Not So Horrid Insight

Hope

2009-07-05T12:56:00.004-05:00

This is a poem that I found in my stuff and I'm not sure where it came from. Unfortunately for me I believe I copied it from somewhere, it meant the world to me at the time. It is several years old but still true today.

God I'm Sad
I know
I'm so depressed
That's why I gave you sunshine
My life is hard
That's why I gave you loved ones
God I hurt
I know
My loved one died
So did mine
I feel so lost
I saw mine nailed to a cross
But yours is alive
So is yours
Where are they?
Mine is on my right and yours is in the Light!

Update: I finally found where this poem came from, it was posted on the wall at the Oklahoma City bombing site many years ago and was written by K. C. and Myke Kuzmic and not me.

Blood

2009-06-10T20:46:00.003-05:00

Huge white columns line the vast chamber. A man is dragged across the floor and thrown before a white throne; blood flows deeply from the wounds that cover his body. A crowd shouts for his execution but no fault is found. Innocent yet condemned. Soldiers in Roman attire surround him and mock him. They spit on him and strike him with their fists. Twenty-nine lashes across his back and a robe is wrapped around him. A crown fashioned from long thorns is crammed onto his head piercing his scalp. The crowd is in a frenzy for blood. So much blood. The scene blurs to a hill and the man is being laid on a cross. Long steel spikes are driven into his wrists and feet bursting arteries and veins. The cross is lifted and dropped upright into a hole. Agony washes over the man’s face. The whole scene; three crosses on a hill, the sky is dark and blood flows deep red down the poles of the crosses. Perception zooms in on the man in the middle. Although the pain appears unbearable and the blood running down his face is thick; the man looks into the eye of the dreamer and says, “This blood is for you.”

An Introduction to the Character of Paul

2009-03-09T09:22:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite Authors in the bible is Paul. God chose him as an apostle because of his zeal and his way with words. He truly had a knack for taking the Old Testament scriptures as well as the facts about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and putting them together in a way that people both then and now could relate too. He even used sarcasm quite a bit, which is another reason I like him.

Let me give you a little history on Paul. From the book of Acts we know that Saul (who later became Paul) was a Pharisee and he was very zealous for the Lord. Saul knew the Old Testament scriptures very well for he had probably grown up in the synagogue. He was a man that was on fire for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Now we also know that he was a persecutor of Christians before his conversion. You see, Saul was convinced that those preaching Jesus as the Christ were guilty of blasphemy. They were saying that Jesus was the son of God and therefore He was equal with God. That was considered to be blasphemy if it wasn't true, and by the law of Moses given in

Lev 24:16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.

Saul stood watching in approval as Stephen was stoned to death. Saul was convinced that he was doing the Lord's work. In fact he was on his way to Damascus to squash the Christians there as well. But he experienced a Revelation instead, didn't he? Jesus stopped him in his tracks and said basically..."What are you doing Saul? You're persecuting me, Jesus the Son of God." Saul hit the ground from the power of Jesus. He knew at that moment that he goofed. Instant change of heart, Saul says "What do you want me to do Lord?"

And this is the part I love. Jesus sends him to the very people he was looking for to take prisoner. Now Saul shows great faith by doing what Jesus told him to do. But the greatest faith in this story comes from Ananias. He was a Christian in Damascus and they all knew why Saul was coming to their town. But God tells him to go see Saul and at first Ananias says "Are you serious? That guy has been destroying your saints left and right and you want me to go hang out with him?" But Jesus says "He has been chosen to suffer for my name's sake and to take my message to Gentiles, Kings, and the children of Israel."

Although undoubtedly still scared somewhat, Ananias does what he is told through faith in Christ and he goes and baptizes Saul.

So Saul becomes Paul and this great messenger for Christ and from that moment on he gets to be on the other side of Persecution. But he endures because of his faith.

Let the Fire Burn

2008-12-22T19:15:00.004-06:00

The sky was a shade of soft, light blue. The sun shone brightly, but hung low in the southern sky and offered no warmth. An icy wind roared across the flat ground of my front yard. It sliced through the layers of clothing I wore and bit into my skin. Its icy tendrils burrowed their way into my bones and made my body ache with discomfort. I could feel the skin of my face creak as I squinted at the bright comfortless sun. The harsh winter day attacked me but there was work that needed to be done outside, so I endured.
Able to take the bitter cold no longer I ventured inside for some hopeful relief. As I entered the door to the house, heat welcomed me pleasantly. I stepped to the wood stove and leaned my back against it. Waves of heat enveloped me like a soft hug. The warmth flowed up my back and the cold began to flee from my spine. It almost seemed to scream as it succumbed to the power of the heat. I could feel remnants of ice down my neck but they slowly faded to nothing. My body, once very tense from bearing the cold torment, now relaxed in the warm embrace.
This picture is not much different from our relationship with Jesus Christ. The cold icy outdoors is the world. It attacks us constantly trying to break our resolve as followers of Christ. The ways of the world get under the skin and try to set up in our bones, but we must endure. The warm comforting heat is the Holy Spirit, sent to us by Jesus when we accept Him into our life. Here is the difference though...For us the fire comes from within. You see, we are supposed to be the wood stove. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns from within our heart if we allow God to use us as such a vessel. When the world seems cold and unforgiving, Jesus envelopes us with the power of His love and sets the Holy Spirit fire anew inside us. As with the cold I described above sometimes it takes a little time for the remnants of the world to be overpowered by the fervent Heat of God. As a song from Casting Crowns says, "It's a Slow Fade when you give yourself away."
Jesus of all people knew this world was cold and unforgiving when He walked the earth. He brought nothing but love and kindness to all He encountered. Instead of thanking Him we nailed Him to the cross. But He rose from the dead to give us hope that one day we might do the same, but for now we must endure this world. But Jesus promised in John 14:16 that He would send us a comforter, and on the day of Pentecost that promise was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit descended on the Church and dwells among those who invite Him in. Jesus made another promise in John 14:18, He said He would not leave us as orphans, and that He would come for us. One day, perhaps very soon, Jesus is coming for us and with Him comes the gift of eternal life for all who believe. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 that when Jesus comes back and the trumpet sounds the dead in Christ will rise and we who are alive will be changed. This corruptible will put on incorruptible and this mortal will put on immortality.

"Death is swallowed up in victory...But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

My friends and family be at peace, this world may be unforgiving but our God and Savior is not. Become an instrument for the Holy Spirit fire and remember that fire spreads if you don't try to control it with your own intentions. LET THE FIRE BURN!!!

