Last night was the last time my wife and I will see our son for about 11 weeks. We dropped him off at a hotel near DFW so he could ship out with several other recruits to Fort Benning, GA for basic training. My son joined the Army National Guard of Texas a few months ago and has been working very hard at improving himself. He has taken online testing, scored well on his test, referred 2 friends, and completed a ton of PT. He is going in at an PFC/E3, two grades above most of the people he joined up with. He is a smart kid, he will go far. I guess that is what hurts me some. He does not do well in school, even though he has been tagged as gifted. He does not like school, but instead is a very physical person. He has great aptitude for music and all things mechanical. He has not taken the love of I/T like I have, but he is very sharp nonetheless. He picks up on technology like a duck to water.
He will return in August to start his senior year in high school. After he completes that, he will go to AIT next summer. He will then qualify for another promotion. He is very gung ho for the Army National Guard right now. He wants to become a peace keeper and travel. Like us, he has a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. He was hurt to know he could not take a Bible to BT, but was relieved to know they were going to issue him one when he got there. He also took his Crucifix, the one he normally carried in his wallet. We said a prayer for him in a quiet corner of the hotel before we left. We were sad, but we knew we had to move on. We had forgotten how hungry we were until we passes a busy little bbq joint. The smell of hickory beckoned us, so we had some ribs, brisket, and sausage. We then continued home to go walk our two dogs. It gave me more time to reflect and pray. I needed that.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
Sad Day
I am a firm believer in the right to bear arms, as stated in the US Constitution. I hold no ill will to anyone who wishes to practice that right, as long as they are responsible. If guns are not controlled properly, horrible things can happen.
I understand no charges are going to be filled. Now I do not think murder charges should be filed, but the parent failed to keep a child safe. At the very least they should get a child endangerment charge. Maybe no time, but at least a conviction.
I have had people argue, "They have suffered enough...they lost a child." Yes, they have suffered and lost. But they are the reason they have suffered and lost. If a neighbot would have been the trigger person, do you think the parents would press charges? Of course they would.
Also, why did the child have on camoulage pants? If I had small children anywhere near guns, I would want them wearing bright orange, so I could see them easier.
I understand no charges are going to be filled. Now I do not think murder charges should be filed, but the parent failed to keep a child safe. At the very least they should get a child endangerment charge. Maybe no time, but at least a conviction.
I have had people argue, "They have suffered enough...they lost a child." Yes, they have suffered and lost. But they are the reason they have suffered and lost. If a neighbot would have been the trigger person, do you think the parents would press charges? Of course they would.
Also, why did the child have on camoulage pants? If I had small children anywhere near guns, I would want them wearing bright orange, so I could see them easier.
Friday, May 27, 2005
No Michael Jackson Penis Pics
Thank the Lord for that one. I have not been following this trial because I personally think that MJ is a strange bird, but this article jumped out at me. Using descriptions of genitalia and photos are a bit much for me, and I am glad that the jury will not have to see them. While I understand the prosecution's reasoning, I find it very tacky. Read the entire story.
So how far should we go to try a person for a crime? Forget WHO is on trial. Concentrate on what they are doing. If you were accused, would you want your genitalia (whether you are male of female) photographed and the have those photos shown to 12 strangers who will be sitting in front of you for months?
Whether or not I think MJ is guilty is not the point. He is a peculiar person to say the least. His lifestyle augments his personality and his finances enables his lifestyle. He has had a troubled past, tried to find solace in Islam and keeps strange company. Does this make him guilty? No, it only makes him media fodder.
All I can do is pray that justice is done (either innocent or guilty) and that MJ accepts Christ someday.
So how far should we go to try a person for a crime? Forget WHO is on trial. Concentrate on what they are doing. If you were accused, would you want your genitalia (whether you are male of female) photographed and the have those photos shown to 12 strangers who will be sitting in front of you for months?
Whether or not I think MJ is guilty is not the point. He is a peculiar person to say the least. His lifestyle augments his personality and his finances enables his lifestyle. He has had a troubled past, tried to find solace in Islam and keeps strange company. Does this make him guilty? No, it only makes him media fodder.
All I can do is pray that justice is done (either innocent or guilty) and that MJ accepts Christ someday.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Bad Day
Yesterday was a bad day for my wife. She had a full plate of activities and she began her day running errands, getting ready to prepare a meal for a member of our church who is recovering from GI (Gastro-Intestinal) surgery. A vicious storm had blown in, with strong winds that sent debris everywhere. Trash cans, litter, toys, even several trampolines had blown out of yards (and in one case, on a neighbors roof). Trees were down in some areas and we even had a lightning strike at our church, hitting a tree in the preschool playground. Things were a mess.
As my wife turned into the alley that runs behind our house, she noticed that the alley was littered with garbage cans and recycle bins (among other things) that kept her from driving on. She thought about just parking in the street out in front of our house, but the thought of hail damaging our second vehicle made her cringe (the van is only 2 years old, my truck was hit HARD last year with hail. It is 6 years old), so she got out of her van and moved as much debris as she could to get the van through. She sat the cans upright (what little good that would do with all the wind) and pushed the bins out of the way. She did this the entire 300 feet or so of the alley until she was able to get into our garage.
