How fresh are your turnips?

I have spent the majority of my day studying. My daughter has a dental abscess, chronic syncope, and my son is having back problems. I am crazy because the book I am reading I have to read it a few pages at a time and then reflect. I have read it once but now I am typing up the important part in my notes and have to really analyze it all. I have so many deep theological questions which in some way interact with the studies of the constitution, how it was formed and what the heck fire were they thinking?

I also have one presentation with a 1,000 word essay and a 3-6 page poetical analysis due in a few weeks. I have never done a poetical analysis in my life. I am breaking down everything in small “knowledgeable bites” to my brain can absorb it.  As it sits right now, I have no idea. My turnips have been soaked too long in the pot and are mushy. All my light bulbs are burned out and my elevator has ceased to run. It actually ran out the door! 

Sometimes we read scholarly text that makes so much sense pertaining to our life. It can be really scary. Today I was reading about the element of time dealing with social order. When the author wrote, I could tell exactly which biblical verses he applied his literary application to. I have already decided that each time I read something in the Bible to read it with a blank slate as if I have never read it before.

Russell Kirk in “The Roots of American Order” quoted Thorleif Boman in which I will paraphrase from page 41: Space is like storage that arranges and holds where we live, breath, and expands freely; it is the same for every man—regardless of his or her experiences. Kirk contends that we are only given just a glimpse of God’s time and eternity. To quote Kirk, “God is not bound by the human conventions of time”, this also includes the space where we live, breath and expand freely.

The time that God has allowed us to have is in an order.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

We cannot even image God’s time. Our time and God’s time is two different creatures.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

Russell Kirk further more contends that “Jehovah had put his law in their inward parts, and written it upon their hearts. In exile, their national community was broken; they perceived the reality of God inwardly and through worship…without knowledge and confidence we would have perished altogether…it is possible to learn why men submit themselves to a personal order and a social order. To go to the heart of the matter, why do human beings conform to a prescribed personal order, when often their immediate pleasure and advantage would be served by disregarding that personal order? …His Law still is the source of order, even when the forms of that law have been secularized.” (pp 44)

We have a moral and a social order through God, which comes first. A person cannot put it any plainer than we have secular laws in which we follow, but over that (note I said the words OVER) is God’s Law. That Law can only be known if you open that Bible, read it, pray about it and live it to the best of your ability. 

Furthermore God does not punch a clock; he only rests in his time and not ours. That means he is available when we sleep, when we work, when we play, and when we weep.

Keep in prayer the John Richard Miller (Sandy Stimpson father in law); he went home to be with God. Keep in prayer Jeff Griffin who is not well. Still keep in prayer Shea Morrow Fraley and her son Alex who have been sick with the nasty cruds. Pray for each other.

This is my opinion. I respect yours, so please respect mine.

God bless you and keep you safe in His arms. 

Time to take inventory

Today is inventory day. It is time to take stock of the inventory in our lives. Think really hard about this scenario? If you were to wake up tomorrow without anything except the clothes on your back, who would come to your aid? Who could you call on to help you?  Yesterday you had $100,000 in personal assets, and today you will have nothing $0. You now have no home, no boat, no car, no social clubs, no job, and no money.  

“Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.” (Proverbs 19:6)

Could you call your very best friend who you went to school with (high school or college) have know for 20 years and you feel they would help you? You called them and they helped you some. Suddenly, they are unavailable. You feel embarrassed because you have nothing and they have what you had. Your own siblings seem to have turned their back on you or they do not have the means (so they think) to help. But, then again why should they since you have been estranged from them for reasons of past familial events. What do you do and where do you turn.

Now that you are totally destitute, where are your friends?

“Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friends…All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them” (Proverbs 19:4, 7)

We learn very quickly who our friends are. We hurry to try and make a quick change in our situation, but soon realize it is very tiring to you emotionally and physically. In the process of all this life changing events, we have an array of emotions from hate toward those around us to anger at God allowing this to happen. After all what did we do to deserve this?

“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin; his heart rages against the Lord… It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes… Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:2, 10, 27)

In most cases, when we are wealthy, we did not study the word of God nor did we worship God; now we have nothing and we still are not studying the word of God, do we worship Him, nor do we do what is expected of us by God. What is wrong with this picture?

“Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool… Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he, who understands, will discover good… Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his way will die. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed… Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose o the Lord that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to 

a life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm… (Proverbs 19:1, 8, 16-17, 20-23.) 

I do not feel it is evil to have money or assets; the evil comes in as to how we use it. If you have a dollar that is useless to you, and you meet a person in need gift it willingly. It shouldn’t be your concern how it is used. If you buy food and give it to that person in need it is the same. As Christians when a need is known we are suppose to help God fulfill those needs. When we give generously in the grace of God, then we will be repaid more so.

We can make all the plans we want in life, but our ultimate purpose is that of God’s will. We need to be receptive to the knowledge (the word of) God. We need to gain the wisdom like a parent teaches a child; that true wisdom can only be obtained through God.  Seek Gods word, learn his word, and fulfill his work and his love in your heart and in your soul. Fear what it would be like lost, abandoned, hungry, homeless, and with nowhere to turn, because that is your life without God.

From personal experience, I have been hungry, homeless, walking in the rain with small children, and without anyone to call, but I have never lost sight of my faith. I have given when I have had extra. God has seen to my needs every time, relentlessly, without me asking. He knew. I have prayed many times and laid everything at his feet. He has kept me safe and will continue to do so no matter what is in my path including but not limited to death. Even in death I know I will be safely in His arms.  Be thankful for everything because our very essence is the sole creation of God.

There is humanity in this world. There is truth in finding that humanity. For there is love where there is truth and there is humanity through that love which is God’s ultimate path and plan.   

Today is the day for inventory of your life.

Keep in prayer Shea Morrow Fraley and one of her sons who are both sick with the nasty flu. Keep in prayer each other.

Remember this is just my opinion. I will respect yours, so, please respect mine.

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms. 

***Special Note: One of my professors reminded me today something very important: When Christ was born, we accepted him. It was the casting off the old for the new and eternal life. I am eternally grateful. 

My treasures are in my dreams.

