Lesson learned

I am still studying but have run across some parts of John Milton that are making me crazy! Yesterday I understood but today I had no idea which was up!  I had to enlist some help from different perspectives. Not research for a paper but for an understanding. I listened and learned.

For those of you who know nothing about John Milton well let me give you a little insight. He was a very devout Christian being educated at Corpus Christi College in England. This is the same college where the authorized version of KJV took place. He traveled and studied Catholic religious materials as well. His intellect is like WOW—over the top! His greatest work is the epic “Paradise Lost” about creationism with Adam and Eve and the original sin – their life in the garden. The time period he lived was during 1608-1674, a very turbulent time in England—the period of England’s social, political, and religious reformation.  He is aligned with the Puritans of the period, but is not over zealous like a Puritan would have been considering Oliver Cromwell.

Milton uses mythology, history, current events, the Bible, mysticism, philosophy, theology, personal experiences and you name it in his work.  He became blind in 1652. He had employed scribes. Some of his work wasn’t published because it would have been heresy of that time. He very much believed in Christianity, God, and the free liberties to study the Bible to incite a personal relationship between God and the individual.

His work can be very difficult. I am a “queen of research” so I have been told; but, putting that research into an academic paper is hard for me—it is my weakness. Our professor prefers that I do not research for opinions when writing a paper on him. She wants me to use my intuition which is at times very stressing, because I read every little detail. In taking this class I have never had to access a dictionary so much. I am not talking about Merriam Webster. I am referring to Oxford English Dictionary.

I had to ask from help from some very devout Christians and theological learned people today. Then after thinking about it, I sort of felt dumb. It was not a question with an answer that I was seeking but a lesson to be had. The topic was the Holy Trinity—God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

They three are separate essences, combined into one, for the soul of the individual. The lesson learned; I opened up my Bible again. I studied more, I read more, and then I rested. Beware of educated religious commentaries.  The only mediator we should have between us and God is Jesus and not modern man. That is what Milton was getting at the whole time. We are to build a relationship of our own; a personal relationship with God, the only heavenly Father. Jesus washed away our transgressions and the Holy Spirit keeps us straight.

“Christine Doctrine” is Milton’s soul-filled thoughts. They are not my thoughts or your thoughts. Building a relationship with God takes effort—emotionally and physically. You may be washed clean by the blood of the lamb; but, there is some work in building that relationship.

Keep in prayer Brandon Ingram (Brandon’s Warriors): keep in prayer Tracy J Smith for a speedy recovery; keep in prayer Malaysia Airline 370 – passengers--their families and friends; keep in prayer each other.

“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One (Jesus) who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are the children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5: 18-20.

God the father, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit rest in us who have the faith to believe without doubt.  

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

Studying Milton

I have spent my day studying the literary poet, John Milton.  He wrote his own “Christian Doctrine” that was eventually discovered in 1823. The reason it was not published was because it might have been considered heresy in his time period, 1608-1674, England.  I am studying this for a class that I am taking. If you have ever read Milton, you will understand it is a pain in the “tookus!” His work would make the most average PhD want to drink heavily or do drugs or something very erratic just to ease the mental stress of trying to understand his work.

I understand today for the first time, through his words something simple. “God is an utterly simple essence…” John Milton. Simplicity

It is true. In Genesis He created man in his image, which was a simple task. Man sinned and the perfect image that God created became a complicated force of nature at odds with itself.  It was no longer perfect. I have always thought God is beyond any human comprehension and I just read what Milton wrote, “God, as he really is, is far beyond man’s imagination, let alone his understanding.” 

Have you ever lost something and then found it right in front of you? We as a society are lost. The answer is right in front of our faces. Yet, we are too complicated to see it. We complicate everything in our lives. Since God put man in charge, there is no simple perfection anymore. With free will, there was a cost. Jesus paid the price for us. What happened? Society complicated everything again and more so. God dissolved his old covenant and made a new one.

