Ezekiel 16 – 17 and Post Turtle

Ezekiel 16 – 17

In today’s lesson, the Lord’s message to Ezekiel is the story of how Israel was chosen by the Lord and given everything. The Lord made a covenant with Israel and gave them fame and beauty, but they thought their fame and beauty were their own. They acted like a prostitute to “every man who came along.” They worshipped idols and sacrificed their sons and daughters to other gods. Now, sorrow and judgment await them.

There is hope though, since the Lord talks about restoration and forgiveness.

The Lord gives Ezekiel the story of the two eagles and then interprets it for him.

Ezekiel 18 – 19.

Post Turtle

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year-old rancher who had gotten it caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. The topic quickly got around to Obama and his role as our president.

The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a "Post Turtle''.
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him, what a 'post turtle' was.

The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain.  "You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he's elevated beyond his ability to function, and
you just wonder what kind of dumb @ss put him up there to begin with."

Best explanation I've heard yet of Obama.

Until next time…

Ezekiel 13 – 15 and Another Leather Class

Ezekiel 13 – 15

In today’s reading, the Lord turns his attention to false prophets and false women prophets, then to the leaders of the people. He again tells Ezekiel to urge the people of Israel to repent and turn away from their idols, and stop all of their detestable sins. Several times he mentions Noah, Daniel, and Job and how, even if they were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves from the four dreadful punishments: war, famine, wild animals, and disease.

Another Leather Class

Yesterday, I attended another leather class, this one making a messenger bag. It’s a two-part class. This week, we got all of the parts cut out and mostly punched. Once again, there were more than 100 holes to punch. This is a time-consuming and, at least for me, a painful process. I’m glad it’s a two-part class since I will now be able to carve and stamp a pattern on it. If I get time, I think I will also color the leather pieces in some color other than what they offer in class. Of course this all depends on time.

Until next time…

Ezekiel 9 – 12 and The Same Look

Ezekiel 9 – 12

Ezekiel heard the Lord call for men appointed to punish the city of Jerusalem. A man dressed in linen acoompanied them and was instructed to go through the city and mark the forehead of those wept and sighed because of the sins being committed in the city. The six were to follow him and use their special “deadly weapons” to kill those without the mark. Some believe this man in linen clothing is Christ.

Ezekiel also mentions the four living beings he described in the first chapter. The glory of the Lord hovered above them and went up from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east. The Spirit then carries Ezekiel back to Babylon from the vision of his visit to Jerusalem.

The Lord gives Ezekiel another object lesson for the peoplel showing them they will be carried into exile. He tells him “even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. The Lord also gives Ezekiel a new proverb: “The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled.” Thus, the Lord will fulfill his threat of destruction in Ezekiel’s own lifetime.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 13 – 15.

The Same Look

This is exactly the same look you get from your

friends when you tell them you plan to vote for Obama.

 

Cell Phones in Church

This is from a fellow who visited this church in Burbank , CA ,

where they actually showed this video of how they handle cell phones in church.

It's only 1.5 minutes long and a hoot!!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/D2_c81Nnsc0

Until next time…

Ezekiel 5 – 8 and Can You Believe It?

Ezekiel 5 – 8

The Lord gives Ezekiel another object lessonto share with the people that illustrates how he will punish them. He gives him messages of destruction and disease and war. His purpose is “then they will know that I am the Lord” and that it is the Lord who is striking the blow.”

On September 17^th, during the sixth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, while the leaders were in Ezekiel’s home, the Lord took hold of him. He had another vision and is transported to Jerusalem to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple. He sees the glory of the God of Israel again. The Lord shows him the wicked and detestable things the people are doing. The Lord tells him he will “respond in fury” and “though they cry for the mercy, I will not listen.”

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 9 – 12.

Can You Believe It?

Obama must really want to be a one term president! The soldiers who wake up inWalter Reed Medical Center are in Maryland, not communist China. But,under the Navy's new rules, they may not know the difference! After months of peeling away the military's core values, Obama's army is on the move. And this time, it has a high-value target: the Bible. In a memo obtained by FRC, Navy officials have announced that "no religious items (including Bibles, reading material, and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit." The new orders are buried in a four-page document about patient care, which an Army officer forwarded to us in disbelief! Effective immediately, families, friends, and even pastors will have to check their beliefs at the door to visit one of the largest military hospitals in the United States Last night, after we circulated the memo to leaders on the Hill, an outraged Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) took to the House floor and blasted the policy! "Mr. Speaker, these military men and women who are recovering at Walter Reed and Bethesda have given their all for America! They've defended and taken an oath to the Constitution, and here they are. The people who come to visit them can't bring a religious artifact? They can't bring a Bible? ... A priest can't walk in with the Eucharist and offer communion to a patient who might be on their deathbed because it's prohibited in this memo from the Department of the Navy?" This is Obama's military, where homosexuality is celebrated and Christianity is censored; where witches are financed and crosses are scorned; where bestiality is embraced and Bibles are banned; where same-sex "weddings" are encouraged but international charity is not! After three years of ideological warfare, the Obama administration's intent is clear: to disarm the military of its biggest weapon…..FAITH! Regardless of Obama's agenda, there is absolutely nothing in the Constitution that empowers the government to stop family members from giving Bibles or crosses to their loved ones! And from a PR standpoint, I'm not sure the best way to boost approval ratings is by denying comfort to wounded warriors! Unfortunately for our troops, who have endured so much turmoil under the Obama administration, this is another blow! Hopefully, with the help of Congressman King and others, it's only a temporary one. Even liberal Snopes says it’s true: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/walterreed.asp PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Until next time…

Ezekiel 1 – 4 and Isaac Misses Us Mostly

Ezekiel 1 – 4

The first three verses of the first chapter of Ezekiel give us the setting for this book:

• Ezekiel, son of Buzi, a priest, was thirty years old
• It was July 31^st of his thirtieth year
• He was one of the Judean exiles in Babylon
• He was beside the Kebar River in Babylon with the Judean exiles
• The heavens opened and he saw visions of God
• This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity
• The Lord gave him a message
• He felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him

What he saw was incredible and has been interpreted in many different ways. Let’s face it. We didn’t see it, but he gave a fairly descriptive account of what he did see. Were these creatures real? I tend to believe they were since I prefer to take the Bible literally. Considering the creativity of our wonderful Lord in all of the creatures we have seen, is it surprising that there could be beings like those Ezekiel described?

