I See Stars – Sherlock Homes & Dr Watson

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2nd Sunday of Lent February 28, 2010

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go camping.  They pitch their tent under the stars.  During the night, Holmes wakes his companion and says: “Watson, look up at the stars, and tell me what you deduce.” Watson says: “I see millions of stars.  Wow If only even a few of those have planets, it’s quite likely there are some like Earth, and there might also be life there as well.”  Holmes replies: “Watson, you idiot. Somebody stole our tent …”

Let’s see what we can deduce from our scriptures today that will help us explore who we are and what we should be about!  Then we can answer the question; are we a Sherlock Homes or Dr. Watson?

Upon this rock I will build my church.  Peter wakes up from a deep sleep. He must have rubbed his eyes in disbelief.  Before him stands the Lord in dazzling white with Moses and Elijah – Ghosts stand before him.  Peter, just awakening is unable to digest the fullness of the moment, being true to his nature, pipes in saying, let us pitch 3 tents.  As Peter is speaking a cloud comes over them, they became frightened and a voice spoke out from the cloud.  “This is my beloved son, listen to him.”

So what is the message for us this day?  Did anyone notice what Moses, Elijah and Jesus were talking about?   They were speaking of Jesus Exodus in Jerusalem.  What does this mean?  They had something very much in common, an exodus story.  Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.  Elijah delivered a message of covenant curse to Ahab the King: a drought would afflict the land (1 Ki 17:1).  Oh Ahab wasn’t happy with Elijah and called for his head.  The Lord told Elijah to “go hide” east of the Jordan (17:3).  Moses and Elijah both made flights into the wilderness wanderings for the purpose of leading Israel back into a covenant relation with the Lord.

Ah ha!  Ah ha!  Oh Sherlock and Dr. Watson – someone has stolen our tent!

I don’t think you got it yet!

Peter wanted to pitch 3 tents in this safe and sacred place but he did not know what he was saying!  In other words the Lord Jesus Christ is not calling us to stay put and camp out!  That is not the purpose for which God is calling us!  – ya can’t stay where your at – like Moses, Elijah and Jesus we all have an exodus journey call and need to move on.  We can’t stay where we are at!  It’s time to move on!

Let’s start over; we can’t leave Dr. Watson behind.  The Genesis story today is the bedrock story, upon which stands, not only Abraham’s faith but yours and mine as well.

God commanded Abraham to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldeans and go to a land I will show you.  God promises the land to Abraham.

Speaking for myself, for much of my life I went into a deep slumber.  From time to time I would awaken to ah ha moments and like Peter I would respond recognizing, man it is good to be alive in those moments.  If only I could stay here and I would pitch a tent!  Are you with me?

Like Peter, we want to stay in our ah hah moments – the symbol of the tents.  Stay in that safe moment and cover our ears.  For when the cloud comes and casts a shadow over us we are unable to respond to the words, the Lord our God speaks.  This is my beloved Son listen to Him.

Jesus exodus story – He went before us.  He suffered for us.  He plowed the path way for us.  He calls us to follow where he went.

When the sun had set, a deep terrifying darkness enveloped Abraham.  There appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch which passed between the split pieces of animal offerings.  It was on this occasion that the Lord made a covenant with Abraham.  Normally both parties would pass through between the animals, but here only God passes through showing his willingness to suffer for us.  Abraham makes no promises, but simply believes in God’s promises.

When we finally get the picture and move on, God is with us.  We do not walk alone!  In the year 2010, the evil one has stolen our Christian tent of faith.  The mother figure, the father figure, the church, Christianity, marriage, the family, the right to life, what it right and wrong have all been under attach, under mined and stolen by a great big lie!

Every possible issue is in a crisis today except any of the above!  Are we asleep?  Every crisis we have today is caused by a lack of the practice of our Christian faith.  If we are to remain a free people, we must embrace and embark upon an exodus journey and lead this nation back into a covenant relationship with the Lord.

Do You See What I See?

