WHY LORETTA?

Why Loretta?

They have started investigating Loretta Lynch, Obama’s pick for Attorney-General, and immediately they could see an interesting and unnerving connection.

It appears that when Loretta Lynch started Harvard, she co-founded an African-American only sorority. There was only one other girl in this sorority, Sharon Malone. The name rings a bell...

The name of the wife of the current, corrupt AG, Eric Holder, is Sharon Malone; and she is the sister of a known civil rights activist leader Vivien Malone –Jones  (one of 2 black students who enrolled in the all white University of Alabama).

They checked the age: both were born in 1959 and both went to Harvard at the same time. There were very few African-American students in Harvard in 1977-1981, so it is rather certain that Loretta Lynch is an old college friend of Sharon Malone, the wife of the current AG, Eric Holder!!

Why is this connection important?  Holder will inevitably be investigated by Congress for totally lawless gun-trafficking to Mexican drug cartels in Fast and Furious, the IRS scandal, the VA scandal, the DOJ, NSA, EPA, FEC and other scandals. Most importantly, AG Holder covered up Obama’s use of a stolen CT Social Security number (Harrison J. Bounel (042-68-4425) and Obama’s use of several different bogus IDs.

It seems that a long time college friend of Holder’s wife was picked up as a gate-keeper by Obama to continue all of the cover up actions by Holder and, MOST IMPORTANTLY,  to shield Holder and Obama from criminal prosecution.

Remember -- Loretta Lynch, Obama’s pick for Attorney-General                              

letter to a moron

Letter To Obama at White house Sent from 95 year Old Pearl Harbor Survivor !!

Fantastic!!

This venerable and much honored WW II vet is well known in Hawaii

for his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic organizations and causes all over the country.

A humble man without a political bone in his body, he has never spoken out before about a government official, until now. He dictated this letter to a friend, signed it and mailed it to the

president.

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don't believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos'n Mate. Now I live in a "rest home" located on the western end of Pearl Harbor , allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of serviceto my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.

So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can't figure out what country you are the president of.

You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:

" We're no longer a Christian nation"

" America is arrogant" - (Your wife even

announced to the world," America is mean- spirited. " Please tell her to try preaching

that nonsense to 23 generations of our

war dead buried all over the globe who

died for no other reason than to free a

whole lot of strangers from tyranny and

hopelessness.)

I'd say shame on the both of you, but I don't think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the

White House.

After 9/11 you said," America hasn't lived up to her ideals."

Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I

hope you didn't mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don't think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man.

Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don't, I'll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue . You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still

treat their people like slaves.

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don't want us to do what you did when that white cop used force

to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts , who was putting up a fight? You don't mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don't want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you're the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the

mission, give them to him. But if you're not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president.

You're not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That's not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.

And I sure as hell don't want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle...

Sincerely,

Harold B. Estes

Snopes confirms as true:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/haroldestes.asp

When a 95 year old hero of the "the Greatest Generation" stands up and speaks out like this, I think we owe it to him to send his words to as many Americans as we can. 

reasonable statistics

  1. Teaching Maths In 1950s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production
is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

2. Teaching Maths In 1970s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production
is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

3. Teaching Maths In 1980s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production
is $80. Did he make a profit ? Yes or No

4. Teaching Maths In 1990s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production
is $80 and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5. Teaching Maths In 2000s

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the
preservation of our woodlands.

He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this
way of making a living? Topic for class participation after
answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger
cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel
like crying, it's ok).

6. Teaching Maths In 2050,
Burn and loot the nearest town then add up
the cost of doing that, and give it to the welfare recipents in that town
who did the burning and looting

The Degrading of Christmas

IT was two months before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand.
Why the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas no one could say.
The  children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and  things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just another cold ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and  credit
 Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
 CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an i-Pad
 Something was changing, something quite sad!
 Retailers now promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
 In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
 As Targets were hanging their trees upside  down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be  found.
 At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
Don't speak the word Christmas; it won't reach your ears.
 Politically correct,Inclusive, and sensitive,
 Words we now use so we won't be offensive
 On Daschle, on Darden, on Sharpton,and Jackson
Wolf Blitzer is coming with progressives in action
 On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton
Don't utter the word God or of Jesus no mention
 At the top of our courts there arose such a clatter
 To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
 And we spoke not a word, as they belittle our faith
 We are advised not to speak of salvation and grace
 The meaning of Christmas now discarded, abandoned
 Replaced with greedy schemes now used at random
 As they exchange Christmas for "winter break" with glee
 And we stop and listen, we hear God say,"Don't forget me"
 Choose your words carefully, choose what you say,
God is still "Our Father", and  Jesus, is still the only way
 MERRY CHRISTMAS, to you, not Happy  Holiday !
We will still have CHRISTmas, It is still God's day
 Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

