Our Own Eyes

"That looks good to me." "I don't see anything wrong with that."

"...every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes..." Proverbs 12:15

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts." Proverbs 21:2

"And he did evil in the sight of the LORD..." I Kings 15:34

I John 1:1-7 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Where are our own eyes? On what are they focused? Do we each seek out and do what we please? What is right in our own eyes?

Or have we turned our eyes upon Jesus? Is it His will that we follow? Is what we do right before the eyes of God?

We cannot serve two masters. We cannot walk in the light and darkness at the same time.

We each make a choice...

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

The Desoto Pulls to the Left

Don't you just hate it when you are driving along and you have to keep fighting to keep headed straight down the road and in the center of your own lane. Whether it is something wrong with the car, like the alignment; or, maybe the wind is blowing strong from one side. Well, the Desoto always pulls to the left. But in this case, I believe it is both that there is something wrong with the Desoto and there is a bitter, cold wind blowing in that direction.

The "wind" is always accusing the "Right" that we are "racist". If you believed everything they say, you would be sure that Right-Wing Republicans are all a bunch of bigots.

Now we have the Desoto. I am convinced that there is also something wrong with her alignment. She has made some racist comments in the past. The Left is making excuses for her "poor choice of words" but they are sure that she did not mean what she said. She has made it clear that when she is on the bench, Justice is not blind.

I could care less what race she is or the color of her skin. What bothers me is that I care that she cares what race I am!

Cyber Czar

Yes, BO is going to appoint another Czar. We have a Bank Czar and a Car Czar. We can all look at both of those industries and see how well the Czars are doing. So, why not add another. (Side note-Is it just me, or does the title of Czar sound just a little Russian or Communist?)

Well, BO has announced that he is going to appoint a Cyber Czar. What the heck is that? Well, according to BO, he will be a "cyber security coordinator". In his speech, BO told us that there is "too much freedom" on the Internet. Then he went on to tell us that the purpose of the Cyber Czar is to make sure the Internet stays "open and free". Now which is it? Is it too free now or do we need to make sure it stays free? I am getting confused.

We can all rest assured that letting the Government take over control of the Internet will make it much better, much more secure, much more open and of course much more free - but not too free. There is an old saying that fits BO very well. "Give him an inch and he will take a mile." When the BO administration takes control of the Internet, which will be for our own good, you can bet that it will evolve from making sure it is secure to a total control over it, with some limitation on content and I would expect some form of tax on it's use. MMW! (mark my word)

Sometime during BO's first term (and I hope his only one), there will probably be a push to impose some form of control over Conservative Talk Radio. Whether it is the "fairness doctrine" or some other means, the Left wants the Right eliminated. If they cannot take us "out" they want to silence the Right. Once they pull that off, do you really believe they will leave the Internet wide open to Right-Wing propganda? The Cyber Czar just may come in handy down the road for them.

Remember, they were at war with us but we were not at war with them.

The Rino Award

What is a Rino? It could be a short name for a rhinoceros (if it were spelled as Rhino), the African animal with the large horn on it's snout.

It is a term used for someone who claims to be a Republican but is acting more like a Democrat. A current example of a Rino is Colin Powell. He claims to be a Republican and has actually worked for three Republican Presidents, the latest being President Bush (43). (I know what you are thinking, how could he still be 43 when he was 43 at the time he was elected and he looks a lot older, now.) But, he endorsed BO for President. He continues to criticize Bush and Cheney, mostly Cheney in the past few weeks. He lectures Republicans on how we should be and act so as to get along with the Democrats. He thinks that Conservatives need to shut up, because we are destroying the Party. Colin Powell is a Rino - Republican in name only.

It would be one thing if he were just stating that he is a Moderate Republican and tell what he believes, but he is on TV show after show trying to be the "face" of the Party. Anyone who does not agree with his form of Republicanism needs to step aside and let the Moderates lead us into another miserable loss at the polls.

Since I agree with almost nothing he is saying, Colin Powell is the winner of the first "Rino" award. And you ask, what does he get for his award? Nothing, absolutely nothing!

Desoto

According to the Liberal cRats, only a white man can be a racist. When any other person commits the same "sin" as the white man, they are excused because they have been the victims of the evil white man for centuries.

A white man cannot refer to a black man as a "Blacky", but a black man can call a white man a "Whitie" and no one thinks twice about it. Have you noticed that a white man cannot call a Mexican, a Mexican any longer? You must use the term "Hispanic" or you could be labeled a racist. "Mexican" means someone from Mexico, but the facts only get in the way of white bashing. A black man can call another black man the "N" word and that is fine. Don't even think about using that word if you are white.

We have special organizations and schools for "Blacks", such as the Black Chamber of Commerce, a university for Blacks, NAACP (CP=Colored People), "Black" churches, etc. If a white man started an organization for only "Whites", he would be an outcast, branded as a racist and most would not associate with him. When a white, iCan't politician makes a racist comment, his career is over. When a black politician does the same, he is considered to be brave and gets re-elected.

Now, we are getting ready to add a racist to the Supreme Court. She, Sonia Sotomayor, is not only a racist, but an anti-Constitution, activist Judge who believes it is the proper role of an Appeals Court Judge to "make policy".

Why do I call her a racist? First, what does "racist" mean. According to Dictionary.com, racist means the following:

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

You determine if the following quote, which she said, is racist, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life,” 1. Is that a statement that reflects a belief that there is an inherent difference among the human races (and sexes)? 2. Does that statement portray that she believes the Latina would be superior to the white? If you answer "yes" to either or both, you have to agree that she fosters racist views, and maybe sexist views, also.

Also, "that life" that she refers to, that the "wise Latina" has lived is unique to that one person. Not even another wise Latina has lived that life. She has also not lived the life of a "white man" and cannot relate to those issues or see from that perspective. That is why her statement is nonsense! No one has lived another's life! Besides, personal background is not supposed to be a qualification for the Supreme Court, no mater how compelling the story might be. She is supposed to be considered because of being immensely qualified for the position. As she is not to consider race in how a case is decided, her race should not be relevant in her confirmation.

Sotomayor (henceforth referred to as "the Soto", or since we are being culturally correct, "Desoto") is not only a racist, she has issued opinions where a large majority have been reversed by the Supreme Court. She has issued an opinion that states that an individual does not have a Constitutional right to own a gun. She has issued an opinion on a discrimination case, where substantial Constitutional issues were involved, without ever addressing any of them and basing her decision on the right to discriminate by a City, since the victims were mostly white. She fails to see "reverse discrimination" as "discrimination".

Desoto gave a talk to some graduating law students. In the talk, she made the statement that the Appeals Court level is where "policy" is made. This shows a total disregard for the Constitutional limits on the rights and duties of a Federal Judge. She has made statements that show her belief that empathy and emotions and personal background should all play a part in Judicial rulings.

America cannot afford to have a person with these beliefs and prejudices appointed to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court.

Whatever happened to, "Justice is Blind"? From what she has said and the way she has already ruled, it appears that her decisions are based largely on the issues she is supposed to be "blind" about. Justice is not justice where the issue is decided based on race, sex, religious belief, etc. The Law is the Law! It is not to be interpreted based on empathy or racist views.

Her appointment will be another "nail in the coffin" of the late, great USA.

Remember, they were at war with us, but we were not at war with them.

Happy Birthday, Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

You don't look a day over 21!

Grannys Got Her Gun!

Do you notice a look of self-confidence?

There is nothing like the strength you feel when you are backed up by an assault rifle. It even comes in decorator colors.

