Obligatory Halloween Post

“From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”
Old Scottish prayer

This is a non-holy day for me. Whatever it’s origin, it now is a pagan celebration, pagan in the way of Mardi Gras or NFL tailgate parties. I have no urge to costume up, though in the past I would throw together a costume for work parties, such as we are having tonight. My scariest entry will be the sloppy joes I’m going to make. Boo!
Whether true or not, I heard yesterday that pagans who identify themselves as pagans in Britain can have Halloween off with pay, as this is a religious holy day for them. As most pagans also grumble but accept a paid day off to not celebrate Christmas, this is known as being religiously correct. I guess if a few Anastazi Indians stood up in Britain and demanded the right to practice their religion, including the human sacrifices, the Parliament would bow down and give their blessing, as who wants to be known as a religious bigot? Can’t get re-elected with that on your name.
Didn’t mean to scare you! This is NOT a political screed a week before you know what-I’ve tried to keep my hands clean of that stuff here at FDW.
I try to keep it simple. The Bible says to have nothing to do with the ‘occult’. So, no séances, no Ouija boards, no talking to dead people, no messin around with witches or demons. I’ve had plenty of experiences in my life which could be termed ‘occult’-but I don’t seek them out, and I recognize my place in the spiritual warfare which goes on all around us: on my knees, praying to God.
To those who like to dress up-have fun. If you’re comfortable costuming as a devil or goblin because you don’t think they exist, have at it. We’re steeped in a culture which tells us that those things aren’t real.
I know what is real, and am not a bit frightened when I hear or see a ‘ghost’. Because God tell us not to fear, as He is in charge. So for me life is all Treats, no tricks.

Alfred Kralik!

I am very pleased to announce that Alfred Kralik is being honored by our nation, as are Ted Barker, ‘Truck’ Cross, Bill Pettigrew, Johnny Mason, Guy Johnson, Tom Destry, and Gaylord Esterbrook.
No matter the name, they were all James Maitland Stewart, and the man who was said to be “unusually usual” is being honored with his likeness on a postage stamp. That’s only fair, as he put his stamp, his mark on America. If John Wayne was the American Cowboy and Soldier, Jimmy Stewart was the American Everyone Else. He played reporters so often-The Philadelphia Story, Murder Man, Next Time We Love, The Last Gangster, No Time For Comedy, etc as many screenwriters had once been newspapermen. Jimmy Stewart also wore many uniforms, from Navy Cadet (Navy Blue and Gold) to Union Army officer (Of Human Hearts) Baseball Player (The Stratton Story) to, hilariously, a Boy Scout leader in “It’s a Wonderful World”. If you haven’t seen “It’s a Wonderful World”, Jimmy plays a detective who gets mixed up with a poetess, played by Claudette Colbert, and ‘screwball antics’ ensue.
He’s only a Boy Scout leader in disguise, you see, as the scouts are enlisted in finding Stewart and Colbert, who is mistakenly thought to be a murderer and the plot doesn’t really matter in this type of comedy, it’s just fun.
Jimmy Stewart wasn’t a comedian, but an actor who excelled at both drama and comedy, whatever the script called for. He even sang and danced in “Born To Dance”, played harmonica in “Pot O’ Gold”, the accordion in “Night Passage” and “Dear Brigitte”.
Many regard “Harvey” as his best movie, and it is wonderful. I think one of his best performances-which is a foolish statement, as he was great in everything, it was the movies which went from great “The Philadelphia Story”, “Rear Window”, to downright awful: “The Ice Follies of 1939”, “You Gotta Stay Happy”-one of his best performances was in “Anatomy of a Murder” where he played an attorney defending a soldier who had killed the man who had raped his wife.
Captain James Maitland Stewart, as part of the Second Air Division of the Eighth Air Command, flew in 20 major bombing missions over Germany during WWII. He had been drafted, made the weight requirements for his height by ounces, and went from earning $21,000 per month to $21. He sent his agent, Leyland Hayward, a check for $2.10. That was Jimmy Stewart.
As you can tell, I have long been a fan of his movies, and I am glad that he is being honored with a stamp by our Postal Service. I encourage everyone to check out his movies-a personal favorite is “Pot O’ Gold” with Paulette Goddard. Pure fun. Which of his films do you like?

Happy Jerusalem Day!

Happy, Happy Jerusalem Day!

I have it on good authority (heard it on the TV while in the kitchen) that the Iranian Urantian size zero despot is calling today “Jerusalem Day” to energize his base (Muslim fanatical jihad deadheads) to destroy all the Jews. He also made an unveiled threat to the rest of the world against helping Israel survive as a nation. A week and a half early for tricks and treats, isn’t it, Shorty?
Here’s how I am celebrating Jerusalem Day:
I made a hash out of some pork steak and potatoes I cooked the other night. Made with Red eye gravy, which, for those of you not in the know, is made with the pork drippings and coffee. Mmm-Mmm. Very spicy hash.

