On this Good Friday, Christians' worldwide will embrace with somber reflections the gift offer of eternal life through the crucifixion of God's Son, Jesus Christ. We shall think more deeply upon the words in John 3:16- "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
Should you see me in Church, the supermarket or at the sporting event, I'm the guy most unworthy of God's gift and Christ's suffering. I'm the unworthy one who God brought forth in this earthly journey to be nurtured and raised by loving Christian parents and an extended Christian family network. I'm the unworthy one who shares a terrific family-youth history with two brothers. I'm the unworthy one who married a most loving and supportive wife of 58-years. I'm the unworthy one who receives doting inquiries and love from three adult children and their incredible spouses. I'm the unworthy one who basks in the wonderful glowing warmth from 15-grandchildren and 2-great grandchildren.
If the aforementioned blessings are not enough, my loving God guided me and orchestrated a journey, which allowed me to embrace a wonderful career in a profession I loved with a passion.
Can you possibly imagine that someone so unworthy could have so much and just think, I did nothing to earn it or deserve it...oh, My God! I shall humble myself every day and seek your will. I accept your magnificent gift of salvation through your Son's precious blood. Thank you for loving someone so unworthy.
(Touch)
Who Am I ?
Friday, March 30, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Leaning On One Another
A few days ago, my wife said, "I read your blogs every day and I know you say you're a liberal-Democrat but do you think you just might be a socialist?" I thought, now that's a fair question. My answer to her was "Sometimes Yes and Sometimes No."
I am sure that many of my conservative friends are reading this blog and thinking, here comes some of Mel's gibber jabber double-talk. I say, if that floats your boat then throw away your ores and enjoy your ride!
"Yes" when it comes to our Nation's 'social needs,' i.e. Interstate highways, police / fire departments, public libraries, health care, subsidies for the poverty stricken, some farm subsidies, public education, etc. then you can call me a socialist. "No," I'm not a socialist aside from and beyond those social-issues; see, beyond those I am 'conservative.' If some of you blog readers think you are totally conservative, then stop using all the 'perks' provided by our 'pooled' dollars. Some are listed above in this paragraph ...you read them beginning with the highway's, etc.
Now, back to my wife's suggestion that I am a socialist. This question comes from a person who, when purchasing Christmas gifts for family members uses a calculator to make sure that exact
monies, down to the penny, is spent on each child, grandchild and great grandchild AND the gift pile for every person must be exactly the same height.
Speaking of socialist leanings. Just two days ago, Granddaughter, Amanda and her daughter, Juniper visited Nana and Boompa. Before they departed for their return trip home, Amanda pointed out to me that her Nana has 84- rabbit figurines of various sizes and shapes all over our house in denoting and decorating for Easter. True to my socialist giveaway traits and one willing to 'share' our rabbit-figurine-wealth, I offered Amanda a couple of dozen rabbits...she passed.
Now, don't go off half-cocked fretting about my wife's focus on Easter and its true meaning. She studies her Bible daily and attends two Bible Studies each week and will attend more Easter Services this week than most people...take it from her driver!
Anybody need a rabbit figurine?
(Touch)
Need One Another
I am sure that many of my conservative friends are reading this blog and thinking, here comes some of Mel's gibber jabber double-talk. I say, if that floats your boat then throw away your ores and enjoy your ride!
"Yes" when it comes to our Nation's 'social needs,' i.e. Interstate highways, police / fire departments, public libraries, health care, subsidies for the poverty stricken, some farm subsidies, public education, etc. then you can call me a socialist. "No," I'm not a socialist aside from and beyond those social-issues; see, beyond those I am 'conservative.' If some of you blog readers think you are totally conservative, then stop using all the 'perks' provided by our 'pooled' dollars. Some are listed above in this paragraph ...you read them beginning with the highway's, etc.
Now, back to my wife's suggestion that I am a socialist. This question comes from a person who, when purchasing Christmas gifts for family members uses a calculator to make sure that exact
monies, down to the penny, is spent on each child, grandchild and great grandchild AND the gift pile for every person must be exactly the same height.
