Tennesse Statue and 14 baby boys

Odd headline I agree but the headline is composed of two stories in the news I found interesting.  Some in the state of Tennessee want to erect a statue in honor of all the children who lost their lives via abortion.  Sometimes life deals us cruel circumstances and we don't always get a do over.  In fact more often than not we have to play the cards we were dealt.
  Apparently a lot of women become pregnant who didn't want to be pregnant or who changed their minds after becoming pregnant.  Raising a child is a serious responsibility as well as an expensive one.  Few people today get pregnant by accident.  If a woman feels so strongly that "It's my body"
that they use that as an excuse for an abortion and rationalizes that her quality of life would suffer because she gives birth then perhaps she should have given more careful consideration to having sex,    I doubt that it's a secret as to where babies come from and as to how they are created.  There are so many birth control methods available to women and men, I have a hard time understanding this unwanted pregnancy thing.  I also have a hard time with believing it is a woman's right to kill her fetus but after the fetus is born she can be charged with murder if she kills it.  What's the difference?
Whether inside of her or outside of her it's the same being with the same responsibilities and expenses.  The father has no say so if the woman wants to kill her child while in the womb but can be held liable for care of the child after birth.  That's not exactly fair either.
  Oh, the other story?  A couple just gave birth to their 14th child, all of which are boys.  That brings up an interesting question.  How come we say that "they are pregnant" but only she gets to determine
what happens to the baby before birth?  Any way, at the end of the story the couple comments "It's about the baby."
   Yea, that's it.  It should be about the baby.  

Yard Sale

While our yard sale was a success and there is still money to be made from other sources, there was a lot of stuff left and the goal of $1500.00 wasn't meet.  We have as lot to donate to good will, some  furniture that needs   a little refinishing to make someone a really nice addition to their home, and hopefully a antique store will take some of the home décor items, especially the lead crystal items.
    We still have a dresser, a bunk bed set, several bed sets and an assortment of bedroom furniture
for sale.  If interested check out pictures at the church websites (Academy Street Baptist) or give our pastor a call.  

The Call to Conquer April 18. 2018

Walmart steps up battle with Amazon

How you feel about Walmart is your business but I am personally not a fan.  I do like Amazon.com though.  Walmart says it allows customer to pickup and return items ordered on line at a store.  Big Whoop.  If I wanted to go to Walmart I wouldn't be shopping on line.  I live in  a small town so I either go to Walmart, go to a larger city or shop on line.
   I'm not going to order my toothpaste, mouthwash, or morning glory seeds on line so I will make that trip to Walmart for those kind of items.  For just about everything else, there is Amazon.  They drop things off at my house and if the item isn't what it should be then I ask for a return label print it off and ship the package back.  I don't have to make a special trip.  There are plenty of drop off points on my way to just about any where I'm going.  Walmart acts like they are doing me a favor by letting me pick an item up at their store but they are making me drive to a location to retrieve a package so they don't have to pay an outside carrier to deliver the package and as a way to get me to buy something else while I'm there.
  The place I would have to go to retrieve a package is conveniently located in the back of the store.  To return an item one has to get in a usually long line.  No thanks.  I go to the gym every other day and to the swimming pool on alternative days and there are drop off boxes near each location, each much closer to me than Walmart.
  There is one company that should have been Amazon and that is Sears.  It started off as a mail order company almost from the beginning.  It could have been an easy transition for them to switch from catalog sales to an e-commerce business but they had their head stuck up their own rear and missed a golden opportunity.  Walmart wants to dictate to us how we shop and to me have proven to be a greedy uncaring company.  They don't care about their employees or the communities in which they are located.  Walmart is going to have to change more than their website before they gain me as a customer.

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Now Ministries

Faith in Action April 15. 2018

up coming yard sale.

Academy Street Baptist is having a yard sale next Saturday,  That's April 21, 2018 and it will happen between the hours of 7 am and 2 pm.  If you want it we probably have it.

New Doctor

  My eye care has been outsourced for the past 15 months is now being done in house.  The procedures followed were different and I received two shots instead on one but my eye has bothered me less than the other shots.  Only problem is my eye ball is blood red.

Where science, evolution and Scriptures agree.

Some people believe that science proves the scriptures to be untrue and that evolution and creation are opposed to each other but that isn't exactly so.
  Science and theory and scripture all agree that everything that was created was created in a brief period of time, that the earth was created first (for if plants and animals were created first, there would have been nothing for plants to grow in or animals to stand upon), and that man came last.  If man didn't come last then evolution would be devolution.  So science, theory, and scripture all agree as to the order of creation.  

Trumps cutting food stamp program

A savings of 130 billion dollars is expected over the next ten years and stricter guidelines of who is eligible to receive assistance is proposed.
  While working on my book I got to know the workings on the streets.  I also worked in a grocery store and dealt with the food stamp program from that angle too.  It really bothered me to see people come in buying jumbo shrimp and crab legs  and pay for them with food stamps.  It was also disheartening to see prostitutes paying for some one else's groceries with their food stamps in exchange for cash.  The customer gets $100.00 worth of groceries for $80.00 and the food stamp recipient gets cash to spend on drugs and or alcohol.  Before the EBT card one just traded stamps for drugs.  Going to the EBT cards didn't stop the fraud; it just made the crooks get a little more creative.
  Often the homeless mothers would have multiple children and would have several hundred dollars a week for food yet they didn't have custody of the children.  Legally, they were the primary care giver but often it was family members or close family friends who actually took care of the children but the irresponsible mothers collect the money.
  It might be a good idea if recipients were required to bring the children into the office and also to pass a drug test before being issued their money credits.  A large percentage couldn't do either I believe.
       

Observations from the news

  Even famous people have a hard time communicating in English.  I guess that should rather be especially famous people have a hard time communicating in English.  Who refers to their four year
by his first and last name four or five times in the same short paragraph?  It seems statements by sports stars and celebrities are full of grammatical errors and short, choppy incoherent thoughts.  Who would have thunk it?

  Our revival services are over at Academy Street Baptist and it remains to be seen if we are really revived or not.  We met our attendance goals and our spiritual goals.  Maybe we can still get our five converts if we are really more dedicated to service to our Lord and savior.

    It seems the news is full of violence this morning:  a pro fighter attacking a bus, a homeless man attacking a car with a four year old inside,  an explosive device in a Sam's club, a women shooter at "You Tube", a young man sentenced to 63 years in prison stemming from an incident of a robbery gone bad.  Maybe we should change our focus in reporting news.  Instead of saying "one killed in robbery" we should report 5 survived violent incident.  Anyway, the news is crazy and depressing this morning.

  Another interesting story is a lady is suing for the right to give "the finger" to the President of the United States.     I think it is a terrible idea.  Why do we act like spoiled brats when our candidate loses an election/  The members of the other party are not your enemy:  they just have a different idea of where we should be heading and how to get there.  We are not going to solve our problems by displaying a severed Presidents head or flipping the President the bird, or calling each other names.

  There are some hot button issues we are never going to compromise our views on but most of our differences can be settled by honest, open dialogue but we will never get to that point by calling each other names.

  A lesbian has sued her ex-wife for shared custody of their child.  First, the child isn't "theirs' because only one of them had been pregnant and the other one didn't have anything to do with the child's birth.  The father is a sperm donor.  I believe sperm donors should share in the cost of raising their children because they are the biological parent.

   On a more personal note, I had a craving for a bowl of ice cream and some pineapple.   I gave in to my cravings yesterday.  I'm paying for my indiscretion today by way of an extra high blood sugar reading.  

Revival

  One Way Baptist had their Revival last week with Pastor Danny Castle.  If you missed him you missed a blessing,  He is a little fireball from the North Carolina Mountains.  He organizes a youth Rally that will be coming soon and there will be thousands' of kids there so don't miss this opportunity.
    Fayetteville Street Baptist held their Revival this week and starting April 1st, Academy Street Baptist in Randleman will be having theirs.  Jake D'Andrea was the quest speaker at both Fayetteville
Baptist and at Academy Street,  Jake is an evangelist known for his work with kids.  He is often found at youth camps.  In fact he will be at the one in Burlington this August.
   Services for April 1st begin at 9:30 am so come join us for breakfast (free0 and the stay for Sunday School at 10, worship service at 11 and the evenings service, the kickoff of the Revival at 7 pm.  Services Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be at 7 pm.
    We really would like for you to join us,

Clinton Speaks

"And I had one of the young people who works for me go back and do a bit of research. They never said that to any man who was not elected. I was kind of struck by that," Clinton said.