How to successfully spread Ebola Virus

  Many of our politicians, media sycophants and ordinary citizens are confused as to why our tribal chieftain Hussein Obama is not going to shut down travel to/from west Africa.  It seems to me the reasons are pretty obvious.  (A) West Africa is made up of blacks; (B)  He can't go against the bleeding heart PC liberals; (C)  His administration tells us today that it would hurt those countries' economies, and of course (D) we're talking about his homeland here.  You can bet if the epidemic had broken out in Norway there wouldn't be another flight in/our of Norway until the last patient is either dead or cured.

    There are some serious aspects that I haven't heard much talk about, which seems odd since this is all the media can talk about right now, but I think they're important enough to at lease mention.  Here goes:

     1.   ISIS must be laughing their tail ends off at what's happening.  I can't help but believe they're frantically trying to figure out how to get more Ebola sufferers into America.   Since Emir Obama refuses to close our borders that might be a good place for them to consider.  Even these ISIS maggots will eventually figure that out.

     2.   If  Ebola ever hits Central & South America (See item #1 above as a possibility) there will be a mass migration of Hispanics to the US that we've never seen nor anticipated before.  Either to flee the approaching disease or in hopes of finding a cure here.  (As did Mr. Duncan).  If/when that happens they'll swarm through our porous borders like milk through a sieve.

     3.   Dr. Frieden of the CDC (a former community organizer per his admission)  is obviously in over his head, as is the rest of the Obama administration from the president on down, and should be replaced immediately.  (Course Obama should be, too, but we'll have to forget that for now).   The CDC gave this last nurse permission to fly to and from Cleveland when she admitted to them that she had a temp of 98.6.  She was told that 100.4 was their tipping point, so go ahead and make the trip.  This is the same CDC who blamed the nurses for attracting Ebola from Mr. Duncan and who has change their story on how Ebola is spread almost daily.

     This is just another, and very dangerous, example of how incompetent, corrupt and just plain ignorant this administration is.  I'd like to think that if/when the republicans win over both houses that things will change.  Sorry, Our RINOs don't want to change anything the libs have started, they just want us to think they can manage those disasters better than the libs have.




         

How to enjoy your freedom if you are an immigrant.

A message to immigrants, legal, illegal or otherwise who live in our country by the Grace of God and our constitution

 
'IMMIGRANTS,  NOT Americans, MUST ADAPT...

Take It Or Leave  It. I am tired of This nations citizens being criticized, attacked, bothered by or otherwise threatened by a foreign entity, custom or culture.  Our nation is not going to continue worrying about  whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on  the World Trade Center,  we have experienced a surge in immigration and confusion about immigrants we hope to make this perfectly clear. 'Our Country, known as The United States of America has been developed over two centuries of  struggles, trials and victories by millions of  men and women who have sought and fought, and given their lives for our freedom.  Both as free men and women, and as God fearing citizens of our land, and we are not in the frame of mind to let it go.

'We  speak ENGLISH in my country. not Spanish, Lebanese,  Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other foreign  language. Therefore, if you wish to become part  of our society, learn the language, and use it when speaking out loud when and if you want to be heard, and  politely listened to.

'Most all American citizens believe in God.  This  is not some Christian, right wing, political  push, but a fact, because Christian men and  women, on Christian principles, founded this  nation, and this is clearly  documented.  It  is certainly appropriate to display it on the  walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I  suggest you consider another part of the world  as your new home, because God is part of our  culture.'

'We  will accept your beliefs, and will not question  why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and  live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.' We do not seek your approval, and have no desire to displease you in any way, But if our culture or our religious convictions offend you, then You have the right to leave this free country.

'This  is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and  we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all  this. But once you are done complaining,  whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge,  Our Christian beliefs,  or  Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take  advantage of one other great American freedom,  'Get over it or leave.