Heart Burn

2008-11-30T16:24:00.005-06:00

Image Created by Horrid Bruce.

Nostalgia can be Dangerous

2008-11-11T11:30:00.004-06:00

The smells of wood smoke and coffee permeate the air of our house. Looking out the window, I see a cold fall day. The trees have lost their leaves, the sky is gray, and a light drizzle falls to the ground. Along with these sensory inputs, my mind is awash with images of my dreams throughout the night, dreams of days gone by. I close my eyes and suddenly I am back in Oregon in the middle of the mountains pouring myself a cup of coffee in the living room of the house my wife and I built. Nostalgia sets in and I long for the freedom of living in the middle of nowhere with no one around and nothing to do but live. My eyes open and I am once again standing in my kitchen in somewhere Indiana. Reality floods in on me. Responsibilities loom overhead like the clouds of the sky. There is so much to do everyday here; and yet such a lack of motivation or enthusiasm at times. Depression threatens but then a realization hits me upside the head like a V8 Commercial...Jesus is my motivation. He is the provider of all things for us: financial, educational, spiritual. The devil would have no greater satisfaction than to see every Follower-of-Christ overwhelmed with the responsibilities and worries of life in this world. However, we have victory in Jesus from worry. This does not mean that life is perfect and easy when following Christ; it simply means that life is an adventure both in easy times and hard times.

I long for the time when my wife and I thought we were free to live our own way in Oregon. Unfortunately, by longing for the past I cannot move forward. As long as my mind wishes I was back there it cannot see the great things that lie ahead here where God has brought us to now. God is moving and when we long for the past we get stuck there and we are unable to move forward with Him. Free will is the greatest gift God gave to us and it is the greatest gift we can give back to Him. We can chose to cling to former times that we perceive to be better than where we are now and ignore where God wants to take us. Or we can commemorate the past in our hearts by learning from it and then chose to live for the future. We can chose to follow Christ where ever he leads. If we chose to stay in the past we are destined to miss the future. I realize that I cannot experience now if I am stuck on then.

Tribute to an Innocent Man

2008-09-04T09:51:00.001-05:00

An innocent man stands before a crowd. They scream and yell at him, calling for his execution. He has done nothing wrong, committed no crime, yet his fate is sealed. Now high on a hill they drive nails through his flesh into the boards of his cross and then raise it in the air. As his blood begins to drain from his body, the man thinks back to the life he led; a life of ministry, of love, of helping and healing the very people that condemned him to death. Hanging on that cross slowly dying, He lifts his head towards heaven and, of all things, he says “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Forgiveness, he asks God to forgive the people who crucified him. In essence he said “This Blood is for you!”

This story is probably familiar to everyone here whether you believe it happened or not. It is the story of Jesus’ sacrifice for each and every one of us. But it’s not the whole story. Whether or not you choose to believe in Jesus’ life or what happened after his death is irrelevant, the fact is, Jesus died on that cross and 3 days later He was resurrected into a glorified body. He then spent time with his disciples and finally ascended to heaven. Believe them or not these are the facts.

Jesus led a fairly short life, about 33 years, and his personal physical ministry was only 3 years. However, after his death and resurrection a movement came out of Israel by his disciples and spread throughout the world; a movement of hope for the future and love for one another.

Jesus’ teachings have survived the test of time and they change more lives everyday than one can imagine. He taught two simple ideas. One is to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And the other is to love your neighbor as yourself. The word neighbor refers to the whole human race, regardless of color, gender, or sexual orientation. Jesus Christ is an equal opportunity Messiah.

It was these teachings, although kind and loving, that inevitably led to his execution. It seemed that He was too nice and the people loved him so much that jealousy arose in the church leaders and they sought to kill him. What was it about his ministry that people found so offensive? Today we have seen a rise in this trend of being offended by Jesus once again. His name has been X’ed out of Christmas, the holiday devoted to his birth. His image has been pushed aside and replaced by Santa Claus. On the day of his resurrection we see the image of a mythical egg laying rabbit instead. It is not even politically correct to wish someone a Merry Christmas anymore because the word Christ might offend them. I say that if Jesus offends you then you need to search your soul because that is not offense but conviction pulling on your heart.

Jesus was innocent, he had committed no crime and no fault was found in Him; yet he was slaughtered none the less. A man whose life was devoted to helping and loving others and he was executed for it. But remember, whether you believe it or not Jesus is alive today and his message is the same, hope and love. Ten years ago when I graduated from high school, I was on a path to destruction down the highway of drug and alcohol abuse. My life had no direction and no purpose my only goal was for my next buzz. Then, one day I found Jesus and his ministry came into my life. Now I have been drug free for 7 years, I have been happily married for 8 years, I have 2 wonderful kids, I survived 7 months in Afghanistan, a year in Iraq, and I’m finally in college where I should have been 10 years ago. All this is thanks to Jesus Christ, the sacrifice he made, and his ministry that continues today.

Whose side are you on?

2008-09-02T15:25:00.000-05:00

Gratification...Physical or Spiritual...That's all there is in life. One or the other. Everything we do in life satisfies one of these two desires. We work to make enough money to satisfy our physical needs and desires; and many of us participate in "religious" activities to satisfy the spiritual need. Here is the question...what do those "religious" activities consist of and are they truly capable of spiritual gratification? Are they able to fill us with spiritual satisfaction? Do we even know what spiritual satisfaction is...Do you?

Many of today's religions contain ritualistic behaviors that are meant to make the practicer feel more spiritual. But isn't that more of a physical act? Whether you are standing in a pentagram reciting an ancient incantation to connect you with some higher plane of existence, or kissing your prayer beads, crossing yourself, and saying "Hail Mary" a dozen times; aren't these just physical "rituals" that are used to make us feel more in tune with the "spirit" world? These practices seem to work because we are physical creatures. However, we also have a true spiritual side that needs a true connection with its creator. There is but one bridge between man and the creator...That bridge is Jesus Christ. Please don't stop reading if you disagree, hear me out.

We have a choice to make in life. That choice is to seek one of these two forms of gratification. Here is a story of a man that made his decision and developed a religion based on that decision. This man was an organ player for a carnival back in the mid 1900's. He watched men lust over scantily dressed carnival girls on Saturday night and then show up for a Church service on Sunday and ask for forgiveness only to be back the next Saturday. Later in his life he became a crime scene photographer. During his three year career he saw people shot or stabbed by their own "friends" and children splattered by drunk drivers. In this time he questioned "...where is God in this twisted world?" That is a legitimate question but instead of seeking the answer he made a decision how he was going to allow these events affect his life. He decided that mankind would always seek physical gratification. He became angry with God and chose the other side. He developed a religion based on physical gratification. His philosophies are actually quite prevalent in our society today. It is common practice to achieve success in the business world by stomping on the competition and only being kind to those who "deserve" it. Vengeance is prevalent in our world. These are but a couple of examples. The man I speak of is Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan.