  That is a quote from Hillary responding to people who are telling her to "Shut up".  Well, she wanted to be the first women but now can lay claim to being the first Presidential candidate to be told to shut up after losing.  

  Give credit where credit is due.

to shoot or not

Tensing shot Sam DuBose, 43, in the head after pulling him over for a missing front license plate in 2015. He testified that he believed his life was in in danger when DuBose tried to drive away during the traffic stop.

   Somehow, I don't believe that a motorist trying to flee a traffic ticket deserves to be shot.  Even if the policeman was standing in front of the motorist and had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the moving vehicle should the officer pull his weapon and fire.  If the man and turned his vehicle around and attempted to strike the policemen and the officer had no place to flee to, then perhaps deadly force would have been justified.  

   

    Once you have the tag number of the vehicle then it is an easy matter to trace the man and arrest him in a non confrontational manner.  If the tag indicates the vehicle is stolen then radio for help and pursue via policy.  

Teens against gun violence

  A group of teens worked up a skit to demonstrate their frustration with gun violence of school grounds.  They have my full support on that.  In the skit the blame for the violence is place on adults .  A girl in the skit pours a soda slowly on the floor while proclaiming that she will clean up her mess in order to demonstrate the groups assertion that adults promise to stop the violence while doing the same old things that allowed the violence to happen to begin with.
   While I do agree that legislators and school administration can do more things to curb gun violence in schools, many would not be cost effective or welcomed by the students.  I suppose the best method would be to strip search everyone who comes on campus but who wants that?
   From reading about what motivates these shooters, it has occurred to me the problem isn't so much the adults as it is with the kids themselves.  Some classmates are bullied and or ignored.    It is difficult to feel as if you are an outcast and even harder when you are picked on for being different.  The problem with being different is that we are all different.  While it is true that some people are cruel and different and it really isn't safe to be around them most kids are picked on because of their size or their looks.  Years of frustration and anger build up and sometimes those pent up feelings are unleased by acts of violence.
   The best way to prevent school violence is by the kids themselves:  stop picking on other kids and embrace them and not just ignore others.  In other words, take away the reason for others to hate or resent you and you take away their motivation to exact revenge.
  The kids need to own up to their own failures and their own part in gun violence and quit blaming adults.

pan sexual

  When I was young people with a deviate sexual preference  was referred to as queer.  Queers were either men or women but they were all queer.  As time progressed they became know as gays and lesbians and even later they quit being sexually deviate  and were just practicing an alternative lifestyle.  Then we discovered that some people liked both sexes so the were called bi.  Then a movement was began and it was referred to as the gay movement or the GLB movement As time went on more letters were added include the Q for queer, which I thought had been deemed offensive but not offensive enough for r the LGBQ to not use the term.
  Recently I discovered another term and that  term is pan sexual.  Miley Cyrus considers herself pansexual, or at least she claims that title for herself but then again she did promise to leave the country if Trump was elected but she is still here so she is a liar and undependable.  Pan sexual is a real term meaning that one is willing to have sex with anyone, regardless of color, gender, or genetic makeup.
  How gross.

inappropriate comment

   A man went to use the restroom and had to remove his pistol in order to use the facilities.  He exited the restroom, forgetting to retrieve his gun.  The gun was discovered and the group leader informed.  The gun was returned but instead of letting that be the last of the incident, the leader just had to tell someone and did but within earshot of the gun owner.  Not only was the story told but the leader called the man stupid.
  Needless to say the gun owner was upset and rightfully so.  Yes, he did a dumb thing especially considering the person after him to use the restroom was a child.  Fortunately the child was accompanied by an adult who secured the gun then notified the leader.  If the leader had been as discrete as the person who found the gun then the incident would have been handled.  I'm sure that others were told of the incident increasing the embarrassment of the gun owner.  

Anchormen

  Academy Street Baptist hosted the Anchormen last night and the Anchormen gave a good performance.  The Anchormen sang at the church a year ago for Jim's kids.  These were not those Anchormen. Last year there were four of them, of which two were new.  This year there   were three of them, neither of which was of the four that sang a year ago.  The lead singer was hilarious and the group, while different,  sang many of the old Anchormen songs and captured much of the Anchormen sound.  The most noticeable difference was the trio lacked a bass singer.
  I don't believe this new group has the following of the elder Anchormen
If I had to describe their looks, I would say: Bill Clinton, Chuck Norris, and the Cheshire cat from Alice and Wonderland.  The Cheshire cat was the funny one.  

Stephen Hawkins has passed

Stephen Hawkins was regarded by many as the most intelligent man alive, a noted physicists, and an avowed atheist.  He believed that everything in existence was created in a Nano-second and that the world will be destroyed by our smart devices, not by fire or war.
   The biggest problem I have with his big bang theory is that there had to be something it existence in order to create a bang.  And if what did exist was an energy field how could it have created anything.  Most explosions destroy.  To me it takes more faith to believe that before anything was there was something and  it collided with another non existent something and created precious metals, animal and plant life, water, suns and moons and other planets, and gravity, and the animals and plants are able to reproduce than to believe that an intelligent being created what is.
    When an explosion happens particles move outward and an expanding rate becoming more distant from the other particles.  That is what is happening with our solar system If one reverses the direction of all the particles eventually one comes to the beginning.    It's sort of like watching a video in reverse.  if we could do so we would discover what caused creation.
   One of the first rules of science I learned was that nothing can be created from nothing.  The question that Stephen Hawkins was trying to answer with his Big Bang theory is where did stuff come from  and his answer is that there was an explosion and everything was created in a split second.  But the theory doesn't answer the original question:  Where does stuff come from?  If it did, then it would explain where the stuff that caused the Big Bang come from.
   Another law of science states that if something doesn't change it has no beginning nor an end.  There is only one thing that never changes and that thing is God.  God said He would destroy the earth by fire, not smart devices.
  I believe God.

Upcoming Revival

   One Way Baptist is having Revival services beginning March 19 with Danny Castle beginning at 7 pm nightly.  Want to get recharged then be sure to attend every night.  Academy Street Baptist is having their Revival services beginning April 1.  Mark D'andrea is speaking that week.  Sunday services will be at 6.  I'm not sure of the remaining times.  Also on April 1st, which is also Easter Sunday Academy Street will have breakfast beginning at 9:30 am so you are welcome to come.  No charge  to anyone.  Pick one or the other or come to both.

Exercise

I've been doing water aerobics for three years now but recently have added walking to my exercise routine.  I do water aerobics Monday Wednesday and Friday and I walk Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  I walked an hour on Mondays and thirty minutes to an hour the other two days.  Swim classes are an hour but I always get to the pool thirty minutes early and exercise on my own.
   The first time I walked I managed 22 laps in 30 minutes and I had to give it up.  Monday I walked 56 laps in an hour and today I walked 30 laps in 30 minutes.  Sometimes it's hard to get motivated, especially about walking but I do it anyway.  

Saving money on shaving

  The modern day three and four blade razor blades are fabulous for smooth and comfortable shaves but they are also expensive.  My blades say to change every two weeks but I know some who change blades after three shaves.  Ouch.  If you have plenty of money that's fine but I'd rather save mine for something I want or need instead of financing the lifestyle of the rich and famous.
  The secret is baby oil.  I was told the secret was keeping ones blade dry and I tried that but after 30 days I needed to change my blade.  Then I started coating the blade with baby oil and that helped the blade last up to six weeks.  Sometimes I would get 5 or 6 weeks per blade but not normally.  Then I hit upon the idea of the baby oil soak.
    Coating the blade with baby oil had one big drawback and that was gravity as over time the oil drained off the blade.  I took an old travel soap dish (one can be picked up at a dollar store or Walmart for cheap) and filled it half way with baby oil and just let my razor soak in it.  The oil couldn't drain off and I actually used much less baby oil than before.  I got twelve months of smooth and comfortable shaves.  I just changed blades on March 1 and took my first shave today and my old razor blades were just as comfortable and shaved as well as the new blades.

