Cabbages Cuticles Curiosities Canons and Causes

Thrift Store Haul for reselling on ebay NTCH & Goodwill Dec 10, 2016

2016-12-12T06:38:00.001-08:00

My Plants~ A Video for Glenda

2016-12-08T21:24:00.001-08:00

From time to time I talk about my house plants on my youtube channel, estatecleaner. This video was for one of my subscribers who asked to see my plants.

Welcome to Tea Party America~A work of fiction...for now.

2014-03-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

The end comes for all things and strange as it may seem the end of Christian America, the end of what was once perhaps the greatest nation the world had ever known came at the hands of those who considered themselves the religious and patriotic leaders of an anarchistic, once grass-roots movement that was corrupted by a corporate mindset that bowed to no god, but that of money, greed and lust for power.
Nothing was too audacious for this new breed of politician. No lie too deceptive, no partisanship too divisive, no attack too vicious. People all too easily let themselves be fooled into believing the dark visions of foreboding these leaders forecast for a nation led by anyone but themselves. They alone were the light bearers, the bannerman of God and Jesus Christ. They alone knew the truth about the United States Constitution. All others were pretenders. All others were false prophets of evil gods. All others wanted to destroy the Constitution, the family and the faith.
Yet somehow, there seemed to be so much darkness in their messages. Bigotry and hatred and violence became tolerable, almost preferred as long as it was directed against their "enemies" it became righteousness and truth.
I suppose looking back one might say that we should have known better. We should have seen what was hidden behind the unfurled flags and the red, white and blue banners. The imagery of Revolutionary Minutemen and tea bag tossing "Patriots".
It was the images of love of country and constitution that deceived some, the waving of black leather bibles that persuaded others. The distrust and hatred of government and the faith and trust in corporations and companies brought in the conservatives and fundamentalists like no other movement before.
Tea Party. Taxed Enough Already. It sounded good. It looked good wrapped in a flag and a bible. Something was wrong though, there was something ugly hiding behind Old Glory, something which would devastate us all.
Power came to the Party in two waves of elections. Once the power was gained, it was never to be allowed to flow in the other direction. All dissension was crushed. The Grand Old Party became a side note in annals of the new conservatism. No moderation, no co-operation, no collective will of the people. The constitutional separation of powers became a thorn in the side to be removed. The Presidential power coalesced around naming of Supreme Court judges and executive orders. Both Houses of Congress became little more than mouthpieces of the agenda. Domination of America by corporate greed and power.
When the Dept of Justice began its subterfuge against the old liberals on the Court, forcing them out of the positions so the Tea Party could name extreme conservatives to the bench is when I suppose more of us should have spoke up, but those were scary times. Journalists were going missing or being harassed and bullied into silence. The news was just a stump for the perpetuation and dissemination of conservative ideals and dogmas. The truth didn't really matter anymore.
Jobs, you had to love the Tea Party idea of a jobs bill. Repealing child labor laws, overtime laws, the minimum wage and any other "job killing" regulations was the hallmark of the early Tea Party policies. So, if you wanted a job you could count on fighting with children to get it and even then you would be working sixteen hour shifts with no overtime wages...and the money was less than I made when I graduated high school in the early nineteen-eighties.
In the end we sat by and watched as the new wars began. The Korean debacle, Iran's crushing defeat of the U.S. led invasion against it led to the invasions it led across the middle-east and even into the Caspian regions. The Islamic Fundamentalist strength grew as America fell.
We all watched as drafted American boys and girls headed off to defend America against her enemies...Afghanistan again, Egypt, Venezuela...always with same results....thousands and thousands of dead boys and girls...all for oil and natural gas for corporate America.
Taxes rose to support the wars at the expense of the poor in America. The religious leaders quoted one bible verse about those who wont work while ignoring all the teachings of Jesus Christ regarding the treatment of the poor.
I suppose it was kind of fun to watch the fundamentalist leaders cry out against their new partners when the Tea Party came to the conclusion that they no longer needed the christian vote. It wasn't that fun when they were dragged away and imprisoned...or worse. Dissension was not allowed.
And for all their talk, abortion was still the law of land just as it had been throughout so many Republican administrations in the past.
Public welfare and the Affordable Care Act had been repealed and abolished within the first one hundred days after the 2016 election. The poor were left with nothing to fall back on and so with few jobs available and the corporate stranglehold on small business increasing many people fell into crime to support their families. Of course the now corporate owned for-profit prison populations swelled until the wars came.
With the repeal of Medicare/Medicaid many within the health care system lost jobs as the poor could no longer afford treatment and demand for services fell with them. Hospitals and health facilities in the inner cities and rural regions collapsed without funding. These were not deemed profitable ventures by the business community that was swiftly taking over the health care operations across the country.
I would really like to offer some kind of hope for a resurrection of the United States we once knew, but it is gone. It will never return.
I've heard that the larger corporations are putting together plans for splitting the country into different units, but truthfully I think it's just talk. I think they're gonna sell us.
Europe and Canada have a great deal of interest in the heartland. The Mexican government has been ineffective in stopping the drug cartels movements into Texas, NM, AZ and California. The rumblings in southern Florida about breaking away and joining the Caribbean Union seem to be growing stronger.
The Tea Party leadership no longer has the military might at its disposal to fight the fight. Probably whatever will give the corporations the most profit is what's going to happen now.
I never pictured this as how it would end. I guess I always thought the world I grew up in where most people cared about each other more often than not would always be there. Somewhere along the line that slipped away forever. Personally I think it happened a long time ago with a little thing that was called the Contract With America.
That seemed to be when the shift toward hatefulness really started. Anyway, welcome to Tea Party America. What's left of it.

