Sagacity Road

Abortion and the bald eagle.

2012-02-12T01:09:00.001-05:00

I've discovered apologetics lately, which has been a fascinating and motivating activity for me. While surfing one website, I found this in the Culture section. I actually never thought about needing the bible to refute killing children in the womb, yet found this when I was reading about abortion and the bible. [emphasis in both excerpts in the original]

"Merely taking possession of an egg containing the pre-born American bald eagle—let alone if one were to destroy that little pre-birth environment and thus destroy the baby eagle that is developing within—results in a stiff fine and even prison time. Yet one can take a human child in its pre-born environment and not only murder that child, but also receive government blessing to do so! Eagle eggs, i.e., pre-born eagles, are of greater value to American civilization than pre-born humans! What has happened to our society? "

While I have heard enough bizarre environmental situations along the way to take this at face value, I simply had to see this for myself to accept this incredible scenario. Seriously? Is this REALLY the case? Can our society be THIS HARDENED? Why....yes.

But wait...there's more;

"... women have been indicted and convicted of the murder of their own children when those children have been just a few months old. The news media nationwide, and society in general, have been up in arms and outraged at the unconscionable behavior of mothers who have so harmed their young children so as to result in death. Most Americans have been incensed that a mother could have so little regard for the lives of her own children. Yet the same society and the same news media that are outraged at such behavior would have been perfectly content for the same mother to have murdered the same children if she had simply chosen to do so a few minutes or a few months before those children were actually born!"

Marx, Obama, Romney and the Bible on the poor.

2012-02-04T14:03:00.001-05:00

I had a conversation with a lutheran minister once who claimed that Karl Marx ideals would bring about the New Testament example of the church providing for all - see the book of Acts for that example. See 'The Communist Manifesto' for Marx ideas. My response to him was that's a nice thought, but the events of the early church were entirely created and carried out through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Obama claims that our Saviour would support his economic policies. Since I cannot say anything good about using our Saviour's name in vain thus, I will leave it at that.

Romney is unconcerned about the very poor. He goes on to say that there is a 'safety net' in place for them, and....while I get his point, I can't agree that the 'net' is the solution for the poor. In fact, in my endeavor to get to the REALITY behind the rhetoric it has become obvious that the 'War on Poverty' began in 1964 is still raging 48 years later.

Therefore, I read with interest this article on Romney and the poor, and what the Bible has to say. While you need to read the whole thing for an honest response, here is the 'good parts' version.

"Interestingly, God, who calls rulers His servants (Romans 13), says nothing about government safety nets. The Bible exhorts people instead to private charity. People are to lend and give freely to a neighbor who falls into poverty (Deuteronomy15:7-11). Many passages instruct people not to harvest too thoroughly so that the poor can glean for themselves what was left behind (Deuteronomy 24:19-22; Isaiah 3:14). This was private charity, but it required hard work from anyone who wanted to receive it. The Apostle Paul cautioned churches to reserve diaconal support only for the truly helpless (1 Timothy 5:3-16)."

So what is the solution? The Bible provides three solutions; one, to share privately with one's who fall into poverty, to enable the poor to work for what they can get, and to reserve the institution's resources for the truly helpless.

I would like to offer another idea that I don't think contradicts the Bible's authority in this matter, and which could really work in our country. Combine our motivations - some gifted to provide for those in need, and some who are gifted as enablers - to truly win the war on poverty. Imagine what it could be like if, instead of reviling, hating and dismissing those who have different world views, we HONOR and RESPECT the motivations BEHIND those views; then combine them to meet the needs of the whole.

Let me translate this into terminology we are familiar with. The compassionate liberal's motivation is to provide for the needy. The compassionate conservative's motivation is to create the circumstances for the individual to succeed in providing for himself. Combined, the needy is fed while they are learning to feed themselves. War on poverty won. The only time this difference becomes a problem is when one side decides the other is wrong, and leaves it out of the equation.

Should we do this with the government? Can we? Well, we have KINDA tried that and it hasn't worked. But it has always been at the expense of one side or the other's ESSENTIAL motivational gift. What will change that?

Food for thought.

Are you an American citizen, or a political hater?

2012-02-04T00:53:00.001-05:00

This is from an article on the Economic Collapse website entitled "If the economy is improving..." Each question has a link, which I include for your convenience.

If the economy is getting better, then why did new home sales in the United States hit a brand new all time record low during 2011?

If the economy is getting better, then why are there 6 million less jobs in America today than there were before the recession started?

If the economy is getting better, then why is the average duration of unemployment in this country close to an all time record high?

If the economy is getting better, then why has the number of homeless female veterans more than doubled??

If the economy is getting better, then why has the number of Americans on food stamps increased by 3 million since this time last year and by more than 14 million since Barack Obama entered the White House?

If the economy is getting better, then why has the number of children living in poverty in America risen for four years in a row?

If the economy is getting better, then why is the percentage of Americans living in "extreme poverty" at an all time high?

If the economy is getting better, then why is the Federal Housing Administration on the verge of a financial collapse?

If the economy is getting better, then why do only 23 percent American companies plan to hire more employees in 2012?

If the economy is getting better, then why has the number of self-employed Americans fallen by more than 2 million since 2006?

If the economy is getting better, then why did an all-time record low percentage of U.S. teens have a job last summer?

If the economy is getting better, then why does median household income keep declining? Overall, median household income in the United States has declined by a total of 6.8% since December 2007 once you account for inflation.

If the economy is getting better, then why has the number of Americans living below the poverty line increased by 10 million since 2006?

If the economy is getting better, then why is the average age of a vehicle in America now sitting at an all time high?

If the economy is getting better, then why are 18 percent of all homes in the state of Florida currently sitting vacant?

If the economy is getting better, then why are 19 percent of all American men between the ages of 25 and 34 living with their parents?

If the economy is getting better, then why does the number of "long-term unemployed workers" stay so high? When Barack Obama first took office, the number of "long-term unemployed workers" in the United States was approximately 2.6 million. Today, that number is sitting at 5.6 million.

No one will argue that the current White House inhabitant inherited the problem. But no one can honestly argue that that same person - along with the complicit congress - has done anything but make it worse, as these questions with their statistics show.

Folks? This is REAL LIFE! This is not a game, not 'politics as usual' time, and not time to incessantly point fingers and demonize anyone. It IS TIME to HONESTLY and OBJECTIVELY assess what exactly got us here, what exactly has been done since, what exactly have been the results, and what exactly needs to be done in the REAL WORLD to fix it.

If you punt now; that is, rather than facing the realities of the situation, you fall back to ANY knee jerk stereo-typical response - some of the most useless being one, the idea that you don't want to go back to the people that caused it: the implication that Republican and capitalism got us here, and two, the liberal Fannie and Freddie policies did it - then you are JUST as complicit as what actually caused the problem in the first place and what has exacerbated it since Bush left office in 2008.

YOU MUST STEP OUT OF YOUR PARTISAN SAFETY ZONE OF HATRED AND BLAME FOR THE OTHER SIDE, TAKE EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL. JUST AS GREECE AND NOW EUROPE ARE COLLAPSING, WE WILL TOO AS THE VERY SAME PRACTICES THAT BROUGHT THEM DOWN BRING US DOWN AS WELL.

Thank you for your consideration.

Juan, I thought I knew ye.

