tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88977228663096518992024-02-07T04:16:50.224-06:00Tired N Retired"I demand at any point in time to be retarded, but educable." *Virginia Satir*gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.comBlogger472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-64872069488156228802021-01-05T08:27:00.000-06:002021-01-05T08:27:04.932-06:00WHITE PRIVILEGE<p> </p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I really cannot remember when I first heard the perjorative
"white privilege". Like a dog with a bone, I have (consciously and unconsciouly)
chewed on the idea. At no time has anyone clearly and definitively identified
what "white privilege" means. Adding to the unclearness of what is meant, we
learn of "white" men and women railing against "white privilege". So, what are
we to make of this example of cognitive dissonance? Or am I the only one who
recognizes something "ain't" right here?</span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Without a doubt, we can point to many people who have filled
exalted places in society and have been for the most "white". When we look at
the people who have attained to Forbes' exalted list of the wealthy we do see
many "white" individuals.</span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">At this point I see there is more to this idea than just
"privilege" in terms of having more than non whites. In fact, it really has
nothing to do with the color of our skin; it goes much deeper than
that.</span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Truth is we are in a battle between good and bad; right and
wrong, darkness and light. The greatest definition of "white privilege" I can
think of has to do with those who believe in a living God Who, created all of
creation and, is able to cleanse sin and make a person "whiter than snow". When
we look at this definition, we see why there is such a clamor to do away with
law; to decriminalize sin and lawlessness. We can now get a picture of the
"white" men and women lamenting "white privilege" without ever giving up
everything they have. Isn't that kinda like the bottom line? If you really
despise "white privilege" and are in fact "white" should you not totally disown
anything you have gained? Yet, we see these plaintiffs doing nothing but
shouting and pointing fingers.</span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">All down through the history of creation, and mankind, we can
find numerous examples of people intent on destroying; removing all semblence of
belief in a living God. That is not unique to today. The battle between light
and dark, right and wrong, black and white is still being waged with vigor on
the side of darkness. Thus we are able to see how "black lives matter" (have
publicly declared their underlying principle is Marxism) is so strongly pursuing
eliminating anything good. Do not be mislead; all the anarchy, rioting,
destroying property, killing police and firefighters all have the intent of
destroying any belief in a living God.</span></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">None of us are exempt. When I look at the orderliness of
creation and all we are aware of, I realize there is a lot more to this
existence than merely a freak of nature caused by an unexplainable explosion
that happened somewhere somehow.</span></div>gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-50279934103757452862020-09-20T17:43:00.002-05:002020-09-20T17:43:36.216-05:00A Fairytale<p> Earlier today, I was reminded of the story of the Warm Fuzzies. I looked it up, and since it is now in open domain because it is 50 years old, I decided to post it here so I would always be able to find it without going through all my files.</p><p><br /></p><p> Grossmont College<br /><br /> A FAIRYTALE<br /> Claude M. Steiner, Ph.D.<br /><br />Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived two very happy people called Tim and Maggie with two children called John and Lucy. To understand how happy they were, you have to understand how things were in those days. You see, in those happy days everyone was given at birth a small, soft, Fuzzy Bag. Anytime a person reached into this bag he was able to pull out a Warm Fuzzy. Warm Fuzzies were very much in demand because whenever somebody was given a Warm Fuzzy it made him feel warm and fuzzy all over. People who didn’t get Warm Fuzzies regularly were in danger of developing a sickness in the back which caused them to shrivel up and die.<br /><br />In those days it was very easy to get Warm Fuzzies. Any time that somebody felt like it, he might walk up to you and say, “I’d like to have a Warm Fuzzy”. You would then reach into your bag and pull out a Fuzzy the size of a little girl’s hand. As soon as the Fuzzy saw the light of day, it would smile and blossom into a large, shaggy, Warm Fuzzy. You would then lay it on the person’s shoulder or head or lap and it would snuggle up and melt right against their skin and make them feel good all over. People were always asking each other for Warm Fuzzies and, since they were always given freely, getting enough of them was never a problem. There were always plenty to go around and as a consequence everyone was happy and felt warm and fuzzy most of the time.<br /><br />One day a bad witch became very angry because everyone was so happy and no one was buying her potions and salves. This witch was very clever and she devised a very wicked plan. One beautiful morning she crept up to Tim while Maggie was playing with their daughter and whispered in his ear, “See here, Tim, look at all the Fuzzies that Maggie is giving to Lucy. You know if she keeps it up, eventually she is going to run out and then there won’t be any left for you”.<br /><br />Tim was astonished. He turned to the witch and said, “Do you mean to tell me that there isn’t a Warm Fuzzy in our bag every time we reach into it?”<br /><br />And the witch said, “No absolutely not, and once you run out, that’s it. You don’t have any more”. With this she flew away on her broom, laughing and cackling hysterically.<br /><br />Tim took this to heart and began to notice every time Maggie gave up a Warm Fuzzy to somebody else. Eventually, he got very worried and upset because he liked Maggie’s Warm Fuzzies very much and did not want to give them up. He certainly did not think it was right for Maggie to be spending all her Warm Fuzzies on the children and on other people. He began to complain every time he saw Maggie giving a Warm Fuzzy to somebody else, and because Maggie liked him very much she stopped giving Warm Fuzzies to other people. As often and reserved them for him.<br /><br />The children watched this and soon began to get the idea that it was wrong to give up Warm Fuzzies anytime your were asked or felt like it. They too became very careful. They would watch their parents closely and whenever they felt that one of their parents was giving too many Fuzzies to others, they also began to object. They began to feel worried whenever they gave away too many Warm Fuzzies. Even though they found a Warm Fuzzy everytime they reached into their bag, they reached in less and less and became more and more stingy. Soon people began to notice the lack of Warm Fuzzies and they began to feel less and less fuzzy. They began to shrivel up, and occasionally people would die from lack of Warm Fuzzies. More and more people went to the witch to buy her potions and salves even though they didn’t seem to work.