Category Archives: Family Values

Father, Mother, Male, Female, an, Woman, Husband, Wife, Children, Boy, Girl.  God’s Design = One Flesh!

What you Wanna Be When you Grow UP:

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A few weeks ago I asked the inmates who come to my service what they wanted to be when they grow up? Goofy question say some! I was surprised when weeks later one of the inmates who regularly comes to the Catholic service who is from Mexico asked me what should I do?

His parents are in California and in poor health. He is in prison for drug trafficking. In about a year he will be released. ICE will be there to meet him. Every lawyer he has talked to tells him he will before a judge and be deported to Mexico.

Catholic Charities will not help him due to his crime. The drug cartels keep track of folks like him, especially since he may owe them money. He told me they will have someone find and meet him when he is released in Mexico. They will not be friendly and will use whatever means to force him back into drug trafficking!

What should I do was his question! Well folks what would you tell him? There was no doubt in my mind his life will be on the line and his courage and faith will be tested beyond any level I have experienced in my life.

If you read my previous posts – it might give you a hint! When they find you, tell them the man they are looking for died in prison and you witnessed his death. For the slow of heart, it happened the day he decided to return to practicing his faith and returned to a life of prayer. He was born again and washed clean the day he began true repentance for his sins!

The real question for us here is what would we do? Those who consider themselves brave, courageous and especially those accustomed to having power?

Do we really understand what a dying and rising is? Would we have the faith and courage to speak with so much conviction the hearer could visibly see the conviction of one willing to die. But it doesn’t end there. Being willing to die is just the beginning.

Before the receiver digests the words spoken, say to those who seek to persecute you, “While you are here, do you have something or someone in need of healing that I can pray for? I call upon the Name of Jesus as I stand before you to pray that His healing power may overshadow you and those you hold dear to your heart dispelling the darkness of doubt.

I will pray for you even if you tell me – No More Sermons!

And in speaking those words come to understand the message, I came to do the will of the one who created me!

I pray the Holy Spirit will drive the demons that seek pure power out of the houses of power in the church and in the government! How many will join me?

I ask is there anyone with the courage to confront the demons released into this nation and the world by the sinful nature of men seeking to replace God ( a word that includes women for the confused). The battle in the Garden continues!

Will Emotion Override and Cloud the Spirit’s Path to Logic and Truth?

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I listened to a young man pour out his emotions as he spoke on TV about the terror and trauma he experienced during the mass shootings that took place at the Parkland High School in Broward County, Florida.   It was gut wrenching to listen to.  My heart was torn as I listened as his words.  It caused me think of my own children and grand children.

Emotions are a vital part of our human condition.  More than that they are truly a gift from our creator.  Emotions serve as the only source capable of taking a human on a journey to the core of our soul where we encounter our human values.  But more importantly, they take us on a journey so we can see ourselves face to face as in a mirror.  It is as if we must be dragged kicking and screaming into a Garden long ago set aside as the place where blo0d is sweat as the human heart engages the battle where emotions attempt to drive us away from looking into the mirror of truth.  Said another way, emotions seek to focus on a simple solution rather than confront the ancient symbolism hidden in a seamless garment.  The truth of the temple of our soul is intimately connected to the human search for the purpose of a people so loved they have been granted free will.  The pain of emotions can distort truth as one who seeks to avoid the journey to the only source with the potential to wash the human family clean and make us whole again.

Hold on to that image of the seamless garment for within it’s creation lies the secret of one who is willing to offer up life as the price of penetrating the human heart and restoring mobility to a stiff neck!  The truth found in the blood found on the ground speaks to a hope beyond measure!

Here in this mirror lies a treasure, a gift from our creator where the real possibility exists to confront and overcome human natures original sin!  Sin the modern world seeks to ignore and worse deny!  In this mirror the image and likeness of our creator one cannot  ignored or escape!  The source of truth is dimly lit to a new arrival and the values buried within are designed to lead us to the truth in the beginning hearken to a soul thirsting and longing for an answers!  Here in this garden of agony one encounters the potential to ingest the breath of ancient truths again as in the first time.  Emotions erupt from deep within our gut as they crawl upward into our heart and mind creating the only unrest that can open the door that can lead to the search for hope we can find again the sacredness and treasure of life!  The question is  will take the time necessary to endure the journey to the core of our soul where we can encounter the spirit and wisdom that created us.  It is in the deeps of our soul where emotion can be balanced with the gifts of logic, wisdom, understanding of the purpose of the creator’s plan that calls people to freely choose the journey with the potential usher in real hope for a healthy human family.