We know the problem. What's the solution.

Each time there is a mass shooting whether it be a school or shopping center or movie theater, the calls go out for gun control and many a citizen object and the battle is on and the solution long, long away.  I am one that believes Americans have the right, and should have the right to bear arms.  Personally I don't own a gun and have no interest in owning a gun.
  I've heard suggestions that we should eliminate assault weapons, make laws that make it more difficult to own a gun, make it illegal to own weapons, make it illegal not to own a weapon, putting armed ex soldiers and ex policemen in schools and several other offerings that are equally not effective or seriously entertained.   Somewhere out there is a solution that is acceptable to the majority of people.
  We seem to be a nation of extremes.  Once abortion was a crime and now it is just another form of birth control.  At one time drinking was illegal and now is as if you are a social outcast if you don't drink.  Now, some want the right to own just about every type of weapon imaginable which other think we should not be allowed to own anything.
  I just don't understand some people.  Hillary Clinton calls herself an advocate for children but she is pro abortion and proud of it.  How can one justify in their own mind that killing something one day is perfectly acceptable and the next day claim it is the most precious thing in the world.
   What we need to do is get off our soapbox for our particular cause and seek a common sense solution.  Take the emotions out of it.  Each of us will have to give up something.
   The liberals will have to acknowledge that gun ownership is a right and they are going to have to accept that.  Pro-gun activists are going to have to admit that we cannot continue as we are because it is just getting to be too dangerous.
  Maybe we can change how guns change hands, requiring all gun sales to be done under the supervision of law enforcement.  I know that one of the most stolen items is weaponry, so many there should be tighter controls guns are stored at home so that if the guns are stolen they can't be fired by the thief.    Maybe make it illegal to have anyone under twenty-one to carry a weapon when not in the company of a a responsible adult.
  I like to watch true crime stories and it seems that in too many murders the offenders are young and they have guns and are involved with drugs.  maybe we can make it illegal for anyone with a drug conviction to own a weapon.  Make the penalty stiff enough to where owning a gun is not worth the price one has to pay.  maybe some kind of mental health evaluation should be given before one can purchase a weapon.  Make it like a driver's license.  One has to be issued a picture ID and it has to be renewed ever so often.
  There is a solution out there and we have to get off our emotionally soapbox and find it.  

Valentine's Day

  Took my wife to Americas Roadhouse express for their Valentines day special and it was well worth the price.  An appetizer, choice of seafood or ribeye, salad, and desert which was a large slab of volcano cake, 3 scoops of ice cream all drizzled in fudge.
   Today, the 16th, we went to Academy Street Baptist Church for their Valentines Day Banquet.  It is actually open to the public.  We had spaghetti and a salad and desert.  Afterwards we played some fun games like stuff the tote and some games that were two player games where one describes an object, an animal or a person and the partner   tries to guess.
  Believe it or not the women won the majority of the games that were most physical while the men took an unsurmountable lead in the more intellectual contests and winning the night.
  I was disappointed we only had two visitors, a former member and her son.  They now attend the church I went to for many years before coming to Academy Street.  I certainly will not make an effort to influence them on where to go to church.  I love both churches and I have worked hard for my previous church and I still pray for them and support them.
  We are having some events that perhaps more people will feel more comfortable attending.  We are have "The Anchormen" of March 17th and our revival begins April 1.  The last time the Anchormen were at our church we had a full house.  Come early, stay late and let's get to know one another.  It's not our church it's God's house and you are as welcomed there as I am.
   If you live in Randleman, chances are I've given you a gospel tract.  if I haven't I'll probably get to you sooner or later.  Until then, remember God loves you and so do I.

Old ways versus the young

Of course I think different than you young folks.  I was raised differently, taught different things,  and developed different values because I had different experiences.  Even so, we are more alike than different because we have the same needs and desires and the same truths apply equally to the young and the old.
   The two biggest differences I see between people my age and people under 25 are the relationship we have with drugs and the relationship we have with Christ.  Drugs, including marijuana, were something that was used by the hard core criminal element.  It wasn't until the mid sixties that illegal drugs started gaining in popularity and that was so mostly    due to protesting of the war in Vietnam.  In the fifties almost everyone belonged to a church and half those people who belonged could be found in a church somewhere on Sunday morning.  Things were so different back then that the only curse word ever uttered on film was in the movie "Gone with the Wind"
    There were lots of things wrong with peoples thoughts and actions back then: widespread discrimination, bullying, lead paint, lack of safety features on cars, and political corruption.  It seemed that not everyone who went to church was a believer  and certainly wasn't a doer of the Word.
  It's been over 50 years  since the United States of America took over the lead in the Vietnam War from the French and lots of things have changed.  We have laws against discrimination, bullying is frowned upon, laws and attitudes are changing about drug use, lead paint is being eliminated, automobiles have plenty of safety features and soon will have no drivers,  and things that were impossible 50 years ago are now common place.
  Much has changed in fifty years.  I'm glad we no longer have segregation but I believe the divide between the races is even wider now than ever.  We still have all our old social disorders although some are shown in more subtly ways.  Drug use is wide spread, drinking is more prevalent, virgins are rare, abortion is a way of life, people are way more selfish and people do not attend church and true believers are the disdain of the masses.
   It is quite possible and more than likely we have just swapped one set of evils and vices for different evils and vices but just eliminated the God that held us accountable for our moral and social failures.  It is about time that we get to know this God.  This world is a hard place to live in and we can use God's help getting through life.  Many don't believe their is a God; nevertheless that doesn't change the fact that there is one.  I'm glad I grew up in a time and place where I could get to know God but the young have a greater opportunity to serve Him and more ways to do so than I ever had.
   Hope to see you in church soon.      

Should forgiveness by the victim lesses the penalty for the guilty?

  A few years back a family was returning home from an evening out together when two gunmen confronted them, open fire with guns, and killed the mother, one son, and seriously injured the father and shot the second son in the arm.  While recuperating in the hospital the father was filled with hatred for the people who killed his family members and he thought of ways he would like to exact revenge.  Then he began to think of various scriptures and realized that he should quieten his angry and forgive the perpetrators, whomever they may be.  It was only after his change of heart did he discover that the shooters were two of his injured sons friends and they were acting on that son's instructions.
   One shooter received a life sentence, the other shooter received 15 years and the son who planned the whole affair received the death penalty.  The father wants the sentence reduced to life imprisonment.  I understand.  No one wants to see their child die, no matter what they have done.    But that decision should not be his nor is the sentence part of forgiveness.
  Forgiveness is not for the perpetrator but for the victim.  When we fail to forgive and hold hate in our hearts it's like a poison that slowly robs us of our happiness.  Forgiveness is never about letting the perpetrator get away with his crime.  The stat's role in the sentencing is that of protector of the populace.  The guilty parties sentence should not be increased because the victim hates him nor lessened because the victim has chosen to forgive him.
    I am not against the death penalty but I do believe it should be used only in the cases where it has been demonstrated that the guilty party is capable and likely to continue a life of crime and there is grave danger to the public that the guilty party may kill again.  Serial killers, spree killers, and mass killers all fit that category.  But often they get lessor sentences in order to secure a conviction or to gain information that is vital.
    The father in this case should just step away lest he run the danger of turning his hatred for the killer into forgiveness and then into hatred for the state that executed the killer.  Forgiveness has come to naught.  

He broke into an occupied car.

