Monday, March 27, 2006

An Exorcism Story

Warning, if you have come upon this and are not a believer in Jesus what you are about to read will freak you out.  This is not meant to be sensational but faith building for Christians.  I write this for friends of mine who need to see what the other side looks like so as they walk out their faith they are confident in Jesus.

 

I have been part of and conducted exorcisms.  I don’t say that pridefully.  I don’t enjoy them.  But I hate the devil more.  The excerpts from this article is about a decidedly non Christian exorcism.  Very new age.  Very strange.  But as I read it, a real experience which parallels what I have seen and experienced first hand.  I hope you read it without judgment.  My purpose in publishing this controversial article is to open you eyes to the reality of the devil and his work.  We are instructed NOT to be ignorant of his devices.

 

The young woman in this story traveled all the way to Peru to experience a drug-induced exorcism.  The crime is that in many good Holy Ghost filled fellowship she could have been set free without the danger.  She chose otherwise.  I will publish notes from the article.  But as you read this please understand this, these events, these visions, these experiences are going on every day among people who know how to do battle with demonic oppression and possession.  The Blood of Jesus and the Name of Jesus is more than enough.  I’m always puzzled that people who are oppressed will try everything else except Jesus.  It seems too easy.  They worry how it might look.  So off they go to Peru and ingest some toxic substance to deal with the demons in their life.  It’s crazy but we live in such a world.  So hang on your hat, here goes:

 

I've told no one this time—especially not my family. I grew up among fundamentalist atheists who taught me that we're all alone in the universe.

This explains her hesitancy to deal with this by the power of the cross.  It’s too easy and too counter to her upbringing.  Isn’t it sad?

 

I knew there were some stubborn enemies hiding out in my psyche: Fear and Shame. They were taking potshots at my newfound joy, ambushing my successes. How do you describe what it's like to want love from another but to be terrified of it at the same time? To want good things to happen to you, while some disjointed part of you believes that you don't deserve them? To look in a mirror and see only imperfections?

She had been delivered from depression but now she is dealing with doubt.  Joy found in any other than the person of Jesus will leave you empty and alone.

 

Then on the darkest night of his life, when he was filled with spiritual despair, he says he called to God and begged him—if he did really exist—to show himself. Hamilton claims he then heard voices and saw spirits. He thought he'd gone insane. So did his psychologist. But then a trusted acquaintance suggested that he wasn't crazy at all; he'd merely opened channels to other dimensions.

The man mentioned in this story did something I commend.  Ask God to reveal himself to you and he will.  Then get connected with a body of believers who knows how to help you get where you need to go.  He didn’t. 

  

Which seemed to have an equally powerful role in alleviating my depression: It was as if I'd been shown my own self-imposed hells and taught how to free myself from them.

Most of the “hells” we find ourselves in are self imposed.  But real freedom is in Jesus.

 

The unconscious mind holds many things you don't want to look at. All those self-destructive beliefs, suppressed traumatic events, denied emotions. Little wonder that a vision can reveal itself as a kind of hell in which a person is forced—literally—to face his or her demons.

You were never meant to deal with this alone.  You need people who know the power of the Word of God to walk with you thru this.  It’s essential but dangerous alone.

 

"It's probably not for most people in our world today. You have to be willing to have a very powerful, long, internal experience, which can get very scary. You have to be willing to withstand that."

Deliverance is indeed for everyone on the earth today.  We can find peace under the shed blood of Jesus.

 

People are used to suppressing their feelings. Many mistakenly think that holding back emotions is a sign of strength and control; actually, Hamilton says, it's the opposite. Avoidance, a refusal to face painful feelings, is a weakness; unless this suppression stops, a person will never be healed of physical and psychological issues.

The healing we need, the pain we have cannot be resolved in our own strength.  We must have a vehicle.  That is the Name of Jesus.

 

The colors vanish all at once as if a curtain has been pulled down. Blackness. Everywhere.

This is what happens when you come to grips with the demonic.  The demons try to scare you.  Try to scare those who are working with you.  Darkness is best pushed back by light.  The word of God.