2012-02-02T00:02:00.000-05:00

I have always respected Juan Williams. In fact, I was outraged when he was fired from NPR for remarks he made which were judged by them as....well....bigoted. What his remarks were, were an honest straightforward representation of his feelings, no bigotry even implied

But I am honestly now, very disappointed with Mr. Williams for this article he posted about 'racial code words'. To be fair to Mr. Williams and to understand my response, take a moment to read it. What I got from it is the following, which I wrote in the comments section:

So, let me get this straight. What you are saying is no matter what the truth of my convictions, if I am a conservative who finds semi-appropriate representation in the GOP, and I use the words 'food stamp President' I am a racist? It couldn't be, Juan, that I might be referring to the fact that more Americans are now on food stamps and welfare during this President's watch than any other? I mean, maybe I don't speak in code. Maybe I just say what I mean, and I mean what I say? I'm certain the term 'constitution' - which, by the way, includes language that, you know, kinda, freed people from slavery - could only have a racist meaning to...well....a racist. I mean, sorry, Juan, but just because you - or anyone - projects your race sensitivities on these terms doesn't mean I'm speaking code. To some of us, Juan, a spade is a shovel. And that's what we mean when we call a spade, a spade. Frankly, your whole 'code' thing is political bigotry. I truly thought more of you.

Just sayin'.

So let me get this straight;

2012-01-31T23:10:00.000-05:00

The Komen foundation for Breast Cancer issues donated money to Planned Parenthood to fund mammograms.

Planned Parenthood doesn't fund mammograms with the money.

The Komen foundation decides not to donate money to Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood cries foul, blames it on "political pressure".

Um....(awkward pause)....

Reality check

2012-01-31T09:02:00.000-05:00

"Shabby. Immature. Unprofessional. Self-centered. Bush league." "fool." "...coward." embarrassing, classless, and a spoiled brat.

These are the words of the "tolerant". Written and tweeted by media and leftist pundits. Frankly, it doesn't matter who or what they were written about. No circumstance could paint these words as tolerant.

I have always wondered, what kind of a personality feels they have the right to speak in such a way about anyone? This is mean spirited, to say the least, and obviously judgemental. Yet, this is acceptable and common place among the self-proclaimed compassionate and tolerant side of the civic belief spectrum.

Here is the irony. The left continually paints the right as the arbiters of all that is evil. Yet, you will be hard pressed to find anything like the above or the level of vitriol the left expresses as a matter of course toward anyone, by those of us on the right. If it ever happens from the right, it is usually people who are TRULY fringe or obviously out of the mainstream of conservative expression.

If it matters to you about which this was said, here's the link. But at least be honest with yourself. Compassionate tolerance doesn't sound like that. In fact, just what circumstances would justify this rhetoric from the mouth of a compassionate tolerant citizen?

Food for thought.

A call to inform yourself.

2012-01-30T21:20:00.001-05:00

Robert Spencer on Islamization. Important for all, no matter what you think about Islam, to know these truths.

Don't pass this chance to inform yourself. Ignorance is lack of truth. Willful ignorance is bigotry. One needs courage to face reality.

The Presidential election dilemma.

2012-01-29T15:54:00.004-05:00

In 2008 I surveyed the field - including the democrat candidates - and said 'Is this the BEST we have to OFFER?' Similarly I am increasingly dismayed once again by the choices that remain for leading our country in the coming Presidential election, for the following reasons:

"If things were going great, if the economy was growing by leaps and bounds and good jobs abounded, we would need only a few minor course corrections – and Romney would be perfect for that. But things aren’t going great, we‘re speeding toward an iceberg, and anything short of bold leadership will change only the angle at which we hit the iceberg."

"This isn’t about who is the most conservative candidate. The question is: Who will bring about the dramatic roll-back of government size, power and spending that’s required to avoid that iceberg? But there’s nothing in Romney’s past, or his current rhetoric, that leads me to believe he’ll do what is necessary to right the ship."

Derek Hunter's latest column tells the story for me. Well, I'd have to change the first of the quoted paragraph below to say " I like Santorum, I'm scared of Newt. Ron Paul holds no appeal, and..." but the rest I have to agree with. Check out the whole column at the link below.

"I like Newt. I’ve warmed to Santorum. Even Ron Paul has his charm (but only on spending issues), and I want to like Mitt. But after years and years of him running for president and being in the public eye, I still know little about him beyond sound bites and platitudes. Electing someone simply because he wants to be president is as foolish as electing someone with no experience and no record simply because he gives a good speech. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…"

In my own humble opinion, our best hope left with Michelle Bachmann.

And now for something completely adorable!

2012-01-22T17:02:00.002-05:00

Andy might not be so nice in the same circumstance!

A question of rhetoric, reality and consequences.

2012-01-21T14:32:00.000-05:00

I know that my blog is read by friends all along the political leaning spectrum. I would like to humbly ask that all of you consider this question.

"Ever since the First Couple entered the White House, their social life has swirled around the very rich. Hollywood actors, pop star singers, Wall Street hedge fund managers, billionaire investors — these are the fabled "top 1 percent" in terms of income and wealth.

The Obamas invite them to White House dinners. They vacation with them on Martha’s Vineyard. They party with them. They sup with them at $35,000-a-plate fundraisers.

(Have these affairs ever included an auto worker? A mine worker? How about someone who is unemployed and looking for a job? What about someone who has lost his home? As far as I can tell, the bottom 99 percent never seems to make the cut.)

Here is what we are being asked to believe. During his three years in office, the president has come to realize that all of the people he plays golf with, has dinner with and collects millions of dollars from have too much. All of the people he never sees, never talks to and never socializes with have too little. So the president’s campaign-for-re-election theme will be: take from his friends and give to all those strangers.

Is any of this believable?"

The article goes on to elaborate, but stop for just a moment and let the above reality sink in.

Friends, actions speak louder than words, and this man's words were all he had when he was elected. His past actions were either not allowed to be examined, were hidden, or were roundly ignored by the very SAME people that now give conservative/republican's public protological exams of every nook and cranny of the action/words paradigm.

Therefore, it is understandable that a trusting public with little motivation for questioning the public information delivery systems they are exposed to could have fallen for the soaring rhetoric of the current house inhabitant.

But now there is no excuse. After nearly four years of BLATANT ACTIONS, the truth is virtually screaming at all of us. So again, we ask;

Are any of the intentions of his words believable?

Yes, friends, even you that still support him. I challenge you to read the rest of the article. I challenge you to look at his actions. I challenge you to look at the RESULTS of his actions. I challenge you to ask if he walks the talk.

It may take some setting aside of pet ideas, as all of us MUST do when we face hard reality, to get to an intellectually honest assessment of what this man has been about, but frankly, whether we want to see it or not, we actually LIVE DAILY with the realities of what our elected officials actions do to us.

My point is this; regardless of what is said, what supposed intentions are expressed or understood, actions have consequences, and those are what we need to use in deciding the efficacy of anything, or any body's actions. Yes, Virginia, there is what works and doesn't work. It is our job to be vigilant to pay attention to the REALITY that comes from what and who we vote for. We must be dogged in our determination to find the truth amongst the rhetoric, spin and propaganda used by those who would do ANYTHING to retain power! We must, if we are to be worthy of the trust placed in us by this system based on individual liberty and freedom. We must, or we have only our selves to blame when we totally lose it. We are already slipping down the slope.

Indefensible.

2012-01-16T19:42:00.000-05:00

And yes I'm even bad with names on quotes!

2012-01-06T22:58:00.001-05:00

My Godmother blessed me with a correction to my December 22nd blog today. I guess I could always go back and correct it, and I shall, but in correcting me, she finished the quote for me, which I want to share.

I refer to the Serenity Prayer, I incorrectly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Let me correct it now by saying the Reinhold Niebuhr is the author. In addition, here is the complete translated text, which is even more 'lovely and full of wisdom' as she put it. Thank you Lola.

