Rubber rooms for teachers

Unions had their place and did great things for the American worker, but I think now is the time for the pendulum to swing the other way for a bit.

New York City has about 700 teachers who are sitting on their duffs... not teaching, not doing anything creative for children. They have been accused of everthing from sexual offenses to a child having a hat on and singing in the classroom. I think the system has gone overboard.

What has happened to our work ethics? We are so fearful of being politically correct, so controlled by union contracts that the huge corporations' products and teaching of our children is no longer the main point/attraction but a sideline. These teachers are collecting their $70,000 a year paychecks and painting watercolors, writing novels, staring at walls. There is something hugely wrong with this picture.

Here is what is wrong with the picture (emphasis is mine):

Once their hearings are over, they are either sent back to the classroom or fired. But because their cases are heard by 23 arbitrators who work only five days a month, stints of two or three years in a rubber room are common, and some teachers have been there for five or six (YEARS).

I'm thinking, can't the school system do something about this? Here's an idea. Tell the union that their arbitrators must work five days a WEEK not a month just like the rest of us working slobs have to work. I guess that is too novel, though.

I look at the state of the union and I realize the waste is more than the piled up garbage in America. Why didn't congress give every American a check for $1 million? It would have been a WHOLE lot cheaper and would have stimulated the economy in an astronomical way. Oh, guess that wouldn't have worked, though, because all the little businesses would have lost all their little workers. However, I do believe it would have worked a lot better than the bail out. All you have to do is look at each lottery winner over the past umpteen years to know that within a year or two, the poor would be poor again and the rich would have made a lot more. But, hey, the car people would still have their jobs and the mortgage companies would still be in business. I can assure you, I would have put my $ 1 million to a LOT better use than AIG did, or Chrysler, or any other bailout receipient. Hind sight and all that!

If God Should Speak

Another treasure I found in old files on my computer. But... sigh... it is anonymous. It must have come in email from a friend...

"Our Father which art in heaven....."
---Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
---But you called me.

Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. "Our Father which art in heaven....."
---There you did it again.

Did What?
---Called me. You said, "Our Father which art in heaven." Here I am.....What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done.
---All right. Go on.

"Hallowed be thy name....."
---Hold it. What do you mean by that?

By what?
---By "hallowed be thy name"?

It means.....it means.....Good grief, I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
---It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what "hallowed" meant before. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
--Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?
---What are you doing about it?

Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.
---Have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.
---That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money---all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read?

Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at the church.
---Excuse me. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you, for example.

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
---So could I.

I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free
---Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together, you and I. Some victories can truly be won. I'm proud of you.

Look, Lord, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. "Give us this day, our daily bread."
---You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this, "Criticize me day"? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

---Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called me, and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying, I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.....(pause). Well, go on.

I'm scared to.
---Scared? Of what?

I know what you'll say.
---Try me and see.

"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."
---What about Ann?

See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories about my family. She never paid back the debt she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!
---But your prayer? What about your prayer?

I didn't mean it.
---Well, at least you're honest. But it's not much fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it?

No. But I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I got some plans for that neighbor. She'll wish she had never moved into this neighborhood. ---You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that.

You can? How?
---Forgive Ann. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Ann's problem and not yours. You will have settled your heart.

Oh, you're right. You always are. And more than I want to revenge Ann, I want to be right with you. Ann, I want to be right with you.....(pause).....(sigh). All right. All right. I forgive her. Help her to find the right road in life, Lord. She's bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anybody who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Someway, somehow, show her the right way.
---There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?

Hmmmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, I feel pretty great!

You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest. ---You're not through with your prayer. Go on.

Oh, all right. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.="
---Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

---Don't turn on the TV when you know the laundry needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up. Also, about the time you spend coffeeing with your friends, if you can't influence the conversation to positive things, perhaps you should re-think the value of those friendships. Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't be your standard for "keeping up". And please don't use me for an escape hatch=2EZ

I don't understand the last part.
---Sure you do. You've done it a lot of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get into trouble and then you come running to me, "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?

Yes and I'm ashamed, Lord. I really am.
---Which bargain are you remembering?

Well, there was the night that Bill was gone and the children and I werehome alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and tornado warnings were out. I remember praying, "Oh God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."
---I protected you, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?

I'm sorry, Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like it did.
---Go ahead and finish your prayer.

"For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever."
Amen
---Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know. I want now to please you. I can see what a mess I've made of my life. and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.
---You just answered the question.

I did?
---Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like You truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there is no telling what we can do together.

Lord, let's see what we can make of me, O.K.?
---Yes, let's see.....

Christians' worldview has changed

I stand amazed at how flighty humans have proven to be. We can't seem to keep on the right track no matter how gloriously God makes Himself available. He provided America for those who desired to worship Him freely. It was not for those to worship any demon or idol, but for Christians. All one has to do is read historical speeches of our founding fathers or historical documents, or even read the inscriptions on the buildings in our capital. Everything points to the one true King of the universe. How sad it has taken less than 250 years for our ardor to go sour.

Barna Group asked Americans some pointed questions back in March to determine the worldview of Christians: Whether the world view is Biblical or Secular.

As a base, Barna set the standards as this:

For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

These same questions were asked in 1995, 2000, and 2005. Astoundingly, only 9% of Americans have a Biblical Worldview. But the thing that makes me cry (I'm not talking crocodile tears here, either, I'm talking the nose-honking kind of sobbing) is that less than one out of five born again Christians have a Biblical worldview. Born again Christians were catagorized as those who believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world, rose again, they confessed their sins, accepted what He did for them and were going to Heaven when they died because of Jesus Christ.

These statistics have remained basically flat since 1995 with just a few percentage points fluctuation.

Only one in three American adults believe there is such a thing as absolute Truth, and only 46% of born again Christians believe in absolute moral truth.

But, here is the kicker. Of all self-professing born again Christians, only 79% believe in the inerrancy of the Bible. I wonder how can anyone who believes Jesus will bring them to Heaven when they die can NOT believe in the absolute Truth of the Bible?

How can anyone plan to stand in the throne room of God, with His train filling the place, His glory blinding all around Him and say, "Well, God, I believe your Son, but I don't believe everything You said in the Bible. I tried to live a good life, but some of Your Biblical principles are just way out there around Pluto. I just couldn't swallow it all. Now, where's my crown?"

And they stand there looking up at God unflinchingly and say, "Oh, by the way, God, I don't believe that Your Son lived a completely and totally sinless life while He was here. Yeah, and there are 38% of all Your born again children that agree with me."

Oh, LORD, have mercy on Your children!

The End Times are definitely here. Matt 24:12 And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.

1Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, cleaving to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons, 2 in lying speakers in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience, 3 forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods, which God created for partaking with thanksgiving by the believers and those knowing the truth.

The Barna Group's survey also found these alarming statistics: The research data showed that one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview. The current study found that less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosaic generation – i.e., those aged 18 to 23 – have a biblical worldview, compared to about one out of every nine older adults.
Other groups that possess a below average likelihood of having a biblical worldview included people who describe themselves as liberal on social and political matters (also less than one-half of one percent); Catholics (2%); Democrats (4%) and residents of the Northeast (4%).

I have a sore heart because of this. If we are not deeply careful, then we will wake up and find our Christian values and morals completely compromised. In fact, we are already there. One has only to look at how God felt about His Chosen People, Israel, who had the same attitudes that we Americans have today, to understand the dire peril we face right now. I think our best strategy is to fall to our knees, no better yet, fall on our faces and implore God's mercy on His children. To beg Him to open the stopped up ears and blind eyes, to pour the Spirit's understanding and wisdom into our leaders. Otherwise, we'll be marching to Babylon.

I feel betrayed...

I don't know why I'm surprised. I actually did expect it, and we were even warned that it would happen. Our President is as naive as a new born babe if he thinks that the "extremism" he is talking about can be confronted or controlled. I quote:

CAIRO (AP) -- Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and aid together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East. "This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," Obama said in a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, an address designed to reframe relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

The problems go a lot deeper than Obama can possibly recognize because he has no clue how passionate religionism can be. He's had a very easy life, so has no clue what a Cause can do to the hearts of mankind. And, Jihad is a Cause.

Ethically, he thinks he is right because this is what he promised during the campaign. He would sit down and talk with these Islamic peoples who dared to come to our shores and try to destroy us through use of airplanes as bombs and rhetoric as verbal swords. These guys are not playing around and would as soon stab us in the back as smile at us on the street.

Where, I ask, is Obama's fleet of advisors who have actually read the top secret reports on Jihad activity in the U.S. and around the world? He doesn't have a clue how to deal with this religious based war. He's trying to use reason, when it is a Faith-Based problem. I am appalled and the American public is betrayed.