A child’s perception is a very interesting thing. When they are little, you never really know what they are thinking. When I was little, I viewed my aunts entirely different than average women.

One was a Mediterranean fairy princess from the Far East. My uncle, who was a royal naval commander, saved her on one of his tall masts ships like in the (1942) movie “The Black Swan.” He saved her from dreadful tyranny. He brought her to America when they married and he fought in the great wars in far off lands. She was tall, with dark eyes, and dark hair keeping her secrecy for the protection of her children. Her eldest son and daughter were mysterious like their mother. The youngest was fair like a desert rose. (Aunt Lynn)

The other aunt I viewed like one of the rescued girls like in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” She married the woodsman, and her talents were endless. She had three boys that only knew the life of the great hunters in the wild woods with flowing deep streams. (Aunt Hilda)  

Another aunt was a beauty queen and the directors sought her often to play in movies like “Gone with the Wind.” She spoke poetically in a deep southern drawl. With her red hair, I just knew her stage name was Susan Hayward. She had all those pictures in long flowing gowns. (Aunt Betty Sue) Her children lived the jet set life all over Europe and were the friends with the Queen’s children themselves.

It is funny how children’s imaginations can take them anywhere in life they want to go. Unfortunately we grow up and we often forget about those wild day dreams and our innocent concepts about life.

My beauty queen and rescued bride have gone to be with God. My fairy princess from the Far East still lives on. I have learned that when children are little, let them enjoy their imagination because it makes great memories. I eventually told one aunt what I felt about her not too long ago; she giggled and it made her day.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

I have many treasures and I relish all of them.

Keep in prayer Tamara Robinson Price’s father who is in the hospital. Keep in prayer Mary Johnson and her family; Mary’s mother-in-law, Dalphine Dellinger Black, went home to be with God. Pray for each other.

God bless you all and keep you safely in your arms. 

A cold night.

It is a cold night and many are just a snuggling. I made enough seafood gumbo to feed 50 people. I would give anything just to have one glass of sweet tea but as of a week ago no more only 2 cups of coffee and water daily. I miss my occasional coca-cola. No I will not give in to urges like that because it is very harmful to me. I did though cheat with a small French vanilla cappuccino. It was so good. But then again I have been good. I have already had 92 ounces of water today.   

I am happy. Things may not always be the best but I am a contently a happy person and everything will work out. I do not know what the future will bring but then again, I am not concerned about it. (I am concerned about this child that lives up above me. He is a moving monster that makes tons of banging noises. That doesn’t make me happy. It is one child that makes all that dead gum noise!!!!! There was another child up there last year, same age and we never heard a peep out of him. This child is an angelic terror looking little fellow.)  Okay where was I?

I totally lost my train of thought. Maybe it is my old age? Could be the hair dye? Oh well.

Tonight is just too relaxing and I do not give a hootie tootie night! I am only human.

Before you go to bed tonight, pray. It gets easier if you make a habit of it. I am concerned about the souls of my family and friends.

Mardi Gras is coming up and then there is Lent. Before you know it Easter will be here. Easter means new life, fresh beginnings.

Pray for each other.

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, become like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)  

God bless you all and keep you safe on this cold evening. 

I am not a prophet, a seer, or anything great; I am just a student who hopes one day to be called a scholar one day. I just enjoy discussing the Bible and learning every little intricate detail about life, why we think the way we do and where are we all going. I doubt seriously I will ever have the answer to my questions, but I have enjoyed trying to learn them.

I have learned to beware of demagogues and prophetic afflatus. I had been concerned about the affect these types of people have on society but I couldn’t exactly put a definition or name to them. Demagogues are political leaders who seek support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. A prophetic afflatus is a person who has tendencies of divine creative impulses or inspiration where they believe they have obtained supernatural communication of knowledge. (“Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Thesaurus”)

In the last 20 years I can name a lot of people in the national and international spot lights who are like this; this would include and not limited to major politicians (some ran for president) and leaders of some really popular churches in existence today.

“Hear this word, Israel, this lament I take up concerning you: Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to life her up.” (Amos 5:1-2) If you start in the beginning with Amos, it is revealed that “The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” (Amos 1: 2) God destroyed Israel because of its unfaithfulness. “I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.” (Jeremiah 3:8)  The covenant was broken by the people. “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, said the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33) God is of the people, including all people.

The people broke the covenant with God in the Kingdom, Nation or Country of Israel and it was never rebuilt or made with them as a country again. It was made with the individual people surviving that judgment. 

We all have descended from those roots as science proved, the same parentage.

The covenant with God is in our hearts and souls; it is in each person. We have destinies. “And at the end of time, the world will be transformed justice will triumph; Zion will be perfected; the people who have kept the faith with Jehovah will be rewarded.” (Russell Kirk, “The Roots o American Order”, pp 32-34)

That is some deep stuff! It is up to us to accept God and not just in bits, parts, and pieces either. We have to be totally committed to all of him. We can no longer look at the Old Testament as “the historical version” but we have to look at the entire Bible, the make sense of the complexity of this world we live in. I cannot even understand God’s time. I know he his designated time for us; but, we in no way scientifically or not understand his time. His time and his presence is our undying faith.

Here is the thing; it is time for us to submit to him 100% percent. I could care less if you are part of Judaism, Christianity, or Islamic faith, do not let the sun go down on soul until you sit in prayer with God. If you pray to Jesus or any other prophet you wish to follow their doctrine in God’s world, great! But it is vitally important that you pray to God. Save your soul-- the sooner the better.

 Note:  This is just my opinion. I will respect yours so please respect mine.

Pray for each other.

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms.

Three Religions

I woke up this afternoon terribly hot and disoriented from a really bad dream. My knees were hurting because in my dream. I was praying (on my knees) for that the person hanging by their arms in the other room. I didn’t want him to be executed by the hooded men wielding their swords. I was hot, couldn’t breathe, and soaking wet from sweat.  I have never been a big believer in the interpretation of dreams because it is something we manifest from a physical illness or something we ate that is not agreeing with our body. I cooled down and went to buy me some more water to drink.

