Just what I think

I was so pleased to hear that the Azle teen made the adult choice, which others were reluctant to do!

So many comments were made about this young man, stating that he was in school for a good education and not for learning the latest styles (and other various “arguments”), though I see no other purpose in dying ones hair… a little conflict of FACTS here, I believe.

Additionally, I think this boy’s parents should be able and willing to see, AT THIS POINT, that this entire experience – REGARDLESS OF WHO IS “RIGHT” OR WHO IS “WRONG” – has indeed been an excellent education, preparing him for the real world.

This is PRECISELY why I supported the school’s stance.  NO. My statements, here, are in no way intended to give any impression that I think that I know/knew the whole story OR that I even had the opinion that his hair was too distracting.

I will take this further to say that from the little that I personally heard reported from the mother’s perspective; perhaps I don’t agree with the manner in which the school official initially dealt with the boy’s “inappropriate” dress code.

However, though the mother stated this was not about the hair color, but rather the way they were treated… the reports were consistently about the “fairness” or equality of the topic.  Equally, threatening to get the ACLU involved WAS indeed purely a motive of “all things fair and equal”.  Too many arguments were brought forth as to… “What about girls wearing skirts too short, etc.”  GREAT questions, indeed, but what has that got to do with HIS PERSONAL responsibility to do what is expected?  “BUT Officer… My friends didn’t get busted for weed, so why can’t I posses some for myself – NOT FAIR!”  (get the point?)

So, back to my initial comment; this educational experience was the best thing all around, so no parents should complain.

Just a few of my own life lessons learned that are really helpful for all:

1.       you can’t always get what you want

2.       pick your battles – is your time and energy REALLY worth this one?

3.      life has NEVER  been, is NOT, and NEVER will be FAIR or EQUAL (regardless of what the Commies in this world would have you to think).

4.      there are indeed times when injustice cause ACTUAL harm (ie Twin Towers, Sadaam H., and actual physical/sexual abuse or murder) and JUSTICE is needed and should be demanded.

5.      EQUALLY… there are times when injustices (as perhaps in this case), mild cruelty or embarrassments, and all those other DAILY, GLOBAL occurrences, common to all mankind… JUST “HAPPEN”.

People…. What has happened to our thinking?  Where did we get off?   I chose to walk away from an E.D.S. job back in the eighties, just because I did not want to go by their dress code… but I certainly was not going to call the ACLU because “eds was denying me the RIGHT to be an individual”!  It was MY choice! 

HELLO??????

 We ALL need to LEARN or EDUCATE ourselves in how to properly deal in society – with everyone’s differences, “rules and guidelines”,  AND LIFE’S d.i.s.a.p.p.o.i.n.t.m.e.n.t.s.!!!

And sorry for the Azle mom, but even if mal-treatment was indeed the first ISSUE at hand… Who was responsible for taking it to the next level of issues… fairness/equality/ACLU??

Everyone is screaming for individuality, but insists on being treated equally. (huh?)

We have a word in the dictionary for that.  Insanity.

Do we REALLY want our children to have a good education?

 Or do we want them to go insane?

Let’s not get annoyed by this question and try to answer so quickly, as it is a reflective question.  We’ve ALL been blogging on regular basis that our kids today are acting “out” real crazy.

Let’s not sit for TOO long and scratch our heads.  The answer is right in front of us.  They need to fall down and get the bloody knees.  YES, we need to tenderly walk them through the first-aid process (in the early years), so that they will know how to handle life’s bumps and bruises….

Otherwise, we are doing to continue down the destructive road that we have all stated that we are seeing – coming our way.

I AM REALLY PROUD OF THIS BOY’S DECISION… really!  (hope his parents are).

And I quote:

I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he/she will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Then the Jews (who were the "good" religious ones, but NOT Christian) began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whovever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him/her...."

On hearing this, many of Jesus' disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

Aware that his disciples (those who FOLLOWED Jesus and a part of the Way - Christianity) were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them...

"Does this offend you?  What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe (remember... this is Jesus talking to the "christian church go-er")...

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the twelve.

... all because they were OFFENDED!!!

Dear fellow bloggers,

It is getting to the point of 'ad nauseum' to hear some of you "SCRIPTURE QUOTERS/Church go-ers/P.C.ers" crying for the true followers of Christ to not be so "offensive".

There was NOTHING out of the ordinary OFFENSIVE about this church CHOOSING to say no to this particular family. 

