Memorial Day--a time for remembering and healing

This day when we celebrate the lives and sacrafices of those brave men and women who gave the ultimate gift for freedom--can also be a two edged sword.

We have many Vets who are affected by this day in a negative way. The old wounds of bitterness and abandonment are re-opened. The pain of their service days lies just below the serface and affects their lives a a profoundly negative way. They have never healed.

Let us all pray for these Vets who have never put war behind them. Lets us pray for their family and friends who too--have suffered along with them.
Let us make this Memorial day not only one of memory--but of healing.

To you brave men and women who made it posible for me to romp and play with Yodi--in freedom--my blessings and prayers be with you.

When is a majority---a majority?

It seems that in politics here in America--the party with the most elected members is the party that controls the agenda. In theory that is.

However--since we only have two significant parties, the members of each party cover a wide range of ideals. You have Left wing, moderate and right leaning democrats. And likewise you have Republicans who are rightwing, moderate, and left leaning.

Right now--because of a lack of weak party leadership in the Repuplican party -which is in the majority--and a strong party leadership in the Democrat party--you have a reversal of fortunes for the constiuants of the Republican party and a bumper crop for the Democrats.

How a two party system ends up with a functioning majority is determined by the skill and leadership ability of a party head. The party head must be capable of pulling the spectrum of views and ideals held by its members into a coalition that is focused on certain values and goals that the overall party strives for. Without strong leadership in the majority party--the minority party can act as if they are the majority when push comes to shove during legislative debates.

This is happening right now as I write this. yesterday I covered the weakness I perceived in George W. Bush" leadership skills. Today --the minority party blocked a key UN Ambassadership appointment that President Bush had nominated and forwarded to the congress for approval. It appears that his objection to Stem Cell research will be overruled by congress, and his Social Security plan is all but dead.

It could be argued in two years if this was happening that he in fact is a lame duck--since he cannot run for re-election---and that party members are jockying for position for a run at the Presidential office.

But this can hardly be argued 6 months into his second term with 42 months to go.

It appears that the Republican party is in chaos with nobody steering the ship.

Maybe we need more major parties so that coalitions are formed and the will of the voters can prevail. many are calling for heads to roll. For party renegades to be defeated in future elections--as punishment for not remaining loyal to party ideals. I disagree. Strong leadership at the top will cure this problem.

Come on Yodi. Lets' go for a walk and ponder what we can do to make a difference. We don't need to wait for 42 months for change. We can change tactics and push forward on our own to accomplish in our own way the changes we hoped that the conservatives could help us with.

Is the President the leader we need for todays times?

After some thought and a good deal of time reflecting on the Republican Senators negotiating away the majority position on the fillibuster topic---I'm beginning to think we need a different man with a different team pushing forward the agenda.

If Ronald Reagan was president now--and held the majority in both houses of congress--I sincerely doubt that members of his party would ever leave the ranks as they have done with the current President Bush.

We sit at a critical junction in our countries history. Whether secular attacks on our core Christian values and the very sacredness of life will continue--or whether the conservative human values that we all hold dear will prevail. Darkness verses light.

It appears to me that darkness won this week and I have to put the blame squarely on the President shoulders. He is the party leader and is responsible for bringing his party together at times when critical votes are needed and when the very force of his agenda is in question.

He failed miserably this week. Either he lacks the tools and leadership skills required or he has surrounded himself with the wrong team. In either case---he was not able to hold the party Senators together. This whole idea of moderates is a product of party leadership weakness.

Just like Yodi depends upon me when the going gets dicey--so should the constituants of the Republican party depend upon its leader. The Father of the cause.

This has been a very bad week for those who hold family, morality, and life --sacred.

No amount of spin control will change what has just occured. And I see it as just a symptom of a much larger problem.

We have a leader who is all hat and no cow. He just didn't cut the mustard when it really did count.

When it's time to move on

As the seasons change from fall to winter--from winter to spring--from spring to summer--and into another fall, we should never be weary of the coming change.

Change is inevitable. What we must learn to embrace is the new opportunities that await us as the season of our lives change. We can in one season have all our energy and focus directed towards the challenges afforded that particular moment. But--we must never dig in and attempt to hold onto last seasons fruit. As an apple on a tree grows from bloosom to fruit--we all know that it must too fade away as the tree readys itself for a new season and a new crop.

