Wednesday, June 26, 2013

THE MOST DANGEROUS THING ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

     It seems to be appropriate to talk about this today seeing that the United States Supreme Court had a ruling today on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the California (Prop 8) issue.  Yesterday the Michigan Legislature started working on a bill that would attempt to overturn the amendment to the Michigan Constitution that prohibits same sex marriage.

     What is the most dangerous thing regarding same-sex marriage?   It isn't the fact that same sex 'partner's can't procreate. And that violates God's first command to be fruitful and multiply.  And it isn't the fact that a nuclear family with a father and a mother is the foundational building block of human society.  And it is, but it is not the most dangerous thing

Saturday, June 15, 2013

FOCUSING ON THE TASK AT HAND

     A good example of focusing at the task at hand is taken from the life of Henry (Hank) Aaron who broke Babe Ruth's home-run record.
      During the 1957 World Series, Yankee catcher Yogi Berra noticed that Aaron grasped the bat the wrong way.  "Turn it, he said,  so you can see the trademark."  But Hank kept his mind on the pitcher's mound.  "Didn't come up here to read.  Came up here to hit."  

      This Anecdote from the life of Hank Aaron is taken from the "Little Brown Book of Anecdotes"  page 3.  General Editor Clifton Radiman.

Friday, June 14, 2013

IT'S A BRAND NEW DAY!

   It's a brand new day today. Each day is a gift from God himself.  The first thing each morning is that we should fall on  our knees, and that Almighty God that he allowed us to wake up to another day of life.  

     If we are not saved, that means another day of mercy;  for while there is 'life', there is still 'hope'.  We can only get saved and right with God, while we have life and breath and rationality.    

    If we are saved, we should rejoice, because we have another day to know, and walk with him as the children of God.  He gives us 'heaven' on earth; and then we have the prospect of finally making it to heaven when we die.

    So, let us use each day wisely, for remember Each Day Is A Gift!

   

Monday, June 10, 2013

HOORAY ITS MONDAY!

   Today, it is Monday June 10, 2013.  Right now, Sunday's and Monday's are my favorite days of the week.  I get to sleep in, relax and lay low on Mondays.  Today I got the oil changed in my car, and did some needed grocery shopping. the rest of the day I relaxed.  
     This week marks the mid point of the month.  There are 10, 11 more days until the Summer Soltice which marks the first day of the Summer season

Saturday, June 8, 2013

GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, BUT DON'T COMMIT YOURSELF TO THEM

     It is said in the Bible, in fact, it is the last verse of John Chapter 2, that the Lord Jesus Christ, did not commit himself to any man because He knew what was in man.   

     We tend to be to naive and trusting with people that we don't  really, truly know. Sometimes we can get hurt badly because of it.  We don't really know who anybody really is.  Sometimes we don't really know ourselves, unless Almighty God, reveals ourselves to us.  So the message is, we need to put absolute trust in God, and to those people that God puts in our pathways like Godly Pastors, Parents Close Friends, Spouses we trust conditionally.  Other people we need to give the benefit of the doubt.   

    Nearly a year ago, I befriended a young man whose father I knew and loved.  I am trying to help him and his family in several ways.  Because I don't really know who he is really, or where he is coming from, I can only really rely on what he is telling me.  I want to believe that he is truthful, but every once in a while, the criticism comes to me that I am being too naive, and my young friend isn't being genuine. 

   What I will do is to give my friend the benefit of the doubt, and continue to try and help him and his family; but I will keep my eyes open, and keep my mind open to what God shows me about the relationship.  I will be prayerful and watchful, and I will not be foolish and over commit.


Friday, June 7, 2013

USE TODAY WISELY, IT IS A GIFT

   In the Holy Bible, in the Book of Revelation, which is the last book of the Bible, we are told that one day, an angel of God will set one foot on land, the other foot on the sea and declare with a loud, solemn voice, that there shall be time no longer. The Bible also says in Proverbs 27:1 "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
    We have no promise of tomorrow.  Yesterday is past, a closed book; never to be opened again.  So the only time we have is today;  the only thing we are promised, so:

  • If you've got something to do, do it today;
  • If you've got something to say, say it today;
  • If you've got somewhere to go, go there today;
  • If you've got something to be, or achieve; make sure you attempt it today
  • If you've got kindness to show, good words to say; show it, and say it today
  • If you've got forgiveness to ask, or forgiveness to give; ask it or give it today


 Today is all we got.  Yesterday is past.  Tomorrow will never come.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

I STILL FEEL LIKE A YOUNG CHILD GROWING UP!

    In February, this year, I turned 60 years old.  That was 4 months ago.  Today, June 06, as I was going through my morning, all-of-a-sudden, the thoughts were coming to me:  I can't believe it, I am 60 years old!  I still feel like I am growing up.  I am youthful in my mind, and young in my spirit.  
    Last year, I did retire from my job after working for the Federal Government for 32 years.  It's been nearly 30 years since I served on active duty with the US Army.  And this month it will be 42 years since I graduated from High School.  I have gone to the same church for 42 years.  
     I've always said that everyone has a book inside of them waiting to be written.  Well, I've got a life worth of events, stories, and memories, indeed a book waiting to be written.  It only seems like just yesterday.
    This is the perfect post to follow the one I did yesterday: "Time flies when you're having fun"  For I've enjoyed my life so far.  
    As far as being just "a young child growing up", that's what I am!  You see, as a Christian, I am in God's family as a child.  He wants me to have simple child-like faith and trust; not thinking that I know anything and that I can guide the course of my own life, but looking to him as a trusting child.
    I believe that God still has further plans for my life, and the best days are still ahead.  
    I guess I am still just a child.....

