Election Repulsed

Last Night the returns for the primary elections in Illinois came in. I watched. Stayed up past midnight.

Here are the high (low) lights:

We still don’t know who won the race between Stroger and Claypoole for County board president. This is the 21’st century right? But down on the south side of Chicago they are counting (Packing the ballot box) like it’s 1950 all over again.

Graft is good. Right????

None of the candidates I supported won. None. All the winners are all out of step with me.

Or something.

So, now for Governor in Illinois is the following choices:


A machine controlled liberal puppet insider pro abortion democrat

OR

A machine controlled liberal puppet insider pro abortion republican


Now there’s a real race. And, as a friend of mine pointed out. They both wear their hair in exactly the same cut. Hey man, that dude look like a woman. or That woman look like a dude man.

When I moved to this fine state 20 years ago every single constitutional office was held by a republican. I was home. Now I’m an alien.

It’s time for a revolution.

Blond Iraqi Children

Yesterday I was having lunch with Karma, a friend of mine. We were talking about all things human. During which I commented on the poignancy of an essay a mutual read of ours had made on her blog.

Julie had talked about a little blond haired boy who was of probable German seed from when construction workers had been in Nicaragua for a project. How he had been ostracized. Read it here.

Then Karma said something that caused me to start, “There will be a lot of little blond haired kids in Iraq when we leave”. Like there were a lot of blond haired blue-eyed Vietnamese and a number of dark skinned children after we left there.

I get it. Have you ever seen the women of Iraq? Behind the veil they are strikingly beautiful. Long raven hair, dark eyes, rich auburn skin. They can take your breath away with their beauty.

Karma is right. I wish she weren’t. Somehow the genetic mixing I can envision doesn’t work well. Like the little boy in Julies post. These children will have a more difficult time. And then there are the Honor Killings. Life isn’t fair, particularly to children.

Sigh.

The Check is in the Mail – Honest

You have seen the story. Katrina and Wilma hit with hurricane force. Thousands out of house. So, Red Cross and US Government so as not to appear too stingy give out Cash Cards for $2000 to all comers to be used at the strip club of your choice. TV newscasts were full of positive appellations for the generosity towards these poor folks.

Well, a few, (like maybe a couple hundred thousand) we’re working the system it seems. And we should be shocked because??

So now in an attempt to recover a fumble Fema is are trying to get the money back. I’m so certain that all those fine folks who got those cards with phony Social Security numbers, phony addresses and phony names are putting the check right in the mail.

Why are we surprised at these things? What is it about the effort to do good by throwing mass quantities of money at a thing and having it go bad that is such a shock?

Now the government will spend twice as much money trying to get it back, create bad publicity (Wait for the first 60 minutes report about John Jackson from New Orleans who lives with his Momma and from whom Fema wants the money back).

Forget it. They stole the money. You left it on the doorstep. What were they supposed to do.

It’s not worth it. It’s gone and you aren’t ever getting it back. Ask Johnny.

Church a Bomb

Tonight as we often do we were off to Rockford to Faith Center for Church.

 

Worship was excellent.  Many great prophetic and encouraging words.  Then a young pastor came to speak. He was good.

 

Well into his talk Pastor Lyon came forward and without much emotion said, "I hate to interrupt but, we have had someone call in and tell us there is a bomb in the building.  I don't believe it but I am responsible to do the right thing.  Please take your things and leave the building".

 

People filed out in order. No panic.  No screaming.

 

These are people ready for heaven. 

 

My only question is who is the nutcase who does such a thing.  Is it a kid who thinks this is funny?  I hope they have caller ID.

 

Is this someone who hates Faith Center, or the speaker, or what? 

 

Or is it someone who is just a nut who hates Jesus.  We'll never know for sure. 

 

It's too bad.  I was enjoying the speaker.

 

Hard to scare Christians with death.  That's an improvement.  I would have just as soon sat thru it an called his bluff.  But, who knows what's right to do.  That's the first Church Service that ever bombed with a threat in my experience.

 

 

You say Agriculture - I say Horticulture

I can't prove this except I heard it on the radio (Orion Samuelson on WGN in Chicago). They never lie, do they? Orion was talking about the changes in Agriculture in the USA. His comment caught me off guard. Of the 50 Billion plus total agriculture economy nationwide, 15 billion of it is Horticulture. That would be about a third.

He said that compared to agronomic crops like beans, corn, wheat, oats Horticulture is a larger economic component of the total ag sales.

I knew that the screw was turning. I didn't know it had already turned.

Think about it. In my lifetime, (I was going to say short but I don't anymore) production agronomic agriculture has been eclipsed by intensive horticultural production. Certainly on fewer acres but with much larger dollars per acre.