Our lives are like that. They have seasons which bear fruit after much effort and desire. However--if we are to continue to grow--we need the nourishment of a new challenge--which provides the tools and lessons that develop and hone our maturity as humans.

My l,ittle puppy Yodi has just turned 5 months old. As I review his just completed season, I'm able to see a marked change in his maturity. He seems to always be racing towards the next adventure and next reward. I too relish what lies ahead as Spring and its crop are near ripe and the buds of summer are just now showing on the limbs.

Last seasons crop is fondly remembered for the growth I embraced while it ripened on the vine.
The watering, weeding, and tilling now await me as the new season approaches the horizon.

Who will I meet?--what will we share? How will the new challenges we face develop?

As time marches forward--so do we.

What does "GOD" do ?

Have you ever wondered what "GOD" has been up to from the time he spent creating all that we experience until now?

We know as an example that he decided to rest on the 7th day after spending the previous 6 days creating everything. Did he really need to rest --or was this simply one of his lessons to his creation?

Since he is all powerful and perfect in every way--he doesn't ever need to redo what he has already created. To suggest he does would be in affect stating that he errors. Everything that he has ever done is simply--perfect.

So then--what has he been up to since the creation?

This mystery has not been revealed to us--but I suspect that he has been up to more than we can ever imagine. If in earth time he made all this in 6 days--what do you suppose he has made in all the earth time since then? Science tells us that even our current Universe is ever expanding. Does this mean that this physical Universe is still growing in scope and matter or does it mean that when "GOD" finished his work that he simply had not revealed to our eyes all that he had in fact created.

My answer to this question is simple. Genesis 2:1 "So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed." Completed mean completed to one who is perfect in all ways. In other words ---he had not revealed to our eyes all that he had created.

When people question whether there is a "GOD" and have doubts about his being--we believers say that he reveals himself to us through the Holy Spirit, through his Holy bible, and through his Holy church. But I believe he also continues to reveal himself in his ever revealing Universe. We simply do not know all that he created. We have not as yet experienced it all. We actually have seen very little of his creation through our senses. We can learn more about him by seeing and experiencing more of what he created.

When "GOD" sent his son Jesus to us as a teacher, Jesus used only a small region of this planet as his area of influence. He never traveled in his entire ministry as far as some folks travel today during their normal work day. Jesus also was limited in vocabulary and examples. The lanquage of his day didn't have nearly the scope of words that we use today. He also had only a few thousand people to show by example and deed how we are to behave. If we take the entire bible and all its contents---this was all that "GOD" chose in written form to reveal himself--in written form. And although the entire bible has quite a few passages and pages--it is very limited in scope when we are considering just how expansive "GOD" is. As his physical creation continues to reveal itself--surely "GOD" himself is being revealed through other means as well.

Some could argue that all we ever need to know already exists in the bible. Period. But if this were true--then why does "GOD" continue to reveal to us his creation? Spending time in nature to me reveals a lot about its creator. The way nature has a certain balance and symetry is one way that I see and glimpse some about its creator "GOD". Since much was going on in the times of the Bible, "GOD" must have also revealed many times what is contained in the pages of the bible about himself and many times the teachings. In fact it was a sum total of all the known teaching handed down through the ages where the term -"traditions" comes from. The very traditions of the early church---which later partially were revealed in the bible is the story of Christianity.

Maybe "GOD" simply reveals more about himself--and consequently--more about us his most important creation that we know of--as he deems the need to be. Much like a flower revealing its true beauty as its petals unfold.

Well that is enough for today about my question "What does "GOD" do?"

The more I ponder the question--the more I'm excited about all the possibilities.

I do know one thing that he does---he continues to reveal himself.

As my dear little friend--Yodi-- continues to expand his horizons and his world gets ever bigger in scope---so does my spiritual horizons as I continue my quest of knowing my Father.

