May God Have Mercy

Big doin's on the right third of the map. I know that this stuff happens from time to time, but this is
BIG, and my prayers are with those affected by this monster storm.
I read of a 13 foot surge of water through lower Manhattan. Incalculable damage.
Storms can be fierce-once upon a few decades ago when I was in the Coast Guard, my ship ran into
three different storms going through the English Channel. Rough, rough weather.
A capstan-if you don't know what it is, just imagine a big heavy metal drum bolted to the deck of a ship which is used to turn/hold lines (big ropes).
After those storms we found that one of our capstans had its top sheared off by the force of the storm.
I can't imagine what is happening to the East Coast. May God keep safe those souls in the storm.

The Haunted (_____________)

T'is almost the season of the witch (ghost/zombie/vamp/dem) to rise out of the darker part of our consciousness and do the dance of "Look at me!" for a few short until the Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Christmas fandango starts up.
Halloween for every tween and chocolate for everybody! Hard to get mad at a festival of 'horror' that includes chocolate. If they can sell chocolate crosses at "Easter" (and they do), then there can't be any harm in biting the head off of a chocolate vampire (start at the neck).
I will be working during the neighborhood candy shakedown, but I have a friend who will be bringing her girls around our workplace, so I have already bought candy (safe in my truck in the garage so that I don't eat it all).

There's a (suspicious) uptick in ghost reports/strange occurrences at this time of year..hmmm...I wonder-how much of our GDP is dependent on horror sales in October? Am I cynical to think that retailers cashing in on a seasonal 'holiday' are behind the surge in spooky just to make a buck?
Doesn't matter. "Horror" and "Halloween" tap in to the fearwonder we share-what happens when we die? Will I be me?
As a Christian, I have had such questions answered long ago, and I have no doubts as to what happens.
But those who fear death cling to superstition and fables, and are the target audience for the retailers of spooky.
Here's the thing. There are things that go bump in the night that we do not understand. If there were no actual haunts and 'spooks', the superstitions would have died out years ago. 
They are real, and I could tell you stories (new ones, not the ones I've shared in years past) of things that I've seen and heard, but they wouldn't be real... to you.
I just watched an episode of "Destination Truth" tonight-Josh Gates and his merry crew went down to the Philippines to look for ghosts. They came back with no trophy strapped to the hood of their jeep. Again.
(BTW-I am still  TV programming-free for now-but I love internetting the shows, and my double wide monitor is almost like a TV screen.)
Enjoy your trick/treat chocolate zipadeedodah. There aren't zombies in the Bible, but...

Siding With The President

I'm not so egotistical as to be incapable of admitting when I am wrong. It is a humbling experience to have to admit that President Obama is right about something, and though it is with gritted teeth that I type these words, I (sigh-pause-stare at ceiling-continue) admit that President Obama and I agree that the Tigers should win the World Series.
I only got to one game this year, and saw the Tigers beating up on some MLB version of the Washington Generals. Prince hit a home run, and they just LOOKED like champions.
At this moment they are down two games, so it might take a miracle, but if San Fran wins, I still win, as I am more of a National League fan, where pitchers hit and managers have to use strategy.
May the best team win, and speaking of winning teams:  
Romney/Ryan 2012!

1st Unofficial P.M. of the Pres. O Years

I thought I might as well be one of the first to do a postmortem of the Obama presidency.
What a sad waste of talent and opportunity. If President Obama could have stepped outside his
particular political viewpoint and seen America as others do...wow.
But ifs can't buy you candy.
President Obama failed America because he thought that it needed to be improved by HIS ideas.
This land is a melting pot of ideas, because it was instituted on the idea that each man and woman in our country has the freedom to think for his or her self.
Of course we disagree about EVERYTHING! Thank God and our founding Fathers for the right to disagree!
I think President Obama could have had a great Presidency and easily won re-election if he had simply
accepted that other political points of view were just as valid as his; if he had 'reached across the aisle'
to work with those with whom he disagreed, he could have been a Leader.
Instead, everyone who disagreed with him was wrong, was evil, hated the poor, had no compassion, etc.
In the last year, even the Democrats in Congress seemed to have had enough of President Obama.
With that said, I have no illusions about Romney being the next Ronald Reagan-if he's moderate and doesn't give away the store, I'll be happy. 
I expect President Obama to lose the election, which is becoming the consensus view. I won't be cheering and laughing; much damage has been done to our country, and it will take a lot of hard work and sacrifice just to get back to where we were before President Obama took office.
Dismantling the medical fiasco he and Congress created will be a very necessary first step. I was talking to a hospital administrator recently about the coming Obamacare constrictions on healthcare and he admitted that it is frightening.
Specifically we were talking about the penalty if too many (how many?) patients who have been released from a hospital suffer a relapse and need further treatment. Under Obamacare, the hospital can be penalized beaucoup bucks.
That's just one example, but this post isn't about healthcare.
President Obama wasted four years and trillions of dollars trying to re-make America in his image.
You may hate President Bush, but you can't accuse him of doing that.
President Obama-I wish him good health, and continue to pray that he will become a real Christian.
And may he enjoy his retirement starting in January 2013.