I think this is a good thing. It means that subsidies should be examined. It means that states like North Dakota should think about the structure of it’s agricultural economy.

It does make me wonder about my alma mater, North Dakota State University. A land grant college. The school where I got my 4 year degree (in 5) in Horticulture 40 years ago. When I first attended it was North Dakota Agriculture College. We had a department. Dr Lana. Hundreds of students.

Then, Horticulture became part of plant sciences. Then something else. Now it's nearly non-existent.

Horticulture eclipses Agronomy nationwide. NDSU deletes Horticulture as a curricula.

Something is seriously wrong with this picture. Joe Chapman (a good guy) who is the current President of NDSU is thinking about leaving. Maybe the next guy will have a deeper passion about this new agriculture that North Dakota doesn't even realize exists.

Character Is Destiny

I Know some of you hate it when I post something I read somewhere else.  But sometimes it's really good.  So, bear with me.  This is worth the read.  Jim Paluch is a writer/trainer from OHIO.    I needed to give him attribution.  Read the whole thing.  It'll be good for your soul.

Gene

 

Character Is Destiny

Where does character begin? It begins in our thoughts, in what we think. Ask yourself these questions: “If I were invisible--able to do anything I wanted without consequences or repercussions--would I be kind or unkind? Honest or dishonest? Respectful or disrespectful? Reliable or unreliable? Your answers would say a lot about you as a person. These questions cause you to hold a mirror up and look at the inner you. Once we are honest with ourselves and understand the inner person . . . then we can begin to build or reshape the habits that determine our character and then ultimately our destiny.

It has been said that the farmer who cheats is only cheating himself--put off mending the fence today and you’ll be chasing livestock tomorrow. It comes down to a choice: to do what is most convenient or to do the right thing. Are you doing what is easiest, most enjoyable, or most profitable-–or are you doing what is right? Sometimes they can be one in the same, but, when they are not, then we put our character to the test. Though most people would never think of stealing someone else’s property, they might think it is all right to give less than their best to their work, their family or even themselves. Think about the challenges you face each day to choose between what is convenient and what is right. It is the clear choice between evading responsibility and accepting responsibility. The habit of accepting responsibility paves the way to strong character and a great destiny.

Vince Lombardi said, “You don’t do what is right once in a while, but all the time. Success is a habit. Winning is habit.” Your daily commitment to exercising your ethical muscles to the point that doing what is right is just a natural habit will reap incredible rewards for you. You work at character just as an athlete works at refining a skill in their chosen sport. The greatest athletes are never done improving on their skills. There is always a little more to be done in refining our character and developing the habit of doing the right thing. As a leader, your commitment to doing the right thing is setting an example to those that have chosen to follow you.

Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing in life; it is the only thing.” What example is your team following? Your family? Your friends? I have often said to leaders, "Your crew is a direct reflection of you." It goes beyond this . . . your life is a reflection of you. Your character is your destiny. Create your destiny with the next action you take . . . do the right thing.

- Jim Paluch

 

	Definition of CHARACTER
The ability to carry out a good resolution long after the mood in which it was made has left you

 

	Jefferson on Character
"In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current. Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give up the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing. Whenever you are to do a thing though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly." - Thomas Jefferson

 

	The Man in the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day. Just go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife Whose judgment upon you must pass. The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one staring back from the glass. You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum And think you're a wonderful guy. But the man in the glass says you're only a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye. He's the fellow to please – never mind all the rest. For he's with you clear to the end. And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years, And get pats on the back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartache and tears If you've cheated the man in the glass. - Author Unknown

 

	Stretching the Truth
Do you ever S T R E T C H the truth ? ? ? ? On why you were late or absent . . . ? On how many sales calls you really made . . . ? On how many cookies you really ate? . . . ? On whose great idea that really was . . . ? On how much you really weigh . . . ? On how fast you were really driving . . . ? On why you really left your last job . . . ? On what qualifies you for the next one . . . Remember the truth comes in one dimension, straight up . . . and stretching it is just that . . . a stretch!

 

	Quotes
"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.: "I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me." - Abraham Lincoln "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller "Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing, and only character endures." -Horace Greeley, New York newspaper editor "Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses and avoids." - Aristotle "A good character carries with it the highest power of causing a thing to be believed." - Aristotle

 

Milleborne

Milleborne I am told is French for milestone. At least the game we used to play was was called milleborne.

I have experienced a few milleborne in the last few days.

First, the bad news. I turned 61 years old. Ides of March. I’ll survive but I don’t like it. I’m older and crankier than ever. Now watching the movie Grumpy Old Men is sort of “SO WHAT” to me now. I have lots of days like that.