Mixed Emotions

Memorial Day is much more than a holiday, or three-day weekend, for many families across America. To them, it is a time of remembrance, but not on the same level as it is for the rest of us. The rest of us appreciate the great sacrifice paid by so many on our behalf and we may attend a ceremony during the day.

To them, this is a day of strong, mixed emotions. They are the ones left behind by those who paid the sacrifice. They are the ones who feel the loss, personally. We remember and appreciate, they remember and cry.

At the same time, in many of those homes, there is a sense of great pride. Their loved ones put us before themselves and with honor, gave it all.

How do you reconcile eternal heartache with overwhelming pride? Maybe you cannot. Maybe they just learn to live with each other.

Where Did They Fall?

Who were they?

They were just like you and me. They were some Mom's son, a Dad's pride and joy, a brother to a little sister, a best friend, a neighbor just down the street, a kid you taught in school or Sunday school, a member of your scout troop, a husband to a young wife, an unknown dad to a child growing up across the street.

What were they?

Before going off to war, they were salesman, students, teachers, athletics, doctors, laborers, business owners. They ran the theater or waited on tables at the corner diner, they were average men and women who answered the call.

After going off to war, they were soldiers in trenches, marines hitting beaches, pilots, mechanics, Captains, Privates. They were doing jobs they had never imagined. They were mopping decks on ships in the Pacific, manning a gun in a bomber over Europe, running communication wire in a battlefield, disarming land mines in a jungle.

When were they?

Because of man's propensity to war, they are from all times. Since our nation was founded, they have been answering the call. They fought for independence from England, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the war with Mexico, World War I-the war to end all wars, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, in Panama and Bosnia, the Gulf War, the war in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, the Cold War...

Where did they fall?

They were on a ship in Pearl Harbor, half buried in cinders on Iwo Jima, drowning off of Juno Beach, washing ashore on some isolated island in the middle of nowhere. They were trying to cross through a hedgerow in France, fight an enemy in the sands of Africa, hanging from a parachute in a tree in Germany, crumpled in wreckage of a once mighty bomber. They were on the floor of a prison hut in some jungle, they were tied to a post, stuck in the mud of a trench, or in some burning tank.

Why?

This may be the hardest question to answer. Why did they go? The call they answered was a call to defend freedom for us and provide freedom for others. They went to stop the likes of Hitler or Saddam. They had in their hearts a desire to stop evil.

They signed up for war for a variety of reasons: adventure, revenge, a family thing, my friend is going, they killed my brother, it's the right thing to do, patriotic reasons...


The truth is, some of the answers will never be known. Some of the dead will never be found. Some of the Mothers will never receive a flag and some of the children will never know Dad. With all the loss, pain, destruction and heartache experienced by so many over the short length of America, we would not be here without them being there!

What if the settlers had settled for being under the British king? What if the South had succeeded in splitting the USA into small pieces? What if Americans had stayed out of the affairs of Europe in 1917-1918? What if we appeased Japan and Germany and accepted that it was not our fight? What if Iraq had taken over other countries? What if the Taliban and Al Qaeda were still freely operating in Afghanistan? What if Saddam were still torturing and killing his own people?

What if Iran is left to develop a nuclear weapon? What if North Korea overruns the South? What if China eyes Japan? What if Russia and Iran decide it's time to rid the world of Israel?

What if America sleeps while a dictator assumes control? What if all of those liberties and freedoms that so many fought and died for are forfeited without a fight?

We have a debt to the past generations who provided the freedom we enjoy, to extend the same to the next generation. Too much blood has been spilled by too many brave men and women, for us to give up our liberties, our rights, our freedoms as if they had no value!

Memorial Day

In memory of the fallen heroes...

"Once each May, amid the quiet hills and rolling lanes and breeze-brushed trees of Arlington National Cemetery, far above the majestic Potomac and the monuments and memorials of our Nation's Capital just beyond, the graves of America's military dead are decorated with the beautiful flag that in life these brave souls followed and loved. This scene is repeated across our land and around the world, wherever our defenders rest. Let us hold it our sacred duty and our inestimable privilege on this day to decorate these graves ourselves -- with a fervent prayer and a pledge of true allegiance to the cause of liberty, peace, and country for which America's own have ever served and sacrificed. ... Our pledge and our prayer this day are those of free men and free women who know that all we hold dear must constantly be built up, fostered, revered and guarded vigilantly from those in every age who seek its destruction. We know, as have our Nation's defenders down through the years, that there can never be peace without its essential elements of liberty, justice and independence. Those true and only building blocks of peace were the lone and lasting cause and hope and prayer that lighted the way of those whom we honor and remember this Memorial Day. To keep faith with our hallowed dead, let us be sure, and very sure, today and every day of our lives, that we keep their cause, their hope, their prayer, forever our country's own." --Ronald Reagan

My Wife Gives Me Heartburn

I know what you must be thinking, he is such a romantic! I humbly, do not see myself as any more of a romantic than the typical, great husband.

My wife gives me heartburn. When I tell her that, she always gets a smile on her face. I'll tell you guys, try it! Tell your wife that she gives you heartburn and watch the loving smile appear.

You may want to follow it up with a little explanation. Sandee asked me, as we were leaving the house, if I needed a coat. I told her that just being with her makes my heart warm and a heated heart sends hot blood through my body, making the rest of me warm. So, the heartburn that she gives me causes an enhanced relationship experience.

SNAP

SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called Food Stamps.

I recently heard on the radio that one in ten Americans receive SNAP. I found that hard to believe and decided to check it out. According to the official web site, in February of 2009, 32,600,000 people received food stamps. That is 10% of our population. For 2008, the average monthly benefit per person was just over $100.

Along the same lines, unemployment benefits in New York were just extended to 72 weeks. That is almost one year and five months.

For the month of April, 2009; 56,600,000 were on Social Security. That is approximately 17% of the population.

Modern day entitlement programs got their big start with the New Deal, in the 1930's. As we all know, government NEVER reduces or eliminates any of these programs, they only grow. We not only have those FDR started, we have more added on a continual basis. For example, the Medicare Prescription program recently became law and added another benefit to millions of Americans. In 2005, it was estimated that the cost of this program would be $1,200,000,000,000. ($1.2 Trillion) over the first decade. Have you ever known of a program that did not cost more than the government estimated?

Why would our elected officials continue, term after term, to enlarge entitlement programs and those who qualify? Why would they go against the philosophy of each person having personal responsibility? The answer lies in BO's statement to Joe the plumber, "We need to spread the wealth around." Taking or stealing from one group and giving it to another tends to create an entitlement mentality in the citizens (and non-citizens) who are on the receiving end. Once the people get dependant upon the handouts, they make sure (with their votes) to keep the politicians in power who are responsible for giving them the freebies. Therein lies the motivation for the Democrats. They are taking the money from those who earned it and giving it to those who did not, in other words, they are buying votes, with your money, to guarantee their own political power.

Sadly to say, the Republicans are looking more and more like the Democrats in this area. They seem to have signed onto the idea that they can out "redistribute" the Dems. With both sides trying to buy votes, you can only imagine what will happen to tax rates. Someone once said that Liberalism works until the one group runs out of money.

Self-Castration

NO! Not me!

I have heard some explanations as to why the United States does not seem to be involved in end-times, Bible prophecy. Most have stated that a cause could be that the USA has been taken out by nuclear weapons. That seemed plausable due to the arming of our enemies with atomic weapons. That seemed plausable due to the USA being the "great Satan" according to some Islamic radicals, who believe God has called them to wipe us all out.

I now have another take on the subject. The reason the US may not play any prominant role in the end-times, is that we have been castrated as a strong nation. According to Dictionary.com, castrate has the following meanings: 1-to deprive of streength, power, or efficiency; weaken; 2-emasculate. Emasculate has the following meaning - to weaken, to render effeminate, unmanly softness.