As she was pulling in she noticed a beagle running loose in the storm. It was soaked and scared and ran right towards her (My wife is a true animal lover. I think she will be Saint Assisi's helper when she gets to heaven), practically begging for her help. She left brought the dog into the garage, and check the caller. She called the owner's number, but they were not home. There was no address. The dog had registration tags (thankfully) so she called the county and was told to take it to the local approved vet so the owner could be contacted. So she put the beagle in our dog's carrier and loaded it up into her van and set out to help the animal. When she got home, she noticed the power was out and she had just a few hours before she was to deliver dinner to our recuperating friend. Without electricity and pouring the rain down, dinner was on hold.
When I got home from work and then the eye doctor (to pick up my new specs) she was frazzled. She told me the story and I held her, telling her it was going to be OK. She then told me that our son had not returned something to school and she had to run over to the school during the height of all this madness to take it back. She was also upset because our son told us (he did not ask) that he was going to the National Guard Armory to get some things done (He has enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard and has been studying online to go up in rank before he attends basic training Monday). There were clothes in the dryer, a huge pile of dishes that needed washed, the dogs needed fed and my wife still needed to get a ready so we could go to our church Care Group meeting in about 75 minutes. What a day.
She started crying, saying she did not want to go to Care Group. I asked why and she told me. Her day was a shambles and did not fell like going. I asked her to go. She said no. I asked her again, she said no. Then I said, "You are going, and that is final. You 'bad day' is over and we need to get spiritually right with God. The devil is tempting you with a quiet evening, but what you do nor realize is that we will really have a great time if we both go. I want you to go with me."
She went, we had a good meal, great fellowship, and a great time. Any do you know what else? She may have had a rotten day, but you could never tell it. She enjoyed herself.
As my wife turned into the alley that runs behind our house, she noticed that the alley was littered with garbage cans and recycle bins (among other things) that kept her from driving on. She thought about just parking in the street out in front of our house, but the thought of hail damaging our second vehicle made her cringe (the van is only 2 years old, my truck was hit HARD last year with hail. It is 6 years old), so she got out of her van and moved as much debris as she could to get the van through. She sat the cans upright (what little good that would do with all the wind) and pushed the bins out of the way. She did this the entire 300 feet or so of the alley until she was able to get into our garage.
As she was pulling in she noticed a beagle running loose in the storm. It was soaked and scared and ran right towards her (My wife is a true animal lover. I think she will be Saint Assisi's helper when she gets to heaven), practically begging for her help. She left brought the dog into the garage, and check the caller. She called the owner's number, but they were not home. There was no address. The dog had registration tags (thankfully) so she called the county and was told to take it to the local approved vet so the owner could be contacted. So she put the beagle in our dog's carrier and loaded it up into her van and set out to help the animal. When she got home, she noticed the power was out and she had just a few hours before she was to deliver dinner to our recuperating friend. Without electricity and pouring the rain down, dinner was on hold.
When I got home from work and then the eye doctor (to pick up my new specs) she was frazzled. She told me the story and I held her, telling her it was going to be OK. She then told me that our son had not returned something to school and she had to run over to the school during the height of all this madness to take it back. She was also upset because our son told us (he did not ask) that he was going to the National Guard Armory to get some things done (He has enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard and has been studying online to go up in rank before he attends basic training Monday). There were clothes in the dryer, a huge pile of dishes that needed washed, the dogs needed fed and my wife still needed to get a ready so we could go to our church Care Group meeting in about 75 minutes. What a day.
She started crying, saying she did not want to go to Care Group. I asked why and she told me. Her day was a shambles and did not fell like going. I asked her to go. She said no. I asked her again, she said no. Then I said, "You are going, and that is final. You 'bad day' is over and we need to get spiritually right with God. The devil is tempting you with a quiet evening, but what you do nor realize is that we will really have a great time if we both go. I want you to go with me."
She went, we had a good meal, great fellowship, and a great time. Any do you know what else? She may have had a rotten day, but you could never tell it. She enjoyed herself.
The Devil Made Me Do It
I am old enough to remember when it was fashionable for folks to do something that was either naughty or bad and then say "the devil made me do it". I heard it all the time, and since I was agnostic at the time, it made sense to me. While that saying is not in vogue anymore, we still want to blame our enemy, the devil for everything WE do wrong. The devil does not make us sin, he tempts us. He knows we are weak in the flesh, which is the domain he is strongest in. While we may be spiritually strong, we all still have flesh. That flesh is given to temptation. The enemy knows what our weaknesses are and will do everything in his power to tempt you into sinning. Christ himself was tempted by the devil. Does that mean Jesus sinned? No, he was sinless, but he was tempted in all ways, just like we are.
I have a simple, but accurate example of the difference between temptation and sin. Imagine you work in an office building that has conference rooms that are frequently in use. Snacks have been ordered and set up outside one of the conference rooms for the attendees. You see about 20 people in the room and enough snacks for about 30 or so. One of the snacks is fudge brownies, your favorite. You are tempted to take one, because you like them so much. The devil knows you like them, and he tries to rationalize you taking one by reminding you that there is plenty for the people in the meeting, so they will not miss one of those gooey, fudgey treats. The temptation is great, but you know that you are not an invited guest, so taking one would be stealing, a sin. So you resist the temptation and go back to your desk and drink your coffee. You did not sin, but you were tempted. Had you taken one of the brownies, then you would have sinned, but the devil did not make you do it, he only planted the seed.