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN

    I just heard the clock on my laptop computer say, "It's 11:00PM".  It's my bedtime.  I had no Idea that it was that late.  I got home from Church tonight after 0800P.  I cooked a hamburger, and was working at registering my new Kindle Fire which was shipped to me today.  I watched part of a video movie I purchased recently on US Submarines during WW II.  I sent a couple of emails that I needed to send out.  And I started writing this blog post.  I just heard the computer say, "It's 11:00"  I will finish this now, and get ready for bed.

Until Tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

THAT PERSON IS A TOUGH CUSTOMER

      Yesterday, on Monday, I had some business to do downtown.  I walked downtown.  Among other things, I got a haircut.  I stopped and had lunch at the American Coney Island.   I happened to see one of the employees who was bussing the tables.  I said, "This must be a great place to work."  He answered, "Sometimes it is not so great."  By the way he said it, I could tell that some days he caught it from his boss, or maybe he came upon some customers who were hard to handle.
    Today, I had a situation like that where one of the people that I was called upon to serve was an extremely tough customer.  If ever I met a woman who had a man's spirit, it was this person.  We all might these particular type of people with whom we can't get along with or jiust barely.  It seems super hard to work with them or just to tolerate them.
   Understate that life is not a bed of roses.  Some days are like that and you will meet with disagreeable people.  But as you push ahead what what you know to do\ and not let yourself become upset;  there are the things give  strength, and make us strrong..

Saturday, June 1, 2013

WHATSOEVER THY HAND FINDETH TO DO....

   In the book of Ecclesiastes, in the bible, the admonition is given-Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it will all thy might.  Whatever we put our hand to, we need to perform to the best of our ability and put forth our best creative effort.  Most times  that means going at a pace that seems pitifully slow for us-but really, we mustn't rush through life.  We need to take time and smell the roses
   I will share an anecdote from the life of Igor Stravinsky.  He was a Russian composer who gave the world the Firebird Suite, Petruska, and The Rite of Spring-Le Sacre du Printemps:
    "Stravinsky's publisher, impatient to publish his latest composition, urged him to hurry it's completion.  "Hurry," exclaimed the enraged composer.  "I never hurry.  I have no time to hurry.""
   That says it all right there.  If we are doing anything worthwhile, we must take time to get the job done right, the first time.  Anything less then our best is not worth the time.


Thea anecdote from the life of Igor Stravinsky was taken from the "Little Brpwn Book of Anecdotes, p. 528;  Clifton Fadiman General Editor   
 

Friday, May 31, 2013

HOORAY! TODAY IS FRIDAY!

    Today, it was a nice warm day in Detroit, upper eighties with summertime humidity levels and summer won't officially get here for 3 weeks.  I got fatigued, being in a enclosed room where there isn't any air conditioning.  Earlier, I did a kindness for a friend.  And I had several other issues in the back of my mind. All these things worked together to kind of tire me out.  After I finished my volunteer shift, and I took care of an issue, I got ready for bed and laid on the bed the rest of the day.  It felt gooood!  I am so glad that the weekend is here. 

See You Tommorow!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

WE NEED TO LEARN ABOUT AND GET BACK TO THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF OUR NATION

    We are losing our nation because we have drifted away from the first (foundational) principles upon which are nation was founded.  These are enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution.  

The First Principles are as follows:  

  • The Rule of Law;
  • The recognition and protection of the unalienable rights of individuals;
  • The equality of individuals;
  • The Social Compact (i.e. That governments are instituted by the people, and derive their just powers from the consent of the governed); and
  • The protects of the unalienable rights as the legitimate purpose and limit of government (i.e., the government must have the authority and strength to protect the unalienable rights of the people, but only have such power as is necessary to fulfill that purpose.
      Our challenge is no longer a foreign nation or even terrorists armed with weapons of massed destruction, but preserving our liberty despite ourselves.  The most powerful weapons against America are not guns and missiles, but ignorance, complacency and disdain of our history and of the first principles. America is dangerously close to allowing the Flame of Liberty to die out.  We are patriotic, but have almost forgotten why. We are becoming puppet patriots-hollow and empty in meaning.

     Let there be no mistake.  We may be fighting a hot war against militant Islamic terrorists today, but there is also a cold war raging, right here, and right now for the hearts and minds of our citizens---and we are losing.  The terrorists have reminded us that some things are worth dying for.  The rule of law, equality, empowering the people, unalienable rights, and limited government are such things.  Our freedom was won with the blood and treasure of hundreds of thousands of our forebears.  We must not allow their sacrifices to have  been in vain.  The crisis is here!  We must dedicate ourselves to fanning the flame of liberty, or risk it dying out.  The terrorists and all enemies of freedom will win if we simply forget, or reject what we are, and the principles for which we stand

The following was taken from Chapter 1 of America's Survival Guide by Michael Warren; pp. 4, 14

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION!

     In March 1981, a would-be assassin fired several shots at then President Ronald Reagan, and his party as they left a Washington hotel.  Reagan was taken to the hospital with a serious chest wound that needed emergency surgery.  As he was wheeled into the operating theater, he smiled, looked around at the team of surgeons, and said, "Please assure me that you are all Republicans!"