Visions of Springtime

2013-02-12T17:33:00.001-08:00

Oh, the snow still covers the ground, but as mid-February nears I am beginning to have my Springtime visions. I can see the dark, moist soil waiting for those first plantings. Do I till or no-till? Should I start thinking about getting the rotor-tiller running?

I can almost feel the soil in my hands, under my fingernails. What to plan for the year? Potatoes in towers again? Zucchini? Corn? Cukes? Peppers? Will the Romaine bed have volunteers again? How’s the asparagus bed going to do this year?

Peat moss, worm casings, top soil, composted manure…rabbit poop from under the pens…where to put the superhot chicken crud when I clean out coop? And the goat pens?

Hoping for the materials to really build my hugelculture. Ah, spring clean-ups, bags of decaying leaves and last years mulch just waiting along the curbs for me to come and take it away.

Oh, the grapevine, will it still be alive? Can’t wait to see the leaves on my fruit trees. I hope the prunings help them grow. Peach, Apple, Plum, Pear, should I plant some more?

Will the Jerusalem Artichokes flourish this year? Blueberries and raspberries and strawberries.

The seed packets are waiting. The growing soil sits waiting for its day in the sun. The grow lights still packed away for a little longer.

I love this time of year.

Fundamental Failure: Misunderstanding Bible Scriptures

2013-01-28T10:35:00.001-08:00

Matthew 19:1-12
I suppose everyone has an opinion about various passages in the bible.
Divorce and Remarriage is a thing of constant turmoil, fractiousness and division within groups of believers. Some call it continual adultery. Some say that just the very act of getting a legal divorce is sin. Even separating from your spouse is a point of contention. Some might even go so far as to say one could throw away their salvation if they commit this deed.
Who are the players in this passage? The Pharisees, the Disciples of Jesus and Jesus. What do these people all have in common? They are all pork abstaining, temple going, circumcised, Sabbath keeping Jews. Born under the Law of Moses.
These are not Christians. These are Old Testament Jews. Not gentiles. There is no New Testament yet as the testator has not yet died to put that testament into place.
I’m trying to put some context into the situation. (Nehemiah 8:8 ) Which brings us to the question put forth by the Pharisees. “Is it lawful?” they asked. How did Jesus answer them? Did he say no? Nope. He said…excuse my paraphrase…Look, in the beginning God created ya’all to be together forever, but when the Father had Moses write the Law He allowed you divorce because He knows all about your hard-heartedness. Jesus actually acknowledged that within the Law of Moses it is legal to divorce and remarry. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) I should mention that the passage in Deut does include the caveat that should a person get a legal divorce and then marry someone else that it would be an abomination for them to then go back to their former spouse were they to divorce the new spouse.
I’d like to point out right here that the scriptures tell us that “sin is the transgression of the Law.” 1 John 3:4. If there is no law against something there is no sin.
That said, I realize that there are many other verses used to debate this topic, but we need to understand first and foremost that Jesus said not one jot or tittle of the Law would pass away until all is fulfilled. Jesus said that anyone who broke the law and taught others to so would be the least in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19.
Now I’m going to lay out as many of those verses as I can so that you can get an idea of the “line upon line, precept upon precept” part of biblical interpretation.
Jeremiah 3:8 In this passage God actually divorces Israel and puts her away according to the law. Simply put, if divorce is a sin then we have a serious problem in that God himself would be a sinner.
Ezra 10:11 shows that it was believed that it would give God pleasure if the Jews would put away their heathen wives according to the law. I find this interesting that God would gain pleasure from such a thing and yet today if a Christian is married to an unbeliever they are told it would displease God if they were to divorce.
Malachi 2:16. Something is missing. It says that they put away their wives. It does not say that they gave them a bill of divorcement and put them away according to the law. God hates that. It was a treacherous thing for a man to do, since without that piece of paper to show they could remarry, women were forced into situations where they could be called adulteresses and stoned if they were to marry another. I realize that many bibles use the word divorce instead of put away, but the underlying languages behind the English translation us a word that can mean divorce because it implies dividing or separating, but it is not a reference to the legal term divorce, there is a very specific Hebrew word for that term which is not used in Malachi 2:16.