A gun on the other hand is just metal and cold.  It has no spirit, no emotions and cannot make a decision.  It can not pick itself up, load itself or pull it’s trigger.  It lacks warmth or breath.  A gun has no emotions and cannot reflect upon anything that happens to it or it’s impact on any living being.  Why are we investing so much time on an inanimate object with no potential to save us?

As I listened to this young man, I too was sent on a journey to the core of my soul and began to ask the spirit in the mirror questions.  Who was this young man who picked up that gun?  What happened to him?  Who were his parents and how did he get that gun?  What questions are being asked about this young man and his environment?  Guns were allowed in school when I was a kid and this kind of event never took place.  What has changed?

Can we examine the seamless garment without being executed?  Do we really have an understanding of who we were created to be?  Is our focus on an inanimate object or the core of the soul of humanity?

If you made it thus far, will you come with me on a journey through the flawed memories of a child beginning to digest and grasp at the seamless garment and how it runs through the whole of humanity where not a single soul is without impact?

Is anyone willing to ask, have all the political attacks over the past several years on the police had an impact?  he alone the associated demand for body cameras?  Have we  pushed our policemen into political correct precautionary non life saving behaviors?  Someone with courage needs to be willing to ask?  Have our emotions and power agendas overridden our ability to have courage under fire?

How about the violence in so many neighborhoods?  How about the self inflicted wounds of gender-ism?  Isn’t the DNA we are born with the DNA we will die with?  Did God make a mistake when he created us?  Is there something else in play?  Have we now declared ourselves to be God?  How about the breakdown of families?  How about the destruction of life for those who cannot speak?  How about a feminist movement that does not include mothers?  How about the stripping of a mans ancient obligation to the mother and their children?   In the beginning God created man and woman and it was good.  The two became one flesh.  Abortion kills not only the child but the father for the two are no longer one flesh!

Do we have any real men in political life?

Why are so many people today taking drugs for everything?  Why are TV commercial’s full of advertisements for new drugs?  Does a pill correct every situation?  Do our brain’s work any more?  Why do we want to stop letting boys be boys?  Why are so many young men in prison and why are they so angry with their parents?  Why are we afraid to ask these questions?

When I was a kid we allowed prayer to be taken out of school about the time I finished.  We allowed abortion to begin to flourish at about the same time.   Why do our politicians support the abortion of 60 million babies and then insist we need 60 million immigrants?

Does anyone recognize the abortion decision declared a death sentence on a father’s right to protect his children?  Do gun free so called safe zones override the right of a father to protect his child from a principal whose policies do not report crimes which undermines the law intended to keep guns out of the hands of individual’s with histories of violence?  Are our police and sheriff’s bullied by the politically correct and unwittingly unleashed the violent and mentally unstable on society.  Has politics destroyed common sense?  Have we become so smart and tolerant that we are now become our own worst enemy?  Have we declared that sin is dead and people are just misunderstood?

Have we allowed a judge to override the voice of the people?  Have we allowed a judge to declare the father of a child has no rights even in a marriage?  Why do we want to destroy men and the potential father many are created to become?  What has this done to our children and does anyone care what the the impact is on children and family?  Is anyone looking at the success of children brought up in a traditional family versus the new so called norm?

About the time I was just a kid contraception exploded.  I thought it was good!  Has anyone opened their eyes lately?  Is sex no longer about children?  Have we advertised the impact of contraception on the human breakdown of the family?  Divorce has sky rocked.  Single parenthood in many neighborhoods is 70% and higher.  What is the emotional cost and impact on children from all of these changes?  Our prisons are overflowing with angry, upset young men most from single parents homes.  Discipline in schools is major growing problem.

Are we in denial about the nature of our humanity and natures use of hormones?  Do we not know what takes place year in and year out in natures survival of life?  In many parts of our world cultures are approaching self annihilation because of the refusal to birth children.  Anyone talking about the death of Christianity by those who [profess to be Catholic’s and Christians.  Who has muted the voices of our Bishops and Religious leaders?

