November

Matthew 13.
Hindsight is 2020.

Friday, July 30, 2010

The Screwtape Letters...

     In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis writes as a demon explaining how to trip up man.
     A must read. You will see why. Click here.

Funny Guy Friday... Musings from my funny hubby... Man v. nature...

     As a kid, I devoted a lot of time to playing sports. I had some success and earned a college scholarship. Playing ball occupied much of my time. 
     I have no regrets about the time that I devoted to athletics, but in doing so, I missed out on some things that other boys may have enjoyed. I did not hunt or fish, and I did not play with lizards, snakes, frogs, mice, etc. 
     My lack of experience in these areas came to haunt me this past week.
     On Tuesday, I got a call at work from Cheryl, advising me that the boys went fishing. Fishing... are you kidding me? 
     When we first got married, Cheryl bought me a fishing pole for Christmas. She said that she wanted to get me something that I would never guess, and that I did not have. She was right... I could have had a thousand guesses, and I never would have guessed a fishing pole. She could have shoved it up my nose and I would have assumed that it was for somebody else.  
     I had never fished... and I had never expressed any interest in fishing. She might as well have bought me a bra... although I must admit that I have expressed some interest in bras. The point is that I would have gotten about the same amount of use out of it.  
     Anyway... the boys went fishing... and apparently our youngest son could not cast, so he had the bright idea to grab the hook & lure, and throw it out into the water. I am not sure whether to be proud that he was using a baseball skill to throw that baby out into the water... or to be disappointed that he was so dopey as to think this would work without resulting in having a fish hook embedded in his finger... or as he described it... "in my best finger on my favorite hand."  
     So now I get the call asking how to get a fish hook out of a finger. How am I supposed to know? The last time I touched a fishing pole was seventeen years ago on Christmas Day. 
     My response was predictable, "This is why I don't fish," which suggests that I have thought about having a fish hook stuck in my finger, when in reality that has never crossed my mind. Off to Nightime Pediatrics!!!
     Fortunately, Cheryl made several calls to some friends and found a nurse friend who was able to get it out without too much trouble. Our boy was very brave, and managed to parlay that into an extra topping on his ice cream that night. This, of course, prompted our other son to inquire what he could get for a very bad blister on his heel.  
     This fish story is small potatoes compared to what happened a couple of days later.    
     On Sunday, we were cleaning out our basement. Typically, when the kids have friends over and they aren't out fishing, they go down to the basement and play/destroy/ruin/spill/litter. 
     Cheryl and I were giving it a long-overdue cleaning when a wild beast came out from the darkest corner of the room. Okay, a mouse ran out from under a couch and Cheryl screamed. This is when the fun started. 
     Cheryl advised me that it was under a shelf, and described it as "small, brown and very fast." This is the same description that I have heard many NFL commentators use to describe New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, and I wanted about as much to do with tackling this mouse as I do with tackling Reggie Bush. 
     She then instructed me to go get a tupperware bowl. Why? you ask?... So I can trap little Reggie.  This would require that I get close to this monster.  
     She then came up with a plan. She would force the mouse out from under the furniture, and I would throw the tupperware over him. This was great... except for every time I saw little Reggie, I turned and ran in the opposite direction.
     This little dance continued until Cheryl blew her assignment by letting little Reggie fake her out and escape out of the room. 
     I pursued the shifty rascal and herded him into the bathroom. Now this is where I displayed bravery beyond all expectations. I slammed the door, and set up a blockade that rivaled Alcatraz. The problem was that we could not leave him in there forever, so I had to go in... just Mano v. Mouso.  
     Of course, I had a mouse trap... and my plan was to open the door, place the trap, reseal the perimeter and let things develop. All I can add at this point is... final score... Man 1... Mouse 0.  
     I must say, it was like Lord of the Flies and I was the alpha male. Well... I didn't squeal like a girl and that is something to be proud of.   
     In retrospect... I could have spent a few more hours doing some other stuff----fishing and hunting come to mind!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Gotta love the Duke...


Thanks Creative Minority Report.
Anybody notice how much she's drinking?

Memorial of Saint Martha...

Reprinted from Holy Spirit Interactive...
     Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. They lived in the little town of Bethany near Jerusalem. They were dear friends of Jesus, and he often came to visit them. In fact, the Gospel tells us: "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary and Lazarus." It was St. Martha who lovingly served the Lord when he visited them. 
     One day, she was preparing a meal for Jesus and his disciples. She realized that the task would be easier if her sister would help. She watched Mary sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, listening to him. "Lord, tell my sister to help me," Martha suggested. Jesus was very pleased with Martha's loving service. However, he wanted her to know that listening to God's Word and praying is even more important. So he said gently, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious about many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part."
     St. Martha's great faith in Jesus was seen when her brother Lazarus died. As soon as she heard that Jesus was coming to Bethany, Martha went to meet him. She trusted Jesus and felt the freedom to say: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Then Jesus told her that Lazarus would rise. He said, "He who believes in me, even if he die, shall live. Do you believe this?" And Martha answered, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world." Jesus worked a great miracle and raised Lazarus from the dead!
     Later, Jesus came again to have supper with Lazarus, Martha and Mary. St. Martha served them at table as always. This time, though, Martha had a much more loving attitude. She served with a joyful heart.
Reflection: Today we might want to repeat Martha's profession of faith in Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (Jn 11:32-33)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Doing the will of God...

