Remonstrance Free

No argufighting today. No my facts vs yours. Keeping it simpler than easy:
As the world gets darker, we Christians are here to point you towards light.
We don't care what you've called us, or think of us.
Peace with God is not only possible for you, but it is the air which keeps us breathing.
Seek God, and find Peace.

Stupid Pope

I don't usually bother remonstrating with pagans, but Frankie has done it again.
Why would atheists WANT to go to Heaven?
That would be like me wanting to end up in Nirvana, the absolute state of peaceful nothingness.
All Popes are not created equal-some are less equal then others. Whatever happened to the good old Pope days when a sitting pontifficator would declare some of his predecessors  "Heretics"? At least they pretended to open and read the Bible every once in a while-this guy seems unfamilia.
(Yes, once more my sense of humor wins out. Get your own blog)
If you are still scratching your head, adding the prefix 'un' to 'familia' makes it a (clean) double entendre. Not only is he unfamiliar with the Scriptures, but he proves himself to be un-familia:
not part of the Family. I crack me up.

Calling All LIBERALS: Hey! You!

This one is short and semi-sweet. In the past, the Republican leadership has stuffed Candidates down our collective esophagi that we, the humble Conservative base, have disliked strongly.
John McCain, for example-the epitomite RINO.
So...Liberals-are you in the same boat? Do you feel as if your 'choices' are being made for you?
I skewed together the picture above since Hill and Bill looked similar-despite a lot of negatives,
Bill Clinton DID seem to be well loved by the humble Liberal base.
But Hillary?
But President Obama?
But...what's his name? Bernie?
To quote Bill, "I feel your pain."
We might get stuck with a Rino this time around, and then nobody wins.

Encouragement

^"16    The LORD is King forever and ever;     Nations have perished from His land.
¹⁷    O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;     You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear
¹⁸    To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,     
So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror." Psalm 10:16-18

Don't Let Obama Jonah You

Brothers and sisters in Christ, you and I are in the same army- the Salvation Army, the one without the kettles.
Most (All?) of the actions of the present Presidential administration hit us wrong, make it seem as if President Obama is purposefully acting out just to spite us, our nation and the God we serve.
We don't like him.
But we are called to pray for those who hate us, to bless and NOT curse those who do as President Obama does.
We don't want to be Jonahs, running from God's command because we hate our enemy and do not want him/them to hear the message of Salvation.
Jonah hated Nineveh. He knew that God was merciful and that, if Jonah preached, Nineveh would repent. So he took a trolley.
Back to our king of Nineveh, President Obama.
We don't have to love him, like him or even look at him.
But we aren't allowed to Curse him-that is the province of God and believe me, if President Obama does not hear the Gospel and repent, there's going to be a whole lotta cursing goin' on, much more definitive than any paltry words we can cook up.
We honor God by respecting those in authority over us, which at this moment includes President Obama. Bitter, but true.
We honor God by praying not only for our loved ones, our families and friends...but also for those who hate us. Those who spitefully use us and kill us.
If you think I like writing this...nope. But we are strong enough to do what needs to be done, and to NOT do what we know we shouldn't. Most of the time.

Trouble In Clintonia

I must admit that my mind works in mysterious ways sometimes. The song kept going through my head-it's about a love affair that has ended, and I couldn't help but connect it with Hillary Clinton, whose 'base' seems to have moved on to friendlier pastures.
During one of the televised debates, Clinton tried to sway the crowd by saying, "Listen-everyone in this room, we all agree that Planned Parenthood must be funded!" ...and there was silence. She moved on quickly to another point, but it was obvious that she had expected thunderous applause for her rallying point, and there was nothing.
An election is by its very nature a 'popularity contest'.
She just isn't popular.

Slightly Tilted World

I looked ancient with the beard; that was nearly two years ago-I've changed some.
I've changed, the world has changed. Tilts a bit more now-you almost expect things to slide off of shelves.
Wouldn't be surprised to find a WORLD WAR commencing tut suite.
Over What? Over Why?
They say Kill
We say Don't Kill
They get Mad
And then the blood starts flowing.
Maybe you'll believe me a bit more
Next time you hear me say that
Man can't fix the problems Man creates.
When Christ returns-
don't mentally cover your ears this time!
When Christ returns,
there will be peace and no more war.
I'm going to live in that world, and if you've yearned for Peace,
if you've wished for a world without pain and hatred and sin...
you could live there, too.

