Can I see your green card?

Amnesty; are you crazy!

            Illegal immigration is an issue for our country and has been a topic for discussion in the republican debates on occasion.  Mentioning the word amnesty for illegals sends some people into a panic, but what would those people suggest be done?  A popular answer is deporting them and Bill O’Riley would probably have them throw them in jail for ten years, which is his answer for most crimes.  Neither of these ideas are viable solutions for one specific reason; money!  How and who will pay for these actions and government would have to be expanded to carry out the process to do this; these issues, money and big government are NOT POPULAR.  To prevent myself from going into the trick bag of complaining without a solution I must propose some solutions.

            I am really not opposed to amnesty; however, President Regan granted Amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants in the 80s and we now have over 10 million estimated illegal immigrants in country, so that has been proven not to work.  We could make the immigration process easier to allow legal immigration as it was in the Naturalization act of 1790, which in order to address one's "good moral character," the law required two years of residence in the United States and one year in the state of residence, prior to applying for citizenship. When those requirements were met, an immigrant could file a Petition for Naturalization with "any common law court of record" having jurisdiction over his residence asking to be naturalized. Once convinced of the applicant’s good moral character, the court would administer an oath of allegiance to support the Constitution of the United States. The clerk of court was to make a record of these proceedings, and "thereupon such person shall be considered as a citizen of the United States."  The Act also establishes the United States citizenship of children of citizens, born abroad, without the need for naturalization, "the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond Sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born Citizens".  Bummer, this did not include slaves or descendants of women not born in the USA, but father’s descendants only.

            The immigration law today consists of 4 title sections with a total of 17 chapters and roughly 187 acts loaded with rules and regulations written by lawyers.  To view the entire statute visit this website:  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem  This is the poster child for why we need to simplify not just this law, but many laws, so that average people can understand them; in addition, all laws must be taught in schools.  With that being said, simplified immigration laws could be a solution.

            The following ideas are long shots. 

We round up all the illegals and shoot them.  That would punish them and rid us of them; now, there might be some fallout because it is inhumane and it didn’t go so well with Hitler when he tried that, but they would be gone. 

We could build the great wall of America.  China built a 1300 mile wall to keep invaders out, we certainly could build a wall of that magnitude and put many people to work doing it; heck, we could probably capture enough illegals and force them to build it on work release from prison.  We may need the wall to keep people in at the rate our economy is sliding. 

We invade and take over all the countries down to the Panama Canal…let's see people try and swim that!  Union of States American (USA) Poof, no more illegals!

Whatever plan is hatched, this problem has been brewing for over 30 years and it will take a long time to sort this out.  This country was built on the principle of immigration and has relied on it to prosper.  Why do many despise someone that is just trying to find a better life?     

Affordable healthcare?

Saving the health care system must be done by cutting the cost without cutting quality!  First, I would increase the number of doctors by allowing individuals to specialize in a specific area of treatment without excessive school, which would cut the time and money it takes to become a doctor; however, this must be with care and thought so not too diminish quality of care.  Secondly, fund and train start-up companies to make all of the ridiculously over-priced medical supplies competitive.  Remove drugs from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and allow drug companies to test and provide evidence that their drug is safe with the present detailed testing process.  Drug companies would be regulated as a “utility” and prices MUST be justified limiting profitability.  Eliminate malpractice law suits, do homework on treatment options, doctors records will be posted publicly for all to see.  Give incentives for proper Body Mass Index (BMI), being drug free, and not smoking from taxes collected from cigarettes and legalized marijuana, yes legalized marijuana!  Finally, make low interest loans available to start-up medical facilities to limit the monopoly the big institutions have on the healthcare market.

Forcing these bold changes on the entire country would be irresponsible; this should be tested in one city or state before standardization.  All of these ideas create competition and more JOBS!  This all sounds good on paper, but once the trial lawyers, drug lobbyist, health insurance companies, and big hospitals get to the law makers it would never get a chance… 

Government waste?

