We wrestle not

I am thinking about the state of affairs in this nation, how we grieve again for the dead as well as the living. I am fearful, not fearful only for myself, or those who support the second amendment or those who would like to see gun ownership highly controlled.

I am fearful for the decline in civility, rightousness and kindness. I am fearful for how we treat those we do not agree with, because we lack simple gentleness in our disagreements.

Scripture says not to be puffed up when someone we disagree with stumbles or falls, yet we are joyful when that heppens. Scripture again says to not allow corrupt conversation to come from us, yet we choose slanderous words to hurt others to win our arguments.

We try to fix things by angry arguments and strong words. We call out transgressions 40 years old and ignore the ones which happen recently, because they do not help our political beliefs. We lie about heritage to get a better job, and cheat the poor and needy from life giving foods and medicines. We are willing to sacrifice the beauty Gods creation for a few dollars and call it progress.

We are all corrupt. There is none rightous, not one.

Ironically, we all do want a better country, a better society, a better life. We cannot get it by passing laws, but rather by turning to God and asking to change each of our lives. Because within each of us is the ability to change not only our country, but our world. But we cannot do it our way, we must follow the prescription God has given us for the needed change:

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Then we must realize that we cannot legislate the change of heart, but again realize this:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

And then know that our enemy is not the liberal Democrat or the Tump conservative, but the one who wants to destroy us all.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

We dont have to give up our individual beliefs for government, politics or business, yet if we simply listen to God He Will change our lives, country and world for the better as we follow him, regardless of our faith traditions.

Tarnished by a few...

In my lifetime I have been privileged to know some of the finest police officers you could ever find. Men and women who risked their lives to protect families from gun violence. Others who have kept whole apartment buildings safe when fire erupted, simply because they had the foresight to ask all officers to turn their sirens on- BEFORE they went into the burning building and before the fire department arrived on the scene. Last week my former neighbor, Steven Olson from Douglas County Wisconsin saved two families from the sorrow of loosing their twelve year old’s to drowning when for some reason he just choose to check out a certain bay with his jet ski. He pulled those children onto his jet ski and brought them safely to shore.

I am so very proud to have known the many men and women who wear the uniforms of law enforcement, they indeed serve us well.

I also am deeply disappointed by the militarization of our police departments, the use of swat teams to serve minor warrants where no threat is expected. Today I heard of a man in Missouri who was taken from his car by an assault weapon armed local police officer arrested “Because you didn’t listen” { He was sitting in his car to escape the tear gas which had been fired into a crowd.} News video showed police from Ferguson Missouri dismantling the video equipment of Al Jazeera American news then threatening to confiscate others news cameras because they recorded those actions. If you have done nothing wrong, why are you afraid for our country to see what it is that you have done?

There is a difference between civil disobedience and looting and rioting. The Supreme Court of this land protected peaceful protest including marches on streets and high ways back in the 60's- I have not heard of them over ruling themselves recently. I understand that here are those who seemingly attempt to ratchet up the rhetoric in Missouri, and the niece of Martin Luther King has asked they change their speech to healing rather than inciting. Our Constitution allows for public redress of grievances through peaceful protest. It is not the responsibility of Law Enforcement to arrest and threaten peaceful protesters- or lump them together with those who willingly break the law by looting and damaging property.

My two cents worth.

My word processor told me I wrote this three years ago. Its still relevant today.

A Real American hero

They are all around us, and come from all colors and occupations.
Today I would like to talk about those heroes I have actually met who served in the US Military, and focus on one in particular.

My cousins son is a medic in today’s military. Three or four years ago you may have watched as CNN showed helicopter being shot down in Afghanistan. Most of the crew were killed. Danny’s buddy landed on top of him, the rotor hit and killed him instead of Dan. After several months at Walter reed hospital, he told the Dr the only discharge he would take was back to his old outfit, where he eventually wound up.