  Yesterday my son went to his car on his lunch hour and took a seat in the passenger side.  While relaxing a stranger broke into the car,  Both my son and the stranger were startled,  My son did get a description of the mans car but no tag number as his car was sporting a temporary tag.  One of my sons Facebook friends suggested that if that had occurred in Arizona the thief would have been shot as a high percentage of people in Arizona carry weapons.  If that be true I doubt that the chances of getting to ones gun before the thief could have gotten away are slim to none and if one shot a person after they began to flee the scene then that would be a serious crime.  If the average person in Arizona carry weapons then perhaps the thief would have been an average person and it is more likely he would have shot the victim before the victim could have retrieved his weapon.
  I am not anti-gun but I am against people who have the attitude that "if I had a weapon it is easy to make the bad people go away and I'd be the hero".  The truth is that the victim who has a weapon probably will never have the opportunity to use it. might have his weapon taken from them and used against them, or will face serious legal problems if they actually fire their weapon.
   In my son's case there is no circumstance that he could have legally shot the thief.  No weapon was seen by the victim, his life or well-being was not threatened, and the thief immediately fled the scene.  The death penalty is not an option for petty theft for the courts and it should not be an option for the citizenry.
  I believe my sons actions were proper and appropriate  Gun ownership does not entitle one to be the judge, jury, and executioner.

Why people accept evolution and reject Christianity

The world is a wonderful and wondrous place and man has always wondered how it came to be.  Early man accepted the belief that a god created all that exists or at least controlled life.  Some people believed in many gods and some believed in only one God.  
  The conflict between man and God has always been that man wanted to be the captain of his soul and the master of his fate but God said man was created for God's pleasure.  For thousands of years the question was not whether God existed but whose God is the real God.  But for the last 100 years man has begun to question and finally to deny the existence of God and has come to accept the theory of evolution and the Big Bang theory as facts.  I can fully understand and appreciate that.
   It makes perfect since that one put their faith into science and to believe that everything that exists was created in an instance when two forces that couldn't exist if there were nothing collided.  People think that God is a fantasy because He is quiet and they can't see, feel, or touch Him.  The truth is few people even know that I exist and some that do question things that have happened to me even though I know them to be true.
  As I understand the theory of evolution as a result of nothing colliding with itself and creating something (everything that exists I have been told) and creating a previously non existent world in which there was water, rocks, and little creatures composed of a single cell that could divide itself into two parts and make a friend.  I don't know what the single cell creatures ate but apparently that was created also at the time of the big explosion (which everyone know that explosions nearly always destroy stuff). The for some unknown reason one of these single cell animals didn't divide but got stuck together as a two celled animal and decided it liked that.  The two celled creature could survive better because it was bigger and could therefore control more of the food source, what ever that was.  Maybe it could have been each other, no one ever said that I am aware of.
  I suppose some of the other single cell creatures liked what they saw in the twin celled creature and decided to duplicate that maneuver.  I'm not sure how they thought since a brain would have required it's own cell which can't exist in a single cell creature  but I'm supposed to accept that because God doesn't communicate with us ( I think He might be more inclined to if we believed he existed).
  Anyway as more and more single celled creatures became twin celled creatures (why some didn't has never been explained to me) some of the twins decided that if two is better than one perhaps more than two is better than just two.  If they could just become three or more celled creatures maybe they could have a real brain  so that's what they did.  Some of the other creatures liked what they saw and some other thought that multiple cells were a good idea but they wanted a different configuration so all these little creatures started becoming what they thought was a superior life form. One day one of the creatures got tired of all the hassle in the water and decided to crawl out of the water and see what was on the dry land and so it did.
   One of the other creatures saw what the first one did and decided to see what it was up two so it crawled out of the water also.  The first one didn't liked the second one joining it on land so chased it up a tree (where trees came from we are never told.  maybe the algae the single celled creatures were eating got tired of being lunch so they changed into something else although even trees don't have brains and so are not capable of making decisions.  But of course many the big bang created all vegetation but only single celled creatures so there would be a food source available or the multiple-celled creatures that would eventually crawl out of the water and need a food source.  But then that would require planning for the future and I don't know how two non existent forces could have ever thought of that.  If they could have then they would have been gods.)  Once up a tree the creatures needed a way to navigate from place to place so some thought long tails would be a good idea while other thought wings would work better.
  Eventually one of the tree creatures with the long tail got tired of swinging in the trees and decided
to come down.  It had realized that a brain was better than a tail so it grew it's brain larger and walked upright so it could use it's hands for something useful.  One day it realized it didn't need it's tail anymore so that disappeared.  What I don't understand is why this big brained creature that no walked upright thought it a good idea to get rid of it's protective hair, fur, or features, whatever it had and become naked and vulnerable to changes it the weather and the harsh effects of the sun and then have to find another way to clothed itself by killing other creatures and making something out of plants.
  It seems for the first time this creature which finally got a brain capable of making decisions (so it believes but teaches us that single celled creatures did) and  thought itself to be superior because it walked upright and had opposable thumbs made a bad  decision.
    One would think after millions of years to develop from a single celled creature into a walking talking creature with opposable thumbs that in the millions of years since then that this creature would know better than to put stuff into itself that would after the way this brain worked, especially such a substance as would take control of that brain.  It seems this creature evolved to the point that it could not longer improve upon itself and decided to self destruct.
  If this creature has evolved to it's highest form then it will eventually wipe itself out by destroying itself with the desire to have more and with it's own discoveries and inventions.  .
  This creature has only one hope of continuing to exist and the hope is God, the everlasting Father, the Creator of all.  The way to this father is through Jesus Christ who died on the cross of Calvary to provide a way for this creature to escape the trap it made for itself.
 

Simpleb equals nightmare

I installed a new chandelier over the dinner table but the lights (new LED's) were so bright  (How bright were they Johnny?) that they were annoying so my wife asked me to put in a dimmer switch.  I finally got around to getting one Wednesday  and made an attempt to install it but when I pulled out the old light switch I had no idea how to proceed.  I just shoved everything back into the wall and turned the power back on but my new chandelier didn't come on. 
   My wife called the electrician to install the dimmer switch and he also had to take my chandelier down.  As much trouble as I had installing it, I was afraid he'd never get it back up but he had it fixed and reinstalled in just a few minutes.  He said the company would send me a bill.  I'm dreading that as I know electricians aren't cheap.  .

Puzzle complete

The headline says it all.  I just coated the puzzle with puzzle glue and will do the backside once the top is dry then it will be suitable for framing.

Puzzle completion-to-date photo

puzzle mania

142 pieces to go.

puzzle progress

I had a very good puzzle day putting together around 40 pieces.  I have now completed 720 pieces.  Just 280 to go.  I still am unable to connect the lighthouse with the ocean,  Nothing seems to fit.

Sexless Marriage

A couple were just united in marriage in a Las Vegas wedding (attended by the President's daughter)but it wasn't a union created in love but just because they feel a deep friendship.  They do not intend to have sex with each other but will continue to live their lives as if they were not married.  The article says "experts" think this is a good idea.  
    I think it is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of.

snowflake

Snowflake

This word is used to describe someone who is perceived as hypersensitive because their feelings are as fragile as a snowflake. Liberals are most often referred to as snowflakes because there's a misconception that they can't handle when someone disagrees with their views. Here's a suggestion though: Instead of reverting to calling people names, how about having civilized conversations where people listen and try to understand one another's views? Check out the list of insults that have been reinvented as compliments.

Is it a puzzle or a mystery?

'I am the light" by Danny Hahlbohm is the featured art in a 1,000 piece puzzle produced by S8unsout.  The scene is a light house a night during rough seas with the image of a pair of hands in the background.  For the most part the puzzle is blue and black.  The rocks have streaks of gold and some of the water has green in it but for 90% of the puzzle is just various shades of blue.  many pieces are solid blue or solid black.
    Putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle is a challenge in and of itself but through in solid colors and it because more difficult.  But it isn't the one color theme that makes this puzzle so challenging .  It's the interchangeable pieces.  I put together a whole section of border and two layers of pieces underneath that only to discover that none of the pieces were in the correct place.  I have never put together a puzzle with so many pieces that fit where they didn't belong.
   I'm not a puzzle champ by any means but I have put together my fair share of puzzles and many of them difficult but it would take an Adrian Monk to be considered competent with this one.  I've already been at this one a month and I am about 50% done.  I finally managed to get the light house connect with the border but only after discovering the border and surrounding pieces were put together wrong even though they fit together perfectly.
  My goal is 10 pieces a day.  Today I thought I had my 10 pieces but after discovering the error I may have backed up some.  Well, tomorrow is another day.