I know what the problem is and I suppose I need to face it straight forward. The second test result and message from my doctor: “Elevated amount of protein in her urine which indicated the early stages of damage to her kidneys from diabetes.” Well when the first results came back in December, I pretty much stopped drinking everything but coffee and water. I don’t guess I am doing such a great job on watching everything. I have learned to face that my body is just worn completely out. Put that down.

Tomorrow is another day. I will just have to try harder. I will just have to “beef up” the work on myself a little more.

I have spent the better part of the day studying for my class on Tuesday night. I will have that finished tomorrow and the start on my studies for the Thursday night class.

In my reading today, the word Zion popped up. (It can also be translated as Sion, Tzion or Tsion.) I suppose I really never paid attention to that specific word until today. I always thought is meant temple. It shows up in 2^nd Samuel for the first time in the Bible.

“Never-the-less, David took the stronghold of Zion that is the city of David.” (2 Samuel 5:7)

According to Russell Kirk (the author of the book I am reading for class) “it originally meant the hill on which David established Yahweh’s shrine and built a palace.” (pp18) As I continue reading, I rediscover something that I was aware of but Kirk puts it in a different order that what I know. “For all that, this unlikely spot became the most holy ground for three great religions, so that the city on its plateau nearly surrounded by deserts magnetically drew back inhabitants after destruction, though mighty Babylon lay covered by the sands and the old capitals of Egypt gave way to Greek Alexandria. Jerusalem was denounced by the prophets for wickedness and harness of heart, but the city was condemned so fiercely only because it was loved so passionately. Where the Temple built by Solomon stood once, there rises today the Dome of the Rock, the Mosque of Omar, erected by the Muslims in 688 A.D. The Temple, with its most sacred chamber Holy of Holies, was the reason for Jerusalem’s symbolic power over all Jews; the palaces of King David and his successors were as nothing by the side of the Temple. Jerusalem, said the prophets and the priest, was the throne and dwelling of Jehovah: all the nations of the earth would come there to worship the one true God. And so it came to pass.” (pp 21)

The three religions he is referring to is Judaism, Christianity and Islam and it is clear that they should come together and worship one true God. Are the three religions at this time being denounced because of their wickedness and hardness of heart? I have to ask that.

In the Bible, there was a contract between God and the tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, and Issachar. I suppose that Dinah (the twin to Zebulun) was left out of the equation because she was a female. This starts about Genesis 25.

Also in the Bible many forget one important point.  About Genesis 21, Abraham took a bottle of water and some bread and sent Hagar and Ishmael on their way. God spoke to Hagar: “Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.” (Genesis 21:18) God provided water for Hagar and then traveled on.

My question point blank and it may sound ugly: why the hell is everyone trying to kill each other? Do they think it will get them closer to God? Do they think they are the special chosen tribe? Wanting to get a better piece of the pie? Lay material rights to something that very few are aware of? Do they think they are better than everyone else? I am not pointing a finger at any one religion; I am pointing a finger at three: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  

CRAP! Utter crap!

So man would rather violate the will of God than to come together and pray on how to fix this absolutely sick ill ridden international society of greed, hate, desolate ideas or terminal earthly illness in which we all live? I would image that God is just about fed up with a lot. Think about it. He left Adam in charge of humanity to be passed on. Man has done nothing but absolutely screw it up.

It is time to start new! It doesn’t matter about the past; it is time to take hold of the future. Judaism, Christianity, Islam need to pray together. They need to take the hand of their brother (believe me we are all related) and pray for God to please intervene in our world. Pray to heal. Just pray to be praying for peace, understanding and tolerance. We can still stand strong on our convictions but learn how to get along.

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14)

“Through the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

Keep in prayer Jim Lund and the Lund family darling “Ginger” for their muscular pain: pray for each other: keep Ashley Larson in prayer for her upcoming surgeries and the battle she is fighting on cancer. 

***Remember this is just my opinion and you don’t have to agree with it; but, I do ask that you respect my opinion because I respect yours. Also the book I quoted from is The Roots of American Order by Russell Kirk. It is a book worth buying and reading. 

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms. 

SPECIAL NOTE:

Jim Kiser, a very dear friend, is going back into the world to teach and spread the word of God. For several years he was in the far east. He does need help and support. For information please email Jim at: jimzainar@gmail.com. I have been associated with his family and him for more than 9 years. They are wonderful people. They hearts and their souls is helping others. 

Godly treasures.

I am such a disappointment to myself today. The hardest things that I have done all day are sleep, give myself a French tip manicure, eat, and watch television. This is an A-typical procrastination type of behavior of the worse kind. Of course, I enjoyed every single minute of today!

My son walked two buildings down to work, and my daughter kept busy practicing on her presentation of a cake for Valentine’s Day that they will be doing at school. She has a fake cake shell that she uses. Once she is finished she cleans off the shell and reuses the fondant again and again. Being a female in a pure French culinary school is not easy. In their culture, it is very rare for women to be chef’s or worse even a pastry chef. They are taught to strive for the “perfection” of the creation. Everything produced has to be perfect. I can see after looking at the finished work of my children why the sometimes feel a little pressured and stress over their creations. The French believe that food production and consumption is an art. I sort of agree with that concept.

I feel the same way about my studies, research, and writing. The finished product should be aesthetically pleasing in one way or another. The outcome I try to reach is: what did the reader learn, did the reader understand, and did the reader walk away thinking in a deeper sense about those secret inner working recesses of the soul?

Last semester in one of the classes I took, I read that society can become too complacent when the economy is good. The same analogy holds true for Christianity. Can Christians become too complacent when all is good in their lives? We definitely live in a society of materialism. Christians do associate materialism as blessings and that all is good. FALSE!

God and Jesus are not concerned about your house, your boat, your car or your job. Why aren’t they? They allowed you to have it? No they didn’t. You can have anything material on earth you want; there are two things that concern God and Jesus and they are (a) your needs and (b) your soul.

“And my God will supply every need of your according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (Romans 2:6-8)

When we were created we were not created symmetrical but we were created unique. We are the rendered work of a great artist. We cannot begin to understand how he worked or all the materials used other than dust. Each microscopic piece is intricately designed to perfection. Man has just about destroyed the infinite wisdom of that creation because of the material aspects in our world.