Last One For Awhile, I Promise!

I know, I know-for someone who doesn't want to post political stuff, I've been hitting on current events quite a bit which has included writing about President Obama.
This will be short and the opposite of sweet.
I think that President Obama...how can I put this? Is being played, finessed by other world leaders-Putin, Iran, Egypt, etc.
I think that those other nations have done their homework, have psychologically profiled President Obama, measured and identified his every weakness...and are playing him like a pipe organ.

They get the results they want, all the while making him think that he is winning great victories.
The Iran nuclear deal, for example. We give away the store, stop all sanctions, allow them to go forward with their plans...and he thinks he's put it over on them.
Putin? Putin's playing Chess like a Grandmaster, and President Obama's sitting across the table thinking the game is checkers. And that he's winning. King ME!

Well, That Doesn't Make Sense!

So, once more, President Obama is calling for stricter Gun Control laws.
Maybe we need stricter Drunk Driving laws, because it's nearly 2016 and
PEOPLE STILL DRINK AND DRIVE!
Maybe we need stricter Speeding Laws, because it's nearly 20116 and
PEOPLE STILL DRIVE TOO FAST!
If the Gun Control laws on the books don't make sense to you,
seem too weak simply because some people ignore those laws, 
maybe YOU are the one not making sense.
The problem isn't the Law, it's the LAWBREAKERS!

President Obama Wins The Internet! IF

IF...

If President Obama ever DID use the term "Islamic Terrorists"...the whole interwebs would blow up.
Probably won't ever happen, as that would involve mentioning an actual global threat.
But that darned Climate Warming Global Change, eh Barack? Ooohhh, it SCARY! 
Better focus on that.
Nero can lend you his violin.

To My Liberal Scare Monkey Buddies

I wish I were as funny as I think I am. But hey! A million starving comedians and I'm giving it away for free. NO REFUNDS!!!
Global Warming Summit is a bit ironic as, rather than advancing upwards (towards a summit) the polys are determined to devo our industries back to Fred Flintstone levels.
Freddy boy, like Global Warming, is a made up thing. No one really believes in Fred Flintstone, either.
Speaking of funny-people who believe as I do are sneered at by the intelligentsia liberamuses ( I had to resort to Latin so as not to speak the unspeakable and thus get kicked off of Facebook) who themselves may not be convinced that Global Warming exists, but
"IF CONSERVATIVES SAY IT IS FAKE I MUST DECLARE IT TRUE! They're not allowed to be right about anything, or else my whole world caves in!" 
So, since Al Gore began Global Warning (see what I did there?), what has changed?
Nothing concerning weather, which moves through seasons approximately four times a year, just as it has since Noah left the Ark. What else? HHhhmmmmm?
Oh yeah. Thanks to his Carbon Credit scheme, Al Gore is a lot wealthier. If he gets any richer, maybe becoming one of the 1%...watch! Just watch! As Gore proceeds to give away 90% of his fortune to the poor.
See? I AM as funny as I think I am!

To My Friendly Neighborhood Atheist Buddies

Recapping from last week:
"¹⁴But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." 1 Cor 2:14

