A German's Point of View on Islam

My area of the world at one time was a large settling place for citizens of the Deutshland that immigrated to the New World to start their live's anew. Jews, Protestants and Catholic all arrived for various reasons and settled in Cincinnati and the surrounding suburbs.

I still am familiar with folks that return to Germany once a year to visit their kin. Here is a view from an older German regarding the current state of the world.

The fellow whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.

"Very few people were true Nazis" he said, "but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."

We are told again and again by "experts and 'talking heads' that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.

It is the fanatics who march.

It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide.


It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave.

It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque.

It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals.

The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority", "the 'silent majority," is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists (Karl Marx and assoc.) were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.

China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet.

And, who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving?"

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.

Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghanis, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

The Hollywood Left would lead us to believe the Islamic revolt in Iraq and Afghanistan is another Viet Nam. That we are only fighting for control of oil. They are hoping that President Bush is Nixon. They are longing for those old days of protests and civil disobediance. They are clueless. The current war, the current situation has everything to do with religious fanaticism, the oppresion of all who do not follow Islam and the forcing of Islamic rule on the world.


As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.






Lastly, at the risk of offending, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand. This is really why our troops are overseas protecting our shores.

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving Day 2007. For the past week we have articles in the news about Black Friday. We have been immersed in radio, TV and print media advertisements that let us know we no longer have to wait until Friday to save 30 to 50% on our shopping for Christmas. We can hurry through eating our Turkey and candied yams and get off our candy butts to hurry off to Wal-Marts and shop today. They are opened. So is K-Mart, Meiers, Kohls, Sears and all the grocery stores and fast food joints. J. C. Pennys is opening up at 4 am on Friday with door-buster savings!


When I was 17, my father purchased a convenience store. This was in 1970. During this historical era all businesses were closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. This was out of respect for God and for employee's families.


In 1970 God and families were of paramount importance. However one of the bylaws of my Dad's new business was it needed to be opened 7 days a week, 365 days a year, no matter what. Christmas and Thanksgiving Day sales were sometimes four or five times more than average daily sales. It made sense as there was no competition. I hated it. My family hated it. My Dad hated it. The employees at the store hated it. But the customers loved being able to buy last minute items they had forgotten.

As the years rolled on, other businesses discovered this secret. Ah' yes, Scrooge be praised!





Money was to be made. Let us forget about family. Heck today most families are dysfunctional. Tradition was thrown out years ago along with school prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. God! Well in today's world, God is multi-cultural, so why waste a day celebrating and giving thanks to Him. Get to work!



Which brings us to Thanksgiving 2008. May you spend time with those that you love and give thanks to Him in all things. May the future return to the past.

The Book of Job

Bad things happen to good people. This question has perplexed humanity and perhaps has been a stumbling stone for some of God's people.

I turned my attention to the Book of Job for answers. Job was a wonderful man, with a wonderful life. He was a great family man. A man of God. A man of principal and the spiritual covering for his family. However he suffered unspeakable personal losses, calamities and devasting illness.

During my younger years as a Christian, I purposefully avoided the Book of Job when reading through the Bible. I was poor. I worked much too hard. My wife has been stricken by several horrendous illnesses and I just did not want to read about another man's problems. I had enough of my own. What I had forgotten was the Bible is one of God's ways to speak to us and teach us.

With the recent deaths of some people that were important in my upbringing, I decided to take a look at The Book and draw some comfort from it.

Aside from the valuable lessons in Job, this book is perhaps one of the best written of all the books of the Bible. I am sure that the Book of Job was passed on and on by oral tradition before scribes set it to parchment. It's words and thoughts expressed are so eloquently set forth.

In the first verses we learn of Job's wealth and learn about Job's family. Job is the family patriarch and he is also the spiritual patriarch of his family. Job is depicted as a man of simple faith, integrity and dedication to God. He loves and trusts God in all things and he loves his family.

Ironically, Job's sons and daughters were not concerned about their spiritual life or relationship with God as much as they were concerned with living the good life. At least as much of the good life that Ur had to offer in 1000 B.C. Job's sons were party animals and they invited their 3 sisters with them. Job was concerned about their carnality and their souls. So "after the feast had run it's course..." Job would offer burnt sacrifices to God because he was concerned that his children may have sinned and cursed God within their hearts.



In the next verse we then get a glimpse of the high places in Heaven as the sons of God come to present themselves before Him. Satan answers God's question. "Where have you been?" Satan states that he has been going to and fro across the earth. God then asks him if he has considered His servant Job? Job is blameless and upright. Job fears God and turns away from evil. Satan rebuts God and accuses Him of putting a hedge around Job, his house and all that he owns. He then tells God "to touch him with Your hand and he will curse your face." God will not be told what to do. But says to Satan, take away all the he has, but do not touch him.

Are we pawns in a cosmic game of chess? No. God is simply showing that his servant Job had authentic faith. Job trusted God, his savior, in all things and all circumstances.

Satan then causes the deaths of all of Job's servants by using evil men to kill them. Jobs animals were slaughtered by a fire and those beasts that escaped the fire were stolen by two different tribes of maurading invaders. Finally a natural disaster comes along and destroys the home where his children were feasting. They were all killed.

When Job learns of these awful maladies, he shaves his beard and head, tears his clothing and morns. He falls to the ground in his grief and prays to the Lord and blesses God saying "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Satan's boast is disproven. Though Job is grief stricken and desolate, he accepts his plight as coming from the world and blesses God's name.

Once again we glimpse the realm of God. The sons of God come before Him and once again God says, "Have you considered my servant Job. There is none like him." God is proud of Job. In the face of all disaster Job is steadfast in his faith and integrity, even though "you have moved against me to destroy him without cause." Satan is very upset at this point and yells "Skin for skin. All that a man has, he will give his life for. But touch his bone and face (cause illness) and he will curse Your Face." God gives Satan power of Job with the condition he spare his life.

Job is stricken with sores from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. He is in pain and tries to scrape off the scabs with potsherd and put ashes on his body for relief.