Obama is fixing to hand over the U.S. to these extremist in an attempt at peace, and it's going to be all wrapped up like a Christmas package. And this part of his speech makes me cry:

In a gesture to the Islamic world, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations."

It is an implied statement casting blame upon the U.S. as the "bad guy" in all this. Really? I wonder what our boys with boots on the ground in Iraq and Afganistan think about denied "rights" and denied "opportunities" and "proxies"? How about the feelings of the thousands of wives, mothers, and children of the fallen soldiers who happened to be in the wrong "opportunity" when these violent muslems were exercising their "rights"?

You can find a tribute to Maj. Steve V. Long here. I wrote the tribute because I feel so deeply appreciative that so many have given their lives for our freedom and so many have given their lives for the Freedom of the Iraqi people. Did you think of that, Mr. Obama? Have you looked, Mr. Obama, at how costly the freedom of other people has become and are you willing to flush that cost down the proverbial toilet?

This is what I received in my inbox from the White House about 10 minutes ago:

Hello -
As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.

The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it:

Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities.

We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time.

Thank you, David Axelrod Senior Advisor to the President

Just how do you propose to deal with unreasonable people, Mr. President? What mutual interests do we have with Jihad, Mr. Obama?

I think it is time that the Demorats take their head out of the sand and really look at the problem in a new way. Terrorists have a Cause that is embedded deep in their hearts. You can't change their minds because they believe they are right. I don't have a solution, I wish I did. But, I know making deals with a terrorist is not the way to win friends and influence people who have been stung by terrorism.

Congressman Gene Taylor

Gene Taylor is a Democrat--notice I did spell it correctly this time. Although, he is a Democrat, he is an honorable man, as well as one who is deeply concerned for his constituents. I wrote him a letter concerned about recognizing gay marriages and this is his reply to me.

June 2, 2009

Ms Gina Burgess
********
Picayune, MS 39466

Dear Gina:

Thank you for contacting me and expressing your opposition to efforts by some members of the District of Columbia City Council who wish to recognize gay marriages.

You will be pleased to know I have consistently supported marriage as a union of a man and a woman. I will firmly oppose any legislation that comes before the House of Representatives that would allow Washington D.C. to permit same sex marriage.

Additionally, I am a cosponsor of Congressman Broun's Marriage Protection amendment, H.J.Res. 89. My support of the Marriage Protection Amendment is a deeply held personal and moral position. I voted for a similar Constitutional Amendment on July 18, 2006, when I cast my vote in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. While the amendment received a vote of 236-187, it did not attain the two-thirds majority vote that is required to amend the U.S. Constitution.

Defining marriage as between a man and a woman is far above petty partisan politics for me. While many Republicans voted for the amendment and many Democrats voted against it, the 2006 vote proves that protecting traditional marriage is not a partisan issue. In fact, thirty-four Democrats voted for the amendment, and twenty-seven Republicans voted against it.

In 2004, 86 percent of Mississippians voted in favor of an amendment to the Mississippi State Constitution that defined marriage as between a man and woman. The same amendment also outlaws marriages between persons of the same gender performed in other states or countries. The passage of this amendment clearly defines the opinions of Mississippians regarding the issue of same-sex marriage. I voted to ban same-sex marriage as a congressman in Washington, DC and as a citizen in Bay St. Louis.

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to get in touch with me.

Sincerely,

GENE TAYLOR
Member of Congress
GT:rj

Scary Sonia Sotomayor

It is extremely scary that Judge Sotomayor may bend the ears of our lawmakers. What I find most disturbing is that "a string" of reversals to her opinions and judgements have been handed down by the Supreme Court Justices.

What does that literally mean? In my humble opinion, it means that she has an opposing viewpoint. In one ruling, she said that the cost of saving fishing was irrelevant to the technology due to the wording of a statute. Whereas, the Supreme Court Justices disagreed that the same clean up with the same results could be done by the companies for billions of dollars cheaper. That's right, B as in Billions of Dollars.

It gives me the shivers that someone who would be still handing down opinions for my grandchildren (if I had any) has this basic and cavalier disregard for economic impact of her rulings.

Judge Scalia wrote that following Judge "Sotomayor's reasoning would cost nine times what was necessary to accomplish" the same thing or nearly the same using more inexpensive technology.

Why was she stuck on technology? Because the wording of the statute was "best technology" which would not allow the EPA to consider company costs.

The EPA's current practice is a reasonable and hence legitimate exercise of
its discretion to weigh benefits against costs ... We conclude that the EPA
permissibly relied on cost-benefit analysis," the majority said in its April
decision.
The ruling sat much better with business advocates than did
Sotomayor's.
"If the best available technology is only so good to save
X number of fish and you have to spend X billion dollars more to come up with
better technology and implement it, those costs are going to be passed on to
consumers and their energy bills," said Glenn Lammi, counsel to the Washington
Legal Foundation.

Is it just me? Am I reading danger here that really isn't dangerous? What else can the Obama regime do to us that isn't already being done?

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly!

Young Cons

I've provided the lyrics below in case this thing from YouTube doesn't work. I'm new at this, as you know, because I have never done a direct YouTube video on my blog, but I thought this was worthy enough. Oh, not for what it says! Anyone familiar with me and my blog, I'm a conservative and I'm a Christian. I thought this worthy enough because it is so refreshing. Instead of things of hate, or things of Darwin, or things of humanism, we find two college students who are not only Christian but are adamently Christian. These two young men are on the right track and I hope there are more out there who will find courage to step out in faith for their faith because of these men.

Why are we allowing tyranny to reign? Why do we sit complacently in our recliners and rail at the TV which does no good? Our generation is paving the foundation for the end times. In a way that is exciting, but in a way it is incredibly sad that we allowed it to get this far.

Serious C:
“Yo this ones for all the young conservatives.
I rep the Northeast and I’m still a young con,
Let your voice release, you don't have to be obamatrons.
I debate any poser who don't shoot straight,
Government spending needs to deflate,
Your ideas are lightweight,
Ya careers in checkmate
I frustrate. I increase the pulse rate
I hate when,
government dictatin, makin, statements, bout how to be a merchant,
How to run a restaurant, how to lay the pavement
Bailout a business, but can't protect an infant
Deficiencies are blatant, young con treatment
I stand one man, outnumbered at my college
Thank you Miss Cali for reminding us of marriage
Can't support abortion, and call yourself a Christian
I support life, you're a puzzled politician
Terrorists were imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay,
Now they're in our neighborhoods, planning out doomsday
No such thing as utopia,
no government can control ya, baby ya,
Reap the benefits hard work, self reliant
Listen to Stiltz, my dude’s a lyrical giant
Yo Stiltz... make it two time... please”
Stiltz:
“I'm 6'9 head and shoulder above the rest
Liberals playin checkers, I'm playin chess
My conservative view is drill baby drill
You can say you hate me but
I'm praying for you still
My dislike for thee most def is not hyperbole
Taxes are the subject and I will spit them verbally
I'm just livin life a conservative philosophy
Sorry Hilary not a right wing conspiracy
We need more women with intellectual integrity
I'm talkin Megyn Kelly not Nancy Pelosi
My main motto is you best work hard
It's not the hand you were given, but how you lay down your cards
I don't speak lies but I spit the facts
28% the new capital gains tax
Porkulus bill lacks a few stats
The more money we spend, the more mine is worth Jack
The Bible says we're a people under God,
Usin radar for radical Jihad
AIG was hooked up by Chris Dodd
A classy gift ain't an Ipod
The standards of my crew ain’t republicans dude
I'm reppin Jesus Christ and conservative views
Study history and true conservative moves
Every single time they refuse to lose
I’m starting to see a modern day Jimmy Carter
When really nothin but a Reagan era starter”
Serious C:
“Yo, We americans son
Hit ya with some knowledge
The movement has begun
Everyone can succeed
Because our soldiers bleed, for us
I said it in the verse,
now I'll say it in the chorus”
Stiltz:
“We young conservatives son
Hard work is our motto
The movement has begun
EVERYONE can succeed cause our soldiers bleed, daily
My views are rock solid, no chance you can break me”
Serious C:
“Phase me, make me, into something that ain’t me
Serious c... can’t nobody shake me
great like the Gatsby, poppin posers like acne
Don't matter if your gay, straight, Christian or Muslim
There's one thing we all hate, called socialism.
It's loathsome, and America ain’t the outcome,
Raise taxes on the people,
And you’re gonna feel symptoms, problems
I gotta message for a young con:
superman that socialism,
waterboard that terrorism”
Stiltz:
“I fulfill the role that's inherently mine
Teaching politics through my rap and my rhyme
I'm signing off this track with a question in mind
How will this country get its precious change in time?
Three things taught me conservative love:
Jesus, Ronald Reagan, plus Atlas Shrugged
Saving our nation from inflation devastation
On my hands and my knees praying for salvation”
Serious C:
“Yo, We americans son
Hit ya with some knowledge
The movement has begun
Everyone can succeed
Because our soldiers bleed, for us
I said it in the verse,
now I'll say it in the chorus”
Stiltz:
“We young conservatives son
Hard work is our motto
The movement has begun
EVERYONE can succeed cause our soldiers bleed, daily
My views are rock solid, no chance you can break me”

Pastor told to quit and desist home bible study

I am all for being able to get down my street to my house. I am also for great traffic flow.