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with
You forever in the next. Amen

In addition, let me direct you to a site that elaborates on the themes of the prayer,
which all boils down to God as our source! Praise you Father!

Reading

2012-01-03T09:11:00.000-05:00

The Lord began major changes in my life - once again - August 2010. At the time He led me away from the fiction I had been reading to the world of christian fiction. When I last visited that realm, I had run into C.S. Lewis, George McDonald and books by Bodie-Thoene...and those are just the ones that I respected. In general, I have viewed christian fiction as I viewed the christian music scene - short on quality. Well, not that everything in the secular world is quality, but you catch my drift. This time around, the Lord directed me immediately to a writer of quality, and in particular, a book that He would use to heal me.

[I apologize for the use of pictures from Amazon] "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers is the story of the book of Hosea, set in the west. Please understand that this was the FIRST cf book that crossed my path. I had no idea what I was getting aside from pretty much the description I just gave. While it turned out to speak directly to my need - the same as the heroine in the story - the message of the nature of God's love is essential to anyone. The fact that the Lord gave me THIS book first did two things; legitimized my decision to move to christian fiction AND set the bar for cf authors from then on. This book, though, is the first I have read anywhere - and I have read extensively in my efforts to grow - that described the depths of destruction that had happened to me as I was raised. Consequently, I identified completely with the heroines dilemma. But by God's power, when the heroine came to Him, the Father healed me by removing the strongholds of self-hatred and suicide that have lived in me ALL. MY. LIFE. I hasten to add that those strongholds were what had resulted in me from my experience, not what the book was about, lest you go 'Oh. Well. I don't need that.' and skip this amazing illustration of God's love. It turns out that Francine Rivers is truly a unique writer in her field and you will not be disappointed by most of her works.

To be continued.

New year; so what's the point?

2012-01-01T12:10:00.000-05:00

Since Andy and I are not big on the new year thing I always find myself out of sync with all the 2011 summaries and 2012 predictions one sees in the various media. I have found my greatest joy, when I can DO it, in enjoying the present. The past is just that - and GRATEFULLY so, when I can live free of it. But looking forward to a new year is usually not such a positive exercise either.

Let's take just one for instance; The year's numerical designation: 2012 already has the stigma of it being a presidential election year. If you've paid attention even somewhat to this realm, you already know that the best thing to do is PAY NO ATTENTION.. Just the GOP primary has been sickening enough with the below the belt tactics used to destroy any real threat to the current administration. Just how much better will it be with a failed narcissist-in-chief Chicago thug who has nothing in his presidential record to run on? He will do what he does have a record of , and that is destroy anyone in his path to win. I'm supposed to look forward to that?

What about the economy? You would have to be blind - or a leftist - to not already see what the health care debacle is doing to that industry, as well as business. I mean, the clueless left [yes I've taken off the gloves. After YEARS of tolerance and honoring their viewpoint as valid only to be treated as if I am the scum of the earth, I am going to tell it like it is. Might as well. Truth might just make a difference where tolerance and a spirit of respect has not] likes to talk about people that are 'hoarding' their wealth.

There is a great song whose chorus goes 'You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run'. Reality is, these people - gamblers, if you will - would usually be risking their 'wealth' in entrepreneurial endeavors that would benefit the economy as a whole. BUT they do this by assessing the risk using factors to predict the success or failure of such endeavors. If the self-righteous left would drop their moral judgement long enough to ask a simple question; "Why are they doing this?" they would find that the factors that these 'hoarders' usually use to determine the best use of their 'wealth' have been hopelessly confused by this administration-idiot powers-that-be, so that the only WISE thing to do is to 'hold em'. Actually, they'd be RUNNING, but there's no where else to run. So, unless something happens to change the foolishness that has passed for fiscal policy, I can't see anything to look forward to there either.

Which leaves me with the now, which I have, and which I know. What is that now? I have one more moment to live and breath, to seek the Father and walk in His revelation, to love and to try to live in integrity with Him, and the people I encounter, and to try to at LEAST do no harm. I can thank Him that I have this moment, and live it to its fullest...which frankly....sitting here reflecting on the new year is not....

You've heard the spin, ad nauseum.....

2011-12-24T00:59:00.001-05:00

...now consider reality.

THE MOST ARROGANT PRESIDENT EVER

46 million now living in poverty, the most on record since the census began tracking poverty in 1959
Federal spending, the budget deficit and our national debt are all at the highest level as a percentage of GDP since WWII
Chronic Unemployment worse than the great depression.
34th consecutive month the unemployment rate has been above 8%.
America's credit rating downgraded for the first time in American history.
Lowest US consumer confidence in 30 years.
Highest black unemployment in 28 years.
Worst jobs record of any modern President.
Misery index at 28 year high.
Under Obama, US poverty rate swells to 1 in 6.
Record number of Americans now rely on food stamps.
Rate of economic growth under Obama only slightly higher than the 1930's, the decade of the Great Depression.
Been to almost all 57 states.

From the 'I coulda had a V8!" desk;

2011-12-22T15:37:00.003-05:00

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference."- St. Francis of Assisi
             Often when I am before the Lord with a problem, He will bring to mind a phrase. Today it was '...to accept the things I cannot change,' in answer to my dilemma. Curious as to the exact quote, I looked up the whole thing, and, as often happens with the Lord, found something further on that was even more salient to my issue....'the wisdom to know the difference'.
            Too often, I have no serenity because I simply....lack wisdom. This translates out in me as reality, truth, a solid foundation on which to stand. And sometimes, it is because I don't even know what to really ASK in search for that serenity.
           Today the Father gave me the answer; to ask FOR wisdom. Me? I get bogged down in worrying about the knowing the difference. Duh. Ask for wisdom...cuz fer sure, I'm not going to know ANYTHING without it.
          Well...just sayin. Carry on.

I'm back

2011-12-22T12:38:00.000-05:00

      Hey everyone! Sorry for the silence. It's the usual Christmas public school music teacher insanity along with the usual holiday stuff for everyone! Yesterday was the last gig I had as well as the last day of our school semester, so I am taking just a moment to check in. Still got holiday cards to send, etc, so just a little catching up today.
Andy and I are in town for Christmas as usual. Somehow we never can get the time off for Andy during the holidays to go to spend time with family in Texas. It's alright, in a way, as I usually really appreciate down time after so much happening music wise. The weather here, though, is disgusting! I might as well be in Texas with the highs in the 60's and humidity! I'm sorry. I've been spoiled. I want my snow and cold! Wahhhh!
      We are giving ourselves a mini-trip for Christmas; since we live so close to Asheville, NC where the Biltmore Estate is, we are annual pass holders and feel almost like it is our home as well. ;-> During the holiday season, they have Christmas by Candlelight in the 'big house'. They feature artistic performances all through the house all decked out with - you guessed it - candlelight. Well, that and several of the 67 fireplaces going! At any rate, its become our tradition to go to that each year and have the special dinner at the Stable Cafe. This year, Andy booked us a hotel room in town so we could actually see some of Asheville the next day.
      Just a little about my school gigs. Christmas means a holiday PTA program, Choir concert, choir tour and then the Adams Family Christmas - we all get together and share Christmas music/performances for each other. All this happened in the space of a week and a half. The highlight for me turned out to be our choir concert. The kids I teach 'ain't skeered' of me when I raise the musical bar. In fact, they fight me if I try to back off of something I think might really be too difficult. This year's was Carol of the Bells in 3 parts....acapella. Now remember; this is an elementary choir made up of 4th and 5th graders. Anyone that sings this song - this includes adults - must have some pretty sophisticated musical skills of listening, range, singing in tune, balance, blend and dynamics to bring off this piece. When I perceived that it would take so much of our time to get all that was required, I tried to back them out of it. OH NO! THAT would NOT do! They loved the song, so that meant they were going to work their little butts off to get it.
"WELL," I said," Alrighty then, you're on. " And that was the stunner of our concert. Brought tears to everyone's eyes! We then took it on tour, and where concentration waned, it didn't come off as good, but was still amazing for a group so young. But I was really touched when our principal came in yesterday morning before our Adams Family Christmas to ask us to sing 'Carol of the Bells' for him again, because he loved it. We had planned to anyway. My fear is the kids are going to want to do this every year. Oy vey!