Lifes circumstances has rewards

As a young child I always wanted to be big. Actually I would have settled for just being average in height and weight. Until I was 15 years old i was always the smallest or tied for the title of any other child my age.
Each school year one of the Sisters at school would weigh us at the beginning of the year and again at the end. I believe my body never realized that growth was an option after I had filled it with food from September until the end of the school year. At the beginning of the 7th grade, I was 4' 8" tall and weighed in at 77lbs. The teacher always placed me at the front of the class so I could see the blackboard and not have to manuever around the taller heads of my classmates.

I then grew 6 inches in the 7th grade and another 8 inches in the 8th grade. This allowed me to catch up with most of my peers. I was happy to be normal and no longer suffered the names that pip squeeks get called. Another added benefit was the skills I had learned in negotiation and diplomacy while always being small. Small people have to figure out at an early age not only how to survive the bullies of the world but how to receive the scraps thrown their way by those blessed with size.

I spent all those years pleading and praying to "GOD" for some relief . When it finally came--I not only gained what I felt I was lacking but the added skills not realized by those around me who already enjoyed what I thought I was lacking.

50 years later I still enjoy the skills I obtained by being the shrimp. By spending my first 7 years in school at the front of the class meant fewer chances to daydream and ---being called on to answer more questions of the Sisters than those bigger who were stuck in the back of the room. I was more involved and believe I learned a lot more. I had to be at the top of my game or the sisters would have surely made me pay. As a result--I always was in the top 2 or 3 in when the report cards came out.

Now not everybody has the blessing of being a shrimp and coming out average size. It was simply the circumstances that I was given. I had to play the hand dealt to me as best I could. I didn't like it and at the time wished things were different. Now--I worry more about weight and maintaining the body I have left than what height I am. Just different circumstances to deal with.

There is always a reward that comes from our circumstances if we do the best we can with what we have. I have learned to take what I have in life and run with it. It is in the "running with it" where the rewards will be found.

Speaking of running with it. Yodi--will you please bring back that sock you decided to run with.

Pop"s Pool Hall

Back in the 50's there existed in my home town a pool hall that was owned and operated by an elderly gentleman who everyone called Pop's. It was frequented by mostly teenagers and you could rent a table by the hour for 25 cents.

There was another elderly gentleman there by the name of Less who was the buliding maintenance guy where the pool hall was located---but he tended to spend a lot of time with the boys playing pool. If anybody has ever played straight pool or nine ball ---you would know, running the rack took some skill. Running the rack in straight pool multiple times in a row--was beyond skill and would put you in the elite catagory. Less was elite.

He could use "English" on the balls to make them dance around and do magic while knocking in one ball and leaving the cue ball placed exactly where it needed to be to make the next shot easy. He could also make the cue ball literally jump over a ball in the way and knock a ball in a pocket using English and skill that I have not seen since.

Less used to tell us tales about being a "rack boy" in a pool hall as a young lad growing up in San Francisco. This is where he learned to shoot pool and he was taught by the pro's who would work a circuit of halls up and down the coast-- relieving sailors and others of their hard earned money. They were the original "pool hustlers" of lore that books and movies were made of.

I was never very skilled as a player--but when Less would take the time and patience--he even had me a time or two looking pretty good. It was a privilidge to have Less show me the ropes of pool with Pop's looking on from his counter at the front of the store. With Less giving me tips and confidence--I could hold my own. However--once Less left the scene--my new found skill would always evaporate under the pressure of the game and I was soon back missing shots and being beaten in the process.

I could not figure out why I was always good when Less was watching over me and giving me some tips--but once he was out of sight I would lose it.

I have later had the same affect working with another "shark" at his profession--"GOD" When he has been actively coaching me and standing behind me giving tips---I seem to be able to make the right shots. Once I let him out of my sight--I'm soon missing the shots and reverting back to my bad habits while forgetting all the lessons.

Pop's pool hall is long gone and Pop's and Less have long since departed this life. I don't play pool anymore but I am engaged daily with the bigger game --called life. I'm learning to make sure my coach ["GOD"] never gets far from my ear or my game. Why should I take the chance of losing when he is always willing to put in the extra time to insure my success ---24 hours a day. He is never more than a prayer away. And I spend a lot of time just talking to him. it makes me feel good to have a friend around like him show me the ropes.

When I rack up the balls in the game of life--I need a good coach--and I am fortunate to have found the best.

Come on Yodi. How about a game of nine ball. You can have the break shot and I will try to help you out by passing on what Less taught me about pool and what "GOD" has taught me about life.

