You know, one of the most difficult things to do is to give thanks for a situation that you're in that is not exactly the best situation. Sometimes you have to stop what you're doing and look at EVERYTHING.
I was watching one of those pastors who have a huge church and what he said reminded me that the word says "be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6,7 and "But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Phil 4:19 One last one "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thess 5:18
These are hard things to do. To turn things over to God and trust that He's working on a solution. We cannot always see God working, in fact, in my experience, I haven't seen Him working during this whole situation we're in. Probably I'm not in the place I should be, but I don't know what place that should be. I've thought that I can get a second job, part time weekends and evenings, but so far nothing has opened up. I will admit that I've not applied to everywhere but places you would think would be good places (wal-mart, target, CVS) would be available, but so far none have been even during the holiday season.
Well, here's the end of this. "In everything give thanks..." that assumes you have something to be thankful for or perhaps it's referring to "even though you're in dire straits and you feel like you;re drowning, thank God because when you get through it, and you WILL get through it, you'll be stronger in faith and God will be glorified. So here's my list of things I'm thankful for:
1. A roof over our head
2. a way to get to work
3. we still have electricity, gas and phones
4. our cars are paid for
5. we have family here even though they vex us at times
6. we have our jobs
7. God loves us and saved us
8. we have family all over who has helped us and pray for us.
9. I am especially thankful that I have a wife who loves me and puts up with me.
I will admit it was difficult coming up with this list, but there it is. Pray for us that we might finally get through this and that we are doing what God wants, not what we want.
Thank you my friends. Those I know who read this and those who I don't know who also read this. Thank you for your prayers.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Is money evil?
Well, it's been a while. Have you all missed me?
Money is the root of all evil. Or that's what a lot of people say. But that saying is taken from the Bible and is quoted inaccurately. The Bible says "The love of money is the root of all evil." We are talking greed here. The desire for more and more money over and above what is needed on which to live. I cannot argue the fact that, in this day and time, we all need money to survive. Without it, we are homeless and starving. So we work for it. We do what we can to get enough to meet our needs and, I might add, plus some. Some may argue that having just enough money to meed your needs, that is, utility bills, food on the table, a roof over your head, gas for your car (though it could be argued that public transportation is there to replace the need for gas for your car). No provision is made (by some) for eating out once in while. Getting out of the house and the rut we all seem to find ourselves in. I maintain that money used for that purpose is nearly as important as the utility bills or mortgage, though you shouldn't sacrifice the necessities for a night out on the town, no matter how bad you need it. I guess what I'm saying is having money isn't evil and using it for your benefit and for the benefit of others is a good thing.
There are times (and Cathy and I seem to find ourselves in those times frequently) when you become preoccupied with money. These times are intensified when you don't get paid when you're supposed to and you caclulate it out and find out you're 7 weeks behind in getting paid. This kind of stuff wreaks havoc on just trying to pay the necessities. It is at these times when you HAVE to rely on God to provide for you. Believe me, I've begged and pleaded for the money to pay our bills and we don't always get the money in time to NOT be late on some of them. We've had the water turned off and then was charged $150 to get it turned back on. Power would be the same only the charge to get it turned back on would be around $300.
I'm not asking for anything I'm just trying to convey to you the idea that the love of money is the root of all evil, and yet there are times when, due to circumstances beyond out control, we are preoccupied with getting more money. You do what you can. You cut things that are not necessary, you talk to your creditors and explain to them what's going on, hoping for some compassion and leeway in getting them paid. One of the worst things is when you need to see a doctor, you have a high deductible that has to be met before the insurance company starts paying. Or when your car needs tires or service but, because of the inconsistant pay, you cannot take care of those things right away.
The love of money is the root of all evil, but all of us is aware of the necessity of having enough and how easy it is to get preoccupied by it. I'm learning (re-learning because I used to know this) that God provides for all our needs we just need to let go and let God. Faith is the key, though hard work and perseverance are not discounted.
So if you're in a tight spot, not enough bread coming into the coffers, and things are rough. Remember God knows how many hairs are on your head. He cares for the birds of the air and aren't we more than them?
God Bless you all.
Money is the root of all evil. Or that's what a lot of people say. But that saying is taken from the Bible and is quoted inaccurately. The Bible says "The love of money is the root of all evil." We are talking greed here. The desire for more and more money over and above what is needed on which to live. I cannot argue the fact that, in this day and time, we all need money to survive. Without it, we are homeless and starving. So we work for it. We do what we can to get enough to meet our needs and, I might add, plus some. Some may argue that having just enough money to meed your needs, that is, utility bills, food on the table, a roof over your head, gas for your car (though it could be argued that public transportation is there to replace the need for gas for your car). No provision is made (by some) for eating out once in while. Getting out of the house and the rut we all seem to find ourselves in. I maintain that money used for that purpose is nearly as important as the utility bills or mortgage, though you shouldn't sacrifice the necessities for a night out on the town, no matter how bad you need it. I guess what I'm saying is having money isn't evil and using it for your benefit and for the benefit of others is a good thing.
There are times (and Cathy and I seem to find ourselves in those times frequently) when you become preoccupied with money. These times are intensified when you don't get paid when you're supposed to and you caclulate it out and find out you're 7 weeks behind in getting paid. This kind of stuff wreaks havoc on just trying to pay the necessities. It is at these times when you HAVE to rely on God to provide for you. Believe me, I've begged and pleaded for the money to pay our bills and we don't always get the money in time to NOT be late on some of them. We've had the water turned off and then was charged $150 to get it turned back on. Power would be the same only the charge to get it turned back on would be around $300.
I'm not asking for anything I'm just trying to convey to you the idea that the love of money is the root of all evil, and yet there are times when, due to circumstances beyond out control, we are preoccupied with getting more money. You do what you can. You cut things that are not necessary, you talk to your creditors and explain to them what's going on, hoping for some compassion and leeway in getting them paid. One of the worst things is when you need to see a doctor, you have a high deductible that has to be met before the insurance company starts paying. Or when your car needs tires or service but, because of the inconsistant pay, you cannot take care of those things right away.
The love of money is the root of all evil, but all of us is aware of the necessity of having enough and how easy it is to get preoccupied by it. I'm learning (re-learning because I used to know this) that God provides for all our needs we just need to let go and let God. Faith is the key, though hard work and perseverance are not discounted.
So if you're in a tight spot, not enough bread coming into the coffers, and things are rough. Remember God knows how many hairs are on your head. He cares for the birds of the air and aren't we more than them?
God Bless you all.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Asking once or a lot?
There are times when life is difficult. Lately, it seems like it's been
difficult for years. The other day (okay it was probably a few months
ago, but who's counting) I prayed and asked God if we hadn't suffered
enough. I mean it has felt that there's just been one crisis after
another popping up. We'd get clear of something and the car would break
down and we would need to spend money that we could have used for
something else on getting it fixed. Then one car would be okay and the
other car would need something. Then my boss would be late with a
paycheck that would make us late on paying a bill. It's gotten so bad
that we feel like we are no longer living month to month or even
paycheck to paycheck but from turn off notice to turn off notice..
Well when I talked to God about these things, He brought to mind a few things I've been seeing on television. First let me say this, lately, it started months ago, though we have not attended church, I've been tuning in to some christian programming on television in the mornings after my shower. Lately that's been John Hagee at 6:30 in the morning on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He is pastor of a church in San Antonio. So, I've been getting fed daily, well at least during the week days, I've been getting fed. And He has brought to mind some of the things I've heard in the past. One of those things was that we should remind God of His promises
Any way, one of the promises I've seized upon is found in Matt 21:21-22
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
So, when I pray, I ask for forgiveness, I ask that my family be blessed and our houses and property is under His protection and I've started reminding God that His son said these things. So I've also been asking for God to bless my boss in his business that business would pick up and he would be able to catch up on our back pay and keep current and on time with our current pay. I ask every night, well not every night I admit that I don't pray every night, but I do pray often during the week, for those things and I wonder do you ask once and let it go or do you continually remind God? I mean faith is involved, but how often do you bring it up? Is it showing a lack of faith by asking every night? Does it show more faith by asking once and believing that's all it takes? Does asking often help increase your faith?