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4th Sunday of Advent December 23, 2012

Micah was the last of the four prophets of the 8th century BCE.  He was called to address the people during dark times.  Times were bad, very bad.  The people had been led into captivity and slavery.  The future looked bleak, and hope seemed to have vanished.  The People were distressed and questioning.  They are surrounded by signs of darkness and loss.

Sound like today?  20 little lambs and six shepherds lay out in a field.  What do we want most for Christmas?

Danger on all Sides:

Danger surrounded them on all sides.  The Assyrian’s armies of Tiglathpilser III had conquered Damascus and Samaria.  Sennacherib was occupying part of coastal region and menacing Moresheth.   Micah knew the people had long ago chosen to reject God.  For not only was the threat external but the prophets, priests and judges had long been accepting bribes.

Wickedness of Leaders:

Micah witnessed the wickedness of leaders political and spiritual.  Princes and merchants were cheating and robbing the poor and humble, esp. women and children.   Priests, prophets and leaders were adapting words to create images the people wanted to hear.   Their leaders mislead the people to swap what was evil for good.  The Lord must have looked away and abandoned them to their plight.

Families Attacked and Separated:

Poor little suffering small inconsequential town.  Taken into captivity, families separated, children from parents, parents from grandparents, spouse from spouses.  No one to speak about their heart ache and pain.  Was there nowhere to turn?

Micah was thrust into the stark reality that dreams and images of hope had been shattered and darkness had closed in from all sides.

An ancient story, a promise of hope that buried in his heart leaped into Micah’s mouth and ever so gently escaped into the dark night air.

Do You See What I See?

Said the night wind – to the little lamb:  Do you see what I see?
‘Way up in the sky, – little lamb,

Do you see what I see?  A star, a star Dancing in the night,
|: With a tail as big as a kite. 😐

Bethlehem, Ephrathah the city of David.  Too small to among the clans of Judah, from you shall come for me the ruler, origin of old, from ancient times. The Promise of Hope!

The message of a Promised King.

When the virgin gives birth and He shall stand firm and shepherd, with that shall reach to the ends of the earth, shall be peace.

Said the little lamb to the – shepherd boy:  Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing thru the sky, – shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song High above the tree, |: With a voice as big as the sea. 😐

Times were bad. Danger not only external but prophets, priests and judges were accepting bribes. Micah is preoccupied with the wickedness of leaders, political and spiritual.  While princes and merchants cheat and rob the poor and humble, esp. women and children.   Priests and prophets adapt their words to please their audience.   The leaders mistake evil for good.   Dreams shattered all about as the darkness of night closes in from all sides.  Nowhere to turn.  Unable to procreate.

True prophecy is rejected, and sacrifices are emptied of their relationship to God.  The Lord must look away and abandon them to their plight.  However, a message of Hope in the middle.  A remnant.

Bethlehem, Ephrathah the city of David.  Too small to among the clans of Judah, from you shall come for me the ruler, origin of old, from ancient times.

Hebrews Bethlehem, Ephrathah the city of David.  Too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come for me the ruler, origin of old, from ancient times.

The Child, the Child, – sleeping in the night
He will bring us – goodness and light He will bring us – goodness and light

The Secret – The Spirit Hidden Within

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17th Sunday of Ordinary Time July 29, 201

I know a secret!  Anyone want to know what my secret is?  Is anyone searching for answers?  Is anyone searching for wisdom?  Does anyone want to know the secret to becoming the creator of an idea or dream that leads to a success story?  Does anyone want to know the secret to achieving more than they ever thought they could?

Anyone want to know the secret to living life in a manner which sets free ones spirit to dream and imagine beyond one limitations.  Anyone want to know the secret doorway that allows one to utilize ones natural aptitudes and talents to the fullest?  Anyone want to know and live the reason for which they were created?  Does anyone want to know the secret to the source that enables one to reach beyond themselves to open and create a spiritual infection that engulfs and set on fire all those around them?

To discover this secret one must be ready and open to having their heart tested?  Does anyone know what heart I am talking about?  It is the heart of our spirit – the place now one else knows or can see.  It’s the place where we freely make our decisions!  It is the place the evil one attacks to destroy the spirit of truth that lives there.