I want you to know that I believe Jesus when he said that when we get married we should stay together, but I understand that sometimes in order to be at peace it is better to separate. Still, working to fix our marriages is more rewarding than abandoning them, but I would never fault a woman for leaving an abusive husband or a man for walking away from a cheating wife. It’s not mine to judge another and certainly not in light of God having the same heart toward the matter.
According to the Jewish Law it is not a sin to divorce nor to remarry, so then what was Jesus saying in Matthew 5:31-32? The same problem exists here as in Malachi. The greek word for divorcement in verse 31 is a very definitive word describing a legal separation. The underlying greek word used for both “put away” and “divorced” in verse 32 is a different word that has no legal implications.
Jesus is saying the same thing here as he said in Matthew 19. That its been said that if you want to divorce you need to do it according to the law. You can’t just put her away and separate from her because you would cause her and anyone who married her to commit adultery according to the law. The bit about fornication…well if she’s caught…stoning was the only lawful recourse.
Jesus took them past that to something better…forgiveness. Not condemnation.
But what about Romans 7? First, note to whom Paul is speaking. Those who know the Law. Paul always seemed to be contending with Jews intent on cramming the Law down the throats of Gentile Christians. I challenge you to find a divorce in the passage. All I see is a woman who is married stepping out on her husband. Yeah, that’d be adultery and bigamy if she married someone else while still married to another.
I understand that the passage isn’t doctrinally about this topic, but people use it for that so I thought to mention it as well.
This brings us to 1 Corinthians 7. Verses 10,11 Paul says that if you are married, don’t separate, but if you do then stay unmarried. Paul isn’t talking with those who know the Law here. He’s dealing with Gentile Christians who did not have the Jewish law and so he is free to leave out the “lawful” aspects.
I want to make it clear that the word “unmarried” is defined here. It makes it clear that someone who is married and departs that relationship becomes unmarried.
You don’t take gentiles and cram Moses Law down their throats. That Law was meant for the Jews. The gentiles were a law unto themselves. They confirmed that the law was good when they did the things within it, but it was not part of their covenant. Theirs is a new testament.
Paul continues in verses 12-13 that if you’re married to an unbeliever you shouldn’t depart from that marriage. This gives a bit of a departure from the Old Testament’s Ezra 10. Signifies a difference between the O.T. and N.T. Contrary to that which some teach. The New Testament is not stricter than the Old. It’s just different.
Then Paul says that if the unbeliever leaves its okay to let them go. It’s better to be at peace with them. Verse 15.
Verses 27, 28 return to the theme of marriage. I would ask that you study the word “loosed”. Check and see how the underlying Greek word is translated in other passages. Its rather enlightening. I really don’t think I need to expound here, because it is so very clear to those who have studied line upon line, precept upon precept.
Finishing up with verse 39. A wife is bound by the law and we already know what the Law says. As long as she’s married to him she is bound to him and no other. When he passes she is free to marry.
Someone says, “Well of course she’s free to marry when he dies. Who doesn’t know that?” Actually there were those at that time who were teaching a heresy about just that. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 calls it a doctrine of devils to forbid people to marry.
I find the word of Paul to have embraced not only grace and truth of Jesus words in that we should forgive, but also the grace of God in allowing for our weaknesses through the grace given in the Law. In the end God, through Paul gave us the admonition of following the way it was in the beginning, but the way it was after the end of those perfect days in the Garden.
So that’s my take on the misunderstanding of this passage of scripture in Matthew 19. I believe that what I teach encompasses all the scripture and removes any contradictions without rending the scriptures. I believe I’ve accepted the scripture at face-value with a line upon line, contextual, exposition.
It is my hope that this will help some folks who may have suffered much at the hands of well-meaning, but ill-informed brethren.
It took me years of study and prayer and much patience to come to understand these passages and overcome the bias and prejudices of the brainwashing I received after first becoming a believer. I hope that you will be able to receive it with grace toward all.