Materialism (like money) is not necessarily evil; but, it depends on how it is used. We should never put it before the saving grace that can infiltrate our soul and calm our very existence like a simple running stream clear and free to flow in the spring.

“And he said to them, take care, and be on you guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consists in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Think of it this way: there is a hard freeze and in some cases a lot of snow every winter. The freezing temperature kills all the germs, and allows enough stimulation for the roots to grow strong in the spring.

God and Jesus kill all the ugliness in our hearts and souls; they allow us to be clearly stimulated for new growth in our life that is “germ free.”

This is just my opinion. Please respect it as I will respect yours.

Pray for each other.

God bless you all and keep you safe.

New Adventures

Often it is hard for me to have relationships on a social basis because I don’t always adapt that good to change. I never really have. I suppose that is one of the reasons that I call myself anti-social. It is hard for me to be around people yet I can speak in front of 500 with ease. I try to always keep a smile of my face when internally I feel at my lowest point. Yet life continues to evolve in a linear pattern of time. I think honestly it is circular because a person is helpless when they are born and helpless when they die. 

So I compromised in my thinking; time is linear and progresses. In that linear time we have small little individual circles that represent the people on our lives that can burst without any notice. 

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) 

“In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was where we were taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust thou shall return.” (Genesis 3:19) 

Furthermore, I will not be sad when I leave after graduation, because I have something new that I will try, and a life to look forward to. I have learned a lot. I have learned not to be afraid of this vast world, not to be too serious anymore as an adult, and I have learned to share more than I ever had in my life because of the many revelations that I have discovered about my education and about me. Most importantly my soul has been revitalized.  

“Jesus answered and said unto her, everyone that drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) 

Revelation and Exodus are an interesting terms. Of course you notice they are books in the Bible but they are also very real functions in our lives. I learned late last night that these terms run rampant in our very essence. Russell Kirk wrote The Roots of American Order.”I am reading this for a class that I am taking called “The American Constitutional Experience” taught by Dr. Robert Stacey. He is a vibrant instructor. He too is one of those instructors that drain the dead concepts of ideals that are nothing more than dust from the days of old. He encourages us to open our square boxes to find if life still exists in our spider web infested brains. When we walk out of class, we take a breath of the fresh air of knowledge, the ability to learn something new.

Kirk defines revelation as “unveiling the truths that men could not have obtained from simple experiences in this world.” He defines exodus as “departure.” Reading this was like a light bulb came on in my life. It suddenly made sense. 

It is natural for everyone person to learn, to question every single detail. Never take anything with first hand experiences but seek the knowledge that accompanies those experiences. It is natural for us to depart from the deadness in our life to see that truth. Use the knowledge, for with knowledge comes wisdom. 

Sometimes packages are delivered in beat up boxes that have splits all over. Doesn’t look or feel like that package can be used anymore; but, if we clean it and repair the splits then it can be something really viable, useful and beautiful.  

“But ye have not so learned Christ; if so it be that ye have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off, concerning your former manner of living, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on that new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore putting away lying, let every man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:17-25) 

So here is my concept. We call ourselves Christians, but what are we doing to maintain our souls? We maintain our houses, our cars, our nails, our clothes, and our food. Are you maintaining something greater than all of that? Do not wake up tomorrow in pain, hurting, despair, cob webs between your ears and spiritually clogged arteries. It is possible to become lost and unable to find our path if we are maintaining the wrong ideals about life. 

How many have seen stagnant odorous water that is infested with maggots and trash? Do not let that be your soul. 

Keep each other in prayer; keep in prayer for the friends and family of Rebecca Petrie who has joined the Heavenly Ranks of God; continue to pray for Angela Branson Jordan for a good recovery—it has been a rough this week; keep Lynn Moore Rushin’s son, Jimbo, in your prayers; he had surgery and is recovering; keep in prayer Valerie Hightower in her fight against cancer; keep in prayer Roy Jennings and his family praying for his recovery.  

Note this is just my opinion, my thoughts. Please respect them. I respect your opinion and your thoughts. Please leave a comment—if you want to.  

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms. 

Special note: I found out today that Dr. Joseph is teaching an internet course this summer on “The Unborn Life.” If you would like to have a wonderful experience, take this class. There is no political agenda involved—no “pro-life or pro-choice.” It is a chance to learn what we do not know about the unborn life. I thought I was very versed in this subject, but oh no, I was not. Dr. Joseph’s classes are soothing and his foundations for teaching this class is compounded with good solid research in the historical ideology of how the unborn life was and is considered. I had a lot of questions when this class ended but those questions have no answers. I finished this class with a thorough understanding in awe about the infancy of life. I suggest this class and highly recommend it. If you would like more information, IM me, leave your comments and email address, etc. and I will get assistance to answer any questions you may have. 

Do we really know who we are at war with?

I have tried to write about issues from my heart. Before I pen the first word I pray deeply about the content and how many will view it. My top priority is how God inspires me on a specific message.

I was reading an article this morning about the “Black Widow Terrorist” in Russia are planning to cause horrendous acts at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The first thing that came to mind was the Vietnam War. One of the saddest of that war was the reception many honorable men received when they returned home. They were spit on and called baby killers. What I did not understand is WHY? The soldiers did not exactly know who the enemies were? If you were a US Soldier could you kill this precious little blonde haired girl in war? Or this darling young boy who studies everything about him?

Many a soldier knew or had experience with a female or child terrorist. There were women who would place bombs on their living infants and beg the soldier to take the child. That soldier would have then lost his life, or the majority of his or her limbs had they lived. War is not pretty and it never ends in the minds of so many who have fought to protect us. Children and women were part of the enemy we allegedly fought against in the Vietnam War. The ultimate outcome of Vietnam was nothing more than a war of property—a line on a map. Yet those “enemies” are still in existence all over the world.

Around the world including but not limited to my country, USA, we honestly do not know who our deadly enemies are in the world at war in which we live. There are many women, men, and children who have a personal vendetta for whatever reason to kill and destroy. Honorable people who are trying to combat this problem have trouble (still) determining what a terrorist is, how many, and what or where they will strike next. Sometimes I wonder if the terrorist are in positions of power within our governments. They too have had the tendency to harm the masses without true humanitarian thought to repercussions of their actions.