     This is from my friend Sam's blog, Thy Will be Done. Here is what she posted. Amen.
     When it comes down to it...all in all... in my total sinfulness, pride, and selfishness... all I want in life is to do The Will of God!!! I want to be Christ's hands and feet, I want to have His heart and desires.
      ... So with a little smile and a laugh I share this funny little email my cousin sent me... An eye witness account from New York City, on a cold day in December, some years ago...
     A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. 
     A lady approached the young boy and said, 'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!' 
     'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,’ was the boy's reply. 
     The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. 
     By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.' 
     As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her, 'Are you God's wife?'

Monday, July 26, 2010

Legal plunder...

     I found this great article over at American Thinker... We the Serfs, by John Lilly. Here is an excerpt... 
     "The Obama administration has managed to move us back in time to the medieval days, where the king reigned supreme, and the fruits of the serfs' (taxpayers, producers in society, the middle class, entrepreneurs, etc.) labor belong to the government, who determine how much we shall keep.
     "Frederick Bastiat wrote The Law in 1850 at the time of the French Revolution. His deductions are as relevant today as they were at that time. 
     "Our life -- physical, intellectual, and moral life -- is a gift from God. Man can live and satisfy his wants only by ceaseless labor. Every day I work, a day of my life is used up, never to return. The compensation that I am paid in exchange for that day's labor is equivalent to that piece of my life that is now gone. If I have a right to life, then I have a right to that compensation which I have exchanged for a portion of my life. This process is the origin of property. 
     "But man may also live and satisfy his wants by seizing and consuming the product of the labor of others. This process is the origin of plunder. Since man is naturally inclined to avoid pain, it follows that men will resort to plunder whenever plunder is easier than work. 
     "The proper purpose of law is to use the power of its collective force to stop this tendency to plunder instead of work. The law should protect property and punish plunder. The law, whether made by one man or one group of men, operates with the sanction and support of a dominating force, and this force must be entrusted to those who make the laws. 
     "Legal plunder occurs when the law takes from one person and gives to another. The law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. If such a law is not abolished, it will spread, multiply, and develop into a system.
     "As Frederick Bastiat noted in The Law,  
But it is upon the law that socialism itself relies. Socialists desire to practice legal plunder, not illegal plunder. Socialists, like all other monopolists, desire to make the law their own weapon. And when once the law is on the side of socialism, how can it be used against socialism? For when plunder is abetted by the law, it does not fear your courts, your gendarmes, and your prisons. Rather, it may call upon them for help.
     "When law and force keep a person within the bounds of justice, they impose nothing but a mere negation. They oblige him only to abstain from harming others. They do not violate his life, his liberty, or his property. They safeguard all of these. They are defensive; they defend equally the rights of all. The Constitution lists negative rights."
     To read the complete article, click here.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

"Why Socialism is Evil"... by Walter Williams...

     Walter Williams puts it very simply... Socialism is evil. 
     Hey America... especially the social justice crowd... you can't have it both ways.
     And if you don't believe Walter Williams, maybe you will listen to Jesus... A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 
     Here is what Williams says...
     "Evil acts can be given an aura of moral legitimacy by noble-sounding socialistic expressions such as spreading the wealth, income redistribution or caring for the less fortunate. Let's think about socialism.
     "Imagine there's an elderly widow down the street from you. She has neither the strength to mow her lawn nor enough money to hire someone to do it. Here's my question to you, and I'm almost afraid for the answer: Would you support a government mandate that forces one of your neighbors to mow the lady's lawn each week? If he failed to follow the government orders, would you approve of some kind of punishment ranging from house arrest and fines to imprisonment? I'm hoping that the average American would condemn such a government mandate because it would be a form of slavery, the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another.
     "Would there be the same condemnation if instead of the government forcing your neighbor to physically mow the widow's lawn, the government forced him to give the lady $40 of his weekly earnings? That way the widow could hire someone to mow her lawn. I'd say that there is little difference between the mandates. While the mandate's mechanism differs, it is nonetheless the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another.
     "Probably most Americans would have a clearer conscience if all the neighbors were forced to put money in a government pot and a government agency would send the widow a weekly sum of $40 to hire someone to mow her lawn. This mechanism makes the particular victim invisible, but it still boils down to one person being forcibly used to serve the purposes of another. Putting the money into a government pot makes palatable acts that would otherwise be deemed morally offensive.
     "This is why socialism is evil. It employs evil means, coercion or taking the property of one person, to accomplish good ends, helping one's fellow man. Helping one's fellow man in need, by reaching into one's own pockets, is a laudable and praiseworthy goal. Doing the same through coercion and reaching into another's pockets has no redeeming features and is worthy of condemnation."
     Read the rest of the article, from World Net Daily, here.

America was the new Jerusalem...