LaVey was dealt a difficult hand in life and he made his decision how he would react to it. He chose a side whose future is written. LaVey chose to side with the devil and his goal was to take as many people with him as possible. In the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible, one can read for oneself about the fate of the devil and his followers. The devil knows his destiny but he doesn't want to go alone. As they say misery loves company. LaVey died in 1997 at the age of 67, he made his decisions and he will be judged for them and it is too late for him to change his mind.

Please don't take this post the wrong way. I am not trying to "scare the Hell" out of you. I am merely laying out the facts of our world. Each one of us is faced with the difficulties of this life and we have to make a decision. If one chooses Jesus, there is a spiritual connection that can be made with him. That connection is true spiritual gratification, it can only be felt not achieved by rituals, or chanting. Some would say that Jesus is just a crutch, but when you are crippled by the pains of life, then a crutch is just what you need.

Something Wicked

2008-07-19T10:07:00.002-05:00

My first sense to regain awareness was my nose. Damp, musty, a hint of mildew, and something sour I couldn't quite place. My skin awoke; the air was still and wet. My ears burned for sensation but there was no audible sound. I opened my eyes...darkness.

A darkness so thick, I could feel it. My nerves were on edge as was the hair on my neck. The sour unplaceable smell moved, yet without sound. Then I felt a breath across my ear. It hissed quietly and with a light crackle. The breath was hot and carried a stench with it that could only be described as rotting. I tried to turn my head and pain shot from the base of my spine to the top of my head. It was then that I realized that I was bound tightly to a chair. The clothing I could feel consisted of old ragged pants with countless holes, no shirt, no shoes, no service for me. The breath that crossed my ear moved to my face and I could hear what sounded like a tongue tasting the air around me. I suppressed the early symptoms of panic as fear grew within me. Fear of the unkown, claustrophobia, and the fear of pain. My body wanted to struggle and fight my bonds; but instead I held deathly still.

A vile, scratchy voice drenched with contempt for me spoke...

"I own you, and no one can save you..." The most hideous laughter I've ever heard burst from my tormentor. My face was sprayed with spittle and the foul breath of death. I felt the blood drain from my face as I realized the smell I couldn't place was the stench of death...of rotting flesh. This thing was going to eat me alive...

I tried to scream but the sound wouldn't come. I sat there paralyzed, my mouth gaping open, my eyes bulging. My heart pounded and my breath was rapid and shallow. I began to lose my composure and I tried to fight the bonds that held me. I commanded my arms and legs to move but they ignored me. The cackle of my tormentor increased and suddenly...

I was blasted with heat from behind. The room was bathed in dancing light from a fire that had burst into existance behind me. The light pierced my eyes and pain shot through my head but I couldn't close them because what I saw froze my eyelids. I gazed into the eyes of my captor...my owner. The face was twisted and scarred. The eyes burned with hatred. The mouth contorted into a vicious smile showing blackened teeth. It leaned toward me and laughed that hideous laugh. Tears burst from my eyes and I was overwhelmed by horror... The face I stared into was my own...

My eyes popped open, I sat bolt upright in bed and emptied my stomach onto the hardwood floor. I was drenched in sweat, my hair stuck to my face and shoulders; I was still overwhelmed with horror. My fear began to subside as I realized it was only a dream. I breathed relief and reached into my night stand. I pulled out a pipe and filled it with my drug of choice hoping to draw some comfort from it. I sparked my lighter and inhaled deeply...Again the blood drained from my face; the smoke tasted like death and that laugh from my nightmare burst through my ears... "I own you!!!"

I tried to drop the pipe and lighter but they had a mind of their own. The flame bit the drug and the smoke pushed it's way into my lungs. I drifted higher, my body relaxed but my mind was unfulfilled. I could see myself, involuntarily I drew on the pipe trying to drown my problems...I was the one drowning instead. I watched as my body collapsed in a heep on the floor and twitched for a few seconds, the eyes rolled back in its head. I gazed around but was alone, silence surrounded me. Things began to grow dark and I felt myself slipping away into oblivion...drifting. Hopelessness settled on me and I felt death beckoning me to let go.

Then there was something... I thought I was imagining again. Out of the silence came a knock and a still small voice...

"Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

My vision blurred and I saw a door. I suddenly knew who was behind it. I had heard of Him and I had been running from Him my whole life. As I reached for the door handle I heard a screech behind me...

"NOOOO!!"

I closed my hand around the knob, opened the door, and welcomed Jesus into my life; the cry behind me was silenced instantly. He delivered me that moment but my recovery was long and I am still growing in Him today.

Making Waves

2008-06-15T19:37:00.003-05:00

As far as the eye can see, the ocean stretches to the horizon clinging to the curve of the Earth. Waves lick the beach gently at first and gradually grow stronger as the tide rolls in. The sand on the shore flows back and forth with the ebb and flow of the waters. Looking down the length of the beach in the midst of the sand stands a single rock. Large and sturdy it stands there alone amid the waves and sand. The waves of the world crash against the rocks structure, they are broken into more waves. The grains of sand see the rock and they wonder why it doesn't just give in and go with the flow of the ocean. It must be hard to stand there day after day being battered by the abrasive power of the sand laden waters of the sea in which they dwell. The sand dreads the idea of being eroded by the waves.

The rock feels the waves abrasive impact. Some of them hurt more than others but his outlook differs from the sand. They yell to him to give in and succumb to the power of the ocean. Some even ride the waves and smash against the rock trying to drive it into submission. The rock however, feels the hand of its maker through the waves. The force of each crash merely smooths his rough edges. He does not feel battered by the water; he is shaped by them. As he stands there making more waves of his own, standing against the onslaught of the world; he smiles inside because the Word says that in the end... there will be no more sea (Revelation 21:1).

Don't be afraid to stand against the flow and make a few waves in the world. Allow the waves of the world to merely shape you into a better Christian for it is through trials that we grow in our walk with Christ. Some of them hurt more than others and sometimes there are storms that arise and the waves are stronger than ever. They threaten to force us to conform to this world. Always remember that they too shall pass. Storms never last forever. It may seem like an eternity at the time but one day it will end and we can look back and decide how we will let it effect us. I stress the word decide because that is what we must do after each trial, each wave, and definitely each storm. We must decide if we will let the world win or if we will stand firm like the rock. Jesus stands there watching, eager to help us through every wave but because of the depth of His love for us He gives the decision entirely to us.