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14)

Can you honestly say that you know who the terrorist or killers of humanity are?  They are the truly evil forces that have been allowed to come into our societies of the world.  The common factors are that evil forces and war have no gender, no age, and no social economic status.

 

I pray for peace; I pray to lay down arms of violence; I pray deeply that God will intervene.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

I cannot say that I was always a pacifist, but as time evolves and my spirituality strengthens in God, I just do not see the justification to kill over ethnicity, power of material like oil or land, anger, or to prove a point of one religion being better than another.

“Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.” (Psalm 37:37)

I pray for peace; I pray to lay down arms of violence; I pray deeply that God will intervene.

I could not find the photographer(s) to give them credit for their pictures I have posted but I thank them, because a picture tells more than my words ever could.

Pray for each other; keep in prayer for the friends and family of Rebecca Petrie who has joined the Heavenly Ranks of God; continue to pray for Angela Branson Jordan for a good recovery—it has been a rough this week; keep Lynn Moore Rushin’s son, Jimbo, in your prayers; he is having surgery tomorrow; again pray for each other.

Remember this is just my opinion. You do not have to agree with it. I will respect your opinion so please respect mine.

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms. 

And The Argument Continues

In 2008, Armenian and Greek Orthodox (Christian) Monks fought (psychical fighting) over a service at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It was over who had the right to occupy a space. There are six Christian churches that share control of the ancient church. Clashes are not uncommon but the confrontations rarely end up in violence. AND THE ARGUMENT CONTINUES.

Christianity has been argued on the American soil. It was argued in the framing of the US Constitution. Many argue (today) that American was founded as a Christian nation. According to Bill Flax, Forbes Magazine, “America wasn’t founded as a Christian nation and many of our beloved Forefathers sadly were not, yet America was largely comprised of Believers. Liberty allows us to worship freely or not at all per conscience. America was never meant to be the theocratic or homogenous religiously, but Christianity has always been indelible to our social fabric. The Founders, even non-believers, considered that a blessing.” (Was America Founded As A Christian Nation?: 2012) Even some major theologians (as quoted in the article) have the same contention that Bill Flax mentioned. AND THE ARGUMENT CONTINUES.

Can evil be done in the name of religion? Religious people can be mean and some are often evil. Standing on a street corner and screaming “murderer” is wrong. Any self respecting sinning Christian that does that is judging thy fellow man. If you fly a plane into a building to prove a religious point and commit suicide you are violating the laws of God or the translation of its Arabic word Allah. History has such examples of burning heretics over which Christian religious individuals felt was correct. Interrupting a funeral by calling the decedent horrible names to prove one’s political religious views is horribly judgmental and shows no respect or honor as mentioned in the Bible. Heretics come in all forms—Judaism, Christianity, and Islamic faiths because of the lack of intellectual knowledge in which man themselves stifle. AND THE ARGUMENT CONTINUES.

How far do religious people have to go to prove a point? What is and what are the religious sects trying to prove by violating the word of God in the name of their beliefs and religion? Improper behavior can turn off a person seeking the word of God.

As it stands right now, hundreds of thousands of Christians are lost because of their inability to follow the word God in a rational manner. Christ is the doctrine I have chosen to follow; which makes him the incarnate son of God and he died for our sins to save humanity. Other religions like Judaism or (true) Islam recognize Jesus in their religion as being a type of prophet but not like we Christian believe. AND THE ARGUMENT CONTINUES.

In America, we so chose to believe just about anything that anyone tells us without personally investigating to see if it is the truth. A deacon’s wife once told me that, “Everything the Republican Party printed was truthful and the Democratic Party only printed propaganda.” She was responding to a statement I had made from seeing something with my own eyes. What is the truth? Both Republican Party and the Democratic Party print words on paper for personal selfish reasons to help their candidate to get elected to a specific office. Millions of dollars have been used to hire people to print what is most appealing to the masses including using religion as a tool. AND THE ARGUMENT CONTINUES.   

It breaks my heart deeply and I am so sad when I think about what so many in our society have become which is closed minded and ignorant toward what is truth and what is real in our religion. We are truly not accepting the word of God and the works of Jesus simply as shown in the actions of so many. Our society would rather believe a lie than the truth. Our society would rather use parts of the words in the Bible to make a point and that point is made contradictory and incorrectly as means of justification. When will it end? AND THE ARGUMENT CONTINUES.

I respect your opinion, and I expect you to respect mine; but, you do not have to agree with my opinion. I urge you to investigate on your own and draw your own conclusion.

Keep in prayer Natalie Hightower who is a young high school lady fighting cancer; she is ill and is on antibiotics and breathing treatments to get her over infections; continue to pray for Roy Jennings and his family; he was injured in the Vulcan Plant explosion in Foley; pray for each other.

“How forcible are right words! But what does your arguing reprove?” (Job 6:25)

“Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Hebrews 7:12)  

What are you going to do about all this? Change yourself first. It all begins with you!

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms. 

Liberty to be free.

Spent the day studying, cooking, and cleaning house; then I made a birthday call to my Aunt who turned 60 something today. I also worked on one of my crazy hats. I have a feather hat that is black and white. Well it is actually a hat that I refurbished because it is over six years old and it started again to unravel in other places. So I decided to make the entire hat black and white feathers. It is really wild.

I enjoy my hats. I have a bunch of them and the wilder the better. A lot of people in my physical world do not know my name but they know me by my wild hats, wild sunglasses, and speeding around campus and on the streets on my scooter with a very loud horn.  When I come to a street crossing (of course I follow the rules) people will sometimes blow their horns at me. Well guess what, I can blow my horn back at them and my horn is louder than theirs. What is fun though is when I get up behind someone who will not move even though I ask, “Excuse me may I get by?” Some will adhere to let me pass and then there are some who ignore me. I will blow my horn and they jump up and move. Then I laugh like heck fire.