Read the article by clicking on the link above, then tell me that this was about parking!

Really now. What sheriff or police officer will knock on a person's door and ask the owner of the home if singing, praying, bible reading, in short religious activity is going on in the home? What business is it of anyone what kind of assembly is going on (unless it is homeland terrorism, of course)?

The pastor's wife said nothing was said about parking. That tells me that it wasn't about parking. it was ALL about a religious assembly.

America, we've got a problem. We have given Satan the foothold he needs and now it's all about him.

The truly sad thing is, all the persecution going on around the world has exploded the numbers of Christian believers. Persecution breeds strong feelings and we Christians just do not have those strong feelings anymore. We are sick with apathy. We'll be outraged for a second when a TV news story blasts into our living room, but we don't get passionate enough to write our congressmen, or those who are impinging upon our right to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom to worship the way we see fit. Hundreds of thousands of American boys fought and died for those rights and we're letting them slip through our fingers.

Memorial Day

I just wanted to say a public THANK YOU to all those who have fought for my freedom, and to all the families that have lost loved ones so that I can worship the way I am called, work where I am called, and live where it pleases me and my LORD.

It isn't free, but by the grace of God and the lives of many, we do have it. I pray that we appreciate it and that we don't legislate it away. I pray that Christians will pray for the leaders of our country so that we may remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Twitter Tweet Tweet

Groan...

Oh, no. I heard how you said that and it wasn't anything like the way I said it. Say it again, and draw it out... long, and loud and clear. It isn't a laugh, Mary Poppins.

Actually, it's Feed the Birds time. Someone just put another thing about Twitter on my group Christians Authors, Editors, Publishers, and Bloggers at LinkedIn.

Why is this craze so crazy? Can anyone tell me in 25 words or less what is so great about hearing other people's conversations? Is it the thrill of eavesdropping? Is it because people like Neil Diamond will Tweet your cell? That sounds kind of nasty, doesn't it? Neil tweets and tweeted or is it twittered when he signed another contract with Columbia Records... this time, I think for 7 years. I love Neil! I'm delighted for him, and me so I can go buy more records. Excuuuuuuse me, CDs. We don't have those old fashioned vinyl things anymore.

Over in my CASA group, they are telling me that iTwitter is something ever Exec Director should do because it is a useful business tool. How? Explanations be hanged. They couldn't generate enough excitement in me to rush out and do the Twitter Thang.

And while we're on social interaction junk, what about Facebook? I'm on that and I get email about every half hour from friends wanting me to do this or fill in that or (and I did like this) wishing me happy birthday. If we don't be very careful, we won't have time for any work at all we'll be doing the Tag Thang all day long. Okay, I'm done venting for the moment.

No. Wait. There's more to this diatribe.

I've discovered I am Aunt Ruby. I realize you don't have time in your busy day, what with all the Twittering and Facing going on, so I'll explain. Steve Thomas of Oneicity tells us to ask our Aunt Ruby to make a donation to our charity (Mine is CASA-PRC, Inc.) Then we are to just listen, don't do any explaining, no hinting, no telling her which button to click or even how to find our website. It's even better if you can record the hunt to give.

That's me. I'm Aunt Ruby. I am floating around in the sea of technology and getting absolutely no where. I must spend a great deal of my time for work on my computer, and I really like being Aunt Ruby who can't even find the button to click to give to her niece's charity. If I were that savvy, then I'd never get any work done.

If that sounds witchy, I'm sorry. Stop already with the advancement of technology. I've been marooned on the moon with Will Robinson's robot. Danger, Will Robinson, danger. The Birds are flocking and I'm going Psycho trying to escape throug the Rear Window, but The Rope has suddenly come alive and I just know I'll go down the 39 Steps and find my self in the Family Plot.

Yeah, I would have done Twilight Zone, but I couldn't remember any names of the episodes! Oh... wait... let me pull up the internet and Google it.... yeah... that's the ticket... pass me my cell phone, I've got to make sure the battery is charged...

Knock out punch for the "gay gene" theory

Here is another American Psychological Assoc. admission which will go overwhelmingly under-reported because it goes against the gay agenda.

The APA states that there is actually no real evidence that there is a gene which causes homosexuality or gender confusion. Too many homosexuals have left that particular lifestyle (struggle or not, they set the lifestyle behind them) through "reparative therapy or through a relationship with Jesus Christ," so says Liberty Councils's Matt Barber.

This "gay gene" theory has been the cornerstone for the homosexual agenda for more than a decade. I remember when it came out. There was an article in Discover Magazine which showed pictures of a professed homosexual man's brain and the brain of a heterosexual man. The different colors were supposed to represent the homosexual tendencies. They received so much mail from accredited scientists, they had to retract almost the whole article in the next issue.

God changes the man or woman, it seems He can also change the minds of the APA.

25 things my mother taught me

Got this again this year, but for some reason it was a lot funnier... I've actually said these things!

25 REASONS I'VE LEARNED TO APPRECIATE MY MOTHER:

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . 'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. 'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . 'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. ' Because I said so, that's why '

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC . 'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. 'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY 'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. 'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM . 'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. 'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. 'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE . 'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. 'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. 'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. 'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . 'You are going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. 'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP.. 'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. 'When that lawn mower cuts off your foot, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . 'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. 'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. 'Shut that door behind you.. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. 'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE 'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'

Craigslist gives in, will shut down Erotic Services section - Ars Technica

"Craigslist is ditching the Erotic Services..." NOT.

Isn't it lovely that Craigslist is buckling under to the pressure exerted by the feds and 40 something states' attorney generals? Yes, they are getting rid of the "in plain sight" ads, but they will be opening an adult section to Craigslist and then business as usual.

I'm not surprised since the erotic industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Americans are proving over and over the god of America is Pursuit of Pleasure, no matter how temporary that pleasure is. However, Craigslist does report a 90% drop in erotic listings. That is because they can backtrack credit card and phone numbers. Interesting.

Today, the government can read the wine label off the wine bottle on your backyard table, can hear your phone conversations, and can't seem to get a handle on pornography. Ah, well. These are the times that try men's souls. (Was that Charles Dickens?)

There is some good news. The pursuit of pedophiles by NBC and ABC magazine reporters has truly paid off. Pedophile sites have dropped in number, which was reported on NBC the other day, but I can't find a source to confirm that. It makes sense though, because we certainly watched numerous men get caught (almost with their pants down), on camera pursuing underage girls. I take my hat off in congratulations to those reporters who exposed a growing problem in America with results. That's a good thing.

The Barna Group - Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist

 

The Barna Group - Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist

What is terrifying to me is that 1/4 of Americans who describe themselves as Christians, do not believe God is the All Powerful Supreme Being who created the universe. They describe Him as “everyone is god”, “he is the realization of human potential”.

Oh, my goodness, where are we going?

I believe that this new survey by the Barna Group is clearly indicative of why we’ve found ourselves in the gutter covered in filth. Here is why:

Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter (26%) disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.

I know precisely where this comes from. It comes from mothers not teaching their children, from fathers setting bad examples and from parents not taking their children to church, and from Sunday School teachers not adhering The Word. We Christians are at fault.

We have lost the urgency and love for the lost. We think that because someone professes Jesus, he or she is a full-blood brother or sister. It is not so.

Statistics like this frighten me, yet it will get a lot worse. This earth will never get better because it is ruled by the Father of Lies. What can we do? Oh, Lord God, what can we do?

Father, forgive us. Hear our prayer as you heard Daniel.

O Lord, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Your commandments and from Your judgments. Neither have we listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our forefathers, our rulers, and our presidents, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us the shame of our faces, as it is today to the people of America. and to all who are near and who are afar off, through all the countries where You have driven them because of their sin which they have sinned against You. O Lord, shame of face belongs to us, to our kings, to our rulers, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God, to walk in His Laws which He set before us by His servants the prophets.

