That's the way I see it

THINGS I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT

2011-07-11T10:12:00.001-07:00

Here are some things I really want to know more about - as in I REALLY want to talk these issues over and get some REAL information as well as some book-learning etc.
1. Autism, FASD and neurological impairments/delays in general (ADHD too). Does it make a difference what causes them because they all seem to manifest themselves in the same kind of handicaps and difficulties? Will their cause effect the treatment?

2. Why are the Autism, ADHD, and Reading Comprehension difficulty rates soaring thru the roof? Someone recently wrote that 1 in 6 students shows some kind of neurological delay. What the heck! Why is this on such a rapid increase?? Is anybody actually TRYING to figure out what is causing it?

3. Economics - who is right - Keynes or Laffer - raising taxes or cutting taxes? You hear the yellow bellied schills barking the mantras but that don't make it so. You never hear a genuine in depth discussion where points are challenged and allowed to be fully answered and PROOF not rhetoric and class warfare is employed.

4. If weight loss is really the magic bullet for most Type 2 diabetes control - why the hell aren't doctors more aggressive about making sure their patients lose weight - instead they just occasionally tell you to lose weight and keep pushing the temporary solution medications that eventually quit working and burn out your body resulting in death.

5. OK - SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT - I want to know more about the ancient Celts and how they migrated to Ireland, Scotland, England and southern Europe (Asia too I guess). Where did they originate? What are their cultural distinctives? Etc.

6. What truly is the accepted, widely agreed upon definition of the "American Dream?" Has it been hijacked by rank materialism in the 20th century? Is it anathema (as some say) to true spirituality? What is living in Christian community really supposed to look like? Can we do it w/out pulling out of our regular society & culture?

7. How do we deal with the differing ideas and approaches to Christian spirituality - are they to be expected or a sign of error? In other words, are they God's way of protecting the Gospel from system-wide heresy (like the Catholic church of the Middle Ages) or a sign that the enemy of our souls is sowing tares among the wheat - which begs the question - who is wheat and who is a tare? (ouch - fodder for denominational wars)

WELL, those are some the things bouncing around in my head from time to time that I would love to interact with others about - but can never find any takers. Anyone?

Happy Birthday to the Republic!

2011-07-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Independence Day!

Freedom's natal day is here. 
Fire the guns and shout for freedom, 
See the flag above unfurled! 
Hail the stars and stripes forever, 
Dearest flag in all the world.  ~Florence A. Jones   

This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith. ~Lyndon B. Johnson   

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, & human equality. ~Adlai Stevenson

The Thundering Horde - Daily Life

2011-03-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Being a viking is not a job for sissies or people who want a life of contemplation, leisure, or sanity. As a father to a viking mob I can tell you that my days are anything but quiet, tranquil and contemplative. Normal children at least occasionally play quietly, occasionally play together amicably, or occasionally follow the rules for an hour or two. This reality is what helps parents hang onto their sanity by a thread and at the end of the day, feel like being a parent is worth all the fuss.
That is not the way of the viking horde.
They never truly play together for that would mean someone must surrender their will (at least a little bit) to someone else's desires. That, a viking, can never do. At least not without some severe head trauma preceding the cooperation. No vikings play loud, shatter anything that isn't made of metal, fight endlessly over the most trivial offense, and generally run hither and yon wreaking destruction and leaving a huge mess in their wake. And it never ends. From sunup to well past sundown my Thundering Horde pillage our home and our nerves. A therapist once said, “Isn't it wonderful that they feel so safe that they can express their true feelings?” This after the viking being “shrunk” had boldly declared how much we “sucked” as parents and how much he hated his life. Frankly, I wish they felt less safe and I had to put up with less disrespectful and offensive backtalk.
It is such a profound drag living in such a feminized society while rearing vikings. I mean, Erik the Red probably would just head butt young Leif and straighten him out right then and there. Or at the very least, he would take him a few miles out to sea and throw him out of the boat with a menacing, “Don't bother swimming back unless you are going to treat your mother better.” That would probably work. But that's not for certain, vikings are freaking' bull headed and kinda dim. You can whop them every night for years before they finally get the idea that they aren't supposed to light fires on board the wooden ship. Geesh.
But that might damage their little towering egos, I mean self-esteem. You say that like it's a bad thing!

Why do we want to be like Europe?

2011-03-12T11:31:00.001-08:00

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.” Thomas Jefferson.
Though a seemingly unrelated quotation I put it forward here to illustrate just how Americans felt about Europe until recently. Americans, by and large, seemed to feel that Europe was a place full of corruption, immorality, excess and intolerance. European society and especially governments were felt to be corrupt to the core and unwilling and unable to allow the people to live in true freedom. It was a place of religious intolerance, fiscal intemperance and suffered from a terrible lack of common sense. By and large, Americans did NOT want to be like Europe. They wanted an open and free society where individuals mattered and common sense reigned supreme. They wanted a society where tolerance, civility and hard work would be able to raise a man above his situation. They wanted an end to class limitations and entitled nobility. They wanted a country where government served its people and answered to its people.
How is it, then, that so many Americans are rushing to be like Europe? Frankly, in two hundred years, very little has changed in Europe. Why would we want to be like Europe? Class struggle is still a reality there as is intolerance of every kind (which is funny because they boast of being the MOST tolerant). A sense of entitlement has stifled every segment of society (rich and poor) and has long since strangled their common sense about fiscal and societal matters. It is altogether, "...a silly place." (Monty Python)
Why are we so eager to pay higher gas prices and higher prices for energy, food and other basics of life like they do in Europe? Why are we as eager to surrender our sovereignty before a tiny muslim minority as they are doing in Europe? (Though it won't be a tiny minority in France for much longer.) Why have we been SO eager to pile up together creating large cities....
Our forefathers escaped the cesspool that Europe had become. It was extremely difficult and cost them everything they had. Why are we so eager to flush it all down the toilet and remake America so that it is just "as silly" as Europe? It makes NO sense to me...but then, I guess that means I am still an American - addicted to common sense.

Will I Always Feel So Maimed?

2011-02-13T21:23:00.001-08:00

"When She Loved Me" - Written by Randy Newman, Performed by Sarah McLachlan
(nominated for Best Song Oscar, 1999)

When somebody loved me, Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together lives within my heart
And when she was sad,I was there to dry her tears
And when she was happy,So was I
When she loved me

Through the summer and the fall / We had each other, that was all
Just she and I together,Like it was meant to be

And when she was lonely,I was there to comfort her
And I knew that she loved me

So the years went by / I stayed the same
But she began to drift away / I was left alone
Still I waited for the day / When she'd say I will always love you

Lonely and forgotten, I'd never thought she'd look my way
And she smiled at me and held me just like she used to do
Like she loved me...When she loved me

When somebody loved me...Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together lives within my heart
When she loved me.

Spring and May will bring about Joshua's birthday again. He was the only child of mine that I will ever have. My line ends with me. Though the above song doesn't really fit I find the aching hurt it depicts matches my own.
And I feel so used up, worn out, damaged beyond repair. I feel like Frodo after saving the Shire only to be haunted by past failures and injuries so badly he can't enjoy living in that world anymore. Alas, he found solace in the uttermost West w/ the elves. But that is a fairy tale and there is no place to go to find the kind of deep healing I need. I need to be un-maimed not just temporarily repaired.
That requires a miracle.
I know that others have lost loved ones and suffered much in this world too. But that does not comfort me. It only deepens my sorrow knowing that so many are maimed as I feel I am. We may pretend to be whole and even find a way to deceive ourselves and others with a prosthetic limb.
But we are NOT whole.
We have survived something that is SO wrong. We were not made to die but to live. Death is a usurper who invades and wrongfully steals away those we love. There is no comfort for that. Pretending it is natural and "the cycle of life" doesn't make it the truth, nor does it lessen the severity of the injury to those left behind. Death may serve as a relief for the very young or the Faithful but it is nothing but a thieving unnatural monster to those who remain behind. It maims us and leaves us to slowly suffer with our wounds.
And if we turn to God He can stop the bleeding and teach us to live again.
But on this side of the Veil we are always a little crippled, a little less than what we were, a little more ...damaged goods.
That's why people hold you at arm's length. You are damaged goods. Why should they have you in their lives? You remind them of a truth they fear, find unpleasant and don't really understand.
I don't begrudge them that.
Let them live on whole w/out knowing the monsters. I was once that way myself.
But still, it is so very lonely.
Is this all there is? Is there nothing more?
I don't believe that I am trying to vainly have my old life back. It wasn't so great. My life now is far better in so many ways (mostly material though).
I have learned that as we turn the page on each chapter of our life, it is both exciting and sorrowful. We gain the new and lose so much in the exchange. I understand this and realize you can't go backwards and have things be the way they were. It is gone forever.
I think it is about feeling so ruined. So much less than what I once was. This too will pass, I suppose.
But I think I will still feel diminished.
I think I will always be maimed.
Is there any healing left for me?

Spiritually tired & numb - often. Sure I'm not the only one.

2011-02-13T20:47:00.001-08:00

Months ago I mused...
"Is our culture SO consuming, so materialistic, so hostile to genuine discipleship that its almost impossible to be a biblical Christian anymore? I certainly hope not -but American materialism and the American dream are powerful drugs that are SO easy to be addicted to. Most people I know are addicted to materialism in some way (they may dress it up in funny clothes to feel good about it but it is still there)."
I'm pretty convinced now that the answer is a sad "Yes." As a father of 4 with a mortgage, 2 cars, and all the normal cares of this world - I can see why the apostle Paul seems to intimate that married people are somewhat compromised in their spiritual life. Having to care for so many things is INHERENTLY distracting to the inner life in the extreme. I'm not sure I can pull it off to be honest. I used to think it would be easy. Then I found it growing increasingly difficult only to eventually find it ridiculously difficult. I'm sure some would be quick to point out how they are doing it. I used to be like that too - when I wasn't looking too deeply. How much of that "health" is just an illusion I wonder. I wonder.

America's Cultural Characteristics

2010-08-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Taken from Eric Sloane's How America Was along with the Declaration & Constitution and Observations of our History

1. Frugality.
Never waste anything – use it all up; recycle and reuse. Americans abhorred wastefulness and considered it as a reflection of bad character. We do what is necessary not necessarily ornamental or showy – more utilitarian. Along with this is an inherent contentedness with what you worked hard for (or what God had provided).

2. Hard Work.
Americans take pleasure in hard, productive work. Slow but steady does the job well. People often grow to love their work and consider their profession to be part of who they are.

3. Highly Value Home & Family.
Home ownership is highly valued. Homes used to be constructed to fit the needs of your family (for generations to come if you could), were built to last, and were built so as to take full advantage of nature and the weather.

4. Love of Nature.
Americans have always felt close to nature. Early in our history almost every citizen had been a farmer or raised an animal at some point in their life. Most citizens were farmers for the first century of our history. We have continued to love things that grow, have many pets and deeply desire the ability to go spend time in nature when we want to relax or vacation.

5. Trust in God.
The overwhelming majority of Americans have always believed in God, even if He was only seen to be a distant Creator. Despite the reality that not all citizens were completely sure about the existence of God, Americans are remarkably tolerant and show great respect for the spirituality of others even if they don't agree. Americans, in genera, are highly spiritual people while being fairly generous and non-sectarian.

6. Self-Governance.
Americans have always valued self-control. Being an even tempered person brought great praise. The opposite is also true, those who indulge in extremes are often seen as having character flaws. This is losing some ground recently as Americans really like to let go and have fun but it is still frowned upon to be hot-tempered and too impulsive.

7. Equality.
Since Americans believe in a Creator, it is not difficult for us to grasp that He made all equal by nature. No one is inherently superior than another. Class structures are frowned upon. Equality does not mean that Americans expect that everyone has the same abilities or should have the same rewards.

8. Liberty.
All citizens are free to pursue the dictates of their own consciences & desires with regards to religion, career choices, past times, marital status, education choices etc. However, liberty is understood by all to come from the individuals inherent rights given by their Creator and must be tempered by the need for self-governance of each individual lest they needlessly deprive others of their liberties/rights.

9. Curiosity & Willing to Take Risks.
America STARTED by taking risks, has expanded by taking risks and has been maintained by those who shrewdly took risks. We are a curious people who are not afraid of taking risks if the potential pay off is big enough.

10. Rule of Law.
No one is above the law – esp. lawmakers and those in authority. Americans firmly believe that a limited government tempered by a written constitution is the best form of government and can best deal with mankind's moral weaknesses. Generally Americans feel it is important to obey the law though as a people we highly resent overly oppressive, arbitrary, or nonsensical laws/rules. We fought a revolution with England for those reasons!

11. Participation in all Levels of Government.
Americans firmly believe in their right to participate and have their voices heard in every sphere of government. They highly resent lawmakers who refuse to listen to their constituents. Unelected bureaucrats making policy that oppresses our everyday lives is a nightmare scenario for most Americans.

12. Generosity/Help for the Less Fortunate.
Americans have always been some of the most generous people on the planet. We believe it is right and good to help the less fortunate and protect the weak and helpless. However, we reject the notion of helping those who could and should help themselves. A helping hand is good, enabling laziness and irresponsibility is seen as going way too far and is hurtful.

13. Pride.
Americans feel it is appropriate to be proud of one's accomplishments, in our country and our national heritage. We recognize our faults but refuse to be defined by them. Americans typically walk with head erect and look strangers in the eye as equals.

14. Truthful.
Truthfulness and honor go hand in hand. Americans despise a liar though we do sometimes justify our own white lies easily enough. That is sad but we certainly expect our public figures to be generally truthful and feel betrayed if they have been less than honest.

15. Free Markets.
Americans believe in free markets because they are the natural result of our understanding of liberty, hard work and risk taking. However, Americans quickly become irate if they feel capitalists have been too greedy or too callous about the needs of their workers. But most Americans feel that government intrusions into the free market only make matters worse in the end. They do not want their government becoming synonymous with the business world.

16. Tolerant of other Cultural Expressions.
American's enjoy learning about other cultures, esp. their holidays. However, it is an unspoken understanding that this multiculturalism has reasonable limits. Americans may celebrate their diverse backgrounds but take pride in their united status as Americans. We don't want to be hyphenated (i.e. Hispanic-Americans or Black-Americans, or Chinese-Americans, etc.) because that divides us. We are all just plain ole Americans. You came here and are proud of the old country. So are we! But we all must recognize that we are NOT in the old country anymore – this is the New World. Some of our old culture has to be set aside and give way for the new. We don't want to be Balkanized and divided up. United we stand.

Don't Blame Polarization on Fox News

2010-06-30T16:52:00.001-07:00

In Ann Coulter's article of 6/30/2010 titled, "Kagan Hearings Surpass World Cup For Most Boring TV Event" Ann highlights an extremely dangerous reality. But what makes me feel very sad and afraid for my country is that at least a third of the country doesn't see the problem. She said:

"On MSNBC's "Hardball" back in May, Sen. (Amy) Klobuchar said: "We want to get some things done on this court."

Get some things done?... The Supreme Court is not supposed to be "getting things done." ...Klobuchar's statements reveal a massive misunderstanding of the role of the court.

Congress, as the people's elected representatives, is supposed to "get things done." If they don't, that usually means the people don't want those things done. It's not the court's job to say: "Hey, Congress, you forgot to enact this! Don't worry, we'll take care of it."

But liberals see the Supreme Court as their backup legislature, giving them all the laws Democrats can't pass themselves because they'd be voted out of office if they did.

Can't get Americans to approve of abortion? Get the Supreme Court to do it! Can't get Americans to ban the death penalty? Get the Supreme Court to do it! Can't get Americans to release criminals? Get the Supreme Court to do it!"

Our nation is divided between a highly influential, well funded, and well placed social progressive, liberal, minority (not quite 1/3 of the country) and everybody else. The progressive's views on the role of government, individual liberties, capitalism, socialism, and big government are SO opposite of everyone else it is truly a wonder how they ever see any of their goals realized. But they have more money than God and they don't play fair. They divide our nation and then blame Fox News for polarizing the people when they start screaming about the Emperor's New Clothes. They ignore the will of the people and use the courts to ram their agenda down everybody's throats. And they think we shouldn't get upset about this!

Don't blame Fox News - blame your own extreme views. You call evil "good" and good "evil." And you tell us we're the wierdos when we try to correct your bent thinking or won't go along with your dangerous tinkerings. You tell us WE are the divisive ones because we don't agree with your insanity. I DARE any American to read the actual writings of the first modern generation of social progressives (Wilson era). You will be horrified at what they are planning for your country.

The Foundations of the American Republic

2010-05-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

Many of the ideas below came from an article I read but sadly lost. Though I may not lay claim to everything below, it is never-the-less, full of important things needed to be said! Enjoy.

The Foundations of the American Republic
10 Foundational Principles held by the Founding Fathers and most colonists at the time of the Revolution, created a free, prosperous and just nation unlike any other. Those Foundational Principles are:
Liberty – that all men are created free by their Creator and have the right to choose their own destiny.
Equality – that all men are equal, no one is superior or more worthy of life or privilege simply by birthright or race (though not all are necessarily equal in their abilities).
Natural rights – that all men everywhere have the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are not new rights or ideas, they are part of the human condition.
The consent of the governed – that government can only happen when those that are to be governed consent. Anything less is tyranny and intolerable.
Religious freedom – the right to worship or not worship God as dictated by the conscience of the individual. No one can compel another to worship in any way contrary to his or her conscience. It was also commonly understood by all that religious beliefs would certainly influence individuals as they participate in government (they were counting on it to help curtail the dangers of power!), but the government must not seek to influence religious beliefs in any way unless there is some great danger to the majority if they do not do so. This was one of the core reasons many initial settlers came to these shores for in the first place.
Private Property – the right to own, sell and use private property is inviolate not only to a capitalistic society but to a nation of freedom and liberty. No one can rightfully compel another to sell or dispose of his own property. The roots of this concept extend all the way back to ancient Israel.
The Rule of Law – an established and written body of law, approved by common consent of the majority is to govern the affairs of the nation not the opinions of unelected men nor the momentary whims of the electorate.
Limited Constitutionalism – the government is to only act in the areas delineated by the Constitution and should not intrude into any areas not mentioned, nor should the federal government infringe upon the rights and sovereignty of the states or families.
Self-government at home – each home is it's own sovereign unit and must be free to carry out it's affairs w/out undue interference from anyone else. It was understood by all that individuals should strive to practice self-discipline and self-control over their various appetites and freedoms.
Independence in the world – America should not seek to become dependent upon any other nation nor should it surrender any of it's sovereignty while cooperating with other nations.

These core principles have long served as the unchanging standards that guide America in changing times. They define what makes us different from the countries that we all came from. However, these principles came under attack at the start of the twentieth century. So called progressive thinkers sought to re-invent America according to ideals outside of those held by our Founding Fathers (i.e. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton and Madison etc.). While claiming to be in the mainstream of American political thought, these "progressives" actually reject the Founders' principles, believing that there are no self-evident truths, not in the Declaration of Independence nor anywhere else, there are only relative values. They declare that there are no permanent rights with which man is endowed by his Creator, but only changing rights held at the indulgence of government (since there is no Creator in their world view).

In this progressive world view, we must be governed by a "living" Constitution that constantly changes and evolves. Progressives believe that what the Founding Fathers thought is increasingly irrelevant as time moves on. This “progressive” view, imported from German and other European philosophers, shaped American politics and the rise of big government throughout the 20th century. And it still is the dominant view of the media, intellectual elites and critical portions of the leadership in both political parties.

Make no mistake, Progressives openly declare that they mean to fundamentally transform America with a new form of government that will engineer a "better" society by assuring equal outcomes (or rewards). They would redistribute wealth through a distant, patronizing welfare state that regulates more and more of the economy, politics and society. President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society were first steps toward instituting this progressive platform. President Obama firmly intends to push even farther still towards this “new America.”

However, we don't need to remake America, or discover new and untested principles. We need a new American revolution. Not an overthrow of the government, or a great social upheaval, but a great renewal of the true roots of American greatness and a radical reapplication of America's core principles to the great questions of our day.

Private Property is still the necessary foundation of free markets and widespread prosperity. The rule of law still means everyone--especially judges--must act within the confines of constitutional government. Self-government requires a radical decentralization of government. It requires a vast expansion of the authority of family, community, schools, churches and the marketplace. Independence means a commitment to national sovereignty and defense. It means renewed confidence in upholding our principles in the world.

These core principles can be the source of a renewed and unified American political landscape, one that reminds us that morality and self-reliance are essential to limited government, reminds us that unlimited government threatens moral self-government, and reminds us that energetic but responsible government is the key to safety at home and prominence in the world.

In a world of moral confusion, of an arbitrary and ever growing government bureaucracy, these American founding principals are our best access to permanent truths and common sense. It's our best ground from which to launch a radical questioning of the whole progressive project.

We must rediscover America's principles as a people, teach them in our schools and give voice to them in our politics and public square. We must recover a popular understanding of constitutional government, and develop leaders who will revere and abide by the principals (as well as the letter) of the Constitution.

Our purpose must be to conserve the principles of liberty (true liberty and not some progressive redefinition of liberty) and make them the central pillar of our political activities once again. They must become again, as Jefferson said, "an expression of the American mind."

