Divided for the Conquering . . .

By now, most of us have realized, having a black president did not relax racial tension.  On the contrary, the tension seems to be heightened, while our President and First Lady continue to draw attention to racial conflict.  Undoubtedly, there are white racists in this country, but there are also black race baiters.  Meanwhile young people of all races are watching, believing the programming they are being fed from the side in which they are standing.  For whatever reason, tolerance calls us to hate bigots while baiters are given a free pass.  This country is, once again, racially divided.  Ferguson, MO and Baltimore, MD appear to have stepped back in time, and now college campuses offer "ethnic safe spaces."  The author of the article linked makes no bones about the fact, color speaks louder than freedom of the press.

Religious division is really gaining ground, even amongst those who claim the same basic beliefs.  Every week, I find at least two articles addressing the exodus from the church.  Then there are the various factions of the latest Hebraic movement that really seem rather denominational in their grouping and discussion.  The anti-religious seem to be able to unite in their anti-theism and are sadly gaining numbers and power over the public square.  The division is quite real, and the aggression against those with different beliefs is gaining momentum.  While the evangelicals tend to be divided Sunday morning, they are politically united at the polls.

Law enforcement is becoming quite militarized and while I do believe we still have some good cops, I also know there are some ruthless bad ones.  The police brutality has caused much division racially, as well as a general tone of "them vs. us" for a number of years, and now the biker situation in Texas has raised even more skepticism and distrust.  The truth is, when there is a bad guy breaking and entering, 911 is the link to our beloved law enforcement that is there to protect and serve.  On the other hand, when cruising down the highway and we see the lights on top of the car, the "them vs. us" is apparent with our own adrenaline charge and memory of every brutality video on the net.

There has been a generation gap since the dawn of creation, and along with that, the different standard of morality.  A decline in standards is a rapid drop.  Adam and Eve with their forbidden fruit, to the next generation committing murder speaks of the rapid decline of civility in this world.  The generational blame that has occurred in this country, I find to be quite, stale; for lack of a better word.  We all know the baby boomers economically and morally destroyed America and are destroying what's left . . .  Although the blame rolls off my shoulders like water off a duck's back, I will admit the boomers, as a whole sold out and haven't done much to improve the situation.  The generational division has always been, but the blame, well maybe . . . much of the church still teaches everyone is paying for past generational sins all the way back to the Garden.  Perhaps we lack the civility to not let a different perspective divide us; but blaming each other will absolutely bring division.

The Supreme Court is about to serve up a whopping dish of division with the same sex marriage decision coming in June.  There is NO way this will not bring division.  If they render a decision against same sex marriage, the gay agenda will explode.  If the decision is in favor of same sex marriage, the Supreme Court has exalted itself above Scripture, which will result in calamity of Biblical proportion.  This division will be the ultimate LOSE/LOSE for our society.  LGBT has made no bones about it. They are aggressive and will be relentless.  In the 2013 decision regarding DOMA, as the LGBT representatives stood on the steps in Washington a spokesperson for the group stated, "this is not enough."  From what I can see, the agenda wants our children, our businesses, our money, and our submission, and I don't know if that will be enough!

Thanks to mainstream media, every small glitch, and every misunderstanding can now be exaggerated internationally and blown completely out of proportion, while lacking context and be quoted as truth, while we all state, "I just don't trust mainstream media."  I find myself leaning toward news sources that are definitely outside of mainstream, yet fact checking can be very difficult and I certainly do not want to give a false report.  All things considered, though, fact checking mainstream media, doesn't offer much reassurance either.  Operation Jade Helm 15 continues to be downplayed in the news officially, while those of us trying to keep it on the radar are billed as conspiracy theorists.  More division, always more division.

Sadly, our politics appears to be divided by all of the divisive topics . . . Or perhaps, our politics are simply choreographed to give the appearance of party division, rather than the true division which is between "the powers that be" and "we the people."  Since that line appears to be based upon wealth, perhaps it's time to stop watching the politicians for leadership, and stop listening to the media for answers, and realize the love of money is the root of all evil and the only true refuge is found in our Creator.