What shall the New Year Bring?

We all have renewed hope in a New Year that things will get better. at least for us.  We have hope that there will be peace in the world, safety in our neighborhood, a better job, an increased salary, better health, less expenses, happier relationships, and a more satisfying life.  One famous novel began :It was the worst of times, it was the best of times".  That is true for all of us.  Those of us going through the roughest patches of our lives will find that not all is bad and those going through the best of times will find that not all is perfect.  Things can always get worse and things could always be better.
    A man once said "Life is not all about what happens to us but about how we react to it."  In others words, our attitude means more than our circumstances.  There are many sad rich people and there are happy poor people.  Some with many worldly goods have no real friends and many with plenty of friends have few worldly goods.  Both will admit that friends are far more important that things.  Some people make the mistake of thinking the way to get friends is to have things.
   A valuable lesson that I have learned is that there is one friend who will never forsake you and that friend is Jesus Christ.  Being a Christian is not about church attendance although Christ does expect us to go as often as we can.  It is not about being good or doing good deeds although Christ does expect us to be good and to be good to our neighbors, friends and foes alike.  Being a Christian is not about reading your Bible although Christ does want us to study to show ourselves approved unto God.  Christianity is not about religion but it is about having a relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
  The only way to assure oneself of a better new year is to draw closer to Christ.  From a worldly point of view  a Christian may have a very bad year but  he may still be filled with joy because he has a good relationship with Christ.  Remember, a relationship with Christ is far better than anything this world has to offer.

Rep Jackson suspect United Incident had racial tinge

Of course she does.  Rev Jackson went on to say it is a shame.  Yes, it is a shame.  Why does every negative incident have to be a bout race.  The complaining lady thought she was complaining about her seat but the congress woman had to make it a racial incident.
  There would have been no "racial tinge" if it had been between two whites or two blacks or two Orientals but if a black person is involved then they are quick to play the racial card even when race is not involved.  That is the sad part.  How can we all come together as Americans when some people do their best to keep the races separate by complaining we are separate.  No one mentioned race except for the Congressperson.

financial mistakes my Mother made

My mom was a whiz at handling money.  She didn't begin working until after her children graduated high school and she worked low paying retail jobs so she didn't maker much money.  My father worked good paying jobs until we graduated high school   That was when he decided to go into the ministry full time so he took a big hit financially.  Still, their income was high enough to pay all their bills and still put money back for that rainy day.
   Mom paid every bill the day it arrived, purchased everything on a cash bases, and never borrowed anything.  She had enough put back to handle about anything and still leave her children a nice inheritance, or so she thought.
   Her first big mistake was not properly executing her will when Dad passed away in November 1998.  The will stated that if Mom went first then Dad received everything but if Dad died first, then
the house was to be deeded equally to the children.  Mom didn't follow the instructions in the will.
Mom liked to be in control and I believe she was afraid that we might take advantage of her if she executed the will as written.  For whatever reason she didn't do what she was supposed to do. ,
  Fast forward seventeen years and Mom is now blind and deaf and to weak to take care of herself anymore.  The only decision  that one could make for her was a nursing home.  Still, she was strong enough that she would live several more years and she didn't have enough money to pay nursing homer cost for more than one.  All her assets would have to be liquidated except for $2,000. and prepaid funeral expenses.
  All that money she had frugally saved was now gone and there was none to give to her children.  .
She had neglected to take care of necessary repairs to her home so the value of it was greatly diminished.
  $2,000.00 will only pay so many bills and even a vacant house has property taxes, insurance, and utilities.  The money was stretched as far as it would go but ran out in June.  I do believe that having to get rid of everything in the house broke Moms will to live.,  She died in December, 2 years after going into the nursing home.  The condition of the house had deteriorated to the point that the house wasn't worth much because it would cost so much to make it a viable, marketable house.
   Mom should have executed the will so the children would have at least had the house.  Instead of trying to save more and more in her retirement years, she should have taken some of her money and kept her home repaired and updated.  Had she done that, she would not have changed her lot in life one bit but would have lived in a nicer home, and would have left a house worth something to her children.  Instead all they ended up with is years of caring for her and a lot of work settling her estate after she was gone.

depressing things about the 2017 NFL season

  An article on MSN highlights depressing things about the NFL season.  I didn't read the article because it was, well, about depressing things.  Life is bad enough in some aspects that I don't need to read about depressing things.  My brother just sold my moms house for $30,000 under market value, the paper work that was sent for me to sign has my wife's name spelled wrong, and I have a cold.  And to add insult to injury the house has actually belonged to me for 19 years  as it was stated in Dad's will but it was never executed and I didn't find out until it is too late.  Now the state gets all the money to cover Mom's Medicaid debt.
  As far as football is concern I'm not interested enough to find it entertaining or depressing.

$110M lawsuit hits Brentwood, NY school district in MS-13 murder

A teen age girl and her friend were beaten to death after enduring two years of taunts by MS-13 gang members.  Her parents are suing the school district because the school district did nothing,

My question to the parents is exactly what did you do?

  If the parents perceived the problem to be serious then they should have taken steps to remedy the situation.  They could have changed schools, home schooled the girl, or brought a law suit charging the school district with endangering their daughter by failing to take action yet they did nothing but complain.  Granted, programs should have been in place to reduce bullying but there is not enough rules or people to enforce the rules to prevent all bullying.

I'm amazed how many people file s lawsuit after a tragedy after failing to take steps to protect themselves before anything happened, like those who sued the theater for failing to provide adequate security.  If the movie-goer felt the security inadequate then they should not have gone to the theater.
 There is absolutely no way that any business entity can provide enough security to insure every ones' safety.  Those gang members knew that there is a law against murder and that the penalties for violating that law is stiff yet their hatred of that girl was greater than their fear of the law.  How exactly would a school district stop people with that mentality?

  By the time a person reaches that stage of immaturity about all that can be done is wait for them to commit a serious enough crime and then lock them up for a long time.

  If your response is to ask "Why does God allow these things to happen"  I suggest that you go to church every time the church doors are open, study your bible like it was gospel.. and pray without ceasing.  In other words let God have control of your life.

  Not willing to do that?  Then quit complaining because allows you to live your life like you want to instead of the way He wants you to.    

Sometimes it's hard to keep an open mind

  The headlines read 'Women killed in Colorado in 2013 by boyfriend shorty after announcing she was pregnant.:
  The first sentence of the article said that the boyfriend was a former basketball standout.  The woman was a very pretty white woman.  I knew before I read any further or saw the picture of the suspect that the boyfriend was black.   I was correct.
  It seems that getting pregnant and telling your partner about it can be a dangerous thing.  So can leaving an abusive partner.
  I can fully understand the boyfriends reluctance to becoming a father.  He should have used protection, abstained from sex, made sure the girlfriend was on the pill, or had a vasectomy. Only one of the above methods is foolproof so it is always a good idea to use that one.  If you just can't abstain the using at least two of the remaining three options is wise.
   The consequences of having sex should be discussed before you do the deed.  But now here I go again discussing responsible behavior when it is obvious that no one in this story was behaving responsibly.   of course not.  No one thinks the consequences will happen to them but the truth is sexually transmitted diseases are a reality as well as unwanted pregnancies and sometimes one person will kill the other to escape acting like an adult.  Changes are high that as the person is being killed they wish they had chosen a more mature approach to having sex.  It is too late then.  Some things once done cannot be undone.  
   I can understand why the guy didn't want to father a child.  It is either a big responsibility or expensive and/or both and it is possible to change ones life in a negative way.  I remember  Ray Caruth of Carolina Panther fame who killed his girlfriend because she was pregnant with his child.  I bet he wishes he had done the "honorable thing" or at least the responsible thing.
  I realize also that this time of crime is committed by men of every race and against women of any race and is certainly not limited to black on white or black on black.  it is human on human.  It's just hard to keep an open mind when your suspicions about who the perpetrator is correct only because the description of the incident leads you to that suspicion.
  I don't know why it is this way.  Killing another person may seem like a viable solution but after one commits the act then he begins to realize that the murder creates a host of other problems and some far worst than the problem he was trying to escape from.  Murder isn't a good solution for any problem.

