It has been a long time

Have you ever missed something so much it makes you crazy or unstable? If you have then you know how I have felt since September12, 2009. That is how long I have had to wait to go to another conference. Another conference with out the funding from the local church as they are angry with authority. Cut off from any meaningful worship. Unable to give Communion the highlight of a Pastor's month, to say this has been an easy time belies the true emotion.

Now those reading this will say all things will pass, that you are burdened with more than you can bear, and that God will make away. The short answer is all of it is true. Those called to the high calling know that the race is given not to those who are strong or swift, but to those who endure to the end. Again true, but fir once i wish those who have had an easy time would be still, or better yet trod the gravel of life, experience or privation then return to those who have; then we can compare notes on the subject. This is not a "bitterness" rant, it is for lack of a better phrase an essay on how things happen in life. When we were younger never did our generation believe or think we would encounter such times as now. We graduated from school, went to work (at prearranged jobs via family members) or the University and in four years started a life work. It is ironic that we are not as credit worthy, or savvy as our parents. We as a generation have no money: there is plenty of credit but on the whole no money. The IRS (individual retirement accounts) are worthless and other securities were tied to such convoluted investment schemes (fraud) they are not worth the paper they are printed on. And we are struggling to make sense of how it all went bad.
So here we are putting the pieces of lives together, raising children grandchildren, with no job or security. To young to retire and too old to start again we preserver holding on for dear life. later

A change of pace

Every once and a while I like to do something different. So today I will not write in the conventional way. Nor will I take up alot of space. Today i will place a verse on the blog to laugh at myself. Hope that you like it and will see the humor as well as the concerns about relationship expectation. There will be a future blog on this called "All men are males but not all males are men". Later

I cannot compete
Many years ago I had a conversation with a woman concerning life’s consternations. At the time she lamented about her interpersonal relations. Saying to me that men said she did not meet expectations!
When inquired as to why their eyes took on a gleam. That is when she replied I cannot compete with whipped cream.
To my tender ears this was quite a revelation, but, since I was twenty something there was no hesitation. I asked her to continue she did getting madder by the thought, she lamented that she was a victim of a judgmental lot.
Her voice with fiery virturpretation raising a she spake, raking her competition for their lack of morals, their ignorance of being chaste.
Then in a whirlwind of words she turned men into males not have a compass of dignity succumbing to charms unveiled. Again she wailed and to me it sounded like a scream< I simply cannot compete with whipping cream.
Now as I look back on that conversation a victim of the times middle age where I am stationed I am in that position she was so long ago, now alone, divorced and all the children grown.
Seeking a new partner is extremely hard, the search for compatibility evades and a perplexity is in charge. Then in a flash a memory reminds me of that conversation had when naivety ruled my mind and there were no complications.
Now I stand the tables turned my story is not heard. I am the one who stands alone no sympathetic hearers. Now the expectations are assigned to me. I am the come rounder no easy way for me. In times of reflection the pain is real I understand; her anger at the thought of no one to hold her hand.
Turnabout is fair game the sauce good for the gander. The meaning comes to me I laugh at the fool I be, because like those before I cannot seem to compete with whipped cream.

Another crazy unleashed

Pastor Anderson preached a sermon to end all sermons. The upstart is that he wants to see the president dead. He quotes as a reference psalm 58 which is psalm of revenge. It is a scripture of violence for the wrong being done. David calls on God to punish those who are after him. Those who lie, deceive, plot and seek his life. This is an attitude that is part of the imprecatory psalms of the Bible. These writings are the lamentations of a person or people that find themselves in bondage or suffrage. They are integral to letting off steam and communicating to God hurts at the hands of those who are their adversaries.
The issue with this Pastor is not that he does not understand scripture (although you can with success argue this point of view) but the vitriol which spews forth masquerading as a sermon. As clergy our job is tell a congregation what the Lord says. To uplift downcast heads, sooth broken spirits, and to give comfort to those who are mourning. It is not however to demand the death of persons because you do not agree with them. The point with this pastor is the after effect he has on believers. I am sure that the secret service knows this church and its leadership. I am sure that the necessary precautions are taken on a daily basis. However after hearing (Iwill put the link in) this one has to wonder about the sanity of such a person claiming to be a person of God. Check this out and draw your own conclusions. They do have email so follow my example and write, not to condemn but to express your concerns. Later

