Good Friday ... what is so good about it?

When I was a young girl, I used to get so excited about good Friday, because it meant no school. We would be taking a trip to my grandmothers in Mississippi. As I became older, I wonder why good Friday was so good. It was a mystery to me because Jesus died that day.

It is good because he gave a definition that started Christianity and gave an explanation of continual life with stipulations. Yes, there is a catch. The definition is simple. We believe that Christ existed and follow his path by choice. 

The explanation of continual life with stipulations is a little bit more complicated. Jesus introduced the concept of death to me, because he is the word of light. Truth is the light in the life of the word. (A little tongue twister there. Say that last sentence really fast ten times.) 

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5.1-2

Once the body dies, on the third day it will resurrect where the soul continues to live because it has left the body.

“In their fright, the women bowed down with their face to the ground, but the men said to 

them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember what he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinner, be crucified and on the 3rd day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words.” Luke 24.5-8

When we lose a very dear loved one, I honestly feel they come back and see us shortly before their essence, their very soul ascends to heaven. Forever, we keep them in our hearts. You might have thought you were seeing someone that had died in a crowd on a street somewhere thinking your mind was playing tricks. It wasn’t.  You actually caught a glimpse of that person. Never doubt what is in your heart and soul. 

“Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the 3rd time Jesus appeared to his disciple after he was raised from the dead.”  John 21.13-14 

He was there. He offered words of wisdom to the troubled. He encouraged his hard work to be finished. This is the stipulation in which many argue over, but it is a must, because they have the idea that faith alone will forever save your soul. Do not be that naive. The declaration comes with stipulations. 

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Romans 10.9

“Jesus answered. ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14.6

But, the stipulation doesn’t end with the professing that of Jesus being our savior we must act accordingly in our work, for there is much to be completed. The faith and actions must go hand in hand. For, we cannot have faith without actions nor can we have actions without faith. 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2.10

“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” James 2.24

To answer that question, why is good Friday so good? It is a day to begin a celebration that was made by man and not Biblical. It is a time of remembrance of what Jesus had and is still doing for mankind. It is a day to worship on the Sabbath. It is a day to worship of the first day of the week. It is a day to worship at will. It is a day that he breathed life into all of us. It is a day of remembrance that we all have a special purpose in our lives as assigned by God / Jesus (incarnate). It is a day that we must discover the infinite wisdom of doing his work and having the faith to withstand anything. 

One Sunday, he will ascend to heaven. Look to the heavens, bow down in prayer, and place everything at the foot of the cross because he has arisen from the dead. He died for our sins.

He saved us all. 

God be with each and every one of you. 

American Dream, is it a reality? An Essay

American Dream

 I wrote this at the closing of a class in March of 2011. The professor gave me an A and I thought it would be nice to share..It is something to think about.

Now has come for the closing of this class.  I would like make a comment on my thoughts pertaining to the American Dream. Which incidentally is the title of the class. 

No person on this earth has promised me anything. God through faith alone has helped me meet my needs which are food, clothing and shelter. People cannot rely on another person to make themselves happy or to help us seek what is ours because we have worked for it.  We must go out, be fruitful and multiply. Be fruitful and multiply is within itself a concept of nature which God instilled in all people, all races, all cultures. I use God as an example because I believe in the creator as mentioned in Genesis. 

A group of people did just that a while back and hence was born America. America was a collective group of men, some with families, who wanted to be free and to live without the “imperial crown” leadership from across an ocean.  She achieved that in a physical / spiritual sense. But in making this great land, many used those old world ideals and ways to which we governed ourselves like the French Napoleonic Codes of Louisiana or the English Common Law of North Carolina.

To increase the population of America, a rhetoric type of ideal was born – “The American Dream.” America felt that more of a good working class of people tasted the flavor of achievement, have more room to move around in, and the ability of ownership especially a piece of land. America also felt possibility of power in the number of people residing on her continental lands with like similar backgrounds.   It was a chance for the common man to come, give and you shall receive. It was like reading a biblical passage.It is very much comparative in nature like  "going to the promised land." The growth in population of people, built a nation-- off of the labor of the hands, sweat of their brow, and the pain in their back. For in every nation there will always be a leader(s) among men, but physical force will prevail to build. You cannot have one without the other. The bent over worker often became the stepping stone for the wealthy and the powerful.

