LOVE WASHES OVER A MULTITUDE OF ANGER

I was thinking about something while writing a letter to someone who had betrayed me a long time ago. As I was writing, I made the statement, “When you betrayed me, you betrayed yourself.”

I wrote that just before I was about to write “That’s why it’s better to sacrifice oneself, than to cause someone else pain for the sake of our happiness, because when we sacrifice others, we destroy what we thought was true about ourselves.”

That led me to ponder God, and some things Jesus said.

I am left wondering if that is why God sacrificed Himself instead of us. If God were to destroy us for the sake of His own rightness, would He cease being what He claims to be? Would He cease being love? Would He ever have been able to be love in the first place? Anger, rightness and love are all things He has been called. But anger doesn’t mean a lack of love. Rightness does not mean a lack of love. Love stands by itself, and is only love if it is lasting.

Of course, the ramifications of this are huge. If it is true, then everyone would benefit from God’s mercy, not just a few. For how could God betray Himself; is it even possible? Or does Love mean forever? Is God angry yet loving? And if He is, will love win out? I believe God can be angry, in fact, I can’t see how He couldn’t get angry. But I believe He is love, and love washes over a multitude of anger.

I LIKE BLOGGING

Lately, I am very grateful for this blog.

I think I should rephrase that: I am very grateful for all of the people who read this blog. I am also very grateful for all the poeple who contribute by way of their comments. But even if you don't comment, still, I am very grateful for you.

You see, you have given me a reason to write. Not that what I write is needed or great or any of that. It's deeper than such shallow reasons. It's about love. I love to write, and although I may never be published, or even be good at writing, still, I love doing it. Because of you, I feel accepted, and willing to share a few of my thoughts. I am sure I would write somewhere else even if I didn't have this blog, but writing here feels like I am talking with friends, and I don't receive that anywhere else I write.

So, thank you, all of you, who stop by here and visit electronically. You have enhanced my life, and we just don't do that very often for people. I hope in some way, your life has been enhanced because you came here, too. You have made writing fun for me, and there's no price tag anyone could put on that. You all make this blog better than I ever could alone.

BE SOMEONE WHO QUESTIONS

As human beings, we tend to think that whatever we believe is the truth...right up to the moment we believe something else.

A fellow blogger made a brief statement about questioning things and not just accepting them wholesale. That statement reminded of something I had been pondering for a few days, but never got round to writing about it.

I guess the best thing to do here would be to just say what I was thinking about. And that thing I was thinking about was about being a questioner, a person willing to discern for himself what seems like truth, and what doesn't. As I was thinking about these things, I realized that throughout my life, the only time I had really felt empty was when I was unwilling to question what I thought to be truth.

Itr goes much deeper than that, though. It was in those moments, you see, that I simply refused to dig for the truth. I refused to question what I thought I knew. In short, I felt most empty when I let others do my thinking for me, when I took their word for truth, rather than finding out for myself.

There have been many of these times in my life. I am glad to say that over the last five years or so, that has not been the case. It's no wonder to me then, that I do not feel empty or lost. Confused at times, maybe, but I don't think confusion is a state of danger for the human heart or the mind. In fact, many times, it is confusion that drives me to seek the truth even more.

We have such an incredible capacity for information within us. We have an almost unexplainable ability for learning, even at my age. I find that when I am learning, when I am walking this path of life seeking the answers myself, I am happiest. No one can explain to me why that is. I can't open up the bible, and find the answer. I can't open up a science journal, and find the answer there.

But when I am alone, in the quiet, I hear the answer in my mind. I don't really care if this voice is mine or God's, you see. The fact is, this voice only exists at all because someone else's voice hasn't brainwashed me into believeing what they want me to believe. This voice may or may not be God's voice, I couldn't tell you for certain. But I know this one thing. This voice is inside of my head speaking to me, and to no one else. This voice is meant for my ears, and what I hear are words and thoughts that only I understand at this moment.

