Daddy Mon

The last post stirred up all kinds of memories of adopting Melina. I wrote this four years ago to put on my web site, written from what I thought would be Melina's perspective. She did call me Daddy Mon then.

My Daddy Mon
Copyright@ February 4, 2001

He needed a little girl, my Daddy Mon, but he didn't know it at first. Although he is pretty smart, he's not perfect, and we all give him some 'slack' as my Grandad says. I'm not sure what 'slack' is but Grandad says Daddy Mon has always needed a lot of it. Grandad IS very smart, so I guess he does not need so much 'slack.' Granna just smiles at them both like she never needs any, she's so smart.

Anyway, before I ever met Daddy Mon, Grandad or Granna, Daddy Mon had Yawni, a little boy. Yawni is very nice for a boy, but there are some things boys just cannot do or even be. They try, but it's just not Godly possible. My Aunt Sara told me that. For instance, Yawni can't say Melina very well. He calls me Leeeeena. I, so far, have let him get by with it, even though my name is Melina Jane McCormick, and names are important. He's got a funny upper lip, and that could be the reason. Or maybe it's because he's only two. As Daddy Mon says about a lot of things, 'one never can tell.' I wonder why one never can tell?

Yawni and I are alike in one way though. Our mothers are angels. How did that happen, you ask? Well, our mothers died and went to Heaven to be like the angels. They are not angels of course, since they were born human, but they are LIKE angels. It's hard to explain, but Daddy Mon has tried and tried.

Yawni's mother died just before he was born. That's hardest of all to explain, but that's another story. My mother died not long along, and she told me this story I'm trying to tell you here. She was very sick, you see, and she wanted to be sure I understood the story before she had to go and before Jesus called her the last time to come to live with him where she would not be sick any more. She was like that. I didn't get to be with her much in my life, but I knew that about her. She liked to finish what she started. Her name was Teresa.

So...

Teresa told me that Daddy Mon lived with Yawni in a big house with no little girl at all. Can you imagine? They had a nice house but it was full of boy stuff and the colors were mostly brown and some color called beige. Yuck! This story could get sad if I let it. All they ever did for fun besides watch ball games on TV and educational 'stuff' was go for walks, looking for bugs. Can you imagine? It's a good thing they love each other and weren't bored to death. They did sing some and play piano. I forgot about that. They also went to church, but I have not yet decided if that is fun or just important. Granna says 'time will tell.'

Back to the story. Daddy Mon and my mother met one day, another story for another time. When my mother knew she would have to go to be with Jesus she wanted to find me a good family so I would be happy on earth until I could go to be with Jesus. At first, she was thinking of the usual family... you know, a mother and a father. But that was before she met Daddy Mon. What changed her mind? Well, she told me the secret there. She said Daddy Mon loved me more than anyone else but her, and he needed me.

That about cinches it for me. Don't you love the word 'cinches?' That's another word Grandad uses a lot. I may not be very old, but I know what love means ....and need. I really know about need. One time, I needed my first daddy but he could not come to me. My mother needed medicine and doctors and hospitals, and she had no money. She needed someone to take care of me so she called the 'state.' I don't remember much about them, but Daddy Mon says that's OK, that no one remembers much about the first couple years.

Before you get tired, I'll tell you the end. (Sometimes Daddy Mon reads the end of the book before he is supposed to... :) Don't tell anyone).

I saw Daddy Mon and he saw me when I was only a few months old. He's been around since then, but only recently did my mother tell me how much he needed me. If I had known, I would have gone home with Daddy Mon earlier. I really love Daddy Mon. But this story has a happy ending, or is it a beginning? It gets confusing.

Anyway, I am with Daddy Mon and Yawni now in that big house. My bed room is pink and white with many other colored things in it, and there's a colored high chair in the kitchen and ... well, I could go on forever but I'm sure you get the idea. And let me tell you, the routine around that house has changed too! Bugs are OK but it's not my favorite thing to do. Sometimes we watch 'Rug Rats' on TV. I don't care if they don't like Angelica's bossiness. The meals have improved a lot at lunch time. I don't have the time to tell you what they used to eat for lunch. Ugh. Daddy Mon has learned about girl's hair and girl's clothing and dollies. That was very important. Mine is named 'Dollie Me' and she likes living with Daddy Mon and Yawni too.