Time Flies

2013-01-09T04:17:00.002-08:00

Wow...Just wow...Over a year. How'd that happen?
Hours become days, which become weeks and months, then years and decades. Projects which seemed so important fade with the time and knowledge that they aren't all that necessary. Each passing moment another in a long line of lost opportunity.
I've recently rewatched the first episodes of the Matt Smith Doctor Who era. Five minutes becomes twelve years and he doesnt even realize it. The little girl grows up and he doesn't even recognize her. Happens I think with a lot of folks. All good things and bad ones as well, come to an end.
I barely recognize some of the old posts in this blog. My own blog and those moments I wrote of seem to vanish from memory.
There's been plenty of changes for me in the last year or so. Reminders of my own foolishness and my greatness. We all have it. It's okay to acknowledge you are a great fool as well as a great something else.
I suppose the biggest revelation of the year has been that I have come to understand the word "pretentious" all too well. My understanding of it being exposed by my own pretentiousness. Why is it that I seem to consider myself as one who has the answer for everything. It would be understandable that I would try to help someone if they asked me for such, but why is it that I seem to think I should shove my "help" into their lives when they don't even ask? Then I'm surprised that those whom I've "helped" do not seem to "get it".
I should have learned this long ago, but I suppose that even so I wouldn't have been able to "get it" either.
I wonder now if maybe even blogging itself is a symptom or result of pretentiousness.
The real problem is that I keep forgetting that I've learned it.

Proverbs 26:17 KJV He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Leaf Mulched No-Till Potato Garden Patch

2011-10-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

I planted potatos in a small patch in my garden this year. I laid down a bed of composted leaves and just laid the starts on the leaves and then dumped leaves on top of them. As the plants grew I dumped more leaves on top until I ran out of leaves. Here is the result.

I am really happy with the results of this experiment. I got alot of potatoes from a really small area. Biggest one was about 7" long. I noticed that the mice seemed to really like the yellow potatoes best. I got more than they did this year.

Hopefully Ill be able to gather enough leaves and such this fall to really do some more of this next season.

Little Green Prickly Pointy Ball Thingies in my garden?

2011-10-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

What are these?

Old Man & Mrs Henry, Boots and Bicycle

2011-09-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

I work at Walmart. I do other things too, but I work at Walmart. I see lots of people at Walmart. I meet lots of people. I see some pretty rotten things at Walmart and I see some beautiful things at Walmart.

The other day I saw something beautiful, something that brought back a memory from long ago.

When I was ten years old a friend gave me his newspaper delivery route. It wasn't a lot of money or a lot of time, but it was...well...it was. Anyway, I grew up in a trailer park and my folks didn't really have a lot of money. We had plenty of food and we had clothes on our backs, but we didn't have too many extras.

So as winter came on that year I didn't have any winter boots to speak of, just my old bo-bo sneakers. We got some early snow that year and Mrs Henry stopped me when I was delivering her paper and ask me when I was start putting my boots on. I just told her the truth, I didn't have any boots.
Well, the next day Old Mr Henry, (you know who he is, everybody had one in the neighborhood) caught me again when I brought his paper and he said to me, "Take this note to your folks and come back over here when you finish passing those papers." Oh man I knew I was in trouble. Old Man Henry sending a note to my folks. Funny thing is...I actually took the note to my folks. Times was different then I guess.
You know that note was to my folks asking them if they'd mind if he took my to the shoe store for a new pair boots. And so the story goes...
Well, the other day at Walmart I experienced something pretty cool. I was working in electronics and a young man probably about 13 years old came over asked for help with a bike. So we got the bike down and after I rang up the sale he gave me his money which was about $20 short, he did what most of us would do and kinda stammered and got a little embarrassed and ask if he could call his Dad. I handed him my cell and he called, but Dad didn't answer...about that time this other lady who'd been standing there, I thought she was his Momma or something came to the register and said she would cover the shortage. Well, the kid stood there kind of amazed and as we finished up the sale the boys Dad called back so I handed my phone over again and overheard the boy tell his Dad that "some lady" had already taken care of it. He didn't know her and she didn't know him, but both of them got a blessing from a stranger that day and so did I.
I hope that blessing is a memory that boy keeps forever.