But time limps along and I don’t.

Second, A friend and business associate of mine for nearly 30 years left town. In the late 70s we were in a Dale Carnegie Class together. He was so bright. I kept in touch and later we went into business together. After the business closed he moved to California. I moved to Chicagoland to take a new job. We needed a smart quality software guy to augment our development efforts. Bill was the man I thought of at once. So he hopped in his little Fiat 150 or something like that (a large matchbox sized car) and motored to Chicagoland. On the 15th of March exactly 20 years ago he moved here. Two ides of Marchisms. Does it mean anything???? Probably not.

One of the men he worked with and meshed with immediately was Ken. Ken was a contract software developer who just plain fit hand in glove with Bill. I enjoyed and still do enjoy getting together with all of them.

And on the Ides of March a year ago these two couples were those who came to dinner when we spent a terrific memorable evening of ideas and fun. I wrote about it.

Now Bill and Barb are off to Sunny and Cool North Carolina. We will miss him. Ken (the other one in this picture who isn’t me) and Ellen will miss him too.



The picture of 3 women and 2 men above (I took the Picture) are Left to Right- Peggy, Ellen and Ken and Barb and Bill. The three men below are Ken, Bill and me left to right. I don't even want to think of the cumulative age of all of us. It's not 4 digits yet anyway.



The other milleborne this week was the Worship Leader from our church leaveing. He has been there since we have. He’s a good man and has brought us far. I can’t wait to see how much further we have yet to go.

Take care Chad.

Milestones. I don’t like to see them go by but you can’t get to the next one unless you keep on peddling. I will only fall down if I stop peddling, so I keep on.

Boston Legal Looking for a Shark to Jump

If you don't know the term, To Jump the Shark.  Google it up.  You'll discover it means that something happens in a TV series that causes the show to fall off the edge of the earth.  Usually from really bad writing.

 

I enjoy Boston Legal and William Shatner.  But, this weeks episode was lame X 3.  It represented a political viewpoint which it doesn't have to.  It wasn't clever.  It wasn't edgy.  It was lame.

 

I have a feeling the writers have run out of ideas and now are using it for a platform for left wing opinion.

 

Guess what, Mr/Mrs writer group.  We don't want to hear your drivel now or ever.

 

Entertainment is supposed to entertain. You bored. 

 

So, there may be hope but I am pessimistic.  You are just looking for shark and then you're lunchmeat.

 

Too bad, you had a franchise going.  Even the Sun Times in Chicago had a full page spread on the star of the show, Shatner and calling Boston Legal his best work.

 

You have blown it.

 

Now, if I could just address the producers of the show.  Fire them tomorrow, throw away everything they have written, find Larry David and get your edge back before I (and millions of others) quit watching.

Stop the Disease of Public Education

Our schools have failed. Not a little. BIG!

It's all over. The wave of anger and protest is growing every day. I am adding my voice as small as it is.

Public education hasn't worked for a couple decades. In it's present form it has no prospect of working.

I am going to write on this further. But before I do I want anyone who disagrees or wonders what I have against public education to read the following essays by John Stossel. He is no fan of Public Education. He has been campaigning to enable choice in education. Vouchers. I am joining his campaign.

So, that you can know what the issues are read the following and then be ready for more.

The facts are, Public Education no longer works

Open Competition for the Education Dollar will help Children

Being a GOOD teacher is not rewarded and must be

The Teachers Unions are destroying our education system and must be put down forever

The net of this discussion is this, Public Education, particularly k-8 is so destructive and so broken that no incremental fix can ever be made. Schools must be closed and rebuilt for performance from the ground up.

Join the fight to abolish monopoly public education. Competitive schools fighting to do a better job of teaching your children (customers) is the only salvation left.

Reward competence, fire incompetence. Make Public Education about education again and not about teachers.

We Plan to Take Over - Resistance is Futile

I just wrote about Club Gitmo in the comments section of Say Anything.  Time to close up shop in Cuba.  Fall 2006 is comin.  Not a popular view.  But when it's over it's over.  Boy, am I being pilloried by my conservative friends.  But now I see that Gitmo closure is under discussion.  It's time.  It's over.  Time for everybody to go home.

 

I also take a lot of heat from my conservative friends for my view of Wal-Mart. 

I was sad to see public radio (which is liberal but I listen anyway) take ads for Wal-Mart.  But Money talks and Bull- walks.  So much for courage of convictions.  They are hopeless hypocrites like everyone else. Anything for the buck. 

 

Now Wal-Mart is trying to coerce conservative bloggers with money. I haven't gotten a call.  I am too small potatoes for Wally.  Besides after my last tirade against them I think they burned my fax number.