I (too) Believe in Love

2010-05-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

I Believe in Love by Alyssa Barlow
(A Song inspired by an inscription on the cell wall of a man in a Nazi death camp)

How long will my prayers seem unanswered?
Is there still faith in me to reach the end?
I'm feeling doubt I'm losing faith
But giving up would cost me everything
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe

Though I can't see my story's ending
That doesn't mean the dark night has no end
It's only here that I find faith
And learn to trust the One who writes my days
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe
No dark can consume Light
No death greater than this life
We are not forgotten
Hope is found when we say
Even when He is silent

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I, I believe

Profound philosophy of Life Statement

2010-04-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

I didn't write it but I really like it.
"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."

I wonder who is the author?

In Praise of My Father

2010-03-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

I really love my Dad. And I wanted to take a moment to thank my Dad and tell him how much I thank God for him being my dad. There are SO many reasons why I feel that way.
First, I had a wonderful childhood. We lived in a house in the country with a huge front yard, side yards and a massive backyard that led down to the banks of the Kankakee River (we had a big yard in Joliet too as I remember it). The house was a large ranch style house with big country kitchen, formal dining room, big living room with large windows looking out over the yard and fields, a cool fire place and hearth and lots of room to play. When our family expanded my dad converted our garage into a large bedroom for my brother and me. It was a great room! We played and played and played during those long winter months in Illinois. We had bikes, a go-kart to ride, a boat to use, a large tree house to play in and acres and acres of fields and river shoreline to roam and explore with our BB guns or motorcycles. We almost always had a dog and had lots of BBQs and friends and relatives over in the summer. At night we caught fireflies, and in the winter we tunneled in the snow.
Our family was stable. Mom stayed home and made our days full of wonder. She was the glue that held us all together.
When we moved to California, Dad again provided a good place to live with a big backyard, a pool (most of the time), and even managed to provide a car for us to drive as we each turned 16. Life living in town was different but it was still good. And we learned how to be a part of a church family for the first time. That enriched us more than anyone can count.
Secondly, I thank my Dad because in order to make all of this happen, my Dad worked very hard. Sometimes it wasn't easy to make ends meet I think. So he took weekend work in the big 2 1/2 car garage he built just for that purpose (I think). He always had his eye out for a way to make a little more money. And it worked. We always had plenty of good food to eat, we always had clean clothes to wear and enjoyed thrilling Christmases. There were so many things we did as a family that I can remember. Dad provided for it all. As a man and a father now, I think I know a little more about what that cost him personally. So let me just say this Dad - it was worth it! You did it! You provided well for your family and we never truly lacked anything important.
Thirdly, my dad also served as a good example to us. He was honest, hard working, selfless and faithful. He liked to laugh and he liked to dream and plan fantastic adventures for the future. He and mom both loved to tell stories and I think all of us kids are great story tellers as a result. He taught us how to build a fire, cut wood, fish, hunt, change a tire and the oil in a car, fix a flat on a bike, build a doghouse, work on a motorcycle...well, since my Dad was a wiz at fixing things I can't even begin to remember all those life lessons right now. But he made it look so easy!
So I want to formally and officially thank you Dad. Thank you for being faithful and true. Thank you for providing for us all those years. Thank you for how you continue to support and encourage us. Thank you for being my Dad!

California leaders just don't get it!

2010-01-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

CLICK THE TITLE TO FOLLOW THE LINK TO ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE. It is a fascinating article by a fellow blogger. It's a really good read and worth the time. I tell you, Texas is looking better and better all the time for SO many reasons - here is one more.

8 Ways to Fix Congress

2009-12-27T21:38:00.000-08:00

This is from a proposal called the "Congressional Reform Act of 2010."
It proposes 8 sweeping changes that will "fix" our broken legislative branch.

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

2. No Tenure / No Pension: A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress looses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11 .

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work!!

If you agree with the above, pass it on

Christ WAS born at Christmas time

2009-12-24T10:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas - Joyeux Noel - Felize Navidad...
For too many years people have said, "Of course we don't know when Christ was actually born-but the time of year is not really important." Doubters and critics have declared that Christmas was "invented" in the fourth or fifth centuries. The supposed goal was giving a "Christian" facade or influence to the wild pagan holiday observances during the winter solstice (the shortest days of the year).

What's the real story? Is there any real evidence that Jesus Christ was born at Christmas? A careful examination of a number of seemingly unrelated Bible passages gives clear indication that Jesus was indeed born at Christmas time (late December). Every word in the Bible is there because God put it there. He has a purpose for every word. So, seemingly casual listings of periods of time, genealogical references, etc. have significance.

In Luke Chapter 1, the Bible records some seemingly unimportant details about what a priest named Zacharias was doing when an angel announced to him that he and his wife were to have a child (John the Baptist). The Bible records that the Lord Jesus was conceived in the sixth month after John the Baptist was conceived. So, if the time of the conception of John the Baptist can be determined, the birth date of the Lord Jesus can be calculated.

The scriptures say in Luke 1:5 & 8 "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth." "And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course," At this point Zacharias demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to his duties as a priest. Even though he had been given the wonderful news that he and Elizabeth would have a son, Zacharias stayed in the Temple until his course was completed.

Luke 1:23-24 "And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, ..."

The passage then describes how an angel came to Mary to announce that she was to be the virgin mother of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. The scripture says in verses 26-27: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."

Then in verses 39-40, we read: "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth." Within these passages are scriptures which point to the exact time when Jesus was born. Remember that God puts every word and every detail into the Bible exactly as He wants it and for a purpose.

In Luke 1:5 and Luke 1:8, we are told that Zacharias was a priest of the course of Abia and that he fulfilled his priestly duties in the order of his course. To understand the importance of the course of Abia and its bearing on the date of John the Baptist's conception, it is necessary to turn to 1 Chron. 24:1-10. This passage describes how, a thousand years before Christ was born, King David established the courses for priestly service in the coming temple. Twenty-four courses were established and numbered by drawing lots - twelve courses for sanctuary service and twelve for the government of the house of God.

Members of each course would serve during a month starting with the Hebrew month of Nisan. (Because of the way the Hebrew calendar fluctuates, the month Nisan can start anytime between early March and early April.) The sons of Abijah were in the eighth course. Priests of Abia, like Zacharias, would therefore, have each ministered for some days during the eighth month which in some years because of the fluctuations in the Hebrew calendar started as early as the fifth day of our month of October. Zacharias would have returned home when his days of service were ended and John the Baptist would have been conceived sometime between October 15 and the end of the month.

After conception the scripture says that Elizabeth hid herself for five months. Then in the sixth month of her pregnancy (which, based on the above calculation, would have been between March 15 and April 15) the angel announced to the Virgin Mary that the Lord Jesus would be conceived in her womb by the Holy Ghost. If this took place on or about April 1 a "normal" pregnancy period of 270 days would have then had the Lord Jesus due on or about December 25. How about that!

There are other scriptural and natural indicators that confirm that the Lord was born at Christmas time. In the account of His birth in Luke 2:8, we read: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." These were more than likely sheep to be sacrificed at the Temple. Being held for sale.

I have read that the only time shepherds spend the night in the fields with their sheep is during the time when the lambs are being born. The ewes become attracted to the rams in the month after June 21, the longest day of the year. The normal gestation period is five months so the ewes start lambing about mid-December. Isn't it natural that the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world would be born when all the other lambs are being born?

The shepherds have to be in the fields day and night to clean up and care for the lambs as soon as they are born or many would die in the cold damp weather. God's Lamb, who was to die for the sins of the world was born when all the other lambs are born. Because He came and died the centuries old practice of sacrificing lambs for sin could end.

There is another confirmation that God had His Son born at Christmas. The days at the end of December are the shortest (and therefore the darkest days) of the year. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." So at the time of the year when the darkness is greatest, God the Father sent God the Son to be the Light of the world.

Galatians 4:4 declares that when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life and was therefore qualified to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind (which is death).

He paid it all - but all do not automatically benefit from the wonderful gift God bestowed on mankind at Christmas. It must be accepted. Will you accept His free gift of salvation? If you already have accepted Him, what gift will you give to Him Who gave everything for you?

Christmas & Family - like Peanut Butter & Jelly!

2009-12-13T09:46:00.001-08:00

It MUST be the Christmas season! It seems that the season always brings powerful feelings of nostalgia and a tremendous wave of emotions. Most of it is just plain love - love for Jesus being willing to be born in such humble means so that He could redeem me on the cross. I'm not sure most days that I would be willing to do that for me - know what I mean?
Then there is a gi-normous wave of love for my dear wife. How can a guy be so fortunate! She is God's best gift to me after salvation.
Then there is the love of family & close friends that brings with it a wave of amnesia so you can't remember all the awnry things they have done over the years - you just feel warm fuzzies and want to hug 'em. It's irrational - I know!
Add to that this year's new pleasure of being able to partly reconnect with all my extended family back in the Midwest and I feel my heart is growing 2 sizes larger. It overwhelms me. Even the realization that we are still one child short again this year doesn't dim the glow if my soul (it flickers a bit though to be honest).
I am truly blessed despite not having much more than two nickels to rub together. As you anticipate the season and the gift giving you worry how you are going to pull it off - or IF you can pull it off. But once the season descends, the real Christmas spirit comes with it and those fears fade quietly into the background. Good Christmas music helps too :o)
So have yourself a merry little Christmas friend. Take time to connect with PEOPLE, especially family if you can, and don't forget to thank the Savior who IS the real reason for the season.

Wise Words Folk Should Heed...

2009-12-11T11:37:00.000-08:00

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."

Abraham Lincoln

And yet, isn't this EXACTLY what big government is doing? Shame on them. Professing to be wise, they have become fools and make worse the very problems they are striving to fix.

For Those Who Have Fallen Out of Love w/ The Body of Christ Or Who No Longer Want to Be Part of a Local Congregation of Believers

2009-09-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

In my earlier years of service, I often succumbed to negative feelings about the church and felt very justified in doing so. I was frequently mistreated by those I tried to serve. I could tell you lots of ugly stories. So yes, it would be all too easy to agree with critics that many believers are shallow, selfish and need a lot of spiritual growth. Many are all of those things and that's a fact. But that is why we are in community together in the first place – to help each other grow closer to Christ. The church is not a gathering of the polished and perfected, it is a nursery for growing baby believers into maturity some day. And spiritual growth, like physical growth, never occurs the same way or at the same pace for each individual. That's just the way it is.

You hear lots of complaints about hypocrites in the church. But so is the person who is leveling the charge if they were truly honest with themselves. We all have hypocracy in our lives – so don't worry about the church, there's always room for one more hypocrite! The church is NOT perfect, that's for sure. Yet consider this, God loves it anyway despite knowing all that He knows. Maybe if we were God we would spank the tar out of them for being so unruly, selfish, judgmental and just plain weird, but I suppose we should honestly be thankful God is as gracious as He is or else we might end up on the receiving end of a good spanking as well. It is a fact that no one denies that there are many things that need fixing in the typical local church! But having said that, there are also many perils we must avoid as we realize these issues or we just become part of the problem.

First, never forget that the Bible calls the Church of Jesus Christ, the “Bride of Christ.” This is a useful term because it reveals the depth of Jesus' feelings and love for His followers. A groom is generally very protective of his bride and is deeply in love with her. He finds great delight in her despite her imperfections and he is prone to becoming a little testy with anyone who speaks ill of his beloved. How little we contemplate this as we have “roast pastor” some Sunday afternoon or when we are exasperated and complain about some other person or aspect of the church. If we love the Master, shouldn't we also try to love those whom He loves? (our fellow believers and the local expression of the Church Universal) At the very least, we should be much more reluctant to complain about her.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer summed it up well in his book Life Together:
“A pastor (and I think this easily applies to all laymen/believer priests as well) should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people, but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to Him in order that he should become its accuser before God and men...he had better examine himself first to see whether the trouble is not due to his wish dream that should be shattered by God...But if not, let him never-the-less guard against ever becoming an accuser of the brethren (another name for Satan by the way)...only God knows the real state of our fellowship...the more thankfully we daily receive what is given to us (our fellow believers/the church), the more surely and steadily will fellowship increase and grow from day to day as God pleases.”

I encountered this book many years ago and it's words have haunted my footsteps through good times and bad. Bonhoeffer and the Apostles don't deny that the church can be aggravating – they just don't let us get off the hook for bad-mouthing Christ's Bride. In the end, I found myself not wanting to play Satan's role any longer (being an accuser of the brethren or badmouthing the Bride). If I am an accuser and walk away – I realized I was more a part of the problem. I didn't like that. So I learned to appreciate what I could, laugh or feel sad at the imperfections I see and do my best to urge fellow believers on to deeper spiritual growth (and appreciate those who challenge me as well). If you just can't do that in your church, then AT LEAST, find one where you can. But abandon the church for good – it's not really a biblical option. At least, not if you still want genuine fellowship with God.

Because just like the other Spiritual Disciplines (prayer, reading Scripture, worship etc), the Bible teaches us that every Christian is expected to serve. The psalmist would write, “Worship (serve) the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:2, NIV); and again in Hebrews:
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14, NIV)

We are to serve the Lord with gladness and a clear conscience. Since we are expected to serve, the Lord has supernaturally gifted every Christian to serve. While Christian service/volunteering is a Spiritual Discipline, the gifts or talents with which we practice the Spiritual Discipline are known as Spiritual Gifts, and these “gifts” are to be used for the building-up of the church – for the service of God. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV). There are several lists of Spiritual Gifts in the biblical texts (Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:7-13; 1 Corinthians 12:6-31). And though not limited to being used only in the church, the context of Scripture heavily implies that these gifts were given primarily to be used to build up the spiritual life of the church. So if you are going to use the gift God has given you, you will generally need to be part of a local church.

Serving in the local church is not always easy. It is often difficult for many reasons (Ephesians 4:12), but let us not forget that every Christian is called to be a servant of God (Romans 1:1 & Colossians 1:29). Heed Jesus’ own words in John 4:34. The work of serving God was so meaningful to Jesus that it was like food. It nourished Him, it strengthened Him, it satisfied Him, and He devoured it. Serving God is work, but there is no work so rewarding. Disciplined service to God is work, hard and costly labor sometimes, but it will endure for all of eternity. “Store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven…” (Matthew 6:19-23).”

The bottom line is that we were MEANT to be involved in a local expression/manifestation of Christ's Church (a.k.a. The Local Church). It is part of God's divine design for how He matures every child of God and how the work of God is carried out to the world. Jesus gave His Great Commission in Matthew 28:19&20 to the entire group of disciples assembled there on the hilltop – not just the Apostles. We are ALL to help make disciples, we are all to help baptize them and teach them to obey all that Jesus commanded. So like it or not, we are stuck with each other! We cannot simply turn away from the church and “go it alone” as it warns against in Hebrews 10:25 where Scripture clearly declares: “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25). Some have tried to take this to mean that they are not to remain alone as believers and that if they have a few good Christian friends, they are still in compliance with this passage. That is a highly creative reading of the text and is not supported by the overall tone of the NT teachings about the church as well as the language of the text itself. The bottom line is the assembly needs to have more than enough members for all of the Gifts of the Spirit to be present (which means at least 20 or more individuals).

As a result, we must conclude that Every Christian needs a church home if they are EVER to fully mature in Christ. As a Christian, you are part of the family of God. Other Christians are your brothers and sisters. You need the strength that comes from regular fellowship with other Christians and from the preaching and teaching of God's Word. You NEED the ministry that comes from the rest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are dispensed throughout the Body of Christ for the edification of ALL. Without their input and ministry to you, you will become stunted in your growth as a follower of Jesus Christ. And without your input into their lives, they cannot ever become fully mature followers of Christ as well. It is just that important.

What has God called you to do in the local church? How has God gifted you to carry out this assignment? I assure you that God is very concerned that you carry out His Will as you fulfill your unique function or role within the Body. Your lack of involvement not only impoverishes your own soul but robs everyone else of your contribution as well. If you can truly no longer do this at your church, then you must find another community of saints in which to serve and grow in. You just don't have the option of “going it alone.”

We are a Republic!

2009-09-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

As has been pointed out many times, there is a REAL difference between the terms democracy, representative democracy and constitutional republic. There are many similarities of course, but some critical differences. With the state of schooling in America being as low as it is, most of us grew up thinking these terms are synonyms. Not so. The founding fathers feared a democratic government but were eager to embrace a republic governed by the rule of law and a constitution that sharply limited government.
As usual, Benjamin Franklin summed up the differences best..."A democracy is two wolves deciding how to eat a lamb. In a Republic, the lamb has a gun."
But now wait, they want to take away our guns so we can have a safe democracy. Are you starting to feel like wolf food?

Pithy Thoughts on a Saturday Morning

2009-09-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Passing on some pithy quotations from Founder's Quote Daily of Patriot Post (they have tons of great stuff - even cartoons!)

"It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution." --Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia Query 19, 1781

"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders." --Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 1775

Notice both Jefferson and Adams declare that when virtue, manners & spirit are present in abundance, liberty is assured. Likewise, when they are lacking, liberty will wane and the nation will be undone. Public virtue (leading to good manners & strong spirit) is just that important.

More of Jefferson's Prescient/Prophetic Observations

2009-08-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

John F. Kennedy once said to a assembled group of scholars in the White House, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” It amazes me how many things Jefferson wrote and said, that are still relevant today.

For instance, he once shared...

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

And this pithy comment was also made by Jefferson - and we would be prudent to heed his counsel...

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”

Amen! I'll take Jefferson's word over the yapping politicos of today any time. What about you?

A Great Time of the Year!

2009-08-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

I like this time of the year (almost as much as Fall: October-December). I don't care much for winter when you live in a no snow zone but I love Autumn.
But the beginning of the school year is always so cool. It's still hot enough to use the ole swimming hole and the days are still sunny and long. But the excitement of starting a new school year is such a rush. New faces, new things to learn. (the picture is of last year's class)
Then there's the county fair with all the exhibits, friends you haven't seen in a long time, and corn dogs and elephant ears! (Funny how all the good things to eat are named after animals!) I always like to go to the Fair in the evening when it starts to cool off and the lights are on and the music is fantastic (esp. when my brother's band is playing).
And then there's all the anticipation of the Autumn holidays - some of the coolest. Even as a kid I would look forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving and of course - the mother lode of all holidays - Christmas. Throw in my birthday and a few sibs birthdays in between those and you can see why we used to call it "The Goody, Goody Season." There is a holiday every 2 weeks or so.
Yep, that's why this is such a great time of the year!

When Have You EVER Heard Christians Doing This?

2009-08-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 03, 2009

"Christian Family Burned to Death in Pakistan After Koran is 'Defiled' (they should have said allegedly defiled - read on)...

Paramilitary troops patrolled the streets of a town in eastern Pakistan yesterday after Muslim radicals burned to death eight members of a Christian family, raising fears of violence spreading to other areas.

Hundreds of armed supporters of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi ... after allegations that a copy of the Koran had been defiled... opened fire indiscriminately, threw gas bombs and looted houses as thousands of frightened Christians ran for safety. “They were shouting anti-Christian slogans and attacked our houses,” Rafiq Masih, a resident of the predominantly Christian colony, said. Residents said that police stood aside while the mob went on the rampage. “We kept begging for protection, but police did not take action,” Masih said.

Police and local officials said that at least eight people, including four women and a child, were killed in the fires. Two others died of gunshot wounds. Residents said that the casualties were much higher; one claimed that the number of dead could be in the dozens as many bodies were still buried under the rubble. Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minister for Minorities, said that 40 Christian homes were torched in rioting. He said there was no truth to allegations that a Koran had been

defiled...Tension started mounting last week after Muslims accused three Christian youths of burning a copy of the Koran. They denied the allegations, but clerics called for their death..."

Can you imagine the uproar if a Christian pastor called for someone's death - let alone have it happen! Yet no one seems to notice or even mind that Muslim clerics do this all the time! Islam is NOT a religion of peace (it never has been) but it is an even bigger enemy to Liberty and Freedom than communism ever has been.

A Summer of Highs and Lows...

2009-07-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

It's been a summer of extremes and not just with the weather (though it has been the coolest summer I have seen in a long time - take THAT AlGore). Most of the remodeling work was done during Spring break so other than some lingering honey-do's not much serious work to be done around the house. O.K., that's nice. We also took a week long vacation during Spring break (my break lasts 3+ weeks) so we didn't have any plans for the summer since we blew our vacation allowance already. No problem.
So, other than 2 trips to L.A. in the same week to transport our scouts to summer camp, we have been home bodies this summer. The days have gone by rather slowly. Long, late mornings, staying up late at night - that kind of thing. It has been cool to get to know my little daughter better. Sissy is a crack up! And she is so cute - a real flirt. I've also had the chance to spend more time with the boys and help our oldest deal with some of the emotional issues that wreak such destruction in his life. Thank you Lord for the time to do that! I even taught an Astronomy class in my home for several home school families on Friday nights.
So it's been a full summer, even if it hasn't been flashy and glitzy. Wish I had spent more time at the gym for sure. But alas, only 2 more weeks of it left! Think I'll take the kids to the movies this week and maybe the zoo next week. Amy likes it when all the kids are gone - she can get some serious work done! I am looking forward to school starting back up - a whole new class to get to know. That's always exciting.

Some Serious Dialogue Needed about Youth Ministry?

2009-07-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

As a former youth pastor and current parent of 4 (2 teens), I have appreciated being able to see this subject from both sides of the pew so-to-speak. Vision Forum, in a recent article promoting a resource for christian families had something to say that, I think, needs to be further discussed w/ pastors, youth pastors, church leaders and parents across America. Maybe you will too...