I really am just a madman in a blue box.

2011-09-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is a quote from the Doctor Who episode titled, "The God Complex". It's a beautiful episode in which the Doctor finds himself having to deal with his own vanity in order to save himself and his friends from certain death.
I grew up in the 70s and 80s watching Doctor Who on PBS. Tom Baker was my Doctor and his adventures with Sarah Jane and Harry are far grander in my memory than they are now when I rewatch them. I have fond memories of those days and certainly I longed for as did so many others, a ridiculously long scarf with which to pretend to be the great Time Lord.
I have found the new Doctor Who adventures to be far more interesting because they delve into the pschology of this madman in a blue box. They seek to expose the underlying, hidden character nuances of the Last of the Time Lords.
I found that in The God Complex the good Doctor comes to realize just how much he really is like race of humans he so adores, in that he too feels the same need of self-affirmation that we do. He comes to see his need to be adored and his own willingness to take great risks to be a hero so that others will adore him...and he realizes that all of it is indeed vanity....
Thank you to the BBC for giving us a program that makes us think.

The Artistry of an Old House in Wellsboro Pa.

2011-06-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

This wonderful old home in the mountains of Pennsylvania bares the signs and wear of being well over a hundred years old, but it also expresses the attention to detail and artistry of an age long gone.
Stained Glass and Etched Smoked Glass windows, Ornate brass door handles and plates, massive garden landscapes, mosaic tiles and lion head door knockers...just too interesting. I did not get to go inside, but Im told the woodwork is exquisite.

Doing Yard Work at an Old House in Town

2011-06-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

Sweet old house in Wellsboro on which we have been doing yard work. There was an old rickety wood fence and a wrought iron fence around the front which really obscured the curb appeal. It is a work in progress as some of the pictures will show.

Second load of debris. We hauled a load of brush to the township building to be recycled and some came home to feed the goats. This load is going to find its way into reuse one way or another.

I just really liked these stairs. Wish I would have gotten some pics before we started cleaning up this area.

Another curbside shot. There were several small trees and bushes that we pulled out with the truck. That was kind of fun. Should have taken a video. Grr.

Some of the downed fencing.

There are huge bushes like this all over the property that I get to trim way back. More pics later.

Property has lots of old overgrown gardens. Must have been quite a looker in its day.

More pics soon.

No-Till Gardening video

2011-06-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

Heres the video that didnt show up well in the previous post.

No-Till Gardening 2011

2011-06-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

No-Tilling or Mulch Garden click link for video.
Alright, Im back. Short on time and late on planting. Trying no till gardening this year. Laid the onions out on the soil and covered them with leaves and hay. Theyre growing well. Hoping to get a good crop of large tomatoes this year. I finally got my potatoes put in on top of a thick layer of hay which we pulled from the goat house. Then I covered them with bags of leaves that I gathered a couple years ago during the fall clean-ups in town.
Using the hay bales with the hope that the chickens will be able to feast on worms and bugs living along the edges. Havent got the fence up yet, but working on it.
Last years pig pen is layered with great soil, but underneath it is very soft from the dozens of bags of leaves we dumped in there. Hoping the worms will compost it for me over the summer.
Lots to do this year.

Groundhog Day

2011-02-02T08:16:00.001-08:00

Always a great thing to get this day in the past. Either way it means that Spring is coming. Today Ole Phil gave the good news of an early Spring, so jopefully we can put away this dreary cold, wet, dark winter very soon.

first harvest

2011-01-31T21:56:00.000-08:00

Just thought Id pop by to mention that we harvested our first pig yesterday. It was kind of small, but wasnt getting any bigger. It was quite different than doing a deer. A little more difficult. I was hoping to get some leaf lard from around the kidneys, but there wasnt any. Actually there was very little fat at all which really surprised me. The skin didnt peel away as easily as a deer.
I kind of feel like I couldnt gotten more if I'd have had it done by a professional, but there doesnt seem to be one close by.
Oh well, it was nice to get the first one done. Now to find the time to care of the big one.
Theres a bunch of roosters that need harvested as well.
cya

Spring is coming

2011-01-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

I can feel it. Hidden beneath the snow the grass is just waiting. I was thinking about gardening today. Saw the marigold deadheads just waiting to get started. Eyeing my front "sun room" for how to oragnize the seedling starts. It wont be long now.