I really need to go now, but before I do, let me finish the story. The very best part of this story is that Daddy Mon has me and my love. I hug him every night at least once before prayers and bed time. I hug Yawni too, but he doesn't know much yet. I watch Daddy Mon to be sure that he is happy. If he looks the least bit sad, I do something funny. He says I'm funny as a tub of monkeys. I do what he calls 'priss around' a lot, and we all laugh a lot. Maybe that's what my mother meant when she said my Daddy Mon needed me. I like to laugh too! :)

I'm going now. We all are going to church, and I'm sure Daddy Mon will let me and Yawni ride on his shoulders some. It's really not hard taking care of Daddy Mon. Yawni and I take turns and Jesus helps and there you go! As Daddy Mon tells people, 'have a good day in the Lord.' Bye now.

O how it hurts...

My daughter is five years old and in her first year of 'school,' kindergarten as a matter of fact. Her brother is in first grade. Sending them both to school for the first time was very traumatic for me. lol Little John was in Brazil and was taught kindergarten skills at home by a tutor, so this is his first experience in school too. You thought only mothers went through these traumas, eh? They both attend a Christian 'academy' for students in K through 12, but there are only 10-12 students per class. It is a fine school and costs a pretty penny.

My Melina is a talker. She yaks and yaks, constantly it seems. It's her nature, always has been so. At home, we have the 'intermission rule.' If we are watching a movie or TV show as a family, there will be no talking until intermission (at least once an hour.. time to pee, get popcorn, etc. and TALK). That means no questions, nada. If not, we'd all be crazy. I recall Melina asking at least 9 questions on the death of Mufasa alone (Lion King). She, as she tells me often enough, likes to 'know things.' The intermission rule is a difficult rule for Melina to follow (and Caro :) but she tries. Punishment for breaking the rule is one does not get to finish the movie. :(

The school the kids go to allows corporal punishment, if the parents consent. If the parents don't consent, they must go to the school and spank the child instead of the teacher doin it. I figured that would be more embarrassing and would 'single' them out. I gave much thought to this as I have been, heretofore, the only person to discipline my children. Finally, I decided they may be spanked at school but only on the hands. The school officials agreed. Well, today, Melina got her hands spanked. Yes, for talking. Talking a lot and after several warnings.

I absolutely feel like Simon LeGree. She handled it very well. It's difficult to embarrass Melina; she's such a ham. I have no idea where she got that trait. There are no marks on her hands, and she seems not to be angry. So why am I?

In my 'role' as a daddy, the most difficult part for me is not to coddle too much and to insist on respect for and obedience to authority without killing the spirit and destroying creativity, etc. I did not look ahead far enough to realize I wouldn't be the only authority figure for them forever.

Right now, Melina is in the kitchen where Caro is learning how to make Pork Medallions with Gravy, and she is talking everyone's ears off. She's forgotten the whole thing. Why haven't I?

It's not easy being 'Da.'

For the glory of God

It was my mother's dream that I be a concert pianist. For 12 years as a child and ten years as an adult, I studied piano. I was not crazy about the dream, but I loved the music. I especially loved the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).

Bach lived his whole life in Germany and in music. Born into a musical family, Bach's life was almost predetermined to be in the field of music. But from a child he internalized the art and passionately pursued the development of his skills. It would result in a legacy that has enriched the world and continues to inspire, engage, and touch souls across diverse cultural boundaries now close to three hundred years later.

While I labored over his music and felt it in my soul, at that time I made absolutely no connection with Bach and the reason he composed. An unbeliever couldn't/wouldn't I guess. Bach composed to give glory to God.

“The aim and final reason of all music,“ Bach said, “should be none else but the glory of God.”
What is the secret to Bach's success? Even atheist Music Humanities teachers will tell you: Bach wrote his music for the glory of God. Bach's orientation to and personal relationship with God caused him to be very thorough with his work. He wrote primarily for neither the musically uneducated, nor the most gourmet of music critics; Bach's audience was no less than the almighty, eternal, infinite God.

Quite an imposing task! Perhaps this is why Bach inserted "J.J." (Jesu Juva in Latin, meaning "Jesus, help me") at the beginning of each composition and "S.D.G." (Soli Deo Gloria meaning "To the glory of God alone,") at the end of each.