Yea, all America has transgressed Your Law, and turned aside, that they might not obey Your voice. Therefore the curse has been poured out on us, and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His Words which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us. Yet we did not make our prayer before Jehovah our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Your truth.  For Jehovah our God is righteous in all His works which He does; but we are not obeying His voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and brought fame to Yourself down through the ages, as it is today, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, I pray You, according to all Your righteousness let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from America, the country built on You as a foundation.

And now, O our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, filled with holy desires, and cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, bow down Your ear and hear. Open Your eyes and behold for we do not present our prayers before You on account of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercies.

O Jehovah, hear; O Jehovah, forgive; O Jehovah, listen and do. Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God; for Your country and Your people are called by Your name.

In Jesus name, for His sake. Amen and Amen. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Meeting the God of America

I need some serious critiquing for this project. I will be submitting this in a few days and I would like your honest critique of it. Where could I make it better? Does it flow well? Are the bridges built well? Etc... Thank you in advance!

A question of faith
Meeting the God of America

When the tank is dry…

The unsatisfied soul is a train wreck waiting to happen… it is the broken tracks that derail an otherwise pretty good life, or so the world may think. Add fear to dissatisfaction and we have a sure fire derailment with a huge casualty list. It creates a life that is completely useless because one who is not satisfied cannot satisfy.

The reasons for dissatisfaction are wide and varied, but it when the water has boiled away, the kernel of truth left is there is a lack of something. It is quite surprising that Americans have this dissatisfaction in their hearts. After all, America is the land of milk and honey. Americans have more pocket change than most of the world has in a week. Why do Americans have such cravings that no amount of new clothes, new cars, new toys, new sex, husband, wife, children, work, hobby or church activity can satisfy? The answer lies in a hole in the soul.

There is a chasm so deep and so wide that all of creation cannot fill it up. Mankind tries to fill it up because it hurts, and it cries to be filled. This abyss is located in man’s soul. It is precisely why, down through the ages, mankind has devised so many different things to fill up this hole. Two things which man tries to use are Fortune and Destiny. These are so primordial that they are mentioned in various ancient texts including the Holy Bible.

For the most part, Americans give evidence that they worship these gods more than any other. The question is why do so many put faith in what has proven very fickle down through the ages? Humans would rather put faith in something seen and that can be touched rather than in the invisible. However, that is not faith. It is worship of the work of man’s hands in the case of Fortune. In the case of the demon Destiny, that god is credited with how things turn out. “It just wasn’t in the cards. It was fate.”

Seeds of discontent germinate when satisfaction is tasted, but not savored and fully digested. Cravings keep driving a person without giving any direction to where it can be satisfied. This causes that circle of despair which has no egress. This is what causes Americans to put faith in what the moth can destroy and hope in what can be gone in a moment. Those things have no eyes to see the despair and troubles, no ears to hear the cry for help and no hand to reach down and comfort. Yet, Americans keep driving down an empty road searching for the elusive prize of satisfaction.

This quest for Satisfaction rules the hearts of most humans. Hungry, we reach for something to eat, thirsty something to drink, cold we turn up the heat, hot we crank up the air conditioner. It seems to be the god of most Americans. Our forefathers are rolling in their graves, so to speak, at what America puts first. Our nation was built on Biblical principles by Christian men and women. Satan’s lie is that it was not. One has only to do a bit of reading of historical speeches and writings of John Hancock, John Adams, Sam Adams, and many others to know that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Matthew, Mark, Paul and John was also the God of our forefathers. Nonetheless, today the battle cry is not Give me liberty or give me death. It is king size it and I’ll have it my way for if it feels good, I’ll just do it, because I deserve a break today. Regardless of lessons from times past, people have not learned how to let history be a teacher.

Shake Well
Anna Nicole, Brittney Spears, Lindsey Lohan. Everybody knows them. They’re famous. One is dead and not even she knew who the father of that precious baby of hers was. No one knew until after she was dead. The other two are traveling a road that is fraught with pitfalls. All because they are searching for something they cannot find. Five years or ten years from now there will be other famous people traveling down this same road, and they keep searching.
Where is their security? Brittney was raised in a Christian home, and at one time in her life knew what Christian living was like -- at least that’s what she said. Who knows about Lindsey? It is so sad what I see in their lives; the choices they have made. For it truly is a choice how we live our lives and how we align our priorities. Our forefathers could recognize Truth when they saw it, but today we are told truth is relative.

Too many people believe a good and loving God would never allow troubles or problems. Some believe that all troubles are the result of sin, when in fact, it is because the one true God is good and loving that there are troubles. One reason for the predicaments we face is that they are common to man. There are many whose problems seem greater and quite a few who we think we should be blessed with their problems, and their money. Give a person a lot of money and unlock all restrictions and there goes a walking time bomb. Too many of the rich and famous have the world on a string: Great job, beautiful home, the things that make life grand. They suck down temporary pleasure, listening to the call of the world becoming mesmerized by the world like some cobra charmed by the charmer. We all know who that charmer is. It would seem that pursuit of satisfaction is their life journey and Personal Pleasure is their god.

But, their trials are really no different than what you and I face day to day. Sure, it boils down to choices, but if you are breathing, you have problems. We all have problems. Some people’s problems seem bigger than other people’s problems. They are not. Centuries ago one man wrote, You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test the way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.

Troubles follow every human. They serve a purpose whether we realize it or not. Just as we go to school, take tests and move on to the next lesson, so, too, is life. We show up for class every day. The huge question is whether we learn from our troubles or once having passed through that fire must go through it again and again. Troubles are purposed in the Lord. Yes, even those who are not Believers. Most of the time, it takes bringing an unbeliever to a place so low that the only way to look is up before it finally registers that God is the solution to the problems and cares of this world. However, Americans have rebellious hearts.

From as far back in time as 1689 when our ancestors rebelled against England, troubles abounded so the rebels rebelled. But, they all looked to one God. In 1775, John Adams said, “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no king but Jesus!” Inscribed in the front of Thomas Jefferson’s personal bible, “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our creator.” Patrick Henry quoted both Jeremiah and Matthew in his speech, “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Unfortunately, it is only the last that is usually quoted or remembered. George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” Abraham Lincoln said, “I am busily engaged in study of the Bible.”

Our founding fathers knew who to lean on, who to pray to, who would carry them in times of travails so insidious their lives could have been forfeit. Down through the ages, Americans hark back to those first days of an infant nation, recognizing God as the founder. “It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible,” so said Theodore Roosevelt. John F. Kennedy said, “The rights of man come not from the state but from the hand of God.” When the astronauts of Apollo 13 faced certain death, President Nixon called for all Americans to pray for them. It wasn’t to pray to Fortune, or to Destiny, or to any other god. After 911, Congress gathered on the steps in the sun and prayed with one heart for God to protect our nation. That is the one true God of America.

Adrian Rogers once said, “A faith that hasn’t been tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.” Troubles put a person, and a nation, to the sun test. In the first century, potters would fire a pot and if it cracked, would put wax in the crack which would conceal the flaw. If the cracked pot was unfortunate enough to find the sun’s rays, the heat of the sun would melt the wax and the flaw would be exposed. That is where the word, sincere comes from. Sun-tested. Flaws exposed. The difference is that we have the power and the choice to bring our flaws to God to be worked on, smoothed out, fixed, or skimmed off so that all the silver left after the firing is pure and reflective of our Lord. However, many see that as weakness, lack of control, or even giving up freedom. So they buy the seeds and sow discontent within their hearts, never leaving the vicious circle of despair by choice. Their gods never satisfy and the cravings never end.

Troubles also serve another purpose: the Thorn-in-the-side. Those troubles are put there for us to recognize whence our grace and strength comes, not to concentrate on the pain of the trial. It is there to reflect God’s glory to the world. Unfortunately, too many do not see past the pain.
Another purpose is to be the witness by the response to the trouble. Do we react like the seed that fell in the brambles? Get all choked with the cares and worries of the world? Or do we put down our roots, confident in the fact that the one true God is much greater than any problem or trouble? The world sees how we react to our travails and that can be a much more powerful witness than any spoken word.

An extremely good teacher once said, “Sometimes God must shake well before using.” This is why bad things happen to good people. Bad choices make for extremely fruitful seeds of discontent, and life is not fair. It never has been, nor ever will be fair. Our sense of justice gets bruised and we rail at what some suppose God is, that invisible ruler with an iron and irascible fist, because blame is the name of the game. Someone is to blame and it can’t be me, it has got to be God.