'If  you aren't happy here because we do not cow tow to your wishes, whims, or demands, then  LEAVE.  We  didn't force you to come here. And we did not send for you,  nor were you deported here. (In fact, why did you come here?)Think about that, (why you came here) was it the peace and prosperity, the freedoms we enjoy, the power and glory we represent, or was it just for the money? It is not our purpose to make you feel unwelcome, but it is our purpose to demand that you accept our laws, our ways, and our freedoms.  So, in order to prove to us that you accept the country that accepted you, we simply request that You do as our laws and customs require. And if you are not happy with this country the way it is and has been for over two hundred years, Then You may “Go away” .

what about you, allah?

 This pilot hit the nail right on the head in his open letter.
>
> A newspaper stated that some Muslim doctor is saying we are profiling him
> because he has been checked three times while getting on an airplane. The
> following is a letter from a pilot. This well- spoken man, who is a pilot
> with
> American Airlines, says what is in his heart, beautifully.
>
>
> YOU WORRY ME!
>
> By Captain John Maniscalco, American Airlines Pilot
>
> I've been trying to say this since 911, but you worry me. I wish you
> didn't. I
> wish when I walked down the streets of this country that I love, that your
> colour and culture still blended with the beautiful human landscape we
> enjoy in
> this country. But you don't blend in anymore. I notice you, and it worries
> me.
>
>
>
>
> I notice you because I can't help it anymore. People from your homelands,
> professing to be Muslims, have been attacking and killing my fellow
> citizens and
> our friends for more than 20 years now. I don't fully understand their
> grievances and hate, but I know that nothing can justify the inhumanity of
> their
> attacks.
>
>
>
>
> On September 11, ARAB-MUSLIMS hijacked four jetliners in my country. They
> cut
> the throats of women in front of children and brutally stabbed to death
> others.
> They took control of those planes and crashed them into buildings, killing
> thousands of proud fathers, loving sons, wise grandparents, elegant
> daughters,
> best friends, favourite coaches, fearless public servants, and children's
> mothers.
>
> The Palestinians celebrated, the Iraqis were overjoyed as was most of the
> Arab
> world. So, I notice you now. I don't want to be worried. I don't want to
> be
> consumed by the same rage, hate and prejudice that has destroyed the soul
> of
> these terrorists.  But I need your help. As a rational American, trying to
> protect my country and family in an irrational and unsafe world, I must
> know how
> to tell the difference between you, and the Arab/Muslim terrorist.
>
>
>
>
> How do I differentiate between the true Arab/Muslim Americans and the
> Arab/Muslim terrorists in our communities who are attending our schools,
> enjoying our parks, and living in OUR communities under the protection of
> OUR
> constitution, while they plot the next attack that will slaughter MORE of
> the
> same good neighbours and children?
>
>
>
>
> The events of September 11 changed the answer.. It is not MY
> responsibility to
> determine which of you embraces our great country, with ALL of its
> religions,
> with ALL of its different citizens, with all of its faults. It is time for
> every
> Arab/Muslim in this country to determine it for me.
>
>  I want to know, I DEMAND to know and I have a right to know, whether or
> not
> you love America ..... Do you pledge allegiance to its flag? Do you
> proudly
> display it in front of your house, or on your car? Do you pray in your
> many
> daily prayers that Allah will bless this nation; that He will protect it
> and let
> it prosper? Or do you pray that Allah will destroy it in one of your
> Jihads? Are
> you thankful for the freedom that this nation affords? A freedom that was
> paid
> for by the blood of hundreds of thousands of patriots who gave their lives
> for
> this country? Are you willing to preserve this freedom by also paying the
> ultimate sacrifice? Do you love America?? If this is your commitment, then
> I
> need YOU to start letting ME know about it
>
>
>
>
> Your Muslim leaders in this nation should be flooding the media at this
> time
> with hard facts on your faith, and what hard actions YOU are taking as a
> community and as a religion to protect the United States of America.
> Please, no
> more benign overtures of regret for the death of the innocent, because I
> worry
> about who you regard as innocent.... No more benign overtures of
> condemnation
> for the unprovoked attacks, because I worry about what is unprovoked to
> you. I
> am not interested in any more sympathy; I am interested only in action.
> What
> will you do for America - our great country - at this time of crisis, at
> this
> time of war?
>
>
>
>
> I want to see Arab-Muslims waving the AMERICAN flag in the streets. I want
> to
> hear you chanting 'Allah Bless America'. I want to see young Arab/Muslim
> men
> enlisting in the military. I want to see a commitment of money, time and
> emotion
> to the victims of this butchering and to this nation as a whole.
>