We know these beings arrived in a huge cloud that was driven by a great storm coming from the north. The cloud flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. The number four seems to play a big part in Ezekiel’s description of the strange (at least, to us) creatures. There were:

• Four living beings that looked human
• Each had four faces
• Each had four wings
• Their legs were straight and their feet had hooves like a calf and shone like burnished bronze
• Under each of their four wings were human hands
• Each of the four beings had four faces and four wings
• The wings of each touched the wings of the beings beside it
• Each one moved straight forward in any direction with turning around
• Each had:
  • A human face in the front
  • The face of a lion on the right side
  • The face of an ox on the left side
  • The face of an eagle at the back
• Each had two pairs of outstretched wings
  • One pair stretched out to touch the wings of the living beings on either side of it
  • One pair covered its body
• They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and moved straight forward in any direction without turning around
• The living beings looked like bright coals of fire or brilliant torches
• Lightning seemed to flash back and forth among them
• The living beings darted to and fro like flashes of lightning
• Four wheels touched the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each
• All four wheels looked alike and were made the same
• Each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it
• The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening and covered with eyes all around
• When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them
• When they flew upward, the wheels went up
• The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels
• Wherever the spirit went, the wheels and living beings also went
• Above them was a crystal surface
• Above this was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli
• On the throne was a figure whose appearance resembled a man
  • From his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire
  • From his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor
  • All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day
• This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to Ezekiel
• When he saw it, he fell face down on the ground

Now, that sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, doesn’t it?

Not only did Ezekiel see some strange things, he also heard a voice telling him to stand up. And, the Spirit comes into him and sets him on his feet. The voice told him he was being sent to the nation of Israel and he was to speak to them, be a prophet to them whether they listen or not. He must have looked scared because he was told not to them or their words.

Not only did he see a strange vision and hear a voice, but he was also given a scroll to consume. Both sides of this scroll “were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.” He was told to eat the scroll and give its message to the people of Israel. The scroll was as sweet as honey in his mouth. The Lord makes it clear that the people of Israel won’t listen to him any more than they listen to the Lord.

The Spirit lifts him up and he heard a loud rumbling sound behind him – the sound of the wings of the living beings as they brushed against each other and the rumbling of their wheels beneath them.

The Spirit lifts him up and takes him away. He says he went in bitterness and turmoil, but the Lord’s hold on him was strong. He comes to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. He sits among them for seven days, after which the Lord tells him he has been appointed a watchman for Israel. He must warn people immediately after he receives a message from the Lord. Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.

Have you ever noticed how much the Lord loves object lessons? In this instance, he has Jeremiah set a large clay brick in front of him and draw a may pf the city of Jerusalem on it. He shows the city under siege with siege ramps and bettering rams.

Exekiel is to lie facing his illustration of the siege of Jerusalem on his left side and place the sins of Israel on himself for a period of 390 days – one year for each year of their sin. After that, he is to turn over and lie on his right side for 40 days – one year for each year of Judah’s sin. He is to lie with his arm bared and prophesy Jerusalem’s destruction. The Lord ties hip up with ropes so he will be unable to turn from side to side until the time is complete. To prepare for this, he must get wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer wheat, mix them together in a storage jar.He may eat 8 oz of food per day and a jar of water for each day. The bread he is to bake was to be cooked over a fire of human dung, but Ezekiel protested, so the Lord let him use cow dung to bake his bread.

This was to illustrate how Israel will eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands to which the Loprd would banish them.

Can you imagine living like that for more than a year?

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 5 – 8.

Isaac Misses Us, Mostly

Trop9ical Storm Isaac mostly missed the area where I live, although we are getting a lot of rain and some breezy weather. So glad I didn’t have to take shelter. Although I did make a quick trip to Publix today, I have gotten a lot done inside today.

Until next time…

Lamentations 3:37 – 5:22 and Isaac Is Coming

Lamentations 3:37 – 5:22

Jeremiah asks if the Lord sends both calamity and good then why should we, mere humans, complain whe we are punished for our sins. He urges us to test and examine our ways and turn back to the Lord. He again laments what has happened to Jerusalem, but asserts at the end that Jerusalem’s punishment will end and they will soon return from exile, but Edom’s punishment is just beginning.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Ezekiel 1 – 4.

Isaac Is Coming

As most of you are aware, Isaac is battering the Keys and was predicted to come up the west coast of Florida. As is often the case, the computer models have been changing until now it looks as if Isaac will track throught middle of the Gulf of Mexico and perhaps hit land somewhere between New Orleans and Pensacola, FL.

Still, it pays to be prepared. People have cleared their properties of lawn chairs, planters, ornaments, etc. since they tend to blow in the wind. I’ve stocked up on propane (my fridge will run on propane if the electricity is off), water, food staples, etc. so I should be okay. It the wind gets stronger than I expect, I’ll hook the pickup to my camper so it will be harder to tip over.

Until next time…

Lamentations 1:1 – 3:36, The Expendables 2, Our Next Vice President and Leaving Town

Lamentations 1:1 – 3:36

In the first two chapters of Lamentations, we see Jeremiah lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple. In the third chapter, Jeremiah wails about the afflictions that come from the rod of the Lord’s anger, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies are afresh every morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him.’”

Of course, this passage is the source of one of my favorite hymns -- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus: "Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Lamentations 3:37 – 5:22.

The Expendables 2

Today, my friend Karen and I went to see The Expendables 2 starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews,, Chuck Norris.  The movie was hilarious, exciting, adventurous, lots of blood, and had lots of chases. There were really evil villains and really courageous heroes. The plot was not as bad as I expected – in fact, it was a pretty good story – at least, it got you involved in the story.

After watching this though, one must wonder how many more of these they can make. You can be sure of one thing though, no matter how many, I’ll be one of the first through the door to see them.

Go see it if you can.

Our Next Vice President?

Well, early Saturday morning we learned that Congressman Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin , is to be Mitt Romney's pick for the next Vice President of The United States.

What are we to think of this selection? He's not a graduate of Columbia University . He's not a graduate of Harvard. He wasn't selected as the President of the Harvard Law Review. He didn't get a special free quota scholarship ride to any prestigious university and, instead, had to work his way through Miami University of Ohio. For God's sake the man drove the Oscar Mayer Wiener Truck one summer and waited tables another!

One morning when Paul Ryan was sixteen years old he went in to wake his father up and found him dead of a heart attack.

He didn't write two books about that experience. Instead, he assumed the role of adult at an early age, never having the luxury to pursue youthful drug use and the art of socialist revolution.