     Did you know that the Founders considered America to be a new Jerusalem? The Founders' writings and symbols were steeped in God, Moses and the Exodus. They were fleeing oppression from a tyrannical king, and they knew they were being guided to freedom by God. They appreciated how important He was for them, and for our nation.
     I thought about this a couple of days ago as I read a reading from the book of Jeremiah. The end is especially pertinent, considering that, through the years, our national leaders have forsaken God. They think they can be the savior, and create their notion of heaven on earth
     They focus on the material, while doing everything in their power to marginalize and even extinguish the spiritual. Do not depend on God... depend on the government. They have pushed God out. And our society has let it happen.
     They have forsaken God, the source of living waters, and they have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water.
Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13
 "This word of the LORD came to me: Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear! I remember the devotion of your youth, how you loved me as a bride, Following me in the desert, in a land unsown. Sacred to the LORD was Israel, the first fruits of his harvest; Should any presume to partake of them, evil would befall them, says the LORD. When I brought you into the garden land to eat its goodly fruits, You entered and defiled my land, you made my heritage loathsome. The priests asked not, "Where is the LORD?" Those who dealt with the law knew me not: the shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols. Be amazed at this, O heavens, and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD. Two evils have my people done: they have forsaken me, the source of living waters; They have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water." 
     For even more, read today's reading from Jeremiah. Amazing. God is good.
     America... Ask yourselves... Why are you giving yourselves back to the Pharaoh?

Friday, July 23, 2010

Funny Guy Friday... Musings from my funny hubby... Boonsboro, or bust...

     As a result of winning a District Tournament, our family had the pleasure of traveling to Hagerstown, Maryland, last Saturday, for our son's 10U Little League All-Star State Tournament, technically located in sleepy Boonsboro. 
     Unfortunately, my daughter and I had to leave early on Monday, so I could get to court, and she could get to a summer program she had to do for school. The two of us were on the road at 5:30 a.m., and had a very nice drive home.
     Part of the conversation involved ideas that she had about things that happened to Matthew over the weekend. Things that I could use in my weekly FGF blog. She takes great joy in poking fun at her brother, and now, she wanted an ally.
     As a parent, I told her... Okay, here we go.
     In our first game, the kids appeared to be nervous, and not quite up to their usual level of play. I spoke to the head coach and he relayed this little story.
     During a pitching change, Matthew was playing third base. He was approached by the third base umpire, and they began to chat. After mostly yes or no answers from Matthew, the umpire asked where he was from. After thinking about it for a few seconds, Matthew replied... I'm from Maryland
     Really... from Maryland. What are the odds of someone participating in the Maryland State Tournament being from Maryland?
     In our next game, Matthew did great. He got two hits. Well... one hit, and one reached on an error, but everyone was saying two hits, so I will go with it because he did hit it fairly well... and he played three innings behind the plate. 
     The two hits made our fans happy. I was happy. His mom was happy. But nobody was happier than Matthew. This fact was driven home after the game, when Matthew took a shower, all the while belting out Queen's WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.  
     This made me chuckle because they lost their first game, 15-1, and were eliminated in their second game, 8-6. No matter. Although very disappointed about the loss, he was excited about his play, and his team.
     We did get eliminated, unfortunately, but it was a great experience for the entire family, and most especially, for Matthew.
     From the very beginning, the boys that had been on last year's all-star team made him feel like part of the gang. He got the opportunity to play with a group of nice, talented kids that love playing baseball. He learned what it was like to compete as a team with a goal in mind, and he made new friends along the way.
     Individually, it also showed him that he has to continue to improve in order to continue to compete. It was clear to me that by the end of the postseason, he had, in fact, improved.
     It also marked the first time that he played on a baseball team that I did not coach. I had gotten to know the coaches from coaching against them in the regular season, and I had no concerns. 
     They approached the team with the perfect mix of fun and discipline. I am sure that every kid on that team looked forward to going to practice... and each kid on that team was disappointed that the season had come to an end.
     They had done a great job, despite my warning before the tournament that, any decisions that the coaches make that do not work, I officially disagree with.. and as a parent, I would have done things differently... and my ideas would have worked! I suppose that makes me an official Little League parent.
     As always, a few more wins would have been nice, but the kids had won their District, and they all had a great experience at the State Tournament.
     As for my lovely daughter... she too is going to make it into today's FGF. 
     You see... right after she convinced me to make fun of her brother, she stopped changing the radio stations just long enough for us to hear a quick story about Mel Gibson. After the story... while reaching to change the radio station for the millionth time, she asked if Mel Gibson was the voice of Bugs Bunny. Mel Blanc must have been rolling over in his grave.
     Can you imagine Bugs having to move out of the country because of crazy rants? Maybe Yosemite Sam, but not Bugsy. I informed her that all Mels are not the same. 
     However... all of my kids are the same. And they better watch what they do or say, because you never know who is blogging about it.
     By the way... I do ask my kids if it is okay for me to humiliate them. Eventually, they say okay.  

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Talk about "executive" powers...

     Have you heard about President Obama's neat new power? He has claimed the power to order the assassination of American citizens, without due process. Just on an accusation of terrorist activities. Just because he says they are a threat to other Americans. Read about it here, here, and here
     I wonder who else he considers a threat to Americans. Which Americans, I wonder? Hmm. 
     Assassinate American citizens. No due process whatsoever. Kill them. 
     The king has spoken.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Communist Goals in 1963

     I was born in 1963.
     I thought I was growing up and living in one America... but it seems the Communists were transforming her this whole time into something very different. And they have accomplished quite a few more things than I have in my time here on earth. Read about them. See how many of their goals are a fete accompli.
     The sad thing is... Americans let this happen. Time to stand up and push back.
     My Lord is my light and my salvation... of whom should I be afraid. God will prevail. Hope.