Allowing and Accepting

I have a tendancy to want to fix other peoples problems. Or what I see as being their problems. The tendancy is less now than when I was a young man and I now see through my ridiculous folly sooner than later.

I'm more efficient at handling these slips now and have learned to listen more than speak when confronted with anothers issues.

As I have become a better listener I think "GOD" has become a better listener in my life.

Counseling is 90% listening and 10% repeating to the counseled---what they just told me. The help I can offer comes about in direct proportion to the skill I use in getting the counseled to hear and understand what they have just said.

Once they understand--they are perfectly capable of making their own decisions on which direction to go. Once they make a decision, my job is to help them decide upon a solution---and encourage them to follow through with its implementation.

Where I get in trouble is sometimes wanting to step in and do the work for them. It sometimes is called a savior complex. Their free will is compromised anytime I try to take control of it.

"GOD" is the expert at this formula and a lot can be learned by watching how he works through my own life. Of course I too have to do the talking and prayers while he listens. and--he is not going to do my solution work either. he may offer up some solutions--but the rest is on me. He invented free will and knows exactly how it works.

Now--- when Yodi barks at me and gets my attention, I have also learned to listen. He generally knows which solution is best too when I allow him the room to learn. And if he makes a mistake I accept him for who he is and allow him the room to grow.

Life is a journey of learning and growing---at our own pace. And when we stumble or feel unsure of what direction to go, we have the one who created counseling and solutions to show us the way. Pretty neat huh Yodi?

Being attached to stuff

Today I awoke to find my new special designed eyeglasses laying on the floor with freshly chewed earpieces and scratched lenses. For a brief moment a wave of panic swept through my being.

I became anxious and stressed as I fondly grasped the glasses in my hands and wheeled myself to the nearby bathroom sink. I gently applied soap and carefully rinsed off the glasses. A inner feeling of lose swept over me as I surveyed the damage done. These glasses were designed to help correct my ailing left eye. They were bi-focals which would allow me to read without changing glasses. They were everything I needed and I felt a deep sense of lose.

And then--- I caught myself. After all --- they were only glasses and I had lived for many years without them. It is true they would have made my life more comfortable and benefited me in dealing with my current physical malady however they would not necessarily be the only solution available.

I felt embarrased and humiliated that I had allowed these glasses to create a brief dependance in my life. Everything I have needed has been provided by my creator and there was no reason to fret now over the diminished capacity of the glasses. I could still partially use them, and maybe I can find some new ear pieces or apply tape over the rough chew marks. Solutions were already forming in my mind and the anxiety was replaced by a calmness like the morning air after a fierce winters night storm.

Once again my little pooch had come to the rescue. I patted him on his little head, and thanked him for coming to my rescue. We then went about our morning chores happily anticipating what the day had in store for us. As I write this my little canine teacher lays curled up in my lap. His mission once again accomplished. What a blessing the Lord has given me today.

A human novelty--Instinct

In nature--- insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals [the animal kind] tend to take the most efficient route to an objective. By studying an ant for example--they seem to attack a goal or objective with little fanfare. They are efficient and productive to the point of being robot like in their actions.

Fish, turtles, , clams--all manner of aquatic life forms allign themselves with natures patterns in pursuit of their lifes activities. They follow currents, water temperatures, and food sources in a direct unfettered approach.

We watch birds migrating as seasons change. They fly for hundreds of miles in an efficient , purposeful movement across our skies. They always seem to stay where food and shelter are abundant.

A bear in the wild has its own territory and lives a rather uncomplicated existance.

Now we can say that these wonders of nature are all a result of natural instinct. That over millions of years, natures wild creatures have evolved to take advantage of natures habitat.

"GOD" who has created all, has provided for these creatures and they are content.

So why haven't humans? Why do humans--our Creators most intellectually evolved creation have such difficulty in their environment? Does welfare, social security, crime, and general unrest exist in the wild? I don't believe so. So why does it exist within human society?

Why are humans so out of balance with their surroundings? Why--with all their intelligence which can overcome gravity through invention--do humans fail so miserably at living lives in balance with nature and their environment?

It is my opinion that humans refuse to listen to their interior instincts and therefore complicate their existance.