Fill ‘er up…
So Americans go about grabbing all they can to stuff into the God-sized hole that He created in our soul when our soul was created. They stuff new clothes and shoes into the hole, or more parties, or boats and cars, or change wives like they change shoes to satisfy that hunger and soothe the ache that bruises our insides. The culprit of dissatisfaction draws us down paths in search of Shangri-La, the greener grass, the things hoped for and things as yet unseen. Americans search for the American dream, yet when things like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 911 disaster, and all kinds of economic distress hit American hearts and minds, Main Streets and kitchen pantries, that is when the hearts of Americans turn to the God with eyes to see the misery, the grace to forgive sin, the hand to lift the fallen underneath their heavy loads. We go back to the foundation laid by our forefathers, all the way back to a hill called Calvary and a blood stained cross. That is what has given us great comfort, great courage, great peace, and that is what fills the God-sized hole.

We live in a land of great freedom and the land of slavery… addictions… bitterness… rage… unforgiveness… all the seeds of the dissatisfied soul. It would be so much easier to let God carry us than for us to walk on our own two feet. God wants to teach our feet to walk on all types of ground—rocky, grassy, soft dirt, swinging bridges, up hill and down vale. He does not intend to carry us our entire lives. We must walk in order to receive God’s blessings. Our founding fathers knew this and gladly suffered frost, heat, bullets, hunger, thirst, inadequate clothing, treasons, life without limbs, and death to give us this legacy of freedom. They did this while trusting and loving God, and giving Him the glory.

Oh, it is so incredibly easy to be sustained by His wonders… to be lifted up by emotions, and to rely upon those fickle feelings rather than to rely upon His word for sustenance and to be filled to bursting with the Truth and the Light of Jesus breath, His word. It is also much easier to enjoy the blessings rather than becoming the blessing. Without investing our lives and becoming the miracle, we cannot be the salt or the light in a dark world. We effectively become stagnant.

In order to move into the Promised Land, the Israelites had to cross the river, take up their swords and follow God’s lead on who to fight when. Just as Egypt was the place of bondage, Canaan was the place of victory and spiritual maturity. We must participate in His will, His commands, His statutes for our own good. And that takes work mixed with believing God. Our fathers believed Him.

With belief, comes action. With action, comes blessing. With blessing, comes pleasure. With pleasure, comes God’s smile… And that is the prize they claimed, then handed down to us! But, even beyond that, we reap all the fruit of the Spirit: Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, self-control. Against such things there is not a law. All those wonderful things are ours just because we belong to Him, yet how many of us actually have tanks completely full, topped off with this fruit? Why don’t we?

So where does the satisfaction come from? Isa 58:11 And Jehovah shall always guide you, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

When we run dry, and we always do, we’ve got a huge God who will fill us up, but we’ve got to go to the right place for a fill up… we’ve got to have the right attitude and we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the right motivation in our hearts, but mainly we must continue to make sure our foundation is securely placed upon the Rock as did our forefathers.

Definition of right wing extremists

Above is the link to the Unclassified/For official use only report sent out by the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Look at the definition of rightwing extremists:

* (U) Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those
groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on
hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are
mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or
local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may
include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as
opposition to abortion or immigration.

So many of us just stop at the "hate-oriented" adherents definition. Now, I find out that I am a right wing extremist because I believe that state and local authorities do a much better job of governing than the feds do. Although, state and local governments are not immune to the problems that riddle the federal government, at least the focus is local and lawmakers seem to have a greater accountability.

I will not be surprised at how DHS describes churchgoing people. Before we know it, we will be persecuted for worshiping the one true God.

Hate crime legislation is in the news, Demorats lie

People all over the net are talking about the legislation that Congress will be voting on next week--Hate Crime Bill.

Andrea Lafferty of Traditional Values Coalition caught the Democrats (yes, I know I spelled it wrong in the title) lied for the reason the bill was written and has been pushed relentlessly forward through the process. She says that they say homosexuals, transgenders, drag queens and such have been persecuted across state lines, that they have had to move because of the persecution. When in actuality, there have been 1521 hate cases in a country with a population of 300 million. Let's see, that is 5 millionths of a percent. You have better odds winning the lottery.

The Dems also allegate that homosexuals and the like have trouble getting jobs, making purchases. I'm thinking that they should just keep their sexual preferences behind the bedroom doors instead of broadcasting what they do behind bedroom doors.

I am sick and tired of these people bleating their cause and saying that it is normal. It is not. What's more, in the article at the link above, there seems to be growing concern about the very untolerant stance of homosexuals against the ex-homosexuals. What gives with that? They spount platitudes of tolerance, yet do an exact turnabout when it comes to their converted brothers and sisters. Why?

I'm thinking it is because these people have a solid agenda and when something, anything happens to upset that agenda, or tends to refute the agenda they feel obligated to do whatever is necessary to squash the opposing facts/team/God.

I don't even know if it is possible to turn the tide back. There are too many people who hold powerful positions who have been deceived by the Accuser.

This concludes my rant for the day... I think.

Do the right thing or is politically correct, correct?

Miss USA pageant contestant Carrie Prejean, who was first runner-up by the way, looked Perez Hilton in the eye and told him her Christian beliefs: Same sex marriage is not biblical.

Perez Hilton, who is an avid homosexual, was a judge of the pageant and he went ballistic on his blog about her answer. I'm not posting a link because I don't want my blog to show up on his counter (that is being very snobbish, for sure).

I am appalled that a 21 year old young lady who had high moral standards and ethics is lambasted for telling the truth. The Bible most certainly admonishes that homosexuality is verboten. God does not condone it, and He makes no excuses about it being an abomination.

Perez did not rail against Carrie Prejean, a sweet little California blonde from San Diego, he railed against God and God's lifestyle standards.

She believes she lost the pageant because she expounded on Biblical principles. I think she is probably correct.

CASA-PRC, Inc.

I just received the most wonderful news. Our brand new organization, CASA-PRC, Inc. received the new program grant! WE are in business now. God answers prayer and we are so excited! If you'd like to see what CASA is all about, click on the title above and it will take you to our website (that I designed).
gb

Christian student gets the boot

In an article posted on OneNewsNow Christian student refuses remediation gets boot
(Charlie Butts and Marty Cooper - OneNewsNow - 4/9/2009 5:20:00 AM) I find a very distrubing article. My daughter is getting her Master's in psychology and she has recognized the desperate need for more Christian psychologists and counselors. This just takes the cake, so to speak.

On one hand I'm appalled and on the other, I'm thinking this just proves we are getting closer and closer to Jesus' return. Come, Lord Jesus, Come quickly.

Day of Silence

I am so sick and tired of the Gay Rights movement encroaching upon my space, my life, and overrunning my rights! Why must they insist that this is a normal way of life when for years and years it was acknowledged it was a very shameful way of life? Here's what I get in my inbox this week...

Dear Gina,

The Day of Silence, which is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), fast approaches. This year it will take place in most public schools on April 17. On this day, thousands of public high schools and increasing numbers of middle schools will allow students to remain silent throughout an entire day-even during instructional time-to promote GLSEN's socio-political goals and its controversial, unproven, and destructive theories on the nature and morality of homosexuality.

Parents must actively oppose this hijacking of the classroom for political purposes. Please join the national effort to restore to public education a proper understanding of the role of government-subsidized schools. You can help de-politicize the learning environment by calling your child out of school if your child's school allows students to remain silent during instructional time on the Day of Silence.

Parents should no longer passively countenance the political usurpation of public school classrooms through student silence.

If students will be permitted to remain silent, parents can express their opposition most effectively by calling their children out of school on the Day of Silence and sending letters of explanation to their administrators, their children’s teachers, and all school board members. One reason this is effective is that most school districts lose money for each student absence.
School administrators err when they allow the classroom to be disrupted and politicized by granting students permission to remain silent throughout an entire day.

Visit this website for complete information on opposing the Day of Silence.

I am firmly convinced that the reason this minute minority is getting away with all of this is because they have become the squeaky wheel. We Christians are much bigger majority and we should be several squeaky wheels. What is our problem? Why don't we take a stand and take back America?

gb

Writing on stones...

Sun beating down, heat rising up, sweat rolling down and still the man chipped away at the tall stone in front of him. With each pounding of the hammer, more stone pebbles spattered down the stone face adding to the already deep pile of sand and chips. Sand had gathered in the tiny wrinkles of his skin, and his sweat only partially washed the bits of grit away. For hours and hours, perhaps for days he worked on each stone. Words formed as the grit fell away.
יהוה קרא משׁה...
... YWHW called unto Moses
Can you imagine having to stand in the heat of the day, while the body responds with rivers of sweat, or the chill of night working by the light of a flickering torch, beating on a rock? Joshua did. He wrote a copy of the law, every word of the law on those stones (Joshua 8:32) while the Children of Israel stood by. All the important people, the elders and the judges on this side and all the regular people like you and me on that side; half in front of Mount Ebal and the other half in front of Mount Gerizim. The mountains were Bald and Rocky respectively. Not only did the Children of Israel stand by while Joshua carved the Law upon the stones, but they also stood while Joshua read the entire Law to them: all the words of the Law, both the blessing and the curse.