"One of the hallmarks of American culture in the late twentieth century was the revival of the cult of youth. With its roots in Greco-Roman paganism, the worship of youth and the rise of a distinctively family-fragmenting vision of teenage life has dominated our media, our entertainment, our schools, and the very fabric of modern life... Frustrated with the absence of real parental involvement in the lives of the next generation, and desperately hoping to reach young people... the modern Church in America has drunk deeply from the youth culture phenomenon. This is most obvious in church youth groups, youth-driven worship programs, and even Sunday Schools. Now, after more than a half-century trend, the results are in, and they are not good — our youth are defecting en masse from biblical Christianity.

This trend has long been recognized by researchers — the fact that 61% of youth abandon the church during their 20s — but a common assumption has been that young people lose their faith due to their college experience. Thanks to penetrating new research spearheaded by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer, a startling conclusion has emerged: Youth who regularly attended the most conservative, Bible-believing churches in America during their teen years were, in their hearts, already gone. To quote Ham and Beemer: “They were lost while still in the fold.”

Ham and Beemer have also uncovered hard evidence to support this surprising conclusion: that “Sunday School is actually more likely to be detrimental to the spiritual and moral health of our children.” Those who faithfully attend Sunday School are more likely to leave the church than those who do not — and to doubt the Bible’s reliability.

The evidence is in: The Church’s current model for reaching young people through youth groups and Sunday Schools is a failure. These programs are not only, on the whole, falling short of their aims, but they are actually contributing to the epidemic departure from biblical principles on the part of young people, as well as the massive defection from the Church of Jesus Christ. In short, the Church has proven to be its own worst enemy."

In other words, the majority of kids in our youth ministries are likely living double lives until they can get away with dumping their christian "personna" when they leave home. GULP! While some may reject the entire article as going too far, let me add my own observations. On the whole, my 15+ years of working with young people largely confirms what Ham and Beemer are saying. This short Vision Form article doesn't go into the possible causes of this failure (you're supposed to by the book I guess :o), but I have some thoughts about that - especially as a parent of 2 teens now. I think the reasons for our failures to reach our youth are:

1. We don't walk our talk as much as we should. I know I don't always do so - and it tends to invalidate what we teach big time. It's hard keeping your guard up all the time. But rather than "keeping our guard up" perhaps we need to be more seriously pursuing inner transformation so that our piety isn't a facade, it's the real deal. When young people are around transformed christians, it DOES make an impact on young people. As a parent of 4, I find it ridiculously difficult to pursue spiritual things. The din alone is enough to make it hard to spend time with God. Practicing the Presence of God is NOT for sissies :o) But I think it is an all important first step that Amy and I are pursuing with all our might (prayer needed!).

2. We don't "disciple" our youth, we entertain them and stuff them with trivia and facts that never make it down into their hearts. This, I think, is where we finally "lose them." Jesus' method of training HIS disciples was to disciple them for 3+ years. He didn't just teach them, he spent TONS of time with them so that they could see him model the spiritual transformation that He was trying to teach them to pursue. And it worked! But we just send them to Sunday School or Youth Group and expect the classroom setting to disciple them. But that's NOT how it works. It will NEVER work that way. Perhaps we should ask our youth workers to be spending time with kids as a discipler more than as a group entertainer with a little spiritual message thrown in. I realize that reaching non-churched kids may require more fluff. But once they are part of the community, they need to be discipled just as much as adults do.

What do you think? It's radical sounding I know - but John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostles all sounded pretty radical in their day too. Sounding radical may not be a sure sign you are on the right path, but it shouldn't be a sure sign you must be wrong either. Hmmmm..... :o)

I Love My Wife!

2009-07-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

I know I don't say it enough but I gotta tell you, I really love my wife. I would be SO lost without her in my life. And not just because she does my laundry and helps me find stuff I misplace (often right in front of me), but because I would be so lonely I don't think I could stand it. Here's why.
After a few years of dating, when I was finishing college, I chose to stop dating and just concentrate on the business of growing spiritually and being of service to others. It's not that I didn't notice women, I just stopped trying to pursue them as my sole reason for living - like most guys do at that age I think. Anyway, after doing that a couple of years and enjoying life very much, I began to feel lonely. God met all my needs, so I wasn't pining away, and I had friends too. But, somehow I just felt something was missing and I felt alone in this world. And I knew I didn't like that.
SO, I prayed and kept doing all the things I normally did and waited. And in God's perfect timing, he brought my wife into my life. We fell in love very quickly and within three months I proposed. And I have been thrilled with her companionship every day since. Sometimes a guy longs to have a buddy to smoke cigars with and grump about politics or CA drivers, but those friendships are just a few drops of ale in the tankard. A godly wife, however, is an never emptied cup of joy... a constant companion and loving partner for life. Oh my goodness, it doesn't get any better!

Jefferson's Genius & Wit just Keeps on Giving!

2009-07-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Thomas Jefferson once said,
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government,
so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution
so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.”

Gee, I wonder if he would agree with Judge Sotomayor and her ilk who declare the Constitution to be a living document that must change as the needs of society demand? I think, no I know, his answer would be, "By all that is holy in heaven above NO!" Fascinating isn't it! How, as a political philosopher, Jefferson disliked and intensely mistrusted politicians. The more things change the more they stay the same, eh?

Mid-summer Morning Musings

2009-07-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful mid-summer morning here in sunny NCal. A cool breeze blows through the windows as the golden sun climbs into the sky. At such times, it is easy to be thankful to God for all His good gifts. Such times even allow for a little time to speculate about deeper things.

Happy Birthday America!

2009-07-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Our unique nation is 233 years old today. The biblically inspired genius of the Founding Fathers is truly astounding. They fully understood the true nature of men (inaliendable human rights endowed by our Creator Himself and the universally corrupting influence of power) and the true nature of government (that it's role is to protect the rights of the individual and to serve the people it governs, and that by logical inference should be minimal and severely limited in scope and powers).
Let us all be sure to stand up from today onward and demand that our nation return to it's founding principals. Because quite frankly, our federal government is anything BUT limited in scope and powers. Seeking (or pretending?) to do good for all, they have become a massively bloated bureacracy that has it's fingers everywhere, spreading corruption, inefficiency, and ineptitude on everything it touches let alone depriving its citizens of their rights at every turn - all for the common good (supposedly). That a generation or two are blinded to this deadly development makes the potential slide into tyranny even more likely. Please, demand limited government at every turn and of every elected official. Don't settle for anything less!

Limited Government - STILL a Necessity!

2009-06-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

Lonnie Schubert writing for The Patriot Post has some timely wisdom we all need to heed...

GOVERNMENT

"The EPA is now considering designating CO2 a dangerous pollutant. The regulation of essential elements of life by our government scares me. It should scare us all. I am devastated by the notion that our own government founded on freedom would regulate and control the most fundamental aspects of life on earth. Regulation on life's important things is certainly tyranny.... If we regulate carbon dioxide or water, we will all be subject to the regulations because we cannot avoid producing both and releasing them into the environment. Me and my children, and yours too, will become polluters as we simply live and perspire. I cannot comprehend it. ...[C]arbon dioxide is the basis of the energy cycle for life. Without sufficient carbon dioxide plants stop photosynthesis. Without plants, the whole chain breaks down, and we all die. ... Government stepping beyond its basic essentials always harms more than it helps. Government can never be efficient. It is not in its nature. The scorpion stings because it is a scorpion. Government oppresses because it is the governing power. Our founding fathers tried to control the beast, and it can probably not be done better, so do not thwart the controls. The controls are to be on the government, not we the people. Reduce the EPA, not carbon dioxide. In the end, that will save our children." --columnist Lonnie Schubert (writing for Patriot Post)

Its gonna be a scorcher!

2009-06-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well, sizzlin' summer has finally arrived here in Northern California. Time for the annual praises to our Maker for the invention of air conditioning as the hot sun makes everything look washed out and hazy while the heat slowly melts your frontal cortex. And it usually takes a LONG time to cool off at night.
Oh well, it was eventually going to happen. But just to make a monkey out of ole Al Gore, it took a lot longer than usual to get scorchin' hot. I'm cool with that (both the longer cool season and making a monkey out of Al Gore).
Hope everyone is being safe in the heat! Have a great scorcher!

They are Right to Worry about a "Bubba Summer."

2009-06-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

It's good to see that Americans are not the only ones fed up with an unresponsive and corrupt government. Iranians, who have long been simmering in resentment over the oppressive ayatollah's ruling their once proud and glorious culture, appear to have finally reached the boiling point. Many of us in the U.S. can relate to that kind of frustration I think. In fact, as the nation wide Tea Parties demonstrate, there are an awful lot of people out there who are sick and tired of watching their government NOT be of the people and for the people, of watching politicians do whatever they please despite the clear indication of what the majority of their constituents want. Their frustration over their apparent inability to rectify these grievances at the ballot box has reached possibly the highest point since the Civil Rights riots in the 60's. In short, people are darn mad and they aren't going to take much more. As ole Doc Holiday said in a Hollywood movie a few years back, one day soon there is going to be "A Reckoning."

A month or so back I saw a piece in the news about the fear of a "Bubba Summer." I guess that somewhat derogatory term is supposed to describe what can happen in the heat of summer when a bunch of good ole boys realize the government has become the problem and decide to make the government their enemy and DO something about it. They bantered the idea around a bit and chuckled about it.

But in all likelihood, we won't see a Bubba Summer this year. For one, Americans are just too busy amusing themselves to death. But who knows....at the rate that "change" is happening in government these days, that could change rather quickly - especially given the arrogant nature of politicans lately. They just aren't getting it. And though everyone on the left speaks with horror and threatens to call Homeland Security at the mere whisper of disgust with the government - our own Declaration of Independence speaks about what to do in such a situation. I didn't make those words up - look them up yourself.

A fellow blogger wrote... "If change is what people want and they cannot get it through the ballot box and are wholly ignored by those who pretend to lead them - then the images we are seeing (in Iran) are truly the result." So I guess you could say that the ayatollahs have got themselves into a Bubba Summer in Iran.

Then he goes on to quote from 2 well loved Americans.

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."
- John F. Kennedy

"And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance?...The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson

Food for thought and contemplation (and discussion). I would LOVE to see an honest and vigorous debate about dealing with government tyranny per the Declaration and Constitution and our own national history without the participants being labeled as kooks or led off in chains.

This Just Cannot Continue...

2009-06-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Regarding illegal immigration - some serious food for thought from the L. A. Times (they are right in the heart of the whole issue for sure!)...Here are some uncomfortable facts:
1. 40% of all workers in L. A. County ( L. A. County has 10.2 million people)are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is (the LA Times concludes) because they are predominantly illegal immigrants working without a green card.
2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens. (WHOA!)
4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal , whose births were paid for by taxpayers. (Hmmn, immigration has NO impact on our budget deficit Mr. Gubernator?)
5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally (ditto)
6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.
7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.
8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal. (ditto)
9. 21 radio stations in L. A. Are Spanish speaking.
10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish.
(There are 10.2 million people in L. A. County . )

(Note again: All 10 of the above are from the Los Angeles Times - not a conservative newspaper)

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare. Over 70% of the United States ' annual population growth (and over 90% of California , Florida , and New York ) results from immigration. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

We are a bunch of fools for letting this continue. America has always welcomed immigrants and we should continue to do so. In the past, immigration may have temporarily depleted some jobs but in the end, contributed to our society far more than took anything away. Immigration, it could easily be argued, is what made our nation great.
Now, however, we have become something we have not been until now - a massive welfare state. And the flood of immigrants through our southern borders is an altogether different kind of immigrant. They are typically not skilled laborers or professionals (we have had waves of this kind of immigrant before though this was before the coming of the welfare state). Now-a-days, these immigrants are the poorest of the poor (though 2% DO pick crops according to the LA Times above). And our country has decided that poor people get a free ride (or at least massive assistance esp. when children are involved). O.K. that's fine if you can afford to pay for it - it may not always be the BEST way to help folks in the long run but I really don't think that it's bad to help the poor at all. IF you can pay for it.
Now-a-days this is a bigger and bigger IF isn't it? Fact is, it's killing our economy. Government spending is racing out of control just as all the boomers hit retirement and strain that system to breaking. The bottom line - our big heart is so big it is going to burst our pocketbooks and endanger the entire nation and economy.
I don't know what the answer is. I don't want to harm the poor and I don't want our economy to collapse or to have the government swell to tryannical proportions to try to "do it all." Sometimes you have to make your priorities and make hard choices to keep to them. Let's be committed to our poor and help them. O.K. But I don't think America can afford to be committed to the rest of the world's poor in the same way.
The best way to resolve this crisis is to make the borders work for real. Control immigration, send home those who aren't here legally and can't show how they make a vital contribution to our society (letting skilled laborers remain) and send all illegal alien prisoners back to their home countries with our borders shut to their quick return.
Then go to town on finding ways to fix the problems of our poor. We can go ahead and contribute to humanitarian aid to other nations if we like - fine. But letting them flood in to help them just can't keep happening anymore. We are running out of sane ways to fund it. The jig is up.

Lack of Moral base has ruined our Republic

2009-06-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Many of the founding fathers said it - without God and the Bible it will be impossible to govern this nation (paraphrasing Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Madison etc). Despite the multiculturalists rantings, the Judeo-Christian worldview is the best "nest" for democracy because it's moral code requires the kind of honesty and integrity required to avoid abuses of power and tyranny. Certainly not all Christians live out these moral requirements perfectly, but it drives them and if others around them practice their faith properly, there is added accountability as well. Few other religions offer democracy such "help." As our nation throws away it's Judeo-Christian roots we are cutting our own throats politically, which explains why politics has become SO dirty, so dishonest and untrustworthy, so pointless if you aren't one of the political elite.
Straining against this moral compass is the almost irresistable temptions of Party Politics and Money bought influence. And the founding fathers warned us about these deadly things as well, calling on the nation to avoid the entanglements and compromising loyatlies political parties create and urging the nation to cling to the Rule of Law and of sound moral principles instead of just granting the requests of those who have lots of cash.
I think anyone from those first generations of Americans (immigrant or not) would be revolted by this nation today. I think they would reject almost everything we have come to see as "the way it is." After all, they rebelled against the mightiest nation in the world at the time to pursue these "silly" little principles like liberty, the rule of law, limited government, and individual freedom and responsibility. They would puke when they observe this nation trying to become a nanny welfare state that robs from the rich to give to the poor, empovershing them both. The more I read their writings, the more ashamed I am of what this nation is becoming - has become over the last 100 years. We have thrown away the Republic that was entrusted to us for a cheap fix that make us feel warm and fuzzy but only hastens our own demise.
Unless a new generation of Americans raises up and embraces the concepts laid down by the founding fathers, our nation is a goner. I don't think it can be turned back now - those gluttons who feed from the trough of government will not willingly walk away. They must be replaced by a new generation that understands the truth about the nature of government and our Republic. I wonder how long we will have to wait for that generation to come?

Some Light at the End of the Tunnel

2009-03-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

OK, so we think we may have found some practical wisdom that just might make parenting a little more successful with our "problem child." That's encouraging. Of course, it will take weeks to go through the teaching material and the entire burden of success really lies with my wife and I - can we consistently apply these ideas and behavior. I get so tired of everything being so complicated.

Ode to Parents

2009-03-15T19:26:00.001-07:00

Someone said, "Parenting is not for wimps." Well, what they should have said was, "Parenting is for those masochists who wish to daily live out the truth that No Good Deed Goes Unpunished." Now let us examine this sentence. It says "Parenting is for those masochists..." Masochists are those who enjoy pain. In fact, they seem to enjoy pain in such a perverse, unnatural manner that they actually seek it out, even pay for others to inflict pain upon them. Most normal people do not like pain and seek to avoid it at all costs. Parents, apparently, must like pain. This is deduced from the reality that most parenting tasks are wracked with pain, suffering and angst.

There is the joy of changing diapers and repairing and repainting anything the toddler gets his or her hands on - which is everything that isn't in a Swiss bank safety deposit bank.

Then there's trying to teach your child how to obey. It is here that children show that they are truly from another dimension as even 18 years apparently isn't long enough to learn this lesson. There are, of course, always exceptions - well behaved children that are paraded around by their smug parents. While they walk around in a guilt and frustration induced fog, parents never realize that such children are a rare oddity - actually adults suffering from some rare genetic disorder - they only LOOK like children.

Then there's the thankless job of potty training. OK, we won't go further into this since it involves lots of potty talk. But it is only slightly less suffering than the constant diaper changing.

Then your child reaches school age. Finally, you get 6 hours a day away from them. BUT you have to pay for it with evenings full of screaming, tears and angst over homework. After a few years you are SO weary and frustrated that you might actually be tempted to let the little trout sink all on his own. But then when the dweeb flunks out his teachers will blame you and you will pile yet more guilty pains upon your weary soul.

And as the student gets older - it only gets worse and the consequences of their failure grows exponentially. Are we having fun yet? Only if you think all the snotty attitude and disrespect is enjoyable.

All of these parenting tasks suck bilge water big time. No one would willingly go through it more than once. And yet, many parents have more than one child. Hence the charge of "masochism."

Let us examine the final part of the phrase, "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished." This ironic witticism reflects the unfortunate reality that your children will rarely show any appreciation unless the following phrases express gratitude: "I hate you...you are ruining my life...you just don't understand me...that is SO unfair....I hate my family...why are you ruining my life?"
Instead, they will find ways to make you miserable even after giving them a nice Christmas or going to Disneyland (again) because that's where the kids want to do. With all the sacrificing parents do you would think the universe would pamper them or give them a break. But in fact, parent's cars, homes and other worldly goods are destroyed at an alarming rate - causing yet more anxiety and suffering for the parent.

Add to that all the so called experts who constantly seek to humiliate and tell us how it ought to be done. And the authorities who threaten to lock us up just when we finally find some way of reaching our half-brained offspring. Wow! It's the greatest job you will ever love to hate.

Who needs enemies when you have kids!

Weekends Just Not Keeping Up

2009-02-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

One of the ways many of us cope with the tediousness of life and work is to look forward to the weekends. We count on them to inject some badly needed joy into our lives - usually through some kind of recreation or meaningful relaxation. We've all heard the phrase, "Living for the weekend," before, I suppose.
Well, the weekends are just not doing their job lately! They aren't keeping up their end of the bargain in our house. I deal with a class full of kids who do NOT want to do anything I NEED them to be doing (they would rather play or daydream or TALK - I suppose I wasn't any different) all week long. Then you go home and run kids all over town and try to get them to do things they do NOT want to do and that I NEED them to do. That ends when they FINALLY go to sleep around 10 p.m. (they've been in bed since 9). And you get up each day and it starts all over again. But the weekend cometh!
Only our weekends are full of minor sicknesses and rainy weather. So we can't go anywhere and can't send the healthy ones outdoors. Oh, the noise! It wearies your soul and strains your patience and sanity and it never EVER stops! Before you know it the weekend is over and you have nothing to show for it and you are back to work on Monday. Waiting for the weekend that never seems to come.
It's been like that for many weeks now it seems. I hate rain!

Day 1 of the New Workers Paradise

2009-01-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

Well, day one of paradise begins with a bang - Wall Street drops over 300 points and dips below 8,000 for the first time since the 80s. It would seem that businesses are not feeling good about the new Paradise. Of course, they will blame it all on "that darn George Bush" like they blame everything they don't like (from global warming, French arrogance, and the short shelf-life of quality ice cream). We are SO set up to follow in the grossly mistaken footsteps of the New Deal, pre-WW2 dufai (plural of dufus). They blamed everything on Hoover, continued to deficit spend year after year to "prime" the economy (despite the obvious evidence that it wasn't working) and to pour massive amounts of govt. money into every conceivable social program that warms a liberal's heart. The result, massive inflation, double digit unemployment for 12 years and hardship for 99% of the country. Only WW2 was large enough to shake us out of that death spiral.

I see the same things and the same words being used all over again. God help us - my family is NOT ready for another Great Depression - we would be wiped out.

Oh, but such gloomy Gus thoughts on this, the first glorious day of hope in the new paradise. Never mind!

A Full MLK Weekend

2009-01-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a full MLK weekend. Thank you Lord for three day weekends once in a while. I spent most of Saturday teaching three astronomy classes at a University of Scouting. It was actually lots of fun though I was tired from having to be there at 6:45 a.m.

After that was finished I headed to a friend's house to have some juicy steak and enjoy a couple of fantastic cigars while we jawed around the fire. It was a great way to end a full day!

This morning, I went to church and then had a lunch meeting at Quiznos - first time I have ever been there. Pretty good subs. The meeting was pleasant too - sitting out in the warm sun - in the middle of January!

Then I returned home to a game of LOTR role playing with a half dozen friends. Had a tasty dinner of new potatoes and brats. Tomorrow, I plan to cook breakfast for my wife and then spend some of the day shopping for a new dishwasher now that our property tax refund arrived. I promised. SO, it will be a full weekend - but a satisfying one. I have SO much enjoyed the warm 60 degree days in the middle of January! I know I am supposed to be worried about the lack of rain, but it is SO nice to have the sun back and it not be hot yet. I'll worry about the rain later!

"Is this ALL there is? Is there Nothing More?"

2009-01-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

Being a boomer, I find that most of life can be explained or illustrated using Star Trek, especially since the Universe saw fit to give us 5 different versions plus 7 or 8 movies and an animated cartoon series to boot. Some people feel the same way about The Godfather (I'm told). So I quote from Star Trek and use Star Trek episodes to illustrate things in my classroom all the time. So it is painful to watch as the years go by and fewer and fewer kids know anything about Star Trek. To quote another poet/singer, "What a drag it is gettin' old."

