' kicks in during my last two hours at work if I do.
Usually I take it easy, but today I was churning and burning like a daytrader while watching the Reverend Jesse Jackson bobbing and weaving around questions on Fox News.
He was attempting to make the point that if Wisconsin Governor Walker succeeds in his agenda, 'the middle class and the poor will suffer the most while the rich keep getting richer'.
I guess the right for unions to dictate to employers vacation and sick days is some sort of civil...um...right.
I do not work in Government Service; my vacation/sick days, my health care insurance are dictated to me by my employer, and I am fine with that. I have great benefits, and I've EARNED them.
Employees at my company get raises not through 'collective bargaining' (which I think is code for threatening to strike). We earn them. If we aren't happy where we are, we switch to another company with better benefits/pay.
The rabble-rousers such as Jackson and the unions have failed in Wisconsin. You know that they are beat when the news stories start declaring that Walker has handed them future victories by energizing their base.
Nah. The Democrats/unions energized the citizens of Wisconsin by robbing them blind with taxation and demanding the right to bankrupt the state. Those energized citizens voted in a Republican Governor who had to face some of the same problems as Gov. Christie in New Jersey.I wish them both much success.
Back to my taskmaster. I 'suffer' now to ensure a better, healthier future. In Wisconsin, they are going to be doing the same-tightening belts, cutting waste- all in the hope that their state will become more financially solvent in the future. I might not see another Democratic Governor in Wisconsin in my lifetime.

Beauty Is

2011-03-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

It’s in my nature, so I can’t help it. I’ve been this way since before I can remember, and I have to assume that God had His good reasons for making me as I am.
Here’s the here’s: Life is wonderful, life is good…but sometimes what the world is going through is harsh and ugly and, as I am a part of this world, I am affected. So Life is out of balance-too much ugle, not enough beaut. I act.
Here’s a puppy, one of the most cutest puppies ever to be highlighted on Cuteoverloaddotcom. If this pup doesn’t bring a smile to your lips, doesn’t make the world seem full of hope…then you are beyond my threshold, and I can’t see or hear you.

Finally The Cheer

2011-03-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

Soon to be pulling the ripcord on this night. I should freefall for an hour or so into the slumber craved.
It has been a positive day/night. Enough to know that even when we don;t know, we trust. Trust that God has every moment of eternity well in hand, and there is nothing to fear period.
Have an exceptional 24 hour aggregation of minutes. Praise God for all that He is. That is ever all.

Who's Da Boss?

2011-02-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

“6 “He does not keep the wicked alive, But gives justice to the afflicted.
7 “He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 “And if they are bound in fetters, And are caught in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.
10 “He opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they return from evil.
11 “If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures.
12 “But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword And they will die without knowledge.” Job 36:6-12

I don’t care how they spell his name. Right here, right now, we have an example of this passage from Job being played out.
Muammar el-Qaddafi. The ‘king’ of Libya for decades, who made himself rich while keeping his countrymen in virtu slavery/poverty.
He magnified himself, indeed. We’ve known of his despicable me-ness for decades, and the world did nothing. He was a ‘protected animal’-an enemy of Israel who has had a part in the gentlemen’s agreement that Israel and the Jews are the cause of all the world’s problems. Membership is shrinking, one despot at a time.
el-Qaddafi is now sending his military to kill Libyans who are crying out for justice after decades of affliction.
He’s so much gone and good riddance. God gives justice to the afflicted. I would love to see a Cuban uprising against the Castro brothers regime. And Notrh Korea. China. Iran.
Venezuela. Wherever people are in chains at the mercy of some tinpot egocentric’s whims as to whether they will live or die. But enough about Obama.
Ask Hitler, (if you can find him in hell): “Hey Adolph! How does God reward tyrants?”
And Hitler, (who was, in fact, part Jewish) would probably say. “Read Job chapter 36.”