 

I don't fit into the traditional conservative mold as well as Wal-Mart wants me to. 

Ron Dreher wrote about it in a book entitled Crunchy Conservatives:  How Birkenstocked Burkeans, gun-loving organic gardeners, evangelical free-range farmers, hip homeschooling mamas, right-wing nature lovers, and their diverse tribe of countercultural conservatives plan to save America (or at least the Republican Party)

 

National Review, that paragon of conservative thought dedicates a chat blog to the idea.  Interesting Reading.  Wal-Mart gets the snot kicked out of them there.

 

I don't feel so all alone anymore.  Liberals don't get it and Wal-Mart loving Conservatives don't either.  Some of us take a road somewhat less traveled and that makes all the difference.

 

We plan on taking over the place.

 

The Racket of Conception

This morning I heard an hour long interview with Professor Debra L. Spar, Harvard Economist who has written a book on the Fertility and Conception racket in this country called: "Baby Business: How Money, Science, and Politics Drive the Commerce of Conception." "Eggs are being sold; sperm is being sold; wombs and genes and orphans are being sold; and many individuals are profiting handsomely in the process." You can read all about it in Salon.com’s interview with Spar.


I am not easily shocked. I am also aware of how the birds and the bees work (with a BS and BA in both from NDSU). And I have kids.

We did it the old fashioned way.

There were three things in this interview that caused me to shake my head:

The number one cloning request is from parents who have lost a child, particularly older children. They just want to duplicate the lost Teen. This will happen soon on a regular basis and will be very disappointing for the parents. The new baby will look just like the dead child but will be different somehow. “Why can’t you be like your clone?” And will that clone kid ever be spoiled.

Children are being born to be donors. Parents have a child with kidney problems, bone cancer needing a marrow transplant, or a liver problem needing part of a liver. So, grow your own. Hundreds of In-Vitro embryos are produced and the doctor does an analysis of each one until he finds one that is a perfect tissue match for the sick child. That embryo is implanted, baby born and as soon as it is up to a decent tissue bearing age the suitable organs etc are harvested for the ailing sibling. I guess they let the 90% kid live. Such as it is. And, if he or she should develop problems with the remaining kidney we can always just create another donor babe.

There is a thriving market in embryo adoption. Since no one knows what to do with all these unused embryos and since it’s against the law to stem cell them (hooray) they are traded (and sold) to infertile couples, single moms, and lesbians.

There were several other graphic and disturbing issues in this interview and in her book. As a militant pro-life Christian I am deeply disturbed and can’t believe this is going to end up well. The slippery slope just got greased again. Not all progress is progress.

Klingons for Christ

I was speaking with someone last night in a ministerial role to a 58 year old woman divorced who works in a factory for $12 an hour. She has been there for 5 years. She has been divorced about that long.

She’s an artist. A darn good one. She would really rather draw than work in a factory. When she was married she did art. She has a 4-year degree in graphic arts. She is smart enough.

Factory life is security. She has a little tiny 401K. She gets minimal health benefits.

So, she stays at the factory for $12 and “Puts off” her dream of being a professional artist. She never will. She is too afraid and too timid.

Her soul has been purchased by the Devil. Not really but metaphorically.

Fear of deprivation and fear of failure has caused her to stop hoping. She’s marking time till she retires and then will mark time till she dies. 58 is too young to die.

Rest in Peace.

I am criticized and I'm questioned in this here blog (read the comments) about that mean old Jesus I love so much. I mean, wasn’t he that nice little man who walked around humbly doing boy scout type deeds and then died by some cruel twist of fate?

That’s the Jesus so many people accept. That’s the Jesus so many people believe lived.

But that’s not the Jesus who will cause people to abandon all like Peter did and follow him or to get up like Matthew from his office desk and walk away from a lucrative gig.

I wouldn’t follow the anemic Jesus and neither do you. If people see Jesus in that way they don’t know him. They don’t now him in his glorified resurrection. They can’t know him as God.

If that’s you I’m so sorry and I hope you find him. Or better, I hope he finds you.

Jesus would have been a great Klingon. Klingons would have loved the Real Jesus.

There was such an episode where there was a Christlike figure in Klingon religion. He was no wimp and neither is Jesus.

Some Christian Star Trek Next Gen fan put this website up. It’s great. I’ll never look at Worf the same again.

Now if that beaten down 58 year old woman would just get some Klingon Blood in her or better yet get the fierceness of the Son of God down in her soul she could break out of the chains that bind her to her past and to her sense of failure.