     Ya gotta be careful when you raise the bar!

     You guys have a great Christmas and stay in touch!

Listen to Michelle Bachman

2011-12-04T22:42:00.000-05:00

In her own words, here is what she is about. Frankly, I find nothing wrong with her, and actually PRAY for her candidacy. This is the ONLY candidate in the field that excites me. However, let me reiterate: Obama and his minions MUST be FIRED or the United States is doomed.
World and Everything - Dec. 03, 11

The emperor is naked.

2011-12-04T11:57:00.001-05:00

Our country is now the complicit public in the tale of 'The Emperor's New Clothes.' As found in Wikipedia the plot goes like this;

"A vain Emperor who cares for nothing but his appearance and attire hires two tailors who are really swindlers that promise him the finest suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or "just hopelessly stupid". The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor then marches in procession before his subjects, who play along with the pretense. Suddenly, a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but holds himself up proudly and continues the procession, deciding never to be so vain again and to take his position more seriously."

No matter what the reality is, our public is now willingly complicit with the swindlers behind 'politically correct', 'well intentioned', 'mainstream media', victim mentality that has swept the nation. Those of us who point out the nakedness of the emperor are now considered 'hopelessly stupid'....you know, 'bigots', 'racists', 'mean spirited', 'haters'....or unfit....you know...all of the things the swindlers used to trick the vain emperor to accept their offering of NOTHING.... as something.

Nowhere is this more glaring than in the selection, election, and now support of Barack Obama as President. This man has NOTHING to qualify him for office, NOTHING to claim as an accomplishment that would even favorably reflect on him prior, has done NOTHING to help the country out of the condition he found it in and continues to do NOTHING to endear himself to anyone. What he HAS done has been so GRAVELY DESTRUCTIVE that one has really only two options when considering why. 1.) He MEANT to destroy the country, or 2.) He's too ignorant - I'm using this to be kind. Ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge. - to know better. I guess I could throw in 3.) He meant well, but that's still ignorance.

No matter. After 3 years of destruction to our financial system, destruction to the health care system, abject embarrassing failure on the world scene, destruction of energy resources, and blatant EXTORTION OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR POLITICAL POWER, it is time for this child to take up the cry....

HE IS WEARING NOTHING AT ALL. HE NEVER WORE ANYTHING AT ALL. AND BECAUSE OF IT, HE IS DESTROYING THE FABRIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR HE IS, WHAT PARTY HE BELONGS TO, WHAT IDEOLOGY HE FOLLOWS; HIS ACTIONS AND THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

For this reason, he must go. He and all of the complicit 'ministers' who are afraid to appear 'unfit' or 'just hopelessly stupid'. The irony is, in all of their efforts to cover themselves, they have only managed to make it PLAIN to all who can see clearly that they are wholly unfit and hopeless.

The Bottom line

2011-11-23T22:56:00.001-05:00

I began reading an article that I approached with my usual caution regarding 'shoulds' concerning our walk of faith...until I ran into the heart of the matter..." He longs to pour out mercy upon us, to purify us down to the marrow of our bones, to make us a tender-hearted people, enjoying deep communion with Him, and walking in meekness and holiness unto the day of His return"... ending with this "Oh God, cleanse and purify our hearts with the fire of Your holiness and love. Catch us up in the Spirit of prayer and the glory of worship, quicken our souls to love the Scriptures, awaken us from fantasy and bring us into eternal reality. For Jesus’ sake." ...at which time I praised the Father for not letting me give in to my caution.

As Captain Picard so memorably said "Make it so!" OH YES Father! Make it SO!

For more, see this from the excellent online magazine "Voice of Revolution" by Dr. Michael Brown

OWS: Obamas Whiners 'r Schooled

2011-11-21T01:12:00.001-05:00

"It’s wonderful that they can get an education in a cozy environment, and we certainly don’t want to see them marching off to war. But someone needs to slap these kids accross the head and remind them they should be thankful every day that they live in the United States of America. So ends a remarkably clear and concise column by Bruce Bialosky.

Here is my 'good parts' version of the clarity:

[Referring to the Occupy Generation] " When they left the protective nest of academia and walked into an economic downturn that didn’t have a big fat job with a big fat paycheck and big fat benefits, they decided it was the mystical “rich” of America – the 1% – who were at fault. The absolutely hilarious part comes from them completely ignoring that " [emphasis mine here and throughout]

"because they live in America, they are part of the world’s 1%.
They ignore that the reason they’re not part of America’s 1% is because they haven’t worked for it.
And they really ignore the fact that the scholarships and loans they received are the product of the hard work, contributions, and taxes of the 1% that they both hate and/or envy.
They demand bailouts from their student loans “just like Wall Street was bailed out,” utterly clueless to the fact that Wall Street paid back the money with interest.

They implore the government to create more “equality” in America, completely oblivious to the following facts:

In the last 50 years government has grown from 27% of GDP to 37%; and,
during that time, almost 50% of Americans have stopped paying income taxes, while the top earners bear an ever-growing share of the tax burden. And yet despite this blatant redistribution ...,
income inequality in America has skyrocketed.

Maybe they should correlate those facts and figure out that it’s probably government, not Wall Street, that’s the cause of rising inequality – just like government was the root cause of the housing crisis."

The obvious flaw in his column is the assumption that these people have thought any of this through. I remember when I was a 'liberal'. It was during the time in my life that I was a reactionary. I abandoned all of that when I began to think.....

They say truth is stranger than fiction....

2011-11-21T00:36:00.001-05:00

...but in this case, the truth was obviously too BORING, therefore it had to be "media-sized"

We've all heard about the reprehensible former Speaker of the House that informed his wife with cancer in the hospital that he wanted a divorce. Right. That's the "media-sized" story. Reality is just as mundane as....well..mundane is.....

And here to relate the mundane details is an eye-witness

"So, to correct the record, here is what happened: My mother, Jackie Battley Gingrich, is very much alive, and often spends time with my family. I am lucky to have such a "Miracle Mom," as I titled her in a column this week.

As for my parents' divorce, I can remember when they told me.

It was the spring of 1980. I was 13 years old, and we were about to leave Fairfax, Va., and drive to Carrollton, Ga., for the summer. My parents told my sister and me that they were getting a divorce as our family of four sat around the kitchen table of our ranch home.

Soon afterward, my mom, sister and I got into our light-blue Chevrolet Impala and drove back to Carrollton.

Later that summer, Mom went to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for surgery to remove a tumor. While she was there, Dad took my sister and me to see her.

It is this visit that has turned into the infamous hospital visit about which many untruths have been told. I won't repeat them. You can look them up online if you are interested in untruths. But here's what happened:

My mother and father were already in the process of getting a divorce, which she requested.

Dad took my sister and me to the hospital to see our mother.

She had undergone surgery the day before to remove a tumor.

The tumor was benign.