Listen to the secret that is hidden in the scripture readings today!  From 2 Kings we hear of a man from Baal-shalishah.  This must have been a man grounded of the earth with dirt under his fingernails – a farmer who brought Elisha, twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.”  Being a practical hard working common servant of the earth he objected.  You gotta be kidding me!  This is the best of my best.  It is reserved for sacrifice to God alone.  Further “How can I set this before a hundred people and each have enough to eat?”

Yet Elisha insisted for he knew the secret, “Give it to the people to eat.”  “For thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'”  Indeed when they had eaten, there was some left over.  One can not out give God.

The secret reveled?  Within the Barley grain lie’s a secret.  In those days barley was considered a common grain for common people and to feed the poor.  But Elisha knew the secret hidden there.  Barley provides excellent nutrition and protein to sustain life abundantly.  It is food that provides for growth and bone and muscle.  Even today Barley is feed to maintain a competitive edge to racing pigeons so they can excel.  Barley is a symbol of no matter how lowly or poor one is viewed one cannot exhaust the potential spirit of God that lives within no matter the circumstances of the time!

We humans are such slow learners and throughout history we tend to stumble over the same basic lessons of truth – To teach us God chooses what the world views as foolish, weak, lowly, common, poor, despised or essentially unqualified.  Our God unleashes from a spirit of unity, an abundance which can overcome the impossible to those willing to open their hearts to the risk of encountering the spirit of God that calls from within ones heart.

Again the essence of this secret is reveled in the letter to the Ephesians!  Did we hear it?  We are called to the unity of one hope, one Lord and Father of all, one faith, and one baptism.  The secret of abundance lives in the grace that flows from the spirit of Baptism into the soul of the baptized for ever more!  We tend to think of baptism as a one time event of long ago.  Yet we know our souls are marked indelibly, forever and the grace of Baptism can never be exhausted!  One cannot separate the spirit from the body for this God never abandons us!  Our hope lives in our unity with God’s potential to overcome division from within.

Today we will celebrate the Baptism of one of our own.  The spirit of the secret will be poured out through Baptism onto not just this child of God but we the baptized will be re-immersed into the unity of the font of new life.  We the people stand as the witness for the church.  We the people stand as the unity of the Body of Christ dedicated to supporting this child from this day forward.

Like the people of Jesus time we the people must live in our modern day, a world full of anger, inequity and turmoil.  We are confronted with what seems an endless and unbounded human ability to wreck tragic anger, failure, uncertainty, fear, and grief upon our fellow man.  We soberly stand as a witness to the recent 2012 Massacre in Colorado where God seems to have been absent or even cruel.

In the gospel today we hear Jesus saw the hunger of the large crowd.  So He asked Philip, where can we purchase enough food to feed them?  “Two hundred days?’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.'” Then Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”   Note a boy in Jesus time was considered by the world to be almost nonexistent, owned by his parents, an insignificant nobody.

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”

Through the boy, the barley loaves and two fishes the secret ingredient is reveled.  An abundant and inexhaustible supply of the food for the hungry is always at the finger tips of a people in desperate need of the truth that sets people free.

If we want to begin restoring our nation to prosperity the journey begins with a willing spirit open to the secret that lives in the unity of faith in only one true God who can multiply what appears to be the spirit hidden in common barley loaves and feed a hungry people.

All times of testing are not comfortable.  But the secret hidden in the story will sustain us for it’s demonstrates God’s graciousness, for through the revelation of God’s gift of free will only a spirit united to God can achieve a deepening of our unity in one faith and an inexhaustible supply of the spirit of love to crumble the walls of division.

Somebody Else Built It!

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Business’s

These words “Somebody Else Built It” were spoken recently by the president of the USA referring to those who have created and / or built a business.  Within this statement lives a point of view and a value of the president about the creation of a business.  No one is capable of building a business independently or on their own!  He further sated the business’s employees who work hard are also responsible for the business.

Well how come these statements have become so controversial?

Let’s examine the business creator to begin with.  This person or persons must have made a conscientious decision to create a business and at the stage a worker is not even in the picture.  At this point the business lives in the mind and heart of the creator.