The words of Job's wife reflect the thoughts of the world. "Do you still hold fast to your faith, to your integrity? Why don't you just curse God and die?" In other words face the facts God is to blame for our poverty, God is to blame because our children are gone, God is to blame for your illness so you might as well take matters into your own hands. Curse God, kill yourself and end the misery.

Job does feel devastated about his condition. But he does not curse God. Instead he curses himself for ever being born. How many of us have said the same thing? Job is miserable. His health is wrecked, his family killed and all his pocessions are gone. If you have ever suffered from any form of skin malady you may relate to the torment that you go through. You skin is surrounded in nerve endings. The itching and pain can not be relieved. It is no small wonder Job tried to cut off the sores with sharp pieces of broken pottery. However Job does not place blame on God.

At this point his three friends come to console him by offering words of wisdom. This is where my ears perked up. I have heard some of these same words before.


Job's friend Eliphiz speaks. To summarize, Eliphiz says to Job, God is angry at you. God gets angry from time to time. Beg for His wisdom. Ask Him. God is testing you and you will come out the wiser from these tests.

Bildad, Job's other friend offers advice. He critizes Job's words of faith as being full of wind. He states the cause of Job's plight to be due to his lack of knowledge and transgressions against God. Job needs to repent, beg forgiveness and seek wisdom. He compares Job to papyrus that cannot grow without marsh water.

Job's next friend Zophar then speaks and accuses him of hidden sin and lack of understanding of God.

The conversation goes on and Job is accused of not having enough faith. His lack of faith is the cause of his woes. His friends go on and on pointing out Job's faults and explaining their oppinion of God's ways. After all, they are experts. After all, they have come to comfort their friend.

Then in chapter 32 when all finally stop speaking, the voice of youth speaks out in the form of Eli-hu, hu rambles on and on giving us his knowledge of the mind of God.


To summarize Job's friends accuse him of:
1. Not having enough faith
2. Having hidden sin
3. Not having sufficient wisdom
4. Not praying fervantly enough
5. You are being tested and have failed

There are plenty of great studies on this book. Bottom line is that all Job's friends are speaking the same words I hear today. Sadly some of these words come from the pulpit. I have heard them from Evangelists and read them in Christian books. 3008 years later nothing has changed. We still argue about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Men are still expounding their great knowledge of the Almighty. Christians are still preaching the words of "Yoda". "Try? There is no try. You do or do not" Or Yoda's respons to the words of Luke (and by Luke I do not mean the 4th Gospel), Luke "I can't believe it." Yoda, "That is why you fail". The Word of God is not Star Wars.

What made God proud of Job was Job's fear of God and his respect of God. Job was blameless and upright. He trusted and accepted God in all things and turned away from evil.

Finally God appears in a whirlwind and the whole group become quiet.

God rebukes all the men for their lack of knowledge and feeble attempt at explaining God Way. God asks where they were when He created the earth and created all the beasts. It is here that God has a wonderul soliloquy about the creation of the earth and the animals that inhabit the earth. This is worth reading.


Throughout the book Job speaks his mind as to what he would say if he had an audience with God. He would like to defend himself before the Lord. Now God gives him the chance and Job can only say "Behold, I am of small account. I hold my hand over my mouth (a sign of respect for nobility) I have spoken once but can say no more."

God asks him if he would condemn God that you may be justified?

When God finishes speaking. Job understands and says, ""I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.' I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

In other words, yes I said those things, but now that I behold you I know that I am nothing please forgive me.

After God finishes speaking with Job, He accuses Job's 3 friends of speaking falsely about the things of God. He then gives Job the responsibility of making a sacrifice for the sin of his friends. His friends were required to provide the animals for the sacrifice. Remember, Job does not have any animals as his pocessions were destroyed. I find it very interesting the God does not accuse the youth of his indiscretions or ask for a sacrifice for his sin.

We see in the last part of the bookd the LORD restores the fortunes of Job after he obeyed God, prayed and sacrificed for his friends. The LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house; and they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. To me this is wonderful that his own family recognized Job and loved their brother. I am certain that before these tragic events occurred Job had shared with them. They now were returning Job's example.

And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters.

God doubles the amount of pocession that Job had originally had after Job had performed God's Will. He gave him seven more sons and three more daughters. He did not double the children that he lost, because children are not pocessions and souls cannot be replaced. There is no mention of the party life for his new sons and daughters. Perhaps because Job is a changed man, he has become a new role model for his new family.

It is also very interesting that Job's daughter's names are mentioned, but not the names of his sons. Job also gives his daughter's equal share in his inheritance, which is unheard of. We learn that God allowed Job to live 140 years and see four generations of his children.

Job is a man of simple faith, integrity and trust in God. What I have learned from this book is to hold on to that simple trust. Believe that God is in control. Shy away from the teachings du jour. Put your hope in God, I will praise Him yet, my Savior, My God.

The Celebration of The Resurection - Deb's Memorial

If you have ever been to a Shabbis or to a gathering of Hebrew Christians, undoubtedly you will sing this very simple, very old song, "Hineh Mah Tov umah na'im shevet achim gam yachad" Translated it means, "How good it is, and pleasant, for brothers to dwell peacefully together." That is what I felt at Deb's rememberance. How good and how pleasant it was to come together to be of one thought and of one purpose and experience the peace and blessed assurance of the promised eternal life with Our Father.

It was wonderful to see the Smith family once again. It was wonderful to see so many faces and hear the voices of people that had gone in so many diverse directions. All had come because of the common bond of love and caring for our dear friend and sister and her family.

It was a testament to her faith and the faith of Tom and family that we were all gathered and celebrating Deb's return to her home.

Linny and I had gone to a funeral just a week prior to Deb's celebration. One of our relatives was tragically killed in an automobile accident. As with most funerals, it was an extremely sad occasion.

But I contrast that with the unity and hope that we all felt during our brief gathering on that Sunday afternoon. For all those present knew, as Job so eloquently stated, "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Hallelujah!

Auntie

Auntie passed away early this morning at around 1:30 am. She was 89 years old.

