The Moon Is A Harsh Minstrel

Yeah, that's about the right color, if the wrongish flawer. I didn't know what was growing under my bay window-it turned out to be tulips red like this rose. I had to protect them from animal type nibblers, and they are doing fine.
Speaking of fine, I have been blessed with an answered prayer, and it reminds me that God is good, and is in charge of even the little details. My life is a little detail.
If you want a bit o fun, and have grown tired of the Harold Camping comedy, check out Chuck Missler. I caught one of his broadcasts, and was impressed with the Scripture study. I googled Missler to see what he was about and found this self important goof on youtube who claims that Missler is of the devil. Self important goof is wrong, and probably has cooties. I d/l Missler's studies on iTunes, and have enjoyed them, so the S-I-G would probably think I was full of 'devilry' too.
Ah well. My unofficial training in psychology (a story you won't read here) has given me a sort of radar for oddballs and cootie sufferers. Ping!

The Past Will Catch Up With Us In The Future

Don't waste much time trying to figure out the title-it doesn't really mean anything, kinda sorta.
If you look to the right of the page to the pretty red and white boat, you are looking at my past.
The main significance of the boat that you see is that it is the place where I became a Christian, down below deck there between the "83" and the anchor.
God got me to the place where I needed to be to reach out to Him, and that day, back in the late 1970's...my life as a new creation in Christ began. I didn't understand all that happened when it happened, but I knew instantly that it HAD happened, and I haven't had a molecule of doubt about God since that day.
One of the first Christian books that I found and read was Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" where he predicted that Christ would return to set up His Kingdom by the late 1980's.
As Joe Bob Briggs would say, "El Wrongo."
Lindsey did have quite a bit of information right, but his (pessimistic) assumptions were way off. He thought that things were soooooooooo bad back then that Christ HAD to be coming soon.
He's not alone-history is littered with those who have felt that "Things are worse than EVER!"
Actually, we humans with our extremely limited perspective can hardly comprehend how things are in our own particular vicinity, let alone world-wide.
Trust in God who sees everything-His perspective trumps ours in every possible way. If you just shook you heart NO in disagreement-God, who looks in the hearts of men saw it. Comprehend that.

Christians Living At Odds With Reality

Hoo boy. Here we go-did you ever notice that Christians aren't perfect? We are mere sinners saved by Grace.
I can assure you that Christians still mess up, get things wrong, may have mental health/emotional/physical issues just like the rest of humanity.
Harold Camping (pictured above on right-just kidding) has determined that God will bring JUDGEMENT DAY.

I agree!

On May 21, 2011.
...uhhh...hold it Harold-you just lost me.
So, why this post?
I've read fanatical statements made by adherents to this belief. They are rock solid certain that Camping is right.
They are not only betting the farm, but their entire lives on the idea that they are going to be Raptured, taken up by God on that date. For them, there is no May 22, 2011-that's when the Tribulations start.
A few important things to consider:
The Chicago Cubs will be playing the Red Sox that weekend, in Boston for the first time in nearly 100 years.
I am hosting a multi-family rummage sale. I haven't bought the balloons yet, but...
Camping first announced this event as happening a few years ago-when it didn't happen, he explained that he hadn't finished researching the book of Jeremiah yet, so his numbers were wrong.
No, Harold-YOU are wrong. Knowledge (without wisdom) puffs up, and makes us think more of ourselves than we should. If you were the Bible scholar your conceit tells you that you are, you wouldn't be making crazy claims of special knowledge-that the gnostics department.
Unless the Lord DOES actually choose that date to bring us up into Heaven...you will be bringing ridicule to the name of Christ. Your ego will probably make you fluster and bluster and make excuses, but that's all right-we're all human. That's what we do.
I only wish that you hadn't convinced so many good Christians that you were right. Pride goes before a fall, God humbles us for our own good. They will be fine, and will have learned a good lesson about false teachings and teachers.

Windom Earle For President!

