Just a Strange "What if? . . ."

This is not claiming any insight or inside information, nor is it accusing our president of any of the things that have been questioned and gone strangely unanswered or at least unsatisfactorily.  I'm only posing the possibility . . .

What if, at the end of his second term, or just after next year's election, if some emergency doesn't disrupt the 2016 election . . . Wow, if some emergency disrupts the election, we could be living in Obamaville indefinitely . . . In which case probably even the staunchest of conservatives will want pot legalized and the teetotalers may take up drinking, as Obamacare won't offer enough painkillers by prescription.
Yet I digress . . . back to my "What if?"

Let's imagine the elections go without a hitch and the Obamas will be moving out in January.  I'll choose an arbitrary day, say the day after Congress is sworn in with their new raise.  Picture, later that evening, President Obama comes on national television with a special address, since he won't be giving the State of the Union Address . . .

First, he addresses America without using "my fellow Americans" and immediately directs his comments to the birthers and the loyal followers against the birthers.  Everybody is right!  >My mother was only 18 years old and by Constitutional law, since she had not been out of Kansas for 5 years, I am an American citizen, regardless of my actual birth country.  Now, with that being said, the birthers got it, too.  The hospital on my Hawaiian birth certificate didn't exist in 1961.  BUSTED . . .  You know, rather than divide over my birth certificate, someone could have simply asked for the Passport records for my years in Indonesia.  That would have made my country of citizenship quite clear, or my lawyer much wealthier.

Although I spoke of my beliefs and claimed to be Christian, many Americans are just sure I'm a secret Muslim.  The fact of the matter is, the Muslim world bases one's religion upon the religion of the father, and my father was Muslim.  That fact, however; doesn't mean the son has the same beliefs.<

It is the personal opinion of this reporter that Mr. Obama serves himself.  He seems, in my humble opinion, very content with his god complex.  Perhaps he has claimed the religion of his father, perhaps he's claimed Jeremiah Wright's version of Christianity, or perhaps, like many Americans he'd simply state he believes in doing what is right in his own eyes and what serves his own best interest.

Next, he mentions the girls.  Imagine him openly stating, with the territorial aggression of a protective father, "they are our daughters, but not biologically."  There are no baby photos because we hadn't yet adopted them.  There are no photos of Michelle pregnant, because that simply did not happen.  I'm all about a transparent reality . . . In a country that is so abhorrent toward abortion, you should celebrate the adoption of our two daughters.

Finally, he then mentions Michelle, whom may have been referenced Michael.  Joan Rivers died just a week after saying Michelle was a "tranny."  I can hear him now, saying, when he came into office he was quite nervous about his stand on traditional marriage knowing he and "Michelle" had a very unique situation.  He wasn't sure the Supreme Court would open the door for him to be able to be "transparent in his evolving views, but felt they would.  Before the Supreme Court decision, he did have some concerns about his relationship, but clearly he and Michelle/Michael are now the all American image of "marriage equality."

http://www.out.com/out100-2015/2015/11/10/out100-2015-cover-revealed-president-barack-obama

I believe it's just a strange feeling or even just a whim of imagination in political satire.  Can you imagine, either way, Mr. Obama's body language and tone if he were to state the following?   >Everything I've stated tonight was already a fact eight years ago and four years ago, now what are you going to do about it?  I was elected, and there is nothing in the Constitution or Bill of Rights that state I couldn't have been.  My mother's citizenship and age makes me a natural born citizen.  Religion and sexual identity are not factors in holding the office, and as for adopted children . . . Ronald Reagan was not only divorced but also a father by adoption.

Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.  a Lament of the Prophet

Deepening the Division

As I sit here thinking of the term "United States of America," I can't think of one thing in which Americans are fully united.  Not one thing.  We are however, absolutely and vocally divided on a number of issues.  This will only gain momentum as another presidential campaign is now beginning.  Over 18 months to go and the expletives and name calling has already commenced.  If I were voting, I can say with all certainty, my vote would depend greatly, not on just the candidate, but their supporters.  The extreme closed-mindedness of both parties sound like haters and I just don't really want haters determining the leader of our nation, but since judgment is inevitable, the hate will increase.  I've never voted for a republican presidential candidate, and won't; but at least the republicans/conservatives admit they are closed minded, albeit proudly, they do admit it.  The hate spewing, tolerant progressives seem to be in absolute denial of their own intolerance and closed mindedness, and that is frightening!

The division in our country, I believe will even become physically or naturally displayed, before it's all said and done.  It seems even after fifty years of civil rights and desegregation, much of our country is still divided by something so superficial as skin tone.  As a brown person, I do have to admit, often when it comes to ethnicity, there are cultural differences, creating differences in perspective.  This should in no way create moral differences, or even give base for bigotry, but sadly it often does.  There are many examples of racial issues once again coming to violent divisions.  The racial division appears to be the segue between politics and the "them vs. us" of law enforcement.  Statistically, the majority of republicans tended to be white, while the various ethnic groups tend to vote democrat, but that appears to be changing.  Mix in what now appears to be racial profiling with law enforcement and the divisive wedge is driven deep.