Dark creatures sail by. Tangles of long, hissing serpents. Dragons spitting fire. Screaming humanlike forms. For a bunch of hallucinations, they seem terrifyingly real. An average ceremony lasts about four to five hours. But in this space—where time, linear thought, and the rules of three-dimensional reality no longer apply—four to five hours of sheer darkness and terror can feel like a lifetime. My heartbeat soars; it's hard to breathe. But I have done this before. I remind myself that what I'm experiencing now is my fear taking symbolic form.  Fear that I have lived with my entire life and that needs to be released.

This I have seen more than once.  I have seen the terror in peoples eyes.  I have seen the demons myself.  Fear is the main tool of the devil.  It’s all an illusion.  People will scream and twist on the ground.

 

These negative energies are actual spirit entities that attach themselves to the body and cause mischief.

Demons will take up residence anywhere they are allowed to.  They are there to kill you.  But they have only the right given to them. You have nothing to fear but they will terrify you until they are exorcised.

 

Whenever unpleasant thoughts enter a person's mind—anger, fear, sorrow—it's because a dark spirit is hooked to the body and is temporarily commandeering the person's mind. In some cases, he adds, particularly evil spirits from the lowest hell of the "astral realms" take over a person permanently—known as full-blown demonic possession—creating a psychopathic mind that seeks only to harm others.

True demonic possession is rare but it happens.  Most of the time it is an oppression that fears the name of Jesus.  They really aren’t hard to cast out but it takes time.  To do this many time takes more time than most people are willing to invest.

 

Clouds of bats and demonlike faces. Black lightning. Black walls materializing before me no matter which way I turn. Closer and closer, the darkness surrounding me, trapping me. I can barely breathe.

The demonic which I have seen face to face is ugly, evil and dark.  Always black.  Think about that young man who killed those people in Washington Sunday morning after a Zombie rave.  When a person is oppressed by the devil they see only evil and darkness. 

 

I see dark, raging faces. My body begins to contort; it feels as if little balls are ripping through my flesh, bursting from my skin. The pain is excruciating.

Every person I have ever seen go thru this experiences a pain they didn’t expect.  That’s why they scream.  But the devil doesn’t let go easily and when he leaves he does so with anger.

 

I yell out. And now they appear to be escaping en masse from my throat. I hear myself making otherworldly squealing and hissing sounds. Such high-pitched screeches that surely no human could ever make. All the while there is me, like a kind of witness, watching and listening in horror, feeling utterly helpless to stop it. I've read nothing about this sort of experience happening from anyone else. And now I see an image of a mountain in Libya, a supposedly haunted mountain that I climbed a year and a half ago, despite strong warnings from locals. A voice tells me that whatever is now leaving my body attached itself to me in that place.

This is the part where a person needs most to have Spirit Filled believers to stand with them.  This is a difficult time.  Watching people writhe on the floor like a snake, watching them vomit, watching their eyes roll back in their heads. This is serious business, deliverance.

Haunted mountains. Demonic hitchhikers. Who would believe this? Yet on and on it goes. The screaming, the wailing. My body shakes wildly; I see a great serpent emerging from my body.

Only a naive person believes that you can fool around with the dark side and get away with it. Be very careful what you see, hear, read or say.  The demonic is always looking for a chance to attach themselves to you.

 

All negative thoughts, shamans believe, are dark spirits speaking to us, trying to scare us into reacting; the spirits then feed on our reactivity, growing stronger and more formidable until they finally rule over us. This is how, Hamilton suggests, addictions and psychological disorders develop in people.

I could preach a sermon based on this truth.  The devil only knows how to lie to us and then watch our reaction and then make us dance to his tune in addiction and disorder.  The devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may desire.

 

"Everyone hears the voices of spirits," he tells me. "They've just convinced themselves that they are hearing their own thoughts." We must, he maintains, practice choosing which thoughts we pay attention to.

More important, we must learn to be careful what we say.  The devil doesn’t know what you think, he only can hear what you say. So reject the thoughts and ideas you know come from him.

 

"God!" I yell out in my vision. "Where are you?"

Now here’s a prayer God will answer. Ask him to show himself and he will.

But only darkness. The seemingly endless darkness. I'm getting more and more aggravated. Why do religious people always say that God is there for you when you need him? Well, he's nowhere. Just serpents and those little demon guys.

Hunger is what God responds too, this woman in the story is getting hungry and impatient.  As the deer pants for the water so her soul longs after Him.  He will respond.