Instead, Paul Ryan and his mother took his grandmother, suffering from Alzheimers, into the household and served as the primary care provider for his grandma. His grandma wasn't the Vice President of the Bank of Hawaii so she could offer nothing in return, except the element of "need".

Once Paul Ryan got his BA in Economics from Miami University of Ohio he was hired as a staff economist in Wisconsin Senator Kastin's office. The job must have not paid well because young Ryan moonlighted as a waiter and fitness trainer. No one offered him a "token honor" position at the University of Chicago and a $200,000 dollar a year salary.

When a still young Paul Ryan returned to Wisconsin to run for Congress he didn't demonize his opponent and dig up dirt to shovel against him. He waited until the standing Congressman

vacated the office before seeking the office. In Janesville , Wisconsin

they don't have a big political machine to promote you, to criminalize your opponent; instead Paul Ryan had to go door to door and sit at kitchen tables and listen to his future constituents.

After getting elected to Congress Paul Ryan didn't triumphantly march into Washington , buy himself a Georgetown townhouse and proceed over to K Street to rub elbows with lobbyists. He bunked in his Congressional office and used the house gym for showers and a fresh change of clothes.

Paul Ryan then married and took his bride back to Janesville . He lives on the same street he lived on as a kid and shares the neighborhood with eight other members of the Ryan clan. He hunts with the local Janesville hunt club and attends PTA meetings and other civic functions.

For those who can't make those public functions, Paul Ryan bought an old bread truck, converted it into a "mobile constituent office" and drives around to meet with those who need his help and attention.

No, I don't know if we can vote for a guy like this. He doesn't have a regal pedigree; he's Irish for God's sake! No one awarded him a Nobel Peace Prize two months after getting elected. No one threw flowers or got "chills down their leg" as a he took his seat in Congress.

What is most despicable about Paul Ryan is that he has had the nerve to write the House Budget for three years in a row. He's is brazen and heartless in advocating in that budget for a $5 trillion dollar reduction in federal spending over the next ten years! The House passed his budget three years in a row and three years in a row the Democratically controlled Senate has let it die in the upper house, without

ever proposing a budget of their own. What is wrong with this guy? If

Congress were to cut $5 trillion dollars from the budget where would the President get the money to give $500 million dollars to a bankrupt Solyndra?

Or $200 million dollars for bankrupt Energy 1? Or $11 billion dollars to illegal aliens filing INIT, non-resident tax returns to claim $11 billion big ones in child tax credits, even for their children living in Mexico ?

I don't know. Paul Ryan seems heartless to me. He keeps wanting to cut government waste, he keeps wanting to put a halt to those big GSA conventions in Vegas and, worse, he keeps trying to make people look at that $16.7 trillion dollar deficit! The guy's no fun at all!

Who wants a numbers cruncher? Who wants someone spoiling the party by showing folks the bill? Nothing will spoil a party quicker than sending the host the bill before the party's over.

Party Hearty folks! At least until November.

Leaving Town – Just Saying Goodbye.

To help save the economy, the Government will announce next month that the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors instead of illegals in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.

Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home.

I started to cry when I thought of you.

Then it dawned on me ... oh, crap....
I'll see you on the bus!

Until next time…

Jeremiah 51 – 52

Jeremiah 51 – 52

Today, we are reading the last two chapters of Jeremiah. The main thing to take away from this is in Jeremiah 51:5 – “For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has not abandoned Israel and Judah. He is still their God, even though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.” I believe that this is as true today as it was then.

Jeremiah also tells the people to flee Babylonia because he is sending the Medes to destroy them. He sends this message on a scroll from Jerusalem to King Zedekiah in Babylon. This was Jeremiah’s last message.

The last chapter is an account of the destruction of the Temple – on August 17 of the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzars’s reign.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Lamentations 1:1 – 3:36.

2016: Obama’s America

Today, I went to AMC and saw Dinesh D’Souza’s 2016: Obama’s America. It is a troubling film about what drives Barack Obama to govern the way he has. Please go to see this movie if you get a chance. It’s informative and well-documented.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 49 – 50 and Sanford

Jeremiah 49 – 50

In today’[s reading, Jeremiah continues his messages to other nations. The Ammonites and their god Molech “will be hauled off to distant lands.” The Edomites are told to hide in deep caves because the Lord will be punishing them.

Damascus is told of its destruction. Kedar and Hazor as well as Elam are also warned of destructon. Then the Lord turns his attention to Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. “Babylon will fail.” “Her gods Bel and Marduk will be utterly disgraced.” They will be attacked from the north and no one will ever live in Babylon again.

After this, Jeremiah tells about the people of Israel and Judah returning to Jerusalem like sheep returning to the fold.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 51 – 52

Sanford, Florida

Today, I’ll be picking up my friend Vivienne and we’ll be heading to Sanford to pick up her son Bryce and his family and taking them back to Largo, where they will hopefully join us in not enjoying Hurricane Isaac.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 46 – 48 and Another Leather Class

Jeremiah 46 – 48

Today’s passage shows that the Lord did not just give messages for the people of Israel, but also for Egypt, Philistia, and Moab, mainly messages of destruction and humiliation. He refers specifically to Amon, the god of Thebes and all the other gods of Egypt, to Chemosh the god of Moab and how these false gods will not be able to help them. Instead these false gods will be hauled off to distant lands. These folks found out that all of the idols they had created with their hands were worthless. How could they think otherwise? That an idol fashioned by the worshipper could have any power is ridiculous.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 49 – 50.

Another Leather Class

This afternoon, I have another leather class, this tie one on making motorcycle tool bags. Until I checked out the schedule today, I thought it was for motorcycle saddle-bags, but I guess that may not be true. I’ll find out today what we’ll be making.

I’m still working on the handles for my sewing-machine case. I’ve had to re-cut a couple of pieces that didn’t turn out the way I expected.

McLeod’s Daughters

Today, I finally finished watching the final episode of McLeod’s Daughters – a show set on an Australian farm/property. There were 224 episodes, but I watched all of them.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 41 – 45 and Consider This

Jeremiah 41 – 45

Today’s reading starts with Gedaliah, the governor of Jerusalem appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, being killed by Ishmael, a member of the royal family of Judah, who had been left in Jerusalem when the exile took place. Ishmael also killed all the Judeans and Babylonian soldiers who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah and then later kills a number of others who had come to worship at the Temple of the Lord. Ishmael escapes capture when Johanan and some of the guerilla leaders came to rescue those Ishmael had captured.

