There's No Smoking In Prison

   Well, when it comes to health worries, as if we didn’t have enough things to worry about, like cancer attacking any and every part of the body, or Bird Flu, or HIV, or STD’s, or Ebola, or Diabetes, now we have the Zika virus to tend with. Zika has been around for some time, but it’s become the “cream of the crop” rising to the top of the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) warning and aware list, because a doctor in Brazil thinks it might be tied to a certain birth defect, as yet unsubstantiated. The possibility and probability of the virus and the birth defect are quit high, but not proven to be linked so far. But, the warning is out to whoever wishes to adhere to it, as a preventative measure in their life, possibly saving them from a life-time of misery. Of course our world will always have those who won’t listen and insist, “You can’t tell me what to do!” This is true. Unfortunately, society gets stuck taking them on as indigent health-care recipients because they refuse to wear a seatbelt, or won’t put their phone down while driving a vehicle. I have to admit I over-indulged in my past lifestyle with tobacco and alcohol for many years until all the warning signs started to pop up screaming, “STOP! Or we’ll take you down!” Those who know me also know I came to my senses twenty some years ago and even though I’ve had to go through some suffering and correction, I’m sooo glad I quit my addictions. I promised myself at the beginning of this year to work harder than ever on improving my health in an attempt to possibly squeeze another 25 years or so out of this poor abused body of mine. I think I’ve got a handle on it and I’m leaning more and more on the Great Physician who’s carried me this far and will carry me home when it’s time to get out of this nasty world.

   [Deuteronomy 8:11-20; 10:14-11:1; Hebrews 13:1-9a] There seems to be something wrong with society when “I Love Lucy” is banned from prime network television stations, because there are scenes of people smoking cigarettes and cigars which might influence children, leading them to the use of tobacco products. So decent prime-time comedic, family value, make you laugh programming has been replaced with family violence, drug use, (but they don’t dare show alcohol being consumed), murder, sexual abuse, foul language, stealing, extortion, parental abuse, child disobedience and self-indulging, greedy, got to have it now trash that won’t influence children possibly leading them down a road of failure, pain and destruction during their lifetime. Have I got that right? On top of that we’re being told that the principles of God cannot be taught our children in school any longer because that’s forcing a religious belief on them they may not agree with. So, leave God out of it! Teach our children to honor their father and mother! Teach them do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not lie; do not desire the things that others have; because if you do these things you will suffer the consequences and punishment that comes with disobedience! Gee! What a concept! It’s that or keep building bigger prisons. Oh, I’m sorry. I’m not being very tolerant, am I? If you are also angry with this Godless country, just think how angry God must be. The only never-changing thing in this creation is the Creator. What God has done in the past, He will do again. When God’s tolerance runs out, punishment will be swift and harsh. If we continue to ride the political wave we’re on right now, soon we’ll hit the shore in a mighty crash. Pray for God’s help and mercy.



TMI

To me the information age is becoming a double edged sword of sorts. I think one of the greatest health problems in the world today is TMI (Too Much Information). All that is going into our head today is not having the same effect on all peoples in the same way. The comprehension pendulum for the flood of information we receive is producing thought patterns ranging from paranoia to gullibility and tolerance to intolerance. With today’s expectant “normal” sitting somewhere on both ends, one must skew ones life with the probability of drawing both extremes to the middle to formulate a new “norm” that will bring peace and harmony into the world. No wonder folks are flying off the handle! I can’t be two completely different persons at the same time. TMI is producing super-intelligent human-beings that are capable of accelerating technology faster than it can be applied, and at the other end of the spectrum - plum stupid people that are dangerous to my health. I’m okay with being me, somewhere in the middle, using the technology I need to the best of my abilities and avoiding the crazy’s at every turn. To keep myself from catching any of the dummying effects of TMI, I have to filter the information as to whether it is to educate, so I can make better decisions in my life, or is it to propagandize, so others can make all my decisions for me. Remember, one can definitely get run over on the information super-highway and believe me when I say, it will be an intentional hit-n-run with no recourse or sympathy.

It’s funny how the government and insurance companies become so interested in ones life when we reach a certain age. Due to the fact senior citizens will begin to fork over less taxes than in the past, when they were in the work force, every government agency in existence wants to know more about you than ever before. Insurance companies either want to double your premiums or drop you because your age has now put you into a risk category of accident or death. Really! I thought I would share my information sheet on facts to remember as you grow older, beginning at age twelve, before one gets too smart to learn. * Death is the number one killer in the world. * Life is sexually transmitted. * Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which can die (a good thing). * Give a person a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks; maybe months. * All of us could learn a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism. * Above all else, don’t worry about old age – it doesn’t last that long. * Be you; and laugh.

[Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2] Even the first century Christian had to deal with too much information. Matthew records Jesus speaking about the ‘end of the age’ which we know as the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. Mixed in, Jesus warns about rumors of his appearing here or there. It leaves me with the distinct impression that no one will have to tell me when Jesus has made his appearance, “…For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (v27). Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “…not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come” (v.2). TMI has placed blinders on a lot of people, leading them down a path of destruction. It is God’s Word that will judge in the end, not how much information you have, or what people think and convince you to do.

Just Apply Your Knowledge

With another birthday under my belt, and yes some of it has spilled over my belt, it’s called dun-lap disease - that’s when some of your mid-section ‘done lapped’ over your belt. Anyway, I took to heart ‘you’re never too old to learn’ and discovered a few things. I think I’m beginning to understand some of this new math. When it’s applied properly it almost makes sense. For instance: The ratio of an igloo’s circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi * 2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton * 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope * Time between slipping on a peal and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond * 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling * One half a large intestine = 1 semicolon * 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz * Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower * The shortness between two jokes = a straight line * 2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds * 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton * 1000 cc’s of wet socks = 1 literhosen * 8 nickels = 2 paradigms. See, it’s not so hard to understand once one starts to apply them self to the concept of ludicrous thinking.

I’m also going to try my hardest to stop worrying about things I can do nothing about. All studies in this area prove one will sleep better, have less arguments in life, be less apt to suffer heart problems and a myriad of other health issues. There are a few things I could take to heart to live a happier and longer life. To be healthy and safe in this world I should: 1. Avoid riding in automobiles, because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents. (That’s going to be hard to do.) 2. Don’t stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the house. 3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents involve pedestrians. 4. Avoid traveling by air, rail or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation. 5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals! BUT… I was pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in church buildings during worship services, and these are usually related to existing physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells me that the safest place for me to be at any given point in time is at church. And, the percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less. So, for safety sake and longevity of life, read the Bible daily and attend church regularly.

[Matthew 16:13-20] In this world of black is white and white is black, and everything else is gray, it’s hard to get a yes or no answer from anyone. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” The question came up in a conversation about what the word on the street was concerning Jesus. The scuttlebutt was that perhaps Jesus was the second coming of Elijah, the prophet. Others thought him to be a modern-day Jeremiah. After the discussion had gone on for awhile, Jesus says, “But, who do you think I am?” That’s when Peter gave what’s become known as the great confession. But what if Peter had given a not so convicting answer? He could have said: You are the greatest rabbi of all time * You are a carpenter’s son * You are the future king of Israel * You are the smartest person I know * You are the most caring and interesting person I know * You are the strangest person I know, and Peter would have told the truth. Or, Peter could just as well said, “Truthfully, Jesus, I don’t know who you are.” But he knew, because God convinced him, and so he confessed, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Who do you think Jesus is? I think you know

You Can Have The Dog

A preacher was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age. The group had surrounded a stray dog. Concerned the boys had in mind to hurt the dog, he approached the boys and asked, “What are you boys doing with that dog?” One of the boys volunteered, “This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So, we’ve decided which ever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog.” Of course, the preacher was taken aback. “You boys shouldn’t be having a contest telling lies!” he exclaimed. He then launched a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning with, “Don’t you boys know it’s a sin to lie?” and ended his lesson with, “Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie.” There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the preacher was beginning to think he had gotten through to them, the smallest of the boys gave out a deep sigh and said, “Oh, alright, give him the dog.”

The country is in the midst of what I consider the “political silly season” when caucus and primary votes start to sway the mud slinging strategies of candidates toward their opponents, especially when one finds they’re slipping in a popular pole of one group or another. It amazes me how much dirt political hired guns can dig up for politicians to exploit, solely for the purpose of changing public thinking about the character of another person. All I ask, and I think what most people want from their ‘want-to-be’ elected politician, is show me who you are in a complete and honest way. I don’t care what you think about someone else. I already have a good idea of “who’s who” in the world of politics and I’m looking for the one who is willing to step up and step out for the people they represent. I, of late, see no representatives even attempting to fulfill the will of the people whom they represent. This country is built on “We the people…” not, I the politician, who knows what’s best for the people, and my pocket.

[Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 1:18-32] Oh Tom, not the Ten Commandments again! I know, it seems so basic and some get sick and tired of hearing them. “We don’t live under the law anymore” you say. There are a lot more commandments in the Bible than just ten (600+), but I can’t seem to just brush aside the first ten as suggestions for peaceful living. These ten sum up what pleases God and God’s will for man quite well. The first four commands deal with our relationship with God, the last six deal with our relationship with one another. Of those six, perhaps the one we break the most is the one about lying: “Bearing false witness.” Today they’re being removed from public sight because they belong to the “church” inside the “church building” for those who want to deal with them. The rational is, if you don’t teach the ‘ten’ then you don’t have to adhere to them. False! “…when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bear witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15). God has placed it in the hearts of mankind how we should treat one another with a conscience to strike us with guilt when we express a deliberate selfish act that is not pleasing to God our Maker. Mankind measures greatness by how many serve you; God measures greatness by how many you serve.