Perspectives

I just finished "Hacks" by Donna Brazile. I found it interesting to read the opposition's perspectives. Since I have recommended the book to several people, I am going to give my own perspectives. Obviously, they're different, but surprisingly, there are similarities in those differences.

To explain, I found the author to be highly intelligent, hard working, religious, and deserving of high praise, even from me, who disagrees with her politically. I found her efforts at honesty something to admire. However, she has blind spots. Seeing her blind spots wakened me to the fact that I have them, too. Because of our differing perspectives, our blind spots are different, but we both have them.

For example, take a look at the subtitle of her book. "The Story of Break-Ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House."  Really?  At one point, she states that Donald Trump was colluding with the Russians without one scintilla, one iota of evidence.Wrong. The panic and paranoia those hacks caused could well have distracted experts like herself and caused her to do less on the election and could have caused some votes to be lost. I'll give her that.  However, from my perspective, Democrats chose an extremely flawed candidate who has more enemies than friends.  Her illegal and unprotected private server could have been how the Russians got even more damaging information as well.

Ms. Brazile speaks of the President's flaws. I'll agree. However, one of her blind spots is the flaws of Hillary Clinton and the Obamas. We're ALL flawed.  She claims Hillary Clinton is an honest woman. Really? Hmm, what about her getting off the plane in a hail of bullets? Or how about her saying there was no fire, even if there was smoke? Bleach bits? A private, illegal server?  Her husband's talk with Loretta Lynch was only about golf and grandchildren?  Her sale of uranium to the Russians? Russian contributions to the Clinton Foundation? If that's honest, I have a bridge for sale.

She also denied Hillary had health problems. That she was a hard worker. She excoriates Trump for latching on to Hillary's collapse. However, there were  occasions when Trump was hard at work while Hillary was resting at home and it cannot be denied that Hillary did collapse. She may have been a hard worker, but not hard enough to win the Presidency.  She may be healthy, but she was not on at least one occasion, leading to speculation about the other times she went home instead of campaigning.

From my point of view, Donald Trump was chosen by God to be President for God's purposes. But, Democrats hate him so much, they're still trying to rewrite the election. Short of that, they'll do anything to impeach him, forgetting that high crimes is the criteria for impeachment, not tweets. Not even winning over Hillary Clinton or sexual misconduct, ala Bill Clinton is criminal enough for impeachment. The media also hates him. Even former President Carter has stated the media has been harder on him than any other President. The media was horrible to President Lincoln, but they seem even worse towards Trump. Establishment Republicans are against him. They've blocked a lot of things he promised to do during the campaign.  As a novice at politics, he made every mistake in the book and even created a few new ones. Yet, he became President and he's succeeding in spite of all the opposition. God chose him for His purposes and he'll be there until he fulfills those purposes. Hopefully, it will take eight years. Eight years for Pence and then maybe another eight for Nikki Haley.

She makes a very strong case for the Russian hacking. Let's face it. Hacking is wrong, but so are the terrible things Democrats said in those emails they wanted to keep hidden. If they hadn't said those terrible things there wouldn't be a story, would there? Again, it may have been God using the Russians. His Word plainly states to be sure our sins will find us out. Although she spent a great deal of time praying for her candidate, God said no. He said the same to me when Obama was in office.

Since Ms. Brazile was big enough to apologize to donors who got caught in the crossfire, let me do the same to her. I am ashamed of any Republican who threatened her life because she's a Democrat and worked hard to elect Hillary Clinton. And, I'm sorry. I will go further and say behavior like that is NOT Republican. It's despicable for anyone, Democrat, Republican, or Independent. I will also say the Trumps deserve an apology as well. Their lives have been disrupted and threatened far more than any Democrat donor and even Ms. Brazile herself. According to her, the threats stopped when Trump won. The Trumps are still suffering.

To be honest, I asked for "Hacks" as a Christmas present because of the comments she made about Hillary's ingratitude for her hard work. I was hoping she was going to talk about political hacks, not computer hacking. The definition of political hacks are people whose interests are more aligned to victory than personal conviction. I admit my motives were not nice because I see Democrat loyalty to victory more important to them than governing. My bad.

She did breeze over some of the things that made her uncomfortable and again, I saw that I breeze over some of the things Republicans do that makes me uncomfortable. There is sameness is our differences. She breezed over the financial issues that she said were not illegal, but were definitely unethical. And yet, as a Democrat, she paints the party as having the moral high road. Sorry. Not true. She breezed over the power grabbing of Obama, Hillary and Debra Wasserman Schulz, but did not condemn it. She mentioned but did not condemn the fact that Obama left the Democrat Party millions of dollars in debt. Nor would she say anything against Wasserman Schultz in spite of the mess she left for Ms. Brazile to clean up. She could not pull the plug on Hillary's candidacy because she was a woman and a friend. Not good enough.

In both the beginning and at the ending of the book, Ms. Brazile mentioned the importance of listening to the people. From my perspective, the Clinton campaign people weren't the only ones who weren't listening. If Democrats had been listening to all voters in flyover states instead of just Democrats in the coastal states, the Lord might have allowed a different outcome. No. He chose Donald Trump to fulfill His purposes.

Well Done

The announcement that President Trump would announce the move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem is causing an outcry from those who've hated him since the day he announced his candidacy for the Presidency. Frankly, it's a little hypocritical. President Trump was a Democrat at one time. If he'd have run as a Democrat, they would have adored him. Like Reagan, he changed parties because the Democrats have moved in a direction he didn't believe was in the country's best interests.

His move today reminds me of Harry Truman, another reason to consider Democrats who hate Trump hypocritical. If Harry Truman had not been a man to uphold the courage of his convictions, there'd be no Israel today.  In May, 1948, Truman recognized Israel as a state and the rest of the world went nuts. Sound familiar?

Truman was also a man who spoke his mind. Sometimes with less than diplomatic words. He didn't hesitate to call someone as SOB, regardless of the status of the individual he was talking about. From Stalin to Martin Luther King, he spoke his mind. Democrats loved it. Republicans, not so much, but certainly not with the hysterical vituperative vitriol we're hearing now.