Next the creator must do the necessary prerequisite work to create a business concept and plan.  One must undertake an investigation to determine the financial and personal risks.  Eventually the creator must decide to take the necessary steps and risk of investing ones time, talent and treasure into this new venture!  Still at this point in the process a potential employee / worker is still not in the picture.

Once the creator launches into the new business the creator must be willing to dedicate oneself to work as many hours and days as is necessary to achieve financial and individual satisfaction.  Even now an employee is not necessarily in the equation.

At some point when the business enterprise achieves sufficient success the creator must begin the search to identify prospective employees!  The the creator must conduct some type of analysis to determine which person have the proper attitude and aptitude to help the creator grow this business.    The creator must further assess the proper talent, attitude, pay and benefits compensation to attract the correct employees which will be critical to continued success.   We still do not have an employee and the creator is still working.

So when the creator does hire an employee the creator is still not finished.  The mission and vision of the business which lives in the heart of the creator must be passed on to the employee.  But this informational passage is just the beginning for the creator.  The creator must now monitor the employee to validate and assure the employee understands and is willing and able to support the mission and vision of the business.

At this point the creator must assure the business operates in compliance with all regulation and rules of local, state and federal regulations.

Should the business begin to fail the creator takes home the problem in hope a solution will be forthcoming.  Should and / the employee become a detriment to the success the creator must confront the problem head on and if necessary take corrective action or even dismiss the employee.

Should the business begin to struggle financially the creator must confront the salary of every person working in the business including the owner.

None of this is done without an emotional toll on the creator.

— Let’s see —  How is it —

the president equates the owner/creator & the worker as co-equal?

Yep it’s only fair — they both can work hard right?

Who did the president say takes home the burden and responsibility for the business and it’s employees?

Was it the creator or the worker?

 

Holy Smokes – Three Persons – One God

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Year B Solemnity – Holy Trinity June 3, 2012

At what age do children ask the most questions?  At age 4 children are asking about 400-600 questions a day.  The Solemnity of the Holy Spirit is a feast day dedicated to getting Christians of every age to revive the spirit of a questioning child who seemingly can not quench its thirst for answers!

In today’s scriptures we are encouraged to ask.  Do not be afraid to ask!  Asking opens doorways and pathways to spiritual learning.  An inquiring spirit can open itself to the voices of wisdom past.  Listening to the stories of salvation history and from the voices of those who precede us in life offers opportunity to reap the benefits of spiritual treasures otherwise buried.

Let me be clear, no one of any age is excluded, no matter how many birthday candles it takes to light up our spiritual quest for answers!  This is an equal age opportunity of a life time.

In the Book of Deuteronomy Moses tells us.  Ask now of the days of old before your time.  Ask from one end of the sky to the other.  From our first wakening until the moment we drift off to sleep!  I bet the more candles we have acquired the more spiritual questions we have.

Young folks the wisdom of the ages is hidden here.  Yes we can learn from the days of old!

What are the burning questions in our hearts?  What are the burning questions of our time?  I would love to be able to ask my grand parents, my mother and father questions about the impact of their faith on the real life struggles of the great depression, the rationing that took place during WWII, and a multitude of other questions.

Children ask the voices of the past will unveil the answers hidden there.  You have my permission to bug your parents.  The unchanging treasures of the truth are buried in the hearts of the faithful.  They are built upon the ancient stories of scripture which are waiting to be broken open and poured out when opened.  These contain the waters of truth which can quench our thirst.

By the spirit of our nature we are created to unending questioning that seeks to discover the truth.  It is buried in our spiritual DNA.  It is our soul created in the image of God himself who calls us unceasingly to ask.

Why is all this questioning necessary one may ask?  This is why, says Moses.  You must know and fix in your heart, that Lord is God in the heavens above and the earth below and that there is no other!  There is only one true God!   God is the Creator.  We humans are creatures that inhabit the world created by God for us.

Moses was not through yet.  You must keep His statues and commandments that you and your children may prosper and that you may have a long life on the land which the Lord, your God is giving you.