Much like you can never make a person become a believer, you can plant a seed. That seed will either germinate and the person will believe or it will die and their soul will be lost. The devil plants seeds of sin (called temptation) in your mind. You will either let those seeds grow in to sin, or they seeds will die. God uses those dead seeds to strengthen us, to allow us to get better at resisting temptation.
A couple of days ago as I was checking my personal e-mail, I noticed one from a couple we had not heard from in quite some time. They had just adopted their second child from Easter Europe, a charming pre-teen who looks remarkably like her adopting mother. The e-mail was sent to a large group of people, indicating to me they had friends all over the world they wanted to share their joy with. I responded to her, telling her how happy we were for their family and hoped they would share more info with us as time permitted.
Yesterday morning I noticed that one of the recipients on the distro list had made the mistake of replying to everyone on that large list, instead of replying to the sender. Since I am an 'Net geek, I knew that "reply to all" was a bad thing, since it creates a ton of extra 'Net traffic and opens the door to spam. I replied to the sender of that e-mail with a polite request not to include me in any future e-mails. It went something along the lines of, "While I share in your thoughts that $senders_child is a gift from God (she is adorable), it would be best to reply to the sender only instead of sending your thoughts to the entire Distro List. Peace in Christ, $El_Gee"
I never gave the e-mail any more thought after I sent it until last night, when I got home from work and noticed the person who replied to all had responded to my e-mail. I was expecting a "Oh, sorry about that, my mistake" e-mail, but instead, I received a scathing e-mail telling me "not to judge them, go look in a mirror and look at myself, who did I think I was correcting them, and did I consider that it was a mistake...". WOW, that was harsh. It was a whole paragraph from someone I did not know rebuking me for gently reminding them not to reply to all in an e-mail. I had thought I was doing them a favor by informing them of their oversight, but instead, I am read the riot act. I wish I had saved the e-mail, but something told me to get rid of it. Since the enemy knows our weaknesses, he tempted me with this e-mail. He wanted me to give in to my hurt by replying (in a less than Christian way) to this person and rebuking them, but I didn't. I won't say that it was easy. I am normally pretty thin skinned. But I felt that this person was wrong for their actions towards me. I was tempted to respond, but I didn't. God, by telling me to delete the e-mail, gave me a way out, so I would not be tempted to sin against my brother/sister, whom I do not know personally. Actually this situation follows scripture. I cannot remember the exact verse, but scripture tells us that we are led to temptation, but God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure, and when we are tempted, he will provide a way out so we can stand beneath it. He did just that for me.
Thank you, Jesus. While I still feel the sting of that persons words, I am free from the temptation to retaliate.
I have a simple, but accurate example of the difference between temptation and sin. Imagine you work in an office building that has conference rooms that are frequently in use. Snacks have been ordered and set up outside one of the conference rooms for the attendees. You see about 20 people in the room and enough snacks for about 30 or so. One of the snacks is fudge brownies, your favorite. You are tempted to take one, because you like them so much. The devil knows you like them, and he tries to rationalize you taking one by reminding you that there is plenty for the people in the meeting, so they will not miss one of those gooey, fudgey treats. The temptation is great, but you know that you are not an invited guest, so taking one would be stealing, a sin. So you resist the temptation and go back to your desk and drink your coffee. You did not sin, but you were tempted. Had you taken one of the brownies, then you would have sinned, but the devil did not make you do it, he only planted the seed.
Much like you can never make a person become a believer, you can plant a seed. That seed will either germinate and the person will believe or it will die and their soul will be lost. The devil plants seeds of sin (called temptation) in your mind. You will either let those seeds grow in to sin, or they seeds will die. God uses those dead seeds to strengthen us, to allow us to get better at resisting temptation.
A couple of days ago as I was checking my personal e-mail, I noticed one from a couple we had not heard from in quite some time. They had just adopted their second child from Easter Europe, a charming pre-teen who looks remarkably like her adopting mother. The e-mail was sent to a large group of people, indicating to me they had friends all over the world they wanted to share their joy with. I responded to her, telling her how happy we were for their family and hoped they would share more info with us as time permitted.
Yesterday morning I noticed that one of the recipients on the distro list had made the mistake of replying to everyone on that large list, instead of replying to the sender. Since I am an 'Net geek, I knew that "reply to all" was a bad thing, since it creates a ton of extra 'Net traffic and opens the door to spam. I replied to the sender of that e-mail with a polite request not to include me in any future e-mails. It went something along the lines of, "While I share in your thoughts that $senders_child is a gift from God (she is adorable), it would be best to reply to the sender only instead of sending your thoughts to the entire Distro List. Peace in Christ, $El_Gee"
I never gave the e-mail any more thought after I sent it until last night, when I got home from work and noticed the person who replied to all had responded to my e-mail. I was expecting a "Oh, sorry about that, my mistake" e-mail, but instead, I received a scathing e-mail telling me "not to judge them, go look in a mirror and look at myself, who did I think I was correcting them, and did I consider that it was a mistake...". WOW, that was harsh. It was a whole paragraph from someone I did not know rebuking me for gently reminding them not to reply to all in an e-mail. I had thought I was doing them a favor by informing them of their oversight, but instead, I am read the riot act. I wish I had saved the e-mail, but something told me to get rid of it. Since the enemy knows our weaknesses, he tempted me with this e-mail. He wanted me to give in to my hurt by replying (in a less than Christian way) to this person and rebuking them, but I didn't. I won't say that it was easy. I am normally pretty thin skinned. But I felt that this person was wrong for their actions towards me. I was tempted to respond, but I didn't. God, by telling me to delete the e-mail, gave me a way out, so I would not be tempted to sin against my brother/sister, whom I do not know personally. Actually this situation follows scripture. I cannot remember the exact verse, but scripture tells us that we are led to temptation, but God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure, and when we are tempted, he will provide a way out so we can stand beneath it. He did just that for me.