Wow. Its winter. Howd that happen.

2011-01-24T21:01:00.001-08:00

Well, its winter time now. The gardens are doing their thing and resting. Ive got a couple pigs in one of them, but not for much longer. We'll be harvesting them soon. Im kinda not thinking much about the garden right now, though I should be. Last year was disappointing considering how the moles tore through so much.
I do need to redo the strawberry patch and Ill probably plant some more blueberry bushes. We planted some asparagus in the fall. Im hoping that comes through for us.
Plenty of snow on the groung and more to come. Icy temperatures this year. Cant remember ever being this cold. I guess itll help control some of the pests so thats good.

Sluggard

2010-05-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy the last couple months. Ive had more work than usual and I've been changing how I do some other things...so as I looked at what is to be my garden this year I felt very much like a sluggard. Don't get me wrong, I've been doing things to get it ready for planting, it's just that I dont have much planted. The weather has been so warm. Beautiful weather for growing. However, today I get to embrace the sluggard in me. The weather turned cold. Last night was 29 degrees. Much too cold for most veggies. I feel pretty good that I didnt get those things planted. I must remember that June 1 is the day to plant.

Heresies Heresies Here and There

2010-02-27T18:48:00.000-08:00

Many times I have heard christians talk about how they follow the bible only. That Jesus is the only one that they follow. That they don't follow a man...as if this is somehow not only the right thing, the correct doctrine, but somehow makes them better than those other believers who don't follow what they consider to be "correct doctrine".
Often considering themselves not only better than other believers, but to then say that the other believers are not really believers because they don't hold to the same private interpretations. I am weary of this and so tonight I'm gonna just write about what I think is the truth...according to the scriptures...and if you dont agree with me...its okay...I believe in soul liberty...unlike Diotrephes.

Are believers not supposed to "follow a man"? Are they to be under the authority of Christ alone as their Head?
The answer according to the scriptures. It is never taught one single place in the bible that believers, whether they be Old Testament or New, are not supposed to follow other men. Yes there are scriptures which can be personally interpreted to mean that, but they can also be interpreted otherwise.

1) Eve was to follow Adam.
2) Men were supposed to follow Noah.
3) They were supposed to follow Moses.
4) Joshua was another leader they were to obey.
5) David
6) Solomon
7) The Prophets

Here in the Old Testament were leaders...there were others who were to be obeyed as well.
God has always used men as leaders of His people...this truth has not changed.

Yes, we are supposed to follow Christ. Yes, He is the Authority. Yes, the Bible is His words and we should do our best to obey them as He leads...BUT...

1)2 Thess 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

I would suggest further study of the rest of the chapter. Its rather obvious, that these men considered themselves to be in a position of authority...based upon their behavior.

2) Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Well, if the most obstinate, hard-headed believer ought to be able to understand this verse clearly.

3) 3 John tells the story of two men, both believers...one of them, Diotrephes is behaving poorly...John calls his actions "evil"...the other man, Demetrius has a "good report of all men"...John then tells the believers..."follow not that which is evil, but that which is good"...he effectively split the church.

The point here is that the believers were supposed to follow...a man...a good man.

4) 1 Tim 3:5 shows clearly that A) there are bishops (baptists call them "pastors") and B) these men are leaders who are supposed to be able to "take care" of the church of God. They should do this not as Diotrephes, but as Demetrius.

5) 1Tim 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Well...that's interesting isnt it? Elders ruling? Double honor? I know a lot of pastors who'd be happy with just a little honor.

6) Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Obey and submit...rather strong words, huh?

7) Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

What does "have the rule over you" mean?

8)1Co 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

I guess Paul is a liar.

9)Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Hmmm...I think Paul is confused...believers are supposed to "do" what he says...

10)1Thess 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

You want to walk to please God? listen to Paul.

11) 2Tim 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Want understanding? Consider Paul's words.