No, not the Canuck band-the real deal Windom Earle. So far I haven't seen anyone on the sane side (Republican) who sparks an iota of interest. I expect Don Trump's lifelong ego trip will not make a stop in the Oval office. He's been dead to me since the 1980's.
Newt? Newt is the John McCain of Republicans-too old, too entrenched in the problems of Washington to be counted on to know anything of Solutions.
Sarah Palin hasn't announced, and may not run. Until she or another strong Conservative tosses hat in ring, I nominate Windom Earle.
A lifetime of government service, but he magically remains an outsider, much  like President Obama claimed to be in the last election.
He's a widower, which may be a negative to some; I know that Earle would focus on the job of being leader of the free world with a lazerlike attention to detail. He's always been very good at the details. Very, very good!
Nixon played piano, Harry S. Truman was a small town sherriff...Earle plays chess like a master. The images from a chess match may not be as enthralling as a president detailing his basketball brackets, but he wouldn't be running for "Chessmaster-in Chief". He most assuredly wouldn't appear on the "Oprah" show to attempt to boost his popularity.
Since it is no longer on the air, he could borrow the catch phrase, "My Name Is Earle" from that silly sitcom.
Maybe choose Joy as his running mate, though he has more history with Leo Johnson.
Windom Earle. Remember the name. 2012.

Happy Mom's Day, Citizens!

I may be early but oh you kid...can not ever be too early. My parents grew up in different towns, different ages-it took photoshop to put them together, and a rose smells as sweet to the eyes as it can on a computer screen.
Happier M. D. to you all.

Usa Not Usama

Oh sure, we've all heard the news by now that Bin Laden has been killed. I became aware when hearing "USA! USA!" being chantshouted at the Phillies/Mets game tonight. You've got to love sports broadcasters like Bobby Valentine:

"It has been confirmed that Usama Bin Laden has been killed...Willie Harris steps into the batter's box for the Mets..."

So how do you feel about this? Bin Laden, not Harris. Whenever the Mets play I pretend that they are the Yankees and root for their opponents.
Bin Laden. He has been more of a idea figment for the last decade than a viable adversary.
Remember-I (we) didn't make him our enemy.  We're all about the Love, man. Islam made him hate. We became the focus of that hate, and when his side attacked our side, we retaliated. If not for Islamic terrorism, ours would be a much quieter, happier world.
Anger gives birth to many children-there will be retaliatory attacks. I expect that we will see red paint spattered photo posters of Bin Laden carried through streets in rallys from Egypt to Afghanistan to Detroit.

Huh. Top of the fourteenth right now.

Remember a while ago when some pastor in Florida or somewhere publicly burned the Koran? Some innocents in another country on another continent were killed in "response" to the 'outrage'?
I thought that the Pastor was wrong, not because the Koran is sacred, but because it was unnecessary-the Koran means nothing. It's just words on paper, and if they didn't have the Koran, Islamists would get angry about something else. Men wearing hats at the dinner table. Women flirting by showing a toenail. Whatever.

Mets take the lead, now the Phillies have to come back.  They've just got to!

Bin Laden is like the Koran-he means nothing. Just as the Buddhists trot David Lynch out to raise funds for prayer houses, Islam used the celebrity of Bin Laden to raise hate. Remember what he was famous for? That's right, class-Hating.
It's okay that he's gone. Islam has many more to take his place.

Rally caps. Mayberry is the last chance for the Phillies...aaaaannnnddddd .....game over.

Can't You Be Happy For Five Minutes?