As with many divorces, it was hard and painful for all involved, but life continued.

As have many families, we have healed; we have moved on.

We are not a perfect family, but we are knit together through common bonds, commitment and love.

My mother and father are alive and well, and my sister and I are blessed to have a close relationship with them both.

My sister and I feel that it is time to move on, close the book on this event and focus on building a great future. We will not answer additional questions or make additional comments regarding this meaningless incident, which occurred more than three decades ago.

As I said, my mother is a private person. She will not give media interviews. She deserves respect and should be allowed to live in peace."

"Mabel!! Why, his wife requested the divorce....way before she was in the horspital!"

"Shazaam, Buford! Why that thar media is liein' to us! Why would they do that?"

Good question, Mabel. Indeed.

Blogging and comments and ease...Oh MY!

2011-11-20T13:20:00.001-05:00

In the process of starting to blog, I have run into a few snafus I did not expect, particularly in the comments sections. When I started this, I was thinking it would be easy to comment like it was when I had a Xanga blog. I had forgotten that you had to be a member of Xanga to do so. So, I apologize to those of you who have run into that issue here.

First of all, I blog in order publish my observations, etc....but mostly, to converse. I have no wish to put roadblocks in the way of anyone that wishes to discuss; it is in such things that we grow, and are sharpened. Second, I myself am put off by having to join this or jump through this hoop, in order to be a part of the discussion. I feel bad asking others to do something that puts me off.

To attempt to alleviate that, I have put in the 'anonymous' option, which means you can comment, but it doesn't say who you are. You have to do that yourself. No, that doesn't eliminate the need to prove you are a real person with the security trick. I'm thinking the only way to do that is to join Blogspot...which amounts to giving an email address and a password. Then you're "In Like Flynn" [Reference to the facetious title of an obscure book by the creator of the 'Fletch' character....whose name escapes me...]

But my all time favorite solution was brought to my attention by one of my non-joiner friends. She simply copied what she wanted to respond to.... and emailed me! Shazaam! And then we got to discuss it all we wanted! Oh. How do you do that? Just go to the 'About Me' spot, find the "Carole M". link and click on it. Voila! A link to email me!

Ya gotta love the simplicity. Hope to hear from you....wherever!

Smiles!

The cyber sphere, friendship, and naivete...

2011-11-18T20:13:00.001-05:00

You're on FB with 100's of friends. You get off for reasons of personal conscience, secure in the belief that friends will be friends no matter where you are in the cyber sphere. You set up a substitute due to the outcry of the FB friends... which is relatively met by...crickets. You wonder is the effort of clicking on somewhere else to be in touch with a friend asking too much....of a friend?

You realize how you have been tricked by the ease of social sites to believing the word friend meant something other than casual contact of convenience. You are at once instructed and sobered, because you too were one of those. You understand that you left because of subliminal awareness of the facade of relationship, and the desire to do those freind ships justice, yet you are confronted with the awful reality....that you are now reaping what you have sown, despite your naive belief in the reality of those relationships. You have no one to blame but your own collusion with that appearance of society.

You mourn the loss....of the facade. You confront the reality that your attempts to provide a substitute does not matter; there is no substitute for the casual contact of convenience that had passed for friendship. You face your naive belief in the word friend, realize your mistake, and the task you personally face to actually build real friendships.

And you wonder yourself....can you, who thrived in that convenient world, care enough yourself to invest real time, real communication...in fact, to actually learn how to be a real friend?

You sit surrounded by an emptiness for which you are wholly responsible....and wonder at the ease in which you friended yourself....into.... solitude.

A milestone

2011-11-17T20:30:00.001-05:00

This past Monday, for the first time in 14 years, my body was clear of prozac. The Father had provided that, along with His transformational process, to begin to set me free of the 'death' I had learned that 'life' was, in my raising. He had began the process in 1985, but in 97, He began major surgery. In order to function through the process, prozac was the....um....anesthetic?....cocoon?....that enabled me to stay on the operating table...or held me together...while He remodeled from the inside out.

Approximately 2 years ago, I began wondering at my need of it anymore. Then last fall, He began a "God avalanche" in me, whereby He removed a major stronghold, and firmed up the foundation He had been building all this time. I realized that, due to the His work, I had solid ground to stand on that previously had not existed. And so, with the assistance of my health care provider, planned a strategy for release. After so long, it becomes a part of your bodies chemistry. And, in general, they assume someone of my need would stay on it the rest of my life. But I had heard this....still small voice....tell me last year that I would hear the Father better without it....or something like that.

So almost 3 months ago I began the weaning process. I had very little of the noted physical withdrawal reactions...mainly insomnia. But I was clearly told by the Father that my challenge e would be spiritual attack. I began being curious about the whole 'put on the armor of God' idea, which I could never really grasp, and found a book that not only explained it, but SANG to me! I have used some of that to assist when needed, but also, have leaned on the most surprising ally of all...my husband, Andy. Unbeknownst to me, he was happier for me to get off of it than I was!

And so, here I am. I feel really better; much more genuine, more grounded. Even my challenges/attacks are more real. But at the same time, I feel whatever I experience is mine...and not drug influenced. There is some insecurity. But now I am not afraid of that insecurity destroying me. Praise you, Father, for loving us enough to TRANSFORM our measly experience. Thank you for loving us....loving ME....MORE than I will ever be able to grasp...for being BIGGER than me. Thank you.

The Tea Party, the Flea Party and media malpractice.

2011-11-15T19:11:00.001-05:00


I'm having a hard time respecting anything about the OWS squatters simply because of the treatment of the Tea Party by the self-same media that seems to be enamored of this foolishness. In short, NOTHING YOU HEARD against tea party activists was true. YET FILTH, DRUGS, CRIME, CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, RAPE, MURDER, DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY AND UTTER INCOHERENCE OF MESSAGE is LIONIZED and PRAISED in public discourse. I'm sorry. OWS should be SHUT DOWN and SENT HOME, if not JAILED for ALL OF THE CRIMES THEY ARE COMMITTING. Just TELLING IT LIKE IT IS. SOMEBODY HAS TO.

Our nation's 'moment of truth'

2011-11-14T22:40:00.001-05:00

         I have recently found much to admire in the primary process. Even though: the debates AREN'T; the moderators on the whole seem bent on gotcha questions, hopelessly mired in their barely concealed media arrogance towards conservatives and OBVIOUSLY trying to pick our candidate for us - the recent Bachman complaint about an email instructing limited questions to her just one blatant example - the vetting process is working. Perry and Cain have self-destructed in one
way or the other along the way during media events. Romney is still white bread and unacceptable to me because of his questionable record of 'flip flops' and socialized medicine. Bachman, who I STILL think would make an excellent president, has in my mind been short changed, but may still rise to the surface, as could Huntsman or Paul...as Gingrich is doing, steadily moving forward based on his superior intelligence, knowledge and adept response to the 'gotcha' media, clearly exposing them for the ignorant politically correct parrots they are.

        My admiration of the process stems from what has been exposed to the Klieg light of the public view. As reprehensible as I find the media's obvious bias and methods, there is no doubt that a candidate that can turn THOSE lemons into lemonade, will have a much better chance of succeeding in the Klieg light of the Presidency than those who don't.

        At this point, personally: Romney is still off the table. Cain is NOW off the table due to his abominable performance in this interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Editorial Board which by the way, had nothing to do with the current hatchet job carried out in the media. Perry was always off the table for me; not another Texas governor, thank you. Bachman has not been given a chance to prove herself and I look forward to that coming up. Paul...uh...I have many friends that like him, but I...um....don't know. Huntsman....don't know. And Gingrich? Very very intriguing.