<br /><br />Well, the situation was getting very serious indeed. The bad witch who had been watching all of this didn’t really want the people to die, so she devised a new plan. She gave everyone a bag that was very similar to the Fuzzy Bag, except that this one was cold while the Fuzzy Bag was warm. Inside of the witch’s bag were Cold Pricklies. These Cold Pricklies did not make people feel warm and fuzzy but made them feel cold and prickly instead. But, they did prevent people’s backs from shriveling up. So from then on, everytime somebody said, “I want a Warm Fuzzy”, people who were worried about depleting their supply would say, “I can’t give you a Warm Fuzzy, but would you like a Cold Prickly”? Sometimes, two people would walk up to each other, thinking they could get a Warm Fuzzy, but one or the other of them would change his mind and they would wind up giving each other Cold Pricklies. So the end result was that while very few people were dying, a lot of people were still unhappy and feeling cold and prickly.<br /><br />The situation got very complicated because since the coming of the witch there were less and less Warm Fuzzies around, so Warm Fuzzies, which used to be thought of as free as air, became extremely valuable. This caused people to do all sorts of things in order to obtain them. Before the witch had appeared people used to gather in groups of three, or four, or five, never caring too much who was giving Warm Fuzzies to whom. After the coming of the witch, people began to pair off and to reserve all their Warm Fuzzies for each other exclusively. If ever one of the two persons forgot himself and gave a Warm Fuzzy to someone else, he would immediately feel guilty about it because he knew that his partner would probably resent the loss of a Warm Fuzzy. People who could not find a generous partner had to buy their Warm Fuzzies and had to work long hours to earn the money. Another thing that happened was that some people would take Cold Pricklies - which were limitless and freely available - coat them white and fluffy and pass them on as Warm Fuzzies. These counterfeit Warm Fuzzies were called Plastic Fuzzies, and they caused additional difficulties. For instance, two people would get together and freely exchange Plastic Fuzzies, which presumably should make them feel good, but they came away feeling bad instead, since they thought they had been exchanging Warm Fuzzies, people grew very confused about this, never realizing that their cold prickly feelings were really the result of the fact they had been given a lot of Plastic Fuzzies.<br /><br />So the situation was very, very dismal and it all started because of the coming of the witch who made people believe that some day, when least expected, they might reach into their Warm Fuzzy bag and find no more.<br /><br />Not long ago a young woman with big hips born under the sign of Aquarius came to this unhappy land. She had not heard about the bad witch and was not worried about running out of Warm Fuzzies. She gave them out freely, even when not asked. They called her the Hip Woman and disapproved of her because she was giving the children the idea that they should not worry about running out of Warm Fuzzies. The children liked her very much because they felt good around her and they too began to give out Warm Fuzzies whenever they felt like it. The grown-ups became concerned and decided to pass a law to protect the children from depleting their supplies of Warm Fuzzies. The law made it a criminal offense to give out Warm Fuzzies in a reckless manner. The children however, seemed not to care, and in spite of the law they continued to give each other Warm Fuzzies whenever they felt like it and always when asked. Because there were many, many children, almost as many as grown-ups, it began to look as if maybe they would have their way.<br /><br />As of now it is hard to say what will happen. Will the grown-ups join with the Hip Woman and the children in taking a chance that there will always be as many Warm fuzzies as needed? Will they remember the days their children are trying to bring back when Warm Fuzzies were abundant because people gave them away freely?<br /><br />Copyright 1969, Claude M. Steiner, 35 Westminister, Kensington, CA 94708<br />Transactional Analysis Bulletin, October 1970, pp. 146-148<br /></p>gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-41868868309245645792020-03-20T08:03:00.001-05:002020-03-20T08:03:43.130-05:00Interesting but not earth shattering<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Came to me this morning while getting breakfast
together.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Once upon a time, there was a song on the radio that did very
well on the rock and roll charts. I have come to see that perhaps it started out
to be an anti rock and roll song. <em>Flying Purple People Eater </em>appeared
to be a song showing how popuar rock and roll was, because a critter that spent
its life eating people was willing to forgo that passion to play music in a rock
and roll band.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now, for the other side of the story. The artist that brought
the song up in the charts was Sheb Wooley. A country music artist in his own
right. Consider the ramifications of a interterrestrial critter coming to earth;
not just any critter, but one that eats people. Now add to that, he has a horn
growing out of his head, and he is able to play rock and roll music through this
horn.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quite an interesting picture of rock and roll musicians.
Obviously, I have no proof that this is so, but as the pundits of old might have
said, the facts speak for themselves.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-63706809803703113072020-03-01T10:07:00.001-06:002020-03-01T10:07:58.859-06:00CinC<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">This morning I am struck with the thought of the awesomeness
of God.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here, in this country, we have the Commander in Chief; God is
the Commander in Creation!</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Consider this world we live in. There is so much we do not
see, know, or understand about our world or universe. There are some who posit
this world, universe came into being by a fluke explosion somewhere back in
history. To my military mind there is too much minute integration involved in
what we do know, see, or understand. Consider how coordinated life is: Humans
breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide; trees, plants and grass take
in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen. If that is not a balance, I have no idea
what is.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Consider the human body. Science informs us of the materials
which make up the human body. Scientists know these materials but are not able
to put them together to create a human body. I recall a joke I heard years ago:
A consortium of scientists agreed they were now able to create a human being.
One scientist was elected to go to God and prove that God was no more relevant.