We are watching BO and his administration and the puppet government, on a daily basis, slice away at the strength and power this nation has been admired for, by much of the rest of the world. One marble, after another goes rolling across the floor and out the door.

Whack, whack, whack!

Missing Link Found

I heard on the news, today, that some "scientists" in Europe announced that they had found the "missing link" between apes and humans. The fossilized evidence is 47,000,000 years old and is supposed to look like a 1'9" tall monkey.

Disclaimer: I am not a scientist, but I have a observation. If it looks like a monkey, maybe that is exactly what it was. Just because it was short, does not mean it is something rare. Have scientists ever heard of baby monkeys?

I have also wondered, whenever I hear some claim that something has been dated to be 2,850,000,000,000 years old. Are they serious? Even something that is only 47,000,000 years old, what is the margin of error, 45,000,000 years +-? This group will state things like this as actual fact. They do not say that it could be over 10,000,000 years old, they say it is 32,000,000 years old. I do not care what they say, you cannot convince me that they can accurately test to determine the difference in a bone or in a fossil (rock) as to whether it is 10,000,000 or 12,000,000 years old.

It is scientists like these that are determined to prove evolution, that have resulted in us having scientists that say global warming is a fact that cannot be debated any longer. The quality of their statements ranks right along side their friends, the liberal politicians.

The "F" Word

Were there certain words that your Mom (assuming that your Mom is different than my Mom) did not like for you to use. Well, my Mom did not like the "F" word. I imagine that you are thinking that you completely understand her position.

Well, the banned word in our family was "fart". For some reason that word really bothered her. She was fine with "gas", but not fart. I guess that everyone draws a line somewhere! Her line was just before you get to fart.

Have you ever had your mouth washed out with soap, literally? Well, I can proudly say that I have, but it was not for saying fart. I have no idea what I might have said as it was when I was 2-3 years old. (How bad could it have been, I did not even know the word fart at that time.)

It's interesting how different families have certain words that are used within the "family home" but the parents seem to find embarrassing when one of the kids boldly say one of them in public. I remember a trip to see Dr. Armstrong, who also just happened to be our neighbor and lived across the street from my soon to be embarrassed Mom. I must have been having stomach problems as the good doctor asked me if I had had a B.M. Well, B.M. was not familiar to me as that was not one of our family words. When I could not answer that question, with a red face, Mom asked me if I had grunted.

Now, you tell me this, which word are you more comfortable with, "fart" or "grunt"? As for me, I will take fart any day. I also have to draw the line somewhere.

This brings me to a half related story. Mom took one of my little sisters (Sharon - due to she had stuffed something up her nose and Mom could not get it out) to see Dr. Armstrong and left Ron (it was Ronnie at that time) and I in the car. Well, good intentions went awry and I "accidentally" put a cinder in one of Ron's ears. When Mom brought Sharon back out, she had to turn around and take Ronnie back into the doctor office for additional assistance. We all laugh about it now, but for some reason, Mom did not find it funny at the time. In fact, it is probably one of the times that she wished she could use the "fart" word.

If you are wondering how she got even with me for both of the above, she got the good doctor to order daily enemas for what must have been a couple years. Yep, every afternoon when I was out playing and minding my own business, she would either call me in for a nap or an enema. After that experience, enema is another one of those words that are across my line.

Future NRA Member

Yesterday, Sandee and I took Tyler to Phoenix to the NRA annual convention and trade show. Watching Tyler in that place was as good as taking a kid to Disneyland. As you can imagine, there were a lot of guns in the convention center. There are not many of them that he did not handle. He has photos of himself holding several assault rifles. Each time we found another booth, he would grab one and said that this is now his favorite. Sandee told me that she believes we have another conservative Republican on the way. I can only pray that is so!

Big Brothers

Being the second of five, with one older brother and three younger sisters, has its advantages and disadvantages. But, from my present perspective, having a big brother has been a good thing. I did not always feel that way, though.

When we were really young we did some things together: rock fights with the Coon boys, climbing apple trees with the Whipple boys, playing in the woods, playing army or cowboys and indians, etc. At this time, our arguments went something like this, "I got you! No, you didn't! Yes, I did! You missed!"

As we got a little older we had some of the same interests, such as: building model cars, camping in the woods, blowing up model cars with firecrackers, shooting plastic army men with BB guns, racing the go-cart, etc. But, as Ron grew tall and I stayed short, there seemed to develop more of a gap between us than just our age. He began to do more grown-up things, or at least teenage things, and I was still a boy. I grew jealous and resentment developed. We ended up not getting along very well for a period of time, having fights and arguments. One argument, which I started, resulted in each of us breaking the other's model cars. That was the end of that era, as neither one of us ever made another.

At the time, I did not believe this was my fault, but looking back, I am sure that it was. I wanted to be like Ron, to be able to do what he was able to do, and I could not. Some of this continued into our teens. Ron was a senior in high school when I was a freshman. Being very small for my age (4'5" when I began high school), I got picked on a lot by juniors and seniors. But, soon, I found that being Ron's little brother had some advantages. He was popular, athletic and had a good reputation at school. As people began to realize that we were related, it helped my situation. By the time he went to college and I started my sophomore year, most of the teachers and students knew me and most got along with me.

There were a few exceptions to good relationships with other students. Most of these seemed to be older boys who had also been small for their age and probably had been picked on. So, now that they were older, they were looking for a target to take out some frustration. These usually did not turn into anything big and did not last very long. But, there was one senior who was an exception to why others picked on me. His name was Paul and he was also a lot larger than I, he was very athletic and strong and he was popular. I never have figured out why he chose me as a target for unrelenting harassment, but he did. Even though I had grown 12 inches during my freshman year, I was still small (95 pounds). He did not just tease me, he treated me as though he was mad at me as if I had been mean to his dog, or something. This went on for a few months. Finally, I got tired of it and stood up to him. He used that as an excuse to physically attack me, picking me up and throwing me across the room. Then, all of a sudden, during the spring, it all stopped. I did not know why, but I was glad.

It wasn't until many years later that I found out why it stopped. Even though I had kept the situation to myself, at home, somehow Ron found out what Paul was doing to me. When Ron came home from college for spring break or Easter, he confronted Paul over all of this. That is what saved me.

Another important event between Ron and I happened on the 7th green during a round of golf. He may not remember this, but I still do. I was frustrated after some bad shots, then missed a putt, and I consciously cussed out loud. I believe it was the d--- word. I, in a way, was testing him to see what his reaction would be to me cussing. He got after me, told me to never do that again and he did not talk to me the rest of the game. That made an impression and helped me keep a clean mouth.

When I weigh the pros and cons of being a little brother, I have to say that the pros tip the scale. Once Ron went to college, it seems that we have gotten along very well ever since. We saw less of each other, but I believe that one of the main changes was that I grew up a little. Being a little brother is not all bad! Thanks!

Mark and Anne

Mark and Anne are celebrating their anniversary this weekend. It is hard to believe that they have been married for five years.

The changes in their lives have been numerous: marriage, moving to Idaho, buying a house, finding work, getting pregnant, having Ben, becoming Mom and Dad, getting pregnant again...

They have gone from two individuals to one family. I could not have asked for a better husband for Anne than Mark. From every indication, he loves her with all of his heart. What more could anyone want. And this I can say without any prejudice, Mark did pretty good for himself, too. Anne is in love with Mark and Ben. She seems to have what she wanted, a good husband and a family. Both of them love God and have a desire to follow Jesus.

This family is part of "My Favorite People". It does my heart good to hear from them and know that they are doing well. I am filled with joy whenever I get to see them.

