Sacrifices
day after day
hour after hour
minute after minute
heartbeat after stopping heartbeat
flesh and blood to feed our nation's strong man
lusting for the lives of the unborn
innocent blood to empower
to send out his minions
to blind and deceive
to blaspheme
to corrupt
to kill
Who will weep for the children?
ripped, torn and flushed from their mother's womb
some to be tossed aside into the garbage
some to have their little parts harvested
some to be chopped up or burned
none to be held in love
or buried by family
or cherished
There is a sound rising from the earth
blood crying out to the Perfect One
When will the strong man be cast out
his strongholds tron down
his lies brought to light?
Who will mourn for the little innocents
offer compassion to the grieving
demand that the killing stops
stand strong in the gap
and tremble at the
presence of a
Holy God?
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Killing England And Other Fun Stuff
I happen to be a bit of a history geek. Although while in college I majored in political science, history was my minor. Even today when I'm looking for reading material, my choice after spiritual and current events (with a slice of humor and poetry of course!) is always history. And many times history is my first choice.
As evidence of that I offer you the events of last week. On Friday I worked my last day at our Wyoming location. Needing to take a bathroom break I walked over to the nearby Goodwill store which has their bookshelf just outside the restrooms. I found two wonderful selections. The first was - The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged - New Updated Edition, translated by William Whiston. What a find! I am giddy beyond belief. Nine hundred and thirty pages in small print.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem about the time of Jesus death and was present as an observer on the Roman side during Titus's siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. His writings include a history of the Jewish nation and a history of their wars beginning with the Maccabees around 165 BC and extending to the last Jewish stand at Masada. I have seen him cited often but most recently in some articles I've read which speculate about four possible locations of the Jewish Temple.
His mention of Jesus Christ is important because the stories about Him would still have been recent history and it's possible that Josephus could have even talked to eye witnesses. Here is a quote taken from his Antiquites of the Jews:
Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was (the) Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared alive to them the third day as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.
My second selection from Goodwill was the Oxford - Atlas of World History: From the Origins of Man to the Year 2000. Oh my gosh! Three hundred sixty-eight glorious 10" x 13" pages of photos, colored maps and coordinated historical timelines plus articles showing step by step the world's empires, migration of peoples and such as they relate from one region to another and progress through time.
Goodwill sells their books for 99 cents and after my senior discount I carried over ten pounds of joy for way less than two dollars.
Not knowing that things could possibly get better, when I got home there was a present waiting for me on our dinning table. A week before I had pulled out from our bookshelf one of the series of history books authored by Bill O'Reilly, called Killing Patton. Jackie noticed that and when I opened my present it was another one of his books, Killing England (history of the Revolutionary War) that one of my daughters brought over. Then Jackie presented me with 3 more of O'Reilly's NY times best sellers; Killing Lincoln, Killing the SS and Killing Jesus. Oh the joy!
Now you might be thinking that Jackie, whose eyes glaze over when I talk about history, is like the best wife ever. And she is, although I did notice that when our little grand kids came over with my daughter, Jackie found the thick Josephus book with it's small print and no pictures, handed it to one of them and said with a glint in her eye - "Here, you want to have some fun? Read this."
As evidence of that I offer you the events of last week. On Friday I worked my last day at our Wyoming location. Needing to take a bathroom break I walked over to the nearby Goodwill store which has their bookshelf just outside the restrooms. I found two wonderful selections. The first was - The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged - New Updated Edition, translated by William Whiston. What a find! I am giddy beyond belief. Nine hundred and thirty pages in small print.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem about the time of Jesus death and was present as an observer on the Roman side during Titus's siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. His writings include a history of the Jewish nation and a history of their wars beginning with the Maccabees around 165 BC and extending to the last Jewish stand at Masada. I have seen him cited often but most recently in some articles I've read which speculate about four possible locations of the Jewish Temple.
His mention of Jesus Christ is important because the stories about Him would still have been recent history and it's possible that Josephus could have even talked to eye witnesses. Here is a quote taken from his Antiquites of the Jews:
Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was (the) Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared alive to them the third day as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.
My second selection from Goodwill was the Oxford - Atlas of World History: From the Origins of Man to the Year 2000. Oh my gosh! Three hundred sixty-eight glorious 10" x 13" pages of photos, colored maps and coordinated historical timelines plus articles showing step by step the world's empires, migration of peoples and such as they relate from one region to another and progress through time.
Goodwill sells their books for 99 cents and after my senior discount I carried over ten pounds of joy for way less than two dollars.
Not knowing that things could possibly get better, when I got home there was a present waiting for me on our dinning table. A week before I had pulled out from our bookshelf one of the series of history books authored by Bill O'Reilly, called Killing Patton. Jackie noticed that and when I opened my present it was another one of his books, Killing England (history of the Revolutionary War) that one of my daughters brought over. Then Jackie presented me with 3 more of O'Reilly's NY times best sellers; Killing Lincoln, Killing the SS and Killing Jesus. Oh the joy!
Now you might be thinking that Jackie, whose eyes glaze over when I talk about history, is like the best wife ever. And she is, although I did notice that when our little grand kids came over with my daughter, Jackie found the thick Josephus book with it's small print and no pictures, handed it to one of them and said with a glint in her eye - "Here, you want to have some fun? Read this."
Sunday, January 13, 2019
How To Pass Your Driving Test (without scaring the crap out of the examiner)
The above is a working title for a book I will be writing about my 20 years experience as a examiner for people taking their driving test. I can see it being sold at the offices of organizations that conduct driving tests. Someone comes in to sign up, are a bit nervous about being able to pass, see the book and think, oh yeah, I could use any help I can get. And if that doesn't get them then maybe the implied humor of the title will. Which is good because, although I will provide a list of driving test do's and don'ts, the book will be a lot more about humor than about driving.