Scriptures such as this usually bring out the worst in Atheists. They usually go on and on about 'can't trust the Bible' or 'written by a bunch of ignorant men a long time ago'.
Hey, natural men! YOU who do not accept the things of the Spirit of God. Yeah-you!
Those things are spiritually appraised. Which means that natural men are not capable of discerning them. Spiritual things are foolishness to you, right? Bible is a closed book, one filled with inaccuracies and bigotry? 
Imagine how it is for us on the other side of the spiritual fence-we KNOW that you are spiritually blinded, cannot discern evidence. We also know that it is usually a waste of time to argue with you.
But I'm feeling pretty good tonight, and will share two evidences that I expect you to reject.
Evidence Uno:
Calling the first (inner) Witness-YOU.
If I say that Allah is God...nothing. Dead air. Not a quibble. You don't care.
If I declare that Jesus Christ is Lord...your hackles raise up, rejecting and denying statement jump to the front of your consciousness. Don't bother denying it-I know the truth.
Evidence Dios: (I'm not as funny as I think I am...I'm funnier!)
One of the Atheist's most threadbare demands is for PHYSICAL evidence proving the existence of God.
"I'm a Scientist, Jim! I need to SEE something to believe it!"
Oh, there's physical evidence in abundance that you will cynically reject, for two reasons:
you are still spiritually blind, so nothing will change your mind, and
IF you were compelled to assess/discern the truth about God, your world would be in danger of being flipped upside down like the picture of the BEAUTIFUL day bed which heads this post. This will activate your spiritual defense mechanisms, making you all the more vehement in your denials of God's existence. Because if He does exist...then you have to contend with that Truth instead of blithely continuing down your happy atheist road.
All of that is preface to the physical evidence that you will call foolishness:
the Jewish people. Have you ever shaken the hand of a Jewish person? Then you've touched evidence that God exists. The only reason that the Jewish people ARE a people is that God separated them out from the rest of humanity.
Have you noticed that there seems to be a LOT of hatred directed at the Jewish people?
They are just people, flesh and blood like the rest of humanity.
That hatred is not logical, reasonable or right.
It is spiritual in nature, because the world system (Kosmos, remember?) in opposition to God does not want any evidence to be recognized or accepted. So it hates the Jews, as God must exist if they do.
Why do I bother? Why argue? Why not just let people be?
Because I was once on your side of the fence. God is still opening/changing minds, still rescuing souls (remember that?) from destruction. what He did for me He might do for you. Cheers! The crowd goes wild! Luke 15:10-look it up yerself, buddy.

Kosmos Khameleon

Fear not, brave atheists, proud pagans and other Liberals-I won't be 'clobberin' you' with Bible references that you won't accept, anyway. Excepting the one above, which is the basis for quite a bit of theology that you won't care about. And maybe one more. We'll see.
Above we find Kosmos, the word translated 'World' which Jesus claims to have overcome.
In brief, Christians believe that Sin entered the world, changing its nature from perfect to imperfect, from incorruptible to corrupted. Sin brought Death; spiritual and physical death for us humans.
Sin also brought separation from God, which is where we are now landing on the concept of Kosmos.
The natural state of man is to be separated from God, to be at odds with Him because of the Sin nature into which we are all born.
Thus, Kosmos. Mankind going his own way away from God, seeking to build civilization, become 'better', to succeed without God. Generation after generation of Mankind ignoring God, refusing to bow the knee, teaching children that their is no God
OR
replacing God with god or gods of their own imaginations. Dog gods and mountain gods and Anubis and Ra and all of that rah rah.

Montaigne wrote: "Man is certainly stark mad. He cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens."

So, by the definition I am working with, Kosmos is the natural corrupted world system within which we all exist that is in opposition to God. That is the world which Jesus overcame by His paying the price for our sins by dying on the cross, a sacrifice in our behalf which satisfied God's justice.
I know that this is all skunkworks and myth to you. I warned that I might spring one more Scripture on you, so guard your mind and prepare your rejectors:
"¹⁴But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." 1 Cor 2:14
You might find it troubling that a God whom you think doesn't exist can state your position so clearly. 
So, you may ask, why am I, flesh and blood Doug so certain that I am right?
Because I am also spiritual Doug who was spiritually dead, a natural man, until I became 'born again' back in 1979. If you were born later than April 1979...I have been fully convinced of the existence of God since before you were born.
I moved from this Kosmos to being a member of God's family. So, standing outside of it, I can see this Kosmos for the cheap cardboard imitation reality that it truly is, apart from God.
For example-global warming or climate change or whatever they call it next week-I don't worry about that as I know that God is not going to 'destroy the world with a flood'. So no icecaps melting are going to put Iowa underwater.
I also recognize that every man made theology which seeks to supplant God is simply weak tea. No matter how vehemently the Muslim may shout, it doesn't make Allah God. No Mormon is actually birthing spiritual babies which will become gods of their own domains in space.
And no logic or argument Man can come up with will ever change Who God is. The smart money doesn't even try.

Beginning To Look A LOT Like You-Know What!!!

