Early 2025 Observations

 It is no coincidence that in the United States there have been 2 high profile acts of violence.  The locations, Las Vegas, Nevada and New Orleans, Louisiana.  Consistent to both is the acts involved men with military backgrounds as part of the United States armed forces. 

We cannot ignore that our armed forces trains people to be killers.  Unfortunately apparently these individuals have some behavioral issues either while in the armed forces that continue after they leave the armed services.  That raises questions as to what does the armed forces do to help military members transition back to a peaceful civilian life?  In these two instances, whatever, if anything, that was attempted, did not work. 

After these incidents there was no call, question, or inquiry to how the armed forces returns trained killers to a civilian life.  Maybe no one cares?  Maybe it’s the natural fallout of service in the military?  But, it’s not something we should accept as being what we should expect.  Service in the military should be followed by continued assistance to those who served, especially if they actually served in a war zone and were exposed to atrocities of war.  

One thing I have become conscious of over the past 10 years is that each individual needs to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings and those around them.  The police will respond after an incident.  There is no apparent effective mechanism in place that prevents acts of violence.  Active shooters pop up anyplace.  Even in places, schools, where we know incidents are now routinely occurring. 

This world publicizes acts of evil through the media.  Unfortunately, those images are inspiring others to do acts of violence.  The solution?  There is none.  We just need to stop thinking as humans with numerous faults and try to direct our thoughts, emotions, and actions into the 2 great commands.  Love your neighbor and honor God through our actions. 

Random Spiritual Thoughts as the Year 2024 Comes to Closure

 Wars are man's reminder our stupidity.  We have had Civil Wars, World Wars, Ethnic Wars and so on and on.  Did any of those wars prevent future wars from occurring?  We as human beings along with animals are stuck in a cycle of violence as a means to end "conflict".  Violence is also used for our selfish purposes, rather it be to gain property, support a cause, or to wipe out the lives of those we humanly despise.

The people who were going to create the cure for cancer, alzheimers and diseases that plague us have been killed off during wars and individual acts of violence all over the world.  God provided all to us so we could have an enjoyable life.  But, if we kill off the person whom God assigned the job of creating those cures, we only need to look in the mirror to see the cause of our continued grief.

Can you imagine our Creator, God observing all the nonsense we as humans commit each day?  Can you imagine God calling Jesus and the Holy Spirit into a meeting?

God:  Holy Spirit.  Didn't you talk to him?  Look at what he's doing?

Holy Spirit:  Oh Lord!  I told him to call me if he got tempted.

Jesus walks into the meeting eating an Impossible Burger.  God looks at him.

Jesus: Father, You made me partly human.  I like this burger.  You want to try it?

We should be thankful that God is so patient.  He is giving us time to end our evil ways and follow him into salvation.  Be glad that God does not give me control of life.  Even if God asked me to watch things for 30 seconds, when he returned he would find ruin and destruction.  God would ask me, "What happened?"  I would respond, "Well Father, in the first 15 seconds I observe 4 murders, 2 rapes, and a drug overdose.  Not one good deed.  I took the pressure off you and just ended life.  But, thank you for your service."

Imagine the sadness God feels at our continued evil acts, but the joy at the kind acts of love and caring.

A Mom with Kids at the Movies

 As we approach the Christmas holiday, I recall, in my own mind, this "conversations" I observed between a mother and her 2 children at the movie theater.

Mom:  Sit back!  Hold the bucket up.  You're gonna spill the popcorn.

Child 1: I want to sit up top! (meaning the balcony seats)

Mom: Be quiet.  We will walk out and go home!

Child 2:  Why is my name Leo?

Mom:  Sit up.  One more word and we are out of here!  I'm not answering you.  Hold the bucket or I will take it away.

Child 1:  My stomach hurts.

Mom:  Stop eating the popcorn.

The movie starts and there is peace on earth, goodwill to all movie watchers every where!

Response to Senator Young of Indiana

 

Senator Young, As a human being categorized and labeled as an "African American/black", I also agree that race based admissions to service academies be ended.  The caveat being that the process of selection must then be guaranteed to be free of any racial biases/stereotypes or racial discrimination.  In addition selections to service academies should not be based on being a family member or an alumni; political connections; or as a favor in return for a monetary gift to the academy, along with other selfish motives.

Black people have a proven record of achieving excellence, once given the opporunity to do so.  We do not need handouts, just the opportunity to excel, just as everyone else needs the opportunity.  To withhold the opportunity based on the color of a person's skin is only a support for caste and racist systems.

 In you quest to remove the race based criteria also please do the following.  Acknowledge that in past military conflicts where African Americans served in wars, once they returned they were rewarded by being called "Nigger"; refused services at public facilities such as restaurants, hotels, stores, theaters, public transportation due to the color of their skin.  Black people were treated better in World War II and I by the countries they were fighting to protect.  Can you acknowledge that Senator?