12) 2Tim 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

You want to fully know? Understand the preaching? Follow Paul.

Further study.
(1Co 11:1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
(Php 3:17) Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(1Th 1:6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
(1Th 2:14) For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

So...does the bible really say that you're not supposed to follow a man?

Books by men are good. The bible says that we have been given teachers as a gift, but...

(2Tim 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Don't lie to yourself anymore.

Janet Reno, Mister Rogers, the Bible & the Fool

2010-02-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

Prove all things, hold fast that which is good. 1 Thess. 5:21.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Proverbs 20:26.

I am a fool. Have you ever been lied to and found out later that you'd believed a lie?

Years ago I got an email stating that Janet Reno had said on 60 Minutes that, "all people who believed many of the things which I believe were all part of a dangerous cult." I believed it. And I repeated it till one day someone told me it wasnt true. There was no proof that it had ever been said. I went home and began searching for the truth and sure enough it was not true. I felt like such a fool. I'd heard preachers talk about it from the pulpits and I had believed it.

Then along came Y2K and I believed a lot it. I thought something was probaby going to happen...but it didn't.

I began to realize that most of purveyors of gloom and doom and often anger and division were doing it solely for one reason...that's how they made their money.

I've become quite cynical now of a lot of what I hear and see. I've become good at checking the facts...but I still blow it. I still play the part of the fool.

Recently I spoke with a group of men and I repeated something which I had been told...it seems silly now. I was told that Mister Rogers of Children's TV fame was actually a former Marine and the reason he always wore long sleeves was because he had tattoos all over his arms and he felt that as a role-model he should cover the tattoos.
On my way home that night I realized that I hadnt checked this story for accuracy and I started getting a bad feeling...As soon as I got home I began researching and soon enough discovered that I am just a talebearing fool. I called the next day to apologize to those to whom I had repeated the story.

Today, I was exposed to more stories. Stories about politics which thing I have truly come to detest. Today, I checked my facts first...Thank you Janet Reno, Mister Rogers and the Bible for helping this Fool to remember to Prove All Things.

Cabbages, Potatos, Cauliflower and Pigs?

2010-02-18T00:58:00.000-08:00

Well, its 4am. Couldnt sleep. Thinking about spring, thinking about the garden. I want to try planting potatoes on top the soil this year and covering them with newspaper and last autumns leaves and things, maybe grass clippings too. I think my soil may have remnants of last years blight so Im guessing that I'll need to pick a different plot to start new.
Thinking about getting a couple little piggies and putting then in one of last years garden spots. I think it might be fun.

Doing a lot of thinking right now. After all it is 4am....

Cuticles, Kindness and Mrs Hiedenreich

2010-02-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

Well...where to begin. Cuticles, Kindness and Mrs Heidenreich. Cuticles are the skin at the edge of ones fingernails just where they emerge from under your skin. I was told by a girl I dated a long time ago, (it's been 23 years since then) that I had really nice fingernails...for a guy that is. She then explained to me that it was rare to see guys whose cuticles were so well manicured.
Well, of all the things to be vain about I had never really considered my fingernails and in fact I had never really taken notice of my fingernails, but for some reason this girl had noticed and the entire time we dated she made a point of showing my hands to her girlfriends..."Oh so this is the guy with the cute nails" is not really what a twenty-one year old young man wants to hear from the ladies.
Anyway, the first time she mentioned this to me I explained to her that when I was in fourth grade in 1976 my teacher was a woman name Mrs Heidenreich...the name still brings chills. Mrs Heidenreich was old-old-school. A classic German woman, Authoritative and strict. Each morning she walked the aisles between our desks with her old pointer stick in hand. She never used that pointer for anything but pointing, but we all knew what she could do with it and we respected that greatly. As she walked the aisles we were required to have our hands on our desks palms down and she would inspect our fingernails to make sure they were clean. She had shown us all at the beginning of the school year how to push our cuticles back properly so that dirt would have no hiding place...and to this day I inspect my nails and cuticles as if a hundred year old Heidenreich might walk by with her pointer.
That was Mrs H's (dont tell her I called her that) last year as a teacher, she retired that year and we moved from the elementary to the middle school. But she has impacted me ever since.
I consider her actions then to have been a real and genuine kindness. She taught us respect for authority and she taught us to form some good habits, which in time brought complements and respect from others.
We were all told that she was mean, but truthfully...she wasn't mean. She never said a mean word to any of us, but she also got the best from us, because we respected her...even though we didnt much like her. But she was a good teacher. And behind it all was a heart of kindness played out in action rather than feelings and words.