Attribution up front-I re-worked the graphic found on The Federalist Papers Dot Org.
Looks like Christmas gift wrapping, doesn't ? Add a few zebras or sleigh bells and it's ready to send to your Aunt Minnie.
As I mentioned in my last post, I doubt that even the Democrat run states want to take in refugees who might actually BE terrorists in Dove's clothing.
But Dems must toe the Party line, even if it harms their citizens OR (may allah for-fend) their re-election hopes!
I wonder how many Democrat Governors received a phone message from President Obama.
(Nice little state you got there...be a shame if anything happened to it.)
But I kid because I care.
You will notice that no one wants South Dakota. Again.
Isn't California just about bankrupt? Perfect place to send thousands of refugees! Just put them on the public dole and, by President Obama's reckoning, the state will do better. Lifts all boats or something.
I think that in a few months, even IF there are no terrorist attacks in America...this map will turn more Red. Meaning that even the Dems will object to hosting those who have been packaged and sold to us as 'refugees'.
Before you label me as a "Hater" or just downright MEAN...think about this.
Can you recall in your lifetime such a mass exodus of refugees from so far away that for some reason (?) MUST land in Europe, America and Australia?
WHY?
If the problem is in Syria...there are many neighboring countries to which to flee. Unless those countries are no longer safe, either. If that is the case...will every middle Eastern country soon be flooding the Western world with displaced peoples? Are the Syrians only the first of many?
Also, please think of this-if the people leave Syria to get away from ISIS/ISIL, then, as ISIS controls more ground...will they not become more powerful and dangerous?
The Refugee Crisis 2015 may be the first few drops of rain before the roof caves in and we are all washed away in a flood.
But Seriously? South Dakota? Anybody? No?

NIMS!

I hope that this Mary Troyan doesn't mind my reblocking of her USA Today article-I just made the header more condensed/visually palatable.
This hadn't occurred to me-that Governors might tell the Federales concerning the
Syrian 'refugees':
"NOT IN MY STATE!"
President Obama might not care. One signature on one piece of paper could declare FEDERAL imminent domain (forgive, please-I've never met a pun so bad that I wouldn't use it.) superseding ALL governors powers.
I'm just guessing, but I doubt that even the Democrat run states are willing to take in Syrian refugees.
But again-what ANY governor likes or dislikes may not matter to President Obama.
He will get that second Peace Prize for doing his part to assuage the 'refugee crisis' if it costs the Democrats every ounce of political capital that they have left.
Even if it costs Democrats every major election for the next decade...he! will! not! be! denied!!!
Here's what I mean-let's say that Governor Cuomo of New York opens his state to the Syrian refugees and just one of them happens to 'go rogue-Islam style', killing a bunch of New Yorkers in a terrorist attack.
Next election...no more Governor Cuomo.
President Obama will probably be out of office before the consequences of his imperial actions have their full effect on this country. In legalese, this is called 'getting away with it.'
But he won't. God is just, and, unless President Obama actually becomes a born again Christian...he will stand before God to answer for his sins. Just like the rest of the unsaved world.
You might ask, "Doug-refugees! Where is your Mercy and Grace now?"
Defeat ISIS and dethrone Assad and those refugees can return to their much improved country. But for now...NIMS.

Silver Lining But You May Not Agree

If you don't mind, I'm going to sneak over the border onto some dangerous ground with this post.
Now Paris, soon...Albuquerque? French Lick, Indiana? Dearbornistan?
Short history lesson. Syria has been run for decades by some baddies named Assad.
Recent events by the Syrian populace to remove Assad have caused his regime to double down on the baddie stuff, which has led (?) to a refugee invasion of many European countries.
Millions of refugees flooding into a handful of nations. Who may not assimilate into the cultures they are entering, by design or by nature.
I DID say Silver Lining, and it appears regarding this refuge flood.
"How You Going To Keep Them Down Under Your Thumb (After They've Seen Paree)?"
Yes, there will be continuing clashes of cultures as the Muslims becoming French and German and Danish IN NAME ONLY will refuse to assimilate. We're in for a rough few decades, unless Christ returns and puts an end to human foolishness.
BUT...
The youngsters-the kids who, if not for this Assad genocide/ refugee crisis would have spent their entire lives stuck in Syria, imprisoned in Islamic ideology...there will be some who break free, reject the hatred they've been taught and indeed assimilate.
Opportunities to break free from Islam will happen, and some will be free.
That is Silver Lining enough for now.