After explaining to God what they could do, God said, go ahead and show me. The
scientist reached down and grabbed a handful of dirt, and God said, get your own
dirt!</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">To my mind I find believing in things I have heard regarding
evolution to be impossible and improbable. Consider, we are advised that
somewhere, perhaps milions of years ago, a fish flopped up on land and developed
legs in order to walk on land. I suppose that could be believable, but consider
the intelligence of fish. Throw a hook in the water with a wiggling worm on it
and fish will grab it; oops!</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Now, consider: "In the beginning God created". My mind wonders
how, a world that came from a freak explosion in nothingness is able to maintain
for all these millenia. Think about it. The One who created is able to sustain
creation. In spite of all the created beings are able to come up with to
destroy.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-3544814202887569882020-02-18T07:59:00.002-06:002020-02-18T07:59:52.362-06:00Beam me up Scotty<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">So, it appears, professor Patricia MacCormack, United Kingdom,
has come forth and declared the best way to save the planet is let humans become
extinct.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, this is not new with this prof. This mind set
has been around for a long time. Sadly, those who profess this idealism are
never ready, nor willing, to lead the way in humans becoming
extinct.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Scripture tells us love is laying down your life for others.
What the prof is saying is love is <u>you</u> laying down <u>your</u> life for
me.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The popular mythology dictates that man is destroying the
earth. Truth be told, the mythology doesn't address how the earth came into
being, or how it is sustained or maintaned. Of course in order for that to come
to light would be to admit that man has no ability to create or
destroy.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Scripture also informs us not to trust in man. We have chosen
to worship man, especially those who claim to be more intelligunt than the rest
of us, or even more gifted. We have definitely, collectively, lost our
way.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">No wonder I woke up this morning singing in my mind, "There is
joy in the camp a sinner has come home...there is joy wonderous joy in the
camp.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-32782040115380797322020-02-15T18:14:00.000-06:002020-02-15T18:14:57.398-06:00The time's they are a changing<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">How interesting...Loretta Lynn has mentioned that country
music is dead.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I could have told her that years ago.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Having been born in the 40s, I grew up on country music @ KLAK
radio in Denver. I vividly recall how the music transitioned to rockabilly and
into rock and roll. Which was followed by heavy metal, acid rock, disco and what
we call rock and roll today.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">For the past twenty years I have been here, and listened
mostly to KXRB the local country station. I guess it was probably in the 80s but
moreso in the 90s when country music began sounding much like the rockabilly of
the 50s. It didn't take long for the music to start sounding like the beginning
of rock and roll.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Probably two years ago or so, KXRB had a change of
ownership/leadership and came up with an additional FM station. Since there was
a lot of music played during the week that sounded so much like rock and roll I
reserved my listening to Saturday when the day was committed to country
classics. Even that changed somewhat because the classics were no longer played
by the original artists but by covers of more recent artists and claimed to be
classics.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps the debarkation point came for me last year when the
station implemented "country variety". Yes! variety. I suppose we could sit and
debate, all day, what variety might mean. In my mind, it was an open door to
transitioning to a more rock and roll format.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then, about half way through last year, the format changed
again, and classic Saturday became classic Saturday afternoon, from 12 to 6. Most
recently, classic Saturday is no longer a part of the programming.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I know, change is the only constant. Didn't someone,
somewhere, say there is nothing new under the sun, what has been will
be?</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, that is enough for today.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-4530875914825764632020-02-13T08:25:00.001-06:002020-02-13T08:25:55.691-06:00Whatever will be<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I have been living under the assumption that squirrels
hibernate for the winter. That just isn't so.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">As I sit here at the computer and look out my window, I can
see the squirrels running around and cavorting in their squirrely way, in spite
of the sub-zero temperature and the snow on the ground.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps this is a manifestation of the "glow-bull worming" or
"Klimate change" we have been hearing so much about. Perhaps the old "Wendy's"
commercial is coming back to haunt us..."It isn't nice to fool mother
nature!"</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Whatever it may be, up here in the southern frozen tundra we
have squirrels being squirrely all year long.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-15540884844150888292020-02-12T13:40:00.001-06:002020-02-12T13:40:28.342-06:00Time and Tide<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, the "oldies" station in Minnesota plays this record
quite a bit that has a guy trying to get in touch with a girl on the phone, but
her mother will not let her on the phone.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">He interjects with the words "And the operator says forty
cents more for three more minutes".</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">How well I remember those days. Seems like you could not call
anywhere without having to go through the operator and if you were on a pay
phone, you better make sure you have enough quarters in your
pocket.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I am afraid that my children have never had to work through
that kind of a call, and I am doubly sure, none of my grand children will ever
understand.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">But, when I think about it, I never experienced having a
neighbor holler over that you have a phone call.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, time does roll on.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-71480143836573233552020-02-09T07:50:00.000-06:002020-02-09T07:50:11.783-06:00Caught you looking<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">So, last night, about 10:15 I got ready to get ready for bed.
As I walked by a window, I thought, what is all the light shining
through?</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">When I looked out the patio door, it was snowing, and it was
as light as day. I confess, I am not so sure I can recall another time when the
night was as bright as the day. Talk about cognitive disonance!</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next, when I got up at 5:45 this morning, it was still bright
as day; and now, two hours later nothing has changed except the cloudy sky is
now a grayish-purple kind of color instead of dark grey.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">These definitely are interesting days to be alive in which God
delights in giving us situations to stretch our mind and cause us to smile and
say thank you, L</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">ORD</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, for your awesome
blessings.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-77323549188225703482020-02-08T13:33:00.002-06:002020-02-08T13:33:27.331-06:00Social media<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The time has come to put away childish things. I think that is
what I am thinking.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I guess it has been about 12 years, or so, I have maintained
an account on face book: that social media that took the internet by storm some
years ago.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">The childish part that I mentioned was how I spent the
majority of time on facebook playing games. The bingo games available definitely
held my attention for hours at a time.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Truth be told there were friends I kept up to date with that I
will miss. I first met Breda many years ago, on a blog she maintained. I do not
remember the name of the blog, but she caught my attention and was able to keep
it. </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I met Katherine through her blog Smoky Mountain Cafe. A
transplanted Louisianan to Tennessee. With facebook, she didn't need to maintain
the blog mch anymore.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Lori, whom I met when we were driving school bus back, seems
like centuries ago. She no longer utilized email, and thus kept me up to date
with her photos and adventures through facebook. We still call and text on
occasion and get together every once in a while for coffee of
lunch.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">It seems, to me, there is value in social media. Though it can
become an addiction like anything else that will consume your time and
attention.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">After the many years I participated in facebook, recently I
ran up against their algorithims for logging in. Within a two week period, I was
locked out the system, which refused to verify my loggin security information.