This anecdote from the life of President Ronald Reagan was taken from "The Little  Brown Book of Anecdotes"  Page 465  General Editor, Clifton Fadiman

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I HATE POLITICS!

The following anecdote is taken from the life of President Dwight David Eisenhower who was also a famous US General during World War II where he was the Supreme Allied Commander in charge of the D-Day, Normandy invasion of France on June 06, 1944.

    "After the successful landings in France, Eisenhower was inspecting a British section of the Allied lines when German planes came over and strafed them.  The party dived for cover.  As soon as it was safe to emerge, a senior British officer hurried across to see if Eisenhower was all right.  Finding him unharmed, he expressed his relief in fervent terms.  Ike thanked him for his solicitude.  "Oh," said the officer, "my concern was just that nothing should happen to you in my sector." "  1

     This senior British officer was only concerned that nothing should happen to General Eisenhower on his watch, in his sector.

      On September 11, 2012, on the 11th year anniversary of the 911 attacks, our Consulate in Benghazi Libya was attacked maliciously and premeditatively by terrorists.  Our Ambassador, and three other brave Americans were brutally murdered.  The present administration tried to say that some sort of anti-muslim, anti-Mohammed video was to blame and that the attack was spontaneous.  The administration deliberately obfuscated, stonewalled, and held back the truth from the American People, because they were in the middle of a re-election bid and a second term for President Barak Hussein Obama.  They thought that the truth would look bad and diminish the Presidents chances...FOR SHAME, FOR SHAME!.  I HATE POLITICS! 


1 The anecdote from President Eisenhowers life was take from "The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes"  page 188. General Editor Clifton Fadiman

Monday, May 27, 2013

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

    This day is traditionally known as the beginning of the Summer season. This weekend is the first three day holiday weekend of the year.  But the deeper mean is this, we honor those who have served in our Armed Force, in the defence our nation and our way of life.  We especially honor those who gave the last measure of devotion, and sacrificed their lives.
    I served 4 years on Active Duty in the  US Army from 27 July, 1981 - 26 July 1985.  This was the final decade of that period known as the Cold War.  The United States had a sizeable number of troops stationed in Europe as a first line of defense, in case the Soviet Communists, and the nations of the Warsaw Pact should invade and attempt to swallow up whole, the countries of Western Europe.
    I was in the Federal Republic of Germany (West German) in 1983, 1984, and stationed at the US Army Field Station in Augsburg.  This was an intelligence outpost where there as a live/hot mission going 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I had german nationals tell me that they were grateful that the American troops were there and keeping the Russian Bear at Bay.
     I know that today we have grave problems in our country, and also in our military.  But this is still the best country on earth.  If we can get back to our founding principles upon which our country is based, maybe we can save it, and get back to the greatness that we once stood for. 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

THE PERSPECTIVE AND PRISM THROUGH WHICH WE VIEW ISSUES IN THIS LIFE MATTERS VERY MUCH

     A springtime rainstorm in the country creates ten thousand fresh scents.  Every drop of rain has it's association with forms of life.  However in the city, every drop develops foul stale smell, and is a stickly, lukewarm, dirt-stained, wretched addition to the streets and gutters.
      As a Christian person with faith in God, I view every issue from a biblical perspective and through a Christian paradigm.  Yes, matters how you look at things.  Is the glass half full, or is it half empty?  

Friday, May 24, 2013

BOTTOM FISHING FOR HEAVY HITTERS

What do your past, and Jimmy Hoffa have in common?

Yes,  Sure, Absolutely.  The answer is obvious.  They're both dead!

However, it's a bit of a trick question too!

Well, personally I don't know if Jimmy Hoffa is part of the foundation of Giant's stadium in New Jersey, or if he's buried in a backyard in Detroit 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION

      On Saturday September 06, 2008 I moved to 439 Henry Street in Detroit Michigan.  I had just spent 5 months recovering from a pedestrian accident.  I was hit by a car as I was walking to catch a bus to work.  Bones in both legs were severely fractured.  When I came to the point where I could take an apartment and resume my life, I was unable to find an apartment in Mid-town Detroit where Wayne State University is located.  That is where I wanted to be, because that is where my church is located.  An older woman who goes to the same church had been a friend of mine for nearly 35 years.  She managed an apartment building on Henry, and had an apartment available.  This is how I ended up at 439 Henry St.  There are 3 buildings in this particular block of Henry.  They were all owned by an older gentleman.  I never thought that I would be living there.  There are veterans, people on disability, and other extremely poor people.
     This block of apartment building is 1/4 - 1/2 mile from the entertainment district of Downtown Detroit which includes:  Comerica Park where the Detroit Tigers play, and Ford Field where the Detroit Lions play their home games.  Mike Illich of Little Caesar's Pizza fame and owns the Detroit Tigers also owns the Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club. Because he wants to build a new hockey area, he has been buying up property right and left in the vicinity of the 3 Henry Street Apartment buildings.  Speculation has been running rampant.  
    About 4 weeks ago, we were given notice that the 3 Apartment buildings were sold.  We were given a 'Notice to Quit' and that we needed to be somewhere else by May 20, 2013.  Nearly 100 people living in 3 buildings were told they had to move.
   This is why on Wednesday, May 16, 2013, I signed a lease and moved into a 2 Bedroom Apartment in the Woodbridge Neighborhood of Detroit.  This is considerably closer to the Church and Ministry which has been a part of my life for over 40 years.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

OF WHAT GOOD IS CELEBRITY?