Don't Understand Fear

I'm not an idiot.
But I can't get my head around how fear works.
Paris. Terrorists. Murderers.
Weaponized Fear?
Oh, I get it, in part-it's a control thing. Scare someone, make them fear you...you control them.
For a moment. And then the blowback.
We are three weeks away from the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It scared us, for a moment.
Then...blowback.
Our resolve was heightened, we entered the War and in a few horrifying years we won surrender from those who would re-make the maps, remake the world in their own image.
Paris. As President Obama is too much of a coward to state the obvious, the attacks in Paris are the work of Islamic religionists who are following the tenets of their faith. You won't find Southern Baptists tossing explosives into crowds of innocents while shouting "Allahu akbar.".
Here's why fear is a mystery to me. Long term, it doesn't work. No one stays scared. Fear is for a moment, then other emotions take over and bad things happen to the fear mongers.
Also, without putting too fine a point on it...I don't fear anyone. I love my life, but when I die I will have a better, fuller life in Heaven.
Hard to scare someone who isn't afraid to die.

Reminder From The Remainder

Just came across this photo of Otto Frank, father of Anne, revisiting the attic where his family hid from the Nazis. He was the lone survivor, and knew loss such as few of us living now could comprehend.
So, why is this post on FDW right now?
That picture.
Back in the late 1960's my high school staged the play, "The Diary Of Anne Frank".
The set dressing, the stage, as I remember it, looked remarkably like this picture.
I remember the production because my brother played the character who betrayed the family.
Right now, as always, family and friends, those in my circle...we are all in the process of grieving, mourning, celebrating, welcoming and saying good bye. It's called Life.
Otto Frank remarried, and that is part of this post, too. We move on, cherishing those lost while continuing to Live.

Fair? Unfair? Just?

I haven't any idea how true or untrue the story on Drudge shown above may be. Could be swamp gas, political rhetoric, factually correct or something else.
This isn't about the story as much as the intimation it alleges.
Here's the thing that struck me-IF a Republican President defied rulings of the Supremes, or dared bypass Congress to advance his own political objectives...would Liberals raise a stink about it?
I think they would.
So, if it is wrong for a Republican to act like that...why isn't there more outrage from Democrats when President Obama ignores Congress and the SCOTUS?

I Hold This Truth To Be Self Evident

Still not going political, really. Just an observation which reminds me of one of my greatest failures that I allegedly 'won'.
High school theatrics. Putting on "The Thurber Carnival" ala James Thurber whom I still read on occasion.
There's a soliloquy that runs about ten minutes, and at tryouts I couldn't believe how my castmates stunk up the place. Like a moron, I did the best I could... but I had more enthusiasm than talent.
Oh, I 'won' the part...and stunk up the stage every night.
I know, I know-the Democratic field is strong, every one of them a champion of the common pee-pul.
I think they are all sandbagging. Playing to lose so that History doesn't record them as another Millard Fillmore. Don't know him? My point.

Disgusting Must Mean Excellent In Texas!

Yup. Back on my hobby horse, riding against the wind of popular opinion.
Saw on Reddit that Texas has, well--you can read the graphic above. The tenor or alto of the accompanying article, written by a man named Brian M. Rosenthal is that Planned Parenthood being dropped from the Texas Medicaid program is a bad thing.
It's GOOD news to me, Brian!
The long/short of it is that I am looking for Christ to return and set up His Kingdom, ruling the world from Jerusalem.
I'm pretty certain that there will be no Planned Parenthood, no Abortion allowed at all in His Kingdom.
So I cheer Texas and other states which are shutting down Planned Parenthood's money train from our government tills. I want my taxes to subsidize Gun shows and Tea parties and other examples of Planned Adulthood. See you at the human races.

If Christians Bother You...