The U.S. is a monster... Everything we possess really belongs to the rest of the world...

    These are the beliefs in the Weather Underground Manifesto, entitled, You Don't Need a Weatherman to Know Which Way the Wind Blows. By the time I had gotten to the second page, I could see where this was going. You can find a link to this in my sidebar, under Who would destroy America... or just click on the title to get straight to the essay. Please read the whole thing so you can see how this fits with the policies of this administration.
     The authors include close Obama associates Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, and Jeff Jones of the Apollo Alliance, creator of the recent so-called stimulus package. These people are terrorist revolutionaries who want to destroy America. And they are close to our president. How many terrorist revolutionaries do you know?
     Make no mistake that Obama believes what they do. He cut his teeth on this Marxist lunacy. America is the world's oppressor. Redistribute the wealth. Revolution. 
     Fundamental transformation.

Where have all the newsmen gone...

     The Daily Caller reports that during the 2008 election, a network of news outlets deliberately covered up damaging stories about Obama, even going so far as to falsely accuse conservatives of racism. See story here
     Note to my readers... Shhh... Top secret... Are you ready? It is still goes on. Gasp.
     Where have all the newsmen gone...
          Long time passing...
     Where have all the newsmen gone...
          Long time ago...
     Where have all the newsmen gone...
          Gone to Pravda, every one.
     When will they ever learn?
          When will they ever learn?
    

40 Days and 40 Nights...

     Glenn Beck has begun a project called, 40 Days and 40 Nights. It is the time period starting now through August 28, when he will be hosting a gathering at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The rally is called Restoring Honor.
     He chose 40 Days and 40 Nights because, biblically, that has always indicated a time of great preparation.
     During these 40 days, he has asked that, for the good of America, we exercise our faith, hope and charity, perhaps like never before.
     Faith... Pray. We need to get down on our knees and pray. Literally, down on our knees. Pray for God's strength and guidance. Pray for peace. Pray for even deeper faith in Him. And pray for America, and God's wisdom for our civic leaders. Pray.
     Hope... We hope, based on truth. Seek the truth. And speak the truth. Especially to yourself. Know what you believe. Do your own research. Spend some time thinking. Pray to know the truth.
     Charity... Charity begins at home. Do something kind for each member of your family, at least once a week. More often, when possible. We live in the best, most charitable nation the world has ever seen. Notice your blessings. Be grateful. And give from the heart.
     Have a truly blessed 40 days. I hope to see you August 28, at the Restoring Honor rally in D.C.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Wisdom from the Old Testament...

     I love the Old Testament. I think that some people don't really explore what it says, because they think it is archaic and meaningless to them today. But if you read it day after day, you will see that it often pertains to exactly what is happening in today's modern times. 
     God speaks to us through his Word. I can't live without it. Today's question... What are we to do to please God and show Him our faithfulness? It's very simple, from Micah 6...
"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God."
     It's that simple. 

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Modern day eugenics... abortion will do... Margaret Sanger would be proud...

     Margaret Sanger was an early 20th century progressive, and the founder of Planned Parenthood. She believed that minorities and poor people were inferior to whites, and should not breed. She was influential in promoting eugenics in America.
     I was researching eugenics and found the following passage here.
"Equally or even more influential on popular culture was Margaret Sanger 1883-1966. Sanger is known as a crusader for contraceptive rights; but few know that her concern for contraception was based firmly on concern for racial control. Her early work in impoverished environments led her to the belief that 'genetically inferior' persons should have less children, and that centers for birth control should be 'wisely' placed in neighborhoods which were impoverished, which also frequently happened to be in minority settings. Her first major 'research' journal, Birth Control Review published articles and research by Eugenicists including a few published by one of Hitler's Eugenicists."
"Few know of Sanger's concern with racial policies and control, but a careful perusal of authors and articles in these early journals demonstrate her concern with human engineering. She was later in life appointed honorary head of Planned Parenthood, the group which grew out of her original organization in the 1940s; the journal has continued as a research arm of Planned Parenthood till this day, under a different name. These and other influences of Eugenics proponents in the United States were formidable contributing factors in the lobbying for isolationism and restricted immigration during World War II, hurting mostly Jewish persons wishing to escape the Shoah."    
     Does any of this sound familiar? Centers for birth control wisely placed in neighborhoods which are impoverished, which also frequently happen to be in minority settings. And all this time, I thought Planned Parenthood just wanted to help.
     If you don't know history, you are doomed to repeat it. Boy, have the women of this nation been taken for a ride. Get off now, lest you end up heartbroken.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Add New Mexico and Maryland to the list...