Three times in that two weeks I was forced to change my password in order to log
in. The fourth time I was prompted to change my password, I decided, enough is
enough. My world does not revolve around facebook. I do not have a "smart phone"
that would keep me in constant contact with any social media on the internet, so
why get my granny pants in a wad over petty stuff. Ergo, I emailed the support
people and asked them to remove my account.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thus I have come back to this blog I started a number of years
ago, who anyone can access.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">May the Good Lord bless and keep you, til we meet
again.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-43177144866213536622019-09-15T13:13:00.002-05:002019-09-15T13:13:14.778-05:00Passing thoughtsHave you ever said something along the lines of: “You are as bad as a two year old”? Think about it for a moment! What is so “bad” about being a two year old?<br /><br />What comes to mind is the picture of small children asking a lot of questions and finding excitement in seeing and learning new things. As adults, we just don’t have the time and patience to be answering questions all the time {in fact, aren’t we a little perturbed that no one has the time for our questions?}, or lolly gagging around to see the beauty of a rock or water flowing in a stream.<br /><br />We talk a lot about “adult supervision” as if adults really know it all. And we talk a lot about “don’t waste time”; “time is money”; “we only have so many minutes in an hour, or so many hours in a day, and so many days in a year”. Well, I am worn out just thinking about that. Makes my mind tired.<br /><br />“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18:1-3, NKJV)<br /><br />WOW! Just when my adulting is getting really geared up to show how great I am, how erudite I can be, how special I have become over the years; reality smacks me up side the head, and reminds me that there is something special about being like a two year old. And as I look around my world, I see so many examples of how we have allowed ourselves to lose the awesomeness of life; the awesomeness of Creation.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-91413832778012616352017-09-27T09:14:00.004-05:002017-09-27T09:14:46.338-05:00More cogitatingSitting here, quietly, over my breakfast, I am picturing trees, specifically fruit trees. And to some extent grape vines. Keepers of orchards and vineyards will readily attest to the need to prune the trees and the vines.<br /><br />Along with that thought is the idea that the farther from the root, the weaker the tree and the fruit. When I lived in California, I had the privilege of visiting many orange and grapefruit orchards. I learned that the trees needed to be pruned each year to keep the tree from getting to tall, and to concentrate the branches into a smaller area, to allow the fruit to grow better, stronger, and sweeter.<br /><br />It seems this is also true in our lives. The closer we are to the root of life, the better, the stronger, and the sweeter is our life. As I look around at the world today, I realize that in many ways we have gotten too far from our root. That root would be The Creator, The Sustainer of all we are aware of. Just like the trees and vines, we have ceased to be fruit bearing, because the life flow has been reduced so much.<br /><br />When this great nation was conceived, it was under the assumption The Creator had made it available for people to live lives believing, hoping, and trusting in The Creator and Sustainer. The earliest schools were held in churches and used the Bible for most of the teaching. Along the way, we have segregated our schools into buildings far from the churches, and have removed the Bible from teaching. We no longer believe, hope or trust in The Creator and Sustainer, for we are convinced that man is able to forgive sins, provide sustenance and generally take care of everything.<br /><br />Yes, we have allowed ourselves to be led away from the True Life Blood that creates and sustains to a life blood that destroys.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-78452562706169839992017-06-02T17:07:00.001-05:002017-06-02T17:07:42.758-05:00Just a PauseAt 71-1/2 years I find myself reflecting. I have seen a lot; but I haven't
seen everything...in fact, I am sure there are many things I have no desire to
see at all. I have been to a lot places; I have not been everywhere. I have done
a lot of things; but I haven't done everything...and I realize there are a lot
of things I really would rather not do.<br />
<br />
Every place I have been, every word I have thought, spoken or heard,
everything I have done or not done, everything I have seen has collaborated to
bring me to who, and where, I am today.<br />
<br />
I recall entering the base exchange, a vendor was demonstrating some kind of
a juicer, and he shouted to me something along the line of "Hey, this is just
what you need, it will add years to your life." I looked at him, and asked him
"how do you know how long I will live? I have made it through a tour in Vietnam,
and recovered from a head-on motor vehicle accident at 85 miles an hour, from
which three people died. How can you guarantee your juicer will add years to my
life?"<br />
<br />
When I realize that my dad's dad died at age 34 when dad was a year and half
old; my dad died at 54, dad's mom died at 89, mom died at 93, her mother died at
44 and her dad died at 79, I truly recognize there really is no way to guarantee
how long we are going to be walking on this earth.<br />
<br />
The Psalmist informs us, that when God put us together in the secret of the
womb, He also knew the numbers of our days on earth. There is a bit of an
argument going around now and then whether God is male or female. In truth, He
is both. God embodies the perfection of male and female. When God said let Us
make man in our own image, he meant specifically that man would be both male and
female. However, that didn't seem to work out, so, God took the woman from out
of the man and made two people. Thus we understand the Biblical injunction that
a man and a woman shall come together and become one.<br />
<br />
Well, anyway, as I reflect on my life and all it encompasses, I can say
without any reservation my life was not worth a plug nickle until the day God
confronted me in my apartment, 43 years ago, and accused me of destroying
something that He had made beautiful. We had a pretty in depth discussion, and I
accepted His offer to be cleaned up and made new. It was as if my life had
stopped and was began anew. My fellow Marines didn't understand why I no longer
wanted to go bar hopping, or imbibing alcoholic beverages all night. Truth be
told, it was really quite nice to wake up the morning and not wonder if I had
done anything bad during the previous night; not to mention, my pay check seemed
to go a little farther each month.<br />
<br />
Well, just a little time spent reminiscing and reminding myself that no
matter what may happen in this life, I am in God's hands, and I can't think of a
safer place to be.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-35124646644613721312017-04-21T10:47:00.004-05:002017-04-21T10:47:49.427-05:00Wisdom of man<div>
1 Corinthians 2:5 -- "...your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men
but on the power of God."</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Is this not a good word in a time of trouble and discord? If we can be
honest with ourself for just a moment, where has the wisdom of man gotten us?