During the last week I moved my place of residence.  I was out of the loop, and did not have web access May 13-18, 2013.  I now have my internet access restored and will continue my blog posts 

    Walt Disney was asked on one occasion, "How does it feel to be a celebrity?"  "It feels fine," he replied, "when it helps you get a good seat to a football game.  But it never helped me to make a good film, or a good shot in a polo game, or command the obedience of my daughter.  It doesn't even seem to keep fleas off our dogs -- and if it won't give one an advantage over a couple of fleas, then I guess there can't be much in being a celebrity after all."
  
   This anecdote from the life of Walt Disney was taken from the 'Little Brown Book of Anecdotes'  Clifton Fadiman - General Editor  p. 170 

Saturday, May 11, 2013

LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD

   There is no language of vegetables which makes the conversion of a cucumber a document of attachment.


-Charles Dickens  "The Life and Times of Nickolaus Nickleby
 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

IT IS UP TO US TO SAVE AMERICA

     Last Friday, I wrote a post on how I believed that we are about to lose America, if things don't radically change fast.  If we are to save her, it will take those of us who love the Constitution and the rule of law, and the God of the Bible to stand up and "Stand Without Compromise" for the conservative values established by the founding fathers.  We have got to get back to the 'Faith of our Fathers'  God's Word gives us a remedy for the predicament we find ourselves in.  

       In II Chronicles 7:14, God says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land"

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A MAN WELL TRAVELED

     On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon.  Present Nixon, authoritative acclaimed the event as the greatest since the Creation.  Armstrong himself, as he took the last step from the ladder of the lunar module, onto the moon's surface, said, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
    Much later in Armstrong's life, Photographer Yousuf Karsh and his wife were having lunch with Neil Armstrong after a photographic session.  Armstrong politely questioned the couple about the many different countries they had visited. "But Mr. Armstrong," protested Mrs. Karsh, "You've walked on the moon.  We want to hear about your travels."
    "But that's the only place I've ever been," replied Armstrong apologetically.  


These two anecdotes came from "The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes" edited by Clifton Fadiman
 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

I DON'T BELIEVE THE MEDIA!

    The media today has a grave responsibility, because people listen to it, give credence to it, and listen to it                                                                                                        

Monday, May 6, 2013

AN EARLY FOURTH OF JULY GIFT

       The following story is taken from the life of Arturo Toscanini, classical music conductor and conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra and New York's Metropolitan Opera during the first half of the 20th Century.
      
     Arriving at a town on July 3, during a South American tour with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, Toscanini told the disgruntled players that he wished them to assemble at the theater the following morning.  The players who had be traveling for some time, were looking forward to a couple of days free from rehearsals.  They obeyed will an ill grace.  When they were assembled, Toscanini asked them to rise, and led them through "The Star Spangled Banner."  "Today is the Fourth of July, " he announced at the end, and dismissed them.

(The preceding anecdote was taken from 'The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes' by Clifton Fadiman-General Editor)

Sunday, May 5, 2013

HOORAY, THE WEEKEND IS HERE!

      It is the first weekend in May.  On Saturday, the Kentucky Derby is run.  Last year at this time, I took a trip to Dallas Texas, for an event hosted by VitaMark, my former Network Marketing Company.  I went down from Detroit on the Greyhound Bus.  We went through Louisville Ky.  which of course is where the Derby is run. We went through there on Friday.  On Fridays of Derby Weekend they have a parade, which of course blocks of some of the streets, and the buses were slowed up because of it.   The event was on Saturday.  I left Dallas on Sunday by train.  Amtrak was delayed because of a breakdown in San Antonio.  This delayed us getting into Chicago which meant I missed the connecting train to Detroit by 3 hours.  They shuttled us back to Michigan by step van.  All in ail, the weekend was good!.

Friday, May 3, 2013

WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THIS COUNTRY!

         George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and the rest of the men we call the Founding Fathers would definitely be rolling in their graves today with what has happened to our country.  Our freedoms are on the chopping block, and our republic is disappearing.
     I hate politics, but I guess I would call myself a Ronald Reagan Conservative.  In 2008, i was really afraid that we would have Hillary Clinton as our president.  I remember thinking and saying at the time that if Hillary was elected president that our country would be going down the tubes.  Instead we elected someone much worse.  Barack Obama is a Marxist Socialist.   He is a Muslim.  He is a homo-sexual.  And I am not satisfied that he was born in this country.  If that alone is true, this violates our Constitution.  Sure this apparently is the last election that Obama can run; however, who is on the horizon?  Hillary Clinton wants to run for President in 2016.  