In Matthew 7:7-11 (also repeated in Luke 11:9-13)
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
What does the above passage mean? Does it mean only spiritual things?
Matt 18:19-20
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
. I guess it comes down to the question of how often do you ask? I know that if my children asked me constantly for something it would drive me crazy. I realize that God won't be driven crazy by continually asking Him for help frequently, but does it show a lack of faith by asking over and over? We have an expectation of what should happen and when it should happen, but I also realize that God moves in His own time and that He acts when it's the right time. Though it would be nice to KNOW the details or at least a general date when these things would be done.
So what do you think? I'm kind of thinking that asking once is the sure way to show faith, but when faith is not strong, asking more often would be the way to go, until God says it's going to happen, just relax and expect it.
Well when I talked to God about these things, He brought to mind a few things I've been seeing on television. First let me say this, lately, it started months ago, though we have not attended church, I've been tuning in to some christian programming on television in the mornings after my shower. Lately that's been John Hagee at 6:30 in the morning on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He is pastor of a church in San Antonio. So, I've been getting fed daily, well at least during the week days, I've been getting fed. And He has brought to mind some of the things I've heard in the past. One of those things was that we should remind God of His promises
Any way, one of the promises I've seized upon is found in Matt 21:21-22
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
So, when I pray, I ask for forgiveness, I ask that my family be blessed and our houses and property is under His protection and I've started reminding God that His son said these things. So I've also been asking for God to bless my boss in his business that business would pick up and he would be able to catch up on our back pay and keep current and on time with our current pay. I ask every night, well not every night I admit that I don't pray every night, but I do pray often during the week, for those things and I wonder do you ask once and let it go or do you continually remind God? I mean faith is involved, but how often do you bring it up? Is it showing a lack of faith by asking every night? Does it show more faith by asking once and believing that's all it takes? Does asking often help increase your faith?
In Matthew 7:7-11 (also repeated in Luke 11:9-13)
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
What does the above passage mean? Does it mean only spiritual things?
Matt 18:19-20
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
. I guess it comes down to the question of how often do you ask? I know that if my children asked me constantly for something it would drive me crazy. I realize that God won't be driven crazy by continually asking Him for help frequently, but does it show a lack of faith by asking over and over? We have an expectation of what should happen and when it should happen, but I also realize that God moves in His own time and that He acts when it's the right time. Though it would be nice to KNOW the details or at least a general date when these things would be done.
So what do you think? I'm kind of thinking that asking once is the sure way to show faith, but when faith is not strong, asking more often would be the way to go, until God says it's going to happen, just relax and expect it.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Thanking God
Well, here's an interesting opportunity to thank God.
My lovey wife took the car to work, the on that has the a/c still working in it. At about 1130 or so, I got a call from her and she said the car would not start. I could hear over the phone that it was cranking, but not turning over. My initial thought was "great, fuel pump of fuel filter or even the injectors were screwed up. I have AAA so she got a ride back to her place of business. I went up to see her and the car. Pretty much praying the whole time because we couldn't really afford for something to go wrong (there's been other automotive situations recently) so I prayed. So, when I got in the car I tried to start it and sure enough just cranking no turning over. I took my wife back to her office and then called AAA. It was now about 1245 and probably a goo 104 at least outside. Fortunately she had parked at a bank and I was able to wait inside after I called for a tow. About an hour later, the tow truck showed up and the driver asked what the car was doing, so I told him. He asked if I had an alarm on it, I replied in the affirmative. I told him my wife had parked the car, gone into the bank then when she returned, the car would not start. He asked for the key and said the key got erased. That if you put the key in the ignition and turn it to on, then leave it that way for 10 minutes, it would reprogram and the car should start.
HE WAS RIGHT! Sure enough the car started right up and I drove it home. When I got it home I turned it off, then tried to start it and it started right up again.
I had prayed that God would help us with the car, that we couldn't really afford something go to wrong with it. I reminded Him that His Son Jesus said "whatsoever you ask in my name, believing, you shall receive it". Please don't ask me where that verse is, I think it's in Matthew or Mark. Regardless, it cost me nothing, though if I had the cash for a tip, I would have given the AAA tow truck driver a nice tip.
So, here I am thanking GOD for fixing the car for us and it not costing us a dime. Just my time away from work and some of my wife's time away from work.
So praise God! He hears His children and fills their needs.
My lovey wife took the car to work, the on that has the a/c still working in it. At about 1130 or so, I got a call from her and she said the car would not start. I could hear over the phone that it was cranking, but not turning over. My initial thought was "great, fuel pump of fuel filter or even the injectors were screwed up. I have AAA so she got a ride back to her place of business. I went up to see her and the car. Pretty much praying the whole time because we couldn't really afford for something to go wrong (there's been other automotive situations recently) so I prayed. So, when I got in the car I tried to start it and sure enough just cranking no turning over. I took my wife back to her office and then called AAA. It was now about 1245 and probably a goo 104 at least outside. Fortunately she had parked at a bank and I was able to wait inside after I called for a tow. About an hour later, the tow truck showed up and the driver asked what the car was doing, so I told him. He asked if I had an alarm on it, I replied in the affirmative. I told him my wife had parked the car, gone into the bank then when she returned, the car would not start. He asked for the key and said the key got erased. That if you put the key in the ignition and turn it to on, then leave it that way for 10 minutes, it would reprogram and the car should start.
HE WAS RIGHT! Sure enough the car started right up and I drove it home. When I got it home I turned it off, then tried to start it and it started right up again.
I had prayed that God would help us with the car, that we couldn't really afford something go to wrong with it. I reminded Him that His Son Jesus said "whatsoever you ask in my name, believing, you shall receive it". Please don't ask me where that verse is, I think it's in Matthew or Mark. Regardless, it cost me nothing, though if I had the cash for a tip, I would have given the AAA tow truck driver a nice tip.
So, here I am thanking GOD for fixing the car for us and it not costing us a dime. Just my time away from work and some of my wife's time away from work.
So praise God! He hears His children and fills their needs.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
What do you do?
There have been some recent strife in my life. Depending on your point of view, it's not the worst thing that could happen, but then again it could maybe have been minimized had we all sat down and talked about things. We did try, but apparently some of the things said were disregarded later. Then things were said that were taken the wrong way and said the wrong way. Consequently the strife erupted Now, the parties involved are all on facebook and things get said that while are partly true, it's the things unsaid that could lead people to believe that all the blame for the strife belongs on a particular side.
I'm not one to air my dirty laundry on facebook. I think that is not the proper forum to discuss things with family members or friends. Email is better for that because it's private. I am trying to not say anything and cause more trouble. I hate strife especially when it is family related.
What I'd like to know is what do you do when there is family strife on-line? How do you handle your point of view and defend yourself when you feel the need to?
I suppose I could just respond here, but this isn't much better than facebook in that regard in that it's not private. On the other hand, I feel a strong urge to say something in response to a post or 2 by one of the offended parties in my family strife (I keep spelling "strife" without the "r" and having to go back to fix it). Should I just drop it and let the status fall off the wall or send an email asking the offended party in question to at least acknowledge both sides of the story?
Well, I'll let this set and maybe somebody will respond.
I hope that all of you who read this have a great and wonderful day.
I'm not one to air my dirty laundry on facebook. I think that is not the proper forum to discuss things with family members or friends. Email is better for that because it's private. I am trying to not say anything and cause more trouble. I hate strife especially when it is family related.
What I'd like to know is what do you do when there is family strife on-line? How do you handle your point of view and defend yourself when you feel the need to?