“But, the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, no place would have been sought for another… It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant and I turned away from them, declares the Lord…By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:6-7, 9, 13)

The answer, open your eyes. It is right there in front of you. God –the father and Jesus—the son, they are a protective covering to all in life who seek. Immerse yourself in the word of God and create a deep soul based covenant with him to simplify your life.  

“For this reason Christ is a mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15)

The same information can be found in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

“There is hope for your future, declares the Lord…” (Jeremiah 31:17)

Keep in prayer the family and friends of those killed in Austin, and the people injured in the same incident of a drunk driver driving into a crowd; Pope Francis has requested that he is in need of prayers; please keep him in prayer; continue in prayer for Brandon Ingram for peace and God’s will be done; keep in prayer Malaysia Airline 370 – passengers--their families and friends; keep in prayer each other.

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

Milton Source:   Kerrigan, William. “The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton. Random House.” NY: 2007. Pp. 1149

Truthful learning

I don’t always discuss what I learn. When we get an education, it is suppose to be (in some cases) in search of the truth. I learned a lot as an undergrad in liberal arts. I think, at times, some of what I learned I really didn’t want to know. Sometimes what I learn, I verify, and then I get angry over it. In graduate school, you can learn more of the same stuff from different sources you weren’t aware of. That can really inflame that “big burr stuck on my big behind that I am sitting on.” It fosters a dream that will never happen.

That dream is to dig up the forefathers, slap ‘em stupid and ask them, “What the hell were you thinking?” I knew that we were not really all created equal in the eyes of the revolutionists, and that many were not Christians but Deist. But what really upsets me is they had this tendency to equate gentlemanly behavior with material assets and hid much of their true self; because, they were seeking power and if the people knew that God and Christianity wasn’t their main objections they would have never been elected. So they perpetrated many “smoke screens” to avert the truth. I suppose that is why we have the First Amendment in the US Constitution even if we disagree with some religions it is there for a reason.

Bad part about it is that my ancestors were right in the middle of it, too. I discovered that while reading a JSTOR publication of a “William and Mary Journal” of some property deals (pre-revolutionary) in Virginia.   The sad part of all of this: our public education is so screwed up that teachers are not allowed to teach the truth. They teach what they are told to teach as prescribed by some intellectual bozo, which has lost all touch reality. I wonder if this is why they (public school systems) stopped so many arts in the schools. Arts (broad term) is a thinking release of the inner self. I requires thinking; deep self discovery. Literary arts, musical arts, and visual arts come from the deep inner self.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-32, 36)
I know I can be abrupt verbally about politicians, and people in general. But, I am no angel, never have been and never will be. The American people need to start standing up: if they want values, well do not be so easy to be fooled by smooth talking people or media induced “fantasies” of the past and present.  Is the truth so hard to understand?   
Please keep in prayer Julie Riddle’s father (via Gary Alan Conn) who has stage 4 cancer; keep in prayer those families and friends of those who were lost or injured in a natural gas explosion that caused the collapse of two apartment buildings in NYC; keep in prayer for each other.

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

Have you ever been called a loser?

Winning something is not necessarily winning a competition. It is a self perception. I received the news that I did not win a writing competition. Oh well, there were others that we better than me. I was sad. But here is the lesson I am trying to stress.

I wasn’t a good student when attending high school. I have all my life (on and off) entered contest and never won anything. I was told I would never be college material. I tried. If I never tried I would not have been doing something I enjoyed. I proved something to myself. I am getting my Master’s degree. While in undergrad I made the president’s honor list. I have good grades in graduate school which could be better but I am trying.

I am a winner to me and that is what really counts.  

I can’t possibly write down every rejection/failure that I have had. I wouldn’t want to. Just because we receive a rejection or failed at something doesn’t mean we stop life. We have to continue on. We have to try. The successes in life come with trying.