Isn’t that the American Dream – Prosperity and long life in our land?  America has been blessed with prosperity, a long life on the land God has set to be a light shinning unto all the world?

What is the central burning question in our nation today?  Is the American Dream still alive?  Or have we begun to accept the shackles and chains of some other American dream?  How do we restore the promise of prosperity of the old to the people of our land today?  Could it be as this nation as this nation turned away from the way, the life and the Truth prosperity began slipping away?  Have we been taken hostage by looking for answers in conjured up non living American Idols and hyped up cyber space images with no power to save us from the destination of bondage and slavery?

In 2012, we are experiencing multiple systematic attacks on Christianity from almost every sector of our society.  Though there have always been those who seek to silence the voice of God that speaks the truth the attacks have grown more sophisticated and unrelenting.

Do not be deceived by pretty images and language taken hostage as its meaning is being plundered by those who seek to deceive an unsuspecting and unknowing ear.

They continue to conjured up images as a new progressive language art form has been created that violates and subverts the use of language of salvation history in an unending offensive to distract and fool the people of faith to take the road that leads away from the source of truth and salvation.

Though things may seem a mess, scripture teaches there is always hope.  Turn around and come back to me is a repeated theme throughout scripture.  No earthly power has ever overcome the voice of a faithful united Church dependent upon a loving God who has defended the church from the forces of evil that seek to silence it in every generation.

From the Book of Romans we are reminded of the power of the spirit of God as we hear – Those led by the spirit of God are the children of God.  As children we did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear – be not afraid for we have received a spirit of adoption through whom we cry “Abba, Father” We are His children and as such heirs with Christ on a mission to the truth if only we suffer with Him that we may be glorified with Him.  Father and Mother God save us from the folly of the human spirit which seeks to play God!

Solemnity – Holy Trinity Year B June 3, 2012

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Year B Solemnity – Holy Trinity June 3, 2012

Questions: a Thirst for an Answer:

At what age do children ask the most questions?  At age 4 children are asking about 400-600 questions a day.  The Solemnity of the Holy Spirit is a feast day dedicated to getting Christians of every age to revive that spirit of a questioning child who seemingly can not quench its thrist for answer!

We are all a Child in the Spiritual Sense:

Let me be clear, no one here of any age is excluded, no matter how many birthday candles it takes to light up our spiritual quest for answer!  Our The scripture readings today encourage us to take on the attitude of a 2-4 year old and ask.

Moses tells us.  Ask now of the days of old before your time.  Ask from one end of the sky to the other.  From our first wakening moment until the moment we drift off into sleep!  I bet the more candles we have acquired the more spiritual questions we have.

What are the burning questions in our hearts?  I would love to be able to ask my grand parents, my mother and father questions about the great depression, the rationing that took place during WWII, and a multitude of questions about their faith journey.

Children ask for the answers to the unchanging treasures of truth buried in the hearts of the faithful built upon the ancient stories of scripture which can pour out the only water of truth that can quench our thirst.  By our nature we are created to question and seek the truth.  It is buried in our DNA.  It is our soul created in the image of God himself who calls us to discover the truth.

Only One God no other:

Why is all this questioning necessary one may ask?  This is way says Moses.  You must know and fix in your heart that, that Lord is God in the heavens above and the earth below an that there is no other!  There is only one true God!

Prosperity:

But wait, wait I am not through.  You must keep His statues and commandments that you and your children after you may prosper and that you may have a long life on the land which the Lord, your God is giving you.  Prosperity and long life in our land!

Isn’t that the central burning question in our nation today?  How do we restore prosperity to our citizens.  Could it be this nation has turned away from the way, the life and the Truth and is looking for answers in a conjured up American Idol with glorious images but no power to save?

In our world today we are experiencing multiple systematic attacks on this simple truth from almost every sector of our society.  Those who seek to silence the voice of God that speaks the truth with fire.  There is no more powerful voice than the Church and the forces of evil must silence it.  Do not be deceived by pretty images and language being plundered of it’s it’s meaning by those who would deceive.

They have conjured up images, a new art language form has been created that violates and subverts the use of language in an unending offensive to distract and fool the people of faith to take the road that leads away from the source of salvation.