Anyway, as I was turning the lights out around midnight last night to go to sleep, I suddenly realized something quite profound. At long last, beyond all hope and with ways unlooked for, I have arrived as an adult. All those things I wished for in college and in my early 20's I now have in some measure. I always told myself and my friends, "I'm not asking to change the world, I just want to have a nice home with a nice job to provide my family's basic needs." Deep down I realize now that I secretly hoped my job would provide a lot more than my "basic needs" (food, clothing, shelter from the rain & cold) and I always envisioned myself living in a house where everyone has their own space and there is a nice view from the backyard of something. Not palatial - just maybe 2,000+ sq. ft or something like that.

Well, you know what they say, "Be careful what you wish for (out loud I mean)..."

Truth is, I have a wonderful family of 4 w/ my best friend in the world as my wife. I finally have some modicum of a career that provides a small but regular salary and enables me to meet my family's basic needs well enough I suppose. I know I AM grateful for my job! And we were finally able to purchase a home - it's only 1,300 sq.ft. and my kids have to double up in their rooms - not as spacious as my dream house but it's mine (and I never thought I would be able to afford even this so I'm seriously not griping). But as I turned out the lights, I realized that this may well be the house I turn out the lights in for the rest of my mortal life. In many ways, I thought, I would be quite blessed to have it that way. But at the same time, I found myself feeling quite melancholy and echoing the words of Spock in the 1st Star Trek movie - where after merging with V'ger he tries to explain the alien machine's state of mind. He tells Kirk and Co. about the history of the fomer earth probe that was equipped to learn everything in the galaxy and then report it to it's creator. He explains how it has come back to earth to do just that but can't believe that mankind is its creator - we are so puny! He says that the probe has done everything it is supposed to do and is now asking, "Is this all there is? Is there nothing more (to the universe and this existence I presume)?"

I just turned 45 last month. You are probably laughing about now and rolling your eyes about another dufus going through mid-life crisis. I don't know if that is what this is...but I DO find that I am not entirely sure I want my life to stay just like this until I die. I certainly don't mind living in this house or having this job for another 25 years. But there are still some things I feel are lacking about my life. I'm not sure what they are. But something inside tells me there IS something more. I really don't think it is a career move and heaven knows I don't want to move again. But still, there is something missing and it saddens me to realize it because I have a feeling it will not be easy to discover. But I may be wrong.

A Matter of Principle - Oh Yeah...

2009-01-04T15:54:00.001-08:00

You have to chuckle about this one. Remember after the mid-term elections when the smug Ms. Pelosi carped about how the Democrats would put an end to the "culture of corruption?" Right.... As others have pointed out, for wanting to end corruption, Democrats have been strangely quiet when one of their own is caught red-handed! There's that congressman with all that "cold" cash in his freezer, and - oh the instances are too numerous to mention. As a result, I have not taken the vapid Ms. Pelosi's empty diatribe seriously.

But this time it seems a little different. The Gov. of Illinois was caught red handed a little more conclusively than the usual. The dude is as crooked as a willow switch. The whole nation is laughing at him if they aren't calling for his immediate impeachment. Illinois Democrats have, naturally, feigned shock at the Governor's massively crooked actions and seem to be tepidly interested in ending the culture of corruption starting with Blagojevich. Gov. Blagojevich made things even dicier by going ahead and appointing Roland Burris to the Senate seat - the very one he tried to sell to the highest bidder. Congressional Democrats were outraged and are threatening to ignore the appointment. They don't really have much of a legal stand to do that, but, and I never thought I would ever be saying this, they seem to be standing on principle - not wanting a criminal to prosper from their blatant misbehavior (Blagojevich not Burris - hopefully he wasn't one of the bidders!).

I applaud congressional Democrat's stand. IF they are really serious about rooting out corruption they have to not only do things right, but they have to make sure those who are corrupt cannot prosper from their misdeeds. If they want us to take them seriously, ever, they need to push hard for Blagojevich's IMMEDIATE impeachment and disallow ANYONE that crooked popinjay appoints. If they do anything less, well, then I was right all along about their genuineness about fighting corruption.

A Matter of Principle - Oh Yeah...

2009-01-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

You have to chuckle about this one

Eagle Eye dwells on chlling ideas...

2009-01-01T22:11:00.000-08:00

I just watched the movie Eagle Eye. Besides being well made and full of white knuckle action, the movie revolves around several Constitutional issues. Whoa! Very egg-headed for Hollywood! The spooky master computer concludes that the US govt. has become tyrancial and is operating contrary to the common good and in violation of Constitutional principles. Therefore, the computer decides the govt. must be overthrown and replaced with one that will. Spooky and very Civil War-like eh?

But I gotta tell you, the concept for this movie (not the super computer of course) comes right out of the preamble of the Declaration of Independence. As I teach my elementary students about the constitution and early American history, I am often struck by just how far off center our nation and govt. has become from what the framers and "fathers" envisioned. I don't think any of them save maybe Marshal (1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) would feel like our country has stayed true to the principles laid down in the Declaration and Constitution. Let's review them:

1. Popular Sovereignty. Govt. existed for the people - to be their servant. It was to be made up by citizens who were there for the good of their fellow citizens. Govt. was to serve the people not the other way around. You hear this talk in politics today but it seems to be merely window dressing. Most civil servants seem to be there for the purposes of lining their own pockets as much as possible. That's why corruption is so prevalent. We need to take this more seriously than we currently do.

2.Limited Government. The framers DESPERATELY wanted to avoid political tyranny like that they had just fought free of. Therefore, they deliberatly crafted a central govt. that was limited to doing ONLY what was assigned to them in the Constitution. They understood the dangers of power and how it corrupts the well meaning. A limited central government was the only way to help avoid this as much as possible. Now, can anyone really say we still operate with the concept of limited govt.? Our govt. is SO bloated and invasive I think EVERY early American would be horrified and turn over in his or her grave. We trade our civil liberties for what we are told is greater security and greater ease of life. But if you really examine those issues in the long term, you find we get neither. A great man once said, "those who trade liberty for security end up with neither." We NEED to be prickly when the govt. invades our privacy and our individual rights and freedoms. The less govt. dictates our choices and lifestyle the better. Govt. is a terrible parent/moral authority. Outlawing everything govt. decides is bad for us smacks more of Demolition Man than sound constitutional law.

3. Federalism. NO state expected to shed their sovereignty by ratifying the Constitution. Sure they knew they would have to give up absolute autonomy to be part of a union. But they expected to retain a significant amount of autonomy and power over the lives of their citizens. But activist courts and presidents have all but erased this. States have no real autonomy anymore. They are more like administrative units than governing authorities. The mighty federal govt. gets whatever it wants. State govts. are powerless to resist. The last group of states to try to do so were attacked by the federal govt. and the Civil War began. I think the same thing would happen today - don't you? Eagle Eye does it right though when it has a super computer do the rebelling - because none of our pampered, neutered state governments would EVER have the stones to tell the federal govt. "No" and make it stick.

4. Separation of Powers. This refers to the power of the federal govt. being split into 3 branches so that no one branch or no one person could become a tyrant. This is largely gone now thanks to the Imperial Presidency and the arrogance of the Supreme Courts. Presidents essentially make laws by making presidential declarations and acts that have the force of law. And the Supreme Court constantly makes laws by force of its rulings. Yet, this is the clear responsibility of the Legistlative branch. The executive and judicial branches are not supposed to make laws. Yet they essentially do and have been getting away with it for a hundred years or better.

5. Checks and Balances. Related to the Separation of Powers, this is the idea that one branch can prevent the other from becoming a tyrant and ignoring the Constititution. But special interest money and rank cowardice has prevented this from seriously working for a long time now.

Pretty heady stuff from a Hollywood movie, eh?

Gorram crazy drivers!

2008-12-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

OK - advanced warning - this is a grumpy rant. But what the heck is wrong with so many drivers in CA? Have most of them taken stupid pills or are they just mental midgets? I don't mean they can't guide their cars down the road more or less in a straight line - but they can't drive in a crowd w/out A) breaking lots of traffic laws they couldn't care less about, and B) nearly causing death or mayhem every 60 seconds or so.

I guess that's what happens when you have millions of self-absorbed people on the road at the same time. When the universe revolves around you and you alone - it's hard to drive in a safe and cooperative manner w/ the other self-absorbed weenies next to you. SO, no one EVER uses their turning signals (that would be helpful after all), they back out of driveways or parking spaces at 20 mph w/out looking in a mirror or looking behind them, they either drive 90 in the slow lane or 55 in the passing lane. And MERGE onto the freeway - FORGET IT! That takes cooperative skills most Californians just don't seem to possess. Thankfully, there are a few paranoid and responsible drivers like me on the road that refrain from plowing into the arrogant idiots. They certainly deserve either lots of tickets or an accident. But I just can't bring myself to plow into someone even though they have done everything they could do to make that happen. I suppose that is still a good thing - though it almost qualifies as "enabling" if you look at it long term. So, what's a decent driver to do? I suppose either get a big Hummer and plow over the jerks when they cut in front of you OR, move to the midwest where people actually have some common sense and feel free to use it when they drive.

SO, though California is a great place to live climate-wise, I sure wish alot of the folk here would "get a horse!"

What a glorious day!

2008-12-30T10:58:00.001-08:00

The morning started off so very foggy here in the valley. But by 10:30 had burned off and now it is bright and sunny w/ fair temperatures. It IS easy to see why people love living in California - the weather really is so much better than in most parts of the country where they endure high humidity in summer and frigid temperatures in winter. Living in California brings moderate temperatures (sometimes pretty hot though) but unless you live in the mountains, you rarely see snow. Having grown up in the mid-west I miss snow quite a bit! But you can always drive a couple of hours to find some if you really want to. Still...

Here's to hoping your New Year's Eve is fun, safe and memorable. May the new year be better for our nation than 2008 was.

I get lots of comments on this one...Stages of Democracy Take 2

2008-12-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

I have received the most comments about this email. I want to say again, that it appears that the original "source" may be bogus - however, even an amateur student of political science would agree that it's basic premise is pretty sound and is born out by history. Those basic ideas were also on the minds of the framers of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. So, despite the possibly bogus work cited - I still think the ideas are important and ought to be mulled over. There IS a warning here we need to heed lest we fall like all the rest. We should avoid the egotism that leads so many to repeat the errors of the past. Will we? Recent election results make we wonder...but, of course, I hope I am wrong! Here is the original post...
------------------------------------------
The following was in an email that I received several months ago. I was unable to track down the name of the original author (sorry). But I HAVE heard much of what it has to say before in political science lectures while at college. It bears some serious thought....

"About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." (emphasis mine - he continues...)

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these
nations always progressed through the following sequence
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage "
END QUOTE
---------------------------------------
My comments...
I feel that the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phases of democracy, with perhaps at least 40 percent of the population already having reached the stage of "governmental dependency."

IF that really is so - then the only stage left is #8 - From dependence back into bondage. What might that look like I wonder? Possibly the welfare state becoming openly socialist and increasingly totalitarian - possibly even a dictatorship? One thing is for sure - our civil liberties will become extinct in the name of "the public good" or "safety."
You know, the Founding Fathers saw this coming and cemented our inalienble human rights in the constitution so that all future laws and govt. actions had to keep these in the center of their thinking and rulings. But social progressives constantly want to redefine these rights and the constitution so that it can be "applied" to modern situations. In the end, all that does is make it easy for some dictator(s) to "redefine" our rights and the constitution so that they can "legally" take them away (so much for inalienable).
What do you say?

Holiday Wrap Up

2008-12-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

Well, first I need to say, "Thank you Lord!" for all the blessings of this holiday. It was the first Christmas w/ our new daughter and our new house (it was a full year!). We were able to spend several nights around the fireplace and Christmas tree with the family singing and reading the scriptures to remember the coming of Christ. I mean, at times, it looked and felt like a Currier and Ives/Rockwell Christmas! It was really great!
The shopping wasn't too excruciating and everyone seemed to like their gifts.
And the food was scrumptious (ham and lamb on the 23rd, homemade chowder and biscuits on the 24th, turkey on the 26th and still have a yummy ham left for later in the week).
And spending some time off with the new baby was really something - she is way too cute! She has been charming and wrapping me around her little finger for days now and I gotta tell you, I am liking it! So, all in all, despite catching a chest cold and having a wicked awful cough for the last couple of days, I would have to give this Christmas a 9 on a scale of 1-10. Hope yours went well too!

So It Begins...

2008-11-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the holiday season has finally arrived! I love it! Thanksgiving dinner this year was one of the best I have ever had. It was truly a wonderful time with family and the turkey et al was some of the tastiest I have ever enjoyed.
Now we are putting up the Christmas decorations and saying "good-bye" the praiseworthy pilgrims. The Christmas music is playing - probably my favorite kind of music - I would play it year long if I were allowed. I am looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and our new baby girl. It will be a funny game to keep her from stripping the Christmas tree! She is such a little cherub.
Haven't used the fireplace yet, but will soon. Yeah, this year has the potential of being one of the best Christmas holiday seasons ever.
Hope you are looking forward to yours too!

Meyers-Briggs (Keirsey/Bates) Personality Inventory

2008-06-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

Amy did this on her blog and I tried it too - turned out just like it has for the last 25 years. At least I'm consistent - if not a little odd...

Your Personality is Very Rare (ENTJ)

Your personality type is energetic, romantic, optimistic, and brave.

Only about 4% of all people have your personality, including 3% of all women and 5% of all men

You are Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Another Year of Wedded Joy

2008-05-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

No seriously! My wife and I celebrated our 21st anniversary today. Well, we actually went out to dinner last night since we couldn't get childcare for the actual day. It was a great dinner. The food was good and the company was the best! Seriously, I love my wife so much. She just keeps getting better and more amazing every year.
As I reflect back, I really am a blessed. I have a wonderful and beautiful wife who still thrills my soul, four amazing kids, a great job and it looks like this year we might finally be able to buy a house of our own. Its still too early to bet on it but things have come down enough that we just might be able to swing it. After 15+ years of roaming it is nice to finally feel a little settled - to feel a little "grown up."
Yep, I am blessed.

I want to make music again...

2008-05-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I realized how much poorer my life is since I stopped making music. I used to play instruments and sing - almost every day for the first 20 years of my life or so. Now, I only sing in church and in the car - which drives my family nuts - they always turn on the radio. How rude is that!

And I realized I LIKE singing - not just spiritual songs but rock, country, ballads, folk music - heck just about anything. I enjoy how it feels to make music. As a vocalist, I may not be playing the biggest part, but I AM a part of making music. And I miss it horribly. And I wonder how I will ever go about putting it back into my life again. I don't know very many musicians anymore and most of us are in our mid 40s and don't have enough time to keep up w/ the Honey Do List let alone practice and rehearse.

I would love to marry my hobby for dramatic renactment and costuming somehow (having a very finite amount of time but still wanting to keep a hand in those hobbies somehow too) and create a small group of guys (gals too) who could work up a repertoire of 20 or 30 songs, some holiday stuff and some folk/ethnic material and just a few fun ones for the heck of it.

And while I am dreaming big - I would love to be part of a group of 4 or 5 guys who could get together and drink a beer and smoke a cigar once in a while and talk about politics, what we've been reading and the goofy stuff life spits out every day.
Yeah, dreaming big time now. :o(

Being Me...

2008-05-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

I've always loved this song - something in it I identify with (Heaven's knows it's not the superman part - I guess its the feeling lost and in a daze and feeling somedays how much it stinks being me...). So, I heard it today while in the car and couldn't resist blogging it. If you are a man, and a father especially, I think you can relate just a little...

Superman
by Five for Fighting
I can’t stand to fly I’m not that naive
I’m just out to find The better part of me

I’m more than a bird...I’m more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
It’s not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie About a home I’ll never see

It may sound absurd...but don’t be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed...but won’t you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
It’s not easy to be me

Up, up and away...away from me
It’s all right...you can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy...or anything...

I can’t stand to fly I’m not that naive
Men weren’t meant to ride With clouds between their knees

I’m only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
Inside of me Inside me
Yeah, inside me Inside of me

I’m only a man In a funny red sheet
I’m only a man Looking for a dream

I’m only a man In a funny red sheet
And it’s not easy, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm...
It’s not easy to be me

He's My Son

2008-02-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

Friday will be the 5th anniversary of Joshua's death. I came across this song in my archives. I was given the solo tape to this song earlier in the year he was born. Who knew how applicable it would be a few months later. I can still hear some of these words in my head if I close my eyes and allow myself to drift back ...

He's My Son
(by Mark Schultz)
I'm down on my knees again tonight,
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right.
See, there is this boy that needs Your help;
I've done all I can do myself.
His mother is tired; I'm sure You can understand.
Each night as he sleeps, she goes in to hold his hand.
And she tries, not to cry, as the tears, fill her eyes.

Can You hear me? Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him? Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me, let me take his place somehow.
See, he's not just anyone, he's my son.

Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep;
I dream of the boy he'd like to be.
I try to be strong and see him through,
But God, who needs right now is You.
Let him grow old, live life without this fear.
What would I be, living without him here?
He's so tired, and he's scared; let him know, that You're there.

Can You hear me? Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him? Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me, let me take his place somehow.
See, he's not just anyone, he's my son.

Can You hear me? Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him? Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me, let me take his place somehow.
See, he's not just anyone...
Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him, He's my son.
------------------------------------------

And the strangest thing is that these same words could also have been sung many times by my parents when I was a sickly child. I can remember as I struggled through long asthma attacks, feeling like I was suffocating and going to die. It is such a horrible sensation and it is hard not to panic, which only makes it much worse. My parents reassured me and calmed me and truly saved my life in doing so. But how they must have howled these words in their souls as they held on to me and fought with me to draw each breath. And He heard their prayers and did not leave me.

Happy but wishing for snow!

2007-12-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas fellow bloggers! I pray this entry finds you and yours in excellent health, having enjoyed a Christmas filled with wonder, food, family and relaxing fun. Mine pretty much was! Between the two extended families and our immediate family we celebrated Christmas three times over a 3 day period. But it didn't feel like the typical commercial driven orgy of gift giving - there were fewer gifts and less expensive gifts that were still appreciated and celebrated. We have always tried to downplay gift giving - after all it's not OUR birthday we are celebrating - why should WE get all the gifts! But its hard to accomplish that when everyone around you is firmly wedded to the gift giving excesses that characterize American Christmas celebrations!
But this year seemed more balanced overall. Our boys took delight in getting gifts for each other instead of just what they were going to receive. And they spent much of their own money to do it - even more cool.
As I move into the New Year, I sense that the coming year will bring some profound changes to my family - I just hope none of them have to do with unemployment or serious illness - I've had enough of that to last a couple of lifetimes! But whatever comes, I know God will walk with us throughout the entire year. Hope yours is a year of love, peace, joy and blessing!

Have a Blessed Christmas & Joyous New Year!

2007-12-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

In this most joyous of seasons, we pray that the Love of Jesus Christ will touch your heart anew as you contemplate the wonder of our Savior's birth. Even after all these centuries, wise men still seek Him. And all who seek Him shall find Him waiting with open arms. O' how He loves you and me!

How 2 Faced Can You Be?

2007-11-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

The whole immigration crisis is so fraught with amazingly ridiculous developments! You would laugh if there wasn't so much at stake. Anyway, came across several articles telling us how much the current and former president of Mexico are in favor of open borders and amnesty. Well, you would expect that they would favor immigration and open borders since illegal and legal immigrants are a HUGE source of funds for the Mexican economy (which tells you something about how corrupt and porrly managed that country is). But they have NO reason to look after OUR best interests only their own.
But get this! They don't practice what they preach AT ALL! Reporter George Putnam in a November 1, 2007 article quickly reviews what Mexican law says about immigration into Mexico. Here it is...

Article 33 of the Mexican Constitution that specifically authorizes immediate expulsion of any foreigner whose presence the Mexican government deems objectionable.

Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets “the equilibrium of the national demographics.” When foreigners are deemed detrimental to economic or national interests, when they have broken Mexican laws, they are jailed or deported.

Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony. Mexicans who help illegals enter the country are themselves considered criminals. A Mexican who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to five years in prison. And no foreigner may engage in political affairs, in any manner.

If a foreigner wishes to reside in Mexico, he or she must have a guaranteed job or be financially independent, and must prove an income from abroad consisting of pensions or investments four hundred times the minimum wage in Mexico City (monthly). This amount represents approximately $1,500 in U.S. dollars per month.

Mexico welcomes only foreigners who are “useful to Mexican society.”

Wow! That is a pretty protective and stingy approach to immigration. Frankly, it makes a lot of sense and the US should seriously consider taking a similar stance on immigration. But knowing that many countries take a similar stance (Mexico's laws are not overly unique) makes it seem all the more bizarre when you want to put ANY restrictions on immigration (especially the illegal variety) and people call you a mean, stingy, heartless so and so. I wonder if they realize that most countries on the earth have laws that are even stricter than the ones being proposed by those wanting to do something to protect our borders and culture.

Name that accent!

2007-10-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Wow - this one pegged me but good. Pretty funny.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Midland
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The South
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Happy Birthday America!