Pastor Steven Anderson prays for Obama's death from ABC News TEMPE , Az. -- The United States Secret Service is speaking out about an East Valley pastor who is praying for President Barack Obama's death. Spokesperson Darrin Blackford said Monday, "We are aware of Pastor Anderson's comments and an appropriate follow up will be conducted." Parishioners leaving the Faithful Word Baptist Church Sunday carried not just their Bibles, but guns as well. Pastor Steven Anderson said he and his congregation have received death threats after a controversial sermon earlier this month."Guns are a great deterrent," said Anderson. "We haven't had any violence because people know if they come down here swinging a baseball bat, we're ready to protect ourselves." On August 16th, Anderson delivered a sermon titled "Why I Hate Barack Obama.."In it, Anderson admitted he prays for the president's death.It is a position he reiterated Sunday. "If you want to know how I'd like to see Obama die, I'd like him to die of natural causes," said Anderson . "I don't want him to be a martyr, we don't need another holiday. I'd like to see him die, like Ted Kennedy, of brain cancer." The sermon so incensed Bill Demski he traveled from his home in Glen dale to picket Anderson 's 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning service in Tempe ."A man of the cloth wants to kill the president, how sick can you get," asked Demski. Yet members of the Faithful Word Baptist Church defended their pastor's opinion of the president. "If (Obama) thinks the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are obsolete, it would be better if (Obama) wasn't here," said parishioner Renee Houlihan. But Anderson said despite the threats, he has no plans to change his message."I'm not going to back down, I wouldn't be worth my salt as a preacher if I let popularity determine what I preach," said Anderson . To listen to Anderson 's sermon "Why I Hate Barack Obama," click here. One protester who didn't want to give his name was walking around with a rifle – in full view. One of the parishioners who attended Sunday night services at the Faithful Word Baptist Church was Christopher Broughton. "I actually moved to the area because this church was preaching the message I believe in," said Broughton. Broughton had an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle outside President Barack Obama's speech to the VFW at the Phoenix Convention Center earlier this month. The night before the speech, on August 16th, Broughton listened to Anderson 's "Why I hate Barack Obama" sermon. "I concur, I think we'd be better off if God would send (Obama) where he's going now instead of later," said Broughton. "(Obama) is destroying our country." When asked if he was advocating violence against the President, Broughton said he wouldn't answer the question directly. "I don't care how God does it, I'm not going into further detail than that," said Broughton. "It would be better now than later."
Susan R. Thorpe
Executive Assistant
Bromley-Heath TMC
30 Bickford St
Jamaica Plain MA 02130
617-445-8515- office
617-445-0329 - fax
Each day is a reflection of your past and
an expression of your future
Live Wisely

One year later

Tomorrow is the anniversary of being single one year. To most it would be another day, to others, a time of rejoicing, but for me this day will be one of extreme sadness but resignation. Why I hear some of you ask? Who cares others dictate? You are both right, it really is not an issue. The reason I am writing about it is therapy. The last gasp of a marriage that has gone south. The incredible end of a journey that had ups and downs, failures and successes, good times and bad. It is the final time I will allow myself s moment of self indulgence: the pity party syndrome: the need to exercise my spleen and discard the bile in my liver. So I take the time to say a few words of departure. The fact is I was married for 24 years, almost to the silver. However it should have ended at 17, pride will make you do and say a lot of foolish things to evade the truth. Truth the final obstacle to understanding that the end is past and that you need to get on with living. Yet facing the truth is often a barrier, a fence which is so carefully constructed that when it is over, really over, instead of standing on truth from both points of view (we all have truth) the tendency (in my case) was to use slogans transcending into overcome, adapt and adjust. I have since found that people do not choose to do that and that is okay. This realization does not diminish others but makes the playing field even, which in case we forget is what marriage is all about: evenness. The lack of understanding this point and the insistence that all issues can be solved by brute personality has lead to a separation and the divorce as the only option. My greatest sin in this union was my devaluation of another not in a mean sense, but in a climate of ignorance: in other words I did not have a clue as to what I was doing. Had I a clue I would have understood their cry to be let go. Live and learn. so now it is the task of starting over. I know they are alright they were this way when I met them. My hope for others is that you learn to listen: not react, not over compensate, or other defense mechanisms, traits or methodologies,they are so useless. Now to the real question: would you revisit the issue...NO, they are happy and that is my greatest joy!!!! So on this day (tomorrow it is official) I rejoice in freedom only to try again, a decision made with eyes open and heart also. Later