Mark and Anne, stay focused on what is most important - God, your spouse, your children, your Dad. I love you all with all of my heart.

The Battle for the Future

As the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, as the battles intensify in Pakistan, as Iran threatens extinction of the Jews, and as the World guards against terrorist attacks by radical Islamists; there is another battle going on. It is the winner of this other battle that will ultimately claim victory in all of the wars raging in the Middle East.

As we fight on the ground and from the air, as we plan and carry out those plans to win a battle here and there; the missing element in our National strategy has to do with the spiritual war going on. If we as a "Superpower" in military strength ignore that our foe(s) are not just fighting us in conventional ways, but are engaging in a Jihad - or spiritual war, we will be at a disadvantage.

Our enemy is not just radical Islamists, but the evil spirit that drives them. They are motivated to do crazy things, even blow themselves up, even have their children blow themselves up, in the name of Islam. Some argue that Islam is the religion of peace. If there is any truth to that statement, they seem to be hiding that part of their religion fairly well. At least the radical wings of Islam are about anything but peace. They promote violence, killing, maiming, domestic violence, suicide and war. They claim that Allah has called them to eliminate the Little Satan (Israel) and the Great Satan (USA). They believe it is their duty to kill the infidels (meaning anyone who is not a believer in their form of Islam) and any apostates (meaning any Arab who does not subscribe to their radical version of Islam).

If we as Americans (public, government and military) fail to recognize that this is a spiritual battle, we will only be trying to win by fighting half of the war. Our enemy is waging spiritual war against us. They are not interested in a peace treaty, or negotiations, or compromise, or defeat, or cease fire, etc. They believe Allah has called them to win and kill all of us. You cannot sit down, across a table, and use arbitration to settle the differences. They want us dead! Nothing else will do. If they fail at their calling, they believe they will not go to heaven, will not get their virgins, etc.

A lot of us cannot go to war as a soldier. We cannot fight in the battles in the sand of Iraq. We will not take up a gun or drop a bomb or launch a missile. Those parts of this war must be fought by our designated military personnel. The other battle is our responsibility. We can and must take up spiritual warfare. We can do that from right where we are, right now. We have to pray that God will open the hearts, eyes and minds of the people in the Middle East. We have to pray that the Truth of God and Jesus will reach the millions of people in those countries and that a revival will occur and that their leaders will repent and/or be replaced by God loving people.

The future of free nations is riding on winning the spiritual battle. We have to take this seriously!

BO is no AH

I have heard some state that Barack Obama is acting similar to Adolph Hitler in the 1930's. When Hitler came to power, he quickly expanded the powers of his position, much in the same way BO is doing. AH attacked those who opposed him, much in the same way BO is doing (only BO is not killing them). AH basically ignored the laws, much as BO is ignoring the Constitution. AH was an egomaniac, just as is BO. AH surrounded himself in his government with thugs, just as BO has done.

So, why do I defend BO and say that he is not like AH? You have to remember that AH built his military, increased production of weapons, improved the national defense capabilities. That is not at all like BO. BO has halted production of the F-22 jet fighter. BO has canceled a planned Destroyer. BO has slowed the progress on our missile defense program. BO has canceled two of 11 Aircraft Carrier Groups. These two could not be further apart on national defense and a strong military.

AH made sure captured enemy would not go on to fight Germany again. BO has ordered Guantanamo Prison closed and proposed releasing the prisoners. In fact, some may have already been released and some who were released in past years have been caught fighting our soldiers, again.

Double Standards

As J. D. Hayworth puts it, "I am all for equal rights, just not special rights."

We live in the midst of double standards. They are all around us.

Dictionary.com defines Double Standards: as "any code or set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another..."

Most special interest groups that lobby for "equal rights" are actually looking for special rights. They are wanting a double standard. They may have been victims of a double standard in the past and now want the abuser to be the victim. Usually, they are not looking to "get even", but are wanting to get ahead. There is an old saying, "two wrongs do not make a right." That applies here. Reversing the double standard does not make it even or fair, it creates a new set of victims and the consequential anger from the mistreatment.

Double standards are commonplace in politics. Over the past few years, I have noticed that there is an outcry of shock and a call for punishment whenever a Republican messes up. But, when a Democrat seems to do just as bad, or maybe worse, you do not hear or see the same reaction.

When a Republican has an affair, he loses his position of authority (Newt). When a Democrat has an affair, it is all forgiven and we are told that it is none of our business and it did not interfere with his duties (Bill). There are many examples of this in Washington. When Bush II was elected President, the Democrats and media suggested that he not have Inaugural parties due to the recession. When BO was elected, even though there was a recession, did you hear any call to scale back the celebration? When Bill suggested overhauling Social Security and making part of it private, it was a good idea. But, when it was George who picked up the idea and tried to get it implemented, it was a horrible idea.

How about when Bill did little or nothing about terrorist attacks against American interests and the media and left seemed to be content. But, when George continued reading to school children a few minutes while waiting for confirmation as to what was happening, it showed him to be completely incompetent. When Democrats support Acorn in trying to cheat and steal an election, not a problem. When Bush honestly won the Florida election, he was attacked for eight years about how he stole the election.

All of these are double standards. So, I was wondering why this is the case in politics? There are two reasons that I can come up with. First, the media, in general, wants to destroy the Republicans and makes mountains out of mole hills whenever they get a chance. Second, we who are on the right tend to hold our elected representatives to a higher standard than those on the left.

Why would this be the case? When a Republican falls, we are disappointed and we express that we expected more from them. We hold them to a high standard and many times they are out in public expressing that they hold themselves and others to a high standard. So, when they fall, we are surprised and disappointed. It seems that the left does not hold their leaders to a high standard and they do not seem to hold themselves to any, either. So, when they fall, it is not a big deal as they had not promised to be better than that and their followers were not expecting a higher level of morality.

Until the left changes, the double standard will remain. The only alternative would be for us to copy the level of morality for the left and not care. We have core principles that we are not willing to sacrifice, so us taking on the left's attitude about doing wrong, will not happen. And that, I believe, is the main issue. We have a set of core principles under which we operate. If we abandon them, we will no longer be who we are. To be even with the left is not enough of a prize for us to be like them.

I would rather take the high road and stumble and fall, over and over again; than to not try. Taking the low road, on purpose, just so you will not have far to fall, is accepting depravity as a way of acceptable life.

Church Bells and Weenies

Today, in Phoenix, a Bishop of a church was found guilty of violating a noise ordinance. His church had been ringing bells at various times during the day. Four neighbors complained and that was all that was needed to charge him with the crime. It has the potential of having him do some jail time.

It went to trial, as he believed it to be a religious right. The neighbors testified that the bells "affected their daily routine" and "held them captive in their own homes". That is where the "weenies" part comes in. There was no evidence of decibel levels being too high, in fact, there was no evidence of a limit on decibel levels being part of the ordinance.

This story made me wonder something, would we being hearing about the same charges being filed, same guilty verdict, and a judgement coming down; if the church was an Islam Mosque and the noise was the call to prayer being broadcast over an amplification system?

What has happened to some people? What made so many, weenies? Most neighbors did not mind the bells. So, what happened to the solution of just going over to the church and asking them to turn down the volume on their electronic bells? Why are so many people bitter?

Church bells have been a tradition since before this country was founded. Why, all of a sudden, are they something that gets a pastor arrested? Why would any "neighbor" file charges over such a thing? I notice the same angry attitude when I read letters to the editor. There are a lot of people who seem to be mad and are looking for someone to take the brunt of their anger.

How tough are we as a nation when we have so many weak citizens?

Bageebees!!!