2007-07-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well, once again citizens of America have the opportunity to reflect and celebrate this great political experiment called the United States of America. And though she is a little banged up and threatened by enemies within and overseas, she still stands strong. What an amazing application of the Judeo/Christian worldview to the political and economic realms! Though we were not the first democratic government of course, our founders seemed to have learned the mistakes of our predecessors well. The result, as superior a form of government as can be created and maintained by flawed and imperfect mortals. It ain't always perfect but you should see the mess in other places! I don't want to get political on this day - but I do want to urge every American to take some time between the picnics and the fireworks to reflect on our nation and what it is supposed to stand for. Below is a quotation from a poem titled, "America, Why I Love Her" by John Mitchum. The great western actor John Wayne loved it and I think gave some commentary on it for the 1964 Republican National Convention that is quite stirring (see last couple of posts). Here is is - enjoy! And have a happy Fourth of July friend!

"America, America, God shed his grace on thee..."

You ask me Why I Lover Her? Well, give me time and I'll explain.
Have you see a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain?
Have you drifted on a bayou down Louisiana way?
Have you watched a cold fog drifting over San Francisco Bay?

Have you heard a bobwhite calling in the Carolina pines,
Or heard the bellow of a diesel at the Appalachia mines?
Does the call of Niagara thrill you when you hear her waters roar?
Do you look with awe and wonder at her Massachusetts shore,
Where men who braved a hard new world first stepped on Plymounth's rock?
And do you think of them when you stroll along a new York City dock?

Have you seen a snowflake drifting in the Rockies, way up high?
Have you seen the sun come blazing down from a bright Nevada sky?
Do you hail to the Columbia as she rushes to the sea,
Or bow your head at Gettysburg at our struggle to be free?

Have you seen the mighty Tetons? Have you watched an eagle soar?
Have you see the Mississippi roll along Missouri's shore?
Have you felt a chill at Michigan when on a winter's day
Her waters rage along the shore in thunderous display?
Does the word "Aloha" make you warm? Do you stare in disbelief
When you see the surf come roaring in at Waimea Reef?

From Alaska's cold to the Everglades, from the Rio Grande to Maine,
My heart cries out, my pulse runs fast at the might of her domain.
You ask me Why I Love Her? I've a million reasons why:
My Beautiful America, beneath God's wide, wide sky.

"And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea."

Sometimes someone makes a comparison that really shakes you up!

2007-06-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

The clickable link in the title and the one typed out below both lead to a page that makes an all too obvious connection - which, to my chagrin, caught me by surprise at how accurate it really is. Check it out - How are Radical Muslims different from the Klu Klux Klan...kind of scary!

http://ker-plunk.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-are-radical-islamists-different-to.html

The rest of the world ought to treat radical Islam with the same disdain and mistrust as they treat the Klan. We must stop harboring them and make practicing their beliefs very difficult and maybe we will see a change for good eventually. A free society does NOT mean anything goes. Society has a right and a duty to restrict behaviors that are deadly to the whole. We have done it before (sometimes we did it well, sometimes we didn't). If we don't do it soon - well...

How to make breaking & entering legal?

2007-06-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

"Let's say I break into your house..."

A lady wrote the best letter in the Editorials in ages!!! It explains things better than all the baloney you hear on TV.

Her point:
Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of illegal immigration.

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

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, "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 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 to learn MY LANGUAGE so you can communicate with me.

Why can't people see how ridiculous this is?! Only in America .

If you agree with this analogy, 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.

John Wayne, "America, Why I Love Her"

2007-06-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

The Hyphen
By John Mitchum and Howard Barnes

The Hyphen, Webster's Dictionary defines,
Is a symbol used to divide a compound word or a single word.
So it seems to me that when a man calls himself
An "Afro-American," a "Mexican-American," "Italian-American,"
An "Irish-American," "Jewish-American,"
What he's sayin' is, "I'm a divided American."

Well, we all came from other places, Different creeds and different races,
To form a nation...to become as one.
Yet look at the harm a line has done-- A simple little line, and yet, As divisive as a line can get... The road to liberty lies true.
The Hyphen's use is up to you.
Used as a bridge, it can span All the differences of Man...
If you use The Hyphen as a wall, You'll make your life mean...and small.
An American is a special breed, ... Where men are equal...and something more...United we stand...divided we fall. We're Americans...and that says it all.

John Wayne's Comments
EVERYONE knows by now that America is made up of every race, color and creed under the sun. The inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty is for real: "From her beacon-hand flows world-wide welcome."
...Our country stands today as the world's oldest living Republic. We are the greatest sociological experiment that the world has ever known. If we fail our trust, Democracy fails.
Like Ireland, the Middle East has long been divided by ancient hatreds, hatreds that have no place on our shores. Religious wars and fierce idealogical conflicts should never be a part of America; people came to Her to escape religious and political persecution. Sure, we've had our problems. What family doesn't? But they haven't stopped us. The total divisiveness that has burdened many other nations hasn't caught on here...
So bring your recipe for good Irish stew with you, but leave bigotry and hatred behind. Sing and dance to the balalaika but bring no walls with you. Praise God anyway you so desire. Just allow your neighbor the same right. For each person you see has the same needs that you do. We all want respect, concern, and yes, love.
When we all tear down walls of bigotry and prejudice and live in real harmony with ourselves and others, then we'll all say "I am an American," pure and simple. And "The Hyphen" will no longer apply to any of us. When that day comes, the world can count on us for another ten thousand years, for we'll be a brighter, a stronger and an undivided America. (Nuff said)

An Amazing 20 Years!

2007-05-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, the 23rd of May will mark our 20th Wedding Anniversary. It has been an incredible 20 years. The years have flown by and yet I am still always learning something new about my beloved bride. She is an amazing woman! Her patience, kindness, and directness are surpassed only by her sparkling eyes and dazzling smile. Man, did I luck out 20 years ago. Friend, companion, lover, mother - she is all of those things and more. Like too many of us, many of the plans I had for my life 20 years ago have not panned out as I expected. But honestly, I felt I had found a rare jewel and 20 years later I can easily look back and say, "I told you so!"

I'm Dr. Tam of Serenity!

2007-05-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Many of you might not remember the short run sci-fi show called Serenity that ran on the Sci-Fi channel a couple of years back. It was sort of a western/sci-fi A-Team meets Star Trek Voyager kind of show. I thought it was kind of funny and interesting though it was more than a bit wierd! Anyway, I just took one of those quick quizzes you can do online. Sometimes they are funny. Here's my results...I found it fascinating that I didn't turn out as Shepherd Book...hmmn...now it's your turn!

Your results:
You are Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic)

Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic)		90%
Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command)		80%
Wash (Ship Pilot)		80%
Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic)		70%
River (Stowaway)		65%
Inara Serra (Companion)		60%
Malcolm Reynolds (Captain)		60%
Jayne Cobb (Mercenary)		50%
Derrial Book (Shepherd)		40%
Alliance		30%
A Reaver (Cannibal)		0%

Medicine and physical healing are your game,
but wooing women isn't a strong suit.

Click here to take the Serenity Personality Quiz

SO, it's the Sun that's doing it!

2007-05-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Newsmax.com article below sheds some interesting light on the whole global warming phenomena. How come it's not a lead article in more media outlets? I wonder...

Changes on Neptune Link Sun and Global Warming

Skeptics of manmade global warming have found further support in research linking solar output with the planet Neptune’s brightness and temperatures on Earth.

The findings appeared in a recent issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The authors of the article, H.B. Hammel and G.W. Lockwood from the Space Science Institute in Colorado and the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, note that measurements of visible light from Neptune have been taken at the Observatory since 1950.

Those measurements indicate that Neptune has been getting brighter since around 1980. And infrared measurements of the planet since 1980 show that Neptune has been warming steadily as well.

The researchers plotted on a graph the changes in visible light from Neptune over the past half-century, changes in temperatures on Earth during that period, and changes in total solar irradiance.

The results: The correlation between solar irradiance and Neptune’s brightness was nearly perfect; so was the correlation between changes on Earth and solar output, according to a report on the research appearing on World Climate Report, a climate change blog.

“When the sun is more energetic and putting out more energy, the Earth tends to warm up, and when the sun cools down, so does the Earth,” World Climate Report notes. “The Hammel and Lockwood article reveals that the same is true out at Neptune — when the sun’s energy increases, Neptune seems to warm up and get brighter . . .

“How is it possible that the Earth’s temperature is so highly correlated with brightness variations from Neptune? The news from Neptune comes to us just weeks after an article was published showing that Mars has warmed recently as well.

“If nothing else, we have certainly learned recently that planets undergo changes in their mean temperature, and while we can easily blame human activity here on the Earth, blaming humans for the recent warming on Mars and Neptune would be an astronomical stretch, to say the least.” End

So, they seem to be saying that solar output appears to be increasing these days - and that the surface temperatures of Neptune (way out there!) and Mars have been increasing as well. Well, that seems to be an important piece of the puzzle doesn't it? Pity the Global Warming crowd will never read this or allow this kind of data to be publicly debated. It seems that truth, once again, is wholly lacking in our public discourse. Man, am I getting tired of it!!

I shudder to think these thoughts, but....does it apply?

2007-03-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

Is the American Experiment Dead?
by Helen E. Krieble (more by this author)
Posted 03/16/2007 ET

King George III would be so proud. He and his aristocratic friends laughed at America’s quaint “experiment” with self-government. To them it was unthinkable that common people were enlightened enough to rule themselves. Today that experiment is the envy of a world where people in fewer than 100 countries live under democratic governments. Yet here in the United States, old King George may yet be right.

Astonishingly, today’s Americans expect government to care for us from cradle to grave, the way commoners once expected a benevolent king to care for his subjects. We treat people as members of groups rather than as individuals, insidiously devolving into the very class system against which the founders rebelled. In a deeply disturbing sense, Americans are voluntarily surrendering the very freedoms that millions fought and died to establish and protect. James Garfield once said the most common form of death in politics is suicide. After a noble 225 year history, is the American experiment dying at the hands of its own people?

Many of the “long train of abuses” that led to our rebellion from the British Crown in 1776 are eerily similar to our own government’s excesses. The Declaration of Independence listed a host of grievances against the King that are all too familiar today. The authors accused the King of refusing “his assent to laws… necessary for the public good,” of forbidding locals to pass laws “of immediate and pressing importance,” even of dissolving local representative bodies. How different is that from today’s “supreme” federal system that routinely over-rides local and state laws, especially by federal court orders and “constitutional” rulings based on premises not in the Constitution? The Crown had “obstructed the administration of justice” by controlling judges’ tenure and salaries; today’s government does so by empowering judges to usurp legislative powers -- to make up new laws rather than interpret laws passed by the people’s representatives. It is a more modern technique, but with the same anti-democratic result.

King George had “erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.” In 2007 the federal government has more than 4 million employees and costs taxpayers almost 3 trillion dollars a year. The King “combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution,” much as modern leaders compromise our sovereignty to institutions like the UN, international courts, and foreign trade commissions.

The founders said government should protect private property, but today’s Supreme Court lets government take private property and sell to developers, take away the value of land by denying the right to use it, and force landowners to give their land for endangered species habitat, parks, trails, and “open space.” The first “inalienable right” in our Declaration was the right to life, but today’s courts prohibit states from protecting it. If we still believe “all men are created equal,” how can we justify racial preferences in school admission, government contracts and congressional re-apportionment? Freedom of speech is central to the Bill of Rights, but Congressmen now deny that right to those who want to speak about them, or other candidates, like politically correct thought police.

“The policy of the federal government,” wrote President Jefferson, “is to leave her citizens free -- neither aiding nor restraining them in their pursuits.” Today, we are not allowed to plan our own retirement, design our own health insurance, or even devise our own children’s education. The endless intrusion reaches every facet of our lives from where we can hike in the woods to how our hamburgers must be cooked. Both parties instinctively look to government as the first answer to all problems. Even Republicans propose solving issues like illegal immigration by hiring 30,000 new federal employees.

There is one crucial difference: unlike our colonial ancestors, contemporary Americans voluntarily agreed to all these usurpations with their votes. We have been warned frequently to be alert. In 1835 Tocqueville wrote, “the American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.” Sadly, that day has long since come.

We are left with an unresponsive government millions of Americans do not recognize as theirs, or feel moral obligation to support. That trend could be the death knell of the founders’ ideas. It is not too late to rediscover our “experiment” in self-government, but Americans must first decide whether they care.

Ms. Krieble is president of the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation. Information on the plan is available at www.krieble.org

Questions Tree-huggers will never answer...

2007-03-16T18:41:00.000-07:00

From Ker-plunk's excellent Blog, "10 Questions For Climate Fascists".
1. When did the debate end?
2. How is the science settled?
3. How do you explain this? (see picture at link)
4. What the heck has happened to the Hockey stick?
5. Why believe climate models?
6. Why is symbolism more important than effectiveness?
7. Why the IPCC censorship?
8. Why are all the predictions of only doom and gloom?
9. What caused the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age?
10. Why the hooey about sinking islands?

Censorship, refusal to debate, straw man attacks, all tell tale signs of arrogant, small minds who believe a little too much in their own press (legends in their own mind sort of thing).

Where are the men and women of science that aren't so quick to close their minds or rush to judgment? Apparently, everything really is all about politics and political agendas - even so called pure science is nothing of the sort anymore.

I told you so!

2007-03-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

Back in November, days after the election I "pundited":
"Despite their pledges to the contrary get ready for "vindictiveness 101" in the congress. Make no mistake about it - nothing serious will get done. The democrats will mire the congress in ENDLESS "investigations" and inquiries into stuff that happened 5+ years ago. And for what purpose? To stick it to the party that used to be in power and dared to do things they didn't like. They won't solve the Social Security dilemna, they won't touch the illegal immigration problem (other than to grant amnesty so that they can paper the problem away), they won't deal with our nations over-dependency on foreign oil, they won't improve the ethics on the Hill, nor will they improve the tone of politics in D.C.
How do I know that? Because if they do ANY of those things, they will anger some chunk of their whacko liberal base (full of fanatical tree-huggers, silver spoon/limousine liberals, big union thugs, and inner city minority groups dependent upon the money and programs they are constantly promised)... Democrats, drunk with power (and mistakenly thinking the American public gave them a mandate to pursue their lunacy - NOT!), they will first turn on their opponents and eviscerate them and then will caper and cavort around enjoying themselves - all while we are forced to watch and live with their decisions. Oh yeah! I am looking forward to the next 2-4 years"
WELL, what do we see now? An endless stream of congressional investigations lining up in the wings to come out to take their place in the spotlight of infamy and lunacy. All the while, the real - critical - business of United States is left undone or worse. Little things requiring their COMPLETE attention like, oh, say, The War on Terror, an educational system sliding into the toilet, massive immigration problems that threaten to destabilize our entire economy and national character, a failing social security system, astronomically spiraling health care, a screaming need for legal reform....just to name a few minor issues.
I DO have to say that watching this insanity helps me understand why the French ran around and cut off 17,000 heads in the French Revolution. You can only watch so much "out of touch" excess, insanity, foolish primping, preening and hypocritical posturing before you realize that while they play their sick game - they are sticking it to you and everybody else and laughing all the way to the bank. You can't watch that w/out getting REAL angry - the kind of angry that keeps soaking in deep until...everyone explodes and you grab a pitchfork and storm La Bastille.
Friends, the vindictive, hypocritical and assanine investigations have ONLY just begun. The most RECENT flap about firing 8 U.S. attorneys when Bush took office. The Democrats feigning of extreme moral indignation is the biggest joke I have seen in a long time. They act like that never happens and should never happen. When their boy Bill Clinton took office he fired something like over 80 U.S. attorneys. As political appointments go, you often lose your job when the new administration comes to power - its a practice going back all the way to Jackson I think. And while I might agree with some who argue that it is a terrible practice - EVERYBODY HAS DONE IT SINCE THEN - DEMOCRATS JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE. To sit there and get their knickers in a righteous knot and think we can't see through the bad acting and hypocrtical lying is highly insulting to the public's intelligence. I guess they really do just assume we are all half-wits who can't remember anything past a 20 second political slogan ad. But I do. Why aren't Republicans screaming bloody murder about the hypocrasy?
God help us, because I think He is the only one that can. You sure can't seem to count on the Republicans to represent the rest of us by holding loud and firm for common sense. Where are the devastatingly brilliant Republicans with strong convictions and a heart and head full of facts about how our government is SUPPOSED TO WORK. Man I miss Reagan!

Revisiting the Heart of our Declaration of Independence

2007-02-28T20:49:00.000-08:00

I am re-running this because it is SO good for us as Americans to read and ponder. The author, Eric Sloane, I think truly captures the heart of the generation of patriots that created our little political experiment which has changed the world so much for the better. America's little declaration unleashed a flood of liberty that has reached to the ends of the earth. So here it is again, please read it and let me know what you think.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Declaration of Self-Dependence (a.k.a. Declaration of Independence)
by Eric Sloane in, "The Spirits of 76" published by Ballantine in 1973. The author challenges us to consider the spirit behind the words of the Declaration of Independence. He believes that we have changed some of the meanings and are often missing the real spirit of the words. He begins... (bold words are my emphasis)

"One night, while reading about the Declaration of Independence, I dozed off wondering what it must have been like to have taken part in its writing. Suddenly I was there. With a quill pen I was writing the great words. ‘When in the course of human events.” The rest I do not recall, but I remember the title being different—Declaration of Self-Dependence.

As I think now of my dream, the title made more and more sense. The 1776 proclamation referred so much to the American revolutionists that it lacked the flavor of a personal statement. Now, two centuries later, the population and its government have become so vast and complicated that the voice of the individual is vague, weak, and less heard. Perhaps a more pertinent, personal declaration is in order, and herewith I present my declaration for today.

When in the course of human events, the material well being of a society obscures the spiritual principles upon which that society was founded, it becomes proper to review out heritage and redeclare its reason for being. Only by such recollection can a true renaissance of the original American spirit occur.

My nation was born with a declaration of independence, but to be free, I must also practice an individual independence.

The statement of 1776 had unique worth because it was the first government manifesto to totally respect the independence of the individual. Different from other national statements of purpose, it was not a declaration of domination but one of liberation.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that within our democracy the exact principles which rule the conscience and economy of the individual must also govern the conscience and economy of the government. I hold therefore that government waste in any form is intolerable, because just as no family can for long spend more than it earns, neither can a government do so. As frugality is part of the family economy, so must thrift be important to national revenue. The practice of thrift is insurance against greed, which had no part in the original American philosophy.

I hold that respect is the root of morality and that disrespect for oneself, for others, or for the nation is contrary to the American spirit.

I believe that self-dependence produces self-respect. Therefore, helping a man to be self-dependent is an admirable pursuit. But helping a man while taking away his initiative and independence is degrading. Permanently doing for a man what he can do for himself is contrary and destructive to the American tradition. I believe in the dignity of labor and the pursuit of excellence. Therefore, I believe that striving for the most pay for the least amount of work is an immoral aim. It is a principle that cannot endure without eventual demoralization of the worker and decay of workmanship.

Just as you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong, I believe that the wage earner cannot profit by destroying the wage payer. Both capital and labor have equal rights in the American system, and the independence of both is equally deserving of recognition. For either to strike against public welfare or violate the innocent is immoral and against the American tradition.

I believe that the moral strength of the nation is only as strong as the moral strength of its individuals. I therefore commit myself to the pursuit of labor, respect. independence, thrift, excellence, and peace. I hold that self-dependence of the individual is a reflection of self-dependence of the nation. that the American heritage is not only something bestowed upon the individual but, equally, what the individual contributes to his country.

I consider “In God We Trust” a profound statement of national commitment. I believe that democracy without commitment to God is a departure from the original American concept. I believe that all men are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights and that the foregoing creed renders not only independence to the nation but self-dependence for each American."

O.K. back to Politics - Aussie style!

2007-02-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

You have GOT to read this - it is so...so...on target in so many ways! Sometimes, you just have to say it or you'll burst! Here is the link to this must read post, 10 signs that you're a Moral Idiot.
In case the link won't work, here is a quick and way too brief summary of the article (you really should go to the article!). Thanks to Jack Lacton of Kerplunk - shaken not stirred. You gotta love those Australians - way to go!

"We live in an age of cognitive dissonance, of inverted values and of true Orwellian doublethink. The Left believes in, amongst other things, gay rights, women's rights and rehabilitation for thieves while also offering moral support to radical Islam, which hangs gays, stones errant women to death and chops the hands off thieves. On the Right, we stand in bewilderment wondering why nobody has learned the lessons of the evil of socialism throughout the last century or understands the threat of totalitarianism in this one.

Given all of this topsy turvey-ness it seems to me that we need some sort of test, a guide, in order to establish whether your moral compass is tuned correctly. Therefore, I have prepared the following 10 signs that you're a Moral Idiot and hope that it helps guide you towards good, solid values in life.