Now, that is true devotion. What led to that? Just a few verses before this, we see why there was Trouble in Ai. There is no such thing as “no fault sin.” In fact, there is no such thing as “the devil made me do it.”

Every one of us has at one time or another put the blame of our own doing upon someone else, whether as a child, a teen, or an adult, we’ve all done it. Satan has a way of setting up situations and temptations that can suck us under like a riptide sucks a swimmer beneath the surface of the sea. But, Satan doesn’t push our head under water. It is by choice we ignore the Rip Tide warning sign written in large red print with a flag waving mightily in the wind. It is by choice we wade into the water and swim to that particular point where currents can reach speeds of two to four miles per hour. Even the strongest swimmer can’t compete against currents that strong. But strong swimmers are usually smarter than diving into dangerous waters.

Satan will take a legitimate desire given by God and use it in an evil way to kill, steal and destroy. But, we cannot blame sin on Satan. God is faithful and won’t ever let us get into dangerous waters without warnings and He won’t let us be tempted more than we can withstand if we allow Him to protect us, and if we listen to the warnings.

Achan was the only one out of the 603,550 Israelite men old enough to go to war and win the Promised Land who yielded to temptation. He took a robe and a pile of silver and a wedge of gold. He lusted after them and took them. But, could he flaunt them? Spend them? Wear them in front of his brothers? No. He had to dig a hole and bury them in his tent. What good did taking them do him?

Greed often does that. A child sees something he wants and swipes it off the shelf stuffing it in his pocket to be played with later, in the dark. In the dark because he knows he did wrong in taking the thing. Achan knew he did wrong in taking the things, but he allowed the whole of Israel to be shamed in front of a tiny little town with less than 6,000 people in it. These fighting men, led by Joshua who’s name brought terror to all those in the land, were put on the run. Nor did Achan speak up when Joshua dropped to his knees begging the LORD to tell him why He brought them to the Promised Land only to be destroyed by a tiny little Canaanite hamlet.
At least the man “fessed up” when confronted. But, how shameful for all the assembly to suffer the consequences of the sin of one man.

Sin begins with temptation, but being tempted is not sin. Yielding to temptation is the sin. God made an example of Achan to the whole of His chosen people. We see a confession of a man that knows there isn’t anyway to wiggle out of what he’d done, mainly because God Himself led Joshua to the only one who had disobeyed. Achan looked at the Babylonian robe. Found it to be beautiful. Thought about how it would look on himself or perhaps how it would bring him glory if he placed it on the shoulders of his wife. Then, after thinking about it, made the deliberate decision to take it along with the silver and gold. All to satisfy his own greed, and what did it get him?

Here, we see a discipline that we’d never see today. All his family, wife and daughters and sons along with all the cattle and donkeys, tent and trappings, and even those things he had stolen were forced into the Valley of Achor. He and all his family were stoned and set on fire.
Was that a bit too harsh? After all his family did not take the things. Yet, everyone had heard the order not to take anything, nor to let anyone live, to show no mercy. It was those people and those things that would lead Israel down that road to idolatry, and God knew it. He made sure they understood how dangerous those things would be to the well being of His children. Achan’s family heard the order. Achan’s family also knew of the theft because he buried the stuff in the middle of his tent. They said nothing about it, taking part in the deception.

One has to wonder if Joshua was thinking of this when he carved out the Law on the stone’s face. Or was he praying for all of Israel to faithfully serve the LORD? It must have weighed heavily on his heart. I find it so telling that the Law was etched indelibly upon the face of stone, and God called their hearts hard as stone,Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to Me, for all the house of Israel are strong of forehead and hard of heart.

When temptation beckons, the heart can become hard as stone shushing the conscious resulting in a detour that can lead to the valley of Achor. We endure trials, but God is faithful and will always provide the way of escape. We can’t escape trouble, but we absolutely will escape temptation.

However, yielding to temptation starts wearing a groove in the heart that makes taking the escape much harder. Making a habit is not as hard as breaking a habit. Yielding to temptation can become much easier than resisting temptation unless the will is exerted and the desire to resist is greater than the desire to yield.

Second Peter 2:5 tells us that God knows how to deliver the godly from temptation. The key word is godly. How do we even recognize sin for what it is?

In the Old Testament, (Proverbs) God told them to write His command upon their heart. But, in the New Testament… Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected in perpetuity the ones being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit witnesses to us also. For after having said before, 16 "This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My Laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds;" 17 also He adds, "I will not at all still remember their sins" and their lawlessnesses.

The difference is Who is doing the writing, and just as importantly, how soft is the heart.

How now shall we know God's personal will?

I have been thinking about this for quite some time. Someone in my Sunday School class said she didn't think that God really cared about the mundane in our lives. After all, why would He care what dress we wore or if our shoes were comfortable? He has so many more important things on His mind. Like what He has in mind for the Bride of Christ, World events, things like that. Which is an excellent overview of the kinds of Wills of God. His perfect will, His absolute will, His divine will, His personal will for each of His children. There is a personal will because, by golly, He designed our good works before the foundation of the world.

I believe that He is intensely interested in His people. He cares if you are late for work or if you are hungry or if you are dressed in a manner that is pleasing to Him.

All that said, I read somewhere that George Muller said, "our outward man is not fit for work unless our inward man eats God's Word." I am reminded so much of Jesus sitting by that well in Samaria, hot, tired, thirsty and hungry, but He talked to a woman. When His disciples returned with food pressing Him to eat, He replied that He had "food to eat which you do not know." It's that Spiritual thing which supplies the soul far beyond any kind of satisfaction the body could possibly know - including chocolate brownies hot from the oven.

Fact: We should steep ourselves in God's Word every day. Not this one verse a day with a few paragraphs of devotional (I am not saying that isn't good! It is. It is just that 10 minutes a day is not enough!) Never wait until a problem needs solving or a decision needs to be made to open the Bible, then expect some Holy Oracle to spill forth giving you exact instructions. Your mind won't be prepared to hear exact instructions unless you are prayed up, read up, and revved up, and shored up in Christ. You may get a notion of what to do, but it won't be like as if you were rooted in Scripture.

Fact: There is much to be learned with Context. It is far too easy to get something that isn't entirely Biblical or to skew doctrine when only reading Proof Texts rather than the whole discussion. How does one know truth from fiction if one does not know the whole story? With this same premise, how does one know God's complete will, if one isn't familiar with the Bible? The first place to go to know and understand His will is understanding how He dealth with His people. Abraham was created to be His friend. David was a man after His own heart. Jesus was His only begotten and beloved Son. And there are lessons upon lessons in how Jesus dealt with his followers.

Fact: Confession of sin opens the floodgates of your relationship with God. When temptation rears its ugly head, the mind reels with its heady steam, the body follows the thoughts and pursues a course of action that the soul knows is wrong, this action puts the soul, mind, and body at odds with God. Disobedience is the wall between you and God. Confession is that which tears the wall down. If the wall is up, the ears are closed and there's no hearing God, no matter how much you want to hear Him, you can't. Confess that sin (both of commission and ommission). It is the only way to restoration and revival. Otherwise you are in a Spiritual Coma.

Fact: You probably already know God's will on most things in your life. You know to dress modestly. You know that a job which is morally or legally wrong is against God's 10 commandment teachings. You know if He has given you a propensity toward the mechanical (working with your hands) or the physical (carpentry/construction) or the mental (math acumen or writing ability). Some people are better at certain things than other people. It is what makes the world go round and round.

Taking these facts in consideration, we can then walk a fairly straight path into God's personal will for our life's choices.

Asking yourself a few questions will help to generate some answers that will result in making godly decisions.

Is it a legal, moral, spiritually correct thing to do? Most people would say, "Well, duh!" Then again, perhaps this is why there are so many people becoming Christians in prison. This also includes all those possibilities that could hurt or harm other people. We are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Did God make a promise in the Bible about this thing you are considering? You may or may not be amazed at how many promises God has made that pertain to our daily Christian living. Hey, that's an excellent topic for another post or column at Live As If.org.

Are all the doors truly locked, or is there something that God is wanting you to do, but you are actually resisting Him? I cannot tell you how many times I have had to do something that I really did not want to do, but I went ahead and did it because I knew it was what God wanted me to do. Then, after doing it I was blessed immensely. So many times, God is testing to see if we really mean it when we sing, "I Surrender All, all to Thee, my Precious Savior, I surrender all."