Last summer, one of the football players dared me (never dare me) to quietly get up behind some of the football players and blow my horn. How fast do you think football players will move? They move very fast! I like our football players. I went to a private party (given by students) on campus. Why do people think I need all the leftovers? I was going home very carefully on my scooter when I ran into three of my favorite football boys. I finally arrived home with no leftovers. They asked me if I needed help with all those leftovers and I told them yes. If they needed a late night snack it was theirs. Since their season was over with, I felt they weren’t breaking their diets.

Regardless it has been a wonderful day for me. In my studies earlier, I was reading about Milton and his thoughts about liberty during the English Renaissance period of religious reformation and conformity. I thought about the word liberty. How free are we in society today? Everyone thinks the constitution provides certain freedoms, but the truth of the matter it really doesn’t do what we think it does.

Here are two examples: The second amendment to the constitution allows us to keep and bear arms free from militia. However that is not an unlimited blanket. You can keep some arms in the home but not an arsenal or certain types of weapons like grenades, active tanks (in your backyard), etc.

In the first amendment we have the freedom of assembly. It also includes freedom of association to come together collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests. Here is the clincher; like the other rights, it too is not absolute. You can gather to assemble in public places but you have to have a permit to do so in most cases or face arrest.

THE RIGHTS IN OUR CONSTITUTION ARE NOT ABSOLUTE. If you think they are then are, think again. We have rights from our government that our government allows us to have.

There is one right that no government can take away from us that is all inclusive and 100% free.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love to serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” (Galatians 5: 13-14)

Our physical liberties on earth are like the life we live: short, sweet, quick to the point and in a blink of the eye it is over. Our liberty in God is everlasting.

Pray for each other. There is a correction from my previous posting: I stated Roy Jernigan was one of the employees severely burned at the Vulcan plant explosion in Foley. His actual name is Roy Jennings. Please continue to keep them all in your prayers.

As I have stated time and time again, this is my opinion. I respect your opinion, please respect mine.

God bless you and keep you safely in his arms.  

Do you have a hero? What is your perception? What are you doing about it? Are you a hero?

Yesterday a fellow classmate and friend, Mary Ellen, shared a picture of Tebow who had etched the scripture (John 3:16) in his eye-black for the 2009 BCS Championship. According to an article I read in the Huffington Post, 92 million people were reported conducting an internet search for the term and what it meant. Such an act to me, would constitute making Tebow a hero to me.

I had learned a while back that we are lacking heroes in the American Society--heroes that will step up to the plate and be honorable role models for the masses of the youth. I once asked myself if that was true?

Now in some sporting events, some athletes will emulate the Tebow “position of prayer”. Of course being the skeptic I am, I have to ask: “Are they seriously praying or seriously trying to get the press to notice them?” I do not doubt Tim Tebow because he has been consistent. I can’t say that I doubt the other people who emulate him because I just do not know enough to answer my own question.

What I am getting at, where are the role models? Tim Tebow is just a “needle in a haystack.” Take it what it may be but I will give you an example of what a role model is.

Darryl Hunt was twice convicted of rape and murder in Winston-Salem, NC. You are thinking: “Has Julia lost her mind; a convicted felon on the list of role models?” The truth of the matter, Darryl Hunt was eventually freed because he was actually innocent. He took his money (awarded by the state of NC) and started working to free men and women who are actually innocent but have been convicted wrongly. From this eventually the “Innocence Project” came about. There are many convicted and sent to jail that are innocent. Yet we judge instead of question. Bill Murray stated very interestingly enough in a recent article, “We know the war on drugs does not work. Yet the prisons are full of men and women who have violated crimes against themselves.” Next time you think about a person in jail for a possession charge to do judge them. (I had to include that in my post.)

Billy Graham and Bill Cosby are role models. There are millions of men who are honorable in life who are role models but not necessarily in the press every day.

Where are the women role models? I sat honestly and thought about it? Please someone tell me the name of a woman who is notably honorable in their position. There are millions of women who are honorable and not necessarily in the press every day. Are there any in the press today? Not hardly. The only press honorable women I know of (in my opinion) are Maria Shriver and Caroline Kennedy. Why? Well why not? They seem to have been above reproach according to the press.

One thing that I have come to realize is that our role models are each to our own taste, our own perception.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all the dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3:1-16)

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)

God created man in his own image and he created woman from the rib of the sleeping man. When God disappeared from our sight, he left us all in charge of ruling over the earth. Have we done a good job taking care of the responsibilities that God entrusted to us? Not hardly. Need to decide what you are going to do about it. I know what I am doing. I may be slow but I am consistent.

Keep in prayer Larry Gill and Jeff Griffin who are not well; keep in prayer Scott Peavey who is dehydrated with a bad stomach virus; need a lot of prayer for the employees at the Vulcan plant in Foley; it exploded today and one of the seriously injured is a Roy Jernigan (via Mossy Oak); Mr. Jernigan has four children and his wife is expecting number 5; I do not know who the other severely injured gentleman was but prayer is needed for them and all of the employees; pray for each other.

Remember: this is my opinion. I respect your opinion and please respect mine.

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms. 

Take the time to help.

It has been a busy day for me. I spent the morning with my daughter and the evening with my son. I really haven’t had but a moment to myself. But, it has been great.  I am getting geared up for school to start next week and I am happy about it very much so. I will only have 3 semesters left and very glad of it. Then some strong decisions will have to be made about moving. I hate moving. Blah, blah, and more blah.

I have been really blessed this week. God has been so good to me. I finished up my homeless bags and was able to pass three out today. I have two more which my children will give out across town near where they go to school at. They get about as excited as I do when they get the chance to help someone. Some fire fighters died last year, and all three of us stood on the corner to raise money for their benevolent fund. My daughter even organized to have a huge sheet cake made by the professional chef instructors at their school and delivered it to their station houses.

Helping someone does improve a person’s outlook on life. It gives a person an overall sense of accomplishment or a purpose. When a person gets sad or depressed, one of the best methods of combating the blues is to help someone else. I personally do not feel like I am sacrificing anything but giving a bit of my compassion to someone else.