I suppose I could just respond here, but this isn't much better than facebook in that regard in that it's not private. On the other hand, I feel a strong urge to say something in response to a post or 2 by one of the offended parties in my family strife (I keep spelling "strife" without the "r" and having to go back to fix it). Should I just drop it and let the status fall off the wall or send an email asking the offended party in question to at least acknowledge both sides of the story?
Well, I'll let this set and maybe somebody will respond.
I hope that all of you who read this have a great and wonderful day.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Clean or unclean?
Okay this question is for those of you who read this and are of a religious bend. I understand in the Old Testament, under the Law that God handed to Moses and the Jewish people were to follow, pigs were unclean so eating them was forbidden as is the animals you get from the sea that don't have fins and scales so shrimp and catfish and other obvious sea creatures without scales or without fins or without both.
My question is, when did God make these things clean? I recall a quote, though I don't know the reference where Paul says something about "What God has made clean, how can it be unclean?" That is not the actual and real quote but I think you understand the meaning. Did God make all things clean when Jesus died for our sins?
The reason I've asked this is I've been watching a channel in the morning that provides a daily Bible study and one of the things mentioned was that pork and catfish and shrimp are unclean and should not be eaten even by Christians. There are a couple other issues I have with the teachings, but I'd say 95% of what he is teaching is correct and good, I just have questions regarding that 5%.
You KNOW you can post a message in response to this and I hope somebody does (I bet I know one person who will post).
My question is, when did God make these things clean? I recall a quote, though I don't know the reference where Paul says something about "What God has made clean, how can it be unclean?" That is not the actual and real quote but I think you understand the meaning. Did God make all things clean when Jesus died for our sins?
The reason I've asked this is I've been watching a channel in the morning that provides a daily Bible study and one of the things mentioned was that pork and catfish and shrimp are unclean and should not be eaten even by Christians. There are a couple other issues I have with the teachings, but I'd say 95% of what he is teaching is correct and good, I just have questions regarding that 5%.
You KNOW you can post a message in response to this and I hope somebody does (I bet I know one person who will post).
Friday, November 08, 2013
Are you one?
Drama Queen as defined in the online Urban Dictionary
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=drama%20queen
"an overly dramatic person" That seems a rather simple definition. Somebody who blows things out of proportion. There must be a purpose to drama queens. I mean they exist everywhere. Most of us don't like the drama that comes from those drama queens. By the way, a drama queen can be male or female so just because it says "queen" don't feel like you're immune guys. The thing about drama queens is that you can't take them seriously. You have to take them with a grain (maybe pound) of salt. When they say something outrageous or post something on social media that is just absurd you have a couple choices. You can ignore it and move on or you can react to it and blow a gasket (thinking of changing my name to gasket, oops, sorry for that one it just slipped out). Personally I choose to ignore those social media postings from the drama queens I know. Some drama queens know they are one, but I don't think it's easy to turn off even if you're aware of the fact that you are one.
The one thing I ask for from those of you who KNOW you're a drama queen is restraint. When dealing with me and my family and my house and such, please DO NOT post your drama. That's what I mean by restraint. You may certainly post anything you want to post, I am just asking that you withhold the drama when it's involving me, my family, my house, cars or anything else that concerns me.
Anyway, I wanted to get that off my chest. Y'all have a wonderful day.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=drama%20queen
"an overly dramatic person" That seems a rather simple definition. Somebody who blows things out of proportion. There must be a purpose to drama queens. I mean they exist everywhere. Most of us don't like the drama that comes from those drama queens. By the way, a drama queen can be male or female so just because it says "queen" don't feel like you're immune guys. The thing about drama queens is that you can't take them seriously. You have to take them with a grain (maybe pound) of salt. When they say something outrageous or post something on social media that is just absurd you have a couple choices. You can ignore it and move on or you can react to it and blow a gasket (thinking of changing my name to gasket, oops, sorry for that one it just slipped out). Personally I choose to ignore those social media postings from the drama queens I know. Some drama queens know they are one, but I don't think it's easy to turn off even if you're aware of the fact that you are one.
The one thing I ask for from those of you who KNOW you're a drama queen is restraint. When dealing with me and my family and my house and such, please DO NOT post your drama. That's what I mean by restraint. You may certainly post anything you want to post, I am just asking that you withhold the drama when it's involving me, my family, my house, cars or anything else that concerns me.
Anyway, I wanted to get that off my chest. Y'all have a wonderful day.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
The Blame Game..
Today, October1, 2013, the U. S. Government is on a limited shutdown.
I think it takes a man and character to accept responsibility for his own actions. President Truman had a sign on his desk that said "The Buck Stops Here" because he knew that ultimately he was responsible for what the government did. This president seems to think that "The Buck Passes By Here". He has accepted no responsibility for anything his administration has done. Instead he plays the blame game by blaming the previous administration or republicans. Following his previous tact, he gets on the radio and tv and blamed the republicans, specifically the Tea Party Republicans in the House of Representatives for the government shutdown.
So whose fault is it? Spending bills are supposed to originate in the House. So the House passes a spending bill that de-funds the Affordable Healthcare Act. The Senate passes the bill without the amentment on defunding the Act and it goes back to the House. The House inserts an amendment that delays the implementation of the Health Care Exchanges for one year. The Senate sat on it for a while and rejected it. Both instances, the President said he would veto the bill. So the House passes a bill that it KNOWS the Senate would reject. The Senate rejects the bill KNOWING that the House will try again, but offers no compromise. The President just talks. The President offers no compromises. He's allowed the businesses to delay their implementation until 2014 or 2015, so what's the problem with delaying the exchanges for one more year. Maybe it'd give it enough time for bugs to be worked out. Okay there's the argument that by delaying it, it would keep people who really need the coverage to be another year without it. There has to be a compromise that can be reached that everybody hates but it would be something. It would show that both parties can work together to do the will of their constituents. I heard that from 58% to 70% of the people in this country do NOT want Obamacare). If those figures are correct, then who is doing the will of the people?
I just lose respect for people who, while being part of the problem take no responsibility for their part in the situation. And that's regardless of who they are. I have respect for the Office of the President, but sometimes I have no respect for the man in the office.
I'm not sure that the above makes a lot of sense, but there it is.
***UPDATE October 2, 2013***
Apparently one of the provisions in the bill sent from the House to the Senate on September 30 was to force BOTH houses of Congress to abide by the Affordable Care Act. Meaning they (Congress and it's staff) could not get waivers to opt OUT of ObamaCare. The Senate rejected the bill again.
I thought that was interesting enough to add to this post.
I think it takes a man and character to accept responsibility for his own actions. President Truman had a sign on his desk that said "The Buck Stops Here" because he knew that ultimately he was responsible for what the government did. This president seems to think that "The Buck Passes By Here". He has accepted no responsibility for anything his administration has done. Instead he plays the blame game by blaming the previous administration or republicans. Following his previous tact, he gets on the radio and tv and blamed the republicans, specifically the Tea Party Republicans in the House of Representatives for the government shutdown.
So whose fault is it? Spending bills are supposed to originate in the House. So the House passes a spending bill that de-funds the Affordable Healthcare Act. The Senate passes the bill without the amentment on defunding the Act and it goes back to the House. The House inserts an amendment that delays the implementation of the Health Care Exchanges for one year. The Senate sat on it for a while and rejected it. Both instances, the President said he would veto the bill. So the House passes a bill that it KNOWS the Senate would reject. The Senate rejects the bill KNOWING that the House will try again, but offers no compromise. The President just talks. The President offers no compromises. He's allowed the businesses to delay their implementation until 2014 or 2015, so what's the problem with delaying the exchanges for one more year. Maybe it'd give it enough time for bugs to be worked out. Okay there's the argument that by delaying it, it would keep people who really need the coverage to be another year without it. There has to be a compromise that can be reached that everybody hates but it would be something. It would show that both parties can work together to do the will of their constituents. I heard that from 58% to 70% of the people in this country do NOT want Obamacare). If those figures are correct, then who is doing the will of the people?