Fearing what the Babylonians will do when they find out Gedaliah has been killed, Johanan and the other guerilla leaders consult with Jeremiah and ask him to pray for them. Jeremiah agrees to pray and give them whatever message the Lord gives him. I love their response: “May the Lord your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do! Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.” What great words to live by.

Ten days later, Jeremiah gets a message from the Lord. The Lord tells Johanan, the guerilla leaders, and the people to stay there in the land. “If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will ploant you and not uproot you.” If they refused to obey, the war and famine they feared would catch up with them.

Johanan and Azariah and all the other proud men of Jerusalem call Jeremiah a liar and refuse to obey the Lord’s command. The Lord tells Jeremiah that the Babylonians will chase them down to Egypt where they fled and “pick clean the land of Egypt.”

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 46 – 48.

HERE'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER:

Columnist Andrew McCarthy gives us what probably is
the most important question regarding the upcoming presidential election.

If Mitt wins the nomination, I will enthusiastically
support his candidacy. For my friends who have hesitation on that score, I'd
just ask you to keep four things in mind:

1.. Justice Scalia just turned 78
2.. Justice Kennedy will turn 78 later this year
3.. Justice Breyer will be 76 in August
4.. Justice Ginsburg turned 81 about a week ago.

In addition,

• Justice Ginsburg has Pancreatic Cancer.

• Justice Stephens has already said he would retire and is just waiting for Obama to be reelected.

The next president could appoint as many as 4 new Justices over next 8 years. This election is about more than ObamaCare Tax.

We wish them all well, of course, but the brute fact is that whomever we elect as president in November is almost certainly going to choose at least one new member of the Supreme Court, in addition to hundreds of other life-tenured federal judges,all of whom will be making momentous decisions about our lives for decades to come.

If you don't think it matters whether the guy making those calls is Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, I think you're smokin' something funky.

So for anybody who is thinking of not voting because your favorite didn't get nominated, or writing in a candidate who can't win, imagine this:

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ERIC HOLDER?

Until next time…

Habakkuk, What is Obama Hiding? and My Sewing Machine Case

Habakkuk

We don’t know much about the prophet Habakkuk except what we read in this book. His name is mentioned just twice in the Bible and both of these are in the book named for him. We know he’s a prophet because he tells us this in the first book. He received a message in a vision. We know he lived around the time of the Babylonian captivity because of his vision about the Babylonians.

He is concerned about the violence he sees happening and that God does not appear to be noticing it. The Lord tells him he is raising up the Babylonians to come in violence and conquer other lands. He expresses his concern for the evil that Babylon is committing and whether the Lord will let them get away with it forever.

The Lord gives Habakkuk a vision for a future time. He “describes the end.” He states some truths:

• Wealth is treacherous
• The arrogant are never at rest
• The arrogant open their mouths as wide as the grave and like death, they are never satisfied
• They have captured many people
• Soon these captives will taunt them
• The arrogant will get what they deserve
• Because they have plundered many nations, all survivors will plunder them
• Sorrow awaits them
• All of their wealth will turn to ashes
• The earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord
• They will drink from the cup of the Lord’s judgment
• “But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”

Habakkuk then sings a prayer about the Lord, his splendor, and his coming “as brilliant as the sunrise.” He ends with a triumphant statement: “yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 41 – 45.

What is he hiding?

They want 12 years of Romney Tax Returns, but:

1. Obama’s Occidente College Records – SEALED

2. Obama’s Columbia College Records – SEALED

3. Obama’s Columbia Thesis Paper – SEALED

4. Obama’s Harvard College Records – SEALED

5. Obama’s Selective Service Records – SEALED

6. Obama’s Medical Records – SEALED

7. Obama’s Illinois State Senate Schedule – SEALED

8. Obama’s Illinois State Senate Records – SEALED

These are just a few of the questions about Obama that have not been answered.

My Sewing Machine Case

I’ve been making some progress on my sewing machine case as you can see by the following pictures. I’ve carved, stamped and colored the piece that forms the front, bottom and back.

The two end pieces are shown on top of the main piece.

I’m really happy with the way it’s turning out so far. I’m working on the carry handles right now.

Until next time…

II Kings 24 and II Chronicles 36, Never Again, and Very Disturbing

II King 24 – 25 and II Chronicles 36

Today, we finish reading the books of II Kings and II Chronicles. These chapters are basically a repetition of what we have already learned from the writings of Jeremiah. This marks the end of the kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem and the captivity of Judah in Babylon. As we read before, the people of Judah will be in captivity for seventy years before they can return to the land.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading the whole book of Habakkuk, all three chapters.

You Will Never See This Again

Thought you'd enjoy this!
It's one you want your Children and Grandchildren to read.
They won't believe this happened, but it DID.

Harry & Bess
(This seems unreal.)
Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952 his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them. When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale (cf. Illinois ).

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I say dig him up and clone him!

VERY DISTURBING AND NOT A JOKE

This is from a person in Fresno , CA .

This is happening all over the US.

THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW.

We now live about 30 miles from Fresno . We are up in the Sierras and Fresno is the first big town we encounter when we leave the mountains. We shop there often. I received this from my ex-homicide partner who is still active in law enforcement circles in the Fresno area.

Excuse the language, but don't excuse the facts. Don't give up your guns, and buy necessary ammunition if you can find it. Be cautious and alert. Be ready if, God forbid, we need to protect our families and loved ones. At our Rotary meeting on Friday, we had the only decent speaker we've had in more than a year. LTC John Cotter is the 144th Fighter Wing's anti terrorism officer. John had a two-part presentation. First part was describing his job as the unit’s anti-terrorism officer. Pretty standard stuff.

A part-time air guardsman works as a checker at local Von's. Two women in full burkas buy every pre-paid cell phone in the store. Clerk/airman gets to thinking about it. Goes to Cotter and reports incident. Cotter asks store for surveillance video. It's scary enough that he contacts Fresno FBI. FBI investigates and determines these women have been doing this all over the Valley. Cell phones shipped through Canada to Iraq/Afghanistan where they become triggers for roadside bombs. The Shell station at Peach and Shaw. Every time a local GI goes there in fatigues they are asked specific questions. What is your unit? When are you deploying? How many aircraft are you taking?