All of a sudden, I realize that my fears about his not existing, about my not being able to find him, may be thoughts created by dark spirits. I release those fears and immediately I rise higher, into white realms. Through a hazy gray cloud, I can see a vision of a white-bearded man—God? Appearing like a giant Santa Claus. And while I'm sure the way he looks is a stereotyped invention of my mind, a kind of visual distillation of something wholly beyond conception, it's bizarre to be talking to him about my problems.

This is the way he appears to her because in her limited understanding it’s the best she can grasp.  God will reveal himself to us from our own understanding.  But he will reveal Himself if we are hungry enough.


"Why did you hate me so much?" I demand.  "I never hated you," he says. "You hated yourself. I have always loved you as my own child. Know that suffering is the greatest teacher on Earth. It leads us out of our belief in separation." I don't know what he means by "separation."

Now she has a taste.  He is revealing himself to her, she is discovering the personality of the Eternal father.   There’s more to be done.   She has tasted and seen that God is good.  She will not be content.

Darkness falls. I can't see God in my vision anymore. A scathing pain rises in my chest—the most excruciating pain I've ever felt. I squeak out a cry to Hamilton and he comes over, singing spirit songs. Legions of demons sail out of my body. I'm helpless before them; they contort me. I cough violently and watch as demons burst out of me, roaring, only to disintegrate in white light.

There is little more to be done as the revelation of the Father begins to complete the work.  Is this God?  The God of the Bible?  Even in a drug induced state here hunger is responded to .  He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him after believing that he is.  That’s the God of the Bible.  It’s not his preferred way but He will.  But the Devil is there to deceive too.  Don’t go to Peru.  Go find believers who can take you to the throne for your deliverance.  They are everywhere and they are ready to minister to you.

 

Then before me this enormous image of God. He takes me in his arms and coddles me like a child. I know, unequivocally, that I am loved and have always been loved. That I matter and have always mattered. That I'm safe and, no matter what happens, will always be safe. I will never allow myself to become separated from him again.

I hope for this young woman’s sake this is true.  I am concerned that now after becoming clean she will allow new demons even worse than the former to enter.  She needs to get grounded.

 

Exorcism is real. The devil is a liar.  We must be certain to be vigilant for the roaring lion that is seeking to devour you.

 

I will pray for this young woman.  I hope she finds Jesus and becomes grounded in him never more to be prey for the enemy of her soul.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Who the heck are you (Politically)

I took this clever little test to see what my political and social position really is. It's pretty good. Take it and let me know what you ended up being. Now, to those of you who think I'm a right wing radical. I'm far more centered than most. You are the one with the far out views. ;-)

I score about the same as Pope John Paul II. I could do worse.

Hat tip to Say Anything


You are a

Social Conservative
(35% permissive)

and an...

Economic Moderate
(55% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Centrist











Why They Don't Integrate

I work with Mexicans. I had 2 in my house working on Friday. They are hard working and respectful. I hope they thought the same of me.

One of the two men did not speak a word of English. They seem to have a low opinion of Americans. The chart below is a Zogby Poll just released. They think we are weak, stupid and a lot of other things the poll reveals. We look pretty bad in their eyes.

Even if we don't agree with them, this may explain why they don't want to be like us. Why they don't learn our language. Why they hang on to their culture so tenuously.

Mexican culture looks down on us and doesn't want to lower itself to be like Americans. Don't believe it? Read the results of this poll.

How We See Each Other - Personal Attributes:

On Mexicans:

Hard Working

Honest

Law Abiding

Tolerant

Racist

How The U.S. Sees Mexicans

78%

42%

34%

44%

18%

How Mexicans See Mexicans

76%

49%

39%

45%

17%

On Americans:

Hard Working

Honest

Law Abiding

Tolerant

Racist

How The U.S. Sees Americans

56%

41%

46%

36%

35%

How Mexicans See Americans

26%

16%

40%

17%

73%

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Broken Judicial System

Trial by Jury, a precious civil right.  Except it’s not.  It’s not right.

 

This would be local news but it’s now becoming national.  Here in Illinois the state slogan among politicians is, “We can do anything if you have enough money to pay us off”.  It’s a political lap dance.  Pay money they dance and degrade themselves as much as you want them to.