Regardless, the fact is that today President Trump will change history. He's the only President who has proved to be a man of his word out of the last four. Clinton, Bush, and Obama all said they would move the embassy to Jerusalem and recognize it as Israel's capitol. Like Harry Truman, President Trump has done a good thing, no matter what others say.

Former ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, just said the reason the UN doesn't want this done, is because they want to have jurisdiction in Jerusalem. Many are screaming it will destroy the peace process between Jews and Muslims. What peace process? Every effort has been met with the announcement that Muslims have every intention of wiping Israel off the map.

I just found Truman's statement and think it's a good fit for Republican President Trump as well as Democrat President Harry Truman. Harry Truman was known as "Give em hell, Harry." For President Trump, I thinks he's doing the same thing. I say, job well done, Mr. President.

Happy Columbus Day

                                                                                           

Happy Columbus Day. That may seem offensive to some, but that's not my intent. I'm trying to say politically correct bias and prejudice does not end by changing the victim. Nor can there be a meeting of the minds by using nasty names for the opposition, tearing down historical figures, or any other thing being done at the moment to express outrage. I have the feeling history may be far more harsh on our day and age than we are being on someone who lived more than 500 years ago.

This morning, on FaceBook, Chelsea Clinton was quoted as saying she would not be celebrating Columbus Day because Christopher Columbus took Native Americans back to India. News to me and my history lessons were far superior to hers, I'm sure. I say that because I once applied for a job in San Antonio and had to take a math test. I groaned and said I hadn't been in math class for 25 years. The woman administering the test said I would do better than someone just out of high school. She was right. I aced the test and the kid who took it with me didn't do well at all.

It is true Columbus was trying to find India by sailing west to get east and when he arrived on our shores, he called the natives "Indians" in an effort to prove himself right. It may also be true he enslaved many of the natives he met.

 
Some of the he did things were not Christian, although his writings show he was a believer. However, that being said, Jesus plainly said that we are not to judge or we, too, will be judged. Only God knows our hearts. Never have I heard that He retired and handed the gavel to an imperfect human being. I have to wonder how we will be judged. especially the Clintons. To many in earlier centuries, slavery was not a bad thing because it is mentioned in the Bible. That's certainly not our understanding today.

Our understanding of slavery may also be flawed. What about people in bondage to drugs or alcohol? Those selling it and getting rich may have to answer for enslaving others out of pure greed, although it's very much an accepted part of society today. Then there's the abortion industry. Pharmaceutical companies, food companies, and cosmetics have put fetal material in their products without telling the pubic, turning us into cannibals without our knowledge. What will history say about that? Far worse, what will God say? He took down ancient nations because they soaked the land with blood. What will He say about us? Adrian Rogers once said if God didn't punish America, He owed Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.

Then, too, what happened in history cannot be changed. Right or wrong, there it is. Trying to make Italians feel bad about their hero doesn't fix a thing. Columbus was a product of his time, just like we are a product of our time. How will history judge our generation? Especially the Clintons. Should history ignore wrongs? No. By the same token, it should not negate the good done by the very same flawed people. We're no better, but we've been too busy pointing fingers to see there's more coming back at us than there are pointing at someone else. Focusing on the negative is one of the reasons America is so angry and depressed. Be grateful for the advances made and leave the negatives to God.

Let's face it. Nobody's perfect. When I stand before Holy God, the only thing asked of me is what did I do with Jesus? Did I acknowledge my sin, repent, and ask him to be my Savior? Christopher Columbus, Chelsea Clinton, Donald Trump, nor anyone else will come into the conversation. It's all between me and God. 

Buyer Beware

Sigh. I get so tired of all my negativity. I'd love to be one of those people who can laugh off everything. Unfortunately, I'm not. Too many rich companies trying to dig into our fixed income pockets.

Lately, we've been engaging in more online purchases.  At our age, it's a big mistake, unless we know the site really well. Even then, it can be disappointing. For example, we have on occasion, purchased from the news channel that has "big deals" on holidays. There is a no return policy on those purchases. Until the 4th of July sale, that wasn't a problem.

Then the bottom fell out. My husband ordered a drone at a price in excess of $100. It was broken when it came and not from the shipping. It was very poorly constructed and the broken parts may not be available for replacement. We're waiting to hear from the company that promised to investigate. The hobby shop where he sought replacement parts said it was the cheapest drone he'd ever seen.

He also ordered me a pressure oven from the same sale at better than $90. When it came, the pan that is vital to use the pressure cooker part of the oven was replaced with a pan that will not work. I called the company and was told that oven is no longer made. Another waste of money.

I learned a very hard lesson from the situation. There's no interest in giving people a "deal." There's only interest in helping big companies reduce inventory on something that didn't sell well in the first place. There maybe a tax break in there,too.

About a year ago, I began purchasing a supplement that was supposed to do wonderful things for someone my age. Of course, it's hard to figure out of it's actually working or not. When a certain age is achieved, improvement is not possible. I may have come to the point where even maintenance is no longer possible. About all supplements can do for me now is slow the deterioration.

Long story short, I reordered once last December for a 6 month supply plus a bonus bottle. February, a sales person called and asked me if I wanted to order some more. I told him no. April, he called again. This time I told him no more emphatically. I said if he called again, I would consider it harassment.  After all, I'm still using the 6 month plus bonus order I made in December. He said that order put me on automatic refill. Again, I was emphatic in saying no, expecting him to correct the matter because I decide what I want to buy and when.

Lo and behold, last week, we were notified they were sending the supplement and had billed our credit card. Needless to say, I called to straighten out the matter and when the items arrived in the mail, I wrote "refused" on the unopened package and sent it back, meaning they have to pay the postage for both directions. I informed the company my exact words to make sure they knew how emphatic I was in my refusal and I did the same thing with the credit card company, which informed me that the issue had been corrected by the company.

At 4:00 this morning, a notice came from the credit card company via email, stating I had two payments, one for $98+ and one for $89+. Both were from a company I had never heard of. Ever. How am I supposed to order from a company I don't even know exists?When I called the number, the girl on the line started talking and wouldn't shut up. Ever had that experience? When they start that with me, I yell until I get their attention, which of course, sent her into martyr mode. She coldly informed me she didn't have to work with me unless I sent stopped yelling. Then, shut up and listen.