Speaking of socialist leanings. Just two days ago, Granddaughter, Amanda and her daughter, Juniper visited Nana and Boompa. Before they departed for their return trip home, Amanda pointed out to me that her Nana has 84- rabbit figurines of various sizes and shapes all over our house in denoting and decorating for Easter. True to my socialist giveaway traits and one willing to 'share' our rabbit-figurine-wealth, I offered Amanda a couple of dozen rabbits...she passed.
Now, don't go off half-cocked fretting about my wife's focus on Easter and its true meaning. She studies her Bible daily and attends two Bible Studies each week and will attend more Easter Services this week than most people...take it from her driver!
Anybody need a rabbit figurine?
(Touch)
Need One Another
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Love The South; But Some Need to Get On-Board
The past five-years during winter months of January and February, my wife, Gerry and I have been blessed with the opportunity to be part of the large contingency of 'Snowbirds' who migrate to the sunny and warmer area of Florida. On our treks to and from our destination, we naturally travel through the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The mid-South and Deep South.
Those States each hold their own unique beauty. In our travels, I have met people mostly similar to other people whom I've met in travels North, West and East. There is one exception. In the South, you are more likely to observe more expressions of 'regionalism identity' and even more unfortunately, racism.
Don't get me wrong. I don't believe American regions outside the South are free of bigotry, prejudice and racism, however I am convinced many folks in the South more freely suggest and express those negative 'feelings.' How else would one explain a sign on a major Florida highway stating, "Niggers Go Home." Wherever the hell 'home' is. During those winter months in the South, I see many people of color in service roles but fewer people of color enjoying the 'same' life I'm enjoying as I might see in the North. Now, on every given Saturday in Alabama and Florida those good old boys want some 'black boys' goin' deep for passes on the gridiron...for sure! But those same football-fellas ain't so welcome in the some neighborhoods or telephoning daughters of some Crimsons Tide football season ticket holders.
Another show of 'regionalism' is the locals' misguided attachment to the South's role in the Civil War. This nonsense regarding the Confederate Flag and those Confederate statues is absolutely 'racist-stubbornness.' That thinking is on the WRONG side of history. The South was fighting to destroy our United States over slavery. When you lose a war you don't get to erect statutes of your wrong-minded leaders and you don't get to flaunt the enemies flag. You don't see statues of British Generals or the British Flag in any of the 13- original colonies.
Thats What I Like About the South
Those States each hold their own unique beauty. In our travels, I have met people mostly similar to other people whom I've met in travels North, West and East. There is one exception. In the South, you are more likely to observe more expressions of 'regionalism identity' and even more unfortunately, racism.
Don't get me wrong. I don't believe American regions outside the South are free of bigotry, prejudice and racism, however I am convinced many folks in the South more freely suggest and express those negative 'feelings.' How else would one explain a sign on a major Florida highway stating, "Niggers Go Home." Wherever the hell 'home' is. During those winter months in the South, I see many people of color in service roles but fewer people of color enjoying the 'same' life I'm enjoying as I might see in the North. Now, on every given Saturday in Alabama and Florida those good old boys want some 'black boys' goin' deep for passes on the gridiron...for sure! But those same football-fellas ain't so welcome in the some neighborhoods or telephoning daughters of some Crimsons Tide football season ticket holders.
Another show of 'regionalism' is the locals' misguided attachment to the South's role in the Civil War. This nonsense regarding the Confederate Flag and those Confederate statues is absolutely 'racist-stubbornness.' That thinking is on the WRONG side of history. The South was fighting to destroy our United States over slavery. When you lose a war you don't get to erect statutes of your wrong-minded leaders and you don't get to flaunt the enemies flag. You don't see statues of British Generals or the British Flag in any of the 13- original colonies.
Thats What I Like About the South
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
What's Up With That?
My 'bone-to-pick' is with my very own Christian brothers and sisters; you who continue to support President Donald Trump. You who claim to be 'evangelicals' that voted for this man because you had determined he stood on a higher 'moral ground' than his opponent, Hilary Clinton.
This man has had 18-women accuse him of sexual assault, which he is on record as saying he is guilty of such actions and behavior. This man has paid women to stifle conversations about his affairs. This man has settled lawsuits out of court against his fraudulent 'Trump (Business) University.' This man has been married three times. This man has demonstrated vulgar language numerous times as President and is on record with verbal attacks on women, minorities and the disabled. And yet, my Evangelical friends stand 'locked-step' behind this man.