Thank you, Jesus. While I still feel the sting of that persons words, I am free from the temptation to retaliate.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
I wonder why?
This story touches on something I have been thinking about for awhile. San Fran has a very small child population (18 and under). I wonder why? Of course there are many reasons. Cost of living keeping families from living in the city (not really a bad thing in my opinion), crime, poor schools, lack of space, etc contribute to this problem. But all cities have this. Why is San Fran leading the way in this statistic? The kicker is the large gay population. Let us put religion aside for a moment. Two men cannot produce a child, neither can 2 women. I takes one of each to join together and fertilize an egg that will develope into an embryo, which will grow in to a human being. if the 20% gay and lesbian statistic is correct, then it is no wonder why San Fran is losing ground.
Did you ever wonder what would happen if the gay and lesbian lifestyle became the norm? We would slowly die off. Now, if the gay and lesbian population think homosexuality is normal, then why cant we reproduce assexually?
Gay and lesbian life is all about being selfish, only caring about your needs, not the needs of others. It kills me to hear gays and lesbians say that "it is not all about sex." If it wasn't then why have it? Every gay and lesbian person I have ever talked to was into sex outside the marriage. Most admitted to having pornography in the home.
"It does not hurt anyone." Puh-lease. Ever hear of AIDS? I know you can get AIDS in ways other than homosexual activity, but it is a major contributor to the disease.
"I am not bringing any unwanted babies into the world." Neither do responsible straight people.
I am not "bashing" anyone I am asking for people to wake up and stop lying to themselves. Stop giving special rights and start working on equal rights. You can have a gay pride parade, but see if I can have a Christian Pride parade in your town. We cannot even have a Christmas parade. It might offend someone. Why is it that it is OK to offend Christians, but not gays?
Did you ever wonder what would happen if the gay and lesbian lifestyle became the norm? We would slowly die off. Now, if the gay and lesbian population think homosexuality is normal, then why cant we reproduce assexually?
Gay and lesbian life is all about being selfish, only caring about your needs, not the needs of others. It kills me to hear gays and lesbians say that "it is not all about sex." If it wasn't then why have it? Every gay and lesbian person I have ever talked to was into sex outside the marriage. Most admitted to having pornography in the home.
"It does not hurt anyone." Puh-lease. Ever hear of AIDS? I know you can get AIDS in ways other than homosexual activity, but it is a major contributor to the disease.
"I am not bringing any unwanted babies into the world." Neither do responsible straight people.
I am not "bashing" anyone I am asking for people to wake up and stop lying to themselves. Stop giving special rights and start working on equal rights. You can have a gay pride parade, but see if I can have a Christian Pride parade in your town. We cannot even have a Christmas parade. It might offend someone. Why is it that it is OK to offend Christians, but not gays?
Monday, May 23, 2005
Free Viagra!
I realize this is a complete oversight, and was not done on purpose, but I think we need to watch current and former prisoners a bit closer.
I personally wonder how anyone in their right mind could think this was (or should) tax deductible. That would be like and counterfeiter writing off his PC, printer, ink on his taxes.
On a positive note, I have only one more session (after tonight) with my mentor for "One on One Discipling". Tonight's session is on temptation. Although the section was short, I am sure we will have a lot to discuss.
**** S P O I L E R A L E R T****
On a lighter note, I went with my US Army Reservist son to see the latest installment in the Star Wars saga, "Revenge of the Sith". My son and I have seen every Star Wars movie in the theaters together ever since Lucas re-released the original 3 episodes with newer special effects. It has been a father and son tradition. We almost missed this one, simply because my son and I have a busy week ahead of us and he leaves for basic training on Monday of next week.
This movie was OK, but I agree with Donald Sensing over at "One Hand Clapping" that it only deserves "6 out of 10 light sabers". We went at 8:45 PM and I was rather excited. I had read some of the spoilers (they usually enhance the movie for me) but I must say that the action was good, the visuals were great, the acting very forced and wooded (even with the veteran actors), the story line was pretty good, but the dialog made me groan. Audibly. More than once. It had funny parts (The Wookiee Tarzan style yell and the scenes where Yoda kicks some serious butt), but the love dialogue was horrible. Mr. Lucas, PLEASE do not write any more movies. If you must create episodes 7,8, and 9, let someone else do it.
It is a great story (the entire Star Wars Saga I mean) of good versus evil, but in this episode, the bad guys win (to be expected, to keep in line with episode 4) and it is much darker than the other movies. More graphic in places and the CGI well done.
A bit of trivia for you: Episode 6 was initially going to be called Revenge of the Jedi", but after some of the promo posters were printed up, someone realized that Jedi were not supposed to seek revenge, so it was renamed to "Return of the Jedi". Just and FYI. I knew a collector who had one of the promo posters...it is worth a small fortune I hear.