I have heard of the bageebees, before; but, I had never experienced them. That all changed this morning. Today, I had the bageebees scared out of me.

First thing this morning, I was typing and Sandee came in to see what I was doing as soon as she got up. We talked a few seconds and then she began to shake the bookcase with her hands. Then her head began to bow over. It dawned on me that she might be starting to faint. Even though I was only six to seven feet away, I was not able to get there in time. She collapsed and fell back, hitting the back of her head on the floor, pretty hard.

I picked up her head and saw a familiar, wide-eyed, blank stare. There was no response, only the same stare that I saw a couple years ago when I found a dead man in a house I was appraising. This is where the bageebees got scared out of me. Thank God, after 5-10 seconds, she began to respond. Within a couple minutes she was talking normally and I got her back to bed. She ended up feeling normal the rest of the day. She thinks that she had got up to quick from bed, walked in to see me and got extremely light-headed, enough so as to black out.

As she was coming to, she said that she thought she was dreaming. The first thing she saw was my head in her face, asking her if she was OK.

You know that you love someone. You even realize that you really love them. This morning, I realized, in those few seconds, just how much I really, really love her. I am a blessed man!

An Ignorant Electorate

"For no people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders." Samuel Adams, in a letter to James Warren, November 4, 1775.

Is that a true statement? If so, what has happened to the American people? If not so, it means that well informed, intelligent people will willingly surrender their freedom. Is that the case? I do not believe so. I do not believe that a free man or woman, well informed and educated, will choose to give up their personal liberty or freedom. This would also mean that the Declaration of Independence is wrong.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Do you see that? "Liberty" is a right granted to man by God. Liberty is not a gift from our Government to us and they have no right to take it away from us.

Let's assume that Samuel Adams was correct in what he wrote. So, what was he telling us?

• First - Free people will not surrender their freedom, without a fight.
• Second - Free people cannot be easily subdued when they are knowledgeable and maintain virtue. Virtue refers to the goodness of the people, the moral excellence of their character.
• Third - When people are ignorant and of low moral character, they will sink under their own weight. Or, to put it another way, they will give up their freedom, voluntarily.

Where is America, right now? We are in the process of losing our liberties; one-by-one, day-by-day! How can this be possible? The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution lay out our rights, liberties and the power of the people. If these documents are the recipe for our freedom, how can our Government be engaged in the systematic dismantling of our individual freedom and liberties?

The answer lies in the writing of Samuel Adams. Evidently, accurate knowledge is not being diffused and virtue is not being preserved. We now have a major portion of the American public who would fall under the category of "universally ignorant, and debauched in their manners". Debauched means: self-indulgent, morally corrupt, and excessive indulgence in sensual pleasure. Does that sound like modern-day USA?

Our country has been dumbed-down, on purpose. Why would I say, "on purpose"? Because those who wish to take our liberty from us have also read Samuel Adams. They also believe he was correct. If we are educated and maintain moral uprightness, they cannot succeed in their plan to steal our freedom and change our country. They had to be patient. They had to have a plan. They had to seize control of the appropriate areas, such as the education system and the courts, in order to implement their agenda. As we look back, they were successful at each of these goals. They began, decades ago, to dumb-down the then present generation. They then proceeded to do the same to the next generation. They encouraged illegal immigration and built the welfare system. They have succeeded in building a population of voters who are not knowledgeable and who are not maintaining high levels of morality. They have removed God from many areas of public awareness. They have watered-down what is being taught in public schools concerning American history and civics. They have taken away the sense of personal responsibility in many, which resulted in more dependence upon welfare and higher crime rates. The family unit has been demoted and Government, through welfare, has stepped in to replace missing Dads, etc. Children are not being taught by parents nor are they attending a good church.

America is in the process of sinking under it's own weight. I believe it was God's hand guiding the forming of this country and holding it up during trying times. As we, as a country, have rejected God and each have gone their own way, it appears that God is removing His hand of support and protection from us.

I also believe that it is not too late. I believe that if America will repent, God will hear and be merciful. I believe there is still time to gain knowledge and restore virtue. This comes down to individuals doing their parts. Do what you need to do to learn, grow, and draw close to God. Then, spread that to others. Be an example and teach and lead. We have a lot of work to do and we can do it, one convert at a time.

The radical Left did not get in this position over night and we will not get them out over night. We have to be patient. We have to have a plan. We have to gain in the necessary areas - the hearts and minds of the individuals. Will it be said, 20 or 40 years from now, that we succeeded in our agenda? Will Americans be free or be slaves to the Government?

Remember, they were at war with us, but we were not at war with them. It is time to prepare for war! First comes basic training and boot camp.

100 Days

As the nation celebrates the first 100 days in Obamaland, the "change" just keeps on coming.

I have to admit, I do not remember a President ever cramming so much into 100 days. I just wish I could say that we are better off for all of it, but I cannot, because we are not.

I believe that the Obama administration, supported by a liberal Senate and House, is doing all they can to get as much done as possible, as fast as possible. The reasons are that they want as much done as possible before there is a public outcry that will be so loud that they have to back off, to some degree. Plus, they know that there is a chance they could lose control of the House in 18 months.

Right now, they are riding the perfect storm. They have full power and control and no one can stop them. We are getting the change that was promised, they just never had to explain what they meant by that.

Believe it or not, Janet Nappy's name has surfaced as a possible Supreme Court nominee.

Believe it or not, the Obama administration is suggesting that Israel disarm from it's nukes in exchange for Iran disclosing what it has.

Believe it or not, the Obama administration is considering not filing criminal charges against the lawyers who helped the Bush administration, but does want them disbarred.

Believe it or not, the Obama administration is leaving open the possibility that the Justice Department may file criminal charges against individuals in the Bush Administration for war crimes due to the awful torture we have done (depriving them from sleep, barking dogs, women's underwear, having to have a photo of Hillary in their cell, etc.).

Believe it or not, the Obama administration is controlling the bankruptcy for Chrysler. They have worked a deal with Fiat, a European company, to take over much of Chrysler and the union to take over pretty much the rest. They are also going to use our tax dollars to help Fiat buy the GM operations in Europe so that Fiat does not have to use their own money. Did you notice that the unions seem to be the only ones who do not seem to be giving up anything in all of this?

Is this the CHANGE God wants for America? I HOPE not! Pray hard, we are losing our liberty and freedom, bit by bit, on a daily basis.

Remember, they were at war with us but we were not at war with them.

Moms

Moms, what an amazing group of people! Some young lady, just starting out in her own life, after getting out of school, gets married, gets pregnant and has a baby. All of a sudden, her life is not her own. She gives up "her life" for the sake of this little one or two or ... For the next couple decades or so, her life is wrapped up in turning little babies into responsible adults. Many of those things she dreamed about doing, once she was an adult, are now on hold. She gladly delays her other dreams for the little dreamboats she is now responsible for and for caring for their each and every need.

Sacrifice? Not at all! She would not even slightly consider what she is doing as a sacrifice. It is not a burden, it is one of the greatest blessings God could give to her. She has been touched by the hand of God and a miracle has grown in her belly. In the eyes of a mother, the baby, no matter what it looks like or may have wrong, is the prettiest thing to ever grace the face of the earth. The pain of childbirth seems to be forgotten as soon as she holds the baby for that first time. Would she do it all over again? Evidently so, she has another baby soon.

A mother is a picture of the love of God to a great degree. John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his (or her) life for his (or her) friends." I add, Greater love has no woman than this, that she lay aside her life and devote herself wholeheartedly to the development of her children, to nurture and raise them to love and serve the Lord. This is a visible example of serving, of giving, of putting others first, of unending love.