So Thanksfull

So Thanksfull. This isn't the earliest Thanksgiving post, and I'm not rushing any season-I'm right on time.
Tomorrow is my Mother's birthday, and also the day that I bought my house two years ago. I am thankful
always for all that God has given me in this world; the best stuff is in the next, but what I have right now I appreciate.
Two years ago on Halloween two friends with an abundance of stuff gave me many items for my house; they helped to make this my home, that night and also later when I was graced with a 'Housewarming Party", receiving even more blessings.
This past weekend I 'worked' a rummage sale for other friends, and bam! Another blessing!
I am thanksfull. Tonight at church we continued our study of the book of Proverbs which has been going on for awhile-good fellowship and lessons from God's Word. Who couldn't be thankful for that?
May God continue to Bless you and your family. I appreciate your coming here to read these posts.

Random Thoughts Wednesday Or So

WELL! One more hurdle vaulted-we will soon be at the END OF ELECTION YEAR YAP YAP!!!
The debate (lowercase) was mulled at our Wednesday morn breakfast, and we (we being us) agreed that it was more energetic than the last one, but that no-one's mind will be changed because of the debate.
'Nuff.
This morning I saw all kinds of "Romney/Ryan", NRA, Conservative bumperstickers...on a Pontiac Vibe.
I don't recall ever yet seeing a Chevy Volt out in the wild...the automotive 'bigfoot'?

I have a new computer which is sitting next to me right now; through circumstance I received a nice little cash bundle, and I bought a MacBook Air. It is lovely; I have much to study to get back up on the Apple horse-my last 'Mac' was the old pizzabox which barely qualified as a computer. Now THIS is a computer!
I am hoping that the New Yank Yorkees go down in humiliating defeat to the Tigers.
Imagine having a triple crown winner (Miguel Cabrera) a probable Cy Young winner (Verlander) AND quite possibly a World championship in one amazing season! Too bad it's happening in an empty town.

Pres. Obama's Secret Liveblog of Veep Debate!

President Obama: ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...
ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME... ME...ME...ME...I"M SO GREAT...ME...ME...ME...EVERYBODY LOVES ME...ME...ME...ME...I AM THE GREATEST...ME...ME...ME...

Autumn-Matic 2012

My street has some nice Maple trees, but these are from the Internets.Every year at this time we have people complaining about it getting colder and windier. WHINERS!
This is a great time of year-no need for air conditioning, and yet the furnace isn't kicking in too often.
The air has a crispness, a freshness, that is wonderful to breathe in and out.
I don't need to cut my grass again this year, and am (hopefully) a ways away from pressing the button on my snowblower (electric start-buy it and love it).
I know, I know-I'm too happy for Autumn. I should grumble and complain like most of the world. But it's beautiful. Praise God for every day that you are alive in His Creation. 

Interfacets

  

I think that God, in His wisdom, leaves Christians here for a lifetime (this side of eternity lifetime) for His own Good purposes.

We are interface.

1 Corinthians 2:11-16 (HCSB)
^"11  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
¹²  Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who ⌊comes⌋ from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
¹³  We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
¹⁴  But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
¹⁵  The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
¹⁶  For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."

Well and good, Doug...but what does that have to do with the price of oranges?

We have the mind of Christ, those of us who have been accepted into His Kingdom. Not that we become suddenly all knowing or wise...but we can comprehend the things of God.

But we are also carnal creatures, still sinners (forgiven, but still with the sin) who can fully understand the 

ways and thoughts of everyone else. We can understand the pains and struggles that all people go through, because we are simply people, too. We are not so "heavenly minded" that we are no earthly good.

God leaves us here to help others.

The image at the top of this post is my poor representation of a sign someone put up on the bulletin board at our local grocery store (I live in a small town-we only have one).

I love it.

 

Eh~That's Debatable

Truth-I was working during "The Debate" and have no idea how it went beyond reading a few opinion pieces fluffing one side or t'other. I actually don't care-the show was for those jackalopes of the political realm, "The Undecided" who are important for three weeks each Presidential election...aaaannnd then quickly forgotten.
Now the Doctors of Spin are hawking their wares in the marketplace of ideologies. Have fun, Docs. (Are you billing us for this under Obamacare?)
Two more debates to go; one or two "October Surprises" to navigate-in a month and change we will
finally get to vote.
I have recognized one hypocritical hype trend that comes out every election: bad news for Republicans.
Here's what I mean: the Legacy media of the Democrat camp contorts the truth to make anything that happens good news for President Obama (Or John Kerry. Or Al Gore-you got the idea) and dire circumstance for Romney (Or Bush. Or Bush. etc.).
President Obama could lose a foot while shaking babies and kissing hands at a Florida Alligator Farm media event, and the Network News yapping heads would pronounce from on high:
"Former Governor Romney will find it hard to overcome the "Foot Factor"-having twice as many feet as President Obama will negatively impact Romney's popularity with one footed Americans!"