Another Televised hero was on national news one night during the Iraqi war. It was during the time of the Abu Ghraib scandal, this young mans Humvee was patrolling the streets around the prison when an IED went off. You wouldn’t know he was disabled unless you were in a conversation and he told you he was retired with a traumatic brain injury.

I have met vets who were amongst the Chosun Frozen in the Korean war, as well as marines who watched their buddies die in the Dominican Republic in the early 60's. In the past month I have done funerals for Vietnam vets who served more than one tour of duty, when they returned, they were not the same young men who left Duluth. One dear friend spent nearly a year in a fetal position back in 1970, he watched as two buddies died trying to rescue him.

The list goes on and on, PT boat Captains. Paratroopers from 'Nam and WW2. Two men who flew with the Flying Tigers. Some were men who found faith easy until they lived one thing too much. Hero’s all.
I have had the opportunity to thank countless Native Americans who wear the Vietnam Service ribbon colors on their hats. They have the look of those who lived one day too many in the bush.

For a moment I want to focus on Joe, one of the nicest kindest men I have ever met. He was a customer of mine 20 years ago when I worked at Sears. I saw him again yesterday and took the time to thank him properly. Joe flew P 51 mustangs in the war, protecting Bombers as they flew into Germany. He was a Tuskegee Airman,one of the bravest squadrons of the war. If I recall correctly, his outfit never lost a plane under their protection. They were men of color, Black Men who as Joe said, fought a tougher battle here in the states to defend Our Country then they did in the skies over Europe. I told him how wrong that was, how sorry I felt about it happening. we continued to talk, I promised to pray as his name came to mind. He is a true gentleman, a real American hero.

I have another friend who was in the marines. We go to church together and infrequently get the chance to talk. A few months ago I asked him what It was like to live as a gay man raising a child here in Duluth. I have seen he and his partner with their son, they do such a great job as parents It has brought me to tears. They struggle with everyday family stuff like all parents. Plus the unkind looks of those who disapprove.

My friend Liz is a lesbian, she has been in a solid committed relationship for over ten years now. There has never been a time when she hasn’t supported me. I was a real shit when she came out to me six years ago. I made her tell me, instead of allowing me to guess and understand. I think it was because I wanted her to know how much I loved her for who she was, not a label someone may put on her.

One of my oldest best friends best friend died four years ago. He was stationed at the base here in Duluth, ran the flight line for the aircraft as they returned. He married a girl from Superior, and had two kids in addition to her one. He cried when he heard how his bi racial son was treated by some teachers at the elementary school. A real hero still fighting the battle.

When I worked at Sears  I worked with CC, a man whose home was South Central Los Angeles. Our conversations covered many areas, including racism and stereotypes. One day CC asked me what I would call 10 teenage boys who wore the same colors, walking down the street jumping shouting and laughing at unheard jokes. Well says I, "A Gang". "Did the words basketball team ever cross your mind? Sadly no, in fact it never came close.

It really hurt to acknowledge Joe's words they other day."The battle here was tougher than what we faced over there." I am still thinking about it nearly two days later. It is not just the fact of the color of a mans skin, the gender of ones partner or the type of job one does. Hatred is still alive and well here in America. I still stereotype others I done know, even tho I hope to be genuine in my Christianity. Too often I think "street gang" or "Punks" instead of kids just hanging together having fun. Being loud kids just as I was. When I am afraid of another, then I use whatever tools I can find to protect myself. Unfortunately too often it is a stereotype that demeans the other.

I don't like the fact that at times I am an opinionated ageist sexist dominant culture male with a need to be right. I am that sinner.

The Love Chapter, 1st Corinthians 13 convicts me each time I read it. Unless I have love, I am nothing at all. I, we need to get out of our box and touch another. Regardless of OUR race, color or creed. Perhaps then we all can join celebrating those real American heroes who live next door.

Thanks to my friend who challenged me to write again.  

Note: Joe Gomer passed away October 10, 2013. His lovely wife Liz passed away a year previous. tThey were wonderful folks, Duluth is better for their presence.

WOW, ITS BEEN THREE YEARS...