Look at so many people who failed but tried and in the long run, who was the winner. The people who tried are the true winners. Last thought: my body may be tired. It may totally give out tomorrow; but, it is not going to stop me from trying. Trying provides the enjoyment.

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” (John 1:16)

When we receive a blessing, it is a trophy and the best feeling in the world that God is on our side. He always was, is, and will always be.

Keep in prayer each other; pray for D. Doolittle who has a torn rotator cuff and will be having surgery next month; keep in prayer those families and friends of passengers on Malaysia Flight 370 that hasn’t been found yet; keep in prayer family, friends, and Brandon Ingram for his pain to be eased and God’s will be done; keep in prayer A. Larson on her fight against cancer.

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

We raise our children.

We have children, we raise them to the best of our ability, but children, we as parents feel you hurt, feel your pain, we feel your love, and watch you when we can and wish you well on your way in life. But our thoughts never cease when you are in the world growing. We still wonder if you have the comfort you need in life.

There is no way to express loosing part of yourself especially if you are a mother. We carry that heart beat inside our bodies. The pain we suffer is like having our very insides ripped out just to hold that precious little heart beat on our chest. Then one day our heavenly Father has come to get that precious child. Regardless of whatever reason, as a loving mother we would feel robbed. We cannot remember what it was really like before our children came. We do not ever want to think what it would be like if they were gone from this earth.  

Brandon Ingram’s family asked for prayers of peace for their little boy. There are so many emotions that I have right now about the passing of a child that goes to be with God.

The Ingram family is hurting. They are praying for peace because they feel the pain their son. I can’t help for one minute to think about it if I was in that position. Would God give me the strength to bare this? Would he give me the patience and understanding to allow His will be done? His family is at his side, hoping, praying, asking for prayers, and holding on to their faith. My son and daughter, as I tell them about Brandon, see my tears. They hug me and kiss me. I know and am thankful that they are here with me.

I then remember Mark Burns. What little memory I have of him was very loving. He was my 16 year old cousin who was called home to be with God. It affected so many in my paternal family of how precious life is. My father went and represented my mother and us children. Mother stated she just couldn’t go and we were too young to understand death. I have learned as I have gotten older that death is a part of living. No matter how painful, we cannot hide from it and no two people are affected the same way. We each have our own cross to bear in life.

Pray for peace Brandon and his family. Pray that God’s will be done. Keep each other in prayer.

When we have a loss of a precious person in our life, then can never be replaced, but they are not truly gone from us. The will always be in our hearts. Love never ceases when the body dies. The only thing that ceases is the physical pain; yet, in time the emotional pain eases.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for there is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10)

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)

Keep in prayer the family and friends of those missing on Malaysia Flight 370. Keep in prayer for my friend T J Smith who is having some medical work done to improve her life. 

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

Learning Does not stop when we leave School

For many who do not know I have been chronically ill. At Christmas I received some test results that were run again because of the diagnosis. It is confirmed that I am in early stages of kidney disease. Oh well just another thing to deal with. My body just wants to wear out but my spirit wants to continue strong. It is okay though because I am not stopping life. I will do what I have to do to take care of myself to the best of my ability, but I will steam roll if I can.

I still try walking, cleaning house, cooking when I can, and going out to see what life has to offer. I can say this, for each and every person, become educated. Education just doesn’t stop when we leave school. In the history of our society, we honestly do not know whether or not we are learning what the “truth” really is. For truth to happen, we have to understand the thoughts, ideas, and formations of a vast array of subjects. It just doesn’t happen. We all should learn realism and how to reason as well as the understanding of what is in our hearts.

On anybody’s road to learning or self-discovery, we have to look at life. Life consists of historical examples, reading, thinking, suffering, and seeing what isn’t so nice to look at. A person does themselves an injustice if they stagnate in their world doing mundane rituals day in and day out. Self discovery is looking at a leaf that has fallen to the ground to understand why: it is looking at a baby clasping a finger to understand why: it is reading the word of God to understand why: it is looking at a painting to understand why: and it consistent with smiling at the end of a day when you tell yourself you understand why. That is seeking the truth.