>
>
>
> The FBI has a list of over 400 people they want to talk to regarding the
> WTC
> attack. Many of these people live and socialize right now in Muslim
> communities.
> You know them. You know where they are. Hand them over to us, NOW! But I
> have
> seen little even approaching this sort of action. Instead I have seen an
> already
> closed and secretive community close even tighter. You have disappeared
> from the
> streets. You have posted armed security guards at your facilities. You
> have
> threatened lawsuits. You have screamed for protection from reprisals.
>
>
>
>
> The very few Arab/Muslim representatives that HAVE appeared in the media
> were
> defensive and equivocating. They seemed more concerned with making sure
> that the
> United States proves who was responsible before taking action. They seemed
> more
> concerned with protecting their fellow Muslims from violence directed
> towards
> them in the United States and abroad than they did with supporting our
> country
> and denouncing 'leaders' like Khadafi, Hussein, Farrakhan, and Arafat.
>
>
>
>
> IF the true teachings of Islam proclaim tolerance and peace and love for
> all
> people, then I want chapter and  verse from the Koran and statements from
> popular Muslim leaders to back it up. What good is it if the teachings in
> the
> Koran are good, pure, and  true, when your 'leaders' ARE teaching
> fanatical
> interpretations, terrorism, and intolerance? It matters little how good
> Islam
> SHOULD BE if huge numbers of the world's Muslims interpret the teachings
> of
> Mohammed incorrectly and adhere to a degenerative form of the religion. A
> form
> that has been demonstrated to us over and over again. A form whose
> structure is
> built upon a foundation of violence, death, and suicide. A form whose
> members
> are recruited from the prisons around the world. A form whose members
> (some as
> young as five years old) are seen day after day, week in and week out,
> year
> after year, marching in the streets around the world, burning effigies of
> our
> presidents, burning the American flag, shooting weapons into the air. A
> form
> whose members convert from a peaceful religion, only to take up arms
> against the
> great United States of America, the country of their birth. A form whose
> rules
> are so twisted, that their traveling members refuse to show their faces at
> airport security checkpoints, in the name of Islam.
>
>
>
>
> We will NEVER allow the attacks of September 11, or any others for that
> matter,
> to take away that which is so precious to us -- our rights under the
> greatest
> constitution in the world. I want to know where every Arab Muslim in this
> country stands and I think it is my right and the right of every true
> citizen of
> this country to DEMAND it. A right paid for by the blood of thousands of
> my
> brothers and sisters who died protecting the very constitution that is
> protecting you and your family.
>
>
> I am pleading with you to let me know. I want you here as my brother, my
> neighbour, my friend, as a fe llow American...... But there can be no grey
> areas
> or ambivalence regarding your allegiance, and it is up to YOU, to  show
> ME,
> where YOU stand. Until then, "YOU  WORRY ME!"
>
> CANADIAN  COMMENTS:
>
> I  totally agree with this sentiment. I hope you will forget all about the
> 'political  correctness' mandate we've had rammed down our throats, and
> see if
> this doesn't ring true in your heart and mind. For Canada, with all the
> multiculturalism we've been told is so important....why should we not, as
> Canadians, expect that the millions of new people immigrating to our
> country
> will show their love for our country, their allegiance to our country,
> their
> willingness to obey the laws of our country, and acceptance that we are a
> Christian country? Just because they are able to enjoy exercising their
> own
> religion, they should NOT expect us to be ashamed of ours. They knew
> Canada was
> a Christian country when they came here. Why are we erasing Christianity
> because
> immigrants who are unwilling to adopt our way of life expect us to? There
> is
> just too much insanity in the world, and we have to start taking a stand.
> I hope you will forward this, so that others will feel they are not alone
> if
> they are starting to feel the same.
>
>
> BRITISH COMMENTS:  At last a clear non-racist example of the concerns
> that the
> vast majority of our Nation’s population probably share. The pilot's
> letter
> encapsulates all that is fair and just about national pride and protection
> of
> one's na tional culture. I fear it may be too late here in UK, BUT we too
> want
> our country back in the form that attracted all these different cultures
> to come
> here in the first place!! In all our conversations with a wide range of
> friends
> and acquaintances we have not met one that disagrees with our own views.
> If only
> we all had the courage of our convictions to pass this on, it is a
> statement
> that should be accepted as the heart-felt feelings of someone with honest
> commendable national pride.
>
>  Australian Comment :    Best email I have had in years it needs to be
> in
> every paper every day until we get some answers.
>
>