The World We Live In

2011-02-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

For now. For those kooky Arabs all across the middle east, it must seem as if their meds are wearing off en masse. Which is plainspeak for all tarnation is breaking out.
Unrest is unresting all over the political map-if the graphics were showing snowfall instead of political downfalls, we'd be looking at the Blizzard of the Century!
But it ain't snow, folks. It's all part of God's plan-as is everything else that hasppens from here to wherever there is.
Though the entire world become unhinged all at once, God is rock steady, and His children are safe. Even as buildings fall in Kiwiland...God is in charge, and all is well.
Personally, also-if your life is in tumult, if it is crumbling...God still is on His throne, and He offers the only Peace which can comfort body and soul. We only live in this world for a little while. Eternity with God makes the momentary lapses of reason we experience down here seem like piffles. Fear not. Fret not. Don't worry.
Praise God for every day that you continue to live. Viskas bus gerai.

Unauthorized Personnel Only

2011-02-20T13:41:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I weaken and seek out entertainment that is really bad. Movies which are so horribly done that they amuse me in ways not intended by their makers.
The classic of all unclassiness for me will always be, "Roller Boogie"-look it up, cherish the bad. But I recently found a contender for that unsavory throne: "Airplane Two-The Sequel". Not done by the Zucker brothers-the studio hired some no-name...wait...I just checked IMDB to see if this guy had done anything at all memorable.
He once hired Michael O'Donoghue for a movie-that and "Airplane Two-The Sequel" are the highlights of his entire life.
This...guy...named Ken Finkelman wrote and directed "AT-TS" so he's a double threat. He took every single gag that was even moderately amusing in the first movie and pounds them into the ground over and over again.
Poor Robert Hays. Poor Julie Hagerty. They seem embarrassed to be found acting in the movie. Hays more than once looks into the camera, seeming to apologize for what he has accepted money to act out which ISN'T
FUNNY!
Cardinal rule for a comedy: be funny. The only giggle thing in the movie (so far-40 minutes in and I might never get back to it) was a sign in the airport which stated the name of this post. That's it. Yee-haw.

Offended Out Of Church

2011-02-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

Another flower; both pictures taken the same day, quite a few Summers ago now. But this one is closer to the theme of the post.
Although I now have 'TV', and internet and access to news...I'm so busy living that I haven't kept up on "What Is Going On".
Lara Logan assaulted in Egypt. A terrible thing to happen to anyone-I hope that she is able to recover from this terrible, terrible event.
There is plenty more happening, but this isn't a Newsblog.
May God restore Ms. Logan's health. If she is not a Christian, I pray that God would draw her to Himself, and give her the faith to believe and be saved. If she is already a Christian, then she has God's Peace no matter what happens. With God, we can survive anything; without God, no one survives. The greatest Blessing any of us can receive is to be with God. May God richly Bless you today.

Offended In Church

2011-02-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, right up front: the picture has nothing to do with the post. I looked on the 'nets for suitable images, and naught caught my eye, so I doug into my archives and pulled an old 'graph that I've used before.
S'okay. Don't be offended by recycling.
I missed church the other night as I was talking with a friend. It reminded me of another friend who, when I mentioned that I had to get to an evening service, was all, "What? Twice in one day? Bummer."
It would be a bummer for him. Church means God, and God means pain, torture and judgment. Who wants more of that?
If you play poker, you know all about "tells". This attitude of wanting to avoid God is a 'tell' that that person has no relationship with God.
You might be thinking that that is OBVIOUS. Not done yet, sport.
You see, there are a LOT of people who consider themselves "Christian" because of the church they grew up in.
But they 'outgrew' their faith and now visit churches only for funerals and weddings.
You can fool yourself, but you can't fool God. He knows who is praying and who is playing.
I have been offended in church. Not by Christians, but by wannabes going through the motions attempting to act "Christian enough" for the few minutes they must be in attendance. It is repugnant to me and I believe that it is also repugnant to God. False worship makes Him angry.
Bottom line: if you aren't a Christian, please stay away from church. A sincere sinner is better than a hypocritical one.

