Soch(eap)

The most fun that I've had today has been reading some of the comments from athletes arriving
at Sochi for the Olympics who have discovered that the accommodations aren't.
Accommodating.
Barely livable is more like it.
If given opportunity to visit anywhere in the world, Russia would be near the bottom of my list.
Right above/below North Korea.
I would love to see Lithuania, Hungary, most of Northern Europe, but Russia? Nyet.
I plan on watching some of the Olympics, but only if there's nothing else on, and no show on my
shelves piques my interest.
It will be fun to see the Bobsled stuff. Mix that up with Curling and you'd have Rollerball.

Well, I Tell You, I've Been To Sochi!!!

Football is done. At last.
The Olympics taking place in Russia have me as nervous as a kitten at a canine "Anti-Cat" rally. 
I can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen geopolitically.
You see, I've been to Sochi.
That is, South Chicago. Got off the el and was instantly the only white person in view on the streets.
I had no fear, but I admit to being nervous. A man came up and asked, "Excuse me, but do you know where you are?"
I assured him that I did know, and that I was waiting for a friend who would be picking me up.
Said friend did make an appearance a few minutes later and away we went.
Right here in America, I felt akin to Heinlein's stranger in a strange land. An outsider.
Considering the instability of the middle east right now, and the fact that those countries might not be as emotionally invested in "Winter" Olympics, well, huh.
The Games might be seen as a viable target close to home, but on Russia's soil.
I wouldn't be surprised if something big and nasty happens.
But...we may have Jimmy Carter to thank if the Olympics do go off without catastrophe.
He cancelled our participation in the Moscow Olympics back in 1980. Due to security concerns.
If Putin wants to remind us that Carter's fears were groundless, he may be Putin extra security on the Games to show that all is fine in Mother Russia. Come for the Games, return for the bonhomie.
May God protect the Winter Olympics and all of the athletes, whether they believe in Him or not.

Irrational And Wrong

Very rarely do I visit the topical side of anything, but today Philip Seymour Hoffman was found
dead.
Drug overdose is the news so far-I don't really know what happened.
The title of this post has to do with me, not Hoffman.
It was irrational and wrong of me to get angry when I heard that he had died.
I was thinking, "One more example of life and talent wasted!"
But that is unfair-I had no cause to get angry simply because Hoffman threw his life away.
It was his life to do with as he wished.
God sets the number of our days-each of us remains on this earth only so long as God
has determined that we will. Hoffman's time was up.
We would all like to go into the next world heroically, bravely-saving kids from a burning building,
rescuing souls from a shipwreck, etc.
But how we die is often less than heroic. Many of us will pass on from a hospice bed.
I am sorry that Philip Seymour Hoffman is dead. He was a fine actor.
30

T'wixt

T'wixt. A fancy term for between here and there. That's how I feel right now.
I feel that this is a transition time, that major changes are coming, in society and in our world.
There has been plenty enough of the shaking of fists at God, of rejection of God to bring on the feeling that Judgement will fall soon.
God is Merciful and Loving, but also Just.
When that Judgement comes, the world will change in ways that no one can accurately predict.
May God have mercy on you.

Grammy Fail Gin

I did it! I watched 10 seconds of the Grammys! What do I win? What?
People I didn't recognize pronounced someone I had never heard of the winner of
a Grammy.
Then I lost interest and went back to what I was doing.
But I've heard that a bunch of couples got married-some homosexual, some straight, some other and whatever else?
Married?
During an award show?
Really?
I wonder how the Oscars ceremony will respond!
Here's my response-the Liberal Agenda-ites are scared to death that they are going to get slaughtered during the mid-term elections.
Their base is silent, their base has been decimated economically under the Liberal administration of President Obama. Their base is now paying higher taxes. AND LOSING JOBS!
How can they get that base fired up? How can they hope to win politically this year?
Be so outrageous, offend Conservatives so greatly so as to elicit a response. Conservatives are all about protecting 'traditional Marriage. Let's put a thumb in their eye!
 Then the Liberals can raise money, gin up support by blasting Conservatives for being so hateful, so out of touch, homophobic and upset over something so wonderful as, for example,
a mass wedding ceremony during an awards show.
Nope.
You Liberals will do what you want no matter what. My opinion matters not a whit to you. 
The Grammys matters not one whit to me.
Gin up support by promoting your policies, if they are so wonderful. 
Don't try to make money off of my emotions.
As the McKenzie Brothers would say, "Take off, eh!"

