Friday, November 28, 2008

Bcuz I kin

Thanksgiving is over for another year...and beginning today, we are privileged to view the crass commercialism that has become the holy day of Christmas.

The media calls it black Friday. Stores open their doors hours earlier than usual, in hopes of people going there before going to work. Starting today, many stores will be extending their hours to accommodate the shoppers looking for that one of a kind gift for someone special.

Perhaps I am getting old, and crotchety...I find more, and more, a difficulty in getting into the season because of the craziness the media seems to enjoy whipping up in the masses.

To my military mind, Christmas is a reminder of the great gift God gave to this world by laying down His right as Almighty God, creator and sustainer of this world, to be made in the likeness of man, and to come to this earth to bring salvation to mankind.

In its inimitable way, the Church, trying to win more people, infused Christian holy days with pagan celebrations, giving us the ability to turn the holy days into crass commercialistic crazy days.

So many people look forward to Fat Tuesday, and Mardi Gras, or Carnival, as a high holy day. A day of gluttony, and drunkenness, and wanton sexual acting out.

Yeah, it is the day before Ash Wednesday...go ahead and get all the sinning out of your system cuz, tomorrow, you have to pray, and repent, and go to church and receive the ashes to demonstrate that you are devoted to following God and being a godly person.

What a teeming bucket of hog wash...

Holy Scripture informs us that God neither sleeps nor slumbers, and He looks upon the heart and the intents of our thoughts. The Christmas tradition tells us that Santa Claus is watching... he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake.

We have effectively transferred deity to a manmade effigy.

Jesus said that the truest test of love is that a man lay down his life for a friend...and today we expect others to give it all up, to benefit me, me, me!

I have found, through my long and few years on this earth, that there is common conception that delineates, if I buy you a gift, then you must reciprocate with a gift of at least the same cost if not more expensive.

Bah, humbug!!

You want to impress me with a gift? Come and give your life to Christ, and dedicate the rest of your life to serving God Almighty, and bringing His love and salvation to this tired, needy planet.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

R U in an attitutde of gratitude or platitude?

Thanksgiving day...

As happens periodically, my birthday falls on Thanksgiving day, as it is this year.

Primarily, I give thanks to God Almighty for:

Creating and sustaining this world we live in;

Making me the person I am;

Watching over me through 63 years, including 29 years active duty, and 5 years as a pastor;

Giving me beautiful children, who have become strong contributing adults;

Providing for the internet where I can interact with so many wonderful people.

In the Marine Corps, we had a saying that God watches over drunks, idiots and Marines; I have been all three, and am truly grateful that God was watching over me.

There is nothing in this world that can compare with the change that comes over a person when Jesus Christ is allowed to come into their life, and heart, and clean house, repair the broken heart, and give strength to their legs to continue on. Thank You Jesus, for the privilege of having received new life.

I give thanks for my children, and their remarkable ability to stay on their feet.

There is a time for leisure

Mostly Cajun put it out there, so, if he can do it, guess me can too.


Things I’ve done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii Visited and lived there for three years.
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked In the days before every hitchhiker was a potential axe murderer.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice .
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise three years on an aircraft carrier.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Okay, that’s it. You can do it if you want…

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanksgiving going?

Chuck Norris takes a whack at the whackos running loose in this great country.

Go take a look...

Comments really show how much whackos read and understand...

May God have mercy on our souls.

Are the menehunes restless?

Cassy Fiano has disappeared...

Wattup??

Was she hacked and ditched?? Was her site dropped by the provider??

Where oh where has Cassy gone?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Selected quotations for Sunday

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23, 24

The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27a

The glory of God and our own happiness are so connected that if we regularly seek the one, we must attain the other. Grant me wisdom. Matthew Henry

And he said to the judges: "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 2 Chronicles 19:6

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Happiness is "like a young deer, fleet and beautiful" which after the kill becomes "a piece of stinking flesh. Malcom Muggeridge

My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those who are given to change. Proverb 24:21

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11

A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2

Fear is a deadly enemy. Let us remember, when we are tempted to tremble, that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Tim. 1:7). Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. for God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiates 12:13,14