I just lose respect for people who, while being part of the problem take no responsibility for their part in the situation. And that's regardless of who they are. I have respect for the Office of the President, but sometimes I have no respect for the man in the office.
I'm not sure that the above makes a lot of sense, but there it is.
***UPDATE October 2, 2013***
Apparently one of the provisions in the bill sent from the House to the Senate on September 30 was to force BOTH houses of Congress to abide by the Affordable Care Act. Meaning they (Congress and it's staff) could not get waivers to opt OUT of ObamaCare. The Senate rejected the bill again.
I thought that was interesting enough to add to this post.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
He had a dream...We should all have that same dream
On August 28, 1963, I was 5 years old. While I was old enough, I don't recall watching or hearing Dr. King's speech. Today, I went to youtube and viewed and listened to the speech. Here it is (the link anyway)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs
I am not qualified to say much about this speech. I will say this. Dr. King was a man for all people in this country. Not just the African-Americans, but whites and Asians and Hispanic and all people in this country. I believe that while there is still racism in this country, it's not something that condoned by the government as it was 50 years ago.
Enjoy the video.
You cannot click that link (apparently) so copy and paste the link and you will be taken to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs
I am not qualified to say much about this speech. I will say this. Dr. King was a man for all people in this country. Not just the African-Americans, but whites and Asians and Hispanic and all people in this country. I believe that while there is still racism in this country, it's not something that condoned by the government as it was 50 years ago.
Enjoy the video.
You cannot click that link (apparently) so copy and paste the link and you will be taken to the video.
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Okay I understand ...
I may get some static for this posting, but you have to look at the logic behind it.
I understand that some people are wired as homosexual. It's beyond their control because that's how they are wired. But I have to question whether or not it's natural. I am NOT calling it a disease and I am NOT saying that homosexuals can be "healed". I'm only saying that it's not a natural state for humans. Humans can only reproduce through heterosexual intercourse. 2 men cannot reproduce and 2 women cannot reproduce. If being homosexual was a natural state then both genders would be able to reproduce. Although, the thought just occurred to me, perhaps the number of homosexuals is rising because the population of the Earth is reaching a tipping point. If the homosexuals do not reproduce that means there could be fewer people being born on this planet thus easing or at least slowing down the potential over population of the world.
I realize also that what is normal for me may not be normal for others. But you can't really argue with the reproductive system of humans. It takes both genders to reproduce. Yes I know, science has evolved enough to either artificially inseminate a woman and 2 men can adopt a child. But it still takes a sperm and an egg to make a human regardless of the sexual orientation of the humans in question.
By the way, God does NOT hate gays. He called 2 men lying together like a man and a woman an abomination, not the people involved. He loves the sinner, hates the sin and that applies to EVERY SIN AND SINNER and we are all sinners so I don't want you all to think I'm singling out anybody in particular. God loves me but not some of the things I've done. He loves the murderer, but not what the murderer has done. You get my drift.
Of course saying everything I've said, I think that the government needs to recognize same sex couples the same way they recognize different sex couples. It is against the Constitution of the United States to not apply the laws equally to all people (see the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States). That's where I stand on that (as if you couldn't tell from earlier posts).
If you're going to comment, please be nice, respectful and gentle. It is not may aim to enrage, but to discuss.
I understand that some people are wired as homosexual. It's beyond their control because that's how they are wired. But I have to question whether or not it's natural. I am NOT calling it a disease and I am NOT saying that homosexuals can be "healed". I'm only saying that it's not a natural state for humans. Humans can only reproduce through heterosexual intercourse. 2 men cannot reproduce and 2 women cannot reproduce. If being homosexual was a natural state then both genders would be able to reproduce. Although, the thought just occurred to me, perhaps the number of homosexuals is rising because the population of the Earth is reaching a tipping point. If the homosexuals do not reproduce that means there could be fewer people being born on this planet thus easing or at least slowing down the potential over population of the world.
I realize also that what is normal for me may not be normal for others. But you can't really argue with the reproductive system of humans. It takes both genders to reproduce. Yes I know, science has evolved enough to either artificially inseminate a woman and 2 men can adopt a child. But it still takes a sperm and an egg to make a human regardless of the sexual orientation of the humans in question.
By the way, God does NOT hate gays. He called 2 men lying together like a man and a woman an abomination, not the people involved. He loves the sinner, hates the sin and that applies to EVERY SIN AND SINNER and we are all sinners so I don't want you all to think I'm singling out anybody in particular. God loves me but not some of the things I've done. He loves the murderer, but not what the murderer has done. You get my drift.
Of course saying everything I've said, I think that the government needs to recognize same sex couples the same way they recognize different sex couples. It is against the Constitution of the United States to not apply the laws equally to all people (see the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States). That's where I stand on that (as if you couldn't tell from earlier posts).
If you're going to comment, please be nice, respectful and gentle. It is not may aim to enrage, but to discuss.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Something that may be controversial...
But please everybody be civil and no hate responses.
Some of you may think I'm a heretic, but the question of gay marriage has 2 aspects to it. One aspect is the religious aspect that being gay is an abomination. I believe that the actual abomination is the sexual act of a man lying down with a man in the same manner as a man with a woman (look at Lev 20:13), but if you follow that law then you must kill the 2 men who laid together as a man would with a woman. Oh and you should kill adulterers. Leviticus, which is often quoted in the argument that being gay is a sin, states that many of the sexual acts that occur today are punishable by death. So the rightness or wrongness of being gay or lesbian or whatever is a religious issue and as we all know, the government may make no law regarding the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof (first amendment to the Constitution of the United States).
While you may disapprove of gay marriage on religious grounds, can you separate the argument from the legal aspect of the argument? Because the Supreme court basically said, it's up to the people not the federal government and that the Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against a set of people in the land. If you look at it legally, the couples want the same rights that other couples get when they pay their taxes or dealing with estates or government benefits. If you're against same sex marriage, then you are saying (intentionally or unintentionally) that they don't have and shouldn't have the same rights as straight people. Under DOMA those rights were kept from them. Basically the Supreme Court said that congress over stepped it's bounds by treating one group of citizens differently than others and under the 14th amendment, all laws are to be applied equally to all people (unless you're a member of congress or the senate - that's just my 2 cents there). The supreme court did leave it up to the states and the people of those states to either have or have not same sex marriage.
One of the arguments made regarding the banning of same sex marriage is that it will undermine traditional marriage and traditional families. I'd like to see that argument.
Now the Paula Dean thing. I only have one thing to say "Let he (or she) who is without sin cast the first stone." Kind of funny that that's what she said on the Today show this morning (this morning being the morning of June 26, 2013).
Here's my disclaimer:
I don't condone the use of the N word nor do I necessarily condone the telling of sexist or racist jokes.
Some of you may think I'm a heretic, but the question of gay marriage has 2 aspects to it. One aspect is the religious aspect that being gay is an abomination. I believe that the actual abomination is the sexual act of a man lying down with a man in the same manner as a man with a woman (look at Lev 20:13), but if you follow that law then you must kill the 2 men who laid together as a man would with a woman. Oh and you should kill adulterers. Leviticus, which is often quoted in the argument that being gay is a sin, states that many of the sexual acts that occur today are punishable by death. So the rightness or wrongness of being gay or lesbian or whatever is a religious issue and as we all know, the government may make no law regarding the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof (first amendment to the Constitution of the United States).
While you may disapprove of gay marriage on religious grounds, can you separate the argument from the legal aspect of the argument? Because the Supreme court basically said, it's up to the people not the federal government and that the Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against a set of people in the land. If you look at it legally, the couples want the same rights that other couples get when they pay their taxes or dealing with estates or government benefits. If you're against same sex marriage, then you are saying (intentionally or unintentionally) that they don't have and shouldn't have the same rights as straight people. Under DOMA those rights were kept from them. Basically the Supreme Court said that congress over stepped it's bounds by treating one group of citizens differently than others and under the 14th amendment, all laws are to be applied equally to all people (unless you're a member of congress or the senate - that's just my 2 cents there). The supreme court did leave it up to the states and the people of those states to either have or have not same sex marriage.