Genius!!!!!

2011-02-06T21:35:00.001-07:00

Tonight, I had an epiphany! How to quell the uprisings in Egypt and the Muddled East?
Let's send the Black Eyed Peas there to perform!
(I spelled it out so that readers over thirty wouldn't be wondering what a "BEP" could be.)
Two songs from the Peas and you wouldn't find five rioters awake enough to raise ruckus.
I missed the pre-game opening act of Pres. Obama vs Bill O'Reilly by switching the channel as soon as it was announced. I just recently got TV service, and I don't want to spoil it with bad TV.
Congrats to the Pack and Steelers;they both did fine, and coming in second isn't so bad when it's the Super Bowl. The only way the Vikings will ever get there is if they buy tickets.
Bring on Baseball! Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training! 30

No Mail Tomorrow Carried By Groundhogs

2011-02-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

It's too perfect to pass up, and, although I may be echoed on a million blogs, you can say you read it here first.
Egypt. Jordan. Pakistan, Afghanistan, all the Stans. Going through the same troubles ancestrally handed down from father uprising to child unresting. Just as if they are doomed to replay the same day of revolt over and over again until...what? What? What happens after a revolt?
In America, revolt was followed by a Democracy where, until recently, the people governed themselves.
In most of the rest of the world (are you listening Iran?) revolt leads to despotism and people in chains. (Cuba?-is that you?)
If the Muslim Brotherhood takes over in Egypt, for example, it will not be the dawning of a new day of freedom for the Egyptian people. It will be Shariah, and the type of religious despotism that our leftist boneheads declare to be their greatest fear if another Christian enters the White House.
Only here in America that is a fantasy-no Christian is going to impose Christianity as a state religion. Egypt? It's been on the ropes, fighting against the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood for decades. The referee has started the count. It's over.

Meanwhile...

2011-01-27T22:57:00.000-07:00

Since I last put words on this blog it seems as if many parts of the world are catching the fire of uncivil dissonance.
Keeping it simple: the world is wrong. God is right. Don't look to the world for stability or security-look only to God.
Jesus spoke of someone being wise enough to 'build their house on a solid foundation', contrasting that person with one who built his house on shifting sands. Guess what happened.
Jesus even made it clearer. He said that He is the solid foundation-we who are called by His name are secure.
Keeping it simple.

No Joke

2011-01-24T23:39:00.001-07:00

I'm on my third re-write. God defines who is "Evil" all through His book.
Yes, we are all sinners, but there are good people who do bad things sometimes, and evil people who bad things all of the time. Call them the militantly evil, the ones who prey on the unfortunate, who destroy innocent lives.
Whoever set off that suicide bomb in the Russian airport this week qualifies as militantly evil. Murdering innocent people is as wrong in Russia as it is in Arizona.
Where is God? He is in His Heaven, watching and working-nothing happens which is beyond His control.
Which means that there is a purpose even in such attacks as we have witnessed in this young year. If nothing else, when we hear of tragedies such as these, it should drive us to our knees asking God to protect us.
That Glorifies God even in the midst of human holocaust. He is not a monster for allowing it to happen. We are the monsters. He is God, and He has made a better future for us, where there will be no tears, no heartache, no suicide bombers or abortion doctors. I'm looking for that future while imperfectly trying to live a life pleasing to God in the here and now.
^"21    This I recall to my mind,     Therefore I have hope.
²²    The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,     For His compassions never fail.
²³    They are new every morning;     Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴    “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,     “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
²⁵    The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,     To the person who seeks Him.
²⁶    It is good that he waits silently     For the salvation of the LORD." Lamentations 3:21-26

Insanitized For Your Protection

2011-01-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Harya? Good.
I’ve been bumping around the internets for awhile now, and it’s interesting to see the vagaries and verities pinballing around those human social constructs.
Most of the world is crazy, and is shouting that crazy 28/8 on the internets. Wow.
What happens in a democratic world when the majority is crazy? Is Crazy then the norm, because majority rules?
No.
One man plus the truth is a majority.
Lies and myths can shake, rattle and roll their shadow dance 29/9...but all the false furor and wishful foolishnessess =0. Meaning that the Truth wins out every time, 30/10.
Not my truth vs. your truth. Not my opinion vs. yours-The Truth.
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
If you are part of the crazy, if the very thought of Jesus Christ being God goes against the very fiber of your soul and existence, you are doomed.
But please,have a nice day.