     Well... what do you know... New Mexico and Maryland have joined Pennsylvania in funding abortions with federal taxpayer money under Obamacare. Read here and here
     Didn't the president promise this wouldn't happen? Hmm. 
     Believe me, it's only just begun. Make no mistake about this administration's mantra... An abortion in every pot.
     Let's look at their to-do list... 
     Abolish the Mexico City policy and fund abortions in other countries... check.
     Abolish the ban on abortions in military hospitals... check.
     Fund abortion campaigns in other countries to reverse their pro-life laws... check.
     And now... fund abortions here at home... check.
     All with our money... check. Even ardent pro-lifers' money... check.
     It's immoral and it's reprehensible... so what.
     Oh, and I forgot one more item on their list... Convince faithful churchgoers that although this is obviously not desirable, it is necessary... you know... for some poor people who could lose everything by saying yes to life. Everything material, that is. Think of the poor. The less fortunate... who couldn't possibly get by without killing their babies... check.
     Can anyone not see it yet? Worldwide population control. And if you're still not convinced, look up eugenics and Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood.
     There is no way that people of good conscience can any longer look the other way with regard to the monstrous slaughter of millions and millions of children worldwide. Especially when an American administration is so enthusiastically expanding this horror.
     If you wonder what evil looks like, this is it.
     If you still can't see it... pray that God will knock the scales off your eyes.
     And pray for His mercy.
Note... Maryland is one of four states that already uses state tax money to fund abortion on demand. Maryland's governor says he is Catholic. He permits this anyway.

Fascists don't need no stinkin' Constitution...

     You may think you know what fascism is... but do you, really? Could you see it if it were right in front of you? 
     This article, from the American Thinker, sums up perfectly what is happening, if we only have eyes to see. The recent financial overhaul was the latest important piece of their scheme. Now they have complete control of the banks. They are not done yet.
     Unthinkable, I know. 
     Think it anyway.
     The Lord is my strength and my shield. 

Friday, July 16, 2010

Funny Guy Friday... Musings from my funny hubby... From the mouths of babes...

     Kids say the darndest things. And they're are all a bunch of brats.  
     My brother runs a baseball camp, and he opens it up to any kid that won't cry when his mommy drives off. This sole criteria, I felt, eliminated my youngest son from consideration.
     He loves his mommy way more than he should (who wouldn't love the person that sets up an art studio for you in the living room, and then marvels at EVERY Picaso that you draw), and he has not shown much interest in sports. He participated in clinic basketball, but much of the time he was Kung Fu fighting as the game went on around him, or singing into his water bottle while sitting on the bench.
     Not that I don't try to get him to play. When he tires of drawing a masterpiece, he will occasionally wander out to play with me and his brother. When he does, I show him how to get in a fielding position, how to move his feet, how to catch with two hands, how to hold a bat, how to swing a bat, how to throw, etc. etc.. The scouting report on him is decent speed, can swing a bat pretty well, below average arm, not much with the glove and not dedicated to his craft... by craft, I mean baseball, not arts and crafts... those two things he loves.
     I asked him the night before if he would be interested in going to baseball camp the next morning, and surprisingly, he did not immediately reject my proposal. When he woke up the next morning,  both Cheryl and I were even more surprised when he said he wanted to go to baseball camp.
     Cheryl even presented him with these two options... "You can stay home with me and we will go to the pool, hang out and draw, snuggle and have fun all day... or you can go to baseball camp, where it will be all day out in the hot sun with kids you don't know playing a game that you really don't care for."
     Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but not by much. Despite the lopsided presentation by my wife, my little man rejected the wily ways of his mother, and said he wanted to go to camp! Woo hoo... major break through!
    All day, I could think of only one thing, and that was how he would do at baseball camp. Okay, I also thought about how much crap my brother was going to give me at Thanksgiving if my kid cried and left with his mommy. I mean, Oh yeah... well your kids can't draw! isn't exactly the greatest come back, but it was all I could think of. Fortunately, I thought, I have until November to come up with something better.
    Anyway, when I burst through the door at the end of the day, I got another great surprise as my boy proclaimed that his first day of camp "was the best day ever---but kind of long." This begged the question... if it was the best day ever... why wouldn't you want it to last forever?... but I was too happy to make this inquiry.
     My man loved camp, and I was happy thinking that this will be the break through I have been looking for to pry him away from his artistic mother. I could now pass on my love of baseball to my youngest son.
     As we talked about the day, he asked if Uncle Jeff was older than I. I told him that he was, in fact, two years older, and I asked him why he asked. He then said, and I quote, "because now I can learn the right way to play from someone who is older and knows more than you." Why, you stinking little brat!
    This comes on the heels of another kid questioning my coaching abilities. Our older son is playing on an All Star team, and I am not one of the coaches, but I do go to practices and throw BP, or work with the infielders.
     One of the coaches of the team did ask me to talk to his son about a few things, and I found an opportune time when he was sitting alone in the dugout. He is a very nice young man, and a very talented player. I started to talk to him about his responsibilities as one of the better players, and how he had to be a leader on the team... and we had a very good conversation.
     At the conclusion of our conversation he asked if I were going to be in the dugout for the upcoming tournament, and I advised that I would not. He then said, "Why is that? Is it because you are not qualified to coach?" Why, you stinking little brat.
     I am thinking about giving up coaching... perhaps I can take up art.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

2,400 page financial reform bill passes...

     It's not about recovery... it's about control. Read about it here, from the Washington Times.
     I only have one thing to say... Elect Constitutional conservatives, or say goodbye to freedom.

Taxpayer funded abortions for Pennsylvania...

     Pennsylvania... the first to get federal funding for abortion under Obamacare. Shocker. Read all about it here.
     Note to "pro-life democrats"... Executive Orders do not trump law.

Examining black loyalty to democrats...

