Morality... to legislate or not...that is the question.

Until 1962, termination of a fetus wasn’t an issue (in the religious Christian world) until Pope John XXIII (1958-1963) made it an issue with Sheri Finkbine. About ten years later Roe v Wade made history. If a fetus becomes viable and is able to sustain viability outside the womb (take a breath on its own) it is a baby and termination of that life is murder.  The earliest known historical case of a child breathing outside the womb is 21 weeks after conception. A life is an important issue.

We do not know when the breath and the souls are breathed by God into the womb. Living things grow which is natural. A human life cannot be sustained without a soul and a soul cannot be sustained without a life.  God knows us inside that womb.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

I know personally women who have terminated their pregnancies—approximately 6 to be exact. Each one has shared with me that they prayed over their actions before proceeding. Two of the women were spit on when they went to a clinic and called “Baby killing murderers!” They terminated their pregnancies (less than 12 weeks) morally what they felt was between them and God.

When people do what they feel is between them and God, where does anyone get off standing on a street corner calling them names and shouting other obscenities? Furthermore where does our federal government get off trying to Legislate morality? When the people (average Christians or Legislatures) behave this way, is it not like the “pot calling the kettle black”?

There is not a person on the face of this earth who is living, breathing, speaking, and with some sign of intelligent life that isn’t a sinner of one form or another. The leader of the pack is the US Government (my government) who has no room what so ever to try and Legislate morality. Let me put this plainer, MORALITY CANNOT BE LEGISLATED. Morality is between an individual person and God not a nation.

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33)

If we want to get technical and state “morality” needs to be Legislated than let’s get realistic. In the latter 1940’s sterilization was enforced. There was a case that I was told about by relatives of a (Caucasian) woman being forcibly sterilized because she had two children outside of wedlock. The father of those two children went on to marry, prosper well, have other children with his wife, and lived happily ever after. He was not held accountable for his actions of being a being solicitous and spreading his wherever and whenever. I guess his sperm jumped on the woman, crawled up her leg, and she was able to self impregnate which caused her to violate a moral community law forcing her to be sterilized for public safety.

I am not a feminist although I am a 54 year old Christian. I am looking at current, future, and past “morality” laws, rules, regulations issued (only) against women. Is this type thinking in society due to the original sin of Eve? Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe Adam took no culpability on his part, was weak, and blamed all of this on Eve? Adam also didn’t do what God instructed Adam to do, which was take charge and rule over all living creatures.  

²⁶ And God said let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.²⁹ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Genesis 1: 26-30)

⁷ 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…¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die… (Genesis 2:7, 16-17)

Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ¹⁸ thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ¹⁹ in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:17-19)

Pray for each other.

This is just my opinion and no one has to agree. I respect that. I respect your opinion, so please respect mine.

God bless each you all and stay safely in His arms. 

***Special Note: Again you do not have to believe one single word I write. I do challenge you to Google or go to your library and check out what information I posts to see if it is truthful or not. The choice is yours. 

Love has many faces.

It is a new beginning in the month that our society has designated signifying relationships of passionate love. (Commercial hog wash!) By the time you purchase that heart of candy and give it out, did it ever occur to you that you might be partaking in last year’s Valentine’s Day –LEFT OVERS? The commercial shelf-life is like a Twinkie. It could probably withstand an atomic blast and still be edible 5 years later. Eat enough of it and you will probably grow another heart all on your very own – outside the body.

Okay, so, I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day! But I am fan of love, compassion, friendship, and romance. I feel everyone should be. It stems from the internal expressions that we all have. The only problem with that is “getting it out” and “expressing” that wonderful feeling.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. Draw me after you; let us run. The King has brought me into his chambers.”

That is pure poetic romance of the best kind. This is a woman expression for the love of her life mate.

“If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follows in the tracks of the flock, and pastures your young goats beside the shepherd’s tents.”

He expresses his love in return.

Absolutely beautiful! Those were the verses from the Song of Solomon 1: 2-4, 8.

“…Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!” (Song of Solomon 5: 1)

I could go on but I think you get the point. True love is lasting and enduring.

I once told a young girl that you may think you love at your tender age, but it is a hormonal imbalance and should pass. She came back to me a few years later and told me how right I was. It was hormones because she found true love that is real and lasting. That point of this view doesn’t apply to everyone.

I know of one couple who have been in love and still are pretty much all their lives. They are alive and well living in a northeastern state. I also know people who have lost that great love to the heavens and have loved once again or never at all. I have known those who have loved and lost because of indifference who had never loved again. And, I have known those who love just for the sake of love, compassion, and fear of being alone.

Never confuse relationship love with the love of the people. There is a difference. I love many emotionally but that doesn’t mean it is a relationship love. My love is like a mother, sister, or dear friend and it can pertain to all sexes, all races, and has no limitations. Relationship love has boundaries of commitments. The love of people has no boundaries. My love has no physical commitment or actions. It is a love of generalized life!

“We know that we have passes from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.” (1 John 3:14)

Do not let the sun go down on your blessed soul without love in your heart for that special person, but also keep the love in your heart for humanity—mankind.

Keep in prayer the family of Nate Coe; an important person in his life went to be with God. Pray for each other.

Reminder this is just my opinion. I will be respectful of yours and I expect the same from you.

God bless you all and keep you safe. 

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.