Shirley, We Need to Talk

The Shirley to whom I refer, is Shirley Phelps Roper, of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. According to their press release they plan to come taunt and spew their vitriolic venom at the victims of the Joplin tornado. That's right, they claim to be coming to add insult to injury. I've been to Joplin twice this week to offer what I could and I've been in awe of what I've seen as the town pitches in and as strangers have come from miles around to help. In the midst of devastation, these people just keep on keeping on. I'm listening to the radio right now as they continue to give updates. The station owner has disrupted all of his regular programming to continue with the updates. That means his income is not happening. The announcers are amazing as well. Many of them continue to broadcast and listen to calls coming in, and they themselves have no homes to go to. The grocery store has given over their parking lot and shopping carts for the victims to come to trucks to receive supplies. It's amazing, truly amazing. Money and self-focus are unheard of in Joplin and yet there's one group that plans to come to do nothing helpful, whatsoever. I thought a lot of the radio personality that promised an half hour of his show to these people if they would not protest the little girl's funeral in Arizona that died when the Congress woman was shot. I felt like he "threw himself on that grenade." So, now I'll throw this blog on the proverbial grenade and give some attention to the Westboro Baptist Church. These people make all sorts of Biblical claims, but as a minister, myself; I don't remember reading about any men of G-d hiding behind women, kids, and internet screens. I find it interesting that Fred has so much hate to spew on line, but he doesn't attend the protests. As a matter of fact, I never see the men there. It's always the women and kids. I would expect as I believe most Americans would, that the religious man or men would lead. Well, a real man would! Shirley is a case, but then she is Fred's daughter, that according to many reports actually gave Fred a grandchild before giving him a son-in-law. Their statements of judgment are almost always based upon sexual sin . . . Could be issues . . . HUMMMMMM Me dost think they do protest too loudly.
He that loveth not knoweth not G-d; for G-d is love. New Testament

Joplin, Missouri

I'm not originally from this area, but I'm proud to be counted amongst the residents of southwest Missouri. I went to just the south side of Joplin yesterday to take some supplies and what I saw was both overwhelming and amazing. Now, I didn't see anywhere near the areas that have been shown in the news. I just saw the very south edge the path, in which power poles were snapped in half, huge oak trees were uprooted, some tarps on the roofs. I saw nothing of the true devastation just a few blocks to the north of where we were. Now, I do have to tell you what else I saw. I saw people everywhere doing whatever they could and whatever they thought needed to be done. I listened to radio announcers giving updates and taking calls round the clock, that literally no longer had homes to go to. I read about the Fire Chief that lost his home, both his vehicles, and yet he's working and coordinating with others for the rescue effort. I saw huge trailers full of supplies and dozens of people working each one. I saw a tent pitched in a parking lot, with dozens of volunteers preparing food. The calls into the radio station were heart touching. The ingenuity and spirit of these people is literally breath taking. As I unloaded the hundred plus dollars of supplies we brought, which was nothing in the big picture, I was met with so many hands to help unload the back of the van and the thank yous were abundant. We got in to leave, when I remembered the sack of things I had gathered from the house, so we stopped at the next drop-off point. I'd gathered the few batteries, lighters, and rolls of duct tape we had because it had been announced that many of the stores were already sold out of those items. I was a bit sheepish about that sack, because it wasn't much and the only thing still in packages were the batteries, yet as I handed it to the volunteer with explanation she just smiled and thanked me like it was a great gift! Now in the midst of all this, let me share about a divine appointment. Through a business transaction, we became familiar with a young family. When I heard about the storm, I commented that I thought their address on the contract was in the path of the tornado. I tried to call, tried to e-mail, of course to no avail, and I prayed. That prayer availed much. Of all things, in that parking lot as we were heading in to drop off supplies, they were on their way out with supplies. Their family, although had lost much, were all alive and well.
And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house . . . the book of Job in Holy Scripture

False Prophecy?