Like the old Klingon Proverb says: Today is a good day to die. If you knew you were going to die in a month what would you do with the rest of your life? I’ll bet you wouldn’t show up at the factory for 12 bucks an hour again.

Stealing Glory

I was in conversation with my brother. He related a story of a woman who had attended his church. The pastor gave a sermon. The woman was touched. She might have even come to Jesus.

People all around were giving credit to the moving sermon the young pastor had given. I don’t know for sure, but maybe more credit was given and perhaps taken than was due.

I know for a fact that when I speak and it touches people It’s not about me. I’m a vehicle, a gift given of the Holy Spirit. I also know that if I even try to take credit at any level for what God does thru me he may cut me off until I repent.

God is jealous, and he will not share His glory with any man. If any man tries to steal His glory that man is in jeopardy of being stripped or worse.

Paul the apostle said that some plant, others water and others harvest. That means that from beginning to end there is a process orchestrated by the Holy Spirit to bring people to repentance. If we don’t give glory where glory is due we will be accountable to God. That’s more than some phony, “Glory to God” redundancy which is equivalent to gesundheit in meaning. It also means that we must be very careful to not take any credit for the results of the efforts of those who went before you in other people’s lives.

So to the young pastor, I’m glad you were used. I’m glad you prepared. Be thankful God uses you. Treat it with fear and trembling. To others around him, be careful to understand how God does what He does. Sometimes He will even use a Jackass to accomplish His mission.

And, He will share his Glory with NO MAN!

Boston Legal is Shatner’s Best

I loved the first Star Trek series, Spock, Bones and all. When Next Gen came out I was pretty convinced I would hate it. I didn’t and have see every episode.

I think Willam Shatner was part of the brilliance. An almost serious Sci Fi effort and Shatner kept it on the edge of being tongue in cheek.

After the series went off we didn’t hear much from him. Several years ago he had a bit part as the giant head in Third Rock From the Sun. It was hilarious. I commented to several about his excellent comedic timing and capacity to capture the moment. If you haven’t seen those 3 episodes they are worth digging up.

I also said that it was amazing that a man with his comedic talents wouldn’t have his own series.

Then his wife drown a few years ago. I guess I thought he drifted off into oblivion after that. Sort of Dana Reeves style.

NOPE.

Well into his 70’s Shatner is more brilliant than ever.

If you haven’t seen Boston Legal on Tuesday nights you are missing a wonderful piece of work. My brother Steve turned me on to it. I have told several since.

A week ago I had a dental appointment. I was an hour in the chair getting a cap ground and fitted. The dentist was yucking it up with his assistant about Boston Legal. I said uguewbbuuuggskk, They agreed. Then on the way home still saying little more than DSOFUONGOSJ (Novocain does that to you) the radio talk show hosts on WGN were yucking it up about Boston Legal.

It’s pretty much unanimous to anyone who has seen it. Great comedy. A little left of political center.

But, seeing Denny Crain (William Shatner) hold fort and dominate the screen like he does gives this old guy hope I can still make it work. I’ll try.

Evicting Smoky

You have probably heard of the proposed sale of about 300,000 acres of public land owned by the US government, land that is not on the tax rolls, land that doesn’t support schools or services, land that the 2007 proposed federal budget from GWB proposes selling to private parties to raise money to support schools. Don’t get too excited. That’s an area about 470 square miles, a square of about 21 miles on a side, about the same landmass as the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation south of Devils Lake North Dakota.

At first blush this seems like a good plan. I have surfed blogdom for insight into this issue. There are the usual leftwing stuck in a rut nutcases who’s blog essentially says, “Sale of Public lands = Bush lied, WMD’s, Bush idiot, Abortion, blah blah blah”.

There are some thoughtful essays. They say nearly uniformly, we need to think about this, this may not be a great idea. You will find them by using the blogsearch feature on google.

This is a local issue. Conrad Burns, Montana has declared this dead.

I’m not so sure. Fundamentally I am against selling assets to pay current bills. If you keep selling your clothes to pay your rent you will end up naked. That’s a sight I don’t want to see.

There is balance. I have hunted in Montana. There are 30-acre parcels here and there which are unattached and useless. The government and you and I are not served well by owning this scrap. It is usually landlocked and fenced from access to you or me. The surrounding landowner uses this land as if it were his without the consequence of tax or liability. So, I’m ambivalent.

I just hate the precedent. Selling long-term assets to pay current bills is a poor “strategery”.

And I don’t want to hear that Toyota just bought Yellowstone.

Where’s Smokey gonna live?

Nice Little Jesus - NOT

I received a well-meaning response to the Old Tiger post below.