SOTU Happens

Things To Come 2014 Edition

Believe it or don’t, I DO edit and censor my posts at FDW and F(er)DW-(another edit just happened right here!).

I recently mentioned that President Obama is a Liar. SOTU happens…next Tuesday, and I imagine that he will be in rare form, generating more lies per sentence than his closest rival, Hill Clinton.

I assume that he will proudly proclaim the Affordable Care Act to be a spectacular success.

He will describe in glowing terms his genius foreign policy endeavors which have calmed the chaotic waters of political upheaval in the Middle East.

He will point proudly at his immigration reforms, economic growth, green initiatives and, with just a touch of his characteristic modesty, admit that his administration has ended “Gridlock” in Washington through his willingness to meet Republicans half way across the aisle.  “Together, we will make Washington work again!” will be his anthem of co-operation.

Here’s what I see happening in the next few years.

The Affordable Care Act will be SNAFU, once all Doctors and Hospitals are placed under the Government’s control.

The Middle East will become a conflagration now that Iran has become Nuclear.

Our borders will become non-existent.

Our economy will be devastated.

People will starve and die as they won’t have money for food or medicine.

The President will keep on lying, as he doesn’t have the strength of character to admit to any wrong.

I would love to be proven wrong. Watch the SOTU and see how it compares with the reality you live everyday.

One Thousand Posts Strong!

I've been at this FDW thing for 10 years now, and I had no idea when I started that I would still be 

churning out posts in 2014.

Below is a bit of verse, actually a song, written before I had any computer. I may be posting more
of my old stuff from time to time, both here and at Finer Dry Wit. Enjoy or not.

While we’re here we’ve got to make the most of it-

It seems so strange

Inside we’re changed

It hurts

That we don’t fit into this world, but wait-

I didn’t say that we are orphans, left without a home.

We

Have a home we haven’t seen,

All that we know

The streets are clean and paved with gold

From days of old

We’ve heard the Promise but soon

Will see the Reality.

I can’t wait until we meet again upon that golden street

And we will be together for Eternity.

While we’re here we’ve got to make the most of it-

There are many others out there,

Living jigsaw puzzle lives

No matter how they try, can’t make the pieces fit.

Inheritors are we,

The ones with nothing else to live for that is

Touchable, felt or eaten here on earth.

We’re different, strange, peculiar-yes,

We’ve settled for the very best:

The offering of God to change our hearts from stone to flesh.

Judging By the Content Of His Character

President Obama has lied to the American people, ignored laws he does not like, pushed forward
a political ideology at odds with Democracy and is the most racist President since LBJ.
He is corrupt, hateful and an abysmal failure by any objective measure.
Not that any of that matters to those who agree with him or willingly go along with his agenda.
Judge him not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character and you will find him lacking any positive attributes.
Shame on President Obama. Shame on those who follow him. Shame.

requiescat in pace

                                                                    Now six stranded.

Do You Dislike Hypocrites?

Just a short post, I promise. Hearing President Obama lecturing America on "Inequality" made me sit down and consider a few things.
Does President Obama fight against "Inequality" with regard to opportunities, wealth?
He does?
So all should be equal?
We should?
If the median income in the United States were, for example, $60,000 (I'm making up the number as this is just moon-beaming)...then if he is sincere, he should give away all of his millions until he is only worth $60,000.
Al Gore and every other millionaire should divest themselves of their fortunes, giving to the poor so as to raise each of us up to $60,000.
That would be equal. Median-all the same. No one 'earning' more than that would receive a penny more-instead it would be put into funds for the next generation coming up, who could receive their $60,000 at birth, or 11th birthday. More moon-beaming.
Would John Stewart or Al Franken be willing to give away their fortunes until each only has $60,000 left?
Wouldn't that be a moral victory for those who wish to root "Inequality" out of our Nation?
Please remember: if all are equal, then the fireman who saves a family from a burning building is just as worthy as the drug smuggling, child murdering gang member to receive his $60,000.
As a wise man once said, "We are all equal under the Law. THAT is equality."
But enough about Mark Levin.