Has anyone noticed the changes that have taken place over the years in Hollywood, TV, movies, entertainment and video game industry.  Do they glorify violence and shoot em up adventures?  Is promiscuous and raw sex displayed as normal?  How about the impact of the internet, the smart phone and sexting?  And what about the explosion of porn – the objectification of women, children and sex?

We have become a people who lack the courage to ask ourselves tough questions!  What is the stumbling block that prevents us from asking the tough questions that affect people with the potential to pick up and use a gun?  Why are we so afraid to ask these questions?

What is a safe zone?  Shouldn’t a mothers womb the safest zone every created.  Ask a small kid?  Who is the enemy of that zone?  Is it a gun or is it man?

Aren’t a mother and a father supposed to be the protectors of their children with the duty and responsible to assure their safety?  Who overrode those parental rights?  Why do we entrust our children to people who have allowed the children to run the school?   What system or systems in Broward County failed the students and faculty in that school?  Do we not know our government has encouraged the non reporting of violent crimes in schools?  If you see something – say something!  Did that work?  And what is the FBI doing these days – does anyone know?  So how can a system based upon reported crimes prevent someone from purchasing a gun when the system rewards non reporting?  Have emotions overtaken and all bet eliminated logic and leadership?

My brother tried every kind of drug while he was in college.  He took his own life!  So we ant to legalize pot!  Emotion has overridden logic!  What about all the drugs people are using today?  Is anyone paying attention?  Can we ask?  What is the drug overdose rate today?  Does anyone notice all the drug commercials on TV?  What is our society selling – a quick fix – just take a pill?

And we have just entered the arena of social media and new technology?  What about social media?  Will the children of the future develop social skills to interact with people face to face?  What again about the deterioration of the family and why is it children with a mother and father are so much more successful on average?   Do we have the courage to ask the questions that we get to the heart of the problem or have our emotions trapped us in a dialogue with a gun issue?

Folks, we have a culture problem.  Our values are in the toilet!  It’s time for our emotions to take on a trip back to source when we look ourselves in the mirror of truth so the door of hope is opened and we can begin again to reach for the full potential of the gift of life!

Finally, does anyone know that true love will piss of an awful lot of people?  Didn’t the people of his own family take the one who came to testify to the true to a cross?  Weren’t they jealous and envious of his courage to speak the truth?  And they didn’t like the way he preached because it forced them to look into the mirror of truth!  So I ask, do we modern day sophisticated people really want to hear the good news or do we just want happy talk?

Self examination in the deeps of ones soul is where forgiveness and healing begin.  Love one another as I loved you!  Lord have mercy!

Tail Waging!

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With a New Year comes new beginnings and realities of time marching on! Each day something must die that we might have new life! We don’t think about that! This time of year reality can catch us off guard.

We have our sixth dog that is not our dog. It is the neighbors dog who has had the run of the neighborhood and has acquired multiple eating places. Things changed on an intense stormy day when this dog joined our fourth and fifth dogs, that also were not our dogs, in our garage to escape the heavy rain. Some weeks later our fourth dog that is not our dog passed and the fifth was hit by a car.

Then one evening when my wife was out of town a sudden storm with heavy rain rushed over the neighborhood. To my surprise I heard the neighbor dog knocking at the back porch door. I let her in and intended to let her back out when the storm relented. When it got late, the storm wasn’t running out of gas, so I let the dog spend the night. No good deed done in secret escapes my wife.
Well if I could do that! – magically a dog bed showed up in front of the TV. To my surprise another sprang forth in the bedroom. The sixth dog – not our dog – was crowned queen without my consent! Her 1st thrown was in front of the TV so she could over see us and another in the bedroom to watch us during the night. It must have been magic because overnight this dog – not our dog, began to model my wife’s pattern of shepherding. She would search the house until she found us and then attempted to guide us to where we were supposed to be. She would lay and wait and not go to her thrown/bed until we were in the right places.

Long ago our neighbor who is very busy with small children learned by watching the dog leaving the yard and the kids running after my wife’s car or mine when we came home. It was not a walk or a slow trot – it was a I can’t wait to see you run. The dog is 14 and the children made her nervous and my wife and I are slow.

Well the chill and cold of the New Year brought to light those 14 year old hind legs don’t want to work like they should. And during a recent long cold night her struggles intensified. Getting up has become a mighty effort but her desire to search for us just as intense! Her trips outside now require assistance and careful monitoring after. The time for traveling the neighborhood – not so much – it is obvious to our neighbor as well mother time is running short.