Over and over again, down the annals of time, history shows us that the widsom
of man has, perhaps brought some comfort and affluence to some, but for the most
part has been despotic.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Look where you will; you will see the trouble brought by the wisdom of man.
The Crusades? Yes, the work of the wisdom of man. Religious activism? Yes, the
work of the wisdom of man. The Holocaust? Again, the work of the wisdom of
man.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
When the Almighty, the Lord, the Creator, the Sustainer of life, the Great
Physician says we should live in peace, and love one another as He has loved
us...how can we justify killing each other, or taking away property from each
other?</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
When our heart is right with God, we will see and live the peace that
passes all understanding, and our hearts will be filled with His love.</div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-87059899541327337692017-03-30T09:38:00.003-05:002017-03-30T09:38:46.927-05:00Peace<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, we have come to that time of the year. What time of the
year, you ask? Well, that time of the year when our thoughts turn to fuzzy
little bunnies and colored eggs. I am convinced, that for the most part we have
forgotten the meaning behind Easter. Or more especially what brought us to the
point.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Think about this for a moment, or all day if you like. Luke 19:41-44 -- "<i>And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had
known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have
been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies
will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side,
and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not
leave in you one stone upon another because you did not recognize the time of
your visitation.</i>'"</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
What are the things that make for peace? Well, for one, it is the total
vanquishment of the enemy. Once your enemy is hobbled and no longer able to
disrupt your peace, you will have peace. Within this thought is the idea that we
all struggle with enemies, demons if you will, within us that strive to disrupt
our peace. Paul informs us in Philippians 4:7 -- "..<i>.the peace of God, which
surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.</i>" Jesus is quoted, in John 14:27, as saying "<i>Peace I leave with you; My
peace I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you.</i>" This peace that
passes all comprehension, comes not from destroying another person, but from
destroying those passions that reign so strongly within us. We can never be at
peace, until we are at peace within our self and with God. All the martyrs down
through the ages have attested to this fact...once we have peace with God, we
will have peace unspeakable and full of glory.</div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-53427780716720047172016-09-17T09:01:00.004-05:002016-09-17T09:01:50.810-05:00cogitating again<div>
So, this morning, I was relaxing, listenning to the radio, when my ears
were assaulted by a commercial for tires. What penetrated my mind was the idea
that if you purchased so many of certain tires you would get an immediate rebate
of $75.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I guess, over my lifetime, I have benefitted from rebates of some kind.
However, this morning the idea just struck me wrong. If the business has the
money to give an immediate rebate, why not just lower the price that amount? Ah,
but as the old circus owner once quipped "a sucker and his money are soon
parted". Why do we like the idea of getting something back, more than having a
lower price?</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Guess that is why scams are so popular where you are invited to send a
thousand dollars to recive a million dollars; only to realize you won't be
getting anything.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My old father-in-law said it pretty succinctly, "too soon old, too late
smart!"</div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-71975520310332597752016-09-15T11:22:00.004-05:002016-09-15T11:22:56.557-05:00Raindrops keep falling on my head<span style="font-size: medium;">OK, so I woke up this morning, 5:00. The parking lot outside was
damp, but drying out. Then, around 7:00 I noticed the dry spots were damp again,
but it was not raining. Then around 8:00 it started raining.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">I have been waiting all summer for this. It has now been raining
for about three hours. There has been soft rain, and hard rain, but all in all
it is rain; and beautiful. Interspered within all the rain are occasional
lightnings and thunder boomers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">The weather guessers on the radio are saying temps in low 70s,
but sunshine by tomorrow.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">So, let me see, humidity is moisture in the air. How funny that
when it rains all day, there is not the uncomfortable sense that heat and
humidity normally bring. In fact, when it rains all day, it seems to bring the
temps down to reasonable levels.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, I enjoy the rain. Remember the Everly Brothers record:
"I'll do my crying in the rain"? Then when I was a child, there was "Singing in
the rain".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">So much for cogitating on the rain. Enjoy your day.</span>gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-55473356297828126982016-09-09T11:05:00.000-05:002016-09-09T11:05:43.400-05:00Lamenting<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Did I say, that I hate laundry day?</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Laundry day, today, is so much different than when I was a
child. I remember washing the clothes, then hanging them out on the line to dry.
Yes, all year around. I remember bringing in clothes and sheets that were frozen
solid. Once the clothes dried on the line, they were brought into the house, and
using a large bottle with a cap with holes in it, all the clothes would be
sprinkled, rolled up and placed in a basket. Then would come the time to iron
everything. Yeah, that was laundry day back then.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then, in the Marine Corps, laundry came once a week. In boot
camp we washed on cement tables, then hung them up to dry. In Vietnam, we didn't
have any laundry service, so, when you thought about it you would soap up your
face, and utilities, then rinse, and wear them while they dried. The rest of my
time in the Corps, I did my own laundry, which entailed washing, using a dryer,
and ironing. There did come a time when I was able to send a lot of my uniform
items to the cleaners.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, today, I find myself walking the 34 steps from my
apartment to the laundry room carrying two laundry baskets of clothes. When the
dryer is through cooking them, I fold them up and put them away. Well, it does
take some time. Washers have a 30 minute cycle and dryer has a 45 minute cycle.