Must see TV... This guy is right on.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Check out my niece's blog...

     Okay... So, my blog definitely serves a purpose... but it can be a little heavy, I know (except, of course, for Funny Guy Friday... thanks for the laughs, honey).
     So just about every day or so, I click on over to my wonderful niece's blog, From the Aisle to Aloha. I'll admit, I'm an addict. Her blog is light and refreshing... full of joy and creativity and love. And she's funny.
     She's doing a giveaway... and she'd love to see your comments. Check it out. I guarantee you will smile. Aloha.

Turning the tide of our nation through prayer...

     We are in a spiritual war for the heart of our nation. Please join with Dr. Charles Stanley, Turning Point Ministries, for 140 days of prayer for America. Here are the prayer topics for each week.
     Humbly seek the face of God, and He will hear our plea. He is our strength and our shield. He is King. Amen. Amen.
     For more about the 140 days, click here.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Just who is she fighting against?

     You may have heard that Michele Obama gave a speech to the NAACP recently. Here is what she said (speech text here)...
“When African American communities are still hit harder than just about anywhere by this economic downturn, and so many families are just barely scraping by, I think the (NAACP) founders would tell us that now is not the time to rest on our laurels. When stubborn inequalities still persist -- in education and health, in income and wealth -- I think those founders would urge us to increase our intensity, and to increase our discipline and our focus and keep fighting for a better future for our children and our grandchildren.”
     Just who is she fighting against here? Just who is she suggesting they up their intensity and discipline against? What does that even mean, anyway? Increase their intensity.
     If she wants to know who has their boot on the necks of her children and grandchildren, she need look no further than her husband and the progressives in Congress.
     As far as education is concerned, they control education. They are the ones who killed the vouchers program that was rescuing inner city children from failing schools.
     As for health care, it is her husband's in-the-dark-of-the-night recess appointed Medicare/Medicaid Czar that advocates medical rationing, and wants to pattern our healthcare system after the substandard British healthcare system.
     And as far as income and wealth, they are the ones strangling our economy with their unbridled spending, their heavy taxes and regulatory burdens, and their government takeovers that have destroyed the business climate in this country. It is they who "nudge" Americans onto the dole, month after month.
     It is an ever-growing, ever-gluttonous federal government that has robbed
all of our children and grandchildren of a future of freedom that ought to be their birthright as Americans, as future generations are on the hook for a debt that can not possibly ever be paid back. And they are still spending.
     If only she had shared the wisdom of our
Founding Fathers... personal responsibility, individual freedom, limited government... instead of the same old nebulous rhetoric from her agitator's playbook. Then she might have had some good advice for "her people."
     Exactly who was she talking to? Exactly who is she fighting against? She doesn't really say. But I can guess. 

Watch Glenn Beck tonight...

     Don't miss tonight's Glenn Beck, as he delves into Black Liberation Theology, and the theory of collective salvation. This ideology explains a great deal about this administration's priorities and policies... and exposes the danger for true Christians who have been sucked into a twisted vision of "social justice."
     Make no mistake, collective salvation is the antithesis to Christianity.
     Watch Glenn tonight at 5pm, on Fox. Tell your friends.

Monday, July 12, 2010

These are the times that try men's souls...

     Read Thomas Paine's, December 23, 1776, entry in his collection, The Crisis, here, in its entirety. Worth the read. Relevant as ever.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Funny Guy Friday... Musings from my funny hubby... Poor Aunt Dot...

     As Cheryl and I discussed our plans for the Fourth of July, I was surprised that we had limited options... or should I say... one limited option
     Last Fourth of July, we attended the wedding of a friend of Cheryl's. They were married at the bride's family's waterfront home where she had grown up, in Pasadena. The bride lives in California, but was having her wedding in Maryland.
     At the time, I thought that it was odd to get married on Independence Day (how ironic to get married on Independence Day), but I must say, we had a great time. From their home, we must have seen at least ten or twelve different fireworks displays across the river. Spectacular.
     This year, the new bride was home again, and we were invited back to a picnic to celebrate their anniversary. We were excited to go back.  
     The bride's father built this home with his siblings in the '60s, and all of the siblings have, at some point, lived in that house. In fact, three or four of those siblings---and their spouses---- still live in that house. It is a modest home, on the edge of a little cliff leading down to the water. 
     Cheryl's brother also attended the picnic, and he told me that about a week ago, one of the bride's elderly aunts had been walking near the cliff, lost her balance, slipped and fell down the hill. 
     I was surprised because it is a pretty steep hill with a lot of trees and brush. He told me that she did not make it. This was our friend's 89-year-old Aunt Dot. 
     Now, I was surprised that they were having this celebration, when their aunt had just passed away... and equally surprised that everyone was in such a good mood. Poor old Aunt Dot!
     On the Tuesday following the Fourth, Cheryl was talking to her sister, who also had attended the party, and they were laughing... and I heard Cheryl say something like, ...And thats the end... period... Dot!... and she was whooping it up.
     I did not think much of it until the next morning, when Cheryl was talking about poor Aunt Dot, and how it took five people to get her up out of the ravine... and how one of the bride's other aunts thought she had heard Aunt Dot calling out to her when she went out by the cliff.
     Then she told me about the funny conversation that she had had with her sister about poor Aunt Dot... and began to chuckle... and by this time, I had had enough. So I said, The poor woman died for goodness sakes! 
     The poor woman had died... and my lovely, caring wife and her sister... like everyone else at the party... were having a good laugh and a good time. My reaction brought even more joy to my wife as she laughed even harder. Astonishing.
    When she stopped laughing, Cheryl said, No she didn't... She did not die. She was not even hurt.
     I assured her that she was dead because her brother told me she did not make it. Cheryl assured me that Aunt Dot did not die, and that she was the lady that I handed the fruit salad to when we got to the party. I must say, she looked good for a dead lady.  
     See... what really happened was that the poor woman did fall down the hill. It's true... she didn't make it... back up the hill. She could not get back up the hill, and when her sister went out looking for her, she heard her calling. The sister called the paramedics and it took five of them to get her back up the hill.  She was fine... Not dead at all... but I wish my brother-in-law were.
    Now that I know Aunt Dot didn't die, I can say that the fireworks were great! Period, Dot.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