Here is a comparison between government spending and sewage treatment.  I own a sewer utility and this comparison crossed my mind one day while working on the sewer plant.    

A sewer plant treats sewage with an aerobic and anaerobic process that produces clear water, which is discharged into a pond or water source.  However, the process produces phosphates (fertilizer) that remains in the clear water discharged, which feeds pond scum allowing it to grow.  If the amount of sewage treated is excessive the amount of phosphates rise in the discharged water and cause an increased amount pond scum.

Here is my point. The sewage is the money the government provides for programs, phosphates are government spending, and Pond scum is inflation.  For example, student loans have driven the cost of college up from $16,000 (total 4 years) when I went to school in 1985 to $88,000 (total 4 years) presently.  The costs of education has sky rocketed.  Why?  Capitalism, that’s why.  Supplying a free market with a ton of funding and the market will find a way to extract the money.  I recently visited my old campus, there are many upgrades that make it super nice and it is easy to see where the money was spent, but is it really necessary for this over indulgence?  It is clearly driven by students with borrowed money to spend.  Government backed mortgages are another example of government interference gone wrong.  Just wait until the fertilizer hits the healthcare system, people will not be able to afford to get sick!

The media mob

Is the media the Pharisees of our world now? 

How has our society allowed the media to become our moral compass and display the aura that they are perfect?

The power they abuse can ruin someone regardless if charges are true or false.  If it sells air time then it is news worthy, but it is not only the media's fault because the mob yearns for the entertainment of watching someone fail or self-implode.  The media continues to judge people and sway public opinion to that which suits them best in order to gain attention (which sells air time) 
Please read this passage about judging others.  

John 8
   But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.  But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.  At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, sir,” she said.  “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

If Jesus will not willing to judge this woman then who is better than Him to judge her?  I have been guilty of judging others, I believe it is difficult to refrain from doing so, but that does not make it right and I am getting better at staying away from judging others showing mercy.  It is easy to practice self-mercy and justifying our own mistakes; why do we find it so difficult to forgive others theirs?

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

I believe I'll leave judgment to God...I have enough to do today.

Which one are you?

Matthew 7: 13-14

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

Atheist ~ coincidence

People ~ luck

Christian ~ Holy Spirit

The atheist wanders the earth thinking this is all there is to life.  Whatever happens to them is happenstance.  They make their own way.  The atheist is shown the path but never goes to see what it is or where it leads.  They live for the day and themselves.  Death is nothingness.  A sign from God would never even cross their mind and be a mere coincidence.

 Some People believe in luck like the gambler; which includes those that believe in God, but do not have faith enough to believe God will provide for them.  Luck puts the credit on the individual, therefore, pride is involved.  A perfect recipe the devil needs to tempt you.  Joy from luck is brief and unfulfilling.  Luck can draw some to the devil; they will forever thirst for more and never satisfy the craving.  The devil is “lucky” if he steals a soul from God, because the only way the devil can gain a soul is if a person is walking outside the righteousness of God.  It is impossible for the devil to get a soul that is walking in God’s righteousness.  Luck is the most convenient way to explain away a sign from God.

  

The Christian lives to do God’s will.  God rewards the Christian with forgiveness through Jesus Christ, everything needed to live on earth and the promise of eternal life if living in God’s righteousness.  The Holy Ghost is God’s conduit to us and if you read the Bible and truly believe in him it will grow.  As you get closer to God and understand His teachings God will strengthen you in the Holy Spirit.  Notice there is no mention of the money or riches of this world and you will be tested, which makes being a Christian not easy; therefore many choose the simple ways of the atheist or luck.  The Christian choice is a life long journey, whereas, the atheist or devil have immediate results and often blind their victims from seeking God.  God speaks to us with signs and gentle nudges on our Christian journey.  Signs are from the Holy Spirit and can easily be confused as coincidence or luck.  God speaks to all this way if you are still, listen and pay attention.  

