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.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
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.
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.
Monday, February 12, 2018
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.
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.
Saturday, February 03, 2018
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.
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.
Friday, February 02, 2018
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.
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.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
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.
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. .
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. .
Thursday, January 25, 2018
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.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Thursday, January 18, 2018
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.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
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.
I think it is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of.
Thursday, January 11, 2018
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
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.
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.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
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.
As far as football is concern I'm not interested enough to find it entertaining or depressing.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
$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.
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.
Wednesday, December 06, 2017
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.
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.
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