I think people each have a voice like this inside of them. I don't think people hear this voice well amidst all of the noise of our world. That's just an opinion, not a proven fact.

Still, I don't hear this voice when I am lazy, and unwilling to find out for myself.

There, I said it. Thanks to a statement by a fellow blogger, who had no idea those words would remind anyone of anything, I have been reminded, and now I have shared it with you.

Don't take my word for it. Find out for yourself.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

It is not the cross that has given us forgiveness. Rather, it is the resurrection which PROVES that forgiveness. Think about it.

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE

Let’s face it, we all do it. We all like to see how people are coming to our weblogs. Out of sheer curiosity, I checked how they come to mine tonight. Here I thought they came because they like what I write.

Maybe some do, but by far, the most interesting reason I found was a person who was searching for “How much profit do drywall companies make?”

It’s nice to be humbled every so often. I don’t even advertise that I do drywall work, mainly because I can’t stand working with it. Which leads me to wonder why my weblog came up on a search for drywall company profit? I have no idea.

There were other searches, and visits from people all over the world. Again, it’s nice to be humbled, and being visited by people from around the world is one sure way to humble me. I don’t deserve it, don’t they know any better? Maybe someone should tell them.

Then, there were the regular people who visit me, and for all of you, I can’t tell you how much you mean to me. I am so glad to be able to talk with people I can’t visit in any other way than through this medium. You all have enriched my life beyond explanation. Thank you.

I am reminded of something I read from Brother Lawrence once. I don’t recall the exact words, but the gist of it is God is with you all of the time, what need have you of special prayer times and worship moments?

If I could hope anything for all of you, it would be that you and I spend the rest of our lives fully realizing that very fact.

THE LITTLE BOY INSIDE

This morning I woke up knowing I had to take a shower. But I didn't want to. I just wanted to go to work (which often times seems more like play these days) and get on with the day. Taking a shower seemed like a drag and an interuption that just shouldn't be necessary.

When I was a boy, I didn't like taking baths. They always came at the most inopportune moments, like when I was in the middle of playing a game of basketball with my brothers. Mom couldn't help it, she just wanted her children to be clean. I, on the other hand, couldn't understand why a boy couldn't go for weeks, even months without a bath. It just seemed a waste of time. "I'm just going to get dirty again, Mom." I would always answer.

That's how I feel this morning. Oh, not to worry, I took the shower. But that little boy inside of me kicked and screamed all the way.

And so I ask myself, what is it about the little boy inside of me who refuses to die?

We are all still children inside, wearing haloween masks that look like adults who have it all together. When does this masquerade party end? I think the child inside of us hopes it ends as soon as possible, so he can get back to the serious business of playing without anymore adult interuptions.

Go ahead, feed the little child inside of you. You can't kill him, ya know. He's been there all along, and when the mask of adulthood is gone, that little child you once were will still be healthy and alive.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

I have a phrase I use often. It goes something like, “A person cannot love outwardly unless he is loved inwardly”.

What does this mean? To me, it means that a primary focus in a person’s life will always be inward (selfish), until he knows in his heart he is already loved. Once love has come, having met every need, that person will find this love flowing out from himself toward others, naturally. That is part of what has been happening in my life, lately.

I thought I was past this. I thought I already knew I was loved, and to a certain extent, I did, intellectually. But only bits and pieces of that love had actually traveled from my mind to my heart, and thus, I was stuck on myself. To some degree, I still am, but it is becoming more easy to let the love flow outwards.

We can’t focus on others if we are not truly loved. That is not to say we can’t go against our nature and be very helpful, sacrificing our needs and desires for the cause of others. We can always try really, really hard and break ourselves against a boulder in accomplishing all manner of amazing feats in the name of selflessness. But none of that is love. Most of that is selfishness is disguise, and my, don’t we love to hear others talking about how selfless we seem to be?