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  ~ words of Messiah

Pervasive Perversion

While we look at ISIS, illegal immigration, and Operation Jade Helm 15, I see a true nemesis.  The true nemesis is the Agenda of Perversion masquerading in our society, as sexual tolerance and anti-bullying.  This so called tolerance is tolerant of everything except chaste decorum, and as for anti-bullying, I think the Oregon Supreme Court has spoken volumes in defense of bullying against those who are just living their life and not trying to hurt anyone.  I've struggled with writing this article, because on many levels, it hits entirely too close to home.  As far as I know, homosexuality is not a family issue yet, but we've had our own brand of justification for a number of years now, from shotgun weddings to illegitimate births, to my own personal divorce statistics.  The gay agenda may be the straw that breaks the camel's back, but this nation and world have been on a slippery slope of immorality for a very long time, and the perversion is much more pervasive than just the LGBT.

Although I am not an advocate of sinning, sadly; I am still not perfect.  I believe in resting on the Sabbath and keeping a kosher diet, as well as the other commandments of Torah regarding personal behavior, which includes sexual behavior.  I do not believe Messiah came to change the Instructions for righteous living.  He came to set the example for righteous living and bring redemption.  Obeying the Laws of G-d does not earn one the right to be a child of G-d.  His grace is what affords us to be His children, and grateful gracious children strive to obey.  It seems obvious, at least here in America, that ignoring the Laws of our Creator is hazardous to our health, and thus to our society.  Willful disobedience, by definition is in fact; sin.

Now with that being said, which sins are causing the most problems?  Sexual issues seem to be the most problematic, on many levels.  Probably the biggest problem with sexual sin is it tends to affect the most people, and often makes more people.  When the concept of same-sex marriage was introduced, we were told, it would not affect those who do not embrace the concept.  That isn't true!  People are losing their businesses, their jobs, and their livelihoods; and the decision has yet to be rendered by the Supreme Court.  The public school system is openly declaring that LGBT does indeed affect everyone, not only in the reading curriculum, but in sports, using the restrooms, and even showers!  For whatever reason, sexual tolerance is being forced and there's just something wrong with that on a very base level.  If two lesbians can feel "mentally raped" for someone to stand by their beliefs, I think many of the rest of us can use that same term, as this aggressive sexual agenda is forced down our throat.  Aggressively targeting and attacking a Christian bakery is just as much bullying as picking on a feminine boy or a rugged tomboy at school.   But, alas, this sexual agenda began long before two lesbians started whining or before an Olympian doubted his sexuality.

I grew up in a time in which premarital sex was frowned upon by a generation who obviously had crossed that line in their own teenage years, and our generation was bringing the "sexual revolution."  Interestingly, revolution and revolting have the same root word, and sadly the revolution has brought revolting results.  This article is in no way intended to remove personal responsibility for the moral decline of this nation, but America made a serious mistake over a century ago, when marriage became legislatively governed, thus ceasing to be sacred.  Oh, I know, we all heard that single line as the preacher officiates: "joined in the sight of G-d," but once marriage involved a state license, we had mingled holy with profane.  Now, all these years later, the Supreme Court of the land has already determined it has the right to rule on Scripture, and the social validity thereof.

With the sexual revolution came a sexual openness in our society, that included pornography.  Or perhaps, it was the pornography industry that "inspired" the sexual openness, I can't speak with true knowledge on that subject.  What I do know, is television programming became more blatant, movies were often filled with a great deal of sexual content as the rating system became blurred, and then cable brought sexuality openly into everyone's living room.  All of that was gaining momentum through last century.  The internet has made pornography available in a simple click of the mouse.  I was not raised with a father who read Playboy, but my uncle did, and provided my cousins with their own copy.  I still remember the shocking find in helping them unpack when they moved.

I was born to teenaged parents, who eloped and undoubtedly prayed for a late arrival.  I grew up, with my own set of hang-ups about that, so I decided to do it differently.  I had intended to be a single mom, but ultimately decided my child should grow up in a two parent household . . . I got that wrong, in several attempts.  I am now living undivorced and celibate with a disabled husband in what has been the longest marriage of my life . . . Considering my track record, I know this is somehow the result of the law of sowing and reaping, or as some would say; "comeuppance."   Each generation in our society appears to only intensify their stand against Torah.  The current status of society indicates my family is no exception to the rule, or substandard to the general population in America, but we've certainly done nothing to raise the standard!  By the time I came to a covenant relationship with our Creator, my kids had been raised pretty permissively.

