Open-mindedness goes both ways or does it?

I'’m tired of liberal friends who want to chide me for not being open-minded. There are some areas I am more closed than others. I like supporting organizations and institutions that match my views in life.

If I am expected to give to charities that support Planned Parenthood and other liberal causes why don’t the liberals support the things that matter to me? Hypocrisy.

That’s why when Katrina hit I made a bold statement that if you are going to give, give to the Salvation Army or some other trusted faith based organization. I said that the Red Cross for all the good it has done is a hopelessly inefficient bureaucracy and your money will be wasted on that inefficiency. I was chastised for that view.

I’ll do that when they agree to support the Intelligent Design Fund for Education.

I believe Faith Based organizations just do better than Secular organizations. I mean who do you want doing the hard things for your community, the government, FEMA anyone, the ACLU or NAACP (when’s the last time they did anything that mattered), and most secular charities are bloated and ineffective. Many faith-based groups are too. You have to be careful. But as opposed to a faith-based group, would you rather a hypocrite-based group. Sorry, I’m not open-minded about this. Even United Way has lost its way (so to speak). Don’t knock on my door for their cause.

The other day our church took 70 people into the local youth prison. They brought in hundreds of dozen cookies. The reason? The state has cut funding for doing the things needing done. The chaplainry has been trimmed. The state can no longer afford to do what they promised. So, United Way, nope, Red Cross, Don’t think so, local church, yep.

Support faith based organizations doing good things in your community. Start with putting a few bucks in the Salvation Army Buckets. A great investment and it gets lots of miles on each dollar.

They’ll even say, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Why I didn't move back to ND in part

The other day a friend of mine posted an old picture of me from my high school yearbook. 

 

It reminded me why I didn’t move back to North Dakota in 1995 when I planned to.

 

The big problem for me is the frame of reference which people see me from.  When I recently connected with friends from a church I attended in Fargo they immediately went back to what I was like when I first came into the church in the late 70’s.  30 years ago.  I’ve lived in Chicago 20 of them.

 

For those at the church I am frozen in time. For the yearbook people I’m frozen in time. 

 

Except none of us ever are.  We are the sum of all we experienced, loved, pain we suffered, work, disease, travel, books we read and every thought we have had.  We have become what we think about all day long.

 

So, unless I want to be discounted pejoratively in a frame of reference from 30 or 40 years ago I will not move back to deal with pigeon-holers who insist on putting me in a box.

 

I will not be boxed up and discounted. 

 

I’ll stay here.

 

 

 

 

I'm NOT Dreaming of a White Christmas

Peggy and I were in town walking around Thursday on her Birthday. It was a beautiful day. People all over the place. Music, color and all the things you think of for Christmas. Marshal Fields (soon to become Macys), Water Tower Place (a huge downtown shopping mall) and The German Christmas Market.

BUT, I made an observation which I am puzzled about.

All I saw was WHITE FOLKS. Everywhere. Chicago is nearly 40% black. Where were they? It’s a quarter Hispanic. Where were they? I could have been in Jamestown North Dakota for all the racial diversity I saw or more important didn'’t see.

We ran into several friends including our Pastor from the far west suburbs. As large as Chicago is you still run into people you know.

So, my conclusion is the folks who live in Chicago don’t shop in Chicago or at least downtown.

Or, they don’t do Christmas.

Just an observation

New York Transit Strike, Well Done New York

9-11 proved NYC to be a great city. The transit strike that just ended reconfirmed it. Over and over again New York is hit with one thing or another.

Here they are, lining up to get 4 in a car so they can get into the city. Strangers helping strangers.

I have always loved Manhattan. It’s a great place to visit. The people are great and it’s more fun then you can imagine.

Thanks for showing the way New York City once again.

Are we Dumber than then??

Last night we went to the Shakespeare Theater in Chicago.  After several presentations of his tragedies, comedies and love stories over the years I have never been disappointed.  We are truly blessed to have such excellence in theater as we do.  I don't know where else in the WORLD you could go to see better.

 

I go to operas, movies and watch TV and sometimes come away less than enthralled.  But when it comes to Shakespeare as presented in Chicago I'm in awe. 

 

We saw Much Ado About Nothing.  If you know the play you know it's a comedy.  It is funnier than anything I have seen in a very long time.

 

Having read it, it's much funnier when skillfully presented by excellent actors.  I fell out of my seat several times from laughing.  The color and beauty of the language wrapped with the tempo and timing of well placed lines left me awestruck and longing for more.