I get the feeling that much of Jesus’ service to others was spontaneous. I think when a person is full of love, having received and realized that love from God, the love which pours out from him will be spontaneous as well. Sort of like spontaneous combustion.

That is why the other day, my advice to you was to live as though God already loves you, not as though you are trying to make Him love you. The difference between the two methods of life is astounding. A child who feels he is loved will go and play, spontaneously, and often. If he is secure in that love, every so often, he will check back with his mom or his dad, and then he will go off and play again. In fact, if you have noticed, a child only ever plays when everything is alright. If things aren’t alright, a child will most often stay near his parents, or near whatever gives him security.

We are a lot like a child in this respect. Is it any wonder we don’t play more than we do? Observing a child for several hours might do us far more good than a power sermon from a power preacher. Even though the power preacher may be able to guide you to a mountaintop, where you might then feel secure enough to celebrate and play, observing a child will show you that he can play in the valley, on the hill, in the mud, and under his bed. He doesn’t need an “experience” to feel alive or play. What he needs is security, a sense of love or well-being.

A child plays at every opportunity, every day. We seem to only play on the mountaintop, and we schedule our play time. In my observation of children, I am finding that play is anything that helps us celebrate the love we feel. Play is not an escape. It is a response to what is in our hearts.

Are you feeling secure enough to just go and play today? Go ahead, go back into the other room and check to see if Dad is still there. Then, secure in His love, go and play like the little child you are. Let the love flow outward, because you couldn’t contain it even if you tried.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Okay. So I had a few beers tonight, and I was wondering what I would write under the influence of that, since my writing under the influence of "nothing" seems to be rather boring to me. Maybe it's not boring to you, but I assure you, reading what I write back to myself is not something I consider a great joy. Boooooooorrring.

So there I am, in a bar, visiting friends, when this blonde whom I have been watching for a while walks in with her boyfriend, whom I also know. So I stand back and stay away, in respect of their relationship.

But I wonder, what kind of relationship is it when the moment he is there, he leaves her and goes to his elctronic gambling machine, where he stayed the entire time they were there, one and a half hours.

Then, I see her looking at me, and we make eye contact. I sit back in my chair, and break the eye contact, still trying to give respect. Later, I see her making eye contact again, and I again break it off. A third time even, I catch her making eye contact. This time I hold it, and to my surprise, she holds it as well. We must have been locked eye to eye for an entire minute before I couldn't help myself and had to break it. I do respect the man. I just don't respect the way he treats her. But still, I have to break the eye contact out of that respect.

I have seen this girl numerous times, and played this eye contact game over and over. Her name is Heidi, and although we have only taked very briefly, I always felt that I could connect with her very easily on a day to day basis.

So the question is, what do I do now?

Do I continue to respect the relationship which doesn't really seem to be all that strong? Is there something to her making and holding eye contact with me? Is she waiting for me to move? What?

There.

That's me writing after I had a few beers. Hope you liked it.

SNOWBOUND AND DRIFTING

I sort of felt God early this evening.

Yeah, I know...weird. It happened while I was spending two and a half hours snowblowing my driveway after twelve to fourteen inches of snow. More is expected tonight.

I was struggling through a drift some eighteen inches high when I felt it, for just a moment. I paused, and merely said "thank you". Five minutes later, I was cursing the wind for blowing an incredible amount of snow into my face. Still, I know He loves me, and he accepts me.

My advice? Don't live in such a way as to get Him to love you. Live as though He already loves you.

That's all.

THIS IS ME

I use four letter words sometimes. I drink beer every so often. I even lust after beautiful women sometimes.

There are times I hate people, especially groups of people all following one creed. I also fantasize about what it would be like to kick someone's ass. No one in particular, anyone will do. I don't diet, dress to impress, and I like to say to myself that I don't care what you think of me.