Autie has been residing in a nursing home since the mid 1990's. She had been taken to Jewish Hospital on October 7th because she had developed pneumonia. While she was there the doctors determined she had suffered a heart attack. Perhaps the pneumonia was congestive heart failure? Who knows?

Auntie responded to the antibiotics well enough to go back to the "extended care facility", however her son, Eddie was told by the medical staff that her condition was not good and not to expect her to be around much longer. She passed away in her sleep on October 22, 2007 at the age of 89, five months shy of her 90th birthday.

Auntie was a sweet and decent person. She has been my Mom's best friend from their early childhood days until the day she became incapacitated and couldn't remember anything or anyone.

I have wonderful memories of my Mom, Auntie and my grandmother, who I called Dandy, taking Julianne, me and Eddie on short trips shopping in downtown Cincinnati, the Zoo, Coney Island or a swimming pool that used to be in Dayton, Kentucky called Tacoma Pool. We also used to go to Dave and Debs Roller Rink in Dayton Kentucky and then eat a hamburger and fries at the Avenue Cafe on Fairfield in Bellevue. There were some days we would go to Auntie's house or sometimes we would just all be at our house. Mom, Dandy and Auntie would make lunch and I'd play with Eddie. Some days we would go to Dandy's small apartment on Division Street in Bellevue. As my Mom had Monty and Tim they too came along.

My grandmother rented an apartment that was the second floor of Auntie's father-in-law's house. This living arrangement created a lot of confusion for a young boy with a limited view of the world. "If my grandma lives upstairs, then who are these people downstairs that I call grandma & grandpa? Can someone explain this to me? "

So Grandpa & Grandma Kuhr lived downstairs and Dandy lived upstairs. The Kuhr's son George, Auntie's husband, was somewhat older than she. I believe that he was about the same age as my grandmother. I always thought of Uncle George as an excentric guy that just wanted to be left alone to play with his toys. He was the only son of German speaking parents. He grew up speaking German. Uncle George had his own train set in the basement. He built one for Eddie, but Uncle George's was bigger and better. Uncle George played the piano and the tenor banjo, but would not discuss anything about music with a little boy nor would he play music. Uncle George took photographs and developed them too. He spent a lot of money on a Hi-fi set. Hi-fi was the format prior to stereo. Uncle George had amassed a large record collection of jazz and big bands that no one was allowed to listen to except for him. span>

Unfortunately Uncle George enjoyed chain smoking unfiltered Old Gold cigarettes. These were the kind of cigaretted that used to dance on TV. Unfortunately Old Gold's were what lead to his demise back in 1964. I can remember his funeral. I sat next to Eddie. Eddie spent his time playing with one of those puzzles that has numbers you move about until you get them lined up in order. I kept thinking the whole time, if my folks died, I wouldn't know what to do. I would be inconsolable. Eddie wasn't showing much emotion. I suppose puzzles are a great diversion under such circumstances. Perhaps that is the way he was dealing with the moment. After the service, we went to Auntie's house and we watched afternoon Monster movies on TV while the adults talked. Then we drove Uncle Eddie, Auntie and Mom's brother back to Cincinnati to catch the train home.

Although Auntie lived a long life, there were certainly plenty of obstacles. Auntie and Mom's father had passed away suddenly from being attacked by a rabid dog. Their father had tried to break up a dog fight and unfortunately did not pay attention to the bites he had suffered until he was much too ill to do anything about it.

I never got to meet my grandfather. I know that he was a dentist, which was considered good job, although in his day, he occasionally was paid in chickens or produce. These were depression years and money was scarce. He had money trouble lost the family home, went bankrupt and wound up moving his family in with his two older sisters. I am told this lead to family bickering which had it's effect on my mother, her brother, Auntie and my grandmother.

So Auntie married Uncle George. Uncle George did have an excellent job. He worked in the offices of the C&O Railroad, back in the day when rail travel was more popular than air travel. Auntie's brother, Eddie Lacock also worked for the C&O railroad, at their office in Louisville. I'm sure it was George's job that lead to his fascination with Lionel and H&O train sets.

George's father, Grandpa Kuhr was this stoic old German who arrived off the boat with his young wife just before the start of WWI. Neither he nor Grandma Kuhr said much to us kids. I'm sure they were anxious for us to leave Dandy's home, so peace and quiet would be restored.

Grandpa's marriage to Grandma Kuhr was an arranged marriage. It is sort of hard to believe that a mere 3 generations before my birth there were arranged marriage in supposedly a civilized country like Germany, but it's true. Grandpa Kuhr worked hard and saved up enough money to purchase his own taxicab. And he took excellent care of the cab. Grandma Kuhr was obliged to cook, clean, shop and wash for him. If she did not have the dinner on the table promptly at 5 PM every night and if the dinner was not hot, she would be severely scolded. The Kuhrs only spoke German at home. The scolding was in German, which is worse than being scolded in any other language, so I am told.

Now my grandmother's house had a mysterious door at the back of her bathroom. We were told, never under any circumstances were we to open that door. Well you can't tell a kid that. What do you think will happen? Behind the mystery door was this darkened room with an old desk and chair. I recall finding a marvelous pocket knife in one of the drawers. There was also a separate staircase in the back of the room that lead downstairs to Grandpa Kuhr's lower level. Thinking back on things, I imagine now that the room was probably full of Grandpa Kuhr's things.

After Uncle George passed away, Auntie lived off of his Railroad pension and insurance. She worked off and on at a small hospital in Dayton Kentucky called Speers Hospital. This is where I was born. Auntie had a job as a nurse aide. Life was probably difficult for her, but you would not know it. In retrospect, I think Eddie had a pretty good upbringing.