The F-16s out of Fresno fly CAP for west coast. As such they are the first line of defense so they have the US 's most sophisticated air-to-air missiles. Foreign governments would like to get their hands on those missiles or at least learn how to build them. Also how many we have, etc. Two spy groups are working on it, one based at Fashion Fair Mall (the F-16s take-off pattern) and one based at Sierra Vista Mall (the F-16s landing pattern).

Cotter said the ragheads (but we don't profile) are always probing the base. Two dorks in a pickup show up at the front gate wanting to deliver a package marked Air National Guard, Fresno .. No postage, no UPS, no FedEx, no DHL, no nothing. Just a probe.

I asked Cotter why we haven't seen anything about this in The Bee, on KMJ, on local TV news. He said they're not interested. Since Friday I've learned of two other things. My brother-in-law, Frank, (management at Avaya) had a Muslim tech who took a leave-of-absence for 6 weeks in Afghanistan . After the 6 weeks were up he called from New York requesting an extension. Frank (who does profile) said, you're fired, and called the Fresno FBI who were very interested. Don't know the outcome. A Muslim who owns a liquor store in my former hometown of Kingsburg was constantly bugging customers to buy guns for him. Finally one of the guys I grew up with called the FBI.

We are a country at war and the enemy is among us. I don't care what  Janet Napolitano says, it's a fight to the death and we should be as prepared as possible. Brother-in-law Frank has a theory and I think it may be closer to the truth than Homeland Security wants to admit.

See note below in red There are a certain number (probably a large number) of Muslims among us who are awaiting the trigger date and will begin randomly killing as many of us as they can, sort of a Fort Hood on steroids. I know I'm getting prepared to shoot back.

Two items of interest: Sheriff Margaret Mims wants to grant concealed carry permits to all who are qualified. Columnist Jim Boren, among the most bleeding of the bleeding heart liberals, says it's time for Fresno residents to arm themselves. LOAD up, you can bet this is happening in places other than Fresno .. David Rayburn

I was asked to send this to everyone in my address book. Some of those I'm sending it to WILL NOT forward it! To those I say, Get your head out of the sand and look around with an open mind or before you know it we will no longer be living in the land of the free and the brave!" We are under attack from a hidden enemy that is everywhere.

They are a cancer that WILL attack us and KILL as many as they can to further the Islamic doctrine of Shiria law. They behead, cut off limbs, stone people to death and worse. Beware, there IS a holy war coming. The signs are everywhere if you care to look and listen.

What do we expect from Homeland Security not wanting to admit anything since they are being run by devout Muslims in charge of Homeland Security Posts.

Well, boys and girls, today the fox is guarding the hen house. The wolves will be herding the sheep!

Obama appointed two devout Muslims to homeland security posts. Obama and Janet Napolitano appointed Arif Alikhan, a devout Muslim, as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano swore-in Kareem Shora, a devout Muslim, who was born in Damascus, Syria, as ADC National Executive Director as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC).

NOTE: Has anyone ever heard a new government official being identified as a 'devout Catholic," a "devout Jew" or a "devout Protestant"...? Just wondering. Devout Muslims being appointed to critical Homeland Security positions? Doesn't this make you feel safer already??

That should make our home land much safer, huh!? Now here is your president at his best, and you want him for another 4 years?? INSANE!!!!!!

Wasn't it "devout Muslim men" who flew planes into U.S. buildings 10 1/2 years ago? Wasn't it a "devout Muslim man" who killed 13 at Fort Hood ?

Until next time…

Jeremiah 38 – 40, Psalm 74 and Psalm 79, etc.

Jeremiah 38 – 40, Psalm 74 and Psalm 79

In this passage, some folks come to Jeremiah because they had heard him say that those who stayed in Jerusalem would die, while those who surrender to the Babylonians would live. They go to the king and demand that Jeremiah be killed because his talk is undermining the morale of the “few fighting men we have left.” With the king’s approval, they take Jeremiah and put him in an empty mud-bottomed cistern.

Ehed-melech persuades the king to have Heremiah taken out of the cistern. When the king secretly asks Jeremiah about what will happen, he tells him the same thing: if he surrenders, he will live; if not, he will die. They keep this a secret.

From the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign and for two and one-half years, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. On July 18, the Babylonians broke through the wall and the city fell. Zedekiah didn’t fare too well: they made him watch as they slaughtered his sons and all the nobles of Judah, then gouged out his eyes and led him to Babylon. Jeremiah was also in line to be taken in chains to Babylon, but Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard gave him a choice and Jeremiah decided to stay.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading II King 24 – 25 and II Chronicles 36.

A Quick Fix

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 - before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1)year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure.

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in the United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that should be passed around.Congressional Reform Act of 2012

1. No tenure / no pension. A congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present, & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow in to the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all American do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U. S.) to receive this message.

Don't you think it is time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

--------------------------------

Proposed Budget Cuts

A liberal Denver Post Aurora Sentinel opinion piece by lifelong Democrat Chuck Green.

It is time that we asked George Bush to step aside so that Obama can get his presidency going.

Here's an opinion piece by Chuck Green who writes "Greener Pastures" for the Denver Post Aurora Sentinel...one of the more liberal papers in the country. Additionally, Mr. Green is a lifelong Democrat...so this is rather a stunning piece...Obama is victim of Bush's failed promises!

Barack Obama is setting a record-setting number of records during his first term in office:

Largest budget ever. Largest deficit ever. Largest number of broken promises ever.

Most self-serving speeches ever. Largest number of agenda-setting failures ever. Fastest dive in popularity ever!

Wow! I didn’t realize it’s all George Bush’s fault.

Just three years ago, fresh from his inauguration celebrations, President Obama was flying high. After one of the nation's most inspiring political campaigns, the election of America 's first black president had captured the hopes and dreams of millions. To his devout followers, it was inconceivable that a year later his administration would be gripped in self-imposed crisis.

Of course, they don't see it as self-imposed. It's all George Bush's fault !

George Bush, who doesn't have a vote in congress and who no longer occupies the White House, is to blame for it all.

He broke Obama's promise, to put all bills on the White House web site for five days before signing them.

He broke Obama's promise, to have the congressional health care negotiations broadcast live on C-SPAN.

He broke Obama's promise, to end earmarks.He broke Obama's promise, to keep unemployment from rising above 8 percent.

He broke Obama's promise, to close the detention center at Guantanamo in the first year.

He broke Obama's promise, to make peace with direct, no precondition talks with America 's most hate-filled enemies during his first year in office, ushering in a new era of global cooperation.

He broke Obama's promise, to end the hiring of former lobbyists into high White House jobs.