I am here to testify to our young people, I not only lived before there was TV but I survived.  I lived in the days when people used outhouses even in the cold winter.  It didn’t take long to take care of your business – there were very few hurry ups to use the bathroom.  I lived in the day when parents and grand parents sat down with their families to eat dinner.  I lived in the day when parents, grand parents, aunts and uncles told family stories of the days of old..  I lived in the day when family picnics where the tradition on Sunday afternoons and all the stores were closed.

Inquire / Ask / Read / Listen / Pray to the Spirit of Truth

Anyone seen one of those TV commercials where they use the terminology – “I have an Inquiring Mind”.  These commercials are designed to create an image that will both attract our attention, desire, trigger our imagination playing upon our unsuspecting natural curiosity of the human instinct to venture into a new world while bypassing spiritual safeguards.

Desire inquire /  read — I have an inquiring mind – heard that before – the tabloids.  Ask about history before your time – ask from one end of the sky to the other.  Learn by inquiring from the voices of the past and listening to the stories of salvation history from those who preceded us in life.  .

Romans – Those led by the spirit of God are the children of God.  You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but  a spirit of adoption through whom we cry “Abba, Father”  We are His children and as such heirs with Christ if only we suffer with Him that we may be glorified with Him.

Contraception – Decption – Wrap Your Arms Around This:

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Contraception and the Freedom of Religion

The War on Women – oops – maybe this is really a War on men!!!  Maybe it’s war against survivability of the human race?

In the 1960’s when I was growing up contraception – the pill offered great hope for woman who wanted to decide when to have children and have a better way to avoid pregnancy during various family situations.  Contraception a good – right? .

Well What Has Happened Since?

Today the divorce rate has sky rocketed to over 50% of marriages and is closer to 80% for second and third marriages.   Today over 50% of the babies being born are to single unmarried women and increasing!

What does Contraception do the Natural Woman?

Contraception fools the women’s hormonal body into believing she is pregnant and therefore she enters a fertility sleep induced state.  Her body no longer manufactures and sends out normal hormonal scents and messages.

Now I admit to being old, so am willing to take the risk to admit in my life time I have discovered my masculinity has a built in automatic capacity to detect and sense a woman who is sexually ripe to be impregnated.  This male capacity is not dissimilar to that a Buck deers ability to detect those does in estrus from those that are not.  It is built in by mother nature and a deer requires no lessons or study.

Those non contraceptive women who enter into a peak fertility period change visually as well as secret hormones one cannot smell yet is detectably by a human male.   Frequently in my life I have noticed women, who normally I did find attractive to one day capture the automatic attention of my eye.  Over a period of years I became aware these women who caught my eye soon were obviously pregnant.  As a result of my observation I began to question this conclusion.  Could it be true?

I could also see this phenomena in young girls as they reached sexual maturity which is long before they reach social maturity in today’s world.  But I noticed another phenomena – when those same girls began using contraception a few years later my instinctive attraction to them rapidly declined.

Contraceptives fool the body of a woman a fertility dormant state which a man automatically can detect and has consequences for the woman as well.

Contraception has stealthily changed the natural attraction chemistry and hormonal reactions between males and females.  In other words contraceptive women are now chossing their mates without the benefit of mother natures instinctive guidance.  And the difference in the choices they make open the possibility the circumvention of natures non contraceptive attraction is not working out so well!

Mother natures plan seeks to match a female with a male who can protect, defend and procreate children who will one day replace the male and female.

To counter this unintended consequence, woman realized something was amiss – cause the boys attention had drifted.  So what have they done?  Less cloths and tighter clad cloth that reveal more and more while the use of augmented enhancement facial and breast surgery has escalated.

One could conclude contraception has stolen humans natural attraction between male and female and substituted artificial stimulus.

So the government has taken the position women have a right to contraceptives!  And we know how insightful and politically correct the government is!

So what does this have to do with religion – well at least the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on contraceptives.  Abstinence is a free will choice that enables a woman to avoid contraceptives and all the unintended consequences.  Mother natures natural attraction is facilitated through the release of a women’s unimpeded hormones and her ability to use that of the opposite sex as uninterrupted criteria to select a life long mate.