When I read these words about Bach not that long ago, I realized those are basically the same words I pray before I preach or sing or play. 'Playing for God' is infinitely better than playing for self or even playing for mother. :)

I shall be eternally grateful for the gift of music, Bach's and mine, and for God who is so gracious to all. I believe that God is just as pleased when I sit down to play 'How Great Thou Art' as he was when I played classical music in black tie before a more sophisticated audience, perhaps, but not a more appreciative one. :)

The Liar King

My children like me to tell them a bed time story, tell, not read, for whatever their reasons. Tonight, I told them a story based on a story I read called the Liar King by Robert L. Sheridan. A blurb tells about the liar this way: "The quack of all quacks – the most perfect, dirty, rotten scoundrel that in these latter ages has left his stain on the world’s history ... we have found in the Count Alessandro di Cagliostro ... unfortunate child of nature; by profession healer of diseases, abolisher of wrinkles, friend of the poor and impotent, grand master of the Egyptian Mason Lodge of High Science, spirit summoner, gold-cook, grand cophta, prophet, priest, and thaumaturgic moralist and swindler; really a liar of the first magnitude, thorough-paced in all provinces of lying, what one may call the king of liars" ... who made himself quite wealthy in his lifetime, and traveled and worked in noble circles throughout Europe." While the story, on the surface, seems to make the liar seem a likeable fellow, things that happen to most bad liars happened to him. The kids liked the story.

In our home, we have some rules that we follow, and when the rules are broken, punishment follows. Lying is a big no no. Lying destroys trust; it destroys futures. Except for murder and cheating (in the marital sense), there is no worse sin in the McCormick household than lying.

Why do people lie so much anyway? We lie all the time. White lies, face-saving lies, ass-saving lies, lies designed to keep from hurting somebody's feelings and lies to get revenge on those who have hurt our feelings. The really big whoppers though, are the lies we tell ourselves.

A man who runs a forum on Delphi has in his 'signature line' that he lives to fight bigotry, but his entire forum is devoted to hating and hurting Christians. He's living a lie or at least lying in his signature line. Lying may have reached its pinnacle on the internet for lying is so easy to do and so hard to detect. Why, though, one wants to hide what he/she is, what he/she does escapes me for when one lives a lie, no one knows you, so you are just as faceless as you want to be but without anyone having any real knowledge of you. It's a pathetic thing to have the need to lie, to be somebody at the expense of the truth and your friends, so-called, online. The coward who pretends to be brave is still a coward; the lady who is promiscuous but pretends to be a Christian woman of virtue is still a whatever word you wish to apply to such a woman. The person who pretends to be a virtuous spouse but does cybersex with the IM chatters is a cheat and a liar, etc. They may fool the people on the other end of the computer but they don't fool God, nor do they fool themselves.

What about those who lie for the good of others, you ask? There are some who feel that lying can be the "kind" thing to do inorder to avoid conflict. But lying is a very serious matter. Trust lost may never be regained and so many will lie much more thanthey originally intended to try to cover their "small" lie. Theyhave to keep telling bigger lies to cover their previous lying. The devil himself is the father of lies.

John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of yourfather ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketha lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

There is NO good lie. A lie is a lie is a lie. The truth is always better. At the very least, speak not at all rather than lie. There is nothing more offensive to God than a lie. Or to me either.

The Fact of the Resurrection

THE FACT OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION

The main sources which directly attest the fact of Christ's Resurrection are the Four Gospels and the Epistles of St. Paul. Easter morning is so rich in incident, and so crowded with interested persons, that its complete history presents a rather complicated tableau. It is not surprising, therefore, that the partial accounts contained in each of the Four Gospels appear at first sight hard to harmonize.

But whatever view as to the visit to the sepulchre by the pious women and the appearance of the angels we may defend, we cannot deny the Evangelists' agreement as to the fact that the risen Christ appeared to one or more persons. According to St. Matthew, He appeared to the holy women, and again on a mountain in Galilee; according to St. Mark, He was seen by Mary Magdalen, by the two disciples at Emmaus, and the Eleven before his Ascension into heaven; according to St. Luke, He walked with the disciples to Emmaus, appeared to Peter and to the assembled disciples in Jerusalem; according to St. John, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalen, to the ten Apostles on Easter Sunday, to the Eleven a week later, and to the seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. St. Paul (I Cor., xv, 3-8) enumerates another series of apparitions of Jesus after His Resurrection; he was seen by Cephas, by the Eleven, by more than 500 brethren, many of whom were still alive at the time of the Apostle's writing, by James, by all the Apostles, and lastly by Paul himself.