There was no doubt that Harold Camping was wrong about a rapture on May 21, 2011. The reasons for him being wrong were numerous and obvious. First, he didn't really focus on the Second Coming of Messiah, but rather this "rapture" concept. There is no mention of the word rapture in the Bible. Second, Y'hshuwah clearly and distinctly stated that no man knew the date or the hour. Third, I posted last week, that his math was beyond questionable. Fourth, the date he claimed to correlate with Scripture was Friday, the 20th of May. So, whether believer or skeptic, I guess everyone but his followers knew there would be no grand exit of people, Saturday. You know, not to mention Sabbath is G-d's day of rest . . . But what if Harold Camping was only wrong about the date of his proclaimed rapture? What if we are facing judgment? Our basic food supply has been either blighted by drought or washed way by flood waters. That's right, a great portion of America's farmland is not producing this year, from the wheat crop to the rice and cotton crops. Not only that, but the drought has also caused poor pastures and ranchers are simply getting out of the beef business. To go a step further, there is weather of Biblical proportion going on in many places. I very clearly heard G-d tell me to warn about "cloud seeding." Cloud seeding is man playing god and altering the weather pattern. We need to stop, the alterations are devastating!
. . . he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste . . . Prophet of Holy Scripture

Rasing the Debt Ceiling?

The illusion of looking up, when in reality, debt is a deep pit and apparently here in America it would appear our government will actually make it into a bottomless pit. We cannot pay our bills without borrowing from the future. It really is that simple. America has so many government programs, agencies and bureaucracies, we can't maintain them, much less afford all of our imported trinkets, we simply must have. The fact of the matter is the terminology is misleading in itself. Raising implies gaining and I guess the fact that our leaders are determined to raise the amount we owe is basically factual, but still misleading. If we continue to choose arbitrary figures of more borrowing to maintain our current standard, all we are really doing is choosing to deny what we have chosen to do. Raising the debt ceiling to continue to accommodate those that are deemed "entitled" is nothing more than robbing from our children and grandchildren. Raising the debt ceiling is the same thing as "all of us grandmas" breaking our grandchildren's penny banks so we can go out to lunch and have a senior discount. Now, our grandchildren's working parents don't qualify for any discounts, because they are busy and producing . . . I'm on this soap box again. Some generation has to stop the madness and bite the bullet, it may as well be mine. The boomers have been an annoyance to every generation so far. When we didn't want to join the establishment, we were told we were wrong! Then most of the boomers did cave and join the establishment and now that it's crumbling, that's our fault too. So be it. I'm sure most of us boomers really don't mind continuing to pay FICA and self-employment tax, so our Grandmas and Moms & Dads can enjoy their social security on top of pensions, investments, and inheritances. I've really decided somebody who feels entitled might as well enjoy themselves and feel like they have it coming. It makes sense for it to be the boomers that take the hit, since all we've ever heard is how spoiled we are and how good we had it. The boomers are already basically out of pension options, sitting on half of their previous 401k, and being phased out of the work force, anyway. We might as well just take it on the chin and become the hippies we all planned to be to start with. We'll just let our hair grow long and silver, live off the land, but I guess without Medicare D, the pharmaceuticals for free love won't be an issue. The one thing we will be able to live with is we can actually teach our grandhcildren that their future is important to us. We can teach our grandchildren where "lunch" really comes from and we can do that without breaking their penny banks. If Washington continues in this well established tradition, we aren't raising the debt ceiling, we're digging an abyss for our granchildren.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children . . . a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Campaign Declarations, Already . . .

I say already, but actually the declarations of candidacy are several months later in '11 than they were in '07 for the 2008 elections. There were just about as many senators on the campaign trail by this time in 2007 as there were in Washington, still doing business. And I would dare say, our current administration appears to have proven, little experience is actually needed to be President of the United States. I believe he was a freshman senator, just 2 years on post and often voting with the comment "present," when he declared his presidential candidacy. He was the first to declare this round, but now three contenders have been added, and two being recognizable members of the GOP. I can't remember the first guy to declare, so that gives me insight as to the level of success I would expect for him, but I do think he's a libertarian. Now there's Newt and Ron Paul added. I'm not expecting big things out of either of them. I'm thankful that there are less than 18 months until the election, and I'm thankful I don't have a television. I am sickened that an incumbent believes he needs to raise $1,000,000,000, that's 1 Billion dollars to campaign against a bunch of late coming virtual nobodies to win a job that pays less than 1/2 a million a year! With investment thinking like that, it's no wonder our budget is in the sad state it's in. It would be interesting if our politics became unusual and wasn't just same ol' same ol', but I'm not holding my breath. I can't imagine the day when a real person that actually balanced a personal or business budget, whose word is their bond would ever run for the highest office in this land.
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Political Agendas