All of these things are parts of me. Yes, even the raging, aggressive male hormones. It has been, and still is, the hardest thing for me to accept these things about myself. I would rather ignore the bad, or get rid of it altogether, and just take the good parts of me.


But I can't get rid of the bad. Believe me, I have tried. They are as much a part of me as my bald head is.

Learning to accept myself and all that comes with me has only been possible by looking in the mirror (figuratively), by reflecting and acknowledging that yes, I lust, and yes, I manage the image I try to present to others, including you all.

I think there is a freedom in being honest about these things. Two years ago, I wouldn't have been able to write this post. I would have written something else, but nothing like admitting that there are parts to me that aren't exactly things to be proud of.

And so I am not proud of them, even though I admit they are a part of me. Jesus accepts me as I am. It's time I learned to do the same.

AND GOD SPOKE TO ISAIAH!

The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, and refined, aged wine.

And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations. He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.

And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." Isaiah 25:6-9

From the perspective of your theology, does anyone care to explain this one to me?

I mentioned a short while ago that I felt I was on the verge of a great discovery. I am still on the verge, but more hopeful than ever.

I am confused, but not afraid, and definitely I do not feel abandoned. Instead, I feel great hope. How is it possible for such a confused man to feel great hope?

I think it’s because the discovery I am making is true, and I am waiting to finally say, “Yes”. I think it is because I am NOT waiting to say “no”. Hope is a positive thing.

All I know is, there has always been so much talk about heaven and hell amongst the religious, and none of us knows what we are talking about. There has only been one who came from heaven. I know Him, He knows me.

That is what I KNOW.

Everything else is speculation right now, but some things are becoming more clear. Like, how can I be sure of His love for me? Truth is, I can’t be, (even though I am sure) because I have no way to prove it. That is where trust comes in, and my heart tells me that this trust is not generated by me, for how could a confused man generate trust in something he is only confused about? Seems like I am all garbled up, doesn’t it?

Not nearly so!

I am only partly garbled up. But it seems to me that the more I realize how He loves me and accepts me, the more I hope; not just for me, but for every person. How could I not? There shouldn’t be any hope for me. After all, what right does a sinner have to hope? But if one sinner, then why not all?

God is said to be just, and it is said that He is not partial.

I have a question for you. If God is not partial, how could He give me hope and redeem me, and not everyone else, and still be impartial?

Just some thoughts.

HE FEELS ACCEPTED

Jacob is a twenty-one year old man who works for me. I have not written about him on this blog, and I thought it was about time that I did. Obviously, Jacob is not his real name.

He is a red haired young man who ‘s life has been very hard, from the little I know of it. Almost from the time he walked onto the jobsite, I could tell he was troubled; internally struggling with his life, with all the circumstances, and with what he had to do in this world. His childhood was shared by three other half-brothers, each of whom had different fathers. I can imagine that this arrangement alone caused some confusion and more than a little stress in Jacob’s home as he grew up.

Every time I talk with Jacob, I learn more of his past, and I mean to say, his past is not a past I would want to claim as my own. There has been far more betrayal and rejection in his life than in most other people I have met. When I first met Jacob (whom we affectionately call “Boone”), you could see the trouble from his past in his eyes. Boone rarely talked or smiled, and laughing was not even on the radar screen.

He has been with us for six months now, and the changes within him are showing. It started, I think, when he finally believed he was accepted. His belief in that acceptance was cemented when he screwed up, and wasn’t fired or treated less than when he did well. Boone talks now, sometimes even before noon. Yes, he still struggles to open up in the morning, and that’s okay.

Boone smiles now. Sometimes while working, when he thinks no one is watching, he even whistles a tune and grins as he does so. I personally have heard Boone laugh now many more times than I can count. This is a place I never thought I’d see this young man in, but here he is. Young Jacob is coming out of his shell. He’s such a good kid, and we chide him as you can imagine, but instead of him taking the chiding as being a betrayal, he joins in now and fires back good-naturedly.

Did you read that?