     What to watch for.  Our 1st Amendment is a bellweather.  I believe that it is the 'Canary' in the Mine.  Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, and Freedom of Religion.  This are our most important rights.  And every single one of them are under attack.  Pay attention, and Mark it down that if any of this Freedoms fail, then America is OVER

Thursday, May 2, 2013

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

   They tell us that confession is good for the soul.  I know that that is true, because the Bible says it is so, and I believe that the Bible is God's infallible, Holy Word.
   So, I have a confession to make.  At the beginning of the year, I made a pledge that I would post something, every day; Monday-Saturday, even if only a few sentences, or even a few words.  I fell off that bandwagon.  
    On April the 1st, I did a post.  On April 3 I started a post. I finished it last night, May 01, 2013.  So today is a sort of confession, and getting back on the right track.  I will work towards getting a post every day Monday - Saturday;  even if I write only a few words, or a few lines.  After all, this blog is about me.  As I build my business, I want to have someplace where I can refer people to so that they can learn about me and what makes me tick.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

ARE YOU A CRITCAL THINKER

    A wise Frenchman, Anatole France, once said, "An Education isn't how much you've committed to memory, or even how much you know;  its being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't."  Anatole France was a successful French Novelist, Poet, and Journalist who lived from 1844-1924. 
    Mark Scott, who was a successful Talk Radio Host in Detroit 25 years ago, used to talk, all the time about being able to "discriminate crucial differences". 
    In the 'Serenity Prayer' which is used by Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and many of the 12-step programs that exist to help substance abusers, and those with addiction, we read about the "wisdom to know the difference between those things which we can change, and those things which we are powerless to change.
    It looks like it is very important to be able to discern when we don't know something;  not living in fantasy or deluding ourselves to the effect that we do know. 
    It is tragic that one of the flaws of humanity is that, for the most part humanity doesn't want to face its shortcomings;  they don't want to know, that they don't know.
   It is much safer to face reality, and to square up to the fact that we don't know something, if indeed we don't.  If we face the reality that we don't know, then maybe we can learn it   Otherwise, we will never get out of the darkness of thinking we know something when we don't.  This can have a tragic consequence for time and Eternity.

Monday, April 1, 2013

BETTER NEVER BORN

     Last week was the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  This is commonly known in the Christian world as 'Holy Week'.  Several days ago, when reading the Gospel of Mark's rendition of the events during the final week of Christ's earthly ministry, I came upon a verse which was rather gripping in it's immediate context.  As I contemplated deeper on this particular verse, it became quite compelling.  These meditations I wanted to write about and share.  
    When Jesus and His disciples were sharing the 'Last Supper' as detailed in Mark Chapter 14, Jesus makes a very singular statement in verse 21.  Here Jesus says:  "The Son of Man indeed goeth as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  Good it were for that man if he had never been born"  Of course, here Jesus is speaking of Judas Iscariot, who treacherously betrayed Jesus of thirty pieces of silver, and would lead them to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, which we read about nearer to the end of that particular of Mark.
     But what about our lives.  Under what circumstances, could we say the it would have been better for us if we had never been born?.  Each one of us, when we come into this world are shaped with image of God.  We have eternity in our hearts.  Our creator sends us into this world with a particular purpose in mind. He has a job for us in his kingdom that only we can do.  If we miss it or refuse to do it, no one will fill our place.  But, more that that, each one of us, when we come into this world, have the glorious potential of getting to know the God of the Universe.  It is planned for us that we walk with and to serve God during our lifetime.  Furthermore we are destined to spend eternity with God, in His home, Heaven.   
     But we have a problem.  Each one of us, comes into the world with a sinful nature that separates us from God.   Because of this problem, we cannot have fellowship with a Holy God.  We can't ever hope of going to heaven with this sinful nature.  However, God - in His infinite and wholly inexplicable love for his creation, did not want to leave us in this calamity.  
    Before the world be, God devised a plan, whereby he would come to earth in the form of His Son, and take upon Him and live a life on earth as a man.  He would take all the sins of mankind upon him, and would endure all the punishment and suffering that our sin and rebellion deserved from a Holy God.   That is why Jesus Christ came to earth.  He as the Son of God, and the Son of Man-the God-Man, lived on earth, and at the end of his life, God heaped all of mankind's sin, past, present, and future upon him, and He hung on a cross, until he died.  He didn't stay dead.  He conquered death, and folded up the grave clothes for us.  If we would come and see our desparate need, our depraved nature, and cry out to God to be changed, because of what Christ did on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead, we can be transformed and born again from above spiritually.  We then enter God's Kingdom and begin the exciting journey of walking with the God and Creator of the Universe.  As we yield our lives and surrender our wills to God, He delivers us from the sinful nature, and enables us to live a holy life.  We can then seek and embark upon the purpose for which we were created, and born into this world.  When God is ready for us, we will pass from this world into God's home.
     If we refuse to see our need, and to let God transform us, we will have missed the very purpose for which we were conceived.  At the end of such a life we will enter a world of eternal separation-fixed, from the God who created us and loved us.   

   If such a fate happens to us, at that point, it can be said, It would have been better for us if we had never been Born!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

IT'S NOT JUST A RELIGIOUS BELIEF, IT'S WHAT GOD SAYS

    This very week, the US Supreme Court is start to hear arguments 2 cases regarding one central question; Same Sex Marriage: 

  1.  Proposition 8 in California was passed by the citizens of that State to uphold traditional marriage between a man and a woman; and
  2. DOMA  the Defense of Marriage Act, was passed by the US Congress, which of course, upholds the idea that marriage is between a man and a woman.  The idea proposed by homosexual activists is that DOMA is unconstitutional

One of the arguments that we, who believe in traditional marriage have to face, is that our position depends solely upon 'religious belief'.  

Of this, the purveyors of the homosexual stance are mistaken:

Yeit is not just religious belief that is framing the argument; but this principle is based upon the belief that God established Marriage between a man and a woman, and that this indeed is what God said.