I know a woman who is nearly 40 and married, while working in the rather kinky end of the adult entertainment industry.  She's not a dancer or stripper, nuff said there, except she has mentioned two things I find very spiritually haunting.  One, after reading my book, "Can We All Be Wrong?" I did what I thought was mentor, encourage her to read the Bible, and answer her questions, but in looking back . . . At any rate she said she realized homosexuality was wrong. Although she didn't feel led to that lifestyle, had always supported their right, until reading what was written in Leviticus.  The next year, I saw photos of her with her teen aged daughters attending a gay pride parade.  The second thing about this individual is her insistence in discussing her career and perspective with someone she knows doesn't want to hear about it.  This sexual agenda is so aggressive.  Anyway, in one of our few conversations since she's embraced the darkness, she mentioned doing some modeling . . . I can't help but wonder, now, when I see some of the illustrations of the Harlot of Babylon, if she indeed has done some modeling.

My parents generation said, you could sanctify fornication with a marriage license.  My generation said divorce and cohabitation are fine . . . The generation we raised now says anything goes, and we're going to force it on everyone . . . What will be the stand of the next generation?   Or will society even survive the absence of a moral standard?  So far, there is no evidence that a society can survive this sort of moral breakdown.  

If I were to do it all over again, or if anyone were listening to my advice, I would suggest a religious ceremony, only without a state license, and not on a Sabbath.  Then a legal change of name for the bride, and do not use the children as tax deductions . . .

And even as they did not like to retain G-d in their knowledge, G-d gave them over to a reprobate mind . . . Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful . . . Who knowing the judgment of G-d, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  ~  letter to Rome

Is a Crisis in the Making?

Is there anything in America that isn't causing fear and division right now?  Particularly troubling, are the political loyalists.  As I read the articles from mainstream sources and read the comments presented by the party loyalty I'm troubled.  Whether the topic is Gay Rights or Jade Helm, the democrats sound exactly like the republicans did when the USA Patriot Act was passed without question in light of 9/11, which now raises questions in and of itself.

Let's take a brief walk down memory lane since 9/11.  With the USA Patriot Act came TSA and two wars, not to mention a serious and further distrust along party lines, not between the "officials" but amidst "we the people."  There is also the fact that the group of folks in Washington who used to be called public servants are now referred to as elected officials.  It may seem insignificant and only semantics, but the subliminal inference is astounding when one considers the future generations are being programmed.   If I had a dollar for every time I heard a republican say to me in regard to my negativity about the USA Patriot Act, "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about."  I truly did laugh at those same people when the party of administration changed and "invaded their privacy."  Well, not really laugh, because sadly whether or not either party loyalists wake up, we are all on the same sinking ship.

Moving right along to this latest attempt to make "the other party" feel conspiranoid has now changed sides.  Mainstream news sources are trying to make the Texas Governor sound like a paranoid nut over Operation Jade Helm 15.  When you consider this "Operation" is taking place in 9 states, while also knowing the factor in military equipment was brought into Missouri, and Maryland, over racial tension, and New York has buried two officers in a week.  Now reading that big equipment has been spotted in New Hampshire and the BLM is still in Nevada and covering parts of the great North West.  The midwest will be, once again, in federal emergency condition with storm destruction.  Factor in, the big chicken kill in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, and the questionable legal controversies in Michigan, the Governor of Texas just may have cause for concern.

I could resolve the disgust with the last administration and party followers by simply letting my Passport expire and learning to live below the poverty level to avoid funding ridiculous wars.  The fact that Americans having a bad day actually being shot and killed by TSA is horrific in and of itself.  Then factor in humiliating the elderly over their depends and invasively groping small children in ways that are abhorrent.  I don't know if the decision to stop traveling after my underwires caused my breasts to be targeted by TSA was an act of dissidence or rebellion, but it was the line the sand.  I'd been half way around the world, including the Middle East and never faced the ridiculous procedures I did at KCI or MCI; . . . whatever it's called.  I can't get on the plane with underwires, but there are footwashing stations, now, in that same airport to accommodate the Muslims.  This alone, caused me to truly doubt that TSA is about security after 9/11.  And NO, that is not Islamophobia, I'm well aware of the goal of Islam.  It caused me reason to question our government!