A Fresh Of Breath Air

2011-01-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here you go-untrammeled beauty-I put 'beautiful day' into google images query and this was one of the results.
Life isn't always so hard. Have an exceptional day.

But The

2011-01-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

I was talking with one of America's youth tonight who had never heard of Thelonious Monk.
No surprise really-what knowledge we accumulate in our lifetimes builds incrementally.
What brought this on? I was watching a movie the other night which had in it child actors who couldn't act.
They could hardly get their lines out, let alone emote, and I'm not picking on them-they simply haven't learned
their craft yet. They were chosen for their looks, not their 'talent'-which also happens to adult 'actors'.
Back to Monk. I don't want Thelonious Monk to be lost in history-I would love it if his music is still being played a hundred plus years from now. By then all the music ever recorded might be fit on a thumbdrive with near-infinite capacity. I hope that the musical appreciationists of 2111 keep Monk's music alive...while deleting Rod Stewart. Please.

Conflicted Not Convicted

2011-01-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

A little experiment-I google imaged the word "convicted" and these are a few of the results. I was just thinking the other day about the citizens in our national penal system, what has been termed our "prison population".
Many prisoners accept Christ in prison, which Glorifies God. But I wonder how many Christians make the bad life decisions which puts them in jail?
I'm guessing not many-we are no better than anyone else, but our faith teaches us that we shouldn't be law-breakers, that we should color inside the lines of society and obey THE LAW.

Do we always succeed? Not a chance. If a Christian-I'll use Dr. Dino, Kent Hovind as an example-if a Christian runs afoul of the law, he deserves to be punished. Hovind went to jail. He's still there. I think that is right and proper.
Just an assumptive guesstimate, but I think that Christians (who were Christians pre-incarceration) probably make up less than one percent of the total prison population. In this country.
In many countries around the world Christians are imprisoned, tortured and killed for their faith, and for rejecting ___________ (go ahead-fill in the blank.).
But here in America? Freedom to express our faith. Cherish that. And don't screw up.

It Is To Laugh

2011-01-03T23:24:00.000-07:00

I love it. I see stuff like the graffiti pictured above and I just grin. Let me translate:

“A stupid person needs the promise of heaven to see the merit of good deeds.”

Duh…huh? (Scratching my head) Do whut? What do all them fancy squares have to do with th-oh wait---their bricks! He wrote on bricks! That’s a good un! Uhuh!

I’m going to kick start my assumpter machine. I’m going to assume that the person who placed this handwriting on the wall believes that an intelligent person doesn’t see the merits of Heaven. That a smart person is just good for goodness sake.
He or she seems to assume that we only do good deeds because we want to get to (work their way into) Heaven. If not for the promise of Heaven, we wouldn’t lift a hand to help anyone.
In reality, none of us going to Heaven would DARE approach God’s Throne in our own righteousness. He only accepts the Righteousness of Christ, which we have become partakers of through His Grace. My righteousness would get me a hot seat in hell right next to the graffiti artist who thinks he was doing a good deed by writing on a wall.

An intelligent person knows that the fear (respect/love) of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.
I know the little darlings can’t help it-we exist in a culture which is running away from God at warp speed.
But God will do as He Wills, and He is still rescuing souls from hell every day. I’m guessing that many people around the world have accepted Christ in the time it took you to read this sentence.
I know by faith that not one person whom God wants to be with Him in Heaven will be missing.
Conversely, not one person destined for hell will be among the saints praising God throughout Eternity.
Smart like a lamb, buddy.