The holy women carrying the spices previously prepared start out for the sepulchre before dawn, and reach it after sunrise; they are anxious about the heavy stone, but know nothing of the official guard of the sepulchre. The angel frightened the guards by his brightness, put them to flight, rolled away the stone, and seated himself not upon (ep autou), but above (epano autou) the stone .

(Mary Magdalen, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome approach the sepulchre, and see the stone rolled back, whereupon Mary Magdalen immediately returns to inform the Apostles.

The other two holy women enter the sepulchre, find an angel seated in the vestibule, who shows them the empty sepulchre, announces the Resurrection, and commissions them to tell the disciples and Peter that they shall see Jesus in Galilee.

A second group of holy women, consisting of Joanna and her companions, arrive at the sepulchre, where they have probably agreed to meet the first group, enter the empty interior, and are admonished by two angels that Jesus has risen according to His prediction.

Not long after, Peter and John, who were notified by Mary Magdalen, arrive at the sepulchre and find the linen cloth in such a position as to exclude the supposition that the body was stolen; for they lay simply flat on the ground, showing that the sacred body had vanished out of them without touching them. When John notices this he believes.

Mary Magdalen returns to the sepulchre, sees first two angels within, and then Jesus Himself.

The two groups of pious women, who probably met on their return to the city, are favored with the sight of Christ arisen, who commissions them to tell His brethren that they will see him in Galilee.

The holy women relate their experiences to the Apostles, but find no belief.

Jesus appears to the disciples, at Emmaus, and they return to Jerusalem; the Apostles appear to waver between doubt and belief.

Christ appears to Peter, and therefore Peter and John firmly believe in the Resurrection.

After the return of the disciples from Emmaus, Jesus appears to all the Apostles excepting Thomas.

Briefly, therefore, the fact of Christ's Resurrection is attested by more than 500 eyewitnesses, whose experience, simplicity, and uprightness of life rendered them incapable of inventing such a fable, who lived at a time when any attempt to deceive could have been easily discovered, who had nothing in this life to gain, but everything to lose by their testimony, whose moral courage exhibited in their apostolic life can be explained only by their intimate conviction of the objective truth of their message.

Finally the thousands and millions, both Jews and Gentiles, who believed the testimony of the Apostles in spite of all the disadvantages following from such a belief, in short the origin of the Church, requires for its explanation the reality of Christ's Resurrection, fot the rise of the Church without the Resurrection would have been a greater miracle than the Resurrection itself.

What about you? Are you serving the Living Lord? May it be so this Easter!

Rev. 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."

Whut happened? lol

I just got home from work, and the housekeeper told me that Carolyn blew up the microwave. lol I absolutely cannot wait for the explanation. She is at the library.... perhaps looking up a suitable explanation? :)

I asked the housekeeper how it happend. 'How do I know,' she asks. 'You do not pay me enough to rat on your wife.' lol I wonder how much it would take? I'm glad she has finally developed some loyalty to my wife.

'Is everything else OK,' I asked. 'Of course,' the housekeeper said. 'What kind of show do you think we run here?' lol Sorry I asked.

I'll wait for the kids to get home. They are respectful. :)

Palm Sunday

Yesterday's news: Thousands of Christians have begun Holy Week by retracing the steps Jesus took on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Palm Sunday procession in the Holy City was larger than in previous years, thanks to a lull in violence. Under sunny skies, crowds marched from the Mount of Olives into the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Bible says Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as followers spread palm branches in His path, fulfilling an ancient Jewish prophecy. In Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians walked or rode donkeys toward Jerusalem, knowing they would be stopped by the separation barrier Israel is building. Their march became a demonstration.

John 12:13 "Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."

The palm-tree was a tall tree, with a single stem, which was surmounted with a tuft of feathery ramifications, six or eight feet long, and called sometimes branches and sometimes leaves. They were used in marches and processions as the emblems of rejoicing and victory.

The shouting appears to have been started by those who came out of Jerusalem; it is evident, therefore, that the apostles who were approaching the city with Jesus had nothing to do with inciting this praise.

John 12:26 "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

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The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom

The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom
Pastor of Constantinople (~400 AD)

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

Our Family Music

If you like Southern Gospel music, check out our family music page. My wife created it and has worked hard on it. :)

http://members.aol.com/caro7mcc/lives.html

Enjoy!