        But my dears, whoever it is? If they can beat Obama and bring along the BACKS of the current regime, I am ALL aboard. I'm frightened. Kids, set aside any partisan consideration, and look at what has happened to us since 2009. Any objective observer with intellectual honesty would NEVER want to continue the destruction put in place by the powers that be. It's time to call it what it is - not only not WORKING, but DESTROYING - what has set this country apart from all others; LIBERTY. I don't care whether it was done with the PURIST of PURE intentions, our country WILL NOT SURVIVE ANOTHER OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL TERM.

         It IS a zero sum game: the more government control - read 'BIG GOVERNMENT' 'STATISM', 'SOCIALISM' - the less INDIVIDUAL CONTROL - read 'FREEDOM' 'LIBERTY' 'INALIENABLE RIGHTS' - we as a people FOUNDED on those things, enjoy. Time to say 'Dude. Nice try. Take it back to Chi town.'....with MEANING.

From the Mental Tatoo desk:

2011-11-13T00:33:00.001-05:00

emilyleypaper.com

This just in from the Way to GO! desk....

2011-11-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

“I am for 100 percent,” he said. “I think this idea of 99 percent and 1 percent is grotesque European socialist class warfare baloney.” ~ Newt Gingrich

About me

2011-11-12T11:15:00.001-05:00

So, I was filling out my profile this morning, and got to the About Me section. These usually make me horribly uncomfortable, but for some reason, the following came out whole cloth. As you can probably see it exceeded their limit on how much I could say....and being whole cloth...I couldn't cut it. So here is my own personal sum up of me. I have not held back which has been very freeing. I hope you read to the end before you decide to reject me, but honestly, if this bothers you, you probably don't want to follow my blog anyway. Love you. Hope you can handle me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I am an "end of the boom" boomer. I came after the hippies were disgusting, was not draftable, had no problem with the establishment, have been set free of being a victim of anything or anyone, and feel the only "power" I need to "fight" is the current one of deception that a). thinks there are no absolutes; b.) thinks government knows better than those of us with God given inalienable rights; c.). thinks 'if it feels good, do it' is one of the 10 commandments, and d.). would have us believe evil is desirable entertainment.

I know that up is up, down is down, rocks are hard, water is wet, gravity is, tab A goes in slot A, and I don't hate/judge/condemn those who don't; I know it is not mine to do the Holy Spirit's job of convicting of deception, since I have this log in my own eye. Frankly, I am painfully aware of the great equalizer "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and consider my own part of that 'ALL' just as heinous as those who live blindly in deception concerning right and wrong. There but for the grace of God go I.

I have great compassion and love, which is in no way incompatible with my calling to spread what love truth and reality I have received from Yahweh through relationship to Him. I detest the phrase "tough love".... as if love is anything but. True love is robust and not for the weak, as exemplified in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave [to heinous suffering and torturous death] His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him [the Son] shall not perish, but have everlasting life". I don't think we need to add a word to that, to see how tough is the nature of true love

I think anyone that thinks it is loving or compassionate to not warn someone of the Mack truck about to run over them for fear of offending them or being politically incorrect, is NEITHER of those things and is cooperating with the spirit of deception epidemic in our world. I am sick to death of the particularly heinous form of deception called 'politically correct' and no longer will be silent about it being the foundation for the current blindness to reality in our culture. I don't care how good your intentions; right is still right, wrong is still wrong and what doesn't work STILL doesn't work no matter why you did it or how you spin it.

I am a musician. It is a gift. I cannot do sports. I cannot do math. I cannot have children. I do not keep house. I sing, I play, and I have the soul of dancer. Since this is a gift, I do not take credit for it, but take JOY when the Father inhabits His gift in me.

I am a teacher. It is a gift. I don't know how I do it and as with music, I enjoy it with the kids as the Father inhabits it. I operate on the assumption that if I can teach it, a child can do it. I know that children are only limited by teachers who think children are limited. I know music is God's gift to the world, and no matter how well anyone does it, we are made to participate, period. I believe the Father said 'Make a joyful noise' because He hears the music of our hearts when we do. I think a teacher that squelches a child's enthusiasm for music is the lowest of low, and pray the Father remove me from the profession before I ever get there.

I believe the Father calls me to be a conduit of His love to all and has equipped me as mentioned above for that purpose. It is therefore my heart's desire to do nothing to get in His way, and am most grieved when I miss Him in any situation. I am painfully aware of the flip side of the verse "I can do all things through Christ" which is, I can do nothing without Christ, and so desire NEVER to lose the knowledge of my desperate dependency on His love relationship with me. If I could scream one thing to the religious, it would be 'It is not WHAT YOU DO that matters! It is WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR HEART WITH GOD THAT MATTERS. If your works could save you in any way, there would have been no need for Jesus Christ. Period. Don't miss the point.

And now from the "Profound Thoughts" desk...

2011-11-12T09:43:00.001-05:00

this from C.S. Lewis.

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

Can we talk?

2011-11-07T17:23:00.000-05:00

But to me, the REAL scandal is....NO ONE in politics is interested in the actual cause and effect of anything, just how they can SPIN anything for their own power. For instance, in THIS case, forget that Clinton was president then, or who came up with the idea. What would be wrong with going 'Oops. We tried this, obviously this doesn't work. Let's fix it.'

The real problem is government isn't about providing for the good of the country due to the pathetic practices of the political system. This is the real impetus behind the Tea Party state of mind: fury at the heinous manipulation of the voting public in order to SERVICE the political elite in government.

Just one more before bed....

2011-11-06T23:09:00.000-05:00

This just in from the end of Derek Hunter's Townhall column made me giggle!

" When I heard 3 Occupy DC people were hit by a car while rioting, I actually felt bad. Then I saw the car was OK & was like “Whew!” What can I say, I’m a caring guy".

Conservative Blacks

2011-11-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

Peeps I love...the college collection:

2011-11-05T12:53:00.000-04:00

Sharing some of the beautiful people in my life...well...and even Bob...

My brother from another Father,,,,Robert Coward...at Stonehenge. No, he's not from there. Frankly, I"m not sure where he's from....but he currently lives in Houston. An accomplished writer, he has a book available on Amazon. Bobby and I have history, about which I wrote a story:

Bobby's Story: in dialect.

"Onct upon a time, der was a gerl and a boy. Duh boy thought he wuz all dat. Duh gerl slapped him upside duh haid and tole him to git a laf. Dis took duh boy by surpraze and he instantly fell in LUV....which died a quick death since she was already hitched to another sorry loser. Duh boy got on wit his laf but nevah forgot dat gerl, Carole....until he saw duh mos gahrjuss woman in da worl one day. She quickly slapped him upside duh haid and tole him to git a laf! to which duh boy sayed 'Gerl, iff'n you ain't married and yer name ain't Carole, den I GOTS me a laf!!' she slapped him upside duh haid agin and said 'well, I ain't married, but mah name IS Carel, so sorry Charlie' 'Shute!' duh boy sayed, 'I spoze we all have our faults' to which the gerl slapped him upside duh haid a third tam and said 'Yew shud no, yew sorry basterd' and promptly felt sorry for him, cuz'n he obviously couldn't hep hissef. So win he finally got over her name bein' Carel an' all, and she got over him bein' such a sorry loser, they married and lived slappily evuh aftuh.

Update: So Bobby wanted a story. I wrote this off the top of my head on his FB page. To understand the girl and the boy part, Robert Coward and I met when he played 'the boy' and I 'the girl' in the musical "The Fantasticks" in college.