The point is, there are ways around TSA; by simply avoiding the airport and railroad.  I don't know how to avoid an infiltration on American soil by our own military.  When I consider the number of states already in some sort of potential crisis, I'm troubled, and even more so, realizing there is no way to avoid it.  I'm here, I live here, but I'm apparently in the minority in that I value freedom more than safety.  Ben Franklin is credited with the following,  "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

We certainly can't forget the landmark decision expected from the Supreme Court next month regarding the gay agenda.  That topic always gets feathers ruffled from a number of directions.  Meanwhile we're told that there are ISIS camps scattered throughout the nation.  Which party's security system let them in?  How did they all get passed TSA?  I know the party of TSA would say they came in through the border.  If they were coming in through the border, why the footwashing stations at the airport?  Is it just me or does it seem like this is all being strategically choreographed?   I just see something in the making that will forever and severely alter this nation, and not for the better.

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:  a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Which Way is This Discrimination Truly Aimed?

Discrimination against religion.  These businesses are not protesting gay weddings!  They are just preferring to not participate, but according to court decisions, that is no longer their right, as Americans!

Cake decorating is now political.  Please allow me to clarify.  It's political if you have strong religious beliefs, live in a state that may or may not recognize same sex marriage, and own a business that becomes the target of the Gay Agenda.

Masterpiece Cakeshop

A decorated cake is just as much a work of art as any painting, sculpture, or tapestry.  Artists, by definition, express themselves, in their work!  

What happened to the right to refuse service?  What happened to a dissatisfied customer just “taking their business elsewhere?”  I have an idea for all of us business folk who do believe our beliefs have a priority in our business dealings.  We must seek our Creator and ask Him for a creative way to deal with this tyrannical agenda.  A person who has started a business, tended to that  business and perfected their art, craft, or skill can still be protected, but it won't be by the government.  The business owners have genuinely invested of themselves in their business and their community, unlike the plaintiffs, who have merely seen an opportunity to raise their bully pulpit once again.

Two of the three cases that have gone to court and the judgment has been rendered against the business owners took place in states that did not even recognize same-sex marriage, at the time the lawsuits!  The state didn't recognize same sex marriage, yet insisted that a business recognize it.   Are judges and officials so blind that they cannot see they are being foolishly used to further an agenda, or are they willing and compliant to favor a specific belief over another?

I have two suggestions for business folk everywhere.  First, present your craft, your business, your service as an “art.”  Art is protected and applauded for it's uniqueness and even offensive statement.  The crucifix in urine comes to mind . . .  Once your business is established as artistic, copyright your particular statement.  For instance, my soap labels all have a Bible verse on them, yet my soap is “crafted.”  I would suggest bakery owners who base their business on their beliefs, do something similar.  The religious discrimination is only going to become stronger and more invasive, and the discrimination is against the religious.  

These business people, unlike the artist in 1987, are not applauded for their religious statements, but actually penalized for their beliefs.  I hadn't realized how long the anti-Bible agenda has been going on, but the momentum it has gained recently is reprehensible.  The first amendment is being destroyed by the very courts that are in place to uphold it.  Fining a small independent business owner on the grounds of their religious beliefs, and I don't care how it's presented in legal jargon; is persecution.  These entrepreneurs are facing the demise of their livelihood for their beliefs . . . in America.  This is going far beyond the loss of the first amendment.  

The condescension with which these business people are being treated is shameful.   Colorado does not license same sex marriage, yet Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop is being court ordered to create art that is against his heart.

Although Oregon did not recognize same sex marriage at the time of this incident, the state has now legalized it, but that still does not change the circumstances of this particular case.  The Kleins who own Sweetcakes by Melissa became the target of a lesbian couple, before Oregon even legalized same sex marriage.  Some of the comments following the article, made by the "i-pad legal experts" are priceless.