Here we are, more than 230 years later, looking at the American Dream.  What is it? Does it exist? What does it mean to the individual? What does it mean to me? It saddens me while reflecting on the history of America to state there really is no such thing as the American Dream. It was nothing more than some great literary works of philosophers and politicians.  People really didn’t know what it was until they were told. But, to definitively break this concept of the American Dream down is to look at nothing more than our freedoms.  Our freedoms were just disguised in retrospect to be an “American Dream” which is something we have already obtained.  As of right now our “Freedoms” are hidden in a fog of war and a state of economic depression. 

Are we not free to get up on any day of the week and worship any religion that we choose?   Are we not free to speak our thoughts without the threat of being jailed or hanged for heresy? Are we free to be educated and seek a job in any field we so choose? Are we free to make purchases with the fruits of our labor like a loaf of bread?  Are we ensured that when we commit a crime that due process will be followed on our behalf within reason? Do we have the freedom of ownership? Are we not free to eat at any restaurant we so choose without being told which section we are only allowed to sit in because of our color? Are we not free to vote in elections? 

It is true that we struggle with many of freedoms, but we paid for them in our time and have them available to us. We may not have land to call our own, but I have freedom to seek. The American Dream did not ever exist; it was just come and join us for the freedom you will have, seek the freedoms that can be obtained,  materialism that you can work to achieve, and the wants you can lavish yourself with once your needs are satisfied. The only question which arises, do we ever really own anything or do we just pay for the right to use? 

I have freedom, I know I have it and I am thankful for it. It is our time to make it better.  Soon it will be the time of our children to take the reign and carve out their freedoms through education, hard work and integrity.  One day, they too will realize they are free and have been so all along.  I still contend that the American Dream never existed it was just an invitation for freedom(s) which is very much alive and well in America

Now, it is April 2017. When I wrote this 6 years ago, I was still skeptical of the American Dream. The concept first showed up in a literary work of art, written by James T Adams in a 1931 book called The Epic of America. It is about telling how America came about and is nothing more than a view point.  History changes everyday with the discovery of something new, where it be an original document or a point in fact that was overlooked. I was of the children who were taught about Washington's Cherry tree and the lying point; "I did not chop down the Cherry tree and I cannot tell a lie" syndrome.

Since day one, in the history of America, there have been some really "BIG WHOPPER FISH" tales that people thought actually happened. If you only use the history you learned in school, then I suggest you might try reading  Lies my teacher told me by James W Loewen. You can obtain a copy free via a PDF file off the internet. Then Google, Bing, or Yahoo to check facts in the book. 

What I am telling you is the American Dream is not a success story, it is nothing tangible to hold on to. It is just nothing more than a concept. Life is what we make of it and not an American dream. Success stories have nothing to do with money but it to is a concept of ideals realized. It is an emotion and nothing more. None of this has anything to do with what is tangible and everything to do with perception. 

Go with God. 

Vicious Cycle 101- Short Story

What is vicious cycle 101?

It is what you wish for what you had. You did not jump from that cast iron skillet into the fire. You just jumped into another skillet that could be operated off of electric or gas or maybe even charcoal. 

You never remember the pain, only the love.

...in first grade, you dream of being in your parent's arms being loved and feeling that content warmth of compassion.

...in the six grade, you dream of wanting to be back in the fifth grade or being in high school because everything seems so strange and awkward. Everything is changing including your body.  

...in the ninth grade, you are totally lost and wanting to fit in somewhere. There is too much drama in high school. Trying to fit in? You are either too young, not old enough, or simply not "cool."

...in the twelfth grade, you wish and wish what will I be when I grow up. You are scared to death of starting over or you wish you were 21 to really get started on living and find out what it is all about. You are leaving your best buds because, they are all being scattered to the wind in all different directions. 

...in the first year of college, you feel terribly stressed and really miss your mom and dad there to guide you. But, you are investigation a different life, testing the cold water in the large sea where little tiny fish are are brushing up against your legs. It is so hard to keep balance. You repeatedly question, "Why am I even taking this class?"