  "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife.  They shall be one flesh"   Genesis 2:24--The Holy Bible (King James Version)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

BE IN REALITY, KNOW YOURSELF

   William Wallace said, "Every man dies, Not every man really lives."   Death is common to all men.  Once we were born, we were already on track to die.  Consider a flower cut from the vine.  It is already on course to die.
    However, men, by and large,  don't really live.  They live like zombies-The Living Dead, because they don't know themselves

Monday, March 25, 2013

SHALL WE FEAR DEATH?

    The Bible tells us that Humankind has a fear of deathThis would seem to be a natural thing because it is a journey into the unknown.  I believe that I hear it said that Voltaire, on his deathbed, "I am taking a fearful leap into the dark".
     Recently, in a University level Literature Course, I came across a poem which expresses my feelings on the fear of death. It thrilled me when I first read it.


The Poem is called :   

'Prospice' by Robert Browning

Fear Death?--To feel the fog in my Throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote,
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch-Foe in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done, and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
I was once a fighter, so--one fight more,
The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes and forbore,
And bade me creep past.
No!, Let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a moment pay glad life's arrears
Of pain, darkness, and cold.
For soon the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the element's rage, the fiend-voices that rave
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then my breast,
O soul of my soul, I shall clasp thee again,
And with God, be the rest!

     My title asks the question, Shall We Fear Death.  The answer is, If we are prepared for it.  We can prepare for it, because of what Jesus Christ, The Son of God has done for us.  This is 'Holy Week'-the week that the Lord Jesus Christ bore all of Humanity's sins on the Cross. And three days later, He defeated death, by raising from the dead-thus completing and putting a seal on God's plan of Salvation


  

Friday, March 22, 2013

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED PT 2

 The Following has been taken from Part Two of Chapt 1. of Michael Dlouhy's book, "Success in Ten Steps"


People ask me:
  • "Your e-book is great.  Why on earth, do you give it away for free?"
  • "Your telephone training is great!  Why is it free?"
  • "Your 'Colors CD' is great!  Why is it so cheap?"
  • "Why do you help me for free, when I am not in your Company?"
  • ...and a dozen other variations


  In the early 1990's, I joined over 100 MLM Companies.  I tracked, cataloged, analyzed & evaluated EVERYTHING they did:  products, compensation plans, marketing, distributor support, profitability, etc.


THE UGLY RESULTS

     I'm a fun-loving, an easy going guy.  But my teeth clenched, and my fingers curled into fists of rage.  I was stunned by how many Companies and 'Heavy Hitters' make HUGE  profits NOT on product sales, but instead by selling a ton of worthless marketing materials to the distributors who trust and believe in them!

   I get mad just thinking about it.  This is why you find widespread cynicism and skepticism amongst network marketers.
I can't blame them.

But you should hear the calls I get from people trying to figure out  how I'm going to bamboozle them.

First, they figure I'm trying to steal their people.

Fact is, they don't HAVE any people.  None who trust them, anyway.  Many uplines' idea of support is to tell them the lies we'll cover in Chapter 1

True support is to take you by the hand, and lead you through every step of this business, so you can actually experience it in real time, and get good at it.  THAT is what we do on our phone calls.

No company is ever mentioned on those calls.  No product is ever mentioned.  No one is ever recruited. 


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

MONDAY, MARCH 18 2013

    This being Monday, I slept in past 0900a.  I made some coffee.  I walked downtown as I had some personal business to attend to.  I needed to get a haircut, I stopped at the CVS pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and I also stopped at FedEx Kinko's to print the MI-8453 electronic filing declaration document which I need to send in for my State income tax return which I electronically filed last week. 

   I walked back home.  I was watching some Agatha Christie Video's.  I spent some time trying to assist a friend who needed his car battery jumped.

  I worked on my home business, calling some lead, talked to several people, inviting one prospect to a video chat that I am tentatively setting up for friday, March 22.
  
  I watched several more Agatha Christie Poirot video's.  I talked to a team member who lives near Sacramento California

I retired for the evening shortly after midnight eastern time.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS-I HATE IT!

   In our day and age, the 21st century, the idea or concept of being politically correct, or 'Political Correctness' is much in style.  The idea that one can't say things a certain way, or can't have certain opinions, or risk being considered a politically incorrect pariah, apparently has taken over much of our society.  I don't know about you...but I hate it!!!.  I am not a politically correct person, and I glad of that fact!

   I remember the first time that I was exposed to what I consider to be a 'PC' attitude.  It was in 1984, when I was serving with the US ARMY, and stationed in what was then, West Germany.  A Staff Sergeant named Jim Hardy who was one of my superiors, used the expression to me on several occasions 'right answer'.  In fact I heard him use that expression quite a bit  

   I retired from a career with IRS.  Years ago we had an expression that we called people what actually fought against paying taxes.  We called them Tax Protestors which was a good and very descriptive expression.  All of a sudden, one day we couldn't use that expression anymore.  They told us that it would hurt peoples feelings.  We had to call this particular group of non compliant tax fighters, 'Constitutionally Challenged'.  What balderdash!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

SPEND YOUR TIME DOING WHAT YOU LOVE!

     That wonderful comedian, George Burns, who lived to hit the century mark, once said:  "I honestly think it's better to be a failure at something you love, than to be a success at something you hate.  

I do believe that he was right!

Friday, March 8, 2013

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

   
     Nearly 45 years ago, when I was going to high school, I came across a poem in an American Literature class that I was taking that has stayed with me through the years.  Robert Frost's, 'The Road Not Taken' caught my attention; especially the last three lines of the entire Poem:

       " Two roads diverged in a wood; and I
I took the road less traveled by, 
and that has made all the difference  "

  This puts me in mind  of something that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said in the Sermon on the Mount.  In Matthew 7: 13,14 He said:  

"Enter ye in at the straight gate; For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because straight is the gate, and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." 