I can understand bigots voting for Trump, after all he sent signals loud and clear how he feels about people of color. I can understand corporate interest folks voting for Trump. I can understand people voting for Trump because they are simply frustrated and angry with circumstances. But, Christians who make the assertion that they voted for Trump due to his higher moral authority over 'anybody-else' who ran for President is absolutely ludicrous.
I hear Evangelical leaders every day saying, "The heart of our faith is 'forgiveness' and we must forgive Donald Trump." That's poppycock, you phony- boloney's! You pick and choose whom you decide to forgive, just as you cherry-pick scriptures to support your personal attitudes and advance desirable agendas. You do more to hurt God's Church than the professed non-believer. Where you went awry was inviting politics into our church. Evangelicals who voted for Donald Trump picked up on 'nationalist message, i.e., 'white nationalists.' Therefore, we seemingly, now have two evangelical groups. The traditional Evangelicals who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ including Christ's love for ALL peoples and a Evangelicals-nationalist group who are believers in Christ but depart from the doctrine of 'love' when it comes to any group of people other than 'white Anglo-Saxon people.
In doing so you corrupt religion...in the name of Christ please stop.
Turn your attention back to 'gathering' the lost, giving people hope and leading them to a relationship with Jesus Christ instead of dirtying our religions in politics. Show people the refuge in religion from the frustrations of a secular society.
Oh, by the way, many Evangelicals have disdain for the Democratic Party for supporting a woman's right to choose ( as it MUST be) in a democracy, so now is the perfect opportunity for the Republican President, the Republican controlled Congress and the Conservative Supreme Court to overthrow Roe v. Wade. Those government branches have been in control for 14-months and not one mention of enacting anti-abortion laws...what's up with that? Let me help you>>> they have no intention of doing that and losing the female vote.
No fool like a gullible fool.
(Touch)
Great Imposter
This man has had 18-women accuse him of sexual assault, which he is on record as saying he is guilty of such actions and behavior. This man has paid women to stifle conversations about his affairs. This man has settled lawsuits out of court against his fraudulent 'Trump (Business) University.' This man has been married three times. This man has demonstrated vulgar language numerous times as President and is on record with verbal attacks on women, minorities and the disabled. And yet, my Evangelical friends stand 'locked-step' behind this man.
I can understand bigots voting for Trump, after all he sent signals loud and clear how he feels about people of color. I can understand corporate interest folks voting for Trump. I can understand people voting for Trump because they are simply frustrated and angry with circumstances. But, Christians who make the assertion that they voted for Trump due to his higher moral authority over 'anybody-else' who ran for President is absolutely ludicrous.
I hear Evangelical leaders every day saying, "The heart of our faith is 'forgiveness' and we must forgive Donald Trump." That's poppycock, you phony- boloney's! You pick and choose whom you decide to forgive, just as you cherry-pick scriptures to support your personal attitudes and advance desirable agendas. You do more to hurt God's Church than the professed non-believer. Where you went awry was inviting politics into our church. Evangelicals who voted for Donald Trump picked up on 'nationalist message, i.e., 'white nationalists.' Therefore, we seemingly, now have two evangelical groups. The traditional Evangelicals who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ including Christ's love for ALL peoples and a Evangelicals-nationalist group who are believers in Christ but depart from the doctrine of 'love' when it comes to any group of people other than 'white Anglo-Saxon people.
In doing so you corrupt religion...in the name of Christ please stop.
Turn your attention back to 'gathering' the lost, giving people hope and leading them to a relationship with Jesus Christ instead of dirtying our religions in politics. Show people the refuge in religion from the frustrations of a secular society.
Oh, by the way, many Evangelicals have disdain for the Democratic Party for supporting a woman's right to choose ( as it MUST be) in a democracy, so now is the perfect opportunity for the Republican President, the Republican controlled Congress and the Conservative Supreme Court to overthrow Roe v. Wade. Those government branches have been in control for 14-months and not one mention of enacting anti-abortion laws...what's up with that? Let me help you>>> they have no intention of doing that and losing the female vote.
No fool like a gullible fool.