He broke Obama's promise, to end no-compete contracts with the government.

He broke Obama's promise, to disclose the names of all attendees at closed White House meetings.

He broke Obama's promise, for a new era of bipartisan cooperation in all matters.

He broke Obama's promise, to have chosen a home church to attend Sunday services with his family by Easter.

Yes, it's all George Bush's fault! President Obama is nothing more than a puppet in the never-ending failed Bush administration.

If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, all of President Obama 's problems would be solved.

His promises would have been kept, the economy would be back on track, Iran would have stopped its work on developing a nuclear bomb and would be negotiating a peace treaty with Israel . North Korea would have ended its tyrannical regime, and integrity would have been restored to the federal government.

Oh, and did I mention what it would be like, if the Democrats, under the previous leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, didn't have the heavy yoke of George Bush around their necks? There would be no ear marks, no closed-door drafting of bills, no increase in deficit spending, no special-interest influence (unions), no vote buying ( Nebraska , Louisiana ).

If only George Bush wasn't still in charge, we'd have real change by now.

All the broken promises, all the failed legislation and delay (health care reform, immigration reform) is not President Obama 's fault or the fault of the Democrat-controlled Congress. It's all George Bush's fault !

Take for example the decision of Eric Holder, the president's attorney general, to hold terrorists' trials in New York City. Or his decision to try the Christmas Day underpants bomber as a civilian.

Two disastrous decisions.

Certainly those were bad judgments based on poor advice from George Bush!

Need more proof? You might recall that when Scott Brown won the election to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, capturing "The Ted Kennedy Seat", President Obama said, Brown's victory was the result of the same voter anger that propelled Obama into office in 2008.

People were still angry about George Bush and the policies of the past 10 years. And they wanted change.

Yes, according to the president, the voter rebellion in Massachusetts , was George Bush's fault.

Therefore, in retaliation, they elected a Republican to the Ted Kennedy seat, ending a half-century of domination by Democrats. It is all George Bush 's fault !

Will the failed administration of George Bush ever end, and the time for hope and and change ever arrive ???

Will President Obama ever accept responsibility for something/anything?

( Chuck Green is a veteran Colorado journalist and former editor-in-chief of The Denver Post.)

Subject: List of Republican Budget Cuts.....WOW YOU WON'TBELIEVE THIS !!!!!!!...

How about this!!  Read all the way to the bottom and see IF you’re not surprised...

Notice S.S. and the military are NOT on this list.

These are all the programs that the new Republican House has proposed cutting. Read to the end.

* Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy -- $445 million annual savings.
* Save America's Treasures Program -- $25 million annual savings.
* International Fund for Ireland -- $17 million annual savings.
* Legal Services Corporation -- $420 million annual savings.
* National Endowment for the Arts -- $167.5 million annual savings.
* National Endowment for the Humanities -- $167.5 million annual savings.
* Hope VI Program -- $250 million annual savings.
* Amtrak Subsidies -- $1.565 billion annual savings.
* Eliminate duplicating education programs -- H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually.
* U.S. Trade Development Agency -- $55 million annual savings.
* Woodrow Wilson Center Subsidy -- $20 million annual savings.
* Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding -- $47 million annual savings.
* John C. Stennis Center Subsidy -- $430,000 annual savings.
* Community Development Fund -- $4.5 billion annual savings.
* Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid -- $24 million annual savings.
* Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half -- $7.5 billion annual savings
* Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20% -- $600 million annual savings.
* Essential Air Service -- $150 million annual savings.
* Technology Innovation Program -- $70 million annual savings.
* Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program -- $125 million annual savings.
* Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization -- $530 million annual savings.
* Beach Replenishment -- $95 million annual savings.
* New Starts Transit -- $2 billion annual savings.
* Exchange Programs for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts -- $9 million annual savings
* Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants -- $2.5 billion annual savings.
* Title X Family Planning -- $318 million annual savings.
* Appalachian Regional Commission -- $76 million annual savings.
* Economic Development Administration -- $293 million annual savings.
* Programs under the National and Community Services Act -- $1.15 billion annual savings.
* Applied Research at Department of Energy -- $1.27 billion annual savings.
* Freedom CAR and Fuel Partnership -- $200 million annual savings.
* Energy Star Program -- $52 million annual savings.
* Economic Assistance to Egypt -- $250 million annually.
* U.S. Agency for International Development -- $1.39 billion annual savings.
* General Assistance to District of Columbia -- $210 million annual savings.
* Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority -- $150 million annual savings.
* Presidential Campaign Fund -- $775 million savings over ten years.
* No funding for federal office space acquisition -- $864 million annual savings.
* End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of government services.
* Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act -- More than $1 billion annually.
* IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for some services it offers (such as processing payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of allowing it to remain as part of its budget -- $1.8 billion savings over ten years.
* Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees -- $1 billion total savings. WHAT THE HELL IS THISABOUT?
* Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees -- $1.2 billion savings over ten years.
* Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of -- $15 billion total savings.
* Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress.WHAT???
* Eliminate Mohair Subsidies -- $1 million annual savings.
* Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- $12.5 million annual savings WELL ISN'T THAT SPECIAL
* Eliminate Market Access Program -- $200 million annual savings.
* USDA Sugar Program -- $14 million annual savings.
* Subsidy to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) -- $93 million annual savings.
* Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program -- $56.2 million annual savings.
* Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative costs -- $900 million savings.
* Ready to Learn TV Program -- $27 million savings.. WHY?????
* HUD Ph.D. Program.
* Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act.
* TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years

My question is, what is all this crap doing in the budget in the first place?

Until next time…

Jeremiah 35 – 37

Jeremiah 35 – 37

In this passage, we are introduced to the Recabites, whom the Lord tells Jeremiah to invite in and offer wine. He does this, not just offering wine, but putting out cups and jugs of wine. They refuse to drink the wine because their ancestor Jehonadab son of Recab gave them commands never to drink wine, nor build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but to always use tents. The promise was if they followed these commands, they would live long, good lives in the land. They followed these instructions to the letter, but when the Babylonians were attacking, they feared them and decided to move to Jerusalem.

The Lord gives a message to Jeremiah which compares the difference in the way the Recabites obeyed their commands with the way the people of Judah and Jerusalem did not.