 

Our last REPUBLICAN governor who single-handedly destroyed the republican party in Illinois and who used a diversion factor like outlawing the death penalty which endeared him to liberals has been accused of fraud. 

 

Now there’s not much doubt that the man is sleazy.  Crooked.  ETC!

 

He’s a politician and he’s from Illinois.  Nuff said. When I moved here from North Dakota 20 years ago the level of graft out in the open was like a third world country.  It’s now only like a 2-2 ½ world country today. 

 

And as a result we have no republican party in Illinois any longer.  It’s a pity. I digress.

 

What’s the issue is Ryan is on trial.  This trial regarding graft has been going on for over 6 months.  The trial is over.  The jury has it. Deliberations have begun and are now in their 9th day. 

 

Suddenly it becomes known that there is a problem with one or two of the jurors.  They are given an 85 question quiz before they are interrogated to be put on the jury. 

 

A couple of the questions are:

#75

Have you had any particularly good or bad experience of contact with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office of any other State Governmental agency?  Y/N

 

Ryan had been Secretary of State before he became Governor.  But, what kind of a question is that.  EVER?  ANY bad experience? 

 

Or how about this doozey:

#82

Have you or has any closed friend or relative ever been charged with or accused of a crime?   Y/N

 

Relationship               Crime(s) Charged             Outcome of the Case

 

Who could answer this question?

 

They want Jesus as a Juror.  No wait, he was accused of a crime.  NO GO.

 

So the upshot is after 6 months a potential for mistrial at worst and a potential for a restart of 9 days of deliberation is about to begin with an alternate.

 

The law does not require anyone to do a background check on these folks.  My friend Rob Port could uncover the junk found in these two jurors backgrounds in 18 minutes flat. 

 

And, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO CAN SIT ON THIS JURY FOR 6 MONTHS @ $40 per day plus travel.

 

I have a friend who owns a large company who was called for this case and almost made the Jury.  He didn’t.  But, what if. 

 

Who in the world or more important what kind of people end up on this jury.  Government workers get their salary even if it goes 6 months.  That’s a good deal for them at your expense. 

 

So we have people with an axe to grind lying to get on and screw up the trial.  Or we have bureaucrats. 

 

Why not engage intelligent retired folks.  They don’t mind the distraction, they don’t mind the money, they have wisdom of lifetimes of experience and they don’t mind having something to do.

 

That’ll never work.  Makes too much sense.

 

My conclusion is, our trial by jury system is out of whack and needs repair. 

 

At least in Illinois.

 

 

 

Friday, March 24, 2006

Who does God want to win the Final Four

I am accused of being prophetic.  So, in that bent I will now tell you God's will regarding the Final Four.  You will want to write this down.
 
I watched with Illinois interest the basketball game between Memphis and the Mighty Bradley (Illinois) Braves.  During the first part of the game it looked like from time to time that Bradley was going to pull it off.  Then not. Back and forth.  I was struck with this thought; If they are like every other basketball team they prayed before the game.  I would have.  They prayed a sportsmen's prayer.
"Lord, let us play well, fairly, let no one be hurt, and Lord bless us and the other team".  That would have been the spoken prayer.  Under their breath was the fervent prayer of a righteous man, "Lord let us win".  This is no place for a namby pamby if it be thy will prayer.  This is "Kill em Lord, we wanna win".  When the testosterone is that high that's the level of prayer that takes place.  I won't tell you how I know.  It's none of your business.
 
So, who does God want to win?  What was his will in this game?  Did God have a favorite? And if he knows all things (like the final score of the final four) how can he watch and enjoy this game on his heavenly plasma screen? 
 
His will is and his enjoyment of the game of basketball (I believe I can prove from scripture that he enjoys the game as much as you or I do) is the game itself.
God's will for the teams on all sides is that they play.  That they play well.  That they play to the best of the God Given ability they have.  That they play to win. That they play within the bounds of the court.  That they play by the rules.  That they play and play and not give up till the final buzzer sounds.  He wants to see men who never give up.  Men who fight hard.  Men who put in the second effort.  Men who hear the coach and who respond to words of encouragement with action.  That's his will for the final four.  His will for the team that will win is the one who does all these things and everything else it takes to get the job done.  During the Duke / LSU game one big player from Duke saved a potential out of bounds ball by tumbling across the media table.  This was a demonstration of what God is looking for.  It doesn't mean we always win. It does mean we must keep playing and sometimes risk life and limb to get the victory.
 