Life or death?

A dear friend asked me if I would 'blog' something on the Terri Schiavo case. At first, I said no for what could I offer? Hasn't it all been said before? On second thought, maybe it hasn't. Here's my take on the situation.

The husband: He has been accused of wanting Terri to die for the $1 million insurance and settlement money. However, he has refused up to $10 million to give up his guardianship rights. He did not. So, he has lost $9 million. Money, therefore, is not his motivation, not in my opinion. He said she told him she did not want to live as a vegetable. If so, he is showing his love for her. That he has a new relationship has nothing to do with it. My first wife died. That has nothing to do with my current marriage. I loved the first, and I adore the second.

The parents: They love their child. Most parents do. They are willing to care for her, and why shouldn't they be allowed to? Currently, the law is on the husband's side. That doesn't make it 'right,' though, does it?

The law: The highest law of the land shall prevail. Right now, her feeding tube has been removed based on the law in Florida. If congress, federal folks, pass a law over-riding the state law, then so be it. The majority of people in the US seem to want Terri Schiavo kept alive. The feds have about two weeks to do their thing or she shall die. It's that simple now.

Who is right: I don't know.

This I do know: God's will shall prevail. If it is God's will that Terri die, she will die. If not, not.

If I were God, I'd be thinking these things: Terri is not dying. Had the tube not been removed, she might live 50 more years. Who knows? Man does not have the right to usurp God's power to decide life and death. We do it, but we do not have the right. One of God's major traits is that he creates. He created life; he does not want it maliciously or negligently destroyed, not without His orders.

In my opinion, it shall come down to what God decides, and I say amen to that. Whichever way it goes, Terri Schiavo is a beloved child of God and will receive the love and eternal care of her loving Father. I pray she is at peace physically and mentally, and I pray that wise heads shall prevail.

Finally, I am one who wishes her to live although I would not want to live in her same situation. That kind of thinking is another reason God should prevail. :) Praise His name forever.

Psalms 42:8 "Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life."

Easter should be a time of joy, not fear...

The first Easter was a little frightening for a lot of people. The first emotion is not what you may expect. The first emotion is not one of joy. The original Gospel accounts strike a very different immediate tone.

The immediate emotion generated the first Easter day was not joy or remembrance, it was fear. People were frightened, really frightened. Their fear was quite well founded.

Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

People who followed Jesus were persecuted.

I have news for you. People who follow Jesus today are also persecuted. I've been persecuted lately myself. What I can do and must do is pray.. pray for myself and my family, that we will be strong in the faith, but also pray for those who persecute me. I did that very thing this morning. I prayed for the moderators of the forum that we left behind, that God will not leave them behind.

The same Lord who died for you and me gives us power to defeat our enemies who are from satan, evil. Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Romans 12:20 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."

It's not easy to pray for people who wish you harm, who threaten you, who mistreat your wife, but being a Christian is not easy.

Finally, though, one must follow the commandment:

Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Amen.

Help!

Charles, I need your help. For some reason, my blog has reversed itself even though I did NOT go into the template or any such foolishness. My backup copy didn't help. My posts are on top, and my side bar is at the bottom. Too weird. Could it be satan? Or canary bird? lol

Not without hope...

Ten years ago, I was an atheist. My parents were atheists. I had never been inside a church, not even for a funeral. Then, I had a most unforgettable and wonderful experience and became a Christian, an 'epiphany' of sorts. Soon, I met and married a sweet little Christian gal, and I entered seminary so I could become a minister. Up until that time, I had studied for ten years to be a concert pianist. I was good. Life then certainly changed for me.

A couple years later, we found out my wife was pregnant. What happiness! It didn't last long, as her blood work came back with startling news. She had cancer, breast cancer at age 26 and she was four months along with the baby. It had already spread to other organs. Because of the baby, she refused radiation and chemotherapy. I was told it would have done no good, but I was frantic at the time. When my wife died, she was 6 1/2 months pregnant. At the moment of her death, they ripped her open and brought forth my son who weighed just above one pound, so small his whole body fit into my hand. 'Not much hope for him' the doctors said. No hope. What horrible words.

I became sort of crazy. I would sit with my son, then go to the chapel and pray and then rush to the funeral home to be with Maria. No more did I get to one place than I wanted fiercely to be at the other. Back and forth. The day came when they placed Maria in the ground, and the darkness over me was undescribable. I went back to the hospital and looked at my son, hours on end, days on end. I was way past saying 'please God.' Way past.