In chapter 36, the Lord tells Jeremiah to write down all of his messages against Israel, Judah and the other nations beginning with the very first message up to the very last. The Lord was trying to get the people to repent so he could forgive their sins and wrongdoings. Jeremiah dictated these messages to Baruch son of Neriah. Since Jeremiah was a prisoner and unable to go to the Temple, he sent Baruch to read them to the people who were there. Eventually, some of the officials felt the king should hear. The king was not impressed. As the scroll was read to him, he burned it up, section by section. As Jeremiah says, “N either the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard. The king even went so far as to order that Baruch and Jeremiah be arrested.

The Lord told Jeremiah to get another scroll and write everything just as he did before and to deliver it to King Jehoiakim of Judah, indicating he would have no heirs to sit on the throne of David, that the Lord would punish him and his family and attendants for their sins.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 38 – 40, Psalm 74 and Psalm 79.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 32 – 34

When I read this passage today, I couldn’t help but think of the Dead Sea Scrolls. If you recall, some Bedouins found these scrolls in a cave – they were probably hidden there by the Essenes to protect them from the Romans. Scrolls have also been found in such places of Afghanistan.

While in prison, Jeremiah is told by the Lord to buy a piece of land from his cousin Hanamel and to bury the sealed deed and an unsealed copy of the deed in a pottery jar “to preserve them for a long time.” This was an object lesson for Jeremiah that even though the Babylonians were conquering Jerusalem, there would be a time when the people would return and fields would be bought and sold again.

So, here is Jeremiah, stuck in prison for delivering the Lord’s messages and the Lord tells him “remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come,” about healing Jerusalem’s wounds and giving it prosperity and true peace, and raising up a righteous descendant of King David’s line who will dow what is just and right throughout the land. His name will be “The Lord Is Our Righteousness.”

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 35 – 37.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 30 – 31, Stop the Leaks and Free Lunch

Jeremiah 30 – 31

Jeremiah 30 offers great hope when the Lord promises to restore the fortunes of his people of Israel and Judah and to bring them home to the land he gave their ancestors and rebuild Jerusalem. He also says:

“For my people will serve the Lord their God and their king descended from David—the king I will raise up for them.”

And

“You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Jermiah 31 contains one of the prophecies fulfilled about Jesus when Herod, ordered his troops to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under: “A cry is heard in Ramah—deep anguish and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted—for her children are gone.”

Also, important in this chapter is the Lord’s promise of a new covenant, one where he will put his instructions deep within them and write it on their hearts. He will their God and they will be his people and where Jerusalem will never agin be captured or destroyed.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 32 – 34.

Stop the Leaks

Please watch this video at:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/new-video-shows-former-military-members-of-the-intel-community-uniting-to-stop-leaks/ 

Free Lunch

From a California school teacher - - -
"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration, there are some things that you should be aware of:
I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels.
Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens , Huntington Park , etc.. where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.
Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a
Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids.
(OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer learning center, half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America . (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the country less than 3 months who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them "Putas"(whores) and throwing things, that the teachers were in tears.
Free medical, free education, free food, day care, etc, etc, etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled not only to be in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?
To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.
Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases etc., etc, etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.
Americans, We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind really think they will voluntarily leave and return?
It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weakand worried about"political correctness” that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
If this makes your blood boil, as it did mine, forward this to everyone you know including your Congressmen and Senators.
CHEAP LABOR? Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?
Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.
Consumers don't want expensive produce.
Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs.
But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie. There is no such thing as "cheap labor."
Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps..
He qualifies for free (no deductible), no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
He requires bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI.
Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare. Al l of this is at (our) taxpayer's expense.
He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.
Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.
Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after paying their bills AND his.
The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and trash clean-up.
Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT! Wake up people!
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR EITHER PARTY. 'AND WHEN THEY LIE TO US AND DON'T DO AS THEY SAY, WE SHOULD REPLACE THEM AT ONCE!'
THIS HAS GOT TO BE PASSED ALONG TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OR
WE WILL ALL GO DOWN THE DRAIN BECAUSE A FEW DON'T CARE.

Jeremiah 26 – 29, God Bless America, and Michael Vey II

Jeremiah 26 – 29

Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, Jeremiah is given a message from the Lord that he is told to deliver in the courtyard in front of the Temple. The purpose of this message was to try to get God’s people to turn from their sins so that he would not have to destroy them. Did this ever tick off the priests, the prophets and the people. People don’t usually like to be reminded of the things they have done wrong. They mobbed Jeremiah and called for him to be killed. Of course, Jeremiah contended to the officals that his message was just what God had told him to say. A man named Ahikam son of Shaphan persuaded the court not to turn Jeremiah over to the mob.

The Lord gives Jeremiah another object to make his point to the people: a yoke to wear fastened to his neck with leather thongs. This was to demonstrate that they would be submitting to Babylon’s king and serving him with their necks under Babylon’s yoke.

When Hananiah son of Azzur, prophesied that Jeremiah was wong and that they would throw off the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar within two years. He took the wooden yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and broke it into pieces. The Lord had Jeremiah tell him that the wooden yoke would be replaced with a yoke of iron and the people would be forced into slavery under Nebuchadnezzar. He predicts Hananiah’s imminent death and, sure enough, within two months Hananiah died.

After the king, court officials and others had been deported from Jerusalem, Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to them telling them to plan to stay in Babylon, to build homes, plant gardens and eat the food they produce. He also told them they would only be there for seventy years and then he would bring them back. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. For in those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me… I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

What a gracious and forgiving God we have!

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 30 – 31.

God Bless America and those who love her

DO NOT ADD A SINGLE WORD

Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening. The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press'. From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag. General Bill Gann' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171... During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It". NOW GET THIS !! 'Senator Obama replied: "As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides". "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression.." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing." (ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???) Obama continued: "The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing'. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ...." When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past". "Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First black Family. Indeed,CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America " Yes, you read it right. I, for one, am speechless!!! Dale Lindsborg , Washington Post EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEEDS TO READ THIS, KEEP IT GOING ! ! SAVE AMERICA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE ! !

Michael Vey II: Rise of the Elgen

Today, the second book in the Michael Vey series was released. In preparation for this, I re-read the first book. I had sort of forgotten how great the first book (Michael Vey: The Prisoner in Cell 25).

If you like a good read, you’ll love this series.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 23 – 25 and Made in China and Progress

Jeremiah 23 – 25

The Lord condemns Judah’s leaders and the false prophets, but promises that when the remnant is brought back, he will appoint responsible shepherds to care for them. He also promises to reaise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line to rule with wisdom. His name will be “The Lord Is Our Righteousness.”