 

TV and movies can't do this.  The spectacle and panorama of a live stage is so far superior to a screen it's hard to imagine how they could do this as well as they did on a movie or TV screen.

 

Oh, the language is as written with all the thees and thous.  It takes about 20 seconds for your ears to switch and hear it as natural as if you heard a man from Kansas talking. 

 

The clever interplay, twists and tensions cause me these conclusions:

 

• No writer of Seinfeld, Hogan's Heroes, SNL, Mad TV, and any stand up comedian I have ever seen is as consistently funny as this was and is after 500 years.  Isn't that amazing?

 

• Skillful acting can make even reading the phone book entertaining.

 

• Much of what we watch on TV and in Movies is absolute drivel.  There are a few which tug, humor, entertain but so few and so infinitely far between that it is a sad commentary on our modern culture.

 

So, my question is, are we dumber than they were then? 

 

My answer is, TV and Movie producers sure think so.  Maybe they're right.

Much Ado about NOTHING

I'll bet you think this is a political tirade.  NOPE.  Peggy and I are off to the THEATER tonight.  And since it is her (number deleted) birthday on the 22nd we are staying at the Palmer House Hotel overnight.  Dinner date.

 

We will avail ourselves of walking up and down the Magnificent Mile and watch people celebrating the birth of Jesus with their credit cards and a frenzied look on their faces.  Somehow I think the pre-conversion iterations of Scrooge & Marley Accountancy and Moneylenders would applaud this perverted holiday. 

 

Then we will go to the Weinachtmarkt on Daley Plaza. (there is a law in Chicago that everything must be named for Mayors Daley).  This is a pretty good representation of the Weinachtmarkt's (Cristkindlmarkts to you Catholics) as are in Germanic countries.  When we were there we made a hobby of going to as many as possible.  I'm an expert.

 

It all seems so much better eating a potato pancake outdoors  with applesauce on it, a couple sausages and a side of sauerkraut in 5 degree weather.  MMMMM

 

I am soooo German.

 

So, I'll report back when we return tomorrow afternoon.  I'm looking forward to the Shakespeare.  It's never disappointing.  NEVER!

 

 

 

 

Holiday Eating Tips

I laughed so hard at this, I had to post it. I got it from a friend of mine. Thanks Ken.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can, quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and NewYear's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the centre of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labour Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Have a great holiday season!

And a very very Merry Christmas!

Fantasy - Vanity - TIme and Times

You know these people, self important, attractive, skillful, connected, media savvy, iconic and still able to position themselves portrayed as victims.

 

Working in Corporate America I met several.  Well dressed nincompoops who looked good, but who possessed no actual brain.  Perhaps it's because I didn't look as good or dress as well (but I could think and actually get desired results) that they grated on me a bit.  I could put up with their presence until they opened their mouth.

 

So, you know these people.  I mean, we watch TV shows about them.  The only weekly TV show I have programmed on my VCR  is Alias (No I don't own a TIVO).  The very beautiful Jennifer Garner, Her associates, her spy dad, all very attractive people.  Only the pro/antagonist Sloane is sort of not pretty.  And it is intriguing.  I'm into it.  Not since Star Wars Next Generation have I been so taken with a TV show. 

 

Who can resist a beautiful spy, her handsome husband or father, dark undercover, opponents from on high in government.  It's great stuff.

 

In real life it's more transparent. The media has loved the whole Valerie Plame Joe Wilson deal, she's a mom, and he's handsome, and they have a baby (Something Sidney Bristow is about to do on Alias).  And Valerie is pretty, (I may not have mentioned that). 

 

Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame love the spotlight.  You have seen the Vanity Fair Cover with the two of them in a Mercedes Convertible.  She is in "Disguise" with a scarf and sunglasses.  We're supposed to ask "who's the mystery woman with the ambassador". 

 

So when she was "OUTED" by someone unknown it was supposed to be a big shock.  Heck, they couldn't stand NOT being the center of attention.

 

But you know these kind of people.  Look at me, look at me, no don't look at me.  They were in your workplace, they were in your church, they were in your class in college.  Acting humble and yet hoping to be the center of attention at all times.  Then feeling persecuted because you paid them attention.

 

So, now Time Magazine has stroked them once again and they love it, New York Times quarterbacked the leak story to embarrass the President (which is New York Time's current mission statement), Vanity Fair is running a new article on them.  "We just want to be left alone, no wait, not really".