One of the arguments made regarding the banning of same sex marriage is that it will undermine traditional marriage and traditional families. I'd like to see that argument.
Now the Paula Dean thing. I only have one thing to say "Let he (or she) who is without sin cast the first stone." Kind of funny that that's what she said on the Today show this morning (this morning being the morning of June 26, 2013).
Here's my disclaimer:
I don't condone the use of the N word nor do I necessarily condone the telling of sexist or racist jokes.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
It was quite a trip.
As some of you may know and most of you don't know and probably all of you could not care less, I went on a weeks vacation to visit my daughter Holly in Boston. The time I spent there was very nice. The weather was a bit on the wet side for the first 4 days or so, but it cleared up nicely for a jaunt through Boston on Thursday with some of that time spent among dead people and some of that time in a park where they used to hang witches. I did not actually see the hanging tree, but I was assured that it was there.We spent a good amount of time looking at the sights. Here's a picture of something that we don't see much of here in Phoenix, well I don't see much of it, if you water your lawn you may see some of it.
If my memory serves me correctly, that's clover. And look here's a huge shade tree. Okay, maybe not, it was coming out sideways and trust me, the tree was not sideways.
Anyway, we had a good time together. It was good to see Holly and meet all her roommates, who seem to be very nice people. It was good to meet Angie, who was kind enough to drive us anywhere we wanted to go. And Jason, who I got to meet. He seems to be a nice young man. And, of course Chris. I enjoyed spending time with Holly and Chris, both of whom seem to have a peculiarly strange sense of humor. I have no idea where Holly gets it, maybe she gets it from Chris? Could be. Chris is a nice guy who knows what he wants and is on the track to getting those things. I just hope I was not a burden to them with all my whining and my demands on their time.
Now, the visit there was very VERY nice. It was relaxing and, dare I say fun? The trip there and back was an adventure unto itself. When I had decided to buy the tickets to go to Boston, I made the decision that I did not want to have to worry about making connecting flights. While the trip there and back were not non-stop, I had made it so I did not have to change planes. Or that's what I thought anyway. On my way to Boston on the 8th of June, the first leg of the journey was Phoenix to Denver. The flight was uneventful from the aspect of the passengers, but apparently those who were in charge of flying this death trap, I mean airplane had a different view than we did. It really was NOT a death trap, sometimes I embellish things so you have to understand that "death trap" is merely and embellishment of the plane. Though under the wrong circumstances, it could be called a death trap after all you're thousands of feet in the air with nothing below you except the cargo hold. But I digress. Oh yeah, I wanted to start a magazine for those whose minds tend to stray called "I Digress", but my mind wandered and I haven't done that yet. Oh yeah my trip to Denver, rather to Boston via Denver. When we landed we were told that we needed to take our belongings and get off the plane as there were "mechanical difficulties". Such a broad statement. Does that mean we were about to lose our cargo hold (the only thing saving us from a firey plunge to the hard ground below us) or was a windshield wiper not functioning correctly? Personally I vote for the wipers. Any way, we left the plane and were told it should be 3 pm when we can get back on board and continue the flight of fancy to Boston. This was at 11 am so we had a nice 4 hour delay in Denver where you could walk around an see the sights inside the Denver airport. I was truly astounded at the lack of eateries in the area where our gate was. I believe there were 2 places you could get something to eat and one coffee shop and a store to buy Denver stuff. We were expected to land in Boston at something like 530 local time, but it turned out to be 930. It was a long flight and I believe I spent 12 hours in the airports or airplane that day. Surely the trip back would be different. And it was.
Leaving Boston was an adventure. The plane was due to take off at 530 pm and I would arrive in Phoenix at 930 pm with a brief stop in Chicago to boot passengers off and allow new ones on. We got on the plane and got pushed back from the gate about 10 minutes late. Eh, that's fine, what's 10 minutes, that can be easily made up in the air. We started taxing (taxiing?) to the runway and it started to rain. Now I had seen lightning flash while still in the terminal, but planes can fly in the rain (otherwise how would anybody ever get to Seattle?) While we were out there waiting for our turn to turn on the jets and take flight like a long metal tube just flung into the air, it started to hail. I could hear it, but I didn't see how big it was. We were ordered BACK to the gate to have the plane checked for damage. I called Holly and informed her that I was indeed, in Boston. We were informed that 3 other planes needed to be checked, but our plane was first in line and that it would be about an hour. Over all, we departed Boston about 3 hours late. Too bad for those making connecting flights in Chicago, but I was already on mine. At least I didn't have to worry about missing my plane. We got to Chicago without incident and kicked off many people and brought on many more. We took off in a timely fashion and sailed our way to Phoenix. When we got here, we spent a good 30 minutes waiting for the plane that had rudely taken our gate to move it shiny metal ass out of the way so we could move in. So after spending another 12 hours in airports or airplanes yesterday (June 17) I finally made it home around 130 this morning.
While the visit with Holly and her gang was a pleasant experience, out of the 10 days I was away from home, one of those days (24 hours roughly) was spent in the confines of an airplane or the airport. Makes me wonder if perhaps driving would be better.
If my memory serves me correctly, that's clover. And look here's a huge shade tree. Okay, maybe not, it was coming out sideways and trust me, the tree was not sideways.
Anyway, we had a good time together. It was good to see Holly and meet all her roommates, who seem to be very nice people. It was good to meet Angie, who was kind enough to drive us anywhere we wanted to go. And Jason, who I got to meet. He seems to be a nice young man. And, of course Chris. I enjoyed spending time with Holly and Chris, both of whom seem to have a peculiarly strange sense of humor. I have no idea where Holly gets it, maybe she gets it from Chris? Could be. Chris is a nice guy who knows what he wants and is on the track to getting those things. I just hope I was not a burden to them with all my whining and my demands on their time.
Now, the visit there was very VERY nice. It was relaxing and, dare I say fun? The trip there and back was an adventure unto itself. When I had decided to buy the tickets to go to Boston, I made the decision that I did not want to have to worry about making connecting flights. While the trip there and back were not non-stop, I had made it so I did not have to change planes. Or that's what I thought anyway. On my way to Boston on the 8th of June, the first leg of the journey was Phoenix to Denver. The flight was uneventful from the aspect of the passengers, but apparently those who were in charge of flying this death trap, I mean airplane had a different view than we did. It really was NOT a death trap, sometimes I embellish things so you have to understand that "death trap" is merely and embellishment of the plane. Though under the wrong circumstances, it could be called a death trap after all you're thousands of feet in the air with nothing below you except the cargo hold. But I digress. Oh yeah, I wanted to start a magazine for those whose minds tend to stray called "I Digress", but my mind wandered and I haven't done that yet. Oh yeah my trip to Denver, rather to Boston via Denver. When we landed we were told that we needed to take our belongings and get off the plane as there were "mechanical difficulties". Such a broad statement. Does that mean we were about to lose our cargo hold (the only thing saving us from a firey plunge to the hard ground below us) or was a windshield wiper not functioning correctly? Personally I vote for the wipers. Any way, we left the plane and were told it should be 3 pm when we can get back on board and continue the flight of fancy to Boston. This was at 11 am so we had a nice 4 hour delay in Denver where you could walk around an see the sights inside the Denver airport. I was truly astounded at the lack of eateries in the area where our gate was. I believe there were 2 places you could get something to eat and one coffee shop and a store to buy Denver stuff. We were expected to land in Boston at something like 530 local time, but it turned out to be 930. It was a long flight and I believe I spent 12 hours in the airports or airplane that day. Surely the trip back would be different. And it was.