Do we need a Limbaugh

NBC had an interview with Rush Limbaugh last week. I did not see most of it as the fact they give air time to this individual is a blemish for the communicative ability of television. But on further review, I can see why he was interviewed. There is no doubt that he is entertaining ENTERTAINING a fact that is missed by most listeners. There is really no basis in fact for the foolishness he extols on the radio. He himself admits the bombastic nature of his work, yet millions tune into listen to this propaganda. His arrogance is so vast that he openly bragged about having the muscle to charge more money in his markets for advertising space on the stations he is broadcast on. This is not the point I am glad that he has the ability to fool persons into outrageous expenditures, wish it were me. However the point isn't with this finance comes the ability to control agendas, like buying a football team.
Last week Limbaugh was part of a consortium bidding on the Saint Louis Rams (Los Angeles Rams for those of you who would remember). As expected there was a cry of negativity that one would think the old time racist had come back from the dead to cause mayhem. Reverend Sharp ton, Jesse Jackson and others spoke of the need to keep a Limbaugh from the owners box. And as of this writing they have done so. Limbaugh was dropped from the group who might have a chance that they did not have with Limbaugh.
In the grand scheme of things this is not important to the good of the NFL who constantly exploits those who play, coach, manage or referee. What is interesting is that there is such an outcry especially from persons who believe as Limbaugh does. Remember these owners are not that liberal if they were then they would fight the Commissioner on policies such as dog fighting (do not get twisted I am not pro this barbaric conflict) as this is a past time of the rural south for many years. The reason I bring up this sad tale is that Michael Vick took the weight for a lot of people sins that still participate in dog fights.
Which is why we need Limbaugh. For all the bluster and attacks, persons have endured this is a man that really makes no difference in the country. He has a following of knuckle draggers who have issues. There are those who have sense: to exploit the aforementioned group of persons that believe that all we need to do is get rid of Obama and the "liberals" and all will be well. The issue for me is that I like Limbaugh!!! With all his stuff, loudness rudeness, and scare tactics, I like him. Because he reminds me of how far we have come but we still have far to go to rid ourselves our country and our Nationall. Later

The whole world' watching

Every time the detractors of Obama raise their collective heads, stymie a program do the wrong thing by lies, misstatements, and politics as usual God steps in and a Daniel appears. This week it was the Nobel Committee as the awarded the Peace prize to President Barack Obama. This a monumental achievement for this man of extra ordinary ability and a salvo against those of the NO party. It further separates Obama from the mundane and pedestrian thought and restores valuable capitol as world events unfold. His selection is a catalyst for the change that must take place if we as a world are to make sense of issues. Global warming is real and to face this brings peace and understanding to an argument beset by buffoons and the quasi intelligent. The wars of Iraq and Afghanistan must end. There was not one justification for loss of life American or other. The ruse of 9-11 and the triumphed up "terrorist" that flew planes into the World Trade Center building causing the invasion of Iraq has been discredited. It has raised the ugliness of rendition, kidnapping "enemy combatants" and using torture to illicit information is an abomination for the honor of the United States. The committee is not in my opinion interfering with policy (we have generals for this madness) but is speaking to a larger point: the effectiveness of a President to influence world opinion and reaction for the greater good.

This was the message for the world from the Nobel prize committee. That Obama's ability to rally all persons of the world for the activity of peace is needed at this time. In fact to be church like he was elevated for a time such as this. One would think that such an honor is a unifier but for some not so.

The usual suspects of anti intellectualism, racism, chauvinism and xenophobia all harmonized with their rising cacophony, a symphony of why him??? It is revealing to all the world the abject foolishness of these voices that disengage rather than embrace. From Glen Beck's blather (his arrogance will tell him to accept) William Kristol" screed "what has he done"?, and finally the septic tank of sewage Rush Limbaugh whose pejorative "agreeing with the Taliban"says more about their hate than their patriotism. In short when those a for mentioned do something other than vomit turgid phrases intended to inflame the passions of lunatics ammeeting of minds and concerns might happen.

Which is the point of the action by the Committee: the decision so early in the presidency of Obama might be the jump start for the world to stop and hear voices saying why? The world and its need for nuclear weapons is insane. The need by Iran and other "rogue nations" to arm themselves is disaster waiting to take place. We chastise the North Koreans, the Iranians, and others for wanting a bomb. We shudder at the fact that there are those who can create a dirty bomb a minor device that will poison cities for years to come. There are position papers that look at the possibilities of an exchange of weaponry, and, the aftermath is not acceptable, either in life or property damage. The fear of those in the world is real and might be the reason Obama was chosen to lay a foundation that addresses the problem with a new attitude a new diplomacy and a new resolve.