I personally wonder how anyone in their right mind could think this was (or should) tax deductible. That would be like and counterfeiter writing off his PC, printer, ink on his taxes.
On a positive note, I have only one more session (after tonight) with my mentor for "One on One Discipling". Tonight's session is on temptation. Although the section was short, I am sure we will have a lot to discuss.
**** S P O I L E R A L E R T****
On a lighter note, I went with my US Army Reservist son to see the latest installment in the Star Wars saga, "Revenge of the Sith". My son and I have seen every Star Wars movie in the theaters together ever since Lucas re-released the original 3 episodes with newer special effects. It has been a father and son tradition. We almost missed this one, simply because my son and I have a busy week ahead of us and he leaves for basic training on Monday of next week.
This movie was OK, but I agree with Donald Sensing over at "One Hand Clapping" that it only deserves "6 out of 10 light sabers". We went at 8:45 PM and I was rather excited. I had read some of the spoilers (they usually enhance the movie for me) but I must say that the action was good, the visuals were great, the acting very forced and wooded (even with the veteran actors), the story line was pretty good, but the dialog made me groan. Audibly. More than once. It had funny parts (The Wookiee Tarzan style yell and the scenes where Yoda kicks some serious butt), but the love dialogue was horrible. Mr. Lucas, PLEASE do not write any more movies. If you must create episodes 7,8, and 9, let someone else do it.
It is a great story (the entire Star Wars Saga I mean) of good versus evil, but in this episode, the bad guys win (to be expected, to keep in line with episode 4) and it is much darker than the other movies. More graphic in places and the CGI well done.
A bit of trivia for you: Episode 6 was initially going to be called Revenge of the Jedi", but after some of the promo posters were printed up, someone realized that Jedi were not supposed to seek revenge, so it was renamed to "Return of the Jedi". Just and FYI. I knew a collector who had one of the promo posters...it is worth a small fortune I hear.
Friday, May 20, 2005
WTF?
Sorry, I could not resist, only because (wait, you do not know what WTF means? It is short for "what the f**k?"). DO NOT BE OFFENDED. I chose my words carefully, to prep you for this. From the director of "Napoleon Dynamite" comes, "F**K: THE DOCUMENTARY". I am not kidding. Thanx goes out to Michelle Malkin for bringing this to our attention.
Do we really need a documentary centered around the f-bomb? What value can it possibly have? It reminds me of the very bad audio joke that circulated around the Internet, featuring a prim and proper British announcer using the f-bomb as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc, etc, etc. I will admit that I laughed at it back in my secular days (the irony of the announcers voice against the harshness of the f-word), but I was an ignorant heathen then. Things have changed.
You just can't make up stuff like this. Stay tuned for next week's feature, "Horton Hears a Ho".
Do we really need a documentary centered around the f-bomb? What value can it possibly have? It reminds me of the very bad audio joke that circulated around the Internet, featuring a prim and proper British announcer using the f-bomb as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc, etc, etc. I will admit that I laughed at it back in my secular days (the irony of the announcers voice against the harshness of the f-word), but I was an ignorant heathen then. Things have changed.
You just can't make up stuff like this. Stay tuned for next week's feature, "Horton Hears a Ho".
Caught With His Pants Down...
While I will never be considered a Saddam sympathizer, I am rather appalled at the photo in the Sun of him in his (thankfully not so tighty) whiteys. While I do not read The Sun, I do visit Matt Drudge's web site and got an eyeful yesterday since Matt had this as his lead story.
Personally, I do not approve of public shame of this type. Yes, Saddam is a crook, but he is in custody, being tried for war crimes in which he will either be put to death, or spend the rest of his life in prison. Must he be humiliated by showing him on the front page of a major UK newspaper in his skivvies?
I find it also quite interesting that Europe bashes the US for our Gov'ts exploits, but snapping a picture of him and placing it on the front page is proper? What am I missing?
Personally, I do not approve of public shame of this type. Yes, Saddam is a crook, but he is in custody, being tried for war crimes in which he will either be put to death, or spend the rest of his life in prison. Must he be humiliated by showing him on the front page of a major UK newspaper in his skivvies?
I find it also quite interesting that Europe bashes the US for our Gov'ts exploits, but snapping a picture of him and placing it on the front page is proper? What am I missing?
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
The More the Merrier
I post on an online message board that caters to the more technically savvy. The board really started as a joke, poking fun at those who are not as smart as they think they are. The members are an eclectic bunch, with a variety of viewpoints and opinions. I believe I am probably the most conservative.
One of the regular contributors is openly lesbian and, if the photo is accurate, rather attractive by modern definition. Her sexual orientation and living arrangement (she states she is living with two other lesbians, women she claims she converted to the lifestyle) have been the source of a great deal of interest to many of the males who read and post on the board. She has mentioned many times she has a non-recognized, 3-way lesbian marriage. With the recent headlines regarding gay and lesbian marriage legalities lately, this topic has been discussed ad nausuem. She has been trying to get her 3-way living arrangement legalized as a legal marriage for the past few months, with no success. Everytime a news article is posted regarding the subject of gay and Lesbian marriage, this contributor makes this point know. She seriously thinks this is ok. I feel for her. She is so wrong..