Sexual Harrasment claims

Women seem to be coming out of the woodwork claiming they were sexual harassed by a famous/influential person.  While I don't discount all of these claims, I do think some are illegitimate.  Garrison Kellor was fired and I think his termination was unjust.  Granted we should never touch anyone without their permission and yet there are many circumstances that come up in life when it only seems normal and natural to reach out to comfort someone and most often we do so without much thought.  I will almost guarantee that if the office hunk whose attention that woman would have love to garner had been the one to touch her back there would never have been a claim made.
  Some of these claims are made hoping for a payoff (like the woman who recently made a sexual harassment claim then offered to settle for $15 million.  Some claims are made just to get ones name in the paper or to get a little attention.  Some are made from a misunderstanding and sometimes such claims are made because the complainant just wants to get back at someone for a wrong or perceived wrong.
  I do think all complaints should be taken seriously but I also think that if one makes a complaint that is shown to be completely false, the complainant should receive the same punishment that they wished for the person they complained about.  I'm not talking about incidences where facts show there might have been some inappropriate behavior but the evidence wasn't strong enough to support the claims but those times when a person makes up a claim or blows something small out of
proportion.
  An example would be a woman is clocking in for work and she steps backwards not realizing their is a man behind her.  He instinctly puts his hands on her shoulder so she doesn't knock him over.
Granted he touched her without permission and he intentionally did so.  If it be found that he did so legitimately then neither should be punished.  But if an employee is upset with their boss, then they should be punished for bringing a claim when no incident happened.

Garrison Keillor fired, says he put hand on woman's back

  If his version of the event is correct, the Garrison Kellor was fired for an unintentional act.  He said he apologized at the moment it happened and she said she understood.  He claimed he was shocked when he received the letter from her attorney.
   I don't have the phone number of any women in my phone except for my wife.  The only time I ever touch a female other than my wife or mother is to shake hands and then only in a public setting.  I'm just as careful of my conversations as I am of my actions.  Treat others with respect and others will respect you as well.
  Touching someone else, with out their permission is not only inappropriate but it can be considered assault, even if our intentions were honorable.  Our words and our actions can be considered suspect as well.
  It seems women have been embolden to speak up about inappropriate behavior and indeed they should.
  Be respectful to each other.  

Typical but erroneous reactions

    There is a home evasion and the home owner runs out of his bedroom to see what the noise is and is shot and killed.  My observation was that although running towards a commotion is a normal reaction is is an erroneous one.  It is far better to hide in his room and call the police.  One man took me to task for that response.  I suppose many gun owners think they can be heroes just because they have a gun.  My contention is that the man is dead.  If he had a gun he could have used it for protection if someone had broken into his bedroom but the truth is, no matter how big your gun you are safer if the   criminal does not know you are there.  The police have a much better chance of catching the burglars while the crime is going on than they do after the criminals have left.
  If you shoot and kill one of the crooks, then it is possible you could be charged with a crime yourself.  In this case the home owner may not have had a gun nor access to it if he did.  Regardless, he is dead.  But this is a normal reaction for many people.  How many times in old TV shows does the homeowners hear a noise while in their bed and the wife urges the husband "to go see what is going on".   What if they called the police in stead of going to see?
  There was another story that piqued my interest last week.  A youth pastor pulled a gun and shoot dead his wife, her daughter and the daughters husband.  As you know on MSN one cannot comment on articles.  I suppose it's a good thing because so many comments are just emotional or reactionary responses and  have no reasonable thought behind them.  In the first story I mentioned some one involved was a black American and most of the comments were anti-black From the comments I assume the victim was white because people kept asking where was Al Sharpton.  The color of the people involved in that crime doe not change human nature but does fuel hatred.
  The reaction of people in the second story, I have been told, was anti-Christian.  It is a shame that a pastor was involved in a crime.  We must remember that he is human.  One does not reach faithful maturity at conversion.  People join churches for many reasons and some even become church leaders and never really become true believers.  Christianity is really not a religion.  It is a relationship.  It is not a set of rules or a moral code.  And what we get ourselves involved in does not change who Christ is.
  I know Christianity has fallen out of favor in recent history beginning when Madam O'Hare got prayer banned from school and schools started teaching evolution.  I have never understood evolution.  If animal life began as a single cell animal that could divide itself then what was the motivation to change?  And if that life was so bad as needing to evolve why do single cell animals still exist?  Evolution talks about animals changing but when di one change into a plant?  Plants are an entirely different life form than animals and the chances of one kind of life form coming into existence from nothing boggles ones mind but to have two is outrageous.  Then to have both at the same time is beyond belief and then to discover that both life forms have the ability to evolve; preposterous.
  I know the idea that God has always existed is difficult for many to fathom   but those same people readily accept the Big Bang as fact.  But if something did not already exist then what could possibly
interacted with something else that didn't exist and magically create everything else that didn't exist.  Amazingly all that stuff that suddenly came into existence from nothing lives in perfect harmony with other things that didn't exist.
   If someone wants to have a serious conversation I'm willing to talk.  But if all one ones to do is poke fun at my beliefs and call me names then there isn't anything to talk about.  

videos on you tube

I post videos of our church services on you tube but this week I made a mistake.  When I posted the video somehow two videos got posted with the same title and date.  I know how to post one but I do not know how to take one down.  My pastor transfers my videos from you tube to Facebook.
   There are several ways to view the videos.  One is to go to you tube and type in my name "Dale Sperling", another is to visit Academy Street Baptist Church on Facebook and the third is to view the pastors Facebook page.
  I do apologize for the error this week and hope you are able to clear the confusion up.

Cities and towns with low crime rates

Just read an article listing cities and towns with almost non-existent crime rate and all but one town was in parts of the country that are cold.  The places were small, wealthy and situated in areas that suffer harsh winters.   The lone exception was a town in Texas yet it was  small and wealthy.
   Being wealthy helps prevent crime against you property because your neighbors have their own stuff, your homes are probably more secure, and it's less likely that people are just wandering around the neighborhood.
  I'm sure the wealthy are just as engaged in crime as poor folks are but it's not usually violent or property crimes.  Many of the crimes rich people commit may not be illegal and the ones that are are much harder to prove in a court of law.
  Even so, being poor is not a cause of crime nor an excuse for being a criminal and being wealthy is not proof that one is an upstanding citizen.  

Doomesday

  Man predicting doomsday nervously awaiting Sept 23 (2017).  I guess he can relax now.  We are still here.
  Doomsday won't happen until 7 years after all Christians disappear.  The folks remaining probably won't notice.

Pie and Praise.

Six Pm November 19 at Academy Street Baptist.  Pie and Praise service.  I'm baking a Banana Pudding Pie and a lime pineapple pie.  Debbie is making a chicken pot pie.  Please join us.

Victim shaming

  One Olympic star has admitted to being molested by the team doctor  while another said we (the girls on the team) bear some responsibility because of our choice of clothing.  She later apologized for that statement.  
 
  What we wear or don't wear does have an effect on how others view us.  That is why "strip clubs" are a most popular place for men to spend money while "putting on" clubs don't exist.  Women put on makeup to enhance their looks, where high heels to help show off their legs (surely not for comfort) ,  One never sees older women wearing bikinis at the ":y".
  While that all is true no matter how we dress no one has the right to touch us if we do not want to be touched.  
  While that is true what also is true is that not many are going to respect the boundaries society has set unless we are willing to enforce those boundaries.  Id someone like Weinstein violates us then we cannot remain silent.  If the first woman who Weinstein violated had complained publicly or to the police she might have suffered because of his power and/or the likelihood she could not prove it but if the second and the third woman had complained right after it happened then chances are the abuse would have stopped there.  Sometimes we have to suffer for the betterment of society.
  Still, some people need to learn to make better choices about the situations they place themselves in to.  

Kiss gone crazy

Two days after defending a "controversial" statement by Gene Simmons, the KISS star went crazy at FOX News earning himself a lifetime ban.