Further update: Robert married a girl named Carel. He met me when I was married to another guy. He wasn't in love with me. I just took poetic license."

We met way back then, and never spoke until a couple of years ago...and the Father bonded us together. Bobby, I love you. There are no words to say how incredibly the Father has blessed me with you, even just in having someone to harass as I do you, and as you do me. A brother in most ways, thank God I don't look like you. Singing and dancing in my heart before the Father for joy in you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One of the most beautiful women I know....Tracy Byerly McLendon.

Tracy Byerly, as she looked when I first met her.

Tracy McLendon, now.


With her husband from college days, Joe Mac	.

Tracy and I met in college when she met her husband, Joe McLendon, a friend of my husband at the time. My first thoughts of her were 'Oh my gosh! I wish I could be as beautiful as she! ' I was quite intimidated as she was always so beautifully put together! We stayed in touch sketchily through the early years, but I will never forget the time that I divorced that husband in 1983, and heard from Tracy. She sent me a picture of three of her kids - she eventually had 5 - all in the bathtub. I remember thinking what beautiful results of a marriage and what an honor to have the raising of children. Years later we reconnected on FB, and we are so much better for the years in between, and the grace of God in our lives. We have yet to see each other in person again, but feel as close as if we were just next door. I love you, Tracy. Thank you for the honor of your friendship and love ALL these years!

More to come.

2011-11-03T22:53:00.000-04:00

Source: tamiweingartner.tumblr.com via Tami on Pinterest

A heavenly addition

2011-11-03T20:46:00.000-04:00

I am honoring the life of Evelyn McFadden. Evelyn gave birth to John, whom the Lord put in my life in college. He brought his beautiful Debbie to my life, and then later, they gave birth to my precious "god daughter" Allison. Evelyn was mercifully spared the ravages of cancer treatment when she passed away in her sleep this Tuesday. She was married to her husband for 67 years. Kindly celebrate her life and her passing with me, and remember those she left behind as they cope with her earthly loss. Thank you, Father, for your gift of Evelyn to our world. Love on her for us.

Name:

Evelyn McFadden

Birth Date & Death Date

January 3rd, 1926 - November 1st, 2011

Obituary:

Doris Evelyn McFadden, 85, of 1214 Lakeview Circle, went to be with the Lord on November 1, 2011. A native of Greenville County, daughter of the late Adger S. and Ellen Webb Campbell, she was retired from the banking industry as a customer service representative and was an accomplished church organist and pianist. Mrs. McFadden was a member of Fairview Baptist Church. Surviving are her husband, J.N. McFadden of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Teresa McFadden of Orlando, Florida, John and Debbie McFadden of Greenwood and David McFadden of Atlanta, Georgia; a sister and brother-in-law, Martha Lou and Cullen Turner of Morristown, Tennessee; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. McFadden was predeceased by a daughter, Dorenda Lou McFadden. Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday at Fairview Baptist Church, conducted by Rev. Robert Emory, Dr. Herbert Garrett, Dr. Tom Burns and Dr. James Crocker. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be James Hairston, Richard Medlock, Gary Vaughn, Timothy McFadden, Charles Boswell, Terry McFadden, Michael McFadden and Chuck Hayes. Honorary escort will be the J.N. McFadden Sunday School Class of Fairview Baptist Church and the Sunshine Sunday School Class of United Baptist Church. Visitation will be held 12:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Fairview Baptist Church. The family is at the home. Memorials may be made to Greer Community Ministries, P.O. Box 1373, Greer, SC 29652 or Fairview Baptist Church Foundation for the Future, 1300 Locust Hill Road, Greer, SC 29651. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com

Memorials:

Greer Community Ministries or Fairview Baptist Church Foundation for the Future

Cemetery:

WOODLAWN MEMORIAL PARK
1901 WADE HAMPTON BLVD.
GREENVILLE , SC 29609 (map/driving directions)

Visitations:

12:30PM to 2:30PM on Saturday, November 5th, 2011 at FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH (map/driving directions)

Services:

3:00PM at FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH on Saturday, November 5th, 2011 (map/driving directions)

From the "I don't get it" desk: Help me out

2011-11-02T09:05:00.002-04:00

The rise of Herman Cain and the resultant media hysteria regarding his race has truly confused me. Perhaps you can help me out.

Of all of the excrement the left likes to throw at the right, the idea that the right is racist is the one that puzzles me the most. I mean, most of the feces they come up with has some link to some kind of policy the left wants to smear - and I'm thinking, those policys must make sense, since the only way they can refute them is with doo-doo; you know...case in point...there was some need to curb spending in the schools, so the defecation was 'Republicans want to starve children'.... But I digress....

I just find this particular issue so OBVIOUSLY not true - Cain's candidacy and support to be the most current DIRECT truth to the lie - I am not only puzzled at the accusation, but literally stunned that anyone believes it. I mean, I support Herman Cain because I'm a racist? Huh?

So all of you out there, help me out. Can you point to ANY actual factual, or even twisted to refute policy, issue that can in any way shape or form support this idea that the right is racist? Guys, this is truly NOT a gotcha question. I just want to understand. If you don't mind sharing, with the understanding that I may be furthering the discussion to really get it, kindly comment.

My favorite philospher...

2011-10-31T23:20:00.003-04:00

Maxine!

This just in from the 'don't hold back, tell us what you really think' desk....

2011-10-31T22:02:00.000-04:00

GREAT column! Self Reliance for Dunces

Go ye therefore and...hang out!

2011-10-31T21:08:00.000-04:00

I happened to hear this You Tube bit on 'Should Christians do Halloween?' today. It took him 13 minutes to get to the bottom line, which is....duh! No. He finally quoted some scripture which sealed the

deal for him.

We succesfully dodged the Halloween bullet again this year. No, we don't do Halloween for spiritual reasons. But for me, it didn't take scripture to get there. It just took paying attention. In fact, it was seriously hard to ignore the gut repulsion I would have at the images. I realized that the Holy Spirit living in me was speaking rather loudly....and I didn't even ask! So the whole time this video was going on, I was all.... Well? What does the Father/Holy Spirit say to you?

I have become convinced that the Father tells us each individually about issues. In fact, I am actually more convinced that, as we do the "Delight yourself in the Lord" and "In all your ways acknowledge Him"thing, He changes us so that out of our very being....we don't WANT to do anything that quenches His life in us.

I came upon this after I completely blew off the legalistic death dealing religious upbringing I had, when I was told, "No. That's not God". Boy! Was I relieved! But, in typical Carole fashion, I ended up throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and blowing off any semblance of God. For a while, that worked famously....well...until I realized God was important, I just wasn't sure what to do with Him.

Cutting the bloody details to get to the chase, when I met the true Living God, I knew He had been there all along [during the time I had blown it all off entirely and lived in...gulp....SIN] and even...um....speaking to me. When I cut through to actually seeking Him, He took me and just...lived with me. We hung out. We talked. We listened to Jazz. I'd play the piano and sing to Him. We watched movies on TV. His presence was so intense at times, I had to ask Him to let me go to sleep at night. And the most amazing thing of all was....He never told me I had to DO, NOT DO, or BE anything THE WHOLE TIME, in order to be acceptable, or even...um....a christian.

Eventually, I noticed a couple of things: First, He would gradually give me His peace, His presence and His LIFE in different parts of my life; first, at home alone with Him...then in my job...then challenging me to be with other believers. Secondl, by virtue of the fact that I was hanging with Him, my heart changed. I was being transformed - sanctified, if you will - simply by living in His presence...from the inside, out.