     

TP over or under

TP over or under

This question is just about as old as which came first the chicken or the egg?  In fact the question of the flap of toilet paper over the top or under the bottom can be correlated to the political winds blowing in the country today.  How you might ask?  Take the occupy movement or flea party as tea party folks call it; which may have a message, but just can’t seem to get it out or know exactly what the message is. 

Let’s say the Tea Party is the TP over folks and the occupy party is the TP under people.  TP over folks want control over how much TP is dispensed, thus the flap is on top where it can be seen, monitored, and controlled; however, the TP under people could care less how much comes out or if it reaches the floor because they didn’t pay for it and someone else will clean-up the extra.  There are some people that do not notice how the TP goes on the holder, those are folks in the middle, which include those that don’t care or those that can go TP over or TP under without issue. 

It would be interesting to give this a try...

This is not my veiw, but some of it makes good sense!

 

 

 

This was in the Waco Tribune Herald, Waco , TX Nov 18, 2010

Put me in charge . . .

Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get tats and piercings, then get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your
own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo
and speakers and put that money toward the “common good.”

Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules.. Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for
doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.

AND While you are on Gov’t subsistence, you no longer can VOTE! Yes that is correct. For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov’t welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job.

 

Get the Vaseline out!

Politics 101…Get ready for the deal of the century when the Republicans cave in and raise the debt ceiling with the Democrats!  I tried to raise my debt ceiling, but the bank would have none of it.  Yes, I will have to file bankruptcy because they won’t loan me anymore money; however, I can’t pay them back, so I really don’t want to borrow anymore.  I wonder if the same bankruptcy laws and rules apply for the USA?  If so, I think the USA should file chapter 7 bankruptcy, I get to keep my house and up to $10,000 worth of stuff…the good news is I get to dump a lot of debt.  14 trillion + dollars’ worth of debt would be erased if the government went bankrupt!  There is the issue with the government assets, when you file bankruptcy all of your assets are sold on the court house steps at a sheriff’s sale…You could get a good deal on Yosemite park, an F-14, NASA, the Washington monument, or the White House just to mention a few items.  I’m sure the new owners would do a better job running or using government assets than the present owners. 

Politicians will not let this happen for one big reason because they would have to go on a cash basis and could no longer borrow money for at least 7 years until they get their credit score up just like a regular citizen.  With exception of the military how can we lose, most of the government agencies we have would be gone (cut in spending) and politicians would quit because they weren’t getting paid (win win). 

Seriously, when will disconnect between the government and reality be addressed?  I think it will take a real Tea Party type uprising to get the point across to the blind politicians running our country into the dirt.  I guess I shouldn’t care…its easier just to ignore it.

         

Why entitlements are wrong

Food stamps, Medicaid, welfare, and section 8 are just a few the government hand-out programs that are in place from our government funded by tax payers.  How can such a noble idea be so wrong?  In theory government help is a good idea; however, those that are on the dole become so dependent on the gift they are unwilling to seek their own funds from employment or any other source.  What was designed to be help enables a person to lose their desire to make their own living and rely solely on the government for their supply.  Another issue with these programs is fraud, which is rampant in each of these programs.  A combination of corruption and poor management by the government is a recipe for failure and loss of faith in the programs by those that pay for them, the tax payers.  Many people making their own living resent those that are on the dole and view them as lazy unproductive bums.    

What I have mentioned is fairly obvious, but what is the solution?  End all entitlements that are hand-outs (not Social Security or Medicare because they are designed to payout what is paid in) including subsidies for farming, oil, and cooperate welfare.  How can this be done without staving and preventing care for the genuinely poor folks that indeed need help?  The burden of caring for the poor would be shifted to the churches and the missions located on just about every street corner throughout the entire country.  If the government is so good at caring for the poor why are there organizations like Salvation Army, Wheeler Mission, Good Will, and Gleaner’s food bank?  Funding these organizations would make more sense and cut down on fraud because a recipient would have to prove their need to receive help.  This would be a bit bumpy at first, but after the transition was made to which ever organization was chosen by the recipient they would be better off.  In addition, the above mentioned organizations have programs designed to train and assist a recipient to find their own way to contribute to society.  This idea shifts government’s role of supplying poorly run and corrupt entitlement programs to the people supplying real help to those in true need while providing hope.  God will take care of His people if we allow Him to do so through other people, government supply is not the answer!  If anyone in true need walks into my church they are taken in and given help and I am certain that people of this blessed nation would help all of those in real need of help; in addition, give them hope by assisting them in finding a pathway to provide for themselves.                     