Eddie grew up and got older and met a girl. They got married and his girlfriend got pregnant. Eddie and Linda got married. After all it was the right thing. Their son was born while Linda and Eddie were living with Auntie. Within a year or so the marriage dissolved. Eddy's wife moved in with another man that already had some children and Linda did not want Eddie's kid hanging around, spoiling her new life. Once again,Eddie assumed he was doing the right thing by keeping his boy, but it seems like Auntie wound up really being the caregiver. And in my oppinion Auntie was much too old at the time to raise another child. We all know the rest of the story. Eddie's son is in prison in Eddyville Kentucky (how ironic is that?). By the way, Eddyville is not named after anyone named Eddie, Ed or Edward. It gets it's name because of it's location on the Ohio River. The section of the river that runs past the town has strong currents or eddies that were a navigation hazard during the days of river commerce and travel.

Throughout her life, Auntie suffered from a myriad of physical maladies. When she was very young she was struck by a car and her parents were told not to expect her to live too long. She proved those doctors wrong. Auntie seemed to average one surgery every couple of years. From my reckoning she is perhaps the first bionic woman. When Eddie was young, he spent several summers at my home while Auntie was in the hospital or home recuperating. I have seen Auntie when she was fat, skinny, fat and then skinny again. At her death, she was skinny.

When Uncle George was very sick, he was admitted to Lakeside nursing home and then transferred to a facility in Lexington. My Dad used to have to drive Auntie to Lexington and back. A chore he did not envy.

When Auntie moved to the nursing home my Dad took my Mother there for visits several times a week. Poor Dad worked hard all his life and did not envy the task of driving to that home. I don't know how many times he said to me, "That woman is going to outlive me!", and added a G-D for good measure. Well Dad, you were right.

I have no idea why I always called her Auntie. I supposed Aunt Annette was difficult to say when you are two or three. It caught on and became her nickname. I have no idea why Eddie still calls my Mother "Tee". I guess I one-upped him by naming Auntie before he had a chance at that name.

In recent years, I had ample opportunity to visit her. However she would not have known I was there. She has lost touch for the past five years. The years before that found me working far too much.

So Auntie has passed on from this life. I pray that she is in Heaven. And I hope her spirit is young again and that she is free from her old age, pain and illness. And I do hope she is welcomed by her Mother and Father that she has not seen for over 45 years and fervently hope may she be held in the bosom of Our Heavenly Father.

Remembering Deb Smith by Marc O'Hara

I first met Deb when she went to the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. I was driving my old Plymouth Fury station wagon that had 4 snow tires. I picked up some friends at the Seminary and Deb was with them. After dropping her off I was told that she was Tom Smith's wife. I had only met Tom a couple of times, but I knew he was a campus minister at UC.

I did not meet her again until some folks got the idea to start a church on the UC campus. We were a bunch of raggedy looking students, young married folks and workers in our early 20's with the common goal of loving The Lord. These were the days of the Jesus Movement. We met for worship in the cafeteria. As word spread more people attended and the membership grew. We eventually moved to another building at UC. Tom signed on as full time minister and drew a salary.

We divided the members into smaller prayer groups. The group that Linny and I participated in was led by Tom and Deb. They were kind enough to open their home to us for meetings and dinners. Deb was generous to a fault and always a gracious host. We were young and a lot of the ladies looked to her as a role model. I

If memory serves me correctly Charity was about 3 or 4 years old during these days. She was one of the few toddlers in the church and a very precocious little girl. However there was about to be a baby boom.

As I mentioned we were young and some of us were married. One memory I have of Deb is the time we went to a "Marriage Encounter" weekend. I recall arriving at Deb and Tom's home, meeting my wife, who had arrived there earlier and then we all drove to a hotel in Springfield Ohio where the event was held. It was a great weekend.

These were also the days when the TV Show Saturday Night Live was new and funny. A bunch of us would arrive at the Smith home in Western Cincinnati to watch the show and have some fun.

I recall Tom had given Deb some puka beads as an anniversary present. Although I know 25 years is the Silver Anniversary, I am not sure which anniversary is puka.

Another memory is of Deb telling me about the vacation she and Tom took to Gatlinburg. Deb had her eye on a quilt that she spotted in a shop. She bartered with the shop owner and offered to trade a painting for the quilt. Deb made the 4 hour trip home to Cincinnati, grabbed the painting and drove 4 hours back to Gatlinburg and another 4 hours back to Cincy with her quilt. Mercy, we had stamina in those days.

We had gone on to become an official church. Fellowship Christian was born and to honor it many of the young wives, including Deb decided to give birth. I think Linda Cristiani was one of the first to deliver. I recall picking my Linny, who was also preggers, up from a baby shower. It might have been for Deb, who was pregnant with Nellie. The ladies were cooing over Linda's new arrival and dressing her up.

The babies finally arrived, my wife gave birth and my shoulders smelled of sour milk for the next couple of years. I remember visiting Deb when Nellie was born. My Rachael came along not too long after Nellie arrived.

Those were wonderful days and I bless them. I bless the fact that I knew Deb and briefly she was a part of my life. I was fortunate to know her in this world. And I know that I will meet her again in a place were there is no illness, disease or suffering. When I learned that Deb had bone cancer, I cringed because I am aware bone cancer is one of the most painful conditions that a person can endure.

I have reached a point in my life that some of those I love have been called home. I miss them so much. When they come to mind I treasure the memories of the time I had with those friends and family.

Remembering Deb Smith by Linny O'Hara

I Remember Deb ~ Linny O'Hara

I will always remember Debbie's smile. Her laugh was soft, her eyes sparkled with life and good will. A dear daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, writer, crafter, and true Christian saint, Deb died the way she lived: with love, forgiveness, courage, and heroic faith, singing the praises of her GOD and Savior, JESUS Christ! She was a true friend, steady rock, and down-to-earth role model. Though the earth is silent with the loss of a great voice for Christ, I still, though tears, must rejoice in Deb's final and forever victory over pain and death.

Debbie passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with inoperable cancer. She was 54.

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Psalm 34:18-19
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.
God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken.

Psalm 62: 1-2My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.(NIV)

Psalm 94: 18-19If I say , "My foot slips,"Your mercy , O Lord, will hold me up.In the multitude of my anxieties within me,Your comforts delight my soul."

Revelation 211 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."