"Them vs. Us" with a more militarized law enforcement not only divides the people from the enforcers, but also re-enforces the divisions outlined in the previous paragraphs.  Local law enforcement has become quite militarized with even more on the horizon with Operation Jade Helm 15.  Several southern states are literally going to be inundated, or already are . . . with military drills and exercises, as if the citizens are the problem.  What could possibly go wrong there?

Whether the event of Operation Jade Helm 15 comes to a peaceful conclusion, or ushers in martial law, remains to be seen.  Meanwhile the sexual agenda is definitely gaining ground crying minority and bigotry.  The LGBTQ Agenda is powerful, and it is relentless, and it is aggressive.  And that statement earns me the title of homophobe, which is completely inaccurate.  Phobia is a fear and I'm not afraid of the agenda, I'm simply making an observation about the agenda.  When campaigning in '07 and '08, then Senator Obama stated his views on marriage were traditional.  Now, in the highest elected office of this nation, he's had a change of heart.  Tell me this agenda is not powerful!  Not only is this agenda powerful, it has one clear, very clear target in the crosshairs:  The Bible, and the believers thereof.  Sadly, while the LGBTQ agenda is creating a flaming distraction, another fire is gaining momentum on the same platform aiming at the same target.

Islam appears to be wielding swords in power plays in other countries, but it's more subtle here.  Islam appears to have taken its cues from other agendas.  Sword wielding enemies are fought, but "misunderstood minorities" are tolerated, accommodated, and even encouraged . . .  Ultimately, we'll probably see swords, but for now, we are going to see days and events of "tolerance, awareness, experience, and understanding."  I'd say it's a safe bet that we won't have days and events promoting the Ten Commandments, Feast Days, or Torah/Messiah, but Islam will be presented publicly because there is no separation of "mosque and state."

Hear the word of YHWH, ye children of Israel: for YHWH hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of Elohim in the land.  Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.  Hosea 4:1,3

What's Behind the Headlines?

As racial tension escalates, the flames of religious difference are becoming explosive, and the mentality of "them and us" is fed by the mainstream media, I find myself wondering what's really happening.  I am leaning toward watching the health situations that are barely receiving coverage.  Remember ebola?  Now the CDC has announced that this year's flu shot isn't going to be effective, but . . . there are prescriptions.   I'm also keeping an eye on the economy.  One party says it's really improved, while they fight for more and more benefits for the working poor.  The other party says it's not improved, so we need to make more cuts in programs that are already not helping enough people.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . . What happened to Clive Bundy?    Harry Reid said it wasn't over, and although he's no longer the loudest, most powerful voice in the Senate, none of us really expect much change.   The circumstances in the Middle East continue to escalate, while Protestants seem to be heading to the Vatican.  I've watched many folks change position regarding the religious wars.  For this reporter, the bottom line is simple.  There are bad people involved in every religion.  I stand in agreement with Israel, even though I do not agree with the Chabad or Zionists.  I do not and cannot support the tenets of faith when it comes to Islam, nor do I embrace the teachings of the Vatican.

Shutting down the independents seems to be a major goal, here in America.  This goal seems to target a variety of independents from a variety of directions, be it ranchers, a bridal shop owner who had a thoughtless client, Christian bakers, organic farmers, and hobby farmers, to name only a few.  As I watched the reactions to grand jury decisions regarding racially charged headlines, I can't help but notice the businesses that were destroyed in the rioting didn't have a thing to do with the issue, and some of them were owned by individuals of color.  What did that accomplish?  Other than to further divide and cause independent business owners to lose business.  What mom and pop businesses, Wal-Mart hasn't shuttered, the choreographed problems, and programmed agenda will.  Without a doubt, illegal immigrants replacing citizens in the military will make Martial Law a much greater arm of power.  US Citizens would have greater difficulty firing on their fellow citizens, or taking them captive; whereas foreigners probably won't give it a second thought.

At last count, there were 1400 US citizens being monitored for ebola symptoms.  The sunshine state as well as Arizona have changed "their" mind about solar power and it's rumored some folks who have invested, could actually be fined.  Some states are already fining and worse, those who dare catch rainwater.   Obviously, the loss of independence is a major goal in bringing the NWO.  The filtering information is now also a glaring fact.  We simply cannot forget that freedom is not granted by the government, but rather is a gift from our Creator.