So many memories and pets! I have to ask! Who knows someone who is struggling, is broken in some way, lost in the neighborhood, looking to get out of the storm and the rain, just hoping someone will notice they exist, isolated in a crowd of busy people, praying someone will search for them and ask whats up and invite them in? How many have I am mad at you relative? A dog will receive us with boundless joy and eagerness all over if only our body makes a slight welcome motion – come and enter my safe space. Forgiveness is a dogs nature! How come we humans are so slow to reach out to humans beyond ourselves?

The dogs of my life – even those that are not my dogs have taught me much time and again – they never ever give up even to the end. Imagine we each have been gifted with scars, struggles, rejection, loss, failures and sin. Yea I mean you too – the one who thinks they have nothing to offer! Far far far greater is the potential of those willing to risk reaching way into the depths of their soul and setting free the breath of new life that can be carried on the wind to a soul wondering? Just say “hey I am thinking of you and hope all is well”! Amen – and then why is my tail waging?

Be Observant for Beauty!

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Today I drove through Montecila Georgia. The small truck in front of me wasn’t in a hurry to turn the corner at a stop sign. The delay gave me time to notice a black woman and white woman visiting on the sidewalk across the street.

About 30 minutes later on my return I was slowed again by another small truck pulling a trailer with a mower. To my surprise those two women were just saying good bye. I stopped at the corner and put my window down and asked the black lady – “Did you have a good visit”? Why yes she said! I told her I passed by 30 minutes before and told her she had participated in blessings untold. A treasure before me I would have missed if not for slow truck drivers.

Blessings are all around us even when our hurry up is in gear! Tell someone the blessings you see!

Language that Speaks to the Heart

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A couple weeks ago I signed up for a Spanish on-line class being offered by my diocese. I have young “espanic” speaking inmates who attend the Catholic service I support at the Burruss Correctional Training Center (- state prison).

Started the on-line class last week and realized I didn’t know where I had put my ear phones with mic when I bought this pc.
Class is recorded so as I tried to listen while I searched the God lord had me look in the right place.

I was reminded my dad’s parents where immigrants as children through Ellis Island. My dad told me when he was a boy and the immigrant children in his neighborhood mostly refused to speak their parents native tongue because they were now American’s.

Years later, my dad told me he regretted that decision because he lost the ability to speak the language of his parents.

So if you know someone young or old do not be afraid to tell them it is not un-American to be fluently bi-lingual. A human being is capable of cherishing both.

And if your English only tolerant – ease up a little.

A secret key lies hidden in desire to reach the heart of the listener where the door of hope is found for every human!

Sometimes one must grow old to begin to understand the fullness of the language of life, hope and love!

Cell Phones are Dangerous in Cars!

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Count your blessings!! This evening I was on my way home driving down highway 109 East coming up to the crest of a hill. A car jumped out of a ditch straight up in the air – vertical with the nose pointed to the sky and flopped over and came to a stop. Pulled off the road, phone out dialing 911. But by the grace of God had I been faster oh Lord have mercy!

Out of car walking across street dialing 911, Pike county 1.5 miles west of Walker Road and Lamar County line – car flipped with woman in car. The woman in the car is face down – her face in passenger seat laying across the whole front seat, doors locked or unable to open the door. Driver side window down or broken – found unlock button, pushed unlock – man on other side – doors won’t open. Pull hard, another woman walks up and somehow passenger side door opens. The woman face down head against passenger side door has not been breathing. Man on other side is retired Griffin fire department. Woman still not breathing, man says we need to get her head up so she can breath. Find children’s blankets in back seat. He holds her head up and I push blankets under her head to help hold it up. Now kneeling holding her head up – her name Rebeca – Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name and she takes a gurgling breath. At least two minutes without breathing. Blood coming from her mouth. Each breath still gurgling but now more frequent. We are with you Rebeca hold on help is coming.

She weights over 300 pounds. Kids coloring book papers completed laying on the floor in the front. She is going to need to be a life flight says the fire man. The fireman man grows weary from holding her up, the lady takes his place. My arms grow weary and the man takes my place. Where is the help and how we going to get her out of this car? Help arrives, stretcher out with hard board stretcher to go under her. Lift her head and hold steady while we lift her enough to slide her forward onto the stretcher. Not sure how many helped lift and push but I was surrounded. She was breathing more regularly now thank God. Into ambulance while helicopter arrives and EMT’s come to her aid.