1. You can't tell the difference between Israel and her enemies*. This really is the ultimate test. If you are so dozy, so hopelessly indoctrinated with University-educated ignorance that you equate a democratic (and extremely left wing!) Israel, a country that has had to defend itself from attack for all of its existence, in which a million Arabs live peacefully alongside Jews, in which Arabs have the highest standard of living (by miles) of any country in the Middle East, in which Arabs serve on the judiciary, in which Arabs stand for, and are voted into, the Knesset (their parliament) with the suicide bombing, fanatical, genocidal, death cults known as Hamas, Hezbollah or Fatah then you are definitely a Moral Idiot and there's no hope for you...
2. You believe that the United States is the greatest threat to world peace. This sign is similar to the first sign about Israel. In order to hold this view you must forget that America fought a civil war to eradicate slavery, costing a huge number of lives, proving the moral strength that underpins its values even to this day. You must forget about America's role in saving the Allies in WWII, rebuilding the Japanese and European economies afterwards and defeating socialism during the Cold War (probably something you're still not too thrilled about anyway) and then going home afterwards when it could have annexed half of Europe. You must forget about the fact that the US is the largest provider of humanitarian aid on the planet, exceeding all other nations combined and is the first and only non-Imperial superpower in history (even France still has greater imperial influence than America). You must forget that its free market approach and entrepreneurship have driven the economies of the world forward in a way unlike the collective efforts of all nations through history... In short you must believe that there is nothing exceptional about the United States at all and that its only intention is to rule the planet in spite of the fact that there is nothing in the evidence cupboard to support the argument. If you believe that the United States is the greatest threat to world peace then you're a Moral Idiot.
3. You believe that all cultures are equally valid. This particular piece of hare-brained logic has its roots in secular multiculturalism...(and) has resulted in a loss of societal values and along with that has gone the ability to differentiate good from evil and right from wrong... But, oh no, cry the cultural relativists...We must respect their culture and bend over backwards to accommodate their disgusting values even if it means allowing Muslim women to wear the profoundly demeaning mask of oppression, the burqa, when in public here, giving moral support to the obnoxious...or agreeing to replace our own symbols for fear of offending a violent and backward religion. It demeans us and cheapens our culture. Congratulations, if you believe that all cultures are equally valid then you're a Moral Idiot.
4. You believe that Iraq 2.0 is all about oil. ...Here's a fact that people don't know - 80% of the United States oil supply comes from itself, Canada and Mexico... If the United States wanted Iraq's oil then...why didn't it just buy it? Would have been much cheaper. Because they're warmongers and wanted it for free, you cry, thus demonstrating the terrific double standard you have that also supports socialist confiscation of western companies' assets such as happened in Chile and Cuba, and is going on in Venezuela today particularly with foreign owned oil companies... If you believe that Iraq 2.0 is all about oil then you're a Moral Idiot.
5. You believe that war is not the answer. The irony is that war was the answer when it was needed to protect your ongoing right to say that war is not the answer. It was the answer to defend Europe from Germany in both WWI and WWII... When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan you didn't protest against that because it was obviously OK for them to cause the death of 1.5 million people. Not a peep when the Rwandans started a war that exterminated a million or more Hutus. Must have been the answer to something, surely? ...no protests against the Iran-Iraq War with another million dead. No protests about Ethiopia or Mozambique or the 1.5 million killed in the Congolese conflict. Checks the history...nope, no protests against Cambodia and the 1.6 million dead there or the 2 million dead in the Second Sudanese Civil War. If you stay silent on totalitarian and socialist atrocities while advocating that for the good guys 'War is not the answer' then you're a Moral Idiot (and a bloody dangerous one at that).
6. You believe that Fidel Castro has been a positive influence for Cuba and a role model for the world....
7. You believe that 9/11 was an inside job. Another particular favourite of mine. In order to believe this one you must first believe that America is rotten to its core and that it will do anything in order to promote its interests, including killing 3000 of its own citizens...The key, for me, was the reaction of George W Bush when told of the attacks. He sits there looking like a stunned mullet without a clue what to do for nearly ten minutes. If it was a set up then he would have been immediately up on his feet, in front of a camera, marshalling the country and showing himself to be a man of action in time of crisis... So, despite a plethora of incontrovertible evidence you continue to be driven by ideological hatred and maintain your lunatic position. If you believe that 9/11 was an inside job then you're a Moral Idiot.
8. You believe we should sign the Kyoto Protocol. Hmmm, you say, why is there a moral aspect to this? If you disagree with me then aren't I just an idiot and not a moral idiot? Good question... If you want to hamstring the US economy (the greatest provider of humanitarian aid on the planet) and transfer money to China and Russia through carbon trading schemes (which is their net effect) while we have a here and now crisis in Africa then your values are inverted and you're a Moral Idiot.
9. You believe that socialism is still the answer. The fact is that socialism is still surprisingly popular, especially among the world's academics... And just as a point of clarification - Marx made no distinction between communism and socialism - which is why I always use the latter, more accurate term (after all, it was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The theory is that 'we just haven't got it right yet' and we still need to do some fine tuning. Well, Stalin fine tuned 20 million of his compatriots into early graves, but even he was left for metaphorical dead by Chairman Mao whose Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution and other assorted attempts at fine tuning socialism into something workable required the digging of 40 million graves in order to bury the evidence of failure... How many million did the Vietnamese knock off with their fine tuning? The Cambodians? And what about our current favourite socialists, those crazy North Koreans? ...
10. You believe that (fill in the blank). Here's your chance!... The best entry takes this prized 10th spot!"

Told you it was a good read - and this is just the abbreviated version.

Words of Comfort & Words We'd Like to Forget

2007-02-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

As the day dawns on this fourth year after losing our infant son Joshua, I was reminded of what it says in the Bible in John 16:33, where it says something that always brings me GREAT comfort. But as I finished the passage I realized that it also says something that I would also like to forget about if I could. But you can't have one without the other it would seem.

It says, “…these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus says in Him we will find and have peace (that's good news that I have personally experienced!) But He also spoke with absolute certainty – in this world, you WILL have tribulation. Without even speculating on how God might use tribulation in my life - it’s just that simple. And I find that I often forget that I live in a fallen world. Frankly, it’s a wonder things don’t go more wrongly than they already do!

So the bottom line is that sooner or later, we all have to face a whirlwind. If we think otherwise, we only deceive ourselves and set ourselves up for a deep faith challenging shock when it finally does come. As human beings, we instinctively shy away from distress, pain and discomfort. And it's no mystery why we generally avoid thinking about such things – they are bummers! But I guess that is a big mistake.

Paul tells us to “work out our salvation w/ fear and trembling” in Philippians 2:12. And while I don't think we are intended to live life like some "Nervous Nellie," paranoid and trembling at every shadow, I DO think that part of this "working out our salvation" is being aware of ALL that it will mean to live a life of Faith – which according to His own words, WILL include suffering & trials.

It’s certainly something my family has learned an awful lot about in the last four or five years. And like everyone else, we were surprised when the maelstrom struck us from out of nowhere – just when we thought we were finally escaping a time of scorching trials (I had left a job in another state and moved my family to CA only to find I couldn't easily find work or a place to live - it's a long story and it was a necessary move we had to make. After over a year of looking for work, it looked like I had finally found something promising when Joshua got sick one day...). And yet, while we may have been surprised, I wouldn’t say we were entirely unprepared. AND IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE! It is during times of trials that our beliefs are truly put to the test. C.S. Lewis says it well in his little book A Grief Observed,
“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to SAY you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?… Only a REAL risk tests the reality of a belief.”

Because we have Jesus’ warning – it WILL come – it’s just a question of enduring it with as much faith and strength of character God can rally in us. And that will only happen when our eyes are open and our minds and hearts are prepared for anything in this life – not just peace and blessing. Because when the floods hit – you don’t have much time to think – you need to already know how to swim – or in my case, at least how to dog paddle! How do I do that? By making sure my spiritual root system is deep – that my fellowship w/ God is alive and sustaining. Because when the storm strikes – it is too late to sink deeper roots – you are caught unawares with what you have.

I never truly knew my how my roots would hold until they were shaken harshly. Four yrs ago today, we lost our 8 mo. old son Joshua. He got sick on Friday and by early Sat. morn. He was gone. I won’t lie to you – that maelstrom tore off the bark and cracked many a limb in my soul. I almost curled up in the scorching sun and bowed to the ground under the fiercest winds I ever imagined. But to my surprise my faith and trust in God stood fast because of the strength of the relationship with Christ in the years that preceeded the maelstrom. There was nothing new I could have learned in the first days that followed the flood – my mind and heart were closed down w/ grief. But when the waters rise and you stumble about in shock and your heart goes numb – it is an amazing thing to see God pick you up and carry you along. In those times, only the love & presence of God brings any lasting comfort.

May you never know such a time of howling grief and numbing loss. And yet, since we all must go through something like it at least once in this life at some point, may the Grace and Peace of God strengthen and sustain you as it did me and my family. You CAN trust in Him and He WILL carry you if you let Him.

Mama Never Said There'd Be Days Like This!

2007-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

My last entry was featured in a local Sacramento area blog review - ipsoSacto. Very cool. I doubt this one will make it though! I don't have anything witty or political to say. Well, O.K., I ALWAYS have something political I COULD say - being that there is so much political insanity going on here in the good ole Left Coast. But I'll likely refrain today and tomorrow. Tomorrow it will have been four years since losing our infant son to RSV and a doctor's ineptitude. Not wanting to invite a libel or slander lawsuit I'll refrain from more detail. Suffice it to say that some days it is harder to keep forgiving. I don't really completely blame the doctor - everything happened SO fast - he was only sick 20 hours or so. In the main, I decided long ago to just accept what had happened and to try not to drag anyone down into the misery and loss with me. Hurting someone else, even if it seems they might deserve it a little, doesn't really end up making you feel any better - though it may seem that way when you first think of it. The old adage, "Misery loves company," may be true to some extent, but I can tell you from personal experience it really doesn't take away your pain in any way. When you lose a child, nothing is going to make you feel any better except the Creator who made you and the passing of time. What kind of stinks though, is that while nothing can really make you feel much better, LOTS of things can make you feel worse! Not very fair is it?
Anyway, here is a picture of our Joshua. Please cherish the time you have with your loved ones. You really don't know how long you will have them in this life. Bad things CAN happen to anyone. The sooner we embrace that truth without becoming paranoid or miserable, the easier it will be to weather the storms that evetually must come into every life. And maybe, just maybe, we will have prepared ourselves a little better so that we can deal with them with more grace and be able to help other loved ones walk through it as well. Coming to terms with loss is a complicated and personal process but it is the only way to stay sane and spiritually strong in the aftermath.

The Constitution Party

2007-02-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Hey, I found an intriguing website for a political party called the Constitution Party. Check out their website (click on the title of this blog to go there) and read their party platform. No nonsense, easy to figure out what they believe! I find their platform pretty much totally echoes my thoughts and sentiments about a lot of issues. They are a national party, I think, but I don't know if they have any members elected to office anywhere. I wish someone with real name recognition and national respect would join them and seek a high office - governor, senator or president. I think things would improve quite a bit though the political landscape would change drastically!!!!!!

Spinning yer Wheels

2007-01-31T20:42:00.000-08:00

Lately it feels like I am just spinning my wheels - lots of smoke and squealing but not much forward motion. You work your heart out trying to teach a group of kids and they suddenly forget how to tell the difference between a verb and a noun - again (for the umpteenth time this year so far). Just when you thought you are making progress - wham - comes the test and then, thump, the realization that you didn't make very much progress after all. It's kind of discouraging.
I guess I see this alot lately. Lots of motion but not much forward movement. I see it healthwise, family life, professionally. And it makes life seem pretty grey. "Is this all there is? Is there nothing more," quips the familiar Vulcan officer we all know and love. Gosh, I know how he feels - at least just a bit.
But hey, the day really wasn't all bad. And it seems the tide may be turning in lots of areas. I guess it's just easy to get swamped in the high tides and feel you are in Waterworld instead of on God's good earth. Goodness, I am sounding quite maudlin and silly with all the movie quotes and illusions. Guess I'll just stop now.

My Christmas of Blessing

2006-12-31T17:05:00.000-08:00

Well, as I was sitting out in the backyard watching the sun set in the west, I thought it might be good to recount my blessings. I had a very blessed Christmas this year - materially so as well as relationally and spiritually. Here's what I am thankful for:
1. My relationship with the Lord of Creation. He is SO merciful to put up with me but I know I would be lost without His love and care.
2. My wonderful wife of twenty years in May of 07. She is my best friend - often times my only friend and a wonderful mother and partner. It is such a blessing to have so many shared values and perceptions about life, our world, and our marriage. She truly is my best half.
3. Wonderful parents and in-laws. You know, a guy just can't have too many mothers and fathers I think!
4. Wonderful sons. They are so cute and SO all-boy. They crack me up and drive me crazy all at the same time. I look forward to seeing the men they will become (and am working REALLY hard to help launch them successfully when their time comes - wish that would include lots of resources too - we'll see...).
5. Great extended families on both sides. I enjoy their company SO much - especially at holidays. I find it easy to get along with them (O.K., there are a couple on my side that can be a challenge at times :o)
6. A GREAT employer and boss. I must work in the nicest and most encouraging place with some of the planet's nicest folks. I truly love my boss and seek his counsel about a lot of things.
7. A great Pastor(s) and a good church.
8. A wonderful place to live with great landlords!
9. 2+ Nice cars that run!
10. Living in a great town and in a state with a mild climate (aggravating politics - but if it were perfect it wouldn't be earth).
11. Lots of good books to read!
12. Chances to do unusual and fun things once in a while - like dress up as some guy from a different time period and give lectures or ...whatever.

Well, I was also really blessed with wonderful Christmas gifts this year - I really got far more than I asked for or expected. It isn't always good to get so many gifts but once in a while.....it's GREAT! A quick list gives you some insight into my strange hodge-podge of interests that make me such a bizarre fellow.
1. Some great books - Plymouth in the Words of Her Founders, The New England Primer, Raising A Modern Day Knight (COOL book about helping sons become gentlemen), 7 Key Biblical Concepts violated by Dating (actually a good read - much to chew on!), Every Young Man's Battle and workbook, Tribe - A Warrior's Heart. I got a lot of reading material because my wife and I are trying to get a comprehensive strategy for helping raise our sons as Christian Gentlemen before they become teenage uckies!
2. Seasons 1 & 2 of House, the complete Star Trek Animated Series on DVD
3. A box of Amber Lyn Belgium Chocolates that are better for diabetics than regular chocolate - to die for!
4. A steel replica of a Roman Centurion's Helmet w/ crest and Roman sandals.
5. A hand carved spiked Mace (mostly ceremonial) also for re-enacting.
6. A nice shirt
7. Lots of gift cards, yummy treats (including 3 blueberry pie coupons!), coffee mugs and Christmas Tree decorations from my kids and students.
8. A much larger than usual Christmas bonus that allowed me to give some really nice gifts to my wife, sons and family. It was fun to give a little more generously than we usually can. Wow!
Gosh - when you write it all down it sure looks like the great haul that it is! All the more to be thankful for!

2006-12-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

I came across this post by Terence P. Jeffrey on Human Events Online. I LOVE what is has to say - I always appreciate succinct summaries of positions and world-views. I think it is helpful. Please read the article below and reflect on how you feel about those issues. Thanks! - EO
__________________________________________________________

Ten Principles of Conservatism
by Terence P. Jeffrey
Posted Dec 20, 2006

As a very political year approaches an end, and a new presidential election cycle looms, it’s a good time for conservatives to step back from partisan politics and reflect on their cause.

What do conservatives believe? Here are 10 principles worth pondering.

1. God’s Law Governs Nations as Well as Men.

The Ten Commandments should not only be enshrined in our courthouses, they should be engraved in our hearts and minds as guides to all behavior, public and private. As the Founders acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence, laws and policies that violate the natural law are abuses of government power that must be resisted and reversed.

2. Life Is the First God-Given Right

It’s always wrong to deliberately take an innocent human life. When this principle is abridged, violence escalates. Thus we have aborted 47 million unborn babies in the past three decades, begun to accept euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide, and stand at the threshold of cloning human beings for the specific purpose of killing them.

3. Marriage and Family Come Before the State and Deserve Its Protection

The marriage of one man and one woman is the natural foundation of all human society, and the means by which children ought to be brought into the world and taught the basic values of our civilization. Government has a duty to recognize and protect the family and must not grant alternative relationships the same status and privileges.

4. Freedom of Conscience is the Soul of Liberty

Understanding that freedom of conscience is at the heart of liberty, the Framers protected freedom of religion and assembly in the 1st Amendment. Movements to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexual scout masters, or to compel religious individuals or organizations to distribute birth control or abortion drugs against their beliefs, directly attack these freedoms.

5. Private Property is the Servant of Freedom

The more that individuals, families and businesses can acquire and control the goods necessary to sustain and advance themselves, the more autonomy they will have from the state and others who may wish to unjustly restrict their freedom. The free and responsible use of private property tends to create greater wealth and greater freedom for greater numbers of people.

6. Government Dependency is the Seed of Tyranny

The more that individuals, families and businesses are dependent on the state for the goods necessary to sustain and advance themselves, the less autonomy they will have from the state and others who may wish to unjustly restrict their freedom. This is why expanding the welfare state is bad, and Social Security personal retirement accounts, Health Savings Accounts and school choice are good.

7. The Constitution Means What It Says

Believing in the God-given rights of man and understanding the imperfect nature of human beings, the Framers crafted a Constitution designed to protect the former from the latter. Many of the problems in U.S. government would be resolved if the President, Congress and Courts limited themselves and each other to the authority the Constitution actually grants them.

8. Taxes Are Justified Only to Fund Necessary Government Spending

A massive and complex tax code has become a powerful weapon politicians can use to pressure citizens to behave as the politicians, or the interest groups that support the politicians, wish. The correct function of taxation is to equitably collect only that revenue needed to fund the legitimate activities of a constitutionally limited government.

9. National Defense Is Just That

The first duty of the federal government is to defend the American people against foreign enemies. While advancing freedom in the world is good in itself—and, where it prudently can be done, would advance the interests of the United States--ultimately, the mandate for our national leaders is to use whatever moral means they can to carve out that path in our relations with foreign powers that is most likely to lead to enhanced security, prosperity and freedom for this nation.

10. We Should Strive to Give Our Children a Better Country

America is more than just an expanse of territory or a set of laws. It is a culture, whose art, architecture, journalism, music, movies, television, schools and universities, should reflect and reinforce the traditional values that made this country great. We owe this to our children, who will build the America of tomorrow on the foundation of the America we teach them to love today.
____________________________________________________________

Inequitable treatement of religion is SO wrong! Something really should be done about it!

2006-12-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

This is something that has really "chapped my hide" for several years now. Thank goodness others in the media are finally talking about it and seem determined to do something about it. Unfortunately, there are only a few and the rest are quite happy with the inequitable way religions are treated - they helped create it! What am I talking about? I am talking about how every other religion in the world - no matter how crazy, vile or violent - gets favored hands-off status. Except Christianity. Bash Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and you are a labeled a bigot nut-job. But revile and blaspheme Christianity and - hey who cares?

Everyone is SO concerned about offending Muslims these days. But noone has EVER cared about offending Christians. They blaspheme Jesus, the cross, pastors, churches, the Bible, church-goers - whatever strikes their reprobate fancy and - hey, it's O.K. What? You object - TOUGH! But let someone do ANYTHING that muslims (or others) find offensive and LOOKOUT! You are guilty of hate-mongering and noone is outraged when muslisms around the world riot, burn and murder Christians in retaliation. "Well, you provoked them," is what you basically hear. WHAT!! That is SO insane AND so inequitable AND so un-American in sentiment - a land that was founded on equality and tolerance for ALL religious expression save those practices that infringed on the rights of others.

I remember, not long ago, when Christians were so serious and active about ending abortion that a few nutjobs torched a few abortion clinics and actually shot an abortionist. Now, this was MUCH smaller in scale than the riots and murders of 2006 by muslims (that doesn't make it right of course!). But our government and the news media turned on Christianity and made all sorts of threats and arrests. Christian anti-abortion organizations were shadowed by the FBI, crippled with RICO actions (created to stop the Mafia) and judges felt no qualms about violating the constitutional rights of Christians in order to protect abortion. It was quite a witch hunt - fury and indignation abounded. Christians, almost to a man, completely condemned and disavowed such kinds of illegal activities IMMEDIATELY - LOUDLY - AND REPEATEDLY. It didn't stop the witch hunt.

But what happened when a Danish cartoon outraged muslism and they rioted, torched, beat and murdered? NOTHING! Not one thing. No arrests, no indignation - nada - just a whimper and a looking the other way. HOW CRAZY IS THAT!
If you want to see a good summary of Muslim misdeeds in 2006 -
check this article out: http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006585.htm
And where is the loud, immediate and repeated condemnation of such heinous acts by "so called" peace loving muslims? Seems like it is always buried on the back page if you even see it at all.

Every once in a while someone asks me why Christianity is so reviled while other, far more objectionable religions, are given protected status? I have to say that there isn't any rational reason - but the Bible does shed light on it. The bible says that the Light and Truth came into the world, but the world loved darkness instead. Christianity and Judaism - which both reflect the Light and Truth of our Creator, are almost universally reviled but mankind loves the other false religions of the world precisely because they love darkness rather than light. Ever wonder why Hinduism - which is SO (supposedly) tolerant of other religions, becomes violent and intolerant towards Christian missionaries? Because those in darkness (who don't know they are in darkness) instinctively love darkness and reject the Light of the Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ.

SO, as a Christian, I understand the inequitable treatment but as an American living with a Constitution that makes such inquity illegal - I find it intolerable that people practice it so brazenly and aren't punished for doing so. It makes me ashamed of our country - that we have fallen SO far from our founding ideals. I would eagerly vote for and help elect someone who I thought could and would honestly restore such ideals. Without a serious return to our founding principles, I don't know how much longer America will remain America.

Some Time Off! Hooray?