Against all odds, however, my son began to gain weight. He had no hair, no eye lashes, no finger nails. Dad said he looked like a little abandoned bird in his nest and started calling him Peeps We still call him Peeps although my parents died a couple years ago. My son is my only living blood relative. He is strong, healthy, tall and quite handsome. Here is Peeps being admired by the neighbors. :)

During all that, it never occurred to me to blame God for my tragedies. In fact, had I not had God to talk to, I might have gone insane. I never felt without hope, never. Had my son died, I still would have felt hope, hope that I would see him again in heaven, that he would see his mother for the first time, that she would get to hold her only child in her arms.

Scoffers and unbelievers say 'you believe in a myth.' If so, it's a beautiful story. 'Your bible is nothing but a story book.' If so, what a beautiful story. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That's a story that brings hope.

While mucking around with the atheists on the unmentionable forum, I noticed what I used to be.... men without hope. No hope for eternal life, no heaven, no reunification with loved ones, nothing to look forward to but a cold, muddy grave. I saw no joy there for the future, no compassion, not even for each other, nothing but cynicism, ridicule, lots of that, ugliness and pettiness and a lot of filthy talk. I wouldn't trade my hope for salvation and eternity with the Lord for all their money combined and the intelligence they think they have. Because they can't see with their eyes and they can't bring God down to their intellectual level, they say he doesn't exist. So be it. We all have a choice to make. If I am wrong, I will die ignorant but happy with hope in my heart. If they are wrong.... well, really I hate to think about that. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemeies, and I am very angry with them for the wretched treatment they gave my wife.

Ephesians 2:12 says "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." That was me ten years ago. Praise God, I am no longer a man without hope. I hope for you the same joy ... Romans 15:13
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." You laugh and don't want it? How sad.

It's a puzzlement

There is a forum on Delphi that is rabidly anti-Christian. Using a form of false advertisement, they lure unknowning Christians into the forum, thinking it is a Christian forum when it is anything but... This week alone, nine Christians have been banned from the forum for doing nothing but disagreeing with one of the moderators. Although the Christians were cursed, reviled, lied to and lied about and did nothing of the kind themselves, they were banned.

There is one Christian, however, who never gets banned. He is into apologetics, i.e., 'defends the faith.' He is quite good at it. I have asked myself all week 'why does this Christian stay or why is he allowed to stay' when others who are less able and less 'offensive' are made to leave? Is he really 'one of them,' not a Christian at all, a 'wolf in sheep's clothing?' Or do they need a 'resident Christian' to keep the forum going and he's the least offensive one? Or, is it because he never never defends his Christian brothers and sisters? I suspect the last choice but how to know? Genesis 4:9 "And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?"

One might say, why should this man defend the other Christians. If you enter such a place, you should stand on your own? Should you? He might say 'it is not my place?' Isn't it? The nonChristian haters certainly take up for each other, why shouldn't the Christians? One might say, 'if he does, he will be thrown out too.' So? Is it more important to shine in the eyes of the evil ones? What do you think?

What kind of brother doesn't defend another brother (or sister)? Luke 6:16 says 'And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.' So is this Christian more a traitor than he is a brother (Christian brother)? In defending the faith, does the Lord wish us to sacrifice our brothers and sisters? I don't think so. And what about the damage he does in the others' eyes, that they can get one of 'us' to support one of 'them?' Does it strengthen their position and weaken ours? Are they able to point their collective fingers and say 'ah ha, he agrees with us. HE is a reasonable Christian. There others are fakers and not like Jesus.' The Jesus they don't even believe in, by the way, the Jesus they revile and virtually spit upon each and every day.

In parting, Matthew 18:6 says: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." I don't think that just applies to the pagans and atheists on that forum but also to the so-called Christians who abandon their brothers and sisters to the evil one.

Who am I?

A friend sent me the words to the song I mentioned in my previous post..

WHO AM I ?

When I think of how He came so far from Glory

Came and dwelt among the lowly such as I

To suffer shame and such disgrace

On Mt. Calvary take my place

Then I ask myself a question

Who am I?

Chorus
Who am I that a King would bleed and die for?

Who am I that He would pray “not my will Thine” for?

