California Wildfires

Over the past year, the nightly news featured stories of massive fires destroying homes in California.  Wildfires some man originated others spread by high winds.  The fires spread out of control taking lives as it spread.

After awhile it seemed as if the location of the fires was centered in affluent areas.  The homes of the wealthy and well off were being destroyed.  Locations that may never have been meant for widespread habitation.  As I watched the television coverage I wondered why were these people suffering?  Why was the land driving them out?

Then I thought about the people who originally inhabited the land.  They too were driven off their land.  Their land taken away by people who may have looked like the people now being driven off by the wildfires.  It seemed ironic and almost biblical in nature.  Was nature dispensing early forms of justice in preparation for the massive events to come one day?  A fatal payback for crimes committed against the original settlers?  Or is it just the natural side effects of people populating land not meant to be populated?

Man often attempts to conquer nature and other men.  This time nature could not be controlled.  Death and destruction fueled by elements of nature conquered man.  This may just be an inkling of what awaits us in the future

We Need a President Who Can Manage The Chaos - The God Factor

I have not listened to every speech by each remaining candidate for President of the United States.  Nor have I browsed through the websites of the candidates to read about their positions on the myriad of "issues".

Impeachment of the President is the current focus of our Congressional legislators.  Lost in the bickering, name calling, and finger pointing is one major point.  We need a President who can manage the chaos of the Federal bureaucracy.

We pay our taxes so that the government in return will efficiently and effectively manage our collective  resources.  We only want the funds used to provide us essential services.  Has any candidate committed themselves to ensuring our tax money is spent properly?  I don't think so.  We have been distracted by appeals to specific issues and causes.  Health Care, Gun Control, Immigration, Climate Control are among the major contenders for our interest.

Each issue requires a candidate develop an answer or position on how to "solve" the problem.  The only problem is, there are no man made solutions to man's problems.  Mankind has become so tuned in to thinking we can do anything, we really believe WE are the answers to problems we have created.

This stems from not acknowledging that there is a God who created us whom we are, or should be, responsible to.  So each day we set off on our human journeys thinking it's all about what we do.  But our time is already counting down to the end of our existence.

What should we do?  For our governmental institutions we need to put people "in control" who can  manage the chaotic institutions and practices we have created.

We need a President who starts from a foundation of believing in God.  From that center would come the ability to manage the chaos of our political institutions.  An effective President would know that only God can provide the true answers.  The answer does not mean that a human issue will be solved.

It's time to put the candidates on the record regarding their views of God.  If they do not acknowledge God, we don't need that candidate as  the leader of our government.  Even if they have a portfolio of "solutions" to man made problems.  Any solution that does not take into account God is a flawed solution.

A Clear and Present Danger - Domestic Terrorism

A Clear and Present Danger. That is Donald Trump. For that reason alone he should be removed from the office of the President of the United States. His arrogance, the pattern of lies and deception are dangerous in a political institution. He is not bringing healing to this country. Instead he brings continued division. In 1974 I watched on television the proceedings that were leading to the impeachment of President Nixon. Thankfully, Nixon recognized he had done wrong and resigned from office. Trump accepts no responsibility for any of his actions. He defines himself as being perfect. A Clear and Present Danger. I recall the year 1968 when tensions in this country were so great that the President could not speak in public without a threat of violence. The divisiveness in this country is at that level. If Congress does not work to bring accountability, frustrated individuals feeling dis enfranchised will take actions clearly outside the system to protect themselves from domestic terrorism. Don't think people will just stand by and let their loved ones be frightened and attacked by those who think they are superior and supreme.  This situation is why gun control will never occur in the United States.  This country hides behind a false principle that free speech protects "hate" groups from being outlawed.  It is time to outlaw hate.

Orlando Internationlal Outlet Mall Charges $10 to park??

On two recent trips to the Orlando, Florida area I saw first hand the greed that exists among some businesses.  In Orlando off I-4 the Simon Group has the Orlando International Outlet Mall which charges customers $10 to park in the nearest public lot near the mall stores.  Yes, that is $10 to park in spaces that previously were free to park in.  What do you get for your $10?  Absolutely nothing.  The Simon Group somehow has allowed the mall to reap in thousands of dollars per week by ripping off customers who want to park close to the mall area.  The parking spaces were never intended to be paid parking spots.  Most malls offer free parking because they understand that the customers are coming to the mall to spend money on items other than parking.

I was outraged to see the mall charging for parking.  We arrived early enough the first time to avoid the parking fee.  They had yet to block off all the parking lanes and put up the $10 fee notice.  The second time we shopped at the mall I avoided the area on purpose when I saw they already had the $10 fee signs posted.  There is nothing special about the parking spots other than that they are the closest ones to the shops.  Normally a first come, first park policy is in effect for most stores/malls.  But apparently the Simon Group believes that the first person with $10 to pay should have first right to the parking spots.  Yes, it's all about greed and making money any way you can.

I suggest people refuse to pay the fee and leave all the spots empty.  Then Simon will see how stupid it looks to charge people $10 to park in the parking lot nearest to the mall.  There is another lot right across from the "greedy lot" which is where we parked the second time.