What is a fundamental transformation?

     Many Americans have no idea what is really happening to our country. The radicals are in charge. And the so-called mainstream media won't do its job to inform We the People.
     We are undergoing a fundamental transformation (their words, not mine) away from a free market economy toward a centrally planned or command economy... where the state controls industry... where a central government controls the production and distribution of goods and services.
      In a command economy, the government controls all major sectors of the economy and makes the decisions about the use of resources, and the distribution of the output. Planners decide what should be produced, according to national and social objectives.
     Some industries come to mind.
     Health care. Eventually, everyone will be forced into a government plan. Central planners will decide what you may have. Look up the complete lives system. And tell me again about what procedures Catholic hospitals will and won't be allowed, or forced, to do. Abortion? We'll see. Changes will come.
     Banking. Tucked into the healthcare reform, was the student loan takeover. All college student loans will be decided and managed by the government. Also, under the financial overhaul bill, besides all the new rules that will force some small banks to sell to larger banks because they will not have the staff to manage all the new regulation, the government can shut down a company if it deems it an economic danger.
     Housing. The government already pressured banks into giving loans to risky borrowers. And now, 95% of new home loans come from Fannie and Freddie. The government owning our mortgages... what could go wrong? Did you know that Marxists oppose private ownership of land?
     The auto industry. Remember, the bailouts came with strings.
     Education. More strings.
     Land grabs, too. The government controls more and more of America's vast and valuable natural resources.
     They still need Energy... but that is coming. Think Cap and Trade and the Smart Grid.
     And of course, the upcoming Journalism Overhaul. Newspaper subsidies and internet control. It's for our own good.
     Planned economies serve the collective, rather than the individual. Rewards, or wages, are distributed based on the state's view of the value of the service performed. Profit motives are no longer the reason for production, as state planners determine the appropriate production of different goods. The government can harness land, labor, and capital to serve the objectives of the state. The free market is no more.
     Under a command economy, the ever-growing needs and objectives of the state are met... at the expense of lower living standards for We the People.
     That is not America. Please pray for our nation.
     Source for command economy info: Wikipedia.

Politics over safety... with liberty and justice for some...

     The U.S. Department of Justice recently dropped a case against two members of the Black Panthers who stood menacingly outside the doors to a Philadelphia polling place during the 2008 election, dressed in full para-military garb, one of them brandishing a metal police baton. It was an open and shut case of voter intimidation. But for some strange reason, DOJ dropped the case. 
     DOJ official J. Christian Adams resigned over this. See article here.
     Adams wrote that the dismissal of the case "was motivated by a lawless hostility toward equal enforcement of the law." As for the re-review, "the lawyers who ordered the dismissal ... did not even read the internal Justice Department memorandums supporting the case and investigation.
     "What's "most disturbing," Adams wrote, is "the open and pervasive hostility within the Justice Department to bringing civil rights cases against nonwhite defendants on behalf of white victims. Equal enforcement of justice is not a priority of this administration. Open contempt is voiced for these types of cases. 
     "Some of my coworkers," Adams continued, "argued that the law should not be used against black wrongdoers because of the long history of slavery and segregation. ... Incredibly, after the case was dismissed, instructions were given that no more cases against racial minorities like the Black Panther case would be brought by the [Justice Department's] Voting Section." Read more here.
      Maybe voter intimidation is okay for some and not for others. Two American justice systems? Hmm... Isn't that what we have been striving to move away from these past 50 years? Maybe it's payback time.
     One of the men is on videotape ranting to a crowd about hating whites... "I hate all white people... Every iota of those crackers... You need to kill those crackers... and kill their cracker babies."
     Pay no attention, folks. Move along. Nothing to see here. Case dismissed.
     Put that story up against the struggle of the law enforcement officers in the border towns of Arizona. This administration claims that the police are the racists. There will be no injustice on our watch. At least not for some. The police are acting stupidly. File suit.
     Many illegal intruders in Arizona are committing violent crimes in those local communities. To say it is a safety concern to the law-abiding citizens is a no-brainer. If the feds won't protect the citizenry, the DOJ should not be impeding Arizona's efforts to defend them. 
     Did you know that there is not a mention of racism in the DOJ's lawsuit against Arizona? I thought the Arizona law was discriminatory. Unjust. Draconian. But that's not the basis of the suit. No. That was just to whip up the masses.
     The federal government is arguing that it is their job to enforce the immigration laws, not Arizona's. 
     If only the feds would do their jobs. Problem solved. But they don't now, do they?
     One could wonder, why? Maybe it has something to do with votes. They are looking to secure the black vote, and the hispanic vote. With maybe a little payback thrown in. So, I guess for now, it's politics over safety... with liberty and justice for some.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Gilligan's Island and the 7 deadly sins...