So, now you can place your bets.  Or not. 
 
Of course, you know this is about life.  If you pull punches, if you play it safe, if you try to go without rest, if you decide not to listen to your coaches, if you decide to skip practice you will lose.  That's like that in the Kingdom of God.  You can figure out the parallels.  It is a real conundrum to think that many Churches are out trying to reach the world and still pull punches, play it safe, overdo too many activities (programs), work with players who won't attend practice, and not listen to the coach God has placed in their lives.  When I look at the world of Christendom and see that 3/4 billion people on the planet right now are part of powerful Holy Ghost Filled churches and winning more souls at light speed and that traditional denominational churches are dying with liberal philosophies, powerless preaching and pulled punches theologies. It's no wonder they never see the light of day in the sweet 16 of faith or the elite 8 and never in the final four. 
 
The Christian playoffs against the devil require players willing to leap across the media bench to make a save.  That may not be in your denominational theology  but it's in God's.  He put it there.  Man has said, "the Gifts of the Sprit (all 12) are not for today, that they ceased".  Man has said, "the 5 fold ministry gifts are no longer in existence".  Man has said, "do these things and you are in the game".  God says, "I don't want your money, I don't want your time, I don't want your weak efforts; I want your heart and the rest will follow".
 
We have a lot of Baptized unevangilized people walking the earth with a false assurance of salvation. This my main argument against infant baptism.  It can be used as a tool of the devil to make people think they are OK with God when they are no more saved than is a crescent wrench dropped into a swimming pool.
 
We must get our team ready to play.  That means our message of salvation must be preached particularly to the many among us who have been baptized and confirmed but who now live quite outside the Christian life.
 
We have our work cut out for us.  Duke learned that, Gonzanga learned that, Bradley learned that.  Play hard and you might win.  Your chances are at least better.  It's God's will.
 
God wants us to win, he's given us everything we need.  He just needs us to stay on the bicycle and keep peddling as long as we can.  We only fall off when we stop peddling.
 
Enjoy the rest of the playoffs. 

Thursday, March 23, 2006

T - T - T - TREASON

This story won't get much play in the media because it's about the media and it's not complementary.

I listened to Hugh Hewitt last night and heard the interview which is noted in this link. Read the whole thing please. I made a couple comments. We are now at the point in this country to ask this question and ask it carefully.

IS TREASON STILL POSSIBLE AND IS THERE A LINE THAT IF IT IS CROSSED IS TREASON AND AS SUCH SHOULD IT BE PROSECUTED?

More important, are we there now? I think we might be.

I know many people who read this blog from time to time are of liberal persuasions. I don't mean this as a slam against you personally. I do mean this as a slam against an institutional media hatred of Bush and a kneejerk belief that the Iraq war is bad. I blame it on people who follow blindly what the liberal media spews.

Do you know for instance that the US Military death rate is down over half from a few months ago and dropping fast?. Do you know that it was the military that rescued the hostages today?. Do you know that solid evidence was found in the last 3 days connecting Saddam and Bin Laden?. Do you know that more people were killed in the military to this point during the same time in the Clinton administration than have been killed during the Bush administration?. And we are at war.

The reason you don't know of this is becausse there is a liberal treasonous media effort to suppress the truth. If you believe it you have been had. Deceived, Duped.

This is war. This is not a lightweight police action. This is very serious and the time has come to treat it that way. Many of us believe this war is essential and worldchanging if we win or lose. You may not see it that way but I do.

We must win. You would do well to read this editorial from the Wall Street Journal.

What if we lose the Iraqi War? What are the consequences?

You don't want to know. Your children and grandchildren would not live in the America they live in today. They would live in fear and defeat. And it isn't because of Bush, it's because of the left.

Who is our real enemy? We are at war with our enemies. Who's side are you on?

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

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.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

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.

Monday, March 20, 2006

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.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

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.
 
 

Saturday, March 18, 2006

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.

Friday, March 17, 2006

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

 

Thursday, March 16, 2006

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.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

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.

Monday, March 13, 2006

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.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

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.