She proceeded to inform me that the 2 sample products I had ordered on the 4th of July automatically enrolled me and I was being charged for a regular size of the the products. I sent for samples of a product with a completely different name! Deceitful, to say the least. She said she'd be glad to give me a 35% discount on the current order I was refusing to pay for and then she'd cancel future orders. No way, honey. No way. Imperiously, she informed I would pay for what I had ordered-in spite of the fact I had not ordered. Surpassing the 2 week cancellation date (by 3 hours and 22 minutes) constitutes an order. She insisted the credit card company would force me to pay. Wrong. They laughed when I told them what she said.

Each item had a different order number and different phone number, so I called the second number and got a wonderful young man who took care of everything. I didn't have to yell at him. He was gracious and I reciprocated in kind. He listened carefully to my complaint before he cancelled it all out and gave me cancellations numbers to prove it. A call to the credit card company said the bills were pending and hadn't shown up on our account. Give it a few days and check again. If they don't show up, the company took care of it. If they do show up, the credit card company will take care of it.

Done with online shopping.  A banker once told me I was the lightening rod that attracted all the nasty business dealings so other people wouldn't have to suffer what I've been through and corrected. Thanks a lot!

Farming babies

What "farming babies" and speeding cars has to do with one another may be puzzling, but I'm trying to do a disclaimer right off the bat. The subject of farming babies is about to get grizzly and many believers may think I'm trying to be their Holy Spirit and tell them they have to believe and act the way I am. NOT SO.

I use the speeding car as an example of how we should treat each other and allow each to be spoken to by the Holy Spirit and allow each to listen to and obey God, not me.

In the early 1990's Bob had a business meeting in Detroit. We were living in Chicago at the time. It was late January and snowing on the return trip. The snow wasn't sticking, but it was flying into the windshield, reducing visibility. Bob cut 30 minutes off the travel time. I called people in Detroit we had visited prior to our leaving there. She said, "I see the Holy Spirit hasn't convicted Bob about doing the speed limit....But, then, I like to travel with people like that. I get there quicker and I don't have anything to confess!" Bob was a new Christian at the time and instead of scolding him about his breaking the law, she made a joke out of it. Would that we all treat others with the same dignity.

Christianity covers a very broad spectrum. Very broad and not every one of them will agree with me. That gives me no right to feel superior, or them towards me, either. However, when it comes to abortion and other things, I am firm in my beliefs and I'm going to let them be known.

The past year has brought to the public's attention that Planned Parenthood is selling aborted fetal parts. Perhaps America had to stoop that low in order for people to wake up and stand up for the preborn. Face it, we all started in the same way. The only difference between any person and a preborn fetus is age and title. We have infants, toddlers, teens, adults, and the elderly. So what's in a name? We're still all human and we all started as a fertilized egg. Science has recently discovered that there is a bright spark when fertilization takes place, further proof that life begins at conception, when the DNA is formed. The heart beat, brain wave, and spinal cord are functioning about 3 weeks after conception. Most women don't even know they're pregnant until later than that, meaning that baby feels what is being done to it when Mom chooses to terminate.

Selling fetal parts was bad enough, but it really hit home when I learned what is being done with those fetuses. I've known for decades that some Parkinson's medications included fetal material, but never gave it much thought. I've known that I, like Billy Graham, would refuse to accept such treatment. Not being sanctimonious, just standing by what I believe. The very thought of such a thing makes me sick at my stomach. I wanted desperately to ask a woman who thought it was a great idea (her husband died of Parkinson's) exactly which of her grandchildren she would be willing to sacrifice just so someone else could stave off death for another 10 years or so. No, I didn't ask her, but I wanted to. She didn't seem to mind if someone else's child or grandchild died to medicate her husband but, I doubt she'd allow her own to die.

I'm not dismissing the terrible disease of Parkinson's. It has increased over the last 50 years and I'm told it's a horrible death. But, taking the life of the unborn will not stop the death of the elderly patient for long. Whether it makes the death less painful, I honestly do not know. I only know that it's been proven repeatedly that abortion is physically painful to the preborn and most often emotionally painful to the mother and family members as well. It does not solve anything, just exacerbates the problems and the pain.

Last week, someone posted something far more grisly. It's preyed on my mind ever since. Not only is fetal tissue being incorporated in medicines, it is now being included in our food, drink, and cosmetics! How sick can this nation be? How dare we feel superior to Nazi Germany?

Take a good look. Recognize any of those bottles? Pepsi has been a favorite in my family for over 60 years. And, now this.


What about any of these? Nestle, Lipton, Campbell's soups, Cadbury Adams candies, Kraft-Cadbury Adams products. And, there's more. While looking for a Lipton logo, I just found out Lipton makes Green Mountain Coffee, which I just purchased to get away from another product! I almost feel hopeless. Almost. My list of boycotts is growing by leaps and bounds and my world is shrinking. Looks like I'm going to have to start my own garden and go back to scratch cooking. It won't hurt me and it will help a lot more than the junk being passed off as food and drink that is doing who knows what to our physical health?


Worse, what has it done to us spiritually? God gave the land to Israel because other nations had soaked the land with blood. Anyone who's ever read Scripture knows that. Adrian Rogers, now in heaven, was noted for saying if God didn't punish America, He owed Sodom and Gomorrah an apology. He's so right. We so sanctimoniously think we are superior to bloody nations now extinct. Guess what. We're worse than they are. We know better, but they didn't. We excuse ourselves by saying we didn't know. (Germany unsuccessfully tried that one.) Finally, we give up instead of fighting.

Going back to my first paragraph, I recognize the very wide spectrum included in what we define as Christianity. Only God knows who His children are and who think they are. I'm no one's judge. God didn't call me to that, but He did make this perverse atrocity known to me for a reason. Therefore, I will not now or ever again knowingly partake of any product that includes fetal tissue. Like I said, my choices have been narrowed considerably. It infuriates me to think people have the audacity to think "what I don't know won't hurt me." WRONG. God called on the Israelites to have a special sacrifice to repent of UNKNOWN SINS they committed. I didn't know I was consuming aborted fetuses, but I repented when I did learn and I intend to avoid that in every way I can. I also intend to sound the alarm. Should anyone choose to join me, please let me know. Should anyone dismiss me as a Bible-thumping, Pharisaical, bigoted crackpot, I shall wear that badge with pride and leave you to God.