...in the last year of college, you don't want to leave because you are scared at starting all over again. But, the time drags and drags on. Then realization set in. It will be over soon and then what next. DId you make the right decision;  will you be able to find employment with your degree path?

...in the first year of working, you learn what it means to do without, be broke, and worried about how you will pay rent and buy food. You would give you "eye teeth" just to attend one more class or see another ball game, or even sit up all night cramming for a test. Instead you turn in early because you have a busy day tomorrow of taking the car to the shop at 6:30am and then catching the bus to work, only to walk 6 blocks to the office in hopes it does rain cats and dogs on your head enroute. 

... It is when you are in the aisle at church saying "I do," and wondering if it will last. You then have a responsibility of someone else's happiness. Will you get bored, will this be it, what do you do? Then you realize what a sight! 

...it never occurred to you, while holding that baby in your arms, that you have never seen anything so beautiful in your life; you question yourself, "What do I do with it from here?" You count every toe, finger, memorize every indention in the little nose. You look at the eye lashes while gently holding that precious thing and you laugh even when it takes it first pooh or tinkle or has gas. 

...your bill stack equals five years of paychecks and you are literally wondering how you are going to make it and send your children to college. What about new shoes, pants, tops, computers, automobiles, medical, and all the joys that come with being a parent. The food bill, they are eating you out of house and home. Vet bills!  The family pets eat almost as much as the children. 

...you buried someone you love; their death has emotionally hurt every ounce of your being. You smile and see all these familiar faces but you just don't remember who they are and why they are here now. You are simply numb. You are walking through the motions of life. 

...your child closes the door, exchanges the world of love between you two, and they say "I will call you when I get settled in."  Stiff upper lip after all you don't want to see them going out that door and you don't want them to see you break down mentally. The next child spreads their wings and so forth.  

It is when the house is at its quietest and you are alone. You may be with your spouse or not, but you are alone. You did this once? You were alone but, you don't remember. 

It is what it is. 

It is life.

The vicious cycle 101 is when this is just the tip of the iceberg in life recycling itself. It all happens but you just don't remember the pain. You remember the love. 

Proper Etiquette -- A short story

I realized that I have been using a word for years in error. I am so ashamed. The word is flatus. Commonly known as the "fart." That really upsets me. I had thought for years flatulent was the same as flagellate. For this I will never forgive myself, being a true artisan in the art of farting and blaming it on the dog, the person standing next to me, or a child close by.  

Let's clear the air. Is there proper etiquette for passing gassing gas? I don't think so. Well maybe to each his own. A rose is a rose if by any other name, however a fart is something we run screaming through the isle of a movie theater, out the door to escape a self strangulation chain of events. 

Flagellate is to whip or flog. Well maybe, in another life I was in to that? No one likes to get whipped but, there are exceptions, according to some well noted unnamed movies where they are flogging for sexual gratification. Maybe that explains my competitive nature? Now according to the dictionary, flatulent is being afflicted. It doesn't say with what? Pompous or bloating causes flatulence otherwise known as FART.  

F = Fast

A = Action

R = Response

T = Team

When someone farts, how fast are the reactions of people around them? Take the time to look at the faces of other people when you or someone else farts around them. If it is a baby or toddler, it is then funny. If it is a fully grown adult, it is not funny. If it is a teenager, they dare not say anything because it could be an expulsion from school in conjunction with the expulsion that was breaking in the wind.

 Another acronym to FART might be Fire And Response Team. 

All my relatives knew this especially when Grandma and Grandpa were alive, on Saturday at 930am for him and 10:25am for her. Let's examine the time frames of their natural gas expulsion. At 9:30am, Grandpa would grab the aerosol spray and head for the bathroom. He'd spray of course -- he was doing more moving than just the omission of that severely caustic aroma. We knew there was an issue when Grandpa turned off the pilot light to the heater. It was a ceramic heater and the coils were warmed by the pilot light-- an open flame. There was a major methane gas leak coming from the direction of the bathroom until about 10:45am. I image he felt if he didn't open the window and blow the flame out, there would have most definitely been a major explosion.  