 

It's all Fantasy Island.  They fly in, the little guy says, "de plane, de plane", they dress up pretty in spy clothes and pretend to be meaningful for the rest of us.  And we suck it up.  It sells glossy tabloid magazines like Time.  We are so pitiful as a country. 

 

I think I'll stick to real fantasy, Alias and Sidney Bristow, unless the Plame-Wilsons make a movie, starring themselves of course.

 

Oh wait, they already did.

 

 

Ten Most Dangerous People (or Groups) of 2005

 10.  The Hollywood idiot left.  Barbara Striesand, Cher, Harry Bellefonte, Rosie O’Donnell, Jennene Garafolo, Michael Moore, Whoopi Goldberg and Martin Sheen.  These people make stupid thinking fashionable.  They are a bad example to the youth and impressionable trailer trash of America who subscribe to the National Enquirer.  That’s about all that remains of the Democrat base.

 

9,  Bob Graham who represents all Liberal Democrats that held just enough elected office to make you almost believe he/she has a valid view.  Sort of in the same league as Julian Bond, Tom Daschle, Barbara Boxer, and Maxine Waters.  "Look at me, I was elected to something so, what I think matters doesn’t it?  Huh?"

 

8. France.  The country.  Say no more, say no more.

 

7. Teachers Unions.  The single biggest obstacle to your children and Grandchildren’s education.  They should be outlawed.  DOE and all unions abolished.  You now work for the state.  Better yet, privatize all schools.  Education in America no longer works.  REDO!

 

6. Katie Couric and all her wannabee clones on broadcast and cable TV.  There used to be intelligent talk with real inquiry on Morning TV.   Since Katie emerged or evolved that’s gone.  You’ve made enough money Katie.  Bye Bye.  Bring Back some Brains.  

 

5.  George Soros, a man that will finance anything Un-American to undermine the USA.  He should be very happy I’m not King.  He would be divided not quite in two if I were (off with his head).

 

4.  Ted Kennedy, famous for bringing the bar so low in anything representing competent ethical moral Senatorial demeanor.  He is so far past his good till date it has become nauseous.  Joe Black where are you?

 

3.  The New York Times and their sycophants.  Why anyone believes anything these traitors write astounds me.  I stopped getting their paper a year ago.  I’ve survived.

 

2.  Left wing opportunists who never saw an issue with a photo op they didn’t love.  Jesse Jackson, Dick Durbin, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Mr Hillary Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

 

1.  The idiot who decided that Saturday morning cartoons should be used to “educate children” to “be nice” to each other, and that Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, if shown at all, could not be shown being shot, blown-up, erased, squeezed into tiny spaces, sent flying from a cannon, played like violins, dropped into glasses of water, blown to smithereens by Martians, un-feathered unto nakedness, or tricked into playing “Believe Me If All (Those Endearing Young Charms)” correctly on the piano, thus being sent to heaven wherein they wear halos and pluck on tiny harps. They can, however, be shown in drag. Whole generations are growing up being thought of as too delicate to watch cartoon characters being shaped into musical instruments, and they’ve lost exposure to thinking outside the box and have become LIBERALS.

 

Children’s cartoons, that’s what’s wrong with America!

 

Why the Critics don't matter any more

Was a time when an examination of the situation would produce a well thought out consideration of facts that might come to a different conclusion.  That would be the critic's job.

 

I have come to the conclusion that critics today of almost everything must now be ignored and perhaps pilloried.

 

Critics of the war in Iraq who are continually being countered by the facts of the situation, elections, positive poll numbers, jobs, security increases.  Forget them.

 

Critics of the NSA CIA wiretaps who on one hand jump up and down about the constitution and at the same time would destroy the President if an attack took place, he had the ability to stop it and didn't because of constraints.  Ignore them.

 

Critics of Government response to: Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Tsunami, Earthquake, and a hundred other things.  When was it mandated that government was supposed to be the Red Cross?  Government are supposed to protect the citizens from outside invasion or threat.  All this other stuff is phony grandstanding.  Plug your ears.

 

This doesn't mean that there isn't a right to question or react.  It does mean you must be honest about your motives.  The critics today all have agendas. 

 

I just want to ask the question.  Where is the line, particularly in national security and the war, which when crossed no longer is partisan criticism but becomes treason?  I guarantee, there is a line.  Where is it?  

 

It's time to ask the question because for some of us, that line is very close to being crossed and there will no longer be answers given to critics, but questions about what constitutes treason.

