A dog, a deer, and my dad ...which do you think is most capable of violence? I love Dad, so if you don't know him like I do ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                     If you don't know Dad like I do, you should not answer this question, unless you read this story first.   My dad grew up in farm country.  Dad fought in World War II ...and had a sailor hat that had a bullet hole in the brim.   He said he knew that shot was close.   After the war, everyone had to cope and try to rebuild their lives ...with hope for a better future, one they had fought to preserve.   Dad married Mom, and they began to raise a family.  When I was 5 years old, he moved the family closer to where his work was ...at the Veteran's Hospital.   Raising six children, he said that venison in the freezer helped him get through some difficult times.   Dad hunted on the old homestead, but I specifically remember that he would not shoot a doe.   I could tell he had a certain respect for the animal, and I agree that a deer is one of the most beautiful animals that God has created.  Yet, beautiful or not, every creature has its purpose and fits magnificently into God's design.  I will not argue whether that design is for my table or not ...that is not the purpose of this story.   Most of the people who still lived around the old homestead owned dogs.  Many thought the country was the ideal way to live, and I still tend to agree, yet with the easy living they didn't usually pay much attention to where their dogs roamed ...or how they bred.  I remember very clearly, Dad sharing a story about hearing wild dogs on a chase.   Suddenly a young doe, broke into a clearing, panting rapidly ...and at the point of exhaustion.  It could only spare that one moment, as the dogs were gaining on it. One of the dogs entered the clearing ...and Dad shot it.   The other dogs gave up the chase.  The doe was safe  ...for a time.

Tell me what you think!! And what is the difference between survival, defending yourself, or defending another ...from one that is out to devour? I've been accused of devouring a McDonalds hamburger ...but it would make for a shocking headline if I fell victim to a charging beef cow. (By the way, I don't charge, I pay cash.) Who wants to cash in on their comments here??

One last note:   If we were to consider the present philosophies (not the past, as we are all supposed to learn from our past ...and aim to correct mistakes), so considering current philosophies, of peoples and nations ...which ones hold fast to, or are at least willing to consider peaceful agendas; and in comparison, which ones are driven by anger and purposed for vengeance or annihilation?

If my beliefs differ from yours ...that does not mean I protest your rights. Hate challenges another's existence. Do not hate!

                                                                                                                                              
"Don't ask, don't tell" policy was deemed unfair, and ended last month.   

Apparently this is not a consistent attitude with other so called institutions of 'higher' learning.  A victory in one area is often celebrated by abuse in another area.  With the next major holiday coming up in December, in many areas we cannot "ask" for Jesus to be mentioned, and we certainly are frowned upon if we "tell".  And what is happening at the birthplace of Jesus?   How are things looked upon there?  It seems there is a growing hate throughout the whole world.   

Throughout history, we have endured much hate, but there were eventually those who at least stood up for what was humane, if all else seemed not right. Why is little being said about the growing hatred?   Throughout history there has been war over Jesus' homeland ...with often nothing to do with preservation, other than preserving their hatred.  Why this growing hatred towards Jewish people?   God doesn't hate them, so what right do others claim.   

Do those believe they 'evolved' beyond God, and validate only their actions, justifying themselves above God?  Think again ...are you with everything the claimed 99% say, and if not, how can you stand with them at all?  I agree with bits and pieces of what is said, but the driving force is hate. They are pawns, being pitted against each other. The movement wants to get the police on their side, but some of the most loyal are our military and our police force.  So to pit the public against the police is the only way to weaken one of the most loyal and dedicated group of people we still have within our nation.  Not perfect ...but vital to our survival as a nation.  

What would be the ultimate result of the undoing of all this?  Not what the protesters in the street are looking for!  The evil waiting in the wings, will swoop down upon the spoils.  Environmentalists claim to support, yet do not stand against the pollution caused by riots.  And that is nothing compared to the pollution of the minds by teachers and professors that profess nothing but revolt.   

I think this is revolting. I think the students should get their money back in certain so called institutions of higher learning ...the ones who have deceived and driven minds to act, not through sound reasoning, but as pawns. This is so similar to what happened with the followers of Hitler, then Lenin.  How can we be ignorant of this, and wave the banner of such an obvious blueprint of our own eventual destruction?

Once hate saturates the minds of so many ...is the only peace that can be had, be had through accepting and giving in to the the ones who perpetrate it??

And if that is to be peace ...isn't it revolutionizing through revolt?  Yet, it wouldn't be a revolt against what is unjust ...but to favor the unjust.  We seem to believe more and more in the theories of evolution.  It sort of eliminates God in the minds of people ...and also eliminates any real standard of right or wrong.  If organizations such as ISIS rule, who is anyone to tell them they are wrong??