  So, you can see that according to the Lord Jesus, it is a matter of critical importance what road we take in life.  If we are going the way of the crowd, we are going done the wrong road..no question about it.  In each life, another path will appear...The road less traveled.  God has a special purpose for each life, and it will take seeking and searching in order to find it.  The path that the world presents will speak to us in a voice so loud that we might miss the less traveled path.  God tells us in ISAIAH 30:21, 

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the Way, walk ye in it;  when ye turn to the right hand; and when ye turn to the left"

   So God speaks to us in a 'still small voice' which we can hear if we will listen for it.  However, there is a danger of being distracted by the loud clamorous voice that the world speaks to us in.
   Just recently, I was captivated by another piece of poetry that speaks about the 'untrodden way'.  William Wordsworth wrote about Lucy, who "dwelt among the untrodden ways" Wordsworth goes on to say that Lucy was a solitary person who shone as the only star in the sky.  She was the type of person, that when she 'ceased to be' hardly anybody knew.  But her life made a difference to at least one person.
"She dwelt among the untrodden ways
Beside the springs of Dove,
A Maid whom there were few to praise
And very few to love;
A violet by a mossy stone
Half hidden from the eye!
Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the Sky.
She lived unknown, and few could know
When Lucy ceased to be;
But she is in her grave, and, oh, 
The Difference to me!"
     God has a purpose for our lives, and if we will seek out the Road Less Traveled, and seek to go down the untrodden way, our lives can have purpose, meaning.   We may not have the celebrity of others but our lives can touch and make a difference to some.
  

THERE ARE MORAL ABSOLUTES

      I believe that there are moral absolutes that are universal; both right and wrong.  Because I am a Christian, I look at all questions in life from a Christian perspective, through a Biblical paradigm.  And the Bible says: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."  Romans 5:12.  Not only are we are born with a sinful nature, once a child reaches the age of accountability where that child understands the difference between right and wrong, that child chooses the wrong way.  Again the Bible tells us, "All we like sheep have gone astray.  We have turned everyone to his own way...Isaiah 53:6.  Although, theological systems, as a whole teach us that we are accountable to our creator, mankind, as a whole, in it's sinful state of darkness, refuses to believe that there is a day of judgement.  They want to believe that there are no absolutes that we should follows.  They want to believe as the socialists, and the communists teach that 'the end justifies the means

      One of the issues that is driving thought and political opinion in our day is the push for homosexual marriage.  I believe that homosexuality, and same-sex marriage is a MORAL EVIL.  Our Creator tells us in the first book of the Bible, "Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24.   Homosexuality is evil because it is clearly in rebellion and opposition to the divine plan for the family.  Homosexuals scoff and thumb their noses at God's 1st command to us in the Garden of Eden, when he said to Adam and Eve, "Be Fruitful and Multiply" Genesis 1:28  Two men cannot be fruitful and multiply; neither can two women.  That is an obvious conclusion.

    The Bible tells us that every man and women comes into the world with the Light of God in their conscience; thus they are equipped with the knowledge of right and wrong.  "This is the true light that lighted every man that cometh into the world"  John 1:9  

There are Moral Absolutes which are Universal.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

IMPROVIING YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

    In a Communications course I took recently at the University level,the woman who wrote the text mentioned, that the Five Essential Steps of Interpersonal communication are:  listening skills; people skills; emotional intelligence; appropriate skill selection; and communicating ethically. 

   In the 1990's, I started noticing, my Annual evaluations at work, started to show that my communication skills was the area in which I needed to improve the most.  So I've been concerned about this for nearly 20 years .  Of all the elements listed, I was most excited about improving my listening skills.  I have been guilty in the past, of listening to people with one ear, and looking for the opportunity of putting my '2 cents' in.  So I've changed my behavior and have been really striving to listen to people when they talk to me   

    This begins with looking at them straight in the eye, giving them all my attention, forgetting about what I want to say, and transmitting to them the idea that I really care about what they are saying.  I've been working on this for  quite a while, but I still need n mor improvement.  Learning to listen is a skill that is necessary in order to building the 'know', 'like' and  'trust that is critical in building relationships 



Tuesday, March 5, 2013

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED!

                                                                          PART 1


        Listen carefully!

I'm well aware that your intentions were gallant:  to provide for your family all the things YOU never had, to spend quality time with them, and to help others like yourself grow & prosper.

And remember what happened next?

You were lied to; you were "leveraged"  The heavy hitters used you for batting practice.  You got thrown in the muck, untrained, unprepared.  Your checking account was drained.  Your credit cards were maxed out.  Friends & relative screened your phone calls.

Then you looked in the mirror, and called yourself "loser"

I know, I know.

It all started because you want the same things I wanted.

You want to be your own boss, answer to no one...and earn a good living doing it.  You want to go where you want, when you want.  You want to spend $200.00 for dinner without batting an eye.

You want precious time NOW with those you love.  You want the money and freedom to take a day off - or 2 weeks off- and maybe fly to some faraway island on a whim!.

You want to work and socialize with people you like & admire; who share your outlook on life, and your goals.   You want the self-satisfaction of achieving your goals; and the self-fulfillment of helping others reach theirs.  You want financial independence.