It's On The 'Nets...It Must Be True!

2011-01-01T02:06:00.000-07:00

So it's three in the morning, and I just woke up and did some stuff. I shut down right before midnight, and I didn't hear a peep from the outside world-this is my first New Year living in a 'town' since 1994; I expected the celebratory noises to impinge, but they din't.
According to a redditor, this picture is the 'very first dawn of the new year' from some place in New Zealand.

Okayfine. I'm glad we finally get to flip the calendar. May God Bless you in this New Year and eternally.

Not A Review

2010-12-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

Straight up-this isn't a review of the movie, "Inception". I watched it this weekend, and it is a very fine movie, one that I wouldn't 'spoil' for anything.
I purposefully remained ignorant, avoiding trailers and reviews, and I'm glad that I did. It was cool.
There haven't been many recent movies that have impressed me-another good one was "Shutter Island". Short list, eh?
I added the 'eh' because I recently revisited "Strange Brew"-the Bob and Doug McKenzie extravaganza from the early 1980's. It was better fun than I remembered. If you Netflix, put it on your list.
I don't Netflix myself, but it is a going concern. I'm just too cheap...actually, I know it's a bargain, but I kinda refuse to use a credit card to rent amusement. I have no CC debt, by the Grace of God, and I intend to stay on the financial straight and narrow. No Redbox either. If I do rent movies, I go to the video store in town, which I am glad to support, as it was owned by a friend from school, and it pays taxes, hires workers, helps the local economy. Redbox takes and doesn't give.
Just a few more days left in the year-thank God! It will be a good year to have in the rear view mirror.
May God Bless you today, and in the coming year. 30

Gotcha Covered, Ace!

2010-12-20T13:09:00.002-07:00

Lets see...on the 21st of December we have the Winter Solstice (Northern Hemi), with a bonus lunar eclipse.
Psalm 19 declares the Glory of God through His Creation, though some of the created ignore God to worship components of that very same creation. I call them 'Duh' people.
But to show that there are no hard feelings about their stupid man-made beliefs, I am extending the good left hand of fellowship to them with this picture post. In the above photo there are:

A rainbow.

A meteor shower.

An eclipse.

The top of a tree (for duh druids)

Aurora Borealis/Northern/Southern lights.

Dawn, specifically Dawn Tinsley from the original, superior Brit "The Office".

An ocean view with another dawn.

You DO realize that God is the original artist who Created everything that you find beautiful, don't you?
All that human artists, from Da Vinci to Pollock to Charles Schultz to whomever-all that they do is copy what God has made, from a beautiful sunset to a beautiful woman to Amy Winehouse. We glorify an artist for having the talent to recreate, not create. We can't create anything. God made sunflowers, Van Gogh painted his rendition of God's sunflowers, and Van Gogh gets the glory? Not on my chronometer!
Solstice two guys walk into a bar, and...

Is This You?

2010-12-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Recognize this Bluto? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, avowed Muslim extremist, who believes wholeheartedly in Islam. Mahmoud is a mook waiting for the 12th Imam or Mahdi to show up and clean house on the unbelieving world, specifically Jews and Christians.
So why, you may ask, is he pictured in a Christmas scene?
He is an enemy of the true and living God. He has not an iota of faith in Jesus Christ…read on, if you dare.
At this time of year, millions (billions?) of the enemies of God who lack faith in Christ decorate their lives and houses for Christmas. They believe that they are somehow being good religious people by paying a bit of lip service to God-singing carols, wishing each other a ‘Merry Christmas’, buying gifts for loved ones and even tossing a few bucks into S.A. kettles.
God is not pleased. Read Malachi and see what he thought of religious folk going through the religious motions.
“ 6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
It doesn’t really matter to us if unbelievers get Christmas wrong-our duty is to get it right, to honor God and rejoice in the Salvation God set into motion for us one day in ‘the little town of Bethlehem.’
O Come, all ye faithful. Everyone else, have a nice day.

