Sunday, July 31, 2011

Not His Fault

No, it is not because of spending way too much time around [Lavender Darwin] that I have been overwhelmed with a violent urge to redecorate.  For there were several things about the previous template that were really bugging me, and all of my efforts to change them failed miserably.

Although, not only have I changed the way things look around here, I have also done the same with [AsTheCrackerheadCrumbles] and [FishHawk Droppings], and there wasn’t anything that I really didn’t like about the way they looked…  Nope, still not his fault.

Anyway, I hope you like what you now see, and if you insist, feel free to blame Lavender for anything you want to.  Since he rarely pays any attention to anything, he probably won’t mind.  (LOL?)

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Despicable Julie Andrews


Some time back, [Lavender Darwin] published an article here castigating [Julie Andrews] and other wealthy actresses for wasting money on vain attempts to maintain a youthful appearance when their discretionary funds could be much better spent helping those who really are in need of reconstructive plastic surgery. It is hard to imagine, I know. For Julie Andrews is generally considered to be one of the most beloved in Hollywood, but being the consummate investigative journalist he surely is, the intrepid Mr. Darwin can find fault with anyone.

As it turns out, the egg is actually on Lavender’s not-so-lovely face. For Ms. Andrews suffers from an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes her nose and chin to grow at an incredibly rapid pace, and in an attempt to appease the rather miffed Mr. Darwin, she decided to not go in for her weekly treatments while filming for [Despicable Me] was still going on. As you can plainly see from the before and after pictures above, the normally very presentable actress experienced a a very dramatic change in appearance (to put it very, very mildly).

No, I do not believe that this will faze Lavender a bit, but according to inside sources, some heads will undoubtedly be rolling like watermelon bongs down a Topanga Canyon hillside. For both her agent and the casting director assured Ms. Andrews that no filming of her actual face was necessary for this animated film. Updates will be published as soon as more information is invented becomes available.

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Slutwalking


I must admit that I “naturally” have some mixed feelings about this. For on the one hand, I know that there is no justification for rape, but on the other, I have been told by a sweet young thing, “Oh, I really need a man tonight, but not you!”

No, I did not try to convince her otherwise. In fact, her statement just reinforced my feelings about how desperately in need of my love she was. A year or so later, she was murdered by the guy she ran me off for.

Alas, would it be a good idea for one to go into an infamous Hell’s Angels hangout while wearing a t-shirt that said, HARLEYS SUCK!  RICE-BURNERS ROCK!, or something similar? No, I don’t think so, and neither is it a good idea for a woman to go out in public wearing next to nothing.

Yes, the same technically applies to men, as well, but I am not into that sort of thing. Operators are standing by to receive your hateful rants and raves now.

P.S.: I originally published this article with a video from [Fox4KC] about the upcoming [Slutwalk KC], but either the video itself or Blogger refused to cooperate.  So, I switched gears a little.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

A Good Example of Trusting In God


Last week, I published a little piece about [Greene Country, Missouri] adding In God We Trust to the seal.  Today, I would like to point to something that might help you understand my cynicism.  For it was just announced that there would be two less books made available through the [Republic High School Library].

Yes, it is true that removing [Slaughterhouse-Five] and [Twenty Boy Summer] was a decision made solely by the Republic R-III school board, but it still serves a good example of what far too many around here have been led to believe. For when a good Christian in this area proclaims that they trust in God, they are almost always talking about the condition of their soul—not the course of their daily life.

No, that is not only found around here. For it has been widely taught that we are pretty much on our own in this world. Granted, our Heavenly Father has given us His Holy Bible to serve as a book of instruction, but in regards to actually being an active participate in our daily lives, He will not interfere with our freewill. Therefore, it is up to us to protect our children from evil influences, and removing books from our school libraries is certainly an option that should be exercised when necessary.

So, does this mean that what Christ Jesus said was merely wishful thinking? For it is written: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” [John 10:27-30 NIV]

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Monday, July 25, 2011

Another Sign

Link: [On YouTube]

Do I really have to spell it out for you? Okay, that video is another sign of the coming apocalypse. If you think I’m kidding, just focus your full attention on Fabio saying, “Oh,” and if that doesn’t send chills of terror running up and down your spine, it is already too late for you. (Okay, I really am kidding, but he does scare me—a lot!)