He JOINS in. He feels accepted, and he is accepted. I never thought Boone would last with us; I didn’t think he’d feel that he fit in. None of us moved over to make room for him. It wasn’t that we tried to lock him out. We just aim to be ourselves, and somehow, in this little group of guys I have working for me, Boone nestled in, and here he stays. There isn’t a guy amongst us who wouldn’t stand up and defend Jacob.

I don’t think Boone expected this. I certainly didn’t. Like so many troubled young men, it just always seems like they leave or give up before they ever feel accepted. And like all of us, their hearts are easily bruised; one word can send them away to where they’ll never come back.

I don’t know much about life. But I do know that acceptance opens the door to knowing people as they really are. Trusting in acceptance opens doors to those who believed every door would be slammed in their face. And it doesn’t take all that much to accept someone just as they are. In fact, I have learned this one truth very recently; It takes much more energy to judge someone for what they have done and to stay angry than it does to just accept them and love them for themselves.

You can try to prove me wrong, but I think you could butt your head against that brick wall for a thousand years, and never move it an inch.

WHAT'S UP?

I am glad to be back to writing. For those of you who stopped by here hoping to see something new every day, I am sorry. But, I do have an excuse.

I was sick.

Yes, the illness I came down with last Sunday became one of the toughest colds/infections I have dealt with in my life. Fevers of one hundred three degress, bronchial burning, throat infections, sinus infection, and general malaise. Oh yeah, no appetite. I just checked my temperature and it is still over one hundred degress, which makes six days running. However, I have medication, I am beginning to feel a little better, and hopefully, will be back to visiting everyone's blogs shortly.

Strangely, I didn't miss a single day of work, although maybe I should have.

I have missed you all. I will write again shortly, God willing.

ONLY HONOR WILL BRING CHANGE

I’d like to tell you a story. It is a story about a senator, who has been in office for three terms. This senator was elected upon the platform of honesty, and conscientious voting. He claimed himself a champion of the people, a renewer of the constitution, a man, simply put, who would bring back the honor of the office, end partisan politics, and slay the Status Quo.

In his second month at his post, this man was approached by members of his political party. Supposedly, a fellow senator from the same party had made some promises to a lobbyist in exchange for a few favors. In order for that senator to keep his promise, every senate member of his party had to vote the same way. The young senator was told his vote must be with his party on this issue, as he was a democrat first, and a senator second.

So the young senator, just this once, went against his conscience, and voted the party line. After all, they said, what good was a senator who had lost the support of his party; if such a man would never be elected to office again? Then, almost then, the young senator might have broken with his party and truly voted his conscience. But he was not brave enough, and his constituents would probably not even notice that he had voted against his conscience. How could they know? It was right to join the group, especially when the opposition, the Republicans, were so set against the measure to be voted on. Anything the Republicans were so against was probably a good thing, right?

Little did the young senator know that had he actually voted his conscience on that day, he would have been blackballed as a Democrat, and every bit of campaign support would have been withdrawn. Thus, so many young senators new to the game never reach their potential, they are slain before they lead the uprising.

Now in his third term, this once young senator had compromised his conscience and his constituents so many times that it hardly paid to count anymore. And when he was approached by a certain drug company to draft legislation controlling the use of certain “natural health” additives and supplements, he immediately knew what he would be required to do. Mustering the senior Democratic members of the senate to accompany him, he knocked on the door of the newest democratic cavalier, a man not unlike himself fourteen years ago, ready to vote his conscience for the sake of his constituents and the good of the nation.

For one brief, shining moment, the older senator saw himself in this young man’s eyes. He remembered the promises he had made to his constituents; promises long ago broken and covered up. He glimpsed in this man what he could have been had he held his ground. If only he had stood firm that one moment long ago, this trip would not have been necessary. He would have been ousted as a senator, but would have retained his honor. Nevertheless, he now reminded this new senator that without the party’s support, his new career would be short lived. Every Democrat had to support this new legislation, or the bill would fail. If the young senator felt better about it, they could add something to the legislation that would directly benefit this new senator’s constituents. After all, what is the party if we all don’t stick together, the older senator asked the younger one?