Inauguration Day

To be honest, I don't like hearing our Presidents using foul language or bashing the opposition or anyone who says anything against them, but  I'm old enough to remember another President who's mouth was even worse than Donald J. Trump's.  He bashed and dissed everyone from Joseph Stalin to Martin Luther King. If I'm not mistaken, he even said some nastiness about Winston Churchill, although I could be wrong about that.






In fact, it was reported more than once that when a reporter asked the President when he thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it wasn't pretty. Aghast, the reporter shot back that Rev. King had won the Nobel Peace Prize.  "I didn't give it to him," was the response.







That President was Harry S. Truman, Democrat. His nickname was "Give 'em hell, Harry."  The man was notorious for speaking his mind, regardless of the consequences.  Republicans hated it and had no time for him.  Democrats loved it and applauded him for it. I've read that when his wife, Bess, was entertaining a guest and Harry walked into the room, he announced that it was time to put manure on the roses.  In the late 1940's or early 1950's, even the word "manure" in public was shocking.  How far we've fallen!  Mrs. Truman calmly told her shocked guest that she couldn't begin to tell her how long it took her to get her husband to use that word!

I vaguely remember seeing President Truman inaugurated.  His first term began in April of 1945, due to the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and I was too young to remember that one, if he even had an inauguration. He may have just been sworn into office because the country was mourning Roosevelt's death.  His inauguration on January 20, 1949, is the one I saw.  Since his first years in the White House Oval Office began in a mid term, it meant that technically, 1949, was his first term.  In fact, he could have run again in 1952, but chose not to. That was a very long time ago. In those days, televisions were extremely rare.  I doubt there were five TV's in our entire town.  One of those television owners happened to live across the street from Grandma and was her best friend. So, at the tender age of five, I saw my first inauguration.



The second one I saw was Dwight David Eisenhower.  By January 20, 1953, the school had a television and we were able to watch history in the making. When he left office, he was quoted as saying the title of EX-President was the best title. He told press to not call him Mr. President, but General.



 Today, history begins again.  A new chapter has begun.  Only God knows what His plans are, but I firmly believe Donald Trump was God's choice. Isiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.  He also said in the next verse, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways." It's often been said that God uses flawed people to bring about His perfect will.  Even people with foul mouths and harsh rhetoric.  If Harry Truman did nothing else right, he made it possible for Israel to exist as a nation for the first time since 70 AD.  God used him for His purpose.

As I watch another historic event, I am grateful for the privilege of being an American.  I'm grateful that God has given us another chance to get it right. Every former President has made major mistakes, but God brought us through. Psalm 118:8 says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in men." Words America needs to hear.

Supposedly, Donald John Trump will use II Chronicles 7:14 is his speech. "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 will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land." It was God's response to Solomon's prayer as he began to lead Israel. Franklin Graham has led the nation in prayer in 2016, stating that there was much confession of sin.  I pray for President Trump as I have for former Presidents, but most of all, I pray for America.  I pray we have been sincere in our repentance and will turn from our wicked ways.

Detoxing

It hasn't been mentioned on the news, but multiple media sites and friends have posted that California has passed a law legalizing child prostitution.  I can't get it off my mind, especially since some people on Facebook think it's a good choice. Talk about giving a drowning child an anchor! They don't think children should be in jail.  Neither do I, but legalizing child prostitution is far more destructive to the child.  When I mentioned my distress to my pastor, he suggested I follow Pastor Erwin Lutzer's advice and take a three day detox from media.  Excellent idea.  I cannot change California.  I cannot stop this law.  I find it reprehensible and worse, to me, are those who see good in it.



My husband grew up very close to the California - Mexico border and was able to spend a great deal of time in Mexico. Back then, it was common for children to be sent to the streets to make money for the family.  Isn't that special? Don't think it will happen here? Don't kid yourself. Evil is evil, no matter where it happens and no matter who does it. And it feeds on weakness disguised as compassion.

There was a time when we protected out children. I happen to have two of the finest sons I could ever have asked for.  Yes, I protected them when I felt it was necessary, but I also prepared them for a world that would do anything to destroy them.  I would tell them they were too good looking and too smart to every expect anyone to feel sorry for them, but they weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouths, so anything they wanted in life, they'd have to earn.  Earn they have.  They also paid penalties for wrong doing.  Even when they thought they had a good excuse. So, what's my point about protection and prostitution? So many parents have gone far beyond protecting their children to pampering them and they really aren't prepared for the harsh realities of the world.  Hence snowflakes.

Now the pendulum has swung the other direction. Now we want our children to be rich and we don't care how they get that way.  Unfortunately, there's an even darker side.  Just this morning, I said that the law was passed because guilty people don't want to go to jail for such a heinous crime.  Stories are rife about twelve year old girls being given to directors and producers just to make sure they'd be hired.  Perverts and degenerates seem to be more rampant in Hollywood, but they're everywhere. Roman Polanski fled this country many years ago because he faced charges of molesting a twelve year old.

I'm not saying all child prostitutes in Hollywood were sent to those mean streets or casting couches by their parents. Many do it to pay for the drugs they're hooked on.  Some are runaways.  All are abused no matter the reason they're there. Legitimizing that abuse is despicable.

A favorite historian of mine has written about the early church after the ascension of Jesus.  The Apostle John lived in Ephesus, the most immoral city of that day. In the book, the author claims that young boys wore shirts that barely covered the buttocks, for the sole purpose of servicing men on the streets!  Get ready.  It's coming. As a Christian, I'm appalled and revolted by the very thought of such things going on and I certainly don't want to witness it. But, God put me on this earth at this time. If He gave the Apostle John the grace to not only endure but be a witness to a degenerate city, then He'll provide the grace I need to do the same.  I just need to seek Him and obey Him.  Hence, the detoxing.