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Sunday, July 24, 2011

Amy Winehouse 1983 - 2011


There are some who appear to leave no doubt about where they are headed after their time as a part of this world comes to an end, and after my eyes were opened, I could clearly see that I was one of them. Be assured that I hope the same thing happened to her as it did me before she took her [final breath].

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Friday, July 22, 2011

Scum of the Earth

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. [James 2:12-13 NIV]

Our Heavenly Father keeps reminding me that I need to be more conscious of that, and here I go again. For the Missouri State Attorney General has announced that his office is seeking injunctions against the [Alivio Foundation] and [Steven W. Blood] for fraudulently soliciting donations to help victims of the [Joplin, MO tornado], and I hoping that they get all that they got coming to them.

Yes, it may not be their fault. For our Heavenly Father allows bad things to happen for the ultimate good of all concerned. Take what happened to [Joseph] as an example.

Furthermore, it may very well be an accounting error on the part the Alivio Foundation. For I couldn’t find where they have been charged with any wrongdoing before.

Oh, but that does not seem to be the story with Mr. Blood. For it appears that this is not the first time he has been accused of some rather heinous [skullduggery].

Okay, I am probably doing some serious knee-jerking here, but I am trusting that the Missouri Attorney General knows what he is doing. Whoa, I may need to do some more thinking about this…

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Ambiguity of Jesus

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

A new friend sent me an email with a link to an excerpt from John Fischer’s book, [Real Christians Don’t Dance]. The title of the excerpt was [The Ambiguity of Jesus], and at first, I was appalled. For I was equating ambiguity with indifference.

After I went to see just what the definition of ambiguity is, I settled down a quite a bit. For to be ambiguous is to speak (or write) in terms that could have more than one meaning, and this is something that our Heavenly Father had been already pointed out to me. For He had His Holy Scriptures written in such a way that would allow those who would want to go somewhere they shouldn’t to go there.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
 [1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV]

Hence, the problem—even within the Christian community. For far too many base their faith strictly upon our Heavenly Father’s Holy Scriptures, along with the religious traditions of their own particular denomination, while ignoring the counsel of His Holy Spirit.

Again, please understand that I am not seeking to trash our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible. For it truly is the most precious of all books because it contains the sum-total of His Holy Scriptures, but it was never meant to be employed as a book of instruction—certainly not in the same way as a schoolbook on science, mathematics, nor even history. For it is truly a book full of Spiritual truths that only the Spiritually-minded can correctly discern.

A prime example of that can be found in a paragraph that was left out of the excerpt from Rev. Fischer’s book, which was included in the email I received: His favorite phrase when speaking a public message was "He who has an ear, let him hear". Hear, He used it as an activity—something that some people do with their ears, but not necessarily everyone. Apparently a person can have ears and not hear, and in such a case, Jesus is not going to go the extra mile to get that individual's attention. If people find something else to do with their ears, that's their problem.

Alas, back to my original thought about indifference. For that makes it sound like Christ Jesus could not have cared less about those who did not want to hear what He was telling them.

Since it was left out of the excerpt, I am hoping that Rev. Fischer is getting a little closer to looking at things as our Heavenly Father would have him to, but many “good Christians” would fully agree with the way he first had it. In fact, I was raised to believe that God only cares about those who care about Him.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
 [Revelation 3:20 NAS]

Yes, it is made very easy to naturally think our Heavenly Father is not going to go that extra mile, but what those who want to believe that this is true are missing is that His Holy Spirit is there knocking on the doors to our hearts—even those who have already truly accepted Christ Jesus as their own personal Lord and Savior. For accepting Him as such is like getting married. Then comes the marriage itself, and far too many really don’t want anything to do with that.

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”

Be assured that this has nothing to do with living a righteous life. Well, at least not in regards to our own efforts to do so. For that is all in the hands of our Heavenly Father, but what about what He really wants from us?

Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." [John 9:39-41 NIV]

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The New Greene County (MO) Seal


Alas, if only they really did, but the leaders of where my wife and I live have much in common with a group from long ago. For it is written: The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” [Isaiah 29:13 NIV]

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Sunday, July 17, 2011

Bitterness and Regret

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber ...Image via WikipediaI have been thinking a lot more these days about mortality, my own and of others.  Thinking that you might have just had a stroke or were close to having one will do that to you.  It got me thinking about just how precious little time we all really have. 