And so another man sold his soul to gain the world, or at least, to hold his seat in the next re-election.

The saddest part of Washington DC and to a large extent within our own state capitals is that oftentimes, lobbyists only have to recruit one key member of a party. It doesn’t matter if it is Republican or Democrat, both parties fall prey, using the “we have to stick together” line far more often than actually voting their consciences.

So the lobbyists are paid vast sums of money to find that one senator or congressman, and it isn’t that hard for them to do. Many of these lobbyists used to be senators or congressmen, and they have far better access to the nation’s senators and congressmen than their own constituents do. It’s called the “good ol’ boy” country club, and only certain members are allowed in. Those former senators and congressmen come calling in favors.

They go to their former comrades, friends, and party members, reminding the politicians of promises made and preferences given in the past. This isn’t friendship, this isn’t blood, this isn’t even acquaintances. This is one good ol’ boy telling another it’s time to pay the piper. And by the way, if you’re a good lad, and help me out here, when you retire from the senate, I’ll promise you a fat paycheck for the rest of your life doing what I do, lobbying politicians.

Friends don’t treat friends this way. Brothers don’t treat brothers this way. You wouldn’t strangle your neighbor by calling in a favor, and then promising him wealth later, would you?

I guess what bothers me most about politics in our nation is that they aren’t even civilized. Oh, I know, we claim to be the most civilized nation in the world, and all of our politicians wear seven - hundred dollar suits and know which fork is the salad fork. That’s not civilization though, that’s image-management.

A good friend of mine, Bruce, said the other day “As a voting population, we are lazy, uninformed, and naive. We too easily buy into the manipulative lies that spew from the politicians. We are a stupid people, and we're becoming stupider as a result of our wonderful public education system (and we all want public HEALTHCARE too?... give me a break!).

It's the information age, but we would rather watch "reality" TV instead of living in the reality of leadership-gone-wrong. We would rather complain about things than fix things. We would rather assume that everyone is doing their part rather than ask.”

We want change, but we aren’t willing to stand up. “Christians” are admonished to vote Republican regardless of how bad the candidate is, and swallow every bit of garbage the Republican party sells, because they are the Christian Right. (Or is it Left?)

How can we expect our politicians, and our politics to change if we ourselves aren’t even willing to vote our consciences? How can we expect right leadership when we ourselves vote the party line, or as my friend Bruce said, vote emotionally? Who sets the example?

I know why it isn’t really an honor to serve the people anymore. It’s because the people aren’t honorable themselves. That goes for Christians, too.

I cannot look up to a politician and expect him to hold a higher standard than I do. Maybe if I accorded myself with honor, he might, too?

QUICK RECOVERY?

It is Sunday evening, just minutes after the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Congratulations to all Steelers fans everywhere. You have won five Super Bowls, a feat matched by only two other teams.

Of course, you still have seven or eight championships to win to catch the greatest team ever, The Green Bay Packers, but still, five Super Bowl titles is amazing.

A strange thing happened to me today. I became very ill in a very short period of time. I took my daughter to lunch this afternoon, came home, and decided to take a nap. I felt fine when I laid down. Forty-five minutes later, I was sick. I mean feverish, headachy, sneezing, wheezing sick. I could feel my head burning, and my body felt as though Jerome Bettis had run me over a dozen times while I slept. It was 1:30 PM when I woke up.

I took four Ibuprofen. Nothing, no results, it just got worse. By the time the Super Bowl started, I couldn't imagine myself going to work tomorrow, which sort of pissed me off. So, I took four more Ibuprofen, not knowing what else to do. Then, as I ate supper, I realized I wasn't really hungry. I put my plate in the kitchen, walked into my living room, and determined myself to simply rest and try to watch the game.

