Praise the Lord!

Well, there's good news, and then there's the best of news! Dewey is up and walking, running, jumping, and playing like any normal 3-year old, aside from an occasional limp or misstep as his body is still correcting the problem. But the best news is that the fracture in his L5 appears to be an old one! Possibly even from birth! Still, we're watching him for any signs of deterioration or advancing problems, and having a chiropractor check him out just in case. So, Praise the Lord!!!

Accident

My 3-year old had an accident yesterday afternoon. He fell off a 10-foot retaining wall and fractured his L5 vertebra. Going to orthopedist today. Please pray.

...And, a perrigrine falcon having breakfast! Not a bad morning's walk!

Dangit! I couldn't get a picture of it, but I think I just saw a humming bird moth!

Ugh! Never eat or drink anything just before getting on The Monster at Valleyfair! Queasiness I never like!

To the bretheren:
I've come to believe that the extent to which we look like Christ is inversely proportionate the extent that we look like the world.

A warning to our society, and our nation.

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil ; Who substitute darkness for light and light fordarkness ; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20

 I look at our country, our society, our government, and I see us doing exactly what this passage says we ought not do! This verse is not just a suggestion, but a pronouncement of a curse upon those who do what it warns against!

We are calling same-sex (read: homosexual) marriage a good thing, and those who oppose it, we are trying to get them labeled as mentally ill! We are getting deeper and deeper in debt, calling it "good" economics, while the Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:7:

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." (emphasis mine). 

People, I believe that the US is either under a curse, currently, or soon will be due to our ignorance of the Word of God. It is timeless, and applies to all nations, and the arrogance of our nation will be a downfall to us. So if the US does fall, nations of the world, heed this warning. Do not go the way of this Nation, but follow God in all.

Why do I read the Bible (almost) every day?

As I walked to work this morning, I was listening to an old sermon from my church (I have a schedule that now makes me work on Sundays, so this is how I get my teaching, now.) and Pastor Dave Wick was preaching in this one about "sanctification" and the difference between "pietism" and "legalism".

So, as I started reading my Bible this morning, I got to thinking, why am I reading the Bible? Is it because I think it's required by God as some sort of act that will sanctify me, or do the actual words on the page have some sort of divine power in and of themselves? Well, the written word in a book, itself, has no power, except for what the reader attaches to them. And to someone who is not a Christian, I'm sure some impact would come, because the words written are full of wisdom.

But for a Christian, one who has been baptized by the Holy Spirit, there is a power in the words. But it does not come from the words themselves, as if the words are indwelt by that same Spirit. The power comes from my eyes being opened to the truth by the power of the Spirit. It doesn't come from my own wisdom, because my wisdom is corrupt, damaged by the fall and the sin which pervades this present world.

In other words, without the Spirit, I have no power to gain any other than the most rudimentary insight from the written words of the Bible. The Flesh, as Paul referred to the sinful component that every man is suffused with since birth, cannot understand the Truth of the Bible without being given the power and ability by God, through the power of His Spirit.

So, I came to the conclusion that I read, not because the act itself sanctifies or even saves me, but because the Spirit within me has given me the desire, and the ability, to read and understand the words of the book. Without Him, it's just another book of wisdom, but a wisdom I would never fully grasp. As Paul, in Romans, makes so primitively plain, our Salvation comes solely, totally, completely from the Lord, so that I can never boast that anything I have done has brought me salvation. From the act of hearing and understanding, to actually believing, and finally submitting to that Truth, it all comes from Him, to His Glory alone!

Who's to blame for our Governmental mess?

I've spent much time thinking about our current state of affairs in this nation. And everyone is looking for a scapegoat, someone to blame for all our problems. So I figured, let's look at all those who are having fingers pointed at them and see.

First, the Republicans and Democrats.

Well, "We, the People" are the ones who keep putting them back there, expecting them to do things differently. (Isn't doing the same thing over and over the definition of insanity?) So we cannot directly point the finger at "them".

How about "Big Business".

Well, we keep giving them our money. We keep letting them fund candidates who will allow them to break rules the rest of us can't. We keep our Congressmen in power for 5-10-20 terms, and they keep doing the same crap. So we can't blame "Big Business".