Over the past year and a half, I have had two former classmates and friends pass away suddenly, prior to the age of 50.  At work, we had one of our coworkers pass away while on a business trip.  In addition to that, I have had a couple of salespeople that called on me also pass away.

As I ponder my existence and think about my life, I think it is important to not let regret rule the day.  As I look back, I think about the things that I regret.  Usually that regret revolves around something that I didn't do, rather than something that I did do.

For instance, I had two really close friends in high school and college.  After college we all went our separate ways.  Nearly three years ago, we finally reconnected through social media.  We met two years ago for the first time in nearly 25 years.  Unfortunately, one of my friends passed away less than a year later.  I regret that I waited so long to reconnect.

Another regret involves another old friend of mine.  This particular friend of mine was somebody I was very close to for years.  We had the same hobbies, and we did everything together.  After one particular occasion, I felt slighted by something that happened.  I let my bitterness ruin a great friendship.  Years later, we started talking again, but things were never quite the same.

Bitterness is a particularly tough pill to swallow.  It does nothing but breed contempt and regret.  I have come to learn that it is important not to let a perceived wrong, whether real or imagined, lead to bitterness and cause our pride to put a barrier up in our relationships.  Life is too short for that.

If I may take liberty with the words of Jesus in Mark 8:36 when He says, "For what shall it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life."  Perhaps we should think, "For what good is it to be justified in ones mind to be angry if in the end it costs you your friendships and family."  After all, Blessed are the Peacemakers. 
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Saturday, July 16, 2011

The Norfolk Four

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Read and see more about the story at [Frontline: The Confessions]

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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

What About Judas?

While I was struggling to go to sleep last Sunday afternoon, I was asked in a thought, “What about Judas?” Since it was totally unrelated to whatever was going through my mind at the time, the question immediately caught my attention.

A few seconds later, it was explained that the question about Judas was in answer to some lingering questions that I have had about the possibility of everyone eventually making it into Heaven because of the sacrifice of our Heavenly Father’s only begotten Son, who truly is the Lord Jesus Christ, which is what [Christian Universalism] is all about. For if that is true, why would Christ Jesus say what He did about Judas Iscariot? For it is written: The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. [Mark 14:21 KJV]

Monday, July 11, 2011

Teaching Both Sides


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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Walking Into Mordor


I must admit that I am feeling rather stupid right now. For I first found that video on [Prophets, Priests and Poets], and I did not realize that it was meant to be funny until he started talking about the [Tea Party] in heroic terms.

In all fairness, [Mr. Whittle] is one of the best tongue-in-cheek speakers I have ever heard. Hey, if you think it’s easy, just try talking with a forked-tongue for that long without getting it tied into a double half-hitch around one of your canines!

Asking for contributions to [Declaration Entertainment] was also a dead giveaway. Yeah, who said ultra-conservatives don’t have a sense-of-humor?

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Friday, July 8, 2011

On Your Side?


Thursday, July 7, 2011

ALL Equal Under Law

I had a rather strange thought floating around in my head last week.  Well, it is actually still there, which has helped to compel me to put it out there for your consideration.

Anyway, after reading statement after statement about our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible being the final Authority over ALL things in the midst of all of the cussing and discussing in a Facebook group about Biblical Universalism, a thought about comparing it to the [Magna Carta] popped up.  For the Magna Carta basically made the King of England as subject to the laws of the land as his subjects were, and with so very many looking at our Heavenly Father as being not so unlike how we naturally are, a desire for Him to be also bound by law is not really all that much of a stretch.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Programming Note

Instead of airing the second segment of their [Beyond Belief] mini-series, Primetime Nightline will air a special edition on the [Casey Anthony Trial Verdict] at 9:00 PM CDST tonight (July 6).  It may be just a repeat of the special hour-long Nightline that aired last night, but even if it is, anything with [Nancy Grace] in it is good for at least a few chuckles.

Alas, I must admit that watching her regular show is a guilty pleasure of mine.  Granted, absolutely nothing else worth watching has to be on, but still, I watch.  The following video clip from Nightline last night should give you an idea of why I would.

Okay, some of you may not think that anything about the Casey Anthony verdict is a laughing matter.  For her daughter is dead, and the Anthony family is in shambles—if not outright destroyed.

Nonetheless, be assured that Caylee is safe and sound in the arms of our Heavenly Father now, and what has happened to this family is something our Heavenly Father has orchestrated to draw them closer to Him.  May they not seek a way to stand on their own.


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