2006-12-18T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while since my last post - sorry! You know how the whirlwind gets cranked up to insanity speed during the holidays. Well, the last Christmas musical is over (1 for work and 1 at church). They both went really well. My involvement was very doable - it was just the time required. The kids were involved in both musicals and did a super job - cute as buttons too! I had a second laptop die out from under me recently - how dare I try to upgrade my anti-virus software! Both Trend Micro and McAfee really let me down - in fact, they both suck pretty bad in my opinion right now. Trend micro started it all w/ a free upgrade offer that I finally succumbed to. But you have to uninstall the old version first! So after 8 hours of trying to download the new version finally produced nothing - I was left without ANY protection. Their normally helpful support line was completely useless so I gave up and went out and bought McAfee at a local store. It didn't load too well and I had to do it 2 or 3 times. It seems slow and a little unstable. Finally, it crashed and locked up my whole system. I can't even restart in Safe Mode! But because I said "I accept" McAfee won't take any responsibility NOR can I even talk or email someone w/ the company w/out paying more than I paid to initially purchase the software. They wrote the book on highway robbery! They totally suck bilgewater!
SO, screw all this- I'll just use my Apple laptop from work for a while. With only about 100 known virsuses written to infect Apple computers, most Apple and Mac users I know don't even have antivirus software. I am not too comfortable doing that but I won't be buying McAfee's Apple version that's for sure! They suck!
So now, with our Christmas shopping done I now get to try to work ALOT on the credential class I have to take on teaching reading. Sorry, but I cannot make myself stay interested in the class. I NEVER, EVER want to teach reading - UGGGHHH!!
SO, though the 2 weeks off for Christmas is cool - I sense it will be over all too soon and I will not have had much time to enjoy myself too much. Maybe I can spend an hour at the gym each day this way though! That's good!

Back the real world for a while

2006-11-27T06:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Lots of great food - 2 big family celebrations. Did some Christmas shopping. Relaxed quite a bit. Now its back to work - for a while anyway. 3 weeks from now will bring Christmas break. Sometimes, it is really good to be a teacher! Of course, the downside is, my students will be pretty jittery for the next 3 weeks. Lots of things to get done by Christmas break despite the fact that their hearts won't really be in it ("visions of sugar plums danced in their heads..." that sort of thing).
Start going to the club again tomorrow. Hope to decorate for Christmas this weekend. Not much else to say I guess. I WANT to comment on all the crazy stuff going on in the world but just don't have time this morning. Maybe tomorrow. Does anyone really read this anyway?

I survived Black Friday

2006-11-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, I survived the dreaded "Black Friday" where half-crazed Christmas shoppers line up at stores in the pre-dawn hours waiting for that "killer sale." And the local merchants coordinated themselves nicely! All I had to do was get up at 4:00 a.m. and line up at store #1 for a couple of rock bottom prices (over 50% off the usual price - only that much savings could lure me out so early) on electronics for the kids. They opened at 5 a.m. By 5:45 I squeezed back out of the store that resembled some cattle feed lot more than anything else and headed across the street to store #2 that opened at 6 a.m. They were not nearly as organized though and it took some considerable belly pushing and a final snatching up of the last 2 of the items I was on a mission to get. But by 6:45 I was home with the prizes - a successful hunt and me the Great White Hunter. Hopefully, my dear wife can do the rest of the Christmas shopping at a more leisurely pace?.... :o)
If I could have done it all online I would have in a heartbeat. But I know, these items are to lure us into the store so we will buy even more! FAT CHANCE! Have you been in the stores on such days - it is sheer bedlam. It takes 15 minutes just to walk 50 ft. Every line is insanely long. I'm sorry - the volume of customers totally defeats the "bring 'em in and they buy more besides" idea. I got what I needed and got the heck out of there as fast as I could.
Has anyone else braved the hordes today?

Stages of Democracy

2006-11-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

The following was in an email that I received several months ago. I was unable to track down the name of the original author (sorry). But I HAVE heard much of what it has to say before in political science lectures while at college. It bears some serious thought....
----------------------------------------
"About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." (emphasis mine - he continues...)

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these
nations always progressed through the following sequence
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage "

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota... believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase." (end quotation)
-------------------------------------------------
IF that really is so - then the only stage left is #8 - From dependence back into bondage. What might that look like I wonder? Possibly the welfare state becoming openly socialist and increasingly totalitarian - possibly even a dictatorship? One thing is for sure - our civil liberties will become extinct in the name of "the public good" or "safety."
You know, the Founding Fathers saw this coming and cemented our inalienble human rights in the constitution so that all future laws and govt. actions had to keep these in the center of their thinking and rulings. But social progressives constantly want to redefine these rights and the constitution so that it can be "applied" to modern situations. In the end, all that does is make it easy for some dictator(s) to "redefine" our rights and the constitution so that they can "legally" take them away (so much for inalienable). Pretty scary!
What do you say?

Grumpy Old Man?

2006-11-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

My wife said tonight that when she first read some of my earliest blog posts, she thought I was being very grumpy. She said I ought to rename my blog "Grumpy Old Man." LOL.
Well, I suppose I DO get grumpy but honestly, it gets so tiring to hear people blather on and play so loose with the facts or with common sense. I mean, if a fellow can't get it off his chest in his blog - where can you go?
Anyway, I watched the History channel's special "Desperate Crossings" which tells the story of the Pilgrims. They did a good job giving the background of the reason WHY they wanted to come to America. I learned some stuff which is always a good thing. But in one part they had some native American woman say that colonization from Europeans deprived her people of their God-given right to live the way they wanted to. And while I wouldn't necessarily deny that statement out of hand, it made me start thinking about why I always feel so testy when listening to native Americans complain about what happened to them.
First, let me say categorically, that I think that the destruction of their cultures by disease and being pushed off of their land was a terrible blow to their people. You would have to be an idiot to deny that! But I WASN'T there. I didn't make those decisions and hopefully, might have made different ones.
But in my opinion, it was almost inevitable as the world began to shrink. Does anyone REALLY think that Europeans or other peoples would have stayed away from North and South America forever? If the British and French had not colonized North America, the Spanish would have eventually gotten around to it. And the Dutch, Russians or Portuguese would have brought diseases with them just as easily as the British did - frankly anyone from off continent would have innocently brought diseases the indigenous peoples would have had problems with. Nobody did it on purpose! They didn't even know what caused diseases or how to prevent them. How could they have deliberately brought disease as a way to "get rid of the Indians?" Frankly, they just didn't have the know how to do it.
So if the Pilgrims had not landed, somebody else WOULD HAVE a decade or two later. And as callous and inconsiderate as the British were, the Spanish conquistadors would have been FAR WORSE! Just look at how they hit the Aztecs, Incas and peoples of South and Central America. They took what they wanted and exterminated anyone who even remotely might have gotten in their way - just to be sure! The pilgrims, for the MOST part, treated their neighbors with honor and respect (perhaps out of fear at first but so what?). There was that corn stealing incident and a few graves opened up when they first explored Cape Cod but after that - things were much better. Later, Roger Williams (who founded the colony of Rhode Island), befriended the Indians and was well liked by them, treating the indigenous peoples with respect and dignity. And let us not forget how eager the Wampanoags were to have an alliance with the pilgrims so they would more secure in the face of some rowdy neighboring tribes. I believe much the same happened again in the settling of Connecticut - Indians invited the English to settle so that they would help protect them from a fierce tribe in the area. So the British didn't always steal the land it would seem. Though it is undeniable that as the colonies began to thrive, the lands of the Indians were taken from them.
That's not cool - I'm not saying it was. But honestly, how would it have turned out any differently? The only way they could have preserved their way of life COMPLETELY intact would have been to not have ANY settlers at all anywhere on the continent. Sorry, but I really don't believe that would have happened. We live in a changing and shrinking world - we are constantly told - but somehow, native Americans think that the world should have passed them by and left them alone. I honestly don't think that is a realistic thought - thus it is a waste of emotional energy. Life is change. Some changes are unwelcome, some are not. What can you do? Often, not much. Trying to stop settlement would have been like trying to hold back the tide. Pretty much a futile effort. Maybe instead of pining for what could have been, we need to find a way to help them become O.K. with the changes that have overtaken them. I honestly don't know how to do that - but I DO get tired of hearing them bash the pilgrims, calling them genocide soldiers... Rubbish! History doesn't bear that out. OTHER colonists that came along later may deserve that more and the Spanish conquerors certainly deserve all the bad press they get...
Awww, I dunno - I'll probably get trounced in comments but honestly - is it really healthy to dwell on what happened 2 1/2 centuries ago? I dunno - seems like a waste of time to me - and it tends to make me a little testy to have to hear it again.

The Holidays are here already????

2006-11-17T15:42:00.000-08:00

Yikes! I just realized that Thanksgiving is next week! As a student of history and a fan of tradition, family and food - I love this holiday. It is SO good to focus on what we are thankful for for a change instead of what we are missing or what is wrong etc. I like to try to make a Thanksgiving ceremony that involves reading the Scriptures, some poetry, some of William Bradford's journal, singing and some round the table sharing of what we are thankful for. But it is often hard to do with a big crowd - the focus falls so much on the food and getting it all cooked and passed around.
Then comes the 1st Christmas shopping day after that! Wow - the Christmas shopping season is at hand - how did that sneak up so quickly. Seems like it was just hot and sticky summer a few weeks ago. But I won't complain because as much as I love Thanksgiving - I love Christmas even more. I adore the music!! I love the decorations and the traditions. I love the giving spirit that pervades even the most cranky individuals this time of year. And, of course, there is the 2 weeks of vacation too! That really makes the holiday sweet!

Day 3

2006-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I skipped yesterday's workout - so tired! But resumed this morning - that makes Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I plan to go tomorrow with the kids and swim for a while for my 4th workout this week. I am making a committment to go at least 4x each week. I'd like to go more but am not sure if that will be realistic every single week. This gives me a disaster/drop day without having to deal with a lot of guilt. Gotta go!

I Survived

2006-11-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

Well, today I started a new morning routine at the health club in our town. I get up around 5:30 a.m. and shuffle off to the club and have a 30+ minute workout. Mostly cardio right now - but plan on doing some weight training and lap swimming too - to give some variety if for nothing else. Then I cool down and have a quiet time in the corner of the lounge area. Then it's back home for a shower and breakfast and out the door for work.
So - today was my first day. I didn't stroke out or even get that winded (I just used the treadmill) as I listened to Rush's greatest hits. Hopefully I won't pay for it too much - it has been a few months since doing any regular exercise.

Funny thoughts (not mine own)

2006-11-13T18:44:00.000-08:00

Gentle readers, I cannot claim the following witticisms as mine own - nor can I tell you where I got them - I came across them in an old Word document on my hard drive. So, to the fellow(s) out there who first came up with these funnies - than

For those who love the philosophy of hypocrisy and ambiguity.

1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.....

3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

5. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

6. What if there were no hypothetical questions?

7. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

8. Is there another word for synonym?

9. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

10. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

11. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

12. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?

13. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

14. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

15. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

16. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

17. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines? (Somebody please explain THIS ONE to me) (I know there's a logical explanation, but it escapes me)

18. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?

19. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

20. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

21. How is it possible to have a civil war?

22. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown, too?

23. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?

24. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

25. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have "S" in it?

26. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?

27. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

28. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of God?

Stuck Again!

2006-11-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

Well, the plague is pretty much subsided in our household - a mere 48 hours after it began. Hooray! As I was reading my emails this morning, J2 decides to put his elbow inbetween the tines of a dining room chair and is stuck fast! Now this is the same kid that 5+ years ago used to get his head stuck in all sorts of things; a bucket, the railing of a staircase, the anchor porthole of a sternwheeler - all sorts of stuff. It was a regular occurance in those days. I had thought those days were long gone - wrong! LOL
Anyway, I was able to get his elbow out w/ no bruising and I didn't even have to use any butter or break the chair! LOL I guess some things never change!

The plague has struck

2006-11-11T12:37:00.000-08:00

Uggh, the plage has struck our home on swift and nautious wings. As my poor in-laws were driving in the driveway practically, my oldest comes out to tell us the youngest has just thrown up. GREAATTT! Within an hour both my wife and I are feeling pretty nauseated and are running a fever w/ lots of aches and pains to boot. This morning (after 2 more vomiting sessions from the youngest in his bed in the middle of the night)my oldest crawls into the living room where I am trying to finish my night's sleep to tell me that he hurts all over. Within the hour, he rushes into the bathroom to spend a good 15 minutes hurling. The kids all seem to be bouncing back pretty fast - so we have high hopes this is a 24 hour bug but my wife and I still have a little fever, some aches and upset stomachs. Here's to hoping and praying it really is just a 24 hour stomach flu! Uggh and double yuch.

Going on the Rack!

2006-11-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

Today I meet with a personal trainer at the fitness club we just joined. I am just sure he is going to put me on the rack! I have been largely desk-bound ever since I started having a series of sores and infections last May. Prior to that I had been walking 4-5 times a week and was really starting to feel the difference in my energy when wham - health problem after health problem. Thankfully, that is a good 6+ weeks behind me now and I am alot more informed about exercise health issues - avoiding blisters and chafing etc. Still, hope I don't stroke out and this turns out to be my last blog entry (especially since I have'nt written out my funeral service yet!). Hopefully I'll "see" you tomorrow!

Welcome to Bizarro world

2006-11-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

O.K., so I'm pretty disappointed (extreme understatement alert) with the situation in D.C. this morning. Despite their pledges to the contrary (how can you tell when a Democrat is lying - their mouth is moving), get ready for "vindictiveness 101" in the congress. Make no mistake about it - nothing serious will get done. The party in power as of this morning will mire the congress in ENDLESS "investigations" and inquiries into stuff that happened 5+ years ago. And for what purpose? To stick it to the party that used to be in power and dared to do things they didn't like. They won't solve the Social Security dilemna, they won't touch the illegal immigration problem (other than to grant amnesty so that they can paper the problem away), they won't deal with our nations over-dependency on foreign oil, they won't improve the ethics on the Hill, nor will they improve the tone of politics in D.C.
How do I know that? Because if they do ANY of those things, they will anger some chunk of their whacko liberal base (full of fanatical tree-huggers, silver spoon/limousine socialists, big union thugs, and inner city minority groups dependent upon the money and programs they are constantly promised). This might threaten their ability to remain in power. And they will do ANYTHING to stay in power. They will say anything, pretend to be moderate or conservative - all of it justified by the holy grail of staying in control of the purse strings of our society. So, they will talk, they will form endless committees and they will float a few completely absurd ideas so that it looks like they are doing their job - but Democrats were in power for over 4 decades prior to the 12 years of the Republicans - and they refused to deal with those issues when it was on their watch. So why should we expect them to change now? Drunk with power, they will first turn on their opponents and eviscerate them and then will caper and cavort around enjoying themselves - all while we are forced to watch and live with their decisions. Oh yeah! I am looking forward to the next 2-4 years (sarcasmo alert).
By the way, the Republicans earned this defeat by NOT standing up for what they believe. They foolishly tried to "look nice at all costs" and spent money like a drunken sailor - trying to look enough like Democrats that the electorate might ignore the shrill shriekings of the Democrats. It didn't work! The Democrats have absolutely despised Bush since his first day in office. He wasted his time trying to curry their favor - they only grabbed what he offered and shrieked louder. They were NEVER satisfied or grateful, but he kept doing it! Pure foolishness. They squandered SO many opportunities to provide strong leadership or at least counter the obvious lies and distortions of the Dems. They should have acted like the party in power (which is what the Demos have always done) and enacted legislation that was based on their party's principals and platform - which WOULD have been good for the country. But they loved being in power too and shrank back from being true to their platform. Well, look where it has led. Now, we get at least 2 years of Pelosi's Bizarro World. Uggh and double Uggh.

The Agony and the Ecstasy

2006-11-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

Well, we are on the eve of election day in the good ole US of A. Sure to be a wild and agonizing day. Which is really unfair because it is also my birthday. Some years that is way cool and the results add to my "special day" festivties. Other years, it sucks all the joy out of the day as I contemplate where I might move to escape the insanity. Truly - the agony and the ecstasy. Holding my breath - waiting for tomorrow...

Politics - geesh!

2006-11-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well, its only a few days before election day - the airwaves and phone lines are crammed with political ads - all of which paint things exactly the opposite as the "other guy's" ads and claims. It's almost enough to make a guy buy the "there is no such thing as absolute truth" claims of the postmodernist.
Don't you get tired of having to wade through so much offal and refuse to get at the real position behind the hype? I sure do. I have been a life-long republican - and ONLY for the reason that I find their stated platform values to be closest to my own values and beliefs. But I find myself almost willing to vote for a democrat if he or she just told the honest truth - no spin - no half-truths to pick out of it - just the plain ole' truth. I say "almost" because there ARE some who tell you what they really believe but they are often on the extreme edges of the spectrum and they can be, well, kind of scary! Though I find that kind of honesty refreshing - I am not sure I am crazy enough to want to put one of those crazies into office just to spite the incumbent. Yikes!
Having been schooled in political science and history in college, it is also hard to maintain the personal perspective in politics. The big ideas can make it easy to forget how those ideas impact "real people." And yet, if that is your only perspective - how it impacts individuals - you can become paralyzed in the face of having to make a choice between 2 or 3 less than "warm and fuzzy" options for policy. Sometimes the good of the many isn't good for a few. We all want to find a Win-Win solution to every problem but history teaches us that this isn't always (even often?) possible. The world of International Politics, in particular, can be a cold blooded place and as a follower of Christ, that can make me uncomfortable. And yet, sometimes you DO have to punch a bully hard in the nose to protect the rest of the playground. It can get confusing can't it?
I DO know one thing - my sense of outrage and donwright anger over the insanity and stupidity in state and federal governments seems to grow larger every election cycle. I've said it before - "Has everyone in govt. taken stupid pills?" Well I haven't and it is sickening to see officials and candidates taking them by the dozen and foolishly thinking we don't notice or care.
Would you call this a rant? Sorry :o)

Just shut up & focus on evangelism?

2006-08-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

(I found this article well thought out and worthy to pass on - food for thought)

Should Christians seek political power, or should we only focus on evangelism?

This question is misleading. It brings to mind a negative image of government and politics (which it partly deserves), and it also implies that the freedom to evangelize is secure and could never be taken away. If the first part of the question is actually, "should Christians corrupt themselves with the seedy side of politics?" or "should Christians revert to the unethical, unscriptural practices of modern day 'politicians'?" the answer is, of course, no.

If, however, the question is about political involvement and participation in general, there is a different answer: Christians should seek political participation and representation as they go about their duties of evangelizing the world. Without this participation and representation, there is no assurance that the freedom to evangelize will remain secure. Can we maintain the fundamental freedoms and liberties we enjoy while standing apart from the political process? The political and social trends of the last generation should offer clear warnings that freedom and liberty require diligent care and attention -- especially by the Christian community.

There are numerous perspectives on why Christians should be involved in the political process: duty, responsibility, natural leadership, love of our brothers and sisters, a basic compassion for mankind, etc. One perspective that too often goes unnoticed is the concept of submission to government. Submission to our governing structures requires participation.

As Paul wrote to the Romans: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1 NIV). The first seven verses of this chapter provided a fundamental blueprint for the relationship between the Christians in Rome and the existing governing authority -- the power of Rome. The Roman Christians exercised no political power in the secular order of things; participation was extremely limited.

As Christians today, we look back upon Paul's letter, and other portions of Scripture (Mark 12, I Timothy 2:1-3, Acts 5, etc.) to determine our own relationship to government.

Americans enjoy certain rights and liberties that would seem foreign to early Christians. Therefore, trusting that God offers Biblical provision for our modern situation, we apply the principles He has given. As we read in Romans, one of those principles is submission to governing authority. In the American governing system, submission demands participation. Why, you may ask? Whether they like it or not, American citizens are participants in the American governing structure. No one is exempt from this participation. Citizens are assessed taxes; they are counted in the Census; they are in government computer systems at all levels; they send their children to government-run schools; they are, in one way or another, participants in the government.

Working from the premise that we are all participants, political involvement is not a matter of seeking "power." It is a matter of being fairly represented as we participate in government. As we participate, we have the opportunity of voting for our elected officials and of ensuring adequate choices as we vote. If we truly believe our government was divinely ordained and instituted, this luxury and opportunity should be enjoyed and exercised.

What does it mean to "participate?" At a minimum, it means voting. Voting implies a familiarity with those individuals on the ballot. And this familiarity is only appreciated by understanding the issues of our day. Thus, participation should drive one to an awareness of political issues. This would include social issues, economic issues, international issues, etc. Christians should rank among the most politically informed and astute people in America.

Indeed, during the Founding Era, that was the case. The pulpits were one of the primary sources for information. Education was guided by a Christian perspective. Churches were at the center of the political community, not on the periphery. Christians, of all types, exercised political and social leadership. We would do well to look back upon these earlier days, reflecting upon the role Christians assumed in creating our American form of government. Is it not ironic that we question the political involvement of Christians in a system predominately established by Christians?

Recommended for further reading:
• David W. Barton, Original Intent: The Courts, The Constitution, and Religion (Wallbuilder Press, 1996).

Copyright © 1997, WallBuilders, Inc., All Rights Reserved - except as noted on attached "Usage and Copyright" page that grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches and schools.