Lifes Little Surprises

                                 Stuff Happens, a fiction
          I was no doubt destined to be a plumber. I had a friend whose family had a plumbing business, and while finishing school I worked there some weekends.
   After I graduated school I needed a job, and I worked there to support my lifestyle, I was not planning on  becoming a plumber but the more I worked at it, the more I liked learning about plumbing and the science of the plumbing industry.
 I remember  some of the learning experiences of  doing plumbing work.  One such experience taught me a great deal about the necessity of planning my work prior to the actual execution of the particular project.
      We had finished a reclamation project on the 5th floor of a five story building which was originally a whiskey storage warehouse. We were doing all the necessary clean up. The other construction workers were cleaning up as well. We were lowering our tools and excess material down with an old original manual pulley arrangement that had been used in lifting the whiskey barrels up and down from the various floors. And with help from the crew on the ground we had finished our clean up.
      Just then, a brick layer had come down from the roof where he had erected a brick penthouse. He inquired of our pulley arrangement and asked if he could use it. Of course we agreed and he then set about to lower his excess bricks down to his waiting partner on the ground. He cast the pulley rope down to his helper, who tied it off to his truck bumper. He had found an old whiskey barrel, and brought it and tied it to the rope on the other end of the pulley arrangement.
     Then he proceeded to load the barrel with bricks. When he had finished with the loading of the bricks into the barrel he signaled for his partner to untie the anchor rope and let the barrel of bricks down slowly. The helper  whose name was Raoul obliged, and released the rope from the bumper of the truck.
     As he did this of course and holding onto the rope so as to slowly lower the bricks,not realizing that 400 pounds of bricks would jerk him off the ground immediately, Raoul who weiged no more than 140 pounds went sailing upward immediately. Then at the approximate ½ way point Raoul and the barrel met, giving Raoul cuts and abrasions about his chest and mid section. Upon hitting the ground, the bottom came loose from the barrel and all the bricks held it in spilled into a pile, while the barrel was left empty, And Raoul still in the air 5 stories up.

       Gravity being what it is, Raoul who was still grasping the rope as his lifeline then began to descend quite rapidly and met the barrel again about ½ way down, this time giving him lacerations and bruises on his legs and buttocks. Still holding onto the rope for dear life Raoul fell into the pile of bricks, breaking both ankles and both wrists.
      Upon hitting the bricks  Raoul began screaming and crying for help as he then could not move. Then as he looked up, again to his surprise, the empty barrel came plummeting back down and fell directly on him again. We had to spend the rest of the day helping The bricklayer get Raoul out of the barrel. Raoul was carried to the hospital, and that is the reason we are having to fill out his medical condition for him so he will be able to submit the accident report to the insurance company..
   