Pond transformation almost complete

If you have followed by blog for any length of time you are aware I have two water ponds.  I have had water ponds for years and sometimes they look good and sometimes there are problems.  When I first dug these ponds I knew I was going to have problems with the big one as the ground was so hard digging was almost impossible with pick and shovel.
  Starting out the small upper pond looked really good but then I planted the wrong kind of bamboo and instead of getting the fast growing kind I got a slow growing and fast spreading bamboo instead.  It was just a mess and chocked out my ground cover plants.  The bigger pond was never level and I never could solve the problem of the water level even after redigging it several times.  Algae was the biggest problem because the sun shinned on both ponds all day long and even with UV sterilizers continued to be a problem though less so when the sterilizers were working.
   I finally decided to change my set up and pulled up the liner to the bigger pond and moved the hard side liner from the small pond to the lowest spot in the hole where the big pond was.  I then back filled around the small liner from the dirt that originally came from the hole building a ramp down to the liner.  I then dug out a hole about twelve inches deep at the top of the ramp.
   I put my pump in the hard side liner, used my soft liner to cover the ramp and to fill the small hole at the top creating a stream.  I put my filter in the small hole.  The pump pumps the water from the small pond up the stream and fills the small hole.  Placing rocks around the filter allows for a bubbler effect from the discharge end of the pump.  The water then flows back down the hill into the small pond.
  The place I am at now is the liner, pump and filter are in place and everything is running smoothly.  I now need to trim the excess from the soft liner, place rocks in the stream to create a waterfall and a naturally looking stream bed, to fill in some low spots around the hard liner and to plant some additional ground cover plants.  I'll take some pictures and post them when the work is complete.  It will take a couple of years for the ground cover plants to fill in the spots so the area looks it's best.  I sure hope it solves the algae problem.
  The inspiration for this came about when my breeder koi had carp babies instead of koi and I had nothing to sell.  I now have no koi as the small pond is too small to raise koi in.  But I do have plenty of goldfish including twenty new babies.  I'n really excited to share the pictures with you soon.

Controversy statement by Gene Simmons of KISS

"Women have a choice," he told the Post. "They can dress in potato sacks, (but) as soon as they pretty themselves up with lipstick, lift and separate them and point them in our general direction, they're gonna get a response. Guys are jackasses — we will buy them mansions and houses...all because of sex."

Hoda and Kathie Lee asked him to explain that notion.

  Hoda and Katie Lee cannot be that stupid.  Men like beauty and will use money to obtain a beautiful woman.  Women like power and will use beauty to get a man with power.  It's survival of the fittest.  It's a natural instinct which all animals use.  Why the peacock feathers and the fancy dances and the fighting moose's and giraffe's.  That statement is only controversial because we think we are above that as a society but ignoring the truth does not make it not true.  

Which is worse for you: MJ or alcohol?

Both substances are mood altering drugs.  Proponents of marijuana have claimed for years that it is safer than alcohol and a resent study shows that while it has many harmful effects it is indeed safer than alcohol.    While some think that is good news and therefor think it should be legalized doing so will not solve the alcohol problem but only give us two legal intoxicating substances.  I really don't understand the need to get intoxicated with anything but if I did feel the need to get drunk or high I'd choose alcohol because I would not drink and drive and I'm not a violet person but if I mess with anything that burns I'd burn a hole in something even if I didn't burn the house down which is a possibility.  I know many others would choose the marijuana.
   I think if we were to make marijuana legal then we should make alcohol illegal.  You can have one intoxicating substance but not both.  Really, just how much stuff do you need to get stoned on?  And do you not like yourself enough that you need to have your mind altered to be enjoyable?
  And no,  a football game is not better with a beer.

How to save and still good a good shave

I've heard about extending the life of a razor by keeping the blade dry.  These three blade razors blades are expensive so to make them last longer and get a good shave sounded like a good idea.
  My first efforts were mildly successful.  Just dry the blade off after use.  I could get three to four weeks out of a blade versus the recommended two.  Then I got the idea of baby oil.  I'd coat the blade with baby oil after each use.  From the dollar tree one can get a 16 oz bottle for a dollar.  Cheap enough.
   One day I man said that the oil only lubricated the blade and nothing could extend the life of the blade.  I replied it didn't matter because now I got two to three months from a blade versus two weeks and even if it was just lubrication it was well worth the cost of a little baby oil.  Still, the man put a challenge to the theory that blades deteriorate due to moisture and not use.
   So earlier this year I decided to try a grand experiment.  I had two identical razors and purchased a new back of blades.  One blade I put in my travel kit I carried when I went to Hickory.  I always showered and shaved after doing my Moms lawn.  I used both blades for the first time in February.  The blade in the travel kit I just put up as one normally would.  The blade I was using at home I treated differently.  I got an old plastic soap dish and filled it with baby oil and dropped the blade into it after shaving.
  The second time I used the razor in my travel bag l thought it would rip my face off so I got a small bottle of baby oil to coat the blade with and it helped some but not much .  It was still a rough shave.  After the third attempt I decided to shave before going to Hickory and to just shower after yard work.  The lubrication helped just a little but it hurt a lot to shave and it wasn't a smooth shave at all.
The experiment with the travel blade seemed to confirm that  lubricate did not extend the life of the blade.  But what about my blade I was using at home?
   It has now been a little over nine months since I put that blade in my razor and i shave four or five times a week with it and the shave I had this morning was just as smooth and close as the very first shave I got with it back in February.  I use less baby oil soaking the blade this way too.  I still have 12 oz left from that 16 oz bottle and it took 3 oz. to fill my soap dish.
  Say what you will about extension of life or just lubrication but I believe I have demonstrated that lubrication alone didn't help much but to keep the blade dry will cause the blade to stay sharper longer.  I'm satisfied with the results and a little richer too.  And I do so much enjoy being clean shaven with a smooth close shave to boot.  

Two faithful witnesses

  Interesting discussion tonight about the identity of the two faithful witnesses in Revelation chapter 10 and eleven.  Early church fathers believed that the two were Enoch and Elijah because these were two men who did not die.  I pointed out that if that was the bases of identifying these two people then all Christians who took place in the Rapture would also have to be considered.  God said that "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" and God has often chosen the most unlikely person    to be the hero..  Based on that the witnesses could very well be an illiterate person that loved God's Word so much that they have committed it to memory.
   Based on the scripture in Revelation in making reference to certain events, it would make sense that the two witnesses could very well be Elijah and Moses.   Even though these two men are associated with lack of rain and miracles involving water the powers to do these things belong to God not to these men so I would not rule them in based on the miracles the two witnesses performed.
  The strongest argument for these two men being the faithful witnesses belongs to the Mount of Transfiguration in which Moses and Elijah appeared to testify to the deity of Christ.  

Stephen Hawking: Earth could become 'ball of fire'

Stephen Hawkins is considered one of the most intelligent men on earth so it is of no surprise that it becomes news when he makes a profound statement.
   Stephen Hawkins is a scientist and as such doe not believe science and the word of God can co-exist.  Apparently because of that belief Stephen Hawkins never read in the word of God that the earth will be destroyed by fire.  News flash Stephen Hawkins:  you are over two thousand years late to the game.

Dustin Hoffman Allegedly Groped Meryl Streep During an Audition in the ’70s

We have a statue of limitations for a reason.  If it's been 40 years just suck it up to experience.

Mold and mildew on vinyl siding.

Just saw advertisements for cleaning vinyl siding.  Yea, it is unsightly to see that green mold growing on the sides of your home.  It seems many people just let it grow white some others grab for the pressure washer.  The problem with the pressure washer is that it takes a long, long time to clean every square  inch of ones home and if the pressure is too high one can damage the vinyl leaving the owner with even more problems.
  As an owner of a home with vinyl siding with a desire to keep the outside of my house looking good. I want a safer and more time conscious method of cleaning my house.    I have settled on a pump sprayer and bleach.  I mix a solution of 1/2 bleach and 1/2 water and just spray the house from top to bottom.  If desired one can spray the house down with water after giving the bleach a few minutes to work.  I usually don't do this but if the mold is heavy doing so may be necessary.
  It is reasonably inexpensive to use bleach, won't damage the house, and just takes a few minutes.  It does a good job which  last longer than cleaning with a pressure washer.  The only drawback is that one will probably have to dispose of the clothes one is wearing while spraying the house.