With contraception the male instinctive senses are over ridden and we have an increased state of confusion among males.

Studies with monkeys have been undertaken which suggest contraception confuses the work of mother nature and the impact to males is equal to that of females.  Perhaps leading us toward the further confusion and the wussification of men!

Proclaim the Image of the High Ground then Stoop to the Underground

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Civility = Listen Listen Listen

Recognize modern man is using technology to bombard folks with the “IMAGES OF” in hopes most folks will be fooled into believing the image is more real than the truth!  This truth is ancient – “Do what I say” and but please please don’t pay attention to my head fake, what I mean or what I do!

An open discerning heart will listen both human and spiritual ears and the door to the heart of the image will be opened to the light of truth!  Be observant of what is said!   The truth is reveled by comparing the images projected against what is said one day and how it matches up with the image projected!  An open heart will soon learn the true character of the speaker and the image projected!

One unwilling or unable to observe will soon find themselves fooled by a false image of truth which serves to camouflage lie that serve to advance an agenda that otherwise could not stand the light day.  Soon such a fool with happily embrace the shackles and chains  of slavery without a whimper.

The USA is on it’s way to bondage and slavery unaware selfishness is the impediment and stumbling block that serves as a sleeping pill!

Wake up America the Land of the Brave and the Free.  Bravery and Freedom require an observent and listening people who are on guard against images of deceptions and lies that promise hope when in actuality are shackles and chains to the soul of true liberty and justice!

The Vine and the Vine Grower – 5th Sunday of Easter

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5th Sunday of Easter May 7, 2012

I just love when a scripture reading begins with the word Children.  It reminds me that no matter the number of birthdays we are all still children at heart when it comes to faith.  Today’s scripture has a double impact today because this is the 5th Sunday of Easter and the last day of religious education for our children.  Yea summer is almost upon us and we can play!

So children, moved by the spirit of survival and renewed life (speaker had open heart surgery in October) the good Lord gave to me a vine story to tell!  In fact it’s a story you can tell your parents.  Children, let us begin with love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.  Does that mean walk the talk?

This past January I planted two bare root grape vines 2/3 of the way down a hill not far from my lake on the other side of the lake from my cabin.  I choose that location because I could watch it, the hill gets lots of sun and is close to water.

But the good lord gave me more motivation to choose that spot.  The year before, I encountered total failure when I planted on the top of the same hill.  That year the first two vines flourished in the spring because of regular rain.  I was a happy boy until the reality of summer, the selection of the location and the unwillingness of the vine grower to follow through by walking the talk.  Both vines dried up and died.

So did I say we all have a vine grower job to do for our children and grand children?  This summer and who is going to watch over them?  Children today have so many more temptations and risky behaviors bombarding them than I ever had as a child.  When I was a kid we went out to play until dark!  Today kids play on a multiple technology devices and can be absorbed into cyber space and never encounter a real human person.

Back to the vine story.  One could say since the vine grower knew better the vine grower either lacked sufficient awareness or ignored his conscience.   The vine grower’s job is to assure those plants received supplemental water when they were most vulnerable.  One could say I wasn’t receptive to the deeds and needs of the vines for life giving water.

So here I am a little old vine grower.  Well I can’t say I am a success yet, but I did locate the vines near the lake so I can more easily transport water to them.  Recently on alternating days I delivered a cool satisfying drink of water.  I was rewarded with an outburst of beautiful leaves.  Wow, I was so excited I began dreaming of seedless red and green grapes.

Now what is this story about vines – the relationship essential to a healthy vine or the healthy relationship between the trinity and God’s people?

Well mother nature had more to teach this old man.  Last week a day after celebrating the abundance of new growth and leaves I discovered almost all of the leaves had mysteriously disappeared overnight.  The mother nature took the old vine grower out to the reality woodshed and left rabbit tracks to remind the vine grower there are other hungry creatures around.

Could be there are many worldly rabbits out there eagerly waiting to feast upon our green children?  Anyone with me?