We Are One In The Spirit, We Are One In The Lord

Reverend Peter Scholtes was a Roman Catholic Priest and songwriter. Perhaps he was best known as the composer of the title tune which went beyond its mainline roots to become the banner song of the Jesus movement . I've been told that he wrote They'll Know We Are Christians for an event at his parish in the early 1960's. It appeared on this recording sponsored by his congregation.

Despite that tune’s popularity this South Side Chicago reverend’s lp remains relatively unknown. Not so much a solo lp as a collection of his songs performed by members of his congregation.

Hence a very homemade sound, with some songs like the title done almost like a Gregorian chant with folk backing. Others are performed by the Saint Brendan’s Choir who jam in a folky youth ensemble bossa nova style with guitars and flute while pounding away on conga drums, maracas, bongos, and temple blocks. A couple pleasant acoustic tunes with different lead singers. Includes selections from Missa Bossa Nova and Mass Of 67th Street (which adds sax to the mix). (Ken Scott - Archivist)



Tracks:

01. They'll Know We Are Christians
02. Take My Hand
03. Choose Life
04. There Once Was A Man
05. Lord Have Mercy - Missa Bossa Nova
06. Glory To God - Missa Bossa Nova
07. Holy, Holy - Missa Bossa Nova
08. Our Father - Missa Bossa Nova
09. Lamb Of God - Missa Bossa Nova
10. Open Up The Boxes
11. The Lord Bless You
12. Glory Be To Israel
13. Shout And Clap Your Hands
14. We Gather Together
15. Lord Have Mercy - Mass of 67th Street
16. Holy, Holy - Mass of 67th Street
17. Lamb Of God - Mass Of 67th Street

The title song They'll Know We are Christians is based on John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

This was the theme song of the Jesus Movement and more than likely sung at most gatherings. It's minor chord progression, tune and drum pattern now remind me of the archtypical Hollywood Indian theme music of 1950's Western movies. At the time I was playing and singing the song to groups that thought never occurred; I was more attuned to the lyrics.

T

Prior to the Jesus Movement, the Roman Catholic Church was introducing The Guitar Mass, which more than likely aided the impetus of this song.

I cannot find too much from a historical background on the tune. I do know that it was published by a group called F.E.L Music with a copyright date of 1966. F.E.L. was a publisher of religious songs and sheet music. They filed suit against the Diocese of Chicago in 1982. F.E.L. Publications. Ltd. v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago, 214 U.S.P.Q. (ENA) 409, 412 (7th Cir. 1982). This became a landmark case in copyright law.

In 1991 the copyright was assigned to Lorenz Publications which is another publisher of religious sheet music and choral arrangements.

Reverend Peter Scholtes is sometimes mistaken for some other authors that have the same name.

I am thankful that he allowed God to let him be a vessel at a time when we needed this song.

Some parts of this post were excerpted from the Ancient Star Song blog by Ken Scott

Deb Smith

Although I haven't seen Deb in perhaps 20 years, I value the friendship and example that she set for me and my wife. Deb is truly a Titus 2 woman. Deb has been a student, wife ( and the wife of a pastor, which should qualify her for sainthood), mother, friend to so many and a grandmother, although she is still a young woman.

Deb is very ill and is in the final stages of bone cancer. She is in a great deal of pain. Please pray for her. May you give her comfort and peace Oh Lord Our God. And may the Peace that passes all understanding be in the hearts and minds of those that surround her.

We Love You Oh Lord Almighty.

CNN - GOD'S WARRIORS

The three part series on Christianity, Islam and Judaism is an enormous six hour long undertaking presented by veteran reporter Christiane Amanpour who is known to millions of Americans for her stellar reporting during the early days of the Iraq war.


Looking only at the "Christian Warriors" segment has already raised endless controversy and discussion.




Starting with the interviews and comments about Rev. Jerry Falwell it is plain to see that he was afforded a title and a legendary status that he may not really have earned nor wanted. He was often referred to as the father of the conservative Christian right.



It can be argued that few have contributed more than Rev. Falwell to the movement to restore faith in America. Yet even he would warn that it was not him but the founding fathers that connected America’s politics to Biblical principles in the forming of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.


Almost no attention was paid to the Christian principles America was founded on and that left the report in doubt at best. Falwell addressed the downward slide America has been on from the mid sixties to now through the founding of the "Moral Majority" and in the creation of "Regents University."

Conspicuously missing was any allusion to the fact that Americas very roots and foundation came from biblical beliefs and practices. At best Rev. Falwell only reminded us from whence we came.


The report went on to reveal the divisions among believers about social issues and matters like global warming. A great deal of attention was given to the Rev. Richard Cizik who has formed a movement of Christians who ascribe to his "creation care" theology.


Cizik quotes bible passages about God’s commands to be good stewards of the earth’s resources and natural wonders. He urges believers to jump onboard the "green train" and says that the bible is all about saving the earth. He has gotten his share of flak from his own National Association of Evangelicals and other Christian notables such as Dr. James Dobson.



The Christian portion of the 3 part series emphasises the loudest, but perhaps not the best examples of men and women of faith. But perhaps that is what Jesus meant when He said that the meek would inherit the earth. There are plenty of humble prayer warriors that go unnoticed that Ms. Amanpour could have sought out. However I doubt a visit to a monestary or a prayer vigil of the faithful would make for exciting television viewing.


My wife is fond of saying that God will use any ass He wants to speak His Word.




She of course is referring to the story of the gentile prophet Balaam that was sent by the Moabite King, Balak, to curse the Jewish people. Balaam saddled up his "ass" (female donkey - a jennet or osson in Hebrew - what we would call a Jenny in Kentucky). Balaam set about riding to pronounce his curse. The donkey saw God's Angel standing in the road and eventually God spoke through the donkey's mouth. Balaam listened to God's Word and had a change of heart.


Though I digress, it does not matter who presents information about the Truth or how it is presented, the bottom line is that the Word is heard.

Dutch Bishop Wants Us All To Worship Allah

Associated Press

A Dutch Catholic bishop who once said the hungry were entitled to steal bread and advocated condom use to prevent AIDS has made headlines again, this time by saying God should be called Allah.

"Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will call God Allah?" Bishop Tiny Muskens said in an interview broadcast this week. "God doesn't care what we call him."

In this nation where religious tolerance has been eroded in recent years by a rise in radical Islam, the comments drew little support.

Muskens, bishop of the southern Diocese of Breda, previously created a stir by suggesting the hungry could steal bread to feed themselves. He also supported the use of condoms as a way of reining in the spread of AIDS and suggested popes have term limits of 10-15 years and an age limit of 85.

In an interview broadcast on Monday's edition of current affairs show "Netwerk," Muskens said he had worked in Indonesia where God is referred to as Allah in Christian services.

A survey in the Netherlands' biggest-selling newspaper De Telegraaf on Wednesday found 92 percent of the more than 4,000 people polled disagreed with the bishop's view, which also drew ridicule.

"Sure. Lets call God Allah. Lets then call a church a mosque and pray five times a day. Ramadan sounds like fun," Welmoet Koppenhol (a Protestant) wrote in a letter to the newspaper.

Well Bishop Tiny, before we jump wildly to conclusions, let's take a long look at some facts. Some may support your proclamation and some may be cause for deep thought.

Allah (Arabic: اللّٰه, Allāh) is the standard Arabic word for "God". The term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God. Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God".

The Muslim and Christian Arabs of today have no other word for 'God' than 'Allah'.

In pre-Islamic Arabia, Allah was used by pagan Meccans as a reference to the creator-god, possibly the supreme deity.

In Islam, Allah is the only deity, transcendent creator of the universe, and the judge of humankind.

Some Islamic scholars believe that the term "Allāh" should not be translated, arguing that "Allāh" as used in Islam is a special and glorified term whose use should be preserved, while God can also be used in reference to deities worshiped by polytheists. Curiously, Jews take this same position and declare G-d's Name to be too sacred to be spoken.

The pre-Islamic Arabs believed in a host of other terms to signify gods, such as Hubal and al-Lāt, al-`Uzzah, and Manah.

Pre-Islamic Jews referred to their supreme creator as Yahweh (Jehovah) or Elohim.

This view of Allāh by the pre-Islamic pagans is viewed by Muslims as a later development having arisen as a result of moving away from Abrahamic monotheism over time since the building of the Kaaba. (Kaaba is a large structure built inside Islam's most holy mosque in Mecca.)

The Muslims claim that Allah in pre-Islamic times was the biblical God of the Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. However evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity.

In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters.

During the 1950's, Wendell Phillips, W.F. Albright, Richard Bower and others excavated sites at Qataban, Timna, and Marib (the ancient capital of Sheba). Thousands of inscriptions from walls and rocks in Northern Arabia have also been collected. Reliefs and votive bowls used in worship of the "daughters of Allah" have also been discovered.

The three daughters, al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat are sometimes depicted together with Allah the Moon-god represented by a crescent moon above them. The archeological evidence demonstrates that the dominant religion of Arabia was the cult of the Moon-god.

In ancient Syria and Canna, the Moon-god Sin was usually represented by the moon in its crescent phase. At times the full moon was placed inside the crescent moon to emphasize all the phases of the moon. The sun-goddess was the wife of Sin and the stars were their daughters. For example, Istar was a daughter of Sin.

When Israel fell into idolatry, it was usually the cult of the Moon-god. As a matter of fact, everywhere in the ancient world, the symbol of the crescent moon can be found on seal impressions, steles, pottery, amulets, clay tablets, cylinders, weights, earrings, necklaces, wall murals.

In Old Testament times, Nabonidus (555-539 BC), the last king of Babylon, built Tayma, Arabia as a center of Moon-god worship. In fact, South Arabia's stellar religion has always been dominated by the Moon-god in various variations.

Many scholars have also noticed that the Moon-god's name "Sin" is a part of such Arabic words as "Sinai," the "wilderness of Sin," etc. When the popularity of the Moon-god waned elsewhere, the Arabs remained true to their conviction that the Moon-god was the greatest of all gods.

While they worshipped 360 gods at the Kabaa in Mecca, the Moon-god was the chief deity. Mecca was in fact built as a shrine for the Moon-god. This is what made it the most sacred site of Arabian paganism.

In 1944, G. Caton Thompson revealed in her book, The Tombs and Moon Temple of Hureidha, that she had uncovered a temple of the Moon-god in southern Arabia. The symbols of the crescent moon and no less than twenty-one inscriptions with the name Sin were found in this temple. An idol which may be the Moon-god himself was also discovered. This was later confirmed by other well-known archeologists.

The evidence reveals that the temple of the Moon-god was active even in the Christian era. Evidence gathered from both North and South Arabia demonstrate that Moon-god worship was clearly active even in Muhammad's day and was still the dominant cult. According to numerous inscriptions, while the name of the Moon-god was Sin, his title was al- ilah, i.e. "the deity," meaning that he was the chief or high god among the gods.

As Coon pointed out, "The god Il or Ilah was originally a phase of the Moon God." The Moon-god was called al- ilah, i.e. the god, which was shortened to Allah in pre-Islamic times. The pagan Arabs even used Allah in the names they gave to their children. For example, both Muhammad's father and uncle had Allah as part of their names.The fact that they were given such names by their pagan parents proves that Allah was the title for the Moon-god even in Muhammad's day.

Prof. Coon goes on to say, "Similarly, under Mohammed's tutelage, the relatively anonymous Ilah, became Al-Ilah, The God, or Allah, the Supreme Being." This fact answers the questions, "Why is Allah never defined in the Qur'an? Why did Muhammad assume that the pagan Arabs already knew who Allah was?"

Al-Kindi, one of the early Christian apologists against Islam, pointed out that Islam and its god Allah did not come from the Bible but from the paganism of the Sabeans. They did not worship the God of the Bible but the Moon-god and his daughters al-Uzza, al-Lat and Manat.

