HOLY SEASON

THERE ARE NO NEW SINS;

THE OLD ONES JUST

                 GET MORE PUBLICITY

     Now I know that the apologist in charge has declared that we are no longer a Christian country.  But in spite of the fact that we are and our whole national experiment is based on Judeo/Christian principles, I will dismiss the statement along with the one on how the Muslims were an integral part in the formation of this country.  That is if you discount Jefferson getting fed up with them and sending our Navy and Marines to kick ass at THE SHORES OF TRIPOLE.

     There will be many sermons and stories, movies and books, that tell the story of the Passion and death of Christ.  But how many will actually bring the fact that Christians and others are being tortured and killed around the world bringing the fact that religion is not just going and setting in a building now and then.

     The fact that the lessons are supposed to be lived in every day lives and in business is many times forgotten.  Brings to mind the movie lines from the Godfather that "I want you to know it was not personal, it was just business." 

      It has been said that it will take blood on our streets to realize the price that is paid to be faithful.  Yet it has happened and just shrugged of as work place violence.  And how many pursue the persecution of peoples of faith in the law and society?  And treat those as ignorant, superstitious? 

      Where is the word from the pulpit and press that we have had war declared on us since the 8th Century and we refuse to treat it as such?  How can the country survive that allows its borders to be porous, treat those who come illegally as having rights, and letting citizens fend for themselves in an environment of being under siege?

      How can a government run the debt up so badly that there is no chance to pay it off and yet still print worthless paper and give it to our enemies?  And how can we survive when the whole world goes off the dollar standard and we now have nothing? 

     We only know that evil is rampant in the world.  We also know that the only way out is to turn back to the one who has kept this country free and allowed us to be the beacon of good to the whole world.

      A friend reminded me that this experiment we call America is always one vote away from Communism.  We are also only 20 minutes away from anarchy.  Lets pray that by changing our lives back to the right path that the example may lead others and that God won't get fed up with us and turn his back and allow us to be taken into slavery as he did his people in the old days.

IT'S OVER, OR A BEGINING?

NOBODY SAYS " IT'S ONLY A GAME"

WHEN THEIR TEAM IS

WINNING.

     Ok, I seem not to be that impressed with sports.  I just am interested in what catches my attention, like all teams Kansas and Big 12.  I just try to see the importance in light of the real things in the world.  March Madness is a time that is over abundant of what is interesting, but not important.

     However, I will say that I enjoyed the Wichita State and KU basketball game.  Not only for the whupping that KU took but that the insufferable attitude that KU has had for Wichita for so many years.

      I am going to be interested now how KU folk are going to complain about the Wichita Fans being mean like they do about K-State fans.  I try to tell them that they are not mean, you all just don't have a sense of humor.  It would not be such a big deal about Wichita booting KU out of the tournament had it not been about the attitude displayed over the years.

     Now don't get me wrong I am a fan of Coach Self and the KU Basketball team and love watching them.  And I like K-State also.  I like to see all Kansas teams go out and represent the state in a good light.  As far as I am concerned the WSU & KU game was the finals.  The rest is just interesting.

      But when KU can play exhibitions with Division 2 Kansas teams and not play Wichita that is just getting snooty.  Wichita State suffers from this image of 'Hillside High'.  Yet it is world class in many of the offerings it has and unique programs you cannot get at the other big 2 schools.

      Part of this is the lack of a football team and taking it's place in the full rounded university concept.  The heart went out of the whole institution and part of the community when the plane crashed in the Rockies.  The culmination was the ending of a program that was not on a winning basis for years.  Yet the only two sports that pay for all the other sports in the University setting is the Basketball and Football programs.  That is why the salaries are so high for coaches.  The program raises the money and it is not the tax money that is used for that.

     If I can have a dream about sports it would be that not only would the 3 Kansas schools play together, but I would love to see Jerry Kill come from Minnesota State and restart a winning WSU Football program.

       We all need dreams.

MARCH MADNESS

I HAVE REACHED THE AGE WHERE

"HAPPY HOUR" IS A

NAP!

      Madness, madness, sheer madness!  It is the time when every would be sports expert or has been, goes mad.  Game after mind numbing game.  The names, background, pedigree, personality, the next NBA star.  It all makes a great background to nap in. 

     I have heard that some people use a 'white noise' machine to be able to sleep.  Well the NCAA & NIT has to be the ultimate white noise.  Work is an after thought and it is statistically the busiest time of the year for vasectomy's.  This so the patient can be off work recovering during the tournaments.  Which I am sure is a relief to the spouse.

     No don't get me wrong.  I to look forward to the Kansas teams playing.  The Big 12 and WSU.  But I have never seen so many schools that I have never heard of.

     The best part of course is that it diverts the attention from all the news about the world falling apart, the government spying on you, and if you deny Al Gore and his ranting's your are a flat earther and deserve to boil in your own fat.

      Really the best part is that the only mention of the Commander in Chief is when he fills out his brackets.  You won't see him shooting hoops and not sinking any baskets til it is over.

      I am mad because at the end of the month I turn 60.  Now I was just 30.  Let this be a lesson to you youngsters, inside every old man is a punk wondering just what the hell happened!

      Actually I am happy because no one expects me to like what passes for music today.  And if my pants hang low, I have a real problem.  And it is not much prettier than what your showing.  And one more thing.  Us old guys know how to wear a cap and what it is for besides advertising for John Deere.



WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD

"CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN THRUST UPON ME...

AND IT HAS NOT ADDED ONE WHIT

TO MY LOVE FOR TRUTH,

                           HONESTY, AND GENEROSITY."

                            Standing Bear - Lakota

     Now I am going where angels fear to tread.  It is dangerous enough to discuss politics in todays politically correct society.  But I am about to talk about some thoughts on religion.

     I took a 4 year course that was actually college level once studying the bible.  The teacher was brilliant and more qualified than any professor I had ever known.  He had real world practice of living his faith in a world where it is very difficult.  His insights were so fascinating to me because it incorporated as much history as scripture and he had walked the places where it took place.

     It bothers me a lot when church leaders keep buying the line that Islam is a peaceful religion and try's to compromise with it.  Having read the Koran it is apparent that it has nothing to do with peace.  Actions speak louder than words and all you have to do is see the news to understand that it is not.

     Were the Islamists truly peaceful there would be a moderate majority decrying and condemning the radicals.  There would be a reformation movement to grow out of the 8th Century into the modern world.  Do not forget that many of the radical leaders and many followers were educated in university settings and many are professionals in their former lives.

     I do not understand the women's rights movement not coming to the aid of their sex in the exploitation and disgraceful treatment at the hands of these society's.  The rampant pedophilia should give away what the religion truly is and who they worship.  It is not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  When the population accepts that the truth is a lie and the lie is right, it can only be one entity and that is Lucifer himself.

     I fully believe that Mohamed was the first Anti Christ.  And I have clerics that agree with me.  What bothers me is that while Christians are being crucified, beheaded, and slaughtered many denominations are still set to dispute doctrine from their viewpoint.

      It disturbed me when the Pope walked into a mosque and prayed.  The firestorm that people who just don't accept the papal authority went wild with judgment and hate.

     The more I think about it it makes more sense if you ask yourself how Jesus handled things in his time.  He infuriated the Sanhedrin, Pharisee's, Sadducees, and all authority in the Jewish hierarchy.  They were outraged that he associated with tax collectors and other sinners.  He would thwart their thoughts by giving answers in parables.  He was a man of peace and yet recognized authority when it was just.
     He gives the example of the Good Sheppard leaving the 99 to find the one lost lamb.  And there is more rejoicing in Heaven over one lost soul reclaimed than the righteous.
     God gave man the ability to question and think.  Also freedom of choice.  He asks for faith in him but does not require it.  He gave Ten Commandments for mankind to live by, and man complicates it with scores of rules imposed on others.
      The end of days is foretold in the apocryphal books and yet the signs of the end times have always been with us and still are today.  The Islamist militants believe that they are provoking the Armageddon and will continue to try and create it.  This makes the world nervous.
     And as the frustration of the governments seeming lack of action to thwart evil in the world it has been forgotten that leadership is best accomplished by example.  The Evil Empire was brought down by it's own weight, and the might of the US military, coupled with a leader who projected the strength that made them believe he would use it.
     I read an address by Franklin Graham that made the point as to what the difference is between God and the deity that Islam cites.  'Paraphrased', "God does not need defending.  He does not require man to murder, rape, enslave, and destroy to do his work".  A faith that has to do this is only left with one entity that they defend and that is the Evil One.  The history of Islam has been continual war since the 8th Century.  The culture that once excelled in science, art, poetry, and maintained the largest libraries in the world has been hijacked on those bent on the destruction of all else.
     Do not Judge or be Judged is the line from scripture.  Christians of all denominations need to come back together and stop the infighting and hatred among themselves. I do not feel as threatened about the Pope making the effort to reach out as I once was.  I am more threatened by those who take their eyes from the journey to conflict with each other.



WINTER

"SOMETIME I SITS AND THINKS.

AND OTHER TIMES

I JUST SITS"

                                    Pogo

     As a younger person, which was just not that long ago, I would be out in the cold having a good time or helping with cattle.  Me and my four wheel drive were pretty invincible.  February things would get to be a little dreary. 

     You could always tell Spring was around the corner and everyone was getting cabin fever when the shows started.  RV, Sport Boat & Travel, Boat Show.  You knew you were on the down hill slide when the Lawn, Flower, and Garden Show was on.

     February always seemed to be kind of a bother.  I always liked the idea of Jerry Clower who thought that the Congress should move Feb. between July and August.  Feb. isn't much of a month and at that time we could appreciate some cool weather.  I bet that there is someone there dumb enough to introduce the bill.

     It seems silly to me for people who really gripe about the winter.  Like that will do anything about it?  Winter in Kansas is a roller coaster.  Freezing, blowing, thawing, warming, then blizzard again.  I do feel sorry for the people back east but that global warming is really dumping snow up there.  There is a reason I don't live back there.

      Yes I am seeing the logic in Tucson in the winter.  As I stiffen up and lose my ambition it makes more sense.  Almost makes my heart ach to watch the snow birds leaving in the fall.

     Watching all the world events it is so hard to realize that there are Christians dying for their faith.  Riots break out over things that make no sense to me.  Politicians that can not keep their word or even work to benefit the average citizen.  And those who would throw the nation out with the bath water.

     Looking out the window at the deer and the road runner in the yard.  Watching the geese fly over and the hills off and on white.  The top of the hill is a great place to sit and think.  Or just sit.