The answer I may never know

Why He ever loved me so

That to an old rugged cross He’d go

For who am I?


Verse II

Then I’m reminded of His words I’ll leave you never

Just be true I’ll give to you a life forever

I wonder what I could have done

To deserve God’s only Son

Fight my battles till there won

Who am I?


That to an old rugged cross He’d go

For who am I?

Mars and Venus

One of my patients came in the office today carrying the book 'Mars vs. Venus,' or whatever the correct title is, a book about how different man and woman are and how difficult it is to love each other. I just don't get it, I guess.

I don't find it difficult to love a woman at all. The differences? That is what makes it so good. Where my skin is rough, hers is like silk. I am bony, and she is fragile yet soft. I could break my wife's neck with a twist of my hand, but she can break my heart with a word spoken in anger. Her laughter is like the tinkling of bells. I won't tell you what mine sounds like. lol Her hair, well I can't really describe the beauty and feel of it. To lie down next to her is the closest thing to heaven I can think of right now. As wonderful as holding my new born baby was, it did not compare to holding my wife on our wedding night and knowing she loved me and wanted to be with me, no one else.

There is a gospel song I used to sing often and loved very much. Maybe some of you have heard it. It goes, in part, 'who am I, that a King has bled and died for?' Well who am I that she should love me? I am lucky, that's what I am.

A woman is graceful where I am awkward, gracious and forgiving where I am often too stern, nurturing where I am sometimes left confused.. shall I, shouldn't I. She does not hesitate while I must think and re-think every move. She is trusting where I am wary. She can cry at another's pain or misery, and I nearly suffocate with the emotion of it but can't shed a tear. Women often amuse me, and I don't mean that in any sexist way. They see things differently, often more clearly, often with a better sense of humor, sometimes being a little naive, but almost always touching some chord in me. I could go on, but I think you see what I mean.

Differences? Oh yes, and I thank God for them. Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

Just because we can...

Poor Chuck worked all afternoon on moving our forum, our home away from home, and there was little I could do to help. All because some foul-mouthed, lying women wanted to harrass and be ugly to 'guests' to their forum, something they do routinely. Why?

Remember in Bill Clinton's book when asked why he did Monica Lewinsky and he said 'because I can? or could?' That's why they do it. They can. Because they can violate TOS without anyone making them accountable, they continue to do it. They don't care that they are obscene, that their lies and name calling hurts feelings, no. They can. Like David we discussed recently. He killed Uriah because he could. He didn't rape Bathsheba. She went with him willingly because she could.

I wonder just how much stuff we do wrong just because we can? Cheat on our taxes, lie to the government about how sick we are, gamble away the rent money, on and on. Just because we can.

Be not fooled. This kind of contemptible behavior will find it's reward some day. What was done deceptively shall be made known. There is a price to pay. Those kind of people will receive a totally different kind of reward than those who live with contempt and dishonesty. That's not free speech which they like to claim. It's abuse of speech. It's hurtful, ugly and it's a sin.

1Peter 3:4 "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

The evil tongue..

The Evil Tongue

Lashon Hara, the sin of the evil tongue, is a sin equated with murder. Killing a man's reputation is the equivalent of killing the man himself. His head sinks in public; he wishes he were dead. When you shame a man, you make him wish he could disappear into thin air. It is one thing to end a man's life. It is quite another to make him wish he would never have been born.

From the Christian standpoint, Pr 18:19 "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle."

When you offend someone that deeply, their hatred of you becomes like steel, and it is next to impossible to receive forgiveness for the sin.

The very last word...

This morning, my son yelled at my daughter. 'I got the last word! The last word was :)

The similarities we share with our children! Sometimes we wonder where they get that hot little temper only to take a closer look at ourselves and say, "Ah ha." It seems we all have an overwhelming need to have the last word. To constantly maneuver for the end of a discussion is maddening. We aren't just talking a 'you are wrong and I'm right' kind of last word, either. We're talking about 'I'll get the last word if I have to kill you' last word. Down to the last dotted 'i' and crossed 't', we will not relent. Getting the last word is really an illusion of control.


We'll try to get the last word no matter how obnoxious it makes us appear, how unlovely, how ungentlemanly or how unladylike. Unless one is insane, what it all boils down to is pride. We will let pride get in the way of friendship, even love, just to get the last word.

Proverbs 13:10 says "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."

Is it worth it to get the last word? I wonder.