Forty minutes later, I was back in my kitchen, grabbing my cold plate of food, and wolfing it down. I was famished!

I don't know if it is the Ibuprofen or not, but I feel almost back to one hundred percent. I still feel warm, but not HOT. I am hoping this is the shortest lived virus in the history of man.

Stay tuned, and I'll let you know.

IMAGINE

For most of our lives, we have been taught that we live in a democracy, those of us fortunate enough to live in America. Some never question that word, “democracy”. The truth is, we don’t live in a democracy; we live in a republic, one that is very similar to ancient Rome in the days of their senate, before the emperors. Okay, maybe not totally similar, but the idea of it is similar.

For many long years now, our nation has been a supposed bastion of truth and goodness. On the surface, that may appear to be true. But in the heart of this nation, something is very rotten.

It’s called politics.

Will someone please tell me what bad consequences we could expect if we outlawed political parties? Are there any? I know that the politicians would come up with hundreds of bad consequences, but since they are no longer trustworthy, would a history student or a political science student please answer that question?

I have been watching the battle between democrats and republicans for many years now, and I am sick of it. There is not even one senator or congressman, locally or federally, who consistently votes his conscience. To the person, every one of them is a whore to their political party. It seems to me that the “party” was over a long time ago, and all these faces we see in our nation’s capital are merely hangers on with massive political hangovers.

What would it be like politically if we outlawed political parties? Can you imagine even trying? Can you imagine Ted Kennedy’s response? Dick Cheney’s? My guess is, the moment we tried, the freedoms we have come to love would disappear rapidly, with the patricians (oops, I mean politicians) clinging desperately to the power they have sold their souls for.

Seriously, imagine our nation without the two animals at each other’s throats. Imagine no more elephant. Imagine no more donkey. Imagine no more career politicians.

I love John Lennon’s song “Imagine”. I think that song speaks what is in nearly every person’s heart (save maybe for the politicians and “church” leaders) Imagine no more politicians, no religion, too. Imagine all the people, living life in Peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as One.

I believe that one day, there will be no need for senators and congressmen, ambassadors and prime ministers. I believe that day is rapidly approaching. I believe that when that day comes, the third world war will begin, man against the animal of partisan politics and aggressive elitism. This war will be unlike any war that ever came before it. It will be a war mostly of words, but there will be bloodshed, too. Maybe not. I hope not.

I believe that especially in this country, the idea of senators, and congressmen is outdated. With the advent of the internet, the people of this nation no longer need political parties voting for us as proxies, especially since those proxies do not vote the way a normal citizen would. A normal citizen, not under the influence of political parties and lobbyists, would be forced to mostly vote his conscience. There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that any of today’s senators or congressmen vote their conscience, despite what their lying advertisements tell us. They whored themselves out to their “parties” long ago, and no longer have a conscience, not even a collective one.

I have had my say. I can do that in this nation, and at the least, I thank God for that. Peace be with you all.

THE CHOKING GAME IS RESEARCHED AND TOLD

There is a lady in Houston who works for a television station who will be doing a story on the choking game. She emailed me to ask me for help, and to let me know her plans.

I have but one thing to say about that.:

Thank you to you all. It is because of you, and because of Real Live Preacher, that this woman stumbled across my blog when doing research for her story. It is sheer numbers according to the google search, and that means you guys are the reason the numbers added up. I am glad stories are being told. That's what the gospel is, isn't it? A story?

Some stories are good. Some stories are heartbreaking...they are all the gospel, when you know Jesus is amongst us. These stories are lives ever-changed. To me, that is what the gospel is, the story of changed lives. You go in one direction all of your life, and then the gospel turns you in another. And what can we do but tell this to someone else, even if it is a heartbreaking story sometimes?

Thank you again, for stopping by, leaving all your somments. You all rock!!!!