So, it takes me about three hours. Then on other days, when I include the sheets
off the bed, that entails three loads and adds another hour and a
half.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Some might say, find yourself a wife and let her do the
laundry for you. Nice thought. I have had three of them, and found out each
time, if you want it done right you do it yourself. How well I remember my first
wife, wanting to perform her wifely duty, and doing my laundry; she washed my
"wool worsted shirts" in hot water. Yeah, you guessed it, they shrunk up almost
half the normal size. I guess people must no longer be taught to separate whites
from coloreds. One of my wives turned my white tshirts pink. Definitely do not
go well with military uniforms.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, if I haven't said it before, please know I hate laundry
day. But like so much else in life; you do it, get through it, and go on with
life.</span></div>
gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-20074099425125428322016-09-02T11:00:00.002-05:002016-09-02T11:00:51.069-05:00Well, last Saturday evening my baby married her best friend. It was an awesome wedding, and reception. Her nieces and nephew were involved in the wedding, and his nieces were also involved. It is so awesome when events come together in such a wonderful way.<br />
<br />
Just after the rehearsal, I was sitting and talking with the pastor, who is an old (not age wise) friend from back when I was pastoring. As we spoke, I was reminded of something that has accumulated over the years in my mind.<br />
<br />
The Hebrew “YHWH”, that we pronounce as “YAHWEH” carries the connotation of male/female. During the Creation event, when God said, “Let us make man in our own image” He was referring to man being also male/female. That is God’s image.<br />
<br />
A rabbi friend of mine informs me that according to the Torah, Adam lived and had relations with each of the animals that were created; along with giving them names. After mating with each of the animals God determined none were adequate to meet man’s needs. God stated that it was not good for man to be alone. Rather than chop the man up to separate the male from the female, God removed a rib from the man, and using it as a foundation formed the woman. Is it not interesting, that the form given to the woman, was almost a mirror image of the man? When the two were put together they truly became one.<br />
<br />
Perhaps that is why Scripture admonishes us that a woman shall leave her father and mother and cling to her husband. Scripture also informs us when a man and a woman have sexual relation they become one. How true. They become one in more ways than one. The sexual union truly cements them together, which is why we find divorce to be so traumatic. And probably indicates why people experience so much loss and pain after having many sexual unions. Marriage of one man and one woman completes the oneness that is the image of God.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-38375695693356379782015-08-16T11:56:00.004-05:002015-08-16T11:56:50.491-05:00them was the daysWhen I was young
the days were fun
and filled with things to do.
The terrible words, “you’ve been grounded”
were the worst words ever sounded
cuz that was when I knew.
The great outdoors so big and wide
was lost, cuz I was stuck inside
I couldn’t wait for it to be through.
The only punishment worse than this
was having to baby-sit my sis
if you’ve been there, you know its true.
Life was different way back then
kids weren’t collared, or in a pen
the great outdoors held lots to do.
We’d hunt for arrowheads on some hill
and laugh each time our bike would spill
those were the days in which I grew.
When I was young
the days were fun
and filled with many things to do.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-25645166576885732062015-04-30T10:00:00.000-05:002015-04-30T10:00:03.585-05:00Naggin at my nogginOK, let me think about this for a minute. So, a number of “scientists” , who are vegetarians/vegans, tell the world that meat is bad for people’s health. If we want to live longer we need to stop eating meat. In the back of my mind, I am thinking, cattle and chickens eat only vegetables, they have never been known to be carnivorous, at least as far as I know. Then, in another part of the back of my mind I think, vegetables for the most part do not grow wild...first of all, they need fertilization to blossom. Well, where does fertilization come from? Generally, mammals, so, if you are a totally devout vegan...how can you eat veggies that have been fertilized by mammal waste? Of course, there is now the advent of scientifically generated fertilizer that has the propensity of bringing forth bigger and better veggies, but that begs the question, “Is genetically modified food better for us?” Of course, there was a time when we didn’t hear so much outcry about food being bad for us; but that was before the government started giving out money for scientists to chase after pipe dreams. That brings us back to the adage, “follow the money”. I suppose this probably stands true for global warming/climate change, also. Not to mention urban sprawl. So, we labor to earn a living, while giving part of our wages to people who are elected to make financial decisions based on what is important to them, rather than the common good. And speaking of the common good, “common core” seems to have generated some intense emotions across the sphere. There was a time when “school” related to the three r’s readin, riten, and rithmatic. You know, 1 + 1 = 2, 2 X 2 = 4, 4 / 4 = 1? The ugly truth is, part of the mass exodus from the old world to the new world had to do with individuals being able to make the best of their life. Schools were set up to teach children a common language, to recognize the letters and put them together to make words and to understand the words. It is difficult for us, in this day and age, to realize there was a time when only the wealthy, and titled, were able to read and write. The masses were illiterate and ignorant, they did what they were told to or died. This new world turned the old ways upside down. And now, we are once again faced with the “elite” attempting to place the masses back where they belong. Never thought you would see the day where parents would be considered outlaws for teaching their children to read and write? Well, welcome to the new, new world. Sadly, those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to relive it.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-22529972633926471892015-04-20T14:14:00.001-05:002015-04-20T14:14:52.014-05:00Mother's Day rememberedMay 10, 1998
TITLE: Mother: God’s love with skin on
TEXT: More than one
INTRODUCTION
In her book, <i>Stick a Geranium in your hat and be happy</i>, Barbara Johnson, uses the line: <i>“If it was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called labor”</i>. She agrees that motherhood is a labor of love.
Then, she reminisces about a story she came across. “It seems an angel slipped out of heaven and spent the day roaming around the earth. As the sun was setting, he decided to take along some mementos of his visit. He noticed some lovely roses in a flower garden, plucked the rarest and most beautiful, and made a bouquet to take back to heaven. Looking on a bit farther, he saw a beautiful little baby smiling into its mother’s face. The baby’s smile was even prettier than the bouquet of roses, so he took that, too. He was about to leave when he saw the mother’s love pouring out like a gushing river toward the little baby in the cradle, and he said to himself, ‘Oh, that mother’s love is the prettiest thing I have seen on earth; I will carry that, too’. He winged his way back to heaven, but just outside the pearly gates he decided to examine his mementos to see how well they had made the trip. The flowers had withered, the baby’s smile had faded, but the mother’s love was still there in all it warmth and beauty. He discarded the withered flowers and the faded smile, gathered all the hosts of heaven around him, and said, ‘Here’s the only thing I found on earth that would keep its beauty all the way to heaven – it is a mother’s love.’” Which caused me to see a mother as, God’s love with skin on.