This one is for the pagans. If your ears shut down and you go "la la la la la" until a Christian shuts her or his mouth...this one's for you.
It's your cosmos, friends. This whole world order is ordered to reject the claims of Christians and most especially their God.
You LIVE substantive proof opposing their claims.
With no evidence of God, you think Christians must be deluded by others or self deluded. Only a fool goes by faith in what they can't see/prove; you are no fool.
Picture above represents that old story (fable?) of Joseph and his coat of many colors.
From about the age of 17 Joe lived in your cosmos. The world today with its ills and problems is the same as it was in ancient Egypt.
He went from slave to Prime minister, second in command to Pharaoh himself, whichever Pharaoh
was ruling then.
All without ever compromising his belief in God, which we Christians share today.
It's your cosmos.
If you knew God as we know God, you wouldn't have a single doubt as to His existence. But then, if you knew God as we know God, you would be a Christian. And you would reject the flawed cosmos which has no answers worth accepting.
The fact that Christians bother you is good. It means we are doing our job.

Jinx, Like Karma, Are Less Than Vapor

Excuse, please- the Cubs...are doing all right. As in winning playoff games.
When Joe Maddon was announced as their skipper before this season...I doubted. I knew he was good, but I also know the Cubs. Manage the Cubs? Really? On purpose?
I don't blame anyone for leaving Florida, but...the North side?
I don't care if they fail to win the big trophy-they are already doing better than any Cubs team has in decades.
I was wrong to doubt Maddon, and I will cheer for the Cubs the rest of the way. Part of the fun of not having any 'Pay' TV such as cable or satellite is that I miss any ball games that aren't on network TV.
Such is life.
Go Cubs!

Top Of Your List

Not because I say so.
Not as a last resort when your world goes to hell.
Trust God
Because He deserves our trust at all times while MAN
deserves our mistrust at all times.
It's really that simple.
But it doesn't happen unless God makes it happen.
Appeal to God to make it happen for you.
We have cookies, too.

Good Ink

There's ink and there is ink.
I'm not into tattoos, but I get it. Expression, definition, body as canvas to declare to the
world "This is me." 
That is cool and fine-I've seen some exceptional artistry, and so have you.
I'm watching football tonight (shock-I'm a guy) and I see some college players who could give Lydia the Tattooed Lady some lessons de arte.
My mind, being what it is, collates data and recombines bits to make connections. Here's what I came up with.
Tattoos/Football/beer commercials/alcohol/emotions jacked by game/loss/loss of temper/abuse/need for the black dot program.
Real cheery, right? You should see me at a funeral.
I appreciate this black dot idea, as no one should live in fear of someone they live with.
Alcohol causes more problems than politicians, and that is saying something.
But this isn't an anti-drinking screed. We are now in the NFL season, college football running hard, emotions-highs and lows-are heightened during this season.
Some of the nicest sober guys wouldn't want to be in the same room with their drunk selves.
But oftentimes others are there, and now...black dot.

But Why Bernie Sanders?

This isn't going to be a screed aca-political-just a few questions to clear away some fog.
Why Bernie Sanders, and why now?
Politically, Sanders is what he terms a 'democratic socialist'. From the wiki page, which may be 100% wrong, but here goes: "Democratic socialism rejects the social democratic view of reform through state intervention within capitalism, seeing capitalism as inherently incompatible with the democratic values of freedom, equality and solidarity.".
Does that sound like a fair assessment to you?
Here comes the 'why Bernie' stuff.
If you live in America, you are involved in a capitalist society. If you are earning money, living in a home on which you pay rent or mortgage (or own outright-miracles do happen!), if you are putting money away for retirement, paying your bills, getting that coffee at the bistro...you are a Capitalist.
The very life you are living is what Bernie Sanders preaches against.
I saw a man wearing a Bernie For President shirt...working the counter at a hardware store.
I get part of it-most people think that the world is unfair, so someone coming along calling for change to improve the world will get a lot of listeners.
I personally think that the world is unfair in a lot of ways, but I differ greatly with Sanders in that I do not believe Mankind capable of fixing what he has broken-I look to God, for Christ to return and wipe away all human messes.
Here's a litmus test for you who emotionally/socially/politically agree with the positions Bernie Sanders holds:
If Mr. Sanders were right in front of you holding a piece of paper which states, "I ____________, do on this date promise to do my part in helping Bernie Sanders succeed by monetizing all I own, my house, my car, my 401k, EVERYTHING...and giving it to the poor. I hereby reject Capitalism, and will no longer partake in that evil enterprise."
Would you sign it?
I get that your heart may be with Sanders...but your wallet?
As for 'why now'...would Bernie Sanders even get a headline if the Democrats had  solid candidates leading their field? Clinton and Biden and most other 'established' Democrats are multi millionaires-I would love to see Sanders in a debate with them. Whatever happens, I continue to pray for God to Bless this country. Join me in that if you will.