The world is watching what we do. It is not about the rise in troop levels in Afghanistan, nor is it the machinations of petty tyrants, or the bellicosity of Nations or the spittle of the lunatic right (and left but with moderation): rather it is the historical fact that one nation has used the bomb on another, and that atonement must be made, and who better, than a man of color whose history, parentage and gifts are suited to lead all in a new era of disarmament. Later

Education mess

I wonder if we as parents, grand parents or just concerned citizens understand why we can not do school right. This is not about education, or teachers, or even books. Enough has been written already. We know that there are budget issues. Some of these are the result of poor planning, others from poor administrators, and still others by Neanderthal parents or posers that interfere with the school system. No today i want to rail about the lack of decency and the regression of then most basic of items in short supply: toilet paper. What I hear you say??? That is correct: toilet paper. I saw on the news this morning that the schools were telling persons that their children need to bring this item with them. How does this happen? What is the rational for those who do budget for the year. What has become of the process when the most basic items for the management of the school go lacking or ignored? It is bad enough that in some districts there are not enough text books,or their is a shortage of qualified teachers, or even the closing of some schools because of repair, population or tax shortfalls. But to suggest that students bring their own toilette tissue is past sad it is tragic. What are we doing that this has become an issue? Have we as a parents become so fixated on the minor issues of religion, creationism, evolution, and please do not forget the cult of personality (Obama) that we have allowed this situation? Or have we lost sight of the process of allocations which allow the building of schools at the expense of basic needs? Maybe we should stop worrying about curriculum and tend to the business of provisioning the school. The additional burden of sending personal items to school with the children only adds to the frustration of parents and shows a lack of empathy for young people.

A new beginning

Every once and a while we need to try new things, go new places or just relocate in the same city. Either way the old saying is true, all work no play makes all of us stale. A new thing sometimes can be the the start of a fresh relationship. The stress of the same routine can drain all of our energy. When we hold on to relationships that are dead, jobs which have ceilings made of concrete or it is just time to move forward. The trouble is we do not. The pain maybe etched on our face, the lines heavy on our brow, tempers that we could control get out there any host of issues and we refuse to recognise that we need a change.

Why is that? After all change is a good thing is it not? To seek out new horizons is the stuff of growth. The human family is made up of explorers, driven by the knowledge of wanting to know. The human condition demands we seek out newness no matter what the cost, and leave behind the known even at the risk of life. This wanderlust exist in all of us and at times we must exercise it or de-evolve.
A new beginning starts with the admission that we are in a rut. That we have gone as far as we can in the current condition we find ourselves. Vacations, weekend travel is inadequate. We must go. The early explorers understood this, the pioneers felt this the need for the elbow room to rise and fall. And the reward was a new country previously unknown, an expansion into new lands, with new exposures and the satisfaction of achievement. A new beginning breeds fortune and fortune always favors the brave. later

We are missingthe point

The people of this country never fail to amaze me. For the past few days the media, opponents (political and racial) have bemoaned and bewailed Obama's trip to Copenhagen, to lobby for the 2016 Olympics for the city of Chicago. The hue and cry stems from the fact that he will be gone for 16 (that is right) hours to try to convince the committee to send the games to the United States, the State of Illinois, and Chicago!!! My gracious one would think that he went to stay like Bush lite did for FOUR DAYS to ogle and cheer as a teenager might do. The question for everyone is so what. It is the job of the President to lobby for the states no matter whose state is might be. Would some of these detractors raise the roof if he went to one of their states? I doubt it. However, there is a concern that i have that he is not paying attention to. The growing need of some citizens to carry weapons as ornaments everywhere they go. Of greater importance than the health care crisis or the wars on two fronts, or even the growing economic issues is the fact that the Supreme Court is hearing arguments about carrying fire arms in public. This madness. With all of the concerns that people have, and they are real. Why would the court entertain this knowing that their decision will cause mayhem in some places? This need to have weapons because the constitution allows it must in my opinion be tempered with the times that we live in. There are serious consequences on the rise if we do not deal with this issue and do it quickly. We as a country will suffer if we allow "cowboy" antic to surface. There is way too much violence and given the way we are situated the tendency will be to shoot first, with no questions asked on either side. This is not a Pollyanna idea. The job m,market is bleak, the numbers go up daily. All of us are two to three weeks form no job, no benefits, no unemployment, and homelessness. These are stressors that can take a toll, and in a lot of cases it already has. I shudder to think about this generation that has not come of age, the loss of home, stability and permanence will affect them in an adverse way. And we will not know the result for years. So we must be vigilant and prayerful that the court will not indulge in the fantasy of the old west and the right to bear arms. This society can not afford this. Later