     I saw this over at one of my faves, Creative Minority Report...
     I had never heard this before... but did you know that Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of Gilligan's Island, patterned his stranded castaways after the 7 deadly sins?
The ship set ground on the shores of this uncharted desert isle... with Gilligan (sloth)... the Skipper, too (anger)... the Millionaire (greed)... and his wife (gluttony)... the Movie Star (lust)... the Professor (pride)... and Mary Ann (jealousy)... here on Gilligan's Isle (hell).
     And all this time you thought it was just a ridiculous TV show.
     Who is your favorite? Who is your least favorite? Hmm. I wonder what that means.

What is up with NASA?


     Political correctness run amok. Again.
     Now, the primary responsibility of NASA is Muslim outreach? Really?  Aww... do the widdle Muswums need Amewica to kiss its boo-boos?
     NASA used to be something amazing. Now, like so much else, it is merely a political play toy. Sad.
     Read more about it here, from Newsbusters.
     Logo from The Snake on the Flag... see Michelle Malkin's blog here, for more logos...  and here, written by guest blogger Doug Powers, mentioning a connection to global warming. Gee. Shocker.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

God. Freedom. Unity.

     My previous post features a video of Dennis Prager talking about the single greatest threat to America today.
     He says that most Americans who love this country simply aren't able to articulate why... that we were never taught what we believe as a nation... who we really are... and what we stand for. And if we don't know why we are America, we won't know how to preserve America.
     He lays it out quite simply. He calls it our American Trinity...
     In God We Trust... Our Founders knew that Providence was guiding them. We are a nation founded under God. God is with us... out in the open... not swept quietly into the corner, as not to offend anyone.
     Liberty... God created us to be free. Our rights come from God, not the government. We have the right to our lives, our freedom, and our property. What we earn honestly, we should be able to keep... and use as we decide. We, as people, do not belong to the government. Neither does our property. We are not serfs of the government.
     Unity... E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. This phrase originated at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was extraordinary that the thirteen original, very different, colonies came together the way they did, and debated, and finally agreed on a vision for America, without any dissenters. I read that it was difficult to get the original 13 to agree on the time of day, let alone to design a nation.
     Even today, although we may have differing opinions, we are one nation. We are Americans, not hyphenated subsets. Our strength comes when we pull together, not when we are all divided up and pitted against each other. America is a melting pot, not a fruit bowl.
     Prager went on to say that the French use the word Egalite. Equality. Americans do not espouse that the way the Europeans do. We believe in equality of birth, not equality of outcome. Equal opportunity... yes. Redistribution of the wealth... no. Socialist societies believe in equality of outcome... America does not.
     On big government... Prager notes that limited government is primarily a moral issue, not an economical issue. While small government does make good economic sense, it is primarily the negative effect big government has on its citizens that is the greater concern... the bigger the government, the worse the citizen.
     When the government is limited, the people are free... free to live as we choose... free to keep what we earn... free to make our own decisions... and free to give as we wish. And give we do.
     Socialist societies think, How is this going to affect me?... What benefits can I get?... What's in it for me?... Where's mine? That is not America.
     Americans are historically the most generous people in the world, because we believe it to be good and right to share abundantly with others. But we ought to have the freedom to choose to share our resources. The government should not forcibly take them. We know that we have a responsibility to provide for each other. And that we trust in God's goodness for what we need. We do not depend on the government.
     The American Trinity. God. Freedom. Unity.
     I was thinking... Where have I seen these ideas all together before. Then I remembered. So simple. I reached for the nearest quarter, and printed right there were... In God We Trust... Liberty... E Pluribus Unum.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Freedom of Religion... not "Freedom of Worship"

     In today's Gospel, Jesus tells his followers, Go out like lambs among wolves... into the towns and proclaim to the people that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Our pastor made special mention that Jesus did not say, Go back to your rooms and pray quietly, making sure not to offend anyone. 
     Jesus was very specific. He said to take it to the streets. Into the public domain.
     Monsignor went on to point out that there has been a trend lately, among high ranking U.S. government officials, to replace the well-revered and broad term, Freedom of Religion, with the narrower, more restricted term, Freedom of Worship. This new term pigeonholes our freedom of religion, excluding religion from the public square.
     This explanation comes from a Washington Post article...
... "Freedom of worship" implies something overseas dictators view as controllable, manageable - the right to gather, pray, sing. "Freedom of religion" encompasses much more - the freedom to publicly display, advocate for, protest, and most notably: proselytize...
     Read more about this rhetorical trend here, from First Things. It appears to be no accident.
     Our Founders were very clear about our freedom of religious expression...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...  ~ U.S. Constitution
     Words do matter. Our president and our Secretary of State are tweaking what the Founders intended. And not in the direction of freedom. The American people would do well to pay attention to the language.
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