By the way, when the homosexual law was passed some time back, a black pastor was interviewed on the Glen Beck show by Beck's associates.  He mentioned "bottomless pants" and the associates made jokes about that statement for the rest of the program.  Little did they know the pastor knew what he was talking about.  They did not.  It's no laughing matter.

Now, to the detoxing.  As of tomorrow morning, my TV, my laptop, and anything else to do with electronic media will be off for three days.  I need to restore and refresh my spirit to sanity.  As I said, I have no clout.  Nothing I do or say will change anyone's mind.  That would be about like me convincing Chuck Schumer et.al. that their scorched earth policy is about as helpful to solving America's problems as making it legal for a grown man to molest a child.

How far we've fallen.  It's been less than three years since the public outcry against the oldest Dugger boy fondling his sisters while they slept was so loud, so long, the family has been in tatters ever since.  I'm not applauding Dugger in any way.  What he did then and later as an adult was despicable. The way things are going, in ten years, he'll get a medal.  Scratch that.  He claims to be a Christian.

What I am saying America is no longer on a downward spiral.  It's a rapid, willful descent into hell. Genesis 6:5 says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Sound familiar?

When Trump won the election, I honestly believed God was merciful and giving America another chance to repent of our sin and perhaps have a reprieve from the destruction that is headed our way. Now, I have to wonder if America is going down because of the divisiveness.  Obama is staying in Washington to protect his legacy.  Schumer has promised to fight Trump every step of the way.  Harry Reid brags about being a liar. The media continues to promote their rhetoric.  I have no doubt America is going down.  I just don't know when.

I say again, I can't do a thing about it.  Except detox.  Several years ago a church we attended had several prayer vigils for a building project.  One of them was to do a lenten fast of something.  I gave up TV for 6 weeks.  It was fabulous.  About the only night time TV program I watch anymore is NCIS.  I gave them up for 5 months.  Again, it was a wonderful experience.  Therefore, I'm looking forward to 3 days unplugged.  Obama, Schumer, California, or any news making degenerate will not be on my mind.  It will be 3 days with Jesus and Jesus only.

Till then.

I apoligize

Can you see me blush?  Ever do something dumb on the computer and can't change it?  I did. Blush.  A poll came the other day and out of idle curiosity, I began to fill it out.  There were 30 questions and the more I answered, the more intrigued I became.  There were 4 possible answers: Yes, No, No opinion, and Other.  If other was the chosen answer, there was a place to enter the answer.  The fact that I chose yes or no didn't stop me from also filling out why I answered the way I did.  Whether or not that will be seen by those who check the answers is unknown and not the reason I'm embarrassed.

When I finished answering the questions, there was a request for donations and I tried to send my answers on without donating.  No dice. The poll indicated that $1.00 was the minimum, so I entered $1.00.  Then, I was embarrassed at being such a cheap skate and I tried to change it, but couldn't. I'm sure it was thought I meant it to be an insult.

Truly, I didn't.  I just wanted my answers to go forward.  Yes, we could make a donation now and I'm not generally superstitious, but we have donated three times to politicians-who lost!  I do not want Donald Trump to lose, and I'm concerned we'll jinx his campaign.  Instead, I pray for him.

Then, we got a robocall from Ivanka Trump about the Melbourne Rally.  A friend really wanted to go, so I sent for tickets and got them. But, she had a conflict she couldn't get out of.  I don't drive after dark and that ended my ride. I didn't want someone else who could attend to lose out on the opportunity because I had tickets they could have had. I asked everyone I could think of.  I was even willing to drive, but I couldn't get any takers.  Long story short, I didn't get anyone to go with me and I wasn't about to go by myself.

It's bad enough that I'm sorry I may have denied someone else an opportunity. Lo and behold, in this morning's emails, there is a note thanking me for attending the rally!  That's Presidential.  That's a gentleman.  Yeah, he's got thousands of people who do that for him. But, it's much more Presidential than Hillary Clinton dropping the f-bomb on Secret Service men when they say good morning to her. It gives me yet another reason to vote for him.

OJT

Like him or hate him, you have to give Trump credit.  He's done this political thing strictly OJT.
When the debates started with 17 Republican candidates, 16 of whom were professional politicians, he still won even though he had no experience in the political arena.

Then, last night, in the first debate with Hilary, he won 6 of 7 polls. Not bad.  Not bad all all. My congratulations to you Mr. Trump.  Anyone following my blog regularly knows I didn't start out rooting for him.  Even today, I have to say I do more praying for him than rooting for him.  He's not in the White House, yet. I'm praying He is God's choice and make no apology for it.

His rhetoric over the last year has toned down considerably. Whining about unfairness has all but completely gone away.  He was very gracious last night in refusing to bring up Clinton's infidelities because Chelsea was there.  A year ago might  have been a different story.  He's developing the demeanor of a President. His opponent, on the other hand, continues to lower her standards and degrade herself in the worst possible way.  Imagine what the country would have done to any other candidate who had called the opposition "deplorable" or the whole country "racist."

Being President of the United States has to be one of, if not the toughest job in the world.  Snap decisions have to be made at all times.  If the wrong one is made, the whole country suffers.  No matter what decision the President makes, there are many people who will criticize and condemn. That's the nature of the beast.  Who would want to put up with that? It takes a strong sense of self-confidence to endure that.  It seems to me his opponent is running for the office to prove herself. Trump has more than proved himself capable of handling criticism and snap judgments. He's done enough of both that seeking the Presidency would be unnecessary for him.  He said he's done it for the country and his previous success in the business world proves his words.

There are many, mostly "never Trumpers" and Democrats who continue to dredge up his past, who continue to denigrate him for his mistakes, but what good does that do?  The past can't be changed. If he's learned from his mistakes and for the most part, he seems to have done that, then getting snarky about something over and done with is petty on the part of the person doing it. There is not one single person in this world today who could have their mistakes made public and not blush.  Me included.

He's not nearly so off the cuff as he was.  Some people liked that, and he won their vote because of it. Can't say I agree, but the longer he's in the arena the more he's grasped the situation and learned to be more Presidential. I have to say I admire him for pulling himself out of the mud slinging and has moved on to more substantive speeches.