Leaving Boston was an adventure. The plane was due to take off at 530 pm and I would arrive in Phoenix at 930 pm with a brief stop in Chicago to boot passengers off and allow new ones on. We got on the plane and got pushed back from the gate about 10 minutes late. Eh, that's fine, what's 10 minutes, that can be easily made up in the air. We started taxing (taxiing?) to the runway and it started to rain. Now I had seen lightning flash while still in the terminal, but planes can fly in the rain (otherwise how would anybody ever get to Seattle?) While we were out there waiting for our turn to turn on the jets and take flight like a long metal tube just flung into the air, it started to hail. I could hear it, but I didn't see how big it was. We were ordered BACK to the gate to have the plane checked for damage. I called Holly and informed her that I was indeed, in Boston. We were informed that 3 other planes needed to be checked, but our plane was first in line and that it would be about an hour. Over all, we departed Boston about 3 hours late. Too bad for those making connecting flights in Chicago, but I was already on mine. At least I didn't have to worry about missing my plane. We got to Chicago without incident and kicked off many people and brought on many more. We took off in a timely fashion and sailed our way to Phoenix. When we got here, we spent a good 30 minutes waiting for the plane that had rudely taken our gate to move it shiny metal ass out of the way so we could move in. So after spending another 12 hours in airports or airplanes yesterday (June 17) I finally made it home around 130 this morning.
While the visit with Holly and her gang was a pleasant experience, out of the 10 days I was away from home, one of those days (24 hours roughly) was spent in the confines of an airplane or the airport. Makes me wonder if perhaps driving would be better.
Monday, April 15, 2013
A couple things I'd like to see in baseball broadcasts
I like watching baseball especially if it includes my home team the Arizona Diamondbacks. While watching the games this past weekend, I had a couple thoughts that would make viewing a baseball game on television a little more interesting.
1. Put a camera on the heads of all the umpires. The calls at each of the bases and the strikes and balls would be interesting to see what the umpire saw when he made the call. Wouldn't it be cool to see a close play at the plate from the eyes of the home plate umpire? I think it would be cool
2. Apparently even though the strike zone goes from the knees to the chest and is the width of the plate, it is not a static thing. It varies by umpire and sometimes by pitch. The other day there was a strike call on a pitch that was clearly outside. It was off the plate by a foot, yet it was called a strike. A strike zone that is fluid confounds the pitcher and the hitter. At least if you're not going to stick to the traditional strike zone, be consistent about the calls. So what I'd like to see, is in the broadcast of the game when they show the balls and strikes with the strike zone thing. You know what I'm talking about come one help me out here lol. I'd like to see two strike zones shown. I'd like to see the strike zone according to the rule book and the strike zone as called by the umpire. I think that would be a cool thing to see too.
That's the 2 things I'd like to see, both would be interesting
1. Put a camera on the heads of all the umpires. The calls at each of the bases and the strikes and balls would be interesting to see what the umpire saw when he made the call. Wouldn't it be cool to see a close play at the plate from the eyes of the home plate umpire? I think it would be cool
2. Apparently even though the strike zone goes from the knees to the chest and is the width of the plate, it is not a static thing. It varies by umpire and sometimes by pitch. The other day there was a strike call on a pitch that was clearly outside. It was off the plate by a foot, yet it was called a strike. A strike zone that is fluid confounds the pitcher and the hitter. At least if you're not going to stick to the traditional strike zone, be consistent about the calls. So what I'd like to see, is in the broadcast of the game when they show the balls and strikes with the strike zone thing. You know what I'm talking about come one help me out here lol. I'd like to see two strike zones shown. I'd like to see the strike zone according to the rule book and the strike zone as called by the umpire. I think that would be a cool thing to see too.
That's the 2 things I'd like to see, both would be interesting
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Fairness in Life
Often, after seeing some unjustified event occur or something that just doesn't seem to correlate to things you've done (like being nice to somebody and something bad happening to you as a result) we say "that's not fair!"
Well, my favorite saying is Fair is where pigs to to win ribbons. Life is not fair. Life is what you make it, but keep in mind that there are times when the result of an action does not necessarily reflect the type of action involved. What do we do about it? Well we move on. We try to remain positive and look for the silver lining. And even though life is not fair, if we keep ourselves in a positive frame of mind, we can overcome that and live a life that's free if anger bitterness and wrath.
Remember in some of my other posts, I've said (rather it's said in The Secret) that like attracts like. If you look at life and think about the unfairness of it and dwell on it, you'll find that it is more often not fair. I therefore urge you to look at that unfairness and say to yourself and think to yourself that Life is good and it's getting better, then I find that life does get better. Life may still be unfair, but at least you can move on and still have a great life.
Seems kind of um disconnected perhaps, but hey I worked in stuff from The Secret. I've got other stuff I want to post from that book and I will in a bit, just not today (well probably not today)
Anyway, life isn't fair, but you can make it a good one nonetheless, keep focusing on things being better than they were, keep your mind focused on the positive.
Einstein thought that all time is happening now. That is the past, present and future is occurring right now. I find that rather interesting because it could mean that to see what the future holds is a matter of peering into that particular area of time (don't ask me how to do that, I don't know), likewise to view the past you need to do the same thing. Here's an interesting thought if you ask for something and believe that you receive it then the idea that all things in time are happening now would mean that what you asked for is yours NOW. What you asked for is in your hands now because past, present and future are happening now.
Just a thought and a veering away from the thoughts at the beginning. Should I even post this? Oh well, I'm going to anyway.
Well, my favorite saying is Fair is where pigs to to win ribbons. Life is not fair. Life is what you make it, but keep in mind that there are times when the result of an action does not necessarily reflect the type of action involved. What do we do about it? Well we move on. We try to remain positive and look for the silver lining. And even though life is not fair, if we keep ourselves in a positive frame of mind, we can overcome that and live a life that's free if anger bitterness and wrath.
Remember in some of my other posts, I've said (rather it's said in The Secret) that like attracts like. If you look at life and think about the unfairness of it and dwell on it, you'll find that it is more often not fair. I therefore urge you to look at that unfairness and say to yourself and think to yourself that Life is good and it's getting better, then I find that life does get better. Life may still be unfair, but at least you can move on and still have a great life.
Seems kind of um disconnected perhaps, but hey I worked in stuff from The Secret. I've got other stuff I want to post from that book and I will in a bit, just not today (well probably not today)
Anyway, life isn't fair, but you can make it a good one nonetheless, keep focusing on things being better than they were, keep your mind focused on the positive.
Einstein thought that all time is happening now. That is the past, present and future is occurring right now. I find that rather interesting because it could mean that to see what the future holds is a matter of peering into that particular area of time (don't ask me how to do that, I don't know), likewise to view the past you need to do the same thing. Here's an interesting thought if you ask for something and believe that you receive it then the idea that all things in time are happening now would mean that what you asked for is yours NOW. What you asked for is in your hands now because past, present and future are happening now.
Just a thought and a veering away from the thoughts at the beginning. Should I even post this? Oh well, I'm going to anyway.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Regardless of your feelings...
In the are of the same sex marriage issue.
The issue before the Supreme Court is whether the California law Proposition 8 is legal. In that can the people of California, or any other state for that matter, change or make marriage laws. The other thing the court is going to hear is whether or not the Defense of Marriage Act is legal or not.
Personally, I don't think anybody, individual or governmental, has the right to tell anybody they cannot get married. It should be a union between people. Please note that we are all people. We are made of the same stuff. We bleed red when we're cut regardless of our skin color, religious beliefs, gender or anything else. I've said it before, the government should have not say in marriage. If 2 men or 2 women want to get married, why not? I know some of you are going to say, "God forbids homosexuality", I think the wording bans sodomy. I think the Old Testament bans men lying with men and women with women. Though Jesus said "I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it" Meaning He came to be the ultimate sacrifice for all sinners. Many preachers tell us that we don't live under the dispensation of the law, but the dispensation of grace. Jesus was tolerant. Did He stone the prostitute? Did He shun the lepers? Did He hate the tax collectors? No, the only time Jesus, pardon the wording, but I think it fits well enough, threw a fit was when the money changers were in the temple grounds selling sacrificial animals and, probably, gouging those who needed them.