Take for instance their spiritual existance. Spirituality is an instinct in humans. It exists in all cultures and as far back as you can look into the past, humans were aware of their spiritual nature.

In the west where Christianity has flourished and where written lessons have been provided by Jesus Christ and other profits of old, you would think that humans would be far ahead of "GODS" other creatures who lack the intelligence and written or spoken lanquage.

Not so. We humans lead a far more fragile existence than the creature below us. Instead of listening to the spiritual advice and living by its examples--we shun it to our own demise.

Is it an instinct of humans to complicate our very existance? No. But along with the superior intelligence and spirituality came another gift granted to the superior creation of our Lord. It is called free will and because of it we can never as a species fly united like our feathered friends and enjoy a natural balanced existance. Not as long as we deny the spiritual instincts that came along with it.

We were given the ability to either fly high above the other creations or sink far below their existance. What a choice we have in our lives. The balanced, uncomplicated existance that our spirituality invites or the death by free will which is the other option.

Yodi belongs to the group of mammals not blessed with superior intelligence that "GOD" has favored the creation he made in his own image. Yodi is a puppy dog. But as I study Yodi's habits--he lives a far less complicated life than I do. He seems to flow witha balnce and ease that leaves me awestruck. I'm learning a lot about instincts and simplicity from Yodi.

Maybe that is why the other creatures are here. To show us how to be humans.

Sitting on the oven door

With this being mothers day, most of my thoughts have centered around this one person who brought me into this world and provided a safe nest for me to grow from babe to adulthood.

When I was six years old and just starting my school years, having to get up in the morning and prepare for the day ahead was a chore. Especially-- as the long winter months settled in.
Our house had a big oil burning furnace which tried--but didn't quite reach the bedroom that I shared with three other siblings. Frost would form on the inside of the windows and I could see my breath as it was exhaled. Our noses would run in long streaks as we lay there on our tiny pillows. Our noses were the only thing stuck out from under the bundle blankets.

We wore cordoroy pants with a white shirt and tie to St. Michael's school. Trying to put on a frozen stiff shirt and pants which had been left in that cold cold room was pure--torture. So--we would pull the covers over our heads and not get out of bed when mom had called.

In the kitchen was a gas range which had a door the was sufficient in size for three small children to sit on. I know this for a fact--because mom took pity on us frozen tikes and would return to the bedroom with a blanket and take us one at a time into the kitchen. She would sit us on the oven door and in turn would warm our clothes in the kitchen with an iron before we put them on.

This same oven door dried out twenty million pairs of sloppy wet shoes that had been carelessly stomped through every rain puddle from 10 street where the school was to 8th street where we lived. Mom always made sure our shoes were dry and ready for the next day.

Yes---mom made those winter days much more comfortable than mother nature had intended. I don't know why this particular memory popped into my head today as I thought of her. I can still feel the warm air from the oven as we ate our hot cereal on those cold mornings nearly sixty years ago.

Hey Yodi, could you drag that comforter over here. I feel some goose bumps forming as memories of those long ago winter days have invaded my senses. Thanks mom for being there for me.

The Sixth Estate

While replying to an e-mail yesterday concerning this blog, a thought occured to me. Rather than consider internet blogs, forums, and chat rooms as an extension of the newspapers, magazines, radio, TV--commonly referred to as the 5th Estate, this vibrant seat of the pants exchange of ideas that has been birthed from cyberspace needs a moniker appropriate for its genre.

By millions of individuals participating in these exchanges, we not only exchange stories and ideas--but we do it outside the corporate structure which is advertiser and special interest driven. From the very infancy of media, it has been used affectively as a tool to shape our very thoughts and opinions. Wars have been fought, civilizations altered all through the influence of public opinion.

Well--now the public itself has a venue for publishing their own thoughts, opinions and solutions to todays news. The serfs have a voice in the manor.

So I Christain this here media ---- " THE SIXTH ESTATE" ---And may it remain free of outside special interests, greed, and remain a voice of the people.

Feel free to leave a comment on any of these topics. As a reader your voice is important too.

Yodi, I know you have a lot to say about life. and have never been one to hold in your thoughts or opinions. How about a yelp or two along with a few yaps and whines to ---vent to the world.
Come on boy let's play some catch with that new ball.