My question. If it is wrong for a man to have more than one wife or a woman to have more than one husband, WHY would it be acceptable for a lesbian (or gay man for that matter) to have multiple partners? Think about this outside of the Christian perspective and think what kind of problems this could create for AMERICA. If multiple partners are allowed for the sake of "marriage", then NOTHING would stop a large group of people (clubs, organizations, schools, universities, churches, hate groups, gangs, etc) of declaring the same thing, having all the rights and privileges granted to traditionally married people? I hear the argument, "Well, if two or more people are in love, they should allowed to be married." How do measure love? A man and a woman today can get married without being "in love". Since US law states you can only marry one person at a time, getting married and getting divorced is a bit time consuming. I can see NOTHING but problems if we allow just anyone to be legally wed, especially if multiple partners are involved.
One of the regular contributors is openly lesbian and, if the photo is accurate, rather attractive by modern definition. Her sexual orientation and living arrangement (she states she is living with two other lesbians, women she claims she converted to the lifestyle) have been the source of a great deal of interest to many of the males who read and post on the board. She has mentioned many times she has a non-recognized, 3-way lesbian marriage. With the recent headlines regarding gay and lesbian marriage legalities lately, this topic has been discussed ad nausuem. She has been trying to get her 3-way living arrangement legalized as a legal marriage for the past few months, with no success. Everytime a news article is posted regarding the subject of gay and Lesbian marriage, this contributor makes this point know. She seriously thinks this is ok. I feel for her. She is so wrong..
My question. If it is wrong for a man to have more than one wife or a woman to have more than one husband, WHY would it be acceptable for a lesbian (or gay man for that matter) to have multiple partners? Think about this outside of the Christian perspective and think what kind of problems this could create for AMERICA. If multiple partners are allowed for the sake of "marriage", then NOTHING would stop a large group of people (clubs, organizations, schools, universities, churches, hate groups, gangs, etc) of declaring the same thing, having all the rights and privileges granted to traditionally married people? I hear the argument, "Well, if two or more people are in love, they should allowed to be married." How do measure love? A man and a woman today can get married without being "in love". Since US law states you can only marry one person at a time, getting married and getting divorced is a bit time consuming. I can see NOTHING but problems if we allow just anyone to be legally wed, especially if multiple partners are involved.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Weekend update
I joined 20+ other men from our church at a Men's Retreat at Glen Rose Camp, in Glen Rose, TX. It was a refreshing getaway in many ways. We gathered to worship, share things in a small group setting, hiked up a hill to have a worship service outdoors (under a majestic stone cross), listened to uplifting messages, and fellowshiped together (sports, stories, eating, etc). I was exhausted when I got back.
My wife commented to me that night as we were getting ready for bed that that none of the men looked spiritually refreshed. "Men never seem to look that way when they get back from a retreat", she said. I think there is a good reason for this. It comes down to a fundamental difference between men and women.
First, most of the men work 45+ hours a week. Many of them work in blue collar jobs, so the work is very physical. When we are given some time off, we normally: sleep, watch TV, or do "guy things" (hunt, fish, camp, play cards, sports, etc). When we have a retreat set up for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we have to work our week, pack, and then drive 2+ hours to get there. So Friday night, we are pretty tired, but still wound up. So we stay up until about midnight, then settle in. We get up anywhere from 6-8 AM, shower, eat, and begin small group time and worship. We get some free time, so we find something to do (for me it was basketball and some walking. I did manage to get a nap later that day). After our noon meal, we had some more free time and then some small group activities. By the time we have our evening meal, we are rather spent. Then we start our hike up into the hills for our evening service / fireside share time. Since the hike up the hill was a bit of a workout for some, we opted to drive down (the long way) to avoid injury. We get back at 10 PM, fellowship some and then hit the bunks. Sunday we got up, showered, ate our morning meal and had service. Since there was an activity at church in the early afternoon, we hurried and packed after the service to begin our drive back.
So, we did not look refreshed? I am sure we did not. My wife on her retreat was not as physical as I was, although she works just as hard (if not harder). Her retreat, because it was a women's retreat, did not encourage its attendees to play sports. Guys share differently than women do. Neither is wrong, just different.
I can assure you this retreat was very beneficial to me. It allowed me to make better friendships, I opened up to some people regarding personal struggles I have, and I realized that I really do need the company of others if I want to grow as a Christian. All we need to do now is to show the other men in the congregation they need this as well.
My wife commented to me that night as we were getting ready for bed that that none of the men looked spiritually refreshed. "Men never seem to look that way when they get back from a retreat", she said. I think there is a good reason for this. It comes down to a fundamental difference between men and women.
First, most of the men work 45+ hours a week. Many of them work in blue collar jobs, so the work is very physical. When we are given some time off, we normally: sleep, watch TV, or do "guy things" (hunt, fish, camp, play cards, sports, etc). When we have a retreat set up for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we have to work our week, pack, and then drive 2+ hours to get there. So Friday night, we are pretty tired, but still wound up. So we stay up until about midnight, then settle in. We get up anywhere from 6-8 AM, shower, eat, and begin small group time and worship. We get some free time, so we find something to do (for me it was basketball and some walking. I did manage to get a nap later that day). After our noon meal, we had some more free time and then some small group activities. By the time we have our evening meal, we are rather spent. Then we start our hike up into the hills for our evening service / fireside share time. Since the hike up the hill was a bit of a workout for some, we opted to drive down (the long way) to avoid injury. We get back at 10 PM, fellowship some and then hit the bunks. Sunday we got up, showered, ate our morning meal and had service. Since there was an activity at church in the early afternoon, we hurried and packed after the service to begin our drive back.