Boycott the $10 lot and show Simon Group how stupid and greedy this practice should stop immediately.  #boycottOrlandointernationalmallparking

Gay Batwoman Character

Sunday morning.  I'm preparing to get ready to drive to Sunday morning church services.  The television is on in the background to the sounds of the morning news, weather and sports.  A commercial comes out and features an upcoming series about Batwoman.  I see that Batwoman is in the bed and appears to be kissing or hugging another woman.

This is the state of television in the year 2019.  We are constantly being bombarded with images of people in gay relationships as if this is the new normal.  We are told to accept these images as they are part of the new normal life for human beings.

But what they don't tell you that it was not the intent of our Creator, God for us to indulge in homosexual relations.  But mankind does what mankind wants to do.  It's always been this way since the days of Adam and Eve.  Even through God oversaw the  destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for the rebellious life of humans to include homosexuality, people have continued to do what they want to do.

I cringe when I see these advertisements featuring gay characters.  I shake my head when a story line for a TV series or even a movie feels the need to  promote the character as being gay.  These are the images we promote to our children as being normal behavior and Godly behavior?  There seems to be an inordinate number of TV series that cater to children that promotes gay relationships.  For those of us who believe in Christianity we know this is part of the behavior that will eventually lead to the Last Days of mankind on Earth.  All we can do is point to the bible and God's plan for how we are to live our lives on Earth.  It is clear that the homosexual lifestyle is not what God intended for us.

People need to reject the promotion of gay relationships.  These images  are promoting the plan of Satan to support anything that runs contrary to God's plan.  What's next, a story about a human having a sexual relationship with an animal?

Something Is Wrong With This Picture!

Over a week ago I was watching the Saint Louis Cardinals playing Atlanta in the National League baseball playoffs.  The game was in Atlanta, Georgia.  The nickname of the Atlanta team is “Braves”.  One of the traditions the team has is that during a rally by the home team the stadium music plays what is supposedly some type of Native American war chant.  During this game the 30,000 plus fans take the Styrofoam hatchets/tomahawks they have either been given or purchased and raise and lower them in a stereotypical fashion they assume Native Americans did years ago.  I thought to myself, “there is something offensive about what they are doing.”  Some 200 plus years after the final decimation of the Native American culture, European Americans still are insensitive to other cultures.


So what kind of chant can minorities do to get European Americans to understand the pain that some of their rituals bring out in us?  Maybe we can name a professional sports team, the European American Land Grabbers?  Then during a rally the fans to the sounds of Joe Tex’s classic song, “I Gotcha” can pretend they are taking land from a Native American or a newly freed slave.  Or option 2 is to name the team the “EnSlavers” and during rallies pretend that they are raping the wife of one of the opposing team players.  Even better would be a professional team named the “Lynch Mob”.  During rallies fans could lift up nooses that were distributed to them as they entered the stadium and point them at the opposing team’s dugout!  


There really is no need for European Americans, or those of us taught to think like European Americans, to continue to give sports teams names that are related to Native Americans.  Why do we do so?  Only because we can and don’t really know the true history of Native Americans that would give us second thoughts to doing so.  One player on the Saint Louis Cardinals team did express his displeasure with the chant, music, and tomahawk antics of the fans as supported by the team.  Then the Atlanta Braves management reduced the antics some.  But, the chant will return and the team name will continue because the Atlanta team will use the rationale of “tradition” to continue the offensive antics.


Yes, there are other professional sports teams with names related to Native Americans.  Some schools over the years have done away with such names, but others continue the madness, only because they can.  So why do those in authority and who control the name of a sports team continue with the politically incorrect naming convention?  Only because they can.

China, Daryl Morey, and the NBA

Daryl Morey.  Thank you for bringing into the light some of the hypocrisy that exist in the government and other institutions in the United States of America.  Instead of engaging in dialogue about the past transgressions and terrorism inflicted on Native Americans and African Americans in this country, Morey chose to point a righteous finger at social issues in China.  How did that work out for you Daryl?

 Why didn't you look within this country first and initiate a discussion about the history of lynching of black people in this country with no one brought to justice; the massacre of black people in Elaine, Arkansas in 1919; the burning down of a prosperous black neighborhood (black Wall Street) near Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921; the murder of 14 year old Emmit Till in Mississippi in 1955; and the other numerous atrocities committed against African Americans all under the banner of the American institution of racism.  And let's not even get into the American institution of slavery.  What do you think about that period in American history Daryl?  What about that discussion Daryl?

No.  Instead your mouth opens and you talk about social conditions in China??  Now look what you have done with the relationship the NBA had with China.  Your freedom of speech?  Excuse me Adam Silver, but it's more like the ignorance and insensitive nature of those who live a life of wealth and prestige.  Daryl, once you spend some time helping to improve conditions in poor areas and helping those who do not have what you have.....maybe then you can exercise your privileged "free speech".

But for the time being, in areas of social justice please keep your opinions to yourself.