During consideration of one or another of your choices, do you have peace in your soul? This is something that a lot of Christians will tell you: You can't depend upon your feelings. I think that is a bit of poppycock. The Holy Spirit is alive and well dwelling inside us. When we grieve Him, our soul hurts. When He rejoices, our soul also rejoices. This is because our soul is one with the Holy Spirit. It is He who makes us Spiritually Alive! He lets us know when we are confronted with temptation not to go down that path. He nags us when it is time to confess and get back right with God. It is the Holy Spirit that urges us, prays for us, interprets our deep groanings, and who seals us against all things Satanic or demonic. That is who should be in control of our feelings and when we get that Gut-Feeling of peace, then the decision should be settled. Often times, the decision to do a particular thing is not reasonable or justifiable, but extremely peaceful. Go with the peace path because that is part of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Can you absolutely ask God to enable you to do what ever it is? Because of the first question, it would be ridiculous to ask God to help you rob a gas station... but, there are other things that may not be so obviously unethical or immoral, but just as wrong. Such as asking God to give you a promotion even though you are not qualified for the position. Asking God to bless your course of action without discussing it with Him in the first place is probably the fastest way to failure in a venture. The Acopulco Divers always study the waves before diving off those cliffs, why should any Christian check to see how deep the water is by diving?

The Refreshing

The man gave the bolt a final twist and stepped back from under the hood of the car. He wiped his grimy hands on a rag and then stuffed it in his back pocket. He gave a satisfied sigh as he headed to the office and the coffee pot. The coffee was strong and fresh, just like he liked it. Tossing a grin to Gertrude, his part time office help, he said, “Gertie, call Kent Boudreaux and let him know his car is ready and he can pick it up any time today.”

With only a little regret, he set his cup down and headed to back the car from the bay and bring in another to work on. Thank goodness God was good to provide so much work when the economy was so bad. Just as the back wheels cleared the bay doors, one of them ran over something. He didn’t have a clue what it could have been, since it had only been a couple of hours since he’d driven the car in the bay. Then his heart constricted and he groaned in sudden agony.

Alfie’s job was to meet and greet all customers that came into the shop. His throne was the cushioned chair that was next to the desk. Sure it was grimy, but it was comfortable for a small, snowy white, very fluffy dog. Normally, Alfie rarely ventured into the bay area. He preferred the cool office and comfy cushion to the cool, but mucky shop floor. Alfie was the beloved owner of the man and his family, which was his other job, to give love and happiness to those he loved best.

The man climbed from the car, dreading what he must find. Sure enough, Alfie was laying still and flat under the car. Tears welled up, and his heart wrenched again. Suddenly, the bright day darkened to night. The dog must have scooted out the door when he got coffee. Even though he wasn’t allowed in the shop, the dog had obviously disobeyed the standing command.

He cradled the little dog in his arms, unsure of what to do. The lifeless form just lay there, head lolled back and tiny pink tongue slack instead of happily panting. The shop owner sat down in a grease-smudged chair with the dog across his lap. What should he do? How would he tell his sweet wife and those precious girls what had happened to Alfie? Finally, he decided to put the dog in the dog food bag, and place him in the dumpster. In this concrete garden, there wasn’t anywhere to bury a pet.

The rest of the day, he worried and fretted how to tell the family they had lost one of their own that day. There was no good way, so he blurted it out as soon as he made it home. Rain began to patter against the home’s windows and it seemed God was sharing the family’s grief.
Next morning, what was normally a joy to hop out of bed and head to work became a heavy chore. Sighing heavily, all the way to work, he opened the shop for daily work, sans his beloved, tiny, fluffy employee.

The coffee had just finished brewing when the owner of the neighboring body shop burst into the office. “Are you going to tell me why your dog is in the dumpster?”

“Well, Jeb, I know he’s in the dumpster. I didn’t have any place else to put him. I ran over him yesterday.

“No, you don’t understand. Your dog is barking and jumping and trying to get out of that dumpster!”

“What? Are you kidding me?” With joyful heart, the man ran to the dumpster and grabbed up that fluffy bundle of excitement. That little pink tongue was exploring every inch of his face. That little dog had only been knocked out, and the most refreshing rain, that gift from God, had refreshed and revived him. Alfie wasn’t dead, after all, he just needed reviving.

How many Christians today look dead? How many are asleep at the wheel or get knocked silly by being someplace they are not supposed to be? Disobedience breaks fellowship with the LORD, and we can’t afford that when we need to be ready for that great and glorious day the Father looks at the Son and says, “Go get Your Bride, Son.” Glory!

Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter two verse one and following: 2:1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2 At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 3 Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

Paul was talking about how they acted as unbelievers, but I am thinking it sounds a lot like Believers of today. The Bride of Christ is sick these days, sick with the evil ways of the world. We can be like the Rich Young Ruler and say: These commands I have kept, I have not sinned.

But, how many of us have watched a movie lately in which God’s name was blasphemed? How many of us worry and fret, harbor anger… bitterness… jealousy, seek vengeance, are critical of others, controlling, gossip, pray by rote, fudge the truth, go places we shouldn’t go, do things in secret that we’d die if it were printed on the front page of the newspaper? How many pirate music? How many think if it doesn’t hurt anyone, it’s okay? How many haven’t returned something that was borrowed? How many of us allow work, family, hobbies, play time come first instead of the LORD?

How many of us have given up on a brother or sister in Christ because he looks dead? How often have we thrown a sibling in the dumpster without thought to the prayers of a righteous man and the resuscitation process laid out by Jesus in Matthew 18: 15-17?

Nothing happens in secret that will not be found out, and nothing done in the dark will not be brought to light. But, why would a front page news story matter more than what God thinks of us? How could it matter more than our precious relationship and that refreshing rain from above?

Revive us LORD Jesus, send your refreshing rain of blessings, wash us clean, and awaken us from our dead sleep. Help us watch and be ready… The Bride awaits her Groom. Come LORD Jesus and find Your Bride doing the mighty works prepared before the foundation of the world. AMEN.

This column was inspired by one of my favorite preachers, Dr. Preston Nix. He is an Associate Professor at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, and he is leading us in revival this week.

Between us and the bad guys

Every so often something comes in the inbox that just gives tremendous pause. I have a huge respect for all our military, especially those in the Air Force because my Dad was a Staff Sargeant in the Air Force... I was born into the Air Force.

On 8 June 2005 the following item appeared in the Albuquerque Tribune:

Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, a Farmington native and Farmington High School graduate, joined a growing list of New Mexicans who have died in the war on terrorism, when the surveillance plane in which he flew crashed last week 80 miles northeast of Baghdad. Three of his U.S. colleagues and an Iraqi airman also were killed. Fresques was awarded the Bronze Medal posthumously Friday.

Fresques was 26. He left behind a wife — also an Air Force captain — and his parents. His sacrifice — and theirs — in the name of our nation's security and the cause of democracy was immense. Col. O.G. Mannon, commander of the 16th Special Operations Wing, rightly called Fresques and his comrades "heroes." We regard Fresques and all men and women with New Mexico connections as family and hold them deeply in our hearts.¹

Capt. Fresques was killed in the line of duty on Memorial Day 2005, a month before he was to return home, and news of his death was conveyed that day to Lt. Col. Scott Pleus, commander of the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona, where Capt. Fresques had previously been stationed. Lt. Col. Pleus, along with a chaplain and a medical technician, drove that evening to Yuma, Arizona, to undertake the sad duty of notifying Capt. Fresques' parents of their loss.

About a week later, Lt. Col. Pleus was notified that a memorial service would be held for Capt. Fresques in Sun City, Arizona, on 15 June and that a fly-by from Luke AFB had been requested as part of the service in Capt. Fresques' honor. Lt. Col. Pleus quickly assented:

Of course we would do it. It's a four-ship formation. They fly straight and level over the gravesite and then, directly over the service, the No. 3 plane pulls away while the others fly straight ahead. Symbolically he's headed for heaven. It's the highest form of respect we can pay to a fallen airman.

Everyone involved in such a service considers it an honor. The fliers. The honor guard. The bugler who plays taps. All of us.²

While preparing to head from Glendale to Sun City (a distance of about 6 miles) for the memorial service, four F-16 fighter jets from Luke AFB flew a holding pattern over Glendale's Arrowhead Mall, prompting a local resident unaware of their purpose to send a sarcastic letter of complaint to the editor of The Arizona Republic:

A letter to the Editor;

Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show?

Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!

Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns' early-bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

Tom MacRae, Peoria³


The correspondent received a response from Col. Robin Rand, commander of Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing, in the pages of that same newspaper the following day:


Luke Air Force Base was asked to respond to a letter writer's question about a "morning air show" he observed recently ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, Thursday):

The "wake-up call" witnessed the morning of June 15 was a formation of F-16 jets from Luke Air Force Base lining up for a memorial service in Sun City at the gravesite for Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, an officer assigned to Air Force Special Operations. Fresques gave his life in defense of our country while serving in Iraq.

It is unfortunate that at a time when our nation is at war someone would believe we have less than honorable and professional reasons for such a mission.

The commander of the fighter squadron was given the difficult duty of informing the family of Capt. Fresques on Memorial Day that the officer, a husband, son and Arizonan, had died in Iraq.

On behalf of the men and women at Luke Air Force Base, we continue to keep Jeremy and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

Col. Robin Rand
Luke Air Force Base⁴

Four days later, the newpaper also published a reponse from Lt. Col. Pleus himself:

Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets":

On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques.

Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.

Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the president of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.

A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning air show?"

The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.


Lt. Col. Scott Pleus
Luke Air Force Base⁵


To his credit, the complainant, Mr. MacRae, tendered a written apology which was published in The Republic on 9 July:

Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" (Letters, June 28):

I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23).

I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.

I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.

This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.

I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.

I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.

Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Tom MacRae, Peoria⁶

The URL SNOPES page is http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

Sources taken from the SNOPES page.

1. The Albuquerque Tribune. "Editorial: Bouquets & Brickbats."

8 June 2005.

2. Montini, E.J. "Mission of Honor Managed to Fly Under Our Radar."

The Arizona Republic. 26 June 2005.

3. The Arizona Republic. "A Wake-Up Call from Luke's Jets."

Letters to the Editor. 23 June 2005.

4. The Arizona Republic. "'Wake-Up' Flight Was Memorial Service."

Letters to the Editor. 24 June 2005.

5. The Arizona Republic. "Flyby Honored Fallen Comrade." Letters to the Editor. 28 June 2005.

6. The Arizona Republic. "An Apology from the Heart to the Airmen of Luke."

Letters to the Editor. 9 July 2005.

Are you a Democrat, Republican, or Southerner?

Found while trying to recoup some lost data on my crashed computer... Certainly, I did not write it, but saved it for your pleasure today.

Are you a democrat, republican, or a Southerner

Here is a little test that will help you decide. The answer can be found by posing the following question: You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children.

Suddenly, an Islamic Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you. You are carrying a Glock cal 40, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do? ________________________________________________________________

Democrat's Answer:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
Does the man look poor! Or oppressed?
Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
Could we run away?
What does my wife think?
What about the kids?
Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?
What does the law say about this situation?
Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?
Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?
Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?
Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?
If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?Should I call 9-1-1?
Why is this street so deserted?
We need to raise taxes, have a paint and weed day and make this happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior.
This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for few days and try to come to a consensus.

_________________________________________________________________

Republican's Answer: BANG!

________________________________________________________________________
Southerner's Answer: BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click.....(sounds of reloading). BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click

Daughter: "Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?

Son: Can I shoot the next one!

Wife: You ain't taking that to the Taxidermist!

Cloaking is see-through technology

Problem: an ugly refinery belching smoke is blocking your bayou sunset view and the noise is pounding in tune to your headache and destroying your peace and quiet.
Solution: cloak the ugly sight and dampen the noise with your handy-dandy cloaking device.

Okay, that solution is still a bit into the future, but it is not as farfetched today as it was back in the 1960s. Listen, hear the StarTrek theme in the background? Scotty bellows from the speaker, “The Klingons just uncloaked, Keptan, I’m giving ‘er all she’s got.”

That was science fiction. This is real technology. The theory is that light would bend around the object being cloaked so that the light behind the object would appear in front of it, making the object invisible. “It’s an artificial mirage,” says David Schurig, a researcher at Duke University. The microwaves aimed at an object, in this case it was a copper cylinder about 5 inches in diameter, just pass over and around the object without detecting its presence, like water flows over and around rocks in a stream.

This cloaking thingy made those copper cylinders invisible to microwaves. But, of course, the cylinders were there and the scientists were watching and the cylinders never left their sight. So, they were invisible but not invisible. It was technology creating a space warp. No kidding, that is exactly how it was described.

Actually, this cloaking device is one of those milestones that we knew would happen way back in the ‘60s (dark ages to you youngun’s), which I wasn’t sure I’d see in my lifetime. Kids have a way of believing things that seem impossible are possible. It was a hoot to get in the closet and pretend to be transported to another planet, holding on to my hair brush as my communicator with my trusty transistor radio as my tricorder. I would conquer what ever particular planet I was transported to and still be home for lunch.

Today we enjoy lots of things that were science fiction back in the dark ages. The communicator is our hand-held device that allows communication between persons that are a world apart, only we call them mobile phones. The tricorder, a device that sees into the body and detects illnesses and cancers, we call an MRI and a PET scan. Oh, and the photon torpedo? We call that laser surgery. We have talking computers and even brainwave activated computers. Automatic sliding doors, once science fiction are now quite common.

Two things, no three, are left to be invented: the transporter, the light saber, and the reconstituter, a device that goes beyond the microwave because it delivers every thing from pot roast to apples to Earl Gray tea.

It is astounding to me that technology is catching up to man’s dreams. It’s true, there really is nothing new under the sun. Man has already thought about it, but the trick is figuring out how to make it work for real.

Sunday morning

I was looking out over the Sunday morning crowd today as we sang Holy, Holy, Holy, and I spotted something so sweet and yet so poignant. A pair of grandparents held tightly to a darling little 6 or 7 year old girl. As she stood on the pew singing her heart out, their arms wrapped around her, they were singing in her ear. It was such a precious sight.

Then I thought, where are the parents?

There was a time when the answer to that question would have been automatic. The parents were some place where they could not get to church. Today, is far different times. Parents somehow do not feel the same deep desire to be at church as they did when I was growing up. Back then, the only ones who came to church without husbands or wives were those who did not have a husband or a wife. Every dad came with their children, and every mom was there, too.

I am not saying that just because a person goes to church, they automatically have a place reserved in Heaven. On the contrary, that won't happen. There will still be folks setting in pews the Sunday after the Great Snatch. They may suddenly realize that they'll have to hatch out something... or not.

I looked out over that Sunday morning crowd and suddenly realized what Heaven would look like. It would just as Jesus said, "Two in the field, one will be taken and the other left. Two in bed, one will be taken and the other left." And most likely, 101 in church, 100 will be taken and one will be left.

I am glad I won't be left.

God's handiwork

Sometimes it is impossible to understand some people do not believe there is a God much less that Jesus saves. When I see things like this, I stand in awesome wonder at the universe created by Him. How great Thou art, oh mighty and wonderous God.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. He gave us peace in Him and through Him. How can anyone deny it?

Not only that, but we are His handiwork as well. All I want to do is bring Him glory and if I can, make Him proud of me. Thank goodness I am still under construction.

I was the only person in the entire world that saw this glorious display that morning. Coffee in hand, I glanced out the back door and was stunned at the beauty. I dashed for the camera and just at the exact right moment, took the picture. It was in God's perfect timing I could record His glorious design. This, my dear friends, is too precious to keep to myself.

If God could possibly consider me worthy enough to create this display just for me, how much more He loves you and me... how much more is His desire to protect us and bring us peace, and draw us close to him beneath His wings like a mother hen and her chicks.

Blessed be the name of the LORD!

What is going on in Washington DC?

Have you heard the latest? The Census will now be conducted out of the White House instead on done by the Dept. of Commerce. What makes Obama think he OR his staff OR anyone he can shake out of the bushes is qualified enough to conduct this important tool which almost everything governmental revolves around and is driven by...

Poverty levels determine who gets first crack at numerous grants and subsidies.
Percentages of color determine diversity percentages (and don't let anyone tell you that America is not driven by diversity percentages)
Numbers of people determines how many representatives each state has in Washington. DUH!
Numbers of people also determines amounts of money each state receives automatically from the federal government.
Guesstimates will prevail, rather than actual head count... How is that fair and balanced?

The huge question is this: Doesn't this NEW president without any experience have enough to do getting acclaimated without taking on this huge, monumental task of counting heads?

HooRAY for Rep. Marsha Blackburn R-Tennesee. Someone is paying attention in the House, but is it enough?

In God We Trust...

I am so delighted I live in a state that supports our national motto to the point that every school room in every public school in the state has our motto nicely framed and hung on the wall...

In God We Trust... is how we became this great nation.