So, we did not look refreshed? I am sure we did not. My wife on her retreat was not as physical as I was, although she works just as hard (if not harder). Her retreat, because it was a women's retreat, did not encourage its attendees to play sports. Guys share differently than women do. Neither is wrong, just different.
I can assure you this retreat was very beneficial to me. It allowed me to make better friendships, I opened up to some people regarding personal struggles I have, and I realized that I really do need the company of others if I want to grow as a Christian. All we need to do now is to show the other men in the congregation they need this as well.
Friday, May 13, 2005
The Land of the Offended
I tend to get rather miffed at our legal system at times. It is not just the fact local gov't is more interested in making money than arresting real criminals (We once got a parking ticket IN FRONT OF OUR OWN HOUSE from the local city police for parking IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. We live on a cul-de-sac, no through traffic, quiet street with 2 families that have small children. We had filed a police report 12 months earlier for our son who was the recipient of an assault. Nothing ever came of it. The police knew the perp and did nothing.), it is the fact we cater to everyone elses whims and wishes...unless they are Christian. We are not allowed to read our Bibles in school, but try to stop a Mulsim from praying 5 times a day and the school get's sued ... and loses. Atheists complain about Christian holidays (there are very few observed) and want some of there own (I thought every day was "Atheist Day"), they want all traces of Christianity removed but will allow outlandish references to Pagan and other religious customs to remain mainstream. How about we just let each group celibrate their own holidays and stay out of each others business?
The one ploy the liberals are trying to pull that made me laugh was the renaming of the Easter Bunny to the "Spring Bunny" or something similar. The reason why I laughed was that the liberals are trying (yet again) to slam Christians. Well, this time you failed! Read the Bible and you will not see ANY mention of the word Easter. Easter (thank to Constantine) is a derivative if the Pagan word Ishtar. "Easter" just happens to be a conglomeration of many holidays and festivals both Christian and Pagan, celibrated on the same day. Our church recognizes The Resurrection. Makes sense to me and since the world is in such an anti-Christian mode, for once we are not complaining at the liberals, but laughing instead. Ok at least I am laughing.
I also find it interesting that secular folks say that Christians are the minority and we should not have special rights. Well, if other groups can be given "special rights", why not us? Before any of those groups start flaming me, I am not bashing you at all. All I ask is EQUAL treatment, not special treatment, for everyone. If we are such a minority, why do all the radical left, secular tinfoil hat wearing people say that the Christian vote changed the outcome of the election? Surely one minority cannot do that. It is not like we were embraced by any other "minority" to help further our cause. Would that be because we are a very unique group and most other groups do not follow our theology and ideology?
I had an employee a few years ago who was a Wiccan, Pagan, polytheist, whatever you care to call it. I am not bashing it, nor did I when she sheepishly told me what her beliefs were. I began to be curious about Pagan beliefs, so I l researched it on the internet and found a wealth of info. Now to be fair, the code they are supposed to live by is a moral code. However it leaves a lot to interpretation, since it is a code, man inspired, not God or (god) breathed, like the Christian bible. The code "Do what ye wish, but harm no one" is a nice idea, but not practical. How do you know what you are doing is not harming anyone? I mean let's say you are a single man, not dating and you aquire some pornography (of the adult kind, not anyting illegal). You go home and view it. Who is harmed? You did what you wanted, and people benefited from the sale, people made money, we all win, right? Well, under the Wiccan code, this is acceptable, but they do not realize that the pornography that was legally purchased helped exploit someones daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, or even grandmother. Harm no one? Right.
I know this post was a little helter-skelter, and am sorry for leading you that way. I just needed to vent a bit.
The one ploy the liberals are trying to pull that made me laugh was the renaming of the Easter Bunny to the "Spring Bunny" or something similar. The reason why I laughed was that the liberals are trying (yet again) to slam Christians. Well, this time you failed! Read the Bible and you will not see ANY mention of the word Easter. Easter (thank to Constantine) is a derivative if the Pagan word Ishtar. "Easter" just happens to be a conglomeration of many holidays and festivals both Christian and Pagan, celibrated on the same day. Our church recognizes The Resurrection. Makes sense to me and since the world is in such an anti-Christian mode, for once we are not complaining at the liberals, but laughing instead. Ok at least I am laughing.
I also find it interesting that secular folks say that Christians are the minority and we should not have special rights. Well, if other groups can be given "special rights", why not us? Before any of those groups start flaming me, I am not bashing you at all. All I ask is EQUAL treatment, not special treatment, for everyone. If we are such a minority, why do all the radical left, secular tinfoil hat wearing people say that the Christian vote changed the outcome of the election? Surely one minority cannot do that. It is not like we were embraced by any other "minority" to help further our cause. Would that be because we are a very unique group and most other groups do not follow our theology and ideology?