No, he's no orator.  That's undoubtedly why he won the nomination. Neither was Jimmy Carter and he was still elected. People are tired of the likes of Obama and Clinton (Bill) who promise you the moon and can't even deliver the cheese some people they've convinced it's made of.

However, Trump apparently does get results.  America is hungry for results.  Another reason he won. The number of qualified candidates that began over a year ago were probably all better at oratory.  I loved Lindsey Graham's sense of humor.  I appreciated Scott Walker's dignity in the face of Megan Kelly's disgraceful unprofessional question that cost him any further chance. Everyone I talked to appreciated Carly Fiorina.  If Trump is elected, I sincerely hope many of his nominations comes from those 16 candidates.  Every one of them has much to give for the betterment of America. That would also be very Lincolnesque.

All in all, Mr. Trump, you've come a long way, baby.  On-the-job training is not for the weak or the faint-of-heart.  Actually, every person who enters that august office will experience some degree of on-the-job training.  I seriously doubt anyone can be prepared enough or experienced enough so that nothing comes as a surprise.

I appreciate the way he's surrounded himself with Christians. Naysayers will dismiss that as a way to get votes.  Possibly.  We are none of us mind readers.  Deciding on his motives is judging and God frowns on that. Whatever he intends by doing so, God can use those men and women to His advantage.  And, that can only benefit America.

Jerky friend

If I haven't mentioned it before, I have tics.  They started about 15-16 years ago when my abdomen jumped, like I was several months pregnant with an active baby.  Highly unlikely since I was in my late 50's at the time and my name is not Elizabeth.

When they began, it would happen every couple of months.  In between times, I would forget about it, sure I would die of humiliation if it ever happened in public.  One day, Bob saw one, and typically male in his thinking, made a very crude remark.  No, I will NOT repeat it. There are some things that are only to be shared between a husband and wife.

Since they began, the tics have now increased in violence and intensity.  Typically, they occur anywhere from 100-500 times a day. Finally, 9 years ago, I found a doctor who said if he couldn't find my problem, he'd find someone in this country who could. He found it on the very first MRI.  I have something known as syrinx.  I've met doctors and nurses who didn't know what I was talking about.  Trouble is, there's no cure.  Not even surgery because with surgery, 33% of the time, the surgery works, 33% of the time it does nothing, and 33% of the time it makes it worse, including paralysis. Too, surgical scarring can cause tics.  Surgery is out unless I have trouble standing or lose control over body functions. Hopefully, I'm old enough I don't have time for those to happen.

Eventually, everyone noticed.  They couldn't help it. A friend smiled as she said she didn't mind having a "Jerky friend."  I appreciate that. If a stranger notices, I smile and say I'm not dangerous, so an ambulance or the police is not needed.

Several medications have been tried over the years.  Trouble is, the medications are for the brain and they do nothing for my spine, or make the situation worse.  That's really what my rant is about today. Medicines, or recreational drugs in particular.


More and more, I hear people younger than myself talk about the lack of  problems caused by recreational drugs.  That's nowhere close to my own observations over years. The first time I had any association with drugs was in Hawaii.  The post commander insisted I observe a burning of marijuana evidence the mp's had stockpiled so I could get a good whiff of it.  One of the mp's was a young, extremely handsome black man.  While the pile burned, I quoted an article by a scientist from the University of Hawaii that stated marijuana is fat soluable and go to the brain and the reproductive organs.  This handsome young man's eyes grew large and round as he said, "Really?" The shock on his face and in his voice made me laugh as I told Bob I think I made a believer out of him.



In Denver, a dad and his daughter had a minor traffic altercation with several young people in another car.  That night, the teens fire bombed the house, killing five of the seven residents in it.  I worked with a woman who knew them and she said yes, they were heavily into marijuana.


In Missouri, three of my son's classmates along with two other teens were doing between 110 and 115 mph, according to police reports.  Worse, they were passing long strings of traffic on a two lane highway in the Ozark mountains.  A girl at that party observed them taking drugs and they were on their way back to town to get more. Five teens and two adults died.  Two young children were critically injured as well as orphaned.

"Anecdotes," will be the dismissal of those who favor recreational drugs. "Where's the statistics?" will be the next remark.  So, what are statistics but compiled anecdotes and is anyone collecting them? The next argument will be that marijuana, in particular, can have wonderful affects on people suffering from pain or seizures.  I agree.  However, go back to what the scientist said about the brain and reproductive organs. He, by the way, said there was a time when he had no objection to it until he noticed his students slipping in their ability to grasp what he was teaching.

Who can say what future generations will suffer because the parents indulged in recreational drugs? Have statistics been compiled? Have studies been done? I have to say it troubles me deeply for more reasons that one.  I have personally experienced what mood altering drugs do to the brain.  It ain't pretty.  I was talking to a woman at the gym in Vero one day.  We were discussing a very troubled young woman.  She remarked that when people go on drugs, everything seems to be OK for a while, then it all falls apart. That's what happened to me. Every time. I would notice my ability to think clearly was slipping.  My tics would increase, my emotions would be out of control.  There were days I couldn't go to work. Days I couldn't get out of bed. And, those drugs were doctor prescribed medications, not something I bought from a dealer.

Let me hasten to add there are people who need drugs.  In fact, my own situation has caused me to wonder if I should pursue marijuana pills with my doctor, but over the years I've learned mind over matter and never remember to pursue it. Marijuana does wonders for children with seizures. I am not opposed to tightly controlled marijuana treatments for children with seizures or those whose pain from cancer is unbearable. Without it, those patient's quality of life would be miserable and worse.  I understand that, but I also know that drugs have side effects.  We just don't know how, when, or how strong they'll be when they kick in. Therefore, why take the risk for "fun?" Or to go along to get along?  Who needs friends like that?

It's been said that saying your bored is an insult to your own intelligence.  That's true in my book with recreational drugs as well.

The measure of my father

Hannity interviewed Ivanka Trump last night after the convention ended for the night.  He asked her if it hurt to hear her dad trashed. I thought that question was a little dumb, but her answer was priceless.  She admitted it was very painful, but she knows "the measure of my father." Wow! How powerful! Obviously, she was talking about her biological dad, but it opened my heart and my spirit to gain a new understanding of my relationship with my heavenly Father.