 

Some on the very far left have already crossed the line.  Careful out there.

 

The Plague of the Perfectionist

I didn't write this, but it's so good, I needed to pass it along.  It's written by Jim Paluch who owns a training firm. 

Are you putting unreasonable demands on yourself by setting the bar too high? Do you expect too much from your children, spouse or employees? Do you feel that the world is exerting pressure on you from every angle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you just might be a perfectionist.

The perfectionist often sets very high standards for him/herself and others that are impossible or often frustrating to accomplish. While lofty standards are a good thing, they can become a barrier rather than an aid to completing a task, running a company or nurturing a relationship. Whether you are a perfectionist or you are dealing with a perfectionist, it’s good to realize the balance necessary for getting the desired results without experiencing the pitfalls of perfectionism.

The healthy balance between high expectations and finding reasonable results involves the desire to excel and take pleasure from putting in extraordinary efforts without feeling compelled to be perfect. It is found in setting high standards while accepting personal limitations for yourself and those around you so everyone feels good about a job well done.

Perfectionism takes a nasty turn, however, when it involves excessively demanding standards that consistently cause stress, unhappiness and criticism. When something has to be perfect to be appreciated or accepted, we stall progress and very often squelch the enthusiasm and satisfaction associated with the task. Sometimes perfectionists are actually less effective because they fret about mistakes, worry about slow progress, and try too hard to get it perfect.

I was caused to think about this topic when I received a fun email from one of my friends this week. I was challenging him to follow his ability to share great ideas and to start writing a book . . .

"Oh how I'd love to write but at this stage of my life and financial position I think it would be difficult. I think there are enough starving artists out there. I think my family would suffer too much. I think it takes me too long to write 1500 words. I think the best story is yet to happen. I think I'm too much of a perfectionist.

"I think that even if it's not yet the best story ever it could only get better. I think I could write a few words a day. Maybe I think too much."

"The greatest enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan." - Prussian General Karl von Clausewitz, Vom Kreig, 1832

His response was humorous but I thought, “He should just do it. Why not write an introduction and then one paragraph at a time!” As the perfectionist has a strong need to avoid mistakes, the innovator goes for it, takes a shot and then makes it right. So what if writing a book takes a year or two or three to complete; it is an exciting process worth every minute of effort. Even if it's never published and sold, it is an accomplishment to enjoy. As I was writing my first book, I just wanted to create a story that was meaningful. The words were far from perfect and would go through many rounds of edits before the world would read them, but the story came alive because I allowed the words to “dump” from my heart and mind onto the computer keyboard. It was after the creation was finished that each book became polished and groomed into a finished piece. If I had been concerned that every sentence was perfect before I moved on to the next I would have certainly written one chapter of one book and that would have been it!

I have found the same to be true working with people or building relationships. When we trust our instincts and talents and those of others, then we can accomplish great things. Set high standards, set great challenges and strive for the best, but remember “perfection” is a prescription for unrecognized success. Expect the best from yourself and others and exercise patience all along the journey as you find ways to achieve it.

- Jim Paluch

 

	Ten Top Signs Your a Perfectionist
1. You can't stop thinking about a mistake you made. 2. You are intensely competitive and can't stand doing worse than others. 3. You either want to do something "just right" or not at all. 4. You demand perfection from other people. 5. You won't ask for help if asking can be perceived as a flaw or weakness. 6. You will persist at a task long after other people have quit. 7. You are a fault-finder who must correct other people when they are wrong. 8. You are highly aware of other people's demands and expectations. 9. You are very self-conscious about making mistakes in front of other people. 10. You noticed the error in the title of this list. Source: The BBC News Online

 

	Quotes
A man would do nothing, if he waited until he could do it so well that no one would find fault with what he has done."

 

 

Follow Up on "Dancing Girls"

I have a friend who writes me from time to time regarding something she read on this here Blog.  She was so brilliant, you have to read what she said. Names changed to protect the innocent : 

 

I went to read about the trees but got more riled up on the other - just had to comment - girls dancing sex - yes, it is wrong and stupid and pointless - too many parents sex up their kids before they are ready or before it is useful - what is the point?  In real practical life, such behavior is to lure in a mate for reproductive purposes.  yet, parents of grade schoolers drive their kids to 'dates' to movies and the mall on weekends and dress them up at ridiculous expense for junior high dances and allow them to watch waaaaaay toooooo much MTV (as in any) and to spend hours with their friends learning the moves and allow them to wear sexy clothing.  If we want our kids to go to college and marry after that, at say, 22, why make then start dating at 12?  Does it take 10 years of sexual taunting and being taunted to find a mate?  Or should that 10 years be spent on education and learning to socialize and practicing at being friends with lots of people and managing life?  With a good background in all that, it outta take a couple years or even just a few MONTHS at most to pin down a spouse.