While I was simply making a hash, the Iranian Runt, ol’ Knee High Hitler was becoming, not making, history:

1The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, 2“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. 3“It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. 4“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5“Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘A strong support for us are the inhabitants of Jerusalem through the LORD of hosts, their God.’
6“In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem again dwell on their own sites in Jerusalem. 7“The LORD also will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be magnified above Judah. 8“In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. 9“And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
Zechariah 12:1-9


I for one am very glad that I am a Christian, am honored that God has chosen to accept me as His child through Jesus Christ. I don’t fear the future, and the more the heathens rage, the closer we get to the return of the Lord, who will set up His Kingdom in that very troubled place, Jerusalem, and show the world what Peace really looks like.
Happy Jerusalem Day, everyone!

No, Really!

Here I am. Just this morning I was reading a post at La Shawn Barber’s Corner which asks, “Am I addicted to the Internet?”
I said to my self, “Of course not-I can shut down and stay away anytime I like.” Yeah...
I did so a few months ago, took three days off, where I didn’t go online at all, except to charge my iPod, which opens iTunes automatically. Okay, I only made it 2.5 days, and maybe, if not addicted, I’m a habitual ‘netter who may someday have a problem. I am not online right now. Really. I am working on a family project. My Aunt had sent me a DVD made by a distant cousin, who had taken old family photos and made photo montages set to music. It was great to see new pictures of my Dad as a young boy, see family members whom I’d only heard of, including pictures of my great great grandfather, who was born in 1865 and was sort of a pioneer. On the DVD he was a child in one tintype, and in other pictures a big heavy man, who reportedly had a 72 inch waist. Not a family characteristic that has been passed down-I can’t imagine being that big.
I made two copies of the DVD for my Aunt to give to her girls, and am adding a cd of old family pictures which I have from my Grandfather that she may pass on to Tom, the one who created the DVD.
That’s what I’m doing while I’m not internetting, Really.
The internet may connect people digitally, but sometimes it allows access into your life for those whom you don’t want to connect with. I have a friend who has created a ‘myspace’ place to get word out about her music ministry. Myspace has been noted as a site where sexual predators try to hook up with children or innocent people such as my friend, so I hope that she doesn’t get any undesirable ‘friends’ on her list. There are evil people out there. If someone pesters me online by sending emails I’m not interested in reading, I mark them as spam, and eventually that person’s email’s quit showing up. At least, I hope so.
Maybe we should all take a few days off from the net to remind us of what life was like before we were ‘connected’.

Random Thursday Thoughts

This is sort of a Random Thoughts Thursday, sort of a catch up and note, kind of a catch all. First, it feels good to once more feel good. Posting has been a bit lighter than usual as I’d been fighting a virus for about a month. I finally went in and saw a doctor, and now with a few prescriptions in me, I am returning to what is normal. Normal for me. Don’t expect miracles.

Life in general has been such that I have more reasons daily to rely on God, seek His will and wisdom. It does my heart good to remember that His lovingkindness indeed never cease, and His compassions never fail. That these promises are recorded in a book named Lamentations shows that God, our Creator, knows the weaknesses of our human frame, and is ever ready to show us mercy and grace. And boy, sometimes I need both!

There’s someone posting over at Michael’s who claims to be a post-Christian. Meaning he was a Christian, but has gotten over it, like I’ve gotten over my virus. He’s not the first to show up over there with that claim. God may yet tap him on the shoulder and remind him that He is real. In his arguments against Christianity I wonder if he’s trying to convince us that we are wrong, or convince himself that he is right.


So far we have successfully kept this blog free from the political electioneering going on. I appreciate the restraint; if we do dip our collective toe in that …water…, may we recover quickly and get back to normal. Normal for us. I honestly haven’t had the strength to get political, have been conserving my energy to go to work and take care of the family needs. I care about the election, and of course want my side to do well, but in the end, it’s all in God’s hands, and I know that everything will work out the way He has determined it will.

Random thoughts lead to a random song, one that I heard years ago and love to sing:

“May the Joy of the Lord
Grant you Peace
And may that Peace be
Made known to the world.

As He hold’s you safe
In the palm of His hand
Keeping you safe from the world.

Like a father He will guide you
And like a mother He
Will comfort you.

May the Joy of the Lord
Grant you Peace
And may that Peace be
Made known to the world.”

Our God Reigns

Our God Reigns…
Even when innocents are killed in schoolrooms, as the killers
Kill themselves and stand before God in judgment rather than
In county courtrooms.

Our God Reigns…
Even now, when the countries of the world make ready to seize Armageddon and fling
It at each other.

Our God Reigns…
Over every nation and tongue, even those who reject Him, who are
readying themselves for destruction. They rage like the
killers in the classrooms, harming innocents, keeping people in chains,
Defying God by hurting His children.

No evil ever goes unpunished.

Our God reigns.