I've made a few comments and posted a few blogs as to the credibility of having gotten the kingpin of terror, Usama bin Laden. And by the way, did the spelling of his first name change because we were spelling it wrong before or because the GOP associated Osama with Obama? Another matter about this spelling business. President Obama has been in office for more than two years, why hasn't spell check caught up yet? Yet I digressed, back to the topic at hand. I'm sure the Navy SEALS did accomplish a heroic feat that resulted in at least one less terrorist, but I still do not believe one guy that's been hiding for nearly ten years has been calling all the shots. But, I do think, just like G. W.'s plans for Iraq, President Obama had a plan for Pakistan, and we have yet to see that unfold. But I think we will before the next election. I'm really getting a bit frustrated and not so much with the politicians any more, but we the people just keep running back and forth as if the party leaders are saying anything different. I truly believe the political agenda of both parties is virtually the same. The politicians want to live an extravagant and comfortable lifestyle with all the power they can acquire and we the people keep nibbling at their offers every 4-6 years. Between Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and now possibly finally Pakistan, I'm not sure we'll have enough military in the states to even keep the lights on . . . Or will we soon be looking at a draft? Or perhaps automatic service to offset those student loans everyone has been offered and most everyone has embraced. We're not out of Pakistan yet . . .
And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they . . . History of Holy Scripture

Do We Ever Tire of Being Foolish?

We just spent big money to blast a levee so flood waters could destroy at least 130,000 acres of Missouri farmland to save a town that has been moving out since the 2000 census. I looked up Cairo, Illinois to discover it went from about 3600 people in the 2000 census to around 2800 in 2010. I couldn't find any major industry there and considering the drop in the housing market, compared to land to raise crops, I just can't figure out what the powers that be were thinking. There was time to consider this. The entire town had already been evacuated. There was no life at risk!!! What is wrong with the decision makers at this time? I heard this morning that it may be years before the farm land is tillable again to produce anything. What have we become? Where are our priorities? All the people have left safely, the town has been dwindling for the past several years, and we've wiped out thousands upon thousands of acres of farm land that would have produced and continued to produce for what? man made STUFF??? Or the flip side . . . Our foolish arrogant materialism has finally landed us in judgment . . .
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. New Testament
For thus hath YHWH said, The whole land shall be DESOLATE . . . Prophet of Holy Scripture

Correspondent's Dinner

It's just not the same, without G.W. The press correspondent's dinner used to be the one night to roast and toast the President. The Bushes definitely made it a fun and memorable occasion. Laura was really funny, as I recall, and G.W. . . . the best sport on the planet, that one night. Now, it's just not the same. President Obama appears to have no sense of humor, but he's snarky and intimidating. I just don't call that funny stuff unless you're Roseanne Barr making fun of her own life, but then again, that's the operative. If someone cannot make fun of themselves, they aren't funny when they make fun of someone else. Well, I can't say the correspondent's dinner is the deal breaker with this administration, but it's certainly one more thing to add to the list. If President Obama, who can say whatever he likes, whenever he likes has to use this opportunity to harpoon someone, then he's just not as classy as I tried to give him credit for being. Now, as for the comedian that compared himself and his father to Ron and Rand Paul, loved it, simply loved it. I believe it was Mike Meyers that said he and his father were like Ron and Rand Paul, in that they would never be elected President either. I think what makes me the saddest about these latest correspondent dinners is the number of people that do think the President is funny while he's using a bully podium. We are really getting to be a mean bunch of folks that appear to like to see people put on the spot and made uncomfortable. I just don't think that should be classified as humor.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. New Testament