I actually think about lots of things, just hardly ever write them down for this page. Well, here's one now that we are approaching election campaign ad season 2014: The thought that corporations may be entitled to the benefits of citizens I guess could cause consternation for some, not so much for others. I see them as vehicles to present a "corporate" identity, which will in effect protect the founders or owners of said corps from legal repercussions. I think that's why many banks are incorporated in Delaware or the Dakotas, to have the advantage of those state laws on their behalf. Sometimes that is quite frustrating My thoughts are that if an individual is quite upset about corporate identity being defined as person hood, they should stop yapping about it and put their money where their mouths are and walk away from them. Of course, almost everyone would have to forgo pensions then, because that money was generally earned, managed, multiplied or paid out by corporations. You would also have to give up your home, because AIG, the monster insurance company was saved by the government because nearly every home mortgage in the United States is guaranteed by them. I don't like their wastefulness a few years back, but had they folded most mortgages would have defaulted because their was no mortgage insurance as required. Forget about your cell phones, Ibooks Iphones and most MP3 players,  made or maintained by large corporations. Bernie Sanders dislikes larger corporations, he is not evil as some might say. We need guys like him to prevent excess on the right. Though he doesn't like corporations, his re-election campaign makes fill use of PACS supported by unions, themselves incorporated. as evidenced  HERE

Senator Al Franken doesnt like coroporations, he posts regularly aboput on Facebook. He  likes lawyers though, he even has Massachusetts corporate law firms supporting him. More info here

OK, heres my thing. Its OK to support or work against any subject you may choose to. When you are being a cheerleader for your cause, and doing your best to smear or shake out others, please have the integrity to not quietly depend on that groups income or resources, unless you are willing to forgo them also. This goes for liberal or conservative.