Impact of a street rat

2009-12-30T17:34:00.000-08:00

"You are a worthless street rat. You were born a street rat. You will die a street rat. And only your fleas will mourn you." ~Prince Achmed~ From Disney's Aladdin...

Arent those sweet words?...just kidding. You know it seems that sometimes some of the rich and powerful and those sycophants who desire to sponge off them will feel no compulsion, no desire at all to lean down and help someone who is not rich and powerful...just for the sake of helping another human being. And in so doing the rich and powerful miss their opportunity to be truly rich and truly powerful.

These are biting words intended to drive the psyche of their intended target into the ground. Sometimes these words come not from the rich and powerful, but from the minds of those who feel themselves to be "less" than the rich and powerful. Their imagination creates a barrier that inhibits them from seeing the truth...

The truth is that Aladdin made an impact in the lives of many people before he found the Lamp. He made an impact. He was already rich and powerful and just couldnt "see" it because of the barriers his mind had created for him...probably because he was always looking out his bedroom window at someone else's magnificent palace.

I often struggle with thoughts of "what have I done?" What do I leave behind when I step off this world? Have I made an impact? I think on the magnificent...and I miss the truth. I miss the reality.

There are those right now whose lives have been forever changed because of me. Some changed for the worse, Some for the better. Could I do more for others if I were "rich and powerful"? I dont know and I likely will never know. But I do know a few things.
The biblical Joseph surely never saw as he rotted in Pharoah's dungeon that one day he would be second only to Pharoah in all the Land of Egypt. I also know that it is likely that Rechab never dreamed possible that his words would pass down through the generations and in time his children's loyalty to a promise given many years earlier would become the standard by which the great prophet Jeremiah would stand before the people of Israel and preach.

I know something today. I know that a testimony before men stands as a pillar of truth. I know that people. A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
If I do not see the light of another dawn I know that many will see a testimony in my family in the years that follow...and my family will get to decide if I will be honoured as was Rechab.

Impact...I believe as did Aladdin...I'm not a street rat...and I dont have fleas.

My magic lamp...why I've had one for years. Sometimes I just forget to rub it...Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...

Dear Mom...Its Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T15:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom,

I love you.

It's Christmas Eve. Your favorite night in all the year. I miss you so. I miss your excitement about it all. I'm not enthusiastic about Christmas this year. The spirit just hasnt grabbed me. I know you're probably disappointed with me. It would be different if I could share it with you I'm sure. Being broke all the time doesnt help much. I like watching everyone open presents and well there wont be much of that this year...at least not here.
I'm home alone tonight. Managed to finagle a little time to myself. The children are off to Milano's for singing and yummies. Jean is going to the church for more singing and yummies. So here I am with the cat and the dog, neither of whom are very interested in me tonight.

I've been thinking alot of some bible verses for awhile now...There about Christmas. They are in Luke chapter 2.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I guess that to some folks these words dont really mean much, to some they mean more than life itself. To me, they are another point of light and truth...On this night whether it was really sometime in October as some folks say or maybe some other time...but on this night some 2000 odd years ago...the Saviour of the World was born in the flesh to become a man...to live and love, to mourn and celebrate with men this thing, this vapor...this moment in time we call Life. And it was so.

According to the words of the Living God as found in the King James Bible we are told to Fear Not on this day. We are told that the birth of this child was intended to bring great joy...rejoicing if you will...perhaps even celebration. Through it Mom, I noticed that the angels and the heavenly host were praising God worshiping Him and once the shepherds had seen the babe and turned away from the manger...they too were praising and glorifying God for the birth of their Saviour...

Today Mom there are people, believing people who turn away from this celebration of the birth of Christ because they consider it to be "the way of the heathen". I too once struggled with the doctrine which I now know is biblically false...but even more importantly I have my memories of what they would call "the way of the heathen", good memories of Christmas now long past and one just last year for which I am now and always will be grateful.

Those who say December 25th is a pagan holiday...fine...but I sure would like to see the day they actually set aside to celebrate the birth of their Saviour as is the scriptural, biblical of rejoicing and being exceeding glad...

This I know Mom, there is no joy for them and I mourn for them because they wont mourn for themselves.

I love you Mom,
bye,
Davey