Choose Christ!!!

"The World is a Vampire"

2008-05-17T10:30:00.005-05:00

The title of this post is the opening line from a song by 'Smashing Pumpkins'. The artist goes on to say:

"The World is a Vampire, sent to drain. Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames. And what do I get for my pain? Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game..."

There is so much wisdom in this verse. And to think it comes from one who is not a Christian. In fact, the last line of the song is "...and I still believe that I cannot be saved." How unfortunate it is that he believes that he can't be saved and yet he has an excellent insight of the true nature of the world around us.

This world is a vampire sent to drain us of our connection to Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the god of this world is Satan and we know that his sole mission is to drive us away from God. This world is filled with enticements designed to draw your attention away from Godly things. They fill you with desires that are spiritually unhealthy. Lust, greed, indulgence in food and drink; these are just a few. God's word speaks against all of these:
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I know that much of this post sounds negative but it is merely meant to be a warning. The things of this world are created to destroy us; whereas the things of God are meant for salvation and eternal life. Many times the Christian society comes across as very negative, as in "don't do this and you can't do that and you must stop everything you are doing to follow God". It is unfortunate that we come across this way, for we make many people want to have nothing to do with Jesus because He won't let them do anything. The truth is, however, that the things Jesus wants us to do are so much more fulfilling than the things of the world. Helping each other, fellowship, friendship, discussion of the word of God, helping those that we do not know, spreading the Gospel to others; these are some of the Do's in Christianity and they are wonderful when done from the heart and in the Name of Jesus.

When I became a Christian I was a partier and a heavy drug user. I did not have to quit any of that to become a Christian. However, once my heart was in the hands of God, He began to change me and mold me into what He wants me to be. One day I found myself without the desire to party or do drugs anymore. I found that being sober is more gratifying. The point is, we do not have to change to be saved. Mike Warnke (a Christian comedian that I grew up listening to) once said "You don't have to get cleaned up to take a bath".

One of my personal favorite pastimes is talking about God and Jesus and the Bible. I enjoy a good healthy discussion about what the Word of God says and how it applies to our lives today. I will talk to anyone about God but I sometimes have a hard time starting the conversation. But when someone opens the door such as the Jehovah's Witnesses that come to call or the Mormons I get excited and welcome the conversation. I encourage anyone to invite the JW's or the Mormons in but be cautious, they do know the bible and they know what they believe. They start out connecting with you through the similarities between your beliefs and theirs and then they slowly slip in what they consider the "truth". My advice is to hear what they have to say and then study the bible for yourself, by yourself to discover what it truly says.

During a one year period while my wife and I lived in a town in Oregon we were visited by the JW's for about 6 months followed by the Mormon's for the other 6 months. We learned more about the Bible during that time than any other time in our walk with God. While examining their beliefs we discovered some of the truths of the Bible. I do not, however, have all the answers (there is always more to learn from God's word) but I do know that neither JW's nor the Mormon's are correct. The Bible quite plainly contradicts their beliefs. As I said though, discussion with them is very educational because it forces you to get into the Word and find some answers.

In closing today, I encourage you to fellowship, get together with some brothers and sisters and talk. Above all, forget about politics because the government is of this world which is perishing and is going to do whatever it wants, open the Bible and discuss the Word this leads to an understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is everlasting, and to salvation.

"America's Next Top Model (citizen)"

2008-05-07T18:54:00.003-05:00

Well ladies and gentlemen, Barrack O'Bama, the senator from Illinois is a few steps closer to becoming the President of the United States. Our chief representative, our "model citizen". With this office comes the control of the military, and the ability to appoint individuals to various offices that oversee things like homeland insecurity. The primaries are going well for O'Bama, he has drummed up quite a popularity; especially among the younger crowd. People have been rushing to the polls to cast their ballots and walk away proud of themselves. I suppose voting makes one feel good about oneself. Perhaps it makes you feel like you are important, like you have voiced your opinion and dog gone it someone heard you. You can leave the booth with a smile and feel like you exercised your right as an American to have a voice and be part of the governmental process. Ah, so edifying to one's self esteem.

I, on the other hand, have never in my life voted and I will tell you why. You, of course, don't have to listen but I will tell you just the same. I see the truth in our governmental election process. Democracy is DEAD my friends. And the fact that most citizens exercise their "right" to vote only shows how oblivious we are to reality. The vote you cast is merely a suggestion to those who actually run the country. There are organizations that decide who becomes president of this great country and you are likely not part of the "in" crowd. Just look at the Democratic Party's delegate system. They have pledge delegates, and super delegates whose votes are what really matter to the candidates. These individuals do not have to take your advise about who to vote for. The popular vote in a particular state could go to one individual while the delegates go to the candidate who paid the most money to "favorite charities" or made the right promises to the right people. They hope that by stirring up the people they can gain your support and that the majority will go their way but they really don't care how you feel and they will vote however they want. This system was developed for your protection, of course; I mean what if the popular vote went to say Jerry Springer or some comedian as a protest? Obviously, in that case the public would be mistaken and a "sensible" group of people would need to step in and dictate who was truly best for the job.

I hope you are beginning to see the truth in voting. But in case you aren't then let me continue. Our political system boasts two parties, Republicans, and Democrats. They decide who you get to vote for and, quite frankly, neither of their candidates is usually very suited for the job. But that is all you get to chose from. Once these candidates are chosen the "real" voting begins right? Or does it? Some more truth for you here, and if you took government in High School (assuming you paid attention) you know that the Electoral Votes elect the president. These come from the Electoral College which most of us are not alumni of. Once again, your vote here is merely a suggestion. The electoral college does not have to follow the popular vote. Isn't that sweet of our government to tell you that "every vote counts..." and "we need you to get out there and voice you opinion..." and then they hold the right to completely disregard your opinion and do whatever they want anyway. I will tell you what the polls are; they are a tool to determine if the facade is still working. The voter turnout tells them that you are still deceived and they can go about business as usual. Let's face it folks, if you really want your vote to count, watch "American Idol".

There is a principality in this world with an agenda for this country and the world and it will achieve that goal by any means necessary. Everything in our world is a tool that can be used to manipulate us and force us to bend to the will of... The media uses political commentators to get you fired up about certain "hot button" issues so you forget about the important issue. Gas prices go through the stratosphere to distract and cause chaos while proving how much control they have.