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)

I once snapped at a beggar who asked me for dollar. Five seconds later, that beggar was helping me off the ground. I hit a hole on my scooter and it flip over on top of me. Never again will I refuse to help another person in need if I have the ability to help.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Keep in prayer Jeff Griffin who is not feeling well; keep in prayer Scott Peavey who is dehydrated with a bad stomach virus; need a lot of prayer for the employees at the Vulcan plant in Foley; it exploded today and one of the seriously injured is a Roy Jernigan (via Mossy Oak); I also found out that Mr. Jernigan has four children and his wife is expecting number 5; I do not know who the other severely injured gentleman was but prayer is needed for them and all of the employees; keep in prayer the Nun in Italy (Sisters of "Little Disciples of Jesus" convent in Campomoro near Rieti) who gave birth to a little boy; It is such a blessing when a child is born but can become complicated for a person in her devoted service; so will definitely need prayer; please pray that the Navy does not cancel their contracts in Mobile because of Government red tape; pray for each other.

So often we donate money to United Way through our paychecks which is great, but what have done physically to help someone in need in your community? Think of it like this; there are 200 + people on my Face-Book friends list.  If all 200 were to buy odds and ends of travel size toiletries including wet napkins, assorted pull top foods that do not have to be refrigerated, a water bottle (empty) and a pack of assorted single serving drink mixes (totaling enough for two people) and passed them out, you will have feed two. That would total up to 400 people that would be getting the help they so desperately needed. Each bag I put together was no more than $20.00. I am poor but, I had an extra $100.  I have no savings, but I have a future with endless resources. That future is God.   

God bless you all and keep you safe.  

Now what you are reading is truth. Check it out for yourself

I want everyone to read the following quote really carefully and then read my response.

“A very poor woman called a Christian radio station asking for help. A bad, evil man who was listening to this radio program decided to make something out of it. He got her address, called his secretary and ordered her to buy food and take to the woman with the following instruction, "when the woman asks who sent the food, tell her that it’s from the devil.''  When she arrived, the woman was so happy and she started putting the food inside.  The Secretary asked her, ''don't you want to know who sent the food''?? The woman answered. ''NO, it doesn't matter, because when GOD orders, even the devil obeys." The secretary broke into tears. * Now, READ this CAREFULLY * You are a divine project, so shall God accomplish whatever that concerns you. That thing in your life that seems impossible shall be possible. God will take you to a greater height. God is opening your book of Remembrance, because you are next in line to be favoured in Jesus Christ name.  If you want this prayer, press 'LIKE' and write, a big "AMEN" to claim it NOW!! Please share this.”

The picture below is titles “Poor Old Woman” and is the work of Hu Yinghui of Vietnam. This picture was taken in Vietnam. No story just photography.

Similar stories and or pictures of this was also written in Hindi by Abhinav Duggal (at inspirationalquotesstory.in), oskarlewis.com (a blog dated 2010), amritsartemples.in, name-of-the-law.blogspot.com, Taste of Life by Sabi (a blog), quotesdumps.com and many others sites not mentioned.

How did I find out about it? A dear friend read and shared (the picture and the story) from NaijaOnPoint.com from Benin City, Edo, Nigeria via a FaceBook page.  This is allegedly a Christian site, and people were doing just that, praying for this poor woman. I would have too, believed it; but, I am stricken with the check it out first syndrome.

Now tell me very carefully how this woman, who resides in the back land of Vietnam, probably in a shack, called a Christian Radio Station? If she had the money to get the papers together and come to the USA (generally sponsored by a group like Catholic Charities or a relative) do you think she would have called a Christian radio station? It is doubtful that this woman even knows English and is more likely to be Buddhist like the majority of the people in the back country of Vietnam. Be honest with yourself and think about it.

Please understand that I am not telling you not to help someone or pray for them, however there are people mean enough to make up these stories to see how fast they spread through the internet; secretly they are laughing at us and they have made money promoting such stories that are nothing more than someone's imagination.

This is a prime example of why I tell everyone “Please, I would like you to check it out for yourself!”

You have all perpetrated a lie. God will not punish you because in your hearts you felt it was truth and you did act honorably by praying for this “unfortunate woman.” However, whoever started this “false story” is probably laughing at many. That person will be dealt with by God very harshly.

Let it be known, that an honorable person does not have to lie about the work of God or Jesus. Always remember just that point.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Keep in prayer for each other.

May God bless you all and keep you safe.

The past is really worth sacrificing.

I have been a busy beaver all day today. I finally finished getting all the bills mailed off and sent out two more birthday cards for relatives. I then escaped and did something I shouldn’t have done. I bought some things for me. Eventually I ended up back at home.

When I checked my mail, there they were. The spring classes syllabi! Do I dare open them? Well of course I did. I have no 1^st day assignment for my Constitution class but I do for the John Milton class. I started reading and reading; I then realized it was dinner time. I did not want to mess up my kitchen, so we ordered Chinese food to be delivered. I order more than one meal, because it will last for at least 2 – 3 days including breakfast.

I am just in an incredibly good mood. Not sure why because my pain level is 9.5 but it is okay. I still have a good feeling about life in general. I opted out not to enter into any historical conferences, Apologetics conferences, or any writing contests this semester. I did last spring. I am concentrating to get all “A’s” this semester, and I do not want anything else to interfere in that. No additional pressure.

I may have made the President’s list as undergrad, but in Master’s the GPA has to be higher. I am at 3.190 and I have to really boost it. So, apply, apply, and then apply myself again. Which means: my writing skills have really got to be top notch this term. I am looking forward to my classes starting on Tuesday. No cutting up or being an agitator in class period. I have to be serious.

The only draw-back is not entering the museum historical writing contest is: I would love the 5 day trip to Boston with the undergrads. Dr. Joseph is taking history students to Boston for a week. I would love to go. But, we have to sacrifice to get to where we are going sometimes.

When I first started to turn my life around with my faith, I thought I would be sacrificing so very much of the “fun” stuff. It didn’t work that way. Instead of sacrificing the old ways, they suddenly were not as important as they use to be. I am happy to be strong in my faith with God.

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)

I feel the sacrifice was throwing out the old, or washing away the dead skin and growing more alive than I have ever been. Ask yourself, “If you are totally committed to God and Jesus Christ, would you be sacrificing something?” and/or “Is it worth it in your life to be renewed?”