Are more guns helpful? In Wal-Mart shooting, armed shoppers hinder police investigation

First of all let me make it clear that I do believe in gun ownership, right to carry laws, and most thing that the NRA advocates for.  I do not myself own a gun nor do I want to own a gun.  I feel that gun ownership serves to endanger my life rather than serves to protect it.  I do not hunt.  I see no reason to own a gun.  I fully understand that you can make a case for me as to why I should own a gun and I can make an equally valid case why I do not need one.  We'll just call it a wash and leave gun ownership up to each individual.
  I am not an idiot for not owning one nor are you an idiot for owning a gun.
  In this story I do understand why it took the police longer to identify and arrest the suspect and I do agree that those that had guns should have left them holstered until the situation presented itself that they were threatened.  But to pull ones gun hoping to get a shot at the shooter is inviting trouble.  You may have the shooter and three good citizens with guns.     Good citizen A spots the shooter, takes aim and fires.  Good citizen B sees citizen A fire his weapon and assumes citizen A is the shooter so he shoots.
The police see citizen B fire his weapon and assumes that he is either the shooter or an accomplice.  When all is said and done it could be a bloody mess.  A gun does not make one a super hero.  

Mom;s Passing

My mother, Margaret Elloise Sperling, died Sunday October 29. 2017 and was laid to rest Nov 1, 2017.  She was a strong woman with a sense of purpose.  For her life was simple especially since she was blind and deaf but despite her disabilities and her simple lifestyle she accomplished more than most people ever do.  She like to bake cakes and it was her coconut cake that was by and far everyone's favorite.  She furnished her living room by baking cakes and won several awards for her cakes and pies.  She also was a florist who worked with artificial flowers and specialized in wedding arrangements.  Her business was sustained totally by word of mouth.  She did not advertise nor did she have a formal place of business.
  As talented as she was in those areas that is not what made this lady special.  It was greeting cards.
Simple cheap greeting cards that she filled with messages of hope and encouragement, and well wishes and God's love that she sent to everyone, as often as needed, to friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike.  It was difficult to go many places in Hickory where someone didn't know her or know of her and all would save she was the sweetest person.
   Her last two years of life were spent at a nursing home and yet there she was a delight to other patients and staff alike
  She is missed already.

You've been making coffee wrong your whole life

The headline is the title of another stupid MSN article.  There are so many things wrong with that headline  but I'm just going to leave that to your imagination.

Thanks for your support

  Academy Street Baptist is having a fall fest Sat Oct 28 as an alternative to Halloween.  The following businesses have contributed to the fall festival:  Shapes, South Point Vets, Melvin's, Lily of the Valley Florists, Food Lion, Betty's Kitchen, Randleman Hardware, Sunshine Pets, and the Biscuit Company.  Much appreciate for their support.

Free Fish

  I have a Koi pond and each year I would have 200 to 500 babies to sell but a few years ago my babies were all black.   I have decided to turn my koi pond into a stream with a goldfish pond so I need to find home for the black koi (carp).  If interested call me at 336 460 9474 or text me.  ,Fish  are six to eight inches And they are free.

Fake News

CBS, Fox and NBC chose to stay in commercial breaks during the pregame presentation of the flag and anthem. Once they returned from commercial, network play-by-play announcers and analysts paid little or no attention to what players

   Pretending an event didn't happen is just as fake as telling us something happened that didn't.  To keep protests of the manner of protests down news agencies have  decided to stay in commercial rather than to angry fans as if fans have their heads in the sand.  As far as angry fans booing the protesters; those people need to just stay home and quit supporting the players and teams with their money.
   I understand that these people love football .  They can watch Canadian football, college football, high school football, outlaw league football, or play a game of backyard football but if they feel that kneeling during the anthem is not a acceptable form of protest, then they need to quit supporting such protests with their money.  Just to boo and get angry only encourages the players In fact, just watching a game on TV  is still a form of support.  If ratings go down teams lose a significant channel of revenue and when teams start losing money them teams will end that form of protest.
  Sponsors need to quit giving endorsement to players that kneel.  If players want to carry protest signs  they have every right to do so.  I would love to see an event where the fans all dress up as police officers and as soon as the game begins, all the fans turn and file out of the stadium.
  I bet CBS, FOX and NBC would pay attention to that.

Alex Morgan after Disney incident: 'I can't imagine what black people go through'

  Alex Morgan ( a payer on the USA woman's soccer team)  had been drinking and when stopped by police she got a little testy.  She later issued an apology, half hearted at best.  In her apology she claimed she was not drunk and said nothing wrong.  If that be true what then did she apologize for.
  People go through whatever their actions dictate.  In almost every case, if one does what they are asked to do and behaves in a manner fitting mature adults, then they go home none the worse for the experience. If a person believes they were stopped or ticketed or arrested unjustly, the by all means tell the judge on your court date.  Arguing with, insulting, or resisting an officer of the law will only make the situation worse.
   Yes,  people get stopped for different reasons, not all of which are justified.  I got a free ride in a patrol car when I was in college from a Yokum, Texas police officer who mistakenly thought there was a warrant out for my arrest.  I was stopped recently by an Archdale police officer who punched in my tag number incorrectly and thought my vehicle was stolen.

How to fry a perfect egg every time.

The Technique
1. In a medium, preferably nonstick skillet, heat enough olive oil to just cover the bottom of the pan over medium-high until shimmering. (A 10" skillet fits 2 eggs; scale up if you want to cook more.) It may look like a lot of oil, but you’ll need it.
2. Add 2 large eggs, one at a time and spacing evenly apart, shaking pan gently between additions to allow edges to set without sticking together.

   Don't do this, please.  If it's a non-stick pan one doesn't need the olive oil and if you do decide to use oil in a non-stick pan always use on low heat ( per mfg. recommendations).  To cook an egg on medium high heat will leave the edges of the egg burnt, the bottom brown and crusty and the top undercooked and runny.  I do not much care for runny crunchy eggs.
   I have two eggs almost every morning (but not on Sundays).  I use a non stick pan with no oil but I set my stove for a little less than medium heat.  I also use a clear glass lid.  The lid helps hold the heat in the pan and allows the top to cook  but just a little slower than the bottom.  The clear lid allows you to judge the doneness of the yolk.  Some like the yolk soft and others prefer it stiff while some like it hard.
  The article went on to say that all one needs to add is salt and hot sauce.  I disagree with that too.  We have too much salt in our diets already.  Hot sauce is high in sodium and provides enough to bring out the flavor of the egg.  If you like (and I do) sprinkle your egg with pepper.  Use salt only if you don't like hot sauce (or it doesn't like you).  

New program

I am anxiously awaiting arrival of my new video editing program.  I make the videos at church but I do not do the entire service, just the sermon.  But the problem with my videos is that the video starts abruptly and ends abruptly.  I need a header, fade-ins and fade outs, and a way to add titles and credits.  With the new program I am going to be able to do that and also to add music to the opening shot.  Of course it is going to take some practice to get the procedures right but I'm excited about it.       Maybe I can post some of my work here.   Or maybe I can put it on you tube.

Las Vegas

  The police assume they know the identity of the shooter in the Las Vegas massacre.    If I wanted to do something like that which I don't, I would have staged the room, killed a man in the room just before opening up on the crowd and fleeing to another room  before the authorities showed up.  The police think the suspect killed himself and I would get away once the commotion died down. 
  I'm not putting ideas into anyone's head as such an act is stupid to do but just thinking like a crime writer.
  I don't understand why things like this happen, why someone would think this is a good idea, and how no one noticed that something just wasn't right.  In light of what's going on in the world maybe we should start paying more attention to the people around us, especially friends, family,  neighbors, and co-workers.  maybe we should also give more thought to what happens when we die.  With all the storms, wars, and crazy people around now a days coupled with all the other forms of accidental death, changes seem good that many are going to die young.  If you think there is no God and Jesus was just a good man  you could be right.  But if Jesus was who he claimed to be  and you believed wrong, then what?  If the bible is not true then everyone breaks even but if it is true then where would you be?  Is there anything in this life worth taking that chance for?