I ripped this from WIKIPEDIA today and have in no way contributed to the content. I first heard this term perhaps 8 years ago. and of you know me you know that I fit in most of the cases. *************************************************************************************************************** Dyssemia is a term coined by psychologists Marshall Duke and Stephen Nowicki in their 1992 book, Helping The Child Who Doesn't Fit In, to decipher the hidden dimensions of social rejection, and describe difficulties with receptive and/or expressive nonverbal communication. The term comes from the Greek dys (difficulty) and semia (signal). These difficulties go beyond problems with body language and motor skills. “A classic set of studies by Albert Mehrabian showed that in face-to-face interactions, 55 percent of the emotional meaning of a message is expressed through facial, postural, and gestural means, and 38 percent of the emotional meaning is transmitted through the tone of voice. Only seven percent of the emotional meaning is actually expressed with words.”[1] Dyssemic persons exhibit difficulties with the acquisition and use of nonverbal cues in interpersonal relationships. Dyssemia represents the social dysfunction aspect of Nonverbal Learning Disorder. Contents 1 Symptoms of childhood dyssemia 2 Dyssemic adults 3 A difference rather than a disability 4 See also 5 References Symptoms of childhood dyssemia Jane E. Brody of The New York Times describes in the back cover of the Nowicki-Duke book[2] the sufferers of this condition: “We’ve all known children like this: they stand too close and touch us in annoying ways; they laugh too loud or at the wrong times; they make stupid or embarrassing remarks; they don’t seem to get the message when given a broad hint or even told outright to behave differently; they mistake friendly actions for hostile ones, or vice versa; they move too slowly, or too fast, for everyone else; their facial expressions don’t jibe with what they or others are saying, or their appearance is seriously out of step with current fashions, they don't dress well for the occasion, etc. they are known to stare at people, stalk people, or do something that annoys other people or make them feel uncomfortable they have problem dating and interacting with the opposite sex in a romantic way. Many dyssemics are love-shy." Children with dyssemia fail to appropriately read (decode) and/or produce (encode) nonverbal communication or interpersonal information, the language of relationships, as asserted by Nowicki and Duke.[2] Dyssemic individuals exhibit problems with facial expressions, gestures, body posture, pitch and tone of voice, touch and interpersonal space, mood, adaptive manners, punctuality, functioning and performing in rhythm with the environment, clothing, make-up and hairdo style. Dyssemia sufferers tend to lack various skills indicative of emotional intelligence (EQ). Dyssemia is the nonverbal communication aspect of Nonverbal Learning Disorders. More often than not, dyssemia concurs with dyspraxia a neurological aspect of nonverbal disorders consisting in a lack of coordination of body movements and mannerisms. Depending on the symptoms, dyssemia could be diagnosed as social anxiety or Communication Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Dyssemic adults The social interactions of dyssemic adults tend to be immature and complex, even though their nonrelational reasoning ranges from normal to gifted. Dyssemic individuals exhibit varying degrees of social awkwardness and various types of nonverbal communication difficulties. Some might only have trouble with reception or expression alone, while others struggle with both. Severity fluctuates among individuals; difficulty does not necessarily equate to total inability, nor occur in all situations. Occasionally, expressive difficulty may only be a delay between the emotion and the facial muscles. Socially awkward adults suffering from nonverbal shortcomings often report feeling "a little out of it socially" or feeling "left out."[3] There is always a danger that over time, these frustrations could exacerbate a sense of grief and despair. Dyssemic adults frequently experience success in temporary or accidental situations, but their sense of success can be short-lived, returning to an often common pattern of disappointment and self-reproach. Many times dyssemic individuals may say something in a way they had not intended and worry about the consequences. Dyssemic adults may sometimes struggle with interpreting the feelings or social interests of new acquaintances, causing potential resentment and/or rejection. They also may have difficulty with subtler aspects of social interaction, for example, timing and opportunity. This may aggravate the situation, baffling acquaintances, coworkers, and even relatives. Dyssemic individuals may also become targets of adult bullies. If dyssemic adults are in an environment or situation with adequate verbal input or other cues, however, they have a frame for understanding or constructing appropriate responses, and these problems can be greatly reduced. There is presently little research on adults with dyssemia/NLD compared to the research on children, making it difficult to treat medically. Until more adults are included in the research on diagnosis and treatment, misperceptions may occur and their quality of life may deteriorate over time into loneliness, isolation, anger, and even aggression as a result of a lack of understanding on the part of both populations. However, it may be treated socially to some extent. Through intense observation or asking questions, as of a supportive friend or colleague, the individual with dyssemia can often eventually "pass" in most situations once he or she has learned the typical gestures for a given situation. Since many adults with dyssemia or NLD are quite competent in reading or writing, it is often helpful to clarify one's communication using fully worded sentences, or supplementing gestures or facial expressions with a verbal clue as to meaning. Social anxiety or social phobia are medical classifications that can be used to designate nonverbal communication problems; however, dyssemia is not an anxiety or phobia when it applies to NLD or specific brain damage, for example to the right hemisphere. Chronic dyssemia is a condition that some neurologists term social-emotional processing disorder (SEPD). A difference rather than a disability Dyssemia is considered a difference rather than a disability; as such, it is not classified as a standard medical condition. Many times dyssemia springs from cultural differences; other times, dyssemia constitutes an offshoot of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). However, the differences can be devastating. Problems associated with dyssemia in the establishment and maintenance of interpersonal relationships are often at the root of people's social and occupational troubles. Sometimes, persons affected with mild Asperger syndrome or (AS) or social anxiety disorder also struggle with characteristics of dyssemia. Dyssemia can be remediated through a variety of programs designed to assess its presence and alter its adverse impact. Such programs, not unlike acculturation, emphasize virtual and social learning.

For my friend as she enters the Kingdom of God.

What are you praying for?

I just read a note from a friend’s daughter. “Mom is moving to hospice tomorrow.” Several face book replies were”Praying” or “Prayers”

I have to wonder, what are you praying?

My friend is dying; her body will soon be leaving this earth. Her spirit will live on forever. Soon and Very Soon she will go to see the King, as the old song goes. Soon and Very soon she will hurt no more, cry no more, worry no more. Soon she will walk on streets of Gold and be dressed in robes of white. Are you praying to keep her here? Soon she will be in the presence of God and know Love as that she couldn’t have imagined.
Soon.