It may be sad for the family - but so was the deceased man's choice of lifestyle.

It may offend many of you CHURCHED and UN-CHURCHED depending on your p.c. stance on the issue.

But the fact is...

Christianity is what it is.  And to add to it...

Truth BITES!  and it bites really hard too, at times (even for me).

Scripture is clear on the homosexual lifestyle and to celebrate this man's life in that manner is WRONG.... according to Christianity.

So, if some of you don't like the Christian message...

Leave the Christian Church.  It's that simple.

And for all of you Christians who are cringing at my bluntness... read Jesus' words again in RED.

He did not go chasing people with sweet words, into the Kingdom.  No - He encouraged them to leave if they were indeed offended.

CHURCH Go-Ers need to start acting like Christians and TAKE UP YOUR CROSSes.

They crucified Jesus for calling them VIPERS, SNAKES, et al...

Don't you at least expect the same?

Stand up, Church, for what YOU know IS TRUTH!

BRIDE of CHRIST....

pray for this obedient Church in Arlington... and pray for the blessings of God to rain down upon them for it!!!

Shalom (to those who will)!

Comforting the Disturbed &...

Disturbing the Comfortable,

dp

We’ve all been reading so many BLOGS written about our frustrations and concerns on the lack of morals, integrity, respect for the law or fellow citizens, crime on the rampage, no ability to trust politicians today, what is ethical and what is not.

An excerpt from a comment I read today was:  “...And society, which used to condemn such antics, now tolerates it. I am constantly appalled when some of my daughter’s friends show up with a baby...”  So my thought is, why DID society condemn such things before?

I have an opinion:

Perhaps it could be because THAT society, from THAT era ALSO chose to live by the very CLEAR moral laws, from the Holy Scriptures.  I am speaking of those ‘laws’ or ‘moral codes of conduct’, which TODAY’S society is NOW indeed rejecting. 

Laws such as: NO premarital sex - no adultery - no divorce (with exception) - no homosexual behavior - no stealing or murder - but most importantly… DO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. 

We all know the various ‘moral’ questions being raised today; some – in our BLOGS as well as other places - with scriptures to support ideas to answers. 

But, alas... Everyone wants to make excuses and be politically correct – we must not offend anyone – and at the expense of EVERTHING that we hold precious; at the expense of our own children and “civil”-(I)-zation, as we know it!

THE FACT IS... This once, great Nation is slowly and subtly moving down the path (like our European counter-parts) of a POST-Christian society.

• Anarchy is no longer called Anarchy, Disobedience (or worse yet…) Sin!  But rather, it is our “equal rights” “civil rights” & “freedom of speech”
• Graphic violence, explicit sexual content, innuendos of perversion, and the ‘art’ of witchcraft – are now labeled “ENTERTAINMENT”
• When we protest, we are told not to worry and to just "get over it".

Truth is, I personally don’t worry, for I am doing my best to CONTINUE (as my forefathers did) to live a blameless life before a Holy God...  and trusting in His mercy when I do indeed stumble along the way.

But okay, LET’S just continue to “ENTERTAIN” ourselves anyway, even though GOD said not to EVEN ‘entertain’ the thought of these types of behaviors...

NO!! 

• You can do that.  But, as for me, I will remain steadfast in my faith and obedience to HIS word. 
• You just keep “PROGRESSING in the RELEVANCE” of today’s society.  But, as for me, I will STAND FIRM in the place LONG ESTABLISHED, which will “grow me up” in a progressing faith in my Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.

I will just sit back and watch as society scratches their heads, wondering:

• Why and HOW things have gone so wrong in society
• Why our babies are having babies
• Why children are killing parents
• Why children are being drugged because they are ”out of control”
• What’s wrong with our justice system

I will watch in bewilderment that society questions the relevance OR need of:

• The Ten Commandments (not the Ten Wishes - by the way) of God Almighty
• Returning prayer to our schools (take note: we once had it there and since the beginning.  I wonder why that is, if it’s So true that we were not founded upon Judeo-CHRISTIAN Principles?)
• Calling sin for what it is… SIN. 

Instead we want to call that which is evil - good & that which is truly good, we call BIGOTRY, RACISM, and JUDGING OUR BROTHER.

But, again - everyone wants to make excuses and be politically correct - offend no one and at the cost of EVERTHING!!

ACTUALLY – It’s just a choice folks.

It’s our choice.