Amazing Progress

These are amazing times, and I am particularly amazed at the advances in technology we enjoy which might have seemed like magic to our earlier selves.
Above is a picture of what Grandpa used to call "Records" with the latest generation iPod superimposed for a good reason.
I have a "Record Player" which has indeed played records which would revolve 78 times a minute.
I can also 'burn digital files' of those old analog 78s.
Today while working in my living room I tried and enjoyed more "magic" technology-that same record player is "Bluetooth enabled" and I listened to my iPod through its speakers.
Amazing.
As I've mentioned before-my Dad didn't have electricity in their house until he was in his teens.
At that time, '78's' were the main form of recording audio. Now I can listen listen wirelessly to a device I carry on my belt.
That device also has two digital cameras, all kinds of helpful applications, plays videos/movies and has enough 'storage' to hold thousands of albums.
Amazing.
Appreciate what we have, things which our previous generations couldn't dream of.
I've heard it suggested that the poorest Americans are rich compared to some other populations.
Rich or poor, good or bad, cell phone/wireless technology is balancing the scales globally.
I don't apologize for being born into a wealthy country-I had no say in it-but I am glad that the tech advances we enjoy are benefiting everyone. Very cool.

Sometimes Beyond Comprehension

These ignorant jabbererers who ranch on that there is no God, that we are here by happenstance, without order or rhyme to reason...should really try their hands at some less intellectually challenging enterprises. Stamp collecting-do people still do that? Washing Mason jars AND lids. Soap operas.
Just like gravity (jump up and you will land somewhere) we are pulled by our hearts, minds and beings to:
Appreciate beauty.
Bring chaos into order.
Value some things over others.
A Christian will tell you that every good gift is from God, such as the gifts of appreciating beauty, ordering chaos, etc.
The picture above is beautiful. To me, at least.
But part (for me) of the beauty is tied to the facts that:
A: God made it, and
B: God made me capable of finding it beautiful.
A complex mass of organic materials combined through the evolutionary process to eventually stand upright and file taxes...Evolution can't explain a sunset, or why we find them lovely.
It's no secret, and I share it for free: We humans are made by God to carry His likeness. He appreciates Beauty, so ipso facto, do we.
Even the most ardent agnostic/atheist/un-deist may be a fan of the beauty found in God's Creation.
"Just happenstance!" they cry.
Poor, self deluded intentionally ignorant jabbererers. Try as they might, they can't argue against the double witnesses of beauty and their appreciation of it.

Sad

PHOO!!

Couldn't name a song;  if asked their names I'd have to say "No idea." But the Foo Fighters
are this week's Heroes, and that ain't bad.
You know why. 
They grieved the Democrat's favorite Church: The Westboro Baptist clan/cult.
The Foo gentlemen let the Westies know that when they show up at soldier's funerals...their input isn't appreciated.
That's putting it mildly.
I know, I know-there are some elements of society who think that the Westboro group is mainstream Christian, that we of the faith cheer on their spreading the hate early and late.
Nope.
If the ground were to open up under the Westboro Baptists dirty feet whilst they were raising their stink at a military funeral...I wouldn't be at all surprised. It's happened before.
²⁹“If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. 
³⁰“But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD.”
³¹As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 
³²and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 
³³So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 
Numbers 16:29-33 
Thanks, Foo Fighters, for fighting against hateful moronism.

Son Down...You Better Take Care....

"Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again."

Gordy Lightfoot's song "Sundown" is about a cheating woman, but the 

hurly burly about "Same Sex Marriage" and other recent fiascos brought the lyric

to mind in a different conception. If we are still allowed to use that word.

Okay, about this "Same Sex Marriage" deal. What was won? What was lost?

Just who are the losers? 

Maybe you'd better sit down.

The losers are all of those who reject what God has designed in favor of their own 

misbegotten 'beliefs'.