How about the "1%ers"?

Well, it's been the people we've elected, and the things we buy that have created the 1%ers. If we stopped doing the two things above, the 1%ers would look more like us. So we can't blame them.

What about big banks?

See the previous three.

What am I getting at here? WELL, it is US, the People of these United States of America, the ones who vote based on what these creeps can give to us, or take away from us. WE are all at fault for our crisis. We don't remember history. We fail to teach ourselves economics, both micro- and macro-. We fail to give up what "belongs to us" (though it never belonged to anyone before us). We vote based on race, on religion, on what "[our] country can do for [us]", and not "what [we] can do for [our] country".

Until we get truly educated on history, and what it teaches us, no matter how we vote, this will ALWAYS happen. It's time for people to learn for themselves, and stop letting others do the "due diligence" for them.

All I want to know is....

...what did I do now?

A call to return to a biblical fatherhood (patriarchy).

I am reading a wonderful book by Phillip Lancaster called which talks about a return to biblical fatherhood, and how this can positively impact the family, and society at large. While I know that this idea rubs a great many the wrong way, God did set up an order of things in the garden. While man was given a task (subdue the garden and rule over it), woman was also given a role (to be his helper). Woman was to be submissive to the headship God granted man.

The problem we have in our current culture is that we mistake headship (i.e. authority) has something to do with quality or the value of a human being. And being in the society in which we now live in, this is generally true. But the reality is that man was called to a position of authority simply because God wanted it that way. Insofar as value is concerned, the New Testament states it correctly: all are equal in the sight of God. (Col. 3:11) But authority is not a measure of greater value.

Just like in the real world, authority is sometimes given to those who may not be the best qualified to wield it. Likewise, sometimes authority is removed from those who are less qualified in order to best accomplish a task. Authority, or headship, is simply a chain of command, and a chain of culpability.

God has ordained this chain of command in the family: God, Christ, husband, wife, family-at-large. Does this mean that a wife is a lesser being than a husband? Of course not! But a woman was not created to lead, to make decisions, to steer the course of the family. That is not to say that they can't make decisions, or lead, or steer the course. But they weren't created to do so. That was given to the husband, not because he is the best for the job by reason of his value, but because men were created to be task-oriented, to get the job done. Women were created to fill a supporting role, because they are much better at doing that than men.

Headship doesn't mean better, any more than submission means inferior. It just is a way to get things done in the most efficient way.

Dr. King would be ashamed

As I reflect upon where we are at now in our country, and how we got here, I cannot help but hearing in my head a quote from the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from his "I Have A Dream" speech.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

And there is something about this portion of the speech that keeps niggling me in the back of my mind. It's that last part before the exclamation, "I have a dream today!"

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I look at our last election, in 2008, and I begin to understand what the problem is. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

And then I realize what it is! This President was elected in a way that would make the late Dr. King weep. We have here a President who was elected because of the color of his skin, and not the content of his character! I imagine that Dr. King would feel very upset about the myriads of people, black, white, latino, jew, or otherwise who listed the only reason they voted for Barack Hussein Obama was because he was a black man! What a devestating blow to the civil rights movement to have the first black man elected to be President who was elected because of the color of his skin, and not his character.

Now, fortunately, I believe that those who voted for this reason are learning why Dr. King wanted us to live where character was above all other considerations, because any man without character is not fit to hold the office of POTUS. And skin color is no substitute for sound principles, firm beliefs, and the courage to carry out what you believe, even if it is immediately seen as unpopular.

A Four Letter Mind

I've been thinking this for quite a while, and I'm going to put it into words now.

I ride the bus to work every day, because my job pays for it, and I hear and see people on the bus every day. I have a message for the young people of America. Every time a single "four-letter word" comes out of your mouth, regardless of the intelligence you have, gives the appearance, however wrong it might be, that you are incapable of communication higher than those words. The second one of these words are interjected in the most civilized and thought-provoking discussion, it immediately causes the conversation to lose all credibility.

Now that I think of it, even when adults (especially those of the "Hollywood Elite") interject them, idiocy is all that I can think. These words are the words of cavemen, Neanderthals, drunks, idiots, and other such low intelligence persons. They have absolutely no place in intelligent conversation. These words have no place even in the human vocabulary!