This was many years before the 911 emergency systems were in place.  It was still the rotary dial era. The fire and rescue should have been called to supply gas masks! Never, ever, ever would anyone go into the bathroom after that; one could have passed out from asphyxiation and died, while waiting on fire and rescue to bring you a tank of oxygen. Interesting correlation. 

What is proper etiquette to passing gas? To each his own. 

We can learn the proper terminology or phrases from here on out. Words that can be used besides FART are break wind, pass gas, smell the vapors, etc. 

Phrases can be used like: 

Did a pigeon fly through the window and die? 

I think these after dinner mints have really gone bad.

I heard on Headline News the other day, there had been an attack of some serious bean bombers.

My, oh my! I must have been invaded by barking spiders.

Your scent is most interesting. However, I think maybe it has gone bad. 

You must be near a blinking brown-eyed log ready to submerge? 
That passed quickly, must have been one of those runners. 
I heard and smelled a frog,

or you can say... 

Pardon while I fart !

What can I say? I am from a family who eats big white lima's, with white rice, cornbread with a dollop of ketchup. 

Well anyway... have a great day... Go with God. 

Festival -- Passover (Pesach), Palm Sunday, Easter

I am a Christian by nature of it truest existence. I believe in Jesus as the incarnate son who is acting on behalf of his heavenly father as one in the same. This is the basic premise of Christianity. Just because a Christian is supposed to use the New Testament as its authority with support of the Old Testament, we view the Old Testament as historical information leading up to the birth of CHRIST (LORD), the subsequent crucifixion and bodily ascension to heaven to save by literarily washing the sins away of humanity. He cleansed our souls.

Christian’s do not in essence celebrate the crucifixion or memorial of the ascension because it is not deemed as a religious holiday; we do have some memoriam tradition. This tradition is by church services that are extremely reverent beginning on Palm Sunday leading up to Easter, one week later. 

This year Palm Sunday is the 9^th of April and Easter is the 16^th of April.

The Hebrew tradition is more Biblical than the Christian tradition and should be honored because we all have the same parent, GOD. Furthermore, we, the human race, come from the same bloodline. The Hebrew tradition is call Passover or Pesach. It is an eight-day festival celebrated during early spring to commemorating the exodus of the Hebrews from ancient Egypt. “It is observed avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah, and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.” [1] 

Passover this year the Hebrew month of Nissan is from sundown April 10^th thru sundown April 18^th.

Many so called professed Christians would disagree with my view point because deep in their hearts they are anti-Semitic. They honestly believe that Jews are a low form of what is wrong with society. First off, let’s get something straight. A Jew is a religion a Hebrew is an ancient to present day culture stemming from the tribe of Judah. There are two sources around 2 Kings period that still exist to loan historical significance and truth to what I am talking about. It is in the form of Babylonian script and Hebrew Scrolls. The word Jew did not show up until 2 Kings, a book in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is as simple as that. Many believe the word “Jew” is an off shoot from the word (tribe of) Judah which means “thank GOD.” Judah is the 4^th son of Jacob and Leah. [2] (See Genesis 29.35)

We should all be thanking and honoring God for the very breath we take. In doing so we should honor his request to keep his festivals in accordance with the word, which is the light of life. In the footnotes (of this blog) there is a link to Chbad.org. The article, I used as reference, has a world of resources and explanations about the Hebrew Passover. It is very interesting.

Until then, go with GOD.

---

[1] “What is Passover (Pesach)?”  Chabad – Jewish Practices and Holidays. (accessed 4.2.2017) http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover-Pesach.htm

[2] Gilad, Elon. “Why are Jews called Jews?” Haaretz News. Original 10.19.2015, reprint 2.15.2017. (accessed 4.2.2017) http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.681177

Just say yes.....

LADIES & GENTLEMEN

I don't know if this is done in your town.

I watch "Say Yes to The Dress" This last episode was a special show called "Say Yes to The Prom.". It show-cased 50 young people who wanted to go to the prom but just couldn’t otherwise afford to go. Many vendors like Macy’s with the Show and Kleinfeld’s (Monty Durham-Kleinfelds & Betsey Johnson-designer) made it happen for them. This can happen in your home town. This was aired on TLC-Discovery Channel.