I said all that basically to say, it's none of my business if gays and lesbians want to get married. If the government has to be involved, then let the States figure it out. By the way, recent polls that have come out say that more than 50% of the people polled are okay with gay marriage. I know, I know that doesn't make it right. But tell me how would gay marriage destroy or harm society?
I think the Supreme Court should rule that a state should have the right to determine who gets married and the Federal Government should keep their nose out of it, thereby ruling that proposition 8 is okay, but the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.
Live long and prosper y'all (A Vulcan from the southern part of the planet Vulcan)
The issue before the Supreme Court is whether the California law Proposition 8 is legal. In that can the people of California, or any other state for that matter, change or make marriage laws. The other thing the court is going to hear is whether or not the Defense of Marriage Act is legal or not.
Personally, I don't think anybody, individual or governmental, has the right to tell anybody they cannot get married. It should be a union between people. Please note that we are all people. We are made of the same stuff. We bleed red when we're cut regardless of our skin color, religious beliefs, gender or anything else. I've said it before, the government should have not say in marriage. If 2 men or 2 women want to get married, why not? I know some of you are going to say, "God forbids homosexuality", I think the wording bans sodomy. I think the Old Testament bans men lying with men and women with women. Though Jesus said "I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it" Meaning He came to be the ultimate sacrifice for all sinners. Many preachers tell us that we don't live under the dispensation of the law, but the dispensation of grace. Jesus was tolerant. Did He stone the prostitute? Did He shun the lepers? Did He hate the tax collectors? No, the only time Jesus, pardon the wording, but I think it fits well enough, threw a fit was when the money changers were in the temple grounds selling sacrificial animals and, probably, gouging those who needed them.
I said all that basically to say, it's none of my business if gays and lesbians want to get married. If the government has to be involved, then let the States figure it out. By the way, recent polls that have come out say that more than 50% of the people polled are okay with gay marriage. I know, I know that doesn't make it right. But tell me how would gay marriage destroy or harm society?
I think the Supreme Court should rule that a state should have the right to determine who gets married and the Federal Government should keep their nose out of it, thereby ruling that proposition 8 is okay, but the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.
Live long and prosper y'all (A Vulcan from the southern part of the planet Vulcan)
Friday, March 22, 2013
Spring is here
Well, spring is here. It got here quietly here in Arizona. It was heralded with warm weather (mid to upper 80s) and clear skies (skys?).
Spring is a time of renewal and hope. It's when the plants wake up from their winter nap and blossom and bud and shoot pollen into the air so we can all partake of their fragrances (and sneeze our heads off and spend hundreds of dollars on allergy medicine). Around here it's time for the rattlesnakes and spiders and scorpions to wake up and stretch their legs (well except for the snakes, they don't have legs, but then you knew that didn't you). We live in a well populated part of the city so the scorpions and rattlesnakes I don't worry about. We have lizards in the back yard and they take care of other little critters (insects and such). It's also a time when the weather gets "nice". Around here that means it's a week or 2 of 80s then straight up to 90s and doesn't stop until it's over 110 during the summer.
Most importantly, even more so than the plants and animals and the weather is the baseball season. That's right baseball. By the way congratulations to the Dominican Republic for winning the World Baseball Classic. They went undefeated if I heard correctly. Baseball. I don't care what anybody says, it's America's pasttime. It's a time when all the teams are even and everybody from the Yankees and Giants down to the D'backs and Astros have hopes and their sites set on winning the World Series. On April 1st all the teams will have the same chance to win. The fans all believe their team WILL win. Baseball season is a time when we can partially divert our attention from the bad news that's going on and check the box scores to see how our team did. Why else was it important for baseball to go on during World War II? The events of 911 did not stop the season, but merely delayed things for a week or so. Why? Because we need the distraction. We need the time to take our brains out and just watch men try to hit a little ball that's thrown upwards to over 100 mph and try to hit it with a stick. We revel in it. We cheer each win and feel down with each loss.
I like spring. It's the best time for the weather and it's the best time for baseball. I hope each and every one of you have a team you can root for and spend at least a few minutes every day for the next 6 months away from the cares of the world and enjoy a good game.
Spring is a time of renewal and hope. It's when the plants wake up from their winter nap and blossom and bud and shoot pollen into the air so we can all partake of their fragrances (and sneeze our heads off and spend hundreds of dollars on allergy medicine). Around here it's time for the rattlesnakes and spiders and scorpions to wake up and stretch their legs (well except for the snakes, they don't have legs, but then you knew that didn't you). We live in a well populated part of the city so the scorpions and rattlesnakes I don't worry about. We have lizards in the back yard and they take care of other little critters (insects and such). It's also a time when the weather gets "nice". Around here that means it's a week or 2 of 80s then straight up to 90s and doesn't stop until it's over 110 during the summer.
Most importantly, even more so than the plants and animals and the weather is the baseball season. That's right baseball. By the way congratulations to the Dominican Republic for winning the World Baseball Classic. They went undefeated if I heard correctly. Baseball. I don't care what anybody says, it's America's pasttime. It's a time when all the teams are even and everybody from the Yankees and Giants down to the D'backs and Astros have hopes and their sites set on winning the World Series. On April 1st all the teams will have the same chance to win. The fans all believe their team WILL win. Baseball season is a time when we can partially divert our attention from the bad news that's going on and check the box scores to see how our team did. Why else was it important for baseball to go on during World War II? The events of 911 did not stop the season, but merely delayed things for a week or so. Why? Because we need the distraction. We need the time to take our brains out and just watch men try to hit a little ball that's thrown upwards to over 100 mph and try to hit it with a stick. We revel in it. We cheer each win and feel down with each loss.
I like spring. It's the best time for the weather and it's the best time for baseball. I hope each and every one of you have a team you can root for and spend at least a few minutes every day for the next 6 months away from the cares of the world and enjoy a good game.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Asking and believing
How many of you who have children have had your children ask you over and over and over and over for the same thing? Does that get as irritating to you as it does to me?
The Secret mentions 3 steps to receiving what you ask.
1. ASK - but ask once. If you ask more than once, you're not believing that you'll receive it. Think about that for a moment. If you truly believe that what you ask for is on its way to you, then you don't need to ask again. If you ask your mom or dad for something and they say that you can have it tomorrow, do you continue asking? No, you know you're going to get it tomorrow so you don't ask, but you look forward to getting what you asked for.
2. BELIEVE that you are receiving it. Using the example in the previous step, when your parents say okay that you can have it tomorrow, you believe them because they said so and when tomorrow gets here, they give you what you asked for. You can look at it in the sense that you're getting it, so it's yours now, you just don't have it in your hands.
3. RECEIVE what you asked for. The thing you asked for is yours at that moment. It may not be manifested in your hot little hands at that precise moment, but it's yours at that moment. And be thankful for receiving it. Be grateful. When your parents gave you something you asked for, you were grateful (I hope you were, you should have been anyway) and you thanked them, sometimes you thanked them over and over. The same applies here. Give thanks for receiving what you asked for.
I want you all to understand that I believe in God and that HE sent His Son to die for my sins. I believe God is our Heavenly Father. When I give thanks I give thanks to God for I believe He gave me all that I have and all that I will have. The Secret talks about the Universe in that respect, I think of God. There are a couple verses that need to be mentioned here. Matthew 21:22 Jesus said "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Also Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." And Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
We cannot get anything without asking for it, we must believe that we are receiving it and we must receive it.
The Secret mentions 3 steps to receiving what you ask.
1. ASK - but ask once. If you ask more than once, you're not believing that you'll receive it. Think about that for a moment. If you truly believe that what you ask for is on its way to you, then you don't need to ask again. If you ask your mom or dad for something and they say that you can have it tomorrow, do you continue asking? No, you know you're going to get it tomorrow so you don't ask, but you look forward to getting what you asked for.