Isn’t that exactly who Jesus is – our righteousness? We have no hope apart from God. No one is righteous because all have sinned. Only by the grace of God can we be saved. As Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so non can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

In chapter 24, we see a reference to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon exiling Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah to Babylon. Jeremiah is given another object lesson, this time with two baskets of figs: one basket contains ripe, delicious figs and the other figs that are two rotten to eat. The good figs represent those who are exiled to Babylon whom the Lord promises to give hearts that recognize him. They would be his people and hewould be their God. The rotten figs represent King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, all the people left in Jerusalem and those who live in Egypt. They will be an object of horror and a symbol of evil to every nation on earth. The Lord would send war, famine, and diease until they have vanished from the land he gave them.

In chapter 25, Jeremiah predicts that after seventy years of captivity, he would punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins. Babylon would become a wasteland.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 26 – 29.

Made in China

It’s shocking that ABC would actually run this story…but I’m glad they did.  This is so hard to believe!

When will it end? November? OUR PRESIDENT, What the hell is he thinking? I-635 in Texas is being rebuilt with underground tolls from I-35 to I-45 and is contracted to a CHINESE firm for over $5 billion. Diane Sawyer reporting on U.S. bridge projects going to the Chinese.... NOT Americans. The bridges are right here in the U.S. and yet Obama has approved for Chinese contractors to come in and do the work. What about jobs for Americans??? Watch this video. It doesn't take long to view. This one should be tough for the supporters of the current regime to swallow....AND it comes from ABC NEWS U.S.A. Bridges and Roads Being Built by Chinese Firms Shocking to say the least! This video is a jaw-dropper that will make you sick. (It was also shocking that ABC was actually reporting this story.) The lead-in with Obama promising jobs in the U.S. by improving our infrastructure is so typical of all his promises! Our tax dollars are at work - for CHINA!!! I pray all the unemployed see this and cast their votes accordingly in 2012! CLICK here: U.S. Bridges, Roads Being Built by Chinese Firms | Video - ABC News PLEASE PASS ON TO EVERYONE!!!

Progress on My Sewing Machine Case

Yesterday and today, I have made quite a bit of progress on my sewing machine case. The two ends and the two sides have had the Celtic designs traced, carved, and partially stamped. I intend to finish the stamping tonight.

The ends of the the case will have this cross – I have no idea why this looks so blue, but I’ll be coloring the background parts before I color the whole case..

The sides of the case have the following design:

After finishing the stamping, I will color the background with dark brown or black, then probably stain the case with some shade of brown.

Until next time…

Jeremiah 18 – 22 and Captions

Jeremiah 18 - 22

The Lord gives Jeremiah another object lesson, this time using a potter and his clay. Israel was like the clay in the potter’s hand; the clay could be smashed down and remolded if it didn’t turn out like the potter wanted.

The people reject Jeremiah’s warnings and plot ways to stop him. Jeremiah’s pleads for the Lord to deal with them in his anger. The Lord uses another object lesson to try to reach the people. He has Jeremiah buy a clay jar and take it through the Gate of Broken Pots to the garbage dump, accompanied by some of the leaders and priests.

Jeremiah was arrested, whipped and put in stocks when the priest in charge of the Temple of the Lord heard his prophesies. Jeremiah gives the priest a specific prophesy and tells him the Babylonians are coming to capture them and carry everyone away to Babylon.

Jeremiah is very unhappy with his lot in live, even to the point of cursing the day he was born and wondering why it ever happened.

Eventually, King Zedekiah (Judah) and the priest and Zephaniah come to Jeremiah to plead with him to ask the Lord to help them in the face of the attacks by Kind Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Jeremiah says the Lord will make their weapons useless against the invaders and will fight against Israel with a strong hand and a powerful arm. Once again God gives them the choice of life or death: life, if they surrender to the Babylonians or death if they do not.

Jeremiah also speaks specific prophecies to the members of the royal family of Judah.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 23 – 25.

Whoever captioned these is a genius!

Until next time…

Jeremiah 14 – 17 and Have You Seen These?

Jeremiah 14 - 17

According to NBC news, this July is the hottest month on record and drought has expanded to 63% of the U.S. An 8/9/2012 report from Jim Suhr of A.P. states that soybean and corn crops are the hardest hit because of the drought. Food prices have climbed globally as a result of this with a six percent climb in July alone. This is scary stuff.

In our reading today, we see that Judah was experiencing a bad drought. Jeremiah received a message from the Lord as to the reasons for lack of rain. The people had wandered far from God and were wicked. The drought was a punishment for their sins. The Lord wouldn’t even let Jeremiah pray for the people and made it clear he was not listening to their prayers and requests. God goes so far as to say that even if Moses and Samuel were pleading for these people, he wouldn’t help them.

The Lord said he would send four destroyers against the people: the sword to kill, dogs to drag away, vultures to devour and wild animals to finish up what is left. He would make his “people an object of horror to the kingdoms of the earth.”

He tells Jeremiah not to marry and have children because of the terrible things that will happen to the children born in Jerusalem. He tells him not to mourn for those who die or go to funerals or to parties.

The Lord does give some hope to Jeremiah. He tells him that eventually people will take oaths using the words “As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.” Jeremiah responds by calling the Lord his strength and fortress, his refuge in the day of troubles. Yes, Jerusalem and the people would be handed over to the enemy and would be taken captive to a foreign land, but the Lord would eventually bring them back. And he did – the state of Israel was established in 1948 and Jews from all around the world have been re-locating there.

Remember II Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” Pray for the United States of America. No political leader can save this country, only the prayers of his people.

Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Jeremiah 18 - 22.

Have You Seen These?

I got a lump in my throat when I read this. I "grew up" thinking: patriotism, it is the AMERICAN way! I am glad to see that somebody saved these posters. The statement at the end says it all!

~ These were our parents ~ What in God's name have we let happen ? I guess we are the last generation to see, or even remember anything like  these ! Whatever happened? It's called............................... Political correctness (or "re-education") happened, Lack of God's name happened, Lack of personal responsibility happened, Lack of personal integrity and honesty happened, Lack of respect and loyalty to our country happened, Lack of being an American happened. Did all of these things die along with common sense?? I, for one am, still proud to be an American! If you are too..... Pass this along, So others can show their pride. We only live in the land of the free because of the brave"

Red Velvet Pancakes at IHOP

This morning, my cousin Richard and I went to IHOP and had some of their delicious red velvet pancakes. Yum Yum! They are drizzled with cream cheese frosting and a dollop of whipped cream.