 

They let their kids start this in grade school and ramp it up in Jr. High then a few years later they worry that they will have pregnant teens and same actually do and sneak the pregnant 13 year old off for a secret abortion over the weekend and are shocked to find that 13, 14, year olds are having oral sex with each other - they got the anti-preggo message but also got the sex is really really cool message - how can this be good for minds and egos and emotions that are developing?  How can it be good for a kid trying to develop a sense of self and self-esteem to have sex mixed into the boil? 

 

At our elementary school, we had a 'talent show' - most of it was lip syncing to rap and way too mature pop music with dancing in inappropriate attire - one was a high school girl with her elementary age sister in denim hot pants twitching, well, never mind, but 'cute' that the girl and her teen sister are involved together in it but what sort of mom allows THAT innuendo laden crap to go on?  Would have been just a cute in jeans and proper dance moves.  But they HAD to have been practicing in the home in mom's presence for weeks!! 

 

I have been ranting about this for years.  Once when Joe was out of town, and Bobby was going to play his bowed psaltery (as in high pitched harp - folk music) and his mountain dulcimer and his friends who were talented sisters playing at a high school level in 3rd and 5th grades on violin and cello and piano, I asked a friend to go with me.  I had forgotten about the hideous tone of the event as we had been focused household wise on the folk and classical stuff, and I was so embarrassed I mean REALLY REALLY embarrassed to and for and with my friend - and of course they had saved the best for last so Bobby was in the last few acts and the talented girls were dead last so we had to sit through - during the sleazy acts I just kept looking for the parents of the girls and there they'd be sitting, beaming as though the, well never mind, -twitching was somehow an accomplishment.   I just don't get it.

 

And then, at the high school fund raiser pancake breakfast where we go to hear my fiddle player son play violin in orchestra, the next act is a coed dance troupe and the girls are wearing mesh tops over midriff baring job bras and hip hugger knit pants and thank goodness my delicate teen son was busy hogging down his post performance free pancakes or I would have had to drop him to the floor and cover his eyes.

 

School sanctioned extra-curricular group.  Hip swaying and more with bare bellies covered (suggestively?) in mesh?   Breast shimmying?  Arms pressing cleavage together?? DANCE????

 

Why?  I must be a fuddy duddy too, because, as liberal as I am, I still think it is wrong.  If it looks like sex to us, it is and it is inappropriate for children.  And they are still children. 

 

The other side effect is that it deteriorates the parent child relationship.  Kids naturally need to break away and rebel at some point, and if a parent has given in to this crap and even encourages it and then suddenly balks when the kids appears to maybe actually be DOING IT, that sends an inconsistent message that the kids turns into the parent being a dork and there goes the respect.  Parents need to be consistent and cannot call it cute at some age then try later to correct the mistake!!   And caving in to the everyone is doing it mentality also undermines any respectful parent-child relationship. 

 

My kids may not be perfect, but I have stood ground on violence and TV and such and its been worth it.  They are not prudes, as we listen to sexually explicit Rolling Stones lyrics that they understand the context of and they understand that it is an adult song about things adults in relationships do and are NOT hip twitching in rhythm to it. 

 

Jeeze, I worry, and as much as I worry about this, I worry about the violence more, because these kids on their video games practice killing and torturing and destroying every day over and over and at some point, when I am drooling in a nursing home, they will be making decisions about my well-being and a system of kids with such a cavalier attitude cannot be moderated by a few sane ones such as mine.  I worry . . .

 

Let us Pray?

The Lords Prayer

 

I have had a Love/Hate relationship with it for most of my spiritual life. 

 

I have been to seminars about it.  It’s rehearsed every Sunday in Church.  Even in my Catholic dalliances it was featured.

 

My concern is it’s rote-ness and familiarity that breeds contempt. 

 

Yet, conceptually it’s a valid prayer form with much to teach us.  Jesus never intended people to pray it as a form prayer.  The format is the issue.  Exemplar ducat. 

 

According to the Gospel of Gene (a 67^th book I hope makes the canon) here is what Jesus was trying to teach:

 

Our Father

Abba (Daddy)

He is our daddy (Hebrew Abba).   Ultimate Daddy, since he is creator of all things.  So, how do you address the one who is progenitor of all including you?