Native Intelligence

When we come across a person who has not finished much schooling, but seems to have it all together, it is said the person has "native intelligence"

My dad had it and so have a lot of people we meet up with in life. Barbers and bartenders that are any good always have it. You can pony up to the bar or plop yourself in the barber chair and it will immediatly become clear whether you are in the prescence of one of these enlightened beings.

The first tip that you are in their midst is that they never seem to say much--but when they do--they have the ability to reduce complex problems down to just a few words. You can spill your guts for hours to one of these Masters of Native Intelligence, and without a long winded disertation--they get right to the meat of the subject with a few mumbled replys.

I believe if we could gather together about a dozen of these wizard together, most of civilizations problems would have precise solutions in a New York minute.

The problem with these professors of native intelligence is--they have another trait. Humility. They don't like being in the spotlight but prefer a simple life of thought and deeds. They would never fit into the world of egos and pride that modern day governess requires. It is assumed by most--that when a problem surfaces--the longest winded orator will solve it. You know the kind. They are the ones who can put you to sleep with hours of facts and figures--but noo answers. In Texas they refer to it as being "all hat but no cow"--- or something like that.

Do you believe we would have multple trillions of dollars of deficit spending if Joe the barber were in charge? Do you believe that we would be energy deficient and dependant if Sam the bartender was pulling the strings? Of course not. They would have boiled the countrys problems down to a few wise choices and that would be that.

Another trait that seems apparent in this gems is a total lack of formal education. They spent their lives figuring out solutions rather than disecting sentances. They also have a familiar vocabulary not associated with proper schooling. They like the word "ain't" and "don'tchaknow"

You --know exactly what they are saying despite tbe lack of proper inunctiation. The are masters of the short sentances which say more than a college texbook about a subject.

The haircuts and drinks are not really that great, but their chairs are always full with other waiting in line.

Ok Yodi, enough for a day. Can I have my lap back now.?

How Can an Educated Doctor Be So Dumb?

I was ent home from the hospital with a list of instructions. One from my attending physician and one from my Neurologist. The attending physician has been working on my bllod pressure situation and the Neurologist on my brain and physical abnormalities.

So I noticed both list had a section about food. It immediatly received my undivided attention since food and drink are two of my favorite pastimes. I love a good cup of coffee, a fine glass of wine and nearly every type of food under the sun.

The problem with the list is that it would take a "sun' about the size of a basketball for my new food list. They could all fit under it with space for a soccer ball or two!

I figure these two Doctors must have flunked or failed to pass a nutrition class while attending medical school. I have decided to bring this fact up to them in a letter. I have a lot invested in the food department. It is one area of my life where I have been allowed to have a savings account. Since I live under a strict vow of poverty, my waistline is all I have to show that I have even existed on this planet. Oh, a few book and published articles from time to time bear my name, and a family and friends know I exist--but my "food and beverage" savings account has always been a comfort and joy.

So tommorow I intend to forward my rebut of their list. These things like all documents must be subject to negotiation.

Yodi, nows that you have licked half my good eye out and have nearly ran a path around the carpet today,--and you are obviously in a good frame of mind--can I have part of your doggy desert?

I'm saddened for the young lady in the news who felt that she had no other choice but to run away from home rather than go through with her pending marriage last week.

Speculation had it that she had been kidnapped or murdered. A hundred police officers searched high and low for her. The neighbors gathered and the town circled the wagons as hourly reports filtered in about the ongoing efforts to find her.

A neighborhood restaurant provided free food to the gathered friends and family as they awaited the outcome. The fiance --visibly shaken was interviewed. He took and passed a lie detector test to determine if he knew anything about her disappearance.

And then from half way across the country came word that the one missing was safe. Hungry and tired she had come forward--first with a lie that she had been kidnapped--but later with the truth. She had bought a ticket a week before and had simply left.

Now back home, the town is upset. There was no dead body, no bound and gagged victim--just a girl who had ran off from the pressure of the pending marriage.

A larger question remains unanswered. Why did she run. No--let's try it again---why did she really run off? Will we ever know?

So the victim has become the object of scorn. A fiance is very much relieved. he claims he still wants to marry her. Should he? Should she?