I had a discussion today of the age of the earth.  It would seem to be no great issue to have a difference of belief on how old the earth is.  Some people would say, that's not that big of an issue.  But, if one part of the Bible is not looked at literally, then what other parts are we to look at as just a story, or parable??  

Would we say Jesus was a good man ...who had followers who developed many quite spectacular stories about?  He said He wanted to make fishers of men. Would we be so absurd to think they sat around and made up fish stories?? I shudder to think we would do that?

The person who argued the age of the earth ...claimed to be an agnostic, bordering on atheist.  It's sort of like saying you don't know, then suddenly you know.  But, what you are saying you know ...is something you claim doesn't exist, so you cannot know about that which you claim you have undeniable evidence that no one else can know either.

What would it be like if someone said that saw a lion in their neighborhood? And someone else said they didn't believe them ...furthermore, that no one else saw the lion, and that it didn't exist?  Then another person saw the lion, but that same disbeliever said they were both making it up.  They then proceed to give all the reasons why lions are not in Michigan, and how this is not their habitat.  They could cite all the reasons why lions don't live here, and how they could never had traveled even to this continent.

Then you tell them about the circus that had come to town. 

I know this is a bad analogy ...and it doesn't quite fit.  Rather stick with the Lion of Judah!!

The problem with compromise is, though it is often good, when compromising the truth ...it's like compromising with a headhunter and ending up as a half-wit, or no head at all; or compromising with a cannibal and ending up with only half of your family.

Half-truths most off end up as no truth at all.  What you've so easily given up half of, should be no problem at all to lose the other half ...which is half worth nothing, or nothing at all, which is what it will become anyway.  Something of half value is not so coveted to hold onto ...nor valued.

And this is what we've been doing with our faith.

The problem with carbon dating or potassium argon dating is similar to when one first begins dating. They get excited, and a bit careless ...they don't go at it slowly because they base their hope on just a few compatibility facts, & then later when everything doesn't seem quite right, they sum it all up by saying things were definitely getting old. 

Sincere thanks in so many areas. Yet, I am aware of the flip side ...of despondency and hardship. I am thankful for much love ...yet, God's love overwhelms! We often think it's like filling up our car with gasoline ...as we choose what grade we want, how much we want to spend, and how far we expect it to go. At times it seems like a 'tankless' endeavor. I can't see myself in a solar run car anytime soon, but still look to run on the power of the 'Son'.

How many of us still like our country ...and if not, where would we rather live? Do we still desire to be the 'United' States?

                                                                                                                                                                                               We can all have differences in faith ...but how different can we be with our principles?   Christians and Muslims have a history of conflict, but aside from faith, many principles are the same ...those relating to certain aspects of morality.  It appears the difference is how to approach it, and the rights of others.  

I feel I have a healthy tolerance, but I have real problems with a philosophy that feels I should be eliminated because of my faith.   
Some time ago, I reasoned that the real difference between good and evil quite disturbingly was shown within the life of Jesus.   

Jesus told the truth and often by taking on conflict directly with words of truth, while showing love, and accepting love in return through longing souls and repentant hearts. That is God's pure good.   

Now the pure evil was shown by the sole motivation to eliminate the good ...by crucifixion.  But it didn't work to eliminate the good.  The more effective way is what is being attempted today ...to confuse and distort the truth.

Some people don't believe in any bit of the Bible.  Others don't believe in Jesus. Many who say they believe in Jesus Christ call themselves Christians.   So to follow Jesus, let's look at the beginnings ...those who followed Him as He walked the earth ...the apostles.   

In the Book of Matthew: Jesus told them to 'go' (don't just stay, and fish) ...in the Name of the Fasther, Son, and Holy Spirit ...and to observe (not forget) everything He had taught them)

In the Book of Mark: to cast out devils (not eliminate the poor victim that the devil was torturing and deceiving) ...and to speak with a new tongue (shall we say this included sreading the gospel to languages other than their own ...and to daily talk to each other with a mild, polite, and civil tongue?)

In the Book of Luke:  repentance and remission of sins should be present.

In the Book of John:  to Peter (and could we also ask ourselves as Jesus asked) ---Do you love me?

Returning to the Book of Mark, Chapter three and verse fourteen ---a house divided against itself cannot stand.

Mark 9: 39, Jesus answered the apostles, "Forbid him not, for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my Name,that can lightly speak evil of me."