I had an employee a few years ago who was a Wiccan, Pagan, polytheist, whatever you care to call it. I am not bashing it, nor did I when she sheepishly told me what her beliefs were. I began to be curious about Pagan beliefs, so I l researched it on the internet and found a wealth of info. Now to be fair, the code they are supposed to live by is a moral code. However it leaves a lot to interpretation, since it is a code, man inspired, not God or (god) breathed, like the Christian bible. The code "Do what ye wish, but harm no one" is a nice idea, but not practical. How do you know what you are doing is not harming anyone? I mean let's say you are a single man, not dating and you aquire some pornography (of the adult kind, not anyting illegal). You go home and view it. Who is harmed? You did what you wanted, and people benefited from the sale, people made money, we all win, right? Well, under the Wiccan code, this is acceptable, but they do not realize that the pornography that was legally purchased helped exploit someones daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, or even grandmother. Harm no one? Right.
I know this post was a little helter-skelter, and am sorry for leading you that way. I just needed to vent a bit.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Great Idea. Right.
This is as smart as telling kids, "Arguing with with a gang member may get you shot...here is a Kevlar vest."
Why are we allowing groups to do this sort of thing? We need to educate on what can happen to your body if you engage in sex, not tell them how to lessen the chances of pregnancy or disease.
I was not a Christian growing up as a child/teen/young adult. My home was a bit tense with a father who worked very hard and got very little in return. He turned to alcohol when he needed companionship. My mother watched all this, being raised that the man is the head of the house and his way is law. When things got escalated, no one wanted to be home. I stayed out late, drank, used tobacco, had pre-marital sex (although my list of partners is much smaller than others I know, both male and female), and I was disrespectful to my parents. I was a product of what I was exposed to from my parents. My point? Parents, be a positive role modlefor your kids. Keep up with your kids activities. Do not assume that they are being taught the "right" things in school. Kids, do not believe the hype. Having sex before you are ready to even be married is like running into a battle field with a weapon that has no ammo. It is dangerous, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. You have no idea how badly you cna be injured until it happens to you.
Why are we allowing groups to do this sort of thing? We need to educate on what can happen to your body if you engage in sex, not tell them how to lessen the chances of pregnancy or disease.
I was not a Christian growing up as a child/teen/young adult. My home was a bit tense with a father who worked very hard and got very little in return. He turned to alcohol when he needed companionship. My mother watched all this, being raised that the man is the head of the house and his way is law. When things got escalated, no one wanted to be home. I stayed out late, drank, used tobacco, had pre-marital sex (although my list of partners is much smaller than others I know, both male and female), and I was disrespectful to my parents. I was a product of what I was exposed to from my parents. My point? Parents, be a positive role modlefor your kids. Keep up with your kids activities. Do not assume that they are being taught the "right" things in school. Kids, do not believe the hype. Having sex before you are ready to even be married is like running into a battle field with a weapon that has no ammo. It is dangerous, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. You have no idea how badly you cna be injured until it happens to you.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
I really have not given up ...
I know that it has been 2 months since I last posted. Work has kept me very busy and I havenot been inspired to post. A lot has gone on in the news and I am sure there were many things that were post worthy. I am sorry if I let anyone down.
I got a response to my "Depression and Suicide" post via e-mail today. Although the person gave very little info about themselves (I am assuming was a female over 18 from the verbiage), they said they enjoyed my posts. God moves people to different things and this was a hint from Jehovah to get back to posting. So I will do everything I can to post at least 4 times a week on something that grabs me.
Things that have been keeping me busy the last 2 months:
* Home repairs (new fence, sprinkler system, and patio extension)
* Tuesday night volleyball
* My Wednesday night Care Group (we take the summer off)
* 1 on 1 Discipling with my mentor Fred (two more sessions left)
* 3 Weekends helping friends move
* Family Day Celibration at our church preparations
* A couple of PC repairs for friends
* A major PC repair for me (new motherboard)
* A week-long training session on ITSM processes and OVSD usage
* Split shifts to train our night crew while still doing my primary job(s)
* Acting as both mom and dad while my wife was out of town visiting friends
* Lawn care for me and my single neighbor
Upcoming activities:
* Two weeks of vacation in June
* New Gutters on the house
* Job transition (not sure yet, the details are still fuzzy)
To the person who posted the comment on the Depression post, I thank you for listening to God's voice and letting me know what you think.
I got a response to my "Depression and Suicide" post via e-mail today. Although the person gave very little info about themselves (I am assuming was a female over 18 from the verbiage), they said they enjoyed my posts. God moves people to different things and this was a hint from Jehovah to get back to posting. So I will do everything I can to post at least 4 times a week on something that grabs me.
Things that have been keeping me busy the last 2 months:
* Home repairs (new fence, sprinkler system, and patio extension)
* Tuesday night volleyball
* My Wednesday night Care Group (we take the summer off)
* 1 on 1 Discipling with my mentor Fred (two more sessions left)
* 3 Weekends helping friends move
* Family Day Celibration at our church preparations
* A couple of PC repairs for friends
* A major PC repair for me (new motherboard)
* A week-long training session on ITSM processes and OVSD usage
* Split shifts to train our night crew while still doing my primary job(s)
* Acting as both mom and dad while my wife was out of town visiting friends
* Lawn care for me and my single neighbor
Upcoming activities:
* Two weeks of vacation in June
* New Gutters on the house
* Job transition (not sure yet, the details are still fuzzy)
To the person who posted the comment on the Depression post, I thank you for listening to God's voice and letting me know what you think.
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