Actually, yes, I can. And so can you, friend.
I see entire cultures and civilizationzoinks working very hard at trying to be happy, amused, thrilled to be alive.
If it comes that hard, maybe happy isn't for you. I've known peoples who only felt 'right' when they were miserable.
I used to cook midnights at this restaurant. This old couple probably in their 70's came in every night and arguefought through their nightly meal. Top of their lungs. Recriminations and accusations with coffee and pancakes. They were lovin' it.
It really isn't that hard to be happy:
Be content with what you have. Even non-Christians and pagans can follow that Scriptural admonition.
I would never want to get rich in this world-too much temptation to think better of myself than I do.
With that said, enough is plenty enough, but we must all eat and we prefer to sleep under roofs, bathe in hot water, etc. So we work. Whatever God wants me to do, I do.
God has blessed me with plenty. I am content. The picture I took many summers ago, but each time I see it I am reminded of that beautiful day. That makes me happier than if I had my weight's worth of gold sitting in the bank.
May God so Bless you that you forget to be unhappy.

Tree Hugger Holiday

I was going to use a picture of an Ironwood tree growing on our property, but those pics are part of the great unscanned collection.
Hug away, tree lovers. Nothing wrong with Earth Day, if you remember that all of Creation is the work of God's hand. We merely populate what He has made. We don't 'own' the earth anymore than we own stardust (excepting Hoagy, of course.)
Look up into that ole buttermilk sky and see clouds and stars; look down at your feet to where you're walking. It's all God's stuff; if you look in a mirror, what do you see? More of God's stuff.
Much of it is beautiful. I love God's slightly marred creation in which we now live-Heaven will be Perfect!
Cherish what He has Blessed you with. He even made the eyes you use to read these words. Mighty cool.

Deaf By 23 Oh I'm Sorry Were You Leaving?

Sometimes fun is where you find it. I listen to my iPod for fun and to help make the moments pass delightfully while working. I treasure the gift of hearing. God has Blessed us all with so many fine gifts-it would be a shame to not thank Him.
Hopefully, by God's Grace I will continue to be able to listen and hear for many years to come.
Here, in this little literary nibble is a mild 'ra'-barely half a rant. Things I gotta say:

Hey! Life is precious! Drinking, smoking-they are bad for you! (As if you didn't know.)

We each have a limited number of days to live-God keeps the count-but you make choices. Choose to invite cancer into your body and you will have a worse time of it. Choose to drink alcohol and watch all your aspirations go down the drain. 

Fun is where you find it. But if you 'fun' actually is debilitating and harmful, what kind of fun is that?

I have fun exercising. It feels good now and pays dividends later in life. 

I have 'fun' reading God's Word. It is medicine for my soul, and food for my mind. It is one of the 'healthiest' things that I do, paying dividends for eternity as I learn more about God.

Fun doesn't have to involve harming your body with drugs. You do realize that you are merely tampering with your emotions, right? Drugs/smoking make you FEEL. Emotions? You will jeopardize your health over emotions? Wha?

It's been said too many times, but by now you're probably not reading this anymore, so:

Emotions are the seasonings which make life more palatable. But letting your emotions rule you-making decisions based on how you feel rather than what is real...crazytrouble.

Who needs crazytrouble?

Beer Summit 2011

There. All of you who just can't enough of Ann, here she is diplomatically trying to save Libya from American aggression...or whatever. P. Obama is offering a lager not to the liking of Malomar the insignificant.
Ann has a new book out June 7th. She's been moderately quiet lately-I assume she will be making the rounds promoting the as yet un-named book.
P. Obama has been an embarrassment since the day he took the oath of office. He will probably be defeated for re-election but whatever happens, happens. We survived Carter; we can survive Carter II.
Who will step up on the Republican side? It's wide open right now-I think that whoever get the brass ring on this go-around will have many Liberals thankful that we still have a secret ballot...so they can vote against Obama.
You see, when it comes right down to the nit/grit...nobody wants to pay more taxes than they have to. No one wants the Government to order their lives. Live Free Or Die is ingrained into us. So the slogan of 2012 may just be: "Yes we can! Change our minds!"
See you on the other side, Rhodes.