I know, I now sound like a raving conspiracy theorist who believes that they are out to get us. Well, that's partially true; they (and you know who they are) are out to get us . By us I mean Christians. The most important issue that you need to be thinking about is the condition of your relationship with Jesus Christ and what you are willing to go through for Him. I feel that the end is coming soon and we need to be ready for when the world turns on us and declares us "Terrorists". Then the Global War on Terror is going to come crashing home on us. Remember, however, as I have said in another post that the men of this world can only kill the physical body. Salvation comes either through death or perseverance. Matthew 24:13 "...He who endures to the end shall be saved..." Jesus is coming and I want to meet Him in the air dead or alive (we shall all be changed).

Leaving the Comfort Zone

2008-04-17T22:34:00.004-05:00

The journey begins for the couple from our story when they decide that Indiana is a state of distress for them, it is their comfort zone full of everyone they know yet none of that is fulfilling. Many of their "friendships" are based on drugs and partying and the future seems lifeless there. They want to experience the countryside, to live life, and luckily for them he has some money in the bank that could fund just such an expedition.

The plan:
He owns a pick-up truck and so they decide to find a travel trailer and move out of the apartment world and into the camper world. The goal is to find a camper that is big enough for them and their dog and 4 cats to live in comfortably and yet still be small enough for his truck to pull through the mountains; because it is for the mountains that they are headed. They wanted to see the west.

The Number:
After several weeks of shopping around for used campers that are nice yet affordable, they visit an RV dealer that they had been to several times. The salesman tells them that a camper just came in that day that they might like to see. As soon as they entered the trailer, they knew that was the one. It was perfect. 27 feet long and still under the weight limit of the truck and the price was right. They negotiated over the final sales price and finally came to an agreement. The salesman put together their total which included a trailer hitch package for the truck and taxes and title. You may be wondering why I seem to be going in to so much detail about the price and I will tell you. I am building up to something profound. At least it seemed profound to him at the time. When the total was tallied, the bill was placed in front of him and he was immediately taken aback. The grand total was exactly $7770.00. Even as a non-christian this meant something to him. He had grown up in a church but had deliberately walked away from Jesus. He felt in his heart that somehow this meant that this was the right thing for them to be doing and that their trip may be more important than they imagined.

It was the first week of May, the lease on the apartment was up and they were heading out. Unbeknownst to her he had actually never even driven a truck with a trailer before, but God must have blessed him with the knowledge because he felt confident behind the wheel and it seemed to come naturally.

Go West Young Man (and woman):
Narrowing down their possessions to the bare necessities and putting the rest in storage they said good bye to Indiana, their family, and "friends" and headed for the state line; destination unknown. They saw the country through the windshield and enjoyed the scenery as it changed before them. They crossed Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas keeping a leisurely pace and stopping when they were tired. They felt freedom. There was no one to answer to, no where they had to be, nothing they had to do. It was invigorating. They stopped in Denver for a few days to see the Rocky Mountains and to visit some of his family.

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways:
They wanted to see the Grand Canyon so that was their next destination. In case you haven't seen it, it is a BIG hole in the ground. Very pretty but quite expensive to visit.

For some reason, while in Arizona they picked up a local Nickel Classified newspaper. They thought it might be fun to find some land somewhere and park their trailer on it and just live. Oddly enough they found some ads for open land that was quite cheap in Oregon. A place called Klamath Falls. They weren't exactly sure why Oregon would advertise in Arizona (perhaps the ads were placed by "Alpha and Omega" realty) but it caught their eye. They headed for this Klamath Falls. Originally they had wanted to end up in either Albuquerque New Mexico or Eugene Oregon, there was no good reason for either of these places to be on their list of places to live but then they didn't end up in either one either. Having seen Arizona they figured New Mexico couldn't be that much different and Arizona didn't seem to suit them.

Two days later they made it through California and landed in Klamath Falls (there are no falls there by the way). The place was beautiful. The sun shined everyday they were there. It was early summer then. The weather was not too hot and not at all cold. After 2 weeks they thought they should at least see Eugene and find out if that is where they wanted to go.

It wasn't:
Two weeks in Eugene seemed like an eternity. The sun never made it through the gray clouds, and the people left much to be desired. They stayed in a nice trailer park but their neighbor was a camper full of drunk rednecks that enjoyed staring at her through binoculars. Had they stayed longer a fight surely would have ensued and nearly did anyway. They left after a long yet short stay.

On their way back to the land of sunshine their adventure was nearly cut short as were their lives. A 5000 pound truck pulling a 7000 pound trailer and traveling 60 MPH is not easy to stop on short notice. The road was a standard highway, one lane in each direction separated by yellow paint and the competency of the drivers. They approached a spot in the road where for some reason there were lots of Semi's parked on both sides of the road. There was no truck stop just a gas station with a parking area not made for such large vehicles. Our couple found this interesting and his attention wandered from the road ahead... When his attention returned he realized that a at the end of the bridge they were about to cross was a Semi carrying a load of logs that was stopped waiting to turn left. Behind the truck was a car and in the other lane was an oncoming vehicle...BRAKES...all four tires lock, eight counting the trailer...concrete wall to the right...too much momentum to stop...

It is amazing to look back on life and see all the places where God was there either gently guiding or aggressively saving ones life. From the future one can see the past clearly. Even when Jesus was the furthest person from their minds He was there.

...something supernatural seemed to take hold of the vehicle. Their truck and camper slides to the left and completely misses every car on the road. The oncoming car skids to his right and onto the shoulder before the bridge. When they finally come to a halt they are even with the cab of the Semi. The truck driver shakes his head and waves them around...

They made it back to Klamath unscathed and ready for the next adventure. They were spared from this collision but, little did they know, they were headed for "a brick wall and His name was Jesus..." What we want and what God wants are often quite different. Our couple wanted to go to New Mexico, God took them to Arizona. They thought about staying in Eugene Oregon, but God took them to Klamath Falls instead. God's plan is always better. To look at it metaphorically; what we think is a good idea is sometimes covered in gray clouds, yet the sun always shines on God's plan. However, living God's plan isn't always easy as we shall see from the future of our couple.

The 144,000 Epiphany

2008-04-13T23:13:00.001-05:00

An epiphany; not mine but by someone close to me. There are many different theories floating around about who the 144,000 are from the book of Revelation. Some say that they are Christian Jews that are marked by God to be here as witnesses during the tribulation but whom will not be harmed by the plagues. One religious organization would have you believe that it is the number of their people that will be worthy enough to reach the Heavenly kingdom and everyone else will be left here on earth...There are probably others as well.