Disasters occur daily, we were just doing what comes naturally, working, playing, resting, getting along with our lives, and then one day, the bottom falls out, we are left dangling, trying to hold on to what is left. Life has come to us with a surprise. Alzheimers happens, It becomes a part of our lives. We had no plan that included Alzheimers. Right in the middle of our plans, it happens, we are not ready for it, nor are we prepared for the turn our lives will take. But there are choices we now must make. How do we fight this fight.  What does the Bible have to offer when trial and tribulation come to our door. We must search the scriptures and continue in our faith.
Billy Graham puts it this way. When something bad happen to us or to those we love, it’s natural for us to ask why God has let it happen. To be honest, we do not have a full answer to that question, nor does anyone this side of heaven. We live in a fallen, imperfect world, and life is riddled with sorrow and pain. As the Bible says about our years on earth, “their span is but trouble and sorrow” (Psalm 90:10).
The real issue, you see, isn't why bad things happen, but how we should react to them. Will we react in anger and bitterness or will we respond in faith and trust? Anger is a dead-end road–it only hurts us and those around us, and doesn't solve anything. But faith gives us hope–hope for the present and hope for the future.
When something bad happen to us or to those we love, it’s natural for us to ask why God has let it happen. To be honest, I don’t have a full answer to that question, nor does anyone this side of heaven. We live in a fallen, imperfect world, and life is riddled with sorrow and pain. As the Bible says about our years on earth, “their span is but trouble and sorrow” (Psalm 90:10).
The real issue,  isn’t why bad things happen, but how we should react to them. Will we react in anger and bitterness or will we respond in faith and trust? Faith gives us hope–hope for the present and hope for the future.
We start with the obvious merits of simple positive thinking. In Philippians 4:8 the Bible instructs us in proper thinking: "And now, my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable—fill all your thoughts with these things" The characteristics of an optimistic mind-set include the ability to focus on the positive when the negative seems overwhelming. Very often the key lies in turning a problem into a challenge and then working to bring ourselves to equal the challenge.
When people are suffering, it is our responsibility to minister to them, care for them, pray for them, and comfort them. Those suffering in any way, need our love and encouragement.
Psalm 73:23_26 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.


       

Life's First Things

Opening prayer
God of our salvation, Just as we come into your presence in great humility, we also come in the joy of spending time with each other in fellowship among like followers of Your Son Jesus. We are thankful for the time and for the presence of those who work so faithfully to bring this food and fellowship to our gathering. We pray for your blessing during our meal and the fellowship we will enjoy.  Be with those among us who are not able to be here for whatever reason. Be with those of us who are suffering illness and those who care for them. Restore their health and bring them back into our midst is our prayer,in the name of Jesus , Amen   

                    Now for a short devotion.

The theme of our get together today is game day
My, my, what a good idea that is, I can’t wait to get started

As it happens, that is the title of our devotion today
I can’t wait to get started.

I was 5 years old and on my very first day of school my mother had to walk with me to show me the way. I did not want to go to school, and resisted the whole way. Mother left me there just inside the doorway and returned home. I returned home by another route and actually beat her back home, and was there when she came in the door. I was taken back to school and into the classroom, and introduced to Ms. Hooper, my first grade teacher. Ms. Hooper was a strict disciplinarian and 15 minutes in the coat closet was her favorite form of punishment for wrong doers. That was the first lesson I learned at school, do not raise Ms. Hooper’s ire or punishment will ensue.  That’s when I said to myself , “What a good idea school is, I can’t wait to get started”.

There are many times in life when we will have to do things that take us out of our comfort zone, That is just the way life is. First grade was it for me. I will never forget that first day. I actually thought to myself, “do I really have to do this for the rest of my life”?

There’s the story of Gideon for instance. God made a great warrior out of a small timid farmer who was deathly afraid to go into battle. God had a plan for him and would have it no other way. And soon he was leading his army into battle. Gideon probably said to himself, “What a good idea war is, I can’t wait to get started”.

For instance there’s The story of Noah, God used Noah to start his new world. Can you imagine Noah out in the desert, with God telling him to build an ark so that he can save his own family the worlds animal species, two by two, from a flood, that would destroy the rest of civilization. Noah probably said to himself. “Well o.k. we were tired of the desert anyway, I can’t wait to get started”.

And there’s the story of Jonah, God wanted him to go to Nineveh, and preach to a specific wicked and corrupt group of people about righteousness, repentance,  and forgiveness. Jonah resisted, as these people would probably want to kill him. Jonah might have said to himself, “My what a good idea, I can’t wait to get started”.

Then there’s the story of Moses, Chosen by God to defy The Egyptian ruler Pharaoh and to deliver his people out of slavery, through the Red Sea, across a barren wilderness and into the Promised Land. Moses might have said to himself, “My what a good idea opposing the most powerful man in the world, I can’t wait to get started”.