Back to the point. Because of this, I never had to ask myself 'Should I as a Christian do Halloween?' I couldn't because I am, well...a Christian. And what is a Christian? One who is in relationship...er....hanging out...with God. I mean, think about it. How could one hang out with the I AM: ULTIMATE POWER, LOVER, CREATOR...and not be affected?

Kinda makes all your striving look silly. At least, I hope it does. Jesus says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light".

Go ye therefore...and hang out with God. Makes life a LOT easier. Certainly can't hurt.

Selah.

The science is SETTLED! Um.....wait.....

2011-10-31T20:41:00.000-04:00

One of my extended family in law tried to use the summer's historical drought and heat wave in Texas as proof of global warming. He was intensely exasperated and distraught when I didn't buy it...again. I wonder what he would say about the historical snow storms in the east today? Proof of global cooling?

Oh well. Berkley University recently came out with PROOF that SETTLED the science. Um...oops. The real inconvenient truth....

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

2011-10-30T22:22:00.000-04:00

Self Explanatory

2011-10-30T20:30:00.002-04:00

Thoughts on leaving FB

2011-10-27T23:08:00.003-04:00

So tonight I went through and took my personal pictures off FB. Went through and sent notices to as many peeps as I could. Still sad my own sef to be leaving, seeing so many pictures of events in your lives, but I am still unchanged in my conviction to go. Also, wondering if anyone will follow me here. Ah well. Hope so. But....loss is loss. We live through it, and we grow. Love you all.

Obama FINALLY gets it right!

2011-10-27T07:33:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been hearing BO's campaign theme is "We Can't Wait". Finally, he is exactly right. We Can't WAIT for him to be gone. Just sayin'.

Herman Cain's latest TV ad! What a guy!

2011-10-26T21:25:00.003-04:00

As most of you know, I am of a tea party state of mind...which just means, basically, "get out our way and give us back the liberty God gave us to begin with." Well, Herman Cain and Michelle Bachman are both of the same tea party state of mind, and frankly, I support both of them. Herman Cain, however, just hit it out of the part with this ad, featuring his chief of staff. Yes, it ends with the guy taking a puff. It it is the most bad a** ad I have EVER seen! And it perfectly represents what most of us feel about the STOOPID politically correct political elite and those who think they know so much more than the rest of us that they have to outlaw our behaviors for our own good. Idiots. Freedom means you get to choose to fail or succeed.... the point being YOU GET TO CHOOSE. To the extent you take away my choices, you are taking away my LIBERTY incrementally.

But I digress. Watch and enjoy! I love the grin at the end!

In a nutshell

2011-10-24T21:00:00.002-04:00

This columnist nails it again and again. Derek Hunter on "progressive America"

And while we are on the subject Erika Johnson speaks for the majority of Americans Please, just stop. Stop trying to fix things. Stop trying to strengthen the federal government's tentacles until they're wrapped around every single aspect of our lives. It isn't working. It's so elementary, it's painful.

How to shuck corn...without shucking.

2011-10-23T10:57:00.002-04:00

I am publishing this as a public service! WOW!

For those of you coming from FB, you can post comments by clicking on the post you wish to comment on. You will see a comment box on the bottom. OR click on comments. The same thing happens.

A new laptop!

2011-10-23T00:09:00.000-04:00

So for my birthday, Andy got me an ASUS laptop. This replaces our old Godzilla - what we actually named it - we have had since 2005. It was an hp top of the line 17 inch screen that weighed a ton. Of course, technology has come a LONG way since then.

This one is extra light, fast, high def screen, 15.6 inch screen...and a PC... Okay, it works fine. But let me tell you, setting it up etc. made me wish we had shelled out the money for the Geek Squad to do it...or just got a Macbook. My desktop is a Mac. SOOOOO much easier to use. But...blah blah blah. Anyway, I am now semi up and running.

Have yet to get Skype up, but when I do....I'll let you know! Stay tuned!

2011-10-22T23:39:00.000-04:00

As you know, I am leaving FB November 6. No magic to that date, just time to notify everyone and to set up my blog. Interestingly, I went to Word Press for that purpose, as I had heard it was easier than Blogger. Hm...I will testify that it was not. After 2 hours of trying to come up with something I liked, I gave up, and came back here. I may find this more difficult as I use it more, but frankly....I like this page design better, and don't remember it being such a CHORE to make it what I like. So. Here I am.

Okay. I think you can subscribe to this. I will let you know exactly how. In the meantime, I will be linking this on FB so you can find me. Okay, its not FB exactly, but at least I can share with you and you with me. Make sure I also have your email address by sending to the one on FB from your primary email addy. Love you all!

And the Winner is....

2009-09-17T16:19:00.003-04:00

Someone recently asked me about the 'trusted' sources that I use for news. This made me think. How DO I get my news?

A while ago I decided to quit watching network news, as it was just so inane and biased. When I watched any, it would be Fox, but even then, just Brit Hume's special report. At the same time, I quit reading newspapers. It seemed to me the true product they sell is fear. Since I have done both of those things, it is amazing how much drama I get to miss out on!

So where do I get it, if I don't read it or watch TV? Skeptical perusal of internet headline sources and talk radio, with a hefty dose of verify in the mix.

Most of the mainstream politically correct world doesn't understand the appeal of conservative talk radio. Rather, they want to condemn the hosts and listeners as hate-filled, ignorant, mind-numbed-robots, so to speak.

As a matter of fact, that directly reflects how the left expresses their disdain for the right. Interesting.... but I digress.

No, they don't understand. They think their worldview IS reality, and anyone who doesn't see that is simply wrong, at best....if they ever ALLOW for 'at best'.

Which brings us to the immense appeal of conservative talk radio, its very existence the proof of the liberally biased mainstream media. Those of us who listen to it are relieved, and encouraged to find someone who sees the world we see. We are so starved for reality in the midst of the gluttony of deception the world wallows in, we are drawn to talk radio like my kitten to raw fish.

Even from this source one must wade through the entertainment for the truth, but there's still a lot more of the latter to be had, than from the MSM.

Alas, today, I quit listening to Rush Limbaugh. No, not because he is who he is. It's because all I heard today was MORE bad news re this country in the form of all of the anti "American way" legislation in congress, while Obama and the majority party having apparently lost any sense of the essence of the United States court and entertain the world's fascist dictators, and abandon democratic allies.

No, it didn't take Rush to define it that way for me. Nope. All he had to do was tell what is happening. It's blatantly obvious to those without liberal democrat Obama blinders on that their agenda is to remake America in their own image. No, he was just the messenger/confirmer of what we see with our own apalled eyes.

So in short, my oasis is no more. Things are now so bad in the US, I can't stand to hear any more about it. No more news, talk radio, or even internet headlines for me. It occurred to me when I was hearing Jimmy Carter, the most embarrassing president ever, repeating - wrongly, I might add - that those of us who oppose this majority are racists, that I survived his 4 year assault on America very well. I was in college. I didn't pay any attention. The world survived.

Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, I hear by happily embrace Phillipians 4:8 and drop all news sources from my attention. I am going to quit fooling myself that, as a Christian, I need to pay attention to politics. Nope. I know where this world is going, and I know Who wins. No amount of my fretting is going to change the overall plot line we must live out.

Think I'll leave it to those who hope in this world, and go hang out with the Winner. Now THERE's a worldview that makes sense. Talk about reality! Praise you, Father, for your Truth, your Justice, and your Perfect Way. Lead me in Your paths of Righteousness, and deliver me from evil: mine and the worlds. Let me dwell in Your Kingdom, Your Power and Your Glory, now, and forever.

Amen!