(Touch)
Great Imposter
Monday, March 26, 2018
A Different Game With Lasting Love
My first recollection of Major League Baseball as a kid growing up on the East Side of The Mississippi River was 1944; It was noteworthy that year considering it was the one and only time St. Louis saw its two Major League Clubs, the 'Browns' and 'Cardinals' square off in a World Series, which saw the Cardinals' capture the Championship in a Facility shared but both teams: Sportsman's Park. I must admit, my memory of the series is vague at best but then, I was only 5-years old. Two years later, I recall a bit more detail when my Redbirds beat the Boston Red Sox for the World Series Title. Throughout the remainder of the 1940's and the '50's decade, I would be that avid baseball kid living thirty minutes from the Sportsman's Park and later Busch Stadium. I found my way to games frequently at the drop of the hat. I would ride buses and streetcars and use my Knothole Membership Card to gain admission for mere cents. Bleacher seats in the 1950's were about .75 cents, second tier seats around $1.25 and box seats somewhere between $5 and $10. I attended most games with my dad who insisted we'd get to the stadium hours before game time to watch and study idiosyncrasies of players taking batting and infield practices.
I noticed mostly men wearing white shirts and often neckties while sporting Fedora's and straw hats. Younger groups of teen were hawking autographs before and after games; players were mostly accommodating in those days. I do recall the frequent 'push' by ownership to court the female fan with its 'Ladies Day' promotions. It seemed those yesterday fans came to the park to watch baseball as opposed to eating and drinking. Cracker Jacks cost around .15 cents a box. I note today endless numbers of vendors selling a bottle of water for $6 and a bottle of beer for $9.
These days, I don't hurry to the ball park because I can't watch batting practice. I can watch a bunch of strangers being introduced in conjunction with some promotional. My parking cost around $20, the box seat runs about $100, and should I eat a hot dog and drink a beer, I'm looking at about $15 bucks.
Speaking of 'money,' in 1951, I watched Cardinals' outfielder, Enos Slaughter sprint hard to and from his right field position between innings; Slaughter was earning $25,000.00 a year. In 2018, I'll watch the $3 million-a-year player jog to his position. I won't see the likes of Bob Gibson or Don Drysdale going the pitching distance of nine innings in a 2-hour 25-minute game but instead, I will sit through a 3-hour and 15-minute game and watch a parade of some seven pitching changes.
The fans around me will go nuts when the fireworks go off after a home run but won't understand the stupidity and selfishness of a player not moving a runner over, swinging for the fence at the first pitch in the ninth inning when trailing by three runs or a batter failing to get a sacrifice bunt down.
All th said, I wait eagerly for opening day. I'll watch as many games as possible, glued to my television or at the stadium. Why? Because once more I'm a kid again playing the game I loved with my buddies. I'm that kid again sitting next to my Dad on a hot-muggy St. Louis night recalling his mentoring comments. I'm that kid again; that kid that never left my mind. PLAY BALL!
(Touch)
I'm Talkin' Baseball...Baseball in St. Lou
I noticed mostly men wearing white shirts and often neckties while sporting Fedora's and straw hats. Younger groups of teen were hawking autographs before and after games; players were mostly accommodating in those days. I do recall the frequent 'push' by ownership to court the female fan with its 'Ladies Day' promotions. It seemed those yesterday fans came to the park to watch baseball as opposed to eating and drinking. Cracker Jacks cost around .15 cents a box. I note today endless numbers of vendors selling a bottle of water for $6 and a bottle of beer for $9.
These days, I don't hurry to the ball park because I can't watch batting practice. I can watch a bunch of strangers being introduced in conjunction with some promotional. My parking cost around $20, the box seat runs about $100, and should I eat a hot dog and drink a beer, I'm looking at about $15 bucks.
Speaking of 'money,' in 1951, I watched Cardinals' outfielder, Enos Slaughter sprint hard to and from his right field position between innings; Slaughter was earning $25,000.00 a year. In 2018, I'll watch the $3 million-a-year player jog to his position. I won't see the likes of Bob Gibson or Don Drysdale going the pitching distance of nine innings in a 2-hour 25-minute game but instead, I will sit through a 3-hour and 15-minute game and watch a parade of some seven pitching changes.