Heaven within?

    Now that the dust is settling from the passing of the manmade prediction of the rapture or what I now call Jesus awareness day because so many folks did talk about the subject.  True, the prediction was purely speculation; it made good conversation and some funny jokes.  With that being said, I wish to share a concept that I have been thinking about for some time.  WARNING!  This is just a concept; although, this is thought provoking and something that presents a totally different idea from conventional wisdom, so please read it with an open mind.   

    It began when I was studying about Alzheimer’s disease in my psychology class.  Alzheimer’s is a ruthless disease that robs individuals of their memories.  Let’s face it without memories what is the value of life?  Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases all relate to the loss of neurons in the mid-brain, which eventually prevents the recall of memories.  I feel that a person’s memories are still intact; however, recalling memories is prohibited by the deterioration of neurons needed to transfer memories from storage to working memory.  If fact, I speculate that all of our memories are stored with-in the brain and just because we cannot recall everything does not mean that all memories are not stored or exist.  It is not known what causes the loss of these neurons and the only real cure is one that prevents the loss of neurons, which has not been discovered. 

    After researching Alzheimer’s disease I couldn’t help to ask “why would God allow such a terrible thing to happen to His people?”  If you have been around someone with severe Alzheimer’s it is disheartening and sad.  I believe that no person can figure out God’s plan, but that shouldn’t keep us from trying.  I struggled to find an explanation for the loss of memory, which needs to be called lack of recall to support my theory. 

    Another factor used in the theory development considers the work of Sigmund Freud, who developed theories of conscious and unconscious and insisted that a person could repress traumatic experiences.  Could repression and Alzheimer’s essentially be the lack of recalling memory, not memory loss?  The unconscious is not fully understood; however, Freud argued that it houses our true self and coined the phrase Freudian slip.  Dreams are also associated with the unconscious and are an unexplained event that occurs within the mind. 

    Joining psychology and spirituality is what lead me to a theory that is opposite of what people think about the location of heaven.  If I were to ask you where heaven is would you not think up or outside of your body?  What if heaven was within your mind?  Yes, the answer maybe in not up or out!  Before you close the page and consider me a nut job consider my reasoning.  If this were true, when we die, we would retreat into our unconscious or memories (all the memories of our life are included).  God warns that all deeds good and bad will be judged, how can that happen if we cannot recall what we have experienced?  Have you ever wondered where memories go or what exactly are they made of?  They are invisible just as one’s spirit, but may be one and the same.  If you think the brain cannot possibly store every item experienced consider this; the eye never fills from seeing and the ear never fills from hearing, so why would the mind ever fill of memories?  If this theory is accurate then heaven is within each and every one of us!  Another interesting theory is that our own belief within may be our pathway to heaven, what better way to weed out those that don’t believe?

    I know this is a far-fetched theory with little proof to back it up, but who really knows what lies beyond death or what God’s plan entails?  Either a spirit cannot come back to this world or it is so great on the other side a spirit doesn’t want to come back…I tend to want to believe the later where ever heaven is.                  

              

Never talk about politics or religion!