Heard it through the grapevine...

It's Friday. Good enough...

Sean Hannity thinks it's ok if a teacher beats/injures your kid.

Military recruitment is down, apparently because the media reports casualties. Smart kids.

Iraq's New Government May Take Weeks to Be Formed

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - More than a month after Iraq (news - web sites)'s historic election, ethnic and sectarian divisions have stymied efforts to form a government, deepening political uncertainty and delaying badly needed reconstruction.


PM Bids To Keep His Post

The divisions and political horse-trading among Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims and Kurds have prevented a new 275-member national assembly from meeting and a prime minister from being chosen.

The parliament elected in a Jan. 30 vote is supposed to name a government and write a constitution before dissolving and new elections being held by the end of the year.

But so far Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, proposed as prime minister by the Shi'ite bloc that won half the seats in parliament, has been unable to secure enough votes in the assembly to get the job.

Jaafari is challenged by pro-American interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, with 40 seats, and both men are seeking the support of the Kurds, who have emerged as the potential kingmakers.

"We could see a hung parliament, and Allawi effectively running the country in a caretaker role until the writing of the constitution and the next elections," Ali al-Lami, spokesman for the Shi'ite Political Council, part of the Shi'ite bloc, said.

He said Kurds were demanding guarantees from Jaafari, such as limiting the influence of Islamists and clarifying the status of the city of Kirkuk.

Ethnically mixed Kirkuk is the center of Iraq's northern oil industry and the Kurds want it to be part of a federal Kurdish region.

While vying for posts, including president and ministries, goes on, efforts to rebuild Iraq, already severely hampered by persistent violence since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to oust Saddam Hussain, mark time.

The difference between Republicans and Democrats isn't about who cares more for the people. All politicians say they care about the people and the people are always justifiably skeptical. The difference between us is how we believe the good of the people is best achieved and liberals have a fundamentally different philosophy than the Republicans. Government is our preferred method to advance progressive ideals. Capitalism cannot substitute for a democratic government that answers to all the people. The invisible hand doesn’t give a crap if children starve or old people have to work until they are eighty or if half the country has to work at slave wages to support the other half. Only government can guarantee its citizens the equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We believe that progress toward that end requires that the government be active and engaged in delivering those things.

Here's why Republicans are fleeing from Social Security reform... ouch..
http://democrats.senate.gov/ss/calc.html

Verrrry interesting....http://www.jeffgannon.com

Welcome home Martha :)

Get ready for some name dropping. When I was a mere boy, (me as a mere boy) I met Martha Stewart. I am glad she is home safe and sound.

My parents were from Fairfax, Virginia, and we used to go to the beach every summer that I can recall. Once, we 'ran into' Martha and her entourage. I didn't know she was 'famous.' She was (and is) quite attractive. A 12 year old boy notices things like that. I also noticed her next door neighbor's kid, but that's another story for another time.

The Crossroads

Whether we believe in fate, karma, Christianity or some other belief system, one thing seems to hold true. We tend to blame our misfortunes upon our god as we view him, instead of realizing our misfortunes are often due to our poor choices.

The young man who holds his head in despair because he has a minimum-wage job and no prospects often does not think back to when he skipped classes, failed to do assignments and didn't get his high school diploma. Perhaps the young woman who finds herself a single Mom and unable to support herself and her child fails to look back to when she decided to 'let him,' thinking he would stand by her and be a man when she barely knew him or his 'track record' was abysmal. The same can be said of many people who make poor choices, either out of ignorance or, more likely, the desire for instant gratification. The lady who is mugged may have taken a walk in a poor neighborhood or gotten tipsy at a party and decided to leave anyway, alone.

Not that their aren't tragedies, there are, but 9 times out of ten, what happens to us is because of our poor choices. I could tell you of a few of mine.

As Billy Graham once said, you can't unscramble scrambled eggs. Once you are at the crossroads and a decision is needed, make the best possible choice you can, based on facts, not feelings.

"A young woman was on the fast track the managerial elite ranks of her firm. Being wise she sought out the advice of the CEO, a businesswomen she greatly admired.
"Boss, what do I need most of all to become a good manager?"
"You need to learn how to make good decisions."
"And how do I learn that?" asks the young woman.
"Experience" her boss replies.
"And how do I get that sort of experience?" the young woman asks.
"Bad decisions".

"As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death." --Proverbs 11:19