The fans around me will go nuts when the fireworks go off after a home run but won't understand the stupidity and selfishness of a player not moving a runner over, swinging for the fence at the first pitch in the ninth inning when trailing by three runs or a batter failing to get a sacrifice bunt down.
All th said, I wait eagerly for opening day. I'll watch as many games as possible, glued to my television or at the stadium. Why? Because once more I'm a kid again playing the game I loved with my buddies. I'm that kid again sitting next to my Dad on a hot-muggy St. Louis night recalling his mentoring comments. I'm that kid again; that kid that never left my mind. PLAY BALL!
(Touch)
I'm Talkin' Baseball...Baseball in St. Lou
Friday, March 23, 2018
What's Goin' On?
Graduating from East St. Louis high school in 1957, I would not or could not have imagined that one day in America children in our schools would be commonly gunned down and killed in masses. I would not believed that our President would be involved in lawsuits with a porn star, A Playboy Bunny and others. Had somebody told me back then that my neighborhood streets might be booby trapped with bomb-explosives, I would have thought they were reading too many comic books. Routinely these days, local police are being shot, church members are gunned down at prayer meetings and movies/television viewing derails children's innocence in pre-adolescent years.
I recall the 1940's and 1950's when doors were not locked and children were safe walking their neighborhoods after dark. Today we must remind ourselves and love ones to constantly be suspicious. We are not safe in malls, restaurants, movie theaters, clubs or sporting venues. Likewise, we must question contents in our mail and be cautious of packages left on our porch. Carefree American living has disappeared like the 'running-boards' from our automobiles. We've lost all innocence and it ain't comin' back...how did we arrive at this disgusting 'new normal' known as fearful living?
(Touch)
What's Goin' On?
I recall the 1940's and 1950's when doors were not locked and children were safe walking their neighborhoods after dark. Today we must remind ourselves and love ones to constantly be suspicious. We are not safe in malls, restaurants, movie theaters, clubs or sporting venues. Likewise, we must question contents in our mail and be cautious of packages left on our porch. Carefree American living has disappeared like the 'running-boards' from our automobiles. We've lost all innocence and it ain't comin' back...how did we arrive at this disgusting 'new normal' known as fearful living?
(Touch)
What's Goin' On?
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Stupid IS What Stupid DOES
Do you remember back in 2009, when then President Obama bowed to the King of Saudia Arabia? Sure you do. The right-wing nut jobs and bigots in the United States came unglued with criticism. Those haters, after all believed Obama was born in Kenya and certainly a Muslim.
Well, God bless and help those fools today. For today Putin's Russia has demonstrated that they can meddle in our Democracy via Facebook and hacking computers. Russia most recently demonstrated the ability to hack into and disrupt our nation's 'power grids.' Folks, re-read that last sentence and THINK about the potential perilous consequences. All this while Trump tweets about SNL actors.
Makes perfect sense that our President Trump would telephone Dictator Putin and "Congratulate" Putin on winning his election in Russia. A bogus-sham election. Yes, that would be the same Putin who has his Russian adversaries and opponents killed.
I suppose in Trump's defens could be that he has been pre-occupied with dismantling his ("They'll be the best and smartest.") cabinet members and White House staffers, not to forget the distraction from a porn actress, Playboy Bunny and others bringing lawsuits against him.
Trump is Vldamir Putin's 'puppet.'
(Touch)
Putin's Puppet
Well, God bless and help those fools today. For today Putin's Russia has demonstrated that they can meddle in our Democracy via Facebook and hacking computers. Russia most recently demonstrated the ability to hack into and disrupt our nation's 'power grids.' Folks, re-read that last sentence and THINK about the potential perilous consequences. All this while Trump tweets about SNL actors.
Makes perfect sense that our President Trump would telephone Dictator Putin and "Congratulate" Putin on winning his election in Russia. A bogus-sham election. Yes, that would be the same Putin who has his Russian adversaries and opponents killed.
I suppose in Trump's defens could be that he has been pre-occupied with dismantling his ("They'll be the best and smartest.") cabinet members and White House staffers, not to forget the distraction from a porn actress, Playboy Bunny and others bringing lawsuits against him.
Trump is Vldamir Putin's 'puppet.'
(Touch)
Putin's Puppet
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)