Talking about the weather or your pet is usually a safe topic for conversations with others; although, mentioning politics can get ugly as it did last Friday night at our friendly gathering.  It was late and we were ready to leave when the politics started flying, I don’t know how it started, but it escalated to a fox news debate quickly and I seemed to be the moderator.  One of my friends has a liberal view and the other more conservative, which mirrors the division in our country in my opinion.  The debate circled around taxes, government regulation, and entitlements.  Who should get taxed, how much should people be taxed, more taxes on the rich, and the tax structure were discussed in painful detail, as the others in the room lost interest because this had become a two person argument.  I would have been fired as a moderator because this was getting intense and out of control.  Government regulation was next and it went no differently than taxes and the same for entitlements.  After two hours of heated debate, it was 5am by then, they both realized they were not too far from agreement on all of the issues; however, their own personal bias and preconceived thoughts clouded the path needed to find agreement. 

I have had a few days to digest the early morning political debate and have discovered that there are no solutions that will please everyone, for that matter anyone.  We all have our personal bias and sacred cows, but how do we find a middle ground?  The cable news shows make a good living promoting this divisiveness and love to stir up a divide between the left and the right.  Why does every issue have to be such a war between Dems and Repubs?  With our economy in such a fragile state this would be a great time to join together to provide solutions to our economic problems.  We have a choice when we vote, but that choice is bad and worse in my opinion.  The Republicans are a party of bad ideas and the Democrats are a party of worse ideas all designed for the politicians best interests, not the people.  We need sound leadership and I don’t care where it comes from, but we need it NOW.                        

How do you feel about gay people?

Love is Love

I may surprise you with the some of the statements I am about to make, but I feel there is an injustice in the way gay people are viewed in our society.  There are protestors at military funerals, gay hate crimes, and they are treated like second class citizens in many ways.  Whatever the reason a person chooses to be gay doesn’t matter; however, it does matter that others respect that choice.  Should a Christian accept a gay person?  What would Jesus do?  Let’s review who Jesus ministered to when he was alive.  It was the leapers, Samaritans, and other people considered low in society’s view at the time, in fact Jesus was at odds with the leaders of the Jewish society.  Is this not a lesson in tolerance and example for us to follow?  Furthermore, who is to judge others?  Those that take the opportunity to disrespect gay people illustrate their own insecurity and closed mindedness.  I may not understand why people are gay, but I will not fall into the pit of judgment and show disrespect.  Be kind to others and you will reap what you sow…            

Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks

Bin Laden is dead!

Now that the dust has settled a bit from the killing of Osama Bin Laden I have had time to reflect.  A Proverb comes to mind that sums up a different way to address what has happened. 

Proverbs 24:17-20

¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
   when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
¹⁸ or the LORD will see and disapprove
   and turn his wrath away from them.

 ¹⁹ Do not fret because of evildoers
   or be envious of the wicked,
²⁰ for the evildoer has no future hope,
   and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Look at the prison Bin Laden was confined in.  He could not leave his compound and was fearful of death every moment of every day and night.  What did he stand for?  Was it worth the cost?  What parts of God’s will was he living and teaching?  It certainly was not the Golden Rule…    

My take on "Why we don't know why?"

Seeking the answer…

It started over ten years ago when a friend and I started a religious conversation.  He was having trouble understanding the concept of God and His existence.  He stated something to the effect “If is God is real, He needs to come down here, sit down if front of me and tell me exactly what He wants from me, why doesn’t He do that?” 

I didn’t know what to say, but I wasn’t going to just give up trying to find an answer to that question.  Certainly there are other people that feel the same way.  This question can really affect the way some one perceives God; this is a bold question.  After several years of reading the Bible and prayer, this is what God revealed to me.

On a side note, when I talk about conversation, prayer, and revealing pertaining to God, I don’t want to leave the impression I have ever heard Gods voice, because I haven’t heard His physical voice.  God has sent an advocate in the Holy Spirit to guide us through signs which lead us on a spiritual path to Him, which I believe is true. 

Giving up control and allowing God to guide us shows the amount of faith we have in God.  Often we feel we need to take charge and be in control, but we really aren’t really in charge or control.  The best things that have happened in my life are not of my making or control, but the bad choices can be traced to ME and God has allowed me to learn from them.     