He quoted the Sermon on the Mount. OOPS! I have taught the Beatitudes. If you ever took the course from me you would quickly discover my take on them is very different from the pantywaist Jesus most mainline denominations teach. The Jesus I live and die for is the true and living God, mighty in battle, doing wonders, glorious in holiness, pulling down strongholds and victorious over evil. He is the substance of the warrior’s armor I wear every day.

Just so you are properly oriented here is a better way to see what seems to be at first glance a nice little teaching from a nice little Jesus with a soft impotent message, I need to help you. His message is a call to war:

• Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
You recognize you have no strength in yourself, you know you are needy, but you know in whom you have believed. You are poor in Spirit. More of Him, less of you.

•

Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
Meekness is great power under control. Moses was the most powerful man on the face of the earth but God called him meek. Not weak. Meek and submitted to His purposes, controlled but determined to know and do right. Jesus instructed those to whom he gave talents and power to "...occupy till I come." Luke 19:13b. Sounds like we are not only to take the land but become an occupying force as well. Sounds like war.

•

Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Sin causes the righteous to mourn. Their own sin and the successes Satan has over the world. They are best comforted when sin, death and the devil are crushed under their feet. Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

•

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Justice (Righteousness) is making things right. Making things as they should be. When crooked and twisted things exist the hunger for more of Jesus causes righteousness to reign in our hearts. It’s that lack of hunger and thirst that causes complacency and lukewarmness. Be HOT or cold or vomited out of His mouth. No middle Ground.

•

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Mercy is sown and reaped. If we allow mercy to control our vision we will see that sometimes the most merciful thing we can do is allow God to work in other people’s lives without our well meaning intervention. We need to understand the nature of mercy and when external mercy is unmerciful.

•

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Clean (Pure) in heart means that we have nothing against others or ourselves. We understand that our deeds or righteousness are as filthy rags. Our motives and intents must be lined up with the word of God. We cannot confront evil if we harbor hidden sin. Seeing God in all things means we don’t see man's reason. Our purposes and intent must be pure.

•

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
How is peace waged? By winning the war. Warring against injustice, warring against sin, warring against the lies of the enemy. Being a peacemaker does not involve compromise. Peacemakers understand that when a person is at odds with the Love of God he is not at peace. So, when we bring a person to Jesus and them teach them to do battle with the sin and the attacks of the enemy we are peacemakers. Peace is won thru victory not surrender.

•

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

This badly translated passage can still stand. If you go to war, expect to be shot at. Sometimes you will be hit. Sometimes you will be wounded. You might even be killed. But yours is the kingdom of heaven. You will win immediately under persecution, eventually under persecution, or ultimately. It’s all about the Kingdom of Heaven. Persecution and the blood of martyrs builds a strong church. Look at China. Persecution and martyrdom has caused tremendous victory. They have entered the Kingdom.

Have we, have you?

This teaching demonstrates that the beatitudes are about living the victorious Christian life. Victory is the result of wars won. So, next time you hear someone preach on this passage, listen for the sound of cannon fire.

Then run to the battle!

Old Tigers are more Dangerous

A Pastor Friend of Mine quoted a line from a movie which I quoted in a post earlier. The fact is, old tigers are dangerous, they have nothing to lose, they are fierce, they are abandoned. They know the predictable tactics of the enemy.

As a response a friend of mine, Gary Sabela created this picture. I relate to it big time.

I'm like this old tiger. I'm out looking for that Roaring Lion who is seeking whom he may devour.

In my mouth I bear the teeth of the Word of God and my Claws are armed with the Name of Jesus.

I'm on the hunt. Is it my last hunt? I don't know. It could be. Or NOT. You'll never know, I'm immortal till my testimony is complete. And you can't do anything about it till then. I smell victory. I smell Blood. I'm more dangerous every minute. I know no fear. And Satan, that's all you have as a weapon.

I want to put as many predatory lions out of commission who are trying to kill the innocent lambs who fall prey to him.

I'm on the trail. Look over your shoulder Satan. A Fierce Blood Bought Holy Ghost Filled Child of the Living God is on your Tail.

I picked up your scent at the scene of the crime you old Devil. We're gonna get ya. You'll burn in Hell forever. I have an advance copy of your demise.

Twice in 7 Days

I never ceased reading and enjoying the Lone Prairie Blog. Its excellence is a credit to my Home State for this expatriate North Dakotan.

So now for the second time in a week I find something stirring that merits comment.

The question posed is, “will we fade into nothingness when we are gone. Will we become a shade of forgotten gray”?

Read the post.

At 31 years old legacy matters. At 61 years old, not so much.