 Also, H.R. 40 sits in the House with a companion bill in the Senate to establish a commission to study the issue of reparations to descendants of the American institution of slavery that existed up until 1865.  Can you also support bringing the bill out of committee and into discussion on the Senate floor?  If not can you explain why you are supporting keeping that discussion away from the public?  Why drag out the issue?  Discuss it and take a vote on the matter.  Especially since your party now controls both houses of the legislature.

The First Woman President - The Formula and What's next

 It's now clear what it will take to become the first female President in the United States of America. First, she will need a note from her husband giving his permission to allow her to run for and become President.  In that agreement will cone the requirement that regardless of what world crisis is going on, as She President she must stop every day at 5 pm and ensure hubby has a home made meal awaiting him after his long day of doing nothing.

In the She President permission slip will be a section that allows her husband an unlimited number of "liaisons" with women and girls of all ages, races, and creeds. It is apparent that European American males want to maintain dominance over women. The only exception will be if the woman is a combination of the characteristics, and maybe looks, of Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard Nixon and William Howard Taft.

In addition the female candidate will have to be against abortion and firmly a foe of any support to transgender, and non binary choices. It also wouldn't hurt if she could chug down a six pack of beer while leading a meeting of her cabinet.

But seriously how stupid can democratic party candidates be, thinking they can win an election by supporting abortion, gay choice lifestyles and non binary gender decisions ? Those 3 choices by themselves are hot button areas that have invaded families over the past 10 years. Candidates who support any of the 3 might as well not even run for office.

What the election results also also shows is that people who have faced disparaging comments from the "victors" have now been emboldened with a "nothing to lose" attitude. "Anything goes to protect our rights" should now be the rallying cry for those marginalized, mistreated, or ignored. Whether they are seeking reparations, respect or justice long denied. The clock is ticking.

Let the good deeds shine

 Matthew 5:16 says in part "Let your good deeds shineout for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father." New Living Translation. (NLT).  Many media outlets that proports to provide us news could learn from that scripture.  Note that many news outlets first share news about murders; shootings; and other crimes of violence.  Especially on urban TV news.  Under the banner "Breaking News" comes stories of murders, and shootings.  You can predict what the leading story will be. Murders and shootings are definitely not good deeds!

Is it that difficult for news outlets to find "good deeds" stories?  Yes, news about health dangers, and corrupt practices should be shared with the public to alert us of dangers out here in the real world.  I wonder how do reporters having to read the news feel about having to read stories about shootings and murders, day after day after day?  Don't they get tired of the same stories?  How are they mentally impacted by having to read and share such stories?

We as consumers need to demand more from news publishers.  Don't you want to also hear inspirational stories of the good deeds that are being done?

Going With God's Plan - Politics 2024

 I recall writing a blog after the 2016 Presidential election.  I thanked the people of the United States of America for showing us who they were by electing Trump for President.  It was an era of people semi coming from behind their veil that had been hiding their racisim, hate, and selfishness.  All I could say now was that this was all part of God's plan to show us humans where we are at now in our walk with God.  Of course then Covid came and highlighted Trump's lack of ability to respond to a human crisis.  God called Joe Biden back to service to clean up the selfish mess that Trump had created.  Granddaddy Joe, as I called him, did a decent job of showing that the government cares for the people and that selfishness in government would not be condoned.

But, despite the deadly ravages of Covid and the hateful climate created in this country, Godly reason still has not prevailed.  It's just our history as humans.  Selfish, hateful acts sometimes control us with no real valid reason.  So, in 2024, we are facing another election with ironically the same scenario.  A narcissistic candidate for President versus a woman candidate.  In 2016 it was a woman who was a former Senator and U.S. Secretary of State.  Now it is a former Senator and the sitting Vice President of the United States.

God intervened to have Joe Biden step aside as a candidate for re election to the office of President.  Giving some credit to Biden, he put aside his personal selfish motives for trying to stay in office. Now in place is what I think is part 2 of God's plan.  As a nation we didn't adhere to godly principles in electing Trump as our national leader.  Covid came to put us all in time out to rethink our personal committment to God.  Now we are being given another chance to apply that committment by openly rejecting a former President whom is being used by God to show us the worst of us.

All we can do is vote and express devotion to God first, not any political candidate.  This year I am not worrying about the results of the 2024 election.  I will still vote for Harris as the more sane and competent candidate.  My faith in God tells me that God has a plan and that plan will show in the results of the 2024 election.  My human thoughts are I am personally tired of the rhetoric, selfishness, and evil of Trump.  I want him to go away.  But, if it's God's plan to allow him back into the top political position in this self proclaimed United States of America, so be it.  Unlike owners of homes in my neighborhood who raise up their garage doors every morning to display a flag hanging from the garage roof that supports Trump, I will not let a hateful, selfish person dominate my thoughts and will not make that person my human God.

God has shown humanity much patience over the years.  There have been times in the world's history where conditions have likely been worse.  But as it says in Ecclesiastes, we forget what has happened before.  Sometimes we just need to let our Godly actions respond to the world's chaos.  Get out and vote and let's see what God has in store for us.