Sure, sure-according to the world which ignores God, the perception is that 

homosexual marriage is a stunning achievement, something to be cherished and enjoyed.

We Christians aren't over in some corner, sad and crying, having lost faith.

You see, we KNOW. 

We know God, and we know that, whether the world recognizes it or not, His Word

is true and right, His Law is perfect.

It's really so easy. What He calls sin is sin. BOOM! Truth in five words, with 

one used twice.

Whenever you think you've 'Won' something which God rejects...you are a loser.

Son Down.

When Christ returns and sets up His Kingdom, the only 'Winners' will be those who 

Love and respect Him, who obey Him with all that they have or are. 

The good news is that, in this time of Grace, it is still possible to be made to be

peace with God. You know the Gospel, though you may have ignored it all of your life.

I haven't lost anything. 

You can redefine "marriage" six times this week, and it means nothing.

For God is True. 

ALL Lives DO Matter, Dems!

Before any bird cries "Fowl", I totally admit to modifying/putting together the NY TIMES page with the Ann Coulter tweet.
The unofficial motto of the moment in some circles is: "Black Lives Matter".
Hil Clinton stumping, speechifying her way down the campaign trail, modified the motto to: "All lives matter."
In a church.
In front of an African American congregation.
Supposedly, some in the audience didn't care for the modification.
But she was right.
All lives matter, everyone. Period.
I direct your attention to the Coulter tweet which asks,
"Which symbol killed 90,000 black babies last year?" and, of course, the answer is the symbol for "Planned Parenthood", the Abortion industry stalwart defended by most Democrats.
If Democrats truly believe that 'Black lives matter', that 'All lives matter', perhaps they should stop propping up Abortion.
Yes, it is legal. So was Slavery, until the Republican Party formed to root it out of our nation.
So was Jim Crow alleged to be legal, until the Republicans drafted and passed Civil Rights legislation over the objections of the Democrats.
Legal is sometimes still morally WRONG.
It would take a lot of courage for any Democrat to oppose Abortion, which is why cowards keep silent. Have a nice night, America.

Stand by For Heavy Rolls!

Before some snark attacks with bakery jibes, "Stand By For Heavy Rolls" was the warning broadcast aboard ship when we were about to enter rough, troubled waters.
In the next four months the sewers of politics shall again explode upon our nation, and we will soon be so sick of the process that even pagans will be calling for God to return and put us out of our collective political misery.
Those of you groaning at the mention of the coming political rodeo-I'm with you. This isn't some foolish brazen "Bring It On" post. I have come to hate the stuff.
No-in brief, I hope that the politics which polarizes won't cause us to become hateful and angry towards each other. Enough of that happens naturally. Don't let politics diminish your humanity, and I will try to do the same.

My Offensive Behavior Explained

"The right to freedom of thought and belief is one and the same right for all."

Absolutely! I cannot tell you what you should think or believe, and you cannot abridge my Right to think and believe as I do!

 

"No one anywhere should ever be forced into or out of a belief."

Yup! We can each reason and argue and apply thought and discernment to a belief, or a disbelief, without coercion/intimidation to accept someone else’s beliefs with which we disagree. 

 

"The right to freedom of expression is global in its scope."

True! But “My right to throw a punch ends at the nose of the other person.” is the standard.

The point where my freedom of expression impacts someone else’s is the point where we must either back off, agree, or agree to disagree.

"There is no right not to be offended, or not to hear contrary opinions."

This is the ‘non-right’ which moves civilizations forward. As long as there are people,

We will have offenders and offendees. We all assume both roles as part of our freedom of thought.

If I cannot express myself without offending you, if you are not free to offend me by your expression…

Then chaos. Darkness. 

"States must not restrict thought and expression merely to protect the government from criticism."

We see this broken machine displayed in many countries where those in power insulate themselves from the powerless. Eventually, every broken machine is replaced.

 

"Freedom of belief is absolute but the freedom to act on a belief is not."

Finally something I disagree with! If action is restricted, then the belief is restricted. If I am not allowed to act on my belief, it is abridged. Freedom to believe (or NOT believe) encompasses the freedom to act on that belief!

Statements in bold are from the 2014 World Humanist Congress, gathered in Oxford, UK, on 8-10 August 2014