Marriage is a three way street. You have the bride on one, the groom on another and joining them in the middle is "GOD" If the bride has doubts about the covenant of marriage and therefore runs away, I say salute her for being honest about her doubts. We may all disagree with her actions that left the news rooms with fodder--but we should never disagree with her choice to leave all the fancy ceremony preparations with hundreds of guests sitting along the sideline. If she honestly cannot commit to the marriage then she has done the right thing in the eyes of "GOD"

We should never fear bucking conventional pressure from society when it means doing the right thing. If she was not prepared to say "I Do" then she should not have gone through with it. Entering the sacred commitment of marriage with a lie is a immoral thing to do. Morality trumps all societal trappings.

Like I said. We don't know what really happened. But we do know that at least in this case--the institution of marriage was not abused.

Don't forget Yodi, never be afraid to buck the system if doing so is the right thing to do. But--please make a better choice than running away--if you feel that you must remove yourself from an unpleasant situation. It is always better to come forward and voice your concern in a loud bark--so everybody knows your intentions. Good night buddy.

Devotion Is The Beginning To A Search For Truth

YOU aim at a devout life -- because as a Christian you know that such devotion is most acceptable to God's Divine Majesty. But-- seeing that the small errors people are wont to commit in the beginning of any under taking are apt to wax greater as they advance, and to become irreparable at last-- it is most important that you should thoroughly understand wherein lies the grace of true devotion;--and that because while there undoubtedly is such a true devotion-- there are also many spurious and idle semblances thereof;-- and unless you know which is real, you may mistake, and waste your energy in pursuing an empty, profitless shadow. Arelius was wont to paint all his pictures with the features and expression of the women he loved -- and even so we all color devotion according to our own likings and dispositions. One man sets great value on fasting, and believes himself to be leading a very devout life-- so long as he fasts rigorously-- although the while his heart is full of bitterness;--and while he will not moisten his lips with wine-- perhaps not even with water-- in his great abstinence-- he does not scruple to steep them in his Neighbor's blood -- through slander and detraction. Another man reckons himself as devout because he repeats many prayers daily-- although at the same time he does not refrain from all manner of angry, irritating, conceited or insulting speeches among his family and Neighbors. This man freely opens his purse in almsgiving -- but closes his heart to all gentle and forgiving feelings towards those who are opposed to him-- while that one is ready enough to forgive his enemies, but-- will never pay his rightful debts save under pressure. Meanwhile all these people are conventionally called religious-- but nevertheless they are in no true sense really devout. When Saul's servants sought to take David, Michal induced them to suppose that the lifeless figure lying in his bed, and covered with his garments, was the man they sought; and in like manner many people dress up an exterior with the visible acts expressive of earnest devotion, and -- the world supposes them to be really devout and spiritual-minded -- while all the time they are mere lay figures-- mere phantasms of devotion. But--- in fact -- all true and living devotion presupposes the love of God;--and indeed it is neither more nor less than a very real love of God, though not always of the same kind;-- for that Love one while shining on the soul we call grace -- which makes us acceptable to His Divine Majesty;--when it strengthens us to do well-- it is called Charity;--but when it attains its fullest perfection, in which it not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly, then --- it is called Devotion. The ostrich never flies--the hen rises --with difficulty, and achieves but a brief and rare flight but-- the eagle, the dove, and the swallow, are continually on the wing -- and soar high;--even so sinners do not rise towards "GOD"--- for all their movements are earthly and earthbound. Well-meaning people, who have not as yet attained a true devotion-- attempt a manner of flight by means of their good actions, but rarely, slowly and heavily--- while really devout men rise up to God frequently -- and with a swift and soaring wing. In short-- devotion is simply a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us -- and causes us to work briskly and lovingly-- and --just as charity leads us to a general practice of all "GODS" Commandments -- so devotion leads us to practise them readily and diligently. And therefore we cannot call him who neglects to observe all "GODS" Commandments either good or devout -- because in order to be good -- a man must be filled with love, and to be devout. He must further be very ready and apt to perform the deeds of love. And-- forasmuch as devotion consists in a high degree of real love -- it not only makes us ready, active, and diligent in following all "GODS" Commands -- but it also excites us to be ready and loving in performing as many good works as possible -- even such as are not enjoined upon us-- but are only matters of counsel or inspiration. Even as a man just recovering from illness, walks only so far as he is obliged to go-- with a slow and weary step-- so the converted sinner journeys along as far as God commands him but slowly and wearily -- until he attains a true spirit of devotion -- and then -- like a sound man -- he not only gets along -- but he runs and leaps in the way of "GODS" Commands -- and hastens gladly along the paths of heavenly counsels and inspirations. The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame. Love -- being a spiritual fire-- which becomes devotion-- when it is fanned into a flame --and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager-- energetic and diligent -- not merely in obeying "GODS" Commandments-- but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations. We here at the Neighborhood forum have sought each others counsels--through what we have in our own hearts--considered to be a devotion--unto our "GOD"--our Savior--and even unto each other.We have spent well over a quarter of a year dancing around the subjects in a manner akin to a dual -rather than an inspired quest for fellowship, and a divinely inspired Love found only in our Creator and manifested to us through the power of the Holy spirit. knowledge of our Creator can only be found when we come together as one --in search of our true destiny as child like lovers of our Savior.I'm challenging us all to now pause within our selves in a devoted prayer--that leads us into an evolved fellowship of seekers and lovers of scriptural and traditional truths. My past few days have forced me into a self inventory which has resulted in a new found desire to expand this forum into one that attracts those who are tired of the same old debates--to one where a deeper understanding can be nurtued and spring forth in a good fruit. This is not barren soil here--but can be as fertile as a valley deep in rich verdant life.Please join me in this new quest. You are all welcome to join me and go forward into topics with anew found energy of oneness.Let's sour like Eagles above our humanity and towards our salvation together.