Then of course we do not want to skip over Esther, what a great story. Esther, a beautiful woman destined to be the person God chooses to make justice for the Jews. Esther is God's choice as the Jewish queen of a Persian king Ahasuerus. King Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, refuses to obey him, and pose nude for all his friends to display her beauty. Then Esther is chosen for her beauty to replace her. Because Esther was placed in the palace “for such a time as this” (Esth. 4:14), we can trust God’s timing for placing us in different situations. It’s easy to struggle with timing; thinking that we are in the wrong place at the wrong time. But who knows? Maybe we are in the right place at the right time! What we can’t see with our eyes, we must believe with our hearts. Every human being goes through difficulties where God seems to be absent. This is nothing new. Esther encourages us that even if we can’t see God’s hand, to just be patient and step out in faith believing we are in the right place. Can't you just hear her speaking to God about this plan, (which could have cost her life if it had gone awry) "Hurry up Lord I can't wait to get started". 

Very often in our every day existence we are faced with things that take us out of our comfort zone. Joining others in the service of our country, a worthy cause but not all that pleasant. Doing unpleasant chores, Working with unpleasant people, Taking the lead in a distasteful task. Taking care of the sick and afflicted doing the hard work of caring for a property, caring for our friends who need us, or for the homeless and misplaced people of our society. Just remember what Jesus said.

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

The truth of this tale is that God has a plan for your life, and  there is no resisting it. God uses regular down to earth ordinary individuals in his service to accomplish extraordinary results. Just as God used ordinary men and women throughout history to accomplish his purposes and even into  the 21st century. God can  use any or all of us in accomplishing his purposes for our world. Just as God sacrificed the life of his son Jesus and gave us a way to salvation if we trust him with our heart, repent of our sins and believe on him. If we do that, then God promises to remember our sin no more.
My, Isn’t that a good idea, I can’t wait to get started.        Amen

Life's Little Twists

There is a story which I think properly describes our society today. We are actually so busy doing what it is we do on a daily basis, that we have regimented our time to almost the final exact minute. Before bedtime we get everything ready for tomorrow, We sort out our next days clothes, we lay them out, we do the same for our children we check our calendars to make sure of our appointments for tomorrow, then we have our teeth brushing time, our prayer time and then to bed. We get up in the morning. First we get the kids up, dress them for school and feed them, then we do the same and then off to our daily routine. Take the kids to school, do our early shopping, meet with friends, have lunch, do our regular afternoon schedule, Then off to pick up the kids at school. Then home to fix dinner and begin planning for tomorrow. I have probably left out some of your favorite chores, but I think you get the picture.
Then suddenly one day you are middle aged. Finished with raising children, you are now doing whatever it takes to hold your life together, working, helping at school or at church, busy doing errands and still having contact with the kids. They seem never to grow up.  Now you have some security with your finances, and your marriage is holding together so there might be a moment to relax.  Time off, away from responsibility, time with just you and your spouse, growing older together. Still vitally involved, but just not quite as intense.
Then just as you’re feeling secure and somewhat satisfied with your life, You are old. I don’t know how it happens, it just does. Just yesterday you were young and vibrant, now you are old and decrepit, and your health is failing.

Well there was this aging mother of 4 boys, she was in her late eighties. Her husband had died and she was alone.  Her four boys were diligent hard working and very successful and each had always paid the highest of respect and honor to their mother. As they were meeting one day to discuss how to deal with their mothers failing health, each one had a plan. The oldest stated that he had bought a nursing home and she had nothing to do but cash the checks they would send her and it would be income for his mother until she passed away,  The next brother stated that he had bought her a yacht which would house her in the best and most luxurious fashion until it came time for her last rites which would be performed at sea. The next brother informed them that he had set aside enough money to keep her in the lap of luxury until that final day. Then the younger brother admitted that he had not thought on that grand scale and said that since she had been such a faithful Christian, and now her eyesight was failing, and she loved reading the bible, He sought a way to help her continue in bible study and reading. He thus had bought a parrot which had been trained to quote the bible, chapter and verse. This bird would respond to any biblical selection that was told to him, and would repeat it verbatim.  Each son presented each gift to the mother , who accepted the gifts graciously. About a week after this happened, the mother sent these massages to each of her sons.   Dear sons, I am really grateful for the nursing home you bought for me. Thank you for that but I do not wish to be associated with a nursing home. I have fallen in love again this time it is with a rich prince who has one of the worlds finest yachts, so I will not need the one you gave me, thanks anyway. And Philippe promises me The healthiest of environmental foods prepared on his Yacht. So I will not need your money. My time will be spent sailing the seven seas and enjoying the finest of cuisine. Speaking of which, The chicken you sent me was very tasty.   Thanks for everything.