Maybe they will do a better job ...:o(

2006-07-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well, war has broken out in the Middle East...again. I guess Israel got tired of having their outer villages rocketed by Hezbollah while they continued to be sheltered in southern Lebanon. They've been doing it for 20 years or so. I think if I were an Israeli I would be WAY PAST tired of it. I'd be hopping mad. What a bizarre situation - Israel facing 2 governments that include known terrorist groups! Talk about government corruption! With Hamas running the Palestinian govt. and Hezbollah quietly bullying the Lebanese govt. its a pretty wierd situation. But Israel seems to know how to fight this kind of war. They have tried it in the past only to have the U.S. pull them off just as they were starting to make a real dent in the problem. Maybe we should let them have at it and see what happens. And if Syria and Iran get into the fray - good - they are dangerous nations run by weak minded and unstable rulers. Maybe if we let Israel do their thing they might actually know more about dealing with their neighbors than we do. Dunno - seems pretty hopeless all things considered.

Mother's Day is coming!

2006-05-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Tribute to Mothers

I certainly hope all you children and Father's don't forget to express your appreciation to your Mothers this Sunday!

The first celebrations in honor of mothers were held in the spring in ancient Greece. During the 17th century, England honored mothers on "Mothering Sunday," celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In the United States, Julia Ward Howe suggested the idea of Mother's Day in 1872. Howe, who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, saw Mother's Day as being dedicated to peace.

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia is credited with bringing about the official observance of Mother's Day. Her campaign to establish such a holiday began as a remembrance to her mother, who died in 1905 and who had, in the late 19th century, tried to establish "Mother's Friendship Days" as a way to heal the scars of the Civil War.

Two years after her mother died, Jarvis held a ceremony in Grafton, West Virginia to honor her. She was so moved by the proceedings that she began a massive campaign to adopt a formal holiday honoring mothers. In 1910, West Virginia became the first state to recognize Mother's Day. A year later, nearly every state officially marked the day. And in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed Mother's Day as a national holiday to be held on the second Sunday of May.

Today, because of Miss Jarvis' efforts, many celebrations of Mother's Days are held throughout the world. Although they do not all fall at the same time, such countries as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium also celebrate Mother's Day on the same day as the United States.

With it being Mother's Day, we are encouraged to remember the instructions our Mother gave us. Think with me this morning of the many things we have learned from our mothers. My mother taught me:
•Medicine - If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to stay that way!
•And Humor - When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.
•And Logic - If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.
•Genetics - You are just like your father!
•She also taught us Anticipation - Just wait till your father gets home!
•And the reality of receiving - You are going to get it when we get home!
•And the Wisdom of the Ages - When you get to be my age, you will understand.

Oh to think of what our mothers have taught us in every realm of life. May our lives be the better for having listened to and having lived by, the wisdom given by mothers.

The Mom's ministry is one of the toughest assignments God ever gave any body. She's got to be:
•as insightful as a psychologist,
•tough as a marine corp drill instructor,
•gentle as a nurse.
•She has to be a labor and management negotiator, a teacher, an electrician, a plumber and a carpenter - not to mention a chef.
•Being a Mom requires an endless supply of energy, a massive amount of patience, an iron will
•and recognition of the fact that if she gets sick, she's got to get well before the end of the school day.

Mothering has been de-valued by people in recent decades. The glamour and materialism of a career have deceptively out glittered the seemingly drab and repetitive tasks of bearing and nurturing the lives of children. Perhaps one of the most urgent needs of our time is the restoration of the high value of good mothering. Those of us who are mothers must see that responsibility as a high privilege - a divine calling. We must reclaim the role of mothers as the shapers and supporters of the next generation of leaders and parents.

Mothers, don't let the world conform you to think your role as a mother is not worth it. Don't let the success stories of the women in the world deflate your divine calling. Your status is with the Lord and with your husband and children! Abraham Lincoln once said, "No man is poor who has had a godly mother."

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." So much of that training and building process is caught rather than taught. The purity, compassion, conviction and love in your life for the things of God will be captured and lived in the lives of your children.

I am so thankful to be able to say that, even though my mother is not perfect, I had a mother who taught me, admonished me, and built in me a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

Men, be sure to show love and honor for your mothers and your wives Sunday - and the other 364 days of the year.

Children, do something nice for Mom this Sunday and be sure to tell her how much you appreciate her and how much she means to you. Give her a big hug and do something to show her how much you love her. And by the way, you can do that on any day of the year - you don't have to wait for Mother's Day!

(I found this on my hard drive this morning and thought I would share it - at least as a reminder for all us guys out there - MOTHER'S DAY IS COMING!!!

Can you be a biblical Christian anymore?

2006-05-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

I know that sounds really bizarre to say. But lately I have become so unhappy with my own spiritual journey - mainly because I just feel SO busy all the time. I am tired. I think about God so much less than He deserves. And I KNOW my behavior has slipped alot since my early days as a disciple. I am just mentally weary. I have a hobby or two that I flee to sometimes after work because I feel I could just use a little bit of a good time, you know? I suppose I give them too much time some days (and I KNOW the TV gets way too much of my time) but I think I am beginning to think it is more than that.

It isn't just that I am busy earning a living in a new field (and having to start taking 24 credits of classes to maintian my standard credential - ouch!) and have 3 kids and a house and 2 cars to take care of. I think I have become complacent in my faith. I SAY I want to grow spiritually but I guess I don't really want to as much as I say I do. After all, if it really was that important to me, I would find a way to make it happen. I used to!

Now, I am just prone to settle and soothe my conscience by midly chiding myself that I need to get going and stop playing games with God (which I have always loathed).

And I begin to wonder. Is our culture SO consuming, so materialistic, so hostile to genuine discipleship that its almost impossible to be a biblical Christian anymore? I certainly hope not -but American materialism and the American dream are powerful drugs that are SO easy to be addicted to. Most people I know are addicted to materialism in some way (they may dress it up in funny clothes to feel good about it but it is still there). Maybe the monastic movement pegged it correctly. If we only spend 80 or so years in this world and the rest in eternity then why should it matter that we have a big house, 3 cars, fat bank accounts and investments and TONS of stuff crammed into our closets and shelves. None of it matters. It will all burn or fall apart - no one has a Uhaul behind their hearse! Why aren't our pastor's preaching about this much anymore? They seem resigned that this is the way things are so they have to work around it as best as they can. And while it's certainly not their fault, it sure would be nice if they would "afflict the comfortable" a little more often!

Anyone have any land for a commune??? :o)

Has Everyone in Govt Taken Stupid Pills!

2006-05-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

It is Cinco de Mayo (sp!?) today here in California and I am bracing for another round of rhetoric about our country's border and illegal immigration problems. It is really so sad. Our state and federal government seem to be paralyzed and incapable of doing ANYTHING. And I have long since concluded that no matter what we do, the hispanic community (at least the part that is screaming right now about eliminating border security and the illegality of illegal border crossings) isn't going to like it too much. And I find that I am getting angry about the whole stupid mess. Angry because it isn't that complicated - even now after ignoring the problem for 20+ years (just like Social Security - hmm...). Some of what needs to be done may be difficult, but it's not that complicated.

Now, don't get me wrong - I am NOT anti-immigration. In my studied opinion, immigrants (legal or otherwise) are NOT stealing US jobs or ruining our country or culture (though it is disheartening to see some who seem to hate our culture - talk about biting the hand that feeds you!). The fact is, our country is populated by one-time immigrants. And our country is blessed tremendously and I do not resent anyone wanting to come here to have a better life. I am not a heartless jerk! I DO care about the poor who come here because they can't survive in their own dysfunctional, screwed up countries. My family makes a monthly effort to support the poor in other nations. People matter to me! My whole career has been helping people and serving them. So please don't write me off as some heartless armchair critic who isn't looking at the personal dimension of this issue. That simply isn't true.

But that doesn't mean I am OK with lawlessness. We have immigration and border control laws. For cryin' out loud why are they not enforced all the way! Impractical some say - then fix them so they get the job done. Build some stinking walls for crying out loud - it worked pretty good in Europe for a few decades! Have the National Guard or US military patrol that wall. By all means, treat violaters humanely - put the emergency water stations out in the deserts - I don't want anyone to die! But ignoring the problem while tens of millions of people violate the law seems to be the equivalent of taking stupid pills.

If our country comes to the conclusion that the immigration laws are too big a hurdle for most poor people to deal with (and they are), then change the laws, policies and fees. I'm OK with that - as long as it is orderly and legal. And if the Mexican government continues to be uncooperative with our efforts to enforce our border laws - then deal with them! Why be so gentle with a country that is SO uncooperative? Find some way to twist their arm and twist the snot out of it until they respect our laws and cooperate. Notice I did NOT say go to war, I don't think that will be necessary. As one of the greatest economic powers in the world right now, we can certainly find some other way to help them see it would be in their best interests to cooperate.

It is also downright stupidity not to keep in mind the huge economic drain the millions of illegal immigrants have on our social systems. This REALITY has to figure into any long-term solution. Legal immigrants are more likely to have better jobs, buy homes and thus support public schools with their property taxes etc., and have some form of health care. Notice I said MORE likely! Illegal immigrants often end up working for minimum wages with no benefits and own no property. The unbiased, nonracist conclusion then, is that because we are a country of compassion and care for the poor, they end up heavily utilising our social systems. Their children are put in school where they receive a free education (though they pay few or no taxes to help offset the cost), they end up getting assistance for food and housing and health care. Do I want to take those things away? Heaven's NO! What kind of barbarian would I be to want people to starve to death, live in cardboard boxes and die of easily preventable health problems. That's the Mexican government's shtick - not mine. However, only a moron would conclude that we can KEEP doing that for tens of millions of immigrants. Even our wealthy country can't sustain that for much longer. Now, we could cut back on foreign aid and use those funds here at home (sort of a domestic foreign aid program!)... And socking it to the rich to pay for programs to the poor always seems tempting but it is incredibly short-sighted. The wealthy ought to pay their fair share of taxes. But it is an unfortunate fact that the poor do not employ people - those who already have means are the ones that initiate that and their resources make that happen. And people need jobs if they are going to thrive. Cutting off one of their (those w/ means to employ others) hands only makes them crippled it doesn't make everyone else better off. Only typical American short-sightedness could see that as a good thing. Geesh!

But do we hear ANY of this stuff from our government or the media? NO! Instead we hear how immigrants DO pay taxes and support our economy? Sorry - prove it! And when you tabulate your facts, don't forget to calculate the huge costs to our schools, hospitals and welfare system before you get an end figure as to how much they help our economy. If you are going to make an economical argument - use real numbers and a little bit of economics! OR worse, we hear how mean spirited we are because we actually ask such questions. I believe that's called a "Straw Man" logical fallacy - create a caricature and then kick the stuffing out of him instead of actually answering the question. It is a CHEAP SHOT and I am SO TIRED of watching people get away with it I could scream! Our wealthy country IS capable and generous enough to provide a better life for many more. But if we are not careful, that can change and EVERYONE (300+ million) will be hurt and then no one further will be helped.

And please, no more talk about reconquering California and the Southwest for Mexico! First of all, it just inflammes a portion of our population that DO own lots of guns (that can't be a good thing!). Secondly, the United States won the war with Mexico (and yes, I am aware that the U.S. may have provoked Mexico in Texas) and under the standard practices of nations for millenia, reserved the right to occupy the border area between the former agressor and the homeland. This was NOT a new practice. BUT THEN, because we aren't heartless jerks as a nation - we PAID the Mexican government for the land we already had a right to occupy after winning the war and then, did so again (the Gadsen purchase) to make the border easier to define. Bottom line- the U.S. PAID for the Southwest. So if you are going to try to reconquer it - you are planning on stealing it or making war. Neither of which can be allowed. Now if you are speaking metaphorically - that's better - but please stop! Your words are too easy to take literally and you are stirring up a hornets nest. How can that help your cause??

The problem is succinctly summed up:
1. We have laws that are being violated and our border security is a mess.
It needs to be fixed! Build some walls and use some troops to patrol the border for a while. This really is a no-brainer. We MUST stop the gangs, drug rings and terrorists from streaming across our borders so they can victimize the people that live in the U.S. (both legal citizens and illegal immigrants)

2. We have a neighboring country that encourages illegal border crossings and hampers our efforts.
It needs to be fixed! Find a way to make them see fit to cooperate (short of war).

3. We have immigration laws, policies and fees that are too big of a hurdle for the poor.
That needs to be fixed! Allow more people to immigrate, reduce paperwork and fees.

4. We have 11+million illegal immigrants.
Their status needs to be made right - either by asking them to go through the new immigration policies and take an oath to love and protect their new country and be good voting citizens (#3 above) or having them go back to their country of origin.

5. We have businesses and industry that want things to stay as they are.
They should be punished or have to pay hefty fees to help reimburse our social welfare system. If that means higher prices for lettuce - so be it. But I for one, know of several teenagers who would love to have summer jobs even if it means being out in the fields. We don't have to eliminate agricultural laborers by tightening immigration laws (not if we do #3 above).

6. We have a social welfare system that is massively burdened with so many new people needing help each year.
Reducing illegal immigration will certainly help that. But we also need to find better ways to fund social services. I suggest cutting back on some foreign aid, taking most pork barrell spending money and redeploying it to social services. But for heaven's sake don't cut the military budget or hike taxes. Such solutions are VERY problematic and only provide a short term solution. And in a post 911 world, cutting our military budget will be disastrous for at least a decade or two.

That's the way I see it.

I've Been Tagged!

2005-12-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged
What fun!
Seven Sevens Tag. I was tagged by my wife Amy.

Seven Things to do before I die:
1) Become a truly godly man and patriarch to my family. (I know that sounds "canned" but I really do wish this with all my heart! :o)
2) Travel to Scotland, Ireland and the Holy Land.
3) Get my blood sugar under control and lose 50+ pounds!
4) Get a PhD in History or Theology
5) Build my own huge telescope and observatory to put it in and use it weekly!
6) Write several books on the Pilgrims, The Christian influence responsible for the unique political freedoms in the U.S.A. and a work of Fantasy fiction.
7) Visit a Star Trek Convention dressed as an Enterprise crewman w/ all the applicances.

Seven Things I can not do:
1) Forget that horrible morning in the emergency room when we lost our infant son
2) Be quiet when someone babbles left-wing, PC nonsense.
3) Watch liberal commentators on TV w/out getting disgusted at all the distortions and 1/2 truths. Do they really think we are all that stupid?!
4) Watch Jesus of Nazareth w/out weeping at several points (zealots crying out, The Crucifixion and Mary weeping over Jesus' body, and Peter's after the denail)
5) Exercise daily (gotta do it somehow!)
6) Take the whole summer off at a cabin or some getaway.
7) Blog daily

Seven Things that attract me to my Spouse
1) She is SO intelligent and is an excellent writer and communicator.
2) Her beautiful smile and laugh
3) She looks at the glass half full
4) The sparkle in her eyes when she is visiting w/ someone
5) How easily she can knit and crochet while talking or watching TV
6) She loves to travel with me and talk the whole way
7) That she truly loves the Lord and doesn't play emotional or spiritual games

Seven things I say most often.
1) I love you.
2) Come on!
3) Would you like some cheese with all that "whine?"
4) "Mind what you have learned - save you it can!"
5) That was NOT invitation to talk.
6) Stop the silliness!
7) Hello!

Seven Books (or series) I love
1) The Bible
2) The Lord of the Rings (anything Tolkein really)
3) The Belgariad
4) Darwin's Little Black Box
5) What if Jesus Had Never Been Born
6) Eragon
7) Loving Those We'd Rather Hate

Seven Movies I watch over and over again(or would watch over and over if I had the time)
1) The Lord of the Rings movies
2) Any Star Trek movie
3) Independence Day
4) All the Harry Potter movies
5) Jesus of Nazareth
6) Patriot Games
7) The man who knew too little

Seven People I would like to share this with:

I don't like regrets!

2005-11-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

September 24, 2005
The bright morning Autumn sun casts its yellow and gold glow over this little coastal town. As I stand high atop the hill that houses the small harbor town, I can see the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean stretch toward the horizon with smoky looking rocks rising out of the haze that hovers over the waters in places.

Houses painted in clean, bright earth tones sparkle in the morning sun, nestled among the green fir trees as far as the eye can see. It is a beautiful sight that brings a sense of security and peace.
It is on this day - in this place of beauty that I have come to say good-bye to my dearest friend. God touched him and he slept - now he has slipped free of the bonds of this life - which for him, had become full of pain and suffering. Oh, how I will miss him!

Gregg loved the ocean and he loved this little town full of families and good folk. It almost feels disloyal to be so at peace and so filled with awe and beauty on a day of such sorrow.

How do you say good-bye? I don't want to do so. I want our friendship to endure so that we can enjoy the beauty of this life and this place for years to come. I feel so robbed. Sickness and death took my friend away and now I am left with a heart full of fond memories and many regrets. Regrets that I didn't make the trip to see Gregg more often - that so many years saw so few visits and phone calls. Had I known it would end so soon, I would have moved heaven and earth to bridge the miles. But it is too late now. He is gone and I am by far the poorer for it - though I certainly don't begrudge him release from all the pain and suffering he lived with.

So now, how do I live my life? The same as before? How many times will death steal another loved one and bring up too many regrets? What does one do? Life rushes by with such ferocity, tearing up the months and years with so little to really show for all the fury.

I think life is best lived at a simpler pace, looking more to the now and less to the future. Taking more time for small gatherings and pleasures - less in scale but richer in memories. The grand takes so much effort but seems to give so little back for all the trouble. Yet we keep doing them anyway!

Maybe a dedication to spending a lot more time with family and friends more often - doing little things - impromptu BBQs, coffees, visiting w/out lots of fuss. Bascially, making the regular visit with relatives and old friends a much higher priority than the Tyranny of the Urgent would like. Surely, the things that are MOST important will always SEEM like they can be put off a little while longer. But that is a deception. If it is truly important it is worth doing NOW. Maybe that's how to live a life w/out accumulating so many regrets.

The Bill of NO Rights (kind of funny)

2005-05-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

Bill of Responsibilities

The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye
from GA.

"We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty to ourselves and great-great-great- grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal, bedwetters.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a Bill of No Rights:

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to FREE food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You don't have the right to demand that our children risk their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate oppressive governments and won't lift a finger to stop you from going to fight if you'd like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world and do not want to spend so much of our time battling each and every little tyrant with a military uniform and a funny hat.

ARTICLE IX: You don't have the right to a job. All of us sure want all of you to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE X: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to pursue happiness - which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights."

NUFF SAID - MUCH FOOD FOR THOUGHT.....

A New Declaration of Independence

2005-05-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Declaration of Self-Dependence (a.k.a. Declaration of Independence)
This was written by Eric Sloane in a brilliant and easy to read and ponder little book titled, "The Spirits of 76" published by Ballantine in 1973. The author poses some very thoughtful questions and challenges us to consider the spirit behind the words of the Declaration of Independence. He believes that we have changed some of the meanings and are often missing the real spirit of the words. Food for thought! He says (the bold words are my emphasis)...

"One night, while reading about the Declaration of Independence, I dozed off wondering what it must have been like to have taken part in its writing. Suddenly I was there. With a quill pen I was writing the great words. ‘When in the course of human events.” The rest I do not recall, but I remember the title being different—Declaration of Self-Dependence.

As I think now of my dream, the title made more and more sense. The 1776 proclamation referred so much to the American revolutionists that it lacked the flavor of a personal statement. Now, two centuries later, the population and its government have become so vast and complicated that the voice of the individual is vague, weak, and less heard. Perhaps a mote pertinent, personal declaration is in order, and herewith I present my declaration for today.

When in the course of human events, the material well being of a society obscures the spiritual principles upon which that society was founded, it becomes proper to review out heritage and redeclare its reason for being. Only by such recollection can a true renaissance of the original American spirit occur.

My nation was born with a declaration of independence, but to be free, I must also practice an individual independence.

The statement of 1776 had unique worth because it was the first government manifesto to totally respect the independence of the individual. Different from other national statements of purpose, it was not a declaration of domination but one of liberation.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that within our democracy the exact principles which rule the conscience and economy of the individual must also govern the conscience and economy of the government. I hold therefore that government waste in any form is intolerable, because just as no family can for long spend more than it earns, neither can a government do so. As frugality is part of the family economy, so must thrift be important to national revenue. The practice of thrift is insurance against greed, which had no part in the original American philosophy.

I hold that respect is the root of morality and that disrespect for oneself, for others, or for the nation is contrary to the American spirit.

I believe that self-dependence produces self-respect. Therefore, helping a man to be self-dependent is an admirable pursuit. But helping a man while taking away his initiative and independence is degrading. Permanently doing for a man what he can do for himself is contrary and destructive to the American tradition. I believe in the dignity of labor and the pursuit of excellence. Therefore, I believe that striving for the most pay for the least amount of work is an immoral aim. It is a principle that cannot endure without eventual demoralization of the worker and decay of workmanship.

Just as you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong, I believe that the wage earner cannot profit by destroying the wage payer. Both capital and labor have equal rights in the American system, and the independence of both is equally deserving of recognition. For either to strike against public welfare or violate the innocent is immoral and against the American tradition.

I believe that the moral strength of the nation is only as strong as the moral strength of its individuals. I therefore commit myself to the pursuit of labor, respect. independence, thrift, excellence, and peace. I hold that self-dependence of the individual is a reflection of self-dependence of the nation. that the American heritage is not only something bestowed upon the individual but, equally, what the individual contributes to his country.

I consider “In God We Trust” a profound statement of national commitment. I believe that democracy without commitment to God is a departure from the original American concept. I believe that all men are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights and that the foregoing creed renders not only independence to the nation but self-dependence for each American."