I visited her yesterday; I do believe she knew I was there. Each time she had been in the hospital she asked for me to come. Not because I was some spiritual guru, but we had been connected for thirty years. Her first Sunday in church then was met with a prayer request for me. I lie in a hospital bed unable top move, surgery scheduled for the next day to remove a shattered disc. As prayer was offered, in her mind or heart- I don’t know which, she saw something move. She knew I was healed. Each time we spoke since she reminded me of Gods faithfulness shown in what she had seen. Each time I questioned because It didn’t make sense to me. But that’s not important, it made sense to her. Period.

We never spent a lot of time together. Thirty years could be measured back in several hours. But for my part, it was always nice to catch up.

I am challenged by her desire to take classes at DBU, to learn design and editing and page making. She was in her fifties and she went back to school! How cool was that. When they warned her she was missing too many classes she replied she didn’t care. She was learning and doing what she loved. Often times from her bed because she couldn’t breathe.

What are you praying for?

Her life wasn’t perfect, in many ways she was better than most. Her love for others was amazing. Another friend says, “I walk, I fall down. I pick myself up and walk again.” I dont know how many times my friend fell down but I do know this, She always kept walking, even when it was painful.

What are you praying for?

She was exuberant when ever she talked of her kids or grandkids. Her face would light up and a smile was cast around the room. Her voice stepped up a notch or two. Oh how she loved them so. Now, they are hurting, badly.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. There is a time to live and there is time to die. That’s what the good book says. Psalm 62 also says, “Twice I have heard this said, that Power belongs to You Oh God. But likewise does mercy.

God has chosen to not use His power to raise my friend from the bed. He regularly helped her through each day of her life, providing for her and her children. Watching over her in times of Crisis. Holding her closely when it was just the two of them, alone and together. So close that as she awakes in heaven she will say excitedly, “Oh, THIS is how I remember it!”

I pray that I will have your exuberance for live and love for others that you had, and can face this passing to the next with the courage you have shown.

I will miss you my friend.

Oh ye foolish Galations! My statement of faith and works.... and an Angry God

If Grace be Grace, and Faith be Faith, then there is no part in works for our salvation. Ephesians Two says that "you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in". So even the really neat things we get to do have nothing to do with our abilities and everything with Gods desires for us and others.

I remember going to a Jesus People meeting at UW Superior in 1972. They had a rocking concert and then presented a gospel message following the concert. A man my age approached me, asked If I had questions. I had plenty. What I heard just didn't make sense to me. We talked for a while, he sense something was wrong when he asked the question, I answered. I had been involved in the occult for several years, since I was 14 or 15. It had been a couple years since I had done anything, mostly because I got the crap scared out of me when a girlfriend wanted me to “conjure up a ghost” I think we both nearly lost our sanity. During those years I became acquainted with the demands and fear associated with the occult. I don’t often say much about it, no need to dredge up the past. That said I also know the reality of the “dark side” and the price demanded for favoritism. I cringe when anything close to that form of pay for acceptance is conjoined with the Grace of God.

I was told today by a friend that God was scourging him, I repulse at that idea. My response was not gentle. You mean the Blood of Jesus and that of your own will bring your salvation? Nonsense I continued. My friend began to show the look of someone who had been deeply wounded. I realized how wrong my expression was. I am so sorry for hurting my friend. I cannot accept his doctrines, even for a moment.

Its in scripture I was told. I don’t doubt that it can be found somewhere in the Old Testament. It is also true that God has apparently chosen to operate at this time in an age of Grace. Jesus Christ is the Propitiation of our Sin, meaning He became the substitute for our payment due for sin. Many books have been written on the subject, by man and women far more scholarly than I. With Christ’s death, the penalty of our sins was paid. To say or believe anything else needs to be added to that ultimate price is Anathema.

Galatians chapter 3~ vs. 1~14 reads:


You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Amen.