That retired fireman saved her life. Your prayers may save her life and bring comfort to whoever those children are.

Amen!

My brain is still processing a car vertical in the air!!! Gotta say what I am thinking — Cell phones are so DANGEROUS!!!!

To my children, especially grand children – YOUR NOT THAT GREAT A DRIVER you can check your phone, text, talk and drive safely!!!!!

Don’t over extend your ability and distract yourself – it could cost some one precious the gift of life.

Grand Parents God kept you around to pass wisdom off – get to work and parents don’t be afraid or hesitate to take away those cell phones – it may save a life.

And remember some how I manged to live without them for most of my life.

New car makers must create technology to disable phones while a car is moving with some kind of emergency override not so easy to get to. For this I pray!

Thanks Uncle Butch!

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When I think of a veteran I remember my uncle Butch. World War II ran 3 tanks that were destroyed and his partner in each tank killed. 3 Purple Hearts but he wasn’t done. He then volunteered for reconnaissance missions behind the German lines. War is hell and he walked through hell so we could be free! When he returned home on a ship they kept those men off shore for two weeks before they stepped on American soil. They did this because when ones life is on the line 24-7 the fighting instinct grows stronger as you watch your buddies die along your side. Wisdom is a gift acquired when ones spirit is tested to the bottom of ones soul.

When we stand for the national anthem we testify to a Wisdom of sacrifice greater than ourselves that every American who wishes to acquire this Wisdom and willingness to die for his brother will gladly leap to his feet and stand tall. Thanks Uncle Butch wish I could have thanked you while you walked the face of this Nation.

Dreams, Hope, Life

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Found my way to Long Island New York on an adventure to observe and learn more about Lacrosse. Wasn’t bargaining for 1:30 hour trip to go 30+ miles to Farmingdale. Only saw one Farm? Dark city @ 4:45 PM and folks talk funny. Grandsons team went 3 for 3 against 2 New York teams and one from ??? Somewhere!

In every adventure there is hidden treasure – the secret to finding it lies in ones ability to watch with anticipation for the prize that was promised in ages past!

Beauty unveils herself always – she sometimes cleverly hides herself in the mist of the dew that hangs in the air often disguised through the rough road one can not avoid for the chance to find her!

I wish you the encounter of the breath of beauty as she caress’s your face in the circumstances of life’s treasured moments each day!

Mud Puddles for Men!

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A summary of my day. The rain she came and covered the fields to overflow. The boys came to play as is the nature of a boy to find every puddle possible while slipping and sliding to accomplish the fullest covering and merger with the earth and water possible – let us be merging the necessary ingredients of sustaining life in it’s original design. But mother God had more – she sent her breath across the fields whipping up the wind to create a soup no one could escape.

As the day drew on the rain ceased and the wind increased! Blown away by the intense activity of joys growing into men unashamed by majesty and power of nature that embraced them. A muddy mess it was that feed my soul for the hope and promise of sustaining new life in the image of it’s creator rather than in the confusion the self centered and appointed elitist would limit God’s gift of  time! Thank you Lord!!!! I think i bled mud! Here’s some mud in yer eye! Ha ha I wanna play too!!men to this world. I never saw so many boys playing in the mud at the same

History – Bill Clinton & Sexual Harassment

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In the 1990’s while I worked for the Federal Government and Bill Clinton was president, due to his behavior I was required to go through “Sexual Harassment Training” six times in one year! I was about ready to file a complaint about being harassed by the training!

How is it that our elected Federal Officials have had a slush fund all these years and have yet to be held accountable?

Federal officials, political parties, Hollywood and the media have failed us. Perhaps the greatest offender and source of sexual harassment comes through pornography and they get rich while escaping accountability as well!

And where have the feminists been all during this time??? When is someone going to ask who are these women who seem to lack an understanding of motherhood?

Maybe there is hope today the secret agenda’s will finally begin to be reveled for what they are and the people who support them will be held accountable! We can at least pray the day of the Lord has arrived so all to can see the truth!

Oops, someone will get upset – awh shucks I used the word prayer and “the day of the Lord”. Sure we can depend on them to clear up this little problem without the help of God!!!!