Intimately, perfectly Daddy. 

 

Who Art in Heaven

You are present everywhere and you reign in heaven

Omnipresence of God is a fact but his perfect reign is in eternity in the heavens (Still a mystery).  Satan is ruler of this world and we are strangers in a strange land.  In the world, not of it.

 

Hallowed be thy Name

Your name is unlike any other name.  Your name is perfect, Holy, set apart, untouchable.

Even the Children of Abraham were afraid to speak or write his name.  It is so unknown yet so perfect.  When Moses asked, “who shall I say to Pharaoh sent me, God said, “You shall say I AM sent you”.  God’s name is so unknowable it can only be understood as the God who really IS.  That’s what put the Pharisees off so much, Jesus said, “before Abraham was, I AM”.  HE had the audacity to proclaim himself GOD.  He was either insane or he is true God.  I’ll take letter B.

 

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Let your perfect plan of goodness happen on earth as it does in Eternity.  We long for the day when you will be our earthly King and every knee will bow.

God’s will is NOT done on earth today.  If it were we wouldn’t have pain, death, suffering, war, and sin.  His will is to give us a hope and a future.  In heaven there is no such conflict.  God is King.  His will is done perfectly there. Someday he will be King on the earth.  There will be lions lying down with the lamb and swords shaped into plowshares.  Let’s hope for sooner not later.

 

Give us this day our daily bread

We need your provision every day, bodily in what you place in our hands, and the word you feed into our spirit. 

Jesus told the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.  So, when we ask God for Bread we mean both.  I love to eat and drink well (sometimes too much), but I need to hear from God in my spirit.  Both are essential for life.  And I need it every day, I can’t store it up, it’s daily manna.

 

And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us.

I need forgiveness, I will forgive; I have hurt you, I will forgive others who have hurt me. 

Sometimes this is made pretty conditional.  I’m not convinced.  Jesus even taught about the unforgiving servant who was forgiven much.  But we are mortal.  We forgive not because we are forgiven.  We forgive much when we understand the power of forgiveness.  We never really get perfection this side of the veil.  It’s a process.  Hence the words, “AS we forgive”.  

  

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

Don’t let me be found in a place where temptation might overwhelm me, deliver me from the evil which traps me.  I’m weak, you are strong.

Does God lead us into being tempted?  I don’t think so but I think as we walk in our life we CAN find ourselves in places of temptation.  It’s only thru being delivered can we escape from it.  I have never succumbed to a temptation (I’m an expert at succumbing I’m afraid) that I didn’t have a path out of it in retrospect.  I just didn’t take it.  I’m asking God to be strong in my life and put up large yellow DANGER signs when I’m on the road to stupidity.

  

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Only you daddy are King in the kingdom of my life, only you daddy are the one with ultimate power in my life, only you daddy deserve any credit, honor or glory given, none to me, for as long as eternity lasts.  Only YOU Abba, only you.

God is King over all things.  I’m not. But the Kingdom I am most concerned about is the realm under my control.  My life, my family, my work, my friendships, my health.   I am thankful for the next breath I breath.  It’s only by my King I am allowed to take it.

 

AMEN

Let it be so in my life.

Amen is a word that just means let it be.  We never knew the Beatles were so prophetic. 

  

I don’t think a prayer in the key of Gene will sell.  I don’t expect it to be part of the Rosary any time soon.  But it’s meaningful to me:

 

Abba (Daddy)

You are present everywhere and you reign in heaven

Your name is unlike any other name. 

Your name is perfect, Holy, set apart, untouchable.

Let your perfect plan of goodness happen on earth as it does in Eternity. 

We long for the day when you will be our earthy King and every knee will bow.

We need your provision every day, bodily in what you place in our hands, and the word you feed into our spirit. 

I need forgiveness, I will forgive; I have hurt you, I will forgive others who have hurt me. 

Don’t let me be found in a place where temptation might overwhelm me, deliver me from the evil which traps me.  I’m weak, you are strong.

Only you daddy are King in the kingdom of my life, only you daddy are the one with ultimate power in my life, only you daddy deserve any credit, honor or glory given, none to me, for as long as eternity lasts.  Only YOU Abba, only you.

 

Let it be so in my life.

  

Jesus was always so much better at economy of words than me.  I like his version better.