More Wag...Less Bark

I love it. I love seeing a car window sticker with such thoughts as: "More Wag...Less Bark". Simply elegant.
The pup driving the cah is from Meg Frost's site Cute Overload which I've noted here before. If you need some smiles, go check it out.
I'm feeling good right now-left work early as I have an appointment in the morn. Eating a pastrami on foccacia sandwich which is all good. I used to make sourdough foccacia by the sheetpans back in my baking days. Good stuff.
Some days just feel better than others. I could list the troubles global and personal that have cumbered us with cares...but naw. May God Bless you today. Wag wag wag.

Forget Your Hexagram

I feel like revisiting an old postage here at FDW, just for gins and griggles.
I posted awhile back about the "Ghosthunter" type shows on TV. Some guys with electronic doodads and video cameras hunt spooks. If they get ANY evidence at all, they get so excited that they shout over any poor spirit trying to finish his point.
Bottom line-God says stay away from occult practices. Leave that ghost alone, you don't know where it's been.
Demons-actual fallen angels-are actually behind what we term 'the occult'. I want nothing to do with them.
One of the TV shows, "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Channel recently had an episode where they confronted a demon plagued place-and they brought in a priest to perform an exorcism. Huh.
You may be asking, why is Doug watching such shows? Nothing good on the Church Channel?
Actually, there is nothing good on the Church Channel, but that's another post.
I watch what I watch. I don't believe that I am here to hermetically seal myself in Church culture. I live in this world, too. I found out something about the "Ghost Adventures" crew that intrigued me-one of the three Ghost Adventurers, Aaron...identifies himself as a "Baptist Christian". Huh. I guess Aaron doesn't seal himself in church either.
Anyway,Aaron and his two partners in ectoplasimic pursuits teamed up with a priest to exorcise a place.
In the book of Acts we read of some of the miracles, including casting out demons, done through the Apostle Paul. Some Jews, jealous of Paul, decided that they would also gain a following by casting out demons in the name of...well, read for yourself:

^"11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 
¹²so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 
¹³But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 
¹⁴Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 
¹⁵And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 
¹⁶And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." Acts 19:11-16

This is how I see the Ghost Adventures crew getting into trouble. Except for Aaron, they don't seem to be Christian. They seek out occult occurrences,  and, not having faith themselves, ask a priest to use his faith to accomplish an exorcism. "We adjure you by the Jesus Father Blarney preaches." Trouble in River City.
 I think that they are heading for misery and trouble in their lives, and I would say to brother Aaron, "Dude, you're in the wrong business." Not that it's any of mine.

Point A to Point Z

This is what the past looks like. Not yours, of course, but past is passed back behind us all.
God states in His Word that our lifetimes are like a passing moment, a few hours of a morning and then it's done.
No one, to paraphrase Hank, makes it out of this world alive...for now. The oft-noted "Rapture"-the 'catching up' of those whom God will gather to Himself-that will be our vertical exodus, alive and Praising God.
I don't have Scripture at hand to back up this belief, but I think that "THERE" we will remember every blessing we have received during our pilgrimage here...but we will forget every pain and curse as if they had never happened.
No sin in Heaven, which is wherever God is. I believe that includes no memory of sin.
Counterpoint. Those who will be cursed to exist forever apart from God will have no memory of Blessings, good times, joys enjoyed during their lifetime. But every curse, every painful memory they will wear like chains forever.
Please don't think I'm gloating. Hell isn't my destination only through the Grace of God. I will have many friends and family there, and I wish there were no hell...but what I wish doesn't matter.
God saves whom He Will. No one "Decides" to become a Christian. It isn't a matter of our will, and we can't decide to stop being Christians. None of His sheep will run off to other pastures. We wouldn't want to.
So, what is this post about?
Just a reminder, friends, that even though our time on earth is short, we should seek God, seek His forgiveness and Holiness. If you feel that you are destined for hell, but wish that you weren't...God may be drawing you to Himself. He made it fully evident to me where I was heading before He saved me.
May God seek you out and bring you home.

Memoria

Harsh times, friends. Prayers have been streaming up to God from all around the world for the peoples of Japan and Libya. Add yours to ours. May God extend His Grace to many, turning their hearts to Him.