My legacy for better or worse is made. I’m more dangerous now because I have less to lose. In the movie with Sean Connery, “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman” from the comic of the same name there is a quote:

“Old tigers are the most dangerous, they know that their next hunt could be their last so they are more abandoned and take bigger risks.”

I have butchered the quote. The sentiment is intact. I’m an old tiger and know who I am. That’s more difficult for younger people.

I am fully aware and accepting that a hundred years from today I will be an entry in a birth and death page from an old Bible. A line in a family tree. A faded memory from a great grandchild in their old age.

Perhaps that’s why I write, why I teach, why I preach, why I invest myself in others.

That’s why I plant, why I till, why I try to change things.

It’s why I try to foster improvement in things with a sense of creative discontent. Happy but not satisfied, never satisfied.

I’ll not be famous, not in a real sense any more. I’m not sure even famous people really are. Name 20 influential politicos each or writers or business people from 1906.

Tough question. You’ll get a half dozen and hit tilt. I did.

Most of the “Famous” people of today, Sunday on Oscar Night, will die in marginal obscurity and be completely forgotten in 30 years.

I hope to be remembered in 31 years by a few.

But maybe not. It’s a great question and as a motivator for the right reasons a good reason to try to make life better, fight for right as I see it, make a little difference in someone’s life and someday step from time into eternity with a smile on my face.

He won’t forget my name, ever. It’s in his book.

You won’t be forgotten Julie.

Fox Appoints Henhouse Protection Chief

Color me really unimpressed. Wal-Mart, that paragon of non-virtue, a type of the anti-Christ, is putting in place a Global Ethics Manager.

Right.

Like that amounts to anything at all. This is a low class slimy corporation with the ethics of the worst trailer trash you can concieve of. They have done permanent damage to the economy of the USA.

And like the Anti-Christ well meaning men and women (many even Christian) have cheered them on under the banner of competition, hot dogs and the American free enterprise system.

There's nothing free or enterprising about using and abusing essentially exploited slave labor globally to destroy American industry. Certainly nothing Christian. I'm not sure a Christian can or should shop at Wal-Mart.

So, I'm not impressed.

You shouldn't be either.

Ultimate Efficiency

I have decided that for me the ports deal with Dubai is a good thing. What tipped me over was an Israeli shipping company endorsing how well they run the port.

In fact that argument is made over and over again. Let’s let them run it because they do so much better than Americans can.

I guess I have to agree. There are things other people from other countries do better and more effectively than we do. So, I hereby make my vote for turning over the following industries to foreign governments to run in our country:

v Our education system K-12. We have failed as a country, we can’t educate our students and what we do is so hopelessly expensive I give you Belgium who has an effective inexpensive education system based on school choice. Let’s eliminate all public education, school boards, by default the NEA and the department of education. Belgium.

v Our TSA department. Our security system of shoeless airline passengers with Barney Fifes (God rest his soul) in charge should be sold to the Israeli army. They will get good security and not make you feel like an idiot.

v All remaining domestic auto production in American sell to the Japanese.

v Any remaining heavy manufacturing sell to the Chinese.

v Our health care system, sell it to the Canadians (they do so much better).

v Our Money losing airlines (other than Southwest) Sell to the Germans

You get the idea. We have so many things we do badly in this country that some other country does so much better. We can sell everything to someone somewhere.

I just wonder how much England would put on the table to buy out our entire government. We could become a colony.

Wouldn’t that be efficient?

There is a limit revealed only by hyperbole to the whole someone else can do it better than we can idea. Some things need to be done here even if we do it badly.

Midwest Warning Lable

I have sworn off copying text from someone else's blog without attribution (unless they are a liberal who should be embarrassed by what they write).

 

But today I read Lone Prairie and laughed out loud. 

 

Snarky warnings to those who visit Midwestern states. 

 

Read it here

 

Then behave.

Proud South Dakotan

OK, I don't live in SD, I was just born there.  Watertown.  Grew up in ND, now live in IL.

 

SD has made me proud of my birthplace with their new law outlawing abortion.  It's high time this federal abortion mandate put to the test.  Way to go South Dakota.

 

Of course, the liberal media, including the Chicago Tribune are all verfluffled about this.  Letters to the editor which have these phrases:

 

If SD does this they must make contraception available to everyone free of charge.  HUH?  I didn't think abortion was about contraception.  Guess when the pressure kicks in the truth comes out.

 

If SD does this they must make adoption mandatory.  OK, deal.  Why do so many couples wander off to Russia or China to adopt. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO LITTLE BABIES AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION IN THE USA.  They are aborted.  The children that end up available for adoption that are not adopted are those raised by single moms who are available starting at 5 years old, mentally challenged, and mom is in prison for selling crack.  She didn't get an abortion either.  And abortions were available.  Free.  She still had kids who became abused.  That won't change.  There are no unadopted newborns in America.  None.