God’s Word says: “… IF My people who are called by my name (call themselves Christian) will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I will hear from Heaven, and heal their sin (addictions, diseases) and heal their land (homes/nation). NOW My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made…”

IF…. THEN -  IF… THEN - IF… THEN

GET IT YET?

YES – Salvation is a FREE gift to all who receive Jesus as the ONLY way to God, but...

Our wholeness and healing as a nation and as individuals…

well, it’s a conditional promise

It’s our choice.

An EXPERT in Not-A-Lot, but this is just what I think!!  -dp-

Today was just  -- the greatest!

     You ever wonder when things will ever settle down and just "go right" for once?  Well, that's been me.  Today - NO... this week (but 2day was the cherry on top) was that "just for once" for me.  I'll tell you why.

     After being missionaries in Italy - working with African Immigrants & Refugees - for 6.5 years; I was wiped-out or worn down after all that amount of time giving, giving, and giving of myself. 

In 2004, my family and I returned to the States.  Being in Italy was some of the most completely satisfying years of my life, but along with that came the moving - adjust - language - adjust + moving - adjust - language - adjust, etc., etc.   

     From 2004, it was the (not culture, but... ) "re-entry shock"  and ADJUST.  WOW!!!  Did D/FW change or WHAT?  And let me tell you.  It hasn't been easy and everything seemed to be uphill, never working out:  making new friends, my family isn't the family i originally left back in texas, my kids don't "feel" any "roots", or texan, but rather european-americans. 

Now you can ask any military 'brat' and they too can tell you how upsetting, unsettling and how full of disappointments life can be for THE CHILDREN, who change a MINIMUM of five schools during their travels.  This makes out for a great "life-experiences" and education, but emotionally it's extremely trying.

So, THIS week my family celebrated not only the 4th of July, but also one of my children's 13th birthday.

The deal is this:       Being in "public work" also brings the continual string of guests in and out of the home. Loss of privacy, etc., etc.

It was so nice to sit QUIETLY and talk about our Independance and it's significance with our kids.  JUST us.  It was so nice to go to watch the fireworks.  Just us.

It was so nice TODAY, to hear my child say, "mom, thanks so much for letting me have enough time to make so many friends and not lose them - again... and for letting me have this b-day party.  This is the best party I've ever had! I love you." -- she said all that while actually looking me in the eyes.

wow... talk about bringing me to my knees!

You ever wonder when things will ever settle down and just "go right" for once?  Well, that's been me. 

Has anyone noticed how out-of-hand the situation with "our children" has been getting in recent days?

1. First were the four Arlington boys vandelizing homes and cars.
2. Then the SEVERAL children dying, drowning, or almost in the floods. -- some parents, in their pain or ignorance, blaming others for their losses.
3. A few weeks back, two boys robbed, shot and killed a friendly acquaintence of mine - just 1/2 a block from my house!... the D & S convenience store clerk.
4. Pick-pockets (okay... so he was 27 y.o.a.), and last...
5. I just read a Fox report of a 19 year old "boy" who was just given the death penalty for raping a (houston??) girl and executing her and her boyfriend!      ---   To top it off: when the (forgot the term) "punishment phase" was declared, this kid jumps up in the courtroom as if he was going to do something to the victems' families (as if he had not done enough... or that his punishment was their fault).

We hear these things.  We sit in disbelief and shock.  We wonder how and WHY  these things are happening to our lives, our families, friends, neighbors & country-men. 

How did we get this way?  Where did we go wrong with our children: society as a whole?  Is there any hope of turning things around?

My heart is broken for us all.   Is yours?  I've shared my opinion in other comments and blogs before, but I will say it again.

Any psychologist will tell you that children become naturally angry and at times even rebellious, when boundaries are not made clear.

If we set boundaries for them, but the consequences are mere "shaking" the finger of shame at them... We are telling them that the boundaries (rules & consequences) don't really matter and, additionally, that we do not care about them.

On the other hand, those of us parents who really DO care are scared out of their mind to discipline our children (and most especially in public) for fear of a C.P.S. "reporting" against us......  Q:  who really runs and regulates that organization anyway????

What are we to do?  Time out?   Ohhhhh, please!