Enough With The Flowers!

2010-12-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

If memory serves, Jessica Mitford (of the Mitford girls-look them up) wrote a chapter in her book "The American Way of Death" titled "Omit Flowers". Fascinating expose of the hidden dirty nittygrit behind the Funeral industry...60 years ago.
Omit flowers. I personally have had enough funerals this year to last me. I hereby declare a moratorium on all things Mortuary. No tisket, no tasket.
Omit flowers. Omit the whole rigor mortise rigamarole. Who's with me?

When a Zombie Meets A Mummy Comin’ Through The Wry

2010-11-28T14:47:00.002-07:00

Please forgive me for the title-my unrefined mind sometimes makes me giggle. I just watched “The Mummy” last night, the one with Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser standing in for Harrison Ford and Karen Allen. It’s a charming movie, full of fun moments.
Of, course, the mythos/paganism of “Mummery” is nonsense, but no more non-sensical than the “Zombies” presented in Frank Darabont’s AMC series “The Walking Dead”.
Here’s a co-incidence for you-I just checked and both Karloff’s “The Mummy” and Lugosi’s “White Zombie” premiered in 1932. Huh.
Anyway, back to the front of the post.
Vampires. Mummys. Frankenstein’s Monster. Zombies. Sounds like our fear of death makes us create boogeymen who have another life after death. Sometimes they have superpowers and can fly, and are impervious to conventional weaponry. I’m not afraid of anything…except a lit match. (IF I only had a brain!)
Man can imagine just about anything…but what does God say?
“1 A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1
What? How can that be? People are cheered at a baby’s birth, but we grieve someone’s passing.
Maybe we have it wrong. We are born into a sinful world, and a baby child has a lifetime of struggles and pains ahead of him or her. Decades, maybe a century of tears here in…this.
Someone passing from this sinful world, however, is on the doorstep of Eternity, entering into Rest and Peace if they belong to God-I think that was Solomon’s/God’s point.
It isn’t wrong to cheer for a baby’s birth; we praise God for children as they are a gift from Him.
But we should also cheer when one of God’s children passes beyond this troubled world into His rest.
I call that a win.

post script post: Leslie "Shirley aka Frank Drebin" Nielsen died yesterday...this picture fit so better and if it seems in poor taste...Leslie would love that.

Happy Black Weekend, Everybody!

2010-11-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

I mean, why should Friday get all of the moneylove when there's an entire weekend following behind it?
We had a ver' nice Thanksgiving yesterday-a great meal and lots of fine conversation. No major caster-taffies.
I call it a win.
But back to Black. I will be celebrating Black Friday by refusing to go into debt-MY ink will remain Black in my checkbook, if you know what I mean.
T'is the season, I guess. Being fiscally responsible is Always in season. Hava Happy.

Even Moreso Especially In This Day

2010-11-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ireland can’t make a pub run.
(Or, I guess, a country.)

President Obama wants to bring peace to the Muslims and Israelis. President Obama wants them to play nice and share. And they should listen to him because?

King Solomon had it right: every human endeavor is vanity.
If you read through Ecclesiastes you will find the king God granted Wisdom teaching some things that you might not believe…are in the Bible. Some are ‘hard sayings’, as in hard to understand. He sums up the book in the last paragraph:
“13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
This is how it is: though what we do is vanity upon vanity, we are still called on the carpet by God for our actions.
There will be two resurrections, friends-one for the living and blest, the other for the guilty and messed. I won’t quote the entire chapter, but read Revelation chapter 20 for the details.
Those in the first resurrection heeded what God directed Solomon to write: Fear God and keep His commandments. Those in the second group din’t.
Funny how things motate in my head-I was going to write a Thanksgiving post and I ended up here. But I am Thankful for all that God has given me, done for me, for all of us who are in His family.
I am especially even moreso thankful for this:
“3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Amen.