 

And of course the usual prattle about back alleys, etc.  Believe me, clinical abortions were readily available before Roe v Wade.  They will be after. That's a pity.  This is way overdue and very welcome.

 

As to my brethren in SD, way to go.

 

 

The unintended effect

I remember Bottle Sam. He made his living walking from Oakes to Ellendale and back picking up empty pop bottles. The deposit was 3 cents as I recall. I don't know how he got enough to make it work. But he tried.

When I go to Michigan I always make sure I have a few empty pop bottles I rescue from the Recyle Bin. It pays for lunch.

Michigan has a "Bottle Law". They pay you to bring them your empty pop bottles. I know it's to get waste off the street but it's hard not to help them out some. I wonder how many empty bottles migrate from Illinois and Indiana every day. I mean I was going anyway and....

I'm a bad guy. But they started it. It's hard to pass up.

So, hate me. Illinois from time to time threatens to implement such a law. It does make for cleaned out garbage cans. People spend their days in Truck Stops looking for empty containers and cashing them in. In some cases people actually steal cans and bottles from the back of the stores who paid them to bring the others in. Ultimate recycling.

Unintended consequences is what this is all about. Same thing in Europe. They do this same silly thing. Now a prime import from Belgium to the Netherlands is empty pop bottles. Read all about it here.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Blown over by the Windfall of Lotto

Unless you are dead, you have bought at least one lottery ticket. When you did you had a fantasy of what you would do if you won. Pay bills, provide for your kids and grandkids, support your church etc etc etc.

What really happens is different. People who have won a lot of money in the lottery have not always enjoyed the windfall. This is sad but real. Oh, don't get me wrong a portion of Lottery winners have learned to get help quickly in how to manage their money. They listen and survive.

But many do not. These didn't. They were blown over by the windfall.

¢ William "Bud" Post, who won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania Lottery in 1988, had a brother who tried to have him killed for the inheritance. Post lost and spent all his winnings. He was living off Social Security when he died in January.

¢ Two years after winning a $31 million Texas Lottery in 1997, Billie Bob Harrell Jr. committed suicide. He had bought cars, real estate, gave money to his family, church and friends. After his death it was not clear whether there was money left for estate taxes.

¢ Victoria Zell, who shared an $11 million Powerball jackpot with her husband in 2001, is serving time in a Minnesota prison, her money gone. Zell was convicted in March 2005 in a drug- and alcohol-induced collision that killed one person and paralyzed another.

¢ Evelyn Adams, who won the New Jersey Lottery twice, in 1985 and 1986, for a total $5.4 million, gambled and gave away all of her money. She was poor by 2001, and living in a trailer.

This comes from a USA today article from yesterday. I read it for free on the newstand and then put it back. I'm cheap. I'd do that even if I won the lottery.

Gen Xers Don't Marry Anyone

I ran into a nice gal at a local nursery I do business with. She has a 5 year old child with her “fiancée” of 7 years with whom she lives. She has given up the idea of marriage. In North Dakota she would already be common law married. She's still not sure. What??

I can't understand why people don'’t get married anymore. Marriage is hard work but very rewarding.

In a book by Jillian Strauss called the Unhooked Generation she lists 7 reasons why Young Americans between mid 20s and early 40s are unmarried at a record pace. It was written about in a Chicago Sun Times Article.

1. They are obsessed with themselves. A cult of One. They don’t care about anyone except themselves to the exclusion of all others. Selfishness.

2. Choices. Everything Gen Xers have is a multiple choice. Toothpaste. Cell phone plans. So, what If they get married and make the wrong choice. OOPS.

3. Divorce Phobia. They have seen their parents and others in unhappy marriages or divorced ant they are afraid they might end up there as well.

4. Feminism. Women don’t “need” men. Except later they think later they might. Feminism has made men afraid to try to romance women.

5. Why Suffer. Marriage is hard work and can be painful so why go thru it. Single is boring but not unknown nor does it promise suffering.

6. Celebrity examples. The cult of celebrity has caused many to see the Jennifer Anniston messes as examples of what could happen to them and causing them to back off.

7. Marriage Delay perpetuates itself. If a person gets past 30 without being married they may not ever. The stasis that happens causes people to not look any more.

I am disappointed with the outcome of this. I wish it weren’t true. This will not forebode good things for our society. We are about to go thru a demographic crisis because of this.

So, all you 30 something gen xers. Get off your butt and start looking for someone. Marriage is a wonderful thing. Get over your old bad self. The clock is ticking.