Then (sorry people, but I have to paraphrase parts of the poem/ prayer "buzzing around" in myspace),  we ask what's wrong with our children, but we refuse to look at what we are "playing out" in the past thirty plus years:

• kill the "just-a-fetus", but, by god... we must save the whales.   (?)
• HERE'S A GOOD ONE... If we tell them "no more praying in school", yet at the same time we attempt to teach political correctness, saying, "NEVER judge others' lifestyles...  only God can judge!" -- To Whom is it that we are telling our children NOT to pray??  And, more importantly, Who are we truly offending?   TWO things are for SURE.  Our children are not so stupid like some would want them to be AND God will not be mocked.
• No speaking of Jesus or Christianity - yet teaching all the other religions (or alternative lifestyles) are open season.  No Christian or "Jesus" advertisement, but we can let them dress like violent gangsters and pushers: pins, studs & bones peirced on the body in all places mentionable (and not) -- Satanic symbols of death, destruction, pain and misery are plainly displayed, but --  Jesus is offensive?
• Someone just tell me, please!  HAS NO LIBERAL OR "GOOD PAGAN" NOTICED ... that the majority of all International, National & State moral laws actually come from those Ten Commandments, which we have now, not only kicked out of our schools, but the Halls of Justice as well!
• Last... and this is the "BEST"   --  When I was growing up (and I'm a spring chicken to most), things were clear... NOW WE ALLOW AND EVEN IGNORE THE CONFUSING MESSAGES THAT ARE BEING SENT TO OUR KIDS.   here's a great ex.  When I was ten years old, COCAINE was "something" really bad that people snorted and for which one could go to jail.... but it was just something.  THEN, there was this other great invention - depending on the nation, or even the regions of the u.s. - it was called cheese and I thought (still do) that it was best variety food EVER!

Now, cocain is something "good" to drink and cheese is the newest (that i've heard) deadly drug, which MY children who don't even go to public school, were informed of the "basics" to make the stuff.

I do NOT know what else to say except that America had better wake up and REPENT before the Almighty GOD (yes... this would include the church - for all those anti-christians who are getting all hyped up).

Those of us who call ourselves Christians (me included) had better start putting holes in our pants' knees, from prayer

And those who don't care for Christians or the Bible... I gently ask you to "HEAR" what has been said... and consider.  Let go of the offenses/failures of yesterday.

We will all stand before Him one day and it will be He, who will be asking why all this has happened... not us questioning Him!!

An EXPERT in Not-A-Lot, but this is just what I think!

- d -

To be honest, I must say that I was giggling like a little kid when I read the story about the 70 +(?) year old ex-marine who beat the "daylights" out of the 27 year old pickpocket guy !  What a great story with a good ending.

However (and I've always got one of these...) I am surprised some charge hasn't come up against good ol' marine - I mean from the pickpocket guy.  Like some abuse or excessive force thing.

I commented on a blog about the four boys in Arlington and how we should perhaps have more severe (and painful) punishment for these petty (or worse) criminals.

Don't get me wrong - i am totally "yippee-kiyay" for what and how this good ol' man took care of that whipper-snapper/ pickpocket...

but... if "joe blow" citizen can get away with it... ????? why is the justice system so adamantly against this or other types of swift, corporal punishment(s)... like the old fashioned chain gangs?? 

I mean, why should convicts get weights to work out with? and why the ball courts????  in some cases even libraries and computers?????

what the hell is wrong with this country????

i'm not saying to make them live on crap porridge and make them sleep on dirt floors and in their own urine!!

offenders of the law should be miserable, not made comfortable.    Some of them are in better living arrangements in prison than from where they came!

I believe that this Ex-Marine (and others like him) should be the first person that they left in a room with after sentencing... and would / should be the LEAST of their troubles.

An EXPERT in Not-A-Lot, but this is what I think.

- D -

.

Are these guys NUTS, or what?

We have too many people who are either too lazy to get a job or they are living too high for the income. 

In this case, this gentleman is trying to live a nice life, be responsible for his own affairs (bills/obligations), and a person of integrity with his money... being a good stuard so to speak.

These home-owner associations should be re-named to "President of the Self-Centered Association"

An eye sore???  How about "What a disgrace this association is to our communities for such COMPLETE NONSENSE"!!!

ADDITIONALLY - I just do not understand why in a State like Texas, solar panels are not installed on all new-built homes ANYWAY!?!?!?!?......  this guy (with his panels) is actually giving money to the electric company - why wouldn't they be happy to "foot the bill" for installation on new and old homes?????

AN   EXPERT  in nothing, but this is what I think!

- D -