My Mother is an unbelievable example of this kind of love. She gave and gave and gave. She loved and loved and loved. She has always been there for each of her five children. To the best of her ability, she made sure that our lives were the best they could possibly be. She did not do this by smothering us, but by guiding us and little-by-little, giving us our wings to try out the world - or at least the neighborhood at first.

I look back to my childhood and appreciate that I was allowed to be a "boy". I did not get in trouble for getting dirty or for breaking something on accident. I was given the freedom to do things that had the potential for me to get hurt. In that freedom, I grew in confidence, experience and in ability. The more I tried, the more I was allowed to try. The further I ventured into the woods without getting lost, the further I was allowed to venture.

I appreciate living in a nice home, always having the food for meals, always having decent clothes, etc. But much more, I appreciate my Mom and Dad and my brother and three sisters. I appreciate the family that my Mom held together and the atmosphere that she established for our home. There was no doubt in our minds that she would be there when we got home from school. She was not afraid to give us chores, to give us spankings, to give us vegetables... She did what was good for us, not just what we thought would be good for us. Her love and discipline helped to shape us into the adults we each have become. We all love God, we all love family and we all love the families we each have of our own. I would do anything for any member of my family and I know that my brother and sisters would do likewise. Why am I so sure? Because we grew up seeing the daily example of how it was supposed to be done.

Mom, thanks - thanks for all of it. Thanks for not putting up with my bad attitudes but having the love to insist on a change in me, thanks for taking care of me whenever I was sick, thanks for doing the meals and dishes and laundry and cleaning. Thanks for doing the gross things - the diapers (they were not disposable but were cloth that were wrung out by hand), cleaning up the vomit and washing sheets in the middle of the night, the enemas, dealing with wet beds with understanding, the bandaids on skinned knees and elbows, removing splinters, etc.

Mom, thanks for it all; each and every meal, each and every clean pair of socks, each and every talking to and spanking. Thanks for making me learn how to vacuum, dust, do the sinks and toilets, and the dishes. But also, thanks for letting me be a regular boy with a BB gun, bow and arrows, knife, hatchet, .22 rifle, go-cart, motorcycle, etc. Thanks for the trips to the doctor to get things taken care of, such as cinders out of ears, etc. Thanks for not panicking when I would hitch-hike home from Snowflake or be out until the middle of the night spot-lighting rabbits (maybe you did not know that is what I was doing) but thanks for trusting me to be responsible enough to stay out of big trouble.

And, I have a special thanks that no other child that I know of can offer, thanks for not flushing! I mean it, THANKS!

Mom; from Ron, Sharon, Carolyn, Paula and I; with all of the love in our hearts, thank you!

I'm a Big IDOIT!

I am an idoit and am proud of it. If you are not a great American Idoit, then you need to become one. Idoits are not idiots, they are the self-motivators, creative thinkers, self-sufficient, independent, self-confident people who have made this country great. It is on the back of idoits that America has become the greatest nation on Earth.

When I want something done, my first thought is not, who can I get to do this for me. I do not look to the Government to meet my needs and I do not want them looking out for me or you, from cradle to grave. When I want something done, Idoit.

Be an Idoit! Put your imagination to work, roll up your sleeves and get to work, you do it. You do what is needed to make your life better, to improve your living conditions, to work harder to supply your family's needs. Do not expect Washington or your state to meet your needs. When you become dependent on government for basic needs, it becomes a trap that is hard to escape from. Liberals want you to be dependent on government. When you look to them to meet your needs and you stop taking responsibility for yourself, they have you! You are dependent on them and they step in to run your life for you. They expect your vote and usually get it because you do not want to lose your benefits that you have come to depend upon.

Listen closely to the news reports where someone who is receiving from the Government is being interviewed. What is their attitude? It usually sounds like someone who believes that they are owed what they have become used to receiving. They do not have the attitude that they are grateful for the temporary help and they are looking forward to getting back on their feet and giving back to help others. Many times they are bitter, angry and unhappy. They are afraid of losing the free handouts. They have lost self-respect and self-motivation.

You be an Idoit! You will be happier and your life will be better.

Memorial Service

I am asking all of you to pray that the memorial service, this Saturday, for Ken Land will be a time that will be good for Carolyn - a time for grieving and healing. It sounds like there will be several people there and pray that it will be a celebration of Ken's life and friendship.

Your Feedback is Needed

I have interest in studying some of our country's founding documents, you know, just to see what they actually say. I would like to know if there is sufficient interest in these documents and if you would like for me to share what I am learning here?

Golf Balls

This is a follow-up to "Cash Flow". When the imagination is put to work, it is capable of coming up with some unique ideas to help earn some extra money.

I was thinking about how I came up with money while in college. Sure, there were the odd jobs: working for a house painter, working for a landscape maintenance crew, janitor work in a doctor's office, the same in an insurance office, and the unusual job of janitor work for Swift Meat Packing plant. That job is a story in itself. First there was the smell from 1,100 cattle being processed through there each day. Then there was the smell from boiling all the blood to make it into fertilizer. My roommate and I would work there for about six hours, five nights per week. Our job was to clean the cafeteria, locker rooms, halls, offices, etc. There were other crews who had the job of steam cleaning the meat processing areas each night. Some of those guys looked like the bad guys out of some movie about human butchers. We went through the meat processing areas each night to get to the back offices. Can you imagine racks, all lined up, with 1,100 cow tongues, 1,100 livers, 2,200 Rocky Mountain oysters, 1,100 etc.? It was pretty amazing!

But, there was another way we made money. A few of us would swim in golf course lakes and irrigation ditches in the middle of the night looking for golf balls. We would cover the whole Phoenix metro area. We knew which golf course to go to if we were low on new, quality balls; and which one for average balls. There was a course in Mesa where we could count on getting 200-400 golf balls in one trip. The problem is that it was a cheap, public course and the players knew where the water hazards were. So, they used crappy balls and we had to throw away half of what we gathered. Then, again, we could go to a private course and come home with about a dozen new Maxfli or Titleist.

We inherited a golf ball washing machine from an upper classman. We mounted it on the stand for the gum ball machine that was in the hall. We swam at night, slept late, ate and then scrubbed and sorted golf balls. (Oh yes, and we were studying while we were doing all the rest of this.)

During a trip to Encanto Golf Course to sell balls, we learned a lesson. We had my trunk full of boxes of sorted and clean golf balls. They ranged from new, good quality balls to average condition balls for practice or use on water holes. Our prices ranged from $ .05 to $.25 each. My roommate and I spent about three hours trying to sell the balls. We had lookers but no takers. We were puzzled as we could not lower the price more than it already was.

Discouraged and lacking supper money, we went back to the dorm. That night I had an idea. The next day we went with the same balls back to the same parking lot and we sold all of our inventory in about 30 minutes. What did we do different? We doubled the price on everything. Our prices had been too low. Golfers thought there must be something wrong with our balls for them to be so cheap. When we charged more, they were more comfortable in buying them and we sold everything.

You do what you gotta do!

Open Borders

We find ourselves with open borders while yet another situation is forced upon us. Is there any situation or condition that would actually cause our Government to take meaningful action to literally close the border between the US and Mexico?

Illegal immigration, by the millions, was not enough to close the border. Rampant crime that accompanied illegal immigration was not enough. Human smuggling, kidnapping, ransoms, and killing was not enough. Wrecks with a vehicle full of illegals (sometimes over a dozen crammed into a pickup or van) while they are running from authorities is not enough. Shootouts with police and some killing of police is not enough. Drug cartels warring against each other just across the border with numerous murders is not enough. That same violence spilling across the border is not enough. The damage done to public and private lands and improvements by the illegal aliens as they cross is not enough. The hundreds of millions of dollars spent on this problem without ever solving it is not enough. The corrupt Mexican government is not enough. Rising unemployment of Americans is not enough. The drugs and related crimes committed by illegals is not enough. The financial drain on public funds for schools and hospitals is not enough. Illegals collecting welfare is not enough. Illegals voting in our elections is not enough.

