A Beautiful Phrase

Just read a post from a nurse sharing some stories of her workplace.
She used a beautiful phrase:"Comfort Measures Only".
I love that.
I love the idea that those who are nearing death, who do not wish to be kept alive in pain may ask that extraordinary measures not be taken.
We all will pass, but not all have that option available.
Comfort measures. That is perfect.

DEBATE RULES! DEBATE RULES! BEETLEJUICE!

For those of you who intend to watch the "Thrillah (of the) Vanillas" Debate Monday night,
the Rules have been leaked:

RULE: Clinton is allowed to sit down during the National Anthem, but MAY NOT raise her fist
in protest.

RULE: Moderators are allowed to address Clinton as "Madame President" but MAY NOT call
Trump an egg sucking hound. However, they ARE allowed to address Trump as a 'homophobic racist deplorable'. 

RULE: While Trump is answering a question, Clinton is allowed to smoke discretely.

RULE: Every time Clinton lies, Trump must take a shot of tequila. 

RULE: Every time Trump tells the truth, Clinton is allowed to fume and look angry.

RULE: Moderators MUST update the audience on the Falcons/Saints game at least every ten minutes. Unless it's also a blowout.

Are You Carrying?

Not really a POLITICAL post, more about the interactions we have as humans.
There's a very good reason why the Bible places such an emphasis on Forgiveness.
We ALL screw up.
We all have personality warts, failures, rough edges which
abrase against one another's rough edges.
Not one of us tripping over our own feet can exist without needing to be forgiven.
Persona non Grata-describes one who is not appreciated, is unwanted...but the actual meaning (Doug's interpretation) is a person to whom Grace (forgiveness) is NOT to be extended.
This is universal-it is a lot easier to tear someone down than to forgive them.  If you forgive someone, you must drop any grudge against that person...and for some, that is impossible.
If their entire existence is defined by being outraged, offended, hateful...to forgive someone attacks their self image.
Here's the bucket. Follow me on this, please.
If person ONE has an issue with person TWO and vents to persons THREE and FOUR (Or four million)...THREE and FOUR may take up and carry the outrage of person ONE.
Especially if they already have issues with person TWO-it reinforces their grudges to find others who also consider person TWO a Persona non Grata.
So...if you sift out all the forgiveness, hold on to grudges, and never extend grace...will grace be extended to you when you screw up?
Break the cycle.
If I have offended anyone, if any are holding on to grudges against me, please forgive me. I am imperfect, and have issues. I'm trying my best to make it through life without offending anyone. And I fail.
I am sorry. Please forgive.

Fear'n Not No Matter {Or Anti-Matter} What Happens!

Picture above is of a chilly morning a few years ago-in this context it denotes a Horizon which
we seem to be traveling towards in a hurtin' hurry.
No lie-whilst we zip around our anthill cities busy working our busywork and arguing everything from baseball teams to Candidates...I can't help but see God readying this world for Judgement. I've read enough of God's Word to recognize actions which being Blessing and other actions which bring Curse.
Guess which actions dominate this current landscape?
Yup.
You hear Christians and some Othren speaking of the Tribulation period of the End Times.
Christians look forward to this, not because we are sadistic haters of humanity, but because it signals the return of Christ Who will rule His Creation from Jerusalem.
He will put an end to human striving and governance. No more elections!
I am not making light of the Tribulation which will occur-nothing as terrifying has ever taken place before...except.
Except God once brought Judgement on wicked Judah/Israel in Jerusalem in a passage which reads like a type, a symbol/model for the final global Tribulation.
This is only my opinion-I could be absolutely wrong; I am not a scholar, just a Christian seeking to learn from Scripture what God reveals.
But Ezekiel chapters 8 through 14 (or so) do seem to be a template for coming worldwide Tribulation.
You Christians out there, if you have read this, I encourage you to ask God for understanding, to open those chapters for you as you read them. And I mean that-read them.
As for the Othren, those 'Other than Christians' who think that God is a lie, a fraud, a manufactured religious Scarecrow propped up to keep peoples subservient to other Peoples...you do the same.
Ask God for wisdom, to open the Scriptures for you...and you may find that God is Real.
We can all be encouraged by the fact that Jerusalem's future is much brighter than it's past.
May God richly Bless you today.

Respectful Something

We're all thinking of this Day, this anniversary of 9-11-2001.
We didn't know what to do, how to process what had happened.
The young lady pictured above acted. 
At the resort where we worked she set in place our small memorial around the flags,
tea candles in white bags which looked wonderful when lit.
I took this picture before they were lit to signify lights gone out, lives lost.
I've always appreciated what my friend did, how she gave us a focus,
a way to show our respect for those who died on that terrible day.
May God Bless her and you today.

Hope On Hope On Hope

Christians, justified by faith, at Peace with God, exult in hope of the glory of God.
We need not worry nor fear the terrible passing things which surround us here in this evil world.
It is God's plan to redeem this Creation, and we will see that Day.
May God richly Bless you today.

Our Courageous Commander In Chief Once More Leads By Example

So, if you call President Obama a bad name, he goes/stays away?
This might encourage bad behavior.
I hope.

Sad In A Pantsuit

Full admission-Hillary Clinton isn't one of my favorite people.
Her assumption that she can win the election is galling.
She seems to believe that IF she can successfully denigrate/demonize Donald Trump...
SHE will appear to be...the better option?
If someone lies to me, it offends me.
The baked in assumption is that they can get away with it because:
A: either I'm too stupid to know that they are lying OR
B: they don't care whether or not I know that they lie. I mean nothing to them.
Hillary Clinton expects voters to trust her?
Here's the honest truth: Trump will win the election because he is not
Hillary Clinton.