In answering part of my friend’s question pertaining to God coming down here “face to face” I looked at some examples in the Bible.  Moses and Paul were both physically affected by God sightings.  When Moses came down from Mount Sinai he had physically aged from receiving the 10 commandments from God.  When Saul was on the road to Damascus he was physically blinded for 3 days and changed his name to Paul turning from persecutor of Christians to advocate for Jesus. 

Did they both see God?  Maybe a glimpse, thus causing the aging and blindness, but I don’t think it is impossible for our flesh to handle God’s grace and power; therefore, we are not able to see him while we are in the flesh. 

Another example is the Ark of the Covenant the Israelites took into battle.  Other nations were plundered by the power or the Ark while the Israelites possessed it.  If you remember the movie Raiders of the lost Ark when the Germans opened the Ark anyone that looked at its contents were destroyed.

With that in mind, that limits our chances of meeting God face to face while we are in the flesh, but what about “God tell me exactly what you want from me?”    

How many of you have deadlines in your job?  How many have a schedule of tasks to do? How many of you have had a big test in school?  How many of you have run a race?  There are many life “tests”.  Our lives could consist of tests God gives us every day, are you passing or even know what His will may be?   

I watched the end of an Iron man race (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a marathon) where 2 women were trying to finish.  Both were so exhausted and cramped up they could not stand up.  They were both so close to finishing, but yet were physically worn out.  It was hard to watch as their bodies would not function; finally one of them crawled across the finish line only to totally collapse.  She did finish and quit just past the finish line.

What is the first thing you do when you complete a task in your life?  What is the first thing a runner does after crossing the finish line?  Quit, rest, and relax.  Many times we don’t ever want to do it again, especially if it was really difficult.

What is the answer to the question “why we don’t know?”  Knowing our destiny before we live life would remove the need for living.  Let’s say God told me I was going to live 25 years and you would die on Friday, May 25th.  I would start making a schedule of things I need to do and have a great effect on what I did.  That would limit my freedom to live knowing when my time was finished, but many of us long for that kind of control and would welcome it.    

Why is free choice so important?  God cannot know our true heart if we are manipulated by fact.  Does God want us to seek Him of our own free will, not manipulated to seek Him? That is why we cannot know Gods plan for us, because we would quit, rest, and relax and it would alter how we would live.  Again, how can God get a true test of our heart if we are manipulated? 

Our flesh will perish at the finish line of our journey on earth.  Will our spirit continue on; will our sprit have eternal possibilities if we seek a spiritual journey on a path to God?  That is the question and where faith begins… 

Finding this path requires seeking God to understand His perfect will.  Once accepting God to be in control of your life He may test you.  There may be times when you think God has forsaken you and what is happening to you is unfair, will we find out later the meaning of the test?  I think yes, as a reward for seeking God and having a pure heart. 

If we look at our journey through life we can reflect on times when we were tested by God.  We often stumble and fall, but weather we get back up and continue to seek God afterwards is a true test of our heart and shows Him our courage, faith, and desire with a pure heart as a result.  

The finish line for your flesh will come at a time you will not know, but Jesus teaches us that your spirit can go on and He has prepared a place in heaven by His father.  The promise of eternal life provides for our spirit to live on, but if no time is spent nurturing your spirit it will surely perish.  Just as an unattended garden turns to weeds. 

To run the race of life you must train by seeking the Lord our God and feeding your soul with spiritual food by abiding in what Jesus teaches in the Bible.   

When it is your time to face God, do you want him to say “who are you?”  Unless you seek Him how will He know who you are?       

Why we don't know why?

“WHY” is a question I hear from many people when discussing God.  They want to know why God behaves as He does.  A person that could answer that question would be wise and have God’s favor.  Why does God even need to put up with us; He has everything and has created everything?  Until our spirit leaves our body we will not have an answer to this question.  Here is a prayer and a few scriptures that might help.    