If it sells then maybe I'll get it translated into Spanish. That would be a big market although I'm not sure how the humor will come across. Unfortunately for me there is not only one African or one Asian language. I could incorporated hand gestures - but it wouldn't be the same.
The title came into my head in the middle of last night after having a dream about beginning to work on a project I knew nothing about and a guy says to me; "Why don't you just start on something you already know?" I woke up and realized that doing writing and driving tests is what I know and now is probably a good as time as any to get started on that book. Beginning this year I've already cut back to testing only 3 days a week so I might as well take advantage of the available time.
Which brings to mind a person that came in for a test yesterday. The only English he seemed to know was a smile and a nodding of his head, which was about the extent of his translator's English as well. He drives in, I walk up to his car and motion for him to roll down his window, introduce myself and ask to see his permit.
Middle age Kami smiles, nods his head yes and does nothing. "I need to see your permit" I repeat slowly and a look of understanding crosses his face and he presents me with the information sheet that our office hands out when a person makes an appointment. I shake my head no, give the sheet back to him and repeat "DRIVING PERMIT" while putting my hands on an imaginary steering wheel and turning it right and left.
"Ah!" exclaims Kami. He gets out his wallet, looks through every part of it, handing me in turn his state ID, his voter registration card, a picture of some nice lady and finally a tightly folded white paper out of one of the inside pockets which is indeed his driving permit.
That settled I ask to see his vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Kami does not understand what I am asking for until I again turn the imaginary steering wheel and point to his glove box. He and the "translator" scour through it and they first hand me a pink sheet of paper which is the application for vehicle title and registration that one gets when they buy a car, Next I'm handed the vehicle title, followed by a utility bill and on and on. At last out of nowhere they do produce first the insurance and a bit later the registration, both of which are actually up to date.
When I do the vehicle inspection Kami and the translator figure out I mean horn when I push my hand on an imaginary one and say "beep", do not catch on to the turn signals until I reach through the car window to move the signal rod up and I don't have to worry about Kami understanding "put your foot on the brake" because the entire time it has never left the brake.
When I am reading the instructions for how the parking lot portion of the test works Kami puts the car into drive and begins to go forward. He evidently knows what he thinks I am going to tell him and would like to now demonstrate his ability to master it. At this point I stop him and try to see if perhaps there is another person coming who can translate. It would be one thing for me in the parking lot to point with my finger which section to do but a totally different thing to get out on the road with someone and not be able to have them understand when I want them to safely lane change or do an urgent STOP if the need arises.
The test ends there. As the title suggests, I really would like them to pass the test, just not at my expense. Perhaps advice number 7 in my new book will be - If you can't read this you must bring a translator who can.
If it sells then maybe I'll get it translated into Spanish. That would be a big market although I'm not sure how the humor will come across. Unfortunately for me there is not only one African or one Asian language. I could incorporated hand gestures - but it wouldn't be the same.
The title came into my head in the middle of last night after having a dream about beginning to work on a project I knew nothing about and a guy says to me; "Why don't you just start on something you already know?" I woke up and realized that doing writing and driving tests is what I know and now is probably a good as time as any to get started on that book. Beginning this year I've already cut back to testing only 3 days a week so I might as well take advantage of the available time.
Which brings to mind a person that came in for a test yesterday. The only English he seemed to know was a smile and a nodding of his head, which was about the extent of his translator's English as well. He drives in, I walk up to his car and motion for him to roll down his window, introduce myself and ask to see his permit.
Middle age Kami smiles, nods his head yes and does nothing. "I need to see your permit" I repeat slowly and a look of understanding crosses his face and he presents me with the information sheet that our office hands out when a person makes an appointment. I shake my head no, give the sheet back to him and repeat "DRIVING PERMIT" while putting my hands on an imaginary steering wheel and turning it right and left.
"Ah!" exclaims Kami. He gets out his wallet, looks through every part of it, handing me in turn his state ID, his voter registration card, a picture of some nice lady and finally a tightly folded white paper out of one of the inside pockets which is indeed his driving permit.
That settled I ask to see his vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Kami does not understand what I am asking for until I again turn the imaginary steering wheel and point to his glove box. He and the "translator" scour through it and they first hand me a pink sheet of paper which is the application for vehicle title and registration that one gets when they buy a car, Next I'm handed the vehicle title, followed by a utility bill and on and on. At last out of nowhere they do produce first the insurance and a bit later the registration, both of which are actually up to date.
When I do the vehicle inspection Kami and the translator figure out I mean horn when I push my hand on an imaginary one and say "beep", do not catch on to the turn signals until I reach through the car window to move the signal rod up and I don't have to worry about Kami understanding "put your foot on the brake" because the entire time it has never left the brake.
When I am reading the instructions for how the parking lot portion of the test works Kami puts the car into drive and begins to go forward. He evidently knows what he thinks I am going to tell him and would like to now demonstrate his ability to master it. At this point I stop him and try to see if perhaps there is another person coming who can translate. It would be one thing for me in the parking lot to point with my finger which section to do but a totally different thing to get out on the road with someone and not be able to have them understand when I want them to safely lane change or do an urgent STOP if the need arises.
The test ends there. As the title suggests, I really would like them to pass the test, just not at my expense. Perhaps advice number 7 in my new book will be - If you can't read this you must bring a translator who can.
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