So, why would we expect that the Swine Flu would be enough? The potential for a pandemic is not enough reason to close the border, not even temporarily.

What is our Government willing to do? Random, observable screening of people entering the US at legal border crossings. When someone is found with flu symptoms, we will give them a mask and take them to a room where we can question them further. We won't even say that we will deny entry to anyone who is or appears to be sick. We will not stop flights between Mexico and the US, but we will watch those flying to see if they look sick.

What about the three days that they are spreading the disease before they begin to show symptoms?

What is the official response from the Department of Homeland Security? Secretary Janet Nappy told us that there is no reason to close the border now since there are already cases in several states. She has also said that there could be 35,000 deaths as a result of the flu. This seems to be an acceptable level of collateral damage for leaving the border open at any cost.

The summary, based on their actions or lack thereof, is that we are not worth protecting. It is more important that illegal aliens get into this country where the cRats can sign them up for free handouts and then get Acorn to register them to vote.

Homeland Security is a joke, now. It is more fitting to call it the Department of Homeland Insecurity. One news story, today, told us the the Government is shipping millions of doses to the states for use in fighting this disease. Another news story, today, tells us the chemists are working hard at coming up with a proper medicine to work against the Swine Flu, but it will take several weeks. In other words, shipping the existing medicine is all for show as it is not what is needed for this disease.

Maybe they could activate the "virtual fence". It worked so well at stopping people, maybe it can stop the germs just as well.

Folks, they take us all for fools.

Cash Flow

How do you get your spending money? I am not talking about the money to pay the bills, buy the groceries, put gas in the tank...I am talking about "extra" spending, discretionary spending, the money spent for something that is not necessary. How did you get it when you were young, when you were preteen or early teens? Did you receive an allowance? Did you do chores and get paid?

This evening, I was thinking back to when Ron and I were young. I remembered how we got the money we needed. We did not get an allowance for chores around the home, we had to come up with it in other ways.

When Ron graduated from the 8th grade, he got a Vespa scooter as a gift. This was pretty cool as it gave him transportation and that meant that sometimes, I got to go along. Gas was cheaper, a lot cheaper back then, but it still cost money. We had to come up with a way to get some money to keep the Vespa going.

Back before LBJ and Lady Bird (if you are coming up with a blank, ask someone older), litter along the highways was common. Surprisingly enough now, littering was something that just about everyone did without giving it a second thought. Well, one man's trash is another man's treasure! We would ride the Vespa along the highway and collect pop bottles. Some of you may be wondering why we would do that. Well, back then, pop bottles were glass and were reused. Yes, I said reused, not recycled. Pop bottles had a refund amount you could collect by turning them back in at the grocery store. It was typically around three cents per bottle. So, we gathered up some bottles that other people threw out their car windows and took them to the store for cash, took the cash to the gas station and filled the tank.

There was one more way that we got money. Cattle guards were fairly common along the highways. Many of them were not real smooth as you drove over them. Cars had hubcaps or spinner hubcaps. As cars drove over the cattle guard, going too fast, they would have a jolt from the bump that would cause a hubcap to come off and run off into the brush. We would check the areas on both sides of the road and gather hubcaps. Since is was not uncommon to lose a hubcap, people were looking for matching hubcaps to replace the one they lost. We were glad sell them. We found enough that we had full sets of some types. There were a couple styles of spinners which we had full sets. These, we could sell for a nice price. For awhile, we replaced Mom's hubcaps with a set of spinners on her station wagon. Station wagon? Yes, that is what an SUV was called in the olden days.

Innovation is the name of the game, especially when you are low on funds. If you are creative, you can usually come up with some way to get some extra cash. If you are even more creative, you can find legal ways to do the same.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Be an extraordinary person and put your creative abilities to work. Do what you need to do to keep your scooter running.

Homeland Security

Now you are beginning to see what we in Arizona already knew. Janet Napolitano, the head of Homeland Security, is a joke. The more she opens her mouth, the more she reveals that she has no idea what she is doing. She is either completely incompetent or just plain stupid.

As pointed out earlier, she refused to refer to terrorists or terrorism in her speech as she took over the Department to protect all of us. She refers to terrorist attacks as "man-caused disasters". She said her department would concentrate on hurricanes.

Now, over the past few days, she has continued to do things that leaves no doubt that she should not be in her position. First, she issued a document to police departments that instructed them to be on guard for potential terrorists (note: she had no problem referring to the following as terrorists even though foreigners who were sworn to destroy our country and kill all of us and who had already taken steps to follow through on some of these plans cannot be called terrorists). The individuals that police should be watching and gathering information about includes: veterans returning from war, pro-life individuals, those who display or speak out about conservative issues, pro-2nd Amendment advocates, etc. These "right-wing extremists", she has no problem calling potential terrorists.

Second, she gave a talk either in or about Canada and our joint border. She stated that the Canadian border was as dangerous to us as the Mexican border. She said that the 9/11 terrorists had entered the US from Canada. First of all, this insulted Canada and they expressed their concern over her lack of knowledge. Second, the 9/11 terrorists did not come through Canada.

Then, she stated that to enter the US as an illegal alien is not against the law. Yes, she actually said that. What part of "illegal" does she not understand.

This sorry excuse for a law enforcement official needs to go.

12 Step Program

Step One - Admit. My name is Mike and I am a stalker. Yes, I admit that I have been a stalker. How do you think I landed a trophy wife? I had to resort to unconventional tactics.

I found myself to be alone. I had a plan for getting on with the rest of my life - move slow, be careful, be selective, prepare emotionally, prepare financially; in other words, do everything right as I recovered.

Then, along came Sandee. There she was sitting in church with her Mom. There she was as a teller at my bank. Having no idea why I would have any confidence, just dealing with a divorce, I found myself being bold, taking steps to pursue her. I somehow ended up in her teller line just about everyday. One day, depositing a check; the next, withdrawing a few dollars. It took some creativity to find some reason why I had to go to the bank every day, especially when work was really slow.

As she was always friendly to me, seemed to be very nice, and was drop-dead good-looking; I motivated myself to act. It seemed like I found myself eating lunch where she happened to also be eating, two or three times each week. What a coincidence or good planning? Looking back, the story has all of the good elements: creativity, patience, planning, goal setting, confidence and a good dose of stalking. I had to follow her to lunch, figure out where she lived, determine that she was single, and find some excuse to have conversations with her.

There were several attempts to see her and the same number of "no thanks" responses. The thing that kept me trying was the nice way I was rejected each time. I finally asked point blank, if she was interested in seeing me. Her response was that she was not able to right then. I accepted that and backed off.

This must have come across to her as some level of self-confidence that was attractive as the next thing I knew, after me going to a different teller's line, she was calling me. What a shocker, she called me! She asked me to meet her for a talk. A couple days later, she invited me to watch the Suns in the playoffs with her and some other bank employees. Yada, yada, yada.

I no longer had to stalk her from a thinly veiled distance, I was "in". My charm over-whelmed her and the rest is history.

Step One - Admit you have a desire
Step Two - Make a plan
Step Three - Work up some confidence
Step Four - Activate phase one of the plan
Step Five - Make initial contact and superficial conversation
Step Six - Be creative
Step Seven - Show up where she happens to be
Step Eight - Gain intelligence through stalking (not the weird kind)
Step Nine - Use intel gained to cause "chance" meetings
Step Ten - Be bold and ask
Step Eleven - Do not take "no" as the final answer
Step Twelve - Reap reward of perseverance

Bingo - you are healed!