In Jesus time, people were far more aware and observant of mother nature and all her works.  The reason is simple, their ability to sustain the viability of the life of their community hung in the balance.

So let’s see if we can see what the people of Jesus time already knew as He spoke.   Jesus was pouring out the spirit of life hidden to most modern day ears.  The deeds of love which net one Eternal salvation hang in the balance of the story.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  .  He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

The people of Jesus time automatically understood the unseen.  The vine cannot exist without roots.  The roots must be hidden and buried in the earth.  The earth must receive both the warmth of the sun and rain to release the nutrients buried in the earth to create new life in the vine.  Within the vine sap is created which flows throughout the vine and serves as the vehicle to deliver life sustaining water and nutrients to the vine, branches, leaves and fruit to sustain plant growth.

The vine grower is ever observant.  When the vine grower notices braches not producing he prunes them, leaves them to dry and burns them to create nutrients.   The ashes are returned to the earth and serve as fertilizer which encourages more abundant growth of fruit.

Nothing is lost or wasted.  Every person has a purpose which can be used to renew life!  Good results in beautiful fruit and bad serves as fertilizer to grow more fruit!

The world actively seeks to destroy the vine and rip its roots out of the earth.  The world seeks to own our children and our families and only faith stands in its path.

In the 2nd reading from 1 John we hear, how we shall know that we belong to the truth.  The scholars cannot agree of the meaning the word associated with our hearts condemn.

We humans by nature all have that little voice that only we can hear.  I am a sap, a failure, not worthy, not qualified, a sinner, am afraid, shy, or lack courage.  The automatic judging and condemnation of ourselves is swift and often discourages us from reaching out beyond ourselves and taking the human risk to express love in deed!  Many of us judge harshly.  Then there are those who are always innocent – nothing should be condemned and an inability to face truthfulness is a stumbling block.  No matter the reason, our little voice can prevent love from penetrating our hearts!

Our heart is the place within our souls where we make decisions.  It is the place we choose good and/or evil.  It is the place that triggers deeds or hold them bound.

Today’s story offers hope.  From the sap (Jesus the vine & the sap = Holy Spirit) flowing through the vine out to the branches comes hope.  God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.  God can turn our sins and mistakes into food for new life if we ask believing in the name of Jesus Christ.  God’s spirit will penetrate the place where we make our most intimate decisions that flow like life sustaining sap from the heart of Jesus Himself out to the people we meet.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.  Do not be afraid to ask in the name of Jesus.  Believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.

Foreward = walks like , looks like, smells like, taste like, sounds like, like it could be a duck

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A New Language Art Form Unveiled

The Creation of a Stealth Agenda

Hidden in Words People Want to Hear

Objective – Convince People to Do the unthinkable – Give Up Liberty!

“Ever heard?”

It makes sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, leaves droppings that look like duck droppings, they feel like duck droppings and put them close your nose and they smell like duck droppings and if you have the courage they taste like duck droppings.  One could conclude it must be a duck.

Hope and Change to Transform America into What?

“Foreward”

The Democratic Presidential Theme for 2012 is “foreward” and the campaign is to be launched on the birthday Marx.

Didn’t he say “if you want to know who I am pay attention to who my friends are and who I associate with?  Looks like, smells like and tastes like = must be a duck!

Want the truth don’t pay much attention to what is said but focus carefully on what I do!

The slogan “Forward!” reflected the conviction of European Marxists and radicals that their movements reflected the march of history, which would move forward past capitalism and into socialism and communism. …

There have been at least two radical-left publications named “Vorwaerts” (the German word for “Forward”). One was the daily newspaper of the Social Democratic Party of Germany whose writers included Friedrich Engels and Leon Trotsky. It still publishes as the organ of Germany’s SDP, though that party has changed considerably since World War II. Another was the 1844 biweekly reader of the Communist League. Karl Marx, Engels and Mikhail Bakunin are among the names associated with that publication.

The Duck could be a Communist – whose Hope and Change we can believe in is foreward to what cannot be spoken!

What is the risk of being caught asleep?

Is the question valid – Like Is it a Duck?

To be continued …….