Faith Like A Rock

2010-11-18T22:50:00.001-07:00

Perlous Times, my friends. Not one worry.
It has been quite a journey the past few years-life shaken and stirred...but not failed.
Faith in God keeps me thrivin' and not merely survivin'.
Those who think that any faith in anything is good enough are wrong, deadly wrong.
Some worldly gurus receive adulation and praise for "holy deep thoughts" such as:
"Today is yesterday's tomorrow." or "Love is all you need."
Thanks for nothing, Johnny Ace.
Actually, Jesus Christ is all you and I and any of us need. With Christ, we have God.
Those of us who have been Blessed to become part of His family will have unlimited tomorrows, eternal Love.
This present world matters less than nothing. What matters is how we respond to God, to His Good News of salvation being available as a free gift right from His Mercy seat.
Ask God for the faith to believe, and He may extend His Grace to you, even you. Wow.

Dancing Barefoot On Knifepoints

2010-11-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

No photo needed for this one. "Dancing barefoot on knifepoints" is a metaphor, meta for how, in our daily lives, we have pains, hurts that we live with, endure because we must.
God is indeed good, but he doesn't promise us a rose garden without thorns on this side of the veil. He only makes it possible for us to continue to dance. There is a better, tear free life ahead of us, and our destination is well worth the journey.

Coldish Sunlight

2010-11-05T23:06:00.000-06:00

Things work funny. I now live in a house which was built the year that Toulouse-Latrec painted this picture.
God has Blessed me in so many ways, that I can't keep up counting. That doesn't mean that I don't have struggles and troubles like everyone else; it means that if I need a house, God makes it possible for me to buy a house. All good gifts come from above.
Does that mean that I can depend on God?
Yes.
Does that mean that I can live foolishly, rack up credit card debt, borrow more and more and lose the house?
I CAN...but I won't. God sets examples all though His word for us to follow if we wish to live well. If I practice those precepts, I will be fine.
If I did the foolish things, God may choose to bless me with a harder struggle, a more troubled road for my journey. Who needs that? Hopefully, not me.
As for the title-it's chilly here, as we head towards Winter with a capital 'W'. I enjoy a cold house, and, as I no longer have to adjust temperature for the comfort of others, I can set the thermostat to make my home as cool as I am. (joke)
May God extend His Grace to you and put in your heart a desire for Him.

I Wish I Were Drinking

2010-10-30T20:29:00.001-06:00

Thirtytwo Fiftyeight. My minutes and seconds invested in "Batman And Robin" tonight. If I were partytaking in a drinking game for this movie, I'd be one unsober Doug.
Blame it on my misspent middle age-I had never seen this movie when it was released, as I was living six dozen miles from anywhere back then. But rumor had it to be a stinker, and rumor was right.
Thirtytwo Fiftyeight. As I only paid one dollar for the DVD at some sale, and I've watched one quarter of the show...I'm breaking even. Whatever happened to George Clooney?

D.O.U.G. Back On The Net

2010-10-25T12:49:00.000-06:00

In the short time since my last post I have moved into a new (to me) house and have just now gotten internet set up.
It feels good to be back in the 21st Cen.
May God richly Bless you today!

Heaven's Freshman Class

2010-10-13T11:15:00.001-06:00

I hope that no one thinks that my title for this post is disrespectful. It is this:
God sets the number of our days, and when our personal summation is reached, then we are done down here.
It could be a life of hours or days, or a life stored in decades-done is done. Those of the remainder,we who have not yet reached our day...we grieve, we cry, we look forward to our being re-united with those we love. That's part of life, too.
Daily around the planet there are souls set free from the earthly encumbrances who are being welcomed into Heaven. We are almost like backwards rain, falling up.
The freshman class of 2010 is at Peace, and among their number are some of my friends and family. Peace...a wonderful word, a promise from God.
May God Bless you today, and may we someday meet in Heaven.