Here is the epiphany: What if this is the number of Christians that are still alive when the final seal is opened and the trumpets begin to sound? That doesn't sound so profound but what if they are the only ones still alive, as in have not been killed for the Gospel yet. Perhaps the rapture is not going to happen the way everyone says.

Rev 6:9 And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Until when, Master, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were ) should have their number made complete.

Those under the altar are Martyrs for Christ, perhaps from the past or perhaps from the future or both. It is the mention of the word number here that is interesting. In the next chapter the 144,000 are sealed. Are these the only Christians left on earth that have not been killed? We know that the world will persecute Christians and it does now, just not in America yet. At least not to the point of death. For now we are merely pushed aside to make room for the politically correct and we are made to look weak, and crazy by the media. The persecution will only get worse.

Let's look back a bit. Many would have you believe that by the time the 144,000 are sealed the Christians will have been raptured from the earth. However, does not II Thessalonians 2 say that concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, this day will not come until the son of perdition has come first? One would think that this means that the anti-christ will have to come first then. When he does he will bring with him great persecution to those that do not take his mark or worship his image. If there are no Christians left here then who will he persecute? He will begin to destroy the Christians. The world will be turned upside down in those days, the days of the first 6 seals. But the worst is yet to come.

What if 144,000 is the amount of Christians still alive. Think about that for a minute. It seems like such a high number. But when one looks globally, the current population of the world is estimated to be around 8 Billion people. Let's do the math; 144,000 is 0.0018 of 1% of 8 billion. That is 9/5000 of a percent. Take a penny which is 1% of a dollar and then cut that penny into 5000 pieces, now pick up 9 of those pieces...
This is a very small number when one looks at the big picture. Now I know that the bible says that the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes of Israel so they must be Jews right? But, we were all grafted into the vine by Jesus so perhaps this means spiritual Jews. Many of us will have been killed for our faith if we don't submit to the world.

This epiphany did not come to me but to someone close to me. Jesus reveals the truth of His word in mysterious ways sometimes and in this case it was merely during a conversation. I can't say for certain that this is the meaning of the number but I do know that the bible does not say explicitly that we Christians will be taken out of the world before anything bad happens. It says that God will keep us from that day of trial which shall come upon the earth. Keyword, Keep, this does not mean taken out but protected. Those that are sealed in Revelation are protected from the plagues that follow.

The point is this. In all things give thanks and praise to Jesus. Even if the rapture doesn't happen the way "we want" it to, we need to stay strong and vigilant for Christ. Preaching his word to the end. To be beheaded for Christ is better than to live as a trader to Him and face the ultimate death after judgment.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Undesired Memories

2008-04-10T18:57:00.000-05:00

The Visit:
14 years old, no longer a boy; not quite a man. The beginning of the insecure years, that time when a young human is very fragile. He sits at home watching nothing on TV (no cable) just commercials. His step-father is the only other person home. Ding Dong...the door bell rings. The boy greets the two policemen at the door, apprehensive of the reason for their visit. They ask for a parent and the step-dad is paged. The boy goes back to the TV as the men enter the kitchen to talk. He thinks about turning the TV down so he can eavesdrop, but something inside him cautions against it; so he just sits there speculating on the reason for their visit.

The conversation ends and the cops leave. The boys older brother arrives sometime later. His mother comes home and the step-father spends a long time conversing with her outside the back door. She looks confused and worried; he seems very matter of fact but their words do not reach the ears of the young lad. What seems like forever goes by and someone else arrives at the home; the pastor from their church. Very unsuspected. Everyone is in the living room now. Apparently there is bad news for the boys...

Speculation:
Tuesday, February 5th, 1991; perhaps around 4:30pm when he got off work. A man has reached his limit in life. Stress has overwhelmed him to the point of collapse. He knows not what to do or who to turn to. He was always so quiet and unwilling to talk about his feelings. He parks his car on the side of the highway and...

Reality:
...children should not have to deal with the death of a parent. Unfortunately, death is part of life. Everyone is in the living room when the news reaches the young ears of the two teenage boys...Confusion sets in on the youngest. He sees his brother cry, his mother cry; the tears come reluctantly. Thoughts pierce his brain,
"Why are you crying!!?"
"Aren't I supposed to?" he answers himself silently.
"I don't know!"
He cries so they won't suspect that he actually doesn't feel like it. He doesn't feel...
The pastor leads in prayer. The boy resents him for being there during this time. He's not part of the family and I hardly know him...so out of place. Someone asks how the father died. The answer is provided...they didn't want to know, but they know. Someone asks why. There is no answer to provide. 17 years later and still no answer.

The days go by and the pain is surreal. The funeral comes and realization sets in stronger for the youngest son. The casket is carried out, the two sons Pallbearers; leading the march in his Class A Army uniform a supposed "friend" of the deceased in reality his betrayer.

7 guns, three shots, and a flag...The Vietnam Veteran father is laid to rest.

As the years go by the boy finds many chances to take advantage of the state of mind that society would believe him to be in. He should be depressed, a little out of control. That's what they want, that's what he gives them. Rebellion seems fun when you have an excuse.

His rebellion led to drugs, alcohol, partying, promiscuity. This led to betrayal by a "friend", realization that he was buying the party and his "friends" weren't true friends. This realization comes as he lays on an iron balcony in the French Quarter doped up on enough hallucinogens to kill a rat. Death is knocking at his door along with the devil; they are both laughing. Rebellion...this time rebellion leads to redemption.

He returns home, the prodigal son and gets a job at Meijer...
The rest of the story is written on the hearts of a man and a woman...he was a grocery stock clerk and she was a waitress...

Even undesired memories have a purpose with Christ, they make up our testimony for Jesus.

The Present:
That young boy is now a man and a father. He stifles anger and regret now and then that arises towards his father. Why didn't he get to know him better when he was around? The boy should have spent more time with his father. He loves him to no end. So many things he could have been taught. He goes to war twice and comes home twice (praise Jesus)...his dad was a Veteran. He kicks his car trying to figure out how to fix it...his dad was a mechanic. He has a car for the demolition derby, and not a clue where to start...his dad competed for 16 years. The list goes on but nothing can change. He is stronger now...Jesus never leaves him.