Ok, all this to say, when I hear you say any of the "four-letter words" (some of which have more and some which fewer letters, I hope you already know this), know that I instantly think you are one step more stupid than you were when I first heard you.

The Education System in America is Failing Us!

This from an OP/ED piece in an undisclosed San Francisco newspaper.

God help us! And this person probably votes!

It's been a while

So, the most I've posted here has been my tweets, and that's just wrong. Not that many people care what's going on, with so much else happening in their busy lives. All this stuff here, on the internet, just seems to suck more and more of our lives away. Makes me wonder what life would be like without this instant access to information and communication.

I'm beginning to think it wouldn't be all that bad.

This.... Is Genius

This is the best example of WHY Government should be allowed to run NOTHING but what the Constitution explicitly says it should

BAIL'EM OUT!!! ???? Hell, back in 1990, the Government seized the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada for tax evasion and, as required by law, tried to run it.. They failed and it closed. Now, we are trusting the economy of our country, our banking system, our auto industry and possibly our health plans to the same nit-wits who couldn't make money running a whore house and selling whiskey?!"
"What are we thinking?

A great read, and a wonderful analogy!

Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Arizona Is addressing the issue of illegal immigration - simply because they plan to enforce the law that the Feds have failed to do for 40 years!

Certain people are angry that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely.

Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these protests.

Let's say I break into your house.

Let's say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, 'No! I like it here. It's better than my house. I've made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).'

According to the protesters:

You are Required to let me stay in your house
You are Required to feed me

You are Required to add me to your family's insurance plan

You are Required to educate my kids

You are Required to provide other benefits to me & to my family (my husband will do all of your yard work because he is also hard-working and honest, except for that breaking in part).


If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHT to be there.


It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I'm just trying to better myself.
I'm a hard-working and honest, person, except for, well, you know, I did break into your house and what a deal it is for me!!!


I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about it without being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and bigoted behavior.


Oh yeah, I DEMAND that you learn MY LANGUAGE!!! So you can communicate with me.

Why can't people see how ridiculous this is? Only in America . If you agree, pass it on (in English)...share it if you see the value of it.

If not, blow it off......... along with your future Social Security funds, and a lot of other things.

A simple lesson in Macroeconomics and Taxes.

If the Federal government raises taxes on the richest 1% who only have 20% of the money, they don't generate as much as if they raise the taxes on the rest of the 99% who have 80% of the money. A 5% hike on 20% only gives you a 1% increase. The same hike in the lower 80% nets a 4% increase... Simple math folks!

Change we can believe in!

As President Obama is set to sign the massive Federal Healthcare Bill into law this afternoon, just 36 hours after it's passage in Congress, let us remind ourselves of then Presidential Candidate Barack Hussein Obama:

Let's let everyone we know read this and think about it...

Ok, admittedly I took this, exactly, from an e-mail I received, and even then, I don't know who the original author is, so forgive me for reprinting this here, but I do not know who to ask for permission from. Anyway, read this, and pass it on to ANYONE you know, and tell them to think critically about the claims made here.

I'm Sick of hearing from Obama I "Inherited"

The Washington Post babbled again today about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush, blah, blah, blah. Amazingly enough, a lot of people swallow this nonsense.

So once more, check this short civics lesson.

Budgets do not come from the White House. They come from Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 is the Democratic Party. They controlled the budget process for FY 2008 and FY 2009, as well as FY 2010 and FY 2011. In that first year, they had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending, when Bush somewhat belatedly got tough on spending increases. For FY 2009, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bypassed George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office.

At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill
to complete the FY 2009 budgets. And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed these massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete FY 2009.

Let's remember what the deficits looked like during that period:

If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the FY 2007 deficit, the
last of the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest in five
years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that,
Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.

If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself. In a
nutshell, what Obama is saying is I inherited a deficit that I voted for
and then I voted to expand that deficit four-fold since January 20th.


IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR FACTS STRAIGHT AS THE MEDIA GOES WITH
FEELINGS - AND PAINTS A PICTURE THEY LIKE

If one is intellectually honest, it will be obvious that the ideas put forth above are, in fact, correct.

Thank you.