Seahawks And Packers: Mon. 9/24/12

Enough already!  We have seen the play over and over and over.  Hey, lets' move on.  It is what it is.  The refs made their decision.  That should be the end of it.  The Seattle Seahawks had the ball on the final play, with 8 seconds left, Wilson, the QB for Seattle, let go a Hail Mary, MD Jennings and some other Packer defenders went up for the pass. It looked like he intercepted the pass.  However, it was not obvious enough, considering Golden Tate, the wide receiver for the Seahawks also had two hands on it.  Granted, Jennings had possession of the pass,  but not enough to make it clearly an interception.  What does the rule say?  When the receiver and the defender both have their hands on the ball, the reception goes to the offensive player.  Even the replays do not make it clear enough to deny this ruling. Let us move on.  Next time, just score more points so that you don't find yourself in a position to blame the refs.  I know it sounds simplistic, but, no team should allow themselves to be placed in a situation that places the responsibility on the refs to determine a loss or a victory.  Just score more points.  Incidently, I am neither a Packer or Seahawk fan.  Lets just play some football and forget about the zebras.  

Johnny Bratton

At the age of 23 Johnny Bratton was welterweight champion of the world.  His career started in 1944 and ended in 1955.  I thought of him because I remember the conversations JP Spitz and I used to have at National City Junior High School about him and other boxers.  Johnny Bratton was a great fighter.  He deserves recognition as an athlete.  He fought with all of his heart.  He started boxing at the age of 14.  He earned a great deal of money (around half a million dollars) and he spent it all and found himself in debt at the end of his career.   His fighting name was "Honey Boy."   He was also known as JBB  (Johnny Baby Bratton).  In 1955, the year Bratton's career ended, he was broke and confined to a mental hospital.

Islamic Extremists And Violence

A movie, an expression of an opinion, a speech, a novel that causes its' author to go into hiding for years.  What do they mean?  They are expressions of freedom.  They are tests of freedom.  Some disagreed with the "tests." Those who disagreed with the tests were Islamic extremists.  They  lost.  Why?  Because instead of expressing themselves through reason and truth, they  expressed themselves through violence. Is there no power in their prayers? Must they resort to violence to those who disagree with them? Must innocent people suffer the consequences of the fanaticism of others? Here is the bottom line: CHRISTIANITY PRODUCES FREEDOM, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS. This is definitely what has happened in the United States. Faith and freedom go hand in hand, but only when it is faith in the truth. Why? Because "the truth shall make you free." The problem with Islam is that it is a national, theocratic government, as well as a religion. It has to be, because it does not preach the truth. Therefore, it cannot allow the truth to be preached. It must force its' faith in order to survive. It must kill infidels in order to survive. How many street preachers are allowed to preach the gospel in the streets of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq and many other places that are predominantly Muslim? Why are these Muslims afraid of the gospel of Jesus Christ? I'll tell you why. The gospel produces freedom. But I also know that freedom produces problems. Is Islam able to handle those problems?  Probably not. Why? Two reasons. 1) They do not know the power of God's Word. 2) Their prayers are not powerful. Nevertheless, they see the need to have power.  They must have power.  How can they continue to survive without it? They have nothing to resort to except the power of the sword, intimidation, threat and the need to keep people ignorant.  That is how I perceive the situation, and truthfully, I hope there is a better way.

Churchill And The Tiger, Cow And Horse

 "Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot.
Others look on it as a cow they can milk.
Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.
-- Winston Churchill
(1874-1965) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

I would like to comment on the above quote by saying first of all, that private enterprise, at its best, is designed to offer in the competitive arena of business,  goods and services to society and enhances the quality of life to all involved.  It is not an animal of prey unless it is offering destructive goods and/or services which are illegal or found to be dangerous to one's health and well-being.  Incidently, a tiger is a very attractive animal.  Private enterprise is also attractive.

If it is a cow they can milk.......then fine.   That is what cows are for.   The cow gets sick and uncomfortable if it is not milked.   The cow must be taken care of properly.  It needs the proper food, shelter and care.

It needs to be allowed to be a healthy horse pulling a sturdy wagon.  The sturdy wagon represents society.   Society needs to be sturdy in order to last.   The healthy horse helps to keep the wagon sturdy.  If it is not sturdy, the horse will discover it.  Private enterprise is not a sloth.  If it were, it would make society a sloth. 