BODY
A. Psalm 131:2 (Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me.)
The Psalmist speaks here, of his trust in the LORD. The best example David could find, to demonstrate what he felt when he trusted in God; was the idea of a weaned child at its mother’s breast. Anyone who has been around a small child that has not been weaned and is being nursed, knows that when you hold a baby with its head near your chest, the baby will push against you, and may get agitated if it isn’t able to receive nourishment.
A weaned child, on the other hand, can rest in its mother’s arms, with its head on her chest, and not have to search for nourishment. Nothing is as peaceful as being held, by a mother. Psychology tells us that a person who is deeply disturbed, or troubled, may rock back and forth to overcome the distress. This is attributed to an innate memory of a mother rocking a small child, especially in times of trouble.
In Deuteronomy 33:26, Moses tells the Israelites: “The Eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” What better place could there be to live, than in a pair of arms? Isn’t it exciting that God put our arms in such a place that whenever we hold something precious, it is held close to our heart? Moses has given us a perfect impression of the love of God, “the Everlasting arms”. What child is not at peace when mom is holding it? In verse 28, Moses goes on to say” “So Israel dwells in security.” Do you remember how secure you felt during a storm, or when something was going on that you did not understand, to crawl into bed beside mom, and have her wrap her arms around you?
B. 1 Kings 3:16-26
In this passage of Scripture, we are treated to the heart of God that is implanted in mothers. Two women were fighting over a child, and each claimed the child was hers. Of course, without a birth certificate, it would have been pretty difficult to identify who the child really belonged to. The writer of this story, is quick to tell us that both women were prostitutes: which tells us that neither woman had a living relationship with God. We are led to believe, today, that prostitutes do not want to have any children. Back in those days, prostitutes were outcasts from society, and had no chance of ever having a solid family life, or anything they could call their own. A son would at least give them something to put their hope in.
Could this be a key to understanding the teen pregnancy crisis our country is faced with today? We have effectively taken God out of the school, out of the work place, and even out of the home. So many, today, have nothing to hang their hope on. Especially those young people that grew up without parental closeness, who may be desiring to have a child that they can love the way they had not been loved.
Solomon’s way of uncovering the mystery of who the child really belonged to, was to offer to divide the child in half, then each woman would have half of a dead child. Neither one would have a child to hang any hopes on. The real mother refused to allow the child to be cut in half. In spite of her sinful life, the real mother refused to allow the child to be killed.
How like God, who does not want anyone to be taken from Him, or killed to satisfy some fanciful right. John 3:16 tells us, “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” It is God’s love for us, that caused Him to do something to save our lives; our spiritual lives. If we could only see how much it hurts God to see any of His creation die separated from Him, we would understand the urgency of Christ’s command to go and teach, and save souls.
C. Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34
Both passage have Jesus saying” “How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings”. When children have had a bad day, when their world seems to be coming down around their heads, mom’s sheltering arms, are the sure fix, for whatever is wrong. Whenever a child gets hurt, the greatest medicine they can receive is mom, holding them and speaking softly to them. So often, mom is our first line of defense. When someone is after us, it is always great to have mom on our side. Dad generally has the responsibility of making sure that the family has food; but it is mom who insures that everyone is fed properly.
D. One last illustration should help us to see mother as God’s love with skin on.
Scripture tells us that Jesus has sat down at the right hand of God; and that He ever lives to make intercession for us. It has been a topic of conversation for many years, especially among people who have been spiritual giants; that their mother had prayed for them fervently. Many have said; “Had it not been for a godly mother faithfully praying for them, they would have been lost for eternity”. Many of us have heard testimonies by aged grandmothers who have prayed for one of their children that they eventually gave their heart to the LORD.
CLOSING
In closing, I want to read an article dated 1946:
My last night at home was a sad one. Mother wetted my face with her tears all night, with the one message, “Our last night. You are going to a land called the grave of the white man. This is your funeral.” She went down into the valley that night, came up with the vision, bade farewell with a glorified face, the only person that did not weep. Her only girl had been held loosely until the test came. Mother won out. Three years later I was on my deathbed. That terrible water fever was claiming me. Only a few hours to live was the announcement. Fever over 105. Won’t go down. Hemorrhages of the kidneys persistent. Vitality gone. Had but one occupation, praying for mother. Suddenly fell asleep, glad to go to be with Jesus. But woke up, free from the awful pain and burning fever, normal. Nurse flew into a panic. Drop to normal too sudden. Coma! Soon lapsed into sleep again, supposed to be the last one. But woke up normal and stayed normal, and was up at my work again within a two week period. Clearly a miracle! Two months later a letter came from home, but this was not from my mother. They had carried her out. She died in an agony of prayer for her only girl the same hour in Chicago, in which the girl, 10,000 miles away, had come back to life again. Letters took two months from Chicago to our station. There was no means of cabling in that day. But the heavenly wireless was even then in fullest operation. The burden fell upon her. She fought the fight for my life, not knowing why. She had reckoned with the Eternal and so I live today.
Alma E Doering
I began this message with a quote from a book by Barbara Johnson; I would like to close with a poem that Barbara has on the last page.
Don’t despair so of your children,
God will bring them to the fold –
Because He died to save them
They’re special to the LORD.
He know how much you love them,
He loves them even more.
As long as you hold on in prayer,
He’ll not close the door.
Even now He sees your tears,
And He whispers tenderly,
Of love that conquered all –
That all men might be free.
So lay them at His altar,
Let go and leave them there –
God will be faithful to your trust,
He won’t withhold His care .
His hand will ever nurture,
No matter where they roam –
And He won’t be satisfied
‘Til He sees them safely home.