Locally, if you have formals just taking up space in your closet collecting dust that are still in good shape, time to clean your closet out. If you own a dry cleaners with unclaimed formals time to donate. If you own a formal shop and have inventory not moving time to clear it out. If you are a hair stylists or make up artist, this is your opportunity to for you as well. Private individuals and business owners. this is an opportunity of a life time to network with the public and MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Not only are you private individuals and business owners making a difference, you are also building your business. This is just not a one way street. It is a win-win for all involved. 

“Say Yes to The Prom” episode show-cased 50 young people who wanted to go to the prom but just couldn’t otherwise afford to go. Many of you can make this happen for so many low income young people. A tux, a gown, and accessories can go a long way when it comes to someone who couldn’t afford to buy the proper clothes to become that prince or princess for just one night. If you can afford to buy and donate even better. Hand-me downs or new would be appreciated.

If many of you could witness the looks on a young person’s face when they are “decked out” is priceless. Their self-esteem had been boosted ten-fold. Besides the clothes, there were make-up and hair professionals available for these teenagers to do a fashion runway.  

The cool thing about all of this, it made a difference--this was a simple act of kindness. It also can make a difference in your life as well. Open that door, take a chance, and get involved in your community. 

Bottom line, the confidence level to continue and over-come obstacles opened the doors for these young people to better their lives and try to make opportunities happen. Be a stand up “Hometown USA” community.

There might be angels among us in the bodies of these teenagers.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1Thessalonians 5.11)

A Crap of a short story- This is not an April Fools Joke.

I wrote this three years ago. It is one of my short stories. 

It is 2:41 am. 

The house is all quiet and I am watching stupid commercials. The height of the commercial this evening is Poo---Dog Pooh--dung--manure--crap. It is all the same. It is left over waste materials from a living organism.  

Those waste materials play much more an important role in life than just sticking to the bottom of a shoe. It is a natural occurrence. It happens daily, every second if someone took count:anywhere possibly imaginable too like on the toilet, the woods, near trees, in the ocean or a pool of water, on the side of someone's house, out a window, on a porch, or in one's pants--pooh can occur. 

Treated waste enhances the best fertilizer on the market. You can buy it all day long at any home and garden department or store. A person pays top money for good pooh--the fresher the better. Treated waste water is used in the fountains at Las Vegas. In a lot of cases, treated waste water comes out of the water facet. 

If you doubt my word, then you need to read the information from this website

https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wwreclaimed.html  

Next time you see a pretty flower growing wild, pick it and sniff. You have just picked up something and handled it from where 1 million birds having pooped on or a squirrel has tinkled on. Might even have a fresh little scent of lizard vomit. 

You know the big red woods in California. Well pre- water pollution legislation, the bear would drink from the waste water nuclear stream and poop on a standard tree...hence we have humongous red woods via the California grizzly.  

Pooh in our lives is important. It serves a purpose. A vital one.  

We eat seafood all the time. What do you think shrimp eat? Other fish pooh. Therefore, we are pooh eaters. Well come on now...We eat unborn embryos all the time--cooked of course, eggs! Chickens eat pooh and we eat chickens. Fried roe come from pooh eaters too.  So, we can probably be called a culture of "Pooh eaters." That is probably why we accept so much crap in our lives.  

If you get cold and the heater goes out, what is the most natural way to heat the house? Go out get and get several piles of horse manure. Flatten it out in the living room, cover it with a rug, and put down a little freshener. I guarantee, you house will stay warm. That is the way is was done by the Indians and many settlers. Except they didn't use Berber Carpet. They used dried animal skin.

Why would anyone pay as much as $180 to pick up what is going to be recycled anyway by nature? 

While many are picking up the pooh be sure to get that squirrel feces over by the base of the tree. Get that bird poo next to that couple on the blanket over there laying on a bed of worm urine. 

We just wouldn't want to ruin those designer shoes or get any germs now...would we? 

Have a blessed day. May God protect you always.