Little League

As a young boy, I joined little league, just like most of my friends were doing. It was convenient. The ballpark was so close to our home that we could shoot arrows from our yard and have them land on the infield. With our crossbows, we could shoot arrows all the way across the ballpark. The weeded area where the home run balls got lost, was only two lots away. It was predetermined which team I would be on as my Dad was the coach of the Cardinals and my older brother, Ron, was also on the team.

Ron was tall for his age and very athletic. He was responsible for some of the lost balls in the weeds. I, on the other hand, was the poster child for "little" in Little League. While on the same team, I came up to about Ron's waist. Height was not the only thing I came up short about. My athletic ability was also lacking - in fact, I was afraid of the ball. I just knew that I was going to get hit in the face with a hard baseball. But, I had figured a way for that not to happen - shut my eyes.

While Ron was setting home run records for Show Low little league, I was the bat boy. After a period of time perfecting that talent, I was promoted to keeping the score book for the team. As much as you might think otherwise, this did not bother me a whole lot - it was safe.

Once in awhile, when we were way ahead or way behind, I got into a game. Guess where I played? Yup, right field. Hardly anyone, for some reason, hit to right field and if by chance someone did, I usually was not aware because my eyes would be shut.

I recently wrote about perfect records. Well, while in little league, I had another perfect record or two. As best as I can remember, I never struck out. As best as I can remember, I never did swing at a pitch. My strike zone was so small due to my limited stature, I always walked. No matter how good the pitcher was, they could not get three pitches in that small of a box.

We are not all blessed with the same abilities and talents. That is a good thing. The situations that we deal with, while growing up are some of the things that God uses to mold and shape us into who He wants us to be. I never have been any good at baseball. I still cannot throw a ball into the air and hit it with a bat. Something about that coordination is just not a part of me. I never tried to play football in high school. Again, too small. I was 4'5" when I started high school and even through I grew 12 inches my freshman year, I still wrestled in the 112 pound class as a senior. When you add short+thin+slow+closed eyes, this equals a person who should not be out there being chased by 300 pound monsters.

I found my sports in wrestling, as detailed earlier and in track. Some day I will share my track career and accomplishments.

How do I feel about my lack of ability in sports while growing up? Well, I can remember wishing that I was better, bigger, stronger and faster; but if I had of been all of those things, how would that have changed who I am today. God knew what He was doing in making me just the way I was. That has made me just the way I am. I am blessed and am fine with that. Besides, I was able to live out some of my sports fantasies through my boys. I taught them everything I knew and look how good of athletics they all became. They owe much of their success to me being on the sidelines yelling instructions to them while they were out there playing. I am sure, though they were to shy to actually say so, that their coaches appreciated the extra help.

Flim-Flam Man

For the past couple weeks, I have been playing the part, and doing it well.

No, I have not been swindling anyone. I have been the phlegm-phlam man! Get it?

The flu appears to be winding down, finally.

Freedom Fighters

Freedom - What is it? Do we take it for granted? What will life be like without it?

Liberty - Are we in the process of losing our liberties?

Independence - Do Americans value independence? Are we better off having someone else making our decisions for us?

Basically, I have not left the boundaries of the U.S.A. The only exception was a quick and short trip into Mexico with a church group, while attending ASU in the early 1970's. I have heard that Americans take their freedom for granted and I have to admit that I have done so for much of my life. Having never experienced, first hand, being without my freedom, it has been easy to always believe I would have it and nothing would change.

"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...", unalienable rights given to all men by God. Being free, means we are not restrained by others or by government or by restrictive regulations from a life where we can experience liberty and through our own independent efforts, pursue happiness.

I have heard warnings about being careful in places like Mexico. A reminder that when outside of the US, we do not have the "rights" we take for granted here. When I have heard stories or watched programs dealing with the abuse of human and civil rights in other places, it makes me appreciate what I have known and experienced as a citizen of the USA. Islam radical extremists do not want us to live free. It seems like the Liberals in this country feel the same way.

Now, what will happen in the USA if the Government and/or courts continue the attack on our freedoms and our rights continue to erode? It took a war and the shedding of blood to give us our rights and freedoms. It has taken more wars and more blood to keep them. The USA has been an example of human rights and has also been a target of others because of the freedom and liberty we have.

The question is, will this current generation watch as our Government picks away at our Rights and steals our independence, without a fight? We are faced with a power monopoly in Washington. Checks and Balances are not functioning properly. There may be three branches of Government, but to a great degree, all three are being controlled by the same, anti-freedom philosophy and driven by the same agenda.

Weekly, we are seeing the BOA and the cRat controlled Congress attack the Bill of Rights, ignore the Constitution, shirk their sworn oaths to protect and defend the Constitution and America from all attacks, and assume power not granted to them by the Constitution. Some of our Founding Fathers warned about this very thing. We have greedy, power hungry men who are taking advantage of an uneducated electorate. They are ramming their agenda down our throats faster than we can gag it back up and catch our breath.

Sorry to say, our iCan't leaders are not much help. In some cases, they are cooperating with the attack on our freedom. I believe this is going to require a grassroots movement of liberty-loving, freedom fighters. The Tea Parties on 4/15 were encouraging as they demonstrated that there are many who feel the same way and are willing to step out and make their voices heard.

It is time for us irrelevant, fly-over Americans to unite in the cause of fighting for our freedom. Write your newspapers, write your elected Representatives and Senators, speak out about your disagreements with what is happening, make your voices heard loud and strong. Send emails to friends and family, make phone calls, study to know what is going on, be informed. In other words, it is time to stand up and be an American - free and independent. If we do not, we will live in a different environment where our freedoms are only discussed in past tense.

I do not want America to "change". I do not want BO to build a "new foundation" for America. I want BO to fail in his attempts to socialize our nation. I do not want to lose what this country has been since the 1700's. I do not want a Socialist country, a Communist philosophy, a dictator President, a weak nation - I want all of the Bill of Rights, exactly how they meant them when they were written and adopted. I am proud to be a "bitter American, clinging to my guns and religion". I am proud to be a "right-wing extremist" who loves God, America, family, freedom, etc. And, if that is what being a redneck is, then I am proud to be that, also.

The Obama's had trouble finding something to be proud of concerning America. Not me!

Remember, they were at war with us but we were not at war with them. You may think, when I write that over and over, that I am referring to radical Islamists. Once in awhile, yes; but most of the time I am referring to the radical Liberals in this country. They have been at war with what I love for a long time. We have a lot of catching up to do. They have been busy brainwashing a couple generations of children. They have been busy victimizing one group after another to appear as their friend and savior. We have a lot of work to do. We have a message of real hope to get out.

Neutered

What has happened to the Republican leadership and membership in Washington? It can be summed up in one word, they were neutered. The iCans of the Reagan days became the iCant's of the Bush days. The iCans of the "Contract for America" became the iCant's when one of the main leaders fell from grace. When and why did this happen? Who took the knife to them? When did they lose their "T's"?

These are hard questions to answer. It is hard to pinpoint a specific time or event that caused 500 marbles to roll down the Capital steps. But, looking back on the past 12-14 years, it is very clear that at some point they lost their "T's".

How can we get back to being represented by iCans with a bunch of "T's"? Who will stand up and really fight for the Right, instead of just giving it lip service?

I am looking for those people with the following "T's":

Trustworthiness, Truthfulness, Tenacious, Thoughtful, Tireless, Technical, eTTTTc.

There are a couple "T's" I am not looking for:

Timid, Team player.