When others ridicule God, I can feel sorry for them and pray for them because they're spitting in the wind. The Psalmist says God laughs at them. Even better, it deepens my faith because I know He is all God's Word says He is. He is worthy of my love, my trust, my obedience.

Another thing Ivanka said that was so powerful is that her father taught his children to be grateful. She freely admitted that they could be considered "spoiled" because their childhood had so many advantages, but what kept them from being truly spoiled is that they were grateful. We could all take a page from her book. Not only is she articulate, she gives her dad all the credit.  That's another thing I can turn to a spiritual lesson.  Everything I have is a gift from the Lord and I need to be grateful.

She also mentioned learning as they go along, acknowledging mistakes have been made. They all seem to polished, so elegant, but admitting mistakes is good reason to admire the family.It humanizes them. Never mind the fact that all 4 adult children are so successful, so upstanding. They don't drink or do drugs.  How many American families can say that? Governor Pence said you can't fake good kids.  Trump's children are good kids.

Not much has been said about Tiffany Trump's speech. but she humanized her dad in a beautiful way. She does not seem to have the self-assurance of her half siblings and her history could be the reason. Yet, she stood up and spoke of her dad in a way that told why his children adore him.  She spoke of his warmth and his concern for other people, especially her family in Georgia.  I appreciated knowing he wrote notes on her report card that encouraged her without focusing on her grades. To know she's much younger than the other three and has a different mother could have made the relationship with her siblings difficult, but their care for each other is obvious and enviable.
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Perhaps her speech didn't get the attention it deserved because it was a love fest for her dad and then her oldest half-brother spoke eloquently about his abilities.  His comment that he and his siblings are the only billionaire's children he knows that are as comfortable driving a caterpillar as their own cars. His love for his dad was obvious, as was his admiration. Last night, he and his wife reached for each other's hands as they sat listening to other's speak.  I'm again reminded of the similarities between Solomon and Trump.  Neither are examples for marriage, but both know a lot about how to make a woman feel loved.  I say that because of the way Donald jr. and his wife behaved toward each other when they didn't realize they were being observed.  His dad taught him that, I'm sure.

Eric, too, seems to know the measure of his father. He spoke of why his dad took on this massive effort to right things he sees wrong with our nation.  He quoted his dad as saying he would only consider running if things got too bad and apparently, he'd reached his limit. Good thing.  Psalm 125:3 says, "The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil." Many of us are tired of evil not only being done, but celebrated.  Lord, keep me faithful. Thank you for his courage to stand up and try to do something when he didn't have to.

It's been said you can't have five children without at least one of them abandoning their raisings.  Thus far, Donald J. Trump has reared really great children.  Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying he could be in charge of the White House or he could keep his daughter, Alice, in line, but he couldn't do both. Since Trump has proved himself as a dad, we can be confident he'll do just as good a job in the White House.  Congratulations, sir.  My hat's off to you.

Unique Similarities

I've been reading some books in an effort to make sure the message I present in my books is what God would have me to say.  Something written by David Jeremiah brought the political situation to mind, kind of unusual since the book is about "Love, Marriage, and Sex."

Dr. Jeremiah's book is a commentary on the "Song of Song's" or "Song of Solomon," depending on which translation your Bible uses.  In today's chapter, Jeremiah states that many people have trouble getting past things that Solomon did in his life that were anything but Godly.  Let's be honest. 700 wives and 300 concubines is hardly a ringing endorsement for marriage. He started out great, but the Bible makes plain it was his foreign wives who led him astray. What that has to do with the Republican Convention and politics today, I'll get to in a minute.

Solomon's life was a recipient of God's grace from beginning to end.  God's grace and love is beyond human comprehension and Solomon's life is a good example of that.  In that day, adultery was punishable by death. Except for God's amazing grace, David and Bathsheba, Solomon's parents, could have died for their sin. God spared them and by extension, gave Solomon life.


Solomon was not David's eldest son, the typical line of succession, but Solomon was chosen to be king even before David died, another unusual situation.  Both, to me, are again, evidences of God's amazing grace and Sovereignty.  God led the events that transpired to make Solomon king. To his credit, Solomon asked for wisdom when God asked him what he desired in a dream. He became not only the wisest man on earth, but the richest, too, all because God favored him. Unfortunately, Solomon did not follow God wholeheartedly, and yet, God said Solomon would not face the consequences his behavior deserved.  Instead, his son would.


Now, what does that have to do with what we're watching on television this week? For one thing, Trump also has been on a unique journey over the past year.  When he first announced his candidacy, he was pretty much considered a joke. His faults, foibles, and sins were well known, gleefully reported, and joyfully accepted. Then, his campaign style of name calling was a guaranteed defeat or so the media would have us believe.  Establishment Republican politicians have been loath to support him. They've blamed it on his campaign style, but it could be more that he's repudiated the establishment to the country and it's turned out America has agreed with him. Miraculously, he gained support in spite of his out of control mouth. It looks to me like God has His hand on Donald Trump.  I can think of no other reason he's done so well when he's made so many mistakes.

Then too, as I read about Solomon, I thought about the weakness of humanity in general.  We all are so quick to point fingers and scream about the sins of others to keep from dealing with our own. I know, because I've been there. What gives me the right to condemn him for Trump's past mistakes? The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  That includes me.  David and Job asked God not to remember the sins of their youth.  Me too, Lord. My criticism won't change Donald Trump. That's God's job.  And, it's God's job to judge him, not mine.

Dr. Jeremiah's point was that it might be better to think a little more positively instead of focusing on the negative. Is David and Bathsheba's adultery and the subsequent murder of Bathsheba's husband my first thought when I think of them?  No, I remember God saying David was a man after His own heart. It humbles and reminds me of my own shortcomings. What are my thoughts about Solomon? That he had 700 wives and 300 concubines or that he was the wisest and richest man on earth? Or do I appreciate and learn from his wisdom in Proverbs? Sometimes it takes work to think positively instead of negatively. What about Trump? Should I focus on the things he's done wrong? Or should I trust Sovereign God who has stated His ways and His thoughts are not ours? I say again, I am at peace about my choice to vote for him and leave him to God.