 

 

Apostate Agnostic Religion Professors

Last Week on Public Radio, a department of Religion head from the University of North Carolina was speaking with Dianne Rehm regarding a new book he just released: Misquoting Jesus.  His Name is Bart Ehrman

 

He freely admits he is no longer a Christian.  He was a student for 3 years at Moody Bible Institute and 3 years at Wheaton College, an evangelical institution.  And now he's proudly and happily an agnostic. He is the head of the Dept of Religion at the University of North Carolina.

 

His book questions EVERYTHING about the tenets of the Bible.  If a person was on the fence and was looking for a reason NOT to believe you could find it there.  He attempts to debunk pretty much everything including the virgin birth, divinity of Jesus, and much of the old Testament. 

 

He pretty much doesn’t believe anything he used to.  And he is trying his best to destroy belief in others by what he writes and teaches.  These people are teaching impressionable young people pure mental mush.  And worse tax dollars are doing it.   This is just plain wrong.  Where are the Church State Sereratetists in all this?

 

Ehrman is not as Anti Christian as the writings and attacks of the now former Head of the Department of Religion at Kansas University.  Paul Meircki

 

He's the guy I'm wrote about below who wanted to present a class called "Creation and other myths of Religion".  He has since stepped down as dept head under pressure after derogatory emails about Christians were found written by him and many (including me) created an uproar.

 

I have a few questions which theologians in education at colleges, particularly Christian Colleges should be responsible to answer those of us who have become very suspect of anything that comes from the apostate Religion departments of academia, even from so called Christian Colleges:

 

• Why do educational institutions seem determined to put into the leadership of Religion departments those people that seem determined to oppose the Gospel?

 

• How did a man like Ehrman who was 6 years in what I would have thought to be good sound conservative education in this area become an avowed agnostic?

 

• Why do the emanations from Religion departments of most academic institutions seem not just content to teach about religion but to take a tact directly opposing faith in God? 

 

I have taken a position to stop reading most “Christian Books" because I   so many are faith robbing and compromised.  This kind of thing only reinforces my view.  I am very careful what I will allow in my mind and spirit anymore.

 

I will admit, I am NOT open-minded about this.  “I know in whom I have believed......”

 

Someone in the know somehow please help those of us on the radical outskirts come to grips with an apostate academic community trying to teach what they don't believe or understand (blinded  2 Cor. 4:2-4 ) .

 

I understand we are to pray for these men.  But, Jesus didn't spend much time trying to reform the Pharisees.  Not that he didn't care, but because they were teachers and that calling was more accountable He confronted them directly.  “Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment”.  James 3:1

 

WWJD with these two and the hundreds of others, some perhaps even at a Christian College near you?  This is an area of deep concern for me, I'm hoping someone has an answer on how we as believers should approach and confront this direct attack on the faith.

 

  

 

 

For a Few Bushels More

Almost 20 years ago our family moved to Illinois from a farm north of Harwood ND (about 15 miles north of Fargo). It was a farm I had bought nearly 18 years before. During that time we had built a new house on it. Had planted a lot of trees, had built a road, dug a well, and lots of other improvements.

It wasn’t a really prosperous farm (only about 120 acres but it was pretty. It bordered the Sheyenne river for about 2 miles. It weaved and bobbed the edge of our property.

This was a riverside of character. I spent days walking this, cutting firewood from it, cultivating and just enjoying it for what it was.

When we moved we no longer owned the farm. Our neighbors bought it.

After a couple years I revisited the place we had built. It was a painful experience. It was a mistake. It was like visiting a crime scene.

• Nearly all the outbuildings had been leveled.
• There were trees lining the river and particularly near the buildings. They were nearly all bulldozed over.
• Hundreds of Trees I had planted were gone.
• Much of the roadway I had built was pushed aside.

What was the purpose? Dirt. Simply Black Dirt.

All this destruction to gain about 5 acres of additional farmland. Tillable acres when I owned it was about 90 of 120 acres. With these changes there were about 95 of 120.

The buildings were old and not real fancy. OK. Some of the trees I had planted needed to go if they had died. Please spare me the argument, " when you sold it you no longer had a say. The guy you bought it from might have said the same thing." YADDA YADDA YADDA

The part that was and is to this day a sticking point in my craw are the ancient native towering Oaks, Linden (Basswood), Ash, and Ironwood that were part of that riverbank culture. I know something about trees and some of the Oaks that were pushed over for an extra acre were 200 years old.