Dr. Newman concludes his study of the early Christian-Muslim debates by stating, "Islam proved itself to be...a separate and antagonistic religion which had sprung up from idolatry." Islamic scholar Caesar Farah concluded "There is no reason, therefore, to accept the idea that Allah passed to the Muslims from the Christians and Jews."

After providing scholarly information about the origin of Allah, allow me to vent my own feelings.

As I have said many paragraphs earlier, when Muslims pray they are praying toward Kaaba. Perhaps the focal point of Kaaba is The Black Stone.

Some say The Black Stone is a meteorite. Some claim that the stone fell from heaven when Adam and Eve were in The Garden. Others claim that Abraham/Ibirahim found it with his son Ishmael/Ismail to use as a cornerstone for The Kaaba. While other contest that it was given to Abraham/Ibirahim bye the Archangel Gabriel. Whatever your view there is no question that The Black Stone is within the walls of The Kaaba, the site that Muslims pray to five times a day.

Western society and Hebrew society for years found a basis in morality within The Ten Commandments. And though the numbering of them differs within sects of Judaism and Christianity, the message remains the same.

The Ten Commandments are rooted in Noahide law, which predated Judaism and Islam. Noahide law are seven rules given to Moses by God. They are laws that God intended all mankind to follow.

The first of The Ten Commandments is "I AM THE LORD, THY GOD" and depending upon your faith it could continue "THOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME".

The Second of The Ten is "THOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR THYSELF AN IDOL".

And though the Quran does not contain The Ten Commandments it does state in different sections, ""There is no other god beside God."(47:19) and "My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and protect me and my children from worshiping idols." (14:35).

I cannot speak for anyone other than myself and my family. But I believe that if I am praying to a building that contains a stone that would constitute worshipping an idol. I also contend that praying to anyone other than The Lord God Almighty would be in violation of the first Commandment.

...of us songs, for our tormentors mirth.

There are so many events going on in the world today. Lest we forget that Christian persecution is still rampant in the world, please remember that a group of facist Muslims has kidnapped a group of Christians, based solely on the fact that they are Christians.

Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban kidnappers freed two South Korean women Monday, a move the fundamentalist militants described as a gesture of goodwill while they negotiate the fate of 19 other Christian aid workers they still hold.

The two women were released into the custody of Afghan elders, then handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in a rural roadside exchange just west of Ghazni province, where they were abducted while traveling with a group of 23 South Korean volunteers July 19.

They continue to hold 16 women and three men.

The two freed women had been ill, according to a purported Taliban spokesman. South Korea's Foreign Ministry identified them as Kim Ji-na, 32, and Kim Kyong-ja, 37. The government said they would undergo medical exams by a South Korean military unit stationed at the Bagram Air Base near Kabul before returning to Seoul.

Ghazni Gov. Mijardden Patan insisted no deal had been made for the release.

Next Door Neighbor and Child Abuse

A few weeks ago I was pulling my car into the driving after an outing with my sweet wife Linny. I was saying something to her when she "shushed" me.

"I want to hear what the neighbor is saying" ,she whispered to me.

The next thing I know my other next door neighbor's granddaughter is standing in front of my house. Her husband throws a hammer on the ground and marches up to the neighbor on the opposite side of my house. This is the one screaming at the top of his lungs that he is going to kill his kid.

The man marching up to the abusive daddy's house is an off-duty police officer that is helping out his wife's grandmother by fixing up her home.

He bangs on the door and shows the screaming man his badge and identifies himself as a police officer. He calls for my local police to come.

The rest of the story took place in the man's home once the city police arrived. I think they let him off with a warning.

Apparently this was not enough.

Today when my wife arrived home from being out with her mother, the next door neighbor's ten year old boy came flying out of the house. The little guy was wearing only a pair of shorts. He ran into the street on this scorching August day with his abusive father in hot pursuit.

Once again the man is screaming at the top of his lung, "When I catch you I'm going to kill you. I'll beat you, you son-of-a-bitch!"

Linny jumped out of her mother's car and down to the center of the street and confronted this idiot. She pointed her finger at him and said, "What is wrong with you! Don't you know that God is going to judge you for this!"

This big man, covered in tattoos looked at her dumbfounded. He turned around and ran back into his house and slammed the door shut.

The little boy was crying and Linny asked if wanted to come to our house and get a drink and cool off. He had a pop bottle filled with water that he was pouring on his burning bare feeet. He sheepishly said, "No ma'am, I better not."

Linny went home and was upset about this the rest of the day.



May You Oh Lord God convict this man and fill him with Your fear. May You also fill him with a yearning to get help to become a good father to his children. I ask this in the Name of Your Son Jesus.

...For Our Captors Required...

ABC NEWS

The Taliban in Afghanistan have set the Government a new deadline of noon (local time) to meet its demands in order to save 21 South Koreans, a day after a second hostage was killed.

The hardline Islamic militia wants the Government to free at least eight Taliban prisoners in Afghan jails, a demand government negotiators have rejected.

"If our demands are not met by then, we will start killing the rest of the South Koreans," Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said.

The bloodied corpse of the second hostage to be killed since 23 were kidnapped nearly two weeks ago was found in the southern province of Ghazni, about 140 kilometres south of Kabul.

The body was dumped in a field just off a main road, with the hands tied and bullet wounds to the head.

These captives were not picked at random. They were chosen because they were Christians.

Right know South Korea's foreign ministry has identified the victim as Shim Sung-Min, 29, as the country reacted with outrage.

The six Muslim Imans that were kicked off of a U.S. Airways flight in Minneapolis last November have tried to file lawsuits against their accusers. These so-called men-of-god were chanting, praying and talking up Sadam and down with the USA before being given the heave-ho from the flight. For revenge, they sent their attack dog lawyers after the others on the flight that they frightened, the airport and U.S. Airways for having their so-called rights violated.

So where's the ACLU? Where's the outrage, when 23 Christians are taken captive by Muslims, denied their rights and two of them are brutally murdered? Their crime was being Christians.