Envy And Moral Indignation

I have seen it in action.   It lifts up its' ugly, judgmental head.   It witnesses human  excellence.  It witnesses human greatness.  It witnesses human effort and  talent.  It witnesses grace bestowed upon a man or woman.  The witness can't take it.  The witness becomes a judge. The judge can't take it.  The judge becomes a moralist.  The moralist can't take it.  Why?  What is the problem?   Jealousy.  Jealousy overpowered the witness.  The witness took action.   He took action with a vengeance.  He took action with rage.   But he tried to disguise it.  It did not work.  He disguised it with arrogance.  He disguised it with moral indignation.  Jealousy continued to be the rage of that man.  Even when the man attempted to hide it.  A famous psychologist, actor and writer knew about it.  This is what they said:

"There is perhaps no phenomenon which contains so much destructive feeling as moral indignation, which permits envy  to be acted out under the guise of virtue."
Erich Fromm

"Moral indignation in most cases is, 2% moral, 48% indignation and 50% jealousy."
Vittorio De Sica

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo."
H. G. Wells

Another Letter To Yahoo

This letter was written by me to Yahoo News readers approximately 8 months ago.  It is in response to an article written about freedom.  The response to this letter was varied.  I came away thinking, that in the view of some, freedom is okay, unless you want to lift up the name of Jesus.  Until someone is able to convince me otherwise, I firmly believe  that this is a great country because most of the founders knew and believed in, the Word of God.   This country is an experiment in freedom.   Freedom is a "hot potato."  It always has been.  It always will be.  I don't preach too much in my blogs.   But I always embrace the connection between the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and freedom.  I can promise you this:   When the preaching of the Word of God disappears, then..............freedom will disappear.   "Where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Cor. 3:17)

There are many unkind words, name-calling and hatred in these comments. The bottom line is this: We all need Jesus. None of us need religion, candle lighting, parades with wagons carrying statues, etc. We need the Word of God inside of us. Are you so naive to actually think that this great nation evolved by acccident? Jesus is 100% God. He became a man and dwelt among us. He is the Word made flesh. The USA is an imperfect nation because it is full of human beings. But listen: HUMAN BEINGS THAT HAVE THE WORD OF GOD INSIDE OF THEM CONDUCT THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY THAN THOSE WHO JUST PRACTICE RELIGION, RELIGIOSITY AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Nobody on this planet is righteous. "There is none righteous, no, not one." The only righteousness that exists is derived from the Word of God, not from the hearts of men. Please read II Chronicles 7:14. Check it out for yourself. If you have a better idea, I sure would like to hear it. Give your life to Jesus. He is God. The founders of this country surely believed it. We have reaped the benefits of it, even though the country is not perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect country, and there won't be, at least not here, through human political activity.  But we have a perfect Jesus.  His name is above every name.  "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven  given among men by which we must be saved."  (Acts 4:12)  Give Him your life.

The Firemen Of 9/11

Sometimes I think about the firemen who saved the lives of many people on 9/11/01 and the days that followed.  343 firefighters lost their lives rescuing people at the Twin Towers of New York City.  Among that number were paramedics.  In addition, 72 police officers also lost their lives.  An interesting part to consider is this:  many, perhaps all, knew that that there was a good chance that they would lose their lives as they entered the burning buildings.  Some who saw the faces of those firefighters as they entered read some serious messages on those faces.  The faces declared:  "you may never see me alive again."   Some of those men were right.  This is what you call courage.  This is  dedication to a responsibility.   Their dedication is remembered and very much appreciated. 
 

Tebow Is Misunderstood

How many quarterbacks in the NFL do you know who play on special teams?   To me playing on special teams in the NFL can be one of the highest compliments that  can be given to a football player.  Special teams win football games.  Special teams play can also be responsible for ending careers.  Kickoffs and kick returns can be very dangerous.  Field goals and extra points can be game changing.  Punts are necessary to gain good defensive field position.  Tebow Had an important play on special teams as a member of the "hands team."  Buffalo had reduced the lead to 41-28.  The Bills tried an onsides kick during the fourth-quarter.  Tebow recovered.  Tebow is versatile.  On Sunday he also lined up as a wide receiver, and punt protector.  He played some wildcat quarterback and ran 5 times for 11 yards.  Just having Tebow on the team is a boost for the Jets.   Why do I say Tebow is misunderstood?   Let me explain.  He loves football.  He is not an egomaniac.  He loves to play football.  It appears to me that he does not really care where they put him.   I don't think this is common in the NFL.   Tebow is a football player.   I know that he is a man of faith.......his faith in Jesus Christ is his greatest gift.   Nevertheless,  the greatest compliment I can give him regarding his chosen field of endeavor is this:  He is a football player.