Who made the ultimate sacrifice for us? I feel I owe God and Jesus my 100% -- they have my commitment.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Keep in prayer each other.

God bless you all and keep you safely always and forever. 

Blessings.

I have recently been very blessed. God put a silver lining and made the sun shine on me. As a result I am paying it forward. I have helped two people who helped me when I needed it the most. They need the help now and I was glad to help. I prayed last night about what else I could do? I am putting together 5 draw string bags of goods to be handed out to people on the street who are homeless. Each bag is no more than $15 a bag of food and toiletries. Houston has many homeless. In the shelters during the really cold nights about 200 women and children were sleeping on the floor. More than 500 men were on the floor. There is just not enough that can be done.

Five bags are not enough, but it will help. If you have your needs met and have been blessed, you can help God by “paying it forward.” There is always someone you know that may need help or there may need a stranger that you can help. Seek those people out.

 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord you God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I was scared and God was there.

Pray for each other. Pray for Angela Branson Jordon who had a surgical procedure done for a speedy recovery.

God bless you all and keep you safe. 

I haven’t the slightest idea what I want to say tonight. I am completely void of any ideas, which is nothing unusual for me. It was Monday. I didn’t get my list of “things to do” today because I miss placed the list. I just now found it. It has been a “Murphy’s Law” day. (Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can wrong will go wrong”.)  Everything will probably be better tomorrow. My classes start back next Tuesday. My son returns to work this weekend. I need to read more before class starts and clean the living room. I think I will clean it tomorrow after I finish handling business. At least one thing the weather will be dry because the rain has moved off to the east.

I know it is getting spring cleaning day. Which means: I need to get out the chain saw, put a new blade on it, and shave my under-arms and legs.  I should go to a salon and get my legs waxed. I don’t know I haven’t decided.

My daughter did take me to the grocery store this afternoon. I was happy at that. I went to the corner CVS this morning to get a thing or two on my own. I have been sort of stuck in the house due to bad weather and haven’t been able to get out like I should. I have had invitation to the ball games (here on campus) and I should have gone just to get out. I didn’t though—I stayed the hermit except for having to go somewhere to get something specific.  

After starting to read on the new text for my next two classes, I became really excited over them.  Milton’s “Paradise Lost” is one of my classes with Dr. Speller. Last year she did an open microphone, all day reading of this epic piece. I volunteered to read. I had never read Milton before and WOW! I loved it. She gave me a little input as to what the verses were about that I read. I really got into the essence of the word.

I already knew that during Elizabethan Renaissance one of the entertainments of many were to translate Greek, Arabic or Hebrew (biblical passages) and read them at court as poetry. This was common among the Psalms.

“When the blest seed of Terah’s faithful son, After long toil their liberty had won, And passed from Pharian fields to Canaan land, Led by the strength of the Almighty hand, Jehovah’s wonders were in Israel shown, His praise and glory was in Israel known.” (Milton) 

“When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.” (King James Authorized Version)

Both of these passages are Psalm 114. I studied intently Mary Sidney Herbert’s Psalms which I loved; but, unfortunately Milton’s words are deeper, more eloquent, and very moving.

I love learning new things. I enjoy reading something that takes a person somewhere; most of the time it is like an experience to another world with different feelings. I use this method of reading called “projectionism.” I become the character(s) in the book. When I studied the book of Ezra, I was a woman standing on the steps of the proposed temple listening to the scribe, Ezra, read the genealogies and the accounts of my ancestors. I cried. I was then one of the women who had been enslaved by the Babylonians and then released to go home.

As in Psalms 114, I am a woman leaving Egypt, the only home I ever knew. I am just one of thousands descendents who will be traveling for a long time in the desert and I will learn new things: the culture of my ancestors.

Every time I read the word of God, I have never read it before. Each time is a fresh new time for me to learn something. I do. I may have read a passage a dozen times, but I learned something new that I missed the last time. I become enriched in the Word of God.

Keep in prayer Michael Newsome who will be having a medical procedure done; pray for Angela Branson Jordon who will be having a surgical procedure done; keep in prayer each other.

Anything I write is my opinion. You do not have to agree with it. I will respect you regardless. I challenge everyone to check your Bible scriptures out on your own.

God bless you and always keep you safe. 

Where did their ideas come from?

I have spent a while today studying and researching in the Bible. It is so interesting. No matter what we think we find, anything opinion (including mine) about the Bible is purely conjecture unless we are actually quoting the word of God or the word of Jesus.

Anything that we read in the Bible, that we might consider controversial or contradictive, shouldn’t matter one iota on how you feel about your faith. If anything the more you learn about God’s words, the words of Jesus and their works shouldn’t detract from your feeling but should enhance your love of the purposes in which God wants us to have.

There are a lot of holes in the Bible dealing with time frames. There are some contradictions. There are some errors in printing and writing. It shouldn’t matter.

My absolute faith in God and Jesus has grown. It has become stronger now than ever in my entire life. This I know for a fact, there are too many physical realities in life that points to the very existence of God.

Let me give you a few examples of many:

Water evaporation was discovered by N. Wallerius (a Swedish man who researched hydrology, which includes evaporation: Between-- 1739-1747) He proved that water vapor comes from liquid water.

(Job 36:27-28) “He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.

(Ecclesiastes 1:7) “All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.”

(Job 37:16) “Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?”

Copernicus (1473-1543) formulated a heliocentric model of the universe making the earth round. This began the “Copernican Revolution.”

(Isaiah 40:22) “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heaven like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

(Job 26:7) “He spreads out the northern (skies) over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.”

The Book of Job was written between the 6^th and 4^th Century BC. The Book of Ecclesiastes was written no earlier than 450 BC and or as late as 180 BC.  The Book of Isaiah was written about the 8^th Century BC.  I understand that two scrolls of the oldest surviving manuscripts of Isaiah were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls and were dated about a century before the time of Jesus; they were almost identical to the Masoretic text which forms the basis of the biblical version.

Copernicus and Wallerius had to have gotten their ideas from somewhere? These ideas were well thought before Copernicus and Wallerius were even formed.

I must remind you what I write is my opinion only. You do not have to agree with me. Check it out on your own.

Pray for each other.

God bless each and everyone always.