Yodi. I know you already have devotion figured out. I can see it in the love that shines from your very essence. You should be throwing me the ball--and a good dose of humility. Now please throw me the ball. Gently-- as I continue grow into my humble awareness.

"GODS" Will Not Ours--And It'sFor Real

Well Yodi, I really miss you tonight and I hope you are feeling safe and secure with my family while I have been gone. Let me tell you what it has been like visiting my other family.

I have a vague memory of last week and I must share it with you using words that will only partially relate where I have been and who I have visited.

When the lights went out here they came on there. It was every bit as real to the point that here became the memory and there the reality. It was vibrant and warm and filled with good feelings. There were angels in my midst as well as a love beyond my comprehension.

I was at the doorway of another family that I know and -- I could feel them and their greetings. It was a homecoming but it also felt like I had never really left. I felt like I had always been there but my attention was here. I never would have turned my attention to there if "GODS" will had not focused it there.

I told you this was going to be hard to put in words and I can tell by the way your big ears are turned that you are trying to grasp what I'm saying. As you wag your little tail when I'm in your view, I too was wagging my whole being when I was aware of whose presence I was in. It engulfed me with comfort and a love beyond a tail wag.

I woke back into this world and as my attention moved from that place to this, I began to refocus on my family, friends, and loved ones here --but with a very real memory of where I had just been and---of another family, friends, and loved ones that await me.

I knew about that other place in my human way, but now "GOD" has given me a new knowing that has imprinted upon my conscious mind in bright vivid feelings, thoughts, and visions of a place beyond words.

I was left with a new knowledge of "GODS" will. He directs my attention towards the family I must serve. Much like a telescope can train upon and focus where the attention lies, so does "GODS" will control the focus of my soul and thus my attention.

I now am even more indebted to my "GOD" than I ever invisioned or imagined. I understand my humble servace in a new light and meaning. I have transcended my logic and ego and visited my true reality.

When I was taught to be in this world but not of it I understood as a human could. I now understand it as a soul. And this is why these words lack the dimension that only my prayers can hope that you can glimpse.

Yodi. My love just jumped beyond a wag and I know we are together beyond known eternity.

I need some time to patch up my fractured body. It has been hurt pretty bad and I'm missing some pieces that need to return. I'm not scared but I am in a lot of pain and my emotions are out of my control. My thoughts are not real focused and are going in slow motion. I really need help both from here and from there.

I'm tossing the ball in my mind and can't wait to do so again in person. I love you buddy.

Goodnight and sleep tight.