The Wake of Mammon Worship

2008-04-04T22:07:00.000-05:00

Money. The love of which is the so called root of all evil. America suffers from this love. Our economy is based on greed. When the people don't spend enough on materialism and junk the don't need our economy suffers. The corporations pull manufacturing from this country and send it overseas where the children work cheaper. They do this so they can cut costs and their profit margin grows. Unfortunately quality always suffers and along with that the customer is left with junk that, not only do they not really need, but it usually doesn't live up to their expectations based on the price they paid. The other downfall to this trend is that major suppliers of jobs for American working class people disintegrate. One day a man walks up to the door of the factory he has worked at for 20 years and there is a note there that says they are closed, never to open again. He has nothing to fall back on and suddenly realizes that he has been living just above his means because the economy needed him to spend, spend, spend, and that is what he did. Now his credit cards are through the roof his second mortgage is unpayable and there is nothing he can do about it. Soon he and his family will become a statistic, they will be forced out of their home into a rental if they can find one and their empty house will sit on the bank's books for a year or two until it is about to fall apart from lack of love and then the bank will off it to someone at about half the price of the original mortgage.

Ah, the beauty of being a country in love with Mammon. Our love affair with him has brought us to the point of ruin. Of course none of this is profound. No true insight here just common sense. One may ask the question about who is this mammon that is mentioned? The answer is in the book and many others. The common answer for this era is "...just Google it...". Check "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". Once understanding is reached, enlightenment can take place. Look at the world around you. If you are agoraphobic and don't like to leave the house just look at the internet, I know you have it because you are reading my mind. Everywhere you turn someone wants you money, or they want to show you how to live the "American Dream...to be rich and have all the material stuff you will never need". Of course you only need to pay $39.95 for the get rich plan. It used to be $19.95 but the price has been adjusted for inflation.

Again there is nothing profound about this, it is just common sense. The truth is, money comes and goes. Sometimes you have it and sometimes other people have it. The more one focuses on it the more that individual loses sight of the good in life. Too much time is spent in pursuit of the "Almighty Dollar". It invades every thought and every conversation you have. You begin to lose sight of the important things of life. It interferes with your spirituality. To borrow some words from a Charlie Daniels song "...Your bible is a checkbook and your church is a bank, you don't believe in charity and you don't give thanks; for what you've got..."

God provides if you let Him. Thank Him for what you have. Don't resent Him for not making you rich. Mammon is a very real entity and the pursuit of him and that which he represents only causes heartache and hardship. Look at the oil industry, they have sold their souls for mammon's glory and we suffer. They will have their reward in the end. Personally I would rather live in poverty now than spend a minute of eternity where the unrepentant rich man will end up.

Don't take my word for it, look around. See what people are willing to do for money. They steal, cheat, lie, and even kill. They start wars. They cut the funding to the schools so they can convince the people that a tax increase is o.k. and then they vote themselves a raise (who's gonna vote no to that? except maybe the last guy to vote when he sees that the "yeas" already have it. Then he can be noble and say "I voted no to that" he says pompously).

The bottomline is that money only gets in the way of happiness. Mammon and his master hate you and they love to see you infatuated with them. Whatever it takes to pull your eyes away from Jesus. They cheer, and when you die in your greed; they dance on your grave at the thought of having you suffer the same fate that they are destined for.

Mammon owns this world, from Walmart, to Exxon, to Proctor and Gamble, to the Fed. He even has his own tele-evangelists that preach that god wants you to be rich. They serve the wrong god. Jesus wants us to have a relationship with Him and to have faith in Him in our every need. If your faith is in your checkbook or your credit card, He is not there. Remember this, money is merely a tool to gather the things that you need to survive in this world don't focus on it just use it.

Thrown Together!

2008-04-02T22:36:00.000-05:00

We find our couple 2 weeks into their relationship when everything begins to pick up speed. She had been living with her mother as a rent paying roommate for some time along with a friend of hers. He was living in a cramped no-bedroom just a living room and a kitchen apartment in a rundown building that probably should have been condemned. Friction began to develop at her house because the friend owned a dog the size of Kujo (but much nicer of course). There was a severe lack of love for this beast from the mother. The friction grew to a point where the girl found herself without a home and she petitioned him for a place to stay. He welcomed her and her cat with open arms (his three cats were not quite as welcoming, but they warmed up...sort of). They leapt off a proverbial cliff together in moving in together so soon. But this was only the beginning of the pace of their journey that would increase exponentially over the next couple of months.

Some would say this was folly for a relationship to share a dwelling so early on; however, unbeknownst to them God was behind the scenes pulling the strings. This was hidden from them because their minds were clouded with certain substances that produce those sort of side effects and they had a lack of interest in the Christian way of life. They were seeking a more a physically gratifying religious experience through Wicca/Paganism/whatever sounded good at the time. Fortunately for them God could see past all of that and see where they would end up in the future and He knew that they would be able to reflect back on this time in their lives as a testimony to others that may be struggling with the same aspects of this world. This world is full of temptations that appear fun and enticing on the surface, but they lead to destruction in the end. Our couple found themselves wrapped up in these "physical pleasures" whole heartedly and yet without regret at the time. What they lacked and sought in the religions they studied, was a spiritual connection that would give them purpose in life.

This connection can only be found in one place and it is not Wicca. But that is a topic for later discussion. Our couple has had that debate and they have even been on both sides.

Spaghetti Shopping

2008-04-01T16:14:00.001-05:00

He was a grocery stock clerk and she was a waitress.

The story began one night in a grocery aisle at the local Meijer (plug). He was stocking cake and brownie mixes, and she was shopping for the meal she would make later that weekend. It was after midnight on a saturday morning. He noticed her before she spotted him. Something on her shopping list brought her down his aisle. He saw her coming and stopped all work. As he looked at her she looked at him. Their eyes met and time stopped. In that moment something passed between them; an aura of light surrounded her being and he beheld her in a different light. There was a connection, beyond the physical that materialized in that instance that lasted forever and yet no time at all. To steal a line from a movie, "...it was like, magic..." He had to speak to her but he knew not what to say. All that came out was "Howdy". She smiled a smile that was engraved onto his heart instantly. As she walked away her energy remained and he had to follow...at a distance of course. She felt the energy and connection as well and noticed his pursuit. He pretended to talk to co-workers while watching her. She shopped while watching him. Many smiles passed between them but no more words...for a bit.

Back in his aisle, she walked by the end and he waved at her. She approached him with confidence that made him nervous in his insecurity. Her words were few but effective.

"Are you spoken for?" she asked.
"No," was his simple answer.
"Can I give you my number?" was her second question.
"Absolutely!" was his reply.

She wrote it on the list she shopped by, which contained the ingredients for spaghetti. With a smile she left for the night, leaving him in a state of bewilderment about what just happened. It had seemed so unreal and yet as real as gravity. He was sober, so no good explanation came to mind. He had never felt such a connection with anyone upon first sight before. He thought about her all night and into the next day when he picked up the phone and dialed her number.

An invitation to dinner at her house followed a long conversation. She made spaghetti.