Prayer

Lord our God, you are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, and you know all.  We seek wisdom from you to better our lives and be good examples so others will seek your will.  Forgive us when we fall short and fail in your eyes as we so often do.  Living your will is not comfortable or easy; grant us courage to go forward and live in a Christian way.   In your name we pray, Amen.

  

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth—his eyes not seeing sleep day or night. 17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.

1 Corinthians 2: 6-16

4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.      

What is wrong with kids today!

A teacher asked me a question “why don’t kids respect teachers and lack discipline?”  Not a simple question to answer; however, many older folks feel there is a lack of disciplinary action taken when students cause problems.  For instance, back in my day a good paddling was in order for a trouble maker, but now corporal punishment is off the table and for good reason in my opinion.  A teacher or person in authority educating youth must imply there are consequences for students that misbehave and hold them accountable.  Using creativity in developing methods of punishment is a good way to provide a good base of discipline and respect in the minds of youth.

I will use a person example to illustrate the point.  When I lived in the fraternity house in college, I was the house manager and was in charge of keeping the house clean and operational.  I administered house duties to each member to be done during the week.  Most of the brothers did their duties, but there were several that would not pull their weight and fines would not bother them at all.  I decided to try a creative approach and used what most individuals in a group are petrified of, embarrassment.  I devised a, excuse my French, low-ass list of those brothers that refused to do their house duties during the week and read it out loud in our Sunday chapter meeting.  Within two weeks the list was empty and all house duties were done! 

Teachers must be allowed and encouraged to creatively set punishment for members in their classroom.  Teachers are the “boots on the ground” and know their students best.  A teacher could incorporate a history lesson into punishment; such as, setting up a few stockades in the school lunch room for students that can’t seem to show respect and follow the rules.  Missing a meal and the embarrassment would be plenty to curb misbehavior.  Some might say that is cruel, but punishment is not meant to be fun or it serves no purpose.  I am certain that our highly trained teachers have the creativity to provide adequate methods of punishment to hold students accountable if they are permitted to do so.  LET OUR TEACHERS TEACH!!!!!            

"Its the end of the world as we know it"~ R.E.M

End of times?

The media has a lot to cover these days and I’m surprised they have not predicted the end of the world yet.  The book of Revelations in the Bible is confusing about what happens during the end of mankind in my opinion; however, Revelation 18:4-19 speaks of the end of Babylon.  Could the end of mankind come in only one hour?  Look how quickly Japan’s stock market fell and currency was affected after the environmental tragedies which struck their country.  What happens to Babylon is eerily familiar to what is happening to Japan; could it be a precursor to what is in store for the United States of America?  I do not know if or when the end may come as no person does, but can the signs go on unnoticed?  Read the scripture and give it critical thought.  This blog is only meant to promote discussion on this subject and I have many questions about the end of times or if they will come at all, so read with an open mind.  I am not claiming or predicting anything! 

NIV version Rev. 18:4-19    

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen.  I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’ 8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine.  She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. 9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

 “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’

11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.  14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out:

 “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

 “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

 “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea, became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

Earthquake

AID

The disaster in Japan is another good reason we should not be in any wars.  Just think of the help we could give to Japan if we had not spent so much time and money on unwinnable wars like we are in now?  The perception that we bullies is applied when we wage war; however when we supply humanitarian aid we are the good guys.  War erases all good we do; battles are won by setting a good example, not by force.  We need to rule with compassion rather than fear…I would rather be loved than feared.  Our country should be known for how much we care for others, not how well we can kill others.  There is a saying “you catch more flies with sugar than you do with vinegar”     

     