That kind of leveled the field of who had the authority to to speak.  As far as further esteeming ourselves, that's another issue entirely.  Jesus knew there would be divisions, but wanted unity ...yet, not in wrongdoing. We are to discern, not hate.  

There is much wisdom today, yet much confusion ...and knowledge does not equate with wisdom.  What do we accept ...and who do we accept?     

I find no problem with the Bible ...the Old Testament, or the New Testament. What would it be that we question?  Much of the 'old' people used to find it difficult to believe ...yet those writings that existed during Jesus' life on earth, were only mentioned by Jesus in reference to truth.   

Today, the ark filled with animals, and the Red Sea parting ...seem easier to digest than what moral issues we face today, or refuse to face.  

I've had Union involvement throughout my career ...though the last half, rather passive. Now retired ...opinions resurface.

                                                                                                                                                                                            With the Department of Corrections, I passively watched as others carried signs ...but it was always peaceful, after all, we were employed with the ideology of upholding the law, and those who didn't could become clients. I don't recall any infiltration of mixed agendas.  We all understood that we were a branch of law enforcement.  These "Occupy" movements have gotten out-of-hand.  It's those upholding the law who stand being persecuted.  Many of the protesters seem to hate the police.  There's a confusion between prosecution and persecution.   Yes, there are injustices in all walks of life.  But I don't believe many of the protesters  know who are truly representing them ...nor who are the driving force behind them. Earlier in my career, I had become more active and held a union position because there were those who held an office only for self-serving purposes ...and contrary ideologies had taken over, that many of us, who were the passive and content majority, felt we could no longer tolerate.  That election stunned many who felt they had everything under their control.   They also looked into prosecuting one of the past office-holders.  Yes, I was liked by many of my co-workers, but the job we all were employed to do was not one that would win us any popularity contests among those whose problems we were to confront.  Whether the discipline is in the home, or in the community ...though it is not an ordeal often welcomed, it is without question ---necessary.  I was fair and consistent with my treatment ...and those who accepted it, many whom I've since come across have thanked me.   Obviously, those who tend to reject any redirection in life ...would likely continue to do so.   My life was redirected by coming to grips with the reality of why Jesus came to our earth.   But I gather to say, that those who hate the police, hate government ...many also hate the Jewish people, and probably don't follow the Jew who came to save the world over two thousand years ago. But more accurately, He did not come as an environmentalist to save the earth ...Jesus came to save the people.  I am often overwhelmed by the confusion that many are blindly following, and how distorted the view of God has become.  It brings new definition to what it means to 'stand', yet in reading the acts of the apostles, we can perhaps regather the clues.

Saturday night ...thinking of church tomorrow ...Jesus died for our sins ...how do we view Jesus; and how do we view sin?

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Sin ignored?  Or does the mere word, mention of it, make us feel uncomfortable?  We may all have a fairly common short list of what we call sin.   But to the majority of us, most sin is not even considered sin.   In the New Testament (Greek), it is referred to as "missing the mark".   

I'm thinking of archery.  We have to account for the wind (tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine). But even if there was no wind, we would fall short of the mark ...mainly because our bow, our pull, is not strong enough (all have fallen short).   

Yet, we have to realize we have someone pulling for us. Far off from what many would have imagined, aimed straight at Calvary.  

You cannot convince someone of the truth ...

                                                                                                                  Without the Holy Spirit, nothing is definable, everything can be denied or re-defined, and only the only remaining thing to do ...is to watch absurdity rise to new levels.  From the book, entitled, 'Edgar Allen, it is described how, as a child, his Mom relates that God can sometimes be understood by seeing where He is, ans where He isn't ...further stating that where He isn't may be more interesting, and often tells us more about Him and His ways, than where He is traditionally thought to be.

The problem arises when we look for truth beyond the Bible, by this I mean, contrary to the Bible.  Kay Arthur wrote that there was a school function where they  decorated two rooms in a way that they imagined Heaven and Hell would be ...and of course, music was added ... and it became a party of sorts, with eventually most of the people ending up in the Hell room. Beyond the candy, which I admit I like as much as anyone, Halloween often goes to extremes in certain ways, celebrating death and horror ...all with the claim that it is healthy entertainment.  

But most of the danger, I do not believe lies here ...but in the lies that are told about God's character or what we believe He accepts.  He accepts us, with our sin ...but He does not accept the sin.   He accepted the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus ...and accepts us who accept His Son.    

Most people who discount the Bible as true, yet say they accept Jesus, seem to ignore that Jesus quoted Old Testament writings, and He did not question the accuracy of them.