What Rights Do I Have?

Sometimes I think that there is a constant battle between personal rights and public good.  The problem is that there are no clear demarcations in this battle.  Yes, there are laws.  But laws are always changing to favor one side or another.  The battle goes on.  It is an interesting fight.  The political arena is one of the battlegrounds.  Especially this year.  Especially in November.  There are liberals, conservatives, independents, non-voters, activists, extremists,  zealots, the unaware and the uconcerned.  But what rights do we have, or not have?  Those are the big questions.  A former Presidential candidate of this year's campaign attempts to answer the two part question.  At least he made the effort.  At least he thought about it.  At least he studied and researched it.  At least he is not ignorant about it.  Do I agree with him.?  Yes.  But only philisophically.  Why?  Because change comes in increments.  And I don't think Dr. Paul wants Incremental change.

"You don't have a right to the fruits of somebody else's labor. You don't have a right to a house, you don't have a right to a job, you don't have a right to medical care. You have a right to your life, you have your right to your liberty, you have a right to keep what you earn. And that's what produces prosperity. So you want equal justice. And this is not hard for me to argue, because if you really are compassionate and you care about people, the freer the society the more prosperous it is, and more likely that you are going to have medical care... When you turn it over to central economic planning, they're bound to make mistakes. The bureaucrats and the special interests and the Halliburtons are going to make the money. Whether it's war, or Katrina, these noncompetitive contracts, the bureaucrats make a lot of money and you end up with inefficiency."

 Dr. Ron Paul

Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the great world leaders of our day.  He is courageous, educated, charismatic, strong and determined.  The call him "Bibi."  He is up for the challenges that Israel faces.  He does not flinch from them.  He has devoted his life to serving Israel. He has many accomplishments.  He has made it known that Iran is a threat to Israel, America and to other parts of the world. He is a political leader and former Israeli soldier who has made great  economic improvements for the nation he loves.  He is an example for national leaders.





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The Atheist

I wrote the following letter as a response to some nonsense some individual wrote in defense of his atheism.  He responded by telling me I was "off my rocker."  It certainly is not a very good defense of one's creed.

"The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." (Ps. 14: 1) I didn't say it, God did. "There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Prov. 14: 12) Do you want to read about a great scientist? Read about the life of George Washington Carver.  He gave God the glory for all of his success.  That man was born a slave.  Also, in his later years: Sir Isaac Newton devoted his life to the study of the Bible. Newton believed that the Bible was the inspired Word of God. Belief in God is a choice. Proof that He exists is all around us. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handywork." (Ps. 19:1) History shows us, unfortunately so, that religion, at times, has been a detriment to the dissemination of the truth. Gifted, educated and scholarly men and women would do well to thank God for what they have, and what they have accomplished. Why? Because they would have accomplished nothing without Him.  Albert Einstein also knew it, and he was not ashamed to say so.  There is very, very much to say about this subject and about all of the great accomplishments made by men and women who gave God the glory for their discoveries, inventions, innovations and accomplishments in all fields of legitimate endeavor.  "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God."

Life Is What You Make It

I don't remember his name.  He was shining my shoes.  It was a shoe shine stand by Fourth and Broadway, just south of a night club called The King's Club, in Downtown San Diego.  Man, was he ever a bright man.  He was the "philosopher of the street."  He was a black man with a tremendous sense of humor.  Actually, I had no business having my shoes shined by someone who probably was earning more money than I was at the time. Nevertheless, I guess I was paying to hear some lessons given by the philosopher.  One time we were talking and he said something that has been ringing true for the 51 years since I heard it.  To me it was like gold.  It was truly inspirational and motivational.  It was like everything else made little sense.   I can truly say I think about it practically every day.  He simply said:  "Life is what you make it."