End to end

As I attempt to write this, I have to admit my thoughts are being distracted.  The Republican Convention has just now begun and I don't want to miss anything.  This has been a very different political season, to say the least.  It's touching to see the WWII vets present the colors. The last fellow can hardly walk, but he saluted the flag and sang the National anthem.

                                                        There has been a great deal of conflict and inflammatory rhetoric over the past year while Republicans chose their candidate for President.  Some have vowed, "never Trump," family members included.  Indications of voting for the Libertarian candidate has been been mentioned and. in the interest of learning, I looked up the Libertarian platform.  To be honest, I didn't study it, but I did read it.  It didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that Libertarianism is one end of the utopian spectrum and Democrats are the other. It seems like about every paragraph of the platform said people are free to do whatever they want as long they don't infringe on the rights of anyone else. Trouble is, people are flawed.  The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  It also says there is no one righteous, no not one.  Therefore, who's to decide when there's conflict between opposing sides? Who's in the right and who's not? Another person?  According to the platform, that's not the Libertarian way. The realization that such a platform is not possible to implement hit the hardest when I read their paragraph on abortion, in which they say it's a matter of concern to the mother and her doctor. Babies have no way to say they want to live. Dads? Families? Society? Scratch self-determination. They also have no qualms about recreational drugs. I've seen too many lives destroyed to go along with that.  There are also historians who say the entire nation of China was destroyed by drugs.  People need guidelines, rules. Even God gave the 10 Commandments because He knew that.

The other end of the spectrum of utopia is the Democrat philosophy.  If we just let the government take care of us, all will be well.  How's that worked out for you?  We've just had 7+ years of that utopia and the country has taken a definite turn for the worse.  Just yesterday, a new friend said all the violence that's going on right now reminds her of the 1960's. I said the same thing just last week.  The problem is, so many of the rabble-rousers in the 1960's are now in leadership in the Democrat party. So, how's that working, America? Democrats have been in power for the last 7+ years, meaning their policies are well known.  There's so much hatred, violence, anger, hopelessness.  Policy failure. Have we learned nothing as a nation? Country after country has failed because of leftist policies and yet, do we think we can make them work in America just because we are American? Little needs to be said about the character failure, leaving the public with a very bad taste in their mouth and the bitter feeling that America got taken yet again.


While the Republican party is by no means perfect, it is also more pragmatic.  As the Bible says, we're imperfect. We're seriously flawed. However, I do see the Republican party as more logical, much more central on that utopian spectrum. When the primaries began, I was astonished Donald Trump was so popular among Christians. I was astounded that he could say some of the awful things he did and still win the nomination. It was disappointing and I said so in a previous blog. In it, I proclaimed I would never vote for Trump. A short time later, I changed my mind.  It came with much prayer and struggling about my reasons for making my change. As time has progressed since those first wild, disturbing, primary debates my impression of Trump has improved.  I was especially pleased to learn he'd chosen Pence as his Vice Presidential Running Mate. Until last night, about all I knew about Pence was his statement that he was a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican third. That fits me as well. There is a small group that has formed and calls itself the Conservative Party.  I confess I know nothing about them,and would not consider voting for their candidate until I do. Before Pence was chosen, Dr. James Dobson said that Trump had become a Christian.  For his sake, I hope so, but experience has taught me the spectrum of people who call themselves Christians is an even broader spectrum than utopianism.

Who will win? Or will the racial violence become so great Obama will declare Marshall Law and we'll have no election?  It's been suggested by several people. Only God knows.  Again, I say, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence The Lord knows what He's doing and I am confident that His purpose will be fulfilled.

Closing the gap

Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah led the committee hearing on FBI Director Comey's justification for his findings regarding Hillary Clinton's email uses and abuses. Chaffetz said whatever the FBI needed to investigate her lies before Congress, he would get.  Comey dodged a reciprocal answer when asked for information from the FBI. "As much as I can," was his answer.






Congressman Cummings begged, not asked, FBI Director Comey to "close the gap," indicating that even he doesn't understand why Comey excoriated Hillary Clinton and then said there wasn't enough there to prosecute.  Today, Comey is being cross-examined by the Congressional oversight committee because of that gap that even Democrat Cummings acknowledges.

Has he done it? I've listened to the majority of the questions and answers and I have to say a resounding NO for a few of the following reasons.

1. The law clearly states that intent does not have to be proved, but Comey's entire defense is just that. Does that mean, as one Congressman suggested, he believes he has the right to rewrite the law? And, a former judge states Comey's very wrong when he said no one has

been prosecuted for being ignorant of the law.  Trey Gowdy stated he'd prosecuted many who didn't believe there were laws against murder.

2. Comey stated that Clinton did not lie to the FBI.  Repeatedly, she lied to Congress and the American people. He refused to discuss what she said to Congress. Why? How can he say with certainty that she did not lie to the FBI? He did admit at one point he hadn't paid attention to what he said to Congress.

3. He stated that the decision was unanimous among all who worked the case, yet he admitted he did not canvas or even speak to all the agents. How then, does he know?


4. He claims Clinton to be technologically naive and that's reason enough to say she should not be prosecuted.  However, he did admit that she signed the document that clearly states what she was doing was wrong.  Nor does he believe anyone who worked for her and knew it was wrong should be prosecuted, either.

5. He has repeatedly defended himself and yet, he has NOT closed the gap. He has the same answers for the questions that Republicans are asking him in different ways, trying to get him to explain himself, but he has not done it. If anything, the gap is even wider.  It almost seemed to me like he had made up his mind going in what the decision would be, regardless of the facts.

6. He continually refused to accept the fact that lawyers erasing and then scrubbing computers to keep the FBI from getting to the truth was a strong indication of intent. No one asked him if he just might be wrong.  I'd have loved to hear his answer to that. Even honorable, honest men with integrity can make mistakes.

7. The FBI would review any person working for them and have consequences for such behavior, but he doesn't believe the evidence reaches the prosecutorial level with Clinton.  Why not?

It seemed as though every one of his answers only exacerbated the feeling that government workers are above the law.  It was very sad.