Learning starts with a simply question as to why?  Ask what science that deals with the earth’s physical structure and substance, its history and the processes that act on it is the best place to start. Start with geology. “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.” (Isaiah 54:11)

Can you imagine a city build with stones of turquoise? What about the foundations of sapphires? How and why would it be done this way? How did they mine such stones? Learning is wonderful and in the majority of cases, it simply starts by opening up the Bible and reading the word of God.

Keep in prayer the families and friends of those lost on Malaysia Flight 370 which is still missing; keep Brandon M. Ingram who is trying to rest comfortably; we pray that God’s will takes over and that peace is with him, his family and his friends; keep prayer Ashley Larson and her fight against cancer; keep in prayer Penny Belcher who went to a memorial of a good family friend today; it was tough and her and her family; keep in prayer each other.

“Then he continued: Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (Daniel 10:12)

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

Signs of a physical future in American

Should we as citizens be concerned about the overall economic stability of this country?

January 28^th, 2014, “Today, it is generally agreed that as a result of the forceful and coordinated response by the federal government through TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) and many other emergency programs, we helped avert what could have been a devastating collapse of our financial system. Although we are still repairing the damage from the crisis and many families still face challenges on a daily basis, the financial system is much more stable and out economy is growing, albeit not as fast  as we would like.”  Timothy Bowler, Acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability.

Alexander Hamilton believed that economic prosperity required a strong government.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (2 Corinthians 16:13) Is our government strong? Are we still capable or not of maintaining a good government of the people? Or has this been lost into the hands of a few? Are we in a crisis of propriety of misfortune due to man’s inept decisions?

We have become a country “that flatters themselves with fairer prospects of elevation from the subdivision of the empire into several partial confederacies, than from its union under one government.” Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1.

How far has our country slide backwards? These are important questions that we need answers to as citizens of the United States. I am not suggesting a revolution by any means; however, I am suggesting that each voter stand up and take notice of our country and get involved.

I see so often that people complain about IRS, Social Security, Social programs, forced health care and much more. But what are we as born or naturalized citizens doing to change the systems that we do not like from within? I can answer that easily: Very little.

We have become a lazy society. When there is economic prosperity among the masses, we chose not to get involved for whatever reason. Yet when things go wrong, it just didn’t happen that way. The error that we blame our politicians for may have happened when were not paying attention or that politician may not have been in office when it happened. Whose fault is it? It is ours because we are not taking responsibility for our poor performance as citizens. Our country is “We the people.” Our government is “We the people.” Blame yourself.  

However, I have to ask, is it appropriate behavior for our president and congress to hold each other’s feet to the fire over issues that may or may not be approved by the mass majority of the people?

The reason I say blame yourself, politics is very similar to religion. It can yield a powerful sword however, do not be so naïve to put your faith in modern man and or its political parties. If you do then you have just elevated man over God. We should only have 100% total faith in God and not modern man. 

We can only trust modern man to a point of prayer because we do not nor can we honestly say what is in their conscious. The reason I say to pray, is not for their souls but for yours when you make a decision in what is best for the future of all. Each vote that we cast and make, each assembly we gather to debate, each time we work for the common good of ourselves, think about the common good for all.

If economic stability is not stable for the masses of the people, then it weakens our country. The easiest way for this to happen is for the people to keep their hands on the government. Instead of government interfering in the lives of its people, people should interfere in the workings of the government.  

Kennedy couldn't have framed an invitation any more simple than to state: ..For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty...the belief that rights come not from the generosity of the state, but fro the hand of God...Ask not what American can do for you, but what you can do for the freedom of man." Inaugural Address 1.20.1961

“…But all things should be done decently in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)  

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