You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.  New Testament    

Two Very Different Roads Less Travelled

Two women, now well past 50 both began their journey on this earth in Northeast Kansas.  As much as I hate to admit it, our zealously strict upbringing may have even caused us to be school chums in our early years.  The Gregorian calendar dates are interesting in that she was born October 31, 1957 and I arrived in March of 1958.  The calendar of our Creator places our arrivals in the same Biblical year with hers in the 8th month and mine, the 13th day of the 12th month.

In Kansas there seemed to be very little differentiation between the various religious independent fundamental groups, back in the 60s and 70s.  The difference was in leadership control only.  There had to be several small groups to accommodate so many independent "leaders."  The offspring had the dubious honor of simply being outcasts in the public school system, and yet, even in being made fun of and bullied, school was a refuge for some of us.  One was ultimately freed of the zealous bondage, while the other remained.

Obviously, one of these women is me, and the other is Shirley Phelps-Roper.  As the title of this article indicates, I'm not in agreement with Shirley, but rather have found an interesting "opposing parallel" in the lives we've lived.  Although, I don't think we have yet come to the end of our earthly journeys, the difference in our paths now seem to reflect a remarkable difference in our countenance.  As mentioned previously, we are very close in age and have even attended a few of the same events, but on opposite sides of the signs and sidewalks.

We grew up in very strict households and as even recent headlines show, Kansas is all about corporal punishment, and the religious households fervently cling to that thinking.  Kansas Christians are free from the law, but religiously uphold their Old Testament right of corporal punishment, yet I digress.  Back to Shirley and I.  Although we didn't know each other or grow up in the same small Kansas town; I'm guessing, by High School, she and I were both aware that we really didn't fit in well, and still somewhat naive, as to why.  For those unaware, there was a time in which Fred Phelps was a respected attorney quite active in the fight for civil rights.  By definition, we were both religious odd balls at school, and yet our parents still wanted more.

I planned to graduate after my junior year, but in a school transfer, the new school did not allow 1/2 of a credit from my junior year, so I decided I'd had enough, obtained a GED to go to college, but instead of college, became a teen-aged unwed mother.  Shirley also became an unwed mother, although I believe she was a little older.  She returned home in her pending motherhood.  I tried to return after my child arrived, but I simply could not raise my child in fundamental zealotry, so I left.  Sadly, I had no real plan of direction, just determination to not be a conservative Kansas fundamentalist.  Also sadly, Shirley stayed in the fundamental zealotry until the line between fundamental and "funny mental" has been made overbearingly apparent to most of the rest of the onlooking world.  Both of us did, however; continue further education.

In her staying, she married a man who adopted her child, and I believe they had ten more.  In my escape, I also got married, and married, and married; ultimately seven times, buried two children, lost pregnancies to miscarriage, and adopted three children.  Family wise, although very different stress; I'd say we've both experienced rather extreme family stress, as well.  My twenties and early thirties were not lived in a G-dly way, but at age 36, I came to YHWH in Messiah, and was indwelled with His Spirit.  That changed everything!

Shirley and I are both grandmas now and here's a little view of the way we've influenced the future generations.  These photos are images of events we shared with our grandchildren.  The first photo does not specify which of Fred's great grandchildren they are, but they are children of WBC, participating in a protest.  This photo of three of my grandchildren is for the front cover of a cookbook,"Sweet Memories and Happy Plates."  They tested the dishes, I wrote the recipes with vignettes and Scripture, and we published it together.

 

Both Shirley and I greatly resemble our fathers, and even though my father is considered a very handsome man, even in his 70s, he would not have made a pretty woman . . . Shirley and I are not beautiful women, but it's not our features that I noticed, it's the countenance.

In all fairness to her, I am not sure how recently these photos were taken so, I've done two of each of us that I think are about the same time frame, and under similar circumstances.  We were both, hopefully trying to look our best for the press . . .

Here is Shirley giving an interview, and mine is the back cover of one of my books, "Simply Abundant," published in 2009.

The next two images are later, in which she is participating in some gathering covered by the press, and my photo is for the press release of "Can We All Be Wrong?" published in 2011.

                                                                                         

To be as accurate and fair in establishing the time and age in our photos, I have also included one recent "selfie" taken as I was preparing for my press pass photo in January of this year.  Shirley and I are not Facebook friends, so I don't know if she has a recent "selfie."

Clearly I have more gray, but Proverbs doesn't indicate that to be a bad thing at all!  The different paths of nearly 40 years definitely shows on our faces.  We may have started in the same place, but our direction has taken us a world apart.  The difference of our countenance is literally the difference between hateful religion, and a loving relationship with our Almighty Creator.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of G-d; and every one that loveth is born of G-d, and knoweth G-d.He that loveth not knoweth not G-d; for G-d is love.In this was manifested the love of G-d toward us, because that G-d sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  ~ words of the beloved Apostle