Pennsylvania just legalized same sex marriage and the owner of Cake Pros was immediately in the crosshairs of a lesbian couple.  The reporter was more than obvious in his condescending title of the article.  Included is a comment made in an interview given by one of the "brides,"   Petrich told WFMZ she wanted to support her hometown, and that's why she chose the bakery. "We asked her to make us a wedding cake and not marry us. I didn't understand."
Maybe I'm wrong here, but if I wanted to support my hometown, and one bakery didn't want my business, I'd just go to another one.

This final reference is not a bakery, but it sure puts the icing on the cake.  Are Americans with strong religious beliefs about marriage, GMO, health care, etc. going to have to go underground?  A couple rent out their grand farmhouse for special events, so of course a lesbian couple saw their opportunity.  The judge went so far as to order the owners of Liberty Ridge Farms to actually give money to these women.
The quote contains the link to the full story.  “No one should have the happiest time of their life marred by discrimination,” McCarthy, who was represented alongside her wife by the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement, according to the New York Law Journal. “We hope this decision will protect all New Yorkers from having to go through the hurt that we experienced.”  They were only renewing their vows . . .

I do not have a spotless track record when it comes to marriage, but I can saw unequivocally, the last thing I considered when making wedding plans, was to create some political statement or worse, make my "special day" be the cause of other's discomfort or destroy a business!  If a wedding means so much to these couples, why make a point of patronizing a business that would prefer not to have their business?  Perhaps these individuals have felt shunned and discriminated against, not because of their sexual preference, but due to their bullying tendencies.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.  ~ Romans

The Ultimate Conundrum

To be completely honest, I've never really known where I stand on the adoption/abortion issue.  I don't believe in doctors, so I wouldn't consider an abortion, but from what I've seen, heard, and read on the subject of adoption, I have issues with that too.  I've known of too many young women who were virtually forced to give their child up for adoption, then had to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps under the judgment of the religiously inept, move forward and start a life; only to be "found" years later by that birth child.

Naturally the adopted child is only concerned with their own issues around the adoption, and appear to give very little thought to the parent that made a most heart wrenching decision at their birth, or the parents that did everything within their power to give that child a life, a home, and a family.  The child seems to have an insatiable void that must be filled, regardless of the fallout, so I'm not so sure adoption as we know it, is the answer.  A personal pet peeve of mine is to listen to some old lady give the church family rundown and hear about some college graduate and qualify the information with "he was adopted as a baby."     As life in the US continues to devolve, I think we are about to be faced with the rock and hard place of all times, religiously and politically speaking.

This is not about race, but there are facts that simply exist.  For years now, it's been a very difficult journey for a Middle Class white couple to adopt a white newborn.  It seems by the time a couple, any couple, realize they are having fertility issues, they have exhausted a great many funds and spent a number of years trying to conceive and trying to discover the problem.  Last I researched the situation, a couple could qualify for in vitro fertilization procedures at an older age than they could remain on an adoption waiting list.  Wealthy couples opted for surrogacy, but now families have worked some of those details out for themselves.

Scripture has laws about inheritance and a man dying childless.  Esther was what we would term "adopted" but that was by a family member, so we really don't have a great deal to go on, Scripturally, in regard to adoption.  What I do see coming though is the political/religious civil war of all times in America.  The same people who are against abortion are also against gay marriage.  Every time another state and the Supreme Court recognizes gay marriage, the reality that gay couples are biologically unable procreate, comes to mind.  As things have gone in this country, I don't think it takes incredible insight to see that adoption laws will follow these new laws of the land very soon.

It's truly time to stop making noise about what we are against, and offer a bonafide solution.  One of my thoughts is to return to "private adoptions" and get the government out of the adoption business, entirely.  Let the expectant mother make the home study.  Let the adoptive couple use their funds toward actually enhancing life, rather than lining legal pockets.  We can blame planned parenthood, but abortion would have never become the huge industry it has, without those "abusive religious whack jobs" that used to run homes for unwed mothers.  I'm not saying they were all bad, but the reputation of the bad ones were horrible, and they bragged about it!  Unwed mothers often felt like they had no choice, which is where the abortion industry ran away with the PR calling it pro-choice!

From the time in the Garden of Eden, blame did not solve the problem or resolve the guilt.  We are about to be faced with actually needing to provide a solution, rather than just a protest.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  Torah of Holy Scripture