I am a Christian. I am supposed to be forgiving. I try. This one I’m not quite over. Greed driven slash and burn agriculture as practiced in North Dakota and many other states is nearly the worst kind of rape next to actual physical rape.

If the family who bought this reads this and is offended. Sorry. So was I; no, so am I.

Not ALL Dance is Dancing

Peggy and I attended a local dance school’s recital this afternoon.  These were all little girls from 3-14 yrs old.

 

The little kids were cute.  Rocking around the Christmas, Holly Jolly Christmas, etc.  Even Somewhere over the Rainbow and the dance of the sugar plum fairies from the Nutcracker.

 

All of it was cute EXCEPT the Strippers In Training dances.   These were danced to hip hop music and were more graphic than what you see on MTV. 

 

These were the 14 year olds who slightly pre or just post pubescence with shapes they didn’t have before us bumping, grinding and wiggling their butt in ways I imagine you would only see in strip clubs. 

 

If one were a pedophile this would have been a bonanza.  I was embarrassed.

 

Why do these alleged dance instructors do this?  What’s it all about?  I like dance.  Last Monday Night Peggy and I attended the opera.  Midsummer’s Marriage.  A fantasy.  A full hour of dance was part of the 3 ½ hour production.  I enjoyed it.  It was costumed with people dressed as fish, dogs, cats, birds and such.  So I’m no stranger to dance.

 

But this?  What’s worse to me is the little girls in the dance class looking up to these near adult students and looking forward to emulating them.

 

Peggy and I attend Wedding Dances whenever we can.  We like dancing a great deal. When we were dating we loved to go to dances.  And we’re pretty good.  I don’t have anything against dancing on religious principles.   I do have something against dancing which graphically simulates sex acts particularly when preformed by 14 year old little girls.

 

Biblically there are several positive examples of dance.  Miriam Danced after the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea Exodus 15v20-21, The Daughters of Shiloh  danced for the Youth of Benjamin (weddings ensued) Judges 21v21-23, David Danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it was brought into Jerusalem 2 Samuel 6v14-23 & 1 Chronicles 15 and 16.

 

Dance is all thru the scripture.  Much of it is wonderful.  Some is not. The dance of Salome that cost John the Baptists head.  Matt 14.3-11

 

I love the dance in Worship.  I love when people are free and natural and move to music in unplanned unscripted worship dance.  I try myself but I exert more gravity against the earth than I used to.  I still dance however.  I Don't think God is offended. I'll ask him. Nope. Psalm 150v4 & Psalm 149v3

 

I just don’t dance like a stripper and I don’t think little girls of 14 should either.

 

Am I becoming an old fuddy duddy or what?

 

Pomeroy Pummeled and Praised (Poisoned?)

A couple days ago Earl Pomeroy the sole U S Representative from the state of North Dakota and a Democrat made national news. He told Howard Dean to just Shut Up. Stop Talking.

Republicans and conservatives praised him for his frankness; liberal democrats criticized him for his off the reservation remarks. More centrist democrats agreed with him mostly in private and some in public.

I have to agree with Pomeroy. Howard Dean is embarrassing even to me and I’m not even a democrat. I don’t know Earl Pomeroy. But already I like him. It takes guts to take on the leadership in public.

So, what will the outcome be? National Democratic Party officials might punish him. This happens all the time. Honesty and candor will get you no where. That’s not just a Democrat disattribute, try dissing a Republican leader. Siberia isn’t a cold enough shoulder for how you’ll be treated.

On the other hand it might be the smartest move he ever made. Dorgan and Conrad have made a living out of voting liberal and talking conservative.

I have two sons, Tim (Fargo) who is more conservative than I am. He wonders about me, thinks I’m just a little liberal. Kevin (Boston) on the other had is far more liberal than am I. He wonders about dad too.

After Pomeroy said what he said, Tim called his office in Fargo. Expressed him to the man who answered the phone about how pleased he was with the comments and candor. The man at Pomeroy’s office took Tim’s number and address.

Then Tim said, I need you to know who I really am and why this phone call matters. I have been an outspoken opponent of Earl Pomeroy. In fact Tim is acquainted with President Bush. When Bush comes to Fargo Tim is there as part of the team. Tim’s brother in law Nathan Miller was the campaign manager for the person running against Pomeroy in the last election. Tim was active in trying to defeat Earl Pomeroy. They lost.

His comment to me was, I won’t be participating in that this time. It will be hard to vote against Mr. Pomeroy. Honesty counts for Conservatives.

Well done Mr. Pomeroy.