Protesters

Protesters

Why would protesters want to jam-up the downtown area to ruin the Big Ten tourney?  That is what union organizers are calling on the rank and file to do.  This is just plain rude to our guests that have traveled to our city to see a basketball game or two!  What did our visitors do to deserve this?  Will they come back in the future; furthermore, they can’t vote or have a dog in this fight?  There are well over a million people in Indiana and we are allowing a couple thousand union folks represent how people in our state behave.  Here’s an idea, maybe we could have the democrats come back and discuss the issue like adults and take themselves out of time-out.  A considerate union worker would not participate in this activity and would be worth supporting; however this stunt will polarize the issue even more when our city is tarnished by this selfish act.  Other cities compete for the business the Big Ten tourney brings to a city not to mention tax revenue, less taxes, less money to pay state employees…brilliant plan union bosses, brilliant!   Never argue with an idiot, they will beat you with expirence…     

Bibletics

Bibletics 

 How can the Bible be included in politics, life, or law?  Did you know the Bible covers everything we encounter in life?  The problem is finding the cross references with what is needed to address an issue.  The Bible is a historic account of how people lived over the last several thousand years.  Although, today's society has many, many innovations people still make the same mistakes our ancestors made.  It is not essential to believe in God, the Holy Spirit or Jesus to use the Bible as a guide; however, faith can bring better understanding of the scriptures.  I will attempt to take current events and Bible cross references with scripture.  Let's start with Charlie Sheen; although, I must be careful not to judge the person, just the actions.  Judging is a slippery slope than can be hypocritical if care is not taken, please take this into consideration.

Proverbs 23 verses 29 -35

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints?  Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.

35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it!

When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”

Afghanistan

Is dirt worth the cost?

I posted this Blog a few months ago and the recent death of the Navy Seals,men that dedicated their lives to fulfill the orders by the government, is what forced me to re-post it.  War is too costly because Americans die, families are affected, and those that live are likely to have some form of Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Indirect threats are not justifiable, only direct threats are creditable.  They are winning by bankrupting our country and they are better at being poor than us.

War

The war in Afghanistan has been on my mind lately, yes this war has been going on for nearly ten years.  That is just about as long as the USSR fought in Afghanistan before they gave up.  Why can’t the two super powers win in Afghanistan?   The answer is simple and one that provides a good life lesson.  Never pick a fight with someone that has NOTHING to lose.  Certainly we should be concerned with our fellow mankind; however, the USA should not get involved in countries that have nothing to lose such as Afghanistan.  I watched a program on CNN about a journalist that was allowed to follow and film a group of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.  They were funded from outside sources and did nothing other than ambush USA convoys and read the Quran.  Our troops that die come back to protesters at their funerals posting disturbing signs all for the sake of freedom?  We are just fueling the fire of hatred by continuing to stay in Afghanistan.  Our government depends on fear to keep wars going and this war is bankrupting our country, which is exactly what someone with NOTHING to lose counts on.  Let them come to us over a big ocean and in our backyard for a while and use their resources up fighting us.  If the media quits promoting terrorists they will have NO stage to preform and eventually quit.  It takes two to fight and if we don’t then they will be vilified by the rest of the world and funds will dry up.  Does our country have the will and intelligence to rid ourselves of pride?  A true test of strength is having the power to crush someone and refraining from it. 

     

Health and fittness

Health and fitness

Our bodies are miracles and taking care of our physical fitness is something many wish to do, but can’t seem to stay committed to do.  There are many opportunities to become physically fit; however, finding one that involves competition at different age levels and skill levels is critical in longevity.  Competition allows goals to be set and motivates conditioning, which provides a reason to train.  Without a reason, it is exercise, which becomes boring and easy to quit.  The excuse that I hear from many is “I can’t do it” or “I’m no good at it” and my answer to that is “you are doing better than the person at home on the couch just by trying”.   The most difficult thing about training (don’t call it exercise, that sounds meaningless) is getting started.  Getting past “I feel tired today” and “I can’t do it” requires discipline to avoid missing work-outs.  If you are going to get in shape might as well make a fun competition out of it.  With rising healthcare costs it pays to take care of your body.        

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog site.  I will post comments and on current events; this will most likely be me rambling on about many subjects, but I hope to provide critical thought while adding some humor to the issues.