Good Times, Bad Times Or Misty Mountain Hop

I'm going through this time when, no matter what, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep for awhile.
Making the most of my awakeness last night, I opened the Bible and read the story of king Josiah, who was known as one of the very few "good" kings. He destroyed the pagan idols and altars, repaired the Temple and, once it was found, had the lost Book of the Law read to the people. A good guy.
Reading the footnotes, I found that Jeremiah began his prophetic ministry during Josiah's reign, and I got to thinking that perhaps part of the reason that Jeremiah was so devastated by the fall of Jerusalem, by the captives being taken away was that, from his youth, he had only known good, peaceful times. The contrast was starker than it would have been if he had been born in a war torn, weary country.
Everything was good when he was growing up; things got much worse and his world of comfort was toppled when God brought Judgement on His people.
I feel the same way-I grew up in a moderately peaceful land, had a good childhood, good parents who made a secure home...but now everything seems to have changed for my country. It seems darker and colder, and I don't mean weatherwise. I feel that God is readying this world for Judgement. 
We Christians believe that we have been in the "End times" since Christ went back to Heaven. According to Scripture, things are going to get a lot worse right before Christ returns and, whether it is today or hundreds of years from now, those worst times will happen. I feel that we are in the beginning of those times now.
I believe in a pre-Millennial Rapture, that Christ will have His elect gathered up before the worst Judgements
happen.
The good news of the Gospel is that God is still, at this time, saving souls, bringing many into His Kingdom.
Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Colarado Should Have Legalized Common Sense

C'mon, now. Weren't things bad enough with the high taxes and too much snow and cold weather?
Legal non-medicinal marijuana.
That is worse.
They say that stupid, in the long run, costs a lot more than smart.
Have you seen the prices? What? $400.00?
Do you realize how ridiculous that is?
Borderline 'good' people will be driven to theft and extortion just to pay their pot bills!
Look at this evil synergistic loop:
STRESSED*
BUY LEGAL POT WITH CREDIT CARD*
calm
CREDIT CARD BILL COMES DUE!!!!!!!
STRESSED*
BUY LEGAL POT WITH CREDIT CARD*
ad ignoratum

As For You, Follow Me

²⁰Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 
²¹Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” 
²²Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 
²³So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” John 21:20-23

Sometimes we Christians decide that God needs our help running Creation.
We point out things, take on burdens that don't belong to us,
and generally do all we can to bump His elbow.
Now here's a point we must be careful not to miss:
We are to bear each others burdens, be there for each other.
But we must pray for each others needs, not against each others faults.
If I am having a tough time, pray for me, please.
But if I am not living up to your expectations, please don't pray to God:
"Your servant Doug needs some fixing!" 
I have one job as a Christian:
"As for you, follow me."

Thumbprint Meta Ikon

Sometimes an image pictorially exemplifies an emotion. Case in point above.
Whether or not the dog is happy, it LOOKS happy, and that shows how I feel
right now.
You may have heard of the "Peace that passes all understanding" with which Christians
are Blessed through Christ.
Here's the thing-if you were to look at my life, dissect all components...you might not see much
reason for happiness or Peace.  Logically, I should be UN-happy. 
But I have Peace and I am happy.
Cynics might ripost with:"Truly happy people don't proclaim it-Doug must be putting on 
a happy face to hide the truth."
Nah.
A few posts ago I wrote one of my darker items, the "Christmas Angel Parable". It was about a very real someone who does not share my Peace and happiness.
But even if such sadness and darkness are a part of my life...I am still at Peace, and am still
happy. 
Even if I can't figure it out.
May God Bless you in this new year.


Also blogged on Finer Dry Wit.