You don't want more rejection.  You don't want to have to sell anything to anyone.   And you SURE don't want another MLM


The above was take from CHAPTER 1 in Michael Dlouhy's book "SUCCESS IN 10 STEPS"


Monday, March 4, 2013

TO ERR IS HUMAN; TO FORGIVE DIVINE

    Of the four main types of human personality, one of them harbours the fault of being of a perfectionist mentality.  They get frustated as they can't seem to reach their  perfectionist strivings  The more they reach out for perfection, the more frustrated they become, as they come to realize more and more their imperfections.  "We find ourselves surprised at the ability that we have in failing in so many avenues and ways"  Samuel McChord Caruthers.  
   However, when we take into account our human frailty, weakness, and general ignorance, we came face to face with our need for utter dependence upon the God of the Bible who promises, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee; and shew thee Great and Mighty things that thou knowest not"  Jeremiah 33:3  KJV.

   So when we remember that making mistakes is Human:  But to forgive-this is God like.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

BE CAREFUL HOW YOU BUILD!

    The Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Son of God, gave us some instruction on how we should build our lives.  I will quote from Jesus' words as recorded in Matthew 7: 24-27, King James Version:

    "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not;  for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which  built his house upon the sand;  and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;  and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

Note Three things about what the Lord Jesus Christ was saying

  1. Storms will come to all regardless of whether: we are wise or foolish; and whether we are prepared or not
  2. How the Storm affects us will depend upon what sort of foundation we've built upon.  The character of our lives is not what people see, or what our reputation is, but what we our in reality when no body else is present;  what God knows us to be in our heart of hearts.  This is the foundation that we are building upon.
  3. Christ here does not speak in terms of good and evil.  He speaks in terms of being wise, or being foolish, sensible or insensible; sane or insane;  and this hinges on whether or not we give heed, and obey his sayings.  This is what determines our destiny.  

Friday, March 1, 2013

WELCOME TO THE IDES OF MARCH

    Today is March 1st.  When I was growing up, we were taught a saying about the month of March.  It goes something like this:  If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.  If March, on the other hand, comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.  This is speaking about the weather.  However there are very tumultious things happening right now, which could be construed as March coming in like a lion: 

    What happens today will determine whether the Automatic Spending Cuts (Sequestration).  President Obama, and other people from his administration, have been trying to make it appear that if the Republicans don't cave and give in to new tax cuts that the Sequester cuts will take over and drive our society into oblivion.

    As I write this to you, the papal enclave has been gathering in Rome, as they make preparations to elect successor to Pope Benedict XVI

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Petrus Romanus - The Final Pope!

     Today, at 2:00 pm Eastern Time on February 28, 2013,  Pope Benedict XVI retired.  He will be known as Pope Emeritus.  This is the first time in over 600 years that a sitting Pope has stepped down.  During the next two weeks a successor to Pope Benedict will be chosen by the College of Cardinals.  This may have implications for the end time events, and for the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

     I am not of the Catholic faith; nor do I have any confidence at all in the Pope of Rome,  however, I just read a book about something written 1251 ad by St Malachy called the Prophecy of the Popes.  This man St. Malachy is a seer and a mystic in the same mold as Nostradamus.  He wrote a prophecy where he names the popes, and makes a prediction about each of the popes right up to this day.

According to this prophecy, the Pope after Benedict, will be the Final Pope.  This Petrus Romanus will be who the book of Revelation calls the 'FALSE PROPHET', and introduce the man known as the AntiChrist, that man of sin who will fight against God, and His Christ.   

    So, whether or not you believe in the Popes, and the prophesies about them, this next two weeks will be very interesting, and could have very serve and grave implications for the end of time, and the situation bears watching.


   

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN

       Jesus said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of God"

   I once saw a poster for a blood driver which illustrates what Jesus was saying here.  I used to be a blood donor, while I still worked for the Federal Government.  The poster show a couple of new born babies.  Underneath, the caption read:  'These babies may not be yours, but they may be your type.'
But I was struck by the innocence of the children, and was struck  by the awareness that God wants us to become like Children.  We need to have simple child-like faith and trust in God, and in our fellow man.
    To often when we grow up to adulthood, we are stuck on ourselves.  We think we are the Cat's meow, and that we are going to take the world by storm.  However, most often we crash and burn, and fail miserably.   We don't know that We don't know.
    The only remedy, is that we stop ourselves, and humble ourselves and realize that the only things we really know in life is what God says to us, and what the Bible tells us.  Then we can have that faith in God as a child.  This will be pleasing to God and will honor him. 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

SPRING IS COMING SOON!

    Ever since I can remember Spring has been my favorite season of the year.  Every year, I look forward to seeing my first Robin Redbreast which is a harbinger of spring;   I look forward to seeing Tulips, and Daffodils and Crocuses.

   On February 2, which was ground-hog day, Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog from Eastern Pennsylvania, did not see his shadow.  This supposedly means an early spring.  If the ground hog had seen his shadow that would have meant 6 more weeks of winter.  But wait, 6 weeks from Feb. 02 brings us to March 21  which is  the first calendar day of spring.   

   But I've already noticed that the days are getting longer; the Sun's coming up earlier, and daylight last longer.  I've already purchased tulips.  So I am looking for Spring.  Regardless of the weather, whatever punches, winter still has left, and remember I live in Michigan, I am in the Spring mode.

Spring is Coming Soon!