– Joyce Henning
You see, mother is God’s love with skin on, because mother lives close to God, depends totally on God, and is obedient to God and God’s Word. And mother won’t be satisfied till all her children are safely home!gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-43091027845195842172014-11-23T09:13:00.000-06:002014-11-23T09:13:15.033-06:00Cogitating while masticatingSo, this morning over breakfast, I am cogitating about anything, everything, nothing; and the thought occurs to me.<br /><br />Christianity highlights the ultimate location of seeing and being with Jesus throughout eternity. And being gathered with many who are like minded, and love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. With each one having a mansion in which to spend eternity. With the greatest blessing being to worship at the feet of God the Father and Jesus the Christ. Nothing is said about interpersonal relationships with others. Women and men will be on equal footing spending eternity knowing they are with the Creator, and Sustainer of all life.<br /><br />Looking in another direction, I understand Islam teaches that women and children are property and subservient to men. It highlights the ultimate location of men who are faithful spending eternity with many virgins. Sadly, I guess that doesn’t say much for the women; if they are not virgins, what happens to them at death? And, I guess, what kind of an eternity is that to look forward to, for a woman?<br /><br />So, Jesus came to reclaim fallen mankind, forgive sin, and lead us into a peace that passes all understanding, and a freedom that the soul desires and clamors for. What kind of peace and freedom can there be in people being subservient to someone? I guess, being born in the land of the free and the home of the brave has given me a jaundiced picture of life. Almost no where else on earth, or in the history of mankind have so many been so free, so, available to be all they can be. And yet, there are people who clamor to be subservient to someone else. People who are willing to give up all their power, and ability, to be told what to do, where to go, how to do it, how to get there, by someone else.<br /><br />As the song goes, you can take everything, just give me Jesus. I would rather trust and depend on the Creator and Sustainer of all that is known, than any created being. No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-61274781904461869812014-09-03T06:17:00.001-05:002014-09-03T06:17:24.449-05:00More Cognitive DisonanceOK, so, through the night, my mind seemed to work on something, that was evident when I awoke this morning. Two disparate thoughts seemed to meld together, that I ordinarily would not have considered.<br />
On the radio, here locally, there has been an advertisement for a fund raiser, that highlights country singer Mark Chesnut coming to town. The ad includes a short from one of his records entitled “Bubba Shot The Jukebox, Last Night”. So, I guess this little ditty was percolating around in my mind when I went to bed last night.
Huh, Bubba shot the jukebox...in a way, that is funny, pretty funny. Good entertainment, no? However, in today’s politically correct atmosphere, a message comes through pretty loud and clear. Bubba shot the jukebox!<br />
Who is Bubba?
Well, thanks to Hollywood, we know who Bubba is. The movie “Forrest Gump” shows us a pretty definitive example of who Bubba is. He is basically low intelligence, got his mind on one thing and one thing only. He is a southern hick hell bent on making a fortune someday. Bubba is enthused about entering the military, and sees it as being a stepping stone to realizing his dream.<br />
Excuse me for being confused, but in the movie, Bubba is an “African-American”. All the stereotypes from down the ages are complete in this one person. Think about it, in Vietnam, Bubba gets shot, who picks him up and runs with him to safety? Why it’s a white guy. It is the white guy who in the end is able to realize the affluent lifestyle poor ole Bubba dreamed of. Can I say how surprised I am that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have not led a crusade to denigrate this movie?<br />
Enter, now, the thought “Bubba shot the jukebox”. He didn’t shoot it a look. He shot it with a .45. And why would he do such a thing? The song made him cry. Ah, what a convenient picture of a hayseed hick, sitting around drinking in his favorite watering hole, and getting upset over a song and shooting the jukebox. Yeah, I thought so. Bitter clingers...clinging to their guns and religion. Hayseed hicks who have no respect for the law. Hayseed hicks who carry armed weapons. Hayseed hicks who turn to violence when they’re not happy, when the world is not going their way.
It appears there is no real reason for anyone to want to own a gun, much less carry it around unless they are a social misfit. Yeah, right, a Bubba. A bitter clinger. Face it, if you own a gun, and perhaps carry one for personal protection, you are only a moment away from pulling out the gun and shooting something or someone just because you are a social misfit.<br />
Watch the current movies that show guns being used all the time. Funny, the actors who represent the most “shoot em up” persona, appear to be the ones who are the most vocal about “gun control”. Said actors would not be caught carrying a weapon in public, but they are willing to hire bodyguards to carry the loaded weapons to protect them.<br />
Okay, Scotty, beam me up, there ain’t no intellejunt life on this planet!gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897722866309651899.post-53047363392169335012014-08-27T08:26:00.001-05:002014-08-27T08:26:12.858-05:00Cognition?So, I am sitting here, cogitating, as I am oft wont to do, and my mind wanders back to the days of yesteryear - as Billy Joel might say "when I wore a younger man's clothes". It is true that my mind has a tendency to wander where it might want to go; so, here goes.
Back before my time, and perhaps up until I was able to cognitively understand what was going on around me, when a person told on someone else to an authority figure they were considered to "squeal" or they were a "rat" or a "fink". In some regards there were also "rat finks". Then, during the time when a pay phone cost a dime to make a local call, the term "dropping a dime" was used. During my years in the Marine Corps, around the Vietnam time, a new phrase was coined "Narc". Though its use began in the drug culture referring to "narcotics" and the authorities making arrests, it soon became the go-to phrase for anyone tattling on someone.
Well, today, I am pretty much out of touch with popular culture. Thus I am able to title my blog "Tired n retired retard". I am no longer aware of what term is used for tattling. For all practical purposes there may not even be one anymore, in this "politically correct" atmosphere we now live in. Come to think of it, I can see how calling someone a term referring to their propensity to tattle on someone, to come under the heading of "bullying". Oh, that's right, recently we used the term "whistle blower", I think until "Wikileaks" came along.
So, I suppose that is enough cogitating for the time being. My mind seems to have tired of wandering, so, I'm gonna put this to bed.gunnypinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10945550915259914757noreply@blogger.com0