2. BELIEVE that you are receiving it. Using the example in the previous step, when your parents say okay that you can have it tomorrow, you believe them because they said so and when tomorrow gets here, they give you what you asked for. You can look at it in the sense that you're getting it, so it's yours now, you just don't have it in your hands.
3. RECEIVE what you asked for. The thing you asked for is yours at that moment. It may not be manifested in your hot little hands at that precise moment, but it's yours at that moment. And be thankful for receiving it. Be grateful. When your parents gave you something you asked for, you were grateful (I hope you were, you should have been anyway) and you thanked them, sometimes you thanked them over and over. The same applies here. Give thanks for receiving what you asked for.
I want you all to understand that I believe in God and that HE sent His Son to die for my sins. I believe God is our Heavenly Father. When I give thanks I give thanks to God for I believe He gave me all that I have and all that I will have. The Secret talks about the Universe in that respect, I think of God. There are a couple verses that need to be mentioned here. Matthew 21:22 Jesus said "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Also Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." And Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
We cannot get anything without asking for it, we must believe that we are receiving it and we must receive it.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Good and bad feelings
Something I find interesting.
Your feelings are either good or bad. Good feelings come from thinking good things, bad ones come from thinking bad things.
The Secret deals with making sure you think good things as much as you can. Good thoughts put out a frequency that attracts good things. Bad thoughts put out a frequency that attracts bad things. You cannot monitor your thinking all the time. We have thousands of thoughts every day. One way to monitor your thoughts are your feelings. If you pause for a moment and consider how you're feeling. Are you feeling good or bad? If you're feeling good, then you are thinking good thoughts and are on the proper frequency to attract good things. Conversly if you're feeling bad, then you are thinking bad things and are on the frequency that attracts bad things. The obvious goal is to think good thoughts all the time. An exercise that seems good is to close your eyes, thereby shutting out your visual stimuli and just smile for one minute. You cannot have bad thoughts and feel good and you cannot have good thoughts and feel bad. I have found that one bad thought at the beginning of a day can set the mood for the whole day. Begin your day with good thoughts. If you had a bad dream and the feeling hangs on, try shifting your thinking to something good and start your day that way and your whole day will be better.
So if you find yourself feeling bad, change your thinking to something good. You are then changing your frequency to a good one. I look at it as positive thinking.
I'm not sure I explained that well, but I hope you get the idea.
Your feelings are either good or bad. Good feelings come from thinking good things, bad ones come from thinking bad things.
The Secret deals with making sure you think good things as much as you can. Good thoughts put out a frequency that attracts good things. Bad thoughts put out a frequency that attracts bad things. You cannot monitor your thinking all the time. We have thousands of thoughts every day. One way to monitor your thoughts are your feelings. If you pause for a moment and consider how you're feeling. Are you feeling good or bad? If you're feeling good, then you are thinking good thoughts and are on the proper frequency to attract good things. Conversly if you're feeling bad, then you are thinking bad things and are on the frequency that attracts bad things. The obvious goal is to think good thoughts all the time. An exercise that seems good is to close your eyes, thereby shutting out your visual stimuli and just smile for one minute. You cannot have bad thoughts and feel good and you cannot have good thoughts and feel bad. I have found that one bad thought at the beginning of a day can set the mood for the whole day. Begin your day with good thoughts. If you had a bad dream and the feeling hangs on, try shifting your thinking to something good and start your day that way and your whole day will be better.
So if you find yourself feeling bad, change your thinking to something good. You are then changing your frequency to a good one. I look at it as positive thinking.
I'm not sure I explained that well, but I hope you get the idea.
Thursday, March 07, 2013
How about this?
This is something that came to mind a few nights ago. An idea for a story. This story would follow 3 couples in their quest for love with somebody who is forbidden. Each couple follows a different path.
They met in secret. They had to. Not only was their relationship taboo, but it was also illegal. It wasn't age, it wasn't gender, it wasn't race, it was class. He of the patterned class and she of the lighted class. Their only insignia of their class was the clothes they wore. Simple, but it made each class easily discernable to the casual person. It had to be. It's illegal to fraternize between the classes. The penalty for such a relationship is imprisonment and, upon release, a RFID embedded in their body so if they ever got close together again an alarm would sound and they would be picked up and sent off to opposite sides of the planet. The third offense warrants the death penalty of one, to be executed by the other. So, they met in secret. Stealing their time alone. Spending that precious time talking, kissing and getting to know each other more, yet always scared they will be found out....
It's an idea that's just working itself out. Enjoy
They met in secret. They had to. Not only was their relationship taboo, but it was also illegal. It wasn't age, it wasn't gender, it wasn't race, it was class. He of the patterned class and she of the lighted class. Their only insignia of their class was the clothes they wore. Simple, but it made each class easily discernable to the casual person. It had to be. It's illegal to fraternize between the classes. The penalty for such a relationship is imprisonment and, upon release, a RFID embedded in their body so if they ever got close together again an alarm would sound and they would be picked up and sent off to opposite sides of the planet. The third offense warrants the death penalty of one, to be executed by the other. So, they met in secret. Stealing their time alone. Spending that precious time talking, kissing and getting to know each other more, yet always scared they will be found out....
It's an idea that's just working itself out. Enjoy
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Right thinking, or maybe Left I never get that right...
The following are quotes from "The Secret". The numbers are mine, not the book's.
6. People think about what they don't want and attract more of the same
7. Thought = creation. If these thoughts are attached to powerful emotions (good or bad) that speeds the creation
8. You attract your dominant thoughts
9. Those who speak most of illness have illness, those who speak most of prosperity have it..etc..
Now I know that some of you are going to look at this and think "heresy" or "blasphemy". That's okay. Just do me a favor and think about it. You attract your dominant thoughts. What are your dominant thoughts? What do you think of the most? Do you think about "what am I going to do if I don't get paid" or "I've felt sick for the past week, and still feel sick" or maybe "I'm so tired" Do you feel those things? Do you feel the way you're thinking? Are you thinking negatively? I know for the past year or 2 I've felt like I've had bad years where things seemed to be going wrong all the time. I didn't think about the good things that were going on, I dwelt on the bad things. Did my thinking on those things perpetuate the bad things? If you look at the above quotes and believe them, then yes I did.
So, what harm is there in changing the way I think? Instead of thinking negative things, I need to think of positive things. Also, instead of thinking "I don't want to be sick" or "I don't want to be broke" I need to think "I want to be healthy" and "I want to have enough to cover everything and have a little left over for recreation". It's a subtle difference in thinking, but "don't" and "can't" are negative words (they contain the word "not").
I don't know how long it would take to see if it works, I just know it won't hurt to do it. If nothing else, I'll be a happier person.
6. People think about what they don't want and attract more of the same
7. Thought = creation. If these thoughts are attached to powerful emotions (good or bad) that speeds the creation
8. You attract your dominant thoughts
9. Those who speak most of illness have illness, those who speak most of prosperity have it..etc..
Now I know that some of you are going to look at this and think "heresy" or "blasphemy". That's okay. Just do me a favor and think about it. You attract your dominant thoughts. What are your dominant thoughts? What do you think of the most? Do you think about "what am I going to do if I don't get paid" or "I've felt sick for the past week, and still feel sick" or maybe "I'm so tired" Do you feel those things? Do you feel the way you're thinking? Are you thinking negatively? I know for the past year or 2 I've felt like I've had bad years where things seemed to be going wrong all the time. I didn't think about the good things that were going on, I dwelt on the bad things. Did my thinking on those things perpetuate the bad things? If you look at the above quotes and believe them, then yes I did.
So, what harm is there in changing the way I think? Instead of thinking negative things, I need to think of positive things. Also, instead of thinking "I don't want to be sick" or "I don't want to be broke" I need to think "I want to be healthy" and "I want to have enough to cover everything and have a little left over for recreation". It's a subtle difference in thinking, but "don't" and "can't" are negative words (they contain the word "not").
I don't know how long it would take to see if it works, I just know it won't hurt to do it. If nothing else, I'll be a happier person.
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