That was over 11 years ago and was only the beginning. The clerk and the waitress were about to embark on a journey that would bring them through many trials and many adventures. But most importantly they were headed for a relationship not only with each other but with Jesus Christ.

A moment of Clarity

2008-03-31T23:22:00.000-05:00

As I sit facing the west watching as the light beams from the setting sun dance in the glass of the giant picture window in front of me, I suddenly experience a moment of clarity. I look to the world around me and see the strings that hold it together being pulled this way and that. I see the other world, the unseen world, and how it influences this world and the next. The decisions of man are the decisions of another power that leads us to an end. I do not, however, see the end; for it is yet unknown. There are glimpses of it around us, writings in books, words on a page to describe wonderful and horrible events of the future and the past and the present. The world is clouded with bad judgement, darkened with fear of the inevitable end that our society as humans is coming to, and yet it is bright with the hope of things to come. For the end draws nie but it is not dark for all.

As the sun sinks on the horizon, colors very real and yet unimaginable fill the sky. Some clouds bleed, some are bruised, and some shine with glory. My thoughts wander. One day these clouds will divide and salvation will pour forth from them. Only, perhaps it will be the clouds behind me. Salvation for some and destruction for others.

My moment of clarity returns. Man seeks a leader that will unite them in harmony. Someone good and true that will bring peace to the Earth. Someone who does not seek to prosper himself and has an open heart and mind. Man seeks a savior. Unfortunately man looks for this in another human. And a human they shall have. He will live up to all expectations, save one. He will very much seek his own prosperity as well as that of the one he serves. He will lead man down a path to destruction, and he will smile the whole way. A savior came once and he was rejected for his lack of "humanity". He was supposed to lead a rebellion, to conquer the governments of the world and squash oppression for eternity. Instead he came with a message of love and faith. What good was that to a blood-thirsty world that seeks War to cure the pain of life. He had to pay for his lack of performance. Humans feel that someone needs to pay for their misfortune, someone should pay for what we have to go through to survive. One day, man will pay for his own lack of gratitude for what is given. Too much is never enough and repercussions are coming for those that serve Mammon and are plagued with greed and lust and faithlessness.

My moment of clarity wanes into a recollection of history. That savior that came and died...Yet he rose and left with a promise...Yes those clouds, or maybe the ones behind me will one day part and He will return followed by salvation and destruction. His death was sacrifice to show His love, He rose from that death as a conqueror and as a promise of what lies ahead for those that accept His sacrifice. Belief leads to acceptance, acceptance leads to love, love leads to faith, faith leads to change. Once belief is genuine, change is inevitable. The heart of He who gave Himself for us changes the heart of he who believes and accepts that sacrifice. For man will not and cannot change on his own. He may change what he does but not how he thinks and feels. Only one has the power to perform that kind of change...Jesus Christ!

The sun is gone deep into the horizon and darkness blankets the Earth around me. The air is cold and shadows lurk, waiting to fall on the unsuspecting. These shadows play tricks on the eyes and make one question reality. Darkness hides the masters of this world who are nocturnal and they thrive in the darkness of the unbelieving mind. This darkness is conquered by one thing, light. Faith is knowing that soon the son will return, followed by light, warmth, joy, and clarity.

Walk in the light and darkness has no sway over you. Faith does not make life easy, for faith is not easy. Faith in Jesus fills the heart with fulfillment and one will experience a spiritual relationship that is unlike any physical gratification that can be found on this planet or the next. Look around the world and see for yourself; see God's creation (flowers, birds, animals, the sunset, sunrise, the stars...)

and see man's (war, hatred, poverty, greed, crime...)

which is more beautiful?

"Come and See the Violence Inherent in the System"

2008-03-24T10:58:00.000-05:00

Oppression is human nature. Of course that doesn't make it right, just inevitable. American history is plagued with oppression. The founding colonies were built by indentured servants that could be compared to the sweat shops of today; a lot of work for little to no pay. As American society grew, slaves were brought in to help build the nation. One cannot exactly blame the white man for creating African slaves; after all they merely purchased a commodity from a market created by African tribal leaders. Slavery is not unique to blacks, nor was it created by America. Human slavery has been around since the old Testament. Nearly every race on Earth has experienced slavery or some equal form of oppression. The natives to American soil were oppressed to the point of slaughter and segregation that exists today. Now believe me, I am not trying to justify slavery in the slightest; it is an abhorrent part of our history as the human race. I'm just saying that we can't go on blaming people for something their ancestors did. Much like a criminals family should not be required to apologize or pay for the actions of the criminal.

This aspect of human nature to oppress the next generation is learned, much like children that are raised by abusive parents are more likely to abuse their children. People abused by a government grow up to run a government that a abuses its citizens. On the other hand, this country has come a long way since the civil rights movement began. Our schools are integrated, there is no longer separate bathrooms or drinking fountains for different races, and every American citizen has the right to vote regardless of race or gender. Many of the obstacles that our ancestors faced and fought to overcome are gone in today's America.

Race has become the forefront of many discussions in this country because of Senator Barrack Obama and his association with the very opinionated Jeremiah Wright. Unless you live in a cave, this isn't news to you ; and if you live in a cave you probably aren't reading this blog. The media has run the statements by Mr. Wright and the follow up by Sen. Obama into the ground. But that is how the game of politics is played. Although some of us, including me, do not agree with Mr. Wright, we have to remember that he has the 1st amendment right to say what he feels. However, I would argue that the pulpit is not the place for such inflammatory rhetoric. As a Christian pastor Mr. Wright needs to remember that Jesus did not represent such hatred of our fellow man nor did he represent any form or racism or dissent between peoples of different nationalities. One should not be so quick to play the "Race Card". It should be played when the situation is obvious and it is warranted. But to try to trump every situation with it, detracts from its efficacy when discrimination is actually present. To borrow a quote from Dennis Miller "We don't want to become the boy who cried "Black"."

Government created by man is never perfect. There are always those that become power hungry and abuse their position. There are basically 4 options for those that don't like the "Inherent" problems in our society. They can jump up on their soap box every chance they get and rant and rave while making a fool of themselves. They can follow the example of Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King and try to make a difference. They are always free to leave the country and find out that our world isn't that bad; in fact I know from experience that this country is a far better place to live than many other countries in the world (at least for now, America isn't full of suicide bombers, our streets are free of IED's, and we aren't surrounded by foreign troops telling us what to do or where we can and can't go.) Or they can look around and see that the U.S. is a country full of diversity; no where in the world can you find every race, ethnic group, and religion in one place. No matter what your background, we are Americans; we are Family.