These evil men are filthy vermin that hide behind their religion, behind the skirts of their woman and rags of their children. They have killed off God’s people. They have the blood of God’s saints upon their hands. I can neither judge or curse them.
In accordance to The Word of God, I hand them over to You, Oh Father Almighty, that You may judge them by their actions and may Your Will be done. I pray that You will not let these brave saints deaths be in vain.

May You raise them up into Your Kingdom. May You Oh Lord God release the captives. In The Name of Your Son Jesus I ask these things.

On The Willows We Hung Up Our Lyres

Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan - A purported Taliban spokesman warned Friday that some of the 22 South Korean hostages were in bad health, saying hours after the kidnappers’ latest deadline passed that the captives were crying and worried about their future.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the kidnappers, told The Associated Press by phone that the group still insisted on exchanging Taliban prisoners for the captives, who could be killed if the demand was not met. Ahmadi spoke several hours after the passage of the most recent Taliban deadline but said the militia had not set a new one.

Some of the South Koreans were “not in good condition,” Ahmadi said. “I don’t know if the weather is not good for them, or our food. The women hostages are crying.

One hostage, 42-year-old pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, was found dead of multiple gunshots on Wednesday in Qarabagh, the district where the hostages were being held.

What seems to go unreported by most news outlets is that these radical Muslims are purposefully holding Christian hostages because they are Christians. These 23 people were Christian missionaries in Afghanistan providing aid to residents of that country.

The slain man was the pastor of the church.

The widow of the slain pastor made a tearful appeal Friday for the release of the remaining hostages, saying she does not want other families to experience her grief.

“I sincerely hope that the pain the families are already having enough won’t deepen with more sadness,” Kim Hee-yeon told reporters. “I sincerely hope there won’t be any more victims.”

Several months ago an Italian journalist was kidnapped. The Italian government earned the release of one journalist by setting free five Taliban prisoners. Now one of the men that is behind these current kidnappings was one of the five held within an Italian prison and released in the exchange.

These evil men care nothing for human life. They crave only what they perceive as power. They commit suicide for their cause. They say they do this for their religion, yet they are godless men who have no souls. They are philistines.

The Rabbis of old tell us that the sin of Sodom was not only decadence and immorality. That was the fruit of sin. The sin of Sodom was inhospitality to visitors. The Angels of God came to the city to look for one righteous man. Only one righteous man showed them hospitality and invited them to his home and shared with them food and friendship, He protected them since he harbored them under his roof, even to the point that he was willing to sacrifice his own daughters to protect the strangers.

This truth is known not only to the Jews but to those who study the Koran.

“May you O Lord Our GOD have mercy on those captives and let them be set free. May you turn the hearts of those evil men to see your Light and know The Truth. May YOU Who know all things and judge all men turn this travesty into justice and show forth Your Glory. God save Your people. I pray this O Lord GOD Almighty in the Name of YOUR SON JESUS.”

My House is a Tornado Magnet

About this time last year a large maple tree in my front yard was uprooted by a very strong wind that lifted it out of the ground and placed it horizontal in my front yard. The roots were sticking straight up. I was amazing that the weather has so much power.




So today I receive an email from my sweet pretty wife. She had got up from instant messaging her friend Pixie to answer the telephone.

She placed the headset on and was suddenly zapped with electricity and a loud screeeech! She lost her composure. She told her friend that she had forgotten how to spell and immediately lay down in bed.


A few minutes later Denny, our friendly postman, bangs on our front door. She goes downstairs. Denny is panicing. "Are you alright?" Linny says that she is feeling better. Denny said that he was worried since the tree fell down.






Linny was not aware, but once again another tree has been blown over by the storm and the windy weather. May God be blessed, my car was not in the driveway. The tree and our pole lamp sure were damaged.

Things happen and life goes on.

Open Mouth, Insert Shoes Of The Fisherman

For the second time in the past four days, Pope Benedict XVI has put one of the size 12 hand-stitched Italian Shoes of the Fisherman, foot and all in his rather large German mouth.

As of today the Pope has laid out a traditionalist marker in a document released yesterday proclaiming that the "one Church of Christ . . . subsists in the Catholic Church". It also said Reformed/Protestant churches were not churches "in the proper sense", but were "ecclesial communities"





In the document, issued with the full authority of the Pope, the Vatican has described the Protestant and Orthodox faiths as “not proper Churches”.


The document has been criticized as offensive by some Protestants, the Greek and Russian Orthodox Catholic Church.
At least he is not showing any bias in offending.


The text of the document was written by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed by Pope Benedict before his election as Pope.

It states that Christ established only one Church here on earth. Other Christian denominations, it argues, cannot be called Churches in the proper sense because they cannot trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles.

On Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI issued a Motu Proprio, literally a declaration in the pope's own name, authorizing wider use of the Latin Mass, an older form of Catholic worship that includes a prayer read only on Good Friday for the conversion of the Jews. The pope removed a rule that had required a bishop's permission before the mass could be used. Now, the liturgy can be used on the authority of an individual parish priest.


Reaction in the Jewish world was divided between those warning of possible setbacks in Jewish-Catholic relations and others saying clarification was needed from the Vatican before judging the pope's declaration.



If I recall recent history correctly, the former Pope, John Paul IIl strove to mend fences that had been torn down. He visited Israel and went to Shabbot service. He issued an apology by the Roman Catholic Church for the travesties that it had inflicted on the Jewish people.

Pope John Paul II also met with the Orthodox Patriarch to heal the wounds between the Orthodox and Roman Churches. The current Pope is giving his best effort to turn the clock back to the Dark Ages.

I don’t care.

I for one never wanted to be a part of THE CHURCH. What THE CHURCH represents is politics and self service. Give me THE BODY OF CHRIST. That is what I want to be a part of.

The Body of Christ is all believers that have joined together for the common purpose of worshiping God, The Father of us all and giving praise to the Name of Jesus, His Son and being in the presence of His Holy Spirit that calls His people together. The Body of Christ is serving and not being served